USA > Connecticut > Hartford County > New Britain > Memorial. Genealogy, and ecclesiastical history [of First Church, New Britain, Conn.] To which is added an appendix, with explanatory notes, and a full index > Part 12
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Almira W. Warren,
Betsey North,
Polly Clark,
Rosetta Hart,
Romeo Francis,
Maria Steele,
Catharine Francis,
Mehitabel Hart,
Catharine A. Francis,
Louisa Hart,
Nancy M. Eddy,
Eliza Judd,
Matilda Slater,
Gunilda Judd,
Dolly S. Hart,
Sarah E. Andrews,
Nathan R. Cook,
Sarah Whiting,
Lucy B. Cook,
Sarah Hart,
Jane Francis,
Mary Gridley,
Orpha Hart,
Lucy Winchell,
Lauretta S. North,
Mary Curtiss,
Amelia S. Williams,
Julia A. Curtiss,
Orpha H. Butler,
Lucy Wright,
Charlotte N. Stanley,
Sylvia Hart,
Sarah B. North,
Charles A. Warner,
Georgianna M. North,
Caroline U. Sweet,
Louisa B. North,
Olive B. Wright.
My object in putting these names on this book is to give the church in- formation that they may know who are members of the church remaining.
William H. Smith, Clerk.
It is proper here to remark that the number who remained in the first church was 207. The first meeting of the church for business after the division, was held in the conference room, July 12th, 1842, when Deacon David Whittlesey was appointed Clerk, and they voted to hold their an- nual meeting on the first Wednesday of January yearly, then to appoint their clerk, committee, and do all necessary business.
Voted to hold a church prayer meeting on Thursday afternoon weekly. Adjourned. Attest, D. Whittlesey, Clerk.
The pulpit was supplied for some months chiefly by Dr. Taylor, of New Haven, when at a legal meeting of the church warned for the purpose, and held 13th December, 1842,
Voted, that this church give Chester S. Lyman a call to settle over them in the gospel ministry.
Voted, that Amon Stanley communicate this act of the church to the Ecclesiastical Society, and request their concurrence in the same.
Voted, that David Whittlesey, N. W. Stanley, and William Whittlesey, be a committee to unite with such as the society shall appoint for the same
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purpose, in presenting to Mr. Lyman the call now voted, and solicit his acceptance of the same. Adjourned. D. Whittlesey, Clerk.
The society concurred in voting a salary of six hundred dollars, and appointed William Ellis, Norman Hart, and Samuel Booth, to unite with those on the part of the church to present the call to Mr. Lyman.
His reply to the above call.
New Haven, December 29th, 1842. To the committee of the first Congregational Church and Society in New Britain : The invitation which you recently communicated to me in the name of the first Congre- gational Church and Society to become their pastor, I consider it my duty, after careful and prayerful consideration, to accept. In thus deciding, I have acted not only according to the advice of those in whose judgment I put confidence, but also I trust from a sincere desire to follow the lead- ings of Providence. I hope, therefore, the steps I have taken will meet with the divine approval. The relation which, if ordained, I thus assume to the church and society is one, I am aware, of great responsibility ; and conscious as I am of my own deficiences, I feel that it is also one in sus- taining which I shall need your cordial co-operation and prayers, as well as the special blessing of our common Master. That this relation in con- sequence of our mutual faithfulness, may result both in our own spiritual well-being, and in the glory of God's name, is my most earnest prayer, and will be made the object of my constant efforts.
Yours in the fellowship of the gospel,
C. S. Lyman.
Proceedings of the Council.
An Ecclesiastical Council called by letters missive from the first Con- gregational Church in New Britain, for the purpose of ordaining Mr. Chester S. Lyman to the work of the gospel ministry, convened on the 14th of February, 1843, at the academy, at half past six P. M.
Rev. B. F. Northrop was chosen Moderator; prayer was offered by the Moderator. There were present from the church in Farmington,
Bishop Noah Porter, D. D.
Rev. William W. Woodworth, from Worthington.
Rev. Samuel Rockwell, from New Britain South.
Rev. B. F. Northrop, from Manchester.
Rev. Royal Robbins, from Kensington.
Delegates.
Brother A. F. Williams, Farmington. Brother Edward Wilcox, Worthington.
Deacon Elijah Francis, New Britain South. Brother Thomas Stowe, Middletown North. Brother M. W. Keeney, Manchester. Deacon Cyprian Goodrich, Kensington.
