Plainfield Connecticut Ecclesiastical History
We have already seen that the people of this town gave early and
earnest attention to establishing a ministry and the worship of God in
their midst. November 13th, 1699, thirty-eight persons signed an agreement
to pay their proportion toward the support of the ministry. Twenty-six of
these men resided east of the Quinebaug, and twelve of them on the west. A
meeting house was built, so far as to be ready for occupancy by January,
1703. This house, which was supplied with a temporary floor and seats, was
built on the summit of Black hill. In 1704 permanent floor, pews and
pulpit were added. In the early part of January, 17705, a church was
organized and Mr. Coit was ordained as its pastor. In 1708, Mr. Coit
having married a wife, Miss Experience Wheeler," of Stonington, his salary
was increased to £60 a year, which was to be raised in "grain and
provision pay," but if any chose to pay in money they were to have the
benefit of an abatement of one-third their rate. Between the years 1717
and 1720 a new meeting house was built. The size of this was forty by
fifty feet on the ground and twenty feet high. Its location was for a long
time a matter of contention, different claims being urged by different
parties, even to appeals to the assembly to reverse the decision of the
town vote. The idea of placing it on the country road that "goes from the
south end of the town " was generally agreed to, but various votes and
claims were promulgated as to more . definite location. Once it was voted,
" That it shall , stand on the hill, north of Blodget's." Again it was
voted that it should stand "east and by south from Blodget's house." A
month later, however, the town declared that it should stand " a few rods
north of the house where Blodget dwells." Notwithstanding many objections
were urged to the indefiniteness of the relative positions of Blodget's
and the meeting house, the latter finally settled down to a location "
near Blodget's," and about half a mile north of the site of the present
Congregational church in Plainfield, and was completed and ready for
occupancy in September, 1720. The orderly character of the young people
who attended divine worship in those politico-ecclesiastical times is not
flattered by the fact that a man was stationed in the gallery to watch the
young people below lest they should do damage to the house, "by opening
the windows or anywise damnifying the glass; and if any"' (him or her),
did profane the Sabbath by laughing or behaving unseemly, he should call
him or her by name and so reprove them therefor."
Mr. Coit remained in the pastorate until compelled by advancing age and
infirmities to resign, and was dismissed March 16th, 1748, having been
serving his people, either as supply or pastor, forty-nine years. During
the last few years of his work it was necessary for the society to employ
assistants a part of the time. He died in Plainfield July 1st, 1750, at a
ripe old age.
The great revival of 1741-43 in Plainfield was followed by division. A
minority were dissatisfied with the customs of the church, and withdrew
and organized a church according to the Cambridge platform. Thomas
Stevens, father and son, James Marsh and Joseph Spalding were active in
this movement, which was accomplished in 1746. A very pleasing feature of
the revival in Plainfield was its effect upon the remaining Aborigines.
These docile and tractable Quinebaugs were greatly impressed by the vivid
presentation of religious truths, and according to a contemporary there
was wrought among them "the most evident reformation that hath appeared
amongst any people whatever in these latter times, for they are not only
filled with knowledge of ye way of salvation, and express the same to
admiration, but are so reformed in their ways of living as to abstain from
drinking to excess, which it was utterly impossible to bring them to any
other way, and have their religious meetings and sacrament administered to
them by ministers of their own nation."
David Rowland, a graduate of Yale College in 1743, having been duly called
by the town and church, was ordained and settled over this church March
17th, 1748. After being pastor of this church thirteen years he was
dismissed April 23d, 1761, and removed hence to Providence. The pay of Mr.
Rowland was £700 for settlement and £400 annual salary, and his firewood.
The prices at which " provision pay " was to be received in making up the
salary were: corn, 12s. per bushel; rye, 18s.; wheat, 24s.; oats, 8s.;
beef, 1s. per pound; pork, 2s. per pound. Notwithstanding the fact that
the Separatist faction, with the non-church faction, made a majority in
the town who were opposed to Mr. Rowland, his call had been legally made
at a meeting when many of his opponents happened to be absent, and now the
town was obliged to carry out the contract, however unsatisfactory its
terms to them. An appeal to the courts was annually necessary to compel
the people to pay their ministerial rates.
