State of Connecticut, Records of the, ed. by C. J. Hoadly. 2 vols. 1776-1778; 1778-1780. Hartford, 1894-95.
United Colonies of New England, Records of the, in vol. ii. of E. Hazard's "Historical Collections consisting of State Papers and other authentic Documents, etc."
Plymouth Colony, Records of, ed. by N. R. Shurtleff and
D. Pulsifer. 12 vols. Boston, 1855-61.
Records of the General Association of Connecticut, June 20, 1738, June 19, 1799; Hartford, 1888. 8 vols.
Minutes of Proceedings of the General Association, 1818, on.
Proceedings of Connecticut Missionary Society, 1801-1819.
Report of the Superintendent of Common Schools of Connecticut, 1853.
This annual report has a detailed account of the Western Land Bill
appropriations, pp. 64-108.
The Constitutions of Connecticut, with Notes and Statistics regarding
Town Representation in the General Assembly, and Documents relating to
the Constitutional Convention of 1902. Printed by Order of the State
Comptroller. Hartford, 1901.
The Code of 1650. In Hinman's "Antiquities of Connecticut."
The Public Statute Laws of the State of Connecticut. Hartford, 1808.
Acts and Laws, 1784-1794. (Supplements to Oct., 1795, laid in.) New
London, 1784.
Acts and Laws, 1811-1821.
D. HISTORICAL SOCIETY PUBLICATIONS
American Historical Association Annual Report. 1889-1904.
Connecticut Historical Society Collections. 8 vols.
Especially vol. i, Extract from Hooker's Sermon. Vol. ii, Hartford
Church Papers. Vol. iii, Extract from Letter to the Rev. Thomas
Prince. Vols. v and vi, Talcott Papers.
Massachusetts Historical Society Collections, 1792-1904. 64 vols.
Volumes containing the Mather, Sewall, and Winthrop Papers were especially useful.
Narragansett Club Publications. Providence, 1866. 6 vols.
The Correspondence of Roger Williams and John Cotton, vols. i and ii.
New Haven Colony Historical Society Papers. 6 vols.
Rhode Island Historical Society Collections. 8 vols. 1827-92.
Proceedings, 4 vols., 1871-92, and Publications, 1892, onwards.
MANUSCRIPTS
Judge Church's MS. in New Haven Historical Society Library.
A sketch prepared for the historian Hollister.
Manuscript Records of the Newport Yearly Meeting, deposited in the
Friends' School, Providence, R. I.
Manuscript Minutes of the Hartford North Association, deposited in
Yale library.
Stiles, Ezra. Itinerary and Memoirs, 1760-1794, deposited in Yale
College.
E. DENOMINATIONAL LITERATURE
1. BAPTIST
Asplund, John. The Annual Register of the Baptist Denomination in
North America … to Nov. 1,1790; containing an account of the
Churches and their Constitutions, Ministers, Members, Associations,
their Plan and Sentiments, Rule and Order, Proceedings and
Correspondence. Worcester, 1791-94.
Backus, Isaac. A History of New England with Particular Reference to the Denomination of Christians called Baptists. Newton, Mass., 1871. 2 vols.
This edition by D. Weston includes Isaac Backus' prefaces to vol. i, finished 1777; vol. ii, 1784; and vol iii, 1796.
This contemporary writer is regarded as an authority, as much of his work was founded upon the court, town, and church records and upon the minutes of ecclesiastical councils. He searched diligently the records of Plymouth, Taunton, Boston, Essex, Providence, Newport, Hartford and New Haven. The book has a chronological record of the Connecticut churches. It is very discursive.
Benedict, David. A General History of the Baptist Denomination in
America and other parts of the world. Boston, 1813.
This contains a more complete list of the associations and churches
than that given by Backus. There is a valuable chapter, "Baptist
Communities who differ from the main body of the denomination and
who are also distinguished by some peculiarities of their own."
Burrage, Henