Full text of "A narrative and documentary history of St. John's Protestant Episcopal Church (formerly St. James) of Waterbury, Connecticut : with some notice of St. Paul's Church, Plymouth, Christ Church, Watertown, St. Michael's Church, Naugatuck, a church in Middlebury, All Saint's Church, Wolcott, St. Paul's Church, Waterville, Trinity Church, Waterbury (all colonies of St. John's)"

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R E Y w- : • ' o H t STO R I C AL

GENEALOGY COLLECTION

Ilf M iimiiS'!?,"?IM,i', PUBLIC LIBRARY

3 1833 01105 5669

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http://www.archive.org/details/narrativedocumenOOking

A NARRATIVE

AND

DOCUMENTARY HISTORY

St. John's Protestant Episcopal Church

(formerly St. James)

Waterbury, Connecticut

WITH SOME NOTICE OF

St. Paul's Church, Plymouth.
Christ Church, Watertown.
St. Michael's Church, Naugatuck.
A Church in Middlebury.
All Saint's Church, Wolcott.
St. Paul's Church, Waterville.
Trinity Church, Waterbury.

(All Colonies of St. John's.)

Frederick John Kingsbury, L.L.D.

Thb Pricb, Lee & Aokins Co.,

Nbw Haven, Conn.

1907

19G4015

St. John's ( jiuuch, 187.S.

PREFACE.

While compiling a sketch of the Episcopal Church for the "His-
tory of the Town and City of Waterhury" I became aware of material
which would, or should, interest the present members of the church,
bui could hardly be properly used in the somewhat circumscribed
limits of a town history.

I had it in mind to use these materials at some future time in a
fuller account, bui multiplicity of duties and increasing years led
to the postponement and finally to an abandonment of the plan.

Of late, however, several requests that I would do this work, and
the fact that, although I have grown no younger, I seem to be rather
less pressed for time, have led me to make the attempt to carry out my
former undertaking.

For the greater part, the text is simply a reproduction of what
appears in the History, but there are many documents which do not
appear there, some added notes and commentaries and perhaps a few
changes.

This history of the church, which was hefs, both
by long inheritance and deep affection, is dedicated
to the memory of Alathea Ruth ScoviU Kingsbury.

INTRODUCTORY.

The early settlers of Waterbury came from Farmington in
1677-80. Farmington was settled from Hartford in 1640, and
Hartford from the towns about Boston in 1635 and a few years
later. Waterbury's earlier inhabitants were therefore, histori-
cally at least, the descendants of Winthrop's immigration of 1630,
or of those who had joined the same Colony later. About fifty
years, however, had intervened and probably most of those who
came to Waterbury were born in this country.

Nearly all of the early Massachusetts settlers regarded them-
selves as members of the Church of England, but they had evan-
gelical leanings and were opposed to what they thought excessive
liturgical and prelatical observances, — a reforming body within
the church. They had, howeyer, in this country developed a
decided church polity of their own, and had practically become
"Independents." The government was organized on a religious
basis. The early towns were really churches; the minister was
"called" in town meeting, and his support was provided for by
town grants and a town tax. Many of the beliefs and methods
of the Church of England, as then practiced, were not congenial
to the immigrants and their descendants, and these beliefs and
methods were allowed as little foothold or countenance here as
was deemed consistent with a due regard for the ultimate powers
of the English government. Time and distance, however, while
they emphasized and rendered possible a great divergence of
faiths and practice, softened in some minds early prejudices, and
a love and longing for the old church and her forms grew up in
many hearts. Her shortcomings were forgotten, her virtues were
more clearly seen, especially where they could be favorably con-
trasted with the deficiencies of the New England system. In this
way, or in some such way, a preparation for a reaction had for
some time been going on.

The year 1722 was a notable one in the history of the Episco-
pal Church in Connecticut. In that year Dr. Timothy Cutler,

vii

INTRODUCTORY.

rector of Yale college, the Rev. Samuel Johnson, a graduate and
former tutor of the college and at that time pastor of the Congre-
gational church in West Haven, and Daniel Brown, a tutor in the
college and a classmate and intimate friend of Johnson's, all
declared their adhesion to the Episcopal Church, gave up their
positions and left for England to be ordained — there being no
Bishop in this country until some sixty years later. On April 13,
1723, Brown died of small-pox in England, greatly mourned and
lamented. The other two were duly ordained and returned to
this country to pursue their work.

In this same year, 1722, James Brown, a resident of West
Haven, then about thirty-eight years of age, a cousin of the father
of the above named Daniel Brown, and doubtless a parishioner
of the above named Samuel Johnson, removed from West Haven
to Waterbury. He lived at Naugatuck on the east side of the
river, was a farmer and hotel keeper and soon became a somewhat
prominent man in the new settlement. Some years later he re-
moved to Watertown, to the place known of late years as the
Captain John Buckingham place, above Oakville.

He is said to have been the first Episcopalian in Waterbury.
Perhaps he had been a fellow-student and investigator with his
cousin and his pastor. He certainly sympathized with them,
for his Episcopacy was of so pronounced a character, and his zeal
so active, that he earned for himself the soubriquet of "Bishop
Brown" from his jocular neighbors. He seems for some years
to have been the only incumbent.

There were, however, doubtless a few persons already here
who knew something of the Episcopal Church and were well dis-
posed towards it. Witness the following: The Rev. X. A. Welton
writes, "Mr. Stephen Hopkins Welton has an old prayer-book
containing the following inscription, which I copied from it
myself ' :

"This book was first the property of my great-grandfather,
Richard Welton, who was the first male child born of English
parents in Waterbury and one of the first Episcopalians in said
town. At his decease it became the property of my grandfather,
Richard Welton, Jr., and at his decease it became my property.

viii

INTRODUCTlOliY.

I gave it to William S. H. Welton, the oldest son of my nephew,
the Rev. Alaiisoii W. Welton, dec-eased. Said Samuel (sic) is
the fifth generation from the original jjroprietor of tliis book and
the sixth from the only man of this name that was e\'er known to
cross the Atlantic and settle in these British Colonies.
All b} I he way of primogeniture.

Attest: Abi Welton."

Richard Welton, first named above, was born, accordijig to
town record, March, 1G80, and by family tradition Sei)tember 27,
1679, and died in 1755. So he nuiy not have had this book until
after Mr. Brown came here and the possession of the book is not
to be taken as proof of his opinions, but from the fact that lu'
lived at Bucks Hill, at the extreme end of the town from Mi'.
Brown, and that the Weltons were among the first to join with liim
it seems likely that they were already wi:ll affected.

It is recorded that in 1734 Mr. John-^on, then rector at Strat-
ford ascended the valley of tlie Naugatuck as far as Wateilnny
and baptized an infant son of Nathaniel C!unn.* Dr. BeardsK'V
in his History of Episcopacy in ('onneciicut says of this seivice:
"This was undoubtedly the first instaine in that town of the
dedication of a child to God "by our offiet! and mini.-lry,' and the
first occasion on which the forms of th^' liturgy were used by a
clergyman of the Church of knigland."

All organized work of the Church of I'higland in this country
at that time was under the charge of an J^nglish Missionary society
founded in 1701 and styled "The Society for the Propagation of
the Gospel in Foreign Parts." In later years the society was
styled "Venerable," and became so well known that for orilinary
purposes the initials "Ven. S. P. G." were a sufficient description.
This society continued to have charge of all cluirch work here up
to the time of the Revolution. It a])i)ointed the clergy, })aid
their stipends or supplemented them, and received their reports.

♦Presumably Abel, boru August Hi, 1731.

TABLE OF CON'i ENTS

Preface . . . . . , . . . . . iii

Dedication ........... v

Intuoductory . . . . . . . . . . vii

Illustrations . . . . . . ... - xiii

OilAPTER 1.
The Mission Parish of St. James ....... 1

ClIAFrER II.
The Parish of St. James and St. Jdhn ...... '^iO

Transition Pei.iod

CHAPTER 111.
The New Era .......... ^5

CllAFfER IV..

Additional Memoranda ........ ^^

CHAPTER V.
The Laity . . . . . . . - . • . /I

CHAPTER Vl.
Music ........-••• ''^

CHAPTER VI 1.
Trust Funds .....-•-••■ ^'-^

CHAPTER VII 1.
Extract from Records .....•.-■ '^*j

OH A ITER IX
Real Estate . . . . . • • • • .111

CHAl'TER X.
Church Officlrs .....-■••• 1"-'

CHAPTER XI.
Tax Rates and Baptisms by .Mr. M.vnsfield ..... 133

CtlAPTER XII.
St. Peter's Church, Plymouth ....... 139

CHAPTER XI [I.
Christ Church, W.\ I b^RTow'N ........ 141

CHAPTER XIV.
St. Michael'.s Church, N.\.ug\tuck: ...... 149

CUAITER XV.
A Church in Middlkrurit . . . . . . • . .153

CHAPTER XVI.
All Saints' Church, Wolcott ....... 1 j4

CHAPTER XV 11.

St. Pauls' Church, Waterville ....... IGU

CHAFFER XVIII
Trinity Church, Waterbory ........ 1&2

ILLUSTRATIONS.

St. John's Cuiufca 1S7.5 . . . . .

17'j7

lS3a

1843

" " Ani;u Tin: HiuH Wind, Ja.nmjary

" FiKi;, Ui:o. '21, ISGS
Plot of St. Jami:-;' Cninu:ii Lot, 1713

POUTHAIT OF Kl.V. JaCUU L. (.,'LAUK, [).D. .

" " " Edmund Rowland, IXD.
" " " John N. L:::wi.-5, hi.

" FllANCls'l. RUSSKLL, D.D. .

" RiCHAUi) W. Micou, D.D.

" " ■' FrEDERICLv D. IjUCIvLEY

St Paul's Chai'el. \V'Ari;RviLLE

Trinity Church, 190(J .....

I'J, IS

l\uiL

. -U

■la

•IS

. ij
. ;id

. 57

lit)

lii5

17i)

. IGO

. li)2

CHAPTER 1.

THE MISSION PARISH OP ST. JAMES.

1732-1799.

WHEN the Eev. Dr. Benjamin Trumbull, of North Haven,
was collecting material for his History of Connecticut,
he wrote to Judge Joseph Hopkins of Waterbury, who
was at that time presiding judge of the New Haven County Court
and the leading citizen of Waterbury, for information relating to
the history of the Episcopal Church in that town.

Judge Hopkins was not an Episcopalian and he turned the
inquiry over to Capt. John Welton. Captain Welton was a pros-
perous farmer who lived in the North part of the town on Bucks
hill. He was one of the leading men of the town. For years he
and Judge Hopkins together had represented the town in the
General Assembly. He was one of the leading men in the Epis-
copal Church. The letter which he wrote in reply to this inquiry
shows him to have been a man of excellent judgment as to what was
essential in a letter of this kind : of remarkable memory as to facts
and of skill in their arrangement beyond what we could expect in
one of his practical habit and training. This letter has been the
basis of the history of the parish ever since: indeed we know very
little about it up to that date, beyond what this letter tells.

The parish was first called St. James and the name was not
changed until the erection of the new (second) church edifice in
1797, about two years before Captain Welton^s letter was written.

Two years after the writing of this letter Judge Hopkins died.
Perhaps in any event Captain Welton would have been called upon
for these facts and dates but we cannot help feeling that it was
fortunate that Judge Hopkins was called upon to select the man
and that he should have selected Captain Welton to reply to Dr.
Trumbull's inquiries. The letter is still among the Trumbull
papers in the library of Yale College and is as follows :

HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH.

Waterbury, March 15, A. D. 1799.

Dear Sir:— The following is the best answer I can give to
your questions. In the year of our Lord 1733, I was then about
ten years old, I believe there was not more than three or four
churchmen in town. About that time, or before, there was one
Arnold, I suppose an itinerant preacher, preached to them a few
times. What became of Arnold I know not. Afterward Dr. John-
son of Stratford and Mr. Beach of Newtown officiated occasionally
a few times in Waterbury. The state of Episcopacy was much the
same with the addition of but few names until about A. D. 1742 or
three, when a considerable number of families came over to the
church and a house for worship soon after began to be built. In
the meantime one Morris from Europe was sent over by the Society
for the propagation of the Gospel, etc., to take in Waterbury and
several other churches, but he soon returned to Europe. Morris
was succeeded by one Lyon, another of the Society's missionaries.
He was ovey Derby and Waterbury, did not reside in Waterbury,
but officiated there about one-third of the time, but I believe within
one or two years was removed to Long Island. After Lyon was
the Eev. Dr. Mansfield. He came into the mission about A. D.
1749, resided at Derby and officiated at Waterbury one-third of
the time until about the year 1758, vv^hen the Rev. Mr. Scovil came
into the Mission of Waterbury and New Cambridge. He resided
in Waterbury, officiated there one-half the time until about 1771,
when the Mission was divided and Mr. Nichols took New Cam-
bridge, now Bristol, and Northbury, now Plymouth, and left
Waterbury and Westbury, now Watertown, to Mr. Scovil, where
he officiated until about 1785, when he removed to Nova Scotia.

All the above clergymen received their ordination in London. In
the year 1792 we settled Mr. Hart. He continued in the Mission
until 1795, then removed to Wallingford. In the year 1797, the
Rev. Mr. Bronson came into our service. He hath since been set-
tled and is now rector of the Episcopa,! Church in Waterbury.

THE MISSION PARISH OF ST. JAMES.

Thus Sir, I have done the best I could to answer your inquiries
not having many memorandums or records to direct me, but I
believe the above facts are stated nearly right.

I am, Sir, yours to serve, etc.,

John Welton.

Joseph Hopkins, Esq.

(Added to the above by Judge Hopkins.)

There is a library in the first Society in Waterbury composed

of about 116 volumes consisting of books on Diviniiy, History,

Geography and Novels, and the Proprietors have laid a tax vrhich

is also proposed to enlarge it considerably. Also one in Salem

and one in liliddlebury.

Joseph Hopkins.

Rev. B. Tbumbull.

This note by Judge Hopkins, evidently in reply to an inquiry,
is inserted here because it is thought worth preserving.

The "first society" here means the First Ecclesiastical Society,
geographically. The Second Society was "Salem Bridge" now
Naugatuck. In the early history of the State the Ecclesiastical
Societies (Congregational) were incorporated by the Greneral As-
sembly and set off by metes and bounds, and when a society was
incorporated as a town the same geographical lines were usually
followed. Thus the Society of Northbury became Plymouth, that
of Westbury became Watertown, that of Salem Bridge, or, as it was
called many years in all legal papers, the "Second Society" became
Naugatuck, and Middlebury became Middlebury. Wolcott was
taken partly from Waterbury and partly from Southington, Pros-
pect was taken partly from Waterbury and partly from Cheshire,
and Oxford partly from Waterbury and partly from Southbury
and Derby.

Jonathan Arnold, who is mentioned by Captain Welton as the
first incumbent, was the eldest son of Jonathan and Elizabeth
Arnold, of Haddam, Connecticut, where he was bom, January 11,
1700-01. His father in his vrill (December 1728) leaves to this
son only two acres of land, "which with the expense of his edu-

HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH.

cation I account a large double portion of my estate." (It was
at that time a custom, though not a law, to leave to the eldest son
a double portion.)

He studied theology, and was licensed to preach by a commit-
tee of the Hartford North Association in 1724 (after June 2).

Early in 1725 he was ordained pastor of the Congregational
Church in West Haven, Connecticut, — the people stipulating that
if he should (like his predecessor, Samuel Johnson) embrace Epis-
copacy, the money paid to him as a settlement should be refunded.

Johnson, however, conducted occasional services within the par-
ish and was able to gain an influence over the young minister, so
that in December, 1733, he could report to the Bishop of London
that he had reason to believe that Mr. Arnold would in a little time
declare for Episcopacy; and on the next Easter Sunday (April 14,
1734), Arnold received his first communion from the hands of
Johnson, at Stratford, In May or June he was dismissed from his
pastoral charge in West Haven, and in 1735 he went to England
for orders. He was received with attention, and Bishop Benson,
of Gloucester, to whom Mr. Johnson had commended him, sent
him to Oxford to receive there (March 8, 1735-6) the honorary
degree of Master of Arts.

After a tedious voyage he arrived at Boston on his return,
July 1, 1736, with an appointment as Itinerant Missionary for
Connecticut of the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in
Foreign Parts, with his residence in West Haven. The chief
places where he labored, besides West Haven, were Derby and
Waterbury. His salary was only £30 a year, but as he was pos-
sessed of some private means he desired no more. The event by
which this portion of his life was chiefly made memorable was his
attempt in the fall of 1738 to take possession of a lot of land
facing on the Town Green in New Haven, on the strength of a
deed (dated March 26, 1736) from William Grigson, of London,
to himself, by which this land was professedly given for
the erection of an Episcopal Church, and as glebe land for a
minister. Grigson's title was regarded as imperfect and Arnold's
attempt to take possession was resisted by a mob of students and
townspeople. He seems to have failed in discretion in his con-

THE MISSION PARISH OF ST. JAMES.

duct, both in this and in some other matters, and being of " a very
unsteady disposition," in the latter part of April, 1740, he was
transferred to Staten Island, as the missionary of the Venerable
Society, in charge of St. Andrew's Church, at a salary of £30 a
year. From this charge he was dismissed June 21, 1745, in con-
sequence of complaints from the wardens and vestrymen.

In April, 1746, being still at Staten Island, he brought suit in
the New Haven Court for the recovery of a debt.

From this date he disappears from view, except in the glimpse
afforded by a letter of the Rev. T. B. Chandler, to the Rev. Dr.
Johnson, dated Elizabethtown, New Jersey, February 26, 1753,
as follows: —

" I had the pleasure of receiving your favor of January 29, and
am sorry to tell you that Mr, Arnold did nothing in his will for
his children in New England. Mrs. Arnold was left sole executrix,
and everything her husband died possessed of was left to her dis-
posal.

However, she says she is willing that his children in New Eng-
land should come in for a share with her own child in whatsoever
he left in your parts; and I believe she will not recall it. As to the
temper of mind in which Mr. Arnold left the world, I find that he
had his reason for some months before his death, which he retained
to the last. But I have not heard what remarks or reflections he
made on his past life, and what was the moral disposition of his
mind."

No will appears to have been proved, either in New Jersey or
New York.

His first wife, to whom he was married April 4, 1728, was
Abigail, only child of the late John and Abigail (Hollingworth)
Beard, of Milford, a large heiress. (In Milford town records,
adjoining the entry of this marriage is also the entry of a marriage
of the same bridegroom to Mrs. Sarah Miles, July 29, 1728; some
inexplicable error lurks in the latter entry.) Mrs. Abigail Arnold
was living in May, 1739, when she joined her husband in a deed
of land in New Haven.

Whitefield, in his visit to the Colonies in November, 1739, fell
in with Arnold, and was so disgusted with him as to take the trou-

HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH.

ble of writing a letter (from Philadelphia, November 27) to the
Secretary of the Venerable Society, warning him that, in the
writer's opinion, Arnold "is unworthy of the name of a minister
of Jesus Christ." "I have been," he continues, "in his company
several times and was obliged to reprove him openly for his
misconduct." Arnold had already printed in New York, Novem-
ber 17, a warning against Whitefield, reprinted in the Boston
News-Letter; they had been thrown together in coming from
Philadelphia, and Arnold had sought out Whitefield, in New York,
at the house of "Mr. Smith, the lawyer" (Y. C. 1719).

Prof. F. B. Dexter's Yale Biographies.

In several cases I have taken Prof. Dexter's biographies
entire, knowing that they were of the highest authority and
usually exhaustive.

Dr. Tilotson Bronson in his article in The Churchman Magazine, Vol. 4,
p. 129, says "sometime in the year 1737, a Mr. Arnold, an itinerant missionary
of the S. P. G., performed divine service for the first time according to the
rites of the church, when he baptized two infants, both of whom were lately
living and one is still a respectable member of the church." Of course Dr.
Bronson got his information from tradition and had undoubtedly confused
the service jjerformed by Dr. Johnson in 1734 at Gunntown with what he sup-
posed to have been done in 1737 by Mr. Arnold. Mr. A. was the regular
missionary here and any service of this sort by him would not be of particular
note. The following is from the town records, vol. 5, p. 21.

Jan. 29, 1738-9. Whereas Thomas Porter was chosen at annual meeting
of 1736 to collect ministers rate and had a Ust of the rate to be gathered com-
mitted to him in which list several persons were included imder the title or
denomination of churchmen and so allowed in the list for the year 1736.
These are therefore to certify all whom it may concern that I the subscriber
have received in full of the several persons contained in said list under the
said Denom, as their several sums are set down and do hereby acquit and
discharge the above said collector from all demands from me or my heirs: I
having I say been, I say received in full by me, Jonathan Arnold.

Attest : John Southmayd,

Town Register.

The Reverend Theophilus Morris the next rector mentioned
by Capt. Welton, resided in Derby. He was an Englishman.
One of his contemporaries, the Rev. Mr. Johnson, wrote of him:
"He is in many respects a gentleman of good accomplishments,

THE MISSION PARISH OF ST. JAMES.

but it does not seem likely that he will suit or be suited with the
disposition of these country people, so that I very much doubt
whether he will be happy in them or they in him, and I wish that
he was better provided for and that some young man previously
acquainted with this country, or that could suit his disposition to
it, were provided for them.

One reads between these lines pretty clearly what Mr. Morris's
limitations were. He seems to have been a well meaning man
with considerable energy, but his zeal was not according to knowl-
edge; he involved himself in difficulties with his brethren here
and he soon after returned to England apparently to his own and
their relief.

Mr. Morris's successor was the Rev. James Lyons, an Irishman
by birth, of whom the historian of the church says that "if he
had genius and zeal, he was another example of a tiller in the field
that needed a special missionary to watch him and keep him from
running his plough upon the rocks." Mr. Lyons was here about
four years. He resided in Derby and preached one-third of the
time in Waterbury. During these years, notwithstanding some
defects in the missionaries in charge, the church had greatly
increased. In the year 1740 the famous Whitefield preached
throughout New England, and his preaching was followed by a
condition of intense religious excitement. The result of this was
to turn the attention of the staid and moderate portion of the
community to the more quiet and conservative methods of the
Episcopal church, and there followed a great accession to the
Episcopal ranks. Dr. Henry Bronson says: "The prosperity of
the Episcopal church in Waterbury dates from about 1740." It
is said that twenty-five heads of families transferred their member-
ship at one time from the Congregational to the Episcopal Society.

The reason given was "dissatisfaction with the doctrines of
that church and the exclusive views of its ministers." The
point having most weight seems to have been the restricting of
the privilege of infant baptism to children of parents both of
whom were in full communion of their church.

Dr. Tillotson Bronson in an article in the Churchman's Maga-
zine for 1807, entitled "History of the Church in Waterbury"
says: y

HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH.

"Being thus strengthened, it was resolved to erect a church.
A subscription was accordingly opened; and as this document is
still in being, bearing date 1742, it ascertains who were the names
then considerable in the parish, which are as follows, viz:

James Brown Daniel Porter

John Barnes Jonathan Prindle

Thomas Barnes John Southmayd

Joseph Bronson Richard Welton

Nathaniel Gunn Richard Welton, 2d.

John Judd Eliakim Welton

George Nichols Ephraim Warner

Thomas Osborn Ebenezer Warner

Most of these men left a numerous progeny who belong to the
church."

This was written in 1807, and he mentions that Thomas Osborn

is still living aged 91.

Mr. Lyon's successor was the Rev. Richard Mansfield. He
was the son of Deacon Jonathan Mansfield of New Haven and
was born there, October 1, 1723, and graduated at Yale college
in 1741. For five years he was rector of the Hopkins Grammar
school, and as during this time he connected himself with the
Episcopal church (the Hopkins Grammar school being distinctly
a Congregational institution) and still continued for some years
to hold the position, it is evident that even at that early age he
must have possessed a rare combination of firmness, gentleness
and attractive traits of character. In 1748 he was ordained in
England and appointed a missionary, on a salary of £20 a year,
to the villages of Derby, West Haven, Waterbury and Northbury,
and established himself at Derby, that being a convenient point
for the cure of this extensive charge. On October 10, 1751, he
married Anne, daughter of Captain Joseph Hull of Derby. She
had reached at that time the mature age of fifteen years and four
months.*

♦Early marriages were more common then than now and there may havo heea
other extenuating circumstaucea. I do not know what they were. Perhapa she was
very pretty.

THE MISSION PARISH OF ST. JAMES.

Her elder sister had, the preceding summer, married the Rev.
Mark Leavenworth, the Congregational minister of Waterbury.
For ten years Mr. Mansfield administered the affairs of this large
district with faithfulness and success. After Mr. Scovil took
charge of the parishes in this neighborhood, Mr. Mansfield re-
stricted his labors to Derby and vicinity, and there he lived,
universally beloved and respected, until April 2, 1820, when he
died in the ninety-seventh year of his age, and the seventy-second
of his ministry: one of the longest, if not absolutely the longest,
of pastorates on record. His Alma Mater in 1792 conferred upon
him the degree of D. D., he being the first Episcopal clergyman
to whom she extended that honor. He was one of the persons
proposed to succeed Bishop Seabury, but declined to be a candi-
date. In his ninety-sixth year he presided over the convention
which elected Bishop Brownell. His life has been fully treated
in the History of Derby and elsewhere.

In January, 1740, certain persons "calling themselves Church-
men" remonstrated against paying Mr. Southmayd the £100
voted him. Their names fifteen in number, were spread upon
the town record and the list is interesting. Here it is: —

Ephbaim Warner, Nathaniel Merrill, Caleb Thompson,

Daniel Porter, Obadiah Warner, James Williams,

Robert Johnson, Richard Welton, Thomas Barnes,

James Brown, Joseph Smith, Abraham Warner,

Benjamin Warner, Ephbaim Warner, Jr., Samuel Bbown.

(The above list is copied from the manuscripts of the late
Bennet Bronson. There is no record of town meetings between
December, 1738, and December, 1740. One leaf, perhaps more,
■of the record book is missing. It may have been lost in binding.
The missing portion was in existence some thirty years ago, as
proved by the manuscripts referred to.) — H. Bronson' s History.

The following vote was passed by the town December 13, 1742:

Upon the request of Dr. Benjamin Warner and others, the

town, by vote, gave liberty to set up a church on the highway.

North of Edmund Scott's house lot against the apple trees in said

Scott's lot by the highway, and appoint the present townsmen

HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH.

with John Southmayd a committee to agree with said Scott to
get some of his lot, if they can have it upon reasonable terms that
the house may be better accommodated and the highway less
incumbered. This is the action referred to by Dr. Tillotson
Bronson.

For some reason not now understood, the ground above des-
ignated, and which is nearly the same as that on which the present
Episcopal church stands, was not obtained or not improved, and

o \

^^%^r^^

Lot for St. James' Chxjrch, 1743.

a year afterwards the town gave to William Selkrigg the liberty
to place a house on it.

At a town meeting held April 10, 1743, several of the denomi-
nation of the Church of England declared that they were about
to set up a church and petitioned that if they purchased a place
to set it upon the town would help them. The town considering
their motion did by vote agree that provided they purchased a
place of any particular person to set their house upon and set it
accordingly they might have liberty to draw twelve pound in
money Old tenor bills out of the town treasury to purchase the
same. The site had already been selected and preparations for

THE MISSION PARISH OF ST. JAMES.

building made. Although the sum of £12 was named in the deed
as consideration (perhaps to make the acceptance of the town's
gift legal), the lot was really presented to them by John Judd
and is described as taken from his house lot. It was on the north-
east corner of West Main and Willow Streets, the lot now owned
by Mrs. Charles M. Mitchell, and is described as forty-five feet on
the south side, twenty-eight feet on the west, fifty feet on the
north and thirty-nine feet on the east. March 6, 1784, Judge
Joseph Hopkins leased to the committee of the Society a strip five
feet wide on the north and east sides of the church lot. Why the
lot should have been put in such peculiar shape when the land was
open in either direction it is hard to see.

By deed dated November 23, 1797, the whole lot was sold to
Jesse Hopkins, son of Judge Hopkins. The church and parish
bore the name of St. James. In those days church buildings were
not warmed, but it was customary to have a small building in
the neighborhood, with fire place, where those who came from a
distance could spend the hour between services and be warm
and comfortable while they ate their luncheon, and could fill
their foot stoves for the afternoon service.

These buildings were called Sabbath-day houses, or, in the
language of the time, "Sabbady houses," A building of this sort
containing several rooms stood on South Willow Street near
where is now the residence of Mrs. William Brown.

In February, 1743-4, the Church-of-England-men determined
on a movement to obtain parish privileges. Without such privi-
leges they could not lay taxes for building a church. Before
going to the Legislature, however, they applied to the town to
secure its good will. The town, in a liberal spirit, resolved that
it would not oppose them in their application. Their petition,
signed by thirty-eight persons, came before the Assembly in
October, 1744, and was rejected. Here is the paper:

The Memorial of the subscribers being Professors of the Church of Eng-
land and inhabitants of the Town of Waterbury in New Haven County, by
their agent Doct. Benj. Warner of sd Waterbury, Humbly sheweth—

That whereas you Honours Memoriallists, being Professors of the Church
of England, and bound in Duty to carry on the Worsliip of God amongst ua

HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH.

from which there arises considerable charges that are Necessary in order
thereunto, as building a church and Keeping it in Repair with many other
things of the Like Importance, Which charges (as we your Humble Memori-
alists think) could be Defrayed More conveniently by a Tax upon each per-
son accordin to their list, as such charges are in the Parishes established by
the Laws of this colony. And there being no Law of this colony Enabling
us to Lay and Gather such Taxes, Humbly pray that your Honours, in your
Great goodness, would be pleased to Grant us Parrish Previleges in Every
particular (the School only excepted) as the Parrishes have established accord-
ing to the Constitution of this Government, and your Memorialists as in Duty
bound Shall ever pray.

Waterbury, April 22d, 1744.

Jonathan Scott,
John Barns,
Gershom Scott,
Gamaliel Terril,
Robert Johnson,
Thomas Welton, Jr.,
Timothy Porter,
Nathan Hubbard,
Benjamin Pritchard,
Thomas Welton,
Nathan Prindel,
Ebenezer Judd,
Dr. Ephraim Warner,

Stephen Welton,
Zebulon Scott,
Eliakim Welton,
John Alcock,
Joseph Brunson,
James Browne,
James BIiowne, Jr.
Joseph Browne,
Daniel How,
John Browne,
Thomas Barnes,
Moses Brounson,
Daniel Porter,

Benjamin Warner,
John Judd,
Obadiah Warner,
Jonathan Prindel,
Isaac Selkrigg,
Nathaniel Merrill,
Richard Welton,
Joseph Judd,
Richard Welton, Jr.,
Edmund Scott, Jr.,
Ebenezer Warner,
George Nikols,
JosiAH Warner.

This catalogue of names may be supposed to represent nearly
the entire strength of the new denomination at the date of the
petition. I notice, however, the absence of three names which
were on the paper of subscriptions for a church, to wit, Nathaniel
Gunn, Thomas Osborn and John Southmayd, Jr., and of five
names which are on the list of those who protested to the paying
of Mr. Southmayd the £100 in 1740, to wit, Joseph Smith, Caleb
Thomson, James Williams, Abraham Warner and Samuel Brown.
Of these eight, John Southmayd, James Williams and Samuel
Brown had died and Caleb Thomson had already, probably,
removed to Harwinton. If we add the remaining four, all Church-
men (and all of whom were living in Water])ury in 1744, unless
Joseph Smith is to be excepted), to the thirty-eight petitioners,
we have a total number of forty-two individuals, representing
probably over two hundred persons, who were "professors (or

THE MISSION PARISH OF ST. JAMES.

adherents) of the Church of England," at this time. {Dr. H.
Branson's History of Waterhury.)

This was an era of prosperity for the parish. It received
several valuable gifts of land from the members (See Chapter on
Real Estate) and a rectory was built by subscription. This was
on land given by Oliver Welton and must have been not far from
where the late F. L. Curtiss's house now stands. It was the third
lot from Willow street. Oliver inherited it from his grandfather
John. He gave it, while yet a minor, with consent of his guardian,
the Rev. John Southmayd, and confirmed the deed after he at-
tained his majority. (See Chapter on Real Estate).

Oliver Welton, considered as one of the most important benefactors of
the Episcopal Church of Waterbury, (the land spoken of being regarded as a
donation), was a son of John and a grandson of John, Sen., (an original pro-
prietor). He was born December 24, 1724; served through the old French
war; held the rank of ensign and afterwards of Ueutenant; was in the action at
Lake George and (according to the Churchman's Magazine) at "the repulse
at Crown Point when the gallant Lord Howe was killed." Of those scenes
he would speak, in his old age, with the greatest emotion, till tlie tears flowed
and his utterance waa choked. He died November 10, 1809. — (Henry Bron-
sons' History.)

In 1759 Mr. Mansfield gave up the northward end of his large
mission field and was succeeded by the Rev. James Scovil, who
took charge of Waterbury, Northbury, New Cambridge (now
Bristol), and later of Westbury, now Watertown. He fixed
his residence at Waterbury, thus becoming the first resident
rector. He was the son of Lieutenant William Scovil and grand-
son of Sergeant John Scovil, who was one of the original settlers
of the town. He was born January 27, 1732-3, and probably in
the house on Willow street long known as the "old Johnson
House," which was taken down, after being partly destroyed by
fire, in 1889, being at that time by far the oldest house in town.
This house was built by Sergeant John Scovil for his son William,
and left to him by a nuncupative will recorded in Woodbury, to
which district Waterbury then belonged, in 1725. About the
time of James's birth, William Scovil exchanged places with
Abram Utter and removed to that part of Westbury known as
Nova Scotia hill. The dates on the record indicate that this

HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH.

removal took place subsequent to the date of James's birth, but
there was a tradition in the family that he was born at Nova
Scotia hill probably arising simply from the fact that his father
lived there. When James Scovil was about ten years old, his
mother, who was a daughter of John Richards of Waterbury,
having died, his father married Elizabeth, daughter of James
Brown, before mentioned as the first Episcopalian in Waterbury.

Whether she brought Episcopacy into the family I cannot
say, but it came about that time, as William Scovil's name appears
as a member of the Congregational Society in Westbury not long
before. When James Scovil was about twenty years of age, an
injury which rendered him lame for a time and placed him under
the care of Dr. Porter in Waterbury made him turn his attention
to study. He lived during this time with the Rev. Mr. South-
mayd, who found him so apt a scholar that he urged his parents
to give him a college education. This being approved, he at once
began his classical studies. He remained with Mr. Southmayd
until cured of his lameness, and completed his preparation for
college at home, probably under the care of the Rev. Mr. Trum-
bull. He graduated at Yale in 1757.

A year afterward the vestry of St. James Parish voted to con-
tribute to the expense of his journey to England for ordination
and to give him £20, sterling, a year, provided he got nothing at
hum, and half of whatever he might get at hum, and the use of
the glebe. "Hum" then meant England, although few of those
vestrymen, perhaps none, had ever seen it. At the same meeting
it was voted that we give him £22. 10s. sterling to carry him
hum. On April 1, 1759, he was ordained in Westminister Abbey
by the Bishop of Rochester, and returned as a recognized mission-
ary under the auspices of the "Ven. S. P. G." He was presented
by the society, at his ordination, with a folio Bible and Prayer-
book, bound in one volume, for use in the church.*

* After doing duty here for many years, it was by vote of the Society presented
to the Episcopal inhabitants of the towns of Columbia and Waterbury in Ohio. Some
years since, Isaac Bronaon of Medina, 0., a son of Dr. Tillotson Bronson, finding that
the book was no longer used, made arrangements to have it brought back to this place,
where it now remains in the church, in a case with suitable inscription. It has th6
seal of the "Ven. S. P. G." and bears the imprint of 1737.

THE MISSION PARISH OF ST. JAMES.

The following document was found among the papers of St.
Peter's, Plymouth, by the Rev. Dr. Gammack; " Northbury in
Waterbury, July ye 27, A. D. 1758.

We the Subscribers due prorase to pay each one of the sums that we sub-
scribe in this paper unto Lieut. Jacob Blakeslee and David Blakeslee by the
first day of October next ensuing the date hereof; and we the subscribers do
by these presents acknowledge ourselves to be firmly bound to the said Blakes-
lees to pay to them the sums that we subscribe by the 1st of October aforesaid,
and the money it to be delivered by the said Blakeslee to Mr. Scovill in order
to help him to go home to England for ordination for Ordination for Water-
bury, Northbury and Cambridge for to be our minister.

£ 8. d.qr.

tb Thompson, . . 0 11 0.0 Mary Way, .

.cCastel, . . . 0 16 11.2 David Way,

bel Castel, . . .0 8 5.3 David Blakesle

)hen Blakeslee, .0 7 6.3 Jacob Blakesle(

diah Scott, . . .0 5 3.1 Mary Ford, .

nezer Ford, . . 1 5 5.1 Enos Ford, .

es Blakeslee, . . 0 10 1.0 Ruben BlakesU

nezer Allin, . . 0 15 9.3
There is also a memorandum of payments showing that Abel Curtis whose
name does not appear as a subscriber, paid 1 shilling; also the following:
" Over paid by me, Jacob Blakeslee, to Mr. Scovill, 4.18.5."

Mr. Scovil continued in his mission, ministering with success
to his several charges, until the disturbances of the Revolution
cut off the assistance of the Society in England.* (For details see
copy of records.) Then followed a period of great hardship for
Episcopal congregations. They naturally S3niipathized with the
mother country and thus drew upon themselves and especially
on the clergy, much suspicion and frequently open hostility.
Mr. Scovil, though much respected by his neighbors, did not
escape his share. On one occasion, when returning with his cows

d.qr.

d.qr

Caleb Thompson, .

. 0

0.0

Mary Way, .

6.0

Isaac Castel,

. 0

11.2

David Way,

7.3

Asahel Castel, .

. 0

5.3

David Blakeslee,

8.2

Stephen Blakeslee,

. 0

6.3

Jacob Blakeslee,

1.2

Obediah Scott, . .

. 0

3.1

Mary Ford, .

5.0

Ebenezer Ford,

, 1

5.1

Enos Ford, .

11.0

Moses Blakeslee,

. 0

1.0

Ruben Blakeslee,

8.2

Ebenezer Allin,

. 0

9.3

*In 1766, a number of the clergy "accidently convened" addressed the venerable
society on the tumults growing out of the Stamp Act, and assured their ecclesiastical au>
periors that they and their people "will steadily behave themselves as true and faithful
subjects" and as "Obedient sons of the Church of England." This is signed by James
Scovil and four others. Hawks & Perry's, Vol. II, p. 81

Dr. Johnson, in December, 1775, writing in regard to political troubles, says:
"The Worthy Mr Scovil and the venerable Mr. Beach have had still better success.
Scarce a single person is to be found in any of their several congregations but what hath
persevered steadfastly in their duty and loyalty " (Hawks and Perry's Com. Ch. Doc. 11
p. 198, 199.

HISTORY OF ST, JOHN'S CHURCH.

from a pasture on the west side of the river, just at night-fall, he
discovered a man loading a musket in the borders of a wood,
whose conduct awakened his suspicion. He immediately hastened
to him and asked him pleasantly if he saw any game. The man
replied, rather angrily, "I should have shot you if you had not
spoken to me, for I knew you were a tory." He then advised him
to leave his cows and take the shortest course home, or he might
fall a victim to others who were greatly incensed at him and
might not be appeased by being spoken to. Mr. Scovil thought it
best to take his advice, and leaving his cows crossed the fields,
waded the river and hastened to his home. Party spirit seems,
however, to have run very high just then. He did not feel safe
in his own house, and leaving it at night he secreted himself in
a barn which belonged to him on Long Hill, where he remained
hidden for some time, various members of the family supplying
him with food. One of his sons, returning on one occasion from
this place of concealment, was met by two soldiers, who took
his horse from him and compelled him to walk as a prisoner to
Stratford (about thirty miles), where he was detained some time
in confinement. He had been guilty of no overt act, and naturally
resented this treatment. (The Rev. Dr. Clark, in a memorandum
in regard to Mr. Scovil, says: "I met this son in New Brunswick
in 1844. He was then near eighty years of age, having resided
there about sixty years, and every wound seemed as fresh and
sensitive as when first inflicted, upon what he termed 'the rebel
soil of the States.' He averred that no temptation that earth
could present would ever induce him to set his foot on soil where
he had received such unprovoked and cruel wrongs." Some of
his brothers and sisters, however, did not share his feelings and
visited here occasionally as long as they lived.)

At the close of the war the English society and the British
government offered liberal inducements to loyalists who should
remove to the British colonies. It seemed impossible, in the dis-
turbed condition of things, for the parishes here to give Mr.
Scovil an adequate support, although they offered to do all that
they could. In 1788, after having visited New Brunswick and
officiated there for several summers (returning to spend the

THE MISSION PARISH OF ST. JAMES.

winters with his people here), he removed there with his family-
five years after the close of the war — thus terminating a connection
of almost thirty years with the parish. He became rector of
Kingston in New Brunswick, where he died December 19, 1808,
in the fiftieth year of his ministry. He was succeeded by a son
and by a grandson in the same parish. His wife, who was a
daughter of Captain George Nichols, a prominent citizen of Water-
bury, died in 1835, aged ninety-three. All his family went with
him except his oldest son James, who married about this time and
settled here, and who continued to occupy his father's residence,
near the corner of North and East Main streets but fronting on
East Main Street. The barn where the Rev. Mr. Scovil was hidden,
which stood on almost the highest point of Long hill, was acci-
dently destroyed by fire only a few years since. Dr. H. Bronson,
in his History (page 302), quoting in part some other authority,
says of him:

"Mr. Scovil was known for punctuality and faithfulness in
the discharge of his duties. He taught his people from house to
house, comforted the aged, instructed the young and made him-
self agreeable to children. He had a grave and becoming deport-
ment and was sound in doctrine." There is a sermon of his
extant and bearing a record of the places where it was preached.
It is very much like other sermons of this period.

The following inscription to the memory of father and son
appears on the Chancel Window in the old Church, Kingston,
N. B.

"The Rev. James Scovil, the first Rector, took charge of this Mission in
1788, and lived to 19th December, 1808, the 76th year of his age, and 50th of
his ministry.' '

"His Son, the Rev. Elias Scovil, succeeded him as Rector, and lived to
10th February, 1841, the 70th year of his hfe, and the 40th of his ministry."

" Each, after he had served his own generation, by the will of God fell-on-
sleep and rests here beneath the Chancel."

In the Vestry Room of the same Church may be seen two
tablets in memory of these clergymen, with the following
inscriptions :

(I.)

(11.)

HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH,

In memory of

REV. JAMES SCOVIL,

Born 9th Feb'y, 1733, in Water town,

State of Con., ordained Presbyter

By the Bishop of Rochester,

8th April, 1759, employed as a

Missionary by the Venerable

Society at Waterbury imtil

the year 1788, when he waa

removed by the said Society

to Kingston, Province of New

Brmiswick, and constituted the

first Rector of Trinity Church,

over which he presided until

the 19th Dec, 1808, when he

departed this hfe

in the 76th

of his age, and in the

50th of his ministry.

In memory of

THE REV. ELIAS SCOVIL,

who as a missionary of

the Ven. Society

P. G. F. ministered during

38 years in this Parish,

from 1803, as assistant

to his father

THE REV. JAMES SCOVIL

at whose death, in 1808,

he succeeded as Rector,

and having discharged

the Pastoral office with fideUty

he died February 10th, 1841, in the

70th year of his age,

and the 40th of

his ministry.

THE MISSION PARISH OF ST. JAMES.

After a careful reading of the parish records I am inclined to
modify somewhat my views given as above in the History of Water-
bury, as to the reasons of Mr. Scovil's leaving this parish and
going to New Brunswick. Although the parish undoubtedly felt
poor and must have been keenly alive to their loss of the pecuniary
aid and moral support of the Ven. S. P. G. (they had during forty
years received over $6000. in money and many books) they never-
theless met these misfortunes with great courage and voted that
if Mr. Scovil would remain with them they would pay him £45
a year for half his time, leaving him to get what he could for the
other half from the adjoining parishes which he supplied, and
this apparently not having proved acceptable, they voted to unite
with Westbury and ask him upon what terms he could remain,
which indicated a willingness to pay him any reasonable sum.

After considering all the circumstances I am inclined to believe
that Mr. Scovil did not leave the parish for lack of support but
from other motives, and, I presume, largely through the influence
of his children. The feeling that his son had has already been
shown, and doubtless these feelings were shared by other members
of the family. He probably felt that the Episcopal Church when
deprived of the support of the S. P. G. and of the power of the
British government would be greatly handicapped in the States
and the offers of the British government to Clergy going to the
provinces were quite liberal, and their social position was assured.
Nevertheless, before deciding to remove he deemed it best to
spend several seasons there and test the condition of things for
himself, and at last, probably not without some misgivings, he
yielded to what I suspect was the importunity of members of his
family and decided to make the change.

Mr. Scovil was a man of influence in the community while he
remained here and had the respect of his brother clergy through-
out the Diocese. He owned a good deal of land and probably
farmed it as was the custom with clergymen of those times. His
son James, who remained here took the real estate which he held
here. He had one negro man Dick, a native African, who at one
time belonged to Deacon Stephen Bronson, who was Mr. Scovil's
next door neighbor. Perhaps he was sold to Deacon Bronson on
Mr. Scovil's removal. Dick lived to a great age and finally died
in the poorhouse but was always looked after and, to some extent,
provided for by the Scovil family.

CHAPTER II.

THE PARISH OF ST. JAMES AND OF ST. JOHN.
THE TRANSITION PERIOD.

THE parish had now become an independent organization.
The fostering hand of the Ven. S. P. G. had been provi-
dentially withdrawn and hereafter they were to be self
sustaining if sustained at all. They accepted the situation. They
do not seem to have been troubled by it. They felt that they
were able to care for themselves. There may have been regrets
but no murmurs come to the surface. All the business matters
of the parish moved along as before. They were rather weak in
numbers but not weaker than other parishes around them whether
of Congregationalists or Episcopalians. There also seems, on the
whole, to have existed a condition of pleasant relationship between
the two denominations. This is shown by the vote of the town
(which at that time practically represented Congregationalism)
when the Episcopalians built their church. Social relations were
not greatly affected. Inter-marriages were common and although
there was doubtless a pretty solid sub-stratum of prejudice on
both sides it was not often brought to the surface.

