Site of the Seventh Day Baptist Church of Burlington
John Crandall to Asa Palmiter; Vol. 12, page 506-10-27, 1854. “Same as conveyed to Amos & Jonathan Burdick & others by Jonathan Davis, Mar. 11, 1805, it being in the town of Bristol, described in the original dead: contains part of the 7th lot & part of 30th rod of highway in the third tier in said Bristol, beginning at a heap of stones at the west end of said 7th lot, thence running north 14 rods & ½; thence southeasterly 9 rods, thence south 3 rods, thence southwesterly 9 rods to first bounds, estimated ¼ acre with building thereon, not meaning to covey any highway running through same or across.
“They had migrated from Westerly, Rhode Island, nineteen of them all told, led by Rev. Jonathan Burdick and Deacon Elisha Stillman. They were doers but not recorders of their doings; hence we do not know the motive of their long journey into the land of the Puritans – into the dense wilderness.” History of Hartford County – Burpee, Vol. 11.
The Seventh Day Baptist
The third church to be organized from members of the First Seventh-day Baptist church of Hopkinton was the Burlington church in the northwestern part of Connecticut. There has been some confusion on the part of writers regarding this church because it has had, at different times, three different names. The first name Farmington; a few years later it was called Bristol, and lastly, Burlington.
Members of the church in Hopkinton settled in this section before the Revolutionary War, but we do not know the exact date. For some time previous to its organization, the record of the mother church occasional mention of members in this vicinity, the first one being in 1770. In the autumn of 1780, Eld. John Burdick and Deacon Elisha Stillman were sent by the church in Hopkinton to visit the members in Farmington, Conn. and from there to visit those in Rensselaer county, New York. They called together the brethren and sisters in the vicinity of Farmington, September 18th. The latter agreed to become a church in sister relation with the church in Hopkinton and chose Eld. John Davis as pastor. Difficulties arose, or past ones were continued, and from the records it appears that neither the home church nor the Sabbath-keepers in Farmington consider the latter a separate church yet. The next year the brethren and sisters sent to the church in Hopkinton asking that they be “settled” a church and Eld. Joshua Clarke, Eld. Jonathan Burdick and Job Bennet visited them, but came away without establishing a church. The reason that they were not considered a church appears to be that they did not have a pastor. The nest year, 1782, Eld. John Davis was consecrated to the office of pastor, and the mother church wrote them, recognizing them as a separate church in sister relation.
Eld. John Davis had been an elder in the mother church since 1771, and served this new church as its pastor till his death in 1792.
After the death of Eld. John Davis, Dea. Amos Burdick preached for them till his death in 1803. Eld. Amos Stillman had preached in connection with Dea. Burdick and after his death took the lead in the church. He was ordained by Elders Abram Coon and Matthew Stillman of the First Hopkinton church. His pastorate was brief, as he died with yellow fever contracted on his trip to Conference in Shiloh, 1807, where he both presided and preached. After the death of Eld. Stillman the church had no pastor.
The church started out with seventeen constituent members. There was a precious revival before the organization and several after. What the largest number of members was we do not know, but the largest from the data now extant was forty-five. After Eld. Amos Stillman’s death, the church gradually declined. The last report to Conference was made in 1817. The following quotation from the Minutes of the General Conference for 1824 shows the causes of its becoming extinct:
“Whereas many of the church at Burlington, Conn. Have moved to Brookfield, and joined the Church at that place, and others are dead, there not being a sufficient number remaining to transact church business, it was voted that in future it be dropped out of our minutes.”
From the records of the First Hopkinton church we learn that the members of this church suffered some persecution on account of the faith, but the exact nature of the persecution is not known.
From Seventh Day Baptists in Europe and America, vol. 2, Seventh Day Baptist General Conference, Plainfield, N.J., 1910.
Taken from; THE FIRST BOOK OR RECORDS FOR THE SABATARIAN BAPTIST CHURCH IN FARMINGTON, WEST BRITAIN;
Begun, September ye 18th, AD 1780. Pages 6.
