USA > Connecticut > Fairfield County > Stratford > The genesis of Christ Church, Stratford, Connecticut : background and earliest annals, commemoration of the two hundred fiftieth anniversary 1707-1957 > Part 11
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the Propagation of the Gospel in these Foreign Parts; and then, in order for the carrying on the worship of God de- cently, the professors of the Church of England made their application to the authorities, viz. : Mr. Joseph Curtice, one of tho Conneil, and Mr. James Judson, a justice of the peace, and also to the Selectmen of tho town of Stratford, to allow liberty for the use of the publiek meeting.house of said town, cithier beforo, after, or between their exercise, alledging that they were fellow-builders with them, and had paid their full proportion towards the same ; yet, notwithstanding all these arguments, could not at all prevail ; yet, blessed be God, though not so convenient as we desired, notwithstanding wo inet with such difficulties, the Rev. Mr. Mnirson, finding in Stratford so great a Congregation, and such a great uminber to be baptized, that, at the request of those who first songhit after him, he gavo encouragement for a future support, and a promise of a second visit upon the same account.
Thirdly .- As yet the Independents kept themselves veiled, and did not openly appear until such time as the Rev. Mr. Muir- son, before his second coming, sent to the professors of the Church of England to prepare themselves, for he intended to administer the holy Sacrament of the Supper of our Lord Jesus :- this being known, the Independents immediately bo- gan to bestir themselves, and soon after the Rev. Mr. Muirson, in company with the Honourable Col. Heathcote, arrived a second time at Stratford, and on Saturday, in tho evening, canie to the house where the said Mr. Muirson lodged, (where wero assembled several of the communicants,) the abovesaid Mr. Joseph Curtice and said James Judson, Justice, and read of a paper containing a whole sheet of paper writ on both sides, in which was contained several threats, that if we should proceed to worship God or administer the Sacrament, other- wise than what was agreeable to the law of this colony, that then they would proceed against them by fino or imprison- ment, as their law dirceted ; and did forbid them to worship God in any such wny they well knew was the worship of the Church of England : upon which, the hononrable Col. Heath- cote and the Rev. Mr. Muirson demanded, of the said Cur- tice and said Judson, a copy of said paper, which they re- fused ; and morcover, Mr. Joseph Curtico abovesaid, the day following, being tho Lord's day, stood in the highway him- self, and cinployed several others, to forbid any person to go to the assembly of the Church of England, and threatened them with a fino of five pounds, as the law directed ; never- theless, tho people were not wholly discouraged, by reason that the Rev. Mr. Mnirson, being encouraged by the carnest desire of his anditory, did promiso to assist them as often as he possibly could.
Fourthly .- The Rev. Mr. Mnirson, at the request of the communicants of the Church of England in Stratford, took advice of the gentlemen of the Honourablo Society, and also the Rev. ministers of the Church of England to the west, and some time after having taken their advice, in company with Col. Heathcote, came to Stratford, and advised us to embody ourselves into a Society, which accordingly we did, and made choice of Churchwardens and Vestrymen, which occasioned the Independents to bo moro enraged against us.
Fifthly .- Not long after the Rev. Mr. Evans, minister of the Church of England at Philadelphia, being bound for England, came in company with the Rev. Mr. Muirson to Stratford, to visit the Church, and sco what stato wo were in ; the Church, understanding that Mr. Evans was bound for England, did request of him that he would be so kind to us, as to take care of, and present a petition of ours, to the Rt. Rev. Father in God, the Bishop of London : and also to the Honour- able Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign
Parts, that they would be pleased to take pity on ns, and consider our sad condition, and the necessity we stand in of an ablo minister of the Gospel ; and, if it might stand with their hononr's pleasure, that the Rev. Mr. Mnirson might be our minister, which wo understand was granted to us, for which favour we, as in duty bound, shall over pray for their honour's weal and prosperity.