A story is told that one of the daughters of a prominent Epis-
copalian wished to borrow a horse and sent to a neighbor for that
purpose; the messenger brought back word that his horse was

lame, but that , another neighbor (who was a Congre-

gationalist) had a good horse. The mother to whom the message
was given replied "Oh, my! that's no use, Roxa couldn't ride
anything but a church horse."

This may be offset by another. There was some discussion
of an Episcopal family and the question was asked. Are they pious?
Walleyes — I spose so, that is. Episcopal pious. But these were
prejudices which a wider knowledge of the world served to dispel,
and they did not greatly interfere with neighborly borrowing,
lending and gossiping, and marrying and giving in marriage.

December 3, 1787, when it had become clear that Mr. Scovil

THE PARISH OF ST. JAMES AND OF ST. JOHN.

was to leave them, the society voted to settle a minister and have
his service in preaching half the time. Some little time elapsed
before they succeeded in finding a man whom they liked and who
was willing to come. Correspondence was had with Rev. Messrs.
Ives, Hall, Foot, Prindle and Blakeslee and each of them preached
here more or less. Meantime in reply to a proposition to unite
with Westbury, Salem and Bristol for one-fourth of a clergyman's
time for each, this society voted that they wanted "one-half."
At length, May 28, 1789, it was voted to give Mr. Solomon Blakes-
lee a call for one-half the time at £40 a year and his firewood, to
be increased to £45 as the list of the church increases.

Mr. Blakeslee was a graduate of Yale college, in the class of
1785, was ordained deacon at St. Paul's church, Norwalk, June 3,
1789, and priest at Middletown by Bishop Seabury in 1793. As
his service here was in 1789 it must have been immediately after
his ordination as deacon. He afterward succeeded Bishop Sea-
bury in St. James's parish. New London, and served at several
places in the eastern part of the State. He died in 1835.

At a meeting June 16, 1790 it is voted (" Rev. Chauncey Prindle
present, etc.") from which it would appear that Mr. Blakeslee had
left and Mr. Prindle was probably in temporary charge.

Chauncey Prindle, the only son of Eleazar and Anne (Scovil) Prindle, of
Waterbury, Connecticut, and grand-son of Jonathan and Rachel (Hickox)
Prindle of Waterbury, was born in that town on July 13, 1753. His mother
was a sister of the Rev. James Scovil. He graduated at Yale 1776.

He studied theology — probably under the superintendence of his uncle —
and officiated as lay reader in the Episcopal Church in Watertown during
part of Mr. Scovil's (the rector's) absences in New Brunswick, which began in
1785 and ended in his final removal in the summer of 1788.

On June 1, 1787, he was ordained deacon by Bishop Seabury, and there-
after gave about half of his time to the parish in Northbury, now Plymouth.
He was advanced to the priesthood by Bishop Seabury, in New London, on
February 24, 1788, and was now regularly employed as Rector of Christ
Chvu-ch, Watertown, with a salary of £30 — half of his time being given to St.
Peter's Church in Plymouth, which furnished £37. 10s. to his salary.

He resigned his charge in Watertown at the end of the year 1804, but
continued to officiate in Plymouth until 1806, when lie resigned to enable
that parish to be united with the parish of St. Matthew's in East Plymouth
(organized in 1792) under one rectorship.

HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH.

He was then employed in the same vicinity, to give a portion of his time
to St. Michael's Church, in the neighborhood known as "Gunntown," in the
western part of Salem Society, now Naugatuck; and in 1807 removed to the
neighboring town of Oxford, and for a few years divided his services between
the churches in these two localities. He also officiated for a time in Christ
Church, in that part of Woodbridge which is now Bethany, and in 1815-17
he had charge of Trinity Church in that part of Derby which is now Seymour.

During his last years he lived on a farm in the northern part of Oxford,
near the borders of Southbury, and died there, in poverty, on August 25, 1833,
at the age of 80, and was buried in the cemetery at Gunntown. His wife
Rosanna died on October 22, 1840, aged 85 years. Their two daughters
(born about 1784-93), who died shortly before their parents, are commemo-
rated on tombstones in the same locality.

He is described as a most worthy and indefatigable man, a pattern of
punctuality in the discharge of his duty. One authority says that he was
noted for a sound and forcible intellect and stern integrity, but was orthodox
and firm in his principles. It is related of him that he swam his horse
through a high and dangerous flood in the Naugatuck River rather than fail
in an appointment for a service.

A gravestone was erected to his memory by surviving friends and parish-
ioners " as a token of their high regard for his character, his zeal, his fidelity,
his talents and his work both as a man and a minister.' '

A brief historical account from his manuscripts of the Episcopal Societies
in Plymouth and Watertown is printed in the Chronicle of the Church, Vol. 3,
No. 134 (New Haven, July 26, 1839), pp. 236-37.

September 13, 1790: Voted to invite Mr. Foot to serve two-
thirds of his time and to pay him § of £85 s. m. (sterling money)
and his wood provides he reside in this society.

David Foot was born in Marlborough, October 5, 1760, gradu-
ated at Dartmouth college in 1778, was ordained deacon at New
London by Bishop Seabury, June 11, 1788, and was then appointed
to serve in Hebron and Chatham. In October of the same year
he was ordained priest at North Haven. After leaving here,
he became rector at Rye, N. Y., where he died August 1, 1793.

On November 13, 1784, Dr. Samuel Seabury, having been
selected for the office by the clergy of this diocese in March, 1783,
at a meeting held in Woodbury, was consecrated Bishop of Con-
necticut at Aberdeen, Scotland, becoming thus the first bishop
of the American church. He reached this country in 1785, and

THE PARISH OF ST. JAMES AND OF ST. JOHN,

in May, 1786, a committee from the parish waited on him at
Stratford and desired him to visit Waterbury. He could not do
so at that time, but in October 1, following, it is recorded that he
confirmed here two hundred and fifty-six persons. That must
have been equal to about one-tenth of the population, and the
occasion was one of profound rejoicing among "churchmen."
This, too, was in the darkest days of the church here, before Mr.
Scovil had finally left, but when he was preparing to go, and when
they were as sheep without a shepherd.

August 27, 1791, after several ineffectual attempts with other
clergymen they voted to call Rev. Seth Hart for one-half the time.

In October, 1791, the Rev. Seth Hart, who had been officiating
for some time previously as lay reader, was ordained deacon by
Bishop Seabury at Watertown, an agreement being made that he
was to officiate here half the time, the other half to be divided
between Salem and Woodbury. His salary was £40, lawful
money, the first year, to be increased £1 annually until it reached
£45, and the use of the glebe. I suppose this was equal to about
$150, but it was in "ready money," which went a great way in
those days, and the use of the glebe was doubtless of considerable
value. Mr. Hart's ministry here is said to have been quite suc-
cessful, but he only remained about two years after his ordination,
and then removed to Wallingford. It is recorded that he was a
good scholar, an amiable man, a successful teacher and an accept-
able preacher. While here he owned and occupied the place
next south of St. John's church (Mrs. E. M. Burrall's), including
the ground where the church now stands and several acres of
adjoining land. When he left, several liberal persons bought
his place and presented it to the church, the old rectory before
mentioned having become unfit for use during Mr. Scovil's rector-
ship. It was afterwards sold, and the present site was repur-
chased about 1847. (See chapter on Real Estate.)

The following sketch of Mr. Hart is taken from the Mss.
of an address delivered at the Bi-centenary of St. George's
Church, Hempstead, L. I., by Rev. Howard Falkner, A.B.B.D.,
Rector of St. Peter's Church, Baltimore, Md., for the use of

HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH.

which I am indebted to the kindness of James Shepard. Esq.,
of New Britain.

Rev. Seth Hart, M.D., was born in Kensington parish, Berlin, Conn.,
June 21, 1763, son of Matthew and Elizabeth (Hopkins) Hart. He graduated
at Yale College in 1784 and studied medicine and seems to have practiced
for a short time. In 1788 he married Ruth Hall, daughter of Benjamin Hall
of Cheshire. She is said to have been a very attractive and superior woman.
In 1790 he decided to give up the medical profession and become an Episcopal
clergyman. He was almost immediately assigned to duty as a lay reader in
the parishes of Waterbury, Woodbury and Salem. Waterbury was his place
of residence and he remained here about two years when he removed to Wal-
lingford. For the next four years he had charge of Christ Church, Wetliers-
field, but resided in Worthington Parish which is mostly in Berlin.

In 1797 he made a journey to Oliio as an agent of the Connecticut Land
Company, taking charge of the second party of exploration, the first having
gone the previous year under Gen. Moses Cleveland.

It seems that Mr. Hart was not only a clergyman and a doctor but a prac-
tical land surveyor which made him a very desirable person for a position of
this sort. Near Cleveland one of their party was drowned in crossing a river
and was buried at Cleveland, Mr. Hart officiating, and soon after his arrival
he was called upon to solemnize a marriage. He also preached to his own
party on Sunday and these are supposed to be the first services of the Epis-
copal Church in that part of the State of Ohio. On his return he resumed his
pastoral duties. He was evidently a good 'all around' man.

It seems that Mr. Hart was also a natural mechanic. He invented a
machine for shearing cloth, and one for making nails, which was patented
January 14, 1799. His interests in mechanics was a very strong one and he
probably spent a large part of his time and money over inventions.

In 1800 he was elected Rector of St. George's, Hempstead, L. I., and there
spent the remainder of his life. He died March 14, 1832.

He seems to have been a man of a rather remarkable range of knowledge,
and fairly successful in all that he undertook.

The affairs of the parish and its people were now clearly pros-
pering. The old St. James's church, at the corner of Willow
Street, had been occupied nearly fifty years, and both the needs
and the pride of the parish demanded a better house. In April,
1793, during the Rev. Mr. Hart's ministry, a committee was
appointed, "to agree upon a place to set a church and the bigness
of the same," and in September following, having voted that the
society were willing and thought it necessary to build a church,
Eli Curtis, Esq., Jude Blakeslee and Captain Amos Bronson were

THE PARISH OF ST. JAMES AND OF ST. JOHN.

chosen a committee "to set a stake for the place where to build
a church," and the town appointed a committee to agree with
them.*

At a Town Meeting held by Adjournment on the 16th Day of Sept. 1793.

Voted: That Messrs. Aaron Benedict, Joseph Hopkins, Esq., Capt. Benja-
min Upson, John Kingsbury, Esq., & William Leavenworth be a Committee
to meet and agree with a Committee from the Episcopal Society on a place
where the said Episcopal Society Shall build a Church or Meeting House and
when the Place is agreed upon by the said Episcopal Society And approved of
by the Committee now Appointed by the Town, then the Committee now
appointed are hereby authorized to give the assent of the Town thereto.
Town Meetings, Vol. 2, p. 105.

The following action seems to be a recognition of the location:

Waterbury 7th of December A. D. 1797, Then, was laid out a piece of land
for a highway on the south side of the green in the center of the town
between the new Church and Israel Holmes land lying north of a straight
line from the gate of the Door yard of the Glebe house to the Northeast
corner of Wd. Susannah Bronsous house containing seventeen rods and a
half of land and in the whole land that Ard Welton bought of Capt. Samuel
Judd & Israel Holmes.

Richard Welton, } Selectmen.
Noah Baldwin, i
For a valuable consideration I the subscriber do release and by these presents
forever quit claim all my right. Title, Interest in the land taken for the above
mentioned highway as a highway forever.

Reed Dec. 19th, 1797. Witness my hand, Ard Welton.

A true record. Attest.

John Kingsbury, Register.
Highways Vol. 2, p. 373.

Before this the South line of the green had run diagonally
north west from the Bronson land to near the corner of the
present church. Church Street was not yet opened but this
action set the line back to correspond with the south side of the
street further east.

♦These gentlemen were all non-residents. Eli Curtis was a lawyer residing in Water-
town and I think Mr. Blakeslee and Captain Bronson were both from Plymouth. Difficulties
and heart burnings so frequently arose in those days from differences of opinion as to the
proper location of churches and schools that it was quite customary to call in a committee
of disinterested persons from neighboring towns to "set a stake." Whether this parish
in its wisdom avoided all trouble by appointing the committee at the outset, or whether
some difficulties had already arisen. I do not know. That there were difficulties, however,
very clearly appears.

HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH.

Whether the above named committee acted or not, the record
does not show, but in December following another committee,
namely, John Wooster of Derby, Thomas Atwater of Cheshire and
Abner Bradley of Woodbury, were appointed, and this time under
the sanction of the county court, which had jurisdiction when ap-
plied to in such matters. Still they were not quite satisfied, and in
the following March the court and committee were asked to place
the stake five rods further south, so that the first stake must
have been driven very nearly where the Soldiers' monument is.
Both these stakes were set on ground belonging to the town.

On February 9, 1795, a vote was passed directing the committee
to "build a decent, well-furnished church fifty-four by thirty-
eight feet, with a decent steeple on the outside, at the east end of
the same." By arrangement already referred to the church was
placed on public ground at the west end of the green.

This church building was a great credit to the parish. Its
gallery windows were arched at the top — a feature which was
supposed to give it a churchly appearance — and it had a tall,
slender, gracefully tapering spire, on the top of which shone a
bright gilt star, with a handsome gilt vane just beneath. David
Hoadley was the architect. The interior was divided into square
pews with seats on three sides; the ceiling was arched between
the galleries; the pulpit was high, with winding stairs on each
side and the reading desk in front of it below. They were of dark
wood, probably cherry. The robing-room was near the entrance
of the church. After reading the service, which was done in a
surplice, the minister walked the length of the church to the
robing-room, laid aside his surplice, returned and slowly mounted
the long pulpit stairs in his black gown. If done with dignity
this was quite an effective part of the service. The crowning
glory of the church consisted of two large fresco paintings,
one at either end of the arched ceiling of the church on the pedi-
ments over the pulpit and over the choir gallery. As I remember
them, they occupied the whole of the pediments, or ends of the
arch. They were painted in different shades of green on a white
ground. The subject of that over the pulpit was the baptism of
Jesus by John in the river Jordan. The Jordan was a very res-

St. John's CiiurcHj 1797.

THE PARISH OF ST. JAMES AND OF ST. JOHN.

pectable stream, looking nearly a quarter of a mile wide in the
picture, and the landscape on the further side was quite inviting.
I always thought, while looking at it, of the hymn:

On Jordan's stormy banks I stand,

And cast a wistful eye
To Canaan's fair and happy land,

Where my possessions lie.

I could not swim, and the idea of "crossing the Jordan," which
was a popular synonym for entrance into the next world, was not
inviting. The river seemed altogether too deep to wade. The
picture at the other end was a village green on which was a
church — the church, I suppose, in which the picture was — with
rather stiff trees and a long row of people moving toward the
sanctuary, conspicuous among whom was the rector, marked
by his shovel hat. To my boyish eyes these pictures were mar-
vels of art.

At the same time that this church was being built the Congre-
gational society was erecting one at the other end of the Green,
and a healthy spirit of emulation was doubtless of considerable
advantage to both buildings. The new church was consecrated
by the name of St. John's on November 1, 1797, by Bishop Jarvis.*

The following is the formal Act of Consecration. The petition
is in the handwriting of Lieut. Michael Bronson, son of Esquire
Ezra Bronson, who had a local reputation as a chirographer.
The sentence of Consecration appears to be in the Bishop's own
hand.

Forasmuch as Almighty God has been pleased to put it into the hearts
of the Parishioners of the first Protestant Episcopal Church in Waterbury
to build a new Church in said Parish, for the Celebration of his Worship
according to the Liturgy of the Protestant Episcopal Church of the United
States of America, and has in the course of his good Providence enabled them
to complete the same: and as it is their full purpose and earnest desire that
the said new Church, to be called St. John's Church, be dedicated to the Wor-
ship and service of Almighty God, according to the Liturgy aforesaid.

Therefore the said Parishioners being legally Assembled in Society
Meeting in said Parish on the Twelfth day of October, Anno Domini 1797 did

*So far as can be discovered Mr. Green had left at the time of the consecration and
the chiuch was without a rector.

HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH.

unanimously resolve and Vote, to request the Right Reverend Doctor Jarvis,
their Diocesan Bishop, to attend in, and Consecrate the said new Church to
the Worship of God according to the Liturgy aforesaid, and at the time of
said Consecration a Deed of Dedication should be made and dehvered in
common and usual form — And the said Parishioners at the aforesaid Meeting
did unanimously Vote that the Church Wardens, Messrs. Ephraim Warner,
Hermon Munson, together with Messrs. Seba Bronson, Isaac Benham and
John Cossett be a Committee to Execute and Dehver in the name of said
Society, said Deed of Dedication — ^Therefore persuant to the several Votes
of said Society above referred to, and for the Reasons aforesaid — We the said
Church Wardens and Committee of said Society Do by tliese Presents for our-
selves in the Capacity aforesaid, and for the rest of the several Members of
said Society Successors, Dedicate, Appropriate, Give and Grant the said
new Church, by us and them erected unto Almighty God our Heavenly
King and Father, to be consecrated and sett apart for the use of his Holy
Worship and Service according to the Liturgy aforesaid — Divesting ourselves
of all Right and Title, and disclaiming all Authority ever hereafter to employ
it in any common or profane use — And we the said Church Wardens and Com-
mittee do now acquaint the Right Reverend Doctor Jarvis our Diocesan
Bishop herewith, and in behalf of said Society do request that he would Con-
secrate the said new Church to Almighty God and sett it apart to be forever
hereinafter employed in his holy Worship and Service, hereby promising in
behalf of said Society and their Successors, as far as in us Ues, to take care of
the Repairs of said Church, that it may be kept, together with its Furniture,
Sacred Utensills and Books in a decent state for the celebration of Divine
Service; And also that we will as God shall enable us, endeavour always to pro-
cure and support a Minister in Priests Orders, to Celebrate Gods Holy Wor-
ship in said new Church, according to the Liturgy aforesaid.

IN WITNESS whereof we the said Church Wardens and Committee (in
behalf of said Society) hereunto sett our hands and seals this first day of No-
vember, Anno Domini, 1797.

In presence of

Reuben Ives, Ephraim Warner,

David Badger, Herman Munson,

Seba Bronson,
Isaac Benham,
John Cosset.

Be it known to all whom it may concern, that on the first day of Novem-
ber in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and ninety-seven, the
foregoing instrument of Dedication was presented unto us, the Bishop of
Connecticut, at the Holy Table, by Ephraim Warner, the senior church War-
den, and openly read before the congregation there 8«serabled. And that in

THE PARISH OF ST. JAMES AND OF ST. JOHN.

consequence thereof the said Church, called St. John's Church, was, on that
day, duly consecrated, and set apart for the worship and Service of Almighty
God forever.

In Witness whereof, we have hereunto affixed our Episcopal Seal, the
day and year above written, and the first year of our consecration.

Sigil, Episc. Connect.

(signed) Abrm. Connect.

After Mr. Hart's departure the pulpit was partially supplied
for a time by the Rev. Alexander V. Griswold and by the Rev.
William Green. Of Mr. Griswold nothing more need be said here
than that he subsequently became Bishop of Massachusetts.
The Rev. William Green was a graduate of Dartmouth college
in 1791. He was ordained deacon by Bishop Seabury at New
London, October 18, 1793. To the record of the ordination the
bishop adds: "Mr. Green was ordained on my own personal
knowledge of him and on recommendation of Rev. Dr. Bela
Hubbard of New Haven; he was licensed to preach and purposes
to go into Maryland." The Dartmouth college catalogue says
that he died in 1801, aged thirty. Where he spent the few years
that intervened between his service here and his death I have not
learned.

Soon after the completion of the church, in Decembei', 1797,
the Rev. Tillotson Bronson, who had officiated here and in Bristol
for some months, became the rector, with the agreement that he
was to officiate here three-fourths of the time and one-fourth in
Salem society. His salary was $250. In June, 1806, not feeling
able longer to support his family on this sum, and the parish
being unable (or unwilling) to increase it, he preached his farewell
sermon, and retired, with the approbation of the bishop and the
good will of the people.

Dr. Tillotson Bronson (D. D., Brown university, 1813), was the son of
Captain Amos Bronson of Plymouth, whose residence was at Jericu on the
Naugatuck river. He was born there January 8, 1762, fitted for college with
the Rev. John Trumbull, Congregational pastor of Watertown, graduated at
Yale in 1786, studied theology with Dr. Mansfield and Bishop Seabury, was

HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH.

ordained deacon September 11, 1787, and priest February 24, 1788. He
preached for a year in Vermont and New Hampsiiire, which was the missionary
ground of that period: then for a while in Boston and at several places in
this state, and also taught school. While in Waterbury he lived in a house on
Grand Street which was taken down in 1882 to make room for the Baptist
church. He owned the place and sold it to his successor, the Rev. V. H.
Barber. From Waterbury he went to New Haven to take charge of the
Churchman's Magazine, a periodical then recently established, wliich he con-
tinued to edit with ability for some years. Only a few months, however, after
leaving Waterbury he was appointed by the Convention principal of the
Episcopal Academy at Cheshire. He removed there, and after a long and
successful career as the head of that institution he died September 6, 1826.
He was a prominent man in the church and plenty of material exists for a
fuller biography, but it relates to his life after leaving here.

I notice on the record (as a sign of progress) that on August 19,
1799, a committee was appointed to procure subscriptions to
purchase a bass viol. On December 8, 1803, it was "voted to
dignify the pews." This consisted in allotting the seats in the
church to the members of the congregation according to their
^'dignity," the standard being a fixed one, based partly upon
age, partly on the amount of tax paid and partly on ofiicial or
social standing.

Dr. Bronson was succeeded by the Rev. Virgil Horace Barber,
who remained here from June 16, 1807, until May 6, 1814. He
was a son of the Rev. Daniel Barber of Claremont, N. H. He was
ordained deacon June 9, 1805, and priest, September 20, 1807.
I have not been able to learn where he was educated, but he was
a scholarly man and a superior teacher, and while here main-
tained a school of high order. He doubtless discharged his min-
isterial duties with zeal, but it was as an inspiring and instructive
teacher that he did most for the generation to whichjhe belonged,
and his influence was long felt. It is said that he required his own
family, including the pupils who resided with him, to converse
in Latin. He was, however, eccentric and somewhat unpractical.
I find this entry on the parish records when he had been here but
six months:

"December 29, 1807. Voted to send Mr. Justus Warner to the town of
Claremont, N. H., to know the reason of Mr. Barber's not returning to this
town, and to give Mr. Warner $14. for his expenses."

THE PARISH OF ST, JAMES AND OF ST. JOHN.

There were no telegraphs, and letters had evidently failed.
We know that Mr, Barber came back, but why not sooner remains
a mystery. He left here to become principal of an academy at
Fairfield, N. Y., but two years Jater (in 1816) became a Roman
Catholic, and, placing his wife and children in a convent, went,
July, 1817, to Rome, and after a period of study became a priest
in the Society of Jesuits. A clergyman who had known him here
visited him in Rome, and found him an inmate of a Jesuit college
under the name of Signor Barberini, clothed in the habit, and
practicing the austerities which belong to the order. After his
return from Rome he went in 1822, by direction of his superior,
to Claremont, where he established a Roman Catholic church.
Later he was sent on a mission to the Indian tribes in Maine and
to various towns in that state where there were Roman Catholic
residents without pastors. He was afterward assigned to duty
in Maryland and that vicinity. He died at Georgetown, D. C,
March 27, 1847.

The Rev. Daniel Barber, the father of Virgil H. Barber, was a native
of Simsbury, and was born October 2, 1756. In 1827, when he was seventy-
one years old, he published, at Washington, D. C, a pamphlet entitled " His-
tory of My Own Times," which is of considerable value as a picture of the
period. He was a soldier in the Revolution and kept a diary, portions of
which are contained in his pamphlet and are also copied in the sketch of Sims-
bury in Barber's Historical Collections of Connecticut. The Barbers seem to
have been an independent family, much given to speculative theology (the
main source of recreation for thinking people in those times), and always having
the courage of their convictions, if not a httle to spare. Daniel's father and
mother each had their own views and stood by them. "They could never
agree," says Daniel, "as to their points of faith." When Daniel was twenty-
seven years old he became an Episcopahan, at thirty an Episcopal clergyman
and at sixty-two a Roman Catholic. This was in 1818, when he pubUcly
announced his change and left his church in Claremont. There seems to be
some discrepancy in the several biographical statements as to whether the
father or son first entered the Roman Catholic church. The probabihty is
that the father started first, but the son outstripped him in the race. It is a
sad story throughout, such a spirit of self-sacrifice and such a lack of sense.
When Virgil H. Barber made up his mind to become a Roman CathoHc priest
he was thirty-four years old and his wife twenty-eight, and they had five
children and no means of support. The mother and children were placed in
a convent, and the father went to Rome to study. All became prominent in

HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH.

the church of their choice. Mrs. Barber was known "in reUgion" as Sister
Mary Augustine (or as it was frequently written, Austin). She died at George-
town, D. C, January 1, 1860. Their son, Samuel Joseph, became a priest of
the order of Jesuits, and died in Charles county, Md., February 23, 1864. The
youngest and last surviving member of the family, Sister Mary Josephine,
died at the Convent of the Visitation in St. Louis (about 1892 or 3.) The fol-
lowing sketch is taken from a St. Louis paper :

THE FIRST NOVICE.

DEATH OP AN HISTORICAL BISTER AT THE VISITATION.

Sister Mary Josephine Barber died at the Visitation Convent on Cass avenue on Wednes-
day night at 1 1 o'clock. She had been a sufferer from cancer for two years. Her name is
famous in the annals of the Catholic Church of America, and she herself had been, for over
a half century, a member of the order. Her grandfather, Rev. Daniel Barber, a native of
Connecticut, was a minister of the Episcopal Church, but became a convert to Catholicity.
In 1807 be baptized Fanny Allen, daughter of Gen. Ethan Allen, who is known in Catholic
history as "the first American nun." Her father. Rev. Virgil Horace Barber, was also an
Episcopalian minister, and he too was converted to Catholicity. He became a Jesuit, and
his wife, Jerusha Barber, became a Visitandine nun, under the name of Sister Mary Augus-
tine. Besides his eon, Samuel Barber, joined the Jesuit order. Four daughters became
Ursuline nuns. They died in Canadian convents. Sister Mary Josephine, the Visitandine,
was the last survivor of this religious family.

She was born in 1817, and was educated at the convent in Georgetown, D. C, where
her mother was a nun. In 1833 a colony of eight sisters was sent to Kaskaskia, 111., to
found a convent, and she, then Miss Barber, accompanied them. They arrived at Kaskas-
kia on May 31, and she entered the novitiate in the summer of that year. She was professed
by Bishop Rosati. In 1836 her mother was sent to the house, and remained there till the
spring of 1844. The high water of that year compelled the removal of the convent to St.
Louis, and mother and daughter were in the immigrating party. They continued to enjoy
each other's company until 1848, when Sister Mary Augustine was sent to Mobile. She
died in 1860.

Except a little while that she spent beside the death-bed of her mother. Sister Mary
Josephine was employed since 1844 as a teacher at the St. Louis Convent. She excelled
especially in poetry, music and painting. She had some of the most distinguished ladies
in the country as pupils, among them Mrs. Hancock, wife of the late Gen. Hancock. She
was of a most amiable disposition, very modest in speaking of herself. Two years ago she
was induced to write a history of her family for the "Catholic Memoirs of Vermont and
New Hampshire," but tells little of herself. Some of the passages, however, are most
affecting, as, for instance, her description of being taken to the Georgetown Convent when
2 years old and refusing to go to her mother, as she did not recognize her. She states
that the five children were present when father and mother made their vows in the George-
town Convent Chapel, she as a Visitation nun, he as a Jesuit. When she was 15 years old
she made her confession to her father, and afterwards, she says, "I went back to the parlor,
and my father, who seemed more delighted than I was myself, took me up under the arms
and jumped me several times half way to the ceiling, exclaiming 'My babyl my baby! ' "

Besides the " History of My Own Times' ' Daniel Barber wrote ' 'Catholic
Worship and Piety explained and recommended to a very near Friend and
Others," — a pamphlet, Washington, 1821. See also "Catholic Memoirs of
Vermont and New Hampshire," by Bishop Goesbriand, Burlington, Vt., 18S0,
and Griffin's Journal, Philadelphia, June 1, 1894.

THE PARISH OF ST. JAMES AND OF ST. JOHN.

In September, 1814, the Rev. Alpheus Geer was invited to
become rector, at a salary of $600. "provided Gunntown will pay
one-third for his services one-third of the time." Gunntown it
will be understood was the Episcopal church in the second (Salem)
Society, now Naugatuck, the church there being in the Gunn-
town district. The vote as finally passed was to pay him $400
for two-thirds of his time, leaving Mr. Geer and Gunntown to
settle for the remainder.

Alpheus Geer was born at Kent, August 7, 1788, graduated at Union col-
lege in 1813, was ordained deacon by Bishop Hobart in New York city, June
12, 1814, and priest by Bishop Griswold at Middletown, early in 1815.
He remained in Waterbury nearly sixteen years from the fall of 1814 to the
spring of 1830. He went fronti here to Hebron, where he remained about
fourteen years, and afterwards preached at East Haddam, North Guilford,
Bakerville and Harwinton. He died at Norwich, February 3, 1866. While
here he lived first on South Main street, and later in the Judge Hopkins place,
on West Main street. His wife was Miss Sarah W. Marshall of Torrington ,
married November 29, 1815. She died September 11, 1886. The period of
Mr. Geer's pastorate was one of quiet and moderate prosperity. There was
not at that time much growth in the town, and as a semi-farmer clergyman,
who was expected to live to some extent off the product of his glebe, he was a
very fair representative of the country clergy of his time. On Sunday, Octo-
ber 20, 1816, he presented to Bishop Hobart of New York, then acting as
bishop in this diocese, which was temporarily without a bishop, a class of two
hundred and twenty-six for confirmation, being the largest class ever con-
firmed by Bishop Hobart. The manuscript from which the information in
this sketch was in part obtained, adds: "It is thought the largest ever pre-
sented to any bishop in this country." The writer was not aware of the
class of two hundred and fifty-six confirmed by Bishop Seabury in the same
place thirty years before, but these two classes, both of them in this parish,
have seldom been exceeded in numbers. Mr. Geer's second son, the Rev.
George Jarvis Geer, D. D. (Trinity, 1842), was for many years a successful
clergyman in the city of New York, and his grandson, the Rev. Wilfiam
Montague Geer, is one of the assistant ministers of Trinity parish in that city.

On July 19, 1830, the Rev. William Barlow was invited to
become rector. He remained here about two years and a half.
At a meeting of the parish in October, 1832, it was voted to give
him a leave of absence during the winter (he being obliged to go
south on account of his wife's health), and this seems virtually
to have closed his connection with the parish. He was a man of

HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH.

dignified manner and refined and rather scholarly tastes. While
here he took an active interest in schools and in a public library.
The library continued to exist in a feeble way for many years
after he left. Some of the books went into the Young Men's
Institute and finally into the Bronson library. One of Mr. Bar-
low's contemporaries speaks of him as a "smart but erratic man."
He was ordained deacon by Bishop Hobart, December 28, 1819,
and died in Chicago February 24, 1850. He occupied while here
the house on Grand street which had been occupied by the Rev.
Dr. Bronson and the Rev. Mr. Barber.*

From Dr. James H. Canfield, librarian of Columbia University,
I get the following:

Rev. William Barlow.

1819. Ordained deacon, Dec. 28, by Bishop Hobart.
181&-21. At St. John's Church, Canandaigua, N. Y.

1820. Ordained priest, October 22 or 29, by Bishop Hobart.
1824-26. At Claremont Church, Charleston, S. C.

1829. Agent and Corr. Sec. of Church Scholarship Society, Hart-
ford, Conn.

1830-32. At St. John's Church, Waterbury, Conn.

1834-35. At St. Matthew's Church, Wilton, Conn.

1836-40. At St. John's Church, Ogdensburg, N. Y.

1840-42. Address given at Flatbush, N. Y.

1842. Instructor in St. Thomas' Hall, Flushing.

1834-47. Address given at Peekskill, N. Y.

1848-50. At Trinity Church, Chicago, lU.

He is also mentioned as having been at St. Paul's Church,
Syracuse, N. Y., before he was at Ogdensburg.

He was author of several printed letters and pamphlets which
are preserved in the library of Columbia University.

♦Somewhere about 1830, I have not the precise date, the church was struck by a very
heavy bolt of lightning, which broke a large part of the glass in the windows; and the
lightning rod, which was of iron and nearly an inch in diameter, was rendered so brittle
that it was readily broken by the hands.

CHAPTER III.

THE NEW ERA.

I HAVE called the preceding chapter the transitional period,
Mr. Geer was the last of the Waterbury clergymen who

joined the care of some other parish to his ministerial work
here. This is also approximately the epoch which marks the trans-
ition in Connecticut from an agricultural condition to one in which
manufactures became the dominant interest, and Mr. Geer was the
last minister of St. John's parish who depended on the cultivation
of land for a portion of his income. The cultivation of the glebe
land and of their own land by the early New England clergy
afforded an important part of their support. A settlement was
regarded as for life, and a grant of land was usually part of the
settlement. In many cases the clergy were considerable land-
holders and successful cultivators. This condition of things
continued in some towns to a later date, and possibly there are
lingering cases still, but the year 1830 is as near the turning point
as any that could be selected.* '^'^(T'-^O'I ^

On February 20, 1833, it was voted to alter ana repair tne
church. This was accomplished some time afterward, and the
changes consisted principally in taking out the square pews and
substituting those of the present style, then known as "slips."
By this the seating capacity of the church was considerably in-
creased.

On April 8, 1833, it was voted to make a contract with the
Rev. Allen C. Morgan, either party to be at liberty to terminate
the engagement on giving six months' notice. Mr. Morgan began

♦If the people of to-day can imagine the rector of St. John's in "shirt sleeves," working
in a mild spring rain to turn the water through sluices into his grass land (as I have seen
Mr. Geer doing), or can imagine the pastor of the First church with a very broad brimmed
straw hat and a calico dressing gown, carrying a rake across his shoulder and following a
load of hay from the "little pasture" through the main street of the town (as 1 have seen
Mr. Arnold doing), it will help them to understand some of the changes which seven ty-fivo
years have brought about, both in the sources of income and in the customs of life.

HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH.

his service here as a deacon about the time that Mr. Barlow left,
and was ordained a priest January 17, 1833. He remained here
until the fall of 1836, and left to take charge of the Cheshire
academy. After a brief but very successful career as a teacher
he died suddenly in New York City, October 12, 1838. During
the short period of his ministry here he had become so much
attached to the place and people that he wished to regard it as
his home. He was buried here, and his old parishioners erected
a monument to his memory in the Grand Street Cemetery, which
was afterward removed to Riverside.

Allen C. Morgan was born at Norwich, January 7, 1802. His father
removed soon after to Greenfield, Mass. Being desirous of obtaining a classi-
cal education, and dependent on his own exertions, he early engaged in teach-
ing. While thus occupied, the Rev. Dr. Wheaton, then Rector of Christ
Church, Hartford, offered to assist him in his education. The offer was
accepted, and he graduated with distinction at Yale college in 1826. He
taught for a while at Norwalk, and then at Ulster, N. Y., until the autumn
of 1831, when he returned to Hartford and was ordained deacon, November
27. He officiated for a few months at Plymouth and Bristol, and tlien came
here. He was a man of dignified appeareance, rather stout for his years and
slow in his motions, but of an active mind and finished scholarship. He was
a faithful pastor and a sympathetic friend. He never married.

It was during Mr. Morgan's rectorship, December 10, 1835,
that a committee was appointed to purchase an organ and make
the necessary alterations in the galleries for its reception. This
was the first church organ in Waterbury, and it was for many
years the only one. The organist was St. John Rowley, an
Englishman employed in Beecher's woollen mill.

On January 28, 1837, it was voted that the society's committee
be authorized to correspond with the Rev. J. L. Clark on the sub-
ject of becoming rector, and to offer him $750 a year. He ac-
cepted the offer, and on the second Sunday after Easter began
his long service here.

Jacob Lyman Clark was the son of Jacob and Susannah (Bangs) Clark,
and was born at Westhampton, Mass., September 19, 1807. Previous to his
fifteenth year he lived for some time with a married sister, Mrs. Harriet King,
working with her husband on his farm. In 1822 he went to Cambridge to
study with his brother, Orange Clark, afterward the Rev. Orange Clark, D. D.,
who after many years of service in this vicinity spent the closing years of his

A 114:-

THE NEW ERA.

life in California, but who was at this time a student in Harvard college. He
remained in Cambridge about two years, when he went with his brother to
assist him in a school at Portsmouth, N. H., teaching also, during a portion of
the time, the children of the officers at the navy yard at Kittery. He also
taught a pubhc school at Beverly, Mass., somewhere about this time, having
sailors and sailor boys for pupils. He entered Trinity (then Washington)
college in 1827, and graduated in 1831. His father was a farmer of moderate
means and the sons were mainly dependent on their own exertions for such
educational advantages as they obtained, a statement which would probably
be true of nine-tenths of the New England boys of that period who rose to
distinction. While at college he taught in the family of WilUam H. Imlay,
and in the long vacations visited his brother, then in orders, at Delhi, and at
Rochester, N, Y., and while at the former place he read the service in the neigh-
boring villages. He seems not to have had the ministry in view at first, as he
became a communicant of the chiu-ch while at college, and it has been said
that until after he was twenty years old he had never seen the inside of an
Episcopal church.*

He studied three years at the General Theological seminary in New York,
and was ordained deacon by Bishop Brownell, at St. Mark's, New Canaan,
June 29, 1835. He supplied that parish and Ridgefield until he came to
Waterbm-y, the second Sunday after Easter, 1837. Here he labored with
great success for almost forty years, imtil his death, January 26, 1877.

During this long period the history of his life is substantially
the history of the parish. His success here, however, was so
marked, his power of administration so evident and the con-
tributions of the parish under his guidance so liberal to the general
work of the church that it could not fail to attract attention, and
few parishes in the country were better known or more highly
esteemed than St. John's, Waterbury, and few clergymen better
known or more highly esteemed than its rector. The mission-
aries and the missionary bishops found in him an unfailing friend.
In 1854, feeling somewhat overworked, he sent in his resignation,
but the parish declined to receive it and proposed to give him six
months' leave of absence. He decided to take this and by way
of light recreation did six months' canvassing for the Board of
Missions. This seemed to be just what he needed, and he came
back to his work greatly refreshed. The society for the Increase
of the Ministry might be said to be of his creation, and for one

*Thia may not be strictly correct, but there was no such church in hia native towa
and the family were staunch Congregationalists.

HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH.

year (1859) he gave up a large part of his parochial work to act
as its agent.

He was a member of the General Conventions of 1850, 1862,
1865, 1868 and 1874, and a prominent meml)er of the General
Board of Missions. At the General Convention of 1856 he was
nominated by the House of Bishops to the Episcopate of Nebraska
and Kansas, but the lower house did not think the time had
come to establish that jurisdiction. In 1859 the convention
elected him Bishop of Kansas and the Northwest, but he declined,
feeling doubtless that he was more in the line of his special work
in his own parish. The reason he usually gave when asked, was
that he was not sufficiently learned to be a bishop. He was
doubtless quite sincere, too, in this estimate of himself. He was
not a scholar. He never gave himself the slightest trouble about
vexed questions of theology or metaphysics. He was a Christian
worker, a servant of Christ and his church. It was for that
church to point out the way, and for him to follow in it. Never-
theless in all practical questions, intimately related as they fre-
quently were to matters of theological doctrine, his shrewd com-
mon sense and sound business judgment made him a leader and
a guide. In 1848 he became a member of the standing committee
of the diocese of Connecticut, and was annually re-elected for the
next twenty-three years, after which he declined a re-election.
In the Diocesan Convention he was 'a leading member and con-
tinually served on many important committees, but he never
spent his own time or that of the convention in discussions about
anything except the most practical questions, and then in the most
practical way. He received the degree of D.D. from his Alma
Mater in 1853, and in 1862 was made a member of the college
corporation, which place he retained until his death.

His hfe had few salient points for biographical purposes. He
will be remembered in the church, outside of his parish by his
earnest labor in missionary work and his singlehearted zeal for
all that was good.

Dr. Clark had not in any great degree what is usually called a
knowledge of men but he had a wonderful knowledge of the indi-
viduals composing his own parish. He knew every man, woman

THE NEW ERA.

and child. He never met one of them on the street without
recognition. He seldom entered a house without inquiring for
every member of the family, from the eldest to the youngest.
He knew all the intricate relationships of the various families,
their descents and intermarriages. He knew enough of their
affairs to know their ability to assist him in his parish work. He
knew when to ask for money, and also how, and for how much;
for he was apt to be very definite in those matters. There were
men in his parish who did not take much interest in church or
charitable work, from whom nevertheless, he could get sums of
from one dollar to ten dollars whenever he saw fit to ask. He
was seldom, perhaps never, refused. He had completely sub-
jugated himself to his work. Always and everywhere he was the
clergyman, and the black cane which he carried seemed an official
staff. When he came to Waterbury he was thirty years old.
Tall, erect, of spare figure, his resolute, straight-forward walk
was altogether characteristic of the man; one saw at once that he
was going to a specific place for a specific purpose, and felt pretty
sure that, whatever it was, he would carry it out. You would
not say of him, as of some men, that he forgot himself, but rather
that he never thought of himself. He was the man to lead a
forlorn hope, or, with equal readiness, to follow another man if
it seemed his business to follow rather than to lead. He was by
nature and by early training a Puritan, but not in theory an
ascetic. He was fond of social intercourse, intensely enjoying
the companionship and conversation of his brethren in the minis-
try. He had, too, a good sense of humor, but it was strictly of
the clerical kind. His manner was cheerful and genial and the
tones of his voice hearty and inspiring, though upon occasion he
could be very stern.

He never attempted eloquence or strove for well-turned sen-
tences, but there were times when the importance of the theme
and his own intense earnestness gave his utterances much power,
and in presenting the importance and the needs of Christian
enterprises he had a business-like directness which seldom failed
to produce substantial results. He had an indomitable will.
All that persistence and perseverance to the verge of obstinacy

HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH.

could accomplish he would do. He had not great talent for
organizing. He did not lay out or discuss his plans beforehand
to any great extent, or work on methods and with subordinates.
When anything was to be done he called on all to help; then,
while he supervised the labor, he put his own shoulder to the
wheel, quietly filled the gaps, and the result was success.

He was not a student. He read few books and few newspapers.
What was happening in the diocese and in the church at large, so
far as it affected him as a clergyman, or his work, or the welfare
of the church, he generally contrived to find out, and those who
came in contact with him knew very well that he had his opinions
and maintained them against all comers; but he had no time to
waste on speculative questions. Probably he never read a novel
or a work of speculative thought, or a philosophical history or a
book of poetry except the Hymn Book. He knew nothing about
modern science and whenever he had occasion to allude to it in
his sermons he always spoke of it as "science falsely so called,"
which covered the whole ground with him. With the sick and
the poor his presence was ubiquitous, his patience unwearied, his
labors unceasing, his charity unfailing. Fuel, food, medicine,
clothes, money for rent, to see that no one should lack these was
his daily and nightly business. His life in the parish might be
summed up in that royal sentence, " He went about doing good."

He spoke no evil of any man to his fellow men, but with the
wrong-doer himself he never held back or hesitated when he
thought good could be done. Crossing the Green one day, he
met a workman whom he knew, partially intoxicated. He told
the man he was sorry to see him in that state and pointed out to
him the injury he was inflicting on himself; among other things
he warned him that he was destroying his strength and power
to labor for his family. This touched the man's pride, and he
replied, "I can whip you. Dr. Clark, and if you will step back on
the Green I will do it." "No," said Dr. Clark; "when you are
sober you are a much stronger man than I am, but if you go on
drinking, or even now, if you had a glass or two more, I shouldn't
be afraid of you." This argument seemed to reach him, and the
result was that he went directly with the clergyman to the

THE NEW ERA.

secretary of the local temperance society, and there signed the
pledge.

It is probably safe to say that no man in this town was so well
known or so universally esteemed. Although St. John's was only
one of eight or ten churches in the town, yet, on the afternoon of
his funeral, business was suspended as by common consent, and
the whole population poured forth to do honor to his memory.
It was such a spontaneous tribute to a life of goodness as gives
one renewed confidence in his fellow men.

Dr. Clark was a man of warm domestic attachments, to whom
a home meant much. Although thrice married during his pas-
torate, he lived a widower for more than twenty-seven years.
On April 28, 1839, he married Mary Thankful, youngest daughter
of James Scovill, Esq., and granddaughter of the Rev. James
Scovil. She died May 2, 1842. On September 12, 1847, he mar-
ried Mary DeForest, daughter of Gad Taylor of New York. She
died July 13, 1848, and on November 16, 1870, he married Anna
Galpin, daughter of William R. Hitchcock, long an officer of St.
John's parish. She survives him. He left but one child, a daugh-
ter of his first wife, now Mrs. Ambrose I. Upson. During the
long years of his widowerhood his house and home were under the
care of his maiden sister. Miss Samantha Clark, who came to him
after the death of his second wife and devoted the remainder of
her life to the care of her brother. She died at Westhampton,
her old home in May, 1886. In 1849, the parsonage on Leaven-
worth Street was bought for Dr. Clark and he lived there until
his death, January 26, 1877.

At a meeting of the Wardens and Vestry, held in the church
January 27th, 1877, it was reported that the funeral services of the late
Rector, Rev. Jacob Lyman Clark, D. D., were appointed to take place in the
church Monday, Jan. 29th, 1877, at two o'clock, P. M., at which time it was
expected that the Bishop would be present and preach a memorial discourse.
The following named clergy having been selected by the family acted as pall
bearers.

Rev. A. T. Twing, Rev. S. D. Dennison, D. D., Rev, 11 E. Beardsley, D. D.,
Rev. N. S. Richardson, D. D., Rev. W. E. Vibbert, Rev. J. L. Bennett, D. D.,
Rev. F. J. Hawley, D. D., Rev. J. L. Scott; and the following members of the
parish., Messrs. S. M. Buckingham, I. E. Newton, F. J. Kngsbury, H. V.
Welton, C. B. Merriman and E. A. Pierpont.

HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH.

By consent of the family it was decided that the Wardens and Vestry
should convey the remains of the deceased to the chancel Monday noon,
there to be viewed by all those who might wish to avail themselves of the
privilege.

