Norwich bulletin., 1915-10-25
PUTNAM

Bieentenuiai of Founding of First
Congregational Church at Putnam
Heishts cSrmemoratsd Sunday
Sermon ny Rev. Israel White, of
New tersey--chureh Organisation
\ s5as Had interesting History.
Many from this city and other ssr-
rounding places were at Putnam
iaS;Sats Sunday to attend the services
cGnlrn cmcrative Of It's foun ling zoo
years ago. The sermon was: preached
~ Israel White of New JcS-sny Rex.
L. L Sargent OF this ti.y who has
Preached at the chus-h in the Fast
In correction with his work m PIT
nam vas also preso1l and there were
ether rep eSHiltatfves 1t tho clergy.
mel. ii. this section.
This church was within the limits of
the town Of Killingly at Is founding.
but IN the creating of the town OF
Futcam that section OF the old town
rxaa Set aside as a part OF the new
township. Its history is interviewer
with the history of kIllingly, as we'll
as with that of Putnam, an outline of
1t being as follows;
Beginnings of Church.
The first movement for establishing
the Gospel ministry in Killingiy was
in 1908 when the court granted lib
erty to the inhabitants to survey and
lay cut one hundred acres Of land
within their township for the use and
encouragement of a minister to settle
there and carry on the worship of
Goa anlonS> Them a hundred acres
OF land were pledged by Captain
Chandler in the presence and with the
concurrence of the selectmen.
First Minister.
The first minister was Rev. John
Fisk, of Bfaintree, Mass, a son OF
Rev. Moses Fisk and a graduate of
Harvard college and today in this sec
ton are a number of his descendants
in the eighth generation His work
probably began about ITO. religious
services being held in private houses
IN different parts Of the town. July
18th, I'LL, the town agreed to give
| Mr.. Fisk three hundred and fifty
acres Of land for his announcement
to settle in the work of The ministry.
Stated religious services were prob
ably held after this date.
Meeting House Raised.
In the summer OF i714 the meeting
house was raised and covered. Its
| site was about a quarter OF mile south
Of the present East Putnam meeting
| house but nothing as known of it's
| size, appearance or circumstances OF
| its building. September 18th, Ills
was observed in kilhngly as a day OF
| solemn fasting and prayer, prepare
try to the gathering OF church and
| the ordination OF a pastor OCTOBER
18th, 1715. a church was organized
and Rev. John Fisk ordained It's pas
| tor. cit Is this organization that ia
| ECw being opservedJ
Original Members.
| The original memDers were: john
/ Fisk, James Danielson, Peter Aspln,
wall, James LeaVens, sampson Howe
Ebenezer Balman, Richard Bloosse
George Blanchard, Isaac Jewett
six additional communicates were al
United before the close OF the year. In
| December of the same year Peter AS
pinwaJl and Eleazer Balman Were
chosen -deacons. The trst marriage
| recorded by the young minister was
mat OF William Larned to Hannan
Bryant, Tho ministry of Rev. Mr.
| Fisk was acceptable and prosperous
and large numbers were added 10 the
| church.
The church prospered for a while
and in 17zS-29 a season of special re-
| ligious interest added sixty to It's
membership. Mr.. risk remained in
the passionate until July Sth, l74l
when he was dismissed at his own re-
quest.
Unhappy Controversy.
A protracted meeting house contro-
versy followed the dismissal OF
Mr.. Fisk. It was decided to build q
new meeting house and to divide the
/ First society into two and the peo-
| pie of each prospective society had &c
nave the meeting house wthnin theiI
| own bounds. Inc northern people
wished ii to stand near the old church
on killingly Hill and the southern
people wanted it located on Breaknecl
| Hill. A disgraceful wrangle ensuec
| and the assembly and governor anC
council were appealed TO by both sides
4 but the recommendations and adVict
was 6isregarded by the Breaknecl
i faction which went ahead and built &
church against the opinion of the as.
| sembly and in October, 1745, the as.
sembIy divided the society making tive
distinct societies of it.. A wrangl,
then ensued as to which was the Fris
society but the assembly quickl!
quelled this by deciding in favor O
the North society.
First Society Reorsanizes.
The First society now fastened t
reorganize. Rev. Pearley Howe wa
then pastor elect and continued Il
that relation until his death, Marc
10th, 1853. BY consent Of the tow
the society pulled down the old meet
ing house and erected a new one. Thi
was in the last end of 1745. This wa
} about a quarter Of mile north of tn
old one and the house was said to b
psted and the pews recushioned. TIL
u r. 49, 1T