USA > Connecticut > Fairfield County > New Canaan > Readings in New Canaan history > Part 4
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With regard to clergy leadership in these early years of 1764-1791, it would seem that the Rev. Dr. Leaming, of Norwalk, officiated here occasionally before the Revolutionary War while after the war, the Rev. Dr. Bowden of Norwalk and the Rev. Dr. Dibble of Stam- ford were frequently here. Besides these men, the Rev. Dr. Smith, and the Rev. Messrs. Whitlock, Judd, Wheaton, Belden, Sherwood and Somers coming either from Norwalk, Stamford or Ridgefield officiated sometimes one fifth and sometimes one sixth of the year. "The Church thus deprived of a settled minister and having only occasional services barely retained its existence." 31
THE EPISCOPAL SOCIETY IN CANAAN PARISH ORGANIZED, NOV. 15, 1791
In November 15, 1791 a most significant step was taken by churchmen living in Canaan parish. They met and formed a separate parochial organization. I quote from Dr. Charles R. Abbott's "Historical Address," delivered Nov. 15, 1891 upon the occasion of the 100th anniversary of this historic meeting.32
"At a meeting of the Episcopal Protestant professors within the
29 Chartered in London, June 16, 1701 and known as the "S. P. G."
30 Their problem is clearly treated in Beardsley's "History of the Church in Con- necticut," Vol. I, Chapter 24.
31 Ogden's - Sermon Extract of June 2, 1839.
32 Recorded in Vol. II of parish minutes.
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Readings In New Canaan History
society of Canaan in Norwalk and Stamford and in the county of Fairfield legally warned and convened on the 15th day of November, 1791, the members of said meeting taking into consideration the great distances they live from places of publik worship in Norwalk and Stamford old societies, and the importance of having the Gospel preached and administered amongst themselves, did then agree to form themselves into a distinct society for the purpose aforesaid when they made choice of Stephen Betts for their moderator and Jonathan Tallmadge for their Society's Clerk who was accordingly sworn to a faithful performance of said office. At the same meeting the Society made choice of Abijah Seeley, Sylvanus Seeley, Dunlap Coggshall, Stephen Betts and John Raymond a committee of said society as you will see orderly enrolled to this certificate and as we wish to cultivate harmony, peace and good agreement with our brethren in the old societies we take these early measures to acquaint them with our proceedings."
It would seem that this determination for an "Episcopal Society" independent of the Old Societies of Norwalk and Stamford was none too well received by the mother organizations. The seventy-nine family heads 33 then living in Canaan parish paid a rate, as established by law,34 in support of the old societies and this declaration of independence meant loss of income to Norwalk and Stamford.35
Apparently the answer to the declaration of Nov. 15th required further and drastic action and so under date of Dec. 13, 1791 the following record of a vote occurs - "Passed by a vote of a majority at the annual meeting of the Episcopal Society at the Church in Canaan that if any one member or members of this Society should be attacked by the old societies of Stamford or Norwalk for any rate raised after the first day of December A. D. 1791 they shall apply to the committee of this Society for relief and they are to direct matters for his or her relief."
33 These 79 names are included in Society lists of 1791-1794 and 1797 and indicate the strength of the early society.
34 That of 1727 (later explained in this paper.)
35 Stamford was the real objector. There was no such advocate in the Stamford Old Society as Capt. Stephen Betts was in the case of Norwalk. He was a vestryman in Norwalk until April 25, 1791. Stamford also opposed the organization of "Canaan parish" by negative vote Dec. 8, 1730 (St. John, p. 18) and in 1801 opposed the in- corporation of New Canaan by sending a delegation to the Assembly in Hartford.
