USA > Massachusetts > History of the Connecticut Valley in Massachusetts, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Vol. I > Part 120
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CIVIL ORGANIZATION.
Ware was incorporated as a town Nov. 25, 1761. The first 4
warrant for a town-meeting was issued by Eleazar Porter, Esq., of Hadley, Feb. 23, 1762, and the meeting held March 9th. William Brakenridge was chosen clerk. lle had been clerk of the precinct from 1757, and held the office until 1777. The first board of selectmen were Samuel Sherman, William Brakenridge, John Davis, Jacob Cummings, and Judah Marsh, who were also assessors; Jacob Cummings, treas- urer. The first town-meetings were called in his Majesty's name, which continued till 1776. Then they were called "in the name of Massachusetts and the people," or " the govern- ment and the people of Massachusetts Bay, in New England," till the adoption of the State Constitution, in 1780, when the present style was adopted, " in the name of the commonwealth of Massachusetts."
The town derived its naine from the river which passes through it, which bears the same nanie from the sources to its junction with the Chicopee, of which it is the middle and longest branch. It abounded with fish, the falls being a famous place for taking salmon. Weirs or wears were con- structed to aid in taking them, and hence the name of Wear River, which was afterward spelled Ware.
The Indian name of the river, " Nenameseck," probably means a fishing-basket, or a place where fish were taken in baskets, being compounded of " Nama," a fish, and " Man- seck," a basket.
The following persons have filled the principal town and precinct offices since the incorporation, and served as repre- sentatives from Ware:
COMMITTEE OF THE PRECINCT.
1743 .- Jacob Cummings, Edward Ayres, and Joseph Simonds.
1744 .- Jabez Omstead, Jacob Cummings, Edward Ayres.
1745 .- Thomas Marsh, Jacob Cummings, Wm. Blackmer.
1746 .- Jacob Cummings, Samuel Huggins, Wm. Blackmer.
1747 .- Jacob Cummings, Judah Marsh, Moses Allen.
1749 .- John Davis, Jacob Cummings, Joseph Simonds.
1750 .- Jacob Cummings, Timothy Brown, John Davis, Joseph Scott, and Edward Demond.
1751 .- John Davis, John Cummings, Timothy Brown, Joseph Scott, and Joseph Wright.
1752 .- Jacob Cummings, Bamiam Lull, Judah Marsh, Samuel Davis, John Davis. 1753,-Wm. Blackmer, Wm. Brakenridge, John Dowening.
1754 .- Jacob Cummings, Edward Demond, Israel Omsted.
1755-56 .- Samuel S. Hermon, Wm. Brakenridge, Jacob Cummings.
1757-58 .- Wm. Brakenridge, Sammel Sherman, Jonathan Rogers.
1759 .- Wm. Brakenridge, Elward Ayres, Joseph Foster.
1760 .- Jacob Cummings, John Davis, John Downing.
1761 .- Jacob Cummings, Wm. Brakenridge, Samuel Sherman.
SELECTMEN.
1762 .- Samuel Sherman, W'm. Brnkemidge, John Davis, Jacob Cummings, Judah Marsh.
1763 .- Wm. Brakenridge, Jacob Cummings, John Davis.
1764 .- Wm. Brakenridge, Samuel Sherman, John Downing.
1765 .- Samuel Sherman, Maverick Smith, Isaac Magoon.
1766 .- W'm. Bell, Isaac Magoon, Abraham Cummings.
1768 .- John Downing, Jonathan Bogers, Isaac Cumming.
1769 .- Jonathan Rogers, Joseph Foster, Benjamin Cumminge.
HISTORY OF HAMPSHIRE COUNTY.
367
1770-71 .- Benjamin Cummings, Samuel Blackmer, Samuel Pinsmore. 1772 .- Isaac Magoon, Samuel Dinsmore, Abraham Cummings.
1773,-Samuel Dinsmore, Joseph Gray, Joseph Foster.
1774 .- Sammuel Dinsmore, Benjamin Cummings, Joseph Fuster.
