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 8

Author: Orcutt, Samuel, 1824-1893
Publication date: 1874
Publisher: Waterbury, Conn., Press of the American printing company
Number of Pages: 656


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 8


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Here would we meet to sing and pray, And learn how sweet thy dwellings be.


O King of saints, O triune God, Bow the high heavens and lend thine ear ;


O make this house thy fixed abode, And let the heavenly dove rest here.


Within these walls may Jesus' charms Allure ten thousand souls to love, And all supported by his arms, Shine forth in realms of bliss above.


There saints of every tribe and tongue Shall join the armies of the Lamb ; Hymn hallelujahs to the Son, The Spirit, and the great I AM.


* A copy of this poem is now in the possession of Mrs. Mark Tuttle.


70


HISTORY OF WOLCOTT.


Their songs seraphic shall they raise, And Gabriel's lyre the notes resound ; Heaven's full toned organ join the praise, And world to world repeat the sound.


To Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, Be ceaseless praise and glory given, By all the high angelic host, By all on earth and all in heaven.


Hallelujah ! Amen."


This hymn, sung by the large number of trained sing- ers then in the community, must have given a sense of gratitude and joy worthy of the occasion. That they were trained singers is abundantly evident from the sing- ing talent here, and the money they had spent in years past, and were spending for the "improvement of sing- ing." In the last of November, 1793, the Society ap- pointed "Joseph Minor, Lieut. James Bailey, Moses Pond, Isaac Upson, Enos Dutton, Joseph Beecher, Jr., Asahel Lane, Joseph M. Parker, a committee to circulate a sub- scription for singing, and procure a teacher according to the subscriptions they shall get."


In November, 1794, they appointed another committee : " Voted that we will do something to encourage singing. Voted that Dr. John Potter, Ensign Joseph Beecher, Capt. Charles Upson, Isaac Upson, Ensign Jonathan Carter, James Scarritt, Isaac Hopkins, Jr., Lieut. James Bailey, Nathan Barnes, Asahel Lane, and John Hitchcock, be a committee to get subscriptions to hire a singing master."


These committees were composed of substantial men, and the singing school was not to be a young people's pleasure meeting, but a school of thorough training in singing. And this old practice of "doing something to encourage singing" was continued for many years after the dedication of the church. In 1797, they "voted that we lay a rate of three mills on the dollar on the last August list, payable the first of March next, to be laid out to hire and pay some man to teach and instruct in


7 I


REV. MR. WOODWARD'S MINISTRY.


singing ; that Dr. John Potter, Moses Todd, Mark Harri- son, Esq., Capt. Streat Richards, Joseph Minor, Joseph M. Parker, and Preserve Carter, be a committee to pro- cure a teacher in singing, and to see to the laying out the above rate."


With this spirit of industry and improvement in the minds of the people, success and prosperity came to their hands and homes from every direction. They had peti- tioned for some years for "Town privileges," and in the spring of 1796, the parish was incorporated as a town, and the effect was to relieve the Society of various cares and responsibilities, and encourage them in all good things .*


In November, 1800, Mr. Woodward sent a communi- cation to the annual meeting which caused the following vote, and which is explained only in a vote taken a year after : " Voted that a committee be appointed to treat with Mr. Woodward on the subject of the communication


*At this place in the Society's history J must take leave of an acquaint- ance who at first sight and introduction, gave me considerable trouble and misunderstanding, but to whom, after six months' acquaintance, I am quite reluctant to say "good-by," for he has been of great service to me. Bc- sides, when we are well acquainted with tried friends, we may well hesitate to change them for strangers, though the strangers may be clothed in exqui- site style and beauty. For twenty-nine years the records of the Society were written by Daniel Byington - the first year by Daniel Byington, Sen., the other twenty-eight by Daniel, jr. In 1799 Isaac Bronson was elected Society Clerk, and to his most elegant writing I now come, and in so doing must leave the less elegant "hand" of Daniel. Apart from a little formality in the introduction of transactions, Mr. Byington was very nearly a model in the use of concise and appropriate terms, and of fidelity and honor in the office he held. It is, therefore, with great pleasure that I record my high appreciation of Daniel Byington, jr., as clerk of the Society of Farmingbury, whose writings I have consulted daily for much of the time for three months past, until I had become familiar with every turn of his pen, and every form of expression ; and until it seemed to me as a communion of spirits, in which friend Daniel was helping me on in giving to the world a picture of twenty-nine years of Society life in Farmingbury. Good-by, Daniel, till I am introduced to you " on the other side of the veil."


