PRESENT CHURCH EDIFICE. THE ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTIETH ANNIVERSARY 1 748- 1 898 OF The Congregational Church of East Hampton, (Chatham,) Conn* November 30, 1898. PROGRAMME. MORNING SERVICE BEGINNING AT 10 O'CLOCK. n Horton, first Pastor of the Church, - MR. MARTIN L. ROBERTS. Bymn 7&\ " For all thy saints who from their labors rest." Benebtctton. Postlube. Collation at Siebcrt ' s Hall at 12:30 o'clock. AFTERNOON SERVICE AT 2:3O O'CLOCK. (Drgan Poluntary. Clntbem " Praise ye the Father," - Gounod. Keaotno, of Setters from former pastors. Solo "Come unto Him," Handel. Miss BOUTELLE. llboress, - REV. H. E. HART. Bymn 770 " Blest be the tie." flbbress, - - . . . REV. C. W. COLLIER. Solo "Fear not ye, O Israel," Buck. MR. CURTIS. IDorbs of Congratulation anb Kemtmscence, - * REV. E. E. LEWIS. * REV. A. W. HA/.EN, D. D. Prayer, ... .... BY THE PASTOR. Bymn, written for the occasion by - - - - REV. JOEL S. IVES. Benebtction. Postlube. * Not present. Account of the Inside of the Old Church introduced. 2012364 X / ANNIVERSARY HYMN. \ TUNE: STOCKWELL. Bells are ringing! Bells are ringing! Everywhere the world around, Calls to duty, calls to danger, Peals of praise, or sadder sound. Toil and skill have wrought the music, Willing hands and earnest thought; Year to year has told the secret Closely kept and dearly bought. Hearken! What is now the message ? " Holiness unto the Lord!" Hear, Our Father, while we praise Thee, With Thy blessing speed The Word. As the Lake pours out its treasure, Failing not from year to year, So Thy saints have brought their worship, Sire and son, in holy fear. Witnesses are 'round about us; Holy mem'ries stir within. Comforter, Divine Redeemer, Cheer our hearts, forgive our sin. Heavenly blessings, never lacking, Thou hast given in the Past: Blessings more abundant ever \ Grant us, even to the last! / \ REV. WILLIAM SLADE, Acting Pastor, 1897. INTRODUCTION. fx SENDING out this record of our Anniversary, it seems fitting that there should be a word of introduction. For several years the people of the church had been looking forward to their one hundred and fiftieth birthday, hoping to celebrate it in some becoming manner. At the annual church meeting on January 13, 1898, the following resolution was proposed by Deacon H. D. Chapman, and passed: Resolved, That this church observe the one hundred and fiftieth anniversary of its organization with services appropriate to the occasion, and that a com- mittee be appointed to act with a committee of the society, to make all suitable arrangements and provisions for the proper carrying out of this resolution. The committees were appointed, whose names will be found in this volume. The} 7 all worked with enthusiasm and fidelity. These committees together formed a general committee, which appointed sub-committees. A. A. Bevin was chosen chairman of the general committee; S. Mills Bevin served as clerk, and H. D. Chapman as treasurer. If one were to single out a committee for special praise among all who did so well, it would be the collation committee. They prepared in Siebert's Hall a repast most abundant and attractive for a multitude of friends who could not come, and then these hard working women did outwit the weather, carrying through the feast without financial loss. It was at first proposed to have the celebration on the 28th of September, before the boisterous weather of late fall. It was found, however, that our historians wished more time for their work, and especially desired the Anniversary to occur on 6 CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH OF EAST HAMPTON. the actual date, November 3Oth, when the church would com- plete its century and a half. This date was therefore chosen, and more time given for preparation and investigation. Indeed, the thorough work represented in this book could hardly have been done by busy people except by extending the time. At last the day came, and what a day! The Sabb'ath before had warned us of what might be, for as the pastor looked from his study window he could not see the beautiful church spire till near 12 o'clock, so thick was the air with drifting snow. Even the sexton staid at home from church that day. There was a little pleasant weather, then came Wednesday, the 3oth, with another blizzard. The streets were filled with drifts. The trains were blocked and several hours late. Some brave descendants of brave John Norton reached us from Willimantic and Portland. These, with those who had come to town the night before, represented the outside world of all the friends who had planned to rejoice with us. The people were disap- pointed, but decided to go on with the exercises. We shall not forget the generosity of those who with their horses and sleighs brought the stranded ones to the church. Nor will some forget the ride on an ox sled from Barton Hill to the church. But all regretted especially the disappointment of those whose health or years prevented a ride over the drifts and in the storm to a service they had been looking forward to with so much pleasure. This day was probably an "old- fashioned winter," come back to make more vivid the days of long ago, a specimen of the environment in which our fathers struggled for existence, but a day in which we had a service of inspiring memories, music, and devotion. The exercises proceeded as the programme indicates, with the exception of the words of reminiscence and congratulation. These were omitted, Rev. A. W. Hazen, of the North Church, Middletown, being ill, and Rev. E. E. Lewis, of Haddam, being kept at home by the storm. In place of these addresses the pastor introduced an interesting description of the inside of the old church, given him by Miss Julia A. West, granddaughter of Rev. Joel West. It would be quite impossible to reproduce the impromptu speeches at the table. They \vere made by the Rev. F. W. Coleman, of the Methodist Church; Rev. C. W. Collier, a former pastor; David Strong, a former resident of CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH OF EAST HAMPTON. 7 the town, and Rev. Joel S. Ives, pastor from 1874 to 1883, and were a fine combination of laughable and sober thoughts, with some very remarkable stories effectively told. There was in the vestry a fine collection of relics and memen- toes, of which a full catalogue was made, and a sermon by the Rev. John Norton was printed from an ancient manuscript and served as a souvenir of the day. There is an appendix added to the record of the Anniversary which we trust will be especially valuable, since it gathers as far as possible the names of those whose lives and devotion have made the spiritual substance of this venerable church. It gathers, too, the petitions and old papers that record the begin- nings of church and to\vn life, and there are short sketches of deacons whose faithful lives have kept the faith steady and strong. But it remains for some future chronicler to write more fully the story of this church and town, for church and town grew on together. The business meetings of the church were the business meetings of the town. In those meetings they provided for the first public schools as well as for the preaching of the gospel. This volume is therefore only a beginning towards a fuller knowledge of those days of first things, of hard work, and faith in God, of which the present town of Chatham reaps the fruits. Special appreciation and thanks should here be extended to Martin L/. Roberts and S. Mills Bevin for their continuous and faithful work in gathering the materials that make the appen- dix such a valuable store of history for those who have this town as their home or their birthplace. EAST HAMPTON, August i, 1899. CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH OF EAST HAMPTON. PRAYER. ISPORD, thou hast been our dwelling-place in all generations; |T\ f* before the mountains were brought forth or ever thou hadst formed the earth or the world, even from everlast- ing to everlasting, thou art God. We feel like crying with thy servant of old: What is man that thou art mindful of him, or the son of man that thou visitest him! We are but of yes- terday, but thou dost endure throughout all generations. Our little systems have their day; they have their day and cease to be, and thou, O L,ord, art more than they! Into this refuge of thy power, thy care, thy love, at this time we would retreat. For we remember at this time that the kingdom is thine; not ours, but thine; for thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory, forever and ever. The church is thine; it was born not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. Thou didst redeem it with the precious blood of Christ. And we would thank thee, not only that thou didst bring thy church to pass, but that thou hast preserved it also through the tempests of the ages, that thou hast brought to naught the wrath of man that stormed against it, and hast prevailed, too, over the weakness and frailty of thy people. As thou didst feed thine ancient people with manna, and as thou didst open fountains for them in the wilderness, so hast thou nourished thy people unto this day with manna from on high that has sustained their souls. We thank thee for the unspeakable heritage that has come to us through thy church; for apostles, prophets, martyrs; for holy men of old who spoke as they were moved by the Holy Ghost, for the revelation of thyself made to men through them; we thank thee for the services of thy house, for the place of worship, that our faith is not of yesterday, but has been hal- lowed by holy men through ages; we thank thee that we, too, can join therein, can unite our voice with that of thy church universal in its unbroken anthem of gratitude and praise. CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH OF EAST HAMPTON. 9 We thank thee for this particular church, that thou didst call it to take its place in thy great church universal. Through it thou hast greatly blessed this community; thou hast minis- tered to it the water of life, thou hast greatty enriched it with the river of God; thou hast blessed all these homes through it; thou hast blessed the bridal hour and made it sacred; thou hast comforted thy people in the hour of death. We thank thee for all thou hast done in this very house. Wert thou to make these walls to speak they would tell of rich ministrations of thy grace: for here thou hast again and again met with men far from thee; thou hast melted the stony heart, thou hast wrought penitence, thou hast forgiven sin, thou hast broken the bonds of sin, thou hast sent them away with a new song in their mouth. O that men would praise the Lord for all His wonderful works! How often, O thou comforter of thy people, hast thou comforted thy people here! They have come to thy house with strength exhausted, with courage almost gone, but thou didst renew their strength, thou didst make them to run and not be weary and to walk and not faint, thou didst make their hearts to mount up like eagles, thou didst restore their souls. Thou hast hallowed this place, not with holy oil as of old, but through the abundant ministration of thy grace, through which thou hast endeared it to thy people as no stranger could tell. And now we pray for the continuance of thy blessing. Thou dost call us to-day to thanksgiving and praise for what thou hast wrought in the past, yet thou wilt hear our petitions. Thou hast carried this thy church lo these many years, carry thou it for the days to come! Let there be underneath the everlasting arms! Manifest thyself here that thou hast not changed, that thine arm is not shortened that it can not save! Repeat the days of old, and show that thy blessings are indeed new every evening and fresh every morning! Fulfill in the days to come that which thou hast begun, those intimations thou hast given in what thou hast already done, and may this church be as a field which the Lord has blessed, like a tree planted by the rivers of water, like a branch of the true vine of which thou thyself art the husbandman! In particular we pray that sound wisdom and the Spirit of God may ever dwell with thy people. May the love of God 10 CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH OF EAST HAMPTON. continually be shed abroad in their hearts by the Holy Ghost. Guide thou its pastor; may he live, move, and have his being in God and in the love and confidence of his people. Working together in the fellowship of thy Gospel, may they bring forth much fruit. May there be born into thy kingdom continually such as shall be saved, reclaim to thyself those who fall, fill all this thy church with the spirit of Christian service, and may they count it their chief privilege to walk with Christ and serve thee. So through the years to come, as thou dost per- fect the lives of thy servants and minister to them of thy grace, may they in turn minister to thy church of such as thou hast given them, that through thy church there may flow here rivers of living water, of which men shall drink unto eternal life. Hear thou our prayer: yet not according to our words alone, but according to thy church's needs. We ask in faith. For thy church is dearer to thee than to thy servants, dear as the apple of thine eye and graven on thy hands. In Christ's name we pray. Amen. REV. JOEL S. IVES, Pastor, 1874-1883. CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH OF EAST HAMPTON. 1 1 HISTORICAL ADDRESS. The One Hundred and Fiftieth Anniversary of the First Con- gregational Church, East Hampton, Conn., November 30, J898. E who does not take an interest in his ancestors does not deserve to be remembered by his posterity." Every Christian takes an added interest in recount- ing the mercies of a covenant keeping God during the days of old. And while clouds of witnesses are around about us, we will listen to the story the trials and the triumphs of this century and a half, while this church has maintained among these hills and valleys the ordinances of the Gospel in accord- ance with the Pilgrim faith and form. We are fortunate in being able to celebrate this anniversary upon the very date when this church was organized one hundred and fifty years ago. It was then the Town of Middletown and the County of Hartford. On this east side of the Connecticut river there was already a church, called East Middletown Parish now Portland the church having been organized October 25, 1721. But the excellence of the water privilege caused by the over- flow of our beautiful Pocotopaug pond, with its deep and never failing springs, attracted settlers hither, who built a forge for the smelting of iron ore brought from West Point, N. Y., and as iron was in much demand for ship building a considerable business was done. In 1825 a new forge was built, and also a scythe factory. A petition, dated "Midleton, April 29th, 1743," signed by twenty-five names, states that the ' ' nearest of us ' ' were ' ' five mile distent " and "most of us seven mile" from the "place of publick worship," and that they had hired "by the appro- bation of the society's committee" a person "approved to preach amongst us for more than six months the last year," 12 CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH OF EAST HAMPTOX. and therefore ask relief from one-half the taxes imposed by the society. The twenty-five names are as follows: John Clark, Thomas Lewis, Hezekiah Russ, Samuel Wadsworth, Stephen Griffith, David Bailey, John Bevin, Junr., Jonathan Baley, Ebenezer Clark, Jabez Clark, Joseph Parke, Shubal Lewis, Josiah Cook, William Clark, William Norket, William Norket, Junr., Isaac Smith, Ezra Andrews, James Johnson, Daniel Young, William Bevin, Seth Knowles, Caleb Johnson, . John Markham. Isaac Williams, A second petition was sent to ' ' the Honourable Assembly of his Majestyes Colony of Connecticut to be held in New Haven," signed by thirty- six names, and dated October 8, 1744. This states that the former petition was granted, and that some of the petitioners are ten miles distant from a place of worship, "and the Rhoads we are to travel in are very Rough and Bad to Travel in," and while mindful of their " poor circumstances " they are still hopeful of being able to support a minister, and therefore petition that they be set off as a society the definite bounds being stated with all the powers of such ecclesiastical societies. The following names appear on the second petition, but not on the first: John Clark, Junr., Aaron Clark, Samuel Eggleston, Zaccheus Cooke, David Cerby (?), Elisha Cornwall, Solomon (?), James Cady, David Anderson, Giles Hall, Hamlin John Hall, George Hubbard, Isaac Thompson, Mary Johnson, Hezekiah Russ, Junr. A third petition, presented by Benjamin Stillman as agent, dated April 29, 1746, declares that certain rights were given in answer to the petition of 1744, that they had employed a minister for eleven months each year, that the}' had increased in strength, and that as "the Society" was about to build a new meeting house, and their taxes would be increased, they ' ' humbly request ' ' that they may be ' ' sett off from said society and be a distinct ecclesiastical society," and to this end that a committee be appointed to view the circumstances and report to the assembly. At the October session the right was given to lay a tax of fourpence an acre on all laid-out lands for the next three years for the settlement of a minister and the building of a meeting CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH OF EAST HAMPTON. 13 house, full rights of a society having been given and the name East Hampton having been decided upon, probably because some of the settlers were from Eastham, Barnstable County, Massachusetts. At the October session of 1748, on petition of the society ' ' now about to settle the Rev. Mr. Norton in the work of the ministry among them, and asking liberty of this assembly to embody into church estate," it was "Resolved, that the}' have liberty, and are hereby granted liberty to embody into church estate with the approbation of the neigh- boring churches." The 3Oth of November, 1748, marks the date of the consummation of that purpose, which had thus been ripening since the spring of 1743; and even earlier, for the first petition shows that there had been regular preaching here in the year 1742. This was then the Third* Society of East Middletown, the second being the Middle Haddam Society, organized September 24, 1740. In 1767 this part of Middletown, east of the river, was incorporated as a separate town and named Chatham, from Chatham, England, because of the importance of the ship- building. In 1842 the town of Portland was incorporated. It would have been a great improvement if at that time East Hampton had appropriated the name Chatham. I wonder if it is too late for that improvement now! While the building of the forge at the outlet of the lake was the reason for a settlement in this part of the then town of Middletowii, it is the bell business which has given distinction to the place and has been the cause of its prosperity, although every one must regret that the skill and toil of many years have not brought larger wealth to the community. It appears from the records that William Barton was in Colonel Flower's regiment of Artillery Artificers during the War of the Revolution, with the rank of Captain, and also that his son William served as an assistant to his father. The son later worked in the Springfield Armory, and in 1808 moved to East Hampton and commenced the manufacture of hand and sleigh bells. He first conceived the idea of hollow castings, which enters now so largely into many branches of trade; but it was never patented, although there were "millions in it." It is a remarkable fact that for many years all the cast sleigh * Middletown sixth. 14 CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH OF EAST HAMPTON. bells of North America were made in East Hampton or by East Hampton men. The trade seems to be indigenous. William Barton, son of Capt. William and Sarah (Sage) Barton, was born November 26, 1763, in Kensington, Conn. He married, February 14, 1790, Clarissa, daughter of Ezekiel and Betsy (Penoyer) Betts, born in Sharon, Conn., February 10, 1768. He was probably the first manufacturer of sleigh bells, making them then in two parts and soldering them together. It is said he would make a small quantity and take them to the markets, carrying them on his person, jingling through the streets, and dispose of them. He died July 15, 1^49, universally respected and lamented. She died October 4, 1858. Coffin trimmings were manufactured here in considerable quantities for several years, and for the last twenty years the thread and silk industries have been important. The railroad, although a necessity, has laid a heavy burden of taxation, and doubtless retarded growth, which in spite of hindrances has been considerable. As a special paper is to be given upon the life and work of the first pastor, the Rev. John Norton, I pass at once to the history of the second pastorate. ' After the death of Mr. Norton a committee, consisting of Deacon Isaac Smith, Deacon John Clark, and Captain Silas Dunham, were instructed at a society meeting held "Sept. ye 24th, A. D. 1778," to apply to Mr. Parsons "to preach with us on probation;" and a receipt is on record, signed " Received in full of ye above account, Lemuel Parsons," of seventy-six pounds, fifteen shillings, for preaching thirteen ' ' Sabbaths and one Thanksgiving day." On January 5th, 1779, the society voted to call Mr. Parsons to ' ' settle with them in the Gospel Ministry," upon a "settlement" of two hundred pounds to be paid in four years, by equal installments; his salary during these four years to be seventy pounds, and after the payment of the settlement, eighty pounds a year. This salary and set- tlement were to be paid in country produce at prices defined in the call; as, for example, rye at three shillings and sixpence per bushel, cheese at fourpence per pound, sheep's wool at one shilling and fourpence per pound, flax at eightpence per pound. There was also added to the salary twenty cords of wood annually. CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH OF EAST HAMPTON. 15 This was the unsettled and most trying period of the Revo- lution, and Mr. Parsons, with commendable foresight, being himself a Connecticut Yankee, replied as follows: "BELOVED: I have taken into serious consideration your call and invitation to settle with you in the work of the ministry, and take this method to grate- fully acknowledge your kind and generous offer, and whereas in the proposals of the society no method of ascertaining what shall from time to time be esteemed an equivalency in current money respecting either settlement or salary, to prevent all difficulty in that respect it is proposed that this shall be fixed by agreement between me and a committee of the society for that purpose, chosen from year to year." [The method of choosing this committee here follows:] " Provided the parish should consent hereto and nothing discouraging should hereafter arise, I hereby signify my consent to settle with you and take the pastoral charge of you. That grace, mercy and peace may be multiplied unto you and yours, through the knowledge of God and Jesus Christ, is the desire and hearty prayer of, gentlemen, Your humble servant, LEMUEL PARSONS." These terms w r ere accepted, for his marriage took place the same month and his ordination the following month. The house in which he lived was near the site of the present par- sonage. After a pastorate of twelve years he died in office, and was buried in Lakeview Cemetery, where, near the north- ern entrance, may be found two red sandstone slabs with winged heads, upon one of which may be read this inscription: In memory of THE REV. MR. LEMUEL PARSONS, PASTOR OF THIS CHURCH. His temper was cheerful, manners kind, and heart benevolent. He lived beloved by relatives, dear to his people, in friendship and esteem with his brethren, and respected by his acquaintance. He was born in Durham, May 2d, 1753; educated at Yale College, !773; ordained over this flock Feb. loth, 1779, and after a short but useful course, he departed in the hope of Christian Salvation, Feb. I4th, 1791, in the 3Sth year of his age. Upon the other stone may be read, doubtless in Mr. Parsons' own words: The memory of an amiable and virtuous consort, MRS. KATHERINE PARSONS, who died April gth, A. D. 1780, in the 26th year of her age, By an affectionate husband, THE REVEREND LEMUEL PARSONS, God adoring and in flesh mourning his own and new born son's AFFECTING LOSS ON THIS MONUMENT IS INSCRIBED. Virtuous bands of Hymen's yoke, By death's rough hands can ne'er be broke, Each kindred mind by grief refined. With Angels joined, its mate shall find. 1 6 CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH OF EAST HAMPTON. In connection with this passionate and poetical burst of affection must be recorded the cold fact that the disconsolate widower married before the Christmas season of the same year, viz., December i2th, 1780, Faith, the daughter of the Rev. Ephraim and Elizabeth (Woodbridge) Little, of Colchester, who survived him and married John Partridge, of Dalton, Mass., April 18, 1796. The first wife was the daughter of John and Ann Coe, of Durham. Mr. Parsons was fifth in descent from Cornet Joseph and Mary (Bliss) Parsons, of Springfield, Mass.