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 6
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1 GENERAL ASSEMBLY May Session A. D. 1720. Holden at Hartford, - Upon consider- ation of the petition of the inhabitants dwelling in the northward part of Stonington, praying that a committee may be appointed to settle and establish a line that shall divide Stonington into two societies: Ordered by this Assembly, that Mr. John Plumb of New London, Lt. John Sprauge of Lebanon, Lt. Joseph Bacchus of Norwich, and Lt. Timothy Peirce of Plainfield, or any three of them, be a committee to settle the line desired, and make return of their doings therein to the Assembly in October next; and that the town of Stonington be at the charge of it. - Hoadley's Colonial Records, vol. v., page 180.
2 Whereas the Generall Assembly held in May 12th 1720: Did appint us ye subscriber to fix and settle a line in Stonington to divide it into two societies. And we having heard ye Parties what they had to offer in ye premises and viewed ye list of Estates as also taken a view of severall Quarters in ye sd town and seriously considered ye same, do fix and sittle ye aforesd line which divides ye sd town into two societies as follows,
Beginning at ye house and farme of Mr. William Wheeler, from thence west north west line to Mistick River brook about one mile, and from ye sd house and farme of Mr. Wil- liam Wheeler a line easterly to ye house and farme of Mr. Josiah Grant and from thence a line eastwardly to ye house and farme of Mr. John Brown, and from thence a line east- erly to ye house and farme of Mr. Thomas Brown, and from thence a line easterly to ye house and farme of Mr. John Rendall, and from ye sd Mr. Randall's house, an east line to Shoonuck River and so by Shoonuck River to Pawcatuck River. The aforesaid line taking in ye sd Mr. William Wheeler, Mr. Josiah Grant, Mr. John Brown, Mr. Thomas Brown, and Mr. John Randall with their present improvements, into ye North Society and to be a part of it as witness our hands.
STONINGTON, June 25th, 1720.
JOHN SPRAGUE. JOHN PLUMB. JOSEPH BACHUS. TIMOTHY PEIRCE. Committee.
Society Records.
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when assembled either of said persons were to preside and lead the parishioners to a choice of Society officers.1
The meeting assembled, and elected Samuel Stanton, Jr., Clerk, Samuel Stanton, Sr., Daniel Palmer, James Miner, Joseph Deni- son, and Samuel Chesebrough, Sr., Committee, and Nehemiah Williams, Collector. These proceedings completed the organiza- tion of the First Congregational Ecclesiastical Society of Ston- ington, which has been associated with this Church for one hun- dred and fifty-four years, and has controlled and managed its temporal affairs, though subsequently divided, reunited, and again divided ; sometimes torn by controversy, and shattered by dissension, yet in the providence of God the old Society still lives and acts in intimate and harmonious relations withi tlie Church. This Society controlled the common schools of the town until 1799, when school societies were established by law to control and disburse the avails of our school fund.
Ministers' rates were no longer laid and collected by the town. This duty devolved upon the Society ; also the settling of min- isters in connection with the Church, building of meeting-houses, and all the temporal matters of the Church.
For a short time after the death of Mr. Noyes, the pulpit was supplied by ministers from the neighboring churches.
In June, 1720, the Rev. Nehemiah Hobart of Hingham, Mas- sachusetts, came here to preach on the invitation of the town, 1 At a Meeting of the Governour and Council in New London, December 20th, 1720. Present, The Honorable Gurdon Saltonstall Esq. Governour; Richard Christophers, Esq. As- sistant; Jonathan Prentts Esq. John Picket; Christopher Christophers Jonathan Star. Upon application made by several inhabitants of the southermost of the societiesfor parishes in Stoningtown, lately established by the General Court, desiring that a time may be appointed for the meeting of the inhabitants of said parish, qualified to vote in the affairs thereof, and an order given for notifying them of the time for their convening for that end
Ordered, That Wednesday the 28th of this instant December at 12 of the clock at noon, and at the old meeting house in said parish, be the place and time for the meeting of the said inhabitants parishioners.
