USA > Connecticut > Hartford County > The memorial history of Hartford County, Connecticut, 1633-1884, Vol. II > Part 33
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2 At the first annual meeting, held Dec. 2, 1754, a committee was appointed "to aply themselves to the Townd of Farmington in behalf of this Society to Desier them to appoint a Comtt. fully Impowered to lay out Highways by exchanging or otherwise, as they can agree with the oners, & where they judg most convenient for ye accommodating ye Inhabitants of this Society, to travail to ye Place Apointed by ye County Court to build a House for Religious worship."
.
Johnb Takeany
283
NEW BRITAIN.
and boards sufficient for the floor " and the outside in order for clap- boarding." The size of the building, as voted by the society, was to be forty-five feet in length, thirty-five feet in width, and twenty-two feet high between joists ; but when erected it was somewhat larger.
During the spring and summer of 1755 the timber which had been cut from the forests of New Britain was prepared for the frame, which was raised in the early autumn. The house was covered with oak clap- boards and the roof with chestnut shingles, all produced in the parish. The floor was laid carly in the spring of 1756, and rough seats were procured, so that the house could be occupied for preaching services ; but the interior was not finished until some years afterward.
This first meeting-house in New Britain was located on the west side of the highway, now Elm Street, near a ledge of rocks which gave pic- turesqueness to the situation. A grove of trees reserved from the primitive forest partially surrounded the place. Roads from different parts of the society were altered when necessary, so as to converge to this locality. An open space in front of the building was termed " the parade," and for more than fifty years was used as the rendezvous of the local militia. The meeting-house had neither steeple nor bell, and in form was not unlike a large barn. On the east side were large double doors constituting the main entrance, but a single door at each end also gave ingress to the audience-room. On the opposite side from the main entrance was the high pulpit, over which was a huge canopy, or sounding-board, supported by iron rods.
When finished, some years later, a broad aisle led from the main door to the communion-table in front of the pulpit. Narrow aisles, leaving the broad aisle near the principal entrance, passed to the right and left around the "square body," intersecting the broad aisle in front of the pulpit. Square pews, with vertical sides, against which the hard uncushioned seats were placed, with a narrow door fastened with a wooden button, filled the square body and were also arranged around the ontsides of the house. A gallery on the right of the pulpit for men, and one on the opposite side for women, completed the interior arrange- ment. The stairs to the galleries ascended from the audience-room.
About eighty rods east of the church, on a lane one rod wide, which was afterward increased in width and named Smalley Street, the small burying-ground was located.1 Additions have been made to this ser- eral times, and the large town cemetery with its walks and roads is the result.
For some time after the organization of this society the pastors of neighboring churches officiated in the parish, - the preaching ser- vices, as well as the week-day meetings, being held in private houses. The society found it difficult to obtain a settled pastor. In the latter part of the autumn and in the early winter of 1754 the Rev. Stephen Holmes preached thirteen Sundays, but was not settled as a pastor. During the next three years a number of ministers preached for a time, and a call was given to the Rev. John Bunnel in 1755, to the Rev. Amos
1 The ground was part of the Lee farm, and the lane leading past it was deeded to the town of Farmington in 1755, by Dr. Isaae Lee, of Middletown. It is described as being "one rod wide, and half a mile and six rods long, butted east on the highway that runs by the house where my son Stephen now dwells." Deacon Josiah Lee, a brother of Dr. Lee, deeded the other half of this street to the town. At a society meeting held in 1755, "Stephen Lee was chosen to Dig the graves for ye inhabitants of this society as Need shall require."
284
MEMORIAL HISTORY OF HARTFORD COUNTY.
