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 Sg ISTOBIOAL SKETCH 
 
 ^^= % OF THE 
 
 gj NEW LONDON 
 
 ■!tist association, 
 
 ^^^ FROM ITS 
 
 RGANIZATION IN 1817, TO 1850. 
 TOGETHER WITH A 
 
 HISTORY OF THE CHURCHES 
 
 UK WHICH 
 
 IT IS COMPOSED. 
 
 Published by order of the Association. 
 
 so were tho churches established in the laitli, an-l ' 
 
 1 •/» _„__ 1 Q "o were tno cimrciies estaOl 
 lHOrHlcl increased in number •laily" Aeis'ltJ:. 
 
 ional 
 
 lity BOSTON: 
 
 i -UL.SS OF J. HOWE, 39 MERCHANTS ROW 
 
 1851.
 
 HISTORICAL SKETCH 
 
 OF THE 
 
 NEW LONDON 
 
 BAPTIST ASSOCIATION, 
 
 FROM ITS 
 
 ORGANIZATION IN 1817, TO 1850. 
 
 TOGETHER WITH A 
 
 HISTORY OF THE CHURCHES 
 
 OF WHICH 
 
 IT IS COMPOSED. 
 
 Published by order of the Association. 
 
 And so were the churches established in the faith, and increased 
 in number daily," Acts 16 : 5 
 
 BOSTON: 
 
 PRESS OF J. HOWE, 39 MERCHANTS ROW. 
 
 1851.
 
 Extracts from the Minutes respecting the collection of the 
 Historical Sketches. 
 
 At the Session of 1848, it was 
 
 Voted, To request the Churches to furnish a history of 
 themselves respectively, and report to the next meeting of 
 the Association. Dea. D. Bromley was appointed partic- 
 ularly to remind the Churches of this request. 
 
 At the Session of 1849, it was 
 
 Voted, That the History of the Churches sent in during 
 the Session, remain in the hands of the Clerks, (P. G. 
 Wightman and £. R. Warren ;) and that those Churches 
 who have not yet sent in their histories, be requested to for- 
 ward them to the Clerks, at or before the 1st of June, 1850. 
 
 Voted, That the Clerks, together with D. Bromley, of 
 .Norwich, be a Committee to obtain, arrange, and present 
 said Histories to the next Association. 
 
 At the Session of 1850, the Committee reported the 
 Sketches ready for publication, upon which it was 
 
 Voted, To authorize the Clerks to publish 3000 copies of 
 these Historical sketches, and an outline of the History of 
 the New London Baptist Association, in pamphlet form.
 
 HISTORICAL SKETCH 
 
 OF THE 
 
 NEW LONDON BAPTIST ASSOCIATION. 
 
 The New London Baptist Association was organ- 
 ized by a Convention of Delegates, assembled with 
 the First Baptist Church, Waterford, October 21 
 and 22, 1817. The following Churches were repre- 
 sented, viz: — Waterford; First and Second Lyme; 
 First and Second Saybrook ; Hampton ; First, Sec- 
 ond and Third Churches in Colchester ; Chatham 
 and Haddam ; Montville, Norwich, New London, 
 East Haddam, Mansfield, and Lebanon. 
 
 These Churches were situated West of the River 
 Thames ; and acting in accordance with the recom- 
 mendations of the joint Committee of the Stoning- 
 ton Association, and the Groton Union Confer- 
 ence,* bodies to which these Churches previously be- 
 longed, organized themselves into the NEW LON- 
 DON BAPTIST ASSOCIATION. The venerable 
 Samuel West was appointed Moderator, and Eld. 
 Wm. Palmer, Clerk. The Introductory Sermon was 
 preached by Eld. Samuel Cole, from Isa. 42: 4. 
 " He shall not fail nor be discouraged, till he have set 
 judgment in the earth : and the isles shall wait for 
 his law." 
 
 *The Groton Conference, and the Stoninston Association, were, 
 the same year, dissolved by mutual consent, and organized the 
 " Stonington Union Association," instead of those two bodies ; the 
 New London Association taking the Churches West of the River 
 Thame , previously associated in those two organizations. 
 
 2012453
 
 The following ordained ministers were present at 
 the organization, only one of whom now remains 
 with us : Zadoc Darrow, Francis Darrow, Asa Wil- 
 cox, Samuel West, William Witter, Amasa Smith, 
 John Sterry, Nehemiah Dodge, Daniel Putnam, Jon- 
 athan Goodwin, and William Palmer. Eld. Palmer 
 is still a member, though feeble in health, but was 
 able to be present at the Session in Norwich, in 3850. 
 Eld. Francis Darrow was, also, present at the Ses- 
 sion in 1850, and in usual health, but has, since, 
 (Tuesday, Oct. 15, 1850,) passed away to the Spirit 
 land in the triumphs of faith. Bro. John Payne 
 Sala Post, and Eliphalet Hilliard, licentiates, were 
 also present at the first Session. Several other or- 
 dained ministers belonged to the Churches compos- 
 ing the Association, but were not present at the 
 organization. 
 
 Number of Churches in 1817, was 16; Ordained 
 Ministers, 17 ; Licentiates, 6 ; whole number of 
 Members, 2044. 
 
 The first Circular Letter treats upon the subject of 
 Communion. It is treated in a practical light, and 
 abounds with varied and rich instruction, worthy of 
 notice at the present period. 
 
 The objects, sentiments and plan, of the Associa- 
 tion were distinctly set forth, and marked with the 
 character and spirit of that period. 
 
 11 We have learned," says the statement, " by ex- 
 perience, that a combination of Churches is both 
 prudent and useful, yea, the Word of God informs
 
 us, that l two are better than one, and a three-fold cord 
 is not quickly broken.' The numerous errors that are 
 propagated and prevailing in our land, at this day, 
 afford a striking proof that such a combination is 
 expedient, as thereby we may more effectually main- 
 tain the order and faith once delivered to the saints; 
 our acquaintance enlarged ; our union increased, 
 while we mutually consult each other's welfare, and 
 the prosperity of our brethren in general." 
 
 In the plan of the Association, it declares further, 
 that, 
 
 1. * The Association shall consist of messengers 
 chosen, and sent by the Churches." A nd that, " their 
 expenses be borne by the Churches that send them." 
 
 2. " The Churches should send Letters also to the 
 Association, mentioning the names of the messen- 
 gers, the state of the Churches, their increase or 
 diminution, and present number of members." 
 
 The plan also states the manner of the reception 
 of new Churches ; fixes the character of the intro- 
 ductory services of the Annual Meetings, printing 
 the Minutes, &c. &c. 
 
 The following, relating to the Faith of the body, 
 is the closing article in the plan : 
 
 "The Faith and Order of this Association are ex- 
 pressed in a Confession of Faith put forth by our 
 fraternity, in Great Britain, in 1689. Some of the 
 principles in said Confession are, the imputation of 
 Adam's sin to his posperity ; the inability of man 
 to recover himself; effectual calling by Sovereign 
 grace ; justification by imputed righteousness ; immer- 
 1*
 
 aion for baptism, and that on profession of faith and 
 repentance ; and reception into churches upon evi- 
 dence of sound conversion." 
 
 At the second Annual Meeting, John Sterry was 
 chosen Moderator, and Wm. Palmer, Clerk. The 
 preceding year was one of general spiritual dearth ; 
 and on the whole, the numbers decreased fourteen. 
 The subject of the Circular Letter was, "the Pro- 
 priety and advantage of union in Doctrine." It 
 closes with a beautiful tribute of acknowledgment 
 to Divine Providence, for the blessing of religious 
 liberty. " We congratulate you," says the Letter, 
 "on the kind interference of Divine Providence in 
 favor of Religious Liberty, in this State, in the 
 removal of those impediments which have so long 
 laid in its way; but God forbid that this liberty 
 should ever be perverted to licentious purposes. Let 
 us labor, therefore, to cultivate friendship and har- 
 mony with our brethren of different sentiments as 
 far as they walk according to the word of God • 
 and may our whole deportment in the house of God 
 and in society, carry conviction to all around us, that 
 we are firm in the doctrine of Christ, and faithful 
 and peaceful in Israel." The Letter was written by 
 Asa Wilcox. 
 
 At the Anniversary, held at Montville, in October, 
 1819, Bro. Wm. Palmer preached the Introductory 
 Sermon. Text, John 13 : 17. Bro. West was again 
 Moderator, and Wm. Palmer, Clerk. Wm. Palmer 
 continued to serve the Association as their Clerk, till 
 1842, with the single exception of the year 1822,
 
 when Ebenezer Loomis, Jr., was appointed Clerk 
 and Wm. Palmer, Assistanf Clerk. He served the 
 Association in this office, to their general satisfac- 
 tion and approval, for nearly twenty-Jive years, when 
 his age and infirmities induced him to decline the 
 burden further. Much credit is due to this venera- 
 ble servant of the Lord, for the faithful manner in 
 which he always made up the Annual Minutes, and 
 conducted the correspondence of the Association. 
 
 At the Annnal Meeting held at Hampton, in 1821, 
 Luther Rice was present, and preached a mission- 
 ary sermon, from Phil. 1 : 27. After which, a collec- 
 tion was taken up for "Indian Western Missions; 
 amount, $12 16£." Collections had been taken the 
 two previous years for Misssionary purposes. The 
 Association commended to the notice and patronage 
 of the Churches, the Christian Secretary, then 
 just started at Hartford; and recommended also, the 
 religious observance of the Fourth of July, annually, 
 as a day of Thanksgiving to God, in memory of 
 his signal interposition in favor of our National Lib- 
 erty, and that a collection be taken up on that day for 
 the benefit of the Indian Mission. A resolution 
 was also passed at this session, in favor of Domestic 
 Missions, and recommending the Connecticut Baptist 
 Missionary Society. 
 
 At the Annual Meeting of 1822, the first collec- 
 tion was taken in behalf of the ORPHANS and 
 WIDOWS of deceased Baptist Ministers at the 
 close of the introductory sermon ; amount, $11 81. 
 This session was marked, also, by resolutions in
 
 favor of Sabbath Schools, the American Baptist 
 Magazine, and Missions in general. The closing* 
 sermon of this session was preached by the venera- 
 bla Stephen Gano, of Providence, R. I. Text, 
 1 Cor. 1 : 2. The subject of the Circular Letter of 
 this year was, " Predestination, personal and uncon- 
 ditional election." This letter was written by Elder 
 Palmer, and is an able vindication of the doctrine 
 in question, from the foul aspersions with which it 
 has been assailed by its opponents. 
 
 Annual Meeting of 1823 was held at Lyme. This 
 year was marked by an accession of 113 by baptism; 
 but still the deaths, exclusions, and dismissions were 
 so numerous that the aggregate number fell short of 
 the amount with which the Association started. The 
 number this year was 1971 ; that of 1817 was 2044. 
 The following vote was passed very unanimously^ 
 though with great regret for its necessity. Elder 
 Dodge had been one of the constituent members of 
 the Association, and an able and earnest laborer in 
 our field. His departure from the faith was prompt- 
 ly met by the good men who then led the hosts 
 of Zion. 
 
 Voted, That, although it is painful to us, yet we feel 
 bound in duty, and do hereby declare Mr. JNehemiah Dodge 
 of JNew London, excluded from our fellowship, he having 
 departed from the faith, as we believe. We cannot, there- 
 fore, be innocent in encouraging him to preach. 
 
 The Circular Letter of this year, (1823,) is some- 
 what longer than usual, but it is an able vindication 
 of our Lord's Supreme Divinity, most scripturally
 
 argued and defended. The session closed by the 
 Associational Doxology, in the stanza with which 
 the writer of the letter closes the same, viz : 
 
 " Glory to God the Father be, 
 
 Glory to God the Son ; 
 Glory to God the Holy Ghost, 
 
 Glory to God alone." 
 
 The Session of 1824 was held in Saybrook. Ser- 
 mon by Esek Brown, from Tit. 2 : 14. That of 
 1825, was held at Norwich, and Simon Siiail> r de- 
 livered the Introductory Sermon. Text, Heb 12: 2. 
 "Looking unto Jesus." There was contribuled at 
 this time, $16 30, for the Widow's Fund. The As- 
 sociation remained about the same for several years, 
 increasing but gradually the number of its Churches 
 and members. In J 830, its number of Churches was 
 18, and 2164 members. The number of ordained 
 ministers this year, was but 14; and 5 licentiates. 
 In the Minutes of 1832, there is a full summary of 
 the Churches, presenting a brief outline of the his- 
 tory of them all, which must have cost the Clerks 
 much labor and toil. 
 
 In 1835, the Association re-adopted the Constitu- 
 tion, and specific Rules of Order, based upon the 
 sentiments and plan under which the body had pre- 
 viously existed. Total number of members this 
 year, 2307. The Minutes for 1838, contain an ex- 
 tended view of "the Missions, Stations," &c, of 
 the Board of Managers of the Baptist General Con- 
 vention, commending the subject earnestly to our 
 Churches. In 1840, there were 19 Churches; 18
 
 10 
 
 ordained ministers, and 2202 members ; the numbers 
 having diminished since 1835. The Circular Letter 
 of this year, -written by N. Wildman, was upon the 
 theme of "Church Music." 
 
 From 1840 to 1850, eight churches have united 
 with this body, and her membership has more than 
 doubled ; the present number being 4739. The 
 Church in Saybrook has been dismissed to the New 
 Haven Association, leaving the present number of 
 Churches connected with the New London .Baptist 
 Association, 2(j ; Ordained Ministers, 28; Licen- 
 tiates, 5. The whole number of Ordained Ministers 
 who have been connected with the Association, is 
 116. Seventeen of these are numbered among the 
 Churches originally composing the Association, and 
 their names appear on the first Minutes in 1817, al- 
 though but eleven of them were present. But only 
 one minister, (Elder Wm. Palmer,) who was present 
 at the organization of the Association, is now with 
 us. He is probably the only original member now 
 living. For a quarter of a century he has officiated 
 as the Clerk ; and most truly has he honored his 
 office. He now resides in Norwich, where he labor- 
 ed for many years in the pastoral office, with much 
 success. May his declining years be passed in 
 peace. Three of the largest Churches in the Asso- 
 ciation, excepting the First, in New London, have 
 united with it within the last ten years. The Cen- 
 tral Church, Norwich; the Second, in New London, 
 and the Huntington Street, New London. The Cen- 
 tral, Norwich, united in 1840 ; the 2d New London?
 
 11 
 
 in 1842 ; and the Huntington Street, in 1849. Inter- 
 esting Conventions were held for several years in 
 connection with the Association, upon the subject of 
 Sabbath Schools ; and statistics were inserted in the 
 Minutes, of the condition of the Schools throughout 
 the Association. But for several years this practice 
 has been dispensed with ; and the Churches have, 
 generally, ceased to inform the Association in their 
 Annual Letters, respecting the condition of Sabbath 
 Schools among them. Sabbath Schoo > exist, how- 
 ever, in most of our Churches, and are useful auxil- 
 iaries in advancing the cause of Christ among the 
 youth of our land. 
 
 The Association has, at different periods, passed 
 strong resolutions in favor of the various benevolent 
 movements of the age. Temperance, Anti-slavery, 
 Peace, and various forms of Moral Reform, have re- 
 ceived attention, and resolutions in their favor are 
 recorded in our Minutes. A resolution was also 
 passed for several years, disapproving of Secret So- 
 cieties, and urging Christians to abstain from uniting 
 with them. At the last Session, held at Norwich, in 
 September, 1850, all resolutions upon Benevolence, 
 and Reformatory subjects were stricken from our 
 Minutes, as being dead and inoperative, and the fol- 
 lowing substituted in their stead : 
 
 Resolved, That we recommend to the Pastors of this 
 Association, to present to their congregations from time to 
 time, as they may deem expedient, the claims of the various 
 Missionary, and other benevolent objects, to which their 
 sympathies and support are demanded.
 
 12 
 
 The Concert of Prayer for the conversion of the 
 world, is commended to the observance of our 
 Churches, and the first Monday in January, of the 
 new year, by a special and "standing resolution." 
 
 In 1848, by special vote of the Association, the 
 Churches were requested to communicate, in their 
 next Annual Letters, a general outline of their re- 
 spective Histories. It was found, however, that in 
 1849, but a few Churches had complied with the re- 
 quest. But the Association deeming it expedient to 
 carry out the design of the original vote, appointed 
 a Committee, consisting of P. G. Wightman, of 
 East Lyme ; E. R. Warren, of New London, and 
 D. Bromly, of Norwich, to correspond with such 
 Churches as had not furnished their histories, and 
 endeavor to obtain them, and arrange them for pub- 
 lication, and present them at the next annual meet- 
 ing. The Report of this Committee is published in 
 the Minutes of 1850, and the Historical Skethes of 
 the Churches are herewith subjoined, 
 
 By order of the Association,
 
 HISTORY 
 
 OT THE 
 
 1st BAPTIST CHURCH, WATERFORD. 
 
 The Town of Waterford was known until 1801, as 
 New London, of which it was a part. The accounts 
 of the early movements of Baptists, are, therefore, 
 put down to New London, though the seat of those 
 movements was in those parts now known as Water- 
 ford. The first baptisms in the Colony of Connecti- 
 cut, after the primitive mode, took place in this town, 
 in the year 1674, by regular Baptist ministers from 
 Rhode Island. An excitement was raised on ac- 
 count of it, and the General Court was invoked to 
 suppress the innovation. Several of these Baptists 
 remaining firm to their sentiments, on the organiza- 
 tion of the 1st Baptist Church in Groton, in 1705, 
 put themselves under the watch-care of that Church ; 
 rnd were visited from time to time by its pastor, El- 
 der Wightman, till about the year 1710, when they 
 were organized into a distinct Church, which is call- 
 ed, by Backus, " The Second Baptist Church in 
 Connecticut." 
 
 For several years the Church remained destitute of 
 a pastor, but received the occasional visits of Elders 
 Wightman, of Groton ; Tillinghast, of Providence ; 
 2
 
 14 
 
 Win. Peckham, of Newport ; and others, who broke 
 unto them " the bread of Life." 
 
 Stephen Gorton, from Rhode Island, commenc- 
 ed visiting the Church about the year 1720, aad was 
 ordained as their first Pastor, November 28, 1726. 
 Previous to the settlement of Elder Gorton, the 
 Church had erected a commodious house of worship 
 on East Neck, which was " a Bethel" to multitudes of 
 souls for more than a century. The Church also, as 
 it grew stronger, purchased a parsonage, including 
 a small farm, which Eld. Gorton occupied while he 
 remained in Waterford. Great success attended the 
 ministry of Eld. Gorton, for many years. He won 
 the affection of his people at home, and was respect- 
 ed abroad, for his talents as a speaker. Under his 
 ministry the Church rapidly increased, and spread 
 into the adjoining towns and across the Connecticut 
 River. His labors greatly promoted the progress of 
 Baptist sentiments in Lyme and Saybrook ; and in 
 1731, " a branch of Eld. Gorton's Church was plant- 
 ed in Wallingford, which remained under the watch- 
 care of the New London (Waterford,) Church, till 
 August 20, 1739, when they were formed into the 
 Third Baptist Church in Connecticut. 
 
 The preaching of Whitefield and Devenport, in 
 New London, was attended with vast success, thous- 
 ands hearing the word of God from those devoted 
 servants of their Master. But amid the general joy 
 of Zion, and increase of her converts, which followed 
 The Great New Light Stir, (so called.) an event oc- 
 curred which threw this Church into trial, and pro-
 
 15 
 
 duced much division and alienation, and subsequent- 
 ly the destruction of Eld. Gorton's Church, and the 
 formation of a new interest. That a minister of so 
 long standing and usefulness as Eld. Gorton, should 
 permit his moral character to be compromised, was 
 so astonishing, and sorrowful, that the Church was 
 thrown into a state of division. The majority, how- 
 ever, disbelieving the accusation alleged against him, 
 adhered to the pastor ; but the minority withdrew, 
 and subsequently, at about 1748, with some new con- 
 verts, gathered under the preaching of Eld. Wm. 
 Peckham and Daniel Green, formed " a new interest," 
 which was recognized as the First Church, the old 
 having been considered as out of gospel order, and 
 lost the fellowship of the other two Churches. Eld. 
 Peckham's labors were highly conducive to the re- 
 establishment of the Baptist cause in Waterford, and 
 in vindicating the great Baptist doctrine of Religious 
 Liberty. This venerable apostle extended his labors 
 to Saybrook, where he " baptized both men and wo- 
 men," believing in Christ, regardless of the fierce 
 opposition which met him. But his bold and open 
 advocacy of Baptist sentiments, and the doctrine of 
 religious and civil liberty in general, procured for 
 him and the intrepid Green, and many of their fol- 
 lowers, a lodgement in New London Jail, for several 
 weeks, in mid-winter ; and where they were allowed 
 no fire, or bedding, and but insufficient food. 
 
