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 14
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151
MEMBERS OF THE CHURCH.
Isaac Upson; Lydia Frisbie, Zeruiah Sutliff, Mrs. Ozias Norton, Mrs. John Thomas, Mrs. John Hotchkiss, Mrs. Bildad Hotchkiss ; Martha Thomas, widow ; Mrs. Joshua Minor, Daniel Rose, Mrs. Erastus L. Hart, Widow Sandford, Nathaniel Lane, Mrs. Laura Upson.
1811-Eldad Parker; Ruth, wife of Lewis Wakelee ; Jona- than Case.
1812- Esther Harrison, widow ; Lydia Alcox, Maria Wakelee, Lewis H. Wakelee, Pitman Stowe and his wife, Mrs. Elisha Hor- ton, jr.
1813 - Abner Hotchkiss and his wife, Mrs. Ira Hough, Lydia Rogers, Julia Upson, Delight Carter.
1814-Abiather Sutliff and Clarissa his wife, Manly Upson, Harvey Norton, Hannah Beach.
1815 -Fanny Knight, widow ; Beda Goodyear; Mary, wife of Reuben Carter; Mary, wife of Bela Row; Abigail Royce, Sarah Churchill, Luther Roper, Mrs. Luther Hotchkiss, Mrs. Ziba Norton, Mrs. David Frisbie.
1816- Daniel Holt and Abby his wife, Reuben Carter, Bildad Hotchkiss; Hannah, wife of Orrin Jackson; Sarah, wife of Jerry Moulthrop; Hannah, wife of William Bartholomew ; Phebe, wife of Irad Bronson ; Sarah Bronson ; Lucette, wife of Obed Doo- - little ; Zechariah Hitchcock, Lois L. Doolittle. Mrs. Orrin Plumb.
1817 - Luna, wife of Amos Pierson ; Irad Bronson ; Amy Tut- tle, widow; Lucy Upson.
1821 - Mrs. Higgins, Jonathan Bement and Hannah his wife, Anne M. Bailey, Lucius Tuttle, Rebecca Tuttle ; Hannah, wife of John Bronson, jr .; Sarah, wife of Titus Brackett; Lucy, wife of Uri Carter ; Betsey, wife of Almond Alcox; Thomas Upson and Jerusha his wife.
1827 -Sally M. Upson, Laura Munson.
1828-Moses Pond, Samuel W. Upson, Clark Bronson and Ex- perience his wife, Sophia R. Alcox, Orlinda Thomas, Selah Upson, Martha Tuttle, Wealthy Moulthrop, Hannah Norton, Fitch A. Higgins, Amanda Higgins, William Bartholomew, Lowman Up- son, John S. Atkins, Esther Atkins, Ira Frisbie, Sarah Frisbie, Marilla Lindsley, Hannah M. Lindsley, Rachel Lindsley, Henrietta M. Bailey, Sylvia Thomas, Chloe Alcox, Bennet W. Parker, Mar-
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HISTORY OF WOLCOTT.
cus Upson, Mary Harrison, Clarissa Upson, Theda M. Carter, Laura A. Bement.
1829-Elizabeth Alcox, Sarah Plumb, Lois Alcox, Benjamin A. Lindsley, Lucas H. Carter, Eunice Hotchkiss, Salina D. Car- ter, Asa Boardman, Louisa Boardman, Timothy H. Hotchkiss, Mary A. Hotchkiss, Mabel Downs, Sarah Scarritt.
1830 - Desire Bunnel, Charles Welton.
1833- Polly Upson, Harriet Norton, Mary H. Upson, Char- lotte R. Lindsley, Parlia A. Perkins, Sarah Upson.
