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METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH, ANSONIA, CONN.

X x

THE

Methodist Episcopal Church

OF

ANSONIA, CONNECTICUT

18*1-1903

A Iftsiiiruai #k?irlj

BY
FRANKLIN BURTON

ILLUSTRATIONS

Methodist Episcopal Church, Front View  Frontispiece
Albert Hotchkiss  15
Rev. J. B. Wakeley  ig
Map of Church Property  opp. 22
Methodist Episcopal Church, Side View  23
Mrs. Anna M. James  27
Harvest Festival  32
Methodist Episcopal Church Parsonage  35
Rev. A. V. R. Abbott  39
Rev. David Osborn  43
Rev. John L. Peck  46
Rev. Eben Smith Hebbard  49
Rev. John Pegg, Jr  52
Rev. J. J. Woolley, 1857  55
Rev. J. J. Woolley, 1903  57
Rev. William Porteus, D.D  62
Rev. William Silverthorne  65
Rev. William Howard  68
Rev. Alonzo B. Pulling  71
Rev. Charles Thompson Mallory  74
Rev. William H. Wardell  yy
Rev. Charles S. Wing, D.D  82
Rev. George P. Mains, D.D  ;  86
Rev. Samuel H. Smith  89
Rev. Lindsay Parker, M.A., Ph.D  92
Rev. James M. Carroll  96
Rev. Isaac E. Smith  100
Rev. Reuben H. Loomis  103
Rev. Edward Cunningham  108
Rev. George A. Hubbell  1 1 1
Rev. Samuel M. Hammond  115
Rev. Rufus S. Putney  118
Rev. Charles B. Pitblado  122

6 METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH,
Rev Henry E. Wing  125
Rev. Fred Saunders  128
Concert, Flowers the Poetry of Angels  131
Rev. Wilbert C Blakeman  134
Rev. J. Howard Hand  137
Pastor, Church and Parsonage  140
Cyrus Johnson  142
Rev. W. A. Richard  160
Mr. and Mrs. William Balfour  170
Charles D. Evans  174
John James  177
Mungo Park Wilson  182
John A. Bland  187
Mrs. Emma Bland  189
James Booth  193
Sarah Booth  195
Franklin Burton  211

PREFACE

It is not the plan of this work to attempt to give the results of
the labors of this Church, or to measure its usefulness.
The quantity and quality of its life and work are known only
by Him who is all wise. In the final judgment we shall know
all that is best for us to know.
The Church was established by our Blessed Master ; He bade us
be members of it, and through it, His kingdom is to be established
in the world.
We have reason to thank Him for our relation to the Church, for
its influence upon us and upon the world, to pray that we may
faithfully perform our part, and be the means of helping to estab
lish His Kingdom.
The purpose of this book is to give such facts of record as shall
be useful and of value historically, to the Church at this time,
and in the years to come.
The city of Ansonia is a child of Derby ; Methodism in Connec
ticut, of Jesse Lee ; and the Methodist Church in Ansonia is the
child of the Derby Church.
There has come to the heart of the writer a reverence for the
character of Jesse Lee, as he has read of the battles he fought for
Christ and His Church on these New England hills. And an equal
reverence and admiration of the strong faith, deep love, and intense
earnestness of our Fathers and Mothers, in their Christian lives,
helped so much by constant, prayerful study of God's word. It
will be well for us to hold in sacred trust the heritage they left
us, of devoted, Christian lives. "We shall live so long as we revere
their memory and emulate their virtues."
Methodism to-day is intensely aggressive. Who among us but
feels proud of the great work of the Church at the beginning of
the twentieth century? Would that the work touched our hearts
more closely, and that the spiritual life of the Church moved on
in the ratio of other development and growth.
Franklin Burton.
Ansonia, Conn., April, 1903.

THE FIFTIETH ANNIVERSARY
OF the
Methodist Episcopal Church
IN ANSONIA
WAS HELD IN THE CHURCH
on
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 1901
Under the charge of the pastor, Rev. W. C. Blakeman
Rev. Henry E. Wing preached at the morning service. The words
of his text were : "For we are made a spectacle unto the world,
and to angels, and to men." i Corinthians iv, 9.
In the evening, Rev. Charles B. Pitblado delivered the address
from the text : "For God so loved the world that He gave His only
begotten son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but
have everlasting life." John iii, 16.
Many letters of regret from former pastors who could not be
present, were read. On Wednesday evening, November 20, 1901,
the prayer meeting was made a historical service. The pastor,
Rev. W. C. Blakeman, gave a historical sketch of the church ;
other addresses were made by W. H. Foster, Charles D. Evans,
William Balfour, William T. Mercer and Franklin Burton.
JESSE LEE
The Founder of Methodism in New England.
"In person Jesse Lee was a tall, robust man, weighing over two
hundred and fifty pounds. It is said that on some of his circuits,
lest he should overtax his horse by his great weight, he provided
for a frequent change by leading one horse while he rode another.

IO METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH,
He possessed uncommon colloquial powers, and fascinating
address. His readiness at repartee was scarcely equalled; and by
skillful use of this talent, he often taught those disposed to be
witty at his expense, that the safest way to deal with him was to
be civil. He was a man of great moral courage and more than
ordinary preaching talents. In the presence of such a man, with
such a spirit, opposition was utterly ineffectual. Hunger, thirst,
cold, scorn, and insulting neglect could not move him from his
purpose. A priesthood entrenched behind special legislation and
conscious of their power, a people leavened with Antinomianism,
and full of disputation, could not quench the fire of his love, nor
resist the power of his words. He came to plant Methodism in
the sterile soil of New England, and he did it, and thousands of
happy souls have found shelter and comfort under its branches."
METHODISM IN DERBY.
From the records of Jesse Lee, we learn that he formed a circuit
in June, 1789, including Norwalk, Fairfield, Stratford, Milford,
New Haven, Derby, Newtown, Danbury and Canaan, with several
other places within the same bounds. It was to be a two weeks
circuit, but regular visits varied from this course. The first sermon
at New Haven was on the 21st of June, 1789; from there he went
to Derby, June 22, 1789; then to Reading. The second time at
New Haven was July 5, 1789. From there he went to Derby, July
6, 1789.
Sunday, August 16, 1789, he was at Milford and says that "this
is the third time I have preached here." The same day he went to
New Haven; Monday, August 17, 1789, he went to Derby, and
says, "I had a good company of hearers, which is more than I ever
had before at this place." On Friday, March 19, 1790, he rode to
Derby, sent for the bell man and hired him to ring the bell. He
stopped at the tavern. At night he preached, and after meeting rode
home with Captain Baldwin and tarried all night. He preached at
this time, and at former times, in the Town House.
The local history of the Derby Church says "that he first came
to Derby in 1791, and that the society was organized in 1793 by
the Rev. Jesse Lee and his colleague, John Allyn. The facts are
that he preached first in Derby on June 22, 1789, and if the society
was organized by Jesse Lee, it must have been before 1793, for at

ANSONIA, CONNECTICUT. II
the Conference held in New York, June 26, 1791, he was appointed
Presiding Elder of several newly-formed circuits, working mostly
in Massachusetts. And at the Conference of August 1, 1792, at
Lynn, Mass., he was appointed Elder over Lynn, Needham, Boston
and Providence circuits. In 1793 he was appointed to the Province
of Maine, and in 1794 to the Province of New Hampshire. After
that he was stationed in the South, visiting New England at rare
intervals. His successors in the New Haven Circuit were his
brother, John Lee, in 1790, John Allyn and George Roberts in
1791, Richard Swain and Aaron Hunt in 1792, Joshua Taylor and
Daniel Ostrander in 1794.
Among the first fruits of the labors of these preachers in Derby
was the conversion of John and Ruth Coe and Philo Hinman. Each
family offered an infant in baptism at the hands of Jesse Lee. John
and Ruth Coe called their son by the name of John Allyn, and Philo
Hinman gave to his boy the name of Jesse Lee, in grateful remem
brance of the instrumentality employed in their conversion to God.
Early in the ministry of Jesse Lee in Derby, John Coe listened
to his preaching, talked with him, and invited him to his home.
The invitation was accepted, and Jesse Lee visited John Coe and
preached in his house.
In the year 1800, a zealous itinerant visited Derby Neck and
preached in the house of Mrs. Pope. Two weeks after this, by invi
tation, he came again, and on that day commenced the "Methodist
Meetings" in the old red school-house at Derby Neck, that old
building sacred to the memory of many Methodists. It is not many
years since the last school-house on that spot was removed. It has
been the privilege of the writer to know and talk with some of the
men and women who attended services in that old red building.
In 1789 Derby was part of Stamford Circuit; in 1790 it was in
the New Haven Circuit; in 1791 in Middlefield Circuit, and from
1792 to 1813 inclusive, in the Middletown Circuit; from 1813 to
1827 inclusive, in the Stratford Circuit; in 1828 in Hamden and
Humphrey sville Circuit; in 1829-30-31 in Derby Circuit; in 1832-33
in Derby and Woodbury Circuit; from 1834 to 1839 inclusive, in
Derby Circuit; in 1840 in Birmingham charge; in 1841-42-43 in
Birmingham and Milford charge; in 1844-45-46-47 in Birmingham;
in 1848 Birmingham and Ansonia ; in 1849-1850 Birmingham.
The above record of circuits refers to the Church in the present
city of Derby. From this time the Ansonia Church commences its

12 METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH,
record. In 1851 Ansonia was a part of the Humphreysville and
Ansonia charge. From 1852 to the present time Ansonia has been
a separate charge.
About the year 1830, several families belonging to the society
residing at "the Narrows," among whom Brother I. J. Gilbert and
his family had just located, it was decided to hold Sabbath services
in that neighborhood, and accordingly the old Masonic Hall, nearly
opposite Brother Gilbert's residence, was hired for the purpose ;
and the long held Sabbath services of Derby Neck were soon dis
continued, for the more central and better accommodation at the
Narrows. In 1834 Mr. Sheldon Smith, of New York, offered to the Metho
dist Society of Derby a building lot for a church, the stone required
for its foundation and basement walls, and two hundred dollars
in cash, towards the erection of the building. On the 26th of
March, 1834, a subscription was opened which met with gratifying
success. In June, 1835, a legal meeting of the Society was called,
at which a board of trustees was created, according to the Form of
Discipline ; the following names making up the Board : Sheldon
Smith, David Durand, Stephen Booth, Samuel Durand, Albert
Hotchkiss, John E. Brush and I. J. Gilbert. The church was com
pleted in August, 1837, and was dedicated August 17, 1837, by Rev.
Professor Holdich, of the Wesleyan University, Middletown.

METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH
OF ANSONIA, CONNECTICUT

The first official recognition of the Methodist Episcopal Society
of Ansonia is found in the Minutes of the Annual Conference held
in 1848. In the list of appointments made at that time, there
appears the appointment of Rev. William Gothard for "Birming
ham and Ansonia." In 1849 and ^5° Ansonia is not mentioned in
the conference minutes, but in 185 1 David Osborn was appointed for
Humphreysville and Ansonia (Humphreysville being the present
town of Seymour). It is said that the first prayer meeting in
Ansonia was held at the home of James Booth. As Ansonia grew,
the Methodists living here held meetings, at first, in private houses,
principally at the homes of James Booth, Eliphla Hotchkiss and
Abraham Hubbell ; then in the hall of the old shoe shop on the
corner of Green and Main streets (west side of Main street). This
shoe shop was afterwards moved further north on Main street and
is now owned by the estate of Lockwood Hotchkiss and occupied
as a hardware store, hall, etc. Meetings were held in the hall of
the old tin shop, corner of Colburn and Main streets (east side
of Main street), known as "Cramer Hall." This building was
afterwards moved and became part of the store of T. P. Terry, and
is now occupied by Mr. Armstrong on the east side of Main street.
In 1848 Doctor Colburn erected a building on the north corner of
Main and Water streets ; the first floor being used as a store, the
second floor as a hall. The Methodist Society of Derby (Birming
ham) hired this hall and fitted it with furniture for use of the
Ansonia Methodists. After a little while they found the burden
too great. In the winter of 1848-49 the Congregational Society
hired the hall, soon after purchased the furniture and occupied it
until they built their church on the hill. The Ansonia Methodists
hired the hall of the Congregational Society whenever they held
service. There were meetings and classes of Methodists in Ansonia prior
to 1848; then as Ansonia grew, there were services in the halls as
stated. There is no record of the work of Rev. William Gothard in

14 METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH,
Ansonia, although he was appointed to this charge in 1848. The
older residents of this village were members of the Derby (Birming
ham) church and retained their membership there until the fall
and winter of 1850-51. The actual record of work begins with the
pastorate of Rev. David Osborn in 1851, the year the first church
property was purchased and the first church building erected.
That there was a society in Ansonia as early as 1848 appears from
the appointment by the Conference of 1848 of the Rev. William
Gothard, and the Birmingham records of quarterly conference meet
ings show that the last gathering of the Ansonia members of said
conference with them was on January 8, 1848.
At the third quarterly conference of the Birmingham station
(Derby Society), held December 24, 1850 —
Present — Rev. J. M. Reid, Pastor ; A. Tomlinson, Leader ; I. J.
Gilbert, E. D. Beebe, W. C. Bristol, S. N. Summers, and W. L.
Boardman, Stewards; the subject was called up of building a new
church in Ansonia. After which a motion being made, a committee
of three was appointed to take measures for building a church in
Ansonia. The following brothers were appointed : Rev. J. M. Reid, M. P.
Wilson and Brewster ; the latter name is probably meant for J.
B. Brewer. There is no record of any report or any further action
in this matter by this committee or on the Birmingham records.
Rev. J. M. Reid had preached many times for the Ansonia people,
and was largely instrumental in organizing the Ansonia society.
The Ansonia Methodist Society was organized with a board of
trustees in the beginning of the year 185 1, in the month of January,
as nearly as can be ascertained.
On the second day of May, A.D. 1851, there was conveyed by
Albert Hotchkiss to Albert Hotchkiss, Abraham Hubbell, Isaac
Blackman, Mungo P. Wilson, J. B. Brewer, Trustees of the M. E.
Society of Derby, in the village of Ansonia, a lot of land fifty feet
wide on Main street, one hundred feet long on Bartlett street (now
known as Bridge street), bounded as follows: Commencing on the
N. W. corner of Main and Bartlett streets, thence running N. fifty
feet on the west side of Main street ; thence west one hundred feet ;
thence south fifty feet to Bartlett street ; thence east one hundred
feet on the north side of Bartlett street to the place of beginning.
Bounded north and west by land of Anson G. Phelps, east by Main
street, and south by Bartlett street.

ALBERT HOTCHKISS.

ANSONIA, CONNECTICUT. I 7
The names of the first Board of Trustees of the Methodist Church
in Ansonia were : Albert tlotchkiss, Abraham Hubbell, Isaac Black-
man, Mungo P. Wilson and J. B. Brewer.
Albert Hotchkiss, the real pioneer of Methodism in Ansonia, had
been a member of the Derby Church for many years. In 1835,
when the subscription was taken for the first house of worship in
Derby, he subscribed fifty dollars ; and he became one of the first
Board of Trustees of that society. From that date until 1851, he
continued as a trustee of said Derby Church, and from 185 1 until
his death in 1864 he was a Trustee and Steward of the Ansonia
Society. He was the father of Lockwood Hotchkiss.
On said lot, purchased May 2, 185 1, there was erected a build
ing, with two stores on the. first floor, and a hall on the second
floor. This hall was the first house of worship built and owned
by the Ansonia Society, and was occupied as a place of worship
until the year 1866, when the present church was used.
This first building was completed and dedicated in September,
1 85 1, with a debt on it of $2,000. The dedication sermon was
preached in the afternoon by Rev. J. B. Wakeley, a former pastor
of the Derby Church. There was present at the dedication the
Rev. A. V. R. Abbott, now living in Stratford, Conn., who remem
bers the occasion, and from whom much valuable information has
been obtained.
The following is a list of the original members and probationers
in the winter and spring of 1851 :
Class No. 1. Upper Ansonia.
Nathaniel Light, Leader. James Booth, Member.
Mungo P. Wilson, Member. Sarah Booth,

Ann Wilson,
John James.,
Mary James,
John M. Redshaw,
Sarah Redshaw,

Jane Wood,
Ellen Wood,
Hannah Bottomly,
Abraham Hubbell,
Hannah Hubbell,

Class No. 2. Lower Ansonia.
J. B. Brewer, Leader. Ann Hawley, Member.
Isaac Blackman, Member. Mary Console,
Betsey Blackman, " Nathan Bristol,
Albert Hotchkiss, " Lucinda J. Freese,
Sally M. Hotchkiss, " Ira Phelps,
Nancy Hotchkiss, " Lucy Scoville,
Amelia Wells, " Chloe Seymour,
O. Warner, " Ellen Bentley,
Cynthia Warner, " David A. Parmalee,
Mary A. Warner, " Mary A. Parmalee,

15 METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH,
Probationers belonging to Class No. i. Upper Ansonia.
Betsey Wood, April i, 1851.
Thomas M. Redshaw, "
Sarah Smith, "
Probationers belonging to Class No. 2. Lower Ansonia.
Benjamin Wells, Feb. 5, 1851, bapt. and rec'd as full member, Sept. 21, 1851.
Sarah Jane Hotchkiss, "
William S. Sperry,
Louisa M. Sperry,
Richard Moore, "
W. W. Carter,
H. C. Manee, "
Mary Platt, March 5, 1851, bapt. and received as full member, Sept. 21, 1851.
Bishop Smith, "
Benjamin Freese, April 1, 1851.
Teacy Barnes, "
John R. Light, "
W. Kelly,
Mary A. Pothecary, "
Mary A. Stephenson, May 24, 1851.
Susanna L. Stephenson, "
Making the number of persons full members in the spring of 1851
thirty-four, and the number of persons probationers in the spring
of 1851 nineteen.
From the spring of 1851 to the dedication of the church in Sep
tember, 1 85 1, there was admitted by certificate the following persons :
Andrew J. Gillett, July 17, 1851.
Mary Meeker, July 14, 185 1.
Annas M. Bunnell, July 18, 1851.
Eunice Donnelly, from First Church, Williamsburg.-
Ellen Gorse, from Glenham, September 14, 1851.
Joel F. Bowers, from Sheffield, July 8, 1851.
Mary Jane Kimberly, from Goshen, September 22, 1851.
Ann Smith, September 21, 1851.
So that at the time of dedication in September, 1851, the mem
bership of the church, including probationers, was sixty-one.
The music in this first church was conducted by Benjamin Freese
and his wife, Lucinda J. Freese, assisted by William Wallace and
wife, Burwell A. Bradley and wife, John Weedon and wife, and
some others. Benjamin Wells played the melodeon.
Thus Methodism became established in Ans6nia. Its growth has
been coordinate with the growth of the place. Fifty-eight years

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ANSONIA, CONNECTICUT. 21
ago there were few houses, few people and no churches here. A
suburb of Derby, it has since developed into a city of nearly double
the population of Derby, and has made a wonderful growth in
material wealth.
At the spring Conference of 1851, Rev. David Osborn was
appointed preacher in charge of the Seymour and Ansonia stations.
He wrote, "The Lord poured his spirit upon us and the first
winter about seventy persons professed conversion and were added
to the church, many of them young men. While this blessed and
powerful work was progressing a revival commenced at Ansonia,
and we held extra meetings at both churches at the same time
for several weeks. I was then taken sick with lung fever, the
longest sickness of my life. I was out of the pulpit ten consecu
tive Sabbaths, but Brother Smith and brethren kept the services
moving in good order and I was informed each day of the progress
of the Lord's work in Ansonia. At the close of the first confer
ence year, Ansonia desired a pastor to live among them and was
set off. During my pastorate I preached at Ansonia every other
Sabbath." Rev. David Osborn preached one Sabbath in two, Rev. Sylvester
Smith one Sabbath in four, and Brother Joseph Smith, who was
then living in Waterbury, preached one-fourth of the time. There
was present at the dedication of the church the Rev. A. V. R.
Abbott, now living in Stratford, Conn. During the revival in
January, 1852, and during the sickness of Rev. David Osborn, the
Rev. A. V. R. Abbott (who was then pastor at Beacon Falls and
Bethany), conducted the services, preaching eight or nine times, and
reports a blessed revival.
Starting in the spring of 1851, with a membership of thirty-four,
and nineteen probationers, the Church gradually grew until, in 1866,
at the dedication of the present church, the membership was one
hundred and two members and twelve probationers. From that
time to the present, the spring of 1903, there has been a constant
and steady growth. There are now three hundred and eighty-four
members and nineteen probationers.
The first church, corner of Main and Bridge streets, started in
1851 with a debt of $2,000 on it. Under date of June 30, 1857,
under the pastorate of Rev. J. J. Woolley, this entire indebtedness
was paid. On July 1, 1865, the old church property was sold to
Deacon Edwin Ells for $3,500.

22 METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH,
The old Bible used in 'the church is now in the possession of
Joseph N. Booth, son of James and Sarah Booth, and is used as a
family Bible.
The lot on which the present church stands was purchased by
four different deeds, and by two conveyances, given by the Church,
a portion of the lot was sold to The Farrel Foundry and Machine
Co. The first deed was from Lewis and Willis Hotchkiss, Decem
ber i, 1863, for 60 feet frontage. The second deed was from
James Stokes in trust for Ansonia Brass and Battery Co., December
24, 1863, for 20 feet front. The third deed was from the Farrel
Foundry and Machine Co., December 26, 1863, for 12 feet front.
The fourth deed was from James Stokes, April 24, 1867, for 12
feet front. April 30, 1867, the Church sold to The Farrel Foundry
and Machine Co. a triangular strip on the north side 12 feet front
age; and on July 22, 1870, it sold to said Farrel Foundry and
Machine Co. an additional strip on the north side, 25 feet wide on
the rear, and 18 feet wide on the front.
The corner-stone of the new church was laid in 1865, and a
portion, the basement, of the building completed so that it was
used for worship the second Sunday after Conference, April 22,
1866. The total cost of the new church property was $21,191.64.
Under date of October 1, 1869, there was a bonded indebtedness
upon it of $7,000. The entire debt upon this church property
was fully paid in 1891, under the pastorate of Rev. C. B. Pitblado.
This does not mean that this entire sum of $7,000 was raised and
paid at said time, for during all the years from the beginning, to
said year of 1891, heroic efforts were made to pay it, and many pay
ments on account were made. Great credit and praise is due the
Rev. Lindsay Parker for his work and success in this line, for
during his ministry here, he raised $3,500 for account of the church
debt. The church was dedicated October 10, 1866. The Rev. Charles
Fletcher preached in the morning ; text, St. Mark ix, 28 : "Why
could not we cast him out?" In the evening Rev. A. S. Hunt, D.D.,
preached from 1 John ii, 12-14. The pastor of the church was the
Rev. W. H. Wardell.
From the spring Conference of 1852 to the spring Conference of
1868 the quarterly conferences of the Birmingham and Ansonia
stations were held jointly together, alternating between both places.
While each station had its own pastor, the two stations were con-

J < < 0

MAP OF M. E. CHURCH PROPERTY AS RECORDED IN LAND RECORDS, ANSONIA, CONN., 1902
SCALE 1" = 30'

METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH, ANSONIA, CONN.

ANSONIA, CONNECTICUT. 25
solidated so far as related to sessions of the Quarterly Conference,
and all records of such meetings are in possession of the Derby
Society. The fourth quarterly conference held at Ansonia, March
23, 1868, of the Birmingham and Ansonia stations was the last
joint conference of said stations held. From this time on, each
church held its own quarterly conferences separately.
"The first joint Conference of said stations was held in the base
ment of the M. E. Church in Birmingham, July 29, 1852. Present —
Rev. W. H. Norris, Presiding Elder, in the chair ; Rev. Thomas
G. Osborn, preacher in charge for Birmingham ; Rev. John L. Peck,
preacher in charge for Ansonia ; S. N. Summers, I. J. Gilbert, E.
D. Beebe, G. W. Cheesman and W. L. Boardman of Birmingham;
George W. Coe, M. P. Wilson, Isaac Blackman, Albert Hotchkiss
and Brother Henry Goodwin of Ansonia. On motion of Brother
Peck, Abraham Hubbell and George Coe were appointed Stewards
for Ansonia Station.
On motion Brother Goodwin's license to preach was laid on the
table till next meeting. The committee for Ansonia reported the
amount of their preacher's salary $350.
Missionary committee for ensuing year : for Birmingham, Geo.
W. Cheesman, W. L. Boardman, B. B. Hill ; for Ansonia, George
Coe, A. Hotchkiss and Isaac Blackman.
Sunday School in Ansonia, sixty-three scholars, eleven classes.
W. L. Boardman, Secretary."
Of the members of this first quarterly Conference, all have passed
away save one. Mr. E. D. Beebe is still living at Derby, Conn.
He has reached a ripe age, and still worships in the Derby church,
giving blessed testimony of the wonderful love and power of the
Master. A blessed, good man.
Not one of the original members of the Ansonia Methodist
Church is now a member of said Church. Mrs. Sarah Redshaw,
widow of John M. Redshaw, an original member, is still living in
Ansonia, but is now a member of the Congregational Church.
Benjamin Wells and his wife, Sarah Jane Wells, are living in East
Hartford, Conn., and are members of the Congregational Church.
At the time of the semi-centennial celebration in 1891, Mrs. Lucinda
J. Freeze, one of the original members, was alive, and a member
of this Church, although under date of October 18, 1861, she with
drew by letter, and in 1885 returned with certificate and remained
3

26 METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH,
a member until her death in 1902. So far as known, all the others
of the original number have passed away.
The oldest person, in membership years, now living in Ansonia
is Mrs. Anna M. James. She entered this Church on probation,
April 4, 1854, and united with the Church in full membership
October 15, 1855, under the pastorate of Rev. John Pegg, Jr. She
removed to Birmingham Church for a few years, and in April, 1868,
returned to Ansonia, and is now a member of the Ansonia Church.
The next oldest member is Miss Fanny L. Johnson, daughter of
Cyrus Johnson, who was received on probation May 12, 1857, and
into full membership November 22, 1857, by Rev. J. J. Woolley,
pastor. She has retained her membership from that date to the
present time, and she holds the longest continuous record of mem
bership of any one in the Church. The third oldest member is Mrs.
Julia M. (Wilkinson) Brown, wife of Horatio M. Brown. She
was received on probation September 23, 1861, by Rev. William
Howard, and into full membership April 5, 1863, by Rev. A. B.
Pulling. Joel Wilkinson, the father of Mrs. H. M. Brown, appears
on the records as a probationer in the spring of 1851, but the records
do not show that he became a member of the Church, although he
was identified with it for many years. He attended class for many
years and entered into the work of the Church as if he was a full
member. He was a Baptist by profession. There being no Baptist
church, he really became a Methodist.
It will not be out of place to mention a few who have been with
us many years, and have been active in service. Mrs. Margaret
Mills, received on probation in 1861 and into full membership
December 7, 1862 ; Mrs. Mary A. James, received by letter Decem
ber 7, 1862; William T. Mercer in 1864; July 19, 1869, James
Allingham, William Allingham, Horatio M. Brown, William Bal
four and Charles D. Evans were received. Charlotte D. Clark was
baptized December 22, 1857, and admitted on probation but did not
unite in full membership. She is still living and interested in the
Church, many of her family being members and active in the work.
George W. Livingston and Martha E. Livingston, his wife, united
in full membership August 27, 1870. Emma Dent (Mrs. Charles
D. Evans) appears on the record of members admitted in 1867. We
treasure in memory Charles N. Blanchard and his good wife, Har
riett A. Blanchard, who came to us in 1876 and were so actively
associated with the Church work, both of them good old-fashioned

MRS. ANNA M. JAMES.

,

ANSONIA, CONNECTICUT. 29
Methodists. They are now connected with the Congregational
Church, but we must be allowed to keep them in a bright place in
our memory. They withdrew from us in 1887.
"On the 7th of April, 1887, at about five o'clock in the afternoon,
the church edifice was found to be on fire and the well directed
and most earnest efforts of the fire department could not prevent the
destruction of the roof and rear of the church and the very serious
damage of other portions. The insurance commissioners made an
award of $4,151."
By the kindness of the Baptist Church, in furnishing us with
accommodations in their church, we were enabled to continue our
services, and we were placed under great obligations to them. The
following is a statement made at that time.
"a statement"
"To the Members and Friends of the Methodist Episcopal Church,
Ansonia, Ct.:
On April 7th last, as you are aware, our church building was
partially destroyed by fire. We had just closed a Conference year
of unusual prosperity, and our hopes were bright for the future ;
but the fire interrupted our plans, broke up our order of service, and
deranged all our working system.
The generous hospitality of a sister denomination greatly cheered
us, and furnished accommodations for our meetings ; but our finan
cial receipts were at once largely reduced. The church depends
mainly upon pew rentals to defray expenses, and as the fire caught
us when only a portion of the sittings — less than two-thirds — had
been disposed of, we find ourselves at this time under somewhat
heavy arrearage.
The building committee which was appointed by the officiary of
the church soon after the fire entered immediately upon their duties.
They made careful contracts with responsible parties for rebuilding
and decorating the church ; handled the insurance money with most
scrupulous economy consistent with thorough workmanship, and
under their supervision, given at a good deal of personal sacrifice,
the church is restored in much more than its former beauty and
value. The congregation, we think, cannot fail to be gratified with
the result, and especially so when they consider that no other repairs
are likely to be demanded for many years to come.

