History of Fairfield County, Connecticut

Kogers, Koliert Davis, Jo.se[ili II. >iehols, and Hen- The Steep Hollow Chapel Sunday-school was started j.,,,,],; jj, Yarrington. The latter began his labors in a small old district scluml-house on the Mianus ^.jti, the parish April 27, l.s:!!», ami is the present rector. E.M.WNl'EL CIIUUCIL CLEWtLLE. River, by Mr. Stickncy and other; from St:uniiu'd, about 18o0, and furnisluKl with a library. It was kei)t for about two years (in the summer), and then given up. This building was eonseerati'il .\]>ril 22. 1842, by Soon after, Rev. Mr. P.issel an 1 other- from Old It'- Pi'V- Thomas Chundi Brownell. D.D., L1..D., Greenwich and Mianus started it again, and eon- bishop of the diocese. Present, Rev-. Ambrosi- Todd, tinned it for three summers, using the same hou;e D.l>., Rev. William C. Jlead, D.D., Kev. John and library, when it was again given up. Purves, Rev. Mr. Howell, Rev. B. M. Yarrington: In the spring of ISf)!;, Miss Beers, an earnest ('hris- ii'so, of dioce.se of New York, liev. Thomas Colt, tiaii lady, teaching in tiie district, with the aiil of D.D., Rev. Mr. Harris, and Rev. IMr. Partridge. JMiss Ritch, started it once more, commencing with a , '""^l'- P-VfL's ChtRCH is located at Riverside. few scholars, in the same old scdiool-house. Tlu'V in- ' vited Rev. Mr. Hyde, D.'acon Hawes, and others to ! «For tln-abuvc' liUtorj- «care indcWfJ to 51. frWy, Esq, 38G HISTORY OF FAIRFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. CALVARY CHURCH, ROUND HILL. This cliurch was incorporated June 25, 1859, with Isaac PiH'k anti Barton White, Wardens ; Nathaniel Ferris, Henjajnin Knapp, Jaines Hasted, Daniel Snif- fen, Jcinatlian Ilusted, C. W. Merritt, Zalnion Minor, and Jolm Purdy, Jr., Vestrymen; James Husted, Clerk. Tliis church was erected in the summer of 1860, and the first service held in it was by Rev. Isaac Peck, Aug. 26, 1860. It was consecrated by Bishop Williams on Oct. 29, 1860. The baptismal font was presented by the vestry of Christ Church, Greenwich. The following have been rectors: Rev. Isaac Peck, Aug. 26, 1860, to Feb. 26, 1865; Rev. William Binet (in charge), Aug. 14, 1865, to Jan. 15, 1866 ; Rev. D. H. Short, D.I)., July 15, 1866, to Feb. 18, 1867. Rev. B. M. Varrington held occasional services, whidi were continued by lay-readings by Mark Banks, E.si]., of Greenwich, until the coming of Rev. R. H. Barns, who was rector from April 24, 1868, to April 24, 1871. Rev. C. W. Bolton has been minister in charge from Nov. ], 1872, to the present. The church was built by the ellbrts and ])er3onal contriliutions of Dr. Barton T. Wliitc, resident physi- cian of the place. The officers at present (1880) are as follows: Wardens, Nathaniel Ferris, Col. T. A. Haight; vestry, Benjamin Knapp, W. II. Briggs, Dr. J. C. White, H. Thompson, Edward Rcddingtou. METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHUKCH, GUEEXWICH. The first sermon preached by a Methodist in this place was about tlie year 1810, by a Rev. Mr. Cau- field, but no regular church organization was effected until 1843, as shown by the following agreement: " lIVnTfrtu, Tlio menibore of tliu ^U-MitMlist EpisjoiuU Cluircli resident in lioi-senock, in tlio town of Groonwicli, Kiiirfiold Co., C-onn., ilosiro to nmke prtivision for tlio nunntoniinco of the piililic wuntliip of God nc- corilinf; to tlic iisagt'H and