History of Royalton, Vermont, with family genealogies, 1769-1911, Part 54

Author: Lovejoy, Mary Evelyn Wood, 1847-
Publication date: 1911
Publisher: Burlington, Vt., Free press printing company
Number of Pages: 1280

USA > Vermont > Windsor County > Royalton > History of Royalton, Vermont, with family genealogies, 1769-1911 > Part 54

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).

The action of the church for some time after this reminds one of the little three-year-old on the train, where no water sup- ply was at hand. He kept up a constant wail of "Oh, mamma! How dry I be!" Finally, a kind-hearted gentleman got a drink for him at a station. The little fellow had hardly gulped down the last drop, before he began the new refrain, "Oh, mamma! How dry I was!" So these church members apparently wasted much precious time in telling each other how naughty they had been. At one meeting they spent the entire day in this way. The natural result would be a reopening of the old trouble, and that is just what did occur in the last part of 1799.

Elder Hovey ministered unto them in the first months of 1800. A delegation came to inquire if the church at Royalton was in Gospel fellowship, and if so, why Elder Hibbard could not fellowship it. The reason was found to be that he thought the offending sister should make a public confession. Whether it was partly his fault or not, Elder Hibbard had more than his share of trouble, and he succumbed in July of that year, and

489

HISTORY OF ROYALTON, VERMONT

passed where such questions as had sorely afflicted him here would no longer disturb him.

In. October they voted to have Elder Ramsey preach one- third of the time at the red schoolhouse, if he could be obtained. He evidently was not secured, for in November, 1801, they voted to have the Lord's Supper, if an administrator could be obtained. During this year Matthias and Lydia Rust joined the church.

A period of rest followed. In 1803, Aug. 23, a meeting was held at Dea. Billings'. A letter was read from Lucy Kellogg, presumably a member, in which she says she is not satisfied with the doctrine of election, and requests to join the Methodist church. At this time they agree to hold monthly conferences.

The last record bears date, Sep. 22, 1806, when they met at Abraham Waterman's, and voted to send a letter of excommuni- cation to a sister, because she had become a Universalist. At this time Elder John Hibbard and his father were both dead, John, Sen., having passed away in 1805. The church was always weak in numbers and in ability to support a minister. Its most flour- ishing period was while it was connected with Sharon. Not enough additions were made to counterbalance deaths and re- movals, and so, after the death of Elder Hibbard it seems to have gradually lost its influence. The prejudice against the Con- gregational church, which taxed the people for the support of the Gospel, was removed by legislative action in 1807, which left each individual free to contribute or not. This may have had something to do with lessening the ranks of the Baptists. Then, too, the organization of Baptist churches in adjoining towns fur- nished ample opportunity for church fellowship, as the members of the Royalton church had nearly all come from the borders of the town. Its strictures regarding open communion tended to limit its membership.

The East Bethel Baptist church drew away some of the mem- bers of the Royalton church. This church was first united with Randolph. It was organized Nov. 18, 1800, at Randolph, at the house of Bezaleel Davis, and was named the "Baptist Church of Randolph and Bethel." On Nov. 18th John and William Evans and Elisha A. Fowler united with it. At the ordination of Mr. Ramzey, June 4, 1801, there were present from Royalton Dea. John Billings, Abraham Waterman, and Abner Perkins.

The East Bethel church was organized Aug. 24, 1812. They met for services at the schoolhouses near E. and W. Bethel. Jireh Tucker united with the church on Nov. 22, 1812, and John Billings, Jr., and wife, Hannah, took letters of dismissal to the church in Claremont, N. H., the next year. That year Mrs. Tryphena Davis came into their fold. In 1817 Polly Morse united, and in 1818, Asa Billings. In 1821 they met at Dea.

490

HISTORY OF ROYALTON, VERMONT

Billings' and at the brick schoolhouse near Capt. Dewey's in Royalton, and held a number of meetings at the home of Asa Billings. In 1822 they drew to their church Thomas Anderson, Samuel Hibbard, Jedediah Cleveland, and Betsey Bloss. The year before Alsop Latham had joined them.

