Connecticut Historical Collections

In 17G4, Mr. Robert Sandeman, a native of Perth, in Scotland, a man of learning, and superior abilities, who had some correspondence with INIr, White, and some other ministers in this country, came from liis native land, landed at Boston, and came to Danbury near the close of the year. After tarrying several weeks, he returned to Boston, where he soon organized a church, lie returned to Danbury and gathered a church, in July, 17G3. " The principal doctrines which he taught were similar to those of Calvin and Athanasius, which have been received in all ages of the Christian church. His distinguishing tenet was, that faith is a mere intellectual belief: his favorite expression was, 'a hare belief of the hare truth.' He maintained that his church was the only true church, then arisen from the ruins of Antichrist, his reign being near a close. Tlie use of means, for mankind in a natural state, he U A N U U U Y . 369 pretty much exploded." Mv. Sandeman died in 1771. The next year his church moved to New Haven. There it appears ihey were in a flourishing condition for three or four years." The house in which they assenihled for worship is still standing in Gregson street. ^Vhen the Revolutionary war hroke out, the Sandenianians, who were royalists, became ohjects of suspicion. They were brought before the civil au- thority on several occasions, and at one lime were imprisoned. These proceedings had the eflect to break up their church in this place; nearly, if not quite ail their people moved away. " In Jul^, 1774, several persons wlio had been memhers of that church, together with a number who belonged to the society at JXew Danbury, united and formed a new Sandemanian church. That coniinued antHncrcased for many years, till March, 1796, when they divided into two churcl)es." The following is from a recent account given of the Sandemanians in this place. "They meet on the Sabbath, and the Thursday afternoon of each week, to exhort and to explain the sacred word. Their church is provided with a large circular table, which occupies nearly half of the area of the building, at which the several members seat themselves, each one provided with a copy of the scriptures, and as they individ- ually feel disposed, they read and comment thereon, the females ex- cepted. They appear to worship by themselves, the congregation not ]iartaking therein, being but indiilerent spectators of the proceedings. They also add to their former exercises prayer and singing ; and after which, they assendjle at one or the oilier of the brothers' or sisters' bouses, where they partake of a feast There are probably, at present, about twenty primiiive fohowers, of strict morals and chaste deportment, even to a proverb. It appears that none have joinetl them latterly. Tliis sect, like most others, have had divisions among thetti one j)arty of which now go by the name of the Oabornites^ from MpI Levi Osborn, their present teacher. These are very few in nuiTjber, re- duced by ilealhs, and from the clrcumsiance of none uniting wilh them. The other jjarty go by the name of Baj)tist iSanilamaniuns, from their belief in and practice of baptism. The Osbornites appear to have been the most numerous of the two classes, having had formerly a consider- able number of members, consisting of some respectable people of in- fluence." There are said to be but about 400 persons of this denomi- nation in the world, 40 of whom are in ihe United Stales. Those of this belief in Great Britain, are known by llie name of Glassites. The following is copied from the monument of Air. Sandeman, in the burying ground opposite the court house. Here lies, iiiuil ilie rosuneclioii, the body of IIobkrt Sandeman, a native of Perth, ISorlh Britain, Wliu in liie fnce of coiUiiuial oppusiiion from all sorts of rnen long boldly contended for the ancient Faith, that the bate work of Jesus Christ, uilhout a deed or thought on the part of man, is sufficient to present the chief of sinners spotless before God. To declare this blessed Truth, as testified in the Holy Scriptures,. He ■ left his country, he left his Friends, and alter much palieiU sufienng, finished his la- bors at Danbury, Apiil '-i, 1771, j\i.. 53 years. Deign'd Christ to come so nigh to us, As not to eouiit ii shame, To call us Brethren, should we bUish At aughl that bears his name 1 Nay, let us boast in his reproach, And glory iu his Cross; When he appears one smile from him ; Would fur o'crptfy our loss. 47 370 D AN B U R Y, I\Iajoi" General Wooster, who was mortally wounded at Ridgeficid, in an action with the enemy after they had left Dunlnny, was hrou<^ht to Danhury, where he expiretl. He was buried, it is staled, at the distance of twenty feet, in a northeast course. Iroin the grave of iMr. Sandeman. The following inscription is from the monument, in this yard, of Mr. Shove, the first minister in Danbury. ri'Tc lyrs