USA > Connecticut > New Haven County > Waterbury > The history of Waterbury, Connecticut; the original township embracing present Watertown and Plymouth, and parts of Oxford, Wolcott, Middlebury, Prospect and Naugatuck. With an appendix of biography, genealogy and statistics > Part 55
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52. SEYMOUR, son of Thomas, (51,) m. Olive Harrison. Ch. : Ilarri- son, Sophronia and John P.
53. JARED, son of Thomas, (51.) m. Philomela Norton. Ch. : Abbe ; Ziba ; Emily ; Orestes ; Leonard ; Fanny ; Delia A., m. Daniel, son of Elias Clark, is the only living dau. of this family : Almira ; Maryett.
54. HARSCHIEL, son of Thomas, (51,) m. Eunice dau. of David Prin- dle of Watertown. Ch .: David T .; Chauncey P., m. Jennet Cleve- land, and had, Dwight, Caroline and Ella ; Sherman E .; Ilannah A .; Ranslin N. ; Hector E .; Iler-chel O.
55. DAVID T., son of Ilerschel, (54 ) m. 1st, Polly Nichols, 2d, Caro- line Turner. Ch. : Everet and two daughters.
56. SHERMAN E, son of Herschel, (54,) m. Caroline Cleveland, who d. June 15, 1856. Ch .: Hattie.
57. RANSLIN N., son of Herschel, (54,) m. Mary, dau. of Edward Scott. Ch .: Mary and another dau.
58. THOMAS, son of Richard, (34,) m. Lydia Utter, 2d, Lydia Warner. He lived on Bucks hill-had no ch .- adopted his nephew, Richard Wel- ton. His wife survived him, m. Dr. Preserved Porter, and d. Oct. 1821, aged 92.
59. ELIAKIM, son of Richard, (34 ) m. April 28, 1736, Eunice, dau. of Moses Bronson. Ch .: I. Eliakim, b. Sept. 22, 1736, d. June 8, 1821 ; II. Eunice, b. Oct. 19, 1738, m. David Roberts; III. Avis, b. Aug. 13, 1740, m. Thaddeus Barnes ; IV. Richard, b. Oct. 10, 1743, d. Feb. 26, 1822; V. Eli, b. Oct. 10, 1746; VI. Moses, b. June 25, 1749 ; VII. Aaron, b. Feb. 19, 1752; VIII. and IX. Benoni and Benjamin, b. Feb. 18, 1756. Benoni d. unm., Benjamin d. young.
60. ELIAKIM, son of Eliakim, (59,) m. Amy, dau. of Ebenezer Bald-
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APPENDIX.
win, who d. Jan. 3, 1829, aged 87. Ch .: I. Eben, b. June 24, 1764 ; II. Eliakim, b. Dec. 13, 1763 ; III. Amy, b. Sept. 25, 1770, d. 1770; IV. Joseph, b. S.pt. 6, 1771, d. 1774 ; V. Mi-k, b. April 27, 1773; VI. Amy, b. April 4, 1776; VII. Avice, b. March 12, 1779, d. 1779 ; VIII. Joseph, b. March 29, 1780; IX. Moses, b. March 16, 1783, d. Sept. 14, 1829 ; X. Micock, b. March 9, 1787, d. 17>8.
61. RICHARD, son of Eliakim, (59 ) m. Margaret, dau. of Ebenezer Warner, April 27, 1766. She d. Oct. 19. 1768, and he m. 2d, Han- nah Davis, Aug. 7, 1770, who d. Dec. 11, 1839. Ch. : I. Noah, b. Feb. 15, 1767, d. Jan. 26, 1847 ; II. Richard Warner, b. Oct. 10, 1768, d. Dec. 1768 ; III. Richard, b. My 10, 177 1, d. Sept. 26, 1827; IV. Margaret, b. July 2, 1772, m. Daniel Steele ;* V. Thomas, b. Dec. 8, 1774, d. April 18, 1856 ; VI. Lydia, b. April 1, 1777, m. David Rob- erts of Burlington, and d. Aug. 31, 1>28 ; VII. Hannah. b. Oct. 10, 1779, m. David Warner-went to Geneseo, N. Y .; VIII. Joseph Davis, b. April 15, 1783, d. Jan. 16, 1825 ; IX. Bela, b. Sept. 9, 1787, d. Oct. 16, 1822.
