USA > Maine > Franklin County > Farmington > History of Farmington, Maine, from its First settlement to the year 1846 > Part 6
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9
W
70
HISTORY OF FARMINGTON.
and soon removed to the east side and built what is now called the Backus Shop in the Center. Village, where he continued business the most os the time to his death in 1841 .-- The Blacksmith business was commenced at Fairbanks' Mills by a Mr. Allen in 1812, who continued but a short time, and was suc- ceeded by another man by the name of Allen. After him Robert Bangs prosecuted the business .-- Ephraim J. Green commenced in 1824 and has since done a good business .- Daniel Baker has more recently set up the business at the same place, and Hosea Bump at, the Corner just below .- Charles Savage from An- son commenced business at the lower part of the vil- lage, about 1817, where he did a good business for some years. He left about 1833 since which time various others have occupied the stand .- Many work- men have set up the business in different parts of the town, and at different periods, and various shifts have beon made too numerous to mention, our object be- ing to give a clue only to the first rise and progress of the various kinds of business pursued in town.
97-Carpenters.
The following is a list of some of the first Carpen- ters and House Joiners in town .- Moses Starling, Jo- seph Sysvester, Hugh Cox, Benj. Butler, Elvaton Parker, Hugh Stewart, Thomas Wendell, Rufus Davis, Peter West, David Morrill, Jonathan Graves, Lemuel Bursley, Henry Stewart, Daniel Stanley, and Zenas Backus. Many of these carried on the Cabinet and Chair Making business in the winter season, and most of them were more or less engaged in farming.
99- Hallers.
A Hatter's Shop was built by Robert Baker in 1805 at the Center Village, where he carried on the business for a few years. When he left it passed into the hands of Samuel Belcher who occupied it
£
ـاد ١
↑
71
HISTORY OF FARMINGTON.
as a store .- In 1811 Christopher Atkinson commenced the hat business at the same place. He built a shop soon after, where he continued then business for a time. He was followed by Coburn Emerson for a short time. Wood & Bond set up the business in 1825. Mr. Bond soon left, and Mr. Wood continued for some time after .- In 1816 Isaac Hibbard set up the business at the Falls, where he has continued it most of the time since .- Thomas Spooner commenced business at the same place in 1826, but soon left.
100-Merchants.
Thomas Flint and Hartson Cony were the first two who brought goods into the place to trade upon. Dr. Flint opened his store in a small building on the farm now improved by John Bailey, and built the first Potash, near what is called the Old Beaver Dam Brook, not far from the east end of the Center Bridge. Mr Cony opened his store in a part of Mr. Church's log house, in the winter of 1792. Thomas Whittier and Nathaniel Bishop built a store at the Falls, and furnished it with goods about 1796 .- This Store was afterwards fitted up, and with some addi- tion's, changed to a dwelling house, and is known as the Russ House. Whittier & Bishop sold to Zacha- riah Butterfield, who continued trading and manufac- turing potash till 1802, when he sold to Jonathan Russ, who continued the business for some time to a considerable extent. Daniel Beal opened a Store at the Falls about the year 1800, where he continued to do business for some time under different firms. He is now engaged, in connection with his son, D). Beal, Jr., at the Center Village, where they have continued the mercantile business for some years with success. Thomas Croswell commenced as a retail merchant at the Falls a few years after Mr, Beal, where he made a permanent settlement, and has continued the busi- ness to the present time. Benj. Sampson was con-
72
HISTORY OF FARMINGTON.
nected with Mr. C. for a while, after which. Mr. S. commenced business by himself. A. B. Caswell, Lem- uel Bursley Jr., L. S. Caswell, and some others have been engaged in trade at the Falls to a considerable extent.