Iniried ye body'df ye Revd. Mr. Selh Shove, ye Pious and Fnillifnl Pristor of ye Church in Darlbuiy 3!) year's, who ilied Oci. 3lI,' Anno Domini 1735, iElaiis sine tJ8. » Congregational Church in Btlhcl, DanLunj. The nourishing village of Bethel, in the town of Danbury, is situate-^ about three miles souiluasi from l),inl)ur)'. The view shows the a|)- pearance of the Congregational church, and some other buildings in the vicinity. This church was erected in 17G0, being the first meeting house erected here; the Rev. Noah Wetniore was the first minister; he was regularly tllsmissed from his pastoral charge in 1734. i^ethel was incorpoiated as a society in October, 1759. There are at this lime, (lS;i5,) about fifty dwelling houses in the village ; the lead- ing branches of manufacturing business, at present, are hat and comb making. An Episcopal church, about fifty rods s. w. of the Congre- gational church, has been erected the present year, besides many other buildings. There are in Jiethel, 15 hatting shops or factories, which employ, (including females,) 200 persons ; they manufacture about 1'25,000 hats annually, which are valued, at wholesale prices, at about ^':200,000. Tliei'e are about 12 principal comb maiud'acturers, who employ about 180 |)ersons in the business. The '• Hatter's circular Dye Kettle and Wheel," was invented in Danbury in 18:23, by Mr. Joel Taylor. It is a most important invention for hatters, and lias come into general use both in this country and Europe. BRIDGEPORT. 371 The British troops, in their expedition to Danbury, passed through this village ; the following incident is said to have occuned here at that time. As the British were descending the hill, a short distance fron\ the village, on the old Beading road, one of the inhabitants of the town, Mr. Luther llolcoinb, rode his horse up to tlie summit of an eminence in front of the enemy. Although entirely alone, Mr, Holeoinb, (judging from the words he used,) evidently intended to make an impression. Waving his hat or sword, and turning his face as though he was ad- dressing an army behind him, lie exclaimed in a voice of thunder, "//«// the ivhok Universe! break ojf Inj l-ingdoms !'' Tiiis, it must be confessed, was a formidable force to encounter. The British army came to a halt, their cannon were brought forward and made to bear upon their supposed opponents, and flanWng parties sent out to make discoveries. Air. Ilolcomb, on the point of being surrounded, and deem- ing "discretion the better part of valor," thought it advisable to make good his retreat in a rapid manner towards Danbury. BRIDGF.PORT. East view of Bridgeport, (183'1.) Bridgeport was incorporated as a town in 1821. It was formerly that part of the parish of Stratfield lying in the town of Stratford. It is of a triangular shape, averaging 4 miles in length from north to south, and over two miles in breadth, containing perhaps about ten square miles. It is bounded n. by Trumbull, e. by Stratford, s. by the wa- ters of Long Island sound, and w. by Fairfield. The township is gen- erally level, and has a strong and fertile soil. 372 B R I D G K P O H T A PLAN OP MAIN STREET, BRIDGEPORT, 6H0\VtNG THE BUILDINGS AND OCCUPANTS IN 1821. Widow Lucy Hawley. Samuel Hawley, Jr. Halter. David Slerling, Merchant. GOLDEN HILL STREET. Zlba Northrop, Joiner. Isaac Sherman, Merchant. GOLD STREET. H- -Nathaniel Wade, Merchant. —Samuel Porter, Farmer. Robert Gregory, Saddle-Tree Maimer. N. L. Skinner, Publisher of the Courier. Henry Coty, Hatter, and Josepli P. Sturges, iiry Lot Joinei Levi Lyon, Merchant. —.Charles L. Nichols, Merchant. William Deforest, Merchant.--^ |j^— Reuben Tweedy, Hatter. BEAVER Smith Tweedy, i/u^er.ZH Thaddeus Hubbell, Sea Caplair Lemuel Coleman, Saddlei Richard Atwell, Comb Maker, and Epliraim Muldlehrooks, Jouier. Samuel lUirr, Mcrchan JOHN STREET Isaac Burroughs, jMerchan Rev. Heni7 R. Judah, Episcopal Mini B A N 1\ Monson Hinnian, Sea Captain. . q| L. C. Sfegee, Tavern keeper. . J S T A T E Andrew CurtiBs' Carriage Maker Shop. TREET. Thomas Goiige, Hatter. :;:3 -Joseph Claik, Cooper ..Stephen Hull, Blacksmith. 'WALL STREET. '\Ii-s. Ifubb.ll. .Mrs Wuolsty. Bridgeport Dank. '.S T R E E T. Sr~^'.M]ss L. Shepherd and Dr. Holman. IM Post Office and Dry Uoud Stores. S T R E E T j\Ierchant. Jesse Sterling, Merchant.- ai \ GILBERT STREET. ' David B. Nichols, Merchant"'^ Ira Sherman ... George Hawley, Merchant _ Richard Hyde, Merchant... Abijah Hawley, Sea Captain ^ Jnbez Norman, Sail Maker Baker'. ' 1 I SSleplien Hawley, ^ UNION STRl ^ .:Mt^'^ U^ — Nichols Nortlinip, Joiner. — 'THOMAS STREET. Josiah B. Hall, Merchant. ALLEN'S LANE Francis V Allen, Marii Tallman Perry. Ihiri Perry. The above plan was taken from a map of Bridgeport, surveyed by Mr. H.^.'Barnum, and published in 18-24. It is now accompanied by som:§? additions and corrections by Isaac Sherman, Esq. the present town clerk of Brid^c'ijort.