30 " METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH,
The amount necessary to meet the deficiency in current expenses,
added to the expenditures upon the church in excess of the insurance
award, is about one thousand dollars ; and it is proposed to raise
this sum at the re-opening on August 28th.
Bishop Andrews will be with us, as also Presiding Elder Wardell,
Rev. C. S. Wing, and perhaps other former pastors of the church.
We anticipate a feast of good things — a season that will mark an
era in the history of the church that none of us will ever forget.
The sum we have named as essential to put us in a healthy
financial condition seems large, but we can lift it, and by God's
help we will. We are none of us wealthy, but we are united, and
we love the Church of God. Let us join hands heartily, and let
us all give something. The other members of the church and
congregation will, of course, respond, but our success will depend
in no small degree upon the young men and women, and even
upon the children. We are largely a church of young people.
Let us all give liberally, religiously, and the work will be
done. Take the question of "how much" to your closets, dear
friends ; seek to know your personal duty and then respond as in
the sight of God. "Attempt great things for God ; expect great
things from God."
The Pastor and Members of the Official
Board of the Ansonia Metpiodist
Episcopal Church."
Ansonia, August, 1887,

•4&S

rsx-sst,-

"HARVEST FESTIVAL," 1887. REV. SAMUEL M. HAMMOND, PASTOR.

ORDER OF EXERCISES
AT THE
RE-OPENING OF THE
METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH
ANSONIA, CONN.
SUNDAY, AUGUST 28, 1887
Sermon, 10.45 A- M-
IIY
Rev. Bishop Edward G. Andrews, D.D., of Washington, D. C.
Sermon, 3.00 p. m.
IIY
Rev. Charles S. Wing (former pastor ), of Mount Vernon, N. Y.
Sermon, 7.00 p. m.
hy
Presiding Elder William H. Wardell (former pastor )
The public are cordially invited to all the services
S. M. Hammond, Pastor

34 METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH,
The parsonage property was purchased May I, 1889, for $5,500.
It was mortgaged for $4,500. The debt was fully paid June 23,
1900, the mortgage cancelled and the note burned at a special ser
vice held in the church under the auspices of the Twentieth Century
League. Thus ended all indebtedness on all of the church property.
The parsonage lot is situated on the corner of Cottage avenue and
West street. The size of the lot is one hundred feet on Cottage
by one hundred and thirty-five on West street.
Under date of May 14, 1883, the Board of Trustees authorized
the removal of the seats in the southeast corner of the church, and
the preparation of that place for the choir. The choir occupied that
place until 1899, when the new organ was put into the church and
the place for the pulpit and choir was changed to its present location.
Under date of February 24, 1885, at a meeting of the Official
Board, a communication was read from the Hon. Charles H. Pine,
in which he said, "that he proposed providing in his will a bequest
to the Methodist Church in memory of his grandmother, Mrs.
Wooster, but upon mature thought had decided to be his own
executor, and would like at this time to donate a suitable bell with
the appurtenances thereto, and place the same in one of the towers
of the church. "Voted, to accept this offer of Mr. Pine, and to
express to him the appreciation of the Board of Trustees and of
the Church, for his liberal donation, and his kind remembrance of
the Church."
Inscription on the bell :
"IN MEMORIAM"
"AVIS BURR WOOSTER CORDELIA WOOSTER DOWNS
BORN MAY 26, 1796 BORN DECEMBER 21, 1824
DIED SEPTEMBER 17, 1881. DIED AUGUST 17, 1868."
"Presented to the Methodist Episcopal Church; Ansonia; Conn.
By Charles H, Pine. February 22, 1885."
"LET HIM THAT HEARETH SAY COME."

A resolution, expressing the appreciation of the Church for this
generous gift of Mr. Pine, was beautifully engrossed by Mr. Ernest
Clemens, and presented to Mr. Pine, as follows:

M. E. CHURCH PARSONAGE.

ANSONIA, CONNECTICUT. 37
''To Hon. Charles H. Pine.
Dear Sir : — The Officiary membership and Congregation of the Methodist
Episcopal Church of Ansonia, Conn, by a unanimous vote hereby tender you
our hearty thanks for your generous gift of an excellent bell for our church
edifice — and it shall be our fervent prayer that our Heavenly Father will
amply reward your kindness and grant that you may live long to hear its
musical calls to Divine Worship and to note that those who hear and heed
its calls, assist in promoting a healthful moral tone and public spirit in the
community that has been favored with your timely gift.

Yours truly

G. W. Livingston
J. B. Perrins
C. D. Evans
F. J. Terrell
F. Burton

¦ Committee."

The passage way from the street to the lecture room was greatly
improved by the laying of a concrete walk its full width, in 1902,
under the auspices of the Epworth League, who furnished the
money for this work. The League is active in good works.
The first wedding in the present church occurred on Christmas
Day, December 25, 1866. J. Minor Blackman and Harriet John
son were married by Rev. W. PI. Wardell, pastor.

38 METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH,

Rev. A. V. R. Abbott Recalls Ansonia of Fifty Years Ago.
[Copied from the Ansonia Sentinel of September 21, 1899.]
"My recent visit to Ansonia and walks about the place, noting its
immense factories, its beautiful residences, its splendid churches, and
other public buildings, with all the evidences of thrift and enterprise
which meet one on every hand, and especially the very large and
intelligent congregation which I had the pleasure of addressing on
Sunday morning at the Methodist Church, awakened memories of
the time when in my youthful days I first visited the place, stopping
over as I was passing through on the cars, to see what it was like.
The first factory, which I understood was being built by Anson G.
Phelps of New York, was in process of construction. To the best
of my recollection there was no church, but few houses, and besides
the large factory but little except hills and sand banks was to be
seen. Ansonia was then unknown to fame. What marvelous
growth since that time! I know of nothing in the Naugatuck
Valley which surpasses it in this respect, unless it be Torrington,
which was one of my early pastoral charges, when it was a small
village and known as Wolcottville.
In 185 1 I began my itinerant ministry at Beacon Falls and
Bethany. David Osborn, who was many years my senior, and a
man of marked ability, as well as great earnestness, was pastor of
Seymour and Ansonia, residing at the former place. The Society
at Ansonia was quite small and owned no place of worship. During
that year their first church or hall was built. It was my privilege
to be present at the dedication. Dr. J. B. Wakeley, a man of note
at that time, preached the sermon. I remember attending, the same
year, the dedication of the first Methodist church in Naugatuck,
and hearing two sermons by Dr. John Kennedy, who, because of his
elegant style and the silvery flow of his eloquence, was called the
'silver-tongued' preacher.
I often visited Brother Osborn at Seymour and helped him in
revival meetings, and as he was taken sick just as he was about
to commence a series of such meetings at Ansonia, he suggested
me to take charge of them, saying he should feel that the work
was safe in my hands. I have often wondered at the confidence he

REV. A. V. R. ABBOTT.

ANSONIA, CONNECTICUT. 41
showed in one who was a mere boy and had been licensed to preach
but a few months. I conducted the meetings alone for seven or
eight nights, and the altar was crowded almost from the first, and
many professed to be converted. I wonder what became of all
those converts ! Brother Osborn was a faithful pastor, and I doubt
not gathered most of them into the Church. Some have died, and
many moved to other places, and whether any remain at present, I
do not know. I moved the next year to Long Island, and during
the intervening years have seldom visited Ansonia. It gave me
a thrill of pleasure and thankfulness, as I stood last Sabbath before
that large congregation of earnest workers and worshippers, to think
that possibly the' great growth and prosperity of the Church in
these later years was in some small measure the fruit of my humble
labors nearly half a century ago. It is one of the blessed consola
tions God gives us as we are growing old, to be permitted to meet,
as we often do, the good results of our labors of former years. It
was a special pleasure to see in the congregation, as an official mem
ber of the Church, one whose parents were highly esteemed members
of my charge in Stratford more than twenty years ago. I refer to
the gentleman who is at present the worthy Mayor of Ansonia. I
learned that the Ansonia Church thinks highly of its pastor. It has
reason to do so, and that is one cause of its prosperity. Churches
that heartily appreciate and sustain their pastors usually prosper,
and such churches are likely to be well served. May it ever be thus
with the Church in Ansonia.
A. V. R. Abbott."

42 METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH,

REV. DAVID OSBORN.
First Pastor.
At the Conference year of 1851 he was appointed pastor of the
Seymour and Ansonia stations, residing in Seymour, and served
the Ansonia Church until the Conference of 1852.
He was the only child of Noah and Rebecca Osborn; was born
at Hull's Farms, Fairfield County, Conn., February n, 1814. Mar
ried Miss Amanda Whitehead at Greens Farms, May 26, 1836.
After 1875 he made Stepney, Conn., his permanent home. In
1883, after forty-eight years of unbroken itinerant service, he took
a superannuated relation. In January, 1893, he was taken ill and
died May 3, 1893, aged seventy-nine years.
At a camp meeting held at Compo, Conn., when between eleven
and twelve years of age, he obtained the clear witness of the Spirit
that he was born of God. This was in 1825. His last words were,
"Part of the host has crossed the flood, and part are crossing now."
So he fell asleep May 3, 1893.

REV. DAVID OSBORN.

REV. JOHN L. PECK.

ANSONIA, CONNECTICUT. 47

REV. JOHN L. PECK.
Second Pastor, but the First Resident Pastor.
Appointed at the Conference of 1852 and served until the Con
ference of 1853.
He was born at Stratford, Conn., November 26, 1828; died at
Nichols, Conn., November 29, 1898. He was the son of Levi and
Naomi Peck. In September, 1851, he was licensed as a local
preacher, and in the spring of 1852, admitted on trial in the New
York East Conference. His first appointment was to Ansonia,
Conn. He was a quiet, plain, God-fearing man, seeking to follow
in the footsteps of his Master, and men honored and loved him.
The writer knew him for many years and bears witness "that the
cheerfulness and brightness of his spirit were so constant and
genuine that he bound his friends to him as with cords of steel."

48 METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH,

REV. EBEN SMITH HEBBARD.
Third Pastor.
Appointed at the Conference of 1853. Served until Conference
of 1854.
He was born in Bowery Village, New York, August 7, 1813,
and died in Brooklyn, N. Y., July 16, 1896. He was the son of
Southwick and Catherine Hebbard. He was converted in 1830.
Received his first appointment to preach May 23, 1837. Thus began
an unbroken ministry of forty-four years. It was under his minis
try that the oldest living member of our Church was admitted as
a probationer, April 4, 1854. During his ministry, there were six
subscribers for the Christian Advocate and Journal, and one sub
scriber for the Quarterly Reviezv.
His sense of the ridiculous, his fondness for a joke, and his inher
ent wit, were it not for the superabounding grace of God, would
often have brought him into trouble, but sanctified by God, they
frequently proved a source of strength.
In the earlier years of his ministry his labors were blessed by
remarkable revivals. In every appointment during his early min
istry (so testifies one of his early colleagues) large numbers were
brought to a saving knowledge of the truth.

REV. EBEN SMITH HEBBARD.

REV. JOHN PEGG, JR.

ANSONIA, CONNECTICUT. S3

REV. JOHN PEGG, JR.
Fourth Pastor.
Appointed at the Conference of 1854, and served until the Con
ference of 1856.
He was born in Coventry, England, March 10, 1827. He died
at New Rochelle, N. Y., June 18, 1894, and was buried in Derby,
Conn. His father was the Rev. John Pegg, a Wesleyan preacher
in England. On coming to this country, his father joined the Troy
Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church. His mother died
soon after they settled in their new home.
John Pegg, Jr., was four years old when he came to this country.
Converted in his youth, he often spoke with grateful emphasis of
the clearness and joy of that great and glad crisis in his young life,
frequently adding that he could remember no time thereafter when
he did not fully expect to preach.
On May 2, 1855, while stationed at Ansonia, he was married to
Miss Grace Gilbert, daughter of Isaac J. Gilbert of Derby, Conn.
The writer knew him and his wife for many years. A beautiful,
sweet, lovable, Christian home. His last words were "Victory!
Victory!" "I see the end, I see the end!" "O Lamb of God, I
come, I come !"

54 METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH,

REV. J. J. WOOLLEY.
Fifth Pastor.
Appointed at the Conference of 1856, and served until Confer
ence of 1858.
From Ansonia he went to Ridgefield, Conn., then to South Nor-
walk. While there he became chaplain of the Eighth Connecticut
Volunteers in 1861.
In 1863 he withdrew from the Methodist Church and entered
the Congregational Church, preaching in Meriden, Conn. In 1871
he went to Pawtucket, R. I., and is now pastor of the Park Place
Congregational Church in Pawtucket.
Many people in Ansonia remember him, as pastor here in his
early ministry. The picture of him as he was when here, and as
he is now, show a great change. A member of the Church, now
living here, who was converted and joined the Church under his
ministry, says that he was a most successful preacher, filling the
church, and drawing many hearers from other churches.
Under date of June 30, 1857, during his ministry here, the entire
debt of the church, $2,000, was fully paid and cancelled.

REV. J. J. WOOLLEY, 1857.

REV. J. J. WOOLLEY, 1003-

ANSONIA, CONNECTICUT. 59

Faith of our fathers ! living still
In spite of dungeon, fire, and sword:
O how our hearts beat high with joy
Whene'er we hear that glorious word:
Faith of our fathers ! holy faith !
We will be true to thee till death !
Our fathers, chained in prisons dark,
Were still in heart and conscience free:
How sweet would be their children's fate,
If they, like them, could die for thee!
Faith of our fathers ! holy faith !
We will be true to thee till death !
Faith of our fathers ! we will love
Both friend and foe in all our strife :
And preach thee, too, as love knows how,
By kindly words and virtuous life :
Faith of our fathers ! holy faith !
We will be true to thee till death !
Frederick W. Faber.

6o

METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH,

O thou that hearest prayer,
Attend our humble cry,
And let thy servants share
Thy blessings from on high
We plead the promise of thy word :
Grant us thy Holy Spirit, Lord.
If earthly parents hear
Their children when they cry ;
If they, with love sincere,
Their children's wants supply ;
Much more wilt thou thy love display,
And answer when thy children pray.
Our heavenly Father, thou,
We children of thy grace ;
O let thy Spirit now
Descend and fill the place ;
That all may feel the heavenly flame,
And all unite to praise thy name.
John Burton.

REV. WILLIAM PORTEUS, D.D.

ANSONIA, CONNECTICUT. 63

REV. WILLIAM PORTEUS.
Sixth Pastor.
Appointed at the Conference of 1858. Fie came to Ansonia, was
present at the first Quarterly Conference July 6, 1858. He then
withdrew from the Methodist Church.
After a long search I learned that in 1889 Dr. Porteus, a Pres
byterian minister, a former member of the New York East Confer
ence, went with a party to Jerusalem. On searching the Presby
terian Register I found that he was pastor of a Presbyterian Church
in St. Louis, Mo., in 1889 and until 1894. In 1895 an Evangelist
in St. Louis. In 1897 his name appeared on the Register, but
without address. He died about four years ago. Mrs. Porteus is
now living in Ithaca, N. Y., and she kindly sent me his picture.
After his withdrawal from the Ansonia Church, Captain Tracy,
a sea captain, who preached on shipboard in New York harbor, came
to Ansonia and supplied the pulpit for the balance of the Conference
year.

64 METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH,

REV. WILLIAM SILVERTHORNE.
Seventh Pastor.
Appointed at the Conference of 1859, and served until Conference
of i860. He was transferred to the New England Conference in
1866, and is now living at Gardner, Mass.
A letter received from him, dated February 5, 1902, says : "The
most blessed things to be recorded concerning the Ansonia M. E.
Church in 1859-60 are, that the Holy Spirit at times was powerfully
manifested in sinners seeking Christ for pardon, and Christians
praying for full salvation in Christ. Most of the members of the
Church living at that period here referred to, have passed to the
future world to their reward, but it is pleasant to see and know
that the Church is still prosperous and growing."
A postal received from him January 14, 1903, says : "I pray
the Lord's blessing on you, your work, and your church and com
munity."

REV. WILLIAM SILVERTHORNE.

REV. WILLIAM HOWARD.

ANSONIA, CONNECTICUT. 69

REV. WILLIAM HOWARD.
Eighth Pastor.
Appointed at the Conference of i860, and served until the Con
ference of 1862.
From 1862 to 1863 ne was m Meriden, in supernumerary rela
tion. In 1863 he went to Middlefield for one year.
In 1864 he withdrew from the Methodist Church, and entered
the Congregational denomination. In October, 1864, he went to
North Guilford as a Congregational minister and was there eleven
years. He is now residing in Hartford, Conn.
He was born in Folkestone, England, September 1, 1832. Came
to this country in the spring of 1852. Married Annie Howard,
March 19, 1854. One son living, John, born in Ansonia, Decem
ber 31, i860.
He writes under date of February 11, 1903: "The Church (at
Ansonia) was mostly English and Scotch. Religious interest in the
second year and some "pretty noisy meetings." Health very poor
during this year. Remember two good brothers — Brother Booth
and Brother Bland." He is now quite feeble.

JO METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH,

REV. ALONZO B. PULLING.
Ninth Pastor.
Appointed at the Conference of 1862, and served until the Con
ference of 1864.
He was born at Ridgefield, Conn., November 28, 1818. He
experienced religion in the summer of 1840, was received in the
New York Conference in May, 1845, an(i appointed preacher in
charge of Ponsett and Killingworth Circuit.
At the close of his ministry in 1876, he made East Village, Conn.,
his home, where in calm trust in C°d, and in great peace of soul,
he went slowly down to the crossing of Jordan. He died January
12, 1878. He loved his work — the whole work of the ministry. His
heart was given to the Church.
The lot on which the present church is built was purchased during
the pastorate of Rev. A. B. Pulling in December, 1863.

REV. ALONZO B. PULLING.

REV. CHARLES THOMPSON MALLORY.

ANSONIA, CONNECTICUT. 75

REV. CHARLES THOMPSON MALLORY.
Tenth Pastor.
Appointed at the Conference of 1864 and served until the Con-
ence of 1866.
He was born in Bethel, Sullivan County, New York, and died in
Mount Vernon, N. Y., May 6, 1885, aged 67 years 8 months 28
days. He was buried at Liberty, N. Y., within a few miles of the
place of his birth. He made his home during the last few years of
his life in Liberty, N. Y. Two days before his death, he said, "I am
perfectly resigned to the will of God." Later, and near the end of
his life, he said, "I have a desire to be with Christ in His heavenly
kingdom." He is remembered to-day in Ansonia by many of the members of
the Church, some of whom were converted under his ministry. He
is also remembered by many of the people of Ansonia. He was a
member of George Washington Lodge, F. A. M. Was very fond of
his pipe and of smoking, having a practice of visiting some of the
stores each day, reading the paper for an hour or so and smoking
his pipe. It is said of him that on one occasion when his wife was
away from home he smoked there, and on her return she said,
"Mr. Mallory, Mr. Mallory, how many pipes have you smoked?"
He replied, "Only one, Mrs. Mallory." But he did not tell her
how many times he filled it. It was during his ministry that the
present church building was commenced. The Osborne & Chees
man factory was built that year, and the first use it was put to was
for a fair on the upper floor for the benefit of the new Methodist
church.

76 METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH,
REV. WILLIAM H. WARDELL.
Eleventh Pastor.
Appointed at the Conference of 1866, and served until the Confer
ence of 1868.
Still living and a member of the New York East Conference. He
came to Ansonia when the present church building was in process of
construction, and it was completed and dedicated under his ministry.
A letter from him under date of December 2, 1901, says: "As
to my pastorate in Ansonia, I could write much more fully if I could
get my old pastoral hand books that are stored away at Ocean
Grove, N. J. It was my custom to write up the history of my
pastorates, and I suppose I did it for Ansonia. I was appointed
to that charge in April, 1866. The old church had just been sold
to Deacon Ells, and the basement of the new church was not quite
ready for occupancy, but was opened the second Sunday after con
ference, April 22, 1866. It was hoped that the church could be
completed for $12,000, but the expenses grew startlingly upon us,
until the figures rose to $20,000 or more. We were ready for dedi
cation about October 10, 1866. Rev. Charles Fletcher preached the
morning sermon from St. Mark ix, 28 — "Why could not we cast
him out?" — a sermon of very great power. In the evening, a
very beautiful sermon was preached by Rev. A. S. Hunt, D.D., from
1 John ii, 12-14. An attempt was made to relieve the financial
situation, which showed that we were so many thousand dollars in
debt. The Birmingham brethren gave us generous help. The legisla
ture gave us power to issue bonds to the amount of $7,000, and I
spent much time driving about the country trying to sell them, while
current expenses and a considerable floating debt made our church
relations and official Board meetings, which frequently lasted until
after midnight, anything but enjoyable. Nevertheless, we kept
the sheriff off, we maintained good congregations, we had some
rousing services, and some substantial conversions. But the strain
was very severe and in the spring of 1868 I was relieved and went
to Waterbury, being succeeded by Rev. C. S. Wing, who was very
popular and successful. I have always felt a very deep interest
in Ansonia and trust that the work will be greatly prospered. I
hope that the Sunday School is doing as well as when I last saw
it. Give my warmest regards to Brother and Sister Blakeman and
to the many dear friends of the Church. Most sincerely,
W. H. Wardell."

REV. WILLIAM H. WARDELL.

ANSONIA, CONNECTICUT.

79

The following is a list of the members of the Church in April,
1866, when the basement of the present church building was first
occupied ; also the additional names received into membership from
that date to October 10, 1866, when the present church building was
completed and dedicated:

Esther G. Allen.
Lucinda Allen.
Richard Allen.
Allen M. Baker.
Jeannette Baker.
Sarah A. Baker.
Martha Batchei.or.
Elizabeth Battisby.
Virginia Beach.
J. Minor Blackman.
Emma Bland.
John A. Bland.
Hannah Booth.
James Booth.
Martha Booth,
Mary Booth.
Emma Bradley.
Nathan Bristol.
George Brown.
Fanny M. Buckingham.
Polly Castle.
Hannah Cauley.
Laura M. Clark.
Sarah Coe.
Mary Console.
Edwin R. Cox.
Eliza Cox.
Henry Crooks.
J. S. Culver.
Clarence R. DeForest.
Caroline Drew.
Emma Drew.
Jane E. Duxbury.
Mary J. Fairchild.
John M. French.
Mary E. French.
Fanny L. Greatorex.
Betsey E. Griffiths.
Hattie A. Hotchkiss.
Sally M. Hotchkiss.
Edward Ilez.

Elizabeth Ilez.
Joseph Ineson.
John James.
Mary A. James.
Amelia Johnson.
Charles P. Johnson.
Fanny L. Johnson.
Fanny L. Johnson, Jun.
Harriet M. Johnson.
Mary Johnson.
Mary J. Kimberley.
Sylvia Kimberley,
Mary Light.
Nathaniel Light.
Mary E. Lyon.
Mary A. Mack.
Noyes W. Meara.
Emma G. Mercer.
Louis Mercer.
William T. Mercer.
Caroline Millar.
Lucinda Millar.
Margaret Mills.
Thomas Mills.
Ellen Mitchell.
Ann Moore.
Ellen Moore.
Jesse T. Moore.
Joseph Moore.
Elmer Morse.
Mary A. Mott.
Hannah Ould.
Flora Peterson.
Frances Platt.
John Redshaw.
Sarah Redshaw.
Esther Roberts.
Hannah Russell.
George Scott.
Mary A. Scott.
Nabby Scott.

80 METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH,
John H. Smith. Eliza Upton.
Laura Smith. Benjamin Wells.
Mary A. Smith. George W. Wells.
Sarah Smith. Sarah Wells.
William Smith. Frederick Wheeler.
Angeline Spring. Hannah Wheeler.
Edmund Spring. Julia L. Wilkinson.
Prudence Spring. Ann Wilson, removed May, 1866.
Sarah S. Tiffany. M. P. Wilson, removed May, 1866.
Caroline Truesdale. Sarah Wilson, removed May, 1866.

Names added from April, 1866, to October 20, 1866 :
Laura Curtiss. Lizzie Page.
Ferdinand Griffiths. James Platt.
Isaac Hemingway. Harriet Stephenson.
Mary C. Hemingway. Hattie C. P. Wardell.
Charles E. Page. Juliaette Williamson.
Making the membership in April, 1866, one hundred and two, and
at the dedication of the new church October 20, 1866, one hundred
and nine.
The following is a list of the probationers of the Church in April,
1866, and also the additional names received from April, 1866, to
October 10, 1866:
Isaac L. Blakesley. Ida Morse.
Mary E. Briggs. Reclonda Morse.
Sarah F. Clinton. Fanny Oulds.
Wallace Clinton. James Platt, received into full meni-
Elizabeth Graham. bership prior to October 10, 1866.
Anna Hoyt. Samuel Upton.
Joseph Mills.

Names added from April, 1866, to October 10, 1866:
Addie Blackman. Alice Holmes.
Henrietta Blakesley. Ida Emeline Spencer.
Lewis Buckingham. Sarah I. Wardell.
Nancy I. Dodge. James Bentley Wood.
Phebe A. Hills. Mary A. Upton.
Making the number of probationers in April, 1866, twelve, and
at the dedication of the new church October 10, 1866, twenty-two.

REV. CHARLES S. WING, D.D.

ANSONIA, CONNECTICUT. 83
REV. CHARLES S. WING, D.D.
Twelfth Pastor.
Appointed at the Conference of 1868, and served until the Con
ference of 1871. He is now the Presiding Elder of the Brooklyn
North District, New York East Conference.
A letter from him dated December 3, 1901, says : "I was appointed
to Ansonia in April, 1868, following Dr. Wardell. I remember
being greatly frightened by the size of the church and the great
ness of the work. The church was new and in debt, as I remember
it about $8,000. According to the minutes there were eighty-five
members. There was little financial ability, but great devotion to
the cause. We had preaching morning and afternoon, with Sunday
School at 12 noon, and with prayer meeting Sunday evening. At
first there were only five or six to take part in prayer meetings.
The lecture room was filled, and there was much disturbance by
some young men. We had to appeal finally to the police, and bring
some to trial, but finally won, and in the fall of my first year a
revival broke out, which continued without special meetings for the
most of my term. Every man converted was expected to go to the
altar, and begin work for Christ, and the women were to sit in
front and take some part. Those prayer meetings I recall with
delight. We felt that something was wrong if we did not have a
sinner at the altar. At the end of my term the membership was one
hundred and seventy-eight, and many probationers. I was followed
by Dr. Mains.
I have never ceased to thank God for the blessings He gave me
in Ansonia, and which have helped me in all my ministry since that
time. We tried to do something with the debt, but could not accom
plish much. Mr. L. T. Wooster joined the Church, coming from
Torrington, in my second year, and was a great help to me. I wish
I could give you items of value, but it is long ago and my pastorate
is only a beautiful memory of love and cooperation. Was sorry I
could not be with you at the anniversary. I recall Brothers James,
Light, Smith, Moore, Booth, Bland and others, faithful and heroic
workers, and many saintly women. Brothers Evans, Brown, Peck,
Buckingham, Eddy, Balfour and Livingston, I recall as among those
I received into the Church.

84 METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH,
Since mailing my letter of this date, I have thought of the Sunday
School work as of interest. David Chadeayne was superintendent,
and we had a good growing school. I had a class of young men
from twenty to thirty years in age, perhaps. I began with six and
the class grew until I had fifty. I have now an album which they
presented to me the Christmas of my third year, with nearly all their
photographs in it. I prize it very much. I ought also to mention
Brother Bassett, who lived on Great Hill, and came down to help
the evening service, walking six miles, coming and going, after a
hard day's work, several times a week. Affectionately,
C. S. Wing."
A son of this Brother Bassett, the Rev. Edward D. Bassett, is
now a Methodist minister and pastor of St. Paul's Church, Water-
bury, Conn.
The father and mother of Rev. Charles S. Wing made their
home in Ansonia for many years. His mother was a saintly, Chris
tian woman, lived a devoted life and died in great triumph. Her
sons rise up and call her blessed. His father was a devoted, earnest
Christian worker in the Church for many years. It is not strange
that two of the sons, under such influences, gave their hearts to God,
and entered the work of the ministry.

REV. GEORGE P. MAINS, D.D.

