USA > Connecticut > New London County > Stonington > History of the First Congregational church, Stonington, Conn., 1674-1874. With the report of bi-centennial proceedings, June 3, 1874. With appendix containing statistics of the church > Part 5
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31
It does not appear that the town of Southertown was repre- sented in the General Court of Massachusetts while they were under the jurisdiction of that Colony, nor were the planters rep- resented in the General Assembly of Connecticut until the Oc- any letters unto coneticot, our mesenger can speedily convay them vnto there debutys Governor, which posably may abate there furye, and may be a means to prevent our fur- ther truble and of the continuanc of our peace, together with your authoritye and inter- est; pardon we besech you our bouldnes, and lett our presing nesesitye, together with our earnist desire after peace, and order, and the attending your orders and instrucktions to that eand speake for vs: and if the lord shall macke your worships instrumentall for the preservation of our peace and comfort, by the improvement and vphoulding your au- thoritye amongst vs, we and ours shall haue caus as to owne his Goodnes so to acknowl- edg youre favioure, and shall continue to pray
yours in all Loyallty, though, vnworthy to be owned
From SOUTHERTOWNE
this : 19th of January 1662.
GEORGE DENISON
WILLM CHESEBROUGH
THO STANTON
SAMUELL CHESEBOROUGH
ELIHU PALLMER Townsmen
In the name and with the consent of the towne. Mass. Archives, vol. ii., page 34, by William B. Trask.
39
BI-CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION.
tober session for 1664, when William Chesebrough was elected, and at the commencement of the session presented a petition,1 in behalf of the planters, asking their pardon for past offenses and their favor for the future, which was granted to all except Cap- tain Denison.2
In 1665, the name of Southertown was by the General Court changed to that of Mystic, in memory of that victory God was pleased to give this people of Connecticut over the Pequot In- dians. In May, 1666, an act was passed as follows : " The town of Mystic is by this Court named Stonington, the Court doth grant to the plantation to extend the bounds thereof ten miles from the sea up into the country, northward; and eastward to the river called Pawcatuck." "This Court doth pass an act of indemnity to Capt. George Denison upon the same grounds as was formerly granted to other inhabitants of Stonington."
Mr. Noyes did not at first make arrangements to remain for any given length of time, but subsequently, in 1668, the town passed a vote that they would freely contribute, or give towards his building a dwelling-house among them, in order to his set-
1 To the Honourable Genrall Court now Asembled at Hartford in the Collony of Conectycoat.
Honnorable may it please you, - We your poore petitioners being summoned by the Honnored Counsel of this jurisdiction to yield our obedienc & subiection to this jurisdic- tion acording to his maiestyes letters patent gratiously granted to this Collonie & to make choise of a percon to be a Comishonor & to atend the servis of this present Court in obe- dience to this summons we haue yielded our selus & sent vp one to be a Comishoner to atend the servis of the Court.
We humbly besech you thearfore that you will pardon all such mistaiks or miscariges wch through humain frailty hath bene offencive or grevious vnto you & receaue vs with a loving aspect & renue your former favor vnto vs that we may be remembred with equall priviledges of other Townes acording to our Capacitie that we maie be preserved in truth & peace & that scandals may be remoueed for the forme we may not be so bould as to pre- scrib knowing the wisdom & prudenc of the Honnered Court hose wisdom & favor we do commit ourselues vnto
We humbly do besech allso that the bounds of our plantation may be confirmed wch was granted vnto vs by the Bay, thus being loath to trespas vpon your patience we humbly taik our leaue & rest your pore petichoners
October 14: 64
WILLM CHESEBROUGH in the name of the rest. Conn. Archives.
2 Mistick & Pawcatuck haueing by Mr. Cheesebrook petitioned this Court for their fa- uoure to pass by their offences, the Court haueing considered the same doe hereby declare that what irregularties or abusiue practices haue proceeded from them, whereby they haue seemed to offer contempt to the authority here established, it shall be forgiuen and buryed in perpetuall obliuion and forgetfullness, and this to extend it selfe to all ye members of the afoarsayd plantation, Captayn Denison onely excepted whoe hath neglected or refused to submitt himselfe peaceably to the order of the Councill of this Colony.
Trumbull's Colonial Records, vol. i. page 499.
