DOCUMENTARY HISTORY
Or
dt e xotes an   w    Itsco l a           t urctt,
IN THE
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
CONTALIING NUMEROUS HITHERTO UNPUBLISHED DOCUMENTS CONCERNING THE CHURCH IN
CONNECTICUT.
Vol. I.
FRANCIS L. HAWKS, D. D., LL. D.,
WILLIAM STEVENS PERRY, A. M.,
EDITORS.
JAMES POTT, PUBLISHER,
NO. 5 COOPEB UNION, FOURTH AVENUE.
1863.




Entered according to the Act of Congress, in the year eighteen hundred and sixty-two,
BY JAMES POTT,
in the Qcerk's Office of the District Court of the Southern District of New-York.




PREFACE.
IN offering to our brethren this first volume of " Church
Documents," the editors are sensible that little need be said
as to the nature and purposes of the work. They speak for
themselves, and were, beside, fully explained in the commencement of our undertaking.
It is equally unnecessary to speak of its value as furnishing
authentic materials for the early history of the Protestant
Episcopal Church in our country.
We ask support from our brethren not from any exectation or.esire of pecuniary return, to either the editors or the
publisher. The labors of the first named are gratuitous, and
the last but asks that he may be reimbursed the moneys expended by him in producing the work. A second volume,
now in press, will complete Connecticut; and the next dioceso
that will engage our attention will, probably, be Maryland.
In the hope that their plans and efforts may be favorably
viewed by their brethren, the editors commend the under.
taking to their sympathies and kindness; and, without violating propriety by a profusion of promises, ask leave to say no
more than that they will faithfully give to their brethren such
documents as they have, with an occasional explanatory note
such as, in their view, may help to a better understanding of
the documents themselves. The principle that prompts us to
our present labour is —"pro Deo, pro Eclesia, pro hominum
salute."








CH-URCH DOC a UMENTS.
CONNECTICUT..
WHAT was called New-England, in the times of our early
history, comprised the colonies of Connecticut, Massachusetts
Bay, Plymouth and Rhode Island, with Narragansett; and
very little was there to be found, in it, of tendencies toward
the Church of England. Episcopacy had, at first, few or no
friends in New-England. The land had been settled, from
1620, by Protestant Dissenters of various names, Brownists,
Independents, Presbyterians, &c. Here and there, indeed,
might be found one who was bold enough to avow his preference for " Lords Bishops," rather than for " Lords Brethren;"
but the country was soon made so uncomfortable a residence
for him, that he was commonly glad to leave it for a more
quiet home. Still, some remained, and from one cause or
another, which it is not necessary here to detail, Episcopalians increased, insomuch that, in 1679, a considerable
number of that class, who lived in Boston, petitioned King
Charles II. " that a Church might be allowed in that city, for
the exercise of religion according to the Church of England."
The petition was granted, King's Chapel was established,
and thus the Episcopal Church obtained foothold in NewEngland, surrounded with a numerous body of as bitter enemies as it has ever encountered on this continent. For years
it fought hard for every inch of ground it gained. But for
the Venerable Society for Propagating the Gospel, it had
probably been entirely vanquished in the contest. This
society was chartered in 1701, and the first help it afforded,




4                  CHURCH DOCUMENTS.
in New-England, was in Connecticut. This help was rendered through the aid of agents, both clerical and lay, who
belonged to one of the society's missions in New-York, on
the borders of Connecticut; in which latter colony there
was not a solitary congregation of Episcopalians, while the
inhabitants (as one of these agents writes) were, almost without exception, "very ignorant of the constitution of our
Church, and, therefore, enemies to it." To this agent we now
beg leave to introduce our readers.
No name is more honorably conspicuous in the early
history of the Church, both in New-York and Connecticut,
than that of Colonel Heatllcote. Our Church MSS., of both
these States, will present letters enough from his pen to verify
our statement. Caleb Iteathecote, the first lord of the Manor
of Scarsdale, was the sixth son of Gilbert HIeathcote, Esq., in
the county of Derbyshire, and hundred of Scarsdale, England.
The family is an ancient one, of great worth and respectability in Derbyshire.  Col. IHeathcote was born at Chesterfield, in the year 1663, and by his talents and industry in
mercantile pursuits,' with God's blessing, obtained both
influence and a good estate."  He came from England to
New-York in 1692; and the circumstances which caused his
emigration were not of an ordinary kind. It is stated in the
" Documentary History of New-York," vol. iv., p. 1039, that
lie was engaged to a very beautiful English lady, to whom
hle introduced his eldest brother, Gilbert. The lady soon
found that she preferred the elder brother, and broke her
engagement with the younger.
Col. Ileathcote immediately left England, and made his
future home in America. IIe settled in New-York, and his
career in this country is thus sketched by Mr. BIolton, in his
interesting history of the Church in Westchester County:
"'e became a leading man in the colony; was Judge of
Westchester, and Colonel of its militia all his life; first Mayor
of the borough of Westchester; a counsellor of the Province;
Mayor of New-York for three years; for a time, commander
of the colony's forces, and, from 1715 to the time of his death,
Receiver-General of the customs in North America. lie was
also one of the founders of Trinit)y Church, New-York; his




CONNECTICUT.                   5
name heads the list of its first Vestrymen, in 1697, and he
remained in office till 1714. He was elected a member of
the Venerable Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in
Foreign Parts, ii the year 1704, aAd embraced every opportunity of doing service to the Church, and, through the
blessing, of God, never let slip one fair occasion therein, when
the Provincial Government would give him leave."
"St. George Talbot, Esq., writing to the Secretary of the
Venerable Society, January 10th, 1.707-8, says:' I wish the
report were true, that he (Caleb HIeathcote) were appointed
Governor; it would be the best news, next to that of the
Gospel, that ever came over."'
" Some time prior to 1704, he erected a stately brick manorhouse in the village of Mamaroneck, upon what is still called
I-eathcote HIill, where he continued to reside for the remainder of his life. From this place most of the letters are dated
which he addressed to the Venerable Society. IIere he was
reverenced by the poor, esteemed by the Colonial Governors,
and respected by all. HIis death, which was very sudden
and unexpected, took place in the spring of 1721. IIe was
buried near the southwest corner of Trinity Church, NewYork. The following obituary notice appeared at the time
of his decease:"
" NEW-YOR.K, iarch 6th, 1721.
" On the 28th day of February last, died the Hon. Caleb
Heathcote, Esq., Surveyor-General of HIis Majesty's customs
for the Eastern District of North America, Judge of the
Court of Admiralty for the Provinces of New-York and NewJersey and the Colony of Connecticut, one of IIis Majesty's
Council for the Province of New-York, and brother of Sir
Gilbert Iteathcote, of London. Ile was a gentleman of rare
qualities, excellent temper and virtuous life and conversation,
and his loss lamented by all who knew him; who, the day of
his death, went about doing good in procuring a charitable
subscription, in which he made a very great progress."
We gather a few more particulars concerning this most
worthy gentleman from Mr. Bolton's truly valuable history
of Westchester County. We have seen- that Col. IHeathcote




6                 CHURCH DOCUMENTS.
came over in 1692. In 1696 he obtained, by purchase of
Anne Richbell, relict of one John Richbell, a right to certain
lands, which Richbell had derived from the Dutch West India Company in 1661; and in 1701 hle purchased of the Indian proprietors, for a valuable consideration, their right and
title to a large body of land lying on the Bronx and Miamaroneck Rivers; and the lands included in these two purchases
united, constituted the manor or lordship of Scarsdale, for
which a royal charter was granted to Col. Heathcote in 1701.
The territory thus acquired was larger than several of the
smaller principalities of Germany, some of its boundaries
running uninterruptedly for a length of eighteen miles; and
within this little empire the proprietor and lord was empowered to erect his court leet and court baron, appoint his stewards and deputies, impose amercements, issue the customary
legal process of such courts, distrain for rents, services, &c.,
enjoy all waifs, estrays, deodands and forfeited goods of
felons; and, in short, to be as near an approximation to the
ancient lord of feudal times as the more modern laws of England, at that day, would permit.
Extensive, however, as were these powers of the lord of
Scarsdale, there is no evidence that he abused them to the
oppression or injury of any one; for he seems to have been
a common benefactor, and a very public-spirited, conscientious
and useful man, ready for any good work that would benefit'
the community in which he lived. And in no particular was
this latter trait more conspicuous than in his efforts to make
permanent the institutions and teachings of Christianity.
There is an amusing account, given by himself, of some of the
measures to which he resorted for accomplishing his object.
IHe thus writes: "I shall begin the history of the Church
from the time I first came among them, which was about
twelve years ago. I found it the most rude and heathenish
country I ever saw in my whole life, which called themselves
Christians-there being not so nmuch as the least marks or
footsteps of religion of any sort. Sundays were the only
times set apart by them for all manner of vain sports and
lewd diversions, and they were grown to such a degree of
rudeness, that it was intolerable. I, having then the com



CONNECTICUT.
mand of the militia, sent an order to all the captains, requiring them to call their men under arms, and to acquaint them
that in case they would not in every town agree among themselves to appoint readers, and to pass the Sabbath in the best
manner they could, till such time as they should be better
provided, that the captains should, every Sunday, call their
companies under arms, and spend the day in exercise. Whereupon it was unanimously agreed, throughout the country, to
make choice of readers, which they accordingly did, and continued in those methods for some time." This was certainly
a novel illustration of the " Church.Militcant."
After Col. Heathcote's settlement in New-York, (but of the
precise date we are ignorant,) he married Martha, the daughter of Col. Williamn Smith, of Long Island, who was commonly known as "Tangier" Smith, from the fact that he
had been Governor of Tangier, in Africa. This lady was
the mother of several children, all of whom died without
issue, except two of the daughters, Anne and Martha, who
became the co-heiresses of Col. Heathcote. Of these, Anne
married the Hon. James De Lancey, Lieut.-Governor of NewYork, son of one of the Huguenots, Etienne De Lancey, whom
the revocation of the edict of Nantz had driven to America.
One of their sons was John Peter De Lancey, who married
Elizabeth Floyd, and these were the parents of the Right
Rev. William  Heathcote De Lancey, the present able and
much esteemed Bishop of the diocese of WVestern New-York.
The other daughter, Martha, married Lewis Johnston, Esq.,
M. D., of Perth Amboy, New-Jersey. They had four children, John, Anne, Margaret and Ileathcote.  Of these, Margaret married, according to Mr. Bolton, the Hon. Bower
Reed, " Governor" of New-Jersey; their daughter Maria
married Joshua McIlvaine, and these were the parents of the
Right Rev. Charles Petit McIlvaine, the gifted and zealous
Bishop of Ohio. It will thus be seen, that two of our pres* Mr. Whitehead, in his " Contributions to East Jersey History," says that Mr.
Bolton is in error in the statement that Mr. Reed was Governor of Jersey. He
never held that office. He was a highly respected lawyer of Burlington County,
Mayor of Burlington, Register-General and Secretary of State of New-Jersey, from
the Revolution to the time of his death, in 1794.




8                 CHURCH DOCUMENTS.
ent Bishops are direct descendants of Colonel Heathcote, and
by their pious labors have faithfully endeavoured to perpetuate and extend that Church, for which, in the beginning, their
honored ancestor did all that Be could, in laying the foundation. Nor is this all; according to Mr. Bolton, the Rev.
William Walton, D. D., of New-York, is a great grandson of
Chief Justice De Lancey, and has, therefore, the blood of
Col. Heathcote in his veins. We have, therefore, among our
clergy, three descendants of this worthy gentleman, who
gave so much of his time and means to the establishment of
the Church in which they minister. But it is time to let
Col. Heathcote speak for himself.
[Cotonel ileathcote to the Secretary.  Extract.]
Manor of Scarsdale, Nov. 9th, 1705.
Sir,
I have been so long wandering from one subj ect to another,
that I had almost forgot to give you my thoughts of Mr.
Muirson, whom my Lord of London has sent for this parish.
He has been here about three months, in which time he hath,
by much, outdone my expectation; having very fully retrieved all that unfortunate gentleman, Mr. Pritchard, lost;
and if he continues so faithful in the discharge of his trust, I
have not the least doubt but he will be able to give as large
an account of his services as any that has been sent over to
this Province; and I must do him the justice to own, that he
is deserving of the Society's favours. For, as some of his
parishioners told me, and which I know in a great measure to
be true, that although they have had a great many Ministers
among them since the settlement of their town, yet Mr.
Muirson did more good amongst them the first six weeks
after his coming, than all they ever had before; and I question not, but when you have the particulars of his proceedings transmitted, you will find what I have said of him to be
true.
My principles and natural temper lead me to do the




CONNECTICUT- 1705.                 9
Church all the service I can, everywhere; but I dare not
promise for more than this county at present, and my best
endeavours in the westernmost towns in Connecticut Colony,
when the Church is well rooted here. And it has always
been my opinion, and is so still, that there is no part of this
Province, or even America, that will be of greater use or
service to have the Church thoroughly settled in; for it is
not only large in extent, and the land very good, but near
the city. So, consequently, it will in time be a great settlement. ~But, bordering on Connecticut, there is no part of
the continent from whence the Church can have so fair an
opportunity to make impressions upon the Dissenters in that
government, who are settled, by their laws, from Rye Parish.to Boston Colony, which is about thirty-five leagues, in which
there are abundance of people and places. As for Boston
Colony, I never was in it, so can say little about it. But as
for Connecticut, I am and have been pretty conversant with it,
and always was as much in all their good graces as any man;
and now that I am on that subject, I will give you the best
account I can of that colony.
It contains, in length, about 140 miles, and has in it about
forty towns, in each of which there is a Presbyterian or Independent Minister, settled by law, to whom the people are
all obliged to pay, notwithstanding many times the Ministers
are not ordained, of which I have known several examples.
The number of people there is, I believe, about 2,400 souls.
They have abundance of odd kind of laws, to prevent any
dissenting from their thurch, and endeavour to keep the
people in as much blindness and unacquaintedness with any
other religion as possible, but in a more particular manner
the Church, looking upon her as the most dangerous enemy
they have to grapple withal, and abundance of pains is taken
to make the ignorant think as bad as possible of her; and I
really believe that more than half the people in that government think our Church to be little better than the Papist, and
they fail not to improve every little thing against us. But I
bless God for it, the Society has robbed them of their best
argument, which was the ill lives of our clergy that came
into these parts; and the truth is, I have not seen many good




10               CHURCH DOCUMENTS.
men, but of the Society's sending; and no sooner was that
honourable body settled, and those prudent measures taken
for carrying on of that good work, but the people of Connecticut, doubting of maintaining their ground without some
further support, with great industry went through their
colony for subscriptions to build a college at a place called
Seabrook; and the Ministers, who are as absolute in their
respective parishes as the Pope of IRoine, argued, prayed and
preached up the necessity of it, and the passive, obedient
people, who dare not do otherwise than obey, gave even
beyond their ability. A thing, which they call a college,
was prepared accordingly, wherein, as I am informed, a commencement was made about three or four months ago. B13ut
notwithstanding their new college here, and an old one in,
Boston, and that every town in that colony has one, and some
two Ministers, and I have not only heard them say, but seen
it in their prints, that there was no place in the world where
the gospel shone so brightly, nor the people lived so religiously and well as they; yet I dare aver, that there is not
a much greater necessity of having the Christian religion, in
its true light, preached any where, than amongst them —many,
if not the greatest number of them, being little better than
in a state of heathenism, having never been baptized or admitted to the Communion. Andl. that you may be satisfied
what I tell you herein is not spoken at random, nor grounded
on careless observation, MIr. Muirson's parish, which is more
than three-fourths composed of two towns, viz., Rye and Bedford, which were first settled under the colony of Connecticut,
and by the people bred and born under that government; and
some time before my coining they had a Minister, one Mr.
Denham, and had afterwards two more, Woodbridge and
Bowers, at Rye, and one Mr. Jones, at Bedford, and the
people of Rye only had of this county the care to provide a
parsonage house; and notwithstanding all those great shows
of religion, and that at such times as they were destitute of a
Minister.
Greenwich and Stamford, the bounds of the former of which
placesjoin upon theirs, and the other is not above ten miles distant, where they were always supplied, so that they could not




CONNECTICUT —— 1705.            11
be said to want the opportunity of having the Sacraments administered to them; yet I believe twenty of them had never
received the Communion, nor half of them been baptized, as
Mr. Muirson will more fully inform you.
And now I have given you an account of the state of that
colony, what will in the next place be naturally expected
from me is, to know my opinion of the best and most probable way of doing good amongst them. There is nothing more
certain than that it is the most difficult task the Society have
to wade through. For the people are not only not of the
Church, but have been and are trained up, with all the care
imaginable, to be its enemies. lThat to make an impression,
under all these disadvantages, is very difficult, though I hope
not impossible; and though, at first view, the prospect of
doing any good upon them is very little, yet no doubt but
the most proper measures ought to be taken, leaving the
event to Almighty God.
Now, to give you my thoughts in what way this great work
may best be endeavoured at, so as it may be done with little
expense, I believe, for the first step, the most proper way
would be, that one of the Ministers in this County should be
directed, by my Lord of London, to inform himself where
there are any in that government that profess themselves to
be of the Church, and to know if they or any of their neighbours have any children to baptize, or desire to partake of the
Sacrament; and ifiform them that he will come to the town
where they live, and after having given them a sermon, will
perform those holy rites. There need, I think, no more be
done in this matter at present; but the Society may, if they
please, leave the rest to me, and I won't only give hlim the
best advice and directions I can therein, but will, God willing, wait upon him in his progress, and persuade some useful
friends along with me. And when this essay has been made,
I shall be much better able to guess at the state of that government, and what is fitting to be done next.
Now, the person that I would advise them to pitch upon, by all
means, for this expedition, is Mr. Muirson; he being not only
posted next those parts, and so it will look less like design;
but he has a very happy way of delivery, and makes little
2




12                 CHURCH DOCUMENTS.
use of his notes in preaching, which is extremely taking
amongst those people; and for argument, few of his years
exceed him.
The chief end I have in this projection is to have the people
of that government undeceived in their notions concerning
our Church-there being, I believe, fifteen thousand in that
colony who have never heard, or scarce seen a Church of
England Minister; and I have the charity to believe that,
after having heard one of our Ministers preach, they will not
look upon our Church to be such a monster as she is represented; and being convinced of some of the cheats, many of
them may duly consider of the sin of schism. However, let
the success be what it will, to me the duty seems plain. I
have not only mentioned this to you, but in my letter to my
Lord of London, and shall patiently wait for his and the Society's commands therein.
CALEB IHEATHCOTE.
The tour of observation suggested in this letter was, ere
long, made by Col. Heathcote, in company with the Rev.
Mr. Muirson, of whom he speaks in terms of such high commendation in the former part of the preceding extract. But
Mr. M[uirson deserves at our hands something more than
the mere mention of his name, and we therefore ask leave to
tell our readers somewhat concerning him; after which he,
also, like Col. IHeathcote, shall speak for himself.
The Rev. George Muirson, A. M., was born in Scotland,
(in Ayrshire, probably,) about the year 1675, and received
his education, as it is supposed, in some one of the colleges
of that country. In 1703 he was sent to the Province of
New-York, by the Venerable Society, as schoolmaster at
Albany. When Lord Cornbury afterward established a Latin
free-school in New-York, lie appointed Mr. Muirson its master; and for some time he discharged the duties of that office
successfully. The Rev. William Vesey (of whom our NewYork documents, when published, will furnish more particular information) was, at that time, the Rector of New-York,
which had in it no Episcopal Church but Trinity; and in




CONNECTICUT.                  13
1704, Mr. Muirson, who was seeking the appointment of
Catechist in Trinity, was spoken of as a fit person: to be ordained, and to become assistant to Mr. Vesey in his ministerial labours. He was strongly recommended by Lord Cornbury, the Rev. Mr. Vesey, the Church Wardens and Vestrymen of Braintree, (now Quincey,) in Massachusetts, and by
the Rev. Evan Evans of Philadelphia, of whom our Pennsylvania documents have much, that is good, to say. This
last named gentleman thus wrote to the Bishop of London,
in October, 1704: " This comes by the hands of the ingenious
Mr. George Muirson, to receive holy orders from your Lordship, by the approbation of his Excellency, my Lord Cornbury. I find that he is very well beloved and esteemed by
all sorts of people, a man of a very sober and blameless conversation. He seems to be endued with great humility of
mind, and has the character of being very prudent in his conduct. I give him this recommendation not to gratify himself, nor any body else, but because I sincerely believe he may
be very instrumental of doing much good in the Church."
With such testimonials, Mr. Muirson found no difficulty in
obtaining orders from the hands of Dr. Compton, the Bishop
of London; and, returning to America, he reached NewYork in July, 1705. Though he had been spoken of as a
suitable assistant to Mr. Vesey, from some satisfactory cause
Lord Cornbury thought it best, soon after his arrival, to appoint him to the Church at Rye, which had been much injured
under a year's ministry of the Rev. Mr. Pritchard. I-e soon
revived the drooping prospects of the Church at Rye, and,
"by the aid and assistance of the good Colonel Heatheote,"
as he expresses it, persuaded the parish to build a good
Church edifice. In the same letter, from which the above
words are quoted, he says: " I have lately been in the government of Connecticut, where I observe some people well
affected to the Church; for those that are near, come to my
parish on Sabbath days; so that I am assured an itinerant
Missionary might do great services in that Province. Some
of their Ministers have privately told me, that had we a
Bishop among us, they would conform and receive holy




14                CHURCH DOCUMENTS.
orders; from which, as well as on all the Continent, the
necessity of a Bishop will plainly appear."
Colonel Heathcote, who, as we have seen, was the leading
man of that day in Westchester County, as well as of great
and deserved influence in the Province at large, had, we are
persuaded, much instrumentality in causing Mr. Muirson to
be sent to Rye. HIe had the interests of the Church in view.
Scarsdale embraced a great part of Mir. MIuirson's parish at
Rye, and, indeed, Col. IHeathcote may almost be said to have
founded the parish there; he was one of its first wardens,
and for some time its chief supporter. HIe was, by much,
the richest man in Westchester; very decided and ardent in
his attachment to the Church of England; extremely liberal
in the use of his fortune for its extension; so that not only
did the Church at Rye owe almost its existence (as it certainly did its preservation) under God to him, but all Westchester County is indebted to his efforts and to his means for
nearly every one of her ancient parishes, which are now among
the oldest in this country. The object of Col. Heathcote was
two-fold: first, to plant the Church securely in Westchester,
on the borders of Connecticut; and, secondly, from that
point, to act upon Connecticut, which was wholly Puritan,
and, withal, not a little bigotted and uncharitable. After
Mr. Muirson was settled at Rye, the Colonel commenced the
execution of the second part of his plan. Mr. Muirson frequently crossed the border, " holding services, preaching,
baptizing and distributing prayer-books and devotional
works;" and, as Mr. Bolton states, in his History of the
Parish of Rye, " on these expeditions he was invariably accompanied by Col. Heathcote. They rode on horseback, with
their saddle-bags full of books, and the Colonel always went
fully armed, as, in those tolerant times, it was as much as a
man's life was worth even to talk of' the Church' in Connecticut, without the means of self-defence."
Mr. Muirson must have possessed a peculiar aptitude for
this itinerating duty in Connecticut, and he was much
blessed in his labours. It pleased God, however, to take him
to himself when he was yet but a young man, of but little




CONNECTICUT.                 15
more than thirty years. He died in October, 1708, deeply
lamented by all who knew him. One who had studied his
character well, thus speaks of him':' He was a most zealous,
devoted and truly good man; a sound Churchman in his
principles, and bold and fearless in advocating his views;
cool in judgment, winning in manners, and possessed of great
natural eloquence, he was well fitted for the position in
which he was placed, and admirably calculated to introduce the Church into the then benighted government of
Connecticut."
His friend and patron, Col. IIeathcote, who probably knew
and understood him better than any other man did, thus expresses himself, in a letter to the Secretary of the Venerable
Society, dated not long after his death: —" I must, in the first
place, give you the melancholy account of Mr. M[uirson's
death, who was a very industrious and successful Missionary,
and had it pleased God to have preserved his life, he would
have been able to have given a wonderful account of his
labours. By his constant journies in the service of the Church,
and the necessary supply of his family, he expended every
farthing he got here and of the Society." The testimony of
his clerical brethren, to the worth of such a man, should not
beomitted. It is equally honourable to him and to themselves.
In a joint letter which they sent to the Bishop of London,
dated November 24th, 1709, they thus write:
"MAY IT PLEASE YOUR LORDSHIP,
"We think ourselves obliged by the ties of humanity and
sacred relation of paternity, as well as those of Christian
charity to the indigent, to make this representation to your
Lordship, our most worthy Diocesan, and the Venerable Society for the Propagation of the Gospel, in the behalf of the
virtuous relicts of our late deceased reverend brethren, Mr.
Muirson and Mr. Urquhart, whose present difficult circumstances, as they extort this our petition, so we humbly hope
will render them proper objects of your commiseration. The
former was Missionary of Rye, a parish bordering on Connecticut Colony, where God was pleased to bless his painful




16               CHURCH DOCUMENTS.
labours with suitable success; and that he might not fall under the censure of avarice, or give the least occasion of any
reflection amongst his people, (who were for the most part
proselytes to the Church,) he not only frequently parted with
what, by law, was his just demand, but out of his Missionary
allowance of ~50 per annum, endeavoured to support himself,
that he might make the Gospel as little burdensome to them
as possible, one of the most effectual means to establish the
Church in these parts, and by his frequent journeys to Stratford, a town in that Province where he was invited to preach,
and had a very good prospect of erecting a Church for the
worship of God, according to the form and manner of the
Church of England, he was put to more than ordinary
charges, which, (had God granted him a longer life,) he might
have reaped so much advantage from, as to have made a settlement there for the service of our Church, and, in a great
measure, repaired the voluntary poverty he had brought upon
himself in his endeavours to effect this good work; but it
pleased God to remove him in the midst of his labours and
dawning of our hopes, by which his poor widow, and one
son, born since his death, are left to struggle with some difficulties, which we hope the pious zeal of your Venerable Society will remove, by an allowance of ~50 sterling, to commence from his death, for one year, to pay his just debts contracted in that service," &c.
This letter was signed by the following reverend gentlemen: Evans of Philadelphia, Talbot of Burlington, Thomas
of HIampstead, Barton of Westchester, Sharp, Chaplain to the
Queen's Forces, Bridge of Rye, and  dyles and Harris of
Boston.
On the 20th of June, 1707, Mr. Muirson married Georgiana,
the youngest daughter of the Iton. William Smithl, of St.
George's Manor, Long Island, Chief Justice and President of
the Council of New-York. The posthumous son alluded to
in the foregoing letter was George )Muirson, Esq., M. D., of
Setauket, L. I.  Mrs. Muirson survived her husband but
two years. The posthumous son, Dr. George Muirson, married Anna Smith, and their descendants are still, we believe,
living on Long Island.




CONNECTICUT — 1T6.               17
[Mr. Aruirson to the Secretary. Extract.]
Honored Sir,
Please to communicate to your Society that I have lately
been in Connecticut Colony, and found some persons welldisposed towards the Church. I preached in Stratford to a
very numerous congregation, both forenoon and afternoon.
I baptized about twenty-four persons the same day. I intend
another journey thither again quickly, being invited to baptize their children, and hope (by the Divine aid) to make a
fair beginning for the establishment of the Church, in a considerable part of that government. There are, I'm informed,
some thousands of persons in that colony unbaptized, and
the reason is this, most of their Ministers refuse to admit any
children into Christ's Church by baptism, but those whose
parents are in full communion with them. The Independents
threaten me, and all who are instrumental in bringing me
thither, with prison and hard usage. They are very much
incensed to see that the Church (Rome's sister, as they
ignorantly called her) is likely to gain ground among'em,
and use all the stratagems they can invent to defeat my enterprises. But, however, since I hope my superiors approve
of my undertaking, I shall not fail to visit as often as the
affairs of my parish will permit; neither shall all they can
do or say discourage me from prosecuting (to the utmost of
my ability) so good a design. I shall be glad to receive the
instructions of your Honourable Corporation by the next opportunity, which I shall always think myself happy in obeying. In the mean time shall continue to proceed in this
method till I receive further orders. The Hon. Col. Heathcote (who always studies and endeavours the good of the
Church) has been very diligent and industrious in carrying
on this great work. The eminency of his station, and withal
his favouring and countenancing my attempts of this nature,
is of so great consequence among the people that, truly, what
success I have hitherto had, either at home or abroad, is ow



18                CHURCH DOCUMENTS.
ing more to his prudent conduct than to the best of my weak
labours. He honours me with his good company in all such
progresses, and exerts his utmost endeavours to settle the
Church wherever he goes, which will recommend him to the
esteem and regard of all good men, but especially (I'm persuaded) of your worthy members.
Honor'd sir,
Your most faithful,
Humble servant,
GEORGE MUIRSON.
RYE, October 2d, 1706.
[ColoeZl Heathcote to the Secretary.]
October, 1706.
Sir,
I gave you the trouble of a very long letter by Mr. Talbot,:and another by the Virginia fleet, both which I hope are
come to your hands, and have not since been favoured with,any from you, tho':am in daily expectation thereof. I have
not lately heard any thing of or from Mr. Clayton; and since
he does the Society no service, I hope he is in no charge to
them. I have a proposal to lay before the Board concerning
schooling, in which I propose a considerable service without
any very great charge, and am apt to believe it may be approved of. I have it now upon the anvil, and hope to have
it ready to transmit to you in my next, which shall be with
the first opportunity, God willing, that presents after this. I
told you, in my former letter, that I intended to accompany
Mr. Muirson into Connecticut, to try what impression could
be made on those people. We accordingly paid them a visit
about six weeks ago, and had done it sooner, but the expectation we were under of the French making an attack on this
Province, obliged me not to leave until those fears were over.
We found that Colony much as we expected-very ignorant
of the constitution of our Church, and, for that reason, great
~enemies to it. All their towns are furnished with Ministers,




CONNECTICUT —707.               19
(as I formerly told you,) who are chiefly Independents, and
denying baptism, to the children of all who are not in full
communion; there are many thousands in that government
unbaptized. The Ministers are very uneasy at our coming
amongst them, and abundance of pains was taken to persuade
and terrify the people from hearing Mr. Muirson, but it
availed nothing; for, notwithstanding all their endeavours,
he had a very great congregation, and, indeed, infinitely beyond my expectation. The people were wonderfully surprised at the order of our Church, expecting to have heard
and seen some wonderful strange things, by the account and
representation of it that their teachers had given them. I
am in hopes, upon the whole matter, that our journey was
not lost; but that we have done service to the Church in our
progress, in which I shall be able to give a better guess after
our next visit, which we intend, God willing, to pay them
about a month or six weeks hence. Mr. Muirson baptized
about twenty-four, mostly grown people; and when he goes
there next, I hope many more will be added to the Church.
He is, truly, very well qualified for that service, having a
very happy way of preaching; and, considering his years,
wonderfully good at argument, while his life is without blemish. I've not any thing further at present worth the while to
trouble you with, save my most humble regards and duty to
the Society, so remain, sir,
Your most affectionate servant,
CALEB HIEATHCOTE.
[C ol. Heathcote to the Secretary.]
Sir,
I wrote you a letter by the last fleet, since which I have
not been favoured by any from you, which I attribute to the
misfortune of the IResolution Galley. I therein gave you an
account of some small progress we had made toward settling
the Church in Connecticut. Since which, we have made
another journey amongst them, when Mr. Muirson baptized
four or five more, mostly grown persons, and administered the




20                CHURCH DOCUMENTS.
Sacrament to about fifteen. He met with more opposition
this time than the last, the justices having taken the freedom
to preach, giving out at the same time, amongst the people,
that he and all his hearers should be put in gaol. But, notwithstanding all their threats to some and persuasions to
others, he had a handsome congregation; and I believe the
next visit that is paid them, it will be found that their struggling to stifle the Church will be a great means to forward its
growth, for I hope, with the blessing of God, in as short a
time as can reasonably be expected, there won't only be a
fine congregation gathered, but ways will be found by our
projection, or otherwise, to have a handsome Church for
them to worship God in-for the effecting of which, my
hearty endeavour shall not be wanting. Those there in the
interest of the Church are very desirous to have a Minister
sent amongst them, in which, if the Society shall think fit
to assist them, more than common care must be taken that
they have one of an exemplary life, and in all respects qualified to answer that great work; for a miscarriage at our first
setting out would ruin all, and it would afterwards be extremely difficult to make any steps toward settling the Church
in that colony. It would be absolutely necessary, for the
better and more easy effecting this great and good work, that
an order be procured from Her Majesty, requiring the government of that Colony not to force any of her subjects to
pay for maintenance of the Ministers settled by their laws,
and to repeal that act whereby they pretend to refuse liberty
of conscience to those of the established Church. If those
grievances were redressed, which in itself is very reasonable
and proper, and not much more than hath been granted the
Quakers, on their petition against the same government, it
would be of greater service to the Church than can at first
sight be imagined. I acquainted you, in my former letter,
that there was a very ingenious gentleman at Stratford, one
Mr. Reed, the Minister of that place, who is very inclinable
to come over to the Church; and if the charge can be dispensed with, he is well worth the gaining, being by much
the most ingenious man they have amongst them, and would
be very capable to serve the Church. By reason of the good




CONNECTICOT —1707.               21
inclination he shews for the Church, he has undergone persecution by his people, who do all which is in their power to
starve him, and being countenanced and encouraged therein
by all the Ministers round them, they have very near effected
it; so that if any proposal could be made to encourage his
coming over for ordination, his family, which is pretty large,
must be taken care of in his absence. I thought fit to lay
this matter before the Society, and leave it to their wisdom
and judgment to move therein, as they think proper and convenient.
I hear nothing of Mr. Cleator, so suppose that he is either
dead or hath declined the service, as having since better considered that matter. If the Society will be pleased to allow
the ~15 he was to have for schoolmasters in this country, I
believe I could, for that money, encourage the settling of four,
by having it sent over in goods, as I shall direct; and the
Society shall have no trouble, nor run any risque therein, for -
1 will be answerable if any misfortune happen to it in coming
over; for, though'tis but a small sum, I will give directions
to have it insured. If this projection answers my expectation, as I am very much of opinion it will, it may be of great
use and service to the Society on many other accounts.
The bearer hereof, Mr. Evans, who has a very fair character, and is clothed with the reputation of having done very
great service to the Church in Philadelphia, is going home
to receive my Lord of London's directions for settling the
Church at that place, which is very much rent by some
unhappy differences, and I don't doubt his Lordship will find
out effectual ways for healing their wounds, for it's a great
pity the Church should be hurt by any divisions amongst
her own members; but especially in that place, where she is,
in a more than ordinary manner, surrounded with enemies.
Mr. Evans will be able to give you some account concerning
the state of this parish, which Mr. Muirson hath, as I formerly
told you, got into very great order. They are now busy in
ceiling their Church, and it is, I believe, the first country
Church in America that ever had that cost bestowed on it;
and I question not but we shall persuade them to finish it in
all other respects decently and well. Mr. Muirson, the next




22                CHURCH DOCUMENTS.
journey he makes to Connecticut, intends to settle his Church
at Stratford, by making choice of Churchwardens and Vestry, as Mr. Evans will more fully inform you. I was not
mistaken when I formerly told you that he was the most
proper of all the Missionaries hereabouts to go on that great
undertaking, having performed that work with a wonderful
deal of prudence and discretion. When the Church bath got
footing in Connecticut, it will in the next place be advisable
to try what is to be done with the east end of Long Island,
where there are several considerable towns, concerning which,
when I have informed myself better, I shall give you my
thoughts therein. I have not at present any thing further
worth your notice, so with my most humble duty to the
Society
I remain, sir,
Your most obedient servant,
CALER HEATHCOTE.
NEW-YORi: 24 Feb'y, 1707.
[-rr. 3fuirson to the Secretary.  Extract.]
Much Honor'd Sir,
I received yours,. dated May 2, 1706. The instructions
you sent along with it, I'm informed, are at York, which will
come to my hands quickly. I understand by yours that the
Society expects an account of all the subscriptions and contributions I receive from the Government or inhabitants, of
which this is an exact statement. That there is ~50, N. York
money, settled by act of Assembly upon Rye Parish; but
the people being very poor, I've received only about ~10 or
~12 since I've been their Minister. It's true I could compel'em, by law, to, pay the whole; but such proceedings, I'm
well assured, would' have been very hurtful to the interest of
the Church, in a place, especially, surrounded with Dissenters of all sorts; and, therefore, I thought it better to have




CONNECTICUT- 10T.               23
patience with them till they are more able, than that our
glorious work should anyways suffer. They are all new converts, and so I must bear with'em in many things, tho' to
my present disadvantage; but I hope, when our Church is
finished, they will consider my circumstances, and make my
life more comfortable than hitherto it has been. As to the
present circumstances of my parish, I've nothing new to
offer; only, since my last, I've baptized several persons;
that the number of communicants increases; that the people
duly frequent the Church, excepting a few Quakers and
Anabaptist families.  There is a considerable number of
growing persons not yet baptized; but I intend to admit
them after they are instructed into the principles of that religion of which their baptism makes them members; for I
think it necessary that the adults be first taught what they
are to promise and perform in that covenant.
I have been thrice in Connecticut Colony, and, in one
town, have baptized about 32, young and old, and administered the Holy Sacrament to 18, who never received it before.
Each time I had a numerous congregation. Col. IIeathcote
has taken abundance of pains among'em, and I find that
many of the people are well disposed to the Church, but
dare not, at present, show themselves, being under great discouragement from the Government, for the Independents
threaten'em with prison and punishment for coming to hear
me preach; and not only so, but one of their magistrates, with
some other officers, came to my lodgings, on Saturday, and, in
the hearing of Col. Heathcote and a great many people, read a
long paper; the meaning of it was to let me know that theirs
was a charter government; that I had done an illegal thing in
coming among'cm to establish a new way of worship, and to
forewarn me from preaching any more. This he did by virtue of one of their laws, entitled ecclesiastical, page 29. The
words he made use of are these, as the said law expresses
them: " Be it enacted by the Governor, Council and Representatives, convened in General Assembly, that there shall
be no ministry or church administration entertained or attended by the inhabitants of any town or plantation in this
Colony, distinct and separate from, and in opposition to, that




24               CHURCH DOCUMENTS.
which is openly and publickly observed and dispensed by the
approved ministers of the place." Now, whatever interpretation the words of the said law may admit, yet we are to
regard the sense and force they put upon them, which is
plainly thus, to exclude the Church from their Government,
as appears by their proceedings with me; so that hereby
they deny a liberty of conscience to the Church of England,
as well as to all others that are not of their opinion, which,
being repugnant to the laws of England, is contrary to the
grant of their charter; and which, I humbly presume, if our
Gracious Queen was acquainted with, her Majesty would be
pleased to disannul the same, or, at least, make it ineffectual
against the settling of the National Church. Till this be
done, or some other method taken to remove these hindrances,
I cannot expect my endeavours should be so successful as
otherwise they might be;. for though the people are very inclinable, yet they are afraid of the penalty annexed to the
law. It's very remarkable how- industrious both ministers
and magistrates are to frustrate my undertaking; for,
wherever they come, they busy themselves from house to
house to keep the people away.- Among many others, I
shall offer only one particular instance of their spight and
malice against the Church.. I was lately invited to preach,
and baptize some children, in a town called Fairfield; upon
which, I sent a letter to the minister and magistrate of said
town, entreating the use of their meeting-house, supposing
they would readily grant it, being on a week-day; but they
refused it, and told me theywould discountenance such new
ways. A gentleman was so kind as to invite me to his
house, where (notwithstanding all the stratagems they had
used to hinder the people from coming) I had a large congregation; but so cruelly was the Independent party set against
us, that they railed and scoffed at the Church, making her as
idolatrous as Romne, and denied us the liberty of ringing the
bell, or beating a drum, to give the people notice.  The
Reverend Mr. Evans was there along with me. He was
pleased to travel almost 200 miles, that, being acquainted
with the particular circumstances of that Colony, he might
be the more capable of giving you a true and full informa



CONNECTICUT-1707.                25
tion. He has their law book; he can show you what Jaws
they make use of against the Church, and how they force our
people to pay to their Ministers, and take their estates by distress. By those and such intolerable oppressions, the people
are disenabled to contribute to the support of a Church of
England Minister, and therefore have petitioned home that
one may be sent, with a sufficient maintenance, from the
Honourable Corporation. He had need be a man very prudent in conduct, and exemplary in life and conversation,
(for being the first,) the advancement of the Church in
after ages depends, in a great measure, upon his good behaviour; for the people generally judge a man's principles
by his life.
Sir, it would make my letter too tedious, should I enumerate all the attempts they make against us. I shall therefore
desist from this subject, desiring only you would be pleased
to enquire more particularly of Mr. Evans, as also to consult
those letters which the people, from time to time, have sent to
me, by which you will see the necessity there is of a:Missionary among'em, and how desirous these good men are of receiving the sacred ordinances, and worshipping God in the
way of our holy mother, and yet what sore grievances and
hardships they labour under for the same.
It would be a great service if the Society would be pleased
to send over some Common Prayer-Books and some small
treatise in defence of the Church; for our adversaries have
mustered up all the scandalous and reviling pamphlets they
can get, and have dispersed them among the people in order
to prejudice'em against us.
I want books very much for my own use, having only a
few I bought before I came from London, but I hope the Society have been pleased to consider my request before this
time.
I heartily beg your prayers, that all my endeavours may
answer the glorious ends of my mission, the advancement of
God's Glory in the due edifying of his people.
That Almighty God may be pleased, (out of the immense
treasury of His riches,) so to increase your stock and bless all
your laudable designs, that you may, for the further good of




26                CHURCH DOCUMENTS.
His Church and people, send forth more labourers into His
Harvest, shall ever be the fervent prayer of
Honor'd sir,
Your most faithful friend and
Very humble servant,
GEORGE MUMSON.
RYE, 4 April, 1707.
[Colonel Heatheote to the Secretary.]
Sir,
After I had furnished my other letter by the bearer, Mr.
Evans, he, resolving to tarry a month or six weeks longer
than he first proposed, gives me the opportunity to send what
new matter hath since occurred. And to begin with Connecticut:-About 14 days ago, MIr.Muirson paid his congregation
in those parts a visit, and had the happiness to be accompanied by Mr. Evans, who, out of his zeal to serve the Church,
though of a weakly constitution, undertook that troublesome
journey, so that, being an eye-witness to those affairs, he
might be the more able to give a more satisfactory account
concerning the state of the Church there, to whom I shall
make bold, in a great measure, to refer you. I bless God for
it. Every thing has almost outgone my first hopes, and I am
very much of opinion that, if that matter is pushed on with
care, a wonderful deal of service may be done the Church in
that government. The people having been kept in perfect
blindness, as many of them now declare, and as I told you in
mine by the Jamaica fleet, it cannot be an act of greater
charity to undeceive the Indians, than those miserable blinded people; and where there are such vast numbers debarred
from the benefit of God's Holy Ordinances, concerning which
I was so full in the letter before mentioned, that it will be
needless to enlarge on that head.
I did, in my last two letters, acquaint you that there was a
very ingenious Minister in that Colony, who showed great




CONNECTICUT- 1707.              97
inclination to come over to the Church, and I was of opinion
he would be well worth the recovery. I also told you that
his affection for the Church had created him many enemies!
and that he has undergone a sort of persecution on that account; but now his enemies have done their worst to him,
having turned him out of his living, as Mr. Evans can more
fully inform you-he having seen and discoursed with himthat, as I really believe, it will conduce very much to the service of the Church, and also, in justice to the poor gentleman,
who has a large family of small children, who must come to
ruin and misery, and become a sacrifice to the cause of the
Church, which would be a great dishonour, should he not be
relieved by us. I did, therefore, make bold to assure him of
the Society's favours; and that upon his going to England,
and making a solemn declaration, that he will receive orders
from the Bishop of London, so soon as he can with conveniency do it; that to enable him to maintain his family during his absence, I would pass my word that he should be entitled to the usual Missionary allowance of ~50 a year, from
the time of his going off; and that in order thereunto I would
give him my best recommendations to the Society. So it is
my humble request they would be pleased to allow it if he
comes; and in case they do not think it proper to settle a
salary upon him before such time as he is actually in orders,
that it may be considered him under some other name; because my promise to him is such; and I am not under the
least doubt but he will merit it by his service to the Church.
This sudden turn, concerning Mr. Reed, has put upon me
new thoughts, which are, to have Mr. Muirson removed from
this parish, and that his mission be for Connecticut Colony in
general, the place of his residence being at Stratford, or at
such town as he shall judge to be most for the service of the
Church. This will, in my opinion, not only be the most
effectual way for carrying on that great work; but the Society will be put to no difficulty in getting a proper person,
in which, if the least mistake should happen as to the qualifications of a Minister, the whole Mission would be endangered by it; and as experience hath fully satisfied us how fitting
Mr. Muirson is for that undertaking, by what he hath already




28               CHURCH DOCUMENTS.
done, I am humbly of opinion that for that reason it would
not be proper to put that matter to a new risk; and, in the
next place, it will be of absolute necessity not only to have a
very good mall in this place, being on the frontiers of that
government, but also one who will be zealously assisting to
Mr. Muirson, in which none will be more proper than Mr.
Reed. And in case there is a removal, according to the advice given herewith, it is my desire it may be so; and then
as to Mr. lMuirson, if he goes on that mission, he cannot have
less allowed him than 100 pounds sterling a year; because, at
the first setting out, nothing must be expected from them, nor,
indeed, any offers made toward it; and as his Mission will
be four times as large as any other, so he must consequently
be in a perpetual motion, which will be chargeable and
troublesome. I have not had much talk with him about it,
but I doubt not in the least, if my Lord of London and the
Society directs his removal, I can persuade him to be easy
under it.
I have, since writing my other letters, taken some pains to
inquire concerning the character and behaviour of the bearer,
Mr. Evans, and, upon the whole, find him to be an extraordinary good man, and one that hath done very great service
to the Church, not only in Philadelphia, but in other neighbouring towns, so that I am very much concerned that there
should be any misunderstanding betwixt him and any of his
parish, as he represents things; and being a very honest, good
man, I can't help giving credit to it. The Church and he
have had hard usage offered them, though I am past a doubt
that upon his making out those things to my Lord of London
he will find means to settle and complete their differences,
and will return him to his parish; and, so far as it may be
proper for the Society to concern themselves in that matter,
I could wish they would give their assistance therein, because,
whilst they are in that broken condition, the Church can't but
receive many wounds by it. I can't think of any thing further of moment at this time. So remain, sir,
Your obed't servt.,
CALEB HEATHCOTE.
NEW-YORK, April 14, 1707.




CONNECTICUT —1707-8.               29
[ifr. fuzirson to the Secretary. Extract.]
Honor'd Sir,
I entreat your acceptance of my most humble and hearty
thanks for the kind and Christian advice you were pleased to
tender me in relation to Connecticut. Such measures as you
proposed I have all along observed, and I am sure no man
in that Colony can justly accuse me of the contrary. I know
that meekness and moderation is most agreeable to the mind
of our blessed Saviour, Christ, who himself was meek and
lowly, and would have all his followers to learn that lesson of
him. It was n. method by which Christianity was at first
propagated, and it is still the best policy to persuade mankind to receive instruction. Gentleness and sweetness of
temper is the readiest way to engage the affections of the
people; and charity to those who differ from us in opinion
is the most likely to convince them that our labours are intended for the welfare of their souls; whereas passionate and
rash methods of proceeding will fill their minds with prejundices against both our persons and our principles, and utterly
indispose them against all the means we can make use of to
reclaim them from their errors. I have duly considered all
these things, and have carried myself civilly and kindly to
the Independent party, but they have ungratefully resented
my love; yet I will further consider the obligations that my
holy religion lays upon me, to forgive injuries and wrongs,
and to return good for their evil. Thus I hope, by God's
assistance, I shall behave myself, and avoid the doing any
thing that may bring blame upon that godly Society, whose
Missionary I am, or hinder the progress of that glorious work
they have undertaken; and ever since I have been invited
into that Colony I have been so far from endeavouring to entrench upon the toleration which Her Majesty has declared
she will preserve, that, on the contrary, I desired only a
liberty of conscience might be allowed to the members of the
National Church of England; which, notwithstanding, they




30               CHURCH DOCUMENTS.
seemed unwilling to grant, and left no means untried, both
foul and fair, to prevent the settling the Church among them;
for one of their Justices caine to my lodging and forewarned
me, at my peril, from preaching, telling me that I did an
illegal thing in bringing in new ways among them; the peoplo were likewise threatened with prison, and a forfeiture of
~5 for coming to hear me.
It will require more time than you will willingly bestow
on these lines to express how rigidly and severely they treat
our people, by taking their estates by distress, when they do
not willingly pay to support their Ministers. And though
every Churchman in that Colony pays his rate for the building and repairing their meeting-houses, yet they are so maliciously set against us, that they deny us the use of them,
though on week days. They tell our people that they will
not suffer the house of God to be defiled with idolatrous worship and superstitious ceremonies. They are so bold that
they spare not openly to speak reproachfully, and with great
contempt, of our Church. They say the sign of the cross is
the mark of the beast and the sign of the devil, and that
those who receive it are given to the devil. And when our
people complain to their magistrates of the persons who thus
speak, they will not so much as sign a warrant to apprehend
them, nor reprove them for their offence. This is quite a
different character to what, perhaps, you have heard of that
people. That they are ignorant, I can easily grant; for if
they had either much knowledge or goodness they would not
act and say as they do; but that they are hot-heady, I have
too just reason to believe; and as to their meaning, I leave
that to be interpreted by their unchristian proceedings with
us. Whoever informed you so, I may freely say, that he was
not so well acquainted with the constitution of that people
as I am, who gave you the contrary information. I beg that
you would believe that this account (though seeming harsh
and severe, yet no more than is true) does not proceed from
want of charity, either towards their souls or bodies, but
purely for the good of both. And to give you better information concerning the state of that people, that proper remedies may be taken for curing the evils that are among them,




CONNECTICUT-1 70 7-8.             31
and that our Churchmen in that Colony may not be oppressed
and insulted over by them, but that they may obtain a liberty
of conscience, and call a Minister of their own Communion,
and that they may be freed from paying to their Ministers,
and may be enabled to obtain one of their own. This is all
these good men desire.
Honored sir, your most assured friend
And very humble servant,
GEO. MUIRsON.
RYE, 9th January, 1707-8.
We have already printed a joint letter from the clergy of the
Northern and Middle Colonies, addressed to the Lord Bishop
of London as their " most worthy Diocesan."  The document
we shall give as coming next in sequence of time, is an address to the same prelate, from the Churchmen in the Colony
of Connecticut, reciting their grievances and seeking redress.
As we shall have to present, from time to time, many similar
documents, and as there will be frequent allusions in our
pages to this claim of ecclesiastical allegiance, as due from the
American Colonial Church to the Bishop of London, it may
be well, ere we proceed, to give in brief some explanation of
this close connection of our fathers with the See of London.
The earliest traces of this superintendence of the Bishop of
London over the Colonial Church we have been able to find,
is the application of the Virginia Council, early in the seventeenth century, to Bishop King, whose interest in the work
of colonizing and Christianizing America was already well
known, for assistance in providing'" pious, learned and powerfulf Ministers" for that Colony. The choice of the good
Bishop as a member of the Council followed; and, as Anderson, in his " Colonial Church," (I. 261,) expresses it, " so far,
one channel of direct authoritative communication was established between himself and the clergymen whom he
nominated, and over whom he was to exercise, as far as it
was practicable, Episcopal control." From this kind interest




32                CHURCH DOCUMENTS.
in the new settlement, and the zealous efforts to which it gave
birth, seems naturally to have grown up the connection of
the Colonial Church with the Diocese of London. At the
close of this century, the Governor and Assembly of Maryland petitioned the King and Queen for the transfer of the
"Judicial Office of Commissary" firom the Governors of Colonies, in whom it had at first been vested, to the Bishop of
London; and from this time the Bishop either took out a
commission from the King for this purpose, and delegated
the commissarial authority to a suitable clergyman in the
Colonies, or, as was the case with Bishop Sherlock, declined
to take this course, from the conviction that he could not do
justice to the American Church, and consequently ought not
to undertake the nominal oversight of it. Whichever was the
case, the American clergy learend from the first to look to
Fulham as the seat of their ecclesiastical allegiance, and commissaries, acting under the authority of the Bishop of London
for the greater part of a century, exercised their delegated
power over their brethren in the Colonies, and the successive
Bishops at home sought in every way to promote the interests
of the infant American Church.
It was this bond of union with the See of London, on the
part of the scattered Churches of America, that was broken
at the Revolution; and the broken links of the chain were
of course never re-united; but, by the adoption of the ecclesiastical constitution of 1789, the Church at large was organized by the federation of the separate and independent
Churches of the various States, in one Protestant Episcopal
Church in the United States, thus making a union among
themselves. The unity of faith between the Church of England
and the American Episcopal Church, as contra-distinguished
from the union of the Churches, was not affected by the
Revolution.
With this parenthetical explanation, we proceed to give
the address, to the Lord Bishop of London, from the Connecticut Churchmen.-[EDITORS.]




CONNECTICUT-1707.                33
[Address to the Lord Bishop of Londom from Connecticut Colony.]
RIGHT REV. FATHER IN GOD:
May it please your Lordship,
We, your Lordship's humble petitioners, living in Stratford Town, in the Colony of Connecticut, do, with all submission, crave leave to represent before your Lordship our
present condition, which briefly is as followeth: We are
members of the National Church of England, but having no
minister of our own communion in this colony, have sent,
some time ago, unto the Rev. George Muirson, who, in compliance with our request, hath been twice amongst us, and
administered the holy sacrament of Baptism and the Lord's
Supper to us. We praise God for his goodness in giving us
an opportunity, at last, of receiving his holy ordinances in
the way which, of all others, we believe to be most pure and
agreeable to the Holy Scriptures. There are many in this
colony who are well-disposed to our Church, but being under
the same circumstances with ourselves, are not capable of
maintaining a minister of our Church, by reason of some
laws which compel us to pay our money to the support of
Dissenters, and empower them, as sometimes they do, to
take our goods by distress. They have another law, by virtue
of which they hinder many persons from coming to hear Mvr.
Muirson preach; they threaten us with imprisonment and
severe usage, and though we have proceeded regularly in
asking their magistrates' leave before we did meet together
to worship God, yet they carried it so far as to forewarn Mr.
Mluirson from preaching in their Charter Government; and
told him that he did illegal things; but what relates to all
the particulars contained in these laws we shall not at present offer your Lordship any trouble in mentioning, but refer
ourselves to MIr. Mfuirson to inform your Lordship by letter,
and also to the Rev. Mir. Evans, Minister of Philadelphia,
who hath been pleased to give us a visit, and, being bound
for England, we present to your Lordship, by him, one of the
law books of this colony. Iie can acquaint your Lordship
3




34               CHURCH DOCUMENTS.
what laws they make use of against the Church, and what
hardships and grievances we labour under because of them.
Now we humbly request that your Lordship would be
pleased of your zeal, which always moves your Lordship to
extend a fatherly care to the distressed members of the
Church, to take this our case into your serious consideration;
and because by reason of the said laws we are not able to
support a minister, we further pray your Lordship may be
pleased to send one over with a missionary allowance from
the Honourable Corporation, invested with full power, so as
that he may preach and we hear the blessed Gospel of Jesus
Christ, without molestation and terror. We live in the midst
of the rigidest Presbyterians and Independents, and we
doubt not but your Lordship will be pleased to send us one
exemplary in his conversation, fluent in preaching, and able
in disputation, that he may silence the cavils of our enemies.
The IHon. Colonel Heathcote hath been pleased to come along
with Mr. Muirson; his presence has had no small influence
upon the people; we have prayed him to add to all the rest
one favour more, that is, to present to your Lordship our case,
which we, hoping he will do, shall not offer you any further
trouble. We humbly beg your Lordship's fatherly benediction and prayers, that our infant Church may be daily enlarged for God's glory and men's good; and that your Lordship, for its further prosperity and happiness, may long preside over the same, shall be the constant prayers of,
My Lord, your Lordship's most obedient sons
and humble servants,
Stratford, April 1st, 1707.
RICHARD BLACKLATH,     ISAAC SNELL,
DANIEL SHELTON,        WM. RAWLINSON,
JONAH PITMAN,          JOHN PEAT,
SAML. GASKILL)         SAMUEL HAWLEY,
WILL. SMITH,           JOHN SKIDMORE,
TIMOTHY TITHARTON,     ARCHIBALD DUNLAP,
THOMAS EDWARDS,        ISAAC BEINT,
DANIEL BENNETT,        RICH'D BLACKLATH, Jr.,
THo. BROOKS,           ISAAC STILES,
SAUEL HENERY,
(in behalf of the rest.)




CONINECMICuT-107 —8.              35
tol. Reathvte to the SeWctary.]
Stratford, 1 January, 1707-8.
Worthy Sir,
I have given you the trouble of so many letters by this
Fleet that I am ashamed you should hear further from me;
however, I shall depend upon your good and generous temper, and the cause I am upon, to plead my pardon; the occasion of this is, Mr. Muirson and I, being at this place, where
the people's zeal hath carried them so far that they are resolved of building themselves a Church, with which be
pleased to acquaint the Society;-they intend to build and
furnish it very regularly, and are in hopes to have it fit to
preach in before next September. I intreat the favour of
your care concerning the enclosed, that to his Grace is to
give him the best account of the state of this colony I can;
in which I do not only beg the delivery with your own hands,
but that you would be pleased to speak your thoughts of me
to him, and recommend me to his favours. As to our proceeding in this place, I desire the Society would believe that
every part is managed with all the temper and moderation
they can desire, and they may be assured it shall never be
otherwise where I am concerned; for I abhor heat and violence on any account whatsoever, but especially in matters
of religion, and Mr. Muirson is very much of my opinion;
and not only that, but it would be the greatest breach upon
prudence and discretion to act otherwise, for we are here in
an enemy's country, and, by the laws, they pretend to govern
themselves. Independency and Presbytery are the established Churches, and the Church of England the only dissenters, and indeed the only people they unwillingliest would
admit to have liberty of conscience amongst them;-that all
the ground we can propose to gain amongst them must be
by soft and gentle means, for should the friends of the
Church do otherwise, the whole country would soon be in a
flame; for the ignorant, blind people believe already that,




36                CHURCH DOCUMENTS.
by virtue of their charter, Independency and Presbytery are
as firmly established here, as the Church is in England. I
am sorry that anybody should be so unjust in giving the
Society an account of the people of this colony, as that they
are a well-meaning and not heady people, nothing being
more true than the contrary, concerning which I will be more
full and particular in my next. In the mean time, I beg leave
to assure you that I am, unalterably,
Worthy Sir, yours, &c.,
CALEB HEATHCOTE.
[Rev. Mr. Talbot to JMr. Keith.]
Westchester, 14th Feb'y, 1707-8.
Reverend and Dear Sir,
I came to this Province before Christmas, but the winter
set in so hard that I could go no further than New-York; so
I came back again and preached about in several places, and
dispersed such books as I had in this and the next colony, Connecticut; —Mr. Leslie's Five D)iscourses, The Poor Man's
Help and Young ifcan's Guide, by Mr. Burket. The Independents say, if they don't get some books soon to answer
them, they will convert the colony. Mr. Mluirson is the first
that read the Common Prayer in that place, in Stratford; when
he set up first, the lIonourable Col. ileathcote came along
with him, or else I believe their justices would have put him
in prison. Gov. Winthrop is dead, and was buried at Boston
when I was there, and they of Connecticut have chosen Mr.
Salstonstall, Preacher at New-London, to be their Governor.
He called his council lately of Milford, and showed them his
letter that he had written home to answer the Quakers' complaint, and also to get power to hinder the progress of the
Church in the Province; but I hope we shall have as much
toleration as the Quakers have obtained there, which is all
that we expect or desire. Mr. IMluirson deserves a double
salary for the great pains and prudence he has shown in that
matter.




CONNECTICUT —707 —8.             37
The people of several towns, by the way, as Norwalk and
Fairfield, are ready to break open their meeting doors and
let him in, if he would suffer it;-they have taken measures
at Stratford to build a Church, which never was seen in that
country before. I pray God send them an able minister of
the New Testament, for they have been long enough under
the old dispensation. I wish their case were well known and
considered at home, for I'm sure that no man that has any
cars or bowels of compassion can resist their importunity.
I saw Mr. Bradford at New-York; he tells me mass is set up
and read publicly in Philadelphia, and several people are
turned to it, amongst which Lionel Brittain, the Churchwarden, is one, and his son another. I thought that Popery
would come in amongst Friends, the Quakers, as soon as any
way. An Anabaptist meeting it seems is set up at Burlington, and another Independent is come to Elizabeth Town.
So that for lack of a good Governor we lose our time and
the Society their money, and the last state of America will
be worse than the first, if the rest of the missionaries go
away before more come. I suppose you have heard of Mr.
Brook and Mr. Moore, two of the best hands that were there;
they are gone, and upon what account? purely for want of
a Bishop to direct and protect them. I pray God help us, for
we have nobody to apply to, and nobody cares for our souls.
Your loving friend and servant,
JOHN TALBOT.
P. S.-Poor Mr. Honyman is much disturbed at Rhode
Island by Mr. Bridge, who says he has a letter from my Lord
of London to take his place; if so, he will ruin two Churches
at once. Pray help your countryman what you can, for he is
worthy.




38               CHUCHm DOOUMENTf
[aar. Evan' Jemorial relating to Cknnecdicut Coloy.]
To the airost Honorable Society for the Propagation of the
Gospel in Foreign Parts.
I being desired, by those honourable members of the committee of last Monday, to lay before you what I know relating to the Church in Connecticut Colony, and what disposition the people are in to receive it, as also what may probably tend to its advancement there, do humbly beg leave to
inform youThat, immediately before my parting from America, I accompanied Mr. Muirson to Stratford, a town in that colony,
where we preached; had a considerable number of hearers,
and administered the holy Sacraments of Baptism and the
Lord's Supper to many pious persons.
That we found a considerable number of people in a ready
disposition to be received into the Church, they being flexible
to our invitations, and only wanting occasions of instruction.
That Mr. Muirson seems to be the most proper person to
be employed in their service, he having done them so many
good offices, and they deservedly having a great esteem of
his piety and virtue.
That it would undoubtedly tend to the honour and increase
of the Church, in those American parts, if the laws compelling Church of England members to maintain dissenting
ministers were repealed, and especially that called the Ecclesiastical Law, in that colony.
That Mr. Read, a dissenting minister in the said Stratford,
who is willing to receive holy orders in the Church of England, and who has suffered extremely, by his countrymen,
for his inclinations to the Church, not only seems to deserve
your compassion, but encouragement, if he can be prevailed
on to take orders in England, and receive a Mission from
the Venerable Society.
EvAN EvARs.
June 18, 1708.