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Rev. Messrs. Herrick, Whittlesey, and Hull, being present, were in- vited to sit with the council. Documents respecting the call of the church and society to Mr. Lyman, and his acceptance of the same; also respect- ing his licensure were presented and deemed satisfactory by the council ; also satisfactory evidence of his church-membership was given. The council proceeded to examine Mr. Lyman respecting his knowledge of natural and revealed theology, his Christian experience and motives for entering the ministry, after which it was unanimously voted that we pro- ceed to the ordination of Mr. Lyman the following day.
The parts were assigned as follows :
Invocation and reading the Scriptures, by Rev. Mr. Herrick.
Introductory prayer by Rev. Mr. Rockwell.
The sermon by Rev. Dr. Porter.
Ordaining prayer by Rev. Mr. Robbins.
The charge by Rev. Mr. Northrop.
Right hand of fellowship, by Rev. Mr. Woodworth.
The concluding prayer by Rev. Mr. Northrop, and
Benediction by the pastor.
The council met February 15th, according to adjournment ; the min- utes were read and approved, and the public services were performed ac- cording to the above arrangement.
Signed, B. F. Northrop, Moderator.
Attest, William W. Woodworth, Scribe.
Mr. Lyman was born January 13th, 1814, at Manchester, Conn., (then Orford, a parish of East Hartford,) to Chester Lyman and his wife, Mary (Smith.) He graduated at Yale, 1837, and at Yale Theological Seminary, 1842 ; settled in New Britain as above. The church enjoyed a revival, 1843, under his ministry, as fruits of which twenty-two united with the church. His health failed and he was dismissed April 23d, 1845, making a term of a little more than two years, during which forty were added to the church, thirty-one by profession and nine by letter. He went to the Sandwich Islands for health, October, 1845, and landed May, 1846; from thence to California, 1847, and returned home 1850. He married, June 20th, A. D. 1850, Miss Delia Williams Wood, daughter of Hon. Joseph Wood, of New Haven, and his wife, Frances (Ellsworth,) daughter of Chief Justice Ellsworth, and grand-daughter of Chief Justice Oliver Ells- worth, of Windsor, Conn. She was born September 13th, 1820, at Stam- ford, Conn. Their children :
1. An infant, born April 11th, 1851, died young.
2. Elizabeth Ellsworth, born November 11th, 1852.
3. William Chester, born March 15th, 1855, died May 24th, 1855.
4. Oliver Ellsworth, born May 10th, 1856.
5. Delia Wood, born October 3d, 1858.
6. Chester Wolcott, born May 25th, 1861.
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Mr. Lyman is now, 1862, a resident of New Haven, and was appointed, July, 1859, Professor of Industrial Mechanics and Physics, at Yale Col- lege. This people remember him as their former pastor with high regard.
The following relates the call and settlement of his successor :
At a meeting of the church duly warned and held on the first day of May, 1845, David Whittlesey was chosen Moderator, and I. N. Lee, Clerk. It was unanimously voted to call and invite the Rev. Charles S. Sherman to become our pastor.
Voted, that this act of the church be communicated to the society, and request their concurrence.
Voted, that David Whittlesey, Norman Hart, and Doctor Woodruff, be a committee to unite with such as the society shall appoint for the same purpose, in presenting the doings of this meeting to Rev. Mr. Sherman, and solicit his acceptance of the same. The Ecclesiastical Society concur- red, and the first day of May, 1845, voted a salary of six hundred dollars.
Mr. Sherman's Answer.
Rockville, May 12th, 1845.
To the committee of the first Congregational Church and Society of New Britain : Dear brethren, your letter in behalf of the first Congrega- tional Church and Society, inviting me to become their pastor, was re- ceived on the 3d inst., and with a view to acting with careful and prayerful deliberation upon a matter of such importance, I have refrained giving an earlier answer. The solemnity of assuming, no less than dissolving the relation of pastor to a people, I can not view with indifference, nor can I be insensible to the duty which in all ordinary cases is urged upon a Chris- tian minister to assume that relation, when invited to it by the united and friendly wishes of a people who are, and who are worthy to be by him respected and beloved. These being my views and feelings, I have en- deavored carefully and with prayer to weigh the considerations bearing upon my duty in the case, and as the result of my deliberations have con- cluded to accept, and do hereby accept the invitation of your church and society to become their pastor. In the mean time let me bespeak your prayers that the blessing of the great Head of the Church may rest upon the decision to which we have been mutually led ; especially, that my an- ticipated ministry among you may be a revival ministry, crowned with the Holy Spirit's greatest work. If such be your daily prayers, I am sure that when I come unto you, I shall come in the fulness of the blessing of the gospel of Christ. The Lord bless you and keep you ; the Lord make His face to shine upon you, and be gracious unto you ; the Lord lift up His countenance upon you and give you peace.
