CHURCH AT MERIDEN.
"In sd vote mentioned, and appointed a Committee to
1 May 1722: Resolved by this Assembly that the 2d Society in Farm- ington, with what of Wethersfield and Middletown is by this Assembly annexed thereto, shall for the future be called and known by the name of
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state bounds for sd society or such part thereof as is in tended to be taken out of sd Wallingford which together with the lands commonly called Wallingford West Society or to Farmington South Society, we hope are and will be of carrying on and supporting the work of a Society and the Gospell ministry among themselves (especially if Mr. Belchers farm were added) and the sd Inhabitants living very remote from any place of Public worship, viz at the distance of 6, 7, and 8 miles and the nearest 4. We therefore urged by these pressing Difficulties and encouraged by yor Honbles wonted paternal care and goodness do Humbly Pray this Honble Assembly that we may (with the addition of Mr. Belchers farm afforrsd be made a District society for setting up and carrying on and supporting the Public worship of God among ourselves with such Liberties powers and priveledges as other such societies have and by law enjoy."
The above petition was granted exclusive of Mr. Belcher's farm, and in 1725, they organized themselves into a distinct Ecclesiastical Society; and that society and the territory they occupied, received the present name of Meriden. For the next two years they had public worship only in the winter season, and their meetings were held in a private house. But at the very outset, there arose a very serious difficulty as to the location of their meeting-house. The inhabitants around "Dog's Misery," would naturally desire that the church should be as near as possible to their farms; and the people at "Pilgrim's Harbor," "the Old Road," and "Milking-yard farms," would be equally desirous of a site convenient to themselves. That part of the town, now constituting "the center," was then entirely uninhabited, or was of so little consequence, that its claims in the matter do not appear to have been thought of.
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At length it was decided that the meeting-house should be built on the western slope of the hill, still known as the "meeting-house hill," in which decision, the "Dog's Misery" party had the advantage. In accordance with this decision, the materials were all prepared, and collected at the chosen spot. But the aggrieved party, hoping yet to gain redress, collected men and teams at night, and hauled the timbers over a brook, and up a hill, to a lot on or near which the old Willard Hall house now stands, that being the spot where they wished the house to stand. Of course such a step would excite no small stir. The other party assembled amidst great excitement, and loud and bitter was the controversy. A town meeting was called, and the very men and teams who toiled all night: to carry the timbers westward, were compelled to haul them back to the old spot, in broad daylight, amid the taunts, and jeers of the assembled people. To them it was more sport in bringing the timbers over than in carrying them back.
.......... Facilis descensus Averni;
Sed revocare gradum, ..........
Hoc opus, hic labor est.
The house was then built on the spot first selected. It was about thirty feet square, and built in the very plainest style. That humble edifice, humble in comparison with the spacious and beautiful structures that now adorn the town, was built and maintained in repair with an honorable zeal for public worship. In such a temple, our fathers maintained the worship and ordinances of God for twenty-eight years, sitting sabbath after sabbath, through a long course of exercises, which would weary out the men of our degenerate days. In December, 1728, Rev. Theophilus Hall began to preach in the
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new meeting-house. October 9, 1729, it was resolved to form a church; and on October 22, after a day of fasting and prayer the church was duly organized, and the following persons were gathered as the original members:
john merriam, Jr., and wife, The wife of john ives, nath'l merriam and wife, The wife of benj. curtis, robert royce, john hecock and wife, samuel royce and wife, john cole, thomas yale and wife, The wife of william hough, john merriam, The wife of john yale, bartholomew foster, The wife of joseph cole, robert collins, The wife of nath'l royce, david levit, The wife of david rich, ezekiel royce and wife, The wife of daniel harris, abel royce and wife, The wife of S. andrews, benj. royce and wife, The wife of tim. jerom, joseph merriam, The wife of J. robinson, dan. balding and wife, The wife of W. merriam, amos camp and wife, The wife of jas. royce, benj. whiting and wife, widow royce, sam'l ives and wife, mary hough, ebenezer prindle and wife, eunice cole, john way and wife.
The Rev. Theophilus Hall was the first pastor of the church. He was born in Wallingford, April 1, 1707, and was the son of Samuel and Love Hall. He was graduated at Yale College in 1727, and was ordained first pastor of the church in Meriden, Oct. 29, 1729, where he remained until his death, March 25, 1767, in the sixtieth year of his age. In his personal appearance he was quite small in stature, and with suavity of temper and dignity of manners, he united the greatest affability. Persuaded of the truth of Christianity, and deeply sensible of its importance, he was well able to
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defend it. Feeling the truth, dignity and importance of his subject, in composing his sermons, he seemed to have caught the fervor of St. Paul in delivering them. Diligent to know the state of his flock, and naturally caring for it, his pastoral visits were frequent and judiciously conducted. Dr. Dana said of him that he was "a man of strong intellectual powers, much esteemed as a preacher, of great firmness and stability, and a zealous advocate for civil and religious liberty." During his ministry about two hundred and fifty person were added to the church. Self-denying, humble, prayerful, full of love for souls, and faithful to the cause of Christ, he unquestionably was. Geoffrey Chaucer, the father of English poetry, draws his picture in the following description of a parish priest:
"A good man there was of religion,
He was a poor parson of a town,
But rich he was of holy thought and werk,
He was a learned man, a clerk,
That Christe's Gospel trewely wolde preche;
His parishens devoutly wolde tech,
Benign he was, and wonder diligent,
And in adversity full patient.
* * * * * *
Wide was his parish and houses far asunder,
But he ne left nought for no rain ne thunder,
In sickness and in mischeefe to visite,
The feerest in his parish, moche and lite,
Upon his fete, and in his hand a staff.
