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 6
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The people of several towns, by the way, as Norwalk and Fairfield, aro ready to break open their meeting doors and let him in, if he would suffer it ;- they have taken measures at Stratford to build a Church, which never was seen in that
country before. I pray God send thiem an ablo minister of the New Testament, for they have been long enough under the old dispensation. I wish their case were well known and considered at home, for I'm sure that no inan that has any cars or bowels of compassion can resist their importunity. I saw Mr. Bradford at New-York ; he tells me inass is set up and read publicly in Philadelphia, and several people are turned to it, amongst which Lionel Brittain, the Church- warden, is one, and his son another. I thought that Popery would como in amongst Friends, the Quakers, as soon as any way. An Anabaptist meeting it seems is set up at Burling- ton, and another Independent is come to Elizabeth Town. So that for lack of a good Governor we lose our time and the Society their money, and the last state of America will bo worse than the first, if the rest of the missionarics go away before more come. I suppose you have heard of Mr. Brook and Mr. Moore, two of the best hands that were there; they are gone, and upon what account ? purcly for want of a Bishop to dircet and protect them. I pray God help us, for we have nobody to apply to, and nobody cares for our souls. Your loving friend and servant,
JOHN TALBOT.
P. S .- Poor Mr. Honyman is much disturbed at Rhodo Island by Mr. Bridge, who says he has a letter from my Lord of London to take his place ; if so, he will ruin two Churches at once. Pray help your countryman what you can, for he is : worthy.
1708, June 18: The Rev. Evan Evans, having arrived in England, submitted the following memorial to a committee of the S.P.G. before which he had appeared on Monday, June 14. It is further evidence of the zeal of your forefathers and of the sympathetic support they were able to elicit from worthy people in America during this period of crisis. 74
To the Most Honorable Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts.
I being desired, by those honourable members of the com- mittce of last Monday, to lay before you what I know relat- ing to the Church in Connecticut Colony, and what disposi- tion the people are in to receive it, as also what may proba- bly tend to its advancement there, do humbly beg leave to inform you-
That, innediately before my parting from America, I ac- companied Mr. Muirson to Stratford, a town in that colony, where we preached ; had a considerable number of bearers, and administered the holy Sacraments of Baptism and the
Lord's Supper to many pions persons.
That we found a considerable number of people in a ready disposition to be received into the Church, they being flexible to our invitations, and only wanting occasions of instruction.
That Mr. Muirson seems to be the most proper person to be employed in their service, he having done them so many good offices, and they deservedly having a great esteem of his picty and virtuc.
That it would undoubtedly tend to the honour and increase of the Church, in those American parts, if the laws compel- ling Church of England members to maintain dissenting ministers, were repealed, and especially that called the Eccle- siastical Law, in that colony.
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That Mr. Read, a dissenting minister in tho said Stratford, who is willing to receivo holy orders in the Church of Eng- land, and who has suffered oxtremely, by his countrymen, for his inclinations to the Church, not only seems to deserve . your compassion, but encouragement, if he can be provailed
on to take orders in England, and receive a Mission from tho Venerablo Society.
June 18, 1708. EVAN EVANS.
1708, July 13: The Episcopalians of Stratford attempted to relieve the Rev. John Reed's distress and to make provision for his livelihood. On this date, Isaac Knell and John Clark, "for good will and af- fection, " deeded to him for the "space of ten thousand years" all our undivided lands in Stratford." (Knell died on the following November 2, having lived long enough to see the Church of England organized in this community and the family of a prospective convert taken care of. That was no small achievement for the underground1) 75
1708, September: Connecticut passed a Toleration. Act, guaranteeing liberty of conscience to "any so- ciety or church soberly differing or dissenting" from the established Congregationalism. Although the threat of five-pound fines was now lifted from our Churchmen here, they still were required to pay taxes to support the Congregational establishment and share in the purchase of parsonages for Protestant cler- gy. The underground movement, permitted to breathe above ground, decided as individuals to test the Colony of Connecticut in its taxing policy by a series of refusals to honor the levies imposed upon them. They were prepared to suffer a little martyrdom in furthering this plan, hopefully expecting to make fur- ther gains for the Church of England by means of it. 76
1708, October 12: This year, on Columbus Day, the Stratford Anglicans suffered a severe blow in the death of their leader, the Rev. George Muirson, whom they had hoped eventually to secure as a resident priest. The Congregationalists, however, took no encouragement from this fact, for when Isaac Knell en- tered the larger life on November 2, they circulated doggerel verses which as much as confessed their fears that Anglicanism was here to stay:
Isaac Knell is gone to hell To tell Mr. Muirson that his Church is well. 77
1708, November and later: Supply clergymen, doubtless through the agency of Colonel Heathcote, began to pay occasional visits to Stratford to keep the faithful encouraged. (See Document I.)