* It should be remembered to the credit of the parish and of the ministerial brethren of the neighborhood, that just one month from Mr. Parsons' death the following vote was passed: "That the widow of the Rev. Mr. Parsons shall have the lib- erty to supply the pulpit six months from the first of January last, and will pay her according to our covenant with the Rev- erend Mr. Parsons during his life, for such proportion of the time as she does supply the pulpit." At the same meeting Deacon Isaac Smith, Deacon John Clark, Captain James Bill, Bryan Parmelee, Esq., and Ensign Gideon Arnold were chosen a committee ' ' to use their discretion in hiring a candidate. ' r But their labors were not immediately successful. The church was pastorless for a year and eight months. During this time the Rev. David Porter, D. D. , a native of Hebron and a grad- uate of Dartmouth College, and who died at Catskill, N. Y., at the age of eighty-nine, after a long and successful ministry, preached for several weeks near the end of 1791. April 30, 1792, the society voted that the committee "apply to Mr. West to preach with us upon probation for four Sabbaths;" and May 2ist they were directed to "apply to Mr. West to preach with us till the first of September next." August 8th, a committee of nine men from different parts of the parish were chosen to bring in proposals as to Mr. West's * Rev. Samuel Parsons, son of Lieut. Samuel and Elizabeth (Chipman) Parsons, was born in Durham, Conn., May 2, 1753. He married first, January 28, 1779, Catha- rine, daughter of John Coe, of Durham, who died April 9, 1780; he married second, December 12, 1780, Faith, daughter of the Rev. Ephraim and Elizabeth (Woodbridge) Little, of Colchester, who survived him and married, April 18, 1796, John Partridge, of Dalton, Mass. Children by first wife: John, born March, 1780, married Abigail Faxon, Attica, N. Y. Children by second wife: Samuel, born November, 1781; Catharine, born 1784, mar- ried Dr. Charles Stewart; Nancy Woodbridge, born 1786, married Quartus Knight. CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH OF EAST HAMPTON. 1 7 settlement. They were George Cummirigs, Moses Cook, Lem- uel West, Timothy Rogers, Isaac Smith, Jr., Nehemiah Gates, Bryan Parmelee, Samuel Sexton, and Selah Jackson. On the 2oth of the same month the proposal of the eastern committee (Rogers, Smith, and Gates) was accepted, and at an adjourned meeting, September 3, 1792, it was voted to offer two hundred pounds for a settlement, with salary of seventy pounds for four years, and eighty pounds after the settlement was paid. Pos- sibly Mr. Parsons' health had put the parish to some expense, for a proviso is added that if it became needful to hire assist- ance the salary should be cut down one-half. The Rev. Joel West was the oldest child of Captain Samuel and Sarah (Hunt) West, and was born March 12, 1766, in that part of Lebanon then known as " The Crank," and which was in 1800 incorporated as the town of Columbia. He grad- uated from Dartmouth College in 1789, and studied divinity under Rev. David McClure, of South Windsor, where he united with the church on confession of faith in 1790. He was licensed to preach November 18, 1790, and was ordained the third pas- tor of this church October 17, 1792. His emigrant ancestor was Francis West, born in 1606, in Salisbury, Eng. , and was in the line of John and Priscilla Alden of the ' ' Mayflower ' ' company. March n, 1794, he married Elizabeth, the daughter of the Rev. Thomas and Eunice (Lathrop) Brock way, who was born November 28, 1774, and died September 28, 1853. It is related that he brought his bride home in a carriage, the first that had been seen in the place, and this with the fact that she had the first carpet, awakened both curiosity and envy. Eleven children were born to them; descendants of whom are still members of this church, and proofs of the vitality of the "Mayflower" blood, than which no one can boast a nobler heraldry. Mr. West was a man of sunny and hopeful disposition, and was greatly beloved by this people. Especially during the first part of the pastorate religion was at a low ebb. For years there was not a member of the church upon whom he could call for a public prayer. There were a few faithful women. Many withdrew from the society by certificate. The half- way covenant was working out its inevitable results. But the faithful pastor labored on and better days came. " The Great 1 8 CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH OF EAST HAMPTON. Revival " as it was called of 1818 and 1819 followed, and it was indeed a "New Way" throughout New England. Taxation for the support of the church was gradually done away with. The flood of infidelity which had swept over the country was stayed. The standard of church membership was raised. Fifty-two were admitted to the church, among them strong men, pillars in the church, of mighty influence in the whole community. I may mention in this list Sparrow Smith, Elea- zur Veazey, David Buell, Lazarus Watrous, Nathaniel C. Smith, Willard Sears, Horace Clark, and Diodate D. West. As indicative of the feeling of church union then prevalent the following vote of March, 1819, is interesting: "That the several brethren might be at liberty to invite to our communion a friend belonging to another denomination of Christians, if he had a desire for it." After a pastorate of thirty- four years, the Rev. Joel West died suddenly, October 26, 1826, in the sixtieth year of his age. He was buried in Lakeview Cemetery, only a short dis- tance from his residence, the house in which his son, Diodate B. West, always lived, and now occupied by his granddaugh- ters, the Misses Mary A. and Julia A. West. CHILDREN OF REV. JOEL WEST. Nancy Brockway, born Oct. 28, 1795; died Nov. 15, 1795. Brackett, born Feb. 21, 1797; died March 4, 1797. Diodate Brockway, born July 20, 1798. Eveline Orvilla, born May 19, 1800. Delia Elliott, born April 21, 1804; married J. W. B. Smith. Betsey Emeline, born Sept. n, 1806; married Justin Dickinson. Brackett Mortimer, born Sept. 4, 1808. ^lice Amanda, born April 13, 1810; died October 29, 1841. Maranda Matilda, born Oct. 31, 1812; married Erastus Day, of Colchester. Chittenden Griswold, born 1814; died Nov. 5, 1814. Samuel Wales, born Dec. 3, 1815; died Jan. 22, 1846. Stiles Davenport, born Oct., 1818; died Dec. 4, 1818. Deacon D. B. West united with the church July 4, 1819, and was elected deacon December n, 1823. He died June 14, 1 88 1, being eighty- three years old, having been a member of the church sixty-two years and an officer fifty-eight years a very remarkable record. The first deacons of the church were Ebenezer Clark, John Clark, and Isaac Smith. (See appendix.) CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH OF EAST HAMPTON. 19 The members of the association supplied the pulpit for some time in aid of Mrs. West. But church affairs were evidently less prosperous, for help was received during the next year from the Missionary Society of Connecticut, and Rev. William Case, of Chester, writing to Dr. Leonard Bacon, at that time the secretary, says: "Aid from your society will probably be the means of saving them from an entire deprivation of the privilege of the gospel." The grand list of the community was then $6,481, viz., Baptists $546, Methodists $570, Con- gregationalists$2,468, with no society $2,895. The population was about 1,000. March 14, 1828, it was voted that "the members of this meeting feel a willingness to settle the Reverend Timothy Stone in the work of the ministry if they can obtain the sum of ninety-six dollars from the domestick Missionary Society, and raise a sufficient sum by subscription to pay him his salary. ' ' Deacon Warren A. Skinner was appointed a committee to secure this aid, and his letter to Dr. Bacon says: "By the utmost exertions we shall raise tw r o hundred and ten or twenty dollars. With this and the aid of $96 a year for five years we shall be able to settle the Rev. Timothy Stone." Mr. Stone's salary was fixed at three hundred dollars. The Rev. Timothy Stone was born in Goshen, in the town of Lebanon, May 29, 1774, where his father, of the same name, was pastor from 1766 till his death in 1797. His mother was Eunice, daughter of the Rev. Solomon Williams. At the age of thirteen, while preparing for college, he suffered a stroke of paralysis from which his organs of speech never fully recov- ered. For this reason he studied for some time the art of painting with the celebrated John Trumbull, also a native of Lebanon. Afterward, becoming a subject of Divine Grace, he resolved to enter the ministry, and placed himself under the instruction of President Dwight and lived in his family. No- vember 20, 1803, he was ordained pastor of the church in South Cornwall. In 1804 Yale conferred upon him the degree of M. A. After a pastorate of nearly twenty-five years he was dismissed, and installed pastor here June 4, 1828. Mr. Stone's letters to the Missionary Society give various facts of interest. It would appear that the first Sabbath School was begun 'during 1828, and that in the same year a 20 CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH OF EAST HAMPTON. temperance society was formed. During a revival in 1829, "more than sixty, including all classes and denominations, are now indulging a hope of regeneration." In 1830 he writes it is "becoming more and more manifest" that the "church could not prosper on union principles." In 1831, that "fif- teen years ago the Baptists threatened to swallow up the Con- gregational Church." In the same letter: " my good members and my deacons have been too fond of mingling with the Methodists in their meetings, allured by the cheering sound of Christian union." Also he saw that he "damped their devotion ' ' by discountenancing women taking part in prayer meetings and by insisting upon the direction of the meetings. The ' ' ardent brethren ' ' evidently made it somewhat uncom- fortable for the pastor, and he was dismissed February 7, 1832, being "cordially recommended as a faithful and worthy min- ister of Christ to confidence and employment." Mr. Stone was a man of great simplicity of character and singleness of purpose. Owing to the ill-health of his wife she did not remove from South Cornwall, and after his dismission he returned there, where he died April 14, 1852, being held in high respect by all. The Rev. Timothy Dwight Porter Stone, late of Springfield, was his son. It is very interesting to remember that we have two living representatives of Mr. Stone's pastorate Mr. John William Burke Smith arfd Mrs. Alice S. (Bevin) Child, who united with the church in 1833 sixty-five years ago! Mr. David Watson Watrous and Mrs. Laura A. (Markham) Skinner are next in age, having united with the church in 1842 during the pastorate of Mr. Smith. Mrs. Amanda M. Clarke, Mrs. Belinda Bevin Veazey, and Mrs. Amelia A. Watrous have also been members for more than fifty years, having united with the church in 1846, while the Rev. William Russell was pastor. Questions of Old School and New School East Windsor or New Haven began about this time to agitate the theologians. Samuel Ives Curtis was employed to supply the vacant church. Middlesex Consociation was Old School and Mr. Curtis had graduated from New Haven. Mr. Parsons, of East Haddam, and Dr. Harvey, of Westchester, were champions of the " faith once delivered to the saints" on East Windsor Hill, but not to REV. SAMUEL I. CURTIS, Pastor, 1832-1837, CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH OF EAST HAMPTON. 21 Dr. Taylor at New Haven ! Middlesex Consociation was true to its convictions and refused ordination; the church was true to its purpose and called a council, which ordained Mr. Curtis, the fifth pastor. Samuel Ives Curtis, the son of Ivah and Hannah (Ives) Curtis, was born in Meriden, March 5, 1803; Yale Seminary, 1829-32; approbated to preach by New Haven East Association, 1831, and ordained here November i, 1832. He was dismissed November 21, 1837. Served the church at North Woodstock about two years, when he was called to the church in Union in April, 1839, and was installed there April 12, 1843, remain- ing as pastor till his death, March 26, 1880. October 2, 1832, he married Rebecca T. Hough, of Walling- ford, who with her daughter Ann was killed by lightning in her home in Union, Fast Day, March 25, 1842. Her son, Rev. George Curtis, is pastor at Mayville, North Dakota. His second wife was Eliza, the daughter of the Rev. Jesse Ives, one of the first pastors of the Congregational Church in Mon- son, Mass. Their only child was Samuel Ives Curtis, Jr., born February 5, 1844; Amherst, 1867; and now Professor of Biblical Literature in Chicago Theological Seminary. His third wife was the granddaughter of the Rev. Daniel Grosvenor. It was during this pastorate that the square pews were re- moved from the church. There was a marked revival during 1833- After an interim of six months the Rev. Rufus Smith began to supply, June 10, 1838, and "an ecclesiastical council was convened at the house of Mr. Harvey Arnold, September 18, 1838," and after "a thorough examination" it was voted to proceed with the ordination exercises on the following day. He was the son of Matthew and Anna (Strickland) Smith, of Chaplin, Conn., and was born April 26, 1795. He was fora time a physician in Griswold, afterward studied theology at Yale, and was approbated to preach by the New London Asso- ciation, May 30, 1836. He was a strict disciplinarian and had high views of the powers of a pastor. His formula for the prayer meeting was: "Brother West, will you pray? Brother Skinner, will you remark?" Deacon West told me that upon returning from a meeting at Wethersfield he kneeled down to pray in a prayer 22 CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH OF EAST HAMPTON. meeting without being called upon by Mr. Smith, but was at once stopped with the decided remark, " I must have order in my meetings." I have been also told that Mr. Smith asked the brethren to meet him at the Arnold house where he lived, a certain Sunday noontime, with the remark, " I want to con- sult with you, but I shall do as I choose in the matter!" He was greatly troubled by Abby Kelly and ' ' her followers. ' ' And no doubt he had just cause. In closing his report to the Missionary Society he says, " This will be a good society: when, the L,ord only knows!" Two years later he writes, ' ' In degree, the susceptibilities of this people to novelty and ultraism are certainly unusual. The wisdom of Solomon and the strength of Samson would not hold them with bit and bridle. ' ' Poor man, how little he understood human nature! In 1842 he reports that they had almost succeeded in raising funds to build a new church. In 1844 he is more hopeful, and believes the society will be able to get along without aid and also build a church. Ill health and the evident friction between himself and certain members of the church induced him to ask for a dismission, which was granted June 24, 1845. He had no other pastorate, and died in East Hartford, June i, 1854. Although there are these recollections and records which cause us to smile, his seven years' pastorate was evidently pro- ductive of blessing and helpfulness. There was need doubtless of a strong hand and a firm loyalty to Congregational principles and methods. And it should be remembered that the church has never after this needed aid from the Missionary Society. The whole amount granted between 1827 and 1844 was $1,339. The offerings to Home Missions from this church have been more than twice the amount of aid rendered, while the total charities are more than nine times that amount. Early in October, 1845, the Rev. William Russell, son of Alden and Sarah (Andrews) Russell, and great-great-grandson of the Rev. John Norton,* the first pastor, began his work * Rev. John Norton married Eunice Hitchcock. Son, John Norton, Jr., married Ede Clark. Daughter, Sarah Norton, married Elizur Andrews. Daughter, Sarah Andrews, married Alden Russell. .Son, William Russell, married, May 10, 1842, Sarah Elizabeth Brown, of New Haven. Children: Hattie Hamlin, born March i, 1844; Sarah Norton, born July 6, 1847; Minnie Williams, born November 22, 1851. REV. LEUMAS H. PEASE, Acting Pastor, 1856-1858. CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH OF EAST HAMPTON. 23 here and was installed the seventh pastor, October 14, 1846. He was born in Stratford, Conn., February 15, 1815; Yale, 1837; Yale Divinity School, 1841; and was ordained pastor at Wakeman, Ohio, December i, 1842. Difficulties arose regard- ing the location of the new church, and at his request he was dismissed October n, 1855. He was pastor at New Ipswich, N. H., for three years, and preached at Sherman, Conn., from 1860 to 1862. Because of a severe asthmatic trouble, he relin- quished further ministerial service and obtained a clerkship in the Treasury Department at Washington, where he remained till 1886, and died in Washington, March 17, 1889. The Rev. Leumas Hoyt Pease, born in Colebrook, Conn., January 20, 1811, supplied about a year and a third between 1856 and 1858. During the war (1861-1865) he was chaplain of Ellsworth's Avengers (a New York regiment), and was also in the Christian Commission. From 1865 till his death, May 20, 1887, he was seamen's chaplain at New Orleans, and made frequent visits here, at which time it was often the custom of the Sunday School to present him with a National flag for his Bethel. His strong individuality and kindly disposition will make him long remembered. Many candidates were heard and several calls were extended before November 24, 1859, when a unanimous call was ex- tended to the Rev. Henry Alanson Russell, who was installed the eighth pastor, December 14, 1859. He was born in Pros- pect, Conn., August 14, 1826; Yale Divinity School, 1853; ordained pastor of the First Church, Winsted, April 19, 1854, and was dismissed from that church August 25, 1858. After a pastorate of four and one-half years he was dismissed June 28, 1865, and served the churches in Centerbrook and Cole- brook, Conn.; Moers, N. Y.; and Cabot, Vt., and is now resid- ing in Winsted in honored old age. Another marked figure in the pulpit of this church was the Rev. Gustavus Dorman Pike, who was here about two years, but made many visits to the place during his empk>3 7 ment by the American Missionary Association. He was born in Tops- field, Mass., August 6, 1831; Dartmouth, 1858; Andover, 1861; ordained pastor of the Olivet Street Church, Nashua, N. H., April 23, 1862. He traveled extensively with the Fisk Jubilee Singers in their campaigns which secured over $70,000. He 24 CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH OF EAST HAMPTON. died in Hartford, January 29, 1885. His quaint and racy words will not soon be forgotten. The ninth pastor was the Rev. George Whitefield Andrews, born in Wayne, Ohio, February 4, 1833; Oberlin, 1858; Ando- ver, 1867; ordained pastor of this church, November 13, 1867. At his request he was released from pastoral duties, November 14, 1870, that he might go south for his health. He was after- ward formally dismissed by the Consociation, and remained in the employ of the American Missionary Association. He is now Professor of Theology in Talladega College, greatly hon- ored and beloved. It was during this pastorate, in 1866, that the parsonage was built (at a cost of $3,000). Rev. Burritt Augustus Smith, born in Oxford, Conn., August 4, 1820; Yale, 1843; preached for three years and *a half till April, 1874. After teaching in Middletown from 1875 to 1883, he removed to Worcester, Mass., and died there June 16, 1899. The tenth pastor, Rev. Joel Stone Ives, began May 17, 1874, and was ordained September 29, 1874. He was born in Cole- brook, Conn., December 5, 1847, the son of Rev. Alfred E. and Harriet (Stone) Ives; Amherst, 1870; Yale Divinity School, 1874. After being dismissed October *3i, 1883, he was in- stalled at Stratford, Conn., November 20, 1883, and was dis- missed October 31, 1899, to accept the office of Secretary of the Missionary Society of Connecticut. Rev. Edward Payson Root, born in Montague, Mass., August 4, 1844; Amherst, 1871; Yale Divinity School, 1875; ordained pastor at Hampden, Mass., June i, 1876; dismissed December 28, 1883; was installed the eleventh pastor, February 7, 1884. Being dismissed in 1891 because of ill health, he has since supplied churches in Colorado. October 19, 1887, the Young People's Society of Christian Endeavor was formed with Mr. Root as president. From June, 1891, to May, 1893, Rev. Henry Holmes, born in St. Paul, Minn., June 30, 1861, studied at Carl ton College three years, and graduated at Hartford Seminary, 1892, served the church and was ordained June 7, 1892. He has been pastor at Wauwatosa, Wis. , since 1893. Rev. Christopher W. Collier, born at Westbury, Wiltshire, England, February 23, 1866; Williams, 1892; Harvard, 1893; Yale Divinity School, 1896, was ordained at North Adams, REV. BURRITT A. SMITH, Acting Pastor, 1870-1874. CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH OF EAST HAMPTON. 25 Mass., January 3, 1894. Acting pastor of this church from November, 1893, to October, 1897, when he was dismissed for the purpose of further study in Germany, and we are glad to have him with us to-day. The church is now acceptably supplied by the Rev. William Slade, who was born in Thetford, Vt., December 13, 1856; Dartmouth, 1884; Andover, 1887; ordained pastor at West Newbury, Mass., September 18, 1888; pastor at Williamstown, Mass., six years; beginning service here in October, 1897. It would be impossible to give a complete record of the church membership. In 1792, there were 45 males and 59 females, total 104; in 1818, the number had fallen to 55; but 52 were added in 1819; in 1833, the number was 74; in 1856, there were 68 members. During the last 64 years there have been 419 additions just 100 were received to the church in 1874-83; the number last January is 262, and during the 150 years the grand total is probably above 700. A few Baptist families moved here in 1775, a church was organized September 10, 1784, and a building was erected on the corner southwest of this church, but it has long since been removed. Rev. Joel McKee began to hold Methodist services about the year 1817. In 1830 a meeting house was built on Miller's Hill; in 1850 the building now standing near the railroad was erected, and the edifice now in use was built in 1875. The Catholics have held services for more than thirty years, and have recently built a commodious place of worship on Bevin Hill. The Swedes within a few months have come into possession of the building formerly owned by the Union Congregational Church, where the Lutheran forms of service will be observed. The location of the present church building was the result of much discussion, and even after its completion there was not satisfaction with the result, so that, together with other causes which obtained in the community, the Union Church was organized in 1856, twenty-five members being dismissed from this church September 5th, and for more than twenty years maintained a vigorous life, and not a few of the useful workers in this and the Methodist churches were once members of the Union Church. 26 CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH OF EAST HAMPTON. It is an interesting record that up to the close of the last century the ecclesiastical society had charge of the schools. In 1754, it was voted to lay a tax and "Sargeant" Cook, Joseph Parke, and William Bevin were appointed a committee. In 1758, the school was kept in the house of Joseph Parke on Bevin Hill. In 1796, a separate school organization seems to have been formed. December 20, 1750, Captain Ebenezer Clark being modera- tor, the society voted ' ' to build a meeting house for divine worship, two-thirds of the qualified voters being present," of the following dimensions, "46 feet long, 36 feet in width, and 22 feet between joints." The question of location was not easily solved. Petitions to "affix a place for a meeting house for divine worship " were sent up in 1751 and in 1752. The location agreed upon was near the present site, but it is uncer- tain when the building was first occupied. The last vote on record, for payment for the use of a private house " to meet in on the Sabbath," is December 15, 1755; when it was also voted to make a rate of twelve hundred pounds to pay the charges already laid out on the meeting house and to provide pulpit, doors, sashes, and glass, "and set said glass." The first vote to seat the meeting house is July 8, 1762. And any men who would assume such a delicate duty should have their names on record. They were Isaac Smith, Deacon John Clark, Lieu- tenant Stephen Olmstead, Captain Abijah Hall, and Ensign Silas Dunham. There were at first the square pews, galleries on the east, south, and west sides, with the pulpit and its sounding board on the north, under which were the seats for the deacons. The young men from twenty years and upward and the young women from eighteen years and upward when would they cease to be young women? were assigned to the galleries. This building became dilapidated during its century of use, and was injured by fire on the night of January 9, 1854. Seven years previously a special meeting, of which Lazarus Watrous was moderator, voted to build a new church, if suf- ficient funds could be obtained. Samuel Skinner, Timothy R. Markham, Amos Clark, and Amiel Abell were appointed a committee thereto. Again the difficulty of location arose, nor is it hard to see why there should have been decided differences CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH OF EAST HAMPTON. 