62. ELI, son of Eliakim, (59,) m. Anna Baldwin, July 1, 1771. Ch. : Eli, b. Ang. 10, 1772; Asa, b. Nov. 24, 1773 ; Phebe, b. Sept. 29, 1775, d. 1777 ; Eunice, b. Aug. 12, 1777; Benoni, b. April 19, 1780 ; Anna ; Printha.
63. ELI, son of Eli. (62 ) had, Joel, Bennet, Eli and Asa.
64. EL, son of Eli, (63.) in. Rhoda Wilson. Ch. : I. Elmore, m. Sarah Ann Cleveland ; ch., I. Homer ; II. Jane ; III. Ruth.
65. AsA, son of Eli. (62,) m - Fenn. Ch. : I. Selden ; II. Hiram, m. Harriet, dau. of Timothy Ball, d. leaving no ch .; III. Lyman ; IV. Emily, m. Simeon Philips; V. Heman.
66. HIEMAN, son of Asa, (65,) m. 1st, Adaline Blakeslee, 2d, A. Carter. Ch. : Oliver Blakeslee and another Son.
67. MOSES, son of Eliakim, (59,) m. Betta Wooster. Ch. : Andrew and Elizur.
68. AARON, son of Eliakim, (59,) m. Zera Bronson, Jan. 13, 1777. Ch. : Tamar, b. Feb. 28, 1778; Junia, b. Dec. 1779 ; Harvey, b. Oct. 28, 1780, d. 1782; Harvey, b. Nov. 2. 1782.
69. EBEN, son of Eliakim, (60.) m. St a , dau. of Titus Barnes, and moved to Ohio with his family. Ch. : Avice, Sarah, Selden, Jacob, Elisha, Caroline, Eben and Poliy.
* Rev. ASHBEL STKELR, a son of Daniel by a first wife, was born in Waterbury, Jan. 31. 1796. Hle now resides in Washington City, and is the author of a recent work evincing lahorions re- search, entitled " Chief of the Pilgrims. or the Life and Times of William Brewster." He mar- ried a descendant of Elder Brewster .- II. B.
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HISTORY OF WATERBURY.
, 70. ELIAKIM, son of Eliakim, (60,) m. Loly, dau. of Titus Barnes. Jan. 3, 1788, and went to Ohio with his family. Ch .: I. Orasena, b. March 10, 1790, m. Thos. Worden ; II. Micha B., b. Aug. 13, 1792, m. Wealthy Upson ; III. Sherman P., b. Oct. 24, 1796, d. 1797 ; IV. Sherman P., b. Oct. 8, 1798, mn. Ruth Upson; V. Sally M., b. July 7, 1801, m. in Ohio.
71. MARK, son of Eliakim, (60.) m. Sally Davis, and removed to the State of N. Y. Ch. : Samuel, Truman, Amy, Hiram, Harriet, Alınira and Dorcas.
72. JOSEPH, son of Eliakim, (60,) m. Ellen, dau. of John Warner of Plymouth, and went to the State of N. Y. Ch. : Norman, Charlotte, Warner, Emeline and Eliakim.
73. MOSES, son of Eliakim, (60.) m. Huldah, dau. of Titus Hotchkiss of Wolcott, Aug. 20, 1810. Ch .: I. Milo, b. 1811, d. young ; II. Julia, b. Nov. 22, 1813, m. Andrew Hough ; III. Sarah, b. Feb. 20, 1820, m. Franklin Hall; IV. IIuldah, b. Sept. 12, 1823, m. Edward Pratt ; V. IIester, b. April 6, 1825, m. IIiram Curtiss ; VI. Mary, b. April 25, 1827, m. Joel Hungerford.
