Dutton, Samuel W. S.
An Address at the Funeral of Deacon Nathan Beers
New Haven, 1849.

'T^]LIE«¥]MIIYEIESIIir¥«
From the Library of
SIMEON E. BALDWIN, Y '6i
Gift of his children
HELEN BALDWIN GILMAN
ROGER SHERMAN BALDWIN, Y '90
1927

SKETCH

LIFE AND Character

DEACON NATHAN BEERS,

SAMUEL W. S. DUTTON,

AN

ADDRESS

AT THE rUNERAL OF

DEACON NATHAN BEERS,

14th or FEBHUAHT, 1849,

SAMUEL W. S. DUTTON,
Pastor of the North Church in New Haven.

PUBLISHED BY REQUEST.

NEW HAVEN:
WILLIAM H. STANLEY, PEINTEE.
1849.

ADDRESS.

" The hoary head is a crown of glory, if it be found in the
ways of righteousness." Eminent age is in itself venerable ;
but when it is united with eminent goodness, and with emi
nent services of patriotism and piety, it constrains our highest
tribute of admiration and reverence. An aged and excellent
chi'istian, who for many generations has faithfully served his
Lord and befriended his race, and by the disciplinary and
hallowing influences of divine providence and grace has
been fitted for the society of Heaven — there is no heavenlier
sight upon the earth : and when death removes him to join
that great cloud of heavenly witnesses and examples which
surround us, we feel that his removal is appropriate, and that
his example should be studied.
Such an instance has called us together at the present
time. The patriarch of our city, the most venerable by age
of its inhabitants, has removed his residence to the heavenly
city ; the patriarch of this church, who, for forty-five years,
has served the table of the Lord in this sanctuary, has been
transferred to the higher service of the church triumphant in
the upper sanctuary ; the patriarch among our revolutionary
patriots, one of the last and one of the worthiest survivors
of that brave army which al great hazards and spcrifices main
tained our rights and won our independence, has gone to join
the heavenly division of the one sacred army of Christ ; — and
now we are met within the gates of Zion which he loved, to
to pay our tribute to his memory and to gather wisdom from
the survey of his virtues.

The relations of our departed friend to this community, and
especially to this church, require on this occasion a brief
sketch of his life and character. It cannot fail to contribute
both to our gratification and our profit.
Nathan Beers was born in Stratford, on the 24th of Febru
ary, 1753, the son of Nathan Beers and Hannah Nichols, his
wife. He was the sixth of their nine children, four of whom
died in infancy. When he was about a year old, his parents
removed to New Haven.* Their children who survived in
fancy have all (with one exception) lived to an advanced age.
Hannah, the fourth child, the wife of Hezekiah Howe and
afterhis death of Capt. Elias Still well, died at the age of forty-
eight. But Isaac, the first child, who was a bookseller in this
place, and distinguished throughout the country for the choice
selection and wide variety of his books, lived to the age of
seventy-one ; Elias. the third child, died in this city in 1832, at
the age of eighty-five and a half years ; and Sarah, the wife
and for a long period the widow of John Pierrepont, the
grandson of Rev. James Pierrepont one of the early pastors
of the First Church, lived to the age of ninety and a half
years. The removal of Nathan Beers, senior, from Stratford to New
Haven was chiefly for reasons pertaining to religion. The
middle of the last century is memorable in the annals of this
country for a wonderful visitation of the reviving spirit of God,
commonly called " The Great Awakening," which raised the
churches from a long and deep declension that threatened their
apostasy, and turned back the waves of immorality that were
fast overflowing the land. Of this " Great Awakening," Mr.
Beers was a zealous friend, and a great admirer also of
those ministers who favored it, Whitfield, Edwards, Bellamy,
Wheelock, and their co-laborers. To this religious movemer.t,
and to those concerned in il, there was al the first, and for

¦^ Mr. Beers resided at first and for many years at the southeast corner of Col
lege and Chapel streets. Hence its former familiar name of " Beers's Corner,"
The house in ¦which he lived is now standing.

many years, as is well known, great and severe opposition
from the ruling powers and influences both in Church and State.
Mr. Beers found no sympathy wilh his views and feelings in
Stratford ; bul there was a church in New Haven in which he
could find that sympathy — a small church formed about twelve
years before, (in 1742,) by the secession from the First Church
of the friends of the " Awakening." That church maintained
a style of doctrine, of preaching, and of religious action, ac
cordant wilh his views ; though by great sacrifices and bur
dens, against civil and ecclesiastical oppression, against fines
and double taxation, and against the legal prohibition lo have
the preachers of their choice, who, though eminent for ability
and piety, were sometimes taken by the police and carried out
of the Colony, as vagrants and criminals. It was chiefly for
the sake of sharing in the fellowship and privileges of that
church,* that Mr. Beers came lo New Haven. He was a
Puritan of that class which was then stigmatized as " New
Lights," but which later generations, and indeed that very
generation, learned lo honor. He was a lover of discrimina
ting and pungent preaching of the distinguishing doctrines of
the gospel, of ecclesiastical liberty, and of revivals of religion.
It was under the influence of such a parent that our friend was
trained in childhood and youth. f
Mr. Beers was guided partly by his religious preferences in
the choice of a teacher for his son, and placed him, for several
years, under th« tuition of Rev. Mr. Trumbull, of North Ha
ven, a promising young new light minister, afterwards Dr.
Trumbull, the historian of Connecticut. He was regarded

* Now called the North Church, or Church of the United Society.
^Such -was the hostility in Ne-w Haven to the ne-w church, and the opposi-
tion to any increase of the number of " Ne-w Lights," that Mr. Beers, on his
¦arrival from Stratford in a vessel -with his effects, could not find any body to
bring them up irom the -wharf; and -was under the necessity of going out of
*o-wn to contract -with a farmer to come in for that purpose. This, and many
ether like facts in connection -with the early history of the North Church, pain
ful and humiliating in themselves, are gratifying proof of the progress -which
bas been made during the last century in christian toleration and charity.

