Norwich bulletin., 1909-12-17

Church of England in January, 1734. His pastoral relationa as a Congrega-
 tionalist was dissolved Feb. 5. In
 April he went to England for orders, and returned to North Groton in Octo-
 Der with a commission as itinerant missionary of the Venerable society for New England.
 Trinity Parish in New Haven.
 After residing in North Groton a number of years and establishing an Episcopal church there, he was settled in 1153 in New Haven and was mis- s1onary in Trinity parish at the time of its organization. Branford and Guilford were also under his care. In November, 1763, he became rector of the church in Rye, N. Y, and died there Sept. 2, 1764. His wife was Han nah Miner, daughter of Ephraim Miner of Stonington. She died in North Groton Feb. 23, 1792. There were two sons, Ebenezer Punderson Jr., and Cyrus Punderson, both of whom grad uated at Yale in 1755. The daughter married the Rev. John Beardsley, who succeeded her father in the Episcopal church founded in North Groton.
 Bishop Seabury.
 During this period the Rev. Samuel Seabury, Harvard, 1724, was a licen- tiate of the Congregational church and preached to the farmers in North Groton. He also decided for the Epis- copacy with Parsop Punderson. The 1llustrious son of the Connecticut licen- tate, who became the first bishop of Connecticut. was born in North Groton Nov. 90, 1729. He was a grandson of Deacon John Seabury of Groton and graduated from Yale in 174S. He was consecrated bishop of Connecticut Nov IA, 17S4, at Aberdeen. Scotland Through life he held the rectorship of St. James church in New London. Bishop Seabury died in 1796.
 Panson Punderson's Successors.
 The successors of the Rev. MT. Pun ierson in the Congregational church | It North Groton, now Ledyard. was ne Rev. Andrew Cresswell. He occu- pied the pastorate from Oct. IA. 1736. lntit Aug. 21, 1746. The Rev. Jacob | Iohnson became pastor in June, 1749. | md retained position until October, | -172. In TITO thirty-five families in 1arish were released by the general | 'ourt from support of Pastor Johnson. | lie was dismissed without council, as | vas the case with regard to MT. Cress- veu Both of these clergymen passed | trough seasons of difficulty and dis | lppointment. The services of the hureh were given up and by the be- 'inhlng or the nineteenth century the i'd church had become extinct. The ecords of the church were lost.
 Reorganization Day.
 The present Ledyard church was re- rganized Dec. 12, 1910, with -four nemoers, including only one male, Vho. died before another male was dded to the membership. The first astor under the reorganization was he Rev Timothy Futile, who alter ated between the churches at Led ard and Groton until April 2. 1894. rom the latter date until the time of Is death in Ledyard, June s, 1864, he coupled the Ledyard pastorate alone overing period of fifty-three years t the time of his ordination the nureh in Groton had twenty-seven lembers.
 Timothy Futile.
 The Rev. Timothy Futile. son of oseph and Mary Granger Futile, was orn in East Haven Nov. 29, 17S1. He 'ent to Durham in 1799, where in 1903 e was converted and joined the hurch. He studied divinity under his astor. the Rev. Dr. David Smith. and r. raduated at Yale in 1908. He was in May, 1909, and preached at urham, N. Y. He became stated SUD- " dL GIOLOH ana LeQydrd Sept. 10, '10, and continued in this capacity ntil Aug. IA, 1911, when he was regu- rly settled as pastor of the Ledyard lurch. He married Mary Norton. iughter of Stephen and Mary Merwin orton, of Durham, Feb. 15, 1910. She ad been the means of his conversion nd was regarded with the utmost af- ction through life. She died Feb. IA. '56. They had two children. one the lie of the Rev. Nehemiah B. Cook nd the other the wife of Leonard nith of Ledyard. MT. Cook. after the sath of MT. Futile, was stated supply
 the church from June, 1884, until pril, 1884, The Rev. Charles Cutting as stated supply and pastor from 6S until 1881. The Rev. John Avery as the third pastor from Dr. Futile Id the Rev. Albert p. Kinmonth the urth Mr. Kinmonth is still a resi- mt of the town. Mrs. Nehemiah B. ook, the daughter of the Rev. Tim ny Futile, and Miss Mary A. Avery, Lughter of the Rev. John Avery, a aduate of Mount Holyoke, were suc- ssful teachers in the schools of Led Ird.
 The Present Pastor.
 The present pastor, the Rev. Will m F. White, was settled July 1, 0S. He was born in RensselaervilIe. aud was educated at Amherst d the Hartford Theological semifl- sS -He- pss acting naStap ia Rux- '