On Aug. 21, 1825, Jireh Tucker testified that he had felt called upon to preach, and the church gave him leave to "im- prove his gifts." It is not known that he ever did preach, but the spirit worked out in making two of his sons ministers. The next year "Dea. John Billings and wife offered themselves to this chh. for membership, as the bap. chh. in Royalton of which they were formerly members, had lost its visiblity & become extinct." Sarah Button joined this year, and in 1829 Abraham Waterman. In 1836 Leonard Kimball was ordained as an evan- gelist.

Dea. John Billings was clerk of the E. Bethel church. His daughter married Leonard Fiske, and the church records came into her hands. Their son, Goodrich, was afterwards the clerk of the church and had the old records, and when he went away he turned the book over to Dea. J. H. Green. It is now in the hands of his son, Julius Converse Green.

The Royalton Baptist church drew no ministerial money in the first division made of it, 1820, but did from 1822 to 1835 inclusive. It has been, and is, customary for the town to give a part of the ministerial money to any religious society that maintains preaching from time to time, so that from this record it is impossible to say just when the Baptist church did expire.

ST. PAUL'S CHURCH.

Contributed by Miss Alice D. Grant.

St. Paul's church of Royalton being a daughter of Christ church of Bethel, its beginnings must be sought in the records of that church.

Christ church owed its origin to the efforts of Dudley Chase, who came from Cornish, N. H., in 1779, to Bethel. He was the father of Dudley Chase, Jr., afterward Judge of the Supreme Court of Vermont, and United States senator from Vermont, 1813-17. He was also the father of Simeon Chase, Mrs. Benja- min Smith, Mrs. Bybye L. Cotton of Bethel, and Mrs. Joseph A. Denison., Sr., of Royalton. His youngest child was Philander Chase, who became Bishop of Ohio and, later, of Illinois.

While he was here he taught school in a log schoolhouse in the north part of Bethel, and it was in this schoolhouse that the members of the church first met, and he acted as lay-reader.

491

HISTORY OF ROYALTON, VERMONT

The parish of Christ church was organized in 1794. As the community was new and there were few settlers, they were not able to have the regular services of a minister, but received occa- sional visits from different clergymen. The parish was reorgan- ized Jan. 23, 1823, and a church building was erected and con- secrated by Bishop Griswold, June 23, 1824.

The first move toward a separate parish in Royalton was made in October, 1835. A meeting was held the 12th of that month at the house of Stafford Smith, "to consider the subject of constituting a parish, and if judged expedient to constitute the same." There were present at the meeting Stafford Smith, Rich- ard Bloss, Benjamin Rice, Joseph A. Denison, and Nathaniel Sprague. The meeting came to order by electing Mr. Smith as chairman, and Mr. Sprague secretary. The question as to the expediency of forming a parish was decided in the affirmative, and the parish was organized by adopting and subscribing to a set of resolutions.

At a parish meeting on April 6th the question came up of erecting a church building the ensuing summer. A committee was appointed to see if the parish was so constituted as to be capable of holding the requisite real estate, to select a plan for building, obtain funds, and to report as to the plan and expense at the next meeting. Messrs. Sprague, Bloss, and Kendall were chosen as said committee. Three adjournments followed. An adjourned meeting was held at Mr. Blodgett's on May 4, 1836, when the committee on parish organization reported that they had laid the preamble and resolutions forming and constituting the parish, together with the records, before Jacob Collamer of the town, and his opinion was against the legality of the present parochial organization. Thereupon the organization was dis- solved, and a new one constituted. Richard Bloss was chosen warden and Benjamin Rice and L. M. Kendall vestrymen. It was resolved to build a church, and the warden and vestrymen were empowered to obtain funds, and also to obtain a plan for the erection of a church.

The ground on which the church stands was given by Rich- ard Bloss and Elizabeth Sprague, and the deed was executed May 5, 1836. At an adjourned meeting May 11th Richard Bloss, Nathaniel Sprague, and L. M. Kendall were chosen a building committee with power to draw money and pay all bills and ex- penses incident to the building of the church.

