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 51
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55
Whole number of members Nov. 1st, 1867, is 1465, of whom 1047 are removed by death or otherwise.
No. admitted on profession, 73 per cent. or 1056. By letter, 27 per cent. or 409.
Members of the church from the most numerous or largest families, are, Hart 97, Stanley 71, Andrews 65, Judd 55, Smith 43, Lee 37, Booth 38, Pennfield 33, North 32, Lewis 29, Clark 25, Steele 23, Woodruff 23, Belden 19, Churchill 21, Whittlesey 17.
The oldest person when admitted, No. (853,) 744 years.
The youngest person when admitted, No. (1247,) viz .: 11 years and 13 days.
The eldest person at death, No. (520,) viz .: 96 years nearly.
No. of suicides from insanity, members of the church, 3.
No. of persons members of the church, at Alms-house, and dying there, 6.
No. of members baptized in adult years, 15} per cent. or 231.
No. of members supposed to have been baptized in infancy, 84} per cent. or 1234.
Person admitted to church by Dr. Smalley, still living, No. (317,) No. (319.) No. (320) and No. (325,) now Sept. 1st, 1867, and all females.
The average age of the members of this church at death, is 54} years. The average age of males 582, of females 51 years.
Whole number of Communion Seasons, 654, average accessions to the church, 2 286 2,2% at each communion, or about 13} persons per year.
CLERGYMEN raised in the parish and town of New Britain, Timothy Langdon, Wm. Hart, James Kilborn, Isaac Goodrich, Raphael Gilbert, Wm. Whittlesey, Henry Eddy, Allen Steele, Eliphalet Whittlesey, Bur- dette Hart, Ebenezer Steele, John S. Whittlesey, Levi W. Hart, Thomas S. Judd, Samuel Steele, Salmon Steele, Jason Steele, Emri Steele, Edwin Norton Andrews.
PHYSICIANS raised in New Britain, Josiah HIart, Thomas Mather, Isaac Lee, Jesse Andrews, Isaac Andrews, John Andrews, Adna Stanley, Samuel Hart, John R. Lee, Henry A. Hart, Thomas G. Lee, Wm Ellis, S. Waldo IIart, Henry A. Hart, jun., Harvey B. Steele.
LAWYERS raised in the town of New Britain, John Patterson, Elna- than Smith, jun., Joseph Smith, Ira E. Smith, Ethan A. Andrews, Horace
488
FIRST CHURCH
Andrews, Francis E. Cornwell, Charles S. Andrews, Sherman C. Belden, Otis Nash.
AUTHORS, natives or residents of this town, John Smalley, D. D., Ethan Allen Andrews, LL D., Elijah Burritt, A. M., Elihu Burritt, Mrs. Almira Phelps, Rev. John S. Whittlesey, Prof. D. N. Camp, Charles Northend, Geo. S. Sherwood, B. N. Comings, M. D., Rev. F. T. Russell, Col. H. B. Sprague, now, 1867, Supt. of the State Normal School, and several of the clergy have published by request single sermons.
During the year 1862 the volunteers from the Sunday School of the first church into the Army to put down the slaveholder's rebellion, was 24, of whom Sept., 1863, 8 had fallen and 4 were discharged and re- turned, leaving 12 in the field. About the same proportion volunteered from other schools and congregations in the town.
The whole number of soldiers from this town was 640, of whom 80 were killed or died of wounds or disease .-
ORGAN.
The first church of New Britain, have worshiped 109 years without the aid of an Organ, until Sept., 1867, when a large and fine one was put into the church by the Baumgarten Organ Co., of New Haven. It was exhibited to the public on the evening of Oct. 2d, by skillful organists to the entire satisfaction of the appreciative audience. The entire wind ar- rangement is peculiar. The bellows is a double acting force pump, placed in the basement and driven by one of " Stannard's Motors." The wind is conveyed in pipes to the " receiver," in the organ loft, and from there to the various stops of the instrument. Whole expense some $5,000 only. This instrument is esteemed a great acquisition and success.
