USA > Connecticut > Fairfield County > Ridgefield > The history of Ridgefield, Conn. : from its first settlement to the present time > Part 8
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In the year 1758, Mr. Ingersoll joined the Colonial troops as chaplain, on Lake Champlain. He is said to have exerted an excellent influence in the army, and to have been highly respected by the soldiers. A letter written on the eve of his departure for the army, to his brother, Hon. R. I. Ingersoll, of New Haven, indicates clearly the temper and spirit of the man :
" RIDGEFIELD, June 9th, A. D. 1738. " DEAR BROTHER :
" Yours from Hartford, the Ist instant, came safe to hand by Mr. Olmstead, for which I am heartily obliged to you. I remarked in particular, your ob- serving something of heaviness in my countenance at . parting with you, at New Haven-upon which I would observe that this bidding farewell is a difficult thing, and tends greatly to move the passions. This sin being a natural infirmity, you will easily overlook. Blessed be God, I am neither disheartened nor elevated, but enjoy a good temper of mind, and can, I think, put my life in the hands of God and go forth freely and cheerfully, in so important though dangerous an enter- prise. I have this day received a line from Colonel Wooster, by which I am informed that I must be at Norwalk to-morrow in order to embark for Albany. I am ready, and rejoice at the news. He also informs me that you are appointed agent, and have accepted, at which I greatly rejoice, and hope your courage will hold out, and desire that you will be made a blessing to your country and government in this important un- dertaking. The office is very honorable, and I hope will be profitable to you and the government. By no
95
CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH.
means refuse, but look upon it as a favor of Provi- dence. To love God with all our heart and our neigh- bor as ourselves, is the great gospel command. And to be impressed in such an important affair, must be looked upon as a favor from Heaven ; for the voice of the people (to judge rationally) is the voice of God, when they look to him for his influence and direction.
" Your family need you and desire you, and so does mine me ; but private matters must submit to the pub- lic good. Sister, I hope, will quietly acquiesce-from a view of your usefulness, though it be a piece of great self-denial. I could wish you had had the small-pox --- a terror to the world, and perhaps it would be best to go to Doctor Munson on Long Island, and innoculate- and was I not going abroad as I am, I would go and be with you. With respect to cautions and advice you give, I accept them well, and would give the same to you. And so, my brother, go in the fear of God-be true to your trust, and farewell. Whether we see each other in this life or not, let us labor to meet in glory.
" I remain your affectionate brother, " JONATHAN INGERSOLL.
" P. S .- We are all well. Send our compliments, particularly our love to Dorcas, and tell her to live in the fear of God."
Mr. Hawley and Mr. Ingersoll were buried in the Titicus Cemetery. The stones which mark their graves bear the following inscriptions :
HERE LYES BURIED THE BODY OF Ye REV. THOMAS HAULEY PASTOR OF Ye CHURCH AT RIDGEFIELD Nov. ve 8, 1738 AGED 42 YEARS.
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HISTORY OF RIDGEFIELD.
IN MEMORY OF THE REV. JONATHAN INGERSOLL PASTOR OF Ve IST CHURCH IN RIDGEFIELD WHO DECEASED OCT. 2. A.D. 1778 IN Ye 65. YEAR OF HIS AGE, & 40th OF HIS MINISTRY.
After the death of Mr. Ingersoll, there seems to have been a vacancy of eight years, during which time the pul- pit was in part supplied by Rev. Justice Mitchell, who, in January, 1783, was ordained pastor of the Congrega- tional Church of New Canaan, and in part by Rev. Izrahiah Wetmore and Rev. -- Everitt, as the fol- lowing receipts will show :
" RIDGEFIELD, Dec. 27, 1781.
" Recd of the Gentl" the Societys Committee Nine Bushels of Wheat being in full for nine Dollars sent Parson Everitt. PETER BYVANCK."
" RIDGEFIELD, Oct. ye 5th, 1786.
" Pay the Revd Izrahiah Wetmore Twenty Seven pounds Eleven Shillings, and four pence Lawfull Money on Demand with Interest at Six per cent per annum for which this is our order.
"SOCIETYS COMMITTEE.