The first service in the church was held on Christmas eve, 1836, by Rev. James Sabine. Mr. Sabine officiated at various times during the year 1837. The church was consecrated to the service of Almighty God Nov. 3, 1837, by Rt. Rev. John H. Hop- kins, the Bishop of Vermont.

492

HISTORY OF ROYALTON, VERMONT

A parish meeting had been held early in June, 1837, at which the slips were assigned, and at a second meeting in January it was voted to unite with Grace Church in Randolph in obtaining a clergyman. Nathaniel Sprague was ordained deacon by Bishop Hopkins in October, 1838, and was elected rector of the church on his ordination to the priesthood in 1840, and served until his resignation in 1844. Rev. Joel Clapp had charge of the parish at Woodstock, but officiated often at Royalton during the years 1844-47. From July, 1844, to October, 1865, Rev. Josiah Swett, D. D., was rector of the church, and still supplied till 1868, when Rev. C. R. Batchelder was called as rector, who had charge until 1871, when he resigned. He was succeeded by Rev. Moses P. Stickney, who was in charge till 1887, and still supplied till the infirmities of age forbade further work. Rev. George A. Wil- kins was rector 1892-94, Rev. J. B. Trevett, 1895-97, Rev. G. B. Clarke, 1897-99. Rev. C. H. Wells was ordained deacon in 1899, and in conjunction with Rev. G. B. Johnson supplied the church, being elected rector upon his ordination to the priesthood in 1901. He resigned in October, 1902, and in 1905 the present rector, Rev. William B. Reynolds, became rector.

Mention must be made of the services of Dudley C. Denison as lay-reader from 1846 to 1873, and also of his son, Joseph D. Denison, from 1873 to 1895.

Since 1847 the church has always been associated with Bethel in maintaining a minister, as a joint parish. It has always re- ceived an appropriation from diocesan funds, and with the other churches has had its share of the town ministerial funds. Its first gift, the church site, was subject to the following conditions : "that on or before the 10th day of June the parish shall erect on the premises a house of worship, and shall also seek and obtain admission into the Convention of the Protestant Episcopal Church of the diocese of Vermont." The Bible in use was given by Rev. Henry C. Caswell of Figheldean, Wiltshire, England, in 1860, and in 1869 he also gave a sum of money, which enabled the par- ish with the help of other friends, to purchase a bell.

The church has received the following memorial gifts: In 1874, a communion set, in memory of Mrs. Eunice D. Denison, given by the family of the Hon. Dudley C. Denison; in 1885, a chancel window, "All Saints," by Mrs. Clara D. McClellan, in memory of present and past members; in 1892, an inscription plate for pew, by Mrs. E. M. Gallaudet, in memory of William Denison ; in 1893, a brass tablet, in memory of Rachel Chase Deni- son, given by her nine nieces ; in 1895, a prayer book and hymnal by Alice Denison, in memory of George Stanton Denison; in 1901, vases and altar desk by Prof. Charles S. and Alice Chase Denison, in memory of Jeanette B. Denison; in 1901, altar book

I 1 l

493

HISTORY OF ROYALTON, VERMONT

by Mrs. William Rix, in memory of William Rix; in 1905, chan- cel furniture by Mrs. Clara D. McClellan, in memory of Alice Denison, Dudley Chase Denison, and Rachel Chase Denison. In 1891 the church was repaired, and received at that time, and later, from various friends new seats, new windows, a font, altar cross, chancel and side lamps, two hanging lamps, altar linen and hangings, and electric light fixtures.

The church has had for Senior Wardens, Nathaniel Sprague, 1836; Joseph A. Denison, Sen., 1840; Oramel Sawyer, 1856; D. C. Denison, 1865; John Hinckley, 1905. The Junior Wardens have been Stafford Smith, Richard Bloss, Benjamin Rice, Oliver Glea- son, D. C. Denison, D. L. Lyman, William Skinner, Horace E. Stoughton, W. W. Culver, J. D. Denison, C. H. Woodard, A. G. Whitham, John Hinckley.