But if were any person obstinat,
What so he were of high or low estat,
Him would he snibben sharply for the nones."
Mr. Hall left a widow and seven children. His eldest son, the Rev. Avery Hall, was pastor of a church in
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Rochester, N. Y. The second daughter, Eunice, married the Rev. Andrew Lee, D. D., of Lisbon, Conn., Oct. 15, 1768. Mr. Hall published two sermons on the death of Rev. Isaac Stiles; two sermons on Faith; and a sermon delivered at the ordination of the Rev. Matthew Merriam, of Berwick, Me.1 Mr. Hall lived in a house, not now in existence, which stood on the lot where the present Willard Hall house now stands, on Curtis street, near the city line. He also owned a farm of about one hundred acres, which comprised all the central part of the town. It was bounded by a line drawn from the Town House, and running southerly about one hundred rods, then easterly to a point near the grounds of the old Catholic Church, corner of Olive and Broad streets, thence northerly to the head of Liberty street, and thence to the point of departure. On this farm he built a house for his son. That house now stands in its original location, and is occupied as the Central Hotel.
In 1750, the subject began to be agitated in regard to building a new house, and Mr. Hall offered to give the land which was near the place where the Center Congregational church now stands, which was nearly a mile north of the old church. This place met with much opposition, and April 17, 1752, Ezekiel Royce and Daniel Hough petitioned the General Assembly that the place set by the committee appointed for that purpose, "is upon Rev. Mr. Theophilus Hall's land, which renders it impracticable to use the place for the purpose proposed. .... The committee supposing the center
1 Mr. Merriam was a native of Wallingford, and was graduated at Yale College in 1759. He was ordained pastor of the church at Berwick, Me., in September, 1765, and died in January, 1797.
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of the society to be north of the place set, where truly it ought to be esteemed by reason of much mountainous and waste land in the northern part of said society." The petitioners went on to show that another place south of the place set by the said committee was much more commodious, and to which the people might resort with less travel. The petition was not granted, and the church was built in 1755. It was about sixty feet long and fifty broad. Originally it was without steeple or bell, but in 1803 a steeple was added and a bell procured. This house was occupied for public worship seventy-six years.
At the time of the decease of the Rev. Mr. Hall, the church in Meriden was in special relation to the neighboring elders and churches, as a member of the Consociation of New Haven county. Churches standing in this relation, had esteemed it their duty to consult the association in times of pastoral bereavement with regard to a suitable candidate to be improved upon probation in order to settlement. Many of the society earnestly requested that the society would pursue this common and orderly practice, which the majority refused; and at the same time, Oct. 5, 1767, voted to invite Mr. Hubbard, a clergyman reputed unsound in the great principles of the gospel, to preach four Sabbaths upon probation. This vote was not unanimous, as forty-two were in favor of the call, and twenty-one opposed it. At the society meeting, the votes on the proposal to present a call to Mr. Hubbard stood, sixty-five in the affirmative and thirty-seven in the negative. They also voted to give him a settlement, as it was called; that is, a gift of one-hundred pounds at his settlement, and an annual salary of eighty pounds, which was about equal to $250; one
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half of which was to be paid in wheat, rye and corn. But the division indicated by these votes appears to have been a very serious one, and the feelings excited in the church very strong. On the twelfth of October, forty-seven1 of the society preferred a petition to said society, entreating that they would advise with the association as usual, relative to a candidate for settlement, or that application might be made to either of the associations in the Colony to advise them in that important affair, objecting at the same time against Mr. Hubbard, on account of his general character for unsoundness in the great doctrines of the gospel. The major party notwithstanding, on the second of November following, did by their vote, invite Mr. Hubbard to settle among them in the work of the ministry. The minor party upon this, invited the Consociation of the County to meet in Meriden, and exhibited a complaint to the Association alleging that his introduction as a candidate among them was irregular, and that his principles were heretical. Being regularly notified to appear before the Association, and he making no objection with regard to the shortness of the time given him, nor intimating that he desired more, or would ever answer to the complaint before the Association; but denying their right of jurisdiction, the Association rcalled his recommendation to the churches, and so far as they were concerned, silenced him. The church proceeded nevertheless, and invited a council to assemble, Dec. 29, 1767, to ordain Mr. Hubbard. They met, but on the same day, the Consociation
1 It ought properly to have been forty-three; for four signed after the meeting, which made the whole number forty-seven. These four were against Mr. Hubbard at the time of the meeting, but had not opportunity then to sign.
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of the county also assembled in Meriden at the invitation of the minority. The council prepared to ordain Mr. Hubbard, agreeably to the wishes of the majority; the Consociation assembled to aid and advise the minority in opposing the ordination. There was thus presented the unseemly spectacle of two ecclesiastical bodies, assembled as rallying points for the two little parties into which the church was divided. Both of these bodies remained in session four clays, sending from one to the other, letters, resolutions and remonstrances, becoming themselves more and more excited, and of course, exasperating the feud among the people which had already become intense.
Mr. Hubbard had for many years been reported unsound in some important articles of the Christian faith, and the Association might possibly with justice have called him to give a new account of his principles before; but he being generally employed in other business, and no complaint being exhibited against him, the Association, whether out of neglect, or tenderness to Mr. Hubbard, never took the matter into consideration until he preached at Meriden on probation, when a formal complaint being exhibited against him, and he refusing to vindicate himself, the Association thought could not answer a good conscience, unless they proceeded as related above. The major part, not withstanding, agreed with Mr. Hubbard to settle with them as their pastor, and invited a council to ordain him, who having met and heard the whole affair, and considered the broken state of the society, were of the opinion that it was not best to ordain him.
