USA > Connecticut > Litchfield County > Goshen > History of the town of Goshen, Connecticut, with genealogies and biographies based upon the records of Deacon Lewis Mills Norton, 1897 > Part 7
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So the difficulty continued until 1751, when, by the organ- ization of Litchfield County, the way was open for another Consociation, and the Consociation of Litchfield County was organized in 1752.
According to the Saybrook platform, upon which the Con- gregational Churches were organized, a complaint against a minister must first be made to the associated ministers within
6
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the Consociation, who can, if they see cause, direct the calling of the Consociation composed of the ministers and delegates of the churches and this body, whose powers are both judicial and advisory, shall take cognizance of the case.
In January, 1753, the town voted to ask Mr. Heaton to unite with them in calling the Consociation to consider their difficulties, but he declining, the town brought a complaint against him before the Consociation, which convened March 6th, and decided that the charges against Mr. Heaton should be considered by the Consociation. That body convened at Go- shen, May 29th, and was in session eight days, taking a recess of eleven days, during its convocation. There were between twenty and thirty members of the body. The charges against Mr. Heaton contained several specifications under the three general heads of " Immoral conduct, Imprudent conduct, un- becoming a minister of the Gospel - and Great deficiency in Ministerial Qualifications." The charges were so far sus- tained that the Consociation dissolved the "relation between the Revd. Mr. Stephen Heaton and the church and people in Goshen." The church and people were advised to seek a pastor after God's own heart, and were assured of the best advice and help of the Consociation and prayers to God for their success.
The announcement of the result was made at a public lec- ture held by the Consociation, at the close of which Mr. Hea- ton made a public confession of his sin, a confession so frank and sincere as to give good evidence that, notwithstanding his many mistakes, he was a Christian at heart and willing to sac- rifice personal pride to the honor of the Church of Christ.
The dismission of Mr. Heaton did not remove all the ob- stacles to the growth and harmony of the church. A great and permanent source of trouble remained in the shape of the township, it being about nine and one-half miles long and four and one-half miles wide. The vote to divide the town into societies had not been approved by the General Assembly, as they rightly judged that it would be the ruin of both.
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It may be interesting to read that the town paid sixty-five pounds for the entertainment of the Consociation in June.
In order to secure harmony the town voted in May, 1754, that, whereas, it was expected that there would be two societies at some time not far distant, that should a second society be formed within ten years it would pay those persons who should be set off to the second society the whole of what they should have paid for settling a minister; provided the minister now settled shall be living when the division is made.
It is probable that Mr. Abel Newell had been recom- mended by the Association as a suitable man for the pas- torate of the church, for we find him preaching here soon after Mr. Heaton's dismissal. He was liked very generally, but there was the objection that, for several months in the year, those living on the upper part of East street were not able to attend church. An arrangement was finally entered into by which they could pay that proportion of their tax to support preaching near to them during the winter months, and a committee of three from Salisbury came here and de- termined what families might avail themselves of this ar- rangement. At a meeting held August 25, 1754, a call to settle was given to Mr. Newell, but as the sectional difficulties were not settled at that time, and had not been so late as January, 1755, the Association meeting here at that time, advised Mr. Newell " to leave the town." He did as they ad- vised, but the town asked them to reconsider their action and give their consent to his settlement. The call to him was re- newed, he returned to the town, the terms of his settlement were arranged, a compromise was effected with the people at the north end, the Consociation met here August 25, 1755, and ordained Mr. Newell, installing him as pastor of the church. Eleven churches were represented, and the sermon on the occasion was preached by the Rev. Samuel Newell, the father of Mr. Newell. He was from New Cambridge, then a parish of Farmington, now Bristol. Mr. Samuel Newell was their first minister and died in 1789.
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By the terms of settlement it was agreed that he should receive 1500 pounds money of the old tenor, to be paid 500 pounds a year for three years and when paid equal to the value and currency of so much money of the old tenor, Sept. 27, 1754.
