USA > Connecticut > New London County > New London > The early history of the First church of Christ, New London, Conn. > Part 16
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He was General Huntington of Revolutionary fame, and served through the war. After 1777 he held the rank of brigadier general. He was during part of the time an aid of General Washington, who always regarded him as a tried personal friend, and was a member of his military household. It was at General Washington's request that he was pro- moted to the rank which he held. He saw service in many of the important battles. He was with his companions in arms during the memorable winter at Valley Forge. He was a member of the court mar- tial which tried Charles Lee for his insubordination at the battle of Monmouth, and he sat upon the court of inquiry to which was referred the case of Major André. On retiring from the war he resumed busi- ness in his native town, where he held several impor-
جد اقساط
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tant offices. In 1789 President Washington appoint- ed him first collector of the port of New London, which position he held through four different admin- istrations. His appointment to this office occasioned his removal to New London. In 1796 he built the house now owned by Mr. Elisha Palmer, modelling it somewhat after Mount Vernon, the home of the commander under whom he had served. He gradu- ated from Harvard in 1763. The Master's degree was conferred on him by Yale in 1770. He made a public profession of religion at the age of twenty- three. He was an officer and pillar in this Church for twenty-six years. It is said that "his munificence, for its profusion, its uniformity, its long continuance, and for the discretion by which it was directed, was without an example or a parallel in his native State." He was the first president of Union Bank. He was the son of General Jabez Huntington, was born in Norwich, August 4, 1743, and died in New London, September 25, 1818, at the age of seventy-five.
20. GUY RICHARDS was the first deacon chosen by this Church in this century. The records say, "at a meeting of the First Church in New London, on Sunday, September 11, 1803, after prayer for the divine presence, direction and blessing, the Church proceeded to the election of one to sustain the office of one of the deacons vacated by the removal of
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brother John Arnold from the city. The votes being taken, it appeared that brother Guy Richards was elected. He, being present, was desired to take the voice of the Church into serious consideration, and, after due time for deliberation, to give his answer." A further record reads, "Sunday, October 8th, 1803: This day after sermon in the forenoon, Brother Guy Richards was solemnly separated by prayer to the office of a Deacon to which he had been elected by the church." The date October 8th should be 9th, for the 8th that year fell on Saturday. Guy Richards joined this Church July 21, 1799.
At the first city meeting, March 8, 1784, Mr. Rich- ards was chosen treasurer, and held office till he re- signed in 1820, a period of thirty-six years. He was born in 1747, and died in 1825, aged seventy- eight. He was a son of Guy Richards, who was born in 1722, joined this Church in 1773, and died in 1782. It was the mother of Deacon Richards, Madame Elizabeth Richards, who gave one of the communion cups, now in use, in 1793, and who left a legacy of $40 to the Church, which was afterwards used, by its vote passed Nov. 13, 1794, to change " Tankards be- longing to the church into. cups, as more convenient for the service of the table."
21. THADDEUS BROOKS was elected deacon Jan-
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uary 4, 1817. He united with this Church, together with his wife, Abigail, November 25, 1787. On that same date, both he and his wife were baptized, to- gether with four children, Hubbil, Abigail, Thad- deus and Elizabeth. Miss Caulkins says that he served for sixteen successive years in the common council of the city, together with Chester Kimball and John Way.
22. ELIAS PERKINS was also chosen deacon Jan- uary 4, 1817. He united with this Church Novem- ber 5, 1809. He graduated from Yale College in 1786, and was one of its Socii from 1818 to 1823. He was mayor of New London three years ; 1829 to 1832. He was the first president of the New Lon- don Bank, which was incorporated in May, 1807. He was Member of Congress from 1801 to 1803. He filled many prominent positions in the town. He was born in Lisbon, April 5, 1767, but early in life be- came a resident of New London. In 1790 he was married to Lucretia Shaw Woodbridge, only daugh- ter of Brother Ephraim Woodbridge, by the Rev. Henry Channing. He died September 27, 1845. Old subscription lists of money given to build the first house which stood on the present site, and to build the old Conference House, show that Deacon Perkins was a large and generous supporter of the Church.
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23. STEPHEN PECK was also chosen deacon Janu- ary 4, 1817. He was one of the first young men to join the Church under the fresh and evangelical im- pulses of Mr. McEwen's ministry ; which he did April 22, 1810. Mrs. B. P. McEwen told the writer before her death, that his public profession of religion, at a time when young men held aloof from the Church, created a profound sensation. He built and occupied the house now owned by Dr. George Morgan. He removed from town before his death.