1709: The Rev. Timothy Cutler was chosen to captain the Congregationalists. As we shall see, like his predecessor, he found Anglicanism increasingly attractive and became doubtful about Congregationalist orders. (In 1722, with Samuel Johnson, the evontual rector of this parish, he set out for England to be ordained a priest of the Church. ) 78
1709: During this year, William Jeanes, a lawyer of sorts and one of your most active founders, be- gan to raise protests in town meetings and in the General Court at Hartford against the taxing of Angli- cans for the support of Congregational establishments. (For full details, see Document I.)
1709, April 28: The character and self-sacrifice of the late Mr. Muirson were brought out in Colonel Heathcote's letter to the Secretary of the S.P.G. : "By his constant journeys in the service of the Church, and the necessary supply of his family, he expended every farthing he got here and of the Society, and were the stock not so low, the Society could not have done a better act, than to have considered his widow whom he has left very bare, and has since his death been brought in bed with a boy, which is liv- ing."79
1709, May: I have not been able to determine whether the dismissed Congregational pastor, the Rev. John Reed, and a John Read mentioned in the public records of the Colony at this time are the same. If they should be, the following record may indicate either his continuing difficulties with members of his one-time flock or another aspect of the Anglican upheaval; ,80 "Mr. John Read of Stratford appeared before this Assembly, and declared that he did not intend to offer any contempt upon the Honb- Court of Assis- tants setting at Hartford the 11th instant. It is therefore ordered by this Assembly, that if the said John Read shall appear before the Court of Assistants at their next session, and there profess and declare to them that he did not intend to reflect upon them in manner and form expressed in their record, or in any other manner whatsoever, and that he will always be careful not to give any occasion of their re- sentments, that then said Read shall be admitted to exercise the office of attorney in the said court of assistants, as before."
1709, May 26: Churchmen in Stratford wrote to Colonel Francis Nicholson, in New York, hoping to in- terest him in their cause. The signers were Timothy Titharton, Richard Blacklach, Daniel Shilton and Archibald Dunlap. [The editor of the following document had difficulty in deciphering the handwriting especially of the signatures. ]81
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Ilonored Sir.
Your life and happy return to these parts is a ground of universal joy to all the American part of the English Empire, the good designs you have now under management by how, much more universal and so valuable in their fruits than any tho great and heretofore do so much the more oblige us all to congratulate your happy arrival. We poor distressed' Church- men of Stratford therefore moved with the sense of our duty as interested in the common benefit of intermingling ourselves in the publie joy give thanks to Almighty God who has inspired you with those great and good designs preserved you hitherto in your proceedings. In the next place give thanks to your- self who under her gracions Majesty never to be forgotten have undertaken this dangerous fatigue and shall ever join our prayer with the common prayer of multitudes whose father you have been by merit that God Almighty would crown as this so all your generous undertakings with good success. Great Sir, we have heard of your generous offer for Mr. Muirson's first years labour in the Ministry among us had it pleased God to continue him, & rejoice that we have this opportunity to give our hearty thanks for your benevolence to us therein ; that, to your other
Acts is nothing yet besides the obligation it lays upon us it adds a real lustre to your name and truly magnifies the character of your heneficence Hlad this been done to the Captives you redeemed, the Provinces you have governed, the army you coun- cil, wete it the utmost of your generous contributions to the welfare of the English in Europe, Africa and America werc nothing ; but when you like the Sun move in these superior Orbs with proportionable influences to them yet not be confined to them but shine and enlighten us in the shady valleys of Obscurity, this makes you to be truly magnus in minimis
We lament to this day our loss in the death of the pions M' Muirson, hope that Honorable Society will remember us ancw. shall beg your intercessions as God gives opportunity in the meantime shall be heartily glad to see you in Stratford if your occasions lead this way, that we may express the cordial love and humble service of .- Honored Sir
Yours &c
TIM TITHARTON 1 DAN SITELTON
RIC. BLACKLATI 1 ARCH DUNCOZ
1709, December 12-15: To test the tax law, Timothy Titharton, one of the wardens, and John Marcy, a vestryman, withheld payment of their assessments. At midnight, on December 12, both men were seized and forced "to travel, under very bad circumstances, in the winter season and at that unreasonable time of night, to the common gaol, where felons are confined, being eight miles distant". They were denied "fire or candle-light for their comfort" and remained in jail until the taxes were paid. The event was good publicity for the Anglican cause -- a token rebellion against injustice somewhat like Henry David Thoreau's in Concord, Massachusetts, a century and a quarter later. (For details, see Document I.)