1775 .- Joseph Foster, Maverick Smith, Samuel Dinsmore, James Lamon, Samuel Blackmer.
1776 .- Samuel Dinsmore, Joseph Foster, Benjamin Cummings, John Downing, James Lamon.
1777 .- Samuel Dinsmore, Joseph Foster, Maverick Smith, David Brown, Daniel Gould.
1778 .- Joseph Paterson, Alexander Magoon, Oliver Coney.
1779 .- Sammel Dinsmore, Oliver Coney, Alexander Magoon, Joseph Foster, James Lamon.
1780 .- Wm. Brakenridge, Abraham Cummings, John Bullen, Thomas Jenkins, Edmond Capon.
1781 .- Capt. Brakenridge, Lieut. Cummings, John Bullen, Deacon Jenkins, Lient. Tuffs.
1782 .- Wn. Paige, Alexander Magoon, Seth Shaw, Jonathan Foster, John Bullen. 1783 .- Samuel Dinsmore, John Adams, Wm. Page, Jonathan Foster, Seth Shaw. 1784 .- Samuel Dinsmore, Capt. Brakenridge, John Adams, Lieut. Cummings, Win. Paige.
1785 .- Capt. Brakenridge, Lieut. Quintin, John Adams, Samuel Dinsmore, Isaac Pepper.
1786 .- Capt. Brakenridge, Moses Brown, Isaac Pepper, Simeon Cummings, Daniel Gould.
1787 .- Capt. Brakenridge, Samuel Dinsmore, John Quintin, Daniel Gould, Jacob Pepper.
1788-89 .- Cap. Brakenridge, Samuel Dinsmore, John Quintin, Daniel Gonld, Jacob l'epper.
1790 .- Samnel Dinsmore, John Quintin, David Brown, Wm. Brakenridge, Wm. Paige.
1791 .- Samuel Dinsmore, John Quintin, David Brown, William Paige, William Anderson.
1792 .- Samuel Dinsmore, John Quintin, David Brown, George Brakemidge, Sim- con Cummings.
1793 .- David Brown, Simeon Cummings, Judah Marsh, Isaac Pepper, Wm. Paige. 1794 .- David Brown, Simeon Cummings, Isaac Pepper, Judah Marsh, George Brakemidge.
1795 .- Simeon Cummings, Judah Marsh, Daniel Gould, Isaac Pepper, David Brown.
1796 .- Daniel Gould, Isaac Pepper, Thomas Quintin, Joseph Cummings, Jona- than Marsh.
1797 .- Isaac Pepper, Jonathan Marsh, George Brakenridge, Joseph Cummings, W'm. Paige.
1798 .- George Thrasher, Isaac Magoon (21), Joseph Cummings, Stephen Pepper, James Brakenridge.
1799 .- Jonathan Marsh, George Thrasher, Isaac Magoon (24), George Braken- ridge, Seth Lamberton.
1800 .- George Brakenridge, Isaac Magoon (21), James Brakenridge, Isaac Pep- per, David Brown.
1801 .- David Brown, Isaac Magoon (2(1), Francis Brakenridge.
1802 .- Joseph Cummings, John Andrews, Francis Brakenridge, Samnel Brown, John Shaw.
1803 .- George Brakemidge, John Andrews, Samnel Brown, John Shaw (2d), Ebenezer Sherman.
How. Charles E. Stevens now of How. Charles A Strong served in the State
Senate in the year 1889. 1890.
1823 .- Warner Brown, Aaron Gould, William S. Brakenridge, Horace Goodrich, Leonard Gould.
1824 .- Leonard Gould, Alpheus Demond, Warner Brown, William S. Braken- ridge, Ilorace Guodrieli.
1825 .- Alpheus Demond, Foster Marsh, Alexander Brakenridge, William Paige, Jr., John Pepper.
1826 .- Aaron Gould, Samuel Gould, Lee Sprague.
1827 .- Stephen Witherell, Benjamin Wilder, William Brakenridge.
