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 5
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42
INTRODUCTION.
Thos Heart
John Root
John Cowles,
Jacob Deming
Gasham Hollister
Nathl Cole
Joseph Steele
Daniel Cowles
Job Cole
Elisha Goodrich
Jonathan Lee
Saml Cowles
James North Wm Burnham jun .
Saml Thompson
Moses Gilbert
Ebenezer Heart
Allen Goodrich
Samuel Seymour
Isaac North
Joseph Porter
Saml Lankton Nathl Heart
Saml Bronson
To the Hon. Gen. Assembly of his Majesties Colony in Connecticut now sitting in Hartford, Thos Hart, Saml Seymour, Hezekiah Hart, Saml Lankton, Joseph Porter & many others the major part of the Inhabitants of the parish of Kensington in the town of Farmington Humbly beg leave to show that the Rev. Wm Burnham our worthy Pastor having had long & great bodily infirmity accordingly on the 18th of Inst May signified to our Society Committee his inability longer to discharge his pastoral office among us & thereupon as soon as possible, viz, on the 26 Inst said Society met & agreed & voted if necessary to call some person on probation in order to settle among us in the Ministry, the vote is on record, & also it being put to vote whether they should apply to the Association &c for more special advice it was in fact voted in the affirmative, but yet sundry persons declaring it to be doubtful & moved it might be tried again, the moderator, Capt. Isaac Hart said it was impossible to know whether it was a vote or not, refused any farther trial of it & so no entry thereof was made on the record, thereupon further there being a proposal in writing exhibited to said meeting, whether it was the mind of said Society to apply to the South Association of Hartford County for advice touching their divided & unsettled state, it being read it was voted that the matters in said writing should be tryed by vote of said Society. Immediately where- upon may it please your Honors & before that matter so agreed upon was or could be tried or put to vote, the said moderator stood up and declared he dismissed the said meeting, all respecting the vote above excepted appear on the records of the society. Whereupon we would further ob- serve to your Honors that as the said meeting was dismissed as aforesaid, nothing to purpose being done, so is the said Society under no advantage of having any thing done in the premises till our next annual meeting in December next, our Society Committee neglecting or declining to warn any meeting, before, so that such and so unhappy are our circumstances as not only to be actually destitute of the Gospel Ministry among us, but by any regular means we can use unable to obtain a Man upon probation for the Ministry, or so much as by any public vote or act of the Society to manifest our desire to have or call one. Our humble and earnest re- quest therefore to your Honors is that some one or more of said Society may be specially empowered to warn a Society meeting in said parish to
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KENSINGTON PARISH.
be held on such day as your Honors shall appoint and also to appoint some suitable person to lead, & be the moderator of such meeting in & respect- ing all such matters as they may act and do, & so we need not be need- lessly & unreasonably delayed in a matter of such importance, & we as in duty bound shall ever pray, &c.
Dated at Hartford, this 27th day of May, 1743.
Thos Hart Saml Seymour Hezekiah Hart Saml Lankton Joseph Porter.
.
Upon the memorial of Deacon Thomas Hart, Saml Seymour, Hezekiah Hart, and others inhabitants of the parish of Kensington, setting forth the great disorder and confusion in said parish, praying for relief.
Resolved by this Assembly that the said Dea. Thos Hart, Samuel Thompson and Nathaniel Hart, of said Kensington, shall warn all the in- habitants of said society that have a right to vote in parish meeting, to meet on the 6th day of June next, at ten o'clock in the forenoon of said day, at the meeting house in said parish, then and there to transact in such affairs as may relate to said society, and this Assembly do appoint and fully empower Mr. Joseph Buckingham of Hartford, to conduct and lead said meeting as their moderator, and the said moderator is hereby directed to lead said meeting in all such matters and things as he shall think proper, that so peace and order, (if possible,) may be restored to said society and those people conducted in a proper method to the gaining a suitable per- son to settle with or supply the place of their aged and infirm minister, who hath acquainted that parish that he is not able to serve them longer, to be done at the cost of said parish.