. 74. NOAH, son of Richard, (61,) m. Nabby Chidsey of East Haven, in 1791, 2d, Ellen Cowles, Dec. 1804, who d. Nov. 26, 1848. Ile lived in Harwinton. Ch .: I. Miles, b. June 15, 1793; II. Margaret A., b. March 28, 1800, d. 1803; III. Aaline, b. June 15, 1803, m. Willard Hitchcock of Burlington, April 3, 1822, and went to .Vt .; IV. Nabby, b. Nov. 17, 1805, m. Charles Judson, May, 1826; V. Margaret A., b. Jan. 2, 1808, m. Enoch Marks, May, 1826 ; VI. Noah E., b. Aug. 12, 1811, d. Oct. 1848 ; VII. John J., b. Feb. 2, 1814 ; VIII. Lester C., b. April 20, 1817; IX. Elvira, b. April 25, 1821, m. Rev. Collis Potter, of Plymouth, in 1851 ; X. Bela A., b. Dec. 25, 1823 ; XI. Jane, b. July 12, 1827, m. Jared Smith of Harwinton in 1854.
75. MILES, son of Noah, (74.) m. Jan. 1815, Nancy, dau. of Stephen Graves of E. Plymouth. Cl .: I. Street C., b. Sept. 8, 1816 ; II. Ximnus, b. Dec. 16, 1817, d. Aug. 9, 1822 ; III. Albert, b. May 7, 1820 ; IV. Carlos, b. April 3, 1822 ; V. X. Alanson, b. March 17, 1824 ; VI. Ruth Adaline, b. July 14, 1826, m. Eben Coll of Plymouth, April, 1845; VII. Nancy Ann, b. Jan. 25, 1830, m. Ralph Humphrey of Ansonia, Nov. 1853; VIII. Major G., b. June 21, 1832 ; IX. Marvin B., b. June 21, 1832 ; X. Emily W., b. April 17, 1836.
76. NOAH E., son of Noah, (74,) m. Mahitabel Bulkley in 1832, and 2d, Lydia J. Chidsey in 1836. Ch .: Charlotte A., Noah J., Ellen J. and Seymour II.
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APPENDIX.
77. JOHN J., son of Noah, (74,) m. Maria Wilcox, April, 1840, who d. Sept. 1847. Ch. : Charles, b. 1841; Ellen M., b. 1846.
78. LESTER C., son of Noah, (74,) mn. Corra Mathews of Bristol, Sept. 1845,-is now living in Henry Co., Ill. Ch. : James M., Ellen A. and Merritt Hobert.
79. Bela A., son of Noah, (74,) resides in Ill., m. Jane Merritt, has a son.
80. STREET C., son of Miles, (75,) m. Aaline Smith of Orange, N. J., Sept. 1841. Ch. : John S. and Alanson.
81. ALBERT, son of Miles, (75,) m. Susan A. Bidwell of Northfield, Jan. 1842. Ch. : Francis G., Mary E. and George W.
82. CARLOS, son of Miles, (75,) m. Maria E. Peck of Farmington, Nov. 1846, who d. Feb. 1850, leaving a son, Henry A.
83. X. ALANSON, son of Miles, (75.) is an Episcopal clergyman, and rector of St. Matthew's church, Cambridge, Henry Co., Ill. He 'n. Lar. riet F. Root of Guilford, Vt., Sept. 4, 1853, and had a dau., Ellen E.
