The Newtown bee., 1890-01-24

nl6S. FfODl SOOu auCIloTlLy. we diSc
 learn that ''They (the Independents
 (because of his unHinching churchman, ship seized the body of Daniel Shelton at his farm and hurried him away in or der to carry him to the county gaol
 Passing by house, he requested of them that he might go in and warm him and take some refreshments, which was granted; but they, being in a hurry, bid him coma along; but he, desiring little longer time, they laid violent hands on and flung his body across a horses back and called for ropes to tie him on the horse; with two others, William Rowlin- son and Archibald Dunlap, he was taken to the county gaol, January l6, 17O9 and the three confined until they gave such sums as the jailer demanded of them" :" This Daniel Shelton died during the min istration of Dr Johnson before church was erected.
 The first minister N as Rev Christopher Newton, who was one of the small num- Der that went to England for holy orders and was ordained by Zachery Pierce, bishop of Bangor, at the chapel of Spring Garden, Westminster, by order of Ihom- as, Lord Bishop of London. He was ap- pointed missionary at Ripton in l755.
 The tiIst records of Ripton parish ex- tant are dated Easter Monday, April F, l7S4. The following may show the man Ter in which the minister's salary was raised then:
 Voted, That Rev MT NewLOn's rate on list Of i7Si shall be two pence hnltpenny on the pound, including the wood; with this reserve considered ill the vote. Those who have a mind to furnish any wood may pay the half penny on the pound in wood.
 Rev Mir Newton's death occurred on February G., l7S7; his remains repose just south of the present church.
 Rev Abram l.. Clark succeeded Rev Mir Newton and was followed by Rev Charles Seabury. It is certified on the parish records that q vote was passed to employ Rev William Green for one year and, for lis services during this time, he was to be allowed one hundred pounds lawful money. \ certified copy of this vote was forwarded to Bishop Provost of New York.
 The records also show that, at d meet tug held June Fl, l7S9, it was voted to allow Rev Calvin White one hundred pounds lawful money and s loads of wood.
 In the year 1900, Rev Ambrose Todd Was settled and remained until his death. which occurred July D, 1909, in the 46th year of his life and the 22d of his minis try. In August, 1909, the society voted to continue the salary .of Key Ambrose Todd to his family until the filth of the next December, together with the use of the glebe orchard. AC the same time, it Was voted that the society entertain the highest regard for his memory and agree to defray his funeral expenses and erect d tombstone to his memory.
 In lSO5, Rev Mir Todd Was requested to perform divine service at SC. Pauls church at Riptom and St. Peters church at New StratfOrd (now Monroe) one third of the time and tie waruens of St. Paul's church at kipton were empowered {" make, when called upon, such arrange mentS for the direction of the new church at New Stratford as might seem neces- sary. The people in New Stratford had heretofore assisted ill paying for services in RiptUn parish.
 The glebe house was sold to Rev Mr Todd and is the building now occupied by C. E. Quick.
 June l7, lSll, the two societies voted to call Rev Menzies Rayner to preach alternately at St. Paul's and St. Peters, at q salary of $55O per annum and the use of the gIebe lot, provided the money could be raised without taxation.
 The people in the parish of Hipton be- ing deIirous that the relationship of min iSter and people between them and Rev MT Rayner should he brought to d close, d committee was appointed in December, 1926, to visit Rev MT Rayner to ascertain the lowest terms upon which he would leave the society. The committee re- ported that Rev Mir Rayner would join the parish in requesting the bishop to dissolve the connection with that society in con sideration of $200 and that his ser vices should cease on the last Sunday of December. The dissolution was made by Bishop Brownell.
 In 1Sll,a a subscription was started and the sum of $500 was raised for a fund, the interest of which should be appropri- ated forever for the support of preaching in Ripton parish by an Episcopal clergy man. In June of the same year. St. Paul's church was destroyed by fire. It originated in consequence of young man, a citizen of the town, shooting u dove which Was sitting on some part of the church.
 From the close of Mr Rayners rector ship to tile year 1864, several different elergymen occupied the reetory for short intervals.
 h 1856, the society made application to the bishop for pecuniary aid that it might be enabled 10 have preaching con- tinued.
 In lSIl, the present rectory was built.
 In April, 1861, Rev Joseph 5. Covell was called and remained for nearly I3 years, when he resigned on account of ill health aini infirinitles of age. Hewas an efficient Christian minister, a sound divine and looked we'll to the interest of his small flock. By good advice and Christian ministration, he was instru- mental in adding members to the church, leaving the small society in united and prosperous condition. During his rec torship, the church was improved in ap- pearance by painting, re-seating, fresco- ing and being made more modern in