But it seems the difficulties only became worse. The next May session, the minor party applied to the
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Assembly for relief, who granted them a committee to hear the affairs of the society and look into the state of it, and make report thereof; which they afterwards did, and the Assembly released the aggrieved from all taxes to Mr. Hubbard, until the rising of the next Assembly.1 The committee from the Assembly, previous to their report, advised to the calling in a number of ministers and lawyers, whom they particularly named, as a council to advise the parish in their broken and unhappy circumstances. The minor party in compliance with their advice, agreed to call in the reverend gentlemen nominated by said committee, viz., the Rev. Messrs. Devotion, Salter, Strong, Welles, Johnson, Cogswell and Huntington of Coventry, as a council for advice; and declared by a writing2 under their hand that they would
1 This petition which was preferred at the May session, was not heard until the session in October following. "In April, 1768, twenty-eight persons petitioned the General Assembly that the society at Meriden was destitute of a pastor, and invited Rev. John Hubbard Jr. of New Haven to preach; a man reputed unsound in gospel doctrines, against whom the memorialists presented a complaint to the Association, who revoked his license. Yet the Society agreed, November 1767, with him for settlement, and fixed the time for the ordination, which they could not obtain. They then hired him, and laid a tax to support preaching, and to avoid being called to account for disorderly proceedings, the church and society have removed the Ecclesiastical constitution established by law. The petitioners prayed that they might be freed from paying rates and charges, and allowed to hire a minister among themselves." This petition was signed by John Ives, Elijah Scovill, Samuel Penfield, Isaac Hall 3d, Brenton Hall, Dan. Collins, Levi Yale, Amos Camp Jr., Timothy Ives, Abel Yale, Edward Collins, Elisha Scovill, Yale Bishop, Peter Penfield, Isaac Hall, Ebenezer Princlle, Amos Camp, Nathaniel Penfield, Reynold Beckwith, Noah Yale, Gideon Ives, Stephen Perkins, John Hall, Samuel Scovill, David Hall, Elnathan Ives, John Berry. October 4, 1769, fifty-four petitioners desired that the memorial should be prosecuted.
2 The proposal was in these words: "That the Rev. Ebenezer Devotion, Mr. Salter, Mr. Strong of Coventry, Mr. Welles of Stamford, Mr. Johnson
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follow their advice, until ready for ordination, and that these gentlemen should nominate an ordaining council for them. With this agreement which was delivered to the society signed by the minor part, the major part of the society refused a compliance; and after much pains taken, finding that they could obtain no one in the colony who would assist them in the ordination of Mr. Hubbard, excepting the two Elders, who were particularly interested in the affair, and had before given their judgment in the matter, they prevailed upon four gentlemen, with delegates from two neighboring colonies (one nevertheless, even of this number being a brother by marriage to the pastor elect, and in this respect disqualified to judge in such an affair) to assist them in conjunction with the others above mentioned. In October, 1768, Isaac Hall, and others, members of the society of Meriden, petitioned the General Assembly, after stating the particulars of the settlement of Mr. Hubbard,
"That there is near one half of the Society in Number and List who cannot in Conscience attend his ministry,
of Lyme, Mr. Cogswell of Canterbury, and Huntington of Coventry, shall be a committee with whom we will advise respecting a Candidate for Settlement among us in the work of the Gospel Ministry; and whose advice we will follow from Time to Time, 'till we are ready for Ordination. And that whenever we are agreed in a Candidate, and desire his ordination these same Ministers with Delegates from their respective Churches, shall be the Council to ordain him; or we will be advised by them in choosing a Council and will send for such, and such only as they shall advise to." This proposal was introduced with a preamble setting forth the willingness and desire of the minor part, to unite with their brethren upon any reasonable terms. That they made this proposal in compliance with the advice of the commissioners from the "Honorable General Assembly," that they would abide by it. The writing bore date January 9, 1769. Sealed proposals had been before made by the aggrieved, much to the same purpose.
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that said Society have laid a tax on the members of it to pay Mr. Hubbard for preaching, and defray the charges of his intended ordination. That by their continuing him in said Society no minister can be settled, nor any orthodox regular Candidate be introduced or improved. That said Society and Church have renounced the Ecclesiastical Constitution of this Colony so that they cannot be called to an account by an Ecclesiatical Council. Though the Memorialists continue to adhere to the established Constitution, which they highly value and praying for relief &c., as per Memorial on file. Resolved by this Assembly that Joseph Spencer, Zebulon West, Esq., and Mr. Jonathan Welles, he and they are hereby appointed a Committee to repair to said Meriden, with full Power and Authority to examine all the Matters and Things complained of in said Memorial or relating thereto, and the State of said Society, and to hear all the concerned, and to make Report of what they shall find with their opinion thereon to this or the next General Assembly to be holden at Hartford in May next, and that in the meantime the tax mentioned in said Memorial be not levied upon the Memorialists and those who have been aggrieved with said Proceedings of said Society."
In October, 1769, it was resolved that all persons who entered their names with the Town Clerk at Wallingford before the expiration of six months should be exempted from paying any rates laid and imposed by the society for the purpose of defraying the expenses of the settlement and support of Mr. Hubbard. The same year a committee was appointed to make inquiries, &c., and reported that the list of the Meriden society was ?8420 16s. 3d.
"Major party list, lawful voters, ?4732 11s. 9d.
Major party, unlawful voters, 415 18 3
222 Minor party, lawful voters, ?3020 19s 3d.
Minor party, unlawful voters, 162 10
List of neutral and non-residents, 723 19 6."
