USA > Connecticut > Litchfield County > Canaan > South & East Canaan, Connecticut record of Congregational churches > Part 8
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Nov. 26
11 Son of Sam'1 Robbins croup 3 wanting 1 month
Dec .
4
Daughter of S. Robbins croup 2
Jan.
6 1836
James Jacqua 17
=
21 6
= Buel Boardman consumption 27
=
7
18 Child of Ammi Hosp rd 6 months
11 Mr. Hart on mountain 71
March 1
= Child of Nath'l Boardman
4 weeks
=
16
18 Child of Anson Yale 10 weeks
April
2
= Elizabeth Raymond consumption 24
June 12
= Wife of Gilbert Blake Parturition 37
July 17
= Julia, wife of John B. Reed dropsy
38
Aug.
7
= Julia, wife of J. W. Grattle (?)
27
=
12
11 Child of Emeline Hosford 2
Sept . 6
= Widow Root 90 wanting 4 months
Not paged
Oct. 1
-Andrews 4
=
6
Widow Owen 90
18 Uriah Dean 75
Nov . 13
10 Garrett Kellogg
lung fever 40
11
15
= Lucins Root 25
Dec . 26
tt Wife of Capt. Jains 55
Feb. 10 1837
18 Wife of Salmon Hunt 72
=
27
= Elias Rose 70
March 20
18 Mrs. Barnes on plain 52
12
28
11 Child of Heman Howe 4 weeks
April 13
4 9
12 Joseph Green 54
= Child of Harvey Clarke 3 weeks
Aug.
= Child of
-- Lower City 3 years
11 -Hanchet on Mountain
= Joseph Mansfield 71
11 Child by falls (?) 4
Jan. 1838
Wife of Elisha Howe 71
11 Isaac Hunt Lung fever 27
March 12
Freeman Dean Fit
34
July
25
18 Hannah Welton (?) Cancer 58
Feb.
4
22
SOUTH CANAAN, CONN. CONG. CHURCH
100
Deaths
March 27 1838 Died Susan, wife of John E. Ensign Dropsy in head 23
April 2
= Wife of Caleb Root Tumor 60
H
3
= John Green consumption 59
10 Wife of Wm. Reed 38
11
= George Wilcox 36
18
= Infant son of Wm. Reed fortnight old
May 6
Two pages blank
The following on a loose leaf paged 19
Feb. 27 1833
Sarah Ann Carrier baptized and admitted at her father's house being unable to come to meeting.
March
Harriet Burrall, wife of Wm. M. Burrall rec'd on letter of recommendation from church in Salisbury Admitted by profession
May 4 1834
Weltha, wife of Billa Beckley
Sabra, wife of Capt. N. Boardman, baptized Charles Burrall
William Cady baptized
Claricy Ann, wife of Elisha Dean, baptized
Sabra Blakesley, baptized
Elizabeth Holabird, baptized
Melissa Hoskins, baptized
Cyrus Trafford Charles Prindle
Polly Ferry (?) baptized
Oliver Lain (?) baptized Total 12
Sept. 6 1835
Wife of Whiting Miner on letter from the Church in North Canaan
Sept . 4 1836 Maria, wife of Buel Deming by letter from the church in Spencer, N. Y.
P 1 Records of the proceedings and decisions and of all important concerns relative to the church of Christ in the first Society in Canaan.
Commencing at the time of the ordination of Charles Prentiss, which was on the 20th Sept. 1804.
Index
Names of all in the church at the time of my ordination Page '7 Admissions into the church -8-10-18
-
" Wife of Elihu Yale 70
Admissions to the Church
SOUTH CANAAN, CONN. CONG CHURCH
101
Dismissions from the Church 11-16-25-New Votes of the Church -12-14 Confessions 17
Marriages
-20-33-40
Baptisms
22-35-36-45
Deaths-
-25-32 &c.
Pages 2-3-4-blank
P 45 Marriages
Feb. 11 1830 202 Jeremiah Belden Jr. of Canaan to Ann Jacobs of Canaan
March 18 203 Dr. Joseph M. Root, of Norfolk to Lucy P. Hinamn
May 12 204 Elizur Manley to Mary E. Wickham, both of Canaan
May 17 1831 205 Fowler Bradford, of Comwall to Charlotte Belden, of Canaan
=
18 206 Henry Post to Hilpa C. Hoskins
Aug . 22 207 Julius C. Hosford to' Esther M. Wickham
=
31 208 Nelson Holcomb & Charlotte E. Beckley
Sept. 11 209 Oliver A. Carrier to Martha Blodgett, of Canaan Nov . 17 210 William Austin, of Perrysburg, N.Y. to Electa Reed of Canaan
Dac .
11 211 Albert Hurd, of Goshen to Mary Dean, Canaan
March 29 1832 212 Miles Miner to Harriet Boardman, of Canaan
June 3 213 Henry Boardman to Corintha Hoskins, of Canaan 12 214 Rodney Wilcox, of Goshen to Rachel Green, of Canaan
July 5
215 Silas A. St. John of Ontario, N.Y. to Amelia H. Backley, of Canaan
Oct . 11
216 Henry Humphrey, of Goshen to Martha Cathin of Canaan
Jan. 13 1833 217 Sidney Ensign to Clarinda ". Prentiss of Canaan
Feb. 6 218 Isaac Kellogg to Sarah Ann Belding of Canaan
May
219 Elisha H. Dean to Charity Blakesly of Canaan
22
220 .Whittlesey to Norton, of Salisbury
June =
221 Main (?) to - Ingraham, Canaan
13 222 Marius (?) Beardsley to Mary Ann Baldwin ( ?)
Sept. 11 223 George Watson, of Torringford to Jane Belden of Canaan
=
Jan.
tt
24 224 Edward P. Hunt to Caroline Brigham, of Canaan 26 1834 225 Erastus Brown to Nancy Dean, both of Canaan 18 226 Ezekiel Forbes of Salisbury & Dolly White of Canaan
March 20
227 Joseph L. Morris, of Goshen to Charlotte D. Gains (?) of Canaan
19
May
23 228 Henry Dean to Almira Munson both of Canaan 229 Daniel Mathews, of Plymouth to Semantha Yale, Canaan
12
=
18
230 Legrand Leavenworth to Rebekah Manfield, of Canaan 231 Lyman Barnes to Lucy A. Boardman, of Canaan
SOUTH CANAAN, CONN. CONG. CHURCH
102
Marriages
June
4 1834 232 James W. P. Cummings to Susan Currey of Canaan 11
25 233 Elisha D. Mansfield to Fanny Monson of Canaan
July 9 234 Edmond Belden to Elizabeth Burrall
24 235 Lucius Wilcox, of Conwall to Belinda L. Deming, Canaan
Sept. 23
236 Wm. Bull to Jane Ingraham, both of Sheffield 237 Martin Rockwell, of Colebrook to Lucy Robbins, of Canaan
st
Jan. 1
27 238 Theophilus Buel to Sally Miner of this place 1835 239 Dr. Lucius S. Adans to Eliza A. Prentiss, both of this place
April 19
241 Rufus Barney, of Bennington, Vt. to Mary E. Crossman, of Canaan
28 242 Charles T. Prentiss to Harriet Ensign
May
17 243 John Ely Ensign to Susan Burrall
July
20
244 Ebenezer Brinton Junr. of Salisbury to Sarah Fletcher, of Canaan
Oct .
20 245 Harvey Kellogg to Betsey Ann Kellogg
Nov.
22
246 Orrin King of Sheffield to Elimina Clark, of Jefferson, N.Y.
=
26
247 Joseph Hurlbert, of Darien to Maria Beebe of Canaan
26
248 Wm. K. (?) Bailoy of Comwall to Maria C. Dean of Canaan
Dec .
15 249 Wm. Blinn to Julia Dean, both of Canaan
Jan. 3 1836 250 Thomas Breman (?) to Olive Landon
Feb. 25
251 Wm. B. Deming of Canaan to Maria Cowles, of Spencer, N.Y.
Not paged April 24 252 Isaac French to Polly Lindley (or Lemerly) of Canaan
n
27
253 Rufus M. Gummans (?) of Salisbury to Lucinda Phillips, of Canaan
May
4 254 John Beckley to Sally Munson (?) of Canaan
"8
22
255 Nath'l Brenton, of Salisbury to Maria H. Hoskins, of Canaan
256 Wm. S. Marsh, of Winchester to Elizabeth L. Brewster, of Canaan
257 Wm. Chapin to Hannah Belden
Oct. 21.
258 Dea. John Sill of Bethany, N.Y. to Electa Dean, of Canaan
Oct. 23 259 Ransom Wickwire, of Comwall to Abigail Dean of Canaan
Dec . 13 260 Harlow Dean, of Canaan to Mary Church, of Winchester
Jan. 11 1837 261 Oramel K. Brinton to Melissa Hoskins Feb. 7 262 Andrew Palmer, of Goshen to Jane Russell, of Canaan
March 12 263 Wm. Carl to Dorcas C. Crowell, of Salisbury
June 1
264 to Sally Howe, of Canaan
265 Wm. Gillatt to Maria White
Dec. 19 266 Calvin S. Barnes to Ann Warner, of Canaan
Not pages
Blank
-
Nov.
11
240 Theophilus Brown of Salisbury to Elizabeth Boardman, of Canaan
SOUTH CANAAN, CONN. CONG. CHURCH
103
P 45 Baptisms continued from 37 On making a profession were baptized Wife of Chauncey Morris -- Esther, wife of Riley Holcomb. Lucy Gaines ( ?) -- Chloe Brown.
Dec . 3 1826 Caroline, daughter of Charles Ensign
1827 - -of Wm. Dean
Aug. 30 John Augustus & Edward Ensign children of Capt. J. Ensign, on wife's account = Hiram & Horace, children of Hiram Jacobs on wife's account
Sept. 20 Lucinda -- Mary Ann -- John Chauncey -- Shubael Victor == Byron Jay, children of John D. Lowery
Oct. 20 Charlotte Ann and George Beach children of Capt. C. Burrall
1828 Child of Deacon Charles Beebe viz: Levi Scott Child of Wm. Cady Child of
Sept. 21
Lewis Dwight & Celia Misetta, children of Chas. Burrall on wife's account
1830 Daughter of Dr. Blackley named Catharina Menzies John B. Lowery Dea. Charles Beebe Mrs. J. Brewster
Strong Botsford -- on wife's account son Sam'l Ensign
Sept. 8 1831 Children of E.S. Millard, viz :- Nov. Jabez son of Widow Brewster Cornelia Elizabeth daughter of J. Munson Son of Almon Howe -- John Bradley
P 46 Nov. July
4 1832
Elizur Butler, son of Elizur Manley
Sept . 1
1833 Elizabeth Lois, daughter of Charles Ensign Daughter of Jeremiah Belden Junr. Samuel, son of Samuel S. Robbins
May 11
1834 Isaac Newton son of Deacon Charles Beebe Sarah, daughter of Luther Dean
= 1.6 Charles Lucius, son of Capt. C. Burrall Sidney Prentice, son of Sidney Ensign Mary Maria, daughter of Wm. Reed
July 3 Sept. 4 1835 Child of Wmn. Cady
Aug. 2nd Sabbath Edward Payson, son of John B. Lowery = 4th
Sept .
18 Sarah Ann, adopted child of Isaac Kellogg Child of John W. Tuttle named viz: -
104
SOUTH CANAAN, CONN. CONG. CHURCH
Baptisms
Oct. 13
30
8 1835 Two children of Widow of Samuel Root, viz: Son of Jeremiah Belding Jr. named Jeremiah
Nov. 4 Sarah Holley and Mary Ann, children of Sam'l Robbins
July 3 1836 Miles Whiting, son of Whiting Miner
Lucy Maria, daughter of Nelson Holcomb
Feb. 3 1837 Myron Coit, son of Wm. Reed.
Daughter of John B. Lowry -- Clarinda
Feb. 28 1838 John Qunicy, son of Dr. L.S. Adams and Eliza A.Adams .
April 20 Martin Van Buren, son of Mrs. Nancy Brown
47 &48 blank
The foregoing covers the entire contents of the second book of records, of the First Church, of Canaan, Conn. now the church at South Canaan, where it has always been located. The leaves have probably been disarranged, but I have copied from them in the order I received them, and have made a verbatim, except sometimes omitted unnecessary repetitions of unimportant words. In many cases of baptisms it was the evident intent of the pastor to insert names afterwards , but he failed to do so. The book is 72 x 102 inches with brown pasteboard covers .
Pittsfield, Mass. Nov. 3, 1900
Rollin H. Cooke
Note by R.H.C. The following is copied from a book of records 74 x 122 inches in size which has on the fly leaf the following R.H.C .
"Records of the Church in South Canaan from 1841"
P 1 This Book of Records was procured at the beginning of the ministry of Rev. Edward Emerson. He was from Salom, Mass. He made no records, except those relating to admissions & dismissions of church members, baptisms, marriages & deaths, none of the notes of the church. The votes relating to his settlement & dismission are found on the records of the Society.
He was ordained as the 4th Pastor of the Ch. 1841: & dismissed April 1843
The 5th Pastor, Harley Goodwin was installed Nov. 1845. The votes relating to his call &c are also on the records of the society.
SOUTH CANAAN, CONN. CONG CHURCH
105
( Notes by R.H.C. Pages 2 to 8 inclusive contain appointments of delegates &c, beginning April 1849, together with the Articles of Faith adopted Nov. 3, 1854.)
P 9 Names of the Members of this church from the first of January 1856.
Date of Admission
1799 Oct. Joseph Kellogg died Feb. 6, 1859
1805 Sept. David Wickham admitted by letter
1807 May Charles Beebe
Sept . Chauncey Bunce
1816 Sept Whiting G. Kellogg
= May Elisha H . Dean
1827 Sept
Isaac Kellogg
=
Sidney Ensign
=
Edmund Dean
=
Horace Dean
Albert Wickham
Orton Brown
1817 ? Jan. Charles Burrall
1831 Sept. 42 =
19
N
Simeon Higley
Nov .
Asahel Kellogg
1834 May
William Cady
Died Nov. 19, 1861
1846 March Whiting G. Kellogg Jr.
July
Wm. Wallace Millard
11 =
Walter Sherwood Millard
1850 Feb.
Amasa Hayward, adm. by letter
Died Sept. 3, 1860
1854 Nov.
Uriel H. Miner
Legrand Leavenworth
Warren Walker. and. by letter
1856 Jan. 18 =
Henry Belden 2nd
=
Phineas Leavenworth Dism. by letter May 1858 Oramel K. Brinton
18
John Bradford Millard
18
Edwin James Barden Dism. May 31, 1857
M
= Elizur Butler Manley Died Feb. 9, 1862
H Levi Beckley
Ebenezer S. Millard
Almon Howe
Henry Higley
1855 Jan.
=
SOUTH CANAAN, CONN. CONG. CHURCH
106
Date of Admissions
1799 Feb. Mrs. Martha Kellogg Died Oct 18, 1856 ae 78
1806 Feb. Widow Elizabeth Boardman
= Feb. Widow Abigail Holcomb Died Dec. 11. 1857 ae 96
1807 May Widow Polly Hunt
11 May Mrs. Jetty Beckley Died Aug. 1871
1812 Nov. Mrs. Harriet Butler
1807 May Widow Polly Johnson adm. by letter
1830 Sept . Mrs. Electa Bunce Died Oct. 24 1857
1812 Nov. Miss Margaret Higley Died Aug. 15, 1878 ae 99 yrs
1813 Jan. Widow Lucy Ensign
Died Nov. 24, 1867 ae 80 yrs.
1815 Nov. Mrs. Fanny Kellogg
1816 May
Mrs. Elizabeth "arsh
1834 May
Mrs. Charity Dean
1816 May
Mrs. Eunice Bates
Miss Abigail Holabird Died April 19, 1859
1820 July
1822 July
1827 Sept .
Widow Olive Peck
Mrs. Clarinda Ensign Died July 15, 1857
11
Mrs. Julia Beebe
1823 Jan
Widow Elizabeth Belden
1827 Nov.
Miss Elizabeth Belden
Mrs. Maryett Brinton
1831 Sept. Mrs. Mary Millard
#
Mrs. Louisa Howe
Mrs. Charlotte Holcomb
Mrs. Lucy Kellogg
Mrs. Weltha Beckley
Died June 6, 1861
1827 Sept.
Mrs. Eliza Reed
1831 Nov.
Mrs. Fanny Beebe
1835 Sept.
Mrs. Ann Minor adm. by letter
1810 Jan. Widow C. Prentice adm. by letter, Died Aug. 30, 1868 ae 86
1834 May Mrs. Sabrina Brown
2
Mrs. Elizabeth Monson
Mrs. Elizabeth Brinton
6 ms .
