USA > Vermont > Addison County > Cornwall > History of the town of Cornwall, Vermont > Part 11
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It is hereby enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Vermont, that the north-easterly part of the town of Cornwall, in the County of Addison, hereinafter described, be, and the same is annexed to the town of Middlebury, in said County, bounded as follows, viz : Beginning at the south-west corner of said Middlebury, then running west so far that a north line will strike the west end of the long causeway, so called, then on a straight line to the south- east corner of Ethan Andrus's farm, on which he now lives, thence on the east line of said farm to the north-east corner thereof, thence on a straight line to a large white pine stump, from which was cut the shingle tree, so called, thence north to the north line of said Cornwall, thence east on the north line of said Cornwall to the westwardly side line of Middlebury, thence southerly on the west- erly line of Middlebury to the first bounds; and the inhabitants. who do or may hereafter inhabit the above described tract of land, shall in common with all the other inhabitants of said Middlebury, be entitled to all the privileges and immunities of said Middlebury."
The reasons which induced the people of Cornwall to surrrender
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so large a portion of their territory can never be fully known. . In respect to them the records are silent. So are the tongues of those who were active in the transaction. There are those who remem- ber the proceeding, but they were too young at the time of its occur- rence, to feel that interest which was necessary to fix its reasons in their memory. We are left to inference from the circumstances of the case. .
1. The village of Middlebury had scarcely begun to exist, and by most, its prospective importance was probably not appreciated, Persons are still living, who remember the site of Middlebury, par- ticularly that part of it which belonged to Cornwall, as a dense and ragged hemlock forest-repulsive to those who hoped to acquire a quiet home, and the comforts of life by agricultural pursuits, and attractive only to those who valued its water power as a means of prosecuting mechanical employments, or as indicating the ultimate centre of a dense population, and consequently a promising field for professional labor. At that period, perhaps the most discerning had not anticipated the existence, certainly had not detected the develope- ment of the germ of the noble Institution which has since blessed the town, and shed honor on our Commonwealth, dispensing its invaluable blessings over our country and the world. Several of the earliest settlers of Cornwall are known to have turned away from this spot to more inviting localities, and as agriculturists, they doubtless acted wisely.
2. There were two bridges over Otter Creek, for the building and maintenance of which they had already been taxed, with uncertainty how many others might become necessary in the course of time.
3. The swamp in the east part of the town, a large portion of which was set off to Middlebury, had very little value, in the esti- timation of the first settlers. These lands, for years, were hardly thought worth the taxes, with which they must burden their owners. One of the early settlers stated that he was once offered fifty acres of the best of these lands for fifty cents an acre ; and Dea. James of Weybridge, has assured me that many years after the settlement of the town, he was offered any quantity of swamp land for two dollars and fifty cents per acre.
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From the votes already cited, fixing the boundary in this part of the town, it is apparent that the inhabitants intended to rid them- selves of the expense of completing and maintaining the "long causeway" which has been mentioned. What had already been done by the proprietors on this road, before the organization of the town, had cost the assignment to those who performed the work, of many valuable lots of land, and the completion and maintenance of the road, threatened to devolve upon them a burden, which, to men of their limited means, appeared onerous. From these pro- spective burdens the change of their territorial limits promised them relief.
It is obvious, too, that many of the inhabitants of Cornwall who lived in the vicinity of the " Falls," as Middlebury was then called, preferred to be connected with that community, as being nearer their places of business, and as being in all respects, more con- venient for the discharge of their dutics as citizens. This is evident from the fact, that while they were, for years, reckoned citizens of Cornwall, and were enrolled on the rate bills of the assessors, most of them never appeared at the meetings of the citizens, or par- ticipated in the transaction of town affairs.
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HISTORY OF CORNWALL.
CHAPTER XV.
RELIGIOUS HISTORY-EARLY ARRANGEMENTS RESPECTING RELIG- IOUS WORSHIP -- FIRST REVIVAL - ORGANIZATION OF THE CON- GREGATIONAL CHURCH -- ARTICLES OF FAITH, RULES AND ORDER OF DISCIPLINE - SETTLEMENT OF MR. TOLMAN-ACTION RESPECTING A MEETING HOUSE --- FIRST HOUSE OF WORSHIP~ DISMISSION OF MR. TOLMAN.
