USA > Vermont > Rutland County > The history of Rutland county, Vermont; civil, ecclesiastical, biographical and military, pt 1 > Part 58
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 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79
We find but slight historical record of the early military transactions of our townsmen. In the grand lists of 1792 and '93, a number of persons are marked as belonging to the ar- tillery, and others as cavalry-men, in considera- tion of which they were allowed some deduction. In 1802 a large number are mentioned in con- nection with the militia, and their lists for state taxes are $20 less than their lists for town taxes.
Regimental reviews seem to have been held in high esteem. There was, also, the annual June training-day, with its election of company officers, inspection and drill, and its ginger- bread and molasses candy, which some of us who are yet young, hold among our boyhood remembrances, in this as in other towns. This military institution prevailed until a compara- tively recent time.
In October, 1807, a meeting was called "to see if the town will vote a tax to raise money to purchase ammunition to fill our magazines, as the law directs." On the 4th of November the town voted a tax of five mills on the dol- lar, "to procure powder, lead, flints, &c., for the town stock of ammunition for the militia." The only other record like this is a vote passed in April, 1822, " to allow Jo. Kingsland for chest for town magazine, $1.50."
In September, 1812. Solomon Norton address- ed the following note to the selectmen :
We have no account of any others who went from Fair Haven into the war that year; but it is probable there were others, since Mr. Nor- ton was a major in a regiment of enlisted Vermont troops stationed at Burlington, under command of Gen. Jonathan Orms, with whom Maj. Norton went out as Adjutant, but came home in January, and sickened and died. We have the list of the names of 35 men who composed the military company, and were re- turned as equipped for duty, in Fair Haven, in June, 1813, of which which Peter Merritt was captain.
In 1811 and '15 there are 42 names returned -Moses Colton, captain.
At the time of the battle of Plattsburgh, in September. 1814, a large company of men is said to have been enlisted in the town to go to the assistance of the American army. Moses Colton was captain or colonel ; Harvey Church Ist lieutenant. and Royal Dennis 2d lieutenant. One account is, that the company was partly enlisted in the night time, and started on the way, going as far as Benson before morning. When within a few miles of Plattsburgh, a messenger with a flag of truce, came out and informed them that the battle was over, and they marched home; Elisha Parkill receving a wad in his foot in a sham fight. Another re- port is, that the company went as far as Whit- ing, only, when they were met by runners in- forming them that the battle was fought, and there was a great division or contention among the men on the question of advancing or re- treating.
Several men from the town are said to have been in the army at Plattsburgh as substitutes, and Andrew Race was taken back by Charles Leonard as a deserter, and was shot.
For a period of some twenty years the m'li- tin of the State was disbanded, and military pa- rades did not occur among us.
On the breaking out of the Rebellion in 1861 the call to arms was made in our streets, and a number of young men were enlisted. A com- pany of cavalry volunteers was recruited in the town by DeWitt Leonard, in the summer of 1861, and was eneamped for a time in bar- racks erected on the land of Zenas C. Ellis, N. WV. of his residence.
In the summer of '62 a company was re- eruited here by James T. Hyde, and encamped
" Whereas I am detatched for a campaign in the war, it is inconsistent for me any longer to do the duty of constable and collector for the lin barracks near Mr. Ellis'.
712
VERMONT HISTORICAL MAGAZINE.
The town had credit with the United States Government for the following named volunteer soldiers-most of them, but not all, residents of the town :
VOLUNTEERS FOR THREE YEARS, CREDITED PREVIOUS TO CALL FOR 300,000, OCTOBER 17, 1863. Name. Regt. Co. Age. Enlisted. Remarks.
Bonville, Adolphus 7 C 81 Jan. 7, 1862 Re-enlisted February 24, 1864.
Callagan, Jeremiah 11 C 29 July 25. = Deserted May 20, 1863.
Cantine, George A. 7 C 21 Dec. 30,1861 Sergeant. Discharged September 13, 1862.
