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 CA- 
 
 HISTORICAL ADDRESSi! 
 
 BF.fORK THK 
 
 CHURCH OF CHRIST 
 
 XOKTH COYKXTHY. COXX 
 
 AT THEIR K1RST 
 
 CEN f fENNIAL CELEBRATION, 
 
 October I). 1^ I J. 
 
 Bv UKORGK A. CALHOUN, 
 
 P.V-TDR UK THK CHURCH. 
 
 'A 
 
 CO 
 
 1 
 
 BE 
 
 HARTFORD : 
 
 PRESS OF CASK. TIFFANY 
 1846.
 
 in 
 
 HISTORICAL ADDRESS, 
 
 BEFORE THE 
 
 CHUECH OF CHEIST 
 
 NORTH COVENTRY, CONN., 
 
 AT THEIR FIRST 
 
 / 
 
 CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION, 
 
 October 9th, 1845, 
 
 BY GEORGE A. CALHOUN, 
 
 PASTOR OP THE CHUECH. 
 
 HARTFORD: 
 
 PRESS OF CASE, TIFFANY & BURNHAM. 
 1846.
 
 The following Address, published at their request, is affec- 
 tionately dedicated to the Church of Christ in North Coventry, 
 by the Author. 
 
 COVENTRY, Oct. 10th, 1845.
 
 ADDRESS. 
 
 THE origin and annals of a small religious community, 
 in a retired country parish, can present but few incidents to 
 interest the feelings, or attract the attention of the multi- 
 tude. And the event which we are assembled to commemo- 
 rate has been deemed worthy of but an obscure place in 
 history. Few, very few have been made acquainted with 
 the fact, that on the 8th day of October 1745, a church of 
 Christ was organized in this place, and that on the day fol- 
 lowing Rev. Nathan Strong was ordained their pastor. But 
 however trivial the celebration of a church's birth-day, and 
 the calling to remembrance the virtues and deeds of our 
 ancestors may appear to some, your coming together, my 
 friends, bespeaks an interest in the present occasion. And 
 grateful are we, who here statedly worship the God of our 
 fathers, that we are allowed the privilege of meeting at this 
 time so many of our acquaintance from other churches and 
 congregations. We welcome them to a participation with 
 us in the mutual greetings, grateful recollections, and reli- 
 gious sympathies of the occasion. We rejoice in this favor- 
 able opportunity once more, within these consecrated walls, 
 of mingling in devotional services with those from abroad, 
 who are natives of this place, or who were once members 
 of this congregation. We welcome them to the sanctuary, 
 the homes, and the sepulchres of their fathers and early 
 associates. And with pleasure we anticipate the privilege 
 of again welcoming many of them to the table of our com- 
 mon Lord. 
 
 2013145
 
 And, my honored father,* we thank God, that he has 
 permitted you to approach so near to your centennary, and 
 has granted you strength to be here and to aid your breth- 
 ren in commemorating events and deeds of past genera- 
 tions. May your long protracted life and usefulness be 
 continued ; and when, in God's good time, you are called 
 to follow your generation to the world of spirits, may you 
 then be engaged with the general assembly of the church 
 of the first born in celebrating that great event on which 
 rest all our hopes of salvation. 
 
 What though we have not, in referring to the commence- 
 ment and continuance of a church of Christ, mighty deeds 
 and wonderful providences to notice ; is it useless to com- 
 memorate a church's birth-day, contemplate the characters 
 and doings of its members, and meditate on the dealings of 
 God with them? God directed his people, by religious 
 observances, to celebrate the deliverance of Israel from 
 Egyptian bondage, the promulgation of the law at Mount 
 Sinai, the death and resurrection of Christ, and other events. 
 He would have these events retained in memory, and 
 brought from time to time distinctly to the view of succeed- 
 ing generations, that they might be under the conservative 
 influence of such contemplations. And many, very many 
 of the disasters which befall the churches of Christ result 
 from a disregard to the experience and wisdom of former 
 ages. And let the circumstances and principles in which 
 our churches were established be known and duly appre- 
 ciated ; let the virtues and self-sacrificing acts of our fathers 
 be imitated ; and let God's faithfulness to them be prayer- 
 fully considered ; and in both civil and religious communi- 
 ties there will be more stability, more subordination to 
 needful authority, more of the unity of the spirit in the 
 bond of peace, and more of the fear of God. If then we would 
 seek our best interests, we must know, as an eloquent 
 
 *Rev. Samuel Nott of Franklin, in the ninety-third year of his age, and 
 the sixty-fifth of his ministry, who was present in compliance with a special 
 invitation.
 
 writer observes,* " the character of our ancestry, the 
 principles of their early training, the perilous or prosperous 
 passages of their course, on what rocks they were in danger 
 of foundering, through what straits they with difficulty ran, 
 to what causes are owing the more peculiar features of their 
 moral being, the events which awakened their energies and 
 developed their resources, and, in short, all the diversified 
 experiences of their past life. By tracing the stream from 
 its source downward, by observing the occurrences which 
 follow each other in regular sequence, we are enabled to 
 discern those more recondite causes, and those more secret 
 springs of action, whence have flowed events universally 
 admitted it may be, yet hitherto unexplained, or but very 
 partially understood." 
 
 And is there not something in our natures, which we shall 
 do well to cherish, that prompts us to improve occasions 
 like the present? What person of common sensibility is 
 there, who has no interest in visiting the place of his birth, 
 the scenes of his youthful adventure, the valleys, hills, 
 mountains, and streams where, with the joyous hope and 
 buoyant spirit of childhood he roamed ; the dwelling in 
 which he was nurtured with the care of a solicitous father, 
 and the love of a fond mother; the school house in which, 
 while associated with some who are dead, and with others 
 who are afar off, he was taught the rudiments of learning ; 
 and the fields and groves where he indulged in childish 
 sports and commenced the labors and toils of life 1 Who 
 is there that has not an interest an interest it may be " both 
 pleasant and painful to the soul" in calling to mind early 
 associations and early associates ? And is he worthy of our 
 respect and esteem, who does not manifest a regard and 
 reverence for his ancestry? We love to gaze at the por- 
 traits of our parents, refer to their precepts, tell of their 
 deeds, and speak of their virtues. For their sakes, we love 
 to survey anew the habitations which they occupied, the 
 buildings and lands which they possessed and where they 
 
 * Rev. Adam Reid.
 
 6 
 
 labored ; the roads which they were accustomed to travel ; 
 the sanctuary where they worshipped ; and the cemetery 
 where they were interred. We love to possess articles of 
 their construction ; remains of their furniture ; specimens 
 of their attires, their autographs, their favorite books, and 
 their bibles. And we love to trace up the line of our 
 descent, contemplate the circumstances, characters, and 
 acts of our progenitors, until it is lost in the obscurity of the 
 past. And what if they were not of noble birth ; what 
 though their deeds were not published by the trumpet of 
 fame ; what if their names are not enrolled on the page of 
 history with those of heroes and statesmen ; what if they 
 were never associated with the wealthy, the learned, or the 
 great ; they are our ancestors ; as such we respect and 
 revere them, and are interested in what relates to them. 
 And although the providence of God has allotted us our 
 homes and the scenes of our operations in a region undis- 
 tinguished, and we are the descendants of those who pur- 
 sued the ordinary walks of life ; we trust our commemora- 
 tion of this church's organization will not be altogether 
 uninteresting or unprofitable. 
 
 This religious community was, for about thirty years, 
 embraced in what is now denominated, the First Church 
 and Society in Coventry : and it is needful that I com- 
 mence the account of God's dealings with this people by 
 referring to events which transpired previous to the exis- 
 tence of two churches in this town. 
 
 In his History of Connecticut, Trumbull says: "A town- 
 ship had been given several years before this time (1711,) by 
 Joshua, Sachem of the Mohegans, lying north of Lebanon 
 and west of Mansfield, to certain legatees in Hartford. The 
 donation was approved by the General Assembly. The 
 legatees conveyed their right to William Pitkin, Joseph 
 Talcott, Willam Whiting and Richard Lord, to be a com- 
 mittee to lay out said township, and settle on the lands. 
 On the 9th of May 1706, the General Assembly authori- 
 zed those gentlemen as a committee for those purposes. 
 October 11, 1711, this committee was re-appointed, with one
 
 Nathaniel Rust, who had already settled on the lands, more 
 effectually to carry into execution the designs of their 
 former appointment. The township at the same session 
 was named Coventry. Nathaniel Rust and some others 
 settled in the town about the year 1700; but the settlement 
 of it has generally been dated from 1709. In the spring 
 of this year, a number of good householders, from North - 
 hampton and other places, moved into the town, and the 
 inhabitants were so increased in about two years, that they 
 were incorporated with the privileges of other towns. The 
 families were from a great variety of places, but principally 
 from Northampton and Hartford." 
 
 Curiosity naturally leads us to inquire; what deeds were 
 acted by human beings, within the present limits of this 
 town, previous to Nathaniel Rust's coming here in 1700 ? 
 The Pequoits were the rightful lords of our hills and valleys, 
 our lake and streams of water; and after them the Mohe- 
 gans. And often, in former days, the arrow head of the 
 Indian's bow, his rude stone axe, and other weapons and 
 implements were found in our fields. How came they 
 there 1 How were they used 1 Were these the weapons 
 of the chieftain employed in bloody conflict with other 
 human beings ? or were they those of the Indian engaged in 
 the chase? They are the memorials of a race of men now 
 almost extinct in New England. 
 
 A direct and authentic tradition has brought down to us 
 the following story of the Indians in this town. There was 
 a village of savages in the valley of Hop River, not far 
 from the place now possessed and occupied by Mr. Cyril 
 Parker. Mr. Monroe (on the town records, Merough) the 
 first occupant of Mr. Parker's place was largely engaged 
 in trapping, and the Indians purloined his game. Repeat- 
 edly he complained to the chief, who was an honest man ; 
 and finally he informed the chief, that he would kill the 
 first Indian he found stealing from his traps. The chief 
 gave his consent to the deed, saying he did not wish such a 
 person to live among his people. Early one morning Mr. 
 Monroe saw an Indian taking an otter from one of his traps;
 
 8 
 
 he shot him and with haste buried him under the wall of 
 his house. On reflection he became greatly alarmed in 
 consequence of his rash deed, expecting the Indians would 
 seek revenge ; but they soon after abandoned their, village 
 and emigrated to some other part of the country. Not many 
 years since, on removing the walls of that dwelling, the 
 bones of this Indian were found. 
 
 In the early settlement of this parish, there were indica- 
 tions of there having been an Indian village on the plain, 
 now possessed by Capt. Flavel Case; and that plain, in 
 later years, has been fruitful of Indian relics. 
 
