History of Fairfield County, Connecticut

Kev. Robert Turnbull, a native of Scotland, suc- ceeded Mr. Lareomb in Danburv. He was a graduate of the University of (ilasgow. He arrived in New York in 1833, and soon after accepted thr c.ill of this church. At the end of one year and a half he ac- cepted a call from the Hcjiue Mission Society to oc- cupy a field in Detroit, Jlich. About thirty member.s were added under Jlr. TurnbuH'sniinistry. Xehemiah Gillett and Benjamin Ambler were appointed deacons Jan. 25, ls;:!4. The next regular pastor was Rev. (»rs(]n Spencer, who entered upon his charge in ilay, is:!.'). IDs res- ignation followed after a few months' service. After leaving Danbury he liecame a convert to Mormonism. After the resignation of Mr. Spencer the church had no pastor until April, 183(5, when Rev. Jonathan G. Collom aceepti'd their call. He continued with the church three years. During the second year of his pastorate over seventy persons were ccju verted, among them being Starr Hovt. Jlr. Hovt died Sept. 18, 1849. During Mr. Collom's nunistry Rev. Nathaniel Colvin visited Danbury for the ]nir]>ose of pleading in behalf of the brethren of different color who were in bonds. Mr. Colvin was one of those champions of the slave who argtu'd that a peace which rested on injustice to millions of his fellow-creatures ought to be disturbed. Danbury was larizelv concernecl in the Southern hat trade, and Mr. Colvin's lectures evoked open o|>positioii, and in one instance mob violence was the result. An attack was made upon tlie church iluring service, and stones wer<' freely thrown, win- dows lirokcn, and ^Ir. Colvin narrowly escaped per- sonal injury. He lived to see slavery overthrown, and to preach to hundreds of freedmen. He gave theo- logical instructions to a large nundier of cidored nun- isters in a building foiinerly useil as a slave-pen, and which has since been oi'cnpie<l by a theological scIkjcjI named in his honor, — Colvin Institute. ^Ir. ('olloni resigiu'd dining the fourth year of his pastm-ate, and entered upon tlie charge of the Baptist church at Penibert<ni, N. J. From thence he removed to Wil- mington, and again to Mount Hollv, N. J., where he died. The Rev. Addison Barker was Mr. Collom's suc- cessiu'. He accepted the call of the church in August, 18;!!), and continued three years in the pastoral otliee. During this time the church enjoyed a good degrei' (d' prosperity. The resignation of Mr. Barker was ac- cepted with great reluctance by the church. The Rev. Daniel H. (iilliert was next called to tlio pastoral charge, and entered ii]ioii it in June, 1842. After a few months' service he was compelled to re- linquish it on account of an attack of bleeding at the lungs. He sought a Southern climate, which, however, proved insuflicienl to arrest the work of death. Mr. (iilbcrt was young and gifted, and his brief ministry was not without results. In the following September the Rev. William R. Webb acee|)ted a call. His ministry covered one year and a half, and was marked by eminent tokens of divine favor. After the resignation of Mr. Webb, Rev. Rufus K. Belhimy was called to the pastoral charge. He was then ministering at Rimdout, N. Y., and signified his acceptance of the call May '.>. 1.S44. His gilts both as pastor and preacher were peculiarly acceptable. Dur- ing his ministry the question of a removal of the clinrch from Deer Hill was agitati'd. There seemed a necessity for more room, especially for the aeeom- modation of the Sabbath-sehoid ami Conference meetings. Arrangements were at first made to add to the ohl building. It was, however, decided to purchase the present site and Imild a larger edifice. Ajiril 1!1, 1847, negotiations were made with Thos. T, Whittlesey to purchase the present site, being lots south of his dwelling, for $1800. The Deer Hill ]>ropeity, e.\ee|jting the burying-ground, was sold for S2oOil, The present building was erected at an e.\]M'iise of $(IS.'{(i. The subscriptions and ])roj)ertv of the ehnrcli amounted to $4'iOri, leaving at tlie com]ilctioii of the building a delit of $2301. The building committee were Thomas Ambler, William Jlontgoinery, Levi S, Benedict, Charles Hull, Samuel G. Raymond, and Josejih L. Ambler. The new eililice was dedicated ,lan. 5, 1848, with 214 HISTORY OF r AIRFIEJil) COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. the following order of exercises: Reading of Scrip- tures, by the pastor, Kev. Kufus K. Hellamy ; Prayer, by Rev. Wni. Reid ; .Sermon, by Rev. .lolm Dowling, D.D. ; Concluding Prayer, by Rev. Wm. DennLson. In the following April Jlr. Bellamy tendered his resignation and accepted a call from the Baptist Church at Chicopec, Mass., and has remained there since. The retrospect from this point is in the highest de- gree encouraging. Times of trial and discouragement followed, but the period, taken as a whole, was one of steady and substantial progress. The Sabbath-school grew to a permanent and vigorous condition. The Rev. Aaron Perkins accepted the (rail of the church while ministering at Poughkeepsie, N. Y.,aud entered upon his duties in May, 184S. Many were added to the membership of the church during his connection with it. His resignation was accei)ted March 7, 1852. The Mill Plain Uajitist Churcli was constituted during Mr. Perkins' ])astorate. A meeting was held in the Danbury church, Sept. 11, 1851, to consider the matter, and it was voted e.vpedient for the brethren residing in Mill Plain and vicinity to call a council for the purpo.se of organizing a church at that place. At a sul)sefiuent meeting nineteen persons were granted letters to form the new interest, which was duly recognized, under the name of the " Baptist Church of Mill Plain," by a council which convened Sept. 24, 1851. Deacon Thomas Wildman died during Mr. Perkins' pastorate. His death occurred Feb. 28, 1852. Nathan Seeley and Eli Barnum were elected deacons .\ug. 4, 1849.' The Rev. W. S. Clajip next received the suffrages of the church in a unanimous call to the pastorate, extended April 11, 1852, and which was accepted on the l()th, he then being ministering to the Mount Olivet Baptist Church, New York City. He occupied, during the more than five years which he stayed in Danbury, a place in the atleclions of the church and community whidi it is the lot of but few ])astors to obtain. A great revival occurred during his minis- tration, and Mr. Clapp gave the right hand of fellow- ship to the largest number ever received at one time since the church was organized. He resigned Aug. S), 1857. The next succe-s.sor to the pastoral office was the Rev. Henrj- K. Green, who was called Oct. 3, 1857, and soon afterwards commenced his ministry. He resigned in February, 1850. G. M. Hoyt wan elected deacon Fell. 6, 1850. March 4, 1800, Henry Crofut and L. S. Benedict were elected deacons. The latter, however, never served the church in that capacity. From the time Mr. Green resigned until August the church wius without a settled jiastor. During the interval Mrs. Anna JRore died, her death occurring in May, 18.59. She wiis baptized at Suffield, in this State. For many years she was the only one in tlie village of Danbury professing this faith. Both the churches in the town — one at King Street and the other at Miry Brook — were remote from her. She frequently walked to Kiug Street church on Sunday. She died highly esteemed. After Mr. Green's resignation the church was sup- plied for several weeks by Rev. O. W. Briggs, who afterwards declined a call to the pa.storate. Rev. M. S. Riddell also received and declined a similar invi- tation. In the autumn of 1859, Rev. Geo. M. Stone, then at Madison University, spent four months with the church sis a supply. At the expiration of that time he received a unanimous call to assume the duties of the pastorate. It Wius declined at the time, but in 18()() a renewed invitation wiis accepted. He entered upon his duties in August, and was ordained on the 19th of September, Rev. Mr. Turnbull, of Hartford, |)reaching the sermon. He married Miss .\bbie B., daughter of Nathan Seeley, in .-Vpril, 1861. His pastorate embraced a period of unusual interest, including the four years of conflict for the restoration of the Union. The record of the church during this period was one of honor. Elliott Taylor, Charles (Js- born, and Col. Henry Stone died in the service of their country while members of the church. Others served honorably and returned. A daily raorninj: prayer-meeting was held for months during the dark- est period of the struggle, in the Conference-room i>l the church. The summer of 18tJ2 was spent by tin- p;i.stor in Europe. June, 1802, Jabez Amsbury and John Green were elected deacons. The seven years embraced by his pa.storate were signalized by display> of divine grace. In the summer of ISOd extensive repairs and change- were made in the church edilice. The building wa- lengthened, the side galleries were taken away, and the interior walls frescoed. In July, IHOO, thmugli the efforts of a few of the brethren, a beautiful organ wiLs given to the church. The Sabbath-school wa> sustained with an interest and enthusiasm which in- creiused every year. The removals by death during Mr. Stone's pastorate included many of the most worthy and efficient mem- bers of the church. From August, 1800, to August, 1800, the number of deaths wius thirty-six. Dea<on Ambler died April 16, 1807. His wife survived him but a few days. In August, 1800, Mr. Stone was attacked with bh'ed- ing of the lungs. He partially resumed his duties after a little re-st, but was compelled in the following s|>ring to reiiuest a respite for the summer. While spending the summer in Minnesota he be- came convinced of the desirableness of spending some time in that climate, ami in July, lH(i7, tendere<l lii- final resignation, which WiUS reluctantly accepted. Mr. Stone gained the love of the entire community. His removal to thc^Ve.st wa-s attended with beneficial riwults t<j his health. He wius settled for two years at DANBURY. 215