David Moors, from Groton, Mass., moved to Farm- ington with his family in 1799, and opened a store in the Church House. The house was then occupi- ed by John Church 1st. Mr. Moors soon after built what is now called the Moors House, on what was then called the New Road [now Pleasant Street] a part of which he occupied for a store. The first County Road lying under the hill, the Town laid out a new road in 1797, from the County Road west of where the Freewill Baptist Meeting House now stands, direct to the top of the hill in front of Thomas Hunt- er's house, and from thence so as to intersect the former road at Enoch Craig's north line. The first beginning on the hill where the village is now situ- ated, as has been before stated, was made by Joseph Holland, who was succeeded by John Church 1st, whose house, and that of Dr. Stoyell, were the only ones on the Hill prior to Mr. Moors'. Timothy and Thomas Johnson soon after put up what is now called the Lowell House, on the rear of the same lot, on the Front Street, a part of which was occupied by Tim- othy as a store, which he opened in 1800 or 1801. The Messrs. Johnsons soon after built a store on the same street, adjoining the Common, which was after- wards moved on to Main Street, and is now occupi- ed by Lemuel Adams as a Saddle and Harness Mak- er's Shop. [Now the dwelling house next north of the Forest House.] The Johnsons subsequently built a large and convenient Store, by the Common, which was afterwards purchased by Edward Butler and changed to a dwelling house, and is now occupied, with some additions by J. S. Milliken as a tavern .- The Johnsons and Mr. Moors both erected Potash-
L
5
£
1
73
HISTORY OF FARMINGTON.
eries and Pearl Ovens, and carried on a large amount of business for some years. Timothy Johnson, after a short recess from trade, agsin commenced with his brother, Joseph Johnson, in a small shop then own- ed by Ebenezer Childs, near the upper part of the Village. Subsequently they traded separately, lower down, where the center of business now is, Joseph and his son Joseph S. still continue to trade. Clif- ford Belcher and Joseph Titcomb commenced trade soon after the Messrs. Johnsons, at the upper part of the Village, where most of the business was done for many years. Mr. T. sold to his brother, John Titcomb, and retired to his present farm in 1820 .-- Mr. Belcher continued trade till near his death, in 1832. Samuel Belcher commenced trade in a build- ing opposite his brother's in 1811, and died in 1814. His business was closed soon after by his brother, B. M. Belcher. Ebenezer Childs commenced trade about 1815, and continued business till within a few years, when he became engaged in other business .- Rosimus K. Lowell commenced business also in the upper part of the Village in 1817. His health fail- ing, he closed in about 1830, and died in 1837 .- Asa Abbot commenced in 1827. He retired in 1841, and has since pursued his former occupation of farm- ing with success. Isaac Tyler commenced trade in the lower part of the Village about 1825, where he continued till 1835.
Abiatha Green put up the first Potash at the upper part of the town about 1802, and took in ashes in connection with Mr. Beal, then trading at the Falls. Francis Norton opened the first store at Backus' Corner in 1804. Joseph Fairbanks commenced trade at his mills in 1808, having before been connected with Leonard Merry, on the other side of the river. HIe soon after put up a potash and entered largely into trade in all its various branches. He continued the business nearly twenty years. He was followed by Francis Butler in 1828. Mr. B. afterwards sold
HISTORY OF FARMINGTON.
to Huse & Read. Edward Butler and Samuel Jones traded at Backus' Corner for a time, and were fol- lowed by Zenas Backus. Trade has since inclined to the center of the town, and little is done here.
101-Center Village.
In 1802 the road, or what was then called the Back Street,-now Main Street,-was laid out by the Town. it commenced near what was then Benjamin Brainard's now Jacob Abbott's, and running easterly of the Moors Lot, and the Lowell Lot, northerly un- til it intersected the formor road near Mr. Belcher's Office. The former County Road, excepting that part between the Stoyell Lot and the north line of the Common, has since been discontinued, and the before described Town Road established as a County Road. A Town Road has recently been laid out and established, extending from the Perham Road south, to a line opposite the north line of the Academy Lot, from thence westerly between the Academy and the Baptist Meeting House to the County Road, or Main Street. Most of the lots on this street have been taken up and built on.
102-Center Village in 1846.
Dwelling Houses
86
Saddle and Harness Makers 3
Stores
14
Blacksmiths
4
Milliner's Shops
4
Carriage and Sleigh Maker
Mechauic's Shops
18
Tin Factories
Law Offices
5
Lawyers
7
Brick School House
1
Physicians
3
Brick Meeting Houses
3
Tailors
2
Academy
1
Printing Establishment 1
Boarding School
1 Provision Shop
1
Court House
1 Cabinet and Chair Makers
1
Jail
1
Watch Makers
Fireproof Building for County
House Joiners
Offices and Post Office
H
Proportionate number of Shoe-
Tannery
Boot and Shoe Factory
1
1 makers and other Mechanics.
HISTORY OF FARMINGTON.
103-Town Officers; From Date of Incorporation to 1846.