72


HISTORY OF WOLCOTT.


by him made to this meeting, and that said committee report to this meeting at their adjournment." No report of the committee is recorded, and the matter went over till December 7th, 1801, when it was voted "that Charles Upson, Esq., Deacon Joseph Atkins, Mark Harrison, Esq., Major Streat Richards, and Isaac Bronson, be a com- mittee to wait upon the Rev. Mr. Woodward and inform him that the Society, for various reasons, wish not to act upon the proposition by him made as to a dismission, par- ticularly, as they are well pleased with his performance as their minister, and are by no means willing for a dis- solution of the pastoral connection between him and them." This action is all that is recorded concern- ing this matter, unless it be a resolution passed soon after by the Society in regard to the payment of Mr. Woodward's salary when it should become due. The unusual rigor of this action may give us a suggestion of the reason why he desired a dismission,- namely, because the Society was so slow in paying his salary, even after waiting a year for it to become due. The first action reads thus : "Voted that if the Rev. Mr. Woodward's salary be not paid by the first day of March, annually, or any part of the same, such salary, or such part of it as is not paid, shall be upon interest until paid." But this, after three years' trial, did not remedy the diffi- culty as desired, and hence the second vote : " That exe- cution be taken out against the Society collector at the end of ninety days next coming after the first day of March, yearly, and put into the officer's hands by the So- ciety's Committee, unless said collector shall have paid the Rev. Mr. Woodward's salary in full by that time." After this it may be supposed that either the collectors or parishioners recognized the fact that a minister had a right to his salary after having earned it. It is proper to state here that the Treasurer's book shows that Mr. Woodward received part of his salary from time to time during the year. He received money (a very little), orders,


73


REV. MR. WOODWARD'S MINISTRY.


notes, wheat, and other items, as individuals felt disposed to let him have, or to sell to him, but much of it went over from month to month after the end of the year, until be- ing weary with delay he proposed to find another parish, or other work.


It may be thought that it must have been difficult to obtain a collector after a vote to "take out execution " against him but it was not. The first man elected after the above rule was passed was Selah Upson, and it is a singular incident that the assessment which he was to collect, with the order from the justice of the peace to collect it, have come into my hands just in time for in- sertion here :


To Selah Upson, Collector of the Society Rate in the Society of Farmingbury, in Wolcott, in New Haven County, Greeting :


By authority of the State of Connecticut, you are hereby com- manded forthwith to levy and collect of the persons named in the annexed list herewith committed to you, each one in several pro- portion as therein set down of the sum total of such list, being a tax or assessment granted or agreed upon by the inhabitants of said Society of Farmingbury, regularly assembled on the 27th day of October, 1805, for defraying the ministerial and other charges arising within the same, and to deliver and pay the sum and sums which you shall so lay and collect, unto the Treasurer of the said Society, at or before the first day of March, 1806, and if any person or persons shall neglect or refuse to make payment of the sum or sums whereat he or they are respectively assessed and set in the above list, to distrain the goods or chattels of such person or persons, and the same dispose of as the law directs, returning the overplus (if any be) unto the owner or owners; and for want of goods and chattels whereon to make distraint, you are to take the body or bodies of the person or persons so refusing, and him or them commit unto the keeper of the gaol of the said county vithin the said prison, who is hereby commanded to receive and afely keep him or them until he or they pay and satisfy the said um or sums assessed upon him or them as aforesaid, together


74


HISTORY OF WOLCOTT.


with your fees; unless the said assessment, or any part thereof, upon application made to the County Court, shall be abated.


Dated at WOLCOTT, this 28th day of February, 1806.


ISAAC BRONSON, Just. Peace.