Concurred in ye Lower House, passed in the upper House.
Test James Fowler, Clerk. Test Geo. Wyllys, Sec.
It will be seen that the following petition emanates from "outsiders," for they complain of " long distances" and bad roads.
To the Hon. the Gen. Assembly of his Majesties Colony of Connecticut, to be convened at New Haven on the second Thursday of October next, viz. 1745, the memorial of the subscribers hereto, being inhabitants of the parish of Kensington, in Farmington, in Hartford County, humbly show- eth, that your honor's memorialists are some of them, inhabitants of the south part of said parish, are at a great distance from the place of worship in said parish, viz. some three, some four, some six miles therefrom, by which means it comes to pass that your honor's memorialists with great difficulty get to the place of public worship with their families in good weather, and in the winter season have been obliged to hire preaching among themselves, for which they have expended some hundreds of pounds.
44
INTRODUCTION.
Your Honor's Memorialists would also further inform that the said parish are now about to settle a minister among them, and your honor's memori- alists think it very hard for them to be obliged to bear their proportion of the extraordinary charge of the same in their present situation, especially · when that part of said parish who live near the meeting-house are well able to do the same, and since a part at least of those inhabitants of said parish who live near the meeting-house as aforesaid being convinced of the reasonableness of our being eased of the aforesaid burdens, are willing to have us set off as a parish by ourselves, whereupon your honor's Memori- alists humbly pray that as to equity appertains, your Honors, in your wonted wisdom and goodness would take into consideration the case of your Honor's Memorialists, appoint a committee to view said parish, and report to your Honors where and in what manner would be most conven- ient and proper for your Honor's Memorialists to be set off as a parish by themselves, and that your Honors accordingly grant that your Honor's Memorialists be set off and made a society by themselves, and your Honor's Memorialists as in duty bound shall ever pray.
The question being put to the lower House they concurred.
Joseph Hills,
Amos Judd, Stephen Lee,
Joseph Hopkins,
John Chivers,
Benjamin Judd, jun.,
Isaac Parsons,
Josiah Lee,
Isaac Lee,
Jonathan Hills,
Watts Hubbard,
Stephen Lee, jun.,
Abraham Hills,
Abijah Peck,
Simmons Woodruff,
Moses Hills,
Daniel Smith,
Jonathan Lewis,
Moses Peck,
Samuel Peck,
John Cole,
Samuel Peck, jun.,
Isaac Peck,
Isaac Norton, jun.,
Timothy Bronson,
Elisha Peck, Samuel Smith,
John Standley,
Anthony Judd, John Kelsey,
Aaron Bronson,
Phineas Judd,
Elisha Cole,
Isaac Hart, Joseph Smith, jun.,
Hezekiah Bronson,
Nathan Cole,
Jedediah Smith Abraham Parsons,
Stephen Cole, Benjamin Judd, George Hubbard,
Amos Peck, Nathan Judd,
Daniel Dewy,
Matthew Cole,
James Judd,
Aaron Aspinwall.
Noah Smith, Uriah Judd,
The question being put to the upper house it was voted Nay.
We have here a sketch of a petition from a few persons in the location of the present village of New Britain, and those living west of it.
April 27th, 1752. Memorial of the subscribers who say they belong to the first Ecclesiastical Society in Farmington, say they are from six to eight miles from the place of public worship in Farmington, say they have heretofore paid Ministerial Taxes to that society, ask now to be set to Ken- sington.
45
KENSINGTON PARISH.
The Assembly voted Nay.
Nathan Booth,
Moses Andrus,
John Judd,
Job Bronson,
Joshua Mather,
Widow Hannah Root,
Nathaniel Judd,*
Elijah Hart,
James Hosington,*
Ephraim Boardman,*
Judah Hart,
Six and a half years have now passed and we hear again from the out- siders and about their difficulties.