1828 .- Benjamin Paige, Alfred Lamberton, Thomas Wilder, Samuel Phelps, Parius Eaton, Jr.
1829 .- William Bowdoin, Thomas Wilder, William S. Brakenridge, Darius Eaton, William Lazell.
1830 .- Thomas Wilder, Thomas Snell, Jr., Joel Rice, Darius Eaton, Reuben La- zell.
1831 .- Aaron Gould, Joel Rice, Thomas Snell, Jr., Royal Bosworthı, Reuben La- zell.
1832,-Joseph Cummings, Thomas Snell, Royal Bosworth, Alexander Braken- ridge, Edmund Freeman.
1833 .- Aaron Gould, Alpheus Demond, Alexander Brakenridge, Elmund Free- man, Alfred Lamberton.
1834 .- Foster Marsh, Aaron Gould, Jason Gorham.
1835 .- Jason Gorham, Judah M. Brakenridge, Enos Davis.
1836 .- Joseph Cummings, Thomas Snell. Joel Rice.
1837 .- Alexander Brakenridge, Wm. Woolworth, Ebenezer Gould.
1838 .- Horace Bartlett, Jesse B. Wetherbee, Alpheus Demond.
1839 .- Jesse B. Wetherbee, Jason Gorham, Gideon Lamberton.
1840 .- Joseph Hartwell, Avery Clark, Jolin Bowdoin.
1841 .- Levans MeClintock, Lewis G. Cummings, Haskell Cummings.
1842 .- Thomas Snell, Darius Eaton, Freeman Pepper, Jr.
1843 .- Freeman Pepper, Jr.,* Franklin Brakenridge, John Bowdoin.
1×44 .- John Bowdoin, John Tolman, Darius Eaton.
1845,-Joseph Eaton, Thomas Snell, John Gardner. 1846 .- Wm. Ilyde, John Gardner, Joseph Hartwell.
1847 .- Wm. Ilyde, Chas. A. Stevens, Ebenezer Gonld.
1848,-Wm. Hyde, Chas. A. Stevens, Seth Goold.
1849 .- Seth Pierce, Elbridge G. White, Lewis Demond,
1850 .- Lewis Demond, Seth Pierce, Ambrose Blair.
1851 .- Samuel T. Spalding, Robert Tucker, Harrison French.
1852 .- Samuel T. Spalding, Robert Tucker, Addison Sandford.
1853 .- Addison Sandford, Geo. H. Gilbert, Ilaskell Cummings.
1854 .- A. Sandford, Lorenzo Demond, Wm. S. Bassett.
1855,-Wm. S. Brakemidge, Joseph Hartwell, Ward Davis, Jr.
1856 .- Charles A. Stevens, Addison Sandford, Nathaniel 11. Anderson,
1857 .- Otis Lane, Lorenzo Demond, N. H. Anderson. 1858 .- Otis Lane, Ambrose Blair, George Rich. 1×59 .- Otis Lane, George Rich, Samuel H. P'helps.
1860 .- S. IT. Phelps, G. II. Gilbert, Lucas Gibbs.
1861 .- S. IT. Phelps, Lucas Gibbs, Win. A. Root.
1862 .- Otis Lane, W. A. Root, J. 11. Pepper. 1863 .- Otis Lane, John II. Pepper, Darius Eaton.
1864 .- Otis Lane, Wm. E. Bassett, Andrew J. Harwood.
1865 .- Barnalas Snow, David P. Billings, Otis Lane.
1866 .- Otis Lane, Chas. A. Stevens, A. J. Harwood.
1×67 .- Otis Lane, Charles A. Stevens, Andrew J. Harwood.
' S. Il. Phelps. ert, Olney Goff. ul, Francis Blair.
, J. Tyler Stevens. hơn, William B. Lawton. wersuo, Patrick Mc Mahon. ahon, Calvin Hitchcock. er, James W. Brakenidge.