Fowler in 1756, and to the Rev. James Taylor in 1757; but all these invitations were declined, or, if any one of them was accepted, some- thing prevented a settlement.1
At last, after many efforts, and application had been made to the Hartford South Association for advice, Mr. John Smalley was invited to preach as a probationer. He came in December, 1757, and preached for a few Sundays with so much acceptance to the people that at a society meeting held Jan. 9, 1758, it was unanimously voted to choose him for their minister.2 The call was accepted, and arrangements were made for his settlement.3
At this time, nearly four years from the organization of the society, no church had been formed, all action for procuring the preaching of the gospel and maintaining the ordinances having been taken by the society. An ecclesiastical council, to organize a church if deemed ex- pedient and to ordain Mr. Smalley, was convened at New Britain, April 18, 1758.4 The next day, April 19, a church of over sixty members was organized, and Mr. Smalley was ordained according to the Saybrook Platform, by the imposition of hands and with fasting and prayer. With a church formed and provision made for the regular preaching of the gospel, the society proceeded to finish the interior of the meeting- house and place under it suitable underpinning. But money was scarce, and the work went forward slowly. A committee was appointed Jan. 8, 1759, to procure material and carry on the work, but several years elapsed before all the work was completed.5 Notes were given for some of the bills, for which the society committee were sued, and some unpleasantness was caused in the society. The work was finished at last, and the meeting-house became the place of assembling for the whole parish, not only for Sunday services, but for other public meet- ings. For more than fifty years after this house was occupied by the First Church and Society there was no other church organization in
1 The following, from the records of a society meeting held May 13, 1755, exhibits some- what the urgeney of the situation : "Att the same meeting, Sargt. Ebenezer Smith, Sargt. Woodroff, Mr. John Judd & Isaac Lee were appointed a committee to aply themselves to Mr. Jolin Bunnell in behalf of this Society, to pray him to Reconsider the request of this Society & our Needy circumstances & ye Ill consequences of his Denial and see if there be anny way to Remove the Objections that lay in the way of his setteling in the work of ye Ministry Amongst us, etc. - But if he still continues to Denigh our Request & pursist in a Negative answer after all our Impertunities, that they be Directed to aply themselves in behalf of this Society to Mr. Elizer Goodrich of ye parish of Stepney & pray him to com into this Society and preach ye Gospel Amongst us ; and if he is not to be obtained, then to procner sum other sutable candidate or candidates to preach ye gospel amongst us."
2 The record says "ye society unanimously voted to choose Mr. John Smalley for their minister, and to proceed to his settelnent in ye work of ye Gospill ministry amongst us." The salary was also voted, but after consultation with Mr. Smalley it was finally agreed that he should receive one hundred and fifty pounds as settlement and a salary of fifty pounds a year for three years, and then sixty pounds and twenty cords of wood annually.
3 Mr. Smalley's letter of acceptance was as follows : "The parish of New Britain having given me a call to settel among them in ye work of ye Gospel ministry, I do hereby signify my compliance therewith so far as to acquiesee in ye Terms, and to Refer ye matter to ye appro- bation and advice of ye Rev'd Association to which said parish belongs. JOHN SMALLEY.
"NEW BRITAIN, March 6, 1758."
4 This council was composed of eight clergymen and ten laymen, the Rev. William Rus- sell, of Windsor, being moderator.
5 In February, 1762, "a committee was appointed to go on to finish the Lower Part of ye meeting Honse and Pulpit and ye Galery floor and ye front Round ye Galery the Insuing summer and that ye Square Body of said meeting House shall be finished by Pews and not by long seats."
285
NEW BRITAIN.
New Britain. Near the meeting-house were the " Sabbath-day houses," furnished with a few seats and a table. Application was made to the town of Farmington for a grant of land from the forty-rod highway for Mr. Smalley. The town granted him a tract of twelve acres, which was upon the west side of Main Street, and extended from the foot of Dublin Hill as far south as the line of the railroad. The land was sold to Colonel Isaac Lee by Mr. Smalley, who in 1759 purchased of William Patterson twenty-six acres on East Street, with a house and other build- ings. This place, known as the Rhodes Place, was the residence of Dr. Smalley until 1788, when he bought the house and lot on East Main Street, where he passed the latter years of his life. The parish slowly but steadily increased both in population and wealth. In 1785 the meeting-house was repaired and improved.1 The improvement in the meeting-house was accompanied by other improvements ; the cultivation of church music was especially noteworthy. In August, 1786, the pru- dential committee was authorized "to draw on the treasury not ex- ceeding six pounds for the Incurreging of singing in this society to the best advantage." Other appropriations were made, and in 1789 the committee was instructed " to procuer such Instruments of Musick as they think Propper and Decent."
In the autumn of 1809, when Dr. Smalley had reached the age of seventy-five, and had been more than fifty-one years pastor of the church, he was at his own request partially relieved from pastoral work, and a colleague was called. Dr. Smalley continued to preach occasionally until September, 1813, when his last sermon was de- livered, nearly fifty-six years after the beginning of his preaching in New Britain. The pastorate of Dr. Smalley was eventful and fruit- John Smalley ful, and covered an important period of national history. It in- cluded part of the time of the French and Indian War; the whole period of the American Revolu- tion, and of the French Revolution of 1789; of the rise of Russia; the foundation of the English dominion in India; the partition of Poland; and of other political changes which affected nearly all the nations of Europe. The leading men in the parish were intelligent, and well acquainted with the political history and the prevailing thought of the times in which they lived. They sometimes differed with their pastor, and they did not hesitate to express their opinions frankly, and at times emphatically ; but the relation of pastor and people was mutually kind and affectionate. Dr. Smalley's ministry resulted in important gains to the church, in increasing strength and influence to the society, and in the growth of intellectual and moral character in New Britain. During his pastorate there were several seasons of special religious interest; the year 1784 being noted espe- cially as the time of the " Great Awakening."
