Rufus Pomeroy Southampton, Ms. Will. 1808 Shelburne, Ms. with Rev. T. Packard, D. D. Feb. 15, 1832 1765 Bethlem, with Rev. J. Bellamy, D. D. do. 1809 Litchfield, with Rev. L. Beecher, D. D. Aug. 25, 1784 Jan. 1, 1767 Dec. 27, 1774 Oct. 20, 1801 60 1816 June 7, 1817 71 Har. 1771 Amherst, with Rev. David Parsons June 15, 1774 Nov. 20, 1820 69 103 Har. 1762 Northampton, with Rev. John Hooker 1805 Goshen, Ct. with Rev. Asahel Hooker 1813 Dart. College, with Rev. Roswell Shurtleff 1804 Rev. Timothy Dwight, D. D. Windham, (S. P.) Ct. Will. 1800 W. Springfield, with Rev. J. Lathrop, D. D. Sep. 8, 1802 May 7, 1834 July 8, 1812 Dec. 8, 1813 Oct. 12, 1831 42 Y. 1821 W.Hartford, Ct. with Rev. N. Perkins, D. D. Mar. 5, 1823 Mar. 17, 1826 1750 1760 17 58 1777 196 Mar. 5, 17641 Feb. 11, 1810 67 341 1810 Feb. 5, 1817 57 Nov. 27, 1817 Sep. 23, 1823 214 Apr. 14, 1824 Sep. 27, 1827 Oct. 26, 1809 May 5, 1817 NOTES. 1. Stockbridge church. This was originally a mission church, established and patronized among the Muhhekanew or Stockbridge Indians, (by the Board of Commissioners for Indian affairs in Boston,) a tribe consisting, while residing here, on an average, ef about 400 souls. Not far from 100 of these, from first to last, became professors of religion. Individuals were united to the church from time to time from the English families which settled in the town, until at length the English professors became the most numerous. Not long after the revolutionary war, the Indians moved to New Stockbridge, N. Y.; the professors among them were formed into a new church and placed under the care of the Rev. John Sergeant, son of the first missionary. The tribe is now Jiving at Statesburg, on the southern side of Fox river, which empties into the head of Green bay, on the western side of lake Michigan, and is still favored with the means of grace. Previously to coming to this town, Mr. Edwards, it is well known, was pastor of the first church in Northampton, from February 15, 1727, to June 22, 1750. He was dismissed from this place that he might accept the presidency of Princeton college. Mr. Swift, after preaching at various places in and about Derby, Ct., was installed at North Killingworth in that State, December 11, 1833.-Mr. Field was pastor of the church in Haddam, Ct., from April 11, 1804, to April 11, 1818. 2. West Stockbridge was originally a part of Stockbridge. Mr. Ayers, after his dismission, was successively installed at Augusta, Richland, and Sandy Creek, N. Y. He died at Richland. Mr. Edwards resided some years in the western part of New York; more recently he has resided and preached at New Haven, in Ohio. Mr. Waters before he came here, was pastor of the church at New Concord, town of Chatham, N. Y., from May 26, 1803, to December 21, 1813. After his dismission he was pastor of the church at Paris, N. Y., and now resides at New Hartford, in the same vicinity. Mr. Gaylord had advanced in his collegiate course at Princeton into senior year, but was obliged by sickness to leave the institution. He was settled at Western, (now Warren,) Ms. from June 12, 1816, to July 17, 1828. 3. Sheffield. Mr. Judson was first settled at Chelsea, in Norwich, Ct. in 1774, and afterwards at Taunton, Mass. 4. Egremont. The dismission of Mr. Steele was occasioned by divisions among the inhabitants, originating in what is called the Shay's war. He was afterwards settled at Paris, N. Y. July 15, 1795. The original church was considered as extinct in 1814. -Mr. Hayden is now pastor of the church at Sand Lake, N. Y. 5. Great Barrington was at first a parish of Sheffield. Dr. Hopkins was resettled at Newport, R. I., where he remained until death, except as he was driven from his labors by the revolutionary war. Mr. Foster was installed at Pittsgrove, N. J., in 1791, where he died. Mr. Wheeler was educated a physician, and practised physic at South Britain, Southbury, Ct. and Coxsackie, and South East, N. Y. about 13 years at all the places; but experiencing the grace of God, and desiring to preach the gospel, he changed his profession. Mr. Burt was settled at Western, Ms. from March 12, 1806, to December 31, 1811, and then in New Marlborough, south parish. 