Church History of Ashford, Connecticut
November 26th, 1718, a church was formally organized in Ashford by
Reverend Josiah Dwight, Mr. Samuel Whiting and Joseph Meacham, of
Coventry. Mr. Hale was ordained pastor, and the following men subscribed
to the articles of covenant: James Hale, John Mixer, William Ward, Joseph
Green, Isaac Magoon, Matthew Thompson, William Chapman, Benjamin Russel,
Daniel Fuller, Isaac Kendall, John Pitts, Nathaniel Fuller and John Perry.
On December 9th following the female members named hereafter were added to
the number of original names: Sarah Hale, Abigail Mixer, Judith Ward, Mary
Fuller, Mary Russel, Elizabeth Squier, Mary Fuller, Mrs. William Chapman
and the Widow Dimick. December 21st, Elinor Kendall and Sarah Bugbee were
added to the number. John Mixer was made the first deacon. In September,
1721, he being about to remove from the town, his place was filled by the
election of Isaac Kendall and Joseph Bugbee. " Brother John Perry " was at
this time chosen "to set the psalm with respect to public singing." The
meeting house had been finished sufficiently to afford a place to hold
services in, but it remained unfinished inside until 1723, when it was
decided as desirable to finish with
plaster and whitewash all the lower part of the meeting house to the lower
girth." Among the furniture of the house was an hour-glass, for which
Nathaniel Fuller was allowed two shillings. The finish of the interior,
however, was delayed many years, and the privileges of pews and the
orderly seating of the congregation according to the ideas and usages of
those days, were questions frequently under discussion and subject to
various and often opposing decisions. It was evidently a hard struggle for
existence with the first church of Ashford. There were discordant elements
in the population, and a factor of ignorance laid obstacles in the way.
Taxes were laid, school questions were set aside, remarkable privileges
were granted, all to help forward the matter of church and minister's
house and support, the -South church of Boston donated fifteen pounds to
help this church, but with all the means used and efforts made the work
was backward.
The memorandum of a fact which has no essential relation to this church
appears on its records, and for want of a more appropriate place at
command in which to preserve 'it, we take the liberty of digressing a
moment to mention it. In the records of Mr. Hale appears this statement:
"The great earthquake on the Lord's day evening, October 29, 1727, was in
an awakening manner felt in this town, as also the terrible storm of wind
and hail the September before."
The discipline of the church was preserved with very much of the
mint-tithing exactness which was characteristic of the period, while much
liberality was exercised with regard to some matters which are now
considered as of great practical importance. For example, on one occasion
Ephraim Bemis was charged with selling strong liquor in small quantities
upon a certain occasion, and the question was raised as to whether he was
guilty of a " confessable fault " in so doing, but the church decided in
the negative. In 1739 the meeting house needed extensive repairs. At that
time the salary of the minister was raised to £100 a year. Mr. Hale
suffered failing health for some time, and measures were taken to supply
his place temporarily. But his pastorate closed with his death, November
22d, 1742, he being in the fifty-eighth year of his age. His successor was
Reverend John Bass, of Braintree, who was installed September 7th, 1743.
In the time of the great revival of 1740 to 1750, Solomon Paine and other
itinerants extended their labors to this field, and many of their hearers
embraced Separate or New Light principles. These Separatists were divided
on the question of baptism, making two factions, while the orthodox church
people were also divided into the rigidly Calvinistic and the liberal
classes, and thus four quite distinct factions existed in Ashford.
The methods and action of these Baptists and Separatists were very
offensive to the strict church people, and the preaching of Solomon Paine
especially was so obnoxious that efforts were made to stop him by legal
process. February 15th, 1745, while Paine was preaching in a private
house, complaint was made to justice Tiffany, who, upon searching his
legal authority, was clearly convinced "that it was an unlawful meeting
for Paine to come to Ashford to preach and exhort," and thereupon granted
a warrant for his arrest. Constable Bemis went to the house to serve it.
Taking hold of Paine he told him that he had no right to preach, and that
he must go before the justice to answer for his unlawful preaching. Paine
vehemently stigmatized the law as being suggested by the Devil, and
refused to respect it or obey the summons. Bemis then called upon several
persons. to assist him, who at first refused, but when reminded that the
law had a penalty for such refusal, they " gently took Paine from the
stage whereon he was preaching, and carried him out of the door and set
him down." But Paine stubbornly refused to go before the justice,
whereupon "they took him in a very gentle way and set him on a horse and
led him to justice Tiffany's," where he was appropriately rebuked and then
dismissed. The arresting party was afterward indicted for a riot, in which
the charge set forth "that with riotous intent and with force and arms
they did assault the person of said Solomon Paine, and pulled him onto the
floor and carried him half a mile distant, to his great hurt and abuse and
the disturbance of others." The county court acquitted them, but adjudged
that they should pay costs, but on their appeal to the general assembly,
this charge was also remitted. The church now enjoyed a season of quiet,
during which, in 1747, some considerable repairs were made on the meeting
house. But the question of the orthodoxy of Mr. Bass soon arose and gave
occasion for prolonged disquietude. Councils were frequently called to
investigate his orthodoxy. A final council, which met June 4th, 1751,
found sufficient ground for their action, and dissolved the pastoral
relation between him and the Ashford church, and Mr. Bass withdrew,
leaving the church divided in sentiment and opinion, a strong party in it
being in sympathy with the deposed pastor and his views. The church was
much divided, and a number of efforts were made to secure society
privileges in the eastern and northern parts of the town, but without
success. Meanwhile repeated attempts were made to get a minister who could
secure favor among the differing factions sufficiently strong to obtain a
call to the pastorate. Among the ministers who thus passed in review
before this now hypercritical congregation were Daniel Pond, David Ripley,
Messrs. Mills and Elderkin, Stephen Holmes, Daniel Kirtland, Nehemiah
Barker and Elijah Blake. At length, after six years of commotion and
discord, Mr. Timothy Allen succeeded in obtaining a call, and was ordained
pastor of the church and town October 12th, 1757. He was a powerful and
fervent preacher, of decided " New Light " proclivities. The northwest
inhabitants were also favored with two months' preaching in the winter,
paid out of the common fund. This concession encouraged the people of that
locality to press their claims for more distinct society privileges,
which, after much agitation of the question, were granted by the assembly
in October, 1765. The bounds of Westford society thus formed were " from
the northwest corner of said township five and one fourth miles south on
the west line of said town, from thence a strait line to the crotch of
Mount Hope river, and thence a strait line to John Dimmock's south line,
where said line crosses Bigelow river, thence north on said Bigelow river
to Union line."
The town of Ashford at that time contained forty thousand acres, and a
valuation on its grand list of £13,700. The Westford Society thus formed
included thirteen thousand three hundred acres, eighty families and a
valuation of £3,500. The proposition to set off Eastford as a distinct
society, with boundaries substantially as they now appear with reference
to the town, was agitated at the same time, but was not carried into
effect until October, 1777, when that society was granted distinct
privileges.
The preaching of Reverend Mr. Allen was not agreeable to the people, and
he became unpopular and his salary fell short. To make up the deficit he
engaged in trading in land, and here he became involved in debt and his
creditors sent him to jail. A council was called, which dismissed him from
his pastorate, though clearing him from every serious charge. Several
years passed before the settlement of his successor could be effected.
During this interval the church was greatly weakened and scattered, but
still continued in its efforts to secure a minister and preserve order.
Baptisms were administered from time to time by the neighboring ministers.
