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 9
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I herewith send yon the copy of a paper which I had when I was in New-England, in the year 1687, given me by tho IIonourablo John Wart Winthrop, grandson to Jolin Win- throp, who was the first governor of Massachusetts Bay, and his father was first governor of Connectient Colony, having obtained their charter from King Charles the Second soon after tho Restoration. Richard Saltonstall was a knight, and tho Honourable Gordon Saltonstall is the present governor. Isaac Johnson, I think, married with my Lady Arabella, daughter to tho Earl of Lincoln. Thomas Dudley, I think, was steward to that family, and some time governor of Mas- sachusetts Colony, and father to Joseph Dudley, Esq., dc- ceased, late governor of that province. With submission I think this paper may be made good use of at this juncture, concerning the Reverend gentlemen desiring Episcopal ordi- nation, &c.
I herewith send yon tho letter I received from Boston con- cerning tho Rev. Mr. Cutler, &c. ; and I desire yon'll please to wait on my Lord Bishop of London concerning it, and I hope, in God, he will bo sent over for tho new Church of England in Boston, towards the furnishing of which I design, God willing, to send them something by tho next safe oppor- tunity of writing to them, which I am afraid will not bo till
March ; and I am in hope that the Society and tho Bishop of London will provide for tho Rev. Mr. Brown and Mr. Johnson, cithier in those parts or here ; and if tho Society or Bishop of London send them, for the encouragement of thoso Roverend gentlemen, I desiro tho Society will please to ad- vance £7 sterling cach for paying their passage, and it shall bo most thankfully repaid by me. This affair of those gentle- men has mado a great noiso and bustle in New-England, and I herewith send you some of their public prints.
I herewith send a letter I received from the Narragansett Country, which affair I carnestly recommend to tho Society and the Bishop of London ; and I intend, God willing, by the first opportunity to send them something. I likewise send you a letter from ono Mr. Gabriel Bernon ; and tho affair lic writes about I carnestly recommend to the Society and the Lord Bishop of London, and I design, God willing, to send them something.
I also sond you a letter I received from Marblehead, and I hope, in God, that Church will do well, and most carnestly recommend them to the Society; and, if they should want, I shall, God willing, send them something, as likewise the Church of England at Newbury, [Newburyport,] and I hope, in God, they will do very well there.
I most carnestly recommend theso affairs to tho Society and tho Lord Bishop of London ; and pray givo tho limblest of my duty to the Bishop, and my service, &c., to tho rest. I am now daily in hopes of having the good fortune of hearing from you, and that all the affairs of the Society prosper in all respects ; and for the accomplishment whereof nothing shall bo wanting that lies in the power of
Your affectionate friend and humble servant,
FR. NICHOLSON.
I herewith send you a letter which I had formerly from the Rev. Mr. Cutler, and a letter for you from Mr. Comninis- sary Bull.
* General Francis Nicholson, who was, at different times, in high anthority in more than one of the colonies, and always very zealons in The cause of the Church, was, when this leller was written, Governor of South Carolina.
1723, January 18: In England, awaiting ordination and assignment, Samuel Johnson, in the following "Representation" to the S.P.G.," indicated why he would like to be appointed to Christ Church in Strat- ford : 113 "The representation which I hereby desire to make of my case and request to the Honourable Society, is as followeth: That whereas, I found myself obliged in duty, upon a serious and deliberate examination of the matter, to separate from the people which I had the care of, to join myself to the most pure and primitive Church of England, though I have hereby lost the good will of the greater part of that people, yet there is a very considerable number of the most serious of them that have an ear- nest desire of my return to them again, at least as near as possible, and who, if I should, would never submit to the administrations of any Dissenting teacher; and on my part, as I have a compassionate con- cern for that people, so I am earnestly desirous of having them still under my care, and for that rea- son of being placed as near to them as possible. Stratford (where I am well known) is within ten miles of them, so that if I were there I should be under advantage of doing service (according to my slender ability) among them as at Stratford. The Rev. Mr. Pigot (who is now missionary at Stratford) is desirous (as his letters testify) of being removed to Providence.
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Providence is a place which extremely suffers for want of the means of religion ; and the people are so far disposed to the Church of England that they are building a Church, and are able to do considerable to the support of it, and will
shortly, in all probability, address the Honourable Society for an interest in its casc.
In case they should not, or the Honourable Society should not think fit to grant their request, there is another place,
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viz., Ripton, within 14 miles of my former people, who are addressing the Honourablo Society for its favours, where I would gladly be ordered, (at least for the present,) if their ro- quest should be granted.