TOWN CLERKS.
ings, 1744; John Davis, 1748; Timothy William Brakenridge, 1757; Maverick 2; Abraham Cummings, 1777; David I Brown, 1786; William Paige, 1787; 1811; Joel Rice, 1825; Leonard Gould, 29; William Bowdoin,+ 1830; Leonard
REPRESENTATIVES FROM WARE.#
William Brakenridge, Joseph Foster, and Thomas Jenkins to Provincial Con- gress in 1775.
L'ader the Constitution .- Daniel Gould, 1787; Isaac Pepper, 1788, 1795; William Bowdoin, 1798, 1801-4, 1806-12; Enos Davis, 1813-14; William Paige, Jr., 1815; Joseplı Cummings, 1816-17, 1822; Aaron Gould, 1824-25; William Paige, Jr., Alpheus Demond, 1826; Aaron Gould, 1827-29; Samuel Phelps, 1829; Joel Rice,
* Died in office, and was succeeded by John Tolman.
+ Died in office.
# In the years not named the town was not represented.
Morse.
1814 .- William Bowdoin, Thomas Snell, Thomas Patrick, Calvin Morse, Amasa Anderson.
1815 .- Enos Davis, Jesse Lewis, Alpheus Demond, Calvin Morse, Thos. Patrick. 1816 .- Enos Davis, Alpheus Demond, Daniel Gould, Jr., Abner Lewis, Amasa Anderson.
1817 .- Benjamin Paige, Alphens Demond, Amasa Anderson, Abner Lewis, John Gardner.
1818 .- Enos Davis, Richard Lewis, Aaron Goukdl, Joseph Cummings, Jr., Benja- min Paige.
1819,-Joseph Cummings, Jr., Aaron Goukel, William Coney, Alpheus Demond, William Paige, Jr. 1820 .- William Bowdoin, John Brakenridge, Benjamin Paige, Foster Marsh, Simeon Cummings.
1821 .- Foster Marsh, John Brakemidge, Joel Rice. 1822 .- Foster Marsh, John Brakemidge, Warner Brown.
would, 1801; George w. Porter, 1832; Jason Gorham, 1837; Lewis Demond, 1839; Francis De Witt, 1850; William HI. Willard, 1853; E. L. Brainerd, 1855; R. L. Hathaway, 1856 (September 27th); Stephen B. Witherell, 1858 (November 4th) ; Francis De Witt, 1861; S. B. Witherell, 1863; George K. Cutler, 1866; Lewis P. Edwards, 1868; Ilubert M. Coney, 1872; Almer F. Richardson, 1876.
368
HISTORY OF THE CONNECTICUT VALLEY.
1830; Aaron Gonki, Joel Rice, 1831; Allender Brakenridge, Ilomer Bartlett, 1832; Alpheus Demond, Enos Davis, 1833 ; Calvin Morse, Benjamin Willer, 1834; Thomas Wilder, John Osborne, Jr., 1835; Thomas Wilder, Reuben Lazell, 1x36; Edmund Freemao, Reuben Lazell, 1837; Thomas Snell, Royal Bosworth, 1838; Thomas Soell, Jason Gurham, 1839; John Bowdoin, Nelson Palmer, 1840; Joel Rice, 1841; Ebenezer Gould, 1842; Horace Goodrich, 1843; Jonathan Harwood, 1×44; Ansel Phelps, Jr., 1845; Samuel M. Lemmion, 1846; Avery Clark, 1847; Ira P. Gould, 1851 ; Harrison French, 1852; Charles A. Stevens, 1853; William E. Bassett, 1854; Freenian W. Dickinson, 1855; Samuel H. Phelps, 1856; George II. Gilbert, 1857; Benjamin Davis, Jr., 185%; Lewis Demond, 1860; Sammuel Morse, 1861 ; Joseph Hartwell, 1863; Luther Chapin, Jr., 1864; William E. Lewis 18GG; llenry Bassett, 186%; Benjamin F. Angell, 1870; John W. Robinson, 1872; Heary C. Davis, 1874; Addison Sandford, 1876; Frederick N. Hosmer, 1879.