Davis, Henry
cav H 22 Oct. 7, " Discharged June 13, '62.
Dowling, Samuel
cav H 23 Sept. 30, "
Gilbert, Edward 11 C 28 Aug. 11, '62 Transferred to invilid corps March 15, '64.
Lee, Moses F. 11 C 21 Aug. 9, "
[ Promoted corporal Oct. 10, 1863. Mustered out June 24, '65.
Lefevre, Eli
7 C 27 Jan. 8,
Lefevre, Jolin
7 C 21 Jan. 7,
Lescarbeau, Joseph 11 C 37 Aug. 11, = Deserted Sept. 5, '62.
Macomber. John H. 11 C 26 Aug. 12, " Promoted Ist Lient., Co. L., July 11, 1863.
Manchester, Geo. W. 1 ss F 25 Sept. 11, '61 Discharged July 29, '62.
Mather, Asa F.
11 C 24 Aug. 9, '62
Mather, Emmet
cav H 21 Oct. 5, '61
Nichols, Henry C.
1 ss F 25 Sept. 11, = Discharged October 31, '62.
Patch, David A. 2 B 26 June 1,
Pelkey, David
11 C 33 Aug. 8,
Pelkey, Joseph 7 C 20 Jan. 11, 11 C 21 Aug. 9, "
Pelkey, Lewis
Pocket, Jolın 11 C 27 Aug. 11,
Proctor. Oscar C. 2 ss E 19 Oct. 8, '61 =
I roctor, William H.
2 ss E 21 Oct. S,
Riley. Michael
7 C 25 Jan 7.
Sheldon, Josephs
Suttiff. Emmons H. 7
Smith, Albert C 18 Aug. 9,
Williams, Griffith C1
B 23 May 12,
Wood. Myron
11
C 18 Aug. 9,
Wood. Zebedee 7 D 18 Dec. 11,
Young, Moses 11 30 Aug. 8, '62
CREDITS UNDER CALL OF OCTOBER 17, 1863, FOR 300,000, AND SUBSEQUENT CALLS.
Bro, Peter
11 C 21 Dec. 12,1863
§ To Co. B, June 24, '65. Mustered out Aug. 25, 1865.
Chase, Theodore
cav H 21 Dec. 7, "
Saddler. To company B, June 21, '65.
Dempsey, Michael, Jr. 17 I 18 Mar. 28, '64 Died March 27, '65.
Dicklow, Joseph 11 C 25 July 19,
Dicklow, Medrick 11 C 18 " "
Transferred to Co. B. June 24, '65. Muster- ed out Aug. 25, '65. Transferred to Co. B. June 24, '65.
Muster- ed out June 29, '65.
Dicklow, Paul 11 C 19 " " Transferred to Co. B, June 24, 65. Muster- ed out Aug. 25, '65.
Duggan, James 9 B 29 Dec. 8, '63
Foy, Patrick
11
11 25 Dec. 7,
Gallipo, Joseph
11 0 21 Nov. 26,
Wounded. In gen. hospital Aug. 31, '64.
Hogau, Michael cav D 19 Dec. 7, " Marks, Walter S. 17. I 18 April 27, '64
Hawkins, William C. 11 : 18 Dec. 1, '63
To veteran reserved corps Oct. 11, 1864. Mustered out July 14, '65. Died of wounds received in action. July 14, 1864.
Hooker, Edward T. 8 A
Hunter, Robert
11
Kelley, Eugene A. 1 ss F 20 July 5, '64 Died Aug. 17, ,6-4.
Monroe, Joseph H. 11 K 28 Dec. 9, '63 Prisoner, June 28, '64.
Pelkey, Charles
7 I
Plumtree, John 7 I
( Corporal. promoted to Q. M. serg't, Dec. 28, '63-to 2d Lieut., Co. C, May 13, '65. Ist Lieut., July 6, '63.
