USA > Connecticut > Hartford County > Hartford > History of the diocese of Hartford > Part 40
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 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60
Closely following Denis and Philip Ryan came William Roach, Martin Kearney, Thomas Kcefe, Jolin Byron, Jolin McNamara, Timothy Kecfe, Thomas Higgins and Timothy McNamara.
Early in 1848 Father O'Neil paid a missionary visit to Terryville, and II-20
306
THE CATHOLIC CHURCH IN NEW ENGLAND.
celebrated the divine mysteries in Philip Ryan's liouse. In subsequent visits the school-house was secured for divine services. Terryville was regularly served by the clergy of Waterbury until the formation of the Bristol parislı, in 1863. In 1862 the cemetery was purchased by Philip Ryan, who trans- ferred it to Father Hendricken for the congregation.
Terryville became a dependency of Thomaston upon the formation of that parish in 1871. The present church was built in 1882. In 1884 it became a mission of Watertown, when Rev. Joseph Fones was appointed pastor of tliat parish, but in 1886 it reverted to the jurisdiction of Thomaston during the pastorate of Rev. M. J. McGivney.
Father Daly lias liad the church beautifully decorated within, a new altar has taken the place of the foriner holy table, and a new set of Stations of the Cross has been erected. The cemetery has been improved and the church lawn beautified. After the completion of the work on the church the renewed edifice was dedicated by Bishop Tierney on June 20, 1897. The Rev. Luke Fitzsimmons was the preacher on the occasion.
The successes achieved by the pastors and people of Thomaston and Terryville are a fine illustration of the familiar maxim that in union there is strength.
PARISH OF ST. FRANCIS OF ASSISI, TORRINGTON.
T HE township of Torrington received its naine at the May session of the General Assembly, 1732. Torrington, formerly Wolcottville, named after Oliver Wolcott, Esq., formerly governor of the State, was incor- porated as a borough at the January session of the Legislature, 1887.
The introduction of the holy services of the church into Torrington dates from 1835, when that apostolic missionary, Rev. James Fitton, offered the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass in a brick building, now occupied by O'Brien's bakery, south of the bridge on South Main street. There were but few children of the faith here at that time to profit by the ministrations of the pioneer priest. Among the early settlers, we find the names of Timothy Fanning, William Grant, John Looby, Edward Kelly, Timothy Hennessy, James Batters, Daniel Burns, Owen Cummings, John Cummings, Martin Hennessy, Richard Carroll and James Kent.
Seven years after Father Fitton's visit, his successor, Rev. John Brady, gathered the scattered Catholics at the home of one of the Messrs. Hennessy on the west hill. Five or six families and a few unmarried persons constituted the little congregation. Father Brady, and after him, Father Lynch, of Bridge- port, visited Torrington once a year until 1847, when Rev. Michael O'Neil was appointed pastor of Waterbury and the missions of the Naugatuck Valley.
After Father O'Neil's first visit to Torrington he perfected arrangements whereby he was enabled to hold divine services in a three-story brick build- ing, sometimes used as a place of worship and as an academy. Two other religious bodies used "that old union meeting-house." Father O'Neil visited Torrington twice annually. In February of 1851 Bishop O'Reilly made a visitation of Waterbury, Litchfield and Wolcottville, his visit to the
307
DIOCESE OF HARTFORD.
last place taking place on the 26th. No doubt the bishop strengthened and con- soled the good people here by saying Mass, preaching and administering the sacraments. In this year, Rev. James Lynch, of Birmingham, assumed spiritual charge of Torrington aud made one or two visits. From1 1852, beginning with the pastorate of Rev. Thomas Quinn, Torrington was attended from West Win- sted. His successors, Rev. Fathers Gillick, Hendricken, O'Gorman, Mangan, Mullen, Sheridan and Leo, continued to render faithful service to the Catho- lics here, " each doing his work earnestly for the improvement of his people."
In 1851, a lot opposite the Congregational church on Main street was secured by Father O'Neil for a church. Father Lynch paid for the lot by collecting therefor $400, and transferred the property to the bishop. Work on the churchi was not begun until the fall of 1859, during the pastorate of Father Mangan. It was completed in July, 1860, and the indebtedness in- curred by its erection, $3000, was liquidated by Father Mangan.
