USA > Connecticut > Litchfield County > Harwinton > The history of Harwinton, Connecticut > Part 15
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In every Church, the matter of having accurate and full records of its proceedings made and faithfully preserved, is one deserving attention. Justice, alike to the body collectively and to each of its members partic- ularly, requires that in its Minutes there should be no omission of any transaction in which the character of either the Church or the humblest person in its membership is involved. Regard for the present, and, es- pecially, regard for the future generations, should induce, not only all Churches, but all individuals comprised in Churches, to see that the Church Minutes contain, of all its organic acts, the whole truth as well as nothing except the truth. We often err in our judgment of the im- portance of things. What we consider great may, in regard to conse- quences flowing from it, be small; while what we suppose to be, and what, as we observe it, indeed is, of small concern, may have results which, long after we shall have passed away, will work effectively, or be, as having accomplished work of moment, of high interest to our suc- cessors. How valuable would be, if we had such, a complete account of all that the Congregational Church in Harwinton did during its first pastor's ministry. Not less valuable to men in the coming century may be, if they obtain it, a true record of what that Church or any other is doing in this now current time.
That the Congregationalist Church in Harwinton has, apart from tra- ditions and the occasional references to it found in the Town Books, no records of its transactions and of the occurrences here affecting its wel- fare during its first and longest pastorate, a period of thirty-six years, is a deficiency which regretting it cannot supply. Regret for the past will, however, be not in vain, if it stimulate to successful efforts for the pre- vention of such deficiency in the future. The records of the Church contained in the volume, cited herein as Book II., appear not to have been known by pastors who succeeded the fifth. The fourth pastor, who in 'a farewell sermon '* assigns to the time of the first pastor additions
*MS., as furnished by Rev. Dr. Pierce.
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to the Church made in the time of the second pastor, seems either not to have seen this Book II., or, rather, not to have known and remem- bered it, as one belonging to the Church. When inserting in it names of persons admitted into the Church in 1822-23, with some other notices, he evidently regarded it as one which his predecessor had solely owned and kept for his personal convenience, a private journal. Such, as to ownership, it probably is. This Book the third pastor begun thus: "Records of the Presbiterean consociated Church of Harwinton in the County of Litchfield and State of Connecticut. No Records of former Proceedings being discovered, the following begin in 1790." In like manner he had a few years before begun, at Southampton, L. I., a jour- nal hereinbefore (, pages 72, 73, n.,) adverted to, by stating : “Ac- cording to y' rule of Scripture and in the manner of Presbyterian Churches, it is thought proper to keep a record of their proceedings, to which intent this Book is designed. But, before we proceed, it is necessary to premise that all former Records are not [no former rec- ords are] at hand." It was the fact, however, that records of the Church in Harwinton, as pertaining to its second pastor's time, did exist, viz., in the Church's Book I. That Book the fourth pastor seems to have known. The fifth knew it. In 1858, it was found-strayed. Brought to light again, it should be henceforth kept with care.
The Church in Harwinton furnishes not the only instance in which records, not previously known to exist, came at a late period to the light. The records of the Church at Barnstable (Marshes, now West Barnstable), Ms., after they had been for a century unknown, "I," said in 1769 their transcriber, Rev. Dr. Stiles (, then pastor at Newport, R. I.), "copied from an original manuscript in the autographical handwriting of Rev. John Lothrop their [the West Barnstable Church's] first [sec- ond] pastor. This MS. I found A. D. 1769, in the hands of the Revd. Elijah Lothrop of Gilead [, Hebron, ] in Connecticut." Copied thus, they were published in the N. E. Hist. Gen. Register, July, 1855, Jan. and Oct., 1856. These records, which while they were lost were, in a negative respect, invaluable, have since they were found been, in a pos- itive respect, invaluable. The Church at West Barnstable, where it was established with its above-named second pastor, 1639, had so- journed at Scituate, Ms., 1634-39. Organized in London, Eng., 1616, its first pastor Rev. Henry Jacob, it is by many persons considered to be, next after the First Church at Plymouth, Ms., the oldest which has been set up in apostolic form since, within "the last days," the return of an apostolic spirit has been especially enjoyed.