 At the period of the settlement of Coventry, if we, as is 
 common, date the settlement from 1709, there were but 
 two towns in what is now the county of Tolland Mansfield 
 and Hebron. The former was settled in 1703, and the 
 latter in 1704. Trumbull informs us, that at its settlement 
 Coventry was bounded on the east by Mansfield, and on 
 the south by Lebanon; and it appears from other sources of 
 information, that it was bounded on the west by Hartford, 
 and that the present town of Bolton was then denominated, 
 " Hartford Mountain." 
 
 Here was the field, which infinite wisdom selected for 
 planting and perpetuating, through succeeding generations, 
 a church of Christ, in which many should be prepared for 
 heaven, and a branch of which we have received as an 
 inheritance from our fathers. As the first settlers of this 
 town, Providence elected those from Northampton, Essex 
 County Mass., Hartford and other places, who inherited 
 the virtues of their Puritan fathers. Men of principle, 
 of conscience, and of the fear of God. Men, who would 
 not rear up a community without a recognition of their 
 dependence on God and obligations to serve him. Men, 
 who were willing to labor and suffer for the purpose of 
 securing for themselves and descendants the blessings of a 
 stated ministry of the gospel. Would that their example in 
 this particular, were universally followed by their descend- 
 ants. Would that a voice might be heard and regarded by 
 all the dwellers on these hills and in these valleys, saying ;
 
 Look at your fathers. Drink into the spirit of your fathers. 
 Prize the institutions of religion as did your fathers. And 
 estimate the favor of God as did your fathers. 
 
 So soon as a considerable number of families became 
 inhabitants of this town measures were adopted for estab- 
 lishing the institutions of religion. 
 
 Mr. Joseph Meacham, a young gentleman from Enfield, 
 and probably a graduate of Harvard University, commenced 
 preaching here as early as 1713, four years after the first 
 settlement of the town. The first vote on the town records, 
 indeed the third recorded vote of the town, is as follows ; 
 "Coventry 4th of January 1713-14. At a legal town meeting, 
 the town then voted to have Mr. Meacham ordain as soon as 
 they can conveniently after the next General Court."* At 
 the time when this vote was passed, no church had been 
 organized, and it was not then customary to form a church 
 till the way was prepared for the ordination of the first 
 Pastor. The First Church in Coventry was organized, and 
 Rev. Joseph Meacham was ordained their Pastor, October, 
 1714. f The church, at its formation, was composed of ten 
 members. No records are found informing us who consti- 
 tuted the ordaining council, or who preached the ordination 
 sermon. 
 
 Soon after his ordination Mr. Meacham was married to 
 Miss Esther Williams, daughter of Rev. John Williams of 
 Deerfield, Mass., whose wife and infant child were murdered, 
 and he and most of his children were taken captive to 
 Canada by the Indians. A brother of Mr. Meacham was 
 the first Pastor of the first church in Mansfield. Mr. Mea- 
 charn had ten children, four sons and six daughters. One 
 daughter and all his sons died in early life. One daughter 
 married Dr. John Rose of Coventry, grandfather of the late 
 
 * Until the division of the town into two parishes, ecclesiastical business 
 of a pecuniary nature was transacted in town meetings. 
 
 t Authority for this date is derived from the town records, and from a docu- 
 ment, which was put into the possession of Mr. Prince of Boston, probably 
 by Mr. Meacham. Clearly these transactions could not have taken place, as 
 has been published, in 1712, or in 171 3.
 
 10 
 
 Capt. Joseph and Major Nathan Hale Rose. One married 
 a Mr. Fuller of Mansfield, descendants of whom are now 
 residing in that town. One married a Mr. Grant, who 
 resided on " Grant's Hill," in Tolland. One married Rev. 
 Dr. Buel, a native of Coventry, and Pastor of the church of 
 Christ in Easthampton, Long Island. And one married 
 Rev. Nathan Strong, the first, long continued, and faithful 
 Pastor of this church. The descendants of Mr. Meacham 
 were numerous and quite respectable. Twelve, or more, 
 have either been consecrated to the work of the gospel 
 ministry, or the companions of ministers. The ministerial 
 line of his descent is still continued. A descendant of Mr. 
 Meacham of the fifth generation, son of Rev. David L. 
 Perry of Sharon, grandson of Dr. Strong of Hartford, and 
 great-grandson of Rev. Mr. Strong of this place, a few years 
 since died at Ceylon a Missionary of the A. B. C. F. M. 
 
 At this late period we cannot speak with definiteness of 
 the particular traits of Mr. Meacham's character. He was 
 evidently possessed of strong intellectual powers, and of a 
 sound judgment. And he was an able divine. The tradi- 
 tion is, that his brethren in the ministry, when they were 
 met by a disputatious skillful errorist, used to say; " We 
 must put him into the hands of brother Meacham," thus 
 expressing their confidence in his ability to conduct a theo- 
 logical discussion, and his success in reclaiming the heretical. 
 He was truly evangelical in his views of God's revealed 
 will. When, in his day, many Pastors of New England 
 churches had embraced semi-arminian sentiments, and 
 were hostile to the revival of religion then in operation, 
 Mr. Meacham remained steadfast, and joyfully received the 
 celebrated Whitefield into his pulpit. " The Rev. Gentle- 
 men," says Trumbull, " who most favored the work in Con- 
 necticut, while others opposed with all their power, were 
 Whitman of Hartford, Lockwood of Wethersfield, Joseph 
 Meacham of Coventry, Lord of Norwich, Williams of Leb- 
 anon, Parsons of Lyme, Owin of Groton, Pomeroy of He- 
 bron, and Wheelock of Lebanon Crank." He mentions 
 eight other ministers residing in distant parts of the state.
 
 11 
 
 And well might Mr. Meacham be one of the ministers of 
 Connecticut, who favored "the great awakening;" for ere 
 this, God had blessed in a signal manner his faithful minis- 
 trations of the gospel, and allowed him to witness remark- 
 able displays of divine power and grace among the people 
 of his charge. 
 
 In November 1736, President Edwards, writing to Dr. 
 Coleman, says ; " There was also the last spring and sum- 
 mer a wonderful work of God carried on in Coventry, under 
 the ministry of Rev. Mr. Meacham. I had an opportunity 
 to converse with some of the Coventry people, who' gave 
 me a very remarkable account of the surprising change 
 which appeared in the most rude and vicious persons there." 
 Before this season of refreshing from the presence of the 
 Lord, Mr. Meacham had been ordained about twenty 
 years. Whether his labors had been specially blessed 
 during that period, or whether his people shared largely in 
 the revival of religion of 1740, 41 and 42, 1 am not informed. 
 I suppose, however, that the spirit of God, was unusually 
 manifested in this town at different periods, and particularly 
 during " the great awakening." Mr. Meacham died, 
 greatly lamented, September 13, 1752, in the 67th year of 
 his age, and in the 40th year of his ministry. His funeral 
 sermon was preached by Dr. Solomon Williams of Lebanon. 
 What was said of a native of Coventry, Rev. Jonathan 
 Lee, first Pastor of the church of Christ in Salisbury, may, 
 if I mistake not, with truth be said of Mr. Meacham. u He 
 was a man exactly fitted, by the force of his character, for 
 the exigencies of a new settlement, to lay the foundations, 
 and shape the forming character of society. Under his 
 able ministry, and vigorous rule the elements of society 
 grew up strong, healthy and compact, thoroughly New Eng- 
 land ; and beyond doubt, to his influence is to be attributed 
 much of that manly and independent spirit, that intelli- 
 gence and sagacity, that breadth and weight of character, 
 by which our town has ever been characterized." 
 
 For thirty years after the settlement of this town there 
 was but one church in it, and for twenty-five years but one
 
 12 
 
 congregation. Most of the inhabitants worshipped in a 
 building located not far from the present meeting house in 
 the First Society. Deacon Ebenezer Kingsbury, who re- 
 cided on the place now occupied by Mr. Erastus Kingsbury, 
 for a number of years attended public worship at Bolton, 
 and belonged to the church in that place ; and it i proba- 
 ble, that others in the north-west part of the parish, and 
 some in that part of the town now embraced in the parish 
 of Andover, also worshipped at Bolton. The town of 
 Bolton was incorporated in 1720, and Rev. Thomas White, 
 the first minister, was ordained in 1725, eleven years after 
 the ordination of Mr. Meacham. The church in Tolland 
 was organized, and Rev. Stephen Steel, the first Pastor, 
 was ordained in 1722. During eight years there was no 
 place of worship for any of the inhabitants of Coventry so 
 convenient as the one in their own town. To that sanctua- 
 ry, from all parts of the town, they resorted, and together 
 paid their vows to God. They were not conveyed thither 
 in easy and elegant carriages, and in winter wrapped in 
 furs, to meet a cheerful fire and cushioned seats on their 
 arrival. Some rode on horse-back, while others walked. 
 And among the pedestrians, and those too from the bor- 
 ders of the town were seen mothers and daughters. 
 
 Deprived in a great measure of conveyances and well 
 wrought roads, the inconvenience of going so far on return- 
 ing sabbaths and lecture days was soon felt by families 
 residing in the west and north west part of the town ; and 
 the existence of another church and society was early con- 
 templated. And the following occasioned a development 
 of feeling in relation to a division of the town into two 
 parishes. At a town meeting held January 26, 1735-36, the 
 town voted to enlarge their meeting house. This vote 
 called forth a protest from persons living in the west and 
 north-west part of the town, which was recorded as fol- 
 lows : 
 
 At a meeting of the inhabitants of Coventry, January 
 26, 1735-36; " it being said to be voted, that they would 
 make an addition to their meeting house in said town : we
 
 13 
 
 the subscribers hereunto, inhabitants of said town, enter our 
 caution and protest against said vote. Nathaniel Kingsbury, 
 Jonathan Fowler, Noah Carpenter, Benjamin Carpenter, 
 Joseph Long, Amos Richardson, Samuel Parker, Aaron 
 Strong, Ebenezer Brown, John Fowler, Eliphalet Carpenter, 
 George Hawkings, John Craw, Timothy Ladd, Thomas 
 Adams, John Wilson, Samuel Porter, Noah Skinner, Na- 
 thaniel Woodward, Phineas Strong, Jonathan Shepherd, 
 Noah Rust, Elijah Hammond, John Bissel, John French, 
 Nathaniel Gilbert, James Hotchkins, Nathaniel Ladd, John 
 Kingsbury, Samuel Lyman, Benjamin Jones, Jonathan 
 Porter, Peter Scott, John Parker." 
 
 This protest informs us, who were originally embraced 
 in the Second Society, and constituted the materials out of 
 which this church and congregation were formed. 
 