I quote some just and sensible remarks of editorial, by Mr. Delavan of the New Britain Record.
"Last Wednesday evening, the Center church was well filled by an ap- preciative audience, assembled to listen to the rich tones of the new organ. The instrument is one of great power, and by good judges is said, in some respects, to equal the world renowned organ at Music Hall, Boston. It was manufactured by the Messrs. Baumgarten, of New Haven, and is an in- strument of which the Center church may justly feel proud. We are un- able to give a description of it at the present time, but all who listened to it on the occasion of the opening speak warmly in its praise. It was played by Messrs. Eugene Thayer and T. T. Mansfield-the former of Boston and the latter of. Meriden-and the applause-greatly subdued by reason of the sacredness of the place-which greeted their efforts, showed how well they were appreciated. A very large number of persons came from adjoining towns, from Hartford and other cities, (extra trains being run for their accommodation) to enjoy the rich repast, and we feel safe in saying that none returned disappointed."
APPENDIX.
SABBATH SCHOOLS.
As the Sabbath School has become a fixed institution, a necessary and blessed appendage to the church, we deem it appropriate to give here a brief history of its establishment and success in this parish. Early in the Spring of 1816, a board of Directors was chosen by the congregation, then under the care of Rev. Newton Skinner, (Colleague Pastor, with Rev. John Smalley, D. D.,) who appointed their junior Pastor President of the board, and Deacon David Whittlesey, Clerk and Superintendent of the Sabbath School. Mr. Whittlesey had been a teacher of a Grammar School in Hartford, previous to his marrying into Dr. Smalley's family, in New Britain, and soon after his coming to this town had been chosen a Deacon in the church. He was therefore the man for the office of Superintendent. A school of some 150 children was soon organized, and very nearly after the present mode, classes of from 6 to 8 with a proper teacher assigned were formed, and occupied the pews of the church. Each teacher was furnished with a card on which was written with the Superintendent's own hand, the names of the teacher and scholars, with blanks for the weekly record of recitations, for scripture, catechism, and hymns, and enough to last through the summer season. The school was opened with prayer every Sabbath, (agreeing with the present custom.) (Mr. Skinner had, previous to this, invited the children of his congrega - tion, once a year in the church, to recite the Assembly's, the Historical and the Doctrinal Catechisms.) The Sunday Schools in Hartford seem . to have been organized 1818, two years later than this in New Britain. This first Sunday School in Hartford County, however, had its defects, and in 1826 the present greatly improved system was adopted. We are indebted to Rev. Henry Jones, third Pastor of the church and his intel- ligent wife, for imparting new life and vigor to this branch of Christian effort. The names of the successive Superintendants were, (after the spring of 1826,) Alfred Andrews, (the compiler of this work,) Chauncey Cornwell, Henry L. Bidwell, Rev. R. G. Williams, Rev. John S. Whit- tlesey, David W. Whittlesey, Norman Hart, Roswell Hawley, M. D.,
490
FIRST CHURCH
Dan Clark, Charles Northend, and E. B. Allen. Several interesting re- vivals of religion have had their commencement in the Sabbath School, and from this institution the church has been principally replenished. It is in connection here to note, that this Sunday School, was one of the six formed into a local Union, on the 6th of September, 1832, at Newington, through the agency of Rev. Mr. Grosvenor, of the American Sunday School Union. The original schools were Wethersfield, Worthington, Rocky Hill, Newington, Kensington and New Britain, and Sept. 11th, 1838, the Sunday School of West Hartford, was admitted by vote at their so- licitation, and on Sept. 20th, 1842, the South church Sunday School, of New Britain, was admitted by vote of the Union. This local Union at its organization 1832, elected Deacon Israel Williams, of Rocky Hill, Pres- ident, and Alfred Andrews, of New Britain, Secretary, and it has held its anniversaries in regular succession, from church to church, in rotation ever since, retaining its original secretary to September, 1866. The amount of good these several churches and congregations have derived from their Sunday Schools, is incalcuable. Established on the principle of human equality and christian sympathy, being free, and