1834- Ruth Johnson ; Lydia, wife of Moses Pond ; Nancy, wife of Zenas Tolles ; Parlia, wife of Leonard Beecher ; Mary, wife of Josiah Thomas ; Amanda Perkins ; Lucy, wife of Lowman Upson ; Luther Hotchkiss, Ansel H. Plumb, Luther Bailey, John B. Alcox, Russel Rowe, Cyrus Upson, Orrin Hall and Nancy his wife, Albert A. Boardman and Mary his wife ; Ephraim Hall and Mary, his wife, Matthew S. Norton and Betsy M. his wife, David S. Bailey and Sarah L. his wife, Miles S. Hotchkiss and Abigail his wife, Jenette Upson, Mary A. H. Holt, Phebe L. Bronson, Thankful B. Bartholomew, Sarah Hotchkiss, Almira Norton, Ro- sanna L. Perkins, Lois A. Johnson, Lucy A. Bement, Sarah Jane Bartholomew, Rachel Pond, William R. Higgins, Lorin C. Holt, Stiles L. Hotchkiss, Hendric Norton, Polly Alcott, Esther R. At- kins, Harriet Alcott, Russel Upson, Adeline Upson, Roxanna Hall, Florilla Hickox, Isaac Upson.
1838-Timothy U. Carter; Lois M., wife of Lucas Sutliff ; Hannah V., wife of Carolus Byington; Bertha Bartholomew, Joel Alcott, Samuel Lindsley, Daniel H. Holt, Mrs. Luther Bailey, George A. Duran, Lucius Tuttle, jr .; Sylvia, wife of Eldad Par- ker; Polly, wife of Willard Plumb; Vina, wife of John Beecher ; Henry D. Upson, Jarvis R. Bronson, Mary P. Smith, Lucius Upson, Anson Sutliff, Ezra Stiles Hough and Lucy his wife, Dei- damia Minor.
1842- Marietta Bradley, Mary A. Hough; Harriet, wife of Henry Beecher.
1843 - Lucy Ann, wife of Aaron C. Beech; Adah Finch, Still- man Bronson, Henry Beecher, Rollin W. Plumb ; Lois A., wife of Ansel H. Plumb; Esther P., wife of Jarvis R. Bronson; Eliza A. Norton, George W. Carter, Rufus Norton, Mrs. Harriet
153
MEMBERS OF THE CHURCH.
E. Norton, Narcissa Sperry, Esther Alcott, Royce Lewis and Fanny his wife.
1844- Mrs. Rachel Upson, Hannah Tuttle, Esther Atkins, Charles Kirk, Benjamin A. Lindsley and Lucina his wife.
1846 - Sarah Ann, wife of Geo. W. Carter ; Matthew S. Nor- ton and Betsey his wife.
1848-Mercy Gaylord Alcott.
1849 -- Emoret A. Bartholomew, Sarah Plumb.
1850- Lois S., wife of David M. Sanford ; Amos Roberts and Rebecca his wife, Miles M. Upson, Burritt W. Beecher, Newell B. Churchill, Lyman B. Bronson.
1853-Dudley H. Abbott ; Jenette, wife of Seth Wiand.
1854-Martha Tuttle, John Wickliffe Beach, Mary R. Hotch- kiss, David F. Beach, Jane Beach.
1858-Augusta E. Markland, James Alcott, Salina Alcott, Harriet Ann Alcott, Emily Alcott, Ardelia M. Tuttle, Mary A. Hough, Ann A. Hough, Ira H. Hough, Ezra S. Hough, Harriet E. Hough, Emma J. Odell, Sarah E. Bartholomew, Augustus E. Brackett, Joel W. Upson and Eleanor his wife, Lucian Upson, Leroy Upson, Saphrona Upson, William A. Munson, Julia A. Munson, Mary E. Hitchcock, Henry B. Carter, John H. Beecher, Joseph A. Beecher, S. Dwight Beecher, James B. Bailey, Elmer Hotchkiss, Mary E. Atkins, Lucy S. Bronson, John Frisbie, Fran- cis G. Churchill, Esther E. Hough, Harriet L. Bronson, Emogene E. Minor, Laura Ann Hough, Amelia E. Rose, Rufus A. Sand- ford.