84. RICHARD, son of Richard, (61,) m. Sarah, daughter of Nathaniel Gunn, March, 1797. She d. July 20, 1851. Ch. : I. Artemesia, b. April 15, 1798, m. Lauren Frisbie, Nov. 28, 1821; II. Edward, b. Jan. 19, 1800 ; III. Merritt, b. April 5, 1802; IV. Amy, b. April 18, 1804, m. Mortimer Jordon of Ala .; V. Hannah M., b. July 10, 1807, m. Nathanial Hawkins of Ala.
85. EDWARD, son of Richard, (84.) m. Laura Brown. Ch. : Richard, Noah A., Caroline A. and Martha A.
86. MERRITT, son of Richard, (84,) m. went South, is now in Califor- nia with his family. Ch .: Lamson, Amy and Lydia E,-probably others.
87. THOMAS, son of Richard, (61,) m. Sybil Cook of Wallingford, Jan. 3, 1797. She was b. Oct. 10, 1778. Ch. : I. Lyman, b. June 15, 1798; II. Evelina, b. Jan. 23, 1800, m. Anson Downs, Oct. 26, 1823; III. Minerva, b. March 19, 1802, mn. Burton Payne, Feb. 3, 1828; IV. Sally D., b. Sept. 5, 1807, d. 1808 ; V. Sally D .. b. June 14, 1810, m. Henry Bronson, Oct. 4, 1832; VI. Nancy, b. April 12, 1812, m. Frederic A. Bradley, May 22, 1836.
88. LYMAN, son of Thos. (87,) in. Minerva, dau. of Benjamin Judd, Dec. 24, 1822. Ch. : Henry A., b. Dec. 2, 1823; Franklin L., b. Dec. 11, 1827; Nelson J., b. Feb. 15, 1829. Henry A. is m. and has one ch., Thos. H .- Franklin L. is also m., has had three ch., one only is living.
89. Rev. JOSEPH D., son of Richard, (61.) m. Eunice, dau. of Victory Tomlinson. She d. Feb. 20, 1832. Ch. : I. Julia M., b. July, 1809, m. Geo.
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HISTORY OF WATERBURY.
Warner ; II. Hobert V., b. Oct. 28, 1811, m. Adaline, dan. of Luther Rich- ards of Vt., and his ch. are, Edwin D , b. 1836, Sarah C., b. 1839, Harriet A., b. 1850 ; III. Joseph, b. May 15, 1814, m. Mary, dau. of Seabury Pier- pont. Ch., Heber II., b. 1837, Eunice C., b. 1839, Lucy A., b. 1841 ; IV. Ilenry, b. Sept. 27, 1824, m. Lucy Baird of Buffalo, N. Y.
90. BELA, son of Richard, (61,) m. April 16, 1817, Polly, dau. of Benjamin Morehouse of Washington, Conn. She was b. Nov. 27, 1792. Ch. : I. Richard, b. Jan. 7, 1820, m. Abby Mitchel, May 10, 1853, has two children, Nelly M. and Richard ; II. Hawley Seymour, b. Oct. 13, 1821, m. Eliza Merriam, Dec. 19, 1844. Ch. : Bela and Richard.
THIRD FAMILY, OR GEORGE'S POSTERITY.
91. GEORGE, son of John, (1,) had ch. : I. Stephen, b. Oct. 27, 1713 ; II. Samuel, b. Oct. 20, 1715, d. 1738; III. Peter, b. Sept. 28, 1718; IV. Elizabeth, b. May 23, 1721; V. Hannah, b. June 11, 1723 ; VI. James, b. Oct. 9, 1725 ; VII. Josiah, b. June 10, 1728, m. Martha, dau. of Jonathan Kelly of Woodbury, d. in 1758, no ch .; VIII. Dan, b. May 19, 1731.
92. JAMES, son of George, (91,) was the first male child* b. (Oct. 9, 1725) in that part of Waterbury, now Watertown. lle m. Mary, wid. of Joseph Prichard of Milford, in 1763.
