USA > Connecticut > New Haven County > New Haven > History of the Colony of New Haven, Before and After the Union with Connecticut: Containing a. > Part 7
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The people of Massachusetts remonstrated against the early attempts of New Haven and Connecticut to establish a col- lege, observing that the whole population of New England was scarcely sufficient to support one institution of this nature, and' that the establishment of a second would in the end be a sac- rifice of both, and perhaps their remonstrance had some influ- ence in the failure of Hopkins' College. After this the matter of a college rested till the establishment of Yale College.
YALE COLLEGE is commonly said to have been founded in the year 1700. In this year, ten of the principal ministers, nominated by a general consent, both of the clergy and the inhabitants of Connecticut, viz.,
The Rev. James Noyes, of Stonington, " Israel Chauncey, of Stratford,
Thomas Buckingham, of Saybrook,
Abraham Pierson, of Killingworth,
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The Rev. Samuel Mather, of Windsor,
Samuel Andrew, of Milford,
¥ Timothy Woodbridge, of Hartford,
" James Pierpont, of New Haven,
Noadiah Russell, of Middletown, and
Joseph Webb, of Fairfield,
met at New Haven, and formed themselves into a society, which, they determined, should consist of eleven ministers, including a rector, and agreed to found a college in the colony. At their next meeting, which was at Branford, the same year, each of them brought a number of books, and, presenting them to the society, said, " I give these books for the founding a college in this colony." Antecedently to this event, the subject had been seriously canvassed by the clergy, particularly Messrs. Pierpont, Andrew, and Russell, of Bran- ford, and by the people at large, during the two preceding years; and had come thus far towards maturity.
In October, 1701, the legislature granted the before named gentlemen a charter, constituting them "trustees of a colle- giate school in his majesty's colony of Connecticut ;" and in- vested them with all the powers which were supposed to be necessary for the complete execution of their trust. The fol- lowing November, they chose one of their number, Mr. Pier- son, rector of the school, and determined that it should be fixed, for the present, at Saybrook. In the year 1702, the first commencement was held at Saybrook ; at which five young gentlemen received the degree of A. M.
From this time many debates arose concerning the place where the school should finally be established ; and continued to agitate the community, until the year 1718. In 1716, a majority of the trustees voted, on the 17th of October, to re- move the school to New Haven. Four of their number out of nine, were, however, strongly against it, and the commu- nity was equally disunited. The trustees, nevertheless, pro- ceeded to hold the commencement, the following year, at New Haven, and to order a college to be erected. It was accord- ingly raised in October, 1717, and finished the following year. This building they were enabled to erect by a considerable number of donations, which they had received for this purpose, both within and without the colony. Their principal bene- factor, both during this period, and all which have succeeded, was the legislature.
The removal of the college from Saybrook to New Haven produced great excitement in the colony. The feelings raised
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in the towns most interested, may be judged of from the cir- cumstances attending the removal of the library. An unsuc- cessful application having been made for this by some of the trustees, the governor and council convened at Saybrook at their request, in December, 1718, and issued a warrant to the sheriff to go and take the books. When he got to the house where they were kept, he found men collected to resist him ; but calling assistance he forcibly entered the house, took them and had them secured by a guard over night. In the morning the carts provided to carry them to New Haven were found broken, and the horses were turned away. New provisions being made, they were conducted out of the town by the major of the county ; but some of the bridges on the road were bro- ken up, and when they arrived at New Haven it was discov- ered, on counting the books, that about 260 were missing. These were disposed of by persons unknown, together with some valuable papers, in the confusion which arose at the ta- king of the library, and no discovery was made of them af- terwards.
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View of the first College.
Among the individuals who distinguished themselves by their beneficence to this infant institution, was the Hon. Elihu Yale, Esq., of London. This gentleman was descended of an an- cient and respectable family in Wales. His father, Thomas Yale, Esq., came from England with the first colonists of New Haven. In this town his son Elihu was born, April 5th, 1648. He went to England at ten years of age, and to Hindoostan at thirty. In that country he resided about twenty years; was made governor of Madras, and married the widow of 6*
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Gov. Hinmers, his predecessor. Having acquired a large fortune, he returned to London, was chosen governor of the East India company, and died at Rexon, July 8th, 1721.