The salary to be paid in money current in this Colony, the first year equal to the value of 100 bushels of wheat, 66 bushels of rye and 201 bushels of Indian corn. The second year equal to the value of 108 bushels of wheat, 72 bushels of rye and 216 bushels of corn. The third year equal to the value of 116 bushels of wheat, 78 bushels of rye and 231 corn. The fourth year equal to the value of 124 bushels of wheat, 84 bushels of rye, and 246 bushels of corn. The fifth year to the value of 112 bushels of wheat, 134 bushels of rye, and 225 bushels of corn, and so to continue a standing yearly salary, to be always paid in money current in this Colony, dur- ing the time of the continuance of his ministry. In Decem- ber of that year the Parsonage lot on Beach Hill was deeded to Mr. Newell for 1350 pounds, or as so much as that towards his settlement. The salary in money varied from year to year, according to the value of the articles named, and ranged from $200 to $266, until 1776, when the War of the Revo- lution affected the value of produce and depreciated currency to that extent that it made the arrangement impracticable. One year during the Revolution he was paid 400 pounds and it was voted, but later reconsidered to pay him 680 pounds for the year 1778. Owing to the fluctuations differences arose and the town asked for a change of the terms and proposed that it be left to a disinterested committee, but Mr. Newell declining, he was asked to resign and unite in calling a Coun- cil to dismiss him, and all pecuniary matters having been ar- ranged, this was done Jan. 30, 1781.
In July, 1769, it was voted by the town to build a new meeting-house in the place fixed by the County Court for that purpose, the edifice to be 64 feet long and 44 broad. The
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location was near the present edifice, its front even with the east end of the house now occupied. It was not completed until late in 1771, when a seating committee was chosen and the town voted " that the seaters seat the meeting house by age, calling five pounds per year a age equal to 5 pounds in the list," and Mr. Newell was given the choice of any pew in the meeting-house for his family. As early as 1752 it was " Voted that we have a Chorister or Choristers," and Benoni Hills was elected at a town meeting the first Chorister. The next election was in 1771, at the time when the second meet- ing-house was nearly completed, and Ensign Elisha Blin was elected First Chorister, Fisk Beach the second, and Miles Norton the third. The old meeting-house was disposed of to Ensign Nehemiah Lewis, Cyprian Collins, Stephen Goodwin, Daniel Cook, Noah Wadhams, Chiliab Smith, and Miles Nor- ton, by them to be rebuilt into a Sabbath-day house, 30 by 25, with two stacks of chimneys and two fire-places in each end, divided into four rooms by hanging partitions; the town reserving the right of use of the same as a town house for all public business to meet in on week days. It was located on the southeast part of the Green. It was at this time that land was purchased of Mr. Heaton to enlarge the Green by strips on three sides.
We were congratulating ourselves on having the old meet- ing-house suitably disposed of when the record of a town meet- ing one year later informed us that the town released Ensign Lewis and his partners from their contract to take the old house, providing they would pay ten pounds for the old house and return all the " dove tiails " (dovetails) belonging to said old house. There were at least four Sabbath-day houses on the Green at this time.
In 1773 the town " Voted, that the School district in the middle of the town, have liberty to set a school house in the green, near the meeting house, at such place as the Select men
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appoint." The Selectmen were also instructed, to make such alterations in seating the meeting-house as they think proper; not to dignify the pews anew, nor to seat the whole over anew. In 1777, a town meeting was held in Sept., at which the only business transacted was to locate a Sabbath-day house on the Green, and to enact as follows, viz .: "Voted, that Fisk Beach be Chorister, to tune the psalm, and be head Chorister."
" Voted that Wait Hinman be an assistant Chorister."
" Voted that those persons men and women in the galleries who are skilled in singing psalms; to carry on the divine serv- ice of singing psalms."
It would seem from this that the voices below were not in harmony with those above, and the services of praise were to be confined to the skilled ones in the galleries.