1859-Mrs. Sarah Whitlock, Albert N. Lane and Esther Me- lissa his wife, Mary Harrison, Emma A. Upson, Edward H. Allen, Rev. Stephen Rogers and Jerusha his wife, Hannah Be- ment, Esther A. Beecher.
1860-Andrew R. Rowe, David A. Sandford.
1861 -Mrs. Betsey Sperry.
1862 -Helen M. Rogers, Abigail Brooks.
1863-Rev. Lent S. Hough, Hannah S. Hough, Leonard Blakeslee, Emma C. Hitchcock, Maria S. W. Hough, Mary E. Hough, Martha R. Hough.
1864-Sarah M. Moulthrop, Annis E. Hotchkiss, Emily M. Upson, Luther W. Plumb, Eliza A. Plumb, Emeline Thomas,
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HISTORY OF WOLCOTT.
Sarah U. Hall, Helen R. Thomas, Harriet S. Norton, Omer C. Norton.
1865-Mary E. Upson.
1866-Helen R. Hall.
1867 - Mahlon Hotchkiss, Heman W. Hall, George W. At- wood, Huldah Atwood, Leverette A. Sandford, Harriet J. Hall, Amelia C. Hitchcock, Sarah J. Johnson, Augustus Rose, Mary Rose, Ella J. Rose, Arthur Terrill, James P. Alcott, Benjamin L. Bronson, Henry Fields, John T. Harrison, Evelin M. Upson, Frank C. Munson, Inez E. Munson, Mary Alcott, Mary W. Har- rison, Anna C. Downs, Emilyette Upson, Isaac Hough, George Atkins, Cora A. Atkins, Elliot Bronson, Lydia J. Norton, Lydia S. Downs, Alice S. Lewis, Charles E. E. Somers, Sarah Terrill, Lucilla M. Upson.
1868- Martha A. Brooks, Mary A. Richardson.
1869 -- Rufus J. Lyman, Rev. W. C. Fiske and H. M. his wife, James P. Fiske, Sarah L. Fiske, William W. Fiske, Orrin Yemmans, Rebecca Yemmans.
1871 - Mary P. Carter, Sarah G. Thomas.
1872 - Persis H. Atwood, Frank G. Mansfield.
THE EPISCOPAL CHURCH.
CHAPTER I.
THE EPISCOPAL CHURCH.
This church, though never large, has performed an im- portant work in this part of the great vineyard,-a work of which it need not be ashamed in any respect. It has suffered more by removal of its members than the other church, and as a consequence, it is reduced to a handful compared to its former numbers, and has not held regular service for several years.
Among the earliest settlers in Wolcott were Episco- palians, and when the First Society was organized and a "tax laid" for the support of the gospel, the Episcopa- lians were taxed the same as others, but their tax was appropriated, according to law, for the support of their church in Waterbury. The First Society being the legal one, assessed the ecclesiastical taxes on all persons with- in its bounds, and appointed special collectors to gath- er the tax of Episcopalians, and hence we find as early as 1772, Ensign Oliver Welton and Eliakim Welton, jr., "chosen to collect Rev. Mr. Scovill's rate," and this ar- rangement continued many years afterward, and therefore the Episcopalians paid, by tax, for the support of the gospel as regularly as the Congregationalists.
In 1779 the Episcopalians were so numerous as to peti- tion the General Assembly to be made a distinct Society, as appears from the following record in the proceedings of the First Society : "Voted, to remonstrate against the memorial whereby we are cited to give reason, if any, at
158
HISTORY OF WOLCOTT.
the General Assembly, why Josiah Cowles and others should not be made a distinct Ecclesiastical Society, and that Thomas Upson, Daniel Alcox, Daniel Byington and Jared Harrison be agents for the same purpose," and in consequence of this remonstrance, probably, this petition was not granted.