John Alcox,


$1.00


Benham & Tuttle,


$3.07


Jesse Alcox,


2.3I


Samuel Benham,


25


James Alcox, jr.,


1.94


Estate of Joseph Beach,


1.97


Mark Alcox,


77


Hannah Beach,


33


David Alcox,


2.08


Asa Barnes,


15


Solomon Alcox,


3.49


Bezaleel Bowen


02


Obed Alcox,


34


Solomon Barnes,


07


Jesse Alcox, jr.,


2.52


Stephen Barnes,


08


John B. Alcox,


2.95


Levi Brown,


37


Joel Alcox,


2.30


Estate Lois Blakeslee,


I7


David Alcox, jr.,


1.00


Jared Burr,


94


Eldad Alcox,


1.00


Abel Curtiss,


3.4I


Elisha Adams,


2.0I


John Cooper,


07


Joseph Alcox,


32


Jacob Carter,


5.93


Edmund Bradley,


2.22


Stephen Carter,


4.44


Zebulon Byington,


20


Preserve Carter,


3.23


Daniel Byington,


3.23


Elihu Carter,


52


Joseph Beecher,


2.25


Stephen Carter, jr.,


1.28


John Beecher,


4.04


John & Dan Carter,


1.26


Hezekiah Beecher,


3.38


Ashbel Cowles,


45


Hezekiah Beecher, Woodbridge, 84


James Cowles,


1.75


Sylvester Beecher,


54


Hope Cobb,


07


James Bailey,


3.86


Allen Clark,


33


David Bailey,


39


Phineas Castle,


2I


Glover Ball,


3.41


Phineas Deming,


1.95


Timothy Bradley,


1.20


Isaac Downs,


3.55


Amasa Bradley,


2.32


Prince Duplax,


1.30


Moses Byington,


1.69


Jesse Dutton,


77


Daniel Byington, jr.,


I.34


Ezra Doolittle,


I7


Farrington Barnes,


2.32


Judah Frisbie,


3.43


Mark Barnes,


3.29


John Frisbie.


4.27


John Bronson,


3.00


Lydia Frisbie,


1.14


John Bronson, jr.,


45


Ransom Frisbie,


71


Hannah Bronson,


28


David Frisbie,


52


Isaac Bronson,


87


Reuben Frisbie,


08


Osee Bartholomew,


4.51


Daniel Frisbie,


44


James Bartholomew,


2.16


Sarah Granniss,


1.75


Heirs of Sam'l Bartholomew, 2.73


Heirs of Irujah Granniss,


23


Marvin Beckwith,


66


Stephen Granniss,


19


75


REV. MR. WOODWARD'S MINISTRY.


Joseph Holt,


$2.34


Lewis Loveland,


$1.88


Hotchkiss & Upson,


2,15


Elijah Lane,


09


Asaph Hotchkiss,


2.07


Laura Lane,


I4


Timothy Hotchkiss,


2.27


Joseph Miner,


5.05


Titus Hotchkiss,


4.89


Archibald Miner,


20


Abner Hotchkiss,


2.23


Ichabod Merrills,


1.73


Mary Hotchkiss,


1.42


Caleb Merrills,


27


Luther Hotchkiss,


29


Amasa Mix,


28


Miles Hotchkiss,


1.79


Samuel Munson,


04


Mark Harrison,


5.74


Elihu Moulthrop,


20


David Harrison,


3.94


Susanna Norton,


37


Rollin Harrison,


32


Ozias Norton,


1.34


Leonard Harrison,


65


John Norton,


5.03


Isaac Hopkins,


3.18


Ziba Norton,


1.40


Estate of Isaac Hopkins,


1.54


Rhoda Norton,


I4


Harvey Hopkins,


39


David Pardee,


2.32


Milly Hopkins,


95


Samuel Porter,


1.34


Elisha Horton,


2.62


John Potter,


4.07


Samuel Horton,


S5


Joseph M. Parker,


2.75


Heman Hall,


1.19


Zephana Parker,


1.67


Levi Hall,


1.84


Amos Parsons,


1.99


Justus Peck,


3.62


Lyman Hotchkiss and Nathan Andrews,


28


Simeon Plumb,


2.42


Uriel Holmes, jr., and Ephraim Root,


70


Samuel Plumb,


55


William Robinson and Isaac Upson,


2.00


Amariah Plumb,


I4


Estate of Enos Hotchkiss,


25


Marcus Potter,


1.40


Abigail Hull,


73


Asahel Peck,


02


John Hitchcock,


2.54


Streat Richards,


4.04


David Hitchcock,


4I


Elijah Royce,


1.36


Abel Ives,


1.47


Elijah Rowe,


I.12


Ebenezer Johnson,


39


Lydia Rogers,


28


Levi Johnson,


1.40


William Robinson,


1.74


John J. Kenea,


1.20


Jeremiah Scarritt,


94


Nathan Lewis,


4.41


James Scarritt,


· 2.48


Job Lewis,


09


David Scarritt,


25


Timothy Lewis,


22


Joseph Smith's Estate,


29


Lemuel Lewis,


66


Joseph Sutliff,


63


Jesse Lewis,


08


Titus Sutliff,


1.29


Nathaniel Lewis,


7.96


John Sutliff,


1.25


Reuben Lewis,


1.65


Jesse Selkriggs,


42


Royce Lewis.