The following named proposals relating to the preparations for the funeral
were suggested and adopted.

First. That N. Dikeman have charge of draping the chancel.
Second. That N. J. Welton engage carriages and select ushers to aid at the

church.
Third. That C. B, Merriman provide a lunch at the Scovill House for the

clergy.
Fourth. That Henry Merriman assist at the house during the day.

Rev. J. F. Bingham reported having issued postal cards to the clergy
of the Diocese and others announcing the time of the funeral.

Adjourned to Sunday evening Jan. 28, 1877.

A true copy of the minutes.
Attest J. W. Smith, Clerk.

At a meeting of the Wardens and Vestry of St. John's, Waterbury,
the following resolutions were adopted :

Jan. 29, 1877.

Whereas: It has pleased Our Heavenly Father in the exercise of that
infinite wisdom which doeth all things well to take from a life of toil and trial
to a Heaven of peace and rest His faithful servant the Reverend Jacob Lyman
Clark, D. D., for almost forty years the revered and beloved rector of this
parish.

Resolved : That while we deeply mourn the loss, the greatness of which
we are yet in the first moments unable to measure, we desire humbly to express
our devout gratitude to the great Head of the Church that we have been so
long permitted to enjoy the ministrations and to profit by the labors and the
example of this eminent mnister of Christ, whose record like that of his 'Mas-
ter' is that he went about doing good.

That while the obligations which we owe to him cannot be set forth in a
few brief phrases, we nevertheless desire to place upon record our grateful
acknowledgments that under God this parish is what it is through his manifold
labors.

That he has spared himself no labor for our sakes, but that summer's
heat and winter's cold have been to him as naught when duty called.

That in times of adversity he has not looked back nor faltered, nor in
our days of prosperity has he suffered us to be led into vanity, but by patient
continuance in all well doing he ever sought for glory and immortality,
eternal life.

THE NEW ERA.

That his life has been an open book known and read of all men, for good.

That his name has been in all the churches a synonym of all that is faithful
in labor, wise in counsel, just, true, that maketh for peace and righteousness
and is of good report.

That his ear was ever open to the cry of the oppressed and his hand was
swift to minister to the needy; from no man was his face turned. He ever
distributed to the necessities of the saints and was given to hospitality. He
was the guide and friend of youth, the counsellor and comforter of age. He
has fought a good fight; he has finished his course; he has kept the faith.

How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace and
bring glad tidings of good things unto men.

Resolved: That we shall most honor his memory by heeding his counsels
and faithfully striving to follow his example.

Resolved: that we tender to his bereaved family such consolation as our
sincere sympathy in their affliction may afford.

Resolved: That these resolutions be entered on our records and that
copies be furnished for publication in the Church Journal, The Churchman
and the newspapers of this city.

Attest,

E. D. Steele,

Clerk pro teni.

At a meeting of the Wardens and Vestry of St. John's Parish held in the
church Sunday, Feb. 4th, 1877, it was

Voted: That the salary and house rent of the late Dr. Clark be continued
to his family until Easter, 1877.

Voted: That a committee of four do procure such historical sketches as
they may be able to obtain, and report the same to the Rev. J. F. Bingham,
D. D., that it may be compiled in pamphlet form together wth the Bishop's
memorial discourse and other matters of interest to the parish, this com-
mittee having power to publish the same.
The following named were appointed:

Rev. J. F. Bingham, D. D. F. J. Kingsbury

Rev. Mr. Russell N. Dikeman.

Voted: That Rev. Doctor Bingham and S. M. Buckingham procure
assistance for Doctor Bingham until Easter, 1877, at a cost not exceeding IIOO.

Adjourned.
A true copy of the minutes.
Attest, J. W. Smith, Clerk.

At a meeting of the parish held April 14, 1884, the committee to provide
a suitable memorial of the late Rev. Dr. Clark, appointed Easter Monday,

HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH.

April 2, 1877, reported that soon after their appointment they caused a granite
monument with a suitable inscription thereon to be placed at the grave of Dr.
Clark in the Riverside Cemetery at a cost of $550, which was defrayed by
subscriptions of the late parishioners of Dr. Clark now belonging to the parishes
of St. John's and Trinity; that on the r2th of the present month a tablet of
brass mounted on marble and placed in the nave on the south (since changed
to north) side of the chancel arch was unveiled with appropriate services.
The cost of the tablet was $325, which was defrayed by subscriptions from the
Sunday School and members of St. John's Parish.

Soon after Dr. Clark came to the parish, signs of growth began
to appear, owing doubtless in part to the increase of population,
but also, in part to his energetic methods. On May 19, 1838, it
was voted to finish off the gallery of the church into slips. On
January 12, 1839, it was voted to make an addition on each side
of the church, provided the money could be raised by subscription.
The addition was made, consisting of a wing, one story high, and
about twelve feet wide, on each side, giving two additional rows
of pews, and two aisles, the entire length of the church. The
front of the church was also built out on a line with the front of
the steeple. The appearance of the edifice, with these wings, was
not architecturally elegant, and they were spoken of as "cow-
sheds" and "bowling-alleys" by the irreverent; nevertheless, they
served a good purpose for a number of years.

On February 23, 1846, it was voted that it was "expedient
to build a new church, if the funds can be raised by subscription."
A building committee was appointed, but nothing more appears
on the record until March 8, 1847, when a committee was appointed
to sell the old building. But in the meantime much had been
done. It had been decided that the new church be of stone,
and a new site was selected and purchased, a short distance from
the old one and directly west of it. The dimensions of the whole
edifice, including the chapel, were 154 by 76 feet, and the spire
was 186 feet in height. The interior was richly finished in black
walnut, and the chancel window bore a colossal figure of St. John,
with a book resting upon his lap and a pen in his hand, with the
emblematic eagle by his side. At the date of its erection, the
church was certainly surpassed by few, if any, in the State. It
was the result of great liberality and of much self-denial on the

St. .Iohn's Church, 1839.

THE NEW ERA.

part of the society, and its completion was an occasion of just
pride. It was consecrated by Bishop Brownell, January 12,
1848.* Its cost was $35,060.43.

The old church was sold to the Roman Catholic parish and
removed to East Main street. It was used first for a church and
afterwards for a school until 1888 when it was taken down to
make room for the block built by the parish of the Immaculate
Conception. Its timbers showed no signs of decay, and it might
have stood for another century.

On January 18, 1857, a violent snow storm occurred, accom-
panied by a heavy gale of wind, and the steeple of St. John's
church was blown down, crushing a portion of the south tower
in its fall. The steeple was a mass of broken sticks, but the bell,
which weighed 3800 pounds, fell on them in such a way that it
was uninjured.!

The destruction of this steeple was a heavy loss to the parish.
It was rebuilt in 1859 of wood as before, but in a very solid and
substantial manner, at a cost of over $5000.

In the early morning of December 24, 1868, the church was
totally destroyed by fire. The other religious societies immedi-
ately proffered a partial use of their buildings, and the Christmas
services were held in the Second Congregational church and a
parish meeting in the Methodist church. Sunday evening ser-
vices were held for some time in the First Congregational church,
and the Sunday morning service and the Sunday school in Mili-
tary hall, the third story of the store on Exchange Place and
Bank Street. Immediate measures were taken for the erection

♦At the time that the site for the new church was purchased it was a flag swamp,
through which ran a brook. In very high floods the water backed up into this lot from
the river by way of the "Cove." The tradition is that in the early settlement of the town
quite a stream from the river found its way through that hollow and ran across the green
and into "Great brook" below. The West District School house was nearly opposite this
lot and the children picked flag pods in summer and skated in winter on this swampy
ground with much satisfaction. Juat at the corner was a place to water horses and wash
wagons, and Esquire Ezra Bronson had at some tim.e had tubs set there for making lye, and
the place was still known as "'Squire Ezra's potash." Cyrus Clark's law office stood about
where the drive way is on the South side of the church. Later this was moved back into
the lot a little south of the brook, some additions were made to it and it was used at various
times as a manufactory of buttons, window springs, starch, hats, and perhaps other articles.

tin this gale the spire of the Second Congregational Church was also blown down
crushing part of an adjoining house.

HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH.

of a temporary chapel on ground furnished by S. M. Buckingham,
senior warden, at the corner of West Main and State Streets, and
the first service was held there March 29, 1869. It was a com-
fortable building, measuring 100 feet by 40, with seats for 629
persons. It cost about $6500. and was the home of the parish
for nearly four years.

While the temporary chapel was being prepared another com-
mittee took in hand the subject of a new church, and subscription
papers were at once circulated. About $35,000 were received
for insurance, but it was clear that this would not go far towards a
new church. Between the building of the two churches, our
Civil War had taken place, and, at the date now referred to, values
had not yet assumed their normal proportions. The style of
living, the demands of the public, the whole structure of society
in short, had been changed. The new church, relatively, was
not much in advance of the old one, but it probably cost four
times as much.

The first vote was to raise $100,000, but it was soon found
that this would not do what was wanted, and the amount was
increased to $125,000. The following summary shows the cost
and value of the building and the land:

Contract (and extras) for mason and joiner work, . $117,855

Windows, . 3,532

Heating apparatus and plumbing, .... 6,536

Gas fixtures, 1,500

Architect's fees, 4,969

Decoration, 2,700

Oiling, 550

Carpets, cushions, altar furniture and sundries, . . 7,083

$144,725
Special gifts (Estimated) :

Two organs $12,000

Chimes, clock and bust .... 10,000

Stained windows, 5,000

27,000

$171,725

The value of the ground and of the foundations, which were
very heavy (the old foundations having been added to but not

St. John's Ciilrch, 1848.

THE NEW ERA.

disturbed), makes the total value about $200,000. To this can
now be added the rectory and lot, valued at $25,000, and the
parish house* and the State Street lot, the value of which is
about $27,000.

The founding of the second parish, although not accomplished
until some years later, was substantially decided upon in con-
nection with the building of the new church. What is to be said
in regard to it will be found in the chapter on Trinity Parish.

In this connection it seems appropriate to insert the following
letter from a member of the parish, addressed to the Building
Committee.

" It would seem as if the proper course for St. John's Parish to take in
regard to a new church depended very materially upon the answer which is
to be given to a question that has as yet received no very careful consideration
by the Parish.

This question is, Is it desirable to have a second parish in Waterbury?

Some members of the parish have expressed themselves as of the opinion
that a second parish is not only desirable but absolutely essential to the
growth of the Church. There may be others who do not entertain the same
opinion, but so far as I have heard any opinion expressed it has seemed to
lean towards a new parish.

Whatever the real opinion of the parish may be is it not highly important
that the opinion should be ascertained and the whole subject carefully weighed
and definitely decided upon before proceeding on a course of action so im-
portant as building a new church — involving an outlay of considerably more
than $100,000 and fixing the condition of the parish for some years to come.

So far as I understand the matter at present we seem to be admitting that
a new parish is desirable while we are at the same time managing affairs as if
there were to be none. For,

First. Is it not as certain as anything well can be that if we raise and
expend from $100,000 to $130,000 in a new church it will be many years, at

'*'At the Spring meeting of this parish in 1890, the following vote was passed:
Voted, That the rector of the parish and the board of managers of the church home
and charity foundation fund, be, and are hereby authorized to erect a church home building
on the lands of the parish in the rear of the lot west of the church, substantially in accord-
ance with the plans herewith submitted, said building to be erected under the provisions
and for the purposes set forth in the gift to the parish by the heirs of the late Samuel W.
Hall, as appears on records of the parish; the expense of said building to be paid from said
fund.

The corner stone was laid with appropriate ceremonies, July 30, 1890. A copper box,
with church records, municipal documents, coins, etc., was placed in it. The building is
41ix66 feet besides the wing occupied by the sexton. There are three Hoors, one of which
is a hall with a stage and dressing rooms. One floor is used by the Young Men's Guild,
and has a billiard table. Most of the minor meetings of the parish organizations, choir
rehearsals, etc., are held in this building.

HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH.

least one generation, before we can hope to build another church whicii will
compare so favorably with the first one as to attract a new audience or tlraw
the necessary support from the paying members of the older parish.

Second. If we do not think it wise immediately to have a second parish
we ought to build a new church with that fact fully in view and so lay our
plans as to meet all the requirements of the case. The first of these is that
the new church should be considerably larger than, or at least contain con-
siderably more seat room than, the old one. When that church was built the
population of Waterbury was less than five thousand. It is now more than
fifteen thousand, but the seat room for churchmen is no greater in the town
now than it was then — except the chapel at Waterville which in no way sup-
plies the increased demand.

This lack of growth is by no means creditable to the church here, but we
cannot grow without room and for the last fifteen years there have been no
spare seats. If therefore we are to grow, and not to grow is disgraceful and
wrong, and if we are to have but one parish, we must have a larger church.
I know the objections to a larger church are many and weighty, but what else
can we do — if we cease to grow we begin to die.

On the other hand if we are to have a new parish our new church should
be built smaller than the old one, and relatively at a less expense, that is, at a
less expense than one of the same size as the old one woxdd cost now.

Our new church should be built, then, for six hundred to eight hundred
sittings; it should have no side galleries; it could or should therefore be
built much lower than the plans now under discussion, would require a lower
spire and could be made in all respects more elegant and complete.

It would be far easier to heat and better to speak in. For a church of
that size the present foundations would be ample for chancel, chapel and all
necessary conveniences.

Suppose now we raise $100,000, and build a church which we can complete
and furnish for $80,000— say for church $65,000 — organ and furniture $15,000.
Then take the remaining $20,000, put it with the $30,000 insurance money,
put it on interest for five years and we have nearly enough to build a second
church.

When our first church is fairly completed, say in three or four years,
initiatory steps should be taken for the second. This should be as large as
the first and in all respects equal to it, and with experience gained in building
the first the second ought to be superior to it, and would be.

These two would give say sixteen himdred sittings, representing an
increase of not less than six hundred to seven hundred church goers over the
present number and giving us two active, healthy and friendly parishes.
And these two with a generous and Christian rivalry in good works ought to
in five years more to give us the material for a third equally numerous and
vigorous.

St. John's Church After the High Wind, January lU, 1857.

THE NEW ERA.

It is the opinion of sound judges that had our old church been two-thirds
its size we should long since have had two active prosperous parishes.' '

Memorandum. The foregoing was submitted to the building committee
and other leading members of the parish. Its views were approved and the
consequence was the size of the church was reduced from the original plan
more than one hundred sittings; but the expense of the reduced plan was
greater than it was supposed the other would be, so that it is extremely
doubtful if another parish can be established in ten years.

September, 1871.

The church was consecrated by Bishop Williams on St. John's
day, June 24, 1873. As already indicated it is unusually rich
in memorial windows and other memorials, gifts for the most
part of members of the parish. The most valuable of these is
the great organ, built by Hook & Hastings at a cost of S10,000.
It was the gift of Abram Ives. Next is the marble bust of Bishop
Brownell, by Ives, the sculptor, surmounted by a richly carved
Gothic canopy of Caen stone, the whole structure being about
twenty-five feet in height. It bears the following inscriptions:

The Right Reverend Thomas Church Brownell, D. D., S. T. D. Born in
Westport, Mass., October XIX, MDCCLXXIX. Consecrated third Bishop
of Connecticut, October XXVII, MDCCCXIX. Founder and first President
of Trinity College. Presiding Bishop in the Protestant Episcopal Church in
the United States. Died in Hartford, Jan. XIII, MDCCCLXV, in the
LXXXVI year of his age and the XLVI year of his episcopate.

"Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the children of
God."

Erected by Gordon W. Burnham, A. D., MDCCCLXXI.

In memory of Gordon W. Burnham, who was born in Hampton, Conn.,
Mar. 20, 1803, and died in N. Y. city Mar. 18, 1885. He was at one time a
vestryman of St. John's Church, and with his wife Louisa, a daughter of the
Rt. Rev. T. C. Brownell, D. D., S. T. D., bestowed liberal gifts upon the
church.

"Yea, because of the house of the Lord our God I will seek to do thee
good.' '

This canopy was first erected over the altar, but was subse-
quently removed to the south wall of the chancel arch. The
expense of this change was borne by Mr. Burnham's sons, and
the inscription to his memory was added by direction of the
parish at that time.

HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH.

Under the north gallery Is a black marble tablet with this
inscription in gilt letters:

In memory of the Rev. James Scovil, born in Waterbury, Jan. 27, 1732,
graduated at Yale College, 1757. Ordained by Zachary Pearce, Lord Bishop
of Rochester, at St. Peter's (Westminster Abbey), England, April 1, 1759.
Missionary of the Ven. S. P. G. to this parish (then St. James), and its first
resident rector, 1759-1788. Died at Kingston, N. B., Dec. 19, 1808.

Also of James Scovill, Esquire, his son. For many years an officer of
this parish. Born March 19, 1764, Died November 26, 1825.

This tablet is placed here by their grandchildren and great-grandchildren,
1885.

The Bible and Prayer Book which were presented to the Rev.
James Scovil by Ven. S. P. G. at the time of his ordination in
Westminster Abbey in 1759, and were used in this church about
60 years and then by a vote of the parish presented to an Epis-
copal Church in Waterbury, Ohio, were returned here and repose
in an oaken case, with a suitable inscription, the gift of Mrs.
Frederick J. Kingsbury, a great-granddaughter of Mr. Scovil.

The chimes, consisting of ten bells, were the gift of G. W.
Burnham, and the clock was the gift of Mrs. Burnham,

St. John's chimes were received in December, 1871. The parish meet-
ing accepting it, etc., Dec. 31. The paper says the bells arrived the 19th.
They are from E. A. & G. R. Meneely of West Troy, N. Y.

E, 2520 lbs. This chime of ten bells was presented to St. John's Protes-
tant Episcopal Church of Waterbury, Connecticut, by Gordon W. Burnham
of New York, A. D. MDCCCLXXI. Rev. Jacob L. Clark, D.D., rector.
Rev. Frances T. Russell, associate rector. S. M. Buckingham and I. E. New-
ton, Wardens. Vestrymen, S. W. Hale, T. I. Driggs, W. Lamb, George Pritch-
ard, B. P. Chatfield, J. W. Smith, J. S. Elton, H. V. Welton, R. E. Hitchcock,
N. Dikeman, F. J. Kingsbury, C. B. Merriman, George F. Perry, N. J. Welton.
N. Dikeman, Treasurer, R. E. Hitchcock, clerk. Henry Dudley, Architect.
B. P. and H. K. Chatfield, Contractors. "My mouth shall show forth thy
praise.' '

F Sharp, 1780 lbs. Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace.

E, 380 lbs. And the spirit and the bride say come, and let him that
heareth say come.

G Sharp, 1250 lbs. Young men and maidens, old men and children praise
the name of the Lord.

E. 380 lbs. And the spirit and the bride say come, and let him that hear-
eth say come.

St. John's Chuhch Aftkk thk Fiki:, Dkcemhrh 24, 1S68.

THE NEW ERA.

G Sharp, 1250 lbs. Young men and maidens, old men and children
praise the name of the Lord.

A, 1080 lbs. Hearest thou what these say?

B, 840 lbs. Let everything that hath breath praise the Lord.

C Sharp, 620 lbs. O come let us worship and fall down and kneel
before the Lord our maker.

D, 514 lbs. Lift up your hands in the sanctuary.

D Sharp, 476 lbs. I was glad when they said unto me we will go into
the house of the Lord.

F Sharp, 250 lbs. To tell of thy loving kindness early in the morning
and of thy truth in the night season. r. r /j , P i i

THE CHIMES OF 8T. JOHN's CHURCH.

From the Waterbury American, Feb. 15, 1872.

At a meeting of the wardens and vestry of St. John's parish, Waterbury,
held in the chapel on the Slst day of December, A. D. 1871, the letters of
Gordon W. Burnham, Esq., of New York, formerly a member of this parish,
were presented and read. Upon motion it was :

Resolved, That the letters of Mr. Burnham be entered at length upon the
records of the parish.

Resolved, that the thanks of the parish be tendered to Mr. Burnham,
not only for his generous confidence in selecting us as the guardians of this
valued memorial of our late revered Bishop, but also for the fitting and beau-
tiful work he has caused to be prepared to receive and protect it: The whole
constituting a worthy ornament to our church, an object of sacred interest to
all who shall hereafter come within its walls, a monument to a much-loved
Bishop, and a memorial of the giver which we shall hope ever gratefully to
preserve.

Resolved, That the thanks of the parish are due to Mr. Burnham for the
elegant and costly chime of ten beUs which he has caused to be placed in the
tower of our chiu"ch, and that in this gift he is a benefactor not only to the
parish, but to the entire community.

Resolved, That a copy of the record of this meeting, authenticated by the
signatures of the Rector, the Associate Rector, the Wardens and Vestrymen
of this parish, be engrossed upon parchment and placed in the hands of Mr.
Burnham, and that copies be furnished to the papers of the city and to the
Churchman forj_'publication.

Jacob L. Clark, Rector.

Francis T. Russell^ Associate Rector.

ScoviLL M. Buckingham,

Isaac E. Newton, Wardens.

S. W. Hall, F. J. ICingsbury, R. E. Hitchcock, J. W. Smith, Geo. Pritchard,
C. B. Merriman, T. I. Driggs, J. S. Elton., N. Dikeman, E. A. Pierpont, H. V.
Welton, B. P. Chatfield, George F. Perry, J. H. Sandland, Vestrymen.

HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH.

This chime of bells is from the factory of Meneely & Co., Troy, and is con-
sidered one of the very best specimens of their workmanship. The clearness
and richness of tone could scarcely be excelled, — crystalline and mellow in
sound. The resonant quahty of the bells ought to be satisfactory certainly,
when we hear it reported that the aged watchman upon Zion's walls in Water-
town has distinctly heard their melody like musical spirits singing up the
valley.

It is a mistaken notion that silver adds to the richness of tone in church
bells. It gives softness to be sure, but the best alloy is found to be of tin and
copper, and sometimes zinc. Silver, lead, and other metals have not the
resonant quaUty for the best effect. The bell on the church at East Haddam
has something of a muffled sound from the element of silver, as it is supposed.
It is a very ancient bell, and is well worth a climb into the tower to see. It
was sent to this country a few years ago from Spain, and may be, in fact
judging from the inscriptions, etc., must be, hundreds of years old. But to
return to our bells. We say our, for we are all equal sharers in the enjoyment
of them. They are all superior in workmanship and are hung with the latest
mechanical improvements. Each bell is appropriately inscribed with mottoes,
" Hohness to the Lord," "My mouth shall sound forth thy praise," etc., etc.
The name of the donor is also upon each bell and in case the chime should ever
be broken up and scattered abroad it could again be recovered. The ten
bells are on the notes E, F, G, A, B, C, D, D, E, F, — four sharps and one flat.
This gives great variety and a wide range of tunes. Gardner in his "Music of
Nature,' ' gives the number of changes for ten bells as three million six hundred
twenty-eight thousand and eight hundred, so that it will be seen there is no
danger of our being confined to a limited range of tunes. Especially as the
same author states that the ringing of seven hundred and twenty changes on
twelve bells (two more than ours) in an hour, would require an incessant
ringing of seventy years to complete the entire number.

In the descriptive catalogue of Meneely we find the following statement :

" A chime is set a of bells so attuned that the notes follow each other at
diatonic intervals; a peal is a set attuned to harmonic intervals. Thus a set
of bells upon the eight notes of the scale is a chime; a set upon the first, third,
fifth, and eighth is a peal.

The smallest number of bells that may be said to compose a chime is five,
while what might be called the natural number is eight, — representing the
eight notes of the scale; but as the addition of an extra bell giving the note
of the flat seventh creates a new series of diatonic tones in the key of the
fourth, thus allowing music of two different keys to be played, this bell is
usually added to the octave, so that a full chime is now understood to consist
of at least nine bells.

The usual manner of mounting chimes in this country is to swing the
tenor (or largest) bell after the manner of an ordinary church bell, the others

THE NEW ERA.

being suspended stationarily from trusses and placed in such relative positions
as the construction of the belfry will admit. Attached to the clappers are
leather cords which are led by pulleys and rods to the ringer's room below
and there connected with levers which may be easily manipulated by one
person. This differs from the old English mode in that the latter requires
that each bell be swung, thus requiring a ringer to each as also a tower of
great capacity and strength.' '

We observe that out of the seventy-two different chimes manufactured
by the Meneelys in this country and Canada, that there are only two exceeding,
and but five equalhng ours in number. We state these facts that our citizens
may realize our indebtedness to Mr. Burnham, and we have only to regret that
his heart cannot be cheered as often as ours by the sweet music of the bells
of St. John's church. We trust that this munificent gift may be the means
of provoking moneyed men elsewhere to the same good work.

A brass tablet on a background of Spanish griotte marble
(the work of Giessler of New York) was the gift of the Sunday
schools of St. John's and Trinity parishes. It bears this inscrip-
tion:

In grateful remembrance of the Reverend Jacob Lyman Clark, D. D.
Born at Westhampton, Mass., Sept. 19, 1807, graduated at Trinity College,
1831, ordained deacon June 29, 1835, and priest July 5, 1836. Instituted
rector of this parish, Easter, 1837, where for forty years he faithfully served
God and ministered to His people, until he entered into rest, January 26, 1877.
' 'For he was a good man and full of the Holy Ghost and of faith, and much
people were added unto the Lord."

" Blessed is he that considereth the poor.' '

A small brass tablet upon a background of carved oak, on
the side wall of the chancel, is inscribed as follows:

In memoriam rei. The Rev'd John Williams, D. D., LL. D., was elected
fourth Bishop of the Diocese of Connecticut at a Convention held in St. John's
Church, Waterbury, June 11, 1851.

"That thou shouldst set in order the things that are wanting."

The memorial windows are sixteen in number, and are in
memory of the following persons:

In memory of James Mitchell Lamson Scovill.
Died May 16, 1857, aged 68 years.

" A certain Samaritan when he saw him had compassion on him."

HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH.

In memory of John Prince Elton.
Died November 10, 1864, aged 55 years.

"Thy will be done."

In memory of Edward S. Clark.
Died June 20, 1862, aged 51 years.

" Be thou faithful unto death and I will give thee a crown of life.' '

Minnie Adelaide, daughter of Orrin and Eunice A. Scott. }^^4, J.^*,,. i-^
Died May 25, 1871, aged 6 years and 7 months

" He giveth his beloved sleep."

William Henry Scovill— July 27, 1796— March 27, 1854. '
"Ye clothed me — Ye gave me drink." ^

Eunice Ruth Davies, wife of William Henry Scovill.
Born at Ogdensburg, N. Y., Mar. 5, 1807— Died at Waterbury Nov. 25, 1839.

" Ye gave me to eat, Ye visited me.' '

Nancy Maria Austin Hall.
Died February 8, 1868, aged 53 years.

" I know thy works and thy patience.
The Lord will receive my prayer.' '

Daniel Scott— Died Oct. 6, 1874, aged 92 years.
" Bring forth the best robe and put it on him and let us eat and be merry."

On the same window:

In memory of Roxy Scott — Died Nov. 4, 1870, aged 77 years.

In memory of Mary B. Ives — Died Jan. 30, 1870, aged 55 years.
From Sarah Ives Plumb.

In the memory of Abram Ives — Died July 18, 1819, aged 51 years.
By J. Neale Plumb.

In memory of John Buckingham — Died May 3, 1867, aged 81 years.

An excellent spirit was found in him.

" As for me and my house we will serve the Lord.' '

THE NEW ERA.

In memory of Charles Buckingham Merriman, 1809-1899.
"Now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace according to thy word."

In grateful remembrance. George Lyman Welton.
May 27, 1867— March 7, 1900.

In loving memory of Ruth A. Farrell.
Born Jan. 31, 1808. Died Nov. 23, 1883.

In memory of Theodore Ives Driggs.
October 25, 1829— June 28, 1893.

" We praise thee 0 God, we acknowledge thee to be the Lord.' '

In the chancel: A book rest.

In loving memory of Morton Campbell Driggs.

March 5, 1884— March 3, 1900.
From Kingsley R. MacGuffie, a school friend.

The Arch under the Chancel Organ was the gift of Robert W. Hill.

The Reredos was the gift of James S. Elton in memory of his father,
John Prince Elton, April 24, 1809— Nov. 10, 1864; and of his mother, OUve
Margaret Hall Elton, June 25, 1816— Nov. 12, 1892.

The chancel tiling was the gift of Mr. and Mrs. Edward M. Burrall in mem-
ory of her father and mother, Mr. and Mrs. John C. Booth.

The tiling of the vestibule, the rood railing and the arch over the Bap-
tistry were the gift of Frederick J. Kingsbury in memory of his wife, Alathea
Ruth Scovill, March 21, 1828— Dec. 7, 1899.

The Chancel Organ and the electric connection of the two organs were the
gift of Henry H. Peck.

A pair of chaUces adorned with jewels bearing the inscription:

" To the Glory of God' ' and in loving memory of Frances Rosalia Phillips
Welton. 1832-1900. Made from her own jewels and silver
and presented to St. John's Church, Waterbury, Conn., by
her husband. Nelson J. Welton.

" I beheve in the commimion of the Saints.' '

HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH.

Alms basin, by Miss Merriman's S. S. Class.

Spoon, by Mary Sigourney, wife of Rev. F. T. Russell.

Two Brass Vases, in memory of Alathea Scovil Kingsbury.

Bishop Williams' Act of Consecration June 24, 1873, is framed and hung in
the vestry.*

The following sentences are cut in the limestone belt course
along the outside of the church:

" Ye shall reverence my Sanctuary, I am the Lord."

"I was glad when they said unto me we will go into the house of the
Lord."

"Enter into his gates with thanksgiving and into his Courts with praise."

"Be thankful unto him and speak good of his name. For the Lord ia
gracious, his mercy is everlasting and his truth endureth from generation to
generation.' '

On the tower;

St. John's Church erected 1846.

Burned Dec. 24, 1868.

Rebuilt 1870.

The baptismal font, of carved Ohio stone and marble, is a
memorial to the Rev. Joseph D. Welton, who died January 16,
1825. It was given by Hobart V, Welton, his son. The font
cover is in loving memory of Hobart V. Welton, 1811-1895, by his
son, Edwin D. Welton. The lectern, an eagle carved in oak, is a
memorial of William H. White, who died in 1873. The Bible,
Prayer-Book and Hymnal were presented by Mrs. Betsey Elton,
in 1872; the alms basin and communion service by classes in the
Sunday school. The gilt cross was the gift of Mrs. John Bucking-
ham. Spoon by Miss Pierpont's Sunday School class, Trinity
Sunday, 1890.

The window to William H. Scovill, which would have been
hidden by the Church organ had it remained in its original place,
was divided and occupies two windows under the gallery.

In 1875, owing to the crowded condition of the church, it was
voted to rent the front seats in the gallery.

♦The Rev. Chaunoey Brewster, D.D., LL.D., was elected the fifth Bishop of the Didcesft
at a Convention held in this church, June 11, 1897.1

<^ ^^.^U^^c^c^^ ^Z

■'^iHlxSsmi^'

THE NEW ERA.

At the annual parish meeting April 2, 1877, the Rev. J. Foote
Bingham, D. D., who had been associate rector with Dr. Clark
during the year previous to his death, was made rector of the
parish. He is a native of Andover (Conn.), graduated from Yale
College, in the class of 1852, and received the degree of S. T. D.
from Western Reserve in 1869. He remained rector of the parish
until the spring of 1880, when he resigned and removed to Hart-
ford. He has since resided there without permanent charge.

Samuel W. Hall, whose wise and generous gifts to St. John's
parish and for other public uses deserves special notice, died
March 5, 1877. He left to the parish in trust (the income only
to be used) $10,000 for the poor of the parish, $5,000 for church
repairs and $3,000 for the parish library. He also left $10,000 to
trustees to be used for a widows' home, provided that an equal
sum should be raised by the parish for the same purpose within
three years. As it seemed desirable that the form of this trust
should be somewhat modified, the bequest was allowed to lapse,
and the sum named was then given by the heirs of Mr. Hall to the
parish, under a trust, in the modified form. For the clear and
judicious arrangement of this trust the parish is indebted to Dr.
Bingham.

After Dr. Bingham's resignation the Rev. Rob Roy McGregor
McNulty, who had been assistant minister during the previous
year, became rector, and remained with the parish until Septem-
ber 20, 1883. He was of Scotch descent, a native of western
Pennsylvania, and a graduate of Washington and Jefferson
college in the class of 1867. While here, for family reasons, he
took the name of Converse and dropped that of McNulty. Both
names appear on the parish record. On leaving here he went to
Corning, N. Y., was afterwards connected with Hobart College
at Geneva, and is now rector of St. Luke's at Rochester, N. Y.

The Rev. Edmund Rowland, D.D., succeeded Mr. Converse
as rector in the spring of 1884. He is a native of Springfield,
Mass., and a graduate of Trinity College in the class of 1857, and
the Berkeley Divinity School in 1859. He has been rector at
Saratoga and at Goshen, N. Y., twice at New Bedford, Mass.,
and at Cincinnati, and officiated for a while at the American Church

HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH.

in Rome. He resigned the rectorship of St. John's in April, 1891,
and was made rector emeritus, which position he still holds.

Rev. John N. Lewis, Jr., was born at Annandale, Dutchess
County, New York, on June 18th, 1869; fitted for College in public
school, graduated at Williams College, June, 1899, Berkeley Divin-
ity School, June, 1892, and was ordained deacon, June 8th, 1892,
and priest, June, 1893. Both ordinations by Bishop Williams.

During Seminary course acted as assistant to the Rev. W. W.
Newton, D.D., of St. Stephen's Church, Pittsfield, Mass., also as
lay reader in charge of St. George's Church, Lee, Mass., and St.
John's Church, Pine Meadow, Conn.

From June, 1892, to June, 1894, was assistant minister at St.
George's, New York, Dr. Rainsford.

From June, 1894, to May, 1897, was rector of Grace Church,
Honesdale, Penn.

From May, 1897, to September, 1900, was Dean of Christ
Church Cathedral, Lexington, Kentucky.

From September, 1900, to August, 1901, was associate rector
of St. John's Church, Waterbury, Conn.

From August, 1901, up to the present has been rector of St.
John's.

In 1884 John C. Booth and Mrs. Olive M. Elton presented to
the parish the lot at the corner of Church and West Main streets,
and a rectory was erected thereon, which was completed in the
spring of 1886 at a cost of about $16,000. The rectory on Leaven-
worth street (which had been purchased at the time of Dr. Clark's
second marriage) was sold. In 1890-91 the managers of the Hall
fund erected for the use of the parish, at a cost of about $16,000,
a commodious building of brick and granite, known as the " Par-
ish house."

Since the middle of the last century St. John's parish has had
an assistant minister during a large part of the time. In several
instances the assistant was elected rector; in other cases assistants
have become rectors of other important parishes. The following
list gives the names of most of them, with biographical memo-
randa.

In October, 1849, the Rev. John A. Paddock, afterwards

Rev. John N. Lewis, Jr.

THE NEW ERA.

Bishop of Washington, preached here a few times and was invited
to become an assistant, but, having meanwhile received a call
to the parish of Stratford, he accepted that. The Rev. George W.
Home was then employed. He resigned December 9, 1850, to
take a parish at Oswego, N. Y. Not very long afterward he
became a missionary to Africa and died at Rocktown, in Africa,
October 2, 1854. He was born at Kingston, Jamaica, W. I.,
May 5, 1821, was educated in part at a Wesleyan institution in
England and studied theology with Dr. Samuel F. Jarvis, of
Middletown. He was succeeded by the Rev. Edward Jessup,
who remained here until the spring of 1852, when he took a parish
in Chicopee, Mass. He was afterwards in Bath, Me,, and Brook-
lyn, N. Y. He was a native of Westfield, Mass., graduated at
Yale College in Class of 1847, and died in Switzerland, whither
he had gone for his health in 1872.

The Rev. Charles G. Acly came next, beginning his ministry
here in March, 1852. He resided at Waterville, as the amount of
work he found to do there seemed to make it desirable. A chapel
had been built there, and consecrated June, 1851. He resigned
at Easter, 1856, and soon after became rector at New Milford,
where he died in 1880.

The Rev. Samuel G. Appleton succeeded from 1856 to 1858.
He was born in Gloucester, Mass., in 1808, graduated from Am-
herst College in 1832, studied theology at Andover, Mass., and
was ordained deacon in 1834 and priest in 1835. He went from
here to Morrisania, N. Y., and died there November 29, 1873.

The Rev. Junius M. Willey became associate rector in April,
1858. He resigned in December, 1861, to take the chaplaincy
of the Third Regiment, Connecticut Volunteers, commanded by
Colonel John L. Chatfield, who was a member of the parish. Mr.
Willey resigned after some months' service and became rector of
St. John's, Bridgeport, where he died.

The Rev. John Eaton Smith was assistant from early in 1862
to October, 1864. Not long after this he became rector of the
Memorial church at Westport and died there. He was succeeded
for a short time by the Rev. C. W. Chandler.

The Rev. A. Floridus Steele was assistant from Easter, 1865,

HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH.

to January, 1868. He was a son of the Rev. Ashbel Steele, a
native of Waterbury, and Clara Brewster, his wife, who was a
descendant of Elder Brewster, one of the Plymouth "pilgrims."
He was ordained deacon by Bishop Johns of Maryland in May,
1861, and became assistant to the Rev. B. Leacock, Harrisburg,
Penn., in September following. He was ordained priest by Bishop
Stevens, of Pennsylvania, in May, 1863. He went from Water-
bury to Albany, N. Y., where he was assistant at St. Paul's.
From there, in 1869, he went as rector to St. Mark's, Washington,
D. C, where he died, August 28, 1893.

The Rev. Francis T. Russell, D.D. (Hobart, 1894), became
assistant rector in March, 1868, and resigned in August, 1876, to
become rector of St. Margaret's school. He continued to render
frequent assistance both in St. John's and Trinity parishes and
frequently conducted the service at St. Paul's, Waterville. He
was born in Boston, June 10, 1828, has been professor of Rhetoric
at Hobart, Berkeley and General Theological Seminary. He is
at present living with his son Huntley Russell at Grand Rapids,
Mich., but still retains the office of rector of St. Margaret's.

The Rev. Joel Foote Bingham, D.D., became assistant rector
in February, 1876. When he succeeded Dr. Clark as rector
the Rev. Victor C. Smith became assistant, and held that posi-
tion until May, 1878. The Rev. John H. White was assistant
from that time until November 1, 1878, when he became rector
of Grace church, Saybrook. From there he went to Saint Paul,
Minn., and later became dean of the Theological school at Fari-
bault, and in 1895 was elected bishop of Indiana. Mr. White
was succeeded by the Rev. Rob Roy McGregor McNulty, who,
as already stated, was elected rector on Dr. Bingham's resignation.

The Rev. Melville K. Bailey, an assistant at St. Margaret's
school, who had served as lay-reader before his ordination, be-
came assistant in the spring of 1883, and resigned at Easter, 1885,
to take charge of Trinity church, Branford. He went from there
to Torrington, but is now one of the missionary assistants of
Grace church, in New York city.

The Rev. S. R. Holden became assistant in 1885, and resigned
to take a school in Colorado, in the summer of 1887.

Rkv. Fu.vncis T. Russkll, D.D.

THE NEW ERA.

The Rev. John H, McCrackan became assistant in September,
1891. The assistant has usually had charge of the Waterville
chapel, which under Mr. McCrackan's management became quite
prosperous. He resigned in November, 1894, since which time
he has been mostly in Europe, serving as Chaplain of the American
Chapel at Rome and several other points. He died in Germany
in 1906.

The Rev. J. N. Lewis, Jr., as has been said, became rector in
1901. His first assistant was the Rev. Martin A. Barnes, who
was born in Plymouth, Dec. 20, 1875, educated at Hillhouse School,
New Haven, and St. Stephens College, Annandale, N. Y., and
graduated at the Virginia Theological Seminary at Alexandria in
1902 and came directly to St. John's, which he left in March, 1905,
to accept a call at Fairmount, W. Va.

His successor. Rev. Jacob Albert Biddle was born Dec. 24,
1845, at Rochester, Stark Co., Ohio, graduated at Oberlin College
1870, President of Philomath College, Oregon, 1871-2. B. D.
Yale, 1875. Pastor First Congregational Church, Milford, Conn.,
1875-80. Pastor First Congregational Church, Oswego, N. Y.,
1880-83. Off duty from illness 1883-86. Chief Clerk, Connecti-
cut Labor Bureau, 1886-88. Pastor Congregational Church,
South Norwalk, 1888-1891. Confirmed in the Protestant Episco-
pal Church by Bishop Barker at Grand Junction, Col., March
1893. Ordained deacon by Bishop Williams at Middletown,
May, 1893, appointed rector of St. Mary's, South Manchester,
August 24, 1893, served until June, 1903. Ordained priest by
Bishop Williams, June, 1894. Rector Grace Church, New Haven,
September, 1903, to June, 1904. In Europe some months and
came to Waterbury, March, 1905. Took charge of Memorial
Church, North Brookfield, Mass., June, 1905.

The Rev. Royal Ransom Miller came to St. John's July 5, 1905.
He was born at Scottsville, N. Y., May 28, 1873, graduated at
Harvard, 1899. Studied Theology at Cambridge and General
Theological Seminary in New York. Ordained Deacon June 7,
1905. Left St. John's on account of his health February 2, 1906.

Rev. Charles Taber Hall became assistant July 1, 1906. He
was born in Chelsea, Mass., July 18, 1880, prepared for college at

HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH.

Everett High School and graduated at Dartmouth College in
1903, and at Berkeley Divinity School in 1906; ordained at Trinity
Church, Middletown, June 6, 1906.

The following persons, born or in part educated here, have
become Episcopal clergymen elsewhere. The list is probably
incomplete.

Rev. Alanson W. Welton, b. 1790 (son of Titus and Mary
(Hickox) Welton, first resident Episcopal clergyman of Detroit,
Mich., where he died September 28, 1822. There is a stained glass
window to his memory in St. Paul's Church. He was educated
at Cheshire Academy (Letter from Rev. X. A. Welton, Mav 27
1873).

James Nichols, son of James Nichols, b. December, 1748,
graduated Yale, 1771. Went to England for ordination. Settled
awhile at Plymouth and Bristol, removed to Litchfield and Salis-
bury, later to Vermont; died at Stafford, N. Y., June, 1829.

Elias Scovill, the third son of the Rev. James Scovil, was born
in 1770. He succeeded his father as rector of Trinity Church,
Kingston, N. B., and died there, February 10, 1841.

Joseph Davis Welton, son of Richard Welton, was baptized
June 1, 1783. He was ordained deacon December 18, 1808, and
priest December 23, 1810. He preached at Woodbury and at
Easton. He was compelled by illness to give up preaching, but
taught school for a while, and died at Waterbury, January 16,
1825.

Ransom Warner, son of Obadiah Warner, was born May 6,
1795. He was ordained deacon December 29, 1822, and priest
November 4, 1823. He was for many years rector of St. Andrew's,
Bloomfield, and died there June 18, 1856.

Anson Clark, son of John and Mille (Munson) Clark, was born
in Waterbury, December 10, 1806. He entered Kenyon college
in the class of 1836, but at the close of his Sophomore year entered
the Theological seminary of the Diocese of Ohio. He was rector
for several parishes in Ohio and Illinois.

The Rev. Herman Munson Clark, born August 29, 1789. I
have no record of his services, which I think, were in Ohio.

George Jarvis Geer, second son of the Rev. Alpheus Goer, was

THE NEW ERA.

born here in 1820; graduated at Trinity College, 1842. He was
ordained deacon June 29, 1845. He was rector of a church in
New York city, where he died March 16, 1884.

Abram Joseph Warner, youngest son of Ard Warner, was
born July 1, 1821. He graduated at Trinity in 1842, and was
tutor in Jubilee college from 1842 to 1845, He has since been
rector of several churches at the West, and is now residing at
Angelica, N. Y.

The Rev. William Augustus Hitchcock, D.D., was the second
son of William Rufus and Mary (Hull) Hitchcock, and was born
January 29, 1834. He graduated at Trinity College, 1854, He
graduated at the Berkeley Divinity school in 1857, and was chap-
lain in the United States Navy for five years. He was afterwards
rector at Portsmouth, N. H., at Pittsburg, Pa., at Batavia, N. Y.,
and at Buffalo, N. Y. He has several times represented his dio-
cese in the General Convention of the Protestant Episcopal
Church. He died in New York from the effect of an injury re-
ceived on the railroad, February 10, 1898.

Charles C. Coerr was born at Woodbury, August 12, 1848.
He was a student of the Yale Medical school in 1867, but decided
to become a candidate for orders, and graduated from the Berkeley
Divinity school in 1871. From that time until 1882 he was con-
nected with parishes in Brooklyn, Binghamton, Whitney's Point,
where he was ordained deacon December 20, 1871, by Bishop
Huntington, at Morris, N. Y., where he was ordained priest
March 18, 1873, by Bishop Doane, and at Shakopee and Rochester,
Minn. From 1878 to 1882 he was secretary of the Minnesota
diocese. Since then his parishes have been Warsaw and Pal-
myra, N. Y,, and Wilmington, N. C, Renovo, Penn., and is now
(1906) at Marshall, Tex.

Frederick R. Sanford, son of Rufus B. Sanford, was ordained
deacon June 1, 1881, and priest June 23, 1882. He has been
rector at East Haddam, at Warehouse Point and in California,
at St. Paul's, Riverside, Conn., and is now at St. John's, North
Haven.

CHAPTER IV.

ADDITIONAL MEMORANDA.

THE ecclesiastical corporations of Connecticut were modelled
on Congregational forms, and the societies of other denomi-
nations were created by giving them similar powers. As a
consequence the governing officers of a society were called the
society's committee. Some of the early records of St. John's
parish speak of meetings of the "vestry," but the designation of
vestrymen appears first in 1831, and does not appear again until
1838, when it was voted "to appoint two wardens and five vestry-
men, including the secretary and treasurer, and that the rector
should be chairman of the vestry and parish meetings." It was
not, however. Dr. Clark's custom to attend these meetings, unless
some special business required it, nor did he then preside. In 1878
an act was passed by the legislature authorizing the Diocesan Con-
vention to regulate the organization of parishes, and a canon was
adopted by the Convention, making the rector the presiding
officer.