Soon after Mr. Woodward's settlement, persons began to withdraw from the First Society, in favor of other churches, and from 1791 to 1822, twenty-six families withdrew and joined the Baptist Societies in Bristol, Southington, and Waterbury ; twenty withdrew in favor of no Society, and the following in favor of the Episco- pal church :
1793 - Barna Powers.
1806- Timothy Hotchkiss.
1808 - Daniel Byington, Streat Richards, Joseph Minor, Lewis Loveland, David Wakelee, Reuben Lewis, Jesse Alcox, jr., Na- thaniel G. Lewis, David Alcox, jr., Joseph C. Alcox, Phineas Deming, Levi Brown, James Scarritt, David M. Beach, Isaac Downs, Elkanah Smith .*
1809 -- John Norton, Caleb Merrills, Marvin Beckwith, jr.
1811 - Jairus Alcox, Titus Hotchkiss, John J. Kenea.
1812 - Levi Hall, Zephana Parker, Amon Bradley.
1813 -- Joseph Twitchell, Richmond Hall, Samuel Upson, jr., Lyman Higgins, Jerry Todd, Levi Parker, Ambrose Ives, Archi- bald Minor.
1816- Marcus Minor, Jeremiah Sperry, Harpin Hotchkiss.
1820-Salmon Johnson.
1821 -- Orrin Plumb.
1822 -- William Parker. ยก
About the year 1805, the Episcopal people began to hold service at the house of Daniel Byington at the Mill
* And two others, whose names were afterwards erased, making eighteen at one time.
+ We have the certificates of over ninety families that withdrew from the First Society, between the years 1791 and 1822.
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CALL FOR THE FIRST SOCIETY MEETING.
Place, where they continued to hold it, most of the time, for a number of years.
The Episcopal Society was organized January 26th, 18II, at the house of Mr. Titus Hotchkiss, who then re- sided on the Twitchell place.
CALL FOR THE FIRST SOCIETY MEETING.
We, the subscribers, inhabitants of the town of Wolcott, being of the order of Christians denominated Episcopalians, and being desirous to form ourselves into a Society for the purpose of exer- cising all the privileges which by law are granted to the several Societies, being of the aforesaid order of Christians, do hereby agree to meet on the 26th day of instant November, at the dwell- ing house of Mr. Titus Hotchkiss, in said Wolcott, at one o'clock in the afternoon of said day, for the purpose of choosing a moder- ator and clerk of said meeting, which clerk, when chosen, shall be sworn as the law directs ; and also to choose all other officers which shall then be thought necessary and proper for the good of said Society, and also to tax ourselves for the purpose of pro- curing such proportion of preaching as shall by the Society be thought best, being at all times governed and directed by a majority of said meeting, in the doing and performing of all which, as above written, will ever hereafter consider ourselves a Society; and to be guided by the same laws and in the same manner as other Societies of the same denomination, belonging to this State, are.
WOLCOTT, November 21, 18II.
John Welton, Moses Welton, Levi Hall. William Parker, William Hotchkiss, Ambrose Ives, Eliakim Welton, Timothy Hotchkiss, Streat Todd, Phineas Deming, Joseph Minor, John Norton, Zephana Parker, Bildad Hotchkiss, John J. Kenea, Asaph Finch, Levi Brown, Erastus Welton, Joseph Welton, Eliakim Wel- ton, 2d, Titus Hotchkiss, Thomas Welton, Daniel Langdon, Hez- ekiah Bradley, Daniel Byington, David Wakelee, Joseph C. Al- cox, Eleazer Finch.
MINUTES OF THE FIRST SOCIETY MEETING.
WOLCOTT, NOV. 26, 181I.
At a legal meeting this day holden at the dwelling house of
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HISTORY OF WOLCOTT.