" About the time the church was built there was considerable prejudice manifested toward the Catholics, and against the building of the church, and whether there were threats made or not, the Catholic people felt it necessary for a time to station a watchman at the church during the nights, to give the alarm if an attempt should be made to burn the building. This was a decided mistake, if any occasion was given for such fear, for if religious liberty is good, then it is as good for one as another, and it is not good unless it will apply to all the heathen as well as Christians. The Catholics are a Christian people. But all the disposition, if ever there was any, to hinder the success of the Catholic church in the town is thoroughly removed, all persons knowing that it is far better for them, as well as all other people, to go to church, hear the gospel and obey it, than to neglect such duty and privilege. It is also'true that the Catholic people know that there is no occasion for fear, so long as they do as they heretofore have done, respect the rights of others as well as their own, and that they are now held in respect by those who differ from them, in religious belief." 1
In 1866, Father Leo built an addition to the church at a cost of $1500, and beautified the interior. In 1870, the Coe Brass Company sold to Father Leo, through Owen Cummings, for $1000, six acres of land, near the Redfield and Rice manufactory, for cemetery purposes, and it was blessed by Bishop McFarland. Mr. Oliver Coe donated $100 towards its purchase.
The first resident pastor of Torrington was a Franciscan priest, the Rev. Father Isaias, who received his appointment in October, 1874. He secured the Patterson property on Prospect street, which he remodeled and occupied as a parochial residence. St. Francis' parisli at this time numbered 120 fami- lies ; 115 children attended Sunday-school. The laymen who constituted the first church committee were Edward Kelly, Andrew Harty, Richard Carroll and William Grant.
Father Isaias was succeeded in November, 1877, by the Rev. John H. Duggan, who in turn was followed by the present rector, the Rev. Patrick Duggan, in May, 1879. Father Duggan purchased, in 1884, all the property at present occupied by the parisli, save the piece of land purchased in 1851 by Father O'Neil. In1 1886 plans were accepted for a new church more in keeping with the growing importance of the parish. The first collection for this purpose brought the splendid sum of $11,000, yet the parish census placed
1 Orcutt's History.
308
THE CATHOLIC CHURCH IN NEW ENGLAND.
the number of souls at 1376. The work of construction was begun at once, and the corner-stone was laid by Bishop McMahon on September 5, 1886, Rev. John H. Duggan, of Waterbury, pronouncing the discourse. Two thousand dollars were realized in a collection on that occasion. The generous Catholic spirit of the people was shown in the following year by the contribution of $12,000 to the building fund, When St. Francis' church was completed it was free from financial encumbrance, and both pastor and people united in consecrating it to the service of God forever. The solemn services of conse- cration took place on November 13, 1887. The consecrating prelate was Right Rev. L. S. McMahon. The Mass which followed this impressive ceremony was celebrated by Very Rev. James Hughes, V. G., assisted by Rev. Father Leo, as deacon, Rev. J. H. Duggan, as sub-deacon, and Rev. James H. O'Don- nell and Rev. T. Crowley as masters of ceremonies.
The next work that engaged Father Duggan's attention was the erection of the pastoral residence ; this was built on the site of the former church in 1888. Three years later the convent and school, both handsome structures, were erected. Notwithstanding the great material works accomplished in these years there was no indebtedness when the last building was completed. Father Duggan disposed of the former rectory by sale in 1892. The school was blessed in September, 1893, by the Administrator of the diocese, Very Rev. James Hughes, V.G., Rev. W. J. Slocum preaching the sermon. When the school was opened it received 391 pupils; at present there are 695, with nine grades and eleven Sisters of Mercy, of whom Sister M. Dominic is the Direc- tress. St. Francis' parish enjoys the proud distinction of having all its children, who attend school, taught within the walls of the parochial school, and the standard of scholarship here maintained is of such excellence that its graduates are admitted into the high school without examination.
When St. Francis' parish was organized in 1874, its population was esti- mated at 800 souls. At present there are 3600, of mixed nationalities, compris- ing Irish, French, Germans, Poles, Lithuanians, Slavs, Hungarians and Italians.
The number of baptisms administered between 1874 and 1899, exclusive, was 1867 ; the number of marriages solemnized within the same period was 376.
The assistants of St. Francis' parish were : Rev. T. Brady, Rev. T. Whe- lan, Rev. M. Barry, Rev. S. Musiel. The present assistants are Rev. E. Brennan and Rev. N. Brommenschenkel.
St. Francis' parish enjoys an enviable reputation among its sister par- ishes of the diocese. If the success achieved in the material order has been gratifying, not less consoling have been the results in the spiritual.
ST. JOHN'S PARISH, WATERTOWN.