Mr. Newton Skinner, a native of East Granby, was ordained and installed as colleague pastor with Dr. Smalley, Feb. 14, 1810. Mr. Skinner had a settlement of three hundred dollars, and an annual salary
1 " Lieut. John Belden, Captain James North, Ensign Lewis Andrus and Elnathan Smith were apointed to shingle and clapbord the meeting-Honse with pine clabord and Shingles and also Coller the same with a Fashenable Coller."
286
MEMORIAL HISTORY OF HARTFORD COUNTY.
of six hundred dollars, from which in a few years he saved enough to enable him to purchase a farm. He bought the house and lot at the corner of East and Smalley streets, and afterward purchased other real estate. He was a good farmer, and by economy and good manage- et. Skinner Pol. Pastor mentaccumulated property, which at his death in 1825 was inventoried at ten
thousand dollars. During Mr. Skinner's ministry of fifteen years the changes in the place which had commenced in the latter part of Dr. Smalley's pastorate were becoming more marked. The present centre of the town and city was gradually transforming from a staid farming community into a thrifty manufacturing village. Thought was quick- ened, new enterprises were planned, the proportion of young people was increased, and society was gradually changing. The first Sunday- school society in Hartford County was organized in this parish in 1816, and Mr. Skinner was made the first president.
The revival of 1821 added to the number of church-goers, and a demand seemed to exist for additional accommodations for the people who were accustomed to attend preaching services. A lot for a new meeting-house was presented to the society by Isaac Lee, and in 1822 a neat and commodious church edifice was erected at a cost of about six thousand dollars in addition to what was obtained for the old meeting-house. This building was located at the corner of Main and East Main streets, where the Burritt School now stands, and for many years its attractive exterior appearance and convenient interior arrange- ments were admired, and its more central location contributed to the growth of both church and society. The settled pastors of this church have been : -
Rev. John Smalley, D.D., Newton Skinner,
settled April 19, 1758, died June 1, 1820. Mar. 31, 1825.
Feb. 14, 1810,
Henry Jones, Oct. 12, 1825, dismissed Dec. 19, 1827.
66 Jonathan Cogswell, D.D.,
April 29, 1829, 66 April 23, 1834.
Dwight M. Seward, D.D.,
66 Feb. 3, 1836,
June 15, 1842.
66 Chester S. Lyman,
66 Feb. 15, 1843, 66 April 23, 1845.
66 Charles S. Sherman,
66
July 2, 1845,
Sept. 5, 1849.
66 Ebenezer B. Andrews,
66
June 26, 1850,
Nov. 12, 1851.
Horace Winslow,
66
Dec. 29, 1852,
Dec. 20, 1857.
66 Lavalette Perrin, D.D.,
66
Feb. 3, 1858,
May 31, 1870.
66 Jolm H. Denison,
66
Feb. 8, 1871, 66 Sept. 26, 1878.
66 Elias H. Richardson, D.D.,
66 Jan. 7, 1879,
died June 27, 1883.
G. Stockton Burroughs, Ph. D.,
Feb. 7, 1884.
Among the ministers who have officiated in this parish, but were not settled pastors, may be mentioned the Rev's Charles A. Goodrich, Asahel Nettleton, D.D., Thomas H. Gallaudet, LL.D., Nathaniel W. Taylor, D.D., Noah Porter, D.D., and Oliver E. Daggett.
The organization of another Congregational church in New Britain had been contemplated for some time, when at a meeting held June 28, 1842, it was voted : -
" That this church unite in calling a meeting of the Hartford South Conso- ciation, to assemble in this village on Tuesday, the 5th day of July next, at nine o'clock A. M., in reference to forming and organizing a new Congregational church in this parish, provided they deem it expedient."
287
NEW BRITAIN.
In compliance with this request the Consociation met on the day fixed, and, after hearing those in favor and those opposed, voted that it was " expedient that another church be formed." After this action of the Consociation one hundred and twenty members withdrew to form the South Church, leaving two hundred and seven members remaining in the First Church. In 1855 the present large and commodious brick church edifice was completed and dedicated. Its favorable location, - opposite the city park, - and its complete arrangements of chapel, pastor's study, and social rooms, well adapt it to the needs of this large church and parish. The membership of the church is now six hundred and thirty-three.