Sixthly .- Before we had any return from England, it pleased Ahnighty God, in his providence, to bereave us of the Rev. Mr. Mnirson, by taking of him to himself, by reason whereof we remain as sheep without a shepherd, notwithstanding the great kindness we have received from the Rev. ministers to the west of us, viz., the Rev. Mr. Talbot, the Rev. Mr. Sharpe, who was near a month amongst us, and took much pains, and baptized many, (amongst whom was an aged man, said to be the first man-child born in the colony of Connecticut,) and the Rev. Mr. Bridge, who have administered the holy Sacraments and ordinance of Jesus Christ, to our great comfort and con- solation. Nevertheless, by reason of their grent distanco from us, we remain as sheep having no shepherd, aro ex- posed the more, as a prey to our perscentors, the Independ- ents, who watch all opportunities to destroy the Church, both root and branch.
Seventhly .- But as yet wo received no other persecution but that of the tongue, until the 12th day of December, 1709: Some of their officers, namely, Edmund Lewis, Jona- than Curtice, and Francis Griffith, having a warrant from tho authority, viz., Joseph Curtice and James Judson, abovesaid, to levy by distress of estate, or imprisonment of the bodies of such person or persons as should refuse to pay to them such sums of money as were by them demanded, they no sooner having power bnt put it vigorously in execu- tion ; and on the 12th of December, 1709, about midnight, did apprehend and seize the bodies of Timothy Titharton, ono of our Churchwardens, and John Marcy, one of the Vestry- men, and forced them to travel, under very bad circum- stances, in the winter season and at that unreasonable timo of night, to the common gaol, where felons aro confined, being eight miles distant, not allowing them so much as fire or candle-light for their comfort, and there continued them until they paid such sums as by the gauler was demanded, which was on the 13th day of the same month.
Eighthly .- Notwithstanding all this, they still persisted with rigor to continue their perseention, and seized the body of Daniel Shelton, at his habitation or farm, being abont eight miles distant from the town, and hurrying of him away toward tho town in order to carry him to the county gaol ; passing by a house, he requested of them that he might go in and warm him, and take some refreshment, which was granted ; but they being in a hurry bid him come along, but he desiring a little longer time, they barbarously laid violent hands on his person, and flung his body across a horse's back, and called for ropes to tio him on the horse; to the truth of which several persons can give their testimony, and are ready when thereunto called; and, having brought him to the town, they immediately seized the bodies of William Rawlinson and Archibald Dunlap, and carried them, all three, to the county gnol, it being the 16th day of January, 1709, and there confined them until such timo as they dis- bursed such sums of money as the gaoler demanded of them, which money was left in the hands of the Lieut. Governor, Nathaniel Gould, Esq., he promising them that the next general court should licar and determine the matter, and that the money left in his hands should be disposed of as the court should order, and they were at present released, being the 17th day of the same instant.
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Ninthly .- Several others of the Church had their estates distressed on the same account, and rended fromn them, par- tienlarly Willian Jeancs, having money due to him in the hands of the town treasurer, the above Edmund Lewis, dis- tressed of his estate that which was in said treasurer's hands on the same account, for the maintaining the Dissenting minister the year 1709, and left no copy of his so doing; and also the treasurer detains all the rest that remains in his hands, telling him that ho will keep it for his rate, which rate is chiefly for the purchase of a house for their Dissenting minister, which house and land cost £180 : and so are our estates rended from us. Notwithstanding this, the said Win. Jennes did, for himself in person, go to a town meeting con- vened in Stratford, (being empowered by the Society of the Church of England,) when they were ordering a rate to raise money to pay for the said house and land, and did, publickly, in behalf of himself and Society, declare and protest against any such proceedings, and tendered money to the town re- corder to enter said protest, but he refused so to do.
Tenthly .- When the general court of said Colony of Con- neetieut was assembled at Hartford, in May, 1710, the So- ciety of the Church of England empowered William Jeanes, their lawful attorney, to address said general court for a de- termination and issue of what should be done with said
money committed to tho abovesaid Lieutenant-Governor, and also to see if we should, for the future, enjoy peace amongst them : our said attorney, in order thereunto, tendered an ad- dress to said court, dated May 20th, 1710, but could obtain no positive answer, but was detained there by dilatory an- swers, until the 26th day of the said instant, (May,) when one of the members of the lower honse brought to the said Jeanes the address and power of attorney, and told him the thing had been often moved, but they see causo to give no answer, and so we find no relief for the poor distressed Church, nor the members thereof.