§ Promoted corporal Oct. 22, 61. Discharged Sept. 14, '63. -
'62 Promoted corporal.
Re-enlisted Feb. 26, '64.
Discharged March 22. '62. Ser. to iuvilid corps Dec. 31, '63. '62 Musician. Re-enlisted Feb. 23, '64.
Discharged April 24, '62. Mustered out Aug. 30, '64.
11
2 C 18 Dec. 30, B 22 May 17, '61 " '62 '61 Deserted Oct. 24, '62.
'62 Promoted corporal Aug. 2, '63-Serg't Dec. 28. '61 Died Dec. 19, '62.
Died Nov. 6, '64.
Forget, George
Re-enlisted Feb. 15, '64. Re.enlisted Feb. 23. 64.
713
FAIR HAVEN.
Names. Regt. Co. Age. Enlisted
Remarks.
Preston, Henry 11 21 Dec. 4, 1863 Sick in hospital, Aug. 31, 1864. Deserted.
Rudd, Thomas
9 B 25 Dec. 18, Died January 11, 1865.
Stewart, Charles W.
54 ms
Woodward, Adrian T.
17 I 18 Mar. 25, " Mustered out, June 6, '65.
VOLUNTEERS FOR ONE YEAR.
Brown, Robert
54 ms Mar. 24, '65
Calvert, G. D.
11 C
Capen, Nathan S. 11 C 24
Dolby, Cyrus
54 ms Aug. 3, '64 Co. B. Mustered out June 24, 1865.
Granger, Nelson 7 G
Hammerston, Henry 11 C
Hunter, George
54 ms
Hunter, Samuel
54 ms
Manchester, Burr B. 11
Murphy, James 7 D
18 Dec. 17, '64 Died March 29, 1864.
Ormsbee, Mansel A. 5
Parret, Moses 7 C
Sager, Charles W.
11 L
VOLUNTEERS RE-ENLISTED, BELONGING TO THE 7TH REGIMENT, CO. O.
Adolphus Bonville, Joseph Pelkey,
Eli Lefevre, John Lefevre,
Michael Riley,
PERSONS WHO FURNISHED SUBSTITUTES.
Charles Clark,
W. B. Esty, Benjamin S. Niehols.
NAVAL CREDITS.
Granville C. Willey.
Hiram Ki!bourn, Not credited by name. Three men.
VOLUNTEERS FOR NINE MONTHS.
Bosworth. Julius H.
Humphrey, John
Rafferty, James
Cowley, James B.
Humphrey, Patrick
Reardon, Daniel
Crowley. Cornelius
Lee, Benjamin E.
Roberts, William S.
Davey. Vincent C.
Lewis, Richard Rowland, John
Foy. Patrick
Marnes, Andrew
Ware, Dallas N.
Grady, Michael
Maynard, English L. Whitlock, Hiram E.
Hamilton, Joel W.
O'Brien, Patrick Williams, John H.
Hamilton. William H.
Perkins, Charles
Williams, William F.
Harrison, Charles Perkins, John F. Wood, Leman.
This company was enlisted in the summer of 1862; encamped and drilled at Castleton; Jo- seph Jennings, captain Julius II. Bosworth, Ist lieutenant and Charles A. Ran, 2d lientenant- mustered into the U. S. service at Brattleboro, Oct. 21, as company F. of the 14th Reg of Vt. Vols .. and left the State Oct. 22. The regiment did service in the Army of the Potomac, in Virginia, during the winter, and took an active and honorable part in the battle of Get- tysburg, in July, '63-1st lientenant Bosworth receiving a severe wound in the leg from the fragments of a shell, and Wm. II. Hamilton, who was leading another company, being mor- tally wounded, and dying on the field.
The residue of the Fair Haven volunteers returned to their homes.
PERSONS WHO PAID COMMUTATION UNDER DRAFT.
James Donnelly, John W. Eldy, Edgar S. Ells, Robert W. Jones, Rollin M. Kidder, Wesley Lee, Oliver K. Ranney, John Ryan, C. Wesley Sutliff, Edward J. Stannard, Abraham S. Taber, John J. Williams.
VOLUNTEERS FOR ONE YEAR, REPORTED AFTER SEPTEMBER 30, 1864.
Homer Belden, Lewis Pickett. William W. Collins, William A. West, English L. B. Maynard ; all belonging to 7th Reg't, Co. C, except Homer Belden, who belonged to the 5th Reg't.
PERSONS WHO SENT SUBSTITUTES. Andrew N. Adams, Reuben T. Ellis, William Preston, Corril Reed, Abraham C. Wicker. PERSONS ENLISTED BY DEWITT LEONARD, BELONGING TO FAIR HAVEN.
Nelson Allard, Fred II. Campbell. Richard Gleason, Robert Pugh, Emerson Tabor, Granville C. Willey, Lieut. : enlisted for the Harlan cavalry, at Fair Haven, in August and September, '61. and mustered in as Vermont Volunteers, at Albany, September 24th, whence they went on to Philadelphia, and were afterwards ordered to Washington, and attached to the Harris Light Cav- alry, under Col. Davies; Gen. Kilpatrick being then Lieut. Col. of the regiment.
714
VERMONT HISTORICAL MAGAZINE.
BOUNTIES PAID BY THE TOWN TO VOLUNTEERS AND SOLDIERS, IN THE WAR OF 1861-5, EXCLUSIVE OF DONATIONS MADE TO MEMBERS OF JAMES T. HYDE'S COMPANY.
To the 27 nine months' men and 5 others, who enlisted, $60 each, To volunteers under the call of October, 1863, as follows :
$2,120.00
18 recived $500 each, 2 300 each, 600
$9,000
2
100 eachı, 200
1
700-10,500.00
To volunteers for one year, from $300 to $800 each, : total, To substitutes,
5,915.00
To volunteers for one year, reported after September, 1864, $400 each,
2,000.00
To volunteers re-enlisted, $100 each,
500.00
To substitutes in 1865,
4.000.00
SCHOOL AFFAIRS.
Tilley Gilbert, who first came to Fair Haven in 1788, was employed by Col. Lyon as a teach- er, and it is not improbable that the old plank school-house, the first in the village, was built by Col. Lyon about this time. It stood on the ground south of the old meeting-house.
Jolin Brown, a young man of cultivation and refinement from Rhode Island, and a broth- er-in-law of Ethan Whipple, Esq., appears to have been employed as teacher in the village district, in 1793. Mr. Brown was a beautiful peuman, and made the records of the town for Dr. Witherell, who was town clerk for the year 1792, and was afterwards himself town clerk.
Of those who taught school in the village dis. trict at an early day, besides, we are told, one Bolles, an Irishman, who, besides teaching in Fair Haven, taught also, prior to 1803, one year near the old Episcopal church, on Hamp-, ton hill, and two years in Poultney-Rev. Dr. N. S. S. Beaman and Hon. Rollin C. Mallory attending his schools, and fitting for college under him. A man from Poultney by the name of Claudin is said to have taught here, and also Charles Hawkins, Jr., prior to the year 1805. Rev. Dr. Beaman taught in the old log school- house, south of the meeting-house. Ethan Whipple, clerk of the district, makes return in March, 1804, that there are 52 children in the district of sufficient age to attend school. Tilly Gilbert, clerk of the district, returned the num- ber of 44 for the years 1799 and 1800.
Elias Hickok says he taught a school one winter in the old school-house on the Green, and had 97 scholars for 6 weeks. He also taught the first school in the new school-house, which was built in the summer of 1805.
Rev. Rufus S. Cushiman says of this house : "The old yellow school-house I remember well, whose chief external attraction was the belfry, in which hung, for a long time, the only bell in town, and the steeple, whose weather-vane was a fish, the mark of many a snow-ball."
Total, $36,368.33
This house, made of wood, stood until 1812, and was the scene of many a large singing. school, scholars' exhibition and temperance and political rally. In the absence of any town hall it was used for meetings of every kind and name. Its place was supplied by a brick build- ing, smaller on the ground, but of two stories in height, built a little to the eastward of the first, by Adams Dutton, Esq., in 1842, which, not answering the wants of the district, was removed in '61, and the present school building under the town hall was erected in the summer of '61-the building committee acting in con- junction with the town committee to build a town house.
ECCLESIASTICAL AFFAIRS.
The ecclesiastical action of the settlers of Fair Haven appears to have been begun in their ca- pacity as a town organization, in the fall of 1786, when a town meeting was held at Sam- uel Stannard's, on the 5th of September, Col. M. Lyon being moderator: and it was voted " not to divide the town into two societies;" the " societies" having the character, no doubt, of " parishes"-such as existed at that day un- der the state laws in Massachusetts and Cou- necticut.
At another meeting, held at the same place, December 4th, Silas Safford, Esq., being mod- erator, it was voted "to hire a minister ;" and Thomas Dickson was chosen a committee " to treat with Benson committee how they shall proceed." A tax of two pence on the pound, on the list of 1786, was voted, and Joel Ham- ilton was chosen collector.
Nearly two years later, Sept. 2, '88, Thomas Dickson, Dr. Simeon Smith and Isaac Cutler, were chosen to hire a minister to preach one half the time at Matthew Lyon's, and the other half at or near Eleazer Dudley's, and the com- mittee were authorized to lay a tax to pay the minister. The March meeting of 1789 ro-&p- pointed the last year's committee to hire preaching.
1,333 33
715
FAIR HAVEN.
In September, 1790, the same committee were appointed " to hire preaching for the year ensuing, to the amount of £60, to be paid in grain, beef, pork, or iron," and the selectmen directed " to make a rate for the purpose, to be collected by the town collector " Dec. 26, '91, it was voted " to dismiss the committee to hire preaching." We do not learn who was employ- ed to preach to the inhabitants.
The first meeting-house in the town, the same building that now constitutes Dan Orms' dwel- ling-house, built, no doubt, mainly by Col. Ly- on, though said to have been built by Deacon Daniel Munger, and which stood, at that time, in the public highway further south than now, must have been built in the year 1791, as the March meeting of '92 was the first which was held in the meeting-house. While used for a meeting-house, this building was never plaster- ed or finished.
The first minister of whom we hear as hired to preach in this house, was the Rev. Mr. Far- ley, a young man whom Deacon Munger found in Poultney about 1803, or previously. He boarded with Maj. Tilly Gilbert, while he was resident in the Lyon house, which stood on the ground of the Vermont Hotel.
The Reverend Joseph Mills appears to have been employed during the early part of the year 1805; preaching alternately every other Sunday in West Haven and Fair Haven. He preached his farewell discourse in West Haven June 30th. On the 5th of July the church voted " that a call be given to Mr. Joseph Mills to take the pastoral charge of the church of Christ in Fair Haven and West Haven, and that Timothy Brainard and Asahel Munger be a committee to make out the call." But Mr. Mills did not choose to remain ; and Rev. Silas Ilig- ley preached for a time in the last part of the year, and first part of 1806-the church vot- ing, Jan. 2d, that it was "expedient to give Si- las Higley a call to settle as a pastor over this church and people." Paul Scott and Asahel Munger were made a cominittee to present the call.
" The church of Christ, in Fair Haven and West Haven" was formed Nov. 15, 1803-Rev. Dan Kent of Benson being moderator, and Asa- hel Munger clerk. Another church was organ- ized in West Haven, Dec. 23. 1816.