-
.
I am with sincere respect and affection, C. S. Sherman.
Probably Mr. Sherman was never furnished with a copy of the doings of the council at his installation, hence we have no record on our books ;
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but he writes that it occurred July 2d, 1845, and also that he was dismissed September 5th, 1849. He was born April 26th, 1810, at Albany, N. Y., to Josiah Sherman, (brother of Roger Minot Sherman, late of Fairfield, Conn.,) and his wife, Hannah (Jones,) daughter of Daniel, of Hartford ; graduated at Yale, 1835, and at Andover Theological Seminary, Mass., 1838. He married, June 11th, 1839, Martha E., daughter of Cyrus Wil- liams and his wife, Martha (Wheeler.) They embarked July 17th, 1839, as missionaries to Palestine, from the port of Boston, Mass. They re- mained at Jerusalem until April, 1842, when loss of health compelled them to return to this country ; when he was settled and dismissed as above. He was soon called and was settled in Naugatuck, over a Congregational Church, where he now, 1867, resides. For his family see No. (995;) also No. (1,026.) Mr. Sherman greatly improved our Sunday school, by introducing the children to the Monthly Concert, and giving them an opportunity to sing, and repeat verses of scripture.
We now come to the call of Rev. E. B. Andrews, of Cornwall, Conn.
At a meeting of the first Ecclesiastical Society of New Britain, held May 6th, 1850, voted to unite with the church in extending an invitation to Rev. E. B. Andrews to become our pastor.
Voted, to give him a salary of seven hundred and fifty dollars.
Voted, that I. N. Lee, O. C. Stanley, and William A. Churchill, be a committee to unite with that of the church in presenting him their united call.
Action of the Council.
An Ecclesiastical Council regularly convened by letters missive from the first Congregational church and society in New Britain, for the pur- pose of installing Rev. E. B. Andrews as their pastor, was held June 26th, 1850, in the lecture room of said church and society.
The following pastors and delegates were present, viz:
From the church in Farmington, Rev. N. Porter, D. D. and Brother John E. Cowles, delegate.
Newington, Rev. Joab Brace, and Deacon Jeremiah Seymour, delegate.
Kensington, Rev. Royal Robbins, and Brother Jabez Langdon, delegate.
Wethersfield, Rev. Mark Tucker, D. D., and Brother E. T. Cook, delegate.
New Britain South, Rev. Samuel Rockwell, and Brother E. A. An- drews, delegate.
Plainville, Rev. William Wright, and Brother J. C. Hart, delegate.
East Windsor, Rev. Samuel J. Andrews, and Brother N. S. Osborn, delegate.
Worthington, Rev. W. W. Woodworth, and Deacon Joseph Savage, delegate.
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West Hartford, Rev. D. M. Seward, and Brother Charles S. Mills, delegate.
Hartford South, Brother John H. Goodwin, delegate.
Meriden, Brother H. Foster, delegate.
New Britain, first church, Brother I. N. Lee, delegate.
Rev. E. W. Andrews, Rev. Charles S. Sherman, Rev. W. G. Jones, Rev. Joel Grant, and Rev. John S. Whittlesey being present, were invited to sit with us, as corresponding members.
Dr. Porter was chosen Moderator, and Rev. W. W. Woodworth, Scribe. Prayer by the Moderator. Documents were then presented showing that the church and society had proceeded regularly in the call, and that Mr. Andrews had been regularly dismissed from the church and society of which he was formerly pastor, and that he is a member in good and regu- lar standing, of Berkshire Association, in Massachusetts. The council then proceeded to examine Mr. Andrews in respect to his knowledge of natural and revealed religion, his religious experience, and his reason for entering the ministry. Whereupon it was unanimously voted, that we approve of the examination of Mr. Andrews, and will proceed to his in- stallation this afternoon, at two o'clock. The parts of the installation ser- vice were assigned as follows, viz:
Introductory prayer by Rev. S. Rockwell, of New Britain South.
The Sermon by Rev. Samuel J. Andrews, of East Windsor.
Installing prayer by Rev. Joab Brace, of Newington.
Charge to the pastor by Dr. Tucker, of Wethersfield. Right hand of fellowship by Rev. W. W. Woodworth, of Worthington. Charge to the people by Rev. Mr. Robbins, of Kensington.
Concluding prayer by Rev. Mr. Sherman.
Benediction by the Pastor.
And the installation took place accordingly.