The institution of united public worship on the Sabbath by the first settlers of Cornwall was coeval with their arrival in town. Like the Pilgrim Fathers, they gave a prominence to their purpose , of securing religious privileges for themselves and their descend- ants, which could not be unnoticed or misinterpreted. While they avoided ostentation, they manifested as clearly their sense of obli- gation in religious as in secular things. Hence, while the township was mostly an unbroken forest, with no paths but those marked by "blazed" trees, and passable only on foot ; they designated the dwell- ings of Eldad Andrus in the north ; of Joel Linsly in the central, and of Jeremiah Bingham in the west part of the town, where they were accustomed to assemble by turns, on the Sabbath ; enjoying the labors of a preacher when one could be obtained, but, com- monly listening to a discourse read by one of their number, in con- nection with devotional services conducted by themselves. In the south part of the town, the house of Elisha Field sen., was also an
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appointed place of worship on the Sabbath, and was often resorted to for this purpose ; though its remoteness from the centre rendered it less easy of access by the larger portion of the inhabitants.
The following narration of the first revival of religion in Corn- wall, which commenced in March or April, 1785, before the em- ployment of stated preaching, or the organization of the Church, is furnished by Jeremiah Bingham Jr., who often heard his venerable 4 father rehearse the story.
One Saturday afternoon a man from the central part of the town went over to Dea. Bingham's to grind his axe. The Dea. assisted him, and while engaged in the operation, noticed something un- usually solemn about his appearance, and on inquiring learned that he was anxious respecting his spiritual condition. The man requested Dea. Bingham to pray for him. After he had left for home, Dea. B. retired to the woods in the rear of his house, to com- ply with his neighbor's request. There he was favored with such a spirit of prayer, and with such a measure of faith, as convinced him that his petitions were indited by a power from above. He returned to his dwelling with full assurance that God was about to pour rich spiritual blessings on the community, and said to his wife, " to-morrow will be a wonderful day in Cornwall. If we live to see it, we shall see such displays of divine, grace as we never wit- nessed." "Why," she asked. He described his season of prayer and repeated his strong confidence. That night it snowed, and covered the ground which before had been bare, with several inches of snow. It was snowing when they awoke, and Mrs. B. said to her husband, "you will be disappointed to-day ;" but he confidently answered "No." The snow ceased, the sky became clear early in the day, and the scattered inhabitants began to as- semble at his house, which was the place of meeting that day .- Females came on foot several miles, bad as the traveling was. As they assembled it was apparent that an unusual sense of the divine presence rested upon every soul. The children of God were endued with an unwonted faith, and the impenitent were exercised with deep anxiety for their salvation, prompting the inquiry, as on the day of pentecost, "Men and brethren, what must we do !"
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The work thus auspiciously commenced, continued with wonder- ful power, through several months, and resulted in a great change in the religious character of the town.
The Congregational Church of Cornwall was organized July 15, 1785. The persons who entered into covenant at this date were Jared Abernathy, Stephen Tambling, James Marsh Douglass, Jer- emiah Bingham, Roswell Post, Daniel Samson, Mary Chipman, Elizabeth Ives ; and during the few following weeks ending with Aug. 21, Jesse Chipman, Mrs. Post, Mrs. Tambling, Nathan'] Cogswell and his wife, Joel Linsly, Ethan Andrus, Isaac Kellogg, Hiland Hall and Mrs. Ives, were added to their number. Jeremiah Bingham was chosen moderator and register, and previous to the ordination of their first Pastor about two years subsequently, the Church numbered nearly fifty members.
They adopted the following Articles of Faith, and of Order and Discipline :
. ARTICLES OF FAITH.
We believe the Articles of Faith in the Christian Religion, con- tained in the Old and New Testaments. Particularly,
1. We believe in the eternal existence of one living and true God, consisting of three persons, Father, Son and Holy Ghost, who is the Creator, Preserver and Governor of all things.
2. We believe the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments to be the Word of God -- that therein Holy Men spoke as they were moved by the Holy Ghost, and that they contain a perfect rule of faith and practice.
