USA > Connecticut > New Haven County > Wolcott > History of the town of Wolcott (Connecticut) from 1731 to 1874, with an account of the centenary meeting, September 10th and 11th, 1873 and with the genealogies of the families of the town > Part 10
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He made an entry in the church book in December, 1822, and signed it as "Late Pastor."
On Dec. 31, 1822, the Society voted "That we lay a tax on the list of 1821, to the amount of three hundred and twenty-five dollars for the purpose of discharging the claims of Mr. Keys against the Society."
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It runs in the memory of some persons now living, as well as in the records of the Society, that before and after the dismissal of Mr. Keys, the Meeting house was crowded with hearers to such an extent that it was one of the great difficulties of the Society, to provide seats to accommodate and satisfy the people. One dollar per person, per year, from the regular attendants, would probably have paid the salary of Mr. Keys [$500], and yet they dismissed him, as they say, "for no other rea- son " than that the salary could not be raised, and had not been for a number of years, on which account the Society was in debt. At this time there was money enough in Wolcott, and if not, there were wheat, corn, and butter in abundance ; for those were the days of prosperity in it. We are compelled to conclude that there must have been some radical cause for the unwil- lingness to support Mr. Keys. I am at a loss to know what it was, and have heard but one suggestion, - namely, that while Mr. Keys was an eminent scholar, and a man of diligence and energy, faithful in all his work, visiting families and public schools, catechising the chil- dren, attending social meetings, and preaching, yet the theology he preached was so imbued with the darker doctrines of Calvinism, that the people did not feel like paying heavily, nor even moderately, for it. Another fact deserving of consideration is that his dismissal occurred during the conflict of public sentiment in this town, be- . tween the two systems of supporting the gospel, -the
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one by levying a tax, and the other by subscription. There was much opposition to the taxing system ; there had been for thirty years. But if this had been the cause of the failure to raise the money, I do not understand how it occurred that when the Society voted to raise Mr. Keys' salary by subscription one year, as they did two or three years before his dismissal, they should have incurred a debt of nearly three hundred dollars. I have not learned that Mr. Keys was an objectionable minister on account of discussing "politics in the pulpit." Mr. Woodward was a high toned Federalist, and Thomas Jefferson was criti- cised with spirit and energy, more especially because Mr. Jefferson was supposed to be an infidel, which was the highest wickedness to the good minds of the Puritans. But Mr. Woodward's commanding dignity and learning, and his genial good nature, disarmed opposition even on the part of political opponents. Yet a considerable num- ber left the Society during his ministry ; some for this cause and some for other reasons. But these questions do not appear to have effected the minds of the people during Mr. Keys' ministry, and hence some other cause must have brought the support of the gospel into disre- pute.
Another singular fact is, that although when Dr. Beech- er made it emphatic at the installation of Mr. Keys, that a Society could much better afford to pay for the preach- ing of the gospel than to go without it, this Society should dismiss Mr. Keys with the expectation of remaining with- out a minister for a length of time, though probably not as long as proved to be the case. For three years after the dismissal of Mr. Keys there is no mention of any vote of the Society referring to the matter of hiring a minister, or obtaining one in any way .* They attended regularly
* During the history of the Society for seventy years, or more, the com- mittee never hired a minister or procured a candidate without a vote of the Society to that effect. It was left for committees of later days to hire min- isters, continue them ad libitum, and dismiss them, without allowing the Society any voice in the matter ; a clear violation of Congregational rules.
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to all other interests of the Society. Soon after his dis- missal (Dec. 31, 1822) they voted to lay " a tax on the list of 1821, to the amount of three hundred and twenty-five dollars, for the purpose of discharging the claims of Mr. Keys." In May next they voted that a tax be laid suffi- cient to raise the sum of two hundred and seventy dol- lars. They appointed Thomas Upson as agent to collect the several " notes and debts due the Society on old ar- rearages, and if possible to settle the debts of the Socie- ty due S. J. Hitchcock." They appointed yearly the seating committee to seat the people in the Meeting house, and appointed in 1823 a special committee to "dig- nify or number the pews anew." .
In annual meeting, 1824, they voted, "That John S. Atkins, Joseph N. Sperry, Jerry Upson, John Beecher, Jr. and Thomas Upson be a committee, to solicit subscrip- tions for the encouragement of singing ; lay out and ap- propriate the moneys obtained as they shall judge proper and best, and superintend the whole business." In 1825 they appointed another committee for the same purpose, consisting of Gates Upson, Thomas Horton, George Griswold, Jerry Upson, John S. Atkins, and Ira Frisbie. Here is evidence of energy and of ability to do almost anything they chose to do as a Society.