This gentleman sent, in several donations, to the collegiate school, 500l. sterling, between 1714 and 1718, and a little be- fore his death, ordered goods to be sent out, to the value of 5007. more ; but they were never received. In gratitude to this benefactor, the trustees, by a solemn act, named their seminary Yale College ; a name which, it is believed, will con- vey the memory of his beneficence to distant generations.
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Seal of Yale College.
The college which was erected at this time, was built of wood, painted blue, one hundred and seventy feet long, twenty. two feet wide, and three stories high ; contained near fifty studies, besides the hall, library, and kitchen, and cost about 1000l. sterling. It was lighted with diamond glass, which remained till 1739, when it was taken out, and square glass, set in oak sashes, put in. This building stood on the site of the present south college. Before it was erected, the stu- dents were scattered in various places ; as Milford, Killing- worth, Guilford, Saybrook, Wethersfield, &c. Soon after- wards, they all removed to New Haven. From this time the institution began to flourish. The number of students was about 40, and the course of education was pursued with spirit. The benefactions, also, which it received, were in- creased in number and value.
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In the list of its principal benefactors was the Rev. Dr. Berkley, dean of Derry, in Ireland, and afterwards bishop of Cloyne. This highly respectable man came to America in the year 1732, for the purpose of establishing a college in the island of Bermuda. The project failed, however, for want of assitance from England, which was promised him. While he was in America, he became acquainted with the Rev. Mr. Williams, and with the design and circumstances of the sem- inary. With all these he was so well pleased, that he made a present to it of a farm, which he had purchased at Rhode Island, and after his return to Europe, sent to the library " the finest collection of books that ever came together at one time into America." Jeremiah Dummer, Esq., of Boston, and the Hon. James Fitch, Esq., of Norwich, deserve to be men- tioned as distinguished benefactors of the institution. Sir Isaac Newton, Sir Richard Steele, Doctors Burnet, Wood- ward, Halley, Bently, Kennet, Calamy, Edwards, the Rev. Mr. Henry, and Mr. Whiston, presented their own works to the library. Many other respectable men afterwards made similar presents. In 1745, a new charter, drawn by the Hon. Thomas Fitch, Esq., of Norwalk, afterwards governor, was given to the trustees, in which they were named the president and fellows of Yale College. This is the present charter of the institution.
In the year 1750, another college was built, and named Connecticut Hall. The building, as originally constructed, was 100 feet long, 40 feet wide, and three stories high, with a cellar under the whole. It was built of brick, and contained thirty-two chambers, and sixty-two studies. This is the only college of that period that now remains, and even this has been essentially altered and enlarged by the addition of a fourth story. It is known in the language of direction now used by the students, as the south middle college. The expense of this building was 1660/. sterling. In April, 1761, a chapel was begun, and finished in 1763. This chapel, in modern times has undergone much alteration, and is at this time devo- ted solely to academic purposes, under the name of the athe- næum. In 1782, a brick dining hall was erected, sixty feet in length, and thirty in breadth. This hall has since been converted into a chemical labratory and lecture room, and is now 'used for these purposes. In April, 1793, the corner stone of the building usually designated as the south college, was laid. This building is of brick, one hundred and four
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feet long, thirty-six feet wide, and four stories high, and was completed on the 17th of July, 1794.
The faculty, to whom is committed the government and instruction of the students, consists of a president ; a professor of chemistry, mineralogy, and geology; a professor of the Hebrew, Greek, and Latin languages; a professor of math- ematics, natural philosophy, and astronomy ; a professorship of divinity ; a professor of rhetoric and oratory, and eight tutors. The whole course of instruction occupies four years. In each year there are three terms or sessions.