24. ISAAC CHAPEL was the fourth deacon chosen January 4, 1817. He joined this Church November 18, 1787. Dr. MeEwen made the following record of the election of the last four deacons: "At a meeting of the church January 4, 1817, Thaddeus Brooks, Elias Perkins, Stephen Peck and Isaac Chapel were elected to the office of deacon."
25. WILLIAM P. CLEAVELAND was chosen to be a deacon of this Church May 24, 1830. The follow- ing minute of the action of the Church is entered upon its records : "At a meeting of the church May 20, 1830, voted that it is expedient to add to the number of those who now hold the office of deacon in this church. Adjourned to meet again on the 24 inst." " Met according to adjournment, May 24, 1830. Voted that it is expedient to add one to the present deacons of this church. Proceeded to a
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choice, and elected William P. Cleaveland." Deacon Cleaveland joined this Church in 1824, and died Jan- uary 3, 1844, aged seventy-four. He was a son of Colonel Aaron Cleaveland of Revolutionary fame, and was born at Canterbury, December 18, 1770. He graduated from Yale College in 1793. He settled in New London as a lawyer previous to 1800. He was an original member of the corporation of the New London Savings Bank.
26. EBENEZER LEARNED was chosen a deacon of this Church January 20, 1840. The following entry upon the records of the Church relate to his choice : "At a meeting of the church, January 20, 1840, voted that two deacons be chosen in this church additional to the two now in that office. A ballot was taken ; and Mr. Ebenezer Learned was chosen third deacon of the Church. Mr. Learned declined the office to which he was chosen ; and at his request the Church, by vote, excused him from holding the office." The matter was adjourned to another meeting. The records continue " At a meeting of the church Feb- ruary 6, 1840, for the purpose of filling up the va- cancy, made by the declination of Mr. Ebenezer Learned, a ballot was taken; and Mr. Learned was reelected the third deacon of this church." The records state that he accepted upon this second elec- tion, and he was duly inducted into office.
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Deacon Learned joined this Church in 1820. He was born in Killingly, March 27, 1780, but came to New London in early infancy. He graduated from Yale College in 1798. He was an original corporator of the New London Savings Bank. He died Septem- ber 17, 1858, aged seventy-eight.
27. ASA OTIS was also elected January 20, 1840. After recording the election of Deacon Learned, the records say, "Another ballot was taken, and Mr. Asa Otis was chosen the fourth deacon of this Church." Mr. Otis accepted the office, and was installed in it.
Deacon Otis joined this Church in 1834. His name has been perpetuated by his princely gift of almost $1,000,000 to the American Board of Com- missioners for Foreign Missions. He lived at one time in Richmond, Va., where he accumulated his wealth. He came to New London before 1834, and died here March 10, 1879.
28. WILLIAM HOLDEN COGGSHALL was chosen to the office of deacon about 1854. Deacon Coggshall was born in Pawtucket, R. I., July 4, 1793. He came, in early life, to live in North Stonington. He seems to have joined the Church in that place, for when he removed to New London in the spring of 1826, he joined this Church by letter. His daughter writes, "all the communion service was kept at our
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house, and as it was a large and valuable one, I remember that it was a great deal of care and respon- sibility, which impressed it upon my mind." He removed from New London to Brooklyn, N. Y., in the spring of 1860. He died in Belvidere, Ill., February 8, 1880.
29. ANDREW M. FRINK was probably elected deacon at the same time with Mr. Coggshall. He joined this Church in 1815. He was mayor of the city from 1843 to 1845, but he resigned before the expiration of his term of office. Deacon Frink died June 27, 1867, aged seventy-four.
30. JOHN W. TIBBITS was also elected, probably, in 1854. He joined this Church by letter in 1841. He removed from town before his death, which took place September 12, 1879.
31. CORTLAND STARR seems to have been elected to office at the same time with the three preceding. He joined this Church in 1831. He died April 11, 1865, aged fifty-seven.
There is no record of the choice of the last four deacons. But we know that they were chosen to the office prior to 1856. For at a meeting of the Church held Monday evening, January 28, 1856, for the pur- pose of renewing the call which had been extended to Rev. Thomas P. Field, but which he had declined, it was "voted that deacons William H. Coggshall,
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Andrew M. Frink, John W. Tibbits and Courtland Starr be, and they are hereby appointed a committee to present to the Rev. Thomas P. Field a copy of the above vote," that is, the vote renewing the call.
