^ ^ t, ''_^ ^ '.c^' ° f. V' o * V ^ V ' ''°-' '^ .^ .:h\Wo '^<», " a v^^ ^fflfw^ ^ -^ ' * .^' G^ \ vV^ sv7,^ AN HISTORICAL SKETCH OONGREGATIOIAL, CHDRCH IK ST E, BY REV. DAVID D. FIELD, D.D. WITH THE CONFESSION, COVENANTS. AND CATALOGUE 1^53. NEW-YORK : JOHN A. GRAY, PRINTER, 95 & 9 7 CLIFF STREET 1858. Ft-f The Pastor recommends to the Members of the Church to examine frequently and seriously their Confession, Covenants, and Standing Rules ; especially on the morning of Communion Sabbaths. HISTORICAL SKETCH ©jailJ^©^ D^ ©T@©3^[§KD©©[ This church owes its origin and support for many years to missionary zeal excited towards the remnant of the Muhhekaneew, or Stockbridge Indians. These hved in different places on the Housatonic river, in Massa- chusetts and Connecticut, and more in various places within the limits of New-York. The immediate cause of the interest in their favor was that KoNKAPOT, the principal Indian on the Housatonic, in Massachusetts, was known to be favorably disposed towards the Christian religion. He lived in Stockbridge, and was regarded by his acquaintances as a man of worth, strictly temperate, honest in his dealings, prudent and industrious in his business; and it was strongly hoped that, under proper instruction, he would become a decided Christian, and that many others connected with him would be brought into the kingdom of God. Kev. Samuel Hopkins, a worthy minister of the gospel in West Springfield, was greatly affected by the state of this Indian, and was determined that he and others should be taught the truths of Christianity. He consulted Col. John Stoddard on the subject, who knew more about the Indians in Massachusetts than any other man, having been often employed by Government in affairs respecting them. He said these Indians were the largest tribe of Aborigines near the English settlements, and that they were not under the influence of French Catholics, as Indians in some other parts of the land were. He thought a missionary might be very profitably employed among them. He consulted also Rev. Stephen Williams, of Long Meadow, who, when young, was carried captive to Canada with his father. Rev. John Williams of Deerfield, and knew well how much the Indians needed instruction in the gospel, and how they were misled by Jesuits in Canada. He was ready to cooperate with Mr. Hopkins. Through these men the matter was brought before the Honorable and Rev. Commissioners for Indian Affairs in Boston, of whom his Excellency, Jona- than Belcher, British Governor of Massachusetts, and Rev. Dr. Benjamin Colman, were the most active and influential. This was in the spring of 1734. The Commissioners at once took an interest in the matter, appointed a committee to consult the Indians on the Housatonic living in Stockbridge 4 HISTORICAL SKETCH. and Sheffield, " whether they were willing a minister should be sent to them to instruct them' in the Christian religion, to teach their children to read," &c. These Indians, after thinking on the subject four days, " all gave in their names, and signified their desire that a minister should be sent to them for the end proposed." While these proceedings were taking place, the Lord was preparing a man to preach the gospel to these heathen. Mr. John Sergeant, a native of Newark, N. J., a graduate of Yale College, and a tutor in that institution, a candidate for the ministry, had freely said, before any application was made to him, that " he had rather be employed as a missionary to the Natives than to accept a call any English parish might give him." A committee, appointed by the Commissioners to engage a minister, informed of this declaration, and well assured of his fitness for the work, applied to Mr. Sergeant. lie had already been a tutor nearly three years, and wished to aid his pupils through their remaining year; and if we consider that his class consisted of twenty-four young men, and that among them there were such persons as James Lockwood, who afterwards became the pastor of the church in Wethersfield, and was offered the presidency of Yale College ; as Aaron Burr, who became the President of Princeton College ; and as Joseph Bellamy, the distinguished minister of Bethlehem, Conn., we need not wonder that his heart, as much as it felt for the mission, felt also strongly for these youth. He agreed, however, to undertake the mission, provided the Rector and Trustees of the College would approve of his spending about half the year with the Indians, and living the other half at College. To this the Rector and Trustees acceded ; and during this year, in three visits at different periods which Mr. Sergeant made them, he did much to secure their affections, and there was evidence that on some minds saving influences were bestowed. But it was apparent at the outset that the Indians' living in two places, eight or ten miles apart, would be a serious inconvenience about their attendance upon public worship on the Sabbath, particularly in the winter season, and against the regular attendance of the children at school. As a partial remedy for these inconveniences, they agreed to dwell in the winter season in temporary buildings, erected between the two settlements, and to attend worship there also in a temporary building. But as Mr. Sergeant was to be at College half of this year, Mr. Timothy Woodbridge, son of Rev. John Woodbridge, of West Si)ringfield, deceased, was engaged to come for the winter, and instruct the Indians in a catechetical way, and also to teach school. His services were needed afterwards ; and being a superior young man, he was long employed as a school teacher, and became a permanent settler, and a very influential and prominent inhabitant of the town. On the first of July, 1735, Mr. Sergeant (having dismissed his class) left New-IIaven, intending to spend the rest of the summer, and indeed of his life, with the Indians at Ilousatonic, arriving there on the 5th. Mr. Wood- bridge and he then went on as they had done before at a preceding visit about May, as to keeping school, one teaching in Stockbridge, and the other in Sheffield, changing places with each other weekly. HISTORICAL SKETCH. 