History of Fairfield County, Connecticut

4, 1877. Lemuel S. Potwin w;i.s acting pastor from Sept. 4, 1863, to March 1, 1865; Solomon U. Siho- fickl. May 3, 18G.5, to May 1, 1867 ; Richard B. Bull, IVom Aug. 19, 1868, to 1878. DEACOSS. Silas Harvey Mead was one of the active ones in the formation of the North (ireenwich Church, and was chosen dc.acou tlie day the church was organized. He held his office and performed all the duties of it till his death, after a few days' illness, Dec. 14, 1878, aged eighty -two, having been in office fifty -one years lacking eleven days. He wti-s a man of wisdom, per- severance, and success in promoting the interests of the church, and was a model for men of that office in prayerfulness, self-sacrifice, and diligence. The land — twelve acres — on which the church building and parsonage stand was his gift, and the position of the church early taken against slavery and intemperance was largely due to him. Obadiah Jlead, one of the first members of the church, w;\s chosen deacon and ordained Sept. 28, 1828, and died in office. He was a man of marked ability and usefulness. At the semi-centennial of the church the i)astor said of him, " Deacon Obadiah Mead, aged ninety-two years and nine months, who has been able to be in his place in this sanctuary, till within a few weeks, every Sabbath, but who to-day can almost sec the boatman who is to ferry him over to the shores of bright deliverance." Josiah Wileo.v was ordained Sept. 2, 1864, and is now in active service. Silas D. Jlead, son of Deacon 5. H. Mead, was chosen soon after his father's death, Jan. 14, 187!l. The present membership of the church is al)out one hundred and fifty. The church was organized Dec. 25, 1827, and took the name of " The North Greenwich Congregational Church." It began in self-support, and has always paid its bills and kejtt itself free from debt. The pastor is su]iported by tax on the a.ssessment of the pro]>erty of the society as it stands on the town- Jist, after having received such contributions from them who are not members of the society, but who are willing to ])ay for seats. The assessment is now nine mills on the dollar. The testimony of the church has always been real and earnest on the questions of anti-slavery and tem- perance. It has used no fermented wine at com- munion since 18.50. In the war for the Union and Freedom twenty-nine men from the church and congregation put their name.' on the roll of honor, six of whom gave their lives. The Sunday-school was organized in April, 1S28. In 1S2'.( it had fourteen teachers an<l forty-two scholars. Scluh Savage was chosen superintendent in 1832, and has been annuallv chosen to that office since that time, nearly forty-eight years. In fitncis for his work and the doing of it he has few equals. The Ladies' Beneficent Society of the church was organized in 1848. All tliat has been done to the church since that time has been it.s work. The Bible, bell, window-blinds, lamps, cushions, carpets, furniture, and stoves the ladies' .society paid for. It has also done much of the work needed on the par- sonage. Mrs. Silas Husted and Mrs. Silas D. Mead have been in the office of first and second directors of the society since 1852. Mrs. Amy (Husted) Close has been secretary and treasurer for many years. The contributions of the church to benevolent ob- jects average about five hundred and seventy-five dol- lars per annum. SlL.vs I). Mead is a lineal descendant of one John Mead, who came from England in company with his two sons, John and Joseph, in 1642, and after re- maining a short time in Massachusetts settled at Hempstead, L. I., where they remained until October, 1660, when they settled in the town of Greenwich, Fairfield Co., Conn., where many of the descendants now (Nov. 2, 1880) reside. (For a more extended sketch of his ancestors see biography of Col. Thomas A. Mead.) Silas Mead, " the first," second son of the second Ebenezer, was born May 22, 1720, and died in the year 1817. His wife, Mrs. Mary Mead, was born in 1724 and died in 1787. Their children were as fol- lows: Silas, Abner, Aaron, Mary, Mary (2d), and Calvin. Silas Mead, the §rst, settled at North Greenwich, and w;us a farmer. He was a member of the Second Congregational Church at Greenwich. Silas Mead, "the second," was born in 1748 and died in 1813. His wife was Sarah Mead, a daughter of Deliverance Mead, who was also the sixth s(m of the second Ebenezer Mead. Their children were as follows : Sarah, Silas H., and Francis, who died young. Sir. Mead lived on the "old home" farm, and was a substantial citizen of North Greenwich, Conn. He was killed by being thrown from a wagon near his home; his wife died in 1812. Silits H. Mead was born Dec. 12, 17%, at North Greenwich, Conn. ; he was a large farmer and a lead- ing man in the community. In politics he was an uncompromising .Vbolitionist, and by voice and vote did all he could to educate the peojde of his commu- nity to the idea of human liberty. He united with the Second Congregational Church at Greenwich in 1826, and immediately took a dcej) interest in re- ligious matters. The Congregational Church at North Greenwich was built in 1S27, and its erection was largely due to the interest and etlbrts of Mr. Mead. He was chosen its first deacon, which honorable position he lieM until the day of his death, Dec. 14, 1878. He always took a deep interest in missionarj' matters, and wsls very liberal towards all religious enterprises. He ./>:./ ^. ^y^Ua C'( Residence of HON LYMAN AE^ ■-y ■■ uV'r. .