32. WILLIAM H. STARR was elected to the office of deacon in 1865. October 23, 1867, he resigned · his office, but the Church promptly refused to accept his resignation. He continued to serve till the close of 1882. He was born in Groton, May 27, 1808. In early life he went to Orange, N. J. In 1857 he re- moved to New London, and joined this Church by letter. He died April 27, 1884, aged seventy-six.
33. WILLIAM C. CRUMP was chosen the same year with Deacon W. H. Starr. He also resigned at the close of 1882. He died March 9, 1883, aged sixty- six, and the loss to the Church was irreparable. He united with it in 1855. He was a native of New York city, where he was born in 1817. Mr. Bacon says of him in a notice of his death in his annual survey of the year 1883, " although of a profoundly religious spirit and life, it was not until 1855 that Mr. Crump so far overcame distrust of himself as to make public covenant as a disciple of Christ ; so he was only twenty-eight years in communion here. But from 1865 to 1883, when his renewed resignation was reluctantly accepted, he adorned the office of a deacon, serving the Church and its Head with such modest
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fidelity and excellent wisdom and unostentatious self- denial as the earth rarely sees. This death removed a pillar of the church below, 'to make him a pillar in the Temple of our God, and he shall go no more out.' "
34. ADAM F. PRENTIS was chosen to be a deacon October 23, 1867. He joined this Church in 1843. He was a lineal descendant of John Prentis, the blacksmith, who came here in 1652 on the invitation of John Winthrop, Jr., and the townsmen. He was engaged in the whaling business with Deacon Frink, under the firm name of Frink and Prentis. He died July 25, 1878, aged sixty-nine. Mr. Bacon, in speak- ing of his death in his annual letter for the year 1878, says, " before now I have had occasion to speak, so far as I thought his own most modest taste would permit me, of the loss the church sustained in the death of Deacon Prentis, and how he 'used the office of a deacon well.' He was so quiet, yet so strong a man that few knew the extent of his usefulness, as it fell to the lot of his minister to know it. As the months go by, I miss and mourn- my lost assistant even more than I expected I should."
35. JOSHUA C. LEARNED was also chosen October 23, 1867, and served in that office fifteen years. He joined this Church in 1835. He was born in New London, August 19, 1819. He died, after a brief
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illness, April 27, 1892, and this Church lost in him another pillar, and faithful supporter, and his pastor a steadfast and valued friend.
36. JESSE H. WILCOX was elected to the office which he now holds November 8, 1878, Mr. Bacon . says "with one consent," to succeed Deacon Pren- tis. He joined this Church by letter from the Church in East Lyme in 1869. He was born in Stonington, October 17, 1828.
37. HON. GEORGE E. STARR was chosen October 18, 1883, and still serves in the office of deacon. He was born in Middletown, Conn., August 24, 1828, and came to New London in 1844. He joined this Church upon confession of faith, March 3, 1878. He was mayor of the city from 1882 to 1885.
38. HON. WILLIAM BELCHER was also chosen October 18, 1883, to the office in which he now serves. He joined this Church by letter from the Church in Amherst College in 1866, from which institution he graduated that year. He is a native of New London, where he was born February 25, 1845. He was reared in the Church of which he is now a valued officer.
39. JAMES E. GODDARD was also elected October 18, 1883. He was born in New London, June 27, 1817. His early life was spent in this Church. In his young manhood he removed to New York to
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engage in business. He returned to New London, and, with his family, joined this Church in 1877 by letter from the first Presbyterian Church in Yonkers, N. Y. He died March 29, 1893, aged seventy-six.
The following extracts are taken from an obituary notice of him: "He was a man of great originality.
Shakespeare, Burns and Scott were his familiars. * He was deeply read in the- ology, especially among the Puritan divines, whose views he embraced with heartiness, and, it may be added, with immovable conviction. He was equally well read in history. He was a profound reader of the Scriptures, having his regular hours of study and reflection therein. But it was as a man of prayer that he will be best remembered by those who knew him. * His Saturdays were spent partly in petitions for the ministry and for their preparation for the Sunday morning, remem- bering unfailingly his own and neighboring pastors, as well as others known and related to him.