They thought a division would be ruinous to both parties; "but to oblige the minor party to pay taxes to such a preacher, is an infringement of their rights, and they recommend a council." The minor party said in their petition, September, 1770, that the church and society continued on the Saybrook platform, during the life of their late pastor, from which the major party had withdrawn, but excluded the petitioners from the meeting-house which the major party had forfeited. They prayed to be recognized as the First Society, with right to possess the house, and that a committee be appointed. This petition was signed by Isaac Hall, Amos Camp, Nathaniel Penfield, Noah Yale, Elnathan Ives, Gideon Ives, Moses Mitchell and John Berry. The committee appointed, reported that the major party taxed the children of the minor party when they came of age; which they thought should be refunded, and the children of all when they came of age, and persons coming into the society, might choose to which party they belong. In October, 1774, eight petitioners who joined the minor party, found the charges against Mr. Hubbard without foundation, and returned; but the minor party continued to tax them; they prayed therefore for a release, which was negatived. The petition was signed by James Scovill, Daniel Baldwin, Divan Berry, Benjamin Rexford, John Morgan, Thomas Mix, Jr., Daniel Baldwin, Jr., and Benjamin Ford. The affair seems to have excited a good deal of attention throughout the state; for letters statements respecting all these proceedings appeared in the papers, and several pamphlets were published, in
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which the affair, with all its bearings, and the principles involved, were earnestly discussed.
At length, June 22, 1769, after nearly two years of unhappy controversy, Mr. Hubbard was ordained, and the Rev. Chauncey Whittelsey, of New Haven, preached the ordination sermon. But so strong was the feeling among the ministers of the State, that few would take any part in the ordination; and a council, composed principally of persons out of the State, convened at Meriden, and performed the required ceremonies.1 In consequence of his settlement a portion of the church and society seceded, organized themselves as a separate body and maintained public worship. They met for some years in a private house, belonging to Captain Shaler, situated near the spot where the house of Mr. George P. Hall now stands, on the road leading to the north-east part of the town, and about one mile from the center. In 1770, there were but eight or nine families who met there. Gradually they all returned, as Mr.
1 In a "Letter from the Association of the County of New Haven to the Reverend Elders in the Colony of Rhode Island and Massachusetts-Bay who assisted at the Ordination of Rev. John Hubbard," printed at New Haven in 1770; the writer says, "It was extraordinary that among so large a number of unexceptionable candidates as were to be found in the colony, they should fix upon one whose character for many years had been exceptionable! It was extraordinary, that after a trial of four Sabbaths, and almost fifty in opposition, that they should invite him to settlement! It was extraordinary, that after his License was regularly recalled, they should continue their invitation! It was extraordinary that a Council of Judges of their own choosing should not judge agreeable to their minds! There were, doubtless, extraordinary circumstances attending the Society, that a Council could not be obtained in the Colony, who would proceed to ordination! It was extraordinary, that when the union was so small, and the matter was properly under the consideration of the Assembly, that the Church and Society should so strenuously urge the Ordination! These things indeed are unusual and may well be termed extraordinary!" p. 10.
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Hubbard's unusually kind and amiable disposition, and his persevering course of conciliatory conduct, slowly affected the minds of those who had opposed him.
Mr. Hubbard's great error appears to have consisted in his being in advance of the age in which he lived. In his examination he doubted that Christ was coeval with the Father; and when he was asked what he understood by the words "In the beginning," he said, "the Scripture was somewhat silent, and he chose not to say much about it." In his confession of faith, there is nothing that affords the least, evidence that he believed the doctrine of original sin, in the sense in which Cal-vinistic divines have generally understood it; but the contrary. Mr. Hubbard also rejected the doctrine of "original righteousness;" but believed that man resembled God, or was made in his image, as He was a rational, intelligent being, and as he was Lord and Governor of the new made world, and upright, as he was made capable of righteousness. Not that man had any holiness or conformity to the moral perfections of his Creator, in his state of innocence. This was held to be the grossest Arminianism. Mr. Hubbard was held to be unsound in the doctrine of the "Saint's Perseverance, and of "Regeneration," as generally under-by the Calvinistic divines. Says a writer of that day:
"It was an important Duty which Mr. Hubbard owed to himself, to clear up his character, and give full Satisfaction that he believed the great Doctrines of the Divinity of our Blessed Saviour; of Original Sin, the Perseverance of the Saints, and Regeneration, as received and held in these Churches, if he could have done it consistent with the Truth. He was bound, in Duty, to do it, as the Honor of God,
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and his own Peace and Welfare all his Days, were greatly concerned in it. The Peace and Edification of the Church and Society of Meriden, and all the Churches in general required it. This would have made all Things easy and quiet at Meriden; for the aggrieved Brethren respected Mr. Hubbard's Person, and would by no Means have opposed his Settlement, could they have been satisfied with Regard to his religious Sentiments. The Churches would have all rejoiced to have been satisfied in this Matter, and used their utmost Influence to have made his Life peaceful and happy. He must therefore, be highly guilty and inexcusable, in not doing it, provided it could have been done with a good Conscience. These Things, he doubtless well knew. Can any Man therefore, in his Senses, imagine that he would not have done it when every engaging Prospect and Motive urged him to it, had not his Sentiments been really different from what is esteemed sound and orthodox in these churches?"1
Rev. Mr. Hubbard was born in New Haven, in a house that stood on Chapel street, near the corner now occupied by the New Haven Hotel, January 24, 1742. He was graduated at Yale College in 1744. His father was Dr. John Hubbard, born at Jamaica, L. I., November 30, 1703,2 and married in 1724 to Mrs. Elizabeth Stevens. He left eight children, of whom John was the
1 Remarks on the Confession of Faith and Examination of Mr. Hubbard; New Haven, 1770.
2 The following is taken from the New Haven Journal, and the New Haven Post Boy, dated Friday, Nov. 5, 1773: "Last Saturday, Colonel, (that is Dr.) John Hubbard, departed this life; who for many years, has been one and the chief, of the civil authority, and Representative of this town, Judge of Probate for this district, and one of the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas for the County of New Haven. A gentleman of superior genius, delicate taste, and good education, an honest, faithful man, an able, upright Judge, and Exemplary Christian; who having served his generation by the will of God, fell asleep, with a hope full of immortality, grounded on the grace of the gospel, ae. 70.