6. Alford. This town was formed mostly from Great Barrington. The pastor was dismissed in consequence of troubles growing out of the Shay's war, and the church, having languished for a time, became extinct. 7. New Marlborough. Mr. Alexander of the north church, was installed at Mendon, Ms. April 12, 1786, where he remained until 1803; about which time he removed to Fairfield, N. Y., where he instructed an academy. In 1812 he founded and afterwards instructed the academy at Onondaga Hollow, where he died. He also assisted in the formation of many churches in the State of New York, and performed much ministerial labor. Mr. Stearns of the south church, was pastor of the church at New Concord, N. Y., from 1781, to September 1792. Mr. Somers was settled at Spencertown, N. Y. from September 25, 1805, to October 3, 1824. Mr. Clapp was ordained colleague with the Rev. Jonathan Miller at Burlington, Ct. January 1, 1823, and dismissed in 1829. 8. Sandisfield. Mr. Jones never resettled, though he preached occasionally. He resided for a number of years at Rowe, in this State; then removed to Skeenesborough, now Whitehall, N. Y., where he died at an advanced age. Mr. White now lives at Gull Prairie, Thalamazo county, Michigan Territory, and preaches to the people in that place and vicinity. 9. Becket. Mr. Martin preached at Austerlitz, N. Y. from 1780 to 1789, then moved to Scipio or Sempronius. Mr. Hunn moved to the county of Ontario, N. Y., and performed useful labors among the early settlers of that region. His decease was at Canandaigua. 10. Otis comprises the former town of Loudon and district of Bethlehem. In Loudon, a church was formed February 2, 1779, with 7 members, and a church in Bethlehem, September 14, 1795, with 8 members. These received, including the members at the formation, the first 101, and the second 33, prior to their union in the Otis church; which, with those received since the union, as given in the table, make 312. Mr. Pomeroy was pastor of the church in Salisbury, Vt., from October 15, 1811, to November 20, 1816, and of the church in Chester, Ms., from November 20, 1819, to June 27, 1827. 11. Richmond. Dr. Swift, after having preached in various places, was invited to settle in Bennington, Vt. where he remained pastor about 16 years. From Bennington he removed to Addison. His death took place at Enosburgh, while on a missionary tour. For his important labors among the early settlers, he has been styled the "apostle of -Vermont." Mr. Perry was minister of Harwinton, Ct., from 1776 to 1784. 12. Lenox, at first a part of Richmond. Mr. Munson removed first to Monroe, Ct., then to New Haven, then to Trumbull, and then again to Monroe, where he died. In Trumbull he supplied the desk about two years; but he was generally too much of an invalid after leaving Lenox, to be able to preach. For a considerable period before his death, his faculties were so much impaired, that he was lost on almost every subject excepting religion. 13. Washington. Mr. Knight was minister of the church in Franklin, N. Y., from August 20, 1817, to June 25, 1822. Mr. Hempsted was resettled at West Hartland, Ct., October 16, 1833. 14. Lee, as a town, was taken mostly from Washington and Great Barrington. Mr. Parmalee died on a journey for his health, at the seat of Col. Abraham Bird, Shenandoah County, Virginia. 15. Pittsfield. The second church in this town was formed from the first. To prepare the way for the reunion of these churches, Dr. Allen and Mr. Punderson were dismissed. The former is now president of Bowdoin college, Maine, and the latter was installed pastor of the church in Huntington, Ct., November 10, 1818. Dr. Humphrey was pastor of the church in Fairfield, Ct., from 1807 until 1817. He was dismissed from Pittsfield that he might enter upon the duties of the presidency of Amherst college, where he was inaugurated October 15, 1823, and where he was installed pastor of the college church February 28, 1827. Mr. Bailey and Mr. Tappan were both dismissed on account of ill health. Mr. Bailey had been pastor for a time of a church in Norwich, Vt., where he was ordained November 24, 1819, and a professor in the "American literary, scientific, and military academy," then existing in that town. After his dismission from Pittsfield, he was some time preceptor of an academy at Rice's Creek, near Columbia, S. C.; and he now preaches in South Carolina. Mr. Tappan is professor of intellectual and moral philosophy and belles lettres in the New York city university. 