93. STEPHEN, son of George, (91.) m. Aug. 27, 1741, Abigail, dau, of Jonathan Welton. She d. Nov. 1, 1776. Ch. : 1. Elijah, b. Aug. 13, 1742; II. Samuel, b. Nov. 2, 1744 ; III. Jesse, b. Nov. 23, 1746 ; IV. Amasa, b. April 26, 1749 ; V. Daniel, b. April 1, 1752, d. 1753 ; VI. " Achsalı," b. Sept. 15, 1754; VII. Josiah, b. Feb. 17, 1759.
94. ELIJAH, son of Stephen, (93,) m. Feb 23, 1769, Hannah, dau. of Isaac Tyler of Wallingford. Ch .: Daniel M., b. Aug. 14, 1770 ; Isaac, b. Jan. 11, 1775 ; Hannah, b. Jan. 3, 1778 ; Stephen.
95. SAMUEL, son of Stephen, (93,) m. Jerusha Hill, Nov. 23, 1770, and d. May 9, 1777. Ch. : I. Anna, b. Dec. 23, 1770 ; II. Jonathan, b. Feb. 14, 1774 ; ch., George, Samuel, Edward and Stephen; III. Lydia, b. Oct. 18, 1776.
96. JESSE, son of Stephen, (93.) m. Sarah, dau. of Isaac Tyler of
* The first permanent settlers of Westbury, so far as my inquiries have extended, were Jona. than Scott, Sen. and Dr. (afterwards Dencon) John Warner. These had no children after their removal thither. Isaac Castle from Woodbury settled there about 17 5, and had born (and re- corded in Waterbury) a son, Asahel, August 28, 1725, (as I read the figures.) Samuel Thomas, another settler, had a daughter, Mabel, also recorded in Waterbury, b. Aug. 14, 1725. (See p. 253, of this work.)-H. B.
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APPENDIX.
Wallingford, Dec. 13, 1770. Ch. : Parthenia, b. July 4, 1772; Abi- gail, b. March 5, 1774 ; Enos, b. Sept. 29, 1776 ; Jes-e.
97. AMASA, son of Stephen. (93 ) m. Mary, dau. of Benjamin Nichols, Sept. 6, 1770. Ch .: Achsah, b. May 20, 1773 ; Orpha, b. June 3, 1776.
98. JOSIAH, son of Stephen, (93.) had ch., Samuel and Uri.
99. PETER, son of George, (91.) in. Abigail, dau. of Nathaniel Por- ter, Nov. 22, 1739. Ch. : 1. Samuel, b. Sept. 26, 1740, d. 1740; II. Ruth, b. Sept. 26, 1741; III. Peter, b. Feb. 28, 1744; IV. Job, b. March 15, 1746, d. at Ticonderoga, Oct. 11, 1776 ; V. Abigail, b. Ang. 4, 1748, d. 1751; VI. George, b. Ang. 26, 1750, d. 1751; VII. Abi- gail, b. Oct. 27, 1752; VIII. Elizabeth, b. May 18, 1756 ; IX. Dinah, b. June 1, 1759; X. George, b. Nov. 12, 1761; XI. Mary, b. May 15, 1765.
100. PETER, son of Peter, (99,) m. Desire Cooper, April 10, 1766. Ch .: I. Desire, b. Der. 15, 1766; II. A son, b. July 1, 1769; III. Sa- rah, b. May 19, 1771; IV. Peter, b. Dec. 1773 ; V. Josiah, b. Aug. 6, 1776.
101. DAN, son of George, (91,) m. and had Gaal and James. The last had a dan. Irena.
WOODWARD.
1. HENRY WOODWARD,* from England, settled in Dorchester, Mass., about 1636, and united with the church there previous to 1639. In 1659, he removed to Northampton, to which place he followed Rev. Eleazer Mather, and was one of the seven pillars when the church was organized, June 18, 1661. He built a mill there, (not the first mill,) and " was killed in his grist mill," (by lightning it is said,) April 7, 1685. His wife, Eizabeth, d. in Northampton, Aug. 13. 1690. Ch. : I. Experience, m. Medad Pomery, Nov. 21, 1661; II. Freedom, bap. at Dorchester, in 1642, m. Jedediah Strong, Nov. 18, 1662; III. Thankful, m, John Taylor, Dee. 18, 1662 ; IV. John, an only son.