27 of opinion. In October, 1849, the question was left to a com- mittee. The fire settled the matter that something must be done, and March 4, 1854, the majority decided to build on the old location, appointing Hiram Veazey, Amiel Abell, Timothy R. Markham, Stephen G. Sears, Alfred Williams, Abner G. Bevin, Amos Clark, Alexander N. Niles, and Henry Skinner the building committee. January 2, 1855, it was voted " that the meeting house be now received into the hands of the society." During 1874 the pulpit was replaced by a desk and platform, the prayer meeting room was improved, and in 1881 nearly $1,500 were expended in extensive repairs and improve- ments. Funds are in hand toward the building of a chapel, which has always been an especial need of the church. It is worthy of note that electric lights were placed in the church last spring. Early action \vas taken in reference to music. May 15, 1760, it was voted, "Captain Jonathan Alvord chosen to sett the psalm." Also, " Seth Alvord chosen quorister." " November ye 27th, 1762, voted to sing Watts' Varshon the whole of the time." Robert Shattock, Titus Carrier, and Bryan Parmelee are also chosen " quoristers." In 1791 eighteen were thus chosen. A pitch pipe furnished the key. This was a small wooden instrument, in shape something like a long narrow book, with a mouthpiece at one corner and on the opposite edge slides marked for the different keys. After the hymn was announced, the chorister gave out the tune, sounded the pitch pipe and raised the tune. The audience would' then join in various degrees of harmony. Sometimes the pitch pipe would make its journey quite around the meeting house from one chorister to another. After this carne the tuning fork. Still later Silas Hills played a single bass viol, and about 1839 William F. Clark when only twelve years of age began playing the violin in the church services. After this a reed instrument was used, and the present pipe organ was obtained in 1866. For some time previous to 1854 Dr. Nettleton's Hymns were used, and in October of that year " Psalms and Hymns," recom- mended by the General Association in 1845, was adopted. Sunday, May 9, 1875, "Hymns and Songs of Praise," edited by Drs. Hitchcock, Eddy, and Schaff, was used for the first time. This has now given place to the " Church Hymnal." 28 CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH OF EAST HAMPTON. The organization of this church was just as the country was emerging from the War of King George II. Mr. Norton had suffered a year's imprisonment in Canada. Many, doubtless, of the members in those early years took part in the colonial wars, but they left no record except the military titles here and there. In the French and Indian wars, from 1755 to 1759, the following names deserve mention, being more than one- third of the members known to have served from East Middletown: Benjamin Goff, Samuel Goff, James Webb, Josiah Caswell, Elkanah Sears, James Bill, Joshua Bailey, William White, Recompense Bailey, Bryan Parmelee, Stephen Knowlton, Daniel Hills, Stephen Ackley, Titus Carrier, Simeon Young, Joseph Smith, John Norton, Marcus Cole, James Bailey, Moses Freeman, Simeon Freeman. Michael Smith, John Hailing, And, also, as serving under Captain Savage in 1755: John Bevin, Josiah Cook, Amos Dewey, Thomas Shepard; and Lemuel Shurtleff, Samuel Mott, and Abner Norket, under Captain Champion. During Mr. Norton's pastorate the Revolutionary War began, and only age prevented him from participating in it. The train-band under Captain Silas Dunham started at once to relieve the beleaguered citizens of Boston, but returned after five days' absence. The second officer in this company was Lieutenant Timothy Percival, who lived within the borders of Middle Haddam parish, but in 1767 was set off to this parish for his convenience in attending church. Benjamin Kueeland was ensign and Marcus Cole clerk or orderly sergeant. Other names in this roll of honor are: Stephen Olmsted, Benjamin Kneeland, Lazarus Watrous. Ralph Smith, Thomas Hill, Nathaniel Markham, Samuel Kilbourn, Daniel Clark, Elisha Cornwell, Samuel Hill, Amos Clark, John Norton, Daniel Hill, Elijah Clark, Ezra Ackley, Caleb Cook, Samuel Freeman, David Cornwell, John Johnson, Hezekiah Goff, Ezra Purple, Nehemiah Day, William Bevin, Joshua Bailey, Sylvanus Freeman, Daniel Park, James Johnson, Jr., William White, Elijah Bailey, Nathaniel Garnsey, Samuel Sexton, Daniel Mackall, Ithamar Pelton. CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH OF EAST HAMPTON. 2 9 To this roll the following names are added of persons who saw more or less adtive service during that trying period, but it is not pretended that it is a complete list: Stephen Ackley, Stephen Ackley, Jr., Hewitt Alvord, Seth Alvord, Ruel Alvord, Soloman Bailey, William Barton, Samuel Brown, Titus Carrier, Ensign, Aaron Clark, Abner Clark, died, Stephen Clark, David Clark, Abner Cole, Lieut., Hendrick Cole, Moses Cole, Samuel Cowdrey, Benjamin Cobb, Joshua Frank, colored, John Fuller, Stephen Gates, Josiah Goff, Samuel Goff, Jabez Hall, Isaac Johnson, Daniel Judd, Jr., Ichabod Lucas, John Markham, Jacob Norton, died, Elias Norton, Surg. Mate, Reuben Norcott, William Norcott, Sylvanus Norcott, John Park, Peter Parker, Rowland Percival, Randall Shattuck, David Sears, William Stoddard, Sparrow Smith, Michael Smith, Lemuel West, Hopkins West, John West, John W 7 elsh, Joel Wood, Philip White, Thomas W T hite, died. In the war of 1812, the only member of this church known to have been in the service was Warren West. The Civil War, while it called for a less sacrifice in num- bers, revealed no less patriotism and valor. The names of this Grand Army of the Republic who have been members of this church are the following: Abner A. Bevin, ist Lieut., William H. Bevin, ist Lieut., David Strong, ist Lieut., James M. Moore, 2d Lieut., Clark Strong, Adjutant, Lumas H. Pease, Chaplain, John W T . Skinner, Drum Major, Samuel T. Rodman, Stephen R. Demay, Hubert E. Carpenter. In all these trials of faith the women were no less patriotic and self-sacrificing than the men, and to record their names would be to make a record of the membership of the church. And while we pray for the triumph of the Prince of Peace, we can see that in this world of partial things even the sword may be the minister of righteousness and war the hastener forward of His coming. Alexander E. Ingraham, Osmer C. Hills, Henry Snow, Gwinnett Carpenter, Nelson Flood, Lorenzo D. Rich, Henry T. Selle\v, Horatio D. Chapman, D. Carlos Carpenter, 30 CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH OF EAST HAMPTON. East Hampton may rejoice not only that it has the Gospel preached to it, but that it has preached the Gospel, not only in the lives of holy men and holy women, whose faith and alms come up as a memorial before God, but also by those, whose names we mention, who have given themselves distinctively to the heralding of the Good News. The Rev. Howard Norton Smith,* great-great-great-grandson of the Rev. John Norton, born December 16, 1858 -how well I remember the day he united with this church, July 12, 1874; studied at Oberlin, 1896; ordained at Berea, Ohio, June 6, 1889; pastor at Sara- toga Church, Omaha, Nebraska, 1889-91; at Rock Springs, Wyoming, 1891-97; and at San Luis Obispo, California. Amasa West, born August 15, 1775; united with the church in 1803; studied at Williams; studied divinity; taught and preached at Jamestown, N. Y.; approbated to preach in 1815; preached in Ohio and Michigan; died in Wisconsin in 1850. Benjamin Sears, born Feb. 10, 1771, married Ann Bigelow, and removed to Delaware, Ohio. Changing his views of the Christian religion, he joined the Baptist Church and devoted himself to the ministry. After serving the church in Dela- ware for some years he received an appointment as missionary, and with his two sons, John and Benjamin, went to Fort Wayne, Ind., where he aided in constructing a church, the first church established in Indiana. Stephen Olmsted, Jr., the son of Captain Olmsted, who was buried on Miller's Hill in the same plot with the Rev. John Norton, was born in this parish, and for forty years was a Baptist clergyman in Schodack, N. Y. Another son, Jona- than, liberally endowed Hamilton College. John Watson Alvord, born in East Hampton, April 18, 1807; Oberlin, 1836; for a long time was secretary of the American Tract Society. Time would fail me to tell the whole story. Indeed, I sup- pose if all were told the world could not contain the books. I have tried to choose the most important facts. But it is always * Rev. John Norton married Eunice Hitchcock. Daughter, Elizabeth Norton, married Nathaniel Clark. Daughter, Eunice Clark, married Sparrow Smith. Son, Nathaniel C. Smith, married Charlotte Strong. Son, Henry S. Smith, married Helen M. Niles. Son, Howard N. Smith. CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH OF EAST HAMPTON. 31 sad, as Dr. S. Weir Mitchell says, that " the siftings of memory let so much of thought and feeling escape ' ' that we keep little more than the barren facts; and yet, as he says again, some things live for us ' ' the life of eternal remembrance. ' ' And there is an encouragement in the words of Bacon : ' ' Industrious persons, by an exact and scrupulous diligence and observation, out of monuments, names, words, proverbs, traditions, private records and evidences, fragments of stories, passages of books that concern not story, and the like, do save and recover some- what from the deluge of time." Have I heard someone say ' ' the former days were better than these"? Surely such an one cannot have read of those former days. All honor to the faith, fidelity, self-sacrifice, cour- age, endurance, accomplishment, of those who have gone before us. We are their debtors. But they without us are not made perfect. Ours is a better heritage as much better as the fulfillment is better than the promise the fruition than the flowering. They laid the foundations in the far-off past those noble men and women, who had such "bad rhoades to travel in" that they were ready to endure hardness for the having of a church and a minister of their own. But the temple is better than the foundations. And in the larger view of the Kingdom of God, He who died for our sins sits now at the right hand of God, "from henceforth expecting until he makes his enemies the footstool of his feet." The Expectant Christ is upon the Throne. We look across the landscape and only the tops of the hills attract our vision. In the backward glance of history it is the prominent events which hold our attention. Fortunately we try to find the best things in the past to remember. But if we study the landscape the valleys are as important as the mountains, and as surely as the universe is slowly moving towards its great center, so the lives of men, for the Cosmos is made up of particulars, are moving toward ' ' the far-off, divine event" the perfected Kingdom of God. In this accomplishment the faithful life of an individual is of uncounted worth, by how much more the one hundred and fifty years of a Christian Church! 32 CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH OF EAST HAMPTON. A SKETCH OF THE LIFE OF THE REV. JOHN NORTON. (To trie members of tfye Congregational Cfyurcfy in (East fjampton anb their ^rienbs assembleb upon ttje (Dne fjitnbrcb anb ^iftietb. Clnntr>crsary of its rganization, GREETING: anniversary committee during the past summer ex- tended me an invitation to prepare and read upon this occasion a paper relative to the life and labors of the first settled pastor of your church and parish, the Rev. Mr. John Norton, and his family. Though the preparation and reading of such papers was somewhat out of my line of busi- ness, I accepted the invitation and endeavored to obtain from reliable sources all the information respecting them that was. available. That this paper is deficient in many important particulars, wall be apparent to you all, but the deficiency is entirely due to the loss of important records upon those points, as every possible clue that .gave any promise of throwing any light upon the subject has been closely followed, either by myself or some of his descendants, who have generously given me the benefit of their investigations, and to whom let me here express my sincere and heartfelt thanks for the kindly interest they have taken in the matter. Mr. Norton was born in the parish of Kensington, in the present town of Berlin, but which was at the time of his birth a part of the town of Farmington, Conn., November. 16, 1715. He was the fourth son and child of John and Anna (Thompson) Norton, of Kensington, grandson of John and Ruth (Moore) Norton, of Farmington, and great-grandson of John and Eliz- abeth ( ) Norton, whose name appears upon the first page of the first book of records of the town of Branford, Conn., in connection with the sale of land, and who was one of the eighty-four original proprietors of that township. The family is of Norman descent, and the first of the name, L,a Seur de Norville (afterward changed to Norton), came into England ALONZO CLARK, 1822-1876. Sexton of the Church for nearly 30 years. MARTIN L. ROBERTS, 1839. HIRAM BARTON, 1799-1878. For many years a member of the church choir. Son of Win. Barton, founder of the Bell business, East Hampton's principal industry. FRANCIS GRISWOLD EDGERTON, M. D., 1797-1870. The beloved physician who for more than 40 years practiced medicine in East Hampton Parish and vicinity. CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH OF EAST HAMPTON. 33 from Xormandy in 1066 in the celebrated filibustering crew of \Villiam the Conqueror as his constable, at that time an office of high military rank. The place to which the family traces its planting after crossing the English Channel is at Sharp- enhow, a hamlet of Bedfordshire. Mr. Norton was of the sixteenth generation that have been definitely traced in this country and England, but their pedigree has been questioned so far as it relates to some of the early families in England, but of its correctness in relation to the family since they settled in America, there can be no doubt. His father was a well-to-do farmer and resided on the main road leading from Middletown to Farmington, near what is known as Mill River crossing. He is sometimes mentioned in the Farmington records as John Norton, 3d, and also as Sergeant John Norton, which fact shows that he held that rank in the train-band, as the militia was at that time designated. The ancestors of his mother were prominent among the early settlers of Hartford and Farming- ton. No materials from which any particulars or incidents relating to his early life could be gathered have been found, and it is fair to presume that his early years w r ere passed amid such scenes as were common to the youth and young men of that period, nearly all of whom were compelled by the mere force of circumstances to toil early and late upon the farm, which was the main dependence of the people of that time. He graduated at Yale College in the class of 1737, being at that time in the twenty-second year of his age. It is not defi- nitely known, but the probabilities are that he was prepared to enter Jhat institution by the Rev. William Burnham, who at that time was the pastor of his native parish. He studied theolog3' probably at Springfield, Mass., as the records of that place show that he was a resident there soon after his gradua- tion, but the name of his tutor has not been ascertained. He was ordained at Deerfield, Mass., on the 25th day of Novem- ber, 1741, as the pastor of a church that day organized for the parish of Fall Town, then a part of the town of Deerfield, but since then incorporated as a separate town by the name of Bernardston. Bernards- town or Bernardston at the time Mr. Norton was ordained was, as has just been mentioned, called Fall Town. It was thus designated because it was granted to the soldiers 34 CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH OF EAST HAMPTON. or the descendants of those soldiers who were in the fight with the Indians at the Great Falls in the Connecticut River, May 18, 1676. The first meeting of the proprietors of this township was held on the 23d of September, 1741, at the house of L,ieut. Sheldon, when it was voted to invite the Rev. John Norton to settle in the ministry, and he have ^200 as a settlement, half in money, half in work, and a salary of ^130 for the first five years, afterward to be increased ^5 a year until it should amount to ^170. Mr. Norton accepted this invitation, and as before stated was ordained on the 25th of November, 1741. The Rev. Jonathan Ashley, of Deerfield, preached the ordi- nation sermon from the fifteenth chapter of Romans and the thirtieth verse: "Now I beseech you, brethren, for the Lord Jesus Christ's sake and for the love of the spirit, that ye strive together with me in your prayers to God for me. ' ' This ser- mon was printed under the following title, which was taken from a fine copy in the possession of the Connecticut Historical Society at Hartford: The United Endeavors and Earnest Prayers of Ministers and People to promote the great Design of the Ministry Recommended in a SERMON Preached at Deerfield Nov. 25, 1741 Upon the gathering a Church for Fall-Town and the Ordination of MR. JOHN NORTON as Pastor to the Church there BY JOHNATHAN ASHLEY A. M. and Pastor of the Church in Deerfield to which is added The charge given by the Reverend Mr. Benjamin Doolittle and a Right Hand of Fellowship by the Reverend Mr. Joseph Ashley Boston Printed by S. Kneeland and T. Green in Queenstreet 1742 ' ' Owing to the unsettled state of the times ' ' and the fact that his parish was situated in the angle between the military line of the Connecticut and that of the Deerfield, and conse- quently his parishioners had as much as they could do to main- tain their families in a war already commenced, and raging to that extent that in some cases the women were necessitated to bear arms in defence of their dwellings, Mr. Norton labored among them but about four years, when he was dismissed, and CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH OF EAST HAMPTON. 35 appointed chaplain to the line of forts that had been recently built for the protection of the inhabitants living upon the west- ern frontier of Massachusetts from the ravages of the French and their savage Indian allies. This line of forts consisted of " North field," "Fall Town," "Colerain," "Fort Shirley in the Town of Heath," "Fort Pelhara in the Town of Rowe," "Fort Massachusets in the town of Adams," and the soldiers posted at the "Collars," " Shattuck's Fort," "Rhodetown," and " New Hampton," all under the command of Capt. Ephraim Williams, the illustrious founder of Williams College at Williamstown, Mass. He entered upon the service of chaplain in the month of February, 1746, and passed his time in one or the other of the forts just mentioned, as his sense of duty to each garrison might prompt or circumstances permit. His wife and three small children resided in Fort Shirley, which he seems to have made his headquarters. He was at Fort Massachusetts when it was besieged and captured by a large body of French and Indians, in August, 1746, and was taken captive with the rest of the garrison and carried to Quebec, where he remained about a year, when he was exchanged and returned to Boston. He wrote an account of the siege and of his journey to Quebec, his captivity and return, which he entitled "The Redeemed Captive," possibly after a memorable precedent. The full title of this little book is as follows: THE REDEEMED CAI>TIVE being a Narrative of the taking and carrying into captivity THE REVEREND MR. JOHN NORTON. When Fort Massachusetts surrendered to a large body of French and Indians, Aug. 20, 1746, with a particular account of the defence made before the surrender of that Fort and the Articles of Capitulation etc Together with an account both entertaining and affecting of what Mr. Norton met with and took notice of in his traveling to and while in captivity at Canada and till his arrival at Boston, on Aug. 16, 1747. Written by himself. Jer. 21-4.. Thus saith the Lord: Behold I will turn back the weapons of war that are in your hand wherewith ye fight against the King of Babylon and against the'Chaldeans, which besiege you without the walls I will assemble them into this city. Chap. 50-33. The Children of Israel and the Children of Judaji were op- pressed together and all that took them captives held them fast, they refused to let them go. Lam. 1-3. Judah is gone into captivity because of affliction. Xeh. 7-6. These are the children of the Province that went up out of the captivity of those that had been carried away. Boston Printed and Sold opposite the Prison 1748. 36 CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH OF EAST HAMPTON. There are but few copies of the original edition of this plain, unattractive, but highly interesting narrative of the daily details of his captivity in existence, and they are in the possession of public and historical libraries. The only copy of this edition that I have heard of being for sale was held at the sum of $650. A limited edition of one hundred copies was reprinted by the late Samuel G. Drake, of Boston, in 1870, to which he added copious notes, and that edition has now become so scarce as to readily bring $5 per copy. A part of this work was also printed in the appendix of Drake's Particular History of the French and Indian War, 1744-1749, published in Albany, N. Y. , in 1870. The greater portion of it was also reprinted, inter- spersed with interesting notes and comments, in Prof. Perry's "Origins in Williamstown," published in 1894. The first edition of this little work, that consisted of only forty duo- decimo pages, was from necessity comparatively small, arising from the fact that only his immediate friends and the friends of those who were in captivity with him would be interested in its publication, which fact would limit its circulation to a great extent and in some measure account for its scarcity. From this narrative we learn that Mr. Norton left Fort Shirley on Thursday, August 14, 1746, in company with Dr. Thomas Williams and fourteen of the soldiers, and went to Fort Pel- ham, and from thence to Captain Rice's, where he lodged that night. On Friday, the i5th, he proceeded to Fort Massachu- setts, where he states that he designed to tarry about a month. This fort at that time was garrisoned by some twenty soldiers, about half of whom were sick, under the command of Sergeant John Hawks. On the igth, he states that there were in the fort twenty-two men, three women and five children, and that between eight and nine o'clock of the forenoon they were attacked by a party of eight or nine hundred French and Indians under the command of Monsieur Regaud de Vaudril, who having surrounded the fort on every side began with hideous acclamations to rush towards it, firing incessantly. This mode of warfare they kept up during the day and evening and also upon the forenoon of the 2oth, suffering but little damage from the defenders of the fort, who were short of ammunition. About twelve o'clock of the 2oth the enemy desired to parley, which was agreed to by Sergeant Hawks,. CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH OF EAST HAMPTON. 37 who was given two hours to consider the matter of surrender- ing. Although the little garrison had held out bravely and only lost one of their number thus far during the engagement, the fact that they were surrounded by a vastly superior force, while only eight of their number were in a condition to resist an attack, and they short of ammunition, induced them, after praying to God for his guidance and a careful consideration of their circumstances, to surrender upon the best terms they could obtain. The general tenor of these terms were, that they should all be prisoners to the French and that the savages should have nothing to do with them; that the children should live with their parents during the term of their captivity, and that all should have the privilege of being exchanged at the first opportunity. Contrary, however, to the expressed stipu- lations of the articles of capitulation, a part of the garrison were turned over to the Indian allies in order to pacify them, as they were complaining bitterly because they had not been allowed a share in the spoil. Mr. Norton strongly protested against this action upon the part of the French, but without avail, and he writes that his heart was filled with sorrow and that he trembled with fear, expecting that many of those who were weak and feeble would fall by the merciless hand of the savages. It seems, however, that contrary to his expectations, the captives who fell into the hands of the Indians were well treated and kindly cared for during the long and distressing march to Canada, which they took up on the morning of the 2ist of August, the next day after the surrender. During this march Mr. Norton was in charge of Lieutenant Dumuy, a French officer who had been in much active service. The route by which they proceeded lay through an unbroken wilder- ness to East Creek, one of the tributaries of Lake Cham plain, now known as Pawlet River, thence north by Lake Champlain and the Sorelle and St. Lawrence Rivers to Montreal, and from thence to Quebec, where they arrived on the i5th of September, having traveled the greater part of the way after leaving East Creek in canoes. During this long and distressing journey, and after their arrival at Quebec, Mr. Norton ministered to the spiritual needs of his fellow-prisoners and improved every opportunity that presented itself to advise and cheer them as best he could under the unfavorable circumstances in which 38 CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH OF EAST HAMPTON. they were placed. On the 2oth of May, 1747, he was taken severely ill and was, he writes, given over to die by all who saw him, that during this period his reason departed from him and returned not again until the i4th of June, when he began to recover and speedily regained his health, so that on the 27th of July he set sail for Boston under a flag of truce, where he arrived on the i6th day of August, which was he writes a day of great joy and gladness to him, he having been in captivity a year lacking four days. Shortly after his release from captivity he presented a peti- tion to the General Assembly of Connecticut at its Odlober session in 1747, showing that he was taken and carried into captivity, and had suffered great loss and damage, and at present was much deprived of the means of living. In consid- eration of this petition the Assembly voted him the sum of ,100 in bills of credit, old tenor, worth at the current rates of the time perhaps ^20 in silver. In January, 1748, he appears to be living in Springfield, Mass., as he presented a memorial to the General Court of Massachusetts at that time, dating from that place, " showing that he entered into the service of that province as a chaplain to the line of forts on the western fron- tier, was captivated and carried into Canada by the enemy, where he was detained a prisoner for the space of twelve months, during which time he constant^ officiated as a chaplain among his fellow-prisoners, in the manner he was able under the great difficulties and suffering of his imprisonment, and besides the great difficulties and hardships that he endured, his family were reduced to great straight and difficulties at home. ' ' He prayed that they would take his distressed circumstances in consideration and grant him such help and relief as they should deem meet. In consideration of this petition the General Court of Massachusetts ordered that the sum of ^37 IDS. be allowed him for services as chaplain to the prisoners whilst in captivity at Canada. The records of the church and society of North Guilford, in this State, show that on the ist of December, 1747, they voted to treat with him as a probationer, and on the ist of March, 1748, gave him a call to settle with them in the work of the ministry, but for some reason not recorded he did not accept the call. In June, 1748, a committee from this parish applied CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH OF EAST HAMPTON. 