April 13, 1868, this parish adopted the following rules:

Whereas it is desirable that changes should from time to time
be made in the members of the Vestry so that a greater number of
persons may become familiar with and interested in the man-
agement of its affairs, and whereas it is also desirable that a suffi-
cient number of Vestrymen should be continued in office from
year to year so that the Vestry may always contain persons of
experience in the transaction of its business, therefore. Resolved,
that hereafter and until otherwise ordered we will adopt the
following rules, viz:

1. The Vestry shall consist of fourteen persons for this year,
and hereafter of twelve persons.

2. Those persons chosen at the present meeting shall be
divided by lots into three classes; the first class to consist of six

ADDITIONAL MEMORANDA.

for the purpose of complying with aforesaid rule, and the other
classes of four each.

3. The first class shall not be eligible to re-election in 1876.
The second class shall not be eligible in 1877 except as herein-
after provided.

4. No person shall hereafter be eligible for more than three
successive years, unless for any reason more than four new mem-
bers may be required.

This rule is still in force and at each annual election the four
members who have served for three years are dropped from the
Vestry and new members elected in their place.

Prior to 1833 the expenses of the parish were met by a tax laid
on a list made from the grand list of the town. In October of
that year a vote was passed to sell the slips, in order to raise money
to defray ordinary expenses, and this course has since been adopted
with the exception that in 1870, while the temporary chapel was
occupied, the plan of free sittings and voluntary contributions
was tried for six months, but it was not found satisfactory.

In 1851 St. Paul's chapel at Waterville was consecrated as a
chapel of St. John's church. A successful mission had been sus-
tained there for some years, but it had outgrown its accommoda-
tions. A flourishing Sunday school was in progress, and it was
deemed advisable to build a chapel. For some time it was in
charge of au assistant minister. Rev. Charles G. Acly, who resided
there. In June, 1893, the anniversary of the establishment of the
chapel was celebrated with special services, a report of which was
published in a handsome pamphlet of 38 pages. A brief account
of its change to a parish is given in another chapter under the head
of St. Paul's, Waterville.

On Easter Monday, 1852, the vestry by vote of the parish was
authorized to light the church with gas. Prior to that time
there was no gas for lighting purposes in the town, oil lamps being
used. So l(jng as the old church (of 1795) stood, it was the cus-
tom to illuminate it on Christmas eve by placing a candle at every
alternate pane of glass. The effect, especially when the ground
was white with snow, was brilliant and beautiful; but the fasten-

HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH.

ing to the windows of the wooden strips on which the candles were
placed injured the church, and the tallow made a great many-
grease spots. When the new church was built the custom was
abandoned, to the great regret of many children and some grown
people.*

With occasional breaks, "tithingmen" were usually elected
until 1849. Their duties were supposed to be to preserve order
in the galleries, but the office had been a sinecure for a long time.
The inference is — although we are little accustomed to think so —
that there had been a gradual improvement in behavior among
the children who attended church. It should, however, be noted
that in the early days it was the custom for all the children, after
they were eight or ten years of age, to sit in the gallery, and prob-
ably the temptation to disorder was greater than when it became
the custom for most of them to sit with their parents.

SUNDAY SCHOOL.

Just when the Sunday School was established does not appear
from any known record. Mr. Barlow had one, as Mrs. Marcia
Warner Bolster remembers, when he and William H. Scovill,
William R. Hitchcock, Misses Caroline and Mary Scovill were in
the habit of coming to Waterville to hold a Sunday School in
some of the private houses.

In 1869, Dr. Clark held what he called the 34th Anniversary
of the Sunday School, but this probably meant the 34th public
anniversary.

The Sunday School did not begin to play a conspicuous part
in church work until after Dr. Clark's arrival.

In his plan it took the foremost place. Every child was ex-
pected to be a pupil and all persons who were so situated as to
attend it were expected to act as teachers. The Doctor himself

*"Aunt Sue" Bronaon, widow of Ezra Bronson, Esq., was an ardent churchwoman,
but she thought "Christmas greens" savored of popery. The boys used to amuse them-
selves by putting the rails of her pew full of them, boring holes for the purpose in the rails
of the pews with gimlets, and she would not take her seat until she had pulled them all out
and thrown them on the floor. She hved to be 93 and was very active almost to the day
of her death. Her house was near the church, directly on the street in front of the present
Kendrick block.

ADDITIONAL MEMORANDA.

was always superintendent. The instruction was along the pre-
scribed lines, but in many cases the inspiring influence of intelli-
gent men and women was brought to bear on classes and on
individuals to their lasting benefit.

There was in those days a county clerical meeting held from
time to time, several times in a year at different places, corre-
sponding somewhat to our present Archdeaconry meetings.
Sometime in the fall one was usually held in Waterbury, and Dr.
Clark so arranged it that the Anniversary of the Sunday School
should be held at the same time. The whole afternoon was given
up to it. The children assembled in the church and marched,
with the county clergy at their head, to some public hall, where
hymns were sung, speeches made, and last but best of all, cakes,
candies, oranges and various small gifts that delight children were
freely distributed; also the names of those who had not missed any
Sunday School exercise during the year were publicly read. It
was the great day of the year for the Sunday School children and
it certainly was not the smallest day for Dr. Clark. On these
occasions he was ubiquitous. He knew every child. He had
something to say to each, and it had a personal and peculiar tone
so that each child felt that he or she was known and reckoned on
as part of the organization.

Mr. Nelson J. Welton says he was eight years old when Dr.
Clark came here and had been in the Sunday School for two or
three years; that the Doctor said to him, " Now you know all these
people and I want you to take charge of the distribution of this
magazine." Of course he felt at once that he was an impor-
tant factor in the establishment. This is so characteristic of
Dr. Clark's method that I have thought it worthy of preserva-
tion.

Since Dr. Clark's day the Sunday School has remained a promi-
nent feature in the Church's work, but the growth of the city
and the change of customs has rendered this great show day of
the Sunday School year impracticable. At present it claims to
be the largest organization of the sort in the Diocese, and as
already noted. Dr. Clark made the same claim for it twenty years
ago. The Sunday School is divided into three sections; there

HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH.

being a primary department; each section has a superintendent.
The present number of pupils is 550.

The Life of Archbishop Cranmer by the Rev. John N. Norton,
D.D., rector of Ascension Church, Frankfort, Ky.; N. Y. General
Protestant Episcopal Sunday School Union and Church Book
Society, 1863, is stated on page 5 as published through the
offerings of the Sunday School of St. John's Church, Waterbury,
Conn. This is evidently Dr. Clark's work, but I do not know the
history of it.

The Sewing school of St. John's parish was organized about the
year 1864, Mrs. Anna G. Clark and Mrs. William Lamb being the
ladies most active in its formation. In its first corps of teachers
were Miss Ann Ophelia Sperry, Mrs. Elizabeth Smith, Misses
Susan Cook, Etta Scovill, and Charlotte B. Merriman. Until
the end of 1868, the school was carried on in the chapel of the
old church, afterwards in the upper chapel of the present church,
and since 1890 in the assembly room of the parish house.

Mrs. Clark was its superintendent until the autumn of 1880,
when Miss Alice Kingsbury took charge of it for a year. Since
that time it has been conducted by Misses Helen Merriman, Mary
Barlow and Alice Field. During the last year there were 143
names on the record of children who attended the school, and
there was an average attendance of over sixty. The expenses of
the school are met by offertories taken in the church. Within
the last year, 1906, this school has been united with a larger and
more general organization, which is held in the Leavenworth Hall
on Holmes avenue and known as the Industrial School.

The "Brotherhood of St. Andrew" was established on St.
Andrew's day, 1883. Chapter No. 313 was organized in St.
John's church on March 15, 1889, under the name of St. John's
chapter. Eight young men were enrolled by the rector at that
time, on their taking the vows of the brotherhood. The active
members numbered at one time sixteen.

The order of "Daughters of the King" came into being in
New York city in 1885.*

*This order, which is confined to the Protestant Episcopal church, must be distin-
guished from the order of "King's Daughters," whicu has circles in most of the other
Protestant denominations.

ADDITIONAL MEMORANDA.

St. John's chapter was organized in May, 1891, through the
influence of a member of the order residing in New Haven. Thirty-
nine members have been invested with the badge of the order, —
a cross, bearing the inscription, " Magnanimiter crucem sustine."

The Diocesan Conventions for 1821, 1851, 1858, 1876 and 1897
were held in Waterbury, also a convention of lay delegates in 1788.

In April, 1872, John H. Sandland, after forty-two years of
continuous service, resigned his position as the leading tenor
singer, and the rectors and the parish united in a testimonial in
recognition of his long and faithful service.

On December 29, 1872, Theodore Ives Driggs, after serving as
organist for twenty-nine years tendered his resignation on account
of physical infirmity, and resolutions were passed recognizing
his long and useful service. Charles H. Smith was appointed in
his place, but resigned September 13, 1874, on account of illness,
and died soon after. After a brief term of service by Charles H.
Hendee, Mr. Driggs having in a measure regained his health
returned to his position, and retained it until about a year before
his death.

Mr. Driggs deserves something more than a casual mention in the History
of St. John's Church. He was the son of Dr. Asa Johnson Driggs of Cheshire,
and was born there October 25, 1829. His mother died soon after, and his
father, leaving home for a prolonged absence, placed him with Mr. Adna
Whitin, of Whitin's Basin (now Plainville), where he remained until he was
twelve years old. Mr. Whitin owned boats on the canal and one of Mr. Driggs
early recollections is of going to New Haven on the boat with the Amistad
negroes when they were being returned under decision of the U. S. Sup. Court.
He particularly remembered Cinquez, the leader, with his filed teeth.

When Mr. Driggs was twelve his father returned and took him home
where he fitted for college and graduated at Trinity in 1848, before he attained
the age of nineteen. The same year he came to Waterbury as assistant to
Charles Fabrique in the High School and remained imtil 1852, when he relin-
quished the place on account of some trouble with his throat and took a place
as bookkeeper with Abbott & Wardwell.

In September, 1855, he entered the employment of the American Pin
Company and as bookkeeper, secretary and president he remained with the
Company imtil his death. He took an active interest in educational matters
and the schools of the town are largely indebted to his energy and abiUty.

He was secretary and trustee of St. Margaret's School for girls from its
organization until his death. He was also a member and secretary of the

HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH.

Board of Agents of the Bronson Library. During the greater portion of this
whole time he was organist and musical manager for St. John's, a teacher in
the Svmday School and for many years agent of the parish and vestry. He
died June 28, 1893.

On March 29, 1875, John W. Smith, after a service of more
than a quarter of a century as leading singer, resigned his position.
His prolonged, gratuitous and faithful services were recognized
in suitable resolutions. He died at Brooklyn, N. Y., Dec. 5, 1905'

CHAPTER V.

THE LAITY.

ON looking over what has ah-eady been written this history-
appears, mainly, to be an account of the clergymen who
have officiated here and of the various church buildings
which have been erected and of the church lands which have
been bought and sold.

It would seem as if more should be said of the people who con-
stituted the church and for whose training in grace and religious
intelligence and for whose moral uplifting the church was founded,
and by whose labors and prayers and contributions it has been
sustained.

The church records do not show much of the church life. They
are the bald records of votes taken to render action legal. They
show nothing of the private and public discussions of which these
votes were the outcome; nor of the power of the personal equation,
of the yielding of preferences, of submitting to the inevitable, of
afflictions and hopes and prejudices, jealousies, spites and hatreds,
which swelter and ferment in all communities and finally all
simmer themselves down into a well rounded "whereas" or
"forasmuch" or "be it considered" which some shrewd brother
has drawn up as representing as near as may be a consensus of
opinion. All these other things, if we are to have them at all,
must be constructed from detached fragments and by imagination.

In the early days of the church, agriculture was the chief
occupation and main dependence of the people and their property
was mostly in land. Waterbury was a rather poor township of
land and the people were relatively poor. Watertown and Ply-
mouth were both better townships than Waterbury.

The Rev. Dr. Clark, in a history of St. John's which he prepared to read
before the New Haven County Convention, held at West Haven, December,
18G3, says, "the place itself, it should be remembered, though now a thriving
city, was at one period, if tradition speaks truly, lower than either of the six

HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH.

towns colonized from it, in business, talent, credit and morals. The venerable
Dr. Holcomb, who has been for more than fifty years a resident of Watertown
haa told me with a coolness and appearance that could admit of no question
that he could remember the time when no prudent farmer in Watertown
would trust any man in Waterbury the price of a load of hay over night; and
aged men in Wolcott have assured me that at one time Wolcott would have
felt disgraced had Waterbury been placed in favorable comparison with her
" in any of the elements of municipal dignity and prosperity.' '

The late Judge Holbrook Curtis of Watertown also told me that in his
early practice the only way to get anything out of a Waterbury creditor was
to get the deputy sheriff to take a receipt for property attached and then sue
the sheriff on the bond; and he named one young man who was ambitious to
serve as deputy sheriff who spent a very handsome inheritance in paying
other people's debts.

Of course it is not to be supposed that the above remarks applied with
strictness to every resident in Waterbury, but there was sufficient truth in the
general statement to render it not open to the charge of maUcious slander,
although perhaps the charge of a healthy jealousy might have held.

Probably the best tract of land in Waterbury was on Buckshill
and here were a few of the most thriving citizens. Still, for some
reason which is not fully clear to me, the village, the center, seems
always to have held a social pre-eminence.

Probably it was because this was the residence of the pro-
fessional men; the clergy, doctors and lawyers, also the merchants
— people who had more ready money than the farmers, although
their property may not have been so valuable; perhaps the greater
educational facilities of the village had an influence.

More of the people of sui)erior intellect were also gathered here,
although others who were their equals were scattered in the
outlying districts. But Parsons Southmayd and Leavenworth,
who were over the Congregational Church for one hundred years,
and Parson Scovill, who was over the Episcopal Church for twen-
ty-six years; Daniel Southmayd, son of the parson, who though
he died young had achieved a sterling reputation, and Judge
Hopkins, who was judge of the County Court, and Dr. Baldwin,
who was a man of ability and who married a daughter of Parson
Leavenworth, were all men of mark, men of learning, acquainted
with and known to the outside world, and whose families wwe
brought in contact with the cultivated people of the State.

THE LAITY.

It may be that we can find here sufficient reason for this social
pre-eminence. Now aside from Parson Scovil and his family and
Captain George Nichols and his family, there do not appear to
have been any people of social prominence, in the village, connected
with the Episcopal Church.

Mr. John Cossitt was a worthy man living in the village and a
prominent Episcopalian, but not prominent socially. I think he
went West about 1820.

James Brown has already been mentioned. The Gunns, who
are noticed as having a child baptized in 1734, lived at Gunntown,
the western part of Naugatuck. They must have been Episco-
palians for sometime, possibly were before James Brown's advent.
We have no information in regard to this. The Gunns were
forehanded people and large landholders, but not socially promi-
nent. They were people who had the courage of their convictions
and were mostly tories during the Revolution.

Captain John Welton and Richard Welton of Buckshill have
already been spoken of and there were several other families of
Weltons in that vicinity who were highly respected members of
the Episcopal Church, although not especially active. There
were several families of the name of Warner in the eastern part
of the town, some of whom were quite active in church matters.
Several of these moved to Ohio in the early part of the last cen-
tury. Mr. Edmund Austin of East Farms was a highly respected
farmer and a churchman. He had a number of daughters, one
of whom married Rev. Ransom Warner of Simsbury, whose grand-
daughter is the wife of Bishop Woodcock of Louisville, Ky.
Another daughter married Samuel W. Hall, who gave the money
which led to the founding of Trinity Church.

These people all attended church regularly, many of them
driving several miles (or sometimes walking) in order to do so
(there were usually three services each Sunday besides Sunday
School); and they trained their children to the same habit of
attending services.

Elias Clark of Buckshill and Humphrey Nichols of Horse Pas-
ture were very regular church goers and represented a class of
people which in these days seldom go to church anywhere.

HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH.

Perhaps Mr. Barber exerted as strong an influence in the town
as any clergyman about that period, but it was through his school,
which was excellent and was attended by children of all denomi-
nations. Although a very intense churchman, I never heard of
any attempt on his part to proselyte.

For many years prior to 1830 very little change had taken
place in the population of the town; there were no new people for
a clergyman to work for or upon except as the children grew up.
Now and then some man, sometimes three or four men, would
dislike the clergyman or the taxes or something else and would
leave the Congregational Church and join the Episcopal; now
and then an Episcopal man or woman would marry a Congrega-
tionalist and bring him or her into the Church. The late Dr.
Leonard Bacon of New Haven said "Anger and marriage were
always converting ordinances," and it is very true.

About 1830 a very noticeable change began. Mr. William H.
Scovil, a grandson of the Rev, James Scovil, had been for a num-
ber of years a successful merchant in North Carolina. He returned
to Waterbury in 1827. He was not only a zealous churchman,
but he was an active worker in anything in which he took an inter-
est. He had what is called the power of the initiative. His
brother Lampson (J. M. L.) was a man of much energy, although
having less of this peculiar power, and was always ready to assist
William in his plans and was soon aroused to an active interest
in church matters.

The town began to grow and the church began to grow. A
few years later, Mr. John P. Elton and Mr. S. M. Buckingham
came here from Watertown and engaged in business. They took
an active interest in church work. Mr. Leonard Piatt, educated
as a Baptist but joining the Episcopal Church, was immersed
at his desire by Rev. Mr. Barlow.

Dr. Daniel Porter was immersed at the same time. This
took place in the Naugatuck river, just below the West Main
street bridge. Mr. Piatt became a very active member of the
church. He was a warden and often acted as lay reader in the
absence of the clergyman and was very efficient in all chiiii h
affairs.

THE LAITY.

• Mr. Austin Steele was a churchman and a man of great taste
and had considerable experience in building. Soon after the
new church began to be talked of in 1847, he happened upon a
large lot of black walnut for sale. He bought the whole of it
and the church was finished with it. He also had an eye on the
construction and was instrumental in getting the great Chancel
window of St. John wi-iting the Apocalypse.

It was mainly these men who built the church of 1848, the first
stone church, and who were also responsible for the extensive
alterations and improvements of the old church in 1831 and 1837,
and this brings us down to the era of people now living.

It is worthy of note that there has never been anything in
St. John's Church like a church quarrel. Never any serious dis-
agreement on any subject, whether material, doctrinal or liturgi-
cal. They have all been of one mind. When Trinity Church was
formed all were agreed, all helped. It is a praiseworthy fact
in the church's history.

The life of a church both corporate and spiritual is largely
dependent on its female members, but their names and labors are
seldom preserved unless it may be in the evanescent records of
temporary organizations. Still year by year their power for good
in the church is more and more felt and they are making for them-
selves a name which may be capable of being recorded.

Of women of this sort St. John's Church had its full share,
but we can only quote St. Luke and say "Of honorable women
not a few."

CHAPTER VI.

MUSIC.

AT a meeting of the Vestry in 1761, Ebenezer Warner, Samuel
Brown, Hezekiah Brown, Siba Bronson and William Scovil
were appointed to assist in tuning the psalms. The same
persons appear to have been continued until 1773, when Isaac
Benham and Ephraim Warner are added, some of the others
having died or dropped out; they are then spoken of as " Quoir-
isters. " Stephen Welton is added in 1780. Thomas Miles Culver,
in 1783, and John Dowd and Thomas Dixon, in 1785, Bennet
Humiston, in 1786, Asa Beach and Joseph Tirrell, in 1787 — when
they are called "Choristers." John Clark, Reuben Prichard and
Azor Bronson are added in 1790, Samuel Welton, in 1792, and
Herman Bronson, Abram Hickox and Preserved Hickox, 1793.
John Clark, Jr., Obadiah Warner and Henry Benham, in 1794,
Preserved Hickox and Seymour Wilson in 1795.,

In 1797 it is voted to pay what is wanting to settle with Mr.
Benham for singing at the dedication.

Nothing more appears on the record until 1811, when it is voted
to employ some suitable person to teach singing at an expense not
to exceed twenty dollars and to solicit subscriptions for the same.

1828 it is voted to pay Samuel Cook thirty dollars for singing
the ensuing year.

Samuel Cook was quite a musician; he led the choir for many
years; he played at times, the tenor viol, bass viol and double bass.

About 1836 a singing school for all denominations was opened
here by a Mr. Carter from somewhere in Litchfield County. He
was an accomplished teacher, spending much effort on the train-
ing of the pupils in time and gradually advancing them as they
seemed to show ability.

He was a rigid disciplinarian, and if he found a boy misbe-
having or provokingly inattentive, he did not hesitate to box his
ears with the long, old-fashioned tune book in a way that would
be very apt to impress itself on a boy's memory.

MUSIC.

In 1834 it was voted to appoint a committee to purchase an
organ and to make the necessary changes (for placing it) in the
gallery.

1837, January 28, voted to contract with John Rowley, as
organist, and John Sandland, Jr., as chorister.

Before the purchase of the organ, several instruments, as the
viols, flutes, clarinet and trombone were used as adjuncts in
the choir and played by various people. Until 1892 the choir
was a mixed choir of male and female voices. ]']lisha Rice was
for several years quite prominent in the choir, frequently assisting
in the rehearsals or singing schools, as they were called, also some-
times leading the choir on Sunday. There was a Merriam family,
who were conspicuous in the choir: Joseph, Abby, afterwards Mrs.
John H. Sandland; Mary Ann, afterwards Mrs. Charles Perkins,
and Maria, known as Miss Brainard, she having been brought up
from a child by Mr. Brainard of Farmington, and having taken
his name. She is still living, and although no longer a resident
of Waterbury, has sung in the choir here not many years since.
She became quite distinguished as a concert singer in New York.

Almira Hoadley (afterwards Mrs. Nathan Merrill), was a lead-
ing soprano for a long time and was paid a salary. She was suc-
ceeded by Emma Hurlburt, afterwards Mrs. George L. Townsend.
She was a salaried singer for many years, receiving at one time
$400 a year. She sang in St. John's until Trinity was formed,
and sang there for some time. John W. Smith was leading basso
for twenty-five years. He later became a member of Trinity,
but I think gave up singing before he left St. John 's. Miss Ellen
Monson was for a number of years the leading contralto. Theo-
dore I. Driggs became organist in 1848, and although occasionally
obliged to suspend on account of ill health, he was practically
the manager of the music of the church until about the time of his
death.

At one time a quartette consisting of John W. Smith, bass;
John H. Sandland, tenor; Mrs. George L. Townsend, soprano,
and Miss Ellen Monson, contralto, under Mr. Driggs's leadership,
was regarded by good judges as the best quartette in the State.

John Henry Wilcox, afterward a distinguished organist in
Boston, and Lewis T. Downes, a native of Waterbury, and for

HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH.

many years a prominent citizen in Providence, R. L, each had
charge of the organ for a while, about the time that Mr. Driggs
came here.

In 1892, under the auspices of the Rev. Dr. Rowland, it was
decided to introduce an entire male choir, the soprano and alto
being carried by boys' voices and all the choir to be uniformly
dressed in cassocks and cottas. The changes were reported to
the vestry January 18, 1893.

About the same time the parish received from Mr. H. H. Peck
(although for some years the donor was unknown) the gift of a chan-
cel organ. This organ, built by Farrand & Votey, was placed in
the north gallery with a console in front of the chancel, stalls
being placed there for the choir. This necessitated taking out
two rows of seats from the body of the church, but the choir seats
accommodated as many persons.

Joseph E. Bartlett, as organist took charge of the music. He
was succeeded by William H. Minor, who is still in charge. A
full choir consists of about forty-two members. The boys are
paid five cents for each appearance, whether for service or rehearsal,
and the leading singers, bass and tenor, are paid various amounts,
as may be agreed from time to time, the whole matter being in
charge of a committee on music appointed annually.

At the last parish meeting $2500 was appropriated for music,
also the Sunday evening offering. As late, certainly, as 1850,
and perhaps later, the choir might be considered one of the social
functions of the parish. The evening rehearsals were attended
by the young men and the young women, and the young men
saw that the young women were returned in safety to their homes,
and the rehearsals were quite popular. On Sundays the choir sat
in front of the organ in the gallery. I remember once when we
were discussing a plan for a new church and the question was
whether to have a gallery, one man remarked, " If it hadn't been
for the gallery I should not have been in the church." Another
said, "With me, it was rather the 'gal ' than the 'gallery', but the
result was the same."

I do not know how such affairs are managed now. Matters
seem to progress very much after the old way; they no longer have
the singing school to help them — but the result is the same.

CHAPTER VII.

TRUST FUNDS.

OLIVER WELTON'S gift, February, 1744-5, was for a glebe.
This tract of land was subsequently leased for 990 years and
the fund appears to have been used for the general pur-
poses of the church.

John Judd's gift of six and three-quarter acres (April 19, 1745)
was for a glebe for the use of said church, in said place, forever.
This was sold in 1897 by the permission of the Legislature and the
proceeds are kept separate for the purposes of the gift,

Thomas Barns's gift of nine acres and eighty rods (in same
deed with John Judd) was leased for 990 years to Reuben Adams,
April 19, 1784, for a payment, considered doubtless the full value
of the land. The gift seems to have been for the same purpose
as John Judd's and is included in the same deed, but the money re-
ceived, so far as appears, was used for the general purposes of the
church.

The deed of eight acres on the south side of West Main Street
from the Church Company, was without restriction.

Mrs. Cotton's gift of $1,000 was without restriction.

Charles Scott's gift of $5,000, received under his will July 20,
1894, was without restriction, but is kept as a separate fund.
He gave the same amount to Trinity Parish.

May 20, 1903, Mrs. Mary E. Burrall gave $5,000, the income
to be used for repairs or improvements in the church or rectory.
This is kept as a separate fund.

September 26, 1903, Miss Sarah Merriman left $1,000 to the
church without restriction.

$200 was given from the estate of Rev. Dr. W. A. Hitchcock
for the endowment fund.

Samuel W. Hall died March 5, 1877.

In addition to a handsome bequest for a soldiers' monument and

HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH.

$15,000, which was the initiative of Trinity Church, he left the
following bequests to St. John's Parish.
From his will:

Section Twenty-Third.

I give and bequeath the St. John's Parish, of Waterbury, Five thousand
dollars as a perpetual fund to be kept and managed by the legally constituted
authorities of said parish, and the income of said fund and that only shall
be used to repair, alter or add to the church edifice of said parish, and for no
other purpose whatsoever.

Section Twenty-Fourth,

I give and bequeath to St. John's Parish the further sum of three thousand
dollars as a perpetual fund, to be kept and managed by the legally constituted
authorities of said parish, and the income of said fund and that only, shall
be used to maintain the parish hbrary of said parish, and for no other purpose
whatsoever.

Section Twenty-Fifth.

I give and bequeath to said St. John's Parish, of Waterbury, the further
sum of ten thousand dollars for the establishment of a fund to be known aa
the " Hall Fimd,' ' for the benefit and relief of the poor of said parish. Said
fund shall be kept and managed by the legally constituted authorities of said
parish, shall be a perpetual fund, and the income thereof, but no part of the
principal sum, shall be expended in carrying out the purposes of this bequest.
No payment of said income or any part thereof shall ever be made but upon
orders drawn upon the treasurer of said parish, signed by the rector or assistant
rector and at least one each of the wardens and vestrymen of said corporation.

Section Twenty-Seventh.

I give, devise and bequeath to James S. Elton, John C. Booth, Scovill M.
Buckingham and Isaac E. Newton and their heirs, a legacy of ten thousand
dollars, in trust, " to erect or purchase and maintain a suitable home for the
widows and other indigent females of St. John's Parish, of said Waterbury,
to be known as the St. John's Church Home.' '

The legacies under Sections 23, 24, and 25 were paid to the
parish and are held for the purposes for which they were given.

The 110,000 given to certain individuals and their heirs in
trust, it was thought would result in making the heirs trustees,
which would be embarrassing. An agreement was therefore made
with Mr. Hall's residuary legatees by which the gift was allowed
to lapse and was then made over by the residuary legatees to St.
John's Parish for The Church Home and Charity Foundation.

TRUST FUNDS.

This is all set forth in the following contract:

Whereas, Samuel W. Hall, late of Waterbury, Conn., deceased, in a Will
which bears date the 3d day of March, 1877, and was admitted to probate
March 13th, 1877, by the twenty-seventh clause in said will, devised and be-
queathed to James S. Elton, John C. Booth, Scovill M. Buckingham and Isaac
E. Newton, and their heirs, a legacy of ten thousand dollars in trust " to erect
or purchase and maintain a suitable home for the widows and other indigent
females of St. John's Parish, of said Waterbury, to be known as the St. John's
Church Home, which legacy was also devised and bequeathed on certain con-
ditions within three years to be fulfilled" by the members of St. John's Parish.

And whereas the Rev. Joel F. Bingham, on the 17th day of December, 1877,
conveyed by good and sufficient deed to tlie St. John's Parish of Waterbury,
which deed is recorded in the land records of the Town of Waterbury, Vol. 96, p.
326 and 327, certain real estate therein described, in trust for the purposes of
the St. John's Church Home and Charity Fovmdation as it is to be adminis-
tered by said parish by the terms of said deed — a reference to which is hereby
had for a full description of the purposes thereof.

Now therefore, in case for any reason whatever, the said legacy of the said
Samuel W. Hall shall lapse and revert to us, then and upon tliat condition
we do subscribe hereby and agree to pay over to the said St. John's Parish,
in trust for the purposes of the said St. John's Home and Charity Foundation,
the amount of money, be it more or less, which may so revert to us under the
conditions of said will.

And it is understood, and this subscription is made on the further condition
that at the end of the said three years there shall have been contributed and
shall be in the possession of the said St. John's Parish, in trust for the purposes
of the Home and Charity Foundation above named in money or other property,
a value of not less than ten thousand dollars, and otherwise this subscription
shall be void and of no effect.

In witness whereof, we, the residuary legatees, in said will, have hereunto
set oiu- hands and seals at said Waterbury, the twenty-first of February, 1878.
Signed :
Florence Hall, Bartolo L. D'Aubiqne,

Clara M. Burritt, Margaret W. Hill,

Angelo C. Burritt, John W. Hill.

• Sarah L. D'Aubiqne,

At a meeting of the Rector, Wardens and Vestry of St. John's
Parish, held in the Chapel, March 3rd, 1880, the following was
offered by F. J. Kingsbury:

Whereas: John W. Hill, Margaret W. Hill, Angelo C. Burritt, Clara M.
Burritt, Bartolo L. D'Aubigne, Sarah L. D'Aubigne and Florence Hall, resid-
uary legatees under the will of the late Samuel W. Hall, have given to this
parish the sum of ten thousand dollars, upon certain considerations, for cer-

HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH.

tain purposes and upon certain conditions, as set forth in a certain agreement
and writing dated February 2d, 1878, and recorded in the records of the par-
ish; one of the said conditions being, "that at the end of three years from
March 3, 1877, there shall have been contributed and shall be in possession
of said St. John's Parish in trust for the purposes of the Home and Charity
Foundation above named in money or other property, a value of not less than
ten thousand dollars," which condition has been complied with; therefore,

Voted : That this parish accept said sum of ten thousand dollars contributed
by said residuary legatees, and said further and other money and property,
in trust for the purposes named or referred to, in said agreement and writing.

On motion, the preamble and vote was unanimously adopted.

On motion, voted that the clerk be instructed to transmit a copy of the
foregoing preamble and vote, to each of the Executors of the late S. W. Hall,
deceased.

On motion, adjourned. Attest: Nelson J. Welton, Clerk.

This may certify that I left at the usual places of abode of James S. Elton,
Angelo C. Burritt, Executors of the late Samuel W. Hall, deceased, true copies
of the foregoing preamble and vote, this 3rd day of March, 1880.

Attest: Nelson J. Welton, Clerk.
At a meetiing of the Wardens and Vestry of St. John's Parish,
held in the Church, December 25th, 1877, the Rev. Joel Foot
Bingham, Rector of said Parish, presented for the acceptance of
the Parish, a deed, conveying to this parish certain lands therein
described, in trust, for the purpose of owning and supporting
within the limits and jurisdiction of this parish, a church home,
orphanage, hospital, chapels, schools and other religious and chari-
table agencies, which are appropriate to the intentions of said
trust.

Therefore, Resolved: That said deed be and is hereby accepted by this
parish, including the trusts therein designated, and the thanks are due, and
are hereby most cordially tendered to the Rector and such other benevolent
persons as have contributed to such charitable and religious purposes.

Copy of deed accepted by the Wardens and Vestry in behalf
of the parish, December 25th, 1877.
To aU people to whom these Presents shall come, Greeting:

Know ye, that I, the Reverend Joel Foote Bingham, Doctor in Divinity,
rector of St. John's Parish, Waterbury, Connecticut, and Pastor of the Congre-
gations thereto belonging, in consideration of the needs of the destitute, the
sick and the friendless in the said congregations and city, and in consideration
of my desire and purpose to alleviate said need and suffering and in further

TRUST FUNDS.

consideration of the convenient organization and lawful capacities of the said
parish, but receiving from the said parish neither directly nor indirectly there-
for any money, profit, emolument or other valuable consideration, except the
hope and prospect of the faithful and gratuitous fulfillment of this trust, do
give, grant, bargain, sell and confirm unto said St. John's Parish, an ecclesias-
tical corporation located in the city of Waterbury, New Haven County, State
of Coxmecticut, in trust, the following pieces or parcel of land lying in the
said city of Waterbury, situated south westerly from Center Square at Brook-
lyn, so called, on the corner of Leonard and Dodd Streets; bounded northward
one hundred and sixty-five (165) feet on land of John C. Booth and Nelson
J. Welton; easterly one hundred and fifty-three (153) feet on Leonard Street;
southerly one hundred and sixty-five (165) feet on Dodd Street, and westerly
one hundred and fifty-three (153) feet on land of John C. Booth and Nelson
J. Welton. The corners being right angles. Being lots Nos. 87, 88, 89 and 93
on Booth and Welton's survey of the Porter farm; for the purposes of owning
and supporting within the limits and jurisdiction of said Parish, a Church
Home, Orphanage, Hospital, Chapels, Schools and any other rehgious and
Charitable Agencies which are appropriate to the intention of this trust.
Being the same premises lately conveyed to me from John C. Booth and Nelson
J. Welton, purchased with money deposited with me in trust by sundry and
divers benevolent persons, to be used in my discretion for the aforesaid chari-
table and religious purposes.

To have and to hold the above granted and bargained premises with the
appurtenances thereof, unto the said Grantee and its successors forever, to it
and their proper use and behoof for the purposes aforesaid. And also I, the
said grantor, do for myself, my heirs, executors and administrators, covenant
with the said grantee and its successors, that at and until the ensealing of these
presents I am well seized of the premises as a good, indefeasible estate in fee
simple and have good right to bargain and sell the same in manner and form
as is above written, and that the same is free from all incumbrances whatsoever.

In Witness Whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal this 18th day
of December, A. D., 1877.
Signed, sealed and delivered

In presence of: , , > ,

J. W. Webster, (Signed) J. F. Binoham. < seal \

Wm. W. Bonnett, ^ ■ — V — ' ''

New Haven Coonty, ss:

Waterbury, December 18th, 1877.
Personally appeared Joel Foote Bingham, signer and sealer of the foregoing
instrument, and acknowledged tlie same to be his free act and deed before me.

John W. Webster,

Notary PubUc.

The above is recorded in Waterbury Land Records, Vol. 9G,
Pages 326 and 327.

HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH.

To the ParUhioners of St. John's Parish in anmial meeting assembled:

Gentlemen : — I transmit herewith my annual abstract of the various charita-
ble accounts which are kept under my hand, and also the approximate inven-
tory of the moneys and property held by me and by the parish, in trust for
the St. John's Church Home and Charity Foundation.

During the year, acting on my best judgment, and with the advice and
concurrence of the trustees named in the 27th clause of the will of the late
lamented Mr. S. W. Hall and of the Wardens and Vestrymen of St. John's
Parish and with the approbation of the Bishop of the Diocese, I have selected,
purchased and conveyed to the parish, in trust, a very eligible site on South
Leonard St. (West Side) for the future buildings of the Home and Charity
Foundation of the congregations belonging to this parish.

As will appear from the appendix to the enclosed inventory, I have in
subscriptions, conditional and otherwise (besides the subscription of the
residuary legatees of Mr. Hall, based upon the 27th clause of his will, which
subscription will be presented and read to the meeting of the executors of
that will) a considerable amount given especially for the erection on the
above mentioned lots of a suitable chapel, as the first in a series of future
erections to include beside the Home proper with its chapel for the accommoda-
tion of both sexes, also in time, an orphanage for both sexes, and a creche, or
day-nursery, with the attendant church schools, and a General church hospital.
Beside the ground, (which we have) this will eventually involve, in the cost
of buildings and in funds invested for its support, not less than $100,000, which
I hope and believe will be realized, though we may not see the day.

The amount of property already in the trust of the parish; the invested
funds now in hand; the subscriptions for the chapel lying on call; the condi-
tional subscriptions on Mr. Hall's legacy; and at least two considerable legacies,
still future, of which the rector has been notified and which are liable at any
time to fall in; constitute together a charge so important that I recommend and
request the appointment by the parish at the present annual meeting, of a
committee of two or three to carry forward in conjunction with the rector, the
necessary subscriptions and the general management of the whole trust.

Respectfully and faithfully yours,

Easter Monday, A. D., 1878. ^- ^- ^'^^^^^' R^«tor.

The parish did not deem it desirable to pursue Dr. Bingham's
plan of building in the Brooklyn District, and it was voted that
he be asked to execute a release of any claim he may have on said
land, he having taken the title in his own name and executed a
deed of trust to the parish.

This deed was subsequently given by Dr. Bingham April 28,
1884, and the title is now clear in the parish, and several pieces
of the land in the Brooklyn District have been sold,

TRUST FUNDS.

The constitution of a board of managers for the Hall Funds will
be found in the Extracts from Church Records, Chapter VIII.

Tkust Funds.

$10,000
5,000
3,000

The Hall Poor Fund,
The Hall Repair Fund, ,
The Hall Library Fund, .
The Glebe Fund, .
The Charles Scott Fund, .
The E. M. Burrall Fund, .
The Sarah Merriman Fund
The W. A. Hitchcock Fund,
The Endowment Fund, .

30,500

5,000

1,000

200

605

60,305

SouBCEs OP Yearly Income, 1906.

Pew Rents,

. $5,979.50

Envelope Fund, . . . . .

. 1,800.00

Other Donations,

610.53

Interest Account, .....

. 2,404.49

10,794.52

St. John's Church Expenses, 1906.

Clergymen's Salaries,, .....

$4,500.00

Organist and Musical Expenses,

. 3,000.00

Sexton, etc., ....

950.00

Lighting ....

370.00

Heating, ....

540.00

Insurance, ....

500.00

Repairs, ....

900.00

Water, . ...

165.00

Convention Fund,

71.22

Bishop's Fund, . . .

94.96

11,091.18

Inventory of Church Property.

St. John's Church of 1873 and land

$200,000.00

Parish House and land of Mrs. Duel,

25,000.00

State Street Lot ....

7,000.00

Rectory, .....

25,000.00

Land in Brooklyn District, .

5,000.00

Land in Park

200.00

Mortgages and Savings Bank deposits, mostly repre

senting trust funds,

•

60,805.00

323.005.00

CHAPTER VIII.

EXTRACTS FROM THE CHURCH RECORDS WITH SOME NOTES.

THE earliest record which we have in point of date is an entry
on page eight of our oldest record book as follows: —

"Mr. Joseph Bronson's record, transcribed for the year
1758. July ye 17, 1758, at a vestry held in the church, it was
voted that we would give Mr. Scovil twenty pound sterling a
year and the yues (use) of the Gleeb, provided he get nothing at
hum, and it was agreed that we should have half the (amount)
got at hum.

At the same meeting it was voted that we would give him
twenty-two pound, ten shillings, sterling, to carry him hum.

At the same meeting it was voted that John Brown and John
Welton should make the rate and collect the money for Mr. Scovil.

March the 31, 176(0) ? a vestry holden in the church it was voted
that we would finish the upper part of the church. At the same
vestry it was voted that Capt. Geo. Nichols, Ins. (ensign) Warner
and Abraham Hickox should be trustees to provide and carry on
the work and to make a rate, and Elezar Prindle appointed to
collect the rate and collect it on December next. "

Our first record book begins, "At a vestre holden in St. Jamses
Church at Waterbury, on the 6th day of April, 176(1) [this last
figure is worn off, but the next meeting is March, 1762]. At said
vestry Mr. Thomas Osborn was chosen clerk by the vestry. Mr.
James Scovil [the rector] at said vestry; Timothy Porter and
John Welton was chosen Church Wardens.

Voted in said vestry to give the Widow Harrison £1. 8. 0. that
was due her on account of some work that her husband was to due
to the church; voted in said vestry that Ebenezer Warner should
assist in tuning the psalm; voted in said vestry that Samuel Brown
should assist in tuning the psalm; voted in said vestry that Heze-
kiah Brown should assist in tuning the psalm.

EXTRACTS FROM THE CHURCH RECORDS.

Voted in said vestry that we will meet in the church on Sun-
days and read prayers when Mr. Scovil is absent. Voted in the
vestry that Mr, Scovil shall have what is due for the rent of the
Glebe,

March 17, 1762 — Voted, David Warner, Abraham Hickox,
Elezar Prindel, should be a societies committee. [Whether
this congregationalist nomenclature was with reference to some
legal question as to parish organization or whether it was a recur-
rence from habit to the congregational form, they having all been
brought up Congregationalists, I do not know, but this phrase,
"Societies Committee" is frequently used in the records for
many years, and seems to have been considered an equivalent for
vestrymen in its present acceptance. I think the word "vestry,"
as used in the early records, signified a meeting of the parish or of
the Church authorities.]

At this same meeting a vote was passed appointing John Wel-
ton, Ebenezer Warner, Capt, Geo, Nichols, to examine into the
circumstances of the lands belonging to this town, that is given
for public use. [Doubtless the question in mind was whether
some of it could not be made available for the Episcopal Church,]

Voted that Mr, Scovil shall have the foremost pew next the
alley, in the east end of the church, [Mr, Scovil married Amy,
daughter of Capt. Geo, Nichols, November 17, 1762.]

2d day of March, 1763, Voted that the vestry will be at the
cost of a vestry book. [This is doubtless the book from which
these records are taken. It is a well made book about twelve
and one-half by nine and one-quarter inches, bound in parchment
or vellum, and having approximately 400 pages.]

Voted to raise Mr, Scovil's rate for the present year.

Voted to give Mr, Scovil one penny and a half penny on the
pound this present year.

Voted in said vestry that the over plush money of Mr, Scovil's
rate in the year 1762 shall be put into the hands of the committee.

Voted in said vestry that the money that is in hands of the
Church Wardens that belongs to the Church, shall be laid out to
furnish the communion table and to get a cboshion for the pulpit,
and other things necessary for the pulpit and the reading desk.

HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH.

At a meeting of the vestry holden in St. Jameses Church, at
Waterbury, on the 6th day of March, 1764.

Voted — That the committee shall have full power to act with
respect to the ministerial money as they shall think best. [The
clerks do not sign the records, but Thomas Osborn appears to have
remained clerk until the 6th of March, 1765, when Abraham
Hickox was elected. A vote was also passed directing parents to
hand in the children's names for baptism, in writing, which writ-
ing the rector was to deliver to the paiish clerk for record, and
immediately following this is a list of the names of children christ-
ened. These names Miss Katharine A, Prichard has recorded
in the genealogical record of the History of Waterbury.]

At a meeting of the vestry held April 1, 1766. Voted — That
Mr. Scovil and the Church Wardens should get, with part of the
Church Stock, conveniences for communion and Chrisning children
for the church at Wes'tr'y. [This was the year following the erec-
tion of the church at Westbury (Watertown).]

At this meeting it was also voted "to give the Reverent Mr.
Scovil thirty pounds lawful money for the year 1767, as a sallery
for his service in preaching this year."

At a vestry held March 18, 1767, was chosen Capt. Edward
Scovil, Joh Welton, Abraham Hickox to go to Northbury and New
Cambridge to confer with them about a division of the Mishon.
Voted that we will exert ourselves for a division of the mishon.

March 29, 1769, it was voted that said vestry are willing that
Northbury and Westbury should have the liberty to get them a
minister when they should think proper.

At the same meeting voted that Abraham Hickox, Capt.
John Welton, Capt. Edward Scovil be a committee with discretion-
ary power to sue or otherwise recover the money belonging to
said church, by vote of the town of Waterbury in the year 1770.

Voted that Westbury shall have their part of Mr. Scovil's ser-
vices of preaching according as their list draws til there shall come
a minister to Northbury and New Cambrige.

Voted that we will give Northbury and New Cambrige towards
a man going to take holy orders, £30. lawful money.

Voted, that we will pay £45. sterling a year salary, to be

EXTRACTS FROM THE CHURCH RECORDS.

paid to the minister of the Church of England, in case Northbury
and New Cambrige provide for themselves, which vote is to con-
tinue in force; until the said Northbury and Cambrige obtain
benefaction fiora the Society, or so long as Mr. Scovil shall serve
in this mission.

At a vestry held April 15th, 1772, voted to chuse a Comity to try
by confering with other comitties from other parts of the mishon
to get another minister to the mishon or to get the mishon divided:
David Warner, Capt. John Welton, Doc. Timothy Porter, Abra-
ham Hickox, Enos Gunn and Benjamin Benham were appointed
the committee.

[During the Revolution meetings were regularly held and the
ordinary appointments made and the christenings recorded.]

Nov. 8, 1783, voted that Mr. Scovill should have liberty to
pull down the Glebe house, leaving the chimney and reserving
the glass for the church.

Nov. 8, 1784 — Voted to give Rev. Mr. Scovil £55 salary for
the ensuing year, including Westbury, for a portion according to
the original agreement, the above said salary to be paid by the
first of March ensuing. [This record is of a meeting of the
Episcopal Society or Congregation, all previous records have been
of a meeting of vestry.]

Sept. 1, 1785 — A committee appointed to confer with com-
mittee of the Episcopalian Society in Westbury and the Rev. Mr.
Scovil, and know of him upon what terms he will preach with us
and make report to some future meeting. At the same meeting
was voted to have the Rev. Mr. Scovil's service in preaching
half the time and to pay him for the same.

At a meeting Dec. 7, 1785 — Voted to give Rev. Mr. Scovil
forty-five pounds lawful money for a salary for the current year
for his service in preaching one-half the time.

[Mr. Scovil finally left in 1786.]

May 1, 1786 — A committee was appointed to confer with the
Committee at Watertown about getting a minister into the mis-
sion.