 Arrangements for dividing the town into two parishes 
 were amicably made. At a town meeting held February 23, 
 1735-36, the town voted as follows :...." That when 
 the Hon. General Assembly shall divide this town into two 
 distinct societies, that the First Society shall reimburse to 
 the Second Society, within eighteen months after they are 
 set off, all the money that the inhabitants of the Second 
 Society have paid towards the building an addition to, and 
 repairing the meeting house above said, according as ap- 
 pears by the rate bills recorded ; for to be improved in 
 building a meeting house in the said new society, provided 
 said society be set off within seven years from the date 
 hereof. Then voted, that we give free and f u 1 consent, 
 that there be a new society set off upon the north-west and 
 west part of the town, at any time when the Hon. General 
 Assembly shall tbink proper." 
 
 These votes, breathing a spirit so conciliatory, and 
 prompted by such a regard for the principle of justice and 
 the public good ; are an honor to the town of Coventry, and 
 as an adopted citizen of this town, I quote them with great 
 pleasure. In this open, frank, equitable mode of proceed- 
 ure, in defiance of the claims of personal or sectional inter- 
 ests, we find something as noble as it is singular at the
 
 14 
 
 present day. Future proceedings, in consummating this 
 division of the town, though they were not entirely unani- 
 mous, were of the same conciliatory character as will appear 
 from other votes passed by the town. . . . " At a legal 
 town meeting held in Coventry, April 27, 1736: Then 
 voted, that Joseph Strong Esq. and Capt. Samuel Parker 
 should exhibit a prayer to the General Assembly, to have 
 them [examine] votes passed by said town February 23, 
 1735-36, respecting a new society in said Coventry, to be 
 confirmed and ratified." . . . . " At a legal town 
 meeting, adjourned from December 6, 1736, to this 13th 
 day instant. Then voted, that they would help those 
 people that live on the west side of the town to hire a min- 
 ister to preach to them three months this winter. And 
 Zachariah Boynton, one of the inhabitants of said Coventry, 
 did upon that day, and in said meeting, dissent from 
 the above vote." . . . " At a legal town meeting held 
 in Coventry, December 27, 1736. Then voted, that they 
 would raise one farthing on the pound to defray the charge 
 of hiring a minister for the woods people , or the people who 
 live on the westerly side of Coventry. Then voted, that 
 the dwelling house of Noah Rust in Coventry should be 
 the house for the minister to preach in three months this 
 winter.* And Mr. Zachariah Boynton, did on that day, and 
 in the above mentioned meeting, dissent from the above 
 said vote." . . . '' At a legal town meeting held in 
 Coventry, December 12, 1737 ; then voted, that they would 
 do something to promote learning, by winter schooling, to 
 the remote parts of the town. Then voted, to accept the 
 return of the committee, that were appointed to select 
 ground for a burying place in the west part of the town." 
 The burying ground here referred to, is doubtless the one 
 in the south-west part of the parish near the dwelling house 
 of Mr. George N. Loomis. 
 
 * The dwelling house of Noah Rust, where a public altar was first erected to 
 the worship of God in this parish, was located a few rods from the dwelling 
 of Mr. John T. Thompson.
 
 15 
 
 In 1740, by their agent Major Joseph Fowler, the town 
 petitioned the General Assembly for a committee, to exam- 
 ine, and report on the expediency of the town's being 
 divided. The committee was granted, and came out in 
 August the same year, and the parish was incorporated in 
 October 1740. The first society meeting was held Decem- 
 ber 4, 1740, and before five years had elapsed, the society 
 had been assembled in legal society meetings thirty-one 
 times. In laying the foundations of religious institutions 
 here, our fathers were called to encounter many difficulties. 
 Their number was small, as there were but between forty 
 and fifty families within the limits of the society. They 
 were subjected to all the inconveniences and deprivations 
 incident to the settlement of a new country. They were, 
 no doubt, quite straitened in their pecuniary circumstan- 
 ces. They had a meeting house to erect, and the preach- 
 ing of the gospel "to maintain; a church to gather, and 
 Pastor to settle. They did not adjust their claims upon the 
 Fir^st Society in relation to parsonage lands owned by the 
 town, and money which they had advanced for repairing 
 the meeting house in that parish, without some trouble. 
 But the greatest trial which they were, at this time, called 
 to endure, resulted from the attempt of some of their own 
 number, commenced in 1743, and continued for a long 
 period, to affect the organization of another society. After 
 many years of severe conflict, the parish of Andover was 
 incorporated, diminishing much the number and resources 
 of this society. 
 
 Our indebtedness to our fathers, requires us to linger for a 
 moment in contemplation of their condition, and efforts to 
 secure for themselves and descendants the privileges of the 
 gospel. Small in number as they were, especially after 
 the society of Andover was incorporated ; straitened as 
 they must have been in pecuniary resources ; and embar- 
 rassed in their proceedings as they were in more particulars 
 than can now be enumerated ; was there not in them an 
 energy of character, a bold and determined resolution, an 
 untiring perseverance, an attachment to the cause of Christ,
 
 16 
 
 and a fear of God paramount to every other consideration, 
 which their posterity would do well to imitate "? Had our 
 honored fathers beeri in active life at a later period, they 
 might have been found among the bravest in the battle of 
 Bunker Hill : or had their lot been cast in the time of a 
 bloody persecution, they might have remained undaunted 
 and cheerful in view of the torch and the gibbet. 
 
 For some years after the incorporation of the parish, 
 public worship was continued at the dwelling house of Noah 
 Rust, and the people were favored with preaching during 
 the winter season ; but who were the preachers I cannot 
 learn. In 1744, Mr. Nathan Strong of Woodbury was in- 
 vited to preach in view of a permanent settlement in this 
 place. 
 
 Previous to this period there was a violent opposition to 
 the " great awakening" then in progress, and those Pastors 
 who were decidedly Calvinistic in their views of God's 
 revealed will, evangelical in their preaching, self-denying 
 and untiring in their efforts at home and abroad to promote 
 and extend the revival of God's work ; experienced no small 
 measure of this hostile spirit. In May 1742, the Legisla- 
 ture of this State enacted a law prohibiting ministers from 
 preaching and exhorting out of their respective parishes, 
 unless they were invited by the minister, if there was no 
 minister, by the church, and if there was no church, by the 
 society within the limits of which the meeting or meetings 
 were to be held. This enactment accounts for votes which 
 our society passed June 21, 1742. " Then voted, that any 
 of those ministers, whose names are under written, may 
 preach or exhort at any time in this society upon invitation : 
 viz., Mr. Meacham, Mr. Solomon Williams, Mr. Eleazer 
 Williams, Mr. Wheelock, Mr. Bellamy, Mr. Pomeroy, Mr. 
 Mills, Mr. Lockwood, Mr. Case, Mr. Judd, Mr. Buel, Mr. 
 Davenport, Mr. Edwards, Mr. Marsh, Mr. Croswell, Mr. 
 Fish, Mr. Edwards of Northampton, Mr. Mosely, Mr. 
 Whitefield, Mr. Lord of Norwich, Mr. Lord of Preston, Mr. 
 White, Mr. Steel, and Mr. Gilbert Tennent. Then voted, 
 that any church member, or any head of a family, belong-
 
 17 
 
 ing to this society, may invite any of the above ministers to 
 preach in said society." 
 
 These votes are worthy of our consideration. It will be 
 borne in mind, that they were passed two years after the 
 incorporation of the society, before the organization of the 
 church, and at a time (June 21st,) when probably no one 
 was preaching in the parish ; and that they were passed too 
 hymen, who had sat under the orthodox, spirit-stiring min- 
 istrations of Mr. Meacham, and who had, six years before, 
 witnessed, if not experienced, those wonderful displays of 
 divine power and g'race, which were made in this town in 
 1736, and of which President Edwards speaks in his letter 
 to Dr. Coleman. Within one month after the oppressive 
 law of the Legislature was enacted, subjecting evangelical, 
 and self-denying ministers to pains and penalties if they 
 preached Christ and him crucified whenever called by the 
 providence of God ; our fathers assembled in society meet- 
 ings, and by their action, and at once, removed all legal ob- 
 structions out of the way of certain ministers preaching at 
 any time, and any where in this parish, when invited by a 
 church member or head of a family. And what was the 
 character of the ministers whom they selected, and thus 
 favored 1 They were the very men, the severe enactment 
 of the Legislature was designed to oppress. They were 
 the men, who earnestly contended for the faith once deliv- 
 ered to the saints, while many of their ministerial brethren, 
 and others were lax in sentiment, and apparently but a 
 little interested in the progress of vital godliness. They 
 were heavenly in their spirit, self-denying in their efforts to 
 do good to the souls of men, and the honored instruments 
 of promoting the revival of God's work. They were " the 
 winnowed wheat" of Connecticut men, who were willing 
 to bear reproach and shame rather than make shipwreck of 
 faith, withhold the pure gospel from their fellow men and 
 thus offend God. Among them were the immortal Ed- 
 wards, and his honored father; the matchless Whitefield 
 and the half celestial Tennent, the deep-toned Bellamy, 
 
 and his spirit-gttring coadjutors, Wheelock and Pomeroy, 
 
 2*
 
 18 
 
 Mr. Meachara and his ministerial associates in this vicinity. 
 In making the selection, our fathers went over the State and 
 prepared the way before all those ministers on whom odium 
 and reproach had been cast on account of their orthodox 
 and evangelical labors. They of whom this church was 
 about to be formed, had enjoyed the faithful ministrations of 
 God's word ; they had drank deep at the fountain of truth ; 
 they had been baptized of the Holy Ghost; and they loved 
 sound doctrine, and were satisfied with naught but deep, 
 experimental religion. They desired to have those doc- 
 trines preached which put an undivided sceptre into the 
 hand of the Almighty, and prostrate men before their 
 Maker. The system of God's revealed will, embodied in 
 the Assembly's Catechism, was the faith which they, who 
 were to constitute this church, had understandingly em- 
 braced, and which they held fast through life. And theirs, 
 we believe, was the faith once delivered to the saints ; the 
 faith of martyrs ; the faith which gives permanency to 
 Christian character; the faith which inspires hope and 
 peace in seasons of darkness, and periods of trial ; and the 
 faith, which, when clearly and prayerfully exhibited, God 
 has ever blessed to the temporal and eternal good of men. 
 And when this church, by a spirit of conformity to the world, 
 or of vain speculation, shall be led to reject the doctrines 
 originally embodied in their articles of belief; when a deep 
 solicitude for the truth in its native simplicity and purity, 
 and for sound experimental religion, such as was at first 
 manifested, shall cease ; then will a dark and lowering 
 cloud rest on our Zion ; then will her ways mourn because 
 none come to her solemn feasts ; and then will her glory 
 have departed. 
 
 Allusions have been made to difficulties, which were en- 
 countered in here establishing the ministry of the gospel. 
 The building of the first meeting house occasioned much 
 trouble. In regard to it the Legislature was repeatedly 
 memorialized. The parish was once and again surveyed to 
 ascertain its center. A legislative committee was employed 
 to determine the site, and it was finally located a few rods
 
 19 
 
 west of the place where we are assembled. It was forty-five 
 feet in length, and forty in breadth, two years in building, 
 and never finished. It was first occupied as a place of 
 public worship in 1744. 
 