VILLAGES AND HAMLETS. WARE VILLAGE,
situated on Ware River, is a thriving manufacturing place. It sprang up about the year 1824, when the manufacturing enter- prises of the town first began to assume importance, and has steadily increased. Prior to that time the business of the town had been principally transacted at the centre, and it was not until 1847 that the place for holding town-meetings was transferred to the village.
The latter comprises a population of about 3000, nearly three-fourths of the population of the town, and is regularly and uniformly laid out and lighted with gas. It contains two hotels, five churches, five factories, a large number of stores, and many handsome dwelling-houses, and is the place of residence of a large number of persons of wealth, refine- ment, and culture.
Several serious conflagrations have occurred in the village since its existence. The first of these was the burning of the large brick factory of the Otis Company in 1845. The block on the west side of Main Street, opposite the Hampshire ITonse, was burned in 1848 or '49 ; the Ware Hotel in Deeem- ber, 1864. Sanford's store was burned in March, 1866 or '67. The town-hall and Unitarian Church Nov. 6, 1867, and the Baptist Church in 1860.
WARE CENTRE
is situated about two miles west of the village. Here the first meeting-house of the town was erected and the earliest meetings of the settlers held, and for many years the inhabi- tants " went up" there " to worship God." Flat Brook, coming down from the north, passes through the village, and its power has been utilized from the earliest day by various small industrial enterprises.
The hamlet contains a Congregational Church, a saw-mill, a shoe-factory, a blacksmith-shop, and a number of pleasant dwelling-houses. It was here that the celebrated "Snell's augers" were first made.
EDUCATIONAL INTERESTS.
The first action of the town upon the subject of schools, as appears by the records, was in January, 1757, when it was
" Voted to Devid ye Peraish into two parts for a scool, and flat Brook to be ye deviding Line."
" Voted Joseph Scott to take care of the West part. Voted William Bracken- ridge to take care of the East Part."
At this time no money was raised for schools, nor does any appear to have been raised for any other purpose than for preaching until after the incorporation of the town in 1762. At the first town-meeting it was voted to divide the town into four quarters, by a live running east and west by the meeting-house, and by Flat Brook north and south. At the saine meeting it was
"Voted, to raise £12 for Skoling," and that " Eatch Quarter shall Skool out there part within the year or be forfit."
The same sum was granted the year following and in 1766. In 1771 only £4 was raised ; in 1772, €14; and in 1774, £15.
For several years thereafter no money was raised for schools. The town-meetings were mostly occupied in providing sol- diers for the Revolutionary army, and in paying them and providing for their families.
In 1782, £20 were appropriated for schools, the districts re- maining as formerly. In 1785 it was voted to divide the town into six districts, and the location of school-houses was then first determined as follows :
" One school-honse to be near Mr. Joseph Chandler's house, one by the pound, one by Mr. James Lamon's, one by Phinehas Converse's, oue by Moses Davis's, and one by John Gilmore's."
The year following £72 were raised to erect these houses. In 1787, £36 more were raised, and, in 1791, £12 were raised to build a school-house in the middle of the town.
In 1794, £48 were granted for schools. This was during the ministry of the Rev. Reuben Moss, who did much to raise the character of the schools. For nearly twenty years not a teacher was employed from out of town, while all the neigh- boring towns sought teachers in Ware. Hon. Joseph Cum- nings taught seven winters in New Braintree, receiving $20 per month, being much more than was usually paid in those times. Another early teacher was Samuel Clerk, for whose benefit the following vote was passed in 1783 :
" Voted, to allow Mr. Samuel Clerk an order for £1 17s. Gd. for his keeping school, and also Interest for Two orders from the time they became dew."
In 1797 the town voted to divide the school money into eight parts, £10 to each district. The appropriation for schools in that year was $266.67, and this amount was regu- larly increased at intervals, until in 1840 it had reached $1250. The appropriation in 1878 was 86800.