 The imprisonment of these brethren called forth 
 the deepest sympathy from many of " the Standing 
 Order." The President of Yale College, Col. Elisha
 
 16 
 
 Williams, issued, immediately, a pamphlet, entitled 
 "The Essential Rights of Protestants," in which he 
 gave a masterly expose of the intolerance of the ex- 
 isting Ecclesiastical Laws, and advocated the Rights 
 of Conscience, and the principles of Civil and Re- 
 ligious Liberty, which have in every age been cher- 
 ished by Baptists. 
 
 This Church was also visited from time to time, by 
 Elders Cooley, Mack and Sprague, whose labors were 
 owned of the Lord among them. Eld. Mack, who 
 was ordained in Lyme, in 1749, over a separate Con- 
 gregational Church, on becoming a Baptist, frequent- 
 ly visited this Church, and carried the gospel to the 
 Montauk Indians, on Long Island, where a branch 
 of this body was planted among that tribe, which 
 continued for more than a half century. The names 
 of these red brethren are still on our records. 
 
 About this time, (1752.) the attention of the Church 
 was attracted to the gift of Bro. Nathan Howard, 
 one of the constituent members of the Church, who 
 seemed designed of the Lord as their future pastor. 
 He was called to ordination and the pastoral care of 
 the Church, and for more than twenty years served 
 his brethren in this holy office. He died suddenly 
 of small pox, March 2, 1777, aged 56 years. The 
 praise of his life still lingers in the Church. Plis oc- 
 cupation in life, like some of the apostles, was that 
 of a fisherman. He discovered a favorite fishing 
 ground, now well known to navigators of the Sound, 
 which still bears the name of Howard's Lcd>>-e. He 
 was eminently a man of faith and prayer, and earnest
 
 17 
 
 in his warnings to sinners in public and by the way- 
 side. His memory is yet cherished with a hallowed 
 enthusiam by the aged pilgrims in Zion, and the 
 precious influence of his pious example and unwont- 
 ed faith, are yet in the Church he loved so much, and 
 served so long. His remains were interred in a 
 burying ground given by himself to the Church, 
 which has since been enlarged by purchase. 
 
 It was during the miuistry af Eld. Howard that 
 Eld. Eliphalet Lester resided at Jordan, near the 
 spot where our new house of worship is located. It 
 was in this vicinity Eld. Lester was born, in 1730, 
 and here he buried his first wife, who died of small 
 pox. He had been awakened and converted under 
 the preaching of Whitefield, in 1745 or 1746, and 
 was reputed to be " a man mighty in the Scriptures." 
 The efficient aid he rendered to Eld. Howard and 
 the Church, previous to his removal, causes his name 
 to be embalmed in the early history of this body. 
 After his settlement at Saybrook, in ]776, his fre- 
 quent visits in these parts made him, under God, 
 the instrument of much good. 
 
 Eld. Zadoc Darrow's Ministry. — Zadoc Dar- 
 row, the third Pastor of the Church, was born in New 
 London, (O. S.) Dec. 25, 1728. He was the only 
 son of Ebenezer Darrow, and his mother was a 
 Rogers, "a lineal descendant of him that was burnt 
 at Smithfteld, in the reign of the bloody Mary." — 
 That the blood of the martyr flowed in his veins, 
 has been several times before published to the world. 
 The evidence on which this claim is based is, so far 
 2*
 
 18 
 
 as we know, undeniable. Though educated in the 
 forms of the Church of England, he had never en- 
 tertained very serious impressions, till he went, out 
 of curiosity, to hear Eld. Joshua Morse, then known 
 as a great ,l New Light preacher." The thoughtless 
 young man was unexpectedly arrested by the impor- 
 tant truths he then, for the first time, heard ; and after 
 a severe struggle with the pride of his heart, he was 
 led to embrace the Saviour. Though surrounded by 
 friends that despised " this way," and treated his 
 newly adopted opinions with worse then mere con- 
 tempt, he, nevertheless, boldly confessed Christ, and 
 was not ashamed to identify himself with the infant 
 Baptist cause. Following up the preaching of Eld. 
 Morse, whom, it is said, he uniformly went several 
 miles to hear, he persuaded his spiritual instructer to 
 hold meetings near the city, and from these meet- 
 ings, a small Baptist Church arose, " of which," the 
 account says, "young Zadoc become the first dea- 
 con." This Church secured the pastoral services of 
 Eld. Noah Hammond, and attempted to build a Meet- 
 ing-House, just West of the City of New London ; 
 but things wearing an unfavorable aspect, Eld. Ham- 
 mond accepted a call from a Church on Long Island, 
 where he resided some twenty years, a useful min- 
 ister of the gospel. His bereaved Church, from the 
 smallness of their number, and their proximity to 
 Eld. Howard's Church at Niantick, was dissolved, and 
 united with the 1st Church. The accession of Dea. 
 Darrow and his brethren to the body of which Eld. 
 Howard was pastor, bears date of about A. D. 1756.
 
 19 
 
 His views in regard to "mixed communion," were 
 said to be rather stricter than those generally enter- 
 tained by the brethren to whom he had now attached 
 himself; and this accounts for his attempt to estab- 
 lish the Hammond interest. But in 1756, the old 
 Church seem to have been returning to their original 
 ground of admitting only such to the communion of 
 the Church, as " were baptized into it," according to 
 apostolic usage. Mr. Darrow's growing public gift > 
 the well known " good report" of his integrity ; his 
 intimate knowledge of the Scriptures, and soundness 
 in the faith ; his undaunted zeal for the doctrines of 
 the cross, and his fearless advocacy of the rights of 
 conscience, then so little understood, all seemed to 
 lead his pastor and his brethren to regard him as 
 their future leader. Unconscious of his own qualifi- 
 cations for the sacred office, he steadily declined re- 
 ceivings ordination till the failing health and resigna- 
 tion of Eld. Howard, induced him to give way to the 
 unanimous call of the Church, and entreaties of his 
 beloved pastor, whom he finally succeeded in office 
 about A. D. 1775, possibly a little earlier, as we have 
 lost the exact date. Abenezer Rogers was chosen 
 deacon in his stead. 
 
 The number of communicants at this time was 
 small. There were many trials, incident to the pas- 
 toral office, which the present generation can but 
 faintly appreciate. 
 
 The law of the Colony, which at first enacted, 
 11 That no persons within this Colony, shall, at any 
 lime, embody themselves into Church estate without
 
 20 
 
 the consent of the General Court, and the approbation 
 of neighboring Elders ; That no ministry or Church 
 administration shall be attended by the inhabitants of 
 any plantation or colony, distinct or separate from, 
 and in opposition to, that which is openly observed 
 and dispensed by the approved minister of the place, 
 [i. e. " Standing Order."] These lav/s had been so 
 far modified as to secure the Baptists from open per- 
 secution, but securing little beyond it. Eld. Darrow 
 witnessed with pleasure the catholicity of Messrs* 
 Adams and Byles — successive Congregational cler- 
 gymen of New London — men ahead of their times 
 in their enlightened views of the rights of con- 
 science — who did not permit their names to come 
 down to us as the abettors of those petty annoyances 
 to which his brethren in less favored parishes were 
 then exposed. From these and other streaks of light 
 that began to illuminate the horizon of the Church 
 of God, he anticipated the not distant rising of the 
 sun of Religious Liberty. But there was a darker 
 shade upon some parts of the picture, which, at times, 
 led him and his Baptist co-laborers to despond. The 
 process of exemption from taxation to support the 
 religion of the State, was difficult, and often extreme- 
 ly vexatious ; and there had grown up among the 
 " steady habits" of the good people of Connecticut, 
 an almost holy horror of dissenters of the Roger 
 Williams school, who were said to seek the under- 
 mining of all the staid religious institutions of the 
 land, founded by the pious pilgrim fathers.
 
 21 
 
 Tirne-honored prejudice, so blinded the eyes of 
 many good men in the church, and in the State, that 
 they could not (it seems as if they dared not,) dis- 
 tinguish between a conscientious opposition to relig- 
 ious intolerance, and an opposition to religion itself. 
 The Baptists of Connecticut were then few in num- 
 ber ; their Churches counting less than twenty ; 
 their aggregate membership less than a thousand j 
 without Meeting-Houses, or with but poor apologies 
 for them, located at a most obsequious distance from 
 thickly populated points, as if afraid to offend the 
 eye of the multitude. As a sect, taunted with their 
 poverty of this world's goods and honors — accounted 
 but illiterate and designing men — they felt that they 
 were made the common pack-horse of all the sins of 
 all the opprobrious sects from the days of the first 
 Baptist to that time. In addition to these general dis- 
 couragements, there were some special trials which 
 Pastor Darrow had to encounter. The exciting 
 scenes of the Revolutionary war were no where in 
 the land more strikingly exhibited than in this patri- 
 otic portion of our State. But while the soul-stirring 
 call of a suffering country, aroused the patriotism of 
 all good men, and resulted in the nation's liberty ; 
 yet the war was, undeniably, attended and followed 
 by an alarming increase of infidelity, with a conse- 
 quent laxity of morals, which were felt most, where 
 the martial influence entirely prevailed as it did, for 
 a long time, in this unhappy region ; where the 
 treachery of Arnold, the abandonment of Fort Trum- 
 bull, the sacking of New London, the massacre at
 
 22 
 
 Fort Griswold ; then the sight of families flying 
 from the city to the country, and of warriors hasten- 
 ing to the points of danger — all together had fan- 
 ned the hitherto gentle flame of liberty into a sub- 
 lime and sweeping conflagration, which not only 
 threatened destruction to the common enemy from 
 abroad, but menaced the quiet fire-side of our brave 
 ancestors with a more insidious and not less danger- 
 ous foe at home — Infidelity — an ever-present ally of 
 war. It regarded not the sacredness of the cause 
 for which our fathers mingled in the strife of arms. 
 Infidelity, keenly scented on the track of war, like 
 the jackall, on the battle-field, cares not whose cause 
 is just, or wbo triumphs, so it can find victims to 
 gorge a carrion, craving appetite. 
 
 Against this new and formidable enemy, father 
 Darrow arrayed himself, conscious of the power of 
 the Gospel to subdue the hearts of the wicked, and to 
 roll back the swelling tide of skepticism, which came 
 from the camp, or had been brought from France. 
 The gibes of the open unbeliever, and the ribald 
 songs of the free-thinker, made both pastor and peo- 
 ple their unblushing butt of ridicule, as we are told 
 by men who remembered the shameless songs, and 
 coarse jests of a large class in this vicinity, at the 
 close of the war. It was at this time, that all his 
 energes were called forth to stand in defence of the 
 gospel ; and signally did the cause of Christ triumph 
 in that day that tried the fidelity of his people. The 
 discipline of the Church, which the war had affect- 
 ed unfavorably, was restored with gospel strictness;
 
 23 
 
 the articles and covenant of the Church were care- 
 fully digested, and placed on record; mixed com- 
 munion formally, as it had long been practically, re- 
 nounced ; backsliders reclaimed, and scores, from 
 time to time, brought into the Church, many of whom 
 had been revilers of the truth ; till this ancient body 
 which, at Eld. Darrow's accession, in 1756, had num- 
 bered, as we learn, but twenty-five, rose to be, nu- 
 merically, one of the largest Baptist Churches in 
 the State. 
 
 It was during this season of prosperity, some 60 
 or 70 years since, that the first decided " Missiona- 
 ry movement" in this Church occurred, which, from 
 its early date and singular origin, deserves to be 
 mentioned. It seems, the General Assembly of the 
 State of Connecticut, had authorized the Governor 
 to invite every religious Society in the Common- 
 wealth, to contribute funds for the support of Mis- 
 sionaries, to be sent out under the patronage of 
 the (Congregational) Association of Connecticut, to 
 •" preach the gospel in the Northern and Western re- 
 gions of America." A scheme so fraught with be- 
 nevolence would, it was hoped, reconcile even Dis- 
 senters from the State establishment, to a temporary 
 and indirect alliance between it and the Churches. 
 Here was a dilemma. To comply with the request, 
 would be to countenance this alliance ; to reject it, 
 was to disregard the cause of Missions. The 
 Church, having received His Excellency's proclama- 
 tion and request, promptly voted, 1. Their cordial 
 approval of Missionary objects as " a laudable and
 
 24 
 
 benevolent design." But 2. This particular request 
 could not be complied with, in the manner suggest- 
 ed, because, " the Association of Connecticut did not 
 appoint the said Missionaries in what we (the Church,) 
 consider an equal and impartial manner — the Asso- 
 ciation representing hut one denomination?'' 3. They 
 wished to have it distinctly understood by all, that 
 they " do not recognize the right of the General As- 
 sembly to control them as a religious body, but only as 
 members of civil society." Yet, 4. Lest this refusal 
 to meet the Assembly's wishes, might be interpreted 
 by the world, as a virtual disapproval of sustaining 
 Missionaries, the Church " appointed a Special Com- 
 mitlee to solicit subscriptions for Missionary purpo- 
 ses" voting further, that "such funds, so raised, 
 should be placed at the disposal of any " Baptist 
 Missionary Society," that might be formed ; and 
 to promote this good object, the Church stood pledged 
 to co-operate ivilh any sister Church or Churches, or 
 ivith any individual brethren who might be disposed 
 to unite in carrying out this worthy object" Accord- 
 ly the subscription paper was circulated, and some 
 fourteen dollars raised, which was not so small a sum 
 for a Church to raise in those days. And from that 
 time to the present, it is believed, this branch of 
 Zion has continued to cherish a steady attachment 
 to the cause of Missions, which, if not manifested in 
 casting munificent sums into the treasury, has yet 
 been felt as a duty, and prized as a privilege. 
 
 The field of Eld. Darrow's labors, at this time 
 was wider than that of modern Baptist Pastors. His
 
 25 
 
 little army lay encamped on the shores of the Nian* 
 tick, and in the valley of Jordan ; but his out-posts 
 Mere scattered over New London, Montville, Black 
 Point, Colchester, Norwich Plains, (Bozrah,) and even 
 Long Island. The " Norwich Plains" Church (as it 
 stands on the record,) was for some time held as a 
 branch of this body, the names of all the constituent 
 members being on the books of the mother Church. 
 Busy in strengthening feeble interests around him, 
 constantly holding forth the word of Life to the des- 
 titute ; planting new churches abroad, for which his 
 own flock furnished a liberal quota of original mem- 
 bers ; he did not, on that account, neglect his duties 
 at home. Besides attending to his farming, he yet 
 found time to hold meetings at River Head, Harbor's 
 Mouth, Great Neck, Lake's Pond, Jordan, Rope Fer- 
 ry, and Quaker Hill. He preached on the Sabbath 
 and administered the sacrament monthly, except at 
 stated intervals, at the house of one of his Deacons — 
 John Beckwithj — till 1788, when the unfinished 
 "Hammond Meeting-House'' was removed from its 
 old site, near Finger's Brook, placed on land given 
 by Eld. Darrow, near the " Howard burying ground" 
 and put in comfortable order by the Church. It con- 
 tinued to he their principal place of worship till 1848, 
 having been from time to time enlarged and repair- 
 ed, to accommodate a growing congregation. At 
 stated times, the Church held their meetings on the 
 Sabbath, and communions in the Court House, or at 
 the dwellings of brethren Coit and Clark, in the city 
 of New London, and at the old " Gorton Meeting- 
 3
 
 26 
 
 House," on East Neck. The latter was, from time 
 to time, repaired and occupied for one hundred and 
 twenty or thirty years. 
 
 This Church united with the Second Groton, and 
 other Churches, in forming-, at Eld. Burrows' Meet- 
 ing 1 , an Association called the "Groton Confer- 
 ence," which body, in 1789, embraced 14 Churches, 
 14 ministers, and about 1300 communicants. But Eld. 
 Darrow and his people not approving mixed commun- 
 ion, as practised by some of the associated Churches 
 withdrew, and united with the " Stonington Asso- 
 ciation." The Minutes of several of the first Ses- 
 sions of the "Conference," commencing with 1786, 
 are written out in full on our records. 
 
 To give an idea of the flourishing state of this 
 Zion in the palmiest days of father Darrow's minis- 
 try, we subjoin a few statistics : 
 
 In 1786, added by baptism, 6 ; in 1787, 58 ; in 
 1788, 30 ; in 1789, 13; in 1790, 5; in ]794, 91. 
 
 It was during the extensive revival of 1794, that 
 Francis Darrow was converted and united with 
 the Church. A late act of the General Assembly, 
 which took effect about this time, graciously exempt- 
 ed all dissenters from the Ecclesiastical Establish- 
 ment, from paying for its support, provided, they 
 "certified" their attachment and aid to dissenting 
 bodies of their choice. To show how grateful an 
 almost disfranchised people were for small conces- 
 sions, we need only to remark the lively joy which 
 the Baptists of that day manifested for this deliver.
 
 27 
 
 ance. True, it was not the complete enfranchisement 
 which was embodied in the Constitution of our State 
 at a later period. But it was hailed with a delight 
 which was never surpassed by our Baptist fathers at 
 any period of their history, for in it, they realized 
 the speedy triumph of full Religious Liberty. From 
 the point of time which they occupied, they could 
 review the persecutions, the ignomy which their pre- 
 decessors and some of their cotemporaries had suffer- 
 ed for vindicating the very principle which the masses 
 in " the land of steady habits" were beginning to 
 understand. By none was this reaction in favor of 
 Liberty of Conscience received with more unmingled 
 satisfaction than by father Darrow. For, his tena- 
 cious memory, had it been disposed to forget, (as his 
 heart was to forgive,) could scarcely fail, at times, to 
 recall the position which himself and brethren had 
 occupied when branded as "followers of the mad 
 men of Munster, aiming to subvert all the established 
 forms of religion in the land," — and this slander reit- 
 erated, till it came to be believed by many good men- 
 He could not wholly forget the open opposition, the 
 civil disabilities, and the countless embarrassments 
 which had been imposed upon them solely for a 
 steady, but respectful adherence to their convictions 
 of truth and duty. 
 
 In 1801, Budge Smith, an intelligent colored 
 brother, licensed some time before, was ordained as 
 an Evangelist. He was a sound, edifying preacher, 
 whose memory is yet precious in Zion, but he did not 
 live many years, to serve his heavenly Master in this
 
 28" 
 
 field. Budge had been a slave. The little property 
 he had accumulated he left to the Church. 
 
 Brother George Atwell, another licentiate of 
 this Church, was ordained in 1802, and settled over 
 the Saybrook Church. He finally finished his useful 
 life at Enfield, in 1814, aged 48 years. 
 
 About this time, father Darrow's health had be- 
 come so impaired by his extraordinary labors, by age 
 and consequent infirmity, that the Church, by his ad- 
 vice extended a call to the Rev. Samuel West, of 
 Bozrah, to become associate Pastor with Eld. Dar- 
 row, (then in his 75th year,) which he accepted, and 
 came to reside among them in 1802. Eld. West, who 
 had at first been a Seventh Day Baptist, was born in 
 Hopkinton, R. I., in 1766. After embracing the 
 Christian Sabbath, he was ordained at Norwich in 
 1799, and the same year settled over the Bozrah 
 Church. 
 
 Two years after his settlement in Waterford, the 
 First Baptist Church of New London was formed, 
 by the dismissal of about fifty members from the old 
 body. The new Church called Eld. West to the 
 pastorate, but he continued, by agreement, to break 
 bread to the Waterford brethren, till 1809. After 
 twelve years of successful labor with the mother and 
 daughther in Waterford and New London, he remov- 
 ed to Saybroolr, and remained connected with that 
 ancient Church till his death, in 1837. 
 
 Francis Darrow was associated with his grand- 
 father Zadoc, in 1809. But the latter continued to 
 preach occasionally, as he was able, and when no
 
 29 
 
 longer capable, from the weight of years, of blow- 
 ing the gospel trumpet, as he had been wont — his 
 tremulous voice was sometimes heard, exhorting his 
 spiritual children, counselling the youth, and affec- 
 tionately inviting all to come to the Saviour. Deep 
 and lasting impressions were made on the minds of 
 his auditors, as they heard these last appeals from 
 this patriarchal servant of God, who had worn him- 
 self out in the service of their fathers. But the 
 time of his departure was at hand. He had " fought 
 the good fight," for almost four-score years, since his 
 conversion and union with the Church militant. He 
 had ministered in the Deacon's and Pastoral office, 
 more than three-fourths of a century. 
 