 Soon after the meeting house was in a condition to ac- 
 commodate the congregation, Mr. Strong commenced 
 preaching here as a candidate for settlement. He was the 
 son of Elnathan Strong of Woodbury. Elnathan was 
 born in 1686, and died in middle life, leaving a young 
 family. The father of Elnathan was Thomas Strong, the 
 fourth child of Elder John Strong, who died at Northamp- 
 ton, April 4, 1699, at the age of 94. Mr. Nathan Strong 
 graduated at Yale College in 1742, and studied divinity 
 with Rev. John Graham, Pastor of the church of Christ in 
 Southbury. He commenced preaching somewhat advanced 
 in life, and after a probation here of about two months, the 
 society extended to him an invitation to settle with them in 
 the ministry of the gospel. This invitation was given the 
 8th of February 1745. There was then such a fluctuation 
 in the currency, and money had so depreciated, that it was 
 extremely difficult to agree on a definite amount, as a per- 
 manent amount for the support of Mr. Strong ; and I have 
 not been enabled to determine what was the real value of 
 the sum finally agreed upon. The society promised him 
 600 old tennor bills as a settlement; and this was to be 
 paid from the avails of parsonage lands rented to Christo- 
 pher West for 999 years : and they promised to pay him 
 200 old tennor bills as an annual salary, and to increase 
 that sum till it amounted, within five years, to .270. And 
 this sum w^s to vary according to the change in the value 
 of produce. Wheat was then worth, 0: 16s: Od a bushel, 
 rye : 12 : 0, corn : 8 : 0, oats : 5 : 0, beef a pound : 
 : 8, wool : 5 : 0, and flax : 2 : 6. 
 
 Samuel Rust, Nathaniel Gilbert, and Eliphalet Carpenter 
 were the committee to unite with Mr. Strong in selecting a 
 council and fixing on the time for his ordination. And the 
 day agreed upon was the 9th of October 1745, one hundred 
 years ago. And where are now the actors in that solemn
 
 20 
 
 scene 1 And where shall we be, ere another hundred years 
 have passed away? Shall the church, the fruit of our 
 father's toils, and prayers, and tears, the purchase of a 
 Saviour's blood, then live 1 May he, who bows the heav- 
 ens, puts darkness under his feet, and rides on the wings of 
 the wind, preserve this church in greater strength, and in 
 the freshness and beauty of youth till the final consum- 
 mation. 
 
 In this narrative of events, we are now brought to the 
 period and transactions, which we are assembled more es- 
 pecially to commemorate. And we will now, in contem- 
 plation, mingle in the scenes of that occasion. 
 
 On the south of us is uncultivated land, covered in part 
 with heavy and in part with light wood. On the north of 
 us is an extended, dense, dark forest ; and on the southern 
 border of this forest is found the sanctuary which was erect- 
 ed after so many struggling efforts. It is covered with riven 
 oak clabboards and cedar shingles, the lower story only 
 glazed ; and it stands solitary, with no dwelling nearer than 
 Noah Rust's on the west, and Solomon Grant's on the east. 
 On entering from the south this temple of God, we find the 
 lower floor only laid, with the entire frame above the sleep- 
 ers uncovered within. On the right and left hand of the 
 aisle seats are arranged, running through the western, and 
 also through the eastern section of the house. And we 
 observe females occupying those on the right, and males 
 those on the left. The assembly are in silent meditation 
 and prayer, and thus waiting the approach of the much 
 respected council. The council had convened the day 
 previous, and with due care and solemnity o/ganized the 
 church, witnessed the election of Thomas Adams and 
 Joseph Long to the office of deacons, and examined the 
 Pastor elect. As they come to the threshhold of the sanc- 
 tuary, led on by father Meacham, the preacher, and the 
 Pastor elect, the assembly all rise and remain standing until 
 the council are seated. If we mistake not, we find the 
 clerical part of the council composed of Rev. Messrs. Meac- 
 ham of the First Church, Williams of Mansfield, White of
 
 21 
 
 Bolton, Steel of Tolland, Williams of Lebanon, Wheelock 
 of Lebanon Crank, Pomeroy of Hebron, Buel of Easthamp- 
 ton, Long- Island, and Graham of Southbury. All of them 
 are in the vigor of life, the eldest, Mr. Meacham, in the 60th 
 year of his age. All, notwithstanding the great defection 
 of the times in religious sentiment and vital godliness, are 
 sound divines, evangelical and able preachers, ardently en- 
 gaged in the revival of God's work, and sympathizing in 
 doctrine with Edwards and Bellamy ; and four of them 
 Williams of Lebanon, Wheelock, Pomeroy and Buel, are 
 destined to hold conspicuous places in the ecclesiastical 
 history of New England, and to be distinguished with lite- 
 rary honors. Wigs, bands, and dark attire inform the 
 assembly, who of the council have been consecrated to the 
 work of the gospel ministry, will conduct the services of 
 the present occasion, and impose the hands of the presby- 
 tery on the head of the future Pastor of the new formed 
 church. 
 
 As we cannot in contemplation attend to all the exercises 
 of this ordination, we will pass by what precedes, and listen 
 to some of the remarks of Mr. Graham, addressed to the 
 Pastor elect, his former pupil ; and also to some counsels 
 addressed to the church and congregation. 
 
 " My Rev. and dear Brother, Let holy Paul's determination 
 settle on your heart, to know nothing among your people but 
 Jesus Christ and him crucified. O let a crucified Christ be the 
 very soul and centre of your study and preaching ; here, here is 
 the most noble and divine subject your soul can spend itself upon. 
 Here you will find the sweetest employment for every one of your 
 rational powers. Here are discovered the very secrets which lay 
 hid in the counsels of God from the morning of eternity ; the light 
 thereof shining into the heart, leaves a stamp of divine glory on 
 the soul. If you would render study sweet, or desire to dwell 
 forever in the midst of spiritual and divine comforts, then never 
 think you have studied sufficient on truth, till you have really 
 learned it, and had it exemplified in your own heart ; and the 
 deeper you dive here, the higher the springs of divine comfort will 
 rise, and the streams thereof more abundantly flow into your soul. 
 In a word, as you would'desire to live a life of hidden communion 
 with God ; as even you would preach experimentally, and so 
 profitably and successfully to your people ; and you would have
 
 all your natural and acquired endowments ennobled, elevated, 
 strengthened, and sanctified to the good of the church; and as you 
 would maintain a comfortable assurance of your inward calling to 
 this blessed work, labor to grow in grace and in knowledge. This 
 is God's seal, en pnumati, without which the call of the people, 
 and the hands of the clergy are but en malani ink and paper." 
 
 " To this flock of Christ," observes Mr. Graham, " I would 
 say, receive this our brother as a messenger of the Lord of hosts, 
 as a real minister of Jesus Christ. 1 . In your hearts and affections 
 honor him highly for his work's sake. 2. Express your affection 
 for him by speaking kindly, and honorably of him, defending his 
 character against the sharp razors of reproachful tongues. 3. In 
 all your conduct carry dutifully to him as a father, not despising 
 his youth. 4. Submit yourselves to all his ministerial dispen- 
 sations." 
 
 " To conclude this Let me beseach you as a dying man, that 
 to most of you I never spoke before, and probably shall never 
 speak to you again ; or see you any more till we all come to stand 
 before the dread tribunal of Jesus Christ, to think seriously of these 
 things, and allow them the proper influence on your hearts. Do 
 not for the Lord's sake put them off with this The preacher is 
 carnal and dead. Let that be as it will. It is a very small matter 
 with me, that I should be judged of you, or of man's judgment. 
 He that judge th me is the Lord If there be any con- 
 solation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the 
 Spirit, if any bowels of mercies ; fulfil ye my joy by turning to the 
 
 great Shepherd and Bishop of souls O hasten, hasten 
 
 back, dear lambs, into the fold where you have heard and known 
 Christ's voice, and gone in and out and found pasture. Nay, I 
 solemnly warn and charge you, in the name of my blessed Lord, 
 to hasten back to the Shepherd's tents, where Christ feedeth his 
 flock ; otherwise God will raise a storm in his anger, that will sur- 
 prisingly drive you back with trembling and consternation of soul. 
 May God prevent you with his mercy, and be better to you than 
 our fears." 
 
 One year after his ordination, October 12, 1746, Mr. Strong 
 and Miss Esther Meacham were joined in marriage. They 
 had six children. The eldest, a son, died in infancy. 
 The second son, Nathan, was the late Dr. Strong of Hart- 
 ford ; and the third son, Joseph, was the late Dr. Strong of 
 Norwich. Two daughters, adults, unmarried, died before 
 either of their parents. And the third daughter, Anna, 
 married Doctor Ebenezer Hunt, a physician of this place, 
 and died November, 1833, aged 74 years. Mrs. Strong died
 
 23 
 
 1 October 19, 1793, in the 68th year of her age. Her funeral 
 sermon was preached by Rev. Dr. Huntington, of the First 
 Society, who represented her as sustaining a character 
 unusually lovely. 
 
 It is to be much regretted, that no catalogue of members, 
 or records of the church's actions, during the first fifty-three 
 years of its existence, have come down to us. The small 
 amount of information to be communicated respecting our 
 ecclesiastical history, from the year 1745 to that of 1798, 
 has been derived principally from the records of the Soci- 
 ety, and from the remembrances of aged persons of the 
 congregation. 
 
 The tenor of Mr. Strong's ministry was, upon the whole, 
 an even couise, though he was not exempt from the trials 
 incident to his profession. After the unfavorable termina- 
 tion of the "great awakening," some more than an hun- 
 dred years ago, revivals of religion were quite unfrequent, 
 till about the commencement of the present century. This 
 church, like others, during that long season of darkness, 
 was perpetuated by now and then a small accession of 
 members. There was, however, during the ministry of Mr. 
 Strong, two, if not more, seasons of the special revival of 
 God's work. In the year 1765, there was a revival of reli- 
 gion, to what extent I have not been able to ascertain, 
 except as it was denominated, " a remarkable work." Six- 
 teen years after the first, in 1781, there was another revival, 
 which brought to the church an accession of about fifty 
 members. Many of th aged of the church, who have 
 departed this life within some ten or fifteen years past, were 
 hopeful subjects of that work, and spoke of it with great 
 interest till their death. Only one person, (Widow Dan 
 Loomis) remains, who united with the church while under 
 the pastoral care of Mr. Strong. At no period, while the 
 first Pastor labored here, did the church much exceed one 
 hundred in number, probably most of the time it fell short 
 of that amount, though the population of the parish for 
 many years was as large or larger than it is at the present 
 time. " The half-way covenant," as it was called, was
 
 24 
 
 early introduced here, and was continued in practice till 
 September, 1798. Persons of fair moral character and 
 orderly lives, though they did not profess to have experien- 
 ced the converting grace of God, on assenting to the cove- 
 nant, were allowed the privilege of having their children 
 baptized. The consequence was, that while the number of 
 those who were " in full communion" was small, many 
 had the seal of the covenant applied to their households. 
 