Aug. 28, 1786 — At a meeting of the Society, Mr. Caleb Merril
for Moderator, voted that we will settle a minister and have

HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH.

his service one half the time, or as shall best suit the Society at
some future meeting.

Sept. 25 — Voted that the committee formerly appointed to

cover the church, be desired to appropriate such monies as remain

in their hands unapplied, to the glazing and repairing the church.

Voted that the committee be directed to ^vrite to Mr. Philo

Perry for a Sunday in St. James Church as soon as convenient.

Dec. 4, 1786 — Voted to make a rate two pence on a pound on
the list of 1786, and lay out the money for preaching according to
their discretion, the above said rate to be paid by the first day of
March next.

Dec. 3, 1787 — Voted to settle a minister and have his service
in preaching half the time.

Voted that the committee apply to Mr. Prindle, also to Mr.
Blakeslee and Mr. Ives, and know their terms of settlement, and
make report to this meeting at some future day.

Dec. 27 — Voted to reconsider the above and directed the Com-
mittee to apply to Mr. Prindle and make report.

Feb. 4, 1788— Voted that Mr. Herman Munson, together with
the Committe be directed to procure the schoolhouse for the Con-
vention to meet in and provide wood sufficient for them at the
Society's cost. [A schoolhouse had been built about three years
before this on the green in front of where the City Hall now stands,
in which Rev. Joseph Badger and Mr. John Kingsbury were con-
ducting a successful school. This is doubtless the building re-
ferred to.]

March 24, 1788— Voted that the committee be directed to
apply to Mr. Reuben Ives for further service in preaching among
us.

June 12, 1788— Voted to adopt the doings of the Convention
held at Wallingford on the 7th day of May last, respecting the
bishop's salary.

Voted to direct the Committee to apply to Mr. Ives to engage
him to preach for us what time he can until his year is out with
Cheshire and Bethany.

Sept. 25, 1788— Voted to hire Mr. Ambrose Hull to read pray-
ers and preach two-thirds of the time.

EXTRACTS FROM THE CHURCH RECORDS.

April 27, 1789; Upon a report of the Societies of Salem and
Bristol that they wish to join us and support a clergyman for one-
half the time, viz., one-fourth each. Voted, that we desire and
wish to settle and pay a clergyman for one-half the time.

Voted that the Committee be directed to apply to Mr. Solomon
Blakeslee as a candidate.

May 25, 1789 — Voted to give Mr. Blakeslee a call for one-half
the time.

Voted to give him £40 a year and his fire wood for one-half
his service as a parish minister and his residence in this place, and
to increase his salary to £45 as the list of the church increases.

June 16, 1790 — Rev. Chauncey Prindle present. (The usual
formal business done.)

Sept. 13. — Voted that the committee be requested to apply to
Rev. David Foot to know whether he is willing to settle as a parish
minister among us.

Voted to have the services of a clergyman two-thirds of the
time and to give Mr. Foot two-thirds of £85 and his fire wood,
provided he reside in this Society.

Voted that the Committee be requested to address the Reverend
Episcopal Convention and request their advice and influence
in uniting to this parish the Episcopal parishes of Woodbury and
Salem, or either of them and to inform them that we are willing to
dispense with having but one-half the services of a clergyman and
to pay in the same proportion as shall be thought best.

Oct. 18 — Voted that the Committee be requested and directed
to apply to the Episcopal parishes of Woodbury and Salem and
confer with their Committee in order to form a Mission with us
and know what proportion of time each parish would wish to have
the service of a clergyman and make report to a future meeting.

Nov. 1, 1790 — Voted that the Committee be requested to apply
firstly to the Rev. Solomon Blakeslee and invite him to preach in
the several Episcopal churches of Waterbury, Woodbury and
Salem as a candidate, in order for a settlement as a parish minister
for said churches, or secondly, to Mr. Marsh, or thirdly, to Mr.
Bronson for the aforesaid purposes.

April 11, 1791 — Voted that the Committee be directed and

HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH.

requested to apply to Mr. Ammi Rogers and request and engage
hirji to hold himself as a candidate for this Society and be with
us as soon as he can with convenience.

April 25 — Voted that the Committee be requested to apply to
Mr. Hart and invite and engage him to ofl&ciate as a candidate for
this Society and be with us as soon as may be with convenience.

Voted, to reconsider the vote respecting an application to Mr.
Ammi Rogers. [This looks as if they had learned something of Mr.
Rogers.]

August 27 — Voted that Committee be instructed to inform our
bretheren at Salem that whenever we have treated them with any
kind of neglect, we are willing to rescind it and give them a fresh
assurance that we will treat them with respect in the future.

Voted to give Mr. Hart a call for a settlement for one-half the
time.

Sept. 27, 1971 — Voted that this Society are willing and desirous
to receive Mr. Seth Hart as our minister as soon as he shall be put
into Holy Orders.

Voted that we will give Mr. Seth Hart, after he shall be ad-
mitted to and receive holy orders, provided he shall make his resi-
dence among us and perform parochial service in the Episcopal
Society at Waterbmy, for one-half the time, the sum of £40 law-
ful money for the first year, and the use of the glebe, annually — to
increase twenty shillings annually for five years next ensuing, and
£45 thereafter.

Dec. 5 — Voted that whenever Mr. Hart's salary is 3 months
in arrears the Committee shall give a note on interest and the
Society shall indemnify the Committee.

Dec. 3, 1792 — Committee appointed to treat with Committee
of the several Presbyterian Societies in Waterbury to agree upon
a division of the public or ministerial money belonging to this town.

April 1, 1793 — The question being put whether this Society
do approve and adopt the proposed constitution of the Episcopal
Church. Voted in the affirmative.

April 1, 1793 — Voted that Rev. Mr. Hart officiate one Sunday
at Southington on the cost of this Society.

Committee appointed to agree upon a place to set a church

EXTRACTS FROM THE CHURCH RECORDS.

and the bigness of the same and make report to the next meeting.

Voted that the surplusage of money given at the Communion
be laid out for Bishop Seabury's sermons.

Sept. 30 — Voted, by a majority of more than two-thirds that
we are willing and think it necessary to build a church, or house
for public worship. Eli Curtis, Esq., Mr. Jude Blakesley and
Captain Amos Bryan were appointed a Committee to set a stake
for the place where to build a church.

Oct. 21, 1793 — Voted to build a church edifice on the East side
of the road that leads round the South side of the green. [Church
Street was not then open.]

Dec. 2, 1793 — Voted to petition the Hon. County Court now
sitting in New Haven to grant a Committee to come and fix
or set a stake for a place where to erect a church, also by vote
nominated John Wooster, Esq., of Derby, Thomas Atwater of
Cheshire and Abram Bradley of Woodbridge for aforesaid Com-
mittee if said Hon. Court in their wisdom should think fit to
appoint them.

Dec. 17, 1793 — Isaac Benham, Levi Bronson, Richard F.
Welton, John Hickox and Ezra Pierpont were chosen a Committee
to get the minds of this Society where to erect a church and make
a report to this meeting.

Dec. 26, 1793 — Voted to erect a fence around the church.
Same meeting, Benjamin Welton, Eleazer Tompkins, Jesse Hicox,
Mark Warner, Cornelius Johnson, Jr., Titus Welton, Elijah Prich-
ard, James Scovil and Joseph Bronson chosen Committee to
warn the inhabitants of the Episcopal Society in Waterbury to
attend the Committee appointed by the County Court for the pur-
pose of setting a stake where to build the church edifice, on the
1st day of January next.

Same meeting. Captain Harman Munson, Messrs. Richard
Welton, John Cossett and John Nichols was chosen for Committee
to view several places where they shall think best to build a church
and report to this meeting.

At the same meeting Isaac Benham, Seba Bronson and Eph-
raim Warner were chosen for a Committee to wait on the Committee

HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH.

appointed by the County Court when they shall come to set the
stake where to build a church.

Feb. 3, 1794 — Voted to call the Committee appointed by the
Hon. County Court to come and take a review of the place
where to set the stake for the place to build a church edifice.

March 17, 1794 — Voted that Seba Bronson be appointed an
agent to apply to the County Court and the late Committee ap-
pointed by the same for setting a stake for the church in Waterbury
to take the necessary measures for placing the stake 5 rods south
of the place where the stake now stands.

Sept. 12, 1794 — Voted that the Committee be directed to reckon
with Rev, Mr, Hart and give their Note payable the 1st day of
March next "without interest" for what may be due him now.

Nov. 3, 1794 — Isaac Bronson chosen agent instead of Seba
Bronson to get the stake moved 5 rods South.

Dec. 1, 1794 — Voted that the Society's Committee be directed
to apply to Rev. Mr. Griswold to perform divine service during
part of the ensuing winter.

Dec. 16, 1794 — Voted that the edifice to be erected for a
€hurch for this Society be thirty-eight feet wide and fifty-two feet
long.

Voted — Ephraim Warner, Justus Warner, Herman Munson,
Titus Welton, and John Cossitt be appointed a Committee to
oversee and inspect the building of the church,

Jan. 12, 1795 — Voted to build a cupola with the house which
has been voted to build.

February 9, 1795 — Voted that the Societies committee be
directed to re-survey the Glebe Swamp and fill it up if they think
necessary, [This refers to the ground where the present Church
stands.]

Voted to build the Church 54x38 with a steeple at the East end,

March 16, 1795— Voted to apply to Mr. Griswold to settle
with us as a clergyman and to pay him £75 for his services three-
fourths of the time. [Mr, Griswold did not accept.]

March 28, 1796 — Voted that the Committee apply to Rev, Mr,
Bronson to preach with us one-half the time until the 1st day of
December next unless we are supplied otherwise.

EXTRACTS FROM THE CHURCH RECORDS.

June 6, 1796 — Voted to grant the Rev. Wm. Green for his
annual service three-fourths of the time in this Society three-
fouths of one hundred pounds to be paid in money calculating
on the price of provisions at the following rates viz., pork 30s. pr C.
Beef 20s. Wheat 6s. 6d. pr bus. Rye 4s. Indian Corn 3s. 4d.
And if in the month of January annually said articles shall exceed
the foregoing prices then said salary is to increase to three-fourths
of one hundred and ten pounds and no more.

June 20, 1796 — Voted that the Presbyterian Society may
meet in the church if they please except when said church have a
clergyman. [The Congregational Society which is here called
Presbyterian had torn down their old church to make room for
a new one in the same place.]

First Monday in December, 1796 — Voted that the Committee
be directed to have Rev. Tillotson Bronson preach with us half
the time or more for the year ensuing.

March 6, 1797 — Voted that the Committee sell the old church
and ground on which it stands in such a way and on such terms
as they think most beneficial for the Society.

June 11, 1797 — Voted to seat the new church, the Committee
to use their discretion, having some regard to age and the lists
that money has been raised upon to build said church, with the
addition of those persons that have come into the Society since
the house was built, and make a report to some future meeting.

Oct. 12, 1797 — Voted that Isaac Benham, Sebe Bronson and
John Cossett be a committee to prepare and give the consecration
deed.

Oct. 24, 1797 — Voted to seat the new church in the following
manner, viz., taking the two lists of '94 and '5 and add them
together then add £15 a year for every year beginning at the age
of 21 : and all those that had no list of '94 and '5 shall take the list
of '97 and double it to make one list with the addition of £15 as
aforesaid.

First Monday of December, 1797 — Voted that the money that
the old church was sold for, shall be applied to the building of
the new church. Voted that the Society are willing to settle the

HISTORY OF ST, JOHN'S CHURCH.

Rev. Tillotson Bronson as their clergyman if his terms are such
as shall meet the minds of the Society.

Dec. 27, 1797 — Voted to pay what is wanting with Mr. Ben-
ham for singing at Dedication,

First Monday of Dec. 1798 — Voted a Committee to confer with
the selectmen relative to laying out a highway between Israel
Holmes' land and land belonging to this Society from the new
church to the burying yard lane, so called. [This is now Church
Street, but it was not laid out until several years later.]

April 15, 1799 — Voted to lay a tax of four cents on the dollar.
[This is the first mention of a dollar on these records.]

Aug. 19, 1799 — Voted to take counsel as to the legality of
selling the Glebe. [No report appears but they must have got
some advice which was favorable to the sale, — see Real Estate.]

Dec. 1, Monday, 1799 — Voted a salary to Rev. Tillotson
Bronson of $250. for three-fourths of the time for the year ensuing.

[June 4, 1800, the Diocesan Convention met here, but no
allusion to it appears on the record.]

Dec. 13, 1803 — Voted to "dignify" the seats and pews of the
church in the following manner, viz: the two first seats in the
church are considered of the first dignity, the two second seats and
the two pews No. 3, are of the second dignity; the two third seats and
the two pews No. 4, are of the third dignity; the two fourth seats
and the two Nos. 5, and the two of No. 1, are the fourth dignity,
also the remaining parts of the seats and pews in said church (ex-
cept the pews at the southeast corner of said church, Nos. 9 and
10) are dignified according to the numbers of said seats and pews.
At the same meeting voted to seat the church by age only.

April 2, 1804— John Clark, Richard Welton and Obadiah War-
ner were appointed a Committee with full power to lease for the
terra of nine hundred years, provided they shall judge best, the
following pieces of land belonging to this Society, viz: About ten
acres lying near the church, with buildings standing on the same,
also about nine acres near George Prichard's dwelling house, it
being all the land belonging to the Society at each of these places,
also all the land belonging to this Society lying a little northward
of the house of Abner Johnson. [So far as appears, no action was

EXTRACTS FROM THE CHURCH RECORDS.

taken under this vote. This last piece is the Willow Street piece.]
Dec. 10, 1805 — Voted the Rev. Tillotson Bronson a salary of
three hundred dollars for three-fourths of the time the first year.

Sept. 2, 1806 — Voted that this Society do approve of Mr. Hor-
ace V. Barber as a preacher of the Gospel and have been well
pleased with his performance, and it is their desire to settle him
in this Society as their Clergyman, and that Messrs. Richard Wel-
ton and Herman Munson be a Committee appointed to present this
vote to him and request his answer.

Oct. 13, 1806— Voted to give Mr. Virgil H. Barber a salary of
410 dollars for his service one year, to be paid quarterly.

March 30, 1807 — Voted that Mr. Barber may, if he shall see
cause, preach such a proportion of the time in the town of Wol-
cott, as the list of the members of this Society living in said town
shall bear to the whole list.

June 16, 1807 — Voted to request the Rev. Bishop Jarvis to
dismiss the Rev. Tillotson Bronson from being the clergyman
of this Society. [This appears to have been adopted as a matter
of form.]

At the same meeting voted that the Standing Committee for
this year be requested to call on Mr. Virgil H. Barber to get his
terms of settling as clergyman of this Society in future and to
report to this meeting as soon as convenient. The Committee
returned in a short time with Mr. Barber's answer, of which the
following is a copy.

" In compliance with the request of the Committee in behalf
of the parish of St. John's Church, I respectfully offer the following
terms of agreement (viz) : The sum that I conscientiously think
necessary to a competent support in the character and capacity
of a clergyman, is five hundred dollars, the time of payment to be
half yearly. Now provided the parish feel willing and ready to
accede to the above terms without its endangering the peace of
the church, it would be very cheerfully received by, gentlemen,
your very humble servant, Virgil H. Barber.".

At the same meeting, voted to comply with above said terms
of Mr. Barber.

Dec. 29, 1807 — Voted to send Mr. Justus Warner to the town

HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH.

of Claremont (N. H.) to know the reason of Mr. Barber's not
returning to this town.

Voted to give Mr. Warner for the journey above said, fourteen
dollars.

Feb. 15, 1808 — Voted to have the church painted in the course
of this year.

April 15, 1808 — Voted, that Rev. Mr. Barber shall have leave,
if he please, to preach at Wolcott a proportionate part of the time
until next annual meeting.

May 14, 1810 — On petition of the town of Middlebury, pray-
ing the Legislature to cause the several Societies in Waterbury to
relinquish a certain part of the public ministerial and school
monies belonging to the said Societies; a committee was appointed
to resist the same.

Voted that the thanks of the Society be presented to Mr.
David Taylor for his present of an elegant Bible, received by
hand of Mr. Wm. K. Lamson. [Mr. Taylor had been a merchant
in Waterbury, but afterward removed to New York. I do not
think he had been an attendant at St. John's during his residence
here.]

Dec. 7, 1812 — [The records of this meeting are signed by
Ashley Scott, Clerk, being the first time that a signature is afl&xed
to records of meetings.]

April 18, 1814 — John Cossett petitioned the parish to make a
present of the old Bible belonging to this parish to the members
of the Episcopal Church living in the towns of Columbia and
Waterbury in the State of Ohio.

Voted — [This is the Bible elsewhere referred to as having been
returned from Ohio and deposited in the church.]

June 1, 1814 — [Mr. Barber's resignation.]

June 6, 1814 — Voted to apply to the Episcopal Society at
Gunntown respecting their uniting with this parish in employing
Rev. Mr. Geer.

Sept. 27, 1814 — Voted that a committee be appointed to confer
with Rev. Mr. Geer for the purpose of settling him as a pastor or
hiring him to preach one year at not exceeding $600, provided the

EXTRACTS FROM THE CHURCH RECORDS.

church in Gunntown will unite with us and pay their proportion for
one-quarter or one-third of the time.

Nov. 15, 1824 — Voted to appoint a Committee to confer with J.
M. L. Scovill and others relative to paying for the bell.

Monday, Nov. 24, 1828— Voted to pay Mr. Samuel Cook thirty
dollars for singing the ensuing year. [This is meant for any expense
connected with the choir, of which Mr. Cook was leader.]

August 27, 1825 — Elijah F. Merrill signs the record of the
meetings as clerk.

April 12, 1830 — Voted to accept the resignation of Rev.
Alpheus Geer as pastor of this parish.

July 19, 1830 — Voted that it is the wish of this parish to give
Rev. Mr. Barlow an invitation to settle with us. Committee ap-
pointed with power to offer $500.

Aug. 2. Committee appointed to enter into permanent agree-
ment with Mr. Barlow, providing it can be done by paying him
a salary of $500 per year, furnishing him with suitable dwelling
house free of rent and necessary fire wood, provided also that
should it so happen that any of the neighboring parishes should
wish to have him part of the time he should be under obligation
to preach for them should this Society request it.

Monday, Oct. 8, 1832. Rev. Mr. Barlow addressed a letter to
the Society saying that his wife's health obliged him to take her
South, asking for leave of absence during the winter, he to supply
the pulpit, and asking an advance of salary to Dec. 1. AH of
which was granted.

April 8, 1833 — Voted that the Rev. Mr. Morgan be invited to
officiate as clergyman on the following terms, viz: $500 a year sal-
ary, with the privilege of leaving at any time on giving six months
notice, the parish also to have the same privilege.

Feb. 20, 1833 — Voted that a Committee be appointed to super-
intend the proposed alterations (of the church edifice) and author-
ized to contract for the said alterations and repairs to an amount
not to exceed $700.

March 31, 1834 — Voted that the Societies Committee be
authorized to effect an insurance on the church not exceeding
$3,000.

HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH.

Aug. 25, 1834 — Voted to rent the slips in the church for the
purpose of raising money to defray the expenses of the Society ior
the ensuing year.

Dec. 10, 1835 — Voted to appoint a committee to purchase an
organ and make the necessary change in the gallery.

Aug. 29, 1835 — Mr. Morgan gave six months notice; committee
empowered to offer Mr. Morgan $750 to remain. [It is worthy of
note that there has been no increase of salary since 1807.]

Sept. 4, 1836 — Committee appointed to secure the services of
a clergyman. [Mr. Morgan had accepted the charge of Cheshire
Academy.]

Jan. 28, 1837 — Voted that the Societies Committee be author-
ized to correspond with the Rev. Mr. Clark on the subject of
becoming our rector and to offer him $750 per annum.

Voted to contract with John Rowley as organist and John
Sandland as chorister.

Sept. 1, 1838 — Voted to appoint two wardens and five vestry-
man, including the treasurer and secretary.

Voted that the rector shall be chairman of the parish and
vestry meetings. Voted that the vestry call on Rev. J. L. Clark
and request him to be instituted as rector of St. John's Church
at such time as may be convenient.

Jan. 12, 1839 — Voted that an addition be made on each side
of the church, provided the money can be raised by subscription.

Nothing appears on the record except the usual formal business
until Feb. 23, 1846 — Voted that it was expedient to build a church
if funds can be raised by subscription.

1847, March 8 — Voted that the parish give the use of the
ground for building horse sheds to those persons who propose
building provided they are built in a manner acceptable to the
building committee.

Apr. 24, 1848 — At any meeting of the vestry for transaction
of business three shall constitute a quorum.

Letter of Consecration from Bishop Brownell, Jan. 12, 1848.

May 24, 1850 — Report on Waterville Chapel that Mr. Hotch-
kiss of Birmingham offered to build it for $1800. This being

100

EXTRACTS FROM THE CHURCH RECORDS.

more than the subscription, a vote was passed authorizing an
attempt to increase the amount.

June 9, 1851 — St. Paul's, Watervilie, consecrated by Bishop
Brownell.

June 10, 1851 — Convention held here.

June 11, 1851 — Bishop Williams elected Associate Bishop.

April 9, 1855 — Voted that the wardens and vestry make such
arrangement for ministerial services for the year ensuing as
circumstances may render expedient. (This action was taken on
account of having given Dr. Clark a year's vacation but the fact
does not appear on the Parish record.)

Jan. 18, 1857 — Tower blown down.

Apr. 15, 1857 — Committee of three appointed to rebuild the
tower.

May 18 — Voted to build of stone if $5000. can be raised, [but
it could not].

1858, April 10 — Voted increase number of vestry to sixteen.

Apr. 19, 1858 — Voted to call Rev. J. M. Willey as assistant.

June 8, 1858 — Annual Convention held here.

March 5, 1859 — Committee appointed to rebuild spire of
wood; to proceed when $4000. shall have been subscribed.

June 27 — Committee report that the spire will cost more than
they supposed, but are directed to proceed.

March 8, 1862 — Rev. John Eaton Smith assistant from Easter.

Oct. 17, 1864 — Mr. Smith's resignation — Complimentary reso-
lutions adopted.

1866, April 2 — Rev. F. A. Steele appointed assistant minister.

April 13, 1868 — Rules for elections, etc., adopted.

Dec. 24, 1868— Church burnt.

Dec. 30, 1868 — Mr. Buckingham offers us a lot for temporary
chapel, rent free, which is accepted. Vote of thanks to Congre-
gational and Methodist Societies for use of churches. March 8,
1869 — Building Committee appointed.

Mar. 29, 1869 — First service in temporary chapel.

Mar. 8, 1869 — Committee appointed to build new church.

Mar. 16, 1869— A. Ives presents organ— $10,000. His letter
recorded April 10, 1871.

101

HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH.

1870, May 23 — Specification and Contract for new church.
Dec. 25, 1871 — G. W. Burnham presents bust of Bishop
Brownell and chime of 10 bells.

1872, Dec. 22 — Votes as to new parish.

April 1 — Votes complimentary to John H, Sandland after
forty years service in the choir.

December 29 — Complimentary resolutions to T. I. Driggs
for service as organist.

1873, June 23 — Requests for consecration.
June 24 — Consecration.

1874, April 12 — Rector's salary fixed at $1800 and house.
(Assistants, $2200 without his house rent was afterward
added.)

1875, May 29 — Rules adopted for choosing vestry.

1875, May 29 — Complimentary resolutions to J. W. Smith
for 25 years service in the choir.

1876, January 31, February 7 — Dr. Bingham called as
assistant.

1876, November 7 — Horse and carriage presented St. Mar-
garet's on condition that Dr. Russell look after service at St.
Paul's, Waterville.

June 13, — Convention held here.

1877, January 26— Dr. Clark died.

April 2 — Dr. Bingham elected rector.

1877, June 4 — Victor Chateneuf Smith, assistant minister.
$250. to widow and $150. to sister of Rev. Dr. Clark voted.

April 25 — Offer of St. John's accepted by those proposing to
form new parish.

Deed J. F. Bingham to St. John's accepted Dec. 25, 1877.
[Church Home, etc.]

1878, April 22— Rev. V. C. Smith's time extended.

1878, May 13 — Corporate Seal adopted, "St. John's Parish,
Waterbury, Conn."

June 3 — Rev. John H. White, assistant.
November 10 — Rev. John H. White resigned.

1879, February 3 — Testimonial of Frederick R. Sanford
signed.

102

EXTRACTS FROM THE CHURCH RECORDS.

1879, April 25— Rev. Rob Roy McGregor McNulty appointed
assistant.

1880, March 29 — Dr. Bingham requested to resign: salary
continued and rent of house to July 1. Rev. R. R. McNulty
employed to continue for the present.

1880, April 19 — A vote was passed authorizing the agent of
the Parish to submit its claim to James A. Hovey, a judge of the
Superior Court, to $1000. under the will of Sally Ann Sharp, given
by her to the "Old Ladies Home" and claimed by us on the
ground that we have a trust fund for establishing a home for
indigent females and there is no other similar trust, we are there-
fore entitled to the bequest. (The case was submitted and
decided against the parish.)

Voted to accept from Mrs. Palmyra Cotton $1000 on condition
that we pay her interest on this amount during her life. (She lived
to be 102.)

June 16 — Dr. Bingham presented his terms of resignation
which were accepted.

1880, July 3 — Mr. McNulty's name is now Converse — employed
at $1500 per annum, terminable on six months notice by either
party.

July 4 — Wardens and vestry sign testimonials to standing
committee for Priests orders for Rev. R. R. Converse.

1881, May 15 — Testimonials for Priests orders to Frederick
R. Sanford.

1881, April 18 — Rev. R. R. Converse unanimously elected
rector, salary $2000. — $700. appropriated for assistant.

1882, April 10 — $1100. appropriated for music and $500. for
Mr. Driggs salary and all musical matters left in his hands.

June 19 — $1250. appropriated for music and management
committed to T. I. Driggs.

1882, July 13 — Treasurer authorized to execute releases of
land mortgaged to secure Hall funds under direction of Board of
Managers of said funds.

1883, April 30 — M. K. Bailey employed as assistant at
a year and allowed to teach at St. Margaret's.

103

HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH.

Sept. 11 — Rev. Mr. Converse resignation accepted.

December 18 — Call extended to Rev. Edward R. Atwill, D.D.,
of Toledo, Ohio. He declined.

Voted to purchase lot on State Street adjoining church prop-
erty (horse sheds).

Oct. 22 — Voted to place the sidewalk on the north side of the
church outside the line of trees, so as to obviate danger from snow
slides in accordance with the order of Common Council.

J. C. Booth and Mrs. Olive M. Elton present lot to the parish,
corner Church Street and Center Square.

1884, March 6 — Dr. Atwill declines and Rev. J. W. Lee of
Bristol, Pa., called.

Dr. Bingham requested to execute a release of his interest in
parish lands.

1884, April 14 — Rev. J. W. Lee declines. Rev. Edmund
Rowland, D.D., invited. $1250 appropriated for music.

April 28 — Dr. Bingham gave a quit claim of his interest in
Church Home and property.

Committee on memorial to Dr. Clark report that they have
caused to be erected a memorial in Riverside Cemetery at $550.
Cost defrayed by subscriptions of St. John's and Trinity. Dr.
Rowland accepted and entered on his duties June 1, 1884.

1885, February 28 — Plans for rectory submitted and approved.
Rev. M. K. Bailey resigns.

December 20 — Permission granted descendants of Rev. James
Scovil to place tablet to his memory under the north gallery.

1886, April 2&— Rectory reported completed— cost $15,943.98.
May 3 — Treasurer reports Rectory paid for and parish out

of debt.

1887, April 11 — Brownell Monument reported moved — ex-
pense $1468.20 including redecoration of chancel.

The Centenary, April 30, 1889.

In pursuance of proclamations issued by Benjamin Harrison,
President of the United States, and Morgan G. Bulkeley, Governor
of the State of Connecticut, and in accordance with the recom-
mendation of the Right Rev. John WilUams, D.D., LL.D., Bishop

104

EXTRACTS FROM THE CHURCH RECORDS.

of the Diocese of Connecticut, commemorative exercises were held
in St. John's Church, at 9 o'clock a.m., April 30, 1889, the one
hundredth annivesrary of the inauguration of George Washington
as first president of the United States. After appropriate and
impressive religious services, Rev. Edmund Rowland, D.D.,
Rector of St. John's, Rev. W. R. Micou, rector of Trinity, and
Rev. F. T. Russell, D.D., Rector of St. Margaret's School, offici-
ating, brief but comprehensive addresses were made by the pastors
of the Protestant churches of the City, and by several citizens.
The church was filled to its utmost capacity by an attentive and
intensely interested audience.

The following is the order of exercises.

Hymn 397 — My Hope and My Fortress, My Castle.
Special Devotional Service.
Hymn 301.

Remarks by the Rector, . . . The Rev. Dr. Edmund Rowland.
Address— The Epoch of 1789, . . The Hon. F. J. Kingsbury.

Address — Washington as a Statesman, . . The Hon. S. W. Kellogg.

Hymn 326.

Address — Washington in his Domestic Life,, The Rev. J. G. Davenport.
Address — Washington as a Soldier, . . . The Rev. W. P. Elsdon.
Address — Washington's Religious Character, . The Rev. A. C. Eggleston.
Hynm 307.

Address — Washington as a Mason . . . Nathan Dikeman, Esq.
Address — Washington as a Churchman, . . The Rev. F. T. Russell.
Address — Washington as a Chief Magistrate, . The Rev. R. W. Micou.

Hymn 309.

Concluding Prayers and Benediction, . . Rector of St. John's.

N. J. Welton, Parish Clerk.

• 1889, May 3 — Resolutions in memoiy of Scovill M. Bucking-
ham, 32 years senior warden.

May 13 — Agreement with Mrs. Eunice T. Booth concerning
passway.

May 4 — Charles F. Mitchell elected clerk.

Church Home Fund purchase Mrs. Buel's lot.
May 13 — N. J. Welton elected senior warden, vice S. M. Buck-
ingham, deceased. E. D. Welton elected vestryman.

105

HISTORY OF ST, JOHN'S CHURCH.

May 13 — Agreement as to passways with Mrs. Eunice T. Booth.

1890, April 7 — Voted to rescind all license to erect horse sheds.
Parish House authorized.

1891, July 11 — Dr. Rowland reports having agreed with Rev.
J. H. McCrackan to act as assistant.

1894, July 11 — Treasurer authorized to receive legacy of $5000
from Charles Scott. (Mr. Scott was a son of Daniel Scott, a
member of St. John's, and spent his early life here. His business
life was mostly in Boston, but he had lived for some years in
Washington, D. C, where he died.)

1894, March 26 — Installing of chancel organ reported. Cost
$4274.20. Candelabra presented by H. H. Peck.

1895, April 15 — F. J. Kingsbury elected Junior Warden.
1897, April 10— Vote to sell Willow Street land. Act of Legis-
lature authorizing "same.

1897, April 19 — Vestry authorized to convey Church property
at Waterville to St. Paul's Parish. Report of sale under vote
of General Assembly of one and one-quarter acres to Geo. H.
Clowes and five and one-half acres to Frederick B. Rice of Glebe
land (being the land given by John Judd, April 19, 1745). Con-
vention held here. Rev. March C. Mayo's engagements Easter
1897-98-99.

1900, April 16 — J. S. Elton and F. J. Kingsbury having offered
to erect a reredos and decorate the Chancel, voted to accept the
same if $4000. can be raised to do other necessary repairs.

1900, April 16 — Mr. Mayo employed another year. Permis-
sion given N. J. Welton to place a memorial window to George
L. Welton under the south gallery, he being at the time of his
death a vestryman.

June 14 — Rev, John Franklin Carter invited to the assistant
rectorship, but declined.

July 31 — H. H. Peck having offered to repair and connect the
two organs electrically, voted to accept the offer provided $7500
can be raised to do other necessary work. [The necessary
amount was raised and the work done, including reredos and
chancel mentioned above.]

106

EXTRACTS FROM THE CHURCH RECORDS.

July 31 — Rev. John N. Lewis, Jr., invited as assistant rector;
salary $2000.

August 21 — Accepted.

December 7 — At the suggestion of assistant — Voted that the
clergy and senior warden be authorized to keep the church open
daily during such hours as they may think best.

1901, January 18 — Committee on envelope system reported
favorably.

1901, April 8 — Resignation of Dr. Rowland accepted and he
is elected rector emeritus. Rev. John N. Lewis elected rector.

1902, Jan. 25 — Rev. Taliaferro D. Caskey hired for three
months.

1902, March 3 — $2500 appropriated for music.

May 6 — Authorized rector to secure Rev. Morton A. Barnes as
assistant.

May 12 — J. S. Elton authorized to convey land in Brooklyn
district to City of Waterbury. 60 x 150 feet.

1903, January 18 — Changes ordered in chancel to accommodate
boy choir.

1903, April 13 — Parish Agent authorized to convey St. Paul's,
Waterville, to that parish.

Voted that the Vestry shall be sixteen [Treasurer and parish
clerk to be ex-officio members] and that five shall be a quorum if
a warden is present, otherwise a majority. Rector's salary made
$3000 and rectory.

1905, Feb. 8 — Rev. Mr. Barnes resigns.

July — Rev. Mr. Miller appointed.

1906, Jan. — Rev. Mr. Miller resigns.

March 10,— Voted to pay Rev. Mr. Bennett $140 per
month for services during Easter.

April 4 — $50 presented to Mr. Dallas for assistance.

VESTRY RECORDS.

1849, Jan. 27 — Vote to furnish house for Dr. Clark. Miimte
of cost of church land and fixtures, $35,060.43.

107

HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH.

1850; March I — Consent to chapel at Waterville. Rector to
employ assistant; employed Rev. G. W. Home. Dec. 9. Home
resigns.

1851. — Rev. E. Jessup appointed.

1853 — Rev. C. G. Acly assistant at Waterville.

1854, Aug. 8 — Dr. Clark resigns, but vestry offers a vacation.

1856, Feb. 15 — Mr. Acly resigns, to tak'e effect at Easter.

1858, March 19— Thos. G. Carver elected assistant. Mr. Willey
appears to have been employed by a committee and first appears
in a notice in the record Apr., 1859.

1861, Dec. 14 — Mr. Willey's resignation accepted.

1868, Jan. 4 — Rev. A. F. Steele resigns — no notice of his ap-
pointment. Dec. 24. Church burned. At a meeting of Wardens
and Vestry, voted thanks to First and Second Congregational,
Methodist and Baptist Churches for sympathy and kind offers of
their churches for holding Christmas and other services. Dec. 30.
Meeting held in lecture room of Methodist Church.

1872, Jan. 9^— Meneely bells received. Dec. 29. Driggs re-
signs organ after 24 years.

1873 — Front seats in gallery rented. [The seats on the main
fioor were all sold and more needed.]

1875, July 25 — Voted not to interpose any obstacles in case
Mr. Russell sees fit to accept the principalship of St. Margaret's
School.

• Easter Monday, April 22, 1878, the following communication
from the rector was read:

To the Parishioners of St. John's Parish in Annual Meeting Assembled:

Gentlemen: — I transmit herewith ray annual abstract of the various
charitable accounts which are kept under my hand, and also the approximate
inventory of the moneys and property held by me and by the parish, in trust
for the St. John's Church Home and Charity Foundation.

During the year, acting on my best judgment, and with the advice and
concurrence of the Trustees named in the 27th clause of the will of the late
lamented Mr. S. W. Hall and of the Wardens and Vestrymen of St. John's
Parish, and with the approbation of the Bishop of the Diocese, I have selected,
purchased and conveyed to the parish, in trust, a very eligible site on South
Leonard Street (west side) for the future buildings of the Home and Charity
Foundation of the congregations belonging to this parish.

108

EXTRACTS FROM THE CHURCH RECORDS.

As will appear from the appendix to the enclosed inventory, I have in sub-
scriptions conditional and otherwise (besides the subscription of the residuary
legatees of Mr. Hall, based upon the 27th clause of his will, which subscription
will be presented and read to the meeting by the Executors of that will) a con-
siderable amount given especially for the erection on the above mentioned
lots of a suitable chapel, as the first in a series of future erections to include
besides the Home proper with its chapel for the accommodation of both sexes,
also in time, an orphanage for both sexes, and a creche or day-nursery, with the
attendant church schools and a general church hospital. Besides the ground,
(which we have) this will eventually involve, in the cost of the buildings and
in funds invested for its support, not less than $100,000 — which I hope and
beheve will be realized, though we may not see the day.

The amount of property already in the trust of the oarish; the invested
funds now in hand; the subscriptions for the chapel lying on call; the condi-
tional subscriptions on Mr. Hall's legacy; and at least two considerable legacies
still future, of which the Rector has been notified, and which are Uable at any
time to fall in; constitute together a charge so important, that I recommend
and request the appointment by the parish at the present annual meeting, of
a committeee of two or three to carry forward in conjunction with the Rector,
the necessary subscriptions and the general management of the whole trust.
Respectfully and faithfully yours,

J. F. Bingham, Rector.
Easter Monday, A. D., 1878.

Voted — That F. J. Kingsbury, Jas. S. Elton and John C.
Booth be appointed a committee to take into consideration the
propriety of the parish accepting a deed of certain property in
trust as conveyed by the Rev. J. F. Bingham, D. D., by deed dated
Dec. 18, 1877, and report to the parish some proper action in the
premises. Also that said committee advise with the rector as to
the propriety and necessity of spending any considerable amount
of money in buildings as indicated by the rector's report to the
Parish.

The following preamble and resolutions were presented and
adopted :

Whereas, the late Samuel W. Hall, by his last will made several bequests
to this parish.

Be it Resolved — That the clerk of this parish be directed to enter at length
upon the records of the parish the several clauses of the will relating to said
bequests.

Resolved — That the funds bequeathed be known aa "The Hall Repair
Fund," "The Hall Library Fund," and "The Hall Fund for the beuefit and

109

HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH.

relief of the poor of the parish,' ' and that a separate account be kept with
each of said funds, so to be known and designated.

Resolved — That for the proper management and safe keeping of said funds,
a Board of managers shall be appointed; to consist of the senior warden, the
treasurer and the agent of the parish and two other persons, to be appointed
at the annual parish meeting, and to hold office until their successors are
appointed; who shall have the care and management of said funds and may
authorize one or more of their number to draw orders on the treasurer for all
or any portion of the principal or interest of said funds, under such regulations
as they may prescribe, except where otherwise provided in said will.

And said board may deposit any portion of said funds in any incorporated
bank in the town of Waterbury, or in any savings bank in this State, or may
loan the same on unincumbered real estate of double the value of said loan,
or may invest the same in bonds of the United States, or any of the New
England States or of the State of New York, or of any incorporated city or
town in this State.

All moneys not loaned shall be in the care and custody of the treasurer,
who shall give a bond to the acceptance of the board of managers in the sum
of ten thousand dollars.

Resolved — ^That all mortgages be taken in the name of the parish, and that
the treasurer of the parish be and is hereby authorized to execute in the name
and under the seal of the parish, releases of any such mortgages, when paid
in full.

Resolved — ^That said board shall keep a record of their doings and shall
report the condition and accounts of the funds annually to the annual parish
meeting.

In accordance with the precedings resolutions, F. J. Kingsbury
and Jas. S. Elton were chosen members of the Board of Manage-
ment.

110

CHAPTER IX.

REAL ESTATE.

THE first deed of land for the church was the church lot,
dated April 20, 1743. John Judd gives the deed but John
Richardson seems to have had some interest as he signs
the deed with Judd. This lot, at the northeast corner of West
Main and North Willow Streets, now included in property be-
longing to Mrs. Charles M. Mitchell, was subsequently enlarged
by a release of the land within five feet of the church building on
the north and east, made by Joseph Hopkins, then owner. Novem-
ber 23, 1797, a committee was appointed to sell the property to
Jesse Hopkins, son of Joseph, and the church's interest in this
tract was closed. The deeds showing these transactions are
given — A. Al. A. 2.

[A]
To all people to whom these presents shall Conie, Greeting; Know ye that I,
John Judd of Waterbury in the County of New Haven and Colony of Connecti-
cut in New England for the consideration of twelve pound in Money in hand
Received and to Accomodate the eeting up of A Church in said Waterbury
Have given and Sold Granted Aliened and Confirmed unto James Brown,
Richard Welton, Benjamin Warner, Moses Bronson, John Barns, Richard Wel-
ton Jur., Robert Johnson, Jonathan Prindle, Nathaniel Gunn, Joseph Bronson,
and George Nichols, and to others of the Denomination of the Church of Eng-
land or professors thereof and to their successors in Waterbury A piece of land
to be taken of the Southwest Corner of my Home Lott where they are now
Raising A Church and to begin att the Southwest corner of my Lott and to
run northward in the line twenty eight foot then to run Eastwardly fifty foot
then southwardly thirty nine foot then Westwardly forty five foot to the first
Corner and buts Ea?t and North on my own Land and South and West on
the Highway. Which piece of Land so taken of and bounded which encom-
passes the House and A piece of six foot wide the wedth of the House at the
East End I hereby make it over to the above sd Grantees and their successors
and others of the professors of the Church of England in sd Waterbury forever.
To Have and to Hold the above given and granted Land with the appurtenances
thereof unto them the said grantees and their successors forever to them ftnd

111

HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH.

their own proper use and behoof and I the sd John Judd do hereby assure them
that I have full power to despose of the same as herein I have done and tliat it
is free of all incumbrances whatsoever and John Richason doth hereby
freely fully and absolutely resign all his right and title in the Above demised
premises to the above sd grantees and their successors as above and we the
said John Judd and John Richason of Waterbury in said County do hereby
Engage to warrant and defend the above sd grantees and their successors in
the Quiet possession of the premises Against All Claims whatsoever in confirraa-
tion whereof we have hereunto set our hands and seals this 20' day of April
A. D. 1743.

Signed Sealed and Delivered in presence of

John Southmayd. Benjamin Harrison.

John Judd [l. s.] John Richason [l. s.]

Waterbury in Connecticut April 20th 1743 then personally appeared
Ensign John Judd and John Richason that signed and sealed the Above
written Deed and acknowledged the Signing and Sealing there of to

be their free Act and Deed.

Coram John Southmayd,

Justice of peace.
Received and Entered April 20th, 1743
A true record of the Original Deed.
Test: John Southmayd,

Recorder.

[Al]
To all people to whom these presents shall Come, Greeting: Know ye that I
Joseph Hopkins of Waterbury In New Haven Comity in ye Connecticut In
New England upon condition and in Consideration of that the people belonging
to the Church of England In said Waterbury Make and maintain one half of
the fence that is necessary to Devide the Land belonging to said Church of
England from my house lot have Remised Released and Quit claimed unto
mesrs John Welton Abraham Hickox & David Warner as they are Comnaittee
for the said Church of England and by these presents Do for myself my Heirs
Executors & Administrators so long aa the condition is fulfilled by the said
Church of England Remise Release and Quit Claim all my Right Title and
Interest in the land Ijring North and East of the meeting house or Church
belonging to said people In Waterbury aforesaid that is to say all the Lands
within five feet of said house unto the said Welton Hickox and Warner to be
by them and their successors In qualUty of Committee quietly possessed and
enjoyed forever without any Demand from me or my successors or by any
person by my means or procurment but I and they shall be forever Debarred
and Excluded therefrom by virtue of these Presents In Witness whereof I hiive
hereunto set my hand and seal this sixth Day of March in the 4th year of the

112

REAL ESTATE

Reign of our Sovereign Lord George the 3d of Great Britain &c. King A. D.
1764.

Signed Sealed & Delivered Joseph Hopkihns [l. s.]

In presence of New Haven County SS Waterbury the Day

Thomas Clark Esther Clark and Date above written

personally appeared Joseph Hopkins
ye signer of the forgoing instrument
and acknowledged ye same to be his
free act & deed before me

Thomas Clark,
Justice of peace.
Entered In Waterbury Decemr 9, 1764

A true record of ye Original Deed
Test: Thomas Clark, Recorder.

March 6th, 1797. — At an adjourned Meeting of the first Episcopal Society
in Waterbury Messrs. Richard Walton, Elijah Richards, Seba Bronson & John
Cossett was appointed a Committee to sell the old Church and the ground on
which said church stands, Certified and signed ----- -

James Scovil, Societys Clerk.
[A 2]

To all people to whom presents shall come, Greeting: — Know Ye that we the
aforesaid Committee in consequence of our appointment and in behalf of sd
Society John Cossett Seba Bronson Elijah Richards & Richard Welton all of
Waterbury in New Haven County & State of Connecticut for the consideration
of Two Hundred and fifty Dollars in hand received to our full satisfaction of
Jesse Hopkins of Waterbury aforesaid Do give grant bargain sell and confirm
imto the said Grantee a certain piece of land in the first society in sd Water-
bury situate at the southwest Corner of Esqr. Hopkins house lot containing
about sixteen Hundred feet be it more or less the description of said land may
be seen in Waterbury records book 5th page 452 reference thereunto being
had said land was deeded by Messrs. John Judd and John Richardson to the
Church of England so called for the purpose of building a Church house. To
have and to hold the above described land with the old Churoh standinc; thereon
and all other privileges thereuto belonging to him the said Grantee his heirs and
Assigns forever unto his and their own proper use and behoof. And also We
the Grantors do for ourselves and our successors in said capacity covenant
with the said Grantee his heirs and assigns that and until the ensealing these
presents we are well seized of the premises as a good indefeasable estate in
fee simple and have good right to bargain and sell the same in manner and
form as is above written and that the same is free of all incumbrance Whatso-
ever and furthermore We the said Grantors do by these presents bind our
selves and our successors in sd Capacity to warrant and defend the above
granted and bargained premises to him the said grantee his heirs and assigns

113

HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH.

against all claims and demands whatsoever. In Witness whereof We have

hereounto set our hands and seals the 23rd Day of November, A. D., 1797,

signed sealed and deUvered in presence of

Noah Baldwin \ New Haven Covmty ss. Wa- ( John Cossett [seal].

John Kingsbury j terbury on the 23ra Day of ( Seba Bronson [seal].
November, A. D., 1797,per- f Richard Welton [seal
sonally appeared Messrs. John \ Elijah Richards[seal].-
Cossett Seba Bronson & Rich-
ard Welton, signers and sealers
of the within written Instru-
ment and acknowledged the
same to be their free act and
deed, before me.