3. We believe that God made man male and female, in the like- ness of his most glorious image, consisting in Knowledge, Right- eousness and Holiness ; but being left to the freedom of his own will, by sinning against God, he plunged himself into a state of misery and death, out of which he could not extricate himself, and in which he might have been justly left of God ; who out of mere mercy and sovereign Grace hath opened a new and living way for the recovery of lost men, by Jesus Christ, who is revealed to us in the Gospel.
4. We believe that man by his fall and apostacy from God, is so decidedly averse to the way of reconciliation to God that if left to himself he never will savingly comply, nor hearken to the call of the Gospel :- that the conversion and salvation of any sinner is owing to the free sovereign grace of God.
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5. We believe that as there is but one God, so also there is but one Mediator between God and man, the man Christ Jesus, on account of whose Righteousness and atonement, God can, consistent- ly with all his perfections, show mercy unto, and pardon the chief of sinners.
6. We believe that although we are justified by Faith and saved by Grace alone, yet the Law of God as a Rule of life is in full force to believers; and that holiness of heart and life is their duty. Neither doth the Gospel of Christ countenance the least sin.
7. We believe that Christians are brought out of a state of sin and death into a state of salvation by Jesus Christ ; renewing their wills, and by his almighty. power determining them to that which is good; and effectually drawing them to Jesus Christ; yet so as they come most freely, being made willing by his Grace.
8. We believe that all true saints shall finally persevere to eter- nal salvation ; and that their perseverence does not depend on their own free will, but upon the immutable decree, and unchangeable Jaw of God, the Father ; on the efficacy, merit and intercession of Christ, the Son ; and the abiding of the Holy Spirit within them ; and the nature of the covenant of Grace.
9. We believe it to be the duty of all Christians carefully to attend on all the instituted means of Grace, such as Baptism and the Lord's Supper, the observance of the Lord's day, together with the reading of God's Word, and family and secret prayer.
10. We believe God hath appointed a day, wherein he will judge the world in righteousness by Jesus Christ, when all the dead shall arise with their bodies from the grave, and appear before his tribu- nal, to give an account of their thoughts, words and decds, and to receive according to what they have done in the body, whether good or evil ; when the righteous shall be received into the joy of their Lord, and the wicked shall go away into everlasting punishment. Amen.
ARTICLES OF ORDER AND DISCIPLINE.
Jesus Christ has always had a Church on the earth, for the forming, establishing and governing of which he hath given us sufficient rules in his Holy Word, which we believe are as follows, viz :
1. The matter of, or proper materials for forming a church, we understand to be real Christians, called in the Scriptures saints and faithful brethren ; and where there are such in any town or society, we hold that they have power, and ought to form themselves into a church, (being agreed in the fundamental doctrines of the Gospel, ) by giving sufficient evidence to the judgment of charity, that they
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have indeed been born again, and, by their mutually covenanting and agreeing publickly and visibly to walk in all the ordinances of God's house blameless, and to watch over one another in the Lord.
2. We agree that a church so formed have power to govern them- selves, according as they understand the Scriptures; to receive members and cast them out, as occasion may require.
3. We agree that the Church have a right to choose their own officers after a thorough examination into, and acquaintance with their gifts and knowledge, doctrinal and experimental, yet agree to improve the gifts of those we esteem Christ's Ministers, and the advice and assistance of sister Churches, in setting them apart to the sacred office and work.
4. We agree that in all cases of discipline, the Pastor hath no more power in voting than any private brother.
5. We agree that in all cases of controversy, if either party require a Council, the other ought to unite in choosing and call- ing one.
6. We agree that there is no appeal from the sentence of the Church, to any higher power this side the great Tribunal.
7. We agree that no brother shall have right to bring any mat- ter or charge into the church against any member, unless he has previously taken the steps of discipline mentioned in the 18th of Matthew, and judge it to be a transgression of the law of Christ.
8. We agree that the Gospel Ministry ought to be supported by the congregation who wait on such Ministry.
9. We agree that if any brother shall refuse to pay his propor- tion towards the support of the Gospel Ministry, he ought to be dealt with as an offender.
10. We agree that brother ought not to go to law with brother, even for the recovery of debt, except in such case at law, in which the defending brother consent to the suit, and no brotherly affection or fellowship be broken between them, when, if such case take place, it may be lawful.