These facts bring to view the character and standing of Deacon Isaac Bronson. After Mr. Keys was dismissed Mr. Bronson became the minister, in fact, although not in form ; first, to fill the vacancy during the embarrassed condition of the Society, and after that, by the informal choice of the people. He had been a member of the church over thirty years ; had been a deacon seventeen years, being sixty-one years of age. He had not the advantages of high school or collegiate education,- Mr. Woodward's school having begun several years after Mr. Bronson was married. Yet Isaac Bronson attained to a very creditable education for those times.
We have now in the Ministers' Library of this parish
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a book of " Mathematicks" containing“ Arithmetick, Al- gebra, Geometry, Conick Sections, and Arithmetick of Infinites," which was owned by Rev. Alexander Gillet, (dated as "his book," 1767) and which Mr. Bronson bought of Mr. Gillet for six shillings .* Mr. Bronson was a Latin scholar, as may be seen in his writings as clerk of the church and the town. Some sketches of sermons of his have fallen into my hands which show unusual histor- ical knowledge and very great familiarity with Bible his - tory.
He is said to have been a man of remarkable eloquence in prayer, and in addressing a religious assembly, and with this all his writings now left correspond. Could he have had the opportunities of an early education, it is doubt- ful if the county or State could have boasted of a greater man than he. To this opinion all persons with whom I have conversed, in and out of Wolcott, agree. He was a man of great diffidence, but when called out by cir- cumstances or peculiar occasions, he surpassed the ex- pectations of all.
When, therefore, the Society in Wolcott was brought to extremities, Isaac Bronson became its leader and min- ister without ordination. Thus he continued for nearly three years, but for what "consideration " from the Society we have no means of knowing except by a vote passed at the end of three years, as follows : "That the Soci- ety's committee" (and others named,) "be a committee to circulate subscriptions to raise money to hire preach- ing." This indicates that no money was raised for this purpose during the three years, for in those times money was not raised except by vote of Society. It is further evident from the fact, that upon the passage of this vote Mr. Bronson refused to serve the Society, as before ; as is
* The possession of books relating to advanced studies, and the fact fre- quently mentioned among the people, that often, when tired at night, he lay on the floor of his shop, with his head toward the fire, studying by fire- light, indicate the methods by which he obtained knowledge.
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evident from a vote of the Society two months later, as follows : " That Gates Upson, Lud Lindsley, Ashbel Up- son, Ira Hough, and David Frisbie, be a committee to confer with Deacon Isaac Bronson in regard to the diffi- culties subsisting between him and the Society, and the cause of his unwillingness to serve the Society as hereto- fore." After conferring with him the Society in a meet- ing held one week later, voted to rescind the former vote to hire preaching, and that money be raised to hire preaching " for one third part of the year, beginning the first of April next." That is, they should hire preaching four months, and the remainder of the year Isaac Bron- son should preach for nothing. How the men of the So- ciety could be at ease in their consciences, and let one man, and he a poor man, carry the largest part of the burden of the church for three years without compensa- tion is beyond explanation, except on the supposition that they had been educated to think that if a man were ordained, he should be paid for preaching, other- wise not, no matter how eloquent or successful the preaching, or how great the service rendered. Probably but few ministers were ever more highly appreciated, in their parish generally, than was Isaac Bronson during these years, and but for the prejudices of a few leading men, he would have been ordained and settled as pas- tor; and in that case would have served their Society with as great success as any man they had had.
There were peculiar reasons why they should have paid him something appropriate for his work in filling the place of a pastor. He had several children and a noble, patient wife, for whom he could scarcely provide the com- forts of life which his neighbors possessed. He had been clerk of the Society for twenty-six years, and had served the church as clerk and treasurer for fifteen years ; and as deacon for twenty years. His health had been so poor, from hemorrhage of the lungs, that his family often expected his speedy departure to the better land. He
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· had taught school many years with small pay ; and was constant in every good work, for religion, education, and the town and State in which he lived. The Society had prospered and the public feeling had improved, so that they began to feel like raising a minister's salary, and did proceed with a tax in Sept., 1826, of ninety dollars, to repair the Meeting house. In all righteousness among brethren why should they not have payed Deacon Isaac Bronson for his labors in preaching and attending to the other duties of a pastor ?