wilh peculiar aflieclion by Dr. Trumbull, who used in after life
to call him familiarly " his pupil."
Mr. Beers, though a man of large property for that day, and
living within a few rods of Yale College, preferred and in
sisted that his sons should leam a trade, chiefly because he
thought that course the safest for their morals, and the most
conducive lo piety. Accordingly they all learned their fath
er's trade, that of a tailor. During the latter part of his
minority, our friend was employed as a clerk for a large firm
in New York, one of the members of which (Mr. Lafierty)
was eminent in piety and religious influence. Within the last
year, Deacon Beers has repeated to one of his sons the sub
stance of a sermon which he heard at that time, seventy-nine
years since, while in Mr. LafFerty's employment.
In December, 1774, a few months before the battle of Lex
ington, when Mr. Beers -nas twenty-one years of age, he was
one of sixty-four citizens of New Haven, who formed them
selves as volunteers into a militarj' company, and procured a
uniform dress and equipments, and hired a person to instruct
them in the military art. In the following month of March,
they presented a memorial to the General Assembly of the
Colony of Connecticut, praying lo be constituted a distinct
military company, wilh appropriate powers, under the name of
" The Governor's Second Company oJ Guards" ; selling forth,
as reasons, their " anxiety for the safety of their country," and
their "desire of contributing all in their power lo the support
of its just rights and liberties.' The petition was granted ac
cordingly. On the twenty-first of the next month, (April,) about noon,
intelligence reached New Haven of the battle of Lexington.
Immediately the company was called out by its Captain, Bene
dict Arnold ; and forty of them, one of whom was Nathan
Beers, Jr., comphed with his proposition lo go at once to Lex
ington, as volunteers, lo join the American army. Thev left
New Haven the next day. On their way they passed through
Pomfret, and were joined by Gen. Israel Putnam. On their

arrival at Cambridge, they were quartered al "the splendid
mansion" of Lieut. Governor Oliver, who was obliged to flee
on account of his attachment lo the British cause. This com
pany was the only one on the ground complete in uniform and
equipments ; and owing lo their soldier-like appearance they
were appointed to deliver the body of a British officer, who
had been taken prisoner by the Americans and had died in
consequence of wounds received al the battle of Lexington.
Upon this occasion, one of the British officers appointed lo
receive the body, expressed his surprise at seeing an American
company appear so well in every respect, observing that in
their military movements and equipments " they were not ex
celled by any of His Majesty's troops." These facts, Deacon
Beers has often related to his children and friends, wilh great
elevation of feeling.
This company has been continued lo the present lime, and
is here to-day to honor the memory of one of their original
members. The company remained at Cambridge about three weeks,
when they returned lo New Haven, wilh the exception of
twelve, who accompanied Arnold on his adventurous expedition
to Canada. Mr. Beers returned with the company.
At the beginning ofthe year 1777, Mr. Beers received from
Jonathan Trumbull, Governor of Connecticut, the commission
of Ensign in the New Haven volunteer company.*
*" JONATHAN TRUMBULL, Esq., Captain- General and Commander-in-
Chief of tlie State of Connecticut, in America, to Nathan Beers, Jr., Gent.
Greeting :
YOU being by the General Assembly of this State accepted to be Ensign
of a company of volunteers, raised in the to-wn of Ne-w Ha-J'en, in pursuance
of an Act of this State, to resist and oppose by force of arms, our enemies, now-
invading and carrying on war against the United States of America : reposing
especial trust and confidence in your fldelity, courage, and good conduct, I do,
by virtue of the laws of this State, me thereunto enabling, appoint and impow-
er you to take the said company into your care and charge, as their Ensign;
carefully and diligently to discharge that trust ; exercising your inferior ofii
cers and soldiers in the use of their arras, according to the discipline of war";
keeping them in good order and government, and commanding them to obey you

On the 3d of March following, he received instructions and
money from Col. Samuel B. Webb, for gathering recruits ;
which instructions he immediately proceeded lo execute. On
the 23d of the same month, he received his first Commission
inthe Continental Army, that of Lieutenant, signed by Henry
Laurens, President of Congress.* He was attached lo Colonel
Samuel B. Webb's Regiment of the Connecticut line of the
Continental Army ; and served in that Regiment till the Army
was disbanded by Congress, at the close of the war in Seplem-

as their Ensign forthe service of this State. And you are to observe all such
orders and directions as from time to time you shall receive either from me,
or from other your superior ofiicer, pursuant to the trust hereby reposed in you.
Given under my hand, and the public seal of said State, in Middletown, the
13th day of January, Anno Domini, 1777. JONTH. TRUMBULL.
By His Honor's command,
George Wyllys, Sec'ry,"
* "IN CONGRESS.
The DELEGATES of the UNITED STATES of New Hampshire, Massa
chusetts Bay, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylva
nia, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina and
Georgia, to Nathan Beers, Esquire.
WE, reposing especial trust and confidence in your patriotism, valour, con
duct and fidelity, do, by these presents, constitute and appoint you to be a Lieu
tenant in Col. Samuel B. "Webb's Regiment, to rank as such from the third day
of March 1777, in the Army of the United States, raised for the defence of
American Liberty, and for repelling every hostile invasion thereof. You are
therefore carefully aud diligently to discharge the duty of a Lieutenant, by doing
and performing all manner ot things thereunto belonging. And -we do strictly
charge and require all officers and soldiers under your command, to be obedi
ent tL. your orders as a Lieutenant.
And you are to observe and follow such Orders and directions from time to
time, as you sKall receive from this or a future Congress of the United States,
or Committee of Congress, for that purpose appointed, or Commander in Chief
for the time being, oE the Army of the United States, or any other your supe
rior oflScer according to the rules and discipline of war, in pursuance of the
trust reposed in you. This Commission to continue in force until revoked by
this or a future Congress. Dated the twenty-third day of March, 1778.
By order of the Congress. HENRY LAURENS, President.
Aitest. Chas, Thomonsery."