After the dismissal of Mr. Newell the pulpit was supplied by Mr. Heaton, Rev. Samuel Mills, afterward of Torringford, and the father of Dr. Elisha Sill, an aged clergyman from Say- brook. In August, 1781, the town voted to call Rev. Josiah Sherman, who had been recommended to them by Rev. Dr. Bellamy of Bethlehem. This vote was repeated at three differ- ent meetings and passed unanimously. It seems that before the matter could be definitely settled, it being delayed, per- haps, because there was no house into which he could move his family, there came to be opposition to him, and on the twenty-eighth of January, 1782, the town adopted the follow- ing paper, to be communicated to Mr. S. "The town taking into their serious consideration their present unhappy condi- tion, as destitute of a gospel minister; and a great majority of them being still desirous that the Revd. Mr. Josiah Sherman should be their pastor; and that every thing should be removed that is a discouragement in said Mr. Sherman's mind in his undertaking herein: and that these gentlemen who have been heretofore in the negative should be fully satisfied: - and the town understanding that the main thing that labours in their
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minds is their want of further acquaintance and experience of his ability and fitness for said work: and the town being per- suaded that in a few months trial the way may be fully pre- pared for Mr. Sherman's settlement among us in union and peace, Therefore, Voted to desire said Mr. Sherman to remove himself and family into this town, to preach a few months for the purpose aforesaid :- and, that during said time the town will give him the same wages, and pay in the same manner as was heretofore voted in case he should settle in the ministry here." This paper was adopted with but three dissenting votes.
It was voted, to build a parsonage 38 by 28 ft., two stories high, and the building was proceeded with, and in June, 1782, the arrangement was finally concluded, upon the following terms: "Voted to give the Revd. Mr. J. Sherman, in case he should settle in the work of the gospel ministry in this town, to be paid to him annually, the sum of one hundred and fifteen pounds lawful silver money, to be paid to him in the manner following, viz: 52 bushels of wheat, at 5 shillings; 40 bushels oats, at one shilling and 6 pence; 40 bushels Indian corn, at 2 shillings and 6 pence; 12 barrels cider, at 6 shillings; 40 pounds sheep's wool, at 1 shilling and 6 pence; 100 pounds of flax, at 6 pence; 400 pounds of beef in quarters, at 16 shillings 8 pence; 100 weight of tallow, at 6 pence; 200 wt. of pork, if in one hog, 25 shillings per hundred; 200 wt. of cheese, at 40 shillings per cwt .; 100 wt. fall butter, at 8 pence; 150 wt. of sugar, at 6 pence; 28 cords of wood, cut and split fit for use, 10 pounds. Total £59, 10s, 4d. A suitable and convenient dwelling house, barn and out houses, to be accounted as £15 a year towards the salary; 10 acres of pasture land, and so much mowing as shall produce six tons of good hay annually. The foregoing articles to be delivered at his dwelling-house in such seasons of the year as will best accommodate him for his use. And the remainder of said 115 pounds, being £40, 4s. 8d, to be paid in lawful silver money annually during the time he
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shall continue in the office of a gospel minister in and over this town."
Mr. Sherman's acceptance of the terms was in writing, and incorporated into the records of the town.
Goshen, 17th June 1782.
Honored and Beloved.
Whereas you have invited me to settle in the work of the gospel ministry amongst you. I am sensible it is an office very arduous and important; and it is very discouraging not to have the cordial affection and unanimous voice of all; and especially of those whose judgment and friendship I esteem. Yet it seems at the present day a fuller vote cannot be ex- pected in so large a town :- and those in the opposition ap- pear to be gentlemen of candour and moderation; and, as I am informed, have nothing to object against my preaching, con- duct or family. I would hope that a short time may remove all prejudice from their mind, that I may be happy in their friendship. Therefore, with a due reliance on the Great Head of the Church, and fountain of all divine influences, for all needed influence for a right discharge of the sacred trust; I signify to you my willingness to accept your call: desiring your fervent prayers for me, to the God of all grace :- and, wishing grace, mercy and peace from God the Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ may be multiplied to you, and subscribe myself your servant in the Lord.
Josiah Sherman.
To the town and church in Goshen."
There is no evidence to be found that Mr. Sherman was ever installed and as no Council was called at his leaving, it is made certain that he was not. He was a man of power in the pulpit, but the opposition continued and gained as the years were passing. He was criticized on account of his sermons and the treatment of those who opposed him, the methods of his administration and his bearing as a man, and on Feb. 18, 1789, an agreement was entered into between him and the
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town whereby he laid down his office and his relations with the town and church were terminated.