Mr. Titus Hotchkiss, by the members of the Episcopal Society, the following votes were passed by the members of said meeting : That Daniel Langdon be moderator of said meeting, and that Erastus Welton be clerk for the year ensuing; that Moses Wel- ton be treasurer; that Moses Welton, Bildad Hotchkiss, and Irad Wakelee be Society's Committee for the year; Daniel Langdon and Thomas Welton, Wardens. Voted that a tax of one cent on a dollar be laid on the list 1811, and made payable to the Treasurer the first day of March, 1812, and that Irad Wakelee be Collector of said Tax. Voted that the annual society meeting be hereafter holden the last Monday in November, annu- ally. That the society committee receive the money at the hands of the Treasurer, and at their discretion apply it for preach- ing the ensuing year."
For two years after the formation of the Society, the Rev. Mr. Prindle, then of Naugatuck, supplied the Soci- ety with preaching once a month during the summer sea- son, six or seven months, at $6 per Sabbath, as the Treasurer's book shows. In 1815 Rev. Tillotson Bron- son preached for them. After this, names of ministers are not mentioned for some years, yet the amount spent for preaching seems to have been most of the time near- ly fifty dollars a year.
Services were conducted by laymen regularly in the absence of a minister, and the following committees were appointed from year to year to "read the prayers of the church," and also to read sermons.
1812 -- Thomas Welton, Moses Welton, Elias Welton.
1813 - Thomas Welton, Moses Welton, Elias Welton, Erastus Welton. To read sermons -- Elias Welton, Ambrose Ives, Levi Parker, Erastus Welton, Jarius Alcox, Joseph Welton.
1814 -- To read prayers -- Thomas Welton, Moses Welton, Eliakim Welton, Erastus Welton, Elias Welton. To read ser- mons - Ambrose Ives, John Kenea, Levi Parker.
1815-To read prayers - Thomas Welton, Moses Welton, Erastus Welton, Elias Welton, Eliakim Welton, Eben Welton.
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CHURCH COMMITTEES.
To read sermons- John J. Kenea, Levi Parker, Ambrose Ives, Elias Welton.
1816-To read prayers -Thomas Welton, Moses Welton, Eliakim Welton, jr., Erastus Welton. To read sermons -Am- brose Ives, Levi Parker, William Alcox, Amos B. Alcox, Elias Welton, Erastus Welton
1817 -To read prayers -Thomas Welton, Moses Welton, Eben Welton, Erastus Welton, Eliakim Welton. To read sermons- Ambrose Ives, William Alcox, Levi Parker, Erastus Welton, Ziba Welton, Amos B. Alcox.
1818-To read prayers- Eben Welton, Moses Welton, Eras- tus Welton, Thomas Welton. To read sermons - Ambrose Ives, Erastus Welton, William Alcox, Levi Parker, Elias Welton.
1819-To read prayers-Eben Welton, Thomas Welton, Erastus Welton, Moses Welton, Archibald Minor. To read ser- mons-Erastus Welton, Archibald Minor, William Alcox, Levi Parker.
1820-To read prayers- Eben Welton, Moses Welton, Thomas Welton, Erastus Welton. To read sermons - Ambrose Ives, Archibald Minor, Erastus Welton, Elias Welton, William Alcox.
1821-To read prayers - Thomas Welton, Moses Welton, Eben Welton, Erastus Welton, Archibald Minor, William Alcox. To read sermons -Archibald Minor, Erastus Welton, William Alcox, Levi Parker, Elias Welton, Willard Plumb.
1822 - To read prayers - Thomas Welton, Eben Welton, Moses Welton, Erastus Welton, Archibald Minor, William A. Alcox. To read sermons -Archibald Minor, Orrin Plumb, Elias Welton, Willard Plumb, William A. Alcox, Levi Parker, Erastus Welton, Levi Hall, Ambrose Ives.