Selectmen, Assessors, &c.
Clerk. Treasurer.
1894; Peter Corbett. E. Porter, E. Craig,
Supply Belcher, M . Starling.
1795. P. Corbett, E. Porter, E. Craig. Solomon Adams, M. Starling. 1796, P. Corbett. Jotham Smith. S. Belcher, Solomon Adams, M. Starling.
1797, P. Corbett, Jotham Smith, S. Belcher, Solomon Adams. M . Starling, 1798. P. Corbett, E. Porter. J. Smith, Solomon Adams, M. Starling, Solomon Adams. M. Starling.
1799. P. Corbett, E. Porter. J. Smith, 1800, P. Corbett, E. Porter, J. Smith,
Solomon Adams. M. Starling,
1801. Benj. Whittier. Il. Holly, Eben. Norton, Solomon Adams, C. Brainard, 1802, S. Adams. Jon. Cushman, Tho. Hisceck, H. V. Chamberlain C. Brainard. 1803, Reuben Lowell. E. Craig, E. Norton. Church Brainard. C. Brainard. 1804, E. Norton, J. F. Woods, Jabez Gay, C. Brainard, John Holly. 1805, E. Norton, J. F. Woods, S'l. Lovejoy, C. Brainard, Zac. Norton. 1806, J.F. Woods, Oliver Bailey, L. Perham, (. Brainard.
1807, E. Norton, O. Bailey, Thos. Wendell, C. Brainard.
Sol. Adams,
1808, O. Bailey. T. Wendell, J. Stinchfield, C. Brainard,
Sol. Adamıs.
1809, O. Bailey, Elij. Norton, Jona. Russ, C. Brainard. Th. Hiscock
1810, O. Bailey. Elij. Norton, Win. Gonld, C. Brainard.
Th.Johnson
1811, Leonard Merry, T. D. Blake, O.Bailey, C. Brainard.
Nath. Cutler
1812, T .. Merry, J. F. Woods. Jere. Stinchfield, C. Brainard, 1813, T .. Merry, J. F. Woods, J. Stiuchfield, C. Brainard.
N Cutler. N. Cutler.
1814, J. Stinckfield, Job Brooks, O. Bailey, H. Belcher.
1815, J. Stinckfield. J. Brooks, Step. Titcomb H. Belcher.
J.Fairbanks
1816, J. Stinchfield, J. Brooks, S. Titcomb, H. Belcher,
J.Fairbanks
1817, T. Fairbanks, Jas. Butterfield, J. Smith H. Belcher.
J. Fairbanks
1818, J.Fairbanks, Tho. Parker. Benj. Butler, H. Belcher, 1819, J. Fairbanks, J. Butterfield. John Russ, H. Belcher, 1820, J. Fairbanks, J. Butterfield, J. Russ. N. Cutler,
E. Craig,
1821, J. Butterfield. J. Morrison, J. Fairbanks T. Parker.
E. Craig,
1823 T. Parker, B. M. Belcher. J.Stinchfield. T. Parker,
Jos. Titcomb
1824 J.Stinchfield. died March 15, B. M. Bel-
cher, died Mar. 15. J. Fairbanks Jr. T. Parker, Nath'l Woods, T. Parker,
Jos. Titcomb
1825; J. Fairbanks Jr. T. Parker. John Russ, 'T. Parker,
Jos, Titcomb
1826, J. Fairbanks jr. T. Parker, J. Russ, T. Parker,
Jos. Titcomb
1827, T. Parker, J. Russ, John Church. T. Parker, Jos. Titcomb
1828, T. Parker. J. Russ, John Church jr. T. Parker,
Jos. Titcomb
1829, J. Russ, J. Butterfield, Francis Butler T. Johnson,
Ed. Butler.
1830, J. Russ, J. Butterfield. F. Butler. T. Johnson,
Ed. Butler,
1831, J. Butterfield, F. Butler, Sam'l Stanley T. Johnson,
Isaac Tyler.
1832, J. Butterfield, F. Butler, S. Stanley, I. Tyler.
M.Butterfi'd
1833, T. Parker. Henry Johnson, I. Tyler,, I. Tyler.
