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 52
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NOTE .- Mr. Bond kindly furnished the above for this work, and says those pastors marked * are deceased.
THE METHODISTS OF NEW BRITAIN.
The first Methodist preaching in this town, of which we have been able to find any account, was by Rev. Henry Bass, in 1815, while on a visit from South Carolina to this his native home. The next we find to have been by Rev. William Jewett, an itinerant, and in 1816, both in the "Os- good Hill" school house. Small meetings were held, often in private
497
OF NEW BRITAIN.
houses, in which Capt. Oliver Weldon, (who had moved here from Ken- sington, as a shoemaker,) took the lead. Rev. David Miller also preached here about 1818, and some have it that he formed the first class. No record of these early transactions, or of the organization of a church or society is found. The compiler, after diligent search in this town and vicinity, has found nothing authentic, except in relation to the purchase of the land upon which their house of worship stands. A private mem- orandum of Rev. Raphael Gilbert, late deceased, from his family in Brooklyn, N. Y., reveals an item of historic interest, to this respectable and flourishing society, as follows: "The first Methodist class in New Britain was composed of the following persons, viz: Oliver Weldon, Sally Weldon, Cecelia Weldon, Marilla Weldon, Daniel Kilby, John Steele, Rena Steele, Mary Eddy, James Steele, Oliver Newell, Phebe Bronson, Samuel Wilson, John R. Jewett,* Hester Jewett, Clarissa Gilbert, Patty Kilby, Wm. Steele, Esther Steele, Linas Gilbert, and Nancy Tryon, and on the 6th day of May, 1820, Raphael Gilbertt was appointed class leader." The same memorandum states that Raphael Gilbert was ap- pointed an exhorter, Feb. 18th, 1821, and local preacher Oct. 9th, 1823. His family record shows that he died June 6th, 1863, at Whitestone, L. I., and buried at "Cypress Hill Cemetery, L. I." The land records of the town of Berlin, (to which we belonged at that date,) show that Sam- uel Booth sold for $79.50, to Richard S. Cornwell a piece of land in New Britain, on Main st., 4 X 10 rods, where the present edifice of the Methodist society now (1867) stands, then abutting east on the highway and north on Norman Woodruff's house-lot,¿ and on the same day Rich- ard S. Cornwell deeded for the sum of $79.74, received to. his full satisfac- tion of Raphael Gilbert, to him the said Raphael in trust for the Meth- odist church, (he being bound to deed the same to the trustees of said . church,) the same 40 rods of land, and on the 6th day of May, 1828, Raphael Gilbert and Betsey his wife deeded the same land to Allen Judd,
*This is the famous J. R. Jewett of notoriety as a prisoner of the Indians at Noot- ka Sound for a number of years, a narrative of which was published and made a sen- sation at the time. Jewett was a noted singer as well as Methodist.
tIt is well known by a few persons still living, that Raphael Gilbert, although a hard boy, and played truant at school so much as to be unable to read in public at the time of, his conversion, yet the grace of God so changed the current of his life that he soon learned to read, and became a man of leading influence in the early development of this society. Probably no one knew its history better, and this memorandum appears conclusive and reliable on sight. It has names and dates, and comes from the class leader himself.
#When Arch street was laid out, it cut off the east end of this lot a little, and the trustees also sold to Dr. Woodruff some 20 feet from the north side.
32
498
FIRST CHURCH
Ferdinand Hart, Samuel Richards, Moses Cook, and Linus Burwell, trustees of the Methodist church in New Britain, in trust that they shall . erect or build a house or place of worship for the use of the members of the Methodist Episcopal church in the United States of America, accord- ing to the rules and discipline which from time to time may be agreed upon and adopted by the ministers and preachers of the said church at their "General Conference." This locality furnished an eligible site for their edifice, which was erected the same summer the deed was procured, and although not finished inside for some years, the first meeting was a quarterly, late in the year 1824; there had been one quarterly meeting in the place previous to this, and held in the chambers of Moses Smith's house, April, 1824. This quarterly in the church was conducted by Rev. Mr. Spicer, of Hartford. This first house of worship was cheap and plain, and gave place* in 1854 to the present commodious and neat one.