The general library of Yale College consists of about ten thousand volumes, exclusive of pamphlets. The Linonian library consists of three thousand three hundred volumes. The library of the Brothers in Unity comprises three thousand volumes. The Calliopean society, which is comparatively of recent formation, has made a collection of two thousand nine hundred volumes. In addition to the several libraries, there is a collection of books belonging to the Moral society, con- sisting of five or six hundred volumes. The aggregate of books in the several libraries amount to nearly twenty thou- sand volumes. The college possesses a handsome minera- logical cabinet ; in 1811, Col. George Gibbs deposited in this seminary, two cabinets, one consisting of more than six thou- sand choice specimens, and the other of about eighteen thou- sand, the two best collections ever opened in this country. In 1825 this collection was purchased of Col. Gibbs, at a price of twenty thousand dollars; of which sum the officers, of Yale College, and the citizens of New Haven, contributed ten thousand dollars, the citizens of New York three thousand dollars, and the alumni of South Carolina seven hundred dol- lars, and an individual five hundred dollars.
The principal edifices of Yale College face the western boundary of the green, and present an imposing front, inclu- ding passage ways, of about six hundred feet. The buildings are chiefly constructed of brick, and consist of four spacious edifices, each four stories high, one hundred and four feet by forty, containing thirty-two studies; a chapel for religious worship, and ordinary public exhibitions ; a lyceum containing the library and recitation rooms ; an athenaeum ; a chemical labratory ; and extensive stone dining hall, containing also in the upper story, apartments for the mineralogical cabinet ;fasep. arate dining hall for theological students ; a dwelling house for the president ; and a large stone building occupied by the
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medical department ; and the Trumbull gallery, a neat and appropriate building, erected as a repository for the valuable historical and other paintings of Col. Trumbull.
In the cut, the first building with a tower, on the left, is the old chapel or athenaeum ; that on the right is the new chapel, erected in 1824. The middle building is the lyceum. There are many more trees in the yard, in front of the college build- ings, than are represented in the cut, but it was thought ad -. visable not to insert the whole number, as it would much obsure the view of the buildings. The last college building was erected in 1835.
The following is an accurate history of the original church and beginning of the second church, extracted from the town and society's records :
The first meeting house was built the second year after the settlement, at the cost of £500. To defray the expense, the inhabitants laid a rate of 30s. on each £100. They valued their property at this time at £34,000. This house stood a few rods east of the present meeting house of the First Society. It was two stories high, had a sharp roof, on the top was a turret, where a sentry was placed to look out for the Indians, and where the drum was beat to call the people together on Sundays, town meetings, &c. This house was built by William Andrews, and was so badly done, that in about ten years it became necessary to shore it up, to keep it from falling. A controversy took place between Andrew and his partner for their fraud, which was settled with some difficulty.
In 1641, the church received an accession from Water- town ; the church there being divided, a part removed to enjoy the ministry of Mr. Davenport.
In 1656, the meeting house was so much decayed that there was serious debate whether to repair or build new. It was finally repaired. In June, 1659, it became necessary to take down the turret, and prop the building.
In 1667, Mr. Davenport, then near 70 years of age, re- ceived an invitation to settle over a church in Boston. Which invitation he accepted, and with that church he remained until his death, the 5th of March, 1670, in the 73d year of his age. Mr. Davenport was a man of an ambitious, enterprising spirit, and "had great influence with his people. His efforts in be- half of the regicides, and the influence he exerted in retarding the union of the colonies of New Haven and Connecticut, are
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matters of history.' "He is characterized," (says Trumbull,) "as a hard student and universal scholar ;" and by the In- dians he was called " the big study man." It is said " he was acquainted with great men and great things, and was great himself." His removal to Boston was unhappy-occasioning a division of the church there, and leaving the church here uncomfortable, and for many years without a pastor.
At the time of the organization of the church at New Haven, it was the opinion of the principal minister in New England, that in every church completely organized, there was a pastor, teacher, ruling elders, and deacons. It was the general opinion that the pastor's work consisted chiefly in exhortation ; but the teacher's business was to teach, explain, and defend the doctrines of christianity.
Mr. Samuel Eaton, brother of Gov. Eaton, was the first teacher in this society; and on his removal, soon after the settlement, to England, he was succeeded by Mr. Wm. Hook,* who was an eminent man. He returned to London, in 1655, where he was a distinguished preacher until the restoration, when he was silenced for non-conformity. He was succeed. ed by Mr. Nicholas Street.