2. JOHN, son of Henry, (1.) lived in Northampton till after the death of his father. Ile removed first to Westfield, and then to Lebanon, Conn. Ile m. Anna Dewey, of Westfield, dau. of the emigrant, Thos. Dewey of Windsor, May 18, 1671. Ch. recorded in Northampton : I.
* I am informed that he had a brother John, who came with him to Mass.,-became a Quaker, was banishe.l, went to R I., was again banished and his estate confiscated. He is supposed to have gone to Virginia, as the numerous families of that name, now found at the South, origina- ted in that State.
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HISTORY OF WATERBURY.
Elizabeth, b. March 17, 1672, m. Stephen Lee of Westfield, in 1691; II. John, bap. April 2, 1674 ; III. Samuel, b. March 20, 1676, d. Oct. 20, 1676 ; IV. Henry, b. March 18, 1680; V. Thomas, b. April 22, 1682; VI. Israel, b. Feb. 6, 1685.
3. Capt. ISRAEL, son of John, (2.) m. Abigail Beard of Huntington, and removed to that part of Waterbury, now Watertown, about 1750. They lived together in the married state 69 years, and d. at the ad- vanced ages of 93 and 96. Ch .: I. Nathan ; II. Abel, b. April 1, 1736-7 ; III. Israel ; IV. John ; V. Asa, m. Esther Roberts, no iss. ; VI. Elijah ; VII. Anna, m. Asa Curtiss ; VIII. Eunice, m. Wait Scott ; IX. Abigail, d. in infancy ; X. Samuel, b. Oct. 25, 1750.
4. NATHAN, son of Israel, (3,) m. 1st, Sarah Hickox, 2d, Eunice Painter, July 1, 1731, Ch. : Moses, Hawkins, Antepas, John, Na- than, Sarah, Lois, Polly and Laura.
5. ABEL, son of Israel, (3,) m. Lucy Atwood, March 20, 1765. Ch. : I. Rebun S., b. Jan. 9, 1766 ; II. Eunice, b. March 18, 1767; III. Lucy, b. March, 1769, d. 1770; IV. Abel, b. Oct. 13, 1770; V. James, b. Sept. 25, 1772 ; VI. David, b. Oct. 26, 1774 ; VII. Lucy, b. July 23, 1776; VIII. John, b. Aug. 12, 1778 ; IX. Jerusha, b. April 2, 1781; X. Kussel, b. 1783.
6. ISRAEL, son of Israel, (3,) m. Abigail, dau. of Eliakim Stoddard, Oct. 28, 1765. Ch .: Israel B., b. 1767 ; Pamelia, b. 1770; Abigail, b. 1772 ; Anna, b. 1774 ; Asa, b. 1779.
7. JOHN, son of Israel, (3,) m. Lydia Trowbridge, July 13, 1786. Ch. : William, b. May 3, 1787; Rebecca, b. July 9, 1789 ; Abigail, b. June 30, 1791 ; Lucius.