Rev. Nathaniel Sprague, D. D., was the son of Peleg Sprague, Esq., an attorney in the county of Cheshire, N. H. He was born Aug 20, 1790. He entered Dartmouth College at the age of seventeen, where, having become disheartened under a mortify- ing and, as was supposed, an incurable imperfection of the organs of the voice, he remained but two years. He did not, however, abandon the pursuit of knowledge, but continued his studies until he became not only a good classical scholar, but a man of varied and extensive learning. He received the degree of A. M. from Dartmouth in 1823, and the degree of D. D. from Hobart Col- lege, Geneva, N. Y., in 1847.

In the year 1818, while engaged in teaching in the county of Oneida, N. Y., he became deeply interested in the subject of religion, and was admitted a member of the Presbyterian church. In 1823 he came to Royalton as the Principal of the Academy, in which position he remained several years. After this he stud- ied law in the office of Jacob Collamer, was admitted to the bar, and practiced his profession for a few years. But this was not a preferred vocation. A beloved sister was instrumental in turn- ing his attention to the Protestant Episcopal Church, and in her communion and ministry he found to his great joy all that his reasonable and well-trained mind craved in the way of Christian institutions. He was ordained deacon Oct. 17, 1838, and in due course advanced to the priesthood. The first six years of his ministry were spent in Royalton, where he organized a parish and built a church. In 1844 he went to Drewsville, N. H., and became rector of St. Peter's church, where he exercised the func- tions of his sacred office, beloved and revered by his parishioners, and profoundly respected by all who knew him. He died Oct. 29, 1853.

Rev. Josiah Swett, D. D., was born in Claremont, N. H., Aug. 4, 1814. He was the son of Josiah and Hannah (Healy)

494

HISTORY OF ROYALTON, VERMONT

Swett. He fitted for college at the Chester Academy, and the Kimball Union Academy, Meriden, N. H. He entered Norwich University from the latter in the fall of 1834, and took his A. B. degree in 1837, and an A. M. degree in 1840. Trinity College bestowed on him an A. M. degree in 1856, and Norwich Univer- sity the D. D. degree in 1864.

Soon after graduating he joined with Prof. A. Jackman in establishing the New England Seminary at Windsor. In 1834 he was elected to the faculty of his Alma Mater, and in 1838 was made full Professor of Moral and Intellectual Philosophy, Natu- ral Theology, and English Literature, which position he held two years, and again from 1844 to 1846.

He was educated as a Methodist, and admitted to that church in Claremont, N. H., in 1832. In 1843 he was regularly dis- charged from that society, confirmed by Bishop Hopkins in St. Paul's church, Windsor, and began the study of theology. In September of that year he became a candidate for Orders in the diocese of Vermont, was transferred to the diocese of New Hamp- shire, and admitted to the Diaconate of Bishop Chase in March, 1847. For three months he had charge of Union church, West Claremont, then accepted a call to Christ church, Bethel, and moved there in July. Here he remained for eighteen years, dur- ing which time he was also rector of St. Paul's church in Royal- ton.

Upon leaving Bethel he served as a Professor of Divinity in the Vermont Episcopal Institute at Burlington. At various times he had charge of parishes at Cambridge, Jericho, Under- hill, Shelburne, Fairfield, Fairfax, Swanton, and Highgate. He removed to Highgate in 1877, and resided there the remainder of his life. He established there Champlain Hall, a very success- ful boarding and day school for boys and girls. He was deputy to the General Convention which was held in Philadelphia in 1856, and for many years was president of the standing commit- tee of the diocese.

He was married in 1843 to Mary Jarvis Campbell of Wind- sor. She died in 1845, leaving one child. He afterward married Lucy Miranda Wheeler, daughter of James Wheeler of Newport, N. H. Nine children were born to them, of whom seven are still living. His wife died at Highgate in September, 1885, and his own death occurred at the same place Jan. 4, 1890.

Rev. Charles R. Bachelder was born in Sunapee, N. H., Aug. 9, 1812. His father was a farmer, and he was the youngest of fourteen children. At the age of seventeen he went to Wolf- boro, N. H., to live with one of his brothers, and studied under his tuition and at the academy in that village. From that place he went to Bangor, Maine, and after a year in a classical school

495

HISTORY OF ROYALTON, VERMONT

in that place, he entered the regular course in the Theo. Sem., and graduated August 29, 1838.

He was licensed to preach by the Penobscot Association of Congregational Ministers. He supplied at Calais, Me., for a year, and then preached at Henniker and Warren, N. H. He was pastor of the Congregational church in Westminster for five years. He left there in 1845, and was confirmed by Bishop East- burn while on a visit to Salem, Mass. He became a candidate for Orders in the diocese of New Hampshire, and was ordained deacon by Bishop Chase in June, 1847, and priest by Bishop Hopkins the following September. He was rector at Highgate, 1847-59, at Manchester, 1859-64, at Bellows Falls, 1864-71. He resided in Claremont and Charlestown, N. H., from 1872 to 1879.

In 1840 he married a daughter of Samuel Abbott, Esq., of St. Johns, N. B., formerly of Boston. Three sons were born to them, the eldest dying at the age of four years. His own death occurred Feb. 2, 1879.

Rev. Moses Parsons Stickney was born in Byfield, Mass., July 12, 1807. He studied for the ministry, and was ordained by Bishop Griswold in 1842. His first charge was St. Michael's, Marblehead, Mass., where he served, 1842-47. He was rector of St. Peter's, Cambridgeport, 1847-51, head master of Burlington College, New Jersey, for one year, and assistant rector of the Church of the Advent, Boston, in 1853.

In 1871 he came to Vermont, having been called to the rec- torship of Christ church, Bethel, and St. Paul's church in Roy- alton. His home was in Bethel for the next seventeen years. He resigned on Easter, 1887, and the following year he removed to Royalton. Here he held services as long as failing health per- mitted. After a brief illness he passed into rest Aug. 19, 1894. His earthly pilgrimage began and ended on the Lord's Day, and the years thereof were spent in His service.

Rev. George A. Wilkins was a Baptist minister. He was ordained deacon by Bishop Bissell in St. Paul's, Burlington, June 1, 1890, and priest by the same bishop in Christ church, Bethel, June 30, 1891. He had charge at Bethel and Royalton, 1891-94. He was rector of St. John's, Highgate, and Grace church, 1894-95. From 1896 to his death he resided at White River Junction, without a charge. He died April 18, 1907, aged seventy-two years.

Rev. Joseph Benedict Trevett, M. D., was born in Maryland. He was ordained deacon by Bishop Odenheimer of New Jersey in 1872. He officiated at Windsor, 1872-74. He was connected with the diocese of Central New York for several years. He had charge of the Episcopal churches in Bethel and Royalton, 1895- 97. He died at Ogdensburg, N. Y., Dec. 16, 1902.

496

HISTORY OF ROYALTON, VERMONT

Rev. George Barnard Clark was ordained deacon in 1892, and priest the following year by Bishop Worthington of Ne- braska, in which diocese he has done missionary work. His pres- ent address is Buena Vista, Florida. He had charge of the churches in Bethel and Royalton, 1897-99.

Rev. Charles Henry Wells was born at Woodbury, April 10, 1871. He was educated at Goddard Seminary, Barre, graduat- ing from that institution in 1889. He entered Tufts College, from which he took an S. T. B. degree in 1895. He served three years as pastor of a Universalist church in Belfast, Maine. He became an Episcopalian, and studied two and one-half years with Bishop Hall at Burlington. After his ordination to the Diaconate in October, 1899, he began work for Christ church, Bethel, and St. Paul's, Royalton. He was ordained priest at Bethel, February, 1901, and completed a ministry of three years there in October, 1902, when he was called to St. James', Wood- stock, where he remained until May, 1906, when he was called to a curacy in Old Trinity Church, Lower Broadway, New York City. In November, 1908, he was called to a mission church in Newark, N. J.