If this be not practicable, I should bo thankful if tho IIon- onrable Society would permit me to succeed Mr. Dean, Cate- chist, at New-York ; and finally, if nothing can be done whereby I might be enabled to serve the designs of the Hon-
ourable Society in or near my own country, though I must confess it would be with the greatest reluctance that I should leave it, yet such is my affection to the Church of England, and especially to the glorions designs of that venerable body, that I hope I shall be contented, (if it should admit me into its service, which is what I humbly desire,) wheresoever it shall be pleased to send me.
SAMUEL JOHNSON.
1723, March 22: From Samuel Johnson's Diary: .114 "This day in the morning, 10 of the clock, we wait- ed on the Right Revª Thomas [Green], Lord Bishop of Norwich, and at the parish church of st Martin-in-the- Fields, after morning Prayer, we were first confirmed and then ordained Deacons."
1723, March 31: From the same source: .115 "This day at 6 in the morning, Sunday, at the church of st Martin-in-the-Fields, at the continued appointment and desire of William, Lord Abp. of Canterbury, and John, Lord Bishop of London, we were ordained Priests most gravely by the Right Revd Thomas [Green], Lord Bp. of Norwich, who afterwards preached an excellent sermon from Rom. ii. 4."
1723, September 22: The Yale men reached America from England. 116
1723, November 4: Samuel Johnson arrived in Stratford, 117 relieving George Pigot of responsibilities so that he might hasten to his labors in Providence, Rhode Island. With Johnson's eventful ministry here I am not concerned this morning, except to state that he began it under the heavy restraints of Connecti- cut law.
1727: Tho Assembly passed the Act of Toleration, exempting Anglicans from contributing to the support of the ministers of the Congregational and Presbyterian persuasion and from sharing the cost of erecting Protestant meeting-houses. Even so, inequalities continued to exist, as may be seen in the document of 1738 (below), which among other matters includes a reference to the Parish School in Stratford which Dr. Johnson founded soon after his arrival.
1729: An Abstract of the Proceedings of the S.P.G. (1728-1729), pp. 46-47, will indicate that John- son's reports to the Society were regularly received: 118
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From the Reverend Mr. Fobnfon, Mi-
nifter at Stratford in Connecticut, That he has baptized Mr. Mordecai Marks, a Jew, (who is a very worthy Profelyte,
and a fteady Communicant) as alfo two
native Indians, both Adult, two Adult
Negroes, and two Negroe Children, and feveral other Children the laft half year; And that the number of actual Commu. nicants in Stratford and Places adjacent (exclufive of Fairfield Parifh) is 86, fix of which were admitted the laft half year.
From the Reverend Dr. Cutler, Mini- fter at Chrift Church in Boston, That he has baptized near 30 Infants and two Adults, and has received 8 Perfons to the Communion, of Sobriety and unfpotted Character ; and that his People ge- nerally attend the publick Worfhip every Sunday with good Order and Devotion.
From the Reverend Mr. Honeyman, Minifter at Newport in Rhode Ifland, That his Church is in a flourifhing Con- dition, and that within the laft two Years he hath baptized Eighty Eight, fourteen of which were Adults.
From the Reverend Mr. Pigot, Minifter at Marblehead in New England, That his Church both there and at Salem increafes very much, having fince his laft baptized forty five Perfons, four whereof were Adults, Three White People, and One Negroe ; received eleven to the Commu- nion, and prepared feveral others againft his next adminiftring.
From the Reverend Mr. Miller, Mini- fter at Braintree in New England, That fince he hath been there he hath bapti- zed Eleven Children, and the number of his Communicants is Seventeen ..
1738, May: From many parts of Connecticut, Church of England people sent to the General Assembly lists of petitioners for equal benefits in the returns and profits from the sale of lands in the Western Townships. The important appeal accompanying their signatures is edited here for the first time: 119
To the Honble The Governour Council & Representitives of his Majesties English Colony of Connecti- cut in General Court to be Assembled at Hartford in the Said Colony, on the Secund thursday of May Next, being in the year of our Lord 1738 .-- The Humble Address of the Members & professors of that part of Christs Church called the Church of England Living in And under the Goverment of the Said Colony- May it please your Honour, and the Honble General Court,
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We the Subscribers Members & Professors of the Church of England, living in this His Majestie's Colo- ny of Connecticut, being his Majesties most Dutyfull & Loyal Subjects & Sincerely well attached to the Constitution of this Goverment, do humbly beg Leave To lay an Address before yr Honour & this Assembly, relating to An Affair which as we apprehend does very nearly concern us.