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eldest. Rev. John Hubbard married first Rebecca Dickerman, January 25, 1750, by whom, he left two sons, John and Isaac.1 He married second, Mary Russell. About the year 1783, Mr. Hubbard was seriously injured by being thrown from his sleigh, and thereby disabled from preaching. He lingered until November 18, 1786, when he died in the sixtieth year of his age. He built and occupied a house that stood near where the residence of Mr. Edward Miller now stands, and which now stands a few rods south, on the east side of Broad street. Mr. Hubbard was a man of about the middle size, with an unusually pleasant and benignant countenance. His pleasing manners and amiable disposition won for him the affections of the people. As a preacher he was animated and interesting. The Connecticut Journal, dated New Haven, Wednesday, November 22, 1786, says:
"On the 18th inst, died Rev. John Hubbard, senior pastor of the church in Meriden, in the 60th year of his age. After receiving a liberal education in Yale College, where he graduated in 1744, he at length settled in the ministry at Meriden. Here he labored to good acceptance, and Apostolic fidelity for a number of years until, by the provi-dence of God, he was disabled from his work, about two
1 John was born January 14, 1751. He married Anna Atwater, in 1775, by whom he had one son, John, who was born January 14, 1778. His wife died February 2, 1778. In May, 1779, he was married to Martha Bradley, by whom he had five children. The first was born March 1, 1780, and died in infancy; Anna was born June 15,1782; Russell was born Oct. 18, 1784; William was born July, 24, 1787; Dana, was born Aug. 17, 1789. Isaac, the second son of Rev. John Hubbard, was born Nov. 22, 1752. He married Jane, daughter of Thomas Berry, Dec. 5, 1782, by whom be had seven children: Rebecca, born Nov. 25, 1783; Mary, born Dec 24, 1785; Thomas, born Jan. 9, 1788; Isaac, born July 7, 1790, and died Feb. 17, 1812; John, born April 21, 1792 ; Ezra Stiles, born May 13, 1794; Elizabeth, born Sept. 20, 1796.
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years since. The Rev. Mr. Willard was last June ordained colleague pastor with him. His interment was on Monday last, when the Rev. Dr. Dana preached a sermon suitable to the occasion, after which the funeral was attended, both by his relatives, and by an affectionate and mournful flock, with every mark of esteem and respect towards a beloved and worthy pastor, and a character venerable for piety and virtue. He entertained the highest ideas of the dignity and Divinity of Jesus Christ, of salvation by sovereign grace, of the merits of the Redeemer's atonement, and his glorious righteousness, which he judged the only foundation of a sinner's justification and acceptance with God, while he was a firm advocate for moral virtue and real holiness of heart and life. Very useful was he to his people during his ministry, and never was a pastor more sincerely beloved by his flock, which, in his visitations as well as in the ministrations of the sanctuary, beheld his face, as it had been the face of an Angel, for he was conversant among them with gravity, prudence, wisdom and benevolence."1
1 Mr. Hubbard descended from an honorable line of ancestry. As early as 1630, ten years after the Pilgrim Fathers set their feet on Plymouth Rock, Mr. Wm. Hubbard left his island home, and crossed a trackless ocean to seek a home amid the wilds of America. After a few years he established himself at Ipswich, Mass., which town he represented in the General Court six years, between 1638 and 1646. He afterward removed to Boston, and died about 1670, leaving three sons, William, Richard and Nathaniel. William, the eldest, was born in England, in 1621; came to this country with his father when about nine years of age; was educated at Harvard College, and received his Bachelor degree at the age of 21 years, with the first class that graduated at Harvard College. From the time that he left college till he had passed the age of thirty-five no record of his life remains; but it is ascertained that, during this period he studied theology, and was, for some time, an assistant to the Rev. Mr. Cobbet of Ipswich. About the year 1656 he was ordained as colleague with Mr. Cobbet, who, though in the prime of life, required an assistant, on account of the great extent of his ministerial labours. Mr. Hubbard employed much of his time in historical investigations. His first work was a narrative of the troubles with the Indians in 1676-7, with a supplement concerning the war with the Pequots in 1637, to which is annexed a table
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Rev. John Willard, from Stafford, Ct., was settled as colleague pastor in June, 1786, a few months before the
and postscript of twelve pages. Also a narrative of the troubles with the Indians in New England, from Piscataqua to Paumaquid. The whole was, published at Boston in 1677. The same work was printed in London, in 1677, under the title of "The Present State of New England." An edition of fifty copies in two vols. royal 8vo was printed at Albany in 1865. A copy of the original edition was sold at auction in New York in 1864, from the library of Mr. Andrew Wight, for one hundred and thirty-five dollars. Mr. Hubbard's "History of New England" was completed in 1680, but was not published until 1815. In 1682 the author received ?50 from the General Court "as a manifestation of thankfulness" for this history, "he transcribing it fairly, that it may he more easily perused." Mr. Hubbard died September 14, 1704, at the age of eighty-three years. He married Margaret, daughter of Rev. Nathaniel Rogers, and granddaughter of the Rev. John Rogers, who was burnt at the stake in Smithfield, England, Feb. 4, 1555. At the age of seventy-three, Mr. Hubbard