 Though this parish was never rent asunder by contending 
 sects, or greatly agitated by internal commotions, yet from 
 an early period there have been here those who were of dif- 
 ferent persuasions. In the year 1751, John Scripture and 
 Jonathan Shepherd, were exonerated by vote of the society, 
 from paying their society tax, because they were in senti- 
 ment, of the Baptist denomination. The bond of peace 
 between persons of different sects, has been preserved to an 
 unusual degree. There were, however, some contentions 
 in the society in early times ; but they were not of long 
 continuance, or of very disastrous consequences. The 
 arrangements in reference to Mr. Strong's salary, were well 
 calculated to affect the harmony of the community. Annu- 
 ally, for many years, a committee was appointed to agree 
 with the Pastor respecting the value of produce, on which 
 his support was based ; or in the language of the record, 
 " to settle the speaces with Mr. Strong." At one time, dif- 
 ferences between the Society and Pastor were referred to 
 disinterested persons, out of the parish, for adjudication. 
 At another time the Society, in a s/ate of excitement, voted 
 to appropriate J650 of Mr. Strong's salary to. employ another 
 preacher, and appointed a committee to select and contract 
 with the person; but this rash step was soon retraced, and 
 the storm soon passed away. At another time there was a 
 disagreement among the singers, and in a society meeting 
 a vote was passed and recorded, " That singing in the con- 
 gregation should be regulated according to rule." And at 
 another time also, the harmony between the Pastor and the 
 singers, was disturbed by the introduction of a new style of 
 music. Mr. Strong could not endure such music in the
 
 house of God, and interposed his authority to prevent it, 
 which occasioned, for a short period, an unhappy state of 
 things. A few years before the first Pastor's death, the sub- 
 ject of improving the house of worship was much agitated. 
 Some were in favor of repairing the old building, and others 
 were desirous of erecting a new house. The Society were 
 repeatedly called together in relation to this matter. Mr. 
 Strong judged it best for the Society to build a new house, 
 and he himself planned the pulpit. And when, in accord- 
 ance with his advice, it was determined to erect a new 
 edifice, there was a division of sentiment in reference to its 
 location. The County Court was unsuccessfully employed 
 in fixing its location. Then a committee of the Legislature 
 was convened for the same purpose. And finally, after 
 some years of agitation, through the agency of Ephraim 
 Kingsbury, Esq., Capt. Eliphaz Hunt, and Capt. Nathaniel 
 Root, our present sanctuary was erected in 1792. The 
 dedication sermon was preached by Rev. Nathan Strong, 
 D. D. of Hartford. 
 
 Upon the whole, probably but very few uncompromising 
 and faithful ministers of Christ, have spent half a century 
 with their people in more peace and love, than did our 
 revered Father with his flock. He was a man of strong 
 intellectual powers, and of great decision of character. He 
 was not rash in judgment, nor easily driven from his pur- 
 pose, nor dismayed by opposition. He was a plain, sound, 
 instructive preacher; but never, to my knowledge, commit- 
 ted any of his productions to the press, except a sermon 
 delivered at Hartford when his son, Nathan, was ordained, 
 and a charge given at Norwich, when his son, Joseph, was 
 settled. The late Dr. Emmons, of Franklin, Mass., in a 
 letter written not long before his death, said, " that he com- 
 menced the study of theology with Mr. Strong of Coventry, 
 and under his instruction he became thoroughly indoctrina- 
 ted in Old School Divinity." Mr. Strong was doubtless 
 capable of indoctrinating such a pupil as Dr. Emmons. 
 He was Puritanic in his views of divine truth, in his outward 
 conduct, and in his practical piety. In intellectual and 
 3
 
 acquired endowments, in sentiment and practice, he re- 
 sembled his father-in-law, Mr. Meacham. By the grace 
 of God, he was enabled so to plant and water this church, 
 that amidst the vicissitudes of time, the corruptions of human 
 nature, and the various and powerful assaults of the adver- 
 sary, it has remained for one hundred years, and still remains 
 on the immovable basis, the Rock Christ Jesus. 
 
 After the demise of Mrs. Strong, her husband did not 
 preach, and he survived her but about two years. He died 
 November 7, 1795, in the 79tti year of his age, and in the 
 51st of his ministry, greatly beloved and respected. Dr. 
 Williams, of Tolland, preached his funeral sermon. 
 
 The pulpit having become vacant some time before the 
 decease of Mr. Strong, in consequence of his bodily infirm- 
 itiss, Mr. Ishabod Lord Skinner, of Marl borough, who grad- 
 uated at Yale College in 1793, was invited to preach here 
 as a candidate for settlement, and he was ordained colleague 
 Pastor, October 23, 1794. Mr. Skinner was a man of quite 
 respectable talents, and winning address. He sustained his 
 pastoral relation to this church about four years, and, at his 
 request, was honorably dismissed October 10, 1798. After 
 this the church remained vacant for the space of two years 
 and an half. In 1799 there was an unsuccessful attempt to 
 settle Mr. Erastus Riply ; as there was also in 1800, to settle 
 Mr. Salmon King. God's work was revived under the 
 labors of Mr. King, and the church received a considerable 
 accession in numbers and strength. 
 
 In December 1800, the church, by an unanimous vote, 
 and the society by a vote of sixty-four in the affirmative, and 
 twelve in the negative, extended an invitation to become 
 their Pastor, to Mr. Ephrairn T. Woodruff, of Farmington, 
 a graduate of Yale College in 1797, and a theological stu- 
 dent of Dr. Charles Backus, of Somers. The Society offered 
 Mr. Woodruff, as a pecuniary support, .200 settlement, and 
 an annual salary of .120. Dea. Joseph Talcott, William 
 Wilson, and Eleazer Pomeroy, acted as Committee of the 
 Church on this occasion; and Ephraim Kingsbury, Esq., 
 Capt Eliphaz Hunt, and Capt. Nathaniel Root, as Commit-
 
 27 
 
 tee of the Society. Mr. Woodruff was ordained Pastor of 
 the Church, April 8, 1801, and Rev. Hezekiah Woodruff, of 
 Stonington, preached the ordination sermon. The church 
 then embraced one hundred and one members, thirty-eight 
 males and sixty-three females. 
 
 No more fallacious principle can be adopted, than that of 
 determining, in all cases, ministerial faithfulness and ac- 
 ceptableness to God by present apparent success. The 
 application of this principle brings all the responsibility to 
 rest on the ministers, and leaves none remaining on the 
 churches. It recognizes not any thing as being favorable 
 or unfavorable in the circumstances of a community, the 
 country, or the age. It condemns many of the most labo- 
 rious and self-sacrificing servants of Christ, as mere hirelings. 
 It casts out, as unworthy of their high and holy calling, 
 prophets and apostles ; and it reproaches the Lord Jesus 
 Christ himself. It was the application of this false princi- 
 ple, which brought great and lasting evils on the churches 
 of New England in the days of new-lighlism ; and within the 
 last twenty years, the disastrous consequences of a new 
 application of the same principle, have been clearly seen 
 and severely felt in some parts of our country. 
 
 Mr. Woodruff's ministry commenced at a period, and in 
 circumstances unusually favorable to a successful contin- 
 uance. It wat just at the beginning of that series of revi- 
 vals of religion, which continued, with increasing interest 
 and rising glory, for more than thirty years ; and which 
 brought large accessions in number, strength, and benevo- 
 lent action, to the churches in our country: and the gen- 
 eration of professed believers, then in active life, and exert- 
 ing a leading influence, were eminently ministerial in their 
 feelings and conduct. They acted on the principle, that 
 the ministry of the gospel is in hostility with the depraved 
 propensities of the human heart, and that they who faith- 
 fully preach the gospel, must be supported and defended. 
 And God, in an unusual degree, blessed the labors of their 
 Pastors to them and their children.
 
 During the sixteen years of Mr. Woodruff's continuance 
 here, one hundred and fifty were added to the church ; one 
 hundred and thirty-four by profession, and sixteen by letter. 
 Two seasons of special refreshing 1 from the presence of the 
 Lord were experienced. Referring to the revival of religion 
 which occurred in 1808 and 1809, Mr. Woodruff says : 
 " During that harvest season, about seventy souls, by a 
 public profession, were added to the Lord. Those who then 
 named the name of Christ, with few exceptions, have appa- 
 rently walked worthy of their high vocation." The other 
 revival commenced in November, 1813, and an account of 
 it is found in the Connecticut Evangelical Magazine, for 
 January, 1814. It commenced among the young married 
 people and youth, and, as it is stated in the published nar- 
 rative ; " within a few weeks, it was known that about 
 seventy minds had sustained an alarm, in different parts of 
 the society, fifty of which seemed under the genuine work 
 of the law, which we trust has done the office of a school- 
 master to bring them to Christ On the first 
 
 Sabbath in March, 1814, twenty-two young persons were 
 admitted to the communion of the church. Twenty have 
 been received into our number since. And in the judgment 
 of charity, twelve or fourteen others, when they shall ask 
 the privilege, will be deemed proper candidates for admis- 
 sion," In the published account of this revival of religion, 
 if not a singular, an interesting fact is stated. After a sea- 
 son of unusual health, and of special spiritual prosperity, a 
 sweeping pestilence passed over the place,' and in a short 
 time removed by death a number belonging to the church. 
 Great peace and comfort attended them in their last hours. 
 The supports of religion, and the blessed effects of the revi- 
 val, in preparing them for departing this life, were strikingly 
 manifested ; but distressing sickness, and often repeated 
 deaths, checked the progress of God's work, and the revival 
 was soon over. 
 
 There were years during the ministry of this Pastor, when 
 the church received no accession, either by profession or 
 letter ; but notwithstanding the many, who were recom-
 
 29 
 
 mended to other churches, the church increased, and was 
 left in a healthful and prosperous state. Mr. Woodruff was 
 an affectionate, laborious, and faithful Pastor. He was the 
 instrument of much good to this people, and is cherished in 
 respectful and affectionate remembrance by those who 
 were favored with his ministry. He was, at his request, 
 honorably dismissed October 21, 1817. 
 
 After the dismission of Mr. Woodruff, for one year the 
 pulpit was supplied, most of the time, by Rev. Mr. Wil- 
 liams, then of Andover, Mr. Henry Robinson of Guilford, 
 and Mr. William Kemball of New Hampshire. 
 