Days of fasting and prayer were held in 1766 and 1765, " for direction and
assistance in the affair of choosing a minister," and church and society
at length happily united in choice of Reverend James Messinger of
Wrentham, a graduate of Harvard College, who was installed into the
pastorate February 15th, 1769. Under the leadership of this " much beloved
spiritual guide," as he was called, the church increased in numbers, and
regained something of its primitive standing, despite the political
distractions of the times. The venerable Isaac Kendall, who had served the
church as deacon, through the changes and pastorates, from its
organization, died October 8th, 1773, in the eighty-eighth year of his
age, and the fifty-second year of his deaconship. Benjamin Sumner, one of
the fathers of the town, Jedidiah Dana and John Wright, also served as
deacons. Deacon Elijah Whiton was dismissed to the church in Westford
society.
Mr. Messinger died while in the service of this church, and his place
remained vacant for several years, when Reverend Enoch Pond was ordained
and installed over the church September 16th, 1789. ' He was a native of
Wrentham and a graduate of Brown University. Possessing unusual ability
and cultivation, he gained great influence over his people, and enjoyed a
harmonious pastorate. Ebenezer Mason and Isaac Perkins were chosen deacons
in 1789, and upon the death of the latter in 1795, they were succeeded by
Matthew Reed and David Brown. The old meeting house, having now been in
use seventy years, was enlarged and thoroughly repaired. A revival of
religious interest soon followed the settlement of Mr. Pond, and about
sixty persons were added to the church. Mr. Pond closed his labors with
the close of his life August 6th, 1807. His epitaph, written by Reverend
David Avery, thus estimates him
Generous in temper, correct in science and liberal in sentiment, the
gentleman, the scholar, and the minister of the sanctuary, appeared with
advantage in Mr. Pond. The church and society in Ashford were favored with
his Gospel ministry eighteen years."
His successor was Reverend Philo Judson of Woodbury, who was ordained and
installed September 26th, 1811, and enjoyed a successful ministry for a
still longer period. He was released from his charge in 1833. His
immediate successor, Reverend Job Hall of Pomfret, remained but three
years. He was succeeded by Reverend Charles Hyde of Norwich, who was
installed pastor of this church February 21st, 1838. Matthew Reed and
Elisha Byles were chosen deacons in 1825. After the death of Deacon
Kendall in 1829, his son of the same name was chosen to fill his place,
being the third Isaac Kendall who had occupied the deacons' seat, and the
fifth of the name in direct succession to occupy the Kendall homestead of
1714. A new meeting house was erected on the previous site in 1830.
Reverend Job Hall, the seventh pastor, was ordained January 15th, 1834. He
was born in Pomfret May 11th, 1802, graduated at Amherst, 1830, dismissed
July 17th, 1837, after a ministry of a little more than three years.
Nineteen were added to the church during his ministry. He retired to a
farm in Orwell, where he died a few years since, much respected in the
community where the closing years of his life were spent. Reverend Charles
Hyde, the eighth pastor, was installed February 21st, 1838, and dismissed
at his own request, and greatly to the regret of his people, June 26th,
1845. During his ministry of seven years and four months, ninety-one
members were added to the church. He left to accept a call to Central
Falls, R. I., where he remained for several years. After his dismission
from this parish, he labored for a time in South Coventry, but failing
health compelled him to give up the work of the active ministry. The ninth
pastor was Reverend Charles Peabody, a native of Peterboro, N. H., born
July 1st, 1810, graduated at Williams, 1838, at Andover, 1841; settled in
Biddeford, Me., where he remained till June, 1843. He was next installed
in Barrington, R. I., where he labored till 1846; installed in Ashford,
January 20th, 1847, where he continued three years and eight months.
Twenty-seven were added to the church during his ministry. His next field
was Windsor, then Pownal, Vt. He then returned to Biddeford, where he
labored till 1866, then to Eliot, Me. Several years since he retired to
Longmeadow, Mass., where he still resides. The tenth and last installed
pastor was Reverend Charles Chamberlain, who graduated at Brown
University, and was for a time a tutor in that institution. He -was first
settled in Auburn, Mass.; installed in Ashford, June 8th, 1854, dismissed
March 29th, 1855. Twenty were added to the church during his ministry of
nearly four years. Soon after his dismission, he was installed in
Eastford. He afterward labored in East Granby, where he died suddenly a
few years since.