Ordered, That Capt. Manassah Minor, Mr. Adam Gallop and Mr. Sylvester Baldwin, all of the said parish, or either of them, do give at least five days notice to the inhab- itants within the precint of said parish, who are qualified voters in the said society, that on the said Wednesday the 28th instant at twelve of the clock at noon, at the old meeting house in said parish, a meeting of the said society is appointed and ordered by this board, for choosing a clerk and committee, and for managing other affairs of the said society or parish. And the said Capt. Minor, Mr. Gallop and Mr. Baldwin, or either of them, are appointed to lead the said parishioners at the said meeting to the said choice.
Ordered, That the clerk of the council inclose in a letter to the said Messrs. Minor, Gallop and Baldwin, or either of them, a copie of this order, attested by him, which shall be a sufficient warrant for their attending to the service which they are herein directed to. - Hoadley's Colonial Records, vol. v., pages 228, 229.
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and labored with apparent success for the remainder of the year. In the month of January, 1721, the Society voted to give him an annual salary of eighty pounds currency to carry on the work of a Gospel preaching minister in said Society, and if the Church should call him to office, and he should take pastoral office in this Church within one year, then he should have twenty pounds cur- rency added to his salary, and one hundred pounds currency to- wards his settlement, with the use and improvement of the min- istry land. Mr. Hobart declined to accept of this offer, mainly on the ground that it was substantially the same as the offer made him by the town, a short time before the society was organized, which it appears he had previously refused to accept ; also com- plaining that the ministry land would be unprofitable to him without liberty to clear the same; adding finally that it was plainly manifest from their proceedings that their affections were weaned from him, and he did not wish to be troublesome and burdensome to them. The Society again met in February, and voted him the same salary and the use and improvement of sixty acres of the ministry land, where it would best suit him, and to clear and improve it to his liking, with timber enough to build him a house.
He accepted of this offer immediately,1 but for some reason not now understood the Church did not extend their call to him, and the Society in May following, voted to send for another min- ister to preach in said Society.
This action of the Society met with a decided protest from forty-three members thereof.
In August, 1721, the Society voted to call Mr. Hezekiah Gould STONINGTON Feb. 10th 1720. 1
GENTM
It having pleased the infinitely wise God to dispose and incline you in his all wise Prov- idence to place your affections upon me and to elect, and invite me to serve in the ministry of Christ in this place, and seeing you have laid proposals before me for my incourage- ment in settling among you.
These are to return you hearty thanks for your kindness to me in all the instances of it, and I do now declare to you that after repeated addresses to the Throne of Grace, for coun- cil and direction, in so waighty an affaire, and after mature thought; and deliberation upon that matter, I cant but think God hath some service for me to doo in this place, which I think I can truly say to doo service for him is governing aim : and princable in all my actions I do therefore upon this consideration accept of your invitation earnestly desireing your constant and dayly prayers for me that God would make me faithful, in his service; and successful in the ministry of Christ, and after assuring you that I am your constant re- membrancer at the Throne of Grace, I remaine your assured friend and servante :
Society Records.
NEHEMIAH HOBART.
4
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to be their Gospel preaching minister, with an annual salary of one hundred pounds currency per year. Mr. Gould accepted of their offer,1 intimating that he should remain with them until the Great Lord and Master should otherwise dispose and incline his heart. The next week the Society held another meeting and voted that if the Church should call Mr. Gould to office, and he should take pastoral office and settle among them, they would give him in addition one hundred pounds currency towards his settlement, and the improvement of the ministry land belonging to said Society, reserving the wood, except what Mr. Gould might require for building, firewood, and fencing, the fencing to be on the ministry land. Notwithstanding the Society was apparently united in the call, the Church for reasons not preserved did not see fit to call him to office.
In March, 1722, the Society appointed messengers to go to Mr. Ebenezer Rosseter and agree with him to preach for them for three months. If they could not agree with him, to procure some other suitable man. The messengers succeeded in obtaining the services of Mr. Rosseter as directed. He came and was so much liked by the people that after the three months had expired, the Society, in July of that year, sent messengers to invite him to come to Stonington again and preach the Gospel to them. Mr. Rosseter came as requested, and labored with the people very ac- ceptably, for in October, 1722, the Society gave him a call with an offer of one hundred pounds currency per year, and one lun- dred pounds currency towards his settlement if the Church should call him to office, with the improvement of the ministry land, so long as he continues to be their Gospel preaching minister.