This list of names for ten years exhibits the working force of the church without a minister. In contrast with the other church in Wolcott, it shows that as the Epis- copal Society and church grew strong, the Congregation- al grew weak, and hence, in 1822 and 1823, when the Episcopal Society began to make arrangements to build a house of worship, the Congregational Society dismissed Mr. Keys for want of ability to support him, and en-
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HISTORY OF WOLCOTT.
tered upon the plan of lay preaching, by Isaac Bronson, which continued a number of years after. There seems to be no occasion for censure, but if the whole people could have consented to worship as one body, the result would have been, apparently, more happy and advantageous to the community and to the world.
BUILDING A HOUSE OF WORSHIP.
In 1817 the Society voted that "we meet at the house of Mr. Daniel Byington the winter coming," and at this house they probably had met during the winters, most of the time, from the commencement of holding services separate from Waterbury, and during the summer meet- ing in the school houses.
On April 10th, 1820, the Society, at an adjourned meet- ing, took into consideration the subject of building a house of worship, and "voted that we appoint an agent to consult the minds of gentlemen on the expediency of petitioning the Legislature for a grant of a lottery for the purpose of building a house of public worship." At an adjourned meeting held in the same month, April 24th, they "voted that we will build a house of public worship, provided that we can agree upon a spot for that purpose." Also " voted that we will build a house in the Centre, provided we can be accommodated with a place to set it, and that Levi Hall, Ambrose Ives, and Erastus Welton, be a committee to look out a spot to build a house."
At an adjourned meeting, held December 3Ist, 1821, they "voted that we will build a church in case we can get money enough subscribed, and that we will build it in the centre of the town, near the Meeting house, and that Archibald Minor, Levi Hall, Moses Welton, Eben Welton, Willard Plumb, and Ambrose Ives, be a com- mittee to circulate subscription papers for the purpose of building a house."
On January 2Ist, three weeks later, they "voted to
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BUILDING A HOUSE OF WORSHIP.
ascertain the probable expense of a house from 40 by 30 to 46 by 36 feet, and also to get a plan of the frame." One week later they "voted to build a church 30 by 40 feet, that it be two stories high, with 20 feet posts and a cupola suitable for hanging a bell." At the same meet- ing they directed the Society Committee to " agree with Moses Pond for a room in his chamber to meet in for one year, if in their opinion they can get it reasonable." Moses Pond's house was at this time the public house at the Centre. In the Autumn of the same year they circulated subscriptions to raise money to defray ex- penses for hiring a house in which to hold public worship the year ensuing, and it is probable it was this chamber in Mr. Pond's hotel.
In December, 1823, they accepted the report of their committee on a place to build a house, and fixed a site and appointed a committee to forward the enterprise. Between the years 1822 and 1830, the Society met fre- quently, discussed the whole subject of building and appointed committees to forward the same, but the house did not appear in its place as desired. The Society was not able to build a church that would accommodate even its small congregation, and during the same time the Congregational Society was unable to "hire preach- ing." The "revival" in the Spring of 1828 in the Con- gregational Society under the Rev. Mr. Scranton had re- vived the religious energies of the whole community, and the Episcopal Society shared in its benefits. In Feb- ruary of 1830, they changed the size of the house to 24 by 36 feet, and proceeded to gather materials for the building.
A SITE GIVEN BY THE TOWN. -
WOLCOTT, April 5th, 1830.
Then met according to adjournment, and at said meeting, upon the petition of a number of the members of the Episcopal So- ciety in said town in the form following :
Whereas, the Episcopal Society in the town of Wolcott are
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HISTORY OF WOLCOTT.
about to erect a house of public worship in said Wolcott, and being desirous to set the same somewhere near the Congre- gational Meeting house in said Wolcott, or as near as a suitable spot of ground can be obtained for that purpose, we, therefore, whose names are underwritten, petition the inhabitants of said Wolcott, in legal town meeting this day assembled, for leave to erect said house on the most eligible spot of ground belonging to said town of Wolcott on the south part of the public green.