-
40
BI-CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION.
tling in the town, and carrying on the work of the ministry among them. They also voted to give him a salary of fifty pounds currency, annually, for seven years, and in 1671, the town added the use of the ministry land to Mr. Noyes' salary, and subsequently raised it to one hundred pounds with several grants of land and other donations.
About this time a movement was set on foot to build a new and better meeting-house ; to lay out public lands for the support of the Gospel ministry, and to form a church in accordance with the established religion of the colony.
In 1667, the planters convened in town meeting and decided to set apart and lay out five hundred acres of land,1 to be styled the ministry land, the avails of which were to be applied to the support of the Gospel ministry. In July of the same year the town established what they called a Town Plot, and appointed a committee to lay out as many lots as there were inhabitants then living in the town. Their home lots contained twelve acres each, and were so arranged that each lot had a street front.
Two hundred acres of this ministry land was laid out around the place where the Road Meeting-house now stands, the eastern line of which extended along a few feet east of said meeting- house, running nearly north and south. The western boundary was Mixtuxet Brook. The northern and southern lines cannot now be traced, but the form of the plot can nearly be seen when we look at the distance between the east and west lines and the number of acres that were laid out.
The home lots were laid out around and upon each side of the ministry land. They extended as far east as Stony Brook, and south as far as Smith's Mill ; one tier was located north, and the remainder west and south of said land.
In 1668 a census of the inhabitants of the town was ordered to be taken, embracing those only who were inhabitants or heads of families. February 2. There were found to be forty-three in- habitants, viz .: Thomas Stanton, George Denison, Thomas Mi- ner, John Gallup, Amos Richardson, Samuel Chesebrough, James
1 May this 4th 1668.
At a Publick Town meeting after legal notice given. Att the same meeting it was votea that there shall be five hundred acres of land speedily sought out for the ministry and to take place before all the collateral grants take place.
Stonington T. R.
A true copy of Record Test, ELNN MINOR, Clerk.
41
BI-CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION.
Noyes, Elisha Chesebrough, Thomas Stanton, Jr., Ephraim Mi- ner, Moses Palmer, James York, John Stanton, Thomas Wheeler, Samuel Mason, Joseph Miner, John Bennett, Isaac Wheeler, John Denison, Josiah Witter, Benjamin Palmer, Gershom Palmer, Thomas Bell, Joseph Stanton, John Fish, Thomas Shaw, John Gallup, Jr., John Frink, Edmund Fanning, James York, Jr., Nathaniel Beebee, John Reynolds, Robert Sterry, John Shaw, John Searls, Robert Fleming, Robert Holmes, Nathaniel Chese- brough for Mrs. Anna Chesebrough his mother, Gershom Palmer for Mrs. Rebecca Palmer his mother, Henry Stevens, and Ezekiel Main.
A home lot was laid out for each inhabitant, and the title was obtained by lottery on the following conditions, namely : If built upon within six months, and inhabited, the title would be com- plete, except that each proprietor must reside on his lot two years before he could sell it, and then he must first offer it to the town and be refused, before he could sell the same to any person and give good title. How many of these home lots were built upon by the then inhabitants cannot now be ascertained.
Up to this time all religious services had been provided for and conducted by the authorities of the town. Ministers were em- ployed by the selectmen and paid from the town treasury.
The town also appointed committees to examine candidates for the ministry, " to see if they were sound in the fundamentals." They did not by their acts recognize Councils, Assemblies, or ec- clesiastical machinery, in any way until 1669, when they preferred a petition to the General Court of the Colony, asking liberty to settle themselves in church order, which was granted at once ; 1 but the church was not formed until 1674.
During the time that these preliminary steps were moving for church organization, the inhabitants were worshipping at Pequot, in their dwelling-houses, and the old meeting-house. They had repaired it several times, in pursuance of town votes. It was also occupied by the town for holding town meetings. At a meet- ing held therein in June, 1670, " It was voted, with a joint con- sent, " that a bigger and a better meeting house shall be built." Nothing appears to have been done about building a new house, for the reason that they could not agree upon a location.
1 Seuerall inhabitants of Stoneingtown petitioning this Court for their approbation that they might settle themselues in Church order, this Court grants them their petition. - Trumbull's Colonial Records, vol. ii. page 111.
42
BI-CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION.