 The present Pastor commenced his labors here November 
 1, 1818, and was ordained March 10, 1819. The ordination 
 services were performed by the following ministers. Intro- 
 ductory prayer by Mr. Nash of Tolland ; sermon by Mr. 
 Strong of Somers; consecrating prayer by Dr. Bassett of 
 Hebron ; charge by Mr. Brockway of Ellington ; right 
 hand of fellowship by Mr. Booth of the First church; ad- 
 dress to the people by Mr. Loomis of Willington, and the 
 concluding prayer by Mr. Ely of Vernon. The church 
 then consisted of 142 members, 41 males, 101 females. The 
 population of the parish was 840 ; 407 males and 433 females. 
 Since March 10, 1819, 318 members have been added to the 
 church, 248 by profession, and 70 by letters of recommend- 
 ation. Within the same period, 284 have been removed 
 from the church, 179 by letters of recommendation to other 
 churches, 105 by death, and 9 otherwise. The present 
 number of members is 176 ; 55 males, and 121 females. And 
 the present population of the parish is about 750, having 
 diminished 90 in 26 years. 
 
 Since the ordination of the present Pastor, gome seasons 
 of refreshing from the presence of the Lord have been en- 
 joyed. In 1819, a revival commenced, which continued 
 through a part of the year following, and which brought an 
 accession to the church of 65. In 1822-23, the church was 
 signally blessed, with an increase of about 70. In 1826, 
 there was the descent of a gentle shower of grace, and a 
 small accession to the church. In 1831, about 30 were 
 3*
 
 hopefully converted to God, and 'professed their faith in 
 Christ ; and in 1832 about the same number. Since that 
 time there have been seasons, when the hearts of some of 
 the community were moved, and their hopes much raised 
 in view of a return of the special influence of the Holy 
 Spirit ; but no considerable ingathering of souls into the 
 kingdom of Christ has been allotted. We know not but the 
 gospel has been as abundantly, and as faithfully dispensed, 
 and that there have been persons in the church, who as 
 earnestly desired and as fervently prayed for the conversion 
 of sinners, as at former periods. But, on account of our 
 sins, God has seen fit to withhold from us the rich and abun- 
 dant blessings of former years. We would not however 
 despise the day of small things, but be grateful for what we 
 have received ; and pray, and labor, and hope for larger 
 measures of grace. During the last thirteen years, 77 by 
 letters and profession have united with the church ; and 
 the one last received, on profession of faith, was almost 
 ninety years of age. 
 
 During its whole history, if a few years past are excepted, 
 this church has been remarkably united in all ecclesiastical 
 proceedings. Though alienations and animosities have 
 occurred, perhaps as frequently as in other places, between 
 individuals and families ; yet when members were brought 
 to act together in religious matters, they were agreed. They 
 were one in faith, and one in their views of duty. For more 
 than twenty-one years after the settlement of the present. 
 Pastor, seldom was there a dissenting voice to votes passed 
 by the church. It is not known, that written articles of 
 faith and a church covenant, were ever submitted to the 
 church for their adoption, till October 15, 1819, when our 
 present Articles of Faith and Covenant were unanimously 
 adopted, without the expression of an objection. The 
 course pursued by this church, from the beginning, in rela- 
 tion to those among us who are associated with other Chris- 
 tian denominations, has been such as to avoid bitter conten- 
 tions. While members of this church have considered 
 themselves severally bound by their covenant engagements
 
 31 
 
 to stand by their own church and maintain their own insti- 
 tutions, they have also considered themselves bound by the 
 law of love, to treat persons of other names with affection, 
 and their rights with respect. While they have not suppo- 
 sed, that the congregating of families, possessing distinctive 
 and separate interests, of different views and tastes, in the 
 same dwelling, was the best method for securing peace and 
 happiness ; they have recognized the duty of acting in rela- 
 tion to other Christian sects, on the principles practiced by 
 a good neighborhood. 
 
 Female influence, and in latter years, female influence 
 associated, has contributed much to the peace and prosper- 
 ity of this religious community. Besides the Foreign Mis- 
 sionary Associations, there are here three female societies 
 for charitable purposes. The first, from the circumstances 
 of its origin and long continuance, may be deemed worthy 
 of more than a passing notice on this occasion. It was 
 organized at the house of the late David Hale, Esq., in 1812, 
 and denominated, " The Coventy Female Friendly Society," 
 and embraced members from both parishes. Mrs. Lydia 
 Hale was the first President, Mrs. Sally Woodruff, Secre- 
 tary, and Miss Sally Root, Treasurer. The object of the 
 society was to promote the personal piety of its members, 
 and contribute to benevolent enterprizes. A small library 
 of books, well adapted, to aid in the advancement of exper- 
 imental religion, was soon collected. The meetings of the 
 society were held once in three months, and were occupied 
 with prayer, praise, reading, and conference. Among the 
 males, who were accustomed to attend the meetings, address 
 the members, and encourage them in their works of faith 
 and labors of love, were Hon. Jesse Root, David Hale, Esq., 
 and the elder Dea. Talcott. In June, 1813, the society 
 passed the following : " Resolved, that we will spend the 
 hour between three and four o'clock, on the first Monday in 
 each month, in meditation, and prayer to God for the out- 
 pouring of his Spirit, the general revival of religion, and the 
 universal spread of the gospel." Five months after this 
 resolution was passed, a solemn stillness, and an undiverted
 
 32 
 
 attention to the dispensation of the gospel, were manifested 
 in the house of God ; and a company of young persons sent 
 for their Pastor to instruct them in the way of life, while 
 they were assembled in a social circle. The people, and 
 the church, as a body, were surprised to learn, that God was 
 in deed and in truth specially present here, reviving his 
 work with great power. A somewhat similar occurrence 
 took place in 1819. The revival of that year commenced 
 in this society. For the furtherance of the object in view, 
 and for the convenience of the members, the society was 
 divided in 1816, and a separate organization was constituted 
 in each parish. Of the original members belonging to this 
 parish, four are remaining, six have died, and three have 
 withdrawn. Of the forty-three, who have since united, 
 thirteen have moved out of the place, fourteen have died, 
 and six, residing here, have withdrawn. Many of those, 
 who have departed this life, remained connected with this, 
 one of the oldest female associations in the State, till they 
 were taken to the general assembly of the church of the 
 first born. And there are others, not in affluent circum- 
 stances, who have punctually attended the meetings, and 
 paid their annual tax for thirty-three years. And- it is ex- 
 pected that they, and others with them, will be thus associa- 
 ted, till the hand which breaks asunder all earthly ties shall 
 separate them, and separate them to be reunited in an 
 association more intellectual, more benevolent, more endur- 
 ing, and more glorious. 
 
 In 1824, another female association was formed, and de- 
 nominated, " The Fragment Society." The prominent 
 design of this association is to aid the cause of benevolence 
 by an annual tax, and by manual labor. They meet and 
 labor together frequently, at each other's dwellings, usually 
 attended by their Pastor. And the meetings of this society 
 have had a conservative and happy influence on the com- 
 munity. This association is annually raising for the treas- 
 ury of the Lord about fifty dollars. 
 
 In 1825, the late Harlan Page, a native of this place, and 
 for a number of years a member of this church, organized
 
 33 
 
 an association of the juvenile females of the congregation. 
 This " Juvenile Society ," by their labors, have contributed 
 something commendable to charitable objects. 
 
 These three organized bodies have raised for the cause of 
 benevolence, besides what has been contributed in aid of 
 Foreign Missions by females, about $1,400. And the aver- 
 age annual amount of the charities of the congregation, for 
 twenty years past, will not vary much from $400. Our 
 fathers, who have recently left us for a better world, as we 
 trust, seeing the pecuniary strength diminishing by deaths 
 and other removals, with a commendable promptness and 
 liberality, in 1824, established a parochial fund of $5,000. 
 The avails of this fund are now of great use to the society. 
 
 The first settlers of this town, like their Puritan Fathers, 
 paid strict attention to the religious training of their chil- 
 dren. A part of each Sabbath was devoted, by heads of 
 families, to catechetical instruction. They intelligently 
 adopted, and strenuously maintained the principle, at which 
 ignorance and infidelity scoff, but which philosophy ap- 
 proves, and experience and revelation connrrri ; that mental 
 cultivation should always be attended with moral instruc- 
 tion. As in higher seminaries of learning in New England, 
 so in the primary schools of this parish, an intellectual and 
 moral training have ever been combined. And God forbid, 
 that they should ever be divorced. Let our noble school 
 fund be sunk in the ocean ; let our school houses be closed, 
 and not again opened ; let our academies cease to be fre- 
 quented by youth ; and let the time-worn walls of our col- 
 leges, which are now the glory of New England, fall, and 
 their foundations be removed, rather than have religion 
 separated from the education of the young. Education 
 without religious training, will make men greater sinners, a 
 curse to their species, and prepare them for a more fearful 
 retiibution. The Assembly^ Catechism has been taught 
 in our common schools for more than one hundred years 
 from the beginning to the present day. 
 
 The temperance reformation early gained the attention 
 and secured the efforts of this church. In 1828 the church
 
 34 
 
 passed resolutions, which were blessed to the general cor- 
 rection of some practices which were injurious to the cause 
 of Christ, and the order and prosperity of the community. 
 For many years, the united efforts, the zeal and energy here 
 manifested, in this cause of celestial origin, were worthy 
 of imitation. 
 
 July 10, 1845, the church passed the following resolu- 
 tion : " Resolved, that we earnestly recommend to all the 
 members of the church to adopt the principle of entire 
 abstinence from all intoxicating drinks as a beverage." 
 Whether this recommendation will be regarded by nearly 
 all the members, remains to be decided. 
 
 For many years after public worship was established in 
 this parish, the whole congregation rose, and while standing 
 united, as far as they were able, in praising God ; the min- 
 ister, or the clerk, lining the psalm or hymn. It has been 
 the immemorial practice of communicants at this table of 
 the Lord, male and female, after receiving the sacramental 
 elements, to come to the deacon's seat, and deposit their 
 contributions. These contributions, after defraying the 
 expenses of the table, have been appropriated to the aid of 
 the poor of the church and other charitable objects. 
 
 There have been twelve Deacons of this church since its 
 organization : Thomas Adams, Joseph Long, Phineas 
 Strong, Ebenezer Kingsbury, Jesse Cook, Nathaniel Eells, 
 Joseph Talcott, Jesse Cook, Arad Talcott, Selah Loornis, 
 Willard Hutchison, and Joseph Talcott. 
 
 The following preachers of the gospel were either mem- 
 bers of this church, or natives of this parish : Rev. Nathan 
 Strong, D. D., Joseph Strong, D. D., Messrs. Thomas Page, 
 Ebenezer Kingsbury, Gershom E. Lyman, Horatio Waldo, 
 Jacob Allen, Clement Parker, Hervey Talcott, Eber Car- 
 penter, Adclison Kingsbury, John A. Woodruff, Marvin^ 
 Root, Nathan S. Hunt, Diodatus Babcock, Episcopalian, 
 Samuel Post, Methodist, and Mr. Erwm Page. 
 