CONNECTICUT-1710.                39
[An, Account of the Suferingsof the.3embers of the Church of England at Stratford.]
A true narrative of the late persecution, which hath been
lately cruelly acted by the authority of the Colony of Connecticut in New England, upon and against the members of
the Church of England, being professors of the same faith,
and Communicants of the same Church of England, as by
law established; the said government of Connecticut being,
at present, in the hands of Independents, (viz.:)
Firstly.-Whereas, there hath been, for twenty or thirty
years past, a considerable number of Freeholders, inhabitants
of the town of Stratford, professors of the faith of the Church
of England, that are desirous to worship God in the way of
their forefathers, but have hitherto been hindered from enjoying the holy ordinances of Jesus Christ, until the year
1705; by which means our children and many others, grown
persons, have remained without the administration of the
holy ordinance of Baptism, (there being at this day in the
town of Newhaven to the number of near 900 unbaptized
persons,) and so throughout the government, proportionably.
Secondly.-The above said town of Stratford, in the fore
mentioned year 1705, being destitute of a minister, and the
professors of the said Church of England having hitherto
lived peaceably and quietly, paying all rates and taxes proportionably with our neighbours, considering the deplorable
state we were like to be in with our posterity, the professors of the Church of England made their application to the
Rev. Mr. Vezie [Vesey], Minister of Trinity Church in NewYork, the 14th of September aforesaid, to come and preach to
us, and also to administer the holy ordinance of baptism; but
by reason of the distance of places, the Rev. Mr. Vesey interceded with the Rev. Mr. Muirson, Minister of the Church of
England at Rye, being considerable nearer. To which Mr.
Muirson readily complied, and accordingly, on the 2d Sept.,
1706, came to Stratford, accompanied by the Honourable Col.
Caleb Heathcote, a member of the Honourable Society for




40:               CHURCH DOCUMENTS.
the Propagation of the Gospel in these Foreign Parts; and
then, in order for the carrying on the worship of God decently, the professors of the Church of England made their
application to the authorities, viz.: Mr. Joseph Curtice, one
of the Council, and Mr. James Judson, a justice of the peace,
and also to the Selectmen of the town of Stratford, to allow
liberty for the use of the publick meeting-house of said town,
either before, after, or between their exercise, alledging that
they were fellow-builders with them, and had paid their full
proportion towards the same; yet, notwithstanding all these
arguments, could not at all prevail; yet, blessed be God,
though not so convenient as we desired, notwithstanding we
met with such difficulties, the Rev. Mr. Muirson, finding in
Stratford so great a Congregation, and such a great number
to be baptized, that, at the request of those who first sought
after him, he gave encouragement for a future support, and
a promise of a second visit upon the same account.
Thirdly.-As yet the Independents kept themselves veiled,
and did not openly appear until such time as the Rev. Mr. Mluirson, before his second coming, sent to the professors of the
Church of England to prepare themselves, for he intended to
administer the holy Sacrament of the Supper of our Lord
Jesus:-this being known, the Independents immediately began to bestir themselves, and soon after the Rev. Mr. Muirson,
in company with the Honourable Col. Heathcote, arrived a
second time at Stratford, and on Saturday, in the evening,
came to the house where the said Mr. Muirson lodged, (where
were assembled several of the communicants,) the abovesaid
Mr. Joseph Curtice and said James Judson, Justice, and read
of a paper containing a whole sheet of paper writ on both
sides, in which was contained several threats, that if we should
proceed to worship God or administer the Sacrament, otherwise than what was agreeable to the law of this colony, that
then they would proceed against them by fine or imprisonment, as their law directed; and did forbid them to worship
God in any such way they well knew was the worship of the
Church of England: upon which, the honourable Col. Heathcote and the Rev. Mr. Muirson demanded, of the said Curtice and said Judson, a copy of said paper, which they re



CONNECTIcUT-1710.               41
fused; and moreover, Mr. Joseph Curtice abovesaid, the day
following, being the Lord's day, stood in the highway himself, and employed several others, to forbid any person to go
to the assembly of the Church of England, and threatened
them with a fine of five pounds, as the law directed; nevertheless, the people were not wholly discouraged, by reason
that the Rev. MIr. Muirson, being encouraged by the earnest
desire of his auditory, did promise to assist them as often as
he possibly could.
Fourthly. —The Rev. Mr. Muirson, at the request of the
communicants of the Church of England in Stratford, took
advice of the gentlemen of the Honourable Society, and also
the Rev. ministers of the Church of England to the west, and
some time after having taken their advice, in company with
Col. Heathcote, came to Stratford, and advised us to embody
ourselves into a Society, which accordingly we did, and made
choice of Churchwardens and Vestrymen, which occasioned
the Independents to be more enraged against us.
Fifthly.-Not long after the Rev. Mr. Evans, minister of
the Church of England at Philadelphia, being bound for
England, came in company with the Rev. Mr. Muirson to
Stratford, to visit the Church, and see what state we were in;
the Church, understanding that Mr. Evans was bound for
England, did request of him that he would be so kind to us, as
to take care of, and present a petition of ours, to the Rt. Rev.
Father in God, the Bishop of London: and also to the Honouralle Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign
Parts, that they would be pleased to take pity on us, and
consider our sad condition, and the necessity we stand in of
an able minister of the Gospel; and, if it might stand with
their honour's pleasure, that the Rev. Mr. Muirson might be
our minister, which we understand was granted to us, for
which favour we, as in duty bound, shall ever pray for their
honour's weal and prosperity.
Sixthly.-Before we had any return from England, it pleased
Almighty God, in his providence, to bereave us of the Rev.
Mr. Muirson, by taking of him to himself, by reason whereof
we remain as sheep without a shepherd, notwithstanding the
great kindness we have received from the Rev. ministers to




42               CHURaH DocaNE.
the west of us, viz., the Rev. Mr. Talbot, the Rev. Mr. Sharpe,
who was near a month amongst us, and took much pains, and
baptized many, (amongst whom was an aged man, said to be
the first man-child born in the colony of Connecticut,) and the
Rev. Mr. Bridge, who have administered the holy Sacraments
and ordinance of Jesus Christ, to our great comfort and consolation. Nevertheless, by reason of their great distance
from us, we remain as sheep having no shepherd, are exposed the more, as a prey to our persecutors, the Independents, who watch all opportunities to destroy the Church, both
root and branch.
Sevent/ly. —But as yet we received no other persecution
but that of the tongue, until the 12th day of December,
1709. Some of their officers, namely, Edmund Lewis, Jonathan Curtice, and Francis Griffith, having a warrant from
the authority, viz., Joseph Curtice and James Judson,
abovesaid, to levy by distress of estate, or imprisonment of
the bodies of such person or persons as should refuse to pay
to them such sums of money as were by them demanded,
they no sooner having power but put it vigorously in execution; and on the 12th of December, 1709, about midnight,
did apprehend and seize the bodies of Timothy Titharton, one
of our Churchwardens, and John Marcy, one of the Vestrymen, and forced them to travel, under very bad circumstances, in the winter season and at that unreasonable time
of night, to the common gaol, where felons are confined,
being eight miles distant, not allowing them so much as fire
or candle-light for their comfort, and there continued them
until they paid such sums as by the gaoler was demanded,
which was on the 15th day of the same month.
Eighthly.-Notwithstanding all this, they still persisted
with rigor to continue their persecution, and seized the body of
Daniel Shelton, at his habitation or farm, being about eight
miles distant from the town, and hurrying of him away toward
the town in order to carry him to the county gaol; passing by
a house, he requested of them that he might go in and warm
him, and take some refreshment, which was granted; but
they being in a hurry bid him come along, but he desiring
a little longer time, they barbarously laid violent hands on




CONNECTICUT-17I0.               43
his person, and flung his body across a horse's back, and
called for ropes to tie him on the horse; to the truth of
which several persons can give their testimony, and are
ready when thereunto called; and, having brought him to
the town, they immediately seized the bodies of William
Rawlinson and Archibald Dunlap, and carried them, all
three, to the county gaol, it being the 16th day of January,
1709, and there confined them until such time as they disbursed such sums of money as the gaoler demanded of them,
which money was left in the hands of the Lieut. Governor,
Nathaniel Gould, Esq., he promising them that the next
general court should hear and determine the matter, and
that the money left in his hands should be disposed of as the
court should order, and they were at present released, being
the 17th day of the same instant.
Ninthly. —Several others of the Church had their estates
distressed on the same account, and rended from them, particularly William Jeanes, having money due to him in the
hands of the town treasurer, the above Edmund Lewis, distressed of his estate that which was in said treasurer's hands
on the same account, for the maintaining the Dissenting
minister the year 1709, and left no copy of his so doing;
and also the treasurer detains all the rest that remains in his
hands, telling him that he will keep it for his rate, which
rate is chiefly for the purchase of a house for their Dissenting
minister, which house and land cost ~180: and so are our
estates rended from us. Notwithstanding this, the said Winm.
Jeanes did, for himself in person, go to a town meeting convened in Stratford, (being empowered by the Society of the
Church of England,) when they were ordering a rate to raise
money to pay for the said house and land, and did, publickly,
in behalf of himself and Society, declare and protest against
any such proceedings, and tendered money to the town recorder to enter said protest, but he refused so to do.
Tenthly.-When the general court of said Colony of Connecticut was assembled at Hartford, in May, 1710, the Society of the Church of England empowered William Jeanes,
their lawful attorney, to address said general court for a determination and issue of what should be done with said




44                CHURCH DOCUMENTS.
money committed to the abovesaid Lieutenant-Governor, and
also to see if we should, for the future, enjoy peace amongst
them: our said attorney, in order thereunto, tendered an address to said court, dated May 20th, 1710, but could obtain
no positive answer, but was detained there by dilatory answers, until the 26th day of the said instant, (May,) when
one of the members of the lower house brought to the said
Jeanes the address and power of attorney, and told him
the thing had been often moved, but they see cause to give
no answer, and so we find no relief for the poor distressed
Church, nor the members thereof.
Elevent]ly. —The poor Church at Stratford, being left in
a deplorable condition, destitute and without hope of any
relief in this colony under this government, several of our
Society have already, of necessity, fled their persecution
finally, being such an additional one as was seldom heard of;
for finding that some of our Society, being tradesmen and
handicraft, and such as had dependence upon working at
their trades for other people, they combined together not to
set them to work, saying that by that means they should
weaken the interests of the Church; by which subtle stratagem of Satan's to persecute the Church of Christ, we are
likely to be brought low, for some are already gone, and
others looking out where to shelter themselves from their
cruelty, and must inevitably fall, if God, of his infinite
mercy, do not raise up some goodly, compassionate friends
for us: and we, the subscribers, do assert the truth of what
is here written.
TIMOTHY TITHARTON,   Chrch   RICHARD BLACKLATH,
WILLIAM SMITH,      Wardens. DANIEL SHELTON,
WILLIAM RAwLINSON,            ARCHIBALD DUNLAP,
WILLIAM JEANES,               JAS. HUJMPHREYS,
JOHN JOHNSON,                 JAMES CLARKE.




CONNECTICUT- 110.                45
[Addressfrom Stratford for a Minzister.]
To the Right Rev. Father in God, the Lord Bishop of London, and to the Honourable Societyfor the Propagating the
Gospel in Foreign Parts:
WE, the Churchwardens and Vestry of Stratford, in the
Colony of Connecticut, in New-England, have long lain under very great grievances from the Independents of this colony, as may be seen in the narrative of our case, which comes
with this our address; but above all, from the want of a
minister to furnish us with ghostly advice, and to administer
the bread of life to us in our miserable and deplorable loss.
It is the less matter that we suffer persecutions and afflictions
in this life, if we could but see, with a comfortable prospect,
into the other world. What signifies what becomes of the
body, if our precious souls, for which Christ vouchsafed to
die, be saved? And it is not without great affliction that we
reflect on the bad success so many addresses for a minister
have met with. We hope God has not altogether forsaken
us; neither the patrons of our holy religion at home quite
laid us aside; and therefore we presume, once more, to address your Lordship and the Honourable Society for a minister; and, were he to be a travelling missionary through the
colony, we doubt not but in a short time the best of churches
in the world would flourish even in this government, where
they are strangers to the happy constitution.
We leave the further representation of our case to be made
by the faithful and worthy labourer in God's vineyard, the
Rev. Mr. John Talbot, who has visited us sometimes, and
often by letters given us great comfort and courage, who is
going home in the service of the Church, and is always ready
to venture his life for it. The Lord reward him for his labour
of love which he hath showed to all the Churches; and, indeed, had it not been for the visits we have received from
the clergy to the west, and the encouragement we had from
the Honourable Colonel Heathcote, who hath ever been a true




46               CHURCH DOCUMENTS.
friend to us and the Church, we should not have been able to
get through the trouble and grievances we have met with,
and are yet likely to meet with, if not relieved. We pray
God preserve your Lordship, and grant that the many souls
that have been relieved by the charity of your Lordship and
the Honourable Society, may be your and their crown of rejoicing in the world to come. We beg your Lordship's pray.
ers, and are your Lordship's most dutiful and obedient humble
servants,
TIMOTHY TITHARTON,  C/hurch   WILLIAM RAWLINSON,
WILLIAM SMITH,      Wardens. ARCHIBALD DUNLAP,
RICHARD BLACKLATH,            EDWARD BURROUGH,
WILLIAM JEANES,               JAMES HIUIMPHREYS,
JOHN JOHNSON,                 JAMES CLARKE,:DANIEL SHELTON.
[Address to the Queen, from Stratford.]
LTo the Queen's.Most Excellent M2ajesty, the humble address
of some members of the Church of England, residing at
Stratford, in, Connecticut, in the Province of New-England:
3May it please your Majesty,
We have, for a long time, been oppressed and persecuted
by the government of this colony; some of our estates taken
from us, some imprisoned for refusing to pay money to buy a
house and farm for their minister, and to pay a yearly stipend
to him, and all of us menaced and threatened with several
punishments if we presume to meet together to have the
Churchl of England service performed to us, when it pleased
God to order a minister of the said Church our way; and,
besides, all do lie under their daily reproaches, scoffing and
mockings, without the advantage of a minister to give us




CONNECTIOUT-1710.               47
comfortable and ghostly advice, and to administer the bread
of life to us.
These have been our grievances for many years, and we
should not have been able to bear them, had we not received
some visits from the Clergy of the west, and especially several fromn the Honourable Col. Heatheote, who hath ever been
a true friend both to us and the Church, and has always encouraged us not to swerve from our holy profession, notwithstanding the difficulty and trials we met with, and the bad
stuccess we had in our frequent addresses for a minister to the
Right Rev. Father in God, the Lord Bishop of London, and
the IIonourable Society for the Propagating the Gospel in
Foreign Parts. And indeed, the want of a minister is the
greatest of our afflictions, which, with the rest of our grievances, we presume humbly to lay before your Majesty, and
pray your Majesty to use some means for our relief, and that
your Majesty may long and happily live to reign over us;
and when you lay aside this earthly crown, that you may receive a crown of glory, is the continual and fervent prayer
of, may it please your Majesty, your Majesty's most loyal
and faithful and obedient subjects and servants,
TIMOTHY TITHARTON,   ChurcA   WILLIAM RAWLINSON,
WILLIAM SMITH,      Wardens. WILLIAM JEANES,
JOHN JOHNSON,                 DANIEL SHELTON,
ARCHIBALD DUNLAP,             EDWARD ]BURROUGH,
JAMES HUMPHREYS,             JAMES CLARKE,
RICHARD BLACKLATH.
[Hr. Philip8 to the Secretary.]
Philadelphia, Sept. 9th, 1713.
Sir,
It is with more than ordinary concern I am forced to give
you this trouble to desire the favour of you to acquaint the
Honourable Society with my reasons for leaving Stratford, in




48                CHURCH DOCUMENTS.
Connecticut Colony, in New-England. During my abode
there, which was till the 19th day of August last, I used my
utmost endeavours to answer the end of my mission, as appears by a certificate signed by the Churchwardens and Vestrymen of that place. I made it my business to ride from
place to place, to preach to and instruct those that showed
the least inclination to become members of our Church, in
the extremity of heat and cold, which has indeed very much
impaired my health; but the dissenting party being very numerous, and being likewise encouraged by the Governor
there, who is a rigid Independent, and finding the greatest
part of those who pretended to be of the Churchway, were
only so to screen themselves from the taxes imposed on them
by Dissenters, I must beg leave to inform the Venerable Society that there is little success, and less encouragement, to
be expected from  the labours of the most painful divine
which shall be sent to that place, whilst the government remains in the hands it's in, than almost any other part of
America. The consideration of which, together with my unwillingness to put the Hlonourable Society to so great an expense to very little purpose, made me look out for some other
place, where, in all probability, I might be capable of doing
much more service; which, I hope, will in some measure
help to plead my excuse with that venerable body that I did
not let'em know of my removal before I did remove; but
the shortness of the time and the necessity of the present
circumstances of the Church, which laid Mr. Evans tlnder
necessity to hasten home, could not possibly admit of it;
otherwise, I should not have presumed to have taken any one
step without first consulting that learned body, for which I
have the greatest esteem imaginable; besides, I thought that
no missionary now abroad could be so well spared from their
cure, as myself. Therefore, when I heard of Mr. Evans' design of visiting Great Britain, I made my application to him,
and by the persuasion of my friends and of the request of
his Churchwardens and Vestrymen, as appears by the copy of
their minutes, I, with much difficulty, prevailed upon him to
accept of me for his curate during his absence; in doing




CONNECTICUT-1713.               49
which (though I have been guilty of a breach of my instructions) I beg that the HIonourable Society will please to pardon
it. I sent home bills of exchange for 920 sterling, payable
to Mr. Nathaniel Simpson, or his order, bearing date May 2d,
1713; and since that, I have sent other bills of exchange, payable to the Rev. lMr. Gardiner, for ~20 sterling,which is all: that
remains due to me from the  Honourable Society. Pray, sir,
please to order that it may be paid, and you will much oblige,
Sir, your very humble servant,
FRANCIS PHILIPS.
P. S. Had we a Bishop here to apply to in that and other
exigencies that will happen when a Church begins to increase,
there would be no need of troubling the Society with things
of this nature; but where this guide is wanting, it can't possibly be but that some things that are done may be looked
upon as irregular; but I humbly beg the Society's acceptance
of my most grateful acknowledgments of their undeserved
favours.
[Extract of a Letterfrom Colonel Heatlcote to General AiVcholson.]
New-York, April 19th, 1714.
May it please your Excellency,
I happened to be detained in the country out of the postroad, when the postman went last from home, and so was
disabled from the keeping my promise in writing to your
excellency then, and giving those accounts you desired, or
acknowledging your excellency's favour of the 5th past. As
to the Church of Stratford, I send your excellency the state
thereof as it was transmitted to me by the Churchwardens
and Vestry of that place; those poor people have hitherto
been very unfortunate, but I hope it won't be always so with
them. When I went first amongst them with M1Ir. Muirson,
there seemed to be as fair a prospect of settling the Church
as in any part of America, he having, in a very few journies,
increased his communion to forty; and had he not unhappily
4




50                CHURCH DOCU2MENTS.
died, or had the Society, upon the first notice of his death,
been expeditious in supplying that place with another good,
diligent missionary, it had still been recoverable; but they
delayed it so long that the enemies of the Church had time
to fortify themselves against us, for the effecting whereof the
Presbyterians and Independent ministers, both in Connecticut
and Boston, were consulted, and, among many other resolves
to prevent the Church's growth, determined that one of the
best preachers that both colonies could afford should be sought
out and sent there; and one Mr. Cutler, who lived then at
Boston or Cambridge, was accordingly pitched upon. As to
Mr. Philips, the Society made a wrong choice in him; for
that missionary being of a temper very contrary to be pleased
with such conversation and way of living as Stratford affords,
had no sooner seen that place but his whole thoughts were
bent and employed how he should get from it, and to be
employed either at Mr. Vesey's lecture, or to be settled at
Philadelphia, the latter whereof he brought about.
[Chuurchwardens and Vestry of Stratford to Colonel Ileathcote.]
Stratford, April 9th, 1714.
Honored Sir,
These are to inform you of the deplorable state of our poor
Church, which we labour under by reasons of Mr. Philips
leaving of us. Our Church was on a likely way to have
flourished, and several persons, the masters of considerable
families, were leaving the society of Dissenters, and coming
over to us, but, by reason of his desertion, it all failed, and
left us a scorn and reproach to the enemies of the Church;
and as touching his behaviour whilst among us, the greatest
thing we have to charge him with was his not attending his
orders and commission; for when he first arrived he stayed
weeks at New-York, and came not to Stratford until the 19th
day of December, and then was with us but nine Sabbaths,
and went again to New-York and stayed five weeks, and then
was with us five Sabbaths more, and went again to New



CONNECTICUT-1714.                51
York and stayed about two weeks, and then stayed two Sabbaths, and then finally left us wholly, as at this day; but before he went the first time to New-York he desired us to sign
for him a letter of recommendation to send to the Honourable Society, which we, like innocent sheep, did; he having
it ready drawn; himself wrote it. The second time he left
us we discoursed whether he designed to leave us, and he said
he would never leave us until such time as we should have a
supply, and another minister settled amongst us. But having
no regard to his promise, he left us, as you are sensible, and
carried away with him the books, which we understood since,
were sent by the Honourable Society for the use of our Church.
He also promised that he would receive what money he could
for us to assist in the building of our Church, for which
(though long first) we have at last got the timber felled, and
do hope to get it raised in three months' time. Nothing else,
but with hearty thanks and praises to God for a blessing on
your faithful endeavours, and for the settling of the Church
amongst us, we rest,
Your most humble servants,
RICHARD BLACKLATH, } Churchwardens,
WILLIAM SMITH,         and others.
Endorsed by Col. Heathcote:' " Copy of this letter was sent
to Gen. Nicholson."
[Jfr. Bridge to the Secretary.-Extract.]
Rye, Oct. 14th, 1714.
Sir,
I am heartily sorry that I have occasion to inform the
Honourable Society that the interest of the Church in Stratford seems to be declining; there are there an honest and sober people, truly zealous for the Church; but they live among
neighbours who despise and misuse them for their loyalty to




52                CHURCH DOCUMENTS.
the crown and zeal for the Church, and they have met with
so many discouragements and disappointments that they are
almost wearied out; they are frequently calling on me to
assist them, and I go as often as my health and the affairs of
my parish will allow me; but they are at such a distance
that it is both difficult and expensive to me, and I have not
put them to any charge for my coming among them, and
shall always be willing to assist them what I can, till a minister be sent to settle with them, if the Honourable Society be
pleased to direct me so to do.
I am, sir, &c.,
CHRIS. BRIDGE.
IThe C7urciwardens and Vestry of Stratford, in Connecticut, to the Hronourable
Society.-Extract.]
Stratford, September 30th, 1718.
_To the ionourable Society for Propagating the Gospel in
Foreign Plantations:
The humble address of us, the subscribers, members of the
Church of England, in Stratford, in the Colony of Connecticut, in New-England, on behalf of ourselves and Society,
HUMBLY SHEWETH:
Hoping your honours will consider that we have been an
embodied society these twelve years, and you have so far
considered us at first, to send a Commission to the Rev. Mr.
Muirson to be our minister, but his deceasing, we remained
destitute at least five years; then your honours considered us
a second time, and sent us a minister, Mr. Phillips; but he
not answering your expectations, nor ours neither, soon left
us destitute as before, and much worse; for those who liked
not the Church would often flout us and say, we might never
expect another minister. So we remained in this deplorable
state more than five years, as a scoff and by-word to the ene



CONNECTICUT-1718.                   53
mies of the Church. We have cause to doubt we have been
represented to your honours as inconsiderable, few in numbers and not worth minding; and, indeed, as to our outward
estate, it may very well be said that we are inconsiderable,
it being the interests of our government so to make us; but
as to our number, we have had at least a hundred baptized
into the Church, and have had at one time thirty-six partakers of the Holy Communion of the Lord's Supper, and
have several times assembled in our congregation between
two and three-hundred persons; and if encouraged by your
honours, may be as flourishing a Church as any country
Church in America. We humbly beseech your honours to
consider that there is not any government in America but
what has our settled Church and ministers, but this of Connecticut.
[Genera rnicholson to the Secretary.-Extract.*]
Charles City and Port, [Charleston,] S. C., Jan. 11th, 1722.
Sir,
The affairs of the Reverend the gentlemen of Yale College,
in Connecticut Colony, if rightly managed and encouraged,
may be of great service to our holy mother, the Church of
England, as by law established; and with submission I think
that the ministers and people of those parts cannot, with
justice or reason, blame the Church of England for taking
care and encouraging those Reverend gentlemen who, out of
conscience, left their communion. I am in hopes that the
three Reverend gentlemen who are gone from New-England
will receive Episcopal ordination, and'tis probable that, according to their encouragement with you, others may follow
their example; and it may be a very good way for the So* General Francis Nicholson, who was, at different times, in high authority in
more than one of the colonies, and always very zealous in the cause of the Church,
was, when this letter was written, Governor of South Carolina.




54               CHURCH DOCUMENTS.
ciety, or My Lord Bishop of London, to send missionaries to
these parts, the procuring of whom hath been so very difficult and chargeable to the Society.
I herewith send you the copy of a paper which I had when
I was in New-England, in the year 1687, given me by the
Honourable John Wart Winthrop, grandson to John Winthrop, who was the first governor of Massachusetts Bay, and
his father was first governor of Connecticut Colony, having
obtained their charter from King Charles the Second soon
after the Restoration. Richard Saltonstall was a knight, and
the Ilonourable Gurdon Saltonstall is the present governor.
Isaac Johnson, I think, married with my Lady Arabella,
daughter to the Earl of Lincoln. Thomas Dudley, I think,
was steward to that family, and some time governor of MIassachusetts Colony, and father to Joseph Dudley, Esq., deceased, late governor of that province. With submission I
think this paper may be made good use of at this juncture,
concerning the Reverend gentlemen desiring Episcopal ordination, &c.
I herewith send you the letter I received from Boston concerning the IRev. Mr. Cutler, &c.; and I desire you'll please
to wait on my Lord Bishop of London concerning it, and I
hope, in God, he will be sent over for the new Church of
England in Boston, towards the furnishing of which I design,
God willing, to send them something by the next safe opportunity of writing to them, which I am afraid will not be till
March; and I am in hope that the Society and the Bishop
of London will provide for the Rev. Mr. Brown and Mr.
Johnson, either in those parts or here; and if the Society or
Bishop of London send them, for the encouragement of those
Reverend gentlemen, I desire the Society will please to advance ~7 sterling each for paying their passage, and it shall
be most thankfully repaid by me. This affair of those gentlemen has made a great noise and bustle in New-England,
and I herewith send you some of their public prints.
I herewith send a letter I received from the;Narragansett
Country, which affair I earnestly recommend to the Society
and the Bishop of London; and I intend, God willing, byr
the first opportunity to send them something. I likewise




CONNECTICUT-1722.                55
send you a letter from one Mr. Gabriel Bernon; and the affair
he writes about I earnestly recommend to the Society and the
Lord Bishop of London, and I design, God willing, to send
them something.
I also send you a letter I received from Marblehead, and I
hope, in God, that Church will do well, and most earnestly
recommend them to the Society; and, if they should want, I
shall, God willing, send them something, as likewise the
Church of England at Newbury, [Newburyport,] and I
hope, in God, they will do very well there.
I most earnestly recommend these affairs to the Society
and the Lord Bishop of London; and pray give the humblest
of my duty to the Bishop, and my service, &c., to the rest.
I am now daily in hopes of having the good fortune of hearing
from you, and that all the affairs of the Society prosper in all
respects; and for the accomplishment whereof nothing shall
be wanting that lies in the power of
Your affectionate friend and humble servant,
FR. NICHOLSON.
I herewith' send you a letter which I had formerly from
the Rev. Mr. Cutler, and a letter for you from Mr. Commissary Bull.
[The Churchwardenw of Stratford, in Connecticut, to the Secretary.]
Mfay 29th, 1722.
Sir,
After a long expectation we are supplied from the Honourable Society with a Missionary, for whom we do hereby return our most grateful acknowledgments. As to Mr. Pigot's
care over us we are well satisfied that it will be to the advantage of the Church of England, and the edifying of all of us
who belong to that Church, as far as can be guessed by his
deportment hitherto. We received a letter with him from
you, and should be glad, sir, to comply therewith, if our abili



56                CHURCH DOCUMENTS.
ties would permit us to do it; for our number indeed is great,
but we have no leading men to support us under our difficulties in a country resolved to fleece all of our persuasion as long
as their charter continues. We are about to build a Church
at our own expense, and should be extremely happy if the
Honourable Society would bestow the same allowance on
Mr. Pigot as they did on Mr. Philips, especially since he
so much more deservedly merits it, and promises so muclh
satisfaction therein. We also render our hearty thanks for
those necessary books he has brought among us, and shall
always retain in our memories a sincere affection for the auspicious Society who sent them, and therefore beg leave gratefully to subscribe ourselves, in the behalf-of the whole
Church,
Their, and, sir,
Your obliged humble servants,
JOHN JoHNsoN,   Church
WILLIAM JEANs,  Wardens.
[Mr. Pigot to the Seeretary.]
Stratford, Autgust 20th, 1722.
Sir,
In my last of the 4th of June, by the hands of Mr. William Gardner, whose receipt I have, I gave you some account
of my progress in the ministry here; but I am now more
capable of guessing at the aims of the people about me.
Since Trinity Sunday, when I first gathered a Church,
(though by mistake I mentioned the Sunday following in my
former,) I have administered the Communion to thirty persons,
and baptized twenty-seven infants, as-you may perceive by
the enclosed, which is my notitia parochialis therbof. The
leading people of this colony are generally prejudiced against
their mother Church, but yet I have great expectations of a
glorious revolution of the ecclesiastics of this country, because the most distinguished gentlemen among them are resolvedly bent to promote her welfare and embrace her baptism and discipline, and, if the leaders fall in, there is no




CO TC0TICT — -1722.-             57
doubt to be made of the people. Those gentlemen who are
ordained pastors among the Independents, namely, Mr.
Cutler, the President -of Yale College, and five more, have
held a conference with me, and are determined to declare
themselves professors of the Church of England, as soon as
they shall understand they will be supported at home; they
complain much, both of the necessity of going home for orders, and of their inability for such an undertaking; they
also surmise it to be entirely disserviceable to our Church,
because, if they should come to England, they must leave
their flocks, and thereby give the vigilant enemy an opportunity to seize their cures and supply them with inveterate
schismatics; but if a Bishop could be sent us, they could secure their parishes now and hereafter, because the people
here are legally qualified to choose their own ministers as
often as a vacancy happens, and this would lighten the Honourable Society's expenses to a wonderful degree. I am: informed, also, by these, that there are other gentlemen disposed to renounce their separation, not only in this colony,
but also in other provinces of North America, and those a
body, considerable enough to perfect a general reformation.
Sir, the Honourable Society will perceive by this, that many
sound:reasons are not wanting to inspirit them to procure
the mission of a Bishop into these Western parts; for, besides
the deficiency of a Governor in the Church, to inspect the
regular lives of the clergy, to ordain, confirm, consecrate
Churches, and the like, amongst those that already conform;
there is, also, a sensible want of this superior order, as a sure
bulwark against the many heresies that are already brooding
in this part of the world. I shall say no more olt that subject till I have your and my Lord of London's sentiments on
this affair. I have distributed what books I brought, and
have reason to bless God for the good influence they have
had on the people. I hope the Honourable Society will be
pleased to order me some Common Prayer-Books and Catechisms, than which nothing, (besides a Bishop) can be more
advantageous to the successful ministry of, sir, your and the
Honourable Society's very humble servant,
GEORGE PIGOT.




58                CHURCH DOCUMENTS.
P. S. —I have frequent invitations to come to Providence,
in Rhode Island Government, where I am a proprietor, and
do humbly crave the patronage of the Honourable Society
for that residence, when they are determined to send a missionary thither, whom it may suit as well to come to Stratford.
[Mr. Pigot to the Secretary.]
October 3d, 1722.
Sir, —I'write this from New-York, where I am soliciting
for subscriptions towards the building a Church at Stratford,
for the glorious work we have already undertaken, notwithstanding the poverty of the oppressed inhabitants. I have
not been idle since my dismission; and as I made quick
dispatch on my setting out from home, so I've been diligent
in promoting the good of our Church in this country. I
shall, before Christmas, according to appointment, preach
thrice at Fairfield, which is eight miles distant from  my
abode-as often at Newtown, which is twenty-two miles
from Stratford-thrice, also, at Ripton, at the same distance
— in which places I have and shall take care to improve the
festivals of our Church to such purposes; and where these
do not intervene, on other week-days. On the 4th of the
last month, at the desire of the president, I repaired to the
Commencement of Yale College, in New-Haven, where, in
the face of the whole country, the aforesaid gentleman and
six others, hereafter named, declared themselves in this wise,
that they could no longer keep out of the communion of the
Holy Catholic Church, and that some of them doubted of the
validity, and the rest were persuaded of the invalidity, of
Presbyterian ordination in opposition to Episcopal. The
gentlemen fully persuaded thereof are the five following,
viz.: Mr. Cutler, president of Yale College; Mr. Brown,
tutor to the same; Mr. Elliot, pastor of Killingsworth;
MIr. Johnson, pastor of West Haven, and Mr. Wetmore, pas



CONNECTICUT-1722.               59
tor of North Haven. The two gentlemen who seemed to
doubt are Mr. Hart, pastor of East Guilford, and Mr. Whittlesy, pastor of Wallingford. These seven gave in their declarations in writing, and, at the same time, two more; and
these pastors of great note gave their assent, of whom the
one, Mr. Buckley, of Colchester, declared Episcopacy to be
jure divino, and the other, Mr. Whiting, of some remote
town, also gave in his opinion for moderate Episcopacy.
This great outset towards a reformation in this deluded country has brought in vast numbers to favour the
Church of England. Nay, sir, Newton and Ripton, if not
Fairfield, do intend to petition the Honourable Society for
Church ministers.  The gentlemen above mentioned design, some of them, to go home for orders, and the rest will
tarry till a Bishop comes, if ever it should please God to inspire those in authority to promote him. I mention this, sir,
that those of the worthy gentlemen I have been writing
about, who make application,. may not be disappointed at
their coining to England; but may, with the Honourable
Society's good approbation, be sent back into the colony and
parts adjacent at the same time.
Sir, I hope the Honourable Society will consider me, and
grant me, according to a former vote, entered into their
minutes, the preference of Bristol, if they shall dispose of
Providence to another.
I shall now inform you, sir, of what obstructions I meet
with in my ministry, and they are several, viz.: that of
Lieutenant-Governor Nathan Gould, who is a most inveterate slanderer of our Church-charging her with popery,
apostacy and atheism-who makes it his business to hinder
the conversion of all whom he can, by threatening them with
his authority-and who, as a judge of the courts here, disfranchises men merely for being Churchmen; also, that of
living under a charter government, in which there is not the
least mention of ecclesiastical affairs; so that they have
boldly usurped to themselves, and insultingly imposed on the
necks of others, the power of taxing and disciplining all
persons whatsoever, for the grandeur and support of their
self-created ministers; also, that of lying slanders, continually




-60                CHURCH DOCUMENTS.
spread against our Mother, as if she were a persecutress, and
gaped for the tenth of the country's increase; and, though
these deceivers pretend a firm attachment to the illustrious
house of Hanover, yet they are frequently oppugning the
king's supremacy. Lastly; another great obstruction is the
want of Common Prayer-Books and Catechisms. I shall, in
a short time, inform my Lord of London of the result of the
affairs, after a meeting of a General Assembly some time
this month, when the fate of these gentlemen and myself, in
relation to the resentment thereof, will be determined.
I remain, Sir,
With all due regard to the Honourable Society,
Their and your very humble servant,
GEORGE PIGOT.
[Mr. Cutler's Representatwon.]
To the ionourable Society for the Propagating the Gospel in
Foreign Parts, in Conjunction with the Church in Boston,
in whose name, as well as int his own, he appears, is:
1. That the Church now erecting there may have the support and protection of the Honourable Society, there being an
apparent and universally allowed necessity of a new Church
in that town, the old Church not being capable, in any manner, to accommodate all that are disposed to attend the Communion of the Church of England in that town, and many
greatly disadvantaged by their remote situation from it.
2. That the Honourable Society would make yearly additions to the salary their minister may have from them, and
particularly to my salary, who am invited by them, and
intend their service, if I may receive orders and be disposed
there; and to enforce my desires, I humbly offer these things
to consideration, respecting the Church and town of Boston
and myself.
1. The present slenderness of their number, of whose increase, though there is a great probability, thereis no certainty.
2. The many difficulties which now lie upon thenl in build



CONNECTICUT-1722.                61
ing an house, &eA., are very heavy for them to go through
with.
3. The expensive living, which a town of such concourse
and note as Boston is, requires.
4. The numerousness of my family.
5. The absolute dependence I have on a support from my
services there, my own estate being very inconsiderable, and
that also diminished by a free and voluntary resignation of
~90, which I made to the College that I left, that I might
not give disaffected persons any handle for reflection upon
me; but these I propose with submission, and hope God will
learn me in every state wherein I am, or may be, therewith
to be content.
TIMOTHY CUTLER.
[Mr. Johnson's Representation.]
18th Jan'y, 1722.
The representation which I hereby desire to make of my
case and request to the Honourable Society, is as followeth:
That whereas, I found myself obliged in duty, upon a serious and deliberate examination of the matter, to separate
from the people which I had the care of, to join myself to the
most pure and primitive Church of England, though I have
hereby lost the good will of the greater part of that people,
yet there is a very considerable number of the most serious
of them that have an earnest desire of my return to them
again, at least as near as possible, and who, if I should, would
never submit to the administrations of any Dissenting teacher;
and on my part, as I have a compassionate concern for that
people, so I am earnestly desirous of having them still under
my care, and for that reason of being placed as near to them
as possible. Stratford (where I am well known) is within
ten miles of them, so that if I were there I should be under
advantage of doing service (according to my slender ability)
among them as at Stratford.
The Rev. Mr. Pigot (who is now missionary at Stratford) is
desirous (as his letters testify) of being removed to Providence.




62                 CHURCH DOCUMENTS.
Providence is a place which extremely suffers for want of
the means of religion; and the people are so far disposed to
the Church of England that they are building a Church, and
are able to do considerable to the support of it, and will
shortly, in all probability, address the Honourable Society
for an interest in its case.
In case they should not, or the Honourable Society should
not think fit to grant their request, there is another place,
viz., Ripton, within 14 miles of my former people, who are
addressing the Honourable Society for its favours, where I
would gladly be ordered, (at least for the present,) if their request should be granted.
If this be not practicable, I should be thankful if the Ilonourable Society would permit me to succeed Mr. Dean, Catechist, at New-York; and finally, if nothing can be done
whereby I might be enabled to serve the designs of the Honourable Society in or near my own country, though I must
confess it would be with the greatest reluctance that I should
leave it, yet such is my affection to the Church of England,
and especially to the glorious designs of that venerable body,
that I hope I shall be contented, (if it should admit me into
its service, which is what I humbly desire,) wheresoever it
shall be pleased to send me.
SAMUEL JOHNSON.
[Letter from Rev. Joseph Webb to Rev. Dr. C. Mather.]
FAIRFIELD, October 2, 1722.
Reverend and HIonoured Sir,
The occasion of my now giving you the trouble of these
few lines is to me, and I presume to many others, melancholy
enough. You have perhaps heard, before now, or will hear
before these come to hand, (I suppose,) of the revolt of several
persons of figure among us unto the Church of England.
There's the Rev. Mr. Cutler, rector of our College, and Mr.
Daniel Brown, the tutor thereof. There are also of ordained
ministers, pastors of several Churches among us, the Rev.
Messieurs following, viz.: John Hart, of East Guilford,




CONNECTICUT-1722.                63
Samuel Whittlesey, of Wallingford, Jared Eliot, of Kennelworth, (Killingworth,) Samuel Johnson, of West Haven, and
James WVetmore, of North Haven.
They are, the most of them, reputed men of considerable
learning, and all of them of a virtuous and blameless conversation. I apprehend the axe is hereby laid to the root
of our civil and sacred enjoyments, and a doleful gap opened
for trouble and confusion in our Churches. The Churchmen
among us are wonderfully encouraged and lifted up by the
appearance of these gentlemen on their side, and how many
more will, by their example, be encouraged to go off from us
to them, God only knows. It is a very dark day with us;
and we need pity, prayers and counsel. And I aOn humbly
of opinion that the Churches and pastors in your colony are
concerned, (though something more remotely,) as well as we,
in the present threatenings of Divine Providence; and I cannot but hope some measure will be concerted by yourself in
this juncture, for the preservation of the good old cause, so
signally owned by God and witnessed unto by the practice
and suffering of so many eminent ministers and Christians.
There is with you the advantage of age, learning, experience,
books, &c., and therefore we cannot but earnestly desire
your assistance in all that is proper on the sorrowful occasion.
As for the gentlemen who have declared themselves in fayour of the Church, some of them declared themselves much
in doubt about the validity of Presbyterian ordination;
others of them have (if I remember rightly) declared their
satisfaction as to the invalidity thereof. As to this we value
them not so much, as long as Acts xx. 19-23; Phil. i. 1; 1
Pet. v. 1, 2, 3, and other texts, are a part of Holy Scripture;
though I should be glad of the help of some good arguments
used by those who are skilled in the controversy, and have
acted well therein; but if our antagonists should not be able
to answer what may be alleged from Scripture, &c., concerning the powers of presbyters to ordain, they will, I conclude,
allege that the ordinations among us were not Presbyterian,
because several pastors in our colony, in the more ancient
days of it, were ordained by laymen, and those pastors so
ordained have acted in the latter ordinations among us. This




64                CHURCH DOCUMENTS,
the Churchmen among us improve, and fling every now and
then about the leather mitten that was laid on the head of
the Rev. Mr. Israel Chauncey, of Stratford, many years since
deceased, by one of the brethren acting on his ordination. It
is also suggested, that the Rev. Mr. Andrew, of Milford, was
ordained by laymen, in part at least. What there is of truth
in it, I cannot tell. I heard nothing of this latter instance
till within about the compass of a week ago. And as to
what is alleged relating to the Rev. Mr. Chauncey, of Stratford, deceased, I heard nothing thereof, (that I remember,)
till many years after my ordination. I know the Rev. Messieurs Chauncey and Andrews abovesaid were actors in my
ordination; together with the Rev. Mr. Walker, of Woodbury, deceased. What led those eminent men, who first
settled the country, to allow laymen to act in such an affair,
is not for me to say. But what I would in this case is, how
we shall be able to justify ourselves if this article be insisted
on by our antagonists. The notion of these ordinations by
laymen will, I fear, do us more damage than all the arguments that can be brought for the necessity of Episcopal ordination. Our condition I look upon as very deplorable and
sad. Please to communicate the contents of my letter to your
venerable and honoured father, and to as many of the ministers
of Boston, &c., as you judge meet. And let me (though unworthy) have, as soon as may be, what comfort, light and
strength is needful in our sad circumstances, from as many
of you as will please to engage in the cause. Thus desiring
an interest in your prayers for us, I subscribe,
Reverend and honoured sir,
Your humble servant,
JOSEPH WEBB.




CONNECTIOUrT —1722.              65
[To the Rev. Mr. Andrew and Mr. Woodbridge and
others, our Reverend Fathers and Brethren, present
in the library of Yale College, this 13th of September, 1722.]
Reverend Gentlemen,
Having represented to you the difficulties which we labor
under, in relation to our continuance out of the visible communion of an Episcopal Church, and a state of seeming opposition thereto, either as private Christians, or as officers,
and so being insisted on by some of you (after our repeated
declinings of it) that we should sum up our case in writing,
we do (though with great reluctance, fearing the consequence
of it) submit to and comply with it, and signify to you that
some of us doubt the validity, and the rest are more fully
persuaded of the invalidity of the Presbyterian ordination, in
opposition to the Episcopal; and should be heartily thankful
to God and man, if we may receive from them satisfaction
herein, and shall be willing to embrace your good councils
and instructions in relation to this important affair, as far as
God shall direct and dispose us to it.
TIMOTHY CUTLER,   JOHN HART,    SAMgUEL WHITTELSEY,
JARED ELIOT,       JAMES WETMORE, SAMUEL JOHNSON,
DANIEL BROWN..
A true copy of the original.
Testify, DANIEL BROWN. 
[Letter from Rev. Joseph Moss to Rev. D)?; e'C Mather.]
[Mr. Moss was the Congregational minister at Derby, Conn.]
Derby, October 2d, 1722.
Reverend Sir,
I presume, though unacquainted, to humbly ask your advice and help in a matter of great weight and moment, at
which we are all amazed and filled with darkness, in our
5




66                CHURCH DOCUMENTS.
parts of the country, viz.: no less than five ordained ministers (all but one of our association of New-Haven) have declared before the trustees of the College, in the library, where
many others also were present, that they were fully persuaded that only an Episcopal ordination was valid, and
according to Divine institution; and therefore, inasmuch as
their own ordination was by Presbyters only, they esteemed
it invalid. Three of them said that, notwithstanding, they
should go on to administer Sacraments, &c., as before, for
awhile, waiting for further light; but if they could get no
better light than now they had, thought that, in time, it
would come to that pass with them that they should proceed no further to minister at the altar, without a re-ordination by a Bishop: two of them pretended to be consciencebound at present to cease all sacred administrations until
they had further light or an Episcopal ordination. The
aforementioned three are, Mr. John Hart, Mr. Samuel Whittelsey, Mr. James Wetmore; the two abovesaid are, Mr. Jared Eliot, Mr. Samuel Johnson. And after these, both the
rector and tutor of our College declared themselves for Episcopacy; and that they scrupled communion in sacred things
with any other but the Church of England, because of the
invalidity of a Presbyterian ordination. I cannot pretend to
have set down the very words in which these gentlemen declared themselves, but to this purpose (though in many more
words) they did declare themselves, in the audience of a large
assembly of ministers and scholars. Now, reverend and
learned Sir, two things I crave your advice and help in:
1st. Your advice on what we shall say to the people over
whom these gentlemen were ordained pastors, (the people are uneasy, and come to us neighboring ministers for
advice); they would choose to have their ministers rather desist their ministry, and have their pulpits free for others that
may be ordained; but the ministers, I perceive, are willing
to hold their posts still. What advice shall we give these people in their darkness and distress? 2d. I having not read
much upon this controversy, should be very glad to have
some books that do nervously handle this point concerning
ordination by Presbyters, whether good or not? I have,




CONNECTICUT-1722.
according to my mean ability, studied the Scriptures upon
this point for many years past, and have been, and now am,
fully satisfied ill my own mind that the truth is on our side,
and that there is no difference between a Bishop and a Presbyter, Jure Divino. And there is no such superior order of
Church officers as the Diocesan Bishops are, by Divine institution. But it is now a time with us that we must put on our
armour and fight, or else let the good old cause, for which
our fathers came into this land, sink and be deserted. I pray,
Sir, that you would furnish me with some such books, as, with
most strength of reason and argument, plead our cause, especially in this point, of the validity of Presbyterian ordination,
and shall be very much obliged; and if the books that may
be sent come as lent, I will safely and seasonably return
them; but if they come as sold, (which I rather choose,) I
will quickly send the money for them. There is at Boston,
I suppose, Mlr. Jeremiah Atwater, of New-Haven, who is my
brother-in-law, and by whom there may be a conveniency of
sending to me, or by any of our coasting vessels that come
to any of the towns neighbouring to New-Haven. I humbly
ask your pardon, Sir, that I have been so prolix in my
writing, and for my presumption in requesting such favours
from you as above desired, which I dare not have done to so
great a superior, if it had [not] a reference to the advancement of the kingdom of our great Redeemer, for which I
know you are evermore greatly concerned, and are always
ready to spend and be spent; and in endeavours for its growth
and flourishing estate, you have been in labours more abundant than any of us.
I subscribe, Sir, your very humble servant and unworthy
fellow-laborer in the Gospel,
JOSEPH Mloss.
[The Rev. John Davenport and the Rev. Stephen Buckingqham to the Rev. Doctors
Increase Mather and Cotton Mather.]
[John Davenport was minister of Stamford and Stephen Buckingham was minister
of Norwalk.]
Very Reverend Sirs,
We have taken it that yourselves were consulted upon the
first erecting a Collegiate School in our colony, nor can we




68                CHURCH DOCUMENTS.
account it improper that yourselves and our reverend fraternity in the principal town of our country [Boston] be apprised of the dark cloud drawn over our collegiate affairs, a
representation whereof may already have been made by some
of our reverend brethren trustees; but if not, and the case
being of general concern, we are willing to make our mournful report, how it hath been matter of surprise to us (as we
conclude it hath been or surely will be to you) to find how
great a change a few years have made appear among us, and
how our fountain, hoped to have been and continued the
repository of truth and the reservoir of pure and sound principles, doctrine and education, in case of a change in our
mother Harvard, shows itself in so little a time so corrupt.
How is the gold become dim! and the silver become dross!
and the wine mixt with water! Our school gloried and
flourished under its first rector, the Rev. Mr. Pierson, a pattern of piety, a man of modest behaviour, of solid learning
and sound principles, free from the least Arminian or Episcopal taint; but it suffered a decay for some years, because
of the want of a resident rector. But who could have conjectured, that its name being raised to Collegium Yalense
from a Gymnasiumn Saybrooken8e, it should groan out Ichabod, in about three years and a half under its second rector,
so unlike the first, by an unhappy election set over it, into
whose election or confirmation, or any act relating to him,
the senior subscriber hereof (though not for some reason,
through nmalice or mistake bruited) never came. Upon the
management of our College three years and a half, how strangely altered is the aspect thereof! That its regents, sc. rector
and tutor are become such capable masters of Episcopal leaven,
and in such a time how able to cause so many to partake of it!
It appears surprisingly strange that it should diffuse itself
into our ministry, and many of them, not of the least note,
now appear in the company, viz.: Mr. Hart, of East Guilford,
MIr. Whittelsey, of Wallingford, and Mr. Eliot, of Killingworth; these, perhaps, not much short of the rector's years.
And two societies, branches of the famous New-Haven, one
on the north and the other on the west, are mourning because
of their first ministers, in so little a time after their ordina



CONNECTIcUT-1722.                69
tion, declaring themselves Episcopal, and their ordination,
lately received, of no value, because a non habentibus potestatem.
Upon our commencement, September 12, the rector distinguished his performance by the closing words of his prayer,
which were these, viz.: " And let all the people say, amen."
On the evening of said day it was rumoured there, that on
the next day the gentlemen become Episcopal designed to
propound to the trustees three questions: 1. Whether ordination from such ministers, whose ordination was from the
leather jackets, be valid?  2. Whether ordination from
ministers, who are only Presbyters, be valid? 3. Whether
an uninterrupted succession from the apostles' days be not
absolutely necessary to the validity of a minister's ordination? But these were not so propounded.
But the day following the commencement, after dinner,
these gentlemen appeared in the library before the trustees,
where many other ministers were present, and first declared
themselves viva vote, but after that, on the direction of the
trustees, declared themselves in writing, a copy whereof is
not with us. But the substance thereof is this:
Some of us doubting the validity of Presbyterial ordination in opposition to Episcopal ordination, and others of us
fully persuaded of the invalidity of said ordination, shall be
thankful to God or man helping us, if in an errour. Signed,
_Timothy Cutler, John Hart, Samuel Whittelsey, Jared Eliot,
James Wetmore, Samuel Johnson, Daniel Brown.  The
persons doubting were Mr. Hart and Mr. Whittelsey.
Consequent to this declaration, the trustees advised that
the doubters continue in the administration of the ministry,
word and sacraments, but that the fully persuaded forbear
sacramental ministration until the meeting of the trustees,
which was appointed on the Tuesday evening at New-Haven,
following the opening of our General Assembly there, the
said Tuesday being the 16th of the next month. The trustees
also advised that the said ministers would freely declare
themselves to their respective congregations.
It may be added, that Mr. C. then declared to the trustees
that he had for many years been of this persuasion, (his wife




70                CHURCH DOCUMENTS.
is reported to have said that to her knowledge he had for
eleven or twelve years been so persuaded,) and that therefore
he was the more uneasy in performing the acts of his ministry at Stratford, and the more readily accepted the call to a
College improvement at New-Haven. But then if he knew
the College was erected for the education of such as dissented
from the Church of England, (and how could he not know
it,) and knew himself not one; with what. good faith could
he accept said call, and the considerable encouragement he
had, and the rather, if he disseminated his persuasion so contrary to the very design of its erection, and the confidence of
those that called him? Indeed, he hath said, that he hath
laboured only with one to be of his persuasion; were it so,
there would, in one instance, be a foul frustration of the confidence reposed in him; but what a number above one of the
students have been leavened by him, who can be assured, but
coming time may discover the unhappy instances of it.
Further, Mr. C. then also declared it his firm -persuasion,
that out of the Church of England, ordinarily, there was no
salvation.
To the last we only say Ma yevor6; for we dare not so offend
the generation of the righteous, nor disturb the ashes of the
myriads that have slept in Jesus, of the Catholick professors
of the orthodox faith in the three kingdoms, yea, and all
reformed Christendom, and in New-England particularly,
who have not been of the communion of the Church of England.
It must be acknowledged to the Divine goodness, that all
the trustees then present, (and of the whole number wanted
only three, sc. of Lime, N. London, Stamford,) showed themselves constant to our principles and [well] affected to the
trust committed to them; yet desirous that the meeting of
the trustees might (if possible) be fuller, and also their doings
might be in the face of the colony, represented in General
Assembly, they took care that Mr. C. might have the use of
the house they had hired for him until the Wednesday next
after the opening of the General Court, viz., October 17.
No wonder that it is said in all our towns on the seaside,
and probably in our inland towns likewise, the talk in every




CONNECTICUT —1722.              71
one's mouth is the surprising conjuncture, wherein such a
number, who are now said, at least for a year past, to have
distinguished themselves by their frequent meeting together,
the design whereof the late declaration is accounted to open,
appear fond of that way, an unembarrassment from which
moved our predecessors to so voluntary an exile into a then
rude wilderness. And in the vagrant surmises of people,
others of our principal men are by way of question or affirmation talked of, to belong to this set of deserters; of whom,
until time show otherwise, better things are hoped.
One of us subscribing, who was then absent, could have
the above account only by report, when the other, being
present, bore a part with the trustees at N. II.
Reverend Sirs, having thus bemoaned the dark providence
over us, we may not doubt of your Christian sympathy, nor
of your prayers, which yet we earnestly ask, unto Him, that
holdeth the stars in his right hand, and walketh in the midst
of the golden candlesticks. We ask also your assistance, what
you may think proper, in a conjoined testimony in the cause
of Christ to our government and people, and the encouragement of the trustees, and the recovery (if possible) of those
that are gone from us. And with sincere prayers, that how
grievous soever our sins have been, and how much his anger
hath been kindled against us, it may please the Lord, who is
God and not man, yea, the God of pardon, not to give us up,
cast us off, forsake us, nor call our name'nt:r t' but that
his gracious-blessing-presence may be, and continue in your
and our churches.
We subscribe ourselves,
Reverend Sirs,
Your unworthy fellow-partners
In the ministry of the Gospel,
JOHN DAVENPORT,
S. BUCKINGHAM.
The very Reverend
INCREASE MATHER, D. D.
COTTON MATHER, D. D.
Stamford, Sept. 25, 1722.




72                CHURCH DOCUMENTS.
[A Faithful Relation of a Late Occurrence in the Churches of flew-England. J
Of this production, a New-England Editor has remarked, "not very candid or
temperate, if faithful."
New-England has lately had in it an occurrence, that has
been a matter of some surprise and much discourse unto the
country.
The colony of Connecticut being willing to have their
Churches well supplied, from an education on the principles
which moved their predecessors to settle in those parts of the
world, erected not long ago a college at New-Haven. This
little college, or collegiate school, which wears the name of
Yale College, was lately so unhappy as to borrow a pastor
of a Church at Stratford, whose name is Mr. Timothy Cutler,
for a rector. This man was a secret Episcopalian, of such
high flights that he looks upon his Presbyterian ordination
as a nullity, and the acts of his ministry as invalid; and his
invitation to the rectorate of that collegiate school was the
more agreeable to him, for its delivering him from a ministry
which he took to be a cheat; it also gave him an opportunity
privately to destroy the principal intention of the academy,
and blow up the Churches which he appeared a friend unto.
He privately for some time carried on a conversation with
several young ministers of the neighbouring Churches, whose
frequent meetings at his house were what the people knew
not what interpretation to put upon. At last, by a strange
coincidence of several circumstances, the plot broke out sooner
than it is thought they would have had it; for on September
13th, the day after their commencement, these men appeared
in the public library, before the trustees of the College, and
many other ministers, and there exhibited a short instrument,
wherein they declared that some of them doubted the validity, and others of them were fully persuaded of the invalidity of their Presbyterian ordination; signed by Cutler,
the rector, and Brown, a tutor of the school, and five more
that were young ordained pastors of Churches in the neighbourhood. The trustees were very much distressed on an




CoNNECTIOUT-1722.               73
occasion so unexpected, and so likely to be attended with a
train of unhappy consequences; but they treated the men
with all the charity, and lenity, and forbearance that the case
would possibly admit of. Nevertheless, the action and
apostacy of these men had caused a considerable commotion
in the minds of the people, not only in the Churches more
immediately betrayed, but also through all the country.
It has appeared marvellous unto them, that a little knot of
young men that had read very little of the controversy, but
only a few Episcopalian things which their library at NewHaven had been unhappily stocked withal, with little or
nothing of the antidote, (and indeed the most that the poor
children have to subsist upon is the pretended Epistles of
Ignatius, which yet, if they were not impostures, would be of
no service to them,) that these young men should have the
temerity and presumption to declare for an usurpation in the
Church of God, so clearly condemned in the holy Scriptures,
which it is the profession and endeavour of those Churches to
keep close unto; yea, and thereupon to deny the ministry, and
renounce the communion of all the Protestant Churches in
the world, except that little party that submits to the English
Episcopacy! It has amazed them to see the'sons of NewEngland strengthen and assist the common enemy, by coming
into the great and almost the last clamour with which the
papists are trying to weaken and perplex the reformed
Churches, and that, when it is notorious that the whole body
of our first reformers, at their coming out of Babylon, decried
the necessity of an Episcopal ordination, and found that they
could not shake off the mother of harlots without their doing
so; they should in such a country go back from what the
very dawn of the reformation arrived unto!
It has caused some indignation in them to see the vile indignity cast by these Cudweeds upon those excellent servants
of God, who were the leaders of the flock that followed our
Saviour into this wilderness; and upon the ministry of them,
and their successors, in which there has been seen for more
than fourscore years altogether, the power and blessing of
God for the salvation of many thousands in the successive
generations, with a success beyond what any of them, which




74                CHURCH DOCUMENTS.
set such an high value on the Episcopal ordination, could ever
boast of; to vilify this as an invalid ministry; for a degenerate offspring to declare those men of God, and those burning
and shining lights, to be no true ministers of Christ; but invaders and intruders upon a sacred office; and robbers that
have not entered in by the door; they cry out upon it Good
God, unto what times hast thou reserved us!
That which very much adds to the concern on the minds
of the good people, is that such highflyers as these who derive their ordinations from Rome, do generally discover themselves too, well affected unto a popish pretender, and enemies to the happy revolution; and though of late several conversions to High Church have been made among their children, wherein, to their honour, the great converter has been
a foolish and sorry toy-man, who is a professed Jacobite, and
printed a pamphlet to maintain that the God whom King
William and the Churches there prayed unto, is the devil!
(liorresco referens!) yet they commonly lament it that the
Church rarely gains a proselyte but King George loses a
subject.
It is a sensible addition unto their honour to see the horrid
character of more than one or two, who have got themselves
qualified with Episcopal ordination, to fortify little and
wretched parties, in disturbing the Churches of New-England,
and come over as missionaries, perhaps to serve scarce twenty
families of such people, in a town of several hundred families
of Christians, better instructed than the very missionaries;
to think that they must have no other ministers but such
as are ordained" and ordered by them, who have sent over
such tippling sots unto them; instead of those pious, and
painful, and faithful instructors which they are now blessed
withal! The Churches treat these new invaders with much
civility, and such as can go on in their ministry, they allow
to do so. But the spirit of the country, and their zeal for the
pure and undefiled religion and profession of their fathers,
has been so conspicuous on this occasion, and the folly of the
deserters has been so manifest unto all men, (and unto some of
themselves,) that they will proceed no further. The apostacy
will stop here; and what has happened will strongly serve




CONNECTICIUT-1722.                75
to the establishment of the Churches; and the abettors of these
disorders may spare any further pains for the furnishing of
the country with such missionaries. Nor will they be received there by any but a few people of such a character as
will be no great honour either to Christianity or to the
Church of England.
Since the writing of this faithful relation, a letter from a
very eminent person in the government of Connecticut, dated
November 9, 1722, has these passages:
" The endeavours of the trustees of the College have been
"so far succeeded as to remove the scruples of those minis" ters who had entertained some, about their ordinations; so
"that we have a prospect of peace in the Churches they
" were set over, and that they may go on in the work of the
" ministry with hope of success. We are not without hopes,' that what has so fearful a tendency to the prejudice of that
"Gospel order, which the Churches here have from the be-' ginning observed, may rather tend to their confirmation
" therein."
[From a MS. in the handwriting of Rev. Cotton SMather, D. D., and supposed to have
been sent to his Brethren in Connecticut.]
The sentiments of several ministers in Boston, concerning
the duty of the distressed Churches with relation
to their pastors, who, in an instrument under their
hands, have publickly declared, that they, some of
them, doublt the validity, others of them are fully
persuaded of the invalidity of the Presbyterian ordination.
It plainly appears:
I. These new Episcopalians have declared their desire to
introduce an usurpation and a superstition into the Church
of God, clearly condemned in the Sacred Scriptures, which
our loyalty and chastity to our Saviour obliges us to keep close
unto; and a tyranny from which the whole Church, which
desires to be reformed, has groaned, that it may be delivered.
II. They have had the temerity and presumption to deny




76               COHURCH DOCUMENTS.
the ministry and renounce the communion of all the Protestant Churches in the whole world, except that little party
which submits to the English Episcopacy. Such a schism do
they run into.
III. The scandalous conjunction of these unhappy men
with the papists is, perhaps, more than what they have themselves duly considered. For first,, the great and almost the
last clamour with which the papists try to perplex and weaken
the reformed Churches, is, that their ministry is invalid for
want of Episcopal ordination.
These men strengthen the common enemy in the boundless
mischief attempted by this foolish cavil. Secondly, even
those defectively and imperfectly reformed Churches in England and Ireland found it necessary to decry the necessity of
Episcopal ordination, at their first coming out of Babylon.
They did it generally, notoriously, authentically, or they
could not have shaken off the mother of harlots. God forbid
that we should be such grievous revolters as to go back from
what the very dawn of the reformation arrived unto! Thirdly, to maintain their Episcopal ordination, they set up that
vile, senseless, wretched whimsey of an uninterrupted succession, which our glorious Lord has confuted with such
matter of fact that it is amazing the builders of Babel are
not ashamed of it; and they will have none owned for ministers of Christ in the world but. such as anti-Christ has ordained for him; such as the paw of the beast hath been laid
upon them that they pretend a succession from. Do not
those men worship the beast, who allow no worship in the
Church but by them who have their consecration legitimated
by a derivation through the hands of the beast unto them?
Finally, it is well known that at this day the men who are
well-willers to the claims of a popish pretender, are the main
assertors of the Episcopal ordination being essential to their
Christian priesthood; and the most violent and signalized
assertors of this paradox are such as decry the happy revolution, which every sincere Protestant, and honest and sober
Englishman, must be a friend unto. Will these men unite
with such adversaries: To their assembly, O my soul, be not
thou united!




CONNNECTICUT-1722.               77
IV. They have cast a vile indignity: upon those burning
and shining lights, the excellent servants of God, who were
the leaders of the flocks that followed our Lord Jesus into
this wilderness, and upon the ministry of them and their successors in which there has been seen the power and blessing
of God for the salvation of many thousands in the successive
generations, with a success beyond what any of them, who
set such an high value upon their Episcopal ordination, could
ever boast of. A degenerate offspring have declared these
men of God, than whom the world has rarely been illuminated with brighter stars, to be not true ministers of Christ, but
usurpers of the ministry and invaders of a sacred office, robbers that have not entered in by the door.,They have also treated with the utmost contempt the glorious cause and work of God, by which the Churches of the
Lord in this country have been so remarkably distinguished,
and encouraged the posterity of our faithful predecessors to
shake off the faith and order of the Gospel, which was the
main end that the country was planted for.
V. They have done what is likely to throw the Churches
of the country into disturbance and confusion, beyond anything they have ever yet met withal, and animate an ungodly
generation to set up a lifeless religion, and an irreligious life,
in the room of that which has hitherto been our glory.
VI. They have rashly done all this, before they have used
the most proper means to attain the light which they-pretend
they are looking for. They have not read many of the most
enlightening treatises, and they have not once addressed, so
much as by writing to them, those persons, for their satisfaction, who are, of all, the most capable of enlightening them.
VII. It may be, some of the Churches are not satisfied
what these gentlemen intend by waiting for further light.
VIII. In the meantime, it is to be doubted how they can
lawfully and honestly go on with their pastoral administrations, and keep on good terms with the last words in the fourteenth chapter to the Romans: Inasmuch as it is. affirmed,
that those of them whose doubts had made the least impression on them, yet professed, that if the doubts which they




78               CHUBMCH DOCUMENTS.
now have should continue unremoved, they could not go on
with the exercise of their ministry.
IX. The offence which those backsliders have given to all
the Churches has been such, that the particular Churches to
which they belong may, and should, make them sensible that
they are greatly offended at them; and we see not why the
flocks may not as much decline the owning of them for their
ministers, as they themselves question the validity of their
ministry. The Churches, by continuing to acknowledge the
pastoral relations and oversight of those men, may give them
greater opportunities to produce and increase [insidious] parties among them, than they may be at first well aware of.
X. Nevertheless, and after all, we have not heard all that
these gentlemen have to say for themselves. And we ought
to do nothing rashly; the peace of God, also, in the utmost
expressions of reasonable charity, should rule on such occasions; and we cannot watch too much against the wrath of
man insinuating on such occasions, which will not work the
righteousness of God. It is likewise to be remembered, that
none of these men were ordained without a council of Churches
to countenance their introduction into the ministry. It seems
therefore necessary that the Churches, which withdrew from
the ministry of the men that have so disappointed them, and
disobliged them, should have some countenance and assistance
and instruction from a council of Churches for what they have
to do in this lamentable affair. But the council ought to be
so chosen, that the Churches may reasonably expect impartial
proceedings in them: and therefore the choice had not best
be limited by such prudential rules of vicinity, as might be
agreed when there was no such extraordinary occasion to be
imagined. Perhaps the general court may see cause, upon
these awful and grievous and threatening occurrences, to nominate a very large council of Churches, to consider what may
be the duty of the day, especially for those Churches that
are more immediately now encumbered.
gMay the glorious head of the Church, whose name is the
Counsellor, graciously grant his counsel to his people, that
they may let no men take away their crown; but may faithfully preserve his institutions.




