Morning journal and courier., 1891-05-28
NORTH HAVEN ANNALS.

NORTH HAVEN ANNALS. A Word About the Rise and Progress of Baptist Interests in the Town Interesting Particulars and Clean. tngs.
 Prepared from notes furnished by Rev. A. Fl.
 Simonds of Montowese, Conn.,.
 NUMBER T.
 As an organization, the Baptist society of North Haven dates it's existence from June 12, 1911, but the germs from which 1t grew were planted in the vicinity long before. Some who even came with the New Haven colony in the early days were tinctured with what was called "Baptist Heresy," Mrs. Eaton, wife of the first gov ernor, being notable instance. Others of lesser note appeared from time to time, holding views of soul liberty and gospel ordinances peculiar to the Baptists, but not in numbers sufficient to warrant . separate organization, as was the case in Rhode Island, some parts of Massachusetts and eastern Connecticut. The first Baptist church formed in this vicinity was in Wallingford.
 Their pastor, Rev. John Merriman, was imprisoned for holding meetings contrary to the law. It was his invitation to the Rev. Philemon Robbins of Branford which plunged the latter gentleman so deeply for time in hot water with his ministeral brethren, and not only him but his church likewise came under such censure and ex- clusion from the standing churches as to afford them and the Baptists hint and an opportunity for real close communion. Later on the church in Wallingford was l increased in membership by receiving a number of "Separatists," who for many years maintained an organization in that North Haven. These Separates" protest ed against what they regarded as the want of conformity to the gospel in the consti- tuition and spirit of the established church. es. Ultimately most of the Separatist churches in New England became Baptist churches. In not a few instances thei, scattered members became the seeds of the | latter. This was especially so in North Haven.
 From the journal of that cratic woman Hannah Heaton [See number - this ! seriesl we catch occasional glimpses of the genesis of the Baptist faith in North Ha- | ven. She was an ardent Separatist, and l well acquainted with Benjamin Beach, a | preacher in that persuasion. She was fa1 from being in communion with him, how ever, because of his removal of the North Haven branch to Wallingford, where the church previously described was builded on the "Plains." For this and other req sons, she never became reconciled to him and no sooner did the organization go to pieces in Wallingford, than she and others 1 revived the old fire on the altar again i1 Muddy river. Their influence had much to do in preparing the way for the found ing of the Baptist church there.
 The first Baptist known and identified a such in that community was the wife O. Benjamin Beach, just mentioned. Tn first person baptized in the town in this belief was Lyman Todd, resident in tn northwestern part of the town. This wa in 1795. He united with the church a Wallingford. It was his custom to hol, services in his neighborhood, and he in vited various Baptist clergymen to preacl at his house; among them was Rev. Johl Leland of Cheshire, Mass. Converts wer gathered by these ministrations, who like wise joined the Wallingford church.
 In 1909 Rev. Joshua Bradley, a gradual of Brown university, who had been greatl blest in his work at Newport, R. l., and il Mansfield and Middletown in this state was invited to open an academy in Walling ford. A building was erected for that pur pose and soon filled with students, som coming from remote parts of the state. Ii connection with the oversight of tn school MT. Bradley supplied the pulpit o the little Baptist church and occasionall extended his preaching into the surround ing towns.
 l At the invitation of one of his forme pupils, now engaged in teaching school a North Haven, MT. Bradley came down an held a meeting at the house of Asahe Barnes. A few were awakened to sens of religious things at this meeting H came again soon and after repeated visits revival followed. At this time the first on . to receive the rite of baptism was Mif Betsy Croken, April 10, 1810 The ord nance was administered in the river nes the house of MT. Barnes above mentioned
 A large concourse of people witnesse this interesting and, to most of them, nove service, and as the young disciple, we known and loved by many, was buris with her Lord in baptism, many we, deeply moved. The present pastor of th Baptist church some time since had minute account of this ceremony at th river side from one who witnessed it. so impressed her with the reality and in portance of divine things that from thf hour she began the life of faith that wider ed and deepened for seventy years an only ended on earth when death elaine her.
 This was the preliminary work. Th church was organized with twenty-t -thre members June 12, 1911.
 Joshua Bradley, Leah:Bradley
 | David Wright, Patty Barnes
 Joel Beach, Polly Humiston, | Jesse Crockett, Polly Todd
 | James Linsley, Patty Beach
 James H. Linsey, Abagail Crockett | ASahel Barnes Beda Beach
 Lyman Todd, Emily Linsley
 Benjamin Baldwin, Lydia Pierpont, Jesse D. Beach, Julia Tucker, Richard Scott, Zerniah Cooper Sally Baldwin.
 MT. Bradley served the flock as paste for three years. During this time he fir
 quently preached in the Masonic hall
 New Haven, giving the few Baptists i
 that city their first regular preaching SC
 vices. At the close of his pastorate he1
 the church had increased to seventy men
 bers. Not all of these although wei
 North Haven people. Wallingford an
 New Haven added iberally to the nun
 Der. The Wallingford organization frol one cause and another had become di banded about the time the North Have church commenced. There are some ind cations that Wallingford regarded Mort Haven as branch, rather than an ind pendent body, for by an understanding communion services were held a part the time in the former place.
 The society formed to work with u church in 1911 was called the Union Ba, tist Society of North Haven. The article of agreement to which it's members sul scribed were preceded by this statement principles:
 "We the subscribers for good and suff1ciel ! reasons as we apprehend do dissent from Feel | "siastical Societies established by the law ( | ttthe state, being of the opinion that religio Civil power; that every man has the right l choose his own religion and religious teacher ''and to worship God according to the dictates l This own conscience; that no man ought to ''compelled by law to pay for the support of r l "liglous teachers of any sect or denomina atic l (which he does not choose, and that all force ! connection with churches or societies is inco '.sistent with the proper end of religious instit ! ''tions and tends to subvert and defeat the o | Happiness of man.
 Sabbath services were for about g yet and 8 half, held at private houses. IT most general place of meeting was in large room fitted up for the purpose i the house of Jedediah Button, yet stan, ing some forty rods south of the prese, church.
 The first meeting house was erected i 1872 on the ''Green" at Muddy river, the locality was called then. This plt was given by Stephen Crockett to tl society for that purpose. The buildir