8. ELIJAH, son of Israel, (3,) m. Margary Richards. Ch. : Truman, Sally, Minerva and Dotha.
9. Dr. SAMUEL, son of Israel, (3,) m. Mary Griswold. Ch .: Mary, Laura, Samuel Bayard, Elijah, Griswold, Rufus, IIenry and Charles. Samuel B. was a distinguished physician, first of Wethersfield then of Worces- ter, and afterwards of Northampton, Mass., where he died in 1850. He had charge of the Hospital for the Insane in Worcester. Rufus gradu- ated at Y. C. in 1816, became a tutor and d. in 1824. Henry was a physician in Middletown of great promise, and died in 1832. Charles is now a well known practitioner of medicine in Middletown. They were all born in Torringford, to which place the father removed in early life
III. LATER ECCLESIASTICAL SOCIETIES: MANUFACTURING: STATISTICS.
AFTER the matter of the preceding pages had been arranged, and the book far advanced in the printing, there were put into my hands certain documents relating to the more recently organized churches of Waterbury, and the manufac- turing interests of the place. I insert them here, in some instances giving only summaries. The sketch of the Baptist church which immediately follows has been already printed.
THE BAPTIST CHURCH IN WATERBURY.
In preparing a sketch of the History of the Baptist Church in Waterbury, great difficulty has been experienced from the imperfection of its records during the earlier years of its existence. Indeed the history of the church, as here presented, from the time of its organization to the year 1836, a period of 33 years, has been mainly taken from Association minutes, the records of neighbor- ing churches, and the personal recollections of those who still survive.
In the year 1791, November 7th, a number of the members of the ancient church of Wallingford, (now Meriden,) were organized into a distinet body, known for a time as the Second Baptist church in Wallingford. Among this number were Zenas Brockett, David Frost and Isaac Terrell, the first Baptists in the town of Waterbury .* For several years it was their custom, and the custom of those afterwards associated with them, to visit the church of their adoption at least once every month, and this journey, a distance of twelve miles, they usually performed on foot. By these brethren, meetings were established and condueted in the town of Waterbury, and in 1803, November 10th, a church was organized of those previously connected with the Second Baptist church in Wallingford. Preeminent in this movement were the brethren whose names are above recorded ; men who deserve a cherished and honored memory as leaders of the infant church, and as Christians of tried integrity of character and purity of life. Poor in the riches of this world, but rich in those graces that find favor with God, this little band maintained for twelve years, with most unwavering fidelity, their regular meetings without a settled pastor. And their humble labors were blessed in a gradual but uninterrupted growth. During this period they were favored from time to time with the administration of the ordinances by elders Samuel Miller and Daniel Wildman, and occasionally by elders Dethick and Fuller.
* There were Baptists in Waterbury Ist Society who bore lists, as early as 1767, as appears by papers of that date relating to Farmingbury's petition to the Assembly for society privileges. -H. B.
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HISTORY OF WATERBURY.
In the autumn of 1815, brethren Samuel Potter and Jesse Frost were ordained e o-pastors of the church. During this joint pastorate the church enjoyed an un- usual degree of peace and harmony, and many a season occurred which made the place of worship verily the house of God and gate of heaven.
In 1817, Nov. 13th, the church, which had attained a membership of nearly one hundred, was divided by the formation of the Woodbridge and Salem church, For this purpose 60 members were dismissed, embracing those residing in the southern part of Waterbury, (now Naugatuck,) and the adjoining towns of Woodbridge (Bethany) and Hamden, leaving but about thirty with the original church, and these in temporal prosperity by no means the most favored. Elder Samuel Potter took charge of the new church, while Elder Jesse Frost remained with the old .*
Soon after the constitution of the Woodbridge and Salem church, the church in Waterbury erected a house of worship in the northeastern section of the town, which they continued to occupy until the completion of their present house in 1835.
In the year 1827, Elder Jesse Frost, their pastor, was removed by death. The duty of leading the church then devolved upon Dea. Timothy Porter, who had been called by them to accept licensure about a year previous, and who, from this time till 1835, a period of about eight years, gratuitously ministered unto them and performed the various duties of the pastorate.
During this period, the prosperity of the church was constant and marked. Each year witnessed accessions to the number of converts by baptism. In 1828, a special refreshing was enjoyed, when twenty-three were baptized ; and another in 1831, when thirteen were in like manner added to the church. So marked at this time was their spiritual prosperity, as evinced by union and fellowship, as well as in their assemblies where they were wont to meet, that many of the old disciples still look back with earnest longing for a return of the former days. The ordinances were administered during this period by Elder I. Atkins and Elder Samuel Miller, and after his death by Elder William Bentley.