According to common usage in this church, those who stood fair and faithful at the end of six months' probation, were admitted to full com- munion, (if they thus desired,) and in the absence of all evidence to the contrary, we conclude the constituent members of the church were the same persons named above as in the first class, and that their names were sent to the quarterly meeting or conference about the close of the year : 1820. To these 21 constituent members were soon added the wife of Raphael Gilbert, Wm. Hart, Mary Dobson, Isaac Dobson, Allen Judd, , Huldah Wright, Eliza Wright, Abigail Smith, Allen Steele, Polly Rich- ards, Marinda Bronson, Sally Weldon, Leonard Deming, Mrs. Howd, Chauncey Beckwith, Ebenezer Steele, Ferdinand A. Hart, Linus Bur- well, and the wife of Linus Gilbert, and perhaps others. This church and society, so weak at the beginning, and which struggled so bravely many years against poverty and odium, has been a great blessing to the community, has raisedt many bright and shining lights, has been favored with frequent revivals, and has had some excellent pastors. The present number of resident members now, (1867) is about 200. Their Sunday School has been flourishing, and was organized A. D. 1829. Their late pastor was Rev. George Lansing Taylor, who left in 1865 for Brooklyn, N. Y., and their pulpit has been since supplied by Prof. Newhall, of Wes- leyan University, and by Rev. Dr. Scudder, of Hartford.
Perhaps some special remarks should be made just here, before closing this sketch, in honor and remembrance of the last name on the list of the
*The old house was sold and moved to the east side of Arch street, and used as a factory for ax-helves, but now, 1767, is occupied by the " American Fruit Basket Co." -- -
tMinisters raised by this church, and sent out mostly to the west, Raphael Gilbert, Allen Steele, Ebenezer Steele, Salmon Steele, Jason Steele.
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OF NEW BRITAIN.
first class, Nancy Tryon ; her maiden family name was Root, in 1810 was a member of Dr. Porter's church in Farmington; she lived in Berlin, Kensington and New Britain, her family having been broken up, and she having no certain dwelling-place. What "Sister Hollister," No. 79, was to the Baptist society in its forming state, such was "Sister Tryon" to the early history of the Methodist society. They were both remarkable for prayer, piety and zeal. With warm hearts and good conversational powers, they pressed their missionary labors with eminent success. It shows what earnest female workers can do in any good cause. There was a Mrs. Tryon in Berlin, a Methodist, called Mother Tryon, whose maiden name was Squire, and the two are sometimes confounded.
The following is copied from the first subscription for building the church ; it was drafted by Ira E. Smith, Esq., originally, and then copied for subscriptions.
"We the subscribers, whose names are hereunto annexed, do hereby promise and agree to pay to the Methodist Episcopal church the sums respectively affixed to our names, whenever we shall be thereto hereafter requested, to be applied, laid out and expended in the erection of the Methodist meeting house, the seats of which are to be free to all persons ; the said house to be erected upon a certain lot or piece of land situated in the society of New Britain, in the town of Berlin, lying immediately south of Norman Woodruff's house and lot, which said lot has been this day conveyed by Richard S. Cornwell to Raphael Gilbert, in trust for the aforesaid Methodist society. It is understood and provided that our said subscrip- tions are to be null and void, and 'in no wise binding upon us, unless the building of the said house shall be commenced within one year from this date. Berlin, July 1st, 1824."
Subscribers' Names.
Raphael Gilbert,
Money. $30.00
Materials.
Work. $20.00
Linus Gilbert,
30.00
20.00
Allen Judd,
15.00
10.00
Lorenzo P. Lee,
$50.00
Ira E. Smith,
15.00
35.00
Richard S. Cornwell,
10.00
20.00
Elias Blinn,
10.00
Philip Lee,
3.00
4.00
Asa Cowdry,
20.00
Noah Hamblin,
9.00
1.00
Naboth L. Steele,
2.00
1.00
Samuel Judd,
5.00
5.00
Francis Hart,
5.00
Avery Atkins,
3.00
500
FIRST CHURCH
Money.