After the removal of Mr. Davenport, Mr. Street acted as pastor and teacher, until his death, in 1674. From that time, the society was destitute of a settled minister eleven years, until the settlement of Mr. James Pierpont.
The society continued to repair the old meeting house until September 7th, 1668, when a contract was made with Nathan Andrews, to build a new one for £300, and the materials of the old house.
In 1665, a fine of 6d. was imposed on any one bringing a dog to the meeting house.
In 1685, the society succeeded in settling Mr. James Pier- pont as their pastor, on a salary of £120, in provision, at the following prices :- winter wheat at 5s., rye 38. 6d., corn 28. 6d., peas 3s. 6d. the bushel ; pork, 3d. if., and beef 3d. the pound.
During his ministry, in 1696-7, the committee were direct. ed to procure a house, to be built of brick or stone, 60 by 60. feet, provided it could be contracted for, at £500. No one. proposing to build on these terms, the society directed, in 1698, the building to be enlarged 15 or 20 feet. Mr. Pierpont
* From Taunton, Mass.
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continued a useful minister, to the great contentment of his society, to his death, in 1714.
Up to this time, the proceedings of the church were the common concern of the town, and the records of the society are in the same book with the records of the town-the church business appearing, as in truth it was, the business of the town. The separate records of the society commence with the settlement of Mr. James Noyes, in 1715.
Mr. Noyes was settled on a salary of £120, in current money, or in grain and flesh, at fixed prices. In addition to his salary a bonus of £200 was voted him to defray the ex- pense incident to his removal and settlement. :
In 1718, a tax of one farthing on the pound is recorded to defray the expenses. It seems to have been the practice to lay specific taxes : as a tax for the ministry, a tax for repairs, &c., and these varied from the rate of one farthing to eight pence on the pound. Although these rates seem low, there is reason to believe that our ancestors taxed themselves more liberally and cheerfully for the support of religion, than is now customary. The meeting house was the property of the society, and the seats were generally owned by the society. The liberty to build seats was occasionally granted to indi- viduals. There was almost yearly a formal seating of the members, the women and men having each a separate side of the house. Thus, in the year 1719, it was voted that Mr. John Prout, Sen., and Mr. John Woodward, do sit in the first long seat, &c. ; and, on the women's side, that Mrs. Roswell and Mrs. Bishop do sit in the first long seat, &c.
In 1719, by request of the trustees, the students of the col- legiate school (Yale College) were permitted to sit in the seats of the front gallery, exclusive of the front seat, on pay- thent of 1s. a head on entering the seats, and 23. per annum thereafter. In 1721, five of the scholars were permitted to sit in the front seat. In 1722, a part of the gallery was set apart for twenty years to the use of the students, the trustees of the college paying therefor £30, and keeping the windows and seats above them in repair. In 1726-7, the society had so much increased as to make it necessary to build another range of galleries above the then galleries.
In 1728, it was voted that the constables and grand jurors do their utmost to prevent disorder in going up and down stairs.
In 1730, the minister's salary was raised to £150, and in 1736, to £2240.
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In 1736-7, the inhabitants of Chestnut Hill, now Wood- bridge, were set off as a separate society. For many years, a portion of their taxes had been remitted, in consideration that in the winter, they were unable to attend worship with the society, but employed a minister among themselves.
In 1741, on the 28th of November, a memorial was present- ed by thirty-eight members, praying to be separated to constitute a new society-they being dissatisfied with the practices, preaching, and opinions of Mr. Noyes. This re- quest was denied. They however separated themselves, and formed a new church. But they still formed a part of the society. In this year, Mr. Chauncey Whittlesey appears to have been employed to assist Mr. Noyes.
In 1742, Mr. Noyes calling together a portion of the soci- ety, and excluding others, adopted the Saybrook Platform ; a measure which justly gave great offence to those who were excluded. In this year, it was by a vote of the society, agreed that the commencement exercises be held in the meeting house of this society.
The difficulties respecting Mr. Noyes increased and greatly agitated the society. The Noyes' party would not enter into arrangements to divide the society, and the other party would lend no help to carry on the business of the society. The meeting house was getting very old and defective.
