History of Fairfield County, Connecticut

ST. MARK'S EPISCOPAL CHURCH. The first Episcopal church building erected within the present bounds of New Canaan was raised May 13, 1762, on land obtained from Mr. Hustcd, about three-quarters of a mile northwest from the present church edifice. Says the late Profe-ssor Samuel St. John, — "There had been a discussion respecting Its location on or adjoining the paradc-gnnind. The building was soon rendered fit for use, hut wm not completed fur many years, nod fur that retuson, pruhably, was never consecnited. At this time the churcli-pe*iplo here wore accustomed to attend senice at Nurwalk and Stanifoi-d, and the rates which were col- lected of churchmen in this parish were iwid over to the rectors of thuM churches. In 1701 they urganizetl theniM-lvea Into a distinct juirish. From tliat time there iiave been regular records kept. The first warylenfl were Stephen Iletts and l>unlap Coggshull, and there were thirty -four heads of families who cousitlennl tiienisetves as belonging to tlie church and contributeil to its support. Services were held atiout one-fifth of tlie Sabbaths, but the church languished until the project vros conceived and executed of building u new church edifice nearer the village. The lot whereon the present building stands was purcliosed of Mr. Kiclianl Fay- er^veather. The building coniiniltee wen.' Samuel Raymurid, Ktlward Nash, David S. Knight. Tlie biiilditig wim finished and consecrated Mo/ G, 1H34; the oltl one hiul lieeii taken di»wn the year Iraforo. " At this time tho Itev. Cliarlea Todtl was n>ctor, diviiling his tisw e<iually Imlween Ibis churcb and the one in lUdgefleld. lie resigned hii charge in 1H:t£, and was ftdlowed by Rev. Jacob L. Clark, who also bad tho care of both churches. After his rvsignalion, In 1837, Rev. Darid Ogdon was called to give his undivided attention to this church. In 18.12 ill liealtli comlH'lled him to give up his parish, and he died in 1&45. The succee<ling rectors were Rev. Willtuln Kveri-tt, I84.'i-I6; Itcv. Dr. Short, lMG-62 ; Rev. William I..uig, Isi'2-M ; Rev. William II. Willionu, lX56-«« ; lU'V. William C<x.k, ISiK-S:!; Rev. William A Ues Orlsay, 1864 -74; Rev. Isaac W. Ilaliolu, fjuler, ll<7o-7». Rev. T. U. Fogg bcvasM rector in 1879, and is the present incuinlMuit. "Tho church edifice was remodeletl and the spire eroctod daring the pastorate of Rev. William II. Williams, and rco|>onodMay,18&8. In tba NEW CANAAN. 441 winter of 1S73-T4 the interior wa-s frescoed and two windows placed in tlio clmlicel. Tlie Sunday-SLlioo] was organized in IWri, nnder tlie siijier- iutenilcncc of Miss Estiier Betts." THE AIETHODIST ClUUCir. The first Methodist society estjiblislicil in this part of the county was at Dantown, in 17S7, by Kev. Samuel t^. Talbot. It is lielicvcd tliat tliis wa-s the first Methodist society orjranized in New Kngland. Among the first members of this ancient churcli were Samuel Dunn and Rhuania, his wife, 1787; Sarah Selleck and Hannah L)e Forest, 17M7 ; John Slavvson, Elioda Slawson, Enoch Stcven.s, and Khuania Bishop, ]7i)!l; Betsey Jones, Susanna Fancher, Anna Kusco, John and Rebecca Hant'ord, Benjamin and Nancy Seeley, Sarah Jones, Polly Stevens, Thir/.a Potts, Dorcas Coo, ISOt); Millieent Raymond, 1810; Seth and Nancy Olmstead, 1812; Nancy Avery, Agnita Dunn, Nathaniel Dunn, 1814 ; Anna Slawson, Ruth Dunn, Sanlbrd Dunn, Betsey Dunn, Harriet Stevens, 1819; Isaac and Lois Jones, John and Sarah Seeley, Isaac Potts, Sanibrd and Betsey Selleck, .lohn D. and Betsey Slawson, Betsey Brown, Abigail Penuoyer, Caroline Monroe, Samuel and Nancy Selleck, Mary Dunn, Catharine Jones, Martha Hoyt, Lsaac and Nancy Selleck, 1812. A church edifice was erected in ISdO. The first Methodist society in New Canaan was or- ganized in 1808, at Silver Mine, and the following were among the first members: Capt. Kbenezer C'rofiit, Nathan and Sally Monroe, Abigail Beers, Daniel Betts, Luther Comstock, Silas and Hannah Hayes, Abigail Raymond, Delia Dickens, Miles Root, Ne- hemiah Stevens, May Gronisey, .Joseph Fitch, Amos Dickens, Daniel and Esther Chase. The aljove-named persons were all members of the church jiriw' to 182'J. From 18H> to 1833, New Canaan formed a part of the Stamford circuit, which is the oldest in New Eng- land. In October, 1833, the first Jlethodist house of worship, which is the present town-hall, was dedi- cated. From 1833 to 1831), New Canaan was united to Norwalk in a circuit under the pastorate of two ministers. These were Rev. Elijah Hibbard, Rev. Abram S. Francis, 1833; Rev. Luther Mead, Rev. Abram S. Francis, 1834 ; Rev. David Stocking, Rev. John Crawford, 1835. In 183(J, New Canaan was set off by itself its a station under the pastorate of a sin- gle minister. This denomination of Christians has made rapid progress, endeavoring faithfully to do the work of a true church of the Lord Jesus Christ. The present house was dedicated Dec. 21, 18o4. The following are the successive pastors of the Methodist Church atid their