Materials.
Work.
Henry Steele,
$2.00
Betsey Pennfield,
15.00
Salmon Steele,
3.00
Clarissa Gilbert,
$15.00
Saxa Hooker,
10.00
Ashbel Hooker,
$6.00
Ira Gilbert,
15.00
Solomon Sanford,
10.00
Dan Wright,
1.50
Amzi Judd,
3.00
Jeremiah Goodrich,
10.00
Hezekiah Johnson,
5.00
Abigail Smith,
10.00
Joseph Holmes,
3.00
Hezekiah Seymour,
1.00
George Doolittle,
2.00
Daniel Judd,
4.00
Cyrus Stanley,
1.00
10.00
Cyrus Hart,
5.00
5.00
Leander S. Hart,
1.00
Richard Southmayd,
6.00
3.00
Theodore Riley,
5.00
Moses W. Beckley,
10.00
John Parsons,
6.00
Mary Wright,
1.50
Mary Ann Weldon,
1.00
Samuel Kelsey,
15.00
Aziel Belden,
2.50
2.50
Oliver Richards,
5.00
Zacheus Brown,
3.00
Leonard Deming,
1.50
Edward White,
1.00
Charles Hurlbert,
1.00
NOTE .- The author feels justified in publishing the above, because it reveals the time and origin of the first successful effort towards building the first meeting-house of the Methodists in this town, about which there has been so much speculation and enquiry. The fact that Ira E. Smith, Esq., was elected for the first time representa- tive of the town of Berlin the succeeding spring, shows that his liberality was duly appreciated.
1
501
OF NEW BRITAIN.
EPISCOPAL CHURCH.
Next in order of time was the origin of St. Mark's Protestant Episco- pal Church. The first service according to the usages of the Protestant Episcopal Church was held in New Britain in the old Academy building on the 17th of Jan., 1836, the Rev. Silas Totten, D. D., of Trinity Col- lege, Hartford, officiating.
On the 28th of Aug., 1836, the parish was duly organized at a meeting attended by the following named persons :
Ira E. Smith,
Hezekiah Seymour,
Lorenzo P. Lee, Cyrus Booth,
Emanuel Russell, John B. Parsons,
George Francis,
Arthur Pendleton,
John Fairbrother, Henry Baldwin,
Philip S. Judd,
The Rev. Dr. N. S. Wheaton, Chairman.
Lorenzo P. Lee, Secretary.
Their first place of permanent worship was built in 1837, and stood where the present residence of George M. Landers stands. This, how- ever, soon became too strait for the growing congregation, when they sold it for a dwelling-house, and built on West Main st., in the year 1848. It was enlarged in 1859, and a chapel built at the side, and a new and larger organ procured.
At the first meeting of the parish, the following officers were legally elected :
Lorenzo P. Lee, Ira E. Smith, Wardens; and Emanuel Russell, Frederick T. Stanley, Hezekiah Seymour, George Francis, Ralph Dick- inson, Cyrus Booth, Vestrymen. Charles N. Stanley, Clerk.
In 1836 there were 8 communicants, in 1862 there were 113, and in 1867 they number 170.
Bishop Brownell held one service April 17th, 1836. The Rev. Dr. Wheaton, President of Trinity College, officiated from June 19th, 1836, to April 16th, 1837. The Rev. Thomas Davis officiated from April 23d, 1837, to June 1st, 1838. The Rev. Z. H. Mansfield and the Rev. John Williams, the Assistant Bishop of the Diocese, officiated from June, 1838, to Nov., 1840.
The Rev. John M. Guion was Rector from Dec. 2d, 1840, to 1845. The Rev. Chas. R. Fisher officiated from Christmas, 1845, to Easter, 1846. The Rev. Abner Jackson, then Prof. of Trinity College, since President of Hobart College, officiated from April 19th, 1846, to Dec. 23d, 1848.