1817 Jan.
= =
Miss Martha Kellogg Letter to Toledo, Ohio 1861
Mrs. Rachel Cady. Died June 22, 1862 adm. by letter
Widow Eunice Monson Died May 2, 1866 ae 86
Mrs. Sarah Ann Kellogg
SOUTH CANAAN, CONN. CONG. CHURCH
107
-
Date of Admission
1807 May Widow Olive Wilcox Died May 16, 1875 ae 86 Miss Mary E. Cady
1812 Nov.
Mrs. Polly Hubbard
1834 May
Miss Polly Ferry
1842 Feb.
Mrs. Betsey A. Smith Adm. by letter
1844 Feb.
Mrs. Caroline M. Dean
Sept Mrs. Harriet E. Kellogg adm. by letter
1845 Jan.
Miss Mary Holabird
1846 March
=
Miss Emeline Kellogg
10 July
Miss Mary A. Millard Died July 1861
1848 March
Widow Rhoda Phelps adm. by letter
Died 1866
1852 May
Mrs. Lama Kellogg
1854 Nov.
Mrs. Caroline E. Miner
1855 Jan.
Mrs. Rebeckah Leavenworth
1856 Jan.
Mrs. M. E. DeVoe
Dism. by letter 1857
tf
=
Mrs. Sophronia E. Hollabird
"
= Miss Laura A. Leavenworth Dism. to N. Canaan 1861
18
Miss Ellen E. Dean
=
= Mrs. Rosina Beckley
1
11
Sarah J. Prentice
Mrs. Susan C. Dean
= Aug .
Mrs. Betsey A. Kellogg
Dism. by letter 1857
18
May Miss Irene Watson Dism. by letter
11 =
Miss Irene M. Howe Dism. by letter March 1862 Mrs. ". Amanda Commings
= Sept. 7 Mrs. Mary Ann J. Brewster
"
= Mrs. Elizabeth Brown 18 Mrs. Ruth Canfield
1857 Jan. 4
Miss Sarah Sturges Adm. by letter
Jane B. Watson Adm. by letter Died April 23, 1869
1861 Feb. Emme V. Watson Adm. by letter
=
=
Mrs. Caroline ". Belden
Mrs. Philena Walker adm. by letter
Mrs. Hilpah C. Post.
=
Mrs. Amelia H. St. John Dism. by letter
May
Miss Caroline Leavenworth
18
Mrs. Delane Wickham
1851 May
Mrs. Elizabeth Maltbie
108
SOUTH CANAAN, CONN. CONG. CHURCH
Date of Admission
1856 Jan . Silas A. St. John Dism. by letter
Lucas (?) C. St. John Dism. by letter
May Harvey Kellogg Dism. by letter 1857
Philo Blake
Jan.
Wm. B ( ?) Dean Dism by letter
Sept. 7 Henry Munson Dean
1861 =
8 Charles Hunt Died Jan. 15, 1869
=
Luther B. Beckley
1861
Mrs. Mary Jane Pulver
18 Mrs. Mary Holcomb
1862 March Mrs. E. H. Maltbie Adm. by letter
Blank
P 14 P 15 S. Canaan June 24, 1858 At a regular church meeting, a majority of the members being present, the following communication was presented. Falls Village, June 18, 1858 To the Congregational Church in South Canaan Dear Brethren:
We the undersigned, members of the Congregational church in South Canaan, desirous of promoting the interests of Christ's Kingdom == as well as our own convenience, request a dismission from you for the purpose of forming a new church in connection with the Congregational Society in Falls Village. And we would embrace this opportunity of expressing the sincere satisfaction which for years past we have enjoyed in your Christian fellowship, and that although separated from you, as to Church relationship, we shall not cease to feel a deep interest in your spiritual welfare and pray for its promotion. We also desire and doubt not we shall receive a cordial reciprocation of these feelings on your part .