39 to the Hartford South Association of Ministers to recommend them a suitable candidate to supply their pulpit, and that body advised an application to Mr. Norton. At the Oclober session of the General Assembly following, a committee consisting of Ebenezer Clark and Ezra Andrews represented that the inhab- itants of this parish being now about to settle him, asked and obtained liberty to be embodied into church estate, which was granted provided they obtained consent of the neighboring churches. It seems that there was no difficulty in obtaining this consent, as upon the 3oth day of November, 1748, one hundred and fifty years ago to-day, this church was organized and Mr. Norton duly installed as its first pastor. The names of those who officiated at his installation here have not been recov- ered, but without doubt they were the regular settled pastors of the neighboring churches. His salary voted at a society meeting held on the gth of August, 1748, was one hundred ounces of silver, or public bills of credit equivalent thereto, for the three years next after his settlement, and after that to add to his salary annually in the same proportion as we shall advance in our lists until it shall amount to one hundred and thirty ounces of silver, and that to be his standing salary. This salary, one hundred and thirty ounces in silver, was equivalent to forty-three pounds, six shillings and eight pence in 1759, and in the present currency $i66.66f. It was also voted to the Rev. Mr. Norton his firewood, to be brought to his house. The amount given him as a settlement, as it was called, is stated in Fields' Statistical Account of Middlesex County, published in 1819, as equivalent to $666. 66f, but there are no votes upon record that tell how or when it was to be paid. The last men- tion made of it upon the records is at an adjourned annual meeting of the society held December 18, "Anno Domini" 1752, when it was voted "to the Rev'd. Mr. Norton fifty pounds old tenor, which is in full of his settlement." After being installed, Mr. Norton took up his residence among this people and ministered unto them in spiritual things until his death, with the exception of a few months in 1755-56, during which time he was chaplain of the government forces raised by the colony to go to Crown Point. During his absence the members of the Hartford South Association supplied his pulpit, the appointments according to their records covering 40 CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH OF EAST HAMPTON. the time from October 12, 1755, to February 2, 1756. In 1760 he served as chaplain of the third regiment raised for the expe- dition against Canada, taking the place of the Rev. James Beebee of that parish in Stratford, which is now the town of Trumbull, who received the appointment, but for some reason failed to serve. The length of this term of service is unknown, but was probably only for a short period. Mr. Norton died March 24, 1778, of the small-pox, anfl was buried in the field east of the present residence of Mr. Charles H. Strong, doubt- less as was the custom of the time in such cases, at the solemn hour of midnight. Seven persons victims of the same dread disease are interred in the same locality. The terror inspired by the presence of that disease in a community at that period can hardly be realized or understood at the present time when vaccination has been substituted for the original disease. Then its subjects were banished as far as possible from the abodes of men while living and from the public burial places when dead. Mr. Norton it is believed contracted this disease while return- ing from a business trip to Middletown from some parties who made inquiries of him respecting the locality, one of the number being in the first stages of the disease at the time. The records of the First Church in Chatham (now Portland) also show that a number of persons of that parish died about that time of the same dread disease. A red sandstone slab, ornamented after the manner of the times, marked his grave at the place of his interment for one hundred and twenty years, when it was removed to the Lake- view Cemetery and set up by the side of that of his wife. It bears the following inscription: In Memory of THE REV. JOHN NORTON, Pastor of the 3d Church in Chatham, who died with the Small Pox, March 24, A. D. 1778, In the &3d year of his age. His remains are still at their original resting place, it not being thought best at this time to have them disinterred, but it is much to be regretted that his dust could not be permitted to mingle with that of his kindred and the parishioners among whom he mingled in the daily walks of life and to whom he ministered in holy things for nearly thirty years. But while CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH OF BAST HAMPTON. 41 in the course of events his last resting place may be forgotten by men, and the hallowed spot where his remains lie be dese- crated and given over to other purposes, it cannot be forgotten by Him whose watchful eye never slumbers, and in due time his being shall hear the voice of the "Son of Man" and come forth to everlasting life. Until then, may the wild flowers ever shed their sweetest perfume and the birds of the air carol their sweetest songs above the hallowed place where they rest undis- turbed by the din and turmoil of the busy world. The inventory of his estate amounted to ^494 and included a library of twenty-nine volumes and ninety-six pamphlets. Mr. Norton's residence was on Miller's Hill, his house stand- ing near the present residence of William I. Brooks. This property containing twenty-two acres, three roods and four rods of land, with houses and barns standing thereon, he purchased in 1752 of Elisha Cornwell and Ann, his wife, for ^800, old tenor. This was a part of lot No. 147 in what was known as the three-mile division, a tract of land granted to the proprie- tors of Middletown in 1683 by the General Assembly. He married Eunice, daughter of Luke and Elizabeth (Walker) Hitchcock, of Springfield, Mass., 'who was born March 2, 1712-13. She died May 27, 1796, in the eighty-fourth year of her age, and was interred in L,akeview Cemetery by the side of a son who died in infancy. She is said to have been a woman " that looked well to the ways of her household," and in every sense of the word was a helpmeet for her husband. They were the parents of nine children, the oldest a daugh- ter, Asenath, who was bora in Springfield, October 13, 1738, and who married, July 13, 1758, James, son of L,ieut. James and Kesiah (French) Bill, who was born in Lebanon, Conn., February 20, 1736. He settled on some land near the north- west corner of the lake, given him by his father in 1763. He was very prominently associated with the affairs of the town and society, and held many offices of profit and trust in the gift of his townsmen. He was elected representative to the General Assembly in the years 1782, '83, '84, '87, '89, '90, '9 2 '95. an d '98. He was one of the deacons of this church, having been appointed to that office February 5, 1795, and for several years was a Justice of the Peace. He served as a soldier in the French and Indian war, and during the Revolution 42 CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH OF EAST HAMPTON. served the town upon committees to enlist soldiers for the Continental service and furnish supplies for soldiers' families during that trying period. She died January 2, 1810, and he July 25, 1823. Their family consisted of five sons and six daughters, all but one of whom reached the years of maturity and their descendants settled in various parts of the Union. James Bill, Jr., their eldest son, settled in the State of New York, and at one time represented Albany in the State Legisla- ture, and later was a judge in the County of Oswego. Norton Bill, their third son, studied medicine with Dr. John Rich- mond, and is said to have been a physician of great promise, but fell a vidlim to consumption in the twenty-eighth year of his age.* Elizabeth, the second child and daughter of the Rev. John Norton, was born in Springfield, December 19, 1740, and mar- ried November 6, 1766, Nathaniel, son of Jabez and Sarah (Judd) Clark, born August 7, 1743. She died May 18, 1770, aged twenty-nine years and five months, leaving a daughter, Eunice, who married May 3, 1787, Sparrow, son of Deacon Isaac and Mary (Sparrow) Smith, whose son, John W. B. Smith, is the oldest living member of this church. John Norton, Jr., third child and first son, was born in 1743,^ probably in Fall Town. He married September 19, 1765, Ede, daughter of Jabez and Sarah (Judd) Clark, born August 29, 1745, sister of Nathaniel Clark, Elizabeth Norton's husband. He resided near the Samuel B. Child place on Bevin Hill, and for many years was the teacher of the public school and is reported to have been a very stricfl disciplinarian. In 1771 he was appointed by the General Assembly a surveyor of land for the County of Hartford. He was also a member of Captain * Family Record of Deacon James and Asenath (Norton) Bill: Asenath, born Nov. 18, 1759; married Oct. 18, 1781, Jonathan Bill. Lucy, born Dec. 31, 1761; married April 12, 1784, Apollas Arnold. James, born Feb. 4, 1764; married Aug. 31, 1783, Hannah Goodrich. Elvira, born Feb. 22, 1766; married Jan. 17, 1793, Elizur Skinner, of Cambridge,. N. Y. Erastus, born July 6, 1768; married Nov. 27, 1788, Sarah Hall. Norton, born July 14, 1770; married May i, 1791, Sally Buell. Clarissa, born Aug. 18, 1772; married Nov. 16, 1797, Oliver Bill. Achsah, born Nov. I, 1774: died July 8, 1775. Achsah, born , 1777; died May 3, 1812. Amos, born June 9, 1779. Abner, born Aug. n, 1781. CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH OF EAST HAMPTON. 43 Silas Dunham's company that responded to the Lexington Alarm, as it was called in 1775. He died May n, 1808, of the gout, aged sixty-five years, and his widow married April n, 1809, Deacon Moses Cook, whom she also survived, dying February 18, 1827, in the eighty-second year of her age. His family consisted of nine children, three sons and six daughters. John, the eldest son, died in infancy, and a second son of that name, born April 7, 1775, married March 7, 1798, Lucy, daughter of John and Lois (Brainerd) Johnson, born May 13, 1775,' and removed to Otsego County, N. Y., where they resided together for more than seventy years before death did them part, he dying in 1868 in his ninety-fourth year, she dying in 1873 in her ninety-ninth year. Jabez Clark Norton, third son of John, Jr., and Ede Norton, followed the sea, and was swept from the deck of the vessel of which he was in command during the September gale of 1819, and was never seen again. His grandsons, Jabez Clark Norton, of Willimantic, Lieut. -Commanding U. S. Ship Pompey, and James Phillips Norton, commercial traveler for the Whitney Paper Co. , are the only living male representatives of the Rev. John's family that bear the family name.* Sarah Norton, the fourth child and third daughter of John, Jr., and Ede Norton, married Elizur Andrews, of Glastonbury, and removed to Stratford and was the grandmother of the Rev. William Russell, who was pastor of this church from 1846 to 1855. Mr. Russell graduated from Yale College in the cele- brated class of 1837, just one hundred years later than his illustrious predecessor and ancestor. Anna Norton, the third daughter and fourth child of the Rev. John, was born at Fall Town, September 22, 1745, and died in Fort Shirley, August 26, 1747. A rough stone upon * Family Record of John Norton, Jr., and Ede (Clark J Norton: Dorinda, born Nov. 19, 1766; married (i) May 17, 1795, Jesse Penfield, (2) Andrew Shepard. Lucinda, born Feb. n, 1769; died it is said with yellow fever. John, born March 3, 1771; died Mar. 17, 1771. Sarah, born Feb. 2, 1773; married , 1793, Elizur Andrews. John, born April 7, 1775; married Mar. 7, 1798, Lucy Johnson. Belinda, born April 12, 1779; married (i) Nov. i, 1797, Hezekiah Smith, (2) Thomas Child. Jabez Clark, born June 26, 1781; married Oct. 24, 1804, Sarah Pelton. Celinda, born July 18, 1785; married Nov. 25, 1807, Erastus Carrier, of Colchester. Florinda, born Jan. 3, 1789; married (i) Mar. 28, 1808, Jesse Hubbard, (2) . Isham. 44 CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH OF EAST HAMPTON. which was chiseled, probably by some soldier of the garrison, the following inscription: Hear lys ye body of Anna D. of ye Rev Mr. John Norton. She died Aug ye aged 1 747 was set up at the head of her grave, and for one hundred and thirty-seven years withstood the wars of the elements until the day in August on which she died and the number of years that she had lived became entirely obliterated. In 1884 this stone was placed in the museum of Williams College, where with other relics of the old fort it still remains. Professor Perry, of Williams College, writes that the tradition is still lively in Heath that there used to come up from Connecticut on an occasional pilgrimage to the site of Fort Shirley, and particu- larly to the grave of Anna Norton, some of her relatives, probably her mother. This, he says, is very likely and ifiay well pass into an historical fact. Jacob Norton, the second son and fifth child of the Rev. John, was born December 15, 1748, and died in a prison ship in New York during the Revolution. Elias Norton, the third son and sixth child of the Rev. John, was born October 21, 1750, and died November 5, of the same year. Anne, the fourth daughter and seventh child of the Rev. John, was born March 29, 1752, but of her we have no further record, unless she is the person of that name who was received into full communion in this church August 12, 1769. Eunice, the fifth daughter and eighth child of the Rev. John, was born October 23, 1754, and died unmarried October 12, 1845, leaving her property, which amounted to about $100, to this ecclesiastical society. After the death of her mother Aunt Eunice, as she was usually called, resided alone in a house that formerly stood near the residence of the late Matthew Haling, and which with its contents was destroyed by fire during her temporary absence. It was this fire that is supposed to have destroyed the early records of the church and also important papers that belonged to the family, which would be valuable and interesting had they been preserved until to-day. A new house was erected for her by subscription upon the site where CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH OF EAST HAMPTON. 45 now stands the house of Thomas O'Connell, in which she lived until it was deemed imprudent for her to remain alone any longer and she was removed to the house of the late Amos Clark, where she died. Elias Norton, ninth child and fourth son of the Rev. John Norton, was born October 23, 1754, twin brother to Eunice. He studied medicine with Dr. Thomas Mosely, of East Haddam, and January 29, 1776, was appointed surgeon's mate to Dr. Robert Usher, surgeon to Colonel Wadsworth's Regiment of the Connecticut L,ine. He eventually, however, cast in his lot with the Loyalist party, and before the close of the war sought refuge in the provinces. Soon after the beginning of the present cen- tury he returned to Addison, Me., where he married an English lady and was granted a pension of ninety- six dollars a year by the government. The granting of this pension was considered an unjust proceeding at that time by many persons, but it is evident that the government considered the service that he rendered to his country more than offset his disloyalty. He died in Addison, Me., about 1846, leaving a widow who died shortly afterward. I have not learned that he left any family. There are but few records extant from which any opinion of Mr. Norton's literary ability can be formed. His published narrative, though a work full of valuable and interesting facts, is written in the dryest manner possible. The few manuscript sermons from his pen that have been preserved show that he was well versed in the doctrinal views of the church of his time and compare well in a literary point of view with the average preacher of those days. The few records of the church kept by him, that are known to be in existence, show him to be a careful, painstaking and methodical man, giving as they do the dates of births, baptisms, marriages, and deaths that occurred in the parish. It is a source of profound regret that the greater portion of them are irrecoverably lost, as their aid would be of inestimable value at this time, when there are so many search- ing among the records of the past for the story of their ancestry. Upon the records of Yale College his name appears as the nine- teenth in a class of twenty-four, but prior to the year 1767 the names of the scholars in that institution are entered upon the catalogue in the order of their family rank and give no indica- tion of their rank in scholarship. The few traditions that have 46 CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH OF EAST HAMPTON. been handed down to us relating to his pastorate here, show that he allowed no seeming lapse from duty on the part of any of his parishioners to pass unnoticed. The absence of any of the heads of families from the regular Sabbath services were investigated at the earliest possible moment, and the offender was sure to be severely reprimanded unless a valid excuse could be found for his neglect of duty. The impression is that he was a man of sterling, substantial qualities, and that he con- sidered himself as settled over this parish in every sense of the word. Thus briefly have we summarized the principal incidents and events that we have been able to collect, that relate to the life and labors of him who was the first to ' ' tend these few sheep in the wilderness, ' ' and by whom doubtless he was looked upon as a man ' ' sent from God. ' ' Lapse of time and the destruction of early records of both the church and family have rendered the task extremely difficult, but with the material that has been at my command I can only say that I have done what I could, the best that I could, and certainly there can be no person who regrets more than myself that in some important details it is so unsatisfactory and incomplete. And now, in closing, let me again express my sincere and heartfelt thanks to all who have kindly aided me in the prepa- ration of this paper, and also to fervently hope that the efforts of some future historian may be crowned with success in search- ing for " the hidden things that remain." REV. CHRISTOPHER W. COLLIER, Acting Pastor, 1893-1897. CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH OF EAST HAMPTON. ADDRESS REPRESENTING THE FORMER PASTORS. FRIENDS: I do not see how I am to keep out the personal in what I am expected to say to-day, for, as I understand it, I am to represent the former pastors of this church. Of course, if one is to represent them one must be like them, in some respects at least; in more than one sense he must be one of them. Now I am going to assume not so much that I think and feel as they do, but that they think and feel as I do. So I shall speak pretty freely the feelings of my own heart and from my own experience. Speaking in that way, I am sure it will have to be largely in the vein of congratulation ; it will consist in telling you of some things that have greatly cheered and helped your former pastors. For one thing: they have taken great satisfaction in the substantial character of this church. That is the reputation this church has in all the surrounding country. I used to hear it at the Ministers' Association; at the conferences, and when talking with individuals. Let us keep in mind that by the "church" I mean the membership, not the building in which we worship. Unless we keep this point clear we shall run into difficulties, as did one of my friends from whom I heard the other day. He had just been called to become pastor of a church in this State, and he was describing the church in some detail; at one point he overlooked this distinction between the church building and the membership of the church, and went on to say that there were 168 members in his church, built of granite! That must be a very substantial church! But I am glad to say that the membership of this church, though substantial, is not built of granite. This church is substantial in the character of the men and women who constitute it; in the number of its membership; in the general stability of its character, and in the steadiness of its financial concerns. And this last is no mean thing. I myself can testify, so far as the 48 CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH OF EAST HAMPTON. minister's salary is concerned, that during my pastorate with you it was ready when it was due, and sometimes it was paid before. Now that is as it should be, though it is not so com- mon as it should be. The community has a right to expect the minister to be an example as regards money matters, and it has the right to expect as much of the church. There should be no institution in town more jealous of its good reputation for promptness and reliability in financial affairs than the church. Often the minister finds it impossible to do as he would like in such affairs because of the dilatoriness of the church; but I am glad to say such is not the case here, and I trust this church will always be found at the farthest remove therefrom. This substantial character of the church has been supple- mented by the fine quality of its spirituality, and this too has been a great comfort to its pastors. There are as earnest Christians here as anywhere. I shall never forget some of the prayer meetings we have held together in the basement of this church. Yet the spirituality of this church has come out in other ways than in the prayer meeting, as goes without saying, for a spirituality that shows itself there, but only there, is not worthy of the name. I felt all this the first Sabbath I was with you, and it drew me to you. Yet this spirituality has existed along with a broad and generous tolerance. I do not see how a preacher has the right to expect or indeed needs a greater freedom of utterance than you have granted here. Personally I do not know how many heresies I may have broached here, but you listened and waited with a patience and kindliness that as much as said, " Oh, it is all right; we know what he is driving at, and he will come out all right by and by!" Certainly I have. said some things that I would not say now. Yet I believe still in the freedom you grant. The Kingdom of God is not much hurt by mistakes conscientiously, reverently made, no more than the oak is hurt by some unusual blast. The minister is to be trusted in the realm of spiritual things; if in the main he cannot be trusted, then by that very fact he is shown to be unfit for the Christian ministry. To be sure he will make mistakes in theology and religious matters, but if in the main he is the right kind of a man, trust him, give him liberty, and he will work out all right in the end. Now this is what this church has done; it has not CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH OF EAST HAMPTON. 