CONNECTICUrT-1722.              79
[Mr. Orem to the Secretary.]
New Bristol in New-England, Oct. 30th, 1722.
Sir,
I presume by this to recommend to your friendship and
favor three very worthy gentlemen, Mr. Cutler, Mr. Brown
and Mr. Johnson, who have lately declared themselves for
the Church, though they have been brought up in the dissenting way, and have acted for some time past as Presbyterian or Independent ministers. Mr. Cutler was Rector of
the College of Connecticut, the most creditable and profitable
employment of any in this country, but has lately been dismissed from that post for declaring in favour of the Church;
the other two who joined with him have undergone the same
hard fate, the one having been turned out of his living, and
the other out of his fellowship in the College. I can scarce
express the hardships they have undergone, and the indignities that have been put upon them, by the worst sort of dissenters who bear sway here, and several honest gentlemen
who declared for the Church with them; who, by reason of
the unhappy circumstances of their families, can't go to
England, but lie now under all the hardships and pressures
that the malice and rage of the implacable enemies of our
excellent Church and Constitution can subject them to; but
I hope their suffering condition will be taken into consideration at home. These gentlemen intend to take orders and
return in the Society's service. I hope, Sir, your good offices
in recommending them to some of the members of that Honourable body won't be wanting; they will depend entirely
on your directions how to apply themselves to them; what
friendship you are pleased to show them will, I persuade myself, always be readily and thankfully acknowledged by
them, and will add to the number of the many good offices
you have done to, and the obligations you have laid on,
Sir,
Your most humble and most
obliged servant,
JAMEs ORErM.




80               ACHURCH DOCUMENTS.
[Mr. Brown's ifemorial.]
That which I humbly request of the Honourable Society is,
that the petition exhibited in the letter of the Churchwardens
and Vestry of the Church in New Bristol to the Society, may
find a gracious reception, and that I may be permitted, according to their desire, therein expressed, to succeed the
Reverend Mr. Orem, by whose removal a vacancy is made
in that place, if I may be thought, in a tolerable measure,
capable of answering the ends of the Society's mission into
those parts.                          DANIEL BROWN.
[frr. Cutler's representation of the state of the Church of England ivs some parts of
the Colony of Connecticut, in YZew-England.]
Since I, with sundry others, did appear to favour Episcopacy
in the town of New-Haven, in the colony aforesaid, which is
a place considerable for the multitude of its inhabitants, and
the great resort of people there, as also for a society for ingenious learning there established, the zeal of some dissenting
teachers there, and in the parts adjacent to that town, hath
signalized itself -to perpetuate the interests of schism and
depress the Church of England, and the people there have
but very little advantage to defend themselves against those
uncharitable and undutiful representations which are made
of the Church of England, in her doctrine, discipline and worship, though many appear to have a sincerity of mind and
honest willingness to receive and cherish the impressiobs that
religion, reason and truth make on them. I therefore, looking on myself to retain some share in the affections of many
of the people and scholars there, do humbly offer my service in
making a visit to that deluded people, for promoting the interest of the Church of England there, so zealously and rudely
opposed, in case the state of the particular Church to which
I am sent, and my own personal affairs may allow it, desirous
of the encouragement and acceptance of the Honourable
Society in so doing.
TheoryP CUITLER.,




CONNECTICUT -1722.               81
[Members of the Church of England at Ripton, in Connecticut, to the Secretary.]
All Saints' Day, 1722.
Rev. and Honourable Sir,
We, the inhabitants of Ripton, in the colony of Connecticut, in New-England, being professors of the Church of England, as by law established, do earnestly request your truly
Christian compassion for us who are destitute of a minister
to officiate unto us as often as we could wish. It is true Mr.
Pigot is solicitous of our welfare, and visits us as often as his
extraordinary industry (in common with our neighbours)
will permit; but we know not how long his ministrations will
continue among us, and therefore are desirous of enjoying a
pastor of our own, if so be it will suit your accustomed goodness and bounty to allow it. If you, in your wisdom, shall
determine otherwise, we entreat that the ministers settled at
Stratford and Newton, between which places we are conveniently situated, may receive your instructions to administer
to us, each of them, every third Sunday. We are emboldened
to hope this, both because we design to set apart a glebe for
our spiritual guide when he comes, and also, because we suffer great persecution, for the Church's sake, from those-who
have, to our misfortune and oppression, the civil power here,
and have made that a handle to usurp the ecclesiastical.
We commit this, our request, to the direction of the great
God to touch your hearts with compassion for us, and to the
candid generosity of your illustrious Society, and are, honoured Sirs, your very humble servants and petitioners,
CHAS. LANE,              THOMAS LATTIN,
DANIEL SHELTON,          GEORGE BLACX, of Derby,
RICHARD BLACKLACH, Jr.,  ABRAHAM TRELFORD,
MARTIN LONGWORTH,        JAMES WAXLE, Jr.,
CHAS. LANE, Jr.,         BENJ. LATTIN,
ALEXANDER LANE,          JOHN BEARDSLEE, Jr.,
NATHANIEL COGSWELL,    JOSEPH SHELTON,
JOHN GILBERT,            BENJAMIN MALYLRT.




82                CHfURCH DOCUMENTS.
[Mr. Pigot to the Secretary.]
Stratford, Nov. 6, 1722.
Sir,
I have herewith sent you petitions to the honourable Society, from two towns in this neighbourhood, whose inhabitants are above half come over to our Church. I also expect
to visit you with another from Fairfield in a short time, after,
if not in company with these. The subscribers of Ripton have
been, of long standing, inclined to the Church, yet even
among them there are some lately brought over. But those
of Newtown, to a man, have been induced by my means to
embrace our profession. I believe two missionaries might
serve all four towns; that is, might attend on Stratford and
Fairfield, and the other on Newtown and Ripton, alternately,
for the two former are at eight, and the latter at twelve miles
distance. I likewise also present you here with an account
of the progress of my ministry in relation to my administration of the Sacraments since my last notitia2arochialis, which
you will find in the enclosed list. We are, Sir, in great want
of Prayer-Books and Catechisms, indeed in so great, that it
is almost impossible --;therefore I once more heartily
beg that some may be sent by the first opportunity. I have
a request also to the honourable Society in behalf of a worthy
French gentleman, born at Cardillac, in Quercy, and now residing at Fairfield. His name is James Labarie, who having
been politely educated, left his native country, and was ordained by Dr. Antonius Clinglet, Antistes of Zurich, in 1688;
afterwards coming into England, he procured Bishop Compton's license for teaching grammar, but being invited by my
Lord Bellamont, he passed over to America in 1699, and the
year following, as successor to Mons. Bondet, was appointed
by his lordship to instruct the Keehamoochuck (or new Oxford) Indians, which employment he pursued with great success, till they were cut off by their enemies. This service he
underwent three years, having [in that time] capacitated a




CONNECTrICUT-1722-23.             83
certain Indian to that degree as to be able to instruct the
rest. Ever since he has lived in this colony at Fairfield; but,
by reason of his attachment to the Church of England principles, has never been permitted by the Independents to put
his license in practice, and more especially has been maligned
by the deputy Governor, an inveterate, and, indeed, most implacable enemy to the established Church. This gentleman,
having obtained the Indian language, with the honourable
Society's good leave, is heartily willing to do the office of a
Catechist here, and therefore begs from that auspicious body
their orders, books, protection, and benevolence.
Messrs. Cutler, Johnson and Brown are set out toward
Boston, in order to their transportation to Great Britain, whom
I presume to be arrived ere this comes to salute you, from
Sir,
The iHonourable Society's
And your very humble servant,
GEo. PIGOT.
[Mr. Labarie to the Secretary. ]
Fairfield, New-England, iffarch 5th, 1722-23.
Mr. Pigot hath acquainted the honourable Society with
my circumstances, therefore, I shall not be tedious in giving
you an account of them. After that I left my own country by
reason of the persecution raging there; I went to Zurich and
was ordained by Mr. Clinglet, Antistes of that Canton, as you
may see certified by the enclosed copy. I arrived in England at the time of King William's coronation, and there
obtained a license from the Lord Bishop of London for
teaching grammar and catechising in the parish of Stepney.
Some time afterwards I was persuaded by my Lord Bellamont
to come into America, where he settled me for the work of the
ministry in a town called New Oxford, where Mr. Bondet had
been before, and gave me a commission to instruct the Indians there; the original whereof I herewith transmit to your
honourable Society. That office I was diligent to perform,
and, by the blessing of God, having obtained the lingua of
that nation, had so considerable a success that I brought some




84               CHURCH DOCUMENTS.
of them to the capacity of teaching others; but the town
being cut off by the Indian enemies, we were forced to forsake
the settlement for the security of our lives, and since my
abode in this Colony and County of Fairfield, where are
many Indians, I have concluded it my duty to continue my
labours, though without any prospect of any encouragement
or salary, for which purpose applying myself to Governor
Saltonstall, whose original letter of approbation attends upon
you, and receiving his encouragement, I began by the enclosed
introductory discourse, to prepare both the English and native inhabitants; but, having declared myself a member of
the Church of England, I was immediately interrupted by
the Lieutenant-Governor Nathan Gold, a mortal enemy to
that Church, and violently compelled to surcease my endeavours. My commission extending no further than Boston
Colony, since Mr. Pigot's arrival in this colony, I have joined
with him, and done my endeavours to assist him. He hath
the care of four Churches considerably distant from each
other, and though no missionary before ever took half the
pains that he takes for the propagation of the Church of England, yet the members of his Church are scattered, and the
enemies thereof so busy'to hinder those who are already
communicants, and others who are willing to join us, that it
is impossible for one man to entertain them all, and to keep
them in the bosom of the Church. Therefore, making use
of that license I received from Bishop Compton, I visit the
well-disposed people to instruct them in the principles of the
established Church, and, on the Lord's day, while Mr. Pigot
is at Stratford or some other place, I teach at my own house,
which I have destinated for the service of the Church of England. I suppose Mr. Pigot will acquaint your honourable
body with the persecutions and threatenings we are exposed
to, having in this town of Fairfield the Lieutenant-Governor
against us, and the pretended ministers of Independency continually declaiming against the Church, terming her service
Popery, the way to hell, and themselves Bishops as regular as
the Bishop of London, with many other extravagant expressions.
Therefore if your honourable Society would favour me with a
larger power than I have, I should be very glad to employ




CONNECTICUT-1723.                85
the rest of my days for the propagation of the Gospel among
the heathen, and instruction of the remoter members of the
Church of England, not doubting but that, under the blessing
of God, the Church of Fairfield would be in a short time in a
flourishing condition, there being many that desire to be frequently instructed in the principles thereof. We are here
under great disadvantages by reason of the scarcity of Catechisms, Common Prayer Books, Psalters, and many other
books which are needed for instruction and comfort. We
humbly beg the honourable Society to procure some, (for this
town particularly,) and shall ever continue to pray for the
prosperity of your glorious body, as at present, he cordially
does, who is with the utmost submission,
Your very humble servant and well-wisher,
JAMES LABARnE.
[Mr. Rigot to the Secretary.]
Sir. Stratford, June, 3d and VtAh, 1723.
Having completed my first year, and knowing myself under
obligation to notify the honourable Society of the procedure
of affairs in this Colony, I once more visit you with this my
acknowledgment of their indulgence towards me, and do return them thanks for their order for my removal to Providence; not that I propose any other advantage to myself than
being nearer the inspection of some land of mine there about.
This is the sixth letter I have sent you without the satisfaction of one in return, so that I am to seek whether Fairfield, Ripton, or Newtown petitions have reached you or not;
we are forthwith transmitting a duplicate of each, for fear of
miscarriage. Our cause flourishes mightily in this country,
indeed so much, that our neighbours look on with astonishment. The Mathers are diligent in sending circular letters
to all places, exhorting them to trace the pious steps of their
forefathers; and whereas that popular plea has been detected
to carry fraud with it, by a printed letter of Governour Winthrop and company to the ministers of Old England, they
have been compelled to take refuge in another more notorious untruth, namely, that there are two Churches of Eng



86                CHURCH DOCUMENTS.
land, the high and the low; with the low, they pretend to
hold filll communion, but the high are rank Papists; they
terming us no less. This notion, and some books with which
every town is glutted, such as [illegible] many thousands of
which have been printed off at Boston. An anonymous
answer to the Bishop of Derry and Jameson the Scott, are
our greatest obstructions by way of controversy, as the Deputy Governour is by way of authority, in this quarter of the
world. This last mentioned gentleman has been so weak as
to propound to the General Court a law to prohibit me the
practice of my function, in all the towns of this Colony besides [except] Stratford. I enclosed an account of my baptized and communicants; since my last, of the former, I have
added forty-eight to the Church, of the latter, sixty-seven
during the past year's ministry. I had forty-three of these
on Easterday and thirty-eight on Whit-Sunday, notwithstanding they live at great distances asunder. I have been
once to Norwalk, once to North-Haven, six times to Fairfield, Ripton and Newtown, each; at which last places I
have administered both sacraments once already, and do intend it once more before my departure. Our church will be
raised on the first of next month, being forty-five feet long,
thirty broad, and twenty studd. I understand from Boston
that Mr. Whetmore is sailed, so that, in all likelihood, he
will pay his respects before this can arrive, from the honourable Society's, and Sir, &c.
GEORGE PIGOT.
[ifr. Pigot to the Secretary.]
Providence, January 13th, 1723-24.
Reverend Sir,
Mr. Johnson, my successor at Stratford, having brought
me the honourable Society's order for my removal to Providence, I have?accordingly been arrived at my charge about
two months, and do humbly acknowledge their favour with
grateful respect. I left him seventy-nine in communion,
having baptized six adults and fifty-seven infants the first
eighteen months' ministry, and of whom I have enclosed a
list of those not mentioned before. As to the new church at




CoNNECTIUT-1 — 723-24.              87
Stratford, it proceeds but heavily, by reason of the poverty of
its professors, who are too closely fleeced by the adverse
party to carry it on with despatch; and as to the out-towns,
it is my humble opinion, that Newtown merits the preference
in the honourable Society's regard; both as it is more remote
from Stratford, and also, as its inhabitants are above half
come over already, in so much that Mr. Johnson mnay expect
thirty communicants there. Fairfield, also, is well enclosed,
and will have as large a communion as Newtown; but Dr.
Labarie's industry there takes off the present necessity of a
missionary in that town. This last gentleman is an excellent
preacher, but by reason of his attachment to our principles,
is unimproved by the dissenters, as to his practice in physic,
unless upon the greatest emergency. In Ripton (which is a
very small place) the Independents have never yet been able
to settle a minister of their profession, but at present they are
aspiring, (by a sort of association,) with a salary of ~40 per
annum, and some land, hoping thereby to keep out the
Church. Mr. Johnson will find it a most difficult task to
answer the expectations of the towns around him, there being
work enough for Sunday labourers in the Lord's harvest;
however, if Newtown were supplied with one, he might take
care of Ripton, as Mr. Johnson might of Fairfield and West
Haven. I now pass to you some account of my new mission.
The inhabitants here are generally well inclined to the Church
of England, but not so much out of principle as out of opposition to the Massachusetts profession. For these Providence
people, by bordering upon them, ]laving formerly felt the
lash of their resentments, are now utterly estranged to their
persuasion;* who, notwithstanding, are thrusting themselves
among us, and building a meeting-house, which they never
attempted before the honourable Society had resolved to appoint a missionary for this place. The towns of Warwick
and Greenwich, (my near neighbours,) are importunate with
me to perform Divine Service among them once in a month,
which, with the honourable Society's approbation, I shall
comply with; because Warwick is the place where the
* This statement is fully verified in the first volume of Mr. Samuel Green Arnold's History
of Rhode Island, published in 1859.




88                CHURCH DOCUMENTS.
Gortonians (a wild crew) first prevailed, and together with
Greenwich has always been destitute of a minister of any
profession whatsoever. I am afraid any minister here will
not be so successful as at Stratford, it being much easier to
bring over those Schismatics to our communion, than these
outrageous and stubborn enthusiasts. I beg the favour of
the usual number of small tracts for this town, there being
greater occasion for them than ordinary; but I look upon it
as my duty to remind you, sir, that these people, (if of any
profession,) are chiefly Quakers and Anabaptists. I have
nothing more to add, but that I am, with the sincerest attachment, the honourable Society's obliged and humble
servant,                              GEORGE PIGOT.
Not having sealed this for want of an opportunity to
transmit it, I have hereunto added something that has since
happened respecting the honourable Society. One Mr. Richard Sackett settled at Dover, an up town in the Province of
New-York, has taken the pains to give me a visit on purpose
to bestow a handsome gift on the Church. This gentleman
has a claim of upwards of thirteen hundred acres of land in
the township of Stratford, but has been debarred of his right
by government there, who thought fit to dispose of it otherwise, though his title be two years older than their charter;
the aforesaid tract of land having been purchased of the Indian
Sachems in 1661. He has given me an irrevocable power of
attorney, and a grant of four hundred acres to the missionary
of Stratford for a perpetual glebe, and two hundred acres to
finish the church. This glebe, valued at ~1,800 paper money,
has occasioned great speculation and heart-aching, because
Mr. Sackett's title is confessedly as good as any man can
have in this country, and also because there is no one legal
instance of the disposal of lands here by charter, in contradiction to Indian title. It has been Judge -    -'s opinion,
and is that of the most knowing here, that Mr. Sackett's title
is sure, and therefore I expect the honourable Society's order
what to do in this affair, and they may confide in,
Sir, &c.,
GEORGE PIGOT.




C()NNECTICUTr1-i  22.           89
[fembers of the Churc7h of England, at.Aewtom, in Connecticut, to the Secretary.]
October 19th, 1722.
Honourable Gentlemen,
We, the subscribers, inhabitants of the town of Newton,
[Newtown,] in the province of Connecticut, being cordially
inclined to embrace the articles and liturgy of the Church of
England, and to approach her communion, do humbly and
earnestly request your honourable Society to send us a lawfully ordained minister. We are heads of families and, with
our dependants, shall appear the major party here; therefore, we intend to set apart for our Episcopal teacher, whensoever it shall please God to inspire your venerable body to
appoint us one, at least two hundred acres of glebe for the
support of a Church minister for ever. And this we are
emboldened to hope, because our town is at so great a distance from Stratford as twenty-two miles, and also situated in
the centre of all this country, being surrounded with more than
ten other towns at no vast distance. We do likewise return
our most hearty thanks for those ministrations Mr. Pigot has
introduced among us, who has inclined us to declare boldly
for the Church, and thereby to be exposed to the resentments
of the Independents, to his and our no small disadvantage
and reproach; indeed, we are placed in the midst of an insidious people, but should quietly enjoy our persuasion without the intervention of others, if an Episcopal minister were
once settled among us, which we beg of Almighty God to
induce the honourable Society to nominate; and in the
mean time we remain their very humble servants and wellwishers,
JOHN GLOVER,      JAMES HARD,       STEPHEN PARMELEE,
SAMUEL HENRIX,   ROBERT SEELY       DANIEL JACKSON,
JOHN SEALY,      JOHN GRIFFIN,    JEREMIAH TURNER,
ELIDIA SHARP, Widow,                SAMUEL MOSHER,
EBENEZER BOOTH,  THOMAS WHEELER, of Woodbury,
MOSEs KNAPP, at Chestnut Ridge.
6*




90                 CHURCH DOCUMENTS.
iThe Church Wardens and Vestry of Newport, in Rhode-Island, to the Secretary.]
At a Vestry held at Trinity Church,
October 29th, 1722.
Sir,'Tis with the greatest pleasure we have this happy opportunity of expressing the grateful sense we have of the honourable Society's compassionate care of, and kindness to, this
place, in the generous encouragement they give for the support of religion in it; for which we return our sincere acknowledgments, attended with our earnest desires for the best
blessings of heaven upon them; we also think we should be
wanting to our duty, if by the occasion of these worthy gentlemen, Mlessrs. Cutler, Johnson and Brown, who have renounced their schismatical principles wherein they were educated and voluntarily joined our communion, we should not
heartily recommend them to the special regard and countenance of the Rev. Fathers of our Church and the patrons of
religion. Their coming over to us is justly looked upon
here, not only as a very surprising, but a very considerable
advantage to the interests of the Church in these parts; their
motives and their conversion, they are now going to account
for before our Right Reverend Diocesan and the honourable
Society, from whom it is humbly hoped they will meet with
all possible encouragement. It is plain, these gentlemen
have, in this important affair, acted like Christians and men
of virtue and honour, without any sordid views of interest
or advancement; for, as they were not dismissed their posts
and offices for any vice and immorality, they being universally acknowledged, and that even by our Church's greatest
enemies, to be persons of unspotted character and the nicest
virtue, so neither were they compelled to a conformity by
any other necessity than that of pursuing the dictates of a
good conscience; and for the sake of that, indeed, they have
forsaken their dearest interests and valuable settlements.
Though we don't in the least presume to prescribe to our




CONNECTICUT —1722.               91
superiors, yet we can't but entertain some humble hopes
and wishes that the famous Universities of England will treat
Mr. Cutler with distinguished marks of esteem, he having
been himself head of a College, which station he adorned, as
well as discharged the duties of it with great applause; and
could it be obtained by the favour and authority of the
Crown that he should be re-established in it, and return in
holy orders, it is more than probable that his influence over
the youth, and distilling good principles in thenm, would be
of great service to religion and the Church in this country.
Nor can we be so injurious to the merits of Mr. Johnson and
Mr. Brown as to omit assuring the honourable Society, that
the one, viz., Mr. Johnson, having been for some time an
ordained minister in the dissenting way, and the other, Mr.
B3rown, a tutor in Mr. Cutler's College, were extremely beloved and esteemed by their people; and'tis not doubted,
but in proportion to the favours of the coimrimunion they have
left, they will be favoured by that they have espoused.
Upon the whole, it seems highly probable that upon these
gentlemen's fate, we mean their reception and encouragement, depends a grand revolution, if not a general revolt,
from schism in these parts; and that their example will be
followed by many, if not the most considerable men amongst
them, whereof we have already an instance in one Mr. Wetmore, a man of learning and piety, who is now become zealous for the service and interest of the Church, but whose
circumstances won't, at present, allow him to apply for Episcopal ordination; and his case being that of many, we hope
will also be allowed as an argument for the necessity of a
Bishop in this cohntry. Conversions from schism, as well
as from infidelity and heresy, we humbly conceive to be one
of the honourable Society's just designs, and here now presents a happy opportunity of bringing it to some perfection;
and, should there not be remarkable notice taken of these
gentlemen, the neglect would not only dishearten others,
who are in a manner ready to follow their laudable example,
but give our enemies the greatest occasion to insult us, and
glory in the disappointment. We hope our honourable patrons will excuse the freedom whereby we become faithful




92                CHURCH DOCUMENTS,
witnesses of great truths, and earnestly entreat they will be
pleased to continue their compassion and regard for us, who
are, with all possible veneration their's, as we are with great
esteem, Sir, your most obedient humble servants,
JAMES HONEYMAN, 3Iinister.
ADAM POWELL, WILLIAM CODDINGTON, COhurchwarden8s
JomHN BowN,       NATH'L NKEWDIGATE,
R. GARDNER,       EDWARD NEARGREASSE,        trmn
JOHN FREEBODY,   DANIELI AYRAULT,
GEO. GOLDING,     JNO. CHACE, 
kRev. ir. Johnson to the.Bishop of London.
Stratford in Connecticut, New-England,
January 18th, 1723-4.
May it please your Lordship,
Being, by the favourable providence of God, arrived in
New-England, in obedience to your Lordship's commands,
when I had the honour of being in your presence, I make
bold, in all humility, to lay before your Lordship the state of
the colony of Connecticut, to which your Lordship has
licensed me. The people here are generally rigid Independents, and have an inveterate enmity against the established
Church, but of late the eyes of great multitudes are opened
to the great error of such an uncharitable and therefore
unchristian spirit.
This is conme to pass chiefly in six or seven towns, whereof
this of Stratford, where I reside, is the principal, and thougll I
am unworthy and unmeet to be intrusted with such a. chargle,
yet there is not one clergyman of the Church of EnglaldA,
besides myself, in this whole colony, and I am obliged, in a
great measure, to neglect my cure at Stratford, (where yet
there is business enough for one minister,) to ride about to the
other towns, (some ten, some twenty miles off,) where in each
of them there is as much need of a resident minister as there
is at Stratford, especially at Newtown and Fairfield, so that
the case of these destitute places, as well as of myself, who




CONECTICJT-1-1 723-4:              93
has this excess of business, is extremely unhappy and compassionable
Now at the same time, my Lord, there are a considerable
number of very promising young gentlemen, five or six I am
sure of, and ithese the best that are educated among us, who
might be instrumental to do a great deal of good to the souls
of men, were they ordained; but, for want of Episcopal ordination, decline the ministry, and go into secular business,
being, partly from themselves, and partly through the influence of their friends, unwilling to expose themselves to the
danger of the seas and distempers, so terrifying has been the
unhappy fate of Mr. Brown; so that the fountain of all our
misery is the want of a Bishop, for whom there are many
thousands of souls in this country that do impatiently long
and pray, and for want of whomn do extremely suffer.
My Lord, permit me to remember the concern your Lordship was pleased to express, for sending a suffragan into this
country, when we were before your Lordship, which gave me
the greater pleasure, because I ihave the satisfaction to know,
that so great is your Lordship's deserved interest with his
most sacred majesty King George, (whom God long preserve,)
that you might very probably be the first, under God and the
King, in effecting for us so great a blessing.
And suffer me furtler, my Lord, to say that there is not
one Jacobite or disaffected person in this colony, nor above
two or three (that I know of) in America; but for want of a
loyal and orthodox Bishop to inspect us, we lie open to be
misled into the wretched maxims of that abandoned set of
men, as well as a great many other perverse principles.
May God, therefore, direct your Lordship's thoughts, and
succeed your pious endeavours for effecting this, or any other
good work, that may contribute to the advancement or enlargement of his Church, and may I have an interest in your
Lordship's compassion, prayers and benediction in the great
task that lies upon me. I am,
3ay it please your Lordship, your Lordship's
Ilumnble and obedient servant,
SAMUEL JOHNSONx




94                 CHURCH DOCUMENTS.
[Rev. Mr. Johnson to the Bishop of London.]
Stratford in Conneeticut, New-England,
June, 23d, 1724.
May it please your Lordship,
The pious concern which your Lordship lath expressed for
the advancement of religion, in your most excellent letter to
your clergy here, fills us with a great deal of joy and gratitude, and encourageth us to hope that the representation
which, by that wise expedient, will be made to your Lordship
of the necessitous state of English America, will, in your
Lordship's hands, be a prevalent inducement to move the
pious compassion of his most sacred Majesty, and of his wise
ministers, to furnish this destitute and unhappy country with
Bishops, or at least Suffragans, Your Lordship will find, by
the account I shall give, that this town, and indeed the whole
colony, is destitute of any Episcopal school, by which means
our youth are trained up in prejudice against, the established
Church; and since your Lordship hath expressed so pious a
care, as to inquire concerning the state of our schools, I have
been encouraged to recommend this honest gentleman, the
bearer hereof, Mr. Thomas Salmon, (whose affairs, obliged him
to voyage for England,) to your Lordship and the honourable
Society; ihe is one of our churchwardens, and is well qualified for an English schoolmaster, and hath kept the school for
several years in this town, to the universal satisfaction of
both the Church people and Dissenters; insomuch that, if
he was continued our, schoolmaster, sundry even of the Dissenters would continue their children under his care, which
would very much take off their prejudices against the Church.
My humble request, therefore, to your Lordship is, that you
would be graciously pleased to favour his address to the honourable Society to be sent over, with a small annuity, their
schoolmaster to this town; and I doubt not but that he will
approve himself both a loyal subject to his most sacred
majesty King George, (to whose person and government he




CONNECTICUT —1724.              95
hath always appeared heartily well affected,) and likewise a
faithful instrument to promote all useful English learning and
serious piety among our children. My Lord, the poor people
here are very much discouraged on account of the unreasonable demands of the government in exacting taxes from them
to the support of the Independent teachers, for which sundry
people, and those of both sexes, have been unmercifully imprisoned, contrary to the indulgence granted to them in government, by their charter, which forbid them to do any thing
contrary to the laws of England, and we humbly beg your
Lordship's protection. I have complained of this grievance
to the governor here, but can get no relief; and unless it can
be removed, the Church can never flourish, but the pious design of the honourable Society will be utterly defeated. If
your Lordship should write to our Governor, as I am informed
you have done to the Governor of Boston colony, I belleve it
would answer the ends; but I humbly submit to your Lordship's wisdom in that matter. One thing more I beg leave to
trouble your Lordship with, and that is this: the late Queen
(of blessed memory) gave sundry sets of Communion furniture to the Churches here, and among the rest, one supernumerary set, which happened first to be lodged and used at
Narragansett; but upon the breaking up of the Church there,
for the want of a minister, the late Bishop Comnpton, (of pious
memory,) ordered them to this Church at Stratford, which
hath possessed them these 12 years, and it would cause our
adversaries very much to triumph over us if we should be deprived of them. Indeed, the people of Narragansett did lay
claim to thlem, and produced an order from your Lordship's
immediate predecessor to return them to that Church; but the
Church here being then without a guide, and imagining they
had a right to them from Bishop Compton's order, did not
deliver them. Now I am informed that Mr. Macsparran
hath an order from your Lordship to this Church to deliver
them, but we have not received it; we will cheerfully obey it,
if your Lordship insists upon it, when it comes. But, in the
mean time, I will in all humility submit it to your Lordship,
whether we have not a right to this furniture from Bishop
Compton's order, whereby the Church at first became pos



96                CHURCH DOCUMENTS.
sessed of it. And now I humbly ask pardon for this tedious
letter, and beg your Lordship's benedictions, presuming to
subscribe myself, my Lord,
Your Lordship's
Humble servant,
SAMUEL J OHNSON.
[The Secretary to the Rev. 3fr. Johnson.]
London, August 25th, 1724.
Reverend Sir,
The Society have received a petition from the members of
the Church of England at Newtown, and another from those
at Ripton, in Connecticut, wherein they request the Society
to send them a missionary, and promise to settle upon him
and his successors some land. The Society are inclined to
send a missionary to officiate among them, but have thought
proper to write over to them first to know what the value is
at present of the land which they offer towards the support
of their minister, and what they will contribute further, annually; and, if they find the people are willing to do what
they can, the Society will add a salary for the more decent
support of a clergyman, to reside in one of these parishes;
and by this means, the Society hope your cure will be considerably easier taken care of, and you will have more leisure
to attend the Church at Stratford.
I am, &c.,
D. IIUMPHREYS.
[Riev. Mr. Johnson to the Bishop of London. —Extract.]
Boston, October 10th, 1724.
My Lord,
There are indeed a number of very worthy clergymen
here in New-England, but yet many things occur from time
to time which make it very apparent how extremely un



CONNECTICUT-1724.                97
happy we are, for want of an ecclesiastical governor to
have an immediate inspection over us. Among other instances of this kind, the conduct of Mr. Harris, of Boston, is
a very flagrant one. The malice wherewith he hath all
along persecuted good Dr. Cutler is very extraordinary, and
for no other reason but because the good people of Boston
were desirous, and are so happy as to obtain, that the
Doctor should be the incumbent of their new Church, which,
it seems, Mr. Harris had an expectation of. Your Lordship
will, I believe, be sufficiently sensible by looking into the
Doctor's sermon, how far it is from the least favourable
aspect upon Popery, and yet this gentleman would persuade
people that the Doctor is a Papist, and that sermon, at the
same time, is all he pretends for a foundation for it. It is
from the same fountain of envy and malice that the false report was originally derived, which represented us to your
Lordship as disaffected, when we had the honour to be in
your presence; but we should be glad of an opportunity to
submit all our conduct to your Lordship's immediate inspection, if the thing were possible.
Another instance, my Lord, of what I was mentioning, is
the injuries which our people suffer from the governments
here. Since my last letter to your Lordship, notwithstanding my humble addresses to the government of the Colony
of Connecticut, yet sundry of my people have been persecuted for their taxes to the Independent teachers; and that,
notwithstanding that the honourable Society have obliged
them to pay to the support of the established Church. One
man has had above ~50, first and last, thus injuriously taken
away from him; and have, as yet, no mitigation, so that
many people are almost discouraged. I beg, my Lord,
if possible, we may have some relief; for all their conduct
towards the Church has been a direct abuse of their charter
privileges.
I am, my Lord,
Your Lordship's most dutiful son and servant,
SAMUEL JOHNSON.




98                  CHURCH DOCUMENTS.
[H3r. Browne to the Bishop of London.]
Hew-Haven in New-England, Xarch 15th, 1724-5.
My Lord,
I humbly ask pardon for giving your Lordship this trouble
from one, not only a perfect stranger to your Lordship, (having never been out of this country,) but also a plain man, and
therefore unworthy to presume so far, which I never should
have done, were it not that I humbly conceive what I venture into your Lordship's presence, were an affair of very
great consequence. Your Lordship very well knows how
much it concerns the weal of his most sacred Majesty's dominions here, as well as in England, that a good affection to
his Majesty be preserved among his people, and, therefore,
we shall be very unhappy if any measures are taken to propagate disaffection among us.
Now, my Lord, though there are none of your Lordship's
clergy here that ever have expressed the least disaffection to
King George's person or government, but always the contrary, yet it is certain that the non-jurors have sent over
two Bishops into America, and one of them has travelled
through the country upon a design, as I am well assured, to
promote that cause.* I had, accidentally, a little acquaintance with him, and though I hope I had considered the matter too well to be wrought upon by them, yet I am sensible
that many well-meaning people, otherwise well enough affected, will be in great danger of being imposed on and led
aside, for I am sensible that their powers of insinuation are
very considerable.  Your Lordship sees from  hence, how
miserable the case of this country is from want of Bishops of
the established Church, and such as are well affected to our
rightful Sovereign, to preserve the flock of Christ from wan* The two here referred to were the Rev. Dr. WELTON, and the Rev. JoHn
TALBOT, who were consecrated by the non-juring Bishops of Scotland, and of
whom more will appear in the Documents of New-Jersey, Pennsylvania and
Maryland.




CoNNECTICUT-1724 —5               99
dering out of one schism into another, and with all, into
disaffection to the King.
I pray God preserve his Majesty, and inspire the government with compassion towards this country, that if possible
so great a part of the Christian Church, daily languishing for
want of Bislhops and longing for a supply, may at length be
provided for, to the taking away our reproach among the
adversaries of our glorious Church. I speak, my Lord, the
wish of great multitudes of souls in this land, and the necessities of a vast many more who perish for lack of vision. I
pray God bless your Lordship, and presume to subscribe myself, (though unknown,)
Your Lordship's most dutiful Son,
And humble servant,
JOSEPH 13RONE.
[Rev..Mr. Johnlson to the Secretary.]
Stratford, Connecticut, January 10th, 17-4.
Reverend Sir,
I have received yours of Aug. 25th, with the letters to
Newton and Ripton inclosed, which I have delivered, and
am desired by them to offer their humble thanks to the honourable Society for their kind and generous notice of them.
When they made those addresses to the honourable Society,
and so for some considerable time since I came into these
parts, there was a much more promising disposition among
them to t'!o Church than there is now. For last summer,
upon the dismission of their teacher, the Independent ministers of this country, taking the advantage of the want of a
Bishop to supply them immediately, (which they upbraided
the poor people with, telling them  that if the Church of
England were a true Church, and thought Bishops necessary,
they would have sent one before now,) prevailed upon a very
popular, insinuating young man to go among them, who
pleaseth them so well, that many of them, impatient for
want of the ministrations of religion, and thinking him well




100               CHURCH DOCUMENTS.
affected toward the Church, because he takes some of the
prayers out of our Liturgy, &c., are disposed to have him
settled with Presbyterian ordination. There are yet at Newton 10 families, and 6 or 7 at Ripton, that still cleave to the
Church, and they hope they should be able to give ~10 to
t15 per annum and 100 acres of glebe, but their land has
yet never been cultivated at all, and, therefore, can't be of
any profit for sundry years; and if the honourable Society,
under these disadvantages, will be pleased to send them a
missionary, they will be very thankful to them. The interest
ofthe Church gains ground daily at Fairfield, where they are
vigourously going forward in building a Church, and fix their
expectations on a young gentleman here whom I am preparing for the service of the Church, but his age will not admit
of his being ordained this 2 or 3 years, but he promiseth well
against that time. This last half year I have baptised 18 and
admitted 12 to the Communion. On Christmas we opened
our new Church; it is a very pleasant and comfortable building, and many new proselytes are upon this come over to the
Church, and more there are whose hearts are with us, but are
deterred from appearing by the spirit of bitterness and falsehood which is gone out amongst us upon this occasion. I
pray God prosper the honourable Society. I am, reverend
sir,
Your most humble servant,
SAMUEL JOHNSON.
[Rev. Ar. Johnson to the Secretary.]
Stratford in Connecticut, June 11th, 1724.
Reverend Sir,
I hope you have received my former letter, wherein I offered
my most humble thanks to the honourable Society for their kind
notice of me, when I had the honour to offer my service to them,
and my people's thanks for their continual care for them in
supplying them  upon Mr. Pigot's departure, and wherein I
represepted the necessitous estate of the Church here for want




CONNECTICUT —1724.              101
of a Bishop and minister, and its oppressed estate in people
beingbarbarously imprisoned for taxes to Dissenting ministers;
all which necessities and grievances are daily increasing upon
us as the Church increases, which I thank God it does daily,
though not so fast in any measure as it would if we could have
any relief. Besides Newton and Fairfield, (whose case I recommended to them,) I have since preached at New-London, where
I had 60 hearers, and where there is a good prospect of increase
if they had a minister. Newton is distressed for a minister,
their teacher being quite beat out; and the whole town
would, I believe, embrace the Church if they had a good
minister at Fairfield. I have a vast assembly every time I
visit them, but though I ]lave made all proper and modest applications to the government, both privately and publicly, we
have yet no abatement of persecution and imprisonment for
taxes, which sundry people, and those of both sexes, have unreasonably suffered since my last, and I fear, that if we can't
have some relief from the honourable Society, people will grow
quite discouraged. I now humbly presume to recommend to
the honourable Society this honest gentleman, the bearer
hereof, Mr. Thomas Salmon, whom I humbly desire may be
admitted schoolmaster for this place, who is (as is attested in
his certificate) well qualified to keep an English school, and
will be content with a small annuity of ~10 or ~15 per annum, if he may be admitted. And I am the rather encouraged, because our Right Reverend Diocesan hath been
pleased to inquire, among other things, into the state of the
schools here, which is very unhappy, there being not one in
all this colony which is Episcopal. If the honourable Society can add this to their formner favours, it will much contribute to the advancement of the Church here, for this gentleman having been schoolmaster sundry years in the town,
the Dissenters have mnuch appro-ved of him, and sundry of
them will yet continue their children under his care.
I am, &c.,
SAMIUEL, JOHNSON.




102                CHURCH DOCUMENTS.
[2iev. Mr. Johnson to the Bishop of London. ]
Stratford in Connecticut, New-Englan d,
November 4th, 1725.
May it please your Lordship,
I had the honour of your Lordship's letter of June 23d,
full of a great deal of kindness and condescension, for which
I now return your Lordship my most humble thanks, and
particularly for your prayers and good wishes for my preservation and success in my work, which (I thank God) is as
great as can be expected, in the midst of the many discouragements and low circumstances which the Church labours under.
It is a great satisfaction to us to understand, that one of your
Lordship's powerful interest and influence, is engaged in so good
a work as that of sending Bishops into America, and that there
is nothing you desire more or would be at greater pains to
compass. This gives us the greatest hopes, that by your
Lordship's pious endeavours, under the blessing of God and
the benign influence of our most gracious King, it may, at
length, be accomplished. And we humbly hope, that the
address and representation of the state of religion here, which
we have lately presumed to offer, may, in your Lordship's
hands, be of some service ill this affair. I pray God give it
success.
Your Lordship informs me of Governor Shute's account of
the method of Independent ministers settling themselves in
particular towns. My Lord, I never took this to be the case
in any part of New-England, for I never understood that there
were any ministers maintained by subscriptions of each particular parishioner. Indeed, I cannot be positive how it is in
Boston Government, though I am apt to think that it is, at
least, far from being a general practice there, and I am well
assured that there is no such thing here. Your Lordship
desires to know exactly how it is, and promise to do us what
service you can, for which we are very thankful
That your Lordship may not wholly depend on my represen



CONNECTICUT-1725.               103
tation of it, but may have an exact knowledge of the state of
this government from themselves, I have presumed to trouble
your Lordship with all the public transactions of this colony
about the affairs of religion; and because all their authority
depends on the charter granted to them by King Charles the
2d, I have laid before your Lordship a printed copy of that
charter, by which it does not appear, that ever it was the
King's design to give them any authority about ecclesiastical
affairs, or in any manner to enable them to establish any way
of religion different from, much less in opposition to, the
Church of England, by law established in all his Majesty's
dominions  For which reason I cannot understand how it
came to pass that they ever undertook to establish any religion, as your Lordship will observe, by their laws, they
have done; which, therefore, seems to me to be repugnant to
the laws of England   Your Lordship has here likewise,
for the more full understanding of the laws here transcribed, the Articles of Faith and Church Government, which
are what they call the established religion of this country,
though they fall very much short of acting up to them, and
greatly disagree among themselves about them. But as to
settling ministers and suppdrting them, the general practice of
the colony is according to these laws, which is not by subscription, but by a major vote, both for the person chosen
and the annual support he is to have. But as for the Church
people of this colony, I know not of any of them that were
ever concerned in voting for any of these mninisters, or for their
support; and I know that many have entered their protests,
and desired to be excused from being in any way concerned,
because of their belonging to and being obliged to pay to the
support of the Church of England. And, as for others that
may at any time come over to us, from their side, I would
submit it to your Lordship whether it be not hard and unreasonable that they should be obliged to continue to pay to
them, merely because they are overruled by a majority, when
at the same time they are persuaded in their consciences that
it is safer to retire into the unity of the Church, than to live
and die in a state of schism and separation from her. I beg
leave further to let your Lordship know that the Govern



i04               CHURCH DOCUMENTS.
ment here, putting a very wrong construction on your Lordship's letter, are rather encouraged to go on in persecuting
people for their taxes, than to desist, because, they say, your
Lordship begs pardon, if you have desired any thing inconsistent with the laws of this government. As to the plate,
books, &c., your Lordship offers certain questions, and desires
me and the people of Stratford to be clear upon these subjects.
My Lord, had it been possible to be clear upon those heads,
we should never have offered to trouble your Lordship about
them. As to myself, it is impossible for me to be clear either
one way or the other, having been a stranger to the whole
affair. I hear the account the Narragansett people give of
it, and that may be right for aught I know. Stratford people
give another account of it, but neither side produces any evidence where the original property was lodged.  All the papers relating to this matter were lost. I have impartially inquired of the people of Stratford, and cannot satisfy them
that ever the things controverted were appropriated to any
place, till Bishop Compton's order fixed them here. I have
inquired also of all the clergy in Boston, Rhode Island and
New-York; and can find nobody that can give any light in
the matter, unless it be Col. Nicholson, who undoubtedly
knows the true state of it, and my people are willing to resign them, if it appears from his account of it that they
were, in the design of the donor, appropriated to Narragansett. If your Lordship shall think fit to inform yourself
from him concerning this matter, and give us the least hint
of your pleasure, we shall submit.
In the mean time, things lying, as they do, in the dark, we have
as an expedient for jeace yielded to a division, and above a year
ago sent all the books thither, in hopes that our so doing may
satisfy our brethren at Narragansett, unless it should plainly
appear from Col. Nicholson that they were originally given
to that Church. However, I earnestly desire, with your
Lordship, that no religious offices may by any means be
maintained at the expense of plain justice and equity. Forgive, my Lord, this tediousness, and impute it to my earnest
desire and endeavour that your Lordship may have a satisfactory answer to your letter, which I could not contrive in a




CONNECTICUT —-1725.              105
less compass; and permit me still to hlave an interest in your
Lordship's favourable thoughts and benediction.
I am, my Lord, your Lordship's humble servant,
SAMUEL JOHNSON.
[Rev. Mrr. Johnson to the Secretary.]
Stratford, August 14th, 1725.
Reverend Sir,
I have not much to inform the honourable Society of, besides what is contained in the general representation of our
case, which we jointly offered at our last meeting, and which,
I conclude, will come to your hands before this arrives. My
congregations, especially at Stratford, Fairfield and NewLondon increase, but not so fast, by a great deal, as they
would if it were not that all worldly motives are against the
Church. I can observe, however, that a good opinion of her
doctrines, government and liturgy gains greatly in the minds
of people, and especially those of the soberer and better sort; a
serious sense of religion visibly increases among my own
people, and juster notions of religion daily propagate among
others, who are kept back by their teachers and friends from
appearing for the Church. Sundry of the young candidates
for the ministry repair to me frequently for books and conversation upon religious subjects, and many, I hope in time,
especially if there were a Bishop here, may enter into the
Church's service. I have baptised within the last half-year
twenty-eight, whereof five are adults, and one of them a negro man, and admitted thirteen to the Holy Communion.
But those who come to Church are generally of the poorer
sort, and unable to contribute any thing worth mentioning to
my support; some are unable to buy any books, and would
therefore be exceeding thankful to the honourable Society
for a few prayer-books, if it were but ten or a dozen, with a
few sheets of catechisms, with Lewis' or Sing's Exposition.
Ostervald's Catechism is a book likewise which poor people




106                   CHURCH DOCUMENTS.
thirst after very much; and, indeed, these books are not to
be had in this country, even if they had money to purchase
them.
I am, Reverend Sir, the Society's much obliged,
And your imost humble servant,
SAMUEL JOHNSON.
P. S. —The Church at Fairfield goes on a-pace, and NewLondon people are likewise going to build with all expedition. I have got considerable subscriptions, and a piece of
land to set it on.
[ Governor Talcott to the Bishop of london.1
Hartford, July 27th, 1726.
Right Reverend Sir,
I had the favour and honour of your Lordship's letter of
June 3d, 1725, with the copy of the former sent to Boston.
I readily embrace the opportunity to let your Lordship know
the true state of the Church in this, his -Majesty's government in this colony of Connecticut, and that by letter dated
December 1st, 1725;* but being now informed the ship that
letter went in was lost, with all, save the lives of the persons,
I held myself obliged to inform your Lordship by this second
letter, thatt there is but one Church of England minister in
this colony, and the Church with him have the sanme protection as the rest of our Churches, and are nunder no constraint
to contribute to the support of any other minister. There
are some few persons in another town or two, that have
stipulated with the present ministers now living in said
towns, (which persons cannot be much recommended for
* A copy of this letter (December 1st, 1725,) is among the MSS. of the Connecticut Historical Society, (No. 102, Talcott MSS.,) and we have been favoured with a
copy of it. As we learn from the letter we here print, which we obtained from the
Fulham MSS., that of December 1st never reached its destination. On a comparison of the Connecticut copy with our own, we find that, with the addition of a
single explanatory fact, the two copies agree. Ours is a duplicate, sent because
the ship that took the first was lost.
t From this point the letters agree almost verbatim.




CONNECTICUT-'1726.                 107
their zeal for religion or morality,) who cannot well be
judged to act from any other motive than to appear singular,
or to be freed from a small tax, and have declared themselves
to be of the Church of England; and some of them that live
30 or 40 miles from where the Church of England's minister
lives; these have made some objections against their customary contribution to their proper minister, under whose administration they have equal privileges with their neighbours.
The law of this colony is such, that the major part of the
householders in every townl shall determine their minister's
maintenance, and all within the precincts of the town shall
be obliged to pay their parts in an equal proportion to their
estates in said towns or societies; and so in the precincts of
each ecclesiastical society. Under this security, all our
towns and ecclesiastical societies are supplied with orthodox
ministers. We have no vacancies at present. When the
death of the incumbent happens, they are quickly supplied
by persons of our own communion, educated in our public
schools of learning; which, through the Divine blessing afforded us, we have a sufficiency of those that are both learned
and exemplary in their lives. I beg your Lordship's pardon,
and am with great observance,
Your Lordship's most humble servant,
JOSEPII TALCOTT.
NoTE.-Of course, it will not be forgotten that the governor was a Congregationalist, and naturally viewed the Church with distrust and suspicion, not to say
dislike.
([evs AMr. Johnso.& to the Bishop of London.]
Stratford, New-England, Feb'y 10th, 1726-7.
May it please your Lordship,
I must confess that I am  ashamed thus to tire your Lord;
ship's patience with complaints of this nature; neither should
I have given you this trouble, but at the importunity of the




As                PARCITEH DOGMNTS,.
distressed people whose names (some of themn  you behold
at the fot of the inclosed address to your Lordship. It was
their own contrivance to fall into this mnethlod. The complaint was drawn up, and some of the persons were in prison
before I was sent for. Upon their request I cames to the,
prison, and found it full of them, and an insulting mob about
thenm. I admainistered what comfort I could. to them, but I
wish, your Lordship,, or some of your sacre& character, could
have been by to behold the contempt and indignity whichL
our holy religion here suffers. among ant ungrateful people.
It could not fail to excite your utmost zeal and compassion;
and I assure your Lordship, the Church. here is in a gasping
condition0 though, indeed, our people bear it with as much.
meekness and patience as can be expected. I venture so far
upon ny hopes of the success of your Lordship's concern
and endeavour for us, as to, promise them before our enemies
that they should find relief; and if after all this.we fail, there
will remain no more hope, or good to be done here. Your
Lordship required me in one of your letters to let you know
particularly the state of things in the country. Accordingly,,
besides what I have formerly informed you of, I would further observe to your Lordship, that sonle of the errors which,.
in the course of my ministry, I have, to encounter, are the
same with many of the principles of the book called "The
Rights of the Christian Church;" errors so great and so
subversive of all religion, that I make no doubt but that
your Lordship, (whatever may be suggested to you to the
contrary,) will not only justify my faithful and honest cndeavours, made with a temper becoming Christianity, to undeceive the unhappy people; but likewise think it to very
good purpose, that I, or some body of better capacity, (andl
I hope, ere long, more than one,) should be supported in.
these parts to guard  what little flock we have against suchl
dissolute principles. Absolute lay ordination is the avowed
principle of some of the chief of their ministers, and has
been frequently practiced in the country, and even in this
town, though now, of late, their ministers generally ordain;
but the people claim  a share of authority with their mninisters in all public acts of discipline.




cOeEcrIcUT — 7296-7.                109'One thing more I beg leave to observe to your Lordship,
and that is this.: our government, I understand, imagine that
if their laws areconfirmed in England, thley shall then (be an,establishment as mnuch as the Church of England.  And,.accordingly, I am ~certified, that they lhave lately sent home
their laws, with the -colony's seal, to get,them confirmed to.that purpose. Among the rest -are (those I sent copies of to
your Lordship; if, therefore, those laws, with the rest,,should
get confirmed, we ishall then be more effectually borne dow.n,under their pretended  establishment. My Lord, I am,obliged to pass along through the world, but hardly among
any poor oppressed people, from whom I can have iothing
for my support,worth mentioning.. I should be very thankful if the:honourable Society could augment the;salary that
belongs to Stratford, which is, and I fear always will be., extrernely poor, perhaps the poorest place of.any to which their
(charity is exterided.
I am, &c.,, &c.,
SAMUEL  OaIIsorN
[Bev. Mr. Johnnson at Stratford to the Secretary.]
Sept. 16tA, 172g6.
Reverend Sir,
I have received the'honourable Society's letter to ime of
March 15th, in which I have an account of some books Nwhieh
they have been so kind as to send, and which I leave since.received   I return the most humble.thanks, both otf me.and
otf my people, for their:kind notice of us', and continual care,of our souls.; and the joy and gratitude my poor people.express on.this occasion will,, I doubt not, be attended with.making such.a religious use of these good books.as will.abundantlyanswer the pious designs of the honourable;Society in;bestowing -of them; and -they do in some measure -comfort
them, nlder the hardships and difficulties which are not.yet.Temoved, and upon the account of which the Church gains
ground but very slowly. At Fairfield, however, the number
4taily increases, and they'have erected a small Church, wih Ich




110               CHURCH DOCUMENTS.
opened last fall, and we call it Trinity Church. And Mr. Caner takes a great deal of pains to very good purpose, and will,
I don't doubt, prove a very worthy man, but he has a very
slender support from the people. He designs, about two
years hence, to wait on the honourable Society for orders and
a mission, unless they see cause to forbid it. In the mean
time, as he stands in very great need of it, so he and the
people would be very thankful if the honourable Society
would be pleased to grant him a small encouragement for the
pains he takes in instructing that people and their children in
the principles of religion, which be now performs in the quality of a sort of Catechist, omitting every thing that is properly sacerdotal. But not only lihe, but sundry other very
worthy young gentlemen, dreading the ththoughts of so tedious
a voyage, wait with great impatience in hopes that, possibly,
Providence may send us a Bishop, for want of which the
Church in these parts is derided and laughed to scorn, while
our enemies can take the advantage of immediately fixing
teachers wherever they please, in opposition to the Church,
and defy us to our faces.
These things make us mourn and go on heavily, and indeed
it would make any serious person's heart ache to behold the.
contempt and dishonour cast on religion, and especially on
our Holy Church, on this account, and the grief of our poor
people, who know not how to answer the reproaches they are
hereby forced to lie under. It is very much lamented by the
Rye people, that they are in danger of being denied the good
services of Mr. Wetmore, for whom they have a great esteem,
and who might have been much more serviceable than a perfect stranger. And I would humbly presume to suggest to
the honourable Society that it mlight be munLch more for the
interest of religion in general, and for the satisfaction of RPye
people of New-York or Westchester, if the honourable Society would be so kind to order it, that:Mr. Wetmore might
yet be appointed for Rye, and Mr. Colgan, either to succeed
him at New-York, or to be at Westchester.  But this I do
with the greatest submission and deference. I have admitted
11 to the Communion and baptised 9 within this half year.
But while the Church in the country continues under the




coNNECTncuT-1726.               I11
present oppressions, little or nothing can be expected from
Newtown or Ripton to encourage the Society to send them a
missionary. In the mean time, my burthen is very great, and
I would humbly hope the honourable Society will consider
me with compassion, who have a more troublesome and less
profitable province than any one missionary 1 know of; for I
have nothing to depend on but the bounty of the Society.
I am entirely alone in a large colony.
I am, Sir,
Your and their most humble
And most obedient servant,
SAMUEL JOHNSON.
[Rev. Mr. Jo]ntson to the Bishop of London. ]
Strafford in Ncw-England, September 26, 1726.
May it please your Lordship,
I have received your Lordship's kind letter of June 28th,
d take this opportunity to return my most humble thanks to
your Lordship for the honour you have done me therein, and
I am exceeding glad that I could in any wise contribute to
your Lordship's satisfaction upon the subject you wrote to me
about. I hope the issue of it will be that we shall at length
find better quarter in the country than we have done; though
at present things remain just as they were, and we are oppressed and despised as the filth of the world and the offscouring of all things, unto this day. They all boast themselves an establishment, and look down upon the poor Church
of England with contempt, as a despicable, schismatical and
popish communion; and their charter is, indeed, the foundation of all their insolence. Happy Nould it be for the Church
of England if it were taken away, and unless they could be
made sensible (as the truth is) that they have Do warrant
from it to despise the Church, or to do any thing to her disadvantage. I am not, my Lord, for any severity towards theDissenters, and I always treat them with all the tenderness
that becomes our common Christianity; but with submission




112               CHURCH DOCUMENTS.
I cannot but think it very hard, that that Church, of which
our most gracious King is the nursing father, should not, in
any part of his Majesty's dominions, be at least upon a level
with the Dissenters, and free from any oppression from them.
There is another instance I will presume to trouble your
Lordship with, and that is this: Your Lordship observes
that all persons that shall come to inhabit this colony, or are
born here, have, by the charter, all the liberties and immunities of free and natural subjects, as if they were born
within the realm of England. Notwithstanding which, they
have made laws to prevent strangers from settling among.
them. As soon as any stranger, though an Englishman, comes
into the town, he is, according to their laws, immediately
warned to go out, which they always do if he is a Churchman; and it is in the breast of the selectmen of the town
whether they will accept of any bondsmen for him. Neither
can he purchase any lands without their leave; and unless
they see cause to allow him to stay, they can, by their laws,
whip him out of town, if he otherwise refuses to depart.
By this means several professors of our Church, for no other
crime but their profession, have been prevented from settling
here. A very worthy man, who had not before been of any
religion, but was, by God's blessing on my endeavours, induced to become a very serious conformist to our Church,
came here to set up a considerable trade; but, for want of
men to carry on his business, (occasioned by the fore-mentioned practices,) and by reason of the discouragements lhe
everywhere meets with from them, he is forced to break up
and depart, to his unspeakable damage, and the Church has
lost a very worthy friend and benefactor. I intended to have
given your Lordship some further and more particular account of the state of religion in the country; but I dare not,
at this time, trespass further upon your Lordship's patience,
but leave that to another opportunity
I am, my Lord,
Your Lordship's most obedient servant,
SAMUEL JOHNsoN.




CONNI CTICUT- 1727.            113
[Rev. Mr. Johnson to the Secretary. ]
Stratford, February 10th, 172;7.
Reverend Sir,
I have just come from Fairfield, where I have been to visit
a considerable number of my people, in prison for their rates
to the dissenting minister, to comfort and encourage them
under their sufferings. But, verily, unless we can have relief, and be delivered from this unreasonable treatment, I
fear I must give up the cause, and our Church must sink
and come to nothing. There are thirty-five heads of families
in Fairfield, who, all of them, expect what these have suffered; and though I have endeavoured to gain the compassion and favour of the government, yet I can avail nothing;
and both I and my people grow weary of our lives under
our poverty and oppression. Some few, however, do now
and then come over to us. I have baptised thirty this year,
whereof five were adults, and three of them were negroes,
and admitted about a dozen to the communion, and reclaimed two from very disorderly lives. A very worthy
young gentleman lives with me in my house, who is a
scholar, having lately been graduated in a neighbouring College, whom I have reconciled to our Church, and, indeed, (I
may say,) to Christianity, for he never was baptised, not
even by any of the lecturers which the country swarms everywllere with. Him, therefore, I have baptised and admitted
to the communion; and he is a very religious, sober, studious
and sensible man, and will, I doubt not, be an ornament to
our Church. IHe designs, with Mr. Caner, in due time, to
offer himself to the honourable Society's service, to whom, I
hope, they will both appear very acceptable.
I am, Reverend Sir,
Your most humble and obedient servant,
SAMUEL JOHNson.




114              CHURCH DOCUMENTS.
[R6V. fr. Johnson to the Secretary.
Stratford, April 28th, 1727.
Reverend Sir,
This comes to recommend to the honourable Society's notice and acceptance the young gentleman who is the bearer
hereof, Mr. Henry Caner, who was bred up in one, of our
Colleges, and has, for the time of three years, lived under my
eye, and made considerable proficiency in the study of Divinity, and other parts of learning, necessary to qualify him
for the ministry, and has all along proved himself a sober,
studious and religious young man; and I don't doubt but
he will prove a very worthy missionary, if the honourable
Society will make use of his services, to the advancement of
whose pious concerns he is willing to devote himself. He
has already done a great deal of good service at Fairfield for
the time he has been among them, in the quality of a catechist and schoolmaster, and will be very acceptable to them
as a missionary, as appears by their address inclosed; and will
be likewise a great comfort to me, in my solitary neighbourhood, in conspiring with me to forward the interests of religion in this country, and thereby relieving me of a great part
of that burthen that lies upon me, who, besides Fairfield,
have five places which I am obliged to visit and administer
to as often as conveniently I can. I wish, for the encouragement of the young gentlemen who go from hlence, that the
honourable Society would be pleased to defray the expenses of
their voyages thither, according to a declaration made in their
account of the Society, printed by their order in 1706, page
74, and that Mr. Caner might have the benefit of it. I
should be very thankful if that charitable order of the Society might look back, with a favourable aspect, upon us, who
first undertook this difficult and dangerous expedition.
I am their, and, Sir, your most humble
And most obedient servant,
SAMUEL JOHNSON.