Eleventhly .- The poor Church at Stratford, being left in a deplorablo condition, destitute and without hope of any relief in this colony under this goverment, several of our Society have already, of necessity, fled their persecution finally, being such an additional one as was seldom heard of; for finding that some of our Society, being tradesmen and handicraft, and such as had dependence upon working at their trades for other people, they combined together not to set them to work, saying that by that means they should weaken the interests of the Church ; by which subtle strata- gem of Satan's to perscente the Church of Christ, we are likely to bo brought low, for some are already gone, and others looking out where to shelter themselves from their cruelty, and must inevitably fall, if God, of his infinite merey, do not raise up some goodly, compassionate friends for.us : and we, the subscribers, do assert the truth of what is here written.
TIMOTHY TITHARTON, \ Church RICHARD BLACKLATII,
WILLIAM SMITH, S Wardens. DANIEL SHELTON, WILLIAM RAWLINSON, WILLIAM JEANES, ARCHIBALD DUNLAP, JAS. ILUMPHREYS, JAMES CLARKE.
JOHN JOHNSON,
[From Documentary History of the P. E. Church (Con- necticut ), vol. I (N.Y., 1863, 39-44.]
WILLS OF YOUR FOREFATHERS IN THE STATE LIBRARY :
Bennott, Daniel (1714) Fairfield, No. 668 Blacklatch, Richard (1751) Fairfield, No. 825 Fairfield, No. 1472
Clarke, James (1714)
Fairfield, No. 1626
Davis, Elias (1748)
Fairfield, No. 1894
Dunlap, Elizabeth (1714)
Fairfield, No. 2050
Edwards, Thomas (1708)
Fairfield, No. 2077
Gaskill, Samuel (1707)
Fairfield, No. 2304
Hawley, Samuel (1734)
Fairfield, No. 2785 Fairfield, No. 3391 Fairfiold, No. 3466
Johnson, John (1724)
Knell, Isaac (1708)
Administration Papers only.
Laborie, James (1741)
Fairfield, No. 3696
Nisbitt, Hugh (1711)
Fairfield, No. 4598
Peat, John (1710)
Fairfield, No. 4851
Pitman, Jonathan (1731)
Fairfield, No. 4990
Shelton, Daniel (1728)
Fairfield, No. 5602
Smith, William (1749)
Fairfield, No. 5991
Titharton, Timothy (1740)
Fairfield, No. 6403
[The above list is not exhaustive. ]
BRINT, ISAAC. Signed petition to Bp. of London, Apr. 1, 1707. [1707.
BENNETT, DANIEL. Signed same potition, Apr. 1,
BLACKLEACH, RICHARD. Signed petition to Bp. of London, Apr. 1, 1707; letter to Col. Nicholson, May 26, 1709. Petition to Gov. Saltonstall,
Apr. 25, 1710. Signed "Account of the Suffer-
ings" in 1710. Petition to Bp. of London, 1710; Petition to Queen of England, 1710; as Warden, wrote Col. Heathcote Apr. 9, 1714. See Wilcox- son, p. 205; Orcutt, II, 1155-1156
BLACKLEACH, RICHARD, JR. Signod petition to Bp. of London, Apr. 1, 1707. Married Mehetable La- boree, a communicant of Epis. Ch., in 1724. See Orcutt, II, 1155
BROOKS, THOMAS. Signed petition to Bp. of London, Apr. 1, 1707.
BURROUGH, EDWARD. Signed petition to Bp. of London in 1710; also petition to Queen Anne, 1710.
CLARKE, JAMES. Signed "Account of the Sufferings" in 1710; signed petitions to Bp. of London and Queen Anne in 1710. On tax list of 1671.
COWLES, SIMEON: The Rev. John Sharpe stayed at his home on Jan. 31, 1710. [Name probably is SIMEON COUCH. ]
DAVIS, ELIAS. Son of Samuel Davis. Baptized by the Rev. John Sharpe on Jan. 26, 1710.
DICKSON, HANNAH. Wifo of James. Baptized by the Rev. John Sharpe, Jan. 15, 1710.
DUNLAP, ARCHIBALD. Signed all petitions.
