USA > Connecticut > New Haven County > Seymour > Seymour and vicinity. Historical collections > Part 3
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A CENTURY AGO TO-DAY, the father of Gou. Humphreys had passed the middle of his pastorate, ot more than half a century in length. A century ago to-day, the Rev. Daniel Humphreys had been doing the work of a pastor of the flock of Christ, five miles from where we are, for over forty years. Many times had he been over, our hills and through our valleys, ou errands for the Master. A century ago to-day, his son David, ( whom he had named after the King of Israel, and whom he hoped would
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make something,) was a young man 24 years of age, looking up into the future to see what he conld carve out of it. Those who were living in this part of the town- when they wanted to attend services of public worship-(and people in those days expected to, and were expected to)-went to what is now Derby, to hear Mr. Humph- reys-it was all Derby then. There were families here a century ago who could have gained something by a steady going to meeting, and it is to be hoped they did go.
The Indian Saebem whom we know best as Chuse, (Joe Mauwehu,) was here a cen- tury ago, probably not far from where we are, only across the river; his wigwam standing on the sonth border of the flat, west of the residence of Mr. Raymond Freuch, beautifully set among a grove of white oaks there. (He may have been, just then, in the vicinity of where Dr. Stoddard now lives.) A century ago his youngest child-Ennice-was an Indian girl 14 years old, her father an athletic skillful hunter, with some knowledge such as civilization has to give, but with the instincts of his race strong within him. At some point of his long life (he died when abont 80) he nnited with the church in Derby. But even after he came to hope that he loved the Lord, he knew that he loved-that which biteth like a serpeut and stingeth like au adder.
The first house of worship-that built for the Rev. Benjamin Beach-was erected 86 years ago. The frame of it Was probably raised in the month of April, 1791. The second house of worship ever etected at what is now our village is the pleasant and commodions one belonging to the Protestant Episcopal Church. The Epis- copal Society was organized Feb. 20, 1797. This house was originally built by two societies in nnion, but has been recon- structed at heavy expense, by the society owning it now, into its present attractive form. The third house of worship erected at our village was the second Congrega- tional house, built on the hill overlooking the river. This was commenced-or prepa- ration was begun for it-in 1818. The fourth is this house in which we are-the third Congregational house-built in 1846. The fifth is the house owned by the Metho- dist Episcopal Church. The corner stone of this edifice was laid on Saturday, June 19, 1817. The sixth is the house built by the Baptist Church. The church was of- ganized in 1848, and the house was erected in 1-51. The honse built by the congrega- lion connected with the church of Rome, is of more recent date.
So there have been three years, not far apart, of the life of our village, which
have been, characteristically, church-build- ing years. This temple-building-work is, of itself, on the surface, I know, but it traces away to something which lies deep down in human hearts-interest in the things of God's worship. It has self-denial underlying it-and mixed with it. There is prayer and faith back of it and below it. There has been a lite lived within our vil- lage, invisible of itself, but which has come to view in these results. It has been qnietly lived by many. It has been a blessing to us.
Within these sanctuaries, which have arisen from the impulses and purposes of this life, (God aiding and blessing,) the gospel of our salvation has been preached, with earnestness and snecess. The health- ful influences exerted by these different churches, through these 86 years of time past, has been, to our village, an advantage which cannot be estimated. These influ- ences penetrate, to a greater or less extent, business and social life, encouraging integ- rity, and honesty, and honor, and discour- aging evil. The more vigorous these churches of our village are, the better will be the village, as a place to have a home in-a place in which to spend, pleasantly and nsefully, these days which bear us along to the end. Our days are al journey days-days of travel along our life-way.
These churches of Christ have been schools of the Master, from which a great many have been graduated and called np. These houses of worship have been centers. from which have radiated invisible tenden- cies toward what is good and true-forces. stimulative of elevating thought and feel- ing and action.
A church becomes localized, as it builds a house of worship aronnd itself. It gains for itself a religious home. Then the home feeling has opportunity to act and re-aet within the religions nature. A church is not infrequently monkled, to an extent- its daily and weekly life materially affected -by the house which belongs to it, and to which it belongs; not as it belongs to Christ, but as it can belong to earthly things.
The whole history of this church, taken in connection with the church ont of which it came, most naturally divides itself into three periods, marked by the erection of its three different honses of worship.
The first period of 27 years in length, from the beginning in 1789 to the assen- bling of the Council of Five in 1817. This is the pioneer period, the period of' struggle for the necessities of religious lite. Of the church, as it lived through this period, we know something, but much less than we should be glad to know. The 27 years of
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meeting within that house had sunshine and shadow within them, as years have now. There was trial bravely borne, and, proba- bly, trial not bravely borne. They were years with days of weeping and days of rejoicing within them. The 26 men whose names are on this old paper-discolored by these 80 years and more through which it has come down to us-represented families, households, with young and old in them, and into which joy and sorrow came, as it comes into our dwellings now.
This earliest church gathers itself most naturally, in our thoughts, around the man who was, for 15 years its pastor; a man who honored God and sought to aid man to find God; a man ready to do whatever his hands found to do, and whose hands, both of them, did find enough to do.
The church, in this earliest period of its history, is sometimes spoken of as one of what were called the "separate" churches of the time.
The great awakening of 1740-of the time of Whitfield, and Edwards, and Bel- lamy-enkindled new zeal, and desire of larger liberty than the relation which then existed between the church and state allow- ed, and a number of churches arose, as the result of this feeling, which were known as "separate" churches ; some of them com- posed of the better elements, and some of the discordant ones. I do not, however, find this church in any list which has come to my knowledge thus far, of these churches. The fact that it was Congregational, and known as such, is not decisive, for the separate churches-some of them-claimed to be more truly Congregational than any others. The single fact which I do find, relating to the matter is that its first and only permanent pastor had been, before he came here, minister of a separate church in Prospect. I have found evidence enough that this early church was an earnest church. There was human nature in it, unquestionably. We find scars of misun- derstanding and difficulty as we trace out its history ; but this is not so strange a thing in churches of other times as I wish it was. After all the labor which I have given to the gathering of every item of in- formation concerning it which I could find, in any quarter, I think of it as a praying, self-denying, earnest, energetic church of Christ; adjusted to its time, of course, as it needed to be in order to be most useful; but loving and serving the Master, and obeying God rather than man. I look back upon that first church of our place with a great deal of interest.
The second period is of 29 years in length ; from the meeting of the Council of Five in 1817, to the dedication of this
house in which we are assembled. This is the period of quiet, steady work and pro- gress. The men whom we see ministering to it-going in and out of its house of worship, and of the dwellings of those who composed its congregation-sharing joys and sorrows with them-the Rev. Zepha- niah Swift, the Rev. Bela Kellogg, the Rev. Ephraim G. Swift, the Rev. Charles Thomp- son, the Rev. Rollin S. Stone, the Rev. John E. Bray and the Rev. William B. Curtiss-form a company whom it is an honor to the church to have had within it. Among the laymen who come into promi- nent view, within this period-[among those who have gone home; of the living I will not speak ] are Bradford Steele, Nehemiah Botsford, Sheldon Kinney, Alfred Hull, Ira Smith and Daniel White. Miles Culver, energetic, self-denying, generous, prompt, serving the Master and loving to do it, and continuing to do it to the end. united with the church Jan. 5, 1845, not far from the time when this house was built.
The third period is, up to this point of time, of just 30 years in length, but open for more to follow, of work for Christ, and of blessings coming-to the worker in the doing of the work, and to others through the work.
The merest sketch of the history of this church could not be, in anywise, complete, if it failed to incInde some notice of its vigorons SUNDAY SCHOOL, which has had life within it which has helped itself, and other good things around it.
The Sunday School can be traced back to the year 1828. The names of those who have been Superintendents of it, so far as they can be collected, are: Joel White, George F. DeForest, Andrew DeForest, Sharon Y. Beach, W. M. Tuttle, P. B. Bnck- ingham, George E. Lester, Robert C. Bell, Theoodore S. Ladd, Andrew Y. Beach and James Swan. The present number of names on its roll is 222.
But it has what is better than mere members - vitality - vigor. The weekly teachers' meeting is a very live meeting; I never saw anybody asleep in that meeting ; and teachers awake cannot casily help having a school awake. Both the school and the teachers' meeting breathe a little heavily just now, as wo are suffering this excessive heat, but it is exhaustion only, not sleep. In the revival of last winter almost all who came to Christ came from and through our Sunday School.
The Superintendent is now an officer of the church, elected annually by ballot. This plan was adopted abont four years ago, (May 28, 1872.) Up to that time no minute appears on the records of the
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church of the names of the officers of the Sunday School. Now they are put on distinct record every year.
There is one fact belonging to the origin of the church in its later form, which I have picked out of the old record with a good deal of interest. In less than two months after the church was organized, and when its first deacons were chosen, (at a meeting held May 9, 1817,) a Librarian for the VILLAGE CHURCH LIBRARY was ap- pointed. A committee of three also re- ceived appointment as a "Committee of Selection;" their duty evidently nuderstood to be to select books for this library. Now to select books for a library involves money, furnished by somebody ; and that three men were needed on this committee secms to indicate that there was something im- portant for them to do. Now to do any- thing important in the way of selecting books, involves and implies a good deal, and more then than now.
I suppose this could not have been a Sunday school library ; if it was, the Sun- day school originated a good deal earlier than the date which I have given. The library is called a church library. In either case the book power was recognized by the young church, and it was deter- mined to make use of it. What a marvel- ous power has it become since that time !
This church has raised np, for service in the great field of christian labor, one min- ister and one missionary. The minister is the Rev. Ira Smith; and the missionary is the Rev. H. A. DeForest [class of 1832, Yale, ] who went to Syria, returned with the seeds of fatal disease in his system, and so ended his work on earth. I am glad to find that a missionary to that old land has had any connection with us. I am not quite certain what the connection was. I take the fact, as I have stated it, on trust, not having had opportunity to verify it. I have searched the old records for his name but have not, thus far, succeeded in finding itl I shall trace out the matter as fully as . can. It is certainly a benefit to us to have such a point of contact with the great mis- sionary enterprise. To follow a missionary of the cross, who is a personal acquaintance, with prayer, and interest, and faith, is in- vigorating to the heart which does it, and is honorable to God, whose service the work is.
The Rev. Robert C. Bell, now the efficient pastor of the Congregational Church in Darien, in this state, was, for a time, before his entrance upon his ministry, a member of this church, and comes here to the family home. His name belongs to our history.
I designed to say more about the revivals
which have occurred within the church, noticing not only its larger ingatherings, but also its other harvests. it ought to be characterized by them to be true to its ori- gin, for the church in its later form was born in a revival. In the record left by the council of five, of the work which they performed on that 12th of March, 1817, they say :- "The meeting proceeded to consider this application, and the state of this village, especially the increase of godly people in the present reriral of religion, and are of the opinion that a compliance with the above request may conduce to the pros- perity of Zion."
I desired also to, at least, mention some of the lessons to be gathered from the facts which i have presented to you. But I will not. You are weary, and you can do this work for yourselves. I will only express the wish, which I find so distinctly in my heart that I cannot deny it some utterance, that this church of the Lord Jesus Christ may be ever true to the Master, earnest in the doing of His work, and receive of His blessing till it shall overflow. It has a PAST. May it have a FUTURE!
The following is a literal copy of an old MS., fixing the date of the formation of the first ecclesiastical society in Seymour :
DERBY, November 3d, A.D. 1789.
This may sertify all whom it may con- cern, that the subscribers have joined and paid towards the support of the Gospel at the Congregational Society, in Derby, near Bladen Brook, and mean for the future to support the Gospel there :
Capt. Timothy Baldwin.
Asahel Johnson.
Gideon Johnson.
Capt. Bradford Steel.
Elisha Steel.
Isaac Baldwin.
Ebr. Turel Whitmore.
Amos Hine.
Bradford Stecl, Jr.
Medad Keney. Hezekiah Wodin.
John Adye.
Ashbel Loveland.
Truman Loveland.
Ebenezer Warner.
Joseph Loines.
Leveret Pritchard. Moses Clark. Levi Tomlinson. Philo Hinman. Jolını Coe. Thomas Hotehkis.
Ebenezer Beacher Johnson.
Nathan Wheler. Bezalel Peck.
Frances Forque.
Sertifyed by me. LEVI TOMLINSON,
Society Clerk.
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SEYMOUR AND VICINITY.
Great Hill.
The following particulars are from a book in the possession of Mr. Samuel P. Davis of Great Hill, consisting of the records of the 8th District of the Town of Derby, afterward the first district of the town of Seymour, from 1766 to 1810).
June 26, 1767, Henry Tomlinson elected district committee, Samnel Basit, collector.
Dee. 8, 1769, at house of H. Tomlinson, B. Tomlinson, moderator. Voted to hire a Master for the winter and that what overplus there might be should be used. to pay a Mistress in the summer.
From the Record of the meeting held Dec. 12, 1770, at the schoolhouse, at 5 p. m., it appears that it was not the custom to hire the teacher for the winter until December. The meetings were us- ually held in the afternoon.
Jan. 13, Jonathan Miles, moderator. A mo- tion was made to divide (leaf incomplete, ) evidently the school. The meeting adj. to Monday in March at 4 P. M., at which adjourned meeting an adjourn- ment was again made to Mar. 23rd, when it was voted "that those persons that send their children to Ilenry Wooster's school shall have their propor- tion of the school money according to their list."
At the meeting held Nov. 2, 1772, Benjamin Tomlinson, moderator, no action is recorded, ex- cept to instruct the committee to hire a teacher for the winter at his discretion.
The next meeting recorded was held Dee. ye 14th, 1774. Micah Pool was chosen "one of the committee." and Samuel Russell, clerk.
It was voted that waruings of the next meeting be posted at the houses of Joseph Canfield, George Beard and Capt. John Lum six days before the meeting.
Nov. 13, 1775, B. Tomlinson. moderator; Chris- topher Smith chosen one of the committee.
Probably owing to the troublous times at the be- ginning of the revolution, no meeting seems to have been held in 1776, but Nov. 27, 1777, B. Tomlinson was again moderator, an adjournment was taken from the schoolhouse to the house of Geo. Bard, Dee. 11, but no business transactions recorded.
Sep. 2, 1778, voted to hire a schoolnaster 3 mo. "and to pay the master pr. the poll of the scholer after the publick money is gone."
June 12, 1780; Mica Pool, moderator; adj. to June 19th and voted to hire a mistress at six shil- lings pr. (torn off-probably week) "and to pay schoolmistress pr. the pool of the schollers "
Oct. 10, 1780, at the house of James Manvil; Miea Pool, moderator; Henry Tomlinson appoint- ed collector.
Feb. 15, 1781 ; Joseph Tomlinson, moderator ; voted to hire a master until Apr. I, and pay by "poll of the scholars." Dan Tomlinson voted clerk.
Nov. 19, 1781, Philo Holbrook voted elerk. The next record is Nov. 23, 1784, when peace again prevailed, and the school, which very likely had been suspended by the necessities of the war for independence, was again awarded the attention it deserved, by those lovers of home, church, school, and free government. The meeting was held at the house of Geo. Bard; Zachariah Fairchild, moderator. It was "voted to build a schoolhouse on the highway near Mr. John Hawley's." Build- ing committee, Ebenezer Lues, Webb Tomlinson,
Hawkins, Jonathan Lum, Jr .. and
Pool. "Voted Mr. George Bard, Mr. Jonathan Lum, Jr., Mr. Rusil Tomlinson, Committe."
Nov. 28, 1785: Webb Tomlinson, moderator ; voted a rate of six pence on the pound be collect- ed on the list of 1784 to finish the schoolhouse, John Hawley, collector. Voted that the warnings for meetings be put up at the schoolhouse and Geo. Bard's shop. Voted Sam'l Russell be one of the committee in place of JJohnathan Inm, Jr.
Mar. 20, 1786; at house of John Hawley; Henry Tomlinson, moderator ; JJohn Hawley voted "committyman in room of Joseph Hawkins. also Russell Tomlinson, Sam'l Russell and James Mau- ville Committee."
Nov. 22, 1787, Josiah Nettleton, moderator.
Dec. 26, 1788, Christopher Smith, moderator, rate laid of 3d. on the £, list of 1788, Webb Tom- linson, collector. Samuel Russell, Russel Tomlin- son and James Manville, committee.
The next record is copied verbatim.
"October the 25, A. D. 1790.
"At a lawful meeting lawfully warned and attend- ed. voted Mr. Samuel Russel Moderator. 2nd voted Mr. Henry Tomlinson a school Committee in the room of Mr. Samuel Russel. 3d voted Mr. Abel Holbrook clerk for this eighth School district, it fourthly voted that the committee should hire a school master for this school according to their discretion for the ensuing year and pay the Mas- ter by the pool of the scholar."
Mar. 21, 1794, voted Nathaniel Holbrook, Rus- sel Tomlinson and Jonathan Lum. committee.
Nov. 9, 1795, voted Enos G. Nettleton, elerk ; R. Tomlinson. J. Lum. Jr., and James Bassett, committee.
Nov. 6, 1796, J. Lum, Nathan Mansfield and N. Holbrook. committee; Enos G. Nettleton, elerk.
Nov. 27. 1797, voted E. G. Nettleton, J. Lum and N. Holbrook, committee; voted to hire a master four months "by the poll of the scholar."
Nov. 6, 1798; Amos Bassett, moderator; Abram English, clerk; voted that the eighth district be divided into two distriets.
Oet 11, 1799, J. Imm, moderator : Abram English, elerk ; J. Lum, N. Holbrook and Eph- raim Wooster. committee ; voted to hire a master five months.