W. W. Woodworth, Scribe.
Rev. Ebenezer Baldwin Andrews was son of Rev. William, of Elling- ton, Windham, Danbury and Cornwall, and his wife, Sarah (Parkhill,) of Benson, Vermont. He was born April 29th, 1821, at Danbury, Conn .; graduated at Marietta College, Ohio, 1842 ; he was licensed to preach June 4th, 1845, by Litchfield North ; he was ordained and installed pas- tor of the church at Housatonicville, April 29th, 1846, and dismissed April 4th, 1849. He then engaged for a year in the " Alger Institute," at South Cornwall, Conn., where he also supplied the pulpit and received a call to settle. He married December 25th, 1850, Catharine Francis Laflin, born at North Adams, Mass., June 16th, 1831. His health being impaired he left New Britain, to take the chair of Natural Science and Natural The-
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ology Marietta College, Ohio. He enlisted 1861, into the thirty-sixth Regiment Ohio Volunteers as Major under Colonel Crook; was at the battle of Louisburg, Virginia ; at the South Mountain and Antietam bat- tles, where the regiment won honorsat the battle of Antietam. He was made Colonel, and returned to his professorship after spending about two years in the army.
Their Children.
1. Clara Laflin, born in Westfield, Mass., April 18th, 1852.
2. Catharine Francis, born in Marietta, Ohio, October 16th, 1854.
3. Cutler Watson, born in Marietta, Ohio, February 2d, 1856.
The following will best show the reasons of his early dismission :
At a church meeting held November 4th, 1851, the following letter was read :
To the first Congregational Church, New Britain : Beloved friends, you have been called together to day to receive a communication from your pastor. The nature of this communication you have doubtless anticipated. It is my request that the peculiar and official relation which I now hold with this church be dissolved, and that you, by your committee, unite with me in calling an ecclesiastical council for the purpose of effecting such dissolution. This is a step which I have taken after long and prayer- ful deliberation. For many weeks my mind has been in a state of very deep and painful anxiety to know what the Head of the Church would have me do. Settled pleasantly over a large and important parish, I have not wished nor dared to leave my position, unless it should be clearly re- vealed to me as my duty so to do. The arduous labors of the station (and they are far more arduous than any one not a minister can under- stand,) I have endeavored cheerfully to perform in the hope that they might be blessed to your highest good ; but such is the present condition of my health that I can no longer meet the engagements and responsibili- ties of my office, and the prospect of greater ability in the future seems remote and uncertain. For more than five months I have been struggling with an increasing bronchial disease. During these months I have been absent at one time six weeks, in the hope that I might be improved by rest; and when at home I have availed myself of all the occasional assist- ance I could obtain, so that I have probably not preached more than half of the time ; yet notwithstanding the disease has been constantly gaining ground, and now I am almost entirely unable to speak in public. Had I complied with the advice of my physician I should have given up preach- ing some months ago. Of the future I know nothing; it is in the Lord's hands, and he will do with me and with us all what seemeth him good. I hope and pray that he has yet work for me to do as a preacher of the gospel of his dear Son. One of my predecessors, whose disease he assured me was much like my own, has never yet been able to resume the work 8
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of the ministry. It may not be improper for me to state that I am not the only one of my father's family who has suffered from the same diffi- culty. Two brothers have been prevented by it from preaching, one for nearly two years at one time, and the other for the last ten months. Still another brother is now disabled from preaching by a disease somewhat similar, but more pulmonic in its nature ; but the fact that my father died of a bronchial disease in the midst of his usefulness, is the most disheart- ening consideration of all.
I have thus briefly stated to you my present condition. Now in view of it, what ought I to do? In endeavoring to answer this question I am conscious that I have not for a moment forgotten the interests of this church and people. I would do nothing that would in any way prove in- jurious to the cause of our common Redeemer among you. You need for your pastor a man of firm health and much physical vigor, to meet the full demands which are made upon him. It may therefore be deemed . best that I in my illness and necessary inefficiency, should give place to one more vigorous, and consequently more able to perform the labors of the station. I have also consulted friends and esteemed judicious clergy- men, respecting my duty in regard to the whole matter, and my request to- day is in entire harmony with their advice. I therefore, dear brethren, now ask you to unite with me in calling an ecclesiastical council for the purpose of considering this matter, and if deemed best, to dissolve the re- lation now subsisting between us. But I can not close this communica- tion without referring to the unusually pleasant relations which have always existed between us. I came among you an entire stranger, but I have always received kind and Christian treatment. You have ever given a friendly hearing on the Sabbath, (never showing the slightest disposition
- to prescribe the themes of my discourse, nor the modes of presenting : them,) and also you have treated me with kindness and courteous respect in all my private intercourse with you. It has been the friendly relation which should ever exist between a Christian pastor and a Christian peo- ple. This fact is an encouragement for the future ; indeed it seems to me prophetic, that with another pastor you will live in mutual love, and grow in all the gentle graces of the Christian life. :