16. Dalton. At first, the inhabitants of this town attended public worship at Pittsfield. After leaving Dalton, Mr. Thompson resided some years and probably preached in Sangersfield, N. Y. 17. Lanesborough. Dr. De Witt was installed pastor of the second reformed Dutch church in Albany, N. Y., whence he was removed that he might become professor of biblical history, &c. in the theological school of the reformed Dutch church, and one of the professors in Rutgers college, N. J. Mr. Sheldon was dismissed by reason of ill health. He now instructs a school in Stockbridge, and preaches occasionally. 18. Williamstown. Mr. Welch went as chaplain with a regiment to Canada, in the winter preceding his death. He died of the small pox, near Quebec. Mr. King was pastor of the second church in Norwich, Ct., from May 1787, till 1811. The faculty and students of Williams college, have generally worshipped on the Sabbath with the people of the town. For a considerable period the presidents have regularly supplied the desk one third of the time, sometimes assisted by a professor, when the stated pastor has preached to a portion of his charge in the southern section of his parish. The Rev. Ebenezer Fitch, D. D. the first president, was a native of Canterbury, Ct., and was graduated at Yale college in 1777, where he was tutor at two different periods, to the amount in both of 8 years. He is said to have been a preacher when he came to this town, and opened the free school in 1791; which was incorporated as a college two years afterwards. He was ordained at Williamstown by the Berkshire Association, June 17, 1795. Soon after his resignation in September 1815, he was installed pastor of the church in West Bloomfield, N. Y., where he died March 21, 1833, aged 78. The Rev. Zephaniah Swift Moore, D. D. the second president, a native of Palmer, Ms., graduate of Dartmouth College 1793, a theological student of Dr. Backus, of Somers, Ct., was pastor of the church in Leicester, Ms., from 1798 to 1811, and preceptor during a part of the time of Leicester academy; from 1811 to 1815, he was professor of languages in Dartmouth college. In addition to his services as president, he was professor of theology in Williams college, from 1815 to 1821, when he became president of the Collegiate Institution at Amherst, now Amherst college; where he died June 30, 1823, aged 52. The Rev. Edward Dorr Griffin, D. D. has been president and professor of theology since 1821. He is a native of East Haddam, Ct., graduate of Yale college, 1790. His theo logical instructor was the Rev. Jonathan Edwards, D. D., then of New Haven. He was pastor of the church in New Hartford, Ct., from 1795 to 1801, then pastor of the first Presbyterian church Newark, N. J., afterwards professor of pulpit eloquence in the Divinity college at Andover, pastor of Park street church, Boston, and of the second Presbyterian church in Newark. 19. Adams. Fort Massachusetts was built within the limits of this town about 1744, and some English people may have resided in and about the fort from that time onward, until more regular and extensive settlements were commenced about 1763 or 4. The first settlers were Congregationalists; but in a few years they sold their farms to persons of other denominations. In consequence of this, Mr. Todd was dismissed, and the church declined and expired. He had been minister in Northbury, (a parish of Waterbury,) now Plymouth, Ct., from about 1740 to 1760. From Adams he removed first to Northfield, Ms., and then to Orford, N. H., where he occasionally preached, and where he died. 20. Windsor. Mr. Avery was dismissed that he might accept the office of chaplain in the army of the United States. He was settled in