T HE ancient town records of Watertown contain many names that have a distinctively Celtic flavor, but whether their owners were of Irish birth or descent is conjectural ; much less is it known what creed they professed. However, the names themselves lead us to the not unreasonable conclusion that they were borne by children of Holy Mother church,
309
DIOCESE OF HARTFORD.
whatever inay have been their subsequent spiritual fate. Some of these names copied from the records are : Seth Blake (1769); Eunice Collins (1777); Love Higgins (1780); Rhoda Finn (1779); John Brien (1780); Lucy Brien (1785); Annie Flynn (1788); Joseph Finn (1805); Richard Finn (1813); Thomas Finn (1818).1 .John O'Brian and Polly Matthews were married on December 12, 1802; Henry O'Bryan and Cordelia McDonald, on June 6, 1825 ; Timothy Richards and Sally Daly, on October 28, 1827. The above family names are unmistakably Irish, while the baptismnal names indicate mixed marriages, or, as was frequently the case in the early days, a change of Irish into Puritan baptismnal names, so as not to leave too many traces of Irish origin.
The first Catholic, known to be such, to reside in Watertown was Michael Dunn, who came here about 1841. Three years later he was reinforced by two others, Anna Gaffney and Patrick Doherty, the latter of whom still resides here. In 1853, the entire Catholic population of the town numbered about a dozen souls. It comprised Patrick Doherty, Patrick Drum, James Godsell, John Kane, Robert Torrence, and John McGowan with their families.
Previous to 1855, 10 priest had visited Watertown. In that year Mass was said for the first time by the Rev. Michael O'Neil, of Waterbury, in the residence of John McGowan. . Robert Torrence's house was the scene of the second Mass, and Mrs. Harvey's had the honor of the third. At first, the Catholics of Watertown were attended every three months, but as their nuin- bers increased Father O'Neil and his successors made monthly visits. The first death of a Watertown Catholic was that of Patrick Fitzpatrick, who died late in 1853. The first baptism was that of an infant of Patrick Drum.
After Father Hendricken had assumed charge of the Catholics of Water- town, he offered the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass monthly in what was known for years as " Citizens' Hall," a former Episcopalian church. Father Rodden and Father Bohen, of Waterbury, also made periodical visits here. As pastor of Bristol, Father Rodden attended Watertown, but only for a brief period ; it then reverted to Waterbury. On April 9, 1871, it was assigned to the care of Rev. Eugene Gaffney, of Thomaston, under whose jurisdiction it con- tinued until 1884.
In 1877, the site now occupied by the residence of Mrs. James Dunigan, was purchased from the Dayton estate for $375 ; but as it was found to be unsuitable for church purposes, it was sold and the present beautiful site bought for $600. Father Gaffney began at once the erection of a church, the corner-stone of which was laid in November, 1877. On Marchi 24, 1878, Bishop Galberry dedicated it in honor of St. Jolin the Evangelist. The High Mass which followed the dedicatory services was sung by the pastor, Father Gaffney, and the sermon was preached by the Rev. Patrick Fay of Colches- ter. The church, though small, is an architectural gem and cost $7,000. Patrick Dunigan and John Kane were the first trustees.
In November, 1884, Watertown was separated from Thomaston and formned into a parish with Terryville as a mission. Rev. Josephi Fones was appointed the first resident pastor. During his administration of two years,
1 The name of Finn appears in 1770.
310
THE CATHOLIC CHURCH IN NEW ENGLAND.
Father Fones accomplished much for his parish, among the material works completed being the parochial residence. In November, 1886, the Rev. James W. Lancaster assumed charge of the parish. An eloquent and active priest, a man of deeply sympathetic nature he labored here for six years, beloved by his parishioners. Father Lancaster died on April 28, 1892, and was succeeded by the present pastor, the Rev. James H. O'Donnell, on May 15, 1892.
Father O'Donnell has thoroughly renovated the church and rectory, within and without, laid concrete walks about both, introduced a new heating appa- ratus and electric lights, and liquidated the entire indebtedness of the parish.
On February 24, 1896, he purchased three and one-half acres of land for cemetery purposes, paying therefor $700. This transaction was distinguished by the town donating $300 towards the purchase. Mt. St. James' cemetery was blessed by Bishop Tierney on Sunday, July 26, 1896. The sermon was delivered by Very Rev. John A. Mulcahy, Vicar-General.
The parish, which comprises Oakville, numbers about 475 souls, Irish and their descendants and French Canadians.
The present trustees are Thomas Shields and John Doherty.
SACRED HEART (MISSION) CHURCH, SOUTHBURY.