In 1740, it was voted to build a new one in ten years ; but the dissensions in the society made it difficult to accomplish the object. But finally, the subject having been long delayed because a two thirds vote could not be obtained, a majority applied to the general assembly, in 1753, for leave to build. Whereupon a part of the society petitioned the general as- sembly to be exempted from a tax for that object. Individuals then proceeded to build a brick meeting house, near the spot where the present house stands.
In 1750, an effort was made to secure the ministerial labors of Naphtali Daggett, as colleague to Mr. Noyes ; and on his refusal and appointment to the Professorship of Divinity in the college, he was entreated to preach half the time, and as an inducement, the front seat of the gallery was tendered to the students. In this year, it was voted that the meeting house bell be rung constantly at 9 o'clock in the evening.
About this time, the difficulties on account of religious differ- ences increasing, the society applied to the general assembly, "that the dissenters to the way of worship be disenabled to
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act or set off." After much dispute, the opponents of Mr. Noyes, who had, since 1751, maintained a minister, and wher had frequently proposed a separation, finally prevailed, and .. it was agreed to apply to the general assembly for a division. and the members of the society were directed to enroll theme- selves of the one party or the other ; when it was found that - there were for Mr. Noyes 111, against him 212. The ma- jority then took the resolution not to withdraw, and immediately proceeded to settle Mr. Bird, as the minister of the society ; against which proceeding the Noyes' party protested. In this. year, 1757, the brick house seems to have been completed, as we find the society voting, "that the commencements be held in the old meeting house, or in the new brick house, as the trustees preferred." At the same meeting, the society refused any longer to support Mr. Noyes, ascribing their diffi- culties to his inefficiency and inattention.
At length, in 1759, the whole matter was referred to the general assembly, which set off the adherents of Mr. Bird, notwithstanding they were a majority, as a new society, by the name of the White Haven Society; while the Noyes' party, now led by the colleague, Mr. Whittlesey, remained the "First Society." Mr. Whittlesey, who had hitherto been supported by voluntary contributions, was now elected by the society to the ministry, and provision was made conformably for his support.
In the division of the property between the two societies, the new brick meeting house was left in the hands of the First Society, while the bell, it was decided, was the property and should be rung for the use of both societies.
Mr. Noyes died in 1761, and Mr. Chauncey Whittlesey became the sole pastor.
In 1763, the old bell appears to have been sold to the use of the new state house, and may be still in existence.
Among other votes of the society, we find at this time a yearly repetition of forty loads of wood for the minister.
The subject of seats began gradually to create difficulty, and in 1779, the project, afterwards accomplished, was enter- tained, of buying in the seats. The seats built by individuals continuing to make trouble, it was, in 1781, voted, that "it was becoming young unmarried persons to sit in the gallery, and that heads of families might go into any seat without being considered intruders."
In 1785, a singing school was provided.
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In January, 1787, it was proposed to procure an assistant to relieve Mr. Whittlesey, now very infirm; but in the course of the year, and before any thing was done, Mr. W. died.
In 1789, Dr. Dana was settled, with a salary of £115.
In 1798, an attempt was made to effect a union of all the societies, there being at this time three; but it was not suc- cessful.
In 1804, the property of the society, formerly subject to various demands, was funded for the support of the gospel ministry. To this sum, amounting to $4,454, 84,255, the proceeds of a subscription, and $1,000 from the church, were added.
In 1805, Rev. Moses Stuart was invited to settle as assist- ant, but declined. The society being very much gratified with his preaching, made an arrangement with Mr. Dana, then 70 years of age, to resign, and voted him $500. Thereupon, in February, 1806, Mr. Stuart was settled. In December, 1809, he communicated to the society his wish to resign, in order to accept a professorship in the Theological School, at Andover.
In April, 1811, Rev., now Dr. Taylor, was invited to preach for the society, and in July was invited to settle, which invi- tation he at that time declined. In 1812, the invitation was renewed and accepted. *
In this year, a number of gentlemen proposed to build a new meeting houses' The proposals were accepted, and the house built on a part of the old burying yard, at a spot designated by the county court, and assented to by the pro- prietors of the town.
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