The division and opposition of sentiment and action which had for several
years marked the history of this town in regard to its ecclesiastical
affairs, were happily terminated by a union of the two religious factions
and the ordination of Reverend John Fuller as pastor of the church in
Plainfield February 3d, 1769. He had been preaching for the Separate
church of Bean hill, Norwich, and some concessions being made on both
sides he became acceptable to both Standard and Separate factions of
Plainfield After a pastorate here of eight years and eight months, he died
October 3d, 1777. In the latter part of 1775, when the Eighth regiment of
Connecticut was formed for service, he became its chaplain, and doubtless
contracted disease in the service of his country which ended his days. The
legend on his tombstone on Burial hill is as follows: " John Fuller, after
watching for the souls of his people as those who must give account, fell
asleep, Oct. 3, 1777, -,E. 55. Following this there was no settled pastor
for several years. The old church became poor and was inconvenient.
Occasional services were had and the brick school house was used.
Different ones were called, but no one accepted. A Mr. Upson preached five
months in 1778, a Mr. Judson a while in 1779, and Mr. Solomon Morgan nine
months in 1782. A new meeting house occupying the site of the present one,
was built in 1784, and on its completion Reverend Joel Benedict, who had
been pastor of the church at Newent, was installed over the flock December
22d, 1784. Under his influence and instructions, the party lines that had
so long existed in the church were gradually obliterated. The radical
element was drawn to the Baptists and Methodists, and the First church of
Plainfield resumed its old position among the churches of the county,
though not accepting consociation. It had so far conceded to the
ecclesiastic constitution of the state as to consent in 1799 to the formal
organization of a religious society. Reverend Joel Benedict attained the
position of one of the prominent pastors of this church, and from outside
he received the title of D. D.. an unusual honor in his day. In the old
town burying ground we read this record of him: " The good man needs no
eulogy: his memorial is in heaven. The Rev'd Joel Benedict, D. D., Born at
Salem, State of New York, January, 1745, Died at Plainfield, Feb.
13,1816." In the old village street still stands the parsonage which-he
occupied. It is now occupied by Mr. Theodore Wing, proprietor of Wing's
medicines. In front of the house stands a mammoth elm, which is said to be
the largest tree of the kind in the county. The trunk is about fourteen
feet in circumference. The pastorate of Mr. Benedict extended through a
period of more than thirty-one years.
A terrible hurricane, which has ever since been known as " the September
Gale," swept over this part of the country with great violence, damaging
and destroying many buildings and uprooting fruit and forest trees. It is
said that spray from the ocean, thirty miles away, was dashed upon the
houses here like sheets of rain before the blast. This occurred in
September, 1815. The meeting house of this church was demolished by the
tempest. In 1816 the present stone church was erected, the design of its
projectors evidently being to raise a structure that would not be so
easily thrown down. The house was at first furnished with galleries on
three sides, but in 1851 these were removed and the rooms for church
services arranged as they are at the present time, with a large audience
room above and a vestry below.
Orin Fowler, a graduate of Yale, in the class of 1815, was installed
pastor of this church in February, 1820, and dismissed in January, 1831.
He removed hence to Fall River, Mass., and died September 3d, 1852, aged
61 years. He was succeeded here by Samuel Rockwell, who was installed
pastor of this church April 10th, 1832, and dismissed April 16th, 1841,
and died at New Britain, December 25th, 1880, aged seventy-eight years. He
was a graduate of Yale College and Seminary. Andrew Dunning, a graduate of
Bowdoin College and Bangor Seminary, was installed pastor of this church
May 24th, 1842, and dismissed January 26th, 1847. He died in Thompson
March 26th; 1872. aged fifty-seven years. His successor was Henry
Robinson, of Yale College and Andover Seminary, who was installed here
April 14th, 1847. After a pastorate of nine years he was dismissed April
10th, 1856. He died in Guilford September 14th, 1878, aged ninety years.