 Zadoc Darrow " fell asleep in Jesus," February 
 15, 1827, in the 99th year of his age. His funeral 
 sermon was preached by Eld. West, his former col- 
 league, from Deut. 32: 7. "Ask thy father," &c. 
 Eld. D. was three times married. His first wife was 
 Hannah Lester, by whom he had no children. His 
 second wife was the sainted Hester Lee, sister of 
 Eld Jason Lee, of Lyme, by whom he had four sons 
 and four daughters, all of whom lived to have fami- 
 lies, and several of whose descendants have been, or 
 are still, ministers of the gospel. His third wife, the 
 pious widow Pember, was united to him late in life, 
 and died but five days before him, aged 94 years. 
 
 Elder Francis Darrow's Ministry. — From the 
 time of his conversion to God, and connection with 
 the Church, in 1794, Francis Darrow, who was the 
 3*
 
 30 
 
 son of Dea. Lemuel Darrow, and grandson of Rev. 
 Zadoc Darrow, had felt his mind occasionally called 
 up to the subject of "preaching Christ." In 1809, 
 he was ordained, at the unanimous call of the Church, 
 and made associate Pastor with his aged grandfather. 
 Eld. Wilcox preached, and Elders Burrows, Lee and 
 West, assisted in the exercises on the occasion. At 
 that time, this Church did not, it must be confessed, 
 present an inviting field. Its aggregate membership 
 which, at one time, had arisen to nearly 300, was 
 now diminished to about half that number; and these 
 so rent by divisions, as to require the wisdom of an 
 experienced leader to harmonize and build up this 
 ancient Zion, which seemed to be threatened with 
 dissolution. Among the causes of this diminution 
 and unhappy declension, we may mention, 1. The 
 protracted infirmity of the senior Pastor, whose wont- 
 ed efficiency in doctrine and discipline, was no lon- 
 ger directly felt as it had been in the days of his 
 vigor. 2. It lost some of its most efficient members, 
 by the rising of new Baptist interests around it, a loss, 
 however, which she ever felt tp be a gain to the 
 cause of Christ, and which she could not feel it, in 
 her heart, to deplore. 3. The distraction, of what 
 has since been called, the Great Schism, had not 
 been fully healed. This schism had originated upon 
 matters of Church discipline ; in the progress of 
 which, the administrators had been obliged to refuse 
 to break bread to the Church. Council after coun- 
 cil had failed to accommodate the difference ; and 
 when the body was supposed to be brought into "a
 
 ?>] 
 
 gospel travel," the Deacons refused to officiate, and 
 one of them had to be suspended, and at last exclud- 
 ed ; the Church Clerk refused to record what he con- 
 sidered "ungospel acts," and resigned; several of 
 the best brethren stopped their travel with the Church, 
 when the majority had believed the difference settled, 
 which opened the wound afresh, and which was now 
 pronounced, by the desponding-, "incurable." 4. But 
 the absence of any considerable revival since 1794, 
 was a cause not to be overlooked, in accounting for 
 the deplorable state of things in which Francis Dar. 
 row found his beloved brethren, when he was called 
 to tend the scattered flock. Not discouraged by 
 these things, but relying on help from God, in the 
 hour of extremity, for those who tried to help them- 
 selves, the young Pastor cast his burden on the Lord, 
 and soon had the happiness of seeing an improved 
 state of affairs. The Lord remembered Zion. 
 
 The following years have been seasons of revival, 
 viz: In 1812, baptized, 7; 1813,40; 1814,6; 1816 
 8; 1817,77; 1820,31; 1822,7; 1824,39; 1827,5; 
 1830,108; 1831,5; 1833,65; 1838,20; 1841,50; 
 1842,62; 1843,64; 1845,5; 1847,67. And dur- 
 ing most of the intermediate years, when no special 
 effusion of the Spirit has been enjoyed, there have 
 been some additions. 
 
 The aggregate number baptized by our present 
 Pastor, has been about seven hundred, being an av- 
 erage of nearly seventeen per year, during a period 
 of more than forty years. There have been, per- 
 haps, few Churches in the land, in whose midst a
 
 32 
 
 greater number of spiritual children have been "born 
 into the kingdom," the most of whom, we rejoice to 
 say, have continued steadfast in the truth ; but many 
 have gone to join the Church triumphant. 
 
 Between twenty and thirty of our number have 
 become faithful ministers of the New Testament ; 
 among whom, in addition to brethren Smith, Atwell, 
 and others already mentioned, we may also enume- 
 rate, J. C. Holt, licensed in 1822; Peter Latimer, 
 licensed the same year; G. T. Chappel, united in 
 1817 ; J. P. Brown, united in 1841 ; to which we add, 
 among others, who were original members with us, 
 and have since entered the ministry, Ira R. Steward, 
 united in 1816; Allen Darrow, son of Eld. Francis 
 Darrow, united in 1817; D. D. Lyon, ]830; Edwin 
 Brown, grandson of Eld. Zadoc D., in 1824, &c. &c. 
 
 From 1827 to October, 1850, Eld Francis Darrow 
 was the sole Pastor, he completed, in September, 
 1850, the 40th year of his pastorship ; and attended, 
 in usual health, the New London Baptist Association} 
 held at Norwich, (which he assisted in organizing in 
 1817,) where he took a part in its services, but re- 
 turned to close his labors on earth. He preached his 
 last sermon to his beloved people with a most blessed 
 unction on Sabbath, September 29, 1850, in usual 
 health and strength. The latter part of the follow- 
 ing week he became unwell, and continned to fail 
 every day, till Tuesday the 15th of October, 1850, 
 when his happy spirit, like a peaceful angel, fled to 
 the bosom of his God. H is age was 71. His funeral 
 was attended by an immense concourse of people
 
 33 
 
 From the surrounding region, on Thursday, October 
 17, when an appropriate sermon was delivered by 
 Bro. C. Willett, of New London, from 1 Kings £0 : 
 11. Bro. E. R. Warren, of Now London, P. G. 
 Wightfnan, of East Lyme, and our venerable father 
 Augustus Bolles, participated in the services of the 
 mournful occasion. Several other ministers were 
 present, and followed his remains to the grave. His 
 venerable widow still survives. He left behind three 
 children, two sons and one daughter. One of his 
 sons is a minister of the Gospel in Pomfret, and his 
 daughter is the wife of Eld. Nathan Wildman, of 
 Lebanon. He left also a grand-daughter, whose hus- 
 band, Eld. Jacob Gardner, is the Pastor of the Bap- 
 tist Church at East Haddam. 
 
 Eld. Augustus Bolles, of Colchester, has been 
 invited to officiate until the Church shall elect a Pas- 
 tor, and is serving the Church with much ability, and 
 to their general acceptance. 
 
 In 1848, the Church completed their new house of 
 worship, at a cost of about $5000. It is a commo- 
 dious structure, centrally located at "Jordan;" and 
 near by on the " Banks of Jordan," they have select- 
 ed, and by a little labor, rendered their baptizing 
 place very convenient. Their present number of 
 members is about 400, of whom father Stedman 
 Newbury, is the oldest, being now (1850,) in his 90th 
 year, and having been for nearly three-fourths o9 a 
 century an exemplary member, whose tenacious mem- 
 ory and still vigorous mind, have greatly aided in 
 compiling this sketch.
 
 34 
 
 Beacons of the Church — Of the twenty-one 
 or twenty-two Deacons of this Church, during the 
 space of one hundred and forty years, the scriptural 
 number of " seven men of honest report," are still 
 living ; four of whom were ordained during the 
 past year. 
 
 This Church first adopted written Church Arti- 
 cles and Covenant, in due form, in 1786. These 
 were revised in 1824. 
 
 The Church has been served in order of succes- 
 sion, by fifteen brethren as Clerks. Bro. Joseph 
 Avery is the present Church Clerk. 
 
 November 8, 1849, brethren Jas. Beckwich, Leon- 
 ard Crocker, Jonathan Caul kins, and Isaac Avery, 
 were ordained Deacons. These brethren, together 
 with Elisha Beckwith, Gilbert Rogers, and John 
 Smith, now constitute our Board of Deacons ; the 
 last three having held the office for many years. 
 
 In view of our History, from the first to the pres- 
 ent, we have to exclaim, "What hath God wrought ?" 
 May our younger brethren, our children, and our 
 children's children, still occupy this field, till our 
 Saviour comes. Amen.
 
 2d BAPTIST CHURCH, WATERFORD. 
 
 We would modestly (say the Church, in giving us 
 this History,) narrate the steps we have taken, and 
 thankfully record the good hand of our God upon us. 
 
 Our location is in the North East part of the town. 
 Previous to our organization, there was no Baptist 
 Church much nearer than four miles. The inhabi- 
 tants of this region had too generally given them- 
 selves up to Sabbath breaking, intemperance, gam- 
 bling, profanity, and almost every other evil work, so 
 that the few who sighed and cried for the abomina- 
 tions done in the land, thought it truly missionary 
 ground. 
 
 The Board of the Connecticut Baptist State Con- 
 vention, in the year 1835, appointed Rev. Erastds 
 Doty to labor among this people a portion of the 
 time. His labors were not in vain. A few Baptists, 
 members of different Churches, formed themselves 
 into a Conference, April 19, 1835, for the purpose of 
 advancing the cause of the Redeemer, expecting in 
 due time that a Church would be formed. Two were 
 received by letter at this meeting, and one as a can- 
 didate for baptism. On the 24th, three more were 
 received into fellowship ; and one on the 24th of May 
 following. Thus the incipient measures were taken 
 towards our present existence.
 
 36 
 
 It very soon became apparent, that a house of 
 worship was much needed. Bro. Doty, by request, 
 drew up a constitution, and subscriptions were liber- 
 ally made for the object. The house was completed 
 that season. A series of religious meetings were 
 held, and a goodly number of youth and others, were 
 converted. Several neighboring ministers aided in 
 these services. The commandment of Jesus, and 
 the sight of the waters, as usual, induced the con- 
 vert virtually to say, " here is water, what doth hin- 
 der me to be baptized ?" The voice of Providence 
 seemed now to order a more distinct Church organi- 
 zation. Accordingly, after one or two preliminary 
 meetings, another was appointed, and held at the 
 dwelling house occupied by bro. Isaac Thompson, on 
 the evening of the 14th December, 1835. Eld. E. 
 Denison, from Groton, by request, being present, act- 
 ed as Moderator, and bro. D. D. Lyon, as Clerk. 
 After solemn prayer, a Covenant and Articles of 
 Faith were read deliberately, and upon a free ex- 
 pression of views, were agreed to by every member 
 of the Conference present, except one. Whereupon 
 a preamble and resolutJon was passed, that, from 
 henceforth, we consider ourselves as an independent 
 Church, to be known as the "Second Baptist 
 Church in Waterford." It was then voted, that 
 we call a Council, with a view of obtaining their 
 fellowship. 
 
 The Council met on the 31st December, and after 
 patiently examining the question, voted, unanimously, 
 lo extend to us the hand of fellowship. Eighteen
 
 37 
 
 Wer6 thus recognized, and the following day the 
 usual services were performed. Sermon by Elder 
 F. YVightman. To add to the solemnity of the ser- 
 vices, seven young persons were buried with Christ 
 in baptism by Eld. E. Denison. Thus this little ship 
 which had a somewhat singular model, was, on Jan- 
 uary 1st, 183G, publicly and joyfully named, and 
 launched into the ocean to be tossed (as the future 
 has disclosed,) with tempests of opposing powers, 
 anti-gospel influences, come-outism, and false breth- 
 ren, threatening to involve ship, officers, and all 
 hands in one common ruin. 
 
 While these things have been filling up a part of 
 our history, we will see how our God has hitherto 
 steered the barque through the howling tempest, and 
 amidst the reefs and quicksands of our voyage to the 
 present hour. 
 
 The work of grace continued through the winter, 
 when Eld. E. Denison became our Pastor. He en- 
 tered more directly upon his duties on the 1st of 
 April, 1836, for three-fourths of the time for the first 
 year, and the whole time for the second year. Dur- 
 ing these two years, about forty were admitted by 
 baptism and letter, and more than two hundred dol- 
 lars were raised by the Church and community for 
 various benevolent objects. 
 
 Elder Alfred Gates followed in the pastorate, 
 and continued with us about two and a half years; 
 during which time a number were added, chiefly by 
 letter. Eld. Gates closed his labors in October 1840. 
 Occasional supplies were obtained, until December 
 4
 
 38 
 
 26, when it was voted that Bro. D. D. Lyon should 
 take the lead of the meeting and improve his gift. 
 February 23, 1841, an engagement was made with 
 Eld. John Payne, to preach half the time. During 
 the years 1842 and 1843, a very general and power- 
 ful revival brightens the pages of our history; ex- 
 tending also into 1844. 
 
 On the 24th of February, 1842, Bro. D. D. Lyon 
 was employed to preach for the ensuing year. On 
 the 8th of April, 1843, three brethren, viz., George 
 D. Jerome, Asa Wightman and Curtis Keeney, were 
 chosen Deacons. Bro. Lyon closed his engagement, 
 April 1643. 
 
 Bro. P. G. Wightman, a licentiate of the First 
 Church, Groton, then entered upon his labors as Pas- 
 tor, and on the 20th September following, he was 
 duly set apart to the work, more publicly, by ordina- 
 tion. The Deacons elect, were also ordained on the 
 same day. Bro. Wightman continued his ministry 
 with us until April, 1846. During his labors here, a 
 larsre number were brought to the knowledge of the 
 truth and baptized, and some were added by letter. 
 
 Some events of deep interest and trial are on the 
 pages of our history of these times, but " Jehovah 
 sits on the flood." Had it not been that the Lord 
 was on our side, the enemy had swallowed us up 
 quickly. As the ship rocks and reels amidst con- 
 flicting waves, so the Church endures the commo- 
 tions that tries her workmanship, and her strength. 
 
 If our God remove one servant to a more con- 
 genial clime, he has another to breast the elements
 
 39 
 
 here. Bro. N. T. Allen, a licentiate from Wick- 
 ford, R. I., by request engaged to preach half the 
 time for us ; the other half for the Union Church, 
 Montville. The question of Church and Society, 
 acts of discipline, grievance of some members, &c , 
 were agitated during the Spring of 1846, and finally 
 adjusted by a mutual council. Bro. Allen was or- 
 dained on the 12th day of August, at the Union 
 Church, Montville, with the cordial co-operation of 
 this Church. Bro. Allen enjoyed the confidence of 
 both Churches during his labors with them, but upon 
 the pressing request of the Church at. Groton Bank, 
 he commenced his labors with them the 1st of April, 
 
 1847. We were again destitute of a Pastor for a 
 few months ; after which we were favored with the 
 services of Bro. G. R. Darrow, a licentiate of the 
 Union Church, Montville. During his stay with us, 
 a revival was enjoyed which resulted in the addition 
 of sixteen to the Church. His engagement ended 
 March, 1848. 
 
 Bro. C. Keeney was licensed to preach January, 
 
 1848. Eld. E. Denison entered upon the Pastorate, 
 April 1, 1848, again, upon a unanimous call from the 
 Church; having been absent from the Church ten 
 years. 
 
 In April, 1850, Bro. Curtiss Keeney, (Bro. Deni- 
 son having left, after two years service,) become our 
 supply. A good degree of harmony and peace pre- 
 vails throughout the Church. Our present number 
 is 11(5.
 
 1st BAPTIST CHURCH, EAST LYME.* 
 
 The History of this Church is shaded in some ob- 
 scurity. Baptist sentiments began to prevail here, 
 before the year 1730, through the labors of the venera- 
 ble Valentine Wightman, who was Pastor of the 
 Baptist Church in Groton. As early as 1747, Na- 
 than Jewett, of Lyme, was expelled from the Legis- 
 lature, for being a member of a separate Church ; 
 and this is supposed to be the Church to which he 
 belonged. 
 
 The first records to be found commence in 1752, 
 from which time a faithful account of their walk has 
 been preserved Eld. Ebenezer Mack was then 
 Pastor, and the names of sixty-eight are recorded as 
 members. The first Meeting-House was erected in 
 1755. Eld. Mack labored faithfully for more than 
 sixteen years, through various vicissitudes of prosper- 
 ity and adversity, when, at his request, he was re- 
 leased, on account of feeble health, from the pastoral 
 care ; yet he continued in covenant relation, though 
 soon after he ceased to walk with them in the ordi- 
 nances, because he thought it inconsistent for a Bap- 
 tist Church to build and commune at the Lord's table 
 
 * This Church was called the Baptist Church in Lyme, 
 until 1839, when it was changed to East Lyme, on account 
 of the division of the town.
 
 > 
 
 41 
 
 with those who held and practised infant sprinkling'. 
 A council was called, which gave their decision in 
 favor of Eld. Mack ; and from this council, originat- 
 ed the Stonington Association. 
 
 While thus without a Pastor for several years, they 
 were occasionally visited by Eld. Zadoc Darrow, Eld. 
 Joshua Morse, and others, Avho preached and admin- 
 istered the ordinances. In one of his visits, in 1771, 
 Eld. Morse proposed that this Church, and the Church 
 to which he ministered should " enter into a sisterly 
 relation. The brethren requested him to state what 
 his Articles were. He replied, "That none, be ad- 
 mitted to membprship but real believers, and nothing 
 be practised for baptism, but immersion? His first 
 proposition was unanimously adopted, and the sec- 
 ond, by a large majority. 
 
 Yet, the Church became much scattered, and the 
 few who remained were in great discouragement. 
 A day of fasting was appointed, to pray to Cod, as 
 the Lord of the harvest, for an under shepherd, and 
 inquire whether the man was among them. They 
 were soon convinced that he was ; and called .Iam>n 
 Lee to be their Pastor. He was the son of Eld. 
 Joseph Lee, Pastor of a Church at South Hold. Long 
 Island ; yet his family lived in Lyme. In 1774. a 
 council of sister Churches was called, and they pro- 
 ceeded publicly to set him apart to the work of the 
 ministry. From this time, a good deoree of pros- 
 perity was enjoyed. The labors of their Pastor 
 were blessed to their edification, and sinners ueie 
 seen " flying as a cloud, and as doves to their win- 
 4"
 
 42 
 
 dows." Branches were formed in Marlow and Lemp^- 
 ster, in New Hampshire, and in the North Society, 
 in New London, (since called Montville.) The Sep- 
 arates, as they were then called, became the most 
 numerous in the Society. The standing order could 
 not lay a tax on them as formerly, for the support of 
 their minister ; for when they assembled for the pur- 
 pose, the Separates also met with them, and the vote 
 was carried, to have " No Tax." 
 
 About this time, several of the brelhren gave ev- 
 idence that they were called of God to a more pub- 
 lic work; and in 1782, Eleazer Beckwith was 
 ordained as an Evangelist, and "given up" to take 
 the pastoral care of the branch at Marlow. Eld. 
 Beckwith, afterwards became one of the most enter- 
 taining preachers. Large crowds assembled to hear 
 him, and some who remember him, testify, that above 
 any one else, he seemed to bring heaven near. 
 
 The same year Christopher Miner was called 
 to ordination. He removed the following year to 
 Chatham, where a Baptist Church was organized a 
 few months afterwards. 
 
 The next year, Richard Sill was set apart by 
 ordination, to the work of an Evangelist. During 
 this year, it is recorded, that in view of the numerous 
 backslidings of God's people, and the absence of the 
 Holy Spirit, a day of Fasting and Prayer was ap- 
 pointed, which was attended by evident influences of 
 Divine power. The wandering began to return, and 
 many were hopefully redeemed from sin and death. 
 This Church, with others of the same faith, united
 
 43 
 
 in 178C, in forming the Groton Union Conference, 
 of which Eld. Lee was the first Moderator. The 
 object of this Union was, mutual edification, and to 
 make provision for the poor of the flock, especially 
 the widows and orphans of deceased ministers ; and 
 the support of ministers, if any should become in- 
 firm. [The records of the first meetings were kept 
 in the same book with the Church records.] The 
 Church first reported their numbers to this Confer- 
 ence, in 1788; at which time there were 219. In 
 the following year, with the assistance of council 
 from sister Churches, William Comstock and Nche- 
 miah Huntley were ordained as Evangelists. 
 
 Until the year 1795, occasional communion with 
 the Pedo-Baptists had been allowed, although a 
 majority had all along been opposed to it. They 
 now resolved to follow gospel order. After a short 
 interval of trial and labor, the Lord again appeared 
 to build up this Zion. In 1797, Eld. William Hill, 
 and a large number of brethren from Saybrook, unit- 
 ed in covenant and labor with them. 
 
 The year 1798 is distinguished by the commence- 
 ment of still better days. Through this, and the 
 following year, the most powerful revival was enjoy- 
 ed that this Church had ever seen. 
 