The South Congregational Church was organized July 5, 1842, by the Hartford South Consociation. It was composed of one hundred and twenty members, who by ad- vice of the council were dismissed from the First Church to constitute a new church. On the 18th of November, 1842, this church in- vited the Rev. Samuel Rockwell to become its pastor. The call was accepted, and Mr. Rockwell was installed Jan. 3, 1843. After a ministry of fifteen and a half years, during which two hundred and sey- enty members were added to the church, he was, at his own request, dismissed June 20, 1858.
The Rev. Constans L. Goodell, D.D., was ordained and installed over the church Feb. 2, 1859. His ministry continued nearly four- teen years, when on account of
SHUTTLE
SOUTH CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH.
.
288
MEMORIAL HISTORY OF HARTFORD COUNTY.
Mrs. Goodell's health, and at his own request, he was dismissed Nov. 18, 1872. During Mr. Goodell's ministry five hundred and sixty-one mem- bers were added to the church. The Rev. Henry L. Griffin was ordained and installed as pastor Oct. 1, 1873. At his own request he was dis- missed Dec. 20, 1877. During his pastorate of four years two hundred and thirty-eight members were added to the church.
In three months after Mr. Griffin was dismissed, the Rev. James W. Cooper was installed pastor, - March 20, 1878. The church has never been without a settled pastor a year at any one time since it was organ- ized. The membership, Jan. 1, 1885, was seven hundred and three, - one of the largest of the Congregational churches in the State. The Sunday school connected with this church has more than one thousand members, and a carefully selected library of over eighteen hundred vol- umes. The first house of worship was completed in the spring of 1842. It was built of wood, at a cost of about eight thousand dollars. Gal- leries were added subsequently. The present church edifice of brown stone was completed in January, 1868. It stands on the site of the first church built for this society.
The First Baptist Church in New Britain was organized June 16, 1808, with twenty members. A few persons had been immersed pre- vious to this time, and meetings had been held in private houses or in a school-house. These meetings were continued, with occasional preach- ing services, by ministers from other parishes until 1828, when a plain but neat building about twenty feet by thirty was erected for religious meetings. This church was located at the head of Main Street, near the foot of Dublin Hill, and served this society for public worship until 1842, when another church edifice, about forty feet by sixty, was built on the site of the present Baptist church, at the corner of Main and West Main streets. In 1869 the present spacious and convenient brick church, about one hundred feet in length by sixty in width, was erected. This building was newly slated and a new organ procured in 1884. The renewal of church edifices indicates to some extent the rapid growth of this prosperous society. From a membership of twenty at the organi- zation of the church, and one hundred and seventy-four in 1843 - after the second church was built - the increase has been to five hundred and sixteen church members in 1884. The first pastor, the Rev. Seth Higby, was settled over the parish in 1828, before the first church was built. The settled pastors of this church have been : -
Rev. Seth Higby, 1828-1829. Rev. W. P. Pattison, 1847-1850. Nathan E. Shailer. 1829-1832. Robert J. Wilson, 1851-1852.
Amos D. Watrous, 1834-1836. 66 E. P. Bond, 1852-1865.
66 Matthew Bolles, 1838-1839.
Wm. C. Walker, 1865-1871.
Harmon S. Havens, 1839-1841.
J. V. Schofield, 1871-1876.
66 Levi F. Barney, 1841-1846.
66 E. Cushman, 1846-1847.
66 Geo. H. Miner, 1877-1884.
Methodist meetings appear to have been held for a time in private houses, principally under the leadership of Oliver Weldon, previous to 1815, when a preaching service was held by the Rev. H. Bass at the school-house on Osgood Hill. The first class, of twenty persons, was formed by the Rev. David Miller in 1818. The first church building for this society was erected in 1828 on the site of the present church.
289
NEW BRITAIN.
There had been occasional preaching before in school-houses and private houses. The first service in the church was a quarterly meeting held in 1828, before the interior was furnished with permanent seats.
For several years the preacher who ministered to this church also supplied some other. In 1839 Farmington Mission and New Britain were supplied by the same preacher, and in 1840 and 1841 Berlin, Farmington, and New Britain had one preacher for all. From about this time the church increased more rapidly in numbers, and the con- gregation soon became so large that the time of the pastor was given to this parish alone. In 1854 a larger and more commodious church edifice was erected on the site of the old church. In 1869 changes were made in the interior which much improved the audience-room and made the church pleasant and attractive. A parsonage was also erected the same year.