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An Historical Address
A BRIEF HISTORICAL SURVEY OF LAWFUL RATES FOR CHURCH SUPPORT
To understand the resentment of the old societies of Stamford and Norwalk referred to in the resolution just quoted we should pause a moment and examine the relationship of Church and State in these olden times. There was a Church established by law in both New Haven and the Connecticut colonies. The first code of laws enacted in Connecticut in 165036 provided for the support of the Church as well as the State, and the Church was after the independent Congre- gational pattern. Each congregation exercised its own authority, after its own fashion, without respect to any other. It is said that one congregation "chose their minister, ordained him, quarrelled with him, silenced him, and cast him out of the church and delivered him up to Satan - all in one year."37 From 1650 until 1708 every settler, quite irrespective of his religious convictions or credal professions, was taxed to support this Congregational Church and this, too, in a land governed by those who fled from England that they might have opportunity for freedom to worship God as they chose.
In 1708 the General Assembly passed what is known as the Tolera- tion Act whereby persons were no longer to be punished for non- conformity but they were not exempt from taxation for the support of the Congregational Church. Persons could declare their "sober dissent" and proceed to worship God in their own way and in their own assemblies but they must support the State Church. This was in reality a double burden, for the "professors," though permitted to support their own church, were also taxed for the State church.
THE LAW OF 1727 REMOVED THE NECESSITY OF CHURCHMEN SUPPORTING CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH
In 1727, Churchmen, "professors," were relieved from paying a tax for the support of the State church but they were required by law to join some congregation, Episcopal or some other and pay a
36 This first code or Constitution was completed by Mr. Roger Ludlow (purchaser of Norwalk 1640) Mr. Ludlow was a very able lawyer, magistrate of the first court in Connecticut "holden in Hartford April 26, 1636." He had been a noted magis- trate in England - a settler of Windsor, Conn., in 1636 coming from Dorchester, Mass., where he had been lieutenant-governor of Mass. Bay Colony.
37 Quoted by Abbott in his centennial address of Nov. 15, 1891.
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tax there. It was this relief from the burden of a double taxation that promoted the organization of Societies of the professors of the Church of England.38 Moreover the law of 1727 required the support of "Episcopal Societies" by a tax laid on the property of the members. The language of the law was Congregational -"Society not Church;" "Society's Committee - not wardens and vestrymen." The clergy- man was a hired minister and as such entirely subject to the "Society's Committee." He had the right to preach the gospel and to administer the Sacraments and to offer his advice but he had none of the rights given today by canon law to Rectors.
So from 1737 St. Paul's, Norwalk, and from 1742 St. John's Stam- ford, acting under the law of the land, collected taxes from "profes- sors" living within Canaan parish for the support of Norwalk and Stamford "old Societies."39 One of the regularly elected officers of each Church Society was "the collector."
This collecting of church taxes continued in Canaan parish quite lawfully until 1791 when our spiritual forebears meeting Nov. 15, 1791 organized "the Episcopal Society of the Church in Canaan." It was a notice served on the old societies and their reaction brought the interesting and drastic resolution of Dec. 13, 1791 "that if any one member or members of this society should be attacked by the old societies of Stamford or Norwalk for any rate raised after the first day of December A. D. 1791 they shall apply to the committee of this Society for relief and they are to direct matters for his or her relief."
THE EPISCOPAL SOCIETY IN CANAAN PARISH AS DETERMINED BY THE LISTS OF 1791-1797
In addition to the names of the Wardens and Committee of the new Society as formed Nov. 15, 1791 and previously quoted there are names attached to the Society's acts and resolutions through 1794 and 1797 which definitely establish the early membership of the Episcopal Society in Canaan parish. On those who signed the acts of the Society a rate was levied to maintain the services of the minister and that constituted membership in the Society.
38 St. Paul's. Norwalk, in 1737. St. John's, Stamford, 1742.
39 Norwalk and Stamford parish records.
An Historical Address
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This roll of early membership really constitutes the founders of this parish and should be given here in full.
Capt. Stephen Betts-Warden
Bertha Tallmadge (widow)
Jonathan Tallmadge-Society's Clerk Seymour Tallmadge
Dunlap Coggshall
John Raymond
Sam'l Hanford, Jr.
Society's Committee
Abijah Seeley Luke Raymond
Nathanael Crissey
Ebenezer Raymond
Nathanael Crissey, Jr.
Timothy Raymond
Abram Dann
Elnathan Lockwood
Ebenezer Hanford, Jr.
Nathan Raymond Sylvanus Seely, Jr.
Lydia Leeds
William Reed
Titus Finch
Theophilus Hanford Reuben Allen
Eliphalet Hanford
Samuel Seely
Abijah Comstock
Samuel Crissey
Levi Tuttle
Abijah Seely Nathan Seely
William Bolt
Abraham Crissey
Seymour Tallmadge
John Jarvis Timothy Hanford
William Tucker
David Bouton
A SECOND LIST OF MEMBERS IS DATED NOV. 4, 1794
Elisha Waters Jonathan Stevens, Jr. Solomon Burtis Aaron Comstock James Rusco Jonathan Abbott, Jr. Joseph Smith, Jr. Isaac Tucker
Seymour Tallmadge, Jr. Mary Gregory (widow) Squire Raymond Abigail Tuttle (widow) Isaac Camp
Bushnal Fitch
Stephen Craft
Joseph Smith
Sam'l Hanford, Jr.
David Webb, jr.
Peter Weed
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Readings In New Canaan History
THE LIST OF 1797 FOLLOWS WITH THESE NEW NAMES
Isaiah Tiffany
Stephen Bouton Austin Hanford
Henry Seely
Peter Studwell
Stephen Hanford
Reuben Fancher
Samuel Bolt
Abijah Scofield
Simeon Seely
John Stevens Amos Stevens
Jonathan Abbott
Jonathan Tallmadge
Isaac Keeler
Seth Hamilton
Joseph Crawford
Isaac Lockwood
Timothy Finch
Daniel Waring Eli Tuttle Phineas Tuttle Jacob Selleck
In these three lists there are forty-one different family names and the names of seventy-nine family heads. Just by way of indicating the strength and stability of these families let me say that I have known personally or known descendants of all but seven of them. The names are familiar ones all through the history of this town and parish. I can account for descendants of all but the Leeds, Allens, Bolts, Crafts, Studwells and Tiffanys.
THE SOCIETY'S COMMITTEE AND OTHER EARLY ACTION
The December 13, 1791 meeting of the Society adjourned to meet Jan. 2, 1792 and at the time a committee of five was elected consisting of Dunlap Coggshall, Sam'l Hanford, Jr., Abijah Seeley, Seymour Tallmadge and John Raymond. This seems to have been the Society's new committee. This January meeting adjourned to meet March 26, 1792. At this March meeting "they proceeded and made choice of Capt. Stephen Betts and Luke Raymond for a committee in addition to the commitee chosen Jan, 2nd, last." These last were in all prob- ability intended for wardens. So in this action of 1791-1792 you have the formation of the parish or society and its official governing body constituted as "Wardens and Committee."
Let us pause to name once again the first Wardens and Committee elected through three successive meetings of 1791-1792 for in these
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An Historical Address
names you have virtually the first vestry of the society. Wardens - Capt. Stephen Betts, Luke Raymond. Committeemen - Dunlap Coggshall, Sam'l Hanford, Jr., Abijah Seeley, Seymour Tallmadge and John Raymond.40
One other important item of business was transacted on March 26, 1792. A committee was chosen to attend the Easter Monday meetings at Stamford and Norwalk Old Societies to look after the interests of Canaan parish.
On Sept. 9, 1792 it was voted that the Constitution of the Con- vention of the Bishop, the Clergy and Laity meeting at New Haven June 6, 1792 should be adopted. This significant action brought Canaan parish under the jurisdiction of the Rt. Rev. Sam'l Seabury, first Bishop of Connecticut and first Bishop of the Protestant Epis- copal Church in U. S. of America.
THE FIRST CHOIR OF THE SOCIETY
We have noted the names of early ministers and of early lay officials of the Society. Likewise we have listed the first seventy-nine family heads. Since music is so important a part of the service of the Church I must list the choir which led the worship with Venite, Te Deum and Magnificat in the first Church. They were the Misses Abbie and Laurie Pennoyer (sisters), Sarah Tuttle, Mr. John Jarvis, Jared Seymour, Samuel Raymond, Alfred Raymond and Luke Keeler.41 The leader of this choir was Mr. Reuben Allen who was also a leader of singing in social circles. 42
THE HOME SITES OF SOME OF THE EARLY FOUNDERS
Of great interest are the location of the first homes in which the founders dwelt. Here we are helped in part by Mr. DesBrisay's
40 These early acts and resolutions are quoted from Abbott's "Centennial Address of Nov. 15, 1891." It is evident that he had access to source authorities now lost. It is my belief that this source was Vol. I of the parish minutes, since only Vol. II and III are now in possession of the vestry. Dr. St. John in his "Historical Address" on p. 26 refers to "regular records kept from 1791 on." Apparently he, too, had known of these records.
41 Historical Record by the Rev. Wm. H. DesBrisay, Rector of St. Mark's 1864-1874. He probably had access to the early records as did Dr. Abbott. This record in his own handwriting is in Vol. II of the Parish Register.
42 Dr. DesBrisay's Record.
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Record to which I have added other information in order to locate the old homes by the names of their present owners. DesBrisay's words are in quotation while my own follow. "Mr. Stephen Betts resided on the ridge near Mr. Alfred Raymonds. The property is now in the possession of Mr. Joseph Crawford." The Betts house, standing during the Revolution was on Oenoke Ridge and was torn down in 1857 to make way for the home of the late Mr. and Mrs. John E. Selleck built in 1859 and now rebuilt as the summer home of Mr. Augustus Houghton. Mr. John Raymond a first committeeman lived on Oenoke Ridge, a little above Capt. Betts and just north of the rise of ground opposite the present residence of Mrs. Wm. H. Good. "Mr. Jonathan and Seymour Talmadge resided in the old homestead near the present residence of Mr. Sherman Smith," later the home of Mr. Homer Crofoot, then the Minot Kellogg's, then Miss Lorena Taylor's and now the residence of Mr. George Jelliff in Talmadge Hill. "Mr. Solomon Waring (Warren) lived in the home now occupied by his daughter Miss Julia A. Waring," since then the home of Mr. Fladd and now the remodeled residence of Mr. William C. Esty on upper Oenoke Ridge. "The house formerly occupied by Mr. Levi Tuttle below the residence of Mr. Samuel Tuttle 43 has long been removed." Eli Tuttle lived in a house later occupied by St. Johns ## and standing very near the site of the present Country Club. "Mr. Ebenezer Hanford resided on the property now in the pos- session of Mr. Herman Selleck" and in 1934 owned by Mr. Louis H. Hall. Another Hanford founder (either Samuel,Jr., or Eliphalet) built one of the earliest homes in Canaan parish near what was later the residence of Mr. Jackson Raymond, still later Mr. Pegram's and now the property of Mrs. A. B. Walker. "Mr. William Bolt and Mr. John Jarvis were residents of White Oak Shade." Mr. Peter Weed, the youngest son of Mr. Abraham Weed,45 was a soldier in the Revo- lution serving for the full duration of the war. Returning to his family in 1781 he built the house later owned by his son Mr. Henry
43 Senior warden 100 years ago in 1834 when the present St. Mark's was built and consecrated and grandfather of the present senior warden (1934) Mr. Samuel H. Tuttle.
44 Father of Catherine Tuttle, wife of Capt. Isaac Keeler.
45 Mr. Abraham Weed the founder of the Weed family in Canaan parish bequeathed the Weed burying ground on the Frogtown Road to his descendants. Stamford town records of 1756 or 1757.
C
Edwin Elerman
THE PERAMBULATION LINE - so called from the old English custom of "perambulating" the parish boundaries annually - is here marked by a stone wall along the east line of Dr. Jerome Sellinger's property. This line was the boundary between Stamford and Norwalk until 1801.
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R. Weed later the John Bliss property and now belonging to Dr. Jerome Selinger. "Mr. Reuben Allen was a resident of Ponus St." "Mr. Abijah Seely occupied the Seely homestead on Ponus St.," the old house standing at the corner of Frogtown Road opposite the late William Y. Davenport place. "Mrs. Lydia Leeds lived in the old house which formerly stood on the present site of the newly enlarged dwelling of Mr. Wm. Y. Davenport on Ponus St.," later Grace House in the Fields 46 and now St. Luke's School property. "Mr. Abijah Comstock II lived in the house near the residence of Mr. Van Houser in the Lockwood district." Capt. Isaac Keeler lived on upper Smith Ridge in an old house just south of the southern entrance of the home of Mrs. Stephen E. Keeler, now the residence of Mr. Mason Wads- worth. The Jonathan Abbott home was on upper Smith Ridge on the Ridgefield Road. It is now owned by Mr. Harold B. Clark who removed the second of the Abbott homes, the hearthstone bearing the date of 1809. Mr. Stephen Craft lived on what is now Seminary St., in a house about a quarter of a mile west of the late Misses Ayres' home. He was a clever cabinet maker and made many of the spinning wheels used in Canaan parish.
FURTHER NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE "OLD SOCIETIES"
The early records evidence the directness, firmness and also the tact of the early founders of the Episcopal Society in Canaan parish. Determined upon their independence of the "old Societies" of Nor- walk and Stamford, they would resist any attempt at taxation for the support of the old societies and yet they courteously and tactfully suggest the cultivation of "harmony and good agreement." The fol- lowing quotation is of interest as they seek a business agreement with Norwalk and Stamford - contracting for the services of a min- ister, as much of his time as 25 pounds lawful money will secure.
"It being the universal wish of the members of this Church to con- tinue their connection with their brethren in the old societies in the towns of Stamford and Norwalk, with the Rev. Mr. Dibble (Stam- ford) and the Rev. Mr. Ogilvie (Norwalk), they are determined to cultivate harmony and good agreement so far as in them lays and
46 For many years the "Fresh Air Home" of children from New York tenements and sent here by Grace Church, New York.
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An Historical Address
to remove if possible every obstacle contrary and notwithstanding, we have separated and fixed ourselves upon the firm basis of an eccle- siastical Society founded upon several statutes of this State, yet we by no means wish to dispense with the performances of the Rev. Mr. Dibble and the Rev. Mr. Ogilvie, but pray those gentlemen to con- sider our spiritual wants, and with the approbation of their people and the Bishop, to afford us a certain part of their services, we making them sufficient compensation therefore, and for the purpose of con- tracting with our brethren in the old societies for the same, we do hereby appoint and fully empower Abijah Seeley, Dunlap Coggshall, Silvanus Seeley, Sam'l Hanford, Jr., Seymour Tallmadge and Stephen Betts (these were the wardens and committee) members of our church and communion, or either two of them, to fix upon and agree with our brethren in the old societies of Stamford and Norwalk for so much of the services of the Rev. Mr. Dibble and the Rev. Mr. Ogilvie, and in case they decline the connection, with any other clergyman as the tax we have laid upon ourselves of 3d on the pound amounting to upwards of 25 pounds lawful money will be equal to and to agree for the term of one year to commence on Easter Monday 1792 and to expire on Easter Monday 1793, and we do hereby deter- mine to ratify and confirm whatever shall be agreed to by our brethren above said on the side of the Episcopal Church in Canaan with our brethren in the old Societies of Stamford and Norwalk." 47
Thus began the hiring under annual contract of the services of a minister - they usually came from Norwalk or Stamford and a little later on from Ridgefield. The old records recorded the hiring of ministers for various periods of time until 1834. I can give only some of the more interesting and unusual of these contracts and doings of the early days.