the labors all gratuitous, bringing the young mind under the very best influences society affords, enjoying the prayerful oversight of the Pastors, and the smiles of our Heavenly Father by his Spirit, how can they fail to bless? A true narrative of Sunday Schools in Connecticut, aye, in the free states, would be the brightest page of history in modern times-even a tithe of the important facts would fill a huge volume. Let them be cherished then, as one of the best boons of Heaven to man ; not to supplant the family institution and influence, but to operate as a help from the family to the church and Heaven. We would not forget to mention in this connection, that " Infant Classes " so called, were inaugurated about 1835-6 into sev- eral of the Sunday Schools of our local Union, and among others, was one of 85 children commenced in the spring of 1836, and held in the Academy building in this place. The first Superintendent of this depart- ment was No. (607.) She left town the next year, and No. (731) was her successor in that department. A school or class of this character has been maintained down to the present period. It has been of high impor- tance as a primary or introductory to the higher school. Several per- . sons have had the care of this department, but no one perhaps has done a greater service than No. (1152.) At the 31st anniversary of the Sun- day School Union, for this vicinity, held Sept. 1862, the school connected with the first church in New Britain, reported as the whole number, (teachers and scholars,) 355. Of these 42 per cent. were members of the Church. And of the resident members of the church, it was reported that 48 per cent. were actively engaged in the Sunday School either as officers, teachers or learners.
491
OF NEW BRITAIN.
COMMON SCHOOLS.
That the meeting house and the school honse were early and equally . cared for by our ancestors, is evident from what has been said in the in- troduction to this work, and from incidental votes and remarks scattered through all the records of town and parish doings, from the first settlement of these colonies. It is evident that the Great Swamp society had a com- mon or district school, near their meeting house, for as early as 1717, the parish voted a committee, with instructions to report a plan for " better accommodations." And this committtee begin their report (at a subse- quent meeting,) by stating, in substance, that the distance is so great, the roads so bad, they advise a division of the parish into five districts, and that the money allowed by the country be divided according to the list, and that the balance of expense in supporting these schools, be paid by the parents and masters of the children taught. . Every plantation or set- tlement was obliged, by law, to maintain a school three months of the year. The colonies provided a little money, yearly, for the encourage- ment of these schools ; it was called country, colony, and excise* money, arising in part from a tax of four pence per gallon on imported distilled spirits. The amount divided to this parish for some years after its organi- zation, was about £12 per annum. This amount did not vary much, even down to the close of the war of the revolution. We are sure that the East street, (or Southeast district of New Britain,) had a common school, located about 1718-19, near the present residence. of Leonard Belden. That portion of our present territory, then belonging to New- ington parish, and called "Stanley quarter," had a common school located about 1700, perhaps in a room of some private house, as was common in the early settlement of these colonies, as appears from documents still extant. It appears, by inference, that the village or town of Farmington had no public building exclusively for school purposes, until 1688 or 1689.
The Southwest district embraced all Main street, from the foot of Dub- lin Hill to Kensington line, bounded west by Farmington line; the school house stood on the lot now owned and occupied by Henry E. Russell, and was located on West Main street, opposite the house of Mrs. Tolles ; the building was remarkable for a steep roof, and was sold to "Aunt Vial" for a dwelling house.
* Be it enacted by the Governor and Council, and Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, That the treasurer of this colony pay out to the several towns the principal sums paid in by them as " Excise Money," to gether with the interest due at the time of payment, taking a receipt therefor, which monies shall be appropriated to the use of schools, as in said act provided.
Passed 2d Thursday of May, 1773.
