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 1 
 
 1 
 
/ks>M( 
 
The Later History 
 
 OF THE 
 
 First Church OF Christ 
 
 NEW LONDON, CONN., 
 
 < BY 
 
 Rev. S. IvEROY BLAKE, D. D., 
 
 Pastor of the Church, from March 30, 1887. 
 
 PUBLISHED BY SUBSCRIPTION. 
 
 NKW I.ONDON: 
 Peess of Thb Day Publishing Company. 
 
 1900. 
 
 THIS VOLUME DOES W 
 tii-CULATE 
 
Copyright, 1900, 
 By S. Leroy Blake. 
 
TABLE OF CONTENTS. 
 
 CHAPTEK. 
 
 I. Introductory 
 
 II. Ministry of Eliphalet Adams 
 
 III. Adams as a Preacher .... 
 
 IV. The Great Awakening ... 
 V. The Ministry or Mather Byles, Jr. . 
 
 VI. Ministry of Ephraim Woodbridge 
 
 VII. The Interim 
 
 VIII. Ministry of Henry Channing; The Parish 
 
 IX. Ministry of Henry Channing; Record of Health 
 
 X. Ministry of Henry Channing; The Church 
 
 XI. Ministry of Abel McEwen ; The Parish 
 
 XII. Ministry of Abel McEwen ; The Church 
 
 XIII. Ministry of Abel McEwen; The Man 
 
 XIV. Ministry of Thomas P. Field 
 
 XV. Baptisms 
 
 PAGE. 
 1 
 
 17 
 82 
 99 
 137 
 164 
 182 
 207 
 242 
 255 
 298 
 333 
 370 
 403 
 445 
 
I. 
 
 INTRODUCTORY. 
 
 It is the purpose of this volume to give the history 
 of the First Church of Christ, New London, Con- 
 necticut, from the year 1708, to the pastorate of Rev. 
 Edward Woolsey Bacon, which began January 14, 
 
 1877. 
 
 In the interests of accurate history one or two 
 statements in the first volume should be corrected. 
 On the third page it is said that Mr. Adams was 
 called to the presidency of Yale College in 1714. 
 This is a typographical error for 1724. 
 
 Again on page 145 it is said that ''Mr. Wood- 
 bridge married" Mr. Bradstreet's ''aunt Lucy Dud- 
 ley." It should have been said that he married 
 his "aunt Mercy Dudley." On pages 204 and 205 
 Hannah Bahr should be Hannah Baker. It was 
 discovered too late for correction, that an error had 
 been made about the first meeting-house of the 
 Baptists in Groton. At once the following was pre- 
 pared and sent to be placed in every copy of The 
 Early History of the First Church of Christ, New 
 London, Conn. 
 
2 LATER HISTORY OF THE FIRST CHURCH. 
 
 ERRATUM. 
 
 On page 221 of The Early History of the First Church of 
 Christ, New London. 
 
 The author was misinformed about the first house of wor- 
 ship of the Baptists of Groton. It was built on the old road, 
 between the center of that town and Upper Mystic, and was 
 not called the Pepper Box. The house which was so desig- 
 nated stood in another spot. 
 
 The Baptist Church which was called the Pepper 
 Box was built on Fort Hill in what is now Water- 
 ford, near the residence of the late Dr. Borland. 
 
 Since writing the previous volume a few further 
 facts concerning Rev. Thomas Peters have come 
 to the writer's knowledge. For the facts relating to 
 Mr. Peters I am indebted to Mrs. Edward McClure 
 Peters of New York. 
 
 Rev. Thomas Peters, or Peter, as the name was 
 frequently written, was the eldest son of Thomas 
 Dirkwood and Martha Trefifery of Fowey, Corn- 
 wall. He was baptized in the parish of St. Ewe in 
 1597. His father was a merchant, and was decend- 
 ed from a family which was driven from Antwerp 
 in 1543, on account of their religion. They be- 
 longed to the Reformed Church. His mother was 
 of a very ancient family of the name of Trefifery. 
 The Dirkwoods were wealthy, but suffered severe 
 losses about the time that Thomas was at Oxford. 
 When, and for what reason the name of Peter, or 
 Peters, was substituted for that of Dirkwood is not 
 known, but the change seems to have been made 
 between 1599 and 1610. 
 
INTRODUCTORY. 3 
 
 Thomas matriculated at Brasenose College, Ox- 
 ford in 1610, and graduated June 30, 1614. For 
 many years he was vicar of Mylor in his native 
 county. "He was driven from England, probably 
 by Sir Ralph Hopton in 1643, ^^^ reached New 
 England in 1644. He was in Saybrooke in 1645 
 and later accompanied John Winthrop Jr., to the 
 Pequod plantation." 
 
 He seems to have remained in this country but 
 about two years, for he received a call to return to 
 his old parish in Cornwall, and sailed from Nan- 
 tucket, December 19, 1646. He again ministered 
 at Mylor until he died in 1654, in the fifty-seventh 
 year of his age. Cotton Mather speaks of him as 
 "a worthy man and a writer of certain pieces." 
 
 His will is quaint, like himself, and is as follows : 
 "In The name of The Everlasting God, Amen. The 
 26th of October, 1654, I Thomas Peters, Preacher 
 of the Gospel of Jesus Christ att Mylor in Cornwall 
 though with little success to soules, being in good 
 and perfect memory, blessed be my Lord Jesus, 
 though having some of deathes sentences upon my 
 body Doe hereby constitute this my last Will and 
 Testament as followeth : Item. I bequeath my eter- 
 nal soule unto the bosome of the Lord Jesus Christ 
 my never fayling advocate and Redeemer, who hath 
 opened a fountain of his blood to washe it from all 
 sinne and all uncleanness though such as were 
 found in the bloody family of David and that abom- 
 inable sort of Jerusaleme inhabitants, and my body 
 
4 LATER HISTORY OF THE FIRST CHURCH. 
 
 to be interred over agt my studdy window neare 
 the brow of the hill neare the pathway to the diall." 
 
 There follow several items bequeathing certain 
 lands, houses, moneys, etc., to his "sonne John," 
 to his daughters Mary, Sarah, Ann and Elizabeth, 
 and to his wife Ann, whom he made "sole execu- 
 tor." The will was ''Proved in the Prerogative 
 Court of Canterbury, the 19th of January 1654-5." 
 
 A few further facts relating to Richard Blinman 
 have been found. A catalogue of the Alumni of 
 Oxford says that he was a son of William Blinman 
 of Chepstowe, County of Monmouth, where Richard 
 was probably born, though this is not certain, in 
 161 5. He was matriculated at New Inn Hall, April 
 24, 1635, when he was twenty years of age. He 
 took his degree of B. A., January 19, 1635-6. He 
 appears to have gone from Oxford to Chepstowe 
 where he had a church, until he was driven to 
 America in 1640 for his nonconformity. Not long 
 after he married Mary, sister of Dorothy, the wife 
 of Thomas Parke. 
 
 His will was proved in 1687, the same year in 
 which it was drawn, when he says that he had "lived 
 to the age of 72 years." Evidently he was living in 
 1687. As his will was proved in that year it is prob- 
 able that this was also the year of his death. 
 
 A church which has been prominent among the 
 religious forces of a state and has been identified 
 with a community almost from the beginning, must 
 come to be a vital part of their history. The history 
 of this state and town, with the story of its old Col- 
 
INTRODUCTORY. 5 
 
 onial churches left out, would be conspicuously in- 
 complete. 
 
 This is the oldest church, by several years in 
 southeastern Connecticut. It is the mother of four 
 Congregational Churches ; the first, or Road 
 Church, Stonington, organized in 1674; the church 
 in Groton, organized in 1704; the church in Mont- 
 ville, organized in 1722; and the Second Congrega- 
 tional Church in New London, organized in 1835. 
 For three quarters of a century it was the only or- 
 ganized religious force in this community. For 
 two hundred and fifty years it has been identified 
 with the religious history of the city, the county and 
 the state. The main question is whether the present 
 generation will enter heartily into all that is be- 
 queathed to them. A noble race of men and wo- 
 men left to their heirs a rich and noble legacy — 
 Thk First Church of Christ, Nkw London, 
 CoNNKCTicuT — in which most of the old family 
 trees of this city are rooted, however their branches 
 may have been grafted elsewhere. Some of the 
 later generations may have strayed into other 
 folds, but their ancestral lines lead back into this 
 venerable church, in whose care and nurture the 
 early men and women of New London were trained. 
 
 In the spring of 1901 this church will have been 
 in New London two hundred and fifty years. This 
 opens the way to correct a misapprehension con- 
 cerning the anniversary which was held October 19, 
 1870. It was called the two hundredth anniversary. 
 But it was not. It was two hundred years after the 
 
6 LATER HISTORY OP THE FIRST CHURCH. 
 
 date of the earliest records. But the church was, 
 at that time, two hundred and twenty-eight years 
 old. Dr. Field, in his admirable discourse on that 
 occasion, said, *'We have taken the year 1870, and 
 the month of October in that year, as a time for 
 celebrating the formation of the First Church of 
 Christ in New London, not because we think the 
 church had its beginning in October, 1670, but be- 
 cause our church records begin at that time." He 
 also says, "I think we shall see that there is good 
 reason for supposing that there was a church here at 
 least twenty years earlier than 1670." Dr. Field 
 was right ; and he asks with pertinent force, ''is it 
 probable that our Puritan fathers lived here twenty 
 years and more without a church organization, 
 when it was so easy a thing in their view of church 
 government to form one? We can not believe it!" 
 Clearly Dr. Field was of the opinion that the an- 
 niversary held October 19, 1870, was not the two 
 hundredth. 
 
 The question may arise in some minds why this 
 is called The First Church of Christ, rather than 
 the First Congregational Church. The answer is 
 simple. It was the first church on the ground. x\s 
 it was not in the original plan that any but churches 
 of the same order should be organized anywhere 
 within the jurisdiction of the Colonial Legislature, 
 the churches first planted in a town, as in Hartford, 
 Middletown, New Haven, New London etc., were 
 called, as in fact each was, "The First Church of 
 Christ." The Congregational idea, as expressed by 
 
INTRODUCTORY. 7 
 
 the Separatists of Plymouth, was not at first fully 
 accepted by the Puritans, many of whom still clung 
 to the traditions of the English Church. The idea 
 of a State Church was not wholly banished from 
 their minds till later years. So when they founded 
 a town and planted a church, they called it the 
 First Church of Christ in that place, because it was 
 the first on the ground. A vote of this church, 
 passed September 3, 1742, designates it by this his- 
 toric title. And it is, as its name declares, The 
 First Church of Christ in New London. 
 
 It is worth while to note that this, more than most 
 Puritan churches, stood for the congregational prin- 
 ciple of self-government. The Puritan, much more 
 than the Pilgrim of Plymouth, leaned to the stricter 
 and more rigid forms of government and discipline 
 in the church. He had been taught in that school, 
 and he found it hard to unlearn the lesson. It was 
 not strange, therefore, that a pretty rigorous estab- 
 lished ecclesiastical polity grew up, almost as closely 
 allied to the state, and as relentless as that from 
 which the early Puritans had fled in England. In 
 Massachusetts, the right of franchise was limited to 
 those in church-membership, which thus carried 
 with it certain civil rights. At New Haven and 
 Milford there was a similar restriction as late as 
 1642. [Walker's Hist. Cong. Chs. p 122.] The 
 ecclesiastical conditions approached suspiciously 
 near to a union of church and state; enough, at 
 least, so that stern and repressive measures were 
 adopted toward all who dissented from the es- 
 
8 LATER HISTORY OF THE FIRST CHURCH. 
 
 tablished order in Connecticut, unless there was 
 some distinguishing mark by which they could be 
 differentiated from Congregationalists or Presbyter- 
 ians. 
 
 There is no record that this church adopted the 
 Cambridge Platform. But as it was in Gloucester 
 at the time this Platform was adopted, and may have 
 been represented in that synod, the probabilities all 
 are that it did adopt it. At any rate it loved inde- 
 pendency, resented ecclesiastical control, and flatly 
 refused to adopt the Saybrook Platform. In this 
 action it was followed by all the other churches 
 then in the county, with but two or three exceptions. 
 Nor did the churches now comprising the New 
 London County Conference, except those in Leban- 
 on, became consociated till May 31, 1815, at Pres- 
 ton. But at that late date, whatever teeth the sys- 
 tem had, had been drawn ; for it ceased to be the 
 established order, made obligatory by law, in 1784. 
 
 This church stood through the Revolutionary 
 period, and experienced its demoralizing effects. 
 These were disastrous to the material as well as the 
 spiritual welfare of the land. New London suffered 
 in both these respects, as the following chapters will 
 show. 
 
 Men from this church and congregation were 
 leaders in the Revolutionary struggle. Capt. James 
 Chapman, one of the men who led New Londoners 
 to Bunker Hill, Adam Shapley, who lost his hfe 
 from wounds received in the battle of Groton 
 Heights, Peter Richards, who gave up his young 
 
> 
 
 ■^■l)" 
 
 INTRODUCTORY. 9 
 
 life in that awful slaughter, Stephen Hempstead and 
 Thomas Updike who were associates of Nathan 
 Hale, and Nathan Hale himself, Jedediah Hunting- 
 ton, who was on the staf¥ of General Washington, 
 Robert Hallam, Nathaniel Shaw Jr., and others 
 were the contributions of this church to the mighty 
 struggle which ended in our national life. It also 
 has furnished men who have been conspicuous in 
 the civil life of the colony. In the early days were 
 John Winthrop, Fitz John Winthrop and Gurdon 
 Saltonstall whom it furnished to be its governors. 
 Later it furnished to sit in the councils of the na- 
 tion, Richard Law, senior and junior, son and 
 grandson of Governor Jonathan Law, Lyman Law, 
 Amasa Learned, Elias Perkins, Norman Belcher, 
 and others whose names are written on the annals 
 of the nation. This church, like others contempor- 
 ary with it has seen, and been a part of all the civil, 
 social, and religious processes by which this nation 
 has grown from its infancy to its present stalwart 
 manhood. 
 
 In passing we may pause to note that, in its near- 
 ly two hundred and seventy years of existence, this 
 jchurch has had but twelve pastors. No pastor has 
 ever been driven from this church by internal dis- 
 gensions. Some, doubtless, in every pastorate have 
 not liked the minister, and would have welcomed a 
 change. But if such feelings existed, they never 
 took shape in efforts to unseat a pastor. Conse- 
 quently the church has had conspicuously long, able 
 and peaceful terms of service in its pulpit. Four 
 
10 LATER HISTORY OF THE FIRST CHURCH. 
 
 were life tenures. Seven pastorates came to an end 
 because the incumbent wished to be released. This 
 record is an unusual one. 
 
 The writer has heard it intimated that this church 
 came near becoming Unitarian, at the close of the 
 eighteenth century. The story of Mr. Channing's 
 pastorate will show that this is far from being true. 
 Mr. Channing, as was often done, drafted a state- 
 ment of doctrine which he used, and which was in 
 harmony with his views, but which the church never 
 adopted. We know that the creed and covenant of 
 this church were in use before 1787 in substantially 
 their present form. Votes passed as early as 1742 
 and 1713 lead to the belief that they were in use 
 then. They may have been framed by Mr. Adams. 
 Their use by the church for almost a century was 
 equivalent to a formal vote of adoption. Thus this 
 church has always stood for that simple doctrinal 
 faith which was the center about which the early 
 churches of New England were gathered. 
 
 The problem of the support of the gospel was not 
 always easy for the fathers to solve. Their resour- 
 ces were slender, but they regarded it a duty, to 
 whose discharge one must be compelled, if he would 
 not do it willingly, to help support the ministrations 
 of religion. If some of their methods seem to us 
 heroic, and bordering on compulsion, we must not 
 forget the school in which they were trained. The 
 town was the parish. The Congregational was the 
 established order. Its support was obligatory. A 
 tax was laid on the grand list by authority of the leg- 
 
INTRODUCTORY. 11 
 
 islature. It was binding and inexorable as any tax, 
 and collected with the same unsparing rigor. This 
 was when the legislature exercised a general super- 
 vision over all ecclesiastical affairs. But when oth- 
 er religious bodies were established the practice 
 of laying a tax on the grand list for the support of 
 a church which the person did not attend ceased. 
 However, even after the ministers' rates were no 
 longer laid as a public tax, the property of members 
 of the church and parish was liable for the payment 
 of their subscriptions, and force was sometimes used 
 to collect them. Often those who called themselves 
 Congregationalists, but dissented from the standing 
 order, like the Separates, suffered extreme hardship, 
 because of their refusal to support preaching upon 
 which they did not attend. This continued with 
 greater or less rigor till 1784. In 1787, when the 
 first house of worship, which stood on the present 
 site, was occupied, the gospel began to be supported 
 here by the rental of pews. 
 
 The benevolences of this church, in former years 
 not very remote, have been of a notable character. 
 For a long time they have considerably exceeded 
 the local expenses. The total amount of gifts from 
 1859 to 1898, were $234,736.60. The legacies for 
 that period amounted to about $1,500,000. The 
 two aggregated upwards of $1,734,736.60. This 
 church gave to Home Missions from 1793 to 1898, 
 a period of one hundred and five years, over $65,- 
 366.06. From January i, 1887 to January i, 1898, 
 it gave to the causes represented by the various 
 
12 LATER HISTORY OF THE FIRST CHURCH. 
 
 Congregational Societies the sum of $42,193.52. 
 During the same time the church gave to various 
 other branches of work, mostly local, including 
 $3,296.04 raised for the erection and equipment of 
 Bethany Chapel, the sum of $61,603.82. 
 
 The gift of Deacon Asa Otis, during the ministry 
 of Rev. Edward W. Bacon, put this church in the 
 front ranks of givers to the American Board, if not 
 at the head of the list. It brought into the treasury 
 of the Board about $1,500,000, so valuable were the 
 investments. 
 
 The far-reaching efifects of these gifts upon the 
 civilization and evangelization oi the world may be 
 learned from a survey of the work to which they 
 were applied. The Otis legacy was used for evan- 
 gelistic and educational purposes. Secretary Dan- 
 iels writes, "By the action of the Board in 1879, one 
 third of the estate was to be devoted to our immense 
 educational work with reference especially to train- 
 ing a native ministry ; one third to the enlargement 
 of the present fields along evangelistic lines, and 
 one third to the exploration of new fields, giving 
 first place to Africa." He writes further: 
 
 "Boston, June 26, 1896. 
 "Rev. S. L. Blake, D. D., New London, Conn.: 
 
 "Dear Dr. Blake: Your letter of the 25th inst. I have re- 
 ceived and note its inquiry. The Otis legacy was used 
 largely for new work. As a result six new missions were 
 started: North Japan, Shansi, So. China, East and West 
 Central Africa, and North Mexico. Within a short time the 
 No. Japan and No. Mexico were merged in the Japan and 
 Mexico missions. Little by little the support of Shansi and 
 
INTRODUCTORY. 13 
 
 So. China were withdrawn from the fund, and for the last 
 two or three years East and West Central Africa have alone 
 been supported by it. It would be difficult to tell how many 
 missionaries have gone to the field as a result of that gift. 
 But I should presume sixty men are on the field today and 
 during the last fifteen years many others who are not asso- 
 ciated with us now. Then most of the work in those mis- 
 sions may be attributed in their first beginning at least to 
 this gift. The work at Sendai, Niigata, and almost all the 
 work in the missions named in China, and in fact nearly ev- 
 erything in East and West Central Africa, and the interesting 
 work at Parral and Chihuahua, Mexico, so if you take our al- 
 manac and look at the stations in these different missions 
 and get the names, you will discover the breadth and scope 
 of the work which has been begun and wholly or partially 
 maintained by this great gift which came out of your church. 
 
 "With most cordial regards, 
 
 "I am, very sincerely yours, 
 
 "C. H. DANIELS." 
 
 While none of the money received from Mr. Otis 
 was used to found new institutions of learning, it 
 was used "to promote the educational interests of 
 new missions in their beginnings. But the Central 
 Turkey College at Aintab," the Euphrates College 
 at Harpoot, and Jaffna College in Ceylon, "received 
 generous sums for endowment, and so parts of the 
 legacy are still giving income." When it is remem- 
 bered that educational and evangelistic work done 
 on mission fields, reaches and determines the char- 
 acter of future generations, and so helps imperative- 
 ly to shape the future social, political and moral con- 
 ditions among vast populations of the globe, it will 
 be seen that this church, through this great legacy. 
 
14 LATER HISTORY OF THE FIRST CHURCH. 
 
 Still reaches out a strong hand to give right direc- 
 tion to the world's advancing civilization. 
 
 In many ways it is and always has been in 
 touch with these world-wide majestic missionary 
 movements undertaken in obedience to our Lord's 
 last command. One of the first corporators of the 
 American Board was Deacon Jedediah Huntington. 
 If in addition we consider that men have gone from 
 it into the ministry who have filled some of the most 
 prominent pulpits in the land, is it extravagant to 
 give it a place in the front ranks of the religious 
 forces which are at work to evangelize the world? 
 
 But the spiritual work of a church is more sig- 
 nificant, than anything else, of its place among the 
 agencies employed for the world's evangelization. 
 This has been called a cold and unresponsive 
 church. It is not, and never has been, impulsive, 
 nor given to excitement. But it has gone on its 
 way quietly, exerting always a positive influence for 
 righteousness, and its power has been felt in the 
 community. It has never run after novelties, and 
 never has been in haste to adopt changes and new 
 niPethods. Its history has been marked with revival 
 periods. 
 
 Owing to the imperfect records it is impossible to 
 tell the exact number who have been enrolled as 
 members of this church up to date, but it is more 
 than twenty-five hundred. At the beginning in 
 1642 the membership was fifty. When the records 
 are opened and read, a great cloud of witnesses will 
 rise up to call this church blessed; and it will be 
 
INTRODUCTORY. 15 
 
 found that a goodly company of choicest spirits en- 
 tered into the blessed life in the communion of this 
 body of Christ, and went up from it to the fellow- 
 ship of the church of the first born in the kingdom 
 of heaven. 
 
 The New England prayer meeting on an evening 
 of the week, like the Sunday school, grew out of the 
 revivals with which the eighteenth century ended, 
 and the nineteenth century began. There was a 
 weekly lecture in New London, held on Wednesday 
 evening, at the house of some member of the church. 
 But there was no prayer-meeting prior to 1807. 
 Out of the unusual degree of religious interest of 
 that year grew the weekly meetings for prayer 
 which are now a permanent feature of the religious 
 life of the city. Sabbath schools had their origin 
 from movements within this church. So that it has 
 been the pioneer in all the forms of religious life 
 and activity in the county and city of New London. 
 
 This volume is set forth with the hope that its 
 perusal may serve to kindle a new interest in this 
 venerable church on the part of those who now com- 
 pose its membership, and who have fallen heirs to so 
 rich and noble a legacy. And if this shall be the 
 result, the author will be amply repaid for the labor 
 and research which it has cost. 
 
 A word should be said about the sources of the 
 material of the subsequent narrative. When an 
 author is quoted, acknowledgement is made in the 
 text. But the principle information was derived 
 from original sources, which have never before been 
 
16 LATER HISTORY OF THE FIRST CHURCH. 
 
 in print. This volume is therefore sent forth with 
 the sincere hope that it may prove itself to be an ad- 
 dition to the history of our city and to the ecclesias- 
 tical history of Connecticut. Acknowledgment is 
 hereby made of the kind courtesy of Mrs. Branch, 
 for access to that portion of the Hempstead diary 
 comprised between the years 1731 and 1753, and to 
 the New London Historical Society for access to 
 the remaining portions of that interesting and valu- 
 able document. 
 
ELIPHALET ADAMS. 
 
II. 
 
 THK MINISTRY OF ELIPHALET ADAMS. 
 February 9, 1708-9.— October 4, 1753. 
 
 There were no theological seminaries in 1708. 
 Men were educated for the ministry at the two col- 
 leges which were then in New England, Harvard 
 and Yale. The purpose of the founders of these in- 
 stitutions was to educate men who proposed to en- 
 ter the pulpit, and their courses of study were 
 framed with reference to this end. If not at so early 
 a date, yet later men often completed their prepara- 
 tion for the pulpit by pursuing a course of study 
 with some eminent divine who, in those days before 
 the schools of the prophets, was often a profound 
 theologian, a learned scholar in Hebrew and Greek, 
 as well as versed in the essential work of the pulpit 
 and the parish. And it may be said that often the 
 country parson was the great preacher, and thor- 
 oughly understood the art of making sermons. 
 Yale College had not been so long in existence in 
 1707-8 as to have become a source of supply for va- 
 cant pastorates. So that when this church, at the 
 beginning of that year, found itself without a shep- 
 herd, it had to search for another among college- 
 
18 LATER HISTORY OF THE FIRST CHURCH. 
 
 bred men who had been graduated from the college 
 of the Bay Colony. 
 
 Several reasons had operated to lead this church 
 to look to Massachusetts for its early pastors. It 
 was, itself, of Massachusetts origin. Its early mem- 
 bers were emigrants from Massachusetts. Some of 
 them had come from the Boston churches. Their 
 family ties were still in Massachusetts. They still 
 had an effection for the institutions which they had 
 left behind them. Thus Bradstreet recorded, in 
 1672, ''Mrs Ann Latimore received by letter from 
 the old church at Boston." Again in 1717 Mr. 
 Adams recorded, "Thomas Fosdyke was recom- 
 mended to our communion from the old church at 
 Boston." This affectionate way of speaking shows 
 that their hearts still beat warmly for the old home- 
 steads. Besides the pastors of the churches in Bos- 
 ton and vicinity were men of recognized ability, of 
 wide reputation, of far-seeing judgment and of rich 
 experience. They were known to the people in 
 New London. Their advice was naturally sought 
 in the serious matter of securing a pastor, and that 
 advice was generally followed. 
 
 When Mr. Saltonstall was taken by the legisla- 
 ture of the colony to be its governor, the church 
 naturally searched, where it had searched so suc- 
 cessfully before, to find his successor. Mr. Salton- 
 stall relinquished the pastoral office Jan. i, 1707-8, 
 when he accepted the election of the legislature. 
 However, it was not till June 7 of that year, that 
 the town met to determir^e upon the proper means 
 
ADAMS' MINISTRY. 19 
 
 to obtain "an able and faithful minister of the gos- 
 pel." At this meeting of the town, Deacon Wil- 
 liam Douglas, and Deacon John Plumbe were cho- 
 sen and directed to repair to Boston, with such dis- 
 patch as might be possible, to confer with the rev- 
 erend clergy there, with reference to a fitting per- 
 son for the office of pastor of the now pastorless 
 church. It seems that the attention of the town 
 had been called to Mr. Eliphalet Adams, who was 
 not wholly a stranger in these parts. For the com- 
 mittee were directed to mention particularly to the 
 reverend clergy of Boston, whom they were sent to 
 consult, "The Reverend Mr. Adams who now 
 preaches in Boston, and ask their thoughts concern- 
 ing his being called to the work of the ministry 
 here." But, whoever was recommended, the com- 
 mittee were instructed to invite him to come and 
 preach on trial, as it used to be called, or, as the vote 
 reads, "for some convenient term in order to a set- 
 tlement, if it may be, and to wait upon him in his 
 journey hither." To this end the town ordered 
 the selectmen to furnish the deacons with money to 
 defray the expenses of their journey. 
 
 It will be interesting to note that Deacon Doug- 
 las was now sent to Boston on a quest for a pastor, 
 as his father had been more than forty years before. 
 As the town voted to the father a piece of land 
 "which is for the satisfaction of his journey to Bos- 
 ton," when he went to secure a minister for the 
 church after the departure of Mr. Bulkeley, so the 
 town voted to the son a gratuity of land to express 
 
20 LATER HISTORY OF THE FIRST CHURCH. 
 
 its satisfaction with the result of his journey. A 
 similar gratuity was voted to Deacon Plumbe. 
 
 Their mission was successful. On their return 
 they reported that they had secured the services of 
 Mr. Eliphalet Adams, a young minister of great 
 promise, and the man about whom they had been 
 directed to make special enquiries. Upon receiv- 
 ing this report the town voted that ''Mr. Adams is 
 well accepted by the town for the ministry, and if 
 he shall see cause to settle, we will do what is hon- 
 orable for his settlement and support." He arrived 
 in town August 20. September 8 the town invited 
 him, by a hearty and unanimous vote to settle as 
 the pastor of the church, and requested a speedy or- 
 dination. It will be remembered that the legislature, 
 when it chose Saltonstall as governor, voted to the 
 town a gratuity of £100, as a partial compensation 
 for depriving the people of their minister. This 
 was offered to Mr. Adams. To it were added £88 
 by subscription. This sum was in addition to the 
 annual salary, which was fixed at £90. This sum 
 was made up in three ways, by town rates, by the 
 interest of the Liveen legacy, and by stranger's 
 money. The "stranger's money" was the loose 
 cash given by visitors in the town who might attend 
 church. *Tt was customary for strangers of dis- 
 tinction to make a handsome donation on such oc- 
 casions, and it was usually kept distinct from the 
 offerings of the inhabitants ; the latter being often 
 deducted from their rates." [Hist. N. L. p 379.] 
 That is, the town rather than the minister, for whose 
 
ADAMS' MINISTRY. 21 
 
 benefit they were given, reaped for itself the advan- 
 tage of these handsome donations. 
 
 For some reason the request of the town for an 
 immediate ordination was not acceded to. This 
 event did not take place till over a year after the 
 departure of Mr. Saltonstall. On the records of the 
 church is entered the following : *'The records of the 
 church in N. London kept by Eliphalet Adams from 
 Feby 9vJ^o?-9x.who was on that day ordained by 
 the Rev. Mr. James Noyes, Mr. Timothy Wood- 
 bridge, and Mr. Samuel Whiting." Mr. Noyes was 
 from Stonington, Mr. Woodbridge from Hartford, 
 and Mr. W^hiting from Windham. The latter had 
 married Elizabeth, daughter of Rev. William 
 Adams of Dedham by his wife Alice Bradford, and 
 was therefore brother-in-law of Mr. Adams. Dr. 
 Field says that he preached Mr. Adams' ordination 
 sermon. On this occasion Governor Saltonstall ap- 
 peared for the town to declare to the council their 
 acceptance of the candidate. 
 
 Mr. Adams had now begun a pastorate which was 
 to continue for nearly half a century, and end only 
 with his life. 
 
 Before taking up the story of this pastorate, we 
 may stop to learn what we can of the man and his 
 antecedents. He was descended from William 
 Adams, who came to Cambridge in 1635, was made 
 a freeman of the Bay Colony, and moved to Ipswich 
 before 1642. This William Adams, Sen. had a 
 son William, who seems to have been born in Eng- 
 land, to have followed his father to this country, and 
 
22 LATER HISTORY OF THE FIRST CHURCH. 
 
 to have settled in Ipswich. He also had a son Wil- 
 liam, who was born in Ipswich, May 27, 1650. His 
 desire for an education was very strong. Aug. 13, 
 1667 he says that he went to Cambridge to attend 
 commencement, and "sought for admission into col- 
 ledge, could not obtain it, pecuniae deerant, " that is, 
 friends were wanting. However, assisted by an un- 
 cle, or other relatives, he "was admitted into col- 
 ledge" September 21 of the same year, and gradua- 
 ted August 8, 1671. He made the following entry 
 in his diary : "I was admitted to ye degree of Batch- 
 elour of Arts in Harvard Colledge in N. E. under 
 ye Reverend Charles Chancey President." Decem- 
 ber 21, of the same year, he was called to Dedham, 
 Mass., but declined. July 15, 1672, a second invita- 
 tion was sent which received the same answer. A 
 third was extended to him March 24, 1673. Two 
 days later he sent a letter accepting the call. May 
 27 he makes this entry in his diary : "This day (be- 
 ing also my birthday) I removed from Cambridge 
 to Dedham to ye solemn undertaking of ye ministry 
 there on triall for future settlement." The trial was 
 mutually satisfactory. For December 3, 1673, ^^ 
 writes in his diary, 'T was ordained Pastor of ye 
 Church of Christ in Dedham, Mr. Wilson giving ye 
 charge, Elder Hunting and Deacon Aldis joyning 
 in laying on of hands : Mr. Danforth of Roxbury 
 gave ye right hand of fellowship." 
 
 A contemporary writes of him that he was 
 "among the choicest ripe fruits of this young gener- 
 ation." He left college with the esteem and res- 
 
ADAMS' MINISTRY. 23 
 
 pect of his teachers, and with a character for learn- 
 ing, integrity and piety which gave pleasing prom- 
 ise for the future. 
 
 October 21, 1674, he writes in his diary, "I was 
 married to Mary Manning of Cambridge." By her 
 he had, among other children, Eliphalet. March 
 26, 1677, he wrote in his diary, ''My son EHphalet 
 (so named from ye Lord's special preservation and 
 deliverance of him and his mother from ye danger 
 yy were both in at his birth) he was born about 2 or 
 3 hours before day." Eliphalet himself wrote in a 
 brief diary which remains, "Anno 1677, March 26, 
 I was born a sinner into an evil world." Mr. Wil- 
 liam Adams wrote in his journal, "Anno 1679 — June 
 24. My dear and loving wife departed this life after 
 we had been married and lived together 4 years and 
 8 months, whereby I am bereaved of a sweet and 
 pleasant companion and left in a very lonely and 
 solitary condition." Her infant son, Eliphalet, was 
 less than three years old. Mr. Adams wrote again 
 in his diary, "Anno 1680 — March 2^. I was mar- 
 ried to Alice Bradford, daughter to Major William 
 Bradford of Plimouth." She was granddaughter of 
 the famous Governor Bradford. Mr. Adams was a 
 pulpit orator of considerable note in his day. He 
 was preacher of the election sermon before the Mas- 
 sachusetts Legislature, May 27, 1685. He died Au- 
 gust 17 of that year; at the early age of thirty-five 
 years and three months, and after a pastorate of 
 twelve years. Of two sermons preached by him, 
 and published, it was said that they were eminently 
 
24 LATER HISTORY OF THE FIRST CHURCH. 
 
 practical, devout and fervent, and that the language 
 of them "is pure Saxon English, and has at times 
 much force and vigor, though plain and un- 
 adorned." Eliphalet wrote in his diary as follows : 
 "1685, Aug. 17, My Father left this evil world and 
 me an orphan to God's Providence and a wide 
 world." At the funeral a practice was introduced 
 which has since come to be universally observed. 
 No word of prayer cheered an early New England 
 funeral. Lechford records, in his book of 1642, 
 that "at Burials, nothing is read, nor any Funeral 
 Sermon made, but all the neighborhood, or a good 
 company of them, come together by the tolling of 
 the bell, and carry the dead solemnly to his grave, 
 and there stand by him while he is buried. The 
 Ministers are most commonly present," When the 
 Rev. William Adams was buried prayer was offered 
 for the first time, at a funeral, in the colonies. This 
 was the beginning of appropriate religious ceremon- 
 ies at the burial of the dead, which have won their 
 way to general usage. Such was the father of Eliph- 
 alet Adams. His widow, Alice Bradford, married 
 Major James Fitch of Norwich. As Eliphalet was 
 but eight years old when his father died, and as his 
 step-mother married Mr. Fitch the next year, all 
 his boyhood, until he left for college, must have 
 been spent in the home of Mr. Fitch, in Norwich. 
 He was therefore not a stranger in New London 
 County. His antecedents and acquirements were 
 well known. It did not, therefore, take the people 
 in New London long to make up their minds, and 
 
ADAMS' MINISTRY. 25* 
 
 they were ready for his settlement among them five 
 months before the event took place. 
 
 Eliphalet graduated from Harvard College in 
 1694, when but just passed the age of seventeen. 
 If he pursued the full course of four years, he was 
 ready for his matriculation at the unusually early 
 age of thirteen. Evidently he was a scholar of 
 more than common promise, which his subsequent 
 career abundantly fulfilled. 
 
 Mr. Adams was now the accredited and ordained 
 pastor of the church. He was the last pastor to be 
 ordained at the instance of the town. The pew 
 question was still a burning one. The vote of the 
 town still had to be invoked to settle disputes be- 
 tween parties who desired the same seat. It was 
 a matter of vital importance to people of spirit and 
 of social ambitions what pew they should occupy 
 in church. Soon after Mr. Adams' ordination a 
 committee was chosen to have the matter in charge. 
 But no one was to be removed from his seat except 
 to be seated higher. In graduating the seats the 
 committee were instructed to consider age, service 
 done to the town, and the share borne in town af- 
 fairs. Birth, rank and social station had, and 
 claimed, certain privileges in the house of God 
 which today are not recognized. It seems strange 
 to us to see social emulation, in the matter of the 
 place where one should sit in church, carried to such 
 an extreme of controversy that the authority of the 
 town must be invoked to settle the dispute. Such 
 disputes did arise, and were carried to such an ex- 
 
26 LATER HISTORY OF THE FIRST CHURCH. 
 
 treme of bitterness. In 1723 the wives of two men, 
 who were brothers-in-law, each claimed the upper 
 seat, which was regarded as the post of honor. 
 Neither would yield. A committee appointed by 
 the town had to settle the dispute by ordering one 
 of the parties to desist from going into the pew. A 
 similar dispute arose in 1734 over the seat of honor 
 in the late Governor Saltonstall's pew. September 
 29 of that year, Mr. Hempstead wrote in his diary : 
 "The late Governor Saltonstall's Pew stove down 
 the Door and Pannels. It seems to be the effect of 
 a Contention between the 2 Brothers' wives which 
 of ye females shall have the upper hand." 
 
 At this time the pews of greatest honor were not 
 in the broad aisle, but on either side of the pulpit. 
 It was here that Governor Winthrop sat. Govern- 
 or Saltonstall succeeded him. For early in the min- 
 istry of Mr. Adams, leave was granted him to build 
 a pew for himself — the pew about which his two 
 daughters-in-law had the dispute referred to above 
 — on the north side of the pulpit, "between the pul- 
 pit and the northwest corner pew," "his honor 
 agreeing with the successors of the late Gov. Win- 
 throp for removing the pew he sat in, either home 
 to the pulpit, or home to the corner pew, to make 
 room for building the pew aforesaid." [Hist. N. L. 
 P 379-] Soon after this the capacity of the house 
 of worship was increased by building an additional 
 gallery, on each side above the first. This would 
 seem to point, not only to the growth of the town, 
 but also to the popularity of the new pastor, who 
 
ADAMS' MINISTRY. 27 
 
 was a preacher of more than usual power for those 
 times. 
 
 We have no means of fixing the exact member- 
 ship at the date of Mr. Adams' ordination, but, as 
 only a year had passed since Mr. Saltonstall left the 
 pulpit, it may be assumed that the church had not 
 seriously declined, especially as Mr. Adams himself 
 had charge of the pulpit during half of that year. 
 We may then fix the membership at about one hun- 
 dred and fifty. There were added to the church 
 during his ministry 387 whose names are enrolled 
 upon the printed list. Most of these were admitted 
 on profession of faith. 
 
 There is the same reason to believe that other 
 names should be added to the list of members re- 
 ceived during this long pastorate, which we found 
 in the case of Mr. Saltonstall. In 1890 the writer 
 received the following letter from Mr. John B. New- 
 comb, Elgin, Ills : "My great great grandfather, 
 Hezekiah Newcomb, was baptized and joined your 
 church December 25, 1715. His name and baptism 
 were omitted in your printed list of 1870." In the 
 records of baptisms by Air. Adams under that date 
 is the following entry : ''Hezekiah Newcomb made 
 profession of the Christian faith and was baptized 
 Hezekiah." If, as he evidently supposed, Mr. New- 
 comb was then received as a member of the church, 
 then all others were so received of whom Mr. 
 Adams made a similar entry. The argument of the 
 former volume need not be repeated here. It will 
 be sufficient to say that such an entry today would 
 mean that on confessing Christ the candidate re- 
 

 28 LATER HISTORY OF THE FIRST CHURCH. 
 
 ceived the rite of baptism, not having been bap- 
 tized in infancy. It seems clear that Mr. Adams 
 made a distinction between those who owned the 
 i covenant and were baptized or had their children 
 baptized, and those who "made profession of the 
 Christian Faith entered into covenant with God and 
 were baptized." That he understood such as mak- 
 ing a public profession of religion upon joining the 
 church appears from the case of Catherine Garrett. 
 Her name is entered by him upon the list of mem- 
 bers under date of February 5, 1738. Her baptism 
 he records thus : "January 29, 1738 Catherine Gar- 
 rett, an Indian and a prisoner, condemned for mur- 
 der of her child made confession of her fault and 
 was baptized." He gives the following account of 
 her. "Having never been Baptized, she was Earn- 
 estly Desirous of that, wherefore great pains were 
 taken to Acquaint her with the main principles of 
 the Christian Religion and the Nature of the Cov- 
 enant of Grace, the understanding of which her for- 
 mer good education made more easy to her. And 
 after some time, upon her making an Open Ac- 
 knowledgement of her great and Crying Sins, tak- 
 ing shame to herself and manifesting her Sorrow on 
 that account ; Professing the Christian Faith and 
 Consenting to the Covenant of grace she was Bap- 
 tized. Soon after, She was Extremely Desirous to 
 partake with us at the Lord's Table before she suf- 
 fered, and upon its appearing that she understood 
 the Nature and Design of that Ordinance, at her 
 request she was allowed and had the opportunity to 
 
ADAMS' MINISTRY. 29 
 
 Communicate with us twice." She is enrolled by 
 Mr. Adams upon the list of those whom he received 
 into the church. Then all others who professed the 
 Christian faith, consented to the covenant, and were 
 baptized, should be considered as having been ad- 
 mitted to full church privileges. There are ii6 en- 
 tries of this sort. And it is a significant fact that 
 during the year or two which immediately followed 
 the great awakening, a greater number of people 
 than during any other equal period "made profes- 
 sion of the Christian faith, entered into covenant 
 with God and were baptized." This would seem to 
 point out that the revival which visited the church 
 in 1740-41, had the effect to awaken people to their 
 duty to God. It is also worth mention that there 
 are, during this period, fewer entries which state that 
 persons owned or renewed the covenant to have 
 their children baptized. The practice of the half- 
 way covenant, and a quickened spiritual state, did 
 not seem to thrive together. 
 
 While upon this subject we may say that three 
 of the Uncases were received into relation to the 
 church during the ministry of Mr. Adams. Octo- 
 ber 31, 1742, Mr. Adams made the following entry 
 upon the records : "Benjamin Uncas, sachem of the 
 Mohegan Indians and his son Benjamin with his 
 wife, Ann, also Lucy Uncas made profession of the 
 Christian faith and were baptized. Benjamin Un- 
 cas Jr.'s child Benjamin ; Benjamin Uncas Sen.'s 
 younger children Esther, Mary." Lucy Uncas was 
 married by Mr. Adams to Samuel Pye. The entry 
 
30 LATER HISTORY OF THE FIRST CHURCH. 
 
 on the records of marriages reads, ''October 23, 
 [1744] Samuel Pye and Lucy Uncas of Mohegan." 
 Later, April 10, 1748, and April 23, 1750 other chil- 
 dren of Ben Uncas Jr. were baptized by Mr. 
 Adams. Dr. Love of Hartford writes : "This Ben- 
 jamin Uncas Jr. also became sachem, the sixth in 
 the royal line, and the third Ben Uncas. It has 
 been known that Ben Uncas, second of the name 
 above, avowed his acceptance of Christianity about 
 1736. [De Forrest, Indians of Conn. pp. 345, 
 6, 447. Col. Rec. Vol. VI.]" It is difficult not to 
 believe that the record of the baptism of this chief 
 with his family, was the crowning act of his accept- 
 ance of Christianity, which he had avowed six years 
 before, and that it then culminated in his becoming 
 a member of this church. Dr. Love goes on to say, 
 ''This * ^ * will explain the phrase used in one of 
 his petitions in speaking of Mr. Adams, our 'faithful 
 and venerable pastor.' [De Forrest, p 451.]" Mr. 
 Adams actually was his pastor. Then Dr. Love 
 seems to be correct when he says : "hence you have 
 the unparalleled honor of having on your historical 
 roll two Mohegan sachems." 
 
 One other baptism deserves a notice. "April 10, 
 1748, Betty Garret, alias Johnson's child Hannah." 
 This Hannah Garret was daughter of Elizabeth Gar- 
 ret, of whom this record is to be found among the 
 baptisms. "May i, 1743, Elizabeth Garret, a Mo- 
 hegan Indian made profession of the Christian faith, 
 and was baptized EHzabeth." "This Hannah Gar- 
 ret grew up under Christian influences, attended 
 
ADAMS' MINISTRY. 31 
 
 Wheelock's Indian School at Lebanon, and after- 
 wards married David Fowler, one of the pupils, 
 whose sister was the wife of Samson Occum. Da- 
 vid Fowler was the companion of Occum in the first 
 mission westwards to the Oneida Indians, and after- 
 wards the assistant of Rev. Samuel Kirkland there. 
 He and Hannah married, if I remember correctly, in 
 1766, and they kept house for Kirkland in the wil- 
 derness. Fowler was famous as a Christian Indian 
 in his time, a school-master at Montauk, the founder 
 of the Indian town, Brothertown, Oneida, N. Y." 
 Then we think it clear that the names of the cel- 
 ebrated Indians belong on the list of those who were 
 admitted to full membership in this church during 
 the ministry of Mr. Adams. If cases like these, be 
 considered as admission to full fellowship in the 
 church, the number received by Mr. Adams was 
 five hundred and three. 
 
 A study of the records of the church shows that 
 Mr Adams continued the practice of the halfway 
 covenant which his predecessor had introduced. 
 Thus in July, 1709, he records, "Samuel Chapman 
 owned the covenant and was baptized." It thus ap- 
 pears that persons were admitted to halfway coven- 
 ant membership who had not been baptized in in- 
 fancy, which was rather unusual, but not unknown. 
 Mather wrote in 1726: "It is well known there is 
 not one person in all the country free from scan- 
 dalous and notorious disqualifying ignorance and 
 impiety but what may repair to some hundred min- 
 isters in these colonies and be baptized." A large 
 number of entries like the case of Samuel Chapman,. 
 
32 LATER HISTORY OF THE FIRST CHURCH. 
 
 just quoted, show that Mr. Adams was among the 
 ''hundred ministers." 
 
 The practice of admitting- to baptismal privileges 
 persons who had no reHgious experience but led ex- 
 emplary lives, easily grew into the still looser and 
 more disastrous practice of admitting to the priv- 
 ileges of the Lord's supper "all adult members of 
 the church who are not scandalous." By ''adult 
 members" was meant, not those who had experi- 
 enced renewing grace, but all who lived exemplary 
 lives, and who were descended from "such as make 
 a serious profession of true Religion." That is, re- 
 ligious character was held, in a certain sense, to be 
 a matter of inheritance, descending from father to 
 son, if the son did not forfeit it by scandalous liv- 
 ing. 
 
 There was a sort of fellowship between the 
 churches in the matter of the halfway covenant. 
 Persons who had taken the covenant elsewhere, 
 were allowed to present their children for baptism 
 here. Thus it is recorded: "June 13, 1714, John 
 Larabie of Coventry, having with his wife owned 
 the covenant at Windham, had his child baptized." 
 During the ministry of Mr. Adams over one hun- 
 dred and forty cases are recorded, in which per- 
 sons were admitted to the sacrament of baptism for 
 themselves or their children, without making public 
 profession of the Christian faith, and becoming 
 identified with the church in full membership. 
 
 A halfway covenant that was in use in the old 
 North Church in Boston from 1662 may be cited 
 
ADAMS' MINISTRY. 33 
 
 here as a sample of the engagement into which per- 
 sons were required to enter, who had their children 
 baptized, or were baptized themselves, without en- 
 tering into full relations with the church. It con- 
 tained the following: "You * * * do here give up 
 yourself to God in Christ, promising in his help to 
 endeavor a walk according to the rules of that holy 
 religion all your days, choosing God as your best 
 good and your last end, and Christ as your prophet 
 and priest and king of your soul forever." It will 
 be seen by this that the church exercised a kind of 
 watch over those who took this covenant. For fre- 
 quently the record of these baptisms is accompanied 
 by a statement of the fact that a fault was acknowl- 
 edged, or the church was satisfied. Baptism was 
 thus maintained, but the Lord's Supper was neglect- 
 ed and often the church went into decay. 
 
 Just how far the loose practices of baptism af- 
 fected the morals of the town, and the spiritual life 
 of the church it is impossible definitely to state, but 
 a study of the records of the church will show a 
 number of cases of discipline for flagrant violations 
 of the law of social purity, and for other vices unbe- 
 coming in those who were in even nominal relations 
 to the church. That a man of so evangelical 
 spirit as Mr. Adams seemed to be, should continue 
 a practice fraught with so much evil, serves to show 
 how strongly it was intrenched in the churches. 
 Even Jonathan Edwards, in the first years of his 
 ministry adopted it, and when he finally refused to 
 continue it, his refusal cost him his pastorate. 
 
34 LATER HISTORY OF THE FIRST CHURCH. 
 
 As showing the customs of the times with refer- 
 ence to the matter of baptism, the following records 
 are of interest : "June 15, John Plumbe's child, Josh- 
 ua ; he also engaged for the Christian education of 
 the daughter of Benjamin Fox, who was baptized 
 Sarah." "May 17, [1730.] John Calkins' child 
 committed to the education of Bathsheba Williams, 
 and baptized upon her promise for its Christian edu- 
 cation." "June 7 John Calkins' child committed to 
 care of Jonathan Calkins and his wife and baptized 
 on their promise for its education, Mary." "John 
 Calkins' child given in care of Richard Douglas and 
 wife and baptized on their promise for its education, 
 Ann." 
 
 During the ministry of Mr. Adams, children were 
 usually presented for baptism on Sunday, in the 
 church, but in cases of sickness the service was held 
 at the house of the parent. Frequently children 
 were presented at the mid-week lecture. He ad- 
 ministered the rite to 1817 children and 199 adults. 
 He married 526 couples. 
 
 Of the methods in use for the reception of mem- 
 bers into the communion of the church we have no 
 account, but one or two votes give some hint as to 
 the course which was probably pursued. For ex- 
 ample : "At a church meeting, Sept. 2, 1726, where- 
 as it appears to us yt yr are diverse persons among 
 us of good character and deportmt who stand oflf 
 from joining to our communion because it hath 
 been insisted upon yt a relation of yr experience 
 should be brot by those who ofifer to join themselves 
 
ADAMS' MINISTRY. 35 
 
 to ye church for wch yy could see no warrant ; it is 
 now agreed and voted that (although it would be 
 very acceptable to us yt persons offering thems to 
 our communion should continue still so to do), yet 
 where any have a very great scruple and difficulty 
 upon their spirits to comply wth this custom, it 
 shall for ye future be left indifferent ; yet it is ex- 
 pected yt their desire of communion shall be signi- 
 fied to ye church before it be signified to ye congre- 
 gation. Voted in the affirmative." This vote 
 points to the previous custom of requiring a nar- 
 rative of personal religious experience, from 
 those seeking admission into the church, given be- 
 fore the church. The custom was modified evi- 
 dently to meet cases which seemed to come within 
 the halfway covenant. Mr. Adams had been an as- 
 sistant of Rev. Dr. Benjamin Colman, pastor of 
 Brattle Street Church, Boston. In 1699 ^^at church 
 took a new and radical departure, and abandoned 
 the practice of requiring a public narration of per- 
 sonal experience from those seeking admission to 
 its membership. It seems likely that the vote 
 quoted above was framed in imitation of the course 
 pursued by the Brattle Street Church, with which 
 Mr. Adams had been familiar. 
 
 A later vote seems to point to the custom of re- 
 quiring assent to a creed and covenant by those who 
 were received into full fellowship. It was as follows : 
 "At a meeting of a great number of the Brethren 
 at John Coyt's Sept. 3, 1742, notice being given a 
 week before, yt as many of ye Brethren as could 
 
36 LATER HISTORY OF THE FIRST CHURCH. 
 
 conveniently, should then meet together. It was 
 proposed and agreed to, yt this phrase in our church 
 covenant where ye person promises to walk wth ye 
 Church of Christ, in ye great Salvation, etc., should 
 for the future be thus altered into walk wth 
 this church, etc.," a change which remains in the 
 covenant to this day. Certainly whoever united 
 with this church took its covenant, and the expres- 
 sion, which we have seen occurs frequently in the 
 records, "made profession of the Christian faith, 
 entered into covenant, and was baptized," seems al- 
 so to point to an assent to some statement of doc- 
 trine such as a creed. While most of the elaborate 
 creeds of the Congregational churches, grew out of 
 the theological discussions which were peculiar to 
 the first half of the nineteenth century, yet there can 
 be no doubt that, before 1742 this church had a 
 confession of faith and a covenant. 
 
 A further study of the records of the church also 
 shows that suitable discipline was not neglected, 
 and that all who were admitted to church privi- 
 leges, whether in full or in part, were expected and 
 required to walk orderly, and live lives which were 
 not scandalous. Several entries upon the records 
 point to the rigorous administration of discipline. 
 For example: "J^^^ ^4> 1710. Samuel Fosdyck and 
 his wife having made satisfaction of their offence, 
 owned the covenant and had their children bap- 
 tized." Such records show that the church claimed 
 and exercised the right of watch and discipline, not 
 only over those in full communion, but also over 
 
ADAMS' MINISTRY. 37 
 
 persons who sought from it for their children the 
 coveted blessing of the Sacrament of baptism, with- 
 out taking upon themselves the full vows of God, 
 and entering into full covenant relations with the 
 church. But even this watch and care failed to 
 ward off the evils of the loose views of baptism, and 
 of relation to the visible body of Christ. It was 
 recorded of a member of the church that, Septem- 
 ber 6, 1713, he 'Svas publicly admonished for ex- 
 cessive drinking." A year later the records state 
 that he "was admonished a second time for his ob- 
 stinate persistency in his vicious courses." Sep- 
 tember 29, 1717, he *'was excommunicated for pro- 
 faneness and excess in drinking, being obstinate in 
 his continuance therein." A vote relating to ques- 
 tions of discipline was taken by the church, which 
 serves to throw some light upon the practices of the 
 times. "At a church meeting at Deacon Thomas 
 Fosdyke's, Nov. 2, 1737, and afterwards at another 
 meeting at Capt. Thos. Prentis's, Dec. 7, 1737, it 
 was unanimously agreed yt for the future wn confes- 
 sions are required of scandalous offenders, they 
 shall be taken only before the church, only that it is 
 fit yt information be afterwards given to ye Congre- 
 gation yt such offenders have given satisfaction to 
 ye church." This vote seems to point to the cus- 
 tom previous to this date, of requiring such con- 
 fessions to be made in public, before the congrega- 
 tion. No reason is given for the change to the 
 more private method of hearing them. It can not 
 be far wrong to suppose that it was made in the in- 
 
38 LATER HISTORY OF THE FIRST CHURCH. 
 
 terests of giving less publicity to offensive delin- 
 quencies. 
 
 Mr. Adams' connection with work among the In- 
 dians was one of the interesting features of his long 
 ministry here. Mr. Blinman, it will be remembered, 
 was accustomed to preach to the Indians in his par- 
 ish. In the next century Mr. Adams engaged in 
 the same work, but to a greater extent. We have 
 already seen how the Uncases regarded and spoke 
 of him as their pastor. His relation to work among 
 the aborigines went farther than this. Rev. Dr. 
 Love says : "Rev. Eliphalet Adams was the father 
 of all the Indian Missionary work done in his neigh- 
 borhood. He lectured to the Indians at Mohegan 
 as early as 1729, and Nov. 29, 1729 had a grant of 
 £ 17 IDS. for his services from the society for propa- 
 gating the gospel, the same which had fostered John 
 Eliot's work. He continued to lecture at Mohegan, 
 and was the adviser of the society in all it did there. 
 This was how he came to win the Uncas family. 
 In 1730 he took the young Ben Uncas, third of the 
 name and sixth sachem, into his family, boarding 
 him and tutoring him under authority of the above 
 society. In 173 1 he was urged 'to put him upon 
 Grammar Learning, as soon as he shall be ready,' 
 and this was in order to qualify him to be a preacher, 
 which was his own wish and that of his father, then 
 sachem. In 1739 this Indian youth became the 
 schoolmaster at Mohegan, for which he received 
 £40 a year. Mr. Adams said of him, *he acquitted 
 himself well.' He taught there several years at 
 
ADAMS' MINISTRY. 39 
 
 least and more or less until he became the sachem. 
 He was made sachem in 1749, and died in May, 
 1769. His funeral sermon was preached by Rev. 
 David Jewett, and a committee appointed by the 
 legislature attended, William Hillhouse, Gurdon 
 Saltonstall and Pygan Adams. [Bostonian, March, 
 1895, P674.]" 
 
 Mr. Adams was responsible for the opening of the 
 Indian Schools at Lyme among the Niantics and at 
 Groton among the Pequots. His son, William 
 Adams, says Dr. Love, "preached at Groton for a 
 time among the Indians about 1735, and later a man 
 named Morgan, also, I think, a member of your 
 church, taught school there." If Dr. Love's con- 
 jecture is right, this was John Morgan who joined 
 in 1736. 
 
 Mr. Adams had acquired a knowledge of the In- 
 dian language before he came to New London. 
 This gave him great advantage in his intercourse 
 with the Mohegans. As early as 1725 he laid before 
 them a proposition to establish among them 
 schools, and to instruct them in the principles of the 
 Christian religion. This offer they treated with dis- 
 dain. Later, however, the schools were established, 
 and this opened the way for the entrance of relig- 
 ious influences to such extent that their heathen- 
 ish practices were considerably modified. Mr. 
 Adams performed ministerial, or pastoral, services 
 among them with considerable regularity until 1746, 
 when Rev. David Jewett of the North Parish suc- 
 ceeded him. In his note book for 1738 he jotted 
 
40 LATER HISTORY OP THE FIRST CHURCH. 
 
 down the following memoranda which give a hint 
 of the work which he did among the Indians : 
 
 April 6. Preached at Mohagin to 30 Indians. 
 
 April 25. At Niantick: 20 Inds. 
 
 May 9. At Pequot : present above 20 Inds. 
 
 May 22.. At Niantick. Only gave a few random 
 exhortations, as most of the Indians were gone to 
 a dance at Mohagin, and then to wait on the 
 Court of Commissioners at Norwich wdiich were to 
 sit next day. 
 
 June 6. At Pequot. The Indians had been 
 above a fortnight attending the Commission Court 
 at Norwich : the court was over, and they had re- 
 turned home. 
 
 June 30. At Niantick. — Indians returned. 
 
 July 18. At Pequot. 
 
 Aug. 15. At Niantic. No Indians at home; 
 heard the scholars read, etc. 
 
 Sept. 17. At Mohagin : — Above 30 Inds. present. 
 
 Oct. 6. At Mohagin. — About 20. 
 
 Samson Occum writes in a manuscript biography, 
 that "once a fortnight in ye Summer Season a Min- 
 ister from New London, [Rev Eliphalet Adams,] 
 used to come up and the Indians to attend ; not that 
 they regarded the Christian Religion, but they had 
 Blankets given to them every Fall of the year, and 
 for these things they would attend. And there was 
 a Sort of school kept when I was quite young, but I 
 believe there never was one that ever Learnt to read 
 anything." Evidently little impression was made 
 
ADAMS ^ MINISTRY. 41 
 
 upon Occum at the time, but seed was sown which 
 bore fruit, a few years later, in his conversion. 
 
 Mr. Adams' work among the Indians near New 
 London grew out of an early interest. In 1698, be- 
 fore he went to be assistant to Dr. Colman, he had 
 been employed by a society of gentlemen in Boston 
 to labor among them. He records in his diary : 
 "1698, July 12, I was put in to be an Indian preacher 
 by the Gentlemen who have the oversight of yt 
 work." A year later he wrote: ''1699, May, I 
 preached my first sermon to the Indians in their 
 own language, with fears lest I should be a Barbar- 
 ian unto them, but yy told me yy understood it well, 
 and accepted it thankfully." This early interest did 
 not flag during his long ministry in New London. 
 In 1742 the legislature, upon his representation, vo- 
 ted a sum of money out of the public treasury, to be 
 put into the hands of Joshua Huntington of Nor- 
 wich, to be used in repairing the Indian School at 
 Mohegan, so great was their confidence in his judg- 
 ment. And the Indians themselves came to regard 
 him as a father. 
 
 During the ministry of Mr. Adams two other 
 churches of the Congregational order were organ- 
 ized, the one in 1722 in the North Parish, now 
 Montville, the other in 1724 in East Lyme. After 
 a long and disquieting controversy over title to 
 lands within what was known as the North Parish, 
 tranquility was restored to the community. Gov- 
 ernor Saltonstall gave himself with all his energy 
 to the accommodation of the difificulites, and the ul- 
 
42 LATER HISTORY OF THE FIRST CHURCH. 
 
 timate organization of a church, and settlement of 
 a minister. Permission was granted to the inhabi- 
 tants of the new parish by the General Court, in 
 1714, to be constituted into a church as soon as they 
 should secure a settled orthodox minister. For 
 some reason eight years elapsed before the condi- 
 tions were fulfilled, and the church was organized. 
 In the matter of securing a pastor the good offices 
 of Governor Saltonstall were solicited and obtained. 
 He recommended to them Mr. James Hillhouse 
 from Ireland, who was then in Boston. To him 
 they applied through the agency of the Governor, 
 ofYering him a salary of £100 a year. His entry 
 on the records of the church says: 'T received my 
 call at Boston dated February 5, 172 1-2. I was in- 
 stalled by Rev. Mr. Adams of New London, Mr. 
 Buckley of Colchester, Mr. Woodbridge of Grot- 
 on in October, the third day, 1722. Mr. Adams 
 preached from Acts 16:9." This was the date of 
 the organization of the church. It consisted of only 
 seven males. Mr. Hillhouse's record reads : "There 
 were Seven that belonged to the church at my in- 
 stallment — Capt. [Thomas] Avery, Capt. [Robert] 
 Denison, Mr. Nathl. Otis, Mr. [Samuel] Allen, Mr. 
 [John] Vibber, Charles Campbell and one deacon. 
 Mr. Jonathan Copp was chosen deacon of this 
 Church and accepted it Nov. 19, 1722." Samuel 
 Allen and Charles Campbell became members of 
 the First Church in 1719, Nathaniel Otis and John 
 Vibber in 1720. Thomas Avery was probably the 
 son of Edward Avery, who, with his wife, joined 
 
ADAMS' MINISTRY. 43 
 
 the First Church in 1702. Thomas was baptized 
 by Mr. Saltonstall, August 16, 1702, so that he was 
 a baptized child of this church. Then five of the 
 original seven men, who constituted the North Par- 
 ish, or Montville Church, were from this, the moth- 
 er church. If the wives of these men joined with 
 them, or at a subsequent date, the names of Mrs. 
 Allen, Mrs. Campbell, Mrs. Otis and Mrs. Vibber 
 should be added to those whom this church fur- 
 nished to constitute the membership of the new 
 church, for they had been received into the com- 
 munion of the First Church at the same time with 
 their husbands. Besides these, there were others, 
 prominent in the new movement, who were directly 
 descended from members of the mother church ; as 
 for example, Joshua Raymond, grandson of Joshua 
 and Elizabeth Raymond, the latter of whom joined 
 this church in 1678. His wife was Elizabeth Chris- 
 tophers, whom Mr. Adams received into the church 
 in 1711. So that the roots of the Montville church 
 are to be found in this church. Then it is more 
 than a figure of speech to call it the third daughter 
 of the First Church of Christ. On the occasion of 
 the one hundred and seventy-fifth anniversary, May 
 23, 1897, the mother church sent Deacon Jesse H, 
 Wilcox and Deacon William Belcher to carry her 
 greetings to the daughter. 
 
 Mr. Hillhouse continued in the North Parish fif- 
 teen years, during which time one hundred and 
 twenty-three were received into the church there ; 
 fifty-one of them during the first year. He was 
 
44 LATER HISTORY OF THE FIRST CHURCH. 
 
 succeeded by Rev. David Jewett. He had been a 
 missionary among the Mohegans, and was much in 
 favor with them and their chief. He accepted the 
 call and was ordained October 3, 1739. A dance 
 and a supper crowned the occasion. It was known 
 as the ordination ball, and was an adjunct of the 
 ceremonies attending the induction of a minister 
 into office, quite unknown in these later days, at 
 least among churches of the Congregational order. 
 
 The question of a boundary between the first and 
 the second parishes came to be a perplexing one, 
 insomuch that it was referred to the legislature for 
 settlement. The following is quoted from the do- 
 ings of the General Assembly, for May, 1730. 
 ''Upon the memorial of the second parish in the 
 town of New London, shewing that they are under 
 many difficulties by reason of the crookedness of 
 the line dividing between them and the first society : 
 Resolved that for the future the line shall be as fol- 
 loweth : (viz.) Beginning on the south side of Mr. 
 Condell's farm and from thence an East and West 
 line throughout shall divide between the parishes 
 aforesaid." Henceforth all who lived north of that 
 line would pay their minister's rates to the second 
 parish. Such, in outline, , is the story of one of the 
 conspicuous events of the ministry of Mr. Adams. 
 
 The next event of a similar character was the 
 formation of a Congregational Church at East 
 Lyme. A Congregational parish, known as "The 
 Second Ecclesiastical Society of Lyme," had been 
 formed by the people who lived in the eastern por- 
 
ADAMS' MINISTRY. 45 
 
 tion of the township of Lyme. At the May session 
 of the legislature, 1724, permission was granted to 
 them "to embody themselves in church order, and 
 settle an orthodox minister." It was voted that 
 ''Mr. George Griswold should be a minister for the 
 society to preach ye gospel." He belonged to one 
 of the leading, most wealthy and aristocratic fami- 
 lies. He graduated from Yale College in 1717, in 
 the first class that left that institution after it was 
 established at New Haven. Until 1767 the names 
 of the members of each class were arranged, not 
 alphabetically, but in the order of the social rank 
 of their families. In the class of 1717 the name of 
 George Griswold stands first. This indicates the 
 social rank which his family was supposed to have 
 in the colony. He was a man of great piety and 
 learning, and, was prominent in the revivals which 
 visited and blessed the churches. He was or- 
 dained and the church constituted in 1724. The 
 famous Samson Occum united with it, as one 
 of the fruits of the Great Awakening. William 
 Miner, who was one of those who were instru- 
 mental in securing the organization of the Church 
 in East Lyme, and was one of the first moderators 
 of the society, was a son of Dea. Clement Miner of 
 this church, and was baptized by Mr. Bradstreet, 
 April 30, 1671. He was a link between this church 
 and that in East Lyme. The subsequent relations 
 between the two churches, while Mr. Adams and 
 Mr. Griswold were living side by side in the active 
 ministry, were of the most cordial nature, and their 
 
46 LATER HISTORY OP THE FIRST CHURCH. 
 
 cooperation in the labors of the Great Awakening, 
 constituted another bond between them. So that 
 while the East Lyme Church is a daughter of that 
 at Old Lyme, yet its organization was one of the 
 important ecclesiastical events which took place in 
 this immediate vicinity, during the pastorate of Mr. 
 Adams. 
 
 That the formation of the new church, on the 
 west side of the Niantic River, drew from this, so 
 that the First Church contributed somewhat to the 
 life of the new enterprise, appears from the follow- 
 ing action of the Colonial Assembly at its May ses- 
 sion in 1726, two years after the formation of the 
 East Lyme Church. ''Upon the petition of the East 
 Society in Lyme : This Assembly doth hereby annex 
 all the inhabitants and rateable estate that lyes in 
 New London bounds on the West side of the Nihan- 
 tic River, so far northward as the country road and 
 bounded with the great brook, to pay all their min- 
 isterial dues to said society, in equal proportion with 
 the other inhabitants." It will be recollected that 
 Winthrop originally laid claim to all the territory 
 west of the Niantic River, as far as Bride Brook. 
 This boundary was afterwards contested by Say- 
 brook, which claimed that it should be a mile far- 
 ther to the eastward. The controversy waxed hot 
 and bitter, for both 'parties had made large grants 
 of land on the disputed territory. The contention 
 was finally settled by the legislature, in 1671-2, so 
 that a considerable part of what is now East Lyme, 
 on the west side of Niantic River, came within the 
 
ADAMS' MINISTRY. 47 
 
 jurisdiction of New London, and so remained till it 
 was annexed to that society in 1726. So that if the 
 First Church did not contribute to the membership 
 of the church in East Lyme, as is probably the case, 
 it did furnish one of the first moderators of the new 
 society, in the person of William Miner, and it con- 
 tributed of its tax-payers towards its material sup- 
 port. 
 
 Yet another event, more directly affecting the life 
 of this church, was the rise of different religious per- 
 suasions in New London, thus breaking in upon the 
 established ecclesiastical order which had hitherto 
 been unbroken, with the sole exception of the Rog- 
 erene defection. The advent of different religious 
 orders was an important epoch in the history of this 
 town, and proved to be a radical, and, it must be 
 admitted, beneficial innovation upon the prevailing 
 religious conditions, for after churches of other per- 
 suasions than the Congregational were established, 
 it was no longer practicable to lay a tax on the town 
 for the support of the minister of the Congregation- 
 al Church, nor to transact the business of the church 
 in town meeting. The First Ecclesiastical Society 
 of New London was therefore formed. The town 
 ceased to be the parish. The business of the church 
 ceased to be an item in the warrant calling a meet- 
 ing of the town. The date of the organization of 
 this society, Joshua Hempstead tells us in his diary, 
 was January 23, 1726-7. Under this date he wrote : 
 ''A society meeting, the first that was ever held in 
 the First Society, Capt. C. Christophers was cho- 
 
48 LATER HISTORY OF THE FIRST CHURCH. 
 
 sen the first committee man and moderator ; Justice 
 Prentis and myself the other two ; John Richards 
 clerk." At this first meeting of the society it was 
 voted, in view of "the different persuasions that had 
 arisen in town," and in view of the manifest diffi- 
 culty and injustice of collecting parish rates to pay 
 the salary of the pastor of the Congregational 
 church from persons of different persuasions, to 
 raise the necessary sum hereafter "by free contribu- 
 tions if possible." From this date the town ceases 
 to appear as a factor in ecclesiastical affairs. Rates 
 were afterwards laid upon the inhabitants of the par- 
 ish, but not of the town. The town no longer ap- 
 peared at the ordination of ministers to signify 
 through its agent its acceptance of their ministry. 
 It ceased to have a voice in calling pastors, in fixing 
 their salaries, or in dictating in any way as to the 
 afifairs of the church. So, as has been observed, 
 Mr. Adams was the last minister settled by the town. 
 For more than one hundred and seventy years the 
 First Ecclesiastical Society has transacted the bus- 
 iness of the First Church. 
 
 The immediate occasion of the organization of 
 this society was the founding and constitution of an 
 Episcopal Church, followed soon after by the or- 
 ganization of a Baptist Church. "Among the first 
 settlers of New London," says Dr. Robert A. Hal- 
 lam, "no trace is to be found of attachment to the 
 Church of England." Certainly it had no adherents 
 among those who followed Richard Blinman from 
 Gloucester. Puritan Congregationalism had the 
 
ADAMS' MINISTRY. 49 
 
 right of way. There are no evidences of the pres- 
 ence of any in New London who were members of 
 the Church of England till April 17, 1723, when a 
 child of William and Mary Norton was baptized by 
 a Mr. Pigot, who was a missionary of the Propaga- 
 tion Society in Stratford. [Hallam's St. James's 
 New London, p 9.] The next year an infant son, 
 Lauzerne, of Richard and Elizabeth Wilson was 
 Episcopally baptized at New London by one Mr, 
 Talbot, October 15, 1724, and an infant daughter 
 of Mr. and Mrs. Norton was baptized by Rev. Sam- 
 uel Johnson, October 25, 1724. These are the earl- 
 iest signs of the presence here of the Episcopal 
 Church. However, an earlier event occurred, [ibid 
 p 10] which is at least an interesting fact in the ec- 
 clesiastical history of the town. Rev. George Keith, 
 originally a Quaker, who had taken orders in the 
 Church of England, visited New London, together 
 with Rev. John Talbot. He wrote in his journal, 
 "September 10, 1702. — The next day we safely ar- 
 rived at New London, in Connecticut Colony and 
 Government, which stands by a navigable river. 
 September 13, Sunday. — Mr. Talbot preached there 
 in the forenoon, and I preached in the afternoon, 
 we being desired to do so by the minister, Mr. Gur- 
 don Saltonstall, who civilly entertained us at his 
 house, and expressed his good affections to the 
 Church of England. My text was Rom. 8 : 9. The 
 auditory was large and well affected. Colonel 
 Winthrop, Governor of the Colony, after forenoon 
 services, invited us to dinner at his house and kindly 
 
50 LATER HISTORY OF THE FIRST CHURCH. 
 
 entertained us, both then and the next day." These 
 were the first two Episcopal sermons ever preached 
 in New London, and they were preached in a Con- 
 gregational pulpit by the courtesy of a Congrega- 
 tional pastor. It was twenty-three years before suc- 
 cessful steps were taken toward the organization of 
 an Episcopal Church. 
 
 How the materials were gathered, out of which 
 the new church was organized, cannot be definitely 
 determined. Miss Caulkins says, [Mass. Hist. Soc. 
 Coll. Vol. I. Fourth series, p 37] that "the Episcopal 
 society arose directly out of his (Mr. Adams') con- 
 gregation." While it is true that there may have 
 been some who left the congregation of the First 
 Church, none left its membership to join in the new 
 enterprise. Miss Caulkins says that Samuel Edge- 
 combe was an original founder of Saint James. If 
 this is correct, this might be called a contribution of 
 this church to Saint James, for his mother was a 
 member of the First Church and he was baptized 
 by Mr. Saltonstall, January 24, 1691. But there 
 are few, if any, more cases of this sort. It seems 
 certain, as both Dr. Hallam and Mr. Seabury say, 
 that the founders of Saint James were men who 
 had no sympathy with the Puritanism which pre- 
 vailed in New England. None of them, says Dr. 
 Hallam, were of the company of Winthrop or Blin- 
 man. [Annals, p 12.] They were mostly, if not 
 entirely. Englishmen, who were attracted hither by 
 promising facilities for trade. Dr. Hallam says : 
 "the first founders of the parish, (St. James), then, 
 
ADAMS' MINISTRY. 51 
 
 were English, not of the Puritan stock." *'The 
 church was rather the offspring of the early com- 
 mercial importance and promise of the settlement." 
 Mr. Seabury wrote in 1742, May 3, that "the first 
 members of the Church of England who founded 
 Saint James, were either Europeans, not long set- 
 tled here, or persons brought up in other colonies." 
 Rev. Mr. Johnson, a recent convert from Con- 
 gregationalism, wrote that he preached here June 
 II, 1724, to an audience of sixty, where, he added, 
 "there is a good prospect of increase if they had 
 a minister." August 14 of the next year he wrote 
 that the people in New London were to "build with 
 all expedition," for which a considerable sum had 
 been subscribed. The earliest paper among the 
 records of Saint James's Parish is datedjune 6, 1725, 
 and is a subscription toward the erection of a house 
 for the worship of God "according to the Liturgie 
 of the Church of England as by Law Established." 
 On this paper were subscriptions ranging from £3 
 to £50. For some reason the project was post- 
 poned, till September 27, 1725, when a second, more 
 effective paper was drawn up and acted on. So 
 that this is considered the natal day of Saint James's 
 Church. [Annals, p 17.] The first house of wor- 
 ship stood on what is now called the Parade. It 
 was built by John Hough, and stood facing the 
 west. It was 50 feet in length, by ;^2 feet in width. 
 It was enclosed, the under floor laid, and a neat desk 
 and pulpit finished November 28, 1727. It re- 
 mained in this condition for several years, and was 
 
52 LATER HISTORY OF THE FIRST CHURCH. 
 
 completed and opened for worship in the autumn 
 of 1732. 
 
 None of the founders of Saint James were ever 
 Puritans, or indined to Puritanism, so says Dr. Hal- 
 lam, but the first rector had a good deal of Pilgrim 
 blood in his veins, and Dr. Hallam was of strictly 
 Puritan lineage. John Seabury came to Groton 
 about 1700. His wife was Elizabeth Alden. She 
 was the granddaughter of John Alden of the May- 
 flower. John Seabury became deacon of the Con- 
 gregational Church when one was formed in Groton 
 in 1704-5. Deacon Seabury 's son, Samuel, was 
 born July 8, 1706. He studied for the ministry, 
 and in 1726 preached as stated supply for the Con- 
 gregational Church in North Groton, now Ledyard. 
 In 1 73 1 he renounced Congregationalism, went to 
 England, w^here he was ordained by the bishop of 
 London, and returned to America with a commis- 
 sion from the Society for the Propagation of the 
 Gospel, bearing date of May 1732. He was ap- 
 pointed its missionary in New London. His son 
 was born November 30, 1729, while he was yet a 
 Congregational clergyman. This son became 
 Bishop Seabury. So that Pilgrim and Puritan 
 blood has run in the veins of some of the foremost 
 promoters of Saint James, if not in the veins of its 
 founders. Such in brief, is an outline of that im- 
 portant religious movement, during the pastorate 
 of Mr. Adams, which resulted in the permanent es- 
 tablishment of another religious body to share the 
 
ADAMS' MINISTRY. 53 
 
 field which the First Church had occupied alone for 
 three quarters of a century. 
 
 The next important movement of this sort, and 
 following quickly upon it, was the settlement of 
 the first pastor of the first regular Baptist Church 
 in New London. There were baptisms in New 
 London after the method of the Baptists as early 
 as 1674. They were confined to that portion which 
 is now called Waterford. The people of this per- 
 suasion held meetings as early as 1704. In that 
 year they presented a petition to the Colonial Legis- 
 lature for "the settlement of their meeting." They 
 called themselves "dissenters" from the established 
 order. They represented that they had a teacher^ 
 one Daniel Pierce, and that they met at the house 
 of William Stark for worship. Backus says that 
 they were organized into a distinct church in 1710, 
 and that this was the second Baptist Church in Con- 
 necticut. After 1720 they grew in numbers and in- 
 fluence. A number of prominent people joined 
 their ranks. Stephen Gorton of Rhode Island was 
 ordained as their first pastor November 28, 1726, 
 by Rev. Valentine Wightman of Groton. He was 
 respected at home and abroad for his talents as a 
 speaker. His ministry was successful and greatly 
 promoted the growth of Baptist sentiments in the 
 neighboring towns. 
 
 These people joined with the seventh-day Bap- 
 tists in erecting a house of worship. The site was 
 given by Isaac Fox ; the deed was dated January 
 9, 1729-30. The title was vested in the two societies 
 
54 LATER HISTORY OF THE FIRST CHURCH. 
 
 known as "First and Seventh Day Baptists." It 
 stood on the rocky summit of Fort Hill. The pe- 
 culiar shape of the house of worship obtained for it 
 the name of pepper-hox. It stood till it was taken 
 down in 1847. The new society had a somewhat 
 checkered existence. Its members were scattered 
 over a wide area. Nehemiah Smith of East Lyme 
 and Jonathan Rathbone of Colchester were mem- 
 bers of it. In 1 73 1 several persons who lived in 
 Wallingford, thirteen miles north of New Haven, 
 joined its communion. 
 
 Later on serious accusations were made against 
 Mr. Gorton. He was tried before a Baptist con- 
 vention in Rhode Island. The charges were not 
 proved, but the convention advised his dismission. 
 He refused to be dismissed. His church was di- 
 vided. The majority believing in his innocence ad- 
 hered to the pastor. This was the beginning of a 
 struggle which ended in the extinction of the church 
 about 1774. The members were dispersed and 
 joined other Baptist churches. None of those con- 
 cerned in this movement seem to have had any con- 
 nection with the First Church. 
 
 But in 1748 the minority of Elder Gorton's 
 church withdrew, and with some later converts, 
 formed a new church at West farms. This was 
 claimed to be the reorganization of the old church, 
 which was considered out of fellowship ; and after 
 Waterford was set ofif from New London in 1801, 
 it took the name of the First Baptist Church of Wa- 
 terford. Nathan Howard was an original member 
 
ADAMS' MINISTRY. 55 
 
 of this reorganized church. He had joined Mr. 
 Adams' church in 1741, as one of the fruits of the 
 Great Awakening. He joined the Separates, who 
 seceded from the First Church. Later he, with 
 others, joined the Baptists. In 1752 "the attention 
 of the church was attracted to the gift of Bro. Na- 
 than Howard, one of the constituent members of 
 the church, who seemed designed by the Lord as 
 their future pastor." [Hist. N. L. Bap. Assn. and 
 its Chs. p. 16.] He was called to ordination, and 
 became the first pastor of the reorganized church. 
 He served about twenty-five years. He died of the 
 smallpox March 2, 1777, aged fifty-six years. If 
 the Baptist Church in Waterford is not a colony 
 from this church, its first pastor, and the leading 
 spirit in its organization, was furnished from among 
 the members of Mr. Adams' flock. 
 
 Another company of Baptists gathered, not long 
 after, near the town plot in New London, with one 
 Noah Hammond as elder. Mr. Hammond was also 
 a fruit of the revival, and was an attendant upon the 
 ministry of Mr. Jewett. This church was not able 
 to proceed. The members at length coalesced with 
 the church of Elder Howard. All that is said about 
 the persecution of these Baptists must be under- 
 stood as not applying to Mr. Adams or his church, 
 for all the evidence goes to show that he was not a 
 man of that spirit. 
 
 In 1724 Mr. Adams was called to the Presidency 
 of Yale College, made vacant by the resignation of 
 Rev. Timothy Cutler, D.D., who, in 1722, had re- 
 
56 LATER HISTORY OF THE FIRST CHURCH. 
 
 nounced the communion of the churches of the 
 Congregational order in Connecticut, and embraced 
 Episcopacy. Mr. Adams was noted as a Hebrew 
 scholar, and his attainments were of so superior a 
 character that he was widely and favorably known, 
 and was the choice of the trustees of the college 
 for the vacant rectorship. The event was so promi- 
 nent in the life of Mr. Adams, and reflected so great 
 honor upon him, and the church of which he was 
 pastor, that more than a passing mention of it may 
 be made. 
 
 In 1720 Mr. Adams had been chosen a trustee of 
 the college, an ofHce which he held till September 
 10, 1740. In it he exerted a very great influence 
 upon the institution. Dr. Cutler, who was pastor 
 of the church in Stratford from 1709 to 171 9, was 
 chosen, March 24, 1719, as resident rector, or pres- 
 ident. He was acceptable to the legislature and 
 to the clergy. He was a man of commanding pres- 
 ence. Dr. Stiles said that he was great in philos- 
 ophy, metaphysics and ethics, that he spoke Latin 
 with great fluency, and that he was extensively read 
 in the academic sciences, divinity and ecclesiastical 
 history. [Eccl. Hist. Ct. pp. 263-266.] Under his 
 administration the college seemed to be prosperous, 
 and to be firmly established in a flourishing and a 
 happy state. 
 
 But this peaceful condition of afifairs was rudely 
 disturbed in a sudden and an unexpected way. At 
 the commencement in 1722 it was discovered that 
 the rector, and one of the tutors, a Mr. Brown, had 
 
ADAMS^ MINISTRY. 57 
 
 embraced Episcopacy. After duly considering the 
 subject, the trustees, at a meeting held October 17, 
 1722, while the General Assembly was in session at 
 New Haven, voted as follows : "Voted, That the 
 Trustees, in faithfulness to the trust reposed in 
 them, do excuse the Rev. Mr. Cutler from all fur- 
 ther services as rector of the College. That the 
 Trustees accept the resignation which Mr. Brown 
 hath made as tutor." 
 
 It was also further voted that whoever should 
 thereafter be elected to the ofifice of rector, or tu- 
 tor in the college, should declare before the trustees 
 "assent to the confession of faith, owned and 
 assented to by the elders and messengers of the 
 churches in this colony of Connecticut, assembled 
 by delegation at Saybrook, September 9, 1708, and 
 confirmed by the act of the General Assembly, and 
 shall particularly give satisfaction to them of the 
 soundness of their faith in opposition to Arminian 
 and prelatical corruptions, and any of dangerous 
 consequence to the purity and peace of our 
 churches." [Trumbull Hist. Conn. Vol. H pp. 15- 
 16.] It is said that Governor Saltonstall, who was 
 in a sense the author of the Saybrook Platform, 
 deemed it of so great importance that the public 
 should be properly informed as to the liberty of the 
 churches, that he came forward "amid the universal 
 surprise," and disputed openly with Rector Cutler 
 the claims of prelatical supremacy. Of course 
 the party of the prevailing order considered that the 
 Governor had the best of the argument. Dr. Hal- 
 
58 LATER HISTORY OF THE FIRST CHURCH. 
 
 lam says that Governor Saltonstall ''presided in the 
 conference and debate on Episcopacy at Yale Col- 
 lege, on the occasion of the defection of Rector Cut- 
 ler and Dr. Johnson ; an event which filled the Con- 
 gregationalists with astonishment and dismay." 
 [Annals p. ii.] President Woolsey says: "I sup- 
 pose that greater alarm would scarcely be awakened 
 now if the theological faculty of the College were 
 to declare for the Church of Rome, avow their belief 
 in transubstantiation, and pray to the Virgin." 
 Quincy in his History of Harvard College, says of 
 this event, that it "shook Congregationalism 
 throughout New England, like an earthquake, and 
 filled all its friends with terror and apprehension." 
 There can be no doubt that this was the case, es- 
 pecially in Connecticut. Not only had Dr. Cutler 
 and Tutor Brown renounced Congregationalism, 
 but also Dr. Johnson of West Haven, James Wet- 
 more of North Haven, and not many years after 
 Seabury and Punderson of North Groton, Jona- 
 than Arnold of West Haven, and others followed 
 their example. Besides all this a systematic effort 
 was made by the managers of the Society for the 
 Propagation of the Gospel, not only to proselyte 
 Congregationalists, but to plant churches in fields 
 already amply supplied with the ordinances of the 
 Gospel. All this was viewed with somewhat of ap- 
 prehension. Dr. Dunning [Congregationalists in 
 America, p. 231] says that ''the alarm was mcreased 
 by the belief that other prominent clergymen had 
 joined in a scheme to go over to Episcopacy and 
 take the people of Connecticut with them." 
 
ADAMS' MINISTRY. 59 
 
 Evidently the affairs of the college were in a dis- 
 turbed state. A man of unusual ability was needed 
 to take the helm. It is to the credit of the pastor 
 of this church at the time that he seemed to the 
 trustees to be the right man for the office. The 
 reasons for Mr. Adams' declining the office are not 
 given. But we may suppose that a unanimous vote 
 of the town, desiring him to remain, and the dis- 
 turbed state of affairs in the college brought him to 
 this decision. Prof. Franklin B. Dexter, in Annals 
 of Yale College [p. 289] says, "at the next meeting 
 of the Trustees, in April, [1724] the six who were 
 present (not a quorum by the new Act ; but a clear 
 majority of the whole number) considered them- 
 selves competent to the work of choosing a Rector. 
 The person now selected was the latest accession to 
 their own body, Governor Saltonstall's successor 
 in the New London pulpit, the Rev. Eliphalet 
 Adams." Mr. Joshua Hempstead records the fact 
 that Mr. Adams laid his election before a full 
 meeting of his townsmen and parishioners. ''Wed- 
 nesday, April 15, [1724] a Pubhc or General 
 fast. Mr. Adams pr in ye foren and Mr. Wood- 
 bridge of Har [tford] in ye aftern who is come here 
 with Mr. Russel of Branfd to get Mr. Adams to go 
 and be President of Yale College. Thursday, 16 
 was had a Sort of Town Meeting to Consider if wee 
 were willing to part with Mr. Adams "^ "^ * it is 
 Negatived." And so Mr. Adams did not become 
 President of Yale College. 
 
 Of Mr. Adams' eminent abilities and fitness for 
 
60 LATER HISTORY OF THE FIRST CHURCH. 
 
 this high position which was offered him, there is 
 other incidental, but strong testimony, which is to 
 be found in Dr. Hallam's Annals, [p. 35.] Mat- 
 thew Stewart, an Irish gentleman who resided in 
 New London for more than half a century, and was 
 an influential member of St. James in its early days, 
 wrote to the secretary of the Society for the Propa- 
 gation of the Gospel, January 14, 1743, concerning 
 a rector for Saint James, and spoke of New London 
 as "the seat of his Majesty's custom house, and so 
 the port of greatest note in the colony, and, in many 
 other respects, as a city set upon a hill which can 
 not be hid," and therefore as a place where "a man 
 of mean and ordinary abilities" ''would bring the 
 church into contempt." But more than this was 
 another fact, calling for the best man that could be 
 had, and to which Mr. Stewart called attention, 
 namely, the independent minister, Eliphalet Adams, 
 had "a well established character, and is, in every 
 respect, the most superior person in the Colony." 
 New London was the principal port of the Connec- 
 ticut Colony at that time, so that we must under- 
 stand Mr. Stewart to say that Mr. Adams was the 
 most superior person in Connecticut, in 1743. This 
 was twenty years after he was called to the Presi- 
 dency of Yale College. But we have no reason to 
 suppose that in his earlier years he did not give the 
 promise wdiich was realized in the rich fruitage of 
 his later life. He was a man of fine culture and of 
 strong mind. 
 
 An event took place during his ministry which,. 
 
ADAIUS' MINISTRY. 61 
 
 from its striking nature, was a conspicuous land- 
 mark in it. August 31, 1735, the old Saltonstall 
 meeting-house, which had served for a place of 
 public worship since 1698, was struck by a terrific 
 thunderbolt and almost riven asunder. 
 
 Mr. Hempstead, who was present and witnessed 
 the scenes, recorded the following account : "Sund. 
 31, fair in foren. Mr. Adams pr. at noon It cloud- 
 ed over Thick and Raind smartly and when Mr. 
 Adams stood up and began prayer a Tereble Clap 
 of Thunder and Lightning came Struck meeting 
 house in Divers places, and struck Divers persons 
 it pleased God to Spare al our Lives. But Edwn 
 Burch a young man newly for himself, and he was 
 struck more fattaly and Died. Jno. Prentis in their 
 Pew ye n Side ye E Door. Jno. Plumbe in Peter 
 Harris' Pew the S Side West Door. Samll Green 
 Deacon's Son in ^^^ "^ * Pew the East Side next the 
 stairs, and Jer Chapman in his father's Pew W Side 
 ye S Door, and one Burrel a stranger in the Gal- 
 lery by ye stairs ye E side were struck and by Weed- 
 ed and proper means they Recovered. Divers oth- 
 ers Mazed and Litely hurt, it is supposed about 40 
 Struck Down." The event was improved by Mr. 
 Adams who preached a sermon with reference to it 
 the following Sabbath, September 7. Extracts 
 from the sermon, together with Mr. Adams' graphic 
 description of the scene will be found in the follow- 
 ing chapter. 
 
 The house of worship was almost a total wreck. 
 It was repaired for temporary use, but the society 
 
62 LATER HISTORY OF THE FIRST CHURCH. 
 
 voted to build a new edifice, and took steps to that 
 end. The proposed house was to be larger and 
 more pretentious than the former, but an obstacle 
 was met at the start. The society could not agree 
 upon a site. The controversy was kept up with 
 considerable heat, until the matter was finally re- 
 ferred to the legislature for adjustment in 1739. 
 The following quoted from the Colonial Records, 
 refers to this subject. May 1739, ''Upon the mem- 
 orial of the first society in New London, praying 
 that a committee may be appointed to affix and as- 
 certain the place where said society shall build their 
 meeting house : This Assembly appoint Samuel 
 Lynde Esqr, of Saybrook, Mr. John Griswold 
 of Lyme, and Mr. Christopher Avery 2d of Groton 
 a committee to repair to said society, view and 
 consider the circumstances thereof and hear the 
 parties, and affix and ascertain the place where 
 said society shall build their meeting house for di- 
 vine worship and make report of their doings to this 
 Assembly in their sessions in October." They met 
 July 4, and selected the spot. October, 1739, upon 
 report of the foregoing committee "that the most 
 convenient place for the inhabitants of New Lon- 
 don to build their new meeting house for divine 
 worship upon is near the South East corner of the 
 green where the meeting house now stands, where 
 is a stake set up which is to be enclosed within the 
 ground sills within two feet of the South East Cor- 
 ner of said house," the Assembly passed the follow- 
 ing vote, "resolved by this Assembly that the said 
 
ADAMS' MINISTRY. 63^ 
 
 meeting house shall be built and erected on the 
 place aforesaid, and the inhabitants are hereby or- 
 dered to proceed thereupon accordingly." The 
 spot thus designated was not far from the old meet- 
 ing-house. The decision was peremptory, but 
 seems to have been satisfactory. But the Spanish 
 and French war soon broke out. The exposed sit- 
 uation of the town rendered it unwise to build, at 
 that time, a costly edifice. The old house was 
 therefore, thoroughly repaired and enlarged. A 
 new bell was hung in the renovated belfry in 1746. 
 Thus the old Saltonstall meeting-house continued 
 to serve the town as a place of public worship, till 
 1785 — a period of fifty years after the thunderbolt 
 almost demolished it. 
 
 It has been said that Mr. Adams' ministry was 
 in the main peaceful. However some disturbances 
 broke in upon its quiet tenor. Miss Caulkins says 
 that his ministry was cast amid exciting scenes. 
 The disquieting sounds and rumors of war were in 
 the air. The waves of religious enthusiasm rolled 
 high around him. Not only the Separate move- 
 ment, but also "the Rogerene Quakers gave him 
 much disturbance." However, his ministry was 
 disquieted by no such lawless acts of these people 
 as vexed the souls of his immediate predecessors. 
 The boisterous character of some of the people of 
 New London, in those early days, is illustrated by 
 the following facts. April 22, 1716, John Bolles 
 and his wife and John Culver and his wife dis- 
 turbed the congregation, "whereof the Rev. Mr. 
 
64 LATER HISTORY OF THE FIRST CHURCH. 
 
 Adams is minister in the time of their being assem- 
 bled for divine worship on the Lord's day," and 
 ''were put in goal." [Col. Records, 1716-1725.] 
 In view of the fact that they did not know that they 
 were violating the law, and on their promise of fu- 
 ture good behavior, the Assembly, at its May ses- 
 sion, ordered their release. It is probable that 
 these were Rogerenes, for the Bolleses were of that 
 way of thinking. If so this is the only recorded in- 
 stance in which they had, up to this date, disturbed 
 the ministry of Mr. Adams. And this does not seem 
 to have been a very heinous offense, for it was easily 
 condoned. Mr. Hempstead records two other in- 
 stances which may point to a minor disturbance of 
 the religious quiet of the town, though no notice 
 was taken of either case. "April 23, (1721), Mr. 
 ad pr al day a Sacrament day Jno Rogers came into 
 ye Meeting House and preached between meetings, 
 his crew with him." He records a similar proceed- 
 ing on the following Sabbath. As no other inci- 
 dents of this kind are recorded it is safe to assume 
 that such disturbances were not persisted in. In 
 July, 1724, a complaint was made to the Governor 
 and Council, "that divers persons in New London, 
 instead of attending upon publick worship of God 
 on the Lord's day, frequent publick and other 
 houses, and spend their time there in drinking and 
 in a prophane manner." In view of the complaint 
 authority was given to the constables to arrest and 
 imprison all such disturbers of the peace and quiet 
 of holy time. [Colonial Records for 1724.] 
 
ADAMS' MINISTRY. 65 
 
 May, 1726, the following action of the General 
 Court of the Colony points to yet another case of 
 disturbance of public worship which the authorities 
 took in hand and dealt with. ''Upon the petition 
 of Geoffry Seter, an Indian man, informing this 
 Assembly that sometim.e last fall he, being led away 
 by other evil minded persons, did go into New Lon- 
 don meeting-house, in the time of divine service, up- 
 on the Sabbath, and did then and there make dis- 
 turbance, for which he was by the county court, 
 held in New London in November last, sentenced 
 to pay the sum of 20 pounds to the treasury of this 
 colony, and now prayeth this Assembly to remit 
 said fine, upon the consideration of said petition, he, 
 said Geoffery, his freely confesing himself guilty 
 in said Court, and his acknowledging his fault for 
 his so doing; and desiring to be humble under it, 
 and promising to walk more orderly for the time to 
 come : This Assembly do freely remit said fine." 
 [Colonial Records, 1726.] 
 
 June 16, 1745, Mr. Hempstead records in his di- 
 ary, "Mr. Adams pr all day. Old John Rogers and 
 Bolles and Watrus and andrw Davis and about 20 
 more of their Gang Came Down into Town with a 
 Cart and oxen and were taken up by the officers and 
 Committed to Prison, also 4 women of their Com- 
 pany Came to ye meetinghouse and began to preach 
 and were taken away to Prison also." Whether 
 this is the same Bolles who was arrested for a like 
 ofifence in 1716 we are not told. These are exam- 
 ples of the disturbances with which Mr. Adams met 
 
66 LATER HISTORY OF THE FIRST CHURCH. 
 
 in his pastorate. But they were far less violent 
 than those which had broken the peace of the earlier 
 days. They affected the church in a measure exter- 
 nally, but did not directly touch its inner life. But 
 the Separate movement, under the lead of James 
 Davenport and Timothy Allen, which was an un- 
 fortunate reaction from the revival of 1740-41, cre- 
 ated serious commotion within the church itself, 
 which, but for the prudence and patient wisdom of 
 Mr. Adams, must have been rent asunder. The 
 Great Awakening, out of which the Separate move- 
 ment grew, was, perhaps, in many ways, the most 
 important religious event of Mr. Adams' ministry. 
 It directly touched the religious life of the church. 
 Both movements were vitally related to each other, 
 and a discussion of them is reserved for a future 
 chapter. 
 
 During the pastorate of Mr. Adams occurred the 
 sudden death of Governor Saltonstall. Mr. Hemp- 
 stead relates that he "died Suddenly with a fitt of 
 Appoplexy about 12 of the clock being as well as 
 ever ye noon before." This was on Sunday, Sep- 
 tember 20. Two days later his funeral was attend- 
 ed at four o'clock in the afternoon, in a manner be- 
 fitting his rank and office. The supreme court ad- 
 journed to attend. The military were present, and 
 fired volleys at the grave. "Twenty cannon" were 
 fired "at half a minute's distance." The loss was 
 felt, and his memory was honored, throughout New 
 England. 
 
 The sounds of war, as has been said, often dis- 
 
ADAMS' MINISTRY. 67 
 
 turbed the peace of the town. For example, Sun- 
 day, May 25, 1712 "news came of a french Brigg 
 150 men TarpoHan Coave; Posts gone to ye Govr 
 att Hartford and to ye Deputy Govr. att fairfield 
 and watch at ye Harbour's mouth." [Hemp- 
 stead.] We can imagine the rehef felt when, two 
 or three years later peace between England and 
 Spain was declared. In 1744-5 the General As- 
 sembly voted to raise 500 men for the brilliant but 
 profitless expedition against Cape Breton. They 
 were ordered to embark at New London. They 
 began to gather in March. April 7 Mr. Adams 
 preached to them in the afternoon. Mr. Hemp- 
 stead tells us that the troops were drawn up on the 
 meeting-house green. April 9, the same authority 
 records in his diary, "Tuesday 9 a warm morn- 
 ing. I was ^ * ^ afternoon to See the Majr 
 Genii Woolcut's Tent on ye hill between Col. Sal- 
 tonstall's wall and ye burying place and ye Regi- 
 ment 8 Companys in the Trayning field drawn 
 up to Close order and ye Comisions published near 
 the Courthouse the * * * * Maj. Genii with Coll. 
 Andrew Burr on his Right and Lt. Coll. Simon 
 Lothrop on ye left marched bareheaded fro the 
 Tent to ye place near ye West Door," where the 
 commissions were read. The troops embarked 
 April 13. Wednesday, April 24, was observed as a 
 fast throughout New England. Mr. Hempstead 
 records, "a publick fast for the expedition. Mr. 
 Adams pr al Day." Then followed two months 
 of anxious suspense. Sunday, June 30, two trans- 
 
68 LATER HISTORY OP THE FIRST CHURCH. 
 
 ports arrived ''to carry away our 200 soldiers for 
 Recruits at Cape Breton." [Hempstead.] The 
 next Sabbath, July 7, the news was brought that 
 the city of Louisburg had been taken without the 
 loss of a man. These tidings offset the mournful 
 news of defeat that had been received the month 
 before. Of the one hundred men who formed the 
 crew of Capt. Prentis not one had fallen in battle, 
 but one fourth had yielded to disease. Several of 
 the captains and some of the principal officers were 
 from New London. Some of them, as well as many 
 of the men, were members of Mr. Adams' congre- 
 gation. These were exciting times in this town, 
 and were among the stirring scenes in which his 
 ministry was cast. 
 
 Mr. Adams was sought, not only as a preacher 
 on public occasions, but also as one of the leading 
 pastors in the colony, to give his wisdom and ad- 
 vice in settling differences which frequently arose 
 and threatened the peace of the churches of the 
 colony. A quarrel had sprung up in the church in 
 Guilford, which was of so grave a nature that the 
 legislature was led to interfere. It appointed, at 
 its session in May, 1729, Mr. Timothy Woodbridge 
 of Hartford, Mr. William Russel of Middletown, 
 and Mr. Eliphalet Adams of New London, a com- 
 mittee to go to Guilford, and in every way possible 
 to seek to accommodate the differences there, "and 
 bring that people to unite themselves together in 
 love and peace in carrying on the worship of God 
 in the house of prayer they have built to his name," 
 
ADAMS' MINISTRY. 69 
 
 and report in October. This committee attended 
 to their duties and reported as required, when an- 
 other committee of seven, of which Mr. Adams was 
 one, were appointed to go to Guilford again, and 
 use all further means in their power "to put an end 
 to the divisions and contentions in said society, by 
 uniting the spirits of those good people that now 
 differ, that thereby the interests of religion may yet 
 flourish and be revived in said society." 
 
 It was the custom in those early days for the peo- 
 ple who came to church from a distance, to remain 
 between the services, the second being held in the 
 afternoon. The intermission, especially in the 
 warmer seasons of the year, was the occasion for 
 the men to gather in the country horse-sheds, to 
 discuss, it is to be feared, some other topic than the 
 sermon of the morning, and for the women to gath- 
 er in some convenient place for a quiet hour of gos- 
 sip, not always about what they had heard from the 
 lips of the preacher. The days of Sabbath Schools 
 and Bible classes were not yet ; so that that method 
 of employing the time between the two sermons, 
 was not enjoyed by our ancestors of the early half 
 of the eighteenth century. But a device was adopt- 
 ed which may have had the effect to cause the 
 "nooning" as it was called, to be spent in a less sec- 
 ular way than would otherwise have been the case. 
 Mr. Hempstead records in his diary the following: 
 "August 1 8, (1734). A Large Book of Mr. Bax- 
 ter's work is brot into the meetinghouse and left 
 there to Read in between meeting for those that 
 
70 LATER HISTORY OF THE FIRST CHURCH. 
 
 stay there." Surely, with Baxter's Saints Rest, or 
 some such volume at hand, there could have been 
 no good excuse for the men to profane the Sabbath 
 by discussing the last town meeting, or the state 
 of the crops ; nor for the women to retail the latest 
 bit or neighborhood gossip or scandal. In 1870 
 Dr. Field said that he had that book in his posses- 
 sion, and that on its fly leaf was this record : "This 
 book, with three volumes more, was presented to 
 the churches of New London and Groton, by the 
 hand of Dr. Colman of Boston, in the year 1730, 
 from the Hon. Samuel Holden, Esq., of London, 
 being one of thirty-nine sets of the practical works 
 of the venerable Richard Baxter, to distribute 
 among the churches." How generally this book 
 was read we do not know, but the fact that in 1870, 
 one hundred and forty years after it was presented 
 to the church, it was in a good condition, raises the 
 suspicion that it was not worn out with much read- 
 ing. 
 
 The practice of taking up contributions in aid of 
 worthy objects of a religious nature, was in opera- 
 tion during the ministry of Mr. Adams, as the fol- 
 lowing, from the Hempstead diary, shows : "J^'^ly ^3 
 (1721). A contribution to build a house for the 
 Rector of Yale College : a very small one." So 
 that our great University, of which we are justly 
 proud, was an object of the charitable gifts of this, 
 and probably of other churches. But they were, 
 after all its debtors, for it was raising up for them 
 a ministry. Another entry in this diary reads as 
 
ADAMS' MINISTRY. 71 
 
 follows: "Aug. 5, (1722). A contribution for the 
 support of the Presbyterian ministers to preach at 
 Providence — per order of the governor and coun- 
 cil." A letter from the Secretary of the Rhode Is- 
 land Historical Society at Providence says, under 
 date of March 14, 1898, "Between 1720 and 1730 the 
 churches in Connecticut took up contributions to 
 build a meeting house and preach the gospel to the 
 benighted people here in Providence." In the do- 
 ings of the Governor and Council in July, 1722, re- 
 corded in the Colonial Records, [Vol. 8, p. 303] is 
 the following, which relates to this matter. Several 
 ministers of the gospel, met in an association at 
 New London, March 6, 172 1-2, addressed a memor- 
 ial to the governor and council, asking ''that a brief 
 might be granted in several congregations" for 
 gathering contributions towards the support of "the 
 ministry of the gospel in the town of Providence, 
 in the colony of Rhode Island," in conjunction with 
 ministers from the colony of Massachusetts. In 
 response it was resolved that the brief petitioned 
 for be granted and sent to "the ministers of the 
 towns of New London, Norwich, Groton, Stoning- 
 ton, Preston, Lebanon, Windham, Mansfield, Can- 
 terbury, Plainfield, Pomfret and Killingly, or to the 
 deacons of the churches in such towns where there 
 is no minister." The brief also directed that due 
 notice of the collection, and the cause for which it 
 was to be taken, be given to the various congrega- 
 tions, that a time after service on the Lord's day be 
 fixed for taking the contributions, and that they 
 
72 LATER HISTORY OF THE FIRST CHURCH. 
 
 **take care that what shall be so collected be put into 
 the hands of the Rev. Eliphalet Adams to be im- 
 proved to that end." This was one of the first, if 
 not the very first Home Missionary movement in 
 Connecticut, and Eliphalet Adams was its treasurer. 
 
 Mr. Hempstead records another collection taken 
 for an object not often presented. "Nov. 14, (1725). 
 A Contribution for a Canterbury woman who had 
 three children at a birth, and all living." 
 
 In those early days a species of slavery existed. 
 Masters bought and sold servants. But it is to be 
 said that owners of servants held themselves under 
 obligation for their spiritual training. The follow- 
 ing in the list of baptisms illustrates what is meant. 
 "October 29, [1738.] Phillis a servt of mine made 
 profession of ye xn faith, entered into covt and was 
 baptized, Phillis. There were also servt children of 
 my family baptized, as Ishmall, Phillis's child James 
 and her child Ziba, and her child Sylvanus ; for all 
 whose education I also publicly engaged." That 
 is, Mr. Adams became responsible for their relig- 
 ious instruction, which was considered essential to 
 give significance to the rite of baptism administered 
 to children, and was regarded as an obligation 
 which masters owed their bond-servants. 
 
 Mr. Adams continued the weekly lecture on 
 Wednesday. The preparatory lecture, as we learn 
 from Mr. Hempstead's diary, was upon the Friday 
 before the Sacramental Sabbath. 
 
 Mr. Hempstead also gives us the date when Mr. 
 Adams' eyesight began more visibly to fail him- 
 
ADAMS' MINISTRY. 73 
 
 For June 24, 1733, when Mr. Adams was fifty-six 
 years old, this record was made by Mr. Hempstead, 
 "Sunday fair, a sacrament day. Mr. ad pr al day, 
 his specticles on." Again he records : "July 2, Sun- 
 day fair, Mr. Adams pr all day with his specticles on 
 and he wore them constantly 3 or 4 Sabbaths." As 
 there is no previous record, and as he takes spec- 
 ial pains to make this, we infer that this was the 
 first instance in which the preacher wore his glasses 
 in the ministrations of the pulpit. December 22, 
 175 1, Mr. Hempstead records the fact that Mr. 
 Adams dismissed the congregation in the afternoon 
 without the usual closing prayer, and adds, "it is the 
 first time he forgot himself in like form." Evident- 
 ly these were thought to be signs that age was 
 creeping upon the pastor. 
 
 In 1724 two communion cups were purchased by 
 the church for use at the Lord's table. In 1725 
 two others were presented as the gift of the Honora- 
 ble Gurdon Saltonstall, purchased with money pro- 
 vided for this purpose in his will. In 1726 Mrs. 
 Mary Saltonstall gave another cup. In 1742 Mrs. 
 Elizabeth Fox presented two others. All these are 
 still in use. , 
 
 Mr. Adams took a great responsibility upon him 
 when he accepted a call to succeed the distinguished 
 and brilliant preacher who had preceded him. 
 But the sequel proved that the church were not mis- 
 taken as to the man upon whom their choice was 
 fixed. The fruitage of his riper years was ample 
 fulfillment of the promise of his youth. He was 
 
74 LATER HISTORY OF THE FIRST CHURCH. 
 
 moderator of the General Association when it met 
 in New London in 1742. He was often in demand 
 for public services which required wisdom, patience 
 and prudence. 
 
 Mr. Adams was single when he came to New 
 London. December 15, 1709 he was married to 
 Lydia Pygan. She was not at the time, a mem- 
 ber of the church ; nor did she become one till 
 February 13, 1719, when Mr. Adams records, 
 among those received into communion, "my own 
 wife." She was the daughter of Alexander Pygan 
 by his second wife, who was Mrs. Lydia Boyes, 
 widow of Samuel Boyes. Mrs. Adams was born 
 January 10, 1684-5. She was baptized by Mr. Sal- 
 tonstall January 24, 1691. Mrs. Pygan lived with 
 her daughter, Mrs. Adams, after the death of Mr. 
 Pygan in 1701. At the death of Mrs. Pygan, in 
 1734, her property came into the possession of Mr. 
 Adams. The house was on the west side of Main 
 street, on an elevated site, opposite the old town 
 mill. It stood on a lot now occupied by the houses 
 of Mr. P. C. Dunford and Mr. Gilbert Bishop. The 
 property remained in the family until after the 
 death of Dr. Hallam. The ancient Mansion out- 
 lived the burning of the town by Arnold, but it long 
 ago gave way to the march of modern improve- 
 ments. Two pine trees marked the spot near which 
 the old house stood. One was called Adam, the 
 other Eve. One survives, whether Adam or Eve, 
 we do not know. The old family well is still under 
 the corner of the piazza of Mr. Bishop's house, and 
 
ADAMS' MINISTRY. 75 
 
 he drew from it for family purposes until the intro- 
 duction of city water from Lake Konomoc. 
 
 Six children were born to Mr. Adams as the fruit 
 of his marriage to Lydia Pygan. He says, "the 
 Lord hath given us 6 children, two whereof dying 
 young, the others survive to this day, and by God's 
 blessing on the education that we have given them, 
 we have no reason to be ashamed of any one of 
 them. They have been no grief of heart to us." 
 The first was William, the second was Pygan, who 
 was made a deacon of the church in 1758; the third 
 was Mary, born March 5, 1713-14. She was bap- 
 tized March 26, the next year. The fourth was 
 Thomas who was baptized January 8, 1716-17;. 
 The fifth was Samuel, born August 11, 1717 ; he was 
 baptized August 30 of the same year, and died soon 
 after. The sixth was Lydia, who was born Febru- 
 ary 20, 1720. She was baptized February 26, 1721, 
 and died July 17, of that year. William, as we 
 know, became a minister; was never settled over a 
 parish, was never married, and died September 25, 
 1798, at the advanced age of over eighty-seven. 
 Pygan Adams became a merchant in New London, 
 and was a man of great influence in town and in 
 church. He lived probably in the old family man- 
 sion, to the age of sixty-four and died in July, 1776. 
 Mary married first. Dr. Jonathan Gardiner, and 
 second, John Bulkeley of Colchester, a grandson 
 of Rev. Gershom Bulkeley. She died January 24, 
 1749-50. Thomas became a physician, and settled 
 at East Haddam. He died in September, 1753, 
 
76 LATER HISTORY OF THE FIRST CHURCH. 
 
 about a month before his father. The male de- 
 scendants of Eliphalet Adams, in direct Hne, are ex- 
 tinct. Rev. Robert Hallam, D. D., was descended 
 from him through Deacon Pygan Adams. Dr. 
 Hallam says, "the Rev. EHphalet Adams, my great, 
 great grandfather." [Annals, p. 44.] Dr. Hal- 
 lam was a son of Oliver Hallam, who was a son of 
 Robert Hallam, who married Lydia, daughter of 
 Pygan Adams, and granddaughter of Eliphalet 
 Adams. She died October 29, 1845. From Mr. 
 Adams' daughter Mary, have descended other well 
 known families. Miss Caulkins says "Mrs. Bulke- 
 ley occupies the pleasing distinction of ancestress to 
 John J. C. Brainerd, a man of taste and genius, the 
 gifted poet of New London, and hitherto [1852] the 
 only one which the town has produced." He was 
 son of the Hon. Jeremiah Gates Brainerd and his 
 wife Sarah, who was granddaughter of Mrs. Bulke- 
 ley by her first husband. Two of Mrs. Bulkeley's 
 daughters married, the one into the Latimer family, 
 the other into the family of Lambs of Groton. 
 These are the only families descending from Mr. 
 Adams which remain. 
 
 Mrs. Adams died September 6, 1749. She was 
 seized with apoplexy while spending the afternoon 
 at the house of Mr. Samuel Edgecomb. Mr. 
 Hempstead records in his diary : "Mrs. Adams ta- 
 ken with an apoplectic fitt at Samll Edgecomb's 
 about 3 o'clock being out on a visit and as well or 
 better in health than she hath been of late. She had 
 just iinisht drinking 3 or 4 dishes of tea." She 
 
ADAMS' MINISTRY. 77 
 
 died about two o'clock in the morning of September 
 6, at the age of sixty-two years and eight months. 
 Of the hours during which she hung between hfe 
 and death, her husband said, ''a dreadful interval of 
 time to me, which no words of mine have power 
 to express." The next Sabbath he preached a fun- 
 eral discourse of which the text was Ezekiel 24 : 16 ; 
 Son of man behold I take away from thee the desire 
 of thine eyes. In the course of the sermon, allud- 
 ing to the sympathy and kindness which had been 
 shown him, he said, "the Reverend Mr. Graves 
 prayed with us again and again with much sym- 
 pathy." Those who had left the fellowship of the 
 church were among the first to come to the help and 
 comfort of the stricken household. Not long after, 
 January 24, 1750, while his heart was yet bleeding 
 from the sudden stroke which sundered the ties that 
 had bound him to the partner of his life, his daugh- 
 ter, Mrs. Bulkeley of Colchester, was taken from 
 him. Mr. Hempstead records in his diary on the 
 above date, she "died with the Dropsie this day 
 about one of the clock, aged I suppose about 34 or 
 5." It fell to the lot of her father to preach the fun- 
 eral sermon. Miss Caulkins says truly of this dis- 
 course, it "shows no decay of pulpit energy, or fine 
 feeling. The language is full and flowing, and a 
 tender earnestness pervades the whole discourse." 
 September 21, 1751 he was married to Elizabeth 
 Wass of Boston, who survived him. 
 
 The times in which Mr. Adams lived, the fluctu- 
 ations prevalent in the minds of men upon religious 
 
78 LATER HISTORY OF THE FIRST CHURCH. 
 
 questions, the rise of new religious societies in a 
 field where Congregationalism had been the sole oc- 
 cupant, the frenzy occasioned among his own peo- 
 ple by the Separatist movement, and the sorrows 
 which pierced his soul late in life, were all calcu- 
 lated to test the kind of stuf¥ of which he was made. 
 "The perfection of his character is shown, in that, 
 amid all this change and progress, he kept his bark 
 steady." It is no small testimony to the worth of 
 his character that Matthew Stewart spoke of him as 
 the most superior person in Connecticut. In all 
 the excitement of the Separate movement, Mr. 
 Adams kept cool, steadfastly pursued the tenor of 
 his course, was conciliatory, and never acted on the 
 aggressive. Standing thus firmly and quietly at his 
 post, he kept the body of his people together, 
 though here and there a convert was borne away 
 from his fold. His wise and firm course secured for 
 him the title from the opposing party, ''a dumb dog 
 that would not bark." 
 
 Mr. Adams seems to have been a methodical 
 man. He wrote a full, round, beautiful hand, eas- 
 ily legible, even at this distance of a century and a 
 half. He was a typical minister of the olden times, 
 and a man who won the esteem and affection of his 
 people, and the high regard and unabated confi- 
 dence of all who knew him. 
 
 The will of Mr. Adams, like that of every other 
 man, is a ray of light thrown upon his character. 
 This is especially true of its opening sentences, 
 which are as follows : 'Tn the name of God, Amen. 
 
ADAMS' MINISTRY. 79 
 
 I, Eliphalet Adams of New London, in the County 
 of New London and Colony of Connecticut, clerk, 
 being in health and of sound mind and memory, 
 yet calling to mind the mortality of my body, and 
 knowing that it is appointed for all men once to die, 
 do make and ordain this my last will and Testa- 
 ment." 
 