Facts like those just now recited, though others might be added to the number, are enough to be put to good use. They may serve to show that there have been not seldom made writings which, while they were by all means Church records, in respect to the nature of the mate- rials they contained, were by no means Church records, in so far as the preparation and ownership of them are considered; since they were made, not by a Clerk or other agent of the Church chosen and directed to do the business, but by the pastor, acting of his own motion, to pro-
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vide memoranda for aid to him personally in discharging his official ser- vices, or for some like design. This distinction, duly applied, has bear- ings that 'look forward and after.' It suggests, among other things, the following :
1. Churches, in order that Minutes of their proceedings may be made and, with statistics of their condition or other matters concerning them, be kept for the benefit of future times, should appoint a fit person to do for them that work. 2. Compensating their agent, if he asks compensation, for doing such work, they should, by inspection officially made, see that the work is well done and well preserved. 3. Pastors of Churches doing such work, without appointment to it or interest felt in it, on the part of Churches, may rightly regard the memoranda thus made as their private property, and let them pass, with the little else they leave, to their heirs. 4. It is plain enough, why, in regard to many Churches, no records appear. 5. The assertion made of many former pastors of Churches that, when they left those Churches, 'they carried off with them the records,' instead of conveying the idea of theft, conveys or should, unless the fact is known to be otherwise, be held to convey the statement, that said pastors took that which was in the higlı- est and truest sense their own. 6. Of some Churches, no memorials of whose origin and early history are known, such memorials may yet be found. 7. Such memorials now existing 'forgotten and unknown,' if they shall hereafter be recovered, will most probably be found among the descendants of pastors, or with careful persons who value such things more than some descendants of pastors have valued them.
Records of Churches have more utility than most members of Church- es, or than persons in general, suppose. As things whose importance, great at present, will become greater with every lapsing year, they deserve more attention from all persons than they ordinarily receive from any.
NOTE II., PAGE 87. Last-Surviving Children of the First Settlers.
So far as known, there were living, in 1837, of the sons of the found- ers of Harwinton, none ; of their danghters only one, then residing with her daughter and her son-in-law at Milford, Ct., viz., Martha, daughter of Hezekiah Hopkins, and widow of Dr. Caleb Austin to whom she was married in 1778.
So far as known, there survived, in 1837, of members received into the Church under the ministry of its first pastor, not one; of those re- ceived into it under the ministry of its second pastor, only two, viz., Widow Ruth Bull, admitted 19 Aug., 1782, Widow Rachel Frisbie, ad- mitted 12 Oct., 1783.
SUPPLEMENTARY.
For convenience' sake is hereto subjoined matter which, as first ar- ranged, immediately followed what is seen hereinabove on p. 109, in foot- note (*).
The Catlins recently in Deerfield, Ms., are, no doubt, of the same stock with those in Harwinton. John, son of Thomas Catlin (' Ketling') of Hartford, was father of a son John, born in 1676, who, it has been supposed, died at sea. That first John, it can hardly be doubted, was the John 'Catling' who with others signed, at Bran- ford, Ct., 1665, an agreement to found a Town in New Jersey: but whose name is absent in the list of those who, in 1666, went from said Branford and founded New- ark, N. J .- Rev. Stephen Dod's Family Record of Daniel Dod. That first John ' Catling,' too, was probably the " John Catlin " who with " his son Jonathan" was "Slain in ye Fort," and probably the father of "Joseph Catlin" "Slain in ye Fight in Deerfield Medow," on "Febr ye Last day, Anno 170g," when "400 of French & Indians (as is thought) Assaluted the Fort took it and Killd and Cap- tivd 162 of ye Inhabitants" of Deerfield, Ms .- Hampshire County [, Ms., } Record- er's Book : as quoted in N. E. His. Gen. Reg., April, 1855. "John Catlin" and " Ruth Catlin " were there and then "captivated."-Biograph. Mem. of the Rev. John Williams, first Minister of Deerfield, Ms. "Capt. John Catlin" (, perhaps the one ' captivated,') lived in said Deerfield, in 1753 .- Willard's Hist. of Greenfield [, Ms]. Of those once in Deerfield having this surname, survives an aged lady, long the writer's family friend, Miss Catharine Catlin of Cambridge, Ms.
INDEX OF NAMES OF PERSONS.
The figures annexed designate pages in this work.
Abernethy, 117-119, 121, 122, 132, 134- 136.
Adam, 36.
Adams, 10, 41. Ahab, 98.
Bacon, 50, 68.
Balch, 86, 106, 107, 119.
Ahamo, 99.
Baldwin, 69, 118.
Bancraft, 104.
Alexander, 70, 72, 140.
Alford, 30, 50, 69, 105, 108, 119-121.
Allen, Alling, Allyn, 104, 112, 114, 120, 122. Amherst, 113.
Bantam, 24. Barber, 28, 30, 50, 75, 86, 104. 105. 108. 111, 114-116, 118-123, 131, 132, 134. 141. Barker, 86, 119, 120, 122.
Andrews, see Andrus, 100, 104, 128.
Andross, 16, 17.
Barnard, 104, 112.
Barnes, 115.
Barros, de, 25.
Bartholomew, 30, 43, 44, 58-64, 89, 105,
108, 118, 119, 132, 134, 135, 141. 142.
Ashman, 43. Aupes, Aupkt, Aups, 125.
Austin, 30, 32, 108, 109 135, 148. Awowas, see Wowowis, 101. Backus, 145.
Barnabas, 91.
Andrus, see Andrews, 100.
Araunah, 49. Arnold, 104, 115.
150
Beach, 119-121, 123, 126. Beardslee, Beardsley, 132, 136. Beers, 136. Bellamy, 62, 143. Bentley, 83, 94.
Benton, 28, 30, 43, 44, 49-53, 58, 60, 86, 104, 105, 108, 116-118, 120.
Billington, 15. Bird, see Burd, 112. Birge, 116, 119, 121.
Bishop, 69.
Bissell, 28, 30, 32, 50, 58, 104, 107, 108.
Blake, 141.
Booge, 144.
Brace, Bracy, 30, 50, 75, 104-106, 108, 116, 118, 119, 121, 122, 134, 135.
Bradley, 119, 121, 132. Breed, 81, 141.
Bristol, 86, 134, 135.
Bronson, 25, 42, 99, 100, 103.
Brooker, 6.7.
Brown, 28, 30, 57, 58, 84, 108, 109, 116, 118. Buckland, 104.
Bull, 28, 30, 44, 49-51, 68, 104, 105, 108, 116-119, 121, 134, 135, 148.
Bunce, 104. Bunnel, 50.
Burd, see Bird, 48. Burwell, 116, 132. Bushnell, 102.
Butler, 30, 43, 50, 61, 104, 105, 108, 115, 118, 135.
Cabot, 12.
Candee, 75, 106, 117, 119-122, 135, 136. Carter, 104.
Case, 121, 132.
Catlin, Catling, see Ketling, 6, 25, 30, 43, 44, 49-53, 59, 68, 72, 75, 78, 86, 104, 105, 108, 109, 112, 115, 117-123, 126, 127, 132, 134-136, 149. Cesar, 63.
, Chapman, 104. Chipman, 81. Chob, Chops, Chup, 124, 125. Church, 41, 81, 96, 141. Clark, Clarke, 75, 86, 96, 103, 113, 114, 119, 121, 128, 132, 136. Cleveland, 116. Cockey, 136. Coke, 112. Cole, 30, 50, 108. Collins, 71, 141. Colt, 30, 50, 104, 105, 108, 135. Columbus, 12, 111. Conant, 116. Cook, 44, 52, 104, 105, 115, 116, 118- 120, 123, 126, 135.
Cowles, 119, 136. Cresey, 138. Curtice, 105.
Dana, 50, 62. David, 49, 53.
Davis, 28, 30, 43, 50, 52, 53, 56, 58, 105, 108, 118, 120, 126.
De Barros, 25.
De Forest, 98, 125.
De La Fayette, 25, 115.
Denslow, 104.
De Rochambeau, 25.
Desborow, 111.
Dod, 149. Doolittle, 131.
Douglas, 114.
Dowd, 125.
Drake, 104.
Dunbar, 119.
Dwight, 37.
Easton, 104.
Edwards, 136, 143.
Eglestone, 104.
Elmer, Elmore, 104, 115.
Elsworth, 104, 105.
Ely, 60, 61, 140.
Emelyn, 141.
Fayette, de La, 25, 115.
Fenn, 120.
Folsom, 124.
Foot, 115.
Forest, De, 98, 125.
Fowler, 140. Frisbie, 69, 86, 115, 116, 121, 148.
Gardner, 69.
Garrett, 104. Gaylord, 104, 117, 119.
Gengis Khan, see Zingis.
George III., 129.
Gibbon, 10, 12.
Gillet, 28, 30, 50, 104-106, 108.
Gilpin, 130. Goodsell, 120.
Goodwin, 98, 109, 113, 114.
Graham, see Gray ham. Grant, 104, 125.
Graves, 119.
Grayham (, Graham), 104.
Green, Greene, 50, 114, 115. Gridley, 115, 119, 122. Griswold, 69, 75, 86, 104, 105, 115, 119, 121, 135. Gross, 104. Hall, 121. Halsted, 115. (Hanchet,) Handchitt, 115.
Hart, 86, 101. Hatch, 28, 30, 108, 116. Haven, 113.
151
Hawley, 115.
Hayden, Haydon, 30, 44, 50, 51, 101- 106, 108, 115, 118, 119, 123. Higley, 30, 50, 108, 113. Hinman, 109, 114, 121.
Hinsdale, Hinsdell, 28, 30, 50-53, 104, 105, 108, 113, 115, 118, 120, 122. Hoadley, 132.
Hodge, 115, 117.
Holcomb, 69, 84, 104.
Hollister, 25, 102, 106.
Holt, 75, 119, 121.
Holtom, 104.
Homaston, 113.
Hooker, 101, 119, 121, 134, 136. Hooper, 138.
Hopkins, 24, 26-28, 30, 43, 44, 50, 52, 60, 104, 105, 109, 116-119, 121, 122, 148.
Hosford, 104.
Hoskins, 24, 28, 30, 47, 52, 57, 58, 104, 105, 109, 116-118.
Hough, 113.
Hubbard, 61, 140.
Hungerford, 75, 119, 132.
Hunt, 138. Irving, 111.
Jacob, 147. James II., 16. Jaquish, 138. Jeroboam, 74.
Johnson, see Jonson, 115, 119, 121-123, 132.
Jones, 84, 94, 115. Jonson, see Johnson, 115. Josiah, 83.
Judd, 109, 112, 136.
Kellogg, 52, 84, 119, 132.
Kepaquamp, 99, 100, 128.
Ketling, see Catlin, 109, 149.
Kilbourne, 24, 103, 140.
King, 30, 104, 109.
Kingsley, 101.
Knox, 25, 122.
La Fayette, de, 25, 115.
Lambert, 115.
Lathrop, see Lothrop.
Lawrence, 30, 32, 109, 117. Leach, 115.
Lee, 101. Lewis, 99, 100. Logan, 125.
Loomis, 28, 30, 50, 104, 105, 109, 115. Lothrop (, Lathrop), 147.
Madison, 125.
Manasseth, see Mossock, 125. Marsh, 48, 114. Mason, 104.
Mataneage, Mataueage, 99, 100, 128.
Mckinstry, 85. Mather, 110, 116. McLean, 83. Meacham, 68. Merriam, 135.
Merriman, 28, 30, 43, 44, 48-52, 58, 59, 105, 109, 116-119, 129.
Messenger, 23-28, 30, 32, 37, 44, 47-51, 56-59, 104-107, 109, 112, 116, 118.
Miller, 85, 117, 136.
Mills, 30, 50, 104, 109, 112, 130, 136, 144.
Monson, see Munson, 114.
Moodey, Moody, 28, 30, 50, 105, 109, 112. More, 104. Morton, 69.
Moses, 37.
Mossock, see Manasseth, 125.
Munson, see Monson, 69.
Murray, 136.
Mygatt, 104.
Naboth, 98.
Nero, 17.
Newberry, Newbury, 58, 104, 117.
Newell, 130.
Nichols, 69.