ber, 1783 ; when he received a Brevet Commission as Captain,
signed by Richard Henry Lee.*
A few months after Mr. Beers entered the Continental Ar
my, being a very good penman and accountant, he was re
quested by the commander of the Regiment, to act temporarily
as its Paymaster ; and in May of the following year (1778) he
was regularly chosen to that office, and held it to the close of
the war, performing its duties wilh great fidelity and ability.f
The limits of this address do not permit us lo trace Mr.
Beers's course during the six years and a half of his service in
the Continental Army, as that course is recorded in a diary
which he kept during that period. He was one of the officers lo
whose care Major Andre was committed during the period from
his capture lo his execution ; and he received from that unfortu
nate man, and preserved for many years, the sketch of him
self, drawn by his own pen after his sentence to death, which
is now in the Trumbull Gallery of Yale CoUege.J He was

* " In pursuance of an Act of Congress, of the 30th September, 1783, Nathan
Beers, Esquire, is to rank a Captain by Brevet, in the Army of the United
States of America. r , Given under my hand at New York,
l^- ^-J the 29th clay of July, 1785.
RICHARD HENRY LEE, P.
By order of Congress :
H. Knox, Secretary of War."
t Mr. Beers's accounts and records were kept with great fullness and ac
curacy ; and being preserved by him, were of great service to many of his fellow
officers and soldiers, in obtaining pensions from the government of the United
States, X This sketch, which had often been shown by Mr. Beers to his friends, attract
ed no public attention until 1825, when a notice of it, written by a member of
the family, was published in the 9th vol. of the " American Journal of Science."
This publication elicited a claim to the sketch from the late Jabez Tomlin,son,
Esq., who supposed it to be one presented to him by Major Andre, the day before
his execution. The claims ofthe two worthy gentlemen, were compromised, in
183-3, by depositing the sketch in the Trumbull Gallery. Though Mr. Beers,
with characteristic liberality, waived his claim in this manner, he has often sta
ted that this particular sketch could never have been in the possession of Mr.
Tomlinson. It is probable that similar tokens were presented to both these oflS-
2

10
in several engagements with the enemy, but his duties as
Paymaster for the most part prevented him from danger
ous service, and brought him frequently into the society of
General Washington, Gen. La Fayette,* and other high
officers. On account of his sound judgment, well known
probity, and skill in drawing up statements and results, he was
frequently called to act in important cases of military counsel
and jurisprudence, especially of Court martial.
Two years and a half after Mr. Beers entered the Conti
nental Army, (in July, 1779,) he was bereaved of his father, in
a veiy afflictive manner. A detachment of British troops
under Gen. Tryon, made an invasion into New Haven ; part
of whom came in on the west side of the town, and marched
down Broadway to York street, and down York street to
Chapel street. As they came towards the corner of Chapel and
York streets, they were fired upon by some one in that vicin
ity. Thinking, or pretending lo think, that the shot came
from Mr. Beers's house, [the house is now standing on the
northwest corner of Chapel and York streets,] three soldiers
advanced upon the aged man, as he stood in his front door,
and disregarding his explanation, shot him, wounding him
mortally. He languished for five days and died, at the age
of sixty.f Dr. Stiles in his diary, speaking of the conduct
cers, who were intimate with Maj . Andre during his confinement ; as it is stated
in the Journal of Science, from information afforded by Mr. Beers, that " while
this unhappy young man was confined in his guard-room, previously to his
execution, he occupied the most of his time in writing, but occasionally en
deavored to relieve the anxiety of his mind by sketching with a pencil or pen,
an art which he possessed in a high degree."
* "When Gen. La Fayette visited New Haven, on his memorable tour among
the grateful people of this country, in the year 1825, one of the first inquiries
he made was- for Lieut. Nathan Beers.
j- The following letters to Mr. Beers, giving an account of his father's death
and the attendant circumstances, are worthy of insertion iu a note. The first
is from Nathaniel Hazard, a New York merchant who boarded in the family
of Mr. Beers, senior. On the face of the letter is written " To Lieut. Beers
of Col. Samuel "Webb's Regiment, at or near Providence. [The Post Master is
requested to be so obliging as to convey this letter to Mr. Beers immediately."!

11

of the British troops, in this and other instances on that oc
casion, remarks, "Their barbarity was savage and cruel, if not