 ''That is to say, I do first and principally commend 
 my soul into the hands of God, beseeching him to 
 accept it on ye account, of ye merits and mediation 
 of Jesus Christ, my Blessed Redeemer. And my 
 Body to the earth to be buried in a Decent manner 
 at ye Discretion of my executors hereafter men- 
 tioned." Then follow bequests to his wife and his 
 sons which show that, like his predecessors, he 
 came to be quite an extensive landholder. His 
 three sons, William, Pygan and Thomas, were 
 named as the executors of his will. It was drawn, 
 signed and sealed August ii, 1752, in the presence 
 of Joseph Coit, Thomas Greene and Samuel Gar- 
 diner. It was admitted to probate by the Hon. 
 Gurdon Saltonstall, October 9, 1753. From his 
 will it appears that Mr. Adams had accumulated a 
 considerable estate. His salary was never large, 
 according to more modern figures. But, like the 
 parsons of those early times, he seems to have 
 learned the art of living well within his income. 
 There were then far less drafts upon the ministerial 
 exchequer than in these days of many books, mag- 
 azines and papers, not to mention the numerous oc- 
 casions which take the pastor of today away from 
 
80 LATER HISTORY OF THE FIRST CHURCH. 
 
 home by public conveyance. Mr. Child [Colonial 
 Parson, p. 153] says "many of the parsons were 
 Vell-to-do.' They had a fair proportion of this 
 world's goods. By inheritance, by marriage, or by 
 management, they came into possession of goodly 
 properties so that their estates appear to advantage 
 on the records of the probate court." Mr. Adams 
 got little by inheritance from his father, whose es- 
 tate inventoried less than £ 1400. His accumula- 
 tions must be credited to marriage and manage- 
 ment, and the gifts of the town. 
 
 The ministry of Mr. Adams continued from Feb- 
 ruary 9, 1708-9 to October 4, 1753, the date of his 
 death — a period of forty-four years, seven months, 
 and twenty-five days. Under date of October 4, 
 1753, Mr. Hempstead says, 'Tn the morning * * * 
 Mr. Eliphalet Adams expired in a good old age, 76 
 last March. He was ordained pastor of the first and 
 only church in this town February, 1708-9, and con- 
 tinued preaching until the latter end of this summer 
 he was visited with the fever and ague, and last with 
 the bloody flux which carried him off." The fun- 
 eral was at the close of the following day. The pall 
 bearers were Rev. George Griswold of East Lyme, 
 Rev. Samuel Johnson of Old Lyme, Rev. Matthew 
 Graves of Saint James Church, Colonel Saltonstall, 
 Deacon Timothy Green and Mr. Joshua Hempstead. 
 Mr. Hempstead says, "Mr. Adams preached but 
 two days since the 8 of July, being then taken with 
 the fever and ague, and continued unable to preach 
 until the 26 of August he preached all day, and on 
 
ADAMS' MINISTRY. 81 
 
 the 2 of September was his last day's preaching ; be- 
 ing soon taken with the common distemper, the 
 bloody flux, he was carried off very gradually and 
 died easily, slowly and willingly had his reason, but 
 his speech failed a day or two at last. He was a 
 gentleman of a Quiet and Peaceable disposition, and 
 well read in History as well as Divinity." Miss 
 Caulkins gives September 9 as Mr. Adams' last Sab- 
 bath service, but he did not preach. We learn from 
 the Hempstead diary that Rev. Samuel Johnson of 
 Old Lyme preached on that day. But Mr. Adams 
 was present and baptized William Morgan's child, 
 Bridget. This was the last act of his long, useful 
 and able ministry. 
 
 On a red sand-stone tablet in the old burying 
 ground, is this inscription to his memory : 
 
 Here lies the Remains of 
 
 The Revd Mr. Eliphalet Adams, 
 
 Who rested from his Labours, 
 
 October 4th A. D. 1753, 
 
 In the 77th year of his age. 
 
 So just the skies, Philander's Life so Pain'd, 
 His Hart so pure, that, or succeeding scenes 
 Have Palms to give, or ne'er had he been born. 
 
 Heb. 6:-10. 
 
III. 
 
 THK PASTORATE OF ELIPHALET ADAMS; 
 
 THE PREACHER. 
 
 The story of a pastorate would not be complete 
 without some account of the man as a preacher. 
 His published sermons furnish the best ground of 
 judgment. Fortunately several sermons of Mr. 
 Adams', which were published, have come down to 
 us, and from them we are able to judge of him with 
 a good degree of justice and accuracy as a preacher. 
 
 The first notice which we have of him as in the 
 pulpit is this brief item recorded in his diary. 
 "1696, Nov. 25, I came to Little Compton to preach 
 among ym." This was probably Little Compton, 
 R. L 
 
 Again he records in his diary, "Sept. 5, 1699 ^ 
 went to Hartford with my brother Whiting, where 
 the people of Farmington met with me and gave 
 me an earnest invitation to come and exercise 
 ye work of the ministry among ym." ''Sept. 14 I 
 returned home with safety." This must have been 
 a call to succeed Samuel Hooker who died in 
 
 1697. The call was not accepted and we may 
 suppose that he continued for some time in the 
 Indian work, to which he had been appointed in 
 
 1698. However, in the years 1701 and 1703 he 
 
THE PREACHER. 83 
 
 preached in Boston as an assistant of Rev. Ben- 
 jamin Colman D. D., the brilliant pastor of the Brat- 
 tle Street Church. He was still preaching in Bos- 
 ton when called to New London. 
 
 As a preacher he stood high in the colony. His 
 pulpit abilities were of an unusual order. Rev. 
 John Barnard, enumerating the most eminent di- 
 vines of New England, whom he had known per- 
 sonally, includes Mr. Adams in the list. He was 
 sought for to preach on public occasions. He was 
 twice appointed to preach the election sermon be- 
 fore the Connecticut Legislature, May ii, 1710, and 
 May 10, 1733. Amos 5 : 24 was the text of the first 
 of these sermons. A copy of it was solicited for 
 publication, and Mr. Hoadly says ''it was the first 
 election sermon printed in Connecticut." The text 
 of the second was Isaiah 65:8. This was also pub- 
 lished at the request of the legislature, and appeared 
 in a 16 mo. edition of seventy-nine pages. The fact 
 that he was twice chosen to this honor proves that 
 he had more than local fame as a preacher. 
 
 For the times in which he lived, Mr. Adams was 
 a preacher of spiritual power. Examples show that 
 he was direct, earnest, and evangelical in his pres- 
 entation of the truth. Every year, unless 1749 and 
 1 75 1 are excepted, during his long pastorate, there 
 were accessions to the church, mostly upon profes- 
 sion of faith. In several of the years the number of 
 the additions point to a more than usual degree of 
 religious interest, among the people. Tracy's Great 
 Awakening says that under Mr. Adams "there had 
 
84 LATER HISTORY OF THE FIRST CHURCH. 
 
 been a happy revival in 1721, the period of deepest 
 darkness in New England, [p. 235.]" Of course 
 the season of greatest quickening, and of largest 
 ingathering, was the period of the Great Awaken- 
 ing. 
 
 He seems to have been accustomed to seize on 
 striking events and providences to make them 
 themes of discourse for the spiritual profit of his 
 flock. In February, 1716-17 occurred a snowstorm 
 of so great magnitude as to become famous in the 
 annals of New England. Mr. Hempstead in his di- 
 ary makes daily record of the storm which contin- 
 ued, without much abatement from February 20 to 
 March 2. It was so severe that public religious ser- 
 vices were omitted, February 24, at the meeting- 
 house. March 3 they were resumed, and Mr. 
 Adams preached a sermon from this text : Nahum 
 1:3. The Lord hath his way in the whirlwind and in the 
 storm, and the clouds are the dust of his feet. 
 
 Ten sermons of Mr. Adams, published by Timo- 
 thy Green of New London, are in existence. It may 
 be presumed that they are the best specimens of his 
 pulpit eloquence. They were preached on various 
 public occasions, such as ordinations, funerals, 
 the execution of Catherine Garret, etc. But we 
 come to notice, more at length, the famous sermon, 
 preached the Sabbath after the meeting-house was 
 struck by lightning, August 31, 1735. The text 
 was. Psalms 65 : 5. "By terrible things in Right- 
 eousness, wilt thou answer us, O God of Our Salva- 
 tion." 
 
GOD feMetimes Anfwers His Veeph, iy 
 Terrthte Things in Ri^hccoufnefs, 
 
 Occafioned by that Awful 
 
 Which Struck the 
 
 Meeting-Houfe in Jl^^ltOllllOlt^ 
 
 Aug. |iy^ I 7 3 S' 
 At what Time One was Killed outright and 
 diverfe Others muclf hurt and wounded, 
 Yet gi a^rioufly & remaikablf Preferved, 
 together with the reft of the Congrega- 
 tion^^from Immediate Death. 
 
 AS IT WAb 
 
 Delivered ( Sept, yth. ) the Lord^s Day Following. 
 
 By Eliphalet Adams, M. Al 
 
 And Fajiar «/ tht Church there, 
 
 —Mil, ^ _j_^^ I iiim— II .. .1 II'' LI -nil < miMm .^ » » » m m ■ «' ^mmmimfmm>i»mmmmmi^0mmmmmsiit!m&»^^ 
 
 ^ Pfei* Ixxxi. 7. 
 
 4 anfwered thee in the fecret place ofllunder^, 
 
 Eefpondi tibi in Loco Abfcondito Domus majcftadl; 
 meg;, perfonantibus Coram mc rdtis Igneis. 
 
 11 1 < • l |) nm i ma iii«ii i i # 
 
 ^ ^.WmON.VdmA h Spidby T. G R |E K, t^U 
 
THE PREACHER. 8& 
 
 The sermon is prefaced by a note from the pastor 
 to his flock, in which he opens his heart to them. 
 It is a gUmpse into the character of the man. It is 
 the voice of the shepherd calUng to his sheep. It 
 sheds a Hght upon his long and eminently useful 
 pastorate. It is quoted entire. 
 
 To my Dear Friends 
 
 The 
 
 FLOCK 
 
 Under my Pastoral Care. 
 
 Since it is at your Request and Importunity, that the follow- 
 ing Discourse now sees the Light, this will not only supersede 
 all other Apologies to the world, for its being made Publick, 
 of which I had no manner of tho't when it was first com- 
 posed; but also Justify me in a farther Address to you on so 
 awful an Occasion. 
 
 I could not but take Notice of the Crowded Assembly when 
 it was Delivered, Many (doubtless) being led by their Curios- 
 ity to hear some New thing, and observe what our Sentiments- 
 and Dispositions were under such an Awful hand of God, And 
 Oh that our Behaviour at this Day may be suitable and be- 
 coming both in the Eyes of God and Men. 
 
 Moses giving a relation of the Solemnity of that Day when 
 the Law was given from Mount Sinai, thus expresseth him- 
 self, Deut. 4:32. 33. "But ask now of the days that are past 
 which were before thee, since the day that God created man 
 upon Earth, and ask from the one side of heaven unto the 
 other, whither there hath been any such thing, as this great 
 thing is, or hath been heard like it, Did ever people hear the 
 Voice of God, speaking out of the midst of the fire, as thou 
 hast heard and live?" 
 
 Never was any Dispensation in all its Circumstances to be 
 compared to that. It was a wonder how their frail Natures 
 
86 LATER HISTORY OF THE FIRST CHURCH. 
 
 could endure the Majesty and Terror of the Lord that they 
 were not quite oppressed by the over-bearing Glory. 
 
 However, Something like this; We also have heard "the 
 voice of God, speaking out of the midst of the fire," and yet 
 we live. And it is hard to say whither the greatness of the 
 Danger or the wonderfulness of our Preservation be most 
 to be Admired; And possibly one end of his, in bringing us 
 into Danger was to show his great power and mercy in our 
 signal Preservation and Escape. 
 
 We also like the People of Israel, were thrown into great 
 fear and Consternation, and perhaps like them were ready 
 to promise, Let the Lord please to declare unto us his Will 
 in a more familiar and gentle way and we will hear it and 
 do it. If such impressions were made upon us, no doubt the 
 Lord approves of them so far as to desire they may be lasting, 
 Deut. 5:29. "Oh! that there were such an heart in them, that 
 they would fear me and keep my commandments always, that 
 it might be well with them and with their children forever." 
 
 Doubtless you are persuaded, that it is not enough to be a 
 little startled and put on a face of seriousness for a time. 
 We must think on our ways and turn our feet into God's testi- 
 monies. And tho frowns and Severities alone, be they ever so 
 sharp and awful, will not produce an happy change of Heart 
 and Life. Yet by disposing us to be more Serious and 
 thoughtful, they may prepare the way for God's grace to Effect 
 this desirable change; when every Valley is exalted and every 
 Mountain and hill made Low, there the Glory of the Lord may 
 be revealed. 
 
 I have in the following Discourse, taken the opportunity to 
 recommend and press several particulars for the Amendment 
 of our Conduct, which now it is put into Your hands, I trust 
 you will peruse with a suitable regard, for are there not with 
 us, Even with us Sins against the Lord? Every one may 
 know the Plague of their own Hearts, and Discern the Error 
 of their ways, if they would set themselves diligently to En- 
 quire. Let us then Search and try our ways and turn again 
 unto the Lord. 
 
THE PREACHER. 87 
 
 God hath graciously begun of late a good work in the Coun- 
 try. [Reference is here made to the work of grace, which 
 began in Northampton in the latter part of 1734.] We hear of 
 great Numbers of People "asking the way to Zion with their 
 faces thitherward." Why should we be the last to bring the 
 King back to his Throne? Yea, why should we come behind 
 the very chiefest of Christians. 
 
 It is Certainly our interest as well as Duty, to get Near 
 to our God and keep Near to our God, to walk in all his 
 Ways and keep his Commandments, as he Commanded our 
 Fathers; And who can tell what reserves of Mercy of this 
 kind, he may have in store for us? When he pleases to work, 
 there is Nothing can Let it, then the "hearts of the rest 
 shall understand knowledge;" the most stubborn tempers 
 yield and the Heart of Stone be changed into an heart of 
 Flesh. 
 
 If this may but be the fruit, even to take away all our Sin, 
 if by this, our "Iniquity may be purged." We shall have rea- 
 son to bless the Stroke that drives us home to our God and 
 directs our feet into the path of Life. 
 
 I trust there will be but little Need to lay in caution that you 
 guard against such Seducers and Sectaries who are still say- 
 ing "Lo here is Christ" or "Lo there;" And are ready to rep- 
 resent that it is safer taking on with them against whom 
 as yet no such Severity hath been displayed. Since you are 
 taught of God that Neither Love nor Hatred is certainly 
 to be learned by anything that is before us. Or if anything 
 of that nature be to be gathered, we are told that "Whom the 
 Lord Loves he rebukes and chastens" and that Judgment 
 sometimes begins at the House of God; Only let us be Hum- 
 bled under the Lord's Discipline and let them remember that 
 it is their wisdom, "not to be highminded but to Fear." 
 
 I am now Growing into Years and as I would ask Your pray- 
 ers for me, that while I am Continued, I may be enabled to 
 speak the Word plainly and boldly, as a "good steward of the 
 manifold grace of God;" so "God forbid that I should sin 
 against the Lord in ceasing to pray for you," or in failing 
 
88 LATER HISTORY OF THE FIRST CHURCH. 
 
 (as I am able) to "teach you the good and the right way. 
 [Mr. Adams was now fifty-eight years old, and had been pastor 
 of the church more than twenty-six years.] 
 
 We have Escaped this Time, but there will quickly come 
 a time when we shall no Longer Escape. "Man Goeth to his 
 long home," And Death which is approaching by Insensible 
 steps should never be out of our Minds. 
 
 Nor should we forget the Time, when (as the Apostle Peter 
 
 tells us) 2 Pet. 3:10, etc "the Heavens shall pass away 
 
 with a great Noise, and the Elements shall meet with fer- 
 vent heat, the Earth also and the works that are therein 
 shall be burnt up: Seeing that all these things shall be Dis- 
 solved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy 
 Conversation and godliness, Looking for and hasting to the 
 Coming of the day of God, wherein the Heavens being on fire, 
 shall be dissolved and the Elements shall melt with fervent 
 heat." 
 
 Finally, Whatever good Impressions have been made upon 
 any of us, by this late Awful Dispensation of divine provi- 
 dence. May the Lord our God, "Keep this forever in the Imag- 
 ination of the thoughts of the heart of his people and pre- 
 pare our hearts unto him." As we were seasonably taught 
 from, 1 Chron. 29:18, by a message in the mouth of his Ser- 
 vant,* the same Day when the following discourse was deliv- 
 ered; And may we all of us give diligence that we may be 
 found of him in peace, without spot and blameless. 
 
 I am 
 Your Affectionate Pastor 
 
 ELIPHALET ADAMS. 
 
 *[The Rev'd Mr. William Williams of Weston.] 
 
 The sermon which followed was of like character, 
 with the foregoing letter. The text was Psalms, 
 65 : 5. The theme was treated under three general 
 heads : ''First, that God sometimes appears and 
 manifests himself to his people in very terrible 
 
THE PREACHER. , 8& 
 
 things ; secondly, that when he doth so, it is always 
 in righteousness ; thirdly, that yet at the same time 
 he is the God of their salvation." Each of these 
 heads was developed appropriately under various 
 subdivisions, in a way calculated to enforce the les- 
 sons of the tragic event which called the sermon 
 forth. He then proceeded to what he terms ''the 
 Improvement." It was as follows : 
 
 I. Doth the God of their Salvation sometimes manifest 
 himself to his people by Terrible things in Righteousness? 
 Then it is a weakness even in them to expect that the Course 
 of his providential dealings with them, should be always 
 smooth, gentle and easie. * * * 
 
 II. Doth the God of our Salvation sometimes manifest 
 himself to his people by Terrible things in Righteousness? 
 Then it is not for them to Murmur and Complain, no, not so 
 much as to think hardly of the providence of God, when such 
 things happen to them. * * * 
 
 III. Doth the God of our Salvation sometimes manifest 
 himself to his people by Terrible things in Righteousness? 
 Then all their religious Friends that hear of such severe 
 dispensations of divine providence, towards any person or 
 people, should be sure to pity. Sympathize with, and pray 
 for them. * * * 
 
 IV. Doth the God of our Salvation sometimes manifest 
 himself to his people by Terrible things in Righteousness? 
 It becomes them in such a day, to Consider what the call and 
 Language of such providence is, and to Comply as readily 
 and punctually as ever they can, with the Lord's design and 
 Intention. There is a meaning in all such providences, which 
 we should be solicitous and inquisitive to find out, with a 
 resolution to Comply with. * * * 
 
 And this brings me to Discourse more particularly of the 
 Awful Dispensation of divine providence towards Us of this 
 Congregation the last Lord's Day. 
 
90 LATER HISTORY OF THE FIRST CHURCH. 
 
 We had finished our forenoon's Service and were returned 
 again to the house of the Lord, when no small Storm came 
 over us, which prevented diverse of the Congregation from 
 assembling together with us; No sooner had we, that were 
 met, risen up to worship and scarce had we begun to utter 
 ourselves before the Lord, when a dreadful Thunder-clap 
 broke upon us, with an amazing Noise, as if diverse Cannon 
 had been Discharged at once: The fire of God fell among us, 
 rending the House in a wonderful manner, which I may not 
 stand, neither would it be proper, now to Describe; Striking 
 down to the ground great Numbers of people. Burning and 
 wounding several in a most sorrowful manner; One desirable 
 Youth* after a little struggle presently expiring, the Lightning 
 having licked up his spirits beyond recovery. 
 
 Others, upon application of proper remedies, being brought 
 to their Senses, were after a while carried home, where some 
 of them are still the Lord's prisoners, waiting upon the same 
 hand that wounded, graciously to heal and restore. And others 
 are come halting hither to Day, to give thanks to the "God 
 of their Salvation;" All of us stunned and astonished with 
 the sudden and surprising Blow; Methinks the dreadful sound 
 is still in our Ears and we shall scarce forget it to our Dying 
 Day. Thus did the God of our Salvation answer us by Terrible 
 things in Righteousness. 
 
 It can scarce be expressed by words the Concern, the Sur- 
 prise, the Consternation that was among us on that Occasion. 
 Every ones Countenance w^as changed at what had happened. 
 Uncertain whither there might not be something yet more 
 Severe presently to follow. 
 
 When we could a little recover ourselves, then the Cries of 
 friends for them that needed help, were very pitiful and affect- 
 ing. 
 
 We ran to the assistance of One, and behold Another and 
 Another and Another in every corner of the House, wanted 
 us at the same time; We were all busied in doing good offices 
 for our friends, of one kind or another, to recover them that 
 were quite stunned with the blow, to revive them that fainted 
 
 *Edwin Burch. 
 
THE PREACHER. 91 
 
 and bind up the wounded and at length (when they were in 
 condition for it) to attend and bear them to their several 
 homes; And only one, by the awful dispensation of provi- 
 dence, was carried off dead, beyond all possibility of recovery; 
 Thus instead of the usual Exercises of the Lord's Day, this 
 was our imployment for that afternoon. And when we had 
 sent off our dear friends sufficiently attended, we had no more 
 time left, but only to call together the remains of the Congre- 
 gation and in a short and humble address to God, to give 
 thanks for our preservation and bewail the "burning which 
 the Lord had kindled:" So we hastened home to the farther as- 
 sistance of our wounded and Languishing friends and also to 
 bemoan and comfort them that had been so awfully bereaved. 
 
 The Lord himself was pleased to preach to us more im- 
 mediately that afternoon in a tremendous manner, causing 
 such a seriousness, trembling and Consternation, as it did 
 at Mount Sinai, at the giving of the Law. Exod 20. 18, 19. * * * 
 
 Too often (we must Confess) we have made too light of the 
 Calls and warnings that have been given us by man, but "how 
 shall we Escape if we turn away from him, that thus speaketh 
 from Heaven?" 
 
 I shall Cast what I have further to say upon this Occasion 
 into the following method. 
 
 FIRST. I shall Consider what Constructions may possibly 
 and also ought to be made, of this astonishing dispensation 
 of divine providence. In such cases Every one have their Sen- 
 timents, all" persons have their say; Some perhaps may Cen- 
 sure us as greater Sinners than Ordinary, because we have 
 Suffered such things; Others,* that are more forsaken of sense 
 and reason, may Interpret it, as a Testimony from Heaven, 
 against our Observation of Holy Time and professing to spend 
 it in the worship and service of God; [*Reference is probably 
 made to the Rogerenes.] To these last I would say. That 
 when we are commanded "not to forsake, the assembling 
 of our selves together, as the manner of some is, When the 
 word is to be "preached in season" and "out of season;" 
 when a Seventh part of our time hath been set apart from 
 
92 LATER HISTORY OF THE FIRST CHURCH. 
 
 the beginning and made Sacred to the service of God and the 
 care of our Souls, by a Statute for Ever; We may Easily pass 
 by such Censures as these and pity those that offer them. * * * 
 
 To the first I would say, in our Blessed Saviour's words, 
 "Judge not that ye be not judged." * * * 
 
 But before the Lord our God, we must fall down and adore 
 his Sovereignty, acknowledge his righteousness, Kis the rod, 
 accept the punishment of our Iniquity and own that he hath 
 punished us Less than our Iniquities have Deserved, while 
 he thus spits in our faces and makes us an Example before 
 the world. * * * 
 
 SECONDLY. I shall call upon the whole preserved Congre- 
 gation never to forget, but always to praise God for their 
 Eminent Deliverance. We might have died by Scores and by 
 Hundreds, Yea, the whole Congregation might have beeQ dis- 
 patch'd at once into Eternity, The House might have been 
 burnt about our Ears. * * * How is it that we have Es- 
 caped, but only that it pleased our heavenly Father to have 
 Care of our Lives and mix abundance of Mercy with this 
 Judgement; And shall we not now cry out in the Language of 
 the Text, "O God of our Salvation!" "O God of our Salva- 
 tion!" * * * 
 
 And it is well worthy of Remark, that there were many 
 Instances of persons, who but just before, removed from their 
 usual places of Sitting, Some to avoid the rain that came down 
 upon them. Some moved with fear and some (perhaps) for 
 no manifest reason, who, if they had Continued but ever so 
 little longer in the places where they were, would have been 
 in Eminent hazard of Immediate Death, whither by the Thun- 
 der, which struck very near those places with a dreadful 
 force and Effects; Or by the fall of pieces of Timber from the 
 roof, 30 large and long, as might have crushed many to Death 
 at once, or at least, made them Cripples for their whole 
 lives. 
 
 So narrowly have we Escaped; so signally did providence 
 Exert itself for our preservation. * * * 
 
 THIRDLY. I shall put you upon Sympathizing with the 
 
THE PREACHER. 93 
 
 more Immediate Sufferers and especially with them, who have 
 been so Awfully bereaved. We, who have Escaped better, 
 should bear a tender regard to them who have fared worse; 
 We might have been in their places and they in ours 
 had it so pleased God. * * * Their wounds and sores and 
 bruises and Lameness, should, in sort, be felt by each of us 
 and we should be ready to do all manner of good oflSces about 
 them. And, I bless God, that there is no manner of reason of 
 Complaint of any backwardness on this Score. 
 
 But what shall we say to, or do for our dear Friends, that 
 have been Called to part with, a near and dear Relation, in 
 Bo awful and solemn manner? 
 
 Perhaps, it would but aggravate grief, to observe that he 
 was a very promising and desirable youth. One that had Es- 
 caped more Untainted in his Manners, in this dangerous time. 
 One that by his Discreet Conduct had recommended himself 
 to everyones Esteem, and that none had any Evil thing to say 
 of him. Just arrived at his Freedom. * * * 
 
 The good Lord make up to you this Loss in Spiritual and 
 better blessings and give you "a name better than that of 
 Sons and Daughters." * * * 
 
 The Lord prepare us. Every one, for our Dissolution, at 
 what time, and in what manner soever it may come, that then 
 we "may be found of him in peace." 
 
 FOURTHLY. I shall invite and press you. Every one, to 
 make that wise and good Improvement of this providence, 
 which our heavenly Father now Expects. * * * 
 
 Shall we not think now Everyone of us, What if it had been 
 our Lot to have been struck dead at once in that awful Day, 
 when Death was so very Near us? What condition should 
 we have been in? Was our peace made with God? Had we 
 gotten an Interest in Jesus Christ? Was there no guilt lying 
 Unpardoned upon our Souls? If so, we should then only have 
 been hastened a little sooner into the presence of our Re- 
 deemer, and ascended as in a "Chariot of fire." into the re- 
 gion of the blessed; But if we had been "yet in our Sins, Un- 
 regenerate. Unconverted," "Alienated from the life of God, Ser- 
 
 f 
 
94 LATER HISTORY OF THE FIRST CHURCH. 
 
 vants to diverse Lusts and pleasures," it would have been a 
 dreadful stroke indeed upon us, We should have gone from 
 one fire to a worse, and it had been "good for us that we had 
 never been born;" Methinks every profane Sinner, when he 
 remembers it, may yet tremble at his very Narrow Escape, 
 to think how near he was to his being past all hope and 
 help and remedy. Well, now we are all spared a little Longer 
 and have a little more time to think and to "set our souls in 
 Order," if we have but the heart to do it. And surely the 
 loud Call, which we have had from heaven, should be suffi- 
 cient to rowze us; Shall we still put off and Delay? * * * 
 
 Wherefore now especially since we have been under such 
 Awakening Dispensation. 
 
 1. Let us Every one reform what hath been amiss in our 
 Conduct and testify against Sin in Others. * * * 
 
 2. Let us set our selves Carefully to practice, the great 
 Duties of righteousness and mercy, which would make us 
 blessings in our places and useful to all that are about us. 
 * * * 
 
 3. Let us live in the Use of the Instrumental Duties of re- 
 ligion which are Designed to bring us to the Love of God and 
 our Neighbor and use them as means for this farther end. 
 
 Such as reading, hearing, meditating. Examining our selves, 
 and attending upon the Ordinances of the Gospel. * * * 
 
 Get alone, frequently, by your selves, to think what Condi- 
 tion you are in and "what you must do to be Saved," to call 
 yourselves to a strict Account and accomplish a most dili- 
 gent Search. * * * 
 
 And shall I not prevail that the Sanctuary may be more fre- 
 quented? Let no persons place be empty, when God gives 
 you an opportunity to be present, that you may not miss of 
 any good for your Souls. * * * 
 
 Farther, Why do so many Live so long without Baptism 
 for themselves, or for their Children? "Arise and be Baptized 
 and wash away your Sins calling upon the Name of the Lord." 
 
 And why do More Live in the Neglect of the Lord's Supper? 
 
THE PREACHER. 95 
 
 As if he had never said to us, "Do this in remembrance of 
 me." * * * 
 
 4. Let us see to it, that the saving change of Conversion 
 be wrought upon us; Let us not be able to rest, till we can 
 find that it is happily begun. * * * 
 
 To Conclude, We have heard that a Work of God hath been 
 happily begun and carried on, in some parts of the Country: 
 People, in a general way, being greatly Concerned for the 
 Everlasting welfare of their Souls; It may be the Lord means 
 good unto Us also (When will he think upon us!) and begins 
 with this Terrible Stroke. For there was need of something 
 very Awakening to Rouze us out of that deep Security, into 
 which many of us were fallen. But this alone will not do; 
 It may startle and make us tremble, but we shall soon get 
 over it and return again to folly, unless the Lord please to 
 send down his Effectual grace, to pour out the Spirit of grace 
 and Supplication to Accompany it. * * * 
 
 We have had Earthquakes among us, a while since, which 
 have rent the Mountains, And though some were Awakened 
 thereby to greater Seriousness, Yet too many remained Un- 
 affected; We have had a Violent Wind this present year, that 
 hath born down Buildings, Trees and the Fruits of the Earth 
 before it; And now we in this place have been Encompassed 
 with this Terrible Fire; 
 
 But all will not do for the Amendment of our Hearts and 
 Lives, if the Lord be not in them; Oh! That he would please 
 to utter the still, small Voice, which shall silently and sweetly, 
 Yet powerfully Transform us all into the divine Image. * * * 
 
 The Lord knows how to soften the hardest hearts. Enlighten 
 the blindest mind, and turn Even the worst of Sinners into 
 Eminent Saints; Turn us and we shall be turned. Heal us and 
 we shall be healed, for thou are the Lord our God. 
 
 We have chosen this sermon from which to make 
 the most copious extracts, both on account of the 
 sermon itself, and the remarkable occasion which 
 called it forth. More than any other which was 
 
96 LATER HISTORY OF THE FIRST CHURCH. 
 
 published this represents the pastor appealing to 
 his people and setting home the truth upon their 
 aroused consciences with pungent force. Besides 
 in it is to be found the narration of the scenes which 
 took place in the church on that memorable occas- 
 ion, which called it forth, as told by an eye-witness. 
 The pen of history has recorded the event, and the 
 destruction which it wrought upon the meeting- 
 house. But it was left to the pen of Mr. Adams 
 to describe the scene of terror which prevailed in 
 the stricken congregation. This and the entry in 
 Mr. Hempstead's diary, quoted in a previous chap- 
 ter, are the only narrations extant told by eye-wit- 
 nesses. This sermon also gives us an idea of Mr. 
 Adams' style and power as a preacher. It is a 
 study in homiletics. First the line of thought in 
 the discussion of his theme was carefully planned. 
 Next he stuck to his theme and his text, which was 
 not merely a motto ; it was the source of the whole 
 discussion. He was clear and logical as a thinker. 
 His scope of thought was broad. It was not diffi- 
 cult to understand what he meant to say. 
 
 As a theologian he was a Calvinist, as is evident 
 from the sermon just quoted. He was an earnest, 
 faithful preacher, who sought to reach the hearts 
 of his people, and turn them unto God. He evi- 
 dently held to the view set forth in Job, that strik- 
 ing and startling events, as well as great afflictions 
 are chastisements sent from God. Certainly this 
 church, in the days of this pastorate did not lack 
 for plain, pungent, scriptural preaching. Nor was 
 
A 
 
 S ER M ON 
 
 Preached on the Occafion 
 
 Of the EXECUTION 
 
 OF 
 
 Katheriae Garret, 
 
 an 3nD<att*Scrvant, 
 
 Who was Condemned for the 
 
 of her ^pUtiOttS C|)ill>, ) 
 
 On /^ij 3'- » 7 ? *• 
 To wbich IS Added Icmc (hott Account of 
 
 htr Behaviour after her CondcoutttiOB. 
 Together with ^erD,ing WARNING 
 
 . and EXHORTATION* 
 
 Left under her own Hmd. 
 
 '"liX. Nd'o N, Piinud & Sold bj T. G R K B H. 
 
 5 7 3 ^t 
 
THE PREACHER. 97 
 
 Mr. Adams afraid to call things by their right 
 names. His people were instructed in sound doc- 
 trine. The pulpit is the preacher's throne of power, 
 and Eliphalet Adams was equal to the responsibility 
 put upon him by his sacred calling. 
 
 May 3, 1738, Mr. Adams preached the sermon 
 at the execution of Catherine Garret. Mr. Hemp- 
 stead made this entry in his diary. ''Wednsd 3d 
 [May 1738] fair. In foren I was at lecture to hear 
 funeral sermon pr by Mr. Adams, after at Town- 
 hill to see Kate ye Indian woman hanged for mur- 
 dering her bastard Infant at Saybrook half year." 
 The text of the sermon was Proverbs 28: 17. "A 
 man that doth Violence to the blood of any person, 
 shall flee to the pit. Let no man stay him." The 
 propositions defended by the preacher were as fol- 
 lows : "First. That when persons have been guilty 
 of Doing Violence to the blood of others, too of- 
 ten there are Endeavors used, to screen them 
 from the punishment which they have Justly De- 
 served. Secondly. That this is by no means fit 
 to be done and people should be strictly Cautioned 
 against it. Thirdly. That Death is the Just pun- 
 ishment to be Inflicted upon such persons, who 
 have been guilty of doing Violence to the blood of 
 others." As will be inferred from these proposi- 
 tions, the sermon was a defence of capital punish- 
 ment. Such sentences as the following leave no 
 room to doubt the preacher's views. "They must 
 be Dispatch'd out of the world in all convenient 
 haste ; There shou'd be no waiting till Death comes 
 
98 LATER HISTORY OF THE FIRST CHURCH. 
 
 in the form of some Distemper or Accident, and 
 doth the work. * ^ * No, Violence they have 
 used, and with Violence they must be Dispatched 
 out of the world." The sermon closes with the us- 
 ual "improvement," and an address to the prisoner. 
 This custom of having a sermon preached at the 
 execution of a criminal, condemned to death, was 
 continued till the close of the century, when Rev. 
 Henry Channing preached on a similar occasion. 
 The custom seems to us strange and uncanny. The 
 very hideousness of it doubtless brought it to an 
 end. While those who are to suffer the extreme 
 penalty of the law for crime, should have spiritual 
 instruction, it does not seem quite the thing to 
 preach a man's funeral sermon to an audience in 
 which he sits as a listener. 
 
 Other sermons are preserved, as for example that 
 preached in commemoration of his wife, that 
 preached on the death of his daughter, Mrs. Bulk- 
 eley of Colchester, and that preached on the death 
 of Governor Saltonstall. These productions of his 
 pen which have come down to us prove that Mr. 
 Adams stood easily in the front ranks of the best 
 preachers of his day. 
 
IV. 
 
 THK ministry of ElylPHALKT ADAMS. — THK 
 GREAT AWAKENING. 
 
 The Great Awakening was a violent rebound 
 from the low spiritual state to which the churches 
 of New England had lapsed. The last half of the 
 seventeenth and the first half of the eighteenth cen- 
 turies had been marked by an ever deepening inten- 
 sity of spiritual darkness. The early fathers of New 
 England were ''strict in doctrine, in discipline, and 
 in practice." They were sound in the faith, exem- 
 plary in their walk, strict in their morals, and emi- 
 nent for experimental religion. A gentleman of 
 eminent character, who had lived in New England 
 in the early days, testified that he never heard an 
 oath nor saw a person intoxicated. The churches 
 were like their founders. From 1630 to 1660 has 
 been called the golden age of New England. Pun- 
 chard says [Hist. Congsm, Vol. V. p. 480] all the 
 early years of our colonial life were essentially re- 
 vival years ; not so called by the fathers, but really 
 and truly such, judged by their fruits ; for they were 
 years of most extraordinary consecration and devo- 
 tion of Christian people to God, attended by the 
 
100 LATER HISTORY OF THE FIRST CHURCH. 
 
 continued increase of their number by conversions 
 from the world. And this was the state of things 
 in New England for nearly or quite an entire gener- 
 ation." 
 
 Soon after 1660, there were visible signs of relig- 
 ious declension. Those who succeeded the found- 
 ers were less zealous, less strict in morals, less strict 
 in doctrine, less conspicuous for piety. There was 
 good and sound preaching, a good degree of peace 
 and order in the churches, but their condition 
 alarmed the men who, like Increase Mather and 
 others, had the interests of God's kingdom at 
 heart. There were revivals in a few places, but no 
 general awakening for many years. In Northamp- 
 ton, Mass., there were several seasons of renewed 
 spiritual life, which Mr. Stoddard called his har- 
 vests. In 1721 the town of Windham, Conn., was 
 visited by a work of grace, imder the labors of Rev. 
 Samuel Whiting, brother-in-law of Mr. Adams, 
 which resulted in gathering into the church about 
 eighty persons. In 1719 and 1721 the church in 
 New London seems to have enjoyed more than us- 
 iial religious interest. But none of these revivals 
 were of the sort that grow out of a deep conviction 
 of sin. Little permanent change was wrought in 
 the religious condition of the town. And we may 
 suppose that the same dearth, which was felt here, 
 prevailed throughout New England. One of the 
 evidences of this decline was, a wide departure from 
 the standards of admission to the church announced 
 by Thomas Hooker, John Davenport and others, 
 
THE GREAT AWAKENING. 101 
 
 who insisted upon an experience of renewing grace 
 as an essential condition of admission to the church. 
 It was from the low state of spiritual life, which 
 resulted from these loose practices of admission to 
 the church, that the Great Awakening was a re- 
 bound. 
 
 The immediate cause of the Awakening was the 
 preaching of three sermons by Edwards, in Decem- 
 ber, 1734, upon Justification by Faith, in which he 
 insisted on the duty and need of immediate repen- 
 tance. This was in direct opposition to the prevail- 
 ing doctrine of justification by works. His pres- 
 entation of the guilt of sin was in open and violent 
 contrast to the prevailing view, and men were 
 alarmed. The clear and definite setting forth of the 
 absolute necessity of a change of heart, and faith 
 in Jesus Christ, unto salvation, startled the relig- 
 ious world, and led professed Christians to look 
 more carefully into the ground of their hope. The 
 examination often caused alarming doubts about its 
 reality. 
 
 Fully to appreciate the force of this great relig- 
 ious movement, and the low and alarming spiritual 
 conditions in the churches at the time when it be- 
 gan, we need to note some of the causes which 
 helped to bring about this state of religious dearth. 
 
 I. One was the state of conflict in which the col- 
 onies were, almost constantly, for nearly three 
 fourths of a century. New London was the princi- 
 pal seaport of this colony, and its peace was often 
 disturbed by the rude alarms of war. Either hostile 
 
102 LATER HISTORY OF THE FIRST CHURCH. 
 
 fleets threatened, or soldiers were encamped here 
 previous to embarking for the scenes of strife, and 
 New London's sons were among them. 
 
 2. Internal dissensions between the colonies, 
 boundary disputes which dragged their slow length 
 through many years, and the ambitious designs of 
 Dudley to bring Connecticut, and all New England, 
 under his control, were not conducive to that peace 
 which is favorable to the deepest religious exper- 
 iences, 
 
 3. The planting of churches of other faiths in 
 the colonies, on ground preempted by Puritan Con- 
 gregationalism, was another cause operating to 
 call the attention of men away from the supreme 
 things of the kingdom of God, and turn their minds 
 to the discussion of the minor and irrelevant ques- 
 tions of forms, and ceremonies, and ecclesiastical 
 polities. The effort to plant Episcopal churches 
 created great alarm, especially in Connecticut. For 
 Dr. Cutler and Rev. Messrs. Johnson, Punderson, 
 Seabury and others, having gone over to the Church 
 of England, there was a belief that there was a 
 conspiracy among some of the prominent clergy- 
 men to follow them, and take the people of Con- 
 necticut with them. 
 
 This alarm was really groundless, for the only 
 mission of the Propagation Society in Connect- 
 icut, for twenty years, was at Stamford ; and that 
 was not gathered out of converts from the Congre- 
 gational churches, but was "undertaken chiefly for 
 the benefit of recent emigrants * * * who were 
 
THE GREAT AWAKENING. 103 
 
 already Episcopalians." [Hist. Christ Ch. Guilford 
 Ct. p. 17.] Johnson said, and there is no reason 
 to doubt his word, "I never once tried to proselyte 
 dissenters, nor do I believe any of the other minis- 
 ters did." Besides all this, as late as 1733, there 
 were but fifteen churches of the Episcopal order in 
 all the New England Colonies, where there were 
 two hundred and sixty Congregational churches, 
 with twenty thousand members. There were only 
 twenty-two Baptist churches in Massachusetts and 
 Rhode Island. 
 
 But, whether with or without reason, the church- 
 es were alarmed. Episcopacy, from which the early 
 settlers had seceded, was invading a field which 
 Congregationalism had preempted. It represented 
 a practice against which early Congregationalism 
 was a vehement protest. It admitted to church 
 privileges those whom the early fathers excluded. 
 This, says Dr. Andrews, [Hist. Christ Ch. Guilford 
 p. 24,] ''abundantly justified the Propagation So- 
 ciety in planting missions in this Christian colony." 
 Whether or not the planting of these churches 
 helped to fix on Congregational churches the prac- 
 tice of the halfway covenant we do not know, but 
 it seems certain that the growth of sentiment in its 
 favor, throughout the colonies, was the opportunity 
 which was favorable to the establishment of mis- 
 sions of the Church of England. At any rate the 
 theory voiced by Hooker that 'Visible saints only 
 are fit matter appointed by God to make up a vis- 
 ible Church of Christ," was on the decline. "Per- 
 
104 LATER HISTORY OF THE FIRST CHURCH. 
 
 sonally regenerate character" soon largely, if not 
 entirely, ceased to be an essential requisite for 
 church membership. 
 
 The feeling was deep that the planting of Episco- 
 pal churches was an intrusion. Disputes arose 
 which were prolonged, and prosecuted with heat. 
 There were defections from the Congregational 
 churches. These disputes and defections diverted 
 men's minds from the more vital things of spiritual 
 life. Increase Mather wrote before his death in 
 1723, "there is a grievous decay of piety in the land 
 and a leaving of the first love, and the beauties of 
 holiness are not to be seen as they once were. The 
 very interest of New England seems to be changed 
 from a religious to a worldly one." This feeling 
 had long been shared by the leading ministers of 
 New England. In 1714 the legislature of Con- 
 necticut requested Governor Saltonstall "to recom- 
 mend to the ministers to inquire strictly into the 
 state of religion in every parish asking, 'what are 
 the sins and evils that provoke the just majesty of 
 heaven to walk contrary to us in the ways of His 
 providence : that thereby all possible means may 
 be used for our healing and recovery from our de- 
 generacy.' " [Congregationalists in America, p. 
 233.] If the enquiry was made the remedy does 
 not seem to have been discovered. Similar synods 
 had been held in the last quarter of the previous 
 century with like results. Nothing seemed able to 
 stop the decline. In 171 5, and again in 1725, an 
 attempt was made to persuade the Massachusetts 
 
THE GREAT AWAKENING. 105 
 
 Legislature "to call a synod to seek remedies for the 
 low state of religion." But the effort finally failed 
 through the opposition of Messrs. Cutler and Miles, 
 Episcopal clergymen of Boston whose influence 
 with their superiors in England secured the inter- 
 vention of the King, so that the synod was never 
 held. This was the final blow to all hopes of reviv- 
 ing the spiritual life and power of the churches by 
 the intervention of the civil authorities. It should 
 be said here that the introduction of churches of 
 other orders than the Congregational wrought this 
 great good, namely, it led to the abandonment of all 
 hope of remedying spiritual evils by appeal to the 
 civil authorities, stopped the drift towards an eccles- 
 iastical establishment, and so did not a little to pre- 
 pare the way for the great revival which followed 
 not many years after. 
 
 4. This brings us to another cause of the spirit- 
 ual decline which preceded the Great Awakening. 
 It is the civil relation in which the church stood to 
 the state — in Connecticut till 1784, when the Say- 
 brook Platform ceased to be the established order. 
 The legislature was a sort of Congregational pres- 
 bytery. It had the oversight of the churches ma- 
 terially as well as spiritually. There were certain 
 civil rights to which church membership was essen- 
 tial. In Massachusetts the franchise, and the 
 right to hold office were limited to church mem- 
 bers. A similar limitation existed in the New 
 Haven Colony as late as 1643. This restriction 
 continued till the union of New Haven with Con- 
 
106 LATER HISTORY OF THE FIRST CHURCH. 
 
 necticut in 1664-5. The Cambridge Platform of 
 1648 was strong on this point. But governmental 
 control of the afifairs of the churches, was as harmful 
 in New England in the first half of the eighteenth 
 century, as it had been a century before in old Eng- 
 land. 
 
 5. This brings us to the last cause which we 
 shall mention, namely, the abandonment of the or- 
 iginal standard of church membership which the 
 Congregational churches, set for themselves, and 
 the adoption of the decision of the synod of 1662, 
 that persons baptized in infancy, ''understanding 
 the doctrine of faith, and publicly professing their 
 assent thereto ; not scandalous in life, and solemnly 
 owning the covenant before the church, wherein 
 they give up themselves and their children to the 
 Lord, and subject themselves to the government 
 of Christ in the church, their children are to be 
 baptized," though the parent is avowedly unregen- 
 erate. [Great Awaken, p. 4.] This practice soon 
 became general, and ended by admitting such per- 
 sons to the Lord's Table. The tendency of this 
 practice was to laxness of discipline, to low views 
 of sin, to undue exaltation of good works, to re- 
 gard a radical change of heart as not essential. The 
 result was to fill the churches with unconverted 
 members, and to introduce into the pulpit, men who 
 had no experience of renewing grace. The differ- 
 ence between the church and the world vanished 
 rapidly, and the spiritual life of the former was re- 
 duced perillously near to zero. 
 
THE GREAT AWAKENING. 107 
 
 There had been special seasons of religious in- 
 terest in the churches. But these had not been at- 
 tended by any deep conviction of sin. Mr. Jona- 
 than Parsons, who had been settled at Lyme in 
 1 73 1, says that in that year there was a great effu- 
 sion of the Holy Spirit. He was then in full sym- 
 pathy with the "Arminian principles," as they were 
 called. To use his own words, he urged the people 
 *'very much to good works." He persuaded them 
 to "attend upon the Lord's Supper." Large num- 
 bers did so, not because of any conviction of sin, 
 but under the notion that to join the church was a 
 meritorious act. What was going on in Lyme, 
 was going on in New London and other neighbor- 
 ing towns. There is no reason to think that the 
 special religious interest which appears to have vis- 
 ited this church, in 1719 and 1721, was any more 
 than a renewed interest in correct living. 
 
 But when the revival broke out in 1740, the case 
 was dififerent. An unusual sense of sin took hold 
 of professing Christians. Many said that "they had 
 never seen so much of the glory of the Lord and 
 riches of his grace, nor felt so much of the power of 
 the gospel before." Tracy says [Great Awakening, 
 p. 145,] "Many who can understand how sinners 
 should be overcome by a sense of danger, will be 
 staggered at these accounts of intense, overpower- 
 ing emotion in Christians." The secret is not far 
 to find. Previous revivals were like the breeze, 
 ivhich ripples the sea. This was the wind of God 
 
108 LATER HISTORY OF THE FIRST CHURCH. 
 
 which drives in the mighty waves, and stirs the 
 ocean to its depths. 
 
 TninibiiU says that the work was more powerful 
 in Connecticut than in Boston. He names among 
 the men actively interested in this revival in this 
 colony. Whitman of Hartford, \\'illiams of Leban- 
 on, Owen of Grot on, Robbins of Brandford, Bel- 
 lamy of Bethlehem. "But the most zealous and la- 
 borious in the cause, who took most pains, and 
 spent the most property in the ser^-ice of the mas- 
 ter, were Rev. Messrs. Jedediah Mills, Benjamin 
 Pomeroy, Eleazer Wheelock, and Joseph Bellamy.*' 
 The name of ^Ir. Adams does not appear on the list, 
 but this does not prove that he was not interested 
 and in sympathy with the great w^ork. He seems 
 to have been a less demonstrative man. The facts 
 here stated show the atmosphere by which the 
 church in New London was surrounded. It was 
 like the air, surcharged with electricity, which needs 
 but a touch to produce the explosion. 
 
 The hand of Gilbert Tennent seems to have qiven 
 the needful touch in Xew London on the 30th of 
 March, 1741. He first appeared here on that date 
 and preached three sermons, and four on the day 
 following, which seem to have set in motion the 
 wheels of beryl under the throne. Hempstead re- 
 cords in his diary, under date of ^March 30. 'T was 
 * * * at Lecture, ^ir. Gilbert Tennent pr. 3 ser- 
 mons. I began at n. [noon] and i at 3 and one at 
 7 by candlelight." The audiences were large. The 
 next day he preached four sermons, to still larger 
 
THE GREAT AWAKENING. 109 
 
 audiences, ''i in foren, i at 3 of the clock, 2 in ye 
 night by candleUght." People came "from the 
 farms as well as Town and Groton." From New 
 London Mr. Tennent went to Niantic the next day, 
 April I, followed by numbers who had heard him 
 here. Mr. Hempstead, who went himself, makes 
 record of the fact. The same scenes were repeated 
 there, which had taken place in New London. 
 
 The impression was deep and abiding. People 
 were profoundly moved by the presentation of the 
 truth. The foundation of good works on which 
 so many had been standing gave way beneath their 
 feet. ^Meetings were frequent. Audiences were 
 large, attentive, and devout. May 19th the children 
 of the town were assembled together, and short ser- 
 mons were preached to them, suited to their com- 
 prehension. Neighboring pastors came to the as- 
 sistance of Mr. Adams. Toward the end of the 
 month of May, what used to be known as a pro- 
 tracted meeting was held. Sermons were preached 
 by Mr. Adams and by Mr. Mills of Derby and Mr. 
 Eells of Stonington, who had come to his assistance. 
 Mr. Hempstead wTote in his diary June 6, "the 
 whole week hath been kept as a Sabbath, and with 
 the greatest success imaginable. Never was any 
 such time here and scarce anywhere else. The 
 wonderful works of God have been made evident 
 in the powerful conviction and conversion of di- 
 verse persons, in an extraordinary manner." The 
 state of societv was verv much renovated. As a 
 result of this movement eighty-two, whose names 
 
110 LATER HISTORY OF THE FIRST CHURCH. 
 
 are on the list of members, were received into the 
 church in 1741, besides several, as we have seen, of 
 whom the entry is made, that they made profession 
 of the Christian faith, entered into covenant with 
 God, and were baptized, which must be understood 
 as joining the church. They were principally re- 
 ceived in May, June, July and August. 
 
 As is frequently the case this great blessing met 
 with serious drawbacks. Trumbull says [Vol. II, 
 p. 126,] "this glorious work of God, which had ef- 
 fected such a wonderful reformation of manners 
 throughout the country, was marred and greatly 
 injured by many imprudences and irregularities ; 
 and w^as most violently opposed by ministers, by 
 magistrates, by cruel and persecuting laws, by re- 
 proach and misrepresentations, and all other ways 
 and means which its adversaries could invent." 
 It met with fierce antagonism throughout New 
 England. The final result to Edwards was, dis- 
 missal from his church, June 22, 1750. The ma- 
 jority of the council, called to consider the case, 
 were in sympathy with the church, who still held 
 to the view that the Lord's Supper is a saving or- 
 dinance. No trouble so serious and radical awaited 
 Mr. Adams, but opposition of another sort was in 
 the air, and broke out into open expression, as we 
 shall presently see. 
 
 It will be helpful to pause a moment to note the 
 state of the religious atmosphere in all the churches. 
 In Boston, while some men, like Mr. Prince, the 
 junior pastor of the Old South Church, and Mr. 
 
THE GREAT AWAKENING. Ill 
 
 Cooper of the Brattle Street Church, gave the re- 
 vival their unqualified approval, others were equally 
 pronounced in their opposition. Among these lat- 
 ter clergymen was Dr. Cutler, the former rector of 
 Yale College, but now an Episcopal clergyman in 
 Boston. Dr. Charles Chauncey, pastor of the First 
 Church led the Congregationalists who opposed the 
 great work. He published a book entitled, Sea- 
 sonable Thoughts on the State of Religion in New 
 England, which was intended faithfully to point 
 "out the things of a bad and dangerous tendency 
 in the late and present religious appearance in the 
 land." An opposition thus led was bound to gath- 
 er force. 
 
 This hostility spread into Connecticut, where was 
 direct opposition, of the leading churches and their 
 pastors, on the one hand, and divisions on the other 
 hand, which issued in the Separate movement. 
 One of the first acts of direct opposition was aimed 
 at the practice of itinerating, or "going abroad, and 
 preaching and administering the seals in another 
 parish, without consent of the minister of the par- 
 ish." In 1 741 certain ministers in and near New 
 Haven secured an act of the General Assembly, call- 
 ing a convention at Guilford, "to consist of three 
 ministers and three lay delegates from each associa- 
 tion." A meeting was held in New London to 
 choose delegates to that convention from this asso- 
 ciation. Mr. Hempstead in his diary makes the fol- 
 lowing record alluding to this matter. "Nov. 17, 
 1741. I went to see the ministers and messengers 
 
112 LATER HISTORY OF THE FIRST CHURCH. 
 
 of the Several Societys in the County met here at the 
 Courthouse to choose Delegates to send to a Grand 
 Council to be held at Guilford ye Next Week 3 min- 
 isters and 3 messengers to go from each association 
 in the colony to consider what may be thought most 
 Expedient to be done with Reference to the Travel- 
 ing ministers which in some places promote the 
 withdrawing from the Settled ministers and set up 
 Separate meetings, etc." This body met at Guilford 
 November 24. To it the question was proposed 
 by Rev. Mr. Whittlesey of Wallingford, whether 
 such itinerating were disorderly. It was voted in 
 the affirmative. At the session of May, 1742, the legis- 
 lature enacted the above vote into a statute, mak- 
 ing it a penal ofifence for one minister to go into the 
 parish of another without being invited by him, to 
 preach the gospel, and administer the seals. This 
 prohibition held against exhorters, or lay preachers. 
 The last section provided [Tracy p. 305] "that if any 
 foreigner or stranger, that is not an inhabitant of 
 this colony, including as well such persons as have 
 no ecclesiastical character or license to preach, as 
 such as have received ordination or license to 
 preach by any association or presbytery, shall pre- 
 sume to preach, teach, or publicly exhort in any 
 town or society within the colony, without the de- 
 sire and license of the settled minister and major 
 part of the church of such town or society, or at the 
 call and desire of the church and inhabitants of 
 such town or society, provided that it so happen 
 that there be no settled minister there ; that every 
 
THE GREAT AWAKENING. 113 
 
 such teacher or exhorter shall be sent, as a vagrant 
 person, by warrant from any assistant or justice of 
 the peace, from constable to constable, out of the 
 bounds of this colony." What ministers composed 
 the association at Guilford is not known. It left 
 no record of its doings, nor do we know anything 
 about the conclusions which it reached, except from 
 the law which the Colonial Legislature enacted the 
 next spring, 1742, in obedience to their suggestion* 
 It was aimed at such men as James Davenport, Gil- 
 bert Tennent and Whitefield, but it reached farther, 
 and abridged the civil rights of some of the inhab- 
 itants of Connecticut. Trumbull well says that it 
 was *'an outrage to every principle of justice, and 
 to the most inherent and valuable rights of the sub- 
 ject. It was a palpable contradiction, and gross 
 violation, of the Connecticut bill of rights, * * *. 
 This law was contrary to the opinion and practice 
 of all the reformers and Puritans. * * * Even in 
 Connecticut, the Episcopalians were allowed to 
 preach and collect hearers, and erect churches, in 
 any of the ecclesiastical societies, in opposition to 
 the established ministers and churches. The Bap- 
 tists were also allowed to do the same." The law 
 was inconsistent, persecuting, and a manifestation 
 of the exceedingly strong "opposition of heart, 
 which there was in the Arminians and old lights, 
 to the work of God, and to the zealous and faithful 
 promoters of it." In 1727 a law had been passed au- 
 thorizing the Episcopalians to tax themselves for 
 the support of their own clergy, and excusing them 
 
114 LATER HISTORY OP THE FIRST CHURCH. 
 
 from being taxed for the support of the estabUshed 
 order. In 1729 similar privileges were granted to 
 the Baptists, but the act of 1742 continued to bear 
 with unabated force upon all Congregationalists ; 
 and those churches which were organized under the 
 Cambridge Platform, or which separated from the 
 established church for doctrinal, or other reasons, to 
 form Separate churches, were liable to feel the grip 
 of the law till 1784, when the legal establishment 
 of the Saybrook Platform was repealed, and liberty 
 was granted to Christians of every name. 
 
 In 1742 the legislature advised the faculty of Yale 
 College to guard its students from imbibing the 
 errors of the Separatists, and to expel those who re- 
 fused submission. In consequence of which oc- 
 curred some notorious cases of discipline. June 15, 
 1742, the General Association met in New London, 
 soon after the passage of the act of the legislature 
 referred to above. Mr. Adams was the moderator. 
 The following action of that body is preserved : 
 
 "This General Association being of opinion, that the 
 God of all grace has been mercifully pleased to remember and 
 visit his people, by stirring up great numbers among us to a 
 concern for their souls, and to be asking the way to Zion, 
 with their faces thitherward, which we desire to take notice 
 of with great thankfulness to the Father of mercies; being 
 also of opinion, that the great enemy of souls, who is ever 
 ready with his devices to check, damp and destroy the work of 
 God, is very busy for that purpose; we think it our duty to ad- 
 vise and entreat the ministers and churches of this colony, 
 and recommend it to the particular associations, to stand well 
 upon their guard in such a day as this, that no detriment arise 
 
THE GREAT AWAKENING. 115 
 
 to the interests of our great Lord and Master, Jesus Christ: 
 Particularly that no errors in doctrine, whether from among 
 ourselves or foreigners, nor disorders in practice, do get in 
 among us, or tares be sown in the Lord's field: That season- 
 able and due testimony be borne against such errors and irreg- 
 ularities as do already prevail among some persons; as par- 
 ticularly the depending upon and following impulses and im- 
 pressions made on the mind, as though they were immediate 
 revelations of some truth or duty that is not revealed in the 
 word of God; laying too much weight on bodily agitations, 
 raptures, extasies, visions, etc.; ministers disorderly intruding 
 into other minister's parishes; laymen taking it upon them, 
 in an unwarrantable manner, publicly to teach and exhort; 
 rash censuring and judging others; that the elders be careful 
 to take heed to themselves and their doctrine, that they may 
 save themselves and those that hear them; that they approve 
 themselves in all things as ministers of God, by honor and dis- 
 honor, by good report and evil report; that none be lifted 
 up by applause to a vain conceit, nor any be cast down by any 
 contempt thrown upon them to the neglect of their work; and 
 that they study unity, love and peace among themselves. 
 
 And further, that they endeavor to heal the unhappy di- 
 visions that are already made in some of the churches, and 
 that the like may for the future be prevented; that a just 
 deference be paid to the laws of the magistrate lately made 
 to suppress disorders; that no countenance be given to such 
 as trouble our churches, who are, according to the constitu- 
 tion of our churches, under censure, suspension, or deposi- 
 tion for errors in doctrine or life." 
 
 It is not at all unlikely that the hand of Mr. 
 Adams, who was moderator of the meeting, was in 
 the foregoing minutes, and also that of Mr. Jewett. 
 For Davenport, who, like Whitefield, openly 
 charged the ministers, who did not come up to his 
 standard of demonstrative zeal, with being uncon- 
 
116 LATER HISTORY OF THE FIRST CHURCH. 
 
 verted, had publicly expressed the opinion that Mr. 
 Jewett and Mr. Adams had never been subjects of 
 renewing grace. Later, just before Whitefield left 
 Boston in 1745, the General Association of Con- 
 necticut, expecting that he would pass through the 
 colony on his way south, voted that ''it would by 
 no means be advisable, for any of our ministers, to 
 admit him into their pulpits or for any of our people 
 to attend his ministrations." How effective this 
 blow was we do not know, but as the vote of the 
 legislature, making it a crime for any stranger or 
 foreigner, or other person, to preach in another 
 minister's parish without his consent, was behind 
 the suggestion, we may believe that it was not 
 wholly without effect. However, he did preach in 
 the North Parish, and in New London, probably 
 not without the consent and invitation of Mr. Jew- 
 ett and of Mr. Adams. Later, when the feelings 
 against him had subsided, he visited New London 
 again ; but Mr. Adams had been dead at the time, 
 ten years. 
 
 The consociation of New Haven met September 
 28, 1742, and voted thanks to the legislature for 
 passing the act to suppress disorders, and prayed 
 that it might continue in force. Emboldened by 
 this moral support the legislature took a further 
 step, at its session in May, 1743, and "repealed the 
 act for the relief of sober consciences, so that now 
 there was no relief for any persons dissenting from 
 the established mode of worship in Connecticut." 
 The intention of this legislation was to make the 
 
THE GREAT AWAKENING. 117 
 
 Saybrook Platform obligatory, save in special cases 
 of appeal, by conscientious dissenters, to the As- 
 sembly, which grew more rigid in enforcing the law. 
 But persons who had distinguishing characteristics 
 "by which they might be known, as distinct from 
 Presbyterians and Congregationalists, might expect 
 the indulgence of the assembly, upon their taking 
 the oaths and subscribing the declaration, provided 
 by the act of parliament, in the cases of like nature." 
 [Trumbull, Vol. II, p. 138.] The unrighteousness 
 of this legislation is manifest. It was a blow 
 aimed at all Congregationalists who dissented 
 from the established order, and was intended to 
 discount the fruits of the Great Awakening. It was 
 quite as disorderly, and in violation of the bill of 
 rights, as for an orthodox minister, of blameless life, 
 to preach within the limits of the parish of a brother 
 minister without his invitation or consent. At- 
 tempts to enforce this legislation proved its weak- 
 ness and injustice. Baptists, Separates and Epis- 
 copalians planted and maintained churches in the 
 colony, and had an undoubted right to do so. Ef- 
 forts to force the Saybrook Platform upon the 
 churches were arbitrary and unjust, and resulted in 
 the prosecution of a good many excellent ministers 
 and strong churches, who refused to be governed 
 by it. Preachers were put out of associations and 
 consociations because of their zeal, and men and 
 women were suspended, and in some cases exclud- 
 ed from church privileges, because they went to 
 hear preachers interdicted by the law. 
 
118 LATER HISTORY OF THE FIRST CHURCH. 
 
 It seemed necessary to give this somewhat ex- 
 tended view of the prevailing reHgious conditions in 
 Connecticut in order more thoroughly to under- 
 stand the unsettled state of things confronting Mr. 
 Adams. It is probably safe to say that neither he 
 nor this church entered into the revival with the 
 zeal which actuated some. How much actual op- 
 position was met with within the church, we do not 
 know. Probably, as we have said, Mr. Adams and 
 the majority of the church were in sympathy with 
 the action of the General Association in 1742. And 
 there was good reason why they should be. For 
 on the other hand, there was the opposition of those 
 whose zeal outran all bounds of discretion and pru- 
 dence, who withdrew, as we shall presently see, to 
 form a "New Light" church. Outside the member- 
 ship of this church was also a decided hostility to 
 this great movement. Dr. Hallam says [Annals, 
 p. 36] ''the position of the minister of the church 
 [Saint James] under these circumstances became 
 dififtcult and embarrassing." The "circumstances" 
 referred to were the "fanatical performances" of 
 Davenport, to which reference will be made farther 
 on. The religious interest, as elsewhere, drew lines 
 of cleavage. Only the good sense, the calm judg- 
 ment, and the peace-loving character of Mr. Adams 
 saved the church from fatal rupture, and caused the 
 Separate movement in New London soon to spend 
 itself. Mr. Adams stood between two fires. 
 
 The actual conditions were bad enough, but they 
 might have been worse. Mr. Parsons of Lyme, 
 
THE GREAT AWAKENING. 119 
 
 who preached for Mr. Adams, at the latter's earn- 
 est request, June i6, 1741, a few weeks after the 
 beginning of the reHgious interest, gives a graphic 
 account of the divisions which he found here, so 
 soon after the work of grace had begun. On that 
 occasion, Mr. Hempstead tells us, he preached 
 three sermons, ''2 in the meeting house, and i att 
 Mr. Curtisses in the evening." Mr. Parsons had 
 been preaching in various towns in the county, at 
 the request of the pastors, and went to Norwich 
 from Ledyard, to spend the Sabbath, June 14, 1741. 
 The next day he preached for Mr. Throop, and 
 planned to return home, ''as fast as I could," he 
 says, and continues "but the Rev. Mr. Adams of 
 New London sent me a letter desiring that I would 
 return that way, and give his people some exhorta- 
 tions. Having been there before, in the time of the 
 concern among the people, I was unwilling to deny 
 his request, because I found that there were peculiar 
 difficulties rising up and I feared my refusal might 
 rather increase them than otherwise. There was a 
 number of new converts with a flaming zeal, and 
 jealous lest the laborers should not bear a propor- 
 tion to the harvest ; and some others, from what 
 spring I do not say, (though some have imputed it 
 to the imprudence of these new converts), who op- 
 posed themselves to the work going on among 
 them. Thus the kingdom seemed to be divided 
 against itself ; — and I was rather inclined to gratify 
 the venerable Mr. Adams on that account, not 
 knowing but that I might be instrumental of some 
 
120 LATER HISTORY OF THE FIRST CHURCH. 
 
 good in that respect. Accordingly I went and on 
 June i6th preached two sermons in that place, be- 
 sides using some private endeavors to make things 
 more easy, if it should please God to make use of 
 me for that end ; but the success was not according 
 to my wishes. I found mutual rising jealousies, 
 and, as I thought, groundless surmisings in some 
 instances, prevailing among them. These difficul- 
 ties increased afterwards ; and, for w^ant of charity 
 and mutual condescension and forbearance, they 
 have produced an open separation. I doubt not 
 but that there are excellent Christians on both sides ; 
 and there has been a very great display of divine 
 grace among them ; but they are doubtless to be 
 blamed for the manner of separating. What 
 grounds they may have, I do not know, but am 
 afraid they have gone ofif upon a wrong principle." 
 [Great Awakening, p. 155.] It will be noticed that 
 Mr. Parsons speaks of preaching but twice, while 
 Mr. Hempstead records a third discourse at Mr. 
 Curtis' in the evening. Mr. Curtis was one of 
 those, who at last withdrew from the church to form 
 the Separate Church. So that what Mr. Hemp- 
 stead calls a third discourse was what Mr. Parsons 
 speaks of as "using some private endeavors to make 
 things more easy." 
 
 In 1742 David Brainerd, who had been preaching 
 in Stonington, came and preached in New London, 
 on the invitation of Mr. Adams. He wrote to Mr. 
 Bellamy from Saybrook, February 4 of that year: 
 "Last week I preached for Mr. Fish of Stonington; 
 
THE GREAT AWAKENING. 121 
 
 the Lord helped me to be all love there, while I was 
 [pleading] for religion, so that if they had any in- 
 tention to quarrel with me, the Lord helped me to 
 love them all to death. There was much false zeal 
 among them, so that some began to separate from 
 that dear man. * * * There is, I believe, much 
 false religion in sundry of those eastern towns. I 
 preached also at New London, where I conceive 
 there is wild confusion, too long to mention." The 
 outcome was the withdrawal of about one hundred 
 from Mr. Adams' church and congregation to or- 
 ganize a Separatist Society. The first serious break 
 was November 29th, 1742, when it was noticed that 
 John Curtis, Christopher and John Christophers, 
 Peter and John Harris, prominent members of 
 the church, and all of them fruits of the Great 
 Awakening, were absent from the communion. 
 Those who withdrew from the church do not seem 
 to have been disciplined. At least there is no 
 record of such action. The reason given for the 
 secession, not only in New London, but elsewhere, 
 was, the deadness of the church, and the legal 
 preaching. "Legal preaching" probably means that 
 the sermons were not as emotional as the Separates 
 desired, did not sufficiently appeal to the feelings, 
 and failed to arouse such scenes of enthusiasm as 
 they craved. Samuel Seabury, at the time rector of 
 Saint James, describes scenes, which could have ap- 
 plied only to the meetings of the seceders. "The 
 last years of Mr. Seabury 's ministry in New Lon- 
 don," says Dr. Hallam, [Annals, pp. 35, 36], "were 
 
122 LATER HISTORY OF THE FIRST CHURCH. 
 
 disturbed and embarrassed by the extraordinary 
 flood of religious extravagance and fanaticism that 
 swept over the land after Whitefield's career in 
 America, called frequently the Great Awakening 
 and the New Light, and which was a reaction from 
 that terrible deadness and immorality in which the 
 earnestness and severity of the Puritan settlers had 
 issued within a century from their coming. * * * 
 In this wild deluge of religious zeal, New London 
 largely shared. Whitefield himself came here, and 
 here Davenport, one of the most extravagant 
 of his disciples and imitators, enacted some of the 
 wildest of his fanatical performances. * * * Mr. 
 Seabury writes June 5, 1743, 'these people have 
 their meetings in New London almost every night 
 or day, and it is not uncommon (as I am apprised 
 by persons of good sense and integrity) to see ten 
 or more seized at once with violent agitations, many 
 incapable of any decency, crying out for their 
 damned estate, so past speaking at all, or so much 
 as being unable to stand, fall down, as they pretend, 
 with the weight of their guilt ; and the most of those 
 continuing thus, violently exercised (as they say, 
 with conviction) but a few hours, do they receive 
 comfort? * * * New London has been, for a 
 week together, in such a tumult that I was afraid 
 the people would have been beside themselves.' " 
 If all this made the position of the rector of St. 
 James, difficult and embarassing, whose church was 
 not directly touched by it, what shall be said about 
 
THE GREAT AWAKENING. 123 
 
 Mr. Adams, on whom the full force of the move- 
 ment fell? 
 
 These seceders associated thernselves together, 
 and were qualified by the county court to hold 
 meetings, and worship together, without molesta- 
 tion. So that they had recognition before the law. 
 They secured for their teacher, Mr. Timothy Allen 
 from West Haven. Mr. Jonathan Hill and others, 
 were exhorters. Hempstead says in his diary, ''Ju- 
 ly 10, 1742. I was at Mr. Miller's with the Rest of 
 the Authority to speak with Mr. Allen, a Suspended 
 minister who is come here from N Haven West 
 Side, and sets up to preach in private houses." 
 The house of Samuel Harris was fitted up for this 
 society. It was called "The Shepherd's Tent." It 
 was meant to be a place of worship, and an institu- 
 tion for fitting young men to become teachers and 
 Separatist preachers. It was New London's only 
 theological seminary. The building still stands 
 next to the corner of Blinman street, on Truman 
 street. In the meetings held there women were al- 
 lowed freedom of speech, and a relation of exper- 
 ience was usually expected from those who attended. 
 Hempstead records in his diary the following: ''Feb- 
 ruary 2, 1743, Nath. Williams of Stonington lodged 
 here, he went over in the evening to Mr. Hills's, 
 alias Allen's, at the house that was Samuel Harris's 
 (now the shepherd's tent) and there Related his 
 Christian Experiences in order to have their appro- 
 bation, but behold the Quite Contrary, for they up- 
 on Examination, find him yet in an unconverted 
 
124 LATER HISTORY OF THE FIRST CHURCH. 
 
 Estate, and he Confesses the Justice of their Judge- 
 ment, and says that he hath judged others Divers 
 times and altho he is unwilHng to believe it, yet Hke 
 others he is forced to bear it." 
 
 These people were organized into a Separate 
 church, or society, by James Davenport. By 
 their invitation he came to New London for 
 that express purpose. As James Davenport, and 
 Timothy Allen, were so closely connected with 
 the Separate movement in New London, it is proper 
 at this point to say a few words about them. As we 
 have seen by a quotation from Mr. Hempstead's 
 diary, Mr. Allen was here early in July, 1742. He 
 was a young man who had been pastor of the church 
 in West Haven. He was deposed from the regular 
 ministry by his association for an unguarded ex- 
 pression, which was made to mean more than he 
 intended. He was alleged to have compared the 
 Bible to an old almanac, but the head and front of 
 his ofifending, was probably, that he had entered 
 actively into the great revival. For he offered 
 ample apology for his unguarded remark, but with- 
 out avail. What he actually said was, that ''the 
 reading of the Holy Scriptures without the concur- 
 ing influence and operation of the Holy Spirit will 
 no more convert a sinner, than the reading of an 
 old almanack." This manner of expression he ac- 
 knowledged to be wrong, and so confessed to the 
 association, but they refused to listen. He came 
 to New London to take charge of the Separate 
 movement where he remained about a year. He re- 
 
THE GREAT AWAKENING. 125 
 
 •sided in the ''Shepherd's Tent," with his family, and 
 kept the school for initiates in the upper part of it. 
 After a brief service here he removed from town 
 and ultimately reentered the Congregational min- 
 istry, in which he served with great acceptance till 
 he died in 1806. 
 
 James Davenport, the other man prominently 
 identified with the Separate movement in New Lon- 
 don, and in fact the founder of the church, was a 
 great grandson of the founder of the New Haven 
 Colony. He was pastor of a church in Southold, 
 L. I. Whitefield had been preaching in various 
 places in New England and elsewhere. A profound 
 interest in spiritual things was awakened. Reports 
 of these labors came to Davenport's ears. He vis- 
 ited Whitcfield, who received him warmly. Rev. 
 Andrew Croswell in a pamphlet prepared in Daven- 
 port's defence said, ''Mr. Whitefield declared in con- 
 versation, that he never knew one keep so close 
 walk with God as Mr. Davenport." Others con- 
 curred in this view. Mr. Owen of Groton, said, 
 "that the idea he had of the apostles themselves 
 scarcely exceeded what he saw in Mr. Davenport." 
 Mr. Croswell declared that there was not a minister 
 in all Connecticut, zealously affected in the cause 
 of the kingdom of God, who would not be inclined 
 to receive Mr. Davenport, "almost as if he was an 
 angel from heaven." Of course these are extrava- 
 gant statements. But the fact is that Davenport 
 was a man of piety, of strong religious sentiment, 
 ■ of a good degree of ability, and persuasive in his 
 
126 LATER HISTORY OF THE FIRST CHURCH. 
 
 pulpit efforts. Yet during the four or five years of 
 his most erratic conduct, he was under the stress of 
 a misguided and unrestrained rehgious enthusiasm, 
 which bordered closely on insanity, and led him 
 into those excesses for which he afterwards made 
 due acknowledgment. 
 
 His strange career began in his own parish. He 
 gathered his people together at his lodgings and ad- 
 dressed them for almost twenty-four hours together. 
 He believed that many in his church were uncon- 
 verted, and set himself up as judge of regenerate 
 and unregenerate character. Those whom he con- 
 sidered regenerate he called "brother," the others 
 he addressed as "neighbor." Soon he forbade the 
 "neighbors" to come to the Lord's table. This cre- 
 ated no little excitement among his people. 
 
 Not long after he commenced his itinerancies. 
 July 1 8, 1 741, he came to New London. His meet- 
 ings were held in the meeting-house, in the even- 
 ing. Mr. Hempstead, in his diary, gives the fol- 
 lowing description of the scene at Davenport's 
 first appearance in this town : "Divers women were 
 terrified and cried out exceedingly. When Mr. 
 Davenport had dismissed the congregation some 
 went out, others stayed, he then went into the 
 broad alley which was much crowded, and there 
 screamed out, 'Come to Christ! Come to Christ! 
 Come away ! Come away !' Then he went into the 
 third pew, on the women's side, and kept there, 
 sometimes singing, sometimes praying; he and, 
 companions all taking their turn, and the women 
 
THE GREAT AWAKENING. 127 
 
 fainting and in hysterics. This continued till ten 
 o'clock at night, and then he went off singing 
 through the streets." He added fuel to the fire by 
 his denouncing Mr. Adams as unconverted. He 
 also visited the North Parish, where similar scenes 
 were enacted. He also denounced Mr. Jewett be- 
 cause the latter refused to give him an account of 
 his religious experience. He also went to Groton 
 where immense audiences waited on his preaching. 
 ''About 60 were wounded, many strong men, as well 
 as others." [Hempstead.] In Stonington about 
 one hundred, were struck under conviction by his 
 first sermon. [Great Awaken, p. 235.] Where- 
 ever he went he denounced not only professing 
 Christians, but clergymen, eminent for piety, such 
 as Mr. Eells of Stonington, Mr. Adams of New 
 London, and Mr. Jewett of the North Parish, as be- 
 ing unconverted. In Stonington his attacks on Mr. 
 Eells were so unreasonable and severe that the peo- 
 ple were indignant, and his congregations soon left 
 him. Tracy says, speaking of his denunciations of 
 the clergymen, "among those whom he condemned, 
 was the venerable Eliphalet Adams of New London, 
 Connecticut, whose faithful labors had been the 
 principal means of preserving the flame of piety in 
 that region from extinction, and under whom there 
 had been a happy revival in 1721, the period of deep- 
 est darkness in New England. Here his influence 
 in producing alienations and divisions is said to 
 have been peculiarly unhappy though no particulars 
 are given ; and the report of the injustice done to a 
 
128 LATER HISTORY OF THE FIRST CHURCH. 
 
 man so extensively known and revered, and of the 
 injury done to his people, produced a deep sensa- 
 tion throughout the country." 
 
 Davenport's proceedings were so gross and dis- 
 turbing to the peace that complaint was entered 
 against him to the Colonial Legislature at the ses- 
 sion of May, 1742. After due trial it was decided 
 that "the behavior, conduct and doctrines advanced 
 by the said James Davenport, do, and have a natural 
 tendency to, disturb and destroy the peace and or- 
 der of this government. Yet it further appears to 
 this Assembly that the said Davenport is under in- 
 fluence of enthusiastical impressions and impulses, 
 and thereby disturbed in the rational faculties of his 
 mind, and therefore to be pitied and compassion- 
 ated, and not to be treated as otherwise he might 
 be." It was therefore ordered that he be sent back 
 to Southold. On hearing the decision he said, 
 "though I must go, I hope Christ will not, but will 
 tarry and carry on his work in this government, in 
 spite of all the power and malice of earth and hell." 
 About four o'clock in the afternoon of the third day 
 of June, 1742, a sherifif and two files of men armed 
 with muskets, conducted him to the banks of the 
 Connecticut in Hartford, where he was put on board 
 a vessel, whose captain agreed to carry him to his 
 liome. On the 29th of June he was in Boston. His 
 course there led him into the same excesses and de- 
 nunciations. Again complaint was lodged with the 
 authorities against him. The court, after hearing 
 the case, and examining the facts, decided that "he 
 
THE GREAT AWAKENING. 129 
 
 was non compos mentis , and therefore that the said 
 James Davenport is not guilty." 
 
 After this he seems to have gone home, and spent 
 the winter with his people. October 7, 1742, a 
 council met at Southold which severely censured 
 him for his irregular absences from his church. In 
 the latter part of the winter Mr. Hempstead was in 
 Southold on a visit to his son Robert. He went 
 to hear Mr. Davenport preach, February 2y, 1743, 
 and on that date made this entry in his diary. "I 
 went to town to hear Mr. Davenport, but it was 
 scarcely worth the hearing : the praying was with- 
 out form or Comeliness. It was difficult to distin- 
 guish between his praying and preaching, for it was 
 all a meer confused medley : he had no text nor Bi- 
 ble visible, no Doctrines, no uses, nor Improve- 
 ment, nor anything else that was Regular forenoon 
 nor afternoon, and the last Sabath before by Report 
 was of ye same piece tho not on the same subject, 
 for then it was, the hand of the Lord is upon me 
 Over and over manv times ; then leave off and be- 
 gin again the same words verbatim. Now it was 
 (in addition to telling of his own Revelation and 
 others Concerning the Shepherd's Tent and other 
 such things) he called the people to Sing a new song 
 etc. forevermore 30 or 40 times Immediately fol- 
 lowing as fast as one word could follow after an- 
 other 30 or 40 times or more and yn Something 
 else and then over with it again. I can't relate the 
 inconsistance of it." 
 
 Mr. Davenport seems, at this time, to have 
 
130 LATER HISTORY OF THE FIRST CHURCH. 
 
 reached the cHmax of his erratic course. For on 
 the Wednesday following, the second day of March, 
 he came to New London, and, on the Sabbath fol- 
 lowing, the sixth day of March, 1743, enacted the 
 strange scene of the burning of books, clothing, 
 etc. As we have already seen this was also the 
 occasion when the Separates of New London were 
 organized into a Separate society, although they 
 had held meetings for about a year. Davenport 
 preached one of his zealous sermons, in which 
 he dwelt with great emphasis upon the need of a 
 pure church. In order to have such a church it 
 would be necessary to destroy and burn every idol 
 of whatever sort. He denounced certain religious 
 books, and called upon those who were to be con- 
 stituted into a church to renounce idolatrv. So it 
 was proposed that each, with his idol, should re- 
 pair to a certain place, and there make a bonfire of 
 the whole collection, and utterly consume them. 
 The congregation responded with alacrity, and 
 there were brought to him, in his room, so that he 
 might, by a solemn decree consign them to the 
 flames, a great collection of books, sermons, wigs, 
 cloaks, breeches, hoods, gowns, rings, jewels, neck- 
 laces and similar articles which the persons who 
 brought them had esteemed and valued. He also 
 made a list of books, highly regarded as works of 
 devotion, which must be consigned to the flames. 
 All being in readiness they repaired to the place 
 agreed upon. Dr. Hallam locates it as follows : 
 "The wretched scene was exhibited in front of Mr. 
 
THE GREAT AWAKENING. 131 
 
 Christophers', at the head of what is now Hallam 
 street." [Annals, p. 37.] Mr. Trumbull gives the 
 following account of this strange performance. *Tn 
 New London * * * they made a large fire to burn 
 their books, clothes, and ornaments, which they 
 called their idols ; and which they now determined 
 to forsake and utterly put away.. This imaginary 
 work of piety and self-denial they imdertook on the 
 Lord's day, and brought their clothes, books, neck- 
 laces and jewels together, in the main street. They 
 began with burning their erroneous books ; drop- 
 ping them one after another into the fire, pronounc- 
 ing these words : Tf the author of this book died 
 in the same sentiments and faith in which he wrote 
 it, as the smoke of this pile ascends, so the smoke 
 of his torment will ascend forever, and ever, Hal- 
 lelujah ! Amen.' * =i^ * John Lee, of Lyme, told 
 them his idols were his wife and children, and that 
 he could not burn them ; it would be contrary to 
 the laws of God and man : That it was impossible 
 to destroy idolatry without a change of heart, and 
 of the affections. " Among the condemned books, 
 says Tracy, 'Vere Beveridge, Flavel, Drs. Increase 
 Mather, Colman, and Sewall, and that tervid revival- 
 ist, Jonathan Parsons of Lyme." This was the last 
 recorded outbreak of Davenport's fanaticism, and ill 
 regulated zeal, which charity ascribes to a mental 
 state closely bordering on insanity. In the next 
 year he came to himself, and wrote and published 
 retractions, which were a clear and candid acknowl- 
 edgment of his errors, in all the various particulars 
 in which he had offended. In these retractions he 
 
132 LATER HISTORY OF THE FIRST CHURCH. 
 
 said, "and here I would ask the forgiveness of those 
 ministers whom I have injured," in causing separa- 
 tion from their churches, and in affirming that they 
 were unconverted. 
 
 This strange constitution of the Separate Church 
 here in New London seems to have sounded the 
 knell of its early dissolution. Mr. Allen, who had 
 been with them for about a year, left soon after. 
 The holocaust of books, highly esteemed as works 
 of devotion, whose authors were men noted for pi- 
 ety, shocked people, and was regarded almost as 
 sacrilegious. The strange performance seems to 
 have scattered the mists and calmed the storm. It 
 startled the "New Lights" themselves, and brought 
 them to a more rational mood. "From this period 
 the New Light party in New London took reason 
 and discretion for their guides and interpreted more 
 soberly the suggestions of conscience and the com- 
 mands of scripture," says Miss Caulkins. They 
 could not agree upon a teacher and leader, and 
 never had one after Mr. Allen left. It is almost cer- 
 tain that most of those who left the First Church 
 came back to it. We know that Christopher and 
 John Christophers did so, for January 17, 1750 Mr. 
 Adams baptized a child for each of them. A few, 
 with Nathan Howard as a leader, embraced Baptist 
 principles, as we have seen, and were constituted 
 into the Baptist Church in the Nehantic district of 
 New London, now Waterford, in 1748. This ended 
 the Separate movement in New London. 
 
 Reports of what had been done here, at the burn- 
 
THE GREAT AWAKENING. 133' 
 
 ing of the books, clothes, etc. flew abroad on the 
 wings of the wind. The regular clergy were 
 alarmed, as they had some reason to be. The sep- 
 aration from the regularly established church, grew 
 to considerable proportions in Southeastern Con- 
 necticut, and did not cease till the evils against 
 which it was a protest, came to an end, with the 
 practice of the halfway covenant. This pr^^ctice and 
 its resulting evils, were alone responsible for the 
 separation. For the "New Lights" as they were 
 called, were correct in doctrine in the main, and 
 were Congregationalists. But they rebelled against 
 the interference of the state in affairs of the church, 
 and refused to fellowship churches which admitted 
 to their sacraments unconverted persons. 
 
 March 30, 1743, twenty-four days after the 
 strange scenes enacted in Main street at the con- 
 stitution of the Separate Society, a council met at 
 the house of Mr. Adams, doubtless at his request, 
 to give him advice concerning "the disorders that 
 are subsisting among those called New Lights 
 which follow Mr. Davenport and Curtis and allin, 
 etc." [Hempstead.] The same authority tells us 
 that there were present "Mr. Williams of Lebanon, 
 and Mr. Edwards of Northampton, * * * Mr. Lord 
 of Norwich, Mr. Mecham of Coventry and pomeroy 
 of Hebron and Bellamee of Woodbury and Young 
 Buell [of Coventry] and Rossiter [of Stonington.]" 
 Mr. Edwards was moderator. On the next day, 
 March 31, Mr. Edwards preached a sermon of 
 which Mr. Hempstead wrote in his diary, "very 
 
134 LATER HISTORY OF THE FIRST CHURCH 
 
 suitable for the times to bear witness against ye 
 prevailing disorders and distractions yt are subsist- 
 ing in the country by reason of enthusiasm." After 
 the discourse a great concourse of people repaired 
 to the court-house where those who had taken part 
 in the scene of burning the books, were tried for 
 profanation of the Sabbath. The writ was dated 
 March 29, 1743. The justice was Joshua Hemp- 
 stead. The court found "all of them severally 
 guilty of the profanation of the Sabbath, or Lord's 
 Day, contrary to the laws of this colony, and there- 
 fore gave judgment that they, the said John Curtis, 
 etc., pay a fine of five shillings each and the costs 
 of prosecution." 
 
 The revival had practically come to an end be- 
 fore Mr. Whitefield's first visit to New London, 
 which was in 1745. He had preached in the North 
 Parish on Friday, August 9. On Saturday, the 
 loth, he came here and preached "in ye meeting- 
 house, to a great assembly * * * here from I Pe- 
 ter, 26. Chap., and first part of ye 7th verse, unto 
 you therefore whch believe he is precious.' " 
 [Hempstead.] On the next day, which was Sun- 
 day he preached all day "under ye Oak Tree in ye 
 foren stood in his chair [a travelling chair] took it 
 ofif his horse, text from Rom. Chap. 13 and first 
 part of ver 14th 'put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ.' 
 Afternoon from Revelation 3d Chap. 20th ver. 'be- 
 hold I stand at the door and knock' and a great as- 
 sembly perhaps twice so many as could possibly sit 
 in ye meetinghouse, many from ye North parish. 
 
THE GREAT AWAKENING. 135 
 
 from Norwich, Groton, Stonington and Lyme East 
 Society. An excellent preacher." From here Mr. 
 Whitefield went to East Lyme, and from thence to 
 New York and Georgia. He preached again in 
 New London on Wednesday evening, February 8, 
 1763. 
 
 In spite of all the drawbacks the Great Awaken- 
 ing was productive of permanent and blessed re- 
 sults. Dr. Ezra Stiles, afterwards president of Yale 
 College said, in 1760, that as a fruit of that revival 
 one hundred and fifty new churches were founded 
 by a ''natural increase into new towns and parish- 
 es." Large numbers were added to the churches, 
 the estimate ranging between 20,000 and 50,000. 
 "Princeton and Dartmouth Colleges both grew in- 
 directly out of it; as also the mission of David 
 Brainard to the heathen, and the monthly concert 
 of prayer for the world. Even the disorders which 
 attended it * * * were not without their practical 
 use." [Cong. Chs. in Mass. p. 173.] 
 
 But the result which was deepest, reached far- 
 thest, and touched most radically the spiritual life 
 of the churches, was the initiation of those in- 
 fluences which brought to an end the practice of 
 the halfway covenant. Says Tracy, "the restoration 
 of the true doctrine concerning church membership 
 was another important result of the revival." For 
 this we, in Southeastern Connecticut, have to thank 
 the Separates for the stand which they took against 
 opening the doors of the church to unconverted per- 
 sons. The practice which had been intrenched in 
 
136 LATER HISTORY OP THE FIRST CHURCH 
 
 the churches for several generations died hard. It 
 was over fifty years before it came to an end in this 
 church, but the end came. 
 
 The numerical accessions to Mr. Adams' church 
 were not so large as to some of the neighboring 
 churches. The opposition may have been stronger. 
 The Separate defection may have been larger. Mr. 
 Adams may have entered into the revival with less 
 enthusiasm. But the results were beneficent, and 
 if the succeeding pastorate had been as strong and 
 judicious, they would have remained longer, and 
 the church would, doubtless, have been spared some 
 unpleasant experiences which awaited it. 
 
V. 
 
 THE MINISTRY OF MATHER BYI,KS, JR. 
 November 18, 1757— April 12, 1768. 
 
 The death of Mr. Adams was an irreparable loss 
 to the town and to the colony. For, ten years be- 
 fore, it will be remembered, Matthew Stewart wrote 
 of him that he was "in every respect, the most su- 
 perior person in the colony." The process of se- 
 curing his successor was not immediately success- 
 ful. Mr. Adams had been in his grave four years 
 when Mr. Byles was ordained as pastor. 
 
 The Rev. Mr. Graves, who was at the time rector 
 of Saint James' was not only a friend of Mr. Adams, 
 but also of the church, after its loss. Dr. Hallam 
 says that "his relations to his Congregational neigh- 
 bors were of the most friendly and cordial charac- 
 ter." He zealously advocated the settlement of 
 Mr. Adams' successor. In so doing he gave so 
 great offence to Saint Paul's, Narragansett, that the 
 church requested that he should not be removed to 
 them, as was contemplated. In a history of this 
 church in Narragansett it was said of Mr. Graves, 
 *'he has lately given great offence to his brethren 
 
138 LATER HISTORY OF THE FIRST CHURCH. 
 
 and us, by being officious in settling a Dissenting 
 teacher in New London, and injudicious enough to 
 be present at his ordination." He often worshipped 
 with Christians of other names, and Dr. Hallam 
 says, "he was not a very strenuous churchman." 
 
 During the interval between Mr. Adams and Mr. 
 Byles the church was often supplied by strangers, 
 by neighboring ministers, and by Rev. William 
 Adams, the eldest son of the late pastor. The rec- 
 ords of baptisms during the interim show that Rev. 
 Mr. Jewett of Montville preached four times, Rev. 
 Mr. Cleveland of Haddam twice, the Rev. Mr. Ellis of 
 Franklin once, the Rev. Mr. Lord of Norwich three 
 times, the Rev. Mr. Johnson of Old Lyme three 
 times, the Rev. Mr. Beckwith of Hamburg in Lyme 
 once, the Rev. 'Mr. Griswold of East Lyme once, 
 the Rev. Mr. Throop of Bozrah twice, the Rev. Mr. 
 Estabrooks of East Haddam once. It is not unlike- 
 ly that these pastors preached here in exchange with 
 Mr. William Adams, in order to administer the rite 
 of Baptism. Frequently the pulpit was vacant. In 
 his diary, Mr. Hempstead makes records like the 
 following, which fairly represent the probable situa- 
 tion. "Dea. Green carried on," which is not to be 
 understood as saying that the deacon conducted 
 himself in an improper manner, but that, in the ab- 
 sence of a preacher he held what used to be called a 
 deacon's meeting. ''Many went to the North Par- 
 ish Meeting;" "Some went to Lyme;" ''no minister 
 provided;" "no minister;" "I went to hear the 
 church minister;" "May i6, 1756, Mr. Burr, Rector 
 
BYLES JR.'S MINISTRY. 139 
 
 of the College in the East Jerseys preached all day." 
 This was the father of the celebrated Aaron Burr, 
 and president of Princeton College. Mr. Hemp- 
 stead records also that "February i8, (1756) A So- 
 ciety fast," was observed, "on account of our un- 
 happy circumstances ; our w^ant of a settled minis- 
 ter." An unsuccessful effort was made about this 
 time, to solve the difficulty, by calling Rev. William 
 Adams to succeed his father in the pastorate of the 
 church. For Mr. Hempstead makes the following 
 record: 'Teb. 2-^, [1756] A Society meeting. Mr. 
 (William) Adams negatived, forty-five against forty- 
 two." 
 
 Thus matters went on till April 10, 1757, when 
 Mr. Byles appeared on the scene for the first time. 
 Mr. Hempstead records in his diary, on that date, 
 ''Mr. Mather Boiles of Boston preached. A great 
 assembly, three or four times as big as it hath been 
 of late. He stavs at Mr. Shaws." 
 
 A few words concerning the ancestry of this 
 young man, who was to be the pastor of this church, 
 are in place here. Mr. Josiah Byles, a saddler by 
 trade, came to Boston, with his w4fe Sarah, from 
 England, as early as 1695. October 11, 1696, he 
 joined the church, of which Rev. Increase Mather 
 was pastor. His wife Sarah died soon after the 
 birth of her last child, Feb. 7, 1703. On the sixth 
 of the following October he married Elizabeth, 
 widow^ of William Greenough, and daughter of In- 
 crease Mather. By her Mr. Josiah Byles had 
 Mather, who was born in Boston March 15, 1706-7, 
 
140 LATER HISTORY OF THE FIRST CHURCH. 
 
 was baptized March i6, and received the name 
 borne by his mother's noted family. He graduated 
 from Harvard College in 1725 at the early age of 
 nineteen. December 20, 1733 he became the pastor 
 of the Hollis Street Church in his native city, where 
 he remained till 1776. He was noted in his time 
 for his conversational powers, and for his wit. He 
 had considerable literary taste, a fine imagination, 
 a great command of language, and terseness of ex- 
 pression. He wrote several poems which w^ere pub- 
 lished. One was on the death of George I, in 1727; 
 another in 1736, entitled a "poetical epistle to Gov. 
 Belcher on the death of his lady ;" and other miscel- 
 laneous poems which appeared in 1744. The de- 
 gree of Doctor of Divinity was conferred upon him. 
 Dr. Byles, when the break came between the 
 English crown and the American colonies, took 
 the side of the crown. Soon after the war broke 
 out most of the ministers of Boston left, their places 
 of worship having been taken by the British author- 
 ities. He, the one tory among them all, remained. 
 When his people returned, after the evacuation of 
 the city by the English, they refused to allow him 
 to preach, and in August, 1776, his connection with 
 his parish was dissolved, when he was seventy years 
 of age. The next year, in May, he was denounced 
 in town-meeting, and condemned to imprisonment 
 in a guard ship forty days, and to be sent to England 
 with his family. The sentence was afterwards 
 changed to imprisonment in his own house. He 
 was not sent to England, but continued to live in 
 
BYLES JR.'S MINISTRY. 141 
 
 Boston till he died, July 5, 1788, at the age of 
 eighty-two. 
 
 Rev. Mather Byles, Jr., his son, was born in Bos- 
 ton, January 12, 1735. He graduated from Har- 
 vard College in the class of 175 1. In accordance 
 with the custom of the times he came to New Lon- 
 don to preach as a candidate, during three months, 
 in 1757. It was not only a question whether 
 the church wanted the minister, but also whether 
 the minister wanted the church. But in this case 
 the period of trial was merely a matter of form. 
 For his distinguished Puritan descent, the reputa- 
 tion of his father, and his own brilliant promise se- 
 cured popularity for him before he had earned it. 
 His pulpit ministrations charmed and fascinated the 
 people. His animated manner, and his eloquence 
 won him the place. For July 28th, at a very full 
 meeting, an entirely unanimous vote was passed, 
 inviting him to settle as the pastor of the church. 
 The salary offered was £ 100, with a gratuity of 
 £240, to be paid in four years. He immediately 
 accepted the call, and was ordained November 18, 
 1757. He was then twenty-three years of age. 
 
 The salary offered was considerable for those 
 times. It was not always an easy matter, in those 
 days of slender resources, to raise £100. Every 
 pound meant, to not a few, a degree of self-denial 
 and effort which we can scarcely appreciate. The 
 financial difificulties which beset every enterprise, 
 secular as well as religious, were such as we do not 
 experience. An interesting and significant event 
 
142 LATER HISTORY OF THE FIRST CHURCH. 
 
 which took place the year subsequent to Mr. Byles' 
 ordination serves to illustrate this fact. In 1758, 
 while by law members were taxed for the support 
 of the gospel, the society, mindful of the difficulty 
 with which some raised the money to meet this tax, 
 petitioned the General Assembly for permission to 
 lay a tax on the pews in the house of worship for 
 three years, instead of on the grand list. The 
 praiseworthy object of this petition, as stated in 
 it, was, to relieve those who were illy able to pay 
 for the ministrations of the house of God. The pe- 
 tition was granted. This taxing of pews pointed to 
 individual ownership of them in the meeting-house 
 now almost if not entirely unknown. They were 
 taxed as personal property. This practice seems to 
 have been discontinued after the three years, for we 
 come again to a period when men were taxed upon 
 the grand list for the support of the gospel. 
 
 Mr. Byles was the first pastor to be called and 
 settled, without a vote of the town, by the church 
 and society. Previous to his settlement the ques- 
 tion of coming under the Saybrook Platform was 
 again agitated. For the following stands on the 
 church records : ''The brethren of this church met 
 at the Meeting House Oct. 17, 1757, and the ques- 
 tion being put whether this church would hereafter 
 admit of the Saybrook Platform as a rule of dis- 
 cipline, it was voted in the negative. Nemine Con- 
 tradicente." This settled its fate in this church for 
 about fifty years. Inasmuch as the legislature, in 
 1743, repealed the ''Act for the Relief of Sober Con- 
 
BYLES JR/S ministry. 143 
 
 sciences," as it was called, and thus made the Say- 
 brook method of discipline the established order in 
 this colony, and in a manner obligatory upon the 
 churches, this vote of the church is the more sig- 
 nificant. But it was strong enough successfully to 
 refuse to comply with the vote of the legislature. 
 
 The following account of Mr. Byles' ordination 
 is entered on the records of the church in his own 
 hand, which, at this distance of almost a century and 
 a half is as easy to read as the printed page. '*I757 
 November i8, I was ordained pastor of the first 
 Church of Christ in New London. The Rev. Mr. 
 Lord of Norwich began with prayer ; My father, the 
 Rev. Mr. Byles of Boston preached on 2 Tim. 3 : 17. 
 Mr. Lord read the votes of the church and society 
 relating to the call, with my Answer; My father 
 prayed and gave the charge, the Rev. Mr. Fish of 
 Stonington prayed after the charge ; The Rev. Mr. 
 Throop of Norwich gave the Right Hand of Fel- 
 lowship ; and I the Psalm and Blessing!" This is 
 the first instance in the history of the church in 
 which an ordination proceeded according to the 
 modern Congregational method. Mr. Lord was 
 the scribe of the council. 
 
 Mr. Byles lived in the house now standing at the 
 corner of Main and Douglass streets which was oc- 
 cupied by the late Dea. James E. Goddard. This 
 dwelling was built by Mr. Byles and he occupied 
 it during his stay in New London. Upon leaving 
 New London he sold it to Dr. Moffat, who at the 
 time was collector of customs for the Crown at this 
 
144 LATER HISTORY OF THE FIRST CHURCH. 
 
 port. Dr. Moffat, being an officer in the employ of 
 the EngHsh government, was of course a tory; so 
 when the town was burned by Arnold this house 
 escaped. 
 
 A list of members of the church in 1757, made by 
 Mr. Byles at the time of his ordination, shows that 
 there were one hundred and six females, and fifty- 
 four males ; a total of one hundred and sixty. Dur- 
 ing his ministry fifty-six were added to the church — 
 thirteen males and forty-three females. Of these 
 eight were received by letter. There are no evi- 
 dences of any special religious interest during Mr. 
 Byles' ministry. While he was what is called a pop- 
 ular preacher, and had the esteem of his people, he 
 does not seem to have been a preacher of searching 
 spiritual power. Besides, there were violent out- 
 breaks of the Rogerenes, probably more to annoy 
 him than because of a desire to obstruct the church. 
 He was a man of hotter temper than Mr. Adams, 
 and had not the cool judgment of his predecessor in 
 dealing with people of that sort. We shall also find 
 evidences that the practice of the halfway covenant 
 was still continued, with its usual deadening effect 
 upon the spiritual life of the church. Dr. Field says 
 of him, "he had not the solid excellences of Mr. 
 Adams, but was young and attractive in personal 
 appearance, and his florid style and eloquent man- 
 ner gained him immediate popularity." But the 
 fruits of his ministry point to no such abiding spir- 
 itual power in the pulpit as characterized his pred- 
 ecessor. He seems to have been very grave and 
 
BYLES JR.'S MINISTRY. 145 
 
 dignified, easily irritated, and of a quick temper. 
 The Rogerenes soon discovered this fact, and used 
 it to hinder him in his usefulness ; and they were 
 in a measure successful. Dr. Hallam says of him, 
 [Annals, p. 54] "though he seems to have been 
 somewhat grand and lordly in his ways, his people 
 were proud of him, and he dwelt with them in har- 
 mony and peace." This was true until the very 
 last when, for obvious reasons, this feeling was very 
 decidedly changed. Towards the close of his min- 
 istry Mr, Byles developed tendencies to a more 
 formal and ritualistic method of worship, which end- 
 ed in his leaving the Congregational denomination, 
 and entering the Episcopal ministry. His leaning 
 to this order leads us to suspect that Mr. Byles' 
 sympathies were never in full accord with evangel- 
 istic movements. These facts help to explain, in 
 part, the small number of accessions to the church 
 during his ministry of over ten years. He does 
 not seem to have been a man of so strong char- 
 acter as to impress himself very deeply upon his 
 people or the town. He was a briUiant preacher, 
 but he lacked a certain abiding strength. The spir- 
 itual life of the church did not make very marked 
 progress under his ministry. However it should 
 be said that some of the prominent people in the 
 town, and in the colony, united with the church 
 during his pastorate. Conspicuous among them 
 was General Gurdon Saltonstall, son of the govern- 
 or, and his wife. As we have seen the member- 
 ship of the church, at the opening of his pastorate 
 was one hundred and sixty. From that on for 
 
146 LATER HISTORY OF THE FIRST CHURCH. 
 
 thirty years various causes operated to produce a 
 steady loss. At the close of his pastorate the mem- 
 bership could not have been much over fifty. 
 
 Mr. Byles left what he designates as "a list of 
 persons received into the covenant by M. Byles." 
 On this list are one hundred and seven names of per- 
 sons, all but seven of whom were admitted to the 
 privileges of the rite of baptism alone, without there- 
 by making public profession of saving faith. The 
 record, relating to those received into full member- 
 ship, reads simply "admitted." But of the others 
 the record reads, "received into covenant," then fol- 
 low the names, and in several cases this is added 
 "(the church being satisfied)." This was the half- 
 way covenant. In nearly every instance follows the 
 record of the baptism of the children of those so re- 
 ceived or of the persons themselves. Receptions of 
 this sort added nothing to the church. A single case 
 will suffice for illustration. "Feb. 12. Received into 
 covenant Nathaniel Waterhouse, Elizabeth Water- 
 house (the church being satisfied). Baptized, Dan- 
 iel of Nathaniel and Elizabeth Waterhouse." 
 Neither Mr. or Mrs. Waterhouse appear as mem- 
 bers of the church in full communion. They came 
 only halfway. The number of persons thus re- 
 ceived into halfway fellowship in the church, as he 
 gives the list was almost twice the number whom 
 he received into full fellowship. Twelve received 
 baptism themselves. Two were admitted to the 
 Lord's table who, for reasons which will appear la- 
 ter, did not join the church in full fellowship till 
 
BYLES JR.'S MINISTRY. 147 
 
 1788. So that the halfway covenant was in full 
 practice throughout Mr. Byles' pastorate. 
 
 Mr. Byles seems to have been a man of somewhat 
 methodical turn of mind. His records of the 
 church are admirably kept, and are models of neat- 
 ness and accuracy. He has also left a list of the 
 baptisms during his ministry. The records begin 
 with 1757, and end early in 1768. There are three 
 hundred and sixty-two names on the list. Of 
 these, by far the larger part, were presented by par- 
 ents, neither of whom were members of the church. 
 
 As was the usual custom in those days children 
 were presented for baptism in the place and at the 
 time of public worship ; usually on the Sabbath, but 
 sometimes at the weekly lecture on Wednesday. In 
 case of sickness, however, the rite was administered 
 at the home. 
 
 A few entries show that the proper discipline of 
 the church was not altogether lacking. Thus 
 March 9, 1760, it is recorded that Jemima Dolliver, 
 who had joined the church in 1744, and who seems 
 to have absented herself from the church and its or- 
 dinances, "makes an acknowledgment to the church 
 for her separation and returns to our Communion." 
 A similar record was made about several others. 
 The entry, "Received into covenant * * * the 
 church being satisfied," points to the care that was 
 taken not to bring unworthy persons into any cov- 
 enant relation with the church. 
 
 The list of marriages is an interesting one. Some 
 well known names of New London families are on 
 
148 LATER HISTORY OF THE FIRST CHURCH. 
 
 it. Mr. Byles married one hundred and ninety- 
 eight couples during his ministry in New London. 
 
 The only council of which there is any record, to 
 which the church was invited, during this pastorate, 
 was in Groton. The minute referring to it is as 
 follows: October 15, 1758. "The Brethren of the 
 Church were stopped, by the Pastor, after service 
 in the Afternoon ; and a letter was read to them 
 from the First Church of Christ in Groton, desiring 
 their countenance and Assistance in the Installment 
 of the Revd Jonathan Barber, on the 8th of No- 
 vember next. Voted, that the church comply with 
 their request. Voted, that Johsua Hempstead Esqr, 
 accompany the Pastor upon this occasion." No- 
 vember 5 the following vote was passed, ''Joshua 
 Hempstead Esq., being disabled by sickness from 
 attending the installment at Groton; Pygan Adams 
 Esq. was delegated in his Room." Mr. Adams had 
 been chosen deacon the previous May. 
 
 It is worth while, in this connection, to note that 
 at this point we are beginning to come into that at- 
 mosphere of fellowship, peculiar to churches of the 
 Congregational order, which is expressed by ad- 
 visory councils. The record just quoted is the first 
 of the kind which appears upon the books of the 
 church, and probably is among the first invitations 
 of the sort received by it. 
 
 While Mr. Byles' relations to his people were of 
 the most cordial character, his ministry here was not 
 entirely thornless. There were still Rogerenes in 
 the town. A little of the old spirit, which had so 
 
BYLES JR.'S MINISTRY. 149 
 
 disturbed Bradstreet and Saltonstall, manifested it- 
 self. It is more tlian likely, however, that, if Mr. 
 Byles had had the cool judgment and poise of his 
 predecessor, the outbreak would have been shorn 
 of many of its most annoying features. But be that 
 as it may, they were a thorn in the flesh of Mr. 
 Byles ; and as he would brook no interference with 
 the services of the sanctuary upon the Lord's day, 
 and manifested his displeasure in very emphatic 
 ways, the disturbance grew to serious proportions. 
 
 It was in the year 1764 that the spirit of the 
 founder of the sect began to stir once more in the 
 hearts of his later followers. They began to issue 
 forth as of old, on Sundays to testify against what 
 they were pleased to call idolatry. Now began a 
 series of provocations on the one hand, and of retal- 
 iatory punishments on the other hand, which re- 
 called the days when the founder of the order spent 
 a good part of his time in confinement. This out- 
 break lasted about two years, when it seems to have 
 spent itself. John Rogers, the third grandson of 
 the founder has left an account of the outbreak in 
 the form of a diary, which he entitled, "A Looking 
 Glass for the Presbyterians of New London : to see 
 their worship and worshippers weighed in the bal- 
 ance and found wanting, with a true account of what 
 the people called Rogerenes have suffered in that 
 town, from the loth day of June, 1764, to the 13th 
 of December 1766, who suffered for testifying — 
 
 "That it was contrary to scripture for ministers 
 to preach the gospel for hire. 
 
150 LATER HISTORY OF THE FIRST CHURCH. 
 
 ''That the first day of the week was no Sabbath 
 by God's appointment — 
 
 "That sprinkUng infants is no baptism and noth- 
 ing short of blasphemy, being contrary to the ex- 
 ample set us by Christ and his holy apostles — 
 
 "That long public prayers in synagogues is for- 
 bidden by Christ. 
 
 "Also for reproving their church and minister for 
 their great pride, vain-glory, and friendship of the 
 world which they lived in. 
 
 "With a brief discourse in favor of Women's 
 prophecying or teaching in the church." This was 
 published in 1767. 
 
 Presbyterians was the name given to Congrega- 
 tionalists. The foregoing statement shows that the 
 fundamental tenets of this peculiar sect had not 
 changed. Nor had the spirit with which they wit- 
 nessed against what they were pleased to call er- 
 rors. John Rogers made the following entry in his 
 diary June 10, 1764, the day on which this latest 
 Rogerene demonstration began. "We went to the 
 meeting-house and some of our people went in and 
 sat down ; others tarried without and sat upon the 
 ground some distance from the house. And when 
 Mather Byles, their priest began to say over his for- 
 mal synagogue prayer, forbidden by Christ, Mat. 
 6-5, some of our women began to knit, others to 
 sew, that it might be made manifest that they had 
 no fellowship with such unfruitful works of dark- 
 ness. But Justice Coit and the congregation were 
 much offended at this testimony and fell upon them 
 
BYLES JR.'S MINISTRY. 151 
 
 in the very time of their prayer and pretended di- 
 vine worship ; also they fell upon the rest of our 
 people that were sitting quietly in the house, mak- 
 ing no difference between them that transgressed 
 this law and them that transgressed it not ; for they 
 drove us all out of the house in a most furious man- 
 ner; pushing, striking, kicking, etc., so that the 
 meeting was broken up for some time, and the 
 house in great confusion. Moreover they fell, upon 
 our friends that were sitting abroad, striking and 
 kicking both men and women, old and young, driv- 
 ing us all to prison in a furious and tumultuous 
 manner, stopping our mouths when we went to 
 speak, choaking us, etc." This account, written 
 by one of their own number, recalls the scenes of 
 seventy or eighty years before, when these same 
 people, of an earlier generation used to disturb the 
 public worship under the ministry of Mr. Salton- 
 stall, and called it witnessing against error. Sim- 
 ilar scenes were repeated Sabbath after Sabbath, 
 during the summer of 1764. The offenders were, of 
 course, committed to jail. Sometimes twenty or 
 thirty were incarcerated at a single time. If one 
 was imprisoned a second time his term of confine- 
 ment was doubled ; the magistrates hoping by such 
 severity to weary the offenders. "But," says John 
 Rogers, "this method added no peace to them, for 
 some of our friends were always coming out as well 
 as going in, and so always ready to oppose their 
 false worship every first day of the week." 
 
 By August 12, 1764 the process of doubling had 
 
152 LATEE HISTORY OF THE FIRST CHURCH. 
 
 increased the term of confinement to four months. 
 Those who were in the prison were determined to 
 prevent further commitments, if possible. They hit 
 upon this ingenious plan which came so near being 
 successful that it gave the officers no little trouble. 
 Finding that the sheriffs were approaching with a 
 new party of their friends, they stoutly barred the 
 doors on the inside. John Rogers says, "Also, we 
 blew a shell in prison, in defiance of their idol Sab- 
 bath, and to mock their false worship, as Elijah 
 mocked the worshippers of Baal. The authority 
 gave orders to break open the prison door, so they 
 went to work and labored exceeding hard on their 
 Sabbath cutting with axes and heaving at the door 
 with iron bars for a considerable time till they were 
 wearied, but could not break open the door." An 
 entrance from above was, however, finally effected 
 into the prison, and fresh prisoners were let down 
 into the room. This was in August. Those who 
 had barred the doors were kept in confinement till 
 November, when they were taken before the county 
 court and fined forty shillings and the costs. 
 
 These disturbances continued till October, 1765, 
 when the magistrates, finding that all other efforts 
 were without avail, determined to resort to whip- 
 pings — a most brutal method of punishing offences. 
 October 15, five were given ten lashes each; Oc- 
 tober 23 nine were whipped *'at i beat of drum ;" 
 November 4, four more suffered the same punish- 
 ment ; November 14, Thanksgiving Day, a Roger- 
 ene was driven out of the meeting-house by some 
 
BYLES JR.'S MINISTRY. ' 153 
 
 young men, and ducked in muddy water, and then 
 put in prison. John Rogers records, "Nov. 17. 
 Some of our friends went to town, and an old man 
 aged 73 years cried Repentance ! through tlie streets 
 and as he went he stopt at the authorities houses 
 and warned them of the danger they were in, if 
 they did not repent of their persecuting God's peo- 
 ple." This party were arrested and confined until 
 evening, when they were taken out by the crowd 
 and treated in a way which ought not to have been 
 possible in a Christian community. Warm tar was 
 poured over the heads of men and women alike, 
 which ran down upon their clothes. Their hats 
 were thus glued upon their heads. They received 
 other cruel treatment at the hands of the infuriated 
 mob. But this made no difiference. They renewed 
 their witnessing the next Sabbath, and continued 
 it from week to week. February 2, 1766 a woman, 
 who was turned out of the meeting because she con- 
 tinued the use of her needle during prayer, struck 
 several blows against the house to testify against 
 the mode of worship. February 16, 1766 another 
 scene of whipping, tarring, and throwing men and 
 women into the river took place. The next Sunday 
 the Rogerenes renewed the assault. This time 
 there were ten men and nine women. There was a 
 great uproar, and the service in the church was for a 
 considerable time broken up. The women were 
 put in prison. The men were kept in the loft of the 
 court house till evening, when they were delivered 
 up to the jury of Judge Lynch — an excited populace 
 
154 LATER HISTORY OF THE FIRST CHURCH. 
 
 — who cruelly scourged them, and heaped on them 
 such abuses as only a street mob knows how to in- 
 vent. The women were kept in confinement until 
 June — a period of over three months — "leaving near 
 twenty small children motherless at home." Hap- 
 pily this was the climax of the outbreaks and the 
 punishments. One can find no justification of the 
 Rogerenes for their wanton and riotous conduct. 
 But what shall one say about the unutterable cruel- 
 ty heaped upon them by the officers of the law and 
 by an unreasoning mob in the sacred names of Jus- 
 tice and Religion ! 
 
 From this on the testifyings of the Rogerenes 
 were less boisterous and aggressive, and they were 
 less roughly dealt with. Their chief offence now 
 was to come into church and sit with their hats on. 
 But Mr. Byles would never suffer the offensive cov- 
 ering to remain. At one time, as the officers were 
 inclined to let the wearers alone, so long as they did 
 not otherwise make disturbance, he declared, with 
 great vehemence, "I solemnly declare before God 
 and this assembly that as long as I officiate in the 
 priest's office in this house, no man shall sit here 
 with his head covered." John Rogers says, "Now 
 our hats is such an offence to this proud priest that 
 he will neither preach nor pray when they are in 
 sight. The hat he can not endure, pretending it 
 is contrary to I Cor. 11:4. 'every man praying or 
 prophecying having his head covered, dishonoreth 
 his head.' Now if this priest would but read the 
 next words, he might see it to be as contrary to 
 
BYLES JR.'S MINISTRY. 155 
 
 scripture for women to pray or prophecy uncovered, 
 yet his meeting is full of young women, with their 
 heads naked, but that gives him no ofifence at all, 
 it is the fashion so to dress." 
 