ANSONIA, CONNECTICUT. 87

REV. GEORGE P. MAINS, D.D.
Thirteenth Pastor.
Appointed at the Conference of 1871, and served until the Con
ference of 1873. He is now one of the publishing agents of the
Methodist Book Concern, 150 Fifth avenue, New York.
In a letter from him dated December 10, 1901, he says: "In
response to your favor of the 30th ult., permit me to say that I have
not now at command, my former records being in storage, the means
for giving you any very detailed information with reference to my
pastorate in Ansonia. I was there for two years, my pastoral term
beginning in the spring of 1871. This was my second appointment
from the Conference, my first being at Hamden Plains. My general
recollection of my relations with the Ansonia Church is very pleas
ant. The charge was somewhat embarrassed by debt at the time
of my incumbency there, but we raised our current expenses, as I
remember, without special effort. The years have gone rapidly, and
as I review the ground, I discover that a large number of those to
whom I ministered in this pastorate have already passed over to
the other life. I regret I was unable to be present on the anniver
sary recently held. I often feel in these days that I should like to
stand once again at least in each of the pulpits of my earlier ministry,
but my present life is so occupied with responsibilities that I am
not always able to indulge myself in the gratification of such wishes.
Begging you to remember me most affectionately to the surviving
members of my former congregation, and regretting that I am
unable to give you such information as you may possibly desire,
I remain, Very sincerely yours,
George P. Mains."

METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH,

REV. SAMUEL H. SMITH.
Fourteenth Pastor.
Appointed at the Conference of 1873, and served until the Confer
ence of 1875. Now superannuated and living at Lenox road, Brook
lyn, N. Y.
His letter of December 3, 1901, says: "Your communication was
received this morning, and in reply I would say that I am very
much gratified to know that the Church at Ansonia has continued
its work so successfully for fifty years ; and that its present position
is such as to inspire great hopefulness for the future.
My pastorate began in April, 1873. I was heartily received by
the people, and as time passed they gave me very cheering evidences
of their good will. The congregations were good from first to
last, and the prayer and class meetings were well attended. There
was readiness on the part of the brethren and sisters to cooperate
in the meetings and they were never dull.
The financial obligations were met with encouraging promptness,
which fact was indicative of devotion to the Church's interest's,
especially as at that time the property was somewhat encumbered
by indebtedness.
There were twenty-five subscribers to the Christian Advocate. I
became greatly attached to the people there and have never ceased
to hold them in loving remembrance.
May grace, mercy and peace ever abide with the Church at
Ansonia. Most sincerely yours,
Samuel H. Smith."

REV. SAMUEL H. SMITH.

REV. LINDSAY PARKER, M.A., PH.D.

ANSONIA, CONNECTICUT. 93
REV. LINDSAY PARKER, M.A., Ph.D.
Fifteenth Pastor.
Appointed at the Conference of 1875, and served until the Con
ference of 1877. Withdrew from the Methodist Church in 1883,
and is now rector of Saint Peter's Protestant Episcopal Church,
Brooklyn, New York.
Great credit is due him for his work, which was largely in the
line of raising money to relieve the Church of its burden of debt. A
good man, an excellent preacher, he made many friends while with
us, and is held in great esteem, and retains the love of all who knew
him. He wrote under date of December 7, 1901 : "Yours of the 30th
ult. came duly to hand. Let me congratulate you good Ansonia
Methodists on the completion of your semi-centennial. I have very
pleasant memories of my two years in Ansonia and reflect with
pleasure upon the fact that I was enabled to do something towards
freeing the Church from its burden of debt. I am afraid that I
cannot add any valuable items of historical record. All I can tell
you is, that I went to Ansonia in April, 1875, and remained there
until April, 1877. The Rev. Moses L. Scudder, D.D., was the Pre
siding Elder, if I remember aright. My work was almost entirely
that of a peripatetic pleader for dollars and cents. Now and again,
I was the happy recipient of an invitation to preach and take up
a collection ; as a rule, however, I was a self-invited guest, and
perhaps not always heartily welcome, which is, indeed, not to be
wondered at, considering that pretty nearly all the churches I visited
had troubles of their own. Still the brethren were very kind, and
I managed to gather quite a respectable sum, just how much I do
not know ; no doubt your records will give you this information.
Mr. Letsome Wooster was, I think, the treasurer of the fund, and
I remember a frequent entry in a certain old account book 'paid to
Brother Wooster.' Though I did not preach regularly in my own
pulpit, I greatly enjoyed the privilege when it was mine. The
Ansonia folks were kindly, sympathetic and helpful. I formed
friendships there which still last, though I am not often permitted
to see my friends in the flesh.
I wonder, by the way, why some of them did not suggest that
perhaps I should have liked to be present at your semi-centennial

94 METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH,
celebration. I certainly should have, and even if I had not been
able to gratify my desire, it would have been pleasant to have
received an invitation ; but there, I suppose I am looked upon as
a backslider, or perhaps my friends in Ansonia agree with the
dear old Methodist local preacher who described me as a 'bright
Methodistic star lost in the darkness of Episcopalianism.'
Well, good luck to you my dear brother, and heaven prosper the
work of the Ansonia Church. Sincerely yours, Lindsay Parker."
Another letter received December 16, 1901, says: "You just go
for that parson of yours for supposing that I would be unwilling to
take part in your anniversary simply because I am no longer a
Methodist. Tell him that I am a believer in wide horizons. Some
time ago I had a royal good time with one of my old congregations,
that of the Sixty-First Street M. E. Church, at its twentieth anni
versary. And I was glad to be one of the speakers and to meet
several of my old Methodist ministerial brethren, to say nothing of
my good friends of the Church. I put in my claim now to be asked
to your centennial celebration. Be sure not to forget.
Sincerely yours, Lindsay Parker."
The amount collected by Rev. Lindsay Parker was $3,500.

REV. JAMES M. CARROLL.

ANSONIA, CONNECTICUT. 97
REV. JAMES M. CARROLL.
Sixteenth Pastor.
Appointed at the Conference of 1877, and served until the Con
ference of 1878.
James Monroe Carroll was born in Bolton, N. Y., whither his
parents had removed from the eastern part of the State on April 21,
1828, and died at New Haven, Conn., on December 5, 1901. When
about fifteen years of age he was converted and joined the Methodist
Church in the town of Penn Yan.
In 1857 he joined the New England Southern Conference, and
in 1859 was transferred to the New York East Conference. He
continued in active service in the latter conference until 1897, when
he took a superannuated relation, and selected New Haven as his
place of residence.
His son, Judge George P. Carroll, of Bridgeport, Conn., under
date of July 28, 1902, wrote me as follows :
Hon. Franklin Burton, Ansonia, Conn.:
Dear Sir : — On December 2d of last year you wrote my father
asking him for his photograph and also for any items of interest
during his pastorate at the Ansonia Church.
The last act of my father was to write a partial letter to you in
reply to this. He had been ill about two weeks and on December
4th was feeling a little better at noon. He did a little writing in
reference to other matters and finally was engaged in writing a
letter to you. Fie had written the first page when, it becoming
rather dark, he desisted. Soon after that he was taken acutely ill
and went to bed. Fie grew worse until he died, soon after mid
night, on the early morning of December 5th.
I enclose you a copy of his letter, keeping the original myself. I
also send you one of his photographs. Very truly yours,
George P. Carroll."

qS METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH,
The following is a copy of the partial letter written :
"December 4, 1901.
Franklin Burton, Esq.:
My Dear Sir : — Yours at hand. The events in my pastorate were
not numerous ; some things were accomplished, however, to wit :
1. I established the Sunday School Missionary Society amid the
opposition of some. One Brother said you are robbing the Sunday
School as the collection was taken. Ask Mrs. Evans about it.
2. Had a grand Temperance revival, and so saved some in the
Church. 3. Had no conversions, the only Church I ever served with this
result. 4. One woman rose up for prayers at my last sermon. What
came of it I never knew.
I am sorry I have no picture of myself."
The last written words in life, just as he was ready to pass into
his eternal rest. They are indeed sacred. Two days before he died,
he said to a friend : "If my time has come, I am ready."

REV. ISAAC E. SMITH.

ANSONIA, CONNECTICUT. IOI

REV. ISAAC E. SMITH.
Seventeenth Pastor.
Appointed at the Conference of 1878, and served until the Confer
ence of 1879. I11 superannuated relation, and living at Mount Ver
non, N. Y.
He says in a letter of November 5, 1901, to our pastor: "Your
kind request that I become one of the company of ex-pastors to
enjoy your semi-centennial was duly received and have delayed reply,
hoping to see my way clear to accept, but am engaged to preach
every Sabbath in November and must deny myself so great an enjoy
ment. Kindly assure the Church of my affectionate regard, which
has in no way diminished with the passing years. Extend to the
brethren and sisters my sincere and hearty congratulations, in all
their successes, which have been neither few nor small, and read
my greeting to the Church from Col. 2d, 5th to 10th inclusive.
With thanks for the invitation and loving remembrances to the
people, I am cordially your Brother,
I. E. Smith."

102 METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH,
REV. REUBEN H. LOOMIS.
Eighteenth Pastor.
Appointed at the Conference of 1879, and served until the Confer
ence of 1882.
He was the son of Joab and Susan Filley Loomis, and was born
January 3, 1818, and died October 31, 1891, at the home of his boy
hood in Bloomfield, Conn. He was converted when about twenty,
under the pastorate of Rev. David Osborn.
He married for his first wife Miss Emily Hamilton, sister of Mrs.
Professor Johnston. That united life terminated in seven years by
her death. In November, i860, he married Miss Emily Gilbert,
daughter of Rev. Elias Gilbert of Ridgefield, Conn. He died in
the faith that had molded his character and inspired his life, saying :
"All ready, all ready." In sight of "the last enemy" he betrayed
no fear, but entered the dark valley singing :
"His name yields the richest perfume,
And sweeter than music his voice :
His presence disperses my gloom,
And makes all within me rejoice."
It was during his pastorate that the Sunday School room was
remodeled and refurnished. Prior to this, it had a cold, bare wooden
floor, unsightly wooden posts, bare and hard wooden benches. The
old posts were removed and neat iron posts substituted. The old
hard wooden benches were sold and comfortable easy chairs put in
their place. The floor was neatly carpeted, the walls decorated,
window curtains hung and the room well lighted. It was a revela
tion of what could be done in renovating an old room. It cost
about $900, but when the work was completed the bills were all
paid ; and we re-entered the room with great rejoicing. There were
many additions to the Church during his ministry. Those of us
who were with him here cherish his memory, and hold in delightful
thought the beautiful character of this preacher of Christ, and his
no less devoted wife and daughter. Laymen thank God for a min
ister who elevates the character of the ministry. And while we
know that preachers are human, as other men are, yet we rejoice in
the minister whose life is devoted to his Master, whose countenance
shines as with a supernatural light, and around whose head a "halo
of glory" shines.

REV. REUBEN H. LOOMIS.

ANSONIA, CONNECTICUT. 1 05

Glorious things of thee are spoken,
Zion, city of our God ;
He, whose word cannot be broken,
Formed thee for his own abode;
On the Rock of ages founded,
What can shake thy sure repose?
With salvation's walls surrounded,
Thou mayst smile at all thy foes.
See, the streams of living waters,
Springing from eternal love,
Still supply thy sons and daughters,
And all fear of want remove:
Who can faint while such a river
Ever flows our thirst to assuage?
Grace, which, like the Lord, the giver,
Never fails from age to age.
Round each habitation hovering,
See the cloud and fire appear,
For a glory and a covering,
Showing that the Lord is near !
He who gives us daily manna,
He who listens when we cry,
Let him hear the loud hosanna
Rising to his throne on high.
John Newton.

106 METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH,

O could I speak the matchless worth,
O could I sound the glories forth,
Which in my Saviour shine,
I'd soar and touch the heavenly strings,
And vie with Gabriel while he sings
In notes almost divine.
I'd sing the precious blood he spilt,
My ransom from the dreadful guilt
Of sin, and wrath divine ;
I'd sing his glorious righteousness,
In which all-perfect, heavenly dress
My soul shall ever shine.
I'd sing the characters he bears,
And all the forms of love he wears,
Exalted on his throne ;
In loftiest songs of sweetest praise,
I would to everlasting days
Make all his glories known.
Well, the delightful day will come
When my dear Lord will bring me home,
And I shall see his face ;
Then with my Saviour, Brother, Friend,
A blest eternity I'll spend,
Triumphant in his grace. Samuel Medley.

REV. EDWARD CUNNINGHAM.

ANSONIA, CONNECTICUT. IO9

REV. EDWARD CUNNINGHAM.
Nineteenth Pastor.
Appointed at the Conference of 1882, and served until the Confer
ence of 1884. Living and preaching at East Norwalk, Conn.
Quoting from his letter of November 12, 1901 : "Accept my
thanks for your kind invitation to be present at the semi-centennial
of Ansonia Methodism. I should exceedingly enjoy the fellowship
of the Saints on that occasion, but regret that I cannot be with you.
I pray that you may have the presence and unction of the Holy
Spirit. My two years pastorate in Ansonia were exceedingly pleas
ant. I have never served a more faithful and loyal people. Since
my pastorate they have increased in numbers, influence and useful
ness. There was a quiet, steady young fellow who had as his room
mate a lively young rogue, always going up in a balloon or going
off in some light way. The one steadied the other and both became
excellent workers in the Church. How tenderly Mrs. Cunningham
and myself remember those dear young people. God bless them all !
But time would fail me to tell of the many in my day who made
Ansonia Methodist Church dear to the Lord and to us. Kindly give
the most hearty Christian congratulations of Mrs. Cunningham and
myself to the whole Church. May their children's children perpet
uate and increase it, and their centenary be more glorious than their
semi-centennial. Fraternally,
E. Cunningham."

I IO METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH,
REV. GEORGE A. HUBBELL.
Twentieth Pastor.
Appointed at the Conference of 1884, and served until the Con
ference of 1885. Superannuated and living at Vineland, N. J.
A letter from him under date of December 3, 1901, is of interest:
"Yours of yesterday is in hand. I find too little of special interest
stored in memory of affairs in Ansonia to bring out for record. In
1855-56, being stationed in Birmingham, I exchanged with pastors
Pegg and Woolley in Ansonia, and preached in the hall over the
stores, to congregations ranging from sixty to ninety people, but I
formed no acquaintance with the members. In 1876-77 I visited
that congregation in its new church, and sixteen times in 1880-4,
when on the New Haven District. My impression was that the
Church was well located, and that there was good material in the
membership. In 1884 I declined a third term in the East Pearl
Street Church in New Haven, and the Bishop then took Brother
Cunningham away from Ansonia, for that Church, and sent me to
Ansonia. I went to this appointment with a desire to be useful, and
I gave my whole time and energy to the work of the Church. A
class-room was built for use ; the Sunday School library was thor
oughly examined, renovated and increased ; a bell was placed in one
of the towers ; the Sunday School increased forty-five in number
on roll, and there was a much larger average attendance. The
congregations were good and attentive ; the social meetings inter
esting. At the end of the year we had two hundred and sixty-seven
members, an increase of twenty-six, and seventeen probationers.
After fifty years in active service the conference granted my
request for a superannuated relation, and here in this beautiful
Vineland, I wait with tottering steps the Master's call to come to
the more beautiful and happy world on high.
With Christian regards and best wishes for you and yours per
sonally, and for the whole Church,
I remain yours fraternally,
Geo. A. Hubbell."
A postal from him January 16, 1903, says : "At your request I
send you photo taken in 1893, eight years after I left Ansonia.
I was then sixty-nine years of age. Am now seventy-eight and
two-thirds."

REV. GEORGE A. HUBBELL.

ANSONIA, CONNECTICUT. II3
A most complete statistical table of dates, pastors, number of
members, probationers, and Sunday School scholars, from 1852 to
date, was sent to me by Brother Hubbell, and is greatly appre
ciated. March 29, 1885. Fourth Quarterly Conference.
Pastor's Report. Rev. George A. Hubbell, Pastor.
Extracts. "Five new classes have been organized, all of which I have attended and
found profitable. There are now eight classes and all the names on the
church rolls are distributed and entered in the class books. As a result of
this more than twice as many persons attended class as were attending a
year ago."
"The ladies have collected about $100, and have on hand nearly $150, for
the purchase and setting of an iron fence in front of the church lot."

I 14 METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH,
REV. SAMUEL M. HAMMOND.
Twenty-first Pastor.
Appointed at the Conference of 1885, and served until the Con
ference of 1888.
Rev. Samuel Mowbray Hammond was born March 10, 1833, in
New Village, Suffolk County, Long Island, and died after a brief
illness, at Torrington, Conn., January 2, 1892, and was buried at
Freeport, L. I. He was the son of Mowbray S. Hammond, a local
Methodist preacher. His mother was a direct descendant of the
Pilgrims of the Mayflower. November 22, 1859, he was married to
Miss Fannie A. Howell of Mattituck, L. I. She with ten children
survived him.
He was converted in August, 1853, at a camp meeting at North-
port, L. I. A few moments before he died, he was heard to say,
very distinctly, "Precious Jesus," "Precious Jesus^!" To his wife
he said, tenderly, "My dear ; God will care for you ; trust him."
"This is the last battle, but all is well." A short time before he
died his brother said to him: "Sammie, is it all right?" and the
feeble, yet clear response was : "O, yes ! There is no fear. It
is all right, all right."
"In sweetest peace, I rest, dear Lord, in thee ;
No fears my soul's unwavering faith can shake ;
All's well whichever side the grave for me
The morning light may break."
His work in Ansonia was very successful. Fie was a beloved
pastor, and many were added to the Church during his ministry.
Third Quarterly Conference, December 16, 1885.
Report of Pastor, Rev. S. M. Hammond.
"Thirty chairs for teachers, with boxes underneath for books, have just
been purchased and put to use in the Sunday School.
Rev. John Perrins, a saintly man and excellent local preacher, and his
son, John B. Perrins, with the wife of the latter, have been dismissed by
letter, whose places for usefulness we can scarcely expect soon to see filled."
"The ladies of the Church, under the direction of Mrs. W. B. Blackman,
have inaugurated a Dime Sinking Fund Association for the purpose of
reducing the debt of the Church. They have already taken subscriptions
which, on the basis of payment in shares of ten cents per week, will aggre
gate at the end of the Sinking Fund year a total of $450."
In 1887, the time of holding the week night prayer meeting was
changed from Thursday to Wednesday evenings.

REV. SAMUEL M. HAMMOND.

REV. RUFUS S. PUTNEY,

ANSONIA, CONNECTICUT. 119
REV. RUFUS S. PUTNEY.
Twenty-second Pastor.
Appointed at the Conference of 1888, and served until the Con
ference of 1891. Living and preaching at Cropsey avenue, Brook
lyn, N. Y.
In May, 1889, during his pastorate, the new parsonage property
was purchased, and for the first time in the history of the Church,
we had a home of our own for the pastor, and it was during his
ministry that one of the greatest revivals broke out that ever visited
our Church.
In a letter from him dated January 24, 1902, he says : "The
revival, referred to, was an unexpected event. One Sunday evening
several weeks before the close of my pastorate, there appeared to
be a deep spiritual feeling in the Young People's meeting; my
attention being called to this, on going to the audience room, I
thought it best to preach only a short sermon, after which I called
the brethren into the altar ; then, after singing and prayer, invited
all who desired to publicly confess and follow Christ, to come and
kneel at the altar. There was an immediate response, twelve (I
think) came forward, and after that, nightly, twenty or thirty would
sometimes be at the altar. One night there were thirty-five. The
work continued until I left for Conference. About one hundred
and fifty professed conversion. On Easter Sunday, March 29, 1891
(my last Sunday), I baptized forty-five children and adults, received
ninety-five persons as probationers, and two by church letters. The
whole number of probationers received by me, as such, as the result
of the revival, was one hundred and thirty. The attendance at the
Sunday School was larger on Easter than at any time in its history.
The Church was in a more flourishing condition, in every depart
ment, than ever before in its history. God graciously visited us ;
more than one hundred persons have professed conversion, back
sliders have been reclaimed, the membership greatly quickened.
Our Missionary collection reached the $200 mark ; all the other
collections taken show an increase. Five hundred dollars of the
old debt has vanished, the current expenses are all provided for, and
the pastor and people unite in saying: 'Praise God, from whom all
blessings flow.'
With best wishes for your welfare, yours faithfully,
R. S. Putney."

120 METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH,
Brother Putney was the first pastor, and the first person, so far
as known, who ever attempted to secure a historical record of
the Church. It was his purpose, if returned to Ansonia, to con
tinue the work. From recollections furnished by Brother John
James, one of the original members of the Church, he wrote the first
and only record of the early Church. It was far from complete, but
as a basis for this work it has been of great value. In another part
of this work we will give these recollections just as they were
written by Brother Putney from the dictation of Brother James.

REV. CHARLES B. PITBLADO.

ANSONIA, CONNECTICUT. 1 23

REV. CHARLES B. PITBLADO.
TWENTY-THIRD PASTOR.
Appointed at the Conference of 1891, and served until the Con
ference of 1894. Living and preaching at Yalesville, Conn.
Brother Pitblado writes under date of December 6, 1901 : "Little
happened in my time out of the usual. One thing I remember, the
Church debt was paid. Mrs. Pitblado got up two 'District School
entertainments' to help raise the money. Brother Putney left the
Church at high tide spiritually. There it stayed during my stay,
and 1 suppose has been there ever since."
Brother Pitblado's modesty is prominent. That "little thing"
that happened, the payment of the Church debt, was a great thing
to accomplish, and a most important event in our Church history.
From 1866 to this time, the Society had been heavily burdened with
a debt on its church. So great was the burden that it sometimes
seemed as if we would be crushed under it, and be obliged to give
up the property. The work accomplished was wonderful. Great
praise and credit is due the faithful men and women, who through
so many years worked so earnestly and zealously for its accomplish
ment. "Little happened," — Oh no, great things happened when that
debt was extinguished. Then great things happened when Brother
Pitblado preached, for he was a great and successful preacher. He
is too modest to say anything about that, but we know it, and have
rejoiced and been helped as we have listened to him. To this day,
we welcome him whenever he comes to us. He retains a warm
place in our hearts and affections, and has a host of friends in
Ansonia. He was present with us at our semi-centennial service,
November 17, 1901, and preached for us on that Sunday evening.

124 METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH,

REV. HENRY E. WING.
Twenty-fourth Pastor.
Appointed at the Conference of 1894, and served until the Con
ference of 1896. Living at South Norwalk, Conn., in supernu
merary relation.
He writes : "We did not have any sweeping revival during the
two years ; but there was a general good revival feeling through
the whole town and frequent conversions. The feature of this work
which gives me great gratification as I recall it, was the enthusiastic
cooperation of the young people in my work, and almost every
recruit from the world to Christ could be easily traced to the per
sonal influence of some devoted 'Christian Endeavor.' "
Brother Wing was also with us at our semi-centennial celebration,
and preached on that Sunday morning.
If the plan of this work embraces statistics, we shall use a valuable
table, furnished us by Brother Wing, covering twenty-three years,
from 1871 to 1894.

REV. HENRY E. WING.

REV. FRED SAUNDERS.

ANSONIA, CONNECTICUT. 1 29
REV. FRED SAUNDERS.
Twenty-fifth Pastor.
Appointed at the Conference of 1896, and served until the Con
ference of 1 90 1.
Five years of successful pastorate work in Ansonia. The longest
service of any minister in the history of the Church. A unanimous
call for his return the sixth year prevented only by conscientious
convictions about the time-limit. Respected and loved by every
member of the Church, with strong friendships all through the town.
Many improvements made at the parsonage, a new organ put into
the church, and the location of the pulpit and choir greatly improved ;
the organization of the present Ladies Aid Society and the Junior
League, the Young People's Society of Christian Endeavor becom
ing an organization of the Epworth League. The entire debt on
the parsonage property of $4,000 paid and the mortgage cancelled,
thus removing all indebtedness from our church property. A large
increase in the membership of the Church and a large number of
probationers and an enlarged Sunday School. These are a few of
the results of his work.
Too modest to write much about his work, he simply says in a
letter written December 5, 1901 : "The five happy years spent in
Ansonia were not without signs of spiritual good. Some very
encouraging scenes of ingathering were witnessed each year. I
think the first year we had the largest ingathering. Am glad you
are. to publish a history of the dear old church, for it has been a
very honorable one and should be known by the people."
Five happy, prosperous years. Large congregations gathered
every Sunday to hear him, and many, many hearts were sad at the
time of parting. We do not know who received the greatest enjoy
ment and help during those years, the pastor or his people. This
we do know, that there was harmony and love in all hearts. Only
the final judgment will fully disclose the results of his work in
Ansonia for the Master.
He is living and preaching at South Second Street Church, Wil
liamsburg, Brooklyn, N. Y. Pastor's Report.
February 10, 1899. Rev. Fred Saunders, Pastor.
"Concert and organ recital, which gave to our people the privilege of hear
ing the new pipe organ which has so beautified the church. Cost about $1,300,
including the new choir gallery, pulpit platform and new carpet."

FLOWERS THE POETRY OF ANGELS. 1888.
REV. RUFUS S. PUTNEY, PASTOR.
JOHN E. LEWIS, SUPERINTENDENT OF SUNDAY SCHOOL.

REV. WILBERT C BLAKEMAN.

ANSONIA, CONNECTICUT. 135

REV. WILBERT C. BLAKEMAN.
Twenty-sixth Pastor.
Appointed at the Conference of 1901, and served until the Con
ference of 1902. Now living and preaching at Olin Church, Wil
liams Bridge, N. Y. A scholarly man and a good preacher.
The completion of the first fifty years of the life of the Methodist
Church in Ansonia occurred during his ministry, and under his
supervision the semi-centennial celebration, of' this important event
was held on Sunday, November 17, 1901, followed by a historical
meeting on Wednesday evening, November 20, 1901.
At the close of his ministry there was quite a revival and some
thirty persons w:ere added to the Church on probation.

I36 METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH,

REV. J. HOWARD HAND.
Twenty-seventh Pastor.
Appointed at the Conference of 1902.
The year just passed under his ministry has been a quiet one,
but full of promise for the future. There have been many additions
to the membership, the present roll showing three hundred and
eighty-four members and eighteen probationers.
It was not the purpose of this work to carry it beyond the fiftieth
year of the life of the Church, but the long delay in finding records
and securing the pictures and sketches of the former ministers have
brought us nearly a year and a half beyond that time. The knowl
edge gained during this time of searching has warranted the delay,
for the greater part of this whole sketch has come to us during
this time.

The whole number of pastors of this Church is twenty-seven ; of
this number there are now living seventeen; thirteen of these are
still members of the New York East Conference, one is Rector of
a Protestant Episcopal Church, two are Congregational ministers,
one is a member of the New England Conference, ten have died.

REV. J. HOWARD HAND.

PASTOR, CHURCH AND PARSONAGE.

CYRUS JOHNSON.

SUNDAY SCHOOL.
The first Sunday School, so far as we have a record, was organ
ized early in 1852, with Mr. George W. Coe as superintendent. Mr.
Coe was the son of John Allen Coe and Ruth Smith Coe and grand
son of John and Hannah Coe. John and Hannah Coe were among
the first converts to Methodism in the town of Derby. They named
their son, born September 8, 1792, John Allyn Coe, in grateful
remembrance of the Rev. John Allyn. George W. Coe was a
steward of the Ansonia Church, Sunday School superintendent and
Leader of Class No. 3 from the early part of 1852 to the time of
his death, February 24, 1854.
The report of the Ansonia Sunday School, made to the Quarterly
Conference held July 29, 1852, says that there were sixty-three
scholars, eleven classes, two of which were Bible classes. Thus this
department of the Church commenced its work.
There is little doubt but that there was a Sunday School in
Ansonia of Methodists prior to the organization of the Church, and
under the control and supervision of the Derby Church. In 1866,
at the time of entering the present church, there were one hundred
and fifty scholars and twenty-five officers and teachers.
At the present time, April 1, 1903, there are three hundred and
fifty-five scholars, thirty-four teachers and nine officers.
At the Fourth Quarterly Conference of the Birmingham and
Ansonia Stations, held March 25, 1854, this record was made : "We
have been recently called to mourn the loss of our beloved superin
tendent, Brother G. W. Coe. He was a faithful laborer in the Sab
bath School as well as in every other department of the Church.
He was much interested in our school and did everything he could
to advance its interests, and was much beloved both by teachers and
scholars, and they feel his loss very much. E. S. Hebbard."
The second superintendent of the school was Cyrus Johnson.
Upon the death of Brother George W. Coe, Cyrus Johnson was
appointed, in the early part of 1854, as Leader of Class No 3, and
superintendent 'of the Sunday School. He served faithfully in both
positions until his death in i860.

144 METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH,
The following is a list of the superintendents of the Sunday School
from i860 to the present time :

i860

Mungo P. Wilson

1861

Joseph Moore.

1862

George Scott.

1863

"

1864

(C

1865

It

1866

it

(Between 1866 and 1872 Frederick Wheeler, David Chadeayne, and Joseph
N. Booth were superintendents, but the record of dates and time
of service cannot be determined.)
1872 Edward O. Peck.
1873
1874 one half of the year.
1874 William Balfour "
18751876
1877 March 12, L. T. Wooster was elected but declined.
W. B. Blackman was also elected and declined.
1877 April 1, L. T. Wooster was elected and consented to serve.
1878 March 28, a vote of thanks was extended to Superintendent Wooster for
his service to the School. He removed to Birmingham, and could
no longer serve.
1878 March 25, Charles D. Evans.
1879 " 12, "
1880 " 10,
1881 " 14,
1882 " 8,
1883 " 14, John B. Perrins.
1884 " 12, John E. Lewis.
1885 " 11, W. B. Blackman.
1886 " 10,
1887 " 9, John E. Lewis.

1889189018911892 March 10, J. J. Allingham.
18931894189S18961897 George Pendlow. He removed from Ansonia soon after,
and the pastor, Rev. Fred Saunders, acted as Superin
tendent.

ANSONIA, CONNECTICUT. 145
1898 J. J. Allingham.
1899 Rev. Fred Saunders.
1900 Franklin Burton. He served only a part of the year, and
Charles D, Evans and the pastor acted for the balance
of the year.
1901 Herbert Pratt.
1902 "
1903

The largest number of scholars reported in the Conference minutes
during the history of the Church was in 1893, during the pastorate of
Rev. C. B. Pitblado, and J. J. Allingham as superintendent. There
was reported at that time four hundred and sixty scholars and forty-
five officers and teachers.
Record of Membership in Church and Sunday School.
Members of Members of Sunday School.
Year. Church. Officers and Teachers. Members.
1851  34 — —
1852  56 II 63
1853  60 II 50
1854  S3 14 74
18SS  50 13 90
1856  52 . IS ,. SO
1857  66 13 86
1858  74 19 92
1859  80 20 77
i860  73 15 94
1861  81 18 108
1862  78 16 84
1863  91 21 135
1864  93 21 151
1865  90 25 150
1866  102 25 150
1867  96 22 122
1868  85 22 122
1869  108 22 150
1870  149 28 225
1871  178 28 200
1872  154 3° 200
1873  158 30 130
1874  166 24 165
187s  162 27 182
1876  160 30 205
1877  178 27 190
1878  178 31 228

146

METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH,

Members of
Year. Church.
1879  169
1880  180
l88l  188
1882  2l8
1883  238
1884  241
1885  267
1886  286
1887  294
1888  293
1889  298
1890  298
1891  284
1892  336
1893  325
1894  321
1895  301
1896  286
1897  298
1898  315
1899  320
1900  35°
1901  355
1902  368
1903  384

Members of Sunday School.
Officers and Teachers. Members.

28

195

27

205

30

195

30

212

29

220

35

245

35

290

38

289

40

294

38

258

41

283

38

208

39

414

41

452

45

460

45

352

42

312

42

302

42

313

41

299

40

285

38

364

38

350

37

344

43

355

OFFICERS OF THE SUNDAY SCHOOL.
April i, 1903.
Herbert Pratt, Superintendent.
Arthur R. Young, Assistant Superintendent.
George Pendlow, Assistant Superintendent.
Mrs. Mary A. James, Lady Superintendent.
Mrs. J. Howard Hand, Assistant Lady Superintendent.
George Rennison, Secretary.
William T. Mercer, Treasurer.
George W. Brannen, Librarian.
Charles D. Evans, Chorister.

OFFICERS OF THE SUNDAY SCHOOL MISSIONARY SOCIETY.
William H. Foster, President.
William T. Mercer, Secretary and Treasurer.
F. B. Hills, Vice President.

ANSONIA, CONNECTICUT. 147
As early as 1769 a young Methodist, Hannah Ball, established a
Sunday School in Wycombe, and was instrumental in training many
children in the knowledge of the Holy Scriptures.
In 1 781, another Methodist young woman (afterwards the wife
of the celebrated lay preacher, Samuel Bradburn) was conversing in
Gloucester with Robert Raikes, a benevolent citizen of that town
and publisher of the Gloucester Journal. He pointed to groups of
neglected children in the street, and asked : "What can we do for
them?" She answered: "Let us teach them to read and take them
to church !" They immediately proceeded to try the suggestion, and
the philanthropist and his female friend conducted the first company
of Sunday scholars to the church, exposed to the comments and
laughter of the populace as they passed along the street with their
ragged procession. Such was the origin of our present Sunday
School, an institution which has perhaps done more for the Church
and the social improvement of Protestant communities than any
other agency of modern times, the pulpit excepted. In 1784 Raikes
published in his paper an account of his plan. This sketch imme
diately arrested the attention of John Wesley, and he exhorted his
people to adopt the new institution. He was the first public man
in England to approve of this method of religious instruction. In
this country the first Sunday School was established by Bishop
Francis Asbury in 1786, in Hanover County, Virginia, at the home
of Thomas Crenshaw. The Methodists were alone in their efforts
to introduce this mode of instruction among children of their con
gregations. The first official notice by the Methodist Church in this
country of Sunday Schools was made at the Conference of 1790,
when the question was asked :
"Question. What can be done in order to instruct poor children,
white and black, to read?"
"Answer. Let us labor, as the heart and soul of one man, to
establish Sunday Schools in or near the place of public worship.
Let persons be appointed by the bishops, elders, deacons, or
preachers, to teach, gratis, all that will attend and have a capacity
to learn, from six o'clock in the morning till ten, and from two
o'clock in the afternoon till six, where it does not interfere with
public worship. The council shall compile a proper book, to teach
them learning and piety."

I48 METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH,
OFFICIAL BOARD.
April i, 1903.
Trustees: Stewards: >
Franklin Burton, President. Charles L. Case.
Charles D. Evans, Clerk. G. A. Cox.
William H. Foster, Treasurer. F. B. Hills, Recording Steward.
George W. Livingston, William D. Locke,
Horatio M. Brown, John D. Martin.
James J. Allingham. John Partridge, District Steivard.
William T. Mercer. Francis H. Rogers.
Dr. R. Y. Downs. Andrew A. Vidal.
Frank J. Reeves. Herbert Pratt.
George Pendlow.
Arthur R. Young.
Fred G. Fletcher.

CHRISTIAN ENDEAVOR SOCIETY.
In the month of November, 1889, under the pastorate of Rev.
Rufus S. Putney, the Christian Endeavor Society was organized.
William H. Foster was its first president. It continued its work
with much success and profit to the Church until February, 1899,
when it ceased to exist as a society in this Church.
EPWORTH LEAGUE.
Under date of February 6, 1899, the society of "Epworth League"
was organized with James Butcher as its first president. The same
spirit that characterized the members of the Christian Endeavor
Society was carried into the new organization. It has continued to
this time, a useful and prosperous auxiliary branch of the work of
the Church. OFFICERS OF THE EPWORTH LEAGUE.
April i, 1903.
F. B. Hills, President.
Mrs. C. D. Evans, First Vice President.
Elnora Bisbee, Second Vice President.
Inez Rogers, Third Vice President.
Maud Bassford, Fourth Vice President.
Charles Lugg, Secretary.
William Trevethan, Treasurer.

ANSONIA, CONNECTICUT. I49
OFFICERS OF THE JUNIOR LEAGUE.
Mrs. James J. Allingham, Superintendent.
Mrs. Arthur R. Young, Assistant Superintendent.
CHURCH SEXTON.
William Carle,
An auxiliary to the Woman's Foreign Missionary Society of the
Methodist Episcopal Church was formed in Ansonia, Monday eve
ning, June 18, 1883, after an interesting address by Mrs. Dr. Lowrey.
The following officers were elected :
Mrs. Mary Page, President.
Mrs. Rev. E. Cunningham and Mrs. Mary James, Vice Presidents.
Mrs. Charles D. Evans, Treasurer.
Miss Mary A. Bouton, Secretary.
October i, 1902, the twentieth annual meeting was held, and the
following officers were elected :
Mrs. R. Y. Downs, President.
Mrs. R. E. Lutes, Vice President.
Mrs. Charles D. Evans, Treasurer.
Mrs. Marietta E. Smith, Secretary.
A young woman's Missionary Society, called "The Standard
Bearers," was organized October 1, 1902.
The following is a list of the present members of the Church, as
revised by the Pastor and Committee on Church Records, after
report to annual Conference of 1903 :

Name.

Date of admission as full members.

How received.

Allingham, Grace A.

October

4,

1891

From probation

Allingham, Isabella

November

6,

1898

it n

Allingham, James J.

July,

1869

By certificate

Allingham, Mary E.

October

4.

1891

From probation

Allingham, Mary Jane

January

7,

1872

By certificate

Allingham, Mary W.

July

7.

1878

t. n

Allingham, William

July,

1869

a it

Anderson, Maria

September

1,

1889

From probation

Andrew, Mary J.

September

3,

1882

By certificate

Armstrong, Georgia

October

4,

1891

From probation

Armstrong, Mary A.

September

2,

1900

ti it

Armstrong, Mary J.

October

4,

1891

it tt

Arzani Roanna

February

2,

1896

By certificate

Axon, Anna

March

1,

1896

From probation

ISO

METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH,

Name.
Badger, Allyn S.
Badger, Annie M.
Bailey, Mrs. Martha
Balfour, Martha B.
Balfour, William
Barrett, Martha J.
Barrett, William
Bartlett, Sarah H. E.
Bassford, John
Bassford, Maud
Bassford, Ruth E.
Bassford, Sarah
Bassford, Sarah A.
Bastedo, Sadie A.
Batchelor, Amy G.
Bisbee, Anna
Bisbee, Elnora
Bisbee, George S.
Bisbee, Ida G.
Bisbee, Margaret M.
Bradbury, Frank
Bradbury, Laura E.
Brague, Ellen L.
Brague, Mabel E.
Brannen, Carrie F.
Brannen, Etta E.
Brannen, George W.
Brannen, John H.
Brooks, Florilla D.
Brooks, Hattie
Brown, Horatio M.
Brown, Julia L.
Bryan, Jennie G.
Buck, Catherine
Buck, Ella L.
Buck, Ethel M.
Buck, Louise K.
Buck, W. H.
Buck, W. J. P.
Buckingham, Maria E.
Burton, Franklin
Calkins, Marish
Camp, Charles E.
Camp, Jeannette
Camp, Nellie G.
Case, Charles L.

Date of admission as full members.
January n, 1903
January 11, 1903
January 6, 1901
August 1, 1880
July 19, 1869
July 1, 1883
July 1, 1883
July 3, 1898
September 6, 1874
February 3, 1895
January 6, 1901
August S, 1885
November 4, 1883
March 3, 1895
October 2, 1877
November, 1881
August 5, 1885
November, 1881
October 2, 1887
October 4, 1891
October 4, 1891
October 4, 1891
July 4, 1897
July 4, 1897
November 5, 1899
November 5, 1899
November 5, 1899
November 5, 1899
May 2, 1886
February 3, 1895
July 19, 1869
April 5, 1863
(Sept. 23, 1861)
July 4, 1886
June 3, 1894
November 7, 1897
November 7, 1897
November, 1902
June 3, 1894
September 3, 1882
September 2, 1900
March 5, 1882
March 3, 1902
September 6, 1896
February 6, 1887
September, 1887
October 19, 1877

How received.
By certificate

From probation
By certificate

By examination
From probation

By certificate
From probation
By certificate
From probation
By certificate
From probation

By certificate

From probation
i. it
By certificate
n it
From probation
it a
it it
By certificate
From probation
By certificate
tt it
From probation
By certificate
From probation
By certificate

Name.
Case, George
Case, Nellie L.
Chadwick, Cora R.
Chirgwin, May
Clark, John
Cook, Julia M.
Cox, George
Cox, Mary A.
Crossman, Louise M.
Crossman, Mary M.
Crossman, William H.
Curtiss, Anna L.
Davidson, James P.
Davidson, Maggie
Davidson, Margaret

DeWitt, Hattie
Dodge, Bertha Pickle
Dodge, Eliza A.
Dodge, Lilly M.
Dodge, Philena
Dodge, William H.
Downs, Minnie W.
Downs, R. Y.
Driesow, Ella
Driesow, William
Dugmore, Alice C.
Duncan, Lela D.
Eddy, Fannie
Eddy, George
Eddy, Maria
Edwards, Ella
Evans, Charles D.
Evans, Emma
Fletcher, Emma W.
Fletcher, Fred
Fletcher, Fred G.
Foster, Charles B.
Foster, Grace A.
Foster, Hattie
Foster, William H.
Fowler, Jennie Hurlburt
French, Hattie M.
Gilbert, Ada A.
Gilbert, Albert

ANSONIA, CONNECTICUT.
Date of admission as full members.
September 6, 1896
October 19, 1877
September 2, 1900
November 3, 1901
January 4, 1903
March 8, 1902
November 1, 1896
November 1, 1896
September 2, 1900
March 7, 1897
September 2, 1900
November 4, 1883
September 4, 1898
January 10, 1897
March, 1898
Restored. Originally
September 7, 1873.
November 7, 1897
October 4,
June 1, 1873
November 7, 1897
February 7,
August 2,
March 4,
September,
October
AprilFebruary
July MarchMarch
MarchMarch,
July

19,

7,

FebruaryNovember,
July 4,

MayFebruary
JulyJanuary October
November 7,
November,
July 7,

:875:874:888 :887 891901895

:883
:883 :883 901
869
:867

902
(886 899 895
876882
891 897902895

151
How received.
From probation
By certificate
From probation

By certificate

From probation
By certificate
From probation

By certificate

From probation
By certificate
From probation
By examination
By certificate
it it
From probation
By certificate
From probation

By certificate
From probation
By certificate
From probation
By profession from
Episcopal Church
By certificate
From probation
(< tt
By certificate
From probation

By certificate

152

METHODIST EPISCOPAL' CHURCH,

Name.

Date of admission s

is full members

How received.

Gilbert, Edgar

July

7

1895

By certificate

Gilbert, Eugenia

March

i

1903

n tt

Gilbert, Heber U.

November,

1902

From probation

Gilbert, James

July

7,

189S

tt a

Gilbert, Jennie

July

7

1895

.. it

Gilbert, Jennie

July

7.

1895

.. tt

Gilbert, Sidney

July

7,

1895

" "

Glenn, Sarah

November,

1900

t.

Goodwin, Howard P.

October

4,

1885

" "

Goodwin, Nettie

November

4.

1883

From probation

Gorham, Sarah S.

January

7,

1900

By certificate

Greatorex, Rubie

November

7.

1897

From probation

Guild, Arthur

January

3.

1897

By certificate

Guild, Willis

May

4.

1902

et tt

Guild, Mrs. Willis

May

4,

1902

" "

Haines, Emma (married)

October

7,

1894

From Church of
England

Haines, Emma (single)

July

6,

1890

From probation

Haines, Walter

January,

1892

" "

Haines, William

July,

1892
<< tt
Hall, Allie
March
7,
1897
a it
Hall, Jane
July
5,
1885
By certificate
Hall, Samuel
July
5.
1885
a ..
Hall, Samuel W. H.
July
5.
1885
'¦
Hanchett, Charles H.
October
4.
1891
From probation
Hanchett, Elizabeth S.
July
5,
1879
n a
Hand, Margaret E.
April,
1902
By certificate
Hansee, Minnie E.
March
4,
1900
tt ,t
Hansee, Sadie
March
4.
1900
a a
Hard, Carrie
January,
1892
From probation
Hard, Hattie A.
January,
1893
tt tt
Harding, Hannah W.
February
3.
1895
tt u
Hasking, Laura
March
6,
1898
By certificate
Hassard, Jane C.
June,
1881
it tt
Hassard, Thomas
June,
1881
a tt
Hayes, Mrs. Elizabeth
July
9.
1899
From probation
Hemingway, Carrie F.
October
4.
1891
tt K
Hemingway, Frank I.
November,
1902
Hemingway, Isaac
June
10,
1866
By certificate
Hemingway, Mary C.
June
10,
1866
(. it
Hill, Joseph
July
27,
1890
a ..
Hill, Phebe A.
December
6,
1868
From probation
Hills, Fannie M.
March
7,
1897
By profession of
faith
Hills, Frank B.
January
3,
1897
By certificate of
probation
Hoar, Eva
March
4,
1894
From probation
ANSONIA, CONNECTICUT.

153

Name.

Date of admission as f ul

members.

How received.

FIocking, Christiana

March

29,

1896

By certificate

FIodgdon, Elizabeth

May

7,

1899

" "

Hotchkiss, Augusta

September

7,

1879

From probation

Hubert, Sigismund

March

12,

1899

(< n

Hudson, Charles

November

5.

1899

By certificate

Hudson, Earl R.

November

5,

1899

tt tt

Hudson, Jane R.

November

5,

1899

tt tt

FIudson, Percy H. G.

November

5,

1899

tt it

Hulme, William

September

1,

1889

From probation

Hurlbert, Thomas

October

4,

1891

u u

Irving, Kittie

October

4,

1891

a tt

Irving, R. B.

October

4,

1891

et tt

Jackson, Annie

October

4,

1891

" "

Jackson, Eliza

September,

1868

By certificate

James, Albert

October

4,

1891

From probation

James, Anna M.

October

15,

1855

tt tt

James, Emma

March

12,

1871

a tt

James, Mary A.

December

7,

1862

By certificate

Jeffrey, Alice L.

November,

1902

From probation

Jeffrey, Olive H.

November,

1902

tt it

Jenkins, Eliza P.

November

3,

1901

a tt

Johnson, Amelia

1864
a tt
Johnson, Charles P.
January,
1866
tt tt
Johnson, Frances L.
November
22,
1857
a tt
Johnson, Mary V.
July
6,
1879
tt tt
Johnston, Mary E.
September,
1881
By certificate
Johnston, Richard 0.
January
2,
1881
U It
Johnston, Sarah E.
November
7,
1897
From probation
Jones, Anna
March
12,
1899
tt tt
Jones, Hannah
August
6,
1895
By certificate
King, Emma
October
2,
1887
From probation
King, George
September
1,
1889
a a
King, Mary
August
29,
1889
« tt
Kneen, Helen
N ovember
4,
1888
tt tt
Kneen, Thomas
January
5,
1902
By certificate
(August 31,
189c
. Fr.
Prob.)
Lasher, Jennie
November,
1902
From probation
Leeper, Bertram G.
March
9,
1902
By certificate
Leeper, Melissa
March
9,
1902
tt a
Lewis, Ann
July
11,
1890
By certificate
Lewis, Charlotte
July
9,
1899
From probation
Lewis, E. H.
November
4.
1900
By certificate
Lewis, Mrs. E. H.
April
5,
1901
From probation
Lewis, Martha C.
July
2,
1876
a tt
Lewis, Simon
July
6,
1879
(t
Libly, Kate
August,
1893
By certificate
II
iS4

METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH,

Name. Date of admission as full members.

How received.

Livingston, George W.

August

27,

1870

From probation

Livingston, Martha E.

August

27,

1870

n tt

Locke, Ethel E.

November,

1902

" "

Locke, John

March,

1892

By certificate

Locke, Louise

March

1,

1903

From probation

Locke, Martha J.

July

1,

1883

By certificate

Locke, Rose

March,

1892

n n

Locke, William D.

May

2,

1886

From probation

Locke, Willie B.

November,

1902
n it
Lowe, Minnie
October
4,
1891
"
Lugg, Charles
January,
1892
By certificate
Lugg, Mary C.
November,
1881
it tt
Lutes, Rubie E.
July
6,
1885
it 1.
Lyon, Hattie S.
November,
1902
From probation
Lyons, George
September
30,
1877
By certificate
Lyons, Mrs. George
March
7,
1897
From probation
Manville, Dora
November
3,
1901
it u
Manville, Ella J.
May
6,
1877
By certificate
Manville, Hattie
November
2,
1873
it it
Manville, H. W.
November
2,
1873
it it
Manville, Theodore D. L.
December
7,
1873
it it
Martin, John D.
September
30,
1890
n it
Martin, Lizzie
January
3,
1886
From probation
McAfee, James
July
9,
1899
it it
McAfee, Mrs. James
January
7,
1900
it it
McAfee, J. W.
September
4,
1896
By certificate
McAfee, Ruth
January
5,
1902
From probation
McAfee, S. J.
September
4,
1896
By certificate
McAuley, Rosella
April,
1868
it it
McKenzie, Betsey
December
19,
1886
it a
McKinley, Elizabeth M.
September
2,
1900
From probation
McKinley, Sarah
September
2,
1900
it it
McOrmond, Arthur R.
November
3,
1901
By certificate
McOrmond, Mrs. Arthur R.
November
3,
1901
" "
Mercer, Lewis E.
October
4,
1891
From probation
Mercer, Mary A.
July
2,
1871
a i.
Mercer, Sadie (Mrs. Lewis E.)
March
7,
1897
a it
Mercer, William T.
1864
it 1.
Mills, Estella J.
July
4,
1886
By certificate
Mills, Margaret
December
7,
1862
From probation
Mitton, Jennie E. (McAfee)
November,
1900
" f*
Myles, John
July
1,
1881
By certificate
Myles, Maggie L.
December
2,
1891
tt 11
Myles, Nellie
August,
1885
From probation
Morrow, Bryce
November,
1900
By certificate
Morrow, Susan
November,
1900
tt tt
Noe, Alexander
September
4,
1898
From Salvation
Army
ANSONIA, CONNECTICUT.

155

Name.
Noe, Elizabeth
Oulds, Emma L.
Oulds, James F.
Palmer, Mary Worthington
Parker, Charles
Parmelee, Mary I.
Partridge, John
Peck, Elbert A.
Pendlow, Elizabeth
Pendlow, George
Pendlow, Louva M.
Pendlow, Sarah E.
Pickle, Hannah
Pickles, Hannah
Plumb, Eudora E.
Powe, Mortimer W.
Powe, Nellie
Pratt, Herbert
Prisk, Annie J.
Pryor, John
Pryor, Mrs. John
Puckey, Mary A.
Puckey, William
Rennison, Henrietta
Rennison, John L.
Rennison, Martha
Rider, Hattie G.
Roberts, Asenath
Rogers, Corinna T.
Rogers, Corinna W.
Rogers, Francis H.
Rogers, Inez
Rolfe, Mary E.
Russell, Betsey A.
Ryan, Helen
Ryan, W. P.
Sanders, Archibald
Saunders, Julia
Sears, George W.
Sears, Wellington
Seccombe, Elias
Seccombe, Elizabeth
Seccombe, Harry
Seccombe, Jennie A.
Seccombe, Mary E.

Date of admission as full members.

How received.

September

4,

1898

From Salvation
Army

July

4,

1886

From probation

March

29,

1877

tt tt

l January

7,

1900

it u

September

6,

1896

it 11

October,

1879

By certificate

October

4,

1891

From probation

March

I,

1874

By certificate

March

I,

1903

it it

March

I,

1903

tt n

November,

1902

From probation

November,

1902

a n

October

4,

1891

tt 11

March

7,

1896

" "

July

4,

1886

By certificate

January,

1894
it it
January,
1894
ii it
May
7,
1899
tt it
March
7,
1897
tt u
March
3,
1 901
From probation
October
4,
1891
a u
December,
1886
By certificate
December,
1886
11 11
July
9,
1899
From probation
May
i,
1881
By certificate
May
i,
1881
a a
November
5,
1899
tt it
July
6,
1879
By profession
Former member
October,
1880
By certificate
March
i,
1896
From probation
October,
1880
By certificate
November
3,
1901
From probation
October
4,
1891
a a
July
6,
1879
" "
March
4,
1894
n 11
March
4,
1894
it 11
December,
1885
By certificate
September,
1892
n n
November,
1902
From probation
November
3,
1901
11 it
October
4,
1901
" "
November
4,
1888
By certificate
March
i,
1896
From probation
July,
1887
By certificate
January,
1894
From probation
156

METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH,

Name.
Shaw, Dudley E.
Shaw, Ellen
Skipp, Elizabeth
Skipp, George
Smith, Alanta
Smith, Ethel
Smith, Marietta
Smith, Nancy
Smith, William H.
Spencer, Ellen M.
Stevens, Mrs. Charles R.
Stone, Eleret
Stone, Eva L.
Terrill, Horace
Terrill, Julia
Terrill, Lizzie
Thomas, Olive
Thomas, Sarah
Tonkin, Elizabeth
Tonkin, Ethel M.
Tonkin, Grace R.
Tonkin, Helen Elizabeth
Treloar, Annie O.
Trevethan, Ada
Trevethan, Elizabeth
Trevethan, May E.
Trevethan, William
Van Riper, Elizabeth
Van Riper, Ida M.
Veitch, Agnes
Veitch, Mrs. Alexander
Vidal, Andrew A.
Vidal, Nettie E.
Vine, Laura
Vine, Mary J.
Wainwright, James

Wainwright, Mrs. James (Mary)

Date of admission as full members. How received.

March

n, 1878

By certificate

March

11, 1878

tt it

May

7, 1899

" "

May

7, 1899

.. it

January

5, 1902

From probation

January

5, 1902

11 11

March

6, 1898

By certificate

October

4, 1901

From probation

January

2, 1898

it ti

July

14, 1872

" "

November,

1900

By certificate

March

1, 1903

CI II

March

1, 1903

II II

September

6, 1896

From probation

September,

1892

By certificate

March

4, 1900

11 11

October

4, 1891

From probation

October,

1885

By certificate

May,

1886

11 it

November,

1902

From probation

November,

1902

it it

March

1, 1896

it tt

November

7, 1897

tt tt

January,

1886

11 it

August,

1885

n it

November,

1902

tt it

July

9, 1899

ii 1.

July

2, 1876

11 11

May

7, 1899

By certificate

November

4, 1888

From probation

October

4, 1891

tt tt

July

2, 1876

a 11

November

4, 1883

11 11

March

12, 1899

ii 11

October

6, 1895

By certificate

November,

1900

From Salvation Army
and by letter
September 9, 1888

November,

1900

From Salvation Army
and by letter
September 9, 1888

November,

1902

From probation

Wainwright, Joseph

November,

1902

From probation

Wainwright, Lilian

November,

1902

11 ii

Wakelee, Agnes M.

January,

1893

From probation

Wakelee, Wilbur 0.

January,

1893

ci it

Walker, Emma

July

3, 1898

u a

Weedin, Julius K.

February

1, 1885

k n

ANSONIA, CONNECTICUT.

157

Name.

Date of admission a;

i full members.

How received.

Weinbtjrger, Henry

November

3,

1901

From probation

Weinburger, Mrs. Henry

November

3,

1901

ii 11

Westerman, Grace

November,

1902

11 a

Westerman, Ina M.

July

4,

1897

By certificate

Westerman, Laura

July

4,

1897

u 11

Westerman, William

July

4,

1897

"

Wilkinson, Bessie

November,

1900

11 it

Wilkinson, Fred

November,

1902

From probation

Wilkinson, James H.

January

7,

1900

By certificate

Wilkinson, Louise

November,

1902
From probation
Wilkinson, Roselvena
January
7,
1900
By certificate
Williams, James
March,
1893
From probation
Williams, Mary
November
1,
1896
11 11
Willouby, Emma
March
1,
1903
By certificate
Wolcott, Minnie
March,
1893
11 11
Woodruff, Martha A.
March
16,
1873
From probation
Wright, Lizzie
M^rch,
1893
11 11
Young, Arthur R.
November,
1900
By certificate
Young, Mrs. Arthur R.
November,
1900
11 11
Yoxall, John
November
7,
1897
From probation
Yoxall, Mary J.
September
6,
1896
11 it
The following members have removed from Ansonia without
taking Church letters :
Name.
Date of admission as full members,
How received.
Atkinson, Wellington L.
September
2,
1900
From probation
Branch, Bessie
September
6,
1896
a tt
Compton, Blanche
September
3,
1899
By certificate
Dodge, Daniel G.
March
7,
1875
11 11
Dodge, Elizabeth
March
7,
1875
11 11
Dodge, William W.
September
6,
1896
From probation
French, Laura A-
September
7,
1884
By certificate
Prisk, Rosetta
August,
1884
From probation
Soden, Jonathan
October
6,
1895
By certificate
Soden, Martha
October
6,
1895
11 11
Soden, Robert
January
2,
1898
From probation
Trumpbour, George B.
August,
1885
11 11
Trumpbour, Jacob
December
1,
1884
By certificate
Trumpbour, Kate
February
6,
1888
From probation
Trumpbour, Laura
December
1,
1884
By certificate
Williams, Mrs. C. E.
August
3L
1889
From probation
Winn, Mary
March
6,
1897
11 11
158 METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH,
Probationers April i, 1903.
Bisbee, Edith. Lugg, Emma.
Brown, Elizabeth. Phillips, George.
Brown, Julia A. Pryor, Grace M.
Duncan, Joseph B. Sears, Annie.
Duncan, Mary B. Smith, Bernice Haines.
Haines, Arthur. Stephens, Maud L.
Hand, Cadet H. Toothill, Elizabeth.
Leeper, Anna Belle. Wilkinson, Willie.
Leeper, Mary G. Worthington, Margaret.

Names of Presiding Elders who have presided over this charge.
1851 Heman Bangs. Ansonia was then in New Haven District.
1852 William H. Norris. "
18531854 Edmund L. Janes.
185s1856 E. E. Griswold. Ansonia was then in Bridgeport District.
1857

1858

ii

n

tt

1859

"

a

tt

i860

William C. Hoyt.

a

tt

1861

u

• t
tt
1862
'*
>(
tt
1863
a
"
"
1864
Benjamin Pillsbury.
"
"
1865
Nathaniel Mead.
tt
"
1866
((
it
"
1867
tt
"
(1
1868
a
''
"
1869
Thomas G. Osborne.
"
it
1870
tt
"
11
1871
ii
"
"
1872
Moses L. Scudder.
"
"
1873
a
.1
"
1874
"
"
"
1875
(<
tt
"
1876
George A. Hubbell.
"
"
1877
William T. Hill. From this time Ansonia has been in the New Haven
District.
1878
"
ii
l(
1879
a
ii
(1
1880
George A. Hubbell.
"
((
1881
"
"
it
1882
n
"
"
1883
i%
"'
*'
REV. W. A. RICHARD, PRESIDING ELDER.

ANSONIA, CONNECTICUT.

161

1884 188518861887 188818891890 1891189218931894 1895 1896189718981899 190019011902 1903

William H. Wardwell. From this time Ansonia has been in the New
Haven District.

John W. Beach.

J. Crandall North.

John E. Adams.

W. A. Richard.

The following is a list of the Board of Trustees from 185 1 to
1903:

1851 Albert Hotchkiss.
Abraham Hubbell.
Isaac Blackman.
Mungo P. Wilson.
J. B. Brewer.
1852 Albert Hotchkiss.
Abraham Hubbell.
Isaac Blackman.
Mungo P.. Wilson.
J. B. Brewer.
1853 Albert Hotchkiss.
Abraham Hubbell.
Isaac Blackman.
Mungo P. Wilson.
J. B. Brewer.
1854 Albert Hotchkiss.
Abraham Hubbell.
Mungo P. Wilson.
Thomas Mills.
1855 Albert Hotchkiss.
Abraham Hubbell.
Mungo P. Wilson.
Thomas Mills.
1856 Albert Hotchkiss.

Abraham Hubbell.
Mungo P. Wilson.
Thomas Mills.
John A. Bland.
1857 Albert Hotchkiss.
Mungo P. Wilson.
Thomas Mills.
John A. Bland.
John James.
1858 Albert Hotchkiss.
Mungo P. Wilson.
Thomas Mills.
John A. Bland.
John James.
1859 Albert Hotchkiss.
Mungo P. Wilson.
Thomas Mills.
John A. Bland.
John James.
i860 Albert Hotchkiss.
Mungo P. Wilson.
Thomas Mills.
John A. Bland.
John James.

1 62

METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH,

1861 Albert Hotchkiss.
Mungo P. Wilson.
Thomas Mills.
John A. Bland.
John James.
1862 Albert Hotchkiss.
Mungo P. Wilson.
Thomas Mills.
John A. Bland.
John James.
1863 Albert Hotchkiss.
Mungo P. Wilson.
Thomas Mills.
John A. Bland.
John James.
1864 Albert Hotchkiss.
Mungo P. Wilson.
Thomas Mills.
John A. Bland.
John James.
Joseph Moore.
George Scott.
1865 Mungo P. Wilson.
John A. Bland.
John James.
Thomas Mills.
Joseph Moore.
George Scott.
1866 Charles E. Page.
John A. Bland.
John James.
Richard Allen.
Emory Hotchkiss.
William Rennison.
Joseph Moore.
George O. Schneller.
Joseph N. Booth.
1867 Joseph Moore.
George O. Schneller.
Joseph N. Booth.
George W. Wells.'
Emory Hotchkiss.
John James.
David Chadeayne.
George Bassett.
Edward O. Peck.
1868 Joseph Moore.
George O. Schneller.
Joseph N. Booth.
George W. Wells.

Emory Hotchkiss.
John James.
David Chadeayne.
George Bassett.
Edward O. Peck.
1869 Joseph Moore. '
George O. Schneller.
Joseph N. Booth.
George W. Wells.
Emory Hotchkiss.
John James.
David Chadeayne.
George Bassett.
Edward O. Peck.
1870 L. T. Wooster.
John James.
Emory Hotchkiss.
David Chadeayne.
George Bassett.
Edward O. Peck.
Joseph Moore.
Joseph N. Booth.
George O. Schneller.
1871 L. T. Wooster.
John James.
W. F. Osborne.
David Chadeayne.
George Bassett.
Edward O. Peck.
Joseph N. Booth.
Joseph Moore.
George O. Schneller.
1872 L. T. Wooster.
John James.
W. F. Osborne.
George O. Schneller.
Joseph Moore.
David Chadeayne.
George Bassett.
Edward O. Peck.
Joseph N. Booth.
1873 L. T. Wooster.
John James.
Edward O. Peck.
Elmer Morse.
Joseph N. Booth.
J. C Trumpbour.
Nathaniel Light.
George Bassett.
William Balfour.

ANSONIA, CONNECTICUT.

163

1874 L. T. Wooster.
Elmer Morse.
George Bassett.
Edward O. Peck.
George W. Livingston.
Joseph N. Booth.
William Balfour.
J. C. Trumpbour.
John James.
1875 L. T. Wooster.
John James.
Joseph N. Booth.
Elmer Morse.
William Balfour.
J. C. Trumpbour.
George Bassett.
Edward O. Peck.
George W. Livingston.
1876 L. T. Wooster.
John James.
Joseph N. Booth.
Elmer Morse.
William Balfour.
J. C. Trumpbour.
George Bassett.
Edward O. Peck.
George W. Livingston.
1877 L. T. Wooster.
John James.
George W. Livingston.
Samuel B. Bronson.
George Bassett.
J. C. Trumpbour.
William Balfour.
Elmer Morse.
Samuel Scott.
1878 John James.
Samuel Scott.
F. J. Terrell.
J. C. Trumpbour.
George W. Livingston.
Samuel B. Bronson.
George Bassett.
William Balfour.
Elmer Morse.
1879 John James.
Elmer Morse.
H. M. Brown.

J. C. Trumpbour.
Samuel Scott.
F. J. Terrell.
George W. Livingston.
Samuel B. Bronson.
George Bassett.
1880 John James.
William Balfour.
Elmer Morse.
J. C. Trumpbour.
H. M. Brown.
Samuel B. Bronson.
George W. Livingston.
Samuel Scott.
F. J. Terrell.
1881 John James.
John B. Perrins.
Charles N. Blanchard.
Samuel B. Bronson.
George W. Livingston.
William Balfour.
Elmer Morse.
H. M. Brown.
J. C. Trumpbour.
1882 John James.
Charles N. Blanchard.
John B. Perrins.
George W. Livingston.
William Balfour.
W. F. Page.
Samuel B. Bronson.
J. C. Trumpbour.
H. M. Brown.
1883 John James.
Charles N. Blanchard.
John B. Perrins.
George W. Livingston.
William Balfour.
W. F. Page.
J. C. Trumpbour.
1884 John James.
Charles N. Blanchard.
John B. Perrins.
George W. Livingston.
William Balfour.
W. F. Page.
J. C. Trumpbour.

164

METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH,

1885 John James.
George W. Livingston.
Charles N. Blanchard.
John B. Perrins.
W. F. Page.
William Balfour.
J. C. Trumpbour.
1886 John James.
George W. Livingston.
W. H. Foster.
W. B. Blackman.
Charles D. Evans.
Lewis M. Buckingham.
W. F. Page.
Charles N. Blanchard.
John B. Perrins.
1887 John James.
William Balfour.
Lewis M. Buckingham.
W. B. Blackman.
W. H. Foster.
W. F. Page.
Charles D. Evans.
George W. Livingston.
J. F. Oulds for six months.
1888 John James.
W. F. Page.
Charles D. Evans.
Lewis M. Buckingham.
George W. Livingston.
W. H. Foster.
W. B. Blackman.
William Balfour.
H. M. Brown.
1889 John James.
W. F. Page.
Charles D. Evans.
William Balfour.
H. M. Brown.
Lewis M. Buckingham.
W. H. Foster.
W. B. Blackman.
George W. Livingston.
1890 John James.
W. F. Page.
Charles D. Evans.
W. H. Foster.
George W. Livingston.
William Balfour.

W. B. Blackman.
Lewis M. Buckingham.
H. M. Brown.
1891 John James.
W. F. Page.
Charles D. Evans.
W. B. Blackman.
W. H. Foster.
George W. Livingston.
R. W. Lewis.
H. M. Brown.
Dwight Peck.
1892 John James.
George W. Livingston.
W. B. Blackman.
H. M. Brown.
Charles D. Evans.
W. H. Foster.
Dwight Peck.
R. W. Lewis.
W. F. Page.
1893 John James.
George W. Livingston.
W. B. Blackman.
H. M. Brown.
Charles D. Evans.
W. H. Foster.
Dwight Peck.
R. W. Lewis.
W. F. Page.
1894 John James.
George W. Livingston.
W. F. Page.
W. B. Blackman.
H. M. Brown.
Charles D. Evans.
W. H. Foster.
W. T. Mercer.
Thomas A. Perrins.
1895 John James.
George W. Livingston.
W. B. Blackman.
H. M. Brown.
Charles D. Evans.
W. H. Foster.
W. T. Mercer.
W. F. Page.
Thomas A. Perrins.

ANSONIA, CONNECTICUT.

I65

1896 John James.
George W. Livingston.
W. B. Blackman.
H. M. Brown.
Charles D. Evans.
W. H. Foster.
W. T. Mercer.
Frank J. Reeves.
Thomas A. Perrins.
1897 John James.
George W. Livingston.
W. B. Blackman.
H. M. Brown.
Charles D. Evans.
W. H. Foster.
W. T. Mercer.
Frank J. Reeves.
Thomas A. Perrins.
1898 H. M. Brown.
George W. Livingston.
Charles D. Evans.
W. H. Foster.
W. B. Blackman.
Frank J. Reeves.
W. T. Mercer.
John James.
Thomas A. Perrins.
1899 H. M. Brown.
George W. Livingston.
Charles D. Evans.
W. H. Foster.
W. B. Blackman.

Frank J. Reeves.
W. T. Mercer.
R. Y. Downs.
Franklin Burton.
1900 H. M. Brown.
J. J. Allingham.
Charles D. Evans.
W. H. Foster.
W. B. Blackman.
W. T. Mercer.
R. Y. Downs.
Franklin Burton.
Frank J. Reeves.
1901 Franklin Burton.
H. M. Brown.
J. J. Allingham.
W. T. Mercer.
George W. Livingston.
W. H. Foster.
Charles D. Evans.
R. Y. Downs.
Frank J. Reeves.
1902 Franklin Burton.
H. M. Brown.
J. J. Allingham.
George W. Livingston.
W. H. Foster.
Charles D. Evans.
W. T. Mercer.
R. Y. Downs.
Frank J. Reeves.

The following is a list of the Boards of Stewards so far as the
records disclose, from 1850 to 1903. The records are lost for the
missing years :

185 1 Albert Hotchkiss.
Abraham Hubbell.
1852 Albert Hotchkiss.
Abraham Hubbell.
George W. Coe.
1853 Albert Hotchkiss.
Abraham Hubbell.
George W. Coe.
1854 Abraham Hubbell.
Albert Hotchkiss.
David Parmelee.

Frederick A. Bailey.
1855 Albert Hotchkiss.
Abraham Hubbell.
David Parmelee.
1856 Albert Hotchkiss.
Abraham Hubbell.
David Parmelee.
1857 Albert Hotchkiss.
David Parmelee.
Joseph Moore.

1 66

METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH,

1858

Albert Hotchkiss.

Minor Blackman.

David Parmelee.

John A. Bland.

Joseph Moore.
Joseph N. Booth.
1859
Albert Hotchkiss.
Elliott R. Bassett.
David Parmelee.
1869
Joseph Moore.
Joseph Moore.
John James.
i860
Albert Hotchkiss.
Nathaniel Light.
David Parmelee.
Elmer Morse.
Joseph Moore.
John A. Bland.
1861
Albert Hotchkiss.
Joseph N. Booth.
James Booth.
Elliott R. Bassett.
Joseph Moore.
1870
Record missing.
James Beach.
1871
Record missing.
1862
Albert Hotchkiss.
1872
Record missing.
James Booth.
1873
Joseph N. Booth.
Joseph Moore.
William T. Mercer.
James Beach.
J. C. Trumpbour.
1863
Albert FIotchkiss.
Charles D. Evans.
James Booth.
George Eddy.
Joseph Moore.
D. Hall.
John James.
0. D. Sykes.
1864
Albert Hotchkiss.
John A. Bland.
James Booth.
Lewis M. Buckingham,
Joseph Moore.
1874
Record missing.
John James.
1875
Joseph N. Booth.
George Scott.
John A. Bland.
1865
Joseph Moore.
William T. Mercer.
John James.
Charles D. Evans.
James Booth.
George Eddy.
George Scott.
Samuel B. Bronson.
Frederick Wheeler.
Lewis M. Buckingham.
1866
Joseph Moore.
George W. Wells.
John James.
Emerson Babbitt.
George Scott.
1876
Record missing.
Frederick Wheeler.
1877
Record missing.
Elmer Morse.
1878
Record missing.
Jesse Moore.
1879
Record missing.
1867
Joseph Moore.
1880
Record missing.
John James.
1881
Record missing.
Nathaniel Light.
1882
W. B. Blackman.
Elmer Morse.
Thomas A. Perrins.
Minor Blackman.
Ebenezer Wing.
John A. Bland.
Lewis M. Buckingham.
Joseph N. Booth.
J. J. Allingham.
Elliott R. Bassett.
J. F. Oulds.
1868
Joseph Moore.
D. H. Smith.
John James.
W. R. Hawthorne.
Nathaniel Light.
Franklin Burton.
Elmer Morse.
ANSONIA, CONNECTICUT.

167

W. B. Blackman.
Ebenezer Wing.
Thomas A. Perrins.
John B. Perrins.
J. J. Allingham.
D. H. Smith.
J. F. Oulds.
W. R. Hawthorne.
Franklin Burton.
1884 W. B. Blackman.
Charles D. Evans.
Ebenezer Wing.
Thomas A. Perrins.
J. J. Allingham.
J. F. Oulds.
Franklin Burton.
W. R. Hawthorne.
Lewis M. Buckingham.
1885 J. J. Allingham.
W. T. Mercer.
Thomas A. Perrins.
W. B. Blackman.
F. J. Terrell.
Lewis M. Buckingham.
E. O. Goodrich.
Franklin Burton.
Charles D. Evans.
H. M. Brown.
James L. Beach.
Phillip Vivian.
W. H. Foster.
1886 J. J. Allingham.
H. M. Brown.
W. B. Blackman.
W. H. Foster.
E. O. Goodrich.
W. T. Mercer.
Thomas A. Perrins.
Phillip Vivian.
James L. Beach.
J. F. Oulds.
W. Allingham.
Charles Hudson.
1887 J. J. Allingham.
William Allingham.
H. M. Brown.
W. B. Blackman.
W. H. Foster.
Thomas A. Perrins.

Phillip Vivian.
James L. Beach.
John E. Lewis.
J. E. Hill.
John Bassford.
W. T. Mercer.
1888 J. J. Allingham.
William Allingham.
W. T. Mercer.
J. L. Beach.
John E. Lewis.
W. H. Foster.
J. F. Oulds.
Thomas A. Perrins.
F. J. Terrell.
John B. Perrins.
W. B. Blackman.
G. W. Adams.
1889 J. J. Allingham.
George W. Adams.
J. E. Hill.
John E. Lewis.
W. T. Mercer.
J. F. Oulds.
Thomas A. Perrins.
John Rennison.
R. W. Lewis.
1890 J. J. Allingham.
F. G. Fletcher.
R. W. Lewis.
Franklin Burton.
James L. Beach.
A. A. Vidal.
John E. Lewis.
R. Y. Downs.
George Lyons.
W. T. Mercer.
T. A. Perrins.
J. J. Wilson.
W. H. Foster.
1891 W. T. Mercer.
Joseph J. Wilson.
R. Y. Downs.
Andrew A. Vidal.
James L. Beach.
Ralph W. Emerson.
William Balfour.
J. J. Allingham.
John E. Lewis.

i68

METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH,

1892 W. T. Mercer.
Joseph J. Wilson.
F. G. Fletcher.
Thomas A. Perrins.
Samuel Hall.
R. Y. Downs.
Andrew A. Vidal.
James L. Beach.
Ralph W. Emerson.
William Balfour.
J. J. Allingham.
John E. Lewis.
1893 Joseph J. Wilson.
R. Y. Downs.
W. T. Mercer.
J. J. Allingham.
Thomas A. Perrins.
Samuel M. Hall.
John E. Lewis.
Andrew A. Vidal.
Ralph W. Emerson.
W. N. Houghtaling.
Charles L. Case.
F. H. Rogers.
George P. Doolittle.
1894 J. J. Allingham.
F. H. Rogers.
Thomas A. Perrins.
Ralph W. Emerson.
W. N. Houghtaling.
Andrew A. Vidal.
John E. Lewis.
Joseph J. Wilson.
Charles L. Case.
George P. Doolittle.
R. Y. Downs.
John D. Martin.
A. R. Tennant.
189S J. J. Allingham.
Charles L. Case.
George P. Doolittle.
Ralph W. Emerson.
W. N. Houghtaling.
John E. Lewis.
John D. Martin.
Thomas A. Perrins.
A. R. Tennant.
F. H. Rogers.

Andrew A. Vidal.
Joseph J. Wilson.
R. Y. Downs.
1896 J. J. Allingham.
Charles L. Case.
George P. Doolittle.
R. Y. Downs.
John Rennison.
John D. Martin.
Thomas A. Perrins.
F. H. Rogers.
Andrew A. Vidal.
Joseph J. Wilson.
John W. Partridge.
W. H. Buck.
F. G. Fletcher.
1897 J. J. Allingham.
W. H. Buck.
Charles L. Case.
George P. Doolittle.
R. Y. Downs.
F. G. Fletcher.
John D. Martin.
John W. Partridge.
John L. Rennison.
F. H. Rogers.
Andrew A. Vidal.
Joseph J. Wilson.
H. Seccombe.
1898 J. J. Allingham.
W. H. Buck.
Charles L. Case.
H. Seccombe.
R. Y. Downs.
Arthur Guild.
F. G. Fletcher.
John D. Martin.
F. H. Rogers.
Andrew A. Vidal.
Joseph J. Wilson.
John W. Partridge.
W. D. Locke.
1899 J. J. Allingham.
W. H. Buck.
Charles L. Case.
Harry Seccombe.
F. G. Fletcher.
John D. Martin.

MR. AND MRS. WILLIAM BALFOUR.

ANSONIA, CONNECTICUT.

171

1899 F. H. Rogers.
Joseph J. Wilson.
John W. Partridge.
Andrew A. Vidal.
W. D. Locke.
F. B. Hills.
George A. Cox.
Herbert Pratt.
1900 J. J. Allingham.
W. H. Buck.
Charles L. Case,
George A. Cox.
F. B. Hills.
W. D. Locke.
John D. Martin.
Herbert Pratt.
F. H. Rogers.
Harry Seccombe.
Andrew A. Vidal.
Joseph J. Wilson.
John W. Partridge.
1901 Charles L. Case.
Harry Seccombe.
Charles Hudson.
George A. Cox.
F. B. Hills.
W. D. Locke.
W. H. Buck.
F. G. Fletcher.

John W. Partridge.
Andrew A. Vidal.
Joseph J. Wilson.
John D. Martin.
F. H. Rogers.
1902 Charles L. Case.
George A. Cox,
F. B. Hills,
W. H. Buck.
William D. Locke.
John D. Martin,
John W. Partridge.
Francis H. Rogers.
Andrew A. Vidal.
Fred G. Fletcher.
Joseph J. Wilson.
1903 Charles L. Case.
F. B. Hills.
George A. Cox.
William D. Locke,
John D. Martin.
John W. Partridge.
Francis H. Rogers.
Andrew A. Vidal.
Herbert Pratt.
George E. Pendlow.
Arthur R. Young.
Fred G. Fletcher.

The present Class Leaders are William Balfour, whose class meets
Sunday mornings, an hour before the preaching service, in the
classroom of the Church, and Charles D. Evans, whose class meets
Friday evenings in the same room. Brother Balfour and Brother
Evans united with the Church in 1869, under the pastorate of Rev.
Charles S. Wing. Both have been prominent officials of the Church,
and great workers for the Master. Both have been Sunday School
superintendents. Mrs. Emma Evans, wife of Brother Charles D. Evans, united
with the Church by certificate in the latter part of 1867. She was
immediately invited to play the organ in the church and for ten
consecutive years did so without any remuneration. Brother Evans
has been the leader of the choir for many years, and both he and
his good wife have been members of the choir since the beginning
of their Church life.

172

METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH,

Mrs. Evans has been the teacher of the infant class in the Sunday
School for many years. Few, if any, have the record of faithful
loyalty to the Church and its interests as they have. Interested in
all departments of work, they are seldom absent. Their home has
been a home for Methodist ministers for many, many years. They
love the Church, they love their blessed Master, they love to do
good, and while they cannot see all the fruits of their labor here,
in the life to come we believe they will receive a rich reward, and
will know as they are known.
Brother W. H. Foster, who came to the Church during the
pastorate of Rev. R. H. Loomis in 1882, has been very active in
the work. He has very largely entered into the financial part of
the church work, and much of the success in this line has been
due to his efforts. He has been no less active in other lines of work.
Class Leaders as shown on the records from 1851 to 1903:

1850 Nathaniel Light.
J. B. Brewer.
185 1 Nathaniel Light.
J. B. Brewer.
1852 M. P. Wilson.
Nathaniel Light.
George W. Coe.
1853 M. P. Wilson.
Nathaniel Light.
George W. Coe.
1854 M. P. Wilson.
Nathaniel Light.
Cyrus Johnson.
1855 M. P. Wilson.
Nathaniel Light.
Cyrus Johnson.
1856 M. P. Wilson.
Cyrus Johnson.
Thomas Stubbs.
John A. Bland.
1857 M. P. Wilson.
Cyrus Johnson.
John A. Bland.
1858 M. P. Wilson.
Cyrus Johnson.
John A. Bland.
Allen M. Baker.
1859 Cyrus Johnson.
M. P. Wilson.

John A. Bland,
Allen M. Baker.
i860 M. P. Wilson.
Joseph Moore.
John A. Bland.
Allen M. Baker.
1861 M. P. Wilson.
Joseph Moore.
John A. Bland.
Allen M. Baker.
1862 M. P. Wilson.
Joseph Moore.
John A. Bland.
1863 M. P. Wilson.
Joseph Moore.
John A. Bland.
1864 M. P. Wilson.
Joseph Moore.
John A. Bland. ,
George Scott.
1865 M. P. Wilson.
Joseph Moore.
John A. Bland.
George Scott.
1866 Joseph Moore.
George Scott.
John A. Bland.
Allen M. Baker.
Charles E. Page.

CHARLES D. EVANS.

ANSONIA, CONNECTICUT.

175

1867

18691870187118721873

1874

1875

1876
1877187818791880
1881
1882

1883

1885

1886

Joseph Moore.
John A. Bland.
Allen M. Baker.
Charles E. Page,
Joseph Moore.
John A. Bland.
Nathaniel Light.
Allen M. Baker.

L. T. Wooster.
Nathaniel Light.
George Bassett.
L. T. Wooster.
Nathaniel Light.
George Bassett.
Elliott R. Bassett.
Nathaniel Light.
Ebenezer Wing.

W. F. Page.
Samuel Roberts.
Charles D. Evans.
George H. Bowes.
Charles D. Evans.
Samuel Roberts.
W. F. Page.
W. F. Page.
Charles D. Evans.
Samuel Roberts.
Samuel Roberts.
W. F. Page.
R. Johnston.
J. W. Stickney.
W. Allingham.
George H. Bowes.
Charles D. Evans.
Samuel Roberts.
W. F. Page.
John W. Stickney.
Richard Johnston.
Phillip Vivian.
J. C Trumpbour.

George H. Bowes.
Chas. D. Evans.
1887 W. Allingham.
Charles D. Evans.
1888 Charles D. Evans,
1889 Charles D. Evans.
1890 Charles D. Evans.
1891 Samuel Hall.
Charles D. Evans.
John Rennison.
Richard Johnston.
1892 Charles D. Evans.
Samuel Hall.
Richard Johnston.
1893 Richard Johnston,
George Pendlow.
R. F. LaTour.
Charles D. Evans.
1894 R- F. LaTour.
Richard Johnston,
George Pendlow.
Charles D. Evans.
1895 R. F. LaTour.
Richard Johnston.
William Balfour.
George Pendlow.
Charles D. Evans.
1896 W. Allingham.
William Balfour.
Charles D. Evans.
W. H. Foster.
R. O. Johnston.
R. F. LaTour.
George Pendlow.
1897 Charles D. Evans.
William Balfour.
W. H. Foster.
Richard O. Johnston.
1898 Charles D. Evans.
Rev. F. Saunders.
William Balfour.
1899 Charles D. Evans.
William Balfour.
John L. Rennison.
igoo Charles D. Evans.
William Balfour.
1901 Charles D. Evans.
William Balfour.
1902 Charles D. Evans.
William Balfour.

176 METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH,
Brother John James was one of the pioneers of Methodism in
Ansonia. He lived here from 1848 to the time of his death. He
was a devoted, loyal member of the Church; zealous for its wel
fare, constant in his attendance at all of the services, preaching,
prayer meetings, class meetings, Young People's meetings, and the
Sunday School ; seldom if ever failing to be present at nearly all
of these services, and continuing his work to the very last day that
he was able to go to church. He belonged to that class of Metho
dists, fast passing away, who loved the Church as a home, and
whose interest in the Master's work increased as the years passed
on. He was an active member of the Sunday School to the last of
his days, and was almost the last link between the beginnings of
Methodism in Ansonia, and the present life of the Church. He
died July 2, 1898, aged seventy-seven years three months eleven
days. His first wife was Mary Batchelor, sister of Anna M. James,
who is now the oldest member of the Church. His second wife,
Mary A. Sharpe, was received into the Church as a member, by
certificate, December 7, 1862. She is still living and during all these
years has been as devoted and faithful member of this Church as
her husband was. She has been the assistant lady superintendent of
the Sunday School for many years, respected and loved by every
one. Such lives are helpful and draw many to the Blessed Master.
We believe that when she enters the better life she will hear the
joyful words, "Well done."
Recollections of Brother John James.
Ansonia, Conn., January 17, 1887.
"I removed from Bridgeport to Ansonia June 13, 1848. At that
time there were only two mills in operation here, the cotton mill
(now idle) and the copper mill adjoining it. The Farrel Foundry
and Machine shop had commenced business, and the woolen mill
began a few days after (is now idle). The copper mill was much
smaller then than now, and the foundry and machine shop, I think,
was not more than one-eighth of its present size. The brass mill
south of Wallace & Son's was built soon afterwards, but they did
not start their works until the following summer. Wallace & Sons
did not build until some time afterward, and then only a small
part of what they now have. There were few houses, and few

JOHN JAMES.