On the back of the letter is written " Bristol, July 13,1779, Col. Sherburne
received this letter at Providence, and by the direction on the front it appeared
to beof much importance to Mr. Beers, — therefore ordered that it be conveyed
by the Guard boat without delay." Then this endorsement in the handwriting
of Mr. Bears— " Received at Tiverton, 14th July, 6 o'clock in the morning."
[In Mr. Beers's Diary are the following records pertaining to this painful mat
ter. " July 10, Afternoon at Fall River in the Generals Barge — Evening, saw
a letter from Gen. Vernum, mentioning that the enemy had left New Haven (on
Tuesday last,) after plundering the inhabitants, and burning a number of build
ings — likewise mortally wounded a Mr. Beers," " 14th, Wednesday, received by
the Guard boat from Bristol, (per express) a letter from Nathaniel Hazard,
confirming the melancholy account of the 10th instant."]
"New Haven, 10th July, 1779.
Dear Sir — Before this reaches you, you will undoubtedly have heard of the enemy's late
invasion of this town. Numbers of the inhabitants are stripped of everything and entirely, ru
ined. Your father's house and both your brother's as well as Mr, Pi erpont's have been scarcely
Btripped of anything ; but when the British entered the town, a gun discharged near your fa
ther's house, was the pretence for them to enter it and discharge a musket at your father sitting
in his house, which wounded liim badly in the hip. He has languished from Monday until to
day, and is now unfortunately expiring. Your brother EUas being gone for bis family to
Cheshire, and Isaac's attendance on your father indispensable, he requested me to send you
a line by post. I am dear Sir, Your most obedient servant,
NATHANIEL HAZARD."
The second letter is from Mr. Beers's oldest brother, Isaac, a part of 'which
is here given. "New Haven, 16th Joly 1779.
Dear ¦Brottie, — I suppose that long before this you have heard of the great misfortune that
has befallen this town, in being plundered by the enemy. As I was so taken up in attending on
father, and was in much confusion other ways, I desired Mr. Hazard who was then here, to
inform you of our situation, and that our dear father was then near his end, by a wound he re
ceived from those bloody savages, (which letter was sent last post and I hope came to hand.)
Our father was wounded in his own house sometime after the enemy had been in town. The shot
was aimed at his breast, but he pushed the gun so far one side that it passed through his hip. It
wasthought at first the wound was not dangerous, but he had lost so much blood before he conld
have relief, that the wound proved fatal. He lived from Monday afternoon,the time he received
the wound, till the Saturdayfollowing, the mostofthetime in great distress; and then left this
troublesome world I hope for one far better. Thus we have lost a kind parent by the hands of
those merciless wretches, at a time which added greatly to the distress we already had to bear
wilh. As I suppose you will leam by the papers the particulars of the action while they were here,
I shall omit it, only just inform you of some of their behavior in town. They landed at West Haven
about sunrise, but were kept from getiingin town till about noon on Monday, Sth of July. I was
made a prisoner, but had the good luck to be relaaied soon. Jfo sooner had the enemy got into

12

without a parallel, yet to the degree of the highest and most
brutal rigors of war."*

* This opinion of President Stile,sis confirmed by the following extract from
an account of this incursion of the British troops in the Connecticut Journal,
published in New Haven, July 7th, 1779. " Although in this expedition it
must be confessed to the credit of the Britons, that they have not done all the
mischief in their power, yet, the brutal ravishment of women, the wanton and
malicious destruction of properly, the burning of the stores on the wharf,
and eight houses in East Haven ; the beating, stabbing and insulting the Rev.
Dr. Daggett, (Professor of Divinity and late President in Yale College,) af
ter he was made a prisoner, the mortally wounding of Mr. Beers, senior, in his
own door, and otherways abusing him ; the murdering the very aged and help
less Mr. English, in his own house, and the beating and finally cutting out the
tongue of, and then killing a distracted (exazy) man, are suflicient proof that
they were really Britons."

town than they began to plunder without any distinction of "Whig or Tory, carrj'ing oif all the
valuable aj-ticles they could, breaking and destroying the remainder. In many houses they broke
the doors, windows, wainscotwork, and demolished every thing inside of the house they
possibly could. Some few houses escaped by mere accident, Joel Al water's, Mich'l Baldwin's and
five or six others in that neighborhood, altho' the famiUes had all fled. I had the good fortune
to be plundered but little. Elias was not plundered a great deal. Father's house was plundered
considerably but not damaged any. Old Mrs. Wooster stayed in her house and was most shock
ingly abused ; every thing in the house was destroyed or ciirried off by them, — not a bed left, or
the smallest article in the kitchen. Deacon Lyman's house shared as bad, alsoWm. Lyon's and
several others in different parts of the town. They left the town early Tuesday morning, Chan
dler, Botsford, and Capt. Camp, with their families, went off with them. Bill Chandler was their
guide into town, for which the Lord reward him, Tliey have cairied off several inhabitants pris
oners: amongst them is Capt. John Mix, Hezeldah Sabin, senior, Esq. Whitney, Thomas Burrell,
John Townsend, Capt. Elijah Forbes, Adonijah Sherman, &c. ; there were killed belonging to
town— Constable Hotchkiss, John Hotchkiss, Ezekiel Hotchkiss, Elisha Tuttle a crazy man, Capt.
John Gilbert, Joseph Dorman, Asa Todd and several othere from the fai-ms and country round.
Since the enemy left this place, they have burned thc towns of Fan-field and Norwalk, and
-we were again alarmed that they were returning to burn this town. A person who made his
escape from them when at Norwalk, says the officers found much fault with the General for
not burning this town when they were here, and they swore it should be done yet. This alarms
usso much that we have moved all our effects from this town, back into the countrj, anda
great many families have gone out so that we are almost destitute already — indeed 'tis the most
prevaihng opinion among the most judicious that they intend to burn all the seaports.
I wish that you could obtain leave to come home for a short time, as mother and sister Howe
have now no man in the family to assist them. They have moved the most of theii^ household
goods back into the country in different places ; and we have too much reason to fear it will not
be long before we shall be driven off from our homes. They will at sueh a time stand in great
•need of yom' help, as it is likely we shall not be able to lend them much assistance at such a time
-We have a number of militia stationed in town for our protection, but have but little faith in
hem." ****»¦«*
This " Bill Chandler," referred to in this letter, with his father and his fa
ther's family, wont away -n'ith the British troops on their retreat. His father

13
Un the 26th of May, 1781, more than two years before he
left the army, Mr. Beers, at the age of twenty-eight, married,
at New Haven, Mary Phelps, daughter of John Phelps, Esq.,
of Stafford. His wife was by len years his junior ; and now
survives him, after a happy wedlock during the extraordinary
period of sixty-eight years.
After leaving the army, (in 1783,) Mr. Beers entered upon
mercantile business ; in which he was quite successful, and
¦acquired a handsome property. He was chosen Steward of
Yale College, in 1798, and administered that office in connex
ion with his mercantile business, for more than twenty years,
till September, 1819, when he resigned il, receiving from the
Faculty and Corporation of the College very full and expres-