To the Hon. Gen. Assembly of the Colony of Connecticut, to be con- vened and holden at Hartford, in the said Colony, on the second Thursday of May, 1752.
The Memorial of us the subscribers, some of us living in the southwest part of the parish of Kensington, in the town of Farmington, in the county of Hartford, and others of us living in the north part of said parish of Kensington, in the town of Farmington, humbly showeth :
That the situation of the said society is such that those inhabitants liv- . ing in the extreme parts thereof, for a great part of the year can not with- out the utmost difficulty attend the public worship, where the Meeting house now is, that by reason thereof great difficulties have subsisted in said Society for many years past, and applications have been repeatedly made to this Assembly in order to a division of said society, and Commit- tees have been appointed, and they have reported in favor of such divis- ion, and your Memorialists are now assured that no expedient remains that will restore peace, resettle the gospel among us to general satisfaction, and put an end to our expensive and baneful controversy, but to have such division accomplished.
We therefore hereby intreat the interposition of this Hon. Assembly that they will once more employ their wisdom and power to extricate us from our still subsisting troubles, that they will at least grant a Committee to view our circumstances to judge of the expediency of dividing our soci- ety, and if they judge that to be expedient and necessary as other Com- mittees heretofore appointed for that purpose have done, that then they be directed to draw the lines for such division and make their report to this Assembly at this present session, or at their session in October next, and as in duty bound ever pray.
Dated 27th day of April, 1752.
This negatived. Josiah Lee, Benjamin Judd, jun.,
Stephen Lee 2d,
Nathan Judd,
James Judd, Uriah Judd,
* Those three with this mark lived at the west part of " Blew Hills" at the south end of the mountain, near the present residence of Gad Andrews, and all lived on the " Reserved lands" of Farmington.
46
INTRODUCTION.
Ezra Belden, Jedediah Smith,
Elisha Cole,
Stephen Lee,
David Hills,
Joseph Smith,
Joseph Smith, jun., Ladwick Hotchkiss,
Abraham Hills,
Joseph Woodruff,
Aaron Bronson,
Simmons Woodruff,
Isaac Lee,
Stephen Hollister,
Matthew Cole, Elijah Woodruff, Jonathan Lewis, Stephen Cole, Peck,
Elijah Bronson,
Ebenezer Hart,
Amos Judd, John Kelsey,
Abraham Parsons, Al. Grimes,
Robert Booth,
Daniel Dewy,
Isaac Parsons,
Elisha Booth,
Adonijah Lewis,
Solomon Winchell,
Barnes,
Phineas Judd,
Hez. Winchell, jun.,
Benjamin Judd,
Hezekiah Winchell.
At a meeting of Ken. Society 2d Dec. 1741, Sar't Samuel Thompson, Wm Burnham, jun. and Ebenezer Hart were chosen a committee, in be- half of the society, to receive into their hands all that estate in bonds and money that is or may be divided to that part of this society that dwell in the bounds of Farmington, as their part or proportion of the money that is or shall be given by the purchasers of the seven townships, called the " western lands," to be loaned out by said committee from time to time, as occasion shall require, always disposing of the interest thereof for the sup- porting a lawful school in this society, according to the acts and laws of government relating thereto, and be accountable to said society for their doings when required thereto.
At the same meeting upon the motion of Capt. Stephen Lee and others living in the northern part of this parish, praying that they might with the leave of the Hon. Gen. Assembly be released from ministerial charges in this society, and be a society by themselves, it was agreed by vote that Dea. Anthony Judd be a committee in behalf of the society to address the Hon. Gen. Assembly at their session in May next, to appoint a committee of able and disinterested persons, at the charge of the parish, to come into the parish, view its circumstances with relation to said motion, and make report of what they think is proper to be done in the case.