49 dictated to its ministers. Neither has it been cursed by any one man taking the reins and trying to ' ' run ' ' things. You have been careful in choosing your pastor, then you have trusted him. And you have done all this in a most kind-spirited and appreciative way. Some churches let their minister alone, to be sure, but they let him too severely alone. There is too little sympathy exchanged, yet the best preaching and the best pastoral work is dependent on the best of feeling existing be- tween pastor and people. Now, personally, I do not see how you could have treated a minister more kindly than you treated me. Away at Yale as I was a good half of the time! And my own feeling in the matter is fully shared by my wife! I hope only that wherever my lot may be cast, the people to whom I minister may be as kindly as the East Hampton people have been. Yet in this, too, I believe I voice the feeling of the other pastors. For instance, only yesterday I was talking with Brother Ives about a certain church, and he said: "Why, I know that church; I have preached there several times. It is a good church. I have often thought it was a second East Hampton on a larger scale!" L,et me say I shall consider that church carefully. But this church has been appreciative as well as kindly. When a good piece of work has been done, you have not gone away content with saying that you pay the salary promptly and that this squares off that. You have not done that, but by your words of appreciation you have shown your pastor that his work has told, that he has accomplished what he set out to do, and he has taken great satisfaction in it. Was that pride on the pastor's part? Possibly; but more likely it was the satisfaction of an earnest man whose heart is in his work, who longs to see some fruit of his work, to be assured that his work is not in vain; for no man can do his best work and keep it up constantly save in the spirit of hopefulness, and probably that is nowhere truer than in the Christian ministry. Now you, by your appreciation of good work, when good work was done, have aroused in your pastors fresh hopefulness and power. That is the way to get the most and the best work out of a pastor, and I trust this church will never lose sight of it. 50 CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH OF EAST HAMPTON. My word to-day, then, is a word of congratulation, of con- gratulation on what the past has been. It is a good past. This should be a day of joy, therefore, because of much work well done. That is our feeling as we look back. And as we look forward it is with hope. For this church in its latent powers and possibilities was never stronger than it is to-day, and the success of the past should be but the prelude of a suc- cess greater still in the days to come, as the dawn is the prelude of the coming day. God looks to you for such a future. As a church determine that it shall be so, and lay hold of Him for help. God bless you. He will bless you. You can and will succeed. C. W. COLLIER, PASTOR, 1893-97. CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH OF EAST HAMPTON. 51 ADDRESS BY REV. HENRY E. HART. RETURN to this place and anniversary was trying in many respects. After receiving the invitation, it came to me often and with a peculiar heartache, How shall I sing the L,ord's song in a strange land? A friendly letter came to my relief and lifted me to the duty. I come as if to speak of a dear and honored friend who had passed away. Your pastor introduced me happily to this occasion by his letter of invitation, in which he says: "Please write me that you will come with your message to help us, or your memories to cheer us. ' ' My memories of the North Church are delightful. The organization of that church may be likened to a river that in time of high w^ater overflowed its banks and made for itself a new channel, and later, further down the stream, united itself again to the original river. The Union or North Church was organized in September, 1856. Public worship was continued there until May, 1880, a period of twenty-four years. Twenty-five members from the First Church constituted the nucleus of the new church. During the twenty-four years of its existence, ninety members were added on profession of faith, and nineteen by letter from other churches, in all one hundred and thirty-four members; of these, fifty-two have died, twenty-one joined the South or First Church at one time, and twenty-eight were dismissed and recommended to other churches. Of money contributed, there were $73.50 in 1868, $88.10 in 1869, with $90 given the same year for the Sunday School library. In 1870, $77.97 were given for various objects, and $17 for the Home of the Friendless; $94.97 in all for 1870. What about the pastor? He came, a young man of 32 with a wife ten years younger. He had preached three years to a church in Litchfield County, and so had a little experience and entered zealously on the work. The people cordially supported and encouraged him in every proper way. 52 CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH OF .EAST HAMPTON. Of the deacons, one may say, they were plain men, emi- nently faithful in their office, never troublesome or in the way. Deacon Sears and Deacon Markham were good men and true; they did their whole duty. And the young people! How many were there! Young people of the ages from 12 to 25 years and a little over, a large, faithful and sincere company of Christian youth. They were well behaved and orderly. It is a pleasure to think of them even now and recall their relig- ious experience, their fidelity, their close and loyal attachment to the church of their choice. As Miss Ella Buell once said, " We were all young together." As to the doctrines we held, they were the old-fashioned orthodox kind, and we were not disturbed by new theories. There was no Revised Version then. I was not critical, but practical. We worked for results. I lived and labored to- gether with them from July 29, 1866, to November, 1871. What, now, were the justifying principles or motives in organizing and supporting the North Church? First: A regard for independent and manly action. The South Church would not yield an inch in regard to the location of the new church. They would not make any concession to the wish of the North people. The company that went off were somewhat numerous. Twenty-five people formed the nucleus of the new church, and these with their families prob- ably made the congregation of about one hundred persons. Business had begun to prosper, the village was growing, and altogether they felt justified in forming a new church. Second: The separate organization of the North Church led the people there to bestir themselves to a degree of activity that would not have been possible had they continued with the South Church. The independent organization called out their best activity. They worked and gave, they lived, prayed in secret, worshiped publicly, and put forth their best energies for their church. They came to love their church more deeply for the toil and sacrifice they gave. Revivals: One in 1860, when Rev. J. J. Bell was pastor; again during the winter of 1866-67 i n the first year of my own pastorate, resulting in the addition of thirteen young people to the church the first Sunday in July, 1867, and many at various times afterward. CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH OF EAST HAMPTON. 53 Rev. Fred W. Chapman did excellent work for the church during two years before I came, and prepared the way for my period of service. Good men were reared in the North Church, and they are a power for good with you to-day. There are Deacon John Watrous, too well known among you to need any recommen- dation from me; Elijah C. Barton, my ever dear and faithful friend; Edwin Barton, with a wife every way as good and excellent as he; Robert Hall, true and good, and a host of other names might be added, but especially should be men- tioned those faithful helpers on Clark's Hill, Mr. Lyman H. Clark and his brother Francis, who with their families gave and maintained excellent and efficient choir service. F. J. Stedman, ever memorable for his heroic attempt to keep sober at a critical time, and last and noblest of all, that most true and loyal brother, George H. White, now several years in glory. Brother White was pure gold. He was a diamond which the Master polished for his own most holy service. He came out on the Lord's side, February 19, 1867, the first one to thus declare himself, and ever remained one on whom all the church might depend. His rest is glorious. 54 CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH OF EAST HAMPTON. THE INSIDE OF THE OLD CHURCH. An Interview with Miss Julia A. West. OLD CHURCH was put up a good while before it was finished. Rough boards served for seats. There was no entry. The doors opened diredtly into the church, much to the embarrassment of those who came late. There were three aisles a main aisle up the center and two side aisles. A row of box pews was on the sides of the church and two rows of box pews between each aisle. In these old-fash- ioned pews part of the people faced the preacher and part of them turned their backs to him, and some of them were side- wise to the preacher as they sat around the inside of those box pews. The top of the pew was of ornamental open work, and these pieces of wood could be made to squeak as you turned them around in their sockets. This was a delight to the children, but the special privilege of the children came when they stood during the long prayer and looked out over the railing. In the old days there was one stove. It was in the middle aisle. It was hard to tell just where the pipe went to, per- haps out of the window. It was very cold in the old church. There were great cracks in the uneven floor, and one who sang long ago in the choir used to tell how her breath froze upon her veil as she sang. The pulpit was longer than broad. It was reached by a stairway on the west side of it. Three steps brought you to a broad stair, from which you turned and passed to the pulp'it, which was paneled and painted white, and had turned yellow. A red cushion projected out over the front of the pulpit. Under the pulpit was a place called the "dungeon," of which the children were much afraid. Over the pulpit was the sounding board, shaped like an umbrella without a handle. It had no visible means of support and was a great mystery to the little folks, but it was probably supported in some way I III! II II MIL PARSONAGE Erected 18 FIRST MEETING HOUSE-Erected 1755. (From a drawing made from memory by Mrs, E. !E. Marcy, Evaiistou, Illinois.) CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH OF EAST HAMPTON. 55 from the back. This sounding board was white, and had at each corner of its many sides a big carved blossom painted bright red, which looked like a peony. In the old church a stairway led from each side of the south doors to the gallery. The galleries were on three sides, and the choir sat in the front seats. Hannah Sears, who lived one hundred and twenty years ago, is said to have remarked: ' ' There were no tunes. We took the Psalms and sung them along like a chant." Some of the old singers were Betsy Smith and Nabby Smith, sisters of Uncle John Smith. There was Dolly Parmalee and Dempsey Parmalee, too. They got a piece of music and pricked off the notes for extra copies, which they called "patent note." They often sang "Judg- ment Anthem" and "Easter Anthem." When Mr. Curtis was here they say he used to give out ' ' How Firm a Foun- dation" every Sunday. They had only a pitch-pipe to help them in singing. In the southeast and southwest corners of the gallery, a few steps higher than the other pews, were the "nigger pews." Here sat old Phyllis, a colored woman, whom tradition says was quite disturbed because she was black. She had short curly hair, and to remedy the defect she raveled worsted stock- ings and hung the yarn down the sides of her face. Later the ' ' nigger pews ' ' were put down stairs on the west side. Then it was only a plain seat with a back and near the wood room. The church was lighted with tallow caudles. The posts under the galleries were dark blue. To these the candles were bung. They were set in sockets with a rim to keep the melted tallow from dripping down. For extra lights they brought their brass candlesticks with candles in them. The tithing man rapped on the floor with his stick when there was any mischief or disorder, and sometimes pointed at the offender, which was considered a great disgrace. By and by things were changed inside the old church. This made a great deal of talk. They partitioned off an entry from the main part. Two windows were put into the partition, so one could look in upon the audience. They took the box pews from the body of the church, leaving pews only on the sides. They put in two stoves, one by the east door, the other by the west door. Long pipes from the stoves met in a drum 56 CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH OF EAST HAMPTON. above the center of the church; then from the drum a pipe went up into a very small chimney. These stove pipes leaked. Square pans were wired under the joints to catch the drops, but many a hat and cloak were spoiled. But, most wonderful of all, they 'put in a whale-oil chandelier. By and by some people began to carpet their pews and put in cushions. They commenced to dress better and think more of themselves. Rev. Joel West was ordained in the old church, October 17, 1792. To his ordination the people came from all the country round. One woman came before sunrise in order to get a seat. Rev. Thomas Brock way rode over from Lebanon, now Colum-' bia. His beautiful daughter came, too, and as she passed the house soon after purchased by the young preacher ordained that day, she was so much pleased with it that she said in jest to her companions, "See, that is my house." Indeed, the young preacher soon brought this girl of eighteen or nineteen home as his bride. The house by the lake was improved till it became the pride of the town, and her house at last; and there is the cradle still in which her twelve children were rocked to sleep. Perhaps no minister's wife ever made such a stir as this young bride made when she came to church in her wedding costume. Her dress was of changeable silk of bright colors and very beautiful. Over her shoulders was a red broad- cloth cloak with a large hood, the whole trimmed with, white swansdown. And she had a white satin bonnet trimmed with white swansdown. Her hair was "banged" across her fore- head and hung in a long braid down her back. This woman, Mrs. Joel West, of a hundred years ago, had the first carpet that was ever owned in town, and what an extravagance for a minister's wife! When Deacon Bill came to the parsonage he did not dare step on the beautiful covering of the floor, but carefully walked around the edges, thinking that carpets were never made for boots. These are memories of the old church and days gone by. REV. GEORGE W. ANDREWS, D. D., Pastor, 1867-1870. CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH OF EAST HAMPTON. 57 LETTERS FROM FORMER PASTORS. TAI.LADEGA, ALA., September 24, To the South Congregational Church, East Hampton, Conn.: *"fc\KAR FRIENDS: I am glad to send you a word of greeting on this one Jgl hundred and fiftieth anniversary. As the ancient church of Phillipi G>T was Paul's first love in Europe, so you were my first love among the churches of New England, and as Paul's faith and interest in that church never faltered, so my interest and faith in you have ever remained steadfast. It is always a joy for me to visit you and to know of your prosperity, spiritual and material. I am with you in spirit on this interesting occasion, though far separated in body. Except for the Macedonian call, "Come down into the south land and help us," which we heard, I believe our relation as pastor and people might have been long. It is twenty-eight years in November since we came into our present mission field fresh from our good-byes and farewells with you. These have been short years, full of work and full of joy in the Lord. We cannot doubt that our mission here was from Him who ever guides His church and His disciples. During all these years my faith in God and His word has grown stronger and stronger. I am as certain that the Bible in its spirit and teachings is the Book of God, as I am that the world I live in is the work of God. Let me exhort you to be diligent students of the Bible. I like often to repeat Isaiah, soth chapter, yth verse, and to make its experience and its spirit and its faith mine. * My dear friends of the South Church, my heart goes out to you afresh upon this anniversary occasion. May the dear Father bless and keep you all to His praise and glory, both the living and the dead, alive for evermore. Affectionately yours, G.W.ANDREWS. Rev. Mr. Slade: DEAR SIR: My father wishes me to acknowledge the receipt of your letter, inviting him to be present at your one hundred and fiftieth anniversary next September, also an invitation received from Mr. Mills Bevin. It would give him great pleasure to be with you, but his very feeble state of health makes it impossible. He is not even well enough to write you a letter to be read at the anniversary. He hopes that it will be a very interesting and memorable occasion, and regrets very much that he is unable to be with you and enjoy it with you. Yours truly, ANNA COLBURN BARNARD. For REV. B. A. SMITH. WORCESTER, MASS., 69 Lincoln St., July 29, 1898. 58 CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH OF EAST HAMPTON. BITENA VISTA, Colo., October 7, 1898. To the Church at East Hampton, Conn.: DEAR BRETHREN: It would give me great pleasure to join in your celebra- tion, but that seems impossible. Of course it will be an occasion full of interest. You still have a warm place in my heart, and my desire and prayer to God is "that all may be richly blessed." The last few years have wrought great changes. Many familiar faces will be seen no more. One by one those who have loved the church have passed to the church triumphant, and who knows but what in the glorified presence they have as much interest and joy in this celebration as the earthly partici- pants. Be assured of my deep interest in the church. Trusting that the celebration will be pleasant and profitable, I am most cordially, EDWARD P. ROOT. To the Members of the First Congregational Church of East Hampton, Conn.: DEAR BRETHREN: From this new parish in the finest city in the northwest, Mrs. Holmes and myself send greetings to a beloved church in one of the most beautiful nooks of all New England. We may find other people with whom to labor will be a delight, but none with whom it can be a greater delight than to have labored with you. It is safe to say that no other church will ever be to us dearer than was and is the East Hampton Church. May you be blessed abundantly in this one hundred and fiftieth anniversary of your organization. To have completed such a term of usefulness may well be a matter of congratulation on the part of any church. God grant that the younger portion of the congregation, just entering upon their work in and through the church, may appreciate the history lying back of the church into which they come, and appreciating it, may be true to it, worthy of those who have gone before. We shall ever consider it one of the privileges of our lives to have labored for even two years among you, to have stood in such a close relation to the church whose history reaches back so far into the life of this nation; the church whose influence has been felt in all parts of the world. And if it shall be found in the day when all things shall be made plain by the Spirit of God, that we added ever so little to the measure of the influence exerted by the church, we shall be more than satisfied. I need not tell you that it would be an unspeakable pleasure to be with you on the day of your anniversary. But the distance between us is so great that however mighty the desire to be with you, and to enjoy the exercises of the day, it is impossible. But we shall be with you in spirit, and the day will be marked by us in this our distant home. The dear Father command his richest blessings upon you as a church, not only upon this day of deep interest historically, but upon all the days which lie down the years yet to come. Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting cove- nant, make you perfect in every good work, to do His will, working in you that which is well pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Very sincerely yours, HENRY HOLMES. MINNEAPOLIS, MINN., Sept. 23, 1898. CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH OF EAST HAMPTON. 59 COMMITTEES OF ARRANGEMENTS. CHURCH. REV. WILLIAM SLADE, DEA. E. C. BARTON, DEA. H. D. CHAPMAN, DEA. H. W. PORTER, J. W. SMITH. SOCIETY. A. AVERY BEVIN, S. MILLS BEYIN, A. H. CONKLIN, HALSEY MEAD, ROBERT H. HALL. SPECIAL COMMITTEES. COLLATION. MRS. ROBERT H. HALL, MRS. A. H. CONKLIN, MRS. WILLIAM H. BEVIN, MRS. PHILO BEVIN, MRS. H. E. CARPENTER. INVITATION AND PRINTING. REV. WILLIAM SLADE, S. MILLS BEVIN. RECEPTION. HALSEY MEAD, MRS. PHILO BEVIN. ENTERTAINMENT AND FINANCE. H. D. CHAPMAN, HERBERT CLARK. DECORATION. WALTER C. CLARK, HERBERT CLARK, MRS. HAYDEN CLARK, MRS. JAMES FORBES, MRS. ROBERT A. BECKWITH, ROBERT A. BECKWITH. MUSIC. A. W. SEXTON, MRS. WILLIAM SLADE, Miss Lois J. BARTON. RELICS. CLARK M. WATROUS, E. D. BARTON. USHERS. ROBERT A. BECKWITH, D. CLIFFORD BARTON. 60 CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH OF EAST HAMPTON. APPENDIX DEACONS. 'HE first deacons of this church were Ebenezer Clark and Isaac Smith, who were probably chosen to that office at or not far from the time of its organization. Ebenezer Clark was the son of John and Sarah (Goodwin) Clark, and was born in Middletown, probably in that part that is now Cromwell, July n, 1711. He married first, June 21, 1733, Abigail, daughter of Joseph and Hannah Whitmore, who died April 9, 1738, and was interred in the old quarry cemetery in Portland. He married second, September 20, 1739, Ann, daughter of Captain John and Ann (Ward) Warner, of Mid- dletown. In 1743 he was appointed by the General Assembty ensign of the first company or train-band on the east side of the Connecticut river, and afterwards had the title " Captain." He was one of the leading petitioners for the incorporation of this society in 1744, and prominent in the administration of its early affairs. He removed from this parish about the year J755 to the parish of Judea, then that part of the town of Woodbury since set off as a separate town by the name of Washington. His second wife died there March 3, 1795, aged 79. He died April 5, 1800, at the age of 89. His gravestone, now standing in the cemetery at Washington, states that he was a deacon of the church there for forty-four years. CHILDREN OF DEACON EBENEZER CLARK. (By his first wife.) Abigail, born April i, 1734. Jedediah, born Jan. 16, 1736. (By his second wife.) Tabitha, born June 18, 1740; baptized June 22, 1740. tEbenezer. born Feb. 28, 1742; baptized April 4, 1742. Ann, born March I, 1744; baptized April 8, 1744. CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH OF EAST HAMPTON. 6 I Rebecca, born Dec. 28, 1745; baptized Jan. 13, 1746"; died Nov. u, 1755- Susannah, born April 23, 1748; baptized May I, 1748. Joseph, born May 30, 1750. Jerusha, born April 24, 1752. Sarah, born March 3, 1755; died June 30, 1776. Moses, born March 4, 1757; died March 4, 1757. Isaac Smith, chosen with Ebenezer Clark as one of the first deacons of this church, was a son of Ralph and Mary (Mayo) Smith, and was born in Eastham, Mass., November 17, 1716. He married at Eastham, March 9, 1738, Mary Sparrow, born March 10, 1718. She died April 17, 1785, and he married, second, Lydia - , who died March 24, 1799, aged 75. He removed with his father and brothers to Middle Haddam about 1740, and he and his wife Mary united with the church there April 5, 1741. His residence in East Hampton was near the present residence of Henry Hutchins on Walnut avenue. He died July 29, 1802, full of years and full of honors. CHILDREN OF DEACON ISAAC SMITH. Azubah, born Dec. 7, 1738, in Eastham, Mass.; married Jan. 10, 1760, John Hinckley. Ralph, born March 15, 1742, in Middletown, Conn.; baptized April 25, 1742; married Dec. 2, 1767, Hannah Hollister. Isaac, born Nov. 18, 1745, in Middletown, Conn. Mary, born Feb. 6, 1747, in Middletown, Conn.; baptized March 22, 1748; married Dec. 3, 1767, Nathaniel Bosworth. Sarah, born Jan. 27, 1750-1, in Middletown; married Sage. Phebe, born April 22, 1753, in Middletown, Conn.; married Oct. 25, 1775, Ezekiel Wright. Asenath, born March 20, 1756, in Middletown, Conn.; married Jan. ii, 1781, John Markham. Sparrow, born August 14, iy6o, in Middletown, Conn.; married May 3, 1787, Eunice Clark. John Clark, Jr., son of John and Sarah (Goodwin) Clark, born December 9, 1715, was chosen deacon to fill the vacancy, occasioned by the removal of his brother Ebenezer from the parish. He resided upon Clark's Hill, in the first frame house creeled in the parish, and kept an ordinary or public house in addition to carrying on a large farm. This house was erected in 1744, and was situated on the main thoroughfare leading from Middletown to the northeastern part of the colony. As the mode of traveling at that time was principally upon foot or 62 CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH OF EAST HAMPTON. horseback, there is no doubt but that many a weary traveler has partaken of the good cheer of this famous hostelry. This house was destroyed by fire October 28, 1887, but a fine pho- tograph of it was exhibited at the anniversary by Mr. Clark M. Watrous, as was also the unique sign that swung before its door, which was kindly loaned by Mrs. Stewart D. Parmelee. Deacon Clark held for many years the office of Justice of the Peace, an office of far greater powers and jurisdiction at that time than the present, and his court records show that a large number of cases were brought before him for adjudication and settlement, and that many offenders against the peace and order of the community learned from him in a practical manner that " the law was a terror to evil-doers." He married, February i, 1744, Sarah, daughter of Captain Nathaniel and Mehitable (Hurlbut) White, born October 24, 1724, who died January 26, 1780. He died August 8, 1809, aged ninety-four years. CHILDREN OF DEACON JOHN CLARK. John, born March 15, 1745; married Feb. 15, 1767, Deborah Mosely. Mehitable, born Nov. 14, 1746; died Nov. i, 1747. Sarah, born Feb. 20, 1747-8; married first, Nov. 18, 1767, James Johnson, Jr.; second, Jan. 18, 1781, Capt. Silas Dunham. Mehitable, born April 8, 1750; married November 13, 1771, Daniel Judd, Jr. Daniel, born Oct. 13, 1752; married June 30, 1780, Lydia Davison. A Revolutionary soldier, Pomfret, Conn. Esther, born Oct. 2, 1754; married Peter Parker. Elijah, born Nov. i, 1756; died Nov., 1776, in the army in New York State. Desire, born June 12, 1759; died June 12, 1759. David, born May 23, 1760. Lydia, born April 13, 1763; married Nov. 21, 1784, Joseph Davison, of Pomfret, Conn. Moses, born Nov. 23, 1766; baptized Nov. 30, 1766; married June 3, 1788, Millicent Blish. . Deacons Smith and Clark, having become incapacitated from performing the duties of the office by reason of the infirmities of age, it was deemed best by the church to appoint their suc- cessors, and on the fifth day of February, 1795, James Bill, Esq., and Gideon Arnold were selected for that purpose. An account of Deacon Bill will be found in connection with the family of the Rev. John Norton, whose daughter he married. CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH OF EAST HAMPTON. 