6 The subject of being ordained had occupied Mr. Sergeant's mind, that he might administer divine ordinances. Dr. Cohiian and Governor Belcher favored it, and Providence opened the way for his ordination, with the pros- pect of good, not only to the tribe to which he was to minister, but to other tribes with whom the Governor was about to hold a treaty at Deerfield. The Commissioners agreed that he should be ordained on that occasion ; and the service was performed on the Sabbath, August 31, 1735, in the presence not only of the assembly usually worshipping there, but in the presence of the Governor and a lar£,e committee of both houses of the Legislature, and many Indians interested in the treaty. The Muhhekaneews sat by themselves, and formally received him as their minister. The sermon was preached by Dr. Nathaniel Appleton, of Cambridge, one of the most dis- tinguished ministers in Massachusetts during the last century. This'was published. Rev. William Williams took part in the solemnities, and Eev. Dr. WilHams gave the right hand of fellowship and administered the charge. In the autumn following, Mr. Sergeant was greatly encouraged by success in his labors. Hence, in a letter to his friend. Dr. Colman, under date of November 18, 1735, he says, "God has been pleased to crown our labors with surprising and unexpected success. I have baptized almost forty per- sons, infants and adults." Among these were Captain Konkapot and Lieutenant Umpachenee, whom the Governor had previously honored with commissions. He had also baptized their wives and children, as well as some other families of superior standing and influence in the tribe. " I hope," he adds, " that the adults have a pretty good understanding of the main and fundamental doctrines of the holy religion into which they have been baptized. And I always endeavored to possess their minds with the most serious sense of what they were about when they entered themselves the disciples of Christ. Their whole hearts seemed to be engaged in the matter, and I have reason to think that the imperfection of their knowledge is made up by their zeal and integrity. Those who have been baptized have behaved very well, though they have been several times tempted to exceed the rules of temperance by offers of strong drink, which used to be their beloved destruction. They seemed to be surprised with the change they find in themselves ; expressing the difference between their former state and the present, by 'infancy' and 'manhood,' 'dreaming' and 'being awake,' 'darkness' and 'hght,' and the like metaphors. I pray God the Day-Star that seems to be arisen in tlieir hearts, may sliine more and more to the perfect day." As the news of this success was spread abroad, it not only excited inter- est in New-England, but soon engaged the attention of some eminently pious and benevolent persons in the mother-country. The difficulties arising from the distance between the Indian settlements, which had led them, as a partial remedy, to erect buildings at an interme- diate site for the first winter, (and in which they also spent the second winter,) prompted the friends of the mission to inquire for a full and permanent relief, and one which should induce others, more remote, to unite with the Housatonic Indians. In these inquiries, Col. Stoddard 6 HISTORICAL SKETCH. appears to have taken the lead. Accordingly, he proposed a statement to be laid before the Indians, in January of the first winter, in which he says, "There is a projection to get the most of the Great Meadow above the mountain of Ilousatonic [Monument Mountain] for the Indians, so that they may live together, and be able with convenience to attend the public worship, and to have a school at their doors, provided the Government can agree with the Emjlish who have lands there, and can suit them with lands elsewhere." It was very desirable that the Great Meadow should be secured for the Indians. Some of them akeady lived there ; it contained a considerable amount of such interval land as the Indians were m the habit of cultivating ; and the Ilousatonic river, in meanders through the meadow, (running five miles in passing three in a straight line,) furnished great advantages for fishing. It was protected in nearly all directions from the rage of the elements by mountains ; and these mountains abounded in game. But how to get possession of it legally and honorably, was the difliculty ; and this difficulty arose from various circumstances. Thirteen years previous to this time, the General Court had granted to 177 petitioners, living in the county of Hampshire, a large tract of land in the south-west corner of Massachu- setts, which, by the terms then used, and as the line between Massachusetts and New-York was finally found to run, fairly included the present townships of SheflBeld, Egremont, Mount Washington, Great Barrington, and Alford, a considei'able portion of Lee, and the greater part of Stock- bridge and West Stockbridge. The grant was designed for two townships ; which were for years spoken of as the Ilousatonic townships ; and before the mission began, the Indian titles to the included lands were very generally extinguished. English families had settled in Sheffield, and in the southern part of Great Barrington ; and some few Dutch families (for this town was settled in part by the Dutch) had located on or very near this meadow. Gov. Belcher felt the importance of the Indians living together and having a sufficiency of lands, and he adverted to the subject in an address to them at Deerficld. He brought it up afterwards before the General Court ; and a Committee was appointed, at the head of which was Col. Stoddard, " to weigh and consider all things and circumstances so as to accommodate the Indians with land in the best possible manner." Under the wise proceedings of this committee, the lands above Monument Moun- tain were freed from all encumbrances, so that early in 173G, the General Court granted the Indians a township, which in April was laid out in an exact square, six miles in length and breadth. This included the present township of Stockbridge, within which is the " Great ^Meadow," and also the township of West Stockbridge. In the grant, it was provided that lots should be laid out for the missionary and schoolmaster, and, agreeably to the wishes of Mr. Sergeant, for four other persons who should be approved bj-- Col. Stoddard, and should settle here for the purpose of aiding the pastor and teacher, particularly in the work of civilization. The grant of the town in this manner was admiral)le ; and in May of this year, some of the Indians moved into the town, with two families who were added to their HISTOEICAL SKETCH. 