Thos. Hunt'r
1834, T. Parker, F. Butler. John Russ,
I. Tyler.
T. Hunter.
1835, T. Parker, S. Stanley, J. Butterfield,
T. Johnson, Fran. Butler
T. Hunter.
1837. T. Parker, S. Norton, Benj. Sampson. H. B. Stoyell,
1838, J.Jewett, Moses Chandler. A. B. Caswell Sam'lBelcher,
1839, J. Butterfield. J. Fairbanks, A. B. Caswell S. Belcher,
1840, A. B. Caswell, B. Pease. Wm. Tufts,
S. Belcher.
A. Corbett
1841, A. B. Caswell, B Pease, Eliab Eatou,
Z. T. Milliken
1842, S. Stanley, E. Eaton, Amasa Corbett.
C. E. Johnson.
1843. S. Stanley, E. Eaton, Amasa Corbettt,
C. E. Johnson.
A. Hillman
Sam. Stanley
1845, M . Chandler, A. Currier, Henry Russ,
A. G.Wheeler.
P. P. Tufts
1846. S. Stanley. P. P. Tufts, Henry Clark.
A G. Wheeler.
F.G. Butler
.
N. Cutler,
E. Craig.
E. Craig.
1822, J. Morrison, B. M. Belcher. T. Parker, T. Parker.
J. Titcomb.
1836. T. Parker, J. Fairbanks, John Morrison, H. B. Stoyell,
T. Hunter. Sam'Stanley
S. Stanley
A. Corlett Ale. Hillman
1844, A.Corbett, Alvan Currier, M. Chandler, A. G. Wheeler
E. Porter.
76
HISTORY OF FARMINGTON.
104-Representatives.
1798, Supply Belcher 8124, James Butterfield
1799, Ezekiel Porter 1825, Edward Butler
1800, Stephen Titcomb 1826. Edward Butler
1801, Supply Belcher 1827, Joseph Johnson
1802, Vote not to send representative 1828, Hiram Belcher
1803, Vote not to send representative 1829, Joseph Jonsou
1804, Ebehezer Norton
1830, John Russ
1805, Ezekiel Porter
1831, Hiram Belcher
1806, Moses Chandler
1832, Francis Butler
1807, Zechariah Norton
1833, Isaac Tyler
1808, Samuel Butterfield
1834, Moses Butterfield
1809, Supply Belcher, Nathan Cutler 1835, Joseph Russell
1810, Nathan Butler, Joseph Norton 1836, Samuel Stanley
1811, Nather Entler, Timothy Johnson 1837, Josiah Prescott
1812, Leonard Merry, T. Johnson
1838, Sanmel B. Norton
1S13, Leonard Merry, Asahel Gross
1839, Alanson B. Caswell
1814, Vote not to send representative 1840, Samnel Belcher
1S15; Vote not to send representative 1841, Moses Chandler
1816, Meeting adjourned without day 1842, Jolm Jewett
1817, Vote not tt send representative 1843, Classed with Temple, not rep- 1818, Vote not to send representative resented ; Nathan Cutler chos- 1819, Nathan Cutler. Joseph Fairbanks en April 29, 1844
1820. Jabez Gay
1821, Iliram Belcher
1822, William Gould
1846, Peter R. Tufts
105-Physicians.
THEOPHILUS HOPKINS was the first Phy- Ebenczer Taylor commenced practice sician who settled in Farmington.
. He settled on the place now occupi- ed by John Bailey, where he re- mained only a few years.
Josiah Prescott commenced practice in 1813, and has continued practice in the place the most of the time since.
Aaron Stoyell was the second. He set- tled at the Center Village in 1794, Joseph Caldwell commenced practiec in where he remained 40 years, and had 1825. He remained but a short time. Thomas Flint in 1826. an extensive run of practice. His was the second house built on the Hill, Allen Phillips in 1829. Lafayette Perkins in 1836. which was in about 1796, aud was rebuilt by him in 1827. He died C. W. Staples in 1840. in Ohio, in 1834.
[N. Dillingham, Botanic, 1840; a short time.]
Samuel Guile made a partial settle- ment in the place about 1796, but soon left.
Jophanus Henderson, 1881. [ ---- Blake, at the Falls, in -- ]
106- Valuation.
1790
Polls. Inhab's. Valuation. 494
1820
320
1938 115,462
1794
136
$24,183
1830
397
2341
1Ge,798
1800 218
9.42
58,752
1840 452 2613 462,375
1810
279 1639
93,761
Last date raised to cash value.