William A. Benedict became acting pastor in September, 1857, and resigned
in March, 1863. He was afterward engaged in teaching and preaching at
Orange Park, Fla. Joshua L. Maynard was installed pastor of this church
March 30th, 1864, and dismissed October 25th, 1865. James D. Moore was
installed pastor of this and the church at Central Village in March, 1867,
and was dismissed in October, 1868. William Phipps was installed here June
9th, 1869, and after a seven years' pastorate died in Plainfield June
13th, 1876, sixty-three years of age. Asher H. Wilcox became acting pastor
in December of that year, and resigned May 1st, 1883, closing a service of
seven years and four months. Abram J. Quick became acting pastor August
1st, 1883, and remained until 1886. Reverend H. T. Arnold, the present
pastor, began his services here in 1887. The church numbers at present
about sixty members. The deacons who have served this church, with the
dates when they were elected and when they closed their service by death
or dismission, as far as are obtainable, are as follows: Jacob Warner,
1705- -; William Douglas, 1705-1719; Joshua Whitney, 17191753; Timothy
Wheeler, John Crary, -- -1759; Jacob Warner, 1749- -; Samuel Stearns,
1749-1769; Elisha Paine, 1769- -; Benjamin Crary, 1769-1796; Samuel
Warren, 1774-1815; Joseph Fitch, 1784- -; Thomas Douglas, 1784- -;
Jeremiah Leffingwell, 18051814; David Knight, 1805- --; Abel Andros, 1816-
-; Rinaldo Burleigh, 1817-1863; John Douglas, 1820-1824; Benjamin Andros,
1824-1846; John Witter, 1840-1859; Vincent Hinckley, 1840-1848; Elisha L.
Fuller, 1847-1881; William B. Ames, 1859; Robert Fowler, 1886- -.
The Separate church of Plainfield, having organized, as we have seen, from
members who had withdrawn from the standing town church, about 1746,
ordained one of their own number, Thomas Stevens, to be their pastor.
Having thus withdrawn from the standing church, they refused to pay rates
for the support of its minister, but this they were compelled to do by
law. They, however, were able to support their own minister, and also
proceeded to build a meeting house in the northern part of the town. They
appear to have been less bitter and radical than the same sect were in
some other towns. The follow-ing remarks in regard to them made by
Reverend Mr. Rowland, one of their chief antagonists, are worthy of
preservation:
"Although some things appeared among them at first very unwarrantable, yet
considering their infant state it must be acknowledged by all that were
acquainted with them, that they were a people in general, conscientiously
engaged in promoting truth, and Mr. Stevens, their minister, a very clear
and powerful preacher of the Gospel, as must be acknowledged by all who
heard him."
After the death of Mr. Stevens, the Separate church was for three years
without a pastor, but continued to meet together and maintain public.
worship. After that the church was for a time associated with the Separate
church of Voluntown, under the pastoral care of Reverend Alexander Miller.
In 1760 a division of the town into two ecclesiastical societies was
effected, by which the ministerial taxes on the Separates were somewhat
reduced, but still the objectionable principle existed and they stoutly
fought against it. Their numbers -were increasing and those of the
standing church diminishing. This led to conciliatory negotiations; Mr.
Miller was allowed to preach in the town church, the principle of taxation
for support of minister was abolished, a pastor of Separatist inclinations
was called by the united factions, and the Separate church as a distinct
organization ceased to exist.
Several of the manufacturers from Rhode Island, who established these
industries in this town, were of the Quaker sect. Under their patronage a
Friends' meeting house and school were started, which for several years
enjoyed a considerable degree of prosperity. At the time of the "
September Gale " of history a house was in process of erection for this
purpose on Black hill. but the work was demolished and materials scattered
by that tempest. The loss, however, was soon made good, and a simple house
was erected for their worship. Forty-five acres of land on Black hill were
conveyed by John Monroe to Sylvester Wicks and Deacon Howland, in presence
of Rowland Greene, to whom was committed the charge of establishing a
Friends' boarding school. Some forty or fifty pupils from some of the most
influential Quaker families of Rhode Island were received into this quaint
and primitive family school, under the fatherly care of Doctor Rowland
Greene, aided by his good wife and his brother, Doctor Benjamin Greene.
The Quaker school and worship seemed to lend a calm and tranquil radiance
to this ancient hill. This school was maintained for a number of years,
giving a peaceful home and competent instruction to many willing pupils.
Gentle and serene, even beyond ordinary Quakers, Father Greene and Master
Benjamin maintained excellent discipline, and exercised a marked and
salutary influence. Susan Anthony, Phebe Jackson, Samuel B. Tobey, Elisha
Dyer, and many others famed in public life or benevolent enterprise, were
trained in this Quaker school. First-days and Fifth-days they marched in
pairs to the plain meeting house, the boys first and the girls at proper
distances behind them, and there enjoyed a quiet session. The use of the
meeting house has long since been abandoned, and in the early part of the
present year (1889) it was sold to private parties, who, it is said,
propose to convert it into a tenement house. But a few of those inclined
to the faith and practice of this sect remain in the town.
Back to: Plainfield, 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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