" To BENJAMIN SMITH Treasurer of the first Society in Ridgefield."
On the 6th of July, 1786, Rev. Samuel Goodrich, of Durham, of this State, was ordained and installed as pastor of the church. The services on this occasion are said to have been of unusual interest. The father of the newly settled pastor preached the sermon and gave the charge, both to his son and the church. The vene- rable appearance of the aged, gray-haired father was in striking contrast with the youthful and almost boyish
97
CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH.
appearance of the son. It was age and experience counselling youth and inexperience. It was a man of God, who had borne the burden and heat of the day, and was ready to depart, casting his mantle upon the shoulders of another just entering upon the work.
Mr. Goodrich served the church as its pastor for upwards of twenty-five years. He was dismissed Jan- uary 22d, 1811, at his own request, and on the 29th of May, 1811, he was installed at Worthington, a parish in the town of Berlin, in this State. He was the father of Samuel G. Goodrich, the renowned Peter Parley, whose sketch of Ridgefield, written in 1855, we have given to our readers. Mr. Goodrich also was the au- thor of a manuscript history of the town, which was written and lodged in the library of the Athenæum at Hartford, in the year 1800, extracts from which we have also given.
The labors of Mr. Goodrich were eminently blessed, and the church during his ministry enjoyed many sea- sons of revival, and large additions were made to it.
Mr. Goodrich was for several years a Trustee of the Missionary Society of Connecticut, and a Director of the Connecticut Bible Society, in both of which he manifested a warm interest.
His last sermon was preached at Woodbury, Ct., and the impression then made, under a religious excitement among the people, is thought to have been long re- membered.
His last sickness was short, and as the disease early affected the brain he was favored with but few lucid intervals ; but during those he manifested a full knowl- edge of his danger and a willingness to depart and be with Christ.
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HISTORY OF RIDGEFIELD.
The conversation which passed between his son, the Rev. Charles A. Goodrich, and himself, a short time before his death, evinces the clearness of his faith and his perfect reliance upon God's promises.
His son asked him if he was aware that his case was becoming critical. He replied that he understood that this was the opinion of his physician.
" And in view of a speedy departure, do you feel re- signed ?" the son inquired.
" I think so," he replied.
"Father," continued his son, "you have preached the gospel many years, are you willing to die by that gospel ?"
" Certainly," said he.
"Can you say, with the Psalmist, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil ?"
" Yes," said the father, and himself added, extend- ing the quotation, "Thy rod and thy staff, they com- fort me."
"There is yet one question more I would ask, father," said the son. "Your parishioners will wish to know, and especially your children, whether, in the prospect of a speedy death, your faith in a crucified Redeemer is firm and unwavering ?"
" My son," replied he, as if he wondered why the question should be asked, "my soul, I trust, is on the rock of ages, and my confidence in God is as firm as the everlasting mountains."
Mr. Goodrich died at Berlin, Ct., April 19th, 1835, aged seventy-two years.
After the dismissal of Mr. Goodrich, the church was again destitute of a settled pastor for several years.
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CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH.
Rev. Jonathan Bartlett supplied the pulpit from 18II to 1814, and was succeeded by Rev. John Noyes, who supplied from 1814 to 1817.
During Mr. Bartlett's ministry, he proposed to the society to raise a fund, the annual income of which should be appropriated for the support of the preach- ing of the gospel, and, as an encouragement to the un- dertaking, he generously gave to the society the sum of fifty dollars. As the result of this effort the perma- nent fund of the society at the present time is about $8000.
On the 2d of February, 1817, the church invited the Rev. Samuel M. Phelps to become their pastor, and consociation was convened on the 20th day of March following, for the purpose of his installation. For rea- sons which do not appear upon the church records, the consociation refused to install him ; whereupon, on the 24th day of March, the church seceded from the con- sociation of the Western District of Fairfield County, and with the society invited a body of ministers from the Westchester Presbytery to install him over said church and society. That body met in the month of June following, and Mr. Phelps was by them regularly installed as their minister, according to the usages and customs of said Presbytery. Mr. Phelps continued his labors here until the month of December, 1829, when he was by the members of the Presbytery afore- said regularly dismissed, and his ministry in this place ceased.
The church, at a regular meeting held on the 31st day of March, 1831, with great unanimity rescinded their vote of secession passed February 24th, 1817, and be- came reunited to the consociation of the Western Dis-
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HISTORY OF RIDGEFIELD.
trict of Fairfield County, and on the same day they in- vited the Rev. Charles G. Selleck, of Darien, to be- come their pastor, and he was ordained and installed on the 25th day of May, 1831. Mr. Selleck's ministry continued until the 6th day of September, 1837. The most perfect harmony existed between the church and society and Mr. Selleck during the whole period of his ministry. At his special request (believing he was called by Providence to minister to the Presbyterian Church in Alton, Ill.), he was regularly dismissed by consociation.
During Mr. Selleck's ministry, the church enjoyed three precious seasons of religious interest-viz., in 1831, '32, and '33, and as the fruits thereof about one hundred and eighty persons were added to the church.
Mr. Selleck is still living. A few years since, at an advanced age, he removed to Florida and made for himself a home, where he still resides.
On the 18th of January, 1838, the church and so- ciety invited the Rev. Joseph Fuller to settle among them, and on the 27th of February following the con- sociation met, and Mr. Fuller was regularly installed as their pastor.
His ministry continued about four years, in which time the church enjoyed another season of revival, and about sixty persons united with it. On the 17th of May, 1842, by the united request of Mr. Fuller and the church, the consociation met, and Mr. Fuller was dismissed from his pastoral charge.
After the dismissal of Mr. Fuller, the church was without a settled pastor for seventeen months, during which time the pulpit was regularly supplied, and an interesting work of grace ensued, by which about
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CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH.
twenty, mostly young persons, united themselves to the church by profession.
On the 18th of September, 1843, the church and society, each by unanimous votes, extended to the Rev. James A. Hawley a call to become their pastor, which call he accepted, and on the 25th of October follow- ing he was regularly installed as such.
Mr. Hawley's connection as pastor continued until November 5th, 1849, when at his request he was dis- inissed by consociation. During the years 1845 and 1848 the church enjoyed seasons of revival, and as the fruits thereof about forty persons were added to it.
Believing that the best interests of the church would be secured by having a settled pastor, the church and society with marked unanimity, on the 6th of May, 1850, extended to the Rev. Clinton Clark a call to settle among them. The call was accepted, and Mr. Clark was duly installed June 5th, 1850.
Mr. Clark's connection as pastor of this church con- tinued nearly fourteen years, or until April 5th, 1864, at which time he was dismissed, and soon after entered upon the duties of acting pastor of the Congregational Church of Middlebury, Ct., where he died September 23d, 1871.
During Mr. Clark's ministry in Ridgefield, one hun- dred and fifteen persons united with the church, of whom seventy-six were by profession. In considera- tion of his long-continued services, the church, by reso- lution, extended to him " our most grateful acknowl- edgment and heartfelt thanks for all his labors among us, and that it is with deep regret that we part with one who has so long and faithfully discharged his duty to us in all the ministerial relations,"
IO2
HISTORY OF RIDGEFIELD.
Mr. Clark was a graduate of Amherst College. He was a man of sound mind and fervent piety. He is buried in the cemetery at Ridgefield, in the midst of the people whom he so faithfully served.
After the dismission of Mr. Clark, the pulpit was supplied by various clergymen until the fall of 1865, when the Rev. Samuel G. Coe, then recently dismissed from the First Congregational Church in Danbury, Ct., removed to Ridgefield as a place of residence.
He was invited to supply the pulpit, and soon after received a unanimous call to settle. He, however, pre- ferred to labor with them without being formally in- stalled. His wishes in this respect were acceded to, and he continued to serve the church until the au- tumn of 1868, when failing health induced him to give up active pastoral work.
Mr. Coe was a graduate of Yale College, of Yale Law School and of Yale Theological Seminary. He was a clear thinker and an earnest and eloquent preacher.
He died on the 7th of December, 1869, universally lamented.
The Rev. Pliny S. Boyd was called by the church and society to settle. He accepted the call, and was in- stalled May IIth, 1869. Mr. Boyd was dismissed July Ist, 1871, and soon after was settled over the Congre- gational Church of Amesbury, Mass.
The church was supplied with regular preaching by various clergymen, until February Ist, 1872, when the Rev. Daniel W. Teller was called to become the acting pastor of the church by unanimous vote.
Three years later, Mr. Teller was invited to be for- mally settled over the church, but preferred serving as
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CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH.
he had already done as acting pastor. He is still serv- ing the church in that capacity. The church at pres- ent has two hundred and twenty-five members : males, eighty-three ; females, one hundred and forty-two.
The first house used for religious meetings by the Congregationalists was a small building standing nearly in front of the residence of Miss Mary Hawley. It was used also as a school-house, and as a place at which to transact town business, previous to the erection of the town-house.
On the 19th of December, 1723, the following vote was passed in town meeting :
" Voted unanimously that a meeting house shall be built.
" Test. THOMAS HAWLEY, " Register." " At the meeting above said, it was voted unani- mously that the magnitude and proportion of the Meeting-house above said shall be thirty-four feet wide ; on the ground forty feet long, and twenty-eight feet between the sill and the plate.
" Test. THOMAS HAWLEY,
" Register."
This house stood immediately east of the present building or where the road now passes it.
In the year 1765, the building of the present house began for the first to be seriously considered, as will ap- pear from the following minutes :
" Dec 25th 1765. Adjourned to Jany Ist 1766. The Meeting Resolved (5-6th) to Build a New Meeting House within ye Limits of this Society ; & appointed W. L ; S. O ; B. S; S S; & I I. a comtee to apply to ye County Court to fix a place & granted a one penny Tax to defray ye Charge of fixing ye place,"
104
HISTORY OF RIDGEFIELD.
" Dec 25th 1767. Question put would ye Society Build a Meeting at ye place fixed by ye County Comtee ? Resolved in ye neg ; by a great majority -Question put would they Build in ye Meeting House yard. Resolved in ye aff. by more than 2 to I."
"Dec 19th 1769. Voted that ye County Comtee be called out to fix a place to build a Meeting house on."
" Jany 16th 1770. Question put, are ye meeting willing ye stake set in ye yard be established. Voted in ye aff. 36 to 30."
" Sept 24th 1770. Voted that ye old meeting-house may be repaired by subscription."
"May Ist 1771. Voted to build a House 58 feet long & 40 feet broad, & 24 feet posts & a steeple,- Also Sam1. Smith Esq Samuel Olmsted Esq & Jnº Benedict were chosen a Comtee to take ye care of & proceed in Building sª House during ye pleasure of ye Society"-Also granted a Tax of 6ª on ye £ on ye List 1770 to enable said Comtee to proceed in building sª house-Also that ye Roof of ye House & Steeple be covered with cedar & ye sides with sawed Siding."
"June 3ª 1771. Voted that if £50 be subscribed by ye Ist of July next, then the Comtee to build a steeple, if not to drop it."
"Augt 20th 1771. Voted to Raise ye House Gratis- if cant be done to hire help. Also that they will con- tinue ye Comtee already appointed to proceed in building ye House. Also voted that ye House be set in ye yard, provided the County Court will establish a place there."
"Sept 19th 1771. Question, Shall the Timber be raised within five feet west of ye old house & shall not ye Tax of 6ª be revoked ? Passed in ye aff."
" Dec 18th 1783. Benj" Smith & Capt David Olm- sted were chosen Committee men in addition to ye Comtee chosen in May 1771 to superintend ye Build- ing of the Meeting House in said Society."
The house was not completed until the early part of
CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH.
105
the year 1800. Then it was seated in the following manner and the seats occupied as indicated :
Pulpit
I4
13
12
II
IO
9
8
7
Deacons
9
22
23
15
5
30
27
21
24
31
26
20
25
I6
+
17
18
19
No. I
No. 2
No. 3
A draught of the Pews, Seats & Ailes on ye ground floor of the Meeting House in ye first Society Num- bered with the names of the original Proprietors, & the present owners, March ye 22ª A.D. 1800.
No. I. Phillip B Bradley
2. Thomas Hawley Nathan Smith
3. James Reseguie Seth Bouton
Ambrose Barnes
". - 4. Eben Olmsted
James Olmsted Jereh Mead Matthew Olmsted
No. 5. Dan1 Smith Thos Hyatt
Benj" Sherwood
6. Thads Keeler
28
29
106
HISTORY OF RIDGEFIELD.
Jereh Keeler Benj" Keeler No. 7. Stephen Smith
8. Eben Hawley Elisha Hawley
9. Timº Keeler Nathan Dauchey
12. Bradly Hull Jereh Keeler Ward Sturgis
" 13. David Scott James Scott 2ª Jere Scott
" 14. Dan1 Lee
Wakeman Burrett Nehemiah Banks
15. Sam1 Hoyt Josiah Northrop NathanielSeymour
16. Uriah Marvin Dan1 Olmsted 2ª Timothy Bouton
" 17. Levi Keeler John Keeler Jereh Seymour Paul Keeler " 18. Dea" Jnº Benedict & family
No. 19. Benjn Smith Amos Baker
20. Amos Smith Josiah Smith Thads Smith
66 2I. Jasper Mead Matthew Keeler Jonah Keeler
22. Thads Keeler Dr N Perry
24. Joshua King Moss Ingersol
" 25. Sam1 Olmsted Jared Olmsted Newton Hine
26. Nathan F Kellogg James Sturgis Jacob Jones
" 27. David Olmsted Timothy Olmsted Benjn Sanford
66 30. Matthew Seymour Thomas Scott Jared Northrop Daniel Smith 2ª
31. John Waterous Joseph Benedict
CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH.
107
18
17
2 seat.
16
Front seat reserved for musicians.
Front seat reserved for musicians.
·2
3
2 seat.
4
5
Ye front seat reserved for the musicians.
2 seat front.
6
Aile.
12
=
ð
0
8
7
A Plan of the Pews, Seats & Ailes in the Gallorys in the Meeting House, in the first Society with the names of the original pewholders & present Proprie- tors, March 22ª A.D. 1800.
Pew.
Name.
No. 2. Levi Keeler Hezekiah Smith
4. Stephen Mills
6. Michael Warren Jabez Keeler
7. Dan1 Lee Wakeman Burret
8. Nathan Smith David Olmsted
Pew.
Name.
Millicent Smith N G Smith Thomas Hawley
No.
9, John Benedict Jared Olmsted
Dan1 Smith Job Smith
IO. Timº Keeler Benj" Smith
15
14
13
No. 1
108
HISTORY OF RIDGEFIELD.
Pew. Name. Amos Baker
12. Matthew Keeler Jonah Keeler Jasper Mead
Jesse Benedict
14. Tho Hyatt John Mills
Pew. Name.
No. 15. Moss Ingersoll Joseph Stebbins
No. II. P B Bradley Col King
16. Samuel Dykeman
17. David Saintjohn Jonoth™ Gilbert Sam1 Hoyt 2ª
18. Elisha Hawley Eben Hawley John Waterous
"The foregoing draughts were made by us the Sub- scribers being appointed a Committee for the purpose this 22ª day of March. A.D. 1800
BENJM SMITH TIMOTHY KEELER NATHAN SMITH
Committee."
The following will indicate how these seats were bought and sold :
" RIDGEFIELD Jany Ist, A.D. 1801
" Be it known that I Nathan F Kellogg do for the consideration of Two Dollars & Fifty Cents Recd of Eanos Tuttle, Sell, convey & convert unto him the sd Tuttle one Twelfth part of my Pew on the lower Flour in the. Meeting House No 26
NATHAN F KELLOGG
Test NATHAN SMITH, Clerk."
" Know all by these presents that I David Olmsted of Ridgefield for the consideration of Three Dollars Received of Thomas H. Rockwell of sd Ridgefield to my full Satisfaction do Quit Claim to him the sd Thomas all my Right title & Interest I have in a pew in the Galery of the Meeting House in sª Ridegfield
109
CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH.