Wishing you manifold blessings here, and eternal life hereafter, I am 1
your friend and pastor,
E. B. Andrews.
New Britain, November 4th, 1851. Upon receiving the foregoing the church passed the following :
" Whereas we have this day received a communication from our pastor, Rev. E. B. Andrews, asking us to unite with him in calling a Council to dissolve his pastoral relation with us, and whereas the circumstances under which the request is made, render it painfully necessary for us as a church to assent, therefore,-
-
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Resolved, that although our connection has been so brief, it has been exceeding pleasant and happy, and it is with emotions of deep regret that we consent to its termination. Our Pastor has been in and out among us in such Christian kindness and faithfulness, in such tender sympathy and charity, as to win our confidence and affection; his fine feelings and tender sensibilities will be held by us in enduring remembrance. We commend him to the Grace of God, and the sympathy of the Church, wherever he may be located.
N. W. Stanley, Henry Walter and Dan Clark, were appointed to unite with the pastor and the committee on the part of the society, in calling the proposed council.
Mr. Andrews was dismissed November 12th, 1851.
We continue our extracts from the church and society records.
" At a meeting of the church held the 11th October, 1852, Deacon Alfred Andrews was chosen moderator ; the following resolve was passed unanimously, viz :
Having heard the Rev. Horace Winslow, of Rockville, in our pulpit and conference room with satisfaction, and otherwise learned somewhat of his character and good standing as a gospel minister, therefore,
Resolved, that we cheerfully and cordially extend to him a call to be- come our pastor.
Voted, that Dr. Hawley be a committee to unite with such person as the society may appoint to present the doings of this meeting to Rev. Mr. Winslow, and solicit his acceptance of the call now voted.
Morton Judd, Clerk.
Mr. Winslow's Answer.
Dear Brethren, the invitation extended to me to become your Pastor, I have taken into prayerful, and I trust careful and candid consideration, and I am not aware that a further delay would discover to me any more clearly the path of duty than now. I feel that it is a delicate matter to leave a people whom I love, and by whom I have the assurance that I am myself beloved; but even with such a fact circumstances may make it a a duty for me to change this field of labor. Such seem to be the circum- stances that now surround me. It is with a desire to be in the way of duty, and with a feeling that I am following the providence of God, that I now accept the call to become your pastor. I expect this life to be one of labor, and wherever I may be, I desire to be useful, and this is my ex- pectation and desire if God shall consummate the invitation and make me your minister, but if we are prospered the Lord must smile upon us ; let me with your co-operation, bespeak for myself your prayers upon my an- ticipated labors among you.
Yours in Christian bonds,
Rockville, November 6th, 1852.
Horace Winslow.
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It should here be stated that the Ecclesiastical Society had concurred in the call and voted a salary of one thousand dollars, and appointed James Stanley a committee to unite with Dr. Hawley, appointed on the part of the church, in presenting the call.
At an Ecclesiastical council convened at the lecture-room of the first Congregational Church of New Britain, December 29th, 1852, by letters missive from said church.
Present from the church in Farmington,
Rev. Noah Porter, D. D., Deacon Simeon Hart, delegate.
Newington, Rev. Joab Brace, Brother Marcus Stoddard, delegate.
New Britain South, Rev. Sam'l Rockwell, Dr. Lucius Woodruff, delegate. New Britain First, Rev. William Whittlesey.
Springfield, Mass., North, Rev. R. H. Seeley.
Brooklyn, New York, Second, Rev. Nathaniel H. Eggleston.
Meriden, Rev. George W. Perkins.
The council, after being called to order, was organized by the choice of . Rev. Joab Brace, moderator, and Rev. George W. Perkins, scribe.
After prayer by the moderator, the following documents were presented : the invitation from the church to the Rev. Horace Winslow to become their pastor; the vote of the society concurring in the call, with the pledge of a suitable support ; the letter of acceptance from the Rev. Mr. Wins- low ; the result of council whereby the previous pastoral relation of Mr. Winslow was dissolved, whereupon, --
Resolved, that the documents now presented are satisfactory, and that we proceed to the customary examination of the candidate for installation. The examination was then conducted by the moderator and council, whereupon,
Resolved, that being satisfied with the examination, we will proceed to install Rev. Horace Winslow as pastor over the first Congregational church in New Britain.
That Rev. Dr. Porter, Rev. William Whittlesey, and Rev. Mr. Wins- low, be a committee to arrange the installation services. The committee reported a recommendation that the services should be as follows:
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