CONNECTICUT —1727 —8.             115
[Rev. Mr. Caner to the Secretary.]
Fairfield,.larch 15th, 1727-8.
Reverend Sir,
My arrival in New-England was so late in the fall that I
had not opportunity to give the honourable Society any account thereof, nor yet to lay before them  the state of the
Church when I came to Fairfield. I would now, therefore,
supply that defect by presenting the honourable Society with
the following account.
At my first coming to Fairfield, the professors of the
Church expressed their thanks, in a just sense of the noble
charity to their souls, which the honourable Society had bestowed in granting their request for a missionary, but were
very sorry their abilities could not by any means answer
their expectations from them; the heavy taxes levied for the
support of dissenting ministers, joined with a small and voluntary offering to the Church, rendering them almost incapable of carrying on the Church, which is not yet finished, nor
in any way likely to be so presently. The truth is, the people are heartily ready and willing to do their utmost to be as
little burthensome to the honourable Society as possible, but
being generally poor, and Fairfield being the chief seat of the
Dissenters' opposition, they are able to contribute but very
little to the support of that worship which their consciences
urge theml to maintain.
Besides Fairfield, which I constantly serve, and the villages
contiguous which belong to that town, as Poquannuckl, Greens
Farms and Greenfield, I have several times preached this winter at Norwalk, a town 12 miles distant from Fairfield, and at
Stamford, which is about 20 miles, and at Greenwich, about
27 miles distant from Fairfield, and which is the utmost town
within the borders of this government westward. Besides
these, there is a village northward of Fairfield, about 18 miles,
containing near 20 families, where there is no minister at all
of any denomination whatsoever; the name of it is Chesnut




~1 1t6      UCHURCIH DOOCUENTS.
Ridge, and where I usually preach or lecture once ill three
weeks. Newtown, which is about 22 miles northwest of
Fairfield, Mr. Johnson and I supply b)etween us, it being
equally distant from us. There are still two other towns
which I serve as often as my occasions will allow, both still
to the northward of Fairfield, viz., Ridgefield and Danbury,
tlie one 17 and the other 23 miles distantfrom Fairfield. In
most of the above mentioned places there are, 7, 10 or 15
families professing the Church of England, from which places,
joined with Fairfield, the taxes strained from members of the
Church for the support of dissenting teachers amount to ~100,
which is about ~40 sterling, of which Fairfield pays about
half. The taking away of these sums very amuch hinders the
building they are carrying on, as well as of contributions to
the support of a minister, for which latter use they are not
able to raise above ~10 sterling per annum.
Notwithstanding this discouragement, the Church grows
and increases very much, four families being added since my
comning, one whereof was a Jew, whose wife only was before
a Christian. This person, besides his excellent skill in Hebrew and Greek and other Eastern languages, is very well
studied in the Rabbinical learning, and is a very accomplished person upon all accounts; neither is his conversion
balanced with any views of interest or friendship, as I can
learn, but upon very good and serious principles he embraced
the Christian faiith, being baptised with his family very
lately. Besides theso, since December last, I have baptised,one adult and 17 infants, one whereof was an Indian, and
hav e eight new communicants, the whole number of which is
now 49.
I have further prospect, likewise, of baptising two other
Indians, in a short time, of about 30 years of age, who are
very seriously disposed, and attend Divine worship with some
constancy.
Thus I have laid before the honourable Society a just account of the state of the Church at Fairfield, and humbly
hope, therefore, upon the whole, they will not think the charity they have bestowed lost, but pray continually that they
may see the happy effects of these, as well as all th-leir other




COYNNETrcuT-172T7                11T
piouslabours for the good of souls. I am the honourable Society's most dutiful and obedient, as well as, Sir,
Your most humble servant,
HENRY CANER.
[Rev. Mr. Johinson to the Secretary.]
Stratford, Xew-.inglarn d, September 20th, 1727.
Reverend Sir,
I have received from the honourable Society two letters,
one dated May 23d, the other June 16, for which I take this
opportunity to return my humblest thanks, and particularly
for their kind notice of my low and difficult circumstances,
and the addition they have made to my salary, which I shall
ever gratefully consider as a fresh mnotive and obligation
upon me to exert myself, with the greatest zeal and industry
I am capable of, in endeavouring to answer their expectations froro  me, and their pious designs in supporting the
mission in this place, where there is a great deal of good
to be done, but little to be expected of the poor people.
Five pounds sterling per annum is more than I have ever
received or can expect, while the government continues as
it is.
I likewise thank the honourable Society for the regard
they have expressed to my recommendation of Mr. Caner,
who has, I conclude, before now, paid his duty to them in
person. The afflicted condition of his people, and no prospect of a redress, was the occasion of his waiting on the honourable Society sooner than he would otherwise have done. I
hope, however, he will be found in some measure acceptable
to them; but I should be very glad that the same salary,
which was allowed to him as schoolmaster at Fairfield, might
be allowed for a school in this town, where there is a great
need of one; and it might be of good service, not only for
forming the minds of children to a sense of religion, but likewise for a resort for such young gentlemen successively as
from time to timec leave the College here, and are rejected




118                CAURCII DOCUMTS.
from all business by the Dissenters, on the account of their
being reconciled to the Church of England. Under the eye
of the missionary here, they might, while they keep school,
improve themselves in the study of Divinity till they are
qualified for higher business. There is one Mr. Bennett now
in town, who very well deserves to be recommended as an instance of what I now speak of, and might do go6d service
in such1 a school,
I now proceed to answer the queries of the honourable
Society which are contained in their last letter; and to the
first:
1. Christ Church, in Stratford, was founded in the year
1723, partly at the charge -of the members of the Churcht of
England here, who, by subscriptions, raised what money
they could for the erecting of it, and partly by the liberal
contributions of several pious and generous gentlemlen of the
neighbouring provinces, and sometimes of travellers who
occasionally passed through the town. It is a neat, small
wooden building, forty-five feet and a half long, thirty and a
half wide, and twenty-two between joints, or up to the roof;
but there is no house or glebe belonging to it, nor is it at all
endowed, nor has it any settled salary besides the honourable
Society's bounty; only the poor people are as liberal in small
presents as can be expected of them.
2. To the second: The first beginning of tile Church of
England in this town was by about ten or fifteen families,
most of them tradesmen, some husbandmen, who were born
and bred up in England, and came and settled here; some
of them were born here, and by means of the rest were reconciled to the Church. It is nigh twenty years since they first
endeavoured to have the worship of God in the method of
the Church among them, but were disappointed till about
f' 7, xe igo;  xe>i< Si [bid, t.te uiuhersl have been considerably increasing, so that now there are about fifty families within the compass of about fifty miles square of ground,
(which is the extent of this town,) who pretty steadily frequent the Church; and besides them, there are a considerable
number of people scattered up and down in the neighbouring
towns, some five, some ten, twenty an(l thirty miles off, who




CONNECTICUT —-1727.             119
come to Church as often as can be expected; for there is no
Church westward within forty miles, only Fairfield, which
is eight miles off, where there is a small wooden Church
built, and about forty families, who hope for Mr. Caner to
be sent them from the Society; and thelre is no Church eastward within one hundred miles, only at New-London, about
seventy miles off, where I sometimes preach to a good number of people, and they are building a wooden Church something larger than ours, and hope for a missionary, and have
desired me to recommend their case to the honourable Society, that they may be supplied as soon as may be, and there is
there a good prospect of a large increase. There is no Church
northward of us at all. We lie upon the sea; [i. e., Sound;]
and directly over against us, southward on Long Island, lies
Brook Haven, about twenty miles over the water, where I
have often preached, both before Mr. Standard was there and
since he left there, to a considerable congregation, who are
building a handsome Church, and have also desired me to
intercede for their speedy supply. They stand in great need
of a minister, and much good might be done among them.
The towns in this country are pretty thick, scarce any above
ten, some not five miles asunder; some of them have sundry
little villages belonging to them, and most of them consist of
two, three or four hundred families, which, though scarce
any of them are contiguous, yet the main body of them live
in very near neighbourhoods; the roads are generally well
cleared and much used, so that travelling is for the most part
indifferent good, and it is a fruitful and thriving country;
but the people of our Church are mostly of the poorer sort.
3. As to the third: It must be confessed that our number
is very small in comparison with the Dissenters, who are very
numerous, perhaps three hundred and fifty families to fifty
of us, and they are generally of the Independent or Congregational persuasion, though the principles they support themselves upon are but little different from those of the book
falsely called the "Rights of the Christian Church."  They
have a large meeting-house in the body of the town, within
a few rods of the Church, and two small ones besides in the
villages. The way of supporting their ministers is by a rate




120               CHURCH DOCUMENTS.;
levied in proportion to their estates, according to law, which
the government hath enacted for that purpose, by which they
have, as I humbly conceive, without any warrant from their
charter, established their way of worship and discipline in
opposition to any other, and by means of which establishment they oppose the Church.
4. To the fourth: The Dissenters have two poor schools in
this town, but the Church hath none, though there is a considerable number of children among us.
5. To the fifth: We have no donations made to our Church,
save what have been mentioned, no benefactions to the minister or schoolmaster, no library belonging to the parish, save
what the honourable Society have bestowed.
6. To the sixth: The Dissenters in this town have perhaps
one hlundred and fifty or one hundred and sixty negro slaves
among them, who are, some of them, instructed, and a few
baptised in their way; but we have but six or seven come to
Church, four of which I have baptised.
This is the substance of what account I have to give of the
rise, progress and present state of the Church here.
I am, Reverend Sir,
Your most humble and most obedient servant,
SAMUEL JOHNSON.
[Rev. Ar. Jo7hnson to the Secretary.]
Stratford, N. E., October 23d, 1727.
Reverend Sir,
I have very lately written to the honourable Society in
obedience to their commands, yet I humbly hope they will
forgive me, though I trouble them so soon again with relation
to the necessity of a school in this town. In the last I informed the Society of what service it might be to the interest
of religion to have a school here, and that Mr. Bennett (who
has for above half a year kept school among the Dissenters
here, and been rejected by the greatest number of them upon
conformity to our Church) would be very serviceable and




CONNECTICUT-1727.              121
acceptable in a school upon the honourable Society's foundation. Since which time I have endeavoured to gain subscriptions, and have been very successful, not only among the
Church people, but with a considerable number of Dissenters,
who seem at present, many of them, to be in a good temper,
especially for Mr. B3ennett's sake, not only in contributing
to the support of such a school, but in allowing that their
children be taught and regulated according to the Society's
rules, provided he might be continued, whom they find to
be the best schoolmaster they ever had among them; and
I believe the greatest part of what subscriptions we shall
make will be from among them, for their number and ability
are beyond ours. We have already raised nigh thirty pounds
per annum, equal to about ten pounds sterling, and hope if
we might have the Society's usual salary to schoolmasters,
we might make so good a support as would be some encouragement and relief for such young men of the College from
time to time as are neglected in the country, by reason of
their adherence to our communion. I beg, therefore, if the
honourable Society can find themselves able, they would be
pleased at so happy a juncture to allow us their charitable
assistance in this affair, for nothing could so happily contribute to the enlargement of our Church, by begetting in the
tender minds of children a sense of the excellency of our
holy religion.
I am, Reverend Sir,
Your most humble and obedient servant,
SAMUEL JOHNSON.
[Anonymous Letter to the Bishop of London. ]
Stratfordc, N. E., October 30th, 1727.
My Lord,
Right Reverend Sir,
May it please your Lordship, these lines wait upon your
Grace from a true sense of duty to yourself and of justice to
the great work and purpose of promoting religion in these




122              CHURCH DOCUMENTS.
ends of the Earth, which your Lordship hath so much at
heart, and that which moves me to write at this time, is a
j ealousy that you may be imposed upon by kindnesses received
for this place. I think we can never be thankful enough for
your Lordship's benignity, under heaven's favour, that one
ministeris freely maintained among us with so very little charge
as ours; and truly our depending in this matter is wholly on
the Society's bounty, for, whenever this fails, we shall surely
no longer have a minister, because we have no prospect of our
ever being able to afford him any thing like a maintenance;
for our whole company in this great town consists of about
ten or a dozen families, and that of the meaner and poorer sort.
I am obliged to say, notwithstanding the relation I bear to
them, there is no view of our increasing; there comes now
and then a disaffected person to us, and when his passion is
over, he returns from whence he came; for the ministry of
the town is somewhat of a Presbyterian humour, having
shaken off the old Independent notions that were so disgustful, so that the people are under no temptation to change
their pastor, and very few have yet done so in this place, except those that were unwilling to pay rates; and we find
them as unwilling to be at any public charge now as before.
We could not have built our Church had not travellers and
strangers bestowed their favours upon us; and truly, our
brethren of the Church of England in this colony in the
neighbouring towns are none of them persons of any note
that were famed for religion; and what more might be said
I leave, lest I might discourage your Lordship's further care
about us. And now, our Reverend Father, that our brethren
may not grow intolerable to you, may these lines be a happy
preventive.
The addition of our [prosperity] will not be in asking a
salary for our schoolmaster, a project that is now on foot
among us; and though our Reverend Pastor may lead or encourage the matter, I cannot but think it is more from oversight than notice, to say that we shall have more interest or
benefit in the schools of the town than we now enjoy. I am
persuaded this will prove a mistake, for we have the same
privileges in either of them as any of the Dissenters have; the




CONNECTICUT —1727.                   123
houses are within sight of each other and well supported,
which bespeaks the ability of the town, so that if any thing
be allowed from home, it will be some ease to the town in
general, but of no particular advantage to us, but I much
rather think, a prejudice and a wrong to us; for now, there
is such a friendship between us and the committee of the
schools, as that we have in times past and at present a man
of our own persuasion in one of them, and with the general
allowance. If by encouragement from your Lordship's benignity to us, we should make a division in this matter, we
can expect no such favour for the future. MIost of the people
of the town are ready to think we have some ill-design in
asking a pension for their school, which they are so well able
to support of themselves, so that if it be granted we shall
hazard their greater dislike to us, and thereby wrong ourselves, rather than reap any advantage by the means, whatever may be pretended by the petitioners.  And now, not
willing to be further troublesome, I conclude with humbly
asking pardon for my boldness in writing, and especially in
concealing my name, which I must beg leave to do, lest my
brethren become displeased with me. I heartily wish your
Lordship length of days, riches and honour; that all your
endeavours for the propagating of the Gospel and advancing
the interest of our great Lord and Redeemer may be crowned
with happy success; and your rewards in glory, when you
shall cease from your painful labours, may be very great.
I remain, with submission,
Your Lordship's
Humble servant to command.
NOTE.-It is by no means certain that this letter was not written by a Congregationalist, in the assumed character of a Churchman, to defeat Mr. Johnson's application for a school under the patronage of the Church. It may well be doubted
whether any one of the congregation of the Stratford missionary either could or
would have written the letter.




124                CHURCH DOCUMENTS.
[Petition of the Churchwardens and Vestry ofFairfield to the Cannecticut Legislature.]
[This document has been kindly furnished to the Editor from the original among
the State Archives at Hartford.-Ecclesiastical, VOL. III., Doc. 188.]
To the honourable the Governor, Assistants and Representatives in General Court assembled, this 15th
of May, 1727, the request of sundry members of the
Church of England in Fairfield, humbly sheweth,
thatWhereas we are, by the Honourable Society in England
and the Bishop of London, laid under obligation to pay to the
support of the said established Church, and have accordingly
constantly paid to it, and been at great charge in building a
Church for the worship of God, we pray this Assembly would,
by some act or otherwise, as your wisdom shall think fit, excuse us hereafter from paying to any dissenting minister, or to
the building of any dissenting meeting-house. And whereas
we were, ten of us, lately imprisoned for our taxes, and had
considerable sums of money taken from us by distraint, contrary to his Honour the Governor's advice, and notwithstanding solemn promises before given to sit down and be
concluded thereby in this affair, we pray that those sums
of money taken from us may be restored to us again. If these
grievances may be redressed, we shall aim at nothing but to
live peaceably and as becometh Christians among our dissenting brethren; and your petitioners, as in duty bound, shall
ever pray, &c.
MOSES WARD, t Churchwardens.
SAMUEL LYON, 
DOUGAL MCKENZIE,)
JOHN LocKwoo,           esty
NATHAN ADAMS,
BEN. STURGIS, &c., J
In the name and behalf of all the rest of our brethren.




cONNErccTr-172?7-8.                  125
[Upon this petition, the General Assembly enacted, that all persons who were of the Church of England, and those who were of the
churches established by the law of the colony, living in the bounds of
any allowed parish, should be taxed by the same rule and in the same
proportion for the support of the ministry; but where it happened
that there was a society of the Church of England, having a clergyman so near any person who had declared himself to be of that Church,
that he could and did attend public worship there, then the collector
was to deliver the tax collected of such person to the minister of the
Church of England to whom he lived near, who was also authorized
to receive and recover the same; and if such proportion of taxes was
not sufficient in any society of the Church of England to support the
incumbent, such society was authorized to levy and collect of those
who professed and attended that Church greater taxes at their discretion. The parishioners of the Church of England were also excused
from paying any taxes for building meeting-houses for the established
Churches of the colony.]*
[Rev..Jr. Caner to the Bishop of London.1
Faircfield,.March 15th, 1727-8.
My Lord,
I take this opportunity to wait upon your Lordship, (the
-winter season preventing my doing it sooner,) with my humble duty, as well as to inform your Lordship of the state of
the Church, since my arrival in this place, where your Lordship, with the honourable Society, have been pleased to appoint me. My Lord, I find it to my very great satisfaction;
the people to whom I am sent are, however, low and poor in
fortune, yet are very serious and well-minded, and ready to
entertain any instructions that may forward them in the
paths of virtue and truth and godliness. I have presumed
to lay before the honourable Society an account of the hardships they labour under, in being obliged to pay taxes to
dissenting ministers; and shall depend upon your Lordship's
usual goodness, to forward that matter, if any thing may be
done for our relief from such a burthen; for beside, my Lord,
that it hinders the finishing the Church they have begun to
build, it is utterly inconsistent with what your Lordship and
* See the Statute on p. 340 of the Law Book of the Colony, edition of 1715.




126               CHURCH DOCUMENTS.
the honourable Society have been pleased to enjoin me; for
although the Dissenters in this government have lately passed
an act to exempt all professors of the Church from paying
taxes to the support of their ministers, yet they take the
liberty to determine themselves whoa may be called Churchmen, and interpret that act to comprehend none that live a
mile from the Church minister; by which means, not only
two-thirds of the Church, but of its revenues likewise, we are
entirely deprived of the benefit of; and the favour which
they would seem to do us proves, in reality, but a shadow.
These difficulties, your Lordship will easily be persuaded,
very much hinder the growth and weaken the hands of the
Church  however, amidst all this, your Lordship will find, by
the representation I have made to the honourable Society,
there are daily added to the Church such as, by the blessing
of God, added to their own honest endeavours, will finally
be saved. To this. end suffer us, my Lord, to assure ourselves
of your Lordship's continued prayers and blessing, which will
always be justly valued by one, who is,
With the greatest respect, my Lord,
Your Lordship's humble servant,
HENRY CANER.
[Rev..Mr. Johnson to the Bishop of London.]
Stratford, in Nlew-uEngland, Aprit 2d, 1728.
May it please your Lordship,,
I am thankful to your Lordship for despatching Mr. Caner
so soon to, his parish, for I find great advantage to the interests of the Church, from his neighbourhood, and assistance,
and I hope the Society will enlarge his salary, as soon as their
ability will admit of it. The government here have pretended
to make a law in favour of the Church, whereby all that live
near our parish Churches are exempted from paying to the
dissenting ministers, and it is of some service to such; but
those that live scattering in the country are yet persecuted as
bad as ever; and in this law they still call themselves, the




CONNECTICUT-1728.              127
established Churches, and treat us as Dissenters. I have
lately been preaching at New-Haven, where the College is,
and had a considerable congregation, and among them several of the scholars, who are very inquisitive about the principles of our Church, and after sermon ten of the members of
the Church there subscribed ~100 towards the building a
Church in that town, and are zealously engaged about undertaking it; and I hope in a few years there will be a large
congregation there.
The Church at Boston has lost a very worthy pastor in
Mr. Myles, and I doubt they will break into sad confusion
there, unless a very worthy and discreet minister be sent
them from England, for I am told above five to one are so
greatly disgusted with Mr. Harris, that they will never be
content under his ministry. Your Lordship has doubtless
been informed of the controversy between Mr. Myles and
Dr. Cutler on the one hand, and the overseers of Harvard
College on the other, and that the General Court have given
judgment for the overseers against the clergy of the Church,
whereby they have excluded them from being overseers,
after they have for many years been allowed that character,
and notwithstanding the plain sense of the charter or act of
Assembly which comprehends them; so that this matter
must now have a trial in England, and I presume to hope
that your Lordship's wisdom and goodness will be engaged
in behalf of this affair, which, I humbly conceive, is a matter
wherein the interest of the Church in this country is much
concerned. I have nothing more to add, but that I am,
May it please your Lordship,
Your Lordship's humble servant,
SAMUEL JOHNSON.
[Rev. br. Johnson to the Secretary.-Extract.]
Stratford, April 3d, 1728.
Reverend Sir,
Since my last, I find the advantage of Mr. Caner's neighbourhood and assistance, and the growth of the Church in




128              CHURCH DOCUMENTS.
these parts is considerable. The government have made a
law pretending favour to the Church, by which all that live
near our parish Churches are excused from paying rates to
their ministers, and it is of some service to such, but those
that live scattering in the country are yet persecuted as bad
as ever; and in this law they still call themselves the established Church, and treat us as Dissenters.
I have likewise since preached to a considerable number
of people at New-London, where they are vigorously carrying
on their Church, and I hope they will meet with the honourable Society's encouragement. At Norwalk, where I
preached since I wrote last, there are several families who
are reconciled to the Church, to whom Mr. Caner since has
preached again. And in that town there is a sober and sensible Jew, considerably acquainted with the writings of their
Rabbis, with whom I have had much conversation; and he
seems seriously inclined to embrace Christianity, and I hope
before long to persuade him to be baptised, if the enmity of
his countrymen do not prevail against his convictions. I
have also (besides other neighbouring parishes) lately preached at New-Haven, a large town about fourteen miles eastward, where there is a College. Great pains were taken to
hinder people from coming to Church, and many well wishers to it were over-persuaded not to come; however, I had
near a hundred hearers, and among them several of the College; after service about ten of the members of our Church
there subscribed ~100 towards building a Church in that
town, and seem verv zealously engaged to prosecute the design, and I hope in a few years there will be a large congregation there. Here, in Stratford, I have another family added
to the Church, and I have a sober, ingenuous Indian, one of
the natives, a young man whom I have brought over to the
belief of Christianity, am teaching him to read and write,
and make a business of catechising and instructing him now
in the season of Lent, and design to baptise him at Easter,
and with him, a little girl about six years old, of the same
tribe; both of them are bound to me by indenture from their
parents.




CONNECTICUT-172S.                129
[The following petition, upon which nothing was granted, was presented in
May, 1728, and is procured from the State Archives at Hartford.-"'cclesiestical,"
VOL. III.,Doc. 138. Vide ante.]
To the Ilonourable General Assembly, now eitting at f1artford, 2lxay the ninth, A. Domn. 1728:
The Memorial of Isaac Brown and the rest of the Churchwardens, Vestrymen and brethren of the Church of
England, humbly sheweth:
That sometime in May, 1727, the Churchwardens, Vestrymen and some of the brethren of the Church of England did
exhibit a prayer to the honourable Assembly, complaining of
some hardship and injury done them by having money forced
from them, and some of them imprisoned, on the account or
for the support of the dissenting ministry in the County of
Fairfield, and for building meeting-houses and settling of
ministers; and forasmuch as the prayer of the distressed was
by this honourable Assembly heard, and they in their great
wisdom, as well as Christian compassion, was pleased to provide a remedy for the relief of the professors of said Church,
that they should no more be oppressed by contributing to the
support of the Dissenters; and forasmuch as in the act of the
honourable Assembly it is not fully understood what part of
the professors of the Church of England are exempted, all
being within the district of the Reverend Mr. Johnson and
Mr. Caner's ministry, within the County of Fairfield, assigned
to them by the ministry at home.
We, the subscribers, in behalf of the rest, humbly move to
this Assembly, that an explanation of the Assembly's Act in
May last, relating to the premises, may be given by them;
and also, that for the future the affairs of the Church may be
wholly managed by the book of canons relating to gathering
taxes for the support of the ministry, that is established by
law according to the rubrick of the Church of England; and
that for the future, so long as there remain missionaries
among us, we may gather all needful taxes by said book of
9




130              CHURCH DOCUMENTS.
canons and not by your collectors. Great contentions have
already arisen, and many lawsuits, as well as great hardship
imposed upon us, who are but small and at great expense in
building of Churches, and to help us, the honourable Society
in England designs, by their contributing to our missionaries
for their subsistence, as sometimes this honourable Assembly
have done to small places; but as the act now stands, no
donations will be of any advantage to the body of the people,
which we humbly conceive is not agreeable to that rule
given by our blessed Saviour, Do as you would, &c. We
humbly conceive that this honourable Assembly doth not
design to oppress us, but make people honest and religious;
(not Churchmen for ease, as sofnetimes they have chapels;)
and we humbly hope that'tis our unfeigned desire that all
men were so, and then we should not have these animosities
amongst us. We do assure this Assembly, that we are bound
in our consciences to adhere to said Church in doctrine
and discipline, let our difficulties be ever so great. We
humbly ask the Assembly's act for our relief in these things
we have prayed for, and in so doing this honourable Assembly will engage us both to duty and respect, and we shall
ever pray, as in duty bound.
Dated Lfay 9th, 1728.
IsAAC B3REowN,? Vestrymen.
BENJA. BuRTT, J
MOSES WARD),  } Churchwardens.
SSAMEL ION 
HENRY JAMES,  )
MOSES KNAPP, 5Vestrymen.
NATHAN ADAMS,
JNO. LocKwOOD, v




CONNECTICUT-1728.               131
[Rev. Mr. Johnsorn to the Secretary.]
Stratford, New-England, September 218t, 1728.
Reverend Sir,
Though so considerable a number of my former hearers are
gone off to make up Mr. Caner's parish, and notwithstanding
that three families are removed this year from this town, out
of the government, yet my Church has been considerably
fuller this summer than ever it was before. Seven entire
families are reconciled to the Church; and though such a
number of communicants are gone off to Fairfield parish, yet
I have fourscore here and in the neighbouring town, who
constantly, and as frequently as may be, attend the communion at Stratford. Beside two of the native Indians I have
brought within the pale of the Church, (of whom I made
mention in my last,) there is one large family of English, who
have heretofore lived like heathens, but are now become
serious Christians, and I have baptised them; it consists, beside the two parents, of seven children, of which five are adults.
And beside the Jew I mentioned before, who is a sincere
good Christian, and has since been baptised, here is another
Jew, a very sober sensible young gentleman, whom I have
been instrumental in bringing over to the, Christian faith, and
who is preparing himself,, in a. short time, to be baptised.
I continue, to preach with success at New-H!aven, and I
hope there will be a Church there in time;, though they labour under great opposition and discouragements from the
people of the town, who will neither give nor sell them a
piece of land for them to build a church on.
The people of Brook-Haven, on Long Island, have earnestly [asked] my intercession with the honourable Society that
they may again be supplied with a minister. They are under
great necessity of one.
The, difficulties and oppressions that the people of our
Church have met with under this Independent government
have been, and are, so great, that no. less than seven families




132               CHURCH DOCUMENTS.
have removed hence into New-York government since I came
hither, of which three removed this year. At present, indeed, we have a little better quarters with them, by reason
of the terror they are under from Mr. Winthrop's complaints
against the government; and I wish they may be taught a
better temper towards the Church.
This is all at present from, Reverend Sir,
Yours, &c.,
SAMUEL JOHNSON.
[Rev. AVr. Caner to the Secretary.-Extract. I
Fairfield, October 10th, 1728.
Sir,
It seems proper to observe to the honourable Society that
the Province of Connecticut is divided into four counties,
whose denominations arise from their first towns, Fairfield,
New-London, Hartford and New-Haven. That of Fairfield
being the westernmost in the province, borders on NewYork, and contains the towns of Fairfield, Stratford, Norwalk, Stamford, Greenwich, Ripton, New Town, Danbury,
Ridgefield and Woodbury, beside their several villages, as
four about Fairfield; Green Farms, Greenfield, Poquanuck
and Chesnut Ridge, three of them about four miles distant,
the last about sixteen; one belonging to Stratford, called
Unity, one to Norwalk, one to Greenwich; each of these
villages contain 50 or 60 families; the towns, one with
another, have twice that number; the sum of whose inhabitants, though difficult to come at, by reason of some of them
not having kept any register of births, and very few of baptisms, I have, at length, pretty justly attained, and find
them as set down in my Notitia Parochialis, herein inclosed;
where, likewise, the honourable Society will find I have collected out of these the number of the baptised, as also the
number of infants and adults baptised by me this half year.
In my account of the number of inhabitants, I have left out
Stratford, with its village; also New Town and Ripton,




CONNECTICUT-1728.              133
which places are under the care of the Rev. Mr. Johnson; all
the other towns and villages in the county I serve to the
best of my power, preaching to those on week days whom I
cannot attend on Sunday, there being several, families as well
communicants as professors of the Church of England; in
every one of these towns and villages.
As to the Indians in this county, their number is now become very small, by reason of distempers brought among
them by the English, together with the excessive drinking
which destroys them apace; and of those few that remain, to
the eternal shame of the English in these parts, it must be
said, that, although I constantly labour with them, as I find
them in my way, yet very seldom conceive hopes of doing
them any good, who have taken up an inveterate prejudice
against Christianity, grounded on the shamefully wicked lives
of us, its professors.
The difficulties which chiefly affect both me and my
people are what have been often complained of, the heavy taxes
by the government imposed on those who profess the Church
of England, for the support of dissenting teachers, which
very much hinders the finishing our Church, and providing
decent ornaments for its service, as well as discourages others
from joining with us in so good a work, when they observe
how we are slighted and despised, and imposed upon,
accounted as the filth and dross of the earth, and the offscouring of all things.
To the rectifying of which, in some measure, for the future,
I would, in most humble manner, lay before the honourable
Society the following scheme.
The government has lately passed an act, that all professors of the Church of England, living so near any place where
there is an Episcopal minister settled, as that they can conveniently, and do constantly attend upon his preaching, they
shall be excused from fees to the Dissenters, and shall pay
them to the Church minister; by which means all the professors aforesaid, who live within a mile or two of our Church,
are excused, while others are obliged to pay, and some are
deprived of two-thirds of its revenues. Now, I humbly conceive that if the honourable Society, instead of appointing




134                CHURCH DOCUMENTs.
me their missionary at Fairfield, would, by a like instrument,
under their common seal, appoint me their missionary, to
serve from Fairfield to Byram River, or the borders of the
government westward, then by an order of- the honourable Society, in their Instructions to Missionaries, (page 25, parag.
XI.,) I should be under obligation to reside sometimes at one
of these places and sometimes at another, as the necessities of
either should require; by this means shall the objection of our
people, living too remote, be taken off, seeing they will all be
equally near to me, and therefore shall the Church gain all
her revenues, and be able to go forward with business.
[Minute of t7e Society reMating to ]Mr. Caner's being appointed Missionrary to two os
threeplaces, and Mrr. Ketelby's opinion thereon.]
Read the 18th of July, 1729.
The Rev. Mr. Caner, missionary from the Society for the
Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts, to Fairfield, in
Connecticut government, in New-England, in his letter dated
10th Oct., 1728, writes as follows:
"The government has lately passed an act, that all professors of the Church of England, living so near any place
where there is an Episcopal minister settled, as that they can
conveniently) and do constantly, attend upon his preaching,
they shall be excused from taxes to the Dissenters, and shall
pay them to the Church minister. By which means, all the
professors aforesaid, that live within a mile or two of our
Church, are excused, while others are obliged to pay, and
some are deprived of two-thirds of its revenues. Now, I
humbly conceive that if the Society, instead of appointing
me missionary at Fairfield, would, by a like instrument,
under their common seal, appoint me their missionary to
serve from Fairfield to Byram River, or the borders of this
government westward, then, as I should be under an obligation to reside sometimes at one of these places and sometimes
at another, as the necessities of either should require, the




CONNECTICUT-1729.               135
objection of people living too remote would be taken off, seeing that they will all be equally near to me, and thereby
shall the Church gain her revenues, and be able to go forward
with business."
At a meeting of the Society, 16th May, 1729, agreed, that
this matter be laid before Mr. Ketelby, and his opinion desired
whether the Society's appointment of their missionaries to
two or three places will exempt the Church there from paythe Independent teachers. Though at first reading this case,
I was clear in my own opinion, yet, it appearing to be a matter in which the interest of the Church ministers and the
honour of the Society were, in some measure, concerned, I
have conferred with other gentlemen, of undoubted probity
and judgment, and we all agree that the Society ought not
to grant what is proposed by Mr. Caner; that their appointment of their missionary to two or three places will not exempt the Church people from paying to the Independent
teachers; that it is neither within the intention nor the letter
of the Act, which, as it requires a constant attendance upon
the minister's preaching, so it must necessarily suppose his
constant residence in one place; this may be construed as
an attempt to evade the Act, only with a view to the secular
advantages of particular persons, and may, perhaps, involve
the Church ministers there in greater trouble, and more to
their detriment, than any benefit they hope for from the
compliance of the Society in this particular.
ABEL I~ETELBY.
[Rev. Mr. Johnsor to the Secretary.3
Stratford, Hay 26th, 1729.
Reverend Sir,
We yet labour under so much uneasiness in our government,
that several people have moved out of it into New-York government, of which no less than four families since my last;
and Ithink I have gained but three new families to be steady




136               CHURCH DOCUMENTS.
upon the services of the Church, though there are many, and
those daily increasing, who are really, in their minds, reconciled to the Church, but are kept back from declaring themselves for fear of the displeasure of the government; and
yet I think a more charitable and friendly temper towards
the Church is, from time to time, visibly increasing among
the people in these parts. I have baptised the Jew, Mr.
Mordecai Marks, concerning whom I wrote in my last, who
is a very worthy proselyte and steady communicant, as also
two native Indians, both adults, two adult negroes and two
negro children, all this last half year, so that the state of my
parish at present is this:
Families.
1st. Number of inhabitants in this town,............ 260
"    "      " " of the Church,............  53
2d. Number of baptised,............................. 23
Of which this half year,........................  23
3d. Number of adults baptised this half year,.........  6
4th. Number of actual communicants in Stratford and
places adjacent, excepting Fairfield parish,..... 86
Of which admitted this half year,................   6
5th. Number of professors of the Church, about....... 200
I am, Rev. Sir,
Your most obedient and humble servant,
SAMUIJ JOHNSON.




CONNECTICUT-1729.               13
[Rev. Mr. Johntson to the Secretary.]
Stratford,.ovember 20th, 1729.
Reverend Sir,
I am very thankful to the honourable Society for admitting Mr. Dwight into their service, though I could have been
glad had he been fixed somewhere else in New-England, particularly since Brook-Haven was supplied before, (and I hope
to their content.) We are all sorry that lie had not been
placed at Providence, where it is to be feared not only the
interest of the Church, but even all sense of religion, (what
little there was of it,) will in a manner be lost, by means of
the bad character and vile behaviour of the person who is
missionary in that place, and upon whose account the Church
is sadly dishonoured and we are all filled with shame and
confusion of face.
I find in the abstract of the proceedings of the Society last
year, mention made of a salary for a school at Stratford, but
have never received any letter, or otherwise any intimation
from the honourable Society about it; which makes me fear
there was some mistake about the matter. However, though
I should be very thankful if there was a salary appointed for
that purpose, and there is great need of it, yet since we want
ministers more, of the two, than schoolmasters, I would not
desire that the providing for a school should stand in the
way of providing for missionaries, and particularly, not only
Mr. Caner stands in need of an augmentation of his salary,
but there is New-London, in this colony, and Westerly, in the
Narragansetts, (in both which places they have built and are
finishing very handsome small Churches,) that are in great
necessity of ministers, and I have this summer visited them,
and find a good prospect of great increase to the Church.
Besides which places, I have not long since visited the
people on Connecticut River, and find a considerable number who are.subscribing towards a Church at a town
called Wethersfield, where there is likely to be a flourishing




138               CHURCH DOCUMENTS.
colony, and will need the honourable Society's assistance. 1
likewise still continue frequently to preach at New-Haven,
Ripton and Newtown with success; though, at the last of
these places, it must be confessed that the Dissenters have of
late got the advantage of us, partly by the craft and assiduity
of their teachers, and partly by means of the removing of a
considerable man of our Church, (whose influence used to
be great in that town.) from thence into New-York government.
The Church here at Stratford has of late been unhappy by
means of a foolish contention, that has sprung up among my
people, to the great hindrance of the growth of the Church,
and has given me a great deal of trouble. However, I have
had some success, having baptised one adult and twelve infants, one of which was native, and admitted six to the Holy
Communion since last April, otherwise my notitia parochialis
stands much as it did in my last.
Sir, yours, &c., &c.,
SAMUEL JOHNSON.
[The Ch~urchwardens, &c., of Wallingford to the Bishop of London.]
May it please your Lordship,
We, the Churchwardens and parishioners of Wallingford
and the adjacent parts in the Colony of Connecticut, in NewEngland, beg leave to offer our humble duty to your Lordship.
We are a Church but newly planted, and however content
we are at present to have the service of the Church only
once a quarter by a minister. on every Lord's day besides
we perform the service as far as is proper for laymen; but
in that part we are something deficient for'vant of sermon
books, &c., which we cannot easily procure in this country.
We are sensible the Reverend Theodore Morris cannot leave
his other parishes oftener, yet we hope God, in his providence,
will so order it, that we may at last be oftener attended;
there are many ready to join in our communion, and have




OoNNECTICU —-1729.             139
nothing to object to it, but our having service so seldom by a
minister. We greatly rejoice that we are assisted in learning
to know which is the true Church of Christ, and the manner
how we ought worship. But with melancholy hearts we crave
your Lordship's patience, while we recite that divers of us
have been imprisoned, and our goods from year to year dis.
trained from us for taxes, levied for the building and supporting meeting-houses; and divers actions are now depending in our courts of law in the like cases. And when we
have petitioned our governor for redress, notifying to him
the repugnance of such actions to the laws England, he hath
proved a strong opponent to us; but when the other party hath'applied to him for advice how to proceed against us, he hath
lately given his sentence " to enlarge the goal and fill it with
them,"' (that is, the Church.) But we supplicate both God
and man that our persecutors may not always prevail
against us.
And now, that God may bless your Lordship, and the
charitable endearvours of the honourable Society, and enable
them to send more labourers to a harvest truly plentiful, is
the sincere prayer of
Your Lordship's
Most dutiful and obedient servants,
THOMAS IVES   )
THos IvEs,    Churchwardens.
NORTH INGHAM,
EBENEZER WAINWRIGHT)
SHADRACK SEAGAR,
JOHN BELLAMY,
THOMAS DEWLITTLE,
WVAITSTILL ABINATHER)
AARON TUTTLE,
PHINEAS IVES,
MATTHEW B ELLAMY
EBENEZER BLAKESLEE,
ENOS SMITH,
JOHN MEKY,
THOMAS WILLIAMS,
GEORGE FISHER.




140               CHURCH DOCUMErTS.
[Inhabitants of 2Vew-London to the Secretary.]
April 13th, 1730.
Reverend Sir,
We, the underwritten inhabitants of New-London, Groton,
and other places adjacent, having once and again petitioned
the Society for the Propagation of. the Gospel in Foreign
Parts for a missionary, beg leave, by you, to renew that, our
most earnest request.
We have, at a very great expense, erected us a Church,
which (unless when Mr. McSparran visits us) continues shut
up, to the derision of its enemies, but to our great grief and
discomfort, with this only abatement, that it stands a monument and witness for us, how earnestly we desire the blessing
we now pray for.
Mr. Samuel Seabury, a gentleman born and bred in this
country, goes home recommended to the notice of the Bishop
of London and the Society, by the clergy here; therefore, he
may be sure of a welcome reception in what vacancy soever
he is sent to fill in New-England, where he is known, so we
beg (with all the importunity, the utmost necessity, and most
earnest desire of a Gospel minister among us is able to inspire) our destitute condition may come in remembrance at the
Board, when that gentleman applies for a mission.
We are, Reverend Sir, &c.
[Rev. Mr. Johnson to the Secretary.]
Stratford, N4w-England,.llay 5th, 1730.
Reverend Sir,
This comes to the honourable Board by Mlr. Samuel Seabury,'who has been educated and graduated in the colleges in this
country, and has led a sober, virtuous and studious life, and
now heartily embraces the principles of the Church of Eng



comncruT —1730.                141
land, and is sincerely well affected to the present government, and desirous to devote himself to the service of the
honourable Society; and, I doubt not, but if they shall see
cause to employ him, they will find him faithful in the discharge of his duty wherever they shall please to send him.
There are several places here, in New-England, that much
need to be supplied, particularly Providence, Westerly and
New-London, in either of which he is well known, and will
be very acceptable.
I have visited several places in the government, since my
last, and find a growing disposition toward the Church,:
particularly at Greenwich, where the Rev'd Mr. Canes hath
laboured with good success; and there seems to be a good
prospect that the whole parish, which never have had any
minister of any denomination settled among theni there, will
come into the Church.
Nothing remarkable has happened in my parish since my
last; one family has been added to our number, and one, likewise, has removed from us into New-York government. I
have reason to fear that my last letter, of November 15th,
miscarried, and therefore I have set down my Notitia Parochialis.
1st. No. of inhabitants in this town,................ 70
Families of which belong to the Church........  53
Beside those that belong to the neighbouring villages.
2d.  No. of the baptised since the mission here,...... 250
Of which, this year, were baptised,........  20
Of which one only was adult.
3d.  No. of communicants here in the neighbourhood,. 89
Of which were admitted this year,.............   9
4Ath. No. of professors of the Church, about..........  200
Beside many in the neighbouring towns.
5th. No. of heathens uncertain, because of their frequent changing their habitations.
I am, Reverend Sir, &c.,
SAMUEL JOHNSON.




142              CHURCH DOCUMENTS.
[Rev. Mr..icSparran to the Secretary.]
RLVariagansett,.May,20, 1730.
Rev. Sir,
MIr. Samuel Seabury, at whose hands you will receive this,
was educated at the seminaries of learning here, and did, for
some time, preach to the Dissenters, by whom he is well reported of for a virtuous conversation. He has, forsome time
past, conformed to our Church, and, manifesting a desire of
going upon the Society's mission, I thought it became me to
encourage a person of his merit by recommending him to the
Society's notice. The place of his birth and most intimate
acquaintance is Groton, in the neighbourhood of New-London,
which I thought proper to observe, in hopes. that it might
prove an inducement to determine his mission to that place,
vwhere a minister is exceedingly wanted. Your letter of the.19th November last came too late to my hands to be communicated to the gentlemen of New-London in time to have
their answers transmitted by this conveyance. I am but a
few days returned from that place, where I preached, and
saw them renew an address for a minister; but shall do my
endeavours, when I go again, (if not before,) to bring them
together, in order more fully to answer the Society's expectations. In the mean time I beg leave to observe, that beside the forty odd pounds they have subscribed, there will
arise upon these subscribers a ministerial rate, due to the
established Presbyterian minister, of at least twenty pounds
per alum, but which, by a particular act of the Colony of
Connecticut, is transferred upon the Episcopal minister,
where one resides, which quota of sixty pounds is triple the
sum their neighbours pay, and is in a much greater disproportion to what is paid by the members of the Church of
England in this government, (numbers and abilities considered.)
I thank God my Church thrives, and those that attend the
established worship are, with a few exceptions, persons of good
conversation. But I cannot give a better instance of the sue



CONNEOTICUT-1730.               143
eess God has given me, than to take notice to the Society
that, since my incumbency, I have baptised one hundred and
seventy-six persons, whereof sixty are adults, and that the
communicants are still increasing.
I am, Reverend Sir, &c.,
JAMES MICSPARRAN.
[Rev. Mr. Caner to the Secretary.]
Fairfield, New-En glpand Sept. 18th, 1730.
Sir,
In my last letter, dated on Easter Monday, I laid before
the honourable Society my own as well as my people's hearty thanks for their care and bounty relating to the increase
of my salary.   The churchwardens and vestry, I there in.
formed the honourable Society, desired some time to try the
purses as well as the readiness of the people to advance the
sum expected of them. Their accounts they have now brought
in, and do find the utmost willingness in the people to comply with any proposals consistent with their abilities, which
the churchwardens find to be very slender, and not answerable to the honourable Society's expectation from them.
The truth is, there doth appear in the people a great forwardness to hearken to instruction, and they seem really
willing to contribute the utmost they are able to the support
of those means whereby they receive it. But the number of
those who have actually reconciled themselves to our constitution is yet but small; there are greater numbers come to
us as Kicodernus to our blessed Saviour, and whom, therefore, the others are not willing to discourage, by representing the great difficulties that will ensue upon their joining
with us, but are rather willing to bear a greater burden themselves than fright them back by severe proposals.
The utmost they do declare themselves able to raise, is fifteen pounds sterling per annum; though, to balance this, they
have set on foot a design which I am confident in some years




144               CHITCH DOCUMENTS.
will enable them to maintain a missionary themselves.:It is
this, that every professor do, in his will, make over a certain
sum (what he sees fit) to the support of this particular Church,
to be paid at his decease, which sum being secured, the
churchwardens have power to use the interest of it to any
purposes the Church shall think fit to order. There have
deceased two members of our Church since this design hath
been laid, each of which hath left one hundred pounds to the
advancement of it, and two others, supposed at the point of
death, have ordered, the one an hundred, and the other fifty
pounds, in their wills, though both of them  are since rerecovered.
Now, I presume it is easy to see that this thing, having
due encouragement, will, in the compass of some years, enable them to maintain their own ministers, and do therefore
declare that they will, from time to time, as they prove able,
give notice of it to the honourable Society, that the salary
which may be now afforded, may gradually be transferred to
others who may then be in their present circumstances; that
is, unable to help themselves.
The particular state of my parish the honourable Society
will best be informed of from my Notitia Parochialis, herein
enclosed, from which the honourable Society will, I hope, see
encouragement sufficient to induce them to continue, if not
add, further favours to my people. I believe, in our present
circumstances, they could not be more acceptable to them
and the honourable Society's most dutiful and obedient servant, as well as, Sir, &c.,
HENRY CANER.
NOTITIA PAROCHIALIS.
i. Number of inhabitants, upwards of 8,000. 2. lNumber of
baptised, about 7,140. 3. Number baptised by me this half
year, 30; adults 10-blacks 2, Indian 1, whites 7; infants 20whites 18, Indians 2. 4. Number of actual communicants of
the Church of England, 65. 5. Number of those who profess
themselves of the Church of England, about 500 in all the
parishes. 6. Number of heathens and infidels, about 40.
7. Number of converts from a profane life, 4.




CONNECTICUT-1730.              145
[.Rev. Mr. Johnson to the Secretary.]
Stratford, in Connecticut, October 25th, 1730.
Reverend Sir,
I have but little to write in respect to my charge since my
last, though I think my Church is more frequented by Dissenters, who, many of them, come once in a while to Church,
yet I cannot say there have been any throughly reclaimed
within this half year; however, a good temper toward the
Church still very sensibly increases, and upon Connecticut
River they are contriving to build a Church. One thing I have
particularly to rejoice in, and that is, that I have a very considerable influence in the College in my neighbourhood; and
that a love to the Church gains ground greatly in it. Several
young men that are graduates, and some young ministers, I
have preailed with to read and consider the matter so far,
that they are very uneasy out of the communion of the
Church, and some seem much disposed to come into her service; and those that are best affected to the Church are the
brightest and most studious of any that: are educated in the
country.
Many poor people complain of the want of PrayerBooks and Expositions of the Church Catechism; I should,
therefore, be very thankful if the honourable Society would
be pleased to order a few of them to be sent to me, and if,
with them, I had a few Ostervald's Catechisms and Whole
Duties of Man, I could make them very useful. I desire
that if any Prayer-Books are sent, that they may have Tate
and Brady's Psalms bound up with them; they only are used
among us.
I am, Reverend Sir, &c.,
SAMUEL JOHNSON.
10




14 6              CHURCH DOCUMENTS.
[Rev. DMr. Johnson, to the Secretary.-Extract.]
Stratford, 2d June, 1731.
Reverend Sir,
Since my last there has happened an unfortunate altera.
tion in my parish, by the loss of a worthy parishioner, Mr.
Loring, who was the most considerable person of any influence we had among us; the most able and the most forward
in promoting the interests of the Church, and always at the
head of every good design; for want of whom, I doubt the
Church here will greatly suffer and languish, for his example
and influence had the greatest hand in its advancement, the
rest being generally poor tradesmen, and, consequently, apt
to be despised and dispirited.
However, I have had one or two new converts, and especially one, from a loose irregular way of living, to a life of
virtue and industry; and our Church is not less, if any thing,
more frequented, and, in the villages, it remains much as it
was.
New-London I think well provided for in Mr. Seabury,
and I hope the Church will flourish in that town. I have
laboured much to promote the Church at Westerly Narragansett, as I have occasionally passed that way; but for the want
of a resident minister, I doubt, through the multitude of
sectaries that abound in those parts, and a prevailing spirit
of irreligion and profaneness, the Church's interest will decay among them, where the means of religion, of any sort,
are so much wanted, that they are truly the objects of the
greatest compassion.
I have visited Brook-Haven, on Long Island, since the
departure of Mr. Campbell, and find them almost sinking
under the wounds they have received by the frequent changes
of ministers, and the non-good conduct of some that have
been among them. However, I preached to a considerable
congregation, and afterwards called their vestry together,
who desired me to express their humblest gratitude to the




CONNECTICUT-1731.              147
honourable Society, that they have been allowed an interest
in their charity, and earnestly desire that it may be continued,
and that they may be still reckoned among the Society's dependents. But, for fear of being disappointed, as they were
before of Mr. Dwight, they humbly desire the Society not
to send themn another missionary till they shall find some
young gentleman to send from these parts, whom they have
known before and he them, that they may have a future
prospect of mutual liking, and so not be under any temptation of parting again suddenly, as the case has been.
They desire me to look out a young man to reside awhile
among them. I mentioned a virtuous and discreet young
man and of good abilities, whose name is Brown, (brother to
that excellent person who went home for orders with Dr.
Cutler and myself, and died of the small-pox,) who has ever
since been steadily following his learning under my direction, and has already taken one degree in the College, and is
within about a year and a half of age for orders. They were
desirous I would send him to them upon probation, to read
prayers and sermons and catechise their youth, and he is accordingly gone among them, and, I believe, will be very acceptable to them; they promised to subscribe toward his
support, and purpose, if he and they shall be on both sides
suited, to recommend him to the honourable Society, and beg
he may be their missionary.
In the mean time, they would be very humbly thankful to
the honourable Society, if he may be allowed ~10 or ~15
toward his better support, or, at least, some assistance to
defray his expenses when he shall go home for orders, for he
has laid out almost all his estate upon his education.
I am, Reverend Sir, &c.,
SAMUEL JOHNSON.




148               CHURCH DOCUMENTS.
[Rev. Mr. Johnson to the Bishop of London.]
Stratford, in New-England, June 14th, 1731.
Mlay it please your Lordship,
My Lord, there are two things which have occasioned some
dispute among the clergy and people in these parts, about
which I humbly presume to beg your Lordship's directions.
One is relating to the exhortation after baptism to the god.
fathers to bring the child to the Bishop to be confirmed.
Some wholly omit this exhortation, because it is impracticable; others insert the words, (if there be opportunity,) because
our adversaries object to it as a mere jest, to order the godfathers to bring the child to the Bishop, when there is none
within a thousand leagues of us, which is a reproach that we
cannot answer.
The other dispute is about employing young scholars,
that are candidates for the ministry, in villages and destitute places, in reading sermons and prayers, (omitting everything that is proper to the priest's office.) This, I- own,
is what I and some others have earnestly recommended as
excusable, by reason of the necessities of the country, and
have, in several instances, found it highly useful in keeping
up a sense of religion, and propagating it, when resident
ministers cannot be had; and though I have always let the
honourable Society know of my proceedings herein, they
have never intimated the least disapprobation of this method,
but, on the other hand, have practically approved of it, in receiving once and again those who have been so employed.
Notwithstanding this, there are some of our brethren who,
with great zeal and importunity, cry out against this practice
as a betraying of the Church, and giving up the necessity of
ordination, &c., to the great mortification of those poor destitute people who have no other way of keeping up the worship of God among them.




CONNECTIOUT-1732.               149
My Lord, I humbly submit to your Lordship's correction,
if inl this or any other instance my conduct has been faulty,
and earnestly beg your direction and benediction, who am,
with the greatest veneration,
Mlay it please your Lordship, your Lordship's
Humble servant,
SAMUEL JOHNSON.
[Petition of several members of the Church of England, in Reading and Ve~wtown, in
Connecticut.]
lew-England, iarch 20th, 1732.
May it please the honourable Society,
We, the subscribers, members of the Church of England,
in Reading and Newtown, within the County of Fairfield
and Colony of Connecticut, in New-England, being under very
great difficulty to come at the worship of God according to
that excellent establishment, by reason of our distance from
the honourable Society's missionaries, the Rev. Mr. Johnson
and Mr. Caner, which is about twenty miles, and being indeed, some of us, at a great distance from any publick worship at all, whereby not only we ourselves, but our poor
children, also extremely suffer, and are like to be trained up
in very great ignorance of the knowledge of the Gospel, do
beg leave to lay this our calamitous state before your venerable board, and become very humble petitioners for a share
in that charity which is conspicuous even in this dark corner
of the earth.
To this we are the rather encouraged by a favourable letter
to some of our number from the honourable Society, obtained
about two years after the Rev. Mr. Johnson's first coming
among us, wherein the honourable Society were pleased to
offer us a missionary upon certain conditions, which, at that
time, we were not able to come upon, by reason of the settlement of the bearer hereof, Mr. John Beach, a gentleman, at
that time, of a different persuasion; but now, -more and fur



150               CXIURCH DOCUMENTS.
ther encouraged by the said gentleman's being reconciled to
the established Church of England, especially in that being
now bound home to receive holy orders from the Lord Bishop
of London, he is willing to return to this place of his former
settlement and abode, if his Lordship and the honourable
Society shall think proper.
The good opinion that persons of all persuasions have of
him here, where he has been known for several years past,
and accounted a gentleman of a remarkable sober and regular conduct, and of learning and good ability to discharge the
ministerial office, gives us reason to promise ourselves a great
deal of happiness and comfort from his future ministration,
if the honourable Society shall think fit to return him to us.
Though we are poor, the unavoidable consequence of settling an uncultivated country, and so cannot possibly, without assistance, provide a suitable support for the abovesaid
gentleman, yet what we are able we are very ready to engage, and have affixed to our respective names underwritten;
and we do humbly hope and pray that the honourable Society, out of their great charity, will supply wherein we are
wanting towards the said gentleman's support; as we flatter
ourselves with hopes of success in this affair from the former
goodness and great charity of your venerable board, so we
would humbly hope that the consideration of several towns
lying about us, at a distance of about seven miles, as Danbury, Ridgefield, Woodbury and New-Milford, and numbers
of Indians, would be of some further inducement toward some
suitable relief to our truly deplorable state; for, indeed, we
are not so selfish as to expect Mr. Beach's service should be
wholly confined to ourselves, but that he may be capable of
propagating Christian knowledge in those other towns likewise.
Thus, the Reverend Mr. Johnson and Mr. Caner, though
settled at Stratford and Fairfield, have been and are still very
ready to assist us, so far as is consistent with the distance
between them and ourselves, for whose service, as flowing
from the Society's charity, we are truly thankful, wishing
withal there may never be wanting pious men in these parts
to promote the Church's interest.




CONNECTICUT —1732.               151
Fearing we have been already too tedious, we only add
our hearty and fervent prayers to Almighty God for success
in your truly charitable designs to the souls of men.
We are, &c., &c.,
LEMrUSEL MOREHO-uSE and others..:ev. ir,.Johnson to the Bishop of London.]
Stratford, in New-England,
April sth, 1732.
My Lord,
I humbly thank your Lordship for your kind letter of
September 30th, and am, as to myself, perfectly well satisfied
with the answers you give to the difficulties I presumed to lay
before you. Only, I imagined there might be some difference between the case of those who are immediately under
an establishment, as it is in England, and those who are situated, as we are here, where the attorney and solicitor-general
have declared there is no establishment of religion at —all,
and, therefore, not even of the Church of England, and, consequently, the obligations to an exact conformity seem not
altogether the same as there. I write not this, my Lord, on
my own account, as though I desired the least abatement of
any thing established in England; I heartily wish to God
every thing established there was admitted and established
here, nor did I ever vary from the establishment in the least
instance, unless where there was an evident necessity for it;
but my solicitous concern for the weal of my dear country
makes me willing, if it could consist with my duty to the
best of Churches, and be indulged by the authority to whom
I owe subjection, to, abate, in some circumstantial matters, of
what is wisely established at home, that I might have less
occasion to spend my time and pains and pleading, and with
so little success, because of things confessedly in their own
nature indifferent and circumstantial, which I would much
rather, and could, with greater success, devote to the advancing of the great essentials and vitals of religion, for which it




152      -          URCH -DOCUMENTS.
seems as if there would be the more occasion, inasmuch as
(besides many other gross errors) the pernicious books and
notions, which your Lordship found it so necessary to guard
your Diocese against, are coming in upon the plantations like
a flood, and will I [fear] take the more effect, by how much
the less there is of the face of an establishment among us, or
of Bishops to preside over us. And, indeed, I doubt, unless
the Church be beforehand with them, these things, together
with their wretched broken condition in the way they are at
present in, will,'ere long, induce those of the Congregational
and Presbyterian persuasion to endeavour (and they may
possibly succeed) to get themselves formed into an establishment, after the manner as it is in Scotland. These considerations, my Lord, induced me, upon a conversation with, and
even at the desire of several ingenious men among the Dissenters in these parts, to draw up the enclosed proposals,
which I humbly submit, with an entire resignation to your
Lordship's wisdom, and which I hope, of your wonted goodness, you will pardon, and impute -the vanity of my presumption to an earnest desire, if I could, to be doing something
wherein I might be some way serviceable to my poor, confused and divided country. My Lord, as the Church here has
been very unfortunate in the defeat of the noble design of
the Reverend the Dean of Londonderry, which, especially, if
it had been executed on the Continent, would have been of
vast advantage to the interest of religion and learning in
America, so it has, on the other hand, been happy since in the
conversion, (besides a number of other good. people,) of the
worthy persons who have all had a publick education in the
neighbouring College, and two of them have been dissenting
teachers; two of them will go into other business, and one of
them is Mr. Beach, the bearer hereof, whom I know, by long
experience of him, (he having been heretofore my pupil, and
ever since my neighbour,) to be a very ingenuous and studious person, and a truly serious and conscientious Christian;
but I forbear to say any thing further of his case, and refer
youdr Lordship to our joint recommendation of him,
And remain, &c., &c.,
SAMIUEL JOHNSON.




CONNECTICUT-1732.               153
Proposals relating to some method for the more successful
reformation and propagation of religion in America,
humbly submitted to the Right Reverend the Lord Bishop
of London.
(1.) INASMUCH as the Attorney and Solicitor-General have
declared that there is no establishment of religion in these
countries, it is humbly suggested whether some practicable
method might not be devised and carried into execution for
the establishment of religion in these English Dominions.
(2.) For seeing there are many parts of the English plantations that are in a manner destitute of any publick instruction at all, and where they are (generally, but very poorly)
provided with teachers in the Independent or Congregational
way, they are, according to the natural tendency of those
opinions, miserably broken to pieces with divisions and contentions among themselves, insomuch, that they seem hastening on a-pace toward an utter dissolution, and some very
corrupt doctrines are propagated without control, so that
most people of sense and consideration among them are even
sick and weary of their present situation, and long to come
into some more effectual method for promoting the ends of
government, religion, peace and order; it is therefore thought
very likely that some establishment, even under an Episcopal
form of government, Would, in a little time, be generally
submitted to. And yet, (3.) it will perhaps be impossible to
procure a general reconciliation, especially among the populace, to all the ceremonies and constitutions of our Church,
and much time and pains spent in pleading about them
might be employed, and with better success, in promoting
the great essentials and vitals of religion; it is, therefore,
humbly submitted, whether it would be necessary or expedient to insist or be much intent upon the external and confessedly circumstantial matters, if any establishment were to
be promoted; for, (4.) as the truly excellent rules which our
most venerable reformers proposed to themselves, carried
them into such a method of publick worship and discipline
as is happily established in England, as being in the best




154               CHURCH DOCUMENTS.
manner suited to the times and circumstances, that there had
been, were and are, so it is with the humblest deference suggested, whether considering the vastly different circumstances
of these places and times, the same rules would not lead to
methods in several things differing as to circumstantial matters, if the reformation and propagation of religion were to
be carried into an establishment in these countries? And,
therefore, (5.) might there not be projected some such a comprehension suited to these countries, as was endeavoured by
many in England in King William's time; according to
which, many things as they now stand might be enjoined,
viz., such as are of the greatest importance in themselves,
and will be the most easily admitted, and some things a little
altered to suit the present circumstances, and other things,
which are of less importance and most objected against, only
recommended? And (6.) lastly, is it impossible for' the
English Dominions in America to be provided for with one
or two Bishops, and those subject to the Lord Bishop of
London as Archbishop of the Plantations abroad; and is
there no way to provide revenues, (though they were but
small,) compared with those in England? Would not ~400 or
~500 sterling per annum  a-piece, or, rather than fail, ~300,
enable them, in some good measure, to answer the ends of
their sacred functions; and is it impossible that such a provision might be made without breaking in upon the interest
of the governors and governments as they now stand?
Though, indeed, it would be much happier for the Church,
especially unless we had a Bishop, if the charters were
taken away; and most people begin to think, since they have
got into such a wretched, mobbish way of management, that
it would be best for the people themselves.
If some such things as these could be accomplished, as the
present situation of things here renders it now a very suitable juncture for something to be done, so it would be a truly
great charity to the souls of men, and it is hard indeed if we
must forever despair of such happiness.