In April of 1671, another town meeting was held, which voted " That the meeting house agreed upon shall stand upon the most convenient place of the ministry land," and the selectmen were directed " to view said land, and approve the place where they find it most convenient, according to the order of the town, to set the meeting house."
The selectmen could not agree upon a location, and called an- other town meeting, which was held Thursday, December 14, 1671. At this meeting, after spending most of the day in fruit- less motions and discussions, it was voted, "That the meeting should continue till Friday night, and that all the inhabitants meet on Friday morning by nine of the clock at ye meeting- house, and to go from thence to go to view a place to set the new meeting-house on." They met the next day, and looked over the ministry land, and unanimously agreed upon a location for their new house, and then went back to the old meeting-house and passed the following votes, viz. : " That the New Meeting House shall for time to come be set up and stand without removing upon the hill called Agreement Hill, so named by the town at the same place." "The dimensions of this house were agreed upon at this meeting, and were as follows : Forty feet long, twenty-two feet wide, and fourteen feet posts from joint to joint." It was also voted at this meeting, " That the present minister, Mr. James Noyes, for the time that he continues to be the minister of this place, shall have the use of all the ministry land to himself, besides his fifty pounds currency per annum, and at his death or departure to leave it wholly to the town."
A committee of five were appointed to superintend the erection of the new meeting-house. It was built by subscriptions of timber, planking, shingles, ceiling, nails, and labor of men and teams, etc.
At the time the meeting-house was located upon Agreement Hill by the town, the hill was covered with heavy timber, which was removed by the inhabitants by voluntary labor, who then laid the foundation for the new house, and raised it January 15, 1673. This house stood a few rods west of the present meeting- house at the Road. It was not finished for several years. At first there were no slips or pews except for the deacons, magistrates, and minister's family ; benches were used by the people, and a committee was appointed to seat them according to their notions of propriety.
-
43
BI-CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION.
This state of things did not last long, for the town voted the next year to have the floor of the house and of the gallery as- signed to the inhabitants for pews. A committee was appointed to make the assignment, who encountered much opposition, but finally agreed upon a plan, which was submitted to the town and accepted. Those who were dissatisfied with the section assigned them, did, not make their pews, and occupied the old benches.
Some of them after a while reconsidered their. determination and built them. The inside of the house was never lathed and plastered. After the pews were built the space between them and the gallery was ceiled, and this was done by sections, which had been assumed by some of the wealthier inhabitants. When this house was dedicated is not known.
Religious meetings were held there in the summer of 1673, and ever after that, until it was taken down to make way for a larger one which was erected in 1729.
The church was organized formally on the 3d day of June, 1674.
What ceremonies were observed in the formation of the church does not appear. The record is simply this : -
" The names of those who began the Church of Christ at Stonington, June 3, 1674, were
Mr. James Noyes,
Mr. Thomas Stanton,
Mr. Nathaniel Chesebrough,
Mr. Thomas Miner,
Mr. Nehemiah Palmer,
Mr. Ephraim Miner,
Mr. Thomas Stanton, Jr.,
Mr. Moses Palmer,
Mr. Thomas Wheeler."
They established a covenant 1 when they formed the church,
1 COVENANT. - In order to begin and Geather a Church of Christ in Stonington, this third day of June 1674 do Covenant that whereas, God having Graciously received us into the Covenant of his Grace, which he hath sealed to us in Baptism, we acknowledge ourselves, indispensibly bound, to hold fast the Doctrine of Faith, and manners contained in the scriptures, of Truth, and attend all those duties, wherein prescribed, for the increase of our Faith, and growth in holiness, and maintaining a good conscience, and knowing that the confession of the name of Christ, is not to be separated from Faith in the Heart, Rom: 10th, 9th, and that he that is united unto Christ, and hath Communion with him, ought to maintain Communion regularly, with all his members; We whose hearts, God hath moved in this place, to joyn together in the worship of God, and pertake of the
44
BI-CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION.
and in view of the fact that this could not have been done at the time without the consent of the neighboring churches, the in-
Lords Table, and therein desire, to have the Prayers, and approbation of the Churches of Christ, who may take Knowledge of us; do for the satisfaction of all Men, declare as fol- loweth, that we unfeignedly resine our selves, and our seed unto the Lord receiving Jesus Christ, the Son of the living God, Very God, Very Man, and the only Mediator between God and Man, as our Lord and Saviour, relying upon the Grace of God for salvation and Blessedness, heartily submitting ourselves to be ruled by his word and Sperit, and as he is the author of Unity, and peace, we solemnly promise, that by the assistance of Gods Grace, we will Labour mutually to watch over one another, and to observe all other Chris- tian, or Brotherly offices over one another which Christ hath enjoyned, according to our respective places in this Church, and to submit to the discipline of Christ which we desire may take place amongst us, and the worship of God, to be upheld in the power and sper- ituallness, thereof as also to oppose Error, and teach all under our care, as far as in us lies to know and serve the Lord.
A CONFESSION OF FAITII .- We believe that there is One, onely God, Being from himself, and for himself, of whom, and for whom, are all things, who is infinite, Etar- nul, and Unchangable, in power wisdom Goodness, Justice, Holiness and truth. -
There are three sacred Persons of the Godhead, God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Ghost, equal God, and yet but one God; God hath from all Eternity; fore or- dained what shall come to pass, and did not only fore see but fore determined. The Eter- nal Estate of Men and Angels, together with Gods general providence, which is Exercised about all things, there is a special Government, over the rational Creatures, God made the Angels and Man in holiness, but some of the Angels, abode not in the truth; which are called Divils; God gave to Man when he made him, a rule of Obedience; for Life, and thretned Death, in case of disobedience, which rule of Obedience, our first Parents transgressed, by eating the forbidden fruit, and we in them, and so Death passed upon all Men, the sin of our first Parents, became the sin of all Mankind, by imputation, and deri- vation, and in such as are Adult, by imitation and approbation, God the Father having Eternally elected some of Mankind unto life, did in the fullness of time, send his son to redeem them, and God the Father, and God the Son, sent the sperit to sanctify them : - we believe that Jesus Christ, taking our Nature upon him as Mediator, between God and Man hath made full satisfaction to God for the sins of his Elect; and purchased life for them, by the Merit, of his active and passive righteousness, and having received all power from the Father doth in Execution of his prophetical, Priestly and Kingly office reveal unto, and work in his Elect whatsoever is necessary for salvation, by his holy and blessed sperit.
In the new Covenant God hath promised life to all that believe in his name, through Christ Jesus, and the immediate object of Justifying faith in Jesus Christ, in person, and office, as he is revealed in the Gospel, and by union with Christ by Faith, believers are made partakers of his Righteousness sonship grace and glory .- Whereby through his Grace they are Justified, Adopted, Sanctified, and shall enjoy etarnal life ;- We believe the scriptures, of the old and new testament, to be the word of God, by the dispensing which, the sperit convinsing of sin, and misery, and giving knowledge of Christ, doth be- get Faith, Repentance, and new Obedience, in the Elect.
We believe that the Morral Law in the hand of Christ, is a rule of Obedience, to be- . lievers; and that the sum of the Law, is to love God with all our hearts, and our neigh- bors as our selves.
We believe that there are two seals of the Covenant of Grace, Baptism and the Lords Supper; Baptism is a Sign of our entrence into Grace, and the Lords Supper, is a sign of our groth in Grace.
We believe the Communion of Saints, The Resurrection of the Body, and life everlast- ing Amen.
We believe, Lord help our Unbelief.
Church Records.
45
BI-CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION.
ference is that a council was assenibled here for that purpose, who participated in its organization. This was the eighth church established in this State, and was an important event in the his- tory of the times. It was soon followed by the ordination of Mr. James Noyes, which took place September 10, 1674, of which the records have only this brief notice : " The Rev. James Noyes was ordained on the 10th day of September, 1674, it being Thursday."
Of course an ordination of a minister requires the presence of a council, but who composed this, and its order of exercises, cannot now be ascertained.
The town had called Mr. Noyes to become their Gospel preach- ing minister, and the church now invited him to become their pastor, which he accepted ; and the presumption is that the town then occupied the same position in the settlement of a minister that societies do now.
Though twenty-five years had elapsed since the settlement of the place, and sixteen since the organization of the town, and a number of ministers had preached here by invitation of the town, and whose salaries for the time being they had paid, yet it does not appear from any source that any person was baptized, or in any way admitted to a church here. Church membership was not then a prerequisite to inhabitancy in any town in this State. It was simply this : the planters employed a minister to preach to them, taxed themselves to build the meeting-house and to pay the minister's salary, but no church existed here with covenant and confession of faith until 1674.