^^M^^^^^^^HAtiiM ■ D. Greenwich Fairfield Co Conn. GREENWICH. 385 was Due 111' (irecnwii-h's Ik'-t :iiiil most iX'^IKv-trd citi- hcl]> tliciu. Vory s;)ijii the miailjcr of |iii|iils so in- zons, ami, <lyiii.;r, left tlie ixv'or.l of a (lunil lotmr. cn';isi'd tliat tlif liiiusv \va< lull, ami sonic wrrt' olilijicd lie married Harriet Mead, dauirlitcr ol' Jcliial to i-.-niain outside on the w.ill. i\rany li.id been I'ur- Jfi-ad. and liail ilio followiii^- i-liil(Ire:i: Sar.ih M. iii<hr(l with hats and shoes for t!ie liril lime, .'^iinn^ I who inarrii'd ^^elah SavaL:i', a faranr of Xorth • ireeii- were ehihh'en of Catholic parents, who were funiislu'd wicli, and lias two children, \\'illiam L. a;id Roxa with testaments hearin;^' a gilt cross, | ml on them hy M.), and Silas I). (2d). Mrs. Jlead died July 1, l.'^7ll. Jfiss Ritch. They took them liome ;nid read them, Sir.As D. Me.VD (2d) was born at North Greenwich, and when they moveil away they carried the ijoixl in- Fairlield Co., Conn., Jan. ;-!l, ISl!). He receiveil a ' flueiice with them, Init th" hat- and slioc-^ the teaclier< common-school and a^'ademic education, lie mar- I'ouud liung upon the cart-stake;. A library coutain- ried Emily L., daughter of E/.ekiel Close and Alt'u'a, ing two huadreil volumes, with thirty ISiblcs, was Palmer, t^ept. 22, 1S4!I. She was born Dee. 21, IS20, furuL-heil, ami Mr. D.idgc, Uevs. linish, Button, and in (xreenwieh, Conn. Tlicir idiildrcn are a.i Ibllows: Crisly have been superintendents. Myrtilla, Silas E., Emily Cornelia, Sarah < '. (de- Jli.ss Ititidi carried the library hiime every we 'k for ceased), Horatio ]!., Harriet A., and E::ekiel C. two years, when a chapel was built on a new and Myrtilla married Livingston Disbrow, a farmer, of beautiful spot, at a cost of about sixteen hundred Now Rochelle, X. V. Silas E. married ('ornelia .AI., <l<illars, furnished with blinds and |iainl;'il, and not daughter of Josiah AVilcox, and has four children, — one dollar owing ou it, in 1S.').S and iNo'.t; it has been Silas F. ( who died at four), ilable \V., Louise C, and kejit iii a very prosperous c:indition ever since, and Josiah W. I has averaged about ninety scludars I'or the last twenty Mr. Mead owns a i)ortion of his father".; farm, years. The superintendent and teachers all comi- which has been in the family for many generations; from two to four mile-;, in heat an<l cold, .summer and to this he has added until he unw owns over three wiriti r. hundred and f(jrty acres of laud. He has made all l:\ the collections tor Chri.^lian work, etc., the the improvements on his farm. average is about one hundred dollar; a year. In LS:J8 he united with the Congregational {.'hiireh There is a Saljbath-sehool missionary association, at North Greenwich, and has been oiu' of its mo t Monthly letters have been received from missionaries liberal su]iporters and lie.-t workers. Ho has taken in Wisconsin and Kansas, and a sum amounting to charge of the singing for mm'e than forty years, ami nearly seventy dollar.s luH been contributed yearly t;) is to be found at his i)ost of dulv t i-ihiv. In March, their suiiiiort.'- 1S7S), he was tdiosen deacon, to take the place so long ami faithfully tilled by his honored father. ! CllUIsT CIirRCII, C UEHNWK'U. He has always lieen identilied with the Sunday- The first Episcojial services were held in this town school Interests of his church, and has been a teacher in the latter ]iart of the eighteenth century, and the for many years. He is a thorough temi>eranei' uiaii, lirst church edifice was erected in 174!), and stood on never having used tobacco or licpiorof any kiml. lie the brow of I'utnam's Hill. This was demolished by is very liberal in all matt<'rs ]iertaining to educational a gale in 1.S21. A new church building was erect<-d or religious mattor.s, and is, and has bi-en for more in ls:i2, and May 4, 1834, was consecrated by Kt. than forty year.s, one of the strong ]iill:ir- of the Con- l!ev. Thoimis Church Brownell, D.D.. LL.l)., bishoji gregatK>nal Church at North (irceuwich. of the dioce.-e. The piv-eiit church edihce was In jiolitics he was a Whig until 1-S,'»i;, when he erected in ISoli. joined th.' Keinildican party. The folhiwing have served the church as rectors: Uevs. James Wetmore, Ebenezer Dibble, Amzi STEEP HOLLOW CII.APEL. ,, i. i f t, • r i ir x- i i i i>.