 These people were quick to discover Mr. Byles' 
 sensitiveness as to their weekly visitations, and 
 equally quick to seize their opportunity to annoy 
 him. This they could do in ways which would not 
 throw them into the rough hands of the law. Other 
 ministers in the neighborhood took their weekly 
 visitations more quietly, and were therefore less fre- 
 quently annoyed by them. It seems to have been 
 in their creed that the emphasis of their testimony 
 was to be measured by the annoyance, and disturb- 
 ance they could cause. Therefore they did not 
 waste time or thought on ministers and churches 
 which they could not provoke into resisting them, 
 Mr. Byles was their man, and furnished the oppor- 
 tunity which they sought. He would hold no con- 
 versation with them, nor answer them when they 
 addressed him in the pulpit or on the street. If 
 they appeared on the steps of the meeting-house, he 
 w^ould pause, and refuse to go on till they were 
 driven off. If they were in sight, he would not 
 leave his house to go to church, until they disap- 
 peared. They were quick to discover this. So in- 
 variably, on Sabbath morning, they would enter the 
 town, at the hour for the bell to strike, and could 
 often be seen sitting quietly on his doorsteps, or by 
 the side of the road where he must go to the meet- 
 ing-house, or on the threshold of the meeting-house 
 
156 LATER HISTORY OP THE FIRST CHURCH. 
 
 itself, or on the horse-block nearby, to greet his 
 arrival. So it often happened, during this outbreak, 
 that the people would be assembled and waiting for 
 the pastor, and the bell would toll on for a whole 
 hour, because he would not leave his house till the 
 officers of the law came to drive these people away, 
 and allow him to go undisturbed to service. There 
 can be no doubt that his extreme sensitiveness, and 
 his lordly manner of treating these people, aggra- 
 vated and prolonged the trouble. These weekly 
 visits to the churches by the Rogerenes, gradually 
 ceased at last, and less notice of them was taken 
 when they occurred. There was nothing in this 
 course to stimulate them. It did not encourage 
 them in their favorite method of testifying. They 
 soon relinquished it altogether. This was the last 
 violent outbreak. Never after did they interfere 
 with the worship of their neighbors, nor were they 
 molested. It can easily be seen that such disturb- 
 ances, so violent in themselves, and met with meas- 
 ures so violent and often cruel, would operate to 
 defeat the work of a church, deaden its spiritual life, 
 and handicap its pulpit. They do not seem ever to 
 have disturbed the worship of the Episcopal church. 
 An entry on the records of the church for 1761 
 reads, "J^^^^ ^^- Admitted, Rebecca Byles, by dis- 
 mission from the Second Church in Roxbury." 
 The inference is that Mr. Byles was married not 
 long before. His wife's maiden name is nowhere 
 given. Five children were born to them in New 
 London. Rebecca was baptized October 31, 1762; 
 
BYLES JR.'S MINISTRY. 157 
 
 Mather, April 8, 1764; Walter, August 4, 1765; 
 Anna and Elizabeth, May 10, 1767. In the list of 
 those who were baptized by Mr. Byles, the names 
 of Walter and Anna are marked by a star, showing 
 that their deaths occurred here in New London, in 
 their infancy. For in less than a year after the bap- > 
 tism of the last two, he had left his charge, and re- 
 moved with his wife and three children from New 
 London, to take up work in a church of a different 
 order. 
 
 The close of his ministry occasioned the only 
 break between him and his people here. It had 
 been satisfactory to them, and in the main pleas- 
 ant to him. His people were proud of him, and 
 in spite of his grand and magnificent ways ''he 
 dwelt with them in harmony and peace." April 
 I, 1768, without previous warning of any sort, he 
 called the church together, declared himself a con- 
 vert to Episcopacy, and requested an immediate 
 release from them, in order that he might accept 
 an invitation to become the rector of an Episcopal 
 church in Boston. The people could not have been 
 more astounded if a thunderbolt had shot out of a 
 cloudless sky. They had not a suspicion of any 
 change of sentiment on his part. He laid before 
 them the whole case, as he said. He had received 
 a letter, dated March 8, 1768, from the proper of- 
 ficials of the North Church in Boston, which stated 
 that they had been informed that he was disposed to 
 think favorably of the communion of the English 
 Church. If such were the case they desired to en- 
 
158 LATER HISTORY OF THE FIRST CHURCH. 
 
 gage him as their minister. To this he repHed as 
 follows: "Gentlemen. Nothing could give me 
 greater surprise than yours of the 8th inst. How 
 you became acquainted with my particular senti- 
 ments with regard to the Church of England I am 
 at a loss to determine. But upon the closest and 
 most critical examination, I frankly confess that 
 for several years past I have had, and still have, 
 the highest esteem for that venerable church." He 
 concluded by requesting them to make definite pro- 
 posals, to which he agreed to give a speedy and 
 decisive answer. This was followed by a formal 
 call, and the of¥er of £200 a year, to provide him 
 a house, and to be at the expense of his removal 
 to Boston, and of a visit to England for re-ordina- 
 tion. This letter had been received that day, April 
 1st. Mr. Byles added that this call was not of his 
 seeking, that the hand of Providence and his friends 
 was in it, that here was opened a wider sphere of 
 usefulness, that it was plainly his duty to go, and 
 much more to the same effect. The brethren of 
 the church did not see it in that light. Then fol- 
 lowed a discussion that waxed somewhat hot. He 
 declared that he had no objection to the Congrega- 
 tional church, that he believed it to be a true church 
 of our Lord, that he had not changed his doctrinal 
 views, that he should preach in the new, Episcopal 
 pulpit, the very sermons which he had preached in 
 the old, Congregational pulpit. But his views as 
 to the ritual of the English Church had changed. 
 Being pressed for further reasons, he replied that 
 
BYLES JR.'S MINISTRY. 159 
 
 a new man would be better for them, that his health 
 was infirm, and the climb from his house to the 
 church on the bleak hill was wearisome. He also 
 complained of the persecutions and annoyances 
 which he had suffered from the Rogerenes. And 
 then he said that he was not fitted for a country 
 minister, and that his friends and home were in 
 Boston. In reply it was urged that the people 
 loved him, that he was popular in town, that the 
 hill was no more bleak or tedious now than it had 
 always been, and that the Quakers were no more 
 troublesome, in fact were little else than a few old 
 women sitting at his gate by whom it was foolish to 
 be disturbed. It was also replied that though his 
 home and friends were in Boston, and though his 
 salary here was small compared with that offered 
 him now, yet he had accepted their call, and volun- 
 tarily put himself under obligations to walk with 
 them and watch over them as their under-shepherd. 
 In the course of the discussion some pretty sharp 
 things were said about his neglecting pastoral vis- 
 itation, and preaching so many old sermons, in or- 
 der, it was intimated, that he might gain time to 
 read volumes of controversy. They reminded him 
 of-what his father had said at his ordination relative 
 to studying and watching to promote the welfare 
 of his flock, "that his candle must burn when mid- 
 night darkness covered the windows of the neigh- 
 borhood." They further intimated that, instead of 
 complying with his father's advice, and watching 
 
160 LATER HISTORY OF THE FIRST CHURCH. 
 
 for the good of souls, he had been studying rites 
 and ceremonies. 
 
 The debate did no good. It only widened the 
 breach which his step had made. The next day, 
 April 2, Mr. Byles renewed his request for dismis- 
 sal in due form, asking for "an immediate and hon- 
 orable dismission." He engaged to refund the 
 gratuity of £240 which they had granted him, at 
 his settlement, "in case you give me this day such 
 a generous discharge as I have now desired, and put 
 me to no further difficultv." Nothinp- further was 
 to be said. It was useless to try to keep a man who 
 was bound to go. As he requested an immediate 
 release from his contract as their minister, his wish 
 was complied with as follows, "Voted, that this so- 
 ciety do fully comply with his request." The rec- 
 ords of the church are equally brief and explicit. 
 "April 12, 1768. The Rev. Mr. Mather Byles Dis- 
 mist himself from the Church and Congregation." 
 The people washed their hands of the whole matter. 
 They had not wanted him to go. It was his affair, 
 not theirs. He had scarcely asked permission to 
 go. He simply stated to them the decision at 
 which he had arrived, and demanded to be released 
 from his contract. He did not seek advice from the 
 neighboring churches, which had been consulted 
 concerning his ordination. He had made up his 
 mind to go, and was going. His departure from 
 town was almost a flight, so precipitate was it. He 
 conveyed his house to his friend. Dr. Moffat, the 
 English collector of customs at this port, in pledge 
 
BYLES JR.'S MINISTRY. 161 
 
 of repayment of the £240, and, before another Sab- 
 bath, was ready to depart for Newport, on Saturday. 
 But the vessel was delayed, and he was obliged to 
 remain over the Sabbath. He ofifered to preach a 
 last sermon to his old people, but his offer was de- 
 clined. However, he climbed the hill once more 
 to the meeting-house where he had so long minis- 
 tered to an admiring congregation and sat a de- 
 jected listener. Never had he been more deeply 
 and ardently loved, than when his request for dis- 
 mission took his church by surprise. But in one 
 week a great and impassable gulf opened between 
 him and his people, and they parted from him with- 
 out regret. 
 
 The steps which led Mr. Byles to this change are 
 nowhere stated. But there is room for pretty safe 
 conjecture. Mr. Graves, the Episcopal rector, as 
 we have seen, took a lively interest in the coming of 
 Mr. Byles to New London. They were near neigh- 
 bors. Mr. Graves lived almost opposite Mr. Byles, 
 on the same street. It is more than possible that 
 they had held conversations together on the sub- 
 ject of church order; that Mr. Graves loaned him 
 the books which he read, while his people thought 
 he ought to have been attending to his duties as 
 their pastor, calling more frequently upon his flock, 
 giving more time to his preparations for the pulpit^ 
 and preaching fewer old sermons. Nor can there 
 be much doubt that the North Church in Boston 
 heard of his leaning toward the Church of England 
 from the same source — the rector of Saint James' in 
 
162 LATER HISTORY OF THE FIRST CHURCH. 
 
 New London. Dr. Hallam, remarking upon the 
 sudden change in Mr. Byles' sentiments, says that 
 the steps leading to it are not known. But he adds, 
 ''he was a near neighbor of Mr. Graves, hving al- 
 most opposite the parsonage, and it is possible there 
 had been communication with him on the subject." 
 
 This change on the part of Mr. Byles soon be- 
 came known throughout New England. It called 
 forth remarks, explanations, and insinuations on 
 both sides. The church thus summarily and rudely 
 forsaken did not sit down to brood over their loss. 
 Nor was his action relished in the town. Dr. Hal- 
 lam says that "lampoons were written, and songs 
 were sung." One embodying all the facts w^as 
 composed, entitled "The Proselyte." It was sung 
 about the town to the tune of the "Thief and Cor- 
 delier." There was also published a ''wonderful 
 dream" in which the spirit of the venerable Increase 
 Mather, the great grandfather of Mr. Byles, was 
 represented as rebuking his descendant for apostacy 
 from Puritanism. 
 
 Mr. Byles went to England to receive Episcopal 
 ordination, and returned to Boston, where he la- 
 bored as a clergyman of the English Church, till the 
 breaking out of the Revolution. He received the 
 degree of D. D., from Oxford. Like his father 
 he was a royalist. As Mr. Graves was also a royal- 
 ist so pronounced that his people literally drove 
 him from the pulpit of Saint James, the query arises 
 whether he influenced Mr. Byles to be a royalist 
 as well as an Episcopalian. At any rate Mr. Byles 
 
BYLES JR.'S MINISTRY. 163 
 
 was a refugee, and was one of those prohibited from 
 returning to the state by act of the legislature of 
 Massachusetts, passed in September 1788. He 
 went to Saint Johns, N. B., where he became the 
 rector of Trinity Church in 1791, in which office he 
 remained till he died March 12, 1814, aged seventy- 
 nine years and two months. 
 
VI . 
 
 MINISTRY OP EPHRAIM WOODBRIDGK. 
 October 11, 1769— September 6, 1776. 
 
 The interval between Mr. Byles and his successor 
 was a year and a half. Mr. Byles left April I2, 
 
 1768. Mr. Woodbridge was ordained October 11, 
 
 1769. There is no record to show how the pulpit 
 was supplied during this interval. 
 
 There is no record of the appointment of a com- 
 mittee to look up a suitable man to become the pas- 
 tor of the church, nor of a call issued. But we 
 know, from the account which Mr. Woodbridge has 
 left of his ordination, that he received a call from 
 the church and society in due form, and that he 
 accepted it by a letter which was read, in connection 
 with the votes of the church and society, at his or- 
 dination. Nor do we know what salary was offered 
 him. But it is safe to presume that it was not 
 much, if any, less than had been given his predeces- 
 sor. Nor have we any account of the way in which 
 the attention of the church and society was called 
 to him, as a possible candidate. But as his grand- 
 father had been the first pastor of the church in 
 Groton, where he was born and reared, their means 
 of learning about him and his qualifications would 
 be ample and sufficient. 
 
woodbridge's ministry. 165 
 
 We have definite knowledge of the methods by 
 which Mr. Woodbridge's salary was raised. For 
 the first parish record, which can be found bears 
 date of March i, 1776. At the meeting on that 
 day it was voted that there be levied "a Rate of 3d 
 on the Pound on Polls and Rateable Estate of the 
 Inhabitants of this Society for the Payment of Mr. 
 Woodbridge's Salary and Other Incident Charges 
 of said Society." Mr. Adam Shapley was "Chosen 
 collector to collect said Rate." At an adjourned 
 meeting, Mr. Shapley having declined to serve in 
 this capacity, Mr. George Douglas was chosen in 
 his place. These rates were not voluntary, but 
 compulsory. The collector was empowered with 
 legal authority to collect the rates of delinquent tax- 
 payers by process of law. This was not pleasant 
 business ; and it is not surprising that men were of- 
 ten loth to undertake it. Compulsory support of 
 the gospel was not unattended with serious difficul- 
 ties. It certainly does not savor much of the spirit 
 of the gospel, to compel men to support it. But 
 our fathers were brought up in such a school, and 
 had not yet learned the better way. 
 
 It will help us to a juster appreciation of the man 
 himself, and his qualifications, if we trace his an- 
 cestry. It may be said in general, that he was con- 
 nected, in direct line, with all the Woodbridges, who 
 figured somewhat conspicuously in the colonial 
 times. He was in a line which could boast an un- 
 broken succession of worthy and distinguished min- 
 isters, reaching back into England. In direct line- 
 
166 LATER HISTORY OF THE FIRST CHURCH. 
 
 age Rev. Ephraim Woodbridge was descended from 
 Rev. John Woodbridge of Stanton, in Wiltshire, 
 England, who married Sarah, daughter of Rev. 
 Robert Parker, a noted nonconformist divine. Rev 
 John Woodbridge was rector of the church in Stan- 
 ton, where he died December 9, 1637. Among oth- 
 er children he had Rev. John Woodbridge, who was 
 born in Stanton in 1613. He studied at Oxford. 
 In 1634 he refused to take the oath of conformity, 
 and came to America with his uncle. Rev. Thomas 
 Parker in the ship Mary and John. He settled at 
 Newbury, Mass. He married Mercy, the daughter 
 of Governor Thomas Dudley, a sister of Ann Brad- 
 street in the year 1639. After holding various sec- 
 ular offices, he was ordained pastor of the church 
 at North Andover, October 24, 1645. I" 1647 he 
 returned to England where he resided sixteen years 
 and then returned to Newbury in New England, 
 and was assistant to his uncle, Rev. Thomas Parker 
 till November 21, 1670, when dissensions in the 
 church caused his dismissal. He was afterwards 
 assistant of the colony till 1683. He died at New- 
 bury on Sunday, March 17, 1695. He had Lucy, 
 who became the wife of Rev. Simon Bradstreet, the 
 third minister of this church. She was also, it is 
 said, the ancestress of Rev. W. E. Channing, D. D., 
 Richard H. Dana, and other distinguished persons. 
 He also had John who was born about 1644, 
 probably at Newbury. He graduated from Har- 
 vard in 1664. He began to preach at Killingworth, 
 now Clinton, Conn, where he was ordained April 7, 
 
woodbridge's ministry. 167 
 
 1669. October 26, 1671, he married Abigail, 
 daugliter of Governor William Leete of the New 
 Haven Colony. He left Killingworth in 1679 and 
 was installed over the church in Wethersfield, where 
 he continued till he died, November 13, 1691. He 
 was brother of the noted Timothy Woodbridge of 
 the First Church of Hartford, who was present 
 here at the installation of Gurdon Saltonstall in 
 1691, and of Rev. Eliphalet Adams in 1709. 
 
 His son, Rev. Ephraim Woodbridge, was born 
 in Wethersfield, June 25, 1680. He was graduated 
 from Harvard College in 1701. He was ordained 
 as first pastor of the first church in Groton, Nov- 
 ember 9, 1704. May 4 of the same year, six months 
 before his ordination, he married Hannah, daughter 
 of Captain John Morgan of Groton. "He held con- 
 siderable landed property in the South Eastern part 
 of what is now the town of Ledyard ; some portions 
 of this property are still (1882) occupied and farmed 
 by his descendants in the female line. His church, 
 or meeting-house was not far from what is now 
 Groton center, and his homestead a mile or two 
 distant therefrom, in a north-easterly direction, upon 
 the road leading northward past the old Rogerene 
 meeting house." [Woodbridge Record, p. 21.] 
 His will shows that he died possessed of considera- 
 ble property. His death occurred December i, 
 1725, at the age of forty-five years, and after a pas- 
 torate in Groton of twenty-one years. He was bur- 
 ied in the old Pequonnock grave yard, a little to 
 the northward of the highway between Groton and 
 
168 LATER HISTORY OF THE FIRST CHURCH. 
 
 Mystic. Upon the stone which marks his grave 
 is this inscription : 
 
 Here lies interred 
 
 The body of the Reverend 
 
 Mr. Ephraim Woodbridge, 
 
 First pastor of the 
 
 Church in Groton 
 
 Who died December ye first 1725 
 
 Aetatis Sui 45. 
 
 He had seven children, five sons and two daugh- 
 ters. None of his sons entered the ministry, but his 
 daughter, Mary, born in 171 9, married Rev. Heze- 
 kiah Bissell of Bloomfield. She died in Windsor 
 in 1796, aged seventy-seven. His second son was 
 Captain Paul, the father of Ephraim Woodbridge 
 of this church. Paul Woodbridge was born in 
 Groton March 12, 1708. In early life he seems 
 to have gone to South Kingston, R. I., where 
 he married Sarah Goodridge, of that town, July 5, 
 1737. He followed the sea in his earlier years 
 Later in life he purchased and conducted a large 
 tannery which in 1882, still stood near the bridge 
 in upper Mystic. His house was opposite the tan- 
 nery, in an angle of the road, southeast of the 
 church. [Woodbridge Record, p. 35.] His will 
 was drawn and duly signed and sealed April 2.^, 
 1774. The records of the county of New London 
 show that two of the witnesses to the will appeared 
 before Benadam Gallup, justice of the peace in 
 Groton, September 16, 1778 and made oath to the 
 fact ''that they saw Capt. Paul Woodbridge, the 
 
woodbridge's ministry. 169 
 
 above Testator sign, seal and heard him pubHsh 
 and pronounce the same to be his last will and Tes- 
 tament." His sons Ephraim and Paul were ap- 
 pointed executors. Ephraim was also a legatee, as 
 this item shows ; 'T give and bequeath to my be- 
 loved son Ephraim Woodbridge, besides what I 
 have already given him the sum of fifty pounds 
 lawful money." But the father outlived the son 
 over two years, so that the latter neither adminis- 
 tered the father's estate, nor received the legacy. 
 Captain Paul Woodbridge died November, 1778. 
 He lies ''buried in what is known as the Wood- 
 bridge, burying-ground, upon a portion of the Old 
 Ephraim Woodbridge Estate not far from his old 
 homestead." 
 
 Rev. Ephraim Woodbridge, the second son, and 
 the fourth child of Captain Paul was born in Grot- 
 on, probably in the homestead of his father, in up- 
 per Mystic, but on the Groton side of the river, 
 June 20, 1746. He graduated from Yale College 
 in 1765. He was ordained over the church in New 
 London October 11, 1769. Upon the stone which 
 marks his grave in the ancient burying ground, he is 
 called the sixth pastor of this church. This is cor- 
 rect, if the name of Mr. Bulkeley, who never was 
 settled here, is omitted. Miss Caulkins says, that 
 on *'the monumental tablet to his memory ^ * * he 
 is called 'the sixth pastor of the First Congregation- 
 al Church of New London.' He was more accur- 
 ately the seventh pastor, and fifth ordained minis- 
 ter. The order of succession is Blinman, Bulkeley, 
 
170 LATER HISTORY OF THE FIRST CHURCH. 
 
 Bradstreet, Saltonstall, Adams, Byles, Wood- 
 bridge." Miss Caulkins is in error in not reckon- 
 ing Mr. Blinman as an ordained minister. He re- 
 ceived his ordination in England, and was accepted 
 by the church when it was gathered in Gloucester, 
 as an already ordained clergyman. 
 
 Mr. Woodbridge has left the following record 
 of his ordination as pastor of the church. ''Records 
 of the First Church of Christ in New London kept 
 by Ephm Woodbridge. 1769, October 11, I was 
 ordained to the pastoral ofifice over the first Church 
 of Christ in New London. The Rev. Mr. Benj. 
 Throop Introduced the Business of the day by 
 Reading the Votes of the church and society Re- 
 lating to the calls, with my answer. The Revd 
 Mr. Joseph Fish made the first prayer; The Revd 
 Mr. Levi Hart preached a sermon suited to the oc- 
 casion from I Cor. 2: 13; The Revd Mr. William 
 Hart prayed previous to the charge ; The Revd 
 Mr. Benjamin Lord gave the charge ; The Revd 
 Mr. Nathaniel Eells prayed after the charge ; and 
 the Revd Mr. David Jewett gave the Right Hand 
 of fellowship ; and I the Psalm and Blessing." 
 With the exception of a charge to the people, which 
 seems not to have been given, this reads like the 
 records of a modern ordination. The men who had 
 the parts were all from the neighboring churches. 
 Mr. Throop was from Bozrah ; Mr. Joseph Fish 
 was from North Stonington ; Mr. Levi Hart D. D. 
 was from the church in Griswold ; Mr. William 
 Hart was from Old Saybrook ; Mr, Benjamin Lord 
 
woodbridge's ministry. 171 
 
 was from the church in Norwich; Mr. Nath- 
 aniel Eells was from the church in Stonington; 
 and Mr. David Jewett was from the North Parish 
 of New London, now Montville. The pastorates, 
 represented on this council were remarkable. Six 
 were for life. The shortest, that of Rev. Nathaniel 
 Eells, was twenty-four years. The longest, that of 
 Mr. Lord, was sixty-seven years. The others 
 ranged between forty-four and forty-nine years. 
 These long pastorates point to the stable character 
 of the churches in Southeastern Connecticut. 
 
 Mr. Woodbridge was now the regularly or- 
 dained pastor of the church. Fifteen days later, 
 October 26, 1769, he was married, by the Rev. 
 David Jewett of Montville, to Mary, the only sur- 
 viving daughter of Captain Nathaniel and Tem- 
 perance Harris Shaw. She was born in the autumn 
 of 1 75 1. For her baptism, by Rev. Eliphalet 
 Adams, is recorded October 6 of that year. So 
 that she was just passed eighteen at the date of her 
 marriage. The union seems to have been an ex- 
 tremely happy one. They went to house-keeping 
 at once in a house which Captain Shaw gave to his 
 daughter. It stood on Main street, opposite the 
 head of Hallam street, and next north of the resi- 
 dence of the late Sidney Miner. Captain Shaw 
 built it in 1756 "expressly for the occupancy of his 
 daughter, the wife of Rev. Ephraim Woodbridge." 
 The house which stood originally upon this spot 
 must have been removed. For, according to Dr. 
 Hallam, Mr. Christophers lived in a house stand- 
 
172 LATER HISTORY OF THE FIRST CHURCH 
 
 ing here, when ''that awful affair of books and 
 clothes, at New London" took place Sunday even- 
 ing, March 6, 1743. After the death of Mr. Wood- 
 bridge, his house was purchased by Mr. Edward 
 Hallam, and it became known as the Hallam 
 House. It w^as also known as the Long Piazza 
 House. But as the piazza encroached upon the 
 street, this distinctive feature of it was removed 
 early. On one of the window panes Mr. Wood- 
 bridge engraved this sentiment, as expressive of his 
 
 feelings on the day when they set up house-keep- 
 ing. 
 
 "Ephraim W^oodbridge 
 Hie Vixit. 
 P ' Hail happy day! the fairest sun that ever rose. 
 
 1769." 
 
 Mr. Woodbridge was but twenty-three years of 
 age when he assumed the pastorate of the church. 
 He had a difificult task before him. A growing in- 
 difference to the claims of religion, and to the doc- 
 trines of the gospel, resulted from the practice of 
 the halfway covenant, especially during the pre- 
 vious pastorate. Two had been received into the 
 church, during the interval between him and Mr, 
 Byles — Mr. Nathaniel Bailey and his wife Eliza- 
 beth, from the church in Groton. The member- 
 ship of the church was very much reduced. 
 
 During his ministry, Mr. Woodbridge received 
 but eighteen into the church ; two males, Mr. 
 Amasa Learned and Mr. Guy Richards, and six- 
 teen females. These meagre results were partly 
 
woodbridge's ministry. 173 
 
 due to his absolute refusal to practice receiving 
 members, and baptizing children, on the plan of 
 the halfway covenant. There are evidences that he 
 had a controversy with his people over this ques- 
 tion. Only a very few sympathized with him, but 
 he stood his ground. His personal popularity, to- 
 gether with the general indifference to religion, 
 helped him to hold his position. He insisted that 
 persons who were received into the church should 
 have an experience of renewing grace and make a 
 public confession of faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, 
 nor would he recognize any church membership 
 which was not justified by evidences of a change of 
 heart. This doubtless kept many from joining the 
 church. 
 
 Dr. Field says [Bicentennial Sermon, p. 28.] 
 "He was strenuously opposed to this half-way cov- 
 enant, as it was called, and wrote against it, and 
 convinced many of its impropriety. He thought 
 that parents, in order to take upon them in this 
 public manner, christian vows in reference to the 
 nurture of their children, should be christians them- 
 selves, not half-way christians, but whole christians. 
 Mr. Woodbridge held that opinion, and refused to 
 baptize the children of those who were not in full 
 communion with the church. This awakened a 
 great deal of feeling, and a great deal of opposition 
 to him. A committee was appointed by the society, 
 consisting of Jeremiah Miller, Russell Hubbard and 
 Dr. Thomas Coit, to make a statement of the griev- 
 ances subsisting between the society and Mr, 
 
174 LATER HISTORY OP THE FIRST CHURCH. 
 
 Woodbridge, and lay it before the society for their 
 action. The report of this committee is of course 
 not on the church records, but on the society's book. 
 It is a long report containing a criticism of the main 
 points of theology, as presented by Mr. Wood- 
 bridge in his ministrations. It shows that the per- 
 son who wrote it had studied the Calvinistic and 
 Arminian systems of theology, and was himself a 
 thorough Arminian. The committee argue, also, 
 the subject of the half-w^ay covenant, and endeavor 
 to show the error of Mr. Woodbridge's views. Not 
 many in our churches, now-a-days, have entered so 
 fully into the study of theology as this committee. 
 But when the report was presented to the society, 
 and the question put whether it was acceptable, it 
 was voted by a small majority that it was not. So 
 the society stood by Mr. Woodbridge, and he con- 
 tinued to preach the Calvinistic doctrines, and op- 
 pose the half-way covenant." 
 
 The same question came before the church, in 
 the following form. "March lo, [1774] att a legal 
 church meeting The Question being put to the 
 Brethren whether they understood the church cov- 
 enant (which persons consent to previous to their 
 admission to special ordinances) to Imply a profes- 
 sion of saving faith. Voted in ye affirmative. The 
 Question was then put whether the Brethren ap- 
 proved of said Covenant. Voted in ye affirmative." 
 The pastor was sustained by the parish. The vote of 
 the church was evidently opposed to his views and 
 practice. However, he did not change his course. It 
 
woodbridge's ministry. 175 
 
 is evidence of his strong hold upon the hearts of his 
 people, who did not agree with him, that he could 
 and did set aside their vote, and treat the church 
 covenant referred to as unsatisfactory, and as not 
 implying a profession of saving faith. In spite of 
 this radical conflict of opinion he was beloved and 
 esteemed by them. 
 
 At the death of Mr. Woodbridge there were at 
 least ten male and forty-five female members. 
 Miss Caulkins says that "at the time of Mr. Wood- 
 bridge's death there were but five male members 
 in his church." A list given May 17, 1787 shows 
 this to be wrong. 
 
 So that, if the church had not had large numer- 
 ical growth, during Mr. Woodbridge's ministry, it 
 had held its own in spite of the adverse circum- 
 stances against which he had to contend. The spir- 
 itual decline into which the church was surely go- 
 ing was due to no lack of faithfulness on his part. 
 He was faithful unto death. The conditions were 
 unpromising throughout New England. Piety was 
 at a low ebb, and was destined to sink still lower. 
 
 Mr. Woodbridge baptized no children of parents 
 who were not members of the church ; nor did he 
 baptize any adults, who had not been baptized in 
 infancy, only as an act, on their part, of public pro- 
 fession of faith in Christ, and of entering into full 
 fellowship with his people. Thus his ministry wa^ 
 an emphatic protest against the halfway covenant, 
 whose practice had been in use in the church for 
 more than an hundred years. It is not strange if 
 
176 LATER HISTORY OF THE FIRST CHURCH. 
 
 his opposition to a practice which had held the 
 ground so long, made little headway. 
 
 He baptized one hundred and one persons. Dur- 
 ing his pastorate Rev. Mr. Throop baptized a 
 daughter of David and Martha Manwaring June 
 12, 1774, and Rev. Mr. Grover a daughter of Pem- 
 ber and Chappil Caulkins, June 25, 1775. Evi- 
 dently here were cases of decided dissent from 
 the views and practice of the pastor. Neither Mr. 
 Manwaring nor his wife were, at the time, members 
 of the church. For this reason Mr. Woodbridge 
 refused to baptize their child. Here was a pro- 
 nounced and open conflict. As the pastor would 
 not yield, a neighboring minister was secured, and 
 an alienation was caused between Mr. Manwaring 
 and his pastor, which did not grow less. At a 
 meeting of the parish held March 25, 1776, the 
 question "whether Mr. David Manwaring shall be 
 excused from paying his Tax towards what is due 
 from this society to the Revd Mr. Woodbridge to- 
 wards his Salary. Voted in the negative." At the 
 same meeting the question was put "Whether Mr. 
 David Manwaring shall be excused from being 
 Taxed by this society for the future towards the 
 Payment of Revd Mr. Woodbridge's Salary. Vo- 
 ted in the negative." So Mr. David Manwaring 
 had to pay. He probably had a grievance against 
 the pastor, on account of his refusal to baptize his 
 daughter under the halfway covenant. But he was 
 soon released from all obligation in this regard. 
 For in the following September Mr. Woodbridge 
 
woodbridge's ministry. 177 
 
 had been called to lay down his earthly labors, and 
 enter on his eternal rewards. These facts furnish a 
 hint as to the opposition which he met, But it is 
 refreshing to know that he stood firm to the end. 
 
 Several entries on the records seem to bear upon 
 this question of the use of the halfway covenant, and 
 all point conclusively to the pronounced stand 
 which Mr. Woodbridge took against it. Thus Feb- 
 ruary II, 1770 he makes this record, "admitted to 
 full communion Elizabeth Shapley and Mary Sal- 
 tonstall." Other similar entries follow which seem 
 to point to the fact that these were baptized chil- 
 dren of the church, but not admitted to its full priv- 
 ileges until they had experienced a change of heart. 
 
 Another entry pointing to a degree of discipline, 
 is as follows: "April 6, [1770] Mr. John Hemp- 
 stead signified his desire of Returning to ye com- 
 mvmion and Fellowship of ye chh., and was unan- 
 imously Received by declaring if his conduct in 
 Withdrawing and continuing so long in a state of 
 sepperation, had given offence to any of ye Breth- 
 ren he was sorry for it." He had joined the church 
 June 21, 1 74 1, as a fruit of the Great Awakening. 
 It is not at all unlikely that he had separated him- 
 self from the church on account of the abuses which 
 drove out the Separates, and now that there was a 
 pastor who resolutely refused to practice the ob- 
 noxious halfway covenant, he wished to return to 
 his fellowship with the church. The fact that he 
 was chosen to be a deacon the September after 
 his return, to which office he was set apart No- 
 
178 LATER HISTORY OF THE FIRST CHURCH. 
 
 vember 17 of the same year, would seem to point 
 out that he had in no way compromised his Chris- 
 tian character by scandalous living. Another sim- 
 ilar case is the following: "Jan 7, [1773] Thomas 
 Miner returned to Communion with ye Church 
 The Brethren being satisfied." He also was a fruit 
 of the Great Awakening, and had joined the church 
 May 2y, 1 741. If we are right in our conjecture 
 that these two brethren had left the church be- 
 cause they could not tolerate the loose practices 
 concerning baptism, and admission to the Lord's 
 Supper, then it was some compensation to Mr. 
 Woodbridge, in the midst of the opposition which 
 he met in seeking to do away with these loose prac- 
 tices, that these two brethren were brought back 
 into the fellowship of the church, by the firm stand 
 which he took. 
 
 He records seventy-one marriages. 
 
 Mary, his wife, died of consumption June 10, 
 1775, in the twenty-fourth year of her age. He did 
 not long survive her. 
 
 The spiritual trend of the church, when Mr. 
 Woodbridge became its pastor was towards world- 
 iiness, indifference, and unbelief. It was the be- 
 ginning of a period which was fruitful in infidelity 
 and spiritual decline throughout the churches. A 
 general indifference to religion affected the town. 
 A universal financial embarrassment added its in- 
 fluence. The Episcopal Church had declined. 
 The Baptist Church which had been formed in the 
 early part of the century had ceased to exist. This 
 
woodbridge's ministry. 179 
 
 church seemed to lack vigor sufficient to attempt 
 the task of securing a pastor. They were content 
 to Uve from hand to mouth, or go unfed. The 
 preaching was formal. Prayer and conference 
 meetings were not held. Family worship was pret- 
 ty generally discontinued. These tendencies 
 against which Mr. Woodbridge set himself, became 
 stronger. The darkness was gathering before his 
 ministry began. He did all in his power to shed 
 the light of a pure, evangelical gospel, upon the 
 scene. But one might as well have attempted to 
 stop the flow of Niagara with a dam of gossamer. 
 The practice of the halfway covenant which had held 
 the floor for nearly a century, and the war with 
 England which had already broken out, when he 
 died, were too much. The tide swept on. His frail 
 body was the tenement of a great spirit. The latter 
 was willing but the former was weak. The insid- 
 ious disease which had robbed him of his beloved 
 wife was already preying upon him. There can be 
 no doubt that the condition of the church which, 
 in spite of all he could do he saw growing contin- 
 ually worse, helped to hasten its ravages. And so 
 September 6, 1776, after a pastorate of seven years, 
 lacking one month and five days, and two months 
 and seven days after the declaration of Independ- 
 ence, his eyes were shut to the gathering darkness, 
 and opened to the eternal light. The simple rec- 
 ord on the books of the church is "1776 * * * Sep. 
 6 Mr. Woodbridge died." He lies by the side of 
 his wife, and of Captain and Mrs. Nathaniel Shaw 
 
180 LATER HISTORY OP THE FIRST CHURCH. 
 
 on our Ancient Burial Hill. On the tablet which 
 marks his grave is this inscription : 
 
 Sacred to the Memory 
 
 of 
 
 Ephraim Woodbridge A. M. 
 
 Sixth Pastor of the 1st Church 
 
 New London 
 
 Ordained Oct. 11th, 1769. 
 
 Deceased September 6, 1776. 
 
 aged XXX. 
 
 Zion may in hie fall bemoan a Beauty and Pillar gone. 
 
 The inscription on the stone which marks the 
 grave of Mrs. Woodbridge reads as follows : 
 
 Here lieth the remains of Mrs. Mary 
 Wife of Rev. Ephraim Woodbridge 
 Daughter of Capt. Nat. and Mrs. Temper- 
 ance Shaw, who died at Bolton 10th 
 June 1775 in the 24th year of her age. 
 
 When as a signal of her leave to go 
 Home to her Savior, free from sin and wo, 
 Death, from his Quiver showed a fatal Dart, 
 A sudden pulse of joy leapd from her heart, 
 'Eno' of life and all its charms,' she cried, 
 'Welcome my Father's messengers,' and died. 
 
 The children of Mr. and Mrs. Woodbridge were 
 as follows : 
 
 I. Nathaniel Shaw, born November 4, 1 771. 
 
 He was baptized November 10. June 24, 1790, he 
 
 married Elizabeth, daughter of John Mumford of 
 
 (New Salem) Lyme, Conn. She died February 21, 
 
 1795. May 5, 1796 he married Louisa Mather of 
 
 Colchester. He died June 17, 1797. He was in 
 
woodbridge's ministry. 181 
 
 Yale College for a time, but left before graduation. 
 He went to live in Salem, and devoted himself to 
 the pursuits of a country life. ''The house in which 
 he lived, and which he built is still standing, [1882] 
 * * * overlooking the valley of Elmgrove." 
 [Woodbridge Record p. 107.] He was not yet 27 
 when he died, and was buried at the foot of his gar- 
 den. 
 
 2. LuCRKTiA Shaw, born August 7, 1773. 
 She was baptized August 15. She married Hon. 
 Elias Perkins and lived in the Shaw Mansion on 
 Bank street. She had six children, the eldest of 
 whom was Nathaniel Shaw Perkins, M. D. She 
 died March 6, 1802. 
 
 3. Sarah, born January 7, 1775. She died 
 September 5, three months after the death of her 
 mother. The first two who survived their parents, 
 became the wards of their maternal uncles, who had 
 no children. 
 
 For the third time a minister of this church had 
 died in the harness. For the seventh time it was 
 left without a pastor. Never before was the out- 
 look so dark, or the situation so serious. The con- 
 flict which had been in the air since 1761, had brok- 
 en out into open violence at Concord and Lexing- 
 ton and Bunker Hill in 1775. The church and the 
 country were entering on a night upon which the 
 morning would not break with full glory until the 
 next century was well under way. To find our way 
 in this darkness will be the aim of the following 
 chapters. 
 
VII. 
 
 THK INTERIM. 
 September 6, 1776.— May 17, 1787. 
 
 The following action of the society, was taken 
 with reference to the supply of the now^ vacant pul- 
 pit. "At a meeting of the First Ecclesiastical So- 
 ciety in New London the 2ist of October A. D. 
 1776 * * 'i' Richard Law Esqr., Capt. Guy Rich- 
 ards, John Hempstead Esqr., Marvin Wait Chosen 
 a Committee to supply the Pulpit of said Society 
 for the Present." The next year the Society's 
 committee were again appointed to. the same duty. 
 A rate of one shilling and six pence on the pound 
 was laid on the polls and rateable estate of the in- 
 habitants of the parish, upon the levy of 1776, "to 
 Replace the sum taken Out of the Society Funds 
 and to Pay the arrearages due from the society, 
 and to Supply the Pulpit for the future." The next 
 year records a similar vote, only the rate was six 
 pence less on the pound. Still there were arrear- 
 ages to be met. In 1779, April 20, the society voted 
 a rate of two shillings and six pence on the pound, 
 in a desperate endeavor to pay its debts, and to 
 make suitable provision for the future supply of 
 the pulpit. However, this did not seem to meet the 
 
THE INTERIM. 183 
 
 case. For November first of the same year a rate 
 of six shillings on the pound, on the levy of 1778, 
 was voted, "for the Contingent Charges of sd So- 
 ciety." This was extraordinary, for in the years 
 following the tax varied from four pence on the 
 pound to one shilling. 
 
 The tax levied in 1781 was "four pence on the 
 pound in hard money." Lieut. Richard Chapman 
 was chosen collector. He accepted the office, and 
 a rate bill was put into his hands of which he made 
 the following acknowledgment. "Reed. New Lon- 
 don August 31st, 1 781 from Guy Richards Junr. 
 Society Treasr a society Rate Bill Dated 31st Augst 
 1781, amounting to one Hundred and Ten pounds 
 Nineteen shillings and 5d Lawfull Silver Money^ 
 which I am to Collect and pay in to Said Treasr, 
 or to his Successor in Said Office by the last day 
 of Octor next for use of Said Society — Richd Chap- 
 man." The document put into his hands reads as 
 follows : ''To Richard Chapman of New London 
 Collector for the First Ecclesiastical Society in New 
 London in the County of New London Greeting — 
 
 "In the name of the Governor and Company of 
 the State of Connecticut you are hereby commanded 
 forthwith to levy and collect of the Persons named 
 in the annexed list herewith committed unto you 
 each one his several Proportion (as therein set 
 down) of the sum total of Such List — being a tax 
 or assessment granted and agreed upon by the In- 
 habitants of the said Ecclesiastical Society in said 
 New London regularly assembled on the [21] Day 
 
184 LATER HISTORY OF THE FIRST CHURCH. 
 
 of August 1781 being 46. on the pound and amount- 
 ing to the sum of £110.14.5 ^o^ defraying the neces- 
 sary Charges arising within the same and to de- 
 liver and pay the Sum or Sums which you shall so 
 levy and collect unto the Treasurer of said Society 
 at or before the First Monday in October next — 
 And if any Person or Persons shall neglect or re- 
 fuse to make payment of the Sum or Sums whereat 
 he she or they are respectively assessed and set in 
 the said list you are to distrain the Goods or Chat- 
 ties of the said Person or Persons and the same 
 dispose of as the Law directs returning the over- 
 put (if any there be) unto the Owner or Owners 
 and for want of Goods and Chattels — whereon to 
 make Distress you are to take the Body or Bodies 
 of the Person or Persons so refusing and him or 
 them commit unto the keeper of the Goal of the 
 town of Norwich in said County within said Prison 
 Who is hereby commanded to receive and safely 
 keep him or them until he or they pay and sat- 
 isfy the said Sum or Sums assessed upon him or 
 them as aforesaid together with your Fees — Unless 
 the said assessment or any part thereof upon Ap- 
 plication to the Comtee of said Society shall be 
 abated. Dated New London 31st, Augt 1781." 
 The rate bill, on the grand levy of 1780, which ac- 
 companied this document, gave the grand list, and 
 the ministerial rate at ''Four pence hard money 
 upon the pound," of one hundred and fifty-four 
 persons. The rate, it was distinctly specified, was 
 to be paid in hard money. Before October first 
 
THE INTERIM. 185 
 
 of that year Richard Chapman was in his grave. 
 He had collected £2 17s. io>4d. The money was 
 paid over to Mr. Guy Richards Jr. the treasurer 
 of the society. 
 
 At a society meeting held October 28, 1782, it 
 was "Voted that John Stebbings be a collector to 
 collect the remainder of the Rate Bill made ye 21st 
 Augt 1781, being 46. on ye pound which the late 
 Richd Chapman had to collect and that he collect 
 in what is due thereon and pay in to the committee 
 immediately." A rate bill, still in existence, similar 
 to the one put into the hands of Mr. Chapman, 
 was given him, for which he gave a receipt. It was 
 dated November 4, 1782, and signed by ''Timothy 
 Green, Justice of Peace." The amount remaining 
 over from the former bill to be collected, was £83 
 5d. At the same meeting it was "voted that there 
 be a Contribution every Sabbath when their is 
 preaching, under the direction of the Committee 
 to be apply'd towards the payment of a minister, 
 untiil the further Order of this Society." 
 
 September i, 1786 Mr. Jeremiah G. Brainard was 
 chosen the agent of the society "to Collect in the 
 Society Bonds by Sueing or otherways — Also call 
 the Society Collectors to Accot by praying out Ex- 
 ecution against them or otherways as shall be nec- 
 essary." The list of obligations with interest put 
 into Mr. Brainard's hands to collect by process of 
 law if necessary, amounted to £330 gd. 
 
 These rate bills and the legal authority with 
 which the society's collectors were armed are given 
 
186 LATER HISTORY OF THE FIRST CHURCH. 
 
 as examples of the methods to which our fathers 
 often found it necessary to resort to support the 
 gospel. The office of collector, with legal power 
 to compel payment was not one which was coveted. 
 So many declined to serve in this capacity that the 
 society found it necessary to resort to rather heroic 
 measures. At a meeting held October 23, 1781, it 
 was ''Voted that this society will proceed to Choose 
 out of the Rate Bill a number of Persons one of 
 which to serve the Society as Collector, beginning 
 at the first Chosen, he refusing, the Second to Serve, 
 he refusing the Third and so on in Succession till 
 one is found to Serve, and all that shall refuse, to be 
 considered as delinquents." This meeting ad- 
 journed till October 25, when twenty names were 
 presented, out of which a collector was to be chosen 
 according to the plan adopted at the previous meet- 
 ing. Zaccheus Wheeler and Joseph Douglass were 
 chosen. This method of supporting the gospel was 
 continued until the new meeting-house was com- 
 pleted, when the method of selling pews was 
 adopted. 
 
 The meeting-house, which stood on the hill had 
 been in use since 1698; a period of eighty-six years. 
 It was in a dilapidated condition, so much so that 
 it could not be used with comfort during the cold 
 weather. In the winter of 1780 leave was requested 
 of Saint James' Parish for the privilege of holding 
 services in its house of worship, during the winter. 
 January 13 Saint James' Parish "voted that the Rev. 
 William Adams has leave to officiate in said church 
 
THE INTERIM. 187 
 
 during the cold season at the pleasure of the 
 church." [Annals p. 58.] Several times, during 
 that winter, clergyman of the English Church of- 
 ficiated at Saint James. But, at other times, it is 
 supposed that Mr. Adams held services there after 
 the Congregational order, while temporarily sup- 
 plying the pulpit of the First Church. 
 
 At last the First Society aroused themselves to 
 the necessity of doing something. So October 12, 
 1784, at a meeting of the said society, it was "Vo- 
 ted unanimously. That the Society prefer a Peti- 
 tion to the General Assembly to be Holden at New 
 Haven on the 26. Thursday of Octor, Inst., to Im- 
 power the society to Tax the Pews for Repairing 
 the Meeting House — in Sd Society. Voted That 
 Joshua Coit Esqr. Mr. Amasa Learned and Thomas 
 Shaw Esqr be a Comtee for the purpose aforesaid." 
 
 Probably no extensive repairs, if any, were 
 made. For March 9, 1785, the following action 
 points to a movement toward a new house of wor- 
 ship. "Voted, That this Society are willing to have 
 a new Meeting House built in some place different 
 from the present and that the present meeting 
 house with its appurtenances, and the funds of the 
 Society may be apply'd so far as they will do for 
 the purpose — provided the Same may be done with- 
 out further expense to the Society, and that the 
 Society Comtee be desired to see what sums may 
 be Collected by Subscription for the purpose afore- 
 said, and Consider of a place to be propos'd to, and 
 Consider'd of by a future meeting of this Society." 
 
188 LATER HISTORY OF THE FIRST CHURCH. 
 
 Accordingly before the next meeting, May lo of 
 the same year, a subscription paper was drawn up 
 and subscriptions secured to the amount of over 
 £ 1200. This document, with the subscriptions and 
 signatures is in existence. There were forty-eight 
 subscribers. This paper is reproduced in full : 
 
 "Wee the subscribers for the Purpose of Build- 
 ing a Meeting House in the first Ecclesiastical So- 
 ciety in the Town of New London for the use of 
 said society do agree to pay the Sums to Our 
 Names Severally applied. 
 
 ''Provided the appropriation of said Monies shall 
 be Subject to the following Conditions (To wit) 
 
 "ist. That Agreeable to the vote of said Socie- 
 ty the Meeting House now Standing in said Society 
 shall in such way as shall be most Expedient with 
 its appurtenances and the Funds of said Society be 
 appropriated with the Monies Subscribed for the 
 Purpose aforesaid. 
 
 "2d. That said House be built on the North 
 line of the Vacant Place adjoining where the Court 
 House lately Stood and facing to the South. 
 
 "3d. That the house to be Built by this Sub- 
 scription shall be the Property of said Society in 
 such way however that the Pews in the same shall 
 never be the Property of Individualls, but that 
 they be rented or hired out annually, and the Money 
 arising from the same be appropriated for the pur- 
 pose of Keeping Said House in Repair and Sup- 
 porting a Minister. 
 
MEETING HOUSE OF THE FIRST CHURCH OF CHRIST. 
 
 1787—1849. 
 
THE INTERIM. 189^ 
 
 "4th. That the Monies and other Articles herein 
 Siibscribd shall be laid out and appropriated for the 
 Purpose aforesaid by a committee to be chosen by 
 the Subscribers at a meeting to be Called as soon 
 as the Sum of £1200 shall be Subscribed in whh 
 Meeting a vote of the Subscribers shall be taken 
 according to the Sums by them Subscribed. 
 
 *'5th. That the Subscribers will hold themselves 
 bound to Pay or Deliver to said Committee the sev- 
 eral sums of Money or Other Articles Subscribed 
 as soon as the aforesaid Sum of £ 1200 shall be 
 subscribed and said Committee Chosen. 
 
 New London 21 March 1785." 
 
 The foregoing paper appears in the records of 
 the Parish under date of May 10, with the number 
 of subscribers increased to fifty-five, and article sec- 
 ond changed to read "that the House be built on the 
 place called BoUes Hill," the site now occupied by 
 the present house of worship. Stephen Bolles 
 signed an agreement to sell a certain piece of 
 ground for the purpose of building an house of 
 worship thereon, which explains the change in the 
 reading of the second article of the subscription 
 paper. The agreement reads as follows : "I Stephen 
 Bolles of New London will sell for the purpose of 
 Building a Meeting house thereon that part of my 
 Lot which lies north of Mr. Penniman's Land and 
 west of the Highway running between Mr. Penni- 
 man and Mr. Law's Houses [this was Union 
 street] for seventy-five pounds, twenty-five of which 
 
190 LATER HISTORY OF THE FIRST CHURCH. 
 
 I will subscribe for said House, twenty-five to be 
 paid in West India Goods at Cash price and the Re- 
 mainder in Cash, and will lay out a Highway of 
 three Rods wide from Sd first mentioned Highway 
 to the main street the south Line of which to be a 
 strait line from Corner of Mr. Law's Barn and about 
 five foot from the No. East Corner of my house. 
 Witness my hand at New London this 3d day of 
 May 1785." 
 
 The street which he agreed to lay out is now 
 known as Masonic street. The subscriptions to the 
 fund for the building of the new meeting-house were 
 as follows : 
 
 Thomas Shaw, Four Hundred Pounds in Labour and Lumber 
 Richard Law Fifty Pounds. 
 
 Timothy Green thirty-five Pounds in Labour and Lumber. 
 Edward Hallam & Co. Fifty Pounds in West India and Dry- 
 goods. 
 Pember Caulkings Thirty-five Pounds in Rum at 3 shillings 
 
 Gal. 
 
 Joseph Coite and Son Joshua Thirty Pounds Cash. 
 
 Michael Melally Twenty Pounds in sugar. 
 
 Richard Deshon Twenty Pounds in Team and other Labour. 
 
 Amasa Learned Fifteen Pounds in Cash. 
 
 Nathan Bailey Fifteen pounds in victualing and Iron Work. 
 
 Jonathan Douglas Twelve pounds in victualing. 
 
 George Colfax Ten pounds in West India Goods. 
 
 Ebenezer Lester Bight pounds in Rum at Cash price. 
 
 Patrick Robertson Five pounds in Goods. 
 
 Jeremiah Gates Brainard Eight Pounds half Cash and half 
 in labour. 
 
 John Way nine Pounds in Freight. 
 
 William Richards Six pounds in Solder Noter. 
 
 David Manwaring Forty Pounds in English Goods. 
 
THE INTERIM. 191 
 
 Simon Wolcott Ten Pounds in West India Goods. 
 
 Robert Colfax Six pounds in West India Goods. 
 
 Allen & Co. for Mary Allen Nine pounds in Cash, or West 
 India Goods. 
 
 John Deshon fifteen Pounds in Labour and Materials for 
 Building. 
 
 Abraham Lawrence Six pounds in Goods. 
 
 Ephraim Miner Fifteen pounds in Wharfage Victualing &c. 
 
 Joshua Starr Twenty Pounds in Goods and Lumber. 
 
 John & Isaac Treby Fifteen Pounds in Labour and Lumber. 
 
 Pardon T. Tabor Six pounds in Goods. 
 
 Job Tabor Ten pounds in Goods. 
 
 Thomas Coit Fifteen pounds in Labour and Goods. 
 
 Louis Manierre Ten pounds in Goods. 
 
 Esther Prentis Ten pounds in Cash. 
 
 Nathaniel Richards Nine pounds in West India Goods. 
 
 Stephen Maynard three pounds in Dry Goods. 
 
 Samuel Belden Six pounds in West India Goods. 
 
 Thomas Hempsted Three pounds in Team Labour. 
 
 Joshua Hempsted Fifteen pounds in Labour and Lumber. 
 
 Thomas & Giles Mumford in West India Goods, Glass and 
 Lumber Sixty-six pounds. 
 
 Samuel Whitemore Four pounds West India Goods. 
 
 Joseph Hurlbut Twelve pounds in Money. 
 
 Daniel Rodman Twenty-four pounds in Labour or Goods. 
 
 Francis Bayd Winthrop Fifteen pounds in Rum at Cash 
 price. 
 
 Samuel Culver One pound ten shillings in Labour. 
 
 Elisha Hinman Twenty Pounds half in Cash and half in Rum. 
 
 Edward Chappel Fifteen Pounds in Freights. 
 
 John Woodward Fifteen Pounds in dry Goods, 
 
 John Gurdon Five Pounds in Iron Work and Dry Goods 
 
 Robert Manwaring Twelve pounds in Shoes at Cash price. 
 
 Joseph Harris Fifteen Pounds in Labour and Lumber. 
 
 James Tilley Twenty-five Pounds in West India Goods or 
 Labour. 
 
192 LATER HISTORY OF THE FIRST CHURCH. 
 
 Daniel Chapman Five pounds in Labour or Lumber at Cash 
 price. 
 
 George Hallam Six pounds in West India Goods, 
 
 Guy Richards Thirty-five pounds in Labour and Materials 
 for Building. 
 
 -Stephen Bolles Twenty-five pounds toward purchasing a Lot 
 for the Meeting House to stand on. 
 
 Gurdon Saltonstall Twenty pounds State Money including in- 
 terest (suppose equal to) £8 2s. 6d. 
 
 Michael Rice Ten Thousand shingles (say at 16 shillings.) 
 
 These fifty-eight subscriptions amounted to 
 £1267 I2S. 6d; more than the sum which must be 
 subscribed to make them binding. In reading the 
 Hst we are impressed with the wilHngness with 
 which the}4 did what they could. Like Peter and 
 John they were forced to say "Silver and gold have 
 we none, but such as we have we give thee." 
 
 Accordingly May 10, 1785 a meeting of the so- 
 ciety was held, and the following action was taken : 
 "On a report of the Committee that a Subscription 
 for the purpose of Building a new Meeting House 
 had already amounted to £1200, and that the Sub- 
 scribers had agreed to build sd House on a Lott of 
 Land on the West side of Stephen Bolles' Lott; 
 Voted, That this society approves of the place and 
 that a Comtee be chosen to purchase sd Lott and 
 proceed to build the sd Meeting House under the 
 direction of the Subscribers in as expeditious a 
 manner as possible. Voted that David Manwaring, 
 Guy Richards and Thomas Shaw Esqr. be the Com- 
 mittee." These gentlemen being subscribers con- 
 
THE INTERIM. 193 
 
 stituted the committee called for by the fourth arti- 
 cle of the subscription. 
 
 The lot was bought, and Stephen Bolles' receipt 
 for it reads as follows : 
 
 "New London Sept. i, 1785. 
 Received from Guy Richards one of the Comtee 
 for building the New Meeting House Ten pounds 
 in cash — an Order on the Honble Richard Law for 
 Fifteen pounds in cash — an order on Nathel Rich- 
 ards for Nine pounds in West India Goods — an Or- 
 der on George Colfax for Ten pounds in West In- 
 dia Goods, and a Due Bill for Six pounds more in 
 West India Goods, which all Together (with my 
 own subscription of £25 towards building the above 
 mentioned Meeting-House) is in full for a Lott of 
 Land this Day Deed'd to the first Ecclesiastical So- 
 ciety in New London for the purpose of building a 
 Meeting-House thereon." 
 
 Part of the land which comprised the lot of the 
 new meeting-house, was procured of Amasa 
 Learned in exchange for land owned by the society 
 elsewhere. For August i, 1788 the following vote 
 was passed. "Whereas the society are informed 
 that Mr. Amasa Learned offers to give the Society 
 a Lot of Land which he owns adjoining Northward 
 on the meeting house in Exchange for a claim they 
 have to Land where the Town school house former- 
 ly stood, and at or near where Mr. Jesse Edge- 
 comb's house now stands. Voted that the Society 
 Treasurer, be authorized and directed" to make the 
 
194 LATER HISTORY OP THE FIRST CHURCH. 
 
 exchange and issue the proper deeds. The land 
 thus acquired was in the rear of the present house 
 of worship. 
 
 These transactions are an interesting study. In 
 the first place the church, following the center of 
 population and of business moved off the hill where 
 the inhabitants had worshipped God for more than 
 a century and a quarter. In the next place the sub- 
 scriptions are a revelation as to the financial con- 
 dition of affairs at the close of the Revolutionary 
 war. But six subscriptions, amounting to one hun- 
 dred and twenty six pounds were in cash, and one 
 of these could be paid in West India Goods. Two 
 subscriptions were half to be paid in cash. So that 
 but one hundred and forty pounds in money passed 
 hands. But the people gave liberally of what they 
 had. 
 
 Bills in existence show that the work of building 
 the new house of worship was pushed with such 
 vigor as could be brought to bear, and that it was 
 well advanced during the year 1785. This is all the 
 more to the credit of the people in view of the fact 
 that they were as yet a flock without a shepherd. 
 The earliest bill bears date of April 1785, and was 
 for various tools and articles to be used in erecting 
 the proposed house, so that as early as this, if the 
 work had not been begun, it must have been set- 
 tled in the minds of the people that a new meeting 
 house was to be built. Guy Richards and Thomas 
 Shaw were the building committee. Various bills 
 in existence show that they paid out £924 12s. 
 
THE INTERIM. 195 
 
 iiy^d. They had received from subscribers £909 
 17s. II d.; leaving an apparent deficit of £14 15s. 
 3^d. But as several subscriptions were paid in la- 
 bor, the deficiency was probably not real. One 
 James Baxter seems to have been the chief carpen- 
 ter and the architect as well. For he presented a 
 bill of over seventy-four pounds for work done, and 
 another of eight pounds for a "plan for the meeting 
 house and directions about the Fraim." 
 
 There were various other bills for labor, for ma- 
 terials, for boarding workmen, for 106 gallons of 
 rum, etc., all in 1786 which serve to mark this as 
 the year in which most of the work was done. 
 Whatever deficiencies there were seem to have been 
 fully met by the outstanding obligations which the 
 society held against some of the principal men, 
 amounting to over three hundred and thirty pounds. 
 The entire cost of the meeting-house seems to have 
 come within the amount of the subscriptions. 
 
 It was decided to add a steeple to the meeting- 
 house. Accordingly the following subscription pa- 
 per was drawn up : "We the subscribers being de- 
 sirous of completing the outside of the Meeting 
 House and considering the Saving there might be 
 in erecting the steeple at this time, and the preserv- 
 ing of the Bell in the Old House, Do agree and 
 oblige ourselves, to Pay into the hands of the Com- 
 mittee for building the New Meeting House the 
 several Sums and Articles, or Day's Work annexed 
 to our several names respectively ; and we hereby 
 promise to pay the several Sums and deliver the 
 
196 LATER HISTORY OF THE FIRST CHURCH. 
 
 several articles, and do or perform the several Day's 
 Work set to our names to the said Committee, or to 
 their acceptance, when called for by them, to be 
 done and applyed to the building of a Steeple to 
 the said House, always provided that this Sub- 
 scription shall amo to One hundred and fifty 
 pounds, and at least one third of it in cash, or to 
 be void and of no effect. 
 
 New London Augt 19, 1786." 
 
 Then follow a number of signatures, headed by 
 the name of Thomas Shaw who drew up the paper. 
 The total amount subscribed was £126. This sum 
 was not sufficient to secure the subscriptions. But 
 the steeple was finally built, as will be seen further 
 on. 
 
 The work on the house of worship went on till 
 January 5, 1787, when it had progressed so far that 
 the society met and chose a committee to assess the 
 pews and report at an adjourned meeting. Thomas 
 Shaw Esqr., Mr. David Manwaring, Dr. Thomas 
 Coit, Amasa Learned, and George Douglas were 
 chosen as that committee. The adjourned meeting 
 was held January 12 when the report of the commit- 
 tee was read and unanimously approved. The re- 
 port was as follows : 
 
 "The Society's Committee appointed to number and appraize 
 the Pews and designate a mode of Leasing the same, and take 
 into Consideration the Necessary means and provision for the 
 maintenance and Support of a Settled Minister, Report, That 
 the Pews shall be number'd according to the Subjoined List 
 from one to Fifty-nine and Rented annually for no less Sums 
 
THE INTERIM. 197 
 
 than those annexed to their Respective numbers. The aggre- 
 gate Sum being £118-17. 
 
 That the subscribers shall make their Choice of the Pews 
 according to the Amount of their Subscription, or they may 
 be leas'd to the highest Bider, provided no bid shall be made 
 or Taken for any particular Pew, for a less Sum than the 
 same is appraized at. That the Contribution shall be Con- 
 tinued as usual, and the several Lessee's may paper the 
 money they contribute marked with the number of the Pew 
 they Hire, for which they shall receive Credit, provided the 
 Same is not less than Eighteen pence, and at the expiration, 
 of every three months each Lessee shall compleet a Quarterly 
 payment, the Rents of the Pews as Estimated Together with 
 the loose money which will be Collected by the Contributions, 
 the Committee Judge will be equal to the annual Salary of a 
 Settled Minister, and that every one may be Bound and ob- 
 liged to perform his own Contract it may be expedient, that 
 the Several Lessees Sign an agreement in substance like the 
 following — Wee the Subscribers Inhabitants of the first Ec- 
 clesiastical Society of New London Severally agree to hire for 
 the Term of one year the Pews in the new meeting House, 
 the numbers of which are Annexed to our Names, and pay 
 for the same in Quarterly payments the Sums annexed to their 
 numbers respectively." 
 
 In accordance with the suggestions of the fore- 
 going report, the fifty-nine pews were appraised at 
 prices which varied from one pound to three pounds. 
 It was also 'Voted That a Committee be chosen 
 to arrange the Subscribers ^ * * and make report 
 at the next meeting." This arrangement was to 
 be made according to the amount of each subscrip- 
 tion, entithng the largest subscriber to the first 
 choice. Daniel Rodman, Winthrop Saltonstall and 
 Simon Walcott, were chosen as the committee. 
 
198 LATER HISTORY OF THE FIRST CHURCH. 
 
 This committee attended to their duty, ''arranged 
 the subscribers according to the amot of their sub- 
 scriptions," and reported January 19, 1787. Mr. 
 Thomas Shaw stood first on the Ust, and was en- 
 titled to the first choice. "But the society prefer- 
 ring disposing of the Pews at auction, they were 
 bid of as follows." The list shows that every one of 
 the fifty-nine pews was taken for the year, at prices 
 varying from twenty-one to sixty-seven shillings. 
 The total amount of the first sale was £143 i6s. 
 which was £24 19s. more than the committee's ap- 
 praisal. 
 
 At the same meeting the following lease was 
 adopted which each lessee or pew holder was asked 
 to sign. ''We, the Subscribers, Inhabitants of the 
 first Ecclesiastical Society in New London ; Do 
 hereby Covenant and agree, to and with Committee 
 of Said Society from the Day of the Date hereof; 
 to hire a' Pew in the new Meeting House as per the 
 number and Rate, or Sum prefixed to each of our 
 Names respectively; for the full term of one 
 year from the date hereof. In consideration of 
 which we the Subscribers aforesaid. Do hereby sev- 
 erally promise and bind each of our Selves and our 
 heirs to pay unto the Treasurer of Said Society (for 
 the Time being) the sums, or rent of Said Pews as 
 here under Written and affixed to each of our 
 Names in Quarterly payments, (at the end of each 
 and every three months), during the Lease, to com- 
 mence from this Date. Always provided, if any 
 of us, the Said Subscribers, shall neglect or refuse 
 
THE INTERIM. 199 
 
 to pay up Said Rent, as above Written, that the 
 Said Comtee for the Time being shall have Right 
 to enter into Said Leas'd Pew of the Subscriber, so 
 deficient, and Hire out the same to others more 
 punctual in payment. Executed at New London 
 Jany 19th 1787." To this lease were attached the 
 names of well known New Londoners of former 
 days ; as for example Thomas Shaw, Richard Law, 
 Amasa Learned, Guy Richards, Richard Deshon, 
 Winthrop Saltonstall, Timothy Green, Joshua Coit, 
 George Colfax, Samuel Belden, David Mumford, 
 and many others. The matter of paying pew rents 
 under the foregoing lease was not the voluntary 
 affair that it is now. For January 21, 1788, at the 
 close of the first year under the new system it was 
 found necessary to pass the following vote, namely 
 "that the Society Committee be directed to call on 
 those persons that have not paid up their pew rents 
 for the last year and if necessary, commence sutes 
 against them for the immediate Collection." The 
 system thus adopted finally put an end to the ob- 
 noxious method of laying a tax. Though the pew 
 rental was expected to be paid, and sometimes pay- 
 ment was enforced, yet the adoption of the system, 
 which still prevails, was a long step towards a purely 
 voluntary support of the gospel. Not only did 
 those who hired pews sign leases, legally binding 
 them for the payment of the rent, they were also 
 required to give their notes, payable quarterly. 
 Thus April 15, 1793, it was "voted That those per- 
 
200 LATER HISTORY OF THE FIRST CHURCH. 
 
 sons that hired Pews for the Current Year give their 
 Note of hand to the Treasurer payable in quarterly 
 Payments with Interest after Oct. untill paid." 
 
 The last stated services in the old Saltonstall 
 meeting-house on the hill were held in 1786, Miss 
 Caulkins says by Rev. Mr. Patten. Occasional 
 services were held there after Mr. Patten. Rev. 
 John Murray, probably a Universalist, who fre- 
 quently visited Connecticut, preached in the old 
 house, June 21, 1786. The last sermon preached 
 in it was delivered by Rev. Roswell Cook of the 
 North Parish, August 23, 1786, on the occasion of 
 the death of Sally, daughter of Jonathan Brooks. 
 
 The new meeting-house was now so far com- 
 pleted as to be ready for use. There is no account 
 of any dedication. But we know that there was 
 some service of the kind, for an entry in the records 
 of the church speaks of a rededication November 
 8, 1789. The finishing of the new edifice and the 
 erection of a steeple belong to the pastorate of Mr. 
 Channing. 
 
 We turn back now to consider the question of 
 the pulpit supply during the long interval. There 
 are few votes on the parish records relating to this 
 matter. But bills, receipts, and statements, kept on 
 file, furnish data. We have already seen that, on 
 the death of Mr. Woodbridge, a committee of the 
 society was appointed to supply the pulpit ''for the 
 present." Miss Caulkins says that ''such was the 
 confusion of afifairs consequent upon the war, the 
 
THE INTERIM. 201 
 
 continual apprehension of an attack, and the ulti- 
 mate burning of the town, that the Society only 
 engaged preachers by the year, month, or Sabbath, 
 as opportunity offered. Rev. William Adams 
 preached about half the time during the first three 
 years." There is no parish record to show whether 
 this is correct or not. However, he was on the 
 ground, and could be had in an emergency. But 
 the only vote relating to his preaching was taken 
 November 21, 1780, when the committee were in- 
 structed to secure the Rev. Emerson Foster, if they 
 could, if not "to employ the Revd. Mr. Adams or 
 Others as Occasion may Require." Mr. Adams' 
 name is nowhere else mentioned in parish records. 
 However, he supplied the pulpit during that win- 
 ter; and we know that he had preached for the 
 church before this. For we have his own statement 
 showing that he supplied the pulpit thirty-four Sab- 
 baths in the years 1779 and 1780. If he was en- 
 gaged again, in compliance with the vote of No- 
 vember 21, 1780, his services covered a still greater 
 period. There are papers on file which point to 
 his having supplied the pulpit in 1782, 1783, 1784, 
 and 1786; but probably only for a brief period in 
 each year. 
 
 In March 1780 a formal invitation was sent to 
 Rev. C. J. Baldwin to spend a few weeks with the 
 church, evidently with a view to a permanent set- 
 tlement. For April 10, 1780, he wrote the follow- 
 ing letter, which explains itself : 
 
202 LATER HISTORY OF THE FIRST CHURCH. 
 
 To Mess Saltonstall, Green and Richards Comtee of the first 
 ecclesiastical Society in New London. 
 
 Gentlemen: 
 
 Your letter of March 8th is just received. The manner in 
 which your application is couched demands my acknowledg- 
 ment. A desire of so large and respectable a People to be 
 resettled in the Gospel ordinances is so important, that it 
 should be treated with great deference. Am sorry to be ob- 
 liged to inform you that it is not in my power to comply with 
 your request of "my spending a few weeks with you." The 
 campaign is now opening and I should not be able to leave 
 the Brigade for such a time without breaking my connection 
 with the Army, which at present would be disagreeable. The 
 generosity of the People of New London is by no means 
 doubted. Be assured gentlemen, I should not attempt to ex- 
 cuse myself from so agreeable a proposal, were it consistent 
 with my engagements. That the great Head of the churches 
 may provide you a person suited to the importance of such 
 a situation is the hearty Desire of 
 
 Gentlemen 
 Your obedient humble servt 
 
 C. J. BALDWIN. 
 Camp near Morristown 
 
 April 10, 1780. 
 
 It is to be regretted that the letter, to which this 
 is a reply, is not in existence. But the answer re- 
 veals the character of it. It was not a formal call 
 to settle, but it foreshadowed one so strongly that 
 it may safely be said that steps were taken to se- 
 cure him as pastor. He evidently was a chaplain 
 in the Revolutionary army. Nothing further ap- 
 pears concerning him. 
 
 After Mr. Adams, Mr. Niles, Mr. Austin, Mr. 
 Atwater, and Mr. Emerson Foster preached at var- 
 
THE INTERIM. 203 
 
 ious times. So that the pulpit was suppUed with 
 considerable regularity till July 1781. From this 
 date to October 1782, there is no record relating 
 to the supply of the pulpit. October 28, 1782, the 
 society recommended ''that the subscription paper 
 drew up by the late committee be handed to the 
 Inhabitants of this Society for Subscribers towards 
 the paying of the Revd. Mr. Wolcott for his ser- 
 vices, and for the hiring a minister in future as far 
 as the money thus raised will extend." 
 
 The subscription paper referred to was as fol- 
 lows : 
 
 "We, the Subscribers being desirous of sup- 
 porting the public preaching of the Gospel by vol- 
 untary subscriptions, would propose to raise a Sum 
 for the purpose to be applied by the Society Com- 
 mittee (for the time being) for paying the Revd. 
 Mr. Sol. Wolcott for the time he has been here, and 
 to hire a preacher for Three months or more to come 
 and the Committee to be accountable to the Society. 
 We do hereby engage to pay into the hands of sd 
 Committee the several sums annexed to our Names, 
 to be by them applied accordingly. New London, 
 Octo. 4, 1782." This was Rev. Solomon Wolcott. 
 There is no notice of any other preacher till May 
 10, 1785 when the society's committee were instruct- 
 ed to "invite Rev. Mr. Patten to supply the Pulpit 
 whenever his Health shall admit of it." This was 
 Rev. William Patten.* Miss Caulkins says that he 
 
 *Mi8s Caulkins calls him Nathaniel Patten. But there was no Congre- 
 gational clergyman of that name in Connecticut. William Patten was the 
 -son of Kev. William Patten, pastor the South Church, Hartford. 
 
204 LATER HISTORY OF THE FIRST CHURCH. 
 
 preached here during the whole of 1785, and the first 
 part of 1786. All that appears relative to the matter 
 is the vote just quoted. There is good reason to 
 suppose that he occupied this pulpit till nearly, or 
 quite the time when Mr. Channing first came to 
 New London. For in December 1786 Mr. Chan- 
 ning was here as a supply, if not as a candidate, and 
 it is not unlikely that he had preached here frequent- 
 ly during the last half of that year. 
 
 It appears then that we can definitely account for 
 the supply of the pulpit during three years and a half 
 of the interval between the death of Mr. Wood- 
 bridge and the ordination of Mr. Channing. Dur- 
 ing a portion of the time services may have been 
 omitted, owing to the low state of the parish treas- 
 ury, the low spiritual state of the church, and the 
 dilapidated condition of the meeting-house, which 
 rendered it unfit for service in the cold weather. 
 
 Nine children were baptized by neighboring 
 clergymen during the interim. The records show 
 that the halfway covenant was still in use by the 
 church. During this time Joseph Harris and Wil- 
 liam Douglas were chosen deacons. In spite of the 
 absence of a pastor, the functions of a church were 
 not altogether suspended. 
 
 However, the state of religion was very low. The 
 picture, as it is drawn by Miss Caulkins and Dr. 
 Hallam is not a bright one. The long period of 
 the Revolutionary conflict had damaged society. I 
 quote Miss Caulkins' words. 'There was no reg- 
 ular minister of any sect remaining in New London ; 
 
THE INTERIM. 205 
 
 the schools were in a great measure broken up ; 
 wives were without husbands to provide for them ; 
 children were without fathers to guide and govern 
 them. Want was in many instances the parent of 
 vice. For eight years the town had been like a 
 great military garrison ; a resort for privateersmen 
 and state and continental vessels ; it had been kept 
 in continual alarm, scarcely a day passing when the 
 sails of the enemy were not in sight, either hovering 
 like birds of prey, ready to pounce upon the prop- 
 erty of the inhabitants, or skirting like thunder- 
 clouds the distant horizon, menacing an immediate 
 attack ; and at last it had actually been plundered 
 and burnt by the enemy. As a natural result, ig- 
 norance, discord, profanity, and rowdyism were la- 
 mentably prevalent." [Hist. N. L. p. 573.] Rev. 
 Joseph Strong, D. D., of Norwich preached here, 
 not long after the destruction of the town, in the old 
 Saltonstall meeting-house on the hill, which for 
 some reason, did not suffer the fate of the Episcopal 
 church which stood on the parade. The scenes 
 which he describes seem impossible to us. Before 
 service there were loud talking and laughing around 
 the house, in the porch, and even in the pews. Dur- 
 ing the service the whispering, the moving about, 
 and other disturbances were so annoying that it 
 was with difficulty that he proceeded. No sooner 
 was the service over than the uproar began again. 
 The galleries were in tumult. Young people would 
 call out to each other from side to side, and indulge 
 in jesting and laughing illy becoming the time and 
 
206 LATER HISTORY OF THE FIRST CHURCH. 
 
 place. Boys and girls stamped, and pushed each 
 other, and rushed violently out. Before Dr. Strong 
 could reach his lodging place, the young lads, and 
 even some of the men had gathered into parties to 
 play ball, or pitch quoits. The war had ruined the 
 town in more senses than one. The tide of un- 
 belief, which seems to have come in with the close 
 of the conflict, reduced the spiritual life and power 
 of the churches to a state bordering on death. 
 
 The return of peace at last brought back pros- 
 perity. The moral tone of the community began 
 to improve. But the spiritual life of this churchy 
 which had receded from the high mark reached 
 in the Great Awakening of nearly half a century be- 
 fore, into the darkness almost of spiritual death, 
 did not fully recover its tone till the nineteenth cen- 
 tury was well under way. 
 
VIII. 
 
 THE MINISTRY OF HENRY CHANNING. 
 May 17, 1787.— May 21, 1806. 
 
 THE PARISH. 
 
 The first official step, towards this pastorate, was 
 the following vote of the parish, January 19, 1787 — 
 the date on which the pews in the new meeting- 
 house were "bid of." "Voted that this meeting be 
 adjourned to Friday next, then to take into Consid- 
 eration, the calling of a minister to preach to this 
 Society on probation." At this adjourned meeting 
 January 26, it was "voted that the standing Society 
 Comtee be desired to invite Mr. Henry Channing 
 to preach to this society on probation for the Term 
 of three months." It seems that he had preached 
 in New London before this formal vote, but prob- 
 ably as an occasional supply, after Mr. Patten's la- 
 bors ceased. For December 20, 1786, Hannah Oc- 
 cuish, an Indian girl, was executed for the murder 
 of Eunice, the daughter of James Bolles. The gal- 
 lows were erected near the corner of Granite street, 
 in the rear of the old meeting-house. In accordance 
 with the custom of the times, the occasion was im- 
 proved by the delivery of a sermon, which was 
 preached by Rev. Henry Channing of Yale College. 
 
208 LATER HISTORY OF THE FIRST CHURCH. 
 
 It was printed by Timothy Green, and was entitled 
 "God admonishing his people of their duty, as pa- 
 rents and masters." 
 
 The invitation of the society was accepted. For 
 February 13, of the same year, less than three weeks 
 after the vote to invite him to preach here on pro- 
 bation, the society met, and "Voted unanimously, 
 That this Society will give Mr. Henry Channing a 
 Call to Settle as a Gospel Minister in this society, 
 and that they Offer Mr. Channing as a Sallary one 
 Hundred and forty pounds per year as long as he 
 shall continue their Minister." The standing com- 
 mittee were instructed to wait upon him, with a 
 copy of the society's vote, and request his answer ; 
 which they did by a letter dated February 15. Con- 
 trary to the custom of today, and of later Congrega- 
 tional usage, the society took the initial step, and 
 seem to have invited the concurrence of the church. 
 For ''At a Meeting of the First Church of Christ 
 in New London, held March ist 1787, Voted, unan- 
 imously, that this church invite Mr. Henry Chan- 
 ning to settle with them in the Gospel Ministry 
 agreeably to the vote and invitation of the society 
 for that purpose." This vote, as well as that of the 
 society, having been communicated to Mr. Chan- 
 ning, his reply dated March 8 was received and read 
 to a meeting of the society, April 12, 1787. It was 
 as follows : 
 
 New London March 8, 1787. 
 Gentlemen, 
 
 Your Favor of the 15th Ult. communicated a unanimous 
 vote of the first Ecclesiastical Society in this City, inviting me 
 
channing's ministry. 209 
 
 to settle with them in the Gospel ministry. I have also re- 
 ceived the vote of the church in said Society, concurring with 
 the invitation of the society. 
 
 Having taken these communications into serious considera- 
 tion; and having committed my self, as I humbly hope with 
 sincerity and resignation to the guidance of the Father of 
 Spirits, the fountain of wisdom, I am at length prepared to 
 give my answer to the invitation of the Church and Society. 
 
 When I consider the arduous duties which are incumbent 
 upon the Ministers of Christ: "They watch for Souls as they 
 that must give account:" I cannot enter upon the solemn 
 charge without many fears, and a weighty sense of the words 
 of an Apostle "Who is sufficient for these things?" But as I 
 have been led to devote myself to this service, I am willing 
 to spend and be spent in it, believing that "I can do all things 
 through Christ strengthening me." 
 
 I have ever determined to follow the indications of the will 
 of Heaven respecting my settlement in life; hoping to be di- 
 rected to that situation where there should be a prospect of 
 usefulness and mutual happiness. From your representation. 
 Gentlemen, and my own observation, I am led to view this as 
 the present prospect in your Society. 
 
 I do therefore accept the invitation of this church and so- 
 ciety: and do consent to settle with them in the Gospel Minis- 
 try, on the terms proposed by you in behalf of the society. 
 
 May the great Head of the Church own us in this new re- 
 lation, and make us faithful unto death. And may it issue 
 in the salvation of the Souls of many, and in the advancement 
 of the interests of the Redeemer. 
 
 I am Gentlemen 
 Respectfully 
 
 Yr hble Servt 
 HENRY CHANNING. 
 
 The Committee of the first Ecclesiastical Society, New Lon- 
 don. 
 
210 LATER HISTORY OF THE FIRST CHURCH. 
 
 After hearing this letter read, the society voted 
 to settle Mr. Charming, agreeably to their proposal 
 and his answer, and appointed Thomas Shaw Esqr. 
 Mr. Amasa Learned, Mr. David Manwaring, Josh- 
 ua Coit Esqr., and Mr. Jeremiah G. Brainard, a 
 committee to confer with Mr. Channing, fix upon 
 the time of his ordination, and agree upon and in- 
 vite the council. The same gentlemen were also 
 made a committee to make provision for entertain- 
 ing the council and the clergymen attending the 
 ordination. At an adjourned meeting held April 
 26, 1787, Thursday, May 17, was fixed upon for the 
 event. It was also voted to invite the follow- 
 ing clergymen and churches ; Rev. Ezra Stiles D. 
 D., LL. D., President of Yale College; Rev. Samuel 
 Wales D. D., Professor of Divinity in Yale Col- 
 lege ; Rev. Levi Hart of Preston ; Rev. Elijah Par- 
 sons of East Haddam ; Rev. Aaron Kinne of 
 Groton ; Rev. Joseph Strong of Norwich ; Rev. 
 Achilles Mansfield of Killingworth ; Rev. Roswell 
 Cook of Montville ; Rev. William Patten of New- 
 port and Rev. Noah Atwater. All these men, ex- 
 cept Mr. Atwater were present at the council 
 which met on the sixteenth of May. The seven 
 churches invited were represented by delegates 
 as well as pastors. These were Mr. Abiel Holmes, 
 Mr. John Tyler, Deacon Simon Huntington, Mr. 
 Israel Champion, Mr. Samuel Edgecomb, Deacon 
 Joseph Chester, Mr. Job Bissell. Of the council 
 thus composed, Rev. Dr. Ezra Stiles was chosen 
 moderator, and Rev. Elijah Parsons scribe. The 
 
channing's ministry. 211 
 
 usual course was pursued. The papers relating to 
 the call were read, and Mr. Channing was examined 
 as to his "knowledge, faith and experience in 
 Christianity." Upon the question whether the 
 council approved "of him as a person well qualified 
 for the office of a Gospel Minister," and whether 
 the council would proceed to his ordination on 
 the following day, the vote was unanimously 
 in the affirmative. The parts assigned were as 
 follows : Rev. Dr. Stiles was appointed, agreeably 
 to previous arrangements, to preach the sermon; 
 Rev. Mr. Mansfield was to of¥er the opening prayer, 
 the Rev. Levi Hart the prayer of ordination, the 
 Rev. Dr. Wales was to give the charge to the pas- 
 tor, the Rev. Joseph Strong was to extend the right 
 hand of fellowship, and the Rev. William Patten 
 was appointed to offer the closing prayer. There 
 was no charge to the people. On the next day, at 
 nine o'clock in the morning of May 17, 1787, the 
 council met and carried out the order of services 
 provided the day before, as appears from the fol- 
 lowing, quoted from the records of the church. 
 **May 17. The council met according to adjourn- 
 ment and proceeded to consecrate Mr. Channing to 
 the work of the Gospel Ministry, by solemn Prayer, 
 and by laying on the hands of the Revd. Messrs. 
 Stiles, Wales, Parsons, Hart and Strong commit- 
 ting to his charge the pastoral care of said Church 
 and Society." The long interval was over. The 
 church once more had a pastor. For entertaining 
 
212 LATER HISTORY OF THE FIRST CHURCH. 
 
 the council, Pember Caulkins was paid ''Nine 
 pounds Lawful money." 
 
 At this point we may enquire about the man him- 
 self. Rev. Henry Channing was the son of John 
 and Mary Channing of Newport, R. I., where he 
 was born in 1759. He was for a time under the 
 ministry of the famous Rev. Samuel Hopkins, D., 
 D., whose fame and distinction as a theologian 
 have come down to the present. He gave promi- 
 nence to the sterner doctrines in their most pro- 
 nounced form. This strong meat, on which young 
 Channing was fed, between 1770 and 1777 ^^^ ^^t 
 a little to do, it is safe to infer, with determining his 
 future beliefs. 
 
 Henry Channing graduated from Yale College in 
 the class of 1781. He was a tutor in the institu- 
 tion from 1783 to 1786. Evidently he took high 
 rank as a scholar. September 25, 1787, he was 
 married to Sarah McCurdy of Lyme. Mr. Chan- 
 ning probably lived in the parsonage given to the 
 society November 9, 1790 by Mr. Thomas Shaw, 
 which is still standing on Main street. 
 
 An important work which the new pastor found 
 on his hands, was the completion of the meeting- 
 house, whose pews had been rented the week before 
 the society invited him to preach here as a candi- 
 date. At the meeting at which his reply to their 
 call to the pastorate was read, April 12, 1787, the 
 motion was made and carried, "that this Society 
 make application to the General Assembly in May 
 next, to grant a Lottery to raise the Sum of Two 
 
channing's ministry. 213 
 
 Thousand Dollars for the purpose of finishing the 
 new meeting House. Messrs Joshua Coit, Jere- 
 miah G. Brainard and Amasa Learned, Chosen a 
 Comtee to draft a petition for the above purpose. 
 Voted, That the Representatives of the Tov^n to the 
 Genl Assembly, be desired to present the Said Pe- 
 tition to the Assembly and indeavor to obtain a 
 grant for the Same." The petition was drawn up, 
 and successfully presented to the legislature. For 
 on the eleventh of June a society meeting was held, 
 at which the act of the Assembly was read, and a 
 committee of gentlemen chosen as managers of the 
 proposed lottery. The act was as follows : 
 
 "At a General Assembly of the State of Connecticut holden 
 at Hartford on the 2d Thursday of May 1787. 
 
 "On the Memorial of the Inhabitants of the first Ecclesiasti- 
 cal Society in the Town of New London Showing to this As- 
 sembly that, in the course of the late War, they have suffered 
 various Misfortunes, that their Meeting House has gone to 
 Decay and become unfit for a place of Public Worship, That by 
 voluntary Contribution they have raised and Covered a new 
 Meeting House but are unable to furnish the same unless they 
 are Assisted by this Assembly and praying that they may be 
 Authorized and permitted to Raise the sum of Six Hundred 
 pounds by Lottery for finishing said Meeting House as per 
 Memorial on file. Resolved by this Assembly that said So- 
 ciety be and they are hereby authorized and permitted to 
 make a Lottery for the purpose of Raising the sum of Six 
 Hundred pounds, or a less sum as they mayu-Judge expedi- 
 ent and that said Society have Liberty to Appoint such per- 
 sons for the Management as they shall think proper and 
 that said Society in their said Corporal Capacity be Liable 
 for the payment of the several prizes that shall be Drawn by 
 
214 LATER HISTORY OF THE FIRST CHURCH. 
 
 the fortunate numbers and that said Lottery shall be Drawn 
 and Compleated within Eighteen months from the Rising of 
 this Assembly." 
 
 At the meeting of April 12, 1781, it was also "Vo- 
 ted that this Society will attempt to Raise the sum 
 of four hundred pounds by Lottery;" and the fol- 
 lowing gentlemen were chosen as managers of the 
 scheme, namely, Richard Law Esqr., Thomas Shaw 
 Esqr., David Manwaring, Amasa Learned, Guy 
 Richards, Marvin Wait Esqr., and Joshua Coit 
 Esqr. But this lottery scheme never was carried 
 out. For June 28, 1788 it was "Voted that the So- 
 ciety Comt be requested to form a subscription and 
 send around for such Sum or Sums as on Examina- 
 tion they shall judge best for the purpose of paint- 
 ing the meeting house Erecting the Spire making 
 new pews and finishing Sd house, and to be laid 
 before the society at a future meeting." Septem- 
 ber 6, 1788 the committee reported to the society 
 that, agreeably to this vote, they had "formed a 
 Subscription and Sent round for the Sum of Five 
 hundred pounds," for the purposes specified in the 
 vote, and that it "had arrived to" the sum named. 
 A committee was chosen to "Contract with some 
 person or persons," to complete the new house of 
 worship. That committee consisted of Amasa 
 Learned, George Colfax and John Woodward. 
 The subscription referred to was dated June 28, 
 1788 — the day on which the society instructed its 
 committee to make the attempt to raise the money. 
 It was as follows : 
 
channing's ministry. 215 
 
 Wee the Subscribers for the Laudable Purpose of finishing 
 the Meeting House in this society. Building New Pews therein. 
 Painting the House and Erecting the spire, do hereby agree 
 to Pay to Mr. Robert Manwaring or his order the following 
 Sums or Articles to Our Names respectively Annexed, — to be 
 Appropriated in such a manner as shall be directed by a Ma- 
 jority of the Subscribers, Voting according to the Sums by 
 them respectively subscribed, — to be due and Payable as soon. 
 as the subscriptions shall Amount to the sum of Five hun- 
 dred pounds, (The Specific Articles Subscribed to be Esti- 
 mated by a Committee of the Subscribers if necessary) — 
 and if the Subscription shall not arise to sd Sum of Five 
 hundred pounds the Subscribers are not to be holden to their 
 Subscriptions. — Witness Our Hands June 28, 1788. 
 
 Then follow the names to the number of over 
 seventy. Mr. Thomas Shaw headed the subscrip- 
 tion with seventy pounds lawful money; Marvin 
 Wait followed with thirty pounds cash ; Timothy 
 Green and Guy Richards with twenty-five pounds 
 each ; Richard Law with thirty pounds ; Gurdon 
 Saltonstall with forty pounds state money and 
 twenty pounds of indigo. Various other sums 
 were subscribed in cash, in labor, in board for the 
 workmen, in materials of various kinds, in shoe^ 
 in dry goods, in West India goods, in farmers' prod- 
 uce, in rum, etc. A bill of Pember Caulkins' speaks 
 for itself. It is dated June 27, 1788. One of the 
 items is ''two hogsheads, two hundred and ten gal- 
 lons rum, at three shillings a gallon £31-10-0." 
 
 The subscription having reached the sum judged 
 necessary, the committee at once proceeded to let 
 the work of finishing the house, agreeably to the 
 terms of the subscription. At a meeting of the 
 
216 LATER HISTORY OP THE FIRST CHURCH. 
 
 society held September 26, 1788, upon the question 
 whether the society would have the new pews, 
 which were to be made in the meeting-house 
 ''Longe or square pews," it was voted to have them 
 "made square," At the same meeting, in conform- 
 ity with the choice of the subscribers, Messrs. Lear- 
 ned, Colfax and Woodward were again chosen as 
 a committee to have in charge the work contem- 
 plated. They let the work to Mr. Abishai Wood- 
 ward and Mr. Joseph Emerson, with wdiom they en- 
 tered into an agreement, which, like the subscrip- 
 tion paper given above, is quoted from the original 
 document, and reads as follows : — 
 
 This agreement made the 4 day of October 1788 by and be- 
 tween Amasa Learned George Colfax and John Woodward of 
 the Town and County of New London on the one part and 
 Abishai Woodward and Joseph Emerson of said Town and 
 County on the other part witnesseth that said Woodward 
 and Emerson for and in Consideration of reward hereafter 
 mentioned doth agree and promise to finish and Complete the 
 New Meeting House in N. London in manner and form as 
 followeth (viz.) to take dov/n the spire of the Steeple, and 
 repair and replace the same in good order and sufficiently 
 strong Also to make two rows of ballasters round the steeple 
 and case the posts of the same to make a large arch win- 
 dow against the pulpit and a round window in the gable 
 end and to make new thresholds to the doors and point the 
 underpinning and step stones also to finish and Complete 
 the inside of the House in an elegant and workmanlike man- 
 ner some what superior to the work and manner of finishing 
 the church (viz) to put up partitions below and above in the 
 Gallery make three doors below and three doors above make 
 two stair Cases make a new hexagon Canopy suspended by 
 an Iron Rod repair the Deacons' seat make all the pews new 
 
CHANNING'S MINISTRY. 217 
 
 below as well as long pews In the Gallery build an arch over 
 the Center and proper Corners round the foot of the same with 
 Arches at the Ends and under the Gallery the windows in 
 the Gallery to be Cased as those below and Celled as high 
 as the window stools, the front of the Gallery to be finished 
 in a neat and elegant manner the posts to be striped of 
 their Cases and the pillars that support the Gallery and arch 
 to be Cased in an octangular form and fluted with base and 
 Capital the wall posts to be Cased square and fluted with base 
 and Capital double floors to be laid throughout to lath and 
 Plaster the whole, and Paint the Outside and inside twice 
 over with such colours as the Society shall direct except the 
 ceiling under the windows the inside of the pews below and 
 above and said Woodward and Emerson are to furnish all the 
 material that shall be necessary for Completing said work and 
 the Materials to be of the best quality and said work to be 
 Completed and the Meeting House finished as above des- 
 cribed by the first day of Sept. next. 
 
 In Consideration whereof the Said Learned Colfax and Wood- 
 ward doth Agree that Deacon Robert Manwaring shall make 
 over and assign to Said Woodward and Emerson two Sub- 
 scriptions made for the purpose of building and finishing the 
 Meeting House and amounting including thirteen pounds due 
 from said Emerson to five Hundred and Eighty pounds lawfull 
 money — said Woodward and Emerson Taking upon themselves 
 the Collection of the Subscriptions with all risques and de- 
 falcations that shall or may attend the same of every Kind 
 and nature whatsoever in Witness whereof we the Contracting 
 parties have this day Above writtten interchangeably set our 
 
 hands and seals. 
 
 ABISHAI WOODWARD [seal] 
 
 ROBERT MANWARING JOSEPH EMERSON [seal] 
 
 CATHERINE WELLES AMASA LEARNED [seal] 
 
 GEORGE COLFAX [seal] 
 
 JOHN WOODWARD [seal] 
 
218 LATER HISTORY OF THE FIRST CHURCH. 
 
 It is likely that the lottery scheme was dropped, 
 and the new and successful effort made to raise the 
 money by subscription, partly at any rate, if not 
 altogether through the influence of the new pastor. 
 
 As new pews were to be put into the house in 
 place of the old ones which were to be removed, 
 the question of their rental for the year 1789 be- 
 came a somewhat complicated one. Therefore at 
 a society meeting held January 19, 1789 the ques- 
 tion was put ''whether the Society will let out the 
 Pews for one year Subject to the inconvenience of 
 having the present pews pul'd down for new pews 
 to be built, and then to improve the new pews to 
 the end of the year and have the ground rent of the 
 pews continued through the whole of the ensuing 
 year, or only Lease them until they are pulled 
 down." Upon ''division of the house" it was voted 
 to lease the pews for the whole year "subject to the 
 inconvenience affore said." Accordingly they were 
 sold for the year 1789, on the nineteenth day of Jan- 
 uary, for the sum of £125-11-7. After the house 
 was finished there were fifty-eight pews on the floor, 
 and thirty-two in the gallery — a total of ninety 
 pews, of which all but eight were sold in January 
 1790, at the first sale after the house was finished. 
 The rentals on this occasion amounted to £143. 
 The work seems to have been finished nearly at the 
 time called for by the agreement. For on the 
 church records is an entry fixing the date when 
 divine service was resumed in the finished house. 
 It is as follows, "Nov. 8 [1789] This day divine 
 
channing's ministry. 219 
 
 service is attended in the House of worship, it be- 
 ing now completed, and on this day renewedly ded- 
 icated to the worship of Almighty God." 
 
 On the same day Rebecca Mumford was received 
 "from the English Church N. London ;" that is from 
 Saint James. 
 
 There was a clock in the tower of the new church, 
 which seems to have been put there very soon after 
 it was finished. As the following letter shows it 
 seems to have lacked proper care at the first. The 
 letter bears date of December i, 1790, and was writ- 
 ten from Norwich, to Marvin Wait, by one Thomas 
 Harland and reads as follows : 
 
 :Sr. 
 
 Being unwell I sent the Bearer to see what was amiss in 
 your clock from whence he has just now returned. Had the 
 person who winds the clock known where to have apply'd 
 a few drops of oyl the difficulty would have been prevented; 
 from whence you will see the propriety of having the clock 
 wound up by a person who is acquainted with the business. 
 
 Mr. Gurdon Tracey was at my House last week and says 
 He would be glad to wind up and take the whole care of it 
 for a reasonable compensation. Should you see cause to give 
 him the charge of it I have no doubt of his doing it to the 
 satisfaction of all concerned. At the same time should any 
 part of the work fail or give way I shall be ever ready to 
 ■wait upon you at the shortest notice. I am Sir 
 
 Your most obliged humble Servant 
 
 THOMAS HARLAND. 
 
 It seems probable, from this letter that the clock 
 was procured of Mr. Harland, or through him. 
 His suggestion as to Mr. Tracy seems to have been 
 acted upon. For January 9, 1792 the committee of 
 
220 LATER HISTORY OF THE FIRST CHURCH. 
 
 the society gave him an order for "forty shilHngs, 
 being for keeping the clock in repare for one year 
 to this date." Mr. Tracy died before July, for an 
 order was given to "Richard Douglas the 2d, ad- 
 ministrator on the estate of Gurdon Tracey de- 
 ceased," for the sum of £3, 3s. 46, "for taking 
 charge and winding up the clock from Dec. ist 
 1790 to 1st July 1792, being one year and seven 
 months at 40s pr anno." Later orders were given 
 to different men "for keeping the clock in repare 
 and winding it up for the past year." 
 
 In 1793 an order given to Abishai Woodward 
 shows that the meeting-house was then furnished 
 with blinds. In 1794, five years after its comple- 
 tion, it was found necessary to do some work on 
 the tower of the church, as the following shows. 
 
 New London Augt 15, 1794. 
 Sir. 
 
 The Comtee find it necessary to send to New York for an- 
 other Role of Lead, to finish leading the meeting House 
 Tower and request you to Send me of the Society Money 
 
 Fifty Dollars £15-0-0. 
 
 Yr. Huml Servt 
 
 GUY RICHARDS, Comtee. 
 Mr. Robert Manwaring Treasr first Society N. L. 
 
 This work was done before April 1795, at a cost 
 of £8, 7s. In 1804 considerable money was spent 
 in painting and repairing the church. There are 
 bills for gilding the vane, balls, and dials of the 
 clock ; for work, and painting on the steeple ; for 
 paints, white lead and oil; for gold leaf; for "sheet 
 
channing's ministry. 221 
 
 copper bot at Hartford," and various other items, 
 showing that after seventeen years the edifice un- 
 derwent quite extensive repairs. In some of the 
 bills it was called "the Presbyterian Meeting House 
 in this city." 
 
 In the year 1790 Mr. Thomas Shaw deeded to the 
 society a house on Main street, still standing just 
 north of the corner of Richards street. This house, 
 thus put into the possession of the society by the 
 generous gift of Mr. Shaw became the parsonage 
 of the church, and was occupied for that purpose 
 until 1834, when Dr. McEwen purchased and re- 
 moved to the house now occupied by Dr. F. M. 
 Braman, nearly opposite the First Church. The 
 deed of gift was dated November 9, and included 
 the house already named and the grounds belong- 
 ing to it, together with certain other pieces of 
 ground known as the Parsonage Lots, and thus 
 described : ''consisting of two tracts or parcles of 
 land, one of which is bounded northerly and west- 
 erly by land of Thomas Fitch 2d, easterly by Wil- 
 liams street, and southerly by the Hartford and New 
 London Turnpike Road ; and the other is bounded 
 Northerly by said Turnpike Road, Easterly by said 
 Williams street, southerly by land now or late be- 
 longing to David Lewis, and Westerly by land now 
 or late belonging to Gurdon Crocker." That is 
 these lots comprised what is now Williams Park on 
 the north of Broad street, and the land on the south 
 of Broad street now occupied by the houses of Ex- 
 Mayor Johnston, Captain Samuel Belden, Mrs. W. 
 
222 LATER HISTORY OF THE FIRST CHURCH. 
 
 S. Eakin, Mr. C. D. Boss Jr., and also probably of 
 the late W. W. Sheffield. The pastor of the church 
 had an inalienable right in these lands, by virtue of 
 his office, which right helped to make up his annual 
 salary. This gift remained the property of the par- 
 ish till the lots and parsonage were sold in 1850 and 
 51, and the proceeds applied toward the erection 
 of the present house of worship. 
 
 Until 1790 the annual meetings of the parish had 
 been held in January of each year. The pews had 
 been rented at this time for the next twelve months. 
 January 17th, 1791 the following vote was passed. 
 "Whereas it will be more convenient for holding 
 the Annual Society meeting and Leting the pews 
 commence at a Warmer Season of the year. Voted 
 that the Pews be now Let for the term of fifteen 
 months, and that after the Expiration of Said fif- 
 teen months for the term of twelve months annually, 
 and that the Society Comtee be Directed to warn 
 the annual Society meeting as near the 17th Day 
 of april as Convenient." This was the beginning 
 of holding the annual meetings of the society, as 
 is now done, in April. 
 
 Until 1792 the old cemetery had served the town. 
 April 16 of that year a vote was passed by this so- 
 ciety instructing its committee "to consider of pro- 
 curing a place for a new burying Ground ; or enlarg- 
 ing the old one, to be owned by the Town at large, 
 in the same manner as the present Burying ground 
 is owned." They were instructed to confer with 
 any other committee appointed for the same pur- 
 
channing's ministry. 223 
 
 pose, and to take measures to raise the money by 
 subscription to pay for such a burying ground, so 
 as in no way to involve the society in expense. 
 This seems to have been one of the preHminary 
 steps toward securing what was long known as the 
 second burial ground, but is now the beautiful and 
 sightly Memorial Park. The committee appointed 
 by the city was Samuel Wheat, David Manwaring 
 and Richard W. Parkin. March 21, 1793 they were 
 "empowered and directed to purchase Capt. Mel- 
 laly's lot at the price of £120." It was paid for 
 by a tax of four pence on the pound and the ground 
 rents of the city. The first burial in this new cem- 
 etery was that of Mary, the widow of Thomas Rice, 
 who was buried in it May 19, 1793. Distinguished 
 persons were subsequently interred here; Bishop 
 Seabury, whose remains were afterwards removed 
 to the vault of Saint James' Church ; Gen. Jedediah 
 Huntington, whose remains were subsequently re- 
 moved to the family vault in Norwich ; Hon. Rich- 
 ard Law ; Capt. Richard Law ; Hon. Lyman Law 
 and others. 
 
 The bell which hung in the tower of the Salton- 
 stall meeting-house, and which was given to the 
 town by Governor Fitz-John Winthrop in 1698, was 
 removed to the tower of the new house of worship. 
 But in 1794 it seems to have been cracked and ren- 
 dered unfit for use. For July i, of that year Ben- 
 jamin Hanks, of Mansfield, signed the following 
 agreement to furnish a new bell to replace the one 
 which had been in use ninety-eight years. 
 
224 LATER HISTORY OF THE FIRST CHURCH. 
 
 I agree with Mr. Colfax one of the committee of the first 
 society New London to Cast a bell of about 860 lb weigh in- 
 tludelng* the Clapper at 2/ per pound, said Bell to be war- 
 ranted to be good as to sound to the exceptance of the Com- 
 mittee, and warranted to hold sound one year with good us- 
 age said bell is to be delivered at Norwich landing free from, 
 expence to the Committee, and I agree to give directions in 
 hanging the bell at New London. I further a,gree to Receive 
 the old Bell that is brocke at New London at Norwich land- 
 ing at 1/ 5 per pound intludeing* the Clapper in part pay 
 twords the new bell — the new bell is to be delivered at Nor- 
 wich landing in about three weeks from the date, July 1, 1794. 
 
 BENJ. HANKS. 
 
 Evidently this proposition was accepted, and the 
 beU furnished by Mr. Hanks. For the following 
 bond relating thereto was given, sealed, and signed 
 on the seventh day of August : 
 
 Know all Men by there presents That I Benjamin Hanks of 
 Mansfield in Windham County am held and firmly bound to 
 Robert Manwaring of New London in New London County 
 Treasurer of the First Ecclesiastical society in sd New Lon- 
 don and to his Successors in sd Office for use of said Society 
 in the Penal sum of Eighty Pounds L, money (lawful money) 
 to the which payment well and truly to be made and done 
 I bind myself my Heirs etc to sd Manwaring and his Suc- 
 cessors. Signed Sealed etc at New London this 7th of August, 
 1794. 
 
 THE CONDITION of this Obligation is such that Whereas 
 sd Hanks has this day sold a Bell to sd Society and it is now 
 hung up in the Steeple of the Meeting House in sd Society, 
 and said Hanks hereby agrees with sd society, that sd Bell 
 
 *This is the way this word seems to be spelled in the original manu- 
 script and seems to be meant for including. Probably Mr. Hanks spelled 
 the word as he pronounced it. 
 
channing's ministry. 225 
 
 is Sound and every way compleat, and that if it should break 
 or crack within One year from this day being used and man- 
 aged fairly and properly he is to make good the Damage. And 
 there being some flaws in sd Bell sd Hanks agrees that those 
 flaws are no detriment to it, and that if it fails by reason of sd 
 flaws at any time to Come whatever, that he will be ever 
 held to make good all Damage. Now therefore if sd Bell 
 proves Deficient as aforesd, within One year or afterwards 
 proves deficient on accot of sd fiaws — then the above Bond 
 to be in full force but if it proves sound and good then the 
 same is to be void. 
 
 BENJAMIN HANKS [seal] 
 
 This bell probably served the purpose for which it 
 was put in the tower of the meeting-house till 1831, 
 when a new one was purchased. 
 
 In passing it may be noted that money was not 
 always easy with the society or its inhabitants in 
 those days. A list of people who were indebted 
 to it in 1794, principally for pew rents, shows the 
 amount to have been £70-11-2, owed by forty-five 
 men ; some of them the leading men of the town and 
 parish. On this about £5 only, had been paid. 
 This shows the financial straits of those times. 
 For the men whose names are given always gave 
 liberally, and paid promptly when they could. 
 
 Certain votes recorded upon the parish records 
 point to the vital connection which the First Ec- 
 clesiastical Society had with the schools of the town. 
 For example September i, 1786, at a meeting of the 
 First Ecclesiastical Society, it was 'Voted that 
 Messrs Timothy Green, John Hallam and John 
 Owen the Grand school Committee, be a Comtee 
 
226 LATER HISTORY OP THE FIRST CHURCH. 
 
 or agents to Collect in and devise the Society School 
 Moneys Called the new Township money." 
 
 February 3, 1794 "a Society Meeting of the In- 
 habitants legally warned" was held to consult 
 "wheather they will move the school house (where 
 the Free School is now kept) or build a new one." 
 This house here referred to was the one which Hon. 
 Benj. Stark says was built in 1738, and stood "some- 
 where in the open fields west of the present 
 Meridian street." It was the second school house 
 in New London. At the meeting of the inhabit- 
 ants above referred to David Manwaring, George 
 D. Avery and Guy Richards were appointed a com- 
 mittee to apply for permission to use the whole or 
 part of the court house for school purposes. At an 
 adjourned meeting, held February 8, it was voted 
 to make no further proposals ''relative to the Court 
 House" ''that this society (the first school society) 
 will not repair the old School House," and "this so- 
 ciety will build a new School House." Guy Rich- 
 ards, Jared Starr, George Colfax, Nichol Fosdick, 
 William Hempstead, William Richards and Samuel 
 Wheat were appointed a committee to report to a 
 subsequent meeting, "a place where the School 
 House may be most advantageously situated," "es- 
 timate the sum the situation and building may cost," 
 "whether it would be best to build with brick or 
 wood," and "the ways and means to pay therefor." 
 February 15 this committee reported as follows: 
 
 "We, the Subscribers, being by the first School 
 Society Feby 8th, 1794 appointed a Comtee to in- 
 
channing's ministry. 227 
 
 quire for a place where the new School House may 
 be most advantageously Situated, Estimate the Sum 
 the Situation and the building may Cost, and wheth- 
 er it would be best to build with Brick or wood, 
 and the ways and means to pay therefor — Beg leave 
 to report, that after deliberating and advising, take- 
 ing into consideration the number of Boys now at- 
 tending the free School, and the growing State of 
 the Society, that it would be expedient to build a 
 School-House of the following dimensions Viz. — 48 
 feet in Length, 26 feet in Bredth and 10 feet high 
 in the Clear — and instead of a Cellar for Wood your 
 Comtee would recommend a yard — We have also 
 taken into consideration whether it would be most 
 expedient to build with Brick or Wood, and on the 
 best information wt can obtain, from our own cal- 
 culations, and advising with Carpenters and Ma- 
 sons, are of opinion, that a Brick building of the 
 above dimentions in the Clear would Cost £300 — 
 and we are of opinion that a wooden building of 
 the Same Size in the clear would Cost £230 — and 
 by looking over the Grand Levy w^e find that to 
 build with wood a 9d Tax would be necessary and 
 to build a Brick House would require a tax of 1/ — 
 Your Comtee therefore (Considering the Largeness 
 of the Tax) would recommend to build with Wood 
 — as to ways and means, to afifect the same, your 
 Comtee are Unanimously of opinion, that a Tax on 
 the Society is the only eligible mode." 
 
 The committee could not agree upon a site, and 
 so named several. One was ''a Lott Joining north. 
 
228 LATER HISTORY OF THE FIRST CHURCH. 
 
 on John Weld, three Rods front and four Rods 
 deep." Which could be bought for fifty dollars ; an- 
 other was "the old Court House Green (so call'd) 
 which belongs to the public." This was what is 
 now known as Bulkeley Square. A third was "in 
 the Highway at the End of the present Court 
 House." After listening to the foregoing report, 
 the society voted to build a school house of the 
 "dimentions recommended ;" to build it of brick ; 
 to build it "on the Highway, a little South of the 
 Court House," to lay a tax of one shilling "on the 
 Poles and ratable Estate of this Society on Levey 
 1793," "that Capt. Richard Douglas 2d be a Collect- 
 or to Collect said tax forthwith, that a convenient 
 yard for wood be built," and "that Jared Starr 
 George D. Avery and George Colfax be a Comtee 
 to build said house." This school house was ac- 
 cordingly built about on the spot now occupied by 
 the dwelling of Mr. Ralph S. Smith. It is of this 
 school house that Mr. Stark says, "about the close 
 of this period," that is the period beginning with 
 1774, "the third brick schoolhouse for the grammar 
 school was built in the highway at the head of State 
 street, directly south of the Court House. That 
 building was the 'throne' of Doctor Dow for more 
 than forty years. With the end of his long service, 
 in 1834, it ceased to exist." The records quoted 
 above fix the vear in which this school house was 
 built as 1794. 
 
 Various miscellaneous items in the history of 
 the society are of interest. In several instances 
 
channing's ministry. 229 
 
 votes like the following were passed : "Voted 
 that Pew No. 34 be reserved (and not sold) 
 to be for the Use and Improvement for the 
 year ensuing of Sundry Elderly Widows be- 
 longing to the Society." The pews rented in 1788, 
 one year after Mr. Channing's coming, for £ 165 — 
 18, which was an advance of £22 — 2 over the year 
 before. They rented, in the subsequent years for 
 various sums, the largest being £242 — 14 in 1802. 
 The amount of their rental the last year, 1805, was 
 £235 — 5. This sum gave a large margin over Mr. 
 Channing's stipulated salary of £ 140 which was 
 paid to him in quarterly payments of £35 each, as 
 appears from orders on the society's treasurer, and 
 his receipts which are on file. His last receipt is an 
 example of them all, and reads, ''Received, New 
 London, May 28, 1806, of Jacob B. Gurley Esqr. 
 Treasurer of the First Ecclesiastical Society in New 
 London, the sum of Thirty Five pounds Lawf. 
 Money in full of my salary to the Seventeenth of 
 May instant, and to the expiration of my ministry 
 on The Twenty-first instant." This fixes the exact 
 date on which his pastorate came to a close. 
 
 The question of music in the services of the 
 church early commanded attention. We have seen 
 that in the earlier history of the church special priv- 
 ileges as to seats in church were granted to men 
 for ''pitching the psalms." In 1797, at the annual 
 meeting in April it was "voted That the Loos Con- 
 tribution Collected the Courant year be appropri- 
 ated to the use of Encouragement and supporting 
 
230 LATER HISTORY OF THE FIRST CHURCH. 
 
 of Singing in the Society. To be Applyed and Dis- 
 posed of by the Committee at their Discretion." 
 Similar votes were passed in the two following 
 years. There are also various receipts relating to 
 the same matter, which show that the old fashioned 
 singing school was sustained by the society. For 
 example, one bill makes the society debtor to 
 George Harris "To one Quarter's Tuition of Sing- 
 ing School beginning 17th of July and ending 17th 
 of Oct, as per agreement with the Singing Com- 
 mittee. £3-5-0." Other receipts show that James 
 Beebe, who was the sexton, received extra pay for 
 attending the singing school, at the rate of one 
 shilling and three pence a night. George Harris 
 seems to have taught during 1797, 1798 and 1799. 
 In 1800 John Woodward appears to have been the 
 singing master. In 1802 an order on the treasury 
 of the society was given by Guy Richards, one of 
 the singing committee, to Col. Eliphalet Bulkeley, 
 for "Forty Dollars (out of the singing funds) being 
 for use of his House etc., for the accommodation 
 of the Singing School, and charge the same to the 
 singing accot." In 1804 the society instructed its 
 committee to "agree with Asa Dutton to teach a 
 Singing School in this Society the year ensuing, and 
 that the Society Committee make a Collection in 
 the usual way in the Meeting House once in each 
 month for the Support of Psalm Singing." A sim- 
 ilar vote was passed at the annual meeting in 1805. 
 In October of the same year a meeting was warned, 
 one item of whose business was "to devise some 
 
channing's ministry. 231 
 
 mode for the improvement of Psalm Singing in 
 Said Society." At this meeting it was voted to in- 
 struct the committee to contract with a suitable 
 teacher ''to teach psalm Singing in this Society for 
 one year next ensuing." 
 
 Later on one Lyman Peck was singing master. 
 To this office he seems to have added the duties 
 of chorister. Probably the other singing masters 
 combined the two offices. In 1807 Majr. J. P. Trott 
 presented a bill of $78.98 for "articles furnished and 
 expenses paid * * * on account of singing school." 
 Among the items are ten dollars paid to ''Doctr. 
 T. H. Rawson for 20 nights use of Mason Hall @ 
 50 cts," and "Cash paid Mr. S. Huntington $43.62." 
 These singing schools of the early days raised 
 a generation of men and women who could sing 
 the praises of God in the sanctuary, if they were 
 not musicians. 
 
 The contribution box was passed at each service 
 till 1797 when the society voted to discontinue the 
 practice. But it was further "Voted That the Con- 
 tribution be continued for the Box to be Carried 
 Round once in Each Quarter." Later this vote was 
 modified to read once each month. 
 
 Mr. Channing found that his salary was not 
 sufficient for the needs of a growing family. Ev- 
 idently the people became aware of the financial 
 difficulties under which their pastor was labor- 
 ing. For in 1796, a year in which the pews 
 rented for over £212, a subscription was made 
 for his benefit, which read as follows : "Wee 
 
232 LATER HISTORY OF THE FIRST CHURCH. 
 
 the subscribers being sensible that in Consequence 
 of the present high price of the necessarys of Life, 
 the Revd. Mr. Channing's Salary is inadequate to 
 his Family Expenditures. And feeling ourselves 
 under an Equitable Obligation to make him some 
 Compensation on account thereof, Do hereby en- 
 gage to pay into the hands of Capt. Richd Doug- 
 lass on Demand for said purpose the sums by us 
 severally subscribed. New London 22d Jany 
 1796." Then follow subscriptions to the amount 
 of $185, which were paid over to him as his receipt 
 shows. The following year, January 21, 1797, he 
 addressed a formal letter to the society upon the 
 inadequacy of his salary. An extraordinary defi- 
 ciency in the pastor's annual stipend had arisen 
 which the society were to consider at a special meet- 
 ing on the twenty-third of the same month. In 
 the letter he laid the case before the society and 
 practically asked that his salary be increased. The 
 letter was as follows : 
 
 To the committee of the First Ecclesiastical Society in New 
 
 London. 
 Gentlemen: 
 
 I had, though reluctantly, determined to address the society 
 at their annual meeting in April next, both, upon the absolute 
 deficiency of my permanent salary, and that which has arisen 
 from the late increased prices of the necessaries of life. 
 
 Being informed that you have notified a meeting of this so- 
 ciety to be held at their church, on Monday the 23d Inst., 
 for the purpose of considering, on the principles of equity, 
 respecting a compensation for the extraordinary deficiency in 
 my Salary which has lately arisen, I now deem it unnecessary 
 
channing's ministry. 233 
 
 for me to make any observations upon that subject. I must 
 however, take opportunity to state to you, for the information 
 of the Society, that my Salary since my settlement, excepting 
 in one year, has fallen short of the necessary expenditures 
 for the support of my family; and, that this deficiency was 
 very considerable before the late enhanced price of provisions. 
 
 Permit me, Gentlemen, to observe, this cannot afford a very 
 pleasing prospect to a man in early life, who ought to feel as 
 a man, for his young family, and who ought to regard the 
 declaration of an Apostle, 1 Timothy 5: 8. "But if any pro- 
 vide not for his own, and specially for those of his own 
 house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel." 
 
 Many of this parish know so well the expenses of a fam- 
 ily, that I need not inform them, if my own property had 
 not supplied the annual deficiency of the Salary, I should at 
 this time be an insolvent debtor. But while in the prime of 
 life, I thus draw from the resources of my family to meet 
 their exigencies, am I not acting the part of a dishonest man; 
 am I not doing injustice to myself and my family? As a Min- 
 ister, am I under an obligation to devote a larger proportion 
 of my own interest to the support of the Ministry here, than 
 any other friend to religion and to the Society? I frankly 
 acknowledge, I neither know nor feel such an obligation. 
 
 In bringing this subject before the Society, I do not wish 
 to avail myself of that partiality for me as their Minister, 
 of which I have ever received unequivocal proofs from the 
 individuals who compose it. I am indeed happy in sincerely 
 reciprocating the assurance of my attachment, and of my 
 solicitude for the peace and welfare of the Congregation. To 
 these considerations I have already made great sacrifices; 
 but it would be unreasonable to expect or require that I 
 should continue to make them. 
 
 Suffer me now to request that, in considering this subject, 
 it may be discussed upon general principles, independent of 
 personal considerations: As I should be pained to be under- 
 stood as wishing to cast myself upon the friendship of others 
 for a support, at this period of my life. If the services of a 
 
234 LATER HISTORY OF THE FIRST CHURCH 
 
 Minister do not merit an ample support, certainly the So- 
 ciety ought not to grant it. I have therefore only to request, 
 that they would take into consideration the statement which 
 I have now made, and, as soon as may be, communicate to 
 me their determination. 
 
 I cannot close this letter without adding that my constitu- 
 tion has been, for several years, so much injured by a stud- 
 ious and sedentary life, that, had I not enjoyed better health 
 the present winter, I should not have called the attention 
 of the Society to the present subject; but, considering the 
 claims of my health of more importance, should have urged 
 the necessity of dissolving our connection. 
 