On hearing of his release a certain friend said, simply and appropriately, 'the prayers of David, the son of Jesse, are ended.' "
40. HENRY LUFLER was elected to succeed Dea- con Goddard June 30, 1893, and was inducted into office by prayer at the communion July 2 of that year. He still serves in the office. . He joined this
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Church by letter from the Church in Stafford, Sep- tember 1, 1889. He was born in Hingham, Mass., June 1, 1847.
These forty men, worthy successors of Deacon Stephen and his companions, have served tables in . this visible body of Christ since 1651. Like the orig- inal seven, they have none of them been of any cler- ical order, but they were solemnly set apart to the office of deacon as instituted by the New Testament Church.
It seems certain that there were deacons before the Church left Gloucester, who came with it. But we have no means of knowing positively who they were. These forty are the only ones so far as we have any definite knowledge, who have served the Church in this office since 1651. In the early days deacons sometimes officiated, in the absence of the pastor, holding what were called "deacons' meet- ings." We know that Captain George Denison and Mr. John Tinker rendered such service on several occasions. If these occasions were instances in which "deacons' meetings" were held, then their names must be coupled with that of Deacon Park in the early years of the Church in New London.
XIII,
MEN WHO HAVE ENTERED THE MINISTRY FROM THIS CHURCH.
Those whose names appear in the following pages have been members of this Church, or have been directly or indirectly influenced by it, or have gone forth from its homes into their life work. They are among the fruits which it has borne in its long and eventful career. As these men have gone into the pulpits of other denominations, as well as of the Con- gregational order, this Church may reap the reward promised, "blessed are ye that sow beside all waters."
1. REV. SIMON BRADSTREET was the eldest son of the third minister of this Church. He was born in New London March 7, 1671. In the records of baptisms is this entry made by his father : "March 12, 1671, my own child, Simon." He graduated from Harvard College in 1693, and was the first native of this town, and the first son of this Church to secure a collegiate education. He preached in Medford in
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1696, but left early in the next year, and was or- dained at Charlestown, Mass., October 26, 1698, as pastor of the Church of which his distinguished grandmother, Ann Bradstreet, had been a member. He continued in the office till he died, December 31, 1741, after a ministry of forty-three years, aged seventy-one years and ten months. It is said that he was considered one of the first literary characters and best preachers in America. For some years prior to his death he was afraid to preach from his pulpit, and delivered his sermons from the deacons' seat, and without notes. Another says, "he was more celebrated for his learning than for his eloquence, and was a man of great eccentricity. He delivered his sermons extemporaneously and avoiding doctrinal preaching of the Calvinistic school adopted the practical tone of the English divines, of whom Tillotson was his favorite." He was a man of great classical attainments, but of infirm constitution, and desponding temperament, which probably accounts for his reputation for " great eccentricity." Another says, " he was a very learned man, of a strong mind, tenacious memory, and lively imagination. Lt. Gov. Tailer introduced him to Gov. Burnet, who was him- self a fine scholar, by saying, 'bere is a man who can whistle Greek.' "
His son, Simon, the fifth to bear the name, was
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ordained pastor of the Church in Marblehead, Mass., January 4, 1738, and continued till his death, Octo- ber 5, 1771. These three Simon Bradstreets com- pleted ninety-three years of ministerial life. Rev. Simon Bradstreet was minister in New London sev- enteen years; his son Simon was minister in Charles- town, Mass., forty-three years ; his grandson, Simon, was minister in Marblehead, Mass., thirty-three years.
2. JOSEPH COIT was the second son of Deacon Joseph Coit. The record of his baptism, made by Mr. Bradstreet, is, " April 6, 1673, Joseph Coit's child Joseph." His birth took place a few days before. He joined this Church July 29, 1698. Miss Caulkins says that he "was the first native of New London that received a collegiate education." This is clearly a mistake. For Simon Bradstreet was a native of New London, and graduated from Harvard College four years before Joseph Coit. Then he was the second instead of the first son of this town and Church to secure a collegiate education. Miss Caulkins says that "his name is on the first list of graduates of the seminary founded at Saybrook, which was the germ that expanded into Yale College." He grad- uated from Harvard College in 1697. He received an honorary degree from Yale in 1702. " He declined a call to Norwich before 1699, then went to Plain-
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field," where he was ordained the first pastor of the Church, which was organized January 3, 1705. He ranked high among the ministers of his time. He re- mained till he was dismissed in March, 1748: He died July, 1750. His name was given, in Contribu- tions to the Ecclesiastical History of Connecticut [p. 518] as having had a ministerial life of fifty-two years. According to this his entrance upon the sacred office was in 1698-the year in which he joined this Church, and the year after he graduated from Har- vard College.