7 number. The township was at this time formally confirmed to them ; and others moved in, in a few weeks ; so that by the close of June there were 90 souls in the settlement. Nor did the kindness of the General Court stop here. Agreeably to the request of Mr. Sergeant, and of some of the Indians who waited upon their friend. Gov. Belcher, the Court, in Jan. 1737, passed an order, that a meet- ing-house 30 feet by 40, together with a school-house, should be built for them at the charge of the province. Some time elapsed before this order was fulfilled, probably owing to the difficulty in procuring materials ; but the meeting-house was so far fitted for use, that on the day for public thanksgiving in the Commonwealth, Nov. 29, 1739, it was dedicated to the worship of Almighty God. This stood a few rods north-east of the site of the present South Meeting-house ; and it was the place of divine solemnities until 1785. The frame of this building is now the frame of a barn, half a mile west of its former locality, a humble memento of the blessed men who preached in it, and of the blessings which descended upon those who worshipped in it. The school-house stood near the dwelling of the writer. After the collection of the Indians in one place, and their accommodation with suitable public buildings, their prospects brightened. At first, indeed, there was no considerable increase of inhabitants ; for in March, 1740, the number of souls was but 120 : but afterwards families came in from various places. In the spring of 1744, the Indians from Kau-nau-meek, a small village on the flat about Brainerd's Bridge, six miles west of New-Lebanon, where David Brainerd labored about a year, moved here, agreeably, to the advice of that celebrated missionary. In January, 1747, there were nearly 50 families in the settlement, and probably about 200 souls ; in July, 1749, 53 families, and 218 souls. They were afterwards increased to about 400 ; and it is believed that at one time they were about GOO ; though, as far as is now known, 400 was about their average number for the greater part of the time in which they lived in this town. At first, Mr. Sergeant, of necessity, preached to the Indians by an interpreter, being unacquainted with their language. But as the disad- vantages of this mode were many, he applied himself diligently to study, and in August, 1737, began to deliver unto them, in their own language, the wonderful works of God ; and he afterwards made such proficiency in it, that the Indians were in the habit of saying that he spoke the language better than they did. This year. Col. Ephraim Williams, from Newton, and Mr. Josiah Jones, from Weston, two of the men expected to aid in the civilization of the Indians, emigrated to this town with their families. Joseph Woodbridge, brother of the school-teacher, another of the men, came here in 1739 or 1740 ; and Ephraim Brown from the place called Spencer, probably about the same time. Mr. Brown did not remain here, but was succeeded by a cousin, Samuel Brown. Mr. Timothy Woodbridge was the first deacon in the church ; but Peter Pau-quau-nau-peet was associated with him ; and when the sacramental 8 HISTORICAL SKETCH. supper was first celebrated here, June 4, 1738, the Enghsh and Indian professors sat down together at the table of the Lord. The voices of the natives were found to be well adapted to sacred music, and their singing was much admired. In 1739, when it is supposed there were six English families collected here, the town was incorporated ; and after this, the civil officers of the town were elected from both classes of inhabitants. It is very evident that the town was called Stockbridge, after Stockbridge in the county of Hamp- shire, England, from the general resemblance of the scenery in the two places ; Stockbridge in England being built upon the river Test, as our Stockbridge village is upon the Ilousatonic, both on level grounds, and the eastern and western road through each, remarkably corresponding with each other. The accession to the settlement of the four men just named, with their families, though much desired by the missionary and teacher, and propitious to the mission, greatly increased the labors of Mr. Sergeant ; for he had now to discharge the duties of a minister both to the Indians and to the English. "He began public worship on the Sabbath with a short, pathetic prayer for a blessing upon the AVord, in both languages, and then read a portion of Scripture with explanatory notes and observations, also in both, on such passages as appeared to need them. All his public prayers, and the communion service, were in both languages ; and it was his constant practice to preach four sermons every Lord's day ■ — two to the English.! and two to the Indians ; except on the cold days in the short season of winter, when he preached three — one to the English, and two to the Indians. Besides all this, in the summer season, it was his constant custom to spend about an hour with the Indians after divine service was over in the afternoon, instructing, exhorting, warning, cautioning them in a free, familiar, and pathetic manner, in their own language ; and in the winter season, he commonly met with them one evening in the week for religious exercises. His sermons and comments on passages of Scripture for the Indians were first written in English, and then translated into the Indian tongue. In the course of his reading to them, he translated the most important passages in the Old Testament, and the whole of the New Testsment, with the exception of the book of Revelations ; while, for the benefit of the English, he went through with the whole of the Epistles in a labored and learned paraphrase, with critical and practical observations, directly from the original language. In addition to this, he had the constant care of the Indians, and maintained an extensive correspondence." These services show that he was a very studious and faithful man. Nor is this all he did. In 1741, he projected the plan of a boarding-school, which was summarily this : that a tract of land of two hundred acres should be set aside for the use of the school, and a house erected upon it ; that a number of children and youth between the ages of 10 and 20 should be received, and placed under the care of two masters, one of whom should take the oversight of them in the hours of lalor^i and the other in the hours HISTORICAL SKETCH. 9 of stitdy; and that their time should be so divided between labor and study, as to make one the diversion of the other ; that the fruit of their labor should go tovrards their support, and to carry on the general design ; and that a stock of cattle should be maintained on the place for the same purpose. It was also proposed to take into the number, on certain condi- tions, children from any of the tribes around, that, by their means, the principles of virtue and Christian knowledge might be spread as far as possible. This was a favorite plan with the inhabitants of the place, both Indian and English, and with the Commissioners and their friends in Boston. But before much was done, the occurrence of the first French War rendered it expedient that the subject should be postponed for a season. Still, the project was passed over the Atlantic to the Corporation for Indian AfRiirs in London, and secured the favorable notice of such blessed men as Dr. Isaac Watts and Captain Thomas Coram, who exerted themselves to raise funds for the support of the school. The