And that this our Address may meet with the more favourable Reception, we would in the Entrance there- of, assure your Honour and this Assembly, that (however we may be misrepresented) we are in no wise dis- affected to this Corporation as it is incorporated by Royal Charter, but Do bear an hearty Affection To its Constitution and the Previledges thereof : and Do therefore beg yt nothing we have To offer may be in- terpreted as Savouring of Any Dissatisfaction or any Aim at undermining it, or interrupting the peace of it, in the peace whereof we Seek our Peace.
In this Good Opinion, & cordial Affection to the Constitution and Goverment of this Corporation, we have been much confirm'd from the Consideration of that Impartial Justice observable from time To time in the members of this Assembly, Constituting the Legislative Power of this Colony: A perticular Instance wherof we have Experienced in that generous & Just Act of Assembly passed in May in the year 1727, where- by the Professors of ye Church of England are Exempted from contributing To the Support of the Ministers of the Congregational or Presbyterian persuasion, which are those that are perticularly countenanced by the Laws of this Goverment, & from paying towards building Meeting Houses, where Such professors of the Church of England have the Advantage of Attending Divine Service according to the Rules and Methods of publick Worship established in England: And the same Act provides for the Support of their own Ministers and their own method of worshiping God.
From whence we conclude that it is the Opinion of the Legislature of this Goverment, that it is not only, not Right To compel People To the Support of that Worship & Ministry which they Soberly differ from; but also that it is Just and Right for every one to have the benefit of his own Way of Worship & of his own labour & estate, to Support y' way of worship which he sincerely believes to be right: And therefore we persuade our Selves that it is in consistant with the received & allowed Principles of this Legisla- ture To oblige us by any Ways or Means, To contribute to the Support of the Churches or Ministry perticu- lerly countenanced by the Laws of this Goverment.
That therefore which gives Occasion To this Address is, that we have been informed that an act was passed in the last Assembly, held att New-Haven Respecting the Seven Townships laid out in the western Lands belonging to this Corporation of which we Are Members, whereby the Moneys arising from the Sale of those Lands, was appropriated Either to the Use of the Schools, or to the Support of the Ministers of the Presbyterian or Congregational persuasion, (being those perticularly countenanced by the Laws of this Goverment) to be Divided to the several parishes in proportion To their several Lists, & this in such a Manner that we of the Church of England, cannot according to the Tenor of the sd Act, claim any Share of them, for the Support of our ministers or Schools: And that there was a bill prepaired And passed in the lower House which we are Told may probably pass thro the whole Legislature at this Assembly, whereby the publick Monies Arising from the Loan of the Last Emission were also To be appropriated to the Support of the Ministers aforesaid peculiarly Countenanced by the Laws of this Goverment in a manner that would ex- clude us from having any Share in the Same for the Support of the Ministers of the Church of England ---
Now these proceedings of the Last General Assembly are what we humbly beg Leave with all due Deffer- ence to your Honour & this Assembly to object to. Not that we are in the least invidious towards our brethren of the congregational persuasion, or would aim at hindring the passing of the Bill last mentioned into An Act, so far from this that we do heartily applaud so Good and generous a Disposition in that As- sembly in being concern'd to provide a certain & sufficient Support for the Ministers of Religion in this Colony; But because it appears to us that it would be A Manifest Injustice for us to be Denyed our Share in those publick Monies, for the Support of our Ministers, and that therefore according to the known And received Principles of this Legislature (as appears by the Act above mentioned) the sd act & Bill ought To have been formed in Such A manner as to secure to us our Proportion of the Said publick Monies, as well as to our Brethren of any other Denomination. And that for these Reasons
1 Because the Doctrines and Principles of the Church of England do professedly & most certainly tend (at least equally with those of any other Persuasion) not only to fit & prepare men for eternal Happyness in the Life To come, but also to promote the publick Good of Society in this World, by teaching them to be sober virtuous & industrious in their Callings, Serious & Devout towards God, & Just & Charitable towards men, & in every respect to be good Christians, kind Neighbours Upright Majestrates dutyfull Subjects, and faithfull & conscientious in every Relation & Condition of Life: & consequently her Professors ought to have the like Equitable & favourable Treatment, with those of any other Denomination of Christians.