 The Church called two more of their number to 
 the ministry; Nathan Champlin, who was ordained 
 in the year 1800, and William Welch, in 1801. The 
 work of grace was still seen in occasional conver- 
 sions, until 1804, when, on account of the dearth, 
 both in spiritual and natural things, a day of fasting
 
 44 
 
 and prayer was observed. This was followed not 
 only with temporal, but also with spiritual prosperity. 
 In the years 1806 and 1807, ninety-nine were receiv- 
 ed by baptism. The cause steadily advanced, until 
 they were called to part with their beloved leader. 
 In March, 1810, after three months of distressing ill- 
 ness, which was endured with exemplary patience, 
 Eld. Lee died, in full expectation of a glorious im- 
 mortality, in the 70th year of his age, the 4Cth of 
 his ministry, and the 36th of his pastoral labors. It 
 would be gratifying to transcribe the memento of 
 affection recorded, but our brief space will not allow. 
 
 The Lord remembered them in their affliction, and 
 sent Eld. Asa Wilcox to go in and out before them. 
 He commenced his labors by preaching a discourse 
 at the funeral of Elder Lee, from 2 Tim. 4 : 7, 8. 
 During the eight years of his ministry, some seasons 
 of refreshing were seen, and although they encoun- 
 tered many trials, and dismissed 25 of their mem- 
 bers to form the Waterford and Montville Church, 
 and others were set off to the 2d Church in Lyme, 
 their number which, at the death of Eld. Lee, was 
 431, was increased to 441. 
 
 In 1816, Mr. James Davis, a minister in the Con- 
 gregational order, was received, upon a relation of 
 experience, and baptized by Eld. Wilcox. He was 
 ordained a few months afterwards by a council call- 
 ed for the purpose. From their first record to this 
 time, gospel discipline had been faithfully and prompt- 
 ly observed. Committees appointed to visit mem- 
 bers living in Marlow, Lempster, Say brook and Mont-
 
 45 
 
 ville, never failed to make their report at the proper 
 time, except in a very few instances. When com- 
 pelled to the painful duty of withdrawing the hand 
 of fellowship, the chapters and verses of the Holy 
 Word, requiring the act, were faithfully cited, ac- 
 companied with a pathetic exhortation to immediate 
 repentance. A request was now sent to the branch 
 in Lempster, that they should unite with other 
 Churches, or form themselves into an independent 
 Church. 
 
 Eld. G. W. Appletox was their next Pastor. He 
 
 > remained about four years. In 1821, the brethren in 
 Lempster sent Ezra Miner to the Church, requesting 
 his ordination. A council was accordingly called, 
 and he was solemnly set apart to the work of the 
 ministry. At the request of the Church and coun- 
 cil, the sermon was preached by the candidate. Af- 
 ter the resignation of Eld. Appleton, they were desti- 
 tute of a Pastor for nearly a year. Eighteen were 
 set off to form the Chesterfield Church in Montville, 
 and their numbers were reduced to less than 200. 
 
 About this time, Nathan Wildman came among 
 them, and his labors were richly blessed. In 1824, 
 they called him to ordination, and prosperity again 
 shone upon them. Refreshings of the Spirit were fre- 
 quent ; more than 100 were added by baptism during 
 his ministry. In the year 1831, William A. Smith 
 was licensed to preach the Gospel. 
 
 Eld. Frederick Wigiitman succeeded to the 
 pastorate in 1832, whose faithful and endearing la- 
 bors were followed the next Spring by a precious:
 
 46 
 
 revival, in which 40 followed the Saviour in baptism. 
 He was succeeded, in 1838, by Eld. Wm. Palmer. 
 In 1840, a cheering- work of grace appeared in the 
 South part of the Church, and nineteen were bap- 
 tized. On account of a division of the town, the 
 name of the Church was changed. In the Winter 
 of 1841-2, after the resignation of Eld. Palmer, Eld. 
 Amos D. Watrous held a series of meetings, in 
 which large accessions were received. The Spring 
 following, twenty were dismissed, to form the Lyme 
 Church; and the next winter, fifty -five were set off 
 forming the Second Church in East Lyme. 
 
 Eld. F. Wightman accepted a call again, to be- 
 come their Pastor, and was soon permitted to see the 
 fruits of his labors. They now, (June 1842,) remov- 
 ed to a new house of worship, in which God had 
 already manifested his presence, before it was com- 
 pleted. Here they had previously listened to the 
 experience of young converts, who offered them- 
 selves for baptism. Their Pastor being compelled, 
 by sickness, to resign, Eld. Chester Tilden was 
 called to the charge, who labored with them a little 
 more than two years. 
 
 Their present Pastor, P. G. Wightman, com- 
 menced his ministry among them in the Spring of 
 1840. The next winter a series of meetings were 
 held, in which Eld. J. S. Swan, and some of his 
 brethren assisted. The Lord revived his work, and 
 eighty-four were added by baptism ; and through the 
 abundant mercy of God, this ancient Church still 
 holds on her way. Her present number is 203.
 
 2d BAPTIST CHURCH, EAST LYME. 
 
 This Church was constituted December 29, 1842, 
 of 58 brethren and sisters, from the 13aptist Church 
 in East. Lyme, and the First Church in Waterford, 
 who had obtained letters for such purpose. The 
 Church was publicly recognized by a council, Janu- 
 ary 12, 1843. A chaste and convenient Meeting- 
 House was erected for the Church, and opened for 
 the worship of God, in September, 1843. 
 
 In April, 1843, Kid. James Hepburn was elected 
 Pastor, and continued with the Church in this relation, 
 for three years. He was succeeded by Eld. Fred'k 
 Wightman, who also served the Church three years, 
 when, being' disabled by a painful sickness, he re- 
 signed his charge. The Church then invited Eld. 
 Palmer to take the charge of the Church, but he 
 also was unable to do so, on account of sickness. 
 
 Since the Church was organized, fifty-five have 
 been added ; nine dismissed ; ten died. Present 
 number, ninety-four. Present Pastor, H. Hedden ; 
 F. W. Bolles, Clerk.
 
 BAPTIST CHURCH, LYME. 
 
 The Baptish Church in Lyme, was publicly recog- 
 nized May 11, 1843, the services of the occasion 
 being held in the Door-Yard of Stephen L. Peck, 
 Esq., the Congregational Meeting-HoUse having been 
 refused for the occasion; and the Baptists, at the 
 time, being destitute of a place of worship. 
 
 The Church consisted of 70 members, 40 of whom 
 were received by baptism, and 30 by letter. The 
 sermon of recognition was preached by the lament- 
 ed Miller, of Essex, from the text, 1 Pet. 2: 5. 
 " Ye also as lively stones are built up a spiritual 
 house/' A large number of ministers and brethren 
 from neighboring Churches were present, and the 
 season was one of deep and thrilling interest. 
 
 This Church had its origin, principally, in a prec- 
 ious revival enjoyed under the Evangelical labors of 
 Eld." A. D. Watrous, in which many were convert- 
 ed ; and scattered Baptists, who had long resided in 
 the vicinity, were brought together, and united in 
 the covenant relation. Occasionally, this place has 
 been visited by Baptist ministers for a period of over 
 fifty years. Elders West, Dodge, Darrow, Wilcox 
 Palmer, and Shailer, and others, have here sown 
 much good seed of the kingdom. A neighborhood 
 prayer meeting maintained by a few brethren and
 
 49 
 
 sistors, in 1340, was, no doubt, influential in prepar- 
 ing the way for the precious revival which followed, 
 and the gathering of the Church. Bro. Watroua' 
 labors were continued for the space of six months, 
 and were eminently owned of the Lord. 
 
 Eld. Brocket became Pastor, and labored with 
 encouraging success two years and a half. A neat 
 and convenient Meeting-House was erected in 
 1842-3, and opened for the worship of God, May 
 25, 1843. Elder Watrous again labored with them 
 in the Winter of 1843, and Eld. Stewart in the Win- 
 ter of 1844, with much success, assisting the Pastor, 
 Eld. Brocket. 
 
 At the time of Eld. Brocket's leaving, in April, 
 1845, the Church had increased to one hundred and 
 thirty, Bro. Brocket was succeeded by Bro. A. D. 
 Watrous, in the Pastoral care of the Church, who 
 continued two years and a half; and was followed 
 by Eld, Wm. Smith, six months ; who was also suc- 
 ceeded by Eld. J. B. Damon, in April, 1848, who 
 continued to serve the Church, with general accept- 
 ance, till 1850. The present number of the Church 
 is 174. Eld. T. Barber is their present Pastor. 
 
 5
 
 BAPTIST CHURCH, NORTH LYME, 
 
 This Church was organized in 1810, by the cove- 
 nant union of six members. During the year, twen- 
 ty-five others were added, and one in the following 
 year. During the first three years, Eld. Asa Wil- 
 cox administered the Church ordinances. 
 
 In 1813, Bro. Matthew Bolles was ordained 
 Pastor, and continued three years, during which, 37 
 were added. He was succeeded by Eld. William 
 Palmer, who continued six years ; and 25 more were 
 added. In 1822, Bro, Jabez S. Swan received a 
 license to preach the Gospel. The two succeeding 
 years they had no stated Pastor, but sustained the 
 ordinances of the Church through the ministry of 
 several of the Lord's embassadors; and during the 
 time were encouraged by the addition of twenty- 
 four by baptism. 
 
 In 1824, Bro. Henry Stanwood commenced la- 
 boring with them, and rendered essential service by 
 setting things in order, and inducing a good degree 
 of discipline. He was subsequently ordained. Dur- 
 ing his ministry, 34 were added by baptism. 
 
 In 1827, Eld. Tubal Wakefield accepted the 
 Pastorate, and Bro. J. Pilgrim and James Stark were 
 licensed. Their numbers continued about the same. 
 T n 1830, they were again without a Pastor, but the
 
 51 
 
 ordinances of the Church were administered to them 
 by Eld. B. G. Goff; and though laboring under such 
 disadvantages, the Church enjoyed a good degree of 
 prosperity. 
 
 In 1831, Eld. Alvin Acklet became Pastor, and 
 thus continued three years ; during -which the Church 
 was strengthened in grace as well as numbers. The 
 same might be said of the two succeeding years, 
 when Eld. Andrew M. Smith dispensed to them the 
 word of Life. 
 
 In 1846, Eld. Ebenezer Loomis accepted the 
 Pastorate for one year ; when he was succeeded by 
 Eld. E. Denison, about one year, when he again 
 succeeded, and continued two years. During their 
 Pastorship, the Church prospered. For a few months 
 they were again without a Pastor. Then for a short 
 time, Eld. Willson Cogswell labored successfully 
 among them. 
 
 In 1842, Eld. Thomas Dowling commenced his 
 labors with them. During whose ministry, of almost 
 four years, many difficulties were passed through, 
 and much good accomplished. 
 
 In 1846, Eld. Chester Tilden succeeded to the 
 Pastorate, and was followed by Eld. Simon Shailer. 
 Bro. W. VV. Meech was ordained their present Pas- 
 tor in June, 1850. Their present number of mem- 
 bers is 144.
 
 BAPTIST CHURCH, HADLTME. 
 
 Early in the present century, a few families had 
 Baptist members, but scattered and disorganized, 
 they were incapable of exerting any efficient influ- 
 ence. They were, however, visited occasionally by 
 Elders Matthew Bolles and Simeon Shailer, 
 whose labors were blessed, and thus a branch of the 
 North Lyme Baptist Church was established. 
 
 In 1820, this branch was organized into a Church, 
 under its present name ; and for several years enjoy- 
 ed a good degree of prosperity ; but at length, in 
 1840, through dissensions, the Church became ex- 
 tinct. 
 
 In 1849, it was reorganized, when 10 were added, 
 making their whole number 32. They are at pres- 
 ent supplied by Bro. Wm. Harris, a licentiate. Dr. 
 A. M. Holt, Clerk.
 
 BAPTIST CHURCH, SAYBROOK. 
 
 As early as 1729, several persons in the vicinity of 
 Saybrook, North Quarter, (now Winthrop,) embrac- 
 ed Baptist sentiments, and were occasionally supplied 
 with preaching by Baptist ministers from the Eastern 
 part of the State, and from Rhode Island. As their 
 numbers increased, they began to excite the jeal- 
 ousy of the magistrates, who, in common with a ma- 
 jority of the settlers at that day, held that the views 
 of the clergy, and the doctrines of the Saybrook 
 Platform were the only true rule of faith and prac- 
 tice ; and as the independent yeomany of Saybrook, 
 North Quarter, would not consent to relinquish their 
 views of Scripture doctrine, and embrace those con- 
 tained in the bulwark of Congregationalism, the 
 Saybrook Platform, it need not surprise us to learn 
 that in February, 1744, fourteen persons were arrest- 
 ed in this place for holding a Baptist meeting; the 
 charge brought against them was, "for holding a 
 meeting contrary to law, on God's holy Sabbath Day.'''' 
 They were arraingned, tried, fined, and driven on 
 foot, through a deep mud, to New London, a dis- 
 tance of twenty-five miles, and thrust into prison, 
 without fire, food, or beds, where they remained, en- 
 during dreadful sufferings for several weeks, and 
 probably would all have perished, had not some Bap- 
 5*
 
 v 
 
 list brethren, residing in New London, Great Neck, 
 carried them provisions. One of those who was thus 
 imprisoned, was an infant, carried in her mother's 
 arms, which infant afterwards became the wife of 
 Mr. Stephen Webb, of Chester. Another was an 
 unconverted man by the name of Job Bulkley, at 
 whose house the meeting was held ; the patience 
 With which these disciples of Christ bore their suf- 
 ferings, and their fervent prayers to God for him and 
 their persecutors, (for, like Paul and Silas, they pray- 
 ed and sang praises in the prison,) were blessed to 
 his conversion. They were released in the Spring 
 of 1744, and on the 15th of July, in the same year, 
 a Church was constituted, consisting of seventeen 
 members, and the name of Job Bulkley (mentioned 
 above,) was placed at the head of the list. 
 
 From this time till 1776, being few in numbers, 
 and poor as to this world's goods, they had no stated 
 Pastor ; their Deacons, William Wilcox and Amos 
 Potter, generally took the lead of their meetings, 
 and Eld. Joshua Morse, (then residing in Montville,) 
 administered the ordinances to them, and labored 
 with them as often as his duty to his own floek would 
 allow. In this connection, perhaps, it may be well 
 to give a short biographical sketch of Eld. Morse, 
 as several of the oldest members of the Church were 
 converted under his preaching. 
 
 Mr. Morse was born in South Kingston, R. I., in 
 April, 1726. His ancestors were Baptists. Young 
 Joshua was awakened and converted, under the 
 preaching of the celebrated Whitefield, at the early
 
 m 
 
 age of sixteen ; and commenced preaching at the 
 age of eighteen, in Stonington, Conn. Here he met 
 with much opposition from the clergy and others, 
 ■\\ ho declared that his preaching -was not " according 
 to law." At that time, according to the law of the 
 Colony, every man who permitted a dissenting meet- 
 ing to be held in his house, was subject to a fine of 
 £5 ; the minister who officiated, to a fine of 10s. ; 
 and every hearer, 5s. The first time Mr. Morse 
 preached in Stonington, he was apprehended by the 
 magistrate, and sentenced to pay the fine or be whip- 
 ped ten lashes. Being unable to pay the fine, 
 he was led to the whipping-post, when the constable 
 who was to execute the punishment, refused to per- 
 form his office, and after expostulating with the mag- 
 istrate on the cruelty and injustice of the sentence, 
 tendered the amount of the fine from his own pocket. 
 The magistrate, probably ashamed of his own con- 
 duct, offered the money to Mr. Morse, and bid him 
 go peaceably away. Mr. Morse declined receiving 
 it, and his persecutors, finding him determined to 
 labor in the cause of his Master, left him for that 
 time. In one of his meetings, a Reverend gentle- 
 man came in soon after he commenced, and putting 
 his hand upon his mouth, bid another man strike him. 
 At another time, a man came in while he was preach- 
 ing, and struck him with so much violence, as to 
 bring him to the floor. At another meeting, he was 
 knocked down while engaged in prayer, and dragged 
 out of the house by the hair of his head, down some 
 high steps to the ground, and so severely bruised in
 
 56 
 
 his head and face, that the scars remained until his 
 dying day. He was often threatened by mobs, who 
 were prevented from injuring him, only by his great 
 presence of mind, and his meek and forgiving spirit. 
 But amid all his persecutions, his labors were 
 abundant, and they were crowned with success. He 
 was ordained in 1749 or 1750, and resided in Mont- 
 ville, till 1779, except two years which he spent in 
 Fishkill, N. Y. In 1779, he removed to Sandisfield, 
 Mass., where he remained till his death, which oc- 
 curred in July, 1795, in the 70th year of his age, 
 and the 53d of his ministry. 
 
 In 1776, Eld. Elipualet Lester whs ordained 
 Pastor of the Church, and continued his ministry, 
 (with the exception of two years,) till 1796, when he 
 resigned. Mr. Lester was born in New London, 
 Great Neck, about the year 1730. It is supposed 
 that one or both his parents were Baptists, The 
 time of his conversion we cannot state with accuracy : 
 it seems that he was awakened under the preaching 
 of the celebrated Whitefield, in 1745 or 1746, and it 
 is probable he was converted soon after. It appears 
 that he had preached for a considerable length of 
 time, to the Church in Waterford,* before he remov- 
 ed to Saybrook. Mr. Lester was an acceptable 
 preacher — a man mighty in the Scriptures, and one 
 who shunned not to declare the whole counsel of 
 God. During his ministry, the Church were called 
 
 * He was an assistant to Pastor Howard. See their 
 History. 
 
 I
 
 57 
 
 to pass through many trials, yet their attachment to 
 him remained unshaken, and his labors among- them 
 were very successful. After his resignation, he re- 
 moved to Killingworth, now Clinton, Conn., where 
 he remained several years, occasionally preaching to 
 the little band of Baptists who assembled there; but 
 toward the close of his life, he removed to North 
 Bristol, now North Madison, Conn., where he fell 
 asleep in Jesus, in June, 1815, at the advanced age 
 of eighty-six. 
 
 Soon after his resignation, they obtained the ser- 
 vices of Eld. William Welch, who remained with 
 them till 1801, when he removed to East Hampton, 
 Conn., where he deceased in 1830 or 1831. 
 
 In 1802, Eld. George Atwell became their Pas- 
 tor, and remained with them till 1806. Mr. Atwell 
 was born in Montville, Conn., in September, 1766. 
 During his ministry, about seventy persons were ad- 
 ded to the Church. After his removal from Say- 
 brook, he settled with the Church in Enfield, Conn., 
 where he remained till his death, which occurred in 
 April, 1814. During the whole of his ministry, his 
 health was feeble — yet he ceased not to labor zeal- 
 ously in the cause of his divine Master. 
 
 In 1807, Eld. Asa Spencer became their Pastor, 
 and remained with them about two years. No con- 
 siderable accessions were made during his ministry. 
 
 In 1810. Eld. Wm. Witter removed here, but 
 was not ordained till 181 1. {Je remained with them 
 till 1814, when he removed to Colchester, and after- 
 wards to the State of New York.
 
 58 
 
 In 1814, Eld. Samuel West became their Paste, 
 and remained with them eight years. Mr. West 
 was born in Hopkinton, R. I., Oct 6, 1776. He was 
 the fourth son of Eld. Thomas West, who at that 
 timo was Pastor of the Sabbatarian Church at Hop- 
 kinton. He was awakened under the preaching of 
 his father, when a little more than eleven years of 
 age. After remaining for more than five months in 
 a state bordering on despair, being unwilling to re- 
 veal his feelings to any one, he was at last brought 
 out of darkness into light, and so sudden and over- 
 whelming was the change, that he sank to the earth. 
 He did not unite with the Church till the following 
 year, and previous to his baptism, was in great dark- 
 ness of mind ; but after the ordinance was adminis- 
 tered, light broke into his soul, and he addressed 
 those who had assembled, with much energy and 
 pathos. 
 
 In 1782 or 1783, his father removed to Vermont, 
 and in 1785, Mr. West, having married, followed him 
 thither. He resided in Vermont nine years, and it 
 was there that he first became impressed with the 
 conviction that it was his duty to preach the Gospel. 
 Desirous of divesting himself of these impressions, 
 he removed from Vermont, and having left his family 
 in Griswold, Conn., proceeded to the Susquehanna 
 County, in Pennsylvania, (at that time a wilderness,) 
 and purchased a tract of land there, thinking that in 
 a country, so thinly settled, he should find no hearers, 
 and consequently should be exonerated from the duty 
 of preaching. Having made the necessary prepara-
 
 59 
 
 tions, he returned with the intention of removing his 
 family thither, but the Lord met him on the way, for 
 before they had proceeded more than ten miles, he 
 was attacked with the yellow fever, and compelled 
 to stop. In this sickness, he was brought very low, 
 and on his recovery, resolved no longer to contend 
 with the Almighty. He accordingly took up his resi- 
 dence in the vicinity of Norwich, and was licensed 
 by the Norwich Church, (at that time a branch of 
 the Church in South Kingston, R. I.,) in the year 
 1798. He was ordained by the same Church in 1799, 
 and labored with the little Church in Bozrah, till 
 3802, when he removed to New London, and became 
 a colleague with the venerable Zadoc Darrow, of 
 Waterford, till 1304, when a Church having been 
 constituted in New London, Mr. West became its 
 Pastor. He remained with them ten years, and 
 during his residence there, several revivals occurred, 
 in one of which, nearly one hundred were added to 
 the Church. 
 