At a church meeting of the Sabatarian Baptist Constitution, in Farmington, West Britain, (read Burlington) holden at the house of Elder John Davis on the 9th day of July, 1782. Present at sd meeting about six Brothers and Five Sisters. After the meeting was opened, proceeded to call upon Brother David Covey and Brother Amos Stillman to bring their returns, concerning Brother Ebenezer Burdicks reasons he gave then of his conduct, and we received them in writing, ----- which are as followeth.
July ye 9th, 1782; whereas we the subscribers being chosen and appointed by the Church to go to talk with brother Ebenezer Burdick to know the reasons why he did not attend out meeting, we likewise went and talked with him in love, and the reasons are these, as near as we can recollect. Firstly, he said because the ruling members were partial and would favour one of great capacity, and oppress the weak, secondly he said that Elder Davis was a man unfit to lead a church, and charged him with falsehoods and appression and the like, which he says that ha can prove, this is the importance of the reasons which – he rendered as near as we can retain them. Amos Stillman, David Covey.
The import of said reasons is of such a nature that we think it behooves the church to send him a citation to come before the Church; Consequently to pass the following vote; at the same meeting, voted that Brother Ebenezer Burdick be cited to appear at our next Church meeting in course (which is on the 10th day of September next, at one of the clock in the afternoon) then and there to prove to or satisfy the church concerning the above sd allegations, and his conduct of Life, and that the clerk serve this vote by reading of it to him, and make return at our next Church meeting in course.
September ye 3rd AD 1782; then sd served the within, or above citation and vote of the Church by reading the same personally to Brother Ebenezer Burdick.
Test. Elijah Covey, clerk of the Church.
At a church meeting of the Sabatarian Constitution, in Farmington, West Britain, holden at the house of Elder John Davis on the 10th day of September, 1782, met according to course. Present at sd meeting, about 8 brothers and 6 sisters, the meeting being opened. Proceeded to confer on the case of Brother Ebenezer Burdick, and after a long conference, voted to adjourn the meeting to the 12th day of sd instant at one of ye clock in the afternoon at the same place.
Having met according to adjournment the 12th day, the meeting being opened, proceeded to take the case of Brother Burdick into consideration again, and Elder Davis and Brother Burdick declaring for themselves, each his own case, the church labored with them till brother Burdick gave up his allegations against Elder Davis and settled with him all the difficulties existing between them.
At a church meeting of the Sabatarian Baptist Constitution in Farmington, West Britain, holden at the house of Elder John Davis in the 12th day of ye November, 1782. Present at sd meeting, about 8 brothers and 6 sisters, being met together with expectation of Brother Ebenezer Burdicks meeting us from our fervent desires and request to him to meet us in order to settle those remaining difficulties pointed out in the first citation, with some additional difficulties, and from his non appearance, the church thinks fit to send him a second citation---.
Consequently we do pass the following vote, which is this. That Brother Ebenezer Burdick be cited to attend a church meeting appointed on the 3rd day of December, 1782, at 12 of the clock on sd day, at the house of Elder John Davis, then labored to satisfy the church in respect of those difficulties yet unsettled between him and the church. --- and that the clerk serve the same and make returns to the church on sd day.---
November ye 27th day, 1782; then served above citation by reading the same to him, by me, Elisha Covey, clerk churches.
At a church meeting of the Sabatarian Baptist Constitution in Farmington, West Britain holden at the house of Elder Jogn Davis on the 3rd day of December, 1782, being met according to appointment. Present at sd meeting, Elder John Davis, and about 8 brothers and 5 sisters; ---after some considerable conference on the case of Brother Ebenezer Burdick, mentioned in the citations, and those things that further appears, we think proper and best to give him an admonition, (end of copy)
HEADSTONE
INSCRIPTIONS
105-5 Seventh Day Baptist Cemetery
Upson Road, Burlington Connecticut
Copied by Clifford Rourke, October 24, 1934
With additions, see below.
Burdick, Amos, Deacon, dies
March 24, 1803, age 63.
Burdick, Elisabeth, wife of Amos, died March 9, 1811, age 77.
Crandell, Abgail, 1787. (-#-)
Crandal, Abijah, died Sept. 17, 1781, age 53 years.
Crandal, Mary relict, died Nov. 12, 1817, age 83.