T N the beautiful Pomperaug valley is situated the Sacred Heart church, Southbury, a mission of Watertown. The Rev. James Bohen cele- brated the first Mass said here in 1862, in the house of Francis Grant. There were present about forty persons. After this, Mass was said at intervals by priests attached to the church of the Immaculate Conception, Waterbury. From Waterbury it passed under the jurisdiction of New Mil- ford. For many years the Catholics of Southbury joined with their brethren of Woodbury and worshiped in the town hall of the latter village. In 1884, there were about forty families in Southbury, and the pastor of New Milford, the Rev. James C. O'Brien, began the erection of a church. The site was donated by Denis Houlihan. In November of that year the corner-stone was laid by Very Rev. James Hughes, V. G., assisted by Revs. H. T. Brady, Ansonia ; P. M. Kennedy, Birmingham; J. Fagan, Naugatuck ; J. M. McCar- ten and M. Cray, Newtown. The sermon was preached by Rev. W. A. Harty, and Rev. Fathers Kennedy and Fagan discharged the office of chanters. The work on the building progressed so favorably, that Mass was said in it for the first time on Christmas day, 1884. During the pastorate of the Rev. Father Lancaster, Southbury was attached to Watertown, whence it is still attended. Father Lancaster purchased the cemetery which was blessed by Bishop McMahon in the summer of 1890. The sermon on the occasion was preached by Father O'Donnell, then of Waterbury. Mass is said here twice a month. The number of Catholics in Southbury is about seventy-five.
In the summer of 1892 the church was artistically frescoed, the sanctuary re-carpeted aud the altar re-decorated. Vestments of all the prescribed colors were recently added to the possessions of the church.
Woodbury is another mission of Watertown where Mass is said semi-
311
DIOCESE OF HARTFORD.
monthly. Woodbury was first attended by priests from Birmingham, then from Waterbury until it was assigned to New Milford. During the adminis- tration of the Rev. Father Fones, it was attached to Watertown. About thirty Catholics reside here and Mass is said in the Town hall. In 1895, the town generously donated a cemetery lot to the Catholics, which was blessed on November 2Ist of that year, by Bishop Tierney. The congregation owns a valuable lot upon which it is the intention to erect a church.
The first Catholics to reside in Woodbury were nine Acadians, but the names of four only have come down to us, viz : Peter Beaumont, Henrie Scisceau, Alexander Pettigree and Philemon Cherevoy. In 1760 we meet the name Philemon Way. Was he an Acadian, also? It is probable. Other names copied from the ancient records indicate the probable presence in Woodbury of Catholics in the last century. Mary Lacey appears in 1704. In the adjoining town of Roxbury, we find such names as Mary Ward (died September, 1760), wife of Thaddeus Lacy (died May 12, 1764), and Mary Hunt (died May 6, 1782). In Woodbury there was a John Runnolds (Rey- nolds) in 1759, and a Timothy Mitchell in 1768. Joshua Guitteau died in 1746; Francis Guitteau in 1760; David Guitteau in 1774, and Jerusha Guit- teau in 1783. A Joseph Tooley died in 1778.
Members of the Acadian family of Cherevoy died, Philemon, March I, 1801, aged 52 years ; Nathaniel, April 29, 1813, aged 28 years ; a child of Philemon, August 22, 1790; Rachel, widow of Philemon, January 14, 1831, aged 77 years ; Elizabeth, May 5, 1850, aged 75 years.
The first Catholic marriage that took place in Woodbury, of which there is any record, was that between Stephen Collins and Bridget Dolan, October 26, 1856. Rev. James Lynch of Birmingham performed the ceremony. The first birth recorded is that of a female child of Patrick and Mary Collins, April 2, 1852. In 1849 occurred the first death, Charles Birney ; the second, May 27, 1852, Mary Ann Quirk.
MIDDLESEX COUNTY.
ST. JOHN'S PARISH,
MIDDLETOWN.
IDDLETOWN, the Indian name for which was Mattabesett, was invested with town privileges in September, 1651, and received its name in November, 1653. The historian Barber says, that in 1654 there were about thirty families, and in 1670, fifty-two. From a list given by the same author, we extract some names that are 1111- mistakably of Irish origin. The list is dated Marchi 22, 1670, and the names represent proprietors of Middetown with their estates: Jolin Ward, William Ward, Anthony Martin, Samuel Collins, Nathaniel Collins, Jolin Savage, Jolını Kirby, Philip Mortimer and Captain Gleason. The city of Middletown was incorporated in 1784.
312
THE CATHOLIC CHURCH IN NEW ENGLAND.
Middletown received its quota of French Neutrals, according to the dis- position made by the General Assembly in January, 1756. Sixteen of the exiles were assigned to this town. They were the first Catholics, known to be such, to reside within the borders of the town. Did they remain faithful to the church, to the faith of their baptism? The elders did, no doubt; but what of their descendants? Did the memories of childhood keep alive the sacred flaine, or did human considerations smother the fire that later burned, perhaps, but dimly ?