No 8 witness my hand this 27th day of May A.D. 1 800
Witness Jasper Mead DAVID OLMSTED
John Keeler. Test NATHAN SMITH Society Clerk."
"To all People to whom these presents shall come Greeting. Know ye that we Timothy Keeler. Timo- thy Olmsted. & Jonathan Keeler. Society's Comt'ee for the first Society in Ridgefield in Fairfield County (do agreeable to the direction of sd society) for Selling the Pews in the Gallery of the Meeting House, do by these Presents Give. Grant. Bargain & Sell Thaddeus Keeler & Jeremiah Mead of sd Ridgefield the South East corner Pew on the South end of the Gallery in Said Meeting House for the consideration of Nine Dollars & Eighty Four Cents, to have & to hold the above Granted & Bargained Premises as their own for- ever as witness our hand in Ridgefield this 4th day of December A.D. 1801
TIMOTHY KEELER TIMOTHY OLMSTED 1 Societys Comtee.
JONATHEN KEELER
Test
NATHAN SMITH Societys Clerk."
The steeple at first erected above the church was ob- served, after a few years, to be leaning toward the main building. In the year 1815 the following call for a So- ciety's meeting was issued :
" Notice is hereby given that a meeting of the Pres- byterian Society in the first Society in Ridgefield will be holden at the Meeting House on the 13th day of Oct at I Oclock in the P.M. for the purpose of taking into consideration the expediency of taking down the 6
IIO
HISTORY OF RIDGEFIELD.
. Steeple of said House and of making provision for necessary repairs
MATHEW KEELER JEREMIAH KEELER BRADLEY
Committee.
" RIDGEFIELD, CT., Oct. 3, 1815."
The steeple was deemed unsafe, and therefore taken down, and two years afterward, in the year 1817, the present one was erected.
In the first attempt to set up the new steeple, an ac- cident occurred which was attended with great danger to all who were present. The posts were nearly in place, when the iron hook to which the pulleys were attached broke, and the whole framework fell to the ground.
The only damage sustained was the breaking of one of the posts. This was spliced by iron bands, and the next day it was set up and secured.
The following papers may be of interest to the cu- rious :
"Jany. 2Ist 18II.
To first Society of Ridgefield to Timothy Keeler Dr. To 20 dinners pr the Consociation at 373 cts .. $7 50
To 4 do pr the Comtt I 50
To bating 18 horses
8cts I 44 To keeping 3 horses one night
25 cts. 75 To Liquor &c. 3 00
$14 19"
" RIDGEFIELD, Dec 6th, 1803. "Received of Timothy Keeler Societies Treasurer the Sum of Twenty Dollars and Sixty five cents in full of
III
CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH.
all dues and demands against the first Society of sd Ridgefield for getting the Bell new-cast.
NATHAN SMITH, in behalf of the Bell Comtee."
" Recd of the Societies Comttee three Dollars & fifty five cents in full for sweeping meeting House the year past pr. me JOHN KEELER.
" RIDGEFIELD Dec 5th, 1800."
" To TIMOTHY KEELER ESQ. Societies Treasurer
" Sir, Pay James Scott Twenty one Shillings and three pence for furnishing flax and making a rope for the Church Bell. Societies Committee."
" This may certify that I the subscriber am willing to teach singing in the Presbyterian Society in Ridge- field, and sing as often as may be judged necessary by the Committee from 3 to 6 months in the year on the Sabbath evening at one Dollar per evening including the Sabbath, and also to attend regularly on the Sab- bath at all other times throughout the year (sickness &c excepted) for twenty five cts per day for taking the lead in singing. HARVEY BETTS
" RIDGEFIELD Dec 27th 1827."
The present church building was altered and re- paired in 1833, when the whole interior work, includ- ing galleries and pulpit, was taken out, and so ar- ranged as to present the appearance of an entirely new house.
The church thus repaired was renewedly dedicated to God in the month of June, 1834. The dedication sermon was preached by Rev. Joel Mann, from Hag- gai 2:9: "The glory of this latter house shall be greater than of the former, saith the Lord of Hosts ; and in this place will I give peace, saith the Lord of Hosts."
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