Dec. 3, 1800: Eleazer Lewis, moderator ; Davil Tomlinson, clerk ; A. English, Moses Fenton, and Richard Holbrook, committee; Nathanael Hol- brook, collector.
Dec. 23, 1800; voted Reuben Lum and Wilson Hurd committee in addition to above ; and to hire another master and to "divide the money accord - ing to the poll of the scholars belonging to the first distriet."
Mar. 14. 1801. Voted to hire a teacher twelve months, the school to be kept in the meetinghouse as long as the weather will permit. then to be con- tinned in the schoolhouse.
Nov. 5, 1801. Jonathan Lum, Jr., Moses Fenton and Isaac Bassett, committee ; David Tomlinson, clerk.
From the record of the meeting held Nov. 12, 1802, it appears that "the publie money of the Great Hill School Society" shall be applied to such schools as the committee think proper, and a provision made that those who were unable to pay the schooling of their children should not be assessed therefor, thereby manifesting their belief
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SEYMOUR AND VICINITY.
that it was for the public good that the education of the children of the poor should be provided for.
Apr. 25th, 1803, voted that a rate of six mills on the dollar be laid to repair the schoolhouse.
Oct. 18th. 1803, David Tomlinson, collector; J. Lum, Richard Holbrook and James Bassett, committee. Voted to hire a teacher for five months.
"At a legal meeting of the first School District in Great Hill School Society, holden at the school- house in sd District. Monday, the 18th of March, 1805. First, voted Mr. Abner Tibbils, moderator ; 2nd. voted David Tomlinson, elerk; 3rd, voted Mr. Johnathan Lum, Benjamin English and Wilson Hurd a school committee for the first district ; 4th, voted Mr. Benjamin English a collector of Miss
Rebecca French's bill; 5th, voted Ephraim Woos- ter collector for the year ensuing."
Nov. 4th, 1805, J. Lum, moderator; David Tom- linson, clerk; J. Lum, A. English and Wilson Hurd, comunittee. Doet. Lum to see to the school- house.
Nov. 19th, 1806; same elerk and moderator elected ; Richard Holbrook and Abm. English, committee.
Nov. 30th, 1810; John Smith, moderator ; D. Tomlinson, clerk; adj. to W. A. Gillett's ; Jared Mansfield and John Smith, committee; Capt. J. Nettleton, collector. "Voted that wood pr. load should be 84 cts. and boarding teacher 7 cts. per meal or 87gc. per week."
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Earliest Mention of Paugussett.
.There appears to have been a trading port for New Haven Colony, at Derby at a very early day. In New York Colonial Documents, Ist Vol., p. 281, ( Holland Documents, )-"Remonstrance of New Netherland, and the occurrences there" ad- dressed to the States' General by the people of New Netherland, 28th July, 1649, speaks first of Stamfort, from which place a man can reach the North River and return home on a snunner's day, according to the knowledge ac- quired of the Indian paths. Again, "The English of New Haven have a trading port situate to the East or South-East of Magdalen Island, at no greater distance than six leagues from the North River, for that island lies on the East side of the North River, 233 leagnes above Port Amsterdam, and the trading port is established with no other desigu than to attract or wholly to destroy the entire trade of the North River where it now passes down entirely free. They moreover made repeated efforts eight or nine years ago to pur- chase a large tract of land from the Indians, as we understood from the latter; this would have been rather with a view to attract the trade than any- thing else, for it was situate on the East side, not more than three or four leagues from the Colonie of Renselaerswyck."
Doctor O'Callaghan's uote says: "Magdalen Island is opposite the town of Red Hook, Dutch- ess County. The trading port was on the site of the present town of Springfield, Mass." There is no authority for making this port Springfield, which was not established by New Haven.
Paugusset, at the junction of the Housatonie and Naugatuck, was a capital place to tap the Dutch trade. The Indians liked to follow rivers, and the Honsatonie reaches near the Indson. Paugusset is uearer the locality indicated by the Dutch paper. But that Paugusset was the place appears from the Remonstrance of the Dutch to New Haven, (3rd Aug., 1646, New Haven Col. Doc., Vol. I, p. 265,) and the reply of New Haven, speaks of the house they had built at Pau- gusset. The course there taken leaves no doubt that the plan complained of was not Springfield, but Paugusset. The "protest from the Dutch Governor was read in court and au answer to the same sent and directions given to those that keep the trading howse. And it was fully and satistye- ingly voted that the court would mak good their title liere and at the trading howse and leave the issue of things to God whatever they may bee."
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