married for a second wife, Mary, the widow of Samuel Pearce. His children were John, Nathaniel, and Margaret. John the eldest, and his wife Ann, were living in Boston in 1680. Margaret married John Pynchon, Esq., of Springfield. Rev. John Hubbard, grandson of Rev. William Hubbard of Ipswich, was born at Ipswich, Mass, in 1677; was graduated at Harvard College in 1695, and settled as pastor of the Presbyterian Church in Jamaica, Long Island, in 1698; where after a ministry of seven years, he died October 5, 1705, aged twenty-eight years and nine months. A particular account of his death may be found in the Boston News Letter of October 22, 1705; No. 79. Dr. John Hubbard, son of Rev. John of Jamaica, was born at Jamaica, Long Island, Nov. 30, 1703. At the age of two years he lost his father, after which, he, with his mother, removed to Boston, where he received the rudiments of a good education at a grammar school. We next find the family in Hartford, Conn., where his mother was married to Rev. Samuel Wood-bridge of East Hartford. At the age of seventeen Dr. Hubbard was apprenticed to a physician. In 1724 he was married to Mrs. Elizabeth Stevens, and two years after removed to New Haven. In 1730, the Rector and Trustees of Yale College conferred the honorary degree of Master of Arts upon Dr. John Hubbard "for his eminent attainments in Latin and Greek, as well as in Philosophy, Medicine, Poetry and Belles-lettres-attainments chiefly due to his own native enthusiasm and unaided efforts." Dr. Hubbard had eight children; John, born Jan. 24. 1727: Daniel, born Dec. 24, 1729; born July 3, 1731; William, born March 20, 1733; William Abdial, born Dec. 15, 1736; Stephen Whitehead, born Jan. 16, 1747; Leverett and Amelia. The eldest sun was the Rev. John Hubbard of
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death of Mr. Hubbard.1 His salary was £100, about equal to $330, and thirty cords of wood annually; and by agreement the wood was to be taken at 8s. per cord. He also received a settlement, as it was then termed, of £200. Since that time, the custom of making donations at the settlement of a pastor-once almost universal in our Churches-has been entirely abandoned here, and throughout the State.
At the time of Mr. Willard's ordination, serious difficulties arose in the Congregation, similar in their origin to those which appeared at the settlement of Mr. Hub-bard. The Theological doctrines, styled Arminianism and Calvinism, were then warmly debated throughout the State, and had their respective advocates among the ministers and churches. It seems that Mr. Willard's doctrinal sentiments on some of these controverted points, were distasteful to a portion of the people, and they consequently opposed his settlement. Although there was no organized secession from the church on account of these differences, yet the dissatisfaction remained and increased. Very great numbers during his ministry, either deserted public worship altogether, or
Meriden. See Holmes' Am. Ann., I. Hutchinson's Hist. Mass. Mass. Hist Coll., vII. Felt's Hist. Ipswich. Eliot's Biog. Dict. Voting's Chron. Felt's Eccl. Hist. N. E., I. Am. Quar. Reg. for Nov., 1835. Thompson's Hist. of Long Island, II. 108. Sprague's Annals, I. 148. Turtle's Hist. Sketch of Hon. William Hubbard.
1 The following were chosen a council for the purpose of ordaining Mr. Willard: Rev. Ezra Stiles, D. D., President of Yale College; Rev. Joseph Willard, President of Cambridge College; Rev. James Dana, D. D.; Elizur Goodrich, D. D.; Rev. Chauncey Whittelsey; Rev. John Willard; Rev. Jesse Ives; Rev. Enoch Huntington; Rev. John March; Rev. Nathan Williams; Rev. Charles Beers; Rev. Benjamin Trumbull; Rev. Thomas Minor; Rev. John Lewis; Rev. John Foot; Rev. Nathan Fenn; Rev. Abner Benedict; Rev. Benoni Upson; Rev. Wm. Robinson.
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transferred themselves to other denominations; so that the congregation was very much diminished and weakened. In consequence of which Mr. Willard was dismissed in the year 1802. He subsequently removed to Vermont, where he died. He is said to have been in his persona! appearance, very tall and slender, and to have preached with a good deal of animation. While residing in Meriden he built and occupied the house now owned and used by Mr. Hiram Yale on North Broad, at the head of Liberty street.
In February, 1803, Rev. Erastus Ripley1 was settled. His salary was four hundred dollars. In the course of his ministry his congregation rapidly diminished. Great numbers joined themselves to other denominations, and at one time it seemed as if the church would become quite extinct. He was dismissed in February, 1822, after a ministry of nineteen years. During his ministry one hundred were added to the church. Mr. Ripley was a very large and commanding man in his personal appearance, and possessed of a strong mind. But his manner of preaching was dry, metaphysical, and destitute of all animation. While here he built and occupied
1 Mr. Ripley was the ninth child of Joshua and Elizabeth (Lathrop) Ripley, and was born at Windam, Ct., June 17, 1770. He belonged to a family which has furnished a good many Congregational ministers. He was graduated at Yale College in 1775, and was a licentiate of the New Haven East Association in 1797. He supplied the church at Brookfield (Newbury,) from March, 1800, till April, 1811. He was ordained at Meriden, February, 1803; dismissed February, 1822; was installed at parish, now Lebanon, Sept, 24, 1823, and dismissed February 16, 1833. He then supplied the church at Montville about three years, and finally returned to Meriden, where he died November 17, 1843, ae. 73. In 1829 he published a sermon on the Evil and Cure of Intemperance. He married Elizabeth, sister of Rev. Jno. Sherman, and had no children. His wife died November 3, 1834.