Covey, Hope, died July 16, 1787, age 74.
Covey, Jared, died Feb. 21, AD. 1804, age 50.
Davis, John, Rev. died Aug. 29, 1792, age 68 years.
Davis, John, died Dec. 10, 1780, age 29.
Meacham, Samuel, Deacon, & Mrs. 1810. (-#-)
Meacham, Tese, wife to Dea. Samuel, died Jan. 26, 1810, age 81.
Newton, Betsy, wife to Hezekiah, died Oct. 13, 1805, age 25.
Newton, Elizabeth, 1810. (-#-)
Newton, Hezekiah, died May 15, 1810, age 36.
Palmiter, Aurilla, wife to William, born Jan. 21, 1799, died Mar. 19, 1879.
Palmiter, Elizabeth, wife to Benjamin, died Apr. 12, 1800, age 30. (-*-)
Palmiter, Elizabeth, wife to Paul, died Mar. 11, 1838, age 77.
Palmiter, Henry, son of William & Aurilla, born Sept. 22, 1816, died Feb.
12, 1817.
Palmiter, Lury, son of William & Aurilla, born Sept. 22, 1816, died Feb. 12,
1817.
Palmiter, Paul, died Dec. 13, 1834, age 77.
Palmiter, William, born May 24, 1794, died Oct. 1, 1883.
Palmiter, William H. son of William & Aurilla, born Sept. 20, 1830, died May
6, 1831.
Spencer, Amy, wife to Michael, died Apr. 12, 1817, age 50. (-*-)
Spencer, Charlotte S. wife to Zach. Born Aug. 31, 1800, died Oct 14, 1881.
Spencer, Thomas, son of Zach. & Charlotte, died Sept. 5, 1842, age 3 yrs. 9
mos. 12 days.
Spencer Zechariah, born Sept. 18 1797, died Mar. 2, 1878.
Stillman, Amos, died Oct. 7,1807, age 45. (4th Co. Hopkinton, R.I.
Militia Rev. War Ensign.)
Stillman, Elmer, Deacon, 1818. (-#-)
Stillman, Naomi Davis, (Kenyon) wife to Amos, born Jan. 19, 1755, died Feb. 20,
1801, age 46.
Stillman, Polly, wife to Ethan, born May 21, 1777, dies Nov. 24, 1813, age 36.
West, Edwin, son of R. & Hannah S. died Mar. 27, 1832, age 2 yrs. 21 days.
West, Hezekiah, Deacon, 1805. (-#-)
Wilcox, Elias, 1800. (-#-)
Wilcox, Hezekiah, Dea. Died Jan. 15, 1805, age 50.
Wilcox, Ilius, died Jan. 16, 1801, age 15.
(-#-) Taken from Historical
Society Newspaper articles from 1911-1916. L.R.A.
(-*-) Indicates headstone still readable, February, 1990. L.R.A.
The last buried was in 1887. The oldest stone was John Davis.
The Last of the Seventh Day Baptist in Burlington
***Conference now took cognizance of their sad condition. In the session of 1821, “a statement was made by Brother Matthew Stillman reporting the Burlington church to be in a broken, divided, and destitute situation; and it was voted that the churches of Hopkinton, Waterford, and Berlin be recommended to send ministers or messengers to visit them, and use their influence in settling their difficulties and administer relief.”
The last accession was in 1816; Burlington reports to Conference last in 1817; the last entry in the Church Book is September 8th, 1820, when a letter was granted Clarke Lewis and family to join the First Brookfield church. When Conference convened in 1822, there were left at Bristol “not a sufficient number remaining to transact church business, it was voted that in the future it be dropped from our minutes”. A meeting House was built for this congregation while they were yet a branch of the Hopkinton church.
Many of the members removed to the “Unadilla County” N.Y. and helped build up the First and Second Brookfield Churches; many more drifted away and were eventually lost to the denomination. The old Meeting House was sold and used as a sheep barn; was standing within the memory of men yet living.
From the Seventh Day Baptist Historical Society Library Janesville, Wisconsin. (Transcript from the original Manuscript by Charles Henry Greene (ca. 1900)