 I am Gentlemen, 
 With Every Sentiment 
 of Respect and Affection 
 
 Yours Sincerely 
 HENRY CHANNING. 
 New London Jany 21, 1797. 
 
 This letter was laid before the special meeting of 
 the society January twenty-third. At that meeting 
 it was "voted that this society grant to the Revd 
 Mister Channing Sixty Pounds (to be paid out of 
 The Society Treasury as soon as the Treasurer shall 
 Be in Cash to that amount) in Consideration of 
 The advanced price of the Necessarys of Life — Vo- 
 ted That the Consideration of the Revd. Mr. Henry 
 Channing's Letter (this day laid before the meet- 
 ing) be postponed to the Annual Meeting in April 
 next, and that the Standing Committee of the So- 
 ciety be Requested to confer with him in the mean 
 time, on the Subject matter of his letter, and Report 
 to Said Annual Meeting." 
 
 This action was practically an acknowledgment on 
 
channing's ministry. 235 
 
 the part of the parish that the salary paid the pastor 
 was not adequate to the increased expense of Hving. 
 But it was not an answer, as Mr. Channing at a 
 later date observed, to the request for an increase of 
 salary made in his letter of January twenty-first. 
 In fact his request was not acted upon at all, nor 
 was the subject of it discussed at that or any sub- 
 sequent meeting. It did not receive the attention 
 it deserved. If the society were paying as large a 
 salary as they were able to pay they should have 
 so stated in a definite and courteous reply to the 
 pastor's request. 
 
 The committee conferred with Mr. Channing as 
 directed by vote of the society. In the call for the 
 annual meeting to be held April 17, 1797, was this 
 item of business, "to take Into Consideration the 
 Expediency of Raising the Reverend Mr. Chan- 
 ning's Sallery." It was "Voted That the further 
 Consideration of the Reverend Mr. Channing's 
 Letter to the Society, and the General Subject of 
 augmenting his Sallery, be continued to the An- 
 nual Meeting in April 1798." At that meeting no 
 action was taken upon Mr. Channing's request, 
 made in his letter of the year before. But in view 
 "of the advanced price of the Necessaries of Life," 
 the Treasurer was instructed to pay him £50, as 
 soon as he should have cash to that amount. In 
 1799, at the society's annual meeting, a motion was 
 made to make another extra grant to the pastor, as 
 had been done the previous years. But as consid- 
 erable repairs were needed upon the parsonage, 
 
236 LATER HISTORY OF THE FIRST CHURCH. 
 
 which, in the opinion of the committee, would "ab- 
 sorb all the funds that would be in the treasury at 
 the close of the year," the motion was withdrawn. 
 The matter does not appear to have come up again 
 till October 1805. Dr. McEwen says that it was 
 brought to the attention of the society by the pas- 
 tor himself, on account of the attitude which he 
 took, while acting as moderator of a council, at 
 Mansfield, called that month to dismiss the Rev. 
 John Sherman, who had become a Unitarian. Mr. 
 Channing espoused his cause so openly and strong- 
 ly as to call forth the censure of the council. Dr. 
 McEwen says that Mr. Channing, to test the ques- 
 tion in his own church, asked the society to increase 
 his salary, or unite with him in calling a council to 
 dismiss him. The request for dismission was not 
 made till March 1806. But the request for an in- 
 crease of salary was renewed in September, 1805, 
 and may have been repeated in October, soon after 
 the council in Mansfield; though there is nothing 
 but Dr. McEwen's statement to show that it was 
 repeated. As he came on the ground in 1806, he 
 was not likely to be in error about the matter. Oc- 
 tober 14, 1805, at a special adjourned meeting of 
 the society, evidently held in response to the request 
 which had been renewed in September, and at which 
 the expediency of increasing Mr. Channing's sal- 
 ary was one of the items of business to be con- 
 sidered, it was voted "that the subject of further al- 
 lowance to the Revd. Mr. Channing as a compensa- 
 tion for his services be postponed to our annual. 
 
channing's ministry. 237 
 
 meeting in April next, [1806] and in the mean 
 time that our committee be requested to confer with 
 Mr. Channing on the subject and make report 
 thereof." Evidently the committee did not confer 
 with Mr. Channing except through the medium of 
 the following letter, written in October, 1805 : 
 
 Revd. Sir. 
 
 Your Letter bearing date the 21st of Jany 1797, addressed 
 to the Comtee of the first ecclesiastical society in this Town 
 (relative to the scantiness of your salary to meet the annual 
 necessary expenditures for the support of your family) was 
 duly received and laid before the then next society meeting, 
 holden on 23d Day of Jany 1797, at which meeting the Society 
 Voted the sum of £60, to be paid to you out of the Society 
 Treasury, on account of the advanced price of the necessaries 
 of Life and at their annual meeting on the 7th Day of April 
 1798 [the meeting was warned April 7, but held April 16, ac- 
 cording to the Parish Records] the meeting voted you a fur- 
 ther Sum of £50 to be paid, as aforesaid in consideration of 
 the advanced price of the necessaries of Life, both which 
 sums we presume you received. 
 
 At the annual meeting the year following, viz. on the 15th 
 Day of April, 1799, there was a motion made to make you 
 another Grant, but it being observed by the Comtee that the 
 Parsonage house wanted considerable repairs, and that the 
 necessary repairs would likely absorb all the funds that would 
 be in the Treasury at the Close of the year, the motion was 
 withdrawn, and the funds of the Society were accordingly 
 appropriated and expended in repairing the Parsonage house. 
 Since that time to the present year the surplus funds of the 
 society over paying the regular annual expenses of the Society, 
 have been expended in repairs on and about the Meeting 
 house. Lately a society meeting was notified, to be holden 
 on the first Monday of Octor Instant, and among other things 
 to take into Consideration the expediency of ading to Mr. 
 
238 LATER HISTORY OF THE FIRST CHURCH. 
 
 Channing's salary. The meeting being very thin (on account 
 of the City Court sitting on the same day) thought it im- 
 proper to act on the business relative to Mr. Channing, and 
 adjourned for further consideration of the question to Mon- 
 day the 14th Day of Octor Instant, When the meeting again 
 convened, and the business relative to ading to Mr. Chan- 
 ning's salary, or making him another grant, was taken up, 
 it appeared by a statemt from the society Treasr that there 
 was not any money in the Treasury at this time, but there 
 probably would be at the close of the year ending in April 
 next (over paying the regular Demands against the society) 
 about £50. There was considerable said in the meeting on the 
 reasonableness of a further Grant to Mr. Channing, but this 
 meeting being also thin, and there being no money at present 
 in the Treasury, it was thought most expedient to adjourn 
 the further consideration of the business untill the annual so- 
 ciety meeting in April next, and the society Comtee were 
 requested in the mean time to confer with Mr. Channing on 
 the subject, and make report to the next meeting. [April 
 1806] The Comtee will wait on Mr. Channing for the purpose 
 aforesaid, whenever it will be agreeable to him. We are 
 with sincear respect and esteem 
 
 Yr affectionate friends 
 
 GUY RICHARDS 
 GEORGE COLFAX 
 EDWD CHAPPELL 
 Society Comtee 
 
 For some reason, the foregoing letter was not 
 delivered to Mr. Channing until the evening of 
 March 3, 1806. Mr. Channing's salary was never 
 increased. Various reasons suggest themselves, 
 why the request of his letter of January 21, 1797, 
 was never compUed with. One may have been that, 
 while the amount of pew-rentals was sufficient, yet 
 
CHANNING'S MINISTRY. 239 
 
 very considerable abatements were frequently made 
 in the case of persons unable to pay. Besides, con- 
 siderable repairs on the parsonage and on the meet- 
 ing-house at various times consumed the money ac- 
 tually in the hands of the society with which to in- 
 crease the pastor's salary. But probably a more 
 serious reason was, a growing dissatisfaction with 
 the views which Mr. Channing had adopted and 
 advocated — a feeling which was brought to a crisis, 
 as we have seen, by his pronounced course at the 
 council in Mansfield. But whatever the reason for 
 not complying with his request, silence was not its 
 proper answer ; especially in view of the fact that 
 grants made to him in addition to his regular sal- 
 ary were an acknowledgment that it was too small. 
 His letter to the society of January 21, 1797, de- 
 manded a definite response which it never received. 
 The matter was put over from year to year, and 
 never definitely answered, except by silence. He 
 had reason to feel aggrieved. This is the nearest 
 approach to uncivil treatment of a pastor which can 
 be found in the history of the church. That it was 
 not so intended we have reason to believe. For, as 
 somewhat relieving the course which the society 
 pursued, it is to be said not only that generous 
 grants were made to him during his ministry but 
 also that, after his dismissal, a subscription was 
 made, and a generous sum was presented to him 
 by leading men in the society. The paper reads as 
 follows : 
 
240 LATER HISTORY OP THE FIRST CHURCH. 
 
 New London Society- 
 June 1806. 
 
 Whereas this Society did in the year 1797 make an extra- 
 ordinary grant to the revd Mr. Channing of Sixty pounds on 
 account of the enhanced price of the necessaries of life, and 
 in the following year did grant fifty pounds for the same con- 
 sideration; since which no similar grant has been made, al- 
 though the reason for the same has continued much the 
 same — 
 
 In order in some measure to indemnify the revd Mr. Chan- 
 ning for the deficiency of his salary, we the Subscribers prom- 
 ise to pay the sums to our names annexed to the Treasurer 
 of the Society, to be by him paid over to Mr. Channing; and 
 the Treasurer is requested to place this subscription on the 
 records of the Society. 
 
 To this are appended eight subscriptions, one of 
 one hundred dollars by Elias Perkins, one of eighty 
 dollars by Jedediah Huntington, one of thirty-five 
 dollars by Guy Richards, one of thirty dollars by 
 Nat. Richards, and four of twenty dollars each by 
 Edward Chappell, Samuel Green, David Douglas 
 and James Lee ; the whole amounting to three hun- 
 dred and twenty-five dollars. Mr. Channing's ac- 
 knowledgment of the receipt of the money, so 
 subscribed, from Jacob B. Gurley, the Society's 
 Treasurer, is on the back of the subscription paper, 
 and is dated New London April i, 1807 — nearly a 
 year after his dismission. This was the end of an 
 unpleasant matter which had been suffered to drag 
 its weary length along for nearly ten years. It 
 was a just, as well as generous act on the part of 
 the foremost men in the society and in the town, 
 
channing's ministry. 241 
 
 and proved that, however they might dissent from 
 his views, they highly esteemed the man for his per- 
 sonal worth. 
 
 The narrative which relates to the ending of his 
 pastorate, with the steps leading to it, belongs to the 
 chapter which concerns his relation to the church. 
 
IX. 
 
 THE MINISTRY OF HKNRY CHANNING; 
 HIS RECORD OF HEAI^TH. 
 
 An interesting book kept by Mr. Channing dur- 
 ing his entire pastorate is still in existence. Its title 
 is : — 
 
 "The Annual Bills of Mortality 
 
 In the City of New London, 
 
 From the year 1787; 
 
 Belonging to the Ministers of the 
 
 First Church, and 
 
 Recorded by them." 
 
 The records begin May 17, 1787, the day of his 
 ordination. On the fly-leaf of the book is this rec- 
 ord. "The number of Inhabitants within the City 
 of New London ; extracted from the schedule of the 
 Marshal of the District. The numeration of the 
 Inhabitants being made by act of Congress Jany 
 28th, 1791. Males 1177; Females 1288; Total 
 ^465. Of the above 138 were blacks, of which 95 
 are slaves." This was the first census of the United 
 States. Connecticut was the eighth state in the 
 Union in point of population, and had 237,946 in- 
 habitants. Virginia headed the list with a popula- 
 tion of 747,610. 
 
channing's ministry. 243 
 
 On the same fly-leaf Mr. Channing also made 
 this record ; "The number of inhabitants within the 
 City of New London according to the census A. D. 
 1801. Males and Females 2931 Increase 466 since 
 the last census." Again Connecticut stood eighth 
 on the list with a population of 251,002 ; an increase 
 over the last census of 13,056, or a little less than 
 six per cent. It will be seen that New London 
 gained in population more than three times as rap- 
 idly as the state, the gain being almost exactly nine- 
 teen per cent. 
 
 The year 1798 was the year of greatest mortality, 
 when the number of deaths reached one hundred 
 and eleven, or about one in every twenty-six and 
 a half of the whole population. The death rate was 
 so large as to attract wide attention. An epidemic 
 known as the Yellow Fever broke out and prevailed 
 with considerable malignity and great fatality, in 
 certain quarters of the city during the months of 
 August, September and October. Mr. Channing's 
 account gives the details of the scourge. It is as 
 follows : 
 
 "Posterity will notice the Bill of Mortality from 
 Jany 1798 to Jany 1799, is unusually large for this 
 city. The increase arose from a fatal pestilential 
 fever, commonly called the Yellow Fever, which ap- 
 peared in the part of the city a few rods south of 
 the Market, where the first death occurred with this 
 disease Aug. 26th 1798; the last death was Octo- 
 ber 25th, when the disease disappeared. It pre- 
 vailed principally in the space of about 30 rods 
 
244 LATER HISTORY OF THE FIRST CHURCH. 
 
 North and South of Capt. Bingham's tavern, about 
 20 rods south of Market, who was the first person 
 that died." The disease was most violent in the 
 northern part of Bank street, where it broke out. 
 Mr. Bingham, the first victim, kept the Union Cof- 
 fee House. He died and was buried on Sunday. 
 In about eight weeks two hundred and forty-six"^ 
 were attacked by the disease of whom about ninety 
 died. 
 
 Further particulars were given in "an account of 
 the Pestilential disease which prevailed at New 
 London (Connecticut) in the Summer and Autumn 
 of 1798 communicated in a letter from the Rev. 
 Henry Channing to Doctor Mitchell in New York." 
 The letter is as follows : 
 
 New London, Jany 17, 1799 
 Sir: 
 
 Your request that I would make such communications to 
 you respecting the late pestilential disorder in this City, as 
 might aid your researches into its origin, etc. in the United 
 States, was communicated by Mr. Stewart in his letter of 
 Deer 19th. I have been prevented by the severity of the sea- 
 son, and many avocations paying an earlier attention to your 
 wishes. 
 
 I continued in the city during the prevalence of the dis- 
 order; yet, not depending entirely on my own observation dur- 
 ing that period, I thought it advisable to consult with gentle- 
 men who had more extended means of information than my- 
 self. I accordingly requested Dr. Coit, Dr. James Lee, Mr. 
 John Woodward and Mr. Ebenezer Holt, junr. two members 
 
 *Miss Caulkins gives the number as 350, but Mr. Channing, who was on 
 the ground, gives this as the number. The population at the time was about 
 2500. Nearly one in ten were victims of the epidemic. 
 
channing's ministry. 245 
 
 of our worthy and indefatigable committee of health to meet, 
 and conferred with them upon the subject. 
 
 We ascertained, with a precision to be relied on, that the 
 whole number of persons whose complaints were strongly 
 marked, and clearly indicated the pestilential, or, as it is 
 called, the Yellow Fever, did not exceed 246: and I give it 
 you as a very important fact, on which you may rely, that, 
 of the above number, 231 cases were clearly traced to the 
 spot where the sickness commenced, that is, the patients 
 were conversant, or had been in that part of the city a few 
 days before they were seized. The part in which the Septic 
 Gas appears to have been so highly concentrated, extended 
 sixty rods north and south, about thirty rods each way from 
 the house first affected, and about twenty rods west, being 
 bounded easterly on the harbour. 
 
 As we have not even a shadow of ground to suppose the 
 disorder was not of domestic origin, we are urged critically 
 to investigate the cause within ourselves. I confess that at 
 the time when my fellow-citizens began to take the alarm, 
 I could not admit the idea, that a pestilential disorder could 
 originate and progress in a place so happily situated as this; 
 for added to an elevated situation, with scarcely any low 
 lands to generate marsh-miasma, we have a deep, spacious 
 harbour, near the sea, from which we are favored with re- 
 freshing sea-breezes through the summer. And indeed, as 
 might be expected, this city has ever been famed for the 
 purity of its air and health of its inhabitants. But I have been 
 constrained to admit, that, under the influence of summer 
 heats, exceeding in intenseness and duration, what has ever 
 been experienced by the oldest inhabitants, some latent cause 
 has been brought into action and generated a disorder new 
 and truly alarming. 
 
 As almost all the cases which occurred are clearly traced 
 to a communication within the above mentioned limits, and as 
 scarcely a single person escaped the disorder who resided 
 in that part of the city, there alone must we look for the 
 
246 LATER HISTORY OF THE FIRST CHURCH. 
 
 cause which, under the providence of the Almighty God, pro- 
 duced this dreadful scourge. 
 
 It appears that there was a large quantity of dried fish 
 in a bad state, in four or five stores, within twenty or thirty 
 rods of each other, and all in the limits referred to. These 
 fish were taken in the Straits of Bellisle, which being a high 
 northern latitude, they were cured with a much less quantity 
 of salt than usual. They were brought to this port in the 
 autumn of 1797. The heat of the summer in 1798, having been 
 very great, many of these fish were found to be in a moist, 
 slimy state early in August last. From a quantity lying in 
 bulk, in a store occupied by Mr. Jones (who fell a victim to 
 the epidemic) a quantity of green and yellow purulent mat- 
 ter ran upon the floor. It was thought by the owners, that 
 if they were spread in the sun, in the open air, the fish 
 might be preserved, which was done, extending them a con- 
 siderable distance in the streets and wharves. While thus 
 exposed to the excessive heat of the sun, with light winds, 
 the effluvia in the neighborhood were very offensive, as I 
 have been informed by many gentlemen who passed in that 
 street at the time. It was also noticed, at other times, that 
 people were assailed with a very nauseous stench in passing 
 through that part of the city. Whether this proceeded from 
 the fish, or a quantity of whale-oil which was in the same 
 store, or from the overflowing vault of an old privy, which 
 belonged to the family first attacked, and was very offensive, 
 I can not ascertain. 
 
 It is to be particularly noticed, that the heat of the last 
 summer exceeded both in intensity and duration, what has 
 been known within the memory of the oldest inhabitants. 
 This excessive heat was attended with an unusually dry at- 
 mosphere, no thunder showers, light winds, and calms in the 
 day, and calm nights, for five or six weeks successively, 
 with the exception of a few nights. As the degree of heat, 
 with the prevailing state of the air, may be considered as im- 
 portant, in the course of your investigation, I shall subjoin 
 my observations, taken from Farenheit's Thermometer, placed 
 
channing's ministry. 247 
 
 in the open air, at the north end of the house, about eight 
 feet from the ground. These observations were continued to 
 Aug. 28th, when Mrs. Channing's illness having become very- 
 distressing, and closing in her death, Sept. 6th, I was pre- 
 vented attending further to the subject. 
 
 Before I close my letter, I would mention a particular case, 
 which may be considered as very clearly pointing to the fish, 
 as a principal, if not the only cause of this distressing epi- 
 demic. A captain of a coasting vessel, belonging to this 
 place, took in about twenty quintals of fish from three of the 
 stores, on the 21st or 22d of August, and sailed for Hart- 
 ford. He had them packed in hogsheads there, and delivered, 
 on the 3d September, on board a boat bound to a town in Ver- 
 mont. The fish were very soft and moist, and were very dis- 
 agreeable while on board the vessel. On the 8th of Septr in 
 the night, he was taken ill, and reached home on the 9th, and 
 his illness proved a serious attack of our pestilential fever. 
 
 I have thus endeavored to give you, in detail, all the facts 
 of which I am possessed, which may cast some light upon the 
 very important subject of your researches. May heaven pros- 
 per your exertions, direct as to the means of safety, and de- 
 liver us from this pestilence which has hitherto walked in 
 darkness. 
 
 I am, Sir 
 
 Yr Obedt Servt 
 HENRY CHANNING. 
 
 The observations referred to in the foregoing let- 
 ter are as follows : 
 
 Mbteoeological Obseevations, from Farenheit's Theb- 
 mometer5 in the open aie, noeth shade. 
 
 New London, 1798. 
 
 July 25th at Merid 92° 1 P. M. 95° 3 P. M. 88° 
 
 " 29th " " 89 
 Augt 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7th no observations; only intense heat. 
 Augt 8 M. 89° 
 
248 LATER HISTORY OF THE FIRST CHURCH. 
 
 Augt 9 10 A. M. 90° M. 93°, 3 P. M. 97°, 5 P. M. 93° 
 "10 90° " 92°, 2 P. M. 94°, 3 P. M. 92° 
 
 Remark. Upon removing the Thermometer within the 
 chamber the mercury descended from 92° to 89°, in fifteen min- 
 utes and continued descending. 
 Augt 11 at 10 A. M. 90°, M. 87«^ 3 P. M. 87°. 
 
 Remark. The heat has been intense for a fortnight past, and 
 has been attended with very dry weather upon this part of the 
 coast; only one thunder storm having occurred in the time. 
 Augt 12th at 10 A. M. 86°, Merid 89°, 3 P. M. 89° 
 
 13th 
 
 85°, 
 
 
 92°, 
 
 87° 
 
 nth and 15th heat not so 
 
 intense. In forenoon 89° 
 
 15th showers 
 
 1 without thunder. 
 
 
 16th at 10 A. 
 
 M. 86° 
 
 Merid 87°, 
 
 3 P. M. 86° 
 
 17 •* " 
 
 ♦• 85 
 
 (( 
 
 91 
 
 87 
 
 18 
 
 85 
 
 i( 
 
 87 
 
 88 
 
 19 
 
 " 80 
 
 ( ( 
 
 86 
 
 89 
 
 20 
 
 
 t ( 
 
 82 
 
 
 21 
 
 
 (( 
 
 87 
 
 
 22 
 
 
 (( 
 
 87 
 
 84 
 
 23 
 
 
 ( i 
 
 82 
 
 
 24 
 
 
 li 
 
 78 
 
 
 25 
 
 
 t c 
 
 88 
 
 
 26 
 
 *' 87 
 
 <( 
 
 92 
 
 2 P. M. 94 
 
 27 
 
 •' 80 
 
 < < 
 
 82 
 
 3 P. M. 87 
 
 28 
 
 
 « 
 
 82 
 
 
 Mr. Channing wrote a second letter to Doctor 
 Mitchell of New York, which reads as follows : 
 
 New London Feby 19th, 1799.- 
 Sir, 
 
 I wrote you the 17th of January last, and stated such facts 
 as I conceived important In assisting your investigation of 
 the causes of our late epidemic. I then mentioned that a very 
 nauseous effluvium was frequently noticed in that part of this 
 city where the epidemic began and prevailed. When I wrote, 
 I could not ascertain, as was observed in my letter, whether 
 
channing's ministry. 249 
 
 this effluvium proceeded from the putrid fish, whale oil, or 
 the overflowing vault of an old privy belonging to the house 
 where the first patient died. Since writing, I have more 
 carefully examined the premises, and am satisfied that the 
 stench proceeded from the privy. It was placed upon the 
 side of a hill; on one side the vault was stoned eight feet 
 above ground, on another side five feet, on the other sides 
 the walls were enclosed by the earth. From the two sides 
 which were above the surface of the Earth, the filth oozed 
 out constantly and was noticed by those who went near it 
 to be very offensive during the calm weather, with drought 
 and intense heat in August. This was, doubtless, one of the 
 causes which rendered the air, in that part of the city, unfit 
 for respiration. Yet I still think the putrid fish, in a store 
 within one rod of the privy, and in other stores within twenty- 
 five or thirty rods of it, were the most powerful causes in 
 producing the deleterious effects which were experienced. 
 In addition to what I have before communicated, I would give 
 one or two facts, corroborating the idea that the fish was 
 a principal cause. Mr. Williams of Stonington, who has been, 
 for many years, acquainted with the state of fish in different 
 stages of curing, passed through the street in August, when 
 a quantity of the fish, in the state before mentioned, was 
 spread, to be dried, in the open air: he remarked a very dis- 
 agreeable effluvium, evidently proceeding from the fish, but 
 very different from what he had ever observed to proceed 
 from fish before. His health soon failed, and, for four weeks 
 he felt unusually affected, and was persuaded his complaint 
 proceeded from the smell of the fish. A gentleman of this city, 
 one of the medical profession, attending an auction where the 
 fish were spread in the open air, was seized with nausea from 
 the smell of the fish and was obliged to leave the spot. 
 
 Assuredly, sir, my exalted opinion of this city, as the seat 
 of health, gave every advantage to the opinion of foreign or- 
 igin, as the source of our late epidemic. But, looking in 
 vain for corresponding facts, I am constrained to yield to op- 
 posing evidence. However, I am fully convinced, that, had 
 
250 LATER HISTORY OF THE FIRST CHURCH. 
 
 not last summer exceeded, what had ever been known before, 
 
 in long-continued and intense heat, with no thunder or rain, 
 
 and light winds and calms, neither the fish in its bad state, 
 
 nor any other subordinate cause would have produced our 
 
 epidemic. 
 
 I am etc. 
 
 H. CHANNING. 
 
 Besides the foregoing letters, was another, writ- 
 ten by Thomas Coit M. D., one of the physicians 
 in town, to Dr. Mitchell of New York. It was da- 
 ted January ii, 1799. From it is taken the follow- 
 ing extract : 
 
 Capt. Elijah Bingham, inn-keeper, living in Bank street, 
 which is a street next to the water, on which stand several 
 stores near said house, and in the most populous part of the 
 city, on the 26th of Augt last, died, after four days sickness. 
 The symptoms were such as gave the alarm of yellow fever. 
 A few days after his death, his wife, son and daughter, were 
 seized, with symptoms of yellow fever, and died. 
 
 The day on which Capt. Bingham died, I was called to visit 
 two patients, who lived directly opposite, in the same street. 
 Within four or five days after, I was called to nine other 
 patients in the same street, not more than eight rods from 
 said Bingham's, all of the same fever, some of them violently 
 seized. None of these died. In other houses, not more than 
 ten rods south of said Bingham's eight died. About thirty 
 rods north of said house about the same number died. 
 
 By this time the disease had spread into various parts of the 
 town, which occasioned the removal of two thirds of the in- 
 habitants. We could not find any sick of the fever, (a few 
 cases excepted) but those who had been either in Bingham's 
 house, or frequented the spot from whence we considered the 
 infection originated, which, from our best observation, we 
 have fixed thirty rods north and south of Bingham's house. 
 
 We will now enquire what, within that space, could pro- 
 
channing's ministry. 251 
 
 duce septic exhalations. I have inquired of those whose bus- 
 iness it was to examine every place where there was any 
 collection of filth that appeared to be in a state of fermenta- 
 tion, and could discover nothing more within that space than 
 in the other parts of the town, except a large quantity of 
 imperfectly cured codfish (stored in bulk) confined in stores. 
 In one store only, which was within fifteen yards of Bing- 
 ham's house, fifty quintals were found in a state of fermen- 
 tation, emitting a very disagreeable odour, part of which had 
 been spread in the open air, round the stores and sides of 
 the street, about eight or ten days before the appearance of 
 the fever, after which the stores were kept shut till we had 
 severe frost. 
 
 The above is all I can collect relative to the local origin of 
 the fever. About a fortnight after the commencement of the 
 fever, I was taken with it myself. 
 
 I am etc. 
 
 THOMAS COIT. 
 
 In addition to these letters is a further account 
 of the great epidemic, written by Mr. Channing to 
 Mr. Green, and published in the Connecticut Ga- 
 zatte, September 4, 1799. The communication 
 reads as follows : 
 
 Mr. Green: 
 
 This city, during the summer now closed [of 1799] has en- 
 joyed its usual mild and salubrious atmosphere; and in many 
 respects has the season been distinguished from the pestilen- 
 tial summer of 1798. In that summer from the 28th of July 
 to the first of September, the heat was intense; the mercury 
 in Parenheit Thermometer, placed in the open air [in a north- 
 ern exposure], stood at mid-day from 86dg to 93dg, with the 
 exception of five days, in which it stood at 82dg, and one day 
 at 78dg, which was its greatest depression. 
 
 There was only one thunder-shower during this period. 
 
252 LATER HISTORY OF THE FIRST CHURCH. 
 
 The earth being parched under excessive drought, vegeta- 
 tion failed early in August, and many trees shed their leaves. 
 It was noticed that the air was remarkably unelastic, espec- 
 ially in that part of the city in which the desolating sickness 
 prevailed. Our usual fresh southwesters left us, and we had 
 only very light winds in the day. Scarcely a day occurred 
 for seven weeks, in which a person might not have carried 
 a lighted candle through the streets. The nights in gloomy 
 succession, brought a deadly calm, attended with sultry heat. 
 Such a season as that of '98 is not within the recollection of 
 the oldest citizen. 
 
 In the summer of 1799, the season has been mild. There 
 have not been more than two or three days of intense heat, 
 and we have experienced, in but a few instances, the sultry 
 air of dog days; on the contrary, the atmosphere has been 
 pure and elastic to an unusual degree. We have had very 
 seasonable rains, and frequently attended with thunder. Veg- 
 etation continues unusually flourishing, as our hills still re- 
 tain their verdure. 
 
 The citizens, without the aid of a thermometer, have con- 
 stantly noticed the striking difference between the two sea- 
 sons; yet, as it may gratify them to see it stated from accur- 
 ate observation, I send you the following comparative view 
 of observations from the 16th of August to the 28th for the 
 years 1798 and 1799 which, if you think proper, you may pub- 
 lish. 
 
 Yors etc. 
 
 H. CHANNING. 
 
 In the table which follows this communication 
 the temperature at noon was from seven to twenty 
 degrees lower in 1799, than in 1798, with the ex- 
 ception of four days. The experience of the sum- 
 mer of 1798 was a novel one for New London. The 
 infection seemed to proceed from the district 
 pointed out in the foregoing communications. 
 
channing's ministry. 25S 
 
 Many persons, as one of the letters states, removed 
 from town. The infected district, which lay mainly 
 between what is now Golden street and the Parade, 
 was almost entirely abandoned. All classes of per- 
 sons who were within these limits were attacked. 
 The symptoms were those peculiar to the disease, 
 "languor and restlessness, chills and flushes, nausea, 
 extreme pains in the head and back, a scurvy, peal- 
 ing tongue, a yellow skin, delerium or stupidity, 
 the black vomit, and death." Many who used the 
 greatest precautions had the disease and died. 
 Many who were most exposed to the infection es- 
 caped altogether. But, in the infected district, on- 
 ly two of the inhabitants over twelve years of age, 
 who did not remove on the first appearance of the 
 plague, escaped it. It could not be checked till it 
 had spent itself by the middle of October. The 
 committee of health Messrs. John Ingraham, John 
 Woodward, James Baxter, and Ebenezer Holt Jr., 
 were indefatigable in their endeavors, and received 
 a vote of thanks from the town for their services. 
 In only one other year have cases of this epidemic 
 appeared in New London, and then, in 1803, they 
 were imported and did not spread. The year of the 
 next greatest mortality was 1801, when one hundred 
 and two died. There does not seem to have been 
 any particular epidemic in this year as in 1798, but 
 an unusual amount of sickness. 
 
 Mr. Channing's records of mortality show some 
 interesting facts about the health of New London 
 during the period of his pastorate. There were nine 
 
254 LATER HISTORY OF THE FIRST CHURCH. 
 
 hundred and forty-one deaths, or an average of al- 
 most exactly fifty a year. The lowest rate was in 
 1789 and 1790 when but twenty-nine died, and in 
 1804 when but twenty-eight died. Of the whole 
 number five hundred and nineteen, or more than 
 half, were connected with the First Church and 
 congregation. During this period there were over 
 sixteen hundred births so that the gain was about 
 seven hundred in spite of the great mortality of the 
 years 1798 and 1801. Several people lived to the 
 great age of one hundred years. One lived a de- 
 cade into a second century. Eighty-seven lived to 
 be over seventy — most of them to be eighty and 
 upwards. The greatest mortality was among chil- 
 dren between birth and the age of three. 
 
X. 
 
 MINISTRY OF REV. HENRY CHANNING ; 
 THE CHURCH. 
 
 On the date of his ordination Mr. Channing re- 
 corded the names of those who were at the time 
 members of the church. There were twelve males 
 and forty-seven females ; a total of fifty-nine. This 
 was a great decline from the days of Eliphalet 
 Adams and the Great Awakening. But death, and 
 spiritual declension had done their work. During 
 Mr. Channing's pastorate two hundred and forty- 
 five were received into the church. He baptized 
 five hundred and seventy-five persons. Quite a 
 number of these were adults, who were at the time 
 ■received into the church. There is no record of 
 baptisms, as in former pastorates, which reads that 
 certain persons, having owned the covenant, had 
 their children baptized. But there is evidence, that 
 Mr. Channing practiced the halfway covenant in its 
 extreme form ; that is he admitted persons to mem- 
 bership in the church, who claimed no experience 
 of the new birth. 
 
 During the first year of Mr. Channing's pastor- 
 ate thirty-one persons were admitted to the church ; 
 four by letter, and twenty-seven upon profession 
 
256 LATER HISTORY OF THE FIRST CHURCH. 
 
 of faith. But the list of admissions is prefaced with 
 this notice. ''N. B. They whose names have C 
 annexed attend the Lord's Supper, they with no 
 letter annexed attend the Baptism only." 
 
 In 1788 forty-six persons were received into full 
 fellowship; two by letter, the remainder on profes- 
 sion of faith and by special vote passed January 6, 
 1788. "The following persons, who had been for 
 many years in covenant [halfway] with this church, 
 but had not joined in the communion, having ap- 
 plied to the pastor for admission to this privilege, 
 were considered by the church as regular in their 
 standing, and agreeably to their request were ad- 
 mitted to sit with us in full communion." 
 
 The list of names is as follows : 
 
 Richard Law, 
 
 Anna Law, 
 
 Timothy Green, 
 
 Jonathan Crocker, 
 
 Katherine Richards, 
 
 Sarah Brown, 
 
 Lucy Gaylord, 
 
 Samuel Whittemore, 
 
 Rhoda Whittemore, 
 
 Also at a former communion Lydia Douglas. 
 By the foregoing vote these ten were admitted to 
 full membership in the church, whom Mr. Wood- 
 bridge's stricter discipline had kept out. Mr. and 
 Mrs. Whittemore were admitted on the strength of 
 their having been previously in halfway covenant 
 relations with the church in Wethersfield. Mr. 
 
channing's ministry. 257 
 
 Green, who was one of the ten, was chosen deacon 
 the following April. 
 
 Whether the large number of additions in 1788 
 was due to what we now call a special religious 
 quickening, nothing appears to show. The vote 
 quoted above however, would seem to suggest that 
 Mr. Channing's views upon the requisites for church 
 membership, being considerably less rigorous than 
 those of his predecessor, had not a little to do with 
 it. 
 
 In 1794 forty-eight persons were received into 
 the church and eighteen in 1799. Most of these 
 were upon profession of faith. Several cases of ad- 
 mission to full church privileges, on the strength of 
 a former assent to the halfway covenant, show Mr. 
 Channing's theological tendencies at the time. 
 ''December 6 [1789.] Sarah Simmons, formerly in 
 the covenant of the church," was admitted to full 
 membership. Nine others were admitted to the 
 Lord's Supper, and to full church privileges on the 
 same basis, during his pastorate, in accordance with 
 the vote of January 6, 1788. There is nothing to 
 show that one of these persons made any profession 
 of having experienced the renewal of the Holy Spir- 
 it, and that change of heart, which is considered an 
 essential requisite in those who are admitted now 
 to church membership. The beginning of such ad- 
 missions probably marks approximately the date 
 when Mr. Channing's change of view took place, 
 which became very pronounced at the close of his 
 ministry here. 
 
258 LATER HISTORY OF THE FIRST CHURCH. 
 
 A number were received into the church in their 
 homes, on account of illness, and the Lord's Supper 
 was administered to them in their sick rooms. 
 
 Soon after Mr. Channing's ordination, the church 
 unanimously passed the following vote. ''Voted 
 unanimously, That all persons who profess the 
 Christian Faith, and take upon themselves the ob- 
 ligations of the Covenant are entitled to all the 
 Privileges of the Gospel in this Church so long as 
 they continue to walk regularly. And that when 
 persons, thus in Covenant with this church, yet ab- 
 senting themselves from the Lord's Supper, 
 through scruples of conscience, shall find their 
 doubts removed, and are desirous of attending the 
 Communion, they are to communicate their desire 
 to the Pastor, who is to communicate it to the 
 church at some convenient season before the sacra- 
 ment. If no objection be seasonably offered, the 
 Pastor will give notice to the person ofifering him- 
 self, who then is to attend in full communion with 
 the church." The exact meaning of this vote does 
 not appear. But it probably was intended to reach 
 cases which came under the halfway covenant. 
 
 August 5, 1790 another vote was passed relating 
 to persons who might be admitted to partake of the 
 Lord's Supper. "Whereas there are persons, pro- 
 fessing the Christian faith, and visibly walking in 
 good conscience before God and man, who, consid- 
 ering themselves as connected with other churches 
 that dissent from us, do not unite with us as stated 
 
channing's ministry. 259 
 
 members in this Church, yet are desirous of occas- 
 ionally joining in our communion. 
 
 Voted, That all persons professing the Christian 
 Faith, and visibly walking according to the Gospel ; 
 yet for the reason above mentioned do not become 
 members of this church, may upon application at, 
 or before the administration of the Lord's Supper 
 be admitted to the same as an occasional communi- 
 cant. Provided that it is always understood that 
 such persons conform to the order of the Gospel as 
 observed in this church at the administration of the 
 Lord's Supper." 
 
 Whether this vote was intended to meet the case 
 of certain Episcopalians or Methodists, there is 
 no means of knowing. But such seems likely to 
 have been its aim. For among the papers of the 
 church is the following which may point to similar 
 cases intended by the foregoing vote. 
 
 To whom it may concern. 
 
 This may certify that Capt. Samll Wheat of New London 
 is a member of the Episcopal Church in this town, and for 
 three years past hath ordinarily attended and still Doth at- 
 tend public worship with Said Society and hath Contributed 
 his Due proportion to the support of the Worship and minis- 
 try in Said Episcopal Society for three years past. Signd 
 by order of the Right Revd Samel [Seabury] Bishop of Con- 
 necticut and sd church. 
 
 New London June 11, 1788. 
 
 This document was signed by Jonathan Starr 
 Junior and Roswell Saltonstall who were church 
 wardens. It seems to have been a certificate of 
 
260 LATER HISTORY OF THE FIRST CHURCH. 
 
 church membership, such as one presents to a 
 church, with which he desires temporarily to walk 
 in fellowship, and whose privileges he desires tem- 
 porarily to enjoy, but with which he does not wish 
 to connect himself. 
 
 Persons who were admitted to the church on pro- 
 fession of faith were required to give assent to what 
 was called the "Profession and Covenant." The 
 Articles of Faith and Covenant which are now in 
 use, are substantially the same that were in use when 
 Mr. Channing became the pastor. But, after his 
 change of view, he drew up a form of admission, 
 whose statement of doctrine was more in harmony 
 with his new beliefs. This new statement, or Pro- 
 fession and Covenant, was never adopted by vote 
 of the church, says Dr. McEwen. However Mr. 
 Channing was allowed to use it; not altogether 
 without protest, as will be seen later in the narra- 
 tive. 
 
 Some of the dismissions from the church, and the 
 rules adopted relating thereto, are interesting and 
 suggestive items of the history of this pastorate. It 
 appears that Sarah Latimer, who had joined the 
 church in 1772, had for a considerable period ab- 
 sented herself from the communion of the church. 
 When the matter was brought to her attention, she 
 gave as a reason, dissatisfaction "with the ordin- 
 ances, discipline and order of this Church ; and par- 
 ticularly the restraint upon the Sisters, which does 
 not sufifer them to speak in church." She also de- 
 clared herself to be more in sympathy with "a Sep- 
 
channing's ministry. 261 
 
 arate Anabaptist church in Lyme," with which she 
 had already connected herself, having, in accord- 
 ance with their tenets and requirements, been re- 
 baptized among them. In view of this case it was 
 unanimously voted by the church, at a meeting held 
 May 5, 1 791 "that Sarah Latimer be dismissed from 
 this church, and be considered as no longer sustain- 
 ing a relation to the same, as one of its members. 
 It being however, not in the intention of this vote, 
 to censure her separation from this church." 
 
 Ann Angel united with this church May 11, 1794. 
 July 31, 1794, the following action was taken in her 
 case. "Ann Angel, lately admitted into this church, 
 having requested that she may be dismissed, and her 
 relation to this Church be dissolved ; stating as her 
 reason for this request that she prefers the Meth- 
 odist discipline, and mode of worship, and wishes 
 to join the Methodist Church, Voted unanimously 
 that her request be granted, and accordingly her re- 
 lation to this church is dissolved." The Methodist 
 Church had been organized the previous year, 
 
 Jacob Stockman united with this church in 1787. 
 At a church meeting held February 21st 1796, he 
 requested to have his name removed from the list 
 of members. The reason which he gave for the re- 
 quest was, his objection to the church, its method, 
 and its order. It was "voted, that his request be- 
 granted, and accordingly his relation to this church 
 is dissolved." But the vote distinctly stated that 
 this action was not taken "on the ground of the va- 
 lidity of his objections to this church," but because- 
 
262 LATER HISTORY OF THE FIRST CHURCH. 
 
 with his mistaken views he could not "continue a 
 peaceable and useful member of the church." 
 
 At a meeting of the church held November 13, 
 1794, certain rules were unanimously passed "for 
 dismission of Members of this Church, removing in- 
 to other Towns ; and for the admission of Members 
 of other churches removing from other Towns to 
 settle in New London. These rules were as fol- 
 lows : 
 
 "Whereas several Members of this church have removed 
 from this town, and not having received a letter of dismis- 
 sion according to present usages, are therefore considered as 
 continuing in their particular relation to this church; and at- 
 tend only as occasional communicants in the towns where they 
 reside; It being generally impracticable to extend our brotherly 
 care and discipline to them, on account of their remote sit- 
 uation from us; Therefore 
 
 Voted; That when any of the Members of this Church re- 
 move from this Town and settle in any Town in which there 
 is a Church in fellowship with this Church; such person shall 
 be considered as no longer subject to the particular care and 
 discipline of this Church, as a Member of the same. 
 
 Voted: That when a Member of a church in our fellowship, 
 settles in this Town, and attends upon the Ordinances of the 
 Gospel in this Church, such person shall be considered as sub- 
 ject to the particular care and discipline of this Church, as 
 a Member of the same. It being understood that such person 
 produce satisfactory evidence that, at the time of his re- 
 moval, he was in regular connection with the Church from 
 whence he came. 
 
 Voted in the First Church Nov. 13, 1794." 
 
 Agreeably to the foregoing resolutions the follow- 
 
CHANNING'S MINISTRY. 263 
 
 ing form of certificate was adopted to be given to 
 members removing from Town : 
 
 "To the Church in L. etc. 
 
 This is a Testimonial that A. B. is a member in the com- 
 munion of the first church of Christ in New London, in regu- 
 lar connection with said church, and as such is entitled to all 
 the privileges of the Gospel, in the churches of Christ. 
 
 As he is now removing from New London to L. where there 
 is a Church in fellowship with this Church, after due time 
 for his settlement there he will be considered no longer sub- 
 ject to the particular care and discipline of this church, as a 
 member of the same. This being according to the rule in 
 such case provided, as appears from the Records of the 
 Church.—" 
 
 It does not appear that the foregoing vote has 
 been rescinded at any time. 
 
 The disciphne of the church, particularly in cases 
 of scandalous conduct, was carefully maintained 
 during the pastorate of Mr. Channing. The follow- 
 ing cases are in point. At the close of service, Oc- 
 tober 5th, 1788, one of the sisters of the church, 
 whose name is not given, confessed her sin, declared 
 her sorrow, and begged the forgiveness of the 
 church. Whereupon it was "Voted. That accord- 
 ing to the Rules of the Gospel, this acknowledg- 
 ment is satisfactory, and that this offending sister 
 is restored to her standing in this church." Other 
 similar cases were treated in the same manner. Au- 
 gust II, 1796, one of the sisters made an ''acknowl- 
 edgment of the sin of intemperance." September 
 4th of the same year one of the brethren acknowl- 
 edged the same sin. These, by vote of the church, 
 
264 LATER HISTORY OF THE FIRST CHURCH. 
 
 were restored to the standing which their act had 
 forfeited. May i8th, 1797 another brother in the 
 church acknowledged the sin ''of profane swearing 
 and a long-continued neglect of worship and the 
 ordinances, not for conscientious scruples." By 
 vote of the church he was forgiven and restored. 
 
 Titus Whipple joined this church in 1788. 
 March 15, 1792, a church meeting was held after 
 preparatory lecture to consider complaints which 
 had been made against him. The charges were 
 that he persistently absented himself from the or- 
 dinances and public worship of the church, and 
 that, when remonstrated with, he continued in the 
 same course. When given leave to speak for him- 
 self, Mr. Whipple "acknowledged that he had 
 indeed absented himself as stated in the complaint 
 before the church, but that he had statedly attended 
 public worship at other places. He then declared 
 the reason of his withdrawing from this church. 
 That he was informed some of the members of the 
 church had attended the Assembly in this town ; 
 in which he was informed were dancing and cards, 
 and these amusements continued untill very late 
 hours in the night. This he considered contrary 
 to the Gospel of Christ; and that it deserved the 
 public censures of the church. And that as no 
 proceedings in the church had taken place on ac- 
 count of these things, he considered himself holden 
 in conscience to withdraw from the worship and 
 ordinances of this church." 
 
 Mr. Whipple was not censured, although the 
 
channing's ministry. 265 
 
 church voted that there was just cause of com- 
 plaint and that the reasons which he gave were not 
 satisfactory. Later both himself and wife were dis- 
 missed. But Mr. Whipple's action and protest, 
 together with its discussion, bore good fruit. For 
 two months later. May lo, 1792, the following vote 
 was passed and the church put itself on record con- 
 cerning the practices which had grieved Mr. Whip- 
 ple, and of which he alleged certain members were 
 guilty. The action taken was as follows : 
 
 "Whereas it has been represented that this Church approve 
 of Professors of religion continuing amusements untill late 
 hours of the night, also of playing at cards; We think proper 
 to declare the sense of this Church, that we do not approve 
 of the absence of any from their families untill late hours of 
 the night unless upon necessary occasions; neither do we 
 approve of card playing as it is productive of evil to Society 
 and is contrary to the good and wholesome laws of the Gov- 
 ernment under which we live. Voted in the First Church of 
 New London May 10th, 1792." 
 
 This vote of the church, taken over one hundred 
 years ago has never been reconsidered. The 
 church still stands committed to it. The action 
 taken in the case of Titus Whipple seemed to give 
 the impression that the church looked with a lenient 
 eye upon such practices, and it was compelled in 
 self-defense to pass this vote. 
 
 Other cases of discipline, for various offences, 
 were taken up. But these given are sufficient to 
 show that care was taken to keep the church free 
 from scandal. Offences like these cited were 
 
266 LATER HISTORY OP THE FIRST CHURCH. 
 
 promptly dealt with, but at the same time in a spirit 
 of Christian forbearance. 
 
 A good many calls were sent to the church, dur- 
 ing Mr. Channing's pastorate, to sit on ecclesiastical 
 councils to settle or dismiss, pastors, or to adjust 
 difficulties. Some of these were occasions of great 
 significance and importance. August 2^, 1787, an 
 invitation was accepted from the Church of Christ, 
 Bridgehampton, L. I., to sit on a council called for 
 the purpose of ordaining Mr. Aaron Woolworth as 
 its pastor. William Douglas, Jr., was chosen dele- 
 gate to accompany the pastor. February ist, 1789, 
 a letter was received from the Church of Christ in 
 Groton, representing "that difficulties subsisted 
 among them which called for the advice of their 
 Christian Brethren." This church was therefore 
 invited to sit on an ecclesiastical council to advise 
 and assist the church in Groton ''in their doubtful 
 state." Dea. Timothy Green was chosen delegate 
 with Dea. Robert Manwaring as alternate. May 
 22, 1803, an invitation was received from the Fed- 
 eral Street Church in Boston to be present by pas- 
 tor and delegate and "join in a Council to be con- 
 vened on Wednesday the first day of June next, 
 for the purpose of solemnly separating Mr. William 
 E. Channing to the Pastoral Ofhce in that Church." 
 Mr. Jedediah Huntington was chosen delegate. 
 William E. Channing was nephew of Rev. Henry 
 Channing, and had spent some time in his uncle's 
 family under his instruction. This pastorate, on 
 that day consummated, was destined to figure con- 
 
CHANNING'S MINISTRY. 267 
 
 spicuously in the ecclesiastical history of New 
 England. For the young man who was that day 
 ordained became the leader in the Unitarian schism 
 which took place a few years later. In the nephew 
 was borne the full fruit of the uncle's change of 
 view. October 23, 1805, a council was called, to 
 settle serious difhculties within it, by the church in 
 Mansfield. This church was represented by the 
 pastor and Mr. Guy Richards as delegate. The 
 difficulties arose on account of the views of the 
 pastor, Rev. John Sherman, who had embraced 
 Unitarianism. His popularity was such that he car- 
 ried with him almost the entire congregation, and 
 a large minority of the church. The marvel is that 
 the church was not wrecked. It was delivered from 
 its troubles by the dismission of the pastor, which 
 neither he nor the society expected. This council 
 had an important bearing on future events in the 
 First Church. 
 
 In this connection may be mentioned another 
 convention, or ecclesiastical gathering, showing the 
 relation between the churches in the county at the 
 time. A letter-missive from the New London Coun- 
 ty Association was read to the church, and acted on 
 November 16, 1794. "Brother Timothy Green was 
 chosen a Delegate of this church, to join in a con- 
 vention of Pastors and Delegates from the churches 
 of said County, to meet at Norwich on the second 
 Tuesday in Jany, 1795, for the purpose of consult- 
 ing on measures to promote union and mutual edi- 
 fication among the churches of this district." 
 
268 LATER HISTORY OF THE FIRST CHURCH. 
 
 The convention was held, and action was taken 
 which looked to the formation of a consociation. 
 Report of the doings of the convention was made 
 to the church February i, 1795. "The Convention 
 recommended, that, considering the present state of 
 religion, and the events taking place in the world, 
 the churches should appoint stated seasons for pray- 
 er to God, for those blesingss which his church and 
 people need." Up to this point there could be no 
 objection. But the next proposition did not meet 
 with so cordial reception. "It was proposed in con- 
 vention, to adopt measures to promote nearer union 
 among these churches. * * ^ It appeared that the 
 proposal contemplated the establishment of a body, 
 consisting of Pastors and delegates, to receive ap- 
 peals from the churches, and exercise a controul- 
 ing power over them, in doctrine and discipline." 
 This proposal met with warm opposition in the con- 
 vention and was defeated by a large majority, as not 
 consistent with the independence of the churches. 
 This church had twice rejected the Saybrook Plat- 
 form as a rule of discipline, and it could have been 
 depended on to reject this proposal if it had been 
 carried in the convention. No further efforts were 
 made to form a consociation in New London Coun- 
 ty till after Dr. McEwen was in the field. In 1815 
 his strong purpose and personality carried it 
 through. But it did not long outlive him. 
 
 During the pastorate of Mr. Channing the follow- 
 ing deacons were elected: April 17, 1788, Timothy 
 Green and Robert Manwaring; November 13th, 
 
channing's ministry. 269 
 
 1794, John Arnold; April 17, 1796, Oliver Chap- 
 man ; January 20, 1799, Jedediah Huntington ; Sep- 
 tember II, 1803, Guy Richards. 
 
 In 1793 a solid silver communion cup was given 
 to the church by Mrs. Elizabeth Richards, widow of 
 Guy Richards. She also left, at her death, a small 
 legacy of forty dollars, with no directions as to 
 its use. A vote taken November 13, 1794 explains 
 what disposition was made of part of it : 
 
 "On motion, Voted That the Deacons together with the 
 Persons elected as above [John Arnold and Oliver Chapman] 
 be a committee to consider and determine respecting a pro- 
 posed alteration of the Tankards belonging to the church 
 into cups, as more convenient for the service of the Table. 
 And the said Committee were directed, if they determined in 
 favor of said alteration, to have the same made, and defray 
 the expense from the surplus of metal in said Tankards, or 
 from a legacy left to this Church by the late Elizabeth Rich- 
 ards deed." 
 
 Agreeably to the foregoing vote two of the tank- 
 ards were altered into cups, as appears from the rec- 
 ords. There were then eight silver cups and one 
 tankard. This tankard was also altered at a later 
 date. A list of church furniture made by Mr. Chan- 
 ning in 1787, shows that at that time there were 
 two silver cups given in 1699, two purchased in 
 1724, one silver tankard given by the Hon. Gur- 
 don Saltonstall in 1725, one silver tankard given by 
 Mrs. Saltenstall in 1726, one silver tankard given 
 by Mrs. Elizabeth Fox in 1742, two pewter flagons, 
 two pewter platters, a folio bible given by Madame 
 Temperance Shaw in 1789, and a baptismal basin 
 
270 LATER HISTORY OF THE FIRST CHURCH 
 
 purchased in 1790. The tankard given by Mr. Sal- 
 tonstall and that given by Mrs. Fox made two cups 
 each. That given by Mrs. Saltonstall was smaller 
 and made one. Thus at the close of the century 
 the church had ten solid silver communion cups, 
 all of which are still in use. March 31, 1796 the 
 church voted that the remainder of the legacy of 
 Mrs. Richards, after deducting expense of altering 
 the tankards, "be applied by the Deacons to the re- 
 lief of the poor of this church." 
 
 During this pastorate collections were taken in 
 the church for missionary purposes. There are on 
 file receipts for money paid by the church to the 
 "Treasurer to the Misionary Society," dated as early 
 as 1793. Before the organization of the Missionary 
 Society of Connecticut in 1798, various pastors of 
 the state were sent into those portions of v^ermont, 
 New York, etc., where colonists from Connecticut 
 had gone, to carry to them the gospel. This church 
 seems to have contributed statedly to this object. 
 When the Missionary Society was formed, it be- 
 came one of the regular contributors to the treas- 
 ury. 
 
 Mr. Channing's change of views took definite 
 shape about two years after his ordination. There 
 were signs as to which way the tide was setting from 
 the first. But some time elapsed before it became 
 evident that he had renounced some of the funda- 
 mental doctrines held by the church of which he 
 was pastor, and the churches in the state with which 
 it was associated. One of the decisive proofs of the 
 
channing's ministry. 271 
 
 radical change which had taken place was, not only 
 in the different flavor of his preaching, from which 
 was more and more evidently absent all reference 
 to the distinctive Trinitarian doctrines, but also in 
 his substituting in place of the creed and covenant in 
 use when he was ordained, one of his own construc- 
 tion, more in harmony with the views which he had 
 recently espoused. The date at which the new pro- 
 fession and covenant came into use is nowhere giv- 
 en. For as has already been said the question of 
 the change was never submitted to a vote of the 
 church. Probably Mr. Channing did not think it: 
 wise to put the matter to a test. Nor did the church 
 make any protest against the change. And so Mr. 
 Channing's statement was allowed to take the place 
 of the creed and covenant in use, without chal- 
 lenge. It is significant of the stable character of 
 the churches of this state that not one of them ever 
 went over to the new views ; although the pastors 
 of three of them, Mansfield, New Milford and New 
 London accepted these views. For seventeen years 
 this church had a pastor who was a Unitarian. But 
 there is no proof that he persuaded a single member 
 of the church to abandon the old faith. On the oth- 
 er hand the evidences are the other way. For when 
 the matter was brought to an issue by his resigna- 
 tion there was no voice raised against it. 
 
 An examination of the profession and covenant 
 which Mr. Channing substituted for the creed and 
 covenant which he found in use, will best illustrate 
 the change which had taken place in his views. 
 
272 LATER HISTORY OF THE FIRST CHURCH. 
 
 The new statement, which was probably first used 
 about 1789 or 1790, reads as follows: 
 
 "PROFESSION AND COVENANT. 
 
 In the presence of Almighty God, the searcher of hearts, 
 and before this assembly, you profess your unfeigned belief 
 of the Holy Scriptures as given by divine inspiration, your 
 acceptance of all the doctrines contained in them, and your 
 submission to the whole will of God revealed in his word. 
 
 You do now acknowledge the Lord Jehovah, the one living 
 and true God, to be your God; and relying upon divine assis- 
 tance, do promise to walk humbly with God. 
 
 Professing repentance of all your sins, and faith in our 
 Lord Jesus Christ, you sincerely receive him, as he is offered 
 in the gospel, as the Teacher come from God — the High 
 Priest of our profession — and the King and head of the church; 
 believing that there is none other name under heaven given 
 among men whereby you must be saved. 
 
 Depending on the Holy Spirit for sanctification, consolation 
 and spiritual strength, and, receiving the word of God as the 
 only rule of your faith and practice, you submit to the broth- 
 erly care of this church of Christ, and to the discipline which 
 he hath established in his church. 
 
 You do now solemnly give up yourself and all that you have 
 unto God; promising that you will endeavor to walk as be- 
 cometh the gospel of Christ, that you may give no cause 
 for others to speak evil of it on your account; but that the 
 name of God may be glorified in you. — Thus you profess and 
 covenant." 
 
 It will not require a very close examination to de- 
 tect the difference between this statement, and the 
 creed and covenant now in use. Mr. Channing 
 omitted all references to Jesus as ''the Son of God, 
 equal with the Father ;" to the Holy Ghost as a di- 
 vine person in the Godhead ; to all the distinctively 
 
CHANNING'S MINISTRY. 273 
 
 Trinitarian doctrines. It was among the earliest, if 
 it was not the first, formal statement of modem 
 Unitarianism. Dr. Field says of it : "It contains 
 only such doctrines as would have been subscribed 
 to by Unitarians at the beginning of this century.'* 
 Whatever his views were at the opening of his min- 
 istry, it soon became evident that he omitted from 
 his teachings the doctrines of the gospel, as they 
 had always been taught in this church. It is said 
 that he once preached against the doctrine of 
 Christ's divinity, but he was warned that he could 
 not preach such doctrines and remain pastor of the 
 church. He afterwards forbore all polemic discus- 
 sions, and devoted himself to preaching the morali- 
 ties of life, with an entire negation of all the evan- 
 gelical doctrines. The result was a growing indif- 
 ference to religion which deepened into open 
 neglect of it. The people became indifferent to his 
 ministry. 
 
 The uneasiness and growing dissatisfaction, 
 which the pastor's views caused among the people 
 of his congregation, took definite shape, March 23, 
 1799. As the matter was brought before the church 
 at a meeting held September 5, 1799, its action will 
 best state the case. At that meeting the pastor "in- 
 formed the church that he had entered a complaint 
 against one of the brethren, that he deemed it im- 
 proper that he should preside in the church, and 
 desired them to choose a moderator to preside while 
 said complaint was pending." Agreeably to this 
 request Mr. Richard Law was chosen. The church 
 
274 LATER HISTORY OF THE FIRST CHURCH. 
 
 then proceeded to consider the pastor's complaint, 
 which was read by the moderator, and was as fol- 
 lows : 
 
 To the first church of Christ New London. 
 
 Henry Channing, Pastor of this church, complains of Rob- 
 ert Manwaring one of the Brethren and late a Deacon in 
 this church, charging him with being the author of a certain 
 writing containing the following words, 'Mr. Henry Chan- 
 ning, we agreed with you to preach Jesus Christ, not John 
 Adams, in that most Holy Place, I mean the pulpit,' which 
 writing was aflBxed to the Public Sign post in this City, be- 
 ing found on the same on the morning after the public Fast, 
 which was on the twenty-second day of March last; and that 
 the said writing, thus published, is evidently opposed to the 
 spirit of Christian Charity, and was a wicked attempt to 
 bring scandal and Reproach upon the public Labours of the 
 Pastor; all which is submitted to the Judgement of this 
 church. 
 
 New London, Aug. 27, 1799. 
 
 HENRY CHANNING. 
 
 Mr. Manwaring had been cited to appear and was 
 present at the meeting, and heard the complaint 
 against him read. When called upon to answer "he 
 before the Church solemnly Denied that he was 
 Guilty of the charge mentioned in said complaint." 
 The church then proceeded to hear the evidence in 
 support of the accusation, on the one hand, and on 
 the other hand that offered by Mr. Manwaring in 
 support of his solemn denial. The evidence upon 
 which the charge was based was, principally, a com- 
 parison of specimens of Mr. Manwaring's handwrit- 
 ing with that of the paper in question. Also some 
 
channing's ministry. 275 
 
 verbal testimony was given "relative to some cor- 
 roborating circumstances." Mr. Manwaring also 
 produced specimens of his own handwriting to dis- 
 prove that he was the author of the ofifending docu- 
 ment. The church after careful and critical exam- 
 ination of the case passed the following votes : 
 
 1 Voted — That the Evidence from the Similarity of hands 
 and other Circumstances attending the same, affords a suf- 
 ficient ground to raise a reasonable Suspicion so as to jus- 
 tify the institution of the Complaint and an Enquiry thereon. 
 
 2 Voted — That the Evidence provided in support of the 
 Facts in said complaint alledged is not sufficient to con- 
 vince our minds that the said Manwaring is guilty, and there- 
 fore find he is not Guilty of the charge in said Complaint 
 alleged. RICHARD LiAW, Moderator. 
 
 Although Mr. Manwaring was acquitted of the 
 charge, some one was the author of the writing, and 
 some one affixed it to the public sign post. It 
 showed beyond question that the uneasiness on ac- 
 count of the pastor's views was growing into posi- 
 tive opposition to them in the church. But as he 
 did not openly preach these views after he was 
 warned that he could not remain pastor of the 
 church if he did, and as it was held that a minister 
 was settled for life, there was no serious interrup- 
 tion in the harmonious intercourse between him 
 and his people. Indeed it appeared before the 
 council that dismissed him that many of the people 
 were strongly attached to the man. It was not the 
 pastor, but his views to which they objected. So 
 that when the issue was raised by him between an 
 
276 LATER HISTORY OF THE FIRST CHURCH. 
 
 increase of his salary, or his resignation, the latter 
 alternative was at once accepted. 
 
 This brings us to the events which operated to 
 bring matters to a climax, and to end the pastorate. 
 One was the raising of the question of increasing 
 his salary. The letter of January 21, 1797, which 
 he addressed to the society upon this subject, was 
 received by that body. But no reply was made to 
 it, as we have seen, until March 3, 1806, when the 
 society's letter of October, 1805, quoted in a pre- 
 vious chapter, was delivered to him. So that his 
 request remained without reply for over nine years. 
 February 21, 1806, Mr. Channing, deeply pained at 
 the silence which the society had maintained with 
 reference to his request, and at their evident purpose 
 not to answer it, wrote the following letter, by which 
 the matter, which had so long lain in abeyance, was 
 closed forever. 
 
 New London, Feby 21st, 1806. 
 Gentlemen: 
 
 After a painful silence of nine years, it has become neces- 
 sary for me again to take my pen. 
 
 In my letter to the committee of January 21st, 1797, which 
 remains unanswered, I stated with the frankness of an hon- 
 est man and of a christian minister, my situation, as affected 
 by the insufficiency of the annual stipend received from this 
 society. I regretted that I was obliged to call their attention 
 to this subject, when I could not but presume they were 
 generally well acquainted with the expensiveness of living in 
 this place. 
 
 My letter, as I was informed, was communicated to the 
 society at their meeting on the 23d of Jany 1797. They voted 
 Sixty pounds to be paid to me, in consideration of the en- 
 hanced price of provisions, and postponed the consideration 
 
channing's ministry. 277 
 
 of my letter, to the annual meeting in April following, re- 
 questing the standing committee, in the meantime, to con- 
 fer with me on the subject. At their annual meeting April 
 16, 1798, they voted Fifty pounds for the purpose specified 
 in the former grant. Since conferring with the committee in. 
 '97, I have had no communication from the society on the 
 subject. 
 
 Considering that, in my letter, I had not cast myself upon 
 the charity of the society, but, on the contrary, frankly sta- 
 ted that my own property had been my resource, and, from 
 the whole tenour of my letter, appealing to the principles of 
 equity alone, I flattered myself that with the same frankness 
 they would have met me on the fair and honorable ground 
 of justice. Conceiving that a Minister possesses all the rights 
 of a man, I expressly denied 'any obligation as a Minister, 
 to devote a larger portion of my interest to the support 
 of the ministry here, than any other friend to Religion and 
 the Society.' Professing a 'solicitude for the peace and wel- 
 fare of the congregation,' I added, 'To these considerations 
 I have already made great sacrifices; but it would be unrea- 
 sonable to expect or require that I should continue to make 
 them.' 
 
 After this communication, in which, with unequivocal ex- 
 pressions of my own views of the subject, are united the 
 professions of sincere attachment to the Society, it was with 
 astonishment and deep sensibility I observed year after year 
 to pass without any communication in reply. 
 
 The insufficient compensation received, soon gave place in 
 my feelings to the indelicacy manifested in the silence and 
 neglect with which I was treated. This for a succession of 
 years has multiplied my wounds. 
 
 Upon expressing my sentiments in conversation with two 
 of the committee, last September [1805] you suggested that 
 my letter was not designedly neglected, but had been forgot- 
 ten. This indeed could not be a very pleasant idea to an 
 
278 LATER HISTORY OF THE FIRST CHURCH. 
 
 affectionate Minister, but was the most favorable the case ad- 
 mitted. 
 
 The subject, as I am informed, was resumed at a meeting 
 of the society Septr 21st, 1805, which had been warned for 
 another purpose.* I have waited till the present time, hoping 
 to have been favored with a line from you, advising me of the 
 result; but none has been received. 
 
 I learn, that, as there were but few present on the 21st of 
 Septr. it was thought proper to adjourn to October 7th; that, 
 then, the same reason produced another adjournment to Oc- 
 tober 14th, and that publick warning was given of the ad- 
 journment and of the business before the meeting, that, not- 
 withstanding the notice given, there were only between twen- 
 ty and thirty present at the last mentioned meeting; that as 
 so small a part of the Society were present, it was thought ex- 
 pedient and voted to postpone the consideration of the subject 
 to the annual meeting in April next. 
 
 This postponement was, unquestionably, the only step which 
 could with propriety be taken by the small number present- 
 But, gentlemen, the absence of so large a portion of the par- 
 ish, when called upon to consider a subject relating to their 
 Minister, which had long been treated with apparently marked 
 neglect, has excited emotions which I never expected to have 
 realized in my connection with this parish. 
 
 I am now justified in the conclusion, that the Society are 
 indifferent to my reasonable communications, and indisposed 
 to give me a decent support. 
 
 It is to be remembered that, when I addressed to the Com- 
 mittee my letter of January 1797, money had been, for many 
 years, depretiated from one and an half to two and an half 
 for one. The article of wood I purchased for the first win- 
 ter after my settlement, at one dollar and 58 Cents pr Cord. 
 It has been for a number of years four dollars pr. Cord. Pro- 
 
 *The meeting was held with reference to employing "an instructor to 
 teach psalm singing in the Society for one year next ensuing." 
 
channing's ministry. 279 
 
 visions of every kind have also risen in their nominal value, 
 far beyond what they were at that time. 
 
 I could not have supposed that this Society would have suf- 
 fered their Minister to experience so serious a derangement 
 in his finances, without producing, on their part, the most 
 dignified and liberal exertions. They who know me well, 
 must be sensible that it was far from my wishes that the 
 parish should have done more than they ought and could af- 
 ford with ease. 
 
 In searching after the motives, which influence to this der- 
 eliction of their Minister, only two occur to my mind. The 
 first which occurs is, that I have a patrimony, and can make 
 up their deficiency from my own property, that property of 
 which not one farthing was acquired from this parish. But 
 am I to suppose that this large and opulent Society would 
 willingly avail themselves of their Minister's property, and 
 liberality, to make up their deficiency in his support? I con- 
 fess, it would be with great reluctance that I should attribute 
 to them so dishonorable a motive. 
 
 As the only alternative, I am led to the other motive as 
 decisive in the case; which is, that, although the scriptures 
 declare (1 Cor. 9: 14) 'Even so hath the Lord ordained, that 
 they who preach the gospel should live of the gospel,' yet, 
 the services of the present Minister do not entitle him to a 
 support. On this ground, gentlemen, assuredly, I have no dis- 
 position to contend, especially when I consider the inefficiency 
 of my labours, within the last seven years, to counteract the 
 evidently declining state of religion and morals in this place. 
 Ardently do I wish this church and congregation may obtain 
 a Minister, whose labours will be more successful and more 
 meritorious. 
 
 This Society can not be so unacquainted with me as to sup- 
 pose my judgment and feelings can acquiesce in this state of 
 things, or in giving them any further trouble in this business. 
 I now request you to inform them, that it is my earnest desire 
 that no further proceedings be had before them on the sub- 
 ject matter of my letter of January 21st, 1797; as the busi- 
 
280 LATER HISTORY OF THE FIRST CHURCH. 
 
 ness has already progressed too far in a manner, to me pain- 
 ful indeed. 
 
 Wishing you and them at all times, the presence and guid- 
 ance of the great head of the church, 
 
 I am 
 With Due Consideration, 
 
 Your Friend and Minister, 
 
 HENRY CHANNING. 
 Messrs. Guy Richards, 
 
 George Colfax and Edward Chappell, 
 
 Committee of the First Ecclesiastical Society — New London. 
 
 This was not a letter of resignation. But it fore- 
 shadowed one which soon followed. It will not be 
 denied that Mr. Channing had good reasons for 
 the keen feelings expressed in the foregoing com- 
 munication. That the society was able to increase 
 his salary, and that it should have done so, were 
 practically admitted by votes, from time to time, to 
 grant him a gratuity, in view of the acknowledged 
 insufficiency of his support. But votes of this sort 
 were not a definite reply, to his definite request, pre- 
 sented in a dignified, self-respecting, business-like 
 way. Further, the letter of October, 1805, ad- 
 dressed by the committee to Mr. Channing, in re- 
 sponse to his letter of January 21, 1797, had not 
 been presented to him when he wrote the letter 
 quoted above. Certainly the neglect of silence, 
 shown to so vital and important a request could 
 not but wound a sensitive spirit. That Mr. Chan- 
 ning was deeply wounded his letter shows. And 
 the excuse that his communication of nine years be- 
 fore had been forgotten could not lessen the pain 
 felt at the neglect. 
 
channing's ministry. 281 
 
 Such treatment, from such men as those whose 
 names appear, can be explained in no way, but by 
 a growing indifference to reUgion and its ordinances, 
 begotten by his negative preaching; or by a grow- 
 ing dissatisfaction with the pastor's views ; or by 
 both. His preaching, as his letter admits, had 
 failed for the last seven years, to influence men. 
 There can be no doubt that, if he had continued to 
 have the same evangelical spirit which he had on 
 coming here, the result would have been different. 
 In stating the reasons for the treatment which he 
 had received he missed the vital one — his own lack 
 of definite convictions, and failure to present the 
 positive evangelical doctrines. 
 
 And this brings us to the second cause leading 
 to his dismissal. Matters came to a climax in the 
 council at Mansfield in October, 1805. It seems 
 altogether probable that, if the Mansfield incident 
 had not occurred, the salary question would not 
 have resulted in the dissolution of the pastoral rela- 
 tions. Mr. Channing was moderator of the Mans- 
 field council. While acting in this capacity, he so 
 conducted himself as an advocate on behalf of Mr. 
 Sherman that the Association of New London 
 County passed and placed on record resolutions de- 
 claring "that they would not exchange pulpits with 
 a man who denied the doctrine of the Trinity, of the 
 divinity of Christ, or of the personality of the Holy 
 Spirit." These resolutions were aimed at Mr. 
 Channing, and he evidently so understood them. 
 The position in which they placed him was peculiar,, 
 
282 LATER HISTORY OF THE FIRST CHURCH. 
 
 If the church and parish were in sympathy with 
 the action taken by the Association, there would 
 be but one course open before him. The letter of 
 February 21, 1806, may be regarded as a test. It 
 left the way open for him to resign or remain, as 
 the case might require. 
 
 The letter of February 21, 1806, called forth from 
 the society's committee the following : 
 
 New London Feby 27, 1806. 
 Revd and Dear Sir 
 
 Your favr of the 21st Instant addressed to the Comtee of the 
 first Ecclesiastical Society in this Town, was received by us a 
 few Days since, we have attended to the Subject matter of 
 the Letter and shall be very happy to have an interview with 
 you at your House whenever it shall be agreeable to you to 
 receive us. 
 We are with much respect and esteem 
 
 Yr. friends 
 GUY RICHARDS ) o • f 
 EDWD CHAPPELL \ ^^^^^^^ 
 GEORGE COLFAX J '-o™^^®* 
 
 To this Mr. Channing responded promptly, fixing 
 a date for the proposed interview. The reply is as 
 follows : 
 
 New London Feby 28th, 1806. 
 Gentlemen: 
 
 Your favour of the 27th Inst is received, in which you pro- 
 pose an interview with me, whenever it shall be agreeable to 
 me to receive you. 
 
 As I have ever been happy in seeing my friends, it will be 
 agreeable to me to see you, at my house, when it may be con- 
 venient to yourselves. If next Monday evening will consist 
 with your business, I will remain at home and shall be happy 
 in waiting on you. I am 
 
 Respectfully Yor St. 
 
 HENRY CHANNING. 
 Messrs. Guy Richards 
 Edward Chappell 
 George Colfax 
 Committee of First Eccles. Society N. London. 
 
channing's ministry. 283 
 
 Accordingly the interview took place at the resi- 
 dence of Mr. Channing, on the Monday evening 
 proposed, which was March 3, 1806. An account of 
 it was given by Mr. Channing to the council which 
 dismissed him, which was spread upon the records 
 of the church. It appears that the committee apol- 
 ogized for not writing him after the society meeting 
 the previous October. The reasons given were, the 
 absence of one of the committee at the General 
 Assembly, and the sickness of the grandchild of an- 
 other. However, it must be kept in mind that a 
 letter had been prepared, which seems never to 
 have been sent to Mr. Channing. At this inter- 
 view the committee told the pastor that the society 
 would, without doubt, make him "a grant of all their 
 surplus funds which would then be in the treasury, 
 which would amount to about Fifty Pounds Lawf 
 Money." Mr. Channing says : ''I answered that 
 money was now out of the question ; the long con- 
 tinued apathy and neglect of the society were para- 
 mount considerations ; that my feelings were deeply 
 wounded by their conduct, and my confidence in the 
 society destroyed ; that it was evident our connexion 
 could no longer consist with harmony, peace and 
 usefulness. I informed them that it was proper I 
 should now frankly state, that my letter was de- 
 signed as introductory to the final step, and that 
 it was my intention to write them before the annual 
 meeting in April, and propose the dissolution of my 
 ministerial relation to this Society." The commit- 
 tee protested against this, assuring Mr. Channing 
 
284 LATER HISTORY OP THE FIRST CHURCH. 
 
 that the step would give a serious shock to the 
 society; that the people were strongly attached to 
 him as their minister, and that the harmony of the 
 congregation under his ministry was not surpassed 
 by that of any society in the state. Mr. Channing 
 in reply assured the committee of his tender attach- 
 ment for the church. He had entered upon the 
 pastorate at a time when the society was in an un- 
 settled state, and that he had sought to nurse it ten- 
 derly as a child. He further assured them that the 
 proposed step would cost him a bitter pang, but he 
 was satisfied that no other step was open to him, 
 adding that his "health was injured to an alarming 
 degree, and mutual confidence and harmony could 
 not easily be restored." As the conference came to 
 an end, the committee handed to him the letter of 
 October 1805, which he should have had five months 
 before. It was evident, after this interview, that the 
 request for a dissolution of the pastoral relation was 
 the next logical step. And it came in the following 
 letter : 
 
 New London March 27 1806. 
 Gentlemen: 
 
 My letter of the 21st of February last, has brought to your 
 recollection the proceedings of this Society relating to my let- 
 ter of January 21st, 1797. With that undisguised frankness 
 which I have ever maintained in my intercourse with this 
 people, I expressed my sentiments and feelings as affected 
 by the inattention and marked neglect which I had exper- 
 ienced. 
 
 Immediately upon learning the general neglect of the So- 
 ciety to attend the adjourned meetings in October last, as 
 stated in my letter, I could no longer hesitate in deciding 
 
channing's ministry. 285 
 
 what I owed to myself as the only surviving parent of a young 
 family and as a minister of Christ, who might be said to have 
 robbed other churches more necessitous, to do you service. 
 
 The recollection of past services revives. The first and best 
 of my days have been spent here. I can not boast of great 
 talents, but such as they were, they have been devoted, as 
 far as a feeble constitution would permit, to the spiritual and 
 temporal interests of this people. Often have I gone, with 
 my life in my hands, to minister to the sick and the dying, 
 and to bind up the broken-hearted. In my publick services, 
 and in my private walk, I have not veered with every wind 
 that blows; but, having the truth alone in view, and aiming 
 at the glory of God in the conversion and eternal salvation of 
 sinful man, I have studied to preach the truth, with plainness 
 of speech, not fearing your censures nor courting your ap- 
 plause. To this church and congregation I now appeal as 
 witnesses in my behalf, while applying to myself the words 
 of an Apostle; (1 Thess. 2: 4, 5) 'But as I was allowed of God 
 to be put in trust with the gospel, even so I have spoken, 
 not as pleasing men, but God, who trieth our hearts. For 
 neither at any time used I flattering words as ye know, nor 
 a cloak of covetousness; God is witness.' 
 
 I have not been unmindful of the words of St. Paul, Acts 
 .20: 24, when assured that bonds and afflictions awaited him. 
 It is doubtless within the recollection of many, with what 
 evangelical fervour they were enjoined by my venerable spir- 
 itual father President Stiles, [of Yale College] on the day 
 of my ordination in this Church. Conscious of manifold sins 
 and infirmities, I have still endeavored to keep them in view, 
 and, with the independent spirit of this Apostle, to say: 'But 
 none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear 
 unto myself, so that I might finish my course, with joy, and 
 the ministry which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to tes- 
 tify the gospel of the grace of God.' 
 
 I am sensible that if I have thus faithfully and honestly con- 
 ducted, I must have wounded the pride of some, and, prob- 
 ably, excited malevolent feelings towards me. Such may now 
 be gratified by the step I am taking. 
 
286 LATER HISTORY OF THE FIRST CHURCH 
 
 My ministry has been protracted beyond the average life 
 of Ministers, which has been correctly estimated at sixteen 
 years; as it is nearly twenty years since I began to persuade 
 this people to be reconciled to God. This period is beyond 
 what I anticipated, when I considered your feeble and unset- 
 tled state, at the time I received the charge, also as the 
 sickness of former days had admonished me not fo calculace 
 on a life of many years. Here I cannot but recollect, with 
 thanksgiving to God, that my services have not been inter- 
 rupted by sickness, more than two or three days since my 
 residence in this place. 
 
 While, by every attention, I have endeavored to cherish mu- 
 tual complacency and good will, I have, with regret, observed 
 an impregnable barrier in the narrow selfish feelings which 
 so evidently predominate. Hence, while my publick labours, 
 and my visits from house to house have left scarcely an abid- 
 ing impression in favor of godliness, in the proceedings of 
 the Society I have experienced cold indifference and unfeeling 
 neglect. If this be my situation at the present period of life, 
 dreary must be the prospect of declining years. Indeed I do 
 not expect to see many more years, but I am convinced from 
 effects already produced, that my health and life would be 
 an early sacrifice to the continuance of my connection with 
 this church and congregation. 
 
 You will not accuse me of being wanting in patience and 
 forbearance. The last nine years can not be easily forgotten; 
 their testimony is before you. There is a point beyond which, 
 the exercise of patience under injuries, ceases to be a virtue, 
 and might in a case like the present, give countenance to the 
 remark of the enemies of revelation, that the religion of 
 Christ would not suffer us to assert our rights, but required us 
 to be temporizing, pusillanimous and submissive to continued 
 wrongs. 
 
 Had I nerves of iron and an heart of adamant, I should' 
 then be formed to regard with indifference both your state 
 and my own. Possibly you may think it your unhappiness 
 to have a Minister who feels too much. You have not com- 
 
channing's ministry. 287 
 
 plained of his sensibility when his heart has melted under 
 your sorrows; and can you ask him to be indifferent to his 
 own? ^ 
 
 But it is unnecessary further to attempt exciting your at- 
 tention to my concerns. After weighing the subject deliber- 
 ately and prayerfully, the result is, the fullest conviction, 
 that, to retire has become a sacred duty. My usefulness and 
 health with the happiness of my remaining days, and your 
 harmony and lasting peace, unite in urging it. I therefore 
 now propose to this Society, that the important relation I 
 sustain, as the Minister of this parish, be dissolved as soon 
 after the expiration of the current year of my ministry, as it 
 can be effected. 
 
 I ask to be favored with a written communication in answer 
 to this proposal, that I may lay it before the Church for their 
 concurrance, and take the ecclesiastical course usual in our 
 Churches, to complete the dissolution. 
 
 I close in the words of the Prophet; 'I said, I have laboured 
 in vain, I have spent my strength for nought, and in vain; yet 
 surely my judgment is with the Lord, and my work with my 
 God.' Your Friend and Minister, 
 
 HENRY CHANNING. 
 Messrs. Guy Richards, Edward Chappell, and George Colfax, 
 Committee of the First Ecclesiastical Society in New Lon- 
 don. 
 
 This is a remarkable letter. Its points of strength, 
 as well as of weakness, are conspicuous. His prov- 
 ocation was great. However, we cannot but be- 
 lieve that, such men, as those to whom the letter 
 was addressed, felt that they had a reason for the 
 course which they pursued. The society should 
 have definitely replied to his letter of 1797, and that 
 too at once. If they felt that they could not, for any 
 reason comply with the request, it would have been 
 better to say so, and give the reason. It may be 
 
:288 LATER HISTORY OP THE FIRST CHURCH. 
 
 that a regard for Mr. Channing's feelings caused 
 them to keep silence. It is certain that a feeling of 
 indifference prevailed. But this indifference was 
 the fruit of his views and preaching; a fact which 
 he failed to see. He did recognize that there had 
 been a growing separation between him and the 
 people, but he failed to see that the principal cause 
 was in himself. He speaks of his forbearance and 
 patience. But he did not recognize the fact that 
 the church and society had exercised patience with 
 him for more than seventeen years, while he 
 preached a faith alien to that which he was called 
 and ordained to preach. Long before he did he 
 should have taken this step ; should have frankly 
 stated to the church his change of views, and given 
 them the chance to say whether they wanted the 
 views, which he had adopted since his ordination, 
 preached in their pulpit. If the society failed on the 
 one hand, he failed as signally on the other. The 
 passages in the letter, which reproached the people, 
 were unworthy of the occasion. The generous 
 character of the men, whom he accused of narrow 
 selfish feelings, appears from the fact that no reply 
 was made to his severe strictures upon them, except 
 to disclaim them before the council. They were al- 
 lowed to pass in dignified silence, and were an- 
 swered in the gift, noted in the previous chapter, 
 which some of them made to him after his dismis- 
 sion. 
 
 His letter of resignation left but one course open 
 to the society, and it was promptly taken. At a 
 
channing's ministry. 289 
 
 meeting- of that body, held April 14, eighteen days 
 after the letter was written, "the society then took 
 into consideration the subject of the Rev'd Mr. 
 Channing's Letters addressed to their committee da- 
 ted the 2 1 St of Feb'y and the 27th of March wherein 
 he requests a dismission from this society as their 
 Gospel minister, and thereupon passed the following 
 vote, viz : 
 
 "Whereas the Rev'd Mr. Channing hath, by his letter of the 
 27th of March A. D. 1806 proposed and requested that his 
 connection with this Society as their Gospel minister be dis- 
 solved on the close of the present year of his ministry ending 
 the 17th day of May next; thereupon 
 
 Voted that the connection between the Rev'd Mr. Channing 
 as a Gospel minister and this Society be considered as dis- 
 solved from and after the 17th of May next; and that the Com- 
 mittee communicate the same to him in writing." 
 
 Voted that the Society Committee be requested to procure 
 some person to supply the pulpit, as occasion may require and 
 with a view to the settlement of a minister in this parish." 
 
 The letter of resignation was imperative. The 
 action of the society seems to have been unanimous. 
 In compliance with Mr. Channing's request, and 
 with the vote, a written notice of the society's action 
 was communicated to him by the following letter: 
 
 "New London, First Society 
 
 April 26, 1806. 
 Reverend Sir: 
 
 Your letters to the Society Committee of the 21st of Feb- 
 ruary and 27th of March last, were laid before the Society at 
 their annual meeting on the 14th of April inst. when the fol- 
 lowing vote was passed." 
 
290 LATER HISTORY OP THE FIRST CHURCH. 
 
 Then follow the votes as given above, and the let- 
 ter was signed by the committee of the society for 
 that year, Guy Richards, Jedediah Huntington, 
 George Colfax, Edward Chappell, and Jacob Gur- 
 ley. In reply Mr. Channing wrote as follows : 
 
 New London April 29, 1806. 
 Gentlemen: 
 
 I am to acknowledge the receipt of your favour of the 26th 
 Inst, which was delivered soon after my arrival from New 
 York. 
 
 Your letter communicated a copy of the vote passed by the 
 Society, at their annual meeting on the 14th Inst, acceding 
 to my proposal for a dissolution of my relation to this par- 
 ish, as their Minister. 
 
 As my dissatisfaction arose from indisputable facts, I am 
 happy in observing that my statement is acquiesced in as 
 correct. I am also much gratified that the society so far re- 
 spected my sentiments and feelings, that they acceded to my 
 proposal with so much unanimity. I shall now have the sat- 
 isfaction of reflecting, that I left them in harmony and peace, 
 and that it will be chargeable to themselves alone if they 
 suffer feuds and divisions to prevail among them. Sincerely 
 do I pray for their peace and prosperity, and that there may 
 be a generation here to serve the Lord, so long as the sun 
 and moon endure. 
 
 I shall lead the Church to the preparatory steps; and, as the 
 seventeenth of May falls on Saturday, shall endeavor to have 
 my relation to the Church and congregation dissolved by an 
 Ecclesiastical Council, in the week after. 
 
 As this is, probably, the last written communication I shall 
 make to you, in your oflacial capacity, I take this opportunity 
 to return my thanks for every expression of polite and friendly 
 
channing's ministry. 291 
 
 attention received from you individually and as the committee 
 of the First Ecclesiastical Society 
 
 With an affectionate adieu I subscribe, 
 
 Respectfully Yours 
 
 HENRY CHANNING. 
 
 Messrs. Guy Richards, Jedediah Huntington, George Colfax, 
 Edward Chappell, and Jacob B. Gurley Committee of the 
 First Society, New London. 
 
 The pastor's resignation, and the society's action 
 thereon were communicated to the church at a 
 meeting held May 4, 1806, by Mr. Channing him- 
 self, with the request that the church would also 
 consent to the proposed ''dissolution of the pastoral 
 relation to this Church, and concur with him m 
 calling an Ecclesiastical Council for the purpose to 
 convene in this parish on tuesday the 20th of May 
 instant." In obedience to this request it was 
 "Voted, that this church consent that the pastoral 
 relation of the Rev'd Henry Channing to this 
 Church be dissolved ; and that a Committee be ap- 
 pointed to concur with him, in behalf of this Church 
 in calling an Ecclesiastical Council according to his 
 request." Deacons Guy Richards and Jedediah 
 Huntington were chosen as that committee. 
 
 The calling of the council, and the selection of it, 
 then as now, was a matter in which the church took 
 the lead. This was the first council which this 
 church had ever called for such a purpose, and it 
 was at this time one hundred and sixty-four years 
 old. No copy of the letter issued is preserved, or 
 on record. Nor is there any record of the churches^ 
 
292 LATER HISTORY OF THE FIRST CHURCH. 
 
 which it was voted to invite. However we know, 
 from the records, what churches were represented, 
 and by what pastors and delegates. The council 
 met in New London, May 20, 1806, "at the house of 
 Jedediah Huntington Esqr." convened ''by Letters 
 Missive from the First Church of Christ in said 
 place, for the purpose of dissolving the ministerial 
 relation between Revd Henry Channing and the 
 said church and society." The council was consti- 
 tuted as follows : the church in Preston, Rev. Levi 
 Hart D. D., pastor, and Daniel Morgan Esqr. dele- 
 gate; the church in East Haddam, Rev. Elijah Par- 
 sons, pastor, and Doctor Thomas Mosely, delegate ; 
 the church in Newport R. L, Rev. William Patten, 
 pastor, and Mr. John Mun, delegate ; the Second 
 Church in Noi-wich, Rev. Walter King, pastor, and 
 John Lanman, delegate; and the church in Lym.e, 
 Rev. Lathrop Rockwell, pastor, and Deacon John 
 Griswold, delegate. The council was organized by 
 the choice of Rev. Levi Hart, D. D. as moderator, 
 Rev. Walter King, scribe, and Rev. William Pat- 
 ten, assistant scribe. Levi Hart and William Pat- 
 ten were on the council which ordained Mr. Chan- 
 ning. After prayer by the moderator the council 
 proceeded to the business in hand. The foregoing 
 letters were laid before it. Mr. Channing made his 
 statement, quoted above. The committee also 
 made a statement saying that they had paid Mr. 
 Channing in full, the sum agreed upon, and dis- 
 claiming the selfishness and indifference which the 
 pastor's words implied. The council, upon delib- 
 eration arrived at the following result : 
 
CHANNING^S MINISTRY. 293 
 
 "Being furnished with the various documents relating to the 
 subject submitted to their judgment, and having examined 
 them; and having likewise heard and considered the explan- 
 atory remarks of Mr. Channing and the Committee; the Coun- 
 cil, though deeply affected that they are under necessity of de- 
 ciding in a case so momentous, and at the same time so af- 
 flictive, have come to the following result; 
 
 That, if the leading members, of this church and society 
 had paid greater and more seasonable attention to the early 
 dissatisfaction of their Pastor, respecting his support, and 
 if mutual and friendly conference had taken place between him 
 and them on the subject, there is reason to believe that a 
 happy union might still have subsisted, and his usefulness and 
 comfort, and the religious and temporal interest of the Con- 
 gregation been promoted. Though on this ground the Coun- 
 cil would gladly act the part of a mediator, and be instrumen- 
 tal of the continuance of Mr. Channing in his pastoral rela- 
 tion; yet from the progress of the measures, and the present 
 state of the case they are unanimously of opinion that it is 
 expedient the relation should be dissolved. They therefore 
 declare, that, agreeably to the request of Mr. Channing, and 
 the votes of this church and society, his relation, as their 
 Pastor is dissolved. 
 
 They unanimously and affectionately concur in recommend- 
 ing him as a Minister in regular standing in the Church of 
 Christ, and pray that he may be eminently useful and happy. 
 
 And they humbly and tenderly commend this Church and 
 Society to the Great Shepherd; praying that they may be 
 subjects of his special care, and of all temporal and spiritual 
 blessings, and especially that they may be furnished with a 
 Pastor who shall come to them in the fulness of the bless- 
 ing of the Gospel of Christ. 
 
 Voted as the result of Council. 
 
 LEVI HART, Moderator. 
 
 Attest. WILLIAM PATTEN, Assist. Scribe." 
 
294 LATER HISTORY OF THE FIRST CHURCH. 
 
 Thus was brought to a close an unhappy episode 
 in the history of this church. The real cause of the 
 difficulty does not appear in the result of the coun- 
 cil. But facts enough have been brought to light, 
 in the course of this narrative to show that the diffi- 
 culty was deeper and more serious than the question 
 of salary. Dr. Field says, ''it seems singular that he 
 should have remained here twenty years and not 
 have impressed his peculiar views on the minds of 
 any, as we have no evidence that he did. His pas- 
 torate shows that a ministry devoted to preaching 
 the mere moralities of life with negations in respect 
 to evangelical doctrine, will have no strong hold 
 upon the people, but will be ever growing weaker 
 and weaker in its influence." 
 
 After his dismissal Mr. Channing continued to re- 
 side in New London for some time, after which he 
 removed to New York to live, it is presumed, with 
 his children. He was never settled again. Dr. Mc- 
 Ewen says that "he became a wandering apostle of 
 the theology to which he gave himself a martyr. ' 
 
 Two churches of other faiths were planted during 
 his ministry; the Methodist Church in 1793, and 
 the First Baptist in 1804. Of the causes which led 
 to the introduction of Methodism into the state 
 about 1789, another says "our Methodist brethren, 
 if called on for their honest convictions, would prob- 
 ably assign, first and mainly, the formalism, the 
 worldliness, and the want of piety, in the prevailing 
 order," which was Congregational. 
 
 The first appearance of Methodism in New Lon- 
 
channing's ministry. 295 
 
 don was in the year 1789, when Jesse Lee came 
 through Connecticut, and laid the foundation of 
 this order for the state and the whole of New Eng- 
 land. His first sermon was preached at the court 
 house September 2. He was here again in 1790. 
 He was cordially received by members of the Bap- 
 tist denomination, of which there was no church 
 here at the time. In 1791 Bishop Asbury preached 
 in the court house. Class meetings were institu- 
 ted at the house of Richard Douglas, who, with his 
 wife, was among the first converts to Methodism. 
 The New London circuit was instituted, and the 
 church constituted in 1793. The first house of wor- 
 ship was built on the site now occupied by the house 
 of the late Nathan Belcher. Methodist street per- 
 petuates its memory. 
 
 The First Baptist Church was constituted in Feb- 
 ruary 1804, by about fifty members of the Baptist 
 Church in Waterford, who were living in New Lon- 
 don. The first house of worship was on Baptist 
 rock, about at the corner of Pearl and Union streets. 
 Both churches, organized during the pastorate of 
 Mr. Channing, have been valuable additions to the 
 spiritual forces of the city. 
 
 Mrs. Channing died September 6, 1798 and left 
 Mr. Channing with a young family to care for. He 
 did not marry again. Nine children were born to 
 them, four of whom died in infancy. They were as 
 follows : 
 
 Henry Wii^iyi AM was born August 5, 1788, was 
 baptized September 21, graduated from Yale Col- 
 
296 LATER HISTORY OF THE FIRST CHURCH. 
 
 lege in 1807, became a lawyer in New York where 
 he died in 1866, aged 78. 
 
 Thomas Shaw was born October 23, 1789, was 
 baptized December 13, and became a merchant at 
 Catskill N. Y. 
 
 Mary Ann the only daughter was born May 1 1, 
 1791, was baptized July 24, and died August 2. 
 
 Wai^tkr McCurdy was born October 27, 1792, 
 was baptized December 16, and died August 13, 
 
 1793- 
 
 W11.1.IAM was born January 31, 1794, was bap- 
 tized April 6, and became a physician in New York, 
 where he died unmarried. 
 
 Edwin was born February 9, 1795, was bap- 
 tized April 5, and became a merchant in Cincinnati, 
 Ohio. 
 
 John McCurdy was born January 19, 1796, 
 was baptized April 10, and entered the United 
 States Navy. He died unmarried. 
 
 Ai^KXANDKR STKWARTwas born October 3, 1797, 
 was baptized October 8, and died October 9. 
 
 Waltkr was born October 3, 1797, was baptized 
 October 8, and died October 11. 
 
 None of Mr. Channing's descendants remain in 
 town. Channing street, which runs through prop- 
 erty which he once owned perpetuates the memory 
 of his name. 
 
 Here ends the records of a pastorate which, in 
 some of its aspects, was conspicuous. It marked 
 the beginning of worship on the present site. It 
 was remarkable for the men who were its chief sup- 
 
channing's ministry. 297 
 
 porters. It was noteworthy, as being the only in- 
 stance in which a pastor of this church abandoned 
 the faith which he was ordained to preach. It was 
 remarkable in the fact that for seventeen years its 
 pastor was an avowed Unitarian, but did not win to 
 his views, so far as is known, a single member of 
 his church, which still clung to the faith on which 
 it was founded in 1642, and thus showed those stay- 
 ing qualities which have always been peculiar to it. 
 It is also worth noticing that the church was not 
 divided by the departure of its pastor, but still stood 
 as a unit, ready for the next man. 
 
 In his letter of resignation he expressed the con- 
 viction that his remaining days on earth would be 
 few. But in this he was mistaken, for he lived 
 thirty-four years after his dismission from the 
 church, and died in New York, August 2'j, 1840,. 
 aged eighty-one years. 
 
XL 
 
 THB MINISTRY OF ABBI. MCKWEN, D. D. 
 
 October 22, 1806— September 7, 1860. 
 
 THE PARISH. 
 
 At the meeting of the parish, at which Mr. Chan- 
 ning's resignation was accepted, it will be remem- 
 bered that the society's committee were instructed 
 to secure some one to supply the pulpit with refer- 
 ence to permanent settlement as pastor of the 
 church. In obedience to this instruction the com- 
 mittee began the search, which was soon rewarded. 
 For July 14, 1806, less than two months after the 
 dismissal of Mr. Channing, the society "Voted 
 unanimously that this society do give Mr. Abel Mc- 
 Ewen a call to settle in the Gospel Ministry in this 
 Society ; and that they ofifer him six hundred and 
 seventy dollars per annum as long as he shall con- 
 tinue their minister, together with the use of the 
 parsonage House and lands on the conditions an- 
 nexed to the Gift of said House and Lands by Thos. 
 Shaw Esqr., the Donor. Voted that the society 
 committee wait on Mr. McEwen with a copy of this 
 vote and request his answer." 
 
 In the records of the church is the following en- 
 try: "At a meeting of the church, 20 July i8o5 
 Voted, unanimously, that we do approve of the min- 
 isterial labors of Mr. Abel McEwen, and in concur- 
 
mcewen's ministry. 299 
 
 ranee with the vote of the society passed on the 14th 
 of this month do, unanimously, invite him to a pas- 
 toral relation with this church. Voted that Dea- 
 cons Jedediah Huntington and Guy Richards be a 
 committee to make known these proceedings to Mr. 
 McEwen." 
 
 Dr. McEwen's reply to the joint call of the so- 
 ciety and the church is as follows : 
 
 To the First Ecclesiastical Society in New London; and to 
 
 the Church comprised in sd Society. 
 
 Your concurrent and unanimous invitations, given me to 
 settle with you in the Gospel Ministry, and in a pastoral rela- 
 tion with the church, have called my attention to a subject 
 serious in its nature, and momentous in its consequences. 
 Sensible that the apparent will of providence ascertained from 
 a consideration of my own circumstances, and the circum- 
 stances of the Church and Society, can alone justly guide me 
 to a decision, I have sought divine direction and the advice 
 of pious and judicious councillors, while preparing to make 
 you this return. Of the competency of the support which you 
 propose for me you are the best judges. Persuaded that your 
 intentions in determining it were generous, I am willing *o 
 rest my hopes in case of any unforseen necessities, on the 
 same generosity and kindness. 
 
 Hoping that the Church and Society have formed just opin- 
 ions of my theological sentiments, of my qualifications and 
 character as a preacher of the gospel, as a man and as a can- 
 didate for the pastoral charge; relying on your prayers for my 
 faithfulness, on the countenance and assistance which you 
 can afford me in discharging the duties of a clergyman at this 
 trying day, and on your candour and charity to forgive the im- 
 perfections of my life and performance, and praying for the 
 direction and support of divine Grace, I comply with your in- 
 vitation. 
 
 September 23, 1806. ABEL McEWEN. 
 
300 LATER HISTORY OP THE FIRST CHURCH. 
 
 On the seventh of October, the following vote was- 
 passed. ''This society having, on the 14th day of 
 July last given Mr. Abel McEwen a call to settle 
 in the ministry, and he having, in his answer of the 
 23rd of Sep'r, complied therewith ; voted, that his 
 ordination take place on Wednesday the 22nd of 
 this month and that the Society Commee make such 
 preparations as may be suitable on the occasion." 
 The following action of the church was taken at a 
 later date: ''At a meeting of the church 12 Octa 
 1806. Mr. Abel McEwen having accepted the call 
 of this church to enter into the pastoral relation, 
 and the society having appointed Wednesday the 
 22d inst. for the solemnization of his ordination, 
 Voted that the ordaining council consist of the pas- 
 tor and a delegate from the following churches viz :. 
 the church in Yale College, in the towns of Gosh- 
 en, Norfolk and Lyme, and those belonging to the 
 association in which this church is comprised, and 
 that the officers of the church send letters of invita- 
 tion as usual. Voted that this church do concur 
 with the desire of our Pastor elect in the observance 
 of a day of fasting and prayer, on the Friday fol- 
 lowing as preparatory to the ordination." As the 
 twelfth was on Sunday, "the Friday following" was 
 the seventeenth, when, we may suppose, the pro- 
 posed season of prayer and fasting was observed. 
 This was surely an auspicious beginning of a pas- 
 torate destined to be the longest hitherto in the his- 
 tory of the church, and to exert a powerful in- 
 fluence not only on the church, but also on the en- 
 
mcewen's ministry. 301 
 
 tire community. It can not be doubted that its suc- 
 cess was due in part to the fact that it was thus pre- 
 faced by prayer. 
 
 Dr. McEwen had graduated from Yale College 
 in the famous class of 1804, with the highest hon- 
 ors. In college he came under the instruction and 
 influence of Dr. Timothy Dwight, who was at the 
 height of his power and fame. Dr. Dwight had 
 done valiant service for the truth, in battling with 
 the infidelity which had flooded the country after 
 the war of the Revolution. Dr. McEwen felt the 
 touch of this great mind, and it had a commanding 
 effect upon him, which he took with him into his 
 life-long pastorate. The instruction which he re- 
 ceived from this champion of the Faith peculiarly 
 fitted him to correct the spiritual conditions in 
 which the last pastorate had left the church. As 
 has been said of Jonathan Edwards, with relation 
 to the spiritual atmosphere of his times, so may it 
 be said of Dr. McEwen, that into the existing con- 
 ditions in this church his preaching came as a puri- 
 fying stream from a divine fountain to counteract 
 the scheme of justification by one's own virtues, 
 which had so long had the ascendency in the teach- 
 ings of this pulpit. 
 
 After graduation he spent two years in theolog- 
 ical study, first under Dr. Dwight, and then under 
 the famous Dr. Asahel Hooker of Goshen, whose 
 parsonage was the theological seminary from which 
 a number of eminent pastors went into the ministry. 
 At the same time that he received the call of this 
 
302 LATER HISTORY OF THE FIRST CHURCH. 
 
 church, he had other invitations to other important 
 churches. But Dr. Dwight thought the conditions 
 of this church at that time demanded such a man as 
 Dr. McEwen. Accordingly acting on the advice 
 of his friend and former instructor, he accepted the 
 unanimous and hearty call of the church and society. 
 
 Upon the day fixed by the concurrant votes of 
 both bodies, October 2.2, 1806, the ordination ser- 
 vices took place. The following entry upon the rec- 
 ords of the church, relates to that important event : 
 
 *'The result of an Ecclesiastical Council. 
 
 At an Ecclesiastical council convened by letters 
 missive at New London Oct. 21st, 1806 for the pur- 
 pose of setting apart Mr. Abel McEwen to the work 
 of the ministry over the first chh and Society in 
 sd Town, 
 
 Present Rev. Messrs. Levi Hart D. D., [of Gris- 
 wold], Jonath Murdock [of Bozrah], Timothy 
 Dwight D. D., Joseph Strong [of the First Church 
 in Norwich], Samuel Nott [of Franklin], Lemuel 
 Tyler [of Preston], Abishai Alden [of Montville], 
 Salmon Cone [of Colchester], Lathrop Rockwell 
 [of Old Lyme], Levi Nelson [of Lisbon]. Dele- 
 gates, Dea. Andrew Huntington from Second Chh 
 in Preston, Dea. John Backus from the ist chh in 
 Norwich ; Mr. Asa Woodworth from the chh in 
 Bozrah ; Dea. Joshua Witter from the chh in Frank- 
 lin ; Mr. William Coit from the 2d chh in Norwich ; 
 Dea. Jonah Witter from the ist chh in Preston; 
 Dea. Nathaniel Otis from the chh in Montville ; 
 Dea. David Kilbourne from the ist chh in Colches- 
 
mcewen's ministry. 303 
 
 ter; Dea. John Griswold from the ist chh in Lyme; 
 Mr. WilHam Adams from the ist chh in Lisbon. 
 Mr. Strong was chosen Moderator; Mr. Nott 
 scribe." The usual papers relating to the call, with 
 Dr. McEwen's answer to it, also papers relating to 
 the candidate's standing as a member of the Chris- 
 tian church and to his licensure to preach the gos- 
 pel, were duly presented, and declared satisfactory. 
 The council then proceeded to examine the candi- 
 date "in natural, revealed and experimental religion, 
 and into his views of entering into the work of the 
 ministry." The examination occupied the whole 
 of the day. The doings of the council say that 
 "after examination the council voted unanimous- 
 ly that they were satisfied with respect to his 
 qualifications." It was then voted to proceed to 
 his ordination the next day. Wednesday morning, 
 October 2.2, at ten o'clock, the council met for the 
 ordination services. These were held according to 
 the following order : Rev. Lemuel Tyler oiTered the 
 opening prayer. Rev. Timothy Dwight, D. D., 
 preached the sermon. Rev. Dr. Hart and Rev. 
 Messrs. Murdock, Nott and Rockwell were chosen 
 to impose hands in the solemn act of ordination. 
 Rev. Jonathan Murdock offered the ordaining 
 prayer. Rev. Joseph Strong gave the charge to 
 the pastor. Rev. Salmon Cone gave the right hand 
 of fellowship. Rev. Abishai Alden offered the con- 
 cluding prayer. Dr. McEwen was now the duly 
 constituted pastor of the church, in which office 
 he was to remain, as pastor, or pastor emeritus, until 
 his death. 
 
304 LATER HISTORY OF THE FIRST CHURCH. 
 
 January 21, 1807, he was married to Miss Sarah 
 Battelle of Torringford. Dr. Noah Porter says, 
 "Dr. McEwen was honored and happy in his domes- 
 tic relations." He doubtless took his bride to the 
 parsonage on Main street, for its use was voted to 
 him in the call ; and at a parish meeting held April 
 18, 1808, the committee of the society were "em- 
 powered and directed to lease to the Rev. Abel Mc- 
 Ewen, their ordained minister, the Parsonage house 
 lands and appurtenances agreeable to the di- 
 rections of Mr. Thomas Shaw in his deed or deeds 
 of donation or devise to said society." The house 
 still stands on Main street next south of the site for- 
 merly occupied by the dwelling of Governor Salton- 
 stall. Dr. McEwen lived 'here till about 1834, when 
 he bought the house now occupied by Dr. Braman, 
 where he lived till his death in i860. 
 
 April 18, 1808 the parish passed a vote looking 
 towards the accumulation of a fund for the support 
 of the gospel ministry in this society. It reads as 
 follows : "Voted that all future appropriations and 
 subscriptions for a fund for the support of the gos- 
 pel ministry in this society be accepted and appro- 
 priated as a fund for the support of the gospel min- 
 istry in this society, and further that the annual in- 
 terest of the same be hereby appropriated as an in- 
 crease and addition to sd fund and become a part 
 of the same until this society shall vote to apply the 
 interest thereafter to accrue to the support of the 
 •ministry aforsd." April 23, 1810, it was "voted 
 that in the future whenever there shall be a surplus 
 
mcewen's ministry. 305 
 
 in the hands of the Treasurer either from sales of 
 pews, donations or otherwise, it shall be the duty of 
 the Treasurer, under the direction of the societies 
 committee to subscribe the same from time to time 
 to some Bank in this State to become a permanent 
 fund towards the support of the ministry of said so- 
 ciety." As this vote was "rescinded and made of 
 no effect," by vote of the society April 22, 1811, it 
 appears that the efifort to create a fund for the pur- 
 pose named did not meet with success. 
 
 April 24, 1809, it was 'Voted to add to Mr. Mc- 
 Ewen's salary the sum of Two hundred dollars, 
 making the same Eight hundred and Seventy Dol- 
 lars, exclusive of the Parsonage house and lands." 
 The value of the house and lands was estimated at 
 a sum which made Dr. McEwen's salary one thou- 
 sand dollars a year — the amount at which it re- 
 mained throughout his pastorate. 
 
 It is worthy of note that the sale of the pews in 
 1807, the year following Dr. McEwen's ordination 
 realized nearly a hundred pounds more than in 1806. 
 The amounts received in pew-rentals during his 
 ministry varied from $843.15 in 1808 to $1898.00 in 
 1854. It will be interesting also to note who were 
 some of the pew holders in 1806, when Dr. McEwen 
 was called. Winthrop Saltonstall, Nathaniel Rich- 
 ards, Jacob B. Gurley, George Colfax, Jonathan 
 Brooks, George Chapman, Samuel Belden, Guy 
 Richards, Elias Perkins, Nathaniel Otis, Chester 
 Kimball, Samuel Chancy, Amasa Learned, William 
 Tate, Lyman Law, Charles Bulkeley, Samuel Hurl- 
 
306 LATER HISTORY OF THE FIRST CHURCH. 
 
 but, William Richards, Jedediah Huntington, Ed- 
 ward Chappell, Thaddeus Brooks, Peter Richards, 
 John Way, Marvin Wait and others. The receipts 
 from the sale of pews in the year referred to were 
 £222-19-6 and the price of pews ranged from three 
 shillings to nine pounds. 
 
 At a meeting of the society held April 21, 1817, 
 it was "voted that Jacob B. Gurley, Esqr. Elias Per- 
 kins, Esqr. and William P. Cleveland Esqr., be ap- 
 pointed a committee and agents for this society, for 
 obtaining from the Secretary of this state their pro- 
 portion of the sum appropriated by the legislature 
 at their last sessions to the societies of this denom- 
 ination." The following facts concerning this 
 money were obtained from the secretary of state : 
 
 ''The records of the doings of the Legislature 
 show that at the October session of 1816, the Gen- 
 eral Assembly passed 'An Act for the Support of 
 Literature and Religion,' by which 'the Balance due 
 to this State from the United States on account of 
 advancements made by this State for general de- 
 fence during the late war (1812) when received was 
 to be appropriated for the support of Religion and 
 Literature in this State.' It was further provided 
 that 'one third part of what shall be received be ap- 
 propriated for the use and benefit of the Presbyter- 
 ian or Congregational denomination of Christians, 
 to be by them applied for the support of the Gospel 
 in their respective societies in proportion to the 
 amount of their lists which shall then have been last 
 perfected.' At the May session of 1817 it was voted, 
 
mcewen's ministry. 307 
 
 in an Act in addition tO' the above, that the Com- 
 mittees of the several Presbyterian or Congregation- 
 al societies should make up and transmit to the 
 State Treasurer by October i, following, the lists 
 and ratable estate of said societies, and that no pay- 
 ment to said Presbyterian or Congregational socie- 
 ties should be made until the rising of the General 
 Assembly in October of that year." The money 
 was collected from the United States. The com- 
 mittee of this society, named above, were appointed 
 to comply with the provisions of the act and secure 
 the sum .apportioned to it according to its lists. No 
 record of the fact appears on the books of the so- 
 ciety, but doubtless the money was obtained, and 
 the treasury of the society was thus replenished. It 
 was further strengthened by a legacy of one thou- 
 sand dollars left to the parish by Mrs. Harriett 
 Lewis. March 22, 1819, it was voted, "that this 
 society with grateful and affectionate remembrance 
 accept the legacy of One Thousand dollars, be- 
 queathed by Mrs. Harriett Lewis in her last will 
 and Testament, and that Wm. P. Cleveland and 
 Peter Richards be a committee to carry into effect 
 the intention of the Testatrix." 
 
 The meeting-house had now been in use almost 
 thirty years, and was in need of repairs. April 17, 
 181 5 the society committee were "instructed to ex- 
 amine into the State of the Church, and make such 
 repairs in the Steeple, and other parts of the same, 
 as may be necessary for its security and preserva- 
 tion." The paper drawn up for subscriptions to- 
 
308 LATER HISTORY OF THE FIRST CHURCH. 
 
 wards the needed repairs on the meeting-house is 
 in existence. The sums subscribed ranged from 
 one dollar to three hundred dollars, and amounted 
 to $1212.50 Appended to the list of donors is this : 
 "the above and foregoing subscription was rec'd 
 from each of the subscribers as set to their names 
 respectively, and appropriated by the society's com- 
 mittee for years 1816 and 181 7 in repairs of the 
 Meeting House, making fence round the House etc., 
 etc., as per the accounts on file, in the hands of the 
 society clerk." April 2'j, 1818 it was "voted that 
 the Society Committee be authorized to build a 
 fence before the Meeting House yard, of such ma- 
 terials, and in such manner, as they may judge prop- 
 er for the best interest of the society and make such 
 other repairs as they may think necessary." 
 
 In 1828 the house of worship again needed repairs 
 and a subscription was made for that purpose. 
 There were twenty-two subscribers of sums from 
 five to fifteen dollars ; in all amounting to one hun- 
 dred and seventy-nine dollars. These sums were 
 used for the purpose specified, and the account set- 
 tled January 31, 1829. 
 
 April 18, 1808 the following vote was passed, 
 "Voted that the societies Committee be authorized 
 and empowered to purchase for the benefit of this 
 Society an house if they think proper, provided the 
 same do not exceed the sum of five hundred Dollars, 
 to be owned by the Society, etc." This was the 
 sexton's house, and it stood on the lower corner 
 of the lot on which the present Parish House 
 stands. 
 
INTERIOR OF THE OLD CONFERENCE OR SESSIONS HOUSE. 
 
mcewen's ministry. 309 
 
 Early in the ministry of Dr. McEwen weekly 
 meetings for conference and prayer began to be 
 held. At first they were held from house to house, 
 as there was no building for that purpose. Early 
 in 1819 the necessity for such a structure was so 
 strongly felt that a movement was begun, which 
 was carried out, for the erection of what was called 
 a ''Sessions House." The first step taken was a 
 subscription for the erection of such a building. 
 Then the following vote was passed January 5, 1819 ; 
 "Whereas a subscription to build a Session House 
 for this society has been effected ; Voted that said 
 house be erected and built on this Society's Land 
 Southerly of the Sexton House, and that a Com- 
 mittee be appointed to effect the same." Chester 
 Kimball, Frederick Miner, and Benjamin Brown 
 were chosen as that committee. The subscriptions 
 for the erection of this building ranged from one 
 dollar to ninety-five dollars, and altogether amount- 
 ed to eight hundred and sixty-five dollars. In ad- 
 dition to this was a donation of three hundred dol- 
 lars from the estate of Mrs. Harriett Lewis, and two 
 dollars for dirt sold to Chester Kimball. The 
 total receipts were $1,108.35. The entire cost 
 of the Session House was $1,166.74, leaving a 
 small balance. The house seems to have been 
 built by C. Brown and E. S. Babcock, whose 
 bill was eight hundred and fifty-two dollars and 
 ninety-five cents. It stood on the site now occupied 
 by the Parish House. March 22, 1819 it was voted 
 to suspend, for the present, ''the further consider- 
 
310 LATER HISTORY OF THE FIRST CHURCH. 
 
 ation of blinds for the Sessions House." In order 
 to build this structure it was necessary to acquire 
 a little more land. So the society voted to ''accept 
 the exchange of land made with Chester Kimball," 
 who lived in the house just south of the Parish 
 House. July 30 of the same year it was "Voted 
 that license be granted to the Teachers of the Sun- 
 day Schools to meet at the Sessions House untill 
 the annual meeting in April next, unless the Society 
 or their Committee, should think proper to deny 
 them the privilege, previous to that time." Then 
 the building was at this time completed and ready 
 for use. It served the church more than fifty years, 
 until the present Parish House was built. It still 
 stands, as a dwelling house, and is No. 11 Church 
 street. 
 
 The method of heating in those days was by a 
 stove in which wood was burned. The unsightly 
 stove-pipe, straggling through the church from the 
 stove to the chimney, adorned at intervals with ba- 
 sins to catch the drippings of creosote, was a sight 
 which greeted the eyes of the worshiper, as he took 
 his seat in the house of God on Sunday morning. 
 Nor was the heat thus generated always a sufficient 
 antidote to the extreme cold. However, the Ses- 
 sions House was warmed by a large square box 
 stove, whose capacity for heating was surprising. 
 
 Several matters which are now considered within 
 the province of the church to decide, were settled 
 by vote of the parish in the period now under re- 
 view. It is generally agreed now that the church 
 
mcewen's ministry. 311 
 
 has the exclusive control of the services of the house 
 of God, such as taking the initiative in the calling 
 of a pastor, the supply of the vacant pulpit, the fix- 
 ing of the times and order of public service etc. 
 But at a meeting of the society held April 14, 1823, 
 it was "voted that the service in the afternoon from 
 the first Sabbath in May to the first Sabbath in Oc- 
 tober, both inclusive, commence at half past two 
 o'clock." April 8, 1822 the society "voted that the 
 contribution at the close of the service on Sabbath 
 Afternoon be henceforth discontinued." It will be 
 remembered that similar votes were taken by the 
 same body, during the previous pastorate. 
 
 Provision for singing, as a part of the service of 
 the house of God, engaged the attention of the so- 
 ciety from time to time. Early in 1807 it had been 
 proposed to the church that "Dwight's Psalm 
 Book" be introduced into public worship. Febru- 
 ary 18 "it being suggested that the church were 
 probably ready to express their mind by vote; the 
 question was put, shall Dwight's Psalm Book be 
 used by this chh in their public worship? Voted 
 in the affirmative." April 14 the society, at its an- 
 nual meeting "Voted, that this Society introduce, 
 in public worship Doctor Dwight's Psalms and 
 Hymns." It was also voted that a collection be 
 made each Sunday for the support of psalm sing- 
 ing. Bearing upon this same question was the vote 
 of November 13, 1848, when the society voted that 
 it was "advisable to substitute the collection of 
 Psalms and Hymns, recently compiled by a commit- 
 
312 LATER HISTORY OP THE FIRST CHURCH. 
 
 tee appointed by the general association of this 
 state, to be used by the congregation instead of the 
 one now in use." The committee were instructed 
 to carry this vote into effect as soon as could con- 
 veniently be done. 
 