502
FIRST CHURCH
The Rev. Alexander Capron was Rector from Nov. 19th, 1848, to Easter, 1855, and Rev. Francis T. Russell was called to the Rectorship on the fourth Sunday after Easter, 1855. [He kindly furnished the above for this work .- ED.] He closed his labors in St. Mark's church the last Sabbath of March, 1864, and he was succeeded by Rev. Leonidas Bradley Baldwin as Rector, Oct. 1st, of the same year, who is still Rector July, 1867.
In the absence of all record as to who constituted the original church or communicants, the few still living think the following were the constit- uent members, viz .: Hezekiah Seymour, Solomon Churchill, Lucy, widow of Nathaniel Dickinson, Betsey, wife of Emanuel Russell, Andrew G. Graham, Emeline Russell, Jennette, wife of L. P. Lee, Mrs. Theresa Bassett, Mrs. George Francis.
THE 2D OR SOUTH CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH.
This offshoot was entirely from the first church and congregation in the town, and has already been noticed in previous pages. Their present Pastor, Rev. C. L. Goodell, was ordained and installed Feb. 2d, 1859, and was successor of Rev. Samuel Rockwell, who was dismissed June 20th, 1858, after a ministry of fifteen and a half years. The number of resident members in this church, 1862-20 years after its organization, was 226, but in Jan. 1867, is 308. It has a flourishing Sunday School, and the church and society are distinguished for large contributions to benev- olent objects.
They built during 1865, 66, and 67, a beautiful church edifice, of "Port- land free stone," costing some $135,000, which stands on nearly the same ground occupied by the former one, which was moved to the extreme east end of their lot, and used for worship while the new one was being built.
On or about the 13th of June, 1867, the Pastor of this church, Rev. Mr. Goodell, sailed in company with Rev. M. Dudley, of Middletown, and others on a tour of observation in Europe .*
*A Joint Stock Company was formed Nov., 1867, of some 15 principal business men of the village, with a capital of some $15,000, and bought a lot of Wm. A. Churchill, adjoining to the new meeting house lot, on the east, and bought the old South Church edifice, and this company are now enlarging and fitting it to move east and south about its size.
The design is to make a convenient " Public Hall, " a room for the " Young Mens' Institute," and " Christian Association," and the basement to rent for useful purposes. This is a laudable enterprise, and these gentlemen will deserve the thanks of the community.
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503
OF NEW BRITAIN.
Of Protestant churches in New Britain, it only remains to speak of the " Second Advent." Their first meetings were held in the State House, (so called) in Hart quarter. After about two years, (perhaps more,) the meetings were removed to the school house in the village, by Bassett's corner. Some objections being made to the use of it by the proprietors, the worshipers built a small edifice on Arch Street, A. D. 1850. They delayed adopting a creed, or church order on account of the variety of views and opinions entertained by the worshipers. They are few in num- ber, and only have preaching occasionally. Many of them had formerly belonged to the different Evangelical churches of the town, and some of these returned to their former connections, after a few years had passed, leaving the members that remained few, and feeble as a community or society. The society as such, was organized Aug. 9th, 1850. Charles Burt was appointed Agent, and a piece of land was rented of Mr. Theron Hart, and a small house of worship built the same season.
An uncommon interest has been manifested this summer, 1867, in protracted meetings, in addition to their number on profession, and bap- tisms by immersion.
St. Mary's or the Catholic church, was built substantially of brick in 1850, and was enlarged in 1863. The building will seat more persons than any other church in town, and the congregation embraces about 1000 persons, 700 of whom are communicants. The church is located on Myrtle Street, and Rev. Luke Daly is the Priest, now 1867, and has been from its first organization.
They have a school house near the church, which will accommodate 300 day school children.
Their Sunday School was organized as soon as their church was fin- ished; and 1866 a large and good toned bell was procured for the church.