492
FIRST CHURCH
The Northwest district is supposed to be the last of the four located. No data is found to fix the date precisely, but supposed to be about 1740; the school house was located on (Half-way Hill) Osgood Hill. The first, or old house, was sold to Ebenezer Steele, and was added to his. own house, for a residence for his son William, the fifer. Thus the parish was furnished with four district schools, one at each corner, which re- mained fixtures, with little variation of progress or location, for half a century. Besides the country or excise money, and the sale of the seven western towns, " so called," the next means of revenue to the schools in Farmington, (to which town the territory under consideration belonged until 1785,) was that derived from the sale of unnecessary highways. Farmington being a large town, with several forty and twenty rod high- ways, the avails were very considerable. The legality of these sales being questioned, on application of the town, December, 1784, the legis- lature confirmed the sales already made, since A. D. 1723, and authorized further sales for the same object. When the town of Berlin was set off from Old Farmington, and incorporated A. D. 1785, a due proportion of these funds was secured for Kensington and New Britain, through the influence of Col. Lee and Col. Stanley.
Additions continued to be made to the school fund, down to the year 1813, from the same source. The next and most important means of school revenue, was the sale of the " Western Reserve," so called. This was about 3,000,000 acres located in the present State of Ohio, and owned by Connecticut, and was sold, 1795, for $1,200,000. Through the masterly management of James Hillhouse, Seth P. Beers, and B. Sedgwick, it has a capital of over $2,000,000, which, in 1818, was forever made sure to the benefit of common schools, by the constitution of the state, then adopted. The interest of this fund, previous to 1821, was divided to the several school societies in proportion to their tax lists, but that year the principal of equality was adopted, dividing the avails to each child, be- tween four and sixteen years of age. The same democratic principle was also adopted by our school society and town in the distribution of their private and other funds. The next source of revenue was the "Town Deposit Fund," so called, being that portion of the surplus reve- nue of the United States divided, 1837, to the several states willing to take it, and by them to the several towns, some of which, and among them Berlin, to which we then belonged, devoted the interest to the sup- port of common schools. This town deposit fund divided to New Britain amounted to $4,700. The consequence is, that New Britain not only enjoys the common dividend from the school fund of the state, but also in addition, the avails of the private highway fund, and the dividend from the town deposit fund, making to each child, of whatever origin, between four and sixteen, a yearly benefit of about $2.50. This in a district
493
OF NEW BRITAIN.
numbering seventy children, will pay a female teacher some thirty-six weeks. It should be observed, however, that this large dividend occurs only under the most favorable circumstances. So much concerning the public provisions, for common schools, aside from taxation. Some may ask, what kind of houses were provided for these schools ? The author has seen but two of these original houses, one was with as steep a roof as the most exquisite gothic structure of the present day. They were coarse and plain, with small windows, set high, large fire-places, in which was burned in winter, at least a cord, or 128 solid feet of wood per week. The books used were Dilworth's spelling-book, the Psalter, and Bible, until the close of the revolutionary war, 1783-4, when Noah Webster pub- lished his American spelling-book, his grammar, and a reading book called the " Third Part." About the same time was introduced "Scott's Lessons," for a reading book, for the first or oldest classes. An abridg- ment of Morse's geography began to be used by a few of the most ad- vanced scholars, about 1789, when it was first published. To the above reading books succeeded the Columbian Orator, the American Orator, and the American Reader, in rotation.
Some of the early teachers in the parish, previous to 1800, were as follows, viz .: David Mather, John Patterson, Lemuel Hotchkiss, Joel Smith, Timothy Langdon, Elnathan Smith, Elizur Hart, John Andrews, Miles Andrus, Moses Andrews, jun., Salmon Eno, Daniel Ames, Daniel Shipman, from Saybrook, Ashbel Seymour, William Kilbourn, Asahel Hart, Elijah Manross, of Bristol, Bela Judd, Josiah Dewy, Amzi Stanley, Adna Stanley, 1788, Samuel Chapman, 1791, Isaac Lee, jun., Timothy Stanley, jun., Benjamin Hart, jun. Some of the females : Zurviah Bird, Hannah Garnsey, Naomi Burritt, 1788 and 1790, Nancy Smith, of Elna- than, Rachel Stanley, Polly Smalley, Cynthia Stanley, Mrs. Electa Lusk, Elizabeth Gridley, Mehitable Loomis, Sally Churchill, Lydia Belden, Abigail Woods, Polly Crandall, Ismena Hart, Sally White, Asenath Bass, Hope Talbut, Lydia Richards, Sally Hart, Roxy Lincoln, Cina Lewis, of " White Oak," Farmington.