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the house opposite the residence of Deacon Walter Booth, on North Broad street.
Rev. Charles J. Hinsdale,1 commenced preaching in Meriden September 22, 1822; and after preaching five Sabbaths, he was ordained and installed January 15, 1823. During his ministry, the church and congregation increased very much in numbers and prosperity, and about fifty were added to the church. There were repeated revivals of religion, and a new house of worship erected, at a cost of $7000. Its dimensions were seventy-three feet long, and fifty feet wide. He was dismissed in December, 1833, after a ministry of eleven years. His salary in Meriden was five hundred and fifty dollars.
Rev. William McLain supplied the church one year, from 1834 to 1835. He was afterwards for many years secretary of the American Colonization Society.
In March, 1836, Rev. Arthur Granger was settled.2 He was dismissed in July, 1838, and became pastor of the South church, Middletown, from April, 1839, to May, 1844, when he was called to the High street church, Providence, R. I., where he died about 1846. In 1837, Rev. Mr. Ludlow attempted to deliver a lecture in the Congregational church on the subject of slavery, when he was interrupted by a mob, who attempted to
1 Mr. Hinsdale was born at Newark, N. J,; was graduated at Yale College in 1815; was installed at Blandford, Mass, January 20, 1836, where he now lives.
2 At the installation of Mr. Granger, Rev. Mr. Noyes made the introductory prayer; Rev. Mr. Shepherd made the installing prayer; Rev. Joel Hawes preached the sermon; Rev. Mr. Gilbert gave the right hand of fellowship; Rev. Mr. Whitmore gave the charge to the pastor; Rev. Mr. Dutton gave the charge to the people; Rev. Mr. Griggs made the concluding prayer.
break up the meeting. The doors were locked, but were broken down, and Mr. Ludlow was made a target for rotten eggs and other missiles, and was obliged to flee for his life. A long and tedious lawsuit followed this affair, in which a number of prominent persons of the town were engaged. We have elsewhere given a full history of this affair.
From 1840 to 1841, Rev. Charles Rich supplied the pulpit, but declined a settlement.1
May 19, 1841, the Rev, George W. Perkins was installed pastor of the church.2 The next year twenty-
1 Mr. Rich was the son of a Boston merchant, Benjamin Rich. He went to sea for a short time, became a methodist preacher; afterward entered Yale College, where he was graduated in 1858; studied Theology at New Haven, and alter leaving Meriden was settled for a short time at Washington, D. C., and also at Nantucket, Mass. He afterwards retired front the ministry.
2 George William Perkins was born at Hartford, Feb. 22, 1804. His father was Enoch Perkins, a lawyer of that city. His mother was Anna Pitkin, a daughter of Rev. Timothy Pitkin, of Farmington, Conn. The great grandfather of Mr. Perkins, on his mother's side, was the Rev. Tho-mas Clap, for twenty-seven years President of Yale College. Mr. Perkins took a high rank as a scholar, and when he graduated, received the appointment of an oration. After taking his degree in September, 1824, he went to Cambridge, Mass., to take charge of a school. Among his pupils was Margaret Fuller, afterwards Countess d'Ossoli, whose remarkable life and sad death is known to every one. In the autumn of 1825, Mr. Perkins left his school and entered a law-office in New York, having chosen the law as his profession. In 1826, he entered the Theological Seminary at Andover, where he was gradated in 1829, was first ordained at Montreal, in 1829, and in May, 1841, was settled over the church at Meriden. In July, 1853, he sailed for Europe, and returned in November. In 1854 he was dismissed from the church at Meriden, and removed to Chicago, where he died November 13, 1856. His remains repose in the cemetery at West Meriden. Mr. Perkins through life was a hard working man; he published a good deal in the form of pamphlets, reports, articles in periodicals, sermons, &c. While in Chicago, besides his ordinary duties as a clergyman over a large parish, he edited a newspaper, and established a
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seven persons were converted. In 1844 twenty were converted. In 1847 and 1848, a still more powerful work of grace was enjoyed, and about one hundred professed faith in Christ. In 1848 a division took place in the church, and a portion of the members, with their pastor, removed to West Meriden, the others remaining to worship where their fathers had worshiped before them. Those who removed to the "Corner," claimed to be the First Congregational church of Meriden, and also claimed and retained the church records. Those who remained, therefore, assumed the name of the Center Congregational church of Meriden. The First society erected a church building, at West Meriden, ninety feet in length and fifty-six in width, at a cost of $8000. In addition to the cost of the house, the land was purchased for $800. The parsonage cost about $3000.
Mr. Perkins resigned in July, 1854, and the Rev. George Thatcher was installed, but not settled, November, 1854. He remained until 1860. During his ministry eighty persons were received to the communion.
January 16, 1862, Rev. Hiram C. Hayden was ordained and installed pastor of the church.1 He
theological seminary. In 1841 while in Meriden he was offered the Presidency of Wabash College in Indiana. "His discourses were characterized by lucid statement, forcible argument, illustrations that were generally striking and always apt, appeals that were powerful and sometimes (when the occasion required) eloquent. In 1859, a volume of his sermons was published in New York.
1 At Mr. Hayden's ordination the sermon was delivered by Rev. J. P. Gulliver, Norwich; ordaining prayer by Rev. Hiram P. Arms, Norwich, Conn; charge by Rev. Mr. Folsom, Fair Haven; Right Hand of fellowship, by Rev. O. H. White, Meriden; address to the people, by Rev. J. G. Miller, Branford.
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resigned in December, 1865, and was succeeded by the Rev. Wm. H. H. Murray, from Greenwich, Conn., who preached his first sermon, November 11, 1866, and resigned in November, 1868, to accept the charge of the Park street church in Boston. During the year ending November 1, 1868, there was received into membership, one hundred and twenty-two. Of this number eighty-one were admitted on the profession of their faith, and forty-six by letter.