At the present time there are 19 schools in the town,-one high school, in which the higher branches of education are taught and preparation made for college, a high and grammar school, and grammar, intermediate, primary, mixed, and dis- triet schools. The number of pupils in attendance upon all the schools of the town on March 1, 1878, was 856, of whom 600 attended the village schools. The whole are under the control of a board of six, two of whom are chosen annually for three years.
RELIGIOUS.
FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH.
" Up to the time of the organization of the East Congregational Society, in 1826, there was but one religious society in town. All the business relating to the settlement and support of ministers was transacted in towo-meeting. Ou May 5, 1743, the Precinct ' voted to hire Mr. Dickinson to preach among us until the forty pounds we granted is spent.' In March, 1744, sixty pounds were raised for the support of the gospel, and several candidates employed. In November, 1745, Mr. Henry Carey was invited to settle as their minister, but declined.
" Soon after the incorporation of the precinct efforts were made to build a house of worship, but they could not agree upon the spot. Nathaniel Dwight, of Belchertown, was employed to find the geographical centre of the towo, which is a few rods north of the meeting-house now stamling in the west parish. In 1748 it was voted 'to build a honse 40 by 35, 18 feet posts, to pay twelve shillings, old tenor, for common laborers, eighteen sliillings for team and cart.' But nothing efficient was done until September, 1750, when it was voted to Imild a house 30 by 25, 15 feet posts. 'Voted, to raise the sum of thirty ponods thirteen shillings and four pence, lawful money, to defray the charges of building and covering the meeting-house. £20 13. 4d. to be paid in labor and covering and slitwork, provided that every frechulder will pay to the committee or collector the labor or materials his due proportion ; that he shall be assessed upon snitalde notice, and four pounds for to procure nails for the meeting-house. Voted, that labor shall be set at the value of eighteen shillings per day, and team work an- sweralle, and boards at nine pounds, equal to old tenor, and shingles at four wwounds ten shillings, old tenor.' Jacob Cummings, Joseph Scott, Edward Ayres, Samuel Allen, and John Taplin were chosen building committee. It was sonie years before the house was completed, if it was ever entirely done. 'Sept. 4, 1760, it was voted to have an alley three feet wide between the wien's and women's seats.' In June, 1762, ' voted to allow Thomas Andrews six pounds to plaister the meeting-house over head.' Sept. 24, 1766, ' Voted, that Thomas An- drews shall halve the boards overhead in the meeting-house, and is to have what the workmen judge it worth for said halving.' It was used as a place of worship until the year 1800, when the house that has been recently remodeled in the west parish was built.
" March, 1750-51, 'it was voted to ordain the worthy Mr. Grindall Rawson in this precinct, on the second Wednesday in May next.'
" Mr. Rawson's salary for the first two years was to he £45, the third year three pounds to be added, and four pounds annually afterward till it should be sixty pounds, and £100 settlement. Ile was ordained May 8, 1751.$ The same duy a
* The council at the ordination of Mr. Rawson were Rev. John Campbell, of Oxford.
" Grindall Rawson, of Hallyme, Conn.
369
HISTORY OF HAMPSHIRE COUNTY.
church was organized, but it is not known of how many members it consisted. It must have been small, as the whole number which had been admitted at the time of Mr. Rawson's dismission, Jan. 19, 1754, was Imt 43. But little is known of Mr. Rawson's history or character. Traditional accounts represent him as a man of little seriousness, comeliness, or refinement. Some disaffection seems to have shown itself soon after his settlement, for May 12, 1752, it was voted 'to reconsider the vote giving Mr. Rawson a call, and for paying the salary and settlement.' The collectors neglected or refused to collect the taxes for his salary, and a petition was sent to his Majesty's council and House of Represent- atives, asking power to exense the collectors, and choose others in their stead, which was granted.
" It does not appear that any council was called to dissolve the connection. Mr. Rawson was afterward settled in Yarmouth, Mass., in 1755, where he re- mained but a few years. He is believed to have been a chaplain in the Revolu- tion .*
" After Mr. Rawson's dismission, there does not appear to have been regular preaching for some time. Tbe poverty of the people rendered it exceeding diffi- cult to collect the taxes. It appears the precinct ' voted, Jan. 1, 1755, that the collectors of Ware River Parish that are behind in their collections, pay in and make up their collection to the Parish Committee, excepting so much as the court assigned to Mr. Rawson, by the hand of Mr. Edward Ayres, for this reason, that the Parish Treasurer is reduced to such low circumstances that the parish are not willing to trust any more in his hands.'