2. Because the Church of England is that Profession & Persuasion which is established in our Mother Coun- try at home, and which his most sacred Majesty professeth, & has bound himself by Oath to Maintaine, from whom we receive & under whom we hold our Charter Priviledges, & who therefore, with those in the Gover- ment & Administration under him, will be apt to resent any unequal Treatment which the members of that Church may receive from the Provinces Abroad, under his Majesties Goverment and Protection: and we Should be very Sorry To have any thing done among us that may tend to bring his Majesties Displeasure upon this Corporation.
3 Because the Wellfare and Happyness of this as well as all other Goverments depends upon the Union &
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joint Endeavours of all the Members of it in Promoting one & the same common Good & General Interest: whereas an unequal Treatment of different Denominations of Christians is apt to breed Envies Animosities, & Contentions, which necessarily Tend to weaken the Hands of Goverment, destroy the publick Tranquility and procure a great many Disadvantages to the general Weel & Prosperity of the Goverment.
4 Because it has been once and again delivered as the Judgment of the Attorney & Solicitor General at home, & by the Lords Justices (During the Kings Absence in the Year 1725) in their Letter to the Lieuten- ant Governour of Boston (all which we are ready to produce) that there is not, & cannot be any Such thing as a regular Establishment of any one Denomination of Christians in these Colonies to the Exclusion of the rest, without an explicit Consent of his most Sacred Majesty: (the Same also appears from the late Let- ters of the Bishop of London and Society to the Ministers of Hampshire) And consequently we standing at least upon an equal Foot with our Brethren of any other Denomination, have an equal Right with them in any common Interest, & perticularly To have our proportionable Share in any publick Monies that have or may be granted for the Support of the Ministry or Schools.
5. Because (as we humbly presume) we have equally a Right in Equity to our proportion in those unoccupied Lands with our Brethren of any other Denomination, forasmuch as all the Lands with in the Bound of this Goverment, being purchased or conquered by our Common Progenitors or Ancestors, were by the Royal Charter alike granted & confirmed according To their Several proportions of the Rights, To the whole Corporation consisting of the Body of the People, that is To all that are free of this Goverment, with their Succes- sors & assigns, To be held for their common use and Benefit, and this without limiting them to those of any perticular Sentiments in Matters of Religion: & consequently those Unoccupied Lands are their com- mon Estate & Interost: so that none of their Descendants or Assigns can be Equitably excluded from the Benefit of any Sale or Disposition to be made of them, whatever Denomination they are of in Matters of Religion.
6 Because we bear an equal Proportion in the publick Taxes for supporting the Goverment, and for paying the Members of the Assembly who are our common Representitives, & that while they are consulting & passing acts for the Publick weel, yea even while they are consulting Measures for the Disposing of this very Mon- ey, As also for defraying the Cost of all the Emissions of the publick Bill of Credit, & for Supporting the Credit of them (which Taxes we have always been chearfully willing To pay) and consequently the Loan of any Emissions of them being a Common Interest, we presume we have a Right to an Equally proportionable Share in the Benefit accruing therefrom with those of any other Denomination, according to that Just Max- im in the Law (Qui sentit onus, sentire debet et commodum i e: he that feels a Share in the burthen, ought also to Enjoy his Share in the Advantage.
7thly And Lastly, That which gives us the greater Reason to insist upon this, is that the Said Act & Bill appear to us to have a manifest Inconsistency with the intent of the Act first Above-Mentioned, passed in the last Year of his late Majesties Reign, whereby the Members of the Church of England were exempted from paying to the Support of the Ministers of the Congregational Persuasion, & Provision was made that their Proportion of the Ministers Rate, Should go to the Support of their own Ministers: Where- as according to the Tenor of the Act and Bill above mentioned we Should be obliged to contribute our Pro- portion towards the Support of the Congregational Ministry, from which by this Act we had been Exempted, - And by the way we would take this Occasion to observe, that the Like inconsistency we humbly apprehend there is between the Intent of the Said Act, and the grants that have been made by some late Acts of As- sembly of certain Sums of Money out of the Treasury of this Colony to the Parishes of west-Haven & North- Groton of which we are laid under a Necessity of paying our Proportion by paying our Country Rates: (Not To Mention the Contrivance that has been made use of in Some Places to elude the intent of this Act by comprehending the Ministers Support in the Town Rate, and thereby obliging us To contribute to the Sup- port of ye Congregational Minister by paying our town Rate.)