The first service of the Protestant Episcopal Church of New Britain was held in the academy building on East Main Street, Jan. 17, 1836, the Rev. Silas Totten, D.D., of Trinity College, Hartford, officiating. On the 17th of April a service was held in the same place by Bishop Brownell. St. Mark's parish was organized Ang. 28, 1836, the Rev. N. S. Wheaton, D.D., President of Trinity College, presiding, when the following officers were elected : wardens, Lorenzo P. Lee and Ira E. Smith ; vestrymen, Emanuel Russell, F. T. Stanley, Hezekiah Seymour, George Francis, Ralph Dickinson, and Cyrus Booth. The first church building of this parish was a small wooden structure situated on the north side of East Main Street, near the residence of the Hon. G. M. Landers. It was con- secrated Dee. 7, 1837, by the Right Rev. Thomas C. Brownell. This building was sold in 1848, and the present church building on West Main Street was erected. The increase of communicants and the con- tinued increase of the congregation made further enlargement neces- sary; and in 1859 an addition was made to the church, and a chapel built, which furnished ample accommodations. From the organization of the parish until April 16, 1837, the Rev. N. S. Wheaton, D.D., offici- ated. His successors have been : -
Rev. Thomas Davis, Z. H. Mansfield,
officiating, 66 June, 1838-Nov. 1840.
rector, Dec. 2, 1840-Dec. 29, 1845.
Charles R. Fisher,
.6 Abner Jackson, Alexander Capron, rector, ..
officiating, Jan. 1846-April, 1846. April 19, 1846-Dec. 23, 1848. Jan. 1849-Easter, 1855. May 6, 1855-Jan. 3. 1864.
Francis T. Russell,
.. Leonidas B. Baldwin,
Ang. 31, 1864-July 31, 1870.
J. C. Middleton,
April 18, 1871-Sept. 9, 1874.
66 John II. Drumm,
66 March 1, 1875-March 31, 1877.
66 William E. Snowdon,
April 10, 1877-May 1, 1880.
66 John Henry Rogers, .. Sept. 12, 1880-
In 1836 there were but eight communicants: in 1862 there were one hundred and thirteen, and in 1883 one hundred and eighty-three, with one hundred and twelve families in the parish.
About the year 1842, by request, the Rev. William Stickney, a Uni- versalist minister of Berlin, preached in the school-house on South Main VOL. II. - 19.
April 23, 1837-May, 1838.
66 John Williams, D.D., S
John M. Guion,
290
MEMORIAL HISTORY OF HARTFORD COUNTY.
Street. Other clergymen of this denomination, at irregular intervals, preached in school-houses or elsewhere in New Britain. May 31, 1874, the First Universalist Society was organized in a private house. The Rev. S. A. Davis, who had been instrumental in the organization of this church, was employed nearly seven years as a supply, usually holding service once in two weeks. The Rev. M. W. Tabor was the supply in 1880 for about a year, when different persons preached until 1883. The Rev. D. L. R. Libby, then pastor of the Forest Street Universalist Church, Medford, Mass., received a call from the society, which was accepted, and he entered upon his work in this parish April 1, 1883. The society for some years held their meetings in Odd Fellows Hall. In June, 1884, the State Missionary purchased a lot for a church on Court Street, upon which a neat and commodious brick church was erected the same year at a cost of about $13,000. The society has increased in numbers during the last few years, and in the autumn of 1884 had about eighty members.
Special services in the German language were begun in the First Baptist Church in February, 1871, by the Rev. Mr. Dietz, of New Haven. The first baptism of a believer occurred May 6, 1871. Mr. Dietz was in Germany during the summer, his place being supplied by the Rev. Mr. Kohler. On Mr. Dietz's return in the autumn he resumed charge, as- sisted by the Rev. Mr. Rabe, under whose ministry several persons were baptized and added to the membership of the First Baptist Church. The work was continued, the services being conducted in German by differ- ent German ministers until 1877, when the Rev. Charles Schmidt was called as a regular pastor. He began his work in 1878, preaching in German in the Baptist church in the afternoon of each Sunday, with Sunday school in the same place in the morning. The work was prosecuted as a branch of the Baptist Church until the increase of numbers seemed to make a separate organization advisable. On July 9, 1883, the German Baptist Church was formed, and the Rev. Charles Schmidt was ordained as pastor. A building lot on Elm Street was bought, and a neat and convenient chapel was erected. This was dedi- cated Jan. 1, 1884. The Rev. Mr. Schmidt resigned May 1, and was succeeded by the Rev. J. D. Weimar, the present pastor.
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