3. WILLIAM ADAMS was the oldest son of Rev. Eliphalet Adams. He was born October 7, 1710. His father made the following record of his baptism : " November 8, 1710, my own child, William." He was named for his grandfather, Rev. William Adams of Dedham, Mass. He joined this Church February 16, 1735. He graduated from Yale College in 1730, where he was afterwards tutor for two years, 1732 to 1734. He was then licensed to preach, but never was ordained as pastor of a Church. He ministered in various parishes for more than sixty years. He preached first in the North Parish, of New London It is now Montville. He preached next in North Groton, now Ledyard. He declined a unanimous call to the latter place. After his father's death he occupied the pulpit in New London for nearly three
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years as a supply. An attempt to call him to succeed his father is thus recorded by Mr. Hempstead in his- diary. "February 23 [1756]. A society meeting. Mr. William Adams negatived, forty-five against forty." After the death of Mr. Woodbridge in 1776, "Rev. William Adams preached about half the time during the first three years." There is a vote of the society November 21, 1780 to employ him, but. he evidently supplied before that date. "The larger part of his ministerial labors were given to Shelter Island, where he preached at intervals for over thirty years." He is believed to be the first minister to dwell on the Island. He was there at the time of Whitfield's visit in 1764. [Sprague's Annals]. His last years were spent in New London. He often walked into the country on visits to the farmers, and made it a point to give some religious instruction. He was short and stout, and wore a white wig, and a cocked hat. He usually walked about the streets in a black study gown. He was a good preacher, but in no wise eminent. He was never married. It is said that he often "congratulated himself on never having been incumbered with wife or Parish." He died in New London, September 25, 1798, aged eighty-three, and lies by the side of his brother, Dea- con Pygan Adams, in the ancient cemetery.
4. JOHN AVERY. This name appears in Contri-
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butions to the Ecclesiastical History of Connecticut, on the list of ministers raised up by this Church. It is probable that he was the John Avery who graduated from Yale in 1777, was licensed by the New Haven East Association in 1778, was settled in Stamford, January, 1779, and died September, 1791. Rev. John Avery of Norwich writes that he was probably "son of Jonathan, who was son of James 2nd. He was born October 9, 1752," and was thirty-nine years of age at his death.
5. JOSHUA HUNTINGTON was the second son of of Gen. Jedediah Huntington. He was born in Nor- wich, January 31, 1786, but came to New London with his father in early childhood. He was gradu- ated from Yale College in the class of 1804, of which John C. Calhoun, Abel McEwen, Ezra Stiles Ely, Bennet Tyler, were members. Mr. McEwen was his college chum and spoke of him as a young man of " very acceptable address, both private and public," and as having " discretion," and "good common sense." He was converted in a revival which visited the college in his sophomore year, and decided to enter the ministry. He had an impediment in his speech which might have proved fatal to his purpose. But so firm was his conviction of duty, and so earnest was his desire, that with persistent determination he .set about overcoming it, and succeeded. He studied
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theology with Dr. Dwight, and then sought training in pastoral duties in the family of Rev. Asahel Hooker of Goshen, Conn. He was licensed by the New London Association in 1806, and began to preach when but twenty, and that, too, with great acceptance. He received a call from the Church in Middletown, Conn., and from the Old South Church in Boston to be the colleague with Dr. Eckley, on the same day. About the same time he received a call from another Church in a pleasant and populous town. Certainly these calls were proof that he was a young man of rare promise, which his future fulfilled. This was very flattering to one so young in years, yet another says, " We never heard that it produced in him any indication of vanity." After serious delib- eration, and following judicious advice, he accepted the call to the Old South Church in Boston, where he was ordained May 18, 1808. The following action of this Church refers to this event : "Lord's day, May 1st, 1808, after public worship a letter missive from the Church in Marlborough street, Boston, [the Old South] was communicated to this Church. It requested the assistance of the pastor and such other delegates as the Church might appoint in the ecclesi- astical council to be convened at Boston, on the 18th of May, 1808, for the purpose of ordaining Mr. Joshua Huntington colleague Pastor with the Rev.
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