Among those who have labored as acting pastors or stated supplies, are
Reverends George Soule, Thomas Dutton, Stephen Barnard, Benjamin B.
Hopkinson, Andrew Montgomery, Charles P. Grosvenor, O. S. Morris, and S.
M. May. In 1886 Nathaniel Kingsbury commenced his labors with this church,
and the Baptist church in Warrenville, and continues with this church in
his labors. Only one of all the ten pastors of this church, Reverend • C.
Peabody, is now living. Four of the acting pastors, Soule, Dutton, Barnard
and Morris, have finished their work. The deacons of the church have been:
John Mixer, Isaac Kendall, Josiah Bugbee, Jonathan Avery, Jedidiah Dana,
Elijah Whiton, John Wright, Benjamin Sumner, Nathaniel Loomis, Ebenezer
Mason, Isaac Perkins, Matthew Reed, David Brown, Isaac Kendall, Zachariah
Bicknell, Matthew Reed, Elisha Byles, Isaac Kendall (the fourth Isaac
Kendall in a direct line), Reuben Marcy, Royal Keith, Samuel L. Hough,
James G. Gaylord, James Trowbridge, Andrew H. Byles and John A. Brown, the
two last named now serving in this office.
The present meeting house was built in 1830, three years after Mr.
Judson's dismission. The choir occupied the gallery .back of the pulpit,
looking down upon the head of the minister, where they were able to judge
quite accurately, if he preached any sermons yellow from age. After a time
the meeting house underwent thorough renovation. The gallery was closed up
behind the pulpit, the pulpit lowered, the singers' gallery removed to the
rear of the audience room, the large choir filling well the seats,
occupying the entire breadth of the meeting house. About two years since
the audience room was again remodelled, the pulpit giving place to a
preacher's desk. This was placed in the rear part of the room, the singers
on the east side, at the preacher's left hand, the slips changed to face
the preacher and singers in their new location, and the audience room is
completed with much taste and beauty. Whether the "progress of the age"
will compel new changes in the future, who can tell? It now seems in too
good taste to demand further improvements.
Until Reverend Mr. Allen's dismission, there had been but one
Congregational church and society within the eight miles square of the
town. The town had before, for several years, voted preaching for two or
three months (probably the winter months) to the people of the northwest
part of the town, and employed a preacher for them; but they belonged to
the center, and came to the meeting for the greater part of the year,
After Mr. Allen's dismission, the town by amicable agreement in town
meeting, was divided into three ecclesiastical societies -the East, the
Center and the West. The aim was to give the same amount of territory to
each. The Westford society was incorporated in October, 1765, the church
in February, 1768. At" first, meetings were held in private houses,
notices of the meetings to be given at Solomon Mason's mills and Zephaniah
Davison's shop. December 9th, 1765, it was also voted to build a meeting
house, and hire preaching; to raise a tax of two pence to pay for
preaching; that the meetings should begin the first Sabbath of April that
Esquire Whiton should procure a minister; and that Ebenezer Dimmock,
Christopher Davison, Manasseh Farnum and Joseph Barney be a committee to
count the cost. A minister was procured according to vote-the society
further voted to meet at Captain Ward's for divine worship during his
pleasure. June 7th, it was voted to choose a committee of three able and
judicious men to fix a place for the meeting house, also five more, viz.,
Ezra Smith, Samuel Eastman, Benjamin Walker, Christopher Davison and
Samuel Knox, to notify the first and " get them out." Negotiations were
then opened with certain proprietors in Brimfield, Mass., and a convenient
meeting house frame which they had given up was purchased for thirty
pounds, provided the same could be taken down without damage." This was
successfully accomplished, and was safely on the ground. in Westford by
June 13th. The quality of the liquor to be furnished for the raising
brought out as earnest discussion almost as the fitness of a ministerial
candidate. It was first voted to have ;in, but this vote was soon
rescinded and it was decided to have a barrel of the best West India ruin,
and one quarter of a barrel of sugar, the best in quality, for the
raising. Ensign Walker was to provide the same, and money was taken from
the treasury of the society to pay the bill. "Under this potent stimulant
the meeting house was raised without apparent accident, and hurried on to
completion, workmen being allowed two shillings and six pence per day,
they victualing themselves, and two shillings during the winter." After
hearing several candidates, Ebenezer Martin, of Canada parish, was invited
to preach for the winter.