NNECTICUT —173S.                 155
[eva. Mr. Craner to the Secrtary.-Extract.]
Fairfield, New-England, Sept. 18th, 1733.
Sir,
I hope it will be some satisfaction to the honourable Society to be informed that the spirit and temper of the people,
formerly so hot against us, very much abates, and that they
begin to treat us in a much more friendly manner than they
were wont; this good disposition, I hope, by God's assistance, to cultivate and improve to beneficial effects. I have
the half year past baptised ten infants and one adult, and received seven new comununicants, the whole number of which
is now seventy-eight. The state of my Church in general is
indeed much more promising than in time past; some difficulties, it is true, we still labour under, but which time and
industry will in great measure remove.
I beg leave to subscribe myself, &c.,
H. CANER.
[Rev. tr. John to t/e Bishop of London.]
Stratford, in New-England,
December 10th, 1733.
My Lord,
Your Lordship remembers that, in the year 1725, upon a,
representation made by the ministers of the Church in Boston, of a design then on foot in that government of a council
of their ministers, to meet by appointment of the General Assembly there, the Lords Justices were pleased, in a letter to
the Lieutenant-Governor of that colony, to express their disapprobation of any such proceedings, as implying an invasion of his Majesty's prerogative, and ordered him to forbid




156            CCHURCH DOCUMENTS.
any such council of ministers to meet, and declare that it is
not lawful for the clergy to meet as in a Synod, without authority from his Majesty. Now, my Lord, how far the case
of this government differs from that, your Lordship will
judge; but I presumed you would not take it ill of me if I
should lay before your Lordship any case of that nature that
should occur here, and humbly submit it to your Lordship,
whether it should deserve your notice; and I am desired by
several even of the dissenting ministers here to submit the
vote and order of the Assembly, enclosed to your Lordship's
perusal.
I humbly thank your Lordship for your interest with the
honourable Society for settling a school in this place, and
likewise in behalf of Mr. Pierson and Mr. Brown, who are
returned back to their native country, full of a grateful sense
of your Lordship's and the Society's goodness to them; and,
I doubt not but they will be very useful in promoting the
ends of the Society in the places for which they are appointed.
I beg leave, also, to inform your Lordship, that the growing confusion among the Dissenters in these parts very much
tends, among other means, to put thinking and serious persons
upon coming over to the Church. Among others there are
two or three very worthy young ministers in this colony
who, I have reason to believe, from no other reason than the
love of truth and order, and a sense of duty, will, in a little
time, declare for us, and two of them especially have hopes
that the most of their congregations will conform with them.
One of them is one Mr. Arnold, who succeeded me at WestHaven, near the College, where I preach once a quarter..
If they can't be admitted to the Society's service in holy
orders, which they would earnestly desire, they will do what
good they can in a lay capacity; but as they would be glad
to be employed by the Society, if it be practicable to have
new missions, so I have written to the Secretary to know
whether any encouragement could be had for them to go
over with such a view. Indeed, there are daily growing and
pressing occasions in many parts of these plantations for new
missions and missionaries, and I wish to God the Society's




CONNECTICUT-1733.               157
abilities to provide for them might increase in proportion as
they do.
I am, may it please your Lordship, your Lordship's most
obedient, most dutiful son and servant,
SAMUEL JOHNSON.
[The Clergy of Connredicut to the Bishop of London. ]
Fazirjield, in Connecticut,.7March 14th, 1733-4.
May it please your Lordship,
It is with great pleasure that we see the success of our labours in the frequent conversions of dissenting teachers in
this country, and the good disposition toward the excellent
constitution of our Church, growing up among the people
wherever the honourable Society have established their missions. Sundry other of their teachers are likely to appear
for the Church, and two very honest and ingenuous men have
declared themselves this winter, one of which is Mr. Ebenezer
Punderson, the bearer hereof, who being bound to England
with design to apply himself to your Lordship and the honourable Society for holy orders and a mission, we humbly
beg leave to lay before your Lordship our recommendation
of this worthy gentleman. He has been for above four years
a settled minister in the dissenting way to a parish near
New-London, called New-Groton; and as he has a good
prospect that a considerable number of that parish will con-form to the Church with him, lie has a solicitous desire to
return back in holy orders to that people with whom he has
so long dwelt, and among whom he is greatly respected.
As to the circumstances of his people, our distance from
them renders us incapable of saying any thing further of
them; but as to the gentleman himself, we have well known
him for at least seven years, are able, with truth, to assure
your Lordship, that he has always been remarked for a person of good parts, earnestly inquisitive after truth, and inde



158               CHURCH DOCUMENTS. -
fatigably studious in the pursuit of it; that he has read many
of the best of our English divines; and has made as great a
proficiency in learning as can be expected from his age and
circumstances, and that he has ever been esteemed a sober,
virtuous and devout person, and remarkable for his contempt
of the world; and we are persuaded that it is from a serious
and impartial examination of things, and the sincere love of
truth and sense of duty, that he has declared himself for our
excellent Church and come over to our communion; and he,
is sincerely well affected to the present government; we humbly, therefore, beseech your Lordship he may be admitted to
holy orders, and added to the number of our brethren, and
remain,
May it please your Lordship,
Your Lordship's servants,
SAMUEL JOHNSON,
J. WETMORE,
H. CANER,
ISAAC 3BROWNE.
[Rev. Mir. Seabury to the Secretary.-Extract.]
New-Iond'on, zMarch 30th, 1734.
Reverend Sir,
These wait upon the honourable Society by the hands of
Mr. Ebenezer Punderson, who comes to make his application
to my Lord Bishop of London and the Society for Propagation of the Gospel in foreign parts, for orders and a mission.
He bath been educated in Yale College, Connecticut, where
I had a particular acquaintance with him, and where he always had the character of a sober person. About five years
ago he was called to preach in the Presbyterian or Independent way, at Groton, near New-London, where he soon received ordination; but falling under doubts and scruples
concerning their power of ordination and method of Church
government, and, at the same time, acquainting himself




CONNECTICUT- 1734.             159
with the Church of England, he found himself obliged, upon
true and regular conviction, to embrace her communion, and
thereupon he laid down his ministry in which he was settled
to good advantage; but a considerable number of the people
of that place being also convinced of the reasonableness and
necessity of Church Communion, and having strong affection
for the person of Mr. Punderson, on account of his abilities
and pious, exemplary life, have been very solicitous with him
to make his application to the honourable Society for Propagation of the Gospel in foreign parts for a mission to that
place. In testimony of which, they have signed a desire or
petition to the honourable Society, with the promise of contributing a certain sum considerably to his support and
maintenance, and it is most probable that many more will
conform to the Church of England upon better knowledge of
it and acquaintance with it.
[Rev. Brh. Beach to the Secretary.]
Newtown, in Connecticut,
August 7th, 1735.
Reverend Sir,
I think it my anty to acquaint the venerable Society with
the present state of my parish, although the alteration since
my last has not been very considerable. I have baptised
twenty-nine children and admitted twenty-five persons more
to the communion, so that the number of our communion
now at Newtown, Reading, and the places adjacent, is ninetyfive. I preach frequently and administer the Sacrament at
Ridgefield, being about eighteen miles distance from the
place where I dwell, where there are about fourteen or eighteen families of very serious and religious people, who have
a just esteem of the Church of England, and are very desirous to have the opportunity of worshipping God in that
way. I ]lave constantly preached, ore Sunday at Newtown,'and thle other' at Rvea-ing; and after I have )p, eached at Read



160              CIIURCIH DOCUMENTS.
ing in the day-time, I perform divine service and preach at
Newtown in the evening; and although I have not that success I could wish for, yet I do, and hope I always shall,
faithfully endeavour (as far as my poor ability will allow) to
promote that good work, that the venerable Society sent and
maintained me for.
I am, Reverend Sir,
Your most humble servant,
JOHN BEACH.
[Rev. Dr. Seabury to the Secretary.l
NYew-London, Auzgust 22d, 1'735.
Reverend Sir,
By this opportunity, for which I have long waited, (otherwise my accounts of the year past would have come much
earlier,) I have the satisfaction of informing the honourable
Society that my congregation increaseth; that there are one
hundred people commonly attending divine service in the
summer season, which is double the number that attended
constantly at my first coming; that I have had seven new
communicants, and baptised thirteen infants the year past;
and beside my attendance of the Church at New-London, I
have always, from the beginning of my mission, preached at
Norwich, a town about fourteen miles from New-London,
three times a year, until it was put under the care of the
Rev. Mr. Punderson; and sundry times have preached lectlres at North Groton; and during the absence of the Rev.
Mr. Punderson, in his voyage to England for orders and a
mission, I preached there once a month on Sundays, by consent of the Church at New-London, and in this instant, August, I preached at Windham, a place about twenty-six miles
from New-London, to a congregation of eighty people, of
whom some stayed sundry hours with me after sermon was
over, and were desircus to be informed concerning the Church
of England; and upon my conversing with them they con



COCNEcTICUT-1135.              161
fessed that the Church had been sadly misrepresented, and
that they should have a more favollrable opinion of it for the
future, and desired that I would come again; and in justice
to the members of the Church of England, in New-London,
I aln obliged to observe that they treat me with great respect
and affection, and are very just in paying me the value of
their promised subscriptions, which I receive by way of contribution every Sunday after evening service, and I must
own further, that the dissenting party also are very civil and
obliging to me.
But though the Church at New-London hath increased,
yet it hath met with great losses and disadvantages, of which
the honourable Society will be sensible when I assure them
that there is not one man of any considerable estate or circumstances remaining in the Church at New-London, who
first requested the Society for a minister. The worthy Mr.
Stackmaple, who laboured with abundance of zeal, and freely
contributed his estate to the erecting of the Church, is since
dead; he was a gentleman of great charity and virtue, and
was the collector of his Majesty's customs in this colony.
The honourable Major Merritt, who hath subscribed ~O50
toward the building of the Church, is since dead. The honourable Major Pryor, who gave ~100 to the building of the
Church, is since removed, and of the common people, who
were the first petitioners to the Society, Mr. Jarrard Peel,
Mr. Daniel Apley, Mr. Samuel Fairbank, are dead; and Mr.
Thomas Mumford, Mr. James Packer, Mr. Giles Goddard,
Mr. Thomas Eldridge, Mr. Joseph Latham, who are all men
of good estates, dwelling in South Groton, are put into the
Rev. Mr. Punderson's parish in North Groton, though they
ever looked on themselves to belong to the Church at NewLondon, as is evident from there being three of them always
chosen of the vestry of New-London; and they have always
been at equal charges with those living at New-London
Church, and not at North Groton, and are much nearer to
Church at New-London, South Groton being parted from
New-London only by a river half a mile wide; and the honourable Society, I humbly conceive, were moved to place
South Groton in Mr. Punderson's mission at his request and
11




162              CHURCH DOCUMENTS.
representation of the case only, for the people never requested
it nor expected it, and still attend oftenest at the Church at
New-London.
But notwithstanding these losses and disadvantages, the
Church at New-London grows, and I trust will grow and increase, by the blessing of Divine Providence and the countenance and charity of your honourable Corporation. And
I can assure the honourable Society, that my utmost diligence
is employed in their service, and that I shall always embrace
every opportunity of enlarging the influence of their extensive Church.
I am, Reverend Sir,
Yours and the honourable Society's
Most obedient and most humble servant,
SAM'L SEABURY.
[Rev..iMr. Seabury to the Secretary.]
New-Iondon, in Hew-England,
Alugust 11th, 1736.
Reverend Sir,
You will receive the trouble of this to acquaint the hon.
ourable Society of my success in promoting their designs,
which hath been something remarkable at iebron, an inland town in this colony, about thirty miles distance from
New-London. Some of the inhabitants of that place, about
the 20th of January last, desired me to preach among them,
which I did to a numerous congregation, who attended the
service of the common prayers with great seriousness; and
when the service was concluded, there stayed of the company
about thirty or forty persons, inquiring concerning the
Church of England, and proposing the vulgar objections
against it, beside many others which were raised entirely
from falsehoods, and had no shadow of truth to support
them; to all which I answered them with truth, and the best
reasons and arguments that my understanding and know'




CONNECTICUT-1736.              163
ledge could suggest, and in this manner I conversed with
them at least four hours, who, in fine, appeared very much
surprised to find that they had always been very prejudiced
with so many false notions about the Church; wondering
how men could leave its pious and holy communion, and,
most of all, that any could have the conscience to load the
established Church with so many odious and injurious slanders.
They earnestly desired me to come again, and at their importunity I have visited them six times, twice of which hath
been on Sundays. More than twenty families there and in
some neighbouring places do embrace the Church; and when
I was last there, which was on the first day of this instant,
August, I administered the Sacrament to fourteen communicants.
They are very desirous of a missionary, but defer offering
any petition to the Society for Propagating the Gospel, having been informed that the Society are not in a condition at
present to establish any new missions; but they have importuned me to visit them, and administer the Sacrament among
them, four times a year, to which I have given them encouragement, till I could inform the honourable Society and receive
their commands.
As to the Church in New-London, it continueth in nearly
the same state as when I wrote last, which is about last September, since which I have baptised nine, of whom one was
adult, and the communicants are seventeen.
The people here continue to treat me in a very handsome
manner, and annually do something more than make good
their ob'ligations in contributing to my support.
Reverend Sir, your,
And the honourable Society's most dutiful
And most obedient servant,
SAM'L SEABURY.




164              CHURCH DOCUMENTS.
[Rev. 3Mr. Beach to the Secretary.-Extract.]
Newtown, in Vew-England,
September 8th, 1736.
Reverend Sir,
Since my last I have baptised twenty-five children and five
adults, and have admitted to the communion two persons
more; the whole number of my communicants is now one
hundred and five; but by reason of our people living very
distant from each other, I seldom have more than fifty communicants together at once, and for that reason I administer
that Sacrament every other Sunday. I have lately, upon the
repeated invitations of the people of Newark, in New-Jersey,
visited them. I performed divine service two Sundays, and
had about three or four hundred hearers; they appeared very
desirous of having a minister of the Church of England settled among them, and are now about sending a memorial to
the venerable Society for that end, and have earnestly desired me to certify that honourable Board of my willingness
to be removed, if they see fit to erect a mission, and remove
me thither.
Thereupon, I thought it my duty to acquaint that honourable body that I am perfectly contented with my present
condition, and should have no inclination to remove if I did
not think that I could do much more good there than I can
in this parish; and that within a little time there will be, it
is probable, at Newark, the largest congregation within two
hundred miles; and it is very likely they will soon be able
to maintain a minister without any assistance, though at
present they cannot well do it; but in this I entirely submit
to the wisdom of the venerable Society,
And am, Reverend Sir,
Your most humble servant,
JOHN BEACH.




CONNECToUT-1T736.               165
[Rev. Mfr. Caner to the Secretary.]
Fairfield, in New-England,
13th September, 1736.
Reverend Sir,
In a letter by the Rev. Mr. McSparran, I acquainted the
honourable Society of my safe arrival in New-England; since
then I have so good a state of health as to be capable of
serving my parish in a constant way. The professors of the
Church of England here increase in numbers and seriousness.
The Dissenters among us are busily employed in examining
into the conduct of the missionaries in order to have whereof
to accuse us; some instances, misinterpreted, I understand
they pitch upon. I trust they will not find any instance in
my conduct to make the foundation of a complaint. I am
not conscious that I have laid myself open to misinterpretation, and as to real misconduct, I defy them; however, as
they seem resolved to make thorough work, if any complaint
of this nature should come before the honourable Society, I
beg I may have notice of it, and an opportunity to vindicate
myself from any such aspersions. I hope, when we are sufficiently sifted and tried, we shall come out purer and less exceptionable.
The particular state of my parish at this time the honourable Society will find expressed in my notitia parochialis,
nnderwritten, to which I beg leave to refer.
I am the honourable Society's
Most dutiful and obedient, and, Sir,
Your most humble servant,
HENRy CANER.




166               CIURCCH DOCUMENTS.
[.Rev. fr. Arnold to the Secretary.]
West cHaven, in Connecticut,
Septem6er 22d, 1736.
Reverend Sir,
I performed divine service last Sunday at Milford, one of the
most considerable towns in Connecticut Colony, where the
use of the Lord's Prayer, the Creed, and the Ten Commandments, or the reading the Scripture in divine service, was
never before known. There was a very numerous auditory,
most attentive and desirous to be instructed in the worship of
the Church of England; but these who are looking towards
the Church are commonly the poorer sort of people; for the
staff of government being in the hands of the Dissenters, who
rule the Church with an iron rod, those who receive honour
one of another set themselves at a distance, and allow their
rage and revenge to increase in proportion to the increase of
the Church. That God, in mercy to our land, may continue
and prosper that honourable Society, is, and shall be the fervent prayer of their, and your most obliged, devoted, humble
servant,
JONATHAN ARNOLD.
[From the Clergy of Yew-England to the Secretary.-Extract.]
Fairfield, in 2New-England,.LMarch 29th, 1739.
Reverend Sir,
Notwithstanding it has once and again been declared by
the Attorney and Solicitor-General, (and approved of by the
Lords Justices in their letter to the Lieutenant-Governor of
Boston, dated October 7th, 1725,) that there is no establishment of any religion in these colonies, nor can be without




CONNECTICUT-1739.               167
his most sacred Majesty's explicit consent; yet this government leave taken upon them to make an establishment of the
Congregational way, (as they call it,) appears by several acts
in their printed law book, and do act as an establishment,
and to treat the Church of England as Dissenters. They
have, indeed, made a law by which they pretended to exempt
the people of the Church of England from paying to the
support of their ministers and the building of their meetinghouses, but they have contrived several methods to elude it.
2. Among which, a principal contrivance is to make certain funds in each town to be let out to use for raising the
salaries of their ministers, without any tax upon the people.
This first began at Fairfield, by the sale of certain lands, sequestered by the proprietors of that town for the support of
the ministry, the money arising from which sale they divided
to each parish according to their propriety, only excluding
the members of the Church of England in each parish from
any share or benefit in this sale, though there were many of
them as considerable proprietors as any of those who were
admitted to enjoy it. And the success with which this unjust action was attended has put them upon much the same
measures throughout the colony; and one means of making
such funds is by the sale of seven new townships of common
lands belonging to this government, wherein (as we apprehend) the people of the Church of England have equally a
right, according to their proportion, with the rest of the people of the government; and the money arising from the sale
of these lands they have appropriated either to the schools,
or to what they call the established ministry of this government, at the election of the several towns, (as will appear by
their printed acts to this purpose,) so that, according to their
sense of their law, we of the Church of England are excluded
from any benefit of that sale.
Another of these devices for raising of the above mentioned
funds has been by a bill, (not yet indeed passed into an act,
though we have reason to believe the design is not yet laid
aside,) to appropriate the loan of their last commission of
~50,000 of bills of credit to that purpose.
To prevent these proceedings, the people of our Church




168              CHURCH DOCUMENTS
have laid an humble address before the General Assembly,
signed by more than six hundred and thirty males above sixteen years old, (and the number could have amounted to
above seven hundred if all would have had opportunity to
sign,) praying that they might have their proportion of these
public moneys toward the support of their ministers; but they
have been pleased in their last Assembly to negative that
petition, so that our people can expect no favour or justice
from our government in this regard, and beg of us to lay their
oppressed state before the Society.
3. Another grievance that we have to complain of is, the
case of sundry people (to the number of fifty families) in the
westernmost parts of this colony, chiefly belonging to Horseneck and Starmford, living so near to the Parish Church of Rye,
as that they can and do attend upon the ministrations of the
Reverend Mr. Wetmore, who also does frequently officiate
among them, to which he was requested by their joint application to him. When, according to the tenor of the abovementioned act, he demanded his due proportion of the tax,
viz., what was paid by the professors of the Church of England, payment was refused; upon which he commenced an
action against the collector, which went through the courts
and was finally lost. The people, perceiving themselves
destitute of any hopes of relief in a course of law, applied
themselves in an humble address to the General Assembly,
praying for a redress of this grievance, which address was set
aside, and nothing was done for their relief; so that they,
and all others living but a few miles from any Church of
England, whatever care and pains the minister may take in
visiting and administering to them, shall, notwithstanding
the said act, be obliged to pay to the support of dissenting
ministers, unless relief can be obtained from home.
4. That we may be as little tedious as possible, we will
pass by several other instances whereby they have endeavoured to elude the act they had made in our favour, and
proceed lastly to lay before the Society the case of the Rev.
Mr. Arnold, which is as follows: William Greyson, of London, Esq., made a donation of a piece of land in New-Haven
to him, as trustee for the Church of England, to build a




CONNECTICUT —1739.             169
Church on, and when he went to take possession and make
improvement of said land by ploughing the same, he was
opposed by a great number of people, being resolute that no
Church should be built there, who, in a riotous and tumultuous manner, being (as we have good reason to believe) put
upon it by some in authority, and of the chief men in the town,
beat his cattle and abused his servants, threatening both his
and their lives to that degree, that he was obliged to quit
the field. And though he made presentment against sundry
of them, for breach of the peace, to the civil authority, yet
they refuse to take cognizance of it, and so he could obtain
no relief.
We beg leave to subscribe ourselves, Reverend Sir, the
venerable Society's and your most humble and most obedient
servants,
SAMUEL SEABURY,             SAM'L JOHNSON,
EBEN'R PUNDERsON,           J. WETMORE,
JONA. ARNOLD,               HENRY CANER,
JOHN BEACH.
[Rev. Xl. Punderson to the Secretary.-Extract.]
Groton, June 18th, 1739.
Reverend Sir,
There is not any more considerable alteration in the parislhes under my care than that of the spirit and temper of our
dissenting brethren, many of which, from being revilers and
haters of our Church, are brought to have a good opinion of
it, and occasionally attend our worship. I believe that at
the last Christmas, and upon a Lord's day since, there met in
our Church upwards of four hundred persons who behaved
soberly and devoutly, many of which had been our bitterest
enemies, which to me is an unspeakable comfort. Upon the
earnest desire of a considerable number, I have made a journey to Middletown, about forty miles from my home, and




170               CHURCH DOCUMENTS.
preached to a sober body of people, near one hundred, two
of which have since come and joined themselves to our communion.
Reverend Sir, I am,
Yours, and the Society's most obedient servant,
EBEN'R PUNDERSON.
[Rev..r. Beach to the Secretary.-Extract.]
Yewtown, Augtus 24th, 1739.
Reverend Sir,
I have been here almost seven years, and have baptised
one hundred and sixty-four, of which thirteen are adults, and
have one hundred and twenty-three communicants, but they
live so far distant from each other, that commonly I can administer to no more than about fifty at once, which occasions
my administering it the more frequently; and, though I meet
with many discouragements, yet I have this satisfaction, that
all my communicants (one or two excepted) do adorn their
profession by a sober, righteous and godly life.
I am, Reverend Sir,
Your very humble servant,
JOHN BEACH.
[From the Clergy of New-England to the Secretary.-Extract.]
New-London, ilay 4th, 1740.
Reverend Sir,
We, the Clergy of New-England, convened at New-London, beg leave to represent to the honourable Society the
state of a considerable congregation of the Church of England settled at Hopkinston and the parts adjacent. This town




ONNEcTIXCr T-1740.              171
has been for some years a place of resort to several creditable
families of Conformists) whose inclination or employment
has caused them to remove from Boston into the country, to
whom many of the old inhabitants, both of the Church and
dissenting persuasions, have united themselves ii promoting
the Episcopal Church, being induced thereto by a monthly
lecture preached among them, and some encouragement they
received of being recommended to the Society's favour; there
is likewise a probability of a large increase by the addition
of many others who have purchased farms in the same town,
so as to possess near a third part of the township) in order to
settle themselves or children thereon, provided they can enjoy
a constant public worship of the Church of England) and
procure some assistance toward the support of an Episcopal
minister to reside with them, which they express an earnest
desire of, and a readiness to contribute to the utmost of their
ability towards his comfortable subsistence.
We are the honourable Society's,
And, Reverend Sir,
Your most humble servants,
ARTn. BROWNE,           JOuN USHER,
SAM'L SEABURY,          HENRY CANER,
JOHN BEACH,             ROGER PRICE,
EBEN'R PUNDERSON,      JAMES HONEYMAN,
SAM'L JOHNSON           JAMES MACSPARRAN
I jev. Mr,. M2orris to the Secretary.-Extract.] 
West teaven, September 3th, 1740.
Reverend Sir,
I was received by the Church people with no small pleasure, for, upon Mr. Arnold leaving them, they seemed to
despair of having another to succeed him; beside, the Dissenters used to boast and affirm confidently that the Society




172              CHURCH DOCUMENTS.
would never send here another missionary, which was some
mortification to them, who are a people indeed not to be
despised, and are ready enough to express their gratitude.
I must further say of them, that they are the most versed in
casuistry of any people I ever met; I mean of those that can
only read English. The Archbishop of Canterbury's Treatise
on Church Government, and the late Archbishop of Dublin's
Collection of Cases, with several other books, have been read
here to good purpose, and what they are further to be valued
for is, that their conforming to the Church has exposed them
to many inconveniences and oppression from the Dissenters.
I have two warrants by me, granted before my time, to take
up two men in Waterbury for not frequenting their meetings;
and when one of them offered to give his reasons why he
could not go to their extempore pray ers, he was silenced and
ordered to prison, or pay his fine; two more in North Haven
were some time in jail before my arrival, for not paying their
rates to the dissenting teachers, which is contrary to a law
made here in our favour, (as I am informed,) at a time when
they were apprehensive of losing their charter. The governor
of this colony is elected yearly, and one Williams, who was
lately rector of the Seminary in New-Haven, quitted that
office with a view to be elected governor next year; but if he
succeeds, we are likely to have a troublesome neighbour.
Though there be some hot spirits among the Dissenters,
especially their teachers and those in power, yet there are
many others more moderate, and who seem well affected to
our Church, and are apt to frequent it.
Should I give you an account of the geography of lmy
mission, you would find it large enough for a Diocese; but I
would not be understood to mean this by way of complaint
of the difficulty and length of the roads; and if I may be
allowed to complain of any thing, it must be of the wretched
fanaticism that runs so high in this country, and a body
would be apt to think higher than it did in England in
Cromwell's time, which does not so well suit one of my complexion; yet I have been serviceable in the Church, and will
endeavour to be more so.
I have been informed since I came here, that the Dissenters




CONNECTICUT —1740.             173
in North Haven have obliged the Church people to contribute towards building a meeting-house, and sent one poor
fellow to jail who was not in a capacity to pay his cess;
however, this may be contrary to law here, yet it is found,
by repeated experience, that a poor Churchman can expect
no redress in any court here.
I am, Reverend Sir,
Your most obliged and very obedient servant,
TiEo. MoramIs.
Oetober 28th, 1740.
[Rev. Mi. Joh.nson to th Secretary.-Extract.]
Stratford, in N. E., NVov. 10th, 1740.
Reverend Sir,
As to the complaint we designed to lay before the Society
about the m6ney arising from the sale of the seven new
townships, the event is that, rather than the Church should
have any share in it, the last Assembly have repealed the
act that vested in the several dissenting ministers their dividends of it, exclusive of the Church, so that now, by a former
act, it belongs to the schools, though I imagine they yet have
some contrivance to exclude us from any advantage from it;
for the increase of the Church in this country is very displeasing to those at the helm, and disposes them to distress
us in all the ways they can, and particularly by so explaining the law, in their execution of it, as to oblige many of our
people to pay their public dues to the support of their ministers and building their meeting-houses, if they happen to live
at such a distance from our Churches as renders a constant
attendance impracticable, by which means some of them
have been hauled to jail, and there been forced to abide'till
they paid the utmost farthing. This has been the case with
some people at a village called Cheshire, who have lately
complained to me; and this is threatened and doubtless will




174                CHURCH DOCUMENTS.
be shortly executed upon the people of another village called
Scotland, belonging to Simsbury, a town sixty miles northward.
I am, Reverend Sir,
Your most obedient, humble servant,
SAM'L JOHNSON.
[Rev. Mr. Punderson to the.Bishop of LondZa.
N. Groton, 12th Dec., 1741.
My Lord,
The duties and labours of my mission are exceedingly
increased by the surprising enthusiams that rage among
us, the centre of which is the place of my residence,! a.
short account of which I shall trouble your Lordship with.
Since Mr. Whitefield has been in this country, there has
been a great number, of vagrant preachers, the most remarkable of which is Mr. Davenport, of Long Island, who,
came to New-London in July, pronounced your ministers
unconverted, and, by his boisterous behaviour and vehement
crying, " Come to Christ," many were struck, as the phrase
is, and made the most terrible and affecting noise, that was
heard a mile from the place. He came to this Society, acted
in the same manner five days, was followed by innumerable
[people;} some could not endure the house, saying that it
seemed to them more like the infernal regions, than the place
of worshipping the God of Heaven; many, after the amazing
horror and distress that seized them, received comfort, (as
they term it,) and five or six of these young men in this Society are continually going about, especially in the night,
converting, as they call it, their fellow men; two of these act
as their ministers, and they affirm, converted above two
hundred in an Irish town about twenty miles back in the
country. Their meetings are almost every night in this and
the neighbouring parishes, and the most astonishing effects
attend them: screechings, faintings, convulsions, visions, apm




CONNECTIarr-1741.               175
parent death for twenty or thirty hours, actual possession
with evil spirits, as they own themselves. The spirit in all is
remarkably bitter against the Church of England. Two who
were " struck,)) and proceeded in this way of exhorting and
praying, until actually possessed, came to me, asked the same
questions: " Are you born again." —" Have you the witness
of the Spirit?" &c., as they all do; used the same texts of
Scripture; taught the same doctrines; called me Beelzebub,
the prince of devils; and, in their possession, burnt about
~1,200. They have since been to me, asked my forgiveness,
and bless God that He has restored them to the spirit of a
sound mind. There are at least twenty or thirty of these lay
holders-forth, within ten miles of my house, who hold their
meetings every night in the week in some place or other, excepting Saturday night, and incredible pains are taken to
seduce and draw away the members of my Church; but,
blessed be God, we still rather increase.
I am, my Lord,
Your obedient servant,
EBEN'R PUNDERSON.
[Rev. ir. Morris to the Seretary.]
Derby, Junez 20th, 1741.
Reverend Sir,
Since I wrote before, I made it my business to be further
acquainted with the people, especially the Dissenters, many
of whom I found, on my travel, well affected to our worship,
and ready to conform, had they an opportunity of a Church
at a reasonable distance. Others, I have heard since, object
to their not being attended as often as they could wish. This
proves too strong an objection among weaker people, where
dissenting teachers are so numerous. There are others who,
in their private conversations, profess a great liking for the
Church, will readily own what they cannot be reconciled to




176              CHURCH DOCUMENTS.
in the Dissenters' scheme, especially the sort of ordination
first set up in this country; and though they may be brought to
approve our liturgy, notwithstanding all the industry of their
teachers, yet, as they are men who have little places and
employments, or obtain hopes of having them, they will not
easily be persuaded to conform. This last difficulty is the
greatest I have met with; indeed, the governing party, who
are the most violent, seem to be a little more moderate than
they have been, but their moderation is owing to their being
afraid of England. I have lately been at Simsbury, where I
found about thirty females of our communion; they are in
hopes of having a minister at last, and have accordingly prepared some timber to build a Church. I remitted their rates,
which amount to about fifty pounds of this currency, to help
them forward with the building. I do not mention this as
an act of generosity, for, however I may have a right to protect them from the Dissenters, I think I ought not to apply
their money to my own use, since they are too remote to
be visited above twice a year at most, considering how
many parishes I have beside to attend, and, indeed, remote
enough from one another. I urged upon my brethren at the
Convention to assist me in attending Simsbury, which some
consented to do, so that they can be served now eight times
a year, and this, I hope, will keep them in heart.
I have taken another Church into my care at Wallingford,
which consists of twelve families. I engaged to attend them
once a quarter, which they seem to be satisfied with, for they
know it is as much as I can do for them. I procured Mr.
Thomson, whom I mentioned before, to officiate every Sunday in some one parish in my absence, and as his prudence
and discretion have rendered him entirely agreeable to the
people, he proves very serviceable to me.
I must further acquaint you that, in many places, there are
some undivided lands laid out for the use of the ministry;
and those of the Church party who are proprietors think it
reasonable their proportion should be appropriated to the use
of their minister, and are ready enough to engage in a lawsuit if there was hopes of success in England; indeed, if Dr.
McSparran gain his cause, it will pave the way to do the




CONNECTICUT —-1741.                177
Church a very considerable service.* Since I came to this
mission there have been added to our communion eight persons, four of whom conformed lately; six more have conformed, but have not been yet at the Sacrament. This, Sir,
is all I have to add to my first letter, dated last September,
and which I hope has not miscarried.
I am, Reverend Sir, your most obliged
And very obedient servant,
THEO. MORRIS.
[Rev. iMr. Punderson to the Secretary.-Extract.]
N. Groton, 20th December, 1741.
Reverend Sir,
I would inform the venerable Society, &c., that enthusiasm exceedingly rages in the parts under my care, but especially in this; the most amazing screechings, screamings,
faintings, convulsions and visions attend it, and are made the
inseparable marks of conversion and the new birth; and two
persons in this parish have been so wonderfully wrought
upon in this manner as to become actually possessed by a
devil, as all grant; and one of them who, by the good providence of God, is restored to the use of reason, confesses the
Spirit, in these demoniacs and enthusiasts, is extremely violent against the established Church; and both I and all under my care are declared both by teacher and people to be
unconverted, and going straight down to hell.'Tis amazing
how this wild scene prevails, and how it will end God only
knows. It increases my labours to that degree, that I can
scarce spend a whole day in my study or family. I have
twice been desired to preach to a large congregation of
Seventh-day Baptists, in Westerly, and complied with their
desires.
I am yours, and the honourable Society's
Real friend and servant,
EBEN'R PUNDERSON.
* Dr. McSparran was then engaged in prosecuting a suit he had brought for
the recovery of certain lands in Narragansett, which he claimed in behalf of the
Church. The Rhode Island Documents will furnish the history of this uroceeding.
12




178              CHURCH DOCUMENTS.
[.euv..r. Punderson to the Secretary.-Extract.]
X. Groton,.Marclh 30th, 1742.
Reverend Sir,
There never was more pressing need of good books among
us than in this astonishing season, in which the wildest enthusiasm and superstition prevail; and it is attended with the
most bitter fruits of uncharitableness and spiritual pride, an
instance or two of which I shall trouble the honourable
Society with. Some time since, immediately after I had
preached a sermon in Norwich, one of these enthusiasts came
to me and demanded my experience; (which is very common;) his request being denied, he pronounced me unconverted, and, not only going myself, but leading all under my
charge, down to hell. Soon after, he was attended with a
dumb spirit, and uttered nothing for five or six days, except
two or three blasphemous expressions, viz., Go tell the brethren I am risen; at another time, Suffer little children to
come unto me, &c. There also came another of these exhorters (as they are called here) to my house, attended by
many; declared me as upright and as exemplary a person as
any he knew in the world, yet he knew I was unconverted,
and leading my people down to hell; he affirmed that he was
sent with a message from God, and felt the Spirit upon him,
&c.; he seemed sincere. Soon after, Mr. Croswell, the dissenting teacher in this parish, with two attendants, came
singing to my house, pronounced me unconverted, yet, at
the time, declared that he did not know me guilty of any
crime. I assured him that, in my opinion, it was a greater
crime for him thus to murder my soul, usefulness and reputation in the world, than for me to attempt his natural life;
and that he certainly must be a worse man, thus, in cool
blood and under a religious pretence, to pronounce damnation
against me, than for a common swearer to say to another
6" God damn you;" since this he is not so fierce as before.




CONNECTICUT-1742.              179
At the first rise of this enchanting delusion, I was under
melancholy apprehensions that the infant Church of England,
in this and the adjacent places, would be crushed, those being
the centre of the religious delirium; some have gone after it,
but more been added, and I am more and more convinced of
the promise of our blessed Lord, that the gates of hell shall
never prevail, &c. My labours abundantly increase, and I
have scarce been at home a week together the past winter;
sometimes I preach two or three sermons a week, beside
constantly on the Lord's-day, and I have good hope that my
labour is not in vain.
Your and the honourable Society's
Real friend and servant,
EBEN'R PUNDERSON.
[Rev. Mr. Seabunry to the Seeretary.-Extract.]
New-London, in N-ew —England,
ilay 3d, 1742.
Reverend Sir,
I observe in the collection of papers aforesaid, page 37,
order the 23d, a direction to the several missionaries to send
an account of the founding and building the Churches in their
respective parishes, and how the same have been supplied
with ministers, and also an account of the glebe, &c. In
compliance therewith, I state that, from the records of St.
James' Church, at New-London, it appears that the said
Church was built by subscription; the first bears date June
25th, 1725. That on the 27th of September following, seven
of the members of the Church of England did, by an instrument under their hand, form themselves into a committee
for the purchasing a convenient place in New-London, and
for erecting and building a Church for the service of Almighty God, according to the liturgy of the Church of England as by law established; that at the same meeting the
Reverend MIr. McSparran, the Society's missionary at Narra



180               CHURCH DOCUMErTS.
gansett, was made treasurer; that on June the 20th, 1726, a
carpenter was agreed with for a wood frame; that on the 9th
of August following the timber was brought to the ground;
on the first of October the frame was raised and completed,
and on the 28th of November, 1727, the house was enclosed,
glazed, the underfloor laid, a neat desk and pulpit finished,
and in this state was the Church at New-London when I arrived there, December 9th, 1730, in the service of the honourable Society.
New-London is a small town, standing by a pleasant river
about two miles from the sea, [sound,] the principal port of
Connecticut colony, first settled by the Independents and a
few Anabaptists and sort of Quaker Baptists.
The first members of the Church of England who founded
St. James' Church were either Europeans, not long settled
here, or persons brought up in other colonies. The government here makes no provision for the Church, though they
commonly grant large tracts of land in every town for
the advantage of the Independents; but the Church at ZNewLondon has neither glebe nor parsonage-house, and except a
weekly contribution of its members for the use of the minister, which amounts to about a crown sterling per week, it is
wholly supported by the charity of the honourable Society.
The sectaries here seem crumnbling into more parties and
divisions daily, branding each other with anathemas. The
Church under my care remains steadfast.
Yours, and the honourable Society's
AMost humble and most obedient servant,
SAMUEL SEABURY.
[Rev. -Mr. Caner to the Secretary.-Extract.]
Fairfield, New-England, July 1st, 1742.
Reverend Sir,
Enthusiam has made no progress at Fairfield, and the
effects of it at Stamford. Norwalk, Ridgefield, &c., where it




CONNECTICUT-1742.                181
has a large spread, has been the reconciling many sober, considerate people to the communion of our Church. In order
to prevent as much as possible the spreading of enthusiastic
principles, both now and hereafter, among us, I have applied
myself closely to the duty of catechizing young and old who
do not appear to have sufficiently digested the grounds of
our most holy faith; the catechumens, being divided into
three classes, are examined and instructed, according to their
several improvements, every Lord's-day after sermon, in the
afternoon.
The venerable Society's
Most dutiful and obedient, and, Sir,
Your most humble servant,
HENRY CANER.
[The Clergy of Connecticut to the Bishop of London.]
Fairfield, in Connecticut,
August 24th, 1742.
May it please your Lordship,
We, your Lordship's clergy of this Colony of Connecticut,
humbly beg leave to lay before your Lordship the difficulties
which at present affect us. The want of a Bishop to reside
among us has been often mentioned as a very great obstruction
to the propagation of religion in this remote part of the world,
and we take leave upon this occasion to renew our most hum~ble thanks, as for all your Lordship's good offices toward the
Church in these plantations, so particularly for your kind attention to the several representations of this nature, which
we have formerly made, and your sincere endeavours to
obtain this advantage for us, and, since that could not be
effected, for the kind provision your Lordship has made for
us, as some remedy to this inconvenience, by appointing
Commissaries among us under your Lordship's own special
direction. But as the number of Clergy within this district




1S2               CHU1CH DOCMIMENTS.
is considerably increased, since the appointment of a Commissary at Boston, we humbly hope your Lordship will excuse
us if we presume to suggest, with great submission, whether
it might not be highly expedient for your Lordship to appoint a Commissary in this colony; our distances from the
Commissary at Boston is such as makes it impracticable
for us to attend upon the yearly Convention, and, consequently, to receive the benefit of that appointment. There
are now fourteen Churches built and building, and seven
Clergymen within this colony, and others daily called for;
the nearest of us about one hundred and twenty, and the
most of us upward of two hundred miles from Boston; and
the charge of such a journey, yearly, is too considerable for
our circumstances well to admit of. Beside, the absence
from our parishes, which such a distance requires, proves
oftentimes great prejudice to our people, not only from the
want of publick worship, but likewise in regard they are
liable to be seduced by the indefatigable endeavours of enthusiastic teachers, who, since Mr. Whitefield's tour through
this colony, have made an astonishing progress.
We would not be thought to prescribe, and therefore bespeak your Lordship's candour, when we presume to mention the Reverend Mr. Johnson, of Stratford, as a person
from whose ability, virtue and integrity we might hope all
the advantages which such an authority would enable him
to derive to us, if your Lordship should think proper to bestow this honour upon him. Your Lordship does not need
to be informed, and therefore we forbear to mention, the
particular advantages to be enjoyed by the residence of a
Commissary among us, especially at a time when enthusiasm,
in its worst colors, is daily gaining ground. We flatter ourselves with hopes of your Lordship's pardon and indulgence
on this point, and beg to assure your Lordship that we are,
May it please your Lordship,
Your Lordship's obedient servants,
HENRY CANEIR,              JOHN BEACH,
SAMUEL SEABURY,            EBEN'R PIUNDERSON,
RICH'D CANER.




CONNECTICUT-1742.               183
[Rev. Mr. Johne0o to the Bishop of london.-E-xt'aC.]j
Stratford, in New-England,
September 5th, 1742.
May it please your Lordship,
This letter accompanies another to your Lordship from my
brethren of the Clergy in this colony, wherein they humbly
represent the necessity, or, at least, the great advantage of a
Commissary to be resident among us, by reason of our great
distance from Boston, whichl, at a medium, is between 150
and 200 miles.
On this occasion I humbly beg leave to join my voice with
theirs to the same purpose, (for I do believe, with submission
to your Lordship,) that it would be a very considerable
means for the promoting the interests of religion and order
among us; especially considering how much the Church has
increased here within these few years. When I came here
there were not one hundred adult persons of the Church in
this whole colony, whereas now there are considerably more
than two thousand, and at least five or six thousand, young
and old; and, since the progress of this strange spirit of enthusiasm, it seems daily very much increasing.
My brethren have, indeed, done me the honour to mention
my name to your Lordship. As to this, I beg leave to assure
your Lordship that it is from their own motion, and not in the
least owing to any influence of mine, that they have so done;
and that if your Lordship shall think it fit, at all, to appoint
a Commissary in this colony, I shall be very well satisfied to
submit to any other person whom your Lordship shall think
proper to appoint to preside over us.
May it please your Lordship,
Your Lordship's most dutiful
And most obedient son and servant,
SAMUEL JOHmsON.




184               CHURCH DOCUMENTS.
[Rev. Mfr. Seabury to the Secretary.-Extract.]
Jew-London, in New-England, Nov. 2d, 1742.
Reverend Sir,
At liebron the Church increaseth. I had forty communicants present the last Sacrament. Mr. Barzillai Dean, whom
my brethren of the clergy of Connecticut have desired and
advised me to recommend to the Society's notice, has attended the Hlebron Church the year past, (when I have not
been there,) by reading a form of prayer out of the Liturgy
of the Church, and sermons of the Church of England divines,
to the great edification of the people. In compassion to them,
I beg leave to lament to the honourable Society, that poor
people's want of a resident minister, who, I am well sensible,
might be far more useful to them than it is in my power to be;
and to repeat their desire, that Mr. Dean might be permitted
to come home for that charge.
At Simsbury, sixty-two miles from New-London, and eight
miles west of Connecticut River, and about fifty miles up said
river, there is also a large congregation of the Church of England. I have visited them twice in the year past; the last
time there were one hundred and thirty adults, who, I was
assured, were either real conformists, or desirous of instruction
in the doctrine and worship of the Church. They beg to be
recommended to the Society's charity, and I expect they will,
in a little time, send the Society a token of their sincerity; a
copy of a deed of fifty acres of choice land, which they have
purchased for a glebe.
At Middletown, one of the most flourishing towns in Connecticut, and lying upon Connecticut River, thirty-two miles
from the mouth, and forty miles from New-London, which I
have visited twice the year past, there are thirty families of
the Church of England, earnestly desiring to be mentioned to
the venerable Society, in hopes of their future favours.
I am, Reverend Sir, yours, and the honourable Society's
Most humble and obedient servant,
SAMUL  SEABnRY.




CONECTNEuT-17423                 185
L CJrhwa7rde& of Ne.zw-Lodon to the S&cretary.-Extract.]
New-Lcmdon, February 26th, 142-3.
Reverend Sir,
The very great convulsions occasioned here, and in divers
other places in this colony, by the breaking out of what is called
the New Light, makes this a melancholy juncture to have our
Church empty and unsupplied; and the more, in regard that
the present discords having set sundry of the most cool and considering people on thinking and reading, there is a promising
prospect of those inquiries into religion, ending in a thorough
and well-weighed conformity to our Church; and this again
makes it the more necessary that this Church should be made
happy in the appointment of a missionary, who, for morals,
learning and experimental knowledge in the present state of
things, might be equal to the difficulties of the present times.
Reverend Sir,
Your most obedient humble servants,
NATHNIEL GREENR,      Churchwardens.
EDWARD PALMER,
[The Secretary to the Rev. fMr. Johnson, Xwionary at Stratford.-Extract.]
April 2tSth, 1743.
Reverend Sir,
In order to make some provision, as soon as may be, for
those young men recommended by you, that have been educated at your neighbouring Colleges, and are desirous of entering into the service of the Society, they [the Society] are
come to a resolution, that in all future appointments of catechists and schoolmasters, a principal regard shall be had to
such persons as are already in, or intend to offer themselves
candidates for holy orders; that, as vacancies happen, they
may be filled with these young men after they have been




186              CFl C CH DOCKMEXTS.
ordained Deacons and.Priests, in England; and then, with a
small stipend, (but of not less than ~20 per annum,) from the
Society, it is proposed to fix them at places where the inhabitants are able and willing to give as much more, for their
officiating to them in the holy functions; and, as the greater
missions become vacant, and they are found worthy, to advance them to them, while other deserving young men may
succeed to the lesser.
I am, &c.,
P. B.,
(i. e., PHILIP BEARCROFT
[JRev. Mr. Johnson to the Secretary
Stratford, in NYew-England,
April 6th, 1743.
Reverend Sir,
Since my last I have baptised sixteen, whereof five were
adults and of them four were negroes, and admitted sixteen
to the Holy Communion, of which two were candidates for
holy orders, whose names were Watkins and Lamson. The
late enthusiasm is now abating, (though the venomous effects
of it still prevail,) and has driven a great number into the
Church, so that there are five or six places wanting ministers
greatly, of which Simsbury the most, being at, by far, the
greatest distance; and there are five or six valuable young
candidates that would gladly serve the Church, and to very
good advantage, if they could be encouraged to go home for
orders; and, as the Society may think proper to make NewLondon vacant by removing Mr. Seabury, we should all be
very glad if that place might be kept vacant till one or other
of our candidates could go home for it. Mr. Thomson, whom
I have several times mentioned as having long served the
Church in a lay capacity, and done much good, would be a
very suitable and useful person in that place. And I beg
the Society to give us leave to recommend two or three in
the fall, for new places, if possible, though it were with a




CONNECTICUT —1743.              187'view of but small salaries. Indeed, I humb.y hope the
venerable Board will excuse us if the pressing necessity of
the times should prevail upon us to recommend any one for
orders, though we should not have opportunity to hear from
you. Mr. Dean is said to have done good service at Hebron,
and, I conclude, will be recommended by the Convention.
The Church in this town has so increased of late that our
house will not hold us, which has obliged us to build a new
Church, for which ~1,500 of our money has been subscribed,
and we have got timber and are going on vigorously. It is
to be sixty feet long and forty-five feet wide, and twenty-four
feet high to the roof; with a steeple sixteen feet square, to
be one hundred and twenty feet high; and eight feet the
Chancel, which is to have a library on one side and vestry
on the other. And we should be very thankful if any generous benefactors could be found that would contribute books
to our library, which are very much wanted, and would be
most eagerly read by many of our people, who are very inquisitive after Christian knowledge.
My Notitia Parochialis is as follows:
I.:No. of families in this town, about............  400
II. No. of baptised here and places adjacent by the
missionary of the town,............. 617
III. No. of baptised since my last, of which five were
adults and of them were four negroes,.......    16
IV. No. of actual communicants here and at Ripton, 166
Of which, were admitted the last half year,....  16
V. No. of those that profess the Church, families,..  89
VI. No. of Dissenters from all the rest, Papists, only    1
VII. No. of heathens, beside anabaptised negroes,...  10
VIII. No. of converts, no remarkable instance, they
being generally a sober people.
I have drawn on the treasurer for my salary, due to last
Lady-day, of the same date with this letter,
And remain, Reverend Sir,
Your most obedient, humble servant,
SAMUEL JOHNSON.




188               C'[IONCH DOOEUMBTS.
[Prom Ml.,Stewart to the Secretary.-Extract.]
Jew-Loondon, in.Xw-England,
January 14th, 1743.
Reverend Sir,
The unhappy difficulties our Church in this town labours
under at present oblige me, in behalf of the congregation
and self, to give you the trouble of this. Some time ago the
Rev. Mr. Seabury obtained the consent of the venerable Society to remove to Hempstead; the Rev. Mr. Morris was
appointed to fill the vacancy, which (for some reasons) was
not pleasing to the people, who made application to the Rev.
Mr. Commissary Price, who, together with the Rev. Dr. McSparran, came hither, and after strict and impartial examination of both parties, the Rev. Mr. Morris resigned his claim
to the Church. Now we have certain intelligence that some
underhand endeavours are used here to fill our Church without our privity, with one of their own creatures, in particularly with one Mr. Dean, a person of no other attainments
than what are usually acquired by the low education of some
men in this country. We beg leave by you, Reverend Sir,
humbly and with the deepest submission, to represent to our
wise, charitable and truly provident patrons, the Society,
that New-London, being the seat of his Majesty's customhouse and so the port of greatest note in the colony, and,
in many other respects, as a city set on a hill which cannot be hid, a missionary of mean and ordinary abilities,
who might, perhaps, discharge the duties of his function
with advantage in the more enclosed, remote and obscure
settlements, where defects and inconformity to rubric and
canon might pass with less observation, would have a direct
tendency to bring the Church here into contempt, and the
more so, as the Independent minister of this town has a well
established character, and is in every respect the most superior person of his order in this colony. Permit us, therefore,
to implore the compassion of the venerable Board to a Church




COoxNECTICuT-1}743.            189
like to be left in a tottering and ticklish condition; and as
none of the worthy gentlemen on the mission already in
New-England have mentioned their desire of being removed
to us, and as he that was appointed could not make us happy,,we earnestly entreat that none may be sent that goes from
this country but such as the Reverend Mr. Commissary Price
will recommend to the venerable Society to be appointed to
this Church. We have a good character of one Mr. Cleverty [?]* from some worthy gentlemen of the Clergy, and as he
has been bred up in the Church, if we can prevail on him to
go home for orders, doubtless he will make us happy and all
easy; but if we fail of him, and that no other to the Commissary's liking offers before he writes, then we humbly beg
leave to rely on the choice of the venerable Board, and earnestly entreat that a gentleman regularly educated at home,
and always bred up in the Church of England, may be singled out for the service of the Church here, which will be
very unlikely to keep it's ground, much less to thrive, under
the ministry of a man of incompetent capacity, tinctured
with Independency, or, in the least, addicted to any kind of
inconformity or vice.
[Rev. Mr. ASeabury to the Secretary.]
Rleverend Sir,
The last half year has produced nothing remarkable with
regard to the Church, which continueth steadfast in the midst
of the wildest enthusiasms; a most extraordinary instance of
which happened here, in the sixth day of this instant, being
the Lord's-day, when a large congregation gathered in the
street, made a fire, and, in the sight of the sun, burned a great
number of books of divinity, and, among others, Bishop Beveridge's Thoughts on Religion; and, on the next day, in a public
assembly, threw down of wearing apparel to be burned to the
value of one hundred pounds sterling, but by some means
they were restrained from executing this last attempt.
* We think the name intended is Cleveland —ED.




190               CHURCH DOCUMENTS.
The Society will observe by the Not. Paroch., here enclosed,
that the communicants at New-London have increased, three
of whom are late conformists from the Independents.
I have, since my last, beside my visit to Hebron, where
the Church still prospers, visited Simsbury, sixty-two miles
from New-London, where there is a great prospect of a flourishing Church.
For my last quarter's salary, due me the day of the date
hereof, I have drawn in favour of Daniel Lothrop, which 1
hope the Society's treasurer will honour.
I am, Reverend Sir,
Yours, and the honourable Society's
Most obedient and most humble servant,
SAMUEL SEABURY.
2Yew-London,.iarch 25th, 1743.
[Rev. ir. Beach to the Secretary.]
Reading, in New-lngland,
April 20th, 1743.
Reverend Sir,
The enclosed is the state of my parish, which is very little
altered in this last half year. My people are not at all
shaken, but rather confirmed in their principles by the spirit
of enthusiasm that rages among the Independents round
about us, and many of the Dissenters, observing how steadfast our people are in their faith and practice, while those of
their own denomination are easily carried away with every
kind of doctrine, and are now sunk into the utmost confusion
and disorder, have conceived a much better opinion of our
Church than they formerly had, and a considerable number
in this colony have lately conformed, and several Churches
are now building where they have no minister. Indeed,
there is scarce a town in which there is not a considerable
number professing themselves of the Church of England, and




coNNETIUT —- 1743.             191
very desirous to have it settled among them; but God only
knows when and how they can be provided for. Were there
in this country but one of the Episcopal order, to whom
young men might apply for ordination without the expense
and danger of a voyage to England, many of our towns might
be supplied which now must remain destitute. To express
this opinion to the venerable Societyv (I am sensible) may be
deemed impertinent, but I am moved to it by: hearing so
frequently numbers of serious people of our Church lamenting their unhappiness, that they can rarely enjoy that worship which they hunger and thirst after, there being so small
a number of Clergymen in this country; while Presbyterians,
Independents, and all sects are here perfect in their kind.
But, although we have not the utmost that we could wish
for, yet I bless God for the pious care and charity of the
venerable Society, to which it is owing that so many hundreds of souls are provided for in this government; and had
it not been for that, we have reason to think there would not
have been at this day as much as one congregation in this
colony worshipping God according to the Church of England.
I have this day drawn upon the treasurer for my half year's
salary.
I am, Reverend Sir, yours,
And the venerable Society's
Obliged and obedient servant,
JouN' BEACH.
[Rev. M3r. Johnson to the Secretary.]
Stratforac, in New-Englana,
iay 16th, 1743.
Reverend Sir,
We humbly presume upon the letter you wrote to tnhe
Rev. Mr. Morris, relating to Mr. Ebenezer Thomson, the




192              CUECtsI DOCUMENTS.
bearer hereof, to recommend him to the honourable Society
for holy orders, and a mission to one part of Mr. Morris'
charge, which has grown too extensive and burthensome for
him; for, although your letter mentions him only with a
view to his being appointed a schoolmaster, yet, considering
how much greater necessity there is for ministers than schoolmasters, especially in these times of the great prevalence of
enthusiasm and confusion in this country, we humbly hope.
tile Society will be prevailed to admit that he be sent back
in holy orders, with a mission, upon such a security as can at
present be obtained of ~20 sterling per annum by the people
of Derby and Oxford; which, although it be not directly a
land security, (which they are providing as soon as may be,)
yet it may be equally depended upon as though it were so 
since we can assure the Society that the men who have undertaken for it are sufficiently responsible, and that every
parishioner is, in like manner, obligated to them as they are
to the Society, and that they are a people that do truly deserve the Society's favours.
As to Mr. Thomson, we beg leave to give this testimony
concerning him, that he has been bred up and received both
the degrees of Bachelor and Master of Arts at Yale College,
New-Haven, of nine years' standing; and ever since he left
the College he has been very laborious, both in suffering much
hardship and doing all the good offices he possibly could for
promoting the interests of religion and the advancement of
the Church of England in these parts, while at the same time
he has had a family of his own to provide for, which now
consists of a wife and four children, being above thirty
years of age, and he has always proved himself a person of a
very serious and virtuous life, an orthodox and faithful son
of the Church as by law established, and entirely well affected to the present government. We do, therefore, humbly
hope the Society will be pleased to admit him into their service, and beg they would inform us by him, when he returns,
whether we may not, upon the same foot, recommend two or
three more, there being as great a necessity for providing for
Simsbury, Waterbury and Ridgefield,'not- to mention Hebron, which we conclude will be recommended by our breth



CONNECTICUT — 1438.               193
ren in the eastward part of this government; and there are
three other valuable candidates that beg leave to be employed as soon as mnlay be, viz., Messrs. Watkins, Cole and
Lamson, beside others that might be mentioned. We humbly
take leave to subscribe ourselves,
The Society's, and, Reverend Sir,
Your most faithful and obedient humble servants.
[This letter, though written by Mr. Johnson, was in the name of and signed by
all the Clergy.]
[Revb. Mr. Caner to the Secretary.]
Fairfield, in New-England,
May 19th, 1743.
Reverend Sir,
It is the chief design of this to lay before the venerable
Society my Not. Paroch. For the last half year we have had
no considerable alterations in the affairs of the Church of Fairfield, every thing remaining quiet and composed; though
the constitution of this colony, both civil and ecclesiastical,
has received sundry violent shocks from the effects of enthusiasm; but as I don't enter into affairs not immediately under
my inspection, I have endeavoured to apply myself with
diligence to cultivate a spirit of piety and sound religion
among the members of my own charge. As the business of
catechising is, confessedly, an important part of the pastoral
care, so the experience I have had of its success in bringing
both children and adults to a just and worthy apprehension
of religion, has encouraged me to proceed in it with greater
diligence. It would be of much use, for the furthering and
promoting these, my labours, if the venerable Society would
be pleased to bestow upon these children a few Catechisms,
a dozen or two of Lewis' Exposition of the Catechism, half
a dozen of Dr. Bray's Catechetical Instructions, and a dozen
13




194              CHuRCH DOCUMENTS.
of Common Prayer-Books, with Tate and Brady's Version of
the Psalms. I mentioned this request to the venerable Society about a year ago, but not succeeding, the necessity of
the children obliges me to repeat it.
I am, with the utmost respect and veneration,
The venerable Society's most dutiful and obedient,
And, Sir, your most humble servant,
HENRY CANER.
[Rev..Mr. Johnsorn to the Archbishop of Canterbury.]
Stratford, in New-England,
May 22d, 1743.
May it please your Grace,
This will wait on your Grace by Mr. Ebenezer Thomson,
whom I have several times mentioned to the Society, and
who may truly be recommended as a person who (having
been bred and graduated in our neighbouring College) has
for these several years undergone much hardship and done
much service, as far as his lay capacity would admit, in promoting the interest of religion in general, and the Church of
England in particular, in these parts, having thought nothing
too much to do or suffer that has fallen in his way for the
sake of so good a cause, and who now goes home, with a
good character from all the Clergy in these parts, in hope of
a mission to Derby. But if New-London should be yet a
vacancy, I should rather wish him to be sent thither. And
on this occasion I humbly entreat your Grace's interest with
the Society, that whenever any vacancies happen to be made
in this country, either by death or removal, the people may
have leave, before they are filled, to procure the Clergy to
recommend some young gentleman, if any offers from hence,
as there scarcely ever fails to be several (as there are now) who
would gladly serve the interests of the Society, to the utmost
of their power, at any possible rate, and are generally much




CONNECTICUT-1743.                195
more acceptable to the people, and, consequently, more successful in promoting the great ends of the Society, than those
who come hither, strangers to the condition of things in these
countries. I beg your Grace will excuse me that I mention
this, and that I again suggest the necessity of Bishops, which
I have fresh reason to do, from the great prevalence of en
thusiasm, and especially that mad sort of it which obtains
among the Moravians to the westward, who are likely to
make the greater progress, to the unspeakable damage of
-true religion, by means of having the Episcopal government
among them. It is, indeed, very hard, that when enthusiasm
and heresy have the advantage of Episcopacy to propagate
them, the truth of the orthodox Church of England should
not have the like advantage, for the defence and propagation
of that. I beg your Grace's prayers and blessing, and remain, may it please your Grace, your Grace's most dutiful
son and most obedient, humble servant,
SAMUEL JOHNSON.
[Rev. Mr. Seabury to the Secretary.-Extract.]
Hew-London, June 5th, 1743.
Reverend Sir,
But truth obligeth me to say that the prospect of a large
Church at Hebron is not so good as formerly, because the
followers of Mr. Whitefield, Mr. Tennant, &c., do extremely
abound there; the dissenting teacher at Hebron having gone
the greatest lengths in pretensions to inspiration and the sensible feeling of the Spirit, as well as into the greatest excesses
of meetings almost every day and night. And I should the
more rejoice in a resident minister there, because the same
spirit of Methodism prevails mightily at New-London, increaseth my care and labours, and renders my absence on
Sundays of dangerous consequence. The conformists, both at
New-London and Hebron, indeed, are steadfast to the Church.




196              CHURCH DOCUMENTS.
though they are very much alarmed by the new doctrines
and new propagation of religion, the effects of which are really
surprising. Those people have meetings in New-London almost every night or day, and'tis not uncommon (as I am
apprised by persons of good sense and integrity) to see ten or
more seized at once with violent agitations, many incapable of
any decency, crying out for their damned estate, so past speaking at all, or so much, indeed, as being unable to stand, fall
down, as they pretend, with the weight of their guilt; and the
most of those continuing thus violently exercised (as they say
with conviction) but a few hours, do then receive comfort. The
Spirit of God, they say, witnesses with their spirits, that they
are converted and born again; then follow immediately such
raptures and transports ofj oy as are more surprising than their
distresses. New-London has been for a week together in
such a tumult that I was afraid the people would have been
beside themselves. I have had my house full of people, some
under those distresses, and others surprised at the conduct of
their neighbours, though I thank God I have never seen any.
person in this way, but, by cool reasoning and by plain expositions of the terms of reconciliation with God, they have
been brought off from their amazing apprehensions to a just
notion of the doctrines of repentance and remission of sins;
and, beside my attendance at home for many days together
on people thus frighted, I have been invited to preach to a
numerous congregation at Lyme, about seven or eight miles
from New-London, who never heard the Liturgy many of
them, and who expressed great satisfaction in my explanation
of those doctrines, about which New-England seems at present
so much perplexed.
I remain your poor, though faithful servant,
SAMUEL SEABURY.




CONNECTCUT-1743.               197
[Rev. Mr. Johknon to the.Secretar.y]j
Stratford, in New-England,
September 30th, 1743.
Reverend Sir,
I am most humbly thankful to his Grace and the rest of the
honourable Board, for their kind reception of my letters and for
the favourable notice they have taken of what I suggested,
and the excellent scheme they have concerted for providing
for such young men as offer themselves candidates from hence,
(of whom the number is still increasing,) as well as that of
places where they  might be advantageously situated; and
people seem, in several places, well disposed to give all the
security they can for ~20 sterling per annum, and are contriving to lay out uncultivated lands for glebes, which, in the
course of time, may be very valuable, though it must be
some years before they can be cultivated so as to do much
toward the support of an incumbent. An hundred acres
have been lately laid out for the perpetual use of the Church,
within the bounds of this town, which is now worth about
t20 sterling.
I lately opened a new Church at Ripton, where the people
hope, in due time, to have some young man to be placed as
my assistant. On the Sunday following, the dissenting
teacher, one Mills, whose praise is in the journal, being a
great admirer of Mr. Whitfield, reviled and declaimed
against my sermon, which was on the subject of relative
holiness and the reverence due to the house of God. He insisted that there is no more holiness in a Church than under
an oak tree, &c.; and soon after some of his followers put his
doctrine in practice, by defiling the Church with ordure in
several places.
This zealous man gave out, when Mr. Whitfield first appeared, that their employing and encouraging that great reformer would utterly destroy the Church, root and branch;
but now finding the event to be the entire reverse of his
predictions, he is grown out of all patience with us. Iil the




1'98             CHURCIt DOCtMENTS
mean time, while they are daily spitting out their impotent
venom against us, I thank God we have a blessed spirit of
peace and charity, and of zeal and unanimity, while every
other Christian virtue is happily prevailing among my
people, who are carrying on our new Church in the neatest
manner, and with great dispatch, it being within a few
months raised and now almost covered, and we have had
several new families added, and more seem likely to follow
them; but I cannot expect any enlargement of my salary
from the people here till they have got through the great expense of building.
I am in much concern for the great damage I fear the
Church in these parts will sustain by Mr. Seabury's removal,
and Mr. Morris' succeeding him at New-London. This gentleman had the misfortune to have but little esteem among
the people where he had officiated, and to be much despised
by many others. I have faithfully laboured, both with him
and them, to prevent this misfortune, but so the event has
proved, which put the people of New-London into a terrible
consternation, when they heard he was appointed for them,
so that they were unwilling to admit him into their Church
till his character should be cleared up; and applied to the
Commissary to inquire into the grounds of that general disesteem he laboured under, but nothing has yet been done
about it. They were advised by the Clergy here, in the mean
time, out of duty and gratitude to the Society, to admit him
into their Church, which, upon our advice, they immediately
did, but yet depend upon the Commissary to take cognizance
of the affair. What he proposes to do I have not heard, but
whatsoever the result be, (though I earnestly wish otherwise,)
I doubt there is little reason to expect the people there will
be happy in him, or he in them, and I believe it would be
well for both if they were otherwise provided for. NewLondon is a place of considerable importance to this government, and the Church there was likely to flourish in a good
degree; and it grieves me very much, that this unhappy
affair should be an hindrance to it. I should not have said
this much, but that I have been earnestly solicited by that
people to mention something of it, and that it looks unavoid



CONNECTICUTT-1743.              199
able that the Society will be troubled with it first or last;
but I shall add no more, unless the Society shall have occasion to inquire of me and my brethren about it, and shall
only subjoin my Not. Paroch., which is as follows:
I. No. of families within the bounds of this town,
I am told, is about.....................0...  400
II. No. of baptised here and in places adjacent by
the minister of this town,..................  644
III. No. since my last, of which three were adults,..  12
IV. No. of actual communicants here and at Ripton,
about...................................  170
Of which, admitted this last half year,.........   10
V. No. of those that profess the Church, families,.   92
VI. No., all the rest Presbyterians and Independents,
Papists, none.
VII. No. of heathens, beside many unbaptised negroes,...................................   10
VIII. No. of converts, &c., no remarkable instance,
they being generally a sober, virtuous people.
I have drawn on the treasurer for my salary to Michaelmas, and remain the Society's most faithful and obliged,
And, Reverend Sir,
Your most obedient, humble servant,
SAIM'L JOHNSON.
LEPev. Mr. r. each to the Secretary.]
Ieading, in -New-England,
October 20th, 1743.
Reverend Sir,
I beg the venerable Society's direction in an affair I am
just now perplexed with. There are about twenty families
professing the Church at'New-Milford and New-Fairfield,
which are about fifteen miles hence. I preach to them several
times in a year, but seldom on the Lord's day. They frequently come to Church at Newtown, but, by reason of the




200               CfHP1RC11 DOCTME'TS.
distance, they can't attend constantly, and their families very
seldom, and, when they can't come to Church, they meet
together in their own town, and one of their number reads
some part of the common prayer and a sermon. They are
now building a Church, and hope in time to have a minister
settled among them. But the Independents, to suppress this
design in its infancy, having the authority in their hands,
have lately prosecuted and fined them for their meeting to
worship God according to the common prayer, and the same
punishment they are like to suffer for every offence in this
kind, although it is the common approved practice of the
same Independents to meet for worship in their own way
when they have no minister; but what is a virtue in them is
a crime in our people. The same is like to be the case in
many other towns, in which people professing the Church are
so far distant from a settled minister, that they cannot constantly attend the worship of God with him.
The case of these people is very hard; if, on the Lord's day,
they continue at home, they must be punished; if they meet
to worship God according to the Church of England in the
best manner they can, their mulct is still greater; and if they
go to the Independent meeting in the town where they live,
they must endure the mortification of hearing the doctrine
and worship of the Church vilified, and the important truths
of Christianity obscured and enervated by enthusiastic and
antinomian dreams. Now I should be thankful if the venerable Society would direct me what course to advise these
people to, and if I might receive a particular instruction to
take care of those professing the Church in New-Milford and
New-Fairfield as part of my parish. I believe it would put
me into a better capacity to protect them from the insults of
their Independent neighbours. I have, this half year, baptised eighteen children, and admitted several more persons to
the Lord's Supper. The inclosed is the state of my parish. I
have this day drawn for my half year's salary.
I am, Reverend Sir,
Yours and the Society's
Most obedient servant,
JOHN BEACH.