The school visitors for the year 1798, appointed by the school society to " visit and direct the several schools," were Rev. John Smalley, Col. Isaac Lee, Col. Gad Stanley, Capt. Jonathan Belden, Levi Andrews, Dea. Elijah Hart, James North, David Mather, Capt. Nathaniel Churchill. The record of 1800, annual meeting, shows the names of the same men to visit and direct the several schools, as the law directs.
The school visitors, and committee to examine teachers for the year 1824, were Rev. Newton Skinner, Noah W. Stanley, Alfred Andrews, Romeo Francis, Cyrus Stanley, Ira E. Smith. And a quarter of a cen- tury later, viz., 1849, they were Rev. Samuel Rockwell, N. W. Stanley, Rev. William P. Pattison, E. A. Andrews, Alfred Andrews, Hubert F.
-
494
FIRST CHURCH
North, Rev. John M. Guion, Rev. Stephen Rushmore, and Marcellus Clark. The list of School visitors was appointed annually by the school society, and usually, and properly, embraced the clergy of different de- nominations, and a few others conversant with school matters. It is a singular fact, that the present mode of putting all common schools under the care and patronage of the several towns, is exactly the primitive prac- tice of our fathers in the early settlement of these colonies .* The people have found, after trying the working of ecclesiastical parishes, and special incorporated school societies, that the town is the only proper and legiti- mate conservator, and patron of common schools. From the year 1754, the ecclesiastical parish had the oversight of the common schools within its limits, down to 1784, when the town of Berlin was incorporated, and when each parish, Kensington, New Britain, and Worthington, were also incorporated into separate and special school societies, having powers and duties conferred, to regulate schools, and protect and improve " burying grounds."
NORMAL SCHOOL.
The Normal school of the state of Connecticut was instituted in the year 1850, and located at New Britain, which happened to be the same year that the town was incorporated. It is an honor and a blessing to the commonwealth. The seventeen years of its existence, as an experi- ment, and an experience, has proved it worthy of patronage and support, not only by the state as such, but by the community at large.
The whole number who have been benefited by its instructions, is 2,349, a large majority of whom have been 'females. A large proportion of the whole number have taught more or less, (as was expected,) and many have become permanent " Educators." The effect is apparent upon our com- mon schools, in raising a higher standard of excellence; and this, not- withstanding the great influx of foreigners. As a public institution, capa- ble of much good, it is generally appreciated by the people of the state, and especially by the town of New Britain. Like all other public institutions that ask appropriations annually from the state treasury, for support, it is subject to severe criticisms ; but these even have a salutary influence upon its officers, as a stimulus. "If our friends do not tell us our faults, our enemies will." Our mission as a community, is to prevent vice and promote virtue. Hence the importance of educating the "educators.',
* Connecticut, by her Legislature, May session, 1856, conferred, by special act, the powers and duties of school societies, with a very few exceptions, upon the several towns of the state.
495
OF NEW BRITAIN.
which principle is well illustrated by the old and homely proverb, that "an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure." Our personal experience of more than a half century, in training to some extent, more than 3,000 pupils in various schools, leads us to make these suggestions and remarks.
The hasty act of the Legislature of 1867, on the last day of the ses- sion, in suspending this institution, by cutting off its supplies, was unwise in the extreme. The people were not only surprised, but shocked by the reckless blow. Connecticut can ill afford to dispense with this means of advancing its educational interests. If it is not what it might be, and ought to be, then make it so. It is not to be supposed that the people are ready to relinquish to New Britain, the building and grounds, worth some $100,000, without some good reason.