ANSONIA, CONNECTICUT. I 79
people to live in them, and no churches. Those who lived here
attended church at Birmingham or Derby. There was a Methodist
Class here, whose members belonged to the Birmingham M. E.
Church. Abraham Hubbell was Leader.
Dr. Colburn was at that time building a store, with a hall above
it, and some of our Birmingham brethren thought it would be well
to rent that hall for the purpose of holding meetings in it. They
did so, and we sometimes had preaching. Soon after I left Bridge
port, Rev. Heman Bangs was appointed Presiding Elder, and came
here and preached one Sabbath evening, in the fall of that year. He
had a good congregation, and one of my shopmates said to me the
next day, that the singing was the best he had heard since he had
been in Ansonia. But the Methodists were only few in number, and
were poor, not having much of this world's goods, except what they
earned day by day, and our Birjningham brethren finding it burden
some to pay the rent, after a short time, made a transfer of the
hall to the Congregational Society, and sold their seats to them ;
the money received for the seats and other fixtures was deposited in
the Savings Bank for the Ansonia Methodists.
Thereafter, when we held meetings, we hired the hall from the
Congregationalists. This continued for some time longer. But
when Rev. J. M. Reid was in Birmingham as pastor he came to
Ansonia, and taking a subscription paper, went among the people
and collected quite a sum of money for the purpose of building a
church here. But our official brethren thought it would not be
advisable to build at that time, as our numbers were small and we
were poor. After much consultation, it was decided to erect a
building, having two stores on the first floor and a room over them
for a church, until we could do better.
The Ansonia M. E. Church was organized in 185 1. What its
numbers were I cannot tell. In 185 1 Rev. David Osborn was
appointed to Seymour and Ansonia, and preached here one Sabbath
in two, Rev. Sylvester Smith one Sabbath in four, and Brother
Joseph Smith, who was then living in Waterbury, preached one-
fourth of the time. In the winter of that year, we had a revival,
during which a good number were brought into the fold of Christ,
and into the Church. While the revival was in progress Brother
Osborn was taken sick, and for several weeks was unable to attend
to his pastorate duties ; the meetings were continued for some time,
with the help they received from other places. Brother Sylvester

l80 METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH,
Smith came often, preached and held prayer meetings. Brother
Joseph Smith of Waterbury, Brother Bisbee of New Haven, Rev.
Theodore Love joy, also came and preached and conducted prayer
meetings for two or three evenings. We were then holding meet
ings in our own room over the stores on the corner of Main and
Bridge streets. The church was dedicated in September, 185 1.
Rev. David Osborn was present and was in charge of the service.
After subscriptions were all in we found that we were in debt two
thousand dollars. Subscriptions were made for the whole debt
while the Rev. J. J. Woolley was pastor.
In the spring of 1852 our official brethren thought that we would
do better if we had a pastor for ourselves, and talked with the
Presiding Elder in relation to it, and the Conference sent Rev. J. L.
Peck. This was his first appointment, and he was our first pastor.
Rev. J. M. Reid came to Birmingham in 1849, and remained two
years. He came to Ansonia quite often, and preached. Our
brethren had offered to give the hall up to the Congregational
Society, but they did not want to pay for the seats, and some bad
feeling resulted. Brother Reid came one Sabbath evening and
preached from this text : "Let there be no strife, I pray thee, between
me and thee, and between my herdmen and thy herdmen, for we
be brethren." That settled that matter, as soon after that as they
could they took the hall, and paid for all the fixtures. The Congre-
gationalists were more in number, and held more than half the prop
erty in Ansonia.
Not long after their taking the hall, they built a church on the
hill east of Gardner's shop, which was burned down in October,
1865. The present stone church was build on the same site in

The above "Recollections of Brother John James" were written
out at his dictation, by Rev. R. S. Putney, and constituted, up to
the present effort, all of the historical record of the Church.

MUNGO PARK WILSON.

ANSONIA, CONNECTICUT. I 83

MUNGO PARK WILSON.
He came to Ansonia in 1848. His son, Alfred H. Wilson, was
born in Ansonia, August 1, 1848. M. P. Wilson was a member of
Class No. 1, Upper Ansonia, in 1850-51. In 1854 he was the Leader
of this Class. He was a member of the first Board of Trustees of
the Ansonia Church and continued an official until his removal from
the place. His son, Alfred H. Wilson, now living in Denver, Colo.,
writes me that his father "helped to organize the first Lodge of
Odd Fellows in Ansonia, and was the first machinist to work at
the Farrel Foundry and Machine Company, and was one of the
first to agitate free schools, and on that issue was elected chairman
of the school board in Ansonia for many years." He lived in the
house now occupied by William E. Crane, corner of Fourth and
North Main streets. He removed from Ansonia in 1866, and died
in Denver, Colo., May 5, 1893.
The home of M. P. Wilson and that of Albert Hotchkiss were
favorite places for Methodist ministers to stop at.
A letter received from Mr. Alfred H. Wilson, one of the first
Sunday School scholars in the Church, is of much interest, a copy
of which is here given : "Denver, Colorado. April 15th, 1903.
Mr.  .
Ansonia, Conn.
Dear Sir: — Yours of April 7th inst., acknowledging receipt of photo,
received. In regard to the organization of the first Sunday School connected
with the M. E. Church in Ansonia, I remember when Geo. W. Coe was
superintendent, and also when he died. I think it very likely he was the first
superintendent. In those' days my first Sunday School teacher was Mrs. John
James. I cannot remember anything about the Sunday School before that,
but I think I must have belonged to the first organization. I remember in
1853 Rev. E. S. Hebbard, who was the pastor, calling at our house and
asking how old I was, and I answered 4 months (I meant 4 years). He
laughed and said he thought I was a big boy for 4 months. I had red hair,
and he told me Moses had red hair, and patting me on the head, asked me
did I know that?
In the early settling of the village of Ansonia, by the building of the cotton
mill, and Farrel Foundry, and brass and copper and woolen mills, it brought
quite a number of people there from various towns in Connecticut. Before
the canal and reservoirs were made, Ansonia was composed of large farms.
Albert Hotchkiss's father was owner of large tracts of land there. I expect
the farmers in the early days attended church at Birmingham, if Methodists.

1 84 METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH,
At the starting of the village of Ansonia, my father was a member of
the Birmingham M. E. Church. I think-he moved to Ansonia in 1848. There
were quite a number of Methodist families who left Birmingham and settled
in Ansonia about that time. At first I think the Congregationalists and
Methodists held union services together, and later I believe the Methodists
would hold service one Sunday and the Congregationalists the next. At any
rate they met together for some time. The union services were held, I think,
in a building on the corner north of where Sperry Bros, kept a grocery store.
This was burned down and then I think that they met over E. Bartlett's
store. This is my recollection.
Rev. John M. Reid of Birmingham and David Osborn of Seymour, and
local preachers often preached for the Methodists. I think J. H. Bartholomew
was quite a leader among the Congregationalists, and it was proposed to
build a Congregational church, and have the Methodists join them, but as
many Methodist families were settling in the village it was thought best to
organize a new society. About this time Rev. John M. Reid, who was pastor
of the Birmingham M. E. Church, and was looking after the new society in
Ansonia, set to work to see if the Methodists could not have a church of
their own. I believe my father, Albert Hotchkiss, and Abraham Hubbell were
the principal leaders at first. Father told me that he and Rev. J. M. Reid
used to go together to solicit subscriptions for the new church, and they asked
every one, whether Methodists or not, to aid them. On one occasion they
called on Mr. Tucker, the father of Representative Reuben Tucker, who was
a well-to-do farmer and asked him if he would help them build their new
church, and he replied yes, I will help you ; my wife is a Presbyterian and
I am a sinner; I will give you $50,' and he did. The Methodists in
Birmingham also helped with their money and influence at the first. Messrs.
Squire Gilbert, Geo. W. Cheesman, John W. Osborne and Mr. Summers were
among the active ones. These men often called at our house to talk over
the matter.
Our family Bible was the first one used by the Society at the organization,
and they used it until they finally bought one of their own. My father used
to carry the big Bible under his arm to church on a Sunday morning, and
when the service was over for the day, would bring it home again. In those
days we had preaching at 10 A. m., Sunday School between 12 and 1 p. m.
Most of the Sunday School scholars, or a large number, carried lunches with
them, which they ate after Sunday School closed. Preaching again at 2 p. m.
and prayer meeting in the evening. This was the custom in those days.
The Birmingham M. E. Church was a strong and flourishing society fifty
years ago, and could always afford to pay for the best talent in the New York
East Conference.
There were many local preachers in the early days that used to preach
occasionally in Ansonia. I might mention Rev. Beecher of Birmingham,
Sylvester Smith of Seymour, John Peck and Gilbert Oakley of Bridgeport,
and others from New Haven. Rev. David Osborn, the pastor of the Seymour
M. E. Church, often preached, and generally stopped at my father's house.
Albert Hotchkiss was probably the wealthiest member of the society in
Ansonia and was a liberal man in giving to the support of the Church, and

ANSONIA, CONNECTICUT. 1 85
his house was always open to the preachers in the early days. He was
troubled with asthma, and never went out evenings, and, I think, being
president of the Official Board, the board always accommodated him by hold
ing meetings at his home. Among the early pastors who preached in Ansonia
I consider Rev. John Pegg, Jr., the most famous. His father was a preacher
and I believe a member of the New York Conference. Rev. John Pegg, Jr.,
was stationed in Ansonia in 1854 and before this I think had been stationed
at Simsbury. He was a matchless pulpit orator, and the M. E. Church in
Ansonia used to be crowded to the doors to hear him.
In the first church on each end of the communion rail was a large lamp
and a large globe over each chimney. I remember on one occasion when he
was preaching, and getting warmed up in his discourse, and walking back
ward and forward, from one end of the pulpit to the other, he raised his
arm to make a gesture, and down came his hand on top of the globe, and
smashed it, cutting his fingers so they bled freely. He took out his handker
chief and bound up his fingers, and kept right on with his discourse as though
nothing had happened. After he finished his two years in Ansonia his fame
spread and he went to New York and afterwards filled the best appointments
within the gift of the New York East Conference, never again occupying so
small an appointment as Ansonia. If ever a preacher was loved by a con
gregation he was.
Among the members of the church choir in those days I remember Benj.
Freese and wife, William Wallace and his wife, Mr. and Mrs. Burwell
Bradley, Mr. and Mrs. Geo. W. Coe. They had a melodeon, bass viol, and
other instruments for music. Mr. Freese was the choir leader, and the choir
was often complimented for its singing.
It might not be amiss to give you a little history of my father, Mungo
Park Wilson. He was born in Glasgow, Scotland, June 30, 1818, and was
brought up as a Presbyterian, his mother being a member of Dr. Thomas
Chalmers' church there. Dr. Chalmers was said to have been the chief
organizer of the Free Church of Scotland, and was one of the greatest
preachers Scotland ever produced. Mr. Wilson's father and grandfather were
officers in the British army in Scottish Highlander regiments. He learned
the trade of a machinist in one of the large steamship works on the river
Clyde, in Glasgow. He was married to Anne Woodmass, an English girl,
in 1842, at the parish church in Cockermouth, Cumberland County, England,
the ceremony being performed by Rev. C. C. Southey, son of the poet-laureate,
according to the rites of the Established Church. He went to London and
engaged his services to the celebrated East India Company, to take charge
of putting up some machinery which they were sending to the Island of
Mauritius, off the coast of South Africa, but delays occurred, and not wish
ing to wait, he and his bride took passage for New York, in a sailing vessel,
in January, 1843, and after a stormy time, arrived there after a six weeks'
voyage. He worked in Schenectady and New York City, and from there went
to Derby, and when Ansonia was started went there and settled. He was
the first machinist to work at the Farrel Foundry and Machine Co. He
helped to organize the first lodge of I. O. O. F. in Ansonia. When the
agitation for free schools in Ansonia started he was foremost in the move-
13

1 86 METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH,
ment, and as a result, was chairman of the Ansonia School Board a num'ber
of terms. He died May 5, 1893, in Denver, Colorado, nearly 75 years old.
He had been an active church member nearly fifty years. .My mother died
September 1, 1902, nearly 85 years old, her intellect clear to the last, her
death coming to her like going to sleep. She had been a professing Christian
about sixty-seven years.
The early members of the Ansonia M. E. Church were a class of earnest
workers. Hoping you may get a glimpse of the work done in the early days
and the actors in those days, from these lines I have written, I remain,
Yours very truly, Alfred H. Wilson."
In his letter he also wrote of Joseph Moore, who- united with the
Ansonia Methodist Church on probation May 2, 1856, was a steward,
trustee, class leader, and a prominent and active member for many
years. He removed from the Church by certificate in 1871 ; moved
to Colorado, and died at Greeley, Colo., February 25, 1902, eighty-
one years old.

The first record of Brother John A. Bland and his wife, Emma
Bland, is the record of members of Class No. 3, Cyrus Johnson,
1854, Leader. He was the happiest Christian, I think, that the
Church ever had as a member. Those who knew him will never
forget him. For many years he was a class leader, and was active
in all departments of church work, always happy and smiling, with
a countenance expressive of his religious enjoyment. He was one
of the Fathers of the Church, an inspiration to all who knew him.
He died in great triumph, September, 1882, at Monticelli, N. Y.
His wife, Emma Bland, died, as the records say, in great peace,
April 7, 1867. He married for second wife, Mary A. Booth, widow
of James Booth, June 1, 1868.

JOHN A. BLAND.

MRS. EMMA BLAND.

I92 METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH,
We would not foget to mention the names of James Booth and
his wife, Sarah Booth. They were among the first members of this
Church in 1851. Brother Booth was sexton of the first church, and
both were zealous in their work and interest in the blessed work
for Christ in the Church. Their home was one of the first places of
meetings of Methodists in Ansonia, before the church was built.
Their children, Joseph N. Booth, Mary Booth, wife of W. R. Mott,
Martha Booth, wife of Julius A. Bristol, were all members of the
Ansonia Methodist Church in its early history. James Booth died
October 21, 1866, and his wife, Sarah Booth, died December 3, 1861.
David L. Durand was a member of the Church in 1861, and
assistant superintendent of the Sunday School. The record says :
"he joined the army." Fie did indeed enlist in the United States
army and served his country honorably during the War of the
Rebellion. He is now living in Los Angeles, Cal.
Henry Hoar was a prominent member for several years, a local
preacher and secretary of the Young Men's Christian Association,
doing good in every position he occupied.
Rev. Edward D. Bassett, son of Elliott R. Bassett, was one of the
boys in our Sunday School ; now an acceptable and useful preacher
of the Gospel at St. Paul's Methodist Episcopal Church, Waterbury,
Conn. Wilbur F. Page was long a member of the Church, an earnest
worker, a trustee and exhorter for many years, and of great useful
ness to the Church. Mention might be made of a host of others,
but it would cover too large a space.
As we close this effort to collect and publish the records of this
Church, there comes to the writer a feeling of thankfulness for the
privilege of entering into this work, not that it has been an easy task,
but because it has placed him in touch with the spirit and life of
those who started this great work for the Master, and have carried
it on for so many years. The labor cannot compare with the profit
and pleasure of the association with the men and women of God,
who have labored in this vineyard for over fifty years. The letters
from the living ministers have been a delight, and the memoirs of
those who have passed away (read in full, but not fully copied
here) have been an inspiration and help that will never be forgotten.

JAMES BOOTH.

SARAH BOOTH.

ANSONIA, CONNECTICUT.

I97

NAMES OF ALL MEMBERS OF THE CHURCH,
January i, 1851, to April i, 1903.

Adams, George W.
Adams, John.
Adams, Margaret.
Adams, Margaret M.
Adams, Rebecca Ann.
Allen, Lucinda.
Allen, Richard.
Alling, Esther G.
Allingham, Grace.
Allingham, Isabella.
Allingham, James J.
Allingham, Mary.
Allingham, Mary Jane.
Allingham, Mary W.
Allingham, William.
Anderson, Maria.
Andrews, Amelia.
Andrews, Annie J.
Andrews, Christopher.
Andrews, Mary J.
Andrews, Olive C.
Andrews, Samuel.
Armstrong, Anna R.
Armstrong, Georgia.
Armstrong, Mary A.
Armstrong, Mary Jane.
Arthur, Charles M.
Arthur, Emma J.
Arzani, Roanna.
Ashtoro, Mrs. Elizabeth.
Atkinson, Wellington L.
Axon, Anna.
Babbitt, Alva.
Babbitt, Emerson L.
Babbitt, Mary B.
Babgock, Marion L. (Hammond).
Badger, Allyn S.
Badger, Annie M.
Baglin, Louisa.
Bailey, Frederick A.
Bailey, Mrs. Martha.
Bailey, Selina.
Baker, Allen M.

Baker, Emily.
Baker, Jeanette.
Baker, Margaret.
Baker, Sarah A.
Baldwin, Nellie J.
Baldwin, Sarah.
Baldwin, Waldun.
Baldwin, Walter.
Baldwin, Walter F.
Baldwin, Willis B.
Balfour, Annah.
Balfour, Martha B. (Prince).
Balfour, William.
Barnard, Cassie.
Barnard, George L.
Barnard, Mary E.
Barnes, Elizabeth J.
Barrett, Martha J.
Barrett, William.
Bartlett, Sarah H. E.
Bartlette, Isabell.
Bassett, Ann A.
Bassett, Charles H.
Bassett, Edward D.
Bassett, Elliott R.
Bassett, Elliott R., Jr.
Bassett, James J.
Bassett, Julia P.
Bassett, Mary E.
Bassford, John.
Bassford, Maud.
Bassford, Sarah.
Bassford, Sarah A.
Bassford, Ruth E.
Bastedo, Sadie A.
Batcheler, Ella A.
Batcheler, Flavia A.
Batcheler, Martha.
Batchelor, Ann G.
Batchler, George H.
Battisby, Elizabeth.
Battisbee, James.
Baxter, Robert.

198

METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH,

Bazley, Nellie.
Beach, D. F.
Beach, Eva.
Beach, James B.
Beach, James L.
Beach, Sarah E.
Beach, Virginia.
Beaumont, Martha A.
Beaumont, William B.
Bedggood, James.
Bedggood, Mary.
Beegan, Rosa.
Beers, Sarah M.
Bentley, Ann.
Bentley, Hannah.
Bentley, Ellen.
Bentley,  .
Beyson, Mary A.
Bisbee, Anna.
Bisbee, Anna V.
Bisbee, Elnora.
Bisbee, Fannie Maria.
Bisbee, George.
Bisbee, George S.
Bisbee, Ida G.
Bisbee, Margaret.
Bisbee, Rebecca Selina.
Bisbee, Win slow.
Bishop, Emma.
Bishop, George.
Bishop, James A.
Bishop, Polly M.
Blackman, Alice E.
Blackman, Betsey.
Blackman, Ella J.
Blackman, George M.
Blackman, Harriett (Johnson).
Blackman, Harriett N.
Blackman, Isaac.
Blackman, J. Minor.
Blackman, William B.
Blackman, William M.
Blake, Harriett.
Blakeley, Ann.
Blakeslee, Henrietta.
Blakeslee, Isaac L.
Blanchard, Charles N.
Blanchard, Harriett A.

Bland, Emma.
Bland, John A.
Bland, Mary (Booth).
Blewett, Helena.
Blewett, John H.
Bloss, Charlotte.
Bloss, John.
Blum, D. H.
Boddy, Francis.
Boddy, Francis, Jr.
Boddy, John H.
Boddy, Samuel.
Bonney, C. S.
Bonney, Mrs. C. S.
Booth, Emma Jane.
Booth, Hannah.
Booth, James.
Booth, Joseph N.
Booth, Lena.
Booth, Miriam L.
Booth, Sarah.
Bottomly, Ann.
Bottomly, Hannah.
Botsford, E. N.
Bouton, Frank J.
Bouton, Hattie L.
Bouton, James K.
Bouton, Lizzie L.
Bouton, Mary A.
Bouton, Sarah.
Bowen, Blanche E. (Lewis).
Bowers, Joel F.
Bowes, George H.
Bowes, Mary L.
Bradbury, Frank.
Bradbury, Laura E. (Puckey).
Bradley, Emma.
Bradley, Eva.
Brague, Ellen L.
Brague, Mabel E.
Branch, Bessie.
Brannen, Carrie F.
Brannen, Ella E.
Brannen, George H.
Brannen, George W.
Brannen, John H.
Brewer, J. B.
Bridgeman, Alphonso.

ANSONIA, CONNECTICUT.

Briggs, Mary E.
Briggs, Sarah E.
Bristol, Ida A. (Hemingway).
Bristol, Martha A. (Booth).
Bristol, Nathan.
Brockway, Peter.
Brodie, Henrietta.
Bronson, Elizabeth.
Bronson, Martha Jane.
Bronson, Mary.
Bronson, Samuel B.
Brooks, Florilla D.
Brooks, George.
Brooks, Hattie (Terrill).
Brooks, Lowell E.
Brooks, Samuel.
Brooks, Sarah.
Brown, Charles Henry.
Brown, George.
Brown, Horatio M.
Brown, Julia L. (Wilkinson).
Brown, Nettie Eleanor.
Brown, William.
Bryan, Jennie G.
Buck, Mrs. Catharine.
Buck, Ella L.
Buck, Ethel M.
Buck, H. Louise.
Buck, Mary.
Buck, Mary.
Buck, Mary B.
Buck, Ruth E.
Buck, W. J. P.
Buck, W. H.
Buckingham, Elizabeth.
Buckingham, Emily.
Buckingham, Emily J.
Buckingham, Fanny.
Buckingham, Fanny L.
Buckingham, George H.
Buckingham, Hattie.
Buckingham, Isaac.
Buckingham, Lewis M.
Buckingham, M. N.
Buckingham, Margaret.
Buckingham, Maria E.
Bunnell, Annas M.
Bunnell, Jane M.

Bunnell, Mary A.
Bunnell, Sarah E.
Burton, Franklin.
Butcher, James.
Butcher, Mrs. James.
Buys, Ada A.
Buys, Isaac.
Cahoe, Betsey E.
Calkins, Elizabeth.
Calkins, Ella M.
Calkins, Mariah.
Camp, Aggie M.
Camp, Charles E.
Camp, Jane M.
Camp, Jeannette.
Camp, Nellie G.
Capel, John.
Carey, Sarah J.
Carman, Sebra A.
Carroll, George P.
Carroll, Louisa M.
Carter, Kewes.
Cartright, Edgar S.
Case, Charles L.
Case, George.
Case, Nellie L.
Castle, Polly.
Cawley, Lizzie.
Cawley, Hannah.
Cawthorne, 
Cawthorne, 

Chadeayne, David.
Chadeayne, Lizzie.
Chadwick, Cora R.
Chagwin, Samuel.
Chirgwin, May.
Clark, Alvira E.
Clark, Charles A.
Clark, Charles D.
Clark, David- J.
Clark, Eliza.
Clark, John.
Clark, John.
Clark, John.
Clark, Laura M.
Clark, Lillian C.
Clark, Samuel M.
Clement, John R.

200

METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH,

Clinton, Sarah J.
Clinton, Wallace.
Closson, George.
Coe, George W.
Coe, Sarah.
Coggswell, Sally.
Colburn, Sumner.
Colburn, Mrs. Sumner.
Coleman, Peter.
Colley, Mrs. Mary.
Combellack, Nicholas.
Como, Edward F.
Compton, Blanche.
Conklin, Angeline.
Conklin, Emeline.
Con solly, Mary.
Cook, Henry.
Cook, Julia M.
Coombs, Joseph.
Coombs, Mary.
Coulter, Emeline.
Co well, Hattie S.
Co well, William.
Cowles, William H.
Cox, Edwin A.
Cox, Eliza.
Cox, George.
Cox, John.
Cox, Mary A.
Craig, Hugh.
Crankshaw, Margaret.
Crankshaw, Robert.
Crofton, Estella M.
Crook, Henry.
Crossman, Alvaretta M.
Crossman, Louisa M.
Crossman, Mary M.
Crossman, William H.
Crowther, Mrs. Maggie (Evans).
Culver, J. S.
Culver, Mary D.
Cunningham, Mary Eleanor.
Curtiss, Annie I. (Hassard).
Curtiss, Laura.
Davidson, James P.
Davidson, Maggie.
Davidson, Margaret.
Davidson, Sarah E. (Andrew).

Davy, James.
Day, Alice.
Dayton, Mary A.
DeForest, Almira.
DeForest, Clarence R.
DeForest, William.
Deming, Abner.
Deming, Mary A.
Dent, Nellie Louise.
DeWitt, Hattie.
Dick, Isabella.
Dick, James.
Dockum, Charles.
Dockum, Marcia.
Dodge, Daniel G.
Dodge, Elizabeth.
Dodge, Lily M.
Dodge, Lizzie.
Dodge, Philena.
Dodge, William H.
Dodge, William, Sr.
Dodge, William W.
Dodge, Ziantha.
Donnelly, Eunice.
Doolittle, Ella.
Doolittle, George P.
Dothery, Jane E.
Downs, Minnie W.
Downs, Roscius Y.
Drew, Caroline.
Drew, Emma.
Drew, Morris.
Driesow, Ella (Dodge).
Driesow, William.
Dugmore, Alice C.
Duncan, Alida.
Duncan, Charlotte.
Duncan, Eliza A.
Duncan, Isabella.
Duncan, John W.
Duncan, Lela D.
Durand, David L.
Duxbury, Jane E.
Eddy, Fannie.
Eddy, George.
Eddy, Maria.
Edmonds, Mary R.
Edwards, Ella.

ANSONIA, CONNECTICUT.

201

Elkins, C. W.
Elkins, Grace E.
Ellis, Emma.
Ellis, George.
Ellis, Margaret Crankshaw.
Ellis, Sarah.
Emerson, Mary L.
Emerson, Ralph W.
Evans, Charles D.
Evans, Emma (Dent),
Evans, FIannah.
Evans, John W.
Evans, Mrs. Margaret.
Fairchild, Isabel J.
Fairchild, Mary Jane.
Farrell, David.
Farrell, Margaret.
Feeney, Martha A.
Fillmore, A. D.
Fillmore, Lillie F.
Fillmore, Margaret.
Fisher, Mary M.
Fletcher, Emma Whitehall.
Fletcher, Fred.
Fletcher, Frederick G.
Fogg, John S.
Fogg, Mrs. John S.
Ford, Ellen.
Ford, James.
Ford, Stephen.
Ford, Mrs. Stephen.
Foster, Charles B.
Foster, Grace A. (Roberts).
Foster, Hattie (Van Riper),
Foster, William H.
Freeman, Jane M.
Freeze, Lucinda J.
French, Elizabeth.
French, Hattie M.
French, John W.
French, Laura A.
French, Mary E.
Fuller, Grace L.
Fuller, Hannah M.
Fuller, Warren.
Gamble, Annie J. (Hassard).
Gardner, Dwight.
Gibson, Alexander. 14

Gibson, William.
Gilbert, Ada A.
Gilbert, Albert.
Gilbert, Edgar.
Gilbert, Eugenia.
Gilbert, Heber U.
Gilbert, James.
Gilbert, Mrs. Jennie,
Gilbert, Miss Jennie,
Gilbert, Sidney.
Gillette, Andrew J.
Gillette, James.
Gillette, Mrs. James.
Gillette, Nelson.
Gill, Acnes.
Gillis, Delia.
Gladding, Sylvia M.
Glenn, Sarah A.
Goins, Sally.
Goodall, Elizabeth.
Goodall, George W.
Goodall, Mrs.  .
Goodrich, Edward O.
Goodrich, Martha A.
Goodrich, Sadie.
Goodwin, Henry.
Goodwin, Howard P.
Goodwin, Mary.
Goodwin, Nettie (Roberts).
Gordon, Alice (Holmes).
Gorham, Charles F.
Gorham, Sarah S.
Gorse, Ellen.
Gould, Catherine.
Graham, Charlotte.
Greatorex, Fanny L.
Greatorex, John G
Greatorex, Rubie.
Griffin, Harvey C.
Griffith, Betsey E.
Griffith, Ferdinand.
Griffith, Martha A.
Guild, Arthur.
Guild, Lizzie.
Guild, Willis.
Guild, Mrs. Willis.
Haines, Mrs. Emma.
Haines, Miss Emma.

202

METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH,

FIaines, Walter.
Haines, William.
Haines, Willie.
Hall, Allie.
Hall, Amelia.
Hall, Beach.
Hall, David, Jr.
Hall, David M.
Hall, Esther.
Hall, Jane.
Hall, Samuel.
Hall, Samuel W. H.
Hall, Sarah.
Hall, Susan.
Hamilton, Flora.
Hammond, Edith C.
Hammond, Fannie A.
Hammond, Frank O.
Hammond, Fred H. L.
Hammond, Grace L.
Hammond, Samuel M., Jr.
Hanchett, Charles M.
Hanchett, Elizabeth S.
Hand, Margaret E.
Hannahs, Elizabeth.
Hansee, Minnie E.
Hansee, Sadie.
Hard, Carrie.
Hard, Hattie A.
Harding, Hannah.
Harding, Otis Mabel.
Harding, Samuel E. T.
Harvey, Ann M.
Hassard, Jane C.
Hassard, Hugh.
Hassard, Martha.
Hassard, Thomas.
FIawkins, Charlotte.
Hawley, Abraham.
Hawley, Ann.
Hawley, Eugenia.
Hawley, William D.
Hawthorne, Celia.
Hawthorne, William.
Hayes, Mrs. Elizabeth.
Hazen, Catherine.
Hebbard, R. E.
Hemingway, Carrie F.

Hemingway, Frank E.
Hemingway, Isaac.
Hemingway, Mary C
Herring, F. R.
Hill, Cynthia.
Hill, Ellen.
Hill, Frank B.
Hill, Fannie M.
Hill, James.
Hill, John E.
Hill, Joseph.
Hill, Julia A.
Hill, Mary D.
Hill, Mary Jane.
Hill, Phebe A.
Hill, Porter N.
Hill, Thomas.
Hillhouse, Lavinia A.
Hoar, Eva.
Hoar, FIenry.
Hoar, Mary.
Hocking, Christina.
Hodgdon, Elizabeth.
Hodgdon, John.
Hodlin, Katie S.
Hodlin, Stephen D.
Holmes, Aggie (Trumpbour).
Holmes, Sarah E.
Hommidew, Sarah L.
Hosking, Laura.
Hotchkiss, Albert.
Hotchkiss, Augusta.
Hotchkiss, Elizabeth M.
Hotchkiss, Hattie.
Hotchkiss, Hattie A.
Hotchkiss, Jane L.
Hotchkiss, Nancy.
Hotchkiss, Sally M.
Hotchkiss, Wooster.
Houghtaling, W. N.
Howard, Anna,
Hubbell, Abraham.
Hubbell, Edward.
Hubbell, Emily L.
Hubbell, Evangeline.
Hubbell, Hannah.
Hubbell, Margaret A.
Hubert, Sigsmund.