Thus did the Society continue enjoying a gratuitous ministry for the space of five years. What was the result ? They had all grown "lean" except Isaac Bronson. Dr. Beecher had told them they could better afford to pay a minister than go without one. They had now tried the latter, and to what effect ? All were asleep, in religion, except when the voice of Isaac Bronson aroused them in church or "broke" their hearts at the funerals. The year before Mr. Keys left, twelve united with the church, and during his ministry of eight years, forty-one united, but during these five years of a vacant pulpit, not one united, as far as the books show. But in mercy God sent them a minister to awake them, for in the midst of their sleep, a voice was heard as of one "in the wilderness" calling them to repentance. How he came we know not, but certainly not by the call of the Society or church .* At a meeting held Oct. 28th, 1827, they voted that the " committee be directed to employ Mr. Scran- ton to preach for us until the end of May next."
On the Ioth of next March they voted, "That seven persons, one in each school district, be forthwith ap- pointed to solicit subscriptions for the support of the Rev. Mr. Scranton as a preacher of the gospel for the year next ensuing, after the first of June next." He
* We learn from his journal, left in the hands of Mr. Jarvis R. Bronson, that he came here on Saturday, June 16, 1827, to preach for a number of Sabbaths.
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preached here two years and then departed ; the only reason we find is that the Society failed to raise three hundred dollars for his support for the year, as he desired. The first winter he was here he taught school three months, and in the spring and summer following there was a general awakening, and many were added to the church. This carried them through the second year. but when an effort was made for the third year it did not succeed well, and the Society voted on July 7, 1829, " That the committee appointed on the 30th of May to solicit subscriptions to hire preaching, offer their papers on the terms that in case there is not enough obtained to raise the sum of three hundred dollars, then whatsoever is subscribed to be null and void." Soon after this, Mr. Scranton left. Mr. Scranton's labors were many and re- sulted in great good to the church and community. As proof of this and as evidence of the Lord's faithfulness to those who labor faithfully, we give some extracts from Mr. Scranton's journal, which was sent after his death to Mr. Jarvis R. Bronson. These labors were put forth amidst great difficulties and hindrances. The church was much divided, and great indifference to relig- ion prevailed throughout the community. Indeed, when there began to be a stir about religion, some of the peo- ple spoke against it and ridiculed it.
JOURNAL OF REV. ERASTUS SCRANTON IN WOLCOTT, 1827 AND 1828.
June 16, Saturday ; came here to preach several Sabbaths.
17. Preached, being unwell. I have not recovered from my dangerous illness in May. I found the Society feeble and dis- united, but desirous to have steady preaching.
July Ist. Administered the Lord's Supper. It had not been celebrated here before, for a long time. It was a precious sea- son to Christian people.
Great coldness among professors of religion-much immorality among the people.
Sept. Miss Orpha Thomas, who is about 16, has been
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awakened and hopefully converted to Christ in the course of the summer. The preaching of the word is better attended than it was during the two months past. Administered the sacrament of the Lord's Supper.
Oct. 26. Maria, wife of S. Wheeler Upson, and Laura, wife of Linus Munson, admitted to the church. For several years there has not been an addition to the church. Mr. Upson, on seeing his wife come out and join the church, was led to reflect. It was the means of his conversion, 'tis to be hoped.
Oct. 30, Thursday. Returned from attending the conference of the churches at Waterbury; called on Wheeler Upson, and found him an awakened sinner. Attended meeting at Woodtick School House ; preached from Jer. 17, 9.
In the course of the season past, Colonel Moses Pond has been awakened and hopefully converted. He did not let it be known, till his sickness. He has been in great distress at times, and found relief, I suppose, on Sabbath, Nov. 4, on his way home from meeting.
November, 1827. I have had repeated conversation with Mr. Upson, &c. He obtained hope about three weeks after his first awakening.
Nov. 4, Sabbath. Spoke to several young ladies that came in to Mr. Whiting's.
Nov. 14. Conferences begin to be full and solemn. We seem on the eve of an awakening here. There has not been anything like a general revival here at any time .* B. L. revive thy work.
December, 1827. Meetings still full and solemn. Some Chris- tians awake and pleading for a revival.
January 15, 1828, Thursday. Miss Rebecca Hall came here with Miss Vesta Frisbie, to see me, being awakened three weeks ago at her Uncle Frost's. She talked as one under conviction ; proposed to come to school.t
Jan. 18. Took tea at Mr. Mark Tuttle's -found his wife
* There was a general awakening in 1783 under the preaching of Rev. Messrs. Mills and Miller and the labors of Mr. Gillet, and this was therefore forty-four years before Mr. Scranton came here. But a forty-four years' sleep was probably long enough !