doctrines of tlie Melliodist Kpij^copal Cliurcli in sutd Homuncck as nniy lie considered ntH:i>s«ar,v ; *' Therr/orr^ Wo the undersigned, for the necoinplishniout of tlto above- najned ohject, do lierehy hy nintunl ugreenioiit associate onrsclves to- getlier as ft religions gttciety for tlio nniintenanco of the puldic worship of iitMi acconling io tlie sjiid nsa^es and doctrines of llie sjiiJ Metiiodist £pisco|>jiI t'hurcli in snid Honicneck, by tlie name and slyle of the llorseneck Mcthotlist Kpiscopal S<Miet.v, I'.v whicli name ami style Iho said society is Iti isj calleil and known ; wiiich siiiil society we do lioretty constitute to ho suhject tu all the inciilents and liahililies to which re- ligions sts'ictii^ and congregations are hy law snhject, and jstMess and cijoy all rights, powers, and privileges given hy law to religious societies and congregations. ** And wo lierchy declare this meeting, at which the undcndgned aro pri^ent, to lie the t\ni meeting of sjiId s.M;iuty, the sjune lieing holdon hy nH all this Utii day of November, A.n. ls-t:l, at the sclliMil-lionse in said llotMeneck. Anil wo do hereby apisiint John A. Merritt clerk of said society, to ctnitlnne in olHce until another he chosen and sworn in his room. .\nd we also ap|iolnt Jonathan .\. CIom', Klisha llalslciul, Gilbert Marshall, 8oloun>n S. Ganscty. anil Iteiyjandn Teck, Jr., to tie the com- ndtlee of the snid siiclety tu order the alTaint of said so^-iely according to law. "And we f]o licT«by flx un tlio Bchotd-houflo in llorseneck Soclotj u tho idace of holding the ineettn|||of said sisiety until the scs-iety shall ollierwise dlrei-t ; ami we dirtrl that the clerk of this society slntll cause ttie articltra of association to lie rcconleil in the records of this soiiely, " Wo olso appoint Elislia lialstcod treasuriir of tlib society. Wo a\$o flx on the flrst Monday of November as tho time when tlio annual meet- ings of this society shall be holden until tho society shall othcruise direct. " Witness our hands thb I4th day of November, a.d. IS-l.t. " Solomon S. Gaxsev. ''Elisiia IIalstcau. "Jorix A. Mr.RRlTT. "GiLUF.aT Marsiiali.. " Jons M. Wked. "JO.SATIIAS A. Ci.08e. " Bf.njauin Peck, Jr." Among other early Methodists in the vicinity arc mentioned the name-s of .lohn Avery and wife, Benja- min Wilson and wife, Mrs. Matilda Mead, Mrs. Piatt Newniiin, Miss Mahala Hitchcock, Mrs. JIaria Mar- shall, Mrs. Elizal)eth Palmer, Mrs. Isaac Weed, Mrs. Selah Mead, Miss Marilda Fletcher, Mrs. William Mead, Mrs. Huldah Tracey, Mrs. Xehe:niah Mead, Jlrs. Charity Tuilor (colored), Mrs. Ellen Treadwell (colored), Gilbert Lent, Samuel Slagle, Samuel Minor, AVilliain Funston, AVilliam McF. Howard, John Marshall, William Barniore, Charles Gorse. First society committee : .lonathau A. Close, Elisha Halstead, Gilbert ^Marshall, Solomon S. Gansey, Ben- jamin Peck, Jr. ; lirst clerk, John A. Merritt. The first house of worship was erected in 1844, in which the society worshiped until 1869, when the present edifice wa.s dedicated, the corner-stone of which was laid May 12th of the previous year. The following is a list of the pastors: Rufus C. Putman, Benjamin Bedford; 1847, Rev. Jacob C. Washburn, assisted by Rev. B. M. Adams ; 1848-49, Rev. Charles Gor.se and William F. Smith ; 1850, Rev. AV'illiam McKendree Bangs and J. A. Sellcck ; 1851, the charge embraced Greenwich and