ANSONIA, CONNECTICUT.

203

Hudson, Charles.
Hudson, Earl R.
Hudson, Jane R.
Hudson, Percy R. G.
Hulme, Elizabeth.
Hulme, Martha.
Hulme, William.
Hummell, Elizabeth.
Hurlburt, Jennie.
Hurlburt, Thomas.
Hutchinson, John Henry.
Hutchinson, Louisa.
Hutchinson, Mary J,
Hyde, Esther.
Iles, Edward.
Iles, Elizabeth.
Ineson, Emma.
Ineson, Joseph.
Irving, Kittie.
Irving, R. B.
Jackson, Annie,
Jackson, Eliza.
Jackson, Kate J.
James, Albert.
James, Anna M.
James, Emma.
James, John.
James, Mary (Batcheler).
James, Mary A. (Sharpe).
Jamieson, Archie.
Jamieson, Joseph.
Jamieson, Mrs. Joseph.
Jeffrey, Alice L.
Jeffrey, Olive H.
Jenkins, Eliza P.
Jenkins, Lilie.
Jenkins, Susie.
Johns, Stephen.
Johnson, Amelia (Mercer).
Johnson, Charles P.
Johnson, Cyrus.
Johnson, Fanny L.
Johnson, Fanny L., Jr.
Johnson, Francis C.
Johnson, Mary.
Johnson, Mary V.
Johnson, Rosina.
Johnston, Mary E.

Johnston, Richard O.
Johnston, Sarah E.
Jones, Anna.
Jones, James.
Jones, Hannah.
Jones, Lizzie.
Jones, Mary A.
Jordan, Avaretta.
Jordan, Carrie.
Jordan, Edwin Philip.
Jordan, Francis.
Jordan, Frank E.
Jordan, Frank F.
Jordan, Hannah E.
Jordan, Harriett E.
Judd, Sarah J.
Kawmann, Elinor C.
Kennedy, Kate.
Kimball, David.
Kimball, Harriett E.
Kimberly, Mary Jane.
Kimberly, Sylvia.
King, Edna A.
King, Emma (Andrew).
King, George.
King, Henry E.
King, Mary.
Kneen, Alfred.
Kneen, Helen (Veitch).
Kneen, Thomas.
Lamond, John.
Lamond, Margaret.
Lampert, John.
Lampert, Mrs. John.
Larmour, Josephine.
Lasher, Jennie.
Latour, Mrs. Iza A.
Latour, R. F.
Leavenworth, Sarah.
Leeper, Bertram.
Leeper, Melissa.
Leggo, Richard.
Leggo, William H.
Lewis, Ann.
Lewis, Charlotte.
Lewis, E. H.
Lewis, Mrs. E. H.
Lewis, Edward.

204

METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH,

Lewis, Emma L. (Edwards).
Lewis, John E.
Lewis, Margaret.
Lewis, Martha (Clark).
Lewis, Richard W.
Lewis, Simon.
Libly, Kate (Jenkins).
Light, John R.
Light, Mary.
Light, Nathaniel.
Livingston, George W.
Livingston, Martha E.
Lock, John.
Lock, Rosa.
Lockard, J.
Locke, Ethel E.
Locke, Louisa.
Locke, Martha J. (Clark).
Locke, William D.
Locke, Willie B.
Loomis, Emily M.
Loomis, Sadie.
Lowden, Mary.
Lowe, Minnie (Bassford).
Loyd, Charles F.
Loyd, Laura.
Lugg, Annie.
Lugg, Benjamin T.
Lugg, Charles.
Lugg, Mary C.
Lugg, Mary E.
Lugg, William G.
Luque, Benito.
Luque, Margaret.
Lutes, Lizzie.
Lutes, Rubie E. (Jamieson).
Lyman, Bryan.
Lyon, George.
Lyon, Mary H.
Lyons, A.
Lyons, Asael E.
Lyons, Etta.
Lyons, Hattie.
Lyons, Hattie S.
Lyons, Mary E.
Lyons, Mrs. George.
Mack, Mary E.
Mann, Mary.

Manville, Dora.
Manville, Ella J.
Manville, Hattie.
Manville, H. W.
Manville, Nettie.
Manville, Theodore D. L.
Martin, Emma.
Martin, John D.
Martin, Lizzie (Lugg).
Marvin, Elizabeth.
Marvin, Henry George.
Mathews, Mary E.
Maxfield, Rosetta.
Maxfield, Wilhelmina.
May, Elizabeth.
McAfee, James.
McAfee, Mrs. James.
McAfee, Jennie E.
McAfee, J. W.
McAfee, Ruth.
McAfee, S. J.
McAuLEY, ROSELLA.
McBrien, Abraham.
McBrien, Archibald.
McCarmie, Henry.
McElroy, Eunice,
McFarlane, W. C.
McKenzie, Betsey.
McKie, Jane.
McKie, Mrs. 
McKinley, Elizabeth M.
McKinley, Mary.
McKinley, Sarah.
McLaren, Annie.
McLean, Arthur.
McLean, Martha (Whitworth).
McLean, Mary (Myles).
McOrmund, A. R.
McOrmund, Cora.
McRae, Arletta (Downey).
Mead, W. E.
Meara, Noyes W.
Meeker, Mary.
Meenaghan, Margaret.
Meenaghan, Michael.
Mercer, Edward.
Mercer, Joseph.
Mercer, Kate.

ANSONIA, CONNECTICUT.

205

Mercer, Lewis E.
Mercer, Lois.
Mercer, Mary A.
Mercer, Sadie (Manville).
Mercer, William T.
Merrifield, Mary T.
Miatt, Eunice C
Miatt, Joseph J.
Milford, Henry P.
Milford, Julia J.
Miller, Caroline.
Miller, Lucinda.
Mills, Eliza S.
Mills, Elmer S.
Mills, Estella J. (Hartley).
Mills, Joseph.
Mills, Grace.
Mills, Margaret.
Mills, Thomas.
Mills, Thomas B.
Mitchell, Ellen J.
Moore, Ann.
Moore, Ellen.
Moore, Ellen.
Moore, Jesse T.
Moore, Joseph.
Morrow, Bryce.
Morrow, Susan.
Morse, Charles E.
Morse, Ella.
Morse, Elmer.
Morse, Fanny M.
Morse, Ida L.
Morse, Rosalinda.
Mosher, John H.
Mott, James H.
Mott, Mary A. (Booth).
Mott, Sarah J.
Moulton, Helen A.
Moulton, John F.
Myles, Ann.
Myles, John.
Myles, Maggie L.
Myles, Nellie.
Nankervis, Georgianna (Leggo).
Nankervis, John.
Nankervis, William.
Nettleton, Carrie M. (Brown).

Noe, Alexander.
Noe, Cora Arilla.
Noe, Elizabeth.
Odgen, James F.
Odgen, William L.
Omerod, Peter.
Osborne, Catherine.
Oulds, Emma L. (Mercer).
Oulds, Hannah.
Oulds, James F.
Owens, Elizabeth.
Page, Alice Mary (Turney).
Page, Charles E.
Page, Clifford E.
Page, Lizzie.
Page, Mary E.
Page, Wilbur F.
Parker, Charles.
Parmalee, David L.
Parmalee, Mary A.
Parmalee, Mary I.
Palmer, Albert.
Parsons, Charles.
Parsons, Mary.
Partridge, John W.
Patterson, Isaac S.
Patterson, Lulu.
Patterson, Ruth R.
Peck, Delia M.
Peck, Dwight F.
Peck, Edward O.
Peck, Elbert A.
Peck, Lottie H.
Peck, Mary M.
Pendlow, George.
Pendlow, Elizabeth.
Pendlow, Louva M.
Pendlow, Sarah E.
Perrins, Emily A. (Bassett).
Perrins, Rev. John.
Perrins, John B.
Perrins, Mary.
Perrins, Mary A.
Perrins, Minnie.
Perrins, Thomas A.
Peters, Edwin.
Peterson, Flora.
Phelps, Ira.

206

METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH,

Phillips, Emma J.
Pickle, Hannah.
Pickles, Albert.
Pickles, Bertha.
Pickles, James.
Pickles, Hannah.
Pitbaldo, Colon S.
Pitbaldo, Edward G.
Pitblado, Effie.
Platt, Frances.
Platt, James.
Platt, Mary.
Platt, Sally.
Platt, Sarah.
Plumb, Eudora E.
Pollard, Martha,
Pope, Frederika.
Pope, Hugo.
Pope, Maximilian.
Pope, Nettie (Hotchkiss).
Pope, William.
Pothecary, Mary A.
Powe, Mortimer W.
Powe, Nellie (White).
Pratt, Herbert.
Prisk, Annie J. (Treverrow).
Prisk, Rosetta.
Prisk, Samuel.
Puckey, Mary Ann.
Puckey, William.
Putney, Mrs. A. R.
Putney, Miss M. U.
Pryor, Elizabeth Grace.
Pryor, John.
Pulling, Betsey A.
Redshaw, John M.
Redshaw, Sarah.
Redshaw, Thomas M.
Reeves, Frank J.
Reeves, Jane M.
Reichling, Margaret.
Reichling, Mary E.
Reichling, William.
Rennison, Caroline.
Rennison, Caroline Alice.
Rennison, Charles P.
Rennison, Henrietta.
Rennison, John L.

Rennison, Mrs. John L.
Rennison, John T.
Rennison, Marcus F.
Rennison, Martha.
Rennison, Sarah Eliza.
Reynolds, John H.
Reynolds, Mary E.
Richards, Nellie.
Rider, Hattie G.
Rider, Hiram M.
Rider, Irene C.
Rider, Lizzie.
Riggs, Susan L.
Ringrose, Lizzie.
Ritchie, James.
Ritchie, Lizzie.
Roberts, Asenath.
Roberts, Esther.
Roberts, Samuel.
Robinson, Grace.
Rogers, Corinna T.
Rogers, Francis H.
Rogers, Inez.
Rogers, Renna.
Rolfe, Mary E.
Ruhart, George R.
Ruhart, Lizzie E.
Russell, Betsey A. (Bradbury).
Russell, Hannah,
Russell, Harriett.
Ryan, Mrs. Helen.
Ryan, W. P.
Sanders, Annie M,
Sanders, Archibald.
Sands, Anna B.
Sands, E. A.
Saunders, Carrie N.
Saunders, Julia (Terrill),
Saunders, Sarah.
Scott, George.
Scott, Mary A.
Scott, Nably.
Scoville, Lucy.
Seccombe, Annie.
Seccombe, Elias.
Seccombe, Elizabeth.
Seccombe, Harry.
Seccombe, Jennie A. (Mercer).

ANSONIA, CONNECTICUT.

207

Seccombe, Mary E. (Goodall).
Seccombe, Maud.
Sears, George W.
Sears, Jackson.
Sears, Sarah.
Sears, Wellington.
Sears, Mrs. Wellington.
Seaton, Susannah.
Seeley, Alletta.
Seymour, Chloe.
Shaw, Dudley E.
Shaw, Ellen.
Shaw, Leonard.
Siberry, Annah.
Siberry, Edward.
Siberry, Edward, Jr.
Siberry, Fanny.
Siberry, Jane.
Siberry, Sarah.
silverthorne, mary h.
Skipp, Elizabeth,
Skipp, George.
Smith, Addie.
Smith, Alanta.
Smith, Albert L.
Smith, Ann.
Smith, Ann A.
Smith, Caroline M.
Smith, Charlotte L.
Smith, David H.
Smith, E. Adelaide.
Smith, Eleanor.
Smith, Eliza J. (Myles).
Smith, Ethel.
Smith, Harlow.
Smith, Rev. Isaac E.
Smith, John Harlow.
Smith, Josephene S.
Smith, Laura.
Smith, Marietta.
Smith, Mary A.
Smith, Mary L.
Smith, Mrs. Nancy.
Smith, Olive R.
Smith, Philo.
Smith, Rachel Anna.
Smith, Sarah.
Smith, Sarah E.

Smith, Sarah E.
Smith, Sarah M.
Smith, Watson N.
Smith, William.
Smith, William H.
Snow, Harvey.
Snow, Sarah.
Soden, Jonathan.
Soden, Martha.
Soden, Robert.
Sperry, Louisa M.
Sperry, William S.
Spencer, Ellen M.
Spencer, Etta (King).
Spengenbergh, Fannie.
Sprague, Lottie M.
Spring, Angeline.
Spring, Edmund.
Spring, Mary Kate.
Spring, Prudence.
Staples, James.
Stephenson, Harriett.
Stephenson, Mary.
Stephenson, Mary A.
Stephenson, Susannah.
Stephens, Jane E.
Stevens, Mary E. (Westerman).
Stickney, Emma N.
Stickney, John W.
Stickney, Maud.
Stillson, Cary A.
Stillson, David J.
Stillson, Margaret.
Stockbridge, Annie E.
Stockbridge, Edward B.
Stockbridge, Frances W.
Stodder, Frank E.
Stodder, Nellie L.
Stone, Eleret.
Stone, Eva L.
Storms, Edgar W.
Stubs, Thomas.
Swain, Fannie A.
Sweeten, Emily.
Swift, Julia.
Sykes, Nellie E.
Sykes, Owen D.
Talbot, William.

208

METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH,

Tennant, A. R.
Tennant, Bessie A.
Terrell, Esther.
Terrell, Esther L.
Terrell, Franklin J.
Terrell, George.
Terrell, Lucretia.
Terrill, Horace.
Terrill, Mrs. Julia.
Terrill, Lizzie (Wilkinson).
Terry, Thaddeus M.
Thomas, Amelia.
Thomas, Mary A.
Thomas, Olive.
Thomas, Sarah.
Thompson, Augusta.
Tiffany, Mary J.
Tiffany, Sarah S,
Tolles, Hattie.
Tonkin, Annie.
Tonkin, Elizabeth.
Tonkin, Ethel M.
Tonkin, Grace R.
Tonkin, Helen Elizabeth.
Treloar, Annie C.
Trevethan, Ada.
Trevethan, Edward.
Trevethan, Elizabeth.
Trevethan, Mary E.
Trevethan, William.
Treweeke, Caroline.
Treweeke, Lizzie.
Trowbridge, Sarah R.
Truesdale, Caroline.
Trumpbour, Carrie L,
Trumpbour, George B.
Trumpbour, Jacob.
Trumpbour, John C.
Trumpbour, John Crawford.
Trumpbour, Julia A.
Trumpbour, Kate.
Trumpbour, Laura,
Trumpbour, Margaret A.
Trumpbour, Susie.
Tyther, Rebecca.
Tyther, Samuel.
Upton, Eliza.
Vandercook, Annie Maria.

Van Dusen, Josephine.
Van Riper, Elizabeth.
Van Riper, Ida M. (Lewis).
Van Riper, Richard.
Vaughn, Frank.
Vaughn, Jennie.
Vaughn, Lottie.
Veitch, Agnes.
Veitch, Mrs: Alexander.
Veitch, Elizabeth.
Vidal, Andrew A.
Vidal, Nettie E.
Vine, Mary J.
Vine, Laura.
Vine, William.
Vivian, Kate.
Vivian, Mary V.
Vivian, Phillip.
Vivian, Phillip, Jr.
Vivian, Richard.
Vivian, Sadie.
Vivian, Sarah.
Vivian, Sarah J.
Wainwright, James.
Wainwright, Joseph.
Wainwright, Lilian.
Wainwright, Mary.
Wait, Esther.
Wakelee, Agnes May.
Wakelee, Wilbur Osman.
Waldron, Elizabeth.
Walker, Emma.
Walker, Rachel,
Wallace, Sarah.
Wardell, Hattie C. P.
Warner, Ann.
Warner, Charles D.
Warner, Clara F.
Warner, Cynthia.
Warner, Hubert A.
Warner, Mary A.
Warner, Mary J.
Warner, Ozias.
Warner, William H.
Washburn, Hattie.
Wedge, William.
Weed, Frank S.
Weed, Mary E.

ANSONIA, CONNECTICUT.

209

Weedin, Julius Knute.
Weinburger, Henry.
Weinburger, Mrs. Henry.
Wells, Amelia.
Wells, Benjamin.
Wells, Emogene.
Wells, George W.
Wells, Mary E.
Wells, Sarah Jane (Hotchkiss),
Welsh, Ida L.
Westerman, Grace.
Westerman, Ina M.
Westerman, Jennie.
Westerman, Laura.
Westerman, William.
Wetmore, Bessie.
Wetmore, Elisha B.
Wetmore, Frederick B.
Wetmore, Josephene.
Wetmore, Mamie.
Wheeler, David A.
Wheeler, Ellen F.
Wheeler, Frederick L.
Wheeler, Hannah.
Wheeler, Maria h E.
Whitlock, Ann G.
Whitlock, Nellie Grace,
Whitney, Olive.
Whispel, Almira.
Wicks, Frederick.
Wicks, Sarah (Crainey).
Wilcox, Mary Jane.
Wilkinson, Bessie.
Wilkinson, Fred.
Wilkinson, James H.
Wilkinson, Louisa.
Wilkinson, Roselvena.
Williams, Mrs. C. E.
Williams, Mrs. Carrie.
Williams, Elizabeth.
Williams, Elizabeth.
Williams, Henry.
Williams, James.
Williams, Mary.
Williamson, Juliette.

Willoughby, Emma.
Wilson, Ann.
Wilson, Emma.
Wilson, Joseph J.
Wilson, Mungo Park.
Wilson, Sarah.
Wilson, Sarah A.
Wing, Charles L.
Wing, Ebenezer.
Wing, Elizabeth.
Wing, Henrietta A,
Wing, Vida N.
Winn, Mary.
Wolcott, Jane E.
Wolcott, Minnie.
Wood, Betsey.
Wood, Ellen.
Wood, Jane.
Wood, Joseph.
Wood, William H.
Woodruff, George W.
Woodruff, Marita.
Woodruff, Martha A. (Clark).
Woodruff, Merritt C
Woodward, David C.
Woodward, Ida W.
Woodworth, Lillian.
Woolley, Emma,
Wooster, Julia A.
Wooster, Letsome T.
Wooster, Nellie.
Worthington, John.
Worthington, May.
Wright, Harrison.
Wright, Hattie.
Wright, Jason L.
Wright, Lizzie (Bassford).
Wrisley, Julia E.
Wynn, Anna.
Wynn, Samuel A.
Young, Alexander L.
Young, Arthur R.
Young, Mrs. Arthur R.
Yoxall, John.
Yoxall, Mary J. (Williams).

The Methodist Society of Ansonia needs, ought to have, and
DESERVES, A NEW CHURCH, AND A BETTER LOCATION.
It can secure one of the most desirable lots in the city.
It can build a suitable and attractive church, with all necessary
appurtenances. It can fully pay for both lot and church building.

"THE GLORY OF THE CHURCH."
Zion ! awake, thy strength renew ;
Put on thy robes of beauteous hue ;
And let the admiring world behold
The King's fair daughter clothed in gold.
Church of our God! arise and shine,
Bright with the beams of truth divine ;
Then shall thy radiance stream afar,
Wide as the heathen nations are.
Gentiles and kings thy light shall view,
And shall admire and love thee too;
They come, like clouds across the sky,
As doves that to their windows fly. William Shrubsole.

Triumphant Zion, lift thy head
From dust, and darkness, and the dead ;
Though humbled long, awake at length,
And gird thee with thy Saviour's strength.
Put all thy beauteous garments on,
And let thy various charms be known:
The world thy glories shall confess,
Decked in the robes of righteousness. Dr. Philip Doddridge.
Ansonia, Conn., April i, 1903.

RECORD OF APPOINTMENTS, CIRCUITS, CONFERENCES, DISTRICTS, PRESIDING ELDERS, FROM 1789 TO 1903.

For Derby, Birmingham and Ansonia (meaning for Derby and Birmingham) the society situated in the present City of Derby, ending said
Derby record in 1851 when the Ansonia record begins).

Year. Presiding Elder. Circuit.
1789 Freeborn Garrettson Stamford
1790 Jesse Lee New Haven
1791 Jesse Lee Middlefield
1792 Jacob Brush Middletown
1793 George Roberts
1794 George Roberts
1795 Jesse Lee
1796 Freeborn Garrettson and
Sylvester Hutchinson
1797 Freeborn Garrettson and
Sylvester Hutchinson
1798 Sylvester Hutchinson
1799 Sylvester Hutchinson
1800 Freeborn Garrettson
1 80 1 Freeborn Garrettson
1802 Freeborn Garrettson
1803 Daniel Ostrander
1804 Daniel Ostrander
1805 Daniel Ostrander
1806 William Thacher
1807 Joseph Crawford
1808 Joseph Crawford
1809 Joseph Crawford
1810 Joseph Crawford
181 1 Freeborn Garrettson
1812 Freeborn Garrettson
1813 Nathan Bangs Stratford
1814 Nathan Bangs
1815 Nathan Bangs

Conference.

District,

New York
it
New England
New York

New York
New London

New York

Rhinebeck

Preachers.
Jesse Lee
John Lee
John Allen, George Roberts
Richard Swain, Aaron Hunt
Joshua Taylor, Benjamin Fisher
Menzie Rainor, Daniel Ostrander
Evan Rogers, Joel Ketchum
Joshua Taylor, Lawrence McCombs
Michael Coate, Peter Jayne
Augustus Jocelyn
Ebenezer Stevens
James Coleman, Roger Searle
Elijah Batchelor, Luman Andrus
Abner Wood, James Annis
Abner Wood, Nathan Emory
Ebenezer Washburn, Nathan Emory
Ebenezer Washburn, Luman Andrus
Luman Andrus, Zalmon Lyon
William Thacher, Reuben Harris, O. Sykes
James M. Smith, Phineas Rice, Joseph Lockwood
and Reuben Hubbard
Noble W. Thomas, Coles Carpenter
Oliver Sykes, Jonathan Lyon
Zalmon Lyon, Jesse Hunt
Aaron Hunt, Arnold Scolefield
Ebenezer Washburn, James Coleman
Elijah Woolsey, Henry Eames
Elijah Hebard, Benoni English

Year. Presiding Elder.
1816 Nathan Bangs
1817 Ebenezer Washburn
1818 Ebenezer Washburn
1819 Ebenezer Washburn
1820 Ebenezer Washburn
1821 Samuel Merwin
1822 Samuel Merwin
1823 Samuel Merwin
1824 Samuel Luckey
1825 Samuel Luckey
1826 Samuel Luckey
1827 Daniel Ostrander
1828 Laban Clark
1829 Laban Clark
1830 Laban Clark
183 1 Laban Clark
1832 Heman Bangs
1833 S. Martindale
1834 S. Martindale
1835 S. Martindale
1836 S. Martindale
*837 To be supplied
1838 Fitch Reed
1839 Heman Bangs
1840 Charles W. Carpenter
1841 Charles W. Carpenter
1842 Charles W. Carpenter
1843 Charles W. Carpenter
1844 Laban Clark
1845 Laban Clark
1846 Laban Clark
1847 Laban Clark

Circuit.
Stratford

Conference.
New York

District.
Rhinebeck

New Haven

Hamden and Humphreysville
Derby

Derby and Woodbury
Woodbury and Derby
Derby

BirminghamBirmingham and Milford

Birmingham

Preachers.
Reuben Harris
Reuben Harris, E. Canfield
Samuel Bushnell, Aaron Pierce
Beardsley Northrop, David Miller
Bela Smith, David Miller
Bela Smith, James Coleman
Laban Clark, Eli Barnett
Laban Clark, John Nixon
Eli Deniston, William S. Pease
Eli Deniston, Julius Field
S. D. Ferguson, W. V. Buck, J. Luckey, Sup.
Eli Barnett, Valentine Buck
Eli Barnett, Nathaniel Kellogg
Reuben Harris, Nathaniel Kellogg
John Lovejoy, L. C. Cheney
Heman Bangs, D. Smith
R. Travis, D. Smith, R. Gilbert
R. Gilbert, C. W. Turner, T. Brainbridge
H. Humphreys, J. Crawford, O. Sykes, Sup.
J. Bowen, O. Sykes. Sup.
J. Bowen. One to be supplied
David Miller, Oliver Sykes, Sup.
David Miller, Orlando Starr, Oliver Sykes, Sup.
Josiah Bowen, J. B. Beach
John B. Beach
Nathaniel Mead, Josiah Bowen, Sup.
Nathaniel Mead, Jr. One to be supplied
J. B. Wakeley
Charles C Keys
Joseph D. Marshall
Friend W. Smith
Friend W. Smith

This is the commencement of the Ansonia record.

Vear. Presiding Elder.
1848 Heman Bangs
1849 Heman Bangs
1850 Heman Bangs
1851 Heman Bangs
1852 William H. Norris
1853 William H. Norris
1854 E. L. Janes
1855 E. L. Janes
1856 E. E. Griswold
1857 E. E. Griswold
1858 E. E. Griswold
1859 E. E. Griswold
i860 W. C. Hoyt
1861 W. C. Hoyt
1862 W. C. Hoyt
1863 W. C. Hoyt
1864 Benjamin Pillsbury
1865 Nathaniel Mead
1866 Nathaniel Mead
1867 Nathaniel Mead
1868 Nathaniel Mead
1869 Thomas G. Osborne
1870 Thomas G. Osborne
1871 Thomas G. Osborne
1872 Moses L. Scudder
1873 Moses L. Scudder
1874 Moses L. Scudder
1875 Moses L. Scudder
1876 George A. Hubbell
1877 William T. Hill
1878 William T. Hill
1879 William T. Hill
1880 George A. Hubbell
1881 George A. Hubbell

Circuit.
Birmingham and Ansonia
Birmingham tt
Humphreysville and Ansonia
Ansonia

Conference.
New York East

District.
New Haven

Bridgeport

New Haven

Preachers.
William Gothard
S. Howland
John M. Reid
David Osborn
John L. Peck
Eben S. Hebard
John Pegg, Jr.
John Pegg, Jr.
J. J. Woolley
J. J. Woolley
William Porteus
William Silverthorne
William Howard
William Howard
Alonzo B. Pulling
Alonzo B. Pulling
Charles T. Mallory
Charles T. Mallory
W. H. Wardell
W. H. Wardell
Charles S. Wing
Charles S. Wing
Charles S. Wing
George P. Mains
George P. Mains
Samuel H. Smith
Samuel H. Smith
Lindsay Parker
Lindsay Parker
J. M. Carroll
Isaac E. Smith
Reuben H. Loomis
Reuben H. Loomis
Reuben H. Loomis

Vear.

Presiding Elder.

Circuit

1882

George A. Hubbell

Ansonia

1883

George A. Hubbell

(.

1884

W. H. Wardell

1885

W. H. Wardell

1886

W. H. Wardell

1887

W. H. Wardell

1888
John W. Beach
•
1889
John W. Beach
1890
John W. Beach
1891
John W. Beach
1892
John W. Beach
1893
Crandall J. North
1894
Crandall J. North
1895
Crandall J. North
1896
Crandall J. North
1897
Crandall J. North
1898
Crandall J. North
1899
John E. Adams
1900
John E. Adams
1901
John E. Adams
1902
W. A. Richard
1903
W. A. Richard
Conference.
New York East
District.
New Haven
Preachers.
Edward Cunningham
Edward Cunningham
George A. Hubbell
Samuel M. Hammond
Samuel M. Hammond
Samuel M. Hammond
Rufus S. Putney
Rufus S. Putney
Rufus S. Putney
C. B. Pitblado
C. B. Pitblado
C. B. Pitblado
Henry E. Wing
FIenry E. Wing
Fred Saunders
Fred Saunders
Fred Saunders
Fred Saunders
Fred Saunders
W. C. Blakeman
J. Howard Hand
J. Howard Hand
APPENDIX

The following record is taken from the Memoirs of Rev. Jesse Lee, with
extracts from his Journals, written by Minton Thrift, 1823.
The part in parenthesis is from other sources, fully confirmed, which taken
in connection with the memoirs, prove the beginning of his preaching in the
town of Derby.
That portion of the Memoirs copied by the writer is given here in full, for
preservation. The portion relating to his visits to Derby is the part of special
interest in this sketch, but the whole is of much interest, because difficult to
secure, and is of interest to every good Methodist.
Jesse Lee was born March 12, in the year of our Lord 1753, in Prince
George County, Va. He was the second son of Nathaniel and Elizabeth
Lee, members of the English Episcopal Church.
Mr. Robert Williams was the first of the Wesleyan preachers who visited
that part of Virginia where Jesse Lee resided. In the spring of the year
1774 Mr. Williams began to form societies in the neighborhood. It was then
that Mr. Lee, being about sixteen years of age, united himself to the society
of the Methodists, as did his father and mother. His father died March 5,
1820 in the ninetieth year of his age. He had been a professor of religion
forty-eight years, and acted the greater part of that time as a class leader.
When about twenty years of age, Jesse Lee was appointed a class leader.
On the 17th of November, 1779, I preached for the first time in my life, at
a place called the Old Barn. My text was 1 John iii. 1, 2. "Behold what
manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called
the Sons of God ! therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him
not: &c."
At a conference May 7, 1783 he was appointed to Caswell Circuit, North
Carolina. He attended the Conference in New York in May, 1789, and
received an appointment to Stamford Circuit. In the name of God, therefore,
he set forward, and on the nth of June arrived in the State of Connecticut.
The first sermon which he preached in the State of Connecticut was in
Norwalk. Wednesday, June 17th, I set off to take a tour further in Connecticut
than ever any of our preachers had been. I am the first that has been
appointed to this State by the Methodist Conference.
At four o'clock I arrived in Norwalk, and went to one Mr. Rogers, where
one of our friends had asked the liberty for me to preach. When I came,
Mrs. R. told me her husband was from home, and was not willing for me to
preach in his house. I told her we would hold meetings in the road rather
than give any uneasiness. We proposed speaking in an old house that stood

220 METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH,
just by, but she was not willing. I then spoke to an old lady about speaking
in her orchard, but she would not consent, but said we would tread the grass
down. So the other friend went and gave notice to some of the people, and
they soon began to collect, and we went to the road, where we had an apple
tree to shade us. When the woman saw that I was determined to preach,
she said I might preach in the old house; but I told her I thought it would
be better to remain where we were. So I began at the side of the road with
about twenty hearers. After singing and praying, I preached on John iii, 7.
Ye must be born again. After preaching, I told the people that I intended to
be with them again in two weeks, and if any of them would open their houses
to receive me, I should be glad, and if they were not willing, we would meet
at the same place.
Some of them came, and desired that I should meet at the town house the
next time ; so I gave consent.
Who knows but I shall yet have a place in this town where I may lay my
head ?
Thursday, June 18, 1789, at Fairfield.
Friday, June 19, 1789, at Timothy Wheeler's, about four miles from Fairfield.
Saturday, June 20, 1789, New Haven. I put up at Parmley's Tavern.
Sunday, June 21, 1789, preached in the Court House. Amos v. 6. Seek
ye the Lord and ye shall live.
(Monday, June 22, 1789, preached at Derby.)
Wednesday, June 24, 1789, at Reading. From thence rode to Danbury,
and obtained permission to preach in the Court House, twice in the same day,
From Danbury he went to Ridgefield, where he was permitted to preach in
the town house.
Fie also visited Rockwell, in Wilton Parish, Canaan, Middlesex, Norwalk,
Fairfield. Friday, July 3, 1789, I preached at Stratfield, at the house of Deacon Hawley.
Saturday, July 4th, 1789, I set off about the middle of the day and was
much exercised about calling to preach at Stratford. Sometimes I seemed
to have no faith, but at other times I had a little hope that good might be done.
At last I determined to take up my cross and make the trial. So I went
and put up at a tavern, and went to the man that kept the key of the town
house, and obtained his consent to preach in the house. But he said he did
not know much about the Methodists, they might be like the New Lights.
I told him I did not know much about them, but some people said we
favored them in our preaching.
Well (says he), if you are like them I would not wish to have anything
to do with you. I asked him what objection he had to the New Lights.
Why (says he), they went on like mad men: there was one Davenport that
would preach and hollow and beat the pulpit with both his hands, and cry
out, 'Come away, come away to the Lord Jesus Christ, why don't you come
to the Lord !' till he would foam at the mouth, and sometimes continued it
till the congregation would be praying in companies about the house : . . .
for my part I wished that the like work was among the people again.

ANSONIA, CONNECTICUT. 221
I let a man have my horse to ride through the town and give the people
notice of meeting. At sunset, they rung the church bell, and the people
collected. The Congregationalists insisted on my going into the meeting
house, but I begged off for that time. I had a large company in the town
house. I preached on Eph. v, i, Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear
children. I was much assisted in speaking. I felt happy in the Lord, and
comforted to see the people so attentive. When I was done, Mr. Solomon
Curtis came to me and asked me to go and lodge with him, and invited me
to make it my home. Another said he would conduct me to the house, and
taking me by the hand, he walked all the way by my side. I don't know that
I have had so much kindness shown me in a new place since I came to the
state. Sunday, July 5, 1789, at New Haven.
(Monday, July 6, 1789, at Derby.)
Tuesday, July 7, 1789, at Newtown.
Wednesday, July 8, 1789, at Reading.
Wednesday, July 29, 1789, at Fairfield.
Wednesday, July 29, 1789, evening^at Mr. I. Hall's, a little above Stratfield.
Thursday, July 30, 1789, at Greenfield.
Wednesday, August 5, 1789, at New Field — at Deacon Hawley's.
Thursday, August 6, 1789, at New Field, at Mr. Well's, then rode to Reading
16 or 17 miles.
Thursday, August 13, 1789, at Fairfield.
Friday, August 14, 1789, at Stratfield.
Sunday, August 16, 1789, at Milford, and preached in the town house. This
is the third time I have preached at this place, and have not yet become
acquainted with any person.
Same day, Sunday, August 16, 1789, we then rode to Mr. Gilbert's in New
Haven. Monday, August 17, 1789, I rode to Derby, and at night I preached on
Rom. xiv, 17. I had a good company of hearers, which is more than I ever
had before at this place.
Thursday, August 20, 1789, at Danbury.
Monday, August 31, 1789, I set out on a tour for Rhode Island. Left New
Haven after dinner.
Tuesday, September 1, 1789, at Killingworth, then to Saybrook. Then to
Jason Lee's in Lyme.
Wednesday, September 2, 1789, at New London.
Thursday, September 3, 1789, Stonington, and crossed Pawtucket in Rhode
Island. Obtained permission at these places to preach on his return.
Saturday, September 12, 1789, at Wallingford, Conn.
Wednesday, September 16, 1789, at Reading.
Friday, September 25, 1789, at Weston.
Friday, September 25, 1789, at night at Stratfield. Then I rode down to
Stratfield, and at night I preached on John x, 27. My sheep hear my voice,
and I know them, and they follow me. I thought when I began, that I
would touch upon the danger of falling from disgrace ; for the people had
often said that I was afraid to preach my principles. I began, and spoke

222 METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH,
quite long on the subject, and with much satisfaction. The people heard
very attentively, and some of them seemed to believe what was spoken. Then
I had a kind of Class Meeting, and spoke to about twenty persons. I then
told them that if any desired to join the Methodists, I would receive them.
The next morning three women joined in class and appeared willing to
bear the cross, and to have their names cast out as evil for the Lord's sake.
This is the first class I have formed in my little circuit.
Saturday, October 10, 1789, Old Mills, at 2 o'clock. I preached on 1 Tim. i,
15, This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, etc. After
preaching, I went home with a man of the place, and took tea; and then
rode to Stratford, and put up with Solomon Curtis as usual. When I went
in his wife did not ask me to sit down ; however, I took a seat. In a
little time she asked me to drink tea, but I had no need. Her husband came
in and spoke to me, but did not appear so friendly as formerly. At dark,
I asked Mrs. Curtis if her husband was going to meeting? She said she
guessed not; so I went to the town house alone, and was hard put to it to
get a candle, but I bless God, I felt quite resigned and not ashamed to own
my Lord. After preaching, I returned to Mr. Curtis and found he had but
little to say. He went to prayer without saying anything to me, and then I
waited to see if he would ask me to go to bed. After some time he got up
and asked me to cover up the fire when I went to bed. I told him I would
go to bed then, if it were agreeable. I suppose the whole complaint was
owing to my telling him, when I was there before, that I believed a man,
after being converted, might fall away and be lost : for he is a stiff Anti-
nomian. The next morning he lay in bed till late, and soon after he arose,
I set out, without family prayer or breakfast. I often wonder that I am
not turned out of doors.
Monday, October 19, 1789, at Greenwich, Conn.
Friday, October 23, 1789, at David Old's, Weston.
Monday, December 21, 1789, we rode to General Waterbury's and received
letters from the south.
Thursday, December 24, 1789, at Fairfield, Conn.
Saturday, December 26, 1789, at night I preached in Stratford with much
satisfaction, to an attentive people; but I fear that I shall offend some of
them by urging the necessity of being up and doing. These people don't
like to hear that there is something for men to do ; they had rather be told
to sit still, and wait for Christ to call them with an irresistible call ; they
complain, and say they can do nothing. I complain of them and say, they
might do more than they do. To-night the people were surprised at my
speaking so clear and fast without notes.
Monday, December 28, 1789, at Reading, Conn.
Friday, January 1, 1790, at Wilton, Conn.
Saturday, January 23, 1790, I visited several families, and then rode to
Stratford, and at night preached in the town house, which was well crowded
with attentive hearers. I believe I never had so many together in this place
before. I did not spare Antinomianism ; and the word seemed to have free
course to the hearts of the hearers. Oh that some precious souls may date
their conversion from this meeting. I anxiously wished to get hold of the

ANSONIA, CONNECTICUT. 223
two pillars of Antinomianism, and like Sampson, shake down the building
in which many thousands of souls are lodged, and sporting themselves in
their wickedness : and if I were to die with the fall of that doctrine, I should
think my death as honorable as was Sampson's. Mr. Peck asked me to his
house, and I went. After I had been there a while two women came in, and
one of them soon began to talk about inward religion, and told me that God
had converted her soul a few weeks before, and she appeared to have a very
clear witness of the happy change. Blessed be God for one witness for
Jesus in this town.
Sunday, January 24, 1790, at half after 10 o'clock, I preached at the Old
Mill to a large congregation. After meeting, I set out, and my soul was
transported with joy, the snow falling, the wind blowing, prayer ascending,
faith increasing, grace descending, heaven smiling, and love abounding. If
there were no other comfort promised, than such as I then felt, I should think
it my duty to serve God, and my chief happiness to live in such a frame as this.
But, glory be to God, this is only a foretaste of what is promised. I rode
to David Old's, Weston, and at 3 o'clock, I preached on Acts xvii, 30. I
understand by a friend of mine, that a tinker was among them a little time
past, and inquired where he could get some work, and one told him that the
Methodists were likely to beat a hole through the Saybrook platform, and if
he could mend that, and wait long enough, he might be employed. I think
we shall soon get such a hole in it, that neither tinker nor minister will be
able to stop it, so as to keep the people from seeing its flaws.
Monday, January 25, 1790, at Reading, Conn.
Thursday, January 28, 1790, at Jacob Wheeler's in Limestone, and after the
meeting formed a class, two men and two women.
Friday, February 5, 1790, at Fairfield Woods.
Saturday, February 6, 1790, I rode to Putney, four miles above Stratford,
and put up with Captain Daniel Booth, and at 2 o'clock at his brother's, I
preached with great liberty and much comfort to my soul ; some of the strange
hearers were much affected, and tears run down their cheeks. I was never
in this place before, and now I am not alone, for God is with me. I feel
as if I should be willing to spend my days in going before my brethren, like
John the Baptist, and prepare the way for them. After meeting an old man
came and spoke to me, and asked me why I did not go into the back settle
ments, and preach to the people that were not favored with the Gospel, as
they were in Putney: I told him my call was to sinners, and that I found
many of them wherever I went. I then asked him, if all the people in that
neighborhood were converted? He said, they had the means; I asked him
if any of them preached in Putney? He said no, but they preached near
enough for all to go and hear. I told him he put me in mind of the dog in
the manger, who would not eat himself, nor suffer the ox to eat it; they
would not come to preach in the place, and was not willing that I should;
at which many present could not refrain from laughing heartily. He said,
a busybody about other men's matters, according to the original, was one
that preached in another's parish without his consent. I told him the words
might well be applied to him, in meddling himself with my preaching. He
still insisted on the necessity of my going where there was no regular preach-

224 METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH,
ing, and where the people were suffering for want of it. I told him if he
thought that some ought to go to the new settled parts of the country, that
he was the very man to go. He said he was too old : I replied that a person
was never too old to do good. We then parted, and he bid me adieu. When
I came away, I asked what old gentleman that was ; they told me it was
Mr. Birdseye, a priest. I wist not that he was a priest, and no wonder that
the people laughed, when I compared him to the dog in the manger, though
I knew nothing of him.
Saturday, February 13, 1790, I set off early in the morning and had more
than 20 miles to ride, to a quarterly meeting.
Monday, February 22, 1790, at Reading, Conn. At night, we held a class
meeting at A. Sanford's, which is the first they have ever had in the place.
Almost thirty people attended.
Tuesday, February 23, 1790, at Reading and talked with one of the neigh
bouring women about her soul.
Saturday, February 27, 1790, we had our quarterly meeting at Dan-Town.
Just before the meeting, a friend informed me, that there were three preachers
coming from a distance to labor with me in New England. I was greatly
pleased at the report, and my heart seemed to reply, blessed is he that cometh
in the name of the Lord : when I saw them riding up, I stood and looked
at them, and could say from my heart : thou hast well done, that thou art
come. Brother Jacob Brush, an elder, and George Roberts, and Daniel Smith,
two young preachers, came from Maryland state, to assist me in this part of
the world. No one knows, but God and myself, what comfort and joy I
felt at their arrival. Surely, the Lord has had respect unto my prayers, and
granted my request.
Wednesday, March 3, 1790, at Stratfield, tarried all night at the house of
Joseph Hall.
Sunday, March 14, 1790, at Wethersfield. I left Brother Smith to preach
to the congregation in the afternoon. I went on to Hartford, and put up at
Mr. Winship's, a private lodging prepared for me, by my two old friends. At
2 o'clock they rang the bell, and we met at the state house. I preached on
I Thes. v, 19. At dark we met again in the state house, at which time I
preached on 1 Tim. vi, 12.
Monday, March 15, 1790, spent the day visiting sick and well. We met
again at night in the state house where I preached on John xvi, 20.
Tuesday, March 16, 1790, at Farmington.
Friday, March 19, 1790, Brother Smith left me and went to Dan-Town
after his horse. I rode down to Derby, and sent for the bell-man, and hired
him to ring the bell, and inform the people that I was going to preach. A
man of my former acquaintance came to the tavern where I was, and said
he was glad to see me as a friend, but not as a preacher. At night I preached,
and after meeting, I rode home with Captain Baldwin, and tarried all night.
Sunday, March 21, 1790, after preaching at Milford, I rode to New Haven,
and after the other meetings were out, they rang the bell for me; I preached
on 2 Cor. v. 17. At night, went to Mr. Gilbert's for a conference meeting,
and being often asked, I exhorted with much comfort to my soul, and some
of the little number appeared to be engaged with God. I have now formed

ANSONIA, CONNECTICUT. 225
New Haven Circuit, for one preacher; the distance which the preacher has
to travel in going round once in two weeks, is 120 miles. For this circuit
we have to preach in three cities, five towns pretty thickly settled, and several
country places. I have now gone round it, and made my own appointments,
and have preached seventeen times in fourteen days.
Thursday, March 25, 1790, at Middlefield.
31st of March, 1790, at Bolton.
Thursday, April 1, 1790, preached in the school house to a few solemn
hearers ; this place is in Bolton township, Tolland County.
Saturday, April 3, 1790, at East Windsor.
Sunday, April 4, 1790, at East Windsor.
Friday, April 9, 1790, at Suffield.
Saturday, April 17, 1790, at Windham County, Vermont.
Monday, April 19, 1790, crosed the Connecticut River to the east side, into
the State of New Hampshire, and came through a little corner of it, and so
into Massachusetts again. I came to Northfield, then to Montague, and
put up at Lieut. Green's tavern.
Monday, May 10, 1790, at Middletown, Conn., then to South Farms.
Tuesday, May n, 1790, at Haddam.
Monday, May 17, 1790, I rode to Milford, and dined, and then came to
Stratford. When I got in sight of the town I felt comforted. As soon as
I crossed the Ferry, I called at a house, and the people appeared as glad to
see me as if they had been my own relations. I gave out word that I would
preach at night, and then came to Mr. Peck's. When I got there, I found
matters better still, and I was informed that some, in that place, had deter
mined to join the Methodists. This caused me to rejoice that ever I came
amongst them. I felt determined to go on, and break up more New England
ground if possible, and then leave it for my better and abler brethren to
cultivate. Tuesday, May 18, 1790, at Stratfield and then met Brother Smith.
Wednesday, May 19, 1790, rode back to Stratford, and at night I preached,
and Brother Smith exhorted. We had a large company of solemn hearers.
Then we went to Captain Peck's and held a class meeting, and joined a
small class together, which is the first beginning of a class in this place.
Wednesday, June 9, 1790, at E. Ward's near Moose Hill in North Stratford
Parish. From this time to July he was in Boston and other Massachusetts towns.
From Boston he directed his course back to the State of Connecticut : and
the first place in which he preached, after leaving Boston, was in Enfield;
Hartford was the next place, then Middlefield, where a quarterly meeting
was held July 23, 1790, within the bounds of the New Haven Circuit. At
the Conference in the month of October, 1790, held in the city of New York,
he was appointed to Boston, and at his request Bishop Asbury sent several
active and zealous men to New England.
Wednesday, October 13, 1790, he received intelligence that his mother
departed this life September 14.

226 METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH,
Tuesday, October 19, 1790, he left the city, and set out on his journey, to
the north. That day at 4 o'clock he preached at New Rochelle. The next
day at North Castle, the day after at Bedford, at 12 o'clock, and at 4 o'clock
at Dan-Town. There, for the first time, he baptized a child, and administered
the Lord's Supper to a few communicants. He was privately ordained
Deacon, and the day following was ordained Elder, publicly at the confer
ence in New York, October, 1790. He also visited Stamford, Middlesex,
Wilton, Reading, Newtown, New Stratford, Putney, Milford, Wallingford,
and Middlefield. At the latter place he baptized one woman and twelve
children. From Middlefield he went to Middletown, South Farms, Wethers-
field and Hartford, at the last of which places he formed a society. From
Hartford he set out for Boston, and arrived there November 13, 1790.
The first Methodist Meeting house in the State of Masachusetts was built
and dedicated June 26, 1791.
On the 26th of June, 1791, he was appointed by the Conference held in New
York, Presiding Elder on several newly formed circuits in New England.
Litchfield, Fairfield, Middlefield, Hartford, Stockbridge, Lynn, and Kingston
composed his district.
Saturday, June 28, 1792, I rode to Lynn and set out on a tour through
circuits which had been formed and supplied with preaching in the State of
Connecticut. From Lynn he proceeded to Boston, from there to Needham, where
he preached. He also took Sterling and Wilbraham on his way. He
then rode to Enfield in Connecticut and was well pleased to find that religion
had prospered in that place, and that a good class had been formed. From
Enfield he went to East Windsor, Middlefield, Derby, Oxford, Newtown,
Reading, Dan-Town, Middlesex, Wilton, Stratford, Hartford, Tolland, and
Ellington, besides many other places. I see visibly (he says) that the Lord
has prospered his work amongst the Methodists since, I visited this part of
his vineyard.
On the 1st of August 1792, Conference was held in Lynn, from which he
was appointed Elder over Lynn, Needham, Boston, and Providence.
In 1793 he was appointed to the Province of Maine. In 1794 to the Pro
vince of New Hampshire. After that in the South. While he occasionally
visited Connecticut after the Fall of 1790, it was at rare intervals. His
last visit to Stratford was Saturday, July 2, 1808.
Stopped till a heavy rain was over, and then went to New Haven.
He died Thursday, September 12, 1816, at 7 o'clock in the evening.

ANSONIA, CONNECTICUT. 227
DERBY, ITS EARLY SETTLEMENT.
"In 1642 workmen were employed by Mr. John Wakeman of New Haven,
within the territory now known as Derby, but then called Paugasuck, after
wards named Paugassett, for the purpose of building a trading house for
direct mercantile relations with the Indians in the valleys of these rivers.
This was the beginning of the Englishmen's work on these hills and along
these rivers.
Mr. Goodman, Mr. Wakeman and Mr. Gilbert of New Haven, bargained
and sold to Richard Baldwin, Edward Riggs, Edward Wooster, John Brown,
Robert Dennison, John Burwell, Samuel Hopkins, Thomas Langdon, Francis
French, and Isaac Platt of Milford, a tract of land at a place called Pauga
suck, in the year 1655. The bounds of which tract of land is as hereafter
followeth, namely, with the Naugatuck river west, a small rock south, with
a swamp on the east, and little brook or spring that runs into the Beaver
river north.
This is the first recorded sale of land in Derby.
In 1657 Lieut. Thomas Wheeler of Stratford received a deed from the
Indians of land where Birmingham stood, about forty acres. This is the
first deed of record. 'Apercell of land lying between* Poodertoke River &
Nagatuck River, Podertoke River bounding it on the southwest, Nagatuck
River northeast & bounded on ye north west with trees marked.'
The territory of the town as granted by the General Court in 1675 and
for which a satisfactory charter was not obtained until 1720, extended from
Two Mile Brook on the south, twelve miles northward, and on the southern
boundary, eastward from the Ousatonic two and a half miles, making an
area of about fourteen thousand acres in the original township.
From best information obtained, it is concluded that the first settlers came
in 1654, and were Edward Wooster, Thomas Langdon, located at Old Town;
Edward Riggs, located on the hill east (Riggs Hill), and Francis French on
the hill in 1661. Lieut. Thomas Wheeler lived on the point from 1657 to 1^>4
and returned to Stratford. That there was a settlement made h'ere is with
out doubt, since they made application in the spring of 1655, and were
admitted by the New Haven Court into the jurisdiction as a village."
The first minister located in Derby was John Bowers in 1673.
The first meeting house erected in Derby was in 1682 at "Squabble Hole."
The first Episcopal church was built in 1738 at Oldtown, Elm street as
it is now named.
The first minister, the first meeting house, and the first Episcopal church
in the town of Derby, were located in what is now the city of Ansonia.
The first mill in the town of Derby was built on Beaver Brook, about half
a mile east of the present Congregational church of Ansonia; the second
mill was built on the Old Mill road.
The territory on which the borough of Ansonia stood was originally
called Little Neck, it being formed a neck by the Naugatuck river and Beaver
brook. Plum Meadow was that part of this neck which is now low land lying
between the river and the brook and extending up the brook until it is partly
in the rear of the village.

228 METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH,
Thomas Wooster, son of the first Edward, seems to have been the first man
to own any of the territory of this little neck, he being granted one half of
Plum Meadow in 1680.
"In 1681 John Hull built the first grist mill in the town on Beaver brook
at the upper end of Plum Meadow.
The second mill was built on the Old Mill road north of what is now the
Old Town road or Division street, near the present canal of the Birmingham
Water Power Company, about the year 1710. These were the first mills of
any kind built in the town of Derby, and as said before, were situated in
what is now the city of Ansonia. In fact, many of the first settlers of Derby
located in what is now known as Ansonia."
The first town house was located in Elm street, near the foot of Kankwood
hill. "As early as 1836 Anson G. Phelps conceived the idea of utilizing the waters
of the Naugatuck river for manufacturing purposes upon the west side of
the river, and thus making one continuous village (and finally a city), from
Birmingham north to a distance of two or three miles. Unable to purchase
the land necessary because of the avarice and exorbitant price asked by the
owner, Stephen Booth, he turned his attention to the east side of the
Naugatuck river, and in 1845 a l°ng line 0I Irishmen with picks and shovels,
carts and horses commenced the canal and other foundations for the new
village. While Mr. Phelps was one day at Doctor Ambrose Beardsley's dinner
table, about this time, he said, Doctor, we are in a quandary as to what name
to give our new village. Some are in favor of calling it Phelpsville, but I
have one place by that name already. The doctor remarked, "I suppose you
would like your name associated with the place" — Mr. Phelps 'said that
would be very desirable. The doctor said, take your Christian name, Anson,
and make a Latin name of it and call it Ansonia. Instantly Mr. Phelps
exclaimed, that's the name : it suits me exactly : and at the next meeting
of the company it was adopted, and hence it was called Ansonia. The
embankment, a mile and a half long, forming the great reservoir, was com
menced in 1845 and finished in 1848. The first contractors after a while
abandoned the work and it was put into the hands of Almon Farrel with
Abraham Hubbell, the latter coming to Ansonia in April, 1845, and under
their supervision it was completed."
The copper mill was the first manufacturing mill built in Ansonia. The
foundations were laid in 1844 by Almon Farrel, and the superstructure
erected by Harvey Johnson the same year. In 1854 the big copper mills at
Birmingham were removed to Ansonia and merged into the present mills.
In 1838 the grand list of Derby, which included the territory now com
posed of the towns of Derby, Ansonia and Seymour, amounted to $27,361.26.
The grand lists of said towns now amount to $16,040,129, as follows :
Derby  $5,150,848
Ansonia  8,105,414
Seymour  2,783,867

ANSONIA, CONNECTICUT. 229
BOROUGH OF ANSONIA.
The Borough of Ansonia was incorporated July 9, 1864; bounded west by
Naugatuck river, north by town of Seymour, easterly and southerly line
being the bank of Beaver brook. Charter amended July 14, 1871 ; west bound
ary being the center line of the Naugatuck river, northerly line the town of
Seymour, easterly and southerly line being the center line of Beaver brook.
Charter revised April 7, 1887; westerly line being westerly bank of Naugatuck
river, northerly line the town of Seymour, easterly and southerly line the
center line of Beaver brook.

WEST ANSONIA FIRE DISTRICT.
West Ansonia Fire District was incorporated June 3, 1875. Southerly
boundary was the Old Town road and the town of Derby, the southerly
boundary on the Seymour road being a point two hundred feet south of the
south side of the residence of the late Edwin A. Baldwin, and the south
westerly boundary corner was three hundred feet west of said point on the
Seymour road. From the southwest corner, a line drawn due east until it
intersected the northerly side of the Old Town road, and thence easterly
along the northerly side of said Old Town road, to the westerly bank of the
Naugatuck river at the northwest corner of the Old Town bridge, forms the
southerly line of said West Ansonia Fire District. The westerly line of said
Fire District is a line parallel with the westerly line of the Seymour road
and distant westerly therefrom three hundred feet. The northerly boundary
is the town of Seymour, and the easterly line is the west bank of the Nauga
tuck river.
THE TOWN OF ANSONIA.
The Town of Ansonia was incorporated April 16, 1889, and comprises all
that part of Derby lying northerly and easterly of a line bounded westerly
by the town of Derby and southerly by the town of Derby, easterly by the
town of Woodbridge, northerly by the town of Seymour.
Commencing on the boundary line of the towns of Derby and Seymour,
at the westerly side of the old highway, where said highway crosses Haskey
Meadow brook so called, from thence running in a straight line southerly
a distance of about 274 rods, to an angle in said old highway, about 14 rods
northerly from the dwelling house of Henry W. Bassett, thence following the
westerly side of said highway about 50 rods to an angle in said highway
about 34 rods southerly of the dwelling house of Henry W. Bassett and
about 30 rods westerly of the dwelling house of Dwight J. Downs; thence
following the southerly line of said old highway, and the southerly line of
the highway now known as the Old Town road, to the westerly side of the
canal of the Birmingham Water Power Company : thence northerly, crossing
said highway to its northerly side : thence easterly following the northerly
side of said highway to the easterly Dank of the Naugatuck river: thence
southerly, crossing said highway to its southerly side; thence following
the southerly side of said highway to the westerly side of Derby avenue

23O METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH.
and across said Derby avenue to a point where the dividing line between
lands of Charles Terrell and Ellen Gorman intersect said Derby avenue :
thence southeasterly along said dividing line and the northerly line of
land of Charles E. and Mary A. Clark, 990 feet : thence in a straight line
through land of Merritt Clark to the southwest corner of the old highway,
and the highway known as Coe's lane : thence along the southerly side of
Coe lane to an angle in said highway about 52 rods westerly of the cellar
of what was the Marshall house : thence in a straight line easterly, a dis
tance of about 90 rods to the highway known as Sodon lane, said point being
about 9 rods southwesterly of the house of Eli B. Smith : thence in a straight
line, due east, to the dividing line beween the towns of Derby and Woodbridge.
THE CITY OF ANSONIA.
The City of Ansonia, including the territorial limits of the town of Ansonia,
was incorporated June 29, 1893, to take effect December 1, 1893.
By said Act, the charters of the borough of Ansonia and of the West
Ansonia Fire District were repealed, to take effect December 1, 1893.
Seymour was set off from the town of Derby in 1850 and incorporated
as a town.
Oxford was set off from Derby as a town in 1798.

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