1 TO THE SOUTH SOCIETY IN STONINGTON. These may inform you that whereas the alwise God and our Saviour who riegns and governs the hearts and minds of liis loyal and dutifull subjects, has directed you under your salatory condition to call, and improve me as a minister or teacher among you, and has inclined your hearts to make such a boun- tifull, and honourable proposal for my incouragement and satisfaction so long as I shall continue in the service of Christ among you, I now after humble gratitude offered to heaven, take this publick oppertunity to return you all hearty thanks for your good will ; and affection towards me; as a sincear token of my gratfull acceptance of your bountifull offer, with full resolutions to abide in the service of my great Lord and master among you, untill he shall otherwise dispose, and incline my heart. HEZ. GOULD.
Aug 24th 1721.
Society Records.
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Mr. Rosseter accepted 1 of this call, which was immediately followed by the call of the Church, and he was ordained Decem- ber 19, 1722.
The Church and people were evidently united in the call to Mr. Rosseter, and his preaching was blessed to them, but the subse- quent divisions in the Society greatly embarrassed him, and im- paired his usefulness. The old meeting-house was too small to accommodate all the people that usually attended there, and soon after the settlement of Mr. Rosseter a movement was set on foot to build a larger and better meeting-house ; but no definite action was taken until the year 1726, in September, when a Society meeting was called to agitate the matter, which after fruitless discussions and motions, was adjourned to October 17th, and then to November 7th, and again to December 5th, and again to December 12th, and finally to December 21st, when the meeting was dissolved, without result.
In January following another like meeting was held, and dis- solved without coming to any decision in the matter ; so again in October following another meeting was held and dissolved without reaching any conclusion ; but on the 7th day of Novem- ber, 1726, the Society again met, and after a stormy meeting, they voted to build a new meeting-house, and to locate it at the centre of the town, which was half-way on the old post road between Mystic and Pawcatuc rivers, at a place now known as the Putnam Corners, or Centre Lot.
A large number of the Society refused to abide by the action of this meeting, because, they said, the votes were not put to the meeting by the moderator, who had refused to act, on the ground
1
STONINGTON Nov 16th 1722.
GENTLEMEN.
I have had the opertunity of the perusal of your vote bareing date October 5th 1722. Wherein as I understand by the unanimous consent of this society certain propositions are made, and offered to me in order to my settlement amongst you in the work of the gospel ministry.
Now I would return cordial thanks to the society for your good will herein manifested to me, and from my previous and deliberate consideration upon the matter I now signify to you my compliance with your proposals to me : and my willingness to be serviseable to you in this great work of preaching the Gospel ; so far as God shall enable me by his grace ; thus, consenting to settle amongst you in this imploy. I intreat an interest in your prayers to Almighty God, who is the giver of all grace and wisdom, that he would furnish me to every duty, and indue me with spiritual wisdom, and understanding, to be improved to his glory : and for the good of those with whom I may be conserned.
I remain your souls well-wisher.
Society Records.
EBENEZER ROSSETER.
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that persons not qualified to vote were taking part in the meet- ing, which created so much disorder that those opposed to the Centre location refused to act, and the Centre party put and carried their votes to build and locate the new house at Putnam Corners.
February 4, 1727, another Society meeting was held to consider the matter, which was dissolved without passing any votes. In April following another meeting was convened and adjourned to the 11th inst., which, after a heated debate, voted to build a new meeting-house at Agreement Hill, the place unanimously chosen by the fathers for that use, and of suitable dimensions to accom- modate the whole Society, and then adjourned to April 22, when they selected a building committee of seven to complete the work, and granted a rate of seven pence to pay for the same.
The action of this meeting was protested against and repudi- ated by the Centre Meeting-house people, claiming that the whole proceedings were void and of no effect, because the Society had previously voted to build their new meeting-house at the Centre, or Putnam Corners.