At a meeting of Kensington parish 1st Dec. 1742, Capt. Stephen Lee moderator and Samuel Hart clerk, granted to Rev. Wm Burnham £160 old tenor for his service in the ministry the past year, and to Mr. Judson for his service in the ministry £18 old tenor.
At the same meeting was granted to Joseph Porter for his journey to Stratford for Mr. Judson and entertaining Mr. Judson and his horse, £7 16s. old tenor.
At the same meeting it was voted that the " schoole" committee for the time being, should by their major vote determine the particular place for each schoole in ye several "squadrons,"-(an improvement in spelling,)- in said society.
47
KENSINGTON PARISH.
At the same meeting voted to pay Mr. David Judson for preaching the word among us for the space of four months after the 1st of Dec. inst. in proportion as we paid when he preached before, and that his rate be gath- ered distinct, by itself.
At a society meeting 26th May, 1743, Capt. Isaac Hart, moderator, a vote was taken whether they thought it necessary to call in some suitable person on probation ; voted in the affirmative.
At a meeting of Kensington society lawfully warned, held 26th August, 1743, it was agreed by vote that all male persons over eighteen years of age, and all females from sixteen years old and upward, shall be seated in the meeting-house by the following committee, viz. : Isaac North, David Sage, Moses Peck, Joseph Porter, Joseph Smith, jun., and John Hooker, and Capt. Jonathan Lewis, at their discretion.
At a meeting of Kensington society 13th Sept., 1744, voted to endeavor to call in some suitable person to preach the gospel amongst us, provided Rev. Mr. Wm Burnham will oblige himself to relinquish his salary at or before ye settlement of said person, by 77 votes affirmative, and 43 nega- tive, and at the same meeting it was voted to call the much esteemed Mr. Edward Dorr on probation, provided the Rev. Elders of the South Asso- ciation advise thereto.
Kensington parish meeting 22d Nov. 1744. Voted to call and settle if it may be Mr. Edward Dorr, (now laboring in the society,) in the work of the ministry, according to gospel order, there being 94 votes in affirmative and 56 in the negative.
At a meeting 3d Wednesday of Dec. 1744, it was voted if Mr. Edward Dorr be ordained to the work of the ministry in this society, he shall have a salary of £50 lawful money for six years, after that £60 lawful money, or grain equivalent thereto.
At the same meeting it was voted to desire and entreat the Rev. Mr. Samuel Whitman of Farmington, the Rev. Mr. Wm Russel and Mr. Ed- ward Eells of Middletown, the Rev. Mr. Ashbel Woodbridge of Glasen- bury, and the Rev. Mr. James Lockwood of Wethersfield, as soon as may be to come into this society and hear and consider the circumstances and pleas of the inhabitants thereof in relation to the settlement of a minister among us, and in their wisdom advise us in the two following particulars : viz. first, whether it be for the honor of God and the interest of religion for us under our particular circumstances to endeavor to settle a minister among us over the whole parish, and second, whether it be our duty to pro- ceed in our endeavors to have Mr. Edward Dorr settled in the gospel min- istry among us or no. The above council met at Kensington 2d Jan. . 1744, Rev. Mr. Samuel Whitman, moderator, and Rev. Mr. Edward Eells, scribe.
We being called by the society of Kensington to advise you with respect
48
INTRODUCTION.
to the settlement of a gospel minister among you, and particularly to re- solve the two following questions, viz. 1st question, Whether it be for the honor of God and the interest of religion, for us, under our present cir- cumstances, to endeavor to settle a minister among us over the whole parish. Second question, Whether it be our duty to proceed in our en- deavors to have Mr. Edward Dorr settled in the gospel ministry among us, or no.