CONNECTICUT-1743.               201
[Rev. AMr. Caner to the Secretary.-Extract.]
Fairfield, in Hew-England,
November 30th, 1743.
My parish has received no diminution and but little increase since my last; I beg leave, therefore, to refer to my
notitia parochialis inclosed for what may be expected as to
the present state of the Church in Fairfield. At Norwalk,
Stamford and Ridgefield, where my brother chiefly officiates,
there have been large accessions made to the Church of late,
chiefly of persons who appear to have a serious sense of religion, and whose good example will, I trust, have a happy
influence upon pthers. Where the late spirit of enthusiasm
has most abounded, the Church has received the largest accession. Many of those deluded people, having lost themselves in the midst of error, wearied in the pursuit, as their
passions subsided, sought for rest in the bosom and communion of the Church; and others, reflecting upon the weakness
of their former dependence, which left them exposed to such
violent disorders, have likewise thought proper to take shelter
under the wings of the Church. Norwalk, Stamford, and the
neighbouring towns, have been much visited with this spiritual malady, but at Fairfield it has never obtained, though it
has been often attempted to be introduced by Mr. Whitfield,
and many of his followers. An epidemical sickness has prevailed in the towns last mentionedrthis fall, and, among
others, my brother has been confined by it above two
months, which has greatly increased my burthen, the care
of all these western Churches thus falling upon me, so that
my tim'e has been wholly taken lip in visiting the sick and
preaching from town to town.




,202              CHURCH DOCUMENTS.
[The Churchwardens of Wallingford to the Secretary.]
Wallingford, in New-England,
December 1st, 1743.
Reverend Sir,
We, the inhabitants of Wallingford, members of the Church
of England, make bold on behalf of ourselves and at the request of our brethren inhabiting in the neighbouring towns
of Guilford and Branford, to inform you that we are twentyfive masters of families that are members of said Church, and
meet together every Lord's day and edify ourselves, as well
as we can, by reading; and while the Reverend Mr. Morris
was in these parts, we were edified to our great comfort; our
number then increased, and many more were coming in to
join us, but he being removed front us, and Mr. J. Lyon
cannot attend us, we are now destitute, and our dissenting
brethren from year to year are distressing us with executions
for meeting-houses, rates, steeples, and bells for them; so that
our present melancholy circumstances crave your good offices
with the honourable Society. We are willing to do the best
we can toward the support of a minister, and make no doubt
but in two or three years' time we shall be able to raise ~20
sterling per annum toward the support of a minister. We
humbly pray we may be assisted with a minister, and, might
we choose for ourselves, we having experienced the Rev. Mr.
Morris, would heartily wish he might be the person; and
could a method be found for quelling the perpetual demands
of our dissenting brethren for meeting-houses, rates, &c., it
would greatly add to the growth and consolation of our distressed Churches, and we, as in duty bound, shall ever pray.
IfEIRY BATES,  C urcrvhwarden8,
JOHN WARD,   and several others.




CONSECTIC r —-1743-4.           20
[Rev. Dr. Johnson to the Secretary.]
Stratford, in 2New-England,
January 10th, 1743-4.
Reverend Sir,
I most humbly thank you for your good offices to Mr.
Thomson, and for your kind and affectionate letter by him,
and your readiness therein expressed, to do any thing in your
power toward promoting the interest of our holy religion
*and the best of Churches in these parts of the world; and,
among other things, I was much obliged to you for what you
kindly suggested to Mr. Thomson about the report you had
heard of my going to meetings, and suffering my son to do
so; and I beg leave to make my apology, and explain to you
the truth of this matter, and entreat you would make that
lse of it, in my behalf, which you shall think proper, and
mav seem to you needful; and even to read this letter to the
Society, if there appears to you occasion for it, in order that
I may be freed from any mischief that may arise to me from
any misrepresentations that may have been laid before them;
for, I find I have enemies disposed to do me a damage, and
those, I believe, some whom I have endeavoured to serve to
my utmost, and for whom my tenderness and compassion has
sometimes put me upon doing kind offices, even when I had
too much reason to fear the public might suffer by it, an instance of which may possibly come into your hands. It is
true Mr. Morris, in his great zeal, did complain of me to the
Convention on those accounts, but I wrote to the Commissary, and gave him such an account of my conduct as I presume satisfied him, he having never remarked any thing to
me, to the contrary, since.
As to my own going to meeting, tne fact is, I did go to
hear Mr. Whitfield once, which I presumed it would not be
offensive for me to do, he being in orders in our Church, and
not then under any censur' o —,.. indeed, I thought it my




204:             CHUtRCH DOOCMENT5..
duty so to do, that I might be under the better advantage tos
prevent the mischief I apprehended from him and his followers among the people; and the event has proved that I
have, by this means, been under the greater advantage to
withstand and quiet the late madness and enthusiasm that has
prevailed among us, and make it turn to the great increase of
the Church.
It was for the same reason that I, with two or three of my
brethren of the Clergy, went one' night in the dark, and perfectly incognito, among a vast crowd, to see and hear IDavenport's managements, whom we heard, rave about a quarter
of an hour, and then went away, without having been known
there; and twice in my travels, by mere accident, I happened,
in the night, (for these mad meetings were chiefly in the
night,) to come unexpectedly upon private houses where
these wild meetings were carrying on, but soon left them,
unknown; by which means I happened to be an eye-witness
of those strange doings, which I gave the Society an account
of, and have since made an advantage of my observations on
those occasions to their confusion. Such have been the instances of my going to meeting, for which I have been
faulted by some over-zealous people, whose venomous spirit
toward the Dissenters has very much hurt the Church, while I
have made the best advantage of what I observed, and with
very good success, to do her service; and this much for myself.
As to my son, it is indeed a great mortification to him and
me, that I am obliged to send him to a dissenting College,
or deny him any public education at all; and rather than
deny him a collegiate education, I confess I do not forbid
him going to meeting when he can't help it, to which he is
himself so averse, that nothing but mere necessity would put
him upon it. He comes home to Church once in three weeks
or a month, at least, at the communion, if possible, being
fourteen miles distant, and as often as there is Church there,
he goes to West Haven, which is four miles distant; at other
times he stays at home in his chamber as much as he can,
and the rector and tutors indulge him as much as they dare,
being friendly disposed to serve me as much as they are able




CO1NNECTIcUT-1743-4.             205
without hazarding the resentment of the government that
supports them. This is the fact with respect to my son. And
after all, if my method of proceeding is not what the Society
approves of, 1 am heartily willing to stand corrected, and entirely to conform to their instructions, and in hopes of a line
from you, on this subject, for my direction.
I remain, Reverend Sir,
Your most obliged and obedient,
Humble servant,
SAM'L JOHNSON.
P. S.-Since my last, here is an ingenious gentleman, one
Mr. Prince, of very considerable learning, having been fifteen
years a fellow of Harvard College, in Cambridge, who has
conformed to the Church, and lives at present in this town,
and desires to serve the Clurch in holy orders, and would
willingly go home in the spring; and here is an honest
neighboufing dissenting teacher, who will very soon appear
for the Church, and probably bring the greatest part of his
congregation with him, and I wish it may be in the Society's
power to settle a small pension upon him, and send him back
in holy orders to his people, if he should wait.on them for
that purpose.
Yours, as above,
S. J.
L[Clergy of (ortluecdicut to the Secretary..-Extract.]
Norwalk, liarch 28th, 1744.
Reverend Sir,
And we can with the same integrity recommend the people
of Stamford, Greenwich and Horse Neck, whose petition for a
minister to reside among them was laid before the Society
by the Rev'd Isaac Brown, when he went home for orders.
These people have been much persecuted by the dissenting




206              CHURab   DOCUIENTS.
government, for when. they would have rewarded the Rev.
]Mr. Wetmore for his monthly attendance in officiating among
them, by paying their proportion of the rates, according to
an express law of the colony, they were prevented by a very
oppressive judgment of the court; and though they have
been put to great difficulties, yet the Church has much increased, especially since Mr. Richard Caner was sent to Norwalk, and there is a good prospect of their increasing much
more, if they can obtain Mr. Miner to settle among them,
now the confusions of Methodism are prevailing, as they
have done very much of late, in that part of the government.
Mr. Miner is a gentleman well qualified to serve that- peo —
ple, and they have an earnest desire to obtain him. He is a
late convert from the Dissenters, convinced of the necessity
of conformity, chiefly by occasion of the late mischiefs of enthusiasm. He was for above twelve years a teacher among
the Dissenters, much esteemed by them both for his preaching and good behaviour.
We subscribe, with our humblest duty to the Society,
Reverend Sir,
Your most obedient, humble servants,
S. JOHNSON,           RICHARD CANER,
JAS. WETMORE,         JAMES LYONS,
HENRY CANER.
[ CurcGw~rdens, at Simskbry, to, the Societyt.-Extract. i
Simsbury, April 10th, 1744.
Reverend Sir,
We have built a convenient Church, and purchased a glebe
of fifty acres adjacent to our Church, and in good order; we
have been a Society for four years, and have almost constantly for that time carried on sermons and a form of prayer,
and yet, notwithstanding all this, the Independents, by force
and under a pretence of authority, have carried away our




CONNECTICUT —1744.              207,
estates, to support their teachers, to build their meetinghouses, and procure their parsonages. Enthusiasm and error
have much prevailed among us; but of late they have run
into parties, so that, in a meeting-house adjacent to us, they
cannot agree about calling a teacher, and many of them and
of our neighbours, by the occasional visits of the Reverend
Mr. Lyons, incline to the Church, having nothing so much to
object against as the want of a settled minister. Our Clergy
have advised us to Mr. Gibbs, as a modest, virtuous gentleman and well qualified to serve us, but as we are not able to
support him suitably to the dignity of that station and character, we trust that the venerable Society, in their great wisdoms, will allow us their charitable assistance.
We are, Reverend Sir,
Your most obedient, humble servants,
WILLIAM CASE,                   d
o Churc/hwardens.
JNO. CHRISTIAN MILLER, )
[Rev. Mr. Pundereon te the Secretary.-Extract.]
1Y. Groton, April 9th, 1744.
Reverend Sir,
As I am at present the only missionary in this half of the
government and part of Rhode Island, I would earnestly recommend it to the venerable Board, as soon as possible, to
supply the vacancy at New-London, and, if possible, to erect
a mission at Stonington and Charlestown, where the harvest
would, undoubtedly, be very plenteous, were there a resident
labourer of a virtuous character. I preached at Charlestown
last Sunday to a considerable congregation.
I am, Reverend Sir, yours,
And the Society's real friend and servant,
EBEN'R PUNDERSON.




208               CHURCH DOCUMENTS.
[Rev. Mr. I;yon8 to the Secretary. —Extract.]
Derby, Miay 8th, 1744.
Reverend Sir,
At a place called Guilford, where there are two Independent congregations in the compact part of the town, and
where, also, the worship of our Church has not till lately
made its entrance, I have preached several times, baptised
three children, and eight families (consisting of thirty-six
children beside adults) have declared their conformity, and
iri testimony thereof, have subscribed a paper which I formed
for that purpose, and many of them have occasionally communicated since that time. At Milford and New-Haven
there are a few members of our Church, but care is taken, at
the last of those places especially, that they should not increase, the rector and tutors of the College there having, of
late, suffered none of the students (except the children of professed Churchmen) to attend my lectures. At West Haven
I have baptised two children and officiated frequently. At
Derby and Oxford I have had sixteen new communicants,
at the last of which places I have baptised seven children,
and catechised at Derby; bht having committed the care of
registering the baptisms there to one of the Churchwardens,
he obstinately refused to show me the lists, which naturally
induces me to present my venerable patrons with a short
sketch of my grievances at this same Derby. As soon as
they had advice of my appointment, and from what country
I came, and, indeed, before I arrived among them, they
abused me, calling me an " Irish Teague and Foreigner," with
many other reflections of an uncivilized and unchristian kind;
they boasted they should soon discover me, meaning, I suppose, they would either find or fasten some thing upon me
relating to my character or conduct whereby they might get
rid of me. Under these disadvantages I entered on that part
of my mission, but, by care and diligence, conciliated myself
to them,'till the Reverend M3r. Thompson, of Scituate, came




CONNECTICUT- 1744.              209
up amongst them, whose conduct kindled a fire that is not
extinguished. In my absence, and while he was among them,
they appointed a vestry without my privity: and let me know
nothing of their intents till four days before that meeting, of
their own appointment; meanwhile, they secreted from me
the Society's letter, and when I insisted on seeing it, asserted
they lhad no occasion to consult me, nor make me privy' to
their purposes, so I did not see it till two days before that
meeting. From Mr. Thompson's conduct and theirs, I became clearly convinced that they were mutually of the mind
to bring him into my mission. At their instance, I indicated
a regular vestry, and at that, the appointment of a committee
to find a suitable tract of land for a glebe. I encouraged
them all in my power, and exhorted them to order, peace and
unanimity, but to little effect, for at a vestry held in Easter
Week, some of their leading men asserted they would not assist in getting a glebe unless on condition to have their own
countryman to fill the Church. They alleged they were acquainted with the venerable Society's mind in that matter,
which, they said, had left them to their choice, and had
agreed to make it a rule that every country should be furnished with missionaries of their own raising (as they phrase
it.) It would be too tedious to record all the abuse and insults I have received at Derby; so many and so severe, that
some of themselves, more moderate than tile rest, remonstrated to them the danger they were in of losing the mission by
their abuses to me. They answered, they did not care if it
was sunk, they could soon renew it, and had rather have it
sunk in the deepest part of the sea than have it in an itinerancy; though I have officiated in that place above one-third
of my time, and am, through God's goodness, hitherto irreprovable in doctrine and practice. My New-England brethren of the Clergy here are so fond of their own countrymen
that, were there never so mnuch occasion for it, either here or
at the Board, they would be at little pains to do my character
justice; and in a little time they hope to get rid of missionaries
that are not country born, or, at least, that no more of European education be sent; and then what face the Church
here will put on, is as easy as it is unpleasant to foresee. If
14




210                  CHURCH DOCUMENTS.:.
the insults of Derby are not redressed, it will be in vain to
send any European, especially into this colony, whether as
resident or itinerant.
I am, Reverend Sir,
Your most obedient, humble servant,
JAMES LYONS.
[Rev. Mr. Caner to the Secretary. —Extract.]
Fairfield, in ~ew-England,
Slay 10th, 1744.
Reverend Sir,
The present state of my own parish does not yiela me all
the satisfaction I could wish.  The late enthusiasm  never
made much progress here, and, indeed, the.temper of the
people is generally rather faulty in the other extreme, a cold.
Laodicean disposition, an inconsiderate neglect of the great
duties of religion, a visible deadness and formality, is what,
at present, gives me most concern, and prevents the success
of my administrations.
I am, Reverend Sir, your most obedient,
And most humble servant,
HENRY CANER.
[NoTE.-It may be a question worth examination, whether the enthusiasm complained of was not, in its reactionary effect, the occasion, if not the cause, of the
Laodicean coldness complained of.]
The Members of the Church in Northbury to the Secretary.]
Northbury, Jfay 28th, 1M744.
The representation and humble petition of the members of
the Church of England, in Northbury, in the township of
Waterbury, in the colony of Connecticut, in New-England,
and the members of said Church, dwelling in other places
nearly adjoining, humbly sheweth:




CONNECTICUT-1744.                211
We were all educated in this land, under the instruction of
Independent teachers, or (as they would be called) Presbyterians; and consequently, we were prejudiced strongly
against the Church of England from our cradles, until we
had the advantage of books from your Reverend missionaries
and others, whereby we began to see with our own eyes that
things were not as they had been represented to our view;
and Mr. Whitfield, passing through this land, condemning
all but his adherents, and his followers and imitators, by their
insufferable enthusiastick whims and extemporaneousjargon,
brought in such a flood of confusion amongst us, that we became sensible of the unscriptural method we had always been
accustomed to take in our worship of God, and of the weakness of the pretended constitution of the Churches (so called)
in this land; whereupon, we fled to the Church of England
for safety, and are daily more and more satisfied we are safe,
provided the purity of our hearts and lives be conformable to
her excellent doctrine; and that it is the best constituted
Church this day in the world.
HENRY COOK,             ISAAC CASTEL,
BARNABY FORD,           JOHN How,
THOMAS CLASELEE.
[Rev. XMr. Caner to the Secretary.-Extract.]
Fairfield, in NVew-England,
November 13th, 1744.
Reverend Sir,
We daily expect a new storm from the daily irregular excursions of Mr. Whitfield; he has not yet begun his progress, having been under afflictions for the loss of his only
child, and, since that, visited with dangerous sickness himself; his sickness still continues, and whether it shall please
God to continue him a scourge to these Churches is yet uncertain.




212                CHURCH DOCUMENTS.
[-rev. IMr. Johnson to the Secretary.-Extract.]
Stratford, in New-.England,
February 12th, 1744-5.
Reverend Sir,
I observe the Society has come to a resolution not to re.
ceive any for the future, without liberty first obtained for
them to go home, &c. This order, as far as I was concerned,
I shall dutifully observe; but, as it is expressed in the most
general terms, I beg leave to ask whether it is to be understood of any at all, even though their view were only to
supply any vacancy that may happen, or whether it be not
rather the Society's meaning, that none shall go with a view
to any new mission to be erected, without leave first obtained. It is of this last case, I humbly presume, the Society
would be understood, because it would seem hard, and might
be very detrimental to the Church, for the people to be so
long destitute, as the time would require to send and receive
the Society's answer.
I humbly hope this resolution of the Society will not be
understood to look back so as to defeat the hopes of Messrs.
Miner and Lamson, when it shall please God to deliver them
from their captivity.*
As to Mr. Prince, who is now teaching a school, all I can
say of him from my own knowledge is, that ever since he has
been in those parts, which is now almost two years, his behaviour has been not only entirely unexceptionable, but very
amiable. He was, it is true, rejected from Harvard College,
but I understood it not to be from immorality, but for his
resolutely, and, perhaps, too warmly adhering to what he
thought right, and publishing his reasons (not since answered) in a controversy among them relating to the government
of the College; which occasioned, indeed, great obloquy
* They had probably been captured on their passage, and carried prisoners to
France, as several of those who went for orders were.




CO'ECTCUT- 1744-5.               213
against him, and made the Convention doubtful about employing him, but they at length came to this conclusion, (if
I remember Tight,) that if he brought sufficient certificates of
his good behaviour for two years from that time, which was
last May, they should he willing to recommend him. As to
his writing against the three creeds, it is utterly groundless;
all the pretence for it was, that about twelve years ago he
published a piece upon the-resurrection of Christ, wherein
he has a slant of two or three words about composing creeds,
or something to that effect, and he told me at that time he
had imbibed some loose latitudinarian notions from reading
Chubb, and the Independent Whig, &c., which he had long
since been convinced were very erroneous, of which le gave
satisfaction to Dr. Cutler by a letter to him. However, as to
all these things, I beg leave to refer you to the Rev. Mr. Davenport, a very worthy member of the Society, now going
home, who is much better acquainted with what concerns
Mr. Prince, in that government, than I am.
I remain, Reverend Sir,
Your most faithful and most obedient servant,
SAMUEL JOHNSON.
Liev. Mr. Johnson to the Secretary.-Extract.]
Stratford, in New-England,
Laiarch 30th, 1'45.
Reverend Sir,
And as there is such a growing disposition among the
people in many places to forsake the tenets of enthusiasm and
confusion, so there is a like disposition increasing in the College, where there are already ten children of the Church, and
several sons of dissenting parents, that are much inclined to
conform. I was there last week, and was much pleased with
their exercises; among the rest, there was one layman, a person of good character, (beside Messrs. Marsh and Mansfield,
mentioned in my last,) who desired me to mention him to the




214; tAtult DoCoMItTS,
Society as a candidate for the ministry. Thus, the harvest is
large and t/ke labourers not a few, who would gladly be employed, and be content with as moderate wages as can be
thought tolerable, whenever the Society shall be in a disposition to employ them, or any of them,
Though the madness of the late enthusiasm has much
abated, the venom of it still continues, and, I fear, rather increases, and operates in a violent manner in many places
against the Church; so that no sooner does any personin
authority appear for the Church, but he is soon displaced, and
some bitter creature set up by the government in his room;
and in some places, notwithstanding the law they had made
in our favour, they have of late taxed the lands of the Church
people in common with the Dissenters, toward the support
of their ministers. I have myself lately had no less than ten
pounds of our money forced from me, toward maintaining
three of the worst creatures in the government, being taxes
raised upon some lands I had in the places where they were
teachers. But what I would mention as the greatest grievance of this kind, is the case of the Church people at Derby,
who are forced to pay such a land tax in their own town to
a dissenting teacher and meeting-house in one of their villages, (when they have a Church of their own to finish and
a minister to providefor,) the amount of which, in the whole,
will be very considerable.
I am, Reverend Sir,
Your most obliged) obedient, humble servant,
SAM uEL JoHusoN.
[)ey,.Mr. Lyons to the Secretarvy.-Extract.]
aNew-Haven, Mgay 30tk, 1745.
Reverend Sir,
The conformists at West Haven increase, and they have
almost finished the Church. In many other places (too
tedious to mentior/) our Church begins *o gain ground in




CONxSECTICUt-1745.             215
spite of many disadvantages. At Wallingford and Cheshire,
the Dissenters take, by distress, the Churchmen's estates, to
build, repair, and keep clean their meeting-houses; and,
though they have had several trials in our courts, they always
lose their cases. The people of Derby still continue divided
by a national spirit that prevails, and is industriously propagated by some of them and the neighbouring Clergy; however, after all attempts made, and unchristian means used,
by some to render me unacceptable, (by hauling me once and
again before an Independent justice of the peace, as I mentioned in some former account,) yet, through the goodness of
God, my innocence and integrity protected me, and I continue
irreprovable, having a good understanding with the most of
my extensive mission, and even with many of Derby, who
are grieved with the irregular proceedings of that National
party.
I am, Reverend Sir, yours, &c. &c.,
JAMES LYONs.
[Pev. Mr, Gibbs to the Secretary.-Extract.]
Sims8bury, June 26th, 1745.
Reverend Sir,
The Church seems to be in a promising condition, and I
am not without hope that there will be a great increase in
time. I have now twenty communicants, and have baptised
eight. The Churchmen here have been much oppressed by
the Dissenters, who have taken from them seventy pounds
toward building their meeting-house and settling their minister.
I remain, Sir,'Your most humble and obedient servant,
-  WILLTAM GIBBS,




216             C0TRCOH DOCUMENTS.
[Rev. Ar, Johnson to the Secretary.-ELxtract.]
Stratford, in New-England,
September 2d, 1745.
Reverend Sir,
I am very glad the Society has made the providing a parsonage-house the conditions of the continuance to old missions. This is a very reasonable and happy exchange for a
former proposal of making an house and glebe the condition
of opening new missions, which was very difficult and discouraging to many new places.
I have, by favour of Mr. Vesey, seen the sermon and abstract you mention relating to the Moskito Indians, but do
not know of any missionary willing to move to that distance,
it being very remote from these parts, and thought to be an
unhealthy climate. Mr. Prince, however, is willing to undertake, if the Society shall think proper to employ him, and I
am informed that the Commissary is well satisfied with respect to the objections that were alleged against him, and is
willing to recommend him; and in order thereunto, I have
sent him a good testimonial from these parts where he has
resided chiefly above two years. I hope le may be the
bearer of this letter, or, at least, go home in the spring, and
am persuaded if he can have his health, he may do very good
service in such a mission as you propose.
As I may not have opportunity again after Michaelmas, I
beg leave to add that I have continued, once in awhile, to
visit Middletown and Guilford, where there continues to be
a good prospect, and the College remains in the same disposition ai when I wrote last. Another promising youth offers
his service, one of Bishop Berkeley's scholars, whose name
is Colton, and he, with the other two I mentioned before,
lfan.field and Lyman, beg leave to hope they may be employed by the Society about two years hence. when they will
be of full age, and in the mean time are devoting themselves




CONNECTICUT —1745.             217
to pursue such studies, under my direction, as may qualify
them for it.
It is a mighty grief to us to hear of the death of our friend,
Mr. Miner, the case of whose disconsolate widow and fatherless children is very pitiable; he would have been a very
useful man if he had lived; nor do we yet hear since of Mr.
Lamson. Would to God we had a Bishop to ordain here,
which would prevent such unhappy disasters.
I remain, Reverend Sir,
Your most obedient and humble servant,
SAMUEL JOHNSON.
[Rev. Mr. Punderson to the Secretary.-Extract.]
N. Grotonz, October 8thb, 1745.
Reverend Sir,
Since my last I have been to Stafford, preached and baptised some children. Mr. Payne, of whom I acquainted the
Society in my last, proposes, by divine permission, (having
obtained leave from the Society,) to come home next summer. He has only a wife and two children, and there is no
missionary within near fifty miles, and the country pretty
well inhabited.
The third Sunday in September I preached in New-London, desired the congregation to meet upon the next day,
which they did, and voted to procure a house as soon as possible for their next missionary. One of the members of that
Church has given a convenient and valuable spot of land for
that purpose; they have generously subscribed to the building of said house, which I hope will be fit to live in by the
beginning of next summer. I verily think it a piece of justice due to that congregation in general, to assure the Soci.
ety that, according to their abilities, they are a generous good
sort of people, and they continue firm and unshaken.
Reverend Sir, yours, and the Society's
Most obedient and obliged servant,
EBEN'R PUNDEBSON.




218                CHURCH DOCUMENTS.
[The Churchwardens of West Haven to the Society.-Extract.]
West Haven, October 26th, 1745.
Reverend Sir,
We beg leave to represent the state of our part of the mission to the venerable Board, as the parish of West Haven is
small, and the inhabitants poor. The Dissenters were not
able, after our conformity, to support their teacher by a ministerial rate, so that they have sold the glebe land, and had
money out of the treasury, which, with some additions made
by the parish, founded a bank, the interest of which supports
their teacher, which weakens our hands and hinders the
conformity of Dissenters, as they expect to contribute to the
support of ours if they conform.
We are, Reverend Sir,
Your most obliged, humble servants,
JOHN HUMPHREVILE,, Churchwardens.
JOSEPH PRINDLE,   5
[Rev. Mr. Johnson to the Secretary.-Extract.]
Stratford, in New-England,
26th llarch, 1746.
Reverend Sir,
I have once or twice mentioned the case of the people of
our Church at Ripton, a parish of this town, under my care,
where there are fifty-one families that have built a Church
about eight miles from hence. They have been so undeniably importunate to have the service and sermons read among
them to prevent their children from straggling and going to
meeting, that I have this winter indulged their importunity




CONNECTICUT-1746.               219
in permitting my son to read to them, whose services therein
have been very acceptable to them, and they beg me to mention him to the Society, with their earnest desires that he
may be allowed as a catechist and reader for them, and would
allow him seventy or eighty pounds our currency, which is
equal to about ten pounds sterling. As to my son, I shall
only beg leave to say, that I thank God he has good abilities,
and that I have spared no pains to cultivate them in the best
manner circumstances will admit of. He will shortly enter
his 20th year, and has took his Bachelor's degree almost two
years ago; the chief Greek and Latin classics were then so
familiar to him, that he merited Bishop Berkeley's premium
in this College, and he has taken much pains to qualify himself in all other parts of learning; particularly, le has read
much of our best English philosophers and divines for his
years, and is now studying the Hebrew, and Antiquities,
both sacred and profane. But whether he will make divinity or law the business of his life, he has not yet resolved.
I am, Reverend Sir, your most obliged,
And most obedient, humble servant,
SAMUEL JOENSON.
[Pev. Mr. Caner to the Secretary.-Extract.]
FairJield, in New-England,
3ovember loth, 1746.
Sir,
As to Norwalk and Stamford, I am afraid the interest of
the Church loses ground in those places, for want of a more
constant service than I can supply them with. And I cannot help repeating my earnest desire that the Society will
either supply these places, or, by some further provision, enable me to supply them by an assistant. Here' are sundry
young gentlemen, ready to enter into the Society's service,
who would be very acceptable to these people. Tile Society




220              CHURCH DOCUMENTS.
will excuse me that I am solicitous for the welfare of a people,
chiefly, under God, the fruit of my own diligence,, that I may
not see the labour of almost twenty years bestowed in vain.
I am the venerable Society's
Most dutiful and obedient, and, Sir,
Your most humble servant,
HENRY CANER.
[Rev. Mr. Gibbs to the Secretary.]
Simsbury, New-England,
October 22d, 1746.
Reverend Sir,
I presume to write, at the same time hoping and wishing
for the prosperity of the Church here, which is environed
among a number of its enemies, who are continually wishing
for its overthrow. The Independents, who have been heretofore very rude, bold and insolent toward those of the Church,
by forcing and obliging them to pay to the Dissenters, do
yet, some of them, persist in the same manner, and have
obliged a communicant of my Church, though, indeed, belonging to another town, viz., Farmington, about fifteen miles
distant, to pay toward the repairing of their meeting-house,
and threatened hard for his refusing to pay.
And another communicant of mine, of the same town, do
they very much threaten. Thus bold and daring are they to
all that profess themselves of the Church.
I would further acquaint the honourable Society that the
prejudices of the people toward the Church wear off by degrees, and they begin to be more enlightened about it, and I
am not wanting in my endeavours to instruct them as to the
same.
I have baptised, since the eighth of May last, ten children,
one of which I baptised at Litchfield, near thirty miles west
of Simsbury, where I was desired to preach; and another at




CONNECTICUT-1746.               221
IMiddletown, twenty-seven miles southward, and I have five
new communicants added.
I pray God for the enlargement of the Church in these
parts, and hope it may increase more and more, which is the
earnest wish of him who subscribes himself,
The Society's most obedient
And humble servant,
WILLIAM  GIBBS.
_Rev. 2lr. Panderson to the Secretary.]
N. Groton, 6th October, 1746.
Reverend Sir,
As I am the only missionary the Society have at present in
the eastern half of the government, I think it my duty, in the
most pressing lianner, to solicit the Society's further assistance to New-London, Charlestown and Hebron; especially
New-London. In behalf of that people I can plead with
great assurance of success, as they have complied with the
terms on which the venerable Society suspended their assistance; having set up and covered a very good house which,
in a few weeks, may be made a comfortable habitation.
With regard to IHebron, which I visit twice a year, and
therein administer the Sacraments, I have this to observe,
that when I was there last, which was -the last day of August, there were about forty communicants, and six children
baptised. The day following I preached them  a sermon,
after which they unanimously subscribed ~303 10s. for the
purchase of thirty acres of exceedingly good land, (the donor
gave ~30,) a deed of which I shall transmit with this letter,
and beg leave earnestly to recommend to the venerable Board
the supply of a people so steadfast and zealous, and who have
not a missionary within near forty miles of them. I presume
there would be as large an addition to them as to any congregation in the government, if they were supplied with a
pious and faithful minister. The Thursday following, I




222               CHURCH DOCUMENTS.
preached a sermon in Litchfield, about eighty miles from my
house, where there is a considerable number of conformists,
who performed their part of the divine service with propriety
and reverence. I furnished them with some books, and trust
there will be additions to them.
I must also beg leave to refresh the memories of the venerable Board with respect to the melancholy state of Charlestown, where there is great need of a resident missionary.
The deed of forty acres of good land given to that Church, I
hope has reached the Society'ere this, having been sent with
my letters of April 4th. The state of the Church in Groton
and the adjacent towns remains much the same, but I hope
will soon increase, the Independent teacher in this place
having left his people, and'tis the general opinion that they
will not be able to settle another.
I am, Reverend Sir, yours, and the Society's
MIost faithful friend and servant,
EBEN'R PUNDERSON.
[Rev. Ar. Johnson to the Secretary.-Extrmct.]
Stratford, in New-England,
October 1st, 1746.
Reverend Sir,
Since my last, I have received the Bible and Common
Prayer-Books safe, for which we are all very thankful. My
son continues to read and instruct the youth at Ripton with
good success, and the Church there flourishes. I continue to
visit them, and administer the Sacraments to them once in two
or three months, and they are going on to finish their Church.
My Church also flourishes in this parish, where two new
families are added, and I have baptised twenty-four, and admitted eight communicants since last March, whereof one is
a negro man. I have also visited Middletown and Guilford,
where the Church keeps its ground, though I cannot say it




CONNECTICUT —-1746.             223
much increases for want of ministers. A love to the Church
is still gaining in the College, and four more, whose names
are Allen, Lloyd, Sturgeon and Chandler, have declared
themselves candidates for holy orders; and there seems a very
growing disposition toward the Church, in the town of New.
Haven, as well as in the College, so that I hope there will,'ere long, be a flourishing Church there. I have heretofore
desired leave for Messrs. Dibble and Leaming to go for orders, and am now desired to ask the same for Messrs. Mansfield and Allen, as soon as the Society can be in a disposition
to receive them. Mr. Cole, for whom I wrote long since, is,
I doubt, discouraged, having heard nothing from him in a
great while. I presume it probable, that leave was given
him to go home, by Mr. Dean; but as we have not heard a
word of him since he left London, we have too much reason
to fear he is lost. If this should prove to be the case, (as
Mr. Lyons is said to be removed, and Mr. Dean to have been
appointed to succeed him at Derby,) the people there are
very desirous that Mr. Mansfield may have leave to go for
them, where they are providing a glebe; and Waterbury
having also provided one, begs to have a minister for themselves, with Northbury and Litchfield, and that Mr. Cole
may have leave to go for them, or one other of the candidates, if Mr. Cole be otherwise provided for. New-London
is also providing a house, and Mr. Cole or Mr. Lloyd would
do well for them.
I am, Reverend Sir, your most obliged
And most obedient, humble servant,
SAMUEL J OINSON.
[Jev. Mr. Caner to the Secretary.-EExtract.]
Fairfield, in New-England,
Xiay 12th, 1746.
Sir,
I have not been favoured with an answer to either of my
two letters of November and December past, requesting some
further provisions for the Church at Norwalk. Thie suffer



224              CHURCH DOCUMENTS.
ing condition of that Church, notwithstanding my utmost
care, obliges me to renew my request, and humbly beg that
the venerable Society will give that people leave to recommend some young gentleman home, in their own favour, or
make such other provision for them as the Society shall think
proper. I mentioned in my last their having purchased a new
house and garden spot for the use of a minister, to which
they propose to add some convenient pasturage as soon as
they have finished their new Church, which at present lies
pretty heavy upon them. Beside the provision already made,
they offer to raise twenty pounds sterling per annum, which
I think they will be able to advance, because the taxes levied
by the government here in favour of a minister amount to
about fifteen pounds sterling, and they will doubtless exert
themselves to raise five pounds more than what is exacted of
them by law.
The Church of Norwalk is, I think, the largest and most
promising Church in this colony, which makes me the more
solicitous to have some better provision made for it than I
am capable of bestowing that way consistently with a proper
care of other Churches; and this, also, will, I hope, plead my
excuse with the venerable Society for the repeated trouble I
give them upon this subject.
As to Fairfield, nothing new or uncommon has occurred
since my last. The condition of the Church is, I think,
nothing worse, I am afraid I must add, nor much better,
since my last account. Indeed, in these times of war and
confusion, (in which we also have had our share,) which are
often attended with greater degrees of licentiousness and corruption of manners, I am apt to flatter myself that our
labour is not wholly lost, if we mayv be instrumental in preserving religion from decay, even though no great progress
should be made in its advancement.
The particular state of these Churches will appear from the
notitia parochialis enclosed, and to which I beg leave to refer.
I am the Society's most dutiful and obedient,
And, Sir, your most humble servant,
HENRT CANER.




CONNECTICUT-1746.              225
[Rev. 1Mr. Gibbs to the Secretary.]
Simsbury, Mfay 8th, 1746.
Reverend Sir,
I take the freedom to write, and, at the same time, represent
the condition of the Church here. It is situated back of the
great river Connecticut eight miles; close by are a number
of large commodious towns, Hartford being the chief and a
county town, and about ten miles from Simnsbury. The
Church here seems to be well situated, and I am not without
hopes of its growth, notwithstanding it is environed and surrounded by so great a number of staunch enemies to it, and
those who call themselves " new lights," who are of a bitter
and inveterate spirit toward the Church. I have not been
wanting since my being here in my endeavours to enlighten
these people, in the Church, as to the feasts and fasts of the
Church, and in teaching and catechising their children. I
have spread about several books of the Society's, which have
been very beneficial, Dr. King being very much in request.
I have belonging to the Church here forty families, twentysix persons, communicants, and have baptised since July last
thirteen children. I ]lope to see the Church prosperous and
flourishing here; people's prejudices begin to wear more off,
and I pray God to open their eyes that they may see and know
better, and that they may be brought into the Church, that
so we may glorify God with one heart and mind.
I beg leave to subscribe myself the Society's
Most obedient, humble servant,
WILLIAM GIBBS.




226               CHURCH ~DOCUMENTS.
[Rev. Ar. Punderson to the Secretary.]
Groton, April 4th, 1746.
Reverend Sir,
It is with a very sensible pleasure that I can acquaint the
venerable Society with the almost daily increase of our
Church, and that the opinions of most sober, considerate
persons grow more favourable toward it; particularly, I am
rejoiced upon Mr. John Whitney's embracing the Church,
and resolving, by divine Providence, with the Society's aid,
to come over in the fall for holy orders. He is a person of
an excellent moral character, good sense, and of a mild disposition. The people in New-London are very desirous (if
they should not be supplied before) that he may be appointed
for them. The conformists, also, of Stonington, where he
lives, together with those of Charlestown and Westerly, are
fond of having him, if the Society are able and willing to
erect them into a mission. The harvest is truly great, and at
present no labourer in this half of the government but myself, of the Episcopal order, and, with the most sincere gratitude, I bless God that my labours are not in vain. I esteem
it a singular Providence, that in New-London the Church
have lost none in their long vacancy, but wait with patience.
A deed of the land given by a worthy member of the Church,
which is, I suppose, worth ~300 our money, will be transmitted with my letter; a frame of a house worth ~100 is already got, and they are daily forwarding it.
Capt. Mumford, with whom Mr. Dean embarked, is not yet
arrived; we fear he is taken or foundered. By him I had
expectations of a letter from the venerable Society, whom
I fervently pray God daily to enlarge, and make a more
extensive blessing to mankind in general, and this land inl
particular.
I am, with the greatest respect, Reverend Sir,
Yours, and the Society's faithful friend and servant,
EBEN'R PUNDERSON.




CONNECTICUT-1746.              227
[Rev. Mr. Beach to the Secretary.]
Reading, in Connecticut, in X. E.,
April 2d, 1746.
Reverend Sir,
All that I have at present to acquaint the venerable Societyv with, beside what is contained in the enclosed, is, that we
have erected another Church at Newtown, which is forty-six
feet long, thirty-five broad, and twenty-five up to the roof.
It is a strong, neat building, and though it be small, yet,
considering the poverty of people in these new settlements,
and that the parish being sixteen miles in length, we must
have two Churches in it, it is a considerable charge to that
part of the parish, who have contributed cheerfully, some
thirty, some fifty, and one man two hundred pounds this
currency; while our neighbours of the Independent persuasion have their meeting-houses built by a tax laid by the
government upon all the land in the parish. And in this
parish all who go to meeting are exempt from paying any
thing toward the support of the government, but as soon
as any join in the worship of the Church of England they
immediately lose that privilege.  But the more we are
oppressed, though there may be several professors of the
Church of England, yet, I hope, we shall be the more sincere
in our profession; and it is very certain that our people generally expend more by far for the support of religion than their
neighbours of the dissenting persuasion.
If the venerable Society would think it reasonable to send
me four dozen Common Prayer-Books, with Tate and Brady's
version of the Psalms, and two dozen of the Whole Duty of
Man, they should be carefully distributed among the poorer
people, by,
Reverend Sir, yours,
And the venerable Society's
Most obedient and humble servant,
JOHN BEACH.




228               CHURCH DOCUMENTS.
[IJev. Mr. Lamson to the Secretary.]
North Castle, in the Parish of Rye,
February 10th, 1746-7.
Reverend Sir,
The mission at Fairfield having become vacant by the
Reverend Mr. Caner's acceptance of an invitation to Boston,
the Episcopal congregation at Fairfield, by advice of the
Reverend Mr. Caner, have invited me to accept that mission,
if the venerable Society will be pleased to bestow it upon
me at their request and mine, in which, there being such a
universal concurrence, without an exception, I could not but
think it an encouragement to hope that my labours among
them may be attended with good success, (by the blessing of
God,) and, therefore, I do cheerfully concur with them in
their application to the venerable Board, that I may be renoved into the Reverend Mr. Caner's place, according to the
request of that Church, provided I may be allowed the same
salary that Mr. Caner received. For, although Mr. Caner's
benevolence and the people's purchase have provided a very
decent glebe house, yet, fifty pounds sterling, added to what
may be expected from the people, will not be a decent subsistence in a place where living must be more expensive than
in most other country places. My present situation can't be
thought a settlement, inasmuch as no house or glebe is provided, nor my support sufficient to enable me to purchase
one. I have endeavoured, since my arrival, to do what service I can among a great number of poor people scattered
about in the woods, who have little ability, and, most of
them, as little inclination to reward me. I compassionate
their circumstances, and the more, because so many of them
have very little sense of the importance of religion and virtue.
The Reverend Mr. Wetmore has been treating with a worthy
young gentleman, Mr. Thomas Bradbury Chandler, who is
willing to perform the service of a lay Catechist among these




CONNECTICUT —1746-'7.           229
people, if the honourable Society, upon my removal, will be
pleased to bestow upon him the ten pounds sterling salary
that was formerly allowed to Mr. Flint Dwight, deceased.
I am of opinion that such a provision is as much as these people can expect at present, and I believe it may, in a great measure, supply the place of a minister in orders, considering that
Mr. Wetmore, with Mr. Chandler's assistance to read in the
Church at Rye in his absence, may more frequently visit the
Churches at North Castle and Bedford, and administer the
Sacraments among them. And some of the people have expressed a satisfaction in the hopes of having so ingenious a
man as Mr. Chandler to labour among them in such a method
after my leaving them. They find as little fault as I could
expect at the talk of my removal, knowing that my present
income is too small for a support. I shall be glad to know
the honourable Society's resolutions, in answer to this humble request of mine and the Church at Fairfield, as soon as
may be; and as that place will be the more acceptable to me
for its nearness to my friends, being but eight miles from my
father's house, I hope my request will be granted; which,
if the venerable Society shall think fit to gratify me in, no
diligence shall be wanting on my part, according to my best
abilities, to serve the great designs of their charity, God's
glory, and the good of immortal souls.
The sectaries will be very busy in endeavouring to seduce
the people when they have no minister among them; for which
reason I beg leave to repeat my urgency to have this affair
considered and expedited as fast as proper, and only add my
humble duty to the venerable Board, and, with hearty prayers
for the success of their extensive charity,
I humbly subscribe myself,
Reverend Sir, your most obedient,
And most humble servant,
JOSEPH LAMSON.




230               CHURCH DOCUMENTS.
[Rev. Air. Caner to the Secretary. ]
Fairjield, in few-England,
February 12th, 1746-7.
Reverend Sir,
I having lately received an invitation from the congrega.
tion of King's Chapel, in Boston, to succeed the Reverend
Mr. Commissary Price, who has resigned, I take the first opportunity to ask the venerable Society's concurrence and dismission from the present service in which I am now engaged.
I have long laboured under infirmities of body, which made
it very difficult for me to perform the services required in
such an extensive cure. The frequent colds I hlave taken,
and disorders consequent thereon, have made traveling to me
pretty much impracticable.
I humbly thank the venerable Society for their favours to
me and to the people whom I have served, and because I am
much concerned that the interests of religion should be carried on as well as begun here, I humbly hope the Society
will agree to the request of the people of this Church (herewith transmitted) and appoint the Reverend Mfr. Lamson to
succeed in this place. I should conceive a good prospect of
this gentleman promoting the interests of religion and piety
here, from the great harmony that appears between him and
this people. A custom of being indulged this way has made
it matter of consequence in this part of the world, that the
people should, as much as possible, be gratified in the choice
of their ministers; and frequent observation has confirmed
me in it, that little can be done toward the advancement of
piety where a good understanding does not subsist between
minister and people. I omit at this time to mention the
present state of these Churches, a full account of which I
propose shortly to transmit. In the mean time, I beg leave
to observe that, as this Church is situated at the head of the
county, a very small vacancy may prove of much disservice,




CONNECTICT —1746-7.             231
especially at this time, when very few Churches thll. way are
supplied. One thing further I humbly move to the Society,
which is, that they will be pleased to continue the full salary
to this place, for, though the people are generous according
to their circumstances, yet the expensiveness of the place
makes the whole but a necessary support; this town, and
that of New-London, being more expensive than any others
in the colony.
I expect to be called upon from Boston Lady-day next;
but propose to continue my labours here, with neighbouring
assistance, till May or June, by which time I conceive hopes
the Society will grant me a dismission, and remove Mr. Lamson to this place. In regard to salary, I shall not presume
to draw further than Lady-day next, till I have the Society's
express leave how far, or to what term, I shall be indulged
to draw.
The people of Fairfield, to recommend themselves as much
as possible to the Society's favour, have, upon this occasion,
purchased a large and convenient house, with suitable accommodations, for a parsonage house, worth about one hundred
and fifty pounds sterling, and have, by the will of a charitable person, Mrs. Jeruslia Sturges, lately deceased, received
an addition of fifty pounds of this currency, to their bank,
which I formerly made mention of. I hope, upon the whole,
their honest industry and zeal will engage the Society's compassion, and the continuance of their favour, in supporting a
very promising mission.
For myself, I beg leave to assure the Society that I am
Their most dutiful, most obedient
And most humble servant.
HENRY CANER.




232               CHURCH DOCUMENTS.
[Rev; fr. Punderson to th-e Secretary.-Extract.j
N. Groton, September 29th, 1747.
Reverend and dear Sir,
I have the satisfaction to inform the venerable Board, that
the ministry house in New-London is nearly finished. I
have contributed something, and endeavoured to my utmost
to forward it.
They are building a Church in Norwich, the largest and.most flourishing of any town in this colony. There are about
thirty families of conformists. The town has always had the
character of the most rigid Congregationalists in the government.'Tis really surprising how much their dispositions are
softened toward the Church; and, indeed,'tis so almost
every where.
Reverend Sir, yours, and the Society's
Most obedient, humble servant,
EBEN'R PUNDERSON.




CON TECTicUT —1747.            f233
[Churckwardens of St. John's Church, in Stamford, Connecticut, to the Secretary.]
Colony of Connecticut, Stamford,.arch 25th, 1747.
Reverend Sir,
We, the subscribers, churchwardens and vestrymen of St.
John's Church, in Stamford, with the unanimous concurrence,
and in behalf of all the professors of the Church of England,
in the towns of Stamford and Greenwich, in Connecticut, beg
leave to represent to the venerable Society the state of our
Church, and with humble submission request their patronage,
and that the effects of their extensive charity, which hath
brought the means of salvation to many thousand souls, may
preserve us and our posterity from wandering in error and darkness, and guide our feet in the way of peace, by assisting us to
procure a settlement of the worship of God among us, according to the pure doctrines and wholesome rites and usages
of the Church of England, which we highly reverence and
esteem. We have struggled with many and great difficulties
in advancing to the state in which we now are, to have a
Church erected and so far finished as to be fit for our assembling in it, and with accessions to our number of professors
sufficient to be enabled to purchase a glebe. and to pay
twenty pounds sterling per annum to a minister, which we
have obliged ourselves to do by subscription under our
hands, and hope to make some additions, so that the whole
may be worth thirty pounds sterling per annum, which is
the most that we are able to perform at present, and too little
for a decent support for a minister. We have been much
oppressed by the Dissenters among whom we live, who,
under the protection of the laws of the colony, have obliged
us to pay taxes to their minister, and to build them meetinghouses, even when we had obliged ourselves to contribute,
according to our abilities, to reward ministers of the Church
of England for coming to preach among us, and administer
to us the Holy Sacraments; and several have been impris



234               CHURCH DOCUMENTS.
oned, and others threatened with imprisonment, to compel
them to pay such taxes; and we could get no relief frlom the
courts of justice here. This has made us very desirous to obtain a minister in orders among us, which is the only means
to obtain exemption from such taxes, according to the express
words of the colony act. We, therefore, exerted ourselves to
the utmost of our abilities to assist Mr. Miner to go for
orders, who was taken by the French upon his passage with
the Reverend Mr. Lamson, and afterward died in England,
which proved a very melancholy disappointment to us; and
before, we had contributed considerably to assist Mr. Isaac
Brown, when he went home for orders, with hopes that he
might have been sent to us, but were disappointed by his
coming back for Brook Haven. Since Mr. Miner's death,
we have applied ourselves to MIr. Ebenezer Dibble, by the
advice of the Reverend Mr. Caner and others. This gentleman has read prayer and sermons among us, to our very
great satisfaction, for near a year and a half, and being willing to go home for holy orders, and return to us to be our
minister, we have again exerted our utmost power to procure a glebe, subscribed for his support annually twenty
pounds sterling, and do assist him further to defray the expense of his voyage. We have applied to the Reverend
Clergy to represent our state, who all of them approve well
of Mr. Dibble, and having giving him testimonials to the
Lord Bishop of London, we earnestly hope he may obtain
holy orders, and humbly entreat the venerable Society to
compassionate our circumstances, and admit Mr. Dibble to
be their missionary to us, with such salary, as they may think
fit to allow, which we hope will contribute to the glory of God
and to the salvation of many poor souls; and we, your poor
petitioners, as in duty bound, shall ever pray for the enlargement of Christ's kingdom by the extensive charity of your
venerable Society.
We are, Reverend Sir, your most obedient, &c.,
JOHN LLOYD, 
TaoMAs Yowss,    Churchwarden&.
And others.




CONNECTICUT —-1747.             235
[T]te Churchwardens of litctfield, Connecticut, to the Secretary.]
itcehfield, 4April the 4th, A. -D. 1747.
Reverend Sir,
We, the subscribers, inhabitants in Litchfield, in the County of Hartford, in Connecticut, in New-England, humbly beg
the favour that our following requests may be laid before the
venerable Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in foreign parts, and that those declarations that hereby we make,
(which you in your wisdom shall think worthy their notice,
may be made known to them. We shall, therefore, take leave
to begin with our declarations. Above two years past a great
number of us declared our conformity to the Church of England by subscribing a letter to the Reverend Mr.:Beach, inviting him amongst us, attending divine service with him,
owing to the excellency of the doctrine and the manner of
worship in the said Church, and openly defending them to
the utmost of our power; but even now the Dissenters have
executions out against us for rates, due long since, and daily
threaten to take us to the gaol if we refuse to pay them; and
this, notwithstanding we bring and offer them a discharge
in full under the hands of the Reverend Mr. Beach; and one
of us, who had been a communicant in the Church above a
year, hath lately been actually seized by their collector, and
on the way to the gaol was freed by his own brother, who
paid the rate to the collector. We meet with many subtle
contrivances amongst almost all of every degree among them,
to suppress and confound,us, but we shall not be particular
for fear of being tedious. WVe persist with resolution, being
convinced of the goodness of our cause, and gain ground
daily, being now about double the number of conformists
since a year from this day. We are remote from all our
Reverend missionaries except the Reverend Mr. Beach and
Mr. Gibbs, MIr. Gibbs being the nighest, who lives twentyseven miles, and Mr. Beach between thirty and forty miles




236               CHURCH DOCUMENTS.
from tui. We have already purchased a glebe of fifty acres
of good land, which lyeth about three miles distant from the
town, and have begun to improve upon it, and design yearly
to proceed therein, and hope yearly to make it profitable in
time. We are willing to contribute toward the support of a
missionary amongst us, according to the dignity of the office
and our abilities, which we confess are small; we have hopes
of additions to our number, for many people in the country,
and especially in this town, are weary of the Independent
scheme, but, whether we have additions or not, we design to
build a Church; consequently much can't be expected from
us at present.
There are a great number of new towns northward and
westward from us, and hardly a town without some conformists to our excellent Church; and -we humbly conceive
it would promote the joyous design of the honourable Society
if a missionary were placcd in these parts. Northbury and
we are willing to be included in the same mission; and since
Mr. Samuel Cole is going for orders, (with wholm we are
personally acquainted,) who has been helpful to us in many
respects, our humble request is, that he may be the person
that may be sent to us, and that he may be the person,
rather than any other. We shall only add our hearty thanks
to the honourable Society for their care of this land, and
after, that we may be still greater partakers of it, who are,
Reverend Sir, your most obedient and humble servants,
JACOB GRISWOLDN, 
JosErH WILLnoN, 3 Churchwardens.
And others.
[Rev. Mr. Johnson to the Bishop of London.
Stratford, April 28th, 1747.
My Lord,
About a month ago I gave your Lordship some account of
a College undertaking in New-Jersey with a Royal Charter,
which I apprehend would be of very ill-consequence to the
Church, it being entirely in the hands of the most virulent




CONNECTICUT -1747.              237
Methodists.*  Since that, I have procured a copy of their
charter, and I apprehend it would not be unacceptable to
vour Lordship to have a sight of it. This is the occasion of
my so soon troubling you again, and accordingly I here enclose a copy of it, such as I could get; there may, perhaps,
be some small defects in it, but, on the whole, it is doubtless
genuine, and your Lordship can judge whether it be fit that
absurd and mischievous sect should have such an ample and
unlimited power given them. I am told, the best sort of
people in that province do as much dislike it as we do.
My Lord, I had about two years ago a letter from the Society forbidding any one to go home for orders without leave
first obtained. This I was willing to understand only in
case of any new mission, or any new charge to the Society.
I desired it might not be understood to preclude us the liberty of sending home proper persons to supply vacancies by
death or removal; but I had last week a letter, by which it
appears we are in no case to send any home without having
first obtained leave. This, my Lord, is a very great discouragement to the Church in these parts, especially under our
present circumstances. The death of the Reverend Mr. Commissary Vesey, Mr. Davenport, MIr. Richard Caner, and his
removal from Norwalk before his death, and that of Mr.
Lyons and Mr. Morris, and the resignation'of MIr. Commissary Price, have occasioned a number of vacancies, four of
which are in this colony, so that I am now alone here on the
seacoast, without one person, in orders, beside myself, for
more than one hundred miles; in which compass there is
business enough for six or seven ministers; and those northward have their hands full, so that my burthen is at present
insupportable, nor have we yet leave for any to'go home,
though there are five or six valuable candidates. Unless,
therefore, the Society can provide, or your Lordship can
think proper to ordain on such titles as can be made here,
(which, in some places, though not without much hardship,
may, I believe, be made equal to thirty pqunds sterling per
annum,) the Church must soon decay apace; mean time it is
* That is, the followers of Mr. Whitfield, though, by profession, Presbyterians.




238''CHURCH DOCUMENTS.
really affecting to hear the cries and importunities of people
from several quarters, and not have it in one's power to help
them. I humbly beg your Lordship's compassion, prayers
and benediction,
And remain, may it please your Lordship,
Your Lordship's most dutiful son,
And most obedient, humble servant,
SAMUEL JOHNSON.
To MY LORD OF LONDON.
[A Petitionfrom the Churchwardens of Norwalk to the Secretary.1
ANorwalk, Connecticut, lMarch 5th, 1748.
We, the Churchwardens and Vestry of the Church of England, in Norwalk, most humbly beg leave to lay our case and
request before this venerable Board, which is as follows, viz.:
That in the year 1742, in the month of June, the Reverend
Mr. Richard Caner, by the honourable Society's great favour,
for which we are humbly thankful, came to us in holy orders,
at which time the Church in Norwalk consisted of about thirty
families; and the Church under his ministry greatly increasing, about Christmas following we concluded to build a new
Church of the following dimensions, viz., fifty-five feet in
length, beside steeple and chancel, and thirty-five feet in
width, which was raised in March following, and we provided
with great cheerfulness in carrying on the work in order to
finish, till the time of nMr. Caner's removal from us, which
was in the month of October, 1745, at which time our Church
had increased to the number of ninety families. Immediately
after Mr. Caner's removal from us, we applied to Mir. Henry
Caner, and upon his advice, procured MSr. Jeremiah Leaming,
who came in December, 1745, and continued with us two
years, and for his service in the Church we paid him more
than twenty pounds sterling per annuml, and the Church has
increased even to the number of one hundred and five famtilies, which exceeds the number of any other Church in the
government except the Church in Stratford. Furthermore.
upon advice of the Reverend Henry Caner, we purchased a




CONNECTICUT-1748.              239
good house and small glebe, with another lot of land at a
small distance from the house, of five acres of land, the deeds
whereof were sent to the Society last summer by the Rev.
Mr. Commissary Price, and we have since that time purchased two acres and a half of land in addition, and adjoining to said five acres; and since Mr. Leaming, who is truly
a worthy gentleman, for whom we have a sincere regard, has,
however, thought best to leave us, having some other views,
we are very thankful to the Society for committing us to the
care of the Reverend Mr. Lamson, whose labours are always
very acceptable to us when he can attend here; but as this
cannot be very frequently, by reason of the distance and his
extensive charge, we have, with the approbation of the Rev.
Clergy, unanimously agreed with Mr. John Ogilvie to read
the service of the Church, with a view of his settling in the
ministry among us, and obliged ourselves to pay himn fifty
pounds, New-York money, per annum, equal to three hun
dred pounds in our unsettled currency, and he is now, with
the approbation of our Reverend Clergy, reading the liturgy
and sermons among us to our entire satisfaction. What,
therefore, we beg leave to ask of this venerable Society is,
that, as we have thus endeavoured to our utmost to qualify
ourselves for a mission, they would be graciously pleased to
erect us into a mission, and give leave to the Reverend the
Clergy to recommend the said Mr. John Ogilvie, as soon as
may be, for holy orders; and that he may be appointed missionary for this town, together with Ridgefield, which desired
to be joined with us, and we shall be most humbly thankful
for any salary which this venerable Society, according to
their wonted goodness, shall please to grant to them. Praying with great earnestness for God's blessings upon the pious
undertaking of this most charitable Society, and that we may
no longer remain without a missionary,
We are, venerable gentlemen,
Your most obliged, most dutiful,
MIost obedient, humble servants,
JOHN BELDEN,    )Churcwarden.
WILLIAM JOHNSON,    r
And others.