Though there were but nine persons mentioned as beginning the church, yet the entire population had participated in laying out the ministry land, in organizing the town plot, and in the erection of the meeting-house ; and before 1696 nearly all of them were admitted to the Church. Mr. Noyes' ministry was eminently successful, and was sustained by his parishioners with great unanimity.
Meeting-houses in those days were built without stoves or fire- places, and in cold weather must have been exceedingly uncom- fortable. In 1690 the town voted to build near the church a small house, fourteen feet square with seven feet post, with fire- place for Mr. Noyes to warm himself in cold weather between meetings.
Mr. Noyes continued his labors with this Church until his death, which took place December 30, 1719.
46
BI-CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION.
Parishes or religious societies were organized in this State at first by special acts of the General Court, usually on the request of large towns when a sufficient number of planters were situ- ated remote from the meeting-house, and would be convenienced by a place of worship in their midst.
In 1715 this town extended to Mr. Joseph Noyes, the youngest son of the Rev. James Noyes, a call,1 inviting him to be helpful to his father in carrying on the work of the ministry among them, and that one of the two ministers should preach to the people living remote from the meeting-house in what is now North Stonington. This call he refused, probably in anticipation of one from the first church of New Haven, which he received in July following, and immediately accepted. No further efforts were made to procure a colleague for Mr. Noyes, and another town meeting was held in 1717, which voted, that it was neces- sary to divide the same into two societies for the public worship of God ; and liberty was given to the inhabitants living north- ward and remote from the meeting-house, to have a meeting, to consider what bounds would be reasonable between the societies, and then adjourned the meeting to January 9, 1718, to hear their report.
When the meeting reassembled they submitted a boundary line which was so far satisfactory that the town meeting adopted it, but subsequently a controversy arose respecting this line, which in May, 1720, was submitted to the General Court with a request
1 At an adjourned Town Meeting held April the 14th, 1715, It was voted and agreed to call Mr. Joseph Noyes to be helpfull to the Rev. Mr. James Noyes in carrying on ye work of ye Ministery amongst us in this town, and that one of ye two Ministers shall preach to the People living remoat from the Meeting House, at sum conveniant place where they ye People agreived shall unanimously agree upon, and that after the death, removall or ina- bility of either of ye two Ministers to carry on ye work of ye Ministery, or so soon after as the uper people shall se cause the Town to be divided into two Sosiaties for carrying on ye work of ye Ministery: And ye Town to be devided so as may be consistant with ye rule of Justice, & rightorasness and that the Northern sosiaty when set out as above shall have an equal part of the Ministry Land in this Town and for incurigment of ye upper sosiaty the lower sosiaty shall when divided as aforesaid, pay unto them the sum of One hundred pounds towards ye settling of a minister amongst them. It was also Voated that if Mr. Joseph Noyes shall except of a call of this town to be minister with his father the Revd Mr. James Noyes that then ye Town will give him ye sd Mr. Joseph Noyes for his incuragement ye sum of one hundred pounds towards setling him amongst us, and to pay him annually ye sum of seventy pounds as money so long as they ye sd Mr. James and Mr. Joseph Noyes shall carry on ye work of ye ministry amongst us in this town. And if it please God that Mr. Joseph Noyes shall succeed ye Revd Mr. James Noyes and doe con- tinnew to carry on ye work of ye Ministry amongst us that then he shall have his salloroy raised to make it a comfortable and credable maintainance from this Town. - Stoning- ton T. R.
47
BI-CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION.
that a committee might be appointed to settle and establish a boundary line.1 They came, examined the territory, and made a report which was not accepted by the General Court when re- turned and presented to them, but they arbitrarily established a different line, which remained until May, 1721, when the General Court concluded to change it and adopt the line of the committee with a slight modification.2
The legal effect of the proceedings of the General Court thus far, was to divide the town into two societies, and leave them without authority to assemble and elect their officers ; there being no general statute at the time providing for calling the first so- ciety meeting for that purpose, so a petition was preferred to the Governor and Council in December, 1720, asking that a time might be appointed for a meeting of the inhabitants of said parish qualified to vote in the affairs thereof. The petition was granted, and the 28th of December, at the old meeting-house, at twelve o'clock at noon, be the time and place for said meeting, and three persons were appointed to warn it by giving five days' notice, and
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.