Rec'd to record Nov'r, 25th, 1797.

A true record Test

John Kingsbury, Reg'r John Kingsbury, Just. Peace.

New Haven County ss. Waterbury on the 24th Day of Nov'r A. D., 1797,

personally appeared Mr. EUjah Richards signer & sealer of the within written

instrument and acknowledged the same to be his free act and Deed before

John Kingsbury Jttst. Peace.
From Waterbury Land Records, Volume 25, page 492.

The second piece was given by Oliver Welton when yet a
minor, with approval of his guardian, John Southmayd, deed
dated February 11, 1744-5.

To all people to whom these presents shall come, greeting:
Know ye that I Oliver Welton with consent of my Guardian John Southmayd
both of Waterbury In the County of New Haven and Colony of Connecticut
In New England for the consideration of Sixty five pound money of the old
Teanour to Mee Secured to be paid by Doctor Benjamin Worner Jonathan
Prindle James Brown Nathaniel Gunn Joseph Bronson and Ebenezer Worner
all of Said Waterbury And professors of the Church of England Have Given
Granted bargained sold Aliened and made Over unto them and their Succes-
sors of the Church of England In Said Waterbury as A Gleeb for the use of
the Church forEver two Acres of Land in sd Waterbury and was Originally
John Welton Snr. House Lott and Is bounded to the East on Edmund
Scotts House Lott to the West on the sd Southmayds House Lott. North
and South on Highways which piece of land be It more or less than two Acres
as It lies buted and bounded I hereby maKe It over unto the Sd Grantees
and their Successors to ly for the Above Said use as A Gleeb for Ever. To
Have and to Hold the Above Given and Granted premises with all the privil-
lidges Appurtenances and Commodities thereon or there unto belonging
as Glebe Land for the use and behoof of Sd Church for Ever. And I the Sd

114

REAL ESTATE.

Oliver Welton with the Consent of my SD Gaurdian do promise and Engage
to and with the Sd Grantees and their Successors that I am the Lawful owner
Of the Above Granted premises and that the Same Is free from Any Other
Incumberances Whatso Ever. Hereby Assuring them that they may use
and Improve the Same In manner and form of Glebe Lands with out Any
Let or molestation from me or my Heirs or Successors or Any Other person
what so Ever. And furthermore I the Sd OUver Welton with the Consent of
my Gaurdian do Warrant the Same to the use Above Sd. Against All Claim-
ers What so Ever, and we do Also promise to do What may be further
Neccessary to be done for the sure making of the premises to the use above
Sd Namely for Aglebe to ly for the use of Sd Church for Ever. In consider-
ation hereof We Set our hands and Seals Feb. 11th 1744-5
Signed Sealed and Delivered In presence of

Sam'll. Hickcox. Oliver Welton [seal]

Thomas Barns. Jno. Southmayd Gaurdian [seal]

Waterbury February 11th Day A. D. 1744.5 then personally Appeared

the Signers and Sealers of the Foregoing Deed or writing and Acknowledged

the Same to be their free Act and Deed, before me

Sam'll. Hickcox

Justice of peace.

Received And Entered February 11th 1744-5.
A true Record of the Original Deed.

Attest: John Southmayd Recorder.
Volume 5 Page 549.

Tliis deed lie confirmed after coming of age, December 17,
1745.

To All people to whom these presents Shall Come Greeting Know ye that
I Ohver Welton of Waterbury In New Haven County In Connecticut haveing
formerly Given a Deed With the Consent of my Gaurdian John Southmayd of
Sd Waterbury of two Acres of Land In Sd Waterbury to Several persons in
Sd Waterbury for a Glebe aa Appears by A Deed Lawfully Exicuted and on
Record In Waterbury Records fifth Book page 549 which Deed being thought
Insufficient because at the Exiuting of Sd Deed I was not of Lawful Age.
Now being of Lawful Age and for the more Sure Making of the premises unto
the Grantees therein Named and for the Consideration there in Mentioned
do Give, Grant bargain Sel and Confirm unto them the Said Banjamin Worner
Jonathan Prindle James Brown Nathaniel Gunn Joseph Bronson and Ebenezer
Worner all of Sd Waterbury And professors of the Church oi England In
Sd Waterbury And to their Scucessors for the use of the Said Church for Ever
two Acres of Land In Sd Waterbury which was Originally John Welton Ser.s
House Lott and Is bounded to the East on Edmund Scotts House Lott to
the West on Jolm Southmayds House Lott North and South on Highways
which two Acres Above described be it a little more or less than two Acres

115

HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH.

as It lies buted and bounded I here by Make It over unto the Above Sd
Grantees and their Successors to ly for the Above Sd use as A glebe for Ever.
To Have and to Hold the Above Given and Granted premises with All the
priviUdges Appurtenances and Commodities there on Or there unto belonging
as Glebe Land to the use and behoof of Sd Church for Ever. And I the Sd
OUver Welton do Now promise to And With the Said Grantees and their
Successors As Above that I am the Lawful owner of the Above Granted
premises and that the Same is free of any Other Incumberance Whatso Ever
Hereby Assureing them that they may now use And Improve the same In
Manner and form as Above Sd without Any Let or molestation from me or
my Heirs or Any Other person Whatso Ever and Fm-thermore I the Sd Oliver
Welton do now further warrant the Same to the Said Grantees to the use
Above Sd. Against All Claimers What so Ever and It must be understood
that what I have now Done is only A Further Ratification and Confirmation
of my Former Deed and to Make tliis binding to my Self and Heirs and Suc-
cessors for the Sure Holding of the premises I have here unto Set my hand
and Seal this 15th Day of December Anno Dom. 1745.

Oliver Welton, [seal.}

Signed Sealed and Delivered in ) Connecticut ss. Waterbury In N. Haven

presence of ) County on the Day and Date Above then

Jno. Southmayd. ) personally Appeared OUver Welton that

Thomas Welton. ) Signed and Sealed the Above Written

) Deed and Acknowledged the Same to be
Received and Entered December ) his free act and Deed Coram.
15th, 1745. ) John Southmayp

A true Record of the Original ) Justice of Peace.

Deed. Test. Jno. Southmayd

Recorder.
Volume 6 Page 60.

This land was about where the house of the late Franklin L,
Curtiss stands and probably a part of Mrs. Partree's lot, was
eight rods front on West Main Street and ran through to Grand
Street and was estimated at about two acres. March 25, 1747,
this land was conveyed by the committee to whom it had been
deeded (together with three other pieces) to the Society for the
Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts. At first I was
puzzled by this trust to the S. P. G., but I find that Blackstone
says, Vol. II, p. 337, after having spoken of various modifications
of the law of trusts, and of the Statute of uses: "The trustee
is considered as merely the instrument of conveyance and can
in no shape affect the estate unless by aUenation for a valuable

116

REAL ESTATE.

consideration to a purchaser without notice, which, as the cestui
que use is generally in possession of the land is a thing that can
rarely happen" So that it would seem that the English law
would pass even the legal title to the rector so soon as he was
instituted, and by a statute passed in 1784 this particular sort
of trust seems to have been fully provided for so that there
seems no question as to the rights of the Society to convey.

This piece with a tract of some six acres subsequently ac-
quired, was leased by a Committee of St. John's Parish, April 19,
1804, for 990 years to Justus Warner.

This is the Statue of 1784.

ESTATES GIVEN FOR THE SUPPOBT OF MINISTBY, HOW TO BE
IMPROVED.

Therefore, Be it further enacted by the Authority aforesaid, That where
there are any Lands, Monies, or other estates granted, given or sequestered,
according to ancient Custom, Usage or Practice, or shall hereafter be given,
granted or sequestered for the Use and Support of such ministry in any Town
or Society in this State, then and in every such Case, the^Selectmen for the
Time being, of such Town where there is but one Ecclesiastical Society; and the
Committees for the Time being, of such Ecclesiastical Societies; as have been, or
ehall be Constituted by this Assembly: or a Committee appointed by such
Town or Society, (which Committee they are hereby respectively impowered to
that End to appoint) shall have Full Power and Authority to demand, recover,
receive, take care of, and Improve all such Lands, Monies, or other Estates, to,
and for the Use and Support of such Ministry settled in such Town or Society,
which they respectively represent according to the true Meaning, Intent
and Design in such Grants, donations, or Sequestrations contained; and for
their improvement thereof, and of the Increase, Profits and Interests thereof
to be accountable from Time to Time in such Town or Society as they respect-
ively represent.

The third piece is of seventeen and one-half acres in the Park,
from Jonathan and Daniel Scott, March 6, 1744-5. This was
deeded with the others to the S. P. G. and still remains in pos-
session of the Parish.

To <M Christian people to whom these presents shall Come, Greeting:

Know ye that We Benjamin Warner, James Brown Nathaniel Gunn Jona-
than Prindle Joseph Brounson and Ebenezer Warner all of Waterbury In the
County of New Haven and Colony of Connecticut In New England for and In

117

HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH.

Consideration of the sum of Seven Hundred pound old tenour money of the
Colony of Coimecticut well and truly paid by Richard Welton and Svmdry
Other persons who are professors of the Church of England the Recopt where
of We do hereby Acknewledge and are there with fully Satisfied and Con-
tented Have and do by these presents with the advice and Concurrence of the
Rest of our Neighbours Here in Concerned all professors of the Church of Eng-
land do hereby Give and Grant the following peices and Parcels of Land here
After Expressed Intending the Same for the first Glebe Lands to Endow A
Certain Parrish Church In the Town ship of sd Waterbury Erecting and Carry-
ing on for the better AccorapUshing the Endeavours Afore sd In great reverence
and Regard to the Church of England as Established by Law and her Excellent
Doctrine Service Unity and Order preferable to Any Other upon Earth for the
Honour of God the Surest peace and Comfort of our selves, Neighbours and
Posterity, Have founded the parrish Church Aforesaid for the use Aforesaid, and
for the Endowment there of do by these presents freely Give Grant Convey
and Confirm unto the Society for Propagating the Gospel In Foreign parts
the following peices and Parcels of Land and buildings all lying in Said Water-
bury that is to say, Two Acres of Land In said Waterbury with A house and
fruit trees upon it bounded North and South on Highways West on John
Southmayds House Lott and East on Edmund Scott deceased His House Lott,
and Six Acres and three Quarters North of the Town bounded South on Eben-
ezer Brounsons Land North on John Southmayd Land west on the Highway
by the Common Fence East on Jno Judds Land also Nine acres and fifty Eight
Rods of Land on the West Side of the River a record of which peice of Land
may be seen In Waterbury Records 3d book page 326 Also seven teen Acres
and half of Land In Said Waterbury on the West Side of the River Laid out
February 15th, 1721, and Entred In Waterbury Records First Book page 361,
where the Land is fully Described which severall peices of Land with the
House and All other Appurtenances thereunto belonging we the Above
Grantors do hereby make It over to Said Society and their successors for Ever
but In trust and for the Special Intrest and purpose hereafter mentioned, to
Bay as soon as there Shall be A Rector according to the order of the Church
of England by Law EstabUshed Instituted and Inducted the premises shall
be and Enure to the use of Such Rector In Cumbent and his Successors as
the Glebe Lands of the Said Church In Fee Simple for Ever In Confirmatcion
of the Within given and granted premises we the within grantors have hereunto
Set our hands and Seals the twenty fifth day of March In the 20th year
of the Reign of our Soveraign Lord George the Second of great brittain &c.
King Anno Domini 1747.

James Brown [seal] Nathall Gunn [seal]

Joseph Brounson [seal] Jonathan Prindle [seal]
Ebenezer Warner [seal]

Signed Sealed and Delivered In prence

of Jno Southmayd MeUcent Southmayd

118

REAL ESTATE.

Received and EntredAprill 18 1747 Connecticut ss. Waterby In N Haven
A true Record of the Original deed County on the day and date Above then
Test: Jno Southmayd Recorder. personally appeared Measures James

Brown Nathll Gunn Joseph Brounson
and Jonathan Prindle and on the 18th
day of Aprill 1747 then Appeared Mr.
Ebenezer Warner the Above Signers
and Sealers and Acknowledged the
Same to be their free Act and deed
Coram Jno Southmayd Justice of peace.
from Waterbury Land Records Volume 6, page 195.

The fourth and fifth pieces are six and three-quarters acres
on the east side of North Willow Street and nine acres, fifty-
eight rods lying west of the old town plot lots; the first being
given by John Judd and the second by Thomas Barns, but both
in the same deed, dated April 19, 1745.

JOHN JUDD AND THOMAS BARNS DEED.

Vol. 6 p 4, Apr 19, 1745. John Judd and Thomas Barns, in consideration
of £21 to Judd & £28 to Barns Old tenor to Benjamin Warner, Joseph Bronson
and Jonathan Prindle and to their successors professors of the Church of
England in said Waterbury aa a glebe for use the of sd church in said place
for ever, two pieces of land in said Waterbury in the following manner, John
Judd 6 acres & 3 qrs. lying north of the town by the highway that goes by the
Common fence and lies above Ebenezer Bronsons and to be taken off the north
end so as to make 6| acres and bounded South on Mr. Ebenezer Bronsons
land, west on highway, North on Mr. John Southmayds land and East on
my own land and by Thomas Barns 9 a tfe 58 rods W of the river.

Both these parcels were included in the deed to the S. P. G.

The nine acres and fifty-eight rods was leased by a committee
of the Society to Reuben Adams for nine hundred and ninety
years, April 19, 1784.

This Indenture or lease made & executed by and between Richard Welton
John Clark and Obadiah Warner Committee of the first Episcopal Society in
the town of Waterbury in New Haven County for and in behalf of sd Society
of the one part and Reuben Addams of said Waterbury of the other part Wit-
nesseth That the said Richard Welton John Clark and Obadiah Warner in
capacity of Committee as aforesaid do for the consideration of Two hundred
Dollars reed to their full satisfaction of the sd Reuben Addams lease out and
to farm let imto the said Reuben Addams and unto his heirs for the term of
Nine Hundred and ninety Years from the date hereof one certaiu piece of land
situate in said Waterbury first Society a Uttle Eastward from George Prichards

119

HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH.

dwelling house containing Nine acres be it more or less Butted northwardly
and westwardly on highway southwardly on Timothy Clark in part and partly
on David Clarks land and Eaatwardly on David Clarks land in part and a
small distance on David Prichards land. To have & to hold the above letten
and leased premises with all the priviledges and appurtenances belonging to
said leased premises for and during sd term of nine hundred and ninety years ;
the sd Lessee taking to himself all the Cropps profits and Emoluments
arising from the sd Letten premises during sd term having hereby granted
him by sd Lessors full power and authority to use occupy possess and enjoy
sd Letten premises and also to improve the same as he shall see fit without any
molestation hinderance or impediment from sd Lessors or from sd Episcopal
Society during sd term. In Witness where of We have hereunto set our
hand and affixed our seals this 19th day of April A. D. 1784.
In presence of Richard Welton [seal]

Eli Clark 1 John Clark [seal]

John Kingsbury / Obadiah Warner [seal]

New Haven County ss. Waterbury April 19th 1804 personally appeared
Messrs. Richard Welton John Clark & Obadiah Warner signers and sealers of
the foregoing Instrument and acknowledged the same to be their free act &
deed before me.

John Kingsbury, Jtist Peace.
Reed. April 19th 1804
A true record attest
John Kingsbury, Regr.
from Waterbury Land Records Volume 28, page 450.

The six and three-quarters acres were sold by permission of the
Legislature under a vote of the parish in 1897 to Frederick B.
Rice and George H. Clowes.

Rev. Seth Hart while rector purchased about six acres of
land extending from the east line of Church Street or thereabouts
to the east line of the old rectory lot (Oliver Welton's). When
Mr. Hart left, this tract was purchased by Justus Warner and
Levi Beardsley.

May 18, 1795, Justus Warner and Levi Beardsley convey to
seventy-four persons this land. These persons were probably
members of a so-called Episcopal Company, which seems to have
been a voluntary organization having a constitution and by-laws,
as appears from their deed which is given the same day (May 18,
1795), to the wardens and principal members of the church and
Episcopal Society, of this same propeity, reserving to themselves
the use or interest.

120

REAL ESfATE,

Nothing more appears on the records in regard to this Episco-
pal Company, but I imagine that it was an association formed
for the purpose of taking Mr. Hart's property for the benefit of
the parish, but in some way dividing the expense among the
members of the parish and keeping control of the income until
the matter was settled.

To all People to whom these Presents Shall come, Greeting: — Know Ye
that We Justus Warner and Levi Beardsley of Waterbuiy in the County of
New Haven and State of Connecticut for the consideration of Two Hundred
and Seventy Pounds lawful Money received to our full satisfaction of Messrs.
Joiin Welton Ard Welton Titus Welton Hezekiah Weltou Benjamin Welton
Ephraiin Warner Justus Warner Richard Welton Richard F. Welton Mark
Warner EliakimWelton Jun. Josiah Warner Lemuel Welton Ard Warner
Richard Welton Junr. Eben Welton Eliakim Welton 3rd John Worthington
Obadiah Warner David Warner Junr. Thomas Wiard Benjamin Benham
Isaac Benham Levi Beardsley Joseph Bronson Obed Bartholomew Gad
Bartholomew Shadrach Benham Salmon Brown Elias Brown Noah Brown
Benjamin Benham Junr. Widow Mary Bronson John Nichols Simeon Nichols
James Nichols Samme Nichols Eleazer Tompkins Hezekiah Todd Joseph
Terrill Philip Tompkins Bethuel Todd Preserv'd Porter Reuben Prichard
Amos Prichard Jun David Porter Ezra Pierpont Benjamin Prichard
Timothy Porter John Cosset John Clark James Scovill Zebulon Scott Simeon
Scott Justus Scott Joel Hickcox Jesse Hickcox Jonathan Hughes Abraham
Heacox Caleb Munson Nathaniel Merrills Samuel Frost EUjah F Merrills
Edmund Austin Cornelius Johnson Junr. Herman Munson William Adams
& Nathaniel Selkrig all of the Town County and State aforesaid — Do give
Grant Bargain Sell and confirm unto the above said Grantees and unto their
Heirs & Assigns forever a certain piece or parcel of land lying a little South-
westward from the meeting house in said Waterbury being lately occupied
by the Revd. Seth Hart containing by estimation about six acres be the same
more or less butted and bounded as follows North and South on Highway.
West on the ancient Glebe so called and East on the land of Israel Holmes
together with a house and barn Standing thereon

To have and to hold the above granted and bargained premises with the
appurtenances thereof unto them the said Grantees their Heirs and assigns
forever to their own proper use and behoof and also We the said Grantors do
for ourselves and Heirs Executors and Administrators covenant with the
said Grantees and their heirs and assigns that at and untill the ensealing
these presents We are Well seized of the premises as a good indefeasable
Estate in fee simple and have good right to bargain and sell the same in
manner and form as is above written and that the same is free of all incum-
brances Whatsoever —

And furthermore We the said Grantors do by these presents bind ourselves

121

Rec'd to record

May 18th 1795
A true record Test
John Kingsbury Register

HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH,

and our heirs forever to warrant and defend the above Granted and bargained
premises to them the said Grantees and their heirs and assigns against all
claims and demands Whatsoever In Witness Whereof We have hereunto set
our hands and seals the 18th Day of May A.D. 1795 and of American Inde-
pendance the 19th Signed Sealed and dehvered
In presence of

Phineas Porter "1 Justus Warner [seal]

Nehemiah Hotchkiss J Levi Beardsley [seal]

New Haven County ss. Waterbury
the day and date above written personally ap-
peared Justus Warner and Levi Beardsley signers
Sealers of the foregoing Instrument and acknowl-
edged the Same to be their free act & Deed
before me

Phinehas Porter Juste. Peace

From Waterbury Land Records Volume 25 page 311.

To all people Nations and languages of whatsoever denomination or pro-
fession to whom these presents shall come, Greeting: — Be it Known unto you
that We the subscribing persons to these oresents signed by our hands and
sealed with our Seals. Do jointly as a protestant Episcopal Company and
Severally in our individual and Select capacity for the reverence and veneration
and the love and good will we bear to the Church and Episcopal Society in the
Town of Waterbury in New Haven County and State of Connecticut and their
posterity in the protestant Episcopal Une and various other valuable con-
siderations us thereunto moving — Do give grant bargain Sell and confirm unto
Ephraim Warner and Hermon Munson present Wardens for sd Church and
their Successors in office in Capacity of Wardens and to John Welton Preserv'd
Porter John Cosett Benjamin Benham Seba Johnson Isaac Benham Justus
Warner Eliakim Welton John Nichols Caleb Munson Richard Welton Ard
Welton who are principal Members of sd Society and all others of sd Society
and their heirs and successors in sd Society forever the following tract or
parcel of land (Viz) all that Messuage or tenement of land lying and being
in sd Waterberbury in the first Society a Ititle Southwest of the Meeting house
late the property and in the occupancy of the Revd. Seth Hart and is butted
and bounded as follows North and South on Highway West on the ancient
Glebe so called and East on the land of Israel Holmes together with a house
and barn Standing thereon containing by estimation about six acres be the
same more or less which land is given by us the Subscribers to be appropriated
as so much principal estimated at two Hundred and seventy pounds lawful
Money as a fimd for sd Society sd principal to continue as such forever The
use or Interest of which is subject to the controul of us the Subscribers agree-
able to a constitution of sd Company reference thereunto being had —

To have and to hold the above granted and bargained premises with the

122

REAL ESTATE.

appurtenances thereof unto them the sd Grantees conditioned as aforesaid
and to their successors and heirs as aforesaid forever to thtir proper use and
behoof And also We the Subscribers do for ourselves heirs Executors and
administrators covenant with the sd Grantees in their capacity as aforesaid
that at and untill the enseaUng these presents we are well seized of the prem-
ises as joint Tenants in common as a good estate in fee simple and have good
right to bargain and sell the same in manner and form as above written and
furthermore we the sd Grantors do by these presents bind our selves and
heirs forever to warrant and defend the above granted and bargained premises
to them the sd Grantees in manner and form aforesaid against all claims and
demands whatsoever in Witness Whereof we have hereunto Set our hands
and seals this 14th day of May A.D. 1795.
Signed Sealed and delivered in presence of

Phinehas Porter
Levi Bronson 2nd
Ebenezer Hoadley
John Welton
David Bronson

Nehemiah Hotchkiss
Edward Scovill
Polly Phelps
Joseph Berch

John Welton
Eliakim Welton
Jesse Hickcox
Caleb Munson
Hermon Munson
Eleazer Tompkins
Hezekiah Todd
Edmund Austin
Nathaniel Merrill
Elijah F. Merrill
Simeon Nichols
John Cossett
Noah Brown
John Clark
Epnm. Warner
Titus Welton
Eliakim Welton Junr.
Simeon Scott
Joel Hickox
Jonathan Hughs
Richard Welton Junr.
Obed Bartlomew
Justus Warner
Ben J. Benham Junr

[seal]

Levi Beardsley

[seal]

Ezra Pierpont

[seal]

Ard Welton

[seal]

Jno. Nichols

[seal]

Preserv'd Porter

[seal]

Salmon Brown

[seal]

[seal

Benj. Benham

[seal]

Shadrach Benham

[seal]

Reuben Prichard

[seal]

Elias Brown

[seal]

Joseph Terrill

[seal]

Timothy Porter

[seal]

Mark Warner

[seal]

Richard Welton

[seal]

James Nichols

[seal]

Benj. Prichard

[seal]

JosiAH Warner

[seal]

Abraham Hickox

[seal]

Bethuel Todd

[seal]

Eben Welton

[seal]

William Adams

[seal]

[sell]

Daniel Porter

[seal]

Nathaniel Selkriq

[seal]

Philip Tompkins

[seal]

123

HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH.

{New Haven County ss Waterbury the Day and date above written person-
ally appeared all those persons who have above and within set their
names and seals to the foregoing Instrument and acknowledged the same
to be their free act and deed before me.

Phinehas Porter Juste. Peace.

New Haven County ss. Waterbury Deer. 12th 1796 personally appeared
Messrs. Philip Tompkins CorneUus Johnson Jun & Samme Nichols signers
and sealers of the foregoing Instrument and acknowledged tlie same to be
their free act & deed before me Phinehas Porter Jtiste. Peace

New Haven County ss. Waterbury on the
25th Day of November A.D. 1796 person-
ally appeared Messrs. James Scovill Richard
F Welton Thomas Wiard and Joseph Bron-
son signers and sealers of the foregoing
Instrument and acknowledged the same
to be their free act and Deed before me
Phinehas Porter Juste. Peace

New Haven County ss Waterbury the 29th
Day of November 1796 personally appeared
Mr. Samuel Frost Mrs. Mary Bronson signers
and sealers of the foregoing Instrument and
acknowledged the same to be their free act
and deed before me

Phinehas Porter /ttaf Peace

James Scovill [seal]

Richard F. Welton [seal]
Cornelius Johnson Junr.

[seal]
Thomas Wiakd [seal]

Joseph Bronson [seal]

Samuel Frost [seal]

Mart Bronson [seal]

Benjamin Welton [seal]

Obadiah Warner [seal]

David Warner Jun. [seal]

Ard Warner [seal]

Zebulon Scott [seal]

Hezekiah Welton [seal]

Amos Prichard Junr.
Isaac Benham
John Worthinoton
Samme Nichols
Reed, to record April 6th 1797
A true Record of the Origi-
nal Deed Test
John Kingsbury Regr.

[seal]
[seal]
[seal]
[seal]

New Haven County ss Waterbury the 5th
Day of December 1796 personally appeared
Messrs Benjamin Welton Obadiah Warner
David Warner Junr. Ard Warner Zebulon
Scott Hezekiah Welton Amos Prichard Junr
Isaac Benham John Withington signers
and sealers of the above instrument and
acknowledged the same to be their free act
and deed before me

John Welton Justice of Peace
From Waterbury Land Records Volume 25 pages 390 ,1,2

This Indenture or lease made and executed by and between Richard
Welton John Clark and Obadiah Warner Committee of the first Episr-opal
Society in the town of Waterbury in New Haven County for and in behalf of
sd Society of the one part and Justus Warner of sd Waterbury of the other

124

REAL ESTATE.

part Witnesseth that the sd Richard Welton John Clark and Obadiah Warner
in capacity of Committee as aforesaid do for the consideration of Thirteen
Hundred Eighty-three Dollars and one-third received to their full satisfaction
of the said Justus Warner do lease out and to farm let unto the said Justus
Warner and unto his heirs and assigns for the terra of Nine Hundred and
ninety years from the date hereof one certain piece of land situate in sd Water-
bury near the Episcopal Church containing Eight acres and three quarters be
it more or less with the buildings thereon; Butted as follows (ViTi) Eastwardly
on the heirs of Israel Holmes in part* & a small part on highway, Northwardly
on highway in part & partly on Cyrus Clarks land & Abner Hitchcock's land,
Westward on the heirs of David Taylor & south wardly on highway.

To have and to hold the above letten and leased premises with all the
priviledges and appurtenances belonging to said leased premises for and during
sd term of nine Hundred & ninety years; the sd Lesse taking to himself all
the Cropps profits and emoluments arising from the sd letten premises during
6d term and the sd Lessors do hereby graut to him the said Lessee full power
and Authority to use occupy possess and enjoy sd letten premises and also
to improve the same as he shall see fit without any molestation hinderance
or impediments from sd Lessors or from sd Episcopal Society during sd term
In Witness Whereof We have hereunto set our hands and affixed our Peals
this 19th day of April A.D. 1804.

In presence of Richard Welton, [seal]

John Kingsbury 1 John Clark [seal]

William Hoadley J Obadiah Warner [seal]

Reed, to record f New Haven County ss Waterbury May 7th A. D. 1804

personally appeared Messrs. Richard Welton John

Clark & Obadiah Warner signers and sealers of the

foregoing Instrument and acknowledged the same

to be his free act and deed before me

John Kingsbury Justice of Peace
From Waterbury Land Records Volume 28 page 451

1804, April 19— Richard Welton, Jolin Clarlc and Obadiah
Warner, as a committee of the First Episcopal Society of the town
of Waterbury, lease to Justus Warner for nine hundred and ninety
years, all the land which the parish had received from the Episco-
pal Company, the boundaries being given somewhat differently
but the land being apparently the same, also the glebe land given
by Oliver Welton. (This lease expires in 2794.)

1846, June 8 — James M. L. Scovill and William H. Scoviil
deed to St. John's Parish "a piece of land lying in the town of
Waterbury."

* This is substantially the west line of Church street.

125

May 7th, 1804
A true record Attest
John Kingsbury
Register

HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH.

"We James M. L. Scovill and William H. Scovill of Waterbury in New
Haven Coimty and members of St. Johns Parish of S'd Waterbury in consid-
eration of love and affection which we have for said Parish and to the intent
that said Parish may be furnished with a Cite whereon to erect an Edifice for
the Worship of God, do remise, release and forever QUIT CLAIM unto the
said Releasees and their successors' ' a piece of land lying in the Town of Water-
bury a few rods Westerly of St. Johns church [this refers to the church when
standing on the west end of the green] described as follows (to wit) beginning
at the North East corner and running South 15° West five rods and 8 links
to the North East corner of Widow Nancy Clarks land; thence North 71° West
ten rods and Twenty one links; thence South 21° West nine Rods and 18 links
to said Nancys south west corner; thence North 78° West four rods 17 links to
Giles Ives's line; thence Northerly in said Ives's line One Hundred feet; thence
Bouth 78*» East three rods 17 links; thence Northerly to the highway line, forty
eight feet Westerly of the Wall of the Main Building of the church which said
Parish are now Building on said land; thence Easterly to the first Corner But-
ting northerly by highway and on Our land Easterly by highway and land of
said Nancy Clarke Southerly by land of said Nancy and Hiram J. White and
Westerly by land of Giles Ives and on our own land. [This includes the present
church site and the horse shed lot.] (Vol. 53, p. 122, June 8", 1846.)

1858, May 10— J. M. L. Scovill's administrator quit claims
to St. John Parish the rectory on Leavenworth Street. [J. M. L.
Scovill seems to have taken the title to this property in 1849,
to be held until the parish could pay for it, and after his death
the parish took the deed and assumed the debt. February 4,
1886, the parish conveyed the property to Mrs. Olive M. Elton,]

1883, December 20— Olive M. Elton and John C. Booth deeded
to the Parish the present rectory lot, north fifty feet on West Main
and a curved line ot twenty feet at the corner, west one hundred
and forty-six feet on Church Street, south sixty-two and one-half
feet on John M. Burrall's, eastward one hundred and fifty-five
feet on John Kendrick's.

126

CHAPTER X.

CHURCH OFFICERS, ST. JOHN's PARISH.
(first CALLED ST. JAMES'.)

Was Established as a Mission of the Ven. S. P. G. in 1737.

The first church edifice was built in

. 1743

The second (consecrated as St. John's) in

. 1797

The third (burned in 1868) in

. 1848

The fourth in .... .

. 1873

The Rectory .....

. 1885

The Parish House . . . .

. 1890

RECTORS.

Jonathan Arnold about 1737-1739

Theophilus Morris,

about 1739-1743

James Lyons,

about 1744-1746

Richard Mansfield, D.D.,

. 1749-1759

James Scovil (first resident Rector)

1759-1788

Solomon Blakeslee,

1789-1790

Chauncey Prindle,

1790-1790

David Foot,

1790-1791

Seth Hart,

1791-1793

Alexander V. Griswold, D.D.,

1795-1795

William Greene .

1796-1797

Tillotson Bronson, D.D.,

1797-1806

Virgil Horace Barber, .

1807-1814

Alpheus Geer,

1814-1830

William Barlow .

1830-1832

Allen C. Morgan,

1833-1836

Jacob L. Clark, D.D., .

1837-1877

Joel F. Bingham, D.D.,

1877-1880

Robroy M. Converse, D.D., .

1880-1883

Edmund Rowland, D.D.,

1884-Emeritus

John N. Lewis, Jr.,

1901-

127

HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH.

ASSISTANTS.

John A, Paddock,
George W. Home,
Edward Jessup, .
Charles G. Acly, .
Samuel G. Appleton,
Junius M. Willey,
John Eaton Smith,
C. W. Chandler, .
A. Floridus Steele,
Francis T. RusseU,
J. Foote Bingham,
Victor C. Smith, .
John H. White, .
R. M. Converse, .
J. B. Harding,
Melvville K. Bailey,
S. R. Holden,
John H. McCrackan,
H. N. Tragett
March C. Mayo, .
John N. Xjewis, Jr.,
Taliafferro F. Caskey,
Martin A. Barnes,
Jacob A. Biddle,
Royal Ransom Miller,
Charles T. Hall, .

1849-1849

1849-1850
1851-1852
1852-1856
1856-1858
1858-1861
1862-1864
1864-1865
1865-1868
1868-1875
1876-1877
1877-1878
1878-1878
1878-1880
a short time
1883-1885
1885-1887
1890-1894
1895-1896
1896-1900
1900-1901
1902-1902
1902-1905
1905-
1905-1906
1906-

There is no record of a choice of clerk from 1761 until 1765
although the records were evidently made by several ditferent
hands. The clerks did not sign their records until 1812.

During the years, 1786-94, two clerks were appointed. A
Society's meeting was held in December and a vestry meeting in
the Spring. Perhaps one clerk was intended for each but it does
not appear so in the record.

128

CHURCH OFFICERS, ST. JOHN'S PARISH.

CLERKS.

Thomas Osborn, . 1761-1764

Abraham Hickox, 176&-1784

Isaac Benhara, . 1785-1797

Seba Bronson, . 1786-1794

James Scovill, . 1797.

Daniel Porter, . 1797-1808

Ashley Scott, . . 1809-1823
excepting one year.

Edmund Austin . 1817-1818

Elijah F. Merrill, . 1824-1833

Leverett E. Rice . 1834-1837

Samuel H. Judd, . 1837-1838
Samuel W. Hall,1839,1854r-1868

John P. Elton, . 1840-1848

Rufus E. Hitchcock, 1848-1852,

1868-1871.
Chester J. Carrington, 1853

John W. Smith, . 1872-1875

Nelson J. Welton, 1876-1889

Charles F. Mitchell, 1889-

WARDEN8.

Timothy Porter, .
John Welton, .
Daniel Brown,
John Hickox, .
Ephraim Warner,
Benjamin Benham,
Herman Munson,

1761-1763
1761-1783
1764-1765
1766-1772
1772-1795
1784-1785
1786-1795

There is no record of elec-
tion of wardens from 1795 until
1817 when James Scovil was
chosen. No further election re-
corded until William H. Scovill,

1838-1854.
Obadiah Warner, . 1838-1839
Leonard Piatt, . 1839-1856
Scovill M. Buckingham, 1854-

1889.
Chester J. Carrington, 1857-

1862.
Isaac E. Newton, . 1862-1886
Edward R. Lampson, 1886-

1895.
Nelson J. Welton, 1890-
Frederick J, Kingsbury,

1895-

TREASURERS.

Ephraim Warner, 1785-1803

James Scovil, . . 1804-1821

Daniel Steele, Jr., . 1821-1827

William H. Scovill, 1828-1838

Leonard Piatt, 1839-1849
Edward S. Clark, . 1850

Samuel W. Hall, . 1851-1855

John P. Elton, . 1856-1864

Nathan Dikeman, 1865-1877

Franklin L. Curtis, 1877-1906
Edwin S. Hunt, . 1906

society's committee and vestry.
(Approximate dates every 10 years, but no names repeated.)

1760-1770— Capt. Geo. Nichols, Ins. (Ensign) [Ephraim]
Warner, Abram Hickcox, David Warner, Eleazer Prindle, David
Porter, John Welton, Daniel Brown, Capt. Edward Scovil, Dr.

129

HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH.

Ephraira Warner, Benjamin Ferris, Preserved Porter, John
Hickox, Capt. Hezekiah Brown, Jonathan Garnsee, Jr.

1771 to 1780(in addition to the above) — Seba Bronson, William
Nichols Isaac Benham, Timothy Porter, Enos Gunn, Benjamin
Benham, Ebenezer Warner, Elijah Richards, Samuel Nichols,
Edmund Austin, Stephen Welton, Richard Welton.

1781-1790 (in addition)— Ephraim Warner, Thomas M.Culver,
Ard Welton, Simeon Nichols, Jobamah Gunn, Eliakim Welton, Jr.,
David Warner, John Cossett, James Scovil (Jr.), Ard Welton,
Eliakim Welton, Jr.

1791-1800 — Herman Munson, Mark Warner, Asa Beach, John
Clark, Jr., Joseph Terrill, Lemuel Welton, Levi Bronson, Benj.
Benham, Jr., John Worthington, Richard Welton, Obadiah War-
ner, Richard F, Welton, Elezer Tompkins, Elijah F. Merrill.

1801-1810 — Zenas Hungerford, Seymour Welton of Wolcott,
Thomas Welton of Wolcott, King William Lamson, Erastus
Welton, Miles Newton.

1811-1820 — Joseph Leavenworth, JosephWarner, Ashley Scott,
Daniel Steele, Asa Hoadley, Elias Clark, Joseph Nichols, Ard
Warner, Jr., Legrand Bancroft, James M.L. Scovill, Miles Newton
Jr., Bela Welton, Timothy Ball, Elias Brown, Humphrey Nichols.
1821-1830— Joseph Bronson 2d, Merit Welton, Daniel Steele,
Jr., Leonard Warner, Lyman Bradley, George Warner, William
H. Scovill, Samuel Cook, David W. Austin, Isaac Nicholson.

1831-1840— (Vestry) Joel Hinman, John Sandland, Wm.
H. Adams, William Porter, Moses Hall, Enoch Woodruff,
Miles Newton, Anson Bronson, Aaron Gibbs, Leonard Piatt,
John P. Elton, Scovill M. Buckingham, William M. Pem-
berton, John Sandland, Jr., Wm. R, Hitchcock, Sherman Hickox,
Lyman Welton, Anson Downs, Anson Sperry.

1841-1850— Rufus E. Hitchcock, Burritt Judson, John P.
Elton, William Hickox, David E. Downs, Isaac E. Newton,
Hobart V. Welton, William Lamb, C. B. Merriman, Enos A.
Pierpont, Chester J. Carrington, Edwin Newton, Merit Lane.

1851-1860 — Sherman Hickox B. H. Morse, George Pritchard,
W. N. Bradley, E. B. Cooke, Lyman H. Welton, Geo. F. Perry,
Leonard Pritchard, Carlos Hungerford, Edward S. Clark, Henry S.

130

CHURCH OFFICERS, ST. JOHN'S PARISH.

Pierpont, Nelson J. Welton, Theodore I. Driggs, Edward S. Clark,
Lyman W. Coe, John W. Smith, Arad W. Welton, R. W. Cairns,
William Lamb, Nathan Dikeman, Aner Bradley, Jr., James P.
Blake.

1861-1870— Enos A. Pierpont, B. P. Chatfield, Henry Merri-
man, Charles Dickinson, J. H. Sandland, J, C. Booth, Frederick
J. Kingsbury, James S. Elton, Samuel W. Hall, Jarvis E. Ellis,
E. L. Frisbie.

1871-1880— E. R. Lampson, Edwin S. Hoyt, L. L. Trumbull,
John S. Castle, Edward D. Steele, Edwin D. Welton, Alonzo
Boyden, F. L. Curtiss, H. H. Peck, I. A. Mattoon, Albro Scovill.

1881-1890— Gordon B. Lawrence, Joseph Welton, T. D. Bar-
low, Wm. A. Faber, Robert K. Brown, Roswell H. Buck,
Edward M. Burrall, Charles F. Mitchell, William B. Merriman.

1891-1900— George L. Welton, George F. Hughes, S. P.
Williams, John P. Elton, H. O. Miller, George A. Driggs, James
Crompton, Carl E. Munger, Frederick S. Chase, Edward 0. Goss,
Robert W. Hill.

1900-1907— Louis N.Van Keuren, John P. Kellgog, J. M. Bur-
rall, 2d, Arthur 0. Jennings, F. J. Loomis, Arthur M. Dickinson,
H. W. Steele, Wm. E. Fulton, Edwin S. Hunt.

AGENTS.

For a good many years the business affairs of the parish have
been managed by an agent, appointed annually, as agent both of
the parish and vestry.

This agent has frequently been the senior warden, but not
necessarily nor always. Next the rector, the agent is the person
who has most responsibility for all parish matters, is the chief
parish executive and holds the most important position. For
more than one hundred and fifty years there has always been some
layman who appeared to carry the responsibility of the parish.
During the latter half of the eighteenth century Captain John
Welton was the man, and after him came Justus Warner, then
William H. Scovill, Scovill M. Buckingham, Theodore L Driggs,
Nelson J. Welton. At the same time there have been others who
were active and efficient, but these have been the representative
men.

131

HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH.

1906.

OFFICERS OF ST. JOHN S PARISH.

Rev. Edmund Rowland, D.D.,
Rev. John N. Lewis, Jr.,
Rev. Charles T. Hall, .
Nelson J. Welton,
F. J. Kingsbury,

Rector Emeritus.
Rector.

Assistant.
Senior Warden.
Junior Warden.

VESTRYMEN.

James S. Elton,
G. E. Hunger,
J. M. Burr all,
J. P. Kellogg,

James Crompton,
H. W. Steele,
E. D. Welton
W. E. Fulton.

F. S. Chase,

L. N. Van Keuren,

E. S. Hunt,

T. D. Barlow,

Chas. F. Mitchell, Ex-officio.
F. L. Curtiss, Ex-officio.
Chas. F. Mitchell, Clerk. *F. L. Curtiss, Treasurer.

Nelson J. Welton, agent of parish and vestry.

*F. L. Curtia died May 10, 1906, and Edwin S. Hunt was appointed treasurer.

132

CHAPTER XL

CERTAIN TAX RATES.*

I AM indebted to Miss Katharine A. Priciiard for the following
list of Churchmen in Waterbury as taken from the Rate-books
of the town,

1748-1776.

Westbury is included for the entire period; Northbury until 1756.

The first column of figures denotes the amount on which they
were taxed at the date when they appear as "Churchmen," "Epis-
copalians" or "Church of England men"; the second column
shows the largest amount on which they were taxed, 1748-1783.

The Earliest list of Churchmen, as such, is on the Rate-book
for 1748.

Barnes, John £101-101

Bronson, Joseph 150-197

fBrown, Daniel 20-191

fElam 27-68

James 53-131

James, Jr 46- 48

John 35-121

fJoseph 20-104

fDoolittle, Thomas 58-95

Gordon, James 30- 54

Gunn, Nathaniel 119-210

fHickox, Samuel 140-160

Johnson, Robert 65-101

Judd, John 75-135

Joseph 56- 56

Nichols, George 101-324

Richard 139 139

Porter, Dr. Daniel 81-111

Timothy 57-136

tPrindle, Jonathan 114-155

tScott, Daniel 46-56

Scott, Edmund 35-91

Gershom 106-113

Zebulon 34-81

Scovill, WilUam 112-163

Selkrig, William 21-71

Terrell, Joshua 26-28

Gamaliel 99-108

Thompson, Caleb 54-218

Truck, Abraham 30-36

Warner, Benjamin, Jr 18- 52

Ebenezer, 3d 67-146

Ephraim, Jr 36- 96

Josiah 64- 64

Obadiah 63- 70

Welton, Eliakim 30-125

tGeorge 90-105

Richard 68-126

Richard, Jr 98-157

Stephen 58-155

Thomas, Jr 30- 66

Wheland, Jolm 30-96

*This list is printed in this book as it does not appear elsewhere and a list of this sort
is too valuable to be lost.

tResided in Westbury (was Watertown in 1780).

133

HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH.

ADDITIONS, 1749-1758

Allen, Ephraim 23- 48

Barnes, Thomas 69- 94

Batcheldor, Abel 31-60

Bellamy, James 33- 42

*Blakeslee, Abner 32-183

James 56-102

In 1769, James is called a Baptist.

Jude 18-104

Stephen 29-70

Brown, Hezekiah 18-124

Chapman, Silas 12- 21

Cossett, John 18-52

Curtiss, Samuel 49- 76

Davis, Morris 21-28

♦DooUttle, James 42-95

Ford, Ebenezer 42-116

Enos , 24-29

Graves, Cornelius 59-134

Grilley, Jehula 27-76

Hew 7-41

♦Hartshorn, Eliphalet 38-101

♦Hikcox, John 23-78

John, Jr 49-62

How, Samuel 18- 26

Hubbard, Josiah 23- 58

Nathan 61-85

*Judd, Ebenezer 30-107

Lieut. John 109-135

Lewis, Lent 18- 24

Luddington, Abraham 43- 43

David 23-49

Sarah 35- 35

♦MerriUs, Caleb 22-56

David 60-60

*Ephraim 24-37

♦Nathaniel 30-58

Nichols, Benjamin 18- 45

Isaac 25- 25

James 54-127

Joseph 58— 95

Osborn, Thomas 21-169

Porter, Daniel, Jr 21-111

Preserved 18- 77

Potter, Samuel 52- 67

Pricliard, Roger, Jr 68-148

♦Prindle, Eleazer 49-120

Scott, Obadiah, 3d 22-39

Robert 24-32

♦Scovill, widow Desire 27- 27

♦Samuel 102-104

Shelton, Samuel (Stratford) 4- 24

Silkrig, widow Judith 3- 5

Slater, John 19- 58

Terrill, Amos 22-50

Benjamin 31-68

Warner, Dr. Benjamin .... 63- 93

Benjamin, 3d 18-21

David 20-100

Joseph 21- 62

Josiah, 2d 56-76

Timothy 49- 89

Way, David 49- 54

May 29-89

May, Jr 30-39

Thomaa 18-74

Welton, Ebenezer 21-40

John 65-153

Oliver 50-132

Woodruff, John 15-24

Wooster, David 46-114

Thomas 9- 9

[In 1751, this list is given for North-
bury.

Allen, Ebenezer 36-106

Gideon 49-74

Blakeslee, Jacob 77-115

Moses 26- 69

Reuben 33- 61

Thomas & David,

83-142 & 145

Castle, Asael 37- 36

Isaac 49- 73

Cook, Henry 10-50

Curtiss, Abel 42-107

Elwell, Ebeneaer 91- 91

Fancher, Samuel 28- 28

Ford, Cephas 22- 33

134

;Ki

CERTAIN TAX RATES.