Having heard your pleas, and considered your circumstances, with re- spect to the first question, we are of opinion you are one entire body under the obligations of maintaining the public worship of God among you so long as he in his Providence continues you so, it is for the honor of God and interest of Religion among you that there be a Pastor over the whole parish. With respect to the second question, considering your divided circumstances, we advise that Mr. Edward Dorr be continued to preach among you till June next, by which time it may be God in his Providence may more open and clear the way of his and your duty with respect to his settlement among you, and that then application be made to the Asso- ciation for their advice in your further proceeding.
Voted affirmative,
Signed,
Samuel Whitman, Wm Russell, Ashbel Woodbridge,
9
Edward Eels, James Lockwood.
A true copy, test Edward Eells, scribe.
At a parish meeting, 6th Feb. 1744-5,
Voted to comply with the advice of council, and also to desire Mr. Dorr to continue his labors with us till June, and Thos Hart appointed to apply to Association on our behalf for advice; said committee waited on the Association and obtained the following advice, viz .:
The Society at Kensington applying to us for advice in respect to Mr. Edward Dorr, we advise them to proceed to his settlement, with the care, .deliberation, and caution needful in so weighty an affair, it not appearing to us, there is any sufficient objection against their proceeding to his set- tlement, in case on a proper examination he appears suitably qualified for the work of the ministry.
Signed Edward Eells, Scribe.
Colchester, 5th June, 1745.
At a meeting 10th Oct. 1745, the society offered Mr. Dorr as a settle- ment £700, old tenor, and £50 salary for six years, and £60 yearly after six years ; also chose at the same meeting Thos Hart on behalf of the society to go to the Gen. Assembly at New Haven, there to answer to the . memorial of Capt. Stephen Lee and others, praying for a parish by them- ' selves.
.
49
KENSINGTON PARISH.
The answer of Mr. Dorr to the offer.
"To the inhabitants of the society of Kensington, with respect to the terms and proposals you have made to me in your votes bearing date 10th Oct. 1745, both for the settlement and annual salary, in case I be ordained and settled among you, my final answer is, that I do hereby accept of each and every of the sums therein granted, according to the time and times therein mentioned as sufficient encouragement, both for settlement and an annual salary, as witness my hand." Edward Dorr.
Dated in Lyme, 30th Oct. 1745.
To cut short the history of this protracted controversy, let me briefly say that the society somewhat changed their position in regard to Mr. Dorr; they reconsidered all former votes about his salary, and offered him by a major vote, 20th August, 1746, a sum equal to one-eighth of the sum of the salaries of the eight neighboring parishes, and called another coun- cil to consider and advise in the matter. In the mean time Capt. Stephen Lee and others, of the north part of the parish, were pressing their peti- tions to the General Court for a separation, and the Rev. Mr. Burnham, whose health had failed somewhat by infirmity, had greatly improved, so that the council upon these considerations discouraged the settlement of Mr. Dorr, and advised the society to sustain Mr. Burnham. Their record shows their regard to the advice, for at the annual meeting, December 3d, 1746, they voted him £190, in bills of public credit, or grain at market price, for his salary for the past year, and in 1747 he was paid £200, old tenor, and in 1748 they granted Rev. Mr. Burnham £350, old tenor.
At the annual meeting of Kensington parish 6th December, 1749, John Hooker, moderator, Thomas Hart, clerk, Samuel Smith and Phineas Judd, collectors of Mr. Burnham's rate that may be granted, the said Phineas Judd to collect that pertaining to Farmington, and the said Samuel Smith to collect that part of the rates that pertain to Middletown and Wethers- field inhabitants to pay ; granted to Rev. Mr. William Burnham, for his service in the work of the ministry the past year, as his salary, £300 in money of the old currency, or in wheat at £1 15s. per bushel, or "ry" at £1 50, or Indian corn at 15s. per bushel.
At a meeting of Kensington parish, 18th October, 1750, Capt. Amos Porter, moderator, the inhabitants agreed by vote to address themselves unto the present General Assembly of this government, to send us a com- mittee to view our circumstances, whether we shall divide or continue as we are, and if said committee think fit in their wisdom to divide us, then for said committee to draw lines for said division, and at the same meeting Capt. Joseph Porter and Mr. Daniel Smith were chosen a committee to go to the General Assembly, and endeavor to obtain the above said committee.