February 11th, 1768, was set apart as a day of solemn fasting and prayer,
in order to the gathering of a church and settling a minister. Reverend
Gideon Noble of Willington, conducted the service, assisted by Deacon
Nathaniel Loomis, and Deacons Wright and Dana from the old Ashford church.
A suitable covenant was prepared and subscribed by James Ould, Ezekiel
Tiffany, Ezekiel Holt, Elijah Whiton, Joseph Barney, Ezra Smith, James
Whiton, Joseph Whiton, Benjamin Walker, Thomas Chapman, Manasseh Farnum,
John Smith, Jonathan Abbe and Joseph Chaffee. At a meeting of the church
four days later it was voted to call the Reverend Ebenezer Martin to
settle in the gospel ministry in this place, at which time the covenant
was probably signed by the pastor elect and the following brethren, viz:
Joseph Whiton, David Chaffee, Ebenezer Walker, Christopher Davison and
Jonathan Chaffee. The wives of many of these brethren, together with
Stephen Nott, Daniel, Eldridge, Hezekiah Eldridge, Ichabod Ward, David
Kendall and Jacob Fuller were ere long added, making a membership of
fifty-five. The society concurred in the call to Mr. Martin, offering
sixty pounds salary, rising to seventy, paid half in money, half in
produce, viz., wheat, 'Indian corn, oats, pork and beef. Twenty pounds in
land and sixty pounds toward building a dwelling house, secured acceptance
of the call, and on June 15th he was ordained with the usual solemnities.
Work on the meeting house was slowly carried forward. A large number of
inhabi-tants received liberty to build stables for their horses on the
meeting house green, provided they were " set so as not to encroach on any
road." June 14th, 1770, a meeting was held in the meeting house to hear
the report of the pew committee. Each pew was to be occupied by two
families. Forty inhabitants, highest on the list, were to draw said pews
according to their lists; build the pews and ceil the gallery girths. This
report was accepted and the pews were distributed as follows: 1. Benjamin
Walker, Elijah Whiton; 2. Ebenezer Dimmock, Ichabod Ward; 3. Thomas
Chapman, Ebenezer Walker; 4. Joseph Woodward, Zaccheus Hill; 5. Ezra
Smith, Ebenezer Walker; 6. David Chaffee, William Thompson; 7. David
Robbins, George Smith; 8. Adonijah Baker, Josiah Chaffee; 9. John Warren,
Josiah Rogers; 10. Ezekiel Tiffany, Benjamin Chaffee; 11. Jedidiah
Blanchard, Benjamin Walker, Jr.; 12. William Henfield, James Whiton; 13.
Samuel Eastman, Henry Works; 14. James Averill, Job Tyler; 15. Ezekiel
Holt, David Chaffee; 16. James Ould, Stephen Coye; 17. Abijah Brooks,
Simon Smith; 18. Ephraim Walker, Jonathan Abbe; 19. Jacob Fuller, William
Preston. Probably the 20th seat was for the minister's family.
Among newly arrived families, bringing them additional strength, was that
of Stephen Nott, the father of sons of great promise, and Doctor Thomas
Huntington of Lebanon, who proved a most valuable acquisition to both the
society and the town.