1844, James A. Duns more, Temple 1845, Eliab Eaton
1823. James Butterfield
in the town in 1804 and left soon after.
77
HISTORY OF FARMINGTON.
107-Lawyers. .
IIenry V. Chamberlain, from Worces- ter, Mass., settled in the town as an attorney in 1800, where he continu- ed to do business till 1808, when he moved to the Southi.
Nathan Cutler, from Weston, Mass., settled in the place in 1804, and is still living, but from age has dis- continued practice. His palce is sup- plied by
John L. Cutler, his second son.
Zachariah Sonle, from Halifax, Mass., came to Farmington from Paris, Me., about 1806, opened an office and practiced till 1812.
Elnathan Pope opened an office at the Falls in 1809, where he continued
till 1828, when he removed to New Sharon.
Hiram Belcher commenced the practice of law in 1812, and continues the practice under the firm of H. & H. Belcher.
Hannibal Beicher was admitted to the Bar in 1839.
Samuel Belcher commenced practice in 1835.
Robert Goodenow, from Alfred, remov- ed from Wilton, in 1832, and still continues to practice.
Joshua Randall, who commence prac- tiee in Phillips, opened an office in Farmington in 1811.
108-Growth of Farmington.
The growth of the town from the commencement has been rather gradual .- The increase of population was most rapid while the new lands were settling. The increase of the Center Village was considerable from 1799 to 1810. From that time to 1820 it did not compare with former years, which was the case with the country generally, which perhaps may be accounted for from the unset- tled state of our trade with other nations, and the unfruitfulness of some of the seasons. Since that time it has increased, not only in population, but in wealth, and every kind of business, equally if not beyond any village in the State, which is destitute of water power, and situated so far from water com- munication.
109- Religious Societies- Freewill Baptists.
The Valley of the Sandy River, although settled by a moral and to some extent a religious communi- ty, was to a great extent, for some years after the first settlement commenced, destitute of the means of forming and sustaining a proper organization for re- ligious worship on the Sabbath. The first preacher who visited the place was the Rev. Mr .. Emerson, of Georgetown. At the request of Mrs. Stephen Tit- comb he visited the family, and preached the first sermon in the then almost entire wilderness of the Sandy River, in Mr. T.'s log house. After this the place was visited by the Rev. Mr. Little, of that part
78
HISTORY OF FARMINGTON.
of Wells now Kennebunk, as a missionary. He was followed by some others. In the summer of 1794 the Rev. Joseph Thaxter, from Edgarton. Mass . un- der the patronage of the Massachusetts Missionary Society, pretty extensively explored the Valley of the Sandy River. and attended to the distribution of books to some of the most destitute of the inhabitants .- Some few years prior to this Elder Eliphalet Smith, a Baptist preacher from Favette, attended some few meetings in the place.
In the summer of 1792 Elder Edward Lock, who had previously been pastor of a large and independ- ent church in Loudon and Canterbury, N. H, remov- ed to this State and settled in what is now Chester- vill. The church of which he had been pastor had held views in sympathy with those of Benjamin Ran- dal, the founder of the Freewill Baptist connection. but most of its members, with Mr. L., were induced . to join the Shakers. Mr. Lock, however, abandoned the Shakers before comeing to Chesterville. Mr. L. established Sabbath appointments at- the dwelling house of Moses Starling, Esq., on the west side of the river, and at a barn on the farm now owned by Dea. John Bailey, on the east side, There was no particular interest manifested till near the close of the year, when Oliver Billings-since Elder Billings- made a visit to the family of Mr. J. Everet, a relative of his on the west side of the river. Mr. Billings had very recently been brought to a knowledge of the truth in a most powerful reformation then in progress in what was then called Starling,-now Fay- ette. Such was the change in his deportment, and such the interest and affection with which he rec- ommended to others the blessing so undeservedly- to use his own expression-bestowed upon him, that it was the means in the hands of God of carrying conviction, not only to some of the family, but to ma- ny in the neighborhood, who were hopefully brought
79
HISTORY OF FARMINGTON.
to a saving knowledge of the truth. Thus from. the faithful yet humble labors of a private individual pro- ceeded one of the most extensive revivals ever wit- nessed in this section of the State. Mr. Billings soon after became an efficient minister of the Baptist church.