At the annual meeting 5th December, 1750, Capt. Amos Porter, mod- erator, Thomas Hart, clerk, it was voted to raise a rate of £175 to be 4
50
INTRODUCTION.
speedily gathered and paid to the administrator of the estate of Rev. Mr. William Burnham, deceased, for his service in the ministry the year past, to be paid in money, old tenor, or grain at the market price, first of May next.
At the same meeting Capt Samuel Cowles, Capt. Joseph Porter, Elisha Bronson, and Ins. Nathaniel Hart were chosen rate makers. Also agreed that the prudential committee for the year ensuing have full power at the society charge to provide a Minister or Ministers to preach with us until the last day of May next.
At the same meeting it was voted that Elijah Bronson take due care of stray sheep in ffarmington part of the Society.
December 11th, 1751, it was voted to get the advice of the Rev. Asso- ciation to call some suitable candidate upon probation, there being 82 votes in ye affirmative & 63 in the negative.
At the same meeting it was signified by vote that it was their minds to call in Mr. Ezra Stiles as a candidate, if the Association shall so advise, & Ins. Nathaniel Hart & Joseph Porter were chosen a committee to seek their advice.
On the 19th May, 1752, John Hooker, Esq. was chosen Moderator, being 74 votes in the affirmative & 64 in the negative; question was tried whether the society would appoint any person or persons to go to General Assembly now sitting at Hartford, to show reason why the several Memo- rials now made to said Assembly relating to the division of this society into several Ecclesiastical societies, & it was voted in the affirmative by 81 to 64 in the negative, & Thomas Hart & John Hooker were chosen a com- mittee to go & Remonstrate against said Memorials by a vote of 77 affirm- ative & 64 negative; the question was tried whether the society would continue one entire parish & endeavor to settle a Minister for the whole or not. Voted in the affirmative by 81 to 66 negative.
At this meeting the Heirs & Administrator of Rev. Mr. Burnham, de- ceased, presented a claim for arrearages of salary due the Estate; the So- ciety voted against paying the claim & appointed Sarg. Caleb Galpin, John Hooker, Esq. & Sarg. Moses Peck to do what they may to obstruct the claim, at court.
At an adjourned meeting of the society held 3d Tuesday of Dec. 1752, it was signified by a full major vote, that it was their desire to have the much esteemed Mr. Aaron Brown, called to preach the Gospel among us as a probationer, in order to a settlement, & Ins. Jonathan Lee, Jobe Cole, & Isaac North were chosen a committee to supply the pulpit the year en- suing, at the cost of the society, & to apply to the South Association for their advice as occasion shall call for.
At a meeting 1st March, 1753, Ins. Daniel Dewy, Moderator, it was agreed to call & settle ye much Esteemed Mr. Aaron Brown, and Sarg.
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KENSINGTON PARISH.
Caleb Galpin, Capt. Joseph Porter & Isaac Lee were appointed a com- mittee to treat with Mr. Brown about his settlement & Salary-the meet- ing then adjourned to the next Monday, when the said Mr. Brown having informed the Inhabitants that he thought it not convenient so suddenly to propose to the society the said terms, whereupon at the same meeting the society voted to pay to Mr. Brown the full sum of £2000 in money of the old tenor, provided he be settled with us, & it was also voted to give him as a yearly salary for the first two years fifty-five pounds per year in pro- clamation money, & the third year after his settlement as aforesaid, £65 in proclamation money, and after the expiration of the third year his salary shall be £70 proclamation money, during the whole term of time he shall continue in the Ministry with us, to be paid in silver money or Bills of Credit equivalent thereto, or in grain equivalent to proclamation money.
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