63 Gideon Arnold, who was chosen as the colleague of James Bill, was the son of Deacon Gideon and Abigail (Brainerd) Arnold, and was born in Haddam in 1735. He married, Sep- tember 2, 1761, Lucy, daughter of Gershom and Mary (Buell) Hinckley, of Lebanon, born March 19, 1738. He resided in a house now standing near the silk mill and was licensed as a tavern keeper and carried on a small farm. His wife died March i, 1801, in the sixty-third year of her age, after a long and painful illness, which she endured with exemplary patience and resignation in the hopes of Christian salvation. He died February 17, 1807, in the seventy-second year of his age, and his tombstone, standing in Lakeview Cemetery, tells the pass- er-by who pauses for a moment to read, that being highly respected in life, his death was universally lamented. " In veracity he was strict, In his profession sincere; In his friendship he was clost, In his manner meek, In religion exemplary." CHILDREN OK DEACON GIDEON ARNOLD. Apollos, born March 23. 1763; married August 12, 1784, Lucy Bill. Man-, born Sept. 5, 1765; baptized Sept. 15, 1765; died Jan. 10, 1768. Dan, born June n, 1767; baptized July 26, 1767; married Arethusa Gillett, and lived in Hebron, Conn. A son, born June 6, 1769; died June 8, 1/69. * Mary, born Sept. 14, 1772; died April 18, 1/93. Charles, born Nov. 16, 1776; married first, Deborah Thomas; second, Lucy Thomas, of Lebanon, Conn. Lucy, born Jan. 12, 1779; married April 7, 1803, Capt. David Buell. * Copy of inscription on tombstone in Lakeview Cemetery: Sacred to the Memory of Miss POLLY ARNOLD daughter of Mr Gideon & Mrs Lucy Arnold who after a short illness departed this life ye iSth of April AD 1793 ' in ye 2ist year of her age. She was a person unaffected in her mien, mild and sedate in her temper, benevolent in her nature, sincere in her profession, exemplary in her life, engaging in her man- ners, pleasant, calm and resigned in death. Let weeping virtue mourn around thy tomb And meek eyed pity vail thy early doom Yet worth like thine sustains no wide decay Tho. time should sweep these sculptured lines away In realms of bliss beyond the verge of time Thy name shall flourish in immortal prime Tho. here alas thy lifes short circuit ends Thou best of daughters, sisters and of friends 64 CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH OF EAST HAMPTON. On the 1 6th of May, 1805, a little more than ten years after the election of Deacons. Bill and Arnold, Moses Cook and Isaac Smith were elected as their successors. Moses Cook was the son of Josiah and Hannah (Sparrow) Cook, and was baptized in the church at Middle Haddam, September 26, 1742. He resided north of the lake, and in company with his younger brother, Richard, carried on a grist mill that formerly stood where the East Hampton Bell Company's manufactory now stands. He married, December 18, 1765, Elizabeth Cone, and they were admitted to full communion in this church April 23, 1769. She died October 8, 1808, aged sixty-four years, and he married second, April n, 1809, Ede, daughter of Jabez and Sarah (Judd) Clark and widow of John Norton, Jr. He died May 15, 1818, aged seventy-five years, and his second wife died February 18, 1827. His children were by his first wife, and were, as far as can be ascertained, as follows: Lydia, born Sept. 23, 1766; baptized May 18, 1769; married Comfort Beebee. Selden, born Mar. 17, 1768; baptized May 18, 1769; died Nov. 16, 1769. Selden, born Jan. 4, 1770; baptized Jan. 14, 1770. Moses, born Jan. 7, 1772; baptized April 3, 1772. Elizabeth, born 1774; married Sept. II, 1794, Adonijah Strong, Jr. Josiah, born ; died June 4, 1778. Susanna, born 1776; died May 8, 1778. Josiah, born ; baptized May 9, 1779. Susanna, born ; baptized September 6, 1779; married first, April 25, 1798, Daniel Butler Newton; second, Sept. 17, 1801, Henry Stron g. Hannah, born ; baptized June 6, 1782. Livia, born ; baptized July 18, 1784; married Nov. 3, 1803, Wix Watrous. Selden, born ; baptized June 25, 1786. Orrin, born ; baptized Nov. 16, 1788; married June 22, 1813, Polly Parmelee. Isaac Smith, colleague of Deacon Cook, was the son of Dea- con Isaac and Mary (Sparrow) Smith, and was born November 18, 1745. He married, January 9, 1772, Jerusha Brooks. He was a farmer and resided in a house now standing near the eastern terminus of Walnut avenue. He died October 28, 1815, aged seventy years. She died July n, 1836, aged ninety-one years and six months. CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH OF EAST HAMPTON. 65 CHILDREN OF DEACON ISAAC SMITH. Isaac, born Oct. n, 1772; married Sept. 12, 1796, Hannah Brown, and was a successful physician in Portland, Conn. Amasa, born July 22, 1774; married Mary Williams; was a school-teacher. Jerusha, born June 29, 1776; died May 13, 1860. Mary, born June 5, 1778. Brooks, born June 8, 1780; baptized July 23, 1780; married Mar. 7, i8ir, Elizabeth Brooks. Infant son, born May 29, 1782, still-born. Azubah, born Oct. 15, 1783; baptized Nov. 30, 1783; married Benja- min Cobb. Infant daughter, born Jan. 8, 1785, still-born. Porter, born April 8, 1788; baptized Nov. 16, 1788; married Statira Brainerd, Nov. 3, 1811. Washington, born Jan. 28, 1791; married' first, Cynthia Barstow; sec- ond, Mary J. Davis. Joseph Sage was elected a deacon July 24, 1815, and was the son of Ebenezer and Abiah (Southmayd) Sage, and was born in Middletown in 1757. He kept the toll gate on the turnpike road near the Griffith place, where the railroad now crosses. He died February 20, 1818, aged sixty years, and was interred in the cemetery at Middle Haddam. He had no children. David Clark, elected deacon of this church July 10, 1816, was the son of Deacon John and Sarah (White) Clark, and was born May 23, 1760. He was a farmer and tavern keeper, and for many years a Justice of the Peace. He was the first Worshipful Master of Warren Lodge, No. 51, F. and A. M., instituted August i, 1811, and which for many years met in the house of Orrin Alvord, near the meeting house. He served a short term during the latter part of the Revolutionary War as a private, and in 1831 was granted a pension of $26.66 per annum. He died January 8, 1839, aged seventy-nine years. He resided at the old homestead on .Clark's Hill, and was thrice married. His first wife was Jerusha, daughter of Cap- tain Abijah and Margaret (Dewey) Hall, vyho was born May 21, 1760, and to whom he was married September 19, 1782. She died August 24, 1800, and he married second, Novem- ber 15, 1801, Eunice, daughter of Joshua and Ruth (Mayo) Griffith, born April 16, 1780. She died July 27, 1811, and he married third, May 28, 1813, Mehitable, daughter of George and Mehitable (Miller) Hubbard, born June 12, 1782. She died November 26, 1854. 66 CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH OP EAST HAMPTON. CHILDREN OF DEACON DAVID CLARK. (By first wife.) Elijah, born Jan. 28, 1784; baptized Oct. 3, 1784. Chauncey, born Jan. 19, 1789; baptized April 26, 1789; married Zilpah Griffith. Jerusha Hall, born August, 1800; baptized Aug. 25, 1800; died Oct. 23, 1800. (By second wife.) Deborah Griffith, born Nov. 3, 1802; baptized May 15, 1803; married Hubbard Barton. Emilia Adeline, born Jan. i, 1805; baptized April 28, 1805; married Minories Watrous. Jerusha Hall, born Dec. I, 1807; baptized Dec. I, 1807; married Lewis Utley. (By third wife.) Mary Esther, born July 27, 1814, town record; baptized July 10, 1814, church record; married William Bailey. Warren Ackley Skinner, who was elected deacon May i, 1818, was the son of Samuel and Ruth (Ackley) Skinner, and was born in the parish of Westchester, in the town of Col- chester, March 7, 1789. He was a farmer, and resided on Miller's Hill in the house occupied by Mrs. Sarah A. Skinner. He died January 4, 1862, and after the record of his death upon the churoh books is written the following quotation from the twelfth Psalm, first verse: "Help, Lord! for the godly man ceaseth!" He and his wife united with this church by letter from Westchester in 1816. He was ever zealous for the work of the Lord, and in the Lord's hand was an important fadlor in the building up of the church, both in spiritual and temporal things, during the forty-five years that he was a faith- ful watchman upon the walls of Zion. He married, November 28, 1810, Anna, daughter of Asa and Anna (Marvin) Day, born January 28, 1791, who died September 18, 1879. CHILDREN OF DEACON* WARREN ACKLEY SKINNER. Diantha, born Sept. 19, 1811; baptized July 28, 1816; married Feb. 15, 1832, Anson Carpenter. Samuel, born May 14, 1814; baptized July 28, 1816; married Oct. 6, 1841, Laura A. Markham. Ruth Ann, born Nov. 24, 1816; baptized May n, 1817; married Oct. 6, 1841, Ambrose N. Markham. Emily, born Feb. 21, 1819; baptized June 20, 1819; married Nov. 8, 1843, John B. Hungerford. Mary Octavo, born July 27, 1821; baptized July 27, 1821; married Sept. 23, 1844, Daniel N. Markham. DEA. WARREN A. SKINNER, 1789-1862. MRS. ANNA SKINNER, 1791-1879. RESIDENCE OF DEA. WARREN A. SKINNER. (MILLER'S HILL.) DEA. SAMUEL SKINNER, 1814-1895. MRS. LAURA SKINNER, CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH OF EAST HAMPTON. 67 Henry L., born May 30, 1823; baptized Aug. 24, 1823; married Oct. 7, 1849, Clarine A. Markham. John Williams, born Feb. 26, 1825; baptized Sept. n, 1825; married Oct. 3, 1847, Amelia Stranahan. Warren, born June 17, 1828; baptized Sept. 28, 1828; married April 29, 1855, Sarah M. Ackley. Lyman Francis, born Sept. 18, 1830; baptized July 3, 1831; married first, Dec. 31, 1855, Nancy M. Clark; second, April 25, 1865, Grace E. Brown. Rosannah, born Oct. 5, 1832; baptized Aug. 25, 1833; married Nov. 26, 1852, Horatio D. Chapman. Diodate Brockway West was chosen deacon December n, 1823. He was the son of Rev. Joel and Elizabeth (Brockway) West, and was born July 20, 1798, and was admitted to com- munion July 4, 1819. He was a farmer and commercial traveler, and resided at the old homestead near the outlet of the lake. He represented the town in the General Assembly in 1870. He married, May i, 1822, Nancy, daughter of Capt. Timothy and Hannah (Sears) Rogers. She died July 5, 1855. He died June 13, 1881. CHILDREN OF DEACON DIODATE BROCKWAY WEST. Child, still-born, Jan. 20, 1823. Marianne Rogers, born Sept. 26, 1824. Julia Brockway, born Sept. 10, 1828. Herbert Rogers, born March 16, 1831; died Jan. 26, 1855. December 30, 1857, Samuel Skinner and Allen Cushman Clark were chosen, and continued to exercise the duties of that office until December 18, 1888, when they were relieved from active service, and a new method of choosing incumbents of that office came into vogue. Samuel Skinner was the son of Deacon Warren A. and Anna (Day) Skinner, and was born May 14, 1814. He resided near Skinner's Mills and carried on the manufacture of paper boxes to a considerable extent. He united with the church on profession of faith, in 1833, and ever after was a faithful, earnest worker in the service of the Master. He was rarely absent from any service of the church, and for years was the acknowledged leader of the prayer meetings. He married, October 6, 1841, Laura Ann, daughter of John and Anna (Estabrook) (Niles) Markham, born October 25, 1813, and died without issue. 68 CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH OF EAST HAMPTON. Allen C. Clark was the son of Amos and Betsey M. S. (Smith) Clark, and was born August 9, 1817. He married, April 2, 1845, Frances M. Ackley, who died April 5, 1897. He was a farmer and stonecutter, and is still living on Miller's Hill at the age of eighty-one years. They had one child, who died in infancy. Beginning with December 18, 1888, the deacons were chosen biennially to serve four years. After four years' service they are ineligible for election to this office for the space of two years. Under this new method the following persons have served the church in the office of deacon: Hubert E. Carpenter, Chauncey B. West, Elijah C. Barton, Walter C. Clark, Edwin D. Barton, Horatio D. Chapman, John Watrous, Horace W. Porter. Of this number only one has passed away Chauncey B. West, who died August 28, 1893. He was an earnest Chris- tian man and ever faithful to the church. Dea. Elijah C. Barton. Dea. Hubert E. Carpenter. Dea. Horatio D. Chapman. Dea. Walter C. Clark. Dea. Chauncey B. West. Dea. John Watrous. Dea. Edwin D. Barton. Dea. H. Welton Porter. CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH OF EAST HAMPTON. 6 9 OLD DOCUMENTS. OLI, OF COMPANY that responded to the Lexington Alarm from Chatham in 1775, and their term of service, copied from "Connecticut Soldiers in the Revolution." The entire Company were residents at the time of East Hampton parish. Silas Dunham, Captain, - 5 days. Timothy Percival, Lieutenant, 5 " Isaac Kneeland, Clerk, - 5 " Marcus Cole, Sergeant, - 5 " Privates. Stephen Olmsted, - - 5 " Ralph Smith, - - - 5 " Samuel Kilbourn, - - 3 " Samuel Hill, - - - 5 " Daniel Hill, 5 " Caleb Cook, - - - 2 " John Johnson, - - - 5 " Nehemiah Day, - - - 5 " Sylvanus Freeman, - - 5 " William White, - - - 5 " Samuel Sexton, - - - 5 " Benjamin Kneeland, - - 5 " Thomas Hill, - - - 5 " Daniel Clark, - - - 5 " Amos Clark, Elijah Clark, Samuel Freeman, Hezekiah Goff, - William Bevin, - Daniel Park, Elijah Bailey, Daniel MacKall, Lazarus \Vatrous, Nathaniel Markham, Elisha Cornwell, - John Norton, Jr., Ezra Ackley, David Caswell, - Ezra Purple, Joshua Bailey, James Johnson, Jr., Nathaniel Garnsey, Ithamer Pelton, - 5 days. 5 " 5 " 5 " 5 " 5 " 5 " 5 " 5 5 " 5 " 2 " 3 " 2 " 3 " 3 " 3 " 3 " 5 " Upon the Memorial of John Clark, Stephen Griffith, Hez. Russ, Samuel Wadsworth, Jonathan Bayley, David Bayley, John Bevin junior, Joseph Parke, Ebenezer Clark, Jabez Clark, William Clark, Shubal Lewis, Josiah Cook, Isaac Smith, William Norket, William Norket junior, Daniel Young, Ezra Andrews, James Johnson, Caleb Johnson, William Bevin, Seth Knowles, Isaac Williams, John Markham and Thomas Lewis, all of Middletown, in Hartford County, showing to this Assembly that they live very remote from the place of publick worship in the third society in Middletown whereunto they belong, praying that upon their hiring an approved minister to preach to them six months in a year they s-hould be released from paying towards the minister's salary of said society one-half of their rates or taxes that shall be taxed against them on that account, 70 CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH OF EAST HAMPTON. Resolved by the Assembly, That the said John Clark, &c., for this current year and annually on their procuring an orthodox minister to preach to them six months in a year, they be released and are hereby released from paying to said society one-half of what might otherwise be taxed against them by said society for their minister's salary. May, 1743. Past in ye Lower House. Test: JNO FOWLER, Clerk. Concurred in the Upper House. Test: GEO. WYLLYS, Secy. To the Honourable General Assembly to be held at Hartford In the County of Hartford on the Second Thursday of may 1743 We the under written all Inhabatants In middleton in said County in the third society in Middleton afsd to this Honourable assembly Humbly sheweth that the several Habetations wherein we dwell are more than five mile distent the nearest of us and most of us seven mile & some more from the place of publick worship whereto we Belong and the Roads are very dificult to Travel & especially the winter &; spring season; and by the approbation of the Society's Committee we have hired app person approved to preach amongst us for more than six months the Last year & we being under such circumstances Humbly pray that this Assembly wold Grant that on our hireing a minister to Preach six months In ayear yearly we may be Released from paying Taxes to the Society whereto we Belong six months in ayear, or that we may Receive of the Society's Committee one half of what shall be colected from us for the Seport of our ministers yearly Salary. or some other way Grant Relief as your Hon- ours in your Great wisdom shall think titt and your memorialists as In duty Bond shall ever Pray. Middleton April 2gth 1743. Signed by JOHN CI.ARK and twenty-four others. Ecclesiastical Records, Vol. 9, p. 40. To the Honourable General assembly of his Majestyes Colony of Connecticutt to Be held at Newhaven In the County of Newhaven on the Second Thurs- day of October A . D. 1744 the Humble memoral of us under written all of the third Society In Mid- dleton In Hartford County to this Honourable assembly Humbly sheweth that your memorelist all of us Living In said Society and are agreat way distance from the Publick worship the Nearest of us more than five miles and some Ten miles and the Rhoads we are to Travel in are very Rough and Bad to Travel in and upon our memorials to this Honourable assembly In May 1743 this assembly Released us from paying to the Support of our minister one half of our ministeral charges on our hireing preaching amongst our Selves.part of the year and your memorilst have ever Since hired a minister among our Selves and we are Sensible of our poor Circumstances & Inability to be asociety but CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH OF EAST HAMPTON. 71 wold hope that we are and shall ba able to Hire a preacher among our Selves if we were not obliged to pay to the Seports of our minister in the Society and the Circumstances of the Rest of the Society are able to Seport our minister without us wold therefore Humbly pray that this Assembly would Release us and all others within the Bounds following (viz South on Middle Hadam Society. East on Colchester Bounds & to Extend west by said Society to a Highway that Runs North & South the west side of the Create Hill so coled to Run by said North & South Highway from Middle Hadam Souciety to the South end of the Great Hill then to Run Northeasterly by the west side of the said Hill to the three mile division so caled then to Glausenberrv Bounds then East by Glausenberry to Colchester) from paying any ministeral charges to said Society on our Hireing an orthodox minister among ourselves and that we may be enabled to Raise a Tax on our poles and Ratable Estate to pay the minister or ministers we shall so hire or In some other way Grant Relief to your poor memorelist and we as In duty Bound shall ever pray. Middleton October 8th 1744 Signed by EHEN'R CLARK and thirty-five others. Ecclesiastical Records, Vol. 9, p. 43. The first petition, dated April 29, 1743, has the following names attached: John Clark, Jabez Clark, James Johnson, Stephen Griffith, William Clark, Caleb Johnson, Hezekiah Russ, Shubal Lewis, William Bevin, Saml. Wadsworth, Josiah Cook, Thos. Smith (erased), Jonathan Baley, Isaac Smith, Seth Knowles, David Bailey, , . William X Norket, Isaac X Williams, John Bevin, Junr., mark mark Joseph Parke, William Norket, Jr., John Markham, Ebenezer Clark, Daniel Young, Thomas Lewis. Ezra Andrews, The second petition is dated October 8, 1744, and is signed by thirty-six petitioners, as follows: Ebenezer Clark, Hezekiah Russ, James Cady, John Clark, Jr., Hezekiah Russ, Jr., David Anderson, Aaron Clark, Seth Knowles, John Bevin, William Clark, Isaac Smith, Giles Hall, John Markham, David Cerby (?), Hamlin John Hall, John Clark, Isaac Williams, Samuel Wadsworth Joseph Parke, William Norket, Sr., George Hubbard, Jabez Clark, Jonathan Bayley, Isaac Thompson, Samuel Egelston, Ezra Andrews, Caleb Johnson, William Norket, Jr., Elisha Cornwall, Mary Johnson (?), Zaccheus Cooke, William Bevin, Daniel Young, James Johnson, Soloman (?), Josiah Cook. 72 CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH OF EAST HAMPTON. t. s. Jabez Clark, - - - 39 9 James Johnson, - - 86 Nathan Harding, - - 27 Seth Knowles, - - - 58 10 Samuel Wadsworth, - - 40 Stephen Griffith, 45 Eben'r Clark, - - 42 13 John Bosworth, - - 18 John Clark, - 143 10 Daniel Young, 22 John Markham, - 21 Josiah Cook, - - - 32 6 Hez'h Russ, ... 100 16 Azariah Andrews, - 30 Daniel Hills, - - 31 John Stephens, - - 26 Jon'an Bailey, - - - 48 16 Isaac Williams, - 18 John Bevin, Junr., - - 34 6 Isaac Smith, - 30 Will'm Bevin, - - - 20 Widow Johnson, - - 9 Joseph Parke, - - - 26 William Norket, ' - 41 David Bailey, - - - 27 j William Norket, Junr., - 20 Sam'l Eggleston, 30 George Hubbard, 33 noo 6 The foregoing is a true copy of the Lists of Sundry of the Eastern Inhab- itants of the East Society in Middletown taken in ye year 1743 and I certify that the total sum for the whole of Sd Society in Sd year including the above lists is ^5653 i. Per WILLM ROCKWELL, T. Clerk. State Archives Ecclesiastical, Vol. 9, pp. 41, 42. To the Honourable General Assembly of the Colony of Connecticut to be held at Hartford the Second Thursday of May A.D. 1746 the Humble memorial of John Clark Ebenezer Clark and others some of the Inhabitants of the Third" Society in Middleton Living at the Eastern part of said Society In ye County of Hartford by there agent Benjamin Stilman Humbly sheweth that this assembly at there sessions at Newhaven in October 1744, upon the petition of your memorelest to the Number of about forty persons this assembly Granted that all the Inhabitants that dwelt within the following Bounds shold have power meet together and choose a clerk to vote and agree to hire aminister and Grant Rates & Taxes to defray the Charge of hiring aminister &c, and the bounds to Districts to begin at the No. East Corner of Middle Hadam Bounds and from thense Running west to a highway Running Northerly and Sotherly on the west side of a hill coled the great hill and from Said Highway northerly by the Same to the South end of the Said Hill then Northerly by the west Side of Said Hill until it Comes to the three mile Division So caled thense by said Division to Glassenbery bounds then East by Glassenbery bounds to Colchester bounds then Southerly by Colchester bounds to the first mentioned place and thereupon your memorilest have eversince hired a minister eleven months in ayear and sence that Time We have Increased so that we are Now on the publick List about Seventeen hun- dred pounds and we Live very farr distant from the place of public worship None Less than five miles and if we shold longer continue with Said third Society it is Likely our Taxes wold be Great there for that said Society are CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH OF EAST HAMPTON. 