Ford, Ebenezer 39-1 16

Mary 74- 74

Hill, Jonathan 32-32

How, John 70- 89

Jacobs, Bartholomew 57- 78

Luddington, Moses 67- 73

SutUff, Abel 49-96

John 32-169

Weed, Jonas 25-82]

The sum total of the list for 1758
is £7,407, divided among 89 persons.
The entire grand Ust of the town for
that year is £23,204.

ADDITIONS, 1759-1768.

Anderson, Johnson

..£ IS- 36

Arnold, David

. . 22-35

Austin, Edmund

36- 53

Barrett, James

. . 35- 25

♦Beach, Asael

. . 32- 55

Benham, Benjamin

. . 23- 84

James

... 21- 29

Reuben

. . 13- 18

Shadrach

. . 29-51

Bolt, Bartholomew

. . 30- 30

Bronson, Ebenezer, Jr . . .

. . 36- 53

Seba

. . 43-136

♦Brown, Daniel, Jr

. . 18- 26

♦Samuel

. . 57- 99

Camp, Abel

. . 21- 65

Candee, Noah

. . 67-224

Chambers, Thomas

. . 48- 48

Clifford, Daniel

. . 32- 33

♦Doohttle, James

. . 84-95

♦Samuel

. . 33- 52

Douglass, Alexander F . .

. . 21- 74

♦Frost, Moses

. . 27- 27

Samuel

. . 46- 46

Timothy

. . 37- 40

Fulford, Gershora

. . 17- 94

John

. . 21- 23

Jonathan

. . 21-83

♦Titus

46-48

Grilley, Henry

. . 33- 33

Guernsey, Jonathan, Jr. . . . 70-211

Gunn, Enos 60-187

Nathaniel, Jr 48- 77

♦Hand, Aaron 18- 27

Hickox, Abraham 36-157

♦John, Jr 58-58

WilUam 67-99

♦Judd, Asa 21-48

♦Brewster 20-26

♦Enoch 18-20

♦Noah 40

[and John, 199]

♦Mattoon, David 139-139

Munson, Harmon 39- 81

Nichols, Lemuel 42-180

Page, Joseph 45- 45

Painter, John 62- 73

Porter, John 18-54

Timothy, Jr 27-87

♦Prichard, Joseph 26- 30

Prindle, John 20-20

Scott, Barnabas 36- 37

Gideon 68-68

♦Obadiah, Jr 23-83

♦Scovill, Darius 20-64

Edward 179-179

Timothy 36-36

Selkrig, Nathaniel 18-27

♦Shelton, Daniel 4-10

♦Smith, Wait 27-135

♦Stillwell, Benjamin 31-43

♦Stow, Josiah 40-40

♦Thomas, Samuel 24-24

Tuttle, Ezekiel 5- 6

Jabez (one horse) . . 3-39

Twitchell, Isaac 28-79

Tyler, Abraham 57-91

Warner, Abijah 30-48

Ard 25-61

Ephraim, Jr 28-84

William 21-32

Webb. Samuel 27-32

Welton, widow Deborah . . . 69- 69

Eliakim, Jr 31-78

135

HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH.

Welton, Nathaniel 39-39

Stephen, Jr 38-150

Wooster, Miles 46- 48

Wait 32-46

ADDITIONS, 1769-1776.

Adams, Abraham 53- 76

Beach Joel, 10- 19

Beebe, Ephraim 27-28

Benham, Isaac 35- 61

Bronson, widow Mary 64- 93

Brown Asa 20-27

Daniel, 3d 21-26

Bunnell, Benjamin 60- 50

Candee, Timothy 27-39

Culver, Stephen 61-71

Dowd, Jacob 29-57

Fenn, Samuel 23- 41

Grilley, Cyrus 21-24

Daniel 26-29

Griswold, Jonathan 42- 42

Gunn, Abel 107-119

Jobamah 61-198

Hickox, Jesse 24- 41

Hungerford, Jonas 18-67

Hurd, Andrew (Strat.) .... 6-7

Lewis, Benjamin (Cheshire) 2- 2

Caleb 37-37

Merchant, John 47- 53

Moss, Joseph 41- 47

Munson, Isaac 18- 18

William 24-43

Nichols, Elijah 18-18

Nichols, Joseph, Jr. [3d] . .
Osborn, Ebenezer

Thomas, Jr

Painter, John

Phillips, Thomas

Porter, Francis

John,

Mark

Prichard, widow Rebecca.

Prindle, Jotham

Richards, Elijah

Obadiah

widow Sarah . . .

Roberts, Joel

Scott, Noah

Simeon

Selkrig, John

Seymour, Gideon

Smith, Lue

Terrill, Matthew

Tuttle, Jesse

Tyler, Jacob

Wakelee, Ebenezer

Warner, Ebenezer, Jr . . . .
widow Eleanor . .

Obadiah

Seth

Way, Ebenezer

Welton, Ard

Ezekiel

Thomaa, 3d

Winters, Obadiah

21- 33
25- 25
35- 62
25- 73
21- 21
18- 36

37- 54
18- 45
13- 13
18- 18
48- 73
75-109
21- 24
18- 29

38- 38
29- 47

25- 29
34- 48
18- 28
18- 27
16- 27
34- 34

26- 99
18- 60
53- 53
24- 70
40- 54
21- 21
44- 50
33- 39
56- 56
40- 55
32- 38

I am also indebted to Miss Prichard for the following list
of children "Baptised at Waterbury" by Dr. Mansfield which
seems worth preserving.

Baptisms from
" The Church Book op the Parish of Derby,"
BY THE Rev. Mr. Mansfield.
Elihu to Lent Lewis.
Joseph to Richard Nichols.

1748-9, Feb. 11,
1749-50, Feb. 11,
1748, Nov 20,

Jobamah to Nathaniel Gunn.
136

CERTAIN TAX RATES.

1748, Nov. 20, Tamer to Richard Nichols.

1748, Dec. 11, Prue to George Nichols.
1748-9, Jan. 29, Thomas to Stephen Welton.
1748-9, Feb. 26, Aaaph to James Brown.

1749, April 16, Matthew to Joshua Tyrrell.

1749, May 28, Marlin Molotts, servant to Captain Heacocka

1749, Sept. 17, Moses to EUakim Welton.

1749, Sept, 17, Sarah to Ebenezer Judd.

1749, Sept. 17, Rhena to Obadiah Warner.

1749. Oct. 8, Ozias to Josiah Warner.

1749, Nov. 5, Jemima to Ebenezer Warner.

1749, Nov. 6, Keziah to Moses Blakeslee, Northbiuy.

1749, Nov. 6, Ephraim to John How

1749, Jmie 25, Reumah to Caleb Thompson.

1749, June 25, Gideon to Ebenezer AUing.

1749, June 25, John to Ebenezer Ailing.

1 749, June 25, David to Ebenezer Ailing.

1749, June 25, Rachel to Ebenezer AUing.

1749, June 15, John to Daniel Russell.

1749, Feb. 11, Susanna to John Whalen.

1750, May 1, Richard to Isaac Castle, Northbury.
1750, May 1, Freelove to Abel Curtiss, Northbury.
1750, May 20, Allen to Thomas Welton.

1749, June 25, Isaac to Jonas Weed, Northbury.

1749, June 25, John to Caleb Matthews, Northbury.

1749, June 25, Daniel to Daniel Rowe, Northbury.

1749, June 25, Daniel to Mr. Long, Northbury.

1749, June 25, Abigail to Mr. Warner, Northbury.

1749, June 25, Phebe to Edward Neal, Northbury.

1750, July 8, Ruth to Timothy Porter.
1750, July 29, Benjamin to Mr. Salters.
1750, July 29, Lydia to Nathan Hubbard.
1750, July 29, Esther to Daniel Scott.
1750, Nov. 4, Seth to Ephraim Warner.

1750, Dec. 16, Ebenezer to James Brown, Jr.
1750-1, Feb. 3, A son to Ebenezer Judd.
1750-1, Mch. 24, A daughter to William Silkrig.

1751, April 14, Hannah to Caleb Thompson.
1751, April 16, Lemuel to Jonathan Hill.
1751, April 16, Ephraim to Samuel How.
1751, April 16, Submit to Reuben Blakeslee.
1751, May 1, Lydia to Mr. Scott.

1761, June 2, John to George Nichols.

1751, June 2, A daughter to Caleb Thompson.

137

HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH.

1751,

June 23,

1751,

June 23,

1751,

June 25,

1751,

Aug. 11,

1751,

Oct. 21,

1751,

Oct. 20,

1751,

Nov. 10,

1751,

Dec. 25,

1752,

Feb, 16,

1752,

April 5,

1752,

April 5,

1752,

April 26,

1752,

June 14,

1752,

June 14,

1752,

June 15,

1752,

Sept. 24,

1752,

Sept. 24,

1752,

Sept. 24,

1752,

Sept. 24,

1752,

Oct. 18,

1753,

at Waterbiu-y

1753,

March 4,

1753,

March 4,

1753,

March 26,

1753,

March 27,

1753,

March 26,

1753,

March 27,

1753,

March 27,

1753,

March 27,

1753,

March 27,

1753,

May 13,

1753,

July 2,

1753,

July 2,

1753,

July 3,

1753,

July 3,

Anna to Joseph Bronson.

A daughter to Oliver Welton.

Abigail to Ebenezer Allen, Northbury.

A eon to Nathaniel Gunn.

Abel to Abel Sutley [SutHffj.

Nathaniel to Joseph Brown.

Phebe to Mr. Gordon.

Abel to John Whalen.

Thomas to S. Welton.

Aaron to Ehakim Welton.

Annes to Ebenezer Welton.

Lydia to Richard Welton.

Titus to Edward Neal.

Pomp, servant to Jonathan|Prindle.

DeUverence to Isaac Curtiss.

" Mary, daughter to Joseph Smith, and three more at

Northbury."
Ben, an adult servant to Capt. Hickock.
David to Ebenezer Welton.
Hannah to James Brown,
A son to Oliver Welton.
and Northbury:
Benajah to Ebenezer Judd.
Sarah to Daniel Brown.
Thankful to Simon Tuttle.
Sebe to Caleb Thompson.
Silas to Reuben Blakeslee.
EU to David Blakeslee.
Abigail to Samuel How.
Mary to Cephas Ford.
Lucy to Moses Luddington,
WilHam to WilUam Silkrig.
Barnabas to Ebenezer Ford.
Simeon to Abel Castle.
Timothy to Timothy Porter.
Sally to Timothy Porter.

138

CHAPTER XII.

ST. Peter's parish, northbury (Plymouth).

IN Northbury, at "the Hollow," now Thomastown, a building
was erected about 1738 (on land given by the Rev. John

Southmayd, pastor of the First Congregational Church of
Waterbury), which was used as a place of public meetings, for
religious purposes, and as a school-house. After a few years a
portion of the society wished to build a church and preferred
to have it on the hill. This led to a division. Part of the society
built a new house and went to the hill, while the others remained
at the old place. It was not long befc)re this remnant left in the
"Hollow" became an Episcopal parish, or at any rate a band of
people worshipping according to the liturgy of the Church of
England and receiving the occasional ministrations of the mission-
aries of the Venerable Society for the Propagation of the Gospel,
Messrs. Morris, Arnold, Lyon and Mansfield.

Dr. Bronson's History (page 310) represents the majority of
the congregation as having become Episcopalians and having
voted out the minority with the Rev. Samuel Todd, the Congre-
gational clergyman, and Dr. Beardsley has followed this in his
History of the Episcopal Church in Connecticut. But the Rev.
E. B. Hillard, in some researches made in 1888, while he was pas-
tor of the Congregational Church at Plymouth, found a document
which puts a somewhat different face on the matter. As this
document does not appear in the Colonial Records, and is valuable
evidence on a controverted, or at least misunderstood, matter,
it is reproduced here, jpour servir. It is dated at Northbury,
October 8, 1740:

To the Honorable and General Assembly, convened at New Haven:

We, the subscribers, having in time past applied ourselves to this Assembly
for, and they being so complaisant towards us as to grant us, the liberty in the
first place to hire the gospel preached with us in the winter season which
privilege we thankfully improved, ami after that through tlioir benignity
toward us we obtained the privilege of hiring the gospel preached with us for

139

HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH.

the space of two years, and having no house in the centre of us convenient
to attend the public worship in, the Rev. Mr. Southmayd encouraged us to
erect a small house for that use, by giving us a parcel of land in the centre of
us for that end, upon which we built a small house and in a short time carried
on the pubUc worship peaceably in it. And after we had met in the house
about a year our necessity was so great of enjoying the gospel ordinances, upon
our request (though we were very small) the Assembly was pleased to favor
us with society privileges, upon which in a Uttle time we gave Mr. Samuel
Todd a call to settle in the work of the ministry with us, of which he accepted,
and, being settled with us, we find our obligations to him full as much, if not
more than we can answer; and it being evident at this day to the Assembly
that a certain number among us are striving to involve us in much greater
charges still, which, if obtained, we despair of answering our obligation to Mr.
Todd, and we humbly conceive that the forementioned house of which we
are the proprietors will answer the present necessity of the society to attend
pubUc worship and which we freely dedicate to that use, and request, if the
Assembly see fit, that the said house may be established the place of public
worship so long as they see fit. That so the charge of building a meeting-
house or any charge for that end may be prevented at present.*

At the October session the Assembly apparently took no action,
but the following May, "being informed of the broken and con-
fused circumstances of the parish at Northbury, etc., they ap-
pointed a committee to conduct said society in the choice of proper
officers and advise and direct where they shall meet on the Sabbath
for public worship." In October following they appointed an-
other committee, in part the same persons, to "fix a site," etc.
The end of it all was that the party favoring a new church and a
new site carried the day, but the disaffected portion declined to
be taxed and stuck to their school-house, and soon after most of
them declared themselves members of the Church of England.

(The first paragraph of the Northbury Congregational Church record now
extant has this entry: "Any member of Regular standing in the Church of
England shall be admitted to Occasional Communion with us in this church
for the time to come.)

In 1759, when the Rev. James Scovill became the rector in
Waterbury, he gave one-half his services to Northbury and New

*The signers of this document are: William Ludenton, Jonathan Cook, John Sutlef, Jr.,
Barnabas Ford, John How, Isaac Cassel, Thomas Blasle (Blakeslee), Jacob Blasle, Ebenezer
Richardson, Caleb Humiston, Phinehas iiice, Daniel Curtis, Gediau Allen, Jeremiah I'ecit,
Jerecoiah Peck, Jr., Ebenezer Elwell, Samuel Frost, John Sutlef, Samuel Jacobs.

140

ST. PETER'S PARISH, NORTH BURY (PLYMOUTH).

Cambridge. In 1771, Northbury and New Cambridge seem to
have set up for themselves. Dr. Bronson says they obtained the
services of a minister. In 1773 the Rev. James Nichols, a native
of Waterbury, became the rector, supplying the two places; but
in 1775 he went to Litchfield. During the Revolution few ser-
vices appear to have been held, although there were many ardent
churchmen in that section of the town, the feeling being so strong
that there was a great number of disaffected persons, some of
whom suffered seriously for their opinions. Among them was
Moses Dunbar, who was hanged for treason at Hartford.

In 1784 an Episcopal society was legally formed under the new
enabling act with 57 legal voters, as follows:

Solomon Collis,
Afiher Blakeslee,
Eli Blakeslee,
Moses Blakeslee,
Samuel Blakeslee,
Thomas Blakeslee,
Noah Blakeslee
Jude Blakeslee,
Ebenezer Ford,
Barnabas Ford,
Enos Ford,
Daniel Ford,
Amos Ford,
David Luddington,
Gideon Seymour,
Abel Sutliff, Jr.,
Wm. Tuttle,
Thos. Way,
Sam'l Way,

Abner Blakeslee,
Hosea Blim,
Philo Bradley,
Ebenezer Bradley,
Ebenezer Bradley, Jr.,
Zadok Curtis,
Ezra Dodge,
Cornelius Crane,
Benj. Crane,
Simeon Crane,
Eliphalet Hartshorn,
Eliphalet Hartshorn, Jr.
Jesse Humaston,
Sam'l Peck, Jr.,
David Shelton,
Sam'l Scovill, Jr.,
Thos. WilUams,
Oggrius Warner,

Titus Barnes,
Amos Bronson,
John Brown,
Joab Camp,
Abraham Castle,
Amasa Castle,
Samuel Fenn,
Jesse Fenn,
Isaac Fenn,
Zaccheus Howe,
Zebulon Mosher,
, Chauncey Moss.
Jacob Potter,
Sam'l Potter
Ezekiel Sanford, Jr.,
Jesse Turner,
Eli Welton,
Thos. Williams, Jr.

and for the next few years the parish had such services as they
could secure temporarily. The Rev. Richard Mansfield, the Rev.
James Scovil, the Rev. Asahel Baldwin, the Rev. Philo Shelton,
the Rev. Tillotson Bronson and the Rev. Edward Blakeslee appear
on the record as having officiated. In 1788 the Rev. Chauncey
Prindle became rector, serving both Northbury and Westbury,
and so remained until 1806. In 1795 Plymouth was incorporated
as a separate town.

141

iAn")

HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH.

It was during Mr. Prindle's rectorship that after much dis-
cussion, the Church followed the footsteps of their predecessors
and went, with their organization, onto the Hill. The first ser-
vice held here was November 24, 1796, and November 2, 1797, the
church was consecrated by Bishop Jar vis, as St. Peter's, it being
among the first of his official acts. In 1806 Mr. Prindle resigned
the rectorship, the reason given being, "so that Plymouth and
East Plymouth might be united under one rectorship." This
arrangement appears not to have been carried into effect until
1810, although Rev. N. B. Burgess appears to have been here in
1807 and 1808 with Rev. J. Davis Welton, then acting as lay
reader. In 1810 Rev. Roger Searle was instituted rector, and St.
Peter's had two-thirds of his services and St. Andrew's, East
Plymouth, one third. He remained until 1817 when he removed
to Ohio and founded the parish of St. Peter's, Ashtabula. From
1819 to 1829, the Rev. Rodney Rossiter was rector and during
this time a rectory was built. The Rev. Daniel Burhans was here
from 1831 to 1836, and the Rev. William Watson came in 1837 and
remained until 1851. The Rev. S. D. Denison was here from 1851
to 1854, Rev. A. B. Goodrich to 1856, Rev. S. K. Miller 1855 to
1858, Rev. Dr. Berry to 1862, Rev. Mr. Lumsden to 1863, Rev.
B. Eastwood to 1869, Rev. Porter Thomas 1869 to 1872, Rev.
Emerson Jessup 1872 to 1873, Rev. L. de Dorman to 1874, Rev.
S. B. Duffield to 1875, Rev. John M. Bates to 1877, Rev. Henry T.
Scudder to 1878, Rev. John D. Gilliland to 1888, Rev. W. E.
Hooker to 1892, Rev. Dr. James Gammack to 1895, Rev. Henry
G. Smith, January, 1896, to Easter, 1900, Rev. John D. Gilliland,
June, 1900. In 1892-3 the church was greatly improved by a
new floor and pews and by a new heating apparatus, costing $1000,
which last was paid for by Mrs. John M. Toncey of New York,
a former member of the parish. In November, 1897, a centennial
celebration was held, and an historical sermon preached by Rev. Dr
Samuel Hart.

Thomaston, formerly known as Plymouth Hollow, was made
a separate town in 1875. This is where the first churches, both
Congregational and Episcopal, had their origin and wore both

142

ST. PETER'S PARISH, NORTHBURY (PLYMOUTH).

subsequently removed to the "Hill." Thomaston now has a
flourishing church of its own.

OFFICERS OF ST. PETER'S PARISH.

Wardens.
WiiiBBRT N. Austin, Henry A. Smith.

Vestry,
Edward H. Gates, E. V. La Rue,

BuRDETTB Morse, Herbert W. Cleveland,

WiLLLAJM L. Lumpkin, C. Hobart Smith,

Ard Welton, C. Arad Welton.

Parish Treasurer.
Edwin M. Talmadqb.
Treasurer of Permanent Fund.
Henry A. Smith.

Clerk.
Wallace E. Dayton.

143

CHAPTER XIII.

Christ's church, watertown.

IN 1764 twenty persons entered into an agreement "to hold
public worship in Westbury on those Sundays when there was
no preaching in Waterbury," and to make arrangements to
build an Episcopal Church,

To wit: — Asahel Beach, Seth Blake, Samuel Brown, Joseph Brown,
Daniel Brown, Thomas Doolittle, James Doolittle, Jonathan Fulford, Jonathan
Garnsey, John Judd, Noah Judd, Asa Judd, John Hickox, Joseph Hickox,
Joseph Pritchard, Eleazar Prindle, Gershom Scott, Edward Scovil, Samuel
Scovil, William Scovil.

They met at the house of James Doolittle in the winter and at
Ensign David Scott's in the summer. The next year (1765)
Captain George Nichols of Waterbury gave them a lot, and by
October, through the efficient management of Captain Edward
Scovil, they had a building fit to occupy, although not completed.

The Rev. Samuel Andrews delivered the dedicatory sermon.
An arrangement was made by which Rev. James Scovil of Water-
bury was to preach every sixth Sunday. This continued till 1771,
when the Society had so much increased that Mr. Scovil agreed
to give them one-third of his time. In 1773 they finished the lower
part of the house, with pulpit, chancel and canopy, but never
entirely completed it. During the Revolution the Society suffered
with the others of this denomination.

In 1779 Captain Edward Scovil gave them by will seventeen
acres of land near the church. This was afterwards sold and a
fund established which still exists.

(The parish also owns three acres of land in the center of the
village on which are the present church, rectory and parish house.)

The first church is described as 45 feet by 36 feet with a steeple,
the first in the town. It was named Christ Church. It stood, as
nearly as can be ascertained, on the east side of the road leading
to Waterbury, about a quarter of a mile southward from the green

144

CHRIST'S CHURCH, WATERTOWN.

and a little southwest from the Congregational Church, whic
stood within the old cemetery enclosure, or nearly so, at the
southwest corner. The Episcopal Church is supposed to have
been on the south side of the road leading east.

Mr. Scovil continued as rector until he left Waterbury. This
was nominally until 1786, although during the last two years he
was absent much of the time in New Brunswick. In 1788 the
Rev. Chauncey Prindle, a native of Westbury, a nephew of Mr.
Scovil and a Yale graduate of 1776, then in deacon's orders and
previously a lay-reader, took charge of the parish, having also the
church at Northbury under his care. His stipend was thirty
pounds, to be paid in beef, pork, butter, tallow, wool, flax or any
sort of grain. In 1793 a new church was built, and consecrated
by Bishop Seabury as Christ's Church on November 18, 1794.
This church stood on a piece of ground purchased of Samuel
Southmayd, at the intersection of the streets a few rods west from
the site of the present church.*

Rev. Mr. Prindle remained in charge until 1805 when the Rev
Russell Wheeler took the parish, remaining until 1814. He was
succeeded by Rev. Frederick Holcomb who spent the remainder
of his life in Watertown, dying in 1872, and holding the rectorship
till 1850 with the exception of a temporary withdrawal from
1838 to 1845, and thoroughly identifying himself with the town
and its people in all their joys and sorrows. A man of great sim-
plicity of character and broad sympathies; of sound practical
sense and universally beloved and respected.

From 1838 to 1845 the Rev. Dr. Nathaniel Richardson was
rector and on his resigning, Dr. Holcomb was prevailed upon to
accept the charge for five years more.

This was a period of quiessance for Watertown. Agriculture
and stock raising, in both of which Watertown was pre-eminent,
began soon after 1830 to decline and it was a number of years
before any considerable manufacturing was undertaken in the
town.

'''A part of the open ground about the church has since been inclosed in the f^rounds
now occupied by Mrs. J. A. Buckingham. The house itself fronted the east, the west line
being nearly in a line with Mrs. Buckingham's east fence. In 1780 Watertown became a
separate town.

145

HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH.

In 1850 the Rev. Horace Hall Reid became rector and re-
mained until 1857. Manufacturing had now been established
and under this influence the town began to grow. It was under
Mr. Reid's ministry that the present church was built. Since
then the old school house on the church ground has been converted
into a parish house and the church, rectory and parish house are
all on the same property. A spire, which was at first on the
church was blown down a few years after it was built, and was
never replaced, but a finial to the tower was substituted. Large
interior repairs and decorations, and a new organ have been added
within a few years, also some memorials of the families of Scovill,
Heminway, Curtis, Buckingham and Warren.

Mr. Reid's successor in the rectorship was Rev. Dr. Benjamin
W. Stone from 1857 to 1860. The Rev. Dr. Willaim H. Lewis
succeeded Dr. Stone and remained for fourteen years, until his
death. Dr. Lewis had been rector of a large church in Brooklyn
and looked upon the Watertown rectorate as a retirement from
active duty. But he found plenty here to occupy his time in
a way which was pleasant to himself and profitable for his people.
In 1874 Dr. Lewis was succeeded by Rev. S. D. McConnell, and
he in 1876 by Rev. James Stoddard, who was succeeded by Rev.
Herbert N. Cunningham, who remained until 1891, when Rev.
John F. Nichols became rector and occupied the position until
1894, when Rev. Mr. Cunningham again became rector and still
remains.

The mission of All Saints, at Oakville, has been established by
the rector of Christ Church and is reckoned as part of that parish.
At present it is under the immediate care of Rev. J. A. Stanfield
of St. Paul's, Waterville, who acts in this capacity as assistant of
the rector of Christ's Church. The two together have a communi-
cant roll of about 400; a showing which is probably not surpassed
in any village in the United States having a total population of
only 3500.

The following sketch is taken from a sermon of the Rev. Wm.
H. Lewis, D.D., preached June 2, 1872:

Rev. Frederick Holcomb, D. D., was the third aon of Jesse and Louisa
Holcomb. He was born in Granby, Conn., Oct. 13, 1786. His parents by

146

CHRIST'S CHURCH, WATERTOWN.

religious profession, belonged to the Episcopal Church, and had their children
baptized in infancy. At the early age of thirteen, himself, with two brothers
and a sister, received the apostoUc rite of confirmation by the lit. Rev. Bishop
Jarvis. At about the age of sixteen his parents, albeit in moderate circum-
stances, made him the offer of a collegiate education, though there was no
decided inchnation on his part at that time of a desire to enter the ministry.
He eagerly accepted the offer. His preparatory studies began under the Rev.
David Waldo, of West Suffield, and were completed under the Rev. Mr. Clin-
ton, of Southwick, Mass. In 1805 he entered WiUiams College, Massachusetts,
graduating in 1809. Soon after that he was led, under the providence of God,
to realize the necessity of due preparation for the life to come, and he resolved
on a course of theological reading, and entered upon it at once. His first
examination was passed under the Rev. Dr. Tillotson Bronson, of Cheshire,
and his second under the Rev. Dr. Kewley, of Middletown. He was ordained
as deacon, with license to preach and baptize, in Trinity Church, New Haven,
June 23, 1811, by the Rt. Rev. Abraham Jarvis, D. D. A call was soon
received from St. Mark's Church, Harwinton, and Trinity Church, Northfield
society, to take charge of them both, and to divide the time equally between
them. He removed to Harwinton, with his wife and one child, on the 17th of
December, 1811. At his ordination to the priesthood, it being necessary to
have three presbyters to lay on hands, with tlie bishop, the Venerable Dr.
Mansfield, of Derby, then about ninety years of age, was brought to act, with
the Rev. Dr. Bronson, and the Rev. Mr. Whitlock, of Trinity Church, New
Haven, and the ordination was in that church, by Bishop Jarvis, Sunday,
Dec. 20, 1812.

It was the last ordination performed by that prelate, and for some years
Dr. Holcomb was not only the last presbyter ordained by him, but the only
survivor of those admitted by him to holy orders. He soon after received a
call to Christ Church, Watertown, and removed his family there Dec. 14,
1814. He remained as rector of that parish until 1838, when he resigned its
care, but was recalled in 1845, and continued as rector until 1850, when the
infirmities of old age prompted him to surrender the cares of a parish forever.
Nevertheless, he preached for feeble and destitute parishes, whenever his
health would allow it, during the remainder of hfe. He died May 26, 1872.

His first wife, Mary Pinney, died Nov. 15, 1825, leaving two daughters,
Mary E., wife of Leman W. Cutler, and Martha M., wife of Orrin Starr. These
last both died before his demise. His secopd wife, Nancy Merriman, widow
of Ed. E. Porter, survives him.

Dr. Holcomb was a man of fine personal appearance, of great physical
strength, and until the decay of nature, in old age, always favored with robust
health. He was a man of great prudence, never stirring up strife by word
or deed of his own, truly a peacemaker. He was firm in his churchmansliip,
and yet courteous and kind to those of other rehgious names, so as always
to have been on terms of kindly Christian intercourse with them.

147

HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH.

OFFICERS OF CHRIST CHURCH PARISH.
Watertown, Conn.
Rev. Herbert N. Cunningham, . . Rector.
Rev. John A. Crockett, . . . Asst. Rector.

Alfred H. Scovill, .... Senior Warden.
George F. Pritchard, .... Junior Warden.

Vestrymen
A. H. Scovill,
H. H. Heminway,
Wallace Atwood,
S. McL, Buckingham
Merritt Heminway
Paul Klimpke,

Charles Smith.
Harry H. Heminway, Clerk.

G. F. Pritchard,
F. B. Noble,
H. H. Bartlett,
B. H. Heminway,
B. S. Johnson,
w. j. munson,

Frank B. Noble, Treaa.

148

CHAPTER XIV.

ST. Michael's, naugatuck.

IN 1784, Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Beers and Mr. and Mrs. David
Booth conveyed to the church, land valued at £100, the same
having been given by verbal will of Abel Gunn toward the
building of a church, it being a condition that the poor people of
the parish should be relieved of their rates by thii gift.

The parish was formally organized February 16, 1786, at the
house of Jobamah Gunn and fourteen persons enrolled themselves
as members. They mostly resided in the western part of Salem
society, which was then known as Gunntown, the Gunns being
the prominent family there. Services were conducted at some
private house, usually by the minister officiating in Waterbury,
one Sunday in a month, sometimes every third Sunday; the ser-
vices of the intervening Sunday being conducted by a lay-reader.

After the removal of Rev. Mr. Scovil in 178G, preaching was
intermittent, until, in 1792, Rev. Seth Hart was settled in Water-
bury, officiating half the time in Salem and Woodbury.

In 1795 the society committee had discretionary orders to
hire such Episcopal clergymen as they can obtain to do divine
service during the year.

Soon after, they entered into negotiation with Rev. Alexander
Viets Griswold. but did not succeed in obtaining his services, and
then Mr. Joseph B. Candee was appointed to assist in reading
the sermons, and Mr. Thomas Osborn to read prayers. But before
long, in this same year, the Rev. Tillottson J3ronson became
rector of St. John's, Waterbury, and gave one-quarter of his time
to Salem, and this continued until 1805.

In 1806, Rev. Chauncey Prindle became rector, dividing his
time between Salem and Oxford, and so remained until 1814.

♦This sketch, prepared for the History of the Town and City of Waterbury, was
mostly taken from a manuscript history of the parish, by the Rev. E. C. Gardner, and
loaned me by the Rev. J. W. Ellsworth; since Mr. Ellsworth's death this sketch has disap-
peared. It is hoped that it may be found and preserved.

149

HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH.

In 1801, December 21, a vote was passed to build a church on
Sawmill hill, but February 16, 1803, this vote was rescinded.

In 1803, after several unsuccessful efforts, a small church
building (the vote says 44 by 34 feet) was sufficiently finished for
use. This stood according to the record, "on the hill, about fifty
rods west of Jobamah Gunn's dwelling house," which still retains
the local name. Church hill.

May 17, 1809, a vote was passed "to make the Episcopal
Church in Salem a society house for the public worship of Almighty
God according to the rites and ceremonies of the Protestant
Episcopal Church in the United States of America, and that the
committee see that the church be painted, glass windows put in
and gallery floors laid.

It was in this gallery that the chorister, zealous and engrossed
with his duties, hearing the wrong note taken from the pitch pipe,
brought down his fist like a sledge on the breastwork and shouted,
"Stop! you haven't got the pitch into forty rods." All who be-
lieved in a prescribed form were much startled by this statement
which was not to be found in the rubrics. In 1812 a bell was
placed in the belfry.

In 1830 it was decided to remove the Church to the "Bridge."
$1000 was raised by subscription, and the Church was taken
down, removed and fitted up in good condition and ready for use
in 1832, in which year it was consecrated by Bishop Brownell
under the name of St. Michael. It appears to have had no name
prior to the removal.

Meantime Mr. William C. DeForest, who was mainly instru-
mental in effecting the removal, prepared a hall in his satinet
factory in which services were held while the removal, recon-
struction and repairs were in progress.

The lot on which the Church stands and the "Church Green"
were deeded by Daniel Beecher for ecclesiastical purposes in March,
1832.

During these years Rev. William A. Curtis and Rev. T. J.
Davis successively ministered here, dividing their time between
this parish and Bethany.

150

ST. MICHAEL'S, NAUGATUCK.

On July 21, 1833, the Rev. Oliver Hopson began his ministry.
He was the first resident rector, as Mr. Prindle's house was in the
edge of Oxford, and after the first year gave his whole time to the
parish. His connection with it lasted nearly fourteen years and
until after Naugatuck became a separate town.

The following are Mr. Hopson' s successors:

Rev. James Mackay, 1847-1849.
Rev. Joseph Scott, 1849-1856.
Rev. Thomas G. Carver, 1857-1859.
Rev. C. T. Woodruff, 1860-1861.
Rev. E. E. Johnson, 1861-1865.
Rev. William L. Fitch. 1865-1867.
Rev. James S. Scott, 1867-1878.
Rev. Edward R. Brown, 1878-1880.
Rev. Charles R. Talbot, 1880-1881.
Rev. E. C. Gardner, 1881-1888.
Rev. J. W. Ellsworth, 1888-1901.
Rev. William H. Garth, 1902.

Since Mr. Hopson left, Naugatuck has grown from a village of
1500 to a town of 15,000.

During this time the parish has made steady progress and was
not without two or three special features to make its history.

First came the building of the present brick church and chapel
during the pastorate of the Rev. James S. Scott. The corner
stone was laid on St. Michael's Day, 1875, and the first service in
the completed church was held a year later.

On February 16, 1886, the Centenary of the parish was cele-
brated. While the Rev. Mr. Ellsworth was in charge, the rectory,
so attractively situated on the Green, and now in use, was built —
the old rectory being moved from Church Street to Meadow Street
in order to make room for the block which was erected by the
parish as an investment. This block is known as the Hopson
Block and is called after the former rector of that name.

The present rector, the Rev. William Henry Garth, formerly
assistant minister of St. George's Church, New York, began his
ministry in St. Michael's on March 1, 1902.

151

HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH.

The parish has just succeeded (April, 1906) in raising the neces-
sary fund for a parish house, which will be built during the coming
season.

OFFICERS OF ST. MICHAEL'S PARISH,

Naugatuck, Conn.
Rbv. William Henry Garth, .

John M. Page,

John Wood, 1880,
G. W. Andrew, 1885,
H. E. Baldwin, 1888,
A. H. Datton, 1893,
J. W. Rogers, 1902,
H. H. Schofield, 1904,

Wardens.
Vestrymen.

Rector.

F. F. SCHAFFER.

A. C. TuTTLE, 1882,
G. D. Buck, 1888,
Jacob Keeling, 1891,
C. E. Pearson, 1899,
Leon M. Woodford, 1904,
Frank H. Judd, 190.5.

Clerk of the Parish.
Edward E. Hotchkiss.

Treasurer.
George D. Buck.

Parish Agent.
Horace E. Baldwin.

152

CHAPTER XV.

THE CHURCH IN MIDDLEBURY,

IN 1804 a vote was passed by the Salem Society that the Middle-
bury Society have the liberty of the Church for the purpose
of hiring a clergyman to officiate therein, on Rev. Tillotson
Bronson's absence, with his permission. This is supposed to have
been done for the purpose of allowing the Middlebury people to
hear a candidate, but it shows that they apparently had an
organized society there as early as 1804.

A considerable number of the members of the Gunntown
parish were apparently residents of Middlebury. At the time of
the removal of the building to Naugatuck Center, one of the
reasons given in favor of it, was that a new parish had been
formed in Middlebury. We learn from the journals of the annual
Protestant Episcopal Convention, that a parish at Middlebury,
without name, was admitted in 1830. It appeared to have been
mostly under the care of the Rev. Oliver Hopson, then rector at
Naugatuck. In 1835 the Bishop reports twelve persons confirmed
there. In 1841 Mr. Hopson reports that "his engagement termi-
nated at Easter, since which no stated services are held there."
In 1843 he reports at Naugatuck "nine communicants formerly
numbered in the Middlebury parish." No further reports appear,
and in 1851 the parish was dropped from the list. It is supposed
to have owed its existence mainly to the efforts of Larmon Town-
send, a merchant at Gunntown, near the church, who afterward
removed his business and residence to Middlebury. He was an
ardent churchman and frequently officiated as a lay-reader.
He died May 11, 1858, aged eighty-one years.

153

CHAPTER XVI.

ALL SAINTS PARISH, WOLCOTT.*
Taken mainly from Rev, Samuel Orcutt's History of Wolcott.

IN 1779 an application was made to the Legislature by persons
living in Farmingbury, an Ecclesiastical Society formed from
portions of Farmington and Waterbury, for permission to
form an (Episcopal) Ecclesiastical Society. This was opposed by
the Congregational Society and was not granted.

About 1805 services were held at the house of Daniel Byington
and continued to be held there for several years.

The Episcopal Society was organized January 26, 1811, under
the following call:

CALL FOR THE FIRST SOCIETY MEETING.

We, the subscribers, inhabitants of the town of Wolcott, being of the order
of Christians denominated EpiscopaUans, and being desirous to form ourselves
into a society for the purpose of exercising all the privileges which by law are
granted to the several Societies, being of the aforesaid order of Christians, do
hereby agree to meet on the 26th day of instant November, at the dwelhng
house of Mr. Titus Hotchkiss, in said Wolcott, at one o'clock in the afternoon
of said day, for the purpose of choosing a moderator and clerk of said meeting,
which clerk, when chosen, shall be sworn as the law directs; and also to choose
all other officers which shall then be thought necessary and proper for the
good of said Society, and also to tax ourselves for the purpose of procuring
such proportion of preaching aa shall by the Society be thought best, being at
all times governed and directed by a majority of said meeting, in the doing and
performing of all which, as above written, will ever hereafter consider ourselves
a Society; and to be guided by the same laws and in the same manner as other
Societies of the same denomination, belonging to this State, are.

WoLcorr, November 31, 1811.

John Welton, Moses Welton, Levi Hall, William Parker, William Hotch-
kiss, Ambrose Ives, EHakim Welton, Timothy Hotchkiss, Streat Todd, Phineas
Deming, Joseph Minor, John Norton, Zephana Parker, Bildad Hotchkiss,
John J. Kenea, Asaph Finch, Levi Brown, Erastus Welton, Josepli Welton,
Ehakim Welton, 2d, Titus Hotchkiss, Thomas Welton, Daniel Langdon, Heze-
kiah Bradley, Daniel Byington, David Wakelee, Joseph C. Alcox, Eleazer
Finch.

♦Farmingbury was incorporated a town by the name of Wolcott in 1796

154

ALL SAINTS PARISH, WOLCOTT.

MINUTES OF THE FIRST SOCIETY MEETING.

WoLCOTT, November 26, 1811.

At a legal meeting this day holden at the dwelling house of
Mr. Titus Hotchkiss, by the members of the Episcopal Society,
the following votes were passed by the members of said meeting:
" That Daniel Langdon be moderator of said meeting, and that
Erastus Welton be clerk for the year ensuing; that Moses Welton
be treasurer; that Moses Welton, Bildad Hotchkiss and Irad
Wakelee be Society's Committee for the year; Daniel Langdon
and Thomas Welton, Wardens. Voted that a tax of one cent on
a dollar be laid on the list 1811, and made payable to the Treasurer
the first day of March, 1812, and that Irad Wakelee be Collector
of said Tax. Voted that the annual society meeting be hereafter
holden the last Monday in November, annually. That the society
committee receive the money at the hands of the Treasurer, and
at their discretion apply it for preaching the ensuing year."

For two years after the formation of the Society, the Rev. Mr.
Prindle, then of Naugatuck, supplied the Society with preaching
once a month during the summer season, six or seven months, at
$6. per Sabbath, as the Treasurer's book shows. In 1815 Rev.
Tillotson Bronson preached for them. After this, names of
ministers are not mentioned for some years, yet the amount spent
for preaching seems to have been most of the time nearly fifty
dollars a year.

Services were conducted by laymen regularly in the absence
of a minister, and committees were appointed from year to year
to "read the prayers of the church," and also to read sermons.
Three or four persons were named for each purpose. These
appointments are continued yearly for eleven years. Clergymen
of the adjoining parishes officiated occasionally as will be seen by
votes of St. John's, Waterbury, giving permission for the rector to
officiate in Wolcott for a Sunday occasionally. The services were
held in a private house, usually tliat of Daniel Byington.

An April 10, 1820, the Society, at an adjourned meeting, took
into consideration the subject of building a house of worship, and
" voted that we appoint an agent to consult the minds of gentle-

155

HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH.

men on the expediency of petitioning the Legislature for a grant
of a lottery for the purpose of building a house of worship."*
At an adjourned meeting held in the same month, April 24th,
they " voted that we will build a house of public worship, provided
we can agree upon a spot for that purpose." Also " voted that we
will build a house in the Centre, provided we can be accommodated
with a place to set it, and that Levi Hall, Ambrose Ives, and
Erastus Welton, be a committee to look out a spot to build a
house."

At an adjourned meeting, held December 31st, 1821, they
"voted that we will build a church in case we can get money
enough subscribed, and that we will build it in the centre of the
town, near the Meeting house, and that Archibald Minor, Levi
Hall, Moses Welton, Eben Welton, Willard Plumb, and Ambrose
Ives, be a committee to circulate subscription papers for the
purpose of building a house."

On January 21st, three weeks later, they "voted to ascertain
the probable expense of a house from 40 b> 30 to 46 by 36 feet,
and also to get a plan of the frame." One week later they " voted
to build a church 30 by 40 feet, that it be two stories high, with 20
feet posts and a cupola suitable for hanging a bell." At the
same meeting they directed the Society Committee to " agree with
Moses Pond for a room in his chamber to meet in for one year,
if in their opinion they can get it reasonable." Moses Pond's
house at this time was the public house at the Centre. In the
autumn of the same year they circulated subscriptions to raise
money to defray expenses for hiring a house in which to hold
public worship the year ensuing and it is probable it was this
chamber in Mr. Pond's hotel.

In December, 1823, they accepted the report of their commit-
tee on a place to build a house, and fixed a site and appointed a
committee to forward the enterprise. Between the years 1822
and 1830, the Society met frequently, discussed the whole subject

*Thi8, although perhaps not the last, was among the last of the requests for the estab*
lishment of a lottery for religious or charitable purposes At an early date it had boen
considered a perfectly legitimate method of raising money, and the Bishop's Fund, Cheshira
Academy and various other similar institutions were assisted by lotteries,

156

ALL SAINTS PARISH, WOLCOTT.

of building and appointed committees to forward the same, but
the house did not appear in its place as desired. The society was
not able to build a church that would accommodate even its small
congregation, and during the same time the Congregational
Society was unable to ''hire preaching." The "revival" in the
Spring of 1828 in the Congregational Society under the Rev. Mr.
Scranton had revived the religious energies of the whole commu-
nity, and the Episocpal Society shared in its benefits. In February
of 1830, they changed the size of the house to 24 by 36 feet, and
proceeded to gather materials for the building.

A SITE GIVEN BY THE TOWN.

WoLCOTT, April 5, 1830.

Then met according to adjournment, and at said meeting,
upon the petition of a number of the members of the Episcopal
Society in said town in the form following:

Whereas, the Episcopal Society in the town of Wolcott are
about to erect a house of public worship in said Wolcott, and being
desirous to set the same somewhere near the Congregational
Meeting house in said Wolcott, or as near as a suitable spot of
ground can be obtained for that purpose, we, therefore, whose
names are underwritten, petition the inhabitants of said Wolcott,
in legal town meeting this day assembled, for leave to erect said
house on the most eligible spot of ground belonging to said town
of Wolcott on the south part of the public green.

Signed by John J. Kenea and others,

Wolcott, April 5, 1830.
Voted to grant the prayer of the petition.

During the summer of 1830 the frame was raised, and in
December the outside of the church was covered. The only
record of expense of the Society is a paper covered book, found in
possession of Mr. Orrin Hall, having been left by Mr. Levi Hall
at his death, containing Mr. Erastus Welton's account with the
Society as treasurer from 1811 to 1823, and containing Mr. Levi
Hall's account with the same from 1835 to 1839. These items
give us no account of the cost of the church, nor when it was com-
pleted. It is probable that the church was not finished till some

157

HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH.

time during the year 1832, from the fact that a meeting of the
Society was held on the first Monday of April, 1833, and they
"voted to discharge Levi Hall, Archibald Minor, Thomas H.
Welton, and Orrin Plumb, building committee for the church, from
any further services as committee aforesaid, and from all liabili-
ties in said capacity," which indicates the work of building com-
pleted at that time. The Church was consecrated by Bishop
Brownell, October 2, 1833, and the parish was probably admitted
to the Convention in 1834. Although the admission does not appear
on the journal, the parish is recorded in the list.

In 1836 a stove was put into the church, as appears from a
subscription paper for that purpose, still preserved.

The parish records are imperfect, portions of them having
been destroyed, according to a minute made therein by Rev.
CoUis I. Potter, because "they contained matter inappropriate
for a register of the church." This was done previous to Mr.
Potter's rectorship and he probably got his information from
members of the parish. The character of the inappropriate
matter does not appear.

Mr. Orcutt gives the following list of clergymen who officiated
there.

Rev. Mr. Prindle, of Naugatuck, two years once in six weeks,
from 1811 to 1813.

Rev, Tillotson Bronson, of Cheshire, preached a short time.

From 1817 money was raised nearly or quite every year till
1835, to procure preaching, but the ministers' names are not
mentioned in the records.

1836 and 1837, Rev. Peter G. Clark, of Cheshire.

1838 and 1839, Rev. Mr. Covell, of Bristol.

1840 and 1841, and perhaps longer, Rev. Servilius Stocking,
resident minister.

1843, Rev. Mr. Gregor.

1844, Rev. William G. French.