Bennington, Vt., from May 3, 1780, till June, 1783, and then at Wrentham, Ms. In the latter part of his life he removed to Chaplin, Ct. His death occurred while on a journey to Middlebury, Vt. Mr. Fish was installed at Gilsum, N. H. The second church was at first called the Savoy church, because a part of the members lived in that town, Mr. Poole has been settled at Brutus and at Ira, N. Y. 21. Peru. This town was originally called Partridgefield. Mr. Tracy was installed the first minister of Norwich, Ms., in May 1781, and dismissed February 13, 1799. He afterwards preached in vacant places, and went on missions. Mr. Leland pursued for some years before he studied theology, the business of farming. He was advanced to the rank of a captain in the militia, and commanded a company at the battle of Bunker Hill. Mr. Hawkes was resettled in the adjoining town of Cummington, April 20, 1825. 22. Hinsdale was taken from Peru and Dalton, and incorporated as a parish in 1795. In addition to the 28 churches mentioned in the foregoing table, 3 of which are extinct, and one is reunited to the church from which it was taken, there have been 5 churches formed in the county which have never had pastors settled over them, viz., the Loudon and Bethlehem churches, spoken of in note 10, and the churches of Florida, Mount Washington, and West Stockbridge Village. The Florida church was organized May 4, 1814, with 11 members, and was dissolved December 25, 1831, having had in all from the beginning, 18 members. Fifteen of these were added to the church in North Adams, and others to the church in the adjoining town of Charlemont, in Franklin county. The church in Mount Washington was organized in September 1831, with 22 members. This had received 3 members prior to January 1, 1834, and had then 24. The church in West Stockbridge Village was organized December 25, 1833, with 27 members. The number of Congregational churches now existing in the county is 27, and the total of members on the first of July last, was 5,095. There are 7 towns in which there is no church of this denomination, viz., Alford, Hancock, New Ashford, Cheshire, Savoy, Florida, and Clarksburgh. Of the 83 different ministers settled in the county, almost all have been members of the Berkshire Association, formed in 1763. The few previously settled may have been connected with the "Old Hampshire Association." A few since settled, have been connected with the Mountain Association. All the pastors now, excepting one, belong to the County Association. Forty-three of the ministers were born in Connecticut, 30 in Massachusetts, 3 in New York, 2 in New Hampshire, 2 in Vermont, and one in each of the States of New Jersey, and Maine. The birth-place of one is not ascertained. Thirtynine were educated at Yale college, 16 at Williams, 7 at Harvard, 6 at Dartmouth, 4 at Union, 3 at Princeton, 2 at Middlebury, and 1 at Amherst. Seven were not publicly educated. Most studied divinity before theological seminaries were established in the country; a few studied at college after taking their degrees, or while acting as tutors, perhaps without any formal guidance except what they obtained from books; most, however, studied with settled clergymen, with the Edwardses, Bellamy, Backus, West, &c. Sixty-three first settled in this county; or had been previously settled elsewhere. Many have been dismissed, some from the infirmities of age, some from sickness, and some from other causes. None whose names are given in this paper, have been deposed for heresy or immorality; none have abandoned the ministry through disrelish for its services. Forty-two are dead; of these, 34 whose ages are known, the average age was 61 years nearly. The congregations with which they have labored are very different in size, and have furnished distinct opportunities and facilities for usefulness. The great additions to some of the churches in more recent periods, are to be mostly ascribed to the precious revivals with which they have been favored. A very large proportion of those who have ever been admitted to the churches are now living. The Congregationalists are the most numerous |