In March, 1778, Reverend Elisha Hutchinson was ordained the second
minister in Westford. His ministry seems to have been quite brief for
these early times. Reverend William Storrs, the third pastor, was a native
of Mansfield; ordained in Westford, November 10th, 1 790. His was along
and successful ministry. He died while pastor in Westford, greatly loved
and lamented by his people. Reverend Luke Wood of Waterbury, the fourth
pastor in Westford, was installed December 13th, 1826. He seems to have
been a good minister, useful in his work, but after a few years he left
for other fields of labor. After he left Reverend Alvan Underwood labored
for several years as acting pastor, without installation. His labors were
quite successful, and he was highly esteemed by his ministerial brethren,
and among the churches. For brief periods Reverend Mr. Hurd, who afterward
labored in the West, and Mr. Langdon were acting pastors. Reverend Charles
S. Adams, the fifth and last installed pastor in Westford, of Roxbury,
Mass., was installed January 7th, 1846, Reverend Richard S. Storrs, D.D.,
of Braintree, a relative of a former pastor, preaching the sermon of
installation. At the same time 'the new meeting house was dedicated,
Reverend Roswell Whitmore of West Killingly, a native of Westford,
preaching the sermon of dedication. At the laying of the corner stone
Reverend Charles Hyde of Ashford, and Reverend Francis Williams of
Chaplin, assisted Mr. Adams in the public services of the occasion. Mr.
Adams commenced his labors in Westford, September 15th, 1844, but was not
installed until the new meeting house was built. This delay was deemed
best by him and his people, as the old meeting house was in a dilapidated
condition, and they fully intended to build, but could not at once unite
upon the location of the new house of worship. Mr. Adams taught a select
school during a part of his ministry in Westford, affording superior
facilities for the education of his own children and of other young people
in the vicinity. After laboring with this people for fourteen years he was
dismissed, and commenced laboring soon after in Strongsville, O. He
afterward labored in Michigan, but failing health compelled him to retire
from the active labors of the ministry. As he neared the close of life,
his wife, worn with taking care of her husband, was taken with disease
which soon terminated in her death, a few hours before his own. He knew
she was too ill to watch at his bedside, but in his low state it was not
thought best to inform him of her departure. He expressed bright hopes for
his own home above, but said his only anxiety was for his poor wife, whom
he must leave not so well provided for in the things of this world as he
could wish. How glad must have been his surprise to find her ready to
welcome him to the new home, having reached it a few hours before his
arrival. One funeral service, and the husband and wife who had long walked
life's journey together, were laid to rest in one common grave. Neither
sadly mourned the departure of the other.
Thus every pastor who has been settled over the people in Westford has
closed his labors upon earth. Since the labors of Mr. Adams closed in
Westford the pulpit has been supplied by acting pastors, whose labors have
continued only for a few years each with this people, Reverend Messrs.
Griswold, Kinney, Beman, White, Allen and John R. Freeman, who died while
in service, and is buried in the beautiful cemetery in Westford. Reverend
Oscar Bissell has been acting pastor for several years and is still doing
good service as the minister in Westford. The deacons have been, Elijah
Whiton, Thomas Chapman, Amos Kendall, William Walker, Abner Chaffee,
Nathan Barker, Benjamin Chapman, Allan Bosworth, Ebenezer Chaffee, Nathan
Huntington, Chauncey Whiton, Charles W. Brett, now acting deacon, all who
preceded him, it is thought, have entered the higher service above.