The society of the Center Congregational church was formed on the 29th of September, 1846, by the following persons, who occupied the old church: John Butler,* Silas Royce, Lyman Collins,* Walter Booth,* Levi Yale, Nathaniel C. Sanford, Gardner Barlow,* Ralph H. Beckley, L. C. Hotchkiss, Russell Coe, Lyman Butler,* Isaac Butler, James Hall, Stephen Seymour,* Benajah Andrews, Samuel Clark, Hezekiah Root,* Ira Preston, Eli Way, Isaac I. Hubbard, Herman Hough, Henry S. Barnes, Joseph B. Jewett, Philip Eddy,* Sylvester S. Post, John W. Miles, Daniel W. Clark, George A. Sawyer, Ira Curtis,* Uri Foster, Charles Page, John Hubbard,* Ezekiel Hall, Julius Yale,* Henry Royce, Ezra S. Clark, Lewis G. Burgess, Luther H. Root, Elias Sanford, E. P. Parmelee, John W. Hall,* Henry P. Judd, Alvin E. Bervins,* Edmund Tuttle, Isaac I. Hough,* H. J. Tennant,* Lyman C. Seymour, A. C. Breckenridge, A. L. Beckley, P. Sage, N. B. Wood, Reuben H. Way,* Henry E. Sanford,* J. L. Clark, Eli Butler, Luther Root, H. B. Sperry, William H. Yale, Don Alonzo Leeds, Benjamin H. Royce.1
1 Those marked with a * are deceased.
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March 15, 1848, Rev. Asahel A. Stevens1 was ordained and installed as pastor of the church, and remained until December 11, 1854. On account of the failure of his voice, Mr. Stevens was allowed a vacation in the spring of 1854, and Rev. A. S. Cheesbrough2 was hired to preach in the spring of 1854, and supplied the pulpit until November, 1855. The Rev. Lewis C. Lockwood was installed June 3, 1857, and dismissed February 22, 1858. The Rev. O. H. White supplied the pulpit from June 29, 1858, until June, 1862. Rev. Joseph Woolley was installed October 22, 1862.
Mr. Stevens in the first year of his ministry, received five hundred dollars salary. Three years later it was increased one hundred dollars. Mr. Lockwood's salary was eight hundred dollars a year. Mr. White's salary was first eight hundred dollars, but it was subsequently raised to one thousand. Mr. Woolley's salary was first one thousand dollars, then increased to twelve hundred, with an annual donation and house rent free. The following persons sustained the office of deacon in the First Church, previous to its division:
samuel royce, elected Dec. 14, 1729, died May 14, 1757, ae. 84.
robert royce, " Dec. 29, 1729, " 1759, ae. 94.
benj. whiting, " Nov. 1748.
1 Mr. Stevens was born at Cheshire, Conn, December 25, 1815, and was graduated from the Yale Theological Seminary, in the summer of 1847. He is now settled in Lacon, Ill.
2 Mr. Cheesbrough , was born at Stonington, Conn.; was graduated at Yale College in 1835 and at the Yale Theological Seminary, and was licensed to preach in 1839. In December, 1841 he was settled as pastor of the Congregational church at Chester, Conn., where he remained until 1853. After leaving Meriden he was engaged in mercantile pursuits, and in traveling abroad, until July, 1858, when he was settled over the Congregational church in Glastenbury, Conn.
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BENJ. ROYCE, elected Nov., 1748, died Jan., 1758, ae. 53.
ezekiel royce, " Nov., 1748, " Sept., 1765, ae. 67.
EBENEZER COWLES, " Dec. 26, 1765, " July, 1800.
benj. ROYCE, Jan. 1, 1757, " Jan. 20, 1758.
john hough, " Feb. 24, 1788.
james hough, " Sept. 14, 1794.
isaac hubbard, " July 5, 1796.
nathaniel yale, removed, June, 1806.
zenas mitchell, " 1814.
silas royce, " Oct. 16, 1853.
walter booth, elected Sept. 1, 1814, Died 1870.
phineas hough.
nathaniel C. sanford.
benj. H. catlin, elected March, 1848.
homer curtiss, " " "
david N. camp, " " "
john yale, " " " Died 1870.
Since the division of the church, the following per-sons have sustained the office of deacon in the Center Congregational church:
walter booth, died, April 30, 1870.
SILAS royce, " Oct. 15, 1853.
phineas hough, removed.
nathaniel C. sanford, removed.
norman b. WOOD.
EDMUND TUTTLE, removed.
benjamin H. royce.
The Hanover Congregational church was organized February, 1853, and consisted originally of twenty-five members who were dismissed from the church at Meriden. Rev. James A. Clark preached for the society from December, 1853, until 1855. Rev. Jacob Eaton was settled May 28, 1857, and dismissed in 1861. A revival occurred in 1853, and eight were added to the church on
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profession. In 1857, another revival of great power occurred, which resulted in the conversion of twenty-five young persons, sixteen uniting with the church at one time on profession.
The following ministers were raised up from the Congregational church in Meriden: Matthew Merriman, Avery Hall, Isaac Foster, Thomas Holt, Samuel J. Curtis, Erastus Curtis, Charles E. Murdock, Daniel C. Curtis, Ralph Tyler, Lyman C. Hough.1
1 Rev. Jesse Ives, was a native of Meriden, and was graduated at Yale College, in 1758. He was a Congregational minister in Monson, Mass. He was settled June 23, 1773, and remained in office thirty-two years and a half, until December 31, 1805, when he died aged, seventy-one years.