1.38


Ephraim Smith,


1.30


Nathaniel Lane,


30


Timothy Scott,


19


Josiah Lane,


5I


Truman Sandford,


I5


Lud Lindsley,


3.01


Jared Smith,


1.20


Gamaliel Plumb,


61


Joseph Plumb,


1.68


76


HISTORY OF WOLCOTT.


James Smith,


$0.12


Manley Upson,


$2.48


James Stone,


IO


Charles Upson,


8.06


Lucius Tuttle,


1.97


Washington Upson


1.14


Ichabod Talmage,


1,28


Lee Upson,


8I


Jacob Talmage,


2.29


Gates Upson,


32


Josiah Thomas,


2.60


Benoni Upson,


52


John Thomas,


1.50


Ashbel Upson,


2.67


Seth Thomas,


1.43


Selah Upson,


I.55


Joseph Twitchel,


1.40


Jesse Upson,


3.50


Samuel Upson,


2.25


Freeman Upson,


37


Isaac Upson,


5.64


Amos Upson,


07


Harvey Upson,


3.73


Ephraim Winstone,


1.82


I. Upson and H. Townsend,


26


David Wakelee,


4.07


Obed Upson,


I.80


Silas Weed,


1.72


Samuel Upson, jr.,


2.26


Aside from this one item, there seems to have been no "uneasiness " but great satisfaction with Mr. Woodward in the parish and in his own mind as to the parish ; and with his school in a good degree of prosperity, he might well feel assured of filling an important position in his Lord's vineyard. For the last ten years of his ministry the Meeting house was so filled with hearers that there were extra committees appointed from year to year to seat the people and to provide seats for those who should become regular attendants.


It is painful to record the sudden close of such a ministe- rial service. In the Autumn of 1810, there prevailed somewhat, a peculiar and very fatal fever called typhoid. It was also called "the great fever." With this Mr. Woodward died after a sickness of but a few days .* In


"In the summer of 1810, the typhoid fever appeared in the family of Mark Harrison, Esq. Rev. Mr. Woodward attended this family and others in their sickness, as pastor and neighbor, and rendered great comfort in this time of fear and dread, for it is said to have been very difficult to get help to take care of the sick. Mr. Harrison's son Rollin died July 22d ; his wife, Rebecca Miles Harrison, died August 20th ; his son Michael died in New Haven, two days after his mother, he having been home and taken the fe- ver. Reuben Beebe, son-in-law of Mr. Harrison, died in Waterbury, Sept. 26th,of the same fever, having taken it in rendering help to the sick in Wolcott. Several others died in Wolcott besides Mr. Woodward and mem- bers of Mr. Harrison's family.


77


REV. MR. WOODWARD'S MINISTRY.


the grave yard at Wolcott Center, stands a stone, on which is written not without ornament,


IN Memory of REV. ISRAEL B. WOODWARD, WHO DIED Nov. 17, 1810, Æ. 43.


It is a singular fact that this grave is made directly and wholly across the walk or space between the two rows of graves adjoining ; as though, when dead, this remarkably good man's body must lie in the path where men walk, to arrest their attention and preach to them still.


He had served this people for eighteen years, preach - ing more than a thousand sermons ; he had welcomed to church membership about one hundred persons, many of whom were noble men in the church long after their lead- er left the toils of earth, and most of whom we doubt not have joined him again beyond the flood, where snows of winter, heat of summer, and the sorrows of earth will never come. It seems sad that one just reaching man- hood's strength of intellect, and of whom we might properly expect thirty years more of efficient labor, should fall so soon ; but so doeth He, who "doeth all things well."


