The Ancient Historical Records of Norwalk, Conn.

of the synod of New York and Philadelpliia, and of New Brunswick Presbytery ; * * * but at the same time professed his desire and intention to hold communion, and be in connection, with the Reyd. association afore- said, as far as is consistent with his continuing in his relation to said synod : and that thereupon the said Presbytery had presumed that this church and society complied with the condition annexed by Mr. Tennent, to his acceptance of their call (which was made on very different terms) ; and accordingly have assumed to them- selves a right to appoint and did appoint the time of instal- ment, and a committee of their own to officiate therein. On consideration of all which, this society is of opinion, that the annexing the condition aforesaid to the acceptance of the call aforesaid, is a proposal subversive of the foun- dation on which the agreement and proceeding of the society were predicated ; and the proceedings of the Presbytery in consequence thereof is an attempt to draw the church andsociety X)ff from the constitution in which they are united, and to lead them to renounce the rela- tions they stand in, and esteem too sacred to be violat- ed ; and do also view such appointment of the time and persons for installment, as an imposition on the society ; and therefore is to be treated with neglect. " Therefore, the society do declare, that they cannot comply with the abovesaid conditions and appointment ; but are obliged to look on Mr. Tennent 's annexing such embarrassment to his acceptance, tantamount to a denial of the invita- tion made him, &c., &c. [In consequence of this, the society appointed a committee to rent the House and land which they had purchased as a parsonage for the Colleague pastor. An explanation followed: Mr. Ten- nent declared that he never expected or intended that 1770.] SOCIETY RECORDS. 161 the society should be under the power of the Presbytery ; and signified his readiness to accept the call, if this explanation should prove satisfactory. Whereupon the society voted their approval and desired his settlement, adding, in their vote, June 19, 1765, that " Neverthe- less, it is expected, that before his installment, a certi- ficate be produced from the Revd. Presbytery aforesaid, of Mr. Tennent's being released from them, agreeably to the tenor of the above proposals, in order to make way for a regular settlement here, and a full union with the association here, on the constitution of this colony.] Collectors of Mr. Learning's Rate. Dec. 16, 1765. Nathan Burwell, Jr. to collect Mr. Leaming's rate. Dec. 1766. Ebenezer Church to collect Mr. Leam- ing's rate. Dec. 14, 1767. Goold Hoyt chosen collector of Mr. Leaming's last year's rate, likewise for the present year's rate. Dec. 20, 1768. Asa Hoyt chosen collector of ye Church of England professors. Dec. 11, 1769. Garner Olmsted to collect of the Church of England professors. Dec. 10, 1770. John Saunders to collect Mr. Leam- ing's rate. Dec. 15, 1771. Matthew Reed, collector of Mr. Leaming's rate. Dec. 21, 1772. Micajah Nash chosen to collect Mr. Leaming's rate (afterwards excused and Isaac Camp chosen in his room). Dec. 13, 1773. Garner Olmsted chosen collector o^ tax on ye professors of ye Church of England. 162 NORWALK.] [1772; Dec. 14, 1774. Gamer Olmsted collector of ye pro- fessors of ye Churcli of England. Dec. 11,1775. Daniel Church collector of ye pro- fessors of ye Church of England. Dec. 9, 1776. Saml. White chosen collector of ye Church of England Professors. Dec. 8, 1777. Barnabas Merwine Collec. of ye Church of England professors. Dec. 14, 1778. John Saunders collector of Mr. Learning's rate. [Before the next annual meeting, the town was burnt, by the British ; and Rev. Mr. Learning retired with the invaders to their fleet.] Repairing the Meeting House. Dec. 11, 1769. Put to vote, whether the society will repair the meeting house according to the report of those persons desired to view the same ; that is to say, to put on a new roof, and new side the house, and to make new window frames, so far as should be necessary. Passed in the affirmative. Dec. 15, 1771. The committee heretofore appointed to repair the meeting house, are requested to do the same in the month of May next, &c., * * and then to colour ye sd house. Mr. Tennent called to Charleston, S. C. Jan. 8, 1772. Whereas the Rev. Mr. Treat of New York, applied to the committee of this society, desiring them to call the society together, that he might inform them that a call is presented to the Rev. Mr. Tennent in Charles Town in South Carolina, and to acquaint the society with the reasons for the application made to Mr. Tennent, and also to know whether the society will 1772.] SOCIETY RECORDS. 