We regret for special reasons this request has been necessarily delayed. We desire early attention to this request as we propose to convene the Consociation in a few days. Yours in the bond of Christian fellowship. -
Uriel H. Miner, Caroline E. Miner, Elisha K (?) Dean, Charry A. Dean, Warren Walker, Philena Walker, Elizabeth Brown, Ruth B. Canfield, Mary A. Brewster, Elizabeth S. Marsh, Ann M. Miner, Charles Beebe
SOUTH CANAAN, CONN. CONG. CHURCH
109
Harriet Beebe, O. K. Brinton, Melissa E. Brinton, Maryett Brinton Julia Beebe, E.H. Maltbie.
Upon motion the foregoing request was referred to Sidney Ensign, Henry Belden & Chauncey Bunce ..
After a short consultation the above committee made the following report.
At a meeting of the Congregational Church in Canaan, called to take into consideration the request of Uriel H. Miner & 17 others, members of sd church, asking for a letter of dismission from said church for the purpose of forming a new Congregational church at Falls Village -- the following paper was adopted as expressing their views & their decision in the matter .- The Church having given to the request above mentioned, their careful attention, with a sincere desire to come to a right conclusion, and fully appreciating the importance of the subject, cannot think that to carry out such a purpose the request should be granted.
While we have the kindest feeling personally for all, whose names are subscribed to the request, & have no disposition or reason to think that they are governed in this matter by any other motives than an honest intention to promote the true interests of religion, we cannot believe that the formation of another Church within the limits of this parish, at this time would tend to such a result.
We do not believe that a Church & Society, which when united & unbroken is comparatively feeble & barely able to sustain the institutions of the Gospel, should be sundered & then still
weaker, attempt to do separately, what they have sometimes thought they could not do when together.
Inasmuch then as there is not within the limits of our society, either the population to make up two congregations, or the ability to sustain permanently two ministers we think the proposed plan should be given up.
If then, such are the facts, & we believe them to be so, we should, by complying with this request be guilty of doing indirectly, ourselves or consenting that it be done, what we believe under present circumstances ought not to be done at all.
P 16
110
SOUTH CANAAN, CONN. CONG. CHURCH
We belive thatit would be wrong in every aspect of the case & are unwilling that by any act of ours, any portion of the responsibility of such a course should rest upon us. We are well aware that we have no power to prevent their leaving us if they choose to do so, nor would we prevent it if we had the power against their own conviction of duty, but we do ask them again calmly to review the whole case, & putting aside every thing but the glory of the great Head of the Church & the welfare of Souls ask themselves if the time has fully come to do what they propose.
Voted that Isaac Kellogg, Levi W. Beckley & Sidney Ensign be a committee from this Church to confer with the above brethren should they desire it.
Canaan, 24 June, 1858 So. Canaan, August 25, 1858. In a church meeting Miss Irene J. Watson, at her own request, was dismissed from this church in Rochester, Wisconsin.
S. Canaan, Sept. 3, 1858
At a regular meeting of the Church immediately after the Preparatory Service, the Church proceeded to ballot for a deacon of the Church. The ballots being counted Horace Dean was elected by a large majority of votes.
On the announcement of the Same Horace Dean declined accepting the office.
On motion his declinature was accepted by the church. Whereupon it was resolved that another election be held. The ballots being counted it was found that John Millard was elected by a large majority.
S. Canaan, Sep. 3
Sabbath P.M. Isaac Kellogg was ordained as Deacon of the Church. After which the Lord's Supper was administered.
S. Canaan Oct. 24.
Sabbath. During intermission the citation signed by the Moderator of Consociation, to meet Consociation on Wednesday, Oct. 27, at 11 o'clock A.M. at Brewster's Hall, Falls Village, for the purpose, if thought expedient of forming a church was read .
P 17
111
SOUTH CANAAN, CONN. CONG. CHURCH
Whereupon the Church appointed Isaac Kellogg, a delegate to Consociation to both the annual and special meeting of Consociation.