SOME OF THE EARLY CONTRACTS AND VOTES
The first contract was with the Rev. Mr. Ogilvie of Norwalk who during the year 1792 received 13 Pounds, twelve shilling, 7 pence for clerical services. The same Mr. Ogilvie preached some part of each year in Canaan parish until his resignation of the Rectorship of St. Paul's Church, Norwalk, July 5, 1796.
47 Quoted from Early Sources by Dr. Abbott.
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In 1798-1799 they were without stated preaching for on Sept. 20, 1798 for some unexplained reason, a spirit of independence was mani- fested since it was voted "that the Society have the privilege to meet in the Church on Sunday to attend public worship and on the same day Nathan Seeley was appointed to read in the Church" and that there be no default it was also voted "that Colonel Tiffany, Capt. Betts, Seth Hamilton and Lewis Raymond be assistant readers."48
In addition to the hiring of ministers the society looked after the material fabric of their property. At a meeting held in April 1802 a tax of I cent on a dollar 49 was levied to be "laid out in plastering the Church, and that Aaron Comstock and John Raymond oversee the plastering."
On Dec. 23, 1802 it was voted "that Joseph Smith shall have $50 for putting a south roof on the church, to be completed in April next to the satisfaction of the vestry for the time being, he the said Smith to find all the materials and to have the old shingles and nails. The old nails were wrought nails as those used in the new roof." This order for re-roofing the south roof of the church is most interesting as it, taken with the deed of James Hait describing the conveying of the Old Church Burying Ground property, fixes absolutely the posi- tion of the first Church raised 170 years ago this very day. The deed says that the property was to "be five rods in width from north to south and eleven rods in length from east to west and the east line to run 3 rods east of the east part of said church frame." Further the deed states that the property was bounded northerly by the highway. So without doubt the old church was built east and west facing west; which would give a north and south roof to the structure. Your Rector, Mr. Tuttle and I by using the deed describing the property and this order to reshingle the south roof have located almost exactly the walls of the old church.
THE FIRST CHURCH DESCRIBED BY ONE WHO KNEW IT
The words in the deed and the order to reshingle the south roof locate the church and this agrees with the description of my great-
48 Abbott's "Centennial Address of 1891."
49 That is each member of the Society paid one cent for every dollar he owned in taxable property.
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An Historical Address
great aunt, Mary Abbott DeForest,50 who was the daughter of Jona- than Abbott, Jr., one of the founders of the parish. This woman lived and died on the DeForest homestead 12 miles to the northwest of Smith Ridge on the road that connects upper Smith Ridge with the Bald Hill district of Wilton. I remember her well and had several interviews with her at the time I prepared an historical paper on Capt. Stephen Betts, twenty-five years ago. She attended the services in the old church throughout her girlhood.51 She told me that the old pews were built forward from the side walls and so faced the middle aisle. There was no altar but a communion table in the center of the church with a communion rail around it. The pulpit was in the east end of the church. She told me of several vivid recollections connected with the old church services. A few old Indians attended the church ser- vices and were seated in the pews nearest the door for the convenient reason that they could be more quickly removed since several of them regularly went to sleep and snored so loudly that no one could attend to the service or the sermon.52 She also told me that the people brought their Sunday midday meal and ate it in the church yard on pleasant spring and summer Sundays and then back into the church for a second Service. Ministers came about one-fifth of the Sundays and Yankee thrift meant to secure the best, both of their presence and their theology, while they were here. The colored servants of some few families came with them. She referred to the Betts and Richards families having slaves. You can see the tombstone of Jesse Betts who was undoubtedly a slave of the Betts family for his stone is thus inscribed:
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