163 concur with Mr. Tennent in calling a council to de- liberate upon the affairs of the call ; and also further signified that it was the earnest desire of the Revd. Mr. Tennent that the society should be convened for the purpose aforesaid ; and whereas the society being now convened in consequence of sd requests ; and the Revd Mr. Treat having informed this meeting of the call from sd church in Charles Town, &c. The question was put whether this society will concur with the Revd. Mr. Tennent in calling a council for the purpose aforesd. The society having taken these mat- ters into consideration, and seriously deliberated upon them, are of opinion, that as there doth not appear any cause arising in the society, or any matter subsisting between Mr. Tennent and the society that makes it ne- cessary or expedient for the society to desire a council, Therefore the society Resolve the above question in the negative. The Consociation. Jan. 14, 1772. Whereas the Consociation of the Western District of Fairfield County, now met in this society to consider and determine a case of no less impor- tance than the expediency of the Rev. Mr. Tennent's dismission from the pastoral relation to this church and society, in consequence of a call, &c., * * * * have notified this society of sd meeting, so that they may have an opportunity to be heard if they have any thing to offer in the case. * * * * Voted and agreed by this society, that the reasons offered for Mr. Tennent's dismission are altogether insufficient, &c., * * * and that they are entirely against Mr. Ten- nent's being dismissed, and do not consent to the sd Mr. Tennent's dismission from us ; and that a copy of mi NORWALK. [177?. tMs vote be presented to sd council speedily, to signifj our minds in ye aforesaid case. Mr. Tennent dismissed. Jan. 22, 1772. [The society considering at length the reasons offered by the Consociation ; and] " Having^ seriously weighed the several matters and proceedings" with "the effects and consequences which may probably follow a non compliance," " are of opinion that consi- dering the same, and the steps taken to effect it, has ren- dered Mr. Tennent's usefulness in this society much less than it otherwise might have been, if not altogether at an end, Therefore, in compliance with his earnest re- quest, and in deference to the opinion and advice of the venerable Council, &c. * * do signify that if he de- sires the council to be convened, or shall convene the same for their approbation thereof, or for his discharge from any other relation or connexions, this society has nothing to object. Supplies for the Pulpit. [In Oct. 1773, Mr. Cotton was employed to preach till the next annual meeting ; and on Dec, 13, 1773, *' The committee appointed to look out for another minister, to preach on probation, are desired to return the society's thanks to Mr. Cotton, for his good service here, and to pay him honorably for the same."] [In Dec. 6, 1776, Mr. Kittletass was preaching here. In May 11, 1778, The society voted to invite Mr. Fenn to preach ; in Dec. 1778 to invite Mr. Robinson. April 1780, The committee were directed to hire Mr. Mour- dock ; Aug. 27, 1782, to invite Mr. Tullar ; Dec. 9, 1782, voted that Mr. Tullar shall be invited to settle liere as a minister in this society; but Dec. 26, l782j 1785.] SOCIETY, RECORDS. 165 this vote was reconsidered and made void, ^' "by reason there were but few people at the former meeting." Sept. 5, 1783, desired the committee to invite Mr. William Lockwood to preach in the society. June 17, 17S4, Mr. Spalding had been employed, and was de- sired to preach two or three months longer. Dec. 13, 1784, The committee were directed to invite Mr. Sher- man to preach on probation.] Dr. Burnet. 2d Tuesd. in Oct. 1785. The Society called Rev. Mr. Burnet to be their minister ; to be installed *' on the second day of November next." The present meeting-house. The meeting-house now occupied by the First Con- gregational Society, was completed in the year 1790. Ministers of the First Congregational Church. * Thomas Hanford, began to preach in 1652 ; Or- dained in 1654 and died in 1693, after labor- ing in the ministry here 41 years. t Stephen Buckingham, Ordained Nov. 17, 1697. Resigned Feb. 24, 1727, having labored in the ministry here about 30 years. * Cotton Mather mentions Mr. Hanford in his list of New Eng- land ministers who came from England students in divinity, but who finished their education in the Colonies. t Stephen Buckingham is the first name on the Triennial cata- logue of Yale College. He graduated at Harvard College in 1693, and received his second degree at the first commencement of Yale. He was a son of Rev. Thomas Buckingham, the fourth minister of Saybrook, Conn., and Esther Hosmer Buckingham, his wife. He was born Sept. 3, 1675. Rev. Thos. Buckingham, the father of Stephen, was a son of Mr. Thos. Buckingham, of Milford, Ct., and was baptized Nov. 8, 8* 166 NORWALK. * Moses Dickinson, called from Maidenhead, N. Jer- sey, and installed in 1727. Died May 1, 1778, in 1646 ; ordained pastor of the Church in 1670 ; one of the founders of Yale College ; moderator of the Synod which formed the Say- brook Platform in 1708 ; died April 1, 1709, aged 63.