 Clearly the congregations of those days were ac- 
 customed to join in the worship of song in the house 
 of God. The people were led in this service, usually 
 by a large choir, directed by a trained and compe- 
 tent leader. Thus April i8, 1808, it was "Voted that 
 this society, feeling grateful to Majr. John P. Trott. 
 for his readiness in leading the singing in this so- 
 ciety, they render him their public thanks and vote 
 him the use of pew No. 38 for the ensuing year." 
 Ten years later it was "voted that the thanks of this 
 society be given to Col. William Belcher for his 
 past services as chorister to the choir of singers, and 
 that the amount paid by him for his Pew the last 
 year be returned him." It was voted, April 12, 
 1824, "that this Society Consent that an Organ be 
 erected and placed in the Meeting House free of ex- 
 pense to the Society." A "subscription for the Or- 
 gan of the ist Ecclesiastical Society in the town of 
 New London, July 26, 1824, also for singing 
 school," was made. The sums subscribed amount- 
 ed to $793.35. The money was "appropriated by 
 Robert Coit in paying for an Organ and for sing- 
 ing as per acct on file settled April 1825." 
 
 Another item or two which relate to the finances 
 of the society may be mentioned here. In 1823 the 
 society's committee were instructed "to close the 
 
mcewen's ministry. 313 
 
 settlement of all the old notes now due," by such 
 method as their discretion should direct, and at the 
 end of three months to burn such as could not be 
 collected. This matter was attended to, and fifteen 
 notes were destroyed April 7, 1824. These notes 
 were for sums ranging from fifty cents to $10.74. 
 They had been given at various dates since 1807, 
 and all amounted to $46.05. In 1827 a subscrip- 
 tion was made to pay a debt of the society, which 
 had accumulated to the amount of $130. A few 
 years before a debt amounting to $506 had been paid 
 in a similar way. Parish deficiencies are not a mod- 
 ern invention, nor has any better way, than that of 
 the fathers, been found to pay them. 
 
 At different periods of the history of the church, 
 the meeting-house question became a pressing one. 
 If we count the "Barn Meeting House" as the first 
 the present noble granite structure is the sixth 
 which this church has had. 
 
 Not a few now living can remember the queer old 
 square pews, in the former house, in which the con- 
 gregation used to be seated. The seats were 011 
 three sides of the enclosure, so that part of the con- 
 gregation were obliged to sit with their backs to 
 the pulpit. September 26, 1788 it had been "voted 
 that the pews," in the Channing meeting-house, "be 
 made square." February 19, 1816, at a legally 
 warned meeting of the society, the question of al- 
 tering the pews into slips was considered, and it was 
 "Voted that they would not have such alteration." 
 This matter was not brought up again till May 3, 
 
314 LATER HISTORY OF THE FIRST CHURCH. 
 
 183 1, when it was voted first "that the committee 
 procure a new bell for the Meeting House and have 
 the Organ repaired," and secondly "that the Com- 
 mittee be requested to form a plan and estimate the 
 expense, of altering the middle Pews into Slips, and 
 report to an extra or the annual meeting, at their 
 discretion." 
 
 With regard to the bell which the committee were 
 instructed to procure, it may be said here, that it 
 served the society, in calling people to the house 
 of God, for forty-five years, when it became cracked, 
 and was replaced by the present bell in April, 1876. 
 The bell now in use is, therefore, the fifth which 
 the society has owned. 
 
 As to the question of altering the pews into slips, 
 the committee, for some reason, seem to have gone 
 beyond their instructions, and reported in favor of 
 a new meeting-house. For May 6, 1833, the society 
 "voted that the report presented at this meeting 
 from the Committee proposing a new Meeting 
 House, lye on the table." The treasurer was in- 
 structed to effect insurance upon the meeting-house 
 for the sum of $5,000, the amount for which it had 
 previously been insured. March 6, 1834, at a spec- 
 ial meeting of the society, the committee were in- 
 structed to examine the meeting-house, and ascer- 
 tain whether any repairs were necessary, and if so 
 what, and the probable expense, and report their 
 opinion at the next regular meeting of the society. 
 April 28 the committee reported "that it is neces- 
 sary to repair the Roof of the house, and they are 
 
mcewen's ministry. 315 
 
 also of opinion that something should be done to 
 strengthen the frame of the house ; that the prob- 
 able expense of covering the roof, of strengthening 
 the house, and plastering the same anew, will be 
 one thousand dollars." This report was signed by 
 the committee, who were Ralph Stoddard, William 
 P. Cleveland Jr., and Daniel B. Hempstead. The 
 report was accepted, and the committee were in- 
 structed "to repair the Meeting House in such man- 
 ner as they think necessary." The project of a new 
 house of worship was left upon the table for fourteen 
 years. It is not unlikely that the refusal of the so- 
 ciety to build at this time was one of the causes 
 which led to the erection of a house of worship for 
 a second Ecclesiastical Congregational Society. 
 Such a house was built, as appears from the rec- 
 ords of this society. For at the special meeting 
 March 6, 1834, referred to above, Mr. Ezra Chappell 
 presented the following : 
 
 "To the Committee of the 1st Ecclesiastical society in New 
 London; 
 
 I am authorized by the builders and owners of the new 
 Congregational Church in this city, to offer the New House 
 now nearly completed to your society for such term of time 
 as may be required by you to alter, fix, or rebuild your House; 
 and for the use of said House, the new society, or owners, 
 of sd new House, will take for the use thereof, such sum or 
 sums, as the slips may sell for during one year, or for the 
 time your Society may need said slips or house. 
 
 New London Feby 24, 1834. 
 
 EZRA CHAPPELL. 
 
316 LATER HISTORY OP THE FIRST CHURCH. 
 
 The society voted ''we do not judge it expedient 
 at this time to accept said proposition." The new 
 meeting-house of the Second Ecclesiastical Society 
 was completed August 3, 1834, and dedicated April 
 2.2 of the following year. Notwithstanding the vote 
 declining the offer, this society appears to have oc- 
 cupied it during the repairing of its own house. For 
 an historical sketch of the Second Church says that 
 ''during the repairs of the First Church the mother 
 worshipped for six months in her daughter's new 
 house." Six months from August 3, 1834 would 
 bring us to February 3, 1835. During this time the 
 repairs were made. For April 20, 1835, a vote of 
 thanks to the committee was passed, "for their faith- 
 ful and satisfactory performance of their trust as 
 committee men in the late extensive repairs, made 
 on the Meeting House." 
 
 The question of a new house of worship, which 
 had been tabled in 1833, was taken from it, for fur- 
 ther consideration in 1847. Fo^ ^t a meeting held 
 on the sixth day of September, of that year it was 
 "voted that Ezra Chappell and Edward H. Learned 
 be, and they are hereby appointed a committee to 
 obtain subscriptions, to defray the expense of erect- 
 ing a new Meeting House for the First Congrega- 
 tional Society in New London." These subscrip- 
 tions were to be binding after eighteen thousand 
 dollars had been subscribed. It was afterwards 
 provided that the amount must be secured prior to 
 the first day of February 1848. It seems that at 
 this time it was not the purpose to approach the 
 
flEETINQ HOUSE OF THE FIRST CHURCH OP CHRIST. 
 
mcewen's ministry. 317 
 
 new structure from State street. For it was voted 
 September 6, 1847 "that the Society's Committee be 
 directed to open a passage way to said meeting 
 house from Union street, on the northerly part of 
 said lot." At a meeting of the society held Decem- 
 ber 13, 1847, Elias Perkins, Mark Edgar, and Jos- 
 eph Lawrence, were ''appointed a committee to 
 make inquiry in reference to the expense of build- 
 ing a meeting house with stone or brick, and report 
 to the next meeting." The next meeting was held 
 February 14, 1848, at which Ezra Chappell reported 
 that the subscription which he, with Edward H. 
 Learned had been appointed to obtain amounted 
 to more that eighteen thousand dollars on the first 
 day of February. The subscriptions were, there- 
 fore binding. "Whereupon it was Voted to accept 
 from each individual subscriber the sum by him or 
 her subscribed to build sd new house." It was also 
 voted to appoint Asa Otis and Ebenezer Learned 
 "a committee to obtain the notes of said subscribers, 
 to be dated the first day of March next payable 
 at one of the Banks in this city at the end of 
 sixty days from date." This committee, like all 
 others concerned in the erection of this house of 
 worship, were to receive no remuneration for their 
 services. The committee appointed to enquire as to 
 the material also reported, and their report was ac- 
 cepted. The substance of their report is not given, 
 but future votes indicate that they recommended the 
 erection of a granite structure. 
 
 The new church building was now assured. For 
 
318 LATER HISTORY OF THE FIRST CHURCH. 
 
 April 25, 1848, it was voted that, whereas the inter- 
 ests of the society required it, and whereas over 
 eighteen thousand dollars had been subscribed, 
 "this society will build a new meeting house." Mr. 
 Ebenezer Learned was appointed treasurer of the 
 subscription fund, which he was to pay out upon the 
 written order of the building committee, who were 
 Andrew M. Frink, Sidney Miner, and Nathaniel 
 Shaw Perkins, Jr. Full power was given to this 
 committee ''to determine upon the size, plan, and 
 construction of said meeting house, and to bind this 
 society, in relation thereto, for the payment of the 
 same," and in every legal way to act for the society, 
 ''provided they do not exceed the amount of the 
 subscription." The subscriptions were to be paid 
 to Asa Otis, and by him to Ebenezer Learned, in 
 four equal payments, namely on the first days of 
 June, August, October, and December, 1848, with 
 interest from the first day of June. In 1848 and 
 1849 the pews were sold in the old house with the 
 provision, "that no purchaser of a pew for the ensu- 
 ing year shall be holden to pay for the same any 
 longer than the meeting house shall be used during 
 the year for public worship." 
 
 The steps of progress seem to have been rather 
 slow. But a decisive point was reached August 21, 
 1849, when the building committee were "author- 
 ized to dispose of the real estate belonging to said 
 society on Main street known as the Parsonage 
 House and Lot on such terms as they may deem 
 advisable and for the interests of said society." 
 
mcewen's ministry. 319 
 
 Between the Channing meeting-house and what 
 is now called State street, stood the house and lot 
 of Carey Leeds. The committee were authorized 
 by vote of the same meeting to purchase this lot, 
 if it could be procured at a satisfactory price, and if 
 the proceeds of sale of the Parsonage House and lot 
 on Main street, together with such sums as had 
 been, or should be, subscribed for that purpose were 
 sufficient to pay for the same. The lot was pur- 
 chased. An entrance to the new house was thus 
 given from Court street, as it was then called, and 
 the entrance on Union street, as contemplated by a 
 previous vote, would not be required. 
 
 On the twenty-third of August, 1849, it was voted 
 "that the plan of a new meeting house presented by 
 the building committee is approved, and that said 
 committee is authorized to contract for the immedi- 
 ate construction of a granite meeting house in ac- 
 cordance with such plan, except for so much of the 
 central tower and spire, as, in the plan, is above the 
 floor of the belfry, provided such contracts shall not 
 exceed the sum of Twenty One Thousand five hun- 
 dred Dollars, and that the execution thereof shall 
 be secured to the satisfaction of the Society com- 
 mittee by bond, or otherwise." At the same meet- 
 ing Mr. Ebenezer Learned resigned his office as 
 treasurer of the subscription fund, and William C. 
 Crump was chosen in his place. The new house 
 was now an assured fact. The last service in the 
 old one, which had served as a place of worship 
 over sixty years, was held September 30, 1849. On 
 
320 LATER HISTORY OF THE FIRST CHURCH. 
 
 this occasion Dr. jMcEwen preached a memorial 
 sermon, in which he traced the history of the deal- 
 ings of God with the church since the Channing 
 house was erected in 1787. His text was Psalm 
 102:14; "for thy servants take pleasure in her 
 stones, and favor the dust thereof." The old 
 house was sold and removed. Portions of it were 
 said to be still in existence in some of the buildings 
 at Palmertown at a recent date. While the new 
 house was building the congregation worshipped in 
 the Methodist church, which was then standing on 
 the corner of Union and Methodist streets, on the 
 site occupied by the house of the late Hon. Nathan 
 Belcher. The annual meeting of the parish was 
 warned to be "held at the Methodist Meeting house 
 in Union street, the house now occupied by said so- 
 ciety, on Monday the 15th day of April, 1850." At 
 this meeting the committee of the society, Joshua 
 C. Learned, Elias Perkins, and Thomas P. Badet, 
 were "authorized and directed by deed of warranty 
 in the name of this society to convey in fee simple 
 to Mrs. Mary Ann Perkins, upon the payment by 
 her of the sum of Two hundred Dollars, in addition 
 to the sum of Two Thousand Dollars already paid, 
 the lot of land belonging to said society on Main 
 street in this town, which lot is bounded northerly 
 by land of Andrew Mather, [the site of the dwelling 
 of Gov. Saltonstall], easterly by Main street, south- 
 erly by the lot of land on the corner of Main and 
 Richards streets, formerly owned by Daniel Stark 
 •deceased ; land of Ann Huntington, land of Wil- 
 
mcewen's ministry. 321 
 
 Ham Gale, land formerly Lorenzo Crandall's de- 
 ceased, and land formerly Lewis Crandall's de- 
 ceased, and westerly by a pent highway ; said prem- 
 ises being the same formerly conveyed to the first 
 Congregational Church and Society in said New 
 London by Thomas Shaw by his deed bearing date 
 the 9th day of November A. D. 1790, on record in 
 the records of land in the town of New London." 
 The pastor had, by the terms of his call, a certain 
 right in this property. The committee were in- 
 structed to take measures to extinguish this claim. 
 A satisfactory arrangement was made with Dr. Mc- 
 Ewen by which he relinquished his rights. 
 
 An agreement had been entered into by the com- 
 mittee of the society, and a committee of the six- 
 teenth school district, November 1849, by which an 
 exchange of lands was effected, so as to make the 
 north line of the society's property behind the 
 church, and the south line of the school district's 
 property, straight. At the meeting in April, 1850, 
 this agreement was ratified by the society. 
 
 September 26, 1850 the committee were instruct- 
 ed ''to effect such insurance against fire on the new 
 meeting house and at such time as they shall deem 
 discreet." This vote points toward the early 
 completion of the new structure, upon which work 
 had been in progress for several months. At this 
 meeting Ezra Chappell, William C. Crump, Sidney 
 Miner, Elias Perkins, and Joshua C. Learned were 
 appointed a committee ''to solicit subscriptions for 
 the completion of the new meeting-house, grading 
 
322 LATER HISTORY OF THE FIRST CHURCH. 
 
 the street, and lot, building a stone wall around it, 
 with an iron fence." The fence was not built until 
 1888, with a legacy left to the society, for that pur- 
 pose. The soliciting of subscriptions progressed so 
 favorably that, October 7, 1850, the building com- 
 mittee were "authorized to contract for the complet- 
 ing of the meeting-house, and the necessary grad- 
 ing, walls and fences." The end was in sight. April 8, 
 185 1 it was "voted that the society's committee hire 
 a sum, not exceeding nine thousand dollars, on the 
 credit of the society ; and they are hereby author- 
 ized to give the society's note for the sum so bor- 
 rowed ; and to secure the payment of the same and 
 interest by mortgaging, in the name of the society, 
 the new meeting house of the society, and lot on 
 which it stands." The committee were at the same 
 time instructed to procure insurance upon the new 
 house for ten thousand dollars and pledge the same 
 as further security for the payment of the money 
 which was to be borrowed, and expended "for the 
 completion and furnishing of the new meeting 
 house." 
 
 Monday, August 4, 1851 a meeting of the society 
 was warned to be held at the new meeting-house, for 
 the following among other purposes named, to 
 make "provision for paying the debt of said socie- 
 ty," to consider ''the expediency of disposing of 
 the 'Parsonage Lots' so called, belonging to said 
 society," and to authorize their sale, and at the same 
 time to sell the pews in said meeting-house until 
 the first of the following April. The sale amounted 
 to $1477.00. 
 
mcewen's ministry. 323 
 
 By the terms of his call Dr. McEwen had a claim 
 on the parsonage lots which must be met before 
 they could be sold. The committee of the society 
 were instructed to confer with Dr. McEwen, and 
 negotiate with him ''for a release to the society 
 of his interest in the Parsonage lots so called, and, 
 if he consents, to allow him therefor such increase 
 of his annual salary as, in their judgment, shall be 
 equivalent to the use of said lots, as he is now en- 
 titled to the same." Satisfactory arrangements 
 were made. Dr. McEwen relinquished all claims 
 to the parsonage lots, on and after April i, 1853, i^^ 
 consideration of "one hundred dollars per an- 
 num" added to his salary. The committee were, 
 therefore authorized to sell these lots, the avails of 
 which were to be applied to extinguish the debt on 
 the new building. The lots were sold, and the 
 money applied as directed, by Mr. Rial Chaney, who 
 was appointed a special committee for that purpose. 
 
 No record of the dedication of the new meeting- 
 house can be found. But as the pews were sold 
 August 4, 1 85 1, we may infer that divine services 
 began to be held in it at about this time. Whether 
 a formal and elaborate dedication service was held 
 we have no means of knowing. But that this house 
 has been used for public worship since the first sale 
 of pews, admits of no doubt. 
 
 October 12, 1851, a communication was received 
 from Leopold Eidlitz, the architect who drew the 
 plan of the house, stating that, owing to weakness 
 in the walls of the central tower it would be neces- 
 
324 LATER HISTORY OP THE FIRST CHURCH. 
 
 sary to take it down and rebuild it. The masonry 
 seemed to be defective. The walls began to part 
 in several places. The society voted to take no ac- 
 tion at that time. But later the walls were bolted 
 together, and filled with cement, sc that now they 
 are like one solid mass. 
 
 At the annual meeting of the society, April 13, 
 1852 the society's committee were authorized to 
 confer with a committee of the town with reference 
 to putting a clock in the tower of the church. A 
 conference was had and as a result, the following 
 vote was passed July 17, 1852. "Voted that the 
 use of that part of the tower in the meeting house 
 belonging to this society, intended for a clock be 
 and the same is hereby accorded to the City of New 
 London for a city clock, as long as both the said 
 City and this society shall please; with this stipu- 
 lation that the said society shall not withdraw such 
 privilege from the City, without first giving them at 
 least six months notice to vacate the premises ; at 
 the termination of which the privilege hereby ac- 
 corded to said city shall cease, and they no longer 
 be entitled to the same ; and the society further 
 agrees that if they shall require said city to remove 
 such clock prior to the expiration of ten years from 
 this date, except for the purpose of taking down 
 or reconstructing said tower, in whole or in part, the 
 society will repay to said city the actual cost to said 
 city of fitting the room in said tower for said clock, 
 not exceeding the sum of seventy-five dollars." 
 
 An insurance of fifteen thousand dollars was ef- 
 
mcewen's ministry. 325 
 
 fected on the meeting-house. The First Church 
 and parish now had a house of worship as substan- 
 tial and enduring as the rock on which it was built. 
 Like the principles of the gospel for which it stands, 
 its material is of the most enduring character. Like 
 the hope it was commissioned to bring to men it 
 is founded upon a rock. The stone was taken from 
 Baptist rock, from the park by the Second Church, 
 and from the spot on which it stands. The exact 
 date when it was entirely finished can not be found. 
 But the pews were sold, as we have seen, August 4, 
 1 85 1, and the last stone was put on the top of the 
 spire about September i. So that it could not have 
 been far from that time. 
 
 The foregoing are the principal material facts of 
 Dr. McEwen's long and conspicuously able minis- 
 try. They are eloquent testimony to the ability and 
 fidelity with which he discharged the duties of his 
 ofHce. The steady growth of the church in power, 
 influence and numbers tells the story of his vigor 
 and freshness of thought, even in old age. He gave 
 his life to the only church of which he was ever pas- 
 tor; not because he had no flattering offers to re- 
 move to other and larger fields, but because he be- 
 lieved in a pastorate for life. It was fitting that 
 those, whom he had so faithfully served during a 
 life-time, should care for him in the evening, while 
 he awaited the summons to come home. 
 
 This brings us to the story of his laying down his 
 work; a story not without its pathos. For there 
 is a touch of sadness at seeing any man step out of 
 
"326 LATER HISTORY OF THE FIRST CHURCH. 
 
 active life. This is especially true when the retir- 
 ing toiler has been an acknowledged leader. But 
 the dignity and gracefulness with which he laid 
 down his burdens and toils bore witness to his 
 greatness. 
 
 The first step, looking to his withdrawal from the 
 pastorate, was a letter written by him, to the church 
 and society in the summer of 1853, proposing to 
 them to unite with him in calling a council to dis- 
 miss him from the pastoral charge. No record is 
 made either of the letter or of any action of the 
 church or society in response to this communica- 
 tion. All we know of this matter is told in Dr. Mc- 
 Ewen's subsequent letter, addressed "to the First 
 Congregational Society of New London" in Janu- 
 ary 1854. Dr. Noah Porter says that the proposi- 
 tion, that he should retire from the active duties of 
 the ministry, was made to Dr. McEwen by some of 
 his most respected and confidential friends. He 
 was seventy-four years of age. He loved the min- 
 istry. He retained his capacity for its work. Yet 
 it was evident that a change must be made soon. 
 A feeling was growing in the parish that there 
 should not be much longer delay. When the mat- 
 ter was proposed to him he entered into the project 
 and wrote the following letter to the society which 
 tells its own story. If there were any feelings of 
 heaviness at the thought of laying down a life-work, 
 they are not expressed in the letter ; which is as 
 follows : 
 
 Some months since I addressed a communication to the 
 
mcewen's ministry. 327 
 
 First Congregational Church and society in New London, re- 
 questing them to unite with me in calling a council to dis- 
 miss me from my pastoral charge. I made that request be- 
 cause I was informed that a conviction had been expressed by 
 members of the church and society that it was desirable that 
 this dismission should be effected. Afterwards I was, by the 
 church requested to take back that request, and I took it 
 back. 
 
 I have not suspected that the movement which has been 
 made was the result of disaffection, or of disrespect towards 
 myself. It was wholly natural, and to be expected, that ju- 
 dicious and prudent people should think it best that a min- 
 ister seventy-three years old should relinquish his labors. 
 I accord in opinion with them. 
 
 Satisfied as I am that convictions on this subject remain as 
 they were when I was conferred with, it is, and it has been 
 unpleasant to protract my ministrations. My desire is to re- 
 linquish my pastoral labors, and to have the Church and So- 
 ciety, if they please, put another man in the pastoral oflBce 
 here, who, wholly uninfluenced and not interfered with by me, 
 shall be the responsible and acting pastor. With my labors, 
 I wish to relinquish my salary, if in any way provision 
 can be made for my support, in my helpless condition. Hints 
 were given me that the expedient had been thought of, of 
 purchasing for me a life annuity. If One Thousand Dollars 
 annually could thus be provided for me I should be glad to re- 
 linquish all claims upon the Society. 
 
 For nearly half a century, I have had neither desire nor ex- 
 pectation of a dismission. I now wish to live and die in this 
 pastoral office. A dismission from it would cut me off from 
 a people whom I love and respect, and from the clergy and 
 churches of the County and State, with whom I desire to 
 remain connected the short residue of my days. If, however, 
 the Society and Church, or either of those bodies are reluctant 
 that the connexion between them and me should remain, I 
 shall consent to a dissolution of it, provided any feasible means 
 of support are presented to me. It may be apprehended by the 
 
328 LATER HISTORY OP THE FIRST CHURCH. 
 
 people connected with me that my habit of pastoral influence 
 and action can not be laid aside. If a colleague should be 
 inducted to be the acting minister, my fixed determination 
 is to withold myself rigidly from all influence over him and 
 the church and society, and from every species of interfer- 
 ence with their concerns. This resolution will, I think, be 
 inflexibly preserved and practically carried out, even in the 
 dotage of Your humble servant, 
 
 New London Jany 9, 1854. ABEL McEWEN. 
 
 This was heroic action. To lay down the work 
 of a Hfe-time, and see it pass into other hands, to 
 say adieu to a church which owed itself to his la- 
 bors of almost fifty years, was the act of a great soul. 
 Dr. McEwen was human, and it is not to be sup- 
 posed that this step was taken without a pang. But 
 he was great enough to take it, and his retirement 
 from the active pastorate was one of the greatest 
 acts of a long and conspicuous life. 
 
 January 17, 1854 a meeting of the society was 
 held to take action on the letter of Dr. McEwen. 
 At this meeting the following votes were passed: 
 
 Whereas the Revd Abel McEwen, in a communication under 
 date of the 9th of January instant, made by him to this so- 
 ciety, proposes to relinquish his pastoral labors, if adequate 
 provision is made for his future support; and expresses his 
 wishes in favor of a colleague pastor, 
 
 Voted, that, under all circumstances, it is inexpedient, in the 
 judgement of this society, to call and settle a colleague pastor. 
 
 Voted that Adam Prentis and William C. Crump be a com- 
 mittee to obtain subscriptions for a sum of money, ($5000) to 
 be paid to the Revd Abel McEwen in consideration of his 
 retirement from the pastoral office among us, and relinquish- 
 ment of any further salary from and claims upon this so- 
 ciety." 
 
mcewen's ministry. 32^ 
 
 At an adjourned meeting held January 31, that 
 portion of the preceding vote relating to the set- 
 tlement of a colleague, which was passed in oppo- 
 sition to Dr. McEwen's wishes, was rescinded, and 
 the following votes were taken in its stead : 
 
 "Voted, that in the judgement of this society, it is best, 
 if practicable, that the services of a new minister be secured 
 to perform the duties of a pastor to this church and society. 
 
 "Voted that we prefer to comply with the wish of our pas- 
 tor, as expressed in his sd communication, as to a colleague, 
 and to procure a new minister to be our 'responsible and act- 
 ing pastor' without the formal dissolution of the present pas- 
 toral relations; and only to avail ourselves of the Rev. Dr. Mc- 
 Ewen's consent to its dissolution, in case, upon trial, we shall 
 find its continuance interfering with the best good of the 
 people of the charge." 
 
 The committee appointed to secure subscriptions 
 to the amount of $5000 were continued in ofhce, and 
 instructed to raise $500 more than was at first pro- 
 posed. This sum was to be paid to him "in lieu of 
 all salary * * * from the society after the ist day of 
 April next [1854], and in discharge of all legal 
 claims upon the society after that date." The sub- 
 scription was raised, and the committee reported so 
 at an adjourned meeting held February 7. Mr. 
 Adam Prentis was appointed a committee to present 
 this sum, with the final vote of the society, to Dr. 
 McEwen, and, if he should accept the money upon 
 the terms of the subscription, to enter into agree- 
 ment with him, "whereby the said Rev. Dr. Mc- 
 Ewen shall release this society from all claims for 
 salary and otherwise; and from all legal demands 
 
330 LATER HISTORY OF THE FIRST CHURCH. 
 
 after the first day of April next, and the society shall 
 release the said Rev. Dr. McEwen from all claims 
 for service from and after that date." 
 
 The subscription was raised in sums varying from 
 twenty to six hundred dollars, subscribed by forty- 
 four persons. The following is the subscription 
 which was signed, "Whereas the Rev. Doct. Abel 
 McEwen, pastor of the First Ecclesiastical Society 
 in New London has expressed his wish to relin- 
 quish his pastoral labors in said Society, and the 
 Church connected therewith ; and whereas the said 
 Society has voted its preference that the services of 
 a new minister be procured for said church and so- 
 ciety without a formal dissolution of the present 
 pastoral relations, unless upon trial made, its con- 
 tinuance shall be found detrimental to the people 
 of the charge ; we the subscribers severally agree to 
 pay the sums written against our respective signa- 
 tures, to the said Rev. Doct. McEwen upon his re- 
 linquishment of all legal claims and demands upon 
 said society for salary or otherwise after the first day 
 of April next ; provided that our subscriptions here- 
 to shall not be binding unless a sum of not less than 
 fifty five hundred Dollars shall be subscribed hereto 
 on or before the 7th day of February A. D. 1854." 
 
 Dr. McEwen had written, to Mr. A. F. Pren- 
 tis, the following letter. 'T am satisfied with the 
 action of the First Cong. Society of this City 
 in relation to my late communication, and with 
 the subscription. I am ready to sign an agreement 
 to relinquish my salary, and to discharge the society 
 
mcewen's ministry. 331 
 
 from all legal claims to support after the ist of 
 April next, on condition that I am then, by the so- 
 ciety, released from pastoral labors, and furnished 
 with the amount of money subscribed." The fol- 
 lowing agreement was entered into by Dr. McEwen 
 on the one hand, and Adam Prentis in behalf of the 
 society on the other hand. 
 
 The undersigned Abel McEwen having accepted the sub- 
 scription named and referred to in the vote of the First Ec- 
 clesiastical Society in New London, passed at a meeting of 
 said society, holden on the evening of Feby. 7, 1854, and in ac- 
 cordance with the terms of said subscription, it is hereby 
 mutually agreed by and between the said Abel McEwen and 
 the said society which acts herein by Adam F. Prentis its 
 committee for that purpose, duly authorized by the said vote 
 of the said society; That the said Abel McEwen on his part 
 hereby releases said society from all claim for salary and 
 from all legal demands from and after the 1st day of April 
 next; And the said society on its part releases the said Abel 
 McEwen from all claims and demands for pastoral service 
 from and after the same date. 
 
 In witness whereof the parties hereto have set their hands 
 to this instrument, and to a duplicate original hereof. 
 
 Dated at New London the 21st day of February A. D. 1854. 
 
 ABEL McEWEN. 
 ADAM F. PRENTIS. 
 Committee. 
 
 Dr. McEwen acknowledged the receipt of the 
 money as follows : 
 
 Received New London 1st April 1854 of Adam F. Prentis 
 •Committee, Five thousand Five Hundred Dollars, being in 
 full for the account of subscription due me this day by the 
 First Ecclesiastical Society in this City. ABEL McEWEN. 
 
332 LATER HISTORY OF THE FIRST CHURCH. 
 
 Thus April I, 1854 closed the active labors of one 
 of the most remarkable pastorates of this venerable 
 church. Why the society at first declined his re- 
 quest for a colleague can only be conjectured. 
 Probably it was feared that Dr. McEwen, who had 
 so long been supreme bishop of the church, would 
 find it difficult to keep his hands entirely off the 
 work to which they had become so accustomed. 
 But they mistook the man. Dr. Field's testimony 
 is that Dr. McEwen was a great help rather than a 
 hindrance. He was never asked to take himself out 
 of the way, and he died, as he had been, for more 
 than fifty years, a pastor of the only church which 
 he had ever served. It would have been a cruel 
 thing to insist on his laying down the tender rela- 
 tions in which he had stood to the church so long. 
 It was fitting that he should be allowed to die as its 
 pastor, and that those whom he had so faithfully 
 served should provide for his support in that rest 
 from his labors, before his final rest, which he had 
 so abundantly earned. 
 
XII. 
 
 ft 
 
 THE PASTORATE OF ABEI< MCEWEN, D. D.; 
 
 THE CHURCH. 
 
 When Dr. McEwen assumed this responsible 
 pastorate, the rehgious Hfe of the church was at a 
 low ebb. Scarcely any of the agencies of a vigor- 
 ous spiritual life were visible or at work. This was 
 so evident that Mr. Channing referred to it in his 
 letter of February 21, 1806. 
 
 In those days it was very generally the custom 
 in professedly Christian families to have family wor- 
 ship, and to ask the divine blessing at the family 
 meal ; much more so, it is to be feared, than now. 
 When Dr. McEwen came here in 1806 the popula- 
 tion of the town was about three thousand, and the 
 membership of the church about two hundred. In 
 all the town there were, then, but four or five fam- 
 ilies which had family worship daily. Dr. McEwen 
 said, in his half century sermon, "at the commence- 
 ment of my ministry in this place, little of family re- 
 ligion could be found. Households, at their meals, 
 sat down to eat, and rose up to play. Few children 
 or domestics heard the head of their house ask a 
 blessing, or give thanks at their table. So far as 
 careful enquiry can be relied on for knowledge of 
 facts, in but two families in this whole congregation 
 
334 LATER HISTORY OF THE FIRST CHURCH 
 
 was daily prayer maintained ; though prayer, Satur- 
 day evenings, was every week offered by one other 
 householder at the head of his family. * ^' * Prob- 
 ably in two other houses, perhaps in three, belong- 
 ing to two other religious denominations prayer 
 was, by laymen, daily offered. * ^ * With emo- 
 tion we look back upon the habits of households 
 here, at that time. How had they degenerated from 
 the usages of their Puritan fathers !" 
 
 Another indication of the religious conditions 
 which the young pastor had to face is, that, aside 
 from the two services on the Sabbath, and the lec- 
 ture preparatory to the sacrament of the Lord's 
 Supper, no public religious meetings were held. 
 Public sentiment was openly and contemptuously 
 expressed against them. "Night-meetings were 
 denounced as panders to debauch." However, says 
 Dr. McEw^en "in the summer of 1807, a religious 
 sensibility was manifest in a large portion of the 
 congregation connected with this Church. People 
 in large numbers gathered at dwelling houses for 
 prayer and religious instruction. The house for 
 such meetings had not been built." 
 
 Another indication of the spiritual state which he 
 found here is the fact that young people, especially 
 young men, held aloof from the church. When 
 Stephen Peck, a young man, came into the church 
 in 1810, it was regarded with wonder as an unprec- 
 edented thing. Dr. McEwen, gives this incident, 
 which illustrates the state of public sentiment at 
 that time. "A young man, with his young wife, was 
 
mcewen's ministry. 335 
 
 seen in the twilight, on his way to one of those 
 strange assembHes. A company of respectable men 
 were standing on the street. One of them, with af- 
 fected simplicity, inquired where the couple could 
 be going? The reply was, 'to an evening meeting.' 
 'That,' said the enquirer, 'is too bad : when a new 
 minister is settled, especially if he be a young man, 
 it is to be expected that the women, and especially 
 the young women, will importune him for many 
 services ; but to see a respectable young man going 
 to an evening meeting is an outrage.' " 
 
 Such were the spiritual conditions into which 
 Dr. McEwen came. The church was as dead as the 
 deadest churches of the Revelation. But he came 
 fresh from the scenes of revival in which he had 
 been active in Yale College, and with the daring 
 ardor of youth. Early in his ministry religious 
 meetings, on the secular evenings of the week, came 
 to "abound in congregations of every name." "K 
 peal from the bells in town is often heard," he said 
 in 1857, "but no person regards it as a fire-alarm; 
 whereas a remonstrance was once served upon me, 
 against this style of notice for a public meeting, lest 
 it should be productive of this distressing efifect." 
 He may be said to have introduced prayer meetings 
 on secular days of the week into the religious life of 
 New London. 
 
 The state of public opinion and practice with re- 
 gard to Sabbath observance, is yet another indica- 
 tion of the low moral and religious tone which he 
 found when he came. We quote further from his 
 
336 LATER HISTORY OF THE FIRST CHURCH. 
 
 half-century sermon. ''During this half-century 
 the habits of the people of this place have greatly 
 changed." The change was in no small degree due 
 to his vigorous, fearless, and evangelical ministry. 
 He continues, "the Sabbath is conceived to be less 
 profaned in the latter years, than it was in the first 
 part of that period. Then, this congregation, and 
 that of the Episcopalians, were the only people who 
 sustained regular public worship on the Sabbath. 
 Two other places for preaching the gospel had been 
 opened, one for the Methodists and one for the Bap- 
 tists. But the ministrations in these two places 
 were inconstant; congregations of competent size 
 and stability not having yet been gathered. A 
 large division of the population were not attached 
 to any institution of worship ; and they slightly, if 
 at all, regarded the sanctity of the Sabbath. They 
 were seen much in the markets, in the streets, on 
 the wharves and water, in the fields, but not in the 
 house of God." In 1857, when his half-century ser- 
 mon was preached, he could say that a different 
 spectacle was presented. The two worshipping as- 
 semblies had multiplied into several, and the Sab- 
 bath was far less profaned. 
 
 As early as 1806 the Christian Sabbath was re- 
 garded as commencing Saturday at sunset, and a 
 proper regard for holy time required that all unnec- 
 essary work be put aside at that hour. Dr. Mc- 
 Ewen says of Saturday evening, it "was, by peo- 
 ple of the Puritan stock, regarded as part of the Sab- 
 bath, and those of them who inherited the faith and 
 
mcewen's ministry. 337 
 
 place. The married and the unmarried, almost all 
 spirit of their ancestors, strictly hallowed it. Bat 
 that evening was the season of a weekly banquet, 
 which gave much of character to the people of this 
 the respectable men of the city, the wealthy, the en- 
 terprising, the ambitious, the educated, the literary, 
 the professional, magistrates and their constituents 
 were, the deeply religious excepted, constant attend- 
 ants upon the festival of the tripe-club. It was in- 
 stituted and maintained, ostensibly for the benefit 
 of its host, a respectable old gentleman, to whom the 
 emolument of the business was a convenience, but 
 in reality, for sensual gratification, at the table, in 
 viands and liquors, for social entertainment, such 
 as it was, and more than all, for the privilege of 
 gambling, in which almost the whole fraternity par- 
 ticipated, well nigh to the dawning of the day. 
 This was the preparation season for the Sabbath 
 not of Jews, but of those who wore the seal of 
 Christian baptism, and who belonged to Christian 
 assemblies." When the facts were fully known, the 
 young pastor preached a sermon "'on the sanctity 
 and duties of Saturday evening, for the special ben- 
 efit of the club." It had the desired efifect. The 
 club was suddenly forsaken, and the festival was 
 
 abandoned. 
 
 Another effect of Dr. McEwen's plain and faithful 
 
 preaching, not unlike that produced upon the 
 "tripe-club," is worth stating in this connection. 
 Intemperance, profanity, profanation of the Sab- 
 bath, unchastity were vices then as now, and awak- 
 
338 LATER HISTORY OF THE FIRST CHURCH. 
 
 ened the zeal of people who longed to see society 
 purified of these crying evils. A society of reform, 
 known as "The Branch Moral Society of New Lon- 
 don," was formed during his early ministry. Its 
 object was to seek for a radical correction of all 
 those evils which afflicted society. April 21, 1817 
 this organization held an annual meeting, at which 
 the following report was made of the purpose and 
 doings of the society. 
 
 If our activity has fallen short of what might have been 
 expected, we trust it is not to be attributed to apathy or in- 
 difference respecting the objects of our watchfulness, and if 
 patriotick or better motives, on the part of the members, 
 have not had their full effect, we have to state, that some, out 
 of the society, have been excited to action — the violation of 
 the law concerning the sale of ardent spirits has drawn upon 
 it the resentment of individuals, two or three persons have 
 had the courage to look the dreadful evil in the face, and 
 nearly or quite every delinquent, in the county, has been pros- 
 ecuted, and a wonderful reformation, apparently not derived 
 from this transaction, has, however, accompanied it, almost 
 every intemperate person has, as if by consent, stopped short, 
 in their degrading and ruinous course, and become, to all 
 appearance, sober men, this reformation wonderful indeed, 
 seems connected with the very gracious work of God manifest- 
 ly displayed, among us, at the same time, under the operation 
 of which, many have been, and more are hopefully expected 
 to be, joined to the Lord. 
 
 The general complexion of society as to intemperance, pro- 
 faneness and profanation of the Sabbath is evidently ameliora- 
 ting. 
 
 The enemies of reform attributed the prosecution before 
 mentioned to the secret machinations of the moral society, 
 the less they knew of its proceedings, the more credit they 
 
mcewen's ministry. 339 
 
 were disposed to give it, for what they were disposed to con- 
 sider a mischievous work. Some hated the society because 
 they considered it endangering their craft, the careless and 
 thoughtless did not consider that any reform was desirable. 
 Whatever is connected with the depravation of morals must 
 be interesting to every good man, especially to every chris- 
 tian. It has been remarked that the greatest part of those 
 who are brought to the bar of criminal courts, are drinkers 
 of rum, hardness of heart is in their brain, the finer feelings 
 being blunted, all the tender charities and social endearments 
 terminate with the introduction of that habit, their offspring 
 have not the ordinary portion of vitality, and poverty in ad- 
 dition is the consummation of their misery. 
 
 No name is attached to the foregoing report. 
 But it is written in the unmistakable hand of Dea- 
 con Jedediah Huntington. It shows that there 
 were the same social problems to face then as now ; 
 that the sale and use of intoxicating drinks were as 
 mischievous and destructive as they are today ; and 
 that the real remedy for such evils is to be found in 
 the prevalence of the gospel, and in the work of 
 the spirit of God upon the heart, transforming the 
 life. It shows also on which side of these reforms 
 the pastor's influence was cast. 
 
 The creed which Dr. McEwen found in use is 
 another indication of the religious and spiritual con- 
 ditions which existed in the church when he came to 
 New London. That now in use seems to have been 
 the same, "for substance of doctrine," if not in ac- 
 tual form, as the one which had been in use from 
 the early days of the church. As we have seen, 
 about 1789 Mr. Channing, to quote Dr. McEwen,,. 
 
340 LATER HISTORY OF THE FIRST CHURCH. 
 
 "cut it out of the book (of records) ; and inserted 
 a Unitarian creed; and, without asking, or receiv- 
 ing, the consent of the church, used that, in the ad- 
 mission of members, for the next seventeen subse- 
 quent years." Nevertheless, during all those years 
 the creed to which the church was committed by its 
 own vote, and by more than a century of usage, 
 was the ancient symbol, adopted by it in its early 
 history, never erased from its records by its own 
 act, always used by it except during the years in 
 question, and is still the foundation on which it 
 stands. 
 
 Mr. Channing's statement did not satisfy the 
 strong evangelical convictions of the young pastor, 
 who was too fresh from the mint of Dr. Dwight's 
 masterly evangelical instructions, to be pleased 
 with any negative, uncertain, non-committal state- 
 ment of the vital doctrines of the gospel. So "at 
 the public lecture on Friday the 26th of June, 1807, 
 the form of a Profession of faith and Covenant was 
 read before the church, and proposed for their con- 
 sideration." The people were informed that after 
 due time for examination, they would be asked to 
 express their minds on a motion to substitute this 
 form for the one in use. The reason given for pro- 
 posing the change was "that, in the form now in use, 
 some of the doctrines of the gospel were conceived 
 to be expressed with too little perspicuity; partic- 
 ularly the Divinity of Christ." 
 
 Nothing further appears to have been said by 
 Dr. McEwen till nearly three years later. On 
 
mcewen's ministry. 341 
 
 "Lord's day March 20, 1810, after the close of pub- 
 lic worship, the church were reminded of the prop- 
 osition which had been submitted to them for 
 adopting a new form of Profession of faith and Cov- 
 enant. The proposition was renewed. A copy of 
 the new form was put into the hands of the church, 
 and they were invited to subscribe their names to 
 it." April 20 of the same year, "at the close of the 
 morning service, on fast day, the church were in- 
 formed that a very extensive approbation of the new 
 form of Profession of faith and Covenant had been 
 expressed by subscription, a large majority of the 
 male members of the church having subscribed." 
 The question was then put, ''whether any objection 
 to an immediate adoption of it existed in the minds 
 of any brother. No objection being expressed, the 
 church were told that it would be henceforth used 
 in the admission of members to their communion." 
 And from that day it has continued in use, as the 
 doctrinal platform of the church. The first to sign 
 this new form of Profession of Faith and Covenant 
 was Jedediah Huntington, at that time a deacon of 
 the church, and one of the most influential men in 
 the town. It is as follows : 
 
 STATEMENT OF DOCTRINE. 
 
 In the presence of Almighty God, the searcher of hearts, and 
 before this assembly, you profess your unfeigned belief of the 
 holy scriptures, as given by divine inspiration; your acceptance 
 of all the doctrines contained in them; and your submission to 
 the whole will of God revealed in his word. 
 
 Particularly, you believe that the Lord Jehovah, the Father, 
 the Son, and the Holy Ghost, is the one living and true God, 
 
342 LATER HISTORY OP THE FIRST CHURCH. 
 
 that the Lord Jesus Christ is the Son of God, equal with the 
 Father, and the only Saviour of men; that the Holy Ghost 
 is also God, and that he is the only sanctifler of those who 
 believe in Christ to the salvation of their souls. 
 
 You also believe, that in consequence of the fall of man 
 from his primitive state of innocence, all the human race, 
 while in a state of nature, are destitute of holiness; and that 
 a renovation of heart during the present life, through sanctifi- 
 cation of the Spirit of God, is necessary to fit mankind for 
 union and communion with the visible Church of Christ on 
 earth, and for an entrance into the kingdom of Heaven, 
 
 You furthermore believe, that all who are the subjects of 
 the renewing and sanctifying influences of the Divine Spirit, 
 exercise supreme love to God, benevolence towards men, re- 
 pentance of sin, and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, whose 
 righteousness forms the only ground of justification before 
 God, and that the law of God still remains their rule of con- 
 duct. 
 
 DO YOU THUS BELIEVE? 
 
 COVENANT. 
 
 Humbly hoping that you are a subject of the new birth, of 
 that faith in Christ which works by love and purifies the heart, 
 and of that repentance which is unto life, you avouch the 
 Lord Jehovah to be your God, Jesus Christ the Son of God 
 to be your Saviour, and the Holy Spirit to be your Sanctifler. 
 
 Depending on divine grace for sanctification, consolation, 
 and spiritual strength, and receiving the Word of God as the 
 only rule of your faith and practice, you submit to the broth- 
 erly watch and discipline of this Church of Christ; and 
 engage on your part to comfort, assist, warn and reprove its 
 members as becometh a faithful follower of Christ. 
 
 You do now solemnly give up yourself and all that you have, 
 unto God; promising that you will endeavor to walk as be- 
 cometh the Gospel of Christ, that you may give no cause for 
 others to speak evil of it on your account, but that the name 
 of God may be glorified in you. 
 
 DO YOU THUS PROMISE? 
 
mcewen's ministry. 
 
 343 
 
 On you thus professing and promising, we receive you into 
 this Church, and admit you to the full enjoyment of all its 
 privileges, — promising, through Divine Grace assisting us, 1o 
 aid you in the duties of the Christian Ife by our prayers and 
 fraternal watchfulness, expecting in return, the same offices 
 from you, that the purposes of this holy COVENANT may be 
 answered. The Lord make us faithful to himself and to each 
 other. 
 
 There were one hundred and thirty names signed 
 
 to the document, which were as follows : 
 
 Jedediah Huntington 
 Faith T. Huntington 
 Abby Leeds 
 Ann W. Peck 
 Harriet Richards 
 Matilda Wright 
 Elisabeth Shapley 
 Elisabeth Prentis 
 Betsey Forsyth 
 Frances Briggs 
 Ann C. Richards 
 Frances Chew 
 Hannah Saltonstall 
 Mary H. Saltonstall 
 Ralph Stoddard 
 Sarah Beebe 
 Mary Fitch 
 Susanna Grifing 
 Lucy [name illegible] 
 Hannah Holt 
 Jennett Robertson 
 Hannah Butler 
 Elis. Dickinson 
 Esther Harris 
 Anna Law 
 Sarah Gardiner 
 Jennet Keeney 
 
 Experience Gordon 
 Sarah Hewitt 
 Nancy Hewitt 
 Nany Moore 
 Mary Coit 
 Ezekiel Fox 
 Susan Fox 
 Susan F. Fox 
 Asa Dutton 
 Joanna Caulkins 
 George Gordon 
 Thos. H. Goddard 
 Lydia Manwaring 
 Abigail Wait 
 Anna Hempstead 
 Nabby Young 
 Elisabeth Holt 
 Nancy Sistare 
 Sally Sistare 
 Patience Mason 
 Phebe Culver 
 Cesar Shaw 
 Jane Shaw 
 Fanny Chester 
 Elisabeth Coit 
 Jenny Anderson 
 Eliza Sisson 
 
344 LATER HISTORY OF THE FIRST CHURCH. 
 
 Mary Keeney 
 Daniel Starr 
 Abigail Hinman 
 Hannah Hinman 
 Wealthy Chappell 
 Elizabeth Harris 
 Sarah Bradley 
 Deborah Bradley 
 Polly Bradley 
 Bathsheba Freeman 
 Sarah Bliss 
 Susannah Hull 
 Rebekah Ryon 
 Samuel Whittemore 
 Rhoda Whittemore 
 Nancy Whittemore 
 Esther Robertson 
 Catherine R. Robertson 
 Eliz. Tate 
 Saml Culver Junr 
 Lucy Gaylord 
 Catherine Wells 
 William Richards 
 Mary Richards 
 Henrietta Richards 
 Eunice Richards 
 Phebe Smedley 
 Mary Ann Richards 
 Catharine Rogers 
 Sally Manwaring 
 Mary Hempsted 
 Ann S. Mumford 
 Katharine Richards 
 Eliza Woodward 
 Abby Elderkin 
 Lucy Douglas 
 Elizabeth Douglas 
 
 Samuel Whittemore Ju 
 John Colt 
 Ann E. Coit 
 Betsey Harris 
 James Peters 
 Lydia Gillet 
 Mary Hinman 
 Mary Rogers 
 Clarissa Dart 
 Hannah Starr 
 Sarah Owen 
 Ann Hatch 
 Sarah Edmonds 
 Elizabeth Gale 
 George Colfax 
 Ann Colfax 
 Mary Colfax 
 Susan Colton 
 Sally Smith 
 Lydia Colfax 
 Rebecca Haynes 
 Henry Johnson 
 Esther Morgan 
 Lucy Whipple 
 Margaret Dart 
 Sally Chapel 
 Eliza Spencer 
 Charlotte Weeks 
 Abby Beebe 
 Lydia Manwaring 
 Abby Brooks 
 Thaddeus Brooks 
 Esther Potter 
 Susanah Hempstead 
 Nathaniel Hempsted 
 Chester Kimball 
 
mcewen's ministry. 345 
 
 Dr. McEwen in his half-century sermon, gives the 
 following account of this substitution of the present 
 articles of faith and covenant, for those which had 
 been used by Mr. Channing. "In the second year 
 of my ministry, a leading member of the church," 
 probably Jedediah Huntington, "presented to me 
 a copy of the old confession, stating that the con- 
 fession then on the records, had never been adopted 
 by the church ; and that the one, which had been 
 abstracted had never been renounced, nor relin- 
 quished by the church ; adding still further, that a 
 desire was prevalent in the church, that its own 
 confession should be restored to practical use, and 
 to its rightful position on the record. The result 
 was, that the ancient record was put into modern 
 phrase, was heartily adopted by the church, and 
 that it still remains its confession of faith." This 
 change was the beginning of a revolution in the 
 spiritual life of the church, and was the first step 
 forward into a place of greater power in the com- 
 munity. 
 
 It was no easy task which the young pastor had 
 undertaken. But the blood of the Scotch covenant- 
 ers was in his veins. Some of his ancestors had 
 fought for the faith at Bothwell Bridge. He would 
 fight for it at New London. He was not to be 
 shaken in his beliefs, nor to be turned aside from 
 preaching the evangelical doctrines of the gospel, 
 in which he had been trained from the cradle. He 
 began at once to preach them with fearless plain- 
 ness. There was no mistaking what he meant. 
 
346 LATER HISTORY OF THE FIRST CHURCH. 
 
 Preaching, so marked in its contrast with that of 
 his predecessor, arrested the attention of thinking 
 minds, and many of them were won to a pubhc con- 
 fession of faith in Christ. Among these were some 
 of the leading lawyers of New London County, who 
 were at that time residents of this city; also some 
 of the principal men in all callings. This fact, to- 
 gether with the large numbers of men who were at- 
 tracted to his ministry, shows the strength of his 
 preaching, and the success with which he met the 
 case before him. The list of those who joined the 
 church under his ministry, contains the names ot 
 men of wide distinction. That the preaching of this 
 young man should draw to itself such men, is tes- 
 timony to its intellectual power. 
 
 The spiritual power with which he addressed him- 
 self to the difBculties of the situation is proved by 
 other conspicuous facts. In the first place the re- 
 ligious life of the church was soon revolutionized. 
 A notice of his death in the Congregational Review 
 for January, 1861, says of him: ''The new pastor 
 restored the ancient landmarks, and brought back 
 the church to a general soundness in the truth." 
 
 During the fifty-four years of his pastorate from 
 1806 to i860, seven hundred and twenty-eight were 
 added to the membership of the church. During 
 the first half of his ministry there were frequent sea- 
 sons of revival, and the yearly additions rarely fell 
 below twenty-five. Probably Dr. McEwen's meth- 
 ods were not evangelistic, in the sense now under- 
 stood, but his preaching drew strong men to Christ, 
 
MCEWEN^S MINISTRY. 347 
 
 In a sermon preached Sept. 30, 1849, ^^ ^^^ ^^' 
 casion of leaving the house of worship which had 
 been built in 1785-7, he said, "this house of worship, 
 in which, I understand, we now worship for the 
 last time, has been, as we have reason to think, a 
 place where the grace of God has exerted, tO' a 
 goodly extent, its work of salvation. The gospel 
 has been, with scarcely any interruption, preached 
 in it for sixty-two years. How many seasons of 
 the work of special grace occurred during the min- 
 istry of my predecessor, which lasted nineteen years, 
 I am unable to say ; from the records of the church 
 during that period, it appears that the most numer- 
 ous accessions to its communion were in the years 
 1788 and 1794. In 1799 a goodly number made a 
 profession of religion. During my ministry of for- 
 ty-three years, the spirit of grace has signalized 
 some periods of time more than others. During the 
 first twenty-five years, the congregation embraced 
 a greater proportion of young people than it has 
 done since. During that time hardly a year passed 
 without an addition to the church of twenty-five 
 members. In the years 1807 and 1808, the ingath- 
 erings were numerous. The years 1817, '18 and 
 '19, were also signalized by a special work of grace. 
 In 1826 many were hopefully converted from sin to 
 God. In the years 1831 and 1832, the work of sal- 
 vation was very conspicuous. In '34, '42, and '43, 
 a goodly number obtained hopes of salvation, and 
 openly professed their faith. During the present 
 year (1849) ^ number of persons in this assembly 
 
348 LATER HISTORY OF THE FIRST CHURCH. 
 
 have been the subjects of special religious sensibil- 
 ity." During the forty-three years of his ministry 
 which had elapsed, when he preached for the last 
 time in the old house, five hundred and eighty-four 
 persons had been added to the church, mostly upon 
 profession of faith. 
 
 During the ministry of Dr. McEwen the members 
 of the church were compiled from the first date of 
 the records. This appears to have been the first 
 work of the kind, and was the beginning of our 
 present printed roll. The vote, ordering such a 
 compilation was passed February 28, 1840, and was 
 as follows : 
 
 Voted that William P. Cleaveland, Ebenezer Learned, and 
 Asa Otis be and they are hereby appointed a committee to 
 make an accurate list of all those who have been, and of 
 those who now are members of this church, designating so 
 far as may be in their power those who have deceased, and 
 those who have transferred their connection from this to 
 some other church. 
 
 Voted that said committee be desired to correspond with 
 and request every member of this church who now resides and 
 for more than one year past has resided out of the limits of 
 the first ecclesiastical society in New London to transfer his 
 connection from this to some other church. 
 
 Voted that William P. Cleaveland Junr, William P. Cleave- 
 land and Ebenezer Learned be and they hereby are appointed 
 a committee to take into consideration the subject of members 
 of this church who remove and continue out of the limits 
 of the first ecclesiastical society in New London for the period 
 of one year or more without transferring their connection 
 to some other church during that time and that said com- 
 mittee report thereon to some subsequent meeting of this 
 church. 
 
mcewen's ministry. 349 
 
 This committee appear to have made their report, 
 and the following votes were passed by the church 
 April 20, 1840. 
 
 Voted, That whenever a member of this Church shall re- 
 move beyond its limits, and into the bounds of a church in 
 fellowship with this, it shall be the duty of such member on 
 such removal, or immediately thereafter, to ask for a letter 
 of recommendation from this, to the church within the lim- 
 its of which, he or she shall remove; and such recommendation 
 when given, shall be operative for one year only from its 
 date, and shall be so expressed in the letter. 
 
 Voted, That in case any member of this church shall here- 
 after remove out of its limits, and into the limits of a church 
 in fellowship with this, and shall for the period of one year 
 after such removal, omit to ask for a letter of recommenda- 
 tion, that in such case the application for a letter, when made, 
 shall be submitted to the church at a regular meeting of the 
 same, for their approval, and that no letter of recommenda- 
 tion, under such circumstances, shall be given by the Pastor, 
 until the church have approved of the same. 
 
 Several copies of complaints, made against mem- 
 bers of the church for disorderly conduct, are on 
 file, together with the action of the church thereon. 
 In several cases the person was excommunicated, 
 in others restored on suitable confession of the 
 wrong or sin. This action was taken because peo- 
 ple absented themselves from the church and its 
 services and ordinances, because they were guilty 
 of conduct not becoming in a child of God, because 
 of unchastity and kindred vices and sins. These 
 cases show that the discipline of the church was not 
 neglected. 
 
350 LATER HISTORY OP THE FIRST CHURCH. 
 
 Dr. McEwen's record of baptisms do not extend 
 beyond 1821, so far as can be found. Up to that 
 year he had administered the rite to two hundred 
 and forty-eight children of members of tlie church.. 
 None were admitted to the ordinances of the church 
 under the provisions of the halfway covenant. That 
 compromise method of admitting to the privileges 
 of the church was forever done away during his 
 ministry. 
 
 His records of marriages ends with 1820. Up to 
 that date he had joined one hundred and twenty- 
 eight couples in marriage. The marriages which 
 he performed after that date can be found in the 
 town records. 
 
 The fifty years of his ministry witnessed great 
 moral and spiritual changes in the churches of the 
 county. He says, ''when I was ordained here, in 
 1806, I was the only pastor of a Congregational 
 Church, on a territory in Connecticut of fifty miles 
 in length, by twelve in width. Eleven large con- 
 tiguous parishes, stretching from Sterling to the 
 seaboard on the line of Rhode Island, thence to the 
 western boundary of East Lyme, thence northward 
 to the southern line of Colchester, were, except 
 New London, destitute of Congregational minis- 
 ters. * * * What rendered this desolation deeply 
 afflictive and appaling was, no prospect, nor hope, 
 existed, that any of the parishes, Stonington ex- 
 cepted, would spontaneously, and unaided obtain 
 a settled minister." In 1808 Rev. Ira Hart was set- 
 tled at Stonington and in 1811 Rev. Timothy Tut- 
 
mcewen's ministry. 351 
 
 tie became pastor of the churches in Groton and 
 North Groton, or Ledyard. "In all the residue of 
 the wide waste," continues Dr. McEwen, "nothing 
 indicated resuscitation or improvement. Wealth 
 enough there was; people enough there were; a 
 meeting-house stood in every parish ; but men of 
 energy, influence, and device, to step forth and re- 
 gain the ministry were not to be found. Preaching 
 of many kinds, other than Congregational, much 
 of it transient and irregular, swept over the region. 
 This awful desolation was the result of the fanatical 
 ministry of Davenport, and his coadjutors, who in- 
 vaded these churches seventy years before." 
 
 Whether or not Dr. McEwen was right in ascrib- 
 ing the condition of things which he found in 1806 
 to the Separatist movement alone, we need not stop 
 to discuss. It doubtless had its influence. But it 
 seems likely that the tidal wave of unbelief, which 
 swept over the country after the war of the Revolu- 
 tion, and afifected the religious life of the churches 
 of Connecticut, and of Yale College, is also to be 
 taken into account. But without stopping further 
 to speak of the causes, it is enough to say that "the 
 few pastors, who were at length established on the 
 outposts of this waste, were impatient of this rapid 
 and constant degeneracy toward a state of heathen- 
 ism, in a land of Christianity." Under the lead of 
 Dr. McEwen, in the old parsonage on Main street, 
 steps were taken one evening in 1815, to restore 
 the dilapidated churches. These facts in the re~ 
 ligious life of the county show the wide and spirit- 
 
352 LATER HISTORY OF THE FIRST CHURCH. 
 
 ual results which began immediately to follow the 
 ministry of Dr. McEwen, and point to the influence 
 which this church had under his lead, in bringing 
 about radical changes in the surrounding commu- 
 nities, and in lifting the moral and spiritual tone of 
 the churches to a higher pitch. 
 
 Early in his ministry the spirit of missions began 
 to stir in the hearts of his people. The church be- 
 gan to be interested in the spread of the gospel in 
 all the earth. Dr. Field said, in his sermon at the 
 funeral of Dr. McEwen, "in the early part of Dr. 
 McEwen's ministry, there was a general awaken- 
 ing in the hearts of ministers and people of the spir- 
 it of benevolence, and he was in sympathy with the 
 times. All those grand enterprises for the dissem- 
 ination of the principles of the gospel which are the 
 glory of our age, were started within the period of 
 his ministry." 
 
 In 1811, Harriet Lathrop came to New London 
 from Norwich, and joined this church by letter. 
 About 1819 she married Mr. Winslow, the first mis- 
 sionary to Ceylon. She had received decided spirit- 
 ual impulses from the preaching of Dr. McEwen. 
 On reaching Ceylon she founded the Oodooville 
 female seminary, whose influence among the young 
 women of Ceylon can never be measured. Its 
 whole life, from the day it was founded till the pres- 
 ent, has been peculiarly marked with revivals. In- 
 directly this school, which is still doing its work, 
 was a seed wafted from this church by the breath of 
 the Holy Spirit, to take root on those distant shores, 
 
mcewen's ministry. 353 
 
 and spring up and bear fruit for God till the end of 
 time. 
 
 About 1 82 1 the ladies of the church formed a mis- 
 sionary society, and worked for Foreign Missions. 
 In 1824 there is an acknowledgment, in the Boston 
 Panoplist for August, of a donation of eighty-two 
 dollars, "from the Female Foreign Missionary So- 
 ciety of New London, Mrs. Charlotte Wolcott 
 Treasurer;" also "from a female friend of missions 
 in New London for the translations, by Gen. Hun- 
 tington." Still later another gift from another fe- 
 male friend of missions in New London was ac- 
 knowledged. The record of the formation of the 
 society alluded to above, and which is still in exist- 
 ence, is as follows : "At a meeting of a number of 
 ladies of New London, agreeable to previous ar- 
 rangement, it was resolved to form themselves into 
 a society for the purpose of aiding by their labors 
 and charities firstly, the cause of Foreign Missions, 
 and secondly, to administer to the necessities of the 
 deserving poor around them." A constitution was 
 adopted, and September 28, 1821, "the following of- 
 ficers were chosen until the first Wednesday in Oc- 
 tober next. Sophia Richards, Principal, Fanny 
 Smith, Treasurer, Ann S. Mumford, Hannah Miner, 
 Susan Coit, Managers." In 1826, at the suggestion 
 of Mrs. Winslow,some ladies in New London, prob- 
 ably the ladies of the sewing society organized in 
 1821, assumed the support of a pupil in the Female 
 Boarding School at Oodooville, and gave her the 
 name of Fanny Coit, after a young lady of this 
 
354 LATER HISTORY OF THE FIRST CHURCH. 
 
 church, held in high esteem by all, who had died a 
 few years before. This Fanny Coit of Ceylon mar- 
 ried a native named Nathaniel Niles, who became a 
 preacher. Fanny Coit and Nathaniel Niles of Cey- 
 lon, lived together sixty years. In the Missionary 
 Herald for April, 1894, Rev. B. H. Rice, native pas- 
 tor at Batticotta, Ceylon, writes: "Mr. Nathaniel 
 Niles, a graduate of Batticotta Seminary, and a 
 preacher, and Miss Fanny Coit, a graduate of Ood- 
 ooville Boarding School, were united in marriage 
 sixty years ago. Both of them have now gone to 
 their rest; theirchildren, grandchildren, great grand- 
 children, with their partners in life now number 
 nearly one hundred persons, all of them christians. 
 A good number of the male members of this fam- 
 ily are clergymen in the service of Protestant mis- 
 sions ; and others are laymen, and one of them is 
 a leading Christian Lawyer in Jaffna." Thus the 
 early labors of the Ladies' Missionary Society, form- 
 ed in 1 82 1, are today bearing fruit, and the influence 
 of Dr. McEwen's ministry is still felt. 
 
 Asa Otis joined this church in 1834. His mu- 
 nificent gift, of over a million dollars, to the treas- 
 ury of the American Board, has been spoken of in 
 a previous chapter. It put him, and the church of 
 which he was an officer, in the front rank of those 
 who have as yet given to this cause. The influence 
 of Dr. McEwen's ministry bore fruit in this practical 
 way, and will continue to do so, till the earth is ''full 
 of the knowledge of the Lord, as the waters cover 
 the sea." 
 
mcewen's ministry. 355 
 
 The Sabbath School work of the church, and in- 
 deed of the whole town, dates back to 1816. July 
 28th of that year was its natal day, as a letter of 
 Miss Fanny Coit, one of the early leaders in the 
 movement, shows. At first Dr. McEwen was in 
 doubt about its wisdom, and did not give it his 
 hearty support. Dr. Field says, "he was fearful at 
 first that its teachings would be made a substitute 
 for the religious instruction of the household, which 
 he believed to be the divine institution for the train- 
 ing of the young. But he came to see its necessity 
 for those who have no christian instruction in the 
 family, and the aid it might afford to others, and 
 he became its friend." Hon. Henry P. Haven, in 
 an address, in 1871, said, ''Two serious objections 
 came up to the minds of many earnest conscientious 
 christians. Would not this lead to the neglect of 
 family religious instruction on the Sabbath ; and 
 would not the holy day be desecrated, especially as 
 secular as well as religious instruction was to be 
 imparted? Time dissipated these honest fears, and, 
 persevering through evil and through good report, 
 these godly women were permitted to rejoice in the 
 work which God had enabled them to do, and with 
 thankful hearts to welcome their timid and doubtful 
 fellow disciples, and their honored Pastor as faith- 
 ful helpers in this work of the Lord." 
 
 The Sabbath School has come to be so large a 
 part of the work of the church, that its introduction 
 into New London is an interesting chapter in its re- 
 ligious history. At first it was a movement dis- 
 
356 LATER HISTORY OF THE FIRST CHURCH. 
 
 tinct from the church, but soon became a recog- 
 nized part of it. To Miss Matilda Wright belongs 
 the honor of originating the first Sunday School in 
 New London. She lived in a small house on Main 
 street, just south of Douglas street. She kept 
 a small private school. She was full of christian 
 zeal and benevolent enterprise. Her doors were 
 ever open to the praying men and women of her 
 time, on the morning of the Lord's day, before the 
 hour of service. General Huntington almost alone 
 among the men could be seen going to this place 
 where prayer was offered for the services of the 
 Lord's house. 
 
 In 1815 Miss Wright visited New York. While 
 there she became deeply interested in the work of 
 gathering the poor, neglected children for instruc- 
 tion on the Christian Sabbath. On her return she 
 invited some children to come together for religious 
 instruction. The first gathering was on July 28, 
 1816, in Miss Wright's house on Main street. 
 About thirty scholars were present at this first ses- 
 sion. Benches were brought from her school which 
 was a few doors below. Mrs. Griswold, who was 
 connected with the school as Miss Perkins, wrote 
 in 1 871, "Miss Wright's school consisted of very 
 poor children of all ages and both sexes ; the ex- 
 penses were borne by private contributions princi- 
 pally." 
 
 Five ladies were the original teachers. They 
 were Miss Matilda Wright, Miss Fanny Coit, Miss 
 Hannah Miner, Miss Frances Chew, and another 
 
mcewen's ministry. 357 
 
 whose name is not given. Miss Susan Coit, Miss 
 Catherine Edgerton, Miss Hannah Wheat and Miss 
 Nancy Starr were also teachers during the first 
 year. The last two were Episcopalians. Children 
 were gathered from all the city as far as Green Har- 
 bor. Sessions were held before the morning service 
 and after the afternoon service of the church. 
 There were no books, no library and no such lesson 
 helps as we now have. Cards and the shorter Cate- 
 chism were used to teach the children. Many 
 whole chapters of the Bible were learned. Hymns 
 were also committed to memory. The lesson was 
 such as the teacher pleased to give. Usually the 
 pupils attended church in the morning, coming in 
 from the session of the school. The teachers used 
 to sit with them in the gallery. Miss Fanny Coit 
 wrote, "the most unpleasant part is sitting with 
 them at church. The care of such ungoverned chil- 
 dren distracts attention. Our sexton takes the bo^s 
 under his care, which is a great relief. Two of the 
 instructors sit with the girls. I hope we shall get 
 them so trained that with the help of cards of invita- 
 tion, which we have not yet obtained, we may find 
 them less trouble." The school did its work for 
 "some time without books as rewards ; merely lit- 
 tle cards with a verse rewarded the little learners." 
 After the school had been in operation for some 
 time Miss Wright visited Baltimore. While there 
 she saw the workings of Sabbath School libraries, 
 and wrote home that the school in New London 
 must have a library. Mrs. Linsley, who was Miss 
 
358 LATER HISTORY OP THE FIRST CHURCH. 
 
 Hannah Miner, one of the original teachers, wrote 
 in i87i,"it seemed impossible, for we collected a few 
 dollars only, for the purchasing of the cards and 
 catechisms from individuals favoring the cause. 
 But we talked of it. The proposition reached the 
 ears of one of our benevolent citizens, Mr. Ezra 
 Chappell, and he sent us five dollars. It seemed as 
 if it dropped from heaven to encourage us to go 
 forward. It brought tears to the eyes of the receiv- 
 ers ; so great seemed the gift of five dollars in those 
 days for Sunday Schools. This was the beginning 
 of the Sabbath School library." 
 
 A number of Bibles, three or four of which are 
 still in existence were presented to the school in 
 1819. In them is written, evidently by the hand of 
 Dr. McEwen, this inscription : "from the Connect- 
 icut Bible Society — to be improved in the Female 
 Sabbath School in New London, July 15, 1819." 
 
 From this it appears that a similar school for boys 
 had been opened. Mr. Haven says that this was 
 done about 1817, and that it was "held in the old 
 female Academy in Greene street. Five or six 
 young men, among them George Starr and Robert 
 Coit were teachers." This seems to have been con- 
 tinued till 1 81 9, when the school for girls and this 
 school for boys were united, and the sessions were 
 held in the Conference House of the First Church. 
 
 At first, when the Sabbath School was opened, it 
 embraced both sexes, and increased rapidly. Mrs. 
 Linsley wrote, in 1871, "the school increased, larger 
 boys and girls came in from time to time * * * 
 
mcewen's ministry. 359 
 
 At one time we had large boys." These large boys 
 were "smacksmen's sons from the Harbor's mouth. 
 * * * They did not continue long. The school 
 prospered and gained in favor. We soon left the 
 small room and the school was held at a hall called 
 Badet's." It was owned by Mr. Thomas S. Badet, 
 and stood on the site now occupied by the dwelling 
 of Mr. Henry Badet. The school soon outgrew 
 Badet's hall, and was held in the Court House. 
 Mrs. Ellen E. Griswold said that after the school 
 had become too large for the hall, application was 
 made for the use of the Court House. The author- 
 ities, the County Judge and the Mayor of the City, 
 gave a guarded consent, saying, to quote Mrs. Gris- 
 wold's words, ''that they had no right to give or re- 
 fuse permission, and so with female presumption 
 we entered there, and from that time throve." 
 
 This was in 1819. There was no way to heat the 
 Court House. The approach of the colder season 
 raised the question of warming it. This reason, to- 
 gether with the growth of the school, led those in- 
 terested in it, to make application for permission 
 to hold its sessions in the Conference House of this 
 church, which had just been completed. Mrs. Gris- 
 wold says in her letter of 1871, "when the Confer- 
 ence Room was built the school had increased so 
 that we were crowded and uncomfortable to the dis- 
 advantage of the scholars, and we applied for per- 
 mission to use that room but were refused on the 
 ground that we were dirty and would be likely to de- 
 face the edifice." The refusal must have been the 
 
360 LATER HISTORY OF THE FIRST CHURCH. 
 
 act of the committee, for the only vote of the so- 
 ciety, about the matter, is that of July 30, 1819, 
 granting the request. 
 
 The school was now comfortably fixed in winter 
 quarters. An immense box-stove was in the Con- 
 ference House, capable of receiving large sticks of 
 wood, and throwing out sufficient heat. When the 
 school began its sessions here it had on its rolls the 
 names of three hundred females. Mrs. B. P. Mc- 
 Ewen, who was one of the pupils, said that there 
 were but few boys, and only two or three male 
 teachers. 
 
 The school seems to have been supported by sub- 
 scriptions solicited from the people of the city. For 
 Mrs. Griswold, in her letter of 1871 says, "about 
 this time, I think, in the fall of 1819 we felt strong 
 enough to invite notice, and requested Mr. McEwen 
 to visit the school, and draw up a subscription to 
 gain assistance in rent, fuel, books, and some cloth- 
 ing. If I recollect rightly Miss Coit and myself in 
 making the first collection called upon other denom- 
 inations and were encouragingly received." The 
 school removed to the church in the early twenties. 
 For many years, Mrs. McEwen said, the school was 
 very large, and continued so until about 1830, when 
 similar schools were formed in the other churches. 
 
 If the school for boys was consolidated with Miss 
 Wright's school, on removal to the Conference 
 House in 1819, as Mr. Haven believes, another 
 seems to have been originated in 1821. For the 
 following agreement, signed by ten men, points to 
 
 ■V. 
 
mcewen's ministry. 361 
 
 such a school. "We whose names are undersigned, 
 feeUng it important that a male Sabbath School 
 should be established in this place, do agree to unite 
 for the purpose of instructing such children as may 
 be induced to attend during the present season. 
 Punctuality and regularity being the life of all such 
 institutions, we do agree to attend said school reg- 
 ularly , as long as it shall continue, both in the morn- 
 ing and afternoon of each Sabbath ; unless neces- 
 sarily prevented, and then will, if practicable, provide 
 a substitute. We further agree that we will be 
 punctual in attending at the hours prescribed, in 
 order that there may be no interruption of the du- 
 ties of the school. New London, nth of June, 
 1 82 1." This agreement was signed by Robert Coit, 
 Erastus Smith, Lyman AUyn, W. P. Cleaveland, 
 Junr, Henry Smith, Thomas Huntington, Wm. G. 
 Watrous, Thomas S. Badet, R. K. Oilman, Jared 
 Wilbur. How long this school continued a separ- 
 ate affair, we do not know. It seems probable that 
 Ezra Chappell, whose interest in boys brought him 
 into the Sabbath School work about 1820, was the 
 superintendent of this school, formed in 1821. 
 These two schools seem soon to have come under 
 one management ; possibly when the church was 
 occupied for the purpose. 
 
 A document, yellow with age, is in existence, 
 containing the constitution of the New London 
 Sabbath School of that time. There is no date, but 
 evidently it belongs to a period subseqeunt to 1816, 
 
362 LATER HISTORY OF THE FIRST CHURCH. 
 
 if not after 1821 and before 1830. It reads as fol- 
 lows : 
 
 Art. 1st. This society shall be called The New London 
 Sabbath School Society. 
 
 2nd. The oflaicers of this society shall be a superintendent, 
 secretary, treasurer, and 
 
 3d. A visiting committee shall be composed of eight mem- 
 bers of the society. 
 
 4th. It shall be the duty of the superintendent to take the 
 general management of the school, divide it into classes, and 
 appoint teachers. 
 
 5th. It shall be the duty of the secretary to keep a record 
 ■of the doings of the society, to receive and answer all letters 
 and communications to forward the regular report and ap- 
 plications for books, etc. 
 
 6th. The treasurer shall receive such donations and other 
 funds as may belong to the society and pay the secretary's 
 order therefor when approved by the superintendent. 
 
 7th. It shall be the duty of the officers and teachers to 
 -assemble together on the second Monday evening of every 
 month for mutual encouragement and improvement. 
 
 8th. As the welfare of this school depends under God upon 
 the promptitude, zeal and perseverance of the teachers, they 
 shall consider themselves bound to observe this constitution 
 and such rules as shall be from time to time adopted, to be 
 diligent and punctual in their attendance at the meetings of 
 the society and at the school and by all proper means to pro- 
 mote the best interests of both. 
 
 9th. A special meeting of the members may be called at 
 any time in order to supply vacancies which may occur. 
 
 From this constitution it will appear that this 
 school was an organization outside the church, as 
 was often the case at that time. How long this 
 constitution remained in force we do not know, but 
 
mcewen's ministry. 363 
 
 probably not after separate schools were formed in 
 connection with the various churches. The rules 
 for governing the society were as follows : 
 
 1st. It shall be the duty of the teachers to attend the school 
 precisely at the ringing of the first bell every Sabbath morn- 
 ing, and immediately after the close of the afternoon ser- 
 vice. 
 
 2d. The school shall be opened with prayer during which 
 time no person shall be admitted, and shall be closed with 
 prayer, an address or singing. 
 
 3d. It shall be the duty of the teachers to hear the les- 
 sons of the scholars, and keep a record in their class-books 
 of the punctuality of attendance, and the number of verses 
 learned by each scholar, to see that the children do not re- 
 cite so loud as to interrupt each other; to use all the means 
 in their power to secure their confidence and affection, and to 
 converse with them in a plain familiar manner on the sub- 
 ject of the lessons, and of religion. 
 
 4th. The classes in ordinary cases shall consist of eight 
 scholars. 
 
 5th. Those teachers, who are absent from the meetings of 
 the society, and from the school on the Sabbath, must ren- 
 der a» satisfactory excuse, or have a substitute. 
 
 6th. If any of the children are absent from the school it 
 shall be the duty of the Teachers to call upon the parents, 
 •during the week, and learn the reason of their absence. 
 
 7th. In the recitations the children shall be restricted to 
 24 verses. 
 
 8th. No teacher shall have liberty to dismiss a scholar 
 from the school. 
 
 9th. No teacher will leave their classes to converse with 
 other teachers, or with visitors, until the school is closed. 
 
 10th. No scholar shall leave a class, for any purpose what- 
 ever, without leave from the teacher of the class, or the sup- 
 erintendent. 
 
364 LATER HISTORY OF THE FIRST CHURCH. 
 
 From Mrs. Linsley's letter, which has been re- 
 ferred to before, we learn who were the superintend- 
 ents who immediately followed Miss Matilda 
 Wright. She says, Fanny Coit "was our first and 
 much loved superintendent. After her was Mrs. 
 L. Learned, then myself until I left in 1825." Mrs. 
 B. P. McEwen said that Miss Susan Coit followed 
 Mrs. Linsley, and was superintendent until she 
 married Professor Kellogg in 1826. She appears 
 to have been followed by Mrs. Ebenezer Learned. 
 Then came in succession. Miss Eunice Law, John 
 W. Tibbits, James P. Bradley, Mr. Cushman, Mr. 
 L. L. Camp, Joshua C. Learned, W. W. Sheffield, 
 Rev. T. P. Field, Charles F. Huntington, W. W. 
 Sheffield, Herbert J. Crocker, John G. Crump, Rev. 
 
 E. W. Bacon, Homer R. Stoughton, Hon. George 
 
 F. Tinker, who was elected in 1884. 
 
 During the superintendency of Mr. Cushman and 
 Mr. Camp the school sat in the galleries of the old 
 church, and the superintendent stood in the seats 
 of the singers to direct the opening exercises. La- 
 ter the whole school was transferred to the body of 
 the house. The school continued to meet in the 
 church until it was moved into the Parish House. 
 
 Before leaving this subject it will be in place to 
 say that the present primary department of the Sun- 
 day School was organized by Miss Adelaide R. 
 Lockwood, June 12, 1859. It met in the basement 
 of the old grammar school building until an addi- 
 tion for its accommodation was made to the Con- 
 ference House. Miss Lockwood remained the su- 
 
mcewen's ministry. 365 
 
 perintendent until she resigned in 1892, a period of 
 thirty-three years. The original class was thirteen. 
 She had under instruction one thousand and ninety. 
 Of these, fifty-eight had joined the church, forty- 
 seven had died and seventy-two had married in 
 1894. Such is the story of the origin of Sabbath 
 schools in New London. 
 
 In 1 819 Harriett Lewis, widow of Mr. James 
 Lewis gave four silver cups to the church. In the 
 same year Miss Sophia Richards and Elizabeth 
 More Huntington, each gave one. These, with 
 those given previously, are still in use. 
 
 The records of a church, are a part of its history. 
 Those of this church had at no time been fully kept, 
 except during the pastorate of Mr. Channing, who 
 seems to have had a habit of keeping records quite 
 in contrast to those who had preceded him, and 
 Dr. McEwen's practice does not seem to have dif- 
 fered materially from theirs in this respect. There 
 are but thirteen records of action by the church 
 made during this long pastorate. Either the church 
 did very little business, or records were neglected. 
 There is evidence that both were true. Some of 
 the principal records were the vote in 1807 to adopt 
 Dwight's Psalm book; the vote in 1810 to restore 
 to use the ancient creed and covenant ; votes at var- 
 ious times to send a delegate to assist in the ordina- 
 tion of pastors, as for example the ordination of Mr. 
 Joshua Huntington as assistant pastor of the Old 
 South Church, Boston, December 3, 1809, and 
 votes at different times to elect deacons. May 28, 
 
366 LATER HISTORY OF THE FIRST CHURCH. 
 
 1823 it was "voted that henceforth the members of 
 this church hold themselves obligated, on every 
 Sabbath, severally to deposit in the charity box for 
 the poor of the church not less than one cent," a 
 vote which explains the poor box at the door of the 
 church, which, at the present day, some of the older 
 members rarely pass without compliance with this 
 ancient vote. January 3, 1832 it was 'Voted that 
 members of churches in fellowship with this church 
 resident here, have the privilege of occasional com- 
 munion with us at the Lord's table for the term of 
 one year and no longer, without becoming regular 
 members of this church" — a quiet hint which ought 
 to have had the desired effect. On the same date 
 it was 'Voted also that members of this church who 
 shall remove their residence beyond the bounds of 
 this ecclesiastical society, are under obligation to 
 take letters for the removal of their relation from 
 this to some other church, within one year after the 
 commencement of their absence from us, unless they 
 render to this church satisfactory reasons for not 
 doing so" — a rule still practically in use. August 
 4, 1835 it was 'Voted that the pastor of this church 
 grant letters of dismission and recommendation to 
 such members as shall apply for the same ; they be- 
 ing in regular standing ; for the purpose of connect- 
 ing themselves with the Second Congregational 
 Church in this city, in the same manner, and on the 
 same terms as has heretofore been practiced in rela- 
 tion to such members as have applied for like letters 
 on their removal without the territorial limits of 
 
mcewen's ministry. 367 
 
 this Ecclesiastical Society." There is no record of 
 the dismissal of those who went out from the First 
 Church, to form the Second Congregational 
 Church. But we know that such letters were grant- 
 ed. For the foregoing vote points to this fact. No 
 record is to be found of Dr. McEwen's request for 
 dismissal in 1853, nor of the letter in which the re- 
 quest was made, nor of the vote of the church ask- 
 ing him to reconsider it. But we know from his 
 letter of January 9, 1854, addressed to the society, 
 that such a request was made and such action was 
 taken. A pastorate so long must have been rich 
 in materials for its history, a good deal of which 
 has not been preserved. 
 
 In December 1833 Dr. McEwen preached a ser- 
 mon whose text was Luke 16 : 26, upon the fixed 
 gulf. It would be regarded as pretty strong meat 
 in these days. Doubtless it was so regarded then. 
 The proposition of the sermon was *'a change from 
 the condition of the miserable, to the condition of 
 the happy in the world to come, will be for every 
 human sufferer in that world impossible." The ser- 
 mon is interesting both as a sample of the preach- 
 ing and the theological thought sixty-five years ago, 
 and as pointing to a religious movement which re- 
 sulted in the formation of an Universalist Society 
 in New London in 1835. It is not certain, but it 
 seems very probable that the sermon alluded to was 
 called forth by the agitation of the question of uni- 
 versal salvation. Although the Universalist So- 
 ciety was organized in 1835, the church was not or- 
 
368 LATER HISTORY OF THE FIRST CHURCH. 
 
 ganized till 1843. Their first meeting house was 
 built and dedicated March 20, 1844. In 1849 it was 
 sold to the Huntington Street Baptist Society. 
 Their last house of worship dedicated September 
 19, 1882, is now owned and occupied by the Brain- 
 erd Lodge of Masons. The Universalist Society 
 existed till January i, 1894, when it disbanded, and 
 conveyed its property to the Universalist Society 
 of Connecticut. 
 
 In the same year, 1835, the Second Congregation- 
 al Church colonized from the First Church. The 
 enterprise of building a second Congregational 
 meeting-house was inaugurated January 28, and was 
 consummated February 9, 1833 by eight persons 
 who signed an agreement to take the responsibility 
 and bear the expense of the same in proportionate 
 shares. This new house of worship stood at the 
 corner of Jay and Huntington streets. It was com- 
 pleted August 3, 1834, and as we have already seen, 
 was first occupied for six months by the First 
 Church, during extensive repairs on its house of 
 worship. The Second Congregational Society was 
 formed April 14, 1835. The proprietors of the new 
 house of worship gave it to the new society. It 
 was dedicated April 2^^, 1835. Rev. E. W. Bald- 
 win D. D., afterwards President of Wabash College, 
 preached the dedicatory sermon, and Dr. McEwen 
 offered the prayer of dedication. The following 
 Sunday, April 26, the new congregation held its 
 first Sabbath service in the new edifice. Rev. Jos- 
 eph Hurlbut preached in the morning. His text 
 
mcewen's ministry. 369 
 
 was "Who is sufficient for these things," 2 Cor. 2 : 
 i6. In the afternoon Rev. Daniel Huntington 
 preached. His text was, "take heed therefore how 
 ye hear," Luke 8: i8. The same day a Sabbath 
 School was organized with fifteen teachers and for- 
 ty-two scholars. April 2i nineteen persons who 
 had been dismissed by letter from the First Church 
 for the purpose of being constituted into a new Con- 
 gregational Church, met and adopted the confession 
 and covenant used by the parent church. Tuesday, 
 April 28, they were organized into a church by an 
 Ecclesiastical Council, of which Dr. McEwen was 
 moderator. Thus, under the ministry of Dr. Mc- 
 Ewen, the First Church brought forth another 
 daughter, the fourth. 
 
 These are the principal facts relating to the 
 church during the long and able pastorate of Dr. 
 McEwen. He served the church at a time when a 
 parish settlement was regarded somewhat in the 
 light of a marriage, "and what God had joined man 
 could not lightly put asunder." 
 
XIII. 
 
 THK MINISTRY OF ABEI. MCEWEN, D. D.; 
 
 THE MAN. 
 
 Abel McEwen was born in Winchester, Litchfield 
 County, February 13, 1780. His great grandfather, 
 Robert McCune of Dumfries, Scotland, was a non- 
 juring covenanter. He joined the Cameronians. 
 At the age of eighteen he took part in the battle of 
 Bothwell Bridge which was fought between the 
 Covenanters and the forces of the King, under com- 
 mand of the Duke of Monmouth, June 22, 1679. 
 Young McCune was at last taken prisoner, but was 
 released upon condition that he would leave the 
 country for the colonies. He entered a protest 
 against the wrong of banishment for scruples of 
 conscience. But it was in vain. In 1685 ^^^ ^"^^^ 
 sent, with others, in a ship of fifty guns, by the gov- 
 ernment of Scotland, to colonize the Isthmus of 
 Darien. But the captain died soon after the voy- 
 age began, and the passengers brought the ship 
 to Perth-Amboy in New Jersey, where they landed 
 on the eighteenth of December. Robert McCune 
 came to Stratford, Connecticut, February 18, 1686. 
 These facts are recorded in his diary ; also the fact 
 that June 30, 1695, he was married to Sarah Wilcoc- 
 
mcewen's ministry. 371 
 
 son in Stratford. It is said that he walked from 
 Amboy to Stratford. He died in 1740 at the age 
 of seventy-eight years. 
 
 One of his sons was Gershom, who also had a son 
 who was named Robert, after his grandfather, the 
 hero of Bothwell Bridge. This Robert McCune, 
 or McEwen, as the name came to be spelled, in 1766 
 or 1767, at the age of twenty-two went, with axe in 
 hand, into what is now the town of Winchester, in 
 the northern part of Litchfield County. Here he 
 took up a farm of four hundred acres, made a clear- 
 ing, built for himself a house, and in 1771 returned 
 to Stratford to take back Miss Jerusha Doolittle 
 as his wife. She is said to have been a beautiful 
 girl of seventeen, and of a cheerful and resolute 
 spirit. Robert took his young wife on horseback, 
 on a pillion behind him, and rode forty miles a day 
 to their new home in the wilderness. It is said 
 that the young bride bore the journey bravely, till 
 at sunset, one day, they entered a deep gorge, over- 
 shadowed with the dense foliage of hemlocks, when 
 she cried out in alarm, and in faltering tones, "where 
 are we?" Her husband replied, "we are just there,'* 
 and putting his horse to a rapid pace up the hill, 
 he soon brought his wife out into a cheerful clear- 
 ing, in the midst of which stood the house of which 
 she was to be the future mistress. 
 
 Previous to the coming of his wife Robert Mc- 
 Ewen had attended church in Norfolk. On a leaf 
 of what evidently was his journal is this record : 
 ''July ye 17, in yr 1770, heard ye famous Mr. White- 
 
372 LATER HISTORY OF THE FIRST CHURCH. 
 
 field preach at Norfolk, which i hope was a word 
 in season to me." This may have been the date of 
 his conversion, or of his full establishment in the 
 faith, and this may have been his record and ac- 
 knowledgment of it. The church at Winchester 
 was organized October 30, 1771, and Robert Mc- 
 Ewen was one of its original members. He was 
 chosen one of its deacons in 1799. He was one of 
 the first men chosen by the town to represent it in 
 the state legislature. He was a member of the 
 state convention that signed the Constitution of the 
 United States. He was prominent in all the affairs 
 of the town and of the church. He was a man of 
 deep piety, of unbending integrity, of sound judg- 
 ment, of a strong mind, and was much given to 
 thought, reflection and prayer. He was often heard 
 praying, it is said, while following the plow. He 
 was frugal and industrious. He had a large fund 
 of anecdotes gathered from his wide reading, and 
 he knew how to tell them. He was a great reader, 
 especially of history, and had a memory retentive 
 of events and dates of ancient and modern times. 
 He was, therefore, a man of wide information, who 
 did not allow the farm-life to narrow the range of his 
 knowledge and enquiry. His wife possessed simi- 
 lar qualities, and was of a very amiable disposition. 
 They had three children ; Sarah, who married Sol- 
 omon Rockwell of Winsted, Abbie, who married 
 James Beebe of Winchester, and Abel, who was 
 their youngest child, and only son. 
 
mcewen's ministry. 373 
 
 The son inherited his father's mental quaHties, 
 and bodily stature, and his mother's cheerful and 
 resolute spirit. He was tall, possessed of keen and 
 quick perception, was of a buoyant spirit, and was 
 not long in mastering such instruction as the district 
 schools of those days afforded. In classes of boys 
 of twice his age, he usually stood at the head — a 
 prophecy of the scholarly rank he would hold on 
 graduating from Yale College. In his early youth 
 he enjoyed a winter in the Morris Academy at 
 Litchfield South Farms. While here he composed 
 several orations, which gave promise of those pow- 
 ers of writing and speaking which he developed la- 
 ter to an unusual degree. His own mind was 
 strongly bent on acquiring a liberal education. A 
 new ambition sprung up within him. He indulged 
 hopes which outran the routine of life on the farm. 
 Visions of distinction as a jurist filled his mind. 
 His heart was set on the career and profession of a 
 lawyer. If his hopes had been permitted to reach 
 realization, the rank which he took as a scholar jus- 
 tifies us in believing that he would have been one of 
 the ablest and most brilliant jurists of his times. 
 But, while his father purposed to give him a good 
 education, he contemplated nothing beyond what 
 could be had at the academy. Least of all did he 
 sympathize with his son's legal ambitions. So 
 when young Abel left the academy, in the spring, 
 his education was considered finished at the age of 
 eighteen. The sequel proved, however, that it was 
 not, and that, if he was not to enter the law, neither 
 was he to follow the life of the farm. 
 
"374 LATER HISTORY OP THE FIRST CHURCH. 
 
 Obedient to his father's commands, as was the 
 custom then, the young man dutifully gave up his 
 ambitions, abandoned all hope of a liberal educa- 
 tion, returned to the farm, and took up its duties 
 again. This life gave him that hardy constitution, 
 which stood him in good stead during all his sub- 
 sequent career. It is worthy of note that many of 
 the men, who have figured conspicuously in the af- 
 fairs of church and state, had their start in life upon 
 the farm, where they acquired that physical and 
 moral robustness which fitted them to be leaders. 
 So thoroughly did young McEwen become initia- 
 ted into the farm-life and so expert did be become 
 in its conduct, that his father, called away on public 
 business, often left the whole care in the hands of 
 his young son, and on his return he found the work 
 well and faithfully done. 
 
 His father was a fine horseman and bred horses 
 for the markets. The son was partner in the bus- 
 iness. Every winter it was his task to break one of 
 the young horses to the saddle, and fit it for sale. 
 It was in this way, and in this school, that he ac- 
 quired that fine horsemanship, and that excellent 
 judgment of horses, for which he was noted all his 
 life, and that love for this fine animal which never 
 forsook him. The horses which were bred on the 
 McEwen farm, it is said, were of the Ranger breed, 
 which was famous in those days. As a kind of com- 
 pensation for his disappointment at not being per- 
 mitted to continue his studies, a fine animal of this 
 breed was given him for his own possession and 
 use. 
 
mcewen's ministry. 375 
 
 It was in connection with this horse that a great 
 and an unexpected change came into the young 
 man's Ufe, and the purposes of God, which were as 
 yet hidden from him and from his father, were 
 brought to Hght. In the spring of 1799, Abel was 
 permitted to ride his fine Ranger into Hartford on 
 election day to witness the imposing ceremonies. 
 He could not see eighteen years into the future, 
 else he would have known that, in 1817, he 
 would figure, in a similar scene, as the preacher of 
 the election sermon. He did not know that that 
 ride to Hartford was a day's journey toward the 
 pulpit where he would preach the gospel for a half 
 a century. For as he rode from Winchester to 
 Hartford on that spring day, he had not yet definite- 
 ly yielded his heart to the will of God. But the se- 
 quel proved that he was making a day's journey 
 toward that point where he would surrender his 
 will, and where an entire change would be wrought 
 in his whole life. 
 
 At Hartford he met Rev. Dr. Hyde of Lee, 
 Massachusetts. There was, at that time, in 
 various parts of Connecticut, and especially in 
 Litchfield County, an unusual degree of religious 
 interest. Churches had been revived. Christians 
 had been quickened. Sinners had been saved. Dr. 
 Hyde naturally supposed that a son of deacon Mc- 
 Ewen would be informed on a matter of so deep 
 importance to the churches. So he questioned 
 young McEwen about the progress of the work of 
 grace. But he had not felt the power of God in 
 
376 LATER HISTORY OF THE FIRST CHURCH. 
 
 his own soul. He could say nothing. At first he 
 felt a deep chagrin at his ignorance. "That he, the 
 son of a deacon, brought up under religious in- 
 fluences, should have been so inattentive to the re- 
 ligious condition of his own State, as not to be able 
 to answer the enquiries of a minister of a neighbor- 
 ing State, was exceedingly mortifying to his pride." 
 Chagrin deepened into conviction. He began tv) 
 question himself. "Why am I so ignorant? Why 
 have I been so heedless, and what is my moral con- 
 dition, that I should have been so regardless of these 
 facts, which have such interest for christians?" 
 His conscience was aroused. He lost interest in 
 the splendid pageant before him. He called for his 
 horse and started for home. He found a moment's 
 relief in the attention which his fine animal attracted 
 as he rode along the streets of the city. But as soon 
 as he had passed beyond its limits, and was alone 
 on the road, his torturing reflections upon his spir- 
 itual state returned. Nor did he find peace till he 
 found it in Christ. Not long after his ride to Hart- 
 ford a spiritual quickening came to his native town. 
 He was one of its first fruits. Thus his ride to 
 Hartford and his conversation with Rev. Dr. Hyde, 
 were the means, under God, of his conversion, and 
 of an entire change in the purpose of his life. He 
 did not know the small man, with an intellectual 
 face, who had questioned him at Hartford. Some 
 seventeen years later Dr. McEwen was a delegate 
 to a religious gathering in Philadelphia. Among the 
 clergymen he saw the man he had so good reason 
 
mcewen's ministry. 377 
 
 to remember, and then for the first time learned 
 his name. To meet and tell him of t|ie result of his 
 interest in the Litchfield revival in his own conver- 
 sion, was a great pleasure. 
 
 The desire for a liberal education arose again in 
 his heart. Now, however, his ambition was, not to 
 shine as a great light at the bar, but to preach the 
 gospel. His father no longer opposed him, but was 
 in full sympathy with this new purpose of his only 
 son, in whose desire to be an ambassador of Christ 
 he heard the call of God. His loyalty to Christ led 
 him to do all in his power to prepare the way for the 
 gratification of his son's new desire. Accordingly 
 in the fall of 1799 young McEwen began his stud- 
 ies under Dr. Robbins of Norfolk, and in September 
 1800 he was admitted as a member of the Freshman 
 class of Yale College. He was twenty years of 
 age. He was robust in body and in mind, and 
 threw himself into the work before him with his 
 whole strength. 
 
 Abel McEwxn took his religion with him to col- 
 lege. The revivals which visited Litchfield County 
 had not reached New Haven. Neither the college 
 nor the churches had felt their touch. Very few of 
 the students were Christians. The infidelity which 
 had been a fruit of the war of the Revolution, and 
 which Dr. Dwight had combatted with all his rare 
 and famous powers, still made its influence felt. A 
 prayer-meeting had been held for several years at 
 private houses in New Haven, and maintained by 
 the Christians in college and others of the city. 
 
378 LATER HISTORY OF THE FIRST CHURCH. 
 
 Abel McEwen, with a few others of his class were 
 in the habit of attending these gatherings for prayer, 
 and thus was formed that purpose and habit which 
 led him to establish this neglected means of grace 
 in his own parish when he became pastor of this 
 church. In 1802 a powerful work of the spirit vis- 
 ited the college ; Dr. Porter says, "the first and one 
 of the most fruitful in modern times." The long- 
 ing desire of the praying students was gratified. 
 Abel McEwen took an active part in this awakening, 
 and was permitted not only to see a large part of 
 his class aroused to the importance of the question 
 of personal salvation but also to guide them in the 
 way to God. It is not a matter of surprise that, 
 coming from such scenes his ministry was signal- 
 ized by repeated seasons of refreshing. 
 
 Dr. McEwen graduated in the class of 1804. 
 Among his classmates were John C. Calhoun who 
 filled the offices of Vice President under both John 
 Quincy Adams and Andrew Jackson, of Secretary 
 of War under Monroe, and of United States Sen- 
 ator from South Carolina; Ezra Stiles Ely, D. D., 
 who became President of Washington College, Ten- 
 nessee ; Bennett Tyler D. D., who became President 
 of Dartmouth College, and afterwards of the Theo- 
 logical Seminary at East Windsor, now at Hart- 
 ford ; and others who attained eminence in their 
 various spheres in life. Dr. McEwen took the high- 
 est honors in scholarship in this noted class. In 
 October of the year of his graduation he returned to 
 New Haven, and joined a theological class under 
 
mcewen's ministry. 379 
 
 the instruction of President Dwight. He remained 
 there, engaged chiefly in the study of systematic 
 theology, till in the summer of 1805, when, with 
 several others of the class, he entered a theological 
 school under the instruction of Dr. Asahel Hooker 
 of Goshen. He continued here in the pursuit of 
 homiletical studies till near the end of September, 
 when he was examined and licensed to preach by 
 the North Association of Litchfield County, Sep- 
 tember 24, 1805. He was now ready to preach. 
 He was in demand among the churches. In every 
 pulpit where he appeared he was received with 
 marked favor. He was in the best sense popular, 
 but not in the least sensational. Nor did the favor 
 with which he was everywhere received throw him 
 of¥ his balance. He did not once forget that he 
 was an ambassador of Christ ; nor did he allow oth- 
 ers to forget it. One of his close friends, who was 
 as a brother to him met another friend equally dear, 
 and playfully remarked, ''Brother McEwen means 
 to be popular." Dr. McEwen heard of it, and de- 
 manded an explanation, which was promptly given 
 with an apology. The offender was forgiven, but 
 was made distinctly to understand that he consid- 
 ered worldly ambition a sin in a preacher of the 
 gospel. Without doubt this sincere singleness of 
 purpose contributed in no small degree to the favor 
 with which he was received. Dr. Porter, in a sketch 
 of his life, says, "it was remarkable how soon he was 
 invited to churches where such a man as he was es- 
 pecially needed." 
 
380 LATER HISTORY OF THE FIRST CHURCH. 
 
 In the early summer of the year 1806, he was in- 
 vited to New London. He was strongly recom- 
 mended by Dr. Dwight. With feelings of more than 
 ordinary interest the people turned to him, and re- 
 ceived him as their possible pastor. His training 
 under Dr. Dwight, together with his revival exper- 
 iences in college, fitted him for the place. Men of 
 rank and influence in the church, like Jedediah 
 Huntington and Guy Richards had joined in in- 
 viting him to preach to the people. The people 
 were at once attracted by his fine qualities, his good 
 sense, his gentlemanly and pleasing conduct, and 
 his pulpit abilities. In June, as we have seen, he 
 was called to the pastorate which Mr. Channing 
 had left the month before, and was installed, Oc- 
 tober 21, 1806. Dr. Porter says, **and now began 
 his great work." With clear discernment he un- 
 derstood, and with singleness of heart devoted him- 
 self to, it. He found the people as a body ignorant 
 of the "first principles of the doctrine of Christ. He 
 therefore made it his first business to instruct them ; 
 as a faithful shepherd to feed the flock ; as a wise 
 master builder to lay his foundation in a well de- 
 fined and well grounded knowledge of the truth. 
 His preaching was not only instructive, as all 
 preaching should be, but it was eminently instruct- 
 ive in the distinctive doctrines of the christian faith. 
 He explained them, he vindicated them, he showed 
 their reasonableness, their harmony with each other, 
 their authority, as the word of God." This quality 
 of his preaching explains why the leading men of all 
 
mcewen's ministry. 381 
 
 professions were attracted to his ministry. It gave 
 the people the food for which they hungered. At 
 once a change in the moral and spiritual condition 
 of things began to appear. The mid-week prayer 
 meeting was instituted. He inaugurated the Wed- 
 nesday evening lecture which he maintained 
 throughout his whole ministry, and for which he 
 made the most thorough preparation. Bible class- 
 es were formed for the study of some Christian doc- 
 trine, or some portion of the scriptures, for which 
 he prepared the questions. Family worship was 
 restored. The Sabbath was observed. The sanc- 
 tuary was not neglected. Meetings were held for 
 the direction and instruction of enquirers. Revivals 
 at once blessed his labors, and continued to do so 
 with great frequency, during the larger part of his 
 pastorate. In short the moral tone of community, 
 and the spiritual tone of the church were revolu- 
 tionized, and uplifted. 
 
 The power of his ministry was conspicuously 
 proved by the change that was silently but surely 
 wrought in the inner as well as the outer life of 
 the people, as the years went on. Profanity and 
 vice were less open and bold. The town improved 
 in its habits and morals because the pulpit in which 
 Abel McEwen stood was a felt and acknowledged 
 power. 
 
 Dr. McEwen was married January 21, 1807, to 
 Miss Sarah Battell of Torringford, Conn. Her 
 death occurred only a few months before his own. 
 Their attachment dated back to 1799. Soon after 
 
382 LATER HISTORY OF THE FIRST CHURCH. 
 
 their marriage she was afflicted with a hfe-long in- 
 firmity of such a character that the burden of the 
 domestic care and responsibiHty often came with 
 depressing weight upon him. It is said that he 
 bore them with wonderful cheerfulness, and these 
 added burdens only served to show more distinctly 
 his tenderness, the constancy of his conjugal affec- 
 tions, and the strength and loyalty of his purpose in 
 pursuing his professional duties. Their early home- 
 life in New London was in the parsonage on Main 
 street. Their union was blessed with three sons 
 and four daughters. Two of the daughters died at 
 the ages of thirteen and fifteen. Their deaths in- 
 flicted deep wounds upon his sensitive heart, and 
 he cried out to one of his sons, in great distress of 
 spirit, "What should we do if we had no Savior." 
 
 Domestic life was his great delight. His genial 
 spirits, and the play of his affections made him the 
 light and joy of his household. He was the first 
 to arise in the morning, and, as he had been accus- 
 tomed to do on the farm, he made the morning 
 fire. Dr. Noah Porter says, "it was at the old glor- 
 ious fire-place, that his older children used to meet 
 him morning by morning, as they left their beds. 
 There they first learned grammar, the English and 
 the Latin, at his lips, and there he dramatized for 
 their entertainment and instruction, as none but he 
 could do, the stories of Joseph and David and Dan- 
 iel, or talked with them of some incident in the Sav- 
 ior's life. And there, too, before the children were 
 up, as he once remarked to a friend (rare instance 
 
mcewen's ministry. 383 
 
 of self-revelation for him) 'he had musings in his 
 own heart before God, which were his strength 
 and joy for the day.' " 
 
 Dr. McEwen let his light shine in his own way. 
 He had little to say of his own religious experiences. 
 His spiritual state was his own. It belonged to his 
 inner life which was not on exhibition, save in its 
 fruits. One of his admirers said of him, "he was 
 more a man of the world than most ministers are, 
 without being any more worldly than a great many 
 who, through defect of sympathy, or knowledge, are 
 very simple, or very narrow." He was a man of 
 wide thought, of firm Christian principles, of pro- 
 nounced convictions, and of unyielding purpose in 
 the faithful discharge of duty. He gave the im- 
 pression to some that he was not eminently spirit- 
 ual. Yet the constant accessions to the church 
 during his ministry would rather go to prove the 
 contrary. Now and then expressions would drop 
 from his lips when speaking of the atoning work of 
 Jesus, which showed that deep down in his nature 
 were strong religious emotions. The tremulous 
 voice, the tearful eye, the choked utterance at the 
 Lord's Supper, in prayer or in sermon, when speak- 
 ing of Christ's sufferings for our sins, were evidence 
 that one thought dominated him — the passion of 
 our Lord. He may have been intellectual rather 
 than emotional. But his life and his preaching, 
 were abundant proof of his spiritual power. If he 
 was more reticent than some, it is not to be in- 
 ferred that he had no deep religious experiences.. 
 
384 LATER HISTORY OF THE FIRST CHURCH. 
 
 If he could not be persuaded to speak of his person- 
 al hope, it is not to be inferred that his hope was 
 not strong and sure. His lack of religious senti- 
 mentalism is not to be understood as lack of re- 
 ligious sentiment. '*He did once, soon after the 
 ■death of his wife, speak of making no calculations 
 about living here, and of his hope of soon meeting 
 in heaven her with whom he had so often con- 
 versed about that world ; and there are a few other 
 expressions, gathered up by one and another, that 
 were dropped from his lips, declarations of his re- 
 ligious feelings ; but his ordinary reticence on this 
 one subject, freely communicative as he was on all 
 others, was remarkable." 
 
 As a theologian Dr. McEwen was a trinitarian, 
 "a calvinist, of the school of Smalley and Dwight," 
 said Dr. Noah Porter. He accepted and taught the 
 doctrine of the deity of our Lord, and insisted on its 
 b)eing stated in the articles of faith of the church. 
 During his ministry occurred the controversy whicli 
 ended in the establishment of the seminary at East 
 Windsor, which was afterwards removed to Hart- 
 ford. Dr. Porter said, "he had no sympathy with 
 the Pastoral Union ; nor do we remember that he 
 said or did anything to excite feeling against it." 
 
 As a preacher Dr. McEwen was not evangelistic, 
 in the common acceptation of the word, but he was 
 evangelical. He preached so as to reach the will 
 through the intellect. This explains his power over 
 the strong men who waited upon his ministry, and 
 whom he won for the church. I can not do better 
 
mcewen's ministry. 385 
 
 than to quote the words of Dr. Porter, concerning 
 his preaching. "As a preacher Dr. McEwen was 
 not always equal to himself. His written sermons 
 — and in the pulpit his sermons were generally 
 written — were of a high order. * * * They were 
 sound, instructive, earnest, elegant in style and 
 gracefully delivered, but they had not the power of 
 his unwritten addresses." His sermons were writ- 
 ten in the last two days of the week, often in the 
 evenings of those days. They were sometimes pre- 
 pared under burdens which the world could know 
 nothing of. It was the judgment of those who 
 heard him that his most effective preaching was 
 when, without a manuscript, he poured forth the 
 fulness of his heart. His Wednesday evening lec- 
 tures, were always extemporaneous, and were re- 
 garded by some as his best preaching. Dr. Field 
 said of him he "was argumentative. Whatever his 
 subject, whether doctrinal or practical, he would 
 reason upon it — 'he reasoned of righteousness, tem- 
 perance, and judgement to come.' * =^ ^^^ His illus- 
 trations were employed * * * to set forth the doc- 
 trine or duty to the clear apprehension of the in- 
 tellect, and so to affect the conscience and the 
 heart." Dr. Field adds that while his preaching 
 was peculiarly adapted to instruct and "build up 
 the mind in the knowledge of divine truth, yet it had 
 also, a powerful influence upon the religious feel- 
 ings." 
 
 He was a man of great intellectual activity. His 
 range of thought was wide and comprehensive. 
 
386 LATER HISTORY OF THE FIRST CHURCH. 
 
 Whatever subject he took up for consideration was 
 handled with a strong hand, and as thoroughly as 
 the multifarious duties of a large and growing par- 
 ish would allow. He had invitations to other fields, 
 but he chose "to be an everyday working pastor 
 in one place for life." This may seem to some a 
 narrow ambition, but it may be questioned whether 
 he did not in this way leave more lasting influence, 
 and a deeper impression, upon the world, than if he 
 had restlessly moved about from parish to parish. 
 It may be that a change would have contributed 
 somewhat to the enlivenment of his thought and 
 style, but it would have endangered that undying 
 fame which he left behind him. Possibly he could 
 have pointed to larger numbers received into the 
 church, but he would not have left so imperishable 
 an influence. Likely enough he would have been 
 more widely known, though this may be doubtful, 
 but he would not have left such a monument as he 
 has in his half century of pastoral life and toil with 
 this church. We incline to think that his preference 
 to remain in one place to do his life work was on the 
 whole wise from every point of view. 
 
 Dr. McEwen's publications were only a few oc- 
 casional serrrions and addresses. But these show 
 the style of the man and the preacher. Among 
 these are his "Half-century sermon," in which he 
 gave an interesting review of the changes which had 
 taken place under his eye in the city and county 
 during his ministry; his "Biographical sketches of 
 Litchfield county ministers," read at Litchfield at 
 
mcewen's ministry. 387 
 
 the one hundredth anniversary of the North and 
 South Consociations of Litchfield County, July 7 
 and 8, 1852, which is full of amusing and instructive 
 incidents about those men and their times, which 
 were told in his graphic way ; an election sermon 
 preached at Hartford, May 8, 181 7, from the text, 
 "Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers, 
 for there is no power but of God, the powers that 
 be are ordained of God," in which he ably set forth 
 the duty of "obedience to the constituted author- 
 ities of civil government ;" a sermon preached Sept. 
 30, 1849, when the old house of worship was vacated 
 to make room for the present edifice, in which he 
 gave some very valuable historical reminiscences ; 
 a Thanksgiving Sermon preached Nov. 28, 1850 
 from the text "Whether it be right in the sight of 
 God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge 
 ye," in which he discussed the question, "How ought 
 the people of the Free States to deport themselves in 
 relation to that law of the United States called the 
 Fugitive Slave law ;" a sermon preached at the fu- 
 neral of Rev. Samuel Nott D. D., May 28, 1852, at 
 Franklin, whose text was Hebrews 7: 23, 24; and 
 his article on "Congregationalists in their relation 
 to other religious sects, characterized by error, fa- 
 naticism or disorder," read at the one hundred and 
 fiftieth anniversary of the General Association of 
 Connecticut, June 23, 1859, which is an "able and 
 instructive sketch of the history, and defence of the 
 principles and polity, of Connecticut Congregation- 
 alists." 
 
388 LATER HISTORY OF THE FIRST CHURCH. 
 
 Dr. McEwen was not so much of a theologian 
 in the pulpit, as a pastor seeking to instruct and 
 guide his flock in the way of truth, all along the 
 lines of active life. And the social transformations 
 which he was permitted to see, bore testimony to the 
 success of his ministrations. 
 
 In spite of his strong theological convictions, Dr. 
 McEwen was a liberal man, in the true sense of that 
 term. An incident narrated to the writer by Mrs. 
 Robert McEwen illustrates this quality of his char- 
 acter. It happened in 1825 or 1826. A neighbor of 
 Dr. McEwen, with whom he was on friendly and in- 
 timate terms, was a Roman Catholic. At this time 
 this was almost the only family of that faith in New 
 London. A French ecclesiastic, by the name of 
 Chevereaux, visited this neighbor. Dr. McEwen 
 politely called on the stranger. During the call he 
 learned that the bishop was to remain over the Sab- 
 bath. He at once offered the use of the First 
 Church of Christ on the afternoon of the Sabbath, 
 for public worship according to the rituals of the 
 Roman church. The ofifer was accepted, and the 
 service was held. There may have been services 
 here of this kind before, but it is safe to say that 
 this was the first ever held in a church in New 
 London, and that church was Protestant. 
 
 Dr. McEwen was in sympathy with the mission- 
 ary movements which began in his day. Dr. 
 Porter says ''the missionary and other evangelical 
 societies, together with the Reformatory and other 
 benevolent institutions, which, in the course of Dr. 
 
' mcewen's ministry. 389 
 
 McEwen's ministry came so rapidly into being, 
 found in him ready sympathy and through him, in 
 his people, an effective cooperation." 
 
 His influence was felt in far wider circles than 
 the limits of his parish. He was the prime mover 
 of a Home Missionary movement for the help of 
 destitute and pastorless churches in the state, which 
 had its conception, if not its actual birth, in the 
 parsonage on Main street. Let the story be told in 
 Dr. McEwen's own words. Speaking of the spir- 
 itual desolation which reigned in the churches, he 
 said "The few^ pastors who wxre at length estab- 
 lished on the outposts of this waste, were impatient 
 of this rapid and constant degeneracy toward a state 
 of heathenism, in a land of Christianity. At the 
 old parsonage of this church, one evening in 1815, 
 the Rev. Ira Hart and myself conversed on the sub- 
 ject, and formed a project for a county missionary 
 society, to restore the dilapidated churches and so- 
 cieties. The project, after a few weeks, was referred 
 to the Association, who after consultation, resolved 
 to forward a petition to the General Association of 
 the state, soon to meet at Farmington, that a Home 
 Missionary society might be instituted, for repair- 
 ing the waste places of Connecticut and its vicinity. 
 The proposition was quickly and heartily embraced, 
 and in the course of the ensuing year [1816] such 
 a society was established ; the first of its kind in the 
 United States. During that year, some young men 
 in New York instituted a Home Society, to aid the 
 destitute places of their owm state. This society of 
 
390 LATER HISTORY OF THE FIRST CHURCH. 
 
 young men became the nucleus of the American 
 Home Missionary society ; to which the Home Mis- 
 sionary societies, soon instituted in all the New 
 England states, became auxiliary. * * * From the 
 lamented desolation in New London county, orig- 
 inated a work which has spread, and which is still 
 to spread its splendor over this broad country. 
 This event will be an item in the history of New 
 London County." 
 
 As the Missionary Society of Connecticut was 
 formed in 1798, the statement of Dr. McEwen that 
 the organization of 1816 was "the first of its kind 
 in the United States," may be misleading. But the 
 confusion will disappear if the purposes of each so- 
 ciety are compared. The organization of 1798 had, 
 for the first article of its constitution, the following, 
 ''this society shall be known by the name of the 
 Missionary society." Among its declared objects 
 w^as, to extend assistance "to new Christian settle- 
 ments in various parts of the United States ;" as, 
 for example, to aid settlements in Vermont, New 
 York, Northern Ohio and elsewhere, whither Con- 
 necticut emigrants had gone to settle. The work 
 of this society does not seem to have been, to any 
 considerable extent, if at all, in the state. In the 
 course of time, and with changed conditions, some 
 of the churches in Connecticut came to be in sore 
 straits. As early as 1793 the General Association, 
 whose session, for that year, was held in New Lon- 
 don, asked "what shall be done respecting our des- 
 titute churches and congregations whose resettle- 
 
mcewen's ministry. 391 
 
 ment in the enjoyment of Gospel ordinances is im- 
 probable?" The question remained unanswered, 
 and things grew worse, until the conference of Dr. 
 McEwen and Mr. Hart resulted in the formation of 
 the Domestic Missionary Society of Connecticut, in 
 1 8x6, whose avowed object was ''to build up the 
 waste places of Connecticut and its vicinity, by fur- 
 nishing the destitute with religious instruction." 
 This latter society is what Dr. McEwen refers to 
 as "the first of its kind in the United States." It 
 was the beginning of distinctly state-work. As a 
 result Dr. McEwen says, "in 1816 missionaries were 
 sent forth into our paralyzed parishes ; and the gos- 
 pel's voice began to sound in houses of public wor- 
 ship, which, for a long time, had been but occas- 
 ionally opened ; or, opened only for lay services." 
 The people responded so that the hopes of the orig- 
 inators of the society were more than met. The 
 superintendence of the work devolved chiefly upon 
 Dr. McEwen ; a work which he said "was some- 
 what arduous ; but the remuneration was found in 
 success ; and, somewhat in amusement." So that, 
 in an important sense, Dr. McEwen was the origin- 
 ator of home missionary work within the state. 
 The two societies worked harmoniously side by side 
 till 1880, when they were both merged in one under 
 the old name. 
 