 Besides most of those already mentioned as connected 
 with the learned professions* of our citizens, Elisha Smith, 
 Ephraim Kingsbury, Eleazer P. Talcott, and Henry Pome-
 
 roy, have received the honors of college. Also Edwin 
 Wright, a native of this place. 
 
 In the practice of medicine we have retained the services 
 of the following gentlemen: Timothy Kimball, Elijah 
 Lyrnan, John Waldo, Joseph Waldo, Daniel Avery, Eben- 
 ezer Hunt, and Eleazer Hunt. Here originated Drs. Silas 
 Loomis, Lucius Abbot, Erastus Jones, Sanford Bissel, John 
 B. Porter, Uriel Richardson, and EbenezerK. Hunt. 
 
 No person while engaged in the profession of law, has 
 been a resident of this place ; and but three lawyers, Hez- 
 ekiah Woodruff, John P. Abbot, and Samuel Woodruff, 
 have looked back to North Coventry as the place of their 
 nativity. 
 
 In concluding this discourse, what shall we say of our 
 ancestors and their works ? With devout thanksgiving and 
 praise to their God and our God, we will say; they were 
 faithful to their trust unto the death, and their works do 
 follow them. The blessed influence of that little church, 
 which they with so much care planted, and of the ministry 
 of the gospel, which they with so many embarrassments 
 established here in the wilderness one hundred years ago, 
 has been felt by succeeding generations, and it is still expe- 
 rienced. The young by it have been enlightened, re- 
 strained, guided, sanctified, and prepared to meet the con- 
 flicts and responsibilities of matured life. Families have 
 been rendered more peaceful and happy ; the community 
 more intelligent, enterprising, orderly, and prosperous. 
 The various ills of life, and the appalling scenes of death, 
 have been met with more fortitude, and cheerfulness. And 
 many here have been led to fight the good fight of faith, 
 who are now engaged in an uninterrupted and undying 
 celebration of a Saviour's love. 
 
 It has been the allotment of God's providence, that this 
 church should give of their members to other churches 
 more than they have received of them in return. From this 
 church persons have gone to the east and to the west, to the 
 north and to the south; to different and distant States; and 
 they have carried with them a measure of the spirit of our
 
 fathers, and of the apostles, with which they have blessed 
 the regions where they have dwelt. One church in the 
 great valley of the west has received its type from this 
 humble, obscure organization. God blessed our fathers, he 
 has blessed their descendants, and he has caused their self- 
 denying attempts to serve him to be a blessing to the world. 
 
 And what will be the future history of this church and 
 people ? At the close of another century, what will be the 
 condition of those institutions which our fathers planted and 
 watered with such assiduous care and so many prayers 1 
 Nature then will exhibit her varied forms as now; but who 
 then will be here, and what will be here 1 The days in 
 which we live are portentious of great and disastrous events. 
 Convulsions follow convulsion. Amidst the contentions and 
 commotions which agitate to the centre all institutions, shall 
 the church live and flourish another century 1 Shall the 
 now unborn assembly on the 9th day of October 1945, 
 commemorate with pious love and reverence the virtues and 
 deeds of their ancestors of the 18th century 1 We enter- 
 tain no fears for the church universal. She shall live till 
 centuries have all passed away. Her light shall be as the 
 light of seven days. But shall this branch of the church 
 universal shall the constellation of churches in this region, 
 with which this has been so long and so happily connected, 
 live 1 The history of apostolical, reformed and of many 
 Puritan churches admonish us, that God may remove the 
 candlesticks out of their place, and suffer thick and long 
 continued darkness to come over the region of our father's 
 sepulchres. 
 
 There must be a fixedness of principle, a tenderness of 
 conscience, and the fear of God there must be self-deny- 
 ing effort, liberal charity, the strengthening of the things 
 which remain, and earnest prayer ; or these churches will 
 be stopped in their descent through succeeding generations 
 to bless and save from eternal death the children of men. 
 And who would be the criminal cause of terminating, or 
 interrupting this line of descent 1 Who, by his hostility, 
 or neglect of duty would assume the responsibility of de-
 
 37 
 
 stroying, or weakening a church which was purchased with 
 the blood of the Son of God, sanctified by the Holy Ghost, 
 and in which the Deity had dwelt for one hundred years 1 
 Oh, let this, and her sister churches be gently and prosper- 
 ously wafted down the stream of time till she rides majesti- 
 cally on the sea of glory. 
 
 Brethren in Christ Jesus, we are about to hand over the 
 weighty and sacred trust committed to our care to the guar- 
 dianship of our descendants. God grant that they may be 
 prepared to receive, duly estimate, rightly improve, and 
 long perpetuate the precious inheritance. What is before 
 us in life, the opening leaves of Providence will soon dis- 
 close. We ask for the conversion and salvation of our chil- 
 dren. We ask for Zion's prosperity. We ask for grace 
 which shall enable us to meet all the exigencies of life and 
 of death. We ask for heaven. We ask no more. 
 
 3
 
 Ill fatS" 1 ,
 
 APPENDIX. 
 
 A BRIEF ACCOUNT OF THE SIGNERS OF THE PROTEST INSERTED 
 ON PAGE 13TH.* 
 
 Nathaniel Kingsbury emigrated from Norwich to Coventry about the year 
 1714. He settled on the farm now owned by Mr. William Kingsbury of An- 
 dover. He was first to sign the protest against the town's action in relation 
 to their meeting house ; and two and a half years after the incorporation of 
 this society, he was first to sign a petition to the General Assembly for the 
 incorporation of the society of Andover. He, and others residing in that 
 part of Coventry, which is embraced in the parish of Andover, as circum- 
 stances indicate, were dissatisfied with the location of the meeting house in 
 this society, and hence were induced to make strenuous, long continued, and 
 finally successful efforts to effect a new organization. He died September 
 16, 1763 in the SOth year of his age. He was the father of fourteen children. 
 John, who lived on the farm now owned by Mr. Lester Brewster, afterwards 
 removed to Enfield and was drowned while attempting to pass over the Con- 
 necticut river in a boat, Nathaniel, Mary who was the wife of Elijah Ham- 
 mond, Simeon, Jabez, Hannah, Priscilla who married Dea. Ebenezer Kings- 
 bury, Joseph, Denison, Lemuel, Jeremiah who died in early life, Sarah, 
 Phineas, and Ruth who died aged 14 years. 
 
 Elijah Hammond emigrated from Marblehead, Mass, to Coventry in 1730, 
 or in 1732. He first settled on the farm now occupied by Messrs. Wheeler 
 and Shepherd, formerly denominated, the Risley and more recently the Tar- 
 box place, where he lived till 1752, when he removed to Bolton, and there 
 died about 1SOO, in the 90th year of his age. He had three children ; Na- 
 thaniel, Hannah, and Priscilla. 
 
 John French occupied a tract of land a short distance east of Rev. Rodol- 
 phus Landfear's. It is not known from what place, or at what period he em- 
 igrated to Coventry. In 1736 he was married to Mehitable, daughter of 
 Thomas Root, Deacon of the First Church. He removed to Wapping, a parish 
 in South Windsor, where he died. He had at least two children, Aaron and 
 Nathan. 
 
 * For the materials of this Account 1 am much indebted to Rev. Marvin Root, who has 
 collected many and valuable facts connected with the history of this town, the preservatior 
 of which should be secured.
 
 40 
 
 Nathaniel Ladd was one of those, who signed the [protest, but in the 
 division of the town he was set to the First Society. His residence was a 
 short distance west of Mr. Stephen Dunham's. Two gentlemen of this 
 name early settled in this parish. The other lived on the south not far from 
 the dwelling of Capt. Silas Jones. 
 
 Jonathan Fowler emigrated from Lebanon and settled on the farm now 
 owned by Mr. William C. Hunt in 1726. He was a giant, and became re- 
 nouned by his feats of muscular strength. Alone, and without a weapon of 
 defence, he was met and attacked by a bear. The combatants closed in with 
 each other, and Mr. Fowler laid his antagonist dead at his feet A represen- 
 tation of this conflict, and victory is exhibited in one of the museums of Lon- 
 don. He died in 1756, about 60 years of age, leaving a son and daughter, 
 Joel and Tabitha. 
 
 Eliphalet Carpenter was born at Northampton, Mass., October 1703. His 
 father, Benjamin Carpenter, emigrated from Rehoboth to Northampton, and 
 thence to this town where he died, leaving six sons, Eliphalet, Noah, Amos, 
 Jedediah, Ebenezer, and Benjamin. Eliphalet, in 1726, settled on the farm 
 now owned by his grand-son, Ralph Carpenter, Esq. He was the first clerk 
 of this society, and was for many years much employed in managing its 
 concerns. 
 
 JVoah Carpenter, son of Benjamin, was born at Northampton in 1705. He 
 settled in the nort-west part of the town, near the line of Tolland, and the 
 house which he occupied and which was afterwards consumed by fire, was 
 situated not far from that now owned by Mr. Chester Baker on the road to 
 Tolland. His sons were Abner, Ezra, Israel and Benjamin. 
 
 Benjamin Carpenter was brother of Noah, and was born October 1695. 
 In 1724 or in 1725 he settled on a lot of land lying between Mr. Isaac Ken- 
 ney's and the west school house. He had nine sons, Benjamin, Jonathan, 
 Elijah, Levi, Reuben, (grand father of Rev. Eber Carpenter,) Joseph, Dan, 
 Jesse and Comfort 
 
 John Craw emigrated from Killingworth and probably settled somewhere 
 in the parish of Andover. 
 
 John Hawkins came from Preston, and settled on the farm now owned by 
 Mr. Eliezer Hatch. He early sold his place to Benjamin Lamb. He had 
 two sons and two daughters. One daughter married Lemuel Parker, and the 
 other James Edwards. The names of his sons were John and George. 
 
 John Parker emigrated from'Stonington.and occupied the farm now owned 
 by Capt. Flavel Case. He was son of Samuel Parker, Deacon of the First 
 Church. 
 
 Peter Scott was from Franklin, and was the first occupant of the farm now 
 owned by Mr. Jabez Kingsbury. In 1761 he sold his place to Ephraim 
 Kingsbury Esq., and returned to Franklin. 
 
 JVoah Skinner settled on the place now occupied by Mr. Daniel Usher. 
 He had one son, Noah Skinner, jun. 
 