MANUFACTURERS, THEIR PROGRESS.
New Britain had a name as an Ecclesiastical Society, 1754, and con- tinued a staid farming community for about half a century, when by the mechanical skill and industry of some two or three individuals, it began a career of progress in the mechanic arts, which at the close of a century has culminated in the title of a manufacturing village. If the reader will peruse the sketches No. (443) and No. (461) in connection with what follows, he will see how the steps of this progress have been developed. The first articles of hardware ever manufactured and offered for sale from this village, were produced by these men and put into market, the
504
FIRST CHURCH
summer of 1800, and thus a system of demand and supply was established which has continued from that day to this. Seth J. North, No. (449,) having learned the blacksmith's trade of his father, was received into the brass shop of his brother James for a time, when and where he soon dis- covered that the brass business afforded profits, with which the common jobbing of the blacksmith could not begin to compare ; having become of age in August, 1800, his mind was made up-he would carry on the busi- ness himself, and his brother James removed to Cherry Valley, N. Y. The " Sugden place," (so called,) near the present residence of Henry Stanly, having come into possession of Seth J. North, Feb., 1803, by deed of his father, the old house (where the first sleigh bells were made) gave place for his family residence, when he built opposite more extensive shops than had ever before been used in New Britain.
These two brass foundries of Seth J. North and Joseph Shipman, were continued down to 1840 without competition, the markets of Boston and Albany, and New York and Philadelphia being divided between them. They continued the leading business until 1830. The capital on which these two concerns were started was borrowed of the Rev. Dr. Smalley ! Lathes were then propelled by foot power ; as business increased horse power used down to 1830, when steam power was first introduced by Stanley, Clark & Waters, where the lock business first began in the build- ing now occupied as a Union store, and steam is now in use throughout the village.
In 1807, a company composed of Seth J. North, Isaac and Thomas Lee, Wm. Smith and Joseph Shipman, was formed for making jew- elry, and various articles were made, ear drops, breast pins, &c. This commenced in a small building where the barn of O. C. Stanley now stands, and had been the residence of " Old Aunt Viah," so called. In a year or more it was found necessary to build larger, and a new company was formed, a large shop was built a little north of the present residence of Dr. Hart, and when the business was abandoned three or four years afterwards, the building was bought by Isaac and Thomas Lee, and moved on the east side of the road, and occupied as a dwelling. It has been re- cently known as a hotel kept by J. W. Humphrey, and removed to Cedar street, when the present Humphrey House was built. This jewelry com- pany was the second branch of business attempted until 1812.
In Dec., 1812, Alvin North, Seth J. North, and Hezekiah C. Whipple began what was called the " Plating business," on Alvin North's corner. Silver plated copper wire was drawn and made into hooks and rings for men's overcoats, hooks and eyes for women's use, curb chains for bridles, &c., which business has never been abandoned, terminating at last in plat- ed saddlery hardware, by O. B. North & Co., and H. Butler & Sons, and hooks and eyes by North, Stanley & Co.
505
OF NEW BRITAIN.
During the war a company was formed to make roller buckles, and the buildings stood on ground near the old Post Office. Knives and forks were made by Jesse Hart, on the corner of West Main street, where is now the Baptist church. Wrought iron table butts were made by Chauncey Wright. Bureau locks, bellows pipes, sad irons, &c., were made by Sam- uel Booth and Norman Woodruff, and wooden candlesticks by Theron Hart. The peace of 1815 closed up these different branches, and the brass foundries of Seth J. North and Joseph Shipman, and the plating business of Norths & Whipple were the only manufactories in 1816, at the close of the war.
During this period of fifteen years the agricultural interests of the soci- ety of New Britain had been improved and enlarged, and the population of the society had increased. The store of Elnathan Smith was the first in the limits of the parish on what is called the " East street." In 1805 and 1806 Isaac and Thomas Lee built the first store within the present limits of the Borough, at the N. W. corner of the green, where is now the resi- dence of Henry North. From 1816 to 1821 little progress was made either in business or population, except in the outskirts of the parish.