11. We agree that the brethren of the church ought to consult the sisters in all cases of discipline.
12. We agree that when an Elder or Pastor is set apart to the work of the Ministry, he is by office, Standing Moderator and Register of the votes and proceedings of the church : to administer ordinances ; to preach the Word, and attend on exhortation ; to take the rule and lead in the church, and to be obeyed as such, so far as he directs and teaches, agreeably to the Word of God. But when a church is destitute of a Pastor, they may choose one of the brethren for a Moderator and Register.
13. We agree that when a brother or the church are dissatisfied with their Pastor, they are not to publish abroad their dissatisfac-
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tion, or the ground of it. but take the steps of the Gospel ; and if the matter cannot be settled to mutual satisfaction, they are not to proceed to reject, until they have called, in mutual council, an equal number of Elders and Delegates, chosen by sister churches, and obtained their advice and assistance.
14. We agree that when a brother has offended in so private & manner, that we cannot exhibit that evidence to others which the Gospel requires, we are by no means to publish the offence, but to labor with him in a private manner to reclaim him. But in all other cases, the rule in Matt. 18: 15, 16, 17th verses, is to be observed.
15. We agree that it is the duty of the Professors of Christ, to be devoted to his interest, and to abstain from all those practices which tend to quench the Spirit ; therefore we agree that, if any Brother or Sister shall indulge in what is commonly called frolick- ing, or gaming in their houses, or shall themselves elsewhere attend such exercises, or encourage horse-racing, they shall be dealt with as offenders.
COVENANT.
I do now avouch the LORD JEHOVAII, FATHER, SON AND HOLY GHOST, to be my GOD, as far as I know myself, heartily giving up myself to God, and desiring to be his forever : and I promise, by divine grace and assistance, to walk in all the com- mandments of the Lord blameless. I do now also subject myself to the government of Christ, and his Church."
I have copied the preceding Articles of Faith, and Rules of Order and Discipline because they have never, so far as I know, in their original form, been printed. The transcript presents not only the belief of the church, at its organization, but the purpose of its early members to preserve its unity and harmony and discipline, by requiring the distinct assent of all who might seek its fellowship to such principles as would ensure these results. The enforcement of discipline was very strict. The fathers once demanded of delin- quent members, a reason for their absence from stated and occa- sional meetings of the Church. It was the purpose not to suffer. sin upon a brother or sister unrebuked, and a process of discipline when commenced was carried to its legitimate result, -the reform- ation of the offender, or his exclusion from fellowship.
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HISTORY OF CORNWALL.
During the first two years of its existence the church was with- out a Pastor. In July, 1787, they voted a harmonious call to Mr. Thomas Tolman, to settle with them in the Ministry, to which call the town gave its cordial assent, and, by a formal vote, became responsible for his support. Mr. Tolman received as his right, the lot of land set apart by the Charter for the first settled Minister, and in addition received from the town "a settlement," the precise amount of which does not appear from the records. Neither is there any mention of the amount of salary pledged to him. That it was satisfactory is indicated by a remark in his reply to the people - that " the considerations and proposals presented by their commit- tee, were all well and agreeable."
The call was dated July 20, and his acceptance was communi- cated on the 20th of August. The day following, letters missive were sent to Bennington, Sandgate, Dorset, Rupert, Pawlet, Poult- ney, Danby, and Pittsford. From the remoteness of these places from Cornwall we are perhaps authorized to infer, that there were no organized churches with pastors nearer. Certain it is, that the church, in Middlebury, and in most of the towns in the vicinity, were not established till several years later.
The Ordaining Council convened Sept. 25, and was composed of the following :
ELDERS.
Rev. Elijah Sill, Dorset.
Eleazer Harwood, Pitsford.
James Murdock, Sandgate. Amos Tuttle.
Increase Graves*
Ithamar Hibbard, Poultney.
DELEGATES.
Thos. Hall.
Phineas Ripley.
Joseph Leavitt. Reuben Stevens.
Mr. Sill was chosen Moderator, and Mr. Murdock Scribe. In the public service, Mr. Hibbard made the introductory prayer. Mr. Sill preached the sermon from 2d Cor. 4 : 5. Mr. Harwood made the consecrating prayer ; Mr. Murdock gave the charge; Mr. Graves gave the right hand of fellowship, and made the concluding prayer.