240               CHURCH DOCUMENTS.
[Churchwardens of Stamford to the Secretary.]
Stamford, April 26th, 1748.
Reverend Sir,
We, the Churchwardens and Vestry of St. John's Church,
in the united parish of Stamford and Greenwich, beg leave,
in behalf of ourselves and the professors of the Church of
England, in Stamford and Greenwich, to return our hearty
thanks unto the venerable Society for the Propagation of the
Gospel, for their charitable notice and care of us, expressed
in your letter to the Churchwardens and Vestry of Norwalk,
dated December 27th, 1747, giving liberty for Mr. Dibble to
go home for holy orders, and to take the charge of our
Church, with that of Norwalk, on consideration of our paying ten pounds sterling per annum toward his support, as
Norwalk was to give security for twenty, with the actual
possession of their glebe. As this resolution of the venerable
Society is said to be consenting to their request in favour of
Mr. Dibble, we are willing humbly to hope our request in
favour of Mr. Dibble, referred to in our petition, dated March
25th, 1747, (which we transmitted by Mr. Commissary Price,)
is granted; for we don't know that the people of Norwalk
ever requested in favour of Mr. Dibble, nor has he read service among them; but, among us, steadily for two years and
a half, for whom we have great esteem and regard, and shall
be very much gratified, if we can obtain, from the venerable
Society's great charity, his being appointed their missionary
for our Church. Our congregation voted cheerfully to comply
with the Society's directions, in your letter to the Church of
lN*orwalk, which Mr. Dibble will communicate to you, in expectation that, in Norwalk, they would have readily done
their part; but when we found that the people of Norwalk
declined coming to a positive determination to do, in favour
of Mr. Dibble, what the honourable Society required as the
condition on their part, our people, from a hearty affection
to Mr. Dibble, resolved cheerfully to undertake the expense




coNNEcTICU — -1748.             241
of his voyage, and we have effectually secured the payment of
twenty pounds sterling per annum to the Society's missionary, according to our bond in Mr. Dibble's hand, and promise
hereby to put him into possession of our glebe, which is
better than that of Norwalk; or, however the honourable
Society shall determine as to uniting us with Norwalk, we
humbly submit, and shall be heartily thankfill for any share
of Mr. Dibble's ministry, that the honourable Society shall
be pleased to allot for us; so that, by being put under his
care, we may be sheltered from the persecutions we have
suffered from the Dissenters, because not included in any of
the missions, as we set forth more largely in our petition
above mentioned, and to which we beg leave to refer; and
with earnest prayers that God would bless all the charities of
that venerable Board, we subscribe,
Reverend Sir,
Your most obedient, humble servants,
JOHN LLOYD,   - Churchwardene.
Tuo s YOUNG, J
And others.
[Rev..rM. Graves to the Secretary.]
New-London, September 7th, 1748.
Good Sir,
I have wrote so lately, that were it not in obedience to my
instructions, I would not so suddenly have occasioned this
second trouble. Since my last, I have visited and spent a
fortnight at Hebron, in which time I read prayers and
preached nine sermons in the Church, and at their houses;
in the latter, I had every day several Dissenters, some of
whom told me they had never before attended, and expressed
a satisfactory approbation at our service. However, the
people continue to deny my authority over them, because I
can't produce it under your hand but as I mentioned this
before, I doubt not but I shall soon be favoured with your




242               CHURCH DOCUMENTS.
determination in that affair. The Presbyterian divisions are
very rife and warm, and will certainly add to our hearers in
these parts. At my return, I did duty in the new Church at
Norwich, baptised a child and churched its mother. The
parent used many arguments to stand surety, but I told him
the canons and rubricks, and the practice of others, was my
rule.. The week before I went to Hebron, I received an
earnest invitation from the inhabitants of Branford, which is
above forty miles hence. I happily, on my way thither, met
Dr Johnson ten miles this side, at a place called Guilford,
where he read prayers, and baptised three children, and I
preached to a large congregation. Two days after, I performed service at Branford to a most agreeable sight of auditors, who behaved very well, and some of the chief of the
Presbyterians came to my lodgings and returned me thanks.
As for' the people of New-London, I am afraid they will
never be unanimously reconciled to a regular minister; I
despair, though I shall continue to act in the best manner I
can for the glory of God and their edification. I am sorry
to say, but from duty am obliged to inform you, that they
think the Society has, not used them, very well, in obliging
them to build a house and sending them a missionary, before
they desired one, as they say you wrote you would not, which
desire they did. not intend to execute in less than two years
hence. I cannot, from their behaviour in Church, conclude
that ever they had an orthodox minister among them, as my
manner of performing seems strange to them; so does their
religious deportment to me, but I'll endeavour to perform it,
[i. e., the service.] I have given Mr. Livingston, merchant, at
New-York, one bill of fifteen pounds sterling, due the 25th
of June last, on the treasurer, and promised another for the
25th of this month. The heads of families here are about
seven hundred and thirty; for want of a registry I don't know
yet how many are baptised. Since the 7th of March, I baptised eleven, and a girl of eleven years old; communicants are
about thirty. The number of heathens and infidels. are as
much too numerous as the converts are too few. I really
have not found out yet the number of hearers or Dissenters
at Hebron. I had each time about forty communicants. I




CONNECTICUT-1 1748.             243
have baptised only two children there. I hope, Sir, if this
account is defective, you will condescend to pardon and remove my ignorance, since I shall be all attention and obedience to your commands and instructions. I pray God to
direct and prosper the consultations and proceedings of the
religious, august and venerable Society, and reward their
earthly services with eternal joys. As they may depend
upon my best performances, I desire you will be so kind as
to present to them the duty of their unworthy missionary,
and, good Sir,
Your most obedient servant,
And affectionate brother,
MATT. GRAVES.
[Rev. Mr. Johnson to the Secretary. 
Stratford, in New-England,
September 29th, 1748.
Reverend Sir,
I most humbly thank you for yours of June 23d, by Mr.
Learning, who, I thank God, is already safe returned. I hope
he will do good service at Newport, where lie is much wanted
by reason of Mr. IIoneyman's great age and infirmities, and
I hope it will not be long before Mr. Dibble and Mr. Mansfield also arrive. I know not how these gentlemen can well
subsist upon so small salaries; however, I hope the honourable Society, who doubtless would do better for us if they
could, will be well satisfied of their sincerity and zeal for
promoting the interests of the Church and true religion from
their gladly going so far for holy orders, upon so slender
worldly encouragement. I thank you for your good wishes
for my health, which, I bless God, is very good, but I am yet
lame, having been ill-served in the setting of my leg, so that
it is yet very infirm.
I now proceed to give my Michaelmas account of the state




244               CHURCH DOCUMENTS.
of my parish and the country adjacent, where I have preached. As to the Church in this town, it is in a flourishing condition, one family having been added and more looking forward, and thirty-one have been baptised and eight added to
the communion since my last; our new Church is almost
finished, in a very neat and elegant manner, the architecture
being allowed in some things to exceed any thing done before in New-England. We have had some valuable contributions, and my people have done as well as could be expected from their circumstances, which are generally but
slender; but there is one of them who deserves to be mentioned in particular for his generosity; Mr. Beach, brother
of the Reverend MIr. Beach, who, though he has a considerable
family, has contributed above three thousand pounds, our
currency, to it already, and is daily doing more, and designs
to leave an annuity, in perpetuum, toward keeping it in repair, beside what he intends toward a glebe, to which purpose one Mir. ]Birdsey, a worthy person, lately deceased, left
twenty acres of pasture about two miles off, worth a hundred
pounds in our currency.
As to Ripton, they continue to [strive] under the small
encouragement I am able to give them of having a minister
to themselves; they purpose, however, to lay their case before the Society, in hopes of being in due time provided for,
and, I believe there will be sixty families join, within five or
six miles of their Church, and they have purchased a house
and two acres of land toward a glebe. I wish they could be
provided for.
Scarce ever was there a people in a more bewildered, confounded condition than those in this colony generally are, as
to their religious affairs, occasioned by the sad effects of
Methodism, still in many places strangely rampant, and
crumbling them into endless separations, which occasions the
most sensible of them to be still every where looking toward
the Church as their only refuge. I have this summer been
much solicited to visit several places. I have rode as much as
I could, particularly to Guilford and Branford, where I have
preached to great numbers, which Mr. Graves also has done,
and I believe those two towns will, in a little time, be pre



com;rcTIcuTr-1748..             245
pared to make a mission; at the former, they are building a
Church, and designing it at the latter.
Middletown and Wallingford are also joining, in order to
be another mission in due time, and they are going forward
with their Church at Middletown, where a sensible, studious
and discreet young man, one Mr. Camp, bred at our College,
is reading service and sermons, and begs me to mention him
to the Society as.a candidate, and that he may hope in due
time to be employed in their service. Mr. Colton still reads
at Hebron, and those people with him have lately been with
me, begging my interest with the Society, that Mr. Colton
may have leave, as soon as may be, at least by next fall, to
go for orders for them, which I very much desire in their behalf, there being a good prospect there.
Mr. Punderson and I, who were together at New-Haven,
have both directed them to wait on Mr. Graves, to draw an
address for them, and recommend their case; and I have
written to him in their behalf to desire his assistance in
forwarding their affairs, and they truly need and deserve the
Society's notice, being thirty miles from any missionary.
There were nine of our Clergy together at the Commencement, at New-Haven, about a fortnight ago, among which
the worthy Mr. Commissary Barclay favoured us with his
company. We all consulted the best things we could for the
Church's interest. Among the candidates for their degrees,
there were no less than ten belonging to our Church, five
Masters and five Bachelors; among the former, two in orders,
Messrs. Sturges and Leaming, and two candidates, Chandler
and -, of the Bachelors, beside my youngest son and
Mr. Ogilvie. Seabury had.a promising son, and as he designs
him for the Society's service, he desires me to mention what
I know of him; and as he has lived four years much under
my eye, I can truly testify of Ilim that he is a solid, sensible,
virtuous youth, and, I doubt not, may in due time do good
service.
MIrs. Dean desires me to give her duty and thanks to the
Society for the liberty granted her to draw on the treasurer
for fifteen pounds sterling, which she has drawn accordingly.
My eldest son, also, gives his duty and thanks for your good




246                CHURCH DOCUMENrS.
wishes; he and I have also drawn on the treasurer to this
Mlichaelmas, and my Notitia Parochialis is as follows.
I am, Reverend Sir,
Your most obliged, obedient, humble servant,
SAMUEL JOHNSON.
Yotitia Parochialis,for MAichaelmas, 1748.
I. No. of families inhabitants within the bounds of
this town, near........................  500
II. No. of baptised here, and in places adjacent, in
the Church,.............................  349
III. No. of baptised since Lady-day,..............   31
IV. No. of actual Communicants here and in Ripton, about...............................   200
Of which admitted, since my last, (of which one
negro woman,)...........................    8
V. No. of those who profess the Church, families,
about................................45
VI. The rest called Congregationalists; Papists,
none.
VII. Heathens, beside many unbaptised negroes,
about ten.
VIII. Of converts to a sober life, no remarkable instance, they being generally a sober, regular
people.
[R1ev. 1Mr. Jamson to the Secretary.-Extract.1
Fairfield, November 10th, 1748.
Reverend Sir,
I have formerly mentioned a Church built at Stratfield, a
village within the bounds of Fairfield, in which they are
very urgent to have me officiate every third Sunday, because
we have large congregations when I preach there. The people living in the town and westward, are very much against




CO1NECTICt —-1748.              247
it, because Mr. Caner used to keep steadily to the Church in
town, but then there was neither Church nor congregation
at Stratfield.
Norwalk people have been imprudent in their conduct relating to the honourable Society's appointment for them. I
am sorry for their imprudence, and I believe they are so too,
but at present are so much in a ruffle, that'tis hard to guess
what the conclusion will be, and I hardly know what method
I shall be able to take to quiet the commotions among them.
I shall be glad of your directions, and will endeavour, to the
utmost of my abilities, to answer the design of my mission
from the venerable Society, whose charitable purposes that
God would every where bless and prosper, is the humble
prayer of,
Reverend Sir, yours,
And the honourable Society's
Most obedient and dutiful servant,
JOSEPH LaisoN.
[Address of the Inhabitants of Mntinglton, dc., to the Society.-Extract.]
WE are inhabitants of a town which, till of late, has been
under great prejudices against the Church of England, a few
excepted; but by late enthusiastic confusions, which mightily
prevailed here, some of us have been awakened to consider
the consequence of those principles in which we had been
educated, and by the assistance of the IReverend Mr. Seabury, the Society's missionary at Ilempstead, who has been
very ready to visit us on week days, and to perform divine
service among us, we have most heartily embraced the established Church, and think it our duty, for our own improvement in true religion, for the good of our country, and for
the honour of God, to join with our neighbours, conformists,
and do all in our power for the promotion of the interests of
the established Church; in our zeal for which, we have built
a Church that, in a little time, will be commodious for public




248               CHTRCBH DOCOUENTS.
use; but as we are eighteen miles distant from Mr. Seabury,
who is the nearest missionary, and he being obliged to attend
two Churches in his own parish, viz., those of Hempstead
and Oyster Bay, we, therefore, most humbly beg the Society
to attend to our prayers, which is, that Mr. Samuel Seabury,
the son of your worthy missionary, a young gentleman (lately
educated and graduated at Yale College) of a good character
and excellent hopes, may be appointed the Society's Catechist
at this place, and perform divine service among us in a lay
capacity, with some allowance from the honourable Society
for that service.
In testimony of our sincerity, we have to this affixed our
subscription of such sums of money as each of us respectively
promise and oblige ourselves to pay to Mr. Samuel Seabury
aforesaid, yearly, in half yearly payments, for the space of
three years, for officiating amongst us; which subscription,
we beg the honourable Society to believe, will be punctually
paid by the honourable Society's most humble petitioners,
the subscribers,
H. LLOYD,
And others.
[Churchwardens, &c., to the Society.-'Extract.]
Ripton, in Connecticut, NYew-England,
September 14th, 1748.
Gentlemen,
As the distance from the Church, at Stratford, is eight or
ten, or for some, twelve miles, it is exceedingly difficult,
especially in the winter season, to go to Church there with
our families; and being fearful that the Church will diminish
among us, as the case now is, having no other means when
we cannot attend at Stratford, only the Rev. Dr. Johnson to
be with us about four times in a year, excepting some time
past, when the Reverend Dr. Johnson's son did read to us,




CONNECTICUT-1748.               249
for which we are heartily thankful to the honourable Society; but he is now become a student at law, and follows the
courts, and has declared that he will not be a Clergyman;
and has not officiated here for several months; indeed, while
lie did, we were laughed at by the Dissenters for having a
lawyer for our priest, which discouraged many of our people,
so that they would not go to hear him. Now, if there be a
probability of our having a minister, which we heartily desire and earnestly petition for, we hope the Society will send
us a true son of the established Church, who may have the
prosperity of the Church at heart, which, if we should obtain, we doubt not but that the Church would be likely to
flourish among us, but if not, we fear that many of our
young people will turn to the Dissenters as many have done
already.
[Rev. Ar. Dibblee to the Societa.]
Stamford, November 14th, 1748.
Reverend Sir,
I take this opportunity, the first that conveniently offers,
to acquaint you that, by the blessing of God, Mr. Mansfield
and I arrived safe and in good health, at ]New-York, the 23d
of October, and to my mission, at Stamford, on the 25th.
My mind is impressed with a sense of the divine goodness to ime
in my voyage, through so many dangers as I have been happily preserved, and returned successfully to my family; and,
I think it my duty to return my thanks to the venerable Society, for the expression of their favour and goodness in the
reception I had from the honourable Board, and the charitable assistance afforded to the good and well-disposed people
who had so earnestly desired that I might be their minister,
in the holy order, of the Church of England; and the Churchwardens and Vestry of St. John's Church, in Stamford, desire me to return their very sincere and hearty thanks to the
Society for their favour to me, and the grant of their humble
request, by admitting them into the number of the Churches




250               CHURCH U DO1CUMENTS,
under the honourable Society's charitable protection and assistance, and particularly for the library allowed, their Church,
and the pious tracts sent by me, to be dispersed for promoting religion and virtue among them; and'tis a pleasure to
me to acquaint the Society, that my people have every way
manifested their great satisfaction and joy at my return to
them, and I have reason to hope that, by God's blessing attending my honest endeavours, I may do much good among
them, which I shall not fail to use my utmost application
to effect, and pray God to give success. I have already
preached at three distinct parts of my mission to pretty large
congregations, have baptised two adult persons, one aged
sixty-seven years, and the other above forty, and also five
infants; have once administered the Lord's Supper at Stamford, had but 16 communicants, but expect more at Christmas. I hope I may be excused for not sending a Notitia
Parochialis at this time, not being able as yet to give it in
form. I find the people of Norwalk are much ruffled, as
Mr. Ogilvie now talks ofleaving them, (they say,) after he had
promised to be their minister, with such a support as they
could give him. This promise, I suppose, induced them to
neglect the provision the honourable Society made for them,
against the advice of sundry of the Clergy, and particularly
of Mr. Wetmore, to whom both I and the people of Norwalk are indebted, for his friendly and good advice at that
time, according to which I entirely conducted myself, and
gave not the least occasion of umbrage to that people, who,
I perceive, manifest some offence at me, as well as at others
that don't deserve it, because they are unwilling to lay the
blame of their misfortune where it is only due. I only add
my humble duty to your venerable Board, with the earnest
prayers to almighty God, to give his blessing to all their
charitable designs, and, with much respect, beg leave to subscribe, as I am sincerely and heartily,
Reverend Sir, your most obedient,
And most humble servant,
EBENEZIZR DIBBLEE.




cONNEUICUTr —1749.              251
[Rev. Mr. Punderson to the Secretary.-Extract.]
GV. Groton, 25th Ml3arch, 1749.
Reverend and dear Sir,
Since my preaching last September, at Cohasset, about
eight miles north of Guilford, and which was the first sermon
preached in that place by a Clergyman of the Church of England, they have almost ever since read prayers and sermons
to upward of forty persons. I have promised them a visit
the beginning of April.
J[Rev. Mr. Johnson to the Secretary. —Etract.]
Stratford, in New-England,
Lfarch 28th, 1749.
Reverend Sir,
I have little that is new to say of the state of my parish,
but a disposition among the sectaries toward the Church,
seems here, and in many other places, still increasing, particularly at Guilford and Branford, where I baptised a man and
his wife and five children, and seven children in the family of
another person, who is a nlan of considerable weight in thta
last mentioned town, where twenty-nine families have, within
two or three years, conformed to the Church, who, with eighteen families at Guilford, (which is within ten miles,) are in
hopes they may, within a little while, become a mission; and
a young man who took his Bachelor's degree last commencement, whose name is Stocking, is desirous to be admitted as
a candidate for the Society's service, and they are about procuring him to read to them'till he is of age, which will be
about two or three years hence, by which time there will




252               CHURCH DOCUMENTS.
probably be a considerable addition to them. I have already
mentioned the desires of Middletown and Wallingford, where
the Church has further increased since my last, and Mr. Camp
has continued to read there with good success, and, I think,
will be a worthy and useful person, and he and they are
about addressing the Society for leave for him to go home
for them next spring, and would be humbly thankful if leave
would be given him to go, by next fall, that he may embark
early in the spring. They are near raising their Church, and
two more new Churches are building, viz., at Norwich and
Litchfield. The Church is very considerably increasing at
New-Haven, where the College is, and a considerable sum is
already subscribed toward building a Church, and it is not
doubted but between that town and West-Haven (a village
within four miles, where there is already a neat little Church)
there will soon be forty or fifty families. MIy younger son
has read Iha the last fall and winter, chiefly at West-Haven,
and sometimes at Branford and Guilford, as well as Ripton,
but as he lives at the College, the chief place of his usefulness is there and at West-Haven. And I doubt not, by the
time of his being of age, and perhaps before, there will be a
flourishing Church there, which will be a place of much importance.
The dissenting gentleman's pernicious answer to Mr. White
has, by the zeal of our sectaries, been reprinted, both at Boston and York, and scattered all over the country, which does
much damage in prejudicing people against the Church; and
they are now reprinting (I suppose) the same gentleman's
piece against subscription to explanatory articles; it would
therefore be of great use if we had, each of us, a few copies
of Mr. White's answers, to lend about as an antidote, and
Mr. Harvest's, or some other author's, defence of subscription,
against Chandler.




CONNECTICUT-1749.                253
[B1ev. bMr. Beach to the Secretary.-Extract.
Reading, in Connecticut, New-England,
April Ist, 1749.
Reverend Sir,
I have about four hundred constant hearers, all of whom,
excepting a very few, adorn their profession by a sober,
righteous and godly life. Almost two-thirds of the inhabitants of this parish are Independents, who have two ministers
of their own persuasion. I baptise about sixty or seventy
children commonly in one year, and some few adults, and
am now preparing two whole families for baptism who were
bred Independents. SIy parishioners are poor, and have but
few negro slaves, but all they have, I have, after proper instructions, baptised, and some of them are communicants,
and appear to be serious Christians. Our Church here, like
the house of David, waxes stronger and stronger.
[Rev. Mei. Gibbs to the Secretary.-Extract.]
Simsbury, New-England, July 4th, 1749.
Reverend Sir,
New-Cambridge and Cornwall. As to the first of these
places I have attended nigh two years, and yet do, as often
as I well can, and for which they willingly reward me and to
my satisfaction; yet, nevertheless, the Dissenters do oblige
them to pay to the dissenting minister, and which they have
refused, and for their refusal, were, four of them, committed
to Hartford gaol, and in a place where they keep malefactors;
upon which they then paid their money to the collector,




254               CHJURCH DOCUMENTS.
Thomas Hart, of New-Cambridge. I accordingly demanded
the money of said collector, but he refused, by reason, as he
said, of my mission not extending thither. Six more are now
threatened, and whom I fear they will imprison. As to the
other place, Cornwall, I have taken care of it near one year
and a half, and they have taken the money from them also.
I demanded the same of the collector there, but he refused
to pay me; one of these men, viz., Stephen Lee, being firmly
attached to the Church, refused paying the collector for the
support of the dissenting minister of the place, and for this,
was committed to the gaol of Hartford, at the news of which,
I being but twelve miles distant, went and visited him; the
man being poor, I took pity on him and released him, by
paying his rate, which was seven pounds, and the charges
likewise, which, with the rate, amounted to twenty-one
pounds; and this is the usage of Dissenters toward Churchmen
here, which very much grieves me. I therefore humbly beg
the honourable Society would, as soon as they think it best
and convenient, relieve the Church under its present circumstances, and so free it from all its grievances and trouble.
If the Society were pleased to appoint me over these places
I have now the care of, it might put a stop to the Dissenters
interfering with us more, for they at present seem to be resolutely bent to hurt, (and if it were possible,) to ruin the
Church in these parts; and as to my mission, they look upon
it to extend no further than Simsbury.
[tev. Mr. Pr. underson to the Secretary.-Extract.J
Groton, 25th September, 1749.
Reverend Sir,
In May I made another tour to the Union, about forty-five
miles from my house; preached at Mr. Lawson's, where between sixty and seventy persons were convened; seven then
declared conformity, and they have ever since upheld the




CONNECTICUT —1749.              255
worship of God according to our most excellent liturgy; in
the evening returned sixteen miles to Mansfield, preached,
and administered the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper, the
next day, to sixteen communicants; on Friday, performed
service in the Church at Norwich. During the heat of summer have visited Charlestown, Preston, Stonington, Norwich,
and South Groton.
~JRev. Mr. Dibblee to the Secretary.-.Extract.]
Stamford, in Connecticut,
September 29th, 1749.
Reverend Sir,
I bless God that I have not laboured among them without
some visible success in each of the places where I have performed divine service. I preach at Horse Neck the second
Sunday in each month, about six miles from Stamford; have
had some converts to the Church there, and the people have
zealously exerted themselves to build a small chapel, of about
thirty-six feet in length and twenty-five feet in breadth, to
accommodate our assembly at these times, which they have
enclosed and glazed, and if they could be favoured with a
Bible and Common Prayer-Book for that Church, it would
be a very welcome present, their Churchwardens having
humbly desired me to request the same. Greenwich being
not above five miles from Stamford, I have only occasionally
officiated there upon week days, except two Sundays the
year past; and as they have no settled dissenting minister
among them, they have invited me into their meeting-house,
and the inhabitants of all sorts generally attbnd Church when I
preach there; and at Stamford there is a very visible alteration
in the temper and disposition of the dissenting party; in so
much, that at sundry times when their meeting-house chanced
to be destitute of a dissenting minister, our Church has been
crowded by the attendance of Dissenters, and many of them




256               CHURCH-r DoCUMENTS.
cheerfully united in the services of our holy Church, which,
together with the sundry converts already obtained, gives
me great encouragement to hope, by the blessing of God, for
abundant success in my ministry.
[Rev. Afr. WTatkin to the Secretary.-Extract.]
New- IWindsor, in the Province of New- York,
in America, October 16th, 1749.
Reverend Sir,
ilaving for three years past been in a very low state of
health, in April last I took a journey into New-England to
see if by that I could in any measure recover my health;
and in my journey I was very earnestly requested by the
people of Norwalk to preach on Sunday, and administer the
Holy Sacrament of the Lord's Supper to them, which accordirrgly I did, and was much pleased to see such a large congregation and so many communicants; the number of which
was about seventy, who behaved very decently. From
thence, as I have passed through Stratford, I was very much
urged by the Reverend Dr. Johnson and some of the good
people of Ripton to preach in a new Church in Ripton, and
administer the Holy Sacrament there, which I likewise did;
there I found a congregation of about three hundred people
of the Church of England, where I also administered the
Holy Sacrament to about sixty communicants, who behaved
very devoutly and with much decency.
I find the people of New-England, and especially in Connecticut, generally are of a more zealous turn of mind than
in those provinces which are to the west and south of it.
ITEZEKIAH WATKINS.




CONNECTICUT —1749.              257:
[Rev. Mr. Gibbs to the Secretary.-E'xtract.]
Hartford Gaol, December 28th, 1749.
Reverend Sir,
In my last, which was but lately, I acquainted:the Society
of the Dissenters' ill usage toward the Churchmen of NewCambridge, in obliging them to pay to them, and when, having
demanded the money of the collector, was refused the same,
and which put me upon sueing him before John I-Iumphreys,
Esquire, one of his Majesty's justices of the peace, in Simsbury town, for my Churchwarden's rate of Caleb Matthews,
but was cast, and for my refusing to pay the cost, an execution has been out against me for some time, and is now
brought and served by Jonathan Hnumphreys' constable, of
that place, (Simsbury,) and I am by him taken and brought
to Hartford, and so put into the gaol where I now am; thus
presumptuous and bold are these men in these parts.
[Rev. Mr. Punderson to the Secretary.]
lfarch 27th, 1750.
Reverend and dear Sir,
There was some time since a statute, made in this government, to exempt the professors of the Church of England
from paying taxes to dissenting ministers and meeting-houses,
but expressed in such limited and ambiguous terms as to be
the occasion of many disputes and difficulties to the messengers of peace, to whose care they belong. I have been
obliged to take out six or seven writs upon that statute,
which, with my other papers, I shall soon transmit to the
venerable Society, and in two of which I have been with17




258:              CHURCH DOCUMENTS.
stood and cast, and could have no appeal, and have been at
more than ~70 expense, and lie under an execution for ~11,
which was served on me not many days since. I cannot but
believe that the venerable Board will speedily employ their
interest, not only to put an end to such presumptuous and
outrageous conduct from those who breathe by toleration,
but also that the expense I have been at in those suits, and
in defence of my children, for as such I look upon those who
have committed the care of their souls to me, might be ordered to be returned. At present, being very much unwell,
having last Saturday rode to Charlestown, part of the way
in the rain, preached two sermons on Sunday and yesterday
in Stonington, upon my return, got to my own house about
nine. At present, I add only my fervent prayers to Almighty
God for prosperity and success to that venerable Board, and
an increase of liberty and peace to the professors of our most
excellent Church,
And am, Reverend Sir, yours,
And the Society's laborious servant,
EBEN'R PUNDERSON.
[Rev. Dr. Johnson to the Secretary.-Extract.]
Stratford, int New-England,.March 30thi, 1750.
Reverend Sir,
The little hopes we can have, Sir, of having any of our
candidates or destitute places provided for even ever so slenderly, and for a long time, is a very great damp to:the
Church in these parts, which, however, would not be wholly
discouraged, provided it were practicable for them to obtain
orders, if it were only upon such title as the people could
make, which, though it would be very hard for them to do,
they would, in some places, engage ~30 per annum, and the
candidates would accept of it, at least for the present, till




CONNECTICUT —1750.              259
more could be done for them, either by the Society or the
people themselves, as they should increase. This is the case
at Norwalk, Hebron, iMiddletown, with Wallingford and
Guilford, with Branford, and I am desired by sundry of both
people and candidates, to beg the direction of the Society
how to proceed; whether ~30 from the people can be accepted for a title, and, if so, to whom they can apply for
orders, since they can have no title from the Society for a
long time. They would, however, in the mean time, do as they
best can; and I beg to be under the Society's direction, and
entreat, that if no Bishop should come over into these parts,
we may be advised time enough for them to go home in the
fall, whether orders can be had upon such a title, and from
whom.
They are the more solicitous for this, for the reasons I gave
in my last, viz., that the people must be forced to pay to the
Dissenters till they have ministers of their own in orders.
We intend, indeed, to apply to our next assembly for relief,
but I doubt the success; mean time many of our people are
frequently persecuted and imprisoned for their rates to dissenting teachers, which they never had been in any stipulation with. The case of great numbers is extremely hard, if
they can have'no ministers in orders, neither from any title
of the Society, nor from any that themselves can make, and,
at the same time, cannot have the excellent liturgy and sermons of the Church read to them by candidates of their own,
whom they would gladly support to the utmost of their power,
if they could have their own money for their own purposes.
In these straits, Sir, I beg you would tell us what we should
do.
And. to add. to all our other griefs, it seems we have some
enemy or other that has represented us to the venerable
Board, as presuming to vary fromn the established form of
Prayer, omitting, adding or altering, &c. This is very hard
indeed, when we have given so much proof of our inviolable
attachment to it, and that the established Episcopacy and
liturgy is dearer to us than any thing in the world besides;
so dear as to make us leave fathers, mothers, brothers, sisters, houses and lands, and venture our lives to the greatest




260               CHURCH DOCUMENTS...
hazards for it; twenty-five of us having gone a thousand
leagues for Episcopal orders, of whom no less than five have
lost their lives, and several others suffered the most dangerous sickness, and all at the expense of more than we could
well afford; and all this, when we might have had the
greatest applause of all our friends and acquaintances, if we
could have made our consciences easy as we were, and the
best preferments they could give.
I have diligently inquired what foundation there could be
for this report, and can:find none. Most of the Clergy and
readers have read in my Church in my absence, and my
people tell me they never heard the least variation; nor can I
find any thing of this kind in the Clergy:or lay readers. One,
indeed, tells me he has sometimes added two or three words
in the prayer after sermon, Grant Us8, we beseech thee, &c.,
in which he had followed a great: example he heard in London. Perhaps the first lesson, or some of the latter part of the
liturgy may have been omitted on some extreme cold day,
or in the collect of the day, for the gunpowder treason; it may
have been read, giving his late.Miajesty, King William, a
safe arrival in England, instead of here, which could not be
true; and I should be glad if the informer were put upon
proof, that if there ever was any thing worse than these it
might be made to appear, that the offender might receive
condign punishment. Sure I am there is nothing we have
more at heart than to receive the free enjoyment of the English establishment without variation, and the immediate inspection of a worthy Bishop, to whom we would gladly account for all our behaviour and conduct; and, till any thing
material is made out against us, I simply beg the Society's
charity for us, and I believe I may safely challenge the informer to make any thing of this kind to appear, and I am
freely willing and shall be glad to leave this or any other
controversy he may think fit to have with us, to the wisdom,
candour and justice of the venerable Society to judge between us.
Reverend Sir, your most obedient servant,
SAMUEL JOHNSON.




CONNECTICUT-1750.              261
[Rev. Mr. Beach to the Secretary.]
iReading, in Connecticut, -New-England,
April 9th, 1750.
Reverend Sir,
As I take three small congregations professing the Church
of England, at New-Milford and New-Fairfield, being betwixt
eighteen and twenty-five miles distant from my dwelling, so
I last week visited them, and found that many of their neighbours from Independents are become a sort of extravagant
enthusiasts, which, as yet, want a name. For their minister
they have an ignorant mechanick, not able:to give a tolerable
account of the first principles of natural or revealed religion,
as I have found by conversing with him; his praying and
preaching, as they call it, is performed by screaming and
hallooing to such a degree, that he may be heard at above a
mile distant. He administers the Lord's Supper (as he says) to
persons who profess to be unbaptised, and to small children;
and at the time when he presumes to administer that holy
Sacrament, as credible spectators inform me, there is such a
hideous and horrible screaming and howling among his communicants, that one would be tempted to suspect that the
devil was come visibly among them. I have taken some
pains with this presumptuous man and his hearers, but to little purpose, for they have renounced reason as carnal, and pretend to inspiration. I have baptised this half year fifty-eight,
of whom five are adults; some few of them were Indian children. My congregations are in a peaceable and growing condition, and, I think, do increase in knowledge and virtue. I
this day draw upon the treasurer for twenty-five pounds, and
am,' Reverend Sir,
- Yours, and the venerable Society's
Most obedient servant,
JOHN BEACH.




262-              citURCE DocUMErs.
tRev..r, Gdibbs to the Secretary,.-Extract.]
Simsbury,.May 24th, 1750.
Reverend Sir,
The Dissenters remain yet insolent, as is manifest by their
attempting to take away rates from some of my parishioners,
who are scarce two miles distant from the Church; their plea
is that they are out of the bounds of Simsbury. I did at first
promise myself the satisfaction and pleasure of seeing a large
growth of the Church here, but am now something scrupulous of the same, as things at present are, and which I impute
mainly to the want of a house, and which my people have
not so much as attempted after, and which I am now altogether out of hopes of.
WILLIAM GIBBS.
fRev. Ar. Punaterson to the Socdety.]
AT. Groton, 25th June, 1750.
Reverend Sir,
As the venerable Society have appointed me an itinerant
missionary in New-England, the members of the Church of
England, at Middletown, Cohasset, Guilford, Wallingford,
MIansfield, Stafford, &c., have submitted themselves to my
pastoral care, and whatever ministerial taxes they have been
assessed to pay, I have ordered to be entirely applied toward
building their Churches and maintaining readers among
them, without taking any part of them myself. My discharges they have accepted in Middletown, Guilford, Wallingford, Mansfield, Stafford, Canterbury, &c.; but in Branford and Cohasset they have, in the most violent manner,




CONNECTICUT —-1750,            263
been distressing, and imprisoning the members of the Church
of England. The last winter, taking encouragement from
my ill success in endeavouring to recover the taxes taken
about three years ago from one Jonathan Wood, and last
year from Matthew Paul, of the Union, (who lost upward of
twelve pounds of our money, taken from him, as will appear
by the enclosed receipts,) great has been the expense and
many the hardships I have been at in endeavouring to protect the Church in that liberty only which the Baptists and
Quakers universally enjoy in the government; and I now
despair, without the venerable Board will interpose and procure an express order that the professors of the Church of
England shall enjoy, at least, the same ease and liberty that
Dissenters are indulged in. There are so many coming over
to the Church on the one hand, or going over to the Independents on the other, that the Presbyterians (as they call
themselves) imagine oppression and violence the only method
to support their declining interest, as appears by their taking
by distress more than five hundred pounds from the Independents in a less space than fifteen miles square, annually,
for some years past, which sufferings greatly excite my pity;
since both, though equally involved in schism and error,
have, or ought to have, the same indulgence from the act of
toleration.
Since mine of the 26th of March last, upon the 14th of May
I set out upon a long journey; went to Hartford to forward a
memorial to the Assembly in favour of the Church; the next
day rode to Middletown, sixteen miles, and preached them a
sermon; the day after went down to Cohasset, fourteen miles;
preached the day following to a pretty congregation of
sincere Church people, all brought over to the Church by
God's blessing on my labours there; the next day and following, preached in Guilford, christened four children, and went
to Branford; preached to at least three hundred persons, administered the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper to about
thirty communicants, baptised four children; the next day
rode to Wallingford, preached to a pretty congregation,
baptised three children; the next day went to Middletown,
and the day following, preached there; the next day went to




264              CHURCH DOCUMENTrS.
East Haddam, where probably there never was a minister of
the Church of England before, had a congregation of near
one hundred persons, one child christened, and one couplemarried, added two to our Church, who received the communion the first Sunday of this instant, and are persons of an
excellent character; the next day arrived at my house, so that
in the space of twelve days I travelled near two hundred
miles, preached nine sermons, and had near one thousand
persons attend divine service in the several places. Upon
the 12th of this instant, I preached at. Windham, two persons
declared for the Church; the next day in Mansfield, christened
a child; the next day at Hebron, preached to a large congre.
gation; after service twenty of them signed a bond for thirty
pounds sterling to Mr. Colton, annually, earnestly entreating
the Society that he may have leave to come home in the fall.
Above all things, I earnestly entreat the venerable Society to
have such compassion upon the members of the Church of
England, as to procure immediately a toleration for them from
all such unrighteous oppression, that the messengers of peace
they send into this government may not be perplexed! and
harassed by endless law proceedings. I have drawn for ~8
of my last quarter's salary, in favour of the Reverend Mr.
Broughton, and the rest in favour of M/r. Woodbridge,
And am, Reverend Sir, yours,
And the Society's obedient, humble servant,
EBEN'R PUNDERSO.W
[Rev. MAr. Graves to the Bishop of London.-Extract.]
New-Iondon, July 20th, 1750.
My Lord,
To vindicate the cause of oppressed innocence, and relieve
those who suffer for righteousness sake, is the command of
our Saviour and a grand characteristic of His holy religion;
how far I have succeeded in this noble design, which now, in




CONNECTICUT-1750.               265
all humility, sues for your Lordship's consummating approbation, Mr. Copp, the bearer hereof, is both a witness and
example. This gentleman, who has had a liberal education, according to the methods practised in this place, was descended
from Presbyterian parents, and was brought up in the utmost
prejudice to our religion. At my coming to this mission, I
found him the publick master of a grammar and mathematical school, supported solely by Presbyterian donations. By
report he was a bigoted Independent, but a strict moralist.
Curiosity at first led me into his acquaintance, and conversation informed me of his parts. His aversion to our Church,
I easily apprehended, arose from zeal without knowledgezeal for his own sect and ignorance of our reasonable service;
thence I applied myself to treat with him in an easy manner,
and by degrees more closely upon topics of religion, and
afterward induced him to read some books wrote in vindication of our discipline, the happy consequence of which was,
he admired and ingenuously owned his ignorance, confessed
the purity of our Church, and has reasoned and read himself
into a conscientious conformist, as I verily believe; so that he
is deprived of his office, and the very house he rented for
some years is hired to another. However, he resolved to
persevere in his well-grounded resolution, and to rely entirely
upon the providence of that God, who has changed his darkness into light, and hence he presumes to cast himself at your
Lordship's feet, and, if found worthy, to implore the sacred
imposition of your hands. God forbid that I should, from
any motive whatsoever, recommend an improper labourer into
Christ's vineyard; and, therefore, am I humbly of opinion
that this gentleman will make a very useful missionary. If
it be for His glory, may God incline your heart to add him
to our number, otherwise not.'Tis reported, my Lord, that you intend to appoint a new
Commissary in these parts, and that a native of the place is
to discharge that office; but I hope your Lordship (for God's
sake pardon my well-intended freedom) will be pleased to
consider that, as an American is Commissary in the western,
so to condescend that a European may be impowered in the
eastern part of this continent; for my part, I am not at all fit




266               CHURCH DOCUMENTS.
for that honourable post, but will be bold to says that Dr. McSparran is every way qualified for it. All Europeans, especially ministers, meet with a very ungracious reception here;
and certain I am, that there is a plan already formed to extirpate us entirely; a plan which, in its embryo, I zealously
opposed, and, by the help of God, hitherto have been enabled
to defeat it; a plan which, I doubt not to affirm, would
shake the foundation of these infant Churches, by casting us
absolutely upon the mercy of the populace, and reduce us
into a Presbyterian, servile dependence. It would be too
tedious to trouble you with a recital of the whole affair,
which the bearer, being perfectly acquainted with, will, at
your Lordship's command, impartially relate.'Twould be too long as well as tragical to repeat the several difficulties,. severities and affronts which our hearers are
harassed with, ill many parts of this colony, by rigorous persecutions and arbitrary pecuniary demands, inflicted on the
conscientious members of our Church by domineering Presbyterians, the old implacable enemies of Zion's prosperity
and peace. These, your Lordship's sons, are imprisoned,
arrested and nonsuited with prodigious cost, contrary to the
laws of God and man. All professors of the Church of England, over whomtthere is not a particular missionary appointed, are obliged to support Presbyterian teachers and their
meeting-houses-a cruel injustice and usurpation imposed on
no other Society. This is solemn truth. As your Lordship
is not only Bishop of these parts, but also one of his Majesty's
most honourable privy council, I amn confident a letter from
you to some of your Clergy, with your Lordship's order or
request to our General Assembly, that all the professors or
members of the Church of England be exempted from all
rates and demands whatever, collected for the support of
other Churches and ministers than their own, would obtain
the desired effect, and every day gain proselytes to our holy
communion, who are now restrained through fear of additional taxes.
am, my Lord,
Your Lordship's humble servant,
MATT. GRAVES,




coNNETICUTr-1750.                267
[From Mlntes of the Sodiety.]
20th July, 1750.
At a general meeting of the Society for the Propagation
of the Gospel in Foreign Parts, held on the 20th of July,
1750
It was reported from the Committee, that they had read
a letter from the Reverend Mr. Mansfield, missionary at
Derby, in Connecticut, dated "D)erby, December 26th,
1749," acquainting that the people of Derby and Oxford, as
well as those of Waterbury and Westbury, have been sharers
in the great oppressions which are laid upon the members of
the Episcopal Church in that colony, by means of the dissenting collectors distraining their goods toward the support
of the dissenting teachers, and their meeting-houses; but
notwithstanding this, his congregation adheres steadily to the
Church, and the number of communicants in Derby is sixtynine, in Waterbury seventy-seven, and he had baptised, in
the preceding half year, twenty-four children.
Whereupon, the Committee inspected the minutes of the
Society of the 17th of November, 1749, wherein the Society
resolved to protect the members of the Church of England
in all their just legal rights.
N. B.-These sort of complaints come by every ship almost; there are now some ministers of the Church of England in prison on account of their persecutions from the Dissenters.
[The original of this N. B. is in the handwriting of Archbishop Secker.-ED.]




268               CHURCH DOCUMENTS.
[1f4morandum of Dr. Bearcroft, (tlhe Secretarmy,) about the Charter of Connecticut.
From the Society'spapers.]
The Charter of the Colony of Connecticut, in New-England, was granted on the 23d day of April, in the fourteenth
year of the reign of King Charles the Second, and power was
given by it to John Winthrop, John Mason and others, to
become a body corporate and political, by name of the Governors and Company of the English Colony of Connecticut,
in New-England, in America, and, as such, to have a perpetual succession and common seal, and to choose annually, on
every second Thursday in.May, a governor, a deputy governor, and twelve assistants, to make reasonable laws, not
contrary to the laws of England, and to revoke the same as
by the General Assembly, or the major part of them, shall
be thought fit; and to do all other matters and things whereby the people, inhabitants there, may be so religiously,
peaceably and civilly governed, as that their good life and
orderly conversation may win and invite the natives of the
country to the knowledge and obedience of the only true God
and Saviour of mankind and of the Christian faith.
Complaint is made that several members of the Church of
England, in this province, hlave been cast into prison by the
magistrates for the non-payment of taxes, expressly assessed
and raised for the building and support of Presbyterian
meeting-houses and their teachers.
N. B.-It is asserted that the Independents also are thus
harassed on the same account, but Quakers and Anabaptists
are excused.




CONNECTICUT- 1750.                269
[Rev-. X. r. ansfteld to the Seeretcry.]
Derby, July, A. 1D., 1750.
Reverend Sir,
I have continued this last half year constantly to officiate
in the several parts of my mission, and occasionally, especially on holy days, at six or seven other towns, which are
destitute of a missionary. The Church seems to be in a
flourishing condition in the places which I visit, notwithstanding the hardships which some of them labour under in
being distrained by the dissenting collectors of money to
support their teachers; which, at the desire of the Church
people of Brantford particularly, I mentioned in my letter of
December 12th. This severity of the Dissenters will, I fear,
ruin the interests of the Church in some places; the people,
by reason of heavy taxes laid upon them for the support of
dissenting ministers, being unable to make any provision for
the building of Churches and buying glebes, and, consequently,
almost despairing of enjoying the privileges of the Church.
Some of these towns are about thirty and forty miles distant
from Derby, the place of my residence; yet as the people express a very great desire of having the missionaries of the
honourable Society come among them, I visit them as often
as the care of my large mission will permit me. I have annexed my Nbtitia Parochialis for Derby and Waterbury,
and have drawn upon the Society's treasurer ~10 toward my
support,
And am, Reverend Sir, the Society's
Most obliged and obedient servant,
RICHARD MANSFIELI,,




270              CHURBH DOCUMENTS.
[Bev. Dr. Johnsorn to the Secretary.-Extract.]
Stratford, in New-England,
October 15th, 1750.
Reverend Sir,
As to our petition to our Assembly for power by law to
tax ourselves, and collect our tax independent of the Dissenters, I aml sorry to tell you that it is defeated. All the Clergy and people were unanimous in it, except the Reverend
Mr. Graves, but lie could not see reason to approve of it,
thinking it best the law should stand as it is, and we be subject to the Dissenters to tax us and collect our taxes, though
the law forbids us a vote in raising them, with which many
of our people were very uneasy. However, as the rest were
agreed in it, they thought proper to go on; but as he was
pleased to oppose it by writing to some of the members of
the Assembly, it was postponed till we had a meeting last
fall, when he objected to the draught that had been made. At
length we agreed, and he with the rest, as we thought, that
a new draught should be made, and to leave it to our attorney
to make the draught as he thought best, by leaving out any
mention of catechists or candidates, which also Mr. Graves
had objected to; but as the attorney (who was now the sole
draughtsman) petitioned for taxing and collection powers,
within ourselves, which Mr. Graves disliked, he appeared at
our last Assembly and entered his protest against it, as what
he called a "spurious address."
Upon this, again it was laid aside till this fall, and at our
meeting last month he did not come, but sent a draught of
his own, wherein he only petitions that the law, as it is, might
be extended, and not that we might have power to tax ourselves and collect our taxes for the support of ministers; and
let us know if any other form of a draught was offered, he
should appear at the Assembly and oppose it. We were all
of opinion that his draught was not sufficient, because it left




CONNECTICUT-1750                271
us still under the power of the Dissenters to tax us and collect our taxes, without our having a rvote in raising them, or
choosing the collectors; so, rather than have an open opposition before the Assembly, we thought it best to drop the
whole affair, and still be at the mercy of the Dissenters, as we
were, though our case is very difficult.
I remain, Reverend Sir,
Your most humbl
And most oDedient servant,
SAMUEL JOHNSON.
[Rev.. Mr. Punderson to the Secretary.]
Groton, October 18th, 1750.
Reverend Sir,
I- have the pleasure to assure the venerable Society that a
greater success has attended my ministration for some months
past, than has in any half year since employed by the Society, and a more general concern to acquaint themselves with
our best of Churches prevails among the people than at any
time heretofore. As an evidence of which, I shall only mention two journeys I have taken in said time. Upon the 14th
of May I rode to H-Iartford, near fifty miles; the next day to
IMiddletown, sixteen miles, gave them a sermon; the next
day went to Cohasset, where I performed divine service the
day following to a considerable congregation; the next day
at Guilford; the day following at an out-house in said Guilford, and christened three children; in the evening rode to
Branford, where, the day following, (i. e., Sunday,) preached to
near three hundred persons, and administered the Holy Sacrament to upward of thirty persons; the next day preached to
a considerable number in Wallingford; upon Wednesday at
Middletown; and upon Thursday at East Haddam, where
probably there never was a minister of the Church of England
before, to near 100 persons, married one couple, and christened
one child; the next day visited a person of excellent sense and




272              CHURCI DOCUMEN'TS.
unspotted life at Middletown, who was at the Church the day
before, who, together with his wife, declared for the Church,
and have both been at our communion, in Norwich, twice
since. So that in twelve days I rode 200 miles; preached
nine sermons; added eight to our communion; christened
ten children. The 5th of September rode to Middletown, and(
preached there the next day; the day following at East Haddam; on Sunday at Middletown, in their town house, it
being quite full; administered the two Sacraments; their
Church is a beautiful timber building, and will soon be fit to
meet in; a folio Bible and Common Prayer-Book would be
very acceptable to them; the next day in a small Church in
Wallingford; the day following gave private baptismn to a
poor, weak child, as I went to my native place, New-Haven;
the Sunday after the commencement, preached in the State
house, in that town, to a numerous assembly, notwithstanding Brother Thompson preached the same day in the Church
at West Haven; the day following at Branford; upon Tuesday in the Church, at Guilford, to abundance; the next day
at Cohasset; upon Friday, at Millington, added there two
more to our communion; the next day christened three
children. I travelled in this journey about one hundred
and sixty miles; preached eleven sermons; christened seventeen children; the Sunday before last was at Charlestown,
and the last at Norwich; the Church greatly increases at
both those places.
I shall trespass no longer on your and the. Society's patience, save only to entreat their attention to what I transmitted last June, that the professors of the established Church
may have ease and rest from such as delight in oppression;
and that I have drawn for my last quarter's salary in favour
of Mr. Dudley Woodbridge,
And am, Reverend Sir,
Yours, and the Society's faithful servant,
EBEN'R PUNDERSON.




CONNECTICUT-1751.                 273
[Rev. Mr. Graves to the Secretary.-Extract.]
X. Zondon, January 20th, 1751.
Reverend and good Sir,'Tis a truth, I presume, self-evident, that invention is as
necessary in letter writing as in composing sermons, and
that a connection of thoughts, as far as the subject will admit of, is equally necessary in both, with this distinction,
that we may compose, having topics in abundance, when we
will, but not write, for the contrary reason, when we please.
The latter is my misfortune frequently, as at present. In my
two last letters I exhausted my poor treasury of invention,
so that there's scarcely one reflection behind worthy your reflection and review. What to do in this emergency I know
not. Prudence advises me to be mute, " nescit vox missa reverti;" obedience to the instruction of my venerable superiors, to write. " Principibus placuisse viris non Itltima
laus est;" and sure I am'tis better, in all lights and at all
hazards, to demonstrate my best, though imperfect duty, by
a cheerful compliance, than to incur the censure of ingratitude by a guilty silence.
Tile Church of New-London certainly increases, and though
those Dissenters who attend most constantly are not open,
declared professors, yet their frequent appearance is, to me,
a proof of their intention; and the repeated desertion of their
own, shows their tacit approbation of our religion. I have
baptised about five since my last, but before my next shall
have baptised a Quaker of about fifty years old and upward,
and his two adult children. The communicants increase but
slowly. A letter just come from Hebron has revived my
decaying spirits, and enlarged my thoughts. Sure no man
had ever such a knotty people to engage with, for nothing
but persecutions, afflictions and bonds, in the most literal
sense, for the Gospel's sake, are my certain lot among that
18




274               CHURCH DOCUMENTS.
people; but I hope there are five righteous to be found there,
for whose spiritual interest I beg leave to intercede for the
rest. One Mr. Thompson, who is a gentleman of very great
estate, desires his duty and services to be presented to the
honourable and religious Society, and that I may acquaint
them that if they will either send them a missionary, or permit
them to send a candidate home, he will, out of his own estate,
give a glebe of twelve acres of good land, and cause a house
to be built for a minister, and enter into bonds for the performance thereof. I desire you will be pleased to intimate
this to the honourable Society, for I am persuaded'twill be
the certain means of propagating the Gospel in these parts.'Tis his opinion and mine, that the most certain way to accomplish that glorious end, would be to authorize the missionary of llebron to take care of Bolton, which lies at one
end of it, and the adjacent parts, and to preach one Sunday in
the old Church at HIebron and the other in the new; for this
gentleman, who is very able, is very desirous, also, to have
two Churches, [one] at each end of the parish, about eight
miles distant from each other. I must add that'tis my conscientious opinion Mr. Colton is quite unfit for holy orders,
unless a covetous man, a farmer, an apothecary, a merchant,
and a usurer, is qualified for the ministry, for such and all
these he surely is; but I solemnly declare there are more and
more notorious reasons why such a man should never be ordained. All that I shall add about Hebron is, that inasmuch
as they are very wicked, they have the greater necessity
for a good resident minister, and, therefore, I humbly desire
you will be pleased to consider this good design of Mr.
Thompson, and give it all the weight you can before the
venerable Society,
And I am, good Sir,
Your most obedient and very humble servant,
And affectionate brother,
IMIATT. GRAvEs.




CONNECTICUT-1751.                275
[ReviM..r. Dibblee to the Secretary.-Extract.]
Stamford, Connecticut, in N. England,
April 2d, 1751.
Reverend Sir,
The Church at Norwalk appears very thankful that the
Society is pleased to determine in their favour, and to grant
them, in conjunction with Ridgefield, to be a mission. At
their instance and request, I preached in the Church of Norwalk the fourth Sunday in March last, to a large congregation,
and gave the communion to upward of sixty persons. I have
appointed Sunday after Easter to be at Ridgefield, where the
poor people have been entirely destitute of the publick administration of religion the year past, except once a quarter
on Sundays, and oftener on week days. I have officiated
among them on the Sunday after Christmas. I gave the communion at Ridgefield to upward of forty persons. Truly, Sir,
the harvest is plenteous, but the labourers are few, and our
earnest prayers to the Lord of the harvest is, that a door
may be opened for a further supply of faithful labourers. I
have been obliged, in a great measure, to act the part of an
itinerant missionary ever since my return in holy orders, by
reason of the destitute circumstances of the poor people scattered abroad, as sheep without a shepherd, as there are many
twenty or thirty miles back into the country who frequently
sent for me. Brother Lamson has taken the principal care
of the Church of Norwalk for the year, excepting visiting
them on special occasions in case of sickness, &c., on which
occasions I have been frequently sent for. I have complied
with the request of sundry poor people living back on the
" oblong," so called, a tract of land, as it were, lying between
the governments of New-York and Connecticut, twenty or
thirty miles. I have engaged to travel up amongst them the
first week in May next, where there is no settled minister of
any denomination among them. and, I am informed, many of




276               CHURCH DOCUMENTS.
them are professors of our holy Church, but destitute of the
means of salvation, and seldom have an opportunity to devote their children to God in covenant. I have appointed to
preach at three different places that week on the "oblong."
My parish remains, by the blessing of God on my labours, in
peace and unity. We have sundry accessions to the Church
since my last of the 29th of September.  I preached last
Christmas to a numerous assembly; multitudes of the Dissenters came to Church and behaved with great decency.
Seven heads of families have declared conformity since my
last account, in Stamford, and some at Horse Neck and Stanwick. I baptised but one adult; twenty-six infants, white;
one, black; three added to the communion.
The duties of my parish are considerable; and these, together with the additional duties which, in compassion, I
have performed among the poor people at Ridgefield, and at
other places, as I have been occasionally sent for, have rendered my family circumstances difficult, so that the principal
discouragement I labour under is with respect to my support.
My people truly contribute according to their ability to my
support, but there are many whose circumstances are so indigent, that I am obliged to remit their taxes, or suffer them
to be distressed by the dissenting collectors; for, by the laws
of this government, the professors of the Church are taxed as
their dissenting brethren are; the tax is gathered by a collector of their appointing, and he generally, by a too great
remissness in doing his duty, or by unreasonable severity
upon the professors of the Church of England, endeavours to
distress the Church and hurt the minister of it, and in some
parts of my parish, I have been no small sufferer in this respect.
I am most sincerely, Reverend Sir,
Your most obedient, most humble servant,
EBENEZER DIBBLEE.




CONNIECTICUT — 1751.            277
[Rev. Mir. Johnson to the Secretar'y.]
Stratford, in New-EnglZand,
April 14th, 1751
Reverend Sir,
As this will probably go by Messrs. Camp and Colton,
whom we have recommended to my Lord of London for
holy orders, I would take this occasion to suggest that, as it
is now much less a charity to provide for a school in this
town than heretofore, since the schools are of late better provided for by law than formerly, by money arising from the
sale of some uncultivated publick lands, Mr. Browne tells
me he is willing to resign his salary from the next Michaelmas. I know Ripton people will hope to have it converted
to them for a minister. I wish it could be so; but whether the
venerable Board will be pleased to admit of this, or add ~5
to it and divide, for a little stipend to each between these
candidates, or whatever other disposition they shall please to
make, I entirely submit to their wise goodness.
I now proceed to answer the other parts of your kind letter
of October 19th. What gave me uneasy apprehensions relating to the order you mention was, that it seemed to relate
to such as were in the Society's service, as the words were.
I had been informed that I was censured myself by some invidious person on account of my making some little additions
and variations in adapting some of the prayers of the liturgy
to the use of families for country people, in an appendix to a
sermon I published at the opening of our Church, in which
I followed such examples as Mr. Nelson, and other devotional
writers of good credit; and as I have good reason to believe
that this, with an invidious spirit toward me and some others,
was the occasion of that information, I presume to enclose
here a copy of that poor sermon, (which I had not otherwise
ventured to do,) for I would do nothing but what I would




278              CCHURCH DOCUMENTA,
willingly submit to the correction of the venerable iBoard,
my benefactors.
As to such young readers as are not in the Society's service, I cannot yet find any fact; however, they are sufficiently
cautioned,
As to New-Cambridge, the fact was as Mr. Gibbs represented it; but as they are much nearer to one of ]MIr, Mansfield's parishes, viz., Waterbury, than to Mr. Gibbs, and so
he can better recover their rates by our law, they have since
put themselves tinder his protection, and so that matter is
accommodated; but there are many in several places that
are at such a distance from any incumbent in orders, that
they cannot have the benefit of the law, and so they are still
imprisoned for non-payment to Dissenters.
I am very glad, Sir, to understand by your letter, that the
Society are determined to support the members of tAe Church
here so far as they can, cc.; but, indeed, I do not know what
they can do, so long as the charter of this government stands
as it does; by virtue of which they esteem themselves an independent Legislature, and so not only do not send home
their laws to be confirmed by the King and Council, but insist that they are by no means obliged to do so; whence it
comes to pass, that they pass many acts highly detrimental
even to themselves, to trade in general, and so to the nation
as well as to the Church, especially relating to their paper
money, which is a source of very great injustice in many respects, as they manage it. On which account; I humbly
conceive it would be happy, for themselves as well as the
Church, if the legislature at home should reduce them to a
state of mere dependence on the Crown, by obliging them to
accept, of a new or explanatory charter, by which nothing
should be allowed to pass for law without his Majesty's assent, as in Massachusetts; for want of which, the wiser and
better part are so dependent on the people, that they dare
not exert themselves as they would for the best, and so are
run away with by a prevailing mob, and the law is a universally vague and uncertain thing, both in legislation and execution) and the government is so popular, that they scarce
know what it is to be governed, and so ar'e extremely apt; to




CONECTICtIT-1751.              979
run into endless factions, and that in the affairs of religion as
well as in State.
But as you desire aparticular account, &c., that the Society may have a clear notion of the condition of things in this
colony, I here enclose No, I., a copy of our charter, by which
it may be judged whether they have any right to make any
establishment of religion; and the rather, as we humbly apprehend that the Church of England is already established
ill these plantations, by the act of union with Scotland; and
the Lord's justices, in a letter to Lieutenant-Governor Dummer, in the year 1725, declared it to be an invasion of his
Majesty's prerogative for any of his subjects to presume to
make any establishment of religion without his royal assent.
No. II. TYou have a copy of their law by which they have
made a kind of establishment of religion without his royal
assent. No. III. will show what their law is about supporting their minister and: collecting the rates. No. IV.
contains a law that fear extorted from them by a jail full of
our people, who at the same time addressed the late Bishop
of London, from thence giving an account of their sufferings.
This law provides only for such as can and will attend,
which is such a vague expression that, to what distance or
frequency it shall extend, depends on the judges who favour
us more or less, according as they are affected. Sometimes
a case has been lost in suing for the rates of such as lived
within four, five or six miles of a Church, with an incumbent
in orders; and what made this law the more grievous, or
rather less easy, Was that, by the law No. V., our people
were excluded from their Society, or parish meetings, and so,
from any vote in raising the rates or choosing the collectors,
and this, we think, inconsistent with the English constitution,
that they should be obliged to pay money they had no vote
in raising: upon which we offered the memorial No. VI.,
in which we petition to have leave to be embodied into Societies within ourselves, and so to have the same powers by
law with our neighbours, and to extend to all the people of
our Church, though they have not an incumbent near them
in orders, &c.; and we had some reason to hope it would
have been granted if it had gone on; and, if it had been




280               CHURCH DOCUMENTS.
negatived, I intended (which I thought the only course we
could take) to have sent it, with a copy of their negative; but
as I intimated in my last, we could not bring it to the trial
by reason of the violent opposition of the Rev. Mr. Graves.
And, lastly, that the Society may see their treatment of us,
I enclose No. VII. An account sent me of the present case of
one little collection of people, by which that of many others
may be easily conceived, and I thought it best to send it in its
native simplicity, as they sent it. And these people never were
in any stipulation with the dissenting minister, and at the same
time, at a great expense (with others in the neighbouring towns
of Guilford and Branford, whose case is the same) in building
a Church, and providing for the support of a minister.
Thus, Sir, I have given as exact and clear a state of our
case as I am able. I would only huinbly beg leave to suggest whether it would be advisable to mention any thing of
my writing in this manner in the "abstract," as it may be a
prejudice to the Church, should it be known among us, of
my writing so particularly about the government; and, indeed, I doubt whether it be best that any greater number of
the "abstract" be sent hither than to each minister a copy
or two, since our adversaries have of late been making such
wicked work from them, in misrepresenting and abusing
both the Society and us.
I am, Reverend Sir, your most humble,
And most obedient servant,
SAMUEL JOHNSON.
ENCLOSURES.
No. II.
(Referred to is the foregoinq.)
ANso REGNI ANNE REGINXA, SEPTIMO.
An act in approbation of the Agreement of the late Rev.
Elders and Messengers of all the Churches in this government, made and concluded at Say-Brook, Anno, &c., 1708.
The Reverend ministers, delegates from ye Elders and
messengers of the Churches, in this government, met at Say



CONNECTICUT —-1751.              281
Brook, September ye ninth, one thousand seven hundred and
eight; having represented to this Assembly a confession of
faith, heads of agreement and regulation, in ye administration of Church discipline, as unanimously agreed, and consented to by ye Elders and messengers of all ye Churches in
this government.
This Assembly do declare their great approbation of such
a happy agreement; and do ordain yt. all the Churches
within this government, that are, and shall be thus united in
doctrine, worship and discipline, be, and for the future shall
be, owned and acknowledged, established by law:
Provided always, that nothing herein shall be intended or
construed to hinder or prevent any Society or Church that is
or shall be allowed by the laws of this government, who soberly differ or dissent from the united Churches hereby established, from exercising worship and discipline in their own
way, according to their consciences.
No. III.
AN EXTRACT FROM TIIE ACT FOR THE SETTLEMENT AND SUPPORT
OF MINISTERS, &C.
And when any such rate or tax is granted and made, as
aforesaid, viz., by the major vote of each parish or Society,
the said selectmen or committee shall apply to some assistant or justice of ye peace, in ye same county, for a writ or
warrant, directed to the collector or collectors, chosen and
appointed to collect such rate or tax, enabling him or them
to levy and collect ye same, which assistant or justice shall
forthwith proceed to grant our said writ.
And every such collector or collectors shall, with convenient speed, levy and collect every such rate committed to
him or them; the whole of which they shall do, and pay
unto ye said minister or ministers, within two months after
ye yearly salary becomes due, for ye payment of which such
rate or tax is or shall be granted.




282               CHURCH DOCUMENTS,
No. IV.
ANNO REGNI REGIS GEORGII DECIMO TERTIO. ANNO, 1727.
An act providing how ye taxes levied on ye professors of
ye Church of England for ye support of ye gospel shall be
disposed of, and for exempting said professors from paying
any taxes for ye building meeting-houses for ye present established Churches of this government.
Upon the prayer of Moses Ward, of Fairfield, Churchwarden, and ye rest of ye Churchwardens, Vestrymen, &c.,
praying this Assembly, by some act or otherwise, to free them
from paying to dissenting ministers, and from building dissenting meeting-houses, complaining that money has been
lately taken from them by distress, &c.; further urging that
there might be some provision made by ye law, for obliging
the parishioners to pay to the support of their ministers.
Be it enacted, by the governor, council and representatives, in General Court assembled, and by the authority of
the same, that all persons who are of the Church of England,
and those who are of ye Churches established by ye laws of
this government, yt. live in ye bounds of any parish allowed
by this Assembly, shall be taxed by ye parishioners of ye
said parish, by ye same rule, and in ye same proportion, for
ye support of ye ministry in such parish; but if it so happens,
that there be a Society of ye Church of England, where there
is a person in orders, according to ye Canons of ye Church
of England, settled and abiding among them, and performing
divine service so near to any person yt. had declared himself
of the Church of England that he can conveniently, and doth
attend ye publick worship there, then the collectors, having
first indifferently levied ye tax, as aforesaid, shall deliver ye
taxes collected of such persons declaring themselves, and attending, as aforesaid, unto ye ministers of ye Church of Eng.
land, living near unto such persons; which minister shall
have full power to receive and recover ye same, in order to
his support in the place assigned to him.
But if such proportion of any taxes be not sufficient in any
Society of ve Church of England to support ye incumbent




CONNECTICUT-1751.               283
there, then such Society may levy and collect of them who
profess and attend, as aforesaid, greater taxes, at their own
discretion, for the support of their minister.
And the parishioners of ye Church of England, attending,
as aforesaid, are hereby excused from paying any taxes for ye
building meeting-houses for ye present established Churches
of this government.
No. V.
AN EXTRACT FROM THE ACT FOR FORMING AND REGULATING
SOCIETIES OR PARISHES, MAY, 1746.
Be it further enacted, by the authority aforesaid, that no
person shall presume to vote in any Society meeting aforesaid, unless such person hath a freehold in the same town
or Society, rated as fifty shillings or forty pounds on ye
common list; or is a person of full age and in full communion with the Church; nor shall any person who is or shall
be, by the law of this government, freed or exempted from
ye payment of those taxes granted by any town or Society
for ye support and ye worship and ministry of ye Presbyterian, Congregational or Consociated Churches of this government, and for the building and maintaining meeting-houses
for such worship, on account or by reason of his dissenting
from the way of worship and ministry aforesaid, be allowed
or admitted to act or vote in any town or Society meeting, in
those votes which respect or relate to ye support of ye worship and ministry aforesaid, and ye building and maintaining
of ye meeting-houses aforesaid.
No. VI.
A MEMORIAL OFFERED TO THE ASSEMBLY IN 1749.
To the honourable the General Assembly of his Majesty's
Colony of Connecticut, to be held in Hartford, in said
colony, on ye second Thursday of May, 1749, the:M



284               CHURCH DOCUMENTS.
morial of ye Churchwardens of several Societies of ye
Church of England, in behalf of said Society, in said colony, humbly showeth:
That your memorialists, entirely sensible of, and highly
thankfill for ye many favours and advantages which they
enjoy, under the influence and government of this legislature,
and cheerfully use every opportunity to express their gratitude therefor, and in particular for ye happiness they have
long enjoyed under ye act of 1727, exempting them from
paying taxes to other than the ministers of their own profession, which act was well calculated, as we conceive, so long as
it answered the good purposes intended by the enactors of it;
but the late act of' May, 1746, having excluded ye members
of ye Church of England from voting in Society meetings,
and from having any hand in raising those taxes which they
are obliged to pay, and ye circumstances of ye Church of
England, in this colony, being in some measure altered since
ye making that act, particularly in that whereas, at ye time
of making that act, there were few members of ye Church of
England but what were regularly embodied, and had a
Clergyman in orders, abiding among them, for which case
only said act provides. There are now in many places numbers of that profession, who, through unavoidable difficulties,
cannot procure or maintain Clergymen among them, who
would and do maintain Catechists or candidates for holy orders, according to the practice allowed and approved of by
ye Society, in England, for propagating, &c.; which, creating
a very considerable expense to them, they cannot but esteem
it a heavy burthen on them to be obliged, at ye same time,
to pay rates to the ministers according to the establishment in this colony; and whereas, ye collectors of rates
in ye parishes where there are Societies of ye Church of
England, complain that it is a burthen on them to collect indiscriminately ye rates of both professions, without any advantage or reward arising from ye collection of ye rates of
ye professors of ye Church of England; and whereas, the disproportionate numbers of professors of ye Church of England
and ye Presbyterians require taxations in different propor



CONNECTICUT-1751.              285
tions for ye support of their respective ministers, according
to their different numbers, and ye members of one and ye
same Church of England are differently taxed by reason of
their living in different ecclesiastical Societies, and whereas,
should the law of'27 be repealed, and no provision m'ade in
lieu thereof, it might be of ill consequence, as tending to
weaken ye obligation men are under to pay to ye support in
some way or other of worship and ministry, it might greatly
unhinge ye minds of ye people by seeing so great a number
of their neighbours entirely exempted from paying any rates.
Your honour's memorialists are humbly of opinion that to
prevent these inconveniences is a matter not unworthy the
attention of this honourable Assembly; and do therefore
humbly pray your honours to take these things into your
wise consideration, and by an act of this Assembly for that
purpose, provide that wherever there be any Societies of ye
professors of ye Church of England within the limits of ye
parishes by law established, who have ministers ordained according to the Canons of ye Church of England, abiding
among them, or candidates for holy orders with them residing and performing divine service, who are approved and
allowed by ye Clergy of ye Church of England within this
colony, or are at charge in building Churches or procuring
glebes, that in all such cases, such professors of ye Church
of England, having certified their professions to ye Clerk of
ye Society in which they dwell, and voluntarily caused their
names to be enrolled as such professors, shall be exempted
from paying any taxes toward the building meeting-houses,
or to the support of ye ministers of any other denomination,
and shall have granted to them parish privileges, and have
power, within themselves, to meet and tax themselves, in
what manner and proportion they think proper for ye support of their ministers or candidates and for building their
Churches, &c.; and to choose collectors, who shall have
power to collect such taxes, and to be governed and directed
by the same laws that collectors of Society rates in this colony
are, or in some other way, as your honours, in your wisdom,
shall judge proper to grant relief to your memorialists, who,
as in duty bound, &c.