DUNLAP, ELIZABETH. Dau. of above. Baptized by the Rev. John Sharpe, Jan. 29, 1710.
EDWARDS, THOMAS. Signed to Bp. of London in 1707. GASKELL, SAMUEL. Signed to Bp. of London in 1707. GILBERT, PHOEBE. Baptized Jan. 26, 1710, by the Rev. John Sharpe. Daughter of Jonathan Gilbert. HAWLEY, SAMUEL. Signed to Bp. of London, 1707.
On tax list of 1671. Often mentioned in Orcutt. HENERY, SAMUEL. Signed to Bp. of London, 1707. HUMPHREYS, JAMES. Signed all petitions in 1710.
JEANES, WILLIAM. Tested the tax law in 1709.
Was visited by the Rev. John Sharpe on Jan. 25, 1710. Signed petition to Gov. Saltonstall in 1710. Attorney for Christ Church, 1710. Pro- tested at Town Meeting in 1709. Signed both petitions of 1710. Survived by one son and five daughters. Michael was the son. Esther married Abraham Beardslee.
JOHNSON, JOHN. Mentioned in the Rev. John Sharpe's
Burrough, Edward (1732)
Jeanes, William (1726)
55
diary of Jan., 1710. Signed petitions to Gov. Saltonstall, Bp. of London and Queen Anne in 1710. His tombstone is the oldest (Wilcoxson, 253) in the little Episcopal cemetery:
Here lyes the body of Mr. John Johnson, who died February ye 8th, 1725, Aged 75.
KNELL, ISAAC. Signed petition to Bp. of London, Apr. 1, 1707. Was a good neighbor to the Rev. John Reed, Congregational minister.
LABORIE, JAMES. Physician, son of the Rev. James Laborie, an Episcopal clergyman and physician. Born in 1691; settled in Stratford as a physi- cian. Built a pew in Congregational meeting- house at his own expense in 1714. Mentioned as having been visited by the Rev. John Sharpe on Jan. 23, 1710. Married Abigail, daughter of Richard Blackleach. See Orcutt, 316-317.
MARCY, JOHN. While a vestryman, was seized at mid- night, Dec. 12, 1709, and thrown into gaol. Re- leased after paying taxes on Dec. 15, 1709. MOREY, JOSHUA. Son of John Morey. Baptized Jan. 29, 1710, by the Rev. John Sharpe. NISBITT, HUGH. As vestryman, signed petition to Gov. Saltonstall, Apr. 25, 1710.
PEAT, JOHN. Apparently a descendant of one of the first immigrants with Adam Blackman or Blakeman. Signed petition to Bp. of London, Apr. 1, 1707. According to Orcutt, 165, the first sexton and bell-ringer of the Congregational Church in Strat- ford was John Peat. Called "Goodman Peat." Held office until 1660, when he was succeeded by John Pickett.
PITMAN, JONAH OR JONATHAN. Signed petition to Bp. of London, Apr. 1, 1707; visited by the Rev. John Sharpe, Jan. 23, 1710. As vestryman, signed pe- tition to Gov. Saltonstall on Apr. 25, 1710. RONALDSON, WILLIAM [Usually transcribed -- I think incorrectly, RAWLINSON] Signed petition to Bp. of London, Apr. 1, 1707. Was seized and put into gaol on Jan. 16, 1710; released on the 17th. As vestryman signed petition to Gov. Saltonstall on Apr. 25, 1710. Signed all the petitions of 1710. SHELTON, DANIEL (Sometimes spelled "Shilton.")
Signed petition to Bp. of London, Apr. 1, 1707; signed letter to Col. Nicholson, May 26, 1709; put into gaol for refusing to pay certain taxes on Jan. 16, 1710. (See discussion by Orcutt, I, 965; see Wilcoxson, 206-209).
SKIDMORE, JOHN. Signed petition to Bp. of London, April 1, 1707. SMITH, WILLIAM.
Signed petition to Bp. of London,
April 1, 1707; as church warden, signed petition to Gov. Saltonstall on Apr. 25, 1710. In the same year, signed "An Account of the Sufferings" and petitions to the Bp. of London and Queen Anne. As warden, signed letter to Col. Heathcote on Apr. 9, 1714.