The new meeting house, recently known as the " old north church," and at present as " Strickland Hall," was erected in 1822, by the Con- gregational society, there being no other ecclesiastical society then here occupying any church edifice. A Baptist society was organized in 1805, and a Methodist society in 1818, neither at this time having any place for public worship. The location of this church formed a nucleus for the growth of the village. In the following year, 1823, the Messrs. Lees built the stone store opposite the new church, and soon after the store of O. R. Burnham & Co., was built on ground where now stands the resi- dence of Curtis Whaples, afterwards removed and now known as the " South store." From 1817 to 1823, Messrs. Lees manufactured a few buttons, snaps, hooks and eyes, and glass beads were made into various articles, and the plating business of hooks and rings, hooks and eyes, cloak clasps, &c., had been commenced and continued by L. P. Lee & Co., several years. The brass business had branched off in the hands of Chauncey Cornwell, Josiah Dewey, Norman Woodruff and others ; and James North, Jr., had returned from Cherry Valley in 1818, and resumed his former business as brass founder. No great additions of new branch- es were made until 1830. The business already established had however been much extended from 1823 to 1830, and largely increased in 1836. The financial crash of 1837, paralyzed a large portion of its business, heavy losses were made, and it was not until 1843 that they might be said to have successfully resumed business. From that time to 1857, nearly all branches have been successful, and large additions have been made to the capital and business of the village. The manufacture of hardware
506
FIRST CHURCH
has been its leading feature, and the principal exceptions are the shirt factories of Isaac N. Lee & Son, Julius Parker and Wm. Bingham; the hook and eye establishment of North, Stanley & Co., the jewelry business of Churchill, Stanley & Co., and the New Britain Jewelry Company, and the New Britain Knitting Company, the latter one of the largest and most successful corporations in the place. To the above list should be added as hardware manufacturing establishments, " Russell, Erwin & Co.," " The Stanley Works," "F. H. North," "J. B. Sargeant & Co.," "O. B. North & Co.," now "J. Shepherd & Co.," "P. & F. Corbin," "H. F. North & Co.," now "North & Judd Manufacturing Co.," Landers, Smith & Co.," now " Landers, Frary & Clark," "Humison & Beckley," " The Maleable Iron Works," "Judd & Blakesley," "E. Doen & Co.," and last but not least, "The Union Manufacturing Co.," built 1866. Some of these companies are said to have indirectly coined money during the war, and all with their perfected machinery are able to compete in most articles of " hardware " with the old establishments and cheap labor of England.
This article in substance was prepared some years since by Mr. F. T. Stanley, a native of this place, and a gentleman whose name is identified with the honor and progress of the town, and who has kindly consented that I might use for this work what of it I deemed proper. I add some items which his modesty suppressed. [Ed.]
In workers of other materials is the "Stanley Rule and Level Co.," (doing a large business,) and "The American Basket Co.," and several carriage and other shops and factories ; in all of which is supposed to be employed an aggregate amount of capital of over two millions and a half-$2,500,000.
The chief drawback on the business of New Britain has been the ex- pense of transportation. Being inland and about 10 miles from the river this was considerable. This might have been relieved by the Hartford & New Haven Railroad, in 1840, but was not materially, their road passing too far east. In 1850, the Hartford, Providence & Fishkill Rail- road passed directly through the village, and afforded better facilities, and in 1866 the Middletown extension, and when the Hartford, Providence & Fishkill extension and double track, now called " Boston & Erie," are completed, (the latter running directly to the coal mines of Pennsylvania,) New Britain will enjoy facilities for transportation and commerce equal to any inland town in the state. Through the intelligence, the liberality and enterprise of the villagers, churches and schools have been produced, the streets have been graded, the side walks paved, the dwellings and public buildings furnished with gas, and as a crowning excellence, both of beauty and utility combined, the " Water Works," (devised by the inven- tive genius of our fellow citizen, Mr. F. T. Stanley, 1857,) have been
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