The History of Cayuga County 1789-1879 page 502

Two weeks after, nine others, whom arrear not to have been present at the former meeting, united by letter, among them John Tillotson and Annie, wife of Heman Bradley.

The Church was denominated the First Congregational Church in the town of Milton. and was the second one organized in the County, the first being the Baptist Church in Scipio, (now Venice) which was formed June 9, 1795. Rev. Mr. Scott supplied them a few Sabbaths after Mr. Woodworth closed his labors and in February 1799, a call was extended to him which as wellas one extended to Rev. Seth Williston in March 1800, appears to have been declined.

After the organization, as before, the Society continued to worship in private houses and barns till 1802, when a log meeting house was built, near the south-east corner of lot 14, a mile east and a mile south of Northville.

Some time in 1803, Rev. Jabez Chadwick commenced serving themas a stated supply, and continued about two years. During this period the rapid increase in population had made a larger and more commodious house of worship desirable; and out of the proposition to build a new edifice, grew a somewhat acrimonious controversy relative to its location, which ultimately resulted in a separartion and the formation of a new church. Pending this unhappy discussion a project was set on foot to perfect a legal organization, and a meeting was called for that purpose March 10, 1804, at which an agreement was drawn and subscibed to by ninety-one individuals, upon whom, for the most part, says Rev. Mr. Jewell, "the burdens of society rested for more than a generation." This organizaton was completed at the house of Jabez Bradley, in May of that year, under the name of Union Society, and John Atwater, Benjamin Close, Jabez Bradley, James Milliken, Johathan Brownell and Matthew Tillotson were the first trustees. At the same time a subscription for a meeting-house was drawn up, the heading to which is worthy of preservation. The following is a copy in part:

"We, the subscribers, do agree to pay the sums set opposite our names, in the time and manner following, viz: one-fourth part in neat cattle, by the 1st of October next; one-fourth in good wheart or pork, at market price, by the 1st of January next; one other fourth part in neat cattle, but the 1st of October 1805; and the remaining one-fourth in good wheat or pork, by the 1st of January 1806."

At a meeting of the society, May 20, 1805, it was decided to build on lot 4, within forty rods of the south-west corner. June 5, 1805, Jabez Bradley gave the society a lease of between three and four acres of land, as a site for the building, the lease to continue as long as the society wished to occupy the land for a house of worship. The house was raised in July of that year, and though it was occupied for worship the following season, was not completed till some years afterwards, the pulpit and galleries not until the fall of 1816.

"It was a fine and noble monument to the value of religion and religious teaching, here in a new country, where few spires could then have been seen pointing heavenward. Its dimensions were about 45 by 60 feet, built with such styke and finish as to attract the attention of strangers for many years." This building was their Sabbath home until 1846, when it was taken down, and a new one erected on the same ground, and dedicated July 8, 1847. This, in turn, underwent extensive repairs and was rebuilt, and dedicated in February 1872. A neat chapel adjacent to it was erected at the same time, the whole involveing an expense of $11,000.

When it was found to be impossible to harmonize the conflicting views in regard to the location of the church edifice, an amicable separation was mutually agreed upon. They accordingly procured the services of Rev. David Higgins, then pastor of the church in Aurelius, who administered to them the Lord's supper, December 22, 1805' after which twelve took letters of dismission to form a church in Lansingville, then called Teetertown. Those who withdrew were Caleb and Luther Lyon and their wives, Amos Lyon, Mrs. Charles Lyon, Caleb Lyon, Jr., Mrs. Rebecca Stives, Mrs. Ruth Conklin, and Israel Lyon. The membership of this church after this exodus was sixty-four.

Rev. Wm. Clark was ordained and installed pastor of this church June 18, 1806; the relation was dissolved in February 1808. After this Rev. Samuel Fuller preached for a time, and received a call to settle, but he ultimately declined the invitation. September 5, 1809, a resolution is recorded inviting Rev. Seth Smith to preach seven Sabbaths in addition to the five already supplied. Four weeks later, October 3d, a call was unanimously extended to him, at a salary of

Return to the Index of The History of Cayuga County 1789-1879 by Elliott Storke
Return to the Cayuga County NYGenWeb Project Home Page