THE FIRST CONGREGATIONAL SOCIETY OF FAIR HAVEN
Was organized Jan. 2, 1806-the first meeting being held at the school-house-Asher Huggins, who resided in West Haven, moderator, and
| Joel Hamilton, clerk ; Curtis Kelsey, treasur- er ; Timothy Brainard, Paul Scott and Calvin Munger, committee, and Oren Kelsey collect- or. It was
" Voted to give Silas Higley a call to settle as minister of the society. provided $300 can be raised for his salary; he to have the $300 in six months after settlement. and hold it, provided he remain six years; if not, he to pay back $50 each year he falls short, and this to go back to the subscribers."
Tilly Gilbert, Silas Safford and Roger Per- kins were a committee to join the committee of the church in giving the call.
Mr. Higley did not remain, but the place was supplied by another candidate, Rufus Cushman, who had graduated from Williams College in 1805, and studied with Rev. Samuel Whitman, D. D. On the 18th December, '06, the society voted to give Mr. Cushman a call, "provided fifty pounds can be raised by subscription for his yearly salary, to preach one half the time, and the sum of $200 as a settlement." Curtis Kelsey and Asahel Munger were appointed to extend the call on the part of the society. The church voted on the 19th to join in the call, and chose Asher Huggins, Timothy Brainard and Silas Safford a committee to act in its behalf. Mr. Cushman was ordained and installed Feb. 12, '07. The society voted, at a meeting held at Maj. Gilbert's house January 19, to raise $20 to defray the expense, and to request Dr. Se- lah Gridley to write an ode for the occasion, and Mr. Doolittle to form a tune for the same, and to sing an anthem at the close, if agreea- ble to the council.
On the 19th of April, 1810, application was made to Joel Hamilton, society's clerk, by Jo- seph Sheldon, Lewis Stone and Tilly Gilbert, " to warn a meeting of the Congregational So- ciety to consider the propriety of building a new meeting-house, and to sell the old one." A vote was taken May 2d, to build a meeting- house "for the use, benefit and accommodation of the first Congregational society in Fair Haven, to be denominated and known by the name of the First Congregational meeting-house in Fair Ha- ven," and a committee was chosen to prepare a plan and report the expense, viz: Samuel Stan- nard, Tilly Gilbert, Thomas Wilmot, Jacob Da- vey, Moses Colton, Eleazer Claghorn and Curtis Kelsey, who reported at an adjourned meeting, May 14, that the cost of a house 53 by 40 feet, with 36 pews below, steeple, belfry, &c., simi- lar to the Poultney Baptist meeting-house, would be $2,400. The report was accepted, and the committee requested to " report at the
716
VERMONT HISTORICAL MAGAZINE.
next meeting the proper place to set said house;" to prepare a plan, and put a valuation on the pews; and they were authorized to sell the pews at public auction.
At a meeting, May 21st, Tilly Gilbert, Samu- el Stannard, Jacob Davey, Curtis Kelsey, Thom- as Wilmot, Eleazer Claghorn, Joel Hamilton, Silas Sanford and Daniel Hunter, were chosen to superintend building, as soon as $2,400 could be raised.
The meeting voted that if the pews shonld sell for more than enough to finish the house, the committee should be authorized to apply sueh excess to the purchase of a site, and to the purchase of a bell. There were sold 33 pews-the highest price paid being $170, by Thomas Wilmot, and the lowest $26, by Mr. Wilmot, and the total amount of sales $2,792.
The house was raised on the 10th of May, 1811, and dedicated 18th of June, 1812- Rev. N. S. S. Beaman preaching the dedicatory sermon, which was published. There are maay who remember this old meeting-house, with its high galleries, tall pulpit and square box pews, all made of the purest materials, and ornament- ed in the highest style of workmanship-Elisha Scott and Lewis Stone being the principal workmen.