 In 1814, he removed to Sayville, as stated above, 
 and during his labors here, thirty-six were added to 
 the Church. He never dissolved his connection 
 with this Church, but, after removing from this place, 
 preached with several Churches in the neighborhood, 
 till the time of his decease, which occurred in North 
 Madison, Conn., in 1837, in the seventy-first year of 
 his age, and thirty-eighth of his ministry. 
 
 Since Mr. West's removal, the Pastors of the 
 Church have been as follows : —
 
 60 
 
 Elders Joseph Glazier, Russell Jennings, 
 Wm. Denison, (during whose ministry sixty-nine 
 members were dismissed to form the Fourth Church 
 in Saybrook, now the Chester Church,) Baruch 
 Beckwith, John H. Baker, Frederick Ketcham, 
 H. S. Haven, Pierpont Brockett, Albert Den- 
 ison, R. K. Mills, Harmon Ellis, and Ralph H. 
 Maine, their present Pastor, settled in June, 1850. 
 
 Their present Church edifice was erected in 1773. 
 Its dimensions are about thirty-two by twenty-five 
 feet. It was moved and repaired in 1831. The 
 Church has also a pleasant Parsonage ; but are strug- 
 gling with much difficulty to support the Gospel 
 among them. The present number is 54.
 
 COLCHESTER BxiPTIST CHURCH. 
 
 This Church was organized in September, 1780, 
 and consisted of eleven members. The blessing of 
 the Lord was on them. In less than one year, their 
 number was more than doubled. One of the breth- 
 ren, Christopher Palmer, soon gave evidence of 
 a call from God, to the work of the Gospel ministry. 
 The Church appointed him as their leader, and un- 
 der-shepherd ; and by the blessing of God, on their 
 mutual labors at the time of his ordination, which 
 took place in 1782, numbered 43 members. 
 
 They enjoyed the ministry of this good man for 
 about twenty years ; dming which time, they were 
 increased to 100 members ; but they passed through 
 severe trials, in consequence of a difference of views 
 on the subject of communion. As early a3 1784, the 
 majority were decidedly in favor of strict commun- 
 ion ; but voted to give liberty to a few, who request- 
 ed it, to commune with Congregational Churches. 
 This vote has ever been a fruitful source of uneasi- 
 ness among the members ; its effects are still se- 
 verely felt, and should teach the impropriety of all 
 attempts to compromise, at the expense of principle. 
 
 From 1801 to 1806, the Church was without a 
 Pastor but received occasional visits from Elders 
 
 (J
 
 62 
 
 Wilcox, Morse, Wightman, and others, and about 
 60 were added to the number. ' 
 
 During the year 1806, Eliada Blakesly was or- 
 dained Pastor. He labored with them about four 
 years, when Bro. Wm. Palmer settled with them ; 
 by whom he was called to ordination in 1812. Eld. 
 Palmer continued with them, with the exception of 
 one or two years, until 1824. During his ministry, 
 the Church enjoyed a good degree of prosperity ; 
 125 were added to them. He was succeeded by Eld. 
 Tubal Wakefield, who remained about three 
 years ; after which, they were supplied by Eld. H. 
 Wilcox, until his death, in 1832. After the lament- 
 ed death of Bro. Wilcox, the Lord showed mercy on 
 them by sending among them Eld. B. G. Goff ; dur- 
 ing whose ministry, about 40 were added. After 
 him, Eld. L. Meech succeeded one year in the Pas- 
 torate. During the year 1843, they enjoyed a prec- 
 ious revival, under the labors of Eld. B. Hicks. The 
 two succeeding years, Eld. E. Loomis was Pastor. 
 
 Early in 1846, they called Bro. Percival Mat- 
 thewson to the Pastoral office ; and in the course 
 of the year, he was ordained. He labored three 
 years with them, and baptized 26. The Church was 
 then supplied one year by Bro. Wm. W. Meech, a 
 licentiate of the First Church in Norwich. 
 
 The present year, 1850, they are favored with the 
 labors of Bro. H. B. Whittiivgton, who is also a 
 licentiate. Thus the Lord has led his people, so 
 that, instead of the fathers are the children, who are 
 still trusting in him. Their present number is 107.
 
 BAP. CII., COLCHESTER, BOROUGH. 
 
 In June, 1836, a number of brethren and sisters, 
 living in Colchester, belonging to different Baptist 
 Churches, met, to take into consideration whether it 
 would be expedient, under existing circumstances, 
 to be organized into a Church or not ; if so, it might 
 tend to the glory and honor of the Great Head of 
 the Church, the spiritual good of those who were 
 willing to engage in taking an additional responsi- 
 bility upon themselves, and the salvation of those 
 around us who had not found the Saviour precious to 
 their souls. Accordingly, the courage and religious 
 zeal of but few, comparatively speaking, prompted 
 them to use their money and influence with a desire 
 to build a Meeting-House, suitable and convenient 
 for the worship of Almighty God, to be located in 
 the beautiful and pleasant village of Colchester, 
 Borough. 
 
 In April of 183(5, agreeably to an invitation pre- 
 sented to Eld. Andrew M. Smith, by a few who 
 were organized into a Baptist Society, which was 
 accepted, commenced his ministerial labors in the 
 Congregational Conference House, on the Sabbath, 
 until, in the month of August, of the same year, when 
 the Meeting House was in readiness for religious 
 worship. Consequently it was dedicated with appro-
 
 64 
 
 priate religious services, and a Church, consisting of 
 thirty members, mostly females, was organized on 
 the same day, the 4th of August, 1836. Sermon by 
 Eld. Gustavus F. Davis, then Pastor of the First 
 Baptist Church in Hartford, from Acts 28 : 22. " For 
 as concerning this sect, we know that every where 
 it is spoken against." Eld. Andrew M. Smith con- 
 tinued his ministerial labors until September, 1839, 
 during which time, the Church, being in its infant 
 state, was blessed with the stated ministry ; twenty- 
 one were added by baptism, and twenty by letter, 
 making in all, a Church of sixty-nine members ; no 
 death having occurred in the Church during the 
 time ; but one dismissed by letter, one other exclud- 
 ed, leaving the sixty-nine, who were disposed to be 
 co-workers with God, who felt an earnest desire for 
 the promotion of the Redeemer's kingdom, and to 
 contend earnestly for the faith once delivered to the 
 saints. 
 
 In the month of September, 1839, the Church was 
 left destitute of an under shepherd ; when, for a 
 time, the desk was mostly supplied by exchange, un- 
 til the return of Eld. Augustus Bollesfrom the West, 
 who was solicited to supply the desk for a time, 
 and afterwards became the Pastor, and remained 
 about two years, or until the Fall of 1841. During 
 the ministration of Eld. Bolles, the Church was again 
 comforted and encouraged still to persevere, to be 
 steadfast and immoveable, always abounding in the 
 work of the Lord. There were a few added during 
 the two years of his ministry, enough to encourage
 
 6$ 
 
 the Church to believe the Lord had not forgotten to 
 be gracious, for he was adding to her numbers, and 
 we trust, by the faithful ministry of his word, was 
 adding to her graces. 
 
 In the Fall of 1844, Bro. Holies, in consequence 
 of his advanced age and the recent decease of his 
 wife, requested a dismission from his Pastoral la- 
 bors ; which was complied with upon his introducing 
 as a substitute, Bro. Robert C. Mills, a licentiate, 
 from New York, whose labors being acceptable, was, 
 on the 17th of March, 1842, ordained as our Pastor. 
 Sermon by Wm. R. Williams, D. D., of New York, 
 from Ezra 10: 4. "Arise," &c. The Church was 
 again comforted with the prospects of a man of God, 
 who would not only feed the flock, but prove himself 
 an instrument in his hand in turning many to righte- 
 ousness, which was realized during the four years of 
 his ministry with the Church and congregation. — 
 During his ministry, 60 were added to the Church, 
 of which number forty-seven were baptized into the 
 fellowship of the Church, others by letter, and some by 
 experience, who had been connected with Churches 
 of other denominations. It would not be superfluous 
 to say, the Church had not experienced many trials 
 ere this time ; her time of trial seemed to have its 
 origin in the commencement, or her infant state, 
 chiefly in consequence of a strong Pedo-Haptist in- 
 fluence being exerted against her, and the embar- 
 rassed circumstances in regard to pecuniary matters ; 
 there were few deaths in the Church, but many re- 
 movals by letter ; yet, upon the whole, there was a 
 G*
 
 66 
 
 gradual increase yearly. Eld. Mills closed his min- 
 isterial labors with the Church in January, 1845. 
 
 In April, 1845, Eld. Pierpont Brockett was 
 settled Pastor of the Church, by a unanimous vote of 
 the Society. His labors were eminently blessed to 
 the encouragement of the Church, during the four 
 years of his ministry. The Church were instructed 
 by one of the best of Pastors, whose labors and 
 prayers will long be cherished, especially by the 
 young, who early gave themselves to the Saviour, 
 and by him were baptized into the likeness of a 
 Saviour's death. Twenty were added by baptism 
 during his ministry, and about forty by letter and 
 experience. 
 
 In April, 1845, God, in his providence, sent the 
 Church Eld. George VV. Pendleton, who became 
 their Pastor. His labors have been signally bless- 
 ed ; and the Church, generally, has experienced 
 much of revival influence, and have been greatly 
 enlarged in regard to numbers Seventy-nine were 
 added by baptism ; twenty-one by letter and expe- 
 rience; making in all, during his ministry with this 
 Church, an addition of one hundred. Their present 
 number is 219. G. W. Pendleton, Pastor. S. 
 Smith, Clerk.
 
 BAPTIST CHURCH, SALEM. 
 
 Of the early history of this ancient Church, but 
 little is known. About the middle of the last cen- 
 tury, Baptist ministers from Rhode Island, and from 
 New London and vicinity, occasionally visited Sa- 
 lem, and preached the Gospel to its inhabitants. 
 
 In 17(!7, a Baptist Church of 150 members existed 
 in town, over which Ichabod Allen was settled as 
 Pastor. But little is now known of the ministry of 
 Eld. Allen, or the length of the time he was with 
 this people. 
 
 Abel Palmer was ordained among them in 1785. 
 From 1798 to 1811, Eld. Asa Wilcox was their 
 Pastor. From 1813 to 1817, Eld. W. Witter went 
 in and out before them ; when, for several years, 
 they were destitute of a Pastor. Eld. A. Wilcox 
 returned to them in 1828, and continued till his 
 death, in 1834. They then remained destitute of a 
 Pastor till 1842, when it had dwindled to so small a 
 number, and they were so scattered, that its exist- 
 ence was scarcely visible. 
 
 In this state of things, Eld. C. Leffingwell vis- 
 ited them, in 1842, and God's blessing followed his 
 hibors. The Church were revived ; their old Meet- 
 ing House, which had stood for more than a hundred
 
 68 
 
 years, was replaced by a modern and convenient 
 one, in a better location ; and in 1843, a precious re- 
 vival followed, which greatly revived the hopes of 
 the children of Zion, and strengthened the prostrate 
 cause. Since that period, the Church has been 
 supplied the most of the time with the preached 
 Gospel. 
 
 Elders C. Leffingwell, L. Meech, E. Loomis, B. 
 G. Goff, and others occasionally, have labored 
 among them acceptably and profitably. 
 
 Their present Deacon is A. H. Fish. The pres- 
 number forty-five.
 
 BAPTIST CHURCH, LEBANON. 
 
 In the year, 1804, the Independent Congregational 
 Society in Lebanon, built a Meeting House on the 
 North end of the green ; but as there was some dif- 
 ficulty in the Society, respecting the location and 
 erection of the house, the Congregational Consoci- 
 ation, on application from a committee appointed by 
 the Society, refused to supply them with preaching. 
 They then applied to the Baptist Association, who 
 agreed to supply them twelve Sabbaths. Among the 
 ministers that supplied them with preaching, was 
 Eld. Nehemiah Dodge ; and as the Society were 
 pleased with his services, they agreed with him to 
 become their minister. 
 
 In September, 1805, a Baptist Church was consti- 
 tuted, consisting of thirty-one members, and Eldv 
 Dodge became their Pastor. The Society continu- 
 ed to be a Congregational Society, until 1821, when 
 the Constitution was so altered, as to make it the 
 Independent Baptist Society. The supplying of the 
 pulpit with preaching has always been done by the 
 Society. They continued to occupy the old Meet- 
 ing House until 1841, when they built a new one, 
 where they now worship. 
 
 The ministers and brethren that composed the 
 council at the organization of the Church, were as
 
 70 
 
 follows, viz : Eldere Jason Lee, of Lyme ; Joseph 
 Connell, of Providence ; Elisha Williams, of Bev- 
 erly, Mass.; John Gano Whitman, of Groton; Sim- 
 eon Dickenson, of East Haddam ; Asa Wilcox, of 
 Colchester ; Bros, Enoch Green, of Middletown ; 
 Roswell Burrows, of Groton ; Elds. Thomas Bald- 
 win, of Boston; Stephen Gano, of Providence; Silas 
 Burroughs, of Groton; Daniel Wildman,* of Mid- 
 dletown ; Amos Reed, of Lisbon ; Nehemiah Dodge, 
 of Lebanon; Brn. Elisha Blakesley, of Bristol, and 
 John Grant, of Middletown. 
 
 During the ministry of Eld. Dodge, nothing of 
 special interest occurred; but there were additions 
 from time to time to their number. 
 
 Eld. Daniel Potman commenced his labors as 
 Pastor of the Church, June 7, 1815. During his 
 ministry there was no special awakening among 
 this people. 
 
 Eld. Esek Brown commenced his labors Septem- 
 ber, 1818. and closed them by death, September 11 
 18-33. During his ministry, the Church were greatly 
 blessed ; there were additions from time to time, to 
 their number, until 1831 and 1832, when the Lord 
 
 *Eld. Daniel Wildman, father of the present Pastor of 
 this Church, wi-.s bora in Danhury, Conn.; ordained in a 
 barn in VVolcott. and, after a successful ministry in the 
 Pastoral office tor many yoars, over different Churches, he 
 finally deceased in the family of his son, in Lebanon, in 
 February, 1849, in the 85th year of his age, ripe for the ce- 
 lestial abode of his Master on high.
 
 71 
 
 opened the windows of heaven, and poured down a 
 mighty shower of divine mercy upon the Church and 
 people. As the fruits of the revival, about 104 were 
 added to the Church by baptism. 
 
 Eld. John H. Baker commenced his labors April, 
 1834. During his ministry, about 25 were added by 
 baptism. 
 
 Eld. Baker was succeeded by Eld. Levi Meech, 
 who commenced his labors April, 1836, and a few 
 were added to the Church. 
 
 Eld. Nathan Wildman, the present Pastor, com- 
 menced his labors April, 1837. Since which time, 
 the Lord has revived his work at different times, and 
 about 94 have been added by baptism. The whole 
 number who have united with the Church are 504. 
 The present number is 197.
 
 CENTRAL BAP. CH., EAST HADDAM. 
 
 This Church, located at first on Bulkley's Hill, 
 in the West part of Colchester, was constituted in 
 1809. It consisted at first of 20 members, and was 
 called the Third Baptist Church of Colchester. One 
 of the first votes read as follows : 
 
 Voted, To make a point of attending covenant meet- 
 ings every month, and if brethren and sisters are absent, 
 they shall assign a reason the next day, why they were 
 absent. 
 
 The records of the Church show that this meeting 
 was attended very punctually, and with extraordinary 
 benefit. In 1810. Eld. E. Blakeslet accepted the 
 pastoral charge, and John Bigelow, Jr., was ordain- 
 ed Deacon. Their number continued about the 
 same, until 1819, when eight were added by baptism. 
 In 1820, Bro. A. Ackley was baptized, and G. B. At- 
 well, John Bigelow, Jr., and Stephen Benjamin, were 
 licensed to preach. 
 
 In 1825, they erected their first house of worship, 
 located in the Eastern part of East Haddam. Dur- 
 ing the same year, a dissention arose in regard to 
 some of the Church funds, and seven were excluded. 
 
 A. Ackley was ordained their Pastor in 1827, and 
 was succeeded by Eld. G. B. Goff, in 1831, who 
 baptized eight persons.
 
 73 
 
 In 1833, Eld. A. D. Wat rods took the Pastoral 
 office, and a few were added. From this time till 
 1842, no record was kept. Then 13ro. C. W. Pot- 
 ter labored with them for some time, by whose in- 
 strumentality much good was accomplished. 
 
 In 1845, a new house of worship was erected, in 
 a more populous district, and new Articles of Faith 
 adopted ; and changed their name from Colchester 
 and East Haddam Baptist Church, to Central East 
 Haddam From that time to the present, they have 
 enjoyed, besides the labors of various brethren in the 
 ministry, the Pastorship of Elders H. Wakeraan, 
 and J. Gardner, the present incumbent. 
 
 The whole number who have been connected with 
 the Church, 186. Their present number, 85.
 
 IIADDAM BAPTIST CHURCH. 
 
 Many years previous to the organization of this 
 Church, a few Baptist families resided in Haddam. 
 As early as 1/92, some individuals belonging to 
 these families, united with the Chatham Baptist 
 Church. These members became a branch, and in- 
 creased gradually. As the Church was located at 
 East Hampton, a distance of eight or ten miles, the 
 members found it more convenient to hold separate 
 meetings in Haddam. Their first meetings were 
 held in private houses, the brethren from Chester 
 meeting with them, occasionally, and aiding them in 
 carrying on their meetings in a social way, by con- 
 ference and prayer. The times were trying, but the 
 names of several brethren are gratefully remember- 
 ed for their zeal and piety, and adherence to our 
 precious cause. 
 
 In 1803, the brethren obtained the use of the 
 Meeting-House erected in 1793, by the New Lights, 
 or Separatists, (so called,) a class of conscientious 
 persons who separated from the "Standing Order," 
 the better to secure and enjoy their freedom in the 
 worship of God. 
 
 After the death of their minister, Charles Smith, 
 in 1800, their meetings were given up. Subsequent- 
 ly the most of those brethren became Baptists ; and»
 
 75 
 
 without any formal agreement, the pulpit was open- 
 ed to ministers of the Baptist denomination. The 
 Baptists continued to occupy this house, principally, 
 till 1833, when their present house of worship waa 
 erected. 
 
 In 1804, a precious revival was enjoyed, and 18 
 were added by baptism. In 1806, Eld. Simeon Dick- 
 inson supplied the pulpit. Amasa Smith, Simon 
 Shailer, Samuel West, William Palmer, each labor- 
 ed among this people, previously to 1822, when the 
 Church was publicly recognized by a Council, call- 
 ed for the purpose. Eld. Asa Wilcox preached the 
 sermon. The organization was commenced in har- 
 mony with the brethren of the Chatham Church, and 
 the Churches in the vicinity. 
 
 Shortly after the organization, the services of Eld. 
 Simon Shailer were secured, who continued his 
 labors with them until 1830. In 1824, a season of 
 revival brought in forty-two, who were added by bap- 
 tism ; and forty-four, also, in the year 1828. 
 
 In 1830, he was succeeded by Davis T. Shailer, 
 who continued one year ; William Denison preached 
 one year; Samuel West, one year; Alfred Gates, 
 two years; then Simon Shailer again, four years ; 
 Ebenezer Loomis, one year; Frederick Wightman, 
 three years ; Russell Jennings, two years ; and then 
 again Simon Shailer, three years ; and A. D. Wat- 
 rous, five months. Their present Pastor is Albert 
 Baldwin, who entered upon his labors August 
 I, 1850.
 
 Elders Simon Shailer and Davis T. Shailer were 
 both licensed and ordained by this Church. Two 
 others have also been licensed, Nathan E. Shailer 
 and Andrew Smith. The three Shailers are still 
 engaged in the ministry. Bro. Smith has relin- 
 quished preaching, on account of ill health. 
 
 Another of its members, Julius Shailer, was licens- 
 ed in Middletown, and is now Pastor of the Second 
 Church in Roxbury, Mass. 
 
 Present number of members, ninety-seven. Lewis 
 D. Brooks, is the Church Clerk.
 
 1st BAPTIST CHURCH, NORWICH. 
 