Preparatory Service Nov. 5, 1858. The Church was called to order, when the following letter from Litchfield North Consociation, was read:
To the Church of South Canaan Dearly Beloved,
At the meeting of the Litchfield North Consociation ,
held at Falls Village, Oct. 27, 1858. It was unanimously voted that the following be presented to the Ch. of South Canaan, as expressive of the views of Consociation.
Whereas it has been generally acknowledged that a church of our denomination should at some period be established at Falls Village -- And after seious and prayerful deliberation this Consociation has decided that its immediate formation is demanded for the best promotion of the religious interests of that community, and the honor of the Redeemer. And whereas there has not been manifested the unanimity we hoped would have been shown in favor of the organization of said church on the part of the church of South Canaan, of which it has hitherto formed a portion.
Therefore Resolved that this Consociation would express the hope that the church of South Canaan, in a spirit of Christain harmony and love may find their way clear to unite and cooperate with their brethren in Falls Village in sustaining the ordinances of the Gospel in that place.
A true copy from the minutes.
Oct. 27th 1858 Attest L. H. Barber, Scribe
On motion it was voted unanimously not to comply with the request of cooperation.
South Canaan, March 5, 1859
After Preparatory Service the Church was organized into a Church Meeting agreeable to previous notice.
Whereupon it was resolved that the Church proceed to the election of a deacon in the place of Deacon Joseph Kellogg deceased. The church proceeded by ballot in the election of a deacon, and it was ascertained that Levi Beckley had a large majority of the votes cast.
P 18
112
SOUTH CANAAN, CONN. CONG CHURCH
The result was announced, when brother Beckly requested time to think & pray over the subject -- Which request was granted. Mr. Boardman requested a letter of dismission to unite with the Congregational Church of Falls Village -- Whereupon it was resolved without a dissenting voice, that the following answer be sent to said church as an expression of the views & feelings of this church in view of the course pursued by said Church towards us.
Brethren:
We are disposed to be peaceable & to live in peace with all men, especially with neighboring churches. But you know that the refusal on our part to bear any of the responsibility in dividing the church led us to defer the granting of letters to you to organize another church within the bounds of this society.
From this decision you did not appeal according to rules of Consociation, as you will see by reference to the rules of Litchfield North Consociation. X Discipline. 1 General Rule, Par. 5. "A Case may be removed from a Church to the Consociation; by mutual agreement before decision, or, by an aggrieved party, after, provided that, in the latter case, the Church be notified in wirting within one month after decision, of such intended removal."
And you did not withdraw from this church at least you gave us no notice to that effect. To which we were entitled. Consequently you were & are members of our church.
Yet Consociation organized you into a Church, which they had no right to do. But the fact that Consociation organized you, does not make your organization congregationally right. In our opinion it was altogether irregular.
Such irregular proceedings always destroy good feeling, & create unpleasant ones. Such has been the case in reference to the irregularities of Consociation.
P 19 Then as we understand you recieved four of our church members in similar circumstances & two at your second communion. How many in all we do not know & consequently we do not know officially who have left & who remain.
You must be aware, brethren, that such proceedings are at variance with the golden rule of our Lord Jesus Christ
113
SOUTH CANAAN, CONN. CONG. CHURCH
& contrary to the unity of Congregational Churches. -- Christians ought not to treat their brethren so .-- Churches & especially Congregational churches ought to respect each other.
It is painful for us to say these things to you, but the honor of religion demands it, as also the peace & harmony of this church, and our duty to you, which is expressed in these words .-- Thou shalt not hate thy brother in thine heart, thou shalt in any wise rebuke thy neighbor & not suffer sin upon him. We want to avoid all collision & labour for each others spiritual & eternal good.
We want to be in harmony with you, & extend the fraternal hand. You were witness to our feelings in the effort we made last September. We invited you to take part with us. Some of you prayed with us & your minister prayed with us & preached for us, & so we meant to go on & reciprocate the feelings you expressed in your letter to us, for a dismission from us. "We shall not cease," you said, "to feel a deep interest in you (own) spiritual welfare & pray for its pro- motion."
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