1845 and 1846, Rev. David Sandford.
1847, Rev. John D. Smith, of Seymour, three years.
1850 to 1855, Rev. CoUis Ira Potter, four years.
1855 and 1856, Rev. Ximenes Alanson Welton.

158

ALL SAINTS PARISH, WOLCOTT.

1858, Rev. Samuel G. Appleton, assistant to Rev. Dr. Clark,
of Waterbury.

1859, Rev. James Morton, of Harwinton, preached most of a
year as supply on Sabbath.

1860, Rev. J. M. Willey, assistant of Rev. Dr. Clark, of Water-
bury. He is said to have been a "smart man," and enjoyed
preaching at Wolcott very much.

Since Mr. Willey, Rev. Prof. Russell, of Waterbury, and others,
had preached a few times.

From this time on by deaths and removals the Society gradu-
ally diminished until at length, about 1865, they ceased to hold
even occasional services. In 1882 the parish was stricken from
the roll of the Convention. A few years later the Church was
taken down and now nothing remains to mark its site, except a
stone in the shape of a cross. The greater part of the pewter
communion service of the church is in possession of the registrar
of the Diocese.

159

CHAPTER XVII.

ST. Paul's, waterville.

AS has been already stated this parish was established as a
mission of St. John's, and a chapel was built in 1851. The
chapel was consecrated June, 1851, by Bishop Brownell,
the sermon on that occasion being preached by the Rev. Thomas
M. Clark, late Presiding Bishop, at that time rector of Christ's
Church, Hartford. In 1852 the Rev. C. G. Acly, assistant at St.
John's, took residence in Waterville and gave almost all his time
to its interests. He was the first clergyman to reside in Water-
ville.

A few years after the establishment of the mission, business at
Waterville declined and the mission languished, although Dr.
Clark always took great interest in it and weekly services and a
Sunday School were always sustained.

When Rev. Dr. Russell took charge of St. Margaret's School,
he offered, November 7th, 1875, that if St. John's would furnish
him a horse and carriage he would take charge of St. Paul's,
which he did efficiently for two years or more, the funds for the
horse and carriage having been raised by subscription.

Again, in 1889, Dr. Russell took charge of St. Paul's for a year
or more.

About the time that the Rev. John H. McCrackan became
assistant at St. John's, there was a revival of business in the village
and Mr. McCracken took great interest in the mission. It nour-
ished under his care and a parish hall was built and opened Sep-
tember 17th, 1903. Mr. McCracken started a movement to have
the mission organized into a parish, but resigned before this was
accomplished. His successor at St. John's, the Rev. H. N. Tragitt
became the first rector of St. Paul's and the parish was organized
and received into union with the Diocesan Convention, June,
1895. The first wardens were Louis Gates and E. E. Bacon,
Harry 0. Miller being the first elected delegate to Convention.
During Mr, Tragitt' s rectorate the Parish Society and Young
People's Association were organized, both of which societies have

IGO

Sr. Paul's Ciiaim;i-, Wati:kvu.lk

ST. PAUL'S, WATERVILLE.

contributed in great measure to the development of the parish
and are active in good works at the present time.

In 1898 Mr. Tragitt resigned and was succeeded by the Rev.
W. A. Rafter. Mr. Rafter stayed only two years. His successor
was the Rev. C. W. Bentham. For a few years the parish lan-
guished, and in January, 1902, the Bishop sent Mr. J. Attwood
Stansfield, a student from the General Theological Seminary, to
assume direction of its affairs. The following Easter, the parish
requested Mr. Stansfield to take charge and when he was ordained
he was elected Minister-in-charge. In April, 1903, the mother
parish, St. John's, gave a deed of the Church and lot to St. Paul's.
The manufacturing interests of the village have prospered and
the parish has kept pace with the growth of the village. A lot
has been purchased, large enough for church, parish house and
rectory. A rectory is assured. A building fund has been started
for a new stone church. Three rooms have been added to the
Parish House, the interiors of both church and parish house have
been remodelled and renovated; a cellar has been made and fur-
nace installed besides other improvements. The parish reports
100 families, 162 communicants, and 150 scholars in the Sunday
School.

The prospects for growth are good. Two more large factories
are to be built in the village and a large and immediate increase
in population may be expected. To meet the needs of the future
a larger church is necessary and efforts are being made to raise
funds to build one.

ST. PAUL'S, WATERVILLE.
Rev. J. A. Stansfield, . Rector.

Wardens.
William A. Faber, Homer C. Senior.

Treasurer.

Harry O. Miller.

Clerk.
Randall C. Frink.
Vestry.
Albert Pott, John T. Cookson,

F. E. Starr, Albert H. Post,

H. M. Grilley, a. H. Lane,

George H. Stevens, William H. Davieb,

Walter T. Abel.

161

CHAPTER XVIII.

TRINITY PARISH.

DURING the ministry of the Rev. Dr. J. L. Clark in St.
John's parish, the population of the town increased from
about 2500 to over 20,000, and the number of families in
the parish from 130 to 480. For some time previous to the burn-
ing of the church, in 1868, it was felt that there was no room for
growth, and one of |the first questions in planning a new church
was, what should be its size. The gallery slips had been sold for
several years preceding this period. The desirability of a new
parish had already been discussed, so that the idea was familiar,
and after due deliberation it was decided that the new church
should be no larger than the 'old one (in fact it contained fewer
sittings), and that as soon as possible measures should be taken
to organize a new parish. On December 15, 1872, a meeting of
St. John's parish was called to consider the subject. The language
of this call is so indicative of the spirit in which the subject was
regarded that it is worth quoting:

"The members of St. John's parish are requested to hold an informal
meeting in this chapel on Sunday evening, December 15, 1872, at a quarter
past eight, for the purpose of consultation in regard to taking the preliminary
steps for the formation of a new parish, if deemed advisable. All persons not
members of the parish, who are attendants at the usual services of the church,
are earnestly invited to be present."

A committee of six was appointed at this meeting to report
at an adjourned meeting to be held a week later. This committee
reported that they were "unanimously of the opinion that a
necessity exists for such a movement, and the only question
arising is whether the present is the time, or whether it should
be delayed until our present church edifice is completed and paid
for," and in view of all the circumstances the committee recom-
mended postponement. The report is unanimously concurred
in, although it is added that "some members of the committee

162

TRINITY PARISH.

have felt called upon to yield their former opinions for the sake
of the general welfare" (meaning that they preferred immedi-
ate action).

The cost of the new church was so heavy that it did not seem
possible to do anything more at that time. The project was,
however, by no means abandoned, and it may be said to have
constituted from this time forward one of the plans of the parish.

Dr. Clark was in full sympathy with this movement, and did
not allow it to be lost sight of. A meeting of the parish was
called for further consideration, February 9, 1874, and the rector
presented "a paper of great interest in regard to his work during
the last twenty years." It was a statistical comparison of this
parish with several of the larger parishes in the state, showing the
progress that had been made and the propriety of adopting a still
more aggressive policy. At the annual parish meeting, April 6,
1874, a proposal was made by the senior warden, S. M. Bucking-
ham, who had now become the owner of the temporary chapel,
with reference to the use of that building for a new parish, if one
could be organized, or as a mission chapel, if it should be thought
best to begin in that way. But the action was postponed; the
parish could not yet see the way clear to meet the expense.

The death of Samuel W. Hall occurred on March 5, 1877.
He left by his will $15,000, to accumulate for five years and then
to be used for the building of a church as a memorial to his wife,
the building to be of stone, and the sittings to be free. This
bequest seemed to make the way clear for the new movement,
and at the meeting held on Easter Monday, April 2, 1877, a com-
mittee reported that $2000 had been pledged for the annual
expenses of a new parish, and that fifty-two families had consented
to join the same.

In this connection the following letter from the Bishop is
worth preserving:

To the Rector and Vestrymen of St. Johns' Parish, Waterbury, Conn.:
My dear Brethren:

Under provisions of Canon XII. of Connecticut I hereby notify you of the
appHcation just received by me for the formation of a new parish within the
Hmits of the existing parish of St. Jolin's, Waterbury.

163

HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH.

I warmly congratulate all the good people of the parish on the admirable
way in which the proposed parish has been started.

And am affectionately yours,
MiDDLETOWN, April 11, 1877. J. Williams,

Bishop of Conn.

On behalf of those interested in the new enterprise a request
was made that St. John's parish furnish $15,000 towards purclias-
ing a lot and building a church. A committee was appointed on
behalf of St. John's to confer with a committee of those who
desired to form a new parish, in relation thereto. This committee
reported in favor of giving to the new parish $1500 for the next
year, and $1000 a year for four years thereafter, or until the new
parish should have erected a church edifice. At the next parish
meeting it was reported that this offer had been accepted, and that
a new parish would be formed as soon as the necessary permission
could be obtained. The clerk announced the names of the follow-
ing persons, nineteen in number, as giving notice of their with-
drawal from St. John's for the purpose of forming the new parish:

Nathan Dikeman, Rufus E. Hitchcock, Edward L. Frisbie,
Edward C. Lewis, Aner Bradley, John S. Castle, Charles J. Pier-
pont, Jr., Herbert P. Camp, James E. Coer, Frank E. Castle,
Thomas R. Taylor, Samuel P. Williams, Joshua K. Smith, Edward
D. Steele, Joseph P. Merriman, John W. Smith, Samuel Booth,
William W. Bonnett, Frederick H. LaForge.

At a meeting held May 24, 1877, it was voted "that the treas-
urer be directed to pay the amounts appropriated to Trinity (the
new) parish." The treasurer and agent were also authorized to
borrow money for the expenses of the parish. A year afterward,
at a meeting held May 23, 1878, a communication was received
from Trinity parish to the effect that their financial condition
and prospects were such that they would not need to call for the
payment of the sum pledged to them for the coming year. And
nothing more under that pledge was paid, a similar notice being
given in each of the succeeding three years. The new parish
took from the old many young people active in church work, and
immediately entered upon a prosperous career.

While the old parish was of necessity reduced by this "swarui-

164

'■byA'iiirt.Lf't'^

TRINITY PARISH.

ing" process, both in numbers and in strength, the separation was
simply the natural result of the growth of the church and the town.
It took place with the utmost harmony and good will, and marked
no line of varying opinion, ecclesiastical or otherwise.

At a meeting held May 22, 1877, the parish was formally
organized and the name "Trinity" adopted. The following
officers were elected:

Wardens, R. E. Hitchcock, J. W. Smith.
Clerk, E. T. Root.

Vestrymen, E. L. Frisbie, J. S. Castle, Nathan Dikeman, A. O.
Shepardson, E. C. Lewis, S. P. Williams, the Rev. F. T. Russell,
E. D. Steele, J. C. White, F. E. Castle.

The Rev. Mr. Russell was requested to take spiritual charge of
the parish until a rector could be secured. The building on Grand
Street formerly used as a Universaliat chapel was leased for five
years, and the opening service, conducted by Mr. Russell, was
held on Trinity Sunday, 1877. The Rev. Richard W. Micou was
soon after chosen rector, and held the position for fifteen years.

Soon after the organization of the parish, steps were taken with
reference to the building of a church, and subscriptions were
begun. A list printed about this time, of persons connected with
the parish, has the names of 131 heads of families, and seventeen
single persons, not included in any of the families. In selecting
a site for the new edifice, attention was at first directed to the lot
on Leavenworth Street owned by St. John's parish, and on
July 17, 1880, St. John's voted to sell this lot to Trinity parish
for $7000. But after considerable discussion the lot on Prospect
Street on which the church stands, was chosen, and was purchased
in December, 1881, from Charles B. Merriman for $16,000. The
corner stone was laid by Bishop Williams, May 21, 1883.* The
first services in the new edifice were held May 18, 1884.

* In the copper box placed in the corner stone were deposited the names of the officers
of the parish, of the architect and contractors, a copy of the contract, a Bible, prayer
book and hymnal, diocesan journal for 1S83, a catalogue of St. Margaret's School, a
church almanac for 1883, a full set of coins of 1883, parish reports for 1883, a full set of
the previous reports as given in the parish paper, a photograph of the elevation of the
building, etc. The responses were sung throughout and the music was heartily rendered
by the large choir present, accompanied by a large cabinet organ.

165

HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH.

On Easter Sunday, 1886, the offertory was sufficient to cancel
tlie remaining debt (about $4000), and the church was conse-
crated by Bishop Williams, May 27.

The building is of Plymouth granite, with broken surface, the
caps, sills and belt being of the same material, with cut surface.
The outside dimensions, the Sunday School-room being included,
are about 135 feet by 65; in 1900 a parish house was added, making
the whole length about 160 feet. The stone spire is eighty-five
feet high, and the sittings number about 530. It is of Gothic
architecture; the architect was Henry M. Congdon. The cost of
the church and lot was somewhat over $70,000, of which Samuel
W. Hall's gift, with the accumulations, paid $22,500, G. W. Burn-
ham's gift $10,000, and the parishioners of St. John's about
$5000, and the remainder was raised by subscriptions in the
parish.

Trinity Church is a memorial of Mrs. Samuel W. Hall, antl
this fact is recorded on a tablet in the chancel:

In memoriam. Mrs. Nancy Austin Hall, Born April 13, 1815. Died
February 8, 1868. To perpetuate her memory this tablet is erected by the
last will and testament of her husband, Samuel W. Hall, to whose generous
bequest this church owes in large part its erection in this year of grace, 1883.

Other memorials are:

Brass Tablet:
In Memory of
CHARLES SCOTT,
♦ 1817-1893.

A Benefactor of this Parish.

Remember me, O My God for good. — Nehemiah XIII, 31.

Brass Tablet:

In Memory' of

ARTHUR CASTLE NORTHROP,

1848-1902.
Some time Vestryman of this Parish.
Litany Desk:

To THE glory of GoD AND IN LOVING MEMORY OF

GEORGE NORTHROP and LOLA CASTLE his Wife.

Each aged 7G.

1818-1894.

Members of the Parish since its organization.

Make them to be numbered with thy

Saints in Glory everlasting,

166

TRINITY PARISH.

Organ Console:

In Memoriam
EDITH HALL MICOU.
Entered into Life Eternal

June 2, 1881.
Choir Stall:

To THE GLORY OF GoD AND THE GRATEFUL MEMORY OF

MARY A. THOMPSON COER.

Born March 16, 1825.

Choir Stall:

To THE GLORY OF GOD AND THE GRATEFUL MEMORY OF

MARGARET KIRK CLARK.

Died June 5, 1895.

Window:

In Memoriam

LUCY SABRINA SHEPARDSON.

And with the morn those angel faces smile

Which we have loved lonp; since and lost awhile.

Window:

In fraternal Memory of

NATHAN DIKEMAN.

Born December 9, 1828; died November 3, 1890.

Window:

To the GLORY OF GOD AND IN LOVING MEMORY OF

EDWARD DANIEL STEELE.
Born November 20, 1838; died May 24, 1900.

A chancel window in memory of Samuel W. Hall was con-
tributed by the ladies of the parish. A window in memory of
Dr. Clark was contributed by the Sunday schools of St. John's
church. A window, the gift of Mrs. J. M. L. Scovill, is a memorial
of her children, Thomas C. Morton, who died February 13, 1876,
aged 43, J. M. L. Scovill, Jr., who died July 9, 1862, aged 11
years, and Sarah A. Whittlesey, who died December 15, 1877,
aged twenty-five years. A rose window commemorates Almon
Farrel. A part of Mr. Burnham's gift of $10,000 was used in
purchasing the organ, and in the north transept is placed a
memorial tablet with the following inscription :

In memory of Maria Louisa Brownell, wife of Gordon W. Burnham
and daughter of the Right Reverend Thomas C. Brownell, the third Bishoii
of Connecticut. Born in New Haven, Conn., June 5, 182-1, died in the city
of New York, October 5, 1883.

167

HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH.

In her home, loving and beloved; to those without, quiet and gracious;
the friend of the sorrowful; the helper of the needy; a steadfast disciple
of the Lord. She rests from her labors, and her works do follow her.

The eagle lectern, the gift of the Rev. F. T. Russell, is inscribed:
"In memoriam Sigourney Russell obit 1880." The altar
cross was given by Mrs. A. I. Upson, "In memoriam Ambrose
Ives Upson, died July 7, 1879." The baptismal font, "In loving
memory of the Rev. Jacob Lyman Clark, D.D.," is from "the
children of Trinity Church." The altar and reredos were the
gift of R. E. Hitchcock, who gave also a chancel window, inscribed:
" In memoriam Agnes Dubois, wife of Rufus E. Hitchcock, born
September 2, A. D. 1831. Entered into rest January 11, 1886."
A chancel window, the gift of Mr. Hitchcock's daughter and her
husband (Mr. and Mrs. A. C. Northrop), reads: "In memoriam
Rufus Edward Hitchcock, born June 19, 1821. At rest June 18,
1888. First Senior Warden of this parish." The books, altar
cloths, clock and chancel furniture are also gifts from various
friends, mostly ladies connected with the parish.

The erection of such a church was a great undertaking for a
new society, largely made up of young men, most of whom were
dependent on their own exertions for all they had, and it was not
accomplished without much effort and self-denial. But the rapid
growth and the financial success of the parish prove that the free
church system is adapted to a congregation of moderate means
in a growing manufacturing town. The current expenses were
met from the start, although the parish was burdened with an
annual rental of $700 for the church building used for the first
seven years. The congregation, which now numbers over four
hundred families, could be but poorly accommodated in the 110
pews of the church, were they rented, or assigned to definite
families.

The parish record for the twenty-eight years to 1905, shows
1295 persons baptized, 833 confirmed, 622 marriages, and 966
burials. The Sunday school has 400 scholars, and the number of
communicants is 843.

In April, 1893, the parish purchased a rectory on North Willow
Street, which stands on the ground spoken of in the account of

168

TRINITY PARISH.

St. John's parish, as the probable birthplace of the Rev. James
Scovil, the first resident rector of the Episcopal church in Water-
bury. August 25, 1900, they exchanged this for the building next
north of the church.

Societies for carrying on the institutional work of the Parish
are: Altar Guild, Babies' Branch of Junior Auxiliary, Junior
Auxiliary, Young Women's Guild, Girls' Calisthenic Club, Boys'
Club, Women's Missionary Society, St. Elizabeth Guild, Parish
Sewing School, Elocution Class, Sight Singing Class.

THE REV. R. W. MICOU.

Richard Wilde Micou, the first rector, the sixth child of Wil-
liam C. and Anna D. Micou, was born in New Orleans, La., June
12, 1848. The family is of Huguenot extraction, descended from
Paul Micou, a lawyer of Nantes, France, who settled in Virginia
soon after the revocation of the Edict of Nantes.

His college education was much interrupted by the disturbed
state of the South during the Civil War, but he spent three yeais
at the State Universities of Georgia and Alabama, and afterwards
studied at the University of Edinburgh, Scotland, where, in 1868,
he took the highest honors in the classics, under Professor John
Stuart Blackie. His theological training was carried on at the
University of Erlangen, Bavaria. He was ordained to the diacon-
ate of the Protestant Episcopal church at Sewanee, Tenn., June
12, 1870, by Bishop Green of Alabama, and was advanced to the
priesthood in his first parish, at Franklin, La., November 15, 1872,
by Bishop Wilmer. In 1874 he took charge of St. Paul's church
at Kittanning, Penn., and in July, 1877, accepted a call to the
rectorship of Trinity church in this city, and took charge of the
parish seven weeks after its organization.

Mr. Micou served from 1883 to 1891, with the exception of one
year, as a member of the City board of education, in which position
he pursued a course calculated to win the gratitude of all who
desire thoroughness and consistency in public instruction. He
was conspicuous for his faithfulness as a school visitor and as a
member of the committee on text-books and teachers during the
entire period.

169

HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH.

In June, 1892, Mr. Micou accepted a call to the professorship
of systematic theology and apologetics in the Philadelphia Divinity
school. The Church Standard spoke of him at that time as follows:

"He finds himself in so thoroughly sympathetic accord with
the faculty, and is so fully satisfied of the large usefulness which
lies before the school, that he has resolved to cast in his lot with
them. Professor Micou is in the prime of life, and although he
is a scholar of distinction and a man of mature thought, still re-
tains all of the vigor of youth, and will enter on his work with
great enthusiasm.

In 1898 he accepted the chair of Systematic Divinity and
apologetics in the Episcopal Seminary at Alexandria, Va,

In May, 1872, Mr. Micou married Mary Dunnica, of New Or-
leans. They have had six children, three of whom are living.

The Rev. Frederick Dashiels Buckley, the present rector, was
born at Fishkill, N. Y., in 1855. He received his early education
at the East Greenwich (R. I.) academy, and graduated at Trinity
college in 1884. He studied theology at the Berkeley Divinity
school, and was ordained deacon June 1, 1887, and priest March
23, 1888.

He was rector of Grace Church, Stafford Springs, from 1887
to 1889, and of St. Andrew's Church, St. Johnsbury, Vt., from
1889 to 1892. He officiated for the first time as rector of Trinity
Church on October 1, 1892.

On June 16, 1887, he married Nellie A. Partridge of Providence,
R. I. They have two children.

A Parish house was built in 1900 and dedicated by the Bishop
of the Diocese May 24, 1902. The house with furnishings cost
about fourteen thousand dollars, and the value of the entire
property to-day is about $175,000, free of all indebtedness.

New memorial windows have been added and an endowment
begun.

The Parish has received since 1900 a bequest of $10,000 from

Edward F. Lewis; from E. C. Lewis $1000; from Ann N. Comber

. $250; from Lillian Redfern $150; from Mrs. A. C. Northrop, to

establish the A. C. Northrop fund $1000; from Mrs. Hannah

Terrell $1,000.

170

Rev. Frederick D. UucKLEy.

TRINITY PARISH.

The Parish continues to be what is known as a "Free Church,"
supported by the free-will offerings of the people, and ministers
to an ever increasing number of people as the city grows in popu-
lation.

OFFICERS OF TRINITY PARISH.
Waterbury, Conn.

Rev. Frederick D. Buckley, M.A.,
Rev. Frederick; E. Buck, B.A.,

Joshua K. Smith,

C. J. PlEUPONT,

F. P. Welton,
H. M. Steele,

G. B. Churchill,
C. F. Davis,

Wardens.

Vestrymen.

Rector.
Asst. Rector.

George H. Benham.

S. J. Marsh,

R. S. WOTKYNS,

C. H. Skilton,
R. S. Walker,
J. L. Sweiger,
C. J. Hackbtt.

ABTHxm D. Noble, Clerk.

Roger S. Wotkyns, Treasurer.

171

ERRORS AND OMISSIONS.

Page VII. Fifth line in second paragraph: "howeyer" should be
however."

Page 54. Fifth line from bottom of page: Abram Ives — Died July
;, 1869 (not 1819), aged 51 years.

Page 58. First line at top of page: Should read 1901 instead of 1891.

Page 58. Fifth line from top of page: Should read 1889 instead of 1899.

Page 61. Last line in first parargraj^h: the date should be July 21, 1906.

Page 63. The death of Abram Joseph Warner occurred February 25,

107.

Page 93. Fourth line in second paragraph: "Bryan" should read
Bronson. ' '

l'?X^

INDEX.

The names in the lists of Church officers, of taxes, and of Dr. Mansfield's
baptisms are not repeated in the index.

Abel, Walter T., .
Aberdeen, Scotland,
Acly, Rev. C. G., .
Adams, Reuben, .
Agricultural Conditions,
Alcox, Joseph,
All Saints, Oakville, .

" " Wolcott, .
American Pin Co.,
Amistad Negroes,
Andrews, Rev. Samuel,
Andrew, G. W.,
Appleton, Rev. Samuel G
Arnold, Jonathan,
Atwill, Rev. E. R.,
Atwater, Thomas,
Atwood, Wallace, .
Austin, Rev. Mr., .
Wilbert N., '

" Edmund,

Bacon, Dr. Leonard,
Bacon, E. E., . .
Badger, David,
Badger, Rev. Joseph,
Bailey, Rev. Melville K.
Barber, Rev. Virgil H.,
" Mary Austin,
" Samuel Joseph,
" Rev. Daniel, .
Baldwin, Noah,

" Dr. Isaac, .

" Rev. Asahel,

H. E., . .

Page

. 161

, 65, 108, 160

. 79

71
. 154
. 146
. 154
. 69
. 69
. 144
. 152
59, 159
139, 213
. 104
25, 93
148
147
143
73

160

. 60, 104
30, 74, 97
31
32
30
25
72
141
152

E.,

Barlow, Rev. WilUam,

33, 66, 68
Barns, Thomas, ....
Barnes, Rev. Morton A.,
Bartlett, Joseph E

" H. H.,
Bates, Rev. John M.,
Beach, Asa,
" Asahel,
" (Rev. John),
Beard, John, .
Beardsley, Dr. E.
Bass viol bought,
Beardsley, Levi,
Benedict, Aaron,
Beecher, Daniel,
Beers, Andrew,
Bell in Gunutown,
Bells, chime of,
Benson, Bishop,
Bennett, Rev. Mr.
Benham, Isaac,

George H
" Henry,
Bentham, Rev. W
Berry, Dr.,
Bethany, .

Bible and Prayer Book (S
" new received,
" old given away,
Biddle, Rev. Jacob A.,
Bingham, Rev. Dr. J. F.,

57, 60, 82, 103,
Blakeslee, Rev. Solomon,

Paqe

74, 99

61, 107

148

142

144

IX, 14
30
120
25
150
149
150
50, 51
4
107
28, 76
171
76
161
142
22
50
98
98
61

104, 108
.21,90

173

HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH.

Page

.24,93

. 141

. 144

105, 106

104, 169, 58

149

Blakeslee Jacob, .

Jude, . .
Rev. Edward,
Blake, Seth, . . .
Booth, Mrs. Eunice T.,
" JohnC, . .
" David, . .
" Samuel,
Bolster, Mrs. Marcia, .
Bonnett, William W.,
Bradley, Abner, .

" Aner, . /
" Abram, .
" Hezekiah,
Bristol, ....
Brewster, Elder, .
Bronson, Capt. Amos,
Azor, . .
" Judge Beimett,
" Herman,
" Joseph, .
" Seba,

" Deacon Stephen,
" Susannah, .

Dr. Tillotson, 2, 6, 13, 29,
91, 94, 96, 97, 139, 149, 147,
156, 158
Brown, Daniel, . . . VIII,
" Rev. Edward R,,
" Hezekiah,
" James,
" Joseph,
" Levi, . .
" Samuel, .
" Mrs. William,
Brownell, Bishop, . 45

" " window, .

" " monument.

Buck, George D., .

" Rev. Frederick E.,
Buckingham, Mrs. J. A., ,
" Mrs. John ,

" Capt. John, VIII,

VIII,

164

154

24, 29

28,76

25,66

144

151

144

154

76, 144

160,

104

152

171

145

Buckingham Scovill M.,
" S. McLean,

Bucks Hill, . . . . 1
Buckley, Rev. Frederick D.,
Bulkeley, Gov. Morgan,
Burgiss, Rev. N. B., .
Buel, Mrs. Cornelia, .
Burnhara, Gordon W.,

" Mrs. Louisa B

Burhans, Rev. Daniel,
Burrall, Mr. and Mrs. E.
Byington, Daniel,
Boy Choir, ....

Candee, Joseph B., . . . , 149
Carter, Rev. J. F., .... 106

" Mr., 76

Carver, Rev. Thomas G., . 108, 151
Camp, Herbert P., . . . . 164
Caskey, Rev. Tahaffero D., . . 107
Castle, Frank E., . . . . 164, 165

" John S., . . . . 164, 165

Choir Boys, 78

Centenary, celebration, . . . 104

Chandler, Rev. C. W., . . . 59

Rev. T. B., . . . 5

Chatham, 22

Christmas Eve Customs, ... 65

Churchill, C. B., 171

Chime of bells received, . . . 108

Cleveland, Moses, 24

Claremont, N. H., ... 30, 31
Clowes, George H., . . . 101, 120
Church of 1797, voted, ... 94
Church Street, .... 26,
Church, second, decorations,

burned, . . 45, 101,

" damaged by storm,

" vote to sell old .
lot of First, . .

" Green, Naugatuck,

" Company, ... 79,

" Christ's, Watertown,

Page

. 74

. 148

, 14, 72

170, 171

104

. 142

. 105

102, 167

49, 167

. 142

23, 155

. 154

108

111

150

1L>3

144

174

INDEX.

Page

Church Home and Charity

Foundation, .... 80

Hill, Naugatuck, . .150

Churchman's Magazine, . . 6, 30

Clark, Rev. Jacob, L., D.D., 16, 33,

36-44, 67, 100, 108, 102, 78, 162

" Mrs. Mary T., . . . . 41

" Mrs. Mary DeF., ... 41

" Mrs. Anna G., . . . 41, 68

" Edward S., .... 54

" EUas, 73

" Rev. Anson, .... 62

" Cyrus, 45

" Rev. Herman Munson, . 62

" John, Jr., 76

" John, 176

" Margaret Kirk, . . . 167
" Rev. Peter G., ... 158
" Rev. Orange, .... 36

" Samantha, 41

Cleveland, Herbert W., . . . 143

Cinquez, 69

Coer, Rev. Charles C, ... 63

" James E., 164

" Mary A. T., 167

Congregational forms, ... 64
Convention, 1788, ... 69, 90
Consecration, Church of 1797, . 27
" 1848, 45, 100
" 1873, .
Consecration of Christ's Church,
Comber, Ann,

Cook, Samuel,

" Miss Susan,
Cookson, John T.,
Cossett, John, .
Confirmation, remarkable
Crockett, Rev. J. A., .
Cotton, Palmyra,
Converse, Rev. R. R.,
Congdon, Henry M., .
Covell, Rev. Mr., .
Corner Stone, Trinity,

99,

49
145
170
76
. 68
. 161
28, 73, 98
. 23
. 148
79, 103
57, 103, 104
166
158
165

Cujjola,

Cunningham, Rev. H. N.,

Culver, Thomas M., .

Cuitiss, Frankhn L., .

Curtis, Eli,

" Judge Holbrook,
" Rev. W. A., .

Cutler, Dr. Timothy, .
" Leman W.,

Cranmer Abp., Life of,

Dallas, John, .
Dartmouth College,
Daughters of the King,
Davis, Rev. T. C,

" C. F., .
Davies, William,
Davenport, Rev. John
Dayton, Wallace E.,

A. H., .
Dennis, Phineas,
Denison, Rev. S. D.,
Dexter, Prof. F. B.,
DeForest, William C,
Derby, ....
Dorman, Rev. L. M.,
Doolittle, James, .
Thomas,
Dowd, John, .
Downes, Lewis T.,
Driggs, Theodore I.,

" Asa J.,
Duffield, Rev. S. B.,
Dunbar, Moses,
Dunnica, Mary (Micou),

East Plymouth,
Eastwood, Rev. B.,
Elton, John P., .
" James S., .
Mrs. Betfoy,
" Oiivo M.,
Eggleston, Rev. A. C,

77,55

Fagb

. 94

146, 148

113,116

93, 24

150

VII

147

187
22, 29

68
150
171
161
105
143
152
154
142
6
150
4
142
144
144

77
, 69, 102

69
142
141
170

142

54, 74

, 106, 109

58, 104

. 105

175

HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH.

Page

Ellsworth, Rev. J. W., . . . 151

Elsdon, Rev. W. P., . . . . 65

Episcopal, 30

Episcopal pious, 20

Episcopal Society, .... 89

Expenses of Parish, .... 65

Faber, W. A., 161

Fabrique, Charles, .... 69

Falkner, Rev. Howard, ... 23

Farmingbury, 154

Farrand & Votey .... 78

Farrell, Almon, 167

Ruth A., 55

Field, Miss Alice, 68

Finch, Asaph, 154

" Eleazar, 154

First, Ecclesiastical Society, . 3
Frisbie, Edward L., . . 164, 165

Fitch, Rev. W. L., . . . . 151
Foot, Rev. Mr. David, . 21, 22, 91

French, Rev. Mr . , . . . . 158

Frink, Randall C, .... 161

Fulford, Jonathan, . . . . 144

"Gal" and gallery, .... 71

Gammack, Rev. Dr. James, . 15, 142

Gardner, Rev. E. C, . . . . 151

Garnsey, Jonathan, . . . . 144

Garth, Rev. Wm. H., ... 151

Gas first used, 65

Gates, Edward H., .... 143

" Louis, 160

General Assembly, .... 11

Geer, Rev. Alpheus, . . 33, 98, 99

" Sarah Marshall, ... 33

" George J., . . . . 62, 33

" William Montague, . . 33

GilUland, Rev. John D., . . . 142

Glebe Swamp, 94

" House, 25

Goodrich, Rev. A. B., ... 142

Grand St. Cemetery, .... 36

Page
Green, Rev. William, . 26, 28, 95

Grigson, William, 4

Griswold, Rev. A. V., . 28, 94, 149

Grilley, H. M., 161

Gunn, Abel, IX, 149

" Job amah, . . . . 149, 150

" Nathaniel, .... IX

Gunns of Gunntown, .... 73

Gunntown, ... 6, 22, 149, 150

Haddam 3

Hall, Benjamin, 24

" Ruth, 24

" Rev. Mr., 21

" Nancy M., 54

" Nancy A., 166

" Rev. Charles T., ... 61

" Levi, 154, 157

" Orrin, 157

" Samuel W.

57, 73, 79, 81, 162, 166, 167

Hart, Ehzabeth, 24

142

, 120, 149

. 86

. 104

. 148

. 144

. 76

. 55

. 139

58, 164

63,79

59, 108

« Rev. Dr. Samuel,
" Matthew, . .
" Rev. Seth, 2, 23, 29
Harrison, Widow,

" Benjamin,
Heminway, B. H.,
H. H.,
" Merit,

Hendee, Charles H.,
Hickox, Abram, .
John, . .
" Joseph,
" Preserved,
Hill, Robert W., .
Hillard, Rev. E. B.,
Hitchcock, Rufus E.,

Rev. Dr. Wm
WilUam R.,
Hebron, ...
Home, Rev. Geo. W. ,
Hook & Hastings,

,92

176

INDEX.

Hooker, Rev. W. E., . .

Horsesheds,

Hoadley, Almira, ....
" David, ....
Holcomb, Rev. Dr. Frederick,
72,
Holden, Rev. S. R., . .
Holmes, Israel,
Hopkins, Judge Joseph, .

" Grammar School,
Hopson, Rev. Oliver,
Hotchkiss, Bildad,

Edward E., .
" Timothy,

Titus, .
William,
Hubbard, Rev. Bela,
Hull, Capt. Joseph

" Rev. Ambrose,
Humiston, Bennett,
Hurlburt, Emma, .

Page

142

100

145, 146

. 60

. 25

1,3,10

150, 153

154, 155
. 152
. 154

154, 155
. 164
29
8
. 90
. 76
. 77

Inscription on Church, ... 56

Inventory ot Church property, . 85

Ives, Abram, . , , . . 49, 101

" Ambrose, 154

" MaryB., 28

" Reuben, 28

" Rev. Mr., 21

Jarvis, Bishop, . 26, 97, 142, 147

Jericho, 29

Jessup, Rev. Edward, . . 108

" Rev. Emerson, . . . 142

Jesuits, 32

Johnson, Rev. Samuel,

VIII, IX, 2, 148, 151
Rev. E. E., . . . . 151

Judd, Asa, 144

" Frank, H., 152

" John, . . . 10,79,111,119
" Samuel, 25

Kellogg, Hon. S. W., .
Kennea, John A., .

John J., . .
KeeUng, Jacob,
Kewley, Rev. Dr.,
King, Daughters of, .
Kingston, N. B., .
Kingsbury, Frederick J.,

Mrs. F. J.,
" Miss Alice,

John, . .
Klimpke, Paul,

LaForge, Frederick H.,
Land sold, ....
Langdon, Daniel,
Laity, The,

Lamb, Mrs. WilUam, .
Lampson, William K.,
LaRue, E V., . . .
Leasing land, .
Leavenworth, Rev. Mark
Hall, .
William,
Lee, Rev. J. W., .
Lewis, Rev. John N. Jr.
58

" Edward C, .

" Edward F., .

" Rev. Dr. Wm. H.,
Library, established .
Lightning strikes Church,
Long hill barn,
Lottery for All Saints,
Lumsden, Rev. Mr., .
Lumpkin, WilUam L.,
Lyon, Rev. James,

Paqb
105
154
157
152
147
68
17,50
9,55, 105
50
68
25
148

. 164
. 107
154, 155
71
. 68
. 98
. 143
. 196
. 9,72
. 68
. 25
. 104

61, 107, 146
164, 165
170
146
34
34
17
156
142
143
2, 139

Mackay, Rev. James, . . . 151
McConnell, Rev. S. D., . . . 146
Mansfield, Rev. Richard,

2, 8, 13, 29, 106, 141, 139, 147
McCrackan, Rev. John H., . 61, 160

177

HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH.

Page

Marsh, S. J,, 171

" Rev. Mr., . . • . . . 191
Mayo, Rev. March C, . . . 106
McNulty, Rev. R. R., . 57, 60, 103
Memorials in Christ Chxrrch, Water-
town, 146

Memorial to Dr. Clark, . . . 104

Meneely & Co., 52

Merriam family, 77

Merriman, Charles B., . . 55, 165

Charlotte B., . 56, 68

Sarah, .... 79

Helen, .... 68

Joseph P., . . 164

" Nancy, . . . 147

Micou, Rev. R. W., . . 9, 105, 165

Edith Hall, .... 167

Middlebury, . . . . 3, 98, 153

MiUer, Rev. Royal R., ... 61

" Rev. M., ..... 107

" Rev. S. K., .... 142

" Harry O., .... 160,161

Minor, Archibald, 156

« William H., . . . . 78

" Joseph, 154

Mitchell, Mrs. CM.,. . . . Ill
" Charles F., .... 105

Monson, Ellen, 77

Morgan, Rev. Allen C, 35, 36, 97, 100
Morris, Rev. Theophilus, . 2, 139

Morse, Burdette, 143

Morton, Rev, James, . . . . 159

Thomas, C, . . . . 167

Munson, Herman, .... 28

W. J., 148

Music, 76

Naugatuck, 3

New Cambridge, 2, 89

Nichols, Capt. George, . 17, 73, 144

" Humphrey, .... 73

Rev. James, . . 2, 62, 141

Rev. John F., . . . 146

Page
Noble, Arthur P., .... 171

" Frank B., 148

Norton, John, 154

Northrop, .\rthur C, . . . 16, 68

George andJLola, . . 161

Northbury, .... 2,139,140

North Haven, 1

Norton, Rev. John, D.D., . . .68
Nova Scotia, 2

Oakville, VIII

Officers of the Church, ... 14

Old Bible, 14

Organ purchased, 77

" presented, . . . . 49, 101

« installed, 36

Osborn, Thomas, .... 86, 149
Oxford, 22

Rafter, Rev. W. A., .... 161

Real Estate, HI

Records, 86

Rectory lot and deed, . . 104, 126
Redfern, Lilian, . . . . 170

Reid, Rev. Horace Hall, . . . 146
Revolution, meetings during, . 89
Rice, Frederick B., . . . . 120
" Leverett E., .... 77

Richards, John, 14

Richardson, John, . . . Ill

Rev. Nathaniel, D.D., 145
Riverside Cemetery, .... 36
Rochester, Bishop of, ... 14
Rogers, Rev. Ammi, .... 92

" J. W., 152

Root, Edward T., .... 165

Rosati, Bishop, 32

Rossiter, Rev. Rodney, . . . 142
Rowley, John, .... 77, 100
St. John, .... 36
Rowland, Rev. Edmund, D.D.,

57, 104, 105, 106, 107
Rural habits of Clergy, ... 35

178

INDEX.

Page
Russell, Rev. Francis T., D.D.,

60, 102, 105, 169, 160, 165

Huntley, 60

" Sigourney, .... 168

11
158
63, 102
91
3
22, 23

77, 100, 102
90
152

'*. Sabbady' ' house,
Sanford, Rev. David,

" Rev. Frederick R.,
Salem, ....

" Bridge, . .

" Society,
Sandland, John H, Jr.,
69,
Schoolhouse, .
Schofield, H. H.,
Scott, Ashley,

" Charles,

" Daniel,

" David, .

" Edmund,

" Gershom,

" Rev. James S.,

" Rev. Joseph,

" Minnie A., .

" Jonathan, .

« Roxy, . .
Scovill, Alfred H.,

" John, . .

" James, 2, 9, 16, 17, 18, 19, 50,
87, 89, 104

" Elias, .... 17, 18, 62

" Edward, lU

Miss Etta, .... 68

" Rev. Mr., 149

" Misses CaroUne and Mary, 66

" Samuel, 144

" James M. L., . . . 74, 79
Mrs. James M. L., . . 167

" James M. L., Jr., . . 167

James M. L. and W. H. 126

« William, 144

" WiUiam H., 56, 54, 74, 76, 66
Scranton, Rev. Mr., .... 157

98
117,79,166

54
144
9
144
151
151

54
117

54
148

Page
. 142
28, 145
95

Scudder, Rev. Henry T.,

Seabury, Bishop, .

Seating Church,

Selkrigg, WiUiam, .... 10

Senior, Homer C, .... 161

Sewing School, 68

Searle, Rev. Roger, . . . . 142

Seymour, 22

Sharp, Sally A., 103

Shelton, Rev. Philo, .... 141
Shepardson, Lucy Saloma, . 167

Sigourney, Mary, 56

Singing Schools, early, ... 78

Smith, Charles H., ... 69, 148

" HobartC, .... 143

" Henry A., 143

" Rev. Henry G., . . . 142
" Mrs. EUzabeth, ... 68
" Rev. John Eaton, . 59, 101
" John W., . 70,102,158,164
" Joshua R., ... 164, 171

"Mr 6

" Rev. Victor C, . . 60, 102

Societies, Committee, ... 87

Society for Prop. Gospel, IX, 18, 68

Southmayd, Daniel, .... 72

Rev. John, 6, 13. 72,

118, 139

Stamp Act, . 16

Staten Island, 3

Stansfield, Rev. J. Atwood, . 146, 161

Starr, Orrin, 147

" F. E., 161

St. Andrew's Brotherhood, . 68

N. B., . . . . 3

" George's, Hempstead, . . 23

" James, 1, 10

" John's, 26, 44, 49

" Michael's, Naugatuck, 22, 149, 156
" Margaret's School, . . 69, 108
" Mark's, Harwinton, . . 147

" Paul's, Watervilie, 65, 106, 107, 100
" Peter's, Baltimore, ... 23

179

HISTORY OF ST. JOHN'S CHURCH.

St. Peter's. Plymouth,
Stake set for Church,
State Street lot, .
Skilton, C. H., . .
Steele, Rev. Ashbel, .

" Rev. A. Floridus,

" Austin,

" Edward Daniel,

" H. M

Page
139
26,93
104
171
60

59, 101, 108

. . . 75

164, 165, 169

. . 171

Paqb

Ven. S. P. G., . IX, 3, 19, 20, 18

Vestry, Rules for Election, . 64

" Quorum of, . . . 100, 107

Stevens, George H., . . . 161

Stove, in Wolcott Church, . .158
Stocking, Rev. Servilius, . . 158
Stone, Dr. Benj. W., ... 146

Stratford, IX, 4

Sunday School, .... 66, 67
Sweiger, J. L., 171

Talbot, Rev. Charles R., . . 151

Tahnadge, Edwin M., . . . 143

Taylor, David, . . . . . 198

" Thomas R., .... 164

TerriU, Hannah, 170

Temporary Chapel, .... 101

Tithingnaen, 66

Todd, Rev. Samuel, .... 139

" Street, 154

Townsend, Larmon, . . . .153

Toucey, Mrs. John M., . . . 142

Town meeting, 25

" and Church government, . VII

Tower blown down, .... 101
Traggitt, Rev. H. N., . . 160, 161

Trinity Church, 162

Treasurer to release, . . . . 103

Trumbull, Dr. Benj., . . . . 1, 3

Rev. John, . . 14, 29

Tuttle, A. C, 152

Trust funds, 79

Upson, Ambrose Ives,
Utter, Abram,

160
13

Wakelee, David, .

Irad, . .
Waldo, Rev. David, .
Warner, family,

" Dr. Benjamin,
" Ephraim,
" Rev. Joseph A.,
" Justus, 30, 31, 97
" Obadiah,
" Ransom,
Washington, George,
Waterbury from Farmington

Ohio, .
Watertown,
Waterville Chapel,
Wallingford,
Walker, R. S., . .
Watson, Rev. Wm.,
Welton, Abi, . .

" Rev. Alanson W,
Ard, . . .
Arad, . .
Rev. Davis J.,
Edwin D., .
" Eliakim, .
" Erastus, .

F. P., . .
" George L.,

Hobart v., .
" John, . 1,

" Joseph D.,

Frances R. P.,
" Moses,
" Nelson J
" Oliver,

Richard,
" Samuel,
" Stephen,

55, 67

. 154

. 155

. 147

. 73

. 9, 10

76, 28

. 63

117, 120

62, 73

. 105

. VII

145, VIII

100, 101

2, 23

. 171

. IX

IX, 62

25, 143

. 143

. 142

56. 105
. 154

154, 157
. 171

55. 106
56

, 86, 154

62, 154

. 55

154, 155

82, 105, 129

13,79,114

IX, 25, 73

. . 76

VIII, 76

180

INDEX.

Page

Welton, Thomas,. . . 154,155
" Rev. Ximenes Alanson,

VIII, 158
WilUam S. H., . . . IX

West Haven, VIII, 4

Westminster Abbey, .... 14

Westbury, 2

Wheaton, Rev. Dr., .... 36
Wheeler, Rev. Russell, . . . 145

White, J. C 165

" Rev. J. H., . . . . 60

" Wm. H., 56

Widow Harrison, 86

Will of S. W. Hall, .... 80
Willey. Rev. J. M., 59, 101, 108, 159
Wilcox, John Henry, .... 77

Page
Williams, Bishop,

49, 53, 56, 101, 105, 163

Williams College, 147

Wilson, Seymour, 76

Wolcott, 3, 158

Williams, Samuel P., . . . . 164

Wood, John W., 152

Woodcock, Bishop, .... 73
Woodruff, Rev. C. T., . . . 151
Woodbury, . . 22, 23, 149, 91
Woodford, Lionell, . . . . 152

Woodbridge 22

Wooster, John, .... 25, 93
Wotkyns, Roger S., . . . . 171

Yale College, VIII, 1

181

77 0 168 6 Hi

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