Noble, 119, 121, 123, 132.
Obed-Edom, 46.
Occum, 124.
Olcott, Olcut, 98, 115.
Olmstead, 104. Osborn, 120-122.
Owen, 104.
Packard, 141.
Pardee, 134, 135.
Paul, 66, 91.
Payne, 128.
Peck, 83, 105, 134, 135.
Pemberton, 125.
Perkins, 117, 119-121.
Perry, 61, 63-68, 89, 134, 135, 144, 145.
Pctasas, 101.
Peters, 101.
Pethus, Pethuzso, Petthiuzso, 99-101.
Phelps, 26-28, 30, 32, 43, 44, 48-53, 58, 59, 86, 104-106, 109, 113, 115, 116, 118-121, 126, 132.
Pierce, 50, 79, 80, 92, 93, 134, 135, 146. Pike, 138, 139.
Polo, 12.
Pond, 116.
Porter, 77, 101, 106, 115, 138.
Potter, 115, 119.
Powers, 17, 103, 140.
Preston, 119-121.
Prime, 17, 73, 145.
Prindle, 69; 114, 118-120, 122.
Querimus, Querrimus, 99, 100, 128.
152
Randolph, 16. Richards, 30, 45, 49, 50, 104, 109. Robinson, 30, 32, 109. Rochambeau, de, 25. Rockwell, 104.
Rogers, 132. Rossiter, 75, 118, 119, 135. Rowland, 71, 141. Ruggles, 111. Sanford, 132. Scott, 115. Scoville, 69, 105. Searle, 69. Sedgewick, Sedgwick, 24, 104.
Sequassen, see Sunckquasson, 98, 99.
Seymour, 28, 30, 47, 50, 57, 104, 105, 109, 112.
Sherman, 68. Skinner, 104, 105, 115, 118. Smith, 86, 110, 119, 123, 132. Snow, 139. Sparks, 104. Spencer, 104.
Standley, Standly, Stanley, Stanly, 52, 100, 105, 112, 128.
Stedman, 115.
Steel, Steele, 99, 100, 105.
Stiles, see Styles, 147. Still, 105. Stoddard, 143. Stone, 138. Storrs, 130.
Stoughton, 30, 50, 104, 109. Strong, 104. Styles, see Stiles, 104.
Sunckquasson, see Sequassen, 98. Swinton, 24.
Tacitus, 15. Tapho, Taphow, 101. Ternay, 25.
Thompson, Thomson, 17, 101, 106. Thorp, 82. Todd, 131. Toxcronuck, 100, 101. Tracy, 88, 145.
Trumbull, 10, 17, 18, 21, 24, 26, 27, 40, 41, 103, 143. Tryon, 114. Turner, 84.
Tyler, 30, 50, 71, 79, 105, 109, 130, 141.
Uzziah, 36.
Virgil, 141. Wahquimacut, 128.
Ware, 115.
Warren, 104. Washington, 10, 25. Watson, 104.
Webster, 26-28, 30, 40, 44, 49, 51-53, 58, 60, 86, 104, 105, 109, 114, 116- 123.
Wells, 6, 107, 117, 121, 136.
Welton, 119, 121.
Wesson, see Weston, 52, 105, 115.
West, 104.
Weston, see Wesson, 113.
White, 71, 104, 125, 141. Whitmore, 120.
Wiard, 50.
Wilcocks, Wilcox, 105, 115, 120, 122. Wilcoxson, 69. Willard, 149.
Williams, 72-74, 76-79, 89-92, 104, 114, 124, 131, 132, 134, 135, 140, 149. Wilson, 26, 27, 30, 49, 74, 75, 86, 105, 109, 115, 116, 118-123, 126, 132, 135. Wimund, 25.
Winchell, 28, 30, 109, 115.
Winthrop, 110, 111, 128.
Wise, 96.
Woodbridge, 56, 57, 140.
Woodruff, 100, 118. Woodward, 132, 136.
Wooster, 114.
Wowowis, see Awowas, 101.
Wyllys, 28, 30, 56, 59, 104, 109, 117, 122, 140.
Yale, 50. Zechariah, 11. Zell, 69. Zingis (, Gengis Khan), 12.
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