Signed by JOHN J. KENEA and others.
WOLCOTT, April 5, 1830.
Voted to grant the prayer of the petition.
During the summer of 1830 the frame was raised, and in December the outside of the church was covered. The only record of expense of the Society is a paper- covered book, found in possession of Mr. Orrin Hall, hav- ing been left by Mr. Levi Hall at his death, containing Mr. Erastus Welton's account with the Society as treas- urer from 1811 to 1823, and containing Mr. Levi Hall's account with the same from 1835 to 1839. These items give us no account of the cost of the church, nor when it was completed. It is probable that the church was not finished till some time during the year 1832, from the fact that a meeting of the Society was held on the first Monday of April, 1833, and they "voted to discharge Levi Hall, Archibald Minor, Thomas H. Welton, and Orrin Plumb, building committee for the church, from any further services as committee aforesaid, and from all liabilities in said capacity," which indicates the work of building completed at that time.
In 1836 a stove was put into the church, as appears from a subscription paper for that purpose, still pre- served.
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CHAPTER II.
ORGANIZATION OF THE CHURCH.
The early records of the church were destroyed, purposely, as we are informed, by Rev. Collis I. Potter, who was minister to this parish in 1850; but from a , minute made in the transactions of the Society, we learn quite clearly that the church was organized on or about Easter, 1834, for the meetings are called "Meetings of the Episcopal Society" till October, 1833, when they ad- journed to the first Monday after the next Easter, and on that date the record made is of "All Saints' Parish in Wolcott." I have no doubt, therefore, of the date of the organization.
The records destroyed contained the list of the mem- bers and families of the church, and their destruction left the Book of Records in an unseemly condition, such as we should think no one would tolerate,- especially for the reason given, that some few things objection- able had been written therein. Hence, as to the rec- ords of the church, we are carried forward to the year 1850, when the Rev. Mr. Potter, then minister of "All Saints' Church," makes the following minute : "The old register is exceedingly imperfect, partly from the negli- gence of former ministers, and partly from the fact that it has been judged expedient to destroy several pages containing matter which was inappropriate for a register of the church, and which gave offence to some." After thus giving reasons for the destruction of the records, he enters on an earnest exhortation to future ministers
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HISTORY OF WOLCOTT.
and wardens to keep the register fully and faithfully, and in a "proper manner ;" but he himself makes no record whatever of past historical items, except this one of the destruction of the register. Instead of giving reasons why a register should be kept, it would have been better to copy such parts of the old register as were "proper" for a church record. Five years after Mr. Potter's reign of destruction in records, we come to some account of the members and families of the church, which was made by Rev. Ximenus Alanson Welton, who "took charge of the parish under the supervision of the Bishop," in 1855.
During the years 1836 and 1837, the church was sup- plied with preaching by Rev. Peter G. Clark, residing in Cheshire. Several receipts for moneys paid are pre- served, but they are not explicit as to the amount of yearly salary ; only from one receipt it might be conclu- ded that he received $200 a year. In 1838 and 1839, Rev. Mr. Covill is mentioned as preaching to this church " half of the time."
In 1840 and 1841, and possibly longer, the church was supplied with preaching by Rev. Servilius Stocking, who resided in Wolcott, and may have been the first resident minister of this church. The salary seems to have been $300 a year, which was equal to the amount raised by the other Society at the same time.
From Easter, 1843, for one year, the Rev. Mr. Gregor supplied the pulpit, and the Rev. Wm. G. French the year following ; and following him, in 1845 to 1846, the Rev. David Sandford was engaged, and after him Rev. John D. Smith, for three years. The Rev. Collis Ira Potter was employed as minister from the Spring of 1850 to that of 1855. He entered in a new register a list of communicants and families then belonging to the church, and continued a faithful registry of baptisms, confirma- tions, and deaths, during his stay in the parish. The Rev. Ximenus Alanson Welton followed Mr. Potter in
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