73 about to Build a new meeting house we wold therefore Humbly Request that those that Live within Said Bounds may be sett off from said Society and be a Distinct Ecleastica! Society with such preveliges as allowed by Law for Societys or that a Committe be appointed to view our circumstances and make Report to this assemble and your memorests as In Duty Bound shall ever pray. BENJAMIN STILMAN agent. Middletown April 2gth 1746. Ecclesiastical Records, Vol. 9, p. 45. To Honourable General Assembly of the Colony of Connecticute in America Now setting att Hartford in the County of Hartford and Colony aforsd, the memoriall of us the Subscribers Inhabitants of the Parish of East hamton in Middletown in the County of Hartford together With Some of the Inhab- itants of Middle hadam Society Humbly Sheweth to this Assembly that a question Ariseth Concerning the bounds of this our Parish as we lye Adjoining upon the Society of Middle haddam by Reason of an Alteration In the Length of a tear of Lots Colled the great Lotts now middle haddam grant Saith begin- ning att the great highway near the great River and running East on the north side of thomas Hatch Lot to the End of the great Lots to another highway then Turning and Runing Southerly in sd highway untill it Intersects a west Line==Dra\vn from the northwest corner of West Chester Society as it Lyeth in middletown which Grant was given out before that any allteration was made on the rear of sd Lots East Hampton grant Saith beginning att the North East Corner of middletown bounds next to Pine Swamp alias West Chester Society and from thence Run- ing West to the Rear of the Long Lots then runing northerly by the Rear of Sd Lots to the great highway which give eth to Easthampton Society a Tract of Land about one hundred rods in \Vedth which was Esteemed to belong to middle haddam Society now there was taken out of the South East Cornar of Middletown next to Haddam bounds and added to the West Chester Society (before either of mid- dle haddam or East hampton Societeys was made) a certain Tract of Land as by there grant Appears in these Words viz. and that part of Middletown be that tear of lots or so many of sd Lots as butte on Colchester bounds East between Sd Haddam bounds and Salmon River which Lots Lye on Length one mile East and West Viz so much out of Middletown Here With us Lyeth a Question whether or no this Includes only the Land South of Salmon river or the Whole of the Lots mentioned part; of the West- End of Which lott are on the north side of the River So that we know not where to find pine Swamp Corner by Reason of the Rivers varying so much to the South Which Leavs a Tract of Land in Dispute of Considerable value and with Inhabitants upon it &c And for Relefe on this Case We your Honours Humble memorialists bring this Address and pray to have it taken into your Honours Consideration and to Afford us your gracious Assistance that So we may Know our bonds Either 74 CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH OF EAST HAMPTON. by sending us a Cmttee to Determine the matter or Provide some other way for us as you in your great Wisdom Shall Think best. % So prays your Honours Humble memorialists att Comand and as in Duty bound Shall Ever pray Dated in middletown may ye 14 A.D. 1751 Signed by SAML WADSWORTH and nine others for East Hamton. -] Easthamton Saml Wadsworth Ebener Darte } of Middlehaddam John Clark jun Jabez Clark Theodor Higgins ) midle Hadam Ebenezer Clark \Vm Norket James Cole Moses Cole Abijah Hall James Johnson Samuel Egelston Ecclesiastical Records, Vol. 9, p. 52. To the Honourable General Assembly of the Colony of Connecticut to be H olden at Hartford in said Colony the Second Thursday of May 1-752 The Honourable Memoriall of John Clark Thomas Alvord & Isaac Smith all of East Hampton Parish in Middletown in Hartford County and the Rest of the Inhabitants of said Parish by Ebenezer Clark there Agent Humbly Sheweth That about Twenty years last past This Honourable Assembly did Grant that the Western part of the Bounds of Colchester with those Lands in Middletown In the first Tear of Lots in the Three mile Division Lying between Salmon River and East Haddam should be one Eclesiastical Society and some years afterward did Grant and make a Society now called Middle Haddam which North Extention & part of East Extention of said Society is said (viz the north part to begin on the South side of a certain forty Rod highway called the Great high Way that is in the Division of Land in Middletown called the great Lots which high Way is Two miles and half in Length East and West and the North Bounds of said Society to Run East by the South Side of said high Way to the End of said Great Lots to another high-Way than South- erly by the orther high Way untill said line shall Intersect a West Line drawn from the North-West Corner of Westchester Parish as it lyes in Middletown to said high-Way running Southerly and than to Turn and Run East by said West line to Salmon River than Southerly by said River to the South Extention of Middletown &c and that about six years since on Petition of your Memorialists This Honour- able Assembly did Grant and make us a distinct Society by our Selves beginning; CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH OF EAST HAMPTON. 75 the Bounds thereof at the North West Corner of Westchester Parish in Middle- town and from thence to Run West to the East End of said Tear of great Lots Than to Turn and Run North by the East end of said great Lots so far North as said great high Way Than to Turn and Run West by the South Side of said great high Way about one mile & half to a high way that runs North than turning and running north by said high Way &c and wheras since our Grant wee have settled a minister among us to our good Satisfaction and have voted to Build a meeting House for Divine worship and have Petitioned the Honour- able County Court in the County of Hartford for a Committee to State the Places to Build on which was granted and a Committee sent to affix the Place and wheras there has a Dispute now lately arisen where the North West Corner of West Chester Parish was Intended to be by your Honours your memorialist soposing it to be where Salmon River cut across the West End of the first Tear of Lots in Middletown next Colchester which is about a mile from Colchester Bounds. But West Chester Parish and Middle Haddam Parish would have the North West Corner farther Northward: Continuing the north Line of West Chester Parish from Colchester where it Runs West into Middletown Bounds through the whole first Tear of Lots about a mile which erases said & River & brings that Corner on the West of said River more Northward than where said River crosses said Tear of Lots at West End and Wheras we suppose the said River was Intended by this Honourable Assembly to be the West Extention of West Chester Parish in every Place therof as that is a dificult River to pass and your Honours have taken off all those Lands Westward of West Chester Parish South of said River to East Haddam, and wheras there is another Tear of Lots in said Three mile Division West of Salmon River southward of East Hampton Parish that contains about five hundred acres of Land which as yet has no Inhabitants settled on it but is now about to be Settled and the owners of said Land or the most of them are desirious to be Included in East Hampton Parish and as said Parish at present is Poor and is likly to be poorer and less able to Support Parish charges than Middle Haddam Parish We would therfore Humbly Pray this Honourable Assembly would now Enact and declare to End said Dispute between said Parishes that the north West corner of West Chester Parish in Middletown be where said Salmon River Intercepts and cuts across the East Tear of Lots in sd division of Land at the West End of said Tear of Lots and that the aforsd Land in the Second Tear of Lots in sd Division on the West Side of Salmon River in said Middletown might be annexed to East Hampton Parish and taken from Middle Haddam and that the Bounds of said East Hampton Parish on the South part may be declared to be To begin where said River cuts across sd first Tear of Lots in Middletown at the West End therof and from thence to run Southerly by said River untill said River runs West of said Second Tear of Lots to a high Way that runs North about 1 7 Degrees \Vest Than to turn & run by said Way so far north as shall Intersect a West Line drawn from said Place where said River cuts across said first Tear of Lots at West End and then to run a Due West Line by the needle of the Surveyors Instrument untill the Line come to the aforsd Tear of said great Lots then to turn and Run by the East End of said great Lots northerly to said great high Way than to continue as first Granted to said Parish until it comes to ve aforsd north West Corner of West Chester Parish or Send a 76 CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH OF EAST HAMPTON. Committee to Enquire and affix the Bounds of said Parish or In some orther way Grant Relief as your Honours in your great Wisdom see good and your memorialist as In Duty Bound shall Ever Pray Dated in Middletown April 3Oth Anno Domini 1752 EBENR CLARK agent. Ecclesiastical Records, ,- Vol. 9, leaf 55. NOTE. The foregoing records have been copied line for line from the original documents on file in the State Library. I have attempted to preserve the spelling and capitals of the papers copied. I GEO. s. GODARD. AMOS CLARK, 1794-1885. DEA. DIODATE B. WEST, 1798-1881. DEA. ALLEN C. CLARK, 1817. JOHN W. B. SMITH, 1806. CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH OF EAST HAMPTON. 77 RECORDS OF REV. JOHN NORTON. NOTE. The numerals enclosed in parenthesis thus (i) refer to the pages of the original record of the Diary of Mr. Norton. OPY of the Record or Diary kept by the Rev. Mr. John Norton, Pastor of the East Hampton Congregational Church from 1748 to 1778. Made by Martin L. Roberts from the original manuscript now in possession of Edward E. Cornwell, M.D., 146 Herkimer street, Brooklyn, N. Y. This Record was kept upon small sheets of writing paper sewed together and very closely written, and age and lack of care have rendered some portions of it nearly illegible. It covers the period from April 18, 1764, to March 24, 1772. The remaining records of his pastorate are supposed to have been destroyed when the house of his daughter Eunice was burned. Copied December, 1898. RECORD OF BIRTHS A. D. 1764. April 1 8 1764 Nathaniel son to Elijah & Hannah Cook was Born May 7 " Nathaniel Keys &, Mercy Keys Daughter was Born June 21 " Israel & Susannah Deweys son Born June 27 " John & Phebe Bates Daughter born Aug 8 " Stephen & Thankful Aclys son was Born ii " Thomas Cowdreys daughter Born Oct 10 " Marcus & Phebe Coles Daughter Born " Robert Stiles son Nathan Born Nov 9 " Mary Woods Daughter born Nov 15 " Ebenezer and Huldah Hardings daughter Anna was Born Nov 27 " Mercy daughter to Lieut. Stephen Olmsted was Born Dec ii " - Reeds son Born 13 " Caleb and Mary Johnsons son Born Elisha January 1765 Thomas Aclys child Born Jany 31 " Lemuel & Grace Shirtlief, daughter Lucy was Born Feb ii " Nathan Rowleys son Born 28 " Thomas Doolittles son Born (3) Mar 4 " Israel & Mary Whitcombs Daughter Mary Born 21 " Ruth Daughter to Elkanah & Ruth Sears born 24 " Sarah Clarks Daughter was Born 78 CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH OF EAST HAMPTON. April 21 1765 Nathaniel & Sarah Doanes son was Born April 25 " Ambrose Niles son Born Elihu 29 " Barnabas & Anne Freemans Daughter Born May 7 " Elisabeth Cornwell Daughter to Elis'ha and Anne Cormvell was Born 29 " Sylvanus Freemans son Born 30 " Othniel & Jerusha Brainerds son Born July 5 " Thomas Cowdreys Daughter Born " Thomas 'Conklins Daughter Born 7 " Nathaniel Motts Daughter Born II " Jonathan Olmsted Gates son to Nehemiah and Anne Gates was Born 21 Ephraim Norcot son to William and Bette Norcot 24 " Isaac & Elisabeth Baileys Daughter Born August " Mary and Hannah the two Daughters of Stephen and Abigail Knowlton were born 1 8 " Daniel & Bathsheba Hills Daughter was born (4) Aug 30 Mary Niles Daughter to Barnabas & Thank'l Niles was Born Sept 4 " David son to Bryan & Rebecca Parmelee was Born 5 " Mary Arnold Daughter to Gideon & Lucy Arnold Born 6 " Amos & Bethiah Deweys Son was Born 17 Ezra Fuller son to John & Susanna Fuller was born Octr 7 " Moses Freeman son to Moses and Susanna Freeman Born Nov 20 " Asa Tylers son Born Nov 22 " Eliphaz & Esther Alvords Daughter was Born Elizabeth Dec 7 " Elihu son to Ebenezer & Mary Hall was Born 19 Joseph Smiths son Born Jan 2 1766 Capt Abijah & Margaret Halls Daughter still Born Feb 13 " Calvin Hall son to Hamlin John Hall and Elisabeth Hall was born 19 " Jerusha daughter to Thomas & Mercy Shepard was born 22 Elvira daughter to James & Asenath Bill was born (5) Mar 9 " Jeremiah Woods Daughter Born 10 Joshua and Anne Baileys Daughter was Born 22 " John & Desire Markhams Dau Abigail born April 22 " Lucretia Daughter to John & Azubah Hinckly was born 29 Thomas Acly Junr & Sarah Aclys Son Born May 12 " Asa Cook Son to Zacheus & Mary Cook was born June 14 Patience Bailey Daughter to Jonathan & Patience Bailey born July 14 " Daniel and Esther Mackall Child Born " John Gernseys child born Sept 4 Mane Nathaniel & Sarah Doanes Daughter Sarah Born 16 Mane Ebenezer & Sarah Coles Daughter Born 20 " Robert Stiles Daughter Born 23 " Moses and Elizabeth Cooks Daur Born CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH OF EAST HAMPTON. 79 Oct 4 1766 Titus & Mercy Carriers Daughr Born Elijah & Hannah Cooks Daughter Born 13 " John & Phebe bates Daughter born Nov 6 " Joseph & Lydia Caswells son Born ii James & Phillis Rich son Born 1 8 Mane Robert & Ruhamah Shattucks Daughter Mary Born 19 Mane John & Edey Nortons Daughter Dorinda Born 23 Dea John & Sarah Clark Son Born 29 " Marcus & Phebe Cole son still Born Dec 20 " Nathl & Mercy Keys child still Born Dec 15 " John Godfrey & Hannah Hopth son Born 21 Ebenezer & Huldah Hardings son Amos born Jan 1 6 1767 Benjamin & Prudence Go'ffe son Born 1 8 Barnabas & Anne Freemans Daughter Born 29 Nathan Rowleys two Daughters Born Feby 6 " Recompense & Dorothy Baileys son Born 25 Thomas & Thankful Hills son Born March i Thomas & Margaret Doolittle son John Born 11 " Barnabas Niles son Salmon Born 23 Othniel Brainerds Daughter Born April 7 Jonathan Shirtliefs Daughter Sarah Born 8 " Samuel & Elisabeth Browns Daughter Mary Born 9 Caleb & Mary Johnson son Born 25 " Sylvanus Freemans Daughter Born 27 Isaac & Elisabeth Baileys son Born May 2 Samuel Hodges son Israel Born 10 " Israel & Mary Whitcombs son Born " Jeremiah Woods child born June ii Gideon & Lucy Arnolds son Born 15 John Hills Daughter Born July 17 " Moses & Mary White Coles Daur born 24 Jabez & Mary Woods Daughter Mary Born 29 " Jonathan Olmsted son to Lieut Stephen and Mercy Olmsted (7) Aug 6 " Amos Deweys Daughter Born 12 " Stephen Knowltons son Born Joshua 29 " Darius Gates son to Stephen and and Esther Gates Born Sept 7 Wm Cornwell Goodrich son to Thomas and Esther Goodrich was born 9 Joseph Freeman son to Moses and Susanna Freeman was born Oct " Daniel & Esther Mackall Daughter Born " William Norcot son of Wm and Bette Bette Norcot Born Dec 26 " Nathl & Agnis Mott son Born Jan 4 1768 Ebenezer & Abigail Halls Daughter Born 6 " Mary Purples son Born 1 6 " Bryan and Rebekah Parmelee Daughter Born 80 CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH OF EAST HAMPTON. Jan 17 1768 Stephen & Thankful Aclys Dar Born also Jared and Eunice Parmelees Daughter Born 1 8 " Esther Alvord Daughter of Eliphaz and Esther Alvord was- Born 20 " Allen Hill son of Daniel Hill Junr and Bathsheba Hill Born Feby 13 " Samuel & Sarah Woods daur Born 14 " Lemuel & Grace Shirtlief son born March 2 " David & Elisabeth Caswell son was born (8) 7 " Moses & Elisabeth Cooks son born Q " Nathaniel Niles son Born 25 " Capt Abijah & Margaret Halls Daughter Born April 1 6 " John & Desire Markhams Daughter Born April 30 " Thomas Cowdreys child Born Jonathan May 5 " Nathaniel & Elizabeth Clarks Daughter Eunice Born May 22 " William & Elisabeth Whites child still born July 6 " Erastus Bill son of James and Asenath Bill was born 8 " Lucretia Daughter to of Thomas and Mercy Sheperd was born July 18 " Isaiah Cook son to Joshua and Mary Cook was Born Aug 2 " Ruhamah Daughter to Joseph and Lydia Caswell was Born 13 " Asriel son to John & Azubah Hinckley was Born Aug 17 1768 James & Phillis Rich son Born Sept 5 " Andrew Fuller son to John and Susanna Fuller was Born 6 " Joshua Baileys son born Nathaniel 7 " Cole son to Marcus & Phebe Cole was Born (9) 9 " Rachel Daughter to Elkanah and Ruth Sears was Born 19 " James Johnson Junr & Sarah Johnsons son Born name Amasa 29 " John Clark 3d & Deborah Clark, son Born Oct 4 " Elizabeth Sears Daughter to Ebenezer Sears Junr & Elisabeth Sears 7 " Lewis son of Nathan & Naomi Lewis was Born Oct 19 " Daughter to Samuel and Thankful Hill was Born 25 " Huldah Daughter to Ebenr & Huldah Harding was born Novr " Jonathan Shirtlief s son Born Dec 22 " Hannah Daughter to Elijah & Hannah Cook Born Jany 1769 John & Phebe Bates Daughter was Born Feby n " Lucinda Norton Daughter to John Junr & Edey Norton was Born 17 " Marianne Smith Daughter to Ralph and Hannah Smith was. born 26 " Leah Freeman Daughter of Sylvanus & Leah Freeman born Mar ii " Barnabas & Anne Freemans son Born 26 " Enos Brown son to S & El B born April 5 " Nathll & Mercy Keys Daughter Born 1 8 " Elijah Clarks son Born 19 " Isaac & Bette Baileys Daughter Born (p 23) CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH OF EAST HAMPTON. 8 1 (10) BAPTISMS EAST HAMPTON A. D. 1764 April 22 1764 Nathaniel Cook son to Elijah & Hannah Cook was Baptised May 6 " Joshua Bailey & Anne Bailey son and Daughter to Joshua & Anne Bailey were Baptised Xov 18 " Nathan Stiles son to Robert Stiles was Baptised & Anna Hard- ing Daughter to Ebenezer and Huldah Harding bap Feb 17 1765 Mercy Olmsted Daughter to Stephen & Mercy Olmsted was Baptised Mar 10 " Thomas Doolittle son of Thomas Doolittle was Baptised Mar 17 " Lucy Shirtlief Daughter to Lemuel and Grace Shirtlief was Baptised April 14 " Moses Rowley son to Nathan Rowley was Baptised Mary Daughter to Israel Whitcomb and Ruth Daughter to Elkanah & Ruth Sears were Baptised May 12 " Elisabeth Cornwell Daughter to Elisha and Anne Cornwell Baptd 19 " Elisha Johnson son to Caleb and Mary Johnson Baptised June 23 Anselm Brainerd son to Othniel & Jerusha Brainerd was Baptised July 14 " Susanna Dewey was Baptised " Elisha & Enos Dewey sons to Israel Dewey Junr & Susanna Dewey were Baptised and Mercy Wood Daughter to Susanna Dewey 2? Ephraim Norcot son to William & Bette Norcot was Baptised also Elihu Niles son to Ambrose & Hannah Niles was Baptised Aug 4 Jonathan Olmsted Gates son to Nehemiah & Anne Gates . Baptised Sept 15 " Mary & Hannah Knowlton Daughters to Stephen & Abigal Knowlton were Baptised also Talitha Niles Daughter to Barnabas & Thankful Niles also Mary Arnold Daughter to Gideon & Lucy Arnold Baptised 22 " Ezra Fuller son to John and Susanna Fuller was Baptised Oct 13 " David son to Bryant & Rebecca Parmelee was Baptised Nov 3 " Moses Freeman son to Moses and Susanna Freeman Baptised 24 " Elisabeth the daughter of Eliphaz & Esther Alvord Baptised (12) Dec 8 " Elisha Hall son to Ebenezer and Man- Hall was baptised Feb 23 A. D. 1766 Calvin son to Hamlin John and Elisabeth Hall was baptised & Elvira Bill Daughter to James & Asenath Bill was Baptised Mar 23 1766 Timothy and Mary and Phebe Brainerd were Baptised Mrs Alvords Children by her ist husband April 27 " Jonathan & Noah Shirtlief sons to Jonathan & Abigail Shirt- lief were Baptised 82 CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH OF EAST HAMPTON. May ii 1766 Jerusha Daughter to Thomas & Mercy Shepherd Abigail Daughter to John & Desire Markham & Lucretia dr to John & Azubah Hinckley were baptised May 1 8 " Asa Cook son to Zacheus & Mary Cook was baptised also Thomas & Samuel White sons to Thomas White De- ceased & Susanna White but now Dewey 25 " Samuel Sarah Nathaniel & Huldah Cowdrey sons and Daugh- ters of Thomas Cowdrey were baptised and also Rhoda Bailey Daughter to Joshua & Ann Bailey was Baptised July 27 " Bathsheba Hill. Daniel Hill Junr's wife was Baptised & Patience Bailey Daughter to Jonathan and patience Bailey Sept 28 " Sarah Daughter to Nathl & Sarah Doane Baptised Octr " Mary Daughter to Elijah & Hannah Cook Baptised Nov 23 " Mary Daughter to Robert & Ruhamah Shattuck baptised & Dorinda Dar to John & Edey Norton Baptised Oct " Daniel son to Daniel Hill Jun and Bathsheba Hill and Elisa- beth their Daughter were Baptised Nov 30 " Moses son to Dea John & Sarah Clark was Baptised March 8 1767 Thomas and Margaret Doolittles son John Baptised 22 " Amos Harding son to Ebenr & Huldah Harding Baptised also Salmon Niles son to Barnabas Niles April 12 " Sarah Daughter to Jonathan Shirtlief Baptised 26 " Hannah & Mary Rowley Daughters to Nathan Rowley were Baptised May 3 " Abigail Brainerd Daughter to Othniel and Jerusha Brainerd was Baptised 10 " Israel Hodge son to Samuel Hodge Baptised and Mary Brown Daughter of Samuel & Elisabeth Brown June 21 " Israel Whitcomb son to I & Mary Whitcomb baptised July 5 " Kezia Hill John Hills Daughter Baptised 26 " Dan Arnold son to Gideon and Lucy Arnold Baptised & Mary Cole Daughter to Moses & Mary White Cole Baptised Aug 2 " Jonathan Olmsted Stephen & Mercy Olmsteds son Baptised also Mary Wood Daughter to Jabez & Mary Wood bap- tised Sept 13 " Joseph Freeman son to Moses & Susanna Freeman Baptised 20 " Joshua Knowlton son to Stephen and Abigail Knowlton bap- tised August 1767 Elisha Samuel & Sarah Mott sons & Daughter to Nathl & Agnis Mott were Baptised Nov I " Darius Gates son of Stephen & Esther Gates was Baptised Jany 3 1768 William Norcot son to Willm and Bette Norcot was Baptised 10 " William Cornvvell Goodrich son to Thomas & Esther Goodrich was Baptised Feby 21 " Nathaniel Mott son to Nathll and Agnis Mott was Baptised CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH OF EAST HAMPTON. March 6 1768 April 3 " May I 8 22 29 June 5 12 July 3 10 24 Aug 7 21 May 6 Mar 31 April 21 June 9 July 28 Nov 7 Mar 2 Mar 30 April 27 July 27 Sept 21 1764 1765 Esther Alvord Daughter to Eliphaz & Esther Alvord Baptised Allen Hill son to Daniel Hill Jr & Bathsheba his wife and Lo- throp Shirtlief son to Lemuel & Grace Shirtlief and Lucy Hall Daughter to Abijah & Margaret Hall were Baptised 1766 Sarah Parmelee Daughter to Bryan & Rebecca Parmelee bap- tised also Eunice Hall Parmelee Daughter of Jared (& Eunice) late deceased Parmelee Baptised Jerusha Cole Ebener & Sarah Coles Daughter Baptised also Martha Freeman Sylvanus & Leah Freemans Daughter Jonathan Cowdrey son of Thomas Cowdrey Bapd also Eunice Clark Daughter of Xathl & Elisabeth Clark Sarah Acly Baptised Thomas Aclys Junr wife Margere Markham John & Desire Markhams Daughter baptised James & Isaac & David Bailey the sons of Isaac & Elisabeth Bailey Baptised Ichabod Solomon & Esther Bailey sons & Daughter to Solo- mon & Dorothy Bailey Baptised also Jonathan Caswell son to Joseph & Lydia Caswell Mary Hall Daughter to Ebenezer& Abigail Hall was Baptised Erastus Bill son to James & Asenath Bill was Baptised Levi Acly son to Thomas & Sarah Acly Bap Isaac Johnson son to Caleb & Mary Johnson & Ruhamah Cas- well Daughter to Joseph & Lydia Caswell were Baptised Asriel Hinckley son to John & Azubah Hinckley was Baptised ( Verte to p 25) RENEWING & COMING TO FULL COMMUNION Joshua Bailey & Anne Bailey his wife were received to full Communion Susanna Dewey Renewed her Covenant Pfctience Bailey and Huldah Harding were Reed to full Com- munion Sarah Clark made Confession for the sin of fornication and was accepted Thankful Niles was received to full Communion in this church also Ambrose & Hannah Niles Renewed their Covenant Eliphaz Alvord & Esther his wife were received to full Com- munion Mary Alvord Consert to Capt Jonathan Alvord was received into full Communion in this Church Thomas Cowdrey and - his wife Nathaniel Doane & Sarah his wife Renewed their Covenant Jonathan Shirtlief & Abigail his wife Renewed their Covenant Bathsheba Hill was Received to full Comn John Norton Jun and Edey his wife were Reed to full Com- munion 8 4 CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH OF EAST HAMPTON. Sept 28 Feby 22 May 3 June 21 July 26 Mar 10 April 3 May 15 22 June 12 July 3 Aug 14 Aug 28 Oct 2 Nov 6 13 Mar 30 April 30 1766 1767 1768 May 23 1764 June 28 " Novr 29 " Jany 10 1765 Feb ii " May 28 " Sept 12 " 19 * * Nov 21 " Dec 1 8 " 19 " Feby 6 1766 July 3 " Sept 25 " (n) Othniel Brainerd recommended from the 4th Chu in Mn and receved with us to full C. Barnabas Niles Recommended from the Church of X at West- chester and received at this John Clark Jr Reed to full Communion Moses Cole Jun & Mary White Cole his wife & Mary Cun- ningham Reed to full Communion Nathaniel & Agnes Mott Renewed their Covenant Jared Parmelee Renewed Covenant Israel Whitcomb Reed to Covenant by a Recommendation from Marlboro Joseph Caswell & Lydia his wife were Reed to full Communion Recompense Bailey & Dorothy his wife Elisabeth the wife of Isaac Bailey & Thomas Acly Junr with Sarah his wife all Renewed or rather Sarah Acly entered into Covenant Barnabas & Thankful Niles Recommended to the Church of X at Rumney Ebenezer Hall and Abigail his wife were Reed to full Com- munion James Johnson Jr & Sarah his wife & Deborah the wife of John Clark 3rd were Reed to full communion Joshua Cook & Mary his wife were Reed to full Communion (Verte p 29) (18} MARRIAGES Isaac Kneeland & Hannah Cook were married Othniel Brainerd & Jerusha Kilbourn were married Eliphaz Alvord & Esther Hart were married Daniel Miller and Susanna Bevin were married Thomas Acly and Sarah Luther were married William Mihills and Sarah Stevens were married Jonathan Bailey & Experience Wood were married John Norton Jun and Edey Clark were married Capt Jonathan Alvord & Mary Brainerd were married Moses Cook & Elisabeth Cone were married Titus Carrier & Mercy Cook were married Joseph Markham and Mehitabel Spencer were married Joseph Caswell & Lydia Harding were married Moses Cole & Mar White Clark were married 1767 Thomas Hill and Thankful Goffe were married Nathaniel Clark & Elisabeth Norton were married Aaron Hale & Hannah Daniels were married Ebenezer Hall & Abigail Bailey were married Samuel Wood & Sarah Clark were married CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH OF EAST HAMPTON. 