Norwich bulletin., 1910-01-11
GROTON HAS OLDEST
 BAPTIST CHURCH IN STATE. Amenities of the Early Days of the Followers of Roger Williams in Con necticut.

The number of Baptist churches in l Connecticut is 152. One of them. the a bicentennial in 1910, and the church l in Moodus passed it's first centennial in November this year. The oldest | Baptist church in the state is in l town of Waterford was known as New London until 1901 The first baptisms | there by the Baptfsts took place in i 1874. regular Baptist ministers from | Rhode Island conducting the ceren,o- nies. Upon the organization of the First Baptist church in Groton, in 1705. | the Waterford Baptists put thenI selves under the watch and ware of 1 that church, Elder Wightman haViuS the pastoral charge. For a number 1 Of years after the church in Water ford was organized in ITO there was no active pastorate. There was preaching from time to time by Elders Wightman and Tillinghast of Provi- dence and Elder William Peckham of Newport.
 The First Pastor.
 T he first pastor of this ancient church was stephen Gorton of Rho ode 1s'0D6. He was ordained and settled November 2s, 1876. Success attende his ministry. He was Instrumental in establishing Baptist settlements m Lyme and Saybrook. In 1731 a brancn was set up in Wallingford, being cared for by the Waterford church until August 20, 1739. when it was consti- tuted as the Third Baptist chuccn in Connecticut, Waterford being the Sec end.
 Baptists Landed in Jail.
 During the last of Elder Gorton's wcrk dissensions were stirred up. dividing the church. Elder Daniel troyersy. Elder Peckham was in :luentiaI in restoring harmony. But the adhereptS of Elder Green formed a new interest and were landed in the New London in daad of ter. They were deprived of fire anl bedding. The persecution was uP- posed by many ngregationalists. ir- ciuring Col Elisha Williams, who be- He wrote an earnest protest against the treatment which the adherenrs of Elder Green received. Elder Nathan Howard was the successor of Elder Sorton in the pastorate. He Gie1 at the age of 56.
 Regime of Seventy-five Years.
 With the advent of Elder Zadoc Darrow, in 1775. an ecclesiastical regime of seventy-five years was be- gun, father and grandson occupying the pastorate during that term of years. Zadoc Darrow, the third pas tor, was born in New London, be- eemoer 25. TIPS. being the son of F'benezer Darrow. He was AT years of age when he became pastor, but had long been identified with the chu-oh and held the office of deacon He be- gan his ministry in 1775. and was sue ceeded by Ebenezer Rogers in the dea- revolutionary war the sacking of New London and the massacre Of Fora Grfswold taking place during the first years of the Darrow regime.
 Elder Eliphalet Lester was born in 1730 near the spot where the present church is located and was conVerde under the preaching of Whitfield. He was settled in Saybrook in 17Ej, enc nGFns af f fta.a AT TOW in Waterford. George Atwen was a licentiate of the Waterford church and was settled over the church in Saybrook. He died in Enfie T fn 1s14 at the age of 4s. In 1901 Budge Smith, an intelligenet colored mar. was ordained as an evangelist by EIder Darrow. He had been a slave. The small amount of property which he accumulated he left to the church
 Associate Pastors.
 When Mir. Darrow became 75 years Of age the Rev. Samuel West of Eoz- rah became assistant pastor. This was In ISf2- Elder West was born iii Hop knton, R. l., in 1766 and was ordained in Norwich in 1799. He died :n Say brock in 1887. Elder Francis narrow became associated with his disJin- gCished grandfather in the Waterford rastoi ate in 1sO9. Elder Zadoc Dal- row died February 15. 1927, in the ninety-ninth year of his age. Ire funeral sermon was preached by Eloer West He had labored in the Baptist church in Connecticut with ap )stOlic energy and zeal He was married three times His first wife was Hannah Les ter. who died without issue. Hester Lee, sister of Elder Jason Lee If Lyme, was the second wife. Four sons and four Caughters were the result os this union. Widow Pember was the third wife. She died at the age of J4. five days before her husbands dearl.
 Elder Francis Darrow.
 Elder Francis Darrow was the son of Deacon Lemuel Darrow and grand in 1909. From 1927 until 1850 he was the sole pastor of the Waterford church. He preached his last sermon September 2e, 1850. His death oc cured October 15 of that year. The funeral services were conducted by the Rev. C. Willett of New London, the Rev. E. B. Warren of New London, the Rev. F. G. Wightman Of East Lyme and the Rev Augustus Bolles. The Rev Allen Darrow was baptized in Waterford in 1S17 and was mis- sionary under the auspices of Baptist state convention for years. He died in May. 1894. aged 91 years. Earle w Darrow. q descendant of Elder Zadoc Darrow, is the pastor of the Baptist church in Wilmington. The influence of this family in developing and lion in this state has been of great importance.
 Long Line of Pastors.
 The long line of pastors, who have served the ancient church in Water ford since 1850 comprises the names Swan, L. NJ. Purinton. Welcome F. Bates. H. NJ. Wolfe. Jr.. and William Gussman.
 The Rev. Washington Munger was 1soo. He became pastor of the