Prince of Wales headed the subscription with twenty guineas, and a few others, high in rank and office, subscribed for it. Mr. Isaac Hollis made provision at first for supporting twelve boys, and afterwards for supporting twenty-four ; and he was so anxious that the children should be instructed immediately, that Mr. Sergeant took twelve under his care in 1748. But as it was not altogether safe for them to remain here during the war, he procured Capt. Martin Kellog, of Newington, in Wethersfield, Conn., to take them and instruct them for a year, he being well qualified for that service. In 1749, the war being closed, a house for a boarding-school was erected on the southern end of the garden now belonging to the house of Mr. Thomas Wells. The heart of Mr. Sergeant was drawn exceedingly towards this school, and so was the heart of his successor, the first President Edwards, as we shall presently see. But no plans and efibrts for doing good were security from disease and death. We shall however err, if we suppose that the usefulness of emi- nently good men ceases at death. That very goodness may be a reason for their removal, that they may enter upon a higher and wider sphere of use- fulness in heaven. On the last week in June, 1749, Mr. Sergeant was seized with a nervous fever, attended with a canker and inflammation in the thi-oat, which closed his life on the 27th of July, at the age of 39, and in the 15th year of his ministry. Few persons have been as greatly beloved in life and lamented in death as was this distinguished servant of God. Not only were the Indian and English inhabitants of the town hearty mourners for him, but the friends of the mission in New and in Old England. His temper was most sweet, his manners courteous, his talents, natural and acquired, superior, and his piety ardent and persevering. In epistolary writing he greatly excelled. But one of his sermons was printed. That was preached in Springfield before the associated pastors of the county of Hampshire, April 4, 1743, on the cause and danger of declension in the affairs of religion, and was published at the request of the hearers. The congregation was greatly increased under the ministry of Mr. Ser^ 10 HISTORICAL SKETCH. gcant. The Indians, through the blessing of God on his labors, and the labors of those associated with him, were rescued from various errors and vices, assumed to a good degree the habits of civilized life, acquired a stable character in society, and became regular attendants upon public worship. Fifty or sixty, who had become hopefully converted, were admitted to full communion by him, some of whom died in faith before him : 42 survived him. He baptized 182 natives, adults and infants. His services were also greatly useful to the English who settled here. He left a widow, the daughter of Col. Ephraim "Williams, who was subsequently married to Brig.- Gen. Dvvight; and three children, — Electa, who was married to Col. Mark Hopkins, and was the grandmother of Pres. and Prof Hopkins ; Erastus, who was a distinguished physician in this town, and a deacon in the church ; and John, who became a missionary to the Indians before they left this town, and went with them to Stockbridge in New- York. At the date of Mr. Sergeant's death, there were twelve English families in town, viz.: his own family, the families of Timothy Woodbridge, of Col. Wil- liams, of Josiah Jones, and of Joseph "Woodbridge ; of Samuel Brown, of Samuel Brown, Jun., of Joshua Chamberlain, son-in-law of Samuel Brown, Jun., (from Spencer ;) of David Pixley, from Westfield ; of John Willard, from Canaan, previously from Wethersfield ; of John Taylor, and of Jacob Cooper, from West Springfield. Mr. Hopkins, of Great Barrington, afterwards Dr. Hopkins, was first appointed successor to Mr. Sergeant ; but he declined the appointment, and, among other considerations, in the hope that the Rev. Jonathan Edwards, his theological instructor and particular friend, then recently dismissed from Northampton, would accept the service. He was next appointed, and was installed as pastor of this church, Aug. 8, 1751. Mr. Edwards entered upon the same general course of instruction which his predecessor had pursued, though he was obhged to address the Indians through an interpreter ; and the prospect was exceedingly fair for a time of his being very useful to the Indians in this town, and to the Six Nations, families from which were expected to settle here, placing many childi'en in the boarding-school. Directly after his settlement in this place, a large council from the Six Nations sat here, to consider the subject of sending their children to the school. After it was opened. Rev. Gideon Hawley, after- terwards missionary at IMarshpee, it is understood, instructed for a time. " He taught a few families of Mohawks, Oneidas, and Tuscaroras." Rev. Cotton Mather Smith, who afterwards settled in Sharon, Conn., (father of the late Gov. Smith, of that State,) also instructed it for a season. But arrangements for managing the school were never very thoroughly made ; and admirable as was the plan, and much as it promised, the occurrence of the second French war nearly destroyed it, so far as the Six Nations and their children were concerned. Notwithstanding this unhappy issue, however, in this school, in connection with the school of Mr. Woodbridge, a considerable number of Indians received a good education. A few also were instructed at the Indian Cha- rity School, at Hanover, N. H., and Peter Pauquaunaupeet was graduated in HISTORICAL SKETCH. 11 1780, at the college in that town. This Sir Peter, as he was commonly- called, was a man of good talents and character, and connected with Joseph Qua-nau-kaunt, Captain Hendrick Aupaumut, and Capt. John Konkapot, in a council M'hich, after the death of King Solomon, regulated the affairs of the tribe : for it is to be borne in mind that the Indians still kept up something more than a semblance of their ancient form of government. The regal power, it is said, (and this must be understood of the subject by custom,) belonged to Joseph Qua-nau-kaunt ; but being a very modest and unassuming, as well as sensible man, he chose not to be king, but wished the tribe to be governed by a council. The speech of one of the chiefs to the Massachu- setts Congress in 1775, in Brigham's Columbian Orator, tendering his services in the Revolutionary War, may be taken as a specimen of the talent and oratory which some of them possessed. But, unhappy as the second French War was, particularly to the pros- pects of the boarding-school, Mr. Edwards discharged the duties of a missionary with his wonted faithfulness, to the good acceptance of those who came under his charge, and to the satisfaction of the Commissioners. Besides the duties which