SMITH, WILLIAM, JR. Baptized by the Rev. John Sharpe on Jan. 29, 1710.
STILES, DORCAS. Granddaughter of Isaac Styles, one of the family that created much friction earlier in favor of the "half-way" covenant. She was baptized by the Rev. John Sharpe on Jan. 26, 1710, at Long Hill.
STILES, ISAAC, JR .? Signed petition to Bp. of Lon- don, Apr. 1, 1707.
STILES, ISAAC, SR .? Baptized on Jan. 27, 1710, by the Rev. John Sharpe, who considered him the first male child born in the Colony of Connec- ticut --- then eighty years of age. [If Sharpe was correct, Isaac was born in Connecticut in 16301111] The Stiles family appears on the tax list of 1671.
TITHARTON, TIMOTHY. Signed petition to Bp. of Lon- don, Apr. 1, 1707. (Descended from Daniel Tithar- ton (or Titterton), which see in Wilcoxson, 94, and Orcutt, I, 111-112.) Timothy signed letter to Col. Francis Nicholson, May 26, 1709. As a warden, he was seized on Dec. 12, 1709, forced to travel late at night, and was thrown into a common jail. Signed petition to Gov. Salton- stall as warden, Apr. 25, 1710. Signed the "Account of the Sufferings of the Members of the Church of England" in 1710; signed all the pe- titions of that year. Tittertons are listed on the Tax List of 1671.
WOOD, SARAH. Wife of George Wood. Baptized at Fairfield by the Rev. John Sharpe on Jan. 19, 1710.
DarinEmis nixumpo
Viher
Samuelis & Maria
[Title page of the Liber Dierum kept by Samuel Johnson and beginning (see next page) with the birth of his father (Samuel Johnson), who married Mary Sage. The record is carried down into his rectorship at Stratford. ]
urb.
56
1
Samuel Johnson was born June + 5 9610 Mary Jage was born Novem 567 Samuel Johnfon & Mary Sage was marynd November P.7. 1994. William Johnfon y " fan was forno September Mes 4 mund 1695 Syed about 6 with Samuel Johnson y 2. Son was born OctoFO 14 ann 1696 Mary the 1" Daughter was born 18. Jan. amis 628 David " 32 Son was born Jun"
Elisabeth . 2. Sangnier was
anno 17.03. Dyed September 28 and J Nathaniel 24. Son was born on yo !!
in the fan 1 7.0 5
Abigail hez Daughter was born amills anno 17:07 William The " Son was born april 19.1709 Mercy y 4th Daughter was born Intrembe ig . 1710 Elizabeth Johnson y dang stov to buary : 201712 timothy Johnson & son was october game. Farabeth the 5 "Daughter dies August 4, 141010
· Mercy Jolyon y € 4th Daughter Died June,
(22) 1725.
PETITION TO THE DOCUMENT II.
'This.H., ble Dnefrancs Petition of funding portions of and belonging to too d'am & Convocation
That whowas wer who foram of ame fubfont bed, + 3 ering profi efforts of the hoteltant Christian wild pin, members of Ho thunk of England, chi subirats to mor fouraigne sont Charty dos rond by Good gratis ring of england in: this Enox Spole Satwenty of montionach anis ton tomar in our tournant Soalos without Baptism. Storing vision fly mondo our past and present want of leon inomantop with to us auch our Children is members of Christy uffithe church ofant to foram misting. With wet showkond to Ger to for Diffinous war of God and the construction of our own and our hiding good Contrary to La you will of our Soud to Sayin his mand punorton setting fofo for
Isby ben Chariton and his mate athow to let that fun of Ob= and otherway. 4is most Que dontly or artist.) toour great. 1x le howard Got, cho relation who stand in to our motor to think: cum parti full tanteof his mated storace favor, The orification of our oundand our Children, donc di un & many of or good, Christian ofitalia ansy, asecco at a Sabersition of this song Offentlig having sittende a favorable intorangement 57 Lo Pintifiat. ?: ) for into nous me . (avant for by big our trois to cot land our il que vanthan)
7. aquicoming of her darna.
i'm Haast yudante is feat und and our crient under for Instance of a. an Orthodox mistry fiat with in a die mannini administer- the promantly that we Stand raso able of iss too Bartis one of our children; our woong com. Hediarios attering to use for right on dor may they found meste to be" croy tablet. Hod fram find watch winder ul in her way of and Sutra for holding with us as 1000 Do Grace owill. With out what founder fonifitte amintimantig of lavoro to us as mon fort of Christina , le (wnik; which ought to fan difronted by the official of los alamos. of ich: was Going Diffituto!