Joshua Chandler, was a lawyer, and lived in a house which stood on the site of
the Tontine, but was afterwards removed farther iip Church street, and is now
¦occupied by Rev. Dr. Bacon. Mr. Isaac Beers's wish, " the Lord reward him,"
seems to have been granted; for almost the -whole famOy perished some years
after, in a severe storm on the coast of Nova Scotia.
There is a slight discrepancy between the various accounts of the manner
in which Mr. Nathan Beers, senior, received his mortal wound. The follow
ing account just obtained from the venerable Dr. jEneas Munson, is undoubt
edly correct; for he received it soon after the occurrence from Mr. Beers him
self. Mr. Beers was under the medical care of -Dr. .ffineas Munson, senior,
who lived on the opposite corner of Chapel and York streets; and in one in
stance his wound was dressed by our informant, .Eneas Munson, Jr., who was
then a student in medicine with his father, and after-«'ards Surgeon of Colonel
Samuel B. Webb's Regiment ol the Connecticut line of the Continental Army,
the same Regiment in which Nathan Beers, Jr. was Lieutenant.
When the British troops were in Chapel street near the house of Mr.
Beers, three shots were fired successively upon them from the garden back of
the house, by Mr. Isaac Doolittle (as was afterwards ascertained.) As the
smoke froui the firing of the gun was seen rising Irom behind the house, three
British soldiers rushed toward Mr. Beers who had come to the front door.
-" You d — d old old rebel" said they, " why do you harbor men iu your house
,who fire on His Majesty's troops V "Gentlemen," he replied, " no one has
fired from this house, I can't control men outside my house." They then aimed
their three guns at him and fired. He pushed aside with his hands two of the
guns, but received a mortal wound from the third. Probably also, according
to the statement in the above letter cf Mr. Isaac Beers, he modified the aim
of the third gun so that he received the . discharge in his hip instead of his
.breast.

14
sive testimonials to the uniform kintiness, liberality and justice,
with which he had discharged its duties.*
Soon after his resignation, finding himself without property,
he pursued the employment of a gardener, in which he was
very industrious long after he was fourscore, and even after
he was fourscore years and ten. He was one of the earliest
who have in this place devoted their attention to horticulture ;
and he contributed much to its present advanced stale. f
Mr. Beers united himself wilh this church, by profession of
his faith and hope in Christ, on the 11th of October, 1794;
when he was forty-two years of age. His wife joined with

? " Yale College, Sept. 24ih, 1819.
Nathan Beers, Esq.,
Dear Sir, — I am requested, by the unanimous voice of the faculty, to re
turn you their cordial thanks, for your long continued, able, and faithful ser
vices in this Institution. In their opinion, the department which you have su
perintended, has been conducted in the best manner, that the existing means and
the state of the establishment admitted of; and they cannot forbear to mention,
with particular respect, the uniform kindness, liberality, and justice, which
have marked your administration, in all your transactions, both with the faculty
and studenis.
Wishing you, both for yourself and your family, the enjoyment of every
blessing, and hoping, that an intercourse of friendship and good offices, may
still continue between us, I remain, in behalf of the faculty, with the greatest
respect and esteem, dear sir,
Your friend and, serv't. JEREMIAH DAY."
" At a Meeting ofthe President and Fellows of Yale CoUege in New Haven, in the
College Library, the 1th day of September, A. D. 1819, —
Mr. Nathan Beers having, for more than twenty years, served as Steward of
this College, and now declined to continue longer iu said office, Voted, That
the Rev. Doctor Marsh and the Hon. David Tomlinson be, and they are hereby
appointed to present to Mr. Beers the thanks of this Board, forhis faithful per
formance of the duties of said office, while he has continued to execute the
same. A true copy of record.
Attest, ELIZUR GOODRICH, Secretary."
t When Mr. Beers was nineteen or twenty years old, he went to Madeira
and on his return he brought to New Haven and introduced iuto the garden of
his father and the gardens of other citizens, .several varieties of the grape. And
•While he was in the army, as opportunity -was afibrded by occasional visits to
New Haven, he attended to horticulture. This is evinced by such records in
his diary as these : " Thisday pruned the trees," — " Thisday pruned the vines."

15
him in that profession. His christian character, however, did
not begin at that time. For many years before, he had been
a man of prayer, and doubtless of piety. From infancy lo
manhood, as we have seen, he was under a decided, strict and
thorough religious training and influence. Neither in child
hood nor in youth was he guilty of waywardness or reckless
levity, bul always kept his virtues unstained, and cultivated a
serious disposition. There is decided evidence that at the
period when he was in the army, like the great leader of that
army, he was much given to prayer. For a large part of
that period, he shared a tent with Lieutenant Frothing
ham ; and it was well understood by the ofBcers and soldiers
of the regiment that they were in the habit of retiring lo some
private place for prayer. When inquiry was made for Beers
or Frothingham, it was a common answer, " They have gone
into the woods to pray." In the winter of 1778, his regiment
was encamped during the severity of the season at West Point,
and were without covering, except such huts as they could
build wilh very scanty materials under the bank of the river.
He has often been heard to say, in giving an account of their
condition in the encampment during that severe winter, that
he made his hut a house of prayer. His aged partner, when
asked, since his death, al what time her husband became
pious, replied, "I do not know — I believe he was always
pious." Indeed, he himself always said, (and the fact gave him
some trouble,) that he could not recognize definitely the tirtie
of his spiritual conversion. It was partly this fact, together
wilh the influence of the somewhat extreme views respecting
adefinitely recognized period of conscious conversion, in which
he was educated by his father, by Dr. Trumbull, and by his
pastor. Dr. Edwards, which kept him back for so many years
from a profession of religion. Probably, however, he was
more influenced by his great distrust of himself, and his habit
ual and deep sense of unworthiness.
Nine years after he united with this church, (in 1804,) he
was elected one of its Deacons. With hesitation he accepted