Upon the whole therefore, what we humbly intreat, and for these Reasons beg leave to expect from your Honour and this General Assembly, is, that Some Alteration may be made in our Favour of the Act Above-men- tioned, & that Some Amendment may be made of the Bill proposed by the late House of Representatives if it Should again come under Consideration: so that we may be Secured of our Proportion of those publick Mon- · ies Towards the Support of our Ministers, and that our Schools also where we have any peculiar To our- selves, May have their proportional Benefit of the Said Act, as also of the 40 Shillings upon the 1000 which has hitherto been denied to the School of the Church of England at Stratford.
And To Conclude, as we Should be verry sorry to be laid under any Temptation to complain of any un- equal Treatment from the Goverment under whose Protection we live; so we do most humbly intreat that, Not only on this , but all other Occasions that may at any time occur, Your Honours would be pleased to con- sider us as a part of your selves, and that we may have equal Justice done us, & the like Favours shewed us with the rest of our Brethren, with whom we desire to live in peace and Charity, & to joyn Heart & Hand in promoting the publick Weel of this Goverment, (on which that of our Selves & Posterity does also depend ) as being Fellow Members of this Corporation, & Fellow Subjects of his Majesty Under the Jurisdic- tion of this Colony. In hopes of which (as in Duty bound) we Shall ever pray for the Health and Happyness of your Honours & all the Members of this Assembly, And for the Peace & Prosperity of this Colony.
[One hundred and two Stratford Churchmen signed as being "Under the pastoral Care of the Revª ME Johnson of Stratford" -- first the "Church Wardens; " then "Vestry;" and finally "The other poople."
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Under the bafforal Par --
of the Rawdon Johnson of trafford to the numa - 102
Chauch Wardens Samuel Fairchild meg.
Charles
330b
William Beach Gerfline Edwards Miller First
Toson Benigno 1
Abraham Heardfleg
! Samuel Blagger . . Jinal Forach Will. Wilcockson dolythe Brave illiam Smith Eliphalet Cartofi Fregues Harlow Zachariah Kann !!
The other people. Samos Wakeley a gulan. Wilcockson
.1
Dania wakelon E Perszon Wakiley Israel Bardsley
Edmund Booking James Fax Jamuch Fairchild 5 Ephraim Fairch
George Syley
Paul. Mavere Samuel Hawley Edward Himma thu unchill Richard Burton.
Timothy Sittaxton Simmelk; Silverton. Schiel Beatajeey Sofiph Willockson Charles Curies BenjaminBlackma Timothy Blackquan Tofin Herrully Thomas Stratton En Tree S Loring
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Beniamin Pearce Thomas Silly Frances Parlons William Smith. William South you
William Beardffey
William Boardfey Ebenezer Bentley Samuel Bearoplay Enos Beardel
yohn where
Ebenezer fußBel
Danis Prat In fark proof
Samuel French mong Jowmich French Thomas Salmon"
Thomas Scudamore Will
Jonathan
Isaac Clarke
John Carke Samuel Preston Hohen Proft. mason Han"
Richard Huffel.
Richard Blackleach Robert Wheels
Johnmallitioner 1
George Would man
Dapiet Shit Thatsus
golian
Ebenezer Sherman Caleb Beardsley John Beardplay Francis Hawley Jonathan Hawtry Jacob Baldwin. Benjamin Cogswell Abraham Pulling Elifha Blagge Joseph Collens 14: Hiroll. (Bori
1
Ben Ricole George Clarke
nathaniel Jesus Lote? & Nichols
Hugh Carrey
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1739, October ---- May, 1740: Connecticut Churchmen witnessed the passage of an Act providing them with the privileges for which they petitioned in 1738: "It is now Declared and Resolved &c That whenso- ever any of The s" Towns & parishes Shall by Their Major Vote as aforeSaid, Sequester Their Money Raised as Afores., To The Support of The Gospel Ministry As by The Laws of This Colony Established; In That Case The Members of The Church of England within Such Town or Parish Shall Have a Right to and Shall Re- ceive Their Quota of Such Money according To Their Lists of Poles & Rateable Estate at The Time of The Grant of se Money in The Year 1738, to be Used and Improved by Them for The Support of Their Ministry, where There is a Person in Orders According To ye Cannons of ye Church of England, Settled and Abiding among Them and Performing Divine Services So Near To Such persons as hath Declared them selves of ye Church of England, That they Can Conveniently & Do Attend The Publick Worship There: and in Case Such Members of The Church of England Shall Neglect To Improve Their Money as Aforest for The End Aforest They Shall forever Loose The Benefit Thereof; and The Treasurer of The Colony Shall Recover The Same Quota as Aforest for ye Use of ye Colony. 120
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