His wife remained in the place during the winter and supplied the pulpit by inviting neighboring ministers to preach from Sabbath to Sabbath. This illustrates the ability and faithfulness of this noble woman. On the 15th of April, 1811, the Society voted, " that the Socie- ty's committee pay over to Mrs. Woodward, the widow of our late pastor, the same sum for each Sabbath which she had supplied the pulpit by the neighboring ministers that the Rev. Mr. Woodward's salary would have amount-


78


HISTORY OF WOLCOTT.


ed to for the same term of time including next Sabbath." Mr. Woodward's salary was 80 pounds a year and 25 cords of wood until 1796, when the Society voted him 90 pounds without wood, and this continued, probably, until his death.


CHAPTER VI.


REV. MR. HART'S AND REV. MR. KEYS' MINISTRY : FROM 18II TO 1822.


REV. MR. HART'S SHORT MINISTRY.


At the meeting on the 15th of April, 1811, when the Society voted the settlement with Mrs. Woodward, they also voted, "that the Society's committee be directed to procure a candidate to preach to or in said Society after the next Sabbath," and on the 27th of May next they voted "to request the Society's committee to employ Rev. Mr. Parmele to supply the pulpit for a time that they shall judge proper."


In August next they had another candidate ; for on the 26th they voted, " that the Society's committee be requested and directed to agree with Mr. Lucas Hart to preach with us six Sabbaths after the next, on probation as it is termed, that is to say, if his performances and the prospect of his health are such as to be satisfactory to the Society and the Society to him, that he continue with us as our minister." At the annual meeting, Oct. 7, 18II, they voted "to give the Rev. Mr. Hart a call for a settlement with us as our minister. Voted, to give Mr. Hart four hundred and fifty dollars annually as a compensation for his services, if he see cause to accept the invitation to be our minister. That the Society's committee be directed to wait upon Mr Hart and inform him what the meeting had done." This meeting ad- journed and met on the 4th of Nov., 1811, and voted, " that Lewis H. Wakelee, Gates Upson, Ira Hough, Lu- cius Tuttle, and John Bronson, Jr., be a committee, in con-


8c


HISTORY OF WOLCOTT.


junction with the church committee, to provide for the Council at the time of ordination, and to take all neces- sary measures for the well ordering and conducting the same in all respects on the part of the Society." An account of the ordination is preserved.


ORDINATION OF MR. HART.


" At an Ecclesiastical Council convened at Wolcott, by letters missive from the church and Society in said town, at the house of Mr. Lucius Tuttle, on the 3d day of December, 1811, for the purpose of ordaining Mr. Lucas Hart to the pastoral care and charge of said church and Society,-present : The Rev. Simon Waterman, from Plymouth; the Rev. Benoni Upson and Deacon Asaph Smith, Kensington ; the Rev. Jonathan Miller and Dea- con Seth Peck, from the church at Burlington; the Rev. Luke Wood and Mr. Stephen Hotchkiss, from the church at Water- bury; the Rev. Luther Hart and Deacon Jacob Heminway, from the church at Plymouth; the Rev. Jonathan Cone and Deacon Bryan Hooker, from the church at Bristol; and Deacon Benja- min Dutton, from the church at Southington.


The Council proceeded to appoint the Rev. Simon Waterman Moderator, Rev. Jonathan Cone, Scribe. Business was then opened by prayer by the Moderator. The Council then attended to the communications from the church and Society, and from Mr. Hart, relative to his call and its acceptance. Being satisfied with these communications, the Council voted that the way was prepared to proceed to the examination of the candidate. After a thorough examination into his doctrinal and experimental ac- quaintance with the Christian religion, and his views with regard to entering the ministry, the Council unanimously voted to pro- ceed to the ordination of the candidate at eleven o'clock to-mor- row, A. M. The exercises of the ordination were then appro- priated as follows : Voted that the Rev. Luther Hart make the introductory prayer; Rev. Jonathan Miller preach the sermon ; Rev. Simon Waterman make the consecrating prayer; during which the Rev. Messrs. Waterman, Upson, Miller, and Wood, are to impose hands; Rev. Benoni Upson give the charge ; Rev. Luke Wood give the right hand of fellowship; Rev. Jonathan


-


REV. MR. HART'S MINISTRY.


Cone to make the concluding prayer. Voted to adjourn till half- past 8 o'clock to-morrow morning.


Wednesday, December 4th, the Council met according to ad- journment. Voted that they approve the minutes of the Council. Test SIMON WATERMAN, Moderator. JONATHAN CONE, Scribe.


The exercises of the ordination were performed at the time and in the manner specified as above.