16
the office ; but he performed its duties very acceptably to the
church, till prevented, within a few years past, by the infirmi
ties of extreme age.
Deacon Beers has retained his mental and physical powers
to an extraordinary degree, except that of hearing, which
early and greatly failed him. Till within two years, as regu
larly as the Sabbath came, and whatever the stale of the
weather, he was in his seal in the Sanctuary. All who know
him remember how erect was his form, and how firm his
step, al the age of ninety ; and his judgment and accuracy in
mailers of business and religion, at that time, seemed hardly
to have failed at all. A little less than a year since, he was
met on one of the coldest days of the season, by one of our
aged citizens, at the market, making arrangements for a family
festival on his ninety -fifth hirth-day.
But about a year since, his mental as well as physical pow
ers decidedly failed him ; and from that lime il has painfully
appeared how undesirable il is to outlive them. For much of
the lime, he has not recognized even his wife, and has been un
der the distressing impression that he was not at home, and
that he was prevented by those about him from going home.
Sometimes he would even raise the window, and call out
pileously lo persons riding by to stop and carry him home.
But his frame was very tenacious of life, and his vital powers
did not entirely fail him till Saturday last. He died on the
lOlh of February, 1849, lacking fourteen days of ninety-six
years of age.*
Deacon Beers and his wife were the parents of twelve
children ; of whom six survive, and four are permitted to be
present to-day at his burial. f
» The death of Deacon Beer.-i leaves us, in New Haven, but three survivors
of the Revolutionary Army, — Dr. .^neas Monson, who was Surgeon in the
same regiment ofthe Continental Army in which Deacon Beers was Lieuten
ant and Paymaster ; Marcus Merriman, Esq., who belonged to the Stale troops
of Connecticut ; and Capt. Gjid Peck, who, when a lad, went into the army
with his father.
•f 1. MarifflwasbornSeptember23d, 1782, and married Dr. Eli Ives, (now Pro
fessor in the Medical Department of Yale University.) They have had five

17

The proper demands ofthe present occasion will not be an
swered, unless, after this rapid sketch of our venerable friend's

children. (1) Nathan Beers, who married Sarah G. Badger, and has had one
child, Charles Linn33us. (2) Charles Linnaeus, (deceased at the age of
nineteen.) (3) Maria Beers, who married Dr. Henry A. Tomlinson, and has
had four children, Eli Ives, (deceased,) Mary, (deceased,) Charles, and Sarah
Hill. (4) EUzabeth, (deceased.) (5) Levi, who married Caroline Shoemaker,
and has had one child, Robert Shoemaker.
2. Eliza, was born November 19th, 1784, and died at the age of ten years,
September 8th, 1795.
3. Nathan'was born September 25th, 1787, and died of the yellow fever, on
the Island of St, Croix, at the age of fifteen years, December 2d, 1802.
4. Timothy Phelps (now Professor in the Medical Department of Yale Uni
versity) was born December 25th, 1789. He married for his first wife, Caroline
Ann, daughter of Isaac and Abigail Mills, and for his second wife, Mary Ann
Whiting, daughter of Hanover and Phebe Barney. By his first wife, he had
six children, (1) Mary Elizabeth, •who married William Seward Pierson.
(2) Abigail Phelps, who married Isaac Peck, and has had four children, Agnes,
Caroline, Mary Pierson, and Adeline Haskins. (3) Isaac Mills, who married
Hestina Salisbury, and has had one child, Timothy Phelps. (4) Charlotte
Mc CrEe, (deceased.) (5) Timothy Phelps. (6) Caroline Mills.
5. Isaac'Tftas born July 15th, 1792, and died at the age of forty-three years,
October 1st, 1835. He married Eliza M., daughter of Isaac and Rebecca
Townsend, and has had six children, Jane Townsend, John Phelps, Maria
Ives, Charles Ives, William Isaac, and Emily Elizabeth.
6. Abigail Ailing was born April 10th, 1794. She married Dr, John Tits-
•worth and has had four children. Havens, (deceased,) William, Margaret
Meddaugh, and Mary Phelps, (deceased.)
7. John Phelps was born June 15th, 1796, and died at the age of twenty-three
years, September 27th, 1819.
8. Eliza was born January 27th, 1799. She married Dr. Chas. Hooker, (now
Professor in the Medical Department of Yale University.) They have had
eight children — Mary Phelps (deceased,) Jane Havens, (deceased,) Charles
William, (deceased,) Mary Phelps, (deceased,) William Seth, (deceased,)
Eliza Beers, Jennet Phelps, Charles Richard (deceased.)
9. Jennet Phelps was born February 23, 1801, and died at the age of ten
and a half months, January 7th, 1803.
10. Nathan was born Feb. 26th, 1803, and died at the age of four months,
June 28th, 1803.
11. Clement was born July 29th, 1804. He married Eunice Louisa Scarritt,
andhashadthreechildren— Mary Louisa (deceased,) Sarah Love, and Nathan.
12. Nathan was born October 15th, 1806, He married Louisa Ashley, and
has had three children— Mary Phelps, Augusta, and Nathan.
3