The house stood as finished, with the excep- tion of a new pulpit put up in 1837 or '38, un- til 1840, when some of the timbers in the spire becoming unsafe, the spire itself was taken down by Azel Willard, Jr., and the steeple fin- ished with turrets above the belfry, in which shape it stood until about '51, when the whole house was remodeled hy Charles Scott, son of Elisha Scott, and another steeple raised in the form in which it now stands.
Alexander Dunahue, who died in Castleton in August, 1814. bequeathed to the town of Fair Haven " a bell to weighi between 500 and 600 pounds."
The Rev. Mr. Cushman died Feb. 3, 1829. On the 22d day of April following, the church and society united in a call to Rev. Amos Dru- ry of West Rutland, to supply the vacancy in the pastorship occasioned by Mr. Cushman's death, and Mr. Drury accepted the call on the same day, and was installed on the 6th of May, the sermon being preached by Rev. Beriah Green of Brandon, and the prayer of installa- tion made by Rev. Josiah Hopkins of New Haven. Mr. Drury's ministry continued until May, '37.
On: the 3d of August, '38, the society in- structed the standing committee to give Rev.
Charles Doolittle a call to become pastor of the church and society, promising him a salary of $450, and the use of a parsonage as good as the place occupied by Mr. A. Allen. Sept. 30, '39, the society voted to hire Mr. Doolittle, "if he can be obtained for the year ensuing."
Voted, Oct. 6, '40, to give Rev. Francis C. Woodworth a call to become the minister of the society, on a salary of $400, and the use of the parsonage from June previous.
Mr. Woodworth was installed over the soci- ety Oct. 28, '40; dismissed on account of ill health, Sept. 22, '41; died June 5, '53, aged 45 years
A committee was chosen Feb. 10, '42, to hire Rev. Philo Canfield for 2 years, and Mr. Canfield preached in the town 2 or 3 years.
Aug. 19, '44, the committee were instructed to hire the Rev. Mr. Hine, " with or without a view to settlement."
Rev. J. B. Shaw of North Granville, N. Y., commenced supplying the pulpit in May, '46, and received a call to settle as pastor, on a sal- ary of $400 and the use of the parsonage, in January, '47. He was installed Feb. 16th- Rev. Charles Walker of Pittsford preaching the sermon. Mr. Shaw was dismissed from his pastorship on the 13th of Nov., '50, by a coun- cil called for the purpose.
The Rev. Mr. Wing preached as a candidate in '51. A call was given in April, '52, to Rev. Rufus S. Cushman of Orwell, to settle as pas- tor of the parish, which was declined. At the same meeting a vote was passed " to allow the church to be opened for preaching only by evangelical ministers."
A call was given to Rev. S. I. Herrick of Crown Point, in October, 1852, to settle over the church and society, and Mr. Herrek became " the stated supply" of the pulpit from August, '52, till October, '55, when he removed . with his family to Grinnell, Iowa.
Rev. Dr. Edward W. Hooker commenced preaching with the society in April, '56, and was installed as pastor Angust 20th. It was voted May 17th, to give him a salary of $500, and the use of the parsonage. He was dismiss- ed from his charge Nov. 18, '62, and the pulpit was supplied from year to year by Rev. R. L. Herbert, of the Welch chapel, until the spring of '69-he preaching one sermon on Sunday forenoon, and occasionally a discourse on Suu- day evening.
The subject of providing a parsonage was first agitated at a a meeting held Oct. 7, 1838, and $800 was afterward raised for that purpose.
----
717
FAIR HAVEN.
METHODISM.
There were Methodists in the town at an early period. Some among the first settlers be- longed to this persuasion-among whom we hear of the Ballards, Stephen Holt, and Joshua Holt, his son. Mr. Holt is said to have been very devoted to his religious exercises; and on one occasion was praying very loud, on a dark night, under an appletree, when two per- sons, Solomon Cleveland and Wales Fuller, who were passing at the time, disturbed their devotions by throwing clubs into the tree .- Rev. Lorenzo Dow preached at Mr. Holt's house about 1796 or '97.
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.