The daily morning journal and courier., 1899-12-12
ANNIVERSARY IN CHESHIRE
THE 175TH TEAR OF FIRST CHURCH
 OF CHRIST.

impressive Services Conducted by tn
 Pastor, Rev. J. F. Hoyt-slsetch of tn
 Bounding of the Parish and tn
 Church.
 The one hundred and seventy-fifth anniversary of the organization of the First Church of Christ in the historic < town of Cheshire was observed last Sabbath, December 10, morning and evening. Rev. J. P. Hoyt, the pastor, conducting the exercises. sketch of the founding of the parish and church is as follows:
 Cheshire was originally part of the town of Walingford. It is evident that few families settled in what is now Cheshire previous to the year 17OO, Jo- seph Ives and Captain John Hotchklss being among the number The fertile valleys where springs abousded, and the green self-sustainng wales west of the river to Cook Hill, and westward to Mill river that gave promise of an abundance of pasturage and grass, in- duced others to join them in this west ward settlement. As families increased, they were known as the West Farm ers," and this locality was called "the West Farms of Wallingford."
 In 1718, Thomas Brooks Stephen Hotchkiss and Matthew Bellamy the father of Rev. Joseph Bellamy, D. D) complained to the general assembly that by reason of the distance from town, and their great disadvantage to appear in public worship, and to 'eddi- cate their children, the petitioners ask to be constituted distinct society," and a committee was appointed by the gen. eral assembly to examine into the af- airs of the West Farmers. Upon ex- animation they found the number of families to be forty-five, including in ye number some few new beginners that have not families, and who were yet re- siding with their parents" They also found the value of their estate to be about two thousand pounds and decided that they should still remain with the town of Wallingford. This question, however, did not end with this refusal; II was SLlll dSlldlGu dilu ID AhaJ, t'Hc' the district previously known as the West Farms became a distinct society by legislative grant. This society then took the name of the parish of New Cheshire. Joseph Thompson was it's first clerk and continued to fill this of flee for twenty-four years. Thomas Brooks Nathaniel Bunnell asd John Hitchcock were the first society's com- mittee. In the year of it's organization there was considerable trouble in the society in reference to site for the meeting house. some desiring one place and others preferring another locality. They finally petitioned the general as- sembly, through Thomas Brooks John Hitchcock and Nathaniel Bunnell, their committee, and in accordance with the wishes of the society, the general as- sembly appointed a committee of three fits members to select the ground upon which the first meeting-house of the so- ciety was to be built. Two winters pre- vious to this date meetings were held for public worship at different dwelling houses, but more frequently at the house of Josiah Hotchkiss, who then lived nearly opposite the residence of Wesley A. Lanyon, and the Rev. Sam uel Hall served as candidate. For one year and two months previous to the completion of this house of worship, meetings were held alternately at the dwelling houses of Lieutenant Thomas Brooks and Captain John Hotchkiss, 1 both of whom, with their families, then resided near the present residence of James White. On the 9th day of De- cember, 1724, the Rev. Nathaniel Chaun- cey, of Durham, and the Rev. Samuel l Whittlesey, of Wallingford, organized | the Congregational church in New | Cheshire, according to the ecclesiastical constitution of this state, and at the same time ordained and installed the Rev. Samuel Hall as it's first pastor.
 The following extracts were copied from a note book, kept by the Rev. Samuel Hall, viz:
 Account of ye Church.
 "In 1724. we Church of New Cheshire was ga thered on ye Fast-Day, previous to my ordination, by ye Rev. MT. Chauncy and ye Rev. MT. Whittlesey, and declared to be according to ye es- tablishment of ye government, 1876.
 Signed, SAMUEL HALL, Pastor"
 18th Dec, 1724.
 "Samuel Hall WAS OfudlHeu dStoI oL we Church of New Cheshire ye 9th day of December, 1724. Being then twenty eight years of age.
 Test, SAMUEL HALL, Pastor.
 The church was organized with eleven (11) males and fifteen Q5) female mem bers. This church, at it's organization, rested upon the foundation of the apostles and Prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief corner stone." There may it ever abide.
 II. CHURCH EDIFICES.
 This first church building was erected ( n the year 1724. It was located few I ,ods southwest of the present residence ,f w. A. Lanyon, in the southern por- ' ion of what is now his enclosed garden, l n accordance with the decision of the committee appointed by the general f ,ourt. This first meeting-house was C orty (40) feet in length, thirty (30) feet c n breadth, eighteen Q8) feet between c oints, and without steeple. In the a ear 1727 the society voted 'To build h ,alleries in the meeting-house." Joseph V yes and Stephen Hotchkiss were the o rst deacons selected by the church. e september ', 1724, the society engaged O stephen Hotchkiss to sweep this first ''
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