During the great revival which occurred about the year 1740, and the
commotion of the Separatist or New Light factions, a part of the people of
Ashford were inclined toward Baptist ideas. The severe agitation in the
church of the standing order strengthened the volume of those holding
Baptist sentiments. So rapidly did the Baptists increase in numbers that
in the summer of 1743 they were organized as a distinct church. This was
the first Baptist church formed in Windham county. Thomas Denison, of New
London, a recent convert to Baptist principles, became its pastor. His
ordination took place in November, 17143, the " laying on of hands " being
by Elder Moulton, of Brimfield, who had himself been ordained by Elder
John Callendar, of Newport, and other noted Baptist fathers. The church
thus organized had but a brief existence. Mr. Denison soon declared
himself mistaken, renounced his Baptist principles, fell into a rambling
itineracy, and left his church disheartened and disorganized, to fall to
pieces. After some years of weakness and struggles the members of this
church were incorporated into the church of Brimfield.
Westford is the native place of men of eminence and usefulness in the
country: Reverend Enoch Huntington, Reverend Roswell Whitmore, Reverend
William Chaffee and Reverend Homer Sears, Baptists; Reverend Samuel Whiton,
missionary in Africa, who wrote an excellent volume on the Dark Continent,
and when his failing health admonished him that he must return to his
native land, reluctantly closed his labors there, to resume them again as
soon as renewed vigor permitted his return. When his health gave way the
second time he bade farewell to the land of his adoption, and came back to
the land of his birth. In improved but broken health he renewed his loved
work at the West and the South, until the- voice of providence clearly
admonished him that his life upon earth must soon close.
Reverend Elijah Robbins, who has also for more than thirty years labored
under the direction of the American Board in Western Africa with much
faithfulness and success, an early school-mate of Samuel Whiton, had his
early home in Westford. Reverend Theron Brown, Baptist, also a school-mate
of Whiton and Robbins, has a high standing in the ministry, in the circle
of American poets and as an editor of the Youth's Companion. A small hill
town parish, raising up ministers and missionaries like this, may well be
commended. We may almost apply the words of the wise man: " Many daughters
have done virtuously but thou excellest them all." It is not in raising up
ministers alone that Westford is to be praised. Men of eminence have
entered other walks of usefulness. Judge George Lincoln- fills a high
station in the legal profession in the state of New York. Ezra White,
Esq., was a successful merchant in New York city, and his benefactions for
the support of the gospel in his native place and in enlarging and
enclosing the beautiful cemetery, where rest the mortal remains of his
ancestors, is a worthy example for successful sons who leave our hill
towns for the business centers of our republic. Doctor Melancthon Storrs,
grandson of Reverend William Storrs, a surgeon in the army during the
rebellion, and eminent among the physicians of Hartford and in the state,
also his brother, William Storrs, Esq., for many years superintendent of
the coal mines in Scranton, Pa., liberal in doing for his native place.
Many others fill stations of usefulness as teachers, wives of eminent men,
citizens, temperate, industrious, respected and useful.
The Baptist church in Westford was formed in 1780, through the
instrumentality to a great degree of Mr. John Rathburn, who had removed
from Stonington, and was ordained as its pastor, March 15th, 1781. A
membership of fifty-four was reported in 1795. Elder Rathburn with his
family friends possessed a goodly amount of property, contributed largely
in preparing a place for public worship, and gave the land for the
cemetery of the village, thus showing that it is not always to the
advantage of a church to have the minister poor and dependent upon his
people for his support. Under this ministry the church was quite united
and prosperous. Among his successors were Elder Amos Babcock and Reverend
Ezekiel Skinner, M. D., under whose labors the church grew strong and
prosperous. He was a man of varied abilities, with an executive ability
unusual. He was efficient in ministerial labors, giving lectures on
subjects of much interest at the time, and having a medical practice which
would have been considered sufficient for most men in the profession. He
lectured on the prophecies, on slavery and the live topics of the age.
After he closed his labors with the church in Westford Reverends Dexter
Monger, Washington Monger, Amos Snell and others for longer or shorter
periods labored with this church.