 Amos Richardson married Rachel Yarrington of Long Island, and emi- 
 grated from Stonington to Coventry in 1717. At that period there was no 
 house in the east school district, and but one within the present limits of the
 
 41 
 
 parish. He settled on the farm now owned by one of his descendants of the 
 fourth generation, Levi Sweetland, Esq. He had twelve children, among 
 whom were Amos, Stephen, Justus, Nathan and Jonathan. 
 
 Samuel Lyman emigrated from Northampton Mass. .first to Lebanon, then 
 to Coventry. He was one of the earliest settlers in this parish, and settled 
 on the place now owned by Mr. Chester Talcott, and there erected the second 
 house which was built in the east school district. He had one son Samuel, 
 and four daughters. Eunice the wife of Joseph Talcott, Elizabeth the wife 
 of Benjamin Talcott, Dorcas the wife of Ezekiel Alcott, and Desire the wife 
 of a Mr. Strong. 
 
 Jonathan Porter wag the son of Thomas Porter, the second town clerk. 
 The Porter family came from Hebron, and located themselves in the First 
 Society on the place now occupied by John W. Boynton, Esq. In 1725, 
 Jonathan removed to the lot of land now owned by Mr. Warren Fitch, and 
 denominated, the Deacon Porter place. He died in 1790. He had seven 
 children, Thomas, Jonathan, Isaiah, Noah, Sarah, Mary and Phebe. 
 
 John Wilson was the first settler on the farm now owned by Mr. Ebenezer 
 Hunt. Among his children was Capt. William Wilson who died in this 
 place in 1819, aged 90 years. 
 
 Ebenezer Brown emigrated from Rehoboth Mass., and settled on the farm 
 now in possession of Deacon Joseph Talcott. His house was on the division 
 line between the parishes, and was by the act of incorporation set to the Second 
 Society. Among his children were Ebenezer, Timothy and Sarah. 
 
 Samuel Porter came to Coventry from Windsor. He occupied the farm 
 now possessed by Mr. Simon Gager, and was grand-father to Mrs. Gager. He 
 had ten children, six sons and four daughters. His sons were, Samuel, 
 James, Gideon, Nathan, Abel, and one who died young. His daughters were 
 Chloe, Sarah, Anna and Mary. 
 
 Thomas Jldams was elected Deacon of the church at the time of its or- 
 ganization, and honored his office. He lived a short distance west of Mr. 
 Higgenbothan's grist mill. It is not known that he left any descendants in 
 the town, and but little is known respecting him. 
 
 Nathaniel Woodward originated in Roxbury, Mass. He lived a short 
 time in Wethersfield, and from that town came to Coventry, and settled near 
 the north-east school house, on the farm which has ever since been possessed 
 by his descendants of the same name. He was moderator in 1740 when this 
 ecclesiastical society was organized. Late in life he removed to Stafford 
 where he died. He had two sons, Nathaniel and Aaron. 
 
 Jonathan Shepherd occupied the farm now owned by Mr. J. P. Walker. 
 He early associated himself with the Baptist denomination. He had one son, 
 Colo, and two daughters, Prudence the wife of John Ladd, and Anna. 
 
 Joseph Long was from Hartford, and was elected Deacon at the time of the 
 church's organization. He sustained this office in an acceptable manner for 
 many years, and died in a good old age. He resided not far from the dwell- 
 ing occupied by the late Mr. Oliver Long. 
 
 Phineas Strong the son of Joseph Strong Esq., and grand-son of Thomas 
 Strong was born in Northampton, Mass. With his father he emigrated to
 
 Coventry in 1717. In Nov. 1724 he was married to Mary, daughter of Dea. 
 Samuel Parker of the First Society. He succeeded Deacon Thomas Adams, 
 and officiated in the office of Deacon for many years. He was a Justice of 
 the Peace, and was much employed in ecclesiastical and civil matters. He 
 lived on the ground now occupied by Mr. Tracy Loomis. The names of his 
 children were, Phineas, Mary, Sarah, Azulah, Ozias, Jerusha, Irene, Elisha, 
 Elijah, Beulah and Hannah. Azulah married Thomas Page, and was the 
 mother of the late Capt. Gad Page. 
 
 Aaron Strong belonged to the family of Strongs, who emigrated from 
 Northampton, and settled on the east side of the road north of Deacon Willard 
 Hutchison's. A man of the same name, afterwards, -lived inBolton. 
 
 Benjamin Jones came from Northampton and settled on the farm now 
 occupied by Mr. Willard Loomis of Andover. His descendants in Coventry 
 are numerous. 
 
 Samuel Parker was son of Deacon Samuel Parker, and brother of John 
 Parker. He lived within the bounds of Andover. 
 
 Nathaniel Gilbert was moderator of a society meeting, June 21, f!742, 
 when the society authorized members of the church, %nd heads of families 
 to invite certain ministers to preach in this parish. As we do not find his 
 name on our records but a short time after this period, it is inferred that he 
 was one of the petitioners for a new society and resided in Andover. 
 
 James Hotchkis probably lived in Andover. I cannot learn any thing 
 respecting him. 
 
 John Bissel emigrated from Lebanon in 1716, and settled on the farm now 
 in the possession of Capt. Silas Jones. He was the first settler in the parish, 
 and Capt. Jones' farm was the first which yielded to the efforts of the cultiva- 
 tor. He possessed a large estate, had two daughters ; one married Jonathan, 
 and the other married Israel Fowler. 
 
 THE CELEBRATION. 
 
 From the New England Puritan. 
 
 One hundred years having elapsed since the formation of the Church in 
 North Coventry, Ct, that event was commemorated by public religious servi- 
 ces, agreeably to previous arrangements, on Thursday, October 9th. Notwith- 
 standing the heavy rain in the former part of the day, a large congregation 
 assembled at the meeting-house at 11 o'clock. Numbers were present from 
 neighboring parishes, and some from distant places in the State and country. 
 Great interest was evidently felt in the occasion, and in the transactions of 
 the day. 
 
 First, the Divine blessing was invoked by Rev. Dr. Nott, of Franklin, now 
 in the 92d year of his age, and in the 65th of his ministry. Then, portions 
 of the Scriptures were read by Rev. Chauncey Booth, of South Coventry, and
 
 43 
 
 the choir sung the 121st Psalm, P. M., " Upward I lift my eyes," &c., in old 
 Lenox. After prayer, in which the congregation were led by Mr. Booth, the 
 following Hymn, composed by Rev. J. Lee, of Salisbury, was sung in China : 
 
 " Our fathers' God, our thanks we pay 
 
 That here thy church arose ; 
 To share thy love, and own thy sway, 
 
 Secure from all her foes ; 
 That church has seen a century's flight, 
 
 While kingdoms rose and fell, 
 And though their thrones are sunk in night, 
 
 She lives thy power to tell. 
 
 Her table in the wilderness 
 
 By thy kind hand was spread, 
 With heavenly food her sons to bless, 
 
 As Israel's tribes were fed ; 
 And in affliction's darkest day 
 
 Her shepherd, as of old, 
 Led on the flock in his right way, 
 
 And guarded well the fold. 
 
 Our fathers' God, their children own, 
 
 Nor frown us from thy face ; 
 Look down and bless us from thy throne, 
 
 And show thy power and grace ; 
 And though in dust we soon shall dwell, 
 
 Still bless thy heritage, 
 That sons to sons thy love may tell 
 
 Through every coming age." 
 
 This was succeeded by an Historical Address by Rev. G. A. Calhoun, who 
 has been pastor over this church for 26 years. About the middle of his 
 address the speaker rested, while the choir sung the l&th Psalm, C. M., by 
 Sternhold and Hopkins, " The Lord descended from above," &c., in Majesty. 
 After prayer, by Rev. J. Allen, of Sterling, formerly a member of the church 
 in North Coventry, the 79th Psalm, C. M., in Rouse's version, " Attend my 
 people, to my law," &c., was sung. 
 
 A short recess was then had, when the numerous professed Christians 
 present, united in observing the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper. First, the 
 262d Hymn in Dwight's selection, " On Jordan's rugged banks I stand, &c." 
 was sung in the tune of old Jordan. The ordinance was administered by Rev. 
 Dr. Nott, and by Rev. H. Talcott, of Portland, Ct., and addresses were made 
 by Rev. A. Collins, of Preston City, and Rev. E. Carpenter, of Southbridge, 
 Mass. Messrs. Talcott and Carpenter, were formerly connected with the 
 church in North Coventry. The communicants sung the Hymn, " 'Twas on 
 that dark, that doleful night, &c." And after the addresses the choir sung as
 
 a Doxology, two stanzas of the Hymn, " All hail the power of Jesus' name, 
 &c.," in New Jerusalem. The closing benediction was pronounced by Rev. 
 Dr. Nott. 
 
 I have referred so particularly to the singing, because it added so much to 
 the interest of the occasion, and was so prominent a part of the transactions. 
 Among the choir were a number considerably advanced in years, some of 
 whom had occupied the singers' seats twenty-five, thirty, and even forty years 
 ago. Voices of the aged and of the young united in the delightful harmony, 
 and with great animation and effect, sung the ancient songs of Zion, in the 
 tunes which aided the devotions of the last generation, of our fathers now 
 reposing in the grave, or rather, as we trust, singing the praises of God and the 
 Lamb on golden harps in the temple of God above. 
 
 After the public religious services, the congregation were invited to repair 
 to the Conference house and Academy near, to partake of a collation there 
 prepared. A great variety and abundance of food was provided ; many arti- 
 cles of which, together with the style in which it was served, reminded us 
 of olden times. At the head of one of the tables was seated the venerable 
 patriarch before mentioned, by whom the Divine blessing was asked. He was 
 furnished with a pewter platter, which once belonged to Rev. Samson Occum, 
 the celebrated Indian preacher, and also with a napkin, made one hundred 
 and fifty years ago, by a lady in Boston, who has been dead more than a cen- 
 tury. Much of the furniture of the table was of pewter, such as our mother's 
 used ; and cake was served, made from a receipt used a century ago; nor was 
 " bean porridge," the favorite dish of our ancestors, wanting. 
 
 In the evening there was also a public religious meeting. Prayer was 
 offered by Rev. Mr. Potter, former missionary of the A. B. C. F. M., among the 
 Cherokees, now employed as agent of the Board in Tennessee. A very appro- 
 priate discourse was delivered by Rev. J. Allen, from Ps. cxi.: 4; and the con- 
 cluding prayer was offered by Rev. J. A. Woodruff, of Rock Island, Illinois, 
 son of Rev. E. T. Woodruff, a former pastor of this church. 
 
 It is to be hoped that great and lasting good will result from this celebra- 
 tion. It must make the present generation cherish with more care the mem- 
 ory of their pious ancestors. It must render us more solicitous to transmit to 
 future times the religious principles and privileges, which we have received 
 from them. 
 
 A vote was passed, adjourning the meeting to Oc4. 9th, 1945, a century 
 hence. Who shall live, and what shall be, when that day shall arrive ?
 
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