 Earnest efforts have been made by the Committee, 
 to obtain from the 1st Baptist Church in Norwich, an 
 outline of their History; the Church were visited by 
 one of the Committee ; and the Pastor and several 
 of the brethren were earnestly requested to see that 
 it was prepared. They gave assurances that it might 
 be expected, and after waiting for it several weeks, 
 the Committee have been officially informed, that by 
 a vote of the Church, the History is withheld from 
 publication. The Committee regret this, as the 
 Church is one of the oldest in the Association, and 
 its history, which has been written out, in part, at 
 least, is exceedingly interesting. 
 
 The Church was organized in 1800, and has ful- 
 filled a successful and beneficent mission, for over a 
 half century. It now numbers 232 members; hav- 
 ing a good Meeting House, and an interesting con- 
 gregation. The venerable John Sterrf, now de- 
 ceased, and whose praise still lingers in this ancient 
 Church, was its honored Pastor for nearly twenty 
 years. Eld. J. M. Coley, is the present Pastor. 
 
 7-
 
 CENTRAL BAP. CHURCH, NORWICH. 
 
 On the first of April, 1840, the 1st Baptist Church 
 in Norwich, obtained the services of Rev. M. G. 
 Clarke, who continued to supply them until August 
 following, when it was believed the many difficulties 
 under which the Baptist interest labored, might be 
 much lessened, if not removed, by a change of lo- 
 cation. So many embarrassments, however, seemed 
 to attend this proposition, that it was abandoned ; 
 but it was finally decided to commence a new inter- 
 est in a more central and advantageous situation. 
 
 Accordingly, on the evening of September 15, 
 1840, thirty-seven brethren and sisters, residing in 
 the place, but not connected with the 1st Church, 
 met at the house of Bro. Avery Bromley, on Union 
 Street, and organized a 2d Church, to be called the 
 Central Baptist Church of Norwich. Articles of 
 Faith and Church Covenant were adopted, and Rev. 
 M. G. Clarke was chosen to be their Pastor. 
 
 A Council called to recognize the new Church, 
 met on the 22d of the same month, consisting of 
 delegates from the following Churches : — 1st Nor- 
 wich, Bozrah, Lebanon, Colchester, Packersville, 
 Jewitt City, Voluntown, and Preston City. Besides 
 which, were invited, Rev. I. R. Stewart, and Rev. E. 
 Denison. The Church was duly recognized, and in
 
 79 
 
 the evening public services were held at the Town 
 Hall, where a sermon was preached by Eld. Tubal 
 Wakefield, and the hand of fellowship extended to 
 the new Church, through their Pastor, by Eld. B. 
 Cook. At the next meeting of that body, the Church 
 was received a member of the New London Asso- 
 ciation. 
 
 The Town Hall was engaged as a place of wor- 
 ship ; and so much did the congregation increase, 
 that the place was soon nearly filled. About this 
 time, also, the 1st Church being destitute of a Pas- 
 tor, many of its members took letters, and united 
 with the Central Church. The Lord evidently smil- 
 ed on the enterprise. Seriousness pervaded the as- 
 semblies, and sinners began to inquire the way of life. 
 Nor was it long before joyful converts were seeking 
 the gates of Zion, and the baptismal waters were 
 visited nearly every month during the year ; and it 
 was about this time, also, that three brethren, Elisha 
 W. Beckwith, Erastus Regwin, and George Lovis, 
 were chosen to serve the Church as Deacons. 
 
 It now became evident that the comfort and pros- 
 perity of the Church depended much on their hav- 
 ing a house to worship in. But after the severe 
 struggles through which they had passed, few in 
 numbers, and feeble in means, it was difficult to see 
 how such an object could be attained. But after 
 prayer and consultation, trusting in God, it was de- 
 cided to go forward, and make the attempt. A lot 
 centrally and favorably located on Union Street, was 
 obtained, and in the following Spring a house was
 
 80 
 
 commenced, which was finished at a cost of about 
 $11,000, and dedicated the 14th of December fol- 
 lowing, (1841.) Eld. R. H. Neale, of Boston, preach- 
 ed on the occasion. So was the good hand of their 
 God upon them. 
 
 At the close of their first year, the returns of the 
 Church to the Association showed sixty-eight addi- 
 tions by baptism ; ninety-three by letter ; six dis- 
 missed ; and two died ; one of which was the Pas- 
 tor's wife ; he being called to taste a mingled cup, 
 while he rejoices at God's protecting goodness, 
 mourns the bereavements of his hand. 
 
 During their second year, 52 were added by bap- 
 tism, and 41 by letter ; whole number, 258. In the 
 autumn of this year, an interesting state of feeling 
 was manifested; and in January following, (1843,) 
 a most gracious revival succeeded ; during which, 
 the faithful and valuable services of Eld. I. R. Stew- 
 ard were obtained for seven weeks, to aid the Pastor 
 in the abundance of his labors. As the result of 
 this revival, many were added to the Church ; dur- 
 ing the year, 93 by baptism, and 54 by letter. 
 
 In the following September, a series of meetings 
 were held, during which the assistance of Eld. Jacob 
 Knapp was obtained for about five weeks, day and 
 evening. Here, as before, the arm of the Lord was 
 revealed in quickening saints, and converting sin- 
 ners ; so that in this year were added 53 by baptism, 
 and 52 by letter. Total, 433. 
 
 The Spring of 1844 found the Church in a low 
 state of spirituality, yet with a good congregation,
 
 81 
 
 and the same harmony as had ever marked their his- 
 tory. In this associational year, but four were added 
 by baptism, and 26 by letter. 
 
 In the Spring of 1845, at the request of members 
 living at Greenville, about sixty were dismissed, to 
 constitute a Church in that place ; this was regarded 
 as a severe loss from the Central Church. But in 
 the Autumn and Winter following, during a power- 
 ful revival enjoyed by the First Church, this also re- 
 ceived some of the sacred influences ; and at the 
 next Association reported for the year, 40 added by 
 baptism, and 18 by letter. 
 
 At this time, their Pastor began to feel that it 
 might be his duty to seek another field of labor ; and 
 on the last Sabbath in March, 1846, he closed his 
 labors, the Church having with great reluctance ac- 
 cepted his resignation, after having been so closely 
 identified with its history and prosperity, from its be- 
 ginning until then. For several months succeeding, 
 the pulpit was supplied by PJlders Brown, Field, and 
 others, until a call, extended to Eld. E. T. Hiscox, 
 at that time Pastor of the First Baptist Church in 
 Westerly, R. I., was accepted, and at the Church's 
 earnest request, he became their Pastor. But as his 
 engagements forbade his taking charge of the Church 
 until the following Spring, Eld. Lawson Muzzy was 
 engaged to supply the pulpit till that time ; which 
 he did, greatly to the profit and satisfaction of the 
 congregation. 
 
 The 1st of April, 1847, the newly chosen Pastor 
 commenced his labors with the Church, which was
 
 82 
 
 found to have suffered much during the past year, as 
 a matter of necessity. Just at this time, also, the 
 removal of a large business firm, with which were 
 , connected a large number of the Church and con- 
 gregation, added to the discouragement. During 
 the ensuing year also, on account of a general de- 
 pression in business, removals were frequent, so as 
 at times, greatly to dishearten the friends of Zion. 
 But the most serious difficulty arose from the pecu- 
 niary embarrsssment of the debt contracted by the 
 building of the house, and which at this time amount- 
 ed to $5500, and so far from diminishing, had, for 
 some time, been increasing. 
 
 At the annual meeting of the Society, held in No- 
 vember, 1847, the financial condition of the Church 
 became known; when the Pastor and brethren felt 
 that the prosperity, if not the very existence of the 
 Church, depended on cancelling the debts, and urged 
 a vigorous and united effort to pay the whole imme- 
 diately. Yet it was regarded as little short of im- 
 possible, with the small pecuniary ability of the 
 Church, to pay the whole sum in one year, as was 
 proposed. Nevertheless, all seemed to unite as with 
 one heart in the attempt, and in something more 
 than a year, over $4000 of it was paid ; to which 
 may be added, $3000 more, during that and the fol- 
 lowing years, (1848 and 1849,) raised to meet current 
 expenses, for benevolent objects, and towards a new 
 organ, purchased in the Spring of 1849. 
 
 During these two years, the financial difficulties of 
 the Church engrossed most of its energies, and but
 
 83 
 
 very few additions were made by baptism. Fre- 
 quent meetings were held for two weeks, in the 
 winter of 1847 and 1848, and many were received. 
 Again, in the winter of 1848 and 1849, meetings for 
 Conference and Prayer were had nearly every eve- 
 ning for ten weeks, with very happy results ; and yet 
 no conversions were known to have occurred. 
 
 But in November, 1849, more encouraging indica- 
 tions were witnessed, and a precious revival follow- 
 ed. Sinners began to seek the way of life, and 
 converts soon rejoiced in pardon. For six months, 
 meetings were held nearly every evening; and for 
 about five weeks, every morning and evening. The 
 Pastor was aided for three weeks of the time, by 
 Eld. David Bernard. As the immediate fruits of 
 this revival, 35 were added by baptism ; and during 
 the year, 13 by letter. Great harmony pervaded the 
 Church, and to a good degree, the members united 
 in the work of the Lord ; many backsliders were re- 
 claimed, and a most salutary influence remained 
 behind, when the immediate effects of the interest 
 had passed away. 
 
 The prospects of the Church are somewhat bright- 
 ening; the burden of the debt is, to a considerable 
 extent, removed; the congregation has increased; 
 the additions have added somewhat to the strength 
 of the Church, while the undisturbed harmony of the 
 entire body, with the increased activity and interest 
 exhibited by its members, promise greatly for the 
 future welfare of thi9 branch of Zioa,
 
 84 
 
 This Church has, from the first, been actively en- 
 gaged in the Sabbath School cause ; in giving the 
 Bible to the nations of the earth, and in every object 
 calculated to secure the evangelization of the world, 
 or the welfare of humanity ; while they fully believe 
 that Christians can do more for the salvation of 
 souls, and the welfare of the world, by faithful and 
 devout labors in, and in connection with the Church, 
 as the "ground and pillar of the truth," than in 
 any other way. 
 
 Since its organization, there have been received 
 into its fellowship, by baptism, 352; by letter, 365. 
 Total, 717. Present number, 403.
 
 1st BAPTIST CHURCH, NEW LONDON. 
 
 The Baptists of New London, for some years 
 were members of the 1st Baptist Church in Water- 
 ford, and nothing like an organization is known to 
 have existed until after the great revival in 1794, 
 when the Waterford Church was districted, New 
 London proper constituting one district, and the Har- 
 bour's-Mouth another. 
 
 Baptist meetings were frequently held in the Court 
 House, and other places, as preachers could be ob- 
 tained, until 1803, when the members residing in 
 New London, petitioned the Waterford Church, for 
 the privilege of employing a minister among them- 
 selves, which resulted in an arrangement for Elder 
 West, who was then laboring with the Church, to 
 preach a certain portion of the time in the City. 
 
 The next January, 1804, a petition, originating as 
 it stated, in a desire to promote the Redeemer's 
 kingdom, and in the belief that that desire was of 
 God, was presented to the Waterford Church, asking 
 dismission from them, for the purpose of erecting a 
 permanent standard in New London. To this peti- 
 tion was appended the names of Jonathan Sizer, 
 John Lewis, Noah Mason, Ira Chapman, Isaac Clark, 
 Henry Harris, Nathaniel Harris, Joseph Anable^ 
 John Harris, and Samuel Coit. Of this number 
 8
 
 86 
 
 Bro. John Harris is the only survivor. Their peti- 
 tion Avas granted; and on the 11th of February fol- 
 lowing, they were recognized by a Council, called for 
 the purpose, as a Church of Christ, in gospel order. 
 
 Eld. Samuel West was one of the constituent 
 members, and was called to the Pastoral office about 
 the time of the recognition, and served the Church 
 with much acceptance for ten years. In October, of 
 the same year, the Church united with the Stonington 
 Association, of which it continued a member, until 
 the formation of the New London Association, in 
 1817. with which it has since been connected. 
 
 The next year efforts were put forth to procure a 
 house of worship. Some difficulty was experienced 
 in obtaining a building lot, on account of the preju- 
 dice that existed against this sect at that day. By a 
 little contrivance, however, they obtained possession 
 of a ledge of rocks, on which they erected a house, 
 for the worship of the " one living and true God," 
 « Father, Son, and Holy Ghost." 
 
 Having exhausted their means in purchasing the 
 lot, and erecting, and covering the frame, they com- 
 menced worshipping in it, in an entirely unfinished 
 state, and continued so to do for some ten years. 
 They had not learned the system of plunging hope- 
 lessly into debt, and then appealing to other Churches 
 to save them from ruin. In 1807, however, they 
 petitioned the Legislature, for the grant of a lottery, 
 to enable them to finish their house. It is supposed 
 that the request was not granted, as the house re- 
 mained unfinished for years afterwards.
 
 87 
 
 Nothing of special interest appears on the records 
 during the remainder of Eld. West's Pastorate. The 
 Chinch was small and poor, and struggling against 
 adverse influences ; but still they held on their way. 
 He closed his labors with them in the Spring of 
 1814 ; and for two or three years they appear to 
 have been without an under shepherd, and made lit- 
 tle or no progress. 
 
 Some time in 1816, Nehf.m[ah Dodge commenc- 
 ed laboring among them, and continued over five 
 years. In 1817, a revival was enjoyed, which brought 
 quite a number into the Church, and probably had to 
 do very materially with finishing the Meeting House, 
 which was done about this time. Eld. Dodge sub- 
 sequently embraced the doctrine of Universal Restor- 
 ation, and was dismissed from the Pastorate ; and 
 soon after, excluded from the Church. 
 
 A call was then extended to Ebenezer Loomis, a 
 licentiate, who accepted, and entered on his labors, 
 April 1, 1822. The January following, he was call- 
 ed to ordination ; and on the 5th of February, was 
 solemnly set apart to the work of the gospel Minis- 
 try. He continued with them four years, laboring 
 with much acceptance to the Church, and not with- 
 out fruit in the ingathering of souls. He left entirely 
 of his own accord, under a conviction of duty, to the 
 then opening West. During the next year, they 
 were supplied by S. W. Beck with, and others. 
 
 In the Spring of 1827, Henry Wightman became 
 Pastor, and continued one year. He proved to be a 
 troublesome man, and occasioned mur-h inconven-
 
 88 
 
 ience and labor to the Church. fclld. West, their 
 first Pastor, then returned, and served them one 
 year. He was succeeded in the Spring of 1829, by 
 Daniel Wildman, who remained three years. His 
 ministry was very acceptable to the people ; and dur- 
 ing the last year, an extensive revival was enjoyed, 
 in which he was aided by Eld. Tilden, who, the fol- 
 lowing Spring, became Pastor of the Church. His 
 Pastorate continued but one year ; after which, he 
 set up a separate meeting, but accomplished little 
 more than to occasion some trouble to the Church. 
 The following year, 1833, after several ineffectual 
 attempts to obtain a Pastor, Eld. Danied Wildman 
 was engaged as a permanent supply. 
 
 In the Spring of 1834, Alvin Acklet became 
 Pastor, and served them with great acceptance for 
 three years. Under his ministry, the Church was built 
 up, edified, and considerably increased ; and it was 
 with much reluctance that his resignation was ac- 
 cepted, when he left. He was succeeded by Na- 
 than Wildman, who remained but one year. 
 
 The next Pastor was C. C. Williams, who com- 
 menced his Pastorate in July, 1838, and continued 
 until April, 1840. In connection with his labors, a 
 large number were added to the Church ; the con- 
 gregation was increased, and the Meeting House 
 enlarged. But the latter end was by no means as 
 favorable as the beginning. The Church became 
 divided with reference to his continuing as Pastor, 
 and ultimately a number of the members, with him, 
 set up a separate meeting; which finally resulted,
 
 S9 
 
 after a protracted scene of trial, in the exclusion of 
 Eld. Williams, and quite a number of others, and in 
 the formation of the 2d Baptist Church in the City, 
 under very unhappy circumstances. Subsequently, 
 however, in connection with the labors of father 
 Peck, " the peace maker," the difficulties were re- 
 moved, the excluded members restored, and mutual 
 fellowship established between the two Churches, 
 which has continued unbroken unto this day. 
 
 Henry R. K.napp took the Pastoral charge of the 
 Church on the 1st of April, 1840, and continued 
 three years. The first part of his ministry was ren- 
 dered somewhat unpleasant, on account of the diffi- 
 culties then existing ; but nevertheless, some progress 
 was made, and "precious stones" were added to the 
 building, even in " troublous times." During the 
 last half of his Pastorate, very large accessions were 
 made to the Church. A protracted meeting was 
 held during the winter of 1841—2, in which the 
 Pastor was aided by Eld. B. Cook, that proved a rich 
 blessing to the Church, and resulted in the hopeful 
 conversion of many that had long " rejected the 
 counsel of God, against themselves." The revival 
 influence seemed to continue with the Church in a 
 very considerable degree, during the following Sum- 
 mer, and the next Fall and Winter, in connection 
 with another protracted meeting, in which the labors 
 of Eld. J. S. Swan were connected with the Pastor, 
 still larger numbers professed obedience to the faith. 
 These were "years of the right-hand of the Most 
 High," and will long be remembered bv those who 
 8*
 
 90 
 
 felt, and saw the power of God, as then displayed, 
 in its " effectual working" upon the hearts, and con- 
 sciences of men. 
 
 In the Spring of 1843, Eld. Knapp resigned his 
 Pastoral charge ; on the acceptance of which, an 
 expression of the gratitude of the Church for his 
 faithful labors, and a pledge of their prayers for his 
 future usefulness and prosperity, was noted, and en- 
 tered on the record. 
 
 Eld. Swan assumed the Pastoral relation on the 
 1st of April, 1843, and sustained it nearly six years. 
 During the first year of his Pastorate, another pro- 
 tracted meeting was held ; the effects of which, they 
 represent in their letter to the Association as those 
 of " a refreshing shower," as compared with " the 
 great rain of God's strength," enjoyed during the 
 Winter previous. During this year, upwards of 
 twenty members were dismissed to a new interest, 
 on the other side of the river, known as Groton 
 Bank Church. Nothing of very special interest oc- 
 curred during the remainder of his Pastorate, although 
 some were added to the Church by baptism each 
 year. He resigned in the Fall of 1848 : and during 
 the Winter following, the Church was supplied by 
 Eld. Alfred Gates. 
 
 At the annual meeting, in January, 1849, a vote 
 was passed authorizing any number of brethren and 
 sisters to take letters, for the purpose of forming a 
 new Church, of the same faith and order; and sub- 
 sequently a request, as above, was presented, con- 
 taining 186 names, which request was accordingly
 
 91 
 
 granted, and resulted in the formation of the Hunt- 
 ington Street Baptist Church. 
 
 On the 1st of April, 1847, Charles Willett be- 
 came Pastor of the Church, and remains in that 
 relation at the date of this, September, 1650. Such 
 is a meagre outline of the History of the First Bap- 
 tist Church in New London ; a Church that, from a 
 very small beginning, has been led on, and increas- 
 ed, until it has been enabled to occupy a somewhat 
 important position among the Evangelical Churches 
 of the City, and with the two branches that have 
 gone out from it, altogether number, at the present 
 time, over eleven hundred members. 
 
 During its forty-six years History, over eight hun- 
 dred have been baptized into its fellowship ; and as 
 nearly as can be ascertained, in the order of the fol- 
 lowing table, which gives the date of the commence- 
 ment, and the duration of the several Pastorates, 
 with the baptisms connected therewith: 
 
 Samuel West, 180-4 10 years, 49 baptized. 
 
 Nehemiah Dodse, 1817, 5 " 57 " 
 
 Ebenezer Looniis, 1822, 4 " 23 " 
 
 Henry Wightman. 1827, 1 vear, 7 <: 
 
 Samuel West, 1828 1 « 8 " 
 
 Daniel Wildman, 1829, 3 years, 37 « 
 
 Chester Tilden, 1832, 1 year, 10 " 
 
 Alvia Ackley, 1834 3 vears, 41 " 
 
 JNathan Wildman, 1837, 1 year, 2 " 
 
 C. C. Williams. 1838, 2 years, 82 
 
 H. R. Knapp, 1840, 3 " 392 « 
 
 J. S. Swan. 1813 5k " 75 " 
 
 Charles Willett, 1849, l| « 40 « 
 
 Present Deacons, VV. A. Weaver, Clark Daniels, 
 Daniel Latham. Present number of members, 405.
 
 2d BAPTIST rill ki 11, NEW LONDON. 
 
 1 1 
 
 second B ' * Jhurch in N ! 
 