+ Mr. Scranton taught school - I suppose a select school. like Mr. Wood- ward's and Mr. Keys'.
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awakened. She told me that my conversation at their house, when I and Capt. Gates Upson came there, two or three weeks before, first awakened her. She had never disclosed her anxious feelings to any one before. Preached in the East School House this evening -- full and solemn meeting. It is now manifest that an awakening is begun in this place.
19, Saturday evening. I went to make a religious visit to Mr. Albert Boardman. He was absent, but I found her [his wife] awakened as I suppose. I then called to see Mr. J. N. Sperry, and found him more anxious than he ever was before, as he told me -his wife listened.
20, Sabbath. This evening called to see Mr. Clark Bronson and wife. I found her indulging a hope. I called at Eldad Parker's and found his wife thoughtful. She told me that 13 years ago, at Shenango, she was awakened, but grieved away the Holy Spirit. Has feeling, but no reason to hope.
Jan. 21. Monday evening. Mr. Boardman came to see me, in deep concern of soul. He tells me that he was first awakened last June.
Jan. 22, Tuesday. Conversed with Miss Rebecca Hall, at noon, who says her mind is relieved. In the evening I went to preach at Mr. Levi Atkin's. Heard that Mr. Newton Norton talks seriously.
25th. The center school house was full (though it rained hard), and the meeting solemn.
27th, Sabbath. Exchanged with Mr. Hart and preached at Plymouth.
29. In conversation I find Mr. Doolittle anxious. He has felt that religion is important since his sickness two years ago. He lacks decision.
Feb. 1, 1828, Friday. Martha Tuttle is still anxious. No hope.
3, Sab. To-day Col. Pond and Mr. Upson told me they had a wish to join the church.
7. Conference of the churches at Prospect.
8th, Friday. Held first inquiry meeting ; present 10 persons - Col. Pond, Mr. Upson, Clark Bronson and wife, Mrs. Parker, Mrs. Moulthrop, Mary Upson, Charlotte Harrison, Gen. G. Doo- little, and Rebecca Hall.
II. Monday. Preached at Woodtick ; meeting full and solemn.
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13. Preached at South School House.
15. Preached in Center School House, and meeting solemn, and 70 present.
18, Monday. Anxious meeting here to-night and a very rainy evening -- 6 only present, one of whom is Miss Clarissa Upson, rejoicing in hope.
March 2, Sab. Col. Pond and S. W. Upson joined church.
3. Monthly Concert. Full meeting and interesting.
12th. Preached at Woodtick, having closed my school to-day.
13th. Visited at Mr. Bement's, &c. Cyrus Fenn somewhat anx- ious.
17th, Monday. Anxious meeting.
15th. Esther Hotchkiss anxious some, and came to the anx- ious meeting.
23. Began a Bible class.
24. Went to N. Milford and found there had been 4 to 6 con- versions.
30, Sab. Preached at Cheshire and came to Wolcott and preached in the evening at Center School House, where I heard that Lowman Upson has a hope. Church voted to invite the Conference.
April Ist, Tuesday. Went to N. Milford.
2d. Conference of churches at N. M. 78 delegates.
4th. Annual Fast. Snowed all day. Rode from Prospect (where I preached last night) to Wolcott.
6th. Report from the Conference was listened to by all the congregation. Many were affected to tears.
7th. Monthly concert. Asaph Hotchkiss came to see me, P. M., in distress-and sent for me to come to his house, &c. His wife and Esther and Wealthy interested.
8th. Preached at Spindle Hill.
9th. Preached at South District.
IIth. Preached at Woodtick.
May Ist. Preached at South District.
Up to this time Mr. Scranton had urged forward this work without any formal action on the part of the church. On April 25th the church met, and voted, " That Dea- cons James Bailey, Isaac Bronson, and Irad Bronson,
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with Brethren Thomas Upson, Harvey Upson, Ashbel Upson, Lucius Tuttle, Daniel Holt, Abner Hotchkiss, and Samuel W. Upson be a committee to visit the seve- ral members of the church, male and female, and inquire the situation of their minds in a religious point of view, and whether any, and if any, what matter of offense lies upon their minds and against any brother or sister, and if any such exist, to use their influence that the same may be mutually and satisfactorily healed and settled in a Christian manner."