EVANGELICAL AND PROTESTANT CHURCHES
WHICH HAVE GROWN UP IN NEW BRITAIN, OR BEEN OFFSHOOTS FROM THE FIRST CHURCH AND CONGREGATION.
And first the BAPTIST, which has already been alluded to in the history of Dr. Smalley's ministry ; several of the constituent members of that church were formerly members of Dr. Smalley's, and nearly all members of his congregation at a previous date. They were early called separates, held their first meetings at the house of Samuel Smith in Stanley quar- ter, but subsequently at the old Hinsdale House on East street, where their church was first organized, June 16th, 1808, the following persons being the original and constituent members, viz. : Jeremiah Hubbard Os- good, Elijah Francis, Gideon Williams, Thomas Booth, John Osgood, Moses Smith, Oliver Weldon, Dan Wright, Sarah Hollister, Lydia Os- good, Mary Booth, Sarah Hinsdale, Anna Daniels, Rebecca R. Steele, Mary Osgood, Sally Weldon, Jerusha Weldon, Lois Booth, Betsey War- ner, Roxana Wright. To the above list of constituent members, were added the next year, Asahel Hart, Isaac Goodrich, Lydia Hart, Electa Goodrich, Ruth Hinsdale, Sarah Smith, Allen Steele, and Lucy Steele. They occupied private houses and school houses for public worship until 1828, when they furnished themselves with a small church edifice, and set it at the foot of "Dublin Hill," directly at the head of Main st. In 1842, they built on the corner of Main and West Main streets, one of the best locations in the town. This church numbers now, A. D. 1867, 250 com- municants. Their S. School was organized by Rev. Mr. Shaler, in the spring of 1829. From the organization of the church to the spring of
496
FIRST CHURCH
1828, it had no resident pastor. Rev. Enoch Green,* who lived at Mid- dletown, exercised the pastoral supervision until his death, March, 1825. visiting them sometimes monthly, and sometimes semi-monthly. In the spring of 1828, Rev. Seth Higby, the first resident pastor, began his labors with the church, which were continued eighteen months ; while he was with them, their first house was built. From autumn, 1829, till au- tumn, 1831, Rev. N. E. Shaler had the pastoral charge; during this time the first reference to a Sabbath School was made in the report to the As- sociation. The next pastor was Rev. Geo. W. Appleton,* who did not . give satisfaction, and ceased to labor as a minister in less than a year ; he came in the spring of 1832. For more than a year the church was with- out a pastor. In the summer or autumn of 1834, Rev. Amos D. Watrous became pastor, and continued till the spring of 1837; after this date there was no resident pastor for two years, Rev. Messrs. O. Allen, G. Robbins, (and for the last year, up to his death,) Rev. Matthew Bolles,* supplying the desk. In April, 1839, Rev. H. S. Haven* became pastor, and continued till the summer of 1841; just before he left the church, began the erection of the present house of worship. From Sept., 1841, until April, 1847, Rev. Levi S. Barney was pastor of the church. Rev. Elisha Cushman regularly supplied the church from June, 1846, until April, 1847, but did not consider himself regularly settled as pastor. From April, 1847, until January, 1851, Rev. Wm. P. Pattison was pastor. For the six months following there was no pastor. In July, 1851, Rev. Robert J. Wilson was called to be pastor, but left in October, 1852, and was succeeded by Rev. E. P. Bond, who was ordained Dec. 2d, 1852. Rev. Mr. Bond left July, 1865, for the "Connecticut Literary Institution," at Suffield, Ct., as its principal, and Rev. W. C. Walker was recognized as their pastor · the same year. This congregation has so increased as to be straitened for room, and have just now, 1867, voted unanimously to build a new and larger house of worship.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.