Test. JONATHAN CONE, Scribe."


On the evening of the day of the ordination of Mr. Hart, an ordination " Ball " was held at the house of Mr. Pitman Stowe, which was then a hotel, and was the house Mr. Keys afterward occupied as his residence. This ball is certified by most reliable witnesses and confirming circumstances. It is also stated that the young pastor gave a sermon soon after, that was a high reprimand for this ball festivity. It is not asserted that the same com- mittee of the church and Society that provided for the ordination services was the committee of the ball, but that nearly the whole congregation attended the ball.


Mr. Hart's term of ministerial service was short. He was ordained Dec. 4, 1811, and died in East Haven, Oct. 16, 1813. When he was preaching here on trial his health was such that there was doubt whether he would be able to do the work of the parish. From all we can learn he was a very good and acceptable minister, with more am- bition than health to perform the work of a pastor.


He received to the fellowship of the church fourteen persons ; attended to a sad case of church discipline ; kept the records of the church very carefully in all res- pects, and apparently was fully ready for the summons that called him to rest in the mansions of peace.


I find the following receipt preserved with other papers by the clerk of the Society :


WOLCOTT, December 9th, 1813.


Received of Mr. William Bartholomow three hundred and thir- ty dollars, in full of all demands, which I have against the Eccle-


7


82


HISTORY OF WOLCOTT.


siastical Society in the town of Wolcott, in favor of Rev. Lucas Hart, late of said Wolcott, deceased.


SIMEON IIART, Administrator.


Since writing the above I have seen the record of deaths in East Haven, wherein I find the following : "From Wolcott, Oct. 11, 1813, Edward, son of Rev L. Hart ; disease, dysentery ; one year old ; buried in East Haven. Oct. 16, 1813, Rev. Lucas Hart, of dysentery, buried in East Haven, aged 29 years." Hence I infer that Mr. Hart was married, probably shortly after his settlement in Wolcott ; that he was visiting his kindred in East Haven ; his little son departed this life, and five days later, the father followed .*


REV. MR. KEYS' MINISTRY ..


In February, 1814, a Mr. Stebbins was preaching here as a candidate, and the Society voted that " The meet- ing give Mr. Stebbins notice that it is their wish to have him continue with the Society if it is consistent with him and them," but no arrangement was made with him for a settlement.


On the 18th day of April next (1814) they had anoth- er candidate and voted: " That we are satisfied with the Rev. Mr. Keys as a preacher, and wish to settle or con- tinue him as our minister. Voted that we will give Mr. Keys the sum of five hundred dollars each year that he shall serve us as our minister, as a compensation for his services."


On the 23d of May next they voted : "To renew the former call made to the Rev. Mr. Keys to settle with us as our minister, and to give him in addition to the sum already offered, the quantity of 15 cords of wood yearly, so long as he continues to serve as our minister." These fifteen cords of wood had weight in this matter, evidently, for Mr. Keys came again, and on consulta-


* See Biography.


83


REV. MR. KEYS' MINISTRY.


tion the Society took the following action: "Voted that Lucius Tuttle, James Bailey, Pitman Stowe, William Bartholomew, Gates Upson, Clark Bronson, Mark Upson, and Harvey Upson be a committee to consult with the Rev. Mr. Keys respecting the time of installation, the council, etc., and make the necessary provisions and ar- rangements for their entertainment and convenience, and the ceremonies of the day."


It was nearly three months after this when the invita- tions for the Council were sent out, and a month inter- vened before the Council met.


THE LETTER OF INVITATION.


" To the Church of Christ in Plymouth, etc., The Church of Christ in Wol- cott sendeth Greeting:


Whereas, the Congregational Church of Christ and Society of the town of Wolcott, have unanimously and in due form, given a call to the Rev. John Keys of the Presbytery of Albany, State of New York, to become their pastor and minister -and whereas, the said Mr. Keys has accepted their call, and with them is desir- ous of having the pastoral relation constituted - and whereas, they have agreed upon and appointed Wednesday, the twenty- first of September ensuing, for the installation to take place : This is therefore to invite and request you to attend, by your Rev. Pas- tor and delegate, at the house of Mr. Lucius Tuttle in Wolcott, on the day preceding, at eleven o'clock, A. M., then and there to assist in Council, and if the way shall be prepared for the installa- tion of Mr. Keys, to take such parts as the Council convened shall assign.




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