On May Ist, Mr. Scranton wrote: "The church com- mittee began their visits to prepare for the Conference to be held among them, and it was ascertained there was a happy state of feeling among the brethren ; a readiness to confess their sins and to renew covenant. Several meetings of the church were pleasant and humbling sea- sons. Some few are opposed to the Conference - call it a Methodist meeting ; speak against a revival as a perni- cious thing. W. A. ; J. H .; J. A."
May 4th, Wednesday. The Conference met late in the day, owing to the great rain yesterday. The church and people were prepared to receive them with open hearts.
5th. The meetings last evening and this morning, in the sev- eral districts were full, solemn, and interesting. 30 churches represented and 40 delegates.
May 6, Friday. Went down to Mr. John Frisbie's and found him an awakened, distressed church member. Mrs. Frisbie was all in tears. Soon after, Sarah, their son's wife, came in and on my speaking to her she was much affected. I prayed, and it was a scene of deep interest.
Met Mr. Fitch Higgins 12 or 15 rods from his door, and he clasped my hand, and on being asked how he did, he exclaimed, "I am a poor sinner." His wife was under deep conviction. He said he had tried to work but could not.
At Mr. David Frisbie's was another deeply interesting scene, and a meeting was appointed at the school house in the evening, which was 'a full and solemn concourse.'
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On arriving home I learned that Mr. Smith Atkins had been to see me, and was deeply distressed in mind and could not work.
May 7th, Saturday. Went to see James Alcott and Smith At- kins and wife. Met the two first on their way to see me. At Mr. Alcott's house several came in and I exhorted and prayed.
Two days later he was sent for to go to the north-east part of the parish, where several were in great distress of mind. The whole parish was moved on this subject,- and why not? Too long had the people been indifferent or greatly negligent as to these things.
Among the names he mentions, of those greatly inter- ested at this time, are the Brockets, Lindsleys, Nortons, Ephraim Hall and wife, Orin Hall and wife, Anna Lewis, Lucius Tuttle, Jr., Maria Thomas, Mr. Bartholomew, and a number of others.
On May IIth, they held their " first public prayer meet- ing in the Meeting house, and a considerable number present, and a most solemn and impressive meeting - many in tears -- the prayers appropriate, and Deacon Isaac Bronson's address was most weighty, powerful, and awakening."
Thus the church, after six years wandering in the wil- derness, returned to her allegiance to the mission for which she was sent,-to save men. Had the church been faithful, there had been no occasion for such excitement, as it was there was no other way to salvation.
Mr. Scranton says, in his journal, March 23, 1828, “ Be- gan a Bible class." This, I think, was on a week day eve- ning, and was additional to the Sunday-school which was held on the Sabbath, between services, Dr. William A. Alcott being superintendent. The school was organ- ized for the first time under a superintendent and other officers and teachers, during the summer of 1827.
Deacon Irad Bronson, now living in Bristol, thinks, this was not an organized school ; only two or three classes were organized with teachers, Dr. Wm. A. Alcott assist-
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ing, particularly in collecting books for the pupils of the classes to read. Others think Dr. Alcott was regularly appointed superintendent ; for one of the class papers written by him is still preserved. These are the names : Ira H. Hough, Isaac Upson, Samuel Upson, Daniel H. Holt, Asaph Upson, Mahlon Hotchkiss, Leverette Al- cott, Ambrose . B. Alcott, John E. Alcott. These were then boys from eight to twelve years old ; so says Mr. Ira H. Hough. This was class No. 3, taught by Lucius Tuttle, Jr., and afterward by L. C. Hotchkiss, who still holds the original class paper.
By vote of the Society, Rev. Mr. Wheelock was en- gaged to preach "for the term of one year" from Sept. II, 1829 ; but in March next. 1830, they voted to "obtain from him the terms on which he is willing to settle with the Society for his past services and relinquish the con- tract for the future." To this he made a written reply, but the records do not show whether he continued long- er or not. The reason for this movement on the part of the Society, I apprehend to have been the difficulty of raising the salary of Mr. Wheelock, and that an arrange- ment was made by which he relinquished so much of that as to continue the time for which he engaged. The So- ciety and church were probably without a stated minis- ter from Sept., 1830, till August, 1831. On January 31, 1831, a subscription was started to raise money for a cupo- la and bell, to be attached to the Meeting house. This subscription, in the elegant "hand-writing" of Mr. Archi- bald Minor is preserved, and the spirit of it, in one re- spect, is worthy of perpetuation, and in another respect so peculiar that I copy it :
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