18
history, some of the more remarkable features of his character
are noticed and briefly illustrated.
It is only giving utterance to the convictions and feelings of
all, to say in general terms, that his character as a man and a
christian is one of extraordinary beauty.
His patriotism needs no further illustration than has been
given in the previous narrative. The same love for his coun
try, which led him in his youth to devote his services and to
risk his life for the maintenance of her rights and the acquisi
tion of her independence, glowed in his heart till his death — till
he had completed almost fivescore years. He was always
devoted to his country's welfare, and always anxious for her
real honor. It ought to be added that, while he always favor
ed a military defence of national security, when absolutely
necessary, he had a deep philanthropic and christian sense of
the dreadful evils, especially, the moral evils of war.
The courtesy of Deacon Beers was extraordinary and very
beautiful. It was doubtless cultivated in a favorable school by
his intercourse in his youth with eminent gentlemen in the ar
my. But his nature and his religion were his best instructors
in courtesy. He had, in an uncommon degree, the constituents
of a true gentleman — the disposition to render, in his inter
course wilh others, what is due and pleasing to them; the
quick, delicate, accurate and strong perception and feeling of
what is due and pleasing to others ; and the ability to act out
that perception and feeling with propriety and grace. The
late Dr. Dwight, in his instructions to the Senior Class in Col
lege, often referred them to Deacon Beers as a model of court
esy as well as honesty — " an honest man and a perfect gentle
man." This remark leads naturally to the notice of our friend's
honesty or integrity. This trait was manifest to those who
knew him, through life ; bul is remarkably illustrated by some
portions of his history. It has already been intimated that,
about the time he left the office of Steward of College, he
found himself without property. At that period, the Steward

19
conducted the affairs of his office on his own pecuniary re
sponsibility, paying for the college stores, and looking for his
remuneration to the bills of the students, who, according lo a
law of the college, could not receive their degrees without a
certificate that they had given pecuniary satisfaction to the
Steward. When Mr. Beers accepted the office of Steward,
at the urgent sohcitation of Dr. Dwight, he had a property
which he estimated at thirty thousand dollars. But by his
accommodating and lenient disposition to the students, by
making hberal provision in order to their satisfaction in " the
Commons," and by suiting their necessities and convenience
as to the payment of their bills, losing thus in many cases in
terest, and in many others, both principal and interest ;* by
the insufficient arrangements of the College at that time for
the economical preservation of stores and provisions ; and
most of all probably by the withdrawal in a great degree of
his capital and attention from his mercantile business, which he
still continued, to that of the stewardship ; at the end of twenty
years, he found his property seriously embarrassed and en
cumbered, yet still in his opinion amply sufficient for the pay
ment of his debts. His friends think that it would have been
more than sufficient, had he taken lime to dispose of il to the
best advantage. But hearing some whispers of dissatisfac
tion from a few of his creditors, he at once gave up his proper
ty into the hands of assignees for settlement, resolved not lo al
low his integrity to be suspected for a moment. The result
was that some of his debts, amounting to between three and
four thousand dollars, remained unpaid, much lo his disappoint
ment and grief.
From that time, it was his earnest and rigid plan, by close
economy and frugahty, to save from his small earnings in his
garden, and from the small pension which he received as Lieu
tenant, enough for the payment of those debts. And some of
them he did pay in this manner. But, at length, at ninety
* It ought to be stated in this connexion, that the Corporation of the College
allowed a liberal per centage to the Steward, for the purpose of covering the
expense of collection, and the loss by unpaid bills.

20
years of age, he became discouraged, and revealed to one of
his children his fear that his strength would not hold out to
earn enough to defray those debts ; and he added an expres
sion of his keen disappointment. Just at that time, it was
found that he had been entitled for many years to a pen
sion as Paymaster in the army, which he had not received ;
and the amount due and soon received by him was quite suffi
cient to accomplish his long cherished object. The zeal, the
satisfaction, and extreme scrupulousness wilh which he search
ed out the persons, or their heirs, to whom these debts of more
than twenty-three years standing were due, and wilh which
he paid them all lo the uttermost farthing, might be illustrated
by many incidents, for the narration of which there is here
no time.*
* The scrupulous integrity of the old gentleman is -n'ell illustrated by the fol
lowing letter found among his papers, written ten years before he received his
last pension, when his income was very small. It seems that in settling the
estate of Mrs. StiU well, his sister, he had himself bought at their current value
some " Loan Office Certificates of 1778," belonging to the estate, which, some
time after, rose in the market to a higher value than that which he paid. This
purchase must have taken place soon after her death, in 1798. The letter, it
will be seen, was written in 1833 ! It is directed on the outside to Mr. Hezekiah
Howe, his sister's son. "Nbw Haven, S2-lth April, 1833.
To the Heirs of my late Sister Stillwell :
The more reflection is indulged respecting the Loan Office Certificates of 1778, the more ia
my mind impressed with the great probability that justice hath never been rendered to the heirs
of a sister, whose memory is very near and dear tome. Thus circumstanced, 1 can only, for the
present, place the heirs in the situation of my first class of creditors, who received a dividend
of $71 37 on every hundred dollai-s, making the sum now enclosed one hundred dollars. I
must entreat that there may be no Jiesitancy on the part of the heirs to the acceptance of this
remuneration, tho' small, as my pension enables me to do it with very little inconvenience,
and my present views and feehngs can be satisfied with nothing short of compUance herewith.
I am induced to believe, that at the time the certificates were used by me, it was not thought
wrong to purchase them, at their then value ; aftenvard, when they were placed on par value,
that circumstance might lead me to a culpable neglect in doing justice. At any rate there is
criminaUty on my part, that I pray may be forgiven by those now addressed, and much more
have 1 cause to ask forgiveness of the offended majesty of Heaven and earth.
With sincere regard to the descendants of my departed sister, and with ai-dent desire for their
prosperity, both spiritual and temporal, *
1 remain your affectionate uncle, N. BEERS.
P. S. Mr. Howe will please communicate the "within to the other heirs, and oblige
His friend and Uncle,
N. BEEKS."
Fortunately, Mr, Howe had documents in his' possession, by which he was
able to convince Deacon Beers, that the matter had long before been settled
according to his own rule of honesty.