1710, January 16-17: The next to test the law was the wealthy Daniel Shilton or Shelton, seized "at his habitation or farm, being about eight miles distant from the town." He was "barbarously" treated. They "laid violent hands on his person, and flung his body across a horse's back, and called for ropes to tie him on the horse." At the same time, and apparently for the same reason, they seized William Rawlinson and Archibald Dunlap and carried them to the county gaol. Lieutenant-Governor Nathaniel Gould promised to look into the matter, after they had paid their way out, but nothing seems to have come of it all. (See Document I.) [For "Rawlinson" we ought, perhaps, to read "Ronoldson."]
1710,' January 25: Colonel Heathcote reported to the Secretary of the S.P.G. the state of affairs in Stratford, a part of his letter reading as follows: "2
MANOR OF SCARSDALE 25th January 1709/10
Worthy Sir,
The poor people of Stratford have ever since M' Muirson's death kept sending me abundance of melancholy Letters filled with sad stories of their misfortunes and complaints of their great wants in having the comfort of God's ordinances adminis- tered to them and most of the missionaries ( there being none at Ryc) living at too great a distance, and not being able to under- take the journey, we got leave of the L' Governor to spare the Chaplain M' Sharp whom 1 accompanied into Connecticut, to the unspeakable comfort and satisfaction of the members of the Church of England in that Colony who remain very constant and steady notwithstanding that the warm Independents have by Imprisonment and many other severities endeavoured to suppress them. I hope the Society will be pleased to take their unhappy circumstances into consideration for nothing could be done more truly to propagate the Gospel than by sending a mis- sionary into that Colony where to the great scandal of the Christian Religion as well as to the danger of men's souls, the Ordinances of God are so strangely neglected and contemned In some of their Towns amongst 100 sober people, not ten will be admitted to the Sacrament, and vast numbers are denied
Baptism. I am told that in a Town called Newhaven within 14 miles of Stratford there are near 1000 unbaptized, now if it be a good work and a great service to God and his Church to bring the Indians to the knowledge of our holy faith, and to happiness benefit and blessing of partaking of Baptism and the Lord's Table it must be equal if not a greater service to make those of our own blood and nations partakers of those great blessings, and as such who stop and hedge up the way to God's altar will undoubtedly have a great deal to answer for, so I am firmly of opinion that those who are entrusted with funds given by pious and good people for propagating the Gos- pel, can't better answer the end and intent of the Donors than to open the way to God's Holy Ordinances by doing what lies in their power that sober and well meaning people may not want the opportunity of receiving the same
Worthy Sir, Yours &c
CALEN HEATHCOTE
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1710, January: The Rev. John Sharpe, chaplain to His Majesty's forces in New York, through the agency of Colonel Heathcote, visited Stratford to strengthen Churchmen here. His extant diary tells with whom he stayed, whom he met, and whom he baptized. I have not seen the original manuscript, now in the Penn- sylvania Historical Society, but set forth below Joseph Hooper's transcription83 with a few of the var- iants that appear in "Journal of Rer. John Sharpe, " The Pennsylvania Magazine of History and Biography, XL (1916), pp. 257-297 and 412-425:
6 Epiphany Day Fryday Ileft York & went as far as New Rochelle on my way to Stratford where I was sent for by the members of the Church of England there to preach I had a fall from my horse but thank God was not hurt
12 set out from Coll. Heathcots wt him wee lay at Maj' Scllecks at Stratford that night