The first priest to visit this section was the Rev. R. D. Woodley, of Pro- vidence. In July, 1829, he was directed by Bishop Fenwick to visit Middle- town. In this saine month he had visited the Enfield Canal, New Haven and New London. As Father Woodley and all other early missionaries always traveled prepared to say Mass when the opportunity was favorable, it may be reasonably inferred that the Holy Sacrifice was offered in Middle- town during this visit.
The Rev. James Fitton informs us in his Sketches that he attended Mid- dletown and Portland in 1830, when Mass was said and the sacraments administered in private houses. "The extensive work at the brown stone quarries of Portland," says the missionary, " gave employment to several la- borers, the majority of whom, with their families, were members of the church, who, after their week's toil, had occasionally the privilege of Mass on Sun- days, or before their day's work on other occasions." Father Fitton visited Middletown on Thursday evening, November 10, 1831, delivered a lecture which had been previously advertised, and no doubt said Mass and performed other religious functions during this visit. In July, 1832, religious services were held in Westfield, a few miles north-west of Middletown. We quote from the United States Catholic Press, July 12, 1832:
"Seldom did we witness a more pleasing sight than that afforded us 011 Sunday, the 8th inst. The Catholics employed on the Enfield Canal were visited, agreeably with previous arrangements, by their pastor, it being the first time that the holy services of our Church were performed in this section of our country. The concourse of those who attended from the neighboring towns, some of them coming from eighteen miles distant, was so great that no room could be found sufficiently spacious to accommodate all; they as- sembled in the nearest woods, called Cedar Swamp, where the Holy Sacrifice was offered under the spacious boughs of a large tree. The scene was im- pressive and truly edifying, similar to that which was exhibited on the dis- covery of America by the Catholic Columbus; as then, so now, the holy altar was erected and sacrifice offered to the living God of the universe .. The multitude of those who were present, to their credit be it said, behaved witlı propriety and becoming respect. Though the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, as it often happens, was a subject of much mystery to our Protestant brethren of various denominations, who were present, yet they were attentive and duly respectful. The discourse, both morning and afternoon, was listened to with much apparent interest, and though hours were necessarily employed in es- tablishing as well as vindicating the truths of the Catholic religion, still the
-
313
DIOCESE OF HARTFORD.
pastor was called upon to visit and preach in another section of the country the same evening. Many on this occasion attended to their religious duties; some were baptized, and one family presented themselves for other instructions, that they might be admitted into the communion of the Catholic church."
Among the first Catholics to settle in Middletown to establish homes were Thomas Condon, Michael Ahern, James Sheridan, Martin Deegan, Mi- chael Byrnes, James Barry, David Geary, Edmund Higgins and Jolın Dunn. These were probably here in 1835, and it may be, earlier, as about that time labor was in great demand in the quarries at Portland. Those who located at Middletown, Portland and Cromwell, formed a not inconsiderable body, and therefore, like their countrymen who settled elsewhere in the State and thronghont New England, were eager to possess the benefits of religious ser- vices. Accordingly, the Rev. James McDermot, of New Haven, was noti- fied of the presence in this neighborhood of a goodly number of Catholics. In response to their request, he visited Middletown in the summer of 1835 and offered the Holy Sacrifice in Mr. Taylor's house on East Court street. The successor of Father Fitton of Hartford, Rev. Peter Walsh, came in 1836, and held divine services at the house of Michael Ahern. He continued his visits at regular intervals until August, 1837, when he was succeeded in Hart- ford by the Rev. John Brady. In September of that year, Father Brady began his missionary visits here, and for four years said Mass at monthly in- tervals at Mr. Ahern's residence. The increase in numbers made search for a larger place for worship an imperative necessity. A small building on the " Sand Bank " was purchased from Thomas Condon, and was appropriately fitted for Catholic worship. In this humble chapel they gathered for their religions devotions until the erection of the brick church in 1843.
The little church soon became inadequate to the needs of the congrega- tion. Therefore, in the year above mentioned, Father Brady began his quest for an eligible site for a church in Middletown. There were at this time about thirty families in the parish. The result of his efforts was the obtain- ing of the land on which the church now stands on November 18, 1841. The lot was owned by Mr. Charles R. Alsop, who asked $500 for it. A Catholic lady, Mrs. Richard Alsop, generously donated this amount, and the contract was closed. Father Brady began immediately to raise funds for the prosecution of the work of building the church, and in a short time his people experienced the happiness of witnessing the realization of their lopes. The church was 65x40 feet. This building is still standing. The exterior, with the exception of the cross, which was removed, is the same as when erected. The interior was remodeled and fitted nip as a tenement honse.
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.