85 June 30 1767 Joseph White & Charity Lewis were married July 9 " David Bailey & Jemima Daniels were married Augt 18 David Caswell & Elisabeth Green were married Sept 24 " Jared Parmelee & Eunice Hall married Xov 1 8 " James Johnson Junr & Sarah Clark also John Johnson & Hannah Clark also William White and Elizabeth Love- land were married Dec 2 " Ralph Smith & Hannah Hollister were married 3 " Nathaniel Bosworth & Mary Smith were married also Nathan Lewis and Naomi Acly were married Jany 28 1768 Edward Luther was married May ii Ezra Acly & Sarah West were married Sept 8 " Edward Purple and Mary Hodge were married (20) DEATHS May 30 1764 Deceased Ellis Bailey the consort of Jonathan Bailey Etat 63 years 7 months July 21 " Deceased Samuel Hall son to Ebenezer & Mary Hall aged 2 years & 10 months and also Susanna Hall Daughter of Ebenezer & Mary Hall aged 4 years n months July 29 " Deceased Ruth Sears Daughter to Elkanah & Ruth Sears Et 2 y 4 mos Augt ii " Thotnas Cowdrey Daughter deceased aged i hour Mar 17 1765 Deceased John Hale Jun Etat 30 years .April 25 " Deceased Jabez Clark Etat 47 y 9 mos Dec 8 " Deceased Elihu Hall Infant son to Ebenezer & Mary Hall Jany 2 1766 Capt Abijah rnwal of Chatham & Lois Clark of East Hampton George Gates & Phebe Peters " Lemll Parsons of Chatham & Faith Little of Colchester " Elisha Hills of Richmond & Hannah Gates of Chatham 1781 John Markham Jur & Asenith Smith " Capt Silas Dunham & Sarah Johnson " Enoch Niles E Haddam & Dorothy Spencer E Hampton " John Clark Esq. & Hannah Ackley " Thomas Shephard & Elisabeth Bailey " John Welch & Jemimah Morgan " Amos Clark & Anna Sears " Hoziel Smith Middle Haddam & Margery Sexton East Hampton " Noah Kellogg New Hartford & Deborah Knowlton E. H. " Jonathan Bill of Lebanon and Asenith Bill of E. H. Israel Fox Eastbury & Abigail Hodge E. Hampton " James Bailey cS: Abigail Hailing 1782 Joel Wood & Mercy Clark " Othniel Brainerd Jur- E. Hampton & Grace Stocking Chatham David Clark & Jerusha Hall " John Palmer East Haddam & Mary Percival E. H. " Aaron Tallcott Enfield & Jedidah Lord E. Hampton '' Benjn Strong Haddam & Susanna Trowbridge E. H. 1783 Jeremiah Bettis, Pownall & Molly Castle E. Hampton " Nathaniel Freeman Jur & Livia Cornwal " Samll Fielding & Elisabeth Alvord 2d CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH OF EAST HAMPTON. 105 1783 Saml Cowdrey cS: Anna Bailey " James Bill Jur & Hannah Goodrich " Samll Brown Jur & Folly Kellogg 1 6 " Isaac Johnson & Rebecca Cole " Elisha Niles Colchester & Naomi Ackley E. Hampton Deer 4 " Joshua Cook & Elisabeth Cary Middle Haddam Jany 25 1784 Jonathan Bowers & Rebekah Cary Middle Haddam Mar 4 " Samll Skinner Bolton & Esther Brainerd E. Hampton Mar 18 " Elijah Hubbard Eastbury & Ruth Smith Middle Haddam April 22 " Thos Goodrich E. Hampton & Lydia Cornwal Chatham April 26 " Eliakim Stiles Munsell & Hannah Brown June 3 " John Goodrich & Esther Parmelee July i " John Parks & Bethiah Smith Middle Haddam Aug 12 " Apollos Arnold & Lucy Bill Sept 20 " Giddins & Hartland & Mercy Johnson E. H. Sept 30 " Jacob Brooks Iladdam & Lydia Stocking M. Haddam Oct 19 " John Shephard Jur & Betsy Colton Chatham Oct 20 " Benjn Hurd & Polly Cary Middle Iladdam Oct 21 " James Shields Chatham & Lydia Ackley E. Hampton Novr 5 " Joshua Bailey Jr. & Ruth Sears Nov 21 " Joseph Davison Pomphret & Lydia Clark E. Hampton Dec 21 " Abel Abel & Lucy Hubbard Middle Haddam Deer 30 " John Hailing & Zuba Cook Feby 10 1785 James Risley Hartford & Hannah Bates E. H. Mar 31 " Samll Caswell & Anna Alvord April 14 " Stephen Griffith cSc Zilpah Clark M. Haddam May 31 Lemll Smith Sandisfield & Ellis Gideons M. Haddam " Stephen Taylor & Sarah Stephenson M. Haddam June 16 " Huet Alvord & Joanna Hill Oct 6 " Christian Hosenkause & Patience Bailey Oct ii " William Thomas & Huldah Cook Novr 10 " James Markham & Sarah Cowdery Nov 24 " Willard Sears & Rhoda Bailey " Elijah Simeon Youngs & Azuba Hinckley Nov 29 Nathaniel Doane N. Hartford & Sarah Adams Middle Haddam " Jonathan Caswell & Margery Markham Deer 15 " Abner Cole E. Hampton & Lydia Freeman M. Haddam Deer 17 Phillip Francis Colchester & Lucy Cook E. Hampton Jany 5 1786 Zachariah Hosmer & Mary Smith M. Haddam Jany 22 Janna Griswold N. York State & Lucy Clark E Hampton Feb 2 Soloman Bailey & Rhoda Mott Febr 5 " Benjn Goff Jur & Abigail Brainerd Mar 9 " Israel Hodge & Molly Stiles Mar 16 " Nathan Burnham E. Haddam & Mary Fuller E. Hampton Mar 19 " Ebenr Cole Jur & Ruth Clark Mar 30 James Goff & Mary Carrier May 31 " Jabez Hall c^ Abigail Willey Octr 19 " Samll Skinner Colchester & Ruth Ackley Chatham io6 CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH OF EAST HAMPTON. Novr 14 1786 Deer 28 " Janr 4 1787 Jany " Mar 15 " April 7 * * April 30 " May 3 " May 15 " July ii " July 22 " Aug 26 " Octr 9 " Jany 3 1788 Feby 5 " April 6 " Novr 20 " Novr 27 " Deer 4 Deer 21 " Dec 23 1789 Jany 6 1790 Jany 24 " June 6 " July 8 " Augt 19 " Sept 23 K Octr 3 " Oct 12 " Nov 4 " Nov ii " Oct. 17 Nov. 28 Jany. 6 17 Mch. 3 Sept. 5 26 Nov. 3 5 12 Amasa Day Colchester & Elisabeth Young Chatham Seth Hall & Hannah Hubbard Comfort Beeby & Lydia Cook Josiah Bidwell & Lucinda Kneeland Chatham Enos Dewey & Mercy Rich M. Haddam Zephaniah Mitchel & Bethiah Scranton Elisha Thorrington & Elisabeth Mitchel Abner Hubbard & Elisabeth Bates Sparrow Smith & Eunice Clark Abner Moses, Hartland & Anna Johnson E. Hampton Asahel Matthews & Anna Harding Michael Smith M. H. & Mary Hall E. H. Joshua Goff & Hannah Barnstable Phillip Goff Jur & Chloe Cole Willm McDaniel Colchester & Sarah Lucas E. H. John Lucas & Betsy Davis Roswell Hubbard & Mehitable Cook Nathaniel Ackley & Elisabeth Spencer Willm Morgan & Abigail Wetherill Gideon Rogers Lyme & Lucy Ackley Chatham Erastus Bill & Sarah Hall Lemll Rich & Deborah Taylor Samll Cornwell & Anne Rogers Asa Mitchell Colchester & Marcy Saxton E. Hampton Asa Fox Chatham & Rhoda Doolittle E. Hampton Sanford Thomson. Blanford & Peggy Stewart Chatham Thos Judd Coventry & Mary Fuller E. Hampton John Trowbridge & Susanna Bates Elisha Taylor M. Haddam & Anna Cornwell E. Hampton Jonathan Cowdery & Deborah Toby Ackley Lewis & Sarah Parmelee Simeon Young & Lydia Hills Gurdon Crocker, Colchester & Sarah Brown E. Hampton Samll Skinner Colchester & Mary Saxton E. Hampton RECORD KEPT BY REV. JOEL WEST. 1792 Stephen Burnham (E. Htfd.) & Joanna Alvord (Chatham) Anson Smith & Betsy Woodworth of M. Haddam. 1793 Lot Hudson & Eunice Cole E. Hampton Elizur Skinner (Cambridge N Y.) & Elvira Bill (Chatham) Oliver Brainerd & Lucy Rogers E. Hampton Seth Alvord Jr & Sally Sears E. Hampton " Walter Chappel (Hebron) & Eunice Hall E. Hampton Jonathan Parmelee & Hepzibah White E. Hampton 1794 Barnabas Freeman M. Haddam & Fanny Needham E. Hampton Jonathan Peck (Hebron) & Anna Ackley (E. Hampton) CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH OF EAST HAMPTON. IOy Mch. 2 1794 Daniel Smith (M. Haddam) & Prudence Goff (E. Hampton) Apl. 2 " Nath. Porter (Glastonbury) & Kerziah Hills (E. Hampton) Aug. 5 " John Willey Jr. & Elizabeth Sears (E. Hampton) Sept. ii " Adonijah Strong & Elizabeth Cook (E. Hampton) Oct. 5 " Lot Hudson & Huldah Harding (E. Hampton) Nov. 26 " Timothy Parmelee & Hannah Smith (E. Hampton) Jany. 8 1795 Ebenezer Norcutt & Phebe Ackley E. Hampton 14 Henry Jackson & Lois Johnson E. Hampton Feby. 26 " John Carrier & Lucy Dailey E. Hampton May 17 " Jesse Penfield & Dorinda Norton Chatham June 7 " Rufus Shailor (Haddam) & Hannah Cole E. Hampton July 9 " Isaac Bailey & Polly Douile (?) E. Hampton Sept. 6 " Benj. Billings (Lebanon) & Mary Goff Chatham. Nov. 4 " Joseph Buell & Marcy Carrier E. Hampton 8 " Godfrey Hop & Pallinea Freeman E. Hampton 20 " Geo. Hall (Chatham) & Eunice Rollo (Hebron) Dec. 7 " John Curtis (Hebron) & Sarah Ackley (Chatham) 31 " Stephen Knowlton & Mary Purple E. Hampton Jany. 20 1796 Abner Hall & Anne Griffith E. Hampton Apl. 3 " Jonathan Goff & Lydia Harding, E. Hampton 12 " Hosial Brainerd & Polly Strong Chatham 1 8 " John Patridge (Dalton) & Faith Parsons Chatham May i " John Riley & Jerusha Rich Chatham June i " Enos Brown & Anna Williams Chatham 16 " Samuel Hills & Polly Lewis E. Hampton 21 " Aseph Carter & Sabrey Billings E. Hampton " Caleb Floid & Abigail Carter E. Hampton July 24 " David Hills & Polly Welch E. Hampton Nov. 30 " Timothy Fielding (Haddam) & Sarah Knowlton E. Hampton Dec. 7 " Nath. Markham & Polly Strong E. Hampton Jany. 9 1797 Elijah Rowley & Sally Morgan E. Hampton 21 " Bulkley Davis & Lydia Alvord Chatham Feby. 23 " Miner Hildreth of Glastonbury & Deborah Harding of E. Hampton Nov. i " Hezekiah Smith & Belinda Norton Chatham 15 " Jesse Cables & Tamar Carter Chatham Mar. 7 1798 John Norton Jr. & Lucy Johnson E. Hampton Apl. 25 " Ebenezer Sears & Dorcas Beebe E. Hampton " Daniel Butler Newton & Susannah Cook E. Hampton Aug. 9 " Isaac Carrier of Marlboro & Marcy Casvvell E. Hampton Sept. 25 " Daniel Harding & Betsey Strong E. Hampton Oct. 17 " Elijah Ackley & Abigail Strong E. Hampton 25 " John Andrus & Anna Jones Glastonbury Nov. ii " Joshua Park of Tyringham & Aruna Cole of Chatham 22 " Noah Strickland & Lydia Norcutt Chatham Nov. 28 " David Wyllys & Nancy Johnson E. Hampton 29 " Stephen Chapman & Huldah Cone E. Hampton Jany. 31 1799 Joseph Haling t\: Jerusha Penfield E. Hampton io8 CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH OF EAST HAMPTON. May 7 1799 Daniel Hills & Thankful Watrous E. Hampton 7 " Daniel Ackley & Martha Harding E. Hampton Dec. 3 " William Wilson & Lucy Wright Chatham Jany. 14 1800 Luke Osbourn of Blanford & Zilpha Bailey of E. Hampton Mch. 27 " Elkanah Higgins & Lydia Caswell Chatham Apl. 2 " Joseph Rich & Abigail McCleve Chatham Oct. I " Daniel Johnson Brookline & Sarah West E. Hampton Nov. 13 " Isaac Bevins & Anna Avery E. Hampton 27 " Israel Cole & Ruth Alvord E. Hampton Dec. 9 " Amaziah Archer of Hebron & Sarah Sweetland E. Hampton 28 " Isaac Niles of Colchester & Almira Willey E. Hampton Jany. 29 1 1801 Cyprian Hinckley & Lydia Bevins E. Hampton Feby. 5 " Jabez Wood & Hannah Dewey E. Hampton Mch. 26 " Richard Carrier & Livia Johnson E. Hampton May 18 " John Watrous & Sally Bevins E. Hampton June 21 " James Randal Providence & Betsey Veazey E. Hampton Sept. 1 6 " Edmund West & Lucy Bevins E. Hampton 17 " Henry Strong & Susanna Newton E. Hampton Oct. 7 " John Phelps of Colchester & Adosha Williams of E. Hampton Nov. 15 " David Clark & Eunice Griffith Chatham. 22 Ezekiel Skinner of Hebron & Sarah Mott of E. Hampton 26 " Elisha Brown & Esther Norcutt of Chatham. Dec. 26 " Henry Ackley & Ruth Purple of Chatham. Feby. 18 1802 Joseph Graham & Ruth Bailey of Chatham. Mch. 14 " Elisha Rowley & Polly Alvord of Chatham 18 " Seth Marshall of Symsbury & Rhusey Caswell of E. Hampton Apl. 5 " William Harrison of Munson Mass. & Esther Doane of Chatham June 16 Eleazer Veazey Jr. & Elizabeth West of E. Hampton 20 " William Higbee of Turin N.Y. & Hannah Hop of E. Hampton Nov. 4 . Charles Pheps (?) & Lucy Cole E. Hampton 23 " Joseph Goff & Clarissa Welch Feby. 10 1803 Enos Bigelow of Colchester & Thankful Freeman E. Hampton Mch. 13 " Daniel Weairs Enfield & Sarah White E. Hampton 27 " Samuel Brown & Sibbil Cowdrey E. Hampton Apl. 7 " David Buell & Lucy Arnold E. Hampton May 22 " Joel Crout of Glastonbury & Cata Hosencruse E. Hampton Aug. II Nathan Harding Jr. & Filena Clark E. Hampton Oct. 9 " Ebenezer Rollo Hebron & Susanna Usher Chatham Nov. 3 " Wix Watrous, Colchester & Livia Cook E. Hampton 20 " Simon Smith of Waterford & Polly Burr of Chatham Dec. 7 " Nathaniel Markham & Hannah Rogers E. Hampton 22 " Jesse Dickenson of Marlboro & Anna Welch E. Hampton Apl. 12 1804 Isaac Niles & Thankful Harding E. Hampton 24 " Christopher Watrous & Lucy Sears E. Hampton May 24 " Titus Carrier & Mehitable Watrous East Hampton 31 George Sellew & Dolly Avery of Glastonbury June 17 " Joseph Whitmore & Electa Ackley Chatham Aug. 2 " Daniel Jones & Lucretia Young Middle Haddam CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH OF EAST HAMPTON. IOQ Sept. 23 1804 Saml. Mitchel & Mary Cone Chatham Oct. ii " James Alvord & Lucy Cook E. Hampton 21 " Thomas Rich & Susanna Freeman Chatham Nov. 22 " Elisha Hall & Hannah Strong E. Hampton Dec. 2 " Constant Welch Jr. & Patience Hall E. Hampton Feby 3 1805 Sherwood Palmer Cambridge N.Y. & Phebe Smith E. Hampton Mch. 3 " Oliver Brainerd & Anna Strong E. Hampton April 4 " Cornelius Rich Jr. Chatham & Nancy Campbell Lyme Apl. 1 6 " Joshua Webb & Anne Welch E. Hampton May i " Dexter Parmenter PrinceTown N. Y. & Marcy Rich E.Hampton Aug. 15 " Josiah Carrier of Marlboro & Betsy Kellogg E. Hampton Sept. 4 " Wm Findly Genesee N. Y. & Betsy Alvord E. Hampton Dec. ii " Timothy Abbe of Enfield & Rhoda Clark E. Hampton Jany. 13 1806 Joseph Mitchell & Clarissa Cone Chatham Feby. ii " Joseph Rogers & Eunice Smith E. Hampton Mch. 12 " Russell Watrous of Colchester & Anne Kellogg E. Hampton Aug. 31 " Joseph Hall & Nancy Arnold E. Hampton Sept. 21 " Chauncey Brooks & Lucy Alvord E. Hampton Dec. 27 " Solomon Brainard of Haddam & Lucy Bailey E. Hampton Apl. 5 1807 Aaron Bell of Glastonbury & Prudence Swan E. H. 27 " Abijah Markham cS: Cloe Freeman E. Hampton May 17 " Ira Brainard of Middle Haddam & Phebe Cole E. Hampton Nov. 7 " Selden Rogers of E. Haddam & Sally Harding E. Hampton 24 " Geo. Welch & Celinda Niles E. Hampton 25 " Erastus Carrier Colchester & Celinda Norton E. Hampton Mch. 22 1808 Jesse Hubbard of Middle Haddam & Florinda Norton E. Hampton Apl. 3 " Austin Smith of Middletown & Hannah White E. Hampton May 15 " Nicholas Ames & Hannah Norcutt Chatham Nov. 8 " Alexander Bowls & Azubah Youngs Middle Haddam Apl. ii 1809 Deacon Moses Cook & Widow Ede Norton E. Hampton May 8 " W T illiam Clark 2nd & Sophronia Post E. Hampton 30 " Richard Cook & Susanna Brown E. Hampton July 9 " Bill Williams & Olive Thomas E. Hampton Aug. 17 " John Guller (?) of Hudson N. Y. & Dolle Freeman of M. Haddam Sept. 4 " Isaac Ransom of Lyme & Rachael Bailey E. Hampton Nov. 30 " Lazarus Watrous of Marlboro & Anna Clark E Hampton July 4 1810 Lester Brainard of Haddam & Betsy Coe E. Hampton Sept. 13 " Chauncey Hills & Sally Goodrich Chatham Oct. 13 " Asahel Bemiss of Marlboro & Betsy Harding E. Hampton 14 " Warren Young Chatham & Sally Dean E. Haddam Nov. 5 " Elijah Dickinson Glastonbury & Polly Welch E. Hampton 15 " John Isham & Rachael Cole E. Hampton Mch. 24 1811 Joseph Selden of Haddam & Clarissa Strong E. Hampton July 4 " Robert Coe & Rebecca Bailey E. Hampton July 21 " Daniel R. Wolcot of Bristol & Philander Alvord E. Hampton 23 " Bliss Welch & Elizabeth Strong 2d E. Hampton Aug. 31 " Alvin Cook & Lucretia Smith E. Hampton no CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH OF EAST HAMPTON. Sept. 23 1811 Enos Johnson & Anna Parmelee E. Hampton Oct. 24 " Nathaniel Pease Marlboro & Elizabeth Cole E. Hampton Nov. 18 " John Willey & Polly Leanon E. Hampton 24 " Gersham Youngs & Lydia Cole E. Hampton 28 " Nathan Champion & Mercy Bevins E. Hampton Dec. 19 " Stephen Bevin & Mary Brown E. Hampton Jany. 2 1812 Josiah Bell & Lavinia Norcutt Chatham 5 " Julius Brainard & Sylvia Ackley Chatham 20 " Jabez S. Brainard of Haddam & Livia Cole E. Hampton Feby. 16 " John Ransom & Betsy Mitchell Chatham Apl. 14 " Joseph Dean E. Haddam & Hannah Gates E. Hampton May 10 " Nathaniel Gates Jr. & Nancy Smith E. Hampton June 5 " Allen House Eastbury Editha Bigelow E. Hampton Jany. 12 1813 William Holmes of Glastonbury & Abigail Ackley E. Hampton 25 " Asaph Mitchell of Colchester Eunice Cole Middle Haddam Feby. 14 " Henry Peters of Hebron & Lydia Adams of E.Hampton (black) Mch. 7 -' Erastus Sheldon of New Marlboro Mass. Rachael Sears E. Hampton Guy Chappel Susan Stills of Lyme David Clark Esq. & Mehittable Hubbard of Chatham Orrin Cook & Polly Parmelee E. Hampton Vine Starr & Nancy Barton E. Hampton Bryan Parmelee 2d Huldah Dean E. Hampton Sampson Freeman & Mary Ann Joel E. Hampton Geo. Primus Colchester & Betsy Brister E. Hampton Olmsted Gates Nabby Youngs E. Hampton George A. Stocking & Triphena Coe Chatham William Wells of Hanover Ohio & Susan Bigelow E. Hampton John Northam Marlboro & Rachael Kellogg E. Hampton John Mason Saybrook & Demis Boles Marlboro Elijah Norcutt Alice Chapman Chatham Erastus Mitchell & Sally Bigelow Chatham Giles Hall & Dolly Parmelee E. Hampton Calvin Hall Jr. Dolly Clark E. Hampton Nathaniel Markham Jr. & Abigail J. Smith E. H. John Bailey & Lydia Niles E. Hampton Harry Roberts E. Hartford & Rhoda Bailey E. Hampton Benjamin Sherman Norwich & Anne Johnson E. Hampton Henry Bush & Lydia Strong E. Hampton Jared Johnson & Sally Ransom E. Hampton Nathaniel C. Smith & Charlotte Strong E. Hampton Aaron Brown Colchester & Laura Wilson Chatham Henry Perkins SalJy Sealy Hartford Amos Clark Jr. & Betsy M. S. Smith E. Hampton Harvey Russell of Marlboro & Lucretia Russel E. Hampton Charles Markham & Sally White E. Hampton George Smith colored E. Haddam & Jane Dublin [slave of T. Judd] E. Hampton 28 " Ira Lucas & Almira Barton E. Hampton 21 May 2 " June 22 " 24 4 ' Aug. 15 " 22 " Nov. 14 " 25 " Dec. 26 " Mch. 23 1814 Oct. 12 " Nov. 2 " Jany. 20 1815 Feby. 5 " Mar. 26 " May 9 " Oct. 1 8 " 22 " Dec. 24 " 25 " Feby. 26 1816 Mch. 6 " May 23 " June 2 " July 21 " Sept. 1 8 " 25 * * Nov. 6 " 27 " CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH OF EAST HAMPTON. Ill Dec. 4 1816 Jany. 19 1817 26 " Feby. 27 " July 9 " Oct. 21 " Nov. 5 " 27 " Dec. 4 " Jany. I 1818 6 " 29 " Feby. 19 " Mch. 30 " Apl. 16 " 16 " June 25 " Aug. 15 " 30 " Sept. I " 10 " Nov. 26 " Mar. 31 1819 June 24 " Aug. 1 1 " Nov. i " 10 " 16 " 18 " 23 " Dec. i " 23 " May 3 1820 June i " 7 " Sept. 13 " Nov. 16 " Dec. 14 " Apl. 22 1821 May 23 " June 10 " July 4 " Sept. 5 " 6 " Nov. 15 " Dec. 6 " Jany. r 1822 16 " Apl. 3 " King Smith of Waterford & Mary Smith E. Hampton Harry Rockwell E. Windsor & Esther Niles E. Hampton John P. Hauselkuse & Dency Parmelee E. Hampton Walter Sexton & Nancy Starr E. Hampton Philo Gates & Chloe Strong E. Hampton Benj. A. Strong & Lucy S. \Velch E. Hampton Hiram Markham & Laura Niles Chatham Philip \Vhite Jr. & Lucy Niles E. Hampton Russell Rich & Phebe Leonan E. Hampton John Sherman Norwich & Philura Welch E. Hampton Arthur H. Johnson & Deborah L. Welch E. Hampton \Vm Haling & Abigail Hall E. Hampton Ebenezer Hall & Laura Cole Chatham Erastus Buck & Eunice W'ells Chatham * Ezra Strong & Lucy Markham E. Hampton Leonard Selden Haddam & Ruth G. Griffith E. Hampton Asa Dunham Marlboro & Mary Cole E. Hampton Jacob Adams & Betsy Adams E. Hampton Benj. Griffin Middletown & Dorcas Rich Chatham Harry Mosely Marlboro & Candace Beach Chatham James Bill Esq. cSc Phebe Pelton Chatham Dan. B. Niles & Maria A. Harrington E. Hampton Moses West & Lydia Clark E. Hampton Elijah Clark 2nd & Mary Hubbard Chatham Solomon Bailey & Anna [Mary] Leonan E. Hampton Geo. M. Dixon Chatham & Sally McCall Marlboro Wm. W. Richmond & Clarissa Bailey E. Hampton Elijah Staples & Nancy Brown E. Hampton Elijah Bailey Chatham & Harriet Bell Glastonbury Minorris Gladding & Emila Cole of Berlin Ogden Sears & Betsy Harding E. Hampton Lorin Cowdrey & Sarah Ackley Chatham Ezra Ayres Greenwich Mass. & Rhoda Sears E. Hampton John Tubbs & Anna Leanan E. Hampton Willard Sears Jr. & Sally Youngs E. Hampton Henry Strong & Philena Arnold E. Hampton Isaac Haling & Julia Johnson Chatham Richard M. Smith & Eunice Richmond E. Hampton Robert Blish & Dorothy McCall Marlboro. Orimel Clark & Pamelia Bevin E. Hampton Cyrus Brainard & Clarissa Barton E. Hampton Lord S, Hills & Mary Cook E. Hampton Calvin House Glastonbury & Julia Ackley E. Hampton Harvey Arnold & Betsey Sears E. Hampton Hiram Richmond & Phebe Edwards E. Hampton Hubbard Barton & Deborah G. Clark E. Hampton Harvey Lucas & Almira W. Niles E. Hampton Justin Bolles & Lydia Morgan Middle Haddam Joshua S. Strong & Lucy Arnold E. Hampton 112 CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH OF EAST HAMPTON. May I 1822 Diodate B. West & Nancy Rogers E. Hampton Aug. 19 " Roswell Brooks & Sybil Evans Chatham Nov. 28 " Julius Gates & Susanna Strong E. Hampton Jany. 29 1823 Gilbert Hills & Hannah Strong E. Hampton Apl. 13 " Daniel Hartwell of Hartford & Betsy E. Adams Chatham 23 " Gilson Huxford Marlboro & Anna Billings Chatham May 7 " Harvey Harding & Julia Strong E. Hampton June 22 " Beckwith Beers Waterford & Hope Evans E. Hampton July 20 " Seth Alvord & Abigail Saunders E. Hampton Sept. 25 " Thomas Judd Chatham & Esther Carpenter Coventry Nov. 26 " John C. A. Strong & Deborah L. Clark Chatham 27 " Joseph L. Brainard & Rachael H. Rich Chatham Dec. ii " Asa Grover & Susannah Trowbridge E. Hampton Mch. 23 1824 Abner Cole Jr. & Eliza Brown E. Hampton Sept. 26 " Daniel W. Tower Whitestown N.Y. & Emila Hills E.Hampton Nov. 21 " Joseph Goff & Lucy Welch E. Hampton Dec. 5 " Martin Culver Manchester & Lucy Bailey Chatham 9 " Roderic Ackley & Marietta Spencer Chatham Feby. i 1825 Ephraim Parsons Glastonbury & Lydia Cole Chatham 24 " James Shailer of Colchester & Mehitable Chapman Chatham Mch. i " Giles Goff cSc Marietta Markham Chatham 3 " Eli. Burnham of Colchester & Eliza Ackley Chatham 31 Horace Brown & Lydia Bolles Chatham Apl. 28 " Philo Rowley & Lucy Ann Kellogg Chatham May 28 " Charles Dutton Glastonbury & Harriet Grover E. Hampton Aug. 4 " Wm. R. Smith & Mary Ann Daniels Chatham Sept. 4 Hiram Clark & Achsa B. Arnold E. Hampton 11 Hiram Barton of Chatham & Lois L. Watrous Marlboro 29 " Horace Hinckley & Abby Ann Ackley Chatham Nov. 21 Wm. A. Brown & Lydia B. Smith Chatham 24 " Isaac Ackley & Betsy B. Niles Chatham 24, Robert U. Richmond & Caroline B. Smith Chatham Dec. 22 " Nehemiah Gates Jr. & Elizabeth M. Strong E. Hampton 28 Jared Taylor Glastonbury & Harriet Bailey E. Hampton Jany. 4 1826 Dr. Chas. Smith & Deborah Griffith Chatham 5 " Henry Flood & Flora Arnold Chatham 12 " Enos Adams & Rebeccah Ann Ward Chatham Mch. 14 " Alfred Williams Hampton & Harriet Bailey Chatham Apl. 10 " Gideon Brainard Haddam & Martha Ackley Chatham 12 " Jason Ingraham & Nancy Wells Colchester June 10 " Augustus Gates & Elizabeth Alvord E. Hampton 29 " Benj. House of Coventry & Submit West Columbia Aug. 24 " Walter H. Clark & Florinda N. Hinckley E. Hampton Sept. 10 Minorris Watrous of Marlboro & Amelia A. Clark E. Hampton 17 " Barnard B. Buck & Desire Brown Chatham 25 " Justin Smith & Siley Cole Chatham Oct. 12 " Washington Smith & Cynthia Barstow E. Hampton S. MILLS BEVIN. volume is in many ways a memorial. It records the history of this church, to keep it ever fresh in the minds of the living. The names here enrolled belong for the most part to the Church Triumphant. It is now our sorrowful task to add one more name to the list of the dead before this book is closed, SAMUEL MIL^S BEVIN, whose last labor of love was to aid in compiling and publishing these records. He joined the invisible company of just men on March 6th, 1900. And the tribute is here repeated which was given at the funeral service by his pastor, Rev. William Slade: A TRIBUTE. We ought at this hour to make his favorite hymn our prayer. They are the very words we need to utter, and they must have braced his spirit, too. " Lead, kindly Light, amid th' encircling gloom, Lead Thou me on ! The night is dark, and I am far from home; Lead Thou me on ! ***** So long Thy power has blest me, sure it still Will lead me on O'er moor and fen, o'er crag and torrent, till The night is gone, And with the morn those angel faces smile Which I have loved long since and lost awhile!" I have permission to speak freely of his worth, who has been snatched so suddenly from our hearts. It will be a comfort to us, I trust; but I must speak simply and frankly, so that this service may be appropriate. His was a trained life. Born of a long line of honorable ancestry, he inherited business talents and moral fibre and a large heart. These gifts were tenderly nourished in this home during his boyhood and youth. School life and college discipline developed and enlarged the resources that were in him. The life of business and responsibility, home cares and affections deepened and widened his worth. In this age it is the trained life that is valuable. Business is national and international. Trade is swift and competition fierce. Life has many sides to-day, and it is the many-sided life that is, the trained life only, that can be master of all this swiftness, breadth, and depth. With steady hand and careful mind, he carried his duties in the firm where he will be sadly missed. It was his fine cultured taste that brought home the best gifts and selected and gave the beautiful mantel to our Library. He was so well equipped, that the church, the library, the school, the community claimed his counsel and his services. We overloaded him with work. But it is his religious life that went deepest and is most precious. The religious life is the unselfish life. The religious life is the life of simple unpre- tending love love of God, love of friends, love of country, and love of home and all that it holds. It is the life of good will toward men that did thrive and blossom and bear fruit abundantly in him. The workmen have rightly written his name in their flowers Our Friend. He made his religious faith and feeling definite and open. He was a member and officer in the church. He gave liberally to the support of the church and to every charity and public improve- ment. He did everything quietly. That is a part of religion. It was his childlike temper that was so admirable. It seemed best in publishing the records of our church anniversary that a short introduction to the book should be written, and in a note at the close I briefly spoke of our indebtedness to the faithful and arduous work of Mr. Martin L. Roberts and Mr. S. Mills Bevin in preparing what the book con- tains. What I had written went to the printer, and the proof came back to Mr. Bevin, and he drew his pencil through his name; then the proof came to me, and I rubbed the pencil marks away. It was his habit to efface himself. He that loseth his life shall find it. His Christian life at home remains a dear and private legacy to the heart of his wife and the future knowledge of his children. Our words can add nothing to its tenderness and strength a legacy that shall never rust nor fade. This trained and lovable life has passed on to other tasks and finer services in the Immortal life. May his short life as a Christian and a citizen stir us all to the open and generous service of God and men. Samuel spills HBetrin* 23orn in P. PSD 2338 9/77 3 1158 00321 6966 A 000107321