Coscob, Rev. .1. A. Selleck, preacher ; 1852-53, Rev. George L. Fuller; 18.54, Rev. Philip L. Hoyt ; 18.5.5, Rev. George Dunbar; 1856-57, Rev. S. Howland; 1858, Rev. E. Oldriu; 1859-<)0, Rev. George HoUis; 1861 -62, Rev. George Stillman. In 1863 it was connected with Round Hill and Stanwich, and supjdied by Rev. A. >[eAllister; in 1864 it was associated with Round Hill only, and Rev. A. Mc.Mlister returned to this charge; 1865, Rev. Moses Lyon ; in 1866, (irecnwich was separated from the other charges, and Rev. Wil- liam R. Webster was the preacher; 1807-70, William F. Hatfield; 1870-73, Arza Hill; 1873-75, Charles C. Glover; 1875-76, J. W. Beach, D.D. ; 187(>-77, Richard Rust; 1877-80, George Taylor; 1880, C. P. Corner. The present trustees are fJeorge Selleck, John H. Ferris, .lohn H. Ray, Hanford Lockwooil, Thomas P. Hunt, and Joseph O. Merritt. METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH,* ROUND HILL. Methodism first made its a])peanince in this vicinity about the year 1800, through the instruiiientality of Nathaniel Husteil and Iteiijamin Loekwood, men of means and of large landed estates. Mr. Hu.sted savs in his oration, — • Compiled rmm an aildrras delivered by N. O. Ilnsted, H.D., at the seinK-entenuial of the Round Ilill Mclhvdlst Episjupal Church in 1878. GREENWICH. 3S: " Nathanirl Hilstcd wiis not ciily a leligi.ms man. Imt a p.-itiint, a man wlicii tlion- was a rai.siiig, tu invite the pciiple from tlu' snnoninling Mho iiail icniiiTed servito t<i his e()nnti-v, and haii hcM a (■onlIlli^^ion rountiy, an<I after tlie la^t laftor, or the ti'i-niust ..^tirU of linil ei- «;is put nnilor the reini«neil (;eii. Pntiiam. of K<-vohUiunaiy notoiiety. in pl.iee to j; ve it .i name. This lievolveii npon the >ouii-e>t appientie.v '• Ilenjarnin I.oclovooil was nineh of the same soil of a f'hrislian an. I of the .ariienter, Avlio, witli a liottle of liijnor in lian.l. elinihe'l to ttie patii..t. Tlo.s.. two men. tof;i.lher with tln'ir families, tln-n jilanh'^l hif:he>t point of tlie hiiil'IinK liiat his .onrage wouhl h-ail him. ami llo-n Jlftlioiiism liere. Tin- tiist |i|aee h.r liirhlinf; meetiiiss known to ns wa.s , swinging tlie bottle Ihiee tinn's annTml liis lieacl. ^iv.' th. name h. the at the lionao of Natlianiel llnste.l, wijero JIary. the wi.low of .lames , l.uihlinn.tlirowini; tlie hotlle to .laslr il in pi.e.s if po-sill... If thi. l.ollh. Unsteil, now livi-.s,— a Metlenlist |irearljer l.y the na f Dnimmoml ili.l not lireal<, tlien wlioeur liist s"t the hollle had tlie piivil..Ke of eon-Imted ttie seiviees, — ami afterthis jireaeliini; in ji w.io.l-h.t noitliwest i ilrinliin^ fiom it, ami then sive it another throw, ami so <mi until it was of the liarn, where Ward Sarles now lives, un.ler an oak-tn-e. The jao- ' hmken. This cnstom, il appears, eMemle.l even to elom li.r.ii-in;;s. At Jierty was tlienowrn-<lamloe:npie(l hy \athaniel Ilush-'l. The .piaiterly the rai-in-.; of this frame .\hsohiin San.lswas the Vonn^est apprelilie... nieetin;;s were helil in a ciiler-mill then stantling hy tli|. roailside. jnst When all was eompleteil he nionnteil the fialm-. ami, elimhin;; to its ex* n\'<t\v- the house now oeenpieil hy :\Ir. Sarles, ami owned hy .^Ir. it. II. P. tretne p.<int or l>iiinai le, he swnny the Imtlle and t;ave the nann' in the Archer, of New York City, lienjamin Lockw..od's hons.- was al.so following eonpht ;