 Dr. McEwen was chiefly instrumental in origin- 
 ating the consociation of New London County in 
 1815. It continued to exist till his death. He says, 
 that "every clerical association in Connecticut that 
 
392 LATER HISTORY OF THE FIRST CHURCH. 
 
 of New London County excepted, had, since 1708, 
 a consociation of churches connected with it." He 
 continues, "the two uncompromising conservators 
 of independency passed of¥ the stage, and in 1814, 
 a convention of pastors and of lay delegates from 
 the churches was called, which formed and adopted 
 a constitution for a consociation of churches." 
 With but a single exception the churches of the 
 county came into the arrangement. Dr. McEwen 
 was a leader in this movement, because he believed 
 it to be best calculated to be a safe-guard against 
 the heresies which w^ere then seeking to insinuate 
 themselves into the churches. To his last hour he 
 believed in the principle of the consociation, as em- 
 bodying the substance of provisions in the Saybrook 
 Platform. It was not till after his death that the 
 consociation gave place to the conference. The 
 significance of this is, that Dr. McEwen carried his 
 church, where Governor Saltonstall, with his power- 
 ful influence, had failed to do so, and that he car- 
 ried the churches of the county, which, before, had 
 steadfastly refused to be consociated. 
 
 The New London County Association dates from 
 1750. From about 1807 ^o 1891, it met only for 
 the transaction of business. The usual exercises of 
 such a body were remanded to a monthly ministers' 
 meeting held mostly at Norwich, which had a con- 
 tinuous existence till 1891. Dr. McEwen as long as 
 he lived was the master spirit of these gather- 
 ings and was always present, unless absolutely pre- 
 vented. Dr. Porter says "he was always prepared 
 
mcewen's ministry. 393 
 
 with his essay." Dr. McEwen says "one minister 
 may be found," referring to himself, "who has writ- 
 ten for the meeting more than four hundred disser- 
 tations." "More than half of these were longer 
 than an ordinary sermon, nor were they light pro- 
 ductions. In the discussions of the various papers, 
 what he had to say was instructive, and was spec- 
 ially kind and helpful to the younger ministers, who 
 regarded him as their father, loving him for his sym- 
 pathy and kindness, while they looked up to him 
 with deference." And he made himself the life of 
 these gatherings, as of any circle in which he was, 
 by scintillations of his keen wit, or by some story 
 from his fruitful reminiscences. Dr. Field says, "in 
 his criticisms of the discourses of his younger breth- 
 ren in the ministry, he was kindly and encourag- 
 ing." 
 
 Rev. Timothy Tuttle in an article in the Congre- 
 gational Quarterly for October, 1861, on the "New 
 London County, Ct., monthly meeting," speaks thus 
 of Dr. McEwen. ^'We come now to one who was 
 the primum mobile among us — the great motive 
 power by which things relating to this meeting were 
 directed. * ^ * In our meetings, he always had 
 something to say on every subject presented; and 
 he but very seldom failed to fulfil his own assign- 
 ments. To say that he was the main stay of this 
 monthly meeting, will not, I trust, be regarded by 
 any one as saying too much. I do not say, for I 
 do not know, that he was the founder of the meet- 
 ing. But it must have died long ago, if he had not 
 
594 LATER HISTORY OF THE FIRST CHURCH. 
 
 contributed his power and influence to keep it alive. 
 * * * At his own fireside, but especially when he 
 was abroad with us, he was always cheerful — often 
 amusing. His conversational powers seemed to be 
 inexhaustible and never tiresome. Of anecdotes he 
 had an abundant store ; and they would bear to be 
 repeated, as they often were, by himself. No other 
 one could relate them so well. He was the proper 
 man for New London, at the time he came, and for 
 this County ; and God sent him here just when his 
 labors and influence were most needed. * * * 
 Surely many of the churches of this county have 
 reason to thank God that Dr. McEwen was sent 
 among them." 
 
 This testimony of Mr. Tuttle is that of a close 
 friend and neighbor. They were pastors of adjoin- 
 ing parishes from 1811, till Dr. AIcEwen's death in 
 i860. 
 
 Those qualities which made him the life of the 
 ministers' meetings, made him an incomparable 
 companion. This part of the story of his life a let- 
 ter from Rev. John Avery, who knew Dr. McEwen 
 long and well, shall narrate. 
 
 Norwich, Conn., May 18, 1894. 
 Dear Bro. Blake: 
 
 Agreeably to promise I herewith send you some reminis- 
 cences of Dr. McEwen. When I began to attend the minis- 
 ters' meetings in the later forties Dr. Nott of Franklin and 
 Father Nelson of Lisbon were the oldest members; and both 
 of them were bowing under the weight of years. But Mc- 
 Ewen, who stood next in point of age, was in the full vigor 
 of his mature manhood. More than any other perhaps he was 
 
mcewen's ministry. 395 
 
 a leader in the meeting. He was always present and always 
 prepared. * * * 
 
 McEwen, though an able preacher, did not commonly man- 
 ifest much emotion in the pulpit. Hence he was spoken of 
 by his Baptist neighbor, Elder Swan, as Abel Iceberg. At 
 a later period after he had done Elder Swan a great act of 
 kindness, Abel Iceberg became Brother McEwen. McEwen 
 took a great interest in all the Congregational Churches in 
 the County, as well as in his own; and he did much for these 
 churches by recommending ministers to them, by preaching 
 for them when they had no ministers, and in other ways. 
 He was rejoiced to witness many happy changes in these 
 churches. I have heard him state the fact that for a con- 
 siderable time after he came to New London, he was the 
 only settled Congregational minister on a territory in Con- 
 necticut 12 miles by 50; but that in a few years there were 
 about a dozen settled ministers on this same territory. 
 
 Other pleasant changes too had taken place in the county, 
 of which he loved to speak. He used often to refer to the 
 great improvement which was manifest in the manners and 
 morals of the people. On one occasion in particular, address- 
 ing himself especially to the young men connected with the 
 ministers' meeting, he said, for substance, 'You, young men, 
 can not begin to realize how great the improvement has 
 been. When I came to New London there was a degree of 
 coarseness and boorishness among the people generally, which 
 would be perfectly revolting to you who have recently come 
 upon the stage of active life. And I want you to realize that 
 it is to the churches of Christ, with their educated ministers 
 that the community is largely indebted for these grateful 
 changes.' 
 
 Some people who knew McEwen but slightly had the im- 
 pression that he was stern and repelling in his manners, with 
 a cold, unsympathetic nature. This was not the case how- 
 ever with those who were well acquainted with him; for they 
 found the very opposite to be true. In my early manhood 
 I was well acquainted with some half a dozen young ladies in 
 
396 LATER HISTORY OF THE FIRST CHURCH. 
 
 Lyme who, a few years previous, had attended a select school 
 in New London, taught by a Mr. Huntington, and boarded 
 with a Mrs. Chappell who lived next door to Dr. McEwen. 
 He early made their acquaintance, and during their stay in 
 New London showed them many kind attentions. * * * Those 
 young persons never tired of praising him. * * * 
 
 In the ministers' meeting McEwen was a tower of strength 
 which rose quite above his fellows. * * * His relations with 
 his brethren in the ministry were very familiar. He was 
 easily approached by any, even the youngest members, and 
 was constantly exerting influences promotive of friendly feel- 
 ing and successful work. Sometimes by a single timely and 
 happy remark he would turn the whole current of thought and 
 feeling in the meeting out of the channel in which it was run- 
 ning, especially if he saw that that channel was running on 
 toward dangerous ground. I recall an instance of this kind. 
 A brother was under criticism for a sermon he had just 
 preached, and the criticisms had been unusually severe; so 
 much so that the preacher was evidently stung by thair bit- 
 terness. McEwen was the last to speak, and he did so pretty 
 much in the following words; 'well, Bro. — has passed through 
 16 riddles and every one of them has given him a pretty hard 
 shake; but there is one little speck which they haven't got 
 out yet. The proper name, that he had occasion to mention 
 quite a number of times, was not, according to my notion, 
 pronounced with entire accuracy. I understood him to say 
 Phillipp, as if the name were spelled with two I's and three 
 p's.' 
 
 On another occasion, I remember, a brother who was very 
 repetitious, preached a sermon in which this his character- 
 istic fault was very conspicuous. The criticisms at once 
 caught it up, and dwelt largely upon it. McEwen presented 
 his about like this. 'The preacher seemed to me like a black- 
 smith, with a piece of iron upon his anvil which he was try- 
 ing to work into a desired shape. With his hammer he gave 
 it a light blow without apparently producing much effect; then 
 another and another, each blow a little heavier than its pred- 
 
mcewen's ministry. 397 
 
 ecessor. But finding that the metal was still unyielding he 
 laid aside his hammer, stepped back and took up a big sledge, 
 and paid on with all his might; his whole air and manner 
 seeming to say, now I guess I'll fetch you.' In a similar 
 vein with these criticisms were some of his invitations to 
 his Bro. Jared R. Avery of Groton, to ride with him to some 
 forthcoming ecclesiastical council or ministers' meeting. 
 Early one Monday morning Mr. Avery received a note which 
 read thus; 'Dear Brother, — My black pony starts for Griswold 
 tomorrow morning, at 8 o'clock. Ballast wanted. A. Mc- 
 Ewen.' 
 
 During all the earlier years of my connection with the 
 ministers' meeting McEwen and Shipman were the most prom- 
 inent story-tellers in the company; and the dinner table at 
 which we dined together was the place where their talents 
 in this line were called into special exercise. One would tell 
 a story, and then the other would tell one to match it, and 
 to beat it if possible. And sometimes the dinner would be 
 almost forgotten amid the uproarious merriment which the 
 stories had occasioned. 
 
 McEwen of New London and Tuttle of Ledyard were inti- 
 mate and life-long friends of each other. At an early stage 
 of one of the ministers' meetings Tuttle had performed some 
 important part, and McEwen had criticised him sarcastically 
 and severely. After a recess the first topic of discussion was, 
 'the employments of the redeemed in heaven.' When Mc- 
 Ewen's turn came to speak upon it, with much emotion, he 
 said, 'I know of one thing that I shall do in heaven, if I am 
 so fortunate as to get there, and it will be the first thing, too, 
 that I shall do, if I havn't had a chance to do it before. It 
 will be to look up Bro. Tuttle, (for I know he'll be there 
 somewhere,) and apologize to him for the unkind words I 
 spoke this morning.' 
 
 While he was as a rule remarkably courteous and kind in 
 his intercourse with his brethren, he was sometimes pretty 
 severe in his replies to any one who attempted to be rather 
 liard upon him. On one occasion he was the preacher and as 
 
398 LATER HISTORY OF THE FIRST CHURCH. 
 
 he came under criticism, Bro. Ayer of North Stonington, re- 
 marked, 'I think the sermon was not suflaeiently popular 
 in its structure. It was above the heads of the people. I 
 doubt whether many of them understood it.' McEwen re- 
 plied, 'did you understand it, Bro. Ayer?' 'Why yes,' said he, 
 'of course I did.' 'Well,' said McEwen, 'if you understood 
 it then I'll risk the people.' 
 
 McEwen was very fond of a horse, and a remarkably good 
 judge of a horse's merits and demerits, and this fact being 
 very generally known, I have been told that there was many 
 a man in New London who, when about to purchase a horse, 
 would manage to get McEwen's opinion of it before closing 
 the bargain, if he could. * * * * Sincerely Yours, 
 
 JOHN AVERY. 
 
 This letter enables us to see the man through the 
 eyes of those who came nearest to him in profes- 
 sional life, and shows us a side of his character not 
 otherwise to be seen. There are manv incidents 
 which might be told of his story telling powers. 
 But enough has been said to disclose this phase of 
 his character, and show how companionable he was, 
 as well as how courteous in his bearing. Dr. Por- 
 ter says ''his strength of purpose and firmness of 
 Christian principle, his superior education and ripe 
 experience, together with his elegance of manners, 
 and great sweetness and nobleness of disposition, 
 formed a rare combination of excellent qualifica- 
 tions," for the place where God appointed his life- 
 work. 
 
 •Dr. McEwen contributed not a little to the cause 
 of education. From 1826 till he died he was a 
 member of the corporation of Yale College. From 
 
mcewen's ministry. 39& 
 
 1853 he was a member of the Prudential Committee 
 of that Board, a position which he was conspicuous- 
 ly fitted to hold by his knowledge of men, his bus- 
 iness abilities, his sound judgment and his ripe ex- 
 perience. He was for many years a trustee of Ba- 
 con Academy in Colchester, and was actively inter- 
 ested in its welfare, until his duties as one of the 
 Prudential committee of the corporation of the col- 
 lege compelled him to resign. The degree of Doc- 
 tor of Divinity was conferred on him by Union Col- 
 lege in 1846, when he was sixty-six years of age, 
 and at a period in life when he had well earned the 
 honor. 
 
 He was interested in all reforms. He was both 
 progressive and conservative. He abhorred slav- 
 ery, but would not disfellowship those who thought 
 that slaveholders could be Christians. He therefore 
 took the side of the American Board in the anti- 
 slavery conflict which rent it. Novelties did not at- 
 tract him, nor did plausibilities lead him astray. He 
 was a man of good judgment, and was not hasty in 
 forming his opinions. But when they were formed 
 he was not easily moved. He was a man of strong 
 will and the church always found it wise to follow 
 him as a leader. The touch of the hand which did 
 so much to make it what it became is still on it. 
 When he laid down the active duties of the pastor- 
 ate, for other and younger hands to take them up, 
 the change was a characteristic affair. The out- 
 ward relations were different, but the deeper ties 
 were unbroken. His untiring activity was un- 
 
400 LATER HISTORY OF THE FIRST CHURCH. 
 
 abated. Says Dr. Porter, ''he had survived the prej- 
 udices of the people, and lived the remaining years 
 in the kind regard and admiring reverence of all 
 classes of men and all denominations of Christians 
 in the wide circle around him." 
 
 Of the closing scene, his son, Rev. Robert Mc- 
 Ewen, D. D., wrote, "his last sickness, with a sin- 
 gle exception, was his only one. It came upon him 
 when his relish of life was unbroken, and its strength 
 was apparently undiminished. The day that he was 
 prostrated, he was in all his vigor and buoyancy, 
 climbing his black-heart cherry-tree, to gather bas- 
 kets full for his children and neighbors. A slight 
 cold from the exertion was perhaps, the cause of 
 his illness; but there he was, cast down for nine 
 weeks, into the most heart-sinking, and sometimes 
 distressing helplessness. Yet through it all he was 
 quiet, patient, cheerful; not a murmur, not a sigh 
 of fretfulness or complaint escaped him. Bent on 
 recovery he yet waited submissively for the event. 
 And here it was that his characteristic reserve, as to 
 his religious feelings, had its climax. His dying 
 was but his way of living to the last. To a beloved 
 relative who ventured a remark assuming what his 
 state of mind must be in view of his condition, his 
 answer, with a piercing gleam flashing from his 
 eye was, T did not say so.' He would not say 
 what he might have said, because he might have 
 been expected to say it. He would be himself to the 
 end. So he endured until, in the night of Septem- 
 
mcewen's ministry. 401 
 
 ber 7, i860, he suddenly awakened from a deep 
 slumber, and passed away. 
 
 ''The whole city was moved at his death. Not 
 the parish only, but the entire community rose up to 
 honor him at his burial ; assuming the entire care 
 and expense of the occasion ; mourning for him as 
 they had mourned for no other, regarding him as 
 'their man of all men,' 'a great man, and a Prince 
 among them.' " 
 
 He had been identified with the highest intel- 
 lectual, social, and moral interests of the city for 
 more than half a century. No man had been more 
 widely known and honored. It was natural that 
 the whole people should feel the deep bereavement 
 of his loss. His monument stands in Cedar Grove 
 Cemetery. It bears this inscription. 
 
 Abel McEwen S. T. D. 
 
 Pastor of the First Church 
 
 New London 
 
 Fifty-Four Years 
 
 Born Feb. 13, 1780 
 
 Died Sept. 7, 1860. 
 
 The children of Abel McEwen and Sarah Battell 
 were the following: 
 
 Robert who was born June 22, 1808. He grad- 
 uated from Yale College in 1827. He was a Home 
 Missionary in the West ; was pastor of the South 
 Church in Middletown from 1835 to 1838; was pas- 
 tor in Enfield, Mass., for twenty years, till 1861, 
 when he returned to New London, where he died 
 August 29, 1883. 
 
402 LATER HISTORY OF THE FIRST CHURCH. 
 
 Charlotte who was born February 9, 1810. In 
 1834 she married Cortland Latimer of Norwalk, 
 Ohio. 
 
 Sarah who was born May 25, 1812. She mar- 
 ried Henry Garrett of Buffalo, N. Y. 
 
 William who was born May 29, 1814. He re- 
 moved to Cleveland, Ohio. 
 
 Ann Buckingham who was born January 15, 
 1817. She died November 14, 1832. 
 
 Harriet who was born September 15, 1819, 
 she died July 18, 1832. 
 
 John Battell who was born April 19, 182 1, he 
 lived in Norwich and died October i, 1861. 
 
 Although his active pastorate closed April i, 
 1854 his real pastorate continued till September 7, 
 i860, when he awoke in the night from a deep slum- 
 ber to answer a call to the church of the first born 
 in the Kingdom of Heaven. He made for himself 
 a name which will live, when the noted names of 
 earth are forgotten. He won an incorruptable 
 crown. He was great in those imperial qualities 
 which belong to eternal greatness of soul. His 
 most lasting monument is the church upon which 
 he left the impress of his own great, strong char- 
 acter. 
 
THOriAS p. FIELD. 
 
XIV. 
 
 TH^ MINISTRY ON THOMAS P. FIELD, D. D. 
 
 1856-1876. 
 
 Upon the relinquishment of the active duties of 
 the pastorate by Dr. McEwen in 1854, the church 
 and society immediately addressed themselves to 
 the task of securing an associate pastor, who should 
 take up these duties. On the seventh of February, 
 
 1854, at a meeting of the society, it was voted that 
 "the society's committee be and they are hereby au- 
 thorized to provide for the temporary supply of the 
 pulpit after the first day of April next, until other- 
 wise directed by the society; and also to seek for 
 and engage for a period of service, not longer than 
 three months, a minister, whom they may have rea- 
 son to hope will prove satisfactory, to preach, as 
 a candidate for settlement, as colleague pastor in 
 this church and society." May 15 the powers of 
 the committee were extended and they were author- 
 ized to engage the services of a minister to supply 
 the pulpit for a period not exceeding one year. In 
 compliance with the foregoing instructions, the 
 committee engaged Rev. James Hoyt, then of Stam- 
 ford, who supplied the pulpit until the summer of 
 
 1855. At a society's meeting duly warned for that 
 purpose, held July 30, 1855, it was 'Voted that we 
 
404 LATER HISTORY OF THE FIRST CHURCH. 
 
 invite the Rev. James Hoyt to be settled over this 
 society in the Gospel ministry; * * ^' that fifteen 
 hundred dollars annually be offered the Rev. Mr. 
 Hoyt, as a salary during his continuance in the work 
 of the ministry over this society, and that said sal- 
 ary be paid quarterly; * * * that the committee 
 of this society furnish the Rev. Mr. Hoyt a copy 
 of these votes," with a request for a reply. There 
 is no record of any action of the church in the case. 
 The vote of the society was not unanimous. On 
 the informal ballot it stood, Yeas twenty-three. 
 Nays sixteen. On the formal ballot it stood. Yeas 
 fifteen, Nays ten. This vote could hardly be accept- 
 ed by a wise man. It was therefore declined by Mr. 
 Hoyt in the following letter. 
 
 To the First Ecclesiastical Society of New London: 
 
 Brethren and friends: The invitation you have extended 
 to me to be settled over you in the Gospel Ministry has been 
 duly considered, and I hereby communicate to you respectfully 
 my decision to decline the proposed settlement. For this 
 decision I need assign no other reason than that I suppose 
 it to be in the circumstances, agreeable to your expectation 
 and desire. 
 
 In the hope that God will send you a spiritual teacher and 
 pastor, whose ministrations will be more profitable and ac- 
 ceptable than my unworthy labors have been; that He will en- 
 rich you with all spiritual blessings in Christ, and will unite 
 and prosper you in every endeavor to build up his kingdom, 
 I am affectionately your servant in the gospel. 
 
 JAMES HOYT. 
 
 New London, August 8, 1855. 
 
field's ministry. 405 
 
 This reply was communicated to the society the 
 eleventh of August. The search for a pastor must 
 still be prosecuted. But the people were soon di- 
 rected to the man who was to lead this flock of God 
 for twenty years. For December 4, 1855 the 
 church voted that "the Rev. Thomas P. Field of 
 Amherst Mass., be, and is hereby invited to become 
 associate pastor with the Rev. Dr. McEwen." This 
 vote of the church was communicated to the society 
 by Andrew M. Frink and William H. Coggeshall, 
 at a meeting of that body held December 6, 1855, 
 with the request that the society concur. This the 
 society voted to do, and fixed the salary at fifteen 
 hundred dollars "to be paid in equal quarter yearly 
 installments." At a subsequent meeting, held De- 
 cember 24, three hundred dollars were added, mak- 
 ing the salary eighteen hundred dollars a year, so 
 long as Dr. Field should remain pastor of the 
 church. This meeting was adjourned to December 
 31st, when the foregoing vote, concerning the salary, 
 was so amended as to read as follows ; "voted that in 
 addition to the interest of the bequest of six thous- 
 and dollars, recently made to this society, by the 
 late Jonathan Coit, Esqr, deceased, for the benefit 
 of whoever may 'officiate as parson,' of the society, 
 an amount, sufficient, with such interest to make 
 up the sum of Eighteen Hundred Dollars, be paid 
 to the Rev. Thomas P. Field, each and every year, 
 during the time he shall be settled over this society, 
 in the Gospel Ministry, in quarter yearly payments, 
 and after the same rate for any portion of a year 
 
406 LATER HISTORY OF THE FIRST CHURCH. 
 
 during such settlement ; the society hereby guaran- 
 teeing that the said Rev. Mr. Field shall receive, 
 including the interest of said bequest, at the rate o! 
 Eighteen Hundred Dollars per annum, during such 
 settlement." Whether this vote was an after- 
 thought, or the bequest had become available be- 
 tween December 6 and December 31, does not ap- 
 pear. The Hon. Nathan Belcher was appointed to 
 convey the vote to Dr. Field, on the part of the so- 
 ciety; as Dea. Andrew M. Frink, and Dea. William 
 H. Coggshall had been appointed by the church to 
 convey its vote to him. In reply he wrote, declin- 
 ing the call, as follows : 
 
 Amherst, Jany. 9, 1856. 
 Dear Sir: 
 
 After serious consideration of the subject I have come to 
 the conclusion that it is my duty not to accept the invitation 
 of the First Ecclesiastical society in New London, to become 
 associate Pastor with Dr. McEwen. It is not necessary that 
 I should state all the reasons that have led me to this de- 
 cision. 
 
 The unanimity manifested in the call, and the subsequent 
 proceedings of the society, awakened within me a deep in- 
 terest in the people; and led me to hope that I might labor 
 with them successfully in the Gospel Ministry; but the inter- 
 ests of the college, and other considerations, seemed to re- 
 quire that I should remain here. I regret to have kept the 
 society so long in suspense, but circumstances have made it 
 unavoidable. 
 
 I trust that some one will soon be found who will perform 
 the duties of a pastor far more acceptably than I could. 
 
 Sincerely yours 
 THOMAS P. FIELD. 
 Hon. Nathan Belcher, Committee^ etc. 
 
field's ministry. 407 
 
 It was evident from this letter that there was 
 some obstacle in the terms of the call which pre- 
 vented his acceptance of it. And so the matter was 
 not allowed to stop there. The church wanted him 
 for its pastor to be associated with Dr. McEwen. 
 The college wanted him. Hon. Nathan Belcher and 
 Dea. Ebenezer Learned visited Amherst and held 
 an interview with the faculty and with Dr. Field. 
 As a result of this interview a meeting of the church 
 was held January 28, 1856, at which the following 
 votes were passed. "As there is much cause to be- 
 lieve, that the call of this church, presented to the 
 Rev. Thomas P. Field to become its associate pas- 
 tor with the Rev. Dr. McEwen, was declined for 
 reasons, many of which have ceased to exist, and 
 that a similar invitation, if now renewed, would re- 
 ceive his acceptance. Voted that the Rev. Thos. P. 
 Field of Amherst Massachusetts be, and he is here- 
 by invited to become with the Rev. Dr. McEwen as- 
 sociate pastor of this church. Voted that Deacons 
 Wm. H. Coggshall, Andrew M. Frink, John W. 
 Tibbitts,and Cortland Starr be, and they are, hereby, 
 appointed a committee to present to the Rev. Thom- 
 as P. Field a copy of the above vote ; and also to fur- 
 nish a like copy to the First Congregational society 
 in New London, that said society may unite, if it so 
 propose, in the invitation to the Rev. Thos. P. Field 
 to become associate pastor with the Rev. Dr. Mc- 
 Ewen in the ministry of the gospel to this church 
 and society." A copy of the foregoing action was 
 communicated to the society, at a meeting held in 
 
408 LATER HISTORY OF THE FIRST CHURCH. 
 
 its Conference House January 31, 1856. The socie- 
 ty voted unanimously to concur with the church in 
 extending the renewed call, and modified its former 
 vote relating to the salary, as follows : ''and this so- 
 ciety hereby guarantees, in all events, the payment 
 of said salary of Eighteen Hundred Dollars to the 
 Rev. Thomas P. Field, in quarter yearly payments, 
 whether or not this society receives from said be- 
 quest, under the will of Jonathan Coit, Esqr., any 
 income, interest or benefit of any kind." It is like- 
 ly that one of the reasons for his declining the 
 original call was removed by this vote. Adam F. 
 Prentis, Rial Chaney and William C. Crump were 
 appointed a committee on the part of the society 
 with the committee of the church to communicate 
 the united votes of the church and society to Dr. 
 Field. The renewed call had its desired effect, for 
 Feb. 7, 1856, he wrote to the committee as follows : 
 
 Gentlemen — I herewith communicate, through you, to the 
 First Church and society in New London my acceptance of the 
 invitation to become the associate with the Revd. Dr. McEwen 
 in the work of the gospel ministry. This new mark of their 
 confidence in extending to me a second call, will deepen and 
 strengthen the interest heretofore awakened in the people, 
 and sustain and animate me in my efforts for their spiritual 
 welfare. I cannot state now definitely at what time I shall 
 be able to commence the active duties of the ministry, but I 
 will endeavor to do so, as soon as possible, after the close of 
 the present college term. I shall expect four Sabbaths an- 
 nually for relief and rest from Pulpit and Parochial labors. 
 
 Conscious of my insufiBciency for the adequate performance 
 of the solemn and responsible duties of the pastoral office, 
 I must rely on the kind and cordial cooperation of the mem- 
 
field's ministry. 409 
 
 bers of the church and society, and above all on that Divine 
 Spirit, without whose gracious influences all our efforts will 
 be in vain. Sincerely and affectionately yours, 
 
 THOMAS P. FIELD. 
 Messrs Adam F. Prentis, Rial Chaney, Wm. C. Crump. 
 
 The meeting of the society at which this letter 
 was read was held Feb. ii, 1856. At this meeting 
 it was voted "that the Rev. Thomas P. Field shall 
 have an annual vacation of four weeks," and this 
 agreement was adopted as part of the terms of set- 
 tlement. Their doings were communicated to him; 
 and so without a break the pastorate of this church 
 was continued. At the same meeting a committee 
 was appointed to act with Dr. Field, and a similar 
 committee appointed by the church to call a council 
 to install the new pastor at such time as might be 
 agreeable to him. February i8th a meeting of the 
 church was held concerning the approaching instal- 
 lation, whose doings were reported to Dr. Field by 
 Dea. John W. Tibbitts. The following is his reply : 
 
 Amherst, Feb, 26, 1856. 
 Dear Sir: 
 
 I have received your letter accompanying a copy of the pro- 
 ceedings of the First Church in New London at a meeting hold- 
 en on Monday evening 18 inst. For which accept my thanks. 
 I am unable now to assign the day for the Installation, but 
 wil give you notice in season for all necessary preparations. 
 
 Very Respectfully Yrs. 
 
 THOS. P. FIELD. 
 John W. Tibbitts, Esqr. 
 
 He fixed the day later and was installed as asso- 
 ciate pastor of the church June 6, 1856. The only 
 
410 LATER HISTORY OP THE FIRST CHURCH. 
 
 record which can be found is in the handwriting of 
 Dr. Field, in which he says that Dr. Wm. A. 
 Stearns, the president of Amherst College, preached 
 the sermon, Dr. McEwen gave the charge to the 
 pastor, and Dr. Tryon Edwards of the Second 
 church in New London gave the right hand of fel- 
 lowship. 
 
 Dr. Field was born in Northfield, Mass., Janu- 
 ary 12, 1814. He graduated from Amherst college 
 in the class of 1834. Among his classmates was 
 Henry Ward Beecher. 
 
 He studied theology at Andover for two years ; 
 was tutor at Amherst from 1837 to 1839, and re- 
 turned to Andover and graduated in 1840. It cer- 
 tainly is strong testimony to his rare scholarly at- 
 tainments that his alma mater call him to be an in- 
 structor among her notable professors and teachers 
 so soon after his graduation and at the early age of 
 twenty-three. 
 
 He was called to the Congregational Church in 
 South Danvers, Mass., now Peabody, and was or- 
 dained October 8, 1840. His pastorate at Peabody 
 continued till some time in the year 1850, when he 
 was called to the pastorate of the Second Presby- 
 terian Church of Troy, N. Y. Here he remained 
 till 1853 5 when his alma mater, remembering his 
 fidelity and ability as an instructor, while he was tu- 
 tor in that institution, called him to the chair of rhet- 
 oric, oratory and English literature. This chair he 
 held till he was called to New London. 
 
 Dr. Field addressed himself at once to the work 
 
field's ministry. 411 
 
 awaiting him in his new field of labor, with earnest- 
 ness and vigor. For four years he was associated 
 with Dr. McEwen, and the relations between them 
 were uniformly of a cordial character. And when 
 his aged associate was no more he said : "And now 
 that he has gone up to his reward, I cry with the 
 prophet of old, 'My Father, my Father ! the chariot 
 of Israel and the horseman thereof.' " Of his re- 
 lation to his elder associate. Dr. Field said at Dr. 
 McEwen's funeral: *'I cannot refrain however from 
 saying, that in the delicate relationship I have sus- 
 tained to him here, there has ever been to me the 
 kindness of a father to a son. He was ever ready 
 to give me advice and help when it was asked; he 
 never once obtruded it upon me." 
 
 It was no small task to follow in the pulpit a man 
 of the intellectual power of Dr. McEwen, whose 
 fame had gone over all the state, whose hand had 
 been in all its religious enterprises, whose influence 
 was felt and acknowledged in ecclesiastical matters 
 and who was regarded as an authority upon all ec- 
 clesiastical questions. But the fact that Dr. Field 
 held his place here in the pulpit for over twenty 
 years, to the satisfaction of those who were accus- 
 tomed to sit under his preaching, and that he left 
 greatly to the regret of the large majority of his 
 people, proves that, while he was of a different type 
 of intellect from Dr. McEwen, yet he was no mean 
 successor in the line of apostolic succession which 
 had been held with such conspicuous ability. 
 
 An interesting reminiscence belongs here. Cer- 
 
412 LATER HISTORY OF THE FIRST CHURCH. 
 
 tain expressions used by the parish in the negotia- 
 tions between it and Dr. McEwen on the occasion 
 of his laying down the active duties of the pastor- 
 ate, were understood by him as expressing the de- 
 sire that he should take no part whatever in any of 
 the services of the church. Accordingly he refused 
 to let his voice be heard, and, when asked by Dr. 
 Field to take some part, promptly and emphatically 
 declined, giving as a reason the expressions which 
 he interpreted to mean that he should keep silence. 
 In view of this feeling, and its cause, on the part 
 of the venerable senior pastor, the society, at a spec- 
 ial meeting called for that purpose, August ii, 1856, 
 passed the following preamble and resolution. 
 
 Whereas our senior pastor, the Revd, Doct. McEwen, by 
 reason of some expressions used in the negotiations and com- 
 munications between us respecting his release from official 
 responsibility in the active duties of the pastorate, seems not 
 to feel at liberty to take part in our religious services. 
 
 Resolved that such construction of any language used in 
 the above matter was never in our thoughts, and is deprecated 
 by us; and we earnestly request that it may no longer oper- 
 ate with him. 
 
 Adam F. Prentis was appointed a committee to 
 communicate the foregoing to Dr. McEwen. It 
 had the desired effect. Nor did the misunderstand- 
 ing afifect in the least the cordial relations which 
 from the first existed between the senior and jun- 
 ior pastors. It is not surprising that the proud spir- 
 ited man, who had led this flock for half a century, 
 was acutely sensitive on laying down his life work. 
 
field's ministry. 413 
 
 But the ample apology couched in the terms of the 
 foregoing vote was accepted in the spirit in which 
 it was given, the seal was taken from Dr. McEwen's 
 lips, and his voice was often heard till death hushed 
 it. 
 
 In 1858, two years after Dr. Field's installation, 
 a season of special religious interest visited the 
 church. Forty-five were received into membership, 
 mostly upon profession of faith. The church grew 
 in strength and power under his ministry. He 
 seems to have been a practical preacher, as one or 
 two incidents show. At one time he preached from 
 the text, "Be ye kind one to another." A stranger 
 in the audience was so impressed by it that he wrote 
 a letter to Dr. Field the next day thanking him for 
 the discourse, which made him resolve hereafter to 
 be governed by a more gentle spirit. On another 
 occasion he preached from the text, "Love thy 
 neighbor as thyself." It was the means of changing 
 the purpose of a man who had planned to purchase 
 some property and devote it to the business of sell- 
 ing intoxicating liquors. 
 
 At Andover Dr. Field came under the instruction 
 of Dr. Justin Edwards who was President of the 
 seminary from 1836 to 1842; of the famous Moses 
 Stuart, professor of sacred literature from 1810 to 
 1848; of Dr. Bela B. Edwards, who was professor 
 of Hebrew from 1837 to 1848; of Dr. Leonard 
 Woods, who was professor of theology from 1808 to 
 1846; of Dr. Ralph Emerson, who was professor of 
 ecclesiastical history from 1829 to 1853; and of Dr. 
 
414 LATER HISTORY OF THE FIRST CHURCH. 
 
 Edwards A. Park, who was professor of sacred rhet- 
 oric from 1836 to 1847. He could not but feel the 
 touch of these minds, some of which have had few 
 equals and no superiors in these latter days. He 
 was himself a scholar of wide reach of information 
 and of fine literary taste. 
 
 Under his ministry the church enjoyed a contin- 
 uance of the missionary training which it had had 
 under Dr. McEwen. He was accustomed to hold 
 monthly concerts of prayer for missions, for he 
 speaks of the vivid sketches given at one a few 
 months before his death, by Dr. McEwen, of the 
 pioneers of foreign missionary work. He was elect- 
 ed a corporate member of the American Board in 
 1873, and he held his membership till his death. 
 
 His attitude upon the subject of foreign missions 
 may be learned from his justly famous reply to Rev. 
 W. H. H. Murray, who had lectured here upon Civ- 
 ilized Heathen and given utterance to some of the 
 current and pseudo-liberal gibes about preaching 
 the gospel among the unevangelized peoples of the 
 globe. This aroused Dr. Field. The lecturer's 
 claim that the heathen should be let alone he could 
 not suffer to go unchallenged. He therefore 
 preached a sermon in reply on the morning of Jan- 
 uary 4, 1874. It produced so profound an impres- 
 sion that he was asked to deliver it in Lawrence hall, 
 which he did Tuesday evening, January 6. The hall 
 was packed and the address was received with 
 marked favor. The reply to the lecturer shows how 
 utterly without foundation were his statements, and 
 
field's ministry. 415 
 
 that he painted heathenism "vastly whiter than 
 it is." Let me quote a few of his closing sentences. 
 "Our missionaries are faithful men, using every mo- 
 tive to dissuade them (the heathen) from all vice, 
 and urging to the practice of all virtues. That is 
 the record of all intelligent and candid travellers 
 among the heathen. * * * Mr. Murray's presen- 
 tation of the beauties of heathenism is a mere work 
 of the imagination." 
 
 Some of the doings of the church during this pas- 
 torate belong to its history. September 27, 1865, 
 it was voted to hold a semiannual meeting of the 
 church for the consideration of its affairs, on the 
 second Thursday evening of October and of April 
 in each year. This custom was changed March 3, 
 1893, so as to hold an annual meeting the Friday 
 evening after the first Sunday in January, in order 
 to make the church year identical with the year of 
 the state conference, which compiles the statistics 
 of all the churches from January to January. 
 
 At the meeting held September 27, 1865, a com- 
 mittee of discipline was appointed "to expedite" 
 such matters. The first members of this committee 
 were William H. Starr, Adam F. Prentis, and Ezra 
 C. Whittlesey. It was continued throughout Dr. 
 Field's pastorate. It was not without a reason for 
 its existence, as several troublesome cases prove. 
 
 The church was not neglectful of its duty in this 
 regard. Later this committee seems to have been 
 discontinued. It was revived by vote of the church 
 May 5, 1899. 
 
416 LATER HISTORY OP THE FIRST CHURCH. 
 
 The question of the choice of deacons arose in 
 1867, and October 23, Adam F. Prentis and Joshua 
 C. Learned were elected and inducted into the of- 
 fice. There were also appointed committees on 
 strangers, on visiting the sick, etc. At the semi- 
 annual meeting in October, 1865 it was "voted that 
 when a letter of dismissal is requested two weeks 
 notice be given from the pulpit." This was amend- 
 ed November 22, 1871, by striking out the words, 
 ''two weeks." As thus amended the rule is still in 
 use. 
 
 At the semi-annual meeting in April, 1868, "it 
 was voted to appoint a committee to consider 
 whether it be advisable to have a new Hymn Book 
 in the church, and to examine books with reference 
 to this object. W. W. Sheffield, Joshua C. Learned, 
 W. C. Crump and E. C. Whittlesey were appointed 
 as that committee." There is nothing to show that 
 this committee made any report to the church. But 
 at the semi-annual meeting in April 1870, ''it was 
 voted, that the Pastor examine and recommend 
 for the use of the church a suitable hymn book." 
 In the following November Dr. Field reported the 
 result of his investigation and recommended the 
 adoption of "Songs for the Sanctuary." Accord- 
 ingly it was voted, at an adjourned meeting, held 
 December 6, "that on and after the ist Day of Jan- 
 uary A. D. 1871 the book entitled 'Songs for the 
 Sanctuary' be adopted and used as the hymn-book 
 of this church." This book continued in use until 
 May 14, 1899, when by vote of the church taken 
 
field's ministry. 417 
 
 March 24, a new book, entitled "In Excelsis," was 
 introduced. 
 
 At the semi-annual meeting October 29, 1868 it 
 was voted ''that a clerk of the church be appointed 
 whose duty it shall be to record the baptisms, ad- 
 missions to the church by letter or on profession 
 of faith, and all acts and doings of the church of 
 whatever nature." William Belcher was elected to 
 that office, and so seems to have been the first stated 
 clerk of the church in all its history. At this meet- 
 ing also it was voted to pay the expenses of dele- 
 gates sent by the church to conferences and coun- 
 cils ; a custom still in use. 
 
 Various records are made of election of delegates 
 to conferences, to councils called by sister churches, 
 to install and dismiss pastors, and to give advice in 
 other matters vitally touching the welfare of the 
 whole sisterhood of churches. One action of this 
 kind is worth noting because of its relation to a 
 notable case. At a special meeting of the churchy 
 February 4, 1876, a letter missive from the Ply- 
 mouth Church, Brooklyn, was read, inviting this 
 church to sit on the famous council called by that 
 church, concerning the unhappy controversy which 
 broke out not long after Mr. Beecher's silver wed- 
 ding in 1872. After discussion the following vote, 
 offered by Rev. Robert McEwen D. D., was passed 
 unanimously. "Voted that the First Church of 
 Christ in New London Connecticut, from no lack 
 of Christian sympathy and courtesy, but from what 
 in the existing circumstances seems to them expe- 
 
418 LATER HISTORY OF THE FIRST CHURCH. 
 
 dient for the denomination at large, must decline to 
 take part in the council to which they are invited 
 by Plymouth Church Brooklyn New York." 
 
 It was during the pastorate of Dr. Field that first 
 mention was made of a new Conference House, for 
 which considerable money was raised which was 
 afterwards used in the erection of the present Par- 
 ish House. The first mention that is on record is as 
 follows : "An appeal was made to the church by 
 Rev. Robert McEwen D. D., that the church should 
 feel more spiritual interest at this time on account 
 of the proposed erection of new conference house." 
 This was October 26, 1869. Although it was not* 
 erected while Dr. Field remained, a beginning was 
 made. 
 
 At the semi-annual meeting in April, 1870 "it 
 was voted that the Pastor and the officers of the 
 church be a committee to rearrange the list of ob- 
 jects for collections and the times for taking the 
 collections." At a special meeting held December 
 6, 1870, this committee reported as follows : 
 
 January, Collection for Home Missions. 
 
 March, Collection for Congregational Union. 
 
 May, Collection for Foreign Evangelical Union. 
 
 June, Collection for the Tract Society. 
 
 July, Collection for Foreign Missions. 
 
 September, Collection for American Missionary 
 Association. 
 
 November, Collection for Seaman's Friend So- 
 ciety. 
 
 In 1874 it was further voted "that the annual col- 
 
txii .'.K.ivM r:' 
 
 AM 
 
' •'' LATER OF THE ? 
 
 ciieni lor ihe denominaiioii ai large,- musi 
 
 ' e part in the council to which they are tir 
 by Plymouth Church Brooklyn New York." 
 
 It was during the pastorate of Dr. Field that ■ 
 mention was made of a new Conference Houst . 
 which considerable money was raised which was 
 afterwards used in the erection of the present Par 
 ish House. The first mention that is on record is a^ 
 follows : "An appeal was made to the church hy^ 
 Rev. Robert McEwen D. D., that the church should 
 feel more spiritual interest at this time on account 
 of the proposed erection of new conference house/' 
 This was October 26, 1869. Although it was not ' 
 erected while Dr. Field remained, a beginning was 
 made. 
 
 At the ^^. ■■ April, 1870 "it 
 
 wp/ * " 'le officers of the 
 
 . the list of ob- 
 jects for collections and the times for taking the 
 
 meeting held December 
 6, 1870, this committee reported as follows : 
 
 January, Collection for Home Missions. 
 
 March, Collection for Congregational Union. 
 
 Alay, Collection for Foreign Evangelical Union. 
 
 June, Collection for the Tract Society. 
 
 July, Collection for Foreign Missions. 
 
 September, Collection for American Missionary 
 Association. 
 
 November, Collection for Seaman's Friend So- 
 ciety. 
 
 7r t9'7\ it \vT>^ iurfhor votrd ''thai the annur^i 
 
THE PARISH HOUSE. 
 
field's ministry. 419 
 
 lection for the Young Men's Christian Association 
 be taken in June," and "that the collection for the 
 Sunday School be taken in December." This list 
 and this method of taking the offerings of the 
 church as reported by the committee were adopted. 
 It was also voted at the same meeting that a collec- 
 tion be taken in April for the Education society and 
 for the Bible society in August. This method of se- 
 curing the gifts of the church to the various ob- 
 jects was continued till the present system of weeklv 
 offerings was adopted, April i8, 1878. At the same 
 meeting, December 6, 1870, "it was voted that this 
 church shall be referred to on its records as the 
 'First Church of Christ in New London.' " 
 
 At the same meeting, the following resolution was 
 offered. "Voted that the members of the church be 
 requested to join with the Pastor when he repeats 
 the Lord's Prayer, during the service." After dis- 
 cussion it was voted to postpone action till the next 
 semi-annual meeting. As the matter was not acted 
 on then, nor afterwards, so far as the records show, 
 it is probable that the matter was dropped alto- 
 gether. 
 
 December 7, 1875, it was voted to drop the col- 
 lections for work in Papal lands and the following 
 schedule of gifts was proposed and adopted. 
 
 The third Sunday of January, Home Missionary 
 Society. 
 
 The third Sunday of February, Sunday School. 
 
 The third Sunday of March, Congregational Un- 
 ion. 
 
420 LATER HISTORY OF THE FIRST CHURCH. 
 
 The third Sunday of April, Y. M. C. A. 
 
 The third Sunday of May, Education Society. 
 
 The third Sunday of July, Foreign Missions. 
 
 The third Sunday of September, American Mis- 
 sionary Association. 
 
 The third Sunday of October, Bible Society. 
 
 The third Sunday of November, Thanksgiving 
 Collection. 
 
 The third Sunday of December, Seaman's Friend 
 Society. 
 
 The acts and votes of the parish also belong to a 
 complete narrative of Dr. Field's pastoral relations 
 to this church. In the call extended to him, it will 
 be remembered that reference was made to a be- 
 quest of Mr. Jonathan Coit, lately deceased. At 
 that time the society had but lately come into the 
 possession of this money. April i6, 1856 the fol- 
 lowing votes were passed : 
 
 Whereas the late Jonathan Coit deceased, bequeathed to 
 this society the sum of six thousand dollars, to be invested at 
 their discretion, as a permanent fund, the interest of which 
 is to be paid annually to the clergyman who shall officiate 
 as 'parson of their church.' 
 
 Voted that this society gratefully acknowledge the kind 
 feeling toward them, and the interest in the religious wel- 
 fare of his native place, which prompted the testator to make 
 the foregoing gift; 
 
 Voted that the society accept said legacy according to its 
 terms, and appoint Messrs. Ebenezer Learned and Asa Otis 
 as a special committee, to receive said legacy from the ex- 
 ecutors of said deceased whenever they shall be ready to pay 
 the same, and to give them in the name of the society, an 
 acquittance therefor, and do further empower said com- 
 
field's ministry. 421 
 
 mittee to invest said legacy in such manner as they shall 
 deem best with reference first to security, and next to the 
 income derivable therefrom. 
 
 It seems that during the early part of Dr. Field's 
 ministry it was the custom to sell the pews in the 
 church at auction, for a vote was passed at the an- 
 nual meeting in 1857 thanking "William M. Smith 
 Esqr, for his services as auctioneer in selling the 
 slips for the handsome sum obtained therefor." 
 The amount obtained was $2563. Mr. Smith ren- 
 dered similar service for several years. Later in 
 the history of the society the custom of selling seats 
 at auction was abandoned. The pews rented, in 
 subsequent years for sums varying from about 
 eighteen hundred dollars to over thirty-three hun- 
 dred in 1866. 
 
 In 1857 fears were again expressed as to the 
 strength and safety of the tower of the church. At 
 a meeting held August 31st the society's committee, 
 Adam F. Prentis, Rial Chaney and William C. 
 Crump, were instructed "to obtain further advice in 
 reference to the safety of the tower, and their meet- 
 ing house and report to the society at a future meet- 
 ing." September 10, 1857, the society's commit- 
 tee, having attended to the duty imposed upon them, 
 reported, and it was "voted that this meeting is of 
 opinion that the tower and steeple of the meeting 
 house should be repaired in accordance with the 
 suggestion given to us by Mr. Richard Bond of Bos- 
 ton, instead of demolishing and rebuilding of the 
 same; and the society's committee are instructed 
 
422 LATER HISTORY OF THE FIRST CHURCH. 
 
 to make such repairs." These repairs necessarily 
 involved considerable outlay. Therefore October 
 5, 1857 William C. Crump was appointed a com- 
 mittee to negotiate a loan from the Savings Bank in 
 Norwich for the purpose of making the necessary 
 repairs. The money was obtained and expended, 
 and the tower now stands firmly in its beauty and 
 strength. 
 
 By vote of April 9, i860 the annual meeting of 
 the society was afterwards to be held on the second 
 Monday of April in each year. The vote is still in 
 force. At this meeting of the society it was ''voted 
 that the afternoon service hereafter begin at four 
 o'clock," a custom observed with little change till, 
 September, 1898, when the church voted to hold the 
 second service at half past seven o'clock in the ev- 
 ening. 
 
 March 13, 1866 two important votes were passed, 
 one of them at least pointing to the growing pros- 
 perity of the church under the lead of its pastor. 
 The meeting was specially called to consider the fi- 
 nancial condition of the society. The first vote was 
 as follows : "Voted that is is the sense of this meet- 
 ing that our current expenses as a society should 
 be paid year by year as they arise ; and that previous 
 to the annual meeting in each year the committee 
 for the time being make an estimate of the probable 
 expenses for the year to come liberal enough to en- 
 sure that all but those which are unusual and un- 
 foreseen are included together with any moderate 
 deficit of the year previous, and that they assess the 
 
FIELD ^S MINISTRY. 423 
 
 rent to be asked for the following year high enough 
 to meet these expected expenses, making a differ- 
 ence of assessment to the end that a reasonable num- 
 ber of pews may be had at a rate not beyond the 
 means of those of us in more moderate circum- 
 stances." It was also voted, at this meeting, that 
 the pastor's salary, beginning with April i, 1866, 
 be increased to Twenty-two hundred and fifty dol- 
 lars ''if the money can be raised," — an addition of 
 four hundred and fifty dollars a year to that origin- 
 ally offered. At the same time it was voted that the 
 singing in the choir should, as far as possible be 
 voluntary, and that the pews should be assessed 
 so as to meet the proposed increase of the pastor's 
 salary. After assessing the pews, and selling them 
 for sums amounting to three thousand three hun- 
 dred and sixty-six dollars, it was voted at an ad- 
 journed meeting, April 16, that Dr. Field's salary for 
 the ensuing year be fixed at twenty-one hundred 
 dollars. From which it appears that the money 
 could not be raised to carry out to their full meas- 
 ure, the benevolent intentions of the vote of March 
 13. However the reason for this appears in the 
 fact that at the annual meting for 1866 the treasurer 
 reported a deficit of $833.20. At the annual meet- 
 ing in 1867 a deficiency of $659.97 was reported. 
 Yet April 2.2 of that year the salary of the pastor 
 was fixed at twenty-two hundred dollars "for the 
 year ending April i, 1868." 
 
 Friday, March 13, 1868, the house of worship of 
 the Second Congregational Church was burned. 
 
424 LATER HISTORY OF THE FIRST CHURCH. 
 
 The following correspondence took place in con- 
 sequence thereof. 
 
 To the committee of the Second Congregational Society, New 
 London: 
 
 In view of the recent loss by fire of your house of worship, 
 we hereby tender you, with our warmest sympathy, an in- 
 vitation, to share with us, in the use of ours. 
 
 RIAL CHANEY, 
 E. C. WHITTLESEY, 
 FRANCIS COIT, 
 Committee First Cong. Society, 
 New London, March 13, 1868. 
 
 New London, March 19, 1868. 
 To the Society's Committee of the First Congregational 
 
 Church. 
 Gents: 
 
 At a meeting of the members of the 2d Congregational So- 
 ciety held in your conference room last evening to consider 
 the subject of their recent calamity in the loss of their house 
 of worship by fire, it was voted, 'that the thanks of this Ec- 
 clesiastical Society be presented to the First Congregational 
 Church and Society for their generous offer of the free use 
 of their house of worship.' In thus tendering our grateful 
 acknowledgements we are reminded that our friends have fol- 
 lowed the injunction of the Apostle and given all diligence to 
 add to their godliness, brotherly kindness and charity. 
 
 As no other Christian assembly in this city have ever been 
 deprived of their house of worship within the memory of the 
 oldest resident, we may hope that neither ourselves or our 
 children will ever have occasion to return in kind the Christ- 
 ian courtesy we have now received, but which we desire shall 
 nevertheless be remembered by those who come after us. 
 
 Voted that this vote be entered in the records of this so- 
 ciety and communicated to the church named therein. 
 
 O. A. MUDGE, Clerk. 
 
field's ministry. 425^ 
 
 It will be remembered that, in 1834, while this 
 society was repairing its house of worship, the use 
 of the house, just erected by the Second Congre- 
 gational society was tendered to this church, and 
 it was thus the first to occupy the building which, 
 in 1868, was destroyed by fire. So the former 
 courtesy of the Second Society was now returned 
 by this. A New London paper of that day says that 
 on the Sunday following the fire. Rev. G. B. Wil- 
 cox, the pastor of the now houseless flock, preached 
 to his people, in the evening, in the First Church, 
 *'to one of the largest audiences ever gathered for 
 religious purposes in this city." 
 
 At a meeting held August 16, 1870 at the society's 
 conference house, the subject of procuring a new 
 organ was discussed. A committee was appointed 
 consisting of W. H. Barns, Horace Coit and A. 
 Jantz, the organist, to procure an organ, to make 
 such alterations in the church as should be required 
 to accommodate the new instrument, to sell the old 
 organ "if they think best," and to "expend only 
 so much money as has been subscribed or may be 
 subscribed for this purpose with the additional 
 amount that may be obtained for the old organ." 
 The old organ which was made by Hook and Hast- 
 ings and placed in the church at the time it was 
 built, was sold to Saint Marks' Church in Mystic, 
 where it still is doing service. The present fine in- 
 strument was also purchased of Hook and Hastings.. 
 The sum of six thousand dollars was subscribed. 
 The singers' gallery was originally a projecting one^, 
 
426 LATER HISTORY OF THE FIRST CHURCH. 
 
 with no connections with the side galleries. Chang- 
 es were made to the present form, to accommodate 
 the new organ. Mr. Jantz, the organist at the time, 
 was the chief mover in securing the new and larger 
 instrument. 
 
 At the annual meeting of the society April lo, 
 1871, the society reported an indebtedness of 
 $4227.39, after unpaid pew rents were collected. 
 Of this sum $2557.54 accrued from repairs on the 
 spire, and $320 for repairs on the conference house. 
 Notwithstanding the large indebtedness with which 
 the society began the new fiscal year, the salary of 
 Dr. Field was raised to twenty-five hundred dol- 
 lars, and it was ordered that the appraisal of pews 
 be raised twenty-five per cent in advance of the pre- 
 vious year. 
 
 The following year, 1872, the indebtedness of the 
 society reported at the annual meeting, was still 
 larger, but the pastor's salary was not at all reduced 
 in consequence. The estimated expenses for the 
 year were four thousand seven hundred and five dol- 
 lars, and the estimated receipts four thousand four 
 hundred and seventy-six. At this annual meeting 
 the society passed the following votes. 
 
 Voted that the salary of the organist of this society be 
 $600 per annum. 
 
 Voted that the Society's Committee be instructed to make 
 such arrangements in hiring an organist for the year ensuing 
 that he shall attend to the leading of the choir and musical 
 services of the Sabbath School. 
 
FIELD ^S MINISTRY. 427 
 
 Two Other votes were passed by the society at 
 its annual meeting in 1872, which read somewhat 
 strangely to our ears today, when all such matters 
 are left to the decision of the church. 
 
 Voted that we recognize the Sunday School as an essential 
 and life-giving branch of the church, and as such it should 
 he maintained. 
 
 Voted that an annual collection be taken in the church of 
 this society on some Sunday in September to aid in defray- 
 ing the expenses of the Sabbath School. 
 
 In 1873 the following order was also passed. 
 
 Whereas the late Miss Eliza A. Bull of Cheshire in this 
 state bequeathed to this society the sum of five hundred dol- 
 lars, the interest of it to be expended by Mrs. Robert Mc- 
 Ewen and Miss A. R. Lockwood for the benefit of poor wo- 
 men, members of the church in this society. 
 
 Voted that the society accept the trust of said legacy, direct 
 the treasurer to receive and deposit the same in the New 
 London Savings Bank in the name of the treasurer of the so- 
 ciety, and from time to time pay over the interest as it ac- 
 crues to the above ladies for expenditure in accordance with 
 the said will. 
 
 This bequest is still carrying out the benevolent 
 purpose of the donor. The will provided that on 
 the death of either of the ladies named, or their suc- 
 cessors, the pastor of the church should appoint oth- 
 ers to fill the vacancy. On the death of Miss A. R. 
 Lockwood and Mrs. McEwen, Miss Anna C. Learn- 
 ed and Miss Mary I. Lockwood were appointed in 
 their places. 
 
 At the annual meeting in 1874 the society's indebt- 
 
428 LATER HISTORY OF THE FIRST CHURCH. 
 
 edness was reported to be larger than the year be- 
 fore. At the next annual meeting it had increased 
 by over five hundred dollars, and steps were taken 
 looking towards its reduction. In 1876, the indebt- 
 edness had reached the sum of $6676.29. It was 
 also voted that a collection for the society be taken 
 on each Sunday when no other was taken. The 
 debt began by the expensive repairs made on the 
 tower. It was not liquidated till Deacon Otis, at 
 his death, left the society ten thousand dollars, part 
 of which was used for that purpose. 
 
 January 21, 1876, at a meeting specially called, 
 the following vote was passed, namely, ''that the 
 committee is authorized to confer with the city au- 
 thorities in respect to a new bell on the basis of the 
 city replacing the bell now cracked, with a new one 
 which shall be the property of the society to be 
 used for all our purposes but also for and by the 
 city as they may have occasion for it by clock or 
 by ringing for public purposes as heretofore while 
 the bell lasts fit for use, what can be got for the 
 present bell to go toward the price of the new." 
 The fifteenth of February the society authorized 
 the committee to purchase a bell for the city at a 
 price not to exceed the appropriation made by the 
 city, and whatever subscriptions they might secure. 
 The bell was purchased, and still hangs in the tower 
 of the church, and, by the foregoing arrangement 
 with the city, is also used by it to summon town 
 meetings, to sound alarms of fire and to ring the 
 midday bell and the curfew. 
 
FIELD ^S MINISTRY. 429 
 
 In 1876 another important event occurred. The 
 society came into the possession of the house now 
 used as its parsonage. The following votes tell the 
 story. 
 
 Whereas Mrs. Susan I. Potter, late of New London, de- 
 vises to this society, subject to a life estate therein given to 
 her sister Sarah Smith, lately deceased, the dwelling house 
 and premises owned and occupied by the testatrix in this 
 town on the corner of Federal and Huntington streets, 'for 
 the maintenance of the ministry of the gospel by said society 
 by the use of said premises as and for a parsonage for said 
 society forever, and to no other use whatever,' and provided 
 that, 'if at any time the said society shall divert such prem- 
 ises to any other use the title of said society in said premises 
 shall be forfeited,' and the premises are devised therefrom 
 'to the American Seaman's Friend Society of New York.' 
 Therefore 
 
 Voted that, acknowledging the good will and kindness of 
 the testatrix in making this devise, this society accepts the 
 same as made and directs its committee to take possession 
 of the premises on our behalf, and to limit the use of the 
 same according to the gift. 
 
 Although this valuable estate came into the pos- 
 session of the society during the ministry of Dr. 
 Field, he never occupied it. His successor was the 
 first pastor to live in the new parsonage. 
 
 The ministry of Dr. Field was drawing to a close. 
 March 16, 1876, at a special meeting of the so- 
 ciety, it was "voted that a- vacation of three months 
 be granted to Dr. Field, he wishing to visit his son," 
 who was very sick in Japan. This was the first of 
 the closing acts of the pastorate which had begun 
 twenty years before. The next step was his res- 
 
430 LATER HISTORY OF THE FIRST CHURCH. 
 
 ignation. After a prolonged absence, not knowing 
 how soon he could return to his pastoral duties, 
 and being unwilling to ask the church and society 
 for further leave of absence, he wrote a letter, 
 through Mr. Leonard C. Learned, resigning his 
 pastorate. The letter was as follows : 
 
 San Francisco, Cal., 
 
 September 21, 1876. 
 Mr. L. C. Learned, Chairman Committee First Ecclesiastical 
 
 Society. 
 My Dear Friend: 
 
 I write to say that I shall not be able to return as soon as 
 I supposed I should when I left New London. Indeed I find 
 the climate here so genial and invigorating that I am inclined 
 to stay longer than the special object for which I came would 
 require. My sickness of last fall, after about twenty years of 
 continuous labor in New London, has so far impaired my 
 health and strength, that I have an oppressive sense of my 
 inability adequate to do the duties of a minister in New Lon- 
 don during the coming winter. I need a considerable period 
 of absolute rest, and yet I can not ask my church to wait 
 my time of return to my labors. I feel constrained therefore 
 to resign my pastoral office in New London. With many 
 thanks to the church and congregation for their kindness to 
 me and mine through these many years and with my best 
 wishes and fervent prayers for their peace and prosperity in 
 the future, I am your friend and pastor, 
 
 THOMAS P. FIELD. 
 
 P. S. You will please communicate to the church and so- 
 ciety the substance of this letter. A council can be called 
 at their convenience to dissolve the pastoral relation without 
 my presence. T. P. F. 
 
 This letter was communicated to the church 
 which took action October g, 1876, at a meeting 
 
field's ministry. 431 
 
 "called to consider a communication from Rev. T. 
 P. Field, D. D., to his people," as follows: 
 
 This church regrets deeply that their pastor, Dr, Field, has 
 proposed to resign his charge, and most reluctantly will they 
 be brought to consent to the sundering of ties, which so long 
 and so pleasantly have bound him to his people. Their first 
 impulse would be to ask Dr. Field to reconsider and withdraw 
 his resignation. But since he grounds his proposal on his 
 impaired state of health past and present, and his uncertain 
 prospect of health for the future, and since his own best 
 knowledge of the necessities of his case must ultimately de- 
 cide it, the church waives all action towards delay on their 
 part, and come at once to the following vote; 
 
 That if Dr. Field, on hearing from them shall still feel 
 constrained to resign, this church will unite with him, the 
 Ecclesiastical Society concurring in calling a council of 
 churches at sometime mutually convenient, to dissolve the 
 relation between him and his pastoral charge. 
 
 In communicating this vote to Dr. Field, the clerk is di- 
 rected to add the following statement; That this action of the 
 church is solely on the precise proposal of the pastor to resign 
 his charge, that nothing is done in the way of extending to 
 him a temporary supension of labors, in part, because he does 
 not ask it, but especially because in the peculiar circumstances 
 of this society, it seems neither wise nor expedient for this 
 people to be so long, as to full pastoral service, in a broken 
 condition, and because, with all the painfulness of a final 
 separation from the pastor to both parties, and the embar- 
 rassments to the people attending the effort for a new settle- 
 ment, they would regard such a course far more conducive 
 to their true interests than a period of uncertain waiting, 
 with little prospect of being at the end in any other or better 
 state than at present. ' 
 
 This vote of the church was communicated to the 
 society, which took no action at the time, further 
 
432 LATER HISTORY OF THE FIRST CHURCH. 
 
 than to meet October lo, and hear the letter and the 
 votes of the church. These votes were also for- 
 warded to Dr. Field, who seems never to have re- 
 ceived them. But learning that a letter had been 
 sent, to which an answer was awaited, he wrote 
 again as follows : 
 
 Oakland, Cal., Oct. 26, 1876. 
 My Dear Friend: 
 
 My friends in their letters from the East often refer to 
 some communication made to me from the church in New Lon- 
 don, which they suppose I have received. I learn also inci- 
 dentally that a meeting of the society was adjourned to await 
 my answer to the church. I infer that the letter addressed 
 to me must have miscarried. Of course I know nothing what- 
 ever of the communication made to me, but whatever it may 
 be I would thank you to say to the people that my purpose to 
 resign is irrevocable, and I hope there will be no unnecessary 
 delay in calling a council for the dissolution of the pastoral 
 relation. 
 
 I hope the people will soon find a pastor whose ministry 
 will promote their highest spiritual good. 
 
 Yours with much respect and esteem 
 
 THOMAS P. FIELD. 
 Mr. L. C. Learned, Chairman Society Committee First Eccl. 
 Soc New London. 
 
 After this no course was left open to the people 
 but to accept the resignation, which was done by 
 action of both the church, and society. The action 
 of the church is recorded in the votes which follow, 
 and which were passed at a meeting held November 
 8, 1876, with William C. Crump in the chair. 
 
 Whereas our Pastor, the Rev. Thomas P. Field D. D., has 
 sent a second communication to this church and society stat- 
 
field's ministry. 433 
 
 ing that his resignation of his pastoral oflSce, as rendered in 
 his first letter is irrevocable, 
 
 Voted: that this church accepts said resignation. 
 
 Voted: that a mutual council be called in concurrence with 
 the pastor and society to consider and act upon the dissolu- 
 tion of the said pastoral relation. 
 
 Voted: that, as we understand, our Pastor leaves it to the 
 church and society to name the churches whose pastors and 
 delegates shall constitute the council, and authorizes us to 
 name the time and place in the expectation that it will be 
 held in his absence, this church in concurrence with the so- 
 ciety, and the two acting for the Pastor, name the 28th day 
 of November 1876, at 11 o'clock forenoon as the time and the 
 Conference room of this church as the place for holding such 
 council and that the following churches be invited to com- 
 pose such council by pastor and delegate, viz: 
 
 The Second Congregational Church in New London. 
 
 The Second Congregational Church in Norwich. 
 
 The Congregational Church in Groton. 
 
 The Second Congregational Church in Stonington. 
 
 The Congregational Church, Mystic Bridge. ' 
 
 The deacons were charged with the duty of rep- 
 resenting the church before the council. It was 
 also voted to instruct the clerk in concurrence with 
 a committee of the society to issue the call to these 
 churches, and to communicate these votes to the 
 society. This was done at a meeting of the society, 
 held the day following that of the church. At this 
 meeting the society took the following action : 
 
 Whereas the Rev, Thomas P. Field D. D., has communi- 
 cated to the First Church of Christ in New London and to 
 this society his resignation of his pastorate. 
 
 Now therefore voted that this society accepts said resigna- 
 tion, and concurs with said church and the pastor in the call 
 
434 LATER HISTORY OF THE FIRST CHURCH. 
 
 of a mutual council to consider and act upon the dissolution 
 of the pastoral relation; that the society also concurs with 
 the church in its action in the premises taken at its meeting 
 November 8, 1876, and communicated to the society, and will 
 do on its part in accordance with such action, and hereby 
 appoints its clerk Walter Learned, to act for it in the matter 
 before said council. 
 
 Voted that the clerk is charged with the communication jf 
 the above action of the society to the pastor and also to the 
 church, and to express to the pastor its affectionate sympathy, 
 and desire for his restoration to full health. 
 
 In compliance with tlie foregoing votes a letter 
 was sent to Dr. Field, expressing the sincere re- 
 gret of the people at the step which he had felt con- 
 strained to take, to which he made the following 
 reply : 
 
 Oakland, Cal. 
 
 Nov. 14, 1876. 
 To the First Church of Christ in New London. 
 
 My dear Friends: 
 
 I have received your communication, and thank you for 
 your expression of regrets on account of my resignation of my 
 pastoral charge. 
 
 It is of course by no means agreeable to me to break up my 
 home, and part from those among whom I have labored so 
 long and so pleasantly. And I certainly should not do this, 
 were I not impelled to it by considerations which seem to 
 make it best both for you and for me. 
 
 My resignation was not the result of any sudden or hasty 
 impulse. It had been the subject of much thought, and of 
 many conversations with some of my friends for more than 
 a year. 
 
 When I reached the twentieth anniversary, last June, of my 
 settlement, I should have made some allusion to the event, 
 had I not thought that I might say a final farewell in a few 
 weeks, and I would reserve any particular reference to the 
 
field's ministry. 435 
 
 past till then. Though I did not dream at that time of send- 
 ing my farewell from the shores of the Pacific. 
 
 After a twenty years ministry to the same people, one's 
 voice, and manner, and favorite lines of thought, and modes 
 of presenting truth, become quite familiar, and it grows in- 
 creasingly difficult to interest all minds. And in these days 
 of love of change many would prefer something new, and 
 perhaps be benefited by it. I trust it will be so in this case. 
 
 I shall ever look back with deep interest to our many hours 
 of christian and social intercourse, and trust that the seed 
 that has been sown will mingle with that which shall be 
 sown, and be quickened by the Divine spirit, and bring forth 
 fruit more abundantly in the future than in the past. 
 
 And that the richest of God's blessings may rest upon you 
 all is the farewell wish, and will ever be the prayer of yours 
 
 In Christian love, 
 
 THOS. P. FIELD. 
 
 The absence of resolutions passed by the church 
 and by the society recognizing Dr. Field's long and 
 conspicuously able pastoral service here, and voic- 
 ing the esteem in which he was universally held, 
 and the regret of the people which they sincerely 
 felt at losing their pastor, must be charged partly 
 to the letter sent him in which those sentiments were 
 expressed, and to the inexperience of the people in 
 dealing with the questions arising upon the dis- 
 missal of a pastor. Seventy years had passed since 
 the church had been called to dismiss its pastor, and 
 none were living who had had to do with such mat- 
 ters before. 
 
 In accordance with the votes of the church and 
 society, the clerks of the two bodies issued the usual 
 letters missive of which the following is a copy : 
 
436 LATER HISTORY OF THE FIRST CHURCH. 
 
 To the Second Congregational Church in New London; 
 Dear Brethren: 
 
 The Rev. Thos. P. Field D. D. having resigned the pastoral 
 oflace over the First Church of Christ in New London and 
 the Society connected therewith, called the First Ecclesias- 
 tical Society in New London, and said church society, and 
 Pastor having united in calling a mutual council to be held at 
 the Conference House of said church and society in New 
 London on the 28th day of November A. D. 1876 at 11 o'clock 
 A. M. to consider and act upon the proposition to dissolve 
 said pastoral relation, you are hereby invited to attend and 
 take part in said council, acting therein by your pastor and 
 delegate. 
 
 The churches invited follow, and the letter was 
 signed by William Belcher for the church, by Wal- 
 ter Learned for the society, and by the pastor who 
 authorized Mr. Belcher to affix his name to the 
 document. 
 
 The council was duly held, November 28, 1876. 
 It was composed as follows : 
 
 *'From. the Second Congregational Church, New 
 London — Rev. O. E. Daggett, D. D., pastor; Bro. 
 J. G. Porter, M. D., delegate. 
 
 From the Second Church in Norwich — Rev. W. 
 S. Palmer, pastor; Bro. Everett Spencer, delegate. 
 
 From the Second Church in Stonington — Rev. 
 H. P. Elliott, pastor; Bro. G. S. Crandall, delegate. 
 
 From the church in Groton — Rev. J. A. Wood- 
 hull, pastor; Bro. Erastus Gallup, delegate. 
 
 From the church at Mystic Bridge — Rev. Wil- 
 liam Clift, pastor." 
 
 Rev. O.E.Daggett, D. D., was chosen moderator, 
 and Rev. J. A. Woodhull was chosen scribe. The 
 
field's ministry. 437 
 
 deliberations of the council were in the usual form, 
 and the result reached was embodied in the follow- 
 ing resolutions which were unanimously adopted : 
 
 Resolved that, in view of the reason assigned by Rev. Dr. 
 Field for the proposed separation in his impaired health and 
 need of rest for a season from pastoral responsibilities, the 
 Council deem it expedient that the relation so long and so 
 happily subsisting between him and them [the First Church 
 and Society] be and the same is, hereby dissolved. 
 
 Resolved that we take pleasure in recognizing the fraternal 
 and cordial relations subsisting between Dr. Field and the 
 people of his pastoral charge, the past twenty years, and the 
 genuine sorrow with which both pastor and people consent 
 to that separation which seems imperatively demanded. 
 
 Resolved that we bear our cordial testimony to the value of 
 Rev. Dr. Field's long and successful pastorate in this church, 
 his high standing among his brethren in the ministry, his 
 scholarly culture, his soundness in Christian doctrine, his 
 marked ability and fidelity as a preacher, his exemplary char- 
 acter in all his relations to the community; and we cordially 
 commend him to all Christian churches as an able and faithful 
 minister of Christ. 
 
 Resolved that we hereby express our hearty sympathy with 
 this church and society in their loss of a pastor so faithful 
 and so long endeared to them, and we fervently pray the 
 Great Head of the church soon to send them another whose 
 labors he will bless to their highest and eternal good. 
 
 These resolutions contained no fulsome praise. 
 Every word was true. Dr. Field left his people in a 
 united state, as is proved by the fact that within a 
 months his successor had been called. The next 
 year, in 1877, he was invited to return to Amherst 
 College, from which he had come to assume the 
 pastorate of this church. 
 
438 LATER HISTORY OF THE FIRST CHURCH. 
 
 These are the principal facts of Dr. Field's min- 
 istry. It was marked by steady growth rather than 
 by remarkable developments of any sort. He was 
 not a brilliant man but he had a reserve of power 
 on which he could draw when occasion demanded. 
 Though no great revival crowned his ministry like 
 those through which the church, in its history, had 
 passed, yet the church grew under his hands. His 
 ministry was preeminently wholesome, and left a 
 flavor of righteousness behind it. The church and 
 society were prospered in good degree both mater- 
 ially and spiritually, and the people were instructed 
 in sound doctrine. 
 
 As a preacher he may have lacked, as some have 
 expressed it, a certain degree of animation, in his 
 usual pulpit exercises. But his sermons showed 
 fine culture and rare scholarship. One said of him 
 that he was a preacher who wore well. This is 
 proved by the uniformly large congregations which 
 waited upon his ministry for over twenty years. 
 On occasions he reached high degrees of oratorical 
 power. His address on the assassination of Mr. 
 Lincoln is said to have been notable. It was de- 
 livered from the steps of the City Hall to a vast con- 
 course of people, and his penetrating voice reached 
 every ear. 
 
 Another memorable discourse was preached Oc- 
 tober 19, 1870, at the so-called bi-centennial of this 
 church. It was an able production of great histor- 
 ical value. Still another notable sermon, whose 
 theme was Puritanism and the Puritans of New^ 
 
FIELDS'S MINISTRY. 439 
 
 England, was preached on Fast day, April 3d, 1863. 
 It was an admirable vindication of the spirit and 
 character of the founders of New England. ''My 
 friends," he said, "it is too late in the course of time 
 to speak disparagingly of New England, or of the 
 Puritans who made her history what it is. Shame 
 on the son of New England who takes up the slan- 
 derous words. * * * New England with her Pur- 
 itan institutions cannot be left out. She is a vital 
 part of the nation's life." 
 
 The testimony of those who knew him to his char- 
 acter as a man and a pastor is uniform and of the 
 highest nature. One of his parishioners said of 
 him, ''He was a pure, guileless man, of whom our 
 Lord's words concerning Nathaniel might well be 
 said, 'An Israelite indeed in whom is no guile.' " 
 Another of his parishioners said in The Day : 
 
 "Dr. Field was a man of intellect and scholarship, 
 and one who read with discrimination and enjoy- 
 ment. He was a diligent student, noted for the ex- 
 tent and variety of his attainments. His memory 
 was wonderfully retentive and his information at 
 once exact and varied. 
 
 "But wealth of intellectual equipment was no ad- 
 equate measure of the man. A strong religious 
 faith and feeling, a charitable judgment and a 
 courteous and generous treatment of others made 
 him an inspiring example of the religion he pro- 
 fessed. The aroma of his goodness still lingers in 
 the church once impressed with his footsteps." 
 
 The cordial reception with which he always met 
 
440 LATER HISTORY OF THE FIRST CHURCH. 
 
 when he appeared in the First Church, was suffi- 
 cient evidence of the regard in which he was held by 
 his former parishioners. 
 
 But he was highly esteemed outside his par- 
 ish. A man of another church said, "1 loved and 
 admired Dr. Field ; and so did all who knew him." 
 Another said, "I do not believe that any other man 
 ever went from this town and left so many friends 
 behind him." 
 
 The esteem in which he was held by his brethren 
 in the ministry is thus voiced by Rev. John Avery : 
 ''Dr. Field came among us with a character and a 
 reputation already established. Yet he continued 
 to develop and mature even up to the time of his 
 leaving. He usually attended the ministers' meet- 
 ing and took his turn in preaching and reading es- 
 says. * * * He was greatly respected and highly 
 appreciated by all the ministers of the county who 
 were contemporary with him." 
 
 His alma mater conferred on him the degree of 
 Doctor of Divinity in 1861, when Mr. Field became 
 Dr. Field. As has already appeared, she thrice 
 called him to occupy chairs of instruction among 
 her corps of instructors, as tutor from 1837 to 1839, 
 as professor of rhetoric and English literature from 
 1853 to 1856, as professor of bibliography and li- 
 brarian of the college library for two years after the 
 close of his pastorate here, and then as "Samuel 
 Green professor of Biblical history and interpreta- 
 tion and pastor of the college church," till 1886, 
 when he retired from these duties. The instances 
 
field's ministry. 441 
 
 are rare in which a man is thus honored by the col- 
 lege which graduated him. But the honors were 
 not misplaced. He was a searching student of lit- 
 erature, and frequently contributed valuable articles 
 to the magazines. He was fully equipped to be a 
 member of the faculty of any college — a fact which 
 Amherst was not unaware. His whole connection 
 with his alma mater as tutor and professor, was in 
 all, fourteen years. A line from a daughter of Dr, 
 Julius H. Seelye, written for her father, says ''that 
 since his acquaintance with Dr. Field he has cher- 
 ished for him a high respect and warm pergonal 
 afifection, which constantly increased during his 
 more intimate association with him as pastor of the 
 college church." 
 
 He was married January ii, 1844, to Maria Au- 
 gusta, daughter of Robert A. Daniels of Peabody. 
 She died July 2, 1864. May 8, 1866, he was mar- 
 ried to Charlotte, daughter of the late Robert Coit 
 of this city. After her death, he was married to 
 Miss Ellen Coit who survives him. The three of 
 his nine children who survive him are Mrs. F. O. 
 Davenport, wife of Lieut. Commander Davenport 
 of the United States navy, stationed at Detroit; 
 Robert D. Field, who is in business in Detroit; and 
 Harry P. Field, a well known Northampton lawyer, 
 and a member of the firm of Hammond and Field. 
 
 When he had recovered from the illness which 
 was almost fatal at the time when he lost his second 
 wife, he undertook and accomplished a voyage 
 around the world, at an age when most men would 
 
442 LATER HISTORY OF THE FIRST CHURCH. 
 
 beg to be allowed to remain in the quiet of their 
 own homes. 
 
 Dr. Field loved his chosen profession. It was 
 his great ambition to be fruitful in his life. That 
 wish was gratified. In his sermon at the funeral 
 of Dr. McEwen he said, ''the best time to die is in- 
 deed the time that God appoints, but if He permits, 
 it is good to be a worker together with Him even to 
 fourscore years. * * ^ Well may we pray to live 
 while we can so work, and sleep at last in peace 
 with the fathers." His wish was granted. He was 
 a worker with God till fourscore years. 
 
 The story of his death is briefly told. His was 
 not a lingering illness. He was in New London 
 on the Friday before he died. An attack of heart 
 trouble, doubtless a legacy of the grip, seized him, 
 after his return to Amherst, and on Wednesday, 
 May 1 6, 1894, he had passed, at the age of a little 
 over eighty into that country, that land of pure de- 
 light, where 
 
 everlasting spring abides, 
 
 And never withering flowers. 
 
 Of the fifty-four years which had elapsed since 
 he was ordained to the gospel ministry, thirty-four 
 were spent in the pulpit and twelve as a professor 
 at Amherst. Of the thirty-four years in the pulpit, 
 twenty were spent in this pulpit. It seemed there- 
 fore fitting that the church should notice the death 
 of a man who had served it so long, so faithfully, 
 and so well. Therefore two representatives of the 
 church went to Amherst to attend his funeral, to 
 
EDWARD WOOLSEY BACON. 
 
field's ministry. 443 
 
 testify of the afifection which the church felt for him. 
 These men were Jesse H. Wilcox and William Bel- 
 cher, both deacons of the church. 
 
 This brings the story of this church down to Jan- 
 uary 14, 1877, when the ministry of Rev. Edward 
 W. Bacon began. It has been a delightsome task 
 to write the narrative. It makes this venerable 
 church stand out conspicuously in the history of the 
 past. It has seen and been a part of the growth 
 of Connecticut, almost from the beginning. Some 
 of its early men were the founders of the United 
 Colony, and shaped its political destinies. It has 
 always stood for the evangelical gospel. Its pas- 
 tors, whose work has been reviewed, were strong 
 men. 
 
 The work still before it may be different, but no 
 less important. Its efficiency and power will de- 
 pend on the spirit dwelling in its members now and 
 in the years to come. If a spirit of unselfish loyalty 
 to Christ reigns in them, a great future lies before 
 this body of Christ. For the power of any church, 
 in these days, depends on the self-denying devotion 
 of its members to the Kingdom of God, till He 
 comes. "And this I pray, that your love may 
 abound yet more and more in knowledge, and all 
 discernment; so that ye may approve the things 
 that are excellent ; that ye may be sincere and void 
 of offence unto the day of Jesus Christ ; being filled 
 with the fruits of righteousness, which are through 
 Jesus Christ, unto the glory of God." 
 
444 LATER HISTORY OF THE FIRST CHURCH. 
 
 NOTE TO PAGE 171. 
 
 On page 171 it is suggested that Mi*. Christophers, in front 
 of whose house Dr. Hallam says the burning of the books 
 etc. took place, must have lived on the site occupied by the 
 house built for Mrs. Woodbridge, by her father, Nathaniel 
 Shaw. The two brothers, Christopher and John Christophers, 
 lived on the two sites just south, now occupied by the houses 
 of the late Mr. Sidney Miner, and Mr. Sebastian D. Law- 
 rence. 
 
XV. 
 
 BAPTISMS. 
 
 1670-1821. 
 
 All names in capitals are of persons baptized. 
 
 I. BY BRADSTREET, IN NEW LONDON. 
 
 (1.) The names of such as were called the children of the 
 church, viz., of such as had been baptized before Oct. 5, 1670, 
 their parents one or both being in full communion. 
 
 Lieut. James Avery his children. 
 
 Persons baptized from Feb. 1, 1670: 
 
 Baptized February 12, 1670. These eighteen persons: 
 
 GOOD WIFE BAILEY and her children, JOHN, WILLIAM; 
 Mr. Picket's children, JOHN, MARY, RUTH, MERCY, WIL- 
 LIAM; Mr. Hill's child, JANE; JOSHUA HEMSTEAD, ELIZ. 
 his wife, PHEBE his child; Joseph Morgan's wife DOROTHY; 
 her sister, ALICE PARKE ;i James Avery's wife DEBORAH; 
 Samuel Rogers his children, SAMUEL, MARY; The widow 
 Bradley's daughter, LUCRETIA. 
 
 Baptized Febr. 19. Four children of Goodwife Bayley, 
 THOMAS, MARY, JAMES, JOSEPH. 
 
 Baptized Febr. 26, 1670. John Keney's^ child SUSANNA. 
 
 (2.) Persons baptized since Octob. 5, 1670: 
 
 JOHN STEBBINS junr; MARY DUGLASS, wife of Robert 
 Duglasse; Mr. Parker's child named RALPH; Robert 
 Duglasse his children viz. 3, WILL, MARY, ANNE; Mr. Ches- 
 ter's children, JOHN, SUSANNA, SAMUEL; Mr. ffoster's chil- 
 dren, SUSANNA, THOMAS, JANE; John Stebbins junr his 
 
 ^On page 157 of The Early History, etc., this name is incorrectly given 
 Alice Parker. 
 
 2This name is incorrectly given Henry on page 157 of The Early His- 
 tory, etc. 
 
446 LATER HISTORY OF THE FIRST CHURCH. 
 
 children, DEBORAH, JOHN, MERIAM; DANIEL STEBBINS; 
 HANNAH HEMPSTEAD now Abel More's wife; Will Doug- 
 lasse, junr., his child ELIZABETH; Daniel Lester's child; 
 Andrew Lester's child (names not given); Goodman Smith his 
 grandaughter, MEHITABLE. 
 
 Baptized March 12, 70-71. My own child SIMON; Joseph 
 Coytes child JOHN; John Stephens his children, JOHN, 
 MARY; Hugh Mould's children, HUGH, SUSANNA, MARY, 
 CHRISTIAN. 
 
 Baptized March 26, 71. John Richards his children, JOHN, 
 ISRAEL, PENELOPE, MARY, LYDIA, ELIZABETH, HAN- 
 NAH; The widow Bemas her two daughters, REBECKA, 
 MARY. 
 
 Baptized April 2, 71. G. Dart his children, DANIEL, DIN- 
 AH, RICHARD, ROGER; George Sherwood's children, 
 GEORGE, WILLIAM; Goodwife Crocker, RACHEL; Her two 
 children, THOMAS, MARY. 
 
 Baptized April 9, 1671. G. Comstock's children, DANIEL, 
 MARY, SARAH, HOPE, ZIPPORAH, ELIZABETH, BETHIAH, 
 ANNE; Will Duglasse his child, SARAH; John Borden's 
 children, JOHN, SAMUEL, HANNAH; James Morgan junr, 
 his children, JAMES, WILLIAM; MARY TONGUE. 
 Baptized April 16, 71. ADAM PICKETT. 
 Baptized April 23, 71. HANNAH STEDMAN and her two 
 children, JOHN, ANNA; JUDITH PIGEN, (Pygan), i and her 
 two children, SARAH, HANNAH; ELIZABETH DIMOND; 
 LYDIA LATHAM; REBECKA WALLER; SARAH WALLER. 
 Baptized April 30, 71. Clement Minor his children, JOSEPH, 
 CLEMENT, WILLIAM, MARY; John Willie's (Willis's) child 
 ISAAC. 
 
 Baptized May 7, 71. G. Tyrrell's children, WILLIAM, MARY; 
 G. Blackford's child, SARAH; Two servants of Mr. Duglas 
 his, for whom he engaged, ye one being an Indian bought when 
 a child, and at his Disposal; I baptized her according to God's 
 command. Gen. 17; 12, 13, MARY, ELTZBTH the Indian. 
 
 iWife of Alexander Pj'gan; Miss Caulkins gives the names of her two 
 children aB Sarah and Jane. 
 
BAPTISMS. 447 
 
 Baptized May 14, 71. MATTHEW BECKET; ELIZ. JAR- 
 RETT, and her child ELIZ; SARAH BECKET; Sam Tubbs his 
 children, MARY, BETHIAH. 
 
 Baptized May 21, 1671, Goodman Harris his children, THOM- 
 AS, PETER, JOHN, SAMUEL, ELIZABETH, MARY. 
 
 Baptized June 11, 1671. Mr. Wetherell's children, DANIEL, 
 MARY; Mr. Shaw's children SAMUEL, THOMAS. 
 
 Baptized June 18, 1671. J.IARY DANIEL ye wife of John 
 Daniel, and her children JOHN, MARY, THOMAS. 
 
 Baptized July 23, 71. Robt. Douglasse his child JOHN. 
 
 Baptized August 6, 71. Mr. Starres child COMFORT. 
 
 Baptized Sept. 3, 71. G. Harris his child JAMES. 
 
 Baptized Sept. 10, 71. Mrs. Mannering her children, HAN- 
 NAH, ELIZABETH, PRUDENCE, LOVE; the same day Mat- 
 thew Becket's wife was baptized ELIZABETH; Mat. Becket 
 junr, his children, MATTHEW, JOHN, JAMES. 
 
 Baptized Sept. 17, 1671. John Stevens his child JAMES 
 
 Baptized Nov. 5. Mr. Hill's child CHARLES; G. Rett's 
 child, JONATHAN; Mr. Blackford's children, PETER, HAN- 
 NAH, JOANNA. 
 
 Nov. 26, 71. G. Comstock's child, PATIENCE. 
 
 Baptized Febru. 25, 71. John Stebbins his child MARY. 
 
 Baptized March 10, 1871-72. George Sherwood's child, MARY; 
 Manasseh Minor's child ELNATHAN; Abel More's child, 
 MILES. 
 
 March 24, 71-72. Joseph Morgan's child, JOSEPH. 
 
 March 31, 1672. Baptized John Daniel's child CHRISTIAN. 
 
 April 21, 1672. G. Crocker's child baptized JOHN. 
 
 May 29. James Morgan his child baptized, MARY. 
 
 June 16. Baptized Ephraim Minor's children EPHRAIM,. 
 THOMAS, HANNAH. 
 
 July 7, 72. Baptized G. Prentice his child HANNAH; bap- 
 tized Bathsheba Smith her children, ANNE, ELIZABETH. 
 
 July 1672. Sam Tubbs his child SAMUEL. 
 
 August 28, 72. Baptized Mr. Dimond his child ELIZABETH. 
 
 Sept. 1, 1672. Baptized G. Billings his children, WILLIAM, 
 
448 LATER HISTORY OF THE FIRST CHURCH. 
 
 JOSEPH, MARY, LYDIA; Daniel Lester's child, HANNAH; 
 Laurc Codner his child, SARAH. 
 
 Baptized Novr 24, 72. John Willee his child ISBEL. 
 
 Baptized Decern. 22, 72. Mr. Benj. Shapley's child RUTH; 
 Clmt Minor's child ANNE. 
 
 Baptized Decern. 29, 72. Joshua Hempstead's child ELIZA- 
 BETH. 
 
 Baptized January 5, 72-73. My own child, ANNE, 
 
 Baptized ffebr 16, 72-73. Richard Dart his child EBEN-EZ- 
 ER. 
 
 Baptized ffebruary 23, 1672-73. Will Douglas his child WIL- 
 LIAM; Tobias Menter his child TOBIAS. 
 
 Baptized March 26, 72-3. THOMAS PARKES and his child 
 called SAMUEL. 
 
 Baptized March 23, 1672-3. Mr. Condy his children RICH- 
 ARD, WILLIAM, EBEN-EZER, RALPH; Good: Harris his 
 child, JOSEPH. 
 
 Baptized April 6, 1673. Joseph Coit his child JOSEPH. 
 
 Baptized May 28, (73). Robert Douglas his child HANNAH. 
 
 Baptized May 25, 73. Daniel Leister his child ELIZABETH. 
 
 Baptized June 1, 73. Mr. S. Chester's child MERCY; James 
 Avery his child JAMES. 
 
 Baptized June 29. Samuel Rogers his child ANNA. 
 
 Baptized July 13. Mr. Mannering's child RICHARD. 
 
 Baptized July 27, 73. John Richard's child DAVID; The. 
 Bolls child MARY. 
 
 Baptized Aug. 2, 73. Tho. Baylies child, LYDIA. 
 
 Baptized Sept. 7. Mr. Tho. fforster's child, JONATHAN. 
 
 Baptized Sept. 21, 73. Lydia Smith, Nehemiah Smith his 
 wife, LYDIA. 
 
 Baptized Octob. 19. Mr. Hill's child RUTH. 
 
 Bapt. Novr 2, 73. Daniel Comstock his child KENSLEY. 
 
 Baptized Jan. 25, 73, [1674, N. S,] Laurc Codner his child, 
 MARTIN. 
 
 Baptized Feb. 8, 73. [1674 N. S.]. Matthew Becket his child 
 JONAH; Mr. Abrah Dane's children JOHN, JOANNA. 
 
 Baptized March 1, 73-74. Joseph Latham his children, 
 
BAPTISMS. 449 
 
 CAREY, WILLIAM, ELIZAB; George Sherwood his child, 
 KATHERINE; Hugh Hubbert his child, MARY. 
 
 Baptized March 22, 73-74. Mr. Starre his child JONATHAN. 
 
 Baptized April 12, 1674. Eleazer Issbell's child HANNAH; 
 Richard Smith's child, JAMES. 
 
 Baptized April 19, 1674. JOHN BALDWIN, SARAH STAL- 
 LION alias ETCHCOMB, HANNAH BRADLEY. 
 
 Baptized May 3, 74. Samuel Tubbs his child WILLIAM. 
 
 Baptized May 17, 74. Joseph Stanton his child by his wife 
 Hannah Meades, HANNAH. 
 
 July 26. Clement Minor his child, PHEBE. 
 
 August 9. Abel More his child, ABEL. 
 
 August 23, 1674. Baptized Andrew Leister's child, AN- 
 DREW; G. Chappell's child SARAH; John Daniel's child HAN- 
 NAH. 
 
 Baptized Sept. 20, 1674. John Stevens child SAMUEL; John 
 Borden his children WILLIAM, SARAH, twins. 
 
 Baptized Octob. 11, 1674. James Morgan his child HAN- 
 NAH. 
 
 Baptized Novr. 8, 74. John Etchcomb his child MARGARET. 
 
 Baptized Novr. 15, 74. Manasseh Minor his child SAMUEL. 
 
 Baptized Novr. 26. Mr. Hill's child JONATHAN. 
 
 Baptized Deer. 6, 74. Tho. Robinson's child WILLIAM; Tho. 
 Latham's child, SARAH. 
 
 Baptized January 31, 1674. Robert Douglas his child SAR- 
 AH; Hugh Mould his child MARTHA. 
 
 Baptized March 14, 1674-5. Will Billings his child, MERCY; 
 Mr. Shapley his child BENJAMIN. 
 
 Baptized March 21, 1674-5. Richard Dart his child, ANNE;. 
 John Stebbins his child MARGARET; John Willee his child 
 JOHN. 
 
 Baptized March 28, 1675. James Avery his child MARGAR- 
 ET; Joshua Hempstead his child MARY; John Dymond his 
 child JOHN. 
 
 Baptized April 25, 1675. Thomas Bolles his child, JOSEPH. 
 
 Baptized June 20, 75. John Chappell's child EXPERIENCE. 
 
 Baptized July 25, 75. Tho. fforster's child MARY. 
 
450 LATER HISTORY OF THE FIRST CHURCH. 
 
 Baptized August 1, 75. Peter Strickland's, ELIZABETH. 
 
 August 8, 75. Thomas Raymond's child, THOMAS. 
 
 Octob. (29, 75). Thomas Parkes his child THOMAS. 
 
 Novem. 14, 75. Goodman Prentis his children who were 
 twins THOMAS, ELIZABETH. 
 
 Novr. 21. G.i Spencer's child, GRACE. 
 
 Baptized Decem. 5, 1675. Mr. Johna Raymond, his children, 
 JOSHUA, ELIZABETH, ANNA, HANNAH, MARY, MARTHA, 
 EXPERIENCE. 
 
 Baptized Deer 26. Mr. J. Raymond's young child, MEHIT- 
 ABEL. 
 
 Baptized January 30, 1675 [1676 N. S.] John Edgcomb his 
 child, JOHN. 
 
 Baptized March 12, 75-76. Hugh Hubbert his child LYDIA. 
 
 Baptized March 29, 1675-6. Joseph Coytes child WILLIAM; 
 Philip Bill his child JOSHUA. 
 
 Baptized April 2, 1676. Mr. Mannering his child, JUDITH. 
 
 Baptized June 25. Mr. Richard Haughton his children, 
 JAMES, KATHERINE, MERCY. 
 
 Baptized July 2, 1676. Nehemiah Smith his child, SAMUEL; 
 at ye same time baptized James Avery his child, EDWARD. 
 
 Baptized July 16, 76. GRACE ROGERS; Joshua Hempstead 
 his child, PHEBE. 
 
 Baptized August 27, 1676. Matthew Becket his child, PRU- 
 DENCE; Daniel Stebbin his child, BETHIAH. 
 
 Baptized Septr. 10th, 1676. Tho: Crocker's child, SAMUEL; 
 Tho: Robinson's child THOMAS. 
 
 Baptized Septr. 17, 76. Lawrence Codner his child, THOM- 
 AS. 
 
 Baptized Novr. 5, 1676. My owne child JOHN. 
 
 Baptized Novem. 12, 1676. Daniel Raymond his child, ELIZ- 
 ABETH. 
 
 Baptized January 21, 1676, [1677 N. S.] John Dymon his 
 child, SARAH. 
 
 Baptized Febr. 4. John Prentice Junr his child, JOSEPH; 
 David Calkins his child, ANNE. 
 
 iG., i e Goodman. 
 
BAPTISMS. 451 
 
 Baptized March 4, 1676-77. Hugh Mould his child, JANE; 
 Thomas Latham his child, SAMUEL; Manasseh Minor his 
 child, HANNAH. 
 
 John Avery his child baptized May 13, 77, ABIGAIL. 
 
 Baptized May 20, 77. Mr. Tho. Dymon his child, MOSES. 
 
 Baptized June 3, 1677. William Thorn his child, ALEXAN- 
 DER; Daniel Leister his child DANIEL; Samuel Fox his child, 
 ELIZABETH; Mr. Plumb his child, MERCY; John Daniel his 
 child, RACHEL. 
 
 Baptized June 17, 1677. Edward Smith his child, OBADIAH; 
 Joseph Latham his child, JOHN; Robert Douglasse his child, 
 ELIZABETH. 
 
 Baptized July 8, 1677. Abrah Dane's child, THOMAS. 
 
 Baptized July 15, 1677. Daniel Comstock his child, SAM- 
 UEL; David Carpenter his child, MARY. 
 
 Baptized August 5, 1677. Richard Dart his child BETHIAH; 
 John Borden his child, JOANNA. 
 
 Baptized Sept. 2, 1677. Mr. ffoster his child EDWARD. 
 
 Baptized Sept. 16, 1677. George Geeresi his children, JON- 
 ATHAN, JOSEPH, DANIEL, ROBERT, HANNAH, MARGAR- 
 ET, MARY. 
 
 Baptized Novr. 11, 77. John Stebbins his child, CHRISTO- 
 PHER. 
 
 Novr. 18, 77. Baptized Jonathan Hall his child, JONATHAN. 
 
 Baptized Decern, 23. Will Pendall his child, who marryed 
 Mehit Parker, JONATHAN. 
 
 Baptized January 27, 77, [1678 N. S.] Joseph Coit his child, 
 DANIEL. 
 
 March 3, [1678]. Baptized Thomas Bolles child, JOHN; Dan- 
 iel Stebbins his child PALTIEL. 
 
 April 21, 78. Baptized Mr. Benj. Shaply his child, MARY. 
 
 Baptized June 9, 1678. John Willy his child, MIRIAM. 
 
 Baptized June 16, 78. James Avery junr his child, EBBN- 
 EZER. 
 
 Baptized July 14, 78. Will Douglasse his child, REBECKAH. 
 
 lAlso spelled Geares. 
 
452 LATER HISTORY OF THE FIRST CHURCH. 
 
 Baptized July 28, 78. Abel More his child, MARY. 
 
 Baptized August 4th, 78. Mr. Edgcomb his child, SARAH. 
 
 Baptized Augst 11, 78. Peter Strickland's child, PETEH. 
 
 Baptized Sept. 29. John Mahoe his child, JOHN. 
 
 Baptized Octob 20th 78. Mr. floster his child, SAMUEL. 
 
 Baptized Novr 17, 1678. Major Palmes his child by his sec- 
 ond wife who was Capt. Davis his Relict, GUY. 
 
 Decern. 1, 1678. Baptized George Darrow his child, CHRIS- 
 TOPHER; Sam ffox his child, HANNAH; Hugh Hubbert's 
 child, JOSEPH. 
 
 Jan. 19, 78, [1679 N. S.] Andrew Leister his child, JONA- 
 THAN; Mr. John Prentis his child, ANNE. 
 
 Baptized ffeb. 2, 1678, [1679 N. S.] Neh. Smith his child, 
 MARTHA; Oliver Mannering his child, OLIVER. 
 
 Baptized March 30th, 1679. John Avery's child, ABIGAIL; 
 and David Calkin his child JONATHAN. 
 
 Baptized April 13, 79. Edward Smith his child, HANNAH; 
 John Dymond his child, JONATHAN. 
 
 Baptized May 4, 79. John Bates his child, JOHN; G. Geares 
 his child ANNE. 
 
 Baptized May 18, 79. Matthew Becket's child, ELIZABETH. 
 
 Baptized May 25, 79. James Morgan his child, ELIZABETH. 
 
 Baptized June 22, 1679. Robert Douglas his child, THOMAS. 
 
 Baptized June 29, 1679. Thomas Avery's child, THOMAS; 
 Will Potts his child, JOANNA; Mr. Plumb his child, GEORGE; 
 Daniel Raymond his child, SARAH; Mr. Robinson his child 
 ELIZABETH. 
 
 Baptized July 13, 79. John Packer Senr his child, REBECK- 
 AH. 
 
 Baptized Augt 17th. Manasseh Minor his child, LYDIA. 
 
 Baptized Octob. 19. Mr. Wetherell his child, SAMUEL. 
 
 Baptized Novr. 2, 79. Will Thorn his child JUDITH; David 
 Carpenter his child, SARAH. 
 
 Willm Pendall his child, baptized Novem. [date illegible] 79, 
 JOHN. 
 
 Baptized Decern. 21, 79. Joseph Coit his child, SOLOMON; 
 Richard Dart his child ELIZABETH. 
 
BAPTISMS. 453 
 
 Baptized February 8th 79, [1680 N. S.] Daniel Leister his 
 child, JOHN. 
 
 Baptized Febr. 25, 79, [1680 N. S.] Joseph Latham his child, 
 MARY. 
 
 Baptized April 28, 1680. James Avery his child, CHRISTO- 
 PHER; John Edgecombe his child, JOANNA. 
 
 Baptized May 9, 1680. Mr. Mannering his child, BATH- 
 SHEBA; John Daniel his child, SARAH; Thomas Crocker his 
 child, WILLIAM. 
 
 Baptized May 30, 80. Mr, Peter Bradley and his child, PE- 
 TER; CHRISTOPHER. 
 
 Baptized June 27, 80. William Douglas his child, ANNE. 
 
 Baptized August 1, 80. John Bates his child, SOLOMON. 
 
 Baptized Octob. 17, 1680. George Darrow's child, GEORGE; 
 Jonathan Hall's child, PETER. 
 
 Baptized Octob. 24, 80. Mr. Tho. Dymon his child, RUTH; 
 my own child LUCY. 
 
 Novem. 7, 80. Baptized John Stebbins his child, JANE. 
 
 Novr. 14, 80. Baptized John Willee his child, ALLEN; John 
 Avery his child, MARY. 
 
 Baptized Decern. 12, 1680. John Mayhew his child, WAYT; 
 Dll Stebbin his child, MARGARET. 
 
 Baptized Jan. 2, 80, [1681 N. S.] Thomas Avery his child, 
 SAMUEL. 
 
 Baptized Jan. 30, 80, [1681 N. S.] Josh. Hempstead's child, 
 HANNAH. 
 
 Baptized March 13, 80-81. JOHN PACKER and his child, 
 ELIZABETH; Mr. Leades his child, JOHN, 
 
 Baptized March 20, 80-81. SARAH LARABY (alias Fox); 
 John ffox his child, JOHN; Nehemiah Smith his child, DAN- 
 IEL; John Prentice, his child, PATIENCE. 
 
 Baptizd April 17, 81. William Potts his child, WILLIAM. 
 
 Baptized May 8, 81. Mr. Samuel Green his child, ELIZA- 
 BETH. 
 
 Baptized June 26, 81. Andrew Leister's child, SAMUEL; 
 Richard Dart's child, SARAH; Mr. ffoster's child, REBECKA; 
 Hugh Hubbert's child, MARGARET. 
 
454 LATER HISTORY OF THE FIRST CHURCH. 
 
 Baptized August 7, 81. Daniel Raymond his child, RICH- 
 ARD; Robert Douglas his child, PHEBE; Abel More his child, 
 JOHN. 
 
 Baptized August 14, 81. George Gears his child, ISAAC; 
 NATHANIEL PARK and his wife, SARAH; baptized their 
 children, DANIEL, NATHANIEL. 
 
 Baptized August 28, 81. Mr. Shapley's child, JOSEPH. 
 
 Baptized Sept. 11, 1681. John Packer Senr his child, JAMES; 
 Mr. Adam Pickett's child, ADAM; Hugh Mould's child, ES- 
 THER. 
 
 Baptized Octob. 16, 1681. John Baldin's child, JANE; Mr. 
 Leeds his child ELIZABETH. 
 
 Baptized Novr. 20, 81. Daniel Leister's child, DAVID. 
 
 Baptized Decem. 28, 81. John Morgan his children, JOHN, 
 SAMUEL, JAMES; David Calkin his child, PETER. 
 
 Febr. 26, 81. [1682 N. S.] Mr. John Edgcomb's child bap- 
 tized, NICHOLAS. 
 
 March 5, 81-82. Baptized Peter Strickland's child, PRIS- 
 CILLA. 
 
 March 29, 81-82. Baptized James Avery's child, JONATHAN. 
 
 April 2, 1682. Baptized Mr. Plumb's child SARAH. 
 
 April 9, 82. Baptized Saml feox his child, SAMUL; John 
 Packer junr his child, LYDIA; John ffox his child, THOMAS. 
 
 May 14, 82. Baptized Matthew Beckett's child, RUTH; Wm. 
 Thorn his child, WILLIAM. 
 
 June 28. Baptized Mr. Mannering's child, ANNE. 
 
 July 9, 82. Baptized Joseph Becket his wife, SUSANNA. 
 
 August 27, 1682. Baptized Wm Douglas his child, RICH- 
 ARD; John Bates his child, SARAH. 
 
 Octob. 1, 82. Baptized Major Palmes his child, ANDREW. 
 
 Novem. 12, 82. Baptized George Dennis his child, EBEN- 
 EZER; Joseph Latham's child, JESPER; David Carpenter's 
 child, DAVID. 
 
 Baptized Deer. 3, 82. Ezekiel Turner's child, SARAH. 
 
 Decem. 17, 82. John Daniel his child, JONATHAN. 
 
 Baptized Feb. 11, 82. John Mahue (Mayhew) his child, 
 ELIZABETH. 
 
BAPTISMS. 455 
 
 Baptized April 1, 1683. John Avery his child, JOHN; Tho. 
 Crocker's child, ANDREW. 
 
 Baptized April 29, 83. Mr. ffoster his child EBEN-EZER; 
 Wm Pendall's child, RICHARD; John Willee his child, ABEL. 
 
 Baptized May 20, 1683, Nehemiah Smith his child, MARGAR- 
 ET; John Leeds his child WILLIAM; George Darrow his child, 
 NICHOLAS; Nathaniel Parkes his child EZEKIEL. 
 
 Baptized June 3, 83. Thomas Bradford his child, JOSHUA. 
 
 Baptized June 17, 83. Jonathan Hall his child, HANNAH. 
 
 Baptized June 24, 83. Hugh Hubbert his child, JANE. 
 
 Baptized July 15, 83. Adam Gallop his child, HANNAH; 
 Joseph Becket his two children, JOSEPH, SARAH. 
 
 Baptized August 12, 83. Wm Potts his child, PATIENCE. 
 
 Mr. Bradstreet died soon after, and this seems to have been 
 his last recorded public act as pastor of the church. 
 
 II. BY GURDON SALTONSTALL. 
 1691. 
 
 Decem. 6. Daniell Leister's child, THOMAS. 
 
 Decem. 20. Mr. Richard Christophers had his children bap- 
 tized, CHRISTOPHER, RICHARD, PETER, JOHN. 
 
 27, Philip Bill's wife was baptized, ELIZABETH; his 
 
 children, ELIZABETH, HANNAH. 
 
 1691-2. 
 
 Jan 10. Jeremiah Chapman and Elizabeth Smith were bap- 
 tized, JEREMIAH, ELIZABETH. 
 
 John Plumb Junr and his wife, had yr daughter bap. ELIZ- 
 ABETH. 
 
 Jan. 17. Mr. Samll Fosdick had 4 children baptized SAM- 
 UEL, MERCY, RUTH, ANNA; Mr. John Prentice's 2 children 
 baptized, SARAH, ELIZABETH. 
 
 Jan. 24. Mrs. Piggan's child, LYDIA; 1 Mr. Edgcombs child, 
 SAMUEL; Stephen Prentice's wife was baptized ELIZABETH; 
 Cary Latham's child, baptized, GARY; Wm Walworth's child, 
 baptized, MARTHA. 
 
 iShe became the wife of Eliphalet Adams. 
 
456 LATER HISTORY OP THE FIRST CHURCH. 
 
 Feb. 7. David Carpenter's children, ELIZABETH, HAN- 
 NAH. 
 
 Feb. 21. My own daughter, MARY; Capt. James Morgan's 
 daughter JERUSHA; widow Mary Harris's daughter, MARY. 
 
 March 6. Tho. Avery's child, ABRAHAM; John Keney's 
 Child, ELIZABETH. 
 
 March 13. Rich. Morgan baptized R(ichard); Samll Avery's 
 child SAMUEL; John Stebens child, ISBEL; Peter Harris 
 child, SAMUELL, and his child, THOMAS; Joseph Minor's 
 wife, ELIZABETH, and his child, JOSEPH, and his child, 
 ELIZABETH; Thomas Leach's children, THOMAS, SARAH, 
 FRANCIS; Dinah Hatch's child, MARY; Mr. Ezekiell Turner's 
 children; [apparently five were baptized but their names were 
 not given.] 
 
 April 17. Lt. James Avery's child, [name not given] ; Thom- 
 as Bennet, himself, THOMAS, his child THOMAS; Mrs. Bulk- 
 ley's child, HANAH; Goodwife Darrow's child, [no name]; her 
 child JANE. 
 
 May 1. Goodwife Williams wife of John's her children [no 
 name; apparently four were baptized]. 
 
 May 15. Tho. Way was baptized THOMAS, and his children, 
 DANIELL, THOMAS; Tho. Pember and his wife owned ye 
 Govt; shee was baptized AGNES, and yr children, MERCY, 
 THOMAS ELIZABETH; Mrs. Shapley's child, [no name.] 
 
 May 22. Mrs. Latham her child, JOSEPH. 
 
 May 29. Mr. Chester his child [no name.] 
 
 June 19, 92. John Avery's children [four seem to have been 
 baptized but no names are entered.] 
 
 June 26. John Bayly and wife had at yt time baptized yr 
 children [no names.] 
 
 July 17. John Keney's child [no name]; Mr. Richard Chris- 
 topher's child, JOSEPH; Robt. Allen and his wife had bap- 
 tized a child [no name]. 
 
 July 24. Jonathan Prentice and his wife had baptized their 
 child, ELIZABETH; Philip Bill's child, [no name]. 
 
 Aug. 14. Deacon Coites child, SAMUEL. 
 
BAPTISMS. 457 
 
 Aug. 21. Samll Bill and his wife had baptd yr children 
 SAMUELL, PHILIP; Esther Swaddle was baptized ESTHER, 
 and her children [no names]. 
 
 Sep. 25. Ezekiell Turner's child, GRACE. 
 
 Oct. 4. The son of Mr. Adam Picket named JOHN. 
 
 Octob. 9. Robt. Douglas's children SUSANNA, RUTH, 
 
 Octo. 23. JOHN HARRIS. 
 
 Octo. 30. Samll Avery's child, [no name] ; Mrs. Hannah 
 Hall's child, [no name]. 
 
 Nov. 20. John Pike's wife had her child baptized [no name]. 
 
 Nov. 27. John Plumb Junr child, JOHN. 
 
 1693. 
 
 March 5. Swaddles son, WILLIAM. 
 
 March 26. John Foxe's child, HANNAH; John Hough his 
 son, SAMUELL; John Bayly [no name]. 
 
 May 28. Chapman ye wife of Wm. Chapman Junr had her 
 children baptized DAVID, JONATHAN. 
 
 June 4. James Morgan Junr and his wife had yr child bap- 
 tized, JAMES. 
 
 June 25. Owen Macarte's wife had her child baptized, 
 CHARLES. 
 
 July 2. Lieut. James Avery's child, MARY. 
 
 July 9. Mr. Benjamin Shapley, BENJAMIN; Benjamin Bee- 
 be son of Lt John Beebe, Hannah Beebe, daughter of Thom. 
 were baptized, BENJAMIN, HANNAH; John Mayhew's chil- 
 dren, JOANNAH, MARY, PATIENCE; Tho. Leeches child, 
 WILLIAM. 
 
 July 30. Joseph Latham's child, THOMAS. 
 
 Aug 13. John Richards and his wife had yr child baptized, 
 JOHN; Gershom Lambert's child, GERSHOM. 
 
 Sep. 17. Peter Harris's child, ELIZABETH; Martha Mit- 
 chell's children MARY, MARTHA, THOMAS; Natha. Chap- 
 pell was baptized, NATHANIEL; Elizabeth Waterhouse was 
 baptized ELIZABETH and her child, JOHN. 
 
 [Sep.] 24. Mrs. Loomer's children [no name]. 
 
 Octo. 15. Sampson Horton's wife was baptized [no name] ; 
 
458 LATER HISTORY OF THE FIRST CHURCH. 
 
 Mr. Trewman's children some of them baptized viz. [no 
 names] ; Thomas Bayly and his wife had yr children bap- 
 tized [no names] ; Robt. Latimore had his child baptized, 
 ROBERT; Peter Strickland had some children baptized, viz. 
 [apparently three were baptized, but no names are given]; 
 Richard, Mrs. Prentiss Indian baptized, RICHARD. 
 
 Nov. 12. Tho. Wayd's child, EBENEZER. 
 
 Jan. 14 [1694 N. S.] Mr. Hubbell and his wife had yr child 
 baptized ELIZABETH. 
 
 Jan. 21. Stephen Prentiss had his child baptized, JOHN. 
 
 Feb. 9. Mr, John David's child, MARY; Mr. Fosdick's child, 
 JOHN; Sampson Horton's children on ye right of his wife, 
 SAMPSON, ABIGAILL, SARAH; Robert Allen's child, DEB- 
 ORAH; before this [see October 15, 1693]; Mr. Trewman's 
 daughters, MARY, ANN, they both professing faith in Christ. 
 
 Feb. 11. Jonathan Prentiss child, ESTHER. 
 
 Feb. 18. Mr. Ashby's 2 daughters were baptized, MARY, 
 HANNAH. 
 
 March 4. Mr. Benjamin Shapley's child, JANE. 
 
 March 11. Benjamin Rose-Morgan was baptized BENJAMIN. 
 
 1694. 
 
 March 25. Mr. Chester's child, HANAH. 
 
 Aprill 2. My own child, SARAH; Tho. Pember's child, ANN. 
 
 June 3. John Keny's child, MARY. 
 
 June 10. Widow Woodmancy's sons JOSEPH, GABRIELL. 
 
 June 24. John Harris's child, OLLIVER. 
 
 Sep. 2. Mr. Edgecomb's child, THOMAS. 
 
 Sep. 23. Mr. Rich. Christopher's daughter, MARY. 
 
 Sep. 30. Ezekiel Turner's daughter, HANNAH; John Pike's 
 child [no name.] 
 
 Nov. 3. David Caulkin's child, JOSEPH. 
 
 [Nov.] 10. Sampson Horton's child, MARGARETT., 
 
 Dec. 2. Hannah Armstrong was baptized, HANNAH. 
 
 Jan. 6 [1695 N. S.] Samll Rogers, son of Joseph Rogers 
 was baptized, SAMUELL; John Plumb's Junr child baptized, 
 ABIGAIL. 
 
BAPTISMS. 459 
 
 Jan. 13. Mr. George Denison had his daughter baptized, 
 GRACE; Philip Bil's child, PHILIP. 
 
 1695. 
 
 April 7. Tho. Bradford's child, WILLIAM; John Rich- 
 ard's child, GEORGE. 
 
 Apr. 21. Goodwife Rose-Morgan's children, MARY, ANN; 
 Goodwife Swaddles child, MARY. 
 
 May 5. Samll Avery's child MARY; Wm. Pots 2 children, 
 HANNAH, ABIGAIL. 
 
 May 12. Ensign John Hough's child, ESTHER; Wm. Hough 
 and his wife had yr child baptized, ELIZABETH. 
 
 May 26. Nathaniel Chappel's wife, and her sister Abig- 
 aill Rose-Morgan, were baptized, HOPESTILL, ABIGAIL; Na- 
 thaniel Chappel's child, NATHANIEL; James Morgan Junr's 
 child [no name] ; Bro. David's Indian, was baptized, JANE. 
 
 June 9. Thomas Bayly's child, ANDREW. 
 
 July 7. My own child JERUSHA; Wm. Chapman's child, 
 HANNAH. 
 
 July 14. Tho. Bennet's child, EBENEZER. 
 
 [July] 21. John Pike's child, [no name.] 
 
 [July] 28. John Baylies child [no name.] 
 
 Aug. 4. Benjamin Beebe and his wife had a child bap- 
 tized, HANNAH. 
 
 Aug. 25. Capt. Thom. Avery's child JOSHUA. 
 
 Sep. 8. Goodwife Carter, wife of Owen Carter, her child,, 
 [no name]. 
 
 Sep. 15. Danll Dart his children baptized, THOMAS, ELIZ- 
 ABETH, DANIEL, JOHN, MARY. 
 
 Octo. 27. Mr. Joshua Raymond's son SANDS. 
 
 Nov. 20. Mr. John David's child, SARAH; Thomas Mitchell's 
 child [no name]. 
 
 Dec. 8. Stephen Prentiss child [no name]. 
 
 Dec. 15. Samll Bills child [no name]. 
 
 Dec. 22. Mr. Hubbel's child, EBENEZER. 
 
 Jan. 26. [1696 N. S.] Jeremiah Chapman's child, JERE- 
 MIAH. 
 
460 LATER HISTORY OP THE FIRST CHURCH. 
 
 March 1. Jonathan Prents child, JONATHAN. 
 
 1696. 
 
 March 29. Robt. Allen's child, JOHN. 
 
 Aprill 12. Mr. Pember's child JOHN. 
 
 Ap. 19. John Harris child, JOSEPH; John Keney's child, 
 LYDIA; Peter Harris child, MERCY. 
 
 May 24. John Coite's child, JOHN. 
 
 May 31. Widow Tubs child, DORCAS. 
 
 July 19. My own son GURDON. 
 
 Aug. 2. Tho. Star and his wife had yr child baptized, MARY. 
 
 Aug. 9. David Calkins child, LYDIA. 
 