21
These features of his character were doubtless partly the
result of his natural qualities, but far more the result of his
religion. And his religion had not only these and other ap
propriate manifestations toward his fellowmen, but also very
decided and beautiful manifestations toward God. If any
man among us was more worthy than any other to be called,
like Abraham, " the friend of God," he was Deacon Beers.
His relations to God received his chief attention, and spiritual
and eternal things his supreme regard ; and this uniformly,
certainly for many years past.
Deacon Beers was eminently a man of prayer. His cham
ber, where he communed with God, was visited by him many
times in the day, and sometimes during the watches of the
night, and long after he was really able to drag his aged
hmbs to that hallowed place. And since his recollection be
gan to fail him, at many and various times in the twenty-four
hours, he would insist on gathering his family for prayer. And
long after he was inadequate to any other intellectual exercise
he could 'pray in a collected and appropriate manner.*
Deacon Beers fervently loved the word of God. It was in
deed the man of his counsel, the guide of his life, and his medi
tation all the day. He had studied it till he knew a great part
of it by heart. Frequently, if not usually, of late years, he
has not read from the Bible at family prayers, but in each in
stance has repeated a chapter from memory ; and in his late
mental wanderings, the words most frequently on his uncon
scious lips were the words of the beloved book.
Deacon Beers loved the Sanctuary. For the last fifteen or

? Just a week before his death, on Saturday afternoon, when for the greater
part of the time he did not recognize his friends, some of his children being
present, he seemed to have the impression that there was a family gathering.
Inquiring if " the heads of the families were present," he asked his son to hold
him np, (he could not stand without support,) and then offered a collected and
solemn prayer for the spiritual welfare of his children. Then seeing some
children present — some of his grandchildren and one of his great-grandchildren
— he directed to have them called around him, and in like manner he implored
a. blessing upon them.

22
twenty years he could not hear a syllable, either of the preach
ing or praises of the Lord's house. But he believed that the
Sanctuary is the place divinely appointed for social worship —
the place where God meets his friends. It was to him a place
of hallowed associations, which assisted his devotion. And
here he was, with strict regularity, joining with devout spirit,
and devout attitude too, in the prayers of God's people, and
uniting with harmonious heart in songs of praise, not a note of
which reached his sealed ear. And since his memory has
failed him, his heart cleaved to the Sanctuary. Sometimes
he would come lo the church on a day between the Sabbaths,
and mourn bitterly to find that the gates of Zion were shut
(as he thought) on the Lord's day.*
Deacon Beers loved the Sabbath. It was the pleasanlest of
all days to him, and most sacredly, and wilh a holy joy did he
regard it. On one of the first occasions of his mistaking the
day of the week, he put the Sabbath a day too early — on
Saturday. Being convinced of this by a friend, he expressed
sorrow and compunction : for, said he, " we are required to
remember the Sabbath day."
And finally, notwithstanding these christian excellencies,
Deacon Beers was a man of great humility. No one ever
saw in him any symptoms of spiritual pride. On the other
hand, he always manifested a strong and unaffected sense of
his unworthiness ; frequently lamenting his sins, and calling
himself in humble but hopeful language, "a miserable sinner
saved by grace."
There are three lessons forcibly conveyed to the mind by
this sketch of the life and character of our departed friend,
which, in conclusion, should find brief utterance.
The first is a lesson for skeptics. That Deacon Beers pos
sessed real religion, radically distinguishing him from the men
of the world, nobody doubled — all acknowledged. Of course,
*Though Deacon Beers could not hear the preaching ofthe word, he did not
lose it. For it has been his uniform custom for many years to read the ser
mon of his pastor, waiting to receive it at the conclusion of divine service.

23
there is such a thing as religion in the soul of man. We
point you to Nathan Beers, not as to a perfect man, but a man
whose inward and outward life demonstrated beyond the pos
sibility of denial or doubt the truth and excellence of the
christian religion. Be exhorted to acknowledge that religion,
and by divine aid to perform its duties, to experience its
power, and to possess its blessed and immortal hopes and
joys. The second is a lesson for moralists, who rely for accept
ance with God upon their own righteousness. Deacon Beers,
from childhood to the age of fourscore and sixteen, had a
moral character on which the eyes of men saw no slain. Had
he not a righteousness al least equal to yours ? But when he
looked at his own heart and life in comparison wilh his real
obligations, and wilh the just law of God, he was overwhelmed
wilh a sense of his unworthiness, and called himself, "a miser
able sinner," who could hope to be " saved only by grace," the
grace of God in the blood of Christ. Say now, if he, stand
ing before God, could not rely for a moment on his own right
eousness, can you ?
The third lesson is one of consolation. We have no rea
son to mourn, but rather lo rejoice, for the death of our friend.
For here, he was, at length, encompassed by painful infirmi
ties ; but now he has gone where there is no infirmity — where
health and strength are complete and immortal. Here, for ma
ny years, his ear has been sealed, almost to the voice of friend
ship, and wholly sealed to the songs of Zion ; but now his un
sealed ear is filled wilh the voice of the " chief among ten
thousand," and with the melodies and harmonies of the heav
enly choir. Here, for many months past, he has fell in his
mental wanderings, that he was not at home, has felt, wretch
edly, that those around him would not let him go home ; but
now, blessed saint, he is at home. And what a home ! the
Beatific Presence — the bosom of God.

Photomount Pamphlet Binder
Gaylord Bros., Inc.
Makers
Syracuse, N. Y.
FAT, JAN 21, 1908

516 0130