The church now began to suffer much from the inconveniences and inadequacy of their house of worship. This, though located two and a half miles from the centre of population, with benches only for seats, and no means of warming in winter, had yet become too straitened for their numbers, so that their meetings were not un- frequently held in the neighboring groves. Finally, after anxious and mature de- liberation, they decided to ereet a new house of worship in the center of the town. This was known to be a great undertaking, but they felt that the interests of the cause demanded the effort, and they determined cheerfully to incur the burden. They entered into a written compact to subject themselves to a voluntary assess-
* The Woodbridge and Salem church, now extinct, seems to deserve in this connection a passing notice. After the separation, for six years it enjoyed a continual manifestation of the Divine Presence, so that from sixty it increased to one hundred and fifteen members. In 1826, its number was reduced to eighty-eight. In 1528-9, God's presence was again manifest, and forty- five were added by baptism, making about one hundred and thirty actual members. From this period the number gradually declined, till in 1843 the church ceased to be recognized as a member of the Association. Their pastor, Elder Samuel Potter, was removed by death in IS33, Dec. 2. They were then for a time led by Elder David Bradley, and finally, after an interval of some years, by Elder Jacob Sloper, their last pastor. Some of the members afterwards united with the church in Waterbury, and some still remain scattered over the mountains and through the valleys.
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APPENDIX.
ment, the basis of which should be the grand list of the town, apportioned by a committee appointed from their own number. In case any member should feel aggrieved, le might appeal to another committee taken from the church, and finally to one selected from a neighboring church. Upon this basis, they went forward and erected their present house of worship, at a cost of about $6,500, completing it in the year 1835. Rev. Russell Jennings was then chosen their pastor, whose acceptable labors were blessed in a largely increased congregation, and by two special outpourings of the Spirit in the years 1836 and 1838, in which forty were baptized. He resigned in 1838, and the church was supplied during the year following by Rev. E. Savage and Rev. W. Russell.
In 1839, Rev. A. D. Watrous succeeded to the pastorate, during whose minis- tration eighty-one were baptized. He was succeeded by Rev. W. S. Smith in 1840, who remained only a few months. From 1840 to 1844, the church was without a pastor. The congregation, however, was regularly supplied with the preaching of the Word by Rev. G. Allen and Rev. I. Atkins. It was during this period that occurred those dark days of their history which so severely tried their hearts and faith. A large debt had remained upon their house at the time of its com- pletion. Still the debt was not unexpected. But soon after the church was finished, occurred the great financial crisis of 1837, from whose disastrous influence no section of the country was exempt, and whose shock was especially felt by the brethren of Waterbury who had struck hands for building the house of God. Still they struggled on as best they could under the heavy burden, until the yeas 1843 and '44. And it was only when they had voluntarily submitted to three assess- ments, each of 170 cents upon the dollar of the grand list of the town, (so that the assessments had amounted to more han $250 upon every $1000 listed, and over $100 for every person whose head alone stood in the list ; ) it was only when they had seen trusted ones prove false and the faithful well nigh crushed, their house of worship attached by fraudulent claims, and closed for an entire year except from sun to sun on the Sabbath, to save it from passing legally from their hands; it was only when they had been driven to the Legislature for a " Confirming Act," and to the Courts of Chancery for the vindication of their rights; it was only after a series of struggles and sacrifices of this character, by which their resources had become exhausted and their strength and numbers wasted, that they resolved to appeal to neighboring churches for assistance, as their only remaining hope. That assistance was cheerfully and liberally granted. About $700 were thus received, by which, in addition to a fourth subscription in the church, nearly equal to each of the preceding three, they became in 1847 entirely free from pecuniary embarrassment.
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