The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1901-01-19
THE EARLY STRUGGLES
OF TIE B1PTISTs IN THE SIITE
OF CONNECTIC

Interesting Local Church Efistor
Brought Out la the Recently issue
Pamphlet by john Ledyard Denison
of Hartford.
John Ledyard Denison, A. M, o
Hartford, has written pamphlet enti
tied, Some Items of Baptist History il
Connecticut" recently published by tn
American Baptist Publication society o
Philadelphia, which will be of consider
able interest to members of that de,
nomina ton in this state. In his pre-
face Mr.. Denison states that he has hat
fifty years of personal knowledge of tbs
churches and fields in the state and ar
acquaintance with many of the mem
beers, which has provided the informa-
ton which is included in the little
book. New London Baptists will be-
Interested in the following facts gath
cred from the book:
The first baptism in this state were in
Waterford, then New London, in 1874
! two hundred and twenty-six years ago
The legislature of the state was in
tion and those baptized We're compelled
TO join churches in Rhode Island. This
was a startling innovations which could
not be tolerated; nevertheless, during
the next few years many found their
way across the Rhode Island line to
meet with their brethren who had de-
clared for religious liberty
In 1904 petition was sent to the au-
thorities asking permission to hold
Baptist meetings in what was soon af-
ter Incorporated as Groton. No heed
seems to have been paid to their re-
quest; but feeling that they had shown
sufficient regard for ''the powers that
be- by sending the petition, and relying
upon the righteousness of their cause,
they proceeded to hold said meetings,
and Invited Rev. Valentine Wightman,
OF Rhode Island. to come and serve
them as pastor, providing him with a
house and twenty acres of land.
It was the gift of William Stark, who
was afterward a deason of the church.
This was the first Baptist parsonage in
the state and was the home of the
Wightmans for several generations
Valentine was pastor until the time of
his death, forty-two years. His son,
Timothy, was pastor until the time of
his death, forty years. His son, John
Gano, was pastor until the time of his
death, fortyone years. No better man
could have been chosen as our Connect
icut pioneer. than Rev. Valentine
Wightman, a great grandson of Ed
ward Wightman, "the last martyr
buried at the stake under James l."
FIRST CHURCH ORGANIZED.
Valentine Wightman was made of the
'sterner stuff that shrinks from no
difficulty. lie was withal scholarly
man for his years, and so kindly and
tactful in all his dealings with men
that he disarmed much of the opposi-
ton which would gladly have over
thrown this feeble interest. Under his
leadership the first Baptist church in
Connecticut was organized in 1905,
which exists to this day as the First
Baptist church of Groton. Five years
later was organized, on the west side of
the river, what is now the First Baptist
church of Waterford this same pioneer
preacher having general oversight. He
made his power felt not alone in Rhode
Island and our own state, but even in
New York city, where he sowed Bap-
fist seed which found good soil
The second church was formed in
Waterford, in 1910. When once it was
learned that Baptist meetings We're
near New London, people
came long distances to attend them
Some went from Wallingford. A third
church was organized in Wallingford
about 1871, from the scattered forces of
which in later years the First Meriden
and First Wallingford churches of to-
day were formed. A fourth church was
in Pennington, in the sec
ton now called Southington, in 1888.
Rev. John Merriman, who was to the |
central portion of the state what Rev. |
Valentine Wightman was to the south
eastern, was ordained in the Walling I
ford church and became first pastor of |
the new southington church.
The fifth was formed in Lyme and |
he sixth in Colchester, in 1743, the sew
anth in Saybrook, in 1744. In the rec
ord of this year we find the following: |
In February, fourteen persons were ar
.ested in Saybrook for holding a Bap-
list meeting. The charge brought
against them was: "For holding a
meeting contrary to the law, on Gods
Holy Sabbath day. They were ar
aligned, tried, fined and driven on foot,
through deep mud to New London, a
distance of twenty-five miles, and
brown into prison, without fire, food or
,eds, where they remained, enduring
lreadful suffering, for several weeks,
md probably would all have persisted,
lad not some Baptist brethren residing
n New London, Great Neck, carried
hem provisions. The established
hurches did not require a Christian
experience as a condition of member
hin, and persons both men and wo- |
1en, were forbidden to take part in the
meetings.
The state church was supported by a
ak on the property of the town and ,
hey would not grant to the Baptists ,
ven the right to use the word :
and tried to compel them to
ay3 toward the support of the true
hurch' In this they, of course, usual !
! succeeded, for they had the law on :
heir side. If Baptists would not pay, ,
1eir property was seized and a suff-
lent portion sold at the town-post to q
ay the required tax. Such a state of +
fairs gave occasion for much persecu-
on. Sometimes the charge was more ,
rect, as when in one case, they We're a
-rested for holding a meeting contra
: to the law on Gods Holy Sabbath r