" In the fall of 1758 the church and Precinct called Mr. Ezra Thayer to become their minister, and he was ordained Jan. 10, 1759. His salary was to be £40 for three years, tben £3 to be added yearly till it became £53, and as settlement £100. A deed of the parsonage land is acknowledged by him as part of the settlement, £66 13s. 4d. He lived where Stephen Bonnay now lives. To this time the church had no confession of faith, and one was proposed by the ordain- ing council and adopted. The half-way covenant plan prevailed to considerable extent, and injured the prosperity of the church, Mr. Thayer continued to be minister till his death, Feb. 12, 1775. Seventy-nine were received into the church in full communion during his ministry.
" Mr. Thayer was a native of Mendon, graduated at Harvard College, 1756. IIe is said to have been a plain man, of pleasing address, and to have secured the routidence of the people. The town erected a tombstone to mark the place of his burial, ns a token of their respect.
" In 1780, Mr. Winslow Packard was invited to become the minister, but de- clined this, as well as a redewal of the call. In 1785, Mr. Jeremiah Hallock preached as a candidate, and an unsuccessful attempt was made to settle him. While he was preaching in town, an unusual interest was manifested in religion. He was afterward an eminent minister at Canton, Conn., and an interesting mnemoir of him was compiled by Rev. Cyrus Yale, of New Hartford, Conn.
the people. Twice during his ministry he was afflicted with derangement, and died at the age of fifty.t
"July 9, 1810, Rev. Samnel Ware was invited to settle as minister, and was ordained October 31st. Salary, $400, and a settlement of $500, if he should re- main fifteen years. He was a useful minister, and was much blessed in his lahors for more than fifteen years, and gathered 197 inte the church-177 by profession, and 20 by letter from other churches. He was dismissed in conse- qnence of ill health, in 1826, and the following vote, passed by the town July 3d, will show the esteem in which he was held: 'Voted unanimously, that, agree- ally to his request, we dismiss and cordially recommend the Rev. Samuel Ware as an exemplary Christian, and an able, judicious, and faithful minister of the gospel.'
"July 19, 1826, Rev. Augustus B. Reed, a native of Rehoboth, and graduate of Brown University in 1821, was installed as pastor of the church and people. The same council dismissed Mr. Ware. To this time all business pertaining to the affairs of the parish had been dode in town-meeting. Mr. Reed continued the minister of the first parish until June 5, 1838, when he was dismissed on ac- count of feeble health. He died in town, Sept. 30, 1838, aged nearly forty.
" Rev. Hervey Smith, his successor, was installed Sept. 19, 1838, and dismissed in 1840.
" Rev. William E. Dixon, of Enfield, Conn., a graduate of Williams College, was ordained Jan. 14, 1841, and dismissed May 26, 1842.
" Rev. David N. Coburn, from Thompson, Conn., a graduate of Amherst Col- lege, was ordained Sept. 21, 1842, and was dismissed April 17, 1854."
Rev. Seth W. Banister, the successor of Mr. Coburn, was installed May 23, 1855, and dismissed June 1, 1857. Rev. Ariel P. Chute, the next pastor, was installed Sept. 22, 1857, and dismissed May 21, 1861.
Rev. William G. Tuttle, the present pastor of the church, is a native of Littleton, Mass., graduated at Amherst College in 1846, and at Andover Theological Seminary in 1849. Ile was for over nine years pastor of the Congregational Church at Harrisville, N. H., and was installed pastor of the church in Ware Oct. 10, 1861. During his ministry 127 persons have been added to his church, and several remarkable seasons of revival have occurred, notably in 1865, 1868, 1871, 1872, 1874, and 1876.
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