From the commencement the revival continued to increase. Elder Lock proceeded to baptize a num- ber not long after, among whom were Josiah Everet, Reuben Turner, John F. Woods and Joseph Sylves- ter, with their wives, and Francis Tufts, Joseph Hol- land, Abigail Bradford, and some others, who proceed- ed to unite in church fellowship, together with Elder Lock, on the 29th day of March, 1793. Elder Lock took the particular oversight of the church. Fran- cis Tufts and John F. Woods were appointed ruling elders. This office has since been discontinued by the F. Baptists. Joseph Sylvester was chosen dea- con and Joseph Holland, clerk. Mr. Everet is the only individual now living who was embodied in the Freewill Baptist Church in this town at its first or- ganization. In Sept. following Elder Benjamin Ran- dall of New Durham, N. H., who was, under God, the founder of the Freewill Baptist Church in New Hampshire, and afterwards in Maine, after attending the Yearly Meeting at Edgecomb and visiting the churches already organized, traveled up the Sandy River. With others as a Committee from the Yearly Meeting, after a proper examination, he proceeded to extend the right hand of fellowship to the church already formed, as a sister church in the Freewill Baptist denomination. This was on the 23d day of Sept. 1793, and the church was then constituted what was then called a Monthly Meeting. It was repre- sented for the first time in the Yearly Meeting held at Gorham on the 25th of Oct. following. This was the first church organized in this State east of Gor- ham, or north of Woolwich and Edgecomb. From
£
80
HISTORY OF FARMINGTON.
this beginning have proceeded the most of the Church- es and Quarterly Meetings in the Kennebec and Pe- nobscot Yearly Meetings, now numbering 15 Quar- terly Meetings, 256 Churches, 176 ordained, and 37 licensed preachers, and 12,147 communicants. At this time the revival continued to increase, additious were made to the Church in this place, and branches were formed at West Pond-now Belgrade, - and Seven Mile Brook-now Embden and Anson,-which after- wards became separate churches.
In Sept. 1794 Elder Randall, in company with El- der John Buzzel, again visited the Sandy River, em- bodied a church at Upper Town, -- now Phillips,- which constituted a separate Monthly Meeting. On their return Elder Randal preached on the Sabbath, being the 28th, at Dea. Tufts', at the lower part of the town, and attended to the administration of the Lord's Supper. This is supposed to be the first time that the ordinance was administered in the town .- Eld. Buzzel preached the same day at Starks, where a reformation was then in progress.
At the Yearly Meeting held on the 6th of Sept. at Edgecomb, the Edgecomb and Farmington Quar- terly Meetings were both established, and their respect- ive bounds defined, that of Farmington to comprise all the churches belonging to the connection north of Edgecomb and east of the Androscoggin River, ex- cepting Lewiston, Edgecomb, and all the sea shore east of Brunswick and Lewiston.
Eld. Jesse Lee was appointed by the New England Conference to travel in the Province of Maine for the Conference year of 1793. He preached in this town for the first time on the 15th of Oct. of that year. At the succeeding Conference in 1794 two preachers were appointed to travel on the Circuit laid out by him in the year previous. They arrived here in the latter part of the year and took part in the revival then in progress, and. with Samuel Sewall, then liv-
81
HISTORY OF FARMINGTON.
ing in the south part of the town, and who had es- tablished society meetings in the place,- rendered essential service in the establishment of such a Chris- tian influence as has never been effaced, and laid the foundation for the establishment of several churches of different denominations, which have since been em- bodied.
The revival which had been in progress nearly two years, was still on the increase, and had extended into almost every section of the country then settled, in some instances interesting almost the entire popu- lation. Additions continued to be made to the church which now numbered something near forty in all. Besides those already named may be reckoned Joseph, Elisha, Moses, Sarah, Huldah, and Polly Bradford, David Wentworth and wife, Isaac Powers and wife, Dolly Craig, Joseph Riant and wife, Elisha Gay, John Tufts, and Pruda Parker of this town, and Isaac, Ebenezer, and Eliphalet Brown, Job and Eliphalet Hardy, of Wilton, in which direction the church con- tinued to increase.
In 1796, Joseph Sylvester having left, Isaac Brown and Elisha Gay were chosen Deacons. They had early taken means to provide funds which it was agreed should be raised upon principles of equality, not only for the maintenance of the ministry but to afford relief to such of the church as were in needy or distressed circumstances.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.