13 at Norwalk we lay at Beklens
14 To Fairfield wee were met by Mr Johnston Mr Dunlap & M' Blacklath they went to Stratford that night.
Blackleech Omit they
15 I preached twice forenoon Psl 31 26 p m Rom 2-41
16 Dincd at MM Edwards Choice of Vestry & Church- wardens
17 Dincd at M' Blacklaths
18 Dined at M' Dunlaps it raincd. . at night hec Mr. Dun- lap and I rode to Fairfield & lay at ME Lowes I was very wett
Blackleeches
Lewes's much
19 I went to visit the Deputy Gov' & Mr Web the Mint of the place. I preached at M' Lewis's & lay that night at M' Sturges' a publick house Coll Heathcote Dunlap lies wt Johnston
20 Coll Heathcote went away & wce came to Stratford back 21 staycd at home all day
22 I preached twice & gave notice of the Sacrt Tex 1 Cor 15 8 v both parts
23 Visited M" Pitman M" Laboric & M's Edwards Mr Bridge received
, 24 snowed hard visited Mr Nisbet
25 Mr Bridge went forward to Ryc I went to M' Janes
26 to Longhill. prcached Ephi 5, 15-16 a congregation of 200 the greater part whercof had never heard the Common Praycr
27 Baptised Isaac Styles the first Man Child born in the Colony of Connecticut a man of 80 years of age visited one Zachary a sick person, dined at L' Johnson, and returned to Stratford
28 I staid at home at study I recovered my illness
29 I preached A M Math 6 & adminred the Sacr to 25 com- municants p m preached Lukc 10 2 v Christencd three Children
30 K.C. Martyr'd I preachcd Rom 13-1. v pm visited 31 I bought my horse darling sct out at noon & preached at Stratford Math 11 34 I rode to Greens farms & lay at Simeon Cowles
[1710, February: ] FEBRUARY
I Came to Norwalk there met M' Bridge wce came thence in company wt the Deputy Gov" & M' Davenport to Stamford
2 Candlemas to Snowfield's it rained very hard here Mr Dunlap overtook us Wce rodle in the rain to Coll Heathcotes yt night
male
Baptized in my voyage to Stratford, Jan 1710
Jan3 15 Hannah the wife of James Dickson at Stratford
19 Sarah the wife of George Wood at Fairfield ad.
26 at Long Hill Dorcas the grand daughter of Isaac Styles
Elias the son of Sam" Davis, and Pheebe the daughter of
Jonathan Gilbert Children.
27 Isaac Styles aged ab' 80
29 at Stratford W@ son of Wm Smyth Joshua the son of John
Morey & Elizabeth the daughter of Archibald Dunlap.
[Register of the Rev. John Sharpe in his Manuscript Diary.]
adult.
ad
1710, April 25: The wardens and vestrymen of the Church-of-England Society in Stratford petitioned the Governor of the colony for redress of grievances, showing "That wheiras severall of us & others professing ourselves members of the Church of England as by Law Established, have lately suffered im- prisonment of our bodies & distress of our Goods for not paying such rates as have been assesed towards the support of ministers of a different persuation from the Establisht Curch; we humbly conceive our-
Stamford
0 7
CORN
Putnam Mrs came
16:2
Couches
30
selves to be under no such obligation neither by the Laws of England nor the Charter grant of this Collony & have therefore appealed to the nixt General Court for their Judgement in our Case. We therefore humbly intreat your honour will be pleased to put a stop to all such pro- ceedings against us till such time as the determination of the Court therein; & to grant us the protection of your authority in the free exercise of our religion."
to the lon; Gurdon Sallonstalo 900? 000 Her malostiog Colony of Connecticut il& Potition of the Church wardons & destry? in bonall of them pollos & the members of the Subch of England Inhabitans in the Town of Stratford and Here it here in the Colony. Humbly? Shuoth
That whoiras coborall of us & other profiling ourblog msmbory of the Church of England of By law Establish :00, habe Calfly surffred imprisonment of our bodies (? Distroff of our goods for not paying such ratos as klaff" bron alorsod towards the Support of ministry of a ~ different porquation from the Establisht Durch wo nimbly poucoift awfully to Go under no such obligation. neither by the Laws of England nor the Charter grant of the along & hald chorogone apprated to the nipt General Court for their Judgement in our Cafe 200 thorogant humbly introat your honour will Go ,bloated to put a Stop to all Such pro= cooling against in till such time as the - determination of the Court chorem; & to grast If the protection of your authority in the frot forcity of our religion; Stratford apr, 25,1710 and " potitioners shade ofer pray &C; simofhy filfixfor) Durch
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The signers (see the facsimile) were:
Timothy Titharton 3 Church
William Smith
Wardens
Will™ Ronoldson 84 Richard Blacklach Jonat. Pitmann John: Johnson
Vestry
men
William Jeanes Archª Dunlop Hugh Nisbitt Daniell Shilton85
Rühark Blätblack Jon at Pitmany Huhn: Johnson. Mittiam: Jeanos. Wych; Dunlop Blügli Nisbit Baniall fillon
bostry mon
1710, May 20-26: "When the general court. .. was as- sembled at Hartford ... the Society of the Church of Eng- land empowered William Jeanes, their lawful attorney, to address said general court for a determination and issue of what should be done with said money committed to the abovesaid Lieutenant Governor, and also to see if we should, for the future, enjoy peace amongst them: our said attorney ... could obtain no positive answer, but was detained there by dilatory answers, until the 26th day. .. when one of the members of the lower house. . . told him ... they see cause to give no answer, and so we find no relief for the poor distressed Church, nor the members thereof." (See de- tails in Document I.)
