The Press. (Stafford Springs, Conn.) 1883-1935, 1906-07-11

Connecticut appreciated and held in
high esteem. He was afterwards
to Office then the highest
in the state, that of governor. At
this period the inhabitants were zeal
GUS in establishing the means of edu-
cation, when the township was only
dotted here and there with hastily
and rudely constructed dwellings, for
we find at the second town meeting
they voted twenty pounds to be
raised and appropriated toward we
of a school house. :" Tradi-
ton says in the Glass Factory dis
trict. Many of the pupils we're accus-
toned to walk the distance of four or
five miles, over the newly made and
rough paths, to attend school. 1t
would be interesting to here record
the name of the first "pedagogue,"
but it is not remembered by the older
However, it is safe to
say that he must have been gentle
man eminently qualified for his call
ing, as he was instrumental in mould
ing both the intellectual and moral
of those who i'll after years
became good and valuable citizens,
and some who became distinguished
in life.
The earliest minister of Wilmington
was the Rev. Daniel Fuller, a young
man called hither from his home in
Wethersfeld to start the altar fires i'll
this town. He was ordained ovar
"The First Church of Christ in Will
lington,' it's corporate name, now
known as the Congregational church,
soon after the first settlements, as we
find recorded as follows: cat Town
and Parish meeting, August 9th, 1928,
voted to pitch upon time for Mr..
Fuller's ordination: voted to ordain
Mr.. Fuller the second Wednesday in
September next The Rev. Mr..
Fuller was ordained We pastor of ye
Church of Christ in Willintgon, Sept.
18th, 1928. At this time there was
no meeting house in the town, as it
was resolved at their town meeting
"that ye publick worship of God be
carried OH at ye house of Mr.. Fuller
until the town cause to alter it. )"
1.-THE premises are the same as are now
occupied by Timothy Holt. "Voted
vt we take into consideration ye want
of a meeting house-resolved vt we
do build" Mr.. Fuller continued in
his ministry to his death, and high
~ successful and useful ministry it
was, being pastor 81 years. He was
succeeded by Rev Gideon Noble, who
continued the ministry thirty years.
His successor was Rev. Abishai Alden,
until the close of the century, when
he was succeeded by Rev. Aaron
Hovey. The early ministry of Will
lington was learned and pious, and &C.
complished much for the formation
of town interests, as we'll as for the
church. The Rev. Mr.. Fuller was
frequently entrusted to offices in the
town requiring much ability and over
sight, and being a man of rare intel
lectual capacity and sound judgment
he was eminently useful in planning
and carrying out public measures, as
we find recorded a vote "That the
Reverend Daniel Fuller and Mr.. Ella
EUR Hubbel Jour agents. shall have
full power to nominate constables and
appoint one or more attorneys Ito
revoke them at pleasure) and to do
anything respecting ye premises, as
they shall deem proper for the interest
of We town." Mr.. Fuller continued
the beloved and respected pastor until
he died of the smallpox, the town
sustaining great loss. The prosper
ity and advancement of Wilmington
can be seen, in a measure, when we
see that the salaries of is ministers
we're raised from time to time, the
first salary paid to Mr.. Fuller being
forty pounds, and in subsequent time
one hundred pounds we're paid as the
compensation of their ministers SER
vices, which compares well with the
annual allowance received by the
present clergymen of Holland county.
1t was during the ministry of Rev.
Mr.. Noble that the Baptist church
was founded, Elder Lillibridge being
the first minister. The old meeting
house, which has long since yielded
to the inroads of time, was situated
near the Stafford boundary, "Village
HILL" and some 20 years ago a new
one was built on the best situation
available in the center of the town,
which is the present meeting house
of the Baptist church. Mr.. Lilli
bridge, by all accounts, possessed {
large amount of originality as {
preacher, and was man of sterling
worth. His determination of purpose
and unflinching disposition, in regard
to what he deemed just and right
guided by palpable reason and SOUND
judgement and directed by his ampl'
acquired knowledge of the scripture
together with his piety and earne st
ness in his calling, made him an eff
fectual instrument in gathering ant
forming a church which better an
swered to the views of some of the in
habitants, as we'll as himself, thougl
differing somew hat in doctrinal points
from the then established church
which fact rendered his weightie
work than at subsequent periods. HI
was not erudite, but "mighty in tn
scriptures" and in his calling.
During the struggle for independ
ence the town of Wilmington was earn
est and eager in bearing it's part il
supplying men for the army an
money for it's support. 1 copy fror
the records: "Voted to choose a maj
to go to Hartford, to meet with y
County's Commissioners to see if y
Town of Wilmington has justice done
as to the number of men said tow
IL l. L. - =.