The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1847-07-15
HISTORY OF

4 SIMSBURY, CRANKY AND CANTON
:, Connecticut from the gear 1912 to 1916
BY NOAH A. PHELPS.
(Extracts continued)
In 1895, the town voted, unanimously, tt
send again for Mr. Thompson, but he did no
comply with the invitation to return to Sims
bury
u Mr. Dudley Woodbridge, after having
preached short time in the place, received
an unanimous call to settle in the work of the
ministry, October 2, 1876. The town offered
him salary of sixty pounds annually, lin good
current pay, Of which twenty pounds were to
be paid in silver, with fire wood, the parson-
age property,and other lands which had been
offered to Mr.. Thompson. He didnot accept
the call at that time, though he continued to
oficiate as minister August 20, 1896, the
call was renewed by an unanimous vote. I'm
der date of September 20, of this year, is this
record -
Whereas, there arises some demur, in ref
erence to our preceding actions, touching our
gathering church here in Simsbury, by some
of the elders of the neighboring churches 8
presuppoSing that we I've under scandal, by
reason ofthe minister's departing and leaving
of us destitute-they desiring to be better in
formed of said mator. Ensign Thomas Bar
Der is chosen by the congregation, to go to
Mr.. Hooker; and Sergt Samuel Wilcoxson,
to 90 to Mr.. Mather, for to inform them about
we said case, and ye agitation thereof.
" Further voted, by those persons that have
subscribed to be admitted to we Lords super,
that they are willing to be examined, and
tried, as to their knowledge and fitness, for
such fellowship and ordinance, by the elders
of other churches"
This matter seems to have been settled
satisfactorily. Whether it ever had any
weight with Mr.. Woodbridge, in inducing a
postponement of his ordination, is not known.
The town having made grants of other lands,
on condition of his settlement, he accepted the
terms and was ordained pastor Of the church,
Nov. %, 1897.
Among the articles furnished at the ordi-
nation, are the following, which are here no.
ted to show the prices Of provisions at that
period, Half lamb of mutton, Is. Cd but
ter, six pence per pound-four pounds of
sugar, IS. 6d.-half busheI indian meal, Is.
3d,-two fowls, 8d.-eighty four pounds of
beef, 15s.-thirty pounds venison, IS. 3D.
nineteen pounds Of pork, 4s9d-nne pounds
of mutton, 2s.-two gills Of rum, Cd.
Reduced to the present currency, the price
of beef was three cents a pound mutton,
three and half cents; and venison two
cents,
He was the first ordained minister in the
town, and continued here in the ministry I'M
til his death, August 3, 1910, greatly beloved
by his people, and, for aught that appears,
having ever discharged the duties Of his Office
with great fidelity. He was son of the Rev.
Mr.. Woodbridge, of Wethersfeld, family
distinguished for their attachment to the pro-
fession of the ministry. His w!c's maiden
name was Dorothy Lamb, Of RoXbury, Mas
sachusets.
From manuscript church record kept by
Mr. Woodbridge, now in a mutiIated condi-
ton, it appears that at the time of his ordi
nation, there were forty-three persons belong
ing to the church seventeen women, and
twenty-six men, including one Indian.
The form of church covenant used at this
time was as follows:
You do all here, solemnly here in the
feare of Gods all presence of this congrega-
ton, avouch God in Jesus Christ to be your
God and do you give up yourselves and
yours to be the Lords, to submit to his rule
and government in his church, to obey his
commands, wake in all religious duties to-
wards God iE love towards your neighbors
and that you will do your duty in bringing up
your children in the knowledge and tcare Of
God according to the scriptures"
1t would seem that all the old members of
the church renewed their covenants, accord
ing to this form, after Mr.. Woodbridge's or
dinaton.
After the death of the Rev. Dudley Wood
bridge, the pulpit was supplied by his kins-
man, Mr.. Timothy Woodbridge, jr.,of Hart
ford, on probation. His services being accept,
able, the inhabitants invited him by unani-
NOUS vote TO become their settled PASTOR
The invitation was accepted.
Mr. Woodbridge was ordained November
10, 1712, and continued in the ministry until
his decease, August 28,1742. He was gen
Ileman Of education, piety, and good talents
but, as will appear in other parts of this histo-
ry,he was extensively engaged in worldly av-
ocations, and speculation fault, if it be
such, which was not uncommon, at that peri
ID, among his brethren in the ministry. He
married the relict of the former Mr.. Wood |
bridge, by whom he had several children.
The Woodbridges, now residing in this town.
are among his descendants. His widow, who
survived him a few years, dwelt and died
here.
The old meeting house being out of repair,
and too small to accommodate the inhabitants,
measures were taken, in 1925, to erect new
one And here commenced a controversy
upon this subject, which continued for peri
ID of thirteen years, and which, before the
question was finally settled, had become so &C
as to separate friends and family
and so general as to pervade all
ranks and conditions of the people. And it
had SO extended itself amongst the members Of
the church, that the Ministerial Association
was induced to recommend to the pastor to
the administration OF the sacra-
nent of the Lords supper.
In order to understand correctly the vari-
ous influences which bore upon this question,
A view should be taken Of the condition Of the
own at that time. Its geographical center
rns nnnrlu two miles north of the old meet-