1710, [? June]: Stratford Churchmen prepared a long account of their sufferings for the consideration of the S.P.G. (For this memorable paper, see Document I. )
1710, [? June]: The wardens and vestry at Stratford petitioned the Bishop of London and the S.P.G. as follows : 86
To the Right Rev. Father in God, the Lord Bishop of Lon- don, and to the Honourable Society for the Propagating the Gospel in Foreign Parts :
WE, the Churchwardens and Vestry of Stratford, in the Colony of Connectient, in New-England, havo long lain mu- der very great grievances from the Independents of this colo- ny, as may be seen in the narrativo of our ense, which comes with this our address ; but abovo all, from the want of a minister to furnish us with ghostly advice, and to administer the bread of life to us in our miserable and doplorable loss. It is tho less matter that wo suffer persecutions and afflictions in this life, if we could bnt seo, with a comfortable prospect, into the other world. What signifies what becomes of the body, if our precious souls, for which Christ vonchsafed to die, be saved ? And it is not withont great affliction that we reflect on the bad snecess so many addresses for a minister havo met with. We hopo God has not altogether forsaken us ; neither the patrons of our holy religion at home quite laid us aside ; and therefore wo presume, once more, to ad- dress your Lordship and the Honourablo Society for a minis- ter ; and, were ho to be a travelling missionary through the colony, we doubt not but in a short time the best of churches in the world would flourish even in this government, where they are strangers to the happy constitution.
We leave the further representation of our caso to be mado by the faithful and worthy Inbourer in God's vineyard, the Rev. Mr. John Talbot, who has visited us sometimes, and often by letters given us great comfort and courage, who is going home in the service of the Church, and is always ready to venture his life for it. The Lord reward him for his labour of lovo which he hath showed to all the Churches; and, in- deed, had it not been for the visits wo have received from tho clergy to the west, and the encouragement we had from tho Honourablo Colonel LIcathcote, who hath ever been a true
friend to us and the Church, wo should not have been able to get through the trouble and grievances wo havo met with, and aro yet likely to meet with, if not relieved. We pray God preservo your Lordship, and grant that tho many souls that have been relieved by the charity of your Lordship and tho Honourable Society, may bo your and their crown of ro- joicing in the world to come. Wo beg your Lordship's pray- crs, and aro your Lordship's most dutiful and obedient humble servants,
TIMOTHY TITHARTON, WILLIAM SMITH, Church Wardens. ARCHIBALD DUNLAP, EDWARD BURROUGH, JAMES HUMPHREYS, JAMES CLARKE,
WILLIAM RAWLINSON, [? ]
RICHARD BLACKLATH, WILLIAM JEANES, JOIN JOHNSON,
DANIEL SHELTON.
1710, [? June]: They next addressed Queen Anne in the hope of moving the British Crown to action in their behalf,87 'determining to use every expedient within their reach.
To the Queen's Most Excellent Majesty, the humble address of some members of the Church of England, residing at Stratford, in Connecticut, in the Province of New-England :
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May it pleaso your Majesty,
We have, for a long time, been oppressod and persecuted by the government of this colony ; some of our estates taken from us, somno imprisoned for refusing to pay money to buy a house and farin for their minister, and to pay a yearly stipend to him, and all of us menaced and threatened with several punishments if we presumo to meet together to have the Church of England service performed to us, when it pleased God to order a minister of the said Church our way; and, besides, all do lio under their daily reproaches, seofting and mockings, without the advantage of a minister to give us comfortable and ghostly adviee, and to administer the bread of life to 118.
These have been our grievances for many years, and we should not have been able to bear them, had we not received some visits from the Clergy of the west, and especially seve- ral from the Honourable Col. Heathcote, who hath ever been a true friend both to us and the Church, and has always en- couraged us not to swerve from our holy profession, notwith- standing the difficulty and trials we met with, and the bad
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