 Aug. 30. Mr. Samll Fosdick's child, THOMAS. 
 
 Sep. 27. Mr. Rich. Christopher's child, JONATHAN. 
 
 Oct. 18. Mr. Joshua Raymond's child, ELIZABETH, and his 
 child, MARY. 
 
 Nov. 29. John Bil's child, [no name]. 
 
 Dec. 6. Ezekiel Turner's child, ELIZABETH; Philip Bil's 
 child, JOSEPH. 
 
 [Dec] 13. W. Douglas son of Dea. Douglas child, HANNAH. 
 
 Feb. 14, 1696-7. Stephen Prentiss child, HANNAH. 
 
 March 7. Mr. George Denison's child, PHEBE; Sampson 
 Horton's child (on his wives right), ELIZABETH. 
 
 1697. 
 
 March 21. Mr. Chester's child, JONATHAN; Goodwife 
 Swaddles child, HANNAH. 
 
 Ap. 11. William Minor and his wife had yr children bap- 
 tized, WILLIAM, CLEMENT; Hannah Walker's child, SAM- 
 UEL. 
 
 May 2. Samuel Avery's child, CHRISTOPHER; William 
 Brewsters child, SAMUEL; Samll Burchard's child, SAMUEL. 
 
 [May] 9. John Avery's child, ELISHA, and his child, DE- 
 SIRE; William Hough's child, SAMUEL. 
 
 July 25. Wm Morgan's child, WILLIAM; Benjamin Beebe's 
 child, BENJAMIN. 
 
 Aug. 1. Widow Leeds child, GIDEON, and her child, 
 THOMAS; Nath. Chappel's child, SARAH. 
 
BAPTISMS. 461 
 
 Aug. 8, Samll Waller's wife had baptized her three chil- 
 dren [no name] ; Benj. Rose-Morgan and his wife had bap- 
 tized yr children, JOSEPH, BENJAMIN; Stephen Halbert's 
 wife had baptized her children, STEPHEN, FREELOVE. 
 
 Aug. 22. Jonas Green and his wife had yr children baptized, 
 JONAS, SARAH. 
 
 Aug. 29. James Avery and his wife had their child bap- 
 tized, JAMES; Nehem. Smith's Junr child, DOROTHY; Mrs. 
 Mitchell's child, ELIZABETH. 
 
 Octob. 17. Noah Wels child [no name] ; Goodwife Maccarty's 
 child [no name]. 
 
 Nov. 21. John Coit's child, JOSEPH; James Morgan junr 
 child MARY. 
 
 Feb.. 20, 97-8. Wm. Clay's child, MARY. 
 
 [Feb.] 27. Capt. John Prents' child, JOHN. 
 
 March 6. Mr. Benj. Shapley's child, ADAM. 
 
 March 20. Gdm. Leach's child, CLEMENT. 
 
 1698. 
 
 March 27. Mr. John Keney's child, HANNAH; Clement Min- 
 or's child, JOSEPH; Wm. Walworth's children WILLIAM, 
 JOHN, MARY. 
 
 May 29. Robt. Allen's child, ROBERT; John Bayly's child 
 EXPERIENCE; Tho. Way's child, JOHN. 
 
 June 5. Samll Bill's child, JOSHUA; Samll Roger's child, 
 ANN. 
 
 [June] 26. Peter Harris' child [no name] ; Danll Dart's 
 child, EBENEZER. 
 
 July 24. W. Douglas junr son of Dea. Douglas, had his child 
 baptized, WILLIAM. 
 
 Aug. 14. Benj Morgan's child, MARY. 
 
 Sep. 18. John Stebbins Junr and his wife had yr child bap- 
 tized, JOHN. 
 
 Oct. 2. ThomafS Starr's child, HANNAH. 
 
 Oct. 30. Wm. Coites child, DANIEL. 
 
 Nov. 6. Wm Morgans child, MARGARETT; John Harris's 
 child, ELIZABETH. 
 
462 LATER HISTORY OF THE FIRST CHURCH. 
 
 [Nov.] 13. Mr. Rich. Christopher's child, GRACE. 
 
 [Nov.] 20. Tho. Roses child MARGARETT. 
 
 Dec. 11. John Chandler's child, WILLIAM. 
 
 [Dec] 25. John Morgan junr child, MARY. 
 
 Jan. 1, [1699 N. S.] Rich. Walker's child, JONATHAN. 
 
 Feb. 12. Stephen Hollibut's child, MARY. 
 
 [Feb.] 26. Ephraim Wels child, ABIGAIL. 
 
 March 19. Ezekiel Turner's child, EZEKIEL; Mr. Joseph 
 
 Latham's child, GRACE. 
 
 1699. 
 
 Aprill 23. John Young made Profession of faith and owned 
 ye Govt; was baptized, JOHN; Mr. Geo. Denison's child, HAN- 
 NAH; Wm Latham and his wife had their child baptized, 
 MARY. 
 
 Apr. 30, Joseph Harris and his wife had their child bap- 
 tized MARY. 
 
 May 28. Stephen Prentis' child, STEPHEN; William 
 Hough's child, ABIGAIL. 
 
 June 25. Sampson Haughton's child, [no name] ; Thomas 
 Bennet's child, JOHN. 
 
 July 9. Mr. Fosdick's child, MARY; John Richard's child 
 [no name] ; Jonas Green's child, SAMUEL. 
 
 Aug. 20. Samll Avery's child, HUMPHREY. 
 
 Octo. 1. Tho. Bayly's child, HANNAH. 
 
 Nov. 5. Capt. John Avery's child, DANIEL; Wm. Minor's 
 child SEUSANNA; Benjamin Beebe's child, JAMES; Sampson 
 Horton's child, EBENEZER; Jonathan Star had his child bap- 
 tized, SAMUELL. 
 
 Dec. 31. Ens. Hough's child, DAVID; John Plumb's child 
 HANNAH; Clemt Minor Junr and his wife owned ye Govt 
 with God, and had yr child baptized, MARTHA, 
 
 Jan. 14, [1700 N. S.] John Latham and his wife Mercy, had 
 their child baptized, ELIZABETH. 
 
 Feb. 18. Nath Chappel's child SAMUELL; Jonathan Pren- 
 tis's child, ANN. 
 
 [Feb.] 25. John Keney's child, JOHN; John Coites child, 
 SAMUEL. 
 
BAPTISMS. 463 
 
 1700. 
 
 March [no date]. Daniel Dart's child, SARAH. 
 
 Aprill 7. Ephraim Wells's Twins, EPHRAIM, THOMAS; 
 
 William Brewster's child, PATIENCE. 
 [Ap.] 21. John Chandler's child, MARY. 
 
 [Ap.] 28. John Butler had his children baptized [no names 
 are given but six children of Mr. and Mrs. Butler seem to 
 have been baptized.]; William Walworth's child, [no name]. 
 
 May 26. Peter Harris's child, PETER; James Avery Junr's 
 child, in right of his wife, JOHN; John Bayly's child, HAN- 
 NAH. 
 
 June 9. Thomas Mitchels child, in right of his wife [no 
 name;] Thomas Way's child [no name]. 
 
 July 7. Rich. Morgan's child, ANNA. 
 
 July 14. John Butler's child, JONATHAN; Wm. Morgan's 
 child, DEBORAH; Dina Hatches child, DINAH. 
 
 Aug. 4th. Jeremiah Chapman's child, HANNAH. 
 
 Aug. 25th. Zecharias Maynard, (formerly living at Marl- 
 borough) and his wife (ye dauter of Geo. Geers of this town) 
 had yr child baptized, ZECHARIAS. 
 
 Sep. 8. Mr. John David's child, JOHN; Samll Bill's child, 
 JONATHAN. 
 
 [Sep.] 15. William Sherswood and his wife had baptized yr 
 children viz., JONATHAN, GEORGE, ABIGAIL; Tho: Star's 
 child, THOMAS; Capt. John Prentis child, IRENE; John Har- 
 ris child, RICHARD. 
 
 Dec. 8. Samll Rogers child, ABIGAIL; James Morgan's 
 child, DANIEL; Wm. Latham's child, HANNAH. 
 
 Dec. 22. Mr. John Christophers was baptized JOHN, And 
 had at ye same time his Daughter baptized and named, ELIZ- 
 ABETH; Nehemiah Smith's junr, child, ELIZABETH; John 
 Horton's child, HANNAH; William Coites child, ELIZABETH. 
 
 [Dec] 29. Deacon Plumbs child, PETER. 
 
 Feb. 2. Clement Minor's child, CLEMENT. 
 
 1701. 
 March 30. Wm. Hough's child, SARAH. 
 
464 LATER HISTORY OF THE FIRST CHURCH. 
 
 Aprill 6. Joseph Harris' child, PHEBE; Joseph Woodmancy 
 and his wife had their child bapt., JOHN. 
 
 Ap. 13. Stephen Hollibut's child, JOHN. 
 
 [Ap.] 27. Ezekiel Turner's child, LUCRETIA; Abel Moor 
 had his child baptized and named, REBECKAH. 
 
 May 18. Mr. George Denison's child, BORADILL, 
 
 [May] 25. Mr. John Christophers child, JOHN; William 
 Minor's child, CHRISTOPHER. 
 
 June 1. Robt. Allen's children in Right of his Wife; 
 JAMES, EBENEZER; William Walworth's children, THOMAS, 
 JAMES. 
 
 .June 8. Sam. Smith had his child baptized, NEHEMIAH; 
 Daniell Comstock and his wife had yr child baptized, PETER. 
 
 June 15. John Morgan Junr child, JOHN. 
 
 June 22. John Hawke had his child baptized ANNE; 
 GEORGE WAY was baptized himself, and admitted to ye 
 Lord's Table, and also had his children baptized. [No names 
 are recorded, but there seem to have been four children bap- 
 tized] ; Samll Comstock and his wife had their child baptized, 
 [no name]. 
 
 June 29. Richard Halsey Junr, Mary Rogers daughter of 
 James, baptized, RICHARD, MARY; Richard Dart Junr 
 and his wife had baptized yr child, JOHANNA; Edward Avery 
 and his wife had yr child bap. ELIZABETH; Stephen Pren- 
 tis's child JOSEPH. 
 
 Aug. 17. Mr. Richard Christopher's child LYDIA; Richard 
 Rose-Morgan's child, ABRAHAM. 
 
 Sep. 21. Jonathan Starr's child, ELIZABETH. 
 
 Octo. 26. John Richards child, LOVE; [no name] Birchard's 
 child, son in law of David Calkins Snr. ANN. 
 
 Nov. 30. James Rogers son of James Rogers, was baptized, 
 JAMES. 
 
 Nov. Mr. Jonathan Calkins and his wife had yr child bap- 
 tized, JONATHAN. 
 
 Dec. 7. Benjamin Beebe's child, JOHN. 
 
 Dec. 28. Mary Covel was baptized, MARY. 
 
 Jan. 18, 1701-2. William Coite's child, WILLIAM. 
 
BAPTISMS. 465 
 
 Janry 25th. My own child (born Janr 19th), ROSEWELL. 
 
 Febr. 1st. Elleph Chappell was baptized, ELLEPH. 
 
 [Feb.] 15. Wm. Douglas junr and his wife had baptized 
 their child, JOHN. 
 
 [Feb.] 22. Danll Dart's Daughter, ABIA. 
 
 March 1. John Burrow's junr and his wife had baptized 
 yr child, JOHN. 
 
 [March] 8. Jonathan Hill had baptized his Daughter, JANE; 
 Jonathan Leister and his wife had baptized their child, JON- 
 ATHAN; Ellenor Jennings was baptized, ELLBNOR; Ephraim 
 Wells child, MARY. 
 
 March 15. Petr Harris's child, MARY. 
 
 1702. 
 
 Aprill. Richard Atwell was baptized, RICHARD. 
 
 May 10. Samll Rogers child, SAMUELL. 
 
 [May] 31. Mr. John Davis child, HUMPHREY; Tho. Way's 
 child, MAY. 
 
 June 7. Rice's child, his wife being in full communion with 
 ye church, ABISHA; John Coit's child, THOMAS. 
 
 June 14. Wm. Morgan's child, HANNAH. 
 
 [June] 28. Ensign John Hough's child, JABEZ. 
 
 August 9. EPHRAIM WELLS. 
 
 [August] 16. Agnes Daniels wife of John Daniels was bap- 
 tized, AGNES; George Way's child, ELIZABETH; William 
 Hatch's child, WILLIAM; Edward Avery's child, THOMAS. 
 
 Sep. 20. The wife of Mr. Ray had baptized her children SI- 
 MON, GIDEON, NATHANIEL; the wife of Wilson had bap- 
 tized her child, MARY. 
 
 Sep. 27. Samll Bill's child, MERCY; Jonathan Prentis's 
 child MARY. 
 
 Octo. 25. Hannah Baker wife of Joshua Baker, and Mercy 
 Manwaring, were baptized, HANNAH, MERCY; Benj. Shap- 
 ley and his wife had yr child baptized, BENJAMIN; Graves' 
 child, RUTH. 
 
 Nov. 1. John Bill's [child], ABIGAIL; James Rogers junrs 
 children, MARY, EDWARD; Joseph Trueman and his wife 
 
466 LATER HISTORY OF THE FIRST CHURCH. 
 
 had baptized their child, [no name]; Jeremiah Chapman's 
 child, [no name]. 
 
 Jan. 3, 1702-3. John Butler's child, ELNATHAN. 
 
 Feb. 14. John Bayly's child, LYDIA; Joseph Woodmancy's 
 child, SARAH. 
 
 Feb. 21. Thomas Starrs child, JERUSHA. 
 
 Feb. 28. Thomas Bennit's child, ABIGAIL. 
 
 March 7. Jonathan Leister's child, HANNAH. 
 
 March 14. Ezekiel Turner's child ABIGAIL. 
 
 1703. 
 
 March 28. William Minor's child, THOMAS. 
 
 May 2. Joshua Baker, Alexander Baker, Rebecca Richards 
 wife of Israel, were baptized, JOSHUA, ALEXANDER, RE- 
 BECCA; Deacon Plumb's child, LYDIA; Clement Miner's child, 
 WILLIAM; John Edgecomb's child, NICHOLAS; DANIEL 
 COMSTOCK; GEORGE WAY. 
 
 June 7. Peter Hackley had his child baptized JOHANNAH. 
 
 June 28. Mrs. Elizabeth Christopher's child, ESTHER; John 
 Burrow's Junrs child, LYDIA; Mrs. Wilson, daughter of Mr. 
 Manwaring's child, ANNA. 
 
 July 2. Mr. George Denison's child, DANIEL; John Hor- 
 ton's child [no name]. 
 
 [July] 11. William Camp's children were baptized, RICH- 
 ARD, BATHSHUA, ELIZABETH, LETTICE, WILLIAM, 
 JAMES. 
 
 [July] 25. John Leister and his wife had baptized yr child, 
 JOHN. 
 
 Aug. 1. Wm Hough's child, [no name]. 
 
 Aug. 8. John Daniels children, JOHN, SAMUELL, THOMAS, 
 JONATHAN, MARY, NATHANIEL, WILLIAM, EBENEZER; 
 Joshua Baker had four of his daughters, baptized viz. 
 ELIZABETH (wife of Rich. Atwell), SARAH, HANNAH, 
 MARY; Robert Stodders children, ROBERT, ELIZABETH, 
 MERCY; Christopher Darrow and his wife had baptized their 
 child, CHRISTOPHER. 
 
 Aug. 15. Jonathan Calkins child, JONATHAN. 
 
BAPTISMS. 46T 
 
 Sep. 5. Robt. Latimore's children, JONATHAN, SAMUEL.L, 
 PETER; Thomas Rose's child, JOHN; Samuell Avery's child, 
 LiUCY; Israel Richards had baptized his children, ISRAEL, 
 REBECCA, LYDIA, HANNAH. 
 
 Sep. 26. George Potter's children in right of his wife, 
 ISAAC, LYDIA. 
 
 Octo. 10. Thomas Way's child, JAMES. 
 
 [Octo.] 17. Stephen Prents' child, ELIZABETH. 
 
 Nov. 14. Mr. Richd. Christopher's son, BERRIE; John 
 Hawkes son, JAMES; John Stebens Junr's son, JOHN; Joseph 
 Bayly's wife reed baptism, her name being, SARAH; Josuph 
 Bayly's daughter was also baptized SARAH. 
 
 Dec. 19. John Richard's child, OLIVER. 
 
 Jan. 17. [1704 N. S.] Peter Harris's child, MARTHA; Dan- 
 iel Dart's child, LYDIA. 
 
 March 19. Charles Hill's child, MARY; Benj. Star and his 
 wife had baptized yr child, HANNAH. 
 
 1704. 
 
 March 26. John Coite's child, ELIZABETH; Wm. Latham's 
 child, WILLIAM; Danll Leister Junr and his wife had bap- 
 tized yr child, MARY; Green Plumb's wife had baptized her 
 children, MARY, SAMUEL, MERCY. 
 
 May 29. Ephraim Well's child, SARAH; John Latham's 
 child, GRACE. 
 
 June 11. Israel Richard's child [no name]. 
 
 June 25. My own Daughter, KATHERINE, who was born 
 June ye 19th, 1704: 2 of ye clock morning. 
 
 July 9. James Avery Junr his child, EBENEZER; Robt 
 Allen's child, SAMUELL; Edward Avery's child, EDWARD. 
 
 [July] 16. Noah Well's child [no name]. 
 
 [July] 30. [no name] Ray's child (of Block Island) [no 
 name]. 
 
 August 6. George Darrow and his wife had yr child Bap- 
 tized [no name]; Nehemiah Smith's child [no name]. 
 
 Aug. 13. Christopher Darrow's child, EBENEZER. 
 
468 LATER HISTORY OF THE FIRST CHURCH. 
 
 Aug. 27. Mary, a mulatto, living at Mr. Jonas Green's; was 
 baptized, MARY. 
 
 Sep. 3. Joseph Tnieman's child [no name]. 
 
 Sep. 10. George Chappel's child MARY; Wm. Swaddles child, 
 IRENE. 
 
 Sep. 24. Mr. John Arnold's child, RUAMAH; John Bill's 
 child, JAMES. 
 
 Oct. 8. Mr. Wilson's (of Block Island) child, HANNAH. 
 
 [Oct.] 29. Jeremiah Chapman's child, GIDEON; Ben. Beebe's 
 child EBENEZER; Ben. Grave's child MARY; Capt. Thomas 
 Avery's child [no name]. 
 
 Feb. 4, 1704-5. Jonathan Prents child, JOHN. 
 
 March 4. Robt. Stodder's child MARY. 
 
 March 17. Joseph Harris's child, HANNAH. 
 
 1705. 
 
 [March] 24. Clement Minor's child, JOSEPH. 
 
 May 13th. Ensign Richard's child, LYDIA; James Roger's 
 child, JAMES; John Leister's child, DAVID. 
 
 May 20. Goodwife Camp's child, SARAH. 
 
 [May] 27. Ruth Shapley's child, JOSEPH. 
 
 June 3. John Daniel's child, SUSANNA; John Edgecomb's 
 child in right of his wife, HANNAH; Peter Hackley's child, 
 PETER. 
 
 June 10. Ebenezer Griffin's child, SAMUEL; John Mayhew's 
 children, twins, SARAH, JOANNAH. 
 
 July 15. Deacon Plumb's child, HANNAH. 
 
 July 22. Joannah Bodington was baptized herself, JOAN- 
 NAH, and her son, WALTER; John Butler's child, EZEKIEL; 
 Thomas Avery and his wife had baptized yr child, THOMAS. 
 
 Aug. 19. Jonathan Calkins's child, HANNAH. 
 
 Sept. 23. Mr. Denison's child, WITHERELL; Thomas Star's 
 child [no name]. 
 
 [Sept.] 30. Mr. Christopher's child, RUTH; Mr. Minor's 
 child, SARAH; Jonas Green's Twins, JOSEPH, JANE. 
 
 Octo. 14. John More's wife was baptized, ELIZABETH; 
 their child also was baptized, ABELL. 
 
BAPTISMS. 469 
 
 Oct. 29. Benjamin Star's child, LYDIA. 
 
 Nov. 5. Daniell Comstock's child JONATHAN; widow 
 Hough's child, MARY. 
 
 Dec. 9. William Douglas's child [no name] ; Jonathan Hill's 
 child [no name]. 
 
 [Dec] 16. Richard Douglas's child, JONATHAN. 
 
 Jan. 20, [1706 N. S.] Danll Dart's child, SAMUEL; George 
 Way's child ELL.EPH. 
 
 Feb. 17. Israel Richard's child, ANNE. 
 
 Feb. 24. Robert Douglas's child, ROBERT. 
 
 1706. 
 March 24. Stephen Hallibut's child, TITUS, and his child, 
 
 SARAH. 
 
 Apr. 7. Mr. Bartholomew Grossmen's child, JOHN; John 
 Coite's child, MARTHA. 
 
 May 5. Ebenezer Dart's child, ROGER. 
 
 June 2. Thomas Willee was baptized, THOMAS; Nath. 
 Chappel's child [no name]. 
 
 [June] 23. Sam. Smith's child [no name]. 
 
 July 7. My own son (born ye Friday before) NATHAN- 
 IEL. 
 
 July 14. Thomas Bennet's child, AMBROSE; Rich. Atwell's 
 child, BENJAMIN; Joshua Baker's child, JOSHUA. 
 
 July 21. Peter Harris's child, STEPHEN; Charles Hill's 
 child, CHARLES. 
 
 July 28. Samll Comstock's child, NATHANIEL. 
 
 Aug. 18. Christopher Darrow's child [no name]. 
 
 Aug. 25. Wm. Holt was baptized, WILLIAM; John Crocker's 
 w^dow was baptized; likewise also all her children were 4 [no 
 names] ; The wife of John Sampson, had her children baptized 
 [no names]. 
 
 Sep. 1. Mr. Arnold's child, LUCRETIA; James Rogers junrs 
 child, ELIZABETH. 
 
 [Sep.] 29. John Stedman's children, being presented by yr 
 grandmother, John Fox's wife, were baptized, HANNAH, 
 JANE; Henry Brooks' children, ISAAC, HANNAH, RUTH, 
 TIMOTHY; Benjamin Graves's child, THANKFUL. 
 
470 LATER HISTORY OF THE FIRST CHURCH. 
 
 Octob. 13. John Steben's Junrs child, MARTHA; Danll 
 Leister's child, ELIZABETH. 
 
 Nov. 29. Clement Minors child, JOHN; Joseph Trueman's 
 child, JOSEPH. 
 
 Dec. 1. John Daniel's child, HANNAH. 
 
 [Dec] 22. Stephen Prents' child, ESTHER. 
 
 Jan. 5, [1707 N. S.] Jeremiah Chapman's child [no name]. 
 
 March 9. Joseph Harris's child, GRACE. 
 
 1707. 
 
 [March] 23. R. Christopher Esqr. his child, JOHANNA. 
 
 Ap. 20. Oliver Manwaring's child, RICHARD. 
 
 May 25. Tho. Avery's child, ANNE. 
 
 June 1. John Harris's child, HENRY. 
 
 July 20. John Rose-Morgan was baptized himself, JOHN, 
 and his children, RICHARD, BETHIAH, ANNE, ELIZABETH; 
 John Latham's child LYDIA. 
 
 Aug. 3. Samll Rogers Junrs child, THOMAS. 
 
 Sep. 7. Mr. Denison's child, ANNE. 
 
 Oct. 5. Mr. Jeremiah Wilson's child, SARAH; David Rich- 
 ard's child SARAH; Ben. Star's child ELIZABETH. 
 
 Nov. 9. Ens. Latimore's child, ANNE. 
 
 [Nov.] 16. Ens. Richard's child, MARY. 
 
 [Nov.] 23. Nath Chappel's child MARY. 
 
 Dec. 1. Rich. Carver's child, ELIZABETH; George Way's 
 child, MEHITABLE. 
 
 1707-8. Baptized by ye Rev. Mr. Woodward, [of Norwich] 
 Danl Dart's child, JABEZ. 
 
 Feb. 1. Baptized by ye Revd Mr. James Noyes, [of Stoning- 
 ton] Stephen Prents child, BENJAMIN; Jonathan Hill's child, 
 RUTH; Richard Douglas's child, WILLIAM; Alexander Baker's 
 child, HANNAH. 
 
 III. BY ELIPHALET ADAMS. 
 Feb. 20th. 1708-9. The Honble Gurdon Saltonstall's child, 
 GURDON; Jeremiah Chapman's child, JAMES; John Daniel'3 
 child, JAMES; Oliver Manwaring's child, WILLIAM; John 
 Morgan, alias Rose-Morgan's child, JOHN. 
 
BAPTISMS. 471 
 
 March 6. Thomas Leach's child, SAMUEL; Joseph True- 
 man's child, JOHN. 
 
 March 13. Jonathan Calkins child, AMOS. 
 
 March 20. Clement Minor's child, MARY; Israel Richard's 
 child, JEMIMA; John Lester's child HANNAH. 
 
 1709. 
 
 March 27. Charles Hill's child, ABIGAIL; William Minor's 
 child, SAMUEL; James Rogers's child, ESTHER; Ebenezer 
 Dart's child, JOHN. 
 
 April 10. Richard Christophers Esqr his child, LUCRETIA; 
 Thomas Way's child, HANNAH; Ebenezer GriflBn's child, 
 LTDIA. 
 
 April 24. Richard Atwel's child, ELIZABETH. 
 
 May 1st. Henry Brooks's child, JOHN; John More's child, 
 ELIZABETH. 
 
 May 15. Peter Hackley's child, ELIZABETH; Benjamin 
 Graves's child, JEDEDIAH. 
 
 May 29. Thomas Bennet's child, SARAH. 
 
 June 12. Peter Harris's child, JOSEPH; David Calkins's 
 child, ELIZABETH. 
 
 June 19. Mr, John Gardiner's child in right of his wife, 
 SARAH. 
 
 June 26. Joseph Harris's child, TEMPERANCE. 
 
 July 3. John Richards' s child, MARY; John Stebbens's 
 child, LYDIA. 
 
 July 10. William Robins was baptized himself, WILLIAM, 
 and his children, ELIZABETH, HANNAH, SARAH, JOHN. 
 
 July 17th, Joshua Baker's children, SAMUEL, ELIZABETH. 
 
 July 24th, Samuel Chapman was baptized, SAMUEL, 
 
 Aug. 7th. Paltiel Stebbins' child MARAH, 
 
 Aug. 14th. Richard Dart's child, PETER; Thomas Short's 
 child, KATHERINE. 
 
 Sep, 4th. David Culver's child, DAVID, 
 
 Oct, 30th, John Mayhew's child, ELIZABETH, 
 
472 LATER HISTORY OF THE FIRST CHURCH. 
 
 Nov. 13th. Jacob Waterhouse Junr was Baptized, JACOB; 
 Thomas Jiggles' child, MAKY, 
 
 Jan. [no date] [1710 N. S.] John Hawk's child, HANNAH; 
 Joshua Hemstead's children, THOMAS, JOHN. 
 
 Feb. 12th. David Richard's child, JOSEPH. 
 
 March 12th. William Horsey Junr was Baptized, WILLIAM; 
 Deacon John Plum's child, PATIENCE. 
 
 1710. 
 
 March 26th. Thomas Leach's child, JOSEPH; Benjamin 
 Star's child, JASPER. 
 
 April 23d. Jonathan Hill's child, MARY. 
 
 May 7th. Thomas Douglass's child, JAMES. 
 
 May 21st. Ephraim Wells's child, HANNAH; The widow 
 Ann Strickland's child, ANN. 
 
 May 28th. Samuel Rogers's child, GEORGE; John Wade's 
 child, JOHN. 
 
 June 4th. Henry Brook's child, COMFORT. 
 
 June 11th. Samuel and Robert Chapman, the sons of Sam- 
 uel Chapman, were baptized, SAMUEL, ROBERT. 
 
 June 18th. Clement Minor's child, HUGH; Richard Atwel's 
 child, RICHARD; John More's child, HANNAH. 
 
 June 25th. Jonas Hambleton and his wife were baptized, 
 JONAS, ELIZABETH, and their child, JONATHAN; Abigail 
 Willoughby the wife of William was baptized, ABIGAIL, and 
 her children, WILLIAM, THANKFUL; Jemima Daniel, the 
 wife of Thomas Daniel was baptized, JEMIMA; Joanna and 
 Mercy Williams were baptized, JOANNA, MERCY; Mr. George 
 Denison's child, SARAH. 
 
 July 2d. Lydia Chapman the wife of William Chapman was 
 baptized, LYDIA; and her children, SOLOMON, RUTH, LYDIA, 
 SARAH; Samuel Chapman's children, JOSEPH, JOANNA, 
 PETER, THOMAS, REBECKAH, EPHRAIM; William Doug- 
 lass's child, WILLIAM; Solomon Coyt's child, SOLOMON; 
 Ebenezer Dennis's child, SARAH. 
 
 July 23d. Edward and Mary Stebbins, the children of Danl 
 
BAPTISMS. 473 
 
 Stebbins, were baptized EDWARD, MARY. He had other 
 children baptized also, CHRISTOPHER, ELIZABETH, ANN. 
 
 Aug. 20th. Peter Manwaring's child, LOVE; Samuel Com- 
 stoek's child, ZEBEDIAH; Alexander Baker's child, MARY. 
 
 Aug. 27th. William Willoughby's children, ABIGAIL, 
 MERCY, DELIVER. 
 
 Sept. 3d. The Honble Gurdon Saltonstal Esq, his child, 
 RICHARD; Nathaniel Holt was baptized NATHANIEL, and 
 his children, ELIZABETH, WILLIAM; Benjamin Betoe's child, 
 REBECKAH. 
 
 Sep. 10th. Thomas Jones Junr was baptized THOMAS. 
 
 Sep. 24th. Thomas Jones's children, THOMAS, JAMES, 
 MARY, LUCY. 
 
 Oct. 1st. Mr. Wilson (of Road Island's) child, ALICE. 
 
 Oct. 8th. My own child, WILLIAM; William Camp's child, 
 SAMUEL; Ebenezer Dart's child, BETHIAH. 
 
 Oct. 22d. Mary Hains was baptized, MARY; Mercy Munsel 
 was baptized, MERCY. 
 
 Nov. 26th. Charles Hill's child, CHARLES. 
 
 Dec. lOth. William Minor's child, ANN. 
 
 Dec. 24th. John Picket's child, JOHN; Joseph Trueman's 
 child, JANE. 
 
 Dec. 31st. Richard Douglass's child, ABIEL. 
 
 Jan. 28th, [1711 N. S] John Mayhew's child, JOANNA. 
 
 March 4th. Stephen Prentis's child, MERCY. 
 
 1711. 
 
 April 1st. James Rogers child. URIAH. 
 
 May 6. Benjamin, Mercy, and Patience Baker, the children 
 of Joshua Baker, were baptized, BENJAMIN, MERCY, PA- 
 TIENCE. 
 
 May 13th. Oliver Manwaring's child, OLIVER. 
 
 May 20th. Peter Hackley's child, RICHARD. 
 
 June 3d. John Wade's child, ELIZABETH; Solomon Coyt's 
 child, NATHANIEL. 
 
 June 10th. Samuel Chapman's child, BETHIAH. 
 
 June 24th. Samuel Fosdyck's children, SAMUEL, MERCY. 
 
474 LATER HISTORY OF THE FIRST CHURCH. 
 
 July 1st. William Chapman's child, PHEBE. 
 
 July 29tli. Patience Fergo was baptized, PATIENCE. 
 
 Aug. 5tli. Jonathan Calkins child, GRACE. 
 
 Aug. 12th. Israel Richards's child, SARAH. 
 
 Aug. 19th. Ebenezer Griffin's child. MARY; Joshua More's 
 wife was baptized, SUSANNA, and their child, JOSHUA; Row- 
 land Powel of Lebanon, his child, ABIGAIL. 
 
 Aug. 26th. Richard Christophers Esqr. his child, LUCY. 
 
 Sept. 9th. Daniel Way's child, ABIGAIL; Joshua Baker Junr 
 his child, GIDEON. 
 
 Nov. 4th. Daniel Dart's child, RUTH; Jeremiah Chapman's 
 child, SARAH; Ebenezer Dennis's child, ESTHER; David 
 Culver's child, ELIZABETH. 
 
 Dec. 2d. Mr. Wilson's child, ELIZABETH. 
 
 Dec. 30th. Joseph Harris's child, JOSEPH; Thomas Short's 
 child, CHARLES. 
 
 Jan. 6th, [1712 N. S.] Jonathan Hill's child, CHARLES. 
 
 Jan. 27th. Joshua Hemstead's child, ABIGAIL. 
 
 Feb. 10th. Samuel Fosdyk's child, WILLL-UI. 
 
 Feb. 24th. Deliverance Munsel was baptized, DELIVER- 
 ANCE; Stephen Holiboat's child, JOSEPH. 
 
 March 9th. John Pendal's children, JOHN, ELIZABETH. 
 JONATHAN. 
 
 March 16th. Deacon Plum's child. ELISHA. 
 
 1712. 
 
 March 23d. Christopher Darrow's child, GEORGE. 
 March 30th. My own child, PYGAN; Thomas Leaches child, 
 RICHARD; John Morgan's child, PETER. 
 April 6th. John Richard's child, GL^Y. i 
 April 13th. Clemt Minor's child, THOMAS. 
 April 27th. George Chappel's child, JABESH. 
 May 4th. Thomas Willee's child, ABRAHAM. 
 May 11th. Samuel Williams baptized, SAMUEL. 
 
 iQn page 282, Early History, the year of his birth ia incorrectly given a» 
 1722. It should be 1712. 
 
BAPTISMS. 475 
 
 May 18th. Jonas Hambleton's child, SOLOMON; David Calk- 
 ins's child, MARAH. 
 
 June 22d. Benjamin Starr's child, DANIEL. 
 
 June 29th. Benjamin Atwel his wife was baptized, MARY; 
 also their children, BENJAMIN, JOSEPH, MARY; Richard 
 Atwel's child, WILLIAM. 
 
 July 13th. Samuel Rogers's child, MERCY. 
 
 Aug. 3d. Richard Christophers Junr his child, RICHARD. 
 
 Aug. 10th. Benjamin Bebe's child, ZACHEUS; Daniel Com- 
 stock's child, JAMES; Jonathan Roff's child, DANIEL. 
 
 Aug. 17th. Daniel Leister's child, SUSANNA. 
 
 Sept. 7th. William Minor's child, JOHN; William Douglass's 
 child, SARAH. 
 
 Sept. 28th. John Picket's child, HANNAH; Henry Brooks's 
 child, ELLEPH. 
 
 Oct. 5th. David Richard's child, RUTH. 
 
 Oct. 19th. Daniel Way's child, LYDIA. 
 
 Dec. 28th. William Robins's child, WILLIAM. 
 
 Jan. 11th, [1713 N. S.] Mr. John Winthrop's child, RE- 
 BECKAH. 
 
 Feb. 8th, Ann Tongue wife of John was baptized, ANN. 
 
 1713. 
 
 April 5th. Andrew Palms's child, GUY; James Rogers's 
 child, JEDIDIAH; Jonathan Hill's child, GEORGE; Ebenezer 
 Denniss's child, MARY. 
 
 April 26th. Joseph Trueman's child, HENRY. 
 
 June 7th. Israel Richard's child, RACHEL. 
 
 June 14th. Samuel Comstock's child, CALEB; Thomas Jones 
 Junr his child, JABESH. 
 
 June 21st. Nathaniel Holt's child, PHEBE; John Vibber's 
 child JOANNA. 
 
 July 5th. Solomon Coyt's child, MARY; Joseph Chapman's 
 child, MOSES. 
 
 July 12th. Abigail Willoughby alias Camp's child, JOHN. 
 
 Aug. 2d. John Stebbins child, CHRISTOPHER. 
 
 Aug. 23d. Jeremiah Wilson's child, MERCY. 
 
476 LATER HISTORY OP THE FIRST CHURCH. 
 
 Aug. 30th. John More's child, JOHN. 
 
 Oct. 4th. Jonathan Calkins's child, THOMAS. 
 
 Oct. 11th. Oliver Manwaring's child, SAMUEL. 
 
 Nov. 1st. Peter Hackley's child, SARAH; Thomas Doug- 
 lass's child, DANIEL. 
 
 Nov 22d. John Mayhew's child, SARAH. 
 
 Jan 31st, [1714 N. S.] Thomas Way's child, ANN; Christo- 
 pher Darrow's child, SAMUEL. 
 
 Feb. 7th. Clement Minor's child, SOLOMON; Samuel Fos- 
 dyck's child, RUTH. 
 
 Feb. 21st. Peter Manwaring's child, MARY. 
 
 March 21st. My own child, MARY. 
 
 1714. 
 
 April 18th. Richard Rogers, and Hannah Lewis, daughter of 
 John Lewis, were baptized RICHARD, HANNAH; John Pen- 
 dal's child, MEHETABEL. 
 
 April 25th. Mr. John Winthrop's child, ELIZABETH. 
 
 May 2d. Jonas Green's child, LYDIA; Joshua Hemstead's 
 child, ELIZABETH. 
 
 May 9th. Edward Hallam's child, GRACE; John Pike's child, 
 SAMUEL. 
 
 May 16th. Thomas Leaches child, MERCY. 
 
 May 23d. The widow Sarah Crocker's children, ABIGAIL, 
 RACHEL; John Vibber's child, JOHN; Thomas Willee's child, 
 ELIZABETH. 
 
 May 30th. Hannah Pember, wife of Thomas Pember, her 
 child, HANNAH; John Rose Morgan's child, HANNAH. 
 
 June 13th. Daniel Leister's child, NOAH; John Larabee of 
 Coventry his child, JERUSHA. 
 
 July 4th. Benjamin Star's child, GRACE; Joshua More's 
 child, SUSANNA. 
 
 Aug. 8th. Benjamin Bebe's child, JOANNA. 
 
 Aug. 15th. Daniel Dart's child, ELIZABETH; William 
 Minor's child, SYLVESTER. 
 
 Aug. 29th. Christopher Christopher's child, MARY; John 
 
BAPTISMS. 477 
 
 Picket's child, MARY; Henry Brooks's child, SAMUEL; Daniel 
 Way's child, THOMAS. 
 
 Sept. 5th. David Culver's child, JONATHAN. 
 
 Sept. 19th. Richard Christophers Junr his child, ELIZA- 
 BETH; Daniel Comstock's child, JONATHAN. 
 
 Oct. 24th. Joseph Hunt's child, ANN. 
 
 Nov. 7th. Andrew Palms's child, BRYAN; Richard Doug- 
 lass's child, CALEB. 
 
 Dec. 19th. Jonathan Roff's child, JOHN. 
 
 Jan. 9th. [1715 N. S.] Thomas Jiggles's child, MERCY. 
 
 1715. 
 
 May 15th. Joseph Harris's child, JOHN. 
 
 May 22d. Samuel Douglass's child, SARAH. 
 
 May 29th. Israel Richards's child, LOVE. 
 
 June 12th. William Douglass's child, PETER; Isaac Wood- 
 worth's child, ISAAC. 
 
 June 26th. Walter Butler's child MARY. 
 
 July 10th. John Mayhew's child, JOHN; Joshua Baker's 
 child, JAMES. 
 
 July 17th. Joseph Trueman's child, BENJAMIN; Thom-is 
 Leach Junr his child, THOMAS. 
 
 Aug. 14th. Clement Stratford's child, her grandmother 
 Horton engaging her for christian education, SARAH, 
 
 Sept. 4th. Joseph Talman was baptized JOSEPH, and his 
 child, SAMUEL; Christopher Darrow's child, WILLIAM. 
 
 Sept. 11th. Jonathan Hill's child, JOHN. 
 
 Sept. 18th. Edward Hallam was baptized, EDWARD, and 
 his child, JOHN; Alexander Baker's child, ELIZABETH. 
 
 Sept. 25th. The widow Mary Pendal's child, WILLIAM. 
 
 Oct. 2d. George Plumbe's child, ANNA. 
 
 Nov. 6th. John Wyat's child, JOHN. 
 
 Nov. 20th. Esther Updike was baptized, ESTHER; Ebenezer 
 Way's child, NATHANIEL. 
 
 Dec. 4th. Peter Hackley's child, MARSHAL. 
 
 Dec. 11th. Joshua Raymond was baptized, JOSHUA; Eliza- 
 
478 LATER HISTORY OF THE FIRST CHURCH. 
 
 beth Rogers, wife of William Rogers, and her child JORDAN?, 
 William Holt's child, KATHERINE. 
 
 Dec. 25th. Hezekiah Newcomb was baptized, HEZEKIAH. 
 
 Jan. 8th. [1716 N. S.] My own child, THOMAS. 
 
 Jan. 22d. David Minard was baptized, DAVID. 
 
 Feb. 5th. Timothy Green's child, THOMAS; Walter Butler's 
 child, THOMAS. 
 
 March 4th. Nathaniel Holt's child, NATHANIEL. 
 
 March 11th. Thomas Bebe was baptized, THOMAS. 
 
 1716. 
 
 March 25th. Joshua Appleton's child, JOSHUA. 
 
 April 15th. Daniel Leister's child, JOSHUA; Thomas Doug- 
 lass's child, MARY. 
 
 April 22d. Mr. John Winthrop's child, JOHN; Oliver Man- 
 waring's child, HANNAH. 
 
 April 29th. David Richard's child, MARTHA. 
 
 May 6th. Lydia Buttolph wife of George Buttolph her child, 
 LYDIA. 
 
 June 3d. Joshua Mores child, MARY; John Vibber's child,. 
 MERCY. 
 
 June 17th. John More's child, ASA; Isaac Woodworth's 
 child, ASA. 
 
 June 24th. Jonathan Fanning and his wife had yr child, 
 ELIZABTH; Samuel Daniels and his wife yr child, GRACE. 
 
 July 22d. Henry Brooks's child, JOSIAH; Thomas Butler's 
 child, THOMAS. 
 
 Aug. 5th. John Emms's child SAMUEL. 
 
 Aug. 12th. Joshua Hemstead's child, MARY. 
 
 Sept. 2d. Andrew Palms's child, EDWARD; George But- 
 tolph's child, ELIZABETH. 
 
 Sept. 9th. Daniel Way's child, SARAH. 
 
 Oct. 7th. Richard Atwel's child, JOANNA. 
 
 Oct. 21st. Benjamin Bebe's child, CLEMENT; Daniel Shap- 
 ley's child, BENJAMIN. 
 
 Oct. 28th. John Wade's children THOMAS, DUREN. 
 
 Nov. 4th. John Pyke's child, MARY. 
 
BAPTISMS. 479 
 
 Nov. 18th. Joseph Minor Junr his child, JESSE. 
 
 Dec. 30th. Richard Christophers Junr his child, MARY; 
 William Holt's child, SARAH. 
 
 Jan. 6th, [1717 N. S.] Benjamin Star's child, WILLIAM; 
 William Rogers's child, JEREMIAH. 
 
 Jan. 20th. David Crocker was baptized, DAVID; Jeremiah 
 
 Wilson's child, TABITHA. 
 
 1717. 
 
 March. Jonathan Hill's child, RUTH. 
 
 April 14th. Christopher Darrow's child, LEMUEL; David 
 Culver's children, twins, MARY, MARTHA. 
 
 April 21st. Thomas Leach senior his child, JONATHAN. 
 
 May 12th. Thomas Willee's child, WILLIAM, 
 
 June 2d. Samuel Fosdyke his child, JAMES. 
 
 June 30th. James Rogers's child, NEHEMIAH; William 
 Minor's child, ELIHU. 
 
 Aug. 11th. My own child, SAMUEL. 
 
 Sept. 1st. Hannah Andross was baptized, HANNAH; Mr. 
 John Gardiner's child, SARAH; Richard Douglass's child, 
 MARGARET. 
 
 Sept. 15th. Daniel Leister's child, EZEKIEL; William Doug- 
 lass's child, JONATHAN. 
 
 Sept. 22d. Joshua More's child, RUTH. 
 
 Oct. 6th. Alexander Baker's child, PEMBERTON; John 
 Savel his child, SARAH. 
 
 Oct. 13th. Christopher Christopher's child, CHRISTOPHER. 
 
 Oct. 20th. John Mayhew's child, THOMAS. 
 
 Oct. 27th. Joseph Trueman's child, DANIEL; Joseph Tal- 
 man's child, JOANNA. 
 
 Nov. 3d. Jonathan Panning's child, JONATHAN. 
 
 Nov. 10th. George Plombe's child, ABIGAIL. 
 
 Dec. 29th. Joshua Appleton's child, MARY. 
 
 Jan. 26th, [1718 N. S.] Mr. John Winthrop's child, MAR- 
 GARET; Jonathan Avery of Groton his child, ABEL. 
 
 Feb. 2d. At Groton. Nehemiah Smith's child, ANNA; 
 James Packer's child, LUCRETIA. 
 
 Feb. 9th. William Robins's child, DAVID. 
 
480 LATER HISTORY OF THE FIRST CHURCH. 
 
 March 2d. Ebenezer Way's child, MARY. 
 March 16th. Samuel Daniel's child, SARAH. 
 
 1718. 
 
 March 30th. Richard Atwel's child, JOHN. 
 
 April 13th. Elizabeth Leister wife of Benjamin Leister was 
 baptized, ELIZABETH; Edward Hallam's child, NICHOLAS. 
 
 May 18th. Jonathan Roff's child, MARY. 
 
 June 1st. Walter Butler's child, WALTER. 
 
 June 8th. Priscilla Burchan was baptized, PRISCILLA; 
 •Joshua Baker's child, ANN; John Vibber's child, WILLIAM. 
 
 June 29th. Clement Minor's child, GRACE; Samuel Avery's 
 children HANNAH, THOMAS; John Adams his child, JOHN. 
 
 July 20th. Joseph Harris's child, DANIEL. 
 
 July 27th. Peter Mason's children, PETER, ABIGAIL; 
 Thomas Leach Junr his child, JOHN. 
 
 Aug. 10th. Jacob Bacon's child, ANNA; Thomas Butler's 
 child, GRACE. 
 
 Aug. 17th. Thomas and Elizabeth Dart yr child, ELIZA- 
 BETH. 
 
 Aug. 31st. Jonas Hambleton's children MARY, ELIZA- 
 BETH; John Hobart's child, REBECKAH; Daniel Way's child, 
 DANIEL. 
 
 Oct. 5th. Oliver Manwaring's child, SARAH. 
 
 Nov. 2d. William Robin's child, MARY. 
 
 Dec. 28th. George Richard's child, JOHN. 
 
 Jan. 4th, [1719 N. S.] Sarah, the wife of Archibald Camp- 
 bel her child, ELIZABETH. 
 
 March 1st. Capt. Christopher Christopher's child, JOHN; 
 William Holt's child, JOHN. 
 
 March 8th. Daniel Shapley's child, DANIEL. 
 
 1719. 
 
 April 5th. Patience Chappel was baptized, PATIENCE. 
 
 May 3d. Kinsley Comstock and Mary Comstock, were bap- 
 tized, KINSLEY, MARY; Lydia and Abigail Allen were bap- 
 tized, LYDIA, ABIGAIL; Kinsley Comstock's child, MARY; 
 
BAPTISMS. 481 
 
 Edward Stebbins's child, DANIEL; Henry Brooks's child, 
 ANN; Thomas Pember's child, MARY. 
 
 May 10th. Jeremiah Wilson's child, JUDITH. 
 
 May 17th. Daniel Comstock's child, ELIZABETH. 
 
 May 24th. Timothy Green's child, JOHN. 
 
 June 7th. Mary Daniels wife of Jonathan Daniels her child, 
 WILLIAM. 
 
 June 14th. Thomas Wille's child, ANN. 
 
 June 28th. Elizabeth Grossman was baptized, ELIZABETH. 
 
 July 5th. Thomas Douglass's child, STEVEN. 
 
 Aug, 23d. Mr. Jeremiah Miller his child, JEREMIAH. 
 
 Sept. 20th. Ann Waterhouse was baptized, ANN; Joshua 
 Appleton's child, JANE. 
 
 Sept. 27th. Thomas Leach's child ABIGAIL. 
 
 Oct. 11th. Peter Hackley's child, JOHN; Christopher Dar- 
 row's child, ELIZABETH. 
 
 Nov. 1st. John Adams's child SAMUEL. 
 
 Nov. 15th. William Rogers's child, PETER. 
 
 Dec. 6th. Charles Campbel's child, JANE. 
 
 Dec. 13th. Richard Christophers Junr his child, SARAH. 
 
 Dec. 20th. George Plombe's child, SARAH; George But- 
 tolph's child, ANN. 
 
 Jan. 3d, [1720 N. S.] Samuel Bill's child, EPHRAIM. 
 
 [Jan.] 24th. Mr. John Winthrop's child, JOHN STILL. 
 
 1720. 
 
 March 13th. Capt. Christopher Christophers child, SARAH. 
 
 April 10th. Mr. John Gardiner's child JOHN; Daniel Shap- 
 ley's child, MARY. 
 
 May 1st. Richard Douglass's child, RICHARD; John Coyt 
 Junr had his child baptized, JOHN; John Vibber's child, 
 NATHANIEL. 
 
 May 8th. Joshua Raymond's child, ELIZABETH. 
 
 May 15th. Jonas Hambleton's child, JAMES; Joseph Minor's 
 child, ELIZABETH; Ebenezer Way's child, WILLIAM. 
 
 May 22d. Samuel Avery's child, ANN; Daniel Way's child, 
 SAMUEL. 
 
482 LATER HISTORY OF THE FIRST CHURCH. 
 
 May 29th. William Douglass's child, ANN. 
 
 June 5th. James Rogers's child, HANNAH; Samuel Dan- 
 iels's child, ELIZABETH. 
 
 June 12th. Samuel Atwells children STEPHEN, HANNAH, 
 MARY, ELIZABETH, EUNICE, JOHN; Robert Potter's twin 
 children, ESTHER, ANN. 
 
 July 3d. Jonathan Rofl's child, JONATHAN; Daniel Hall's 
 child, ELIZABETH; John Savel's twin children, HANNAH, 
 MARY. 
 
 July 10th. Walter Butler's child, JANE. 
 
 July 17th. Sarah Merril was baptized, SARAH; David Cul- 
 ver's child, GRACE; Moses Lewis's child, JOHN. 
 
 July 24th. Alexander Stuart's child, SAMUEL; Ebenezer 
 Fox's child, DAVID. 
 
 Aug. 14th. George Richards' s child, GEORGE. 
 
 Aug. 21st. Samuel and Kezia Hough, she was baptized, 
 KEZIA, and yy had yr child baptized, JEMIMA; Benjamin 
 Sweetser's child, ELIZABETH. 
 
 Aug. 28th. Thomas Butler's child, JAMES. 
 
 Sept. 4th. Samuel Comstock's child, JONATHAN. 
 
 Sept. nth. Andrew Palms's child, ANDREW; John Nobles 
 was baptized, JOHN, and his children, MARY, SARAH, JOHN. 
 
 Oct. 2d. Kinsley Comstock's child, RACHEL. 
 
 Oct. 23d. Jonathan Daniels's child, JOANNA. 
 
 Nov. 6th. Margaret Young had her child baptized, WIL- 
 LIAM. 
 
 Dec. 4th. Rachel an Indian servant of the widow Prentiss 
 was baptized, RACHEL, and her child, DIDO. 
 
 Dec. 25th. Edward Macgonnel's child, ROBERT. 
 
 Feb. 5th, [1721 N. S.] John Campbel had his child baptized, 
 JANE. 
 
 Feb. 26th. My own child LYDIA. 
 
 March 12th. Peter Mason's child, ALITHEA; William 
 
 Young's child, JOHN. 
 
 1721. 
 
 March 26th. Daniel Leister's child, ANN; William Holt's 
 child, JAMES; William Dixon's child, GRACE. 
 
BAPTISMS. 483 
 
 April 23d. Sarah Waterhouse was baptized, SARAH; Jona- 
 than Fanning's child, THOMAS; Ebenezer Fox's child, EBEN- 
 EZER. 
 
 May 14th. Jonathan Beckwith was baptized, JONATHAN. 
 
 June 4th. Ebenezer Dennis's children, GEORGE, DEBORAH. 
 
 June 18th. Thomas Douglass his child, NATHAN. 
 
 June 25th. Capt. Christopher Christophers's child LUCRE- 
 TIA. 
 
 July 16th. Jonathan Palmer of Stonington his child, JONA- 
 THAN; John Fox his child, MARY. 
 
 July 23d. Archibald Campbel his child, DANIEL. 
 
 July 30th. John Preston had his child baptized, JOHN; 
 Oliver Manwaring's child, JOHN; Nathaniel Otis's child, DOR- 
 OTHY; Joshua Appleton's child, ANN. 
 
 Aug. 6th. Thomas Boham's child on his wife her accot. 
 THOMAS. 
 
 Aug. 13th. Henry Brooks's child. MARY. 
 
 Aug. 20th. Joseph Talman's child, JOSEPH; John Clark of 
 Stonington his child, TIMOTHY; Joshua More's child, HAN- 
 NAH. 
 
 Sept. 3d. Edward Hallam's child, EDWARD. 
 
 Sept. 10th. Rebeckah Richards had her child baptized, 
 THOMAS. 
 
 Sept. 24th. Elizabeth Beckwith and Jonathan Beckwith had 
 yr children baptized, JONATHAN, ELIZABETH, HANNAH. 
 
 Oct. 8th. Mr. John Gardiner's child, JERUSHA; Benjamin 
 Star's child, ANN; Christopher Darrow's child, JEDIDIAH. 
 
 Oct. 22d. William Rogers's child, ELIZABETH. 
 
 Nov. 12th. John More's child, MARTHA. 
 
 Nov. 19th. John Adams's child, JOHN. 
 
 Dec. 31st. Joshua Raymond's child, MERCY. 
 
 Jan. 7th, [1722 N. S.] Daniel Way's child, DANIEL. 
 
 Feb. 4th. Daniel Hall's child, DANIEL. 
 
 Feb. 25th. Philip Want's child, on ye accot of his "wife^ 
 WILLIAM. 
 
 March 11th. Abigail Wyat's child, EBENEZER. 
 
484 LATER HISTORY OF THE FIRST CHURCH. 
 
 1722. 
 
 March. 25th. Jonathan Lattimore and his wife had their 
 child baptized, ANN; George Buttolph's child, GEORGE. 
 
 Apr 1st. Joseph Minor's child HANNAH, 
 
 April 8th. Ann Clark was baptized ANN; Mr. Jeremiah 
 Miller's cMld baptized by Mr. Hillhouse, MARY. 
 
 May 6th. Thomas Fosdyke's child, ESTHER. 
 
 May 13th. Jemima Minor, wife of Joseph Minor was bap- 
 tized, JEMIMA; William Minor's child, ELIHU. 
 
 May 20th. John Plombe Junr and his wife had yr child 
 baptized, JOHN. 
 
 June 3d. George Plombe's child, ELIZABETH; William 
 Holt's child, WILLIAM. 
 
 June 10th. James Rogers's child, STEPHEN; Samuel 
 Hough's child, ANN. 
 
 July 1st. John Hough and his wife had yr child baptized, 
 SARAH; Robt. Gollers child, ANN. 
 
 July 8th. Timothy Green's child, MARY; Eleazer Bishop 
 and his wife had their children baptized, PETER, JOHN, 
 SAMUEL, CLEMENT, MARY, SARAH. 
 
 July 15th. John Coit Junr his child, RICHARD; Edward 
 Robinson's child, JOHN. 
 
 Aug. 5th. Jonathan Roff's child, JANE. 
 
 Aug. 12th. John Savel's child, BETHIAH. 
 
 Aug. 26th. Mr. John Winthrop's child, BAZIL; Walter But- 
 ler's child, KATHERINE. 
 
 Sept. 2d. Daniel Shapley's child, JOHN. 
 
 Sept. 9th. Joseph Calkins's child, JOSEPH. 
 
 Sept. 16th. Ebenezer Way's child, ANN. 
 
 Sept. 23d. George Smith's child, MARGARET. 
 
 Dec. 2d. Richard Christophers Junr his child, JOSEPH; 
 Edward Stebbins's child, MARY. 
 
 Dec. 16th. Ebenezer Dennis's child, BENJAMIN. 
 
 Jan. 20th, [1723 N. S.] Willm Dixon's child, JOHN. 
 
 Feb. 3d. John Preston's child, WILLIAM. 
 
 Feb. 17th. Edward Macgonnal's child, ISABEL. 
 
 March 10th. Richard Douglass's child, SAMUEL. 
 
BAPTISMS. 485 
 
 1723. 
 
 March 31st. Ebenezer Fox's child, ZEPHANIAH. 
 
 April 7th. William Rogers's child, WILLIAM. 
 
 April 14th. Thomas Manwaring had his child baptized, 
 ELIZABETH; Jonathan Daniels's child, BENAJAH. 
 
 May 19th. John Adams's child, JANE. 
 
 May 26th. Edward Robinson's child, WILSON. 
 
 June 2d. Thomas Boham's child, JOHN; Daniel Lester's 
 child, HANNAH; David Minard's child, DAVID. 
 
 June 9th. Christopher Stebbins's child, LYDIA. 
 
 June 23d. Christopher Christophers Esq, his child, LYDIA; 
 Samuel Chapman Junr his child, JOSEPH. 
 
 July 14th. Christopher Darrow's child, ICHABOD; Richard 
 Atwel's child, SAMUEL. 
 
 July 21st. Joshua Appleton's child, BENJAMIN. 
 
 July 28th. Clemt Minor Junr and his wife had yr child bap- 
 tized, LUCY. 
 
 Aug. 4th. Eleazer Bishop's child, NICHOLAS; Archibald 
 Campbell's child, JAMES. 
 
 Aug. nth. Thomas Butler's child, KATHERINE. 
 
 Aug. 18th. Baptized in the North Parish, Nathaniel Otis's 
 child, DESIRE; Jonathan Wickwire's child, ELIZABETH; 
 James Brown's child, JONATHAN; Alexander Baker's chil- 
 dren, JOSEPH, SARAH. 
 
 Aug. 25th. David Culver's children, twins, WILLIAM, ANN. 
 
 Sept. 1st. Joseph Minor Junr's child, EZEKIE'L. 
 
 Oct. 6th. John Gardiner's child, JERUSHA. 
 
 Oct 13th. Philip Want's child, MARY; Moses Lewis's child, 
 WILLIAM. 
 
 Nov. 10th. Robert Goller's child, JOHN. 
 
 Dec. 15th. John Plombe Junr his child, HANNAH; Jonathan 
 
 Tinker's child MARY. 
 
 Dec. 29th. Joshua Raymond's child, JOSHUA; Walter But- 
 ler's child, JOHN. 
 
 1724. 
 
 April 5th. George Richard's child, MARY. 
 April 12th. Joseph Talman's child, JOHN. 
 
486 LATER HISTORY OF THE FIRST CHURCH. 
 
 April 19th, Oliver Manwaring's child, ANN; James Rice 
 and his wife had yr child baptized, ANN. 
 
 April 26th. Bbenezer Way's child, ELIZABETH. 
 
 May 10th. John Hough's child, DAVID. 
 
 June 7th. Thomas Douglass's child, JOHN. 
 
 June 14th. James Rogers's child, MOSES; Jonathan Latti- 
 more's child, JONATHAN. 
 
 June 21st. Jonathan Daniels's child, MARY. 
 
 June 28th. James Rogers Junr and his wife had yr child 
 baptized, LEMUAL; Mr. Lambert's child, THOMAS; William 
 Dixon's child, WILLIAM; Joseph Calkins's child, WILLIAM; 
 Joseph Minor (Willms son) his child, DANIEL. 
 
 July 5th. Nathaniel Hempstead had his child baptized, 
 JOSHUA. 
 
 July 12th. Stephen Prentis Junr his child, ELIZABETH. 
 
 July 19th. Joseph Waterhouse was baptized, JOSEPH; Dan- 
 iel Way's child, PETER. 
 
 July 26th. David Crocker's chil'd, MARY; Ebenezer Pierce 
 and his wife had their child baptized, WILLIAM. 
 
 Sept. 6th. William Holt's child, THOMAS. 
 
 Sept. 13th. John Adams's child, LYDIA. 
 
 Sept. 20th. John Emms Junr, JOHN. 
 
 Oct. 25th. John Savel's child, ELIZABETH. 
 
 Nov. 1st. Jonas Hambleton's child, LUCRETIA. 
 
 Nov. 8th. Nath Howard's children, twins, DAVID, NATHAN. 
 
 Dec. 6th. Ebenezer Dennis's child, ANN; John Coyt Junr 
 his child, ELIZABETH. 
 
 Jan. 10th, [1725 N. S.] Richard Christophers Junr his child, 
 KATHERINE; Edward Robinson's child, MARY; Walter But- 
 ler's child, LYDIA; Edward Macgonnel's child, MARY. 
 
 Jan. 24th. Daniel Apley Junr was baptized, DANIEL. 
 
 Feb. 7th. Ebenezer Fox's child, JANE; David Minard's 
 child, ANDREW. 
 
 March 7th. Capt. Christopher Christopher's child, MAR- 
 GARET. 
 
 March 21st. Daniel Shapley's child, ABIGAIL; Thomas 
 Boham's child, SARAH. 
 
BAPTISMS. 487 
 
 1725. 
 
 April 18th. Mr. Jeremiah Miller's child, GURDON. 
 
 May 2d. Thomas Fosdyke's child, THOMAS. 
 
 May 16th. Robert Fargo was baptized, ROBERT. 
 
 May 23d. Samuel Chapman Junr his child, NATHANIEL.. 
 
 May 30th. Moses Fargo Junr was baptized MOSES; Clement 
 Miner Junr his child, LYDIA. 
 
 July 11th. Susanna Trowbridge had her children baptized, 
 TIMOTHY, ABIGAIL. 
 
 July 18th. Daniel Lester's child, GRACE. 
 
 July 25th. Thomas Manwaring's child, THOMAS; George 
 Smith's child, GEORGE; Samuel Tinker and his wife had yr 
 children baptized, SAMUEL, JUDAH; Samuel Hough's child, 
 ABIAH. 
 
 Aug. 1st. Ebenezer Pierce's child, JABESH. 
 
 Aug. 15th. Thomas Coyt's child, THOMAS. 
 
 Sept. 5th. Joshua Plombe had his child baptized, ELIZA- 
 BETH; Thomas Tailor and his wife had their child baptized, 
 WILLIAM. 
 
 Sept. 12th. William Rogers's child, NATHANIEL. 
 
 Sept. 19th. Richard Harris and his wife had yr children 
 baptized, THOMAS, LUCY. 
 
 Oct. 3d. James Rogers Junr his child, PETER; Philip 
 Want's child, MATTHEW. 
 
 Oct. 31st. Thomas Butler's child, WALTER. 
 
 Nov. 7th. William Holt's child, WILLIAM; John Adams's 
 child, SARAH. 
 
 Nov. 14th. Thomas Pember's child, JONATHAN. 
 
 Nov. 21st. Daniel Dishon had his child baptized, DANIEL; 
 Jonathan Tinker's child, LOVE; Archibald Campbel's child, 
 SARAH. 
 
 Nov. 28th. Mary Richards the wife of Jeremiah Richards 
 was baptized, MARY. 
 
 Jan. 30th, [1726 N. S.] John Plombe Junr his child, ELIZ- 
 ABETH; Joshua Raymond's child, JOHN. 
 
 Feb. 6th. Richard Christophers Junr his child, KATHER- 
 INE. 
 
488 LATER HISTORY OF THE FIRST CHURCH. 
 
 1726. 
 
 March 13th, Benjamin Star's child JOHANNA. 
 
 March 20th. Edward Hallam's child, AMOS; Robert Goller's 
 child, SAMUEL. 
 
 March 27th. Richard Douglass's child, ELIZABETH. 
 
 April 17th. John Hough's child, HANNAH. 
 
 May 1st. Daniel Coyt's child, SARAH. 
 
 May 15th. Jonathan Chester had his child baptized, MARY. 
 
 May 22d. William Leeds's child, MARY. 
 
 May 29th. John Munroe and his wife had yr child baptized, 
 JOHN. 
 
 June 5th. James Rogers's child, AARON; Thomas Leach 
 Junr his child, STEPHEN. 
 
 June 26th. Eleazer Bishop's child, ELEAZER; Samuel 
 Chapman Junr's child, HEZEKIAH. 
 
 July 10th. Stephen Prentis Junr his child, MARY. 
 
 Aug. 7th. Joseph Minor Junr his child, THEODORE. 
 
 Aug. 21st. Clement Leach his twin children, EPHRAIM, 
 MANASSEH. 
 
 Sept. 11th. Jonathan Lattimore's child, ELIZABETH. 
 
 Oct. 16th. John Coyt Junr his child, SAMUEL; Ebenezer 
 Way his child, PHEBE. 
 
 Oct. 23d. Sarah Fargo was baptized, SARAH; Her grand- 
 child also under her care was baptized, PATIENCE; John 
 Richards had his child baptized, ANN. 
 
 Oct. 30th. Samuel Raymond was baptized, SAMUEL. 
 
 Jan. 15th, [1727 N. S.] George Richards's child, LOVE. 
 
 Feb. 12th. Thomas Fosdyke's child, KATHERINE; Edward 
 Robinson's child, ANN; John Adams's child, JOSEPH; Nath- 
 aniel Hempstead's child, NATHANIEL. 
 
 Feb. 19th. James Rogers Junr his child, ICHABOD. 
 
 1727. 
 
 April 2d. John Griffin and wife had yr child baptized, JOHN; 
 Daniel Way's child, ABIGAIL. 
 
 Apr. 9th. Peter Harris's child, ELIZABETH; Ebenezer 
 Pierce's child, SAMUEL. 
 
BAPTISMS. 489 
 
 April 23d. David Minard's child, SARAH. 
 
 May 7th. John Plombe Junr his child, JOHN; Jonathan 
 Daniels's child, THANKFUL; Ann Gough, had her children 
 baptized, ANN, REBECKAH, WILLIAM. 
 
 May 14th. John Savel's child, ELIZABETH; James Rice's 
 child, THOMAS. 
 
 May 28th. Joseph Calkins's child, DAVID. 
 
 June 4th. Samuel Lattimore had his child baptized, SAM- 
 UEL. 
 
 June 11th. Daniel Shapley's child, DANIEL; Richard Har- 
 ris's child, ESTHER. 
 
 June 25th. Ebenezer Fox's child, NATHAN. 
 
 Aug. 13th. William Holt's child, REBECKAH; Samuel 
 Gallop's child, ELIZABETH. 
 
 Aug. 20th. Samuel Hough's child, DEBORAH. 
 
 Oct. 29th. Oliver Manwaring's child, ELIZABETH. 
 
 Nov. 5th. Joseph Haden's child, ELIZABETH. 
 
 Nov. 12th. Clemt Minor Junr his child, ABIGAIL. 
 
 Nov. 26th. Jonathan Tinker's child, RHODA. 
 
 Dec 31st. Daniel Dishon's child, JOHN. 
 
 1728. 
 
 March 10th. John Adams's child, HANNAH. 
 
 March 17th. John and Ann Colfax had yr child baptized,. 
 GEORGE. 
 
 March 24th. Michael Ewen's child, EDWARD. 
 
 April 7th. John Monro's child, JOSHUA. 
 
 April 28th. Walter Butler's child, JOHN. 
 
 May 26th. Jonathan Daniels's child, EUNICE;. 
 
 June 2d. Joshua More's child, WILLIAM. 
 
 June 30th. George Buttolph's child, MARY; Kinsley Com- 
 stock's child, ELIZABETH. 
 
 July 7th. David Crocker's child, HANNAH. 
 
 July 14th. Ebenezer Way's child, EBENEZER; Witherel 
 Denison's child, GRACE. 
 
 July 21st. Samuel Chapman Junr his child, MARY. 
 
 July 28th. Ephraim Jones's children, ELIZABETH, MARY,. 
 AMOS. 
 
490 LATER HISTORY OF THE FIRST CHURCH. 
 
 Aug. 4th. Joseph Prentis his child, ESTHER. 
 
 Aug. 11th. Benjamin Star's child, LUCY. 
 
 Aug. 18th. Samuel Richards's child, LUCY; Christopher 
 Stebbins's child, JABEZ. 
 
 Sept. 8th. Joshua Appleton's child, ELIZABETH; Samuel 
 Lattimore's child, ELIZABETH; John Griffin's child, EBEN- 
 EZER. 
 
 Sept. 29th. Thomas Butler's child, ELIZABETH; Samuel 
 Griffin's child, SAMUEL. 
 
 Oct. 6th. John Coyt Junr his child, JOSEPH. 
 
 Oct. 13th. William Hatch and his wife had yr child bap- 
 tized, WILLIAM. 
 
 Oct. 20th. Jonathan Bebe son of Joseph Bebe was baptized 
 JONATHAN; Mehetabel Bebe had other children also baptized, 
 STEPHEN, DAVID, ELISHA, SIMEON, ABIGAIL, MEHETA- 
 BEL; James Rogers Junr his child, MARY. 
 
 Nov. 3d. Richard Atwel's children, BENJAMIN, PATIENCE. 
 
 Dec. 1st. Ebenezer Pierce's child, ELIZABETH. 
 
 Dec. 29th. Stephen Prentis's child, STEPHEN. 
 
 Jan 12th, [1729 N. S.] George Richards's child, NATHAN- 
 IEL. 
 
 Jan. 19th. John Hough's child, JABESH. 
 
 Feb. 2d. Jerusha Morgan was baptized, JERUSHA. 
 
 1729. 
 
 March 16th. John Morgan's child, SAMUEL; Rachel's grand- 
 child, WILLIAM. 
 
 April 6th. William Holt's child, WILLIAM; Samuel Tinker's 
 child, ELIZABETH. 
 
 April 13th. Thomas Leach Junr's child LYDIA. 
 
 April 20th. Jonathan Lattimore's child, MARY; Daniel Den- 
 ison and his wife had yr child baptized, MARY. 
 
 May 4th. Elizabeth Bennet was baptized, ELIZABETH. 
 
 May 11th. Joseph Minor's child, JEDEDIAH; Clement 
 Leach's child, ESTHER; Philip Want's child, ESTHER. 
 
 May 18th. Peter Harris's child, PETER. 
 
 June 15th. Edward Robinson's child, SARAH; Joshua 
 
BAPTISMS. 491 
 
 Plombe's child, JOSHUA; he also engaged for ye christian 
 education of an Apprentice child, ye daughter of Benjamin 
 Fox, who was baptized, SARAH. 
 
 June 22d. Daniel Leister's child, ELIPHALET. 
 
 July 13th. Nathaniel Hempstead's child, MARY. 
 
 July 20th. Clement Minor Junr his child, Jonathan. 
 
 Aug. 10th. Thomas Williams's child, MERCY. 
 
 Aug. 17th. Thomas Pember's child, EZEKIEL.; James Rice's 
 child, JAMES. 
 
 Sept. 14th. Samuel Davis's child, SALTONSTALL; John 
 Griffin's child, ELIZABETH. 
 
 Sept. 21st. Jonas Hambleton's child, DANIEL. 
 
 Oct. 12th. John Eames Junr, had his child baptized, DAN- 
 IEL. 
 
 Oct. 19th. John Savel's child, MEHETABEL. 
 
 Oct. 26th. Mr. Jeremiah Miller's child, JASON; Jonathan 
 Whipple was baptized, JONATHAN, and his child, JONATHAN. 
 
 Nov. 16th. Samuel Gallop's child, SAMUEL; Daniel Shap- 
 ley's child, RUTH. 
 
 Nov. 23d. Richard Harris's child, ELIZABETH. 
 
 Dec. 7th. David Minard's child, JAMES. 
 
 Dec. 14th. Michael Ewen's child, MERCY. 
 
 Jan 4th, [1730 N. S.]. Daniel Dishon's child, HENRY. 
 
 Jan. 25th. John Richards's child, ELIZABETH; Elisha Tur- 
 ner and his wife had yr child baptized, ARNOLD; Witherel 
 
 Denison's child, GEORGE. 
 
 1730. 
 
 March 8th. Daniel Way's child, LYDIA. 
 
 March 15th. Alan Mullins had his child baptized, KATH- 
 ERINE; Joseph Merril's child, SARAH. 
 
 March 22d. William Chapel, son of Joseph Chapel, was bap- 
 tized, WILLIAM; Samuel Lattimore's child, NATHAN. 
 
 Apr. 12th. Thomas Fosdyke's child, SARAH. 
 
 May 10th. Thomas Stebbins's child, THANKFUL; Thomas 
 Minor's child, DARIUS; John Bennet's child, JOHN. 
 
 May 17th. Oliver Manwaring's child, JABESH; John Colfax's 
 child, ANN; John Calkins's child, SAMUEL. 
 
492 LATER HISTORY OP THE FIRST CHURCH. 
 
 May 24th. William Hatch's child, JOHN. 
 
 May 31st. Samuel Leach and his wife had yr child baptized, 
 ABIGAIL. 
 
 June 7th. John Calkins's children, MARY, ANN; Joseph 
 Haden's child, JOSEPH. 
 
 June 14th. Joseph Prentis's child, ANN. 
 
 June 28th. Samuel Richards's child, LYDIA; James Rogers's 
 child, GRACE. 
 
 July 5th. Thomas Manwaring's child, PETER. 
 
 July 19th. John Monro's twins, JONATHAN, LYDIA. 
 
 July 26th. Ebenezer Fox's child, ELKANAH. 
 
 Aug. 2d. Samuel Chapman Junr his child, SAMUEL. 
 
 Aug. 23d. Peter Plombe's child, PETER. 
 
 Aug. 30th. Robert Eams was baptized ROBERT; Edward 
 Robinson's child, ELIZABETH; Jonathan Daniels's child, 
 LOIS. 
 
 Sept. 6th. William Hough's child, SUSANNA. 
 
 Oct. 4th. John Ford's child upon his wife her accot, MARY. 
 
 Oct. 11th. Christopher Stebbins's child, ABIGAIL. 
 
 Oct. 18th. Jonathan Whipple's child, ELIZABETH. 
 
 Dec. 6th. Daniel Denison's child, DANIEL; Samuel Griffin's 
 child, THOMAS; Thomas Tailor's child, MARY. 
 
 Jan. 3d, [1731 N. S.] Samuel Davis's child, MARGARET; 
 Jonathan Tinker's child, JONATHAN. 
 
 Jan. 24th. Benjamin Star's child, SARAH, 
 
 Feb. 7th. William Holt's child, ELIZABETH. 
 
 Feb. 14th. Thomas Trueman Junr was baptized, THOMAS. 
 
 Feb. 21st. Nicholas Darrow, was baptized, NICHOLAS. 
 
 Feb. 28th. John Hough's child, JOHN. 
 
 1731. 
 March 14th. Joshua Appleton"s child, DANIEL. 
 May 2d. George Denison's child GEORGE. 
 May 30th. Irene Greaves her child, MARY. 
 June 6th. James Hadsall's child, PATIENCE. 
 June 20th. Samuel Tinkers child, AMY. 
 June 27th. Joshua Appleton was baptized, JOSHUA; Henry 
 Harris had his child baptized, HENRY. 
 
BAPTISMS. 493 
 
 July nth. Mr. Jeremiah Miller's child, JASON; Jane Wood- 
 bury haid her child baptized, JANE; Saml Jackson's child, 
 SARAH. 
 
 July 18th. Thomas Butler's child, JOHN. 
 
 Aug. 1st. John Plombe's child, NATHANIEL; Philip Want's 
 child, BENJAMIN. 
 
 Aug. 8th. Witheril Denison's child, LYDIA; Lydia Bebee 
 wife of Nathanl Bebee Junr had her child baptized, JOSHUA. 
 
 Aug. 22d. Ebenezer Way's child, JOHN. 
 
 Aug. 29th. Richard Harris's child, MARY; Samuel Leach's 
 child, SARAH. 
 
 Oct. 10th. Joshua Plombe's child, ABRAHAM; Daniel 
 Dishon's child, JOSEPH. 
 
 Oct. 24th. Jeremiah Richards had his children baptized, 
 JEREMIAH, LUCRETIA. 
 
 Oct. 31st. John Chapel Junr was baptized, JOHN; he had 
 also his children baptized, SARAH, JOHN, JONATHAN; Mar- 
 garet Star, wife of Jasper Star, had her child baptized, JAS- 
 PER; James Rice's child, BENJAMIN. 
 
 Jan. 30th, [1732 N. S.] Ann Trueman was baptized, ANN. 
 
 Feb. 6th. Daniel Shapley's child, BENJAMIN. 
 
 Feb. 13th. William Hatch's child, ELIJAH. 
 
 Feb. 27th. Jonathan Lattimore's child, ROBERT; Alan Mul- 
 
 lins's child, ALEXANDER. 
 
 1732. 
 
 April 2d. George Buttolph his child, ANN; William Hough's 
 child, WILLIAM; William Douglass's child, WILLIAM. 
 
 April 9th. John Griffin's child, EBENEZER; Clement 
 Leach's child, GRACE; Jeremiah Richards's child, LYDIA. 
 
 April 16th. Joseph Prentis's child, THOMAS. 
 
 Apr. 23d. John Morgan's child, DEBORAH; Edward Hal- 
 lam's child, ELIZABETH; Samuel Richards's child, SAMUEL. 
 
 May 7th. John Braddick's child, JOHN. 
 
 May 14th. Daniel Collins had his child baptized, MARTHA. 
 
 May 20th. John Rennet's child, MARY. 
 
 May 21st. Thomas Minor's child, JERUSHA. 
 
494 LATER HISTORY OF THE FIRST CHURCH. 
 
 June 4th. Daniel Lester's child, ESTHER; Jonas Hamble- 
 ton's child, ANN. 
 
 July 2d. Daniel Hubbard's child, RUSSEL; Benjamin Shap- 
 ley's child, BENJAMIN. 
 
 July 16th. Ebenezer and Elizabeth Howard had yr child 
 baptized, ELIZABETH. 
 
 Aug. 13th. John Earns Junr his child, ABIGAIL. 
 
 Aug. 20th. Sarah Ryley had her child baptized, MARY. 
 
 Sept. 10th. Ebenezer Fox's child, HANNAH; Peter Harris's 
 child, MARY; Joseph Minor Junr his child, GRACE. 
 
 Sept. 24th. Joseph Gardiner had his child baptized JOHN; 
 Saml Jackson's child, SAMUEL; Anna Tongue wife of John 
 Tongue had her younger children baptized, JOSHUA, LYDIA, 
 TABITHA. 
 
 Oct. 1st. Thomas Stebbins's child, RUTH. 
 
 Nov. 5th. Joseph Calkins's child, LUCRETIA; Peter 
 Plombe's child, PATIENCE. 
 
 Nov. 12th. Abigail Rogers, daughter of Adam Rogers, was 
 baptized, ABIGAIL. 
 
 Nov. 19th. Elizabeth Tongue and Anna Follet, daughters of 
 John Tongue were baptized, ELIZABETH, ANNA; She had also 
 her child baptized GEORGE; Ann Ford had her child baptized, 
 JOHN. 
 
 Nov. 26th. Joseph Waterhouse's child, NATHANIEL. 
 
 Dec. 3d. Edward Robinson's child, EDWARD; John Savel's 
 child, JOHN. 
 
 Jan. 7th, [1733 N. S.] Lucy Douglass had her child baptized, 
 LUCY . 
 
 Feb. 18th. Samuel Lattimore's child, SAMUEL. 
 
 Feb. 25th. Daniel Way's child, NATHANIEL; Amos Calk- 
 ins's child, ANN; Sarah Hobart wife of Saml Hobart had her 
 child baptized, ELIZABETH. 
 
 1733. 
 
 March 18th. Daniel Shapley's child, JOSEPH; Daniel Den- 
 ison's child, THOMAS. 
 March 25th. Joseph Coit's child, JONATHAN. 
 
BAPTISMS. 495 
 
 Apr. 15th. Jonathan Hambleton and his wife had yr child 
 baptized, BATHSHEBA. 
 
 Apr. 29th. John Colfax's child, ELIZABETH. 
 
 May 6th. Robert Douglass and his wife had their child 
 baptized, HANNAH. 
 
 May 20th. Clemt Stebbins's child, JOHN; Witherel Deni- 
 son's child, ESTHER. 
 
 June 10th. Christopher Stebbins's child, EDWARD; James 
 ye son of James Rogers's child, MOSES; Henry Harris's child 
 JOHN. 
 
 June 17th. John Hough's child, GEORGE. 
 
 July 1st. Saml Tarbox was baptized, SAMUEL; he had his 
 child baptized, JEMIMA; Clemt Minor's child, MARTHA. 
 
 July 29th. William Holt's child, EBENEZER; Jonathan 
 Tinker's child, MARY; James Chapman had his child bap- 
 tized, HANNAH. - 
 
 Aug. 19th. Nathl Bebe Junr and his wife yr child, LYDIA. 
 
 Aug. 26th. John Hempstead's child, JOHN; James Hodsal's 
 child, ELIZABETH; Joseph Merril's child, HANNAH. 
 
 Sept. 2d. Samuel Tinker's child, WILLIAM; Ephraim 
 Jones's child, LUCY. 
 
 Sept. 16th. George Denison's child, SARAH; Philip Want's 
 child, ANN; Daniel PoUe's child, JBRUSHA. 
 
 Sept. 23d. Jonathan Daniels's child, JONATHAN; Michael 
 Ewen's child, JOSEPH. 
 
 Sept. 30th. Joshua Plombe's child, AMY. 
 
 Oct. 21st. John Richards's child, ABIGAIL; Daniel Dishon's 
 child, RICHARD. 
 
 Nov. 4th. David Minard's child, ABIGAIL. 
 
 Dec. 2d. Jothan Whipple's child, TITUS. 
 
 Dec. 16th. Gurdon Saltonstall's child, GURDON. 
 
 Dec. 23d. William Morgan was baptized, WILLIAM; and his 
 child WILLIAM. 
 
 Dec. 30th. Elizebath Richar'ds and Grace Edgcomb, were 
 baptized, ELIZABETH, GRACE. 
 
 Jan. 6th, [1734 N. S.] James Chapman's child, JAMBS. 
 
496 LATER HISTORY OF THE FIRST CHURCH. 
 
 Jan. 20th. John Curtiss's child, JOHN; William Douglass's 
 child, ELIZABETH. 
 
 Feb. 10th. James Rice's child, WILLIAM; Joseph Truman 
 Junr's child, MARY; David Richard Junr's child, ELIZABETH. 
 
 Feb. 24th. Joshua Appleton's child, RUTH. 
 
 1734. 
 
 March 24th. Samuel Lee's child, JANE. 
 
 March 31st. Nathaniel Shaw's child, SARAH; Daniel Col- 
 lins's child, MARY; Ann Ford's child, SARAH. 
 
 April 14th. Joseph Prentis's child, JOSEPH; John Chapel 
 Junr his child, JOSHUA. 
 
 April 21st. Silas Whipple and his wife had yr child baptized, 
 SUSANNA; Ebenezer Howard's child, EBENEZER; the widow 
 Mary Daniels had her children baptized, NOAH, LUCRETIA. 
 
 Apr. 28th. William Hatch's child, MARY. 
 
 May 5th. Ivory Lucas's child, MARY. 
 
 May 19th. Thomas Minor's child, NAAMAN. 
 
 June 9th. Nicholas Darrow's child, SARAH. 
 
 June 16th. Samuel Richards's child ELIJAH; Samuel Ho- 
 bart's child SARAH. 
 
 June 23d. Daniel Hubbard's child, LUCRETIA; Israel Rich- 
 ards had his children baptized, MARY, JEREMIAH; David 
 Crocker's child, DAVID. 
 
 July 7th. Thomas Butler's child, JOSEPH. 
 
 July 14th. Samuel Chapel and Lucy Leach, Elizabeth Strick- 
 land and Mary Strickland were baptized, SAMUEL, LUCY, 
 ELIZABETH, MARY; Lucy Leach had her child baptized, 
 EUNICE. 
 
 Aug. 4th. Jonathan Lattimore's child, GEORGE. 
 
 Aug. 11th. Samuel Green's child, ABIGAIL. 
 
 Sept. 1st. John Monroe's child, ELIZABETH; Daniel 
 Leister's child, THOMAS; Robert Douglass's child, THOMAS. 
 
 Sept. 8th. Thomas Stebbins's child, LUCY. 
 
 Sept. 15th. Joseph Calkin's child, EZEKIEL; Mr. Witter's 
 child, ELIJAH. 
 
 Sept. 22d. Clement Leach's child, HANNAH. 
 
BAPTISMS. 497 
 
 Oct. 13th. Jonathan Gafdiner had his child baptized, JOHN- 
 
 Oct. 20th. John Hempstead's child, HANNAH; Henry Har- 
 ris's child, MARY. 
 
 Oct. 27th. Edward Robinson's child, GEORGE; Clement 
 Stebbins' child, SARAH; Jonathan Hambleton's child, LUCY; 
 Dago a servant of Mr. Curtiss his child, ISABEL. 
 
 Nov. 7th. Joseph Harris Junr had his child baptized, ELIZ- 
 ABETH; Mary Daniels' alias Roland's child, DANIEL; Samuel 
 Leach's child, SUSANNA. 
 
 Dec. 1st. Mary and Bethiah Chapel, daughters of Joseph 
 Chapel, baptized, MARY, BETHIAH. 
 
 Jan. 5th, [1735 N. S.] Gurdon Saltonstall's child, RE- 
 BECKAH. 
 
 Jan. 12th. Daniel Denison's child, RACHEL. 
 
 Feb. 9th. Peter Harris's child, BENJAMIN. 
 
 Feb. 16th. Ruhamah Turner's child, ELIZABETH. 
 
 Feb. 23d. Mr. Jer. Millers twins, JOSEPH, ROWLAND. 
 
 1735. 
 
 March 16th. Richd Harris's child, RICHARD. 
 
 March 30th. Peter Plombe's child, GREEN. 
 
 Apr. 13th. Ebenezer Way's child, LUCY. 
 
 Apr. 20th. Amos Calkins's child, AMOS; John Crocker and 
 wife had yr child baptized, JOHN. 
 
 Apr. 27th. Nathaniel Lothrop's children, ZEBEDIAH, 
 AZARIAH, LUCY, MARY; Witherel Denison's child, ESTHER. 
 
 May 4th. Samuel Chapman Junr his child, DINAH. 
 
 May 11th. John Griffin's child, MARY. 
 
 June 2d. Alan Mullin's child, ABIGAIL. 
 
 June 8th. Daniel Way's child, MARY. 
 
 June 22d. John Perriman's child, SARAH. 
 
 July 13th. Ebenezer Horton's child, ELIJAH; Silas Whip- 
 ple's child, MARY. 
 
 Aug. 3d. Jasper Star's child, ROBERT; James Rogers's 
 child, EDMOND. 
 
 Aug. 17th. Daniel Dishon's child, GRACE; Jonathan 
 Tinker's child, PETER; John Wyer's child, MARGARET. 
 
498 LATER HISTORY OF THE FIRST CHURCH. 
 
 Sept. 7th. Esther More was baptized, ESTHER; Samuel 
 Green's child, THOMAS. 
 
 Sept. 21st. Daniel Shapley's child, BENJAMIN; William 
 Rogers's child, TIMOTHY. 
 
 Oct. 5th. Jeremiah Richard's child, ISRAEL. 
 
 Oct. 19th. Samuel Tarbox's child, SAMUEL. 
 
 Nov. 9th. William Douglass's child, MARGARET. 
 
 Nov. 23d. David Richards Junr his child, ESTHER. 
 
 Dec. 7th. Nathaniel Shaw's child, NATHANIEL. 
 
 Dec. 14th. Joseph Waterhouse's child, JOSEPH. 
 
 Dec. 21st. John Curtiss's child, ELIZABETH. 
 
 Jan. 4th, [1736 N. S.] Susanna Truman wife of Thomas was 
 baptized, SUSANNA; and her ^on, JONATHAN; Joseph Tru- 
 man Junr his child, ELIZABETH. 
 
 Jan 11th. Caleb More's child, JOSEPH. 
 
 Jan. 18th. James Chapman's child, RICHARD; Joseph 
 Follet's child, BARTLET. 
 
 Jan. 25th. Hannah Manwaring and Elizabeth Birch were 
 baptized, HANNAH, ELIZABETH. 
 
 Feb. 15th. Susannah Trueman was baptized, SUSANNAH. 
 
 Feb. 22d. Gurdon Saltonstall's child, KATHERINE; Samuel 
 Lee's child, ELIZABETH. 
 
 Feb. 27th. James Rice's child, MARY. 
 
 Feb. 29th. Samuel Richards's child, JERUSHA. 
 
 1736. 
 
 March 21st. Samuel Tinker's child, HANNAH. 
 
 Apr. 4th. John Crocker, Wm's son, was baptized, JOHN; 
 William Tub's child, LYDIA. 
 
 Apr. 11th. Christopher Stebbins's child, BETHIAH; John 
 Crocker's child, JOSEPH; Dago's child, SARAH. 
 
 Apr. 18th. John Colfax's child, JONATHAN; Nicholas 
 Harrow's child, PETER. 
 
 May 2d. Daniel Potter's child, ZERUIAH. 
 
 May 9th. John Chapel Junrs child, HANNAH; Michael 
 Ewen's child, MICHAEL; Daniel Collins's child, LUCRETIA. 
 
 May 23d. Samuel Chapman Junr his child, COMFORT. 
 
BAPTISMS. 499 
 
 May 30th. Ivory Lucas's child, ABIGAIL; Mr. Ford's child, 
 ANN. 
 
 June 6th. Jonathan Whipple's child, EUNICE. 
 
 June 13th. Thomas Minor's child, CHRISTOPHER. 
 
 June 20th. Daniel Hubbard's child, DANIEL; Nathanael 
 Holt Junr's child, NATHANAEL. 
 
 June 27th. Elizabeth Chapman was baptized, ELIZABETH;, 
 and her child, BENJAMIN; Joseph Calkins's child, DANIEL. 
 
 July 11th. Wm. Hatch's child, ELIZABETH. 
 
 July 18th. Nathanael Coyt's child, SARAH; Robert Eam's 
 child, NATHAN. 
 
 July 25th. Henry Harris's child, DANIEL; Philip Want's 
 child, PHILIP. 
 
 Aug. 1st. Joseph Harris Junr his child, PHEBE. 
 
 Aug. 8th. Thomas Stebbins's child, PHEBE. 
 
 Aug. 15th. John Chappel, son of John was baptized, JOHN. 
 
 Aug. 29th. Ebenezer Howard's child, ABIGAIL. 
 
 Sept. 5th. Thomas Pember's child, ELIZABETH. 
 
 Sept. 12th. Sarah Clark was baptized, SARAH; also her 
 child, SARAH. 
 
 Sept. 26th. Abigail Crocker had her child baptized, JAMES; 
 Hewson, a servant of Mr. S. Christophers, was baptized, 
 HEWSON. 
 
 Oct. 3d. Richard Harris's child, LUCRETIA; John Hemp- 
 stead's child, ABIGAIL. 
 
 Nov. 7th. Joseph Prentis's child, JOHN; Robert Douglass's 
 child, SARAH; Ephraim Chapman's child, SARAH. 
 
 Dec. 26th. Hannah Bebe wife of Samuel had her child bap- 
 tized, ESTHER. 
 
 Jan. 4th, [1737 N. S.] Amos Calkins's child, NOAH. 
 
 Jan. 9th. John Richards's child, JOHN. 
 
 Feb. 6th. Samuel Lattimore's child,, AMOS; William Holt 
 Junr's child, WILLIAM. 
 
 Feb. 28th. Daniel Star's child, ABIGAIL. 
 
 1737. 
 Apr. 3d. Samuel Green's child, TIMOTHY. 
 Apr. 24th. Peter Comstock's child, RANSFORD; Daniel 
 Comstock Junr his child, DANIEL. 
 
500 LATER HISTORY OF THE FIRST CHURCH. 
 
 May 8th. Daniel Denison's child, SAMUEL. 
 
 May 15th. Jonathan Lattimore's child, HENRY; David 
 Crocker's child, JONATHAN. 
 
 May 29th. Sarah Lewis was baptized, SARAH. 
 
 June 12th. Gurdon Saltonstall's child, WINTHROP. 
 
 June 26th. Samuel Bishop had his child baptized, SAMUEL; 
 Jonathan Hambleton's child, MARY. 
 
 July 17th. Peter Plombe's child, LYDIA. 
 
 July 24th. Stately Scranton's child, WILLIAM. 
 
 Aug. 7th. William Douglass's child, JONATHAN. 
 
 Aug. 14th. John Wyer's child, JOHN. 
 
 Aug. 21st. Joshua Plombe's child, WILLIAM. 
 
 Aug. 28th. Sarah Tinker, daughter of John was baptized, 
 SARAH; Samuel Richard's child, DANIEL; Samuel Leach's 
 children, SAMUEL, ANN; Caleb More's child, JOHN; Richard 
 Leach's child, TEMPERANCE. 
 
 Sept. 11th. John Eam's child, JOHN. 
 
 Sept. 18th. Clement Minor's child, DANIEL. 
 
 Sept. 25th. Nathaniel Shaw's child, JOSEPH. 
 
 Oct. 2d. Hannah, wife of George Chappel was baptized, 
 HANNAH. 
 
 Oct. 9th. Ezekiel Daniels was baptized, EZEKIEL; and his 
 child, EZEKIEL; Edwaiid Robinson's child, NATHANIEL. 
 
 Oct. 16th. John Dart and his wife had yr children baptized, 
 JOB, EBENEZER. 
 
 Oct. 23d. James Rogers's child, URIAH. 
 
 Oct. 30. Nathaniel Bebee was baptized NATHANIEL; he 
 had his child also baptized, NATHANIEL. 
 
 Nov. 6th. Henry Harris's child, EUNICE; David Richards 
 Junr his child, GRACE. 
 
 Nov. 11th. Allan Mullin's child, MARY. 
 
 Nov. 13th. Jasper Star's child, MARY; Thomas Calkins and 
 wife had yr children baptized, JONATHAN, SARAH. 
 
 Nov. 20th. David Minard's child, LYDIA; Joseph Water- 
 iiouse's child, SARAH. 
 
 Dec. 4th. John Hill's child, on his wife's accot, JONATHAN. 
 
BAPTISMS. 501 
 
 Dec. 11th. Nathaniel Holt Junr his child, NATHANIEL. 
 
 Dec. 18th. John Curtiss's child, FREDRICK. 
 
 Jan. 1st, [1737 N. S.] Jonathan Tinker's child, BENJAMIN. 
 
 Jan. 8th. Samuel Lee's child, THOMAS. 
 
 Jan. 15th. Daniel Collins's child, DANIEL. 
 
 Jan. 29th. Titus Hurlbut's child, GEORGE BUTTOLPH; 
 Katherine Garret, an Indian, was baptized, KATHERINB. 
 
 Feb. 19th. Ivory Lucas's child, GRACE. 
 
 Feb. 26th. Deborah, wife of Robert Earns was baptized, 
 DEBORAH; Michael Ewen's child, LYDIA; Daniel Star's child^ 
 
 BENJAMIN. 
 
 1738. 
 
 March 26th. John Prentis's child, MARY. 
 
 Apr. 9th. Samuel Chapman Junr his child, JOHANNA^ 
 Clemt Stebbins's child, CHRISTOPHER; Joseph Truman Junr 
 his child, JOSEPH; John Griffin's child, PETER. 
 
 Apr. 16th. Joseph Horton was baptized, JOSEPH; James 
 Chapman's child, JOHN; John Crocker's child, MARY. 
 
 Apr. 23d. Jeremiah Richards's child, NEHEMIAH. 
 
 Apr. 30th. Daniel Hubbard's child, ELIZABETH. 
 
 May 7th. William Holt's child, DANIEL. 
 
 May 21st. Joseph Calkins's child, LYDIA. 
 
 May 28th. Daniel Shapley's child, ADAM. 
 
 June 4th. John Daniels, son of John Daniels deceased was 
 baptized, JOHN; Mr. More's child, ELIZABETH. 
 
 June 25th. James Grant was baptized, JAMES; Silas Whip- 
 ple's child, SILAS; Robert Eams's child, ROBERT. 
 
 July 9th. Stephen Hempstead's child, THOMAS; Sarah Ry- 
 ley's child, WILLIAM. 
 
 Aug. 6th. John Richards Esq. his child, LOVE. 
 
 Aug. 13th. John Chapel Junr his child, ANN; Robert Doug- 
 lass's child, SARAH; Nicholas Darrow's child, MARY. 
 
 Aug. 20th. Peter Lattimore and his wife had their children 
 baptized, PETER, HANNAH. 
 
 Sept. 3d. Thomas Hawkins's child, EDWARD. 
 
 Sept. 10th. Gurdon Saltonstall's child, DUDLEY; Hannah 
 
502 LATER HISTORY OP THE FIRST CHURCH. 
 
 Chappel, deceased, her child, JAMES; Ezekiel Daniel's child, 
 SAMUEL. 
 
 Oct. 1st. Nathaniel Williams was baptized, NATHANIEL. 
 
 Oct. 8th. Thomas Minor's child, JERUSHA. 
 
 Oct. 15th. Thomas Way's child, SARAH. 
 
 Oct. 17th. Joshua Wheeler was baptized, JOSHUA. 
 
 Oct. 22d. Joseph Prentis his child, BENJAMIN. 
 
 Oct. 29th. Phillis, a servant of mine, was baptized, 
 PHILLIS; there were also servant children of my family bap- 
 tized as ISHMAEL, Phillis's children JAMES, ZIBA, SYL- 
 VANUS. 
 
 Nov. 5th. James Greenfield was baptized, JAMES; Abel 
 More, his wife was baptized, MARY; Samuel Williams's wife 
 engaged for ye education of a child of Hannah Chappel de- 
 ceased, and it was baptized, PATIENCE; John Hempstead's 
 child, ABIGAIL; William Hatch's child, SAMUEL; Jonathan 
 Whipple's child, LUCY. 
 
 Nov. 12th. William Manwaring's child, LUCY; Samuel Tar- 
 box's child, BENJAMIN. 
 
 Nov. 19th. Jesse Minor's child, TURNER. 
 
 Nov. 26th. Samuel Green's child ELIZABETH. 
 
 Dec. 3d. Nathaniel Coyt's child, NATHANIEL; Naboth 
 Graves's child, ELIZABETH. 
 
 Dec. 17th. Thomas Pierpont's child, JONATHAN. 
 
 Dec. 22d. Charles Acourt's child, CHARLES. 
 
 Jan. 14th, [1739 N. S.] William Beckwith was baptized, 
 WILLIAM, and his child, JEDIDIAH. 
 
 Feb. 18th. Caleb Douglass's child, REBECKAH. 
 
 1739. 
 
 March 18th. Nathanl Bebe's child, BOANERGES. 
 
 March 25th. Joshua Plombe's child, RACHEL; Philip 
 Want's child, JOSEPH; Timothy Calkins's child, SAMUEL. 
 
 March 26th. The widow Mary Dart was baptized, MARY. 
 
 April 8th. Samuel Bishop's child, ELEAZER. 
 
 Apr. 15th. Bathsheba Brooks wife of Josiah Brooks was 
 baptized, BATHSHEBA. 
 
BAPTISMS. 503 
 
 April 17th. Thomas Stebbins's child, THOMAS. 
 
 April 22d. The widow Lucy Harris, was baptized, LUCY; 
 also her child, LUCRETIA; Peter Lattimore's child, LUCRE- 
 TIA; John Dart's child, JOSHUA. 
 
 Apr. 29th. James Camp had his children baptized, SARAH, 
 BATHINIA, MARY, LYDIA; Daniel Comstock (widow's son) 
 his child WILLIAM; Daniel Star's child, JOSHUA; Samuel 
 Bill Junr had his child baptized, SAMUEL; John Rogers's 
 child, GEORGE; Johannah Atwel's child, BERIAH. 
 
 May 6th. Thomas Pember's child, SAMUEL; Daniel Den- 
 ison's child, HANNAH. 
 
 May 13th. Amos Calkins's child, NOAH; Stately Scranton's 
 child STATELY. 
 
 May 27th. Ebenezer Howard's child, SARAH. 
 
 June 3d. Elizabeth More, wife of Joshua More Junr was 
 baptized, ELIZABETH, and her children ELIZABETH, 
 LYDIA; Jasper Star's child BENJAMIN; Peter Comstock's 
 child, THOMAS; Samuel Leach's child, MARY; Witheril Den« 
 ison's child, LUCY. 
 
 June 10th. John Colfax's child, JOHN. 
 
 June 17th. Hannah Chapel, wife of George Chapel, was 
 baptized, HANNAH. 
 
 June 24th. Mary Brooks, wife of Samuel Brooks had chil- 
 dren baptized, EZE'KIEL, SAMUEL; Susanna, daughter of 
 Samuel Waller Junr, was baptized, SUSANNA; she had her 
 child baptized, EUNICE; Edey, daughter of Samuel Waller 
 Junr was baptized, EDEY. 
 
 June 27th. Samuel Bebe's child, AZARIAH. 
 
 July 8th. Daniel Minard's child, JABESH. 
 
 July 15th. Jonathan Hambleton's child, JOHN; John 
 Crocker's child, CONSTANT. 
 
 July 22d. Elizabeth, wife of Joseph Hurlbut, had her child 
 baptized, SAMUEL. 
 
 Aug. 5th. James Comstock and his wife had yr child bap- 
 tized, JASON; Samuel Richards's child, JABESH; Ebenezer 
 Way's child, HANNAH; John Wyer's child, ANN; Henry Har- 
 ris's child, LYDIA; Martin Clark's child, WILLIAM. 
 
504 LATER HISTORY OF THE FIRST CHURCH. 
 
 Aug. 26th. William Douglass's child, GEORGE; William 
 Holt Junr his child, JOSEPH. 
 
 Sep. 2d. Susanna, wife of Alexander Johnston, was bap- 
 tized, SUSANNA; Samuel Lattimore's child, ANN; Daniel 
 Whittemore's child, MARY; Allan Mullins's child, ANNA. 
 
 Sept. 9th. Titus Hurlbut's child, DANIEL. 
 
 Sept. 30th. Jonathan Lattimore's child, DANIEL. 
 
 Oct. 14th. Ezekiel Daniels his child, ELIZABETH; Josiah 
 Brooks's child, JOSIAH. 
 
 Oct. 21st. John Prentis's child, ELIZABETH. 
 
 Oct. 28th. Rebeckah Earns was baptized, REBECKAH; 
 Christopher Stebbins's child, CHRISTOPHER; Gideon Com- 
 stock's child, LYDIA; Ephraim Chapman's child, THOMAS. 
 
 Nov. 4th. Mr. Ford's child JOHN. 
 
 Nov. nth. John Picket's child, ELIZABETH; Mr. Morgan's 
 child, MARY. 
 
 Dec. 2d. Daniel Collins's child, PELL; Joseph Harris's 
 child, JOSEPH; Joshua More Junr's child, LEMUEL. 
 
 Dec. 9th. George Chappel's child, committed to ye care of 
 Robt Douglass who engaged for its christian education, 
 WALTER. 
 
 Dec. 23d. Caleb More's child, MARY. 
 
 Dec. 30th. Benjamin Bebe Junr his wife was baptized, 
 JANE; Joseph Smith's child, SARAH. 
 
 Jan. 6th, [1740 N. S.] Ivory Lucas's child, ELIZABETH. 
 
 Jan. 27th. Joseph Lathrop's child, ELIZABETH. 
 
 Feb. 10th. Stephen Hempstead's child, THOMAS; Joseph 
 Truman Junr's child, SARAH. 
 
 Feb. 24th. Wm. Beckwith's child, JEDIDIAH. 
 
 1740. 
 
 March 2d. Gurdon Saltonstall's child, ANN; Daniel Hub- 
 bard's child, WILLIAM; John Tinker's child, DUREN. 
 
 March 16th. Nathaniel Shaw's child , THOMAS. 
 
 March 23d. Samuel Lee's child, EUNICE; Jeremiah Rich- 
 ards's child, REBECKAH. 
 
 April 13th. Nicholas Darrow's child, REBECKAH. 
 
BAPTISMS. 505 
 
 Apr. 27th. Samuel Green's child, LUCY. 
 
 June 1st. Joseph Hurlbut's child, SARAH; John Crocker's 
 child, MERCY; Richard Leach's child, RHODA. 
 
 June 15th. David Richards Junr his child, DAVID. 
 
 June 22d. John More's child, JOHN. 
 
 June 29th. Joseph Waterhouse's child, ELIJAH. 
 
 July 6th. James Chapman's child, MERCY. 
 
 July 13th. Benjamin Billings's child, LUCRETIA. 
 
 July 20th. John Wheeler was baptized, JOHN. 
 
 July 27th. Thos Minor's child, REBBCKAH; Jesse Minor's 
 child, ELIZABETH. 
 
 Aug. 3d. Peter Plombe's child, LUCRETIA. 
 
 Aug. 10th. Thorns Stebbins's child DEBORAH. 
 
 Aug. 17th. William Hancock's child, SUSANNA. 
 
 Aug. 31st. Phebe Amsberry, wife of Jacob, had her child 
 baptized, STEPHEN. 
 
 Sept. 14th. Nathaniel Etheridge's child, JOHN; Robert 
 Douglass's child, ROBERT; Mr. Comstock's child, MARY. 
 
 Sept. 21st. Joseph Calkins's child, JEDIDIAH; John Grif- 
 fin's child, JOSEPH. 
 
 Sept. 28th. John Bishop's child, TIMOTHY; Jemima Dolli- 
 ver, a free Indian woman, was baptized JEMIMA, and her 
 child, WILLIAM. 
 
 Oct. 5th. William Holt Junr his child, BENJAMIN. 
 
 Oct. 26th. Mercy Bill was baptized, MERCY; Elizabeth, 
 wife of Joseph Bebe, had her children baptized, PATIENCE, 
 MERCY, ELIZABETH, THADDEUS; Thomas Way's child 
 JOHN. 
 
 Nov. 2d. Clement Stebbins's child, JOSEPH. 
 
 Nov. 16th. William Waterhouse was baptized, WILLIAM; 
 also his children were baptized, THOMAS, ANN, LUCRETIA; 
 also his grandchild, RICHARD; Nathaniel Coyt's child, MARY. 
 
 Nov. 23d. John Prentis's child, JOHN; John Chapel Junr's 
 child, JOSEPH. 
 
 Feb. 8th. James Rogers James's son's child, ELIZABETH. 
 
 Feb. 13th. Daniel Polley's child, sick at his house, DESIRE. 
 
506 LATER HISTORY OF THE FIRST CHURCH. 
 
 1741. 
 
 March 8th. John Rogers was baptized, JOHN. 
 
 March 15th. William Manwaring's child, DAVID. 
 
 March 22d. Daniel Whittemore's child, EBENEZER. 
 
 March 29th. Joseph Prentis's child, MERCY. 
 
 Apr. 5th. Caleb Douglass's child, REBECKAH; John Rog- 
 ers's child, LYDIA. 
 
 Apr. 12th. Samuel Bill Junr's child, JOHN. 
 
 Apr. 19th. Patrick Robinson's child, WILLIAM; Jemima 
 Dolliver's child, JEREMIAH. 
 
 May 3d. Lydia Waterhouse, was baptized, LYDIA; Samuel 
 Richards's child, LOVE. 
 
 May 10th. Ann, daughter of John Tinker, was baptized, 
 ANN; Henry Harris's child, GRACE. 
 
 May 17th. Keturah Waterhouse, Sarah Strickland, Lucy 
 Dart, and Lois, a negro woman, servant to James Rogers 
 Junr, were baptized, KETURAH, SARAH, LUCY, LOIS; Wil- 
 liam Hatch's child, DANIEL; Samuel Leach his child, ELIZ- 
 ABETH; Johanna wife of Joshua Bolles, Hannah daughter 
 of William Harris, Hannah daughter of [name illegible], Han- 
 nah daughter of Jonathan Fox, Alithea and Ann daughters of 
 Peter Chapman were baptized, JOHANNA, HANNAH, HAN- 
 NAH, HANNAH, ALITHEA, ANN. 
 
 May 24th. James Camp's child, WILLIAM; John Wyer's 
 child, JEREMIAH. 
 
 May 31st. George Chappel Junr was baptized, GEORGE; 
 Jasper Star's child, JAMES; Silas Whipple's child, DANIEL. 
 
 June 7th. The widow Milleson Darrow and her daughter 
 Mary Darrow and Grace Morgan wife of John Morgan Junr, 
 were baptized, MILLESON, MARY, GRACE; John Morgan 
 Junr his child, JOHN; Daniel Policy's child, DANIEL; Josiah 
 Brooks's child, BENJAMIN; Mr. Hawkins's child. HANNAH. 
 
 June 14th. Joseph son of Joseph Bebe, Jonathan son of 
 Joseph Chapel, Jonathan son of widow Darrow, Elijah son of 
 John Smith, Thomas Fargo son of Elizabeth Bebe, Thomas 
 son of Thomas Grant, Sarah Fargo daughter of Elizabeth 
 Bebe, Lydia daughter of John Smith, were baptized, JOSEPH, 
 
BAPTISMS. 507 
 
 JONATHAN, JONATHAN, ELIJAH, THOMAS, THOMAS, 
 SARAH, LYDIA; John Plombe's child, MARY; John Dart's 
 child, MARY; Benjamin Bebe Junr his child, SARAH; John 
 Harris had his children baptized, ELIZABETH, JOHANNA, 
 GRACE; Jonathan Culver's child, EDWARD. 
 
 June 21st. Stephen, son of Comfort Chappel, Edward, son 
 of John Tinker, Jedediah and Nehemiah, sons of ye widow 
 Daniels, Samuel, son of Samuel Strickland, Peter, son of 
 Thomas Strickland, Anthony and Jeremiah Whipple, Priscilla, 
 wife of James Hambleton, Margaret, daughter of Thomas 
 Strickland, Annie Lucretia, daughter of Samuel Strickland, 
 Sarah, daughter of Thomas Williams, Margaret daughter of 
 Thomas Chapel, were baptized, STEPHEN, EDWARD, JED- 
 EDIAH, NEHEMIAH, SAMUEL, PETER, ANTHONY, JER- 
 EMIAH, PRISCILLA, MARGARET, ANNIE LUCRETIA, 
 SARAH, MARGARET; John and Sarah Brooks had yr children 
 baptized, JOHN, ISAAC, JABEZ, SARAH, ANN; Capt Joseph 
 Coyt's child, LYDIA; Daniel Comstock Junr's child ELIZA- 
 BETH; Benjamin Beebe Junr's children, MERCY, LUCY, 
 BENJAMIN; Edward Tinker's child, LUCY. 
 
 June 28th. Robert Waterhouse was baptized, ROBERT; 
 and his children, ROBERT, SARAH, SAMUEL, HANNAH, 
 ELIZABETH; Elizabeth, daughter of Benjamin Bebee Junr 
 was baptized, ELIZABETH; William, son of Timothy Lester 
 was baptized, WILLIAM; Mary daughter of Jonathan Daton 
 was baptized MARY; Samuel Chapman's child, BETHIAH; 
 David and his wife Elleph Culver had yr children baptized, 
 DAVID, GRACE, MARY, JOHN, JOSEPH; Hagar, wife of 
 Dago, a servant of John Curtice, was baptized, HAGAR. 
 
 July 5th. Richard, son of Joseph Chapel, Mary, daughter 
 of Wm Crocker, Mary, daughter of Ephraim Daton, baptized, 
 KICHARD, MARY, MARY. 
 
 July 12th. Zaccheus and his wife Sarah Wheeler, Ruth 
 Brown, and Jemima Rogers, and Beulah a negro free woman, 
 were baptized, ZACCHEUS, SARAH, RUTH, JEMIMA, 
 BEULAH; Zaccheus Wheeler's child, REBECKAH; Benjamin 
 Bebee Junr his child, JANE. 
 
508 LATER HISTORY OP THE FIRST CHURCH. 
 
 July 19th. Elizabeth, wife of Samuel Strickland, was bap- 
 tized, ELIZABETH; Hanah Brooks wife of Comfort, was bap- 
 tized HANNAH, and their child, NEHEMIAH; Timothy and 
 Elizabeth Brooks had yr children baptized, TIMOTHY, GUY, 
 ELIZABETH, AMY, JERUSHA; James Lamphire's child, 
 SARAH; Joseph Harris's child, MARY. 
 
 July 26th. Grace Strickland, Mary Perkins, Margaret Holt, 
 were baptized, GRACE, MARY, MARGARET; Grace Strick- 
 land's child, MARY; Clement and Mary Bebe had yr children 
 baptized, AMY, ANNA; Mr. Brooks's children, NOAH, RUTH; 
 Caleb More's child, DAVID; Comfort Brooks's children, 
 WILLIAM, LUCRETIA. 
 
 Aug. 2d. Jerusha Grant was baptized, JERUSHA; Abel 
 More's children, she joined our communion this day, ABEL, 
 ELIZABETH, SIMON; the widow Hannah Daniels had her 
 children baptized, PHEBE, TIMOTHY; Daniel Denison's child, 
 PHEBE. 
 
 Aug. 9th. Abraham, a negro servant of Samuel Lattimore, 
 was baptized, ABRAHAM. 
 
 Aug. 23d. Elizabeth, wife of William Morgan, was bap- 
 tized, ELIZABETH, and her children, ESTHER, ELIZABETH, 
 JONATHAN, ELIJAH; John Tinker Junr was baptized, JOHN, 
 and his child, SARAH; Sarah, daughter of Nathaniel Daniels, 
 was baptized, SARAH; Elleph, daughter of Comfort Chappel, 
 was baptized, ELLEPH. 
 
 Aug. 30th. Gurdon Saltonstall's child, ROSE WELL; Eliz- 
 abeth Chappel was baptized, ELIZABETH, and her children 
 ZACCHEUS, ASA. 
 
 Sept. 6th. Elisheba daughter of Samuel Wright, a mulatto 
 woman, was baptized, ELISHEBA. 
 
 Sept. 13th. Benjamin Beebe Junr his child REBECKAH; 
 Richard Leach's child, WILLIAM; Thomas Butler Junr his 
 child, LYDIA. 
 
 Sept. 27th. Amos Calkins's child, HANNAH; Ephraim 
 Wheeler's child, SAMUEL; Nathaniel Etheridge's child, 
 JAMES. 
 
 Oct. 4th. Anthony Whipple's child, ANTHONY. 
 
BAPTISMS. 509 
 
 Oct. 11th. Jonathan Hambleton's child, AMOS. 
 
 Oct. 18th. Bedgood Bulfinch's child, JOHN; The widow 
 Mary Manwaring's grandchild, VALENTINE. 
 
 Nov. 1st. John Hempstead's child, JOHN. 
 
 Nov. 8th. Robert Eams's child, JOSEPH. 
 
 Nov. 15th. James Cleland's child, THOMAS. 
 
 Nov. 22d. Jonathan Whipple's child, TITUS. 
 
 Dec. 6th. William Holt Junr's child, ELIZABETH. 
 
 Dec. 13th. Joseph Lathrop's child, JOSEPH; Daniel Col- 
 lins's child, WILLIAM. 
 
 Dec. 20th. Titus Hurlbut's child, LYDIA; Jonathan Culver's 
 child, JONATHAN; William Hancock's child SARAH. 
 
 Dec. 27th. John Prentis's child, SARAH; Daniel Star's child, 
 DANIEL. 
 
 Jan. 10th, [1742 N. S.] Peter Lattimore's child, JOHN; Na- 
 thaniel Holt's child, PHEBE. 
 
 Jan. 24th. Nicholas Darrow's child, JAMES. 
 
 Jan. 26th. James Comstock's child, WILLIAM; Zaccheus 
 Wheeler's child, LUCRETIA. 
 
 Feb. 3d. Charles Short's child, ELIZABETH. 
 
 Feb. 7th. David Gardiner's child, SAMUEL; Ivory Lucas's 
 child, LUCY. 
 
 Feb. 21st. Samuel Green's child, ANN. 
 
 Feb. 28th. James Chapman's child, EDWARD; David Rich- 
 ards Junr's child, EDWARD. 
 
 1742. 
 
 March 7th. William Douglass's child, ABIAH. 
 
 March 28th. John Tinker's child, JOHN; Nathaniel Beebe's 
 child, JOHN. 
 
 April 18th. David Minard's child, STEPHEN; Christopher 
 Stebbins's child, ANN; Samuel Beebe's child, ANN. 
 
 May 16th. Stephen Chappel's child, MARY; Joseph Calkins 
 Junr his child, RUFUS. 
 
 May 23d. Jonathan and Elizabeth Marvel, had their children 
 baptized, THOMAS, ABIGAIL, JOHN, HANNAH, WILLIAM. 
 
 May 30th. Jesse Minor's child, JANE. 
 
510 LATER HISTORY OP THE FIRST CHURCH. 
 
 June 6th. Ebenezer Howard's child, JOHN. 
 
 June 13th. John Morgan Junr his children, GRACE, ED- 
 WARD, LUCY. 
 
 June 20th. Stephen Hempstead's child, STEPHEN. 
 
 June 27th. Stately Scranton's child, SARAH; Nathaniel 
 Shaw's child, DANIEL; William Beckwith's child, EZEKIEL. 
 
 July 4th. Thomas Calkins's child, PEMBER; two negros 
 were baptized, SAWNEY, MINGO. 
 
 July 18th. Joseph Calkins's child, ESTHER; Samuel Chap- 
 man Junr his child, REBECKAH. 
 
 July 25th. Anna, daughter of Roger Dart was baptized, 
 ANNA. 
 
 Aug. 1st. Thomas Way's child, SARAH. 
 
 Aug. 8th. Samuel Bill Junr his child, MARY. 
 
 Aug. 15th, Jasper Daniels's children, JAMES, GRACE, 
 ANN. 
 