Very soon after the ordination of Mr. Tolman, the church voted to choose two persons to serve as Deacons "for the time being, or
*Afterward settlel in Bridport in 1791.
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HISTORY OF CORNWALL.
until the church shall proceed to a permanent election." Jeremiah Bingham and Hiland Hall were chosen, and officiated till Oct. 31, 1788, when the church determined to make a permanent choice of "three" Deacons. These brethren were re-elected, together with Father William Samson. At the time of his election, Dea. Hall was in ill health, and absent with his friends in Connecticut, on that account. He never returned to Cornwall.
During the ministry of Mr. Tolman, the people of Cornwall had no stated place of worship. A principal obstacle appears to have been the fixing upon a satisfactory location ; upon which subject anxiety was manifest very soon after the organization of the town. That the descendants of the early settlers may see how their fathers were exercised in reference to arrangements respecting religious affairs, and the measures they adopted to obviate their difficulties, I copy in full the records of two town meetings :
CORNWALL, Nov. the 16th, 1786.
Agreeable to the warning, the meeting was opened, and made choice of Jared Abernathy for a Moderator.
Voted to divide the town into two Societies.
Voted to set off the north Society five miles and one quarter from the north line.
Voted to adjourn the meeting for half an hour. -- Agreeable to adjournment the meeting was opened.
Voted to appoint or choose a committee of three indifferent men from other towns to divide the town into two Societies accor- ยท ding to justice and equity.
Voted and chose Gamaliel Painter, Esq., Wm. Bush, Esq., and Capt. John Smith, to be a committee for the purpose aforesaid.
Voted to reconsider the vote for setting off five and a quarter miles, and voted to set off but four miles and one quarter.
Voted to revoke the vote for calling a committee.
Att., JOEL LINSLY, T. C.
Also, voted that Sam'l Benton, Jeremiah Bingham and Zillai Stickney, be a committee to measure off the four miles and one Att., JOEL LINSLY, T. Clerk. CORNWALL, Dec. the 1th, 1786.
Then the meeting was opened according to the warning, and chose Hiland Hall, Esq., Moderator.
Upon a vote being called whether they would nullify a former vote for dividing the town, it was carried in the negative.
Voted to adjourn this meeting for one hour.
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quarter.
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HISTORY OF CORNWALL,
According to adjournment, the meeting was opened.
Voted to revoke the former vote to ratify dividing the town into two societies.
Voted to revoke a vote passed the 16th of Nov. for dividing the town into two Societies.
Upon a motion being made to set off to Weybridge to the "ohl line," it was rejected by the town.
Upon a vote being called to set off two miles and one half to Weybridge, it was carried in the negative.
Att., JOEL LINSLY, T. Register."
At the town meeting held March 5, 1787, it was "voted that al? public meetings from the first of May next till the first of Oet. next, be held at Capt. Benton's barn,"-a spacious but now dilap- idated structure, still standing on the road leading to David Par- kill's, a little east of the main north and south road through the town.
At a town meeting held Oct. 22, 1787, it was "voted to meet on the Sabbath for the time being, half the time at Sam'l Benton's, and at Joel Linsly's the other half.". At this meeting it was also voted "to appoint a committee of three persons to set a stake in the most convenient place, as near the centre of the settleable land as may be convenient for us to build a house for public worship, to take into consideration the land from the south line of Mr. Field's land to the north line of the town. Chose Thomas Sawyer, Elcazer Claghorn, and Benjamin Cooley, for a committee for the above pur- pose. Also James Watrous, in case of fail."
This committee proceeded to discharge the duty assigned them, and prepared their report in time for a town meeting held the 4th of December following. They set their stake very near, though a little south of the site now occupied by the school house of District No. 2, a very eligible position for a house for public worship, and one which had been regarded with general favor, as in the survey of the Ministerial lot, at a date earlier than the appointment of the committee, there had been in this locality a reservation of two acres and a half for a "meeting house green."* At this meeting, as
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* As a matter of curiosity, I have taken the pains to verify this locality, by inquiring respecting it of several persons advanced in years; who were born in the neighborhood. They all remember the "green" or common, while those who from early childhood attended -chool in the school house erected upon it, are most confident respecting its boundaries.
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