The meeting which voted to build a meeting-house at the Centre did not pass any votes, or make any provisions to raise money to build their new house ; so an agreement was made and entered into, bearing date July 24, 1728, by sixty-one persons favoring that location, stipulating that they would become re- sponsible for, and pay the expense of building said house on the basis of their respective lists. At the October session of the General Court for 1728, some of the parties to this agreement memorialized the same to stop all proceedings relative to build- ing both meeting-houses, which was heard, and an order issued 1 that all further proceedings in said Society be stayed in respect to building a meeting-house or houses, until the parties do agree
1 GENERAL ASSEMBLY, October session, 1728. Convened at New Haven. - Upon the memorial of Mr. John Noyes and Capt. Ephraim Minor: It is resolved by this Assembly, that all further proceedings in the first society in Stonington, in respect to their building a meeting house or meeting houses, shall be stayed until either the parties do agree upon the place, or they have further orders about it from this Assembly; and that Christopher Christophers, Esqr., Mr. Joseph Backus and Capt. Brewster, or any two of them, are ap- pointed a committee to endeavor an accommodation of the difficulties that attend that af- fair, by bringing the parties to an amicable agreement upon a place to fix their meeting house; but if such an agreement cannot be obtained, then the committee are to enquire into that affair, and of the place where the meeting house may be set, the best to accom- modate the whole society, and make report thereof to this Assembly in May next .- Hoad- ley's Colonial Records, vol. 5, page 206.
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upon a place, or they have further orders from this Assembly ; and that Christopher Christophers, Esq., Mr. Joseph Backus, and Capt. Brewster, or any two of them, are appointed a com- mittee to endeavor an accommodation of the difficulties that at- tend the affairs, by bringing the parties to an amicable agree- ment upon a place to fix their meeting-house ; but if such an agreement could not be obtained, then the committee were to in- quire into the affair, and of the place where the meeting-house may be set to accommodate the whole Society, and make return thereof to this Assembly in May next.
This committee visited the Society and inquired into the matter, but were unable to effect an amicable settlement of the affair. They also viewed both locations, and reported to the As- sembly that the meeting-house should be located at the Centre, where the ground was already measured out and procured, and where the timber was already carted and partly framed. This report was approved of and accepted, and the Society was ordered by the court to build their new meeting-house at the Centre.1
This order was disregarded, and steps were taken to proceed with the erection of the meeting-house on Agreement Hill. At the May session of the General Court in 1729, another memorial of the Centre people was preferred, asking for an order to compel the Society to build their new meeting-house at the Centre. An order was made that a Society meeting should be held on or be- fore the 10th day of July following, and Roger Wolcott, Esq., was ordered and empowered to warn said meeting and conduct the same " in all votes and acts relating to the setting up and
1 Pursuant to the act of the General Assembly, holden at New Haven Oct. 10th 1728, appointing us a committee to endeavor an accommodation of the difficulties that had arisen in the first society in Stonington, in respect to their building a meeting-house or meeting-houses there; we have attended that service, and find it impracticable to prevail with the parties to come to an amicable agreement upon a place to fix their meeting-house. We have, therefore, fully enquired into the affair, and of the place where the meeting- house may be set so as best to accommodate the whole society. And, having heard and considered what was offered by both parties, we humbly offer it as our opinion, that the place by the country road nearest the center of said society, where the ground is already measured out as it was procured for that end of Mr. Elihu Cheesebrough, and where the timber is already carted and partly framed, is the most convenient and most proper place to fix a meeting-house so as best to suit the whole society. STONINGTON Nov 28th 1728.
C. CHRISTOPHERS, JOSEPH BACKUS, DANLL BREWSTER.
The above report is by this Assembly allowed and approved, and order that the society proceed to build a meeting-house at the place reported best to suit the whole society as above mentioned. - Hoadley's Colonial Records, vol. 5, page 230.
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finishing said meeting-house, and granting of rates or taxes to defray the expense of the same."1 Mr. Wolcott warned the meeting to take place at the old meeting-house on the 6th day of June, 1729.
This order produced great excitement. The idea that men who had descended from Thomas Stanton, George Denison, John Gallup, Lady Ann Borrodel, and others of equal independence, were to be coerced into building a meeting-house just where it pleased the General Court to say, was not to be tolerated for a moment.