terms of service: Revs. J. Crawford, 183(1 ; Clark Fuller, 1837 ; S. \V. King, 1838-39 ; J. W. Selleck, 1840-41 ; Charles F. Pelton, 1812; Jesse Hunt, 1843; James H. Romer, 1844-45; A. H. Ferguson, 1846-47; J.D.Marshall, 1848-49; Jacob Shaw, 1850-51; L. D. Nickerson, 1852-53; 29 Harvey Hustcd, 1854-55; Mark Staple, 185(;-57; J. L. Glider, 1858-59; C. B. Ford, 18(10-01; A. H. Mead, 18(J2; William T. Hill, 1803; J. M.Carroll, 18G4-G0 ; William F. C(dlins, 1807 ; S. M. Hammond, 1807; S. M. Hammond, 1808-70; 15. T. Abbott, 1.S71 -73; I. M. C:irroll, 1S74-70; A. V. R. Abbott, LS77, present incumbent. Till-: UNIVERSALIST CIU'RCir. I'niversalist preaching began in tlie town in 1X32, Mr. Hillyer, and afterwards Mr. Hitchcock, officiat- ing. They have no separate organization. THE ROMAN CATIIOLir cnUHrH. Services according to tlie Roman Catholic forms of worship were first held here in a hall in the vil- lage, subsequently in the town-hall. Their church was built in 18(53. Clergymen from Norwalk, princi- pally, have otficiated tit this church. It is at jircsent under tlie charge of Father Russell, of Norwalk. THi: BAl-TLST CIU'RCII. The first person in New Canaan professing faith in Christ through baptism by immersion was baptized bv Rev. John (!ano, of New York City, in the year 1772. Stion after, as Elder (Jano was bajitizing in Stamford, where a Bajitist Church was organized in 1773, Bap- tist meetings were held in New Canaan, and have been held at varying intervals to the present time. The records of the Canaan ])arish have several votes cxemiiting Baptists from paying society rates so long as they remain of the persuasion. Nov. 4, 1871, the First Baptist Society of New- Canaan was incorporated. Their house of worship was opened Feb. (I, 1773, the service of recognitio:i being held in that house the 13th day of M:irch fol- lowing. Their pastor is the Rev. E. M. Ogden. THE METHOKLST I'ROTESTANT CHURCH OF SILVER M1NE.« This church was organized in the year ls;{7, bv Revs. Henderson and Langdon I the latter the col- league of the former), tit the house of Mr. Ezekiel Beers, .\mong the first members were Amos Dickens, Delia Dickens, Hannah Hays, Abby Beers, Sarah A. Beers. Religious services were held at the house (jf Kzckiel Beers and at the school-house, under the charge of Revs. Timberman and Wade, Griswoldand Lent, and W. H. Johnson until the year 1844, when, under the latter, the .society enjoyed a wonderful revival infiu- enee, and F. L. Aiken, Lydia B. Aiken, Perry Beers, Sandford Beers, Charles Piatt, Michael Harrison and wife, with many others, united, thus greatly increasing their strength numerically. In the year 1844, Rev. J. J. Smith assumed the pas- toral charge, and the society proceeded to build a church. In the month of August of the same year • Co:.t ilmte.l liy T. L. Dil.Lle. 442 IITSTORY OF FAIRFIELD COUNTY, CONNECTICUT. the house was dedicated, the Rev. Zenas Covel offici- ating, takinjr for his subject, "Tlie prayer of Solomon at the dedk-ation of the teuiple." The first board of trustees was composed of Amos Dickens, F. L. Aiken, AVilliam S. Beers. Rev. Smith was followed in the pastorate by Rev. Witzel and Joshua Hudson, each retaining it for three years, — tlic time prescribed by discipline. Their suc- cessors have been Revs. O. C. Dickerson, R. R. Diossy, Grossman, J. H. Painter, E. Jones, P. Weaver, G, B. AVray, N. Britton, M. Staple, J. Holden, I. Brown, T. L. Dibble. Latterly the church has been less uniform as to the length of time she has retained her pastors, owing largely to the change of boundaries of the work of which she has been a part. . She has prospered, though subject to so many changes. The ])astor for the longest period was Rev. M. Staples, he being con- tinued for seven years in succession. A iQW of her first members yet live; others have passed away. At present her membership numbers f jrty-six. The present officers are : Clerk, J. 15. Alil- ler; Trustee-, A. P. Beers, Henry Harris, AVilliam E. Lane, William Reynolds, F. L. Aiken ; Treasurer, F. L. Aiken ; Pastor,*T. L. Dibble. There is also a Methodist Episcopal Church at Sel- leck*s Corners, but we have been unable to obtain any data concerning it. Rev. William T. Gilbert was pastor in Mareli, 1870. KDLCATION.— T^^! NKW CANAAN ACADEMY. " Among !lio cnrly svltloi-s of Sew Caiiiuin were vcrj* few men of liter- ary ciillurc. Neitlicr the teiiipestiiotitt liiiii>s uliicli Iiiul fiigrot>scd tlicir I'orliostt iittcntjoii nortlioirHltMiilLTiH'riinmry rpwHti-cculinilalluwerl tlu'iii llio aJvitnlu^i-s of any HclioliiHtic tmiiiing. itut the New Knghinit fulhci? (jiiitl our i.iuiieo:8 u'c:c uiiioiig thi-iii) tn%v that the only Mjiy tu cslabliHh )icro aikI pfrpedintt! a ttnciety which coiihl ^uli^fy their hopi'in wouM l»o hy iiKniiis of a careful, thorotif^li, anil getieml eihu-alion of their children. The fniidaniental luutt of the colony required, under severe |)ennltic5, every town lu provide incuuM for tho early iublnitUon of their children. The statute rriuN: