The Ancient Historical Records of Norwalk, Conn.

Mr. Thomas Buckingham, of Milford, father of Rev. Thomas, is noticed in New Haven Records in 1730 ; said to have come to N!", England with Rev. Peter Prudden and others ; his name is on record with the first settlers of Milford, Nov. 28, 1638 ; was one of the " Seven Pillars" at the organization of the Church; died at Boston (whither he had gone on business,) in 1657. [These particulars concerning the family of Mr. Buckingham, I have received from Mr. Nathaniel Goodwin, oi Hartford,] Inscription'on the tomb-stone of Mr. Buckingham. Here lyes buried the Body of the REVD. MR. STEPHEN BUCKINGHAM. Late Pastor of the First Church of Christ in Nor walk ; departed this life Feb. 3d, 1745-6 ^tatis 70. * Mr. Dickinson graduated at Yale in the year 1717. Inscription on Mr. Dickinson's monument. Beneath this monumental stone lies interred the body of the REVD, MOSES DICKINSON, Late pastor of the First Church of Christ in Norwalk, ~ who departed this life May 1, 177S, in the 83d year of his age and 51st of his ministry in sd, church. A man of a good understanding, well informed by study, Chearful in temper, Prudent in conduct, he came to his grave in full age like as a shock of corn cometh in his season. SOCIETY RECORDS. 167 the 83d year of his age ; having heen pastor of the 1st Church in Norwalk nearly 51 years. William Tennent,* Installed Colleague Pastor with Mr. Dickinson in 1765. Dismissed in 1772, after a ministry of 7 years. Matthias Burnet, D.D.f Installed Nov. 2, 1785. Died June 30, 1806, in the 21st year of his ministry in the 1st Chh. of Norwalk, and in the 58th year of his ago. RoswELL R. SwAN,J Ordained Jan. 14, 1807. Died March 22, 1819, in the 41st year of his age, and the 13th of his ministry. Sylvester Eaton, § Ordained Oct. 4th, 1820. Dis- missed Feb. 29, 1827, in the 7th year of his ministry. * Mr. Tennent was a son of the famous "William Tennent, of New Jersey, who was restored to life after having been apparently dead several days ; and after the people had once or twice assem- bled for his funeral. t Inscription on the tomb-stone of Rev, Dr. Burnet. Beneath this stone rests the body of the REVD. MATTHIAS BURNET,* D.D., Late minister of the word of God in the first Church of Christ in Norwalk , who was dismissed from this life's labors on the 30th day of June, A. D. 1806, in the 58 year of his pilgrimage, and the 21 of his ministry in said Church. J Mr. Swan graduated at Yale in 1802. The following is the in- seription on his tomb-stone. Here lies A faithful and successful Minister of Jesus, THE REV, ROSWELL R. SWAN, A. M., He was ordained a Minister of the Gospel and settled over the First Congregational Church and Society in Norwalk Janl4, 1807, and died March 22, 1819, in the 41st year of his age, and 13th of his ministry, ^ Mr. Eaton graduated at Williams College in 1816, 168 NORWALK. Henry Benedict,* Installed, Aug. 13, 1828. Dis- missed 1832, in the 4th year of his min- istry. Edwin Hall, Installed June 14, 1832. The Second Congregational Church was organ- ized Sabhath, Jan. 3, 1836, in the 1st Congregational Church. Sixty-five of the members of said church hav- ing previously received a letter of dismission from said church, came forward and gave their assent to their Confession of Faith, and entered into Covenant with each other. All this was done after mature and mutual consultation ; in entire harmony, and in accordance with the unanimous votes of the First Church. Rev. James Knox statedly supplied the pulpit from 1836 to April 1, 1839. Rev. John B. Shaw was stated supply from 1839 to 1841. Rev. Francis C. Woodworth was installed Pastor Feb. 9, 1842. Dismissed Feb. 6, 1844. Rev. Z. K. Hawley, stated supply from April, 1844, to the present time. THE EPISCOPAL CHURCH. The Episcopal Church, St. Paul's Parish, was incorporated in 1737, and a small building erected, which was afterwards converted into a parsonage, and a larger one, 55 by 42 feet, erected in 1743. In 1779 this was burnt, together with the town of Norwalk, by Gen. Tryon ; but, in 1780, when the people had been impoverished and scattered by this disaster, and the re- moval of their pastor, the Parish erected a temporary * Mr. Benedict is a native of Norwalk ; graduated at Yale in 1822. 0:. m^ ^> ^S"^^^ * ^.^M . I ..-%%» fj'v '!'\f '^ •-4^1..' ■l^:.%^-' ^ ^ ^""^ ' S ^^■'^^ni^'^'%_4^'|: Jiranfri'-frOTn ATatare ov b t Palmer g.Wo^lIIi' EPISCOPAL CHURCH. 169 Cliurcli edifice ; and in 1785, rebuilt npon the former foundation. The building was consecrated by Bishop Seabury. In 1840 the Society unanimously resolved to build the edifice now erected, 77 by 55 feet ; tower projecting 9 feet ; vestry in the rear 9 feet ; height of the steeple 150 feet. The following is a list of the Clergy who have offi- ciated in this Parish since its incorporation. In 1737, Rev. Henry Caner,* a missionary of the So- ciety for the propagation of the Gospel in foreign parts. In 1738, Rev. Richard Caner.