he discharged more immediately to the mission, he here completed his greatest work, viz.: " The Inquiry concerning the Free- dom of the Will," which did more than any thing else to secure to him the reputation of being the greatest metaphysician which this country has ever produced. Here, too, he completed his treatise on Original Sin, and carried forward the " History of Redemption," and probably some other works. Had he remained at Northampton, it is questionable whether he would have been able to have prepared these important works for publication ; and this circumstance tends to show the wisdom of God in suffering him to be removed from that important station, where his labors had been blessed of Provi- dence to the spiritual good of a multitude of souls. But while pursuing his studies and labors in this sequestered spot and calm retreat, he was unexpectedly called, upon the decease of his son-in-law, the Rev. Aaron Burr, Sept. 24, 1757, to accept the Presidency of Princeton College ; which he did, in conformity with the advice of brethren in the ministry, and was accordingly dismissed, Jan. 4, 1758. But he had scarcely time to arrive at Princeton, to be inducted into ofBce, and to enter upon the duties of his new and important station, before the Lord called him, as there is abundant reason to believe, to a far higher station in the world of glory. He died on the 22d of March, 1758, in the 55th year of his age. The same grace which had sustained him in duty and in trial was sufficient for him in his closing moments. No man has left behind him a fliircr fame than President Edwards. No one did more to promote orthodoxy and piety in the American churches. The prominent traits of his character, clear intelligence and ardent piety, are those excellences which will shine for ever in the redeemed. The records of the ministry of President Edwards in Stockbridgc are lost. Great pains have been taken to find them, but without success. While professors of religion, both English and Indian, were benefited by his ministry, the probability is, that some from both classes of people 12 HISTORICAL SKETCH, were converted under his instructions. At the time of his dismission, the Indian families wore reduced to forty-two, while the English were increased to eighteen. The following had been added to those already men- tioned, viz.: the family of Elihu Parsons ; his son-in-law, from Northampton ; that of Stephen Nash, immediately from Westfield, but previously from Ilad- Icy, who is said to have moved to this town from a desire to enjoy the ministry of Mr. Edwards ; that of Josiah Jones, Jr.; and those of James Wilson, from Spencer, Thomas Sherman, and Solomon Gleazen, from Wor- cester. The wife of President Edwards was a daughter of Rev. James Pierpont, of New-Haven. They had ten children : Sarah, the wife of Elihu Parsons, of this town; Jerusha, who died in Northampton; Esther, the wife of Presi- dent Burr; Mary, the wife of Col. Timothy D wight, of Northampton, and mother of President Dwight ; Lucy, the wife of Hon. Jahleel Woodbridge, of this town ; Timothy, the late Hon. Timothy Edwards, also of this town ; Susanna, the wife of Eleazer Porter, of Hadley ; Eunice, the wife of Thomas Pollock, of North Carolina ; Jonathan, President of Union College ; Elizabeth, who died unmarried ; and Pierrepont, a distinguished lawyer in New-Haven, and late Judge of the Circuit Court of the United States for the District of Connecticut. Soon after the dismission of Mr. Edwards, the minds of the people and ot the Commissioners were ch'awn towards the late venerable Dr. Stephen West, son of Zebulon West, Esq., of Tolland, Conn. He was graduated at Yale College in 1755, where he had the reputation of a sound classical scholar. After leaving college, he taught a school in Hatfield, and studied theology with Rev. Timothy Woodbridge, of that place. The Association of Hampshire county licensed him to preach, probably in 1757, soon after which he was appointed chaplain at Fort Massachusetts, in Adams ; and from that place he came to this town in Nov., 1758, where he was ordained, June 13, 1759. For several years he communicated instruction, as his predecessors had done, bothtothe IndianandEnglish inhabitants. His common practice was to preach to the Indians Sabbath morning by an interpreter, and to the English in the afternoon. But as it was very difficult to get a suitable interpreter, and as the English rapidly increased from abroad, and became capable of support- ing the gospel themselves, Dr. West, in 1775, relinquished the instruction of the Indians, and with it the income received from the Commissioners, to Mr. John Sergeant, son of the first missionary, who perfectly understood their language, and had received a respectable education at Newark, N. J. The Indian professors, however, were not immediately formed into a new church. But in 1785, as they were about to remove on to a tract of land given them by the Oneidas, called New-Stockbridge, they were formed into a church by themselves. The number of professors among them then was sixteen only. From this period, Mr. Sergeant regularly spent six months with them yearly, until 1796, when he moved his flimil}^ and settled with them, and remained their minister until his death, Sept. S, 1824, at the age of 77. Some years afterwards, they removed to Green Bay, where the little HISTORICAL SKETCH, 13 church still lives, has been visited by the Spirit of God, and hcis from time to time received some accessions from the world. When Dr. West was ordained in this town, there were about twenty log huts in Pittsfield; but with that exception, the whole country northward was a wilderness to Canada. To the west, there were some Dutch settlements near the Hudson and on the Mohawk ; but westward, there were no English settlements quite onward to the Pacific Ocean, and but few French settle- ments, and those distant from each other. Wild men and wild beasts held dominion over almost the whole of this vast region. But in the southern pai-t of Berkshire there were some English settlements, and four settled ministers, viz.: Jonathan Hubbard in Sheffield, Thomas Strong in New-Marl- borough, Adonijah Bidwell in Tyringham, and Samuel Hopkins in Great BaiTington. With Mr. Hopkin-', who was nearest to him, he early con- tracted an intimate and, as the result shows, a very happy friendship. Their minds were similar : both were fond of research and discussion. Dr. West was dissatisfied with what his predecessor, "President Edwards, had written on the freedom of the will, and on many points relative to the distinguishing doctrines of grace." These became the subjects of free and repeated conversation ; and the effect was, (like the effect of the communica- tions between the Rev. John Newton and Dr. Scott, though the mode was different,) that Dr. West gave up his hope of a personal interest in Christ, which he had long entertained, and was convinced that, while he had under- taken the charge of souls, his own soul had been neglected. His, sense of sin was deep and pungent, his solicitude strong, and at times almost over- whelming. But the Lord was pleased soon to relieve him, to make him the subject of new views and affections, and to give him a good hofe through grace. The reality and greatness of this change readily appeared in the solemnity, fervency, and pungency of his preaching, and in the humility and goodness of his subsequent life, which was extended to an unusual period. This change, so far as man was concerned, is traceable to the faithfulness of the celebrated David Brainerd, whom we have had occasion to mention as missionary to the Kau-nau-meek Indians, while he was a student at Yale College. Dr. Hopkins, a student at the same time, had made a profession of religion, but knew not the preciousness of the Saviour. While in conversation with him, Mr. Brainerd observed that it was impossible for any man to be a real Christian who was not sometimes deeply affected in contemplating the character of Christ. This, Hopkins could not but admit to be a truth ; but he was conscious of no such love ; and the impression did not leave him until he found joy and peace in believing in Jesus. By this change he was prepared to be the means of the conversion of Dr. West. Soon after the conversion of the latter, he most carefully examined the doctrines of revelation, with a mature and cultivated understanding, and with an aidcnt desire to know the truth as it is in Jesus. And what ho learned he communicated. He preached, particularly, a series of discourses in which he dwelt extensively upon the character and government of God, and upon the dependence and accountability of man ; the substance of 14 HISTORICAL SKETCH. which was first published in 1772, and republished with an appendix in 1794. The fame produced by this essay induced young men who were looking forward to the ministry to repair to him for guidance and assistance in their studies immediately preparatory to their entrance upon the sacred office. These were so pleased with his instructions, piety, and exemplary conduct, that they were followed by others ; so that for the space of thirty- five or forty years, some students were under his care. Most of these were graduates of the colleges then existing in New-England; one. or more were graduated at Princeton ; some of them were eminent in the ministiy, and generally they honored their calling. Some settled in towns in this county. Among these clergymen, we may mention Samuel Spring, of Newburyport; Seth Swift, of Williamstown ; Gordon Dorrancc, of Windsor; Jacob Catlin, D. D., of New-Marlborough ; Elijah Wheeler, of Great Barrington ; Samuel Whclpley, Gamaliel Smith Olds, LL. D., and Thomas Robbins, I). D. These facts imply that Dr. West had great influence. Placed over the church in Stockbridge while most of the county of Berkshire was unset- tled, and all of the adjoining towns except Great Barrington, the pious who early settled in the neighborhood looked to him as a counsellor and a fiither. lie assisted in the formation of new churches, and in the ordination of many of the first pastors of them. For many years he was the standing Moderator of Berkshire Association, and was venerated by all the members. When Williams College was granted in 1793, he was named as one of the trustees ; and when the corporation first met, he was elected Vice-President of the Institution. In preaching, he dwelt principally upon the doctrines of grace, the value of which he deeply felt, and which he longed to have others enjoy. He was much in the habit of giving instruction in an expository form ; and dur- ing his ministry, he passed three times through the New Testament, expound- ing the sacred oracles verse by verse, " with a propriety, an acutencss, and vigor," says Mr. Samuel Whelpley, who studied theology with him, and was a very competent judge of ministerial effort, " of which this country has seen no parallel." In his expositions he was not so much confined to notes as in his sermons; and warmed by his subject, and by the impulses of the moment, he was sometimes truly eloquent. By this kind of instruction his people were greatly aided in the study of the Scriptures. Another method by which their religious knowledge was greatly advanced, was the establishment of meetings on week-days, in which the young were invited to write and speak on subjects or on passages of Scripture previously given out, and in which he met with them. In these they were greatly interested. Hence the church acquired a high reputation for intelligence. I once heard the late Gov. Smith, of Connecticut, (whose father has been mentioned as teacher for a time in the Stockbridge Mission, and who himself resided here in his youth, when Dr. West was making his greatest efforts,) say, that the church in Stockbridge was the best indocti-inated church in the country. Nor did instruction fail of a sanctifying effect. Dr. West was wise in win- ning souls. There was a revival here in the years 1773, 1782, 1790, '91, '92, and 1799. But the most extensive revival which occurred during his minis" HISTORICAL SKETCH. 16 try was in 1813, when he had the assistance of a colleague, Eev. Ephraim G, Swift, whom he had instructed in theology, as he had also done his father. Rev. Seth Swift. This colleague was ordained Sept. 26, 1810 ; and after this date the duties of the ministry were discharged by them jointly. Things passed along in this manner for some time to their mutual satisfac- tion, and to the satisfaction of the people. At length, however, a complaint was brought into the church against one of the members, attended with peculiar circumstances, about which the pastors and the members of the church entertained different opinions, and which produced for a time unhap- py divisions, and much trouble. One effect of this was, that both pastors were dismissed at the same time, August 27, 1818. After this event Dr. West was rarely able to appear in public, though on the first Sabbaths in November and January following, he administered the Lord's Supper to the church, and on the 10th of February attended a funeral. From the last period, he was confined to his house, and mostly to his bed, until Saturday, the 13th of May, 1819, when he expired, in the 84th year of his age. Mr. Swift is still living. For eleven years he preached at Humphreysville and Bethany, in Connecticut, and on the 11th of December, 1833, was installed pastor of the church in North Killingworth, in the same State. The people had been unhappily divided ; but under his