Rev. William Benjamin Reynolds is a native of Stockport, N. Y. He was ordained deacon and priest by the Rt. Rev. W. C. Doane, Bishop of Albany, in which diocese most of his ministry has been spent. He served for a short time in New Jersey, and served as rector of three churches in the diocese of Western New York, under Bishop Walker. He became rector of Christ church, Bethel, and St. Paul's, Royalton, in 1905. He resides at Bethel.

THE UNIVERSALIST SOCIETY.

The Universalist is the most mythological of all Royalton religious organizations. It is doubtful if any regular church ever existed. The doctrines of Universalism early gained ground in Royalton, and, as has been noted in the history of the Baptist and Congregational churches, became a source of much anxiety to the strictly orthodox Christians. They were at first called "Restorationists." Asa Perrin in his diary, to which frequent reference has been made, mentions that there was a meeting of the Universalists May 17, 1803, but it is not stated that it was held in Royalton, and it may have been in East Bethel, where a church was early organized.

The first record of the Universalists drawing any of the min- isterial money is found in 1826, when $13.93 was paid to Asa Partridge. In 1829, when membership was reported, they were credited with 64 members, in 1832 with 70 members. The last record of membership is in 1833, when they had 61 members. In

C 1

497

HISTORY OF ROYALTON, VERMONT

1837 they drew nearly as much of the fund as the Congregational church. From that date there is an apparent decrease, until 1855, when they drew the largest sum of any society, $23.29.

This was after the organization of a Society at South Roy- alton, which had united with the Methodist church in building a meeting-house, and which held services on alternate Sundays. The records of the Society have not been found. Rev. S. A. Davis, located at Bethel, preached for them for a time. In the years 1859-60 Rev. M. B. Newell was living in South Royalton, and preached more or less of the time. Rev. S. A. Parker of Bethel officiated on alternate Sundays from July 16, 1865, to Feb. 24, 1867.

The Methodists got a clear title to the meeting-house and land connected therewith in 1868, and after that time the Uni- versalists held meetings in Tarbell's Hall. How long this con- tinued is not known, but after some years meetings were held only occasionally for a succession of years.

A new organization of a Universalist Society was effected Jan. 20, 1893. J. H. Hewitt was elected chairman; D. L. Bur- nett, M. D., auditor ; J. A. Schontag, clerk; A. W. Pierce, treas- urer ; Miss Lu Adams, collector. The trustees were J. H. Hew- itt, J. G. Ashley, and J. F. Shepard. The first pastor called was Rev. Walter Dole of Northfield. He was followed by Rev. S. A. Parker of Bethel, and by college students, among them Rev. Grant VanBlarcom. The Society ceased to hold regular meet- ings about 1899. While Rev. Dole was connected with the So- ciety he organized a Young People's Union. Meetings of the Society were held in Hewitt's Hall, South Royalton.

THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH.

No records of the Christian church in Royalton have been found. The only information that has been obtained are the scanty references to this church in the town records and the few facts that a small number, who were members of the church, can recall. It was probably younger than the Baptist or the Meth- odist church. It drew none of the ministerial money until 1826.

Its membership was chiefly from the northeast part of the town. The meetings were held in the "Mill District" school- house. This was situated in the Branchview cemetery near Mr. Charles Seymour's. It is recalled that Elder Lazarus Riford preached for them, and Elder Green, a travelling elder. Mr. Riford lived for a time in the brick house near "Pierce's" mills. Elder Lyman Ames, son of Jesse Ames, a Royalton boy, was also one of the elders who preached for the church. Elder Rollins from East Randolph served for a time. He was editor of an anti-masonic paper. Elder Knights was another preacher. 32

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.

History of Royalton, Vermont, with family genealogies, 1769-1911, Part 54

Author: Lovejoy, Mary Evelyn Wood, 1847- Publication date: 1911 Publisher: Burlington, Vt., Free press printing company Number of Pages: 1280

Author: Lovejoy, Mary Evelyn Wood, 1847-
Publication date: 1911
Publisher: Burlington, Vt., Free press printing company
Number of Pages: 1280