| In 1749, Rev. John Ogilvie. J In 1751, Rev. John Fowle. In 1756, Rev. Dr. Dibble, of Stamford. In 1758, Rev. Dr. Jeremiah Leaming,§ who was removed by Gen. Tryon in 1779. In 1780, Rev. Dr. Dibble, of Stamford. In 1784, Rev. John Bowden, D. D. In 1789, Rev. Mr. Foot. In 1790, Rev. George Ogilvie. In 1797, Rev. Wm. Smith, D. D. In 1800, Rev. Henry Whitlock. In 1811, Rev. Bethel Judd. In 1813, Rev. Mr. Johnson. In 1814, Rev. Bethel Judd.|| * Rev, Henry 4 mer graduated at Yale in the class of 1724, and received the degree of D.D. from Oxford. t Rev. Richard Caner was a graduate of Yale, in the class of 1736. t Rev. John Ogilvie graduated at Yale in 1748 ; received the de- gree of D.D. from Aberdeen and from the college at N. York. ^ Rev, Jeremiah Leaming, D.D,, graduated at Yale in 1745. II Rev. Bethel Judd graduated at Yale in 1797; received the de- gree of D. D., at Washington College, (now Trinity) Conn. 170 NORWALK. In 1816, Rev. Reuben Sherwood.* In 1830, Rev. Mr. Atwater. In 1830, Rev. Jackson Kemper, D. D.f In 1835, Rev. James C. Richmond. In 1836, the present Rector, Rev. Wm. Cooper Mead, D. D. [The above was furnished by a member of the Episcopal Church, and by him derived from the most authentic sources in possession of the Church. It will be seen that there is a slight inaccuracy in the date concerning Rev. Henry Caner. It is here supposed that he commenced his labors in 1737. The records of the 1st Congregational Society already given, show that Mr. Caner was here in 1729. The record of the organization of the Prime Ancient Society, shows that sundry persons had withdrawn and organized them- selves into another denomination, i. e., as Professors of the Church of England prior to 1728.] THE METHODIST CHURCH. The Rev. Cornelius Cook preached the first Metho- dist sermon in Norwalk, near the New Canaan parish line, in 1787 ; the Rev. Jesse Lee preached the next sermon, on the 17th of June, 1789, in the highway, near the centre of the town. The first society or class was formed, probably, in 1790. The numbers, however, and precise date cannot be given, as the earliest records are lost. The first church edifice was erected in 1816. This building was taken down in 1843, and the present neat and commodious one erected on its site. From 1790 to 1834, Norwalk was an important ap- pointment on the Fairfield, Redding, and Stamford cir- cuits. In 1834, the society, having greatly increased in num- " Rev. Reuben Sherwood graduated at Yale in 1813. t Now Bishop of Missouri. BAPTIST CHURCH. 171 bers and wealth, judged themselves able to support re- gular and constant preaching on the Sabbath. They were consequently erected into a station at the session of the N. Y. Annual Conference in May of that year, and a preacher was appointed to labor with them. The following is a list of the names of the preachers who have been stationed in Norwalk from 1834 to the present time : Rev. Luther Mead, 1834—5 ^' Davis Stocking, 1835 — 7 " Y. L. DicKERSoN, 1837—9 '' Cyrus Foss, 1839-40 ^' William Thatcher, 1840—1 " G. N. Smith, 1841—2* " Laban Cheney, 1842—3 " Harvey Husted, 1843—5 '' W. C. Hoyt, 1845— 7t THE BAPTIST CHURCH. The Baptist Church was organized Aug. 31, 1837, of members of Baptist Churches residing in Norwalk and vicinity. The Rev. William Bowen was their preacher from the organization of the church until April 1, 1838. Rev. Wm. H. Card of New York was then invited to preach for one year. The church edifice was completed and opened for worship, on the 11th of March, 1840. In Jan. 1840, the church called Rev. James J. Wool- sey of Philadelphia, to be their pastor. Mr. Woolsey commenced his labors on the 1st of March, 1840 J * Died in New York, Oct. 22, 1845. t The above account was furnished by Rev. W. C. Hoyt, t The above facts are from a document furnished by Rev. J. J. Woolsey, 112 NORWALK. REMINISCENCES. Mrs. Philips, widow of Ebenezer, aged 84, Feb. 5, 1847. Her brother was in the army, and died of the camp distemper, at Bergen Point, N. Jersey. Her father went to his relief, took the disease, and died soon after returning home. Her mother moved to South Salem soon after the burning of Fairfield. Rev. Mr. Leaming was a strong tory. He went o£f with the British when the town was burnt. CoL. Buckingham Lockwood says that he always understood that the first meeting-house stood on the corner north of Dennis Hanford's house ; that is, on the south corner of the lot now occupied by Rev. Mr. Ellis. He remembers when the space was all open to the common. The second meeting-house stood where the widow of John Mallory now lives. He remembers when that lot was all open. The third meeting-house stood very near the site of Charles Thomas's present residence, on the highest spot between him and Storrs HalPs. The whole lot, in- cluding the three lots south, lay open. He remembers the old foundation of the meeting house that was burnt.