The meeting assembled, and Mr. Wolcott appeared and as- sumed the place of moderator. Every man who had the right to vote was present, and it was supposed that the Centre people were the most numerous and would rule the day ; but they had forgotten that their meeting was assembled at a place set apart by the fathers for their place of worship, who owing to the great unanimity that prevailed at the time, had called the place Agree- ment Hill ; they were standing too at the centre of their home lots, and the town plot, the place where their fathers had wor- shipped, where their first minister had broken the bread of life to many of them and to their fathers and mothers. Mr. Wolcott had come prepared with written propositions, which he presented to the meeting for their consideration, and I will let the old rec- ords tell the result.
The first proposition was this, " That with all convenient speed there shall be erected a meeting house for this society at ye place where ye Assembly at their session in May last stated it should be, said meeting house to be of such dimensions as this society by their votes shall order.
" Past in ye negative.
1 GENERAL ASSEMBLY May session 1729. Upon the memorial of Daniel Palmer and John Noyes, of Stonington, praying that this Assembly would enact and order that the south society of Stonington should be directed to some proper method in their proceeding to build their meeting house in the place now determined and affixed by this Assembly : It is now ordered by this Assembly, that the said society shall have a meeting sometime at or before the 10th day of July next coming; and Roger Wolcott, Esqr., is hereby desired and impowred to cause the said meeting to be warned, (by some proper person or per- sons, ) appointing the time and place when such meeting shall be holden; at which meet- ing the said Roger Wolcott, Esqr., shall be moderator, with full power to lead and con- duct said meeting in all votes and acts relating to the setting up and finishing said meeting house and granting of rates or taxes, for the defraying the charges that hath arisen or may arise relating to the premises. And what votes shall be passed by said meet- ing, the said moderator shall cause to be truly recorded. - Hoadley's Colonial Records, vol. 5, page 234.
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"Second, That a tax of 4 pence on the Pound upon the list of ye poles and ratable estate in this society that was given in, in August last, shall be levied on to raise a sum of money to erect a meeting house for the society in the place where the Assembly has ordered it.
" Past in ye negative."
Mr. Wolcott left Stonington a sadder if not a wiser man. At the May session of the General Court for 1730, upon another memorial of some of the Centre people, the Assembly again or- dered1 that " as soon as the meeting-house in said town that is set up in the old society, where this Assembly ordered it, is made fit for the congregation to meet in, that the Rev. Mr. Rosseter and congregation do attend the public worship of God there," and upon the representation that there had been no Society officers elected for that year, the Assembly ordered another society meet- ing to be held on the first Tuesday of July 1730, at their old meeting-house, at nine o'clock in the forenoon, and Mr. Roger Wolcott was again appointed moderator.
The Society records show no election of officers for the year 1729 and make no mention of any meeting held here by Mr. Wolcott, or any one else until December 8, 1730, when the reg- ular Society officers were elected.
At the October session of 1730 another memorial of the Centre people was preferred representing that there was great contention in said Society, and that two meeting-houses had
1 GENERAL ASSEMBLY May session 1730. Upon the memorial of Daniel Palmer, John Noyes and sundry other inhabitants of Stonington : This Assembly do advise and direct that, as soon as the meeting house in said town that is set up in the old society where this Assembly ordered it, called the eastern meeting house, is made fit for the congregation to meet in, that then the Reverend Mr. Rosseter and congregation do attend the publick wor- ship of God there. And forasmuch as that, through the contentions that have been in said society, the proper officers for said society have not yet been chosen for the year cur- rent. This Assembly do hereby appoint the first Tuesday of July next to be a day for the meeting of said society at their old meeting house, at nine of the clock in the forenoon upon said day, there to choose their society officers for the year current and all other busi- ness proper for such a meeting.
And a copy of this act set up upon the sign post in said society, six days before said meeting, shall be a sufficient notification for the inhabitants to attend said meeting at the time and place aforesaid. And this Assembly do further appoint and impower Roger Wol- cott, Esq. to preside moderator in said meeting, to lead the inhabitants duly qualified to the choice of their officers and any other business proper to said meeting. And it is rec- ommended to said moderator and the people of said society, that they endeavor by all proper methods to put an end to their unhappy difference, and restore peace and good or- der amongst them. - Hoadley's Colonial Records, vol. 5, page 280.
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