286               CHURCH DOCUMENTS.
N. B.-This was signed by a number of Churchwardens of
the several Churches, or by their order, as many as could
have opportunity, except New-London.*
[Rev. MAr. Gibbs to the Secretary.-Extract.]
Simsbury, Mlarch 25th, 1751.
Reverend Sir,
Whereas the Dissenters have been, as I have represented
to the honourable Society, very insolent as to their oppressing
the members of the Church, there now appears in them a relaxation and respite as to the same, and there seems a great
fear of an after scourge. This may, I believe, prevent them
from any further proceedings, not but that their wills are as
good as ever, and which is apparent by their late threat, even
this winter, toward some of the Church people living out of
Simsbury four miles; but they at present do forbear, and, I
am apt to think, will cease meddling with the Church any
more.
One of my parishioners, a late conformist, whose residence
is but a little way from Simsbury, and in the bounds of Farmington, has met with some kind of oppression. I have not as
yet undertaken to defend him, by reason that I fear justice
will not be allowed me, though, according to the law, it
should and ought to be. I have, therefore, thought it best to
forbear a while longer.
As to the Church here, it is as I represented; it lays very
open and unfinished, and which grieves me much. Were my
people but resolutely bent and engaged, they might then do
according to what is expected of them, and there might
probably then be large additions to the Church; but then,
again, that which may deter some of them from embracing
it is the oppression it is under, and meets with, and thus is
the growth of it in some measure retarded.
I remain, Reverend Sir,
The Society's most obedient, humble servant,
WILLIAM GIBBS
* Mr. Graves was the minister at New-London.-ED.




CONNECTICUT-1751.               287
[Rev. r.  Gibbs to the Secretary.]
Simsbury, July 19th, 1751.
Reverend Sir,
I received your letter in June, and as to these laws you are
desirous of knowing, I can give no fuller account of them
than what the Reverend Dr. Johnson has, having lately consulted him on that affair; but it may not be amiss to send that
which the Dissenters have so greatly insisted upon, viz.:
Be it enacted, by the Governor, Council and RJepresentatives, in General Court assembled, and by the authority of
the same, That all persons who are of the Church of England, and those who are of the Church established by the
laws of this government, that live in the bounds of any parish
allowed by this Assembly, shall be taxed by the parishioners of
the same parish, by the same rule and in the same proportion,
for the support of the ministry in such parish. But if it so
happen that there be a Society of the Church of England where
there is a person in orders, according to the Canons of the
Church of England, settled and abiding among them, and
performing divine service so near to any person that hath
declared himself of the Church of England, that he can conveniently, and doth, attend the public worship there, then
the collectors, having first indifferently levied the tax, as
above said, shall deliver the taxes collected from such persons
declaring themselves and attending as aforesaid, unto the
minister of the Church of England living near unto such
persons, which minister shall have full power to receive and
recover the same in order to his support in the place assigned
to him; but if such proportion of taxes be not sufficient in
any Society of the Church of England to support the incumbent there, then such Society may levy and collect of them,
who profess and attend as aforesaid, greater taxes, at their
own discretion, for the support of their minister; and the
parishioners of the Church of England are hereby excused




288               CHURCH DOCUMENTS.
from paying any taxes for building meeting-houses for the
present established Churches of this government.
Now, from this, the Dissenters' plea is: That those of our
communion who live remote, do not answer this law, by reason of their not conveniently attending, as they say. I hope
there will be no more difficulties, but yet I am not without fear.
Two persons of this town have lately conformed to the Church,
and I am satisfied several more would come, if the people
would but build a house, and which there are no signs of.
The house which I at present inhabit has been sold some
time ago, and I do expect the person will move into it by the
fall; and whether my people do intend to provide for me, I
can't really say. They will not, or they care not, to give me
a satisfactory answer when asked, so that this must make a
removal very necessary, and which, I hope, the Society will
consider.
I remain, Rev. Sir, your affectionate servant and brother,
And the Society's most obedient, humble servant,
WILLIAM GIBBS.
[Rev. Mr. Graves to the Secretary.]
NT. London, October 10th, 1751.
Reverend and Good Sir,
It is impossible to describe the satisfaction I received upon
reading the animating letter to poor Mr. Gibbs. Surely, he
as well as others of us have suffered religious persecution in
the most literal sense. As the letter is wrote with a truly
Christian sympathy and necessary indignation, as well as an
unchangeable resolution to support the missionaries, and
protect our oppressed and worthy converts, so I presume it
will, in the mean time, be of great service to enable us to
carry on the blessed work of propagation and conversion, if
the wisdom of the venerable Society will judge it proper to
send each of us in Connecticut such another letter, empowering us to preach in all the neighbouring parts, that the
envious, bigoted Dissenters of this colony, so oppressive and




CONNECTICoT —1751.             289
notorious for stifling and perplexing our growing religion,
may know you have a power of explaining your own words
and to assert your liberty of your own charter; a charter
whose nature is purely spiritual, whereas, that of this jealous
colony is wholly civic. I have lately carefully canvassed it,
and there is no clause in it respecting religion except this
following sentence. They have a power to " direct, rule and
dispose of all other (viz., civic) matters and things whereby
our said people, inhabitants there, may be so religiously,
civilly and peaceably governed, that their good life and orderly conversation may win and invite the natives of the
country to the knowledge and obedience of the only true
God and Saviour of mankind and the Christian faith, which
is our royal intention and the adventurer's free profession, is
the only and principal end of this plantation."
Mr. Punderson has lately been cast in our Superior Court,
suing for his rates; and I assure you, one of the principal
leaders of this government told me expressly, that the courts
are determined to overrule all our proceedings in such cases.
I lately waited upon our deputy-governor, and told him
plainly, that though the law about rates was very equal and
just in its beginning, yet the conclusion was full of ambiguity, snares and deceit; that we missionaries were greatly
abused and despised by this government, as persons exposed
to publick contempt, and our hearers to exactions and oppression. He told me we were treated according to law, and
deserved no other usage; that imprisoning Mr. Gibbs and
casting Mr. Punderson were just acts, and that their laws
should be executed. I answered, their proceeding against us
and our hearers, who lived remote, were arbitrary, and contrary to the practice of Europe, and that no English history
could produce an instance of any dissenting teacher being so
scandalously and barbarously dealt with. Upon the whole,
I find that he (who is in principle an Independent) is resolved
to baffle the authority and crush our endeavours. May God
restrain the remainder of his wrath.
I am, good Sir, your most obedient and grateful servant,
And affectionate brother,
MATT. GRAVES.
19




290               CHURCH DOCUMENTS.
[Rev. Mr. Punderson to the Secretary.-Extract.]
Groton, in.ew-England,
December 6th, 1751.
Reverend Sir,
Our blessed Lord having assured us that a good shepherd
will lay down his life for his flock, I thought best to spend
some of my temporal interest in defending my flock from the
cruel oppression of their adversaries; and as ~77.10 has been
distrained from nine persons, who were brought over to the
Church by me since my complaint of June, 1750, ~40 of
which was taken from four persons in N. Guilford, who,
with many others, declared for the Church in September,
1747, and have ever since attended the service of the Church,
to whom Mr. George Bartlett (before this a Deacon among
the Presbyterians and brother-in-law to Dr. Johnson) has constantly read prayers and sermons, I have sued for their
taxes, and obtained judgment against most of the collectors
oefore the Justices' Court, but, by writ of error and an appeal, I have finally recovered but twelve pounds. In the
case of Deacon Bartlett, although these concessions were
made by the opposite party at the County Court, to which
they appealed, viz.: 1. That I was an itinerant missionary in
New-England; 2. That in the year 1747 a number of people
made declaration of conformity to the Church of England in
said N. Guilford, forty-four miles from Groton, and submitted themselves to my charge; 3. That I ordered them to attend divine service, which they have constantly done ever
since, said Bartlett being their reader; 4. That their collector
for the year 1748 took of said Bartlett upward of eleven
pounds, he being a professed Churchman; 5. That I have
constantly attended them every half year, except last spring;
after an attendance of ten days; judgment was given against
me in direct opposition to the enclosed maxims upon law and
for the construction of statutes and reasons annexed; and as I




CONNECTICUT-1751.               291
observed to the judges,'tis very surprising that a statute,
professedly made at the desire and in favour of the Church,
should be used to the oppression and vexation of it, as the
venerable Society gave me assurance of their interposition to
put a final period to this violent oppressive spirit, which is
not only peculiar in this government, but also peculiarly
displayed against the Church of England. Quakers and
Baptists are in this government universally exempted from
paying taxes to them,
And am, Reverend Sir, yours and the Society's
Most faithful, humble servant,
EBEN'R PUNDERSON.
[Rev. Dr. Johnson tb the Secretary.-Extract.]
Stratford, New-England,
April 8th, 1752.
Reverend Sir,
Nor hath the condition of the Church within the whole of
this colony much altered, save that it hath so far increased at
New-Haven (with West-Haven at about four miles distance)
that they have this winter got timber to build a Church of
the dimensions of sixty feet by forty, beside the steeple and
chancel; and as this is a place of very great importance on
account of the College being there, it would be very happy
for them if the Society were able to assist them in providing
for a minister, as I doubt they will not be able to do more
than ~25 sterling per annum themselves, especially while
building. The Church is also gaining at Guilford and Branford, which being but twelve miles asunder, propose to join
for the present in procuring a minister, to whom they would
also engage about ~25 per annum, and therefore stand in like
need of assistance; and there are two worthy candidates
likely to offer for these places, but if the Society be not able
to assist them, they must perhaps be content for the present
to have but one over them all.




292               CHURCH DOCUMENTS
[Rev. Mr. Gibbs to the Secretary.-Extract.]
Simsbury, June 23d, 1752.
Reverend Sir,
I have lately met with some opposition from the Dissenters. One of my parishioners, at Farmington, and about
seven or eight miles distant, has been made to pay to the
support of the dissenting minister. I demanded the rate of
the collector, but was refused it, upon which I sued him before his Majesty's justice of the peace, in this town, John
Humphreys, Esq., and it going then in my favour, they appealed to the County Court, and recovered of me, by reason
that two evidences took their oath that said parishioner acted
with them in the settling of their minister, which he denied,
(as I am informed by one whom I appointed to act in my
stead.) The man is an elderly man, and attends the Church
as often as he can, and especially on Sacrament days, and
this for three years past, and which was Touched for in court
by two or three evidences. The distance of the place and the
badness of the weather is a great hindrance to his attending
oftener than he does. I am sorry my people act in the manner they do, and that they are so careless of complying with
the Society's demand. I have no place to abide in but one
room in the Churchwarden's house, and which is a great incumbrance.
[Rev. Mr. Wetmore to the Bishop of London.-Extract.]
Province of New- York, in Amerca,
Rye, August 11th, 1752.
My Lord,
That in the colonies called New-England the people are
mostly Dissenters of one sort or other, must be well known




CONNECTICUT-1752.               293
to your Lordship, and that they use their power in compelling the professors of the Church of England among them, as
if themselves were an established Church; and, indeed, so their
controversial writers assume, very positively, and treat the
constitution of our national Church, and the professors of it
in this country especially, with such rudeness and indecency
as tries the patience of the most mortified Christian. Mr.
Hobart, of Fairfield, a few years ago, preached and printed a
sermon, which began a controversy that is yet subsisting.
After an attack upon the Episcopacy of the Church, as inconsistent with that equality, which, by Christ's institution,
ought to subsist among his ministers, he charges schism
with great boldness upon the professors of the Church of
England, and urges the awful guilt of it to deter his hearers
from such a dangerous communion; this has produced vindications, addresses, &c. It has been urged on our side that
the colonies are part of and belong to the English nation,
which is of the Church of England, and are, therefore, in
duty bound to submit to the government thereof, in things
religious as well as civic, and not to separate from its communion; that the establishment of the Church of England,
extending to all its parts, reaches hither, which is especially
evident in the act of Union, and his Majesty's patent granted
to the late Bishop of London, to exercise spiritual jurisdiction
in the plantations. Against this has been urged the authority of a passage in a letter of the Lords Justices, in the year
1725, to Lieut. Governor Dummer, that there is no regular
establishment of any national or provincial Church in these
plantations, and of a passage in a letter from the late Bishop
of London to Dr. Coleman, a Presbyterian minister in Boston,
May 24th, 1735: " My opinion has always been, that the religious state of New-England is founded on an equal liberty
to all Protestants, none of which can claim the name of a
national establishment, or any kind of superiority over the
rest." These passages were both written without having in
view the present subject of controversy, but to answer a
quite different purpose; being written to and for the information of one domineering sect, which claims the privilege
of an establishment, and would treat all others, even the pro



294               CIIHtCUI DOCUMENTS.
fessors of the Church of England, as Dissenters and Separatists. That all the various Sectaries should enjoy entirely the
benefit of toleration, is what nobody gainsays, what nobody, I hope, envies them. But when the legislature of Boston was applied to for convening a provincial Synod, the
Lords Justices wrote to the then Lieutenant-Governor, directing him to put a stop to such proceedings, as being an
invasion of the King's prerogative, in which letter was the
above paragraph, or at least the sense of it, which, in my
view, was only to deny any establishment that could be
made of Dissenters, and with respect to the Church of England to insinuate no more than what we are but too sensible
of, viz., that what the act of Union provided with respect to
an establishment of religion in the plantations, has had no
other effect than to declare us members of our mother
Church, the Church of England, and permit us to adhere to
her communion, and receive the sacred influences of her
Episcopacy, without being liable to insults and criminations
on that account; and to await what our gracious Sovereign
may do toward a more particular establishment and regulation, when we shall be so happy as to see a Bishop appointed
for us. T7His establishmlent of Episcopacy is indeed wanting.
What may be done for us in consequence of the act of Union,
is as yet undone; this seems to be what is.signified in the
preamble of the late Bishop's patent. Curm Colonice Planta.
tiones, Cceterague Dominia, Nostra in Americc NONDUri  divisa, vel formata, &c. The dispute is, whether the act of
Union, Anno quinto Annae regince, Section 8, providing for
the preservation of the English establishment "within the
Kingdom of England and Ireland, the dominion of Wales,
and the town of Berwick upon Tweed, and the territories
thereunto belonging," under the word Territories, does not
comprehend the English colonies, Your Lordship's opinion,
if in our favour, and we have leave to divulge it, would be
at this time a consolation to many who not only esteem the
constitution of the Church of England preferable in itself to
any other, but think they discharge a good conscience by
professing themselves of that communion, in the face of insults and many inconveniences, because they think they must




CONNECTICUT —-1752.              295
thus follow peace; but their adversaries tell them that they
contract the awful guilt of schism, and that neither God nor
their King will approve their zeal for conformity. A short
paragraph from your Lordship would be of equal authority
with those alleged against us, and carry the same reverence
and respect; and, for my own part, I shall most humbly submit to correction from your Lordship's hands if I have gone
into mistakes.
Begging your Lordship's prayers and benediction, and
craving pardon for this presumption, I most dutifully subscribe,
My Lord, your Lordship's most dutiful and obedient Son,
And very humble servant,
JAhMES WETMORE
[LRev. Afr. Graves to the Secretary.-Extract.].Yew-London, September 2d, 1752.
Reverena Sir,
That you, Sir, was pleased to write to me I am sensible of,
and thankfully acknowledge the signal favour; but it was intercepted and opened by one Captain Durfey, which I proved
and demanded, but in vain, before Mr. Stewart and two justices of the peace. I have heard some of the contents, and
shall follow your kind advice. I have not received one letter
from England since last fall.'Tis a solemn truth, however,
his Lordship resents it to Dr. Johnson; every charge against
poor Mr. -      w- was literally true, and will, unless he has
repented of them, be found so at the last day. Let those who
certified the reverse answer for themselves; but I determine
never to write against another, though most undeserving.
With pleasure I can say my hearers rather increase, notwithstanding the open wickedness of some among them.
The enclosed are specimens of their late revived behaviour,
and the continued disturbance and perplexities and abuses I
receive in my person and office, without the least prospect or




296                  CHURCH DOCUMENTS.
glimmer of their amendment. Here it is publickly and frequently asserted that neither the Bishop of London nor the
Society have any power over the people; that this Church
is not upon the same footing with other Churches of England; (this Mr. Stewart openly declared in court, pleading
in vindication of Captain Durfey's behaviour of the fifth of
July last;) that the minister has nothing to do in parish affairs, only to read and preach; that his Church is vested in
lay patrons; that it is now in Mr. Mumford, of Groton;
(which was attempted to be proved in court by a written instrument from the donor of the Church land;) that it is not
subject to the canons; that the Vestry and Churchwardens
are the minister's directors, and could place and displace him
at their pleasure; that no minister can or shall do any duty
in this Church, though at the request of the incumbent, without the knowledge and consent of the Vestry, which in open
court they (foolishly) endeavour to prove from the 50th and
52d canons. These, with several other wild Independent principles, are their invincible rules, and to such I am sure my
regular patrons will not expect my compliance; and therefore I hope they will, in mercy, remove me to South Carolina,
where I hope to give them more satisfaction than it's possible
any European can in New-England.  Your last letter I received in March, 1750-1, and the proceedings in October encourage me to make this request, and to hope for success.*
H* ow I have done my duty and resolutely discharged my conscience, though
among briars and thorns, I can confidently declare that no minister,as ever
better beloved by all his hearers. Two leading men and four or five of their
creatures and dependents, who are obstinately resolved to harass and perplex
me, excepted, I am sure, I have acquired the love and favour of all the Dissenters, who are pleased to express great concern at my difficulties and thoughts
of removing.




CONNECTICUT-1752.               297
[Rev. Mr. Dibblee to the Secretary.-Extract.]
Stamford, Connecticut, in New-England,
October 2d, 1752.
Reverend Sir,
An earnest invitation from the good people of Newtown
and Reading to succeed the worthy Mr. Beach; and from
him I am informed, no one would give them better satisfaction. But, although the prospect of mending my living,
thirty pounds sterling per annum, is an argument of great
weight to me in my low circumstances, yet being assured
that the ruin of this infant Church would be the consequence
of my removal at this juncture, so soon after the good
people, though poor, have exerted themselves in building
their Church, and are just now engaging themselves in a
great expense to finish it, having been obliged (by reason of
the great expense in sending Mr. Minor home; the purchase
of the glebe lot, and assisting me to go for holy orders) to
meet in it under very indecent circumstances, I am resolved,(in submission to the venerable Board) to refuse this advantageous offer, and rely upon God's good providence to be
provided for; whose honour and the interest of our holy
Church, I think, will be advanced by this self-denial, as our
enemiqs are ready, upon all occasions, to reproach us for
showing even a necessary concern for our temporal interest,
when, with any face, they can suggest that religion is disserved thereby.




298                CHURCH DOCUMENTS
[Rev. &r. Graves to the Secretary.-Extract.]
N. London, October 26th, 1752.
Reverend Sir,
What difficulties I meet with from the turbulent spirits of
some here, Mr. Bourse can easily inform you; though'tis a
hard task to desire him to describe the open wickedness and
persevering impiety of Captain Durfey. I know he can, and
I hope that blessed Spirit, whose influence he is now more
immediately seeking, will animate him to declare the truth,
without favour or affection, on all questions you shall be
pleased to ask him, either concerning his reputation or mine.
For my own part, the more freely and ingeniously lie informs
you or others of my real conduct or common administration,
the more he will merit my thanks and esteem.
[Rev. Mr. Camp to the Secretary.-Extract.]
fXiddletown, in Connecticut, New-England
NYovember 8th, 1752.
Reverend Sir,
At the importunity of the members of the Church, in
North Guilford, (a place about fourteen miles from Middletown,) who have constantly upheld the worship of God by
reading prayers and sermons for these three years past, and
have suffered much distress by the dissenting collectors;
with a view to my better support and to ease them of their
burden, I have taken them under my care, and steadily,officiate there most of my time; but since, I find it will turn
to small account, for notwithstanding this, the collectors are
obstinately set to collect their rates to support their own




CONNECTICUT-1752.             299
ministers and to repair their meeting-house, pleading that I
have no business there, as not being employed by the Society,
and as not having any place in particular assigned to me in
my license. In this case, I have advised with one of the
ablest of our counsellors, (on whose judgment I much confide,
lie being a member of the Church,) who assures me that by
the laws of the government, they can certainly get the money
from us, which,: if they can, I am confident they will, and if
they do so, I very much fear that the Dissenters at Middletown and Wallingford -will follow their example, for they
have an equal power and right to do the same, the result of
which is, that I shall be left without support.
The humble petition of the Mohegan Indians, in lN'ew-England, in Connecticut, to the most honourable Religious
Society in London for Propagating the Gospel in Foreign
Parts and Countries, 1756:
We, your humble petitioners, do beg leave to say, Captain
John Mason,. our guardian and great friend, that died in London on our business some years ago, when he was here
amongst us did then teach many of our children to read and
write, by which means we learned that the world would,
some time or other, come to an end, and all dead folks would
all come to life again, and that there is a place called heaven
where all good folks will go when they die; and we understand that Mr. Cleveland is an English minister, who we
hope the honourable Society will order to stay at Norwich
Landing, about three miles distant from us; and the people at
Norwich, being always our good friends, they always standing for cur interests; and we humbly beg the favour of you,
gentlemen, that we, the poor tribe of Mohegan Indians, not
having money to hire a minister to teach us the way or path
to heaven, may have a share in the Reverend Mr. Cleveland,
that we may be taught to go to that good place when we die
as well as white men. We are so poor we cannot give him
much, without it is a few oysters, fresh fish, and now and




300              CHURCH DOCUMENTS.
then a bit of venison when we have good luck in hunting,
except [unless] our well-beloved trustee and guardian, Mr.
Samuel Mason, doth gain our case that he is now about in
London; which gentleman can give your honors a more full
account of our case and circumstances, who we hope will be
ready and willing to, inform you, he being our agent; there
being about four hundred of our tribe that live about four
miles from the Church at Norwich, and about the same distance from the Groton Church.
Dated at ifohegan, in Connecticut, this 19th Jan'y, 1756.
Wee nate at um nogum nocke Wiegon watch, tahlah boah
wee be Sumbyah watuan nogum acode munch togio watabon Sumbya. Moy-wee no munch is Sawonake Matchoog
che che gun.
In English:
We think he is a good true-hearted minister, that will teach
us the right path to heaven, and not cheat us by showing us
the wrong path, but will teach us the right way.
JOHN UNCAS, Chief Sachem,
JOHN MANEPOONE,
JOSHUA OCOON,
JAB]CZ JONES,
EBEN'R TUNNER,
DANIEL COOPER,
PETER CHOOZHEEGAN.*
This is a true copy of what the Indians have sent to the
Society, enclosed in a letter from the Churches in!Norwich
and Groton to Dr. Bearcroft.  Please show this to Dr.
Nicholls.
JOSEPH TRACEY.
* This last was written with the subscriber's own hand.




CONNECTICUT —1752.               301
[Several Questions relating to the State of Religion in Connecticut.]
Query I.-If a hundred families living contiguous, but yet
in two colonies, should desire to unite into a Church, in
conformity with the Church of England, and those in each
colony agree to pay their proportion to the support of a minister, licensed by the Bishop of London, naming the person,
could such minister, residing in one colony, claim the benefit of such an act as No. 3 in the other colony, where he
officiates attentively, though his habitation be only in one
colony?
Query 2.-Is it not repugnant to the act of Uniformity,
Primo Eliz., (especially with reference to the last clause,
that shows it was designed to extend to all the country belonging to the English dominions,) for any of the colonies to
make laws, either to oblige the professors of the Church of
England, or, indeed, any others, to support any dissenting
way of worship, or to be present thereat?
Query 3.-Ought not the act No. 3 to be construed in a
sense not repugnant to the laws of England, when capable of
such a sense, rather than in a sense that implies a plain
repugnancy, as compelling me to support Independency
seems to be?
IRev. 21. Beach to the Secretary.]
Reading, Connecticut, in N. England,
November 2d, 1759.
Reverend Sir,
I beg leave to return my humble thanks to the venerable
Society for their instructions for our conduct in the late critical conjuncture, when we were in no small danger of becoming a prey to our barbarous enemies, which has had a good




302               CHURCH DOCUMENTS.
effect. Blessed be Almighty God, the snare which they had
laid for us is broken, and we are delivered; the divine justice
is very apparent in bringing off innocent blood, which, in a
most shockihg manner, they have been shedding for more
ian half a century. Upon this generation, as they have
lone, so has God requited them. The people in New-England are very sensible that, under God, our preservation is
owing to his Majesty's paternal care, and the great expense
which our mother country has been at for us. My parish is
in a flourishing state in all respects, excepting that we have
lost some of our young men in the army; more, indeed, by
sickness than by the sword, for this countrymen do not bear
a campaign so well as Europeans.
As Common Prayer-Books, Duties of Man, and small devotional tracts are not to be purchased here, I therefore presume humbly to request (if it may consist with the wisdom
of the venerable Society) that I might be entrusted with a
few of such good books to be distributed among my parishioners.
I am, Reverend Sir, yours and the venerable Society's
Most obedient, humble servant,
JOHN BExcaH.
[Rev.. r. ewtaton to the Secretary.-Extract.]
Ripton, it Connecticut, N. England,
July 2d, 1759.
Reverend Sir,
I take this opportunity to inform the honourable Society
of the success of the gospel, and of my labours in the propagation of it. Our liturgy is more favourably received and
esteemed by the Dissenters than has been for some time past,
and many of them frequently come to Church, and desire to
be acquainted with it; and some of them who, a year ago,
would not have been seen in a Church at publick worship no




CONNECTICUT —1T79.              303
sooner than in a mass house, (they declared them to be one
and the same.) Two families, of good character and conversation, have conformed since my letter of December last, and
we have had some additions to our number of communicants.
The honourable Society's most obedient,
Humble servant,
CHRISTOPHER NEWTON.
[Rev. Mr. Dibblee to the Secretary.-Extract.]
Stamford, Connecticut, New-England,
September 29th, 1759.
Reverend Sir,
My people continue in a peaceful, united state, in all parts
of my extensive mission, and I constantly attend the duties
of my office in the various parts of my mission as formerly.
There hath not been late accessions to the Church from the
Dissenters; the sound of the trumpet and the alarms to war,
together with a concern for the events thereof, principally
engross the attention of the people. Indeed, the Church of
Stamford is rather weakened than strengthened of late by
enlistments into publick service, and by the surprising removal of a number of heads of families, through a very malignanlt disorder that has prevailed among my people. In
less than a year past I have buried twelve heads of families,
seven males, some of them the best ornaments of religion
and zeal for the Church, and the support of it among us, and
of good esteem among our dissenting brethren. June 24th,
second'Sunday after Trinity, I preached in the lower district
of Salem to a very considerable auditory, judged between
three and four hundred people, old and young, who behaved
very devoutly and attentively; I gave the communion to
thirty-nine communicants. There is a hopeful prospect of
the increase and flourishing state of religion among that scattered poor people, and no endeavours of mine are wanting
to serve them in their best interest. I preached to them
about two weeks before, upon a special fast appointed in that




304                CHURCH DOCUMENTS.
province, to implore the smiles and blessing of Divine Providence to attend his Majesty's arms the ensuing campaign,
upon which occasion that people also gave a religious and
devout attendance.
I am, Reverend Sir, your most obedient,
Most humble servant, and brother in Christ,
EBEN'R DIBBLEE.
[The war alluded to was what was familiarly known as " the old French war."]
[Rev. Mr. Graves to the Secretary. —Extract.]
fNew-London, in N. England,.November 23d, 1759.
Reverend and good Sir,
I understand Mr. Fairweather is appointed to Narragansett. God's will be done. Sure I am, had the naked truth
been laid before you, my request had been preferred. I belive that none but Mr. Merritt would have presumed to impose upon such a glorious Society, in counterfeiting a whole
parish's design; asserting a glaring falsehood, and condemning the innocent. May God grant him true repentance. Did
they know the man, I really believe, though he's of a great
family and very rich, they, as well as all considerate Independents here, would despise him. This is the second time
he has falsely represented a parish, viz., that of Providence
and that of Narragansett. HIad I been a proselyte of Clark's
Arianism, he had been my sure friend; but as it was in the
beginning of Christianity, so it is now, that the great men
of the world are always the greatest opposers of Christ and
his disciples. The prospect of the recompense of reward
is, and will, I trust, be my abiding comfort, in all the vicissitudes and disappointments of life.
Good Sir, your most obliged, grateful,
VAnd obedient servant,
IMATT. GRAVES.




CONNECTICUT- 1760.                305
[Rev. Mfr. Dibblee to the Secretary.-Extract.]
Stamford, New —England,
2April 18st, 1760.
Reverend Sir,
I thank you for your favour of the 3d of May last, which
came to hand long since. If I should live to see an end of
the present war, and this Church should be able to free itself
from some particular embarrassments, I make no doubt of its
future increasing and flourishing state. But one considerable
discouragement they labour under is this: antecedent to the
late trouble, and before our country was made the seat of
war, they had run themselves in debt about one hundred
pounds sterling toward furnishing their Church; and the
burden of publick taxes, voluntary enlistments into publick
service, and the death of many of its most considerable professors, have so weakened.them that they still lie under the
burden of that debt.  This induced the Churchwardens
and Vestry, with their minister, in October last, to prefer a
petition to the General Assembly of the province, for liberty
to draw a lottery in their favour, not to endow the Church,
but to free the poor people from those troubles which were
brought upon them by the pure providence of God; but, alas,
no such favour could be obtained, not even to draw a lottery
in the government, if we should not offer a ticket for sale in
it; and why? not because it is repugnant to their principles,
for they have given countenance to publick lotteries, even to
repair the broken fortunes of private persons, and to help to
build up and establish an Independent College in the Jerseys, when they could obtain no such favour in their own
province. But, alas, this was too great an act of favour to
the established Church.
I am, Reverend and worthy Sir,
Your very humble servant, and brother in Christ,
EBENEZER DIBBLEE.
20




306               CHURCH DOCUMENTS.
[Rev. Mr. Beach to the Secretary.-Extract.]
Reading, in Connecticut, April 22d, 1760.
Reverend Sir,
Arian and Socinian errors, by means of some books written by Dissenters in England, seem of late to gain ground a
great pace in this country among the Presbyterians, as they
choose to be called, and some of our people are in no small
danger from that infection. I havre, therefore, at Dr. Johnson's desire and advice, prepared a small piece for the press,
being an attempt to vindicate Scripture 2fjysteries, particularly the Doctrines of the Holy Trinity, the Atonement of
Christ, and the renovation by the Holy Spirit; also of the
Eternity of the Future Punishment, with some Striclures
upon what Mr. J. Taylor hath advanced on those points, to
which the Doctor hath written a short preface. If it should
obtain the approbation of all my brethren at our Convention,
(at which they desired me to preach upon these subjects,) and
it should be published, I shall presume to send you, over
some copies, hoping it may make some amends for my former
error.
[Rev. Mr. 2ewton to the Secretary.]
Ripton, N. England, June 25th, 1760.
Reverend Sir,
The state of the parish of Ripton is so much the same, as I
have informed you in my letter of January last, that it would
be but repeating what I have already wrote, to give any
further account, except of baptisms. I have baptised this
half year twenty white children, and one black, and, under
the blessing of God, have been able to preach and catechise,
not only on the Sabbath, but in the week, and have reason
to think it has had a good effect upon many, and especially
upon a number of families that live at the distance of about




CONNECTICUT-1760.              30T
eight, and some ten miles from Ripton, to whom I have often
preached; and of late they have been more ready to hear than
formerly, and seem to be religiously disposed, and sensible
of the importance of attending publick worship, and, accordingly, have built a Church thirty-six feet long and twentysix feet wide; and in about six weeks from the beginning, so
far finished it that we met in it for publick worship, and a
large congregation attended, it was supposed upward of three
hundred people. These people live at a great distance from
any publick worship, and many of them  are so poor that
they have not horses to carry their families to worship if
they would, and others, it seems by their conduct, choose to
spend the Sabbath in hunting and unnecessary visits, and are
not only dilatory in religious matters, but in secular affairs.
Many live but little above the Indian, and are destitute of
the comforts of life. This melancholy prospect influenced
some persons that were able, to build a Church, as one of
them declared to me, that has been a professor of the Church
for some years, that he thought it his duty to expend part of
his estate in building a Church, to prevent their becoming
heathens. These people since have attended worship and
seem very highly to prize the worship of the Church, and
have desired me to take the care of them, and I have preached every fourth Sunday to them, and wait for the direction
of the venerable Society. Those that have before been professors of the Church in these parts, have sent their requests
to the Society; and as my duty will be attended with more
trouble and expense, and very little can I expect from the
people for my support, I humbly beg the Society would
make to nle some addition to my salary, and also give me
some books for a library, which is allowed to every mission
but Ripton; and permit me, Sir, to ask for some Bibles and
Common Prayer-Books and Catechisms, to be distributed
among the poor people that belong to the new Church. I
believe people never stood in more need of charity than they,
and a Bible and Common Prayer-Book for the Church.
Most obedient, &c.,
CHRISTOPHER INEWTON.




308               CHURCH DOCUMENTS.
[[Rev. Mr. Scovil to the Secretary.-Extract.]
fWaterbury, June 26t1, A. D. 1760.
May it please the Society,
I have contrived to officiate alternately in my several parishes; have had the satisfaction to find my labours so far
successful as to promote a very good harmony among my
parishioners, and engage them to give a regular and constant
attendance upon our publick worship. There does also a
pretty good understanding subsist between them  and the
Dissenters, who have, many of them, upon some occasions,
given their attendance upon the worship of our most excellent Church, though the number of conformists from them
to us has been but three families, who have publickly joined
our Church, and put themselves under my care. Our numnber is not hereby enlarged, several families that were conformists having moved out of my parishes, within this half
year past. I have visited Simsbury, and officiated there, as
I informed the Society I had done in my last letters, and
propose to give them all the assistance I can, consistent with
the duty of my own particular parishes, till they shall be
otherwise supplied. The good people of Simsbury have
hired a young gentleman that was educated at Yale College,
to read prayers and sermons for them, and have of late
seemed to exert themselves as far as they could to support
the interests of the Church. I have drawn my bills upon
the Society's treasurer for my salary the last.half year, and
have herewith sent my Notitia Parochialis, and am,
Mlay it please the Society,
The Society's most obliged,
And most obedient, humble servant,
JAMES SCOVIL.




CONNECTICUT-1760.              309
Hotitia Parochialis.
No. of families belonging to the Church in Waterbury
and Westbury,.................................  57
In Northbury,...........     32
In New-Cambridge,............... 28
Communicants in Waterbury and Westbury,..........  88
In Northbury,................................  37
In New-Cambridge,..........................  47
Baptised last half year,...............     15
[Rev. iMr. Mansfield to the Secretary.]
Derby, N. England, June 27th, 1760.
Reverend Sir,
I continue still employed in the care of my two parishes of
Derby and Oxford, and I think I have good reason to hope
that my labours are somewhat serviceable in promoting
Christian piety and virtue among my parishioners; and I
have had the satisfaction of the addition of two families of
Dissenters and one single person, (all of them people of good
reputation,) who, within the last half year, have professed for
the Church of England, and constantly attend its worship.
I have lately been a journey to Simsbury, where, on a
Sunday, I preached and performed divine service, and administered the communion to about forty communicants, and
baptised three adults and nine children. The Church has of
late much revived there under the care of Mr. Viets, a young
gentleman, a candidate for holy orders in the Church, who
was educated and has taken a degree of Bachelor of Arts at
Yale College, in New-Haven, and who for some time past
has read divine service and sermons in the Church at Simsbury. They have workmen now employed in finishing off
their Church, and are making preparations to finish their
glebe-house, each of them having been heretofore much neglected; and there seems at present to be a fair prospect of a




310                CHURCH DOCUMENTS.
flourishing Church in that town, where, for many years before, it had been gradually declining.
I propose to use my best endeavours to promote the interest of religion in my mission. I hereto annex my Hotitia
Parochialis for the last half year, and have drawn upon the
Society's treasurer for fifteen pounds sterling toward my support, and am,
Reverend Sir, tile Society's and your most obliged
And most obedient, humble servant,
RICHIARD 1MANSFIELD.
In Derby and OxfordNo. of famiies,.................. 74
13aptised last half year,......................  23
Actual Communicants of the Church of England,..  80
[Extractfrom a Letterfrom Dr. Johnson to the Archbishop of Canterbury.]*
May it please your Grace,
While I was in Connecticut, about six months ago, I had
opportunity to know much of the condition of the Church in
those parts, and therefore thought I would be a little more
particular in giving your Grace an account of it. The
Church is generally in an increasing and flourishing condition,
and much the more so, on account of the violent contentions
of the Dissenters among themselves, which in effect drive
people into the Church. The Wallingford affair was again
before the Assembly last May, and the lower house were still
more zealous in the cause of the minor party, which seems
the prevailing disposition of the country, so that there will
probably be a great struggle to get out the governor and
several of the upper house for not favouring them; and I here
send your Grace two pamphlets relating to these controversies, that have been published since my last. The parties are
* This was written after Dr. Johnson had removed to New-York to take charge
of KingYs, now Columbia College.




CONNECTICUT-1760.              311
both upon bad extremes. Hart and Yale, &c., are followers
of Taylor, Foster, &c.; and, I doubt Socinianism is at the
bottom, and the President, Hobart, &c., are most rigid Calvinists, and intent at any rate to oppose the others to their
utmost. Mean time the Church is every where in peace, and
the Clergy orthodox; only I find there are some of the leading laity in good MIr. Palmer's district, that is infected with
what is here called Taylorism, i. e., Socinianism and Pelagianism, and they are somewhat disaffected, I believe, without reason, against their minister, for preaching against those
errors; charging him with Calvinism, and, perhaps, he may
be a little too warm on these accounts. I desired Mr. Beach
to preach at their Convention, in Trinity week, in defence of
the Trinity and against those loose notions, which he did to
good acceptance, and the sermon is to be published; a copy
of which I shall send your Grace when I next write.
It is a great detriment to the Churches at Middletown and
Wallingford that Mr. Camp hath left them, induced partly
by his necessities, and partly by the persuasion of Governor
Dobbs, to move to North Carolina. How they are to be
supplied I am at a loss to know; they ought each to have a
minister, and I wish the Society were in a condition to settle
at least forty pounds on the former and thirty pounds upon
the latter, who hope for one }Mr. Andrews, a candidate of
good character, and one Treadwell, said to be a worthy youth,
who has lately appeared for the Church, both bred at NewHIaven College, where I found three or four hopeful young
men preparing for orders. M[r. Punderson seems a very
honest and laborious man; yet the Church at New-Haven
appears uneasy, and rather declining under his ministry,
occasioned, I believe, partly by his want of politeness, and
partly by his being absent so much, having five or six places
under his care. I wish he was again at Groton and some
politer person in his place, and another at Guilford and
Branford.
There are now thirty Churches in that colony, (though but
fourteen ministers,) there being three or four new ones, one
of which is a third within the bounds of Stratford, in a remote corner, ten miles from one and eight from another,




312              CHURCH DOCUMENTS.
under the care of Mr. Newton, who desires me to intercede
for a few Prayer-Books and small practical tracts for them,
being poor, and some of dissolute habits; and as he has this
additional labour, I wish the Society could add ten pounds
to his salary, he being both laborious and needy. The more
I know of Mr. Winslow the more I am pleased in him as my
successor. He excels all the Clergy in that colony as a
preacher, and is behind none of them in discretion and good
conduct; and being rector of the first Church, and otherwise
duly, if not the best qualified, I wish, when Commissaries are
appointed, he may be a Commissary, being also of the most
creditable family and education; and as he has a large,
young, growing family, and is obliged in that situation to live
at the most expense of any of them, it would be highly expedient, if practicable, to add ten pounds more to his support.
And here, my Lord, I beg leave to add a few words of that
colony in general, though perhaps it might hurt the Church
were I known to write too freely. I am humbly of opinion,
that every thing being taken into the account, that for its
bigness is the best of all his Majesty's colonies in America.
All the disadvantages it labours under are owing to its
wretched constitution, being little more than a mere democracy, and most of them upon a level, and each man thinking
himself an able divine and politician; hence the prevalence
of rigid enthusiasms and conceited notions and practices in
religion, and republican and mobbish principles and practices, next door to anarchy, in polity; and hence her frequent feuds and factions in both; and every thing is managed by profound hypocrisy and dissimulation, so that they
may, in effect, be called a commonwealth of hypocrites. I
speak of the prevailing bulk, who all conspire to keep men
of true, sober and honest principles and integrity out of
places; and such, indeed, as things go, abhor to have any
hand in the publick affairs, the rest having lost all notion of
almost any king or kingdom to which they are accountable.
This state of things makes multitudes very inquisitive after
better principles, and many, from too much indignation, run
into the wild extremes of boundless latitude and free thinking, while many (I hope the most of those that are inquisi



CONNECTICUT —- T60.            313
tive) seem disposed to set down in thp golden mean, the
Church of England, if they could be provided for; so that it
is of the utmost importance for the best weal of that colony,
and its eastward neighbours, that the Church be propagated,
and, if possible, be supported; and if, at the same time, their
charters were demolished, and they could be reduced under
the management of wise and good Governors and a Council
appointed by the king, I believe they would in a little time
grow a good sort of people, and the best of all the provinces.
And now, my Lord, I return homeward. Westchester
and New-Rochelle, in this province, have both lost their
ministers, who had been disabled for some considerable time
before, and Rye hath lately suffered a grievous loss by the
death of good Mr. Wetmore, of the small-pox, so that there
is not one Clergyman in all that county or the county above.
Rye has been trying to prevail on Mr. Dibblee, of Stamford;
but le, good man, though in great need of better support,
and apprehensive of the great detriment it would be to that
Church, has refused; being also made to hope for the enlargement of his salary, which he truly deserves, and if it
can be done, I earnestly wish it may. They think next of
trying for Mr. Sturgeon, but I hope they may unite on a
worthy son of MIr. Wetmore's, who is preparing for orders;
and, I believe, these vacancies must wait till our candidates,
three or four of them, are ready. Westchester was sadly
disappointed in Mr. Greaton's failing them, and I hope they
will unite on one Davies, a good, sensible young man, who
will go the next fall, and, perhaps, another.
I am now, my Lord, though not without some danger, returned to my College, ever since the middle of May, and
have lately held a Commencement, which was generally well
approved, when six were graduated Bachelors, none having,
till next May, sufficient standing for Masters. My absence,
together with the long sickness and death of my best tutor,
has been a great damage, five or six having left the College.
I conclude your Grace has had our letters, earnestly begging
your assistance in providing two more tutors, one that may
be qualified to succeed me, and the other to succeed him
that is dead, in teaching mathematics and experimental phi



314              CHURCH DOCUMENTS.
losophy. This latter is now extremely needed; and I beg, if
possible, he may be sent, though it be late in the fall, for we
must entirely suspend those parts of learning till he comes.
Our house, all at present intended, is now near finished,
and is a very neat and commodious building, one hundred and
eighty feet in length by thirty, three stories high, in a very
delightful situation, near Hudson River, opening on th'e harbour. This is designed for one side of a quadrangle, to be
carried on and completed in time, as we need and shall be
able, but we cannot go on any further without a collection
at home, which we hope, ere long, may be obtained. I now
long for Dr. Bristow's library, having got a good room
ready for it. Our College has also lately suffered an unspeakable loss in the death of the best and most active of its
Governors, in meridian of life, one Mr. Nicoll, a lawyer of
great note, who was my son-in-law, than whom no man was
ever more lamented throughout this province. Under these
losses and difficulties, I humbly beg leave to recommend
both it and myself to your Grace's prayers and blessings.
By a letter I had lately from Dr. Smith, of Philadelphia,
he puts me upon humbly requesting of your Grace, the honour of a Doctor's degree for the worthy Mr. Barclay, wishing, with me, that if it cannot be procured from Oxford, it
may come from Lambeth. I was surprised and very sorry
to be told by him, upon my inquiry, that he had not yet then
prepared the draughts be was to make and transmit to yous
Grace, for which I furnished him with some materials from
Connecticut, and expected it to have been done last fall; he
again promises to do it soon.
And, my Lord, I again beg your pardon for this tedious
letter, and whatever improprieties there may be in it,
And remain, may it please your Grace,
Your Grace's most obliged, most dutiful,
And devoted humble servant,
SAMUEL JOHNSON.
Kings College, New- York, July 13th, 1760.




CONNECTICUT-1760.               315
July 30th.
P. S.-This letter, my Lord, having waited thus long for
an opportunity, and may yet wait some days, I humbly take
occasion to inform your Grace, that this day died, very suddenly, our Lieutenant-Governor, De Lancey, so that we shall
need to have a Governor soon sent us; and I need not suggest
to your Grace of how much importance it is to us, that lie be
not only a good statesman but a friend to religion and the
Church, and exemplary in attendance on her publick offices,
for want of which, religion hath suffered extremely in this
province. If, therefore, your Grace can have any influence
in the next appointment, I doubt not it will be duly exerted
that we may have such an one. As Mr. Standard is dead, and
Westchester people are about applying to your Grace for another minister, I question whether a more suitable man can
be found than Mr. Milner, by whom I wrote to your Grace,
and who, I conclude, is now at Oxford. I could therefore
wish, if the Society think proper, that he may be appointed
to supply that vacancy.
I am, my Lord, &c.
[Rev. Mr. Winseow to the Secretary.-Extract.]
Stratford, New-England, July 14th, 1760.
Reverend Sir,
I have the pleasure to say, as to the general state of this
parish, that our congregation continues to maintain their
steadfastness to their profession, and their endeavours to adorn
and to recommend it by unity and peace among themselves,
and prudence and charity toward their neighbours, and by a
becoming zeal for the purity of the faith of the gospel, and
for its due influence toward their own improvement in
Christian knowledge and virtue, and toward the like improvement of their families. This will, I hope, by God's
blessing, ever be the increasing fruit of the Society's pious




316              CHURCH DOCUMENTS.
care toward us, and wherever it is extended in these colonies,
and that by the same divine blessing we that are employed
in the Society's service may be enabled, wisely and faithfully
to discharge our important duty to them and to the people
of our charge.
It has pleased the Supreme Dispenser of all events, to
make an effacing breach upon us, in the death of the late
Reverend and truly worthy Mr. Wetmore, a gentleman of
extensive influence and usefulness, a father and exemplary
pattern to the Clergy in these parts. We have also much to
regret the necessity MIr. Camp has thought himself under, to
remove from his mission at Middletown and Wallingford, as
at this time it is peculiarly unhappy that those places, especially the latter, should be destitute, this being the chief seat
of the religious controversies now agitating in this colony;
and where, if the people could be properly attended, a very
flourishing Church would soon be established, to which their
being destitute, may, I fear, prove some obstruction. Upon
their application to me, I have engaged, as often as I can
consistently with my proper duty, to give them all the assist.
ance in my power, until they are provided for.
I have formerly taken the freedom to observe to you the
grounds of the contentions in this colony, and chiefly among
the teachers; these they are still warmly engaged in, and are
increasing confusions among themselves, which have already
had, and must more and more produce the effects to awaken
the consideration of many of the serious and thinking part
among them, and put them for seeking an established foundation whereon, with some security, to settle themselves and
enjoy the regular administration of the means and ordinances
of religion.
At a late convention of the Clergy of our Church in this
colony, at New-Haven, a sermon was preached by the Rev.
Mr. Beach, wherein, much to his own reputation, and, I trust,
by the Divine blessing, to the credit of religion and advantage of the Church here, he has with great zeal and faithfulness endeavoured to vindicate and establish the important
fundamentals of the Sacred Trinity, and the divinity of our
blessed Saviour; his atonement and satisfaction; the neces



CONNECTICUT-1760.                317
sity of the renewing and sanctifying influences of Divine
Grace and the eternity of future punishment, and to expose
the falsehood and danger of the contrary pernicious errors,
which, by means of spreading bad books and other industrious arts of too many men of bad principles in these parts,
have been successfully propagated. The Clergy have unitedly taken the occasion of the publication of this discourse to
give their testimony against these errors, and to recommend
the doctrines therein inculcated as the prime truths of the.
gospel, and the foundation on which the whole structuire of
the articles and liturgy of the Church is framed. I hope
Mr. Beach has, by this service, atoned in some measure for
the ill effects of his former unhappy mistake, and that it may
prove a seasonable means to preserve our people in their
steadfastness, and to guide our dissenting brethren to that
refuge from their various distractions among themselves,
both about doctrines and discipline, which they must needs
wish to find. You will receive a copy of this sermon from
Dr. Johnson.
How greatly, Sir, are we indebted to my Lord of London,
for the further instance we have lately received of his pious
regard to us in the distribution of so large a number of
copies of the second volume of his most excellent discourses,
so extremely well calculated for our circumstances and for
general instruction in knowledge and direction in practice.
May a distinguished crown of glory be the reward of his usefulness.
I beg leave to offer my due regards and best wishes for
your health, and respectfully subscribe myself,
Reverend Sir, the Society's
And your most obedient servant,
EDWARD WINSLOW.




318              CHURCE DOCUMENTS.
[Rev..r, Winslow to the Secretary.-Extract.]
Stratford, December 29th, 1760.
Reverend Sir,
During the past six months have been baptised here and
at Wallingford nineteen white infants and two negro children, and several persons added to the communion of this
Church. The present number of communicants is near one
hundred and fifty, and I have still the satisfaction to be able
to acquaint you that our people continue steadfast in their
attachment to the Church, and, in general, careful to evidence
the purity of their profession, and their sincerity in it, by
endeavouring to make its substantial fruits and ornaments
appear in their own personal improvement, in maintaining a
union among themselves, and in giving no occasion of offence
to others. By this means, through the divine blessing, the
Church in this town preserves its ground, notwithstanding a
restless spirit of opposition is but too visible in some of our
dissenting brethren of authority and influence among us.
This has an unhappy tendency to keep up the prejudices of
many who are really otherwise not ill affected to the doctrines and worship of our Church, and are much disposed to
live in friendship. Much artifice is used by the leading persons among the Dissenters in this colony to prevent their
people from attending our service, and to possess them with
the absurd notion of their worship and discipline being an
establishment here, from which ours is a separation; but their
own late divisions and distractions among themselves, with
regard to doctrine and discipline, have already unsettled so
many, and must necessarily have the like effect with others,
that, I doubt not at all, there will be seen numbers gladly
embracing the refuge from these confusions and those wholesome means for all needful instruction and improvement in
Christian knowledge and practice, which our happy constitution will afford them. This is manifestly the present case
at Wallingford and in its immediate neighbourhood, where




CONNECTICUT — 1760.             319
the Church congregation has so far increased that the people
think themselves in a condition to make some suitable provision for sending home for holy orders, and for supporting
a deserving young man. who has been some time employed
as a reader among them. They dare not presume upon the
Society's assistance, further than to crave the liberty to apply
for part of the salary granted to Middletown and Wallingford, should they in their goodness see fit to allow it. The
people who belong to the congregation at Wallingford,
and live at some distance, have lately built themselves a
small Church for their greater convenience in the winter
season, when their families cannot well attend at the other.
I continue to officiate at Wallingford about once in six
weeks, which, by the reason of the distance of near thirty
miles, and the needful care of my particular charge, is as frequent attendance as I am able to give.
I am, Reverend Sir, the Society's
And your most obedient servant,
EDWARD WINSLOW.








SKETCH OF THE SEABURY FAMILY.
[TnE following sketch of the Seabury family, furnished at the request of the
Editors, by one of its descendants, forms a part of the history of the Connecticut
Church, in its brief narrative relating to its first Bishop.. It possesses also additional interest from its presentation of the remarkable fact (at least in this country) of four successive generations having each furnished a Clergyman to the
Church. It may well be questioned whether our ecclesiastical annals afford any
similar instance. If any name, therefore, may be considered as belonging to the
history of the Church at the North, it is that of Seabury. We are glad to have
it in our power to present the following from the pen of a great-grandson of the
Bishop.-EmTous.j
THE name of Seabury appears at a very early date in our
Colonial history. The family came from England and settled first in the Colony of Massachusetts, and was thence
spread to Connecticut and New-York.  John Seabury, the
first of the name in this country, resided in Boston in the
beginning of the seventeenth century.  His son Samuel, born
in 1639, was a surgeon, and lived at Duxbury, Mass.  He
is spoken of as a man of some note in his profession.
His son, John Seabury, removed from Duxbury a little before the year 1700, and settled at Stonington, Connecticut.
In the year 1704 he exchanged his farm in Stonington for
one in Groton, a small place on the River Thames, opposite
New-London, where he resided for many years; removing,
in the latter part of his life, however, to Hempstead, L. I.,
at which place he died, on the 17th day of December, 1759.
Mr. John Seabury married, in 1697, Elizabeth Alden, a
grand-daughter of the famous John Alden of the May Flower,'
by whom he had eight children, and who survived him
many years, dying on the 4th of January, 1771, at the ad.




322               CHURCH DOCUMENTS.
vanced age of ninety-four. She was interred at Stonington,
where it is recorded, on her tombstone, that she lived to see
the fourth generation of her descendants.
From the religious customs of the colony where he was
born, as well as of that in which the greater part of his life
was spent; from the ignorance and hatred of the Church,
which, at that time, were in these places almost universal;
and from the associations of his marriage, we might naturally
expect to find Mr. Seabury the staunchest of staunch Puritans.
Accordingly, we are not surprised to read that he lived in
the practice of the Congregationalist sect; that he was a
prominent member and Deacon of the Society of that persuasion in Groton; and that he trained his son to be a
preacher of the doctrines to which he himself had been
trained to listen.
Samuel, the fourth son of Mr. John Seabury, was born at
Groton, on the 8th of July, 1706. He was educated at
Harvard College, graduating in the year 1724, at the age of
eighteen years, and soon after graduating was licensed to
preach as a Congregationalist minister.
For several months during the year 1726, he preached to
the Congregationalists at North Groton, but in this position lihe
could not long remain. The doctrine and order of the Church,
hitherto almost unknown, were then beginning to emerge
from the obscurity with which ignorance and prejudice had
shrouded them, and the Congregationalist minister of Groton
was among the first who came within their light.
The famous controversy between the president and professors and the trustees of Yale College, had but recently
been followed by the conformity and ordination of Dr. Johnson and others, and their learned and pious illustration of the
faith of the Church led many to reflection, and laid the foundation of the subsequent prosperity of the Church in Connecticut.
The study and reflection of Mr. Seabury convinced him of
the invalidity of his orders; he declared himself a convert
to the doctrines of the Church of England, and, in the year
1731, crossed the ocean and received Episcopal ordination




SKETCH OF THE SEABURY FAMILY.        323
from the Bishop of London. Returning to America, he soon
afterward received a commission from the venerable Society
for propagating the gospel in foreign parts, to exercise his
sacred functions in New London, at a yearly compensation
of sixty pounds, "with an arrearage or payment backward
from the Feast-day of St. John the Baptist, which was in the
year 1730."
The Rev. Dr. McSparren, a missionary of the Society, who
resided for many years in the Narragansett Country, was
probably the founder of the Church in New-London. Services were held there by him, and a subscription fund was
started, so early as the year 1725, for the erection of "a
Church or decent edifice for the service of Almighty God according to the liturgie of the Church of England, as by law
established," but it was under Mr. Seabury that this Church
attained its first organization in a permanent form, He met
with those gentlemen in New-London who had interested
themselves in the establishment of the Church, on the 10th
of April, 1732, and by the choice of Wardens and Vestrymen, the parish was then first organized as "the Episcopal
Church of New-London," the style which continued until
the year 1741, when it begins to be designated as " St. James'
Church," under which title it has attained its present flourishing condition.
Mr. Seabury's commission bears date in May, 1732, one
month after the organization of the Church. In the autumn
of the samne year, the building erected by the parish was
opened for divine service, and from that time for a period of
about eleven years, Mr. Seabury continued to officiate there,
faithfully guarding the infancy of the parish, which, in its
maturer growth was subject to the ministrations both of his
son and grandson, and in which his great-grandson also has
more than once officiated.
In the year 1743 Mr. Seabury was transferred by the Society,
whose commission he held, to Hempstead, Long Island, a removal which was made at the request of the people of that
place, and with his own consent. Here he spent the remainder of his life, occupying a small farm, and adding the duties
of teacher to those of pastor.




324               CHURCH DOCUMENTS.
It was during his residence at Hempstead that an effort
was made to establish the Church in Dutchess County, and
at the request of certain gentlemen of that county, he wrote
to recommend them to the care of the venerable Society.
The Society replied by promising to establish a missionary
there when there should be provision made for the erection
of a Church building, and in the mean time directed Mr.
Seabury to give the people of Dutchess as much of his care
as was consistent with his regular duties; in accordance
with which, Mr. Seabury for some time officiated at Fishkill
and probably at other places in the country, as opportunity
offered.
He is said to have preached his last sermon at New-London while on a visit to his relatives and former parishioners.
He returned to Hempstead from this excursion, and being
taken sick soon after, died on the 15th day of June, 1764,
leaving behind him (says Dr. Chandler, in his life of Johnson) a character that is held in high esteem, and an example
that is worthy of all imitation.
Mr. Seabury was twice married; the first time to Abigail,
daughter of Mr. Thomas Mumford, of New-London, the second son of which marriage was Samuel, afterward Bishop of
Connecticut and Rhode Island, who was born on the 30th of
November, 1729, and whose history requires a more extended
notice than comes within the limits of this sketch. He was
graduated from Yale College in 1748, and soon after was appointed by the venerable Society a Catechist, to act under the
direction of his father, at Huntington, a place about twenty
miles from  Hempstead, L. I.  Ile subsequently studied
medicine in the University of Edinburgh, acquiring a knowledge which he found very useful in the course of his clerical
ministrations.
Whether he studied the medical science only with a view
to this usefulness, as some ]lave said, or whether he intended
to live by the practice of it, is not known. However this
may have been, he put aside his medical studies for the study
of Theology; became a candidate for holy orders, and on Friday, December 21st, 1753, was ordained Deacon, by John,
Bishop of Lincoln, acting for the Bishop of London. He was




SKETCH OF THE SBEABURY FAMILY.       325
admitted to priest's orders, by Richard, Bishop of Carlisle,
acting for the Bishop of London, on Sunday, the 23d day of
December, 1753, and was on the same day, by Thomas,
Bishop of London, licensed and authorized to perform the
office of a priest in the Province of New-Jersey, in America.
The venerable Society gave him the appointment of missionary at New-Brunswick, in that colony, and he entered upon
his duties there in 1754.
On the 12th of January, 1757, he was collated and inducted into the Parish of Jamaica, L. I., by Sir Charles Hardy,
Governor of New-York.
By the mandate of Sir Henry Moore, bearing date December 3d, 1766, he was instituted Rector of St. Peter's Church,
in Westchester County, and, in pursuance of this mandate,
was formally inducted to the office, at Westchester, on the
ist day of MIarch, 1767, by the Rev. Myles Cooper, D. ID.,
President of King's College, New-York.
In this parish he continued to officiate until the troubles of
the Revolution interfered with his ministrations. Firmly
adhering, during this period, to his loyalty to his Sovereign
and his fidelity to his Church, he was at all times troubled,
at one time seized and imprisoned, and finally, after an edict
was published at New-York, making it death to support the
King or any of his adherents, fifty armed men being sent
into his neighbourhood to enforce the same, he shut up the
Church, and, with difficulty, effecting his escape from Westchester, retired to the City of New-York, then in possession of
the British. The returning forces of the patriots, whose temporary withdrawal had afforded him the opportunity of escape, damaged his property to a considerable extent, subjecting the members of his family to insult, and to the breaking
open and injuring the Church.
It being impossible for Dr. Seabury* to resume his parish
duties, he continued to reside, during the war, for the most
part, in the City of New-York, where he supported himself
by the practice of medicine. He also served as chaplain in
the King's American regiment, to which position he was
* He was made Doctor of Divinity by the University of Oxford, Dec. 15, 1777.




326                  CHURCH DOCUMENTS.
appointed by Sir Henry Clinton, on the 14th of February,
1778.
After the independence of the colonies and the consequent
removal of the authority of the Church of England from
them, the Clergy of Connecticut were the first to realize the
necessity of an American Episcopate, and to inaugurate the
measures necessary to obtain it. They chose Dr. Seabury to
become their Bishop, and, in compliance with their choice, he
set sail for England in the year 1783, to obtain consecration.
This, however, he could not obtain there.  The existing
law prevented the consecration of a Bishop who could not
swear allegiance to the King, and a policy hostile to the interests of the American Church forbade the repeal of that
law. The English Bishops, therefore, feeling themselves
bound to refuse his application, Dr. Seabury turned to the
Church of Scotland; a Church which, while it preserved
unimpaired the Apostolic faith and order, enjoyed also an
entire immunity from the restraints which fettered the legal
establishment of the Church of England. His application
here was favorably received, and on the 14th day of November, 1784, Dr. Seabury was consecrated at Aberdeen, by
Bishops Kilgour, Petrie and Skinner. He immediately returned to Connecticut, and entered upon the discharge of his
Episcopal functions, which he continued to exercise in that
State, and afterward, also, in Rhode Island, until his death.*
He had. lis residence in New-London, and, in connection with
the duties of the Episcopate, filled the position of Rector of
the Parish of St. James.  He died very suddenly on the 25th
of February, 1796, in his sixty-seventh year.t
Bishop Seabury married, on the 12th day of October, 1756,
Mary, daughter of Mr. Edward Hicks.
9* Bishop Seabury, on his return from Scotland, landed at Newport, R. I., on the
20th of June, 1785. On the next Sunday he preached the first sermon of an
American Bishop in America, from IHeb. xii., 1st and 2d verses.
t The tablet to Bishop Seabury's memory, in New-London, gives his age as 68.
It appears from the town records of Groton, as reported by Mliss Caulkins, in her
valuable history of New-London, that he was born in 1729. The statement of the
tablet is, therefore, in this respect, erroneous. The exact age of the Bishop, at the
time of his death, having been 66 years 2 months and 25 days.




SKETCH OF THE SEABURY FMILY.        327
Charles Seabury, the youngest child of Bishop Seabury,
was born at Westchester,.on the 29th day of May, 1770, residing with his father at New-York; he removed with him,
after his consecration, to New-London. Deterred from applying for admission to Yale College by the opinion that the
religious prejudices there prevailing would have subjected
him to discomforts which would have more than counterbalanced any advantages to be derived from the Collegiate
Course, he pursued his preparatory studies with the Rev.
Richard Mansfield, D. D., at Derby, Conn., and afterward
at Narragansett with the Rev. William Smith, D. D., and
then devoted himself to the study of Theology under the immediate supervision of his Right Reverend father, by whom,
upon the recommendation of the Clergy present at the Convention of the Diocese of Connecticut, in Christ Church,
Middletown, he was admitted to the holy order of Deacons
on the 5th of June, 1793. IHe resided in New-London until
1795, accompanying his father on several visitations, and in
the winter of 1795-'6, he officiated at Grace Church, Jamaica,
IL. I.
Within a month after the decease of his father, he was
called to the Rectorship of St. James' Church,,New-London,
of which parish he continued to be Rector until about the
year 1813-'14.
On the 17th of July, 1796, he was admitted to the Priesthood by Bishop Provoost, at St. George's Chapel, in the City
of 5New-York. He married, on the 13th of June, 1799, Anne,
fourth daughter of Mr. Rosewell Saltonstall, of NIew-London,
and by her had six children, the eldest of whom was the
Rev. Samuel Seabury, D. D., of New-York. About the
year 1814 he removed from New-London to Setauket, L. I.,
and became the Rector of Caroline Church at that place,
where he spent the remainder of his life. lie removed under
the expectation of a salary of two hundred and fifty dollars,
and an annual allowance from Trinity Church of a like
amount. Trinity Church having discontinued the allowance,
and the promised salary having been from time to time diminished, Mr. Seabury, in 1816, accepted a stipend of two
hundred dollars from the Missionary Society of the Diocese,




328                   CWaCUa    DOCUCrENTS.
and had the field of his ministrations enlarged by the addition
of St. John's Church, Huntington, where his grandfather had
in his lifetime regularly officiated, as did afterward his son;
and the parish at Islip, the one at a distance of seventeen, the
other of twenty-four miles from Setauket.
The Huntington Parish was only a short time attached to
his mission, but he retained the charge of the other two parishes until the infirmities of advancing years compelled him
to give up the one at Islip.  From that time he went seldom
from  Setauket, continuing to devote himself to the services
of the Church in that place until his death, which happened
very suddenly, on the 29th of December, 1844, and which
found him  still discharging the duties of a ministry, maintained for more than half a century, with a zeal and ardor
which trouble and privation could not abate, and age could
scarcely chill.
[Of the present clerical representation of the family of Seabury, the Rev. Samuel
Seabury, D. D., of New-York, little need here be said, inasmuch as his well-earned
reputation is well known to the members of the American Episcopal Church. He
is at present Rector of the Church of the Annunciation, and " Professor of Biblical
Literature and Interpretation of Scripture," in the General Theological Seminary
of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States.-EDs.]