ministry they were harmonized, and through the influences of the Divine Spirit, the church was enlarged. In 1850, advancing years and infirmity induced him to signify to his people that he must leave them, and he used his influence to secure to them a successor. This object was attained in November of the same year, when, in connection with his dismission, Rev. Hiram Bell, who had been min- ister in Marlborough, was installed pastor of the church. Mr. Swift has since lived generally in the neighboring town of Chester. Hev. David D. Field, D. Z>., native of East Guilford, now Madison, Conn., graduate of Yale College, who studied theology with Dr. Charles Backus, of Somers, and who had been pastor of the First Congregational Church in Haddam, from April 11, 1804, until April 11, 1818, was installed in Stock- bridge, Aug. 25, 1819, and remained pastor of the church until Feb. 12, 1837 ; when, having been invited back to the charge of his fox'mcr church, he was dismissed at his own request, and installed in Haddam, April 11, 1837, where he continued pastor seven years, viz.: until April 11, 1844 ; after which, he was stated supply generally to the congregation in Higganum, in the same town, until July 1, 1850. In the spring of the following year, he returned to Stockbridge, which is his present residence. During his min- istry in Stockbridge there were three seasons of unusual attention to the concerns of the soul. The first and most extensive of these was in 1821, when the First Church and congregation embraced all the Congregationalists in the town, and when almost all the ministerial services were performed by the pastor. As fruits of this revival, 94 were added to the church, while a few in the north-east part of the town, being much nearer to churches in Lenox, are believed to have made a profession there. In the close of 1823, the subject of building a third house for public 16 HISTORICAL SKETCH. worship was agitated, and it was finally voted that this should be erected within a given number of rods of the ancient graveyard on the Plain. This location was dissatisfactory to a considerable number of the people in the north part of the town, and they withdrew from the worship of the church and congregation, and were formed into a separate church and congregation, before the new edifice was completed. Sixty-three members who were dis- missed from the first church, were formed into the new church on the 24th of Dec, 182-i. The edifice built by the First Society being completed, it was dedicated on the 2oth of January, 1825. The feelings produced by the division of the old church and congregation at the time were unfriendly to the revival of religion ; but they gradually subsided, and we have reason to rejoice that they are nearly or quite gone from both churches and congregations. In 1827, the place was visited again by the renewing influences of the Holy Ghost. As fruits of this revi- val, fifty-five persons were received into the First Church. In 1831, as the fruits of another revival, twenty-nine were admitted ; while in other years, smaller numbers were received. The whole nimiber admitted to the church by Dr. Field from the world, was 221, and from other churches on recom- mendation, 51 ; total, 272. Rev. Tertius S. Clarke, a native of West Hampton, and graduate of Yale College in 1824, who had been settled in South Deerfield, and also in Had- dam, was installed in Stockbridge, June 15, 1837, where he remained pastor until May 5, 1850. During his ministry there were revivals in 1838, 1842, and 1849. The number admitted to the church by him was, from the world, 124, and from other churches, 67 ; total, 191. Since leaving Stock- bridge, Mr. Clarke has been settled at Penn Yan, N. Y., but is now settled at Franklin, N. Y. Rev. A. H. Dashiell, Jun., the present pastor, born near Baltimore, graduated at Delaware College in 1843, and at the Union Theological Semi- nary in the city of New- York in 1847, was ordained in December of that year, in St. Louis. He was installed in Stockbridge, Dec. 11, 1850. The number admitted to the church by him is : from the world, 24 ; and from other churches, 7. It has been already noticed how unsettled this county generally was when Dr. West was ordained in this place, with the exception of towns in the south. When scattered settlements were commenced in other directions immediately about the place, the people, so far as they regarded religious privileges, naturally sought instruction here ; and therefore, when churches were formed in them, such as had been connected with this church were recommended to be constituent members of them. This was true of West Stockbridge, at first a part of this town. That place was incorporated as a town in 1774; a meeting-house was built in 1778, which still remains, and the Congregational Church was organized June 4, 1779, with ten members, seven males and three females. The people have generally been f;ivorcd with preaching by pastors or stated supplies— to an unusual extent by the latter. Rev. Oliver Ayres, Joseph Edwards, John Waters, Nathan Shaw, HISTORICAL SKETCH. 17 Munson C. Gaylord, and Sydney Bryant, the present pastor, have been set- tled there. The admissions to the church, including the constituent members, have been 397. The Second Congregational Church in "West Stockbridge, formed at the village, Dec. 26, 1833, consisted of 25 members: 13 from other churches, and 12 on profession. This has had three pastors, viz.: Rev. Charles Lester, John Whiton, and Nathaniel Lasell. The total of members from the begin- ning has been 162 ; 65 males and 97 females. A little time before the close of the last century, a large numder of fami- lies moved from Berkshire county, and some from Stockbridge, to a portion of country in New-York called Chenango. Members from this church took letters to churches formed in that region. About 1818, a number of families moved from this place to Brownhelm, Lorain county, Ohio. Nineteen persons, Jan. 25, 1819, were recommended from this church as suitable subjects for membership in the church about to be formed there. The formation of the North Church in this town, now usually known as the Curtisville Church, has been already noticed. This has had the follow- ing pastors, viz.: Rev. Nathan Shaw, Joseph Hurlburt, Joel T. Headley, Ralph Smith, M. D., S. P. Giddings, and Winthrop H. Phelps. Two hundred and eighty-seven members have been received into the church at Curtisville since its organization, making, with the sixty-three constituent members, 350. The congregation has been favored with several seasons of revival. But a large portion of the people being engaged in manufactures, the changes and fluctuations incident to manufacturing villages have affected the church. Many members have come in from other places, and been received here on letters, while they, or others, have been soon dis- missed. ' ence the present number of resident members is but sixty : nine- teen males and forty-one females. The total of members is somewhat more. 18 HISTORICAL SKETCH. PASTORS OF THE CHURCH IN STOCKBRIDGE. Names. Accessus. Exitus. JohQ Sergeant Aug. 31, 1*735 July 21, 1749 Jonathan Edwards Aug. 8, 1751 Jan. 4, 1758. Stephen West, D. D June 13,1759 Aug. 27,1818. Ephraim G. Swift, (Colleague,) Sept. 26, 1810 Aug. 27, 1818. David D. Field D. D Aug. 25, 1819 Feb. 12, 1837. Tertius S. Clarke June 15, 1837 May 5, 1850. Alfred H. Dasbiell, Jr Dec. 11, 1850. DEACONS. Names. Accessus. Exiins. Hon. Timothy Woodbridge about 1738 1774. Peter Pau-quau-nau-peet " do about 1770. Samuel Brown " 1750 1784. Elnathan Curtis " 17G6 1781. Stephen Nash 1780 1803. Elisha Bradley 1781 1815- Hon. Timothy Edwards 1785 1813. Dr. Erastus Sergeant 1798 1814. Ebenezer Plumb ,...1803 1821. Ebenezer Cook do , . .about 1808- Stephen James about 1812 1819. Jonathan Tngersoll " 1814 1840. John Whiton, Esq 1807 1819. Dr. Alfred Perry 1820 1838. Josiah Jones do 1834. Lystra Taylor 1837 1840- Sewall Sergeant 1838. John Hufnagle 1840 1847. William Whitney, Esq 1847. Joseph I. Crosby do. CONFESSION". 19 CONFESSION. Article I. We believe that there is one only living and true God, a who is the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost : b that in the beginning he made the heavens and the earth and all things that are therein ;c and that he constantly upholds, preserves and governs the same, in infinite wisdom, ordering and directing all the affairs and concerns thereof, d aDeut. 6. 4. Isa. 45. 5. Jer. 10. 10. b Gen. 1. 26, 27 ; 3. 22 ; 11. 1. Isa. 6. 8 ; 48. 16. Matt. 28. 19. 2 Cor. 13. 14. 1 John 5. 7. John 1. 1. Rom. 9. 5. Phil 2.6. Heb. 1.8, 10. Acts 5. 2, 4. cGen. 1. Neh. 9. 6. Ps. 136. 1—9. Acts 17.24. Rev. 4. 11. John 1. 3. Col. 1. 16. Gen. 1. 2. Job 26. 13. c? Neh. 9. 6. Isa. 46. 9, ] 0. Eph. 1. 11. Col. 1. 17. Heb. 1. 2, 3. AuTicLE n. We believe that God at first made man in his own image, e and entered into a covenant of life with him, upon condition of perfect obedience ;/ but that our first parents fell by eating the forbidden fruit, thereby bringing sin and ruin upon themselves and all their posterity, ^r eGen. 1. 26, 27. Eccle. 7. 29. Col. 3. 10. /Gen. 2. 16, 17 ; 3. 1—3. (/Gen. 3" 4—24. Gen. 5. 3. Ps.51. 5. Rom. 5. 12. 1 Cor. 15. 21, 22. Eph. 2. 3. Article IH. We believe that God in mercy, and of his mere good pleasure, hath provided a Saviour and Redeemer for us, even his own Son, who is one with the Father, h and sent him in our nature to redeem and save sinners, i and that he by his obedience and death, hath atoned for the sins of the world, _;' and purchased pardon and eternal life for all who believe on him. k /* John 3. 16, 17. Rom. 5. 8. 1 John 4. 9, 10. Matt. 3. 17 ; 17. 5. John 10. 30. ?:Gal. 4. 4, 5. Heb. 2. 14— 17. John 6. 38— 40. 1 Tim. 1. 15. _; Isa. 53. 4— 12. Dan. 9. 24, 26. John 1. 29. 2 Cor. 5. 14,15. Heb. 2. 9. 1 John 2. 2. ^•Matt. 26. 28. Luke 24. 46, 47. Acts 13. 38, 39. Tit. 2. 14. Heb. 5. 9. Article IV. We believe that men, being naturally wholly enemies to God, are utterly indisposed to embrace the Gospel salvation, I until their hearts are renewed and changed by the mighty power of the sovereign grace of God. m /Ps. 110. 2. Jer. 17. 9. John 15. 23—25. Rom. 5. 10; 8. 7, 8. Luke 14. 18. John 5. 40 ; 6. 44, 65. mPs. 110. 3. Jer. 31. 19. Ezek. 36. 26, 27, 31, 32. John 1. 11—13. Eph. 2. 5, 8—10. Tit. 3. 5. Article V. We believe, that all who heartily embrace the Gospel ofler of salva- tion by Jesus Christ, are immediately justified, »t and shall be more and more sanctified, and kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation, o n Isa. 45. 24, 25. Jer. 23. 6. Acts 13. 39. Rom. 3. 24 ; 5. 1—8, 30. Gal. 2. 16. oJob 17.9. Ps. 37. 23, 24. John 6. 39; 10.27—30. Rom. 8. 28—39. ^ Cor. 3.18. Phil. 1. 6. IPet. 1. 5. Article VI. We believe the doctrine of the general resurrection^ and judgment to come ; 5' and that all, at the last day, shall be raised ; r and Christ judge the world ; s when he shall invite the saints into his heavenly kingdom, < and condemn and doom the ungodly unto everlasting fire, v pJoh 19. 25—27. Ps. 17. 15. Dan. 12. 2. Mark 12. 26. John 5. 28, 29. 1 Cor. 15. gPs. 50. 3—6. Eccle. 12. 13, 14. Matt. 25. 31—46. Acts 17. 31. 2 Cor. 5.10. 2Thes8. 1. 6—10. Rev. 20. 11—15. rJohn 5. 28. Acts 24 15. Kev. 20. 12. s John 5. 22, 23. S7o6son Hamilton *Mercy Brown Chamber- lain, d '•'Sarali Stoddard Whit- tlesey Jones *Jemima Elliott Wood- bridge *Sui=anna Edwards Porter *Elizabeth Merrick Barn- ard Woodbridge *Elizabeth Barnard ^irotig *Abigail Barnes Jones *Esther Edwards Burr *EpliraimWilliarap, jr. (pro- bably) *Joseph Dwight (probably) *Gideon llawley " 1759. *Josiah Jones, jr. *Mabel Woodbridge Jones *Samuel Brown, jr. "■'■ Abigail Burr Brown 17 GO. *Bathsheba Nash Martiu" dale, I *James Gray, I *Hendrick Aupaumut's wife, Ind. *Isaac Wobux, Ind. *IIannah, wife of Rohtjlnd. *Ehzabeth " 1761. *Thoma9 Landers, I ^Catharine, wife of Quaun- auquaunt, Ld. *Catharine, Lucy, Eleanor, Elizabeth, and Molly, Itids. 1763. *Mary Tyce, d *Jonathan Hinsdale *Sarah Bariiard Hinsdale *Enoch Slosson, I d *Sarah St. John Slosson, Id *Catharine Sbauwauname- en, Ind. 1763. *Samuel Churchill *Hannah Curtis Clmrchill *Dea. Elnathan Curtin, I *Rose Welter Cuitis, I *Catharine LIshokhaunok, Ind. *Jacob Shauhokok, Ind. 1761. ^Lawrence Lynch *Thankful Pixley Whittle- sey, d *Enos Curtis, / *Mrs. Enos Curtis, I *Mrs. Cwriis Andrews, I 1765. ""Elijah Williams, d, rt j*David Allen ♦Elizabeth Williams West )*Silas Butler NAMES OF MEMBERS. 23 *Mrs. Silas (Spencer (?) But- ler *Nathanael Palmer *Sarali Spring Gray, I 1766. *Edward Martindale ♦Abigail King Bliss Pix- ley, / *Elizabetli, ■wife of Jacob Unkamug, Ind. *Peter Sharp, col. 1768. *Anna Bliss Nash *Desire Nash *Jahleel Woodbridge *Lucy ^f/warffc Woodbridge Sarah Root Cadwell *Nehemiah Hopkins, I *Mrs. Tryphena Hop kins, I *Pelatiah West, I *EIizabeth Lathrop West, *Eleazer West, I *01ive Redington West, / *John Deane *Lavinia Highy Deane Fisk, X *Edward Higby *Mark St. John, I *Mr8. Ann St. John, I *Zeruiah Hill Fuller, I *Elizabeth Partridge Ser- geant, I 1770. *EIijah SlossoD, I *Alona SlossoD, I *Melatiah Hatch, I *Mr3. Melatiah Hatch i *Hezekiah Hooker, I 1771. *Rev. John Sergeant, d *Pamela Dwiglit Sedgwick *Lebbeu8 Marvin *Rose, wife of Joab Binney, col. Anna Cary Griswold, I *Dea. 'I imothy Edwards, I *Rhoda Ogden Edwards, / *WiIliam Ingersoll, / ^Thankful JHye West, I *BathshebaC«r^ '^^K .^^ A .0^ ^ ^ % •p ^. •'1 o -^ r'^ G^ ^^ < CI V . 4' 'Xjk ^oV^' ,*/ ^.f^ OOBBS BROS. _ LIBRARY BINDING J"ZJi^>4S- ST. AUGUSTINE /^% FLA. <*<^ ^^32084 .