 Aug. 22d. Joseph Hurlbut's child, WILLIAM. 
 
 Sept. 5th. Samuel Brooks's child, GEORGE. 
 
 Sept. 12th. David Culver's child, DANIEL. 
 
 Sept. 13th. Charles Acourt's child, JOHN. 
 
 Sept. 19th. John Colfax's child, ANN. 
 
 Oct. 10th. Anna, wife of Hill Chandley, was baptized, ANNA., 
 and her children, RHODA, ANNA; William Crocker's child, 
 FREEMAN. 
 
 Oct. 24th. Daniel Truman's child, DEBORAH. 
 
 Oct. 31st. Benjamin Uncas, sachem of ye Mohegan Indians 
 and his son Benjamin with his wife Ann, also Lucy Uncas 
 made profession of ye christian faith, and were baptized, BEN- 
 JAMIN, BENJAMIN, ANN, LUCY; Benjamin Uncas his 
 younger children, ESTHER, MERCY; Benjamin Uncas Junr 
 his child, BENJAMIN. 
 
 Nov. 21st. Samuel Lattimore's child, MARY. 
 
 Dec. 5th. Daniel Coyt's child, WILLIAM. 
 
 Jan. 16th, [1743 N. S.] Gurdon Saltonstall's child, ELIZA- 
 BETH; Joseph Waterhouse's child, KETURAH; Nathaniel 
 Coyt's child, MARGARET. 
 
BAPTISMS. 511 
 
 1743. 
 
 March 6th. John Wheeler's child, LUCY. 
 
 March 20th. James Tilley's child, MARY; William Holt 
 Junr his child, ELIZABETH. 
 
 March 23d. Jonathan Culver's child, JONATHAN. 
 
 April 10th. John Prentis's child, ANN; Joseph Coyt's child, 
 ELIZABETH. 
 
 Apr. 17th. Richard Harris's child, JEREMIAH; James 
 Camp's child, LOTTIE; Henry Harris's child, HENRY;, 
 Ephraim Wheeler's child, MARGARET. 
 
 May 1st. Charles Short's child, CHARLES; the widow 
 Lee's child, SAMUEL; Elizabeth Garret, an Indian woman, 
 a Mohegan, was baptized, ELIZABETH; Benjamin Uncas 
 Junr's child, ANN; and his wife her child, MARY. 
 
 May 15th. Edward Tinker's child, EDWARD. 
 
 May 22d. Zaccheus Wheeler's child, ZACCHEUS. 
 
 May 29th. Thomas Atwel was baptized, THOMAS, and his 
 son, THOMAS. 
 
 June 5th. Jeremiah Richards's child, STEPHEN, 
 
 June 12th. James Lamphire's child, MARY; Joseph Lath- 
 rop's child, JOHN; John Harris's child, JOHN. 
 
 June 19th. Joseph Harris's child, SARAH. 
 
 July 10th. Stephen and Patience Douglass had yr child bap- 
 tized, STEPHEN; William Morgan's child, KATHERINE;, 
 Comfort Brooks's children, GRACE, THOMAS, JAMES, 
 JOSHUA; Jasper Daniels's child, JEDIDIAH; Jemima Dolli- 
 ver's child, FRANCIS. 
 
 July 17th. Samuel Leach's child, LUCRETIA. 
 
 July 24th. Clement Stebbins's child, ANN; Elizabeth wife 
 of Jonathan Chapel, had her child baptized, PETER. 
 
 July 31st. Witherel Denison's child, SARAH. 
 
 Aug. 14th. William Hatch's child, JOSHUA; William Han- 
 cock's child, WILLIAM. 
 
 Aug. 21st. John Chapel's child, GRACE; Mary, wife of 
 James Rogers her child, JEREMIAH. 
 
 Aug. 28th. Joseph Smith's child, ELIZABETH. 
 
512 LATER HISTORY OF THE FIRST CHURCH. 
 
 Sept. 18th. John Wyer's child, SARAH; Clement Bebe's 
 child, ELNATHAN. 
 
 Oct. 2d. Samuel Richards' child, WILLIAM; John Eams's 
 children, BENAJAH, REBECKAH; Daniel Collins's child, 
 HENRY. 
 
 Oct. 16th. David Gardiner's child, ELIZABETH; Caleb 
 More's child, JONATHAN. 
 
 Oct. 23d. Jemima, wife of Richard Chapel, had her child 
 baptized, MARTHA. 
 
 Oct. 30th. Daniel Denison's child, ANN. 
 
 Nov. 13th. Stephen Lee's child, JOHN. 
 
 Nov. 20th. Willm Manwaring's child, SARAH. 
 
 Nov. 27th. Samuel Green's child, SAMUEL; Caleb Doug- 
 lass's child, RICHARD; John (son of William) Crocker's child, 
 SILAS. 
 
 Dec. 13th. John Dart's child, JOHN. 
 
 Jan. 8th, [1744 N. S.] William Douglass's child, LUCY. 
 
 Feb. 19th. Jonathan Lattimore's child, BORADIL. 
 
 1744. 
 
 March 7. Silas Whipple's child, REBECKAH. 
 
 March 11th. James Chapman's child, LYDIA. 
 
 April 1st. Gurdon Saltonstall's child, MARY; Joseph Hurl- 
 but's child, JOSEPH; Daniel Truman's child, ESTHER. 
 
 April 15th. Jesse Minor's child, LUCRETIA. 
 
 April 22d. John Rogers's child, ESTHER. 
 
 April 29th. David Culver's child, ELIZABETH; Stephen 
 Chappel's child, EDWARD; John Tinker Junr's child, GRACE. 
 
 May 2d. John Brooks's child, ABIGAIL. 
 
 May 6th. John Prentis's child, ESTHER; Josiah Brooks's 
 child, BATHSHUA. 
 
 May 13th. James Comstock's child, SARAH. 
 
 May 27th. Nathaniel Holt's child, THOMAS. 
 
 June 3d. Daniel Coyt's child, SARAH; Stephen Hempstead's 
 child, PATIENCE; Nathaniel Bebee's child, GEORGE; Joshua 
 More Junr's child, SUSANNA. 
 
BAPTISMS. 513 
 
 June 10th. Prudence wife of Roger Dart was baptized, 
 PRUDENCE. 
 
 June 17th. Nicholas Darrow's child, MILLESON. 
 
 June 24th. John Crocker's child, ANDREW; William Holt 
 Junr his child, BENJAMIN. 
 
 July 8th. Joshua Hempstead Junr his child JOSHUA. 
 
 July 25th. William Hatch's child, JOB. 
 
 Aug. 1st. Johanna, wife of Moses Fargo had her children 
 baptized MOSES, ZACCHEUS, MARY; Benjamin Beebe Junr 
 his child, JAMES. 
 
 Aug. 26th. Thomas Way's child, ABIGAIL; Richard Chapel's 
 child, WILLIAM. 
 
 Sept. 2d. Daniel Star's child, ELIZABETH. 
 
 Sept. 16th. Miles More's child of Lyme, ELIZABETH; Mary 
 wife of Isaac Fellows had her child baptized, MARY. 
 
 Sept. 30th. Samuel Bebee's child, HANNAH. 
 
 Oct. 14th. William Crocker's child, JONATHAN; Richard 
 Coyt's child, MARTHA; Oliver Manwaring's child, MARY. 
 
 Oct. 28th. Zaccheus Wheeler's child, EDWARD. 
 
 Nov. 11th. David Richard's Junr his child, EDWARD. 
 
 Nov. 25th. James Tilly's child, JAMES. 
 
 Dec. 16th. Jonathan Culver's child, JONATHAN. 
 
 Jan. 13th, [1745 N. S.] Stephen Douglass's child, SPERRY. 
 
 Jan. 27. A child ELIZABETH. 
 
 Feb. 3d. Joseph Lathrop's child, MARY; John Harris's 
 child, ANN; William Beckwith's child, MARY. 
 
 Feb. 6th. John Eam's child, ZEBULON; Jonathan Chapel's 
 child, JOSEPH. 
 
 Feb. 17th. Nathaniel Coyt's child, SOLOMON. 
 
 Feb. 24th. Samuel Lattimore's child, LUCY. 
 
 1745. 
 
 March 24th. Joseph Waterhouse's child, JEREMIAH. 
 April 7th. Wm Atwater's child, LUCY. 
 May 1st. Robert Douglass's child [no name.] 
 May 5th. Widow Peniman's child, ELIZABETH; John Mor- 
 gan Junr's child, GEORGE. 
 
514 LATER HISTORY OF THE FIRST CHURCH. 
 
 May 12tli. Samuel Talman's child, SAMUEL. 
 
 May 19th. Peter Lattimore's child, PICKET. 
 
 June 2d. Jeremiah Richards' s child, MARY; Thomas Minor 
 son of William's child, THOMAS; Samuel Leach's child, ES- 
 THER; Henry Harris's child, ELIPHALET. 
 
 June 9th. Daniel Dishon's child, MOSES; Edward Tinker's 
 child, EDWARD. 
 
 July 3d. Samuel Brooks's children [no names.] 
 
 July 14th. Joshua Hempstead Junr his child, EDWARD. 
 
 July 28th. William Morgan's child, PHILIP. 
 
 Aug. 4th. John Wheeler's child, SARAH. 
 
 Aug. 7th. William Hatch's child, PETER; Jonathan Whip- 
 ple's child, NICHOLAS; Robert Eams's child, BENJAMIN. 
 
 Aug. 13th. At Mohegin Benjamin Uncas Junr his child, 
 JOSIAH. 
 
 Aug. 25th. John Calder's child ENOS; James Chapman's 
 child, REBECKAH. 
 
 Sept. 1st. Jasper Daniels's child, HANNAH. 
 
 Sept. 4th. Timothy Brooks (deceased) his children ICHA- 
 BOD and DANIEL. 
 
 Sept. 15th. John Crocker's child, JOHN. 
 
 Sept. 22d. Titus Hurlbut's child, LUCRETIA. 
 
 Sept. 29th. Stately Scranton's child, THOMAS. 
 
 Oct. 13th. Isaac Fellows's child, ISAAC. 
 
 Oct. 27th. John Colfax's child, MARY; Josiah Brooks's 
 child, ELLEPH. 
 
 Nov. 3d. The widow Mary Truman's child, JOHN. 
 
 Nov. 10th. William Hancock's child, THOMAS. 
 
 Nov. 24th. John Christopher's child, RICHARD; Pygan 
 Adams's child, WILLIAM. 
 
 Dec. 8th. Samuel Richards's child, DANIEL-STILL. 
 
 Dec. 29th. Caleb Douglass's child, MARY. 
 
 Jan. 19th, [1746 N. S.] James Lamphire's child, MARY. 
 
 Feb. 2d. William Holt Junr his child, SARAH; Jesse 
 Minor's child, LUCY. 
 
 Feb. 5th. Moses Fargo's child, ELIZABETH; Joshua More 
 Junr's child, REBECKAH; Clement Bebee's child, SARAH. 
 
BAPTISMS. 515 
 
 Feb. 9th. Joseph Harris's child, REBECKAH. 
 Feb. 16th. Nathaniel Shaw's child, JOHN. 
 
 1746, 
 
 March 2d. Daniel Coyt's child, MEHETABEL; Daniel Tru- 
 man's child, SARAH. 
 
 March 16th. John Rogers's child, MARTHA. 
 
 March 23d. William Douglass's child, SARAH. 
 
 March 30th. John Dart's child, RUTH. 
 
 Apr. 17th. Joshua More Junr's child, MARGARET. 
 
 May 11th. John Christopher's child, MARY. 
 
 May 18th. David Gardiner's child, MARY; Joseph Hurl- 
 but's child, GEORGE. 
 
 May 25th. John Chapel Junr's child, JESSE. 
 
 June 15th. John Tinker Junr's child, SAMUEL. 
 
 June 29th. Daniel Denison's child, JAMES. 
 
 July 6th. Joseph Coyt's child, LUCY. 
 
 July 27th. Samuel Green's child, MARY. 
 
 Aug. 3d. Jeremiah Miller Junr his child, JOHN-STILL; 
 Nathaniel Holt's child, MARY. 
 
 Aug. 6th. James Camp's child, ELIZABETH. 
 
 Aug. 10th. Thomas Way Junr's child THOMAS; Zaccheus 
 Wheeler's child, EDWARD; Stephen Douglass's child, RICH- 
 ARD. 
 
 Aug. 31st. Oliver Manwaring Junr's child, HANNAH, 
 
 Sept. 3d. Miles More's children, MARTHA, MARY. 
 
 Sept. 7th. Daniel Collins's child, LUCRETIA. 
 
 Sept. 14th. Stephen Hempstead's child, ELIZABETH. 
 
 Sept. 15th. Widow Merrils her child, PYGAN. 
 
 Sept. 21st. Widow Sarah Merrils her children, ALEXAN- 
 DER, EDWARD. 
 
 Oct. 12th. Stephen Lee's child, JOHN BROWN. 
 
 Oct. 19th. Robert Sloan's child, MARY. 
 
 Oct. 26th. Samuel Talman's child, HANNAH. 
 
 Nov. 16th. William Manwaring's child, REBECKAH. 
 
 Dec. 7th. John Holt's child, JOHN. 
 
 Dec. 14th. John Prentis's child, JOHN. 
 
516 LATER HISTORY OF THE FIRST CHURCH. 
 
 Jan. 11th, [1747 N. S.] Gurdon Saltonstall's child, RICH- 
 ARD. 
 
 Feb. 22d. Samuel Bebe's child, SAMUEL.. 
 
 1747. 
 
 March 4th. Nathan Douglass's child, EBENEZER. 
 
 March 8th. John Harris's child, DANIEL.; Joshua Hemp- 
 stead Junr's child, ROBERT. 
 
 April 1st. Clement Minor's child, WILLIAM, 
 
 Apr. 5th. Daniel Starr's child, WILLIAM; James Chap- 
 man's children, JOSEPH, MARY. 
 
 Apr. 12th. Edward Tinker's child, HANNAH. 
 
 Apr. 26th. James Douglass and his wife had yr child bap- 
 tized, SUSANNA; John Douglass's child, JOHN. 
 
 May 10th. Samuel Leach's child, LUCY; Nicholas Darrow's 
 child, ELIZABETH. 
 
 June 14th. Jonathan Chapel's child, PRUDENCE. 
 
 June 17th. William Hancock's child, SARAH. 
 
 June 21st. Samuel Talman's child, JAMES. 
 
 June 28th. Jeremiah Richards's child, ANN. 
 
 July 1st. Ben Bebe's child, JOHANNA; Silas Whipple's 
 child, HANNAH; the widow Crocker's child, WILLIAM. 
 
 July 5th. William Holt Junr his child, STEPHEN. 
 
 July 26th. Titus Hurlbut's child, LUCRETIA. 
 
 Aug. 2d. Peter Lattimore's child, PICKET; Samuel Gardi- 
 ner's child, ABIGAIL; Jonathan Culver's child, SAMUEL. 
 
 Aug. 16th. Phebe Amsberry's child, WILLIAM. 
 
 Aug. 23d. Nathaniel Coyt's child, MARY. 
 
 Aug. 30th. Thomas Minor's child, GRACE. 
 
 Sept. 2d. Thom Butler's child, THOMAS. 
 
 Sept. 5th. Samuel Richards's child, MARY. 
 
 Sept. 13th. Pygan Adams's child, ALEXANDER PYGAN. 
 
 Sept. 20th. Joseph Lothrop's child, JOSEPH. 
 
 Sept. 27th. Nathaniel Shaw's child, WILLIAM. 
 
 Oct. 11th. John Morgan Junr his children, MARY, MAR- 
 THA; Isaac Fallows his child, WILLIAM. 
 
 Nov. 1st, Jeremiah Miller Junr his child, MARY. 
 
 Nov. 15th. Caleb Douglass's child, MARGARET. 
 
BAPTISMS. 517 
 
 Dec. 2d. Robert Douglass child MBHETABEL. 
 
 Jan. 10th, [1748 N. S.] John Christophers' child, PETER. 
 
 Jan. 24th. Sarah Birch was baptized, SARAH. 
 
 Jan. 31st. Jonathan Lattimore and his wife had yr child 
 baptized, HANNAH; Joseph Harris's child, TEMPERANCE; 
 Stephen Douglass's child, ELIJAH. 
 
 1748. 
 
 Apr. 3d. David Gardiner's child, DAVID. 
 
 Apr. 10th. Joseph Coyt's child, L.UCRETIA; Samuel Lat- 
 timore's child, RICHARD; Jesse Minor's child, SUSANNA. 
 
 Apr. 17th. William Douglass's child, EUNICE; William 
 Morgan's child, ENOCH. 
 
 Apr. 20th. At a lecture at Mohegin, Ben Uncas's child, 
 ESTHER; Betty Garret's, alias Johnson's child, HANNAH. 
 
 May 8th. Samuel Bill's child, JOHN. 
 
 May 22d. John Dart's child, SUSANNA. 
 
 June 1st. Abel More's children, ABIGAIL, JOSEPH, JOHN, 
 LYDIA; Moses Fargo's child, HANNAH; William Hatch's 
 child, SUSANNA; Jasper Daniels's child, SARAH; Jabez Chap- 
 pel's child, MARY; Richard Chapel's child, BETHIAH. 
 
 June 5th. John Colfax's child, WILLIAM. 
 
 June 19th. Daniel Comstock's children, DESIRE, CHRIS- 
 TIAN; James Comstock's child, ELIZABETH. 
 
 June 26th. Nathaniel Holt's child, JAMES; John Rogers's 
 child, JOHN; John Holt's child, KATHERINE. 
 
 July 24th. Jonathan Copp's child, JOHN. 
 
 Aug. 7th. John Wheeler's child, LYDIA. 
 
 Aug. 14th. Charles Short's child, JOSEPH. 
 
 Sept. nth. William Beckwith's child, WILLIAM. 
 
 Oct. 9th. James Douglass's child, PHEBE. 
 
 Oct. 23d. Col. Gurdon Saltonstall's child, MARTHA. 
 
 Oct. 30th. Christopher Christophers' children, CHRISTO- 
 PHER, JOSEPH. 
 
 Nov. 20th. Daniel Truman's child, HENRY. 
 
 Dec. 4th. Samuel Talman's child, JOSEPH. 
 
 Dec. nth. Joshua Hempstead Junr's child, SAMUEL; Man- 
 
518 LATER HISTORY OF THE FIRST CHURCH. 
 
 asseh and his wife Lydia Leach, had yr child baptized, CLEM- 
 ENT. 
 
 Jan. 22d, [1749 N. S.] Stephen Hempstead's child, WIL- 
 LIAM; John Douglass's child, JOHN. 
 
 Feb. 1st. Oliver Manwaring Junior's child, BETTY. 
 
 Feb. 12th. Nicholas Hallam, and his wife Elizabeth Hallam, 
 had yr child baptized, GRACE. 
 
 1749. 
 
 March 1st. Anthony Whipple's children, JOHN, JANE; 
 Thomas Manwaring Junr's child, THOMAS. 
 
 March 19th. Joseph Hurlbut's child, ELIZABETH. 
 
 March 26th. Daniel Denison's child, ELIZABETH; James 
 Tilly's child, JOHN. 
 
 Apr. 2d. John Harris's child, CHRISTOPHER. 
 
 Apr. 5th. Samuel Brooks' child, RICHARD. 
 
 April 9th. Samuel Richards's child, JEDIDIAH; Nathan 
 Douglass's child, ANN; at a lecture at Mohegin, Joseph his 
 child, ELIZABETH. 
 
 Apr. 23d. John Hawkins' and his wife had yr child baptized 
 SARAH. 
 
 Ap. 30th. Pygan Adams's child, ANN; Samuel and Mary 
 Morgan, yr child, was baptized, SAMUEL. 
 
 May 21st. Jeremiah Miller Junr's child, JEREMIAH. 
 
 June 7th. Moses Fargo's child, ELEANOR; Daniel Com- 
 stock's child, JEMIMA; Silas Whipple's child, JOSHUA; Jon- 
 athan Chapel's child, EBENEZER; Jabesh Chappel's child, 
 TEMPERANCE; Mary Morgan's child, ELIZABETH. 
 
 July 23d. Samuel Leach's child, JOHN. 
 
 July 30th. George Chappel's child was baptized, MARY; 
 Thomas Minor's child, SUSANNA; Samuel Gardiner's child, 
 HANNAH; Josiah Brooks's child, ELIZABETH. 
 
 July 31st. George Richards Junr's child, GEORGE. 
 
 Sept. 10th. Jonathan Lattimore Junr's child, GEORGE; 
 George Richards Junr's child, ESTHER. 
 
 Oct. 1st. Titus Hurlbut's child, JEREMIAH. 
 
 Oct. 15th. Nathaniel Beebe's child, PETER; Zaccheus 
 
BAPTISMS. 519 
 
 Wheeler's child, FREDERICK; Saml Beebe's child, ELJZA- 
 BETH. 
 
 Oct. 29th. Saml Bill Junr's child, ELIZABETH. 
 
 Dec. 3d. John Coyt's child, DESIRE. 
 
 Dec. 24th. Samuel Green's child, MARGARET. 
 
 Dec. 31st. William Holt Junr's child, SARAH. 
 
 Jan. 7th, [1750 N. S.] Christopher Christophers' child, 
 ELIZABETH. 
 
 Jan. 14th. Isaac Fellows's child, BYANTON. 
 
 Jan. 21st. John Christophers' child, LUCRETIA. 
 
 Feb. 4th. David Gardiner's child, ELIZABETH. 
 
 1750. 
 
 March 4th. Thomas Butler Junr's child, SARAH. 
 
 March 24th. Daniel Coyt's child, ESTHER. 
 
 March 25th. Col. Gurdon Saltonstall's child, HENRIETTA r 
 Jonathan Culver's child, JEREMIAH; John Tinker Junr's child, 
 ELIZABETH. 
 
 April 23d. At Mohegin Benjamin Uncas's child, ISAIAH; 
 Moses Mosine, alias, Tonatio's child, MOSES. 
 
 April 29th. Charles Short's child, JOANNA. 
 
 May 20th. Samuel Talman's child, JOHN. 
 
 May 27th. Caleb Douglass's child, CALEB. 
 
 June 10th. Jeremiah Miller Junr's child, MARGARETA. 
 
 June 17th. George Colfax and wife had yr child baptized, 
 SARAH. 
 
 June 23d. Thos Calkins's child, MARY. 
 
 June 25th. Mrs. Hancock's child, ANN. 
 
 July 4th. Robert Douglass's child, JOSEPH; James Doug- 
 lass's child, JAMES; William Crocker's children, JONATHAN, 
 ELIZABETH. 
 
 July 6th. Nathaniel Coyt's child, RICHARD. 
 
 July 22d. Nicholas Darrow's child, NICHOLAS. 
 
 Aug. 5th. William Douglass's child, RICHARD; David 
 Richards Junr his child RHODA. 
 
 Aug. 12th. Samuel Douglass's child, MARY. 
 
520 LATER HISTORY OF THE FIRST CHURCH. 
 
 Sept. 2d. Nicholas Hallam's child, EDWARD; Edward 
 Tinker's child, JOHN. 
 
 Sept. 30th. Joseph Coyt's child, JOSEPH. 
 
 Oct. 7th. Joseph Harris's child, NATHANIEL; Phebe Ams- 
 berry's child, JOSHUA. 
 
 Oct. 14th. John Holt's child, SARAH. 
 
 Oct. 28th. Joshua More's child, JOSHUA; William More and 
 his wife had yr child baptized, WILLIAM. 
 
 Nov. 4th. Daniel Star's child, ABIGAIL. 
 
 Nov. 25th. John Hawkins's child, BENJAMIN. 
 
 Dec. 2d. John Dart's child, REBECKAH. 
 
 Dec. 5th. Joshua More Junr's child, HANNAH; Daniel 
 Eams's child, ELIZABETH. 
 
 Dec. 16th. John Douglass's child, ESTHER; Jesse Minor's 
 child, ISAAC. 
 
 Jan. 6th, [1751 N. S.] John Rogers's child, ELIZABETH. 
 
 Jan. 20th. Nathaniel Holt's child, PETER. 
 
 Feb. 10th. William Holt Junior his child, ABIGAIL. 
 
 Feb. 24th. Samuel Leach's child, THOMAS; Joshua Hemp- 
 stead's child, LYDIA. 
 
 1751. 
 
 March 17th. Joseph Waterhouse's child, DANIEL. 
 
 April 21st. Samuel Morgan's child, LUCRETIA. 
 
 April 28th. William Hatch's child, STEPHEN. 
 
 May 1st. Johanna Fargo's child, LUCRETIA. 
 
 May 5th. George Richards's child, KATHARINE; Jonathan 
 Lattimore's child, BORADIL. 
 
 May 19th. James Harris his child, JAMES. 
 
 June 3d. At Mohegin Joseph Johnson's child in right of his 
 wife Elizabeth Garrett, JOSEPH. 
 
 June 23d. Stephen Prentiss Junr and his wife had yr child 
 baptized, LUCY. 
 
 July 3d. Samuel Brooks's child, STEPHEN. 
 
 July 7th. My grandchild, Pygan Adams's child, LYDIA. 
 
 July 14th. Titus Hurlbut's child, HANNAH; Zaccheus 
 Wheeler's child, BRIDGET. 
 
 Aug. 7th. Ezekiel Daniels's children [no names]. 
 
BAPTISMS. 521 
 
 Oct. 6th. Nathaniel Shaw's child, MARY; Stephen Hemp- 
 stead's child, LUCY. 
 
 Oct. 13th. Oliver Manwaring Junr's child, LUCRETIA. 
 
 Oct. 20th. Capt. Daniel Coyt's child, DANIEL. 
 
 Oct. 27th. Amos Hallam. and wife had yr child baptized, 
 SARAH. 
 
 Nov. 3d. Samuel Bill Junr's child, DAVID; Nathan Doug- 
 lass's child, HANNAH; Manasseh Leach's child, MANASSEH. 
 
 Jan. 19th, [1752 N. S.] Samuel Talman's child, [no name]; 
 James Lamphire's child, [no name]. 
 
 Feb. 9th. George Colfax's child, [name illegible] ; Mr. Fel- 
 lows' child of Boston, ANDREW. 
 
 1752. 
 
 March 8th. Col. Gurdon Saltonstall's child, GILBERT; 
 James French's child, of Boston, SAMUEL. 
 
 March 22d. Isaac Fellows' child, THOMAS. 
 
 April 20th. Joseph Hurlbut's child, ANN. 
 
 May 6th. John Morgan Junr his twins ISAAC, RBBECKAH. 
 
 May 10th. James Comstock's child, JAMES. 
 
 June 7th. William More's child, MARY; John Tinker Junr's 
 child, JOSEPH. 
 
 June 14th. Nicholas Darrow's child, ELIZABETH; Samuel 
 Bebee's child, RHODA. 
 
 July 1st. Robert Douglass's child, DANIEL; Daniel Eams's 
 child ANNA. 
 
 July 9th. Nathaniel Coyt's twins, SAMUEL, WILLIAM. 
 
 July 19th. Joseph Coyt's child, THOMAS. 
 
 Aug. 16th. Jeremiah Miller Junr his child, ANN. 
 
 Sept. 13th, 0. S. John Coyt's child, JOHN; Jonathan Col- 
 ver's child, CHRISTOPHER. 
 
 Oct. 4th, O. S. W^illiam Douglass's child, LYDIA; Nicholas 
 Hallam's child, JOHN; Thomas Manwaring Junr's child, 
 SARAH; John Wheeler's child, ELIZABETH. 
 
 Oct. 18th, O. S. Thomas Butler Junr's child, WALTER. 
 
 Oct. 25th, O. S. John Rogers's child, LYDIA. 
 
 Nov. 22d, 0. S. Nathaniel Holt's child, PETER. 
 
 Dec. 13th, 0. S. Pygan Adams's child, ELIZABETH. 
 
522 LATER HISTORY OF THE FIRST CHURCH. 
 
 1753. 
 
 March 4th. Amos Hallam's child, AMOS. 
 
 April 8th. Christopher Christophers' child, JONATHAN. 
 
 April 15th. John Douglass's child, GRACE. 
 
 April 22d. David Gardiner's child, JOSEPH; John Hawkins's 
 child, DEBORAH. 
 
 May 20th. George Hendry's child, THOMAS. 
 
 June 3d. Jonathan Lattimore Junr's child, JONATHAN; 
 George Richards's child, ESTHER; John Dart's child, BETH- 
 lAH; John Minor's child, EUNICE. 
 
 June 24th. Jasper Daniels' child, PHEBE. 
 
 July 6th. James and Jane Harpin, had yr child baptized, 
 being sick, JOHANNA. 
 
 Aug. 6th. Bryan Palms' child, JANNET. 
 
 Aug. 13th. William Hatch's child, JOSEPH. 
 
 Aug. 20th. Zaccheus Wheeler's child, GUY. 
 
 Sept. 9th. William Morgan's child, BRIDGET. 
 
 THE REV. MR. ADAMS DIED OCT. 4TH, 1753, AFTER 
 WHICH THE FOLLOWING CHILDREN WERE BAPTIZED. 
 
 Oct. 28th. By the Rev. Mr. Jewit [of North Parish, now 
 Montville]; George Colfax's child, EBENEZER; Joseph Water- 
 house's child, SARAH; Nathan Douglass's child, DEBORAH. 
 
 1754. 
 
 Feb. 3d. By the Rev. Mr. Cleveland [of Haddam], Bryant 
 Palmes' child, JOSEPH. 
 
 March 17th. William Holt's Jun. child, SAMUEL. 
 
 April 21st. By the Rev. Mr. Ellis [of Franklin], Stephen 
 Prentis's child, HANNAH. 
 
 April 28th. By Rev. Mr. Cleveland, Samuel Morgan's child, 
 MARGARET. 
 
 May 12th. By the Rev. Mr. Lord [of Norwich] Stephen 
 Hempstead's child, STEPHEN; Isaac Fellows's child, JOSEPH. 
 
 Aug. 4th. By the Rev. Mr. Johnson [of Old Lyme] Gurdon 
 Saltonstall's child, SARAH. 
 
 Nov. 25th. By the Rev. Mr. Jewit, Joseph Colt's chiW, 
 DANIEL LATHROP; Samuel Tallman's child, ELIZABETH. 
 
BAPTISMS. 52a 
 
 1755. 
 
 Feb. 23d. By the Rev. Mr. Beckwith [of Hamburg in Lyme], 
 Nicholas Hallam's child, [no name] ; Amos Hallam's child, 
 [no name]. 
 
 Mar 2d. By the Rev. Mr. Johnson, Joseph Harris's child, 
 L.YDIA. 
 
 June 8th. By the Rev. Mr. Jewit, Zaccheus Wheeler's child,. 
 SARAH; James Thompson's child, ELIZABETH. 
 
 Aug. 18th. By the Rev. Mr. Griswold [of East Lyme], Jesse 
 Miner's child, AMOS. 
 
 Oct. 5th. By the Rev. Mr. Throop [of Bozrah] John Coit's 
 child MEHETABEL; George Richard's child, GEORGE; George 
 Colfax's child, LUCY; Thomas Butler's Junr child, DANIEL; 
 Nathanael Coit's child, KATHERINE; Joseph Hurlbut's child, 
 GEORGE; Nathan Douglass's child [no name]. 
 
 1756. 
 
 Feb. 22d. By the Rev. Mr. Johnson, Oliver Manwaring's child, 
 OLIVER; Samuel Bill's child, DANIEL; John Hawkins's child, 
 MARY; Samuel Beebe's 2d child, BETHIAH. 
 
 Oct. By the Rev. Mr. Jewit, Joseph Coit's child, JERUSHA. 
 
 1757. 
 
 Apr. 3d. By the Rev. Mr. Estabrooks, [of East Haddam] 
 Thomas Fosdick's child, CLEMENT; Charles Bulkeley's child, 
 JONATHAN; Nicholas Hallam's child, ROBERT; Amos Hal- 
 lam's child, LYDIA; Isaac Fellows's child, ELIZABETH; 
 George Colfax's child, WILLIAM; Jeremiah Miller's child, 
 KATHERINE. 
 
 July 24th. By the Rev. Mr. Lord [of Norwich] Pygan 
 Adams's child, LYDIA; John Dart's child, CALEB; William 
 Holt's child, DAVID; John Rogers's child, ELIZABETH; 
 James Thompson's child, JOHN. 
 
 VI. BAPTISMS OF REV. MATHER BYLES. 
 
 1757. 
 Nov. 20. THOMAS, of David and Elisabeth Gardiner; JOHN,, 
 of George and Katherine Richards; PHEBE, of James and 
 Sarah Douglass; AMOS, of Sarah Butler. 
 
 December 4. NATHAN, of Nathan Douglass. 
 
524 LATER HISTORY OF THE FIRST CHURCH. 
 
 1758. 
 
 January 15. ABIGAIL, of Stephen and Sarah Hempstead. 
 
 February 12. DANIEL, of Nathaniel and Elisabeth Water- 
 house. 
 
 February 26. ELISABETH, of Jeremiah and Margaretta 
 Miller; HANNAH, of Margaret Church, of Groton; SARAH 
 SIMMONS, A.i JANE CHAPMAN, A; KATHERINE CHAP- 
 MAN, A. 
 
 March 5. THOMAS, of Mary Hubbard. 
 
 March 12. SARAH, of Samuel and Sarah Simmons. 
 
 March 16. EUNICE MASON, A; JOHN of John and Deborah 
 Hawkins. 
 
 March 26. SAMUEL, of Thomas and Grace Fosdyke; JON- 
 ATHAN, of George and Lucy Colfax. 
 
 April 9. NEHEMIAH, of Nehemiah and Mary Rogers. 
 
 April 16. RUFUS, of Jesse and Jane Minor. 
 
 April 18. PHEBE, of Grace Morgan; JABEZ and PETER 
 of Jabez and Ann Chappell. 
 
 April 23. DANIEL and SAMUEL, of Daniel Whittemore. 
 
 April 30. JOHN, of Lucretia Casterer. 
 
 May 14. By the Rev. Mr. Lord, John Douglass's child, 
 DAVID. 
 
 June 11. JOHN, THOMAS, JUDAH-PADUCK, REBECCA, 
 ROSAMOND, ALICE, JEDUTHAN, ALDEN, of Thomas and 
 Rebecca Spooner. 
 
 June 18. REUBEN MINOR, A. 
 
 August 6. SAMUEL and ABIGAIL, of Johanna Strickland. 
 
 August 20. ESTHER and ABIGAIL, of David and Elleph 
 Culver; DEBORAH, of Samuel and Mary Morgan. 
 
 September 8. EDWARD, of Charles and Ann Bulkley. 
 
 September 19. MARY, and HANNAH, of Walter Butler; 
 HANNAH and ELISABETH, of Comfort and Hannah Brooks; 
 SAMUEL, of John and Elisabeth Tinker; ANNA and DAVID, 
 of Mary Brooks. 
 
 October 1. ANNA, NATHANIEL, SAMUEL BOOTH, and 
 
 ^A through this pastorate signifies adults. 
 
BAPTISMS. 525 
 
 DANIEL, of Nathaniel and Hannah Hempstead; RICHARD of 
 Sarah Holt. 
 
 October 8. JOSHUA, of Joshua Colt; ELISABETH, of Amos 
 and Sarah Hallam; CHAPMAN, of Samuel and Sarah Sim- 
 mons. 
 
 October 15. SAMUEL, of Samuel and Abigail Gardiner. 
 
 November 5. GEORGE, LEMUEL, DAVID, NATHANIEL, 
 GUY, of Love Rogers. 
 
 November 12. JOSEPH and MARY, of Joseph and Mary 
 Dishon. 
 
 November 19. DANIEL WETHERELL, of Esther Sandi- 
 forth. 
 
 1759. 
 
 February 25, ELISABETH, of Joseph and Rachel Copp. 
 
 March 4. SUSANNA and MEHETABEL, of Jedediah and 
 Sarah Brown. 
 
 April 8. JANET, of John and Elisabeth Mitchell. 
 
 April 22. ELISABETH, of Mary Fellows; MARY of Alex- 
 ander and Hannah Merrill. 
 
 May 20. ELISABETH, of Nicholas and Elisabeth Hallam. 
 
 June 17. LYDIA, of Manasseh and Lydia Leach. 
 
 July 8. ELISABETH, of Nathan Douglass; ANNA, of Ste- 
 phen and Anna Prentiss; CHRISTOPHER, of Jedediah and 
 Sarah Brown. 
 
 July 15. CHARLES, of Jonathan and Lucretia Lattimore. 
 
 July 29. LYDIA and GRACE, of Robert Waterhous; 
 GRACE, of Thomas and Grace Fosdyke. 
 
 Aug. 5. RACHEL, of James Thompson of Groton. 
 
 August 19. ELISABETH, of Zaccheus and Sarah Wheeler; 
 LUCY, of John and Deborah Hawkins; WILLIAM and MAR- 
 GARET, of William and Mary Douglass. 
 
 September 2. LEMUEL, of Cyprian and Elisabeth Water- 
 man. 
 
 September 23. ELISABETH, of Thomas and Abigail Colt. 
 
 September 30. David, of David Allen; JOSEPH of Margaret 
 Church; BENJAMIN, of Thomas Lee of Lyme. 
 
 November 6. MARGARET and LUCY, of Grace Daniels; 
 
526 LATER HISTORY OF THE FIRST CHURCH. 
 
 CHRISTIAN, ELISABETH, JONATHAN, BETHIAH, MAR- 
 THA, of Jonathan and Elisabeth Chapel; SOLOMON, of James 
 and Sarah Douglass; THOMAS, TIMOTHY, REBECCA, of 
 Joanna Fargo; JONATHAN, of Nathaniel and Elisabeth Water- 
 hous; CALEB, of Edward and Sarah Raymond. 
 November 11. LYDIA, of Lydia Manwaring. 
 
 1760. 
 
 January 27. JOHN, of John and Martha Rogers. 
 
 March 2. REBECCA SPOONER, A. 
 
 March 16. MEHETABEL, A, a negro servant of Gurdon 
 Saltonstall. 
 
 April 6. MARTHA, of Mary Hubbard; FRANCES, of Thomas 
 and Rebecca Spooner. 
 
 April 13. WORTHINGTON, of Sarah Ely of Saybrook. 
 
 April 19. SAMUEL, of Sarah Butler. 
 
 April 20. HANNAH, of John and Ruth Dart. 
 
 April 27. ELISABETH, of Nathaniel and Lydia Beebe. 
 
 June 1. ELISABETH, of Charles and Ann Bulkley; ANN, 
 of George and Lucy Colfax. 
 
 June 8. CALEB, and SAMUEL, of William and Mary Doug- 
 lass; SARAH, of Samuel and Sarah Beldin. 
 
 July 6. JOSEPH, of Joseph and Rachel Copp. 
 
 July 27. JOHN, of Elisabeth Chapman. 
 
 August 10. SAMUEL, of Samuel and Sarah Simmons; PA- 
 TIENCE CLAY, A; STEPHEN, LYDIA, JOHN ALLEN of 
 Stephen and Patience Clay; RICHARD of Richard and Esther 
 Chapman. 
 
 August 24. SARAH, of Alexander and Hannah Merrill; 
 PHEBE STRICKLAND, A. 
 
 August 31. At the fifth society in Norwich THEOPHILUS, 
 SAMUEL, HIRAM, of Theophilus and Lois Huntington. 
 
 September 7. JOSEPH, of Joseph and Mary Dishon. 
 
 October 5. CHRISTOPHER, JOHN, SILAS, of Jedediah and 
 Prudence Darrow; LEBBEUS, of Cyprian and Elisabeth Water- 
 man. 
 
 October 12. JOSHUA, of John and Esther Douglass. 
 
BAPTISMS. 527 
 
 November 2. JAMES, KATHERINE, SARAH, LYDIA, of 
 Sarah Butler. 
 
 November 9. JOHN, JAMES, of John and Elisabeth Mit- 
 chell. 
 
 November 16. RICHARD, of Jesse and Jane Minor; JOHN, 
 of Nathanael and Love Coit. 
 
 November 23. MARY of Amos and Sarah Hallam. 
 
 1761. 
 
 January 25. THOMAS, of Pygan Adams. 
 
 March 1. ROBERT of Jonathan and Lucretia Lattimore; 
 JOHN, of Nathaniel and Esther Plombe. 
 
 April 26. DANIEL, of Richard and Esther Chapman. 
 
 June 21. LODOWICK, of Margaret Church; LUCRETIA, of 
 Mary Fellows. 
 
 July 5. DANIEL, of Mary Macounlif. 
 
 July 26. ELISABETH, of Turner and Rebecca Minor. 
 
 August 6. At a lecture at Joshua More's CALEB, EBEN- 
 EZER, of Joshua More; ELISABETH, of Edward and Sarah 
 Raymond; BENJAMIN, of Clement Beebe. 
 
 August 30. JAMES, of James Thompson; ABIGAIL, of 
 Thomas Coit. 
 
 September 20. STEPHEN, of Stephen Chappel; JEDI- 
 DIAH, of Jedidiah and Prudence Darrow. 
 
 September 27. JOSEPH, of John Crocker. 
 
 October 25. JOSEPH, of William and Elisabeth Morgan; 
 ABIGAIL, of Jonathan and Elisabeth Chapel. 
 
 November 8. PHEBE, of Stephen and Anna Prentiss, MAR- 
 GARET, of Samuel and Sarah Beldin. 
 
 November 15. HANNAH, of Nathanael and Hannah Hemp- 
 stead. 
 
 November 22. JEREMIAH, of Nathanael and Katherine 
 Thorp; TURNER MATHER, of Turner and Rebecca Minor. 
 
 November 29. ANN, of John and Deborah Hawkins. 
 
 1762. 
 January 17. GEORGE, of Nicholas and Elisabeth Hallam. 
 April 4. BENJAMIN, of John and Ruth Dart; IVORY, of 
 
528 LATER HISTORY OF THE FIRST CHURCH. 
 
 William and Mary Douglass; DAVID, of Ebenezer and Elisa- 
 beth Dart. 
 
 April 11. JOHN GOUBE. of Samuel and Sarah Simmons. 
 
 April 25. WILLIAM, of Nathanael and Love Coit; LYDIA of 
 John Crocker. 
 
 May 30. At the second society in Roxbury, EBENEZER, of 
 Ebenezer and Mary Scott. 
 
 June 6. JOHN, of Richard and Anna Law. 
 
 June 20. MARY, of Stephen and Patience Clay; ELISHA, 
 of Cyprian and Elisabeth Waterman; GIDEON, of Elisabeth 
 Chapman. 
 
 June 27. ETHLINDA, of Sarah Ely; ESTHER, of Manasseh 
 and Lydia Leach; MARY, of Joseph and Mary Dishon. 
 
 July 4. ROBERT, of George and Lucy Colfax; LUCRETIA, 
 of Mary Hubbard; MARY, of Joshua and Prudence Spicer of 
 Norwich, 
 
 August 1. RACHEL, of Joseph and Rachel Copp. 
 
 September 26. At the first society in Groton, RACHEL, of 
 Ebenezer Perkins. 
 
 October 3. SARAH, of James and Sarah Douglass. 
 
 October 31. REBECCA, of Mather and Rebecca Byles; 
 JEREMIAH, ELISABETH, JAMES, of Sarah Chapman. 
 
 November 21. JEDIDIAH, of Jedidiah and Sarah Brown. 
 
 December 19. ROBERT of Robert and Lydia Lattimore. 
 
 1763. 
 
 February 27. NICHOLAS, of Jonathan and Lucretia Latti- 
 more. 
 
 March 13. RICHARD, of Richard and Anna Law. 
 
 March 20. MEHETABEL, of Samuel and Sarah Beldin. 
 
 March 27. SAMUEL, of Samuel and Elisabeth Lattimore. 
 
 April 3. GURDON JASON, of Jeremiah and Margaretta 
 Miller. 
 
 April 24. SUSANNA, of Turner and Rebecca Minor. 
 
 May 15. CALEB DOUGLASS, of Gideon and Rebecca 
 Stacy. 
 
 May 29. ELIJAH, of John and Esther Douglass. 
 
BAPTISMS. 529 
 
 June 19. WILLIAM SALMON, of John Rogers. 
 
 June 26. NICHOLAS, of Mary Darrow. 
 
 July 17. ISAAC, of Lydia Manwaring. 
 
 July 24. LYDIA JOHNSON, A; BENJAMIN of Nathaniel 
 and Love Coit; WILLIAM, of Thomas and Lydia Johnson. 
 
 July 31. JOHN, of Anne Lattimore; WILLIAM, of Lucretia 
 Lattimore; KATHERINE, of Nathaniel and Katherlne Thorp. 
 
 September 11. FLORA, a young negro servant of Pygan 
 Adams upon his account. 
 
 November 1-3. TIMOTHY, of Timothy and Rebecca Green. 
 
 December 4. JOHN, of George and Lucy Colfax; ELISA- 
 BETH, of John and Elisabeth Mitchell. 
 
 1764. 
 
 January 1. BORADIL, of Nicholas and Elisabeth Hallam. 
 
 January 22. MARY, of William and Mary Douglass. 
 
 February 12. MARGARET, of Margaret Church. 
 
 March 4. SARAH, of Sarah Stubbiens; [in a separate list 
 of those baptized by him Mr. Byles gives this as SARAH 
 MINER, which is probably correct, and not Sarah Stubbiens] ; 
 LUCY, CLEMENT, SAMUEL, of John and Sarah Stubbiens. 
 
 April 1. STEPHEN, of Sarah Butler; REBECCA, of Win- 
 throp Saltonstall. 
 
 April 8. MATHER, of Mather and Rebecca Byles; HAL- 
 LAM, of Nathaniel and Hannah Hempstead; JANE, of James 
 Thompson; ELISABETH of Sarah Ely. 
 
 May 6. RUSSEL, of Mary Hubbard. 
 
 May 13. SARAH, of Jonathan and Elisabeth Chapel. 
 
 May 20. GRACE, of Manasseh and Lydia Leach. 
 
 June 10. SARAH, of Henry and Sarah Latimer. 
 
 June 17. JOHN, of Joseph and Mary Dishon; HANNAH, of 
 Mary Fellows. 
 
 July 8. STEPHEN, of Stephen and Anna Prentiss. 
 
 August 26. JOHN, of John and Sarah Stubbiens. 
 
 September 16. MALSOR, of John Crocker. 
 
 September 30. SARAH, of Nathanael Waterhous. 
 
 October 7. RICHARD, of Richard and Mary Dishon; PETER 
 BENJAMIN, and MARY, of Mary Dishon; [this should be 
 
530 LATER HISTORY OP THE FIRST CHURCH. 
 
 MARY HARRIS not DISHON, as Harris is the patronymic 
 given both these children in Mr. Byles' separate list] ; JOHN, 
 of Samuel and Elisabeth Lattimer. 
 
 October 29. HANNAH, of Jonathan and Jane Crocker. 
 
 November 4. GEORGE, ASA, ELISABETH, of Phebe Holt; 
 BRIDGET of Samuel and Mary Morgan. 
 
 November 11. MARY, of Jonathan and Jane Crocker. 
 
 November 18. SARAH, of Jedidiah and Sarah Brown. 
 
 November 25. LYDIA, of Thomas and Lydia Johnson; ED- 
 WARD, of Richard and Esther Chapman. 
 
 December 2. DOUGLASS, of Elisabeth Chapman. 
 
 December 9. EBENEZER, ELISABETH, LUCRETIA, 
 CHRISTOPHER, of Ebenezer, and Joanna Holt. 
 
 December 30. RUSSEL, of Nathanael and Love Coit. 
 
 1765. 
 
 January 13. GRISWOLD, of Jonathan and Lucretia Lati- 
 mer; SAMUEL, of Samuel and Sarah Beldin; STEPHEN, of 
 Stephen and Patience Clay. 
 
 January 20. ELIZABETH MORGAN, A; BENJAMIN, of 
 Gideon and Rebecca Stacy. 
 
 March 17. JONATHAN, of Richard and Anna Law; MARY, 
 of Nathan Douglass. 
 
 April 14. TURNER, of Turner and Rebecca Miner; MARY, 
 of John Gardiner. 
 
 May 26. THOMAS CLARK, of Timothy and Rebecca Green. 
 
 June 23. ELISABETH, of Lydia Manwaring. 
 
 July 7. GURDON, of Winthrop Saltonstall. 
 
 August 4. WALTER, of Mather and Rebecca Byles. 
 
 September 1. JOSEPH, DANIEL, GEORGE, SAMUEL, of 
 Green Plumb. 
 
 September 29. HENRY, of Henry and Sarah Latimer. 
 
 November 10. JONATHAN, of William and Mary Douglass. 
 
 November 17. STEPHEN of John and Esther Douglass; 
 LUCY, of Jonathan and Jane Crocker. 
 
 November 24. SAMUEL, ANN, THOMAS of Thomas and 
 Katherine Dennison. 
 
BAPTISMS. 531 
 
 December 1. JOHN, of Samuel and Elisabeth Latimer. 
 December 8. DANIEL, of Daniel and Lucy Star. 
 December 15. MARY, of George and Lucy Colfax. 
 December 29. KATHERINE GREEN, A. 
 
 1766. 
 
 February 28. ELISABETH, of Elisabeth Hern, of Stoning- 
 ton. 
 
 March 9. EPHRAIM, of Ephraim Leach; PAIN of Hannah 
 Leach, [the name given the child in Mr.. Byles's separate 
 list is. Pain Kinyon] ; JAMES, HANNAH, of Ephraim and. 
 Hannah Leach; ELISABETH, of Roswel Saltonstall. 
 
 March 23. DYAR, of Sarah Harris. 
 
 April 6. ELEAZER, MARY, of Lucy Gaylord. 
 
 April 27. MARTHA, of Mary Hubbard. 
 
 May 11. MARY, of Thomas and Mary Hempstead. 
 
 June 15. ELISABETH, of Thomas and Katherine Dennison. 
 
 June 22. MOSES, of Joseph and Mary Dishon; NATHAN- 
 AEL, of Samuel and Sarah Beldin. 
 
 July 1. HANNAH, of Ebenezer and Joanna Holt. 
 
 July 6. ANN, of James Thompson. 
 
 July 13. REBECCA, of Turner and Rebecca Miner. 
 
 July 27. JOSEPH, of Jonathan and Lucretia Latimer. 
 
 August 17. DAVID, of Stephen and Anna Prentiss; NATH- 
 ANAEL, of Nathanael and Katherine Thorp. 
 
 August 24. LUCRETIA, of Nicholas and Elisabeth Hallam. 
 
 August 31. RICHARD, of Lydia Beebe. 
 
 September 14. ESTHER, of Jonathan and Elisabeth Chapel. 
 
 September 21. LOVE, of Nathanael and Love Coit. 
 
 September 28. GRACE, of George and Elisabeth Douglass. 
 
 November 2. ELISABETH, of Henry and Sarah Latimer. 
 
 November 9. ANN, of Gideon and Rebecca Stacy. 
 
 November 16. CHRISTOPHER, of Richard and Mary 
 Dishon; ELISABETH, of Samuel and Sarah Simmons. 
 
 1767. 
 February 8. BENJAMIN, of Richard and Anna Law. 
 
532 LATER HISTORY OF THE FIRST CHURCH. 
 
 March 1, ICHABOD, of Jedidiah and Sarah Brown. 
 
 March 15. EUNICE, of Daniel and Lucy Star. 
 
 March 22. LUCY CHAPMAN A. ; MARY WANTON, of Win- 
 throp Saltonstall; RUSSEL, of Nathan Douglass. 
 
 April 5. THOMAS, of Thomas and Mary Coit; MARY, of 
 Elisabeth Hern; SARAH, of John Gardiner. 
 
 May 3. REBECCA, of Thomas and Lydia Johnson; HAN- 
 NAH, of Lydia Beebe. 
 
 May 10. ANNA, and ELIZABETH, of Mather and Rebecca 
 Byles. 
 
 May 24. GILES of Nathanael and Hannah Hempsted. 
 
 May 31. SARAH, of Mary Fellows. 
 
 June 7. MARY, of Sarah Harris. 
 
 June 21. At the second society in New London, LEBBEUS, 
 of Thankful Baker; by the Rev. Mr. Throop, Samuel Morgan's 
 child, LYDIA. 
 
 July 12. JOSEPH, of John and Sarah Stubbiens. 
 
 July 19. DANIEL, and MARY, of Daniel and Mary Holt. 
 
 July 26. WILLIAM, of Samuel and Sarah Simmons. 
 
 August 2. SARAH, of Thomas and Mary Hempsted. 
 
 August 23. HANNAH, of Dudley and Frances Saltonstall. 
 
 October 18. DANIEL, of Manasseh and Lydia Leach. 
 
 October 25. SARAH, of William and Mary Douglass. 
 
 November 1. ISAIAH, of Green Plumb. 
 
 December 6. SAMUEL, of Stephen and Patience Clay. 
 
 December 27. RICHARD ROSWEL, of Roswel Saltonstall. 
 
 1768. 
 
 January 10. MARY, of Nathan and Elisabeth Bailey in com- 
 munion with the first church in Groton, but admitted to this 
 church after Mr. Byles left; WILLIAM, of David and Martha 
 Manwaring. 
 
 January 18. ELISABETH HACKLEY, and THOMAS, of Cy- 
 prian and Elisabeth Waterman; LUCY, of Isaac Chapel; MARY, 
 of Isaac and Mary Chapel. 
 
 January 31. EZRA, of Pember and Abigail Calkins. 
 
 February 7. REBECCA, of Ebenezer and Joanna Holt. 
 
BAPTISMS. 533 
 
 February 14. LUCRETIA, of Turner and Rebecca Minor. 
 
 March 6. SAMUEL, of Timothy and Rebecca Green; ELISA- 
 BETH, of George and Elisabeth Douglass. 
 
 March 13. DAVID, of Jonathan and Jane Crocker. 
 
 March 20. SUSANNA, of Mary Hubbard. 
 
 March 27. RICHARD, and ISAAC, of Anna Stubbiens. 
 
 April 3. SAMUEL, of James Thompson. 
 
 April 10. NATHANAEL, of Jonathan and Lucretia Latimer.. 
 
 April 12, 1768. The Revd Mr. Byles Dismist himself from 
 the Church and Congregation. 
 
 During the interim between Mr. Byles and Mr. Woodbridge 
 the following were baptized by visiting clergymen. 
 
 May 8. The Rev. Mr. Throop of Norwich baptized SAMUEL, 
 of Samuel and Sarah Beldin; COMSTOCK, of Jonathan and 
 Mrs. Chapell, and a son of Capt. John Douglass, whose name 
 is not given. 
 
 October 23. Revd Joseph Fish of Stonington baptized the 
 following, Richard Law Esq. his child ANNE; Joseph Deshon's- 
 child, JOANNA; James Butler's child, GRACE; James Doug- 
 lass his child, SYLVANUS; Jedediah Brown's child, DAVID;. 
 Samuel and Elisabeth Harris's child, WILLIAM; Daniel Holt's 
 child, LUCY; Isaac Chapel's child, RUTH. 
 
 1769. 
 
 April 2. The Revd Mr. Benjamin Throop of Norwich bap- 
 tized the following children, viz., Nathan Douglass's child, 
 CHARLES; Richard Deshon's child, SUSANNAH; Samuel Lat- 
 timore Junr his child, GEORGE GREY; Thomas Hempsted's 
 child, JAMES; John Gardiner's child, MARY; David Manwar- 
 ing's child, REBECCA; Pember Calkins's child, JOHN. 
 
 VII. BAPTISMS BY EPHRAIM WOODBRIDGE. 
 
 1769. 
 
 October 15. DAVID, of Thomas and Mary Coit; LUCY, of 
 Daniel and Lucy Star. 
 
 November 5. CHRISTOPHER, of Henry and Sarah Latimer; 
 REBECCA, of Gideon and Rebecca Star. 
 
534 LATER HISTORY OP THE FIRST CHURCH. 
 
 November 19. FRANCES, of Dudley and Frances Salton- 
 stall; WILLIAM, of Ebenezer and Joanna Holt, 
 December 4. LUCY, of Thomas and Sarah Harris. 
 
 1770. 
 
 January 15. DANIEL, of Samuel and Sarah Belding; Ros- 
 well, of Roswell and Elizabeth Saltonstall. 
 
 January 22. ANNE DUDLEY, of Winthrop and Anne Sal- 
 tonstall. 
 
 January 24. MARY, of Hannah and Ephraim Leech; MARY, 
 and RICHARD, of Elizabeth Sherman. 
 
 January 28. A CHILD, of George and Elizabeth Douglass. 
 
 February 11. ELIZABETH and JOHN, of Elizabeth Shapley. 
 
 April 1. GEORGE, of John and Elizabeth Chapman. 
 
 April 8. GILES, of Nathan Bailey. 
 
 May 13. HANNAH, of Nathaniel Thorp. 
 
 June 14. LYDIA, JOHN, DANIEL, JEREMIAH, of Rebecca 
 Williams. 
 
 June 17. SILAS, of Pemberton Calkins. 
 
 July 22. HANNAH, of Stephen and Anna Prentiss. 
 
 July 29. HANNAH, of Thomas and Mary Hempsted. 
 
 August 19. DANIEL, of William Douglass Junr. 
 
 November 20. LUCRETIA, of Jedediah and Sarah Brown. 
 
 December 2. JOHN PRENTICE, of Richard and Mary 
 Deshon. 
 
 December 9. SUSANNAH, of Isaack and Mary Chapil. 
 
 December 16. DUDLEY, of Dudley and Frances Saltonstall; 
 SARAH, of Daniel and Mary Holt. 
 
 December 30. WILLIAM of Patrick Roberson. 
 
 January 6. SAMUEL, of Samuel and Elizabeth Latimer; 
 HANNAH, of David and Martha Manwaring. 
 
 March 24. WINTHROP, of Winthrop Saltonstall. 
 
 April 28. LUCRETIA, of Lucretia Saltonstall. 
 
 August 18. THOMAS, of Nathan and Anne Douglass; JOHN, 
 of Daniel and Lucy Star; JONATHAN, of Thomas and Mary 
 Coit; LYDIA, of Henry and Sarah Latimour. 
 
 September 1. EZEKIEL, of Nathl and Catherine Thorp. 
 
BAPTISMS. 535 
 
 1771. 
 
 September 15. WILLIAM, of Timothy and Rebecca Green; 
 WILLIAM, of Ebenezer and Joanna Holt. 
 
 October 8. JOHN, of John and Anne Dyar; STAR, of 
 Thomas and Katherine Denison. 
 
 November 10. NATHANIEL SHAW of Ephraim and Mary 
 Woodbridge. 
 
 November 17. EUNICE, of George and Elizabeth Douglass. 
 
 1772. 
 
 January 12. MARY, of Samuel and Sarah Belding. 
 
 April 5. CATHERINE, of Thomas and Mary Hempsted. 
 
 May 10. A CHILD of Pember and Abigail Calkins. 
 
 May 31. NICHOLAS of Stephen and Sarah Chappil. 
 
 June 8. THOMAS BRATTLE of Dudley and Frances Salton- 
 stall. 
 
 July. REBECCA, JONATHAN, of Jonathan and Jane 
 Crocker; LYDIA, of Stephen and Sarah Chappel; JOSHUA, 
 ROBERT, EDWARD, of Edward and Sarah Raimond; SARAH, 
 of Richard and Anne Law. 
 
 August 1. PETER, of Richard and Mary Deshon. 
 
 August 8. ABIGAIL, of Roswel Saltonstall. 
 
 August 22. JOSIAH, of William and Mary Douglass. 
 
 September. ZIPPORAH, of Cyprian and Elizabeth Water- 
 man; A CHILD, of Isaack and Mary Chapil. 
 
 December. EPHRAIM, of Jedediah and Sarah Brown. 
 
 1773. 
 
 July 25. JEHIEL, of Stephen Miner. 
 
 August 15. LUCRETIA, of Ephraim and Mary Woodbridge. 
 August 22. LUCY, of George Douglass. 
 
 September 20. RICHARD, of Samuel and Sarah Belding; 
 CATHERINE, of Thomas and Katherine Denison. 
 October 17. PIERPONT, of Daniel and Mary Holt. 
 November 13. WILLIAM, of Pember and Abigail Caulkins. 
 
 1774. 
 February 14. CHARLES, of Stephen and Sarah Chappel. 
 
536 LATER HISTORY OF THE FIRST CHURCH. 
 
 March 27. EUNICE, of Richard and Anne Law. 
 
 April. ELIZABETH, of Daniel and Lucy Starr. 
 
 June 12. MARTHA, of David and Martha Manwaring, by Mr. 
 Thro op. 
 
 September 4. AZARIAH, of D. Beebe. 
 
 October 19. RICHARD, of William and Mary Douglass. 
 
 October 24. SARAH, HANNAH, of Edward and Sarah 
 Raimond. 
 
 October 30. LUCY, of Richard and Mary Deshon. 
 
 November 20. EDMUND, of Elizabeth Chapman. 
 
 1775. 
 
 January 1. KATHERINE, of Ebenezer and Joanna Holt. 
 
 January 15. SARAH, of Ephraim and Mary Woodbridge. 
 
 February 13. ELIZABETH, SARAH, of T. and Mary Deshon. 
 
 February 19. PHEBE, of Samuel Parsons. 
 
 March 1. REBECCA, of Jedediah and Sarah Brown. 
 
 April 9. JOHN, SARAH, HENERY, of Susanna Owen. 
 
 April 30. WILLIAM, of Rebecca Rynd. 
 
 May 7. ESTHER, WILLIAM, HANNAH, DESIRE, JOHN, 
 DAVID, of Susanna Hall. 
 
 May 8. EZEKIEL, of Cyprian and Elizabeth Waterman; 
 JOSHUA, of Isaack and Mary Chappil. 
 
 June 25. ELIZABETH of Pember and Abigail Calkins, bap- 
 tized by Mr. Grover, 
 
 September 24. ABIAH, of George and Elizabeth Douglass; 
 Daniel Starr's child, RICHARD. 
 
 October 8. Patrick Roberson's child SAMUEL; Samuel Bel- 
 den's child ESTHER. 
 
 November 5. Stephen Miner's child, UNICE. 
 
 November 19. Henry Latimer's child, MARY. 
 
 1776. 
 
 March 17. Thomas Coit's child, CHARLES. 
 March 31. Green Plumb's child, MARGARET. 
 September 6. Mr. Woodbridge died. The following are bap- 
 tisms during the vacancy. 
 
BAPTISMS. 537 
 
 1777. 
 
 June 8th. Thomas Hempstead's child, LUCRETIA; George 
 Douglass's child, LYDIA; Pember Calkins's child, WILLIAM; 
 Richard Deshon's child, SARAH; Samuel Belden's child,. 
 SARAH; Timothy Green's child, ELIZABETH. 
 
 September 14th. Stephen Prentiss's child, SARAH; Henry 
 Latimer's child, DAVID; Joshua Bradley's child, SALLY r 
 David Manwaring's child, GURDON; Daniel Star's child, ELIZ- 
 ABETH; Isaac Chapel's child, REBECCA. 
 
 1780. 
 
 September 13th. Lucy Star's child, JAMES NICHOLSON;. 
 George Douglass's child, EMILIA. 
 
 1781. 
 
 April 2d. Thomas Coit's child, HENRY. 
 
 April 17th. Daniel Douglass and his wife Lydia's children, 
 EDMOND, LYDIA; Edward Raymond's children, SARAH, 
 EDWARD; George Douglass's child, GEORGE; Stephen Ray- 
 mond's child, STEPHEN. 
 
 September 30th. Samuel Morgan Junr his children MEHIT-^ 
 
 ABEL, SAMUEL. 
 
 1782. 
 
 June 25th. The Rev. Benjamin Throop of Norwich bap- 
 tized, LUCRETIA, of Thomas and Mary Hempstead; GILES, 
 
 of Danl and Mary Holt. 
 
 1783. 
 
 June 29th. George and Elizabeth Douglass's child, CHRIS- 
 TOPHER; Daniel Douglass's child, GILBERT. 
 July 2d. Thomas Hempstead's child, name not given. 
 
 1785. 
 August 7th. Daniel Douglass's child, BENJAMIN. 
 
 VIII. BAPTISMS BY REV. HENRY CHANNING. 
 
 1787. 
 June 17. WILLIAM SAMUEL, of Eunice Richards; 
 CHRISTOPHER, of Daniel and Lydia Douglass. 
 
538 LATER HISTORY OF THE FIRST CHURCH. 
 
 July 1.. EDWARD, of Amasa Learned. 
 
 July 15. JAMES, of Thomas and Mary Coit. 
 
 August 5. JOSEPH, EDWARD, MARY, CHRISTOPHER, 
 STEPHEN, of Stephen and Mary Hempstead. 
 
 August 12. LUCY, SUSANNAH, of David and Martha 
 Manwaring; LYDIA, JOSEPH, of Louis Maniere. 
 
 August 17. PHEBE, of Robert and Elizabeth Manwaring. 
 
 August 29. GEORGE, of Samuel and Rhoda Wettemore. 
 
 September 2. SALLY ESTHER, MOLLY, JOHN, ANNE, 
 JONATHAN, KATHERINE, of Esther Prentis; ANN, LUCY, 
 EMILY, EBENEZER, of Ebenezer Lester; WILLIAM, of Jacob 
 Stockman. 
 
 September 9. DEBORAH, CHRISTOPHER, FANNY, ELIZ- 
 ABETH, LUCRETIA, of Robert and Elizabeth Manwaring. 
 
 September 23. ROBERT, of Joshua Coit. 
 
 September 24. DEBORAH, of John and Deborah Tilley. 
 
 October 3. RICHARD, SARAH, THEODA, GILES. ICHA- 
 BOD, of Jonathan Crocker; SARAH, of Mary Craig. 
 
 October 24. DUDLEY, of John S. and Henrietta Miller. 
 
 October 29. JOSHUA, MARTHA, of Dudley and Frances 
 Saltonstall. 
 
 November 18. HUBBEL, ABIGAIL, THADDEUS, ELIZA- 
 BETH, of Thaddeus and Abigail Brooks. 
 
 December 2. REBECCA, JEREMIAH, HANNAH, HENRY, 
 of Sperry and Rebecca Douglass; GURDON, HENRIETTA, of 
 John S. and Henrietta Miller. 
 
 December 18. ABIGAIL, JONATHAN, of Isaac Chapel Junr; 
 JEDEDIAH, MARY, of Jedediah and Mary Brown. 
 
 December 19. SARAH, HANNAH, ESTHER, ROBERT, 
 GRACE, ABIGAIL, of Grace Douglas, wife of Thomas; SALLY, 
 EDWARD RAYMOND, of Moses and Mehitable Warren; GUY, 
 of Mary Morgan, wife of Stephen. 
 
 December 30. JOHN, WILLIAM, LYDIA, THOMAS ADAMS, 
 of Anne Champlin, wife of John; LYDIA, of Joshua Coit. 
 
 1788. 
 January 27. MARTHA, MATTHEW, HENRY, RICHARD, of 
 
BAPTISMS. 539 
 
 Turner and Rebecca Minor; ABIGAIL, LUCY, PATTY, FRAN- 
 CIS, MARY, NATHAN, of Ebenezer and Abigail Douglass; 
 LUCY, SARAH, ANNE, JOHN, GEORGE ROBBINS, WIL- 
 LIAM, of George and Mary Colfax. 
 
 April 6. ELIZABETH, SARAH, EUNICE, JOHN WIL- 
 LIAMS, of James and Dorcas Beebe; DANIEL, of Samuel and 
 Rhoda Wettemore. 
 
 May 4. MARTHA, of Martha Wright. 
 
 June 1. HANNAH, STEPHEN, SOPHIA, HARRY, of Ste- 
 phen and Hannah Holt; ELIZABETH, NATHANIEL, ANN\, 
 CHRISTOPHER MANWARING, of Nathaniel Hempsted; BEN- 
 JAMIN, ABIGAIL, DAVID, ELIZABETH, COIT, JEREMIAH, 
 of Benjamin Rogers. 
 
 June 29. LODOWIC PETER, SAMUEL, GUY RICHARDS, 
 of Mary Champlin. 
 
 July 1. CHRISTOPHER, EUNICE, PATTY, of Christopher 
 and Grace Brown. 
 
 July 27. NABBY, EUNICE, PHEBE, CONSTANT FREE- 
 MAN, of Elizabeth Holt; NANCY, JOSEPH, of Anne Champ- 
 lin; JOHN, HANNAH, MARTHA, of Hannah Rogers. 
 
 September 4. HENRY of Ebenezer Lester. 
 
 September 14. THOMAS, EBENEZER, MOSES, of Sally 
 Bishop; DAVID, of Martha Wright. 
 
 September 21. HENRY WILLIAM, of Henry and Sally 
 Channing. 
 
 October 19. HENRIETTA, of Eunice and W. Richards. 
 
 November 16. JOHN WOODWARD, of Ebenezer and Abigail 
 Douglass. 
 
 November 19. HARRY LEONIDAS, of Esther Prentis. 
 
 December 7. FRANCES, of John S. and Henrietta Miller. 
 
 1789. 
 
 January 1. ALEXANDER PYGAN, of Anne, wife of John 
 Champlin. 
 
 January 13. MARIA, of Mary, wife of Stephen Morgan. 
 
 February 23. JONATHAN, ISAAC, CHARLES, of Titus and 
 Lucy Whipple. 
 
540 LATER HISTORY OF THE FIRST CHURCH. 
 
 March 15. ANNE, CATHERINE RICHARDS, of Esther, 
 wife of Archibald Robinson; ELIZABETH HARRIS, of Alex- 
 ander Richards. 
 
 April 5. SAMUEL, of Samuel and Rhoda Whittemore; SU- 
 SANNA, RICHARD, of Nathaniel and Susannah Hempstead. 
 
 April 12. WILLIAM, of Thaddeus and Abigail Brooks. 
 
 August 11. REBECCA, of Jedediah and Mary Brown. 
 
 November 8. SARAH, of Stephen and Mary Hempstead; 
 WILLIAM, of Daniel and Lydia Douglass; JAMES, of James 
 and Dorcas Beebe. 
 
 November 29. LEONARD, of Joshua Coit. 
 
 December 6. REBECCA, of Louis and Rebecca Maniere. 
 
 December 13. THOMAS SHAW, of Henry and Sarah Chan- 
 
 ning. 
 
 1790. 
 
 January 3. CHARLES SPOONER, of Jacob Stockman. 
 
 February 14. BENJAMIN HEMPSTEAD Ai 
 
 February 28. ELIZABETH, BENJAMIN, ANNA, CHARLES 
 TURNER, HENRY, of Benjamin and Elizabeth Hempstead. 
 
 March 28. ELIZABETH SIMMONS A. 
 
 March 29. AMASA, of Samuel Morgan Junr. 
 
 June 13. NANCY, of Titus and Lucy Whipple. 
 
 June 20. EDMUND, of Benjamin Rogers; SALLY, 
 CHARLES, NANCY, LUCINDA, of Chapman and Elizabeth 
 Simmons. 
 
 August 1. CHARLOTTE, of George and Mary Colfax. 
 
 August 5. ELIZABETH, of John S. and Henrietta Miller; 
 JOHN, of John and Lucy Coit. 
 
 August 8. ELIZABETH, of Ebenezer and Abigail Douglass; 
 ELIZABETH, FANNY, of Oliver Chapman. 
 
 October 7. MARY HUBBARD, of Martha Wright. 
 
 October 13. ISAAC, of Isaac Chapel Junr. 
 
 October 18. HENRY, of Sarah Bliss. 
 
 October 24. HARRIET, of Benjamin and Elizabeth Hemp- 
 stead. 
 
 *A means adult. 
 
BAPTISMS. 541 
 
 October 26. BETSEY STIRLING, of Lemuel and Sarah Lee; 
 AMASA, CLARISSA, children of William Banning deceased, 
 being bound, and of the household of Lemuel and Sarah Lee, 
 were by them devoted to God. 
 
 November 21. PATTY WAIT A; JOHN LATTIMORE, Of 
 Lucretia, wife of Nathaniel Saltonstall; MARVIN, PATTY 
 JONES, HARRIET, RICHARD, of Patty, wife of Marvin Wait. 
 
 1791. 
 
 March 13. GEORGE, of George D. and Mary Avery; MARY, 
 of Hannah, wife of John Rogers. 
 
 April 1. MARY, of Anne, wife of John Champlin. 
 
 April 14. GRACE, of Christopher and Grace Brown. 
 
 May 5. THOMAS ARCHIBALD, of Esther, wife of Archibald 
 Robinson. 
 
 May 8. LUCRETIA TREBY A. 
 
 May 13. SALLY, of Ebenezer and Ann Lester. 
 
 May 22. JACOB, of Jacob Stockman; LUCRETIA, NABBY, 
 CHARLOTTE, of Lucretia and Isaac Treby; HANNAH, GUR- 
 DON FLOWER, presented by Nathaniel Hempstead Senr. their 
 grandfather, being under his care. 
 
 June 16. ELIZABETH, of Eunice and William Richards. 
 
 June 19. SARAH, of Daniel and Lydia Douglass. 
 
 July 24. MARY ANNE, of Henry and Sarah Channing. 
 
 August 14. BENJAMIN, of Louis and Rebecca Maniere. 
 
 September 10. JOHN, of Sarah and Abraham Bliss. 
 
 September 11. NANCY, of Samuel and Rhoda Whittemore. 
 
 November 6. GEORGE, of Lucretia and Isaac Treby. 
 
 November 13. THOMAS, of Stephen and Mary Hempstead; 
 MARY, of Thaddeus and Abigail Brooks. 
 
 December 13. ELIZABETH DOUGLASS A. 
 
 December 20. OLIVER, of Patty and Marvin Wait. 
 
 1792. 
 
 January 8. MARY, of George and Mary Colfax. 
 February 5. LUCRETIA, of John and Lucy Coit. 
 February 19. FANNY, of Joshua Coit. 
 
542 LATER HISTORY OF THE FIRST CHURCH. 
 
 February 26. PATTY, of Chapman and Elizabeth Simmons. 
 
 July 22d. CATHERINE SHELDON A; SARAH EDMUNDS 
 A, by immersion. 
 
 September 18. ANNE, of Lydia Manwaring. 
 
 September 20. ELIZABETH HOWARD, of Archibald and 
 Esther Robinson. 
 
 October 7. HANNAH, of Nathaniel Hempstead 2nd. 
 
 October 28. RICHARD, of John S. and Henrietta Miller. 
 
 November 6. DAVID, of Jedediah and Mary Brown. 
 
 December 9. LYDIA RICHARDS A. 
 
 December 16. WALTER McCURDY, of Henry and Sarah 
 Channing. 
 
 December 30. JOHN SEABURY, of Oliver Chapman; JULIA, 
 of Ebenezer and Abigail Douglass. 
 
 1793. 
 
 January 3. LUCRETIA, of Benjamin Rogers. 
 
 May 10. MARGARET BWOYD A, by immersion. 
 
 May 12. PHILIP, CHRISTOPHER, of Mary and Philip 
 Allen. 
 
 May 22. MOSES FARGO A, aged 78. 
 
 June 9. WILLIAM SALMON, of Hannah and John Rogers. 
 
 June 14. SAMBO, a negro A. 
 
 August 1. EUNICE, of Eunice and Picket Latimer. 
 
 August 5. GEORGE, of Mary and John Bishop. 
 
 November 21. SUSANNAH, of Jacob and Susannah Stock- 
 man; EBENEZER, of John and Hannah Arnold. 
 
 December 1. EMILIA, of Samuel and Rhoda Whittemore. 
 
 December 30. GEORGE, of Isaac Chapel 2d. 
 
 1794. 
 
 January 2. JOHN, of John and Lucy Coit. 
 
 January 20. CHARLOTTE, of Christopher and Grace 
 Brown; LUFANNY, of Jedediah and Mary Brown. 
 
 March 27. GEORGE RICHARDS, of Esther and Archibald 
 Robinson; MARY, of Lucretia and Isaac Treby. 
 
 April 1. WILLIAM, of Sarah and Abraham Bliss. 
 
BAPTISMS. 543 
 
 April 6. WILLIAM, of Henry and Sarah Channing. 
 
 April 26. LYDIA CHADWICK, of Louis and Rebecca Man- 
 iere. 
 
 May 4. FANNY, WILLIAM, JEREMY, SARAH, of Frances 
 and William Briggs; MEHITABEL, BETSY, of Mehitabel and 
 Daniel Chapman; BETSY, WILLIAM HEMPSTEAD, of Pa- 
 tience and Japhet Mason; BETSY, JOHN, of Elizabeth and 
 Ebenezer Prentis. 
 
 May 8. BENJAMIN, MERIT, NANCY, EBENEZER, SIM- 
 EON, of Deborah and Merit Rockwell; FREDERIC, of Eunice 
 and William Richards; HANNAH PICKET, of Eunice and 
 Picket Latimer. . 
 
 May 18. POLLY, of Lydia and John Manwaring. 
 
 June 1. EBENEZER, of Lucretia Prince, then wife of 
 Ebenezer Colfax; KIMBALL, JOHN, WILLIAM, EDWARD, of 
 Kimball and Lucretia Prince; BETSY PITMAN, WILLIAM 
 GREEN, SOPHIA, of Henry and Olive Tarbos. 
 
 June 22. THANKFUL MORGAN, A; DANIEL WITHER- 
 LEY, of Daniel and Lydia Douglass. 
 
 July 22. ESTHER, EBENEZER, THOMAS, ISAAC, ANNA, 
 SARAH, of Eleazer and Anna Brown; HETTY, of Moses anJ 
 Mehitabel Warren. 
 
 August 17. GURDON, CHESTER, RICHARD, of Chester 
 Kimball. 
 
 September 18. GEORGE, of George and Mary Colfax. 
 
 September 28. LYDIA, of Benjamin and Elizabeth Hemp- 
 stead. 
 
 October 12. NATHANIEL, MARY, MARTHA, of Thomas 
 and Mary Holt; THADDEUS, of Thaddeus and Abigail Brooks- 
 November 13. LEVI, of John and Mary Bishop. 
 
 1795. 
 
 February 12. ANNE, of Benjamin Rogers. 
 April 5. EDWIN, of Henry and Sarah Channing. 
 May 7. LUCRETIA, GILES, of Giles and Lucretia Hemp- 
 stead; ANNA, of Oliver Chapman. 
 June 25. SALLY, of Abraham and Sarah Bliss; FREDER- 
 
■544 LATER HISTORY OF THE FIRST CHURCH. 
 
 ICK, of Kimball and Lucretla Prince; HENRY, of John and 
 Hannah Rogers. 
 
 July 5. NANCY, of Joshua and Nancy Colt. 
 
 July 13. DANIEL, of Daniel and Mehitabel Chapman. 
 
 August 2. JANETTE, GEORGE, of John and Experience 
 Gordon. 
 
 August 6. THOMAS, of Archibald and Esther Robinson; JA- 
 COB, of Jacob and Rebecca Chany. 
 
 September 20. LYDIA, of Eleazer and Anna Brown. 
 
 October 28. HANNAH SALTONSTALL, of Thomas and 
 Mary W. Coit. 
 
 November 26. MARY WILSON, of Jacob Stockman. 
 
 December 2. EUNICE, of George and Esther Morgan. 
 
 1796. 
 
 January 10. ELISHA, NANCY, of Elisha and Abigail Kin- 
 man. 
 
 February 18. ELIZABETH, of Merit and Deborah Rockwell. 
 
 March 20. HENRY, of Christopher and Grace Brown. 
 
 March 31. ANNE, of Ebenezer and Abigail Douglass; 
 PICKET, of Picket and Eunice Latimer. 
 
 April 3. HENRY, of Isaac Chapel 2d. 
 
 April 10. JULIA, of John and Hannah Arnold; JOHN MC- 
 CURDY, of Henry and Sarah Channing; WILLIAM, of George 
 D. and Mary Avery. 
 
 July 3. LUCY, of Chester Kimball. 
 
 August 11. ISAAC, of Isaac and Lucretia Treby. 
 
 October 18. CHARLOTTE, of Charles Soul. 
 
 November 17. ALVAN FOSDICK, of Samuel and Rhoda 
 
 Whittemore. 
 
 1797. 
 
 February 23. MARY, of Benjamin Rogers; WILLIAM, of 
 Chapman and Elizabeth Simmons. 
 March 5. HARRIET, of Archibald and Esther Robinson. 
 April 6. LUCINDA, of Jedediah and Mary Brown. 
 May 31. AUGUSTA DUDLEY, of Thomas and Mary W. 
 
BAPTISMS. 545 
 
 Coit; MARY HALL.AM, WILLIAM WANTON, of Gurdon and 
 Hannah Saltonstall. 
 
 June 6. ELIZABETH, of John and Hannah Rogers. 
 
 June 18. SUSANNAH, of Sampson and Rose Cato. 
 
 June 25. RICHARD, of John and Lucy Coit. 
 
 June 29. MARTHA, DAVID BILL, SALLY BROOKS, JOHN, 
 of Nathaniel and Elizabeth Dickinson; RACHEL WRIGHT. 
 SUSANNAH FRYERS, of Ezekiei and Susannah Fox; SAM- 
 UEL BOOTH of Giles Hempstead. 
 
 July 13. MARTHA, MARY, of Grace Ryon. 
 
 August 4. JEREMIAH, of John and Mary Bishop. 
 
 August 14. MARY PARK, ABIGAIL, JOSEPH FRANCIS, 
 CHARLES HEMPSTEAD, of Joseph and Elizabeth Sisson. 
 
 September 21. FANNY LEEDS, of Thaddeus and Abigail 
 Brooks; HENRY LIVINGSTONE, of William and Eunice 
 Richards. 
 
 October 8. ALEXANDER STEWART, WALTER, of Henry 
 and Sally Channing. 
 
 October 25. LEMUEL, SAMUEL, of Lemuel and Sarah Lee. 
 
 November 9. SALLY, LUCRETIA, RICHARD, HARRIET, 
 of Richard and Sally Chapel. 
 
 December 12. HENRY, LUCY GOODWIN, of Henry John- 
 son. 
 
 1798. 
 
 January 4. ELIZABETH, of George and Mary Colfax. 
 
 January 16. SUSANNAH, of John and Martha Smyth. 
 
 April 7. LOUISA MARY, ROBERT COLFAX, 'of Ebenezer 
 and Anne Lester. 
 
 April 12. OLIVER, of Joseph and Elizabeth Sisson; FANNY 
 LOUISA, of John and Hannah Arnold. 
 
 May 24. REBECCA, of Samuel and Rebecca Chany. 
 
 May 26. ELIZA, of Jedediah and Mary Brown. 
 
 July 5. MARY CATHERINE, of Archibald and Esther Rob- 
 inson; NANCY, of Isaac Chapel Junr; SHUBAEL RAYMOND, 
 of Shubael and Sally Smith. 
 
 August 8. SAMUEL, MARY, of Henry and Lucretia Youngs. 
 
 August 23. ELIZABETH LUCAS, of Picket and Eunice Lat- 
 
546 LATER HISTORY OF THE FIRST CHURCH. 
 
 imer; WILLIAM, of John and Lucy Coit; THOMAS GOODWIN, 
 of Henry Johnson; SUSAN, of Joshua and Nancy Coit; 
 THOMAS HUBBARD, of David and Martha Wright. 
 
 December 28. GEORGE DUDLEY, of Lemuel and Sarah 
 Lee. 
 
 1799. 
 
 February 14. WILLIAM PENNIMAN, of Isaac and Lucre- 
 tia Treby; FANNY BROOKS, of Amos and Abigail Leeds. 
 
 [Being in Charleston, County of Ontario, State of New York, 
 and at Geneva in the same county, baptized the following. 
 At Charleston; 
 
 June 30. JUDITH wife of Stephen Tinker A; LUCRETIA 
 KINNEY, of Stephen Tinker; LOVINA, of Clark Brockway. 
 
 July 2. At Seneca: BETSEY and JANE, children of Job 
 and Jane Barry. 
 
 At Geneva July 3. JOHN, of Walter and Janet Grimes.] 
 
 July 25. PATTY ELIZA, of Marvin and Patty Wait. 
 
 July 28. BENJAMIN, of Benjamin Rogers; MARIA, of Chap- 
 man and Elizabeth Simmons; SOPHIA, HARRIET, CHARLES, 
 SALLY, GUY, FANNY, ELIZA, of Guy and Hannah Richards. 
 
 October 27. MARY, of Joshua and Lucy Star. 
 
 October 29. LUCRETIA, of Christopher and Grace Brown. 
 
 1800. 
 
 January 2. THOMAS WAY, RICHARD DOUGLASS, of Dan- 
 iel and Hannah Starr. 
 
 January 5. ANN ELIZABETH, of Thomas and Mary Edgar; 
 THOMAS EDGAR, DANIEL, of Daniel and Mary Lee. 
 
 April 3. JULIA ANN, of Jonathan Law. 
 
 April 6. SALLY AUSTIN, JANE SMITH, JOSEPH, JOHN 
 FRANKS, of Joseph and Marcy Phillips. 
 
 May 15. CHRISTOPHER, of Kimball and Lucretia Prince; 
 DANIEL, EZRA, SAMUEL BOOTH, of Ezra and Elizabeth 
 Dodge. 
 
 June 1. NATHANIEL SHAW, THOMAS SHAW, LUCRETIA 
 WOODBRIDGE, ELLEN ELIZABETH, of Elias and Lucretia 
 Perkins. 
 
BAPTISMS. 547 
 
 July 14. DANIEL, GURDON, of Deborah Rockwell. 
 
 July 27. ELIZABETH, of Elizabeth and Joseph Sisson. 
 
 July 31. NANCY, of John and Lucy Coit. 
 
 August 7. ELISHA, of Richard and Sally Chapel. 
 
 August 10. ELIZA, of William and Elizabeth Hamilton. 
 
 November 16. SALLY FIELD GREEN A; MARY WOLCOTT 
 
 A. 
 
 November 20. PETER, of Picket and Eunice Latimer. 
 
 December 26. FREDERIC WILLIAM of Amos and Abigail 
 
 Leeds. 
 
 1801. 
 
 March 15. WILLIAM POOL, of Samuel and Sally F. Green. 
 
 May 31. LUCY WAY of Daniel and Hannah Starr. 
 
 July 2. WILLIAM, of Stephen and Mary Hempstead. 
 
 August 20. MARY WATERMAN, JOHN, of Chester and 
 Lucy Kimball; HARRIET, of Giles and Lucretia Hempstead; 
 EZEKIEL TURNER, of Ezekiel and Susannah Fox; MARY 
 ANN, of Samuel and Rebecca Chaney. 
 
 August 27. OLIVER ELLSWORTH, of Elias and Lucretia 
 S. Perkins. 
 
 September 17. CHARLES EDWARD, of Shubael and Sally 
 Smith. 
 
 September 25. JOHN, of Henry and Lucretia Youngs. 
 
 October 1. CHARLES, of Benjamin Rogers. 
 
 November 6. FANNY, of Joseph and Mary Phillips. 
 
 December 1. REBECCA JENNISON, of Henry Johnson. 
 
 December 6. LUCY, of John and Lucy Coit. 
 
 December 31. ELIZABETH HUNTINGTON of Ebenezer 
 
 and Mary Dimon; HENRY AUGUSTUS, of Peter and Ann C. 
 
 Richards. 
 
 1802. 
 
 February 1. ADALINE, of Isaac and Lucretia Treby. 
 February 7. SABRA, of Joseph and Elizabeth Sisson. 
 February 28. JAMES, ALBERT, URBAN, COURTLANDT, 
 MORTIMER, of James and Katherine Edgerton. 
 March [no date]. MARTHA, of Thomas and Mary W. Colt.. 
 
548 LATER HISTORY OF THE FIRST CHURCH. 
 
 April 1. JASON, FRANCES, GRACE, ANNE ALLEN, JON- 
 ATHAN, MARY, of Jason and Frances Rogers. 
 
 April 2. HENRY HUBBIL, of Amos and Abigail Leeds. 
 
 April 29. THOMAS HENRY, of Thomas Henry and Mary 
 Goddard; MARY, of John and Mary French. 
 
 August 18. SUSAN, of Israel and Susan Geer. 
 
 September 7. ELIZABETH, of Isaac and Elizabeth Chapel; 
 SALLY LUTITIA, of James and Rebecca Tinker. 
 
 October 5. FRANCES ANN, of Coleby and Frances Chew. 
 October 26. SALLY RAYMOND, of Shubael and Sally 
 Smith; MIRANDA, of Jedediah and Mary Brown. 
 
 November 11. LUCRETIA, of Picket and Eunice Latimer. 
 December 24. COLEBY, of Coleby and Frances Chew. 
 
 1803. 
 
 February 10. LUCRETIA HAVENS, of Stephen and Jerusha 
 Holt. 
 
 March 13. SALLY PITMAN, A. 
 
 June 26. JOSHUA, of Daniel and Hannah Starr. 
 
 July 25. MARTHA ANN, of Alexander C. and Martha Wylly. 
 
 July 31. WOLCOTT, of Peter and Ann C. Richards. 
 
 August 4. JOHN CROCKER, SALLY, of James and Sally 
 Pitman. 
 
 August 11. FREDERICK WILLIAM, SUSANNAH, of Chris- 
 topher and Susannah Griffing. 
 
 August 28. THOMAS WINTHROP, of Thomas and Mary W. 
 Coit. 
 
 October 3. AMEY, of John and Mary Turner. 
 
 November 10. HENRY, of John and Mary Bishop. 
 
 November 20. JOHN OWEN, of Samuel and Rebecca 
 Chaney. 
 
 December 18. HENRY, FRANCIS, LUCY, AUSTIN ROB- 
 BINS, of John and Lucy Gordon; AMOS, of Amos and Abigail 
 Leeds. 
 
 December 21. HARRIETT, of Joseph and Elizabeth Sisson. 
 
BAPTISMS. 549 
 
 1804. 
 
 January 4. JULIA HUBBARD, of Jireh and Lucretia Isham. 
 
 February 16. ABIGAIL HOLT, of Chester and Lucy Kim- 
 ball. 
 
 April 1. PHILETUS HAVENS, of Stephen and Jerusha Holt. 
 
 May 27. HANNAH ELIZABETH, of Ezekiel and Susannah 
 Fox. 
 
 June 24. LYDIA, of Isaac and Elizabeth Chapel. 
 
 August 19. HENRY, of John and Lucy Coit. 
 
 September 6. LUCY, JARED MINER, MARY, of John and 
 Susannah Chapman. 
 
 October 14. EMILINE, of Asa and [no name] Button. 
 
 1805. 
 
 January 1. MARY, HANNAH, ELIZA, FANNY, WILLIAM 
 GRANT, of William and Mary Wheat; JOHN MERRILLS, of 
 John and Susannah Chapman. 
 
 April 4. EMELINE, of John and Lucy Gordon. 
 
 May 27. CHARLES EDWARD, of Shubael and Sally Smith. 
 
 July 11. CHANNING, of Peter and Ann C. Richards. 
 
 August 28. FREDERICK JOHN, of George Frederick and 
 Deborah Harper. 
 
 September 1. SALLY ROCKWELL, of Ezra and Wealthy 
 Chappell. 
 
 September 2. CATHERINE ELIZABETH, ELLEN, of James 
 and Catherine Edgerton. 
 
 October 13. CAROLINE, of Daniel and Hannah Starr; ED- 
 WIN, of Stephen and Jerusha Holt; RICHARD, of Alexander 
 C, and Martha Wylly. 
 
 October 18. PTOLEMY HAVENS, of Jabez and Abigail 
 
 Munsell. 
 
 1806. 
 
 January 5. JESSE, of John and Susannah Chapman. 
 
 February 23. CHARLOTTE, JOHN CAULKINS, DAVID 
 GARDINER, ELIZABETH, of David and Elizabeth Coit. 
 
 May 4. JOHN ELDRIDGE, FRANCES, MARY, CALVIN, of 
 John and Fanny Chester; JOHN WAY, LEONARD, LUCY 
 WAY, OVANDO, of Joseph and Nancy Sistare. 
 
^50 LATER HISTORY OF THE FIRST CHURCH. 
 
 May 12. ALDEN, of John and Fanny Chester; FANNY, 
 of Joseph and Elizabeth Sisson; NANCY, of John and Lucy 
 Coit. 
 
 May 13. JOHN MULFORD, of Picket and Eunice Latimer; 
 ELIZA, of Samuel and Rebecca Chaney. 
 
 May 18. HARRIET, of Chester and Lucy Kimball; EMILY, 
 of Richard and Sally Chapel. 
 
 May 19. JOHN CARTER, of James and Rebecca Tinker. 
 
 May 20. JANE, of Jedediah and Mary Brown. 
 
 Mr. Channing administered the rite of baptism to 575 per- 
 sons. Very few adults were baptized who did not at the time 
 join the church on confession of faith. There is no record 
 which says that parents having entered into or renewed their 
 covenant, had their children baptized. In most cases at least 
 one of the parents was in full communion with some church. 
 
 IX. BAPTISMS BY ABEL McEWEN. 
 
 1806. 
 
 November 8. JONATHAN HAVENS, of Jabez and Abigail 
 
 Munsell. 
 
 November 23. ELIZABETH RICHARDS, of Thomas and 
 
 Mary Coit. 
 
 1807. 
 
 March 13. ELIAS BUTLER, of Elisha and Martha Watrous. 
 
 March 26. ELIZABETH KIP, of Stephen and Jerusha Holt. 
 
 April 14. HANNAH EMELINE, of Shubael and Sally Smith. 
 
 April 26. HENRY CECIL, of Nathaniel and Rebecca Dwight. 
 
 May 10. GILES, WILLIAM, ROBERT NEWSON, of William 
 and Elizabeth Tate. 
 
 May 31. HARRIET LEWIS, of William P. and Abby Cleave- 
 land. 
 
 June 7. MARIA ARNOLD, of Ezra and Wealthy Chappell. 
 
 July 5. MARTHA, CATHERINE, ZEBEDIAH, of Zebediah 
 and Catherine Rogers. 
 
 September 13. MARIA, CHARLES, of Charles and Sally 
 Tainter. 
 
BAPTISMS. 551 
 
 November 15. ANN HUNTINGTON, of Peter and Ann C. 
 Richards. 
 
 December 5. CHARLES CHAUNCEY, of Asa and Clarissa 
 Button. 
 
 December 10. MARY, ELIZA, NANCY, ABBY, CHAR- 
 LOTTE, of William and Betsey Hargill. 
 
 1808. 
 
 March 13. ERASTUS, CAROLINE, of Jason and Francis 
 Rogers. 
 
 May 1. HORACE, of Joseph and Nancy Sistare; FRANK- 
 LIN, of Daniel and Hannah Starr; MARIAN, WILLIAM RICH- 
 ARDS, of Lucy Leeds. 
 
 May 23. JULIA, of David and Elizabeth Coit. 
 
 June 26. JENNY, BENJAMIN SMITH, WILLIAM, MARY, 
 of Scipio and Jenny Anderson. 
 
 July 14. JANE, JAMES, of Daniel and Jennet Keeney. 
 
 July 24. RIAL, of Samuel and Rebecca Chaney. 
 
 July 31. HARRIET, of Zebediah and Catherine Rogers; 
 ELIZABETH, MARIAN, of William and Elizabeth Gale. 
 
 August 14. HENSON, of Paddy and Betsey Allen. 
 
 August 21. CORNELIA, of Ezra and Wealthy Chappell; 
 ABBY SOPHIA, of Charles and Sally Tainter; JOSEPH, ANN 
 MARIA, EDWARD, GRACE, SALLY DESHON, of Joseph and 
 Sally Manning; LUCRETIA, of Daniel and Grace Hempstead. 
 
 September 11. ROBERT, of Abel and Sally McEwen, by 
 the Rev. Joshua Huntington of Boston. 
 
 September 26. GEORGE PAYNE, of William P. and Abby 
 Cleaveland. 
 
 December 6. MARY REBECCA, of James and Rebecca 
 Tinker; WILLIAM GAGE, of David and Lucy Manwaring. 
 
 1809. 
 
 January 13. LEONARD CHRISTOPHERS, of Shubael and 
 Sally Smith. 
 
 February 10. GURDON SALTONSTALL of Thomas and 
 Mary Coit. 
 
552 LATER HISTORY OP THE FIRST CHURCH. 
 
 June 12. CHARLOTTE LOUISA, of Ralph and Charlotte 
 Stoddard. 
 
 July 21. NATHANIEL APPLETON, of Nathaniel and Re- 
 becca Dwight. 
 
 September 3. ELIZA TERRY, EDWARD, WILLIAM AMOS, 
 EMELINE DEBORAH, RICHARD GILES BAILEY, of Amos 
 and Elizabeth Woodward. 
 
 September 10. CHARLES, SALLY, WILLIAM, of Charles 
 and Hannah Butler. 
 
 October 21. EDWARD HEMPSTEAD, of Elijah and Sarah 
 Beebe. 
 
 November 19. WILLIAM PITT, JANETTE RICHARDS, of 
 William P. and Abby Cleaveland. 
 
 November 25. OLIVER ELLSWORTH, of Ellas and Mary 
 Perkins. 
 
 December 11. ELIAS COMSTOCK, of Isaac and Elizabeth 
 Chapel. 
 
 1810. 
 
 March 25. ELIZA of Peter and Ann C. Richards. 
 
 April 17. JOHN, SAMUEL ALEXANDER, ABBY ELIZA, 
 of Abigail Wait. 
 
 April 22. CHARLOTTE of Abel and Sally B. McEwen; 
 HENRY, PRUDENCE, of Nathaniel and Sarah Hewit. 
 
 May 6. JOHN, of Amos and Elizabeth Woodward. 
 
 Mary 20. HANNAH LOOMIS, of Ezra and Wealthy Chappell. 
 
 June 24. CHRISTOPHER HEMPSTEAD, of John and Mary 
 Keeney. 
 
 August 12. MARY ANN, of Robert and Ann Colfax. 
 
 August 19. EBENEZER, WILLIAM, HARRIET ANN, KIM- 
 BALL PRINCE, of Lydia Colfax. 
 
 August 20. JARED WHITFIELD, of Shubael and Sally 
 Smith; BURR, of Francis and Sally Sistare. 
 
 September [no date]. NATHANIEL APPLETON, of Na- 
 thaniel and Rebeckah Dwight. 
 
 October [no date]. ELIAS BUTLER, ANN ELIZABETH, 
 CHARLES ALEXANDER, of Elisha and Martha Watrous; 
 
BAPTISMS. 553^ 
 
 EDWIN, CHARLOTTE ELIZABETH, of Chester and Lucy 
 Kimball. 
 
 October 21. MARY ANN RICHARDS, of Zebediah and Cath- 
 erine Rogers; DAVID, of John and Ann Colt. 
 
 December 1. CHRISTOPHER ABNER, of Caesar and Jer- 
 Ing Shaw; MARIA, of Ralph and Charlotte Stoddart. 
 
 December 16. CHARLES AUGUSTUS, GEORGE RICH- 
 ARDS, of James and Harriet Lewis. 
 
 1811. 
 
 March 1. CHARLOTTE, OLIVER, ASA, MARY, ELIZA- 
 BETH, of Asa and Elizabeth Spencer. 
 
 May 6. ELLEN PAINE, of William P. and Abby Cleaveland. 
 
 July 28. CHARLOTTE HUNTINGTON, of Charles and Jo- 
 anna Lathrop; A CHILD, name not given, of Joseph and Nancy 
 Sistare. 
 
 August 18. MARY ANN, MERIT, WILLIAM RUFUS 
 HYDE, ELIZABETH HYDE, EMILY HYDE, of Elizabeth 
 Rockwell. 
 
 September 27. COURTLAND LUCAS, of Picket and Eunice 
 Lattimer; JOSHUA, NANCY, EDWARD, MARY, of Joshua and 
 Mary Hempstead. 
 
 November 24. GEORGE WILLIAMS, of John and Mary 
 
 Jewett. 
 
 1812. 
 
 January 12. A CHILD, name not given, of William and 
 Elizabeth Gale. 
 
 April 19. PETER, of Peter and Ann C. Richards; JANE, of 
 Daniel and Hannah Starr. 
 
 April 23, JULIA, MEHITABEL, ELIZABETH, of Samuel 
 Treby, presented in the ordinance of baptism by their grand- 
 parents Samuel and Rhoda Whittemore, who have the charge 
 of their education. 
 
 May 24. CHARLES CHRISTOPHERS, of Elijah and Sarah. 
 Beebe. 
 
 June 21. JAMES INGERSOL of James and Hannah Day. 
 
 July 5. JULIA, of Ezra and Wealthy Chappell. 
 
554 LATER HISTORY OF THE FIRST CHURCH. 
 
 July 19. SARAH, of Abel and Sally B. McEwen. 
 
 September 16. LUCINDA CHURCH DART, grandchild of 
 Jedediah and Mary Brown. 
 
 November 23. WILLIAM, of Elizabeth Sisson; MARY 
 WARREN, CATHERINE, ELIHU, SALLY BUTLER, ABBY 
 HEMPSTEAD, LUCY COIT, of Elihu and Catherine Crocker. 
 
 December 1. CORNELIA WYLLYS, of Francis and Sally 
 Sistare. 
 
 1813. 
 
 August [no date]. ABIGAIL HINMAN, of James and Han- 
 nah Day. 
 
 September [no date]. ELIZA CRUMP, of William P. and 
 Abby Cleaveland. 
 
 November 23. ELIZABETH, of Ralph and Charlotte Stod- 
 
 tiart. 
 
 1814. 
 
 January 1. FRANCES ANN, of Chester and Lucretia Kim- 
 ball. 
 
 January 9. FRANKLIN, of Ezra and Wealthy Chappell. 
 
 February 13. RUTH PERRY, ANSTRESS GARDINER, 
 AMY BAKER, FRANCES ELIZA, DAVID PERRY, of David 
 G. and Ann Otis. 
 
 April 3. REBEKKAH MUMFORD, HANNAH HARRIET, 
 JANE WINTHROP, of Robert and Rebekkah Allyn, presented 
 after the decease of their parents, by their sister Nancy L. 
 Allyn as her adopted children; FRANCES CURTIS, of Robert 
 and Ann Colfax, 
 
 May 29. MEHETABEL ROGERS, ABIGAIL, JOHN TINK- 
 ER,, FANNY, of Phillip and Elizabeth Morgan. 
 
 September [no date]. JOHN, of Reuben and Eliza Crump; 
 MARTHA, of Joshua and Mary Hempstead; JAMES GEORGE, 
 of James G. and Patty Bowen. 
 
 October [no date]. HANNAH DOLBEAR, of Peter and Ann 
 "C. Richards. 
 
 November [no date]. THREE CHILDREN, names not 
 given, of Daniel W. Caulkins. 
 
BAPTISMS. 555 
 
 1815. 
 
 January [no date]. ABBY ANN, CHARLES, of David and 
 Mary Jepson, of New York deceased, presented by Henry Jep- 
 son their grandfather; WILLIAM BARTLETT, of Abel and 
 Sally B. McEwen. 
 
 March 12. MARY SHERWOOD, WILLIAM, of James and 
 Hannah Day. 
 
 May 15. A CHILD, name not given, of Charles and Hannah 
 Butler. 
 
 June 11. JOHN DARIUS, of David G., and Ann Otis. 
 
 September [no date]. FRANCES ELIZABETH, of Joseph 
 and Nancy Sistare. 
 
 December 21. MARIA, of Robert and Ann Colfax. 
 
 1816. 
 
 February 25. EDWARD, of Ezra and Wealthy Chappell; 
 EDWARD HALLAM, of Edward and Nancy Learned. 
 
 May [no date] ABBY GORDAN, RUTH ANN, ARCHIBALD 
 HAMILTON, of Daniel and Jennet Keeney; SEVERAL CHIL- 
 DREN, names not given, of Robert and Abiah Douglass. 
 
 1817. 
 
 February [no date]. ANN BUCKINGHAM, of Abel and 
 Sally B. McEwen; ALMIRA POWERS, ANN ELIZABETH, of 
 Nathan S. Angel. 
 
 June [no date]. JOHN SMITH, of Daniel H. Caulkins; ROB- 
 ERT COIT, of Edward and Nancy Learned. 
 
 1818. 
 
 [No dates save the year are given in the remaining cases]. 
 
 SALLY PEARCE, ALFRED LEWIS, ELIZA MANWARRING, 
 ABBY MORGAN, REUBEN WILLIAM, ABRAHAM, ISAAC, 
 FRANCES, JACOB, of Reuben and Abigail More. 
 
 JOSHUA COIT, of Edward and Nancy Coit Learned. 
 
 SARAH OWEN, of Gurdon and Mrs. Kimball. 
 
 EDWARD PRINCE, EDAH ANN, LOUISA FREEMAN, of 
 Caesar and Jane Shaw. 
 
556 LATER HISTORY OP THE FIRST CHURCH. 
 
 ANN KINMAN, of Elisha and Hannah North. 
 
 HARRIET, of Abel and Sally B. McEwen. 
 
 ALEXANDER BROWN, of Lodowick and Elizabeth Leeds. 
 
 1820. 
 
 ELIAS, of Nathaniel and Mrs. Perkins. 
 LUCRETIA, of Rodman and Sarah Lathrop. 
 
 1821. 
 
 CORNELIA LEONARD, of Thomas and Mrs. Perkins; also 
 A CHILD, name not given, of Mr. and Mrs. Nathaniel Per- 
 kins. 
 
 JOHN BATTELL of Abel and Sally B. McEwen. 
 
 BETSEY PECK, EBENEZER, BILLINGS PECK, of Eben- 
 ezer and Charlotte Peck Learned. 
 
 ELIZA ANN, CHARLES WHEELER, ELISHA, SARAH, of 
 Eliza Denison. 
 
 WILLIAM LAW, of Ebenezer and Lydia Coit Learned. 
 
 COLBEY CHEW, of Edward and Nancy Coit Learned. 
 
 JEDEDIAH HUNTINGTON, of Peter and Ann C. Richards. 
 
 These are all the baptisms by Dr. McEwen which could be 
 found. As the record is imperfect between 1821 and the pas- 
 torate of Mr. Bacon, it has been thought best not to continue 
 the list beyond 1821. 
 
 Mr. Hempstead's diary, in some cases, disagrees with the 
 records. But it has been assumed that the pastor, was more 
 likely to be correct. 
 
 In the foregoing list of baptisms, the records have been 
 followed in the spelling. 
 
 Marriages until 1800 are to be found in the SECOND BOOK 
 OF EARLY CONNECTICUT MARRIAGES, published by the 
 bureau of American Ancestry, New Haven. The marriages 
 subsequent to 1800 can be found in the Town Records of New 
 London. 
 
INDEX. 
 
 Adams, Eliphalet; call to Yale, 1, 55- 
 59; to New London, 19, 20; or- 
 dained, 21 ; birth, etc., 21-24; grad- 
 uated from Harvard, 25; Indian 
 work, 38-il ; trustee of Yale, 56, 57 ; 
 disturbances of ministry, 63-67; 
 married, etc., 74; children and de- 
 scendants, 75, 76; wife died, 76, 
 77; his calm judgment saved the 
 church, 78 ; his will, 78, 79 ; died, 80 ; 
 his thunder bolt sermon, 85-95; 
 execution sermon, 97; additions 
 under. 109, 110. 
 
 Allen, Timothy, 123-125, 132. 
 
 Assent to Channing's covenant, 260. 
 
 Association New London, 392. 
 
 Avery, Rev. John's letter, 394-398. 
 
 Awakening, The Great, its causes, 
 101; powerful in Conn., 108; oppo- 
 sition, 110-116. 
 
 Bacon, Rev. E. W., 1, 12, 443. 
 
 Baldwin, Rev. C. J., 201, 202. 
 
 Baptists in Waterford, 48, 53. 
 
 Baptists in New London, 295. 
 
 Baxter's books for intermission, 69, 
 70. 
 
 Belcher, Dea,, 43. 
 
 Bell, 223-225; 314,; 428. 
 
 Benevolences, 11, 12, 418-420. 
 
 Blinman, 4. 
 
 Bolles' Hill, etc., 189, 190. 
 
 Bradstreet, 1. 
 
 Bradford, Alice, 23, 24. 
 
 Burning of books, etc., 130, 131. 
 
 Byles, Mather Jr., supply of church 
 between, and Mr. Adams, 138; ap- 
 peared in New London, 139; ances- 
 try 139-141 ; called, 141-143 ; ordain- 
 ed, 143; lived, 144; Rogerene out- 
 breaks, etc., 144-156; admissions 
 under, 144-146; brilliant preacher, 
 145; children, 156, 157; became an 
 Episcopalian and left, 157-160 ; steps 
 to the change, etc., 161-163; a royal- 
 ist, 162 ; died, 163. 
 
 Card playing, etc., vote concerning, 
 265. 
 
 Cemetery, the second, 222, 223. 
 
 Changes under McEwen, 350-352. 
 
 Channing,Rev. Henry, 10, 204 ; Chan- 
 ningmeeting-house,187-200 ; called 
 208-209; ordained, 210-212; ances- 
 try, 212; asks for more salary, 232- 
 241; delay of reply, 239, 273 ; admis- 
 sions under, 255, 206; dismissions. 
 260; his creed and change of view 
 260-272; dissatisfaction, 273, com- 
 plains of Robert Manwaring, 274, 
 275; first letter leading to resig- 
 nation, 276; at the Mansfield coun- 
 cil, 281-282; interview with so- 
 ciety 's committee, 283, 284; resigns, 
 284-291; dismission, 292, 293, chil- 
 dren, 295,296; died, 297. 
 
 Clock, 219, 234. 
 
 Coit, Fanny, of Ceylon, 354. 
 
 Coit, Jonathan's legacy, 405, 420. 
 
 Conference at Norwich, 267. 
 
 Conference or Sessions House, 309. 
 310, 408. ' ' 
 
 Consociation, 391, 392. 
 
 Council about burning of books, 133. 
 
 Council of Plymouth Church, etc.. 
 417. 
 
 Cutler's defection, etc., 56, 58. 
 
 Daughters, the third, 41-44; the 
 fourth, 368, 369; latter 's house 
 burned, 423-425. 
 
 Davenport, Rev. James. 124-129, 
 
 Declension, religious, 100-106. 
 
 Discipline, 263-265, 349, 415. 
 
 Dow, Dr. Ulysses, 228. 
 
 Dwight'e Psalm Book, 311. 
 
 East Lyme Church, 44-47. 
 
 Episcopal Church, etc., 48-52. 
 
 Edwards, Jonathan, 133, 134. 
 
 Field, Rev. Dr., 6; called, 405-408; 
 accepts, 408; installed, 410; birth 
 and education, 410 ; relations to Dr. 
 McEwen, 411-413; revival, 413; 
 reply to W. H. H. Murray, etc., 
 414-415 ; church votes, 415-420; close 
 of ministry, 429-437; correspond- 
 ence, 430-434 ; dismissal, 437 ; again 
 at Amherst, 437; testimony to, 439- 
 441; married, etc., 441; went abroad, 
 441, 442 ; died, 442. 
 
558 
 
 INDEX. 
 
 Fitch, James, 24. 
 
 First society formed, 47. 
 
 Garrett, Katherine, 38. 
 
 Garrett, Betty and Hannah, 30. 
 
 Gorton, Stephen, 53, 54. 
 
 Graves, Rev., 77, 137, 138. 
 
 Guilford trouble, 68, 69; council, 111- 
 
 113. 
 Granite meeting-house, 316-320. 
 Halfway covenant, 31-33, 112. 
 Hallam, Dr. Robert A., 48-52. 
 Harpoot College, 13. 
 Hillhouse, Rev. James, 42. 
 Health, record of. Chapter IX. 
 Household Worship, 333 
 Hoyt, Rev. James, called, 403, 404. 
 Huntington, Dea. Jedediah, 14. 
 Itinerating forbidden, 112-117. 
 In Excelsis introduced, 416,417. 
 Jewett, Rev. David, 44. 
 Johnson, Rev., 51. 
 Keith, Geo., 49. 
 Kirkland, Rev. Saml.,'31. 
 Lathrop, Harriet, 352. 
 Lecture, weekly, 72. 
 Lewis, Harriet's legacy, 307. 
 Lightning struck meeting-house, 60, 
 
 61, 84, 90, 91. 
 Lots, parsonage sold, 320-323. 
 Lottery, 212-214. 
 Lothrop, Harriet, etc., 352. 
 Love, Dr., 30. 
 
 Mansfield council at, 267, 281. 
 Manwaring, David, 176; Robert, 274, 
 
 275. , . , 
 
 McEwen called, 298, 299; ordamed, 
 300-303; education, 301, 302, 373, 
 374, 377 ; married, 304 ; withdrawals, 
 327-332; introduces new creed, etc., 
 340-345 ; as a preacher, 345-346 ; ad- 
 ditions under, 346; moral society 
 of New London, 338, 339 ; spirit of 
 missions, 35i-355; born, etc., 370. 
 372; at school, 373-377; farm life, 
 374; ride to Hartford and results, 
 375-377; enters college and grad- 
 uates, etc., 377-378 ; studies theolo- 
 gy, etc., 378, 379; came to New 
 London, etc., 380; power of his 
 ministry, 381 ; married and his chil- 
 dren, etc., 381-382, 401. 402; reti- 
 cence as lo his religious life, 383, 
 384 : as a preacher, theologian; etc., 
 384-386; publications, 386, 387; lib- 
 eral, etc., 388; wide influence, 389; 
 State Home Missionary Society, 
 etc., 389-391 ; consociation, 391. 392 ; 
 in ministers' meeting, 392-398; re- 
 lation to education, 398, 399; death, 
 400, 401 ; silence in meetings and 
 cause, 411-413. 
 
 Meeting-house struck by lightnings 
 
 60. 61, 62; repaired, 63, 307, 308; 
 
 sermon, 85-95 : the Channing, 187- 
 
 190, 215-219; the McEweu, 316 323. 
 Membership, 27-29. 
 Methodism in New London, 295, 296. 
 Missionary society formed in New 
 
 London, 353. 
 Mofl-at, Dr.,143, 144. 
 Montville church, 41-44. 
 Morals during interim, 204-206. 
 Music in church, 229-231. 
 New meeting-house 187-200; propo- 
 sition for, tabled, 314 ; old repaired ; 
 
 of second society, 815, 316; burned, 
 
 423-425. 
 Norwich conference, 267. 
 Niles, of Ceylon, 353, 354. 
 Occum Samson, 31, 40. 
 Organ, new, 312, 425, 426. 
 Otis, Asa, etc., 12, 13. 354. 
 Parish House, 418. 
 Parsonage, etc., given, 221,320-323; 
 
 present given, 429. 
 Peters, Rev. Thomas, 2. 
 Pews rented, 11, 218, 323; disputes 
 
 about, 25, 26 ; square made slipst 
 
 etc., 313, 314. 
 Prayer meetings, their origin, 16, 
 
 333,334. 
 Problem of church support, 10, 11. 
 Protracted meetings, 109. 
 Reception of members under Adams, 
 
 34, 35. 
 Records deficient, 366-367. 
 Rogerenes, 65, 66, 144-154. 
 Roll of church, 348. 
 Roman Catholic service, 388. 
 Rules, 348, 349. 
 Sabbath schools in New London, 
 
 origin of, 15, 355-356. 
 Salary of Channing, 232-241, 276. 
 Saltonstall, death of, 66. _ 
 Saybrook platform refused, 142, 267, 
 
 268. 
 Schools and first parish. 225-228. 
 Seabury, John, Samuel, Bishop, 52. 
 Second church and parish, 366-369. 
 Separates, etc., 11, 129-133. 
 Sessions house, 309-310. 
 Severe measures toward Rogerenes, 
 
 151-154. 
 Sexton's house, 308. 
 Shapley, Adam, 165. 
 Shepherds tent. 123, 125, 129. 
 Singing provided for, 229-231, 311,. 
 
 312. 
 Slavery in early days, 72. 
 Snow storm, the great, 84. 
 Songs for the Sanctuary adopted, 416v 
 State money secured, 306, 307. 
 
INDEX. 
 
 559 
 
 Stewart, Matthew testifies to Mr. 
 Adams, 78. 
 
 Strong, Dr., of Norwich, as to morals 
 in New London, 205. 
 
 Subscription for Channing meeting- 
 house, 188-192, 215, 216 ; for Chan- 
 ning, 240; for McEwen, 328-331. 
 
 Supply of pulpit in interim, 200-204. 
 
 Talbot, Rev. John, 49. 
 
 Tax to support the church, 11 ; tax 
 pews, 142; laid and collected, 182- 
 186. 
 
 Tennent, 108. 
 
 Tripe club, 337, 338. 
 
 Uncases, 29, 30. 
 
 Unitarianism, 271, 272 and chapter X. 
 
 Universalism, 367-368. 
 
 Votes concerning admissions under 
 Channing, 258, 259 ; against cards, 
 etc., 265 ; of church under McEwen, 
 365-367; under Field, 415-420; of 
 society, 420-429. 
 
 War, sounds of, 63-68. 
 
 Wheat Saml, 269. 
 
 Whipple, Titus, 264, 265. 
 
 Whittlesey, 112. 
 
 Whitefield in New London, 122, 125, 
 134, 135. 
 
 Wilcox, Dea., 43. 
 
 Williams, Nath., rejected by Sepa- 
 rates, 123, 
 
 Woodbridge called, 164; salary, 165; 
 descent, 165-169; born, 169; mar- 
 ried, 171, 172 ; refused halfway cove- 
 nant, 173-177; church opposed him, 
 174; baptisms by, 176; Dea. Man- 
 waring opposed, 176; discipline 
 under, 177; Mrs. Woodbringe died, 
 178 ; spiritual conditions, 179 ; died, 
 179, 180; children of, 180, 181. 
 
 Wright, Matilda, founder of Sabbatb 
 Schools, 356 ff. 
 
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