CHAPTER XIII.
SETTLEMENT OF MESSRS. NOYES AND GILBERT.
in 1785 Dr. Dana's health had become so much enfeebled that he found himself inadequate to discharge all his duties; and by request, the church and society with great unanimity chose Mr. James Noyes to be his colleague. Mr. Noyes belonged to a line of ministers which at the time of his death had existed during two hundred years in uninterrupted succession. The family of Noyes is of Norman descent, and originated in England with William de Noyes, one of the followers of the Duke of Normandy in his conquest of England in 1006. The family settled in Cornwall, England, in the reign of Charles I. William de Noyes of St. Burian, was Attorney General, and his son Humphrey was a Colonel in the Royal army and married to the heiress of Lord Sandys.
Rev. James Noyes, the emigrant, was born at Choul-derton, or as Brook has it, Chaldrington, in Wiltshire, England, in the year 1608. His father, who had a high reputation for learning, was a minister and school-master in that town; and his mother was a sister of the Rev. Robert Parker, a famous Puritan divine. Mr. Noyes was graduated at Brazenose college, Oxford. After he had entered upon the work of the ministry, he felt that
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he could not conscientiously conform to all the instituted ceremonies of the Established Church; he therefore formed the purpose of seeking a home on this side of the ocean. Shortly before carrying this purpose into effect, he was married to Sarah, the eldest daughter of Joseph Brown, of Southampton. He came to this country in 1634, being accompanied by a younger brother, Nicholas Noyes, and his cousin, Thomas Parker. Shortly after his arrival he was called to preach at Mystic (now Medford), and remained there a year. A church was gathered at Newbury, of which Mr. Parker was chosen pastor, and Mr. Noyes teacher, Mr. Noyes, at the close of his life, endured a long and tedious illness with the most cheerful submission. He died October 22, 1656, in the forty-eighth year of his age, having been minister at Newbury more than twenty years.
Mr. Noyes left six sons and two daughters, all of whom lived to become the heads of families. His eldest son James, was born March 11, 1640; was graduated at Harvard college in 1659; began to preach at Stonington, Connecticut, in 1664; was ordained pastor of the church there September 10, 1674; and died December 30, 1719, in his eightieth year. Moses, another son, was born at Newbury, December 6, 1643; was graduated at Harvard College in 1659; was or-dained the first minister of Lyme, Connecticut, in 1693, having preached there twenty-seven years before a church could be formed; and died November 10, 1726, aged eighty-three.1 Joseph Noyes was the son of Rev. James Noyes of Stonington. He was graduated at Yale College, 1709, and was a tutor there from 1710 to
1 Mather's Magnalia, III. Brook's Lives, 161. Coffin's Hist, of Newbury. Sprague's Annals. I.
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1715; was ordained pastor of the First church in New Haven, July 4, 1716; where he died June 14, 1761, aged seventy-three years.1 He left two sons; John, who was graduated at Yale College in 1753, became a preacher, but was prevented from settling in the ministry by imperfect health, and died greatly lamented in 1767. He married Mary, daughter of Rev. Joseph Fish of Stonington, and had three sons, two of whom afterwards became clergymen. One of them, John, was graduated at Yale College in 1799, was ordained pastor of the church at Norfield, parish of Weston, Ct., May 31, 1786, and died May 15, 1846, in his eighty-fourth year. He published a Half-century sermon in 1836.
The other son, James, the successor of Dr. Dana at Wallingford, was born in New Haven, August 4, 1764. He was graduated at Yale College in 1782, and ordained colleague pastor with Rev. James Dana, May 4, 1785, being then in his twenty-first year. He continued to discharge the duties of the pastoral office till June 5, 1832, i. e., for forty-seven years; in all which long period, almost half a century, he was prevented from performing his public duties, by ill health, only on two Sabbaths. His relation with his people was dissolved amicably and at his own request. He continued, however, to reside among them until his death, February 18, 1844, sustaining with them and with his successor, the Rev. Mr. Gilbert, the most friendly relations. His funeral was attended on February 20. Several members of his family being ill, prayer was offered at the house by the Rev. Stephen Dodd, of East Haven. An excellent and very appropriate sermon from Hebrews 13: 7, was pronounced by the Rev. Edwin R. Gilbert, with sacred
1 Bacon's Hist. Dis., p. 200. Allen's Biog. Dict.
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music from the choir, while an attentive audience (almost the entire population), listened, with manifestations of deep feeling. An address was delivered at the grave by the Rev. Saul Clark, of Meriden; it was solemn and affectionate, and the sick family were warmly commended to favor and sympathy.
Mr. Noyes was distinguished for a sound judgment both in his public discourses and in his personal deportment, which was always discreet, amiable and conciliating. He was a lover of peace and harmony, and passed through difficult times, in a trying position, in so happy a manner as at once to maintain the dignity of his office and character, and still to command the respect and good will of all; for it is not known that he ever had a personal enemy. His prayers, especially on peculiar occasions, such as cases of domestic affliction, were remarkable for their elevation, spirituality, and adaptation to the circumstances of every case. His language was select and happy, and so peculiarly his own, that it appeared always original but still met every feeling of the mourner; and he never hesitated or used an inappropriate word. His house was eminently hospitable, and a hearty welcome was given to the friend and the stranger, both by him and his excellent partner, who died in January, 1838. Out of fourteen children, they buried eight, and most of them of mature years. The death of Mr. Noyes was peculiarly happy; during the week of his illness with lung-fever he was patient, cheerful, affectionate and joyful in hope; he took leave of his family, one by one, with counsels and prayer, and when he died those who loved him most could not wish that he might return, for
"Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord."
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No picture of the "good parson" that was ever drawn could exceed in beauty that of the Rev. Mr. Noyes, whose life and manners had that indescribable beauty, completeness, and sacredness, which religion sometimes gives when shining out through a peculiarly congenial natural temperament. The following entry was made by Mr. Noyes on the church records:
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"From the day of my ordination May 4th, 1785, I was continued in office till June 5th, 1832 ; having preached to the people of my charge, forty-six years and six months. During this period with the addition of four months, two hundred and seventy-nine have been admitted to communion; five hundred and forty have received baptism; and six hundred and ninety have died.
"JAMES NOYES."1
Rev. Mr. Gilbert,2 then in his twenty-fourth year, and a recent graduate of the Yale Theological Seminary, succeeded to the pastoral office, and was ordained October 3, 1832. He still remains pastor of the church, being the oldest pastor in Connecticut performing the duties of the office, with one exception; viz., Rev. Dr. Elbridge of Norfolk, his college and theological classmate. The church membership in 1832 was about one hundred and fifty. Notwithstanding deaths and removals,
1 For descendants of Mr. Noyes, see genealogies.
2 Edwin Randolph Gilbert, son of Peyton K. and Anna Gilbert, of He-bron, Conn, (ecclesiastical society of Gilead), was born Feb. 10, 1808. His father was a plain, substantial farmer, of more than ordinary intelligence and worth. He enjoyed the confidence and esteem of his fellow citizens, and was several times elected their representative in the Legislature, and once a member of the State Senate. Rev. Mr. Gilbert was fitted for college by Rev. Amos Bassett, D. D., of Hebron, and in the academies of Monroe and Westfield, Mass. He entered Yale College in 1825, and was graduated in the class of 1829. One of his classmates says of him, that he was a diligent student, and much esteemed by members of his class, especially by those most intimately acquainted with him. He passed immediately into the theological department of Yale college, and was licensed at the end of the second year by the New Haven East Association, and was installed pastor of the First church in Wallingford, Oct. 3, 1832. While in college, Mr. Gilbert was a great admirer of Dr. Taylor, and has ever been one of the best representatives of his theological system. Mr. Gilbert was elected a member of the corporation of Yale college in 1849; the mantle of his father-in-law, Rev. Aaron Dutton, fell most worthily upon him.
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it is now two hundred and eighty-nine. During his ministry a new church edifice, designed to seat seven hundred and ten persons, has been erected at an expense of about $40,000. The corner-stone was laid June 16, 1868, and it was dedicated May 21, 1869.