This church has had a varied history. A large, wealthy, and influential
portion of the community cherished what are called the Christian Baptist
doctrines. They did not admit that Christ was in Divinity equal with the
Father. They had a decidedly separate interest from the strict Baptists,
and the latter 'could not candidly fellowship them. There was also a
portion of the Baptists who did not hold restricted communion. These at
length united with the Christians, and in 1862 they reorganized into a
Free Will Baptist church. Reverend G. W. Cortis commenced his labors in
1862. He served them for about two years, and when he left in 1864,
Reverend P. B. Hopkins commenced his labors with the church. He labored
for about nine years, and was succeeded in 1873 by Reverend D. C. Wheeler,
and in 1877 Reverend L. P. Bickford commenced his labors and continued
until 1881. Two deacons served this Free Will Baptist church, Royal
Chapman and Lemuel Willis.
At this period, the Strict Communion Baptists had come into the ascendancy
and under the lead of the state missionary the church was reorganized as a
regular Baptist church. In 1884 Reverend L. S. Brown was ordained as their
minister, and he was followed by Rev. J. H. Bidwell, who was succeeded by
Reverend A. J. Culver and he by Reverend Oscar Bissell. The present pastor
is Reverend Samuel Thatcher, who ministers to this church and that in
Warrenville. This church has two deacons, Nehemiah Clapp and Captain Jacob
Walls. From this parish originated Reverend Amos Snell, Reverend Henry
Coe, and also Reverend Frederick Coe, Andrew Richmond, a graduate of Yale
College, a successful teacher, afterward in mercantile life in New York,
and Charles Dean, a member of the glass company, and now president of the
National Bank at Stafford Springs, also Hon. Edwin Busk of Willimantic. He
still owns a saw and grist mill in Westford, doing a large business,
principally at present in preparing car timber.
In the olden time the Richmond and Sons company did a profitable business
in manufacturing what were called the Richmond Socks. They made an
overshoe from cloth webbing such as was used in trimming carriages, and
before the India rubber came into use, they had an extensive sale, and the
company became wealthy. Here the glass works were located. The Richmonds,
Busk and Dean, did a large business and accumulated wealth in the
manufactory. But this business has ceased, and the " Richmond village" is
not doing the business for which it was formerly celebrated. The present
meeting house in which the people of the village meet for worship was
built in 1840.
John Warren, Esq., manifested much anxiety to have a Baptist church
organized in the western part of Ashford, in a village on the turnpike
from Hartford to Boston and Providence. The First, or as it was often
called, the Knowlton meeting house, was not considered so central, nor
easy of access as many thought desirable. But the people in the vicinity
of the old church were greatly opposed to giving up worship in their
sanctuary, and continued for a time to worship there after another
congregation was formed in "Pompey Hollow," as the place was then called.
Mr. Warren offered a fund to support worship in the Hollow, and the name
of the village was changed to Warrenville. A church was organized January
22d, 1848, with eight members, viz., Nathaniel Sheffield and his wife
Polly Sheffield, Celia A. Coates, Sophia Hammond, John Church, James Kent,
Hiram Cady and his wife Miriam Cady. The ministers employed have been:
Washington Monger, 1848; Percival Mathewson, 1850; J. B. Maryott, 1854;
Tubal Wakefield, 1858; Elder Fulton, Lucien Burleigh, 1864; C. B.
Rockwell, 1863; David Avery, 1871; E. P. Mathewson, 1878; J. J. Bronson,
1880; C. N. Nichols, 1881; L. S. Brown, 1886; N. Kingsbury, 1887; L.
Thatcher, 1889, present pastor. The deacons have been, Hiram Cady, John
Church, Jared Lanphear, and Stephen C. Robbins, serving at the present
time. Present membership of the church, 86; non-resident 36. The meeting
house was built in 1848. Permanent funds for the support of the minister
were given by Nathaniel Sheffield $1,000, John Warren $300, Ebenezer James
$1,000.
Back to: Ashford, Windham
County, Connecticut History Source: History of Windham County, Connecticut,
Bayles, Richard M.; New York: W.W. Preston, 1889 Back to: Windham County, Connecticut
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