(This humbly quaff chat His. Han Countwould take into Serious Consideration ter meffert stationto not part fiat wide and find har though at Homed handing no show hostin, and compare it with what will forte and you promo mothat thewitcher Good and our King wfull house it different from what it now Is his laf fond incepand ifatt. (cumperfor man's hisin and out us in a fair and fire taraftity of miagoing togo formentions, Fourntaget white house aj man torp of Chriffe willifthe Church done of with affithing Som whole form wine irwin fix Conoceration bry wirhow when of wood may bots Hamo antiy sius of asysh confiant, or still her by Law isty ounty wim ber Church on thatthis I whom wad how our abods or not dante leffe formantioni primiligy and icuantager.
1664
-
You? How to Gon? Ifembly of top Corporation of Comettito in New England
17
OCT. WINDSOR, AND
HARTFORD
MEN IN BY CHURCH -
COLONIAL ASSEMBLY
58
furthermore woo humblyorquoff that for the future no law mitsis corporation may fer of ane portatomalins Day or contribute to to maintainance of any Inmitten or fiction for leo thangh. that will noglest ex in futuro tactics our Children, and to take ram ofits as of Sutte mentions of the church ward invia in on their
this in hopes beat you rand full and foody configuration and ( this has of will for an forno flo to too weight of his mother ) beat makers of falernomont may for Omitted tic te is fel sher wood write for good enf were
mw: Court we shall auch frage 3M
and our /nofferit huis for Lov
MANUSCRIPT
·
SERIES _____ VOL. 1 .... DOC. 10
At the October session of the General Assembly of Connecti- cut, in 1664, William Pitkin, Michael Humphrey, John Stedman, James Enno, Robert Reeve, John Moses, and Jonas Westover - all freemen of the corporation of Connecticut, designating them- selves "professors of the Protestant Christian Religion, Members of the Church of England, and subjects to our sovereign lord, Charles the Second, by God's grace king of England" -- addressed that body, "to declare our grievances and to petition for a redress of the same." They complained of their "past and present want of these Ordinances which"- they asserted -"ought to be ad- ministered" to them and their children "as members of Christ's visible Church." They appealed to the language of the charter and of the King's letter to the Massachusetts Bay Colony of June 20th, 1662, as warranting their claim to the administration of the sacraments; and they asked the action of the Assembly to put them "in a full and free capacity of enjoying those fore- mentioned advantages, which to us, as members of Christ's visible Church, do of right belong." They referred to the rela- tions in which they stood to "Our Mother Church;" and asserted that they and theirs "are not under the due care of an orthodox ministry that will in a due manner administer" the two sacra- ments; that they were "as sheep scattered having no shepherd." They prayed that for the future "no law in this corporation may be of any force to make us pay or contribute to the maintenance of any minister or officer of the Church that will neglect or refuse to baptise our children, and to take care of us as of such members of the Church as are under his or their charge and care."
- Edgar Legare Pennington, Church of England Beginnings in Connecticut, Hartford, 1938, page 5.
Anglicans were in Connecticut from at least 1640 onwards, but the Puritan Revolution in Eng- land made a defense of their religious principles impossible. After the Restoration, they dared to become vocal. This is a facsimile of the earliest surviving petition to the Connecticut General As- sembly from Churchmen in Hartford and Windsor,
dated October 17, 1664.
consult Louis B. Wright, The Cultural Life [For the cultural background of this period,
of the American Colonies, 1607-1763 (Amer- ican Nation Series) .]
1
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CONNECTICUT ARCHIVES
bitofor 14th, 664
ECCLESIASTICAL. 1659 - 1789
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N. MANCHESTER, INDIANA 46962
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