 I". 
 
 lor in 
 ■ 
 f those 
 who !•• £«-neral 
 
 f au- 
 otber beeae, and the eeub if another Bap- 
 
 About t 
 
 i 
 
 • II 
 Wiiii I'ostor of the 1st Church. Im- 
 
 ■ 
 lot, tod erect if 
 
 iation of a se< I 
 
 Church. A contract for tins object wag signed Jane 
 
 - 10, by Jonathan Smith, w I 
 
 ":. Jr., Goor-' WW 1 y, and 
 
 Charles and Joseph Bishop. 1 -•■ was com- 
 
 pleted in December of t The early 
 
 struggles to obtain letters for the purpose of forming
 
 93 
 
 the Church, wo would willingly pa«3 over, but a 
 brief out-line is necessary to show the origin of the 
 Church. 
 
 After all attempts had fkiled of obtaining l< 
 of dismission from the let Church, for the pi: 
 of forming ■ second interest, and Mr. Williams and 
 iix of th" n iee had been exclud- 
 
 ed for the part they had taken in th< tment 
 
 parate meeting; and when a petition of rm< 
 n mi mm i. ling, in th< I ' it < Ihurch, 
 
 for the same object had . the friends 
 
 ted called i Council to in?estigate the whole 
 
 . which, after a prayerful and laborious 809- 
 
 ■id examination, advised the 'ion of 
 
 I larch. The thirty m<'Ui!> 
 
 Church, constituted themselves into th< 
 
 Baptist ( ' f New L n," arid agreeably to 
 
 advice of I Council, immediati 
 
 five brethren ai ■ having letters from the 
 
 First Baptist Church in Waterford, and brother C. C- 
 
 Williams, and the six brethren who had ba 
 
 eluded with him, previously, from | I nurch. 
 
 The Council still remaining in session, the Church 
 was then publicly recognised, !»• • ber 31, 1840. 
 C. C. Williams became the first P \ pro- 
 
 tracted scene of trial followed the or 
 The difficulties with the First Church, growing in 
 part, out of the reception of excluded members of 
 that body, which unfortunately continued for a con- 
 siderable period, were snbsequently removed and 
 adjusted during the Pastorship of Lemuel Covell,
 
 M 
 
 Uirough tlio voluntary, kind and at: labors 
 
 of Elders Boi li ! J n Pi k. 
 
 Of th- Y.tL H irmony WSl rati 
 
 ii has continued unbroken to this .; 
 
 I '. < '. W tbt Church, 
 
 I- II. as 
 
 y, till a Pi 
 I 
 arc still gratefully cherished by the Church, 
 ary .">, 18 !'.'. the I "Icr.-h ftVI Ll I 
 
 t time 
 •nt Lilly || 
 
 Bi ■ C 
 of the cull, F« H IMS 
 
 P stornl duties in April o! 
 
 The Bret baptism t<>*>k pi I »■ • 19, 1841, 
 
 when thirteen ■ i . being immereed I 
 
 Covcl!,) as a token of divine favor. A 
 work of grace continued through the Winter, during 
 which time I :n. Quite 
 
 a number of other additi i'so made by let- 
 
 Dui ' _' the \\ •;: • 
 122 were added by baptism, th 
 continuing through the entire Winter ami Spring. 
 
 Bro. Covi Deoemi 
 
 1843, and removed I rk, in January. 1844. 
 
 The Church reluctantly accepted his rasignsfJoil, and 
 were much depressed at parting with their spiritual 
 leader, through whose agency the Church had nip- 
 idly increased and prospered John I!i \in 
 
 ID .ell in the Pastorate, and continued
 
 95 
 
 till the Spring of ISAo, having- resigned, January G, 
 of the same year. March 10, 1845, the Church in- 
 vited L. G. Leonard, of Thompson, to become their 
 Pastor ; who accepted, and commenced his Pastoral 
 labors the 1st of May, of the same year. Bro. Leon- 
 ard continued his useful labors with the Church till 
 November, 1-lS when he resigned, and removed to 
 Zanesville, Ohio. The Church still cherish bil 
 memory with affectionate inter* 
 
 Edwin R. Wakrkn, of Albany, N. V., succeeded 
 Bro. Leonard in the Pastorate. Bro. Warren, being 
 providentially in the City the week after Bro. Leonard 
 left, was invited to supply the pulpit, he having jost 
 previously resigned the charge of the State Street 
 Baptist Church, Albany. fie accepted the invita- 
 tion, and subsequently, the call of the Church, to 
 become their Pastor, and entered upon its duties the 
 1st of January, 1849. Daring the Winter and Spring 
 of 1849, 1 09 were added by baptism. A special re- 
 vival was enjoyed, refreshing and precious. 
 
 During the past year, the Church have excavated 
 about two thousand loads of solid rock from in front 
 and underneath their house of worship, and con- 
 structed, at a considerable out-lay of expense, a 
 commodious and beautiful Lecture Room, furnishing 
 seats for an assembly of 360 persons. Their Church 
 property, though encumbered by debt, is centrally 
 located and valuable ; the Street where it stands 
 having been improved the past year. The Church is 
 a warm patron of the general cause of benevolence, 
 and have contributed, notwithstanding their home
 
 N 
 
 chump, to many foreign object* Traycr Meotinpi 
 are held by the Church on \V 
 evonn : • W 
 
 <;<\-s of t: UDOOf M*» 
 
 ' ,in h, ■ lib interest, and 
 
 BiM I : 
 
 red by baptism, rod - 
 
 rod but i an IWi 
 
 I ! revival with 
 
 winch the Church h i «iur- 
 
 vYioteri of 1848, 1843, tad 1844 D 
 
 • » tin: 
 
 Church; and duriof the I t, 108. Dvriag I 
 
 added Sea 
 
 time t i the Church enjoyed some pn 
 
 mem- 
 
 i B. ti site, 
 
 []. U. \Varrf>. Pastor. David B .rk.
 
 HUNTINGTON STREET 
 
 BAPTIST CHURCH, NEW LONDON. 
 
 At the annual meeting of the First Baptist Church 
 in the City of New London, in January, 1849, i 
 resolution n I to give letters to those irho 
 
 desired to form another Baptist Church in the City, 
 to be in fellowship with the First Church. 
 
 14, of the same year, 185 brethren and sisters of the 
 
 said First Church, met, and after prayer and solemn 
 deliberation, constituted tl into a Church; 
 
 and having previously purchased the Universalis! 
 Meeting House, in Huntington Street, agreed to be 
 known as "The Huntington Street Baptist Church," 
 adopting Articles of Faith and Covenant. Elder 
 Jabez Swan was elected Pastor, and William P. 
 Benjamin and Isaac Harris Deacons. 
 
 March '-28, a large Council from twelve Churches 
 convened in the First Baptist Church, and after ex- 
 amination of their Articles of Faith and Covenant, 
 unanimously agreed to recognize the Church. 
 
 March 29, 1640, the house, recently bought of the 
 Universalist Society, was dedicated to the worship 
 and praise of Almighty God, and the Church was 
 publicly recognized, and the Deacons elect were 
 ordained with appropriate services. Sermons were 
 9
 
 i, appropn- 
 the dedication of the II use, and bj Bid. B. Cook, 
 
 on th i . i r. <;. 
 
 \\ • ■ 1: 
 
 . l'.>r more thin 
 ition, which w< 
 ed bj the i 
 
 At the time of the 
 was in progreea in I I which atill 
 with increaaing power, for leveraJ a 
 
 Pre! torn to tfa 
 aame d bj baptiem, and ! 
 
 letter. The Church united with I ( 
 Baptial e New 
 
 London Baptist As.- ptemhet of the 
 
 aame j 
 
 During tlic season of 1850, the Churc 
 the absence of their beloved P bj painibJ, 
 
 area bud i 
 
 for about tour months. Hut doling this painful trial, 
 thej were supplied by the voluntary labors of the 
 neighboring Paatore; and God m< 
 to them his servant, in health and strength, who now 
 goes in and out before them. 
 
 Their present number is 311. Eld. J. S. BwAJL 
 Pastor ; C. C. Comstock, Clerk.
 
 BAPTI8T CHURCH, ESSEX. 
 
 This Church, like many others in the State, arose 
 out of a Pedo-baptist community, having its origin 
 mainly in i from the Second Congregational 
 
 Society in Saybrook, BeveraJ of w mbera, 
 
 about the beginning of the present century, became 
 dissatisfied with infant sprinkling as a substitute for 
 Christian bap! ism. .Mr. : . is believed to 
 
 have been the first of those who came out decidedly 
 
 a Uaptist. He was baptized by Eld. John Williams, 
 in the City of New Vbrk, in the year 1805. 
 
 Som«' til tins, however, Mr. .Tared 
 
 Hayden, a j chant of the p called 
 
 to witness the peaceful and happy death of his only 
 : an event which, through the divine blessing, 
 resulted in his conversion. Shortly after, in company 
 with a friend from New York, he visited Chester, 
 and heard a discourse from Eld. Dickinson, Pastor 
 of the Baptist Church in East Haddam. Being 
 quite interested in the sermon, they invited Eld. D. 
 to visit Essex and preach, which invitation he after- 
 wards complied with; and as others became interest- 
 ed, he came again. On his third visit, several mem- 
 bers of the Congregational Church, with some others 
 who had recently obtained hope, making in all eight 
 persons, were buried with Christ in baptism. Seven
 
 LOO 
 
 more were baptized on his fourth visit In the face 
 of much scoffing, lad ridicule, rvinl misrepresenta- 
 tion, brother Dukinson continued to preach and bap- 
 tize, until in 1800, quire a revival was enjoyed under 
 his labors, and the number baptised had increased to 
 fifty-tWO. TltOM bad united from time to time with 
 
 Baptist Church in East rJaddam, and were ac- 
 customed to meet as a branch of that Church.* 
 
 In 1811, these brethren and sisters, with others 
 from the vicinity, numbering in all, sixty-four, were 
 constituted the Second Baptist Church in Saybrook, 
 which title was afterwards changed to the First 
 Baptist Church in Essex, r •• i Church a col- 
 ony has since gone out to form the Baptist Church 
 in Clinton ; and in 1830, eighteen members were 
 dismissed to unite with others in constituting the 
 Baptist Church in Deep River. 
 
 From the time the Church was constituted, June 
 18, 181 1, until August 12, 1812, its ministry was of 
 occasional supplies. At that time, Oliver Wilson 
 was ordained, and chosen Pastor of the Church. 
 He continued Pastor two years and nearly three 
 months. During his ministry, three were added to 
 the Church, by baptism, and three by letter, lie 
 resigned October 23, 1814. 
 
 *Thc first Baptist living in the Borough of Essex, of 
 which we have any account, was Mrs. Jerusha Havden. 
 She was baptized in East Lyme, by Rid. Jason Lee, April 
 4, 1S02, in which Church she still holds her membership, 
 though living in Essex.
 
 101 
 
 From the time of his resignation, the Church con- 
 tinued with occasional supplies, until April 24, 1818, 
 when Eld. Asa Wilcox was chosen Pastor, and en- 
 tered upon the duties of his office. During his min- 
 istrations to the Church, which continued ten years, 
 there were added to its members eighty-two by bap- 
 tism, and seven by letter. He resigned his charge 
 as Pastor, April, 1828. 
 
 The Church remained without a Pastor from April 
 until the 21st of August, 1828, when Eld. Pierfoht 
 Brocket accepted a call of the Church, to become 
 their Pastor, and commenced his labors with them. 
 He continued Pastor of the Church seven years, and 
 closed his labors August 20, 1835. During his min- 
 istry, ninety-four were added to the Church by bap- 
 tism, and fifteen by letter. 
 
 From August, 1835, to April 1, 183G, the Church 
 was again without a Pastor. At that time, Elder 
 Henry R. Knafp accepted a call from the Cliuroh, 
 to become their Pastor, and commenced his labors 
 with them. lie continued Pastor of the Church 
 four years, when he resigned, April 1, 1840. While 
 he was Pastor, there were nine received by baptism, 
 six by letter, and two by experience. 
 
 Eld. William Geo. Miller received a call from 
 the Church, to become its Pastor, and entered upon 
 its duties April 1, 1840. After the faithful labors of 
 live years, he was removed by the hand of death, 
 April 13, 1845. During his ministry, there were 
 fifty-six added to the Church by baptism, ten by let- 
 ter, and four by experience.
 
 109 
 
 From die fottfa of Eld. Millar, until August of 
 
 the same peer, the Church wen* without I Pastor. 
 At that time, Ddet William II. Card accepted 
 a call from the Church, and entered DpOB his la- 
 bors with it on the third I. I | Ht, 104ft. 
 He continued PeetOff of tlie Church one year, and 
 then closed his labors. Daring nil ministry, K 
 were added to the Church by baptism, and eight by 
 letter. 
 
 Kid. HnJTBl BboM&BI labored with the Church 
 from Beptemhei, l'lti. until the Bret Sabbath in 
 March, 1847, «rhen KM. W'm. <.. II.",'. uu> received 
 and m from the Chareh, and em 
 
 upon bit Pastoral labors March. [847. He < ontinu- 
 ed with the Church tl tithe, wh»'ii 
 
 hie labors cloeed, Beptemoet i»;. )-i!». Dnrinf Mi 
 
 ministry. MM was added to the Church by baptism, 
 
 and fi?e by letter. 
 In 1 1 . of the same jeer, Elder Maetm 
 
 Eastwood, having received a call from the Church, 
 became their Pastor." Daring his ministry, sixty- 
 one have been added by baptism, five by letter, and 
 two by experience. 
 
 In 181G and 1817, the Church erected a very com- 
 modious brick Meeting House, where it continued 
 to worship until, by the frequent additions to their 
 numbers, the place became too straight for them ; 
 and in 1844 and 1845, they erected their present 
 house of worship. 
 
 * Since resigned, and the Church are now, January, 1861 , 
 destitute of a Pastor.
 
 103 
 
 The following brethren are Deacons of the Church, 
 viz : R. Post, B. Tyler, A. H. Hough, and A3a 
 Parker ; whose duties are thus defined by the Church 
 in their Articles. They are so clear, and appropri- 
 ate, and willial so Scriptural, that they are subjoined. 
 
 ni TIES <>r THE DEACONS. 
 
 I. To attend to the serving (.f tables ; l 1. As— 
 the Lord's table ; to provide the bread and the wine, 
 and the furniture needful for the administration of 
 the supper ; and when the elements are blessed, and 
 the bread broken, and wine poured out, and these 
 given into their hands by the Pastor, they are to de- 
 liver them to the members of the Church. 2. The 
 minister's table ; to take care that a proper provision 
 is made for the subsistence of himself and family. 
 3. The poor's toble ; it was an apostolical order 
 given to the Churches, that they should make a col- 
 lection for the poor saints, on the first day of the 
 week, to which every one was to give, as God had 
 prospered him, 2 which collections, and those made at 
 the Lord's Supper, are to be received by the Deacons, 
 with whatsoever gifts may come into their hands, and 
 be distributed to the necessities of the saints, 
 i Acts G: 2, 3. — 2 1 Cor. 1G : 1,2. 
 IT. To preside at all meetings of the Church, (in 
 rotation or otherwise, as they may agree,) when the 
 Pastor is absent ; and to procure the aid of minister- 
 ing brethren in preaching, or the administration of 
 the ordinances, when the Church may be destitute 
 of a Pastor, or deprived of Ins services. 
 Eph. 4: 11. 12. Rom. 12: 7,8.
 
 lnl 
 
 III. To aid the Pastor, as :. ->iblc, or as 
 circumstances may require, in watching over the 
 purity of the Church, in keeping op | ungs, 
 
 and in aflbfti tor the conversion ef RM 
 —13. 
 
 IV. And, moreover, to render annually to the 
 
 Church, i i'uil and detailed report of all receipt and 
 expenditure! a ithin I 
 Since the Church n ited, it b 
 
 joyed ninny seasons of \al,in which the 
 
 Lord t ; ; drit, and i nutn- 
 
 :' their w%\ ..arka- 
 
 hie dieplaj - 
 
 ed among us; and the truth, Bl it is in Christ, fins 
 
 been cordially r< tiling y although 
 
 nirch hero, as is the case in numerous other 
 
 install* thus far found, that the I 
 
 course is a way of warfare. 
 
 The Bapl '. by some, 
 
 i ; and wherever they have 
 
 held forth their peeuli atronw* 
 
 ly opposed an 1 Though tbta Ins been, and 
 
 is, the case with this Church, the Lord litis given her 
 favor in the eyes of a Christian community, and de- 
 lighted to increase and add to her number. 
 
 When the Church was constituted, it numbered 
 63 ; added by baptism, 339 : by letter, 54 ; by expe- 
 rience, 8 ; total, 462. Dismissed to form a Church in 
 Clinton and Deep River, 42 ; to other Church 
 died, 6S; excluded, 34 ; total, 190. Eight have also 
 been restored : leaving their present number. 273.
 
 MONTVILLE 
 
 BAPTIST CHURCH, CHESTERFIELD. 
 
 In 1842, a number of brethren and sisters, residing 
 in this vicinity, in consequence of being situated at 
 an inconvenient distance from the various Churches 
 to which they belonged, united themselves in Church 
 Covenant, and were recognized as a regular Baptist 
 Church, by a Council convened for that purpose, of 
 which Eld. Asa Wilcox was Moderator, and Eld. 
 Ebenezer Loomia, Clerk, oil the 8th of November, 
 of the same year. The Church, at its recognition, 
 consisted of 35 11 - ; males. 
 
 Eld. Simeon BlCEWiTB was the first who labored 
 with this Church in word and doctrine. His labors, 
 however, were brief with them, being closed the 1st 
 of April, 1825. 
 
 Eld. O. Wilson was the successor in the Pastoral 
 office. During the greater portion of the six years 
 he sustained that relation, the Church were much 
 blessed. Many were add«'d by baptism and by let- 
 ter. But, unhappily for both Pastor and Church, 
 difficulties occurred between them, during the la6t 
 year, which resulted not only in the dismissal of the 
 former from the relation of Pastor, but also in ex-
 
 106 
 
 elusion from the Church, and deposition from the 
 ministry. 
 
 The following year they wen irithout i aettled 
 
 Bid N. B. Sn.vii.KK irn then obtained, who 
 
 continued Paetor two yean. During the labon of 
 
 Bro. Shatter, ■ precioui revival w I, and 
 
 leveral added to the Church. 
 
 The enceelior waa Eld. Jon athah .Mim-.k. Dur- 
 ing bin ministry of two yean, they enjoyed the bites 
 ing of Ciod without any eepecial outpouring of Hit 
 
 Spirit. 
 
 They were then aupplied for one yt tr by Bid. 
 
 Simeon Siiailkr. During which time, notln 
 especial interest occurred. 
 
 Bro, W.m. Smith, b licentiate, was then engaged \ 
 ami alter laboring awhile, waa ordained as Patter. 
 During his labon of three yean, some additions 
 were made to the Church. 
 
 Eld. William Dicaizva followed, and preached 
 one year. 
 
 He was succeeded by Eld. James Hepburn. — 
 During the two years he was Paitor, the Church 
 was much blessed. 
 
 Eld. Russell then supplied them one year. 
 
 The two years following, the Church had no set- 
 tled Pastor; but they enjoyed preaching most of the 
 time. 
 
 The labors of Bro. Jacob Gardner wore then 
 obtained for one year. During which time, he was
 
 107 
 
 ordained to the work of the ministry. A protracted 
 meeting was held during the Winter of that year, 
 in which Eld. J. S. Swan labored with great suc- 
 cess; and about seventy souls were added to the 
 Church. 
 
 In the Spring of 1817, Bro. Charles II. Gates 
 came among them, and iraj ordained Pastor; which 
 relation he sustained two years and eight months. 
 
 They were then without a Pastor ; and. most of 
 the time without preaching, until October, 1850, 
 when the services of Bro. Edgar Cady were secur- 
 ed, who is their present Pastor. In him they are 
 united ; and their watch-word is, onward. 
 
 They now number 152.
 
 OLD BAPTBT CHI RCH, KONTVILIE. 
 
 .. ....In or<:< • • the Baptist 
 
 ie below a 
 
 I list ( hurcfi in I ' ; Kldcr R | 
 I' a i Mm | - . am. 
 
 • I 
 tcrod :: riant to w ;i 
 
 < . " Uld held var 
 
 nant in i '.'". 1786 
 
 ci] ailed from the neighboring Cborchea, ptibliclj 
 oiled them, mi I 
 
 in the ordil I ', and strive to l 
 
 tain theii covenant 11 
 
 1. • 'VIDIIS tO ' 
 
 hid i" d by Eld. J ibi \ bfoati, 
 
 ■/ho irai ordained in 1749 1 7SH . 
 in M • • • 1779, who I 
 
 which he peeped in Fishkill, V Y* He then 
 removed to Standisfii . where he remejoed 
 
 till his death, in 17'.'"). I'mLr his labors in Mont- 
 
 ville, a Chare)) bed been gathered, bat declined, and 
 
 become extinct near the time of his removal to Mas- 
 sachusetts, or subsequently to that period. Elders 
 Christopher V Inter and Abel Palmer, his son, seems 
 to have administered the ordinances to this body for 
 a time of their first biftOIY.
 