The matter of supplying the pulpit was delegated to a committee and Rev. William F. Miller was engaged for a short time and the " minds of the town " were asked, " whether the town are suited with Mr. Miller's pulpit performances, and, being put to vote passed in the affirmative by a great ma- jority."
At the time of Mr. Sherman's leaving there was not much difference of opinion among the people, but the church was in a disorganized state and knew not what to do. A council was called to advise them, and the advice was to the effect " that the church should, by one act or vote, annul and abrogate every- thing which was transacted in any and all meetings of the church during the ministry of Mr. Sherman;" and this was done. This was not interpreted as putting any one out of the church who had been received; but it was removing every im- pediment in the way of the communing and acting with the church of all those members who had been suspended or ex- communicated, so far as such impediment had its origin in the votes taken during the above period. The church also sent messengers to the Consociation asking that their membership in that body might be renewed, which request was granted.
It was not until June, in 1791, that the town took any de- cided action about settling a pastor, and then "the town were desired to show their minds whether they desire the worthy Mr. Asahel Hooker to settle in the work of the gospel ministry in this town; and the vote being put, it passed in the affirma- tive, with but one dissenting vote." About three weeks after the call an acceptance was received, and the arrangements were made for his ordination which occurred Sept. 7, 1791. During the month of June an agreement had been entered into between the two parts of the town, to continue during the life or continuance of the minister then next to be settled, so that
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it would appear that one fruitful source of discord had been disposed of.
Up to this time but little is known as to the growth or spiritual condition of the church. Our only sources of in- formation are the records of the town, of the Consociations and the testimony of aged peple who were living in 1830. The mother of Deacon Lewis M. Norton, whose labors and records make this history possible, was a member of the church as early as 1791 and, without doubt, nine years previous to that time; his grandfather had been a deacon from 1768 to 1784, and the facts in the history of the church must have been familiar to all members of the family. From his records we learn that, the congregations were large through all the years that we have been over and notwithstanding the unpleasant things which appear in the records that there had been har- mony most of the time. The French War and the War of the Revolution had both occurred in these years, and such times are not favorable to church growth or to piety in individuals. During Mr. Sherman's ministry there were very considerable additions to the church, but it was not until later years that there occurred those revivals during which the whole com- munity was awakened and people came into the church in great numbers.
With the settlement of Mr. Hooker brighter days dawned upon the church. The north and south ends were united and it was agreed that when the people at the north desired to or- ganize themselves into a second parish there would be no op- position. The town was greatly refreshed by the preaching of Mr. Hooker. There were seasons of refreshing, and he was privileged to receive 190 persons into the church during his pastorate. He founded and taught the first academical school in the town. Its sessions were held in the northeast room of his house, the dwelling directly opposite the present meeting- house.
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At the earnest request of liis ministerial brethren he was induced to undertake the instruction of young men fitting for the ministry. It was at a time when schools of theology were not known in this country. The following is a list of his stu- dents, so far as the names are obtainable; some of whom have won reputations not only national, but world wide. James W. Robbins, John Keep, John Hyde, Josiah W. Canning, Lyman Strong, Mills Day, Timothy P. Gillett, James Beach, Moses Gillett, Asahel Gaylord, Bennet Tyler, Experience Por- ter, Frederick Marsh, John Woodbridge, Heman Humphrey, Thomas Punderson, Joshua Huntington, William Bonney, Caleb Pitkin, Joshua L. Williams, Allen McLean, Horatio Waldo, Joseph Edwards, Henry P. Strong, Luther Hart, James W. Tucker, Joseph L. Mills, Gordon Hall, Abel Mc- Ewen, and Noah Porter.
The arduous labors of Mr. Hooker were wearing upon his health and after struggling against it for several years, unwill- ing to lessen his work, he was compelled to resign in June, 1810; after a pastorate of twenty years.
The labors of Mr. Hooker were succeeded immediately by those of the Rev. Joseph Harvey, who was installed in October, 1810. His ministry was memorable on account of his interest in Foreign Missions, making this town a centre of influence in that work, and as the Rev. Doctor Thompson has said, " the birth-place of the Sandwich Island mission." He continued its pastor for 15 years, and during that period received into the church 130 members. His health had failed and when, in 1825, he was called to become the Secretary of the American Education Society, and believing that a change in his work would lead to the restoration of his health, a re- luctant assent was given to the dissolution of the pastoral re- lation, which took place in October, 1825.
The pulpit was immediately supplied by Rev. Francis H. Case of Canton, and with such acceptance that he was soon called to the pastorate and installed February 1, 1826. His
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feeble health compelled the dissolution of the relation within three years after it was entered upon, years of great usefulness, filled with faithful and successful work, the immediate fruit of which was the accession of 59 members to the church.
An ineffectual attempt having been made to secure Rev. Laurens P. Hickock as pastor, Rev. Grant Powers was called in July, and installed August 26, 1829. The ministry of Mr. Powers continued until his death, April 10, 1841. During this pastorate the present church edifice was built and dedi- cated, and 77 persons were received into the church. His salary proving inefficient for the support of his growing fam- ily, it was increased by unanimous vote of the society and later he was granted a release for several months to recruit his health with continuance of salary,- an unusual thing in those days. Soon after his death, a call was given to the Rev. A. C. Thompson, who for half a century has been pastor of the Eliot Church, Boston (Roxbury), and later to Rev. The- odore M. Dwight, but these calls were declined. A call given to Rev. Lavalette Perrin was accepted by him, and he con- tinued to be the pastor fourteen years until September 4, 1857, when he was dismissed, to the regret of all, there being a unanimous wish that he should remain. His ministry was eminently successful in all respects. He received 112 into the church, and led the church to a high position on the tem- perance question, a position which has been maintained until this day.
For more than a year the pulpit was supplied by candi- dates and others. Among the supplies was the Rev. Absalom Peters, D.D., who preached here six months, and whom the people would have been glad to receive as pastor. Rev. Joel F. Bingham was installed in January, 1859, but it was a case of the wrong man for the place, and the Consociation term- inated the relation in May, 1860.
The church was again dependent upon temporary supplies, but was united and possessed considerable vitality, for during
CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH, DISTRICT SCHIOOLIIOUSE, AND PARSONAGE, 1890.
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the four years that it was pastorless 45 members were received. Among the supplies I find the names of Rev. Charles M. Hyde, at present in the service of the American Board at Honolulu; Rev. Lewis M. Austin, then of Bennington, Vt., at present of Winter Park, Florida, and Rev. James B. Cleveland, who was here nearly a year, and during his ministry the interest was constant, hardly a communion season passing, but what mem- bers were received on profession.
Rev. William T. Doubleday was pastor of the church for more than seven years, from 1864 to 1871. He was succeeded by the Rev. Timothy A. Hazen in 1871, and the relation was continued with him until 1883. The pastorates of both these men were eminently successful, and they left the church har- monious and interested in all Christian work and benevolence. The church made no effort to settle a pastor after Mr. Hazen left. The parish committee hired Rev. Daniel B. Lord to sup- ply the pulpit in 1883, and he continued to do so, being re- engaged every year until 1889. Mr. Doubleday received into the church 77 members, Mr. Hazen 79, and during the six years of Mr. Lord's service 36 were received.
The writer, who is engaged upon these pages, commenced as supply of the church September 15, 1889, and was elected pastor of the church January 3, 1890. On January 1, 1894, 26 members had been received in his pastorate, and at the same date the membership of the church was 155. The ben- evolences of the church in 1893 were $806.09. A special offering of one of its members was $4,500. From all the facts obtainable, it appears that the present membership is as large, in proportion to the population of the town, as at any previous period in its history.
The foregoing, relating to the history of the church, was written in 1894, since when many changes have taken place. The date of the present writing is January, 1897; the place Woodstock, Conn. The writer's pastorate terminated Novem- ber 1, 1896.
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During the past seven years forty-five names have been added to the roll of members. The parsonage has been shin- gled, painted outside and within, newly papered, and a fur- nace heating the entire house supplied. The barn has been shingled, new horse sheds built at the church, and the expense of these repairs and additions is not included in the amount raised for parish expenses, given below.
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