 L09 
 
 If ay 3, 1788, the Church elected Elder Rti 
 j'ai.mfu. Ben. for their Pastor. Mr. Palmer had prc- 
 
 viously been ordained at North Stonington. In 
 November, 1798, the Church railed a Council, to 
 take into consideration the subject of M ordeiniog* 1 
 
 raising) Bid. Raoni r Piuni as their P 
 
 bet 35, 17'.*-. the Council publicly • 
 him. Bid. Am Wilcoa preached Lhesermoo; Eld. 
 D . w ileoi mve 
 
 the righl hand of fellowship ; and, by appointment 
 of the Council, Deacon Oliver I td the 
 
 prayer ition, and D - 1 H ere, the 
 
 concluding prayer. Eld. Palmer continued tl. 
 tor of this Church till trii death, Apr: 29, 1 903. Hia 
 ministry was attended with L r ood suco 
 hundreds having been baptized under lus labors. Hit 
 praise still linger! in the Churches of the vicinity, 
 and his name is 6poken with respect and affection by 
 the older members of our present '/ion. During his 
 ministry, nil .I: uben Palmer, Jun-, was convert- 
 ed, and ordained to the work of the ministry. He 
 labored with success in various places for many years. 
 He still resides in Montville, the place of his father's 
 laborious ministry, in the f>7th year of his 
 Eld. Reuben Palmer, Sen. died, after a short con- 
 finement, of only the weeks, of dropsy. 
 
 * For several year? Kid. Reuben Palmer, Jun. ministered 
 to this Church, and was a member of it at the time of its 
 dissolution, in IMS. He has never connected himself with 
 any other Church, and consequently remains at present out 
 of the denominational jurisdiction Ha v,gwe upon the 
 10
 
 no 
 
 After Eld. Ptll "■•>, tho Cimrrh ■ 
 
 larly pnpplied bj ftri >tu ministering brethren, bu* 
 
 had no pern •'!>• I'nd'T these < inum- 
 
 8tanc< lecline til 
 
 i ben Ibe ( '••< itch ■ m droj 
 
 tint 1> - so low as to Bf 
 
 Jking in Goepel ord< 
 on, noweftr, till January 6, 1849 
 
 ng, the Church i 
 genre the Clerk 
 
 and then rated the I 4?ebV and that 
 
 u th»- bodjf knot I irek in 
 
 MontviIIf im DO in- 
 stated on the record t-. 
 
 was then pmgioeeing in the t«>»vn, and tint a new 
 Church would, undoubtedly, soon be organized. 
 
 Rct'ormi of the aj> il, ami ahead of the timet; 
 
 but he exhibits the cl< I philanthropy and 
 
 ■iaeert piety] ami withal retains Ihfl denominational senti- 
 ments of hi« early profeooion, thoujh not connected with • 
 Baptut Church
 
 UNION BAP. CHURCH, MOHTVIILE. 
 
 In 1841, ■ number of brethren and sisters, mem- 
 bers of Churchea in other places, and of a Church 
 about one mile distant, (which had long since ceased 
 It maintain the worship of God as a Church,] bar- 
 ing a desire to enjoy the ». :i of the Gospel, 
 and its privileges, as far as possible, concluded to 
 
 engage some minister to preach to them in a con- 
 nt School House, one half of tit • time for that 
 year. Bid. Levi Me ecu was thus engaged, and 
 commenced his labors w ith them about the first of 
 April. Quite a congregation iras gathered; and in 
 the Fall of that year, a revival of religion was en- 
 joyed, and COO! I multiplied. The work 
 continued through the Winter, and as the result, 34 
 were baptized. In December, the subject of con- 
 stitutiiiL r a Church of Christ was considered, and 
 finally decided upon. In the mean time, the old 
 Church alluded to, above, was dissolved. 
 
 January 6, 1^42, a Committee, which had been 
 appointed to prepare Articles of Faith and Covenant 
 reported, and their report was accepted, and thirty- 
 nine then entered into covenant, to maintain those 
 Articles, as the rule of their faith and practice, as a 
 Church, under the name of the "Union Baptist 
 Church of Montville." The work of Grace in its
 
 1 Ii 
 
 progrei led the nn: 
 
 ed l>v letter, to ii irch was i 
 
 I. 1 — 
 
 • 
 
 our halt' of the ' I ' 
 
 year, the Church boil! a commodioti f wor- 
 
 th.' irorel 
 Octob--: 1, I - 1.'. M 
 tad the ' \ iaited i- 
 
 of tlm Holy Spirit, irhicfa eontimu . miner 
 
 af l- 1 thirty-thn 
 
 . a Lfn i n • 
 1 B Id. T ' trial, 
 
 ami many \\ \ in tlir mid-t of 
 
 trial, f 
 
 to en Ml tin.* 
 
 tu tli r- 
 
 ill rai ii oio R lied t<> the 
 
 N 
 ■ceofred worth] ring tin- 
 
 close of wlnrh, 1 da release from 
 
 the care of the Church, which was Ljrant. 
 Meed - . I | 1848, • ;>roach half 
 
 of the time; bat his beelth lairing , he was able to 
 preach to us but I part of the time. 
 
 In 1846, .ices of Bro. Nicho- 
 
 las T. Ali.en, for half the time, who was ordani"d 
 while laboring with us. This year proved one of 
 comparative peace and interoet EM. 1 
 
 M^-
 
 113 
 
 succeeded the ensuing year by Eld. David Avery, 
 who continued one year. 
 
 In 1848, the Church obtained the services of Eld. 
 Alleu Darrow, whose labors were profitable to the 
 Church, and one was added by baptism. lie was 
 succeeded by Bro. Cortis Keenf.y, a licentiate, 
 who labored with them about half the year. His 
 faithful efibrtl were blessed, and eleven were added 
 by baptism. The remainder of the year, (1849,) 
 Bro. Gordon and others, supplied the pulpit. 
 
 In 1850, Eld I. C. Carpenter was engaged, and 
 commenced his labors as Pastor, the first of May. 
 On the third Sabbath in Jane, two were buried with 
 Christ in baptism. The congregation on the Sab- 
 bath, is considerably larger this season than usual, 
 and good attention is paid to the word preached, 
 though we enjoy no special revival. 
 
 10'
 
 BAPTIST CHURCH, BOZRAH. 
 
 Tins Church ■ 1881, and 
 
 was composed of thirty u 
 
 and litter! bad pn into a 
 
 branch of tin- Church in MoDtTllIi 
 
 visibility when that Choi 
 
 Al 1 1821,1 i: : i n Patau 
 
 I his Itbo 
 
 tended with • nfiniehed Meeting 1 ' 
 
 erected about 1800, a pwith pewa,and Eld. 
 
 P ng the 
 
 revirii In 1823, a revival was 
 
 >r his labors, and tl •-, on being 
 
 baptized, were united to the branch of the ' 
 
 Ville Church. 
 
 After thil r uval. the little band became scattered 
 in the absence of an und« r shepherd, and soon lost 
 standing by the extinction of the .Montville Church. 
 Hut in 1831, th . ithered again under the 
 
 labors of Elders Goddard and IIolgh, isd 
 recognized by a Council as a regular Baptist Church. 
 
 From this period, to 1834, the Church had no stat- 
 ed Pastor, though we onjoycd the labors of several 
 of our beloved ministering brethren from til 
 time, among whom was Elds. Goddard, Hough, Wm. 
 Palmer, and A. I). Watrous.
 
 115 
 
 In 1334, Eld. Levi Meech became our Pi 
 and continued with us for two years. Under his la- 
 bors, the Church enjoyed a precious revival, and 
 twenty were added by baptism. 
 
 In 18.'}*), Kid. Jonathan Miner became our Pas- 
 tor for one year. This year the Meeting House was 
 altered and repaired, and rendered more convenient 
 for the worship of God. 
 
 In 1838, Bid. John Payne became onr Pastor, and 
 
 continued with us four years. Fifti added 
 
 by baptism. In 1843, Bro, C. Li.i hm.v. m.i. ITSS 
 licensed to pro • rved the Church one half 
 
 of the time, dur.: then called 
 
 by the Church to ordination ; which took place the 
 
 30th of November, L842L During his ministry, the 
 Church has enjoyed much prosperity. Forty-one 
 have been added by baptism, and I I 
 ed. Bra Leffingwell was succeeded in the Pastor- 
 ship of this Church 1 tst year, by Eld. B. G. Goi r. 
 
 The Church b d, since her organization, 
 
 five seasons of special revival. Eighty have 
 added by baptism, mostly from the Sabbath School, 
 which has been continued from the organization. 
 Thirty of our number have been excluded, twi 
 whom have been restored; ten have died; our pres- 
 ent nnmber is sixty-eight 
 
 Elder C. Leffinuwei.l, is Pastor, and Wm. P. 
 Rogirs, Clerk.
 
 BAPTIST CHURCH, CHI 
 
 >n i»t* this Cburcb took place April 
 10th, 1833. Tbatf 
 
 i| place IB II 
 Church has hf-n successi\ i'.-istorol 
 
 w 
 
 !>••,] H. Tivlor, AbflJ 
 rows, Ahkm I> W 
 i ton. 
 
 I - paw- 
 
 ed through a Ml rela- 
 
 iH'ii, hut the Lord lii> ptocpctcd dm labofi of hi* 
 
 servants. BOTOrt] proeiooi rewval seasons have 
 
 1, and the Church has I 
 fast in the ordinance* tod doctrine 
 - . -two have been ad 
 
 ten; . tiooed ; 12 
 
 have been dropped or excluded, ami 1-1 blTi 
 removed by death. !!!■!. A. I>. Wati. 
 them in 1849, u lb r Pool . - I8ti>, the 
 
 Church bai been h tiding on, tlthoug 
 
 • I part of the tune. 
 
 able labor- I 1 LAC CBBU III 
 Pastor, and enjoy a state of prosperity. GlOt W. 
 Smith, is Clerk.
 
 BAPTIST CHURCH, LAKE'S POND. 
 
 in the 
 Spring an.! E I* 1841, n ith i 
 
 of religion the brethren and friendi thought the 
 
 near it hand ■ ■ I I 
 
 well a* their nsefulni n?enience, demanded 
 
 in this place an independent Baptist Church. Ac- 
 cordingly, .-ift«-r iiiin-h prayer and deliberation, twenty* 
 
 i • 
 
 Baptiat Church in Watc-rf- >r<], made application for 
 
 of fellowship and di 
 which arere granted : and on the 18th of June, 18 1'-. 
 nit" an independent I took 
 
 the M itiat Church." 
 
 On the 31st of August • they were pub- 
 
 licly recognised as such. September followii 
 application, they were received into the Nee i. 
 
 don Association. 
 
 On the 8th of December, Bro. Gurdo.n T. (mm 
 TF.lt. Was Ordained their Pastor. At the same time, 
 brethren Amos Crocker and Elias P. Iluynes, were 
 ordained Deacons. 
 
 In the Winters of 1843 and 1844, they built a 
 commodious house of worship, which was opened
 
 LI8 
 for the worship of God, tbi 99th of M 
 
 July 5, 1^17. I.r'thr.n F./rki.-l Austin ami 1' l» 
 
 Tins Church bai ln<l four minifter*, i i I 
 Gordon T« ( 
 
 TboOMI Btfbar, nn«l I- bV 
 I- 
 
 • with a D1 
 
 :' I 
 
 i 11.
 
 BAPTIST CHURCH, GREENVILLE. 
 
 The History of the Baptist cause in (Jrccnville, 
 properly commence a with the organization of the 
 Central Baptist Church, in 18 \0. At that time, there 
 were only a few families either connected with, or 
 favorable to the Baptists; and the most of thei 
 became connected with the C 1 Church, Nor- 
 wich. These brethren occasionally held i \ 
 prayer meetings, and stl leetings on the 
 
 Sabbath, in the I 
 
 In the Summer of 1841, there was an inter 
 revival of religion in the place, and many were con- 
 verted to God ; and altli fill inlluence 
 was exerted against our denomination, yet the most 
 of the com I tral Church. Prayer 
 meetings were thei iblished on Sun- 
 day and \V Dg8, which were well at- 
 tended and very intei And n< t withstanding 
 the ground was prc-occupied by thi I itional 
 Church, who controlled nearly all the wealth and 
 influence of the place: and by the > ■-. who 
 had had a Church formed here for several years, yet 
 our numbers gradually increased. 
 
 In the Autumn of 1844, it was thought expedient 
 to hold meetings here on Lord's day, at least during 
 the Winter; and if the design seemed to be favored
 
 120 
 
 of the Lord, to proceed to establish a Baptist Church 
 the coming Spring or Summer. 
 
 the scnrices of Bro. Asa Robinson 
 were ei etil the tirst of April. We beld our 
 
 ■ A House, tad wore obliged to 
 ■eel tii< i room oa Batnrdav if t ornoon, removing the 
 seats again on Monday morning. An inter 
 congregition «;is toon gathered, end a ilouri>hing 
 Sabbath School • I ; and so evidently did our 
 
 enterpi milee of Heaven, that 
 
 we, after i ration, ini il 
 
 B. Cheney to take charge of the young- interest, 
 with n view o\' JMHMfflriffg PaftOf ol the CbOfCfa 
 
 form' il. lie accepted oni 
 
 his labors among Of in April, 1**43, under anoour* 
 
 - circumstances. A Churrh of 100 members 
 was immediately formed, and IB Ifav was duly recog- 
 nized according to the usages of our denomination. 
 The congregation continued to increase until our 
 place of worship was too strait for us, and we there- 
 upon resolved, after counselling and praying together, 
 to arise and build a house for the Lord. 
 
 A subscription was opened and circulated, and 
 about $1400 was subscribed. A neat and comino 
 dious house, such as the circumstances eecmed to 
 demand, was erected, and dedicated to the worship 
 of Almighty God, February, 1846. The house cost 
 $0910; the lot on which it stands, was purchased 
 |9G0; and being unable to collect the whole 
 amount subscribed, a debt was left upon the Church 
 of over $2000.
 
 121 
 
 There has been no very general revival in Oris 
 place since the Church was organized ; yet God has 
 graciously remembered his cause here, and granted 
 us seasons of refreshing from his presence. Bro. 
 Cheney having performed the duties of an under 
 shepherd for twi d, and closed his la- 
 
 bors amontr us the last Sabbath in March; nnd Eld. 
 \ Mizzv having accepted our unanimous 
 call to th" P of tli-' Church, entered upon its 
 
 duties th" first Sabbath in April, 1847. Bro. Muzzy 
 
 still continues, having entered npon the fourth year 
 of bis ministry among US, laboring in word and 
 doctrine. 
 
 Since our existence as a Church, we have receiv- 
 ed to our fellowship 100 persons by letter and by 
 baptism; but from the unsettled character of a fac- 
 tory village, and from we have 
 had to dismi number of our esteemed breth- 
 ren, who have been obliged to seek employment in 
 other places. And while our con^ro-jation has been 
 good, and for a year past better than usual, we have, 
 as a Church, suffered much, and been really weaken- 
 ed by the changes that have taken place. 
 
 We have also been called, during the short period 
 of our existence, to dismiss several of our brethren 
 to join "the General Assembly and Church of the 
 first born," in heaven. And others have gone out 
 from us, although but a few, whom we have been 
 compelled to cut off. 
 
 During the Summer and Fall of 1848, the base- 
 ment of our Meeting House was finished off, making
 
 122 
 
 a most pleasant and commodious Lecture Room, at 
 an expense of over $200, which was wholly paid by 
 the Ladies' Sewing Society. 
 
 The first Deacons of the Church were D. 3. \V hee- 
 ler and F. I. who, with their families, left 
 the village in lea than a \ »*ar after their appointment. 
 Brethren G. E. Wait, and R. Barber, have since 
 been appointed to serve the Church in that impor- 
 tant office. The Gospel of the kingdom is preached 
 in the course of the year to a large number of per- 
 sons : many of whom listen to the preached word 
 here, for a few months only. Therefore but a little 
 of the seed sown, springs up and ripens on this field, 
 but is scattered to the four winds. May it be gath- 
 ered for the great harvest day ! 
 
 The amount of our debt, and the condition in 
 which it was left at first, has proved a source of great 
 embarrassment ; and although it has been reduced 
 a little, it threatens to become still a more grievous 
 burden to a Church, of which every member is poor 
 indeed, and two-thirds of whom are females. At 
 present, the only rational hope of the prosperity of 
 the cause here, under God, seems to lie in the timely 
 aid rendered by sister Churches, and friends abroad. 
 
 Present number of members, 161. Lawso.n Muz- 
 zy, Pastor ; F. D. Adams, Clerk.
 
 BAP. CHURCH, WINDHAM CENTRE. 
 
 According to the best information within our reach, 
 there is no doubt that the seed was here sown, and 
 began to germinate amid that well known struggle 
 for religious liberty carried on throughout New Eng- 
 land, which resulted in the bursting of the shackles 
 that bound Church and State together, and left the 
 Church to take care of itself. 
 
 Owing to the uncongenial soil and climate, the 
 growth of Baptist principles has been extremely slow, 
 and the Gospel trump blown by Baptist preachers 
 has still, within a few years past, been but seldom 
 heard in this vicinity. 
 
 The beloved but lamented Kneeland, during his 
 short but successful ministry, occasionally visited 
 this portion of his extended parish, cheering the 
 hearts of the few disciples that were scattered here 
 and there, and preaching the word of life to all that 
 would hear. 
 
 During the year 1842, Bro. H. Bromley, then 
 Pastor of the Baptist Church in Mansfield, visited this 
 place from time to time, and the few brethren were 
 encouraged to establish regular meetings through 
 the Winter, which were blessed to the good of some 
 souls. Our meetings at this time were held, for the 
 most part, in the hall of the tavern, which was kind-
 
 m 
 
 ly opened for our use. Having obtained a leaso for 
 this purpose, we, during the Winter, repaired and 
 fitted up the ppper part of the District School House, 
 and in the Spring of 1843, invited Bro. Bromley to 
 labor with us. Bro. Bromley entered upon this 
 field of labor, April 1. and continued with us for one 
 year. Soon aftor his coming among us, it was evident 
 that the Spirit of the Lord was in our midst; and he 
 was permitted during the year, and shortly after, to 
 baptize about twenty. During the following year, 
 we had only occasional supplies. 
 
 May 5, 1844, we were received as a branch of 
 the Lebanon Church, with liberty to hold meetings, 
 have the ordinances administered, and to receive 
 members. 
 
 April 1, 1845, Eld. R. V. Lyon came among us, 
 and labored one half of the time, for about six 
 months. About this time, a cloud, which had been 
 for some time gathering, burst upon us, for which 
 we were wholly unprepared By a vote of the Dis- 
 trict, the old School House was demolished, in or- 
 der to give place to a new one. But we soon learn- 
 ed that these things happened for the furtherance of 
 the Gospel. 
 
 Though driven from the place that had become 
 endeared to us as our Bethel ; though cast down, we 
 were not destroyed. God provided a refuge for his 
 people, and we found another School House, owned 
 by a citizen of the place, where, through the Win- 
 ter, we met ; and enjoyed the ministry of the word
 
 125 
 
 from Bro. B. M. Alden, who, providentially, came 
 among us about the time R. V. Lyon left. 
 
 In the Spring of 1846, we commenced erecting 1 
 our house of worship; holding our meetings until 
 its completion, in the Town Hall. In November of 
 this year, 3."> brethren and sisters, members of regu- 
 lar Baptist Churches, who resided in this vicinity, 
 met together, when the incipient measures were ta- 
 ken for forming an independent Church, to be called 
 the "Windham Centre Baptist Church." 
 
 December 9, our House of Worship was opened 
 with appropriate religious services, and the follow- 
 ing day we were publicly recognized as a regular 
 Baptist Church, by a Council convened for that pur- 
 pose. Soon after we entered our House of Worship, 
 it was evident that God accepted the offering, and 
 we soon heard the cry of the mourner, " what shall 
 we do." 
 
 Bro. R. Russell labored with us in connection 
 with our Pastor during the month of March follow- 
 ing, and as the fruit of the outpouring of God's 
 Spirit, we were permitted to welcome twenty-one 
 to our number. 
 
 Bro. Alden labored with us till April 1, 1848, 
 when, at the request of the Church, Bro. J. M. Phi- 
 lips became our Pastor, who continued with us till 
 the Summer of 1850. 
 
 We groan under the burden of a debt of nearly 
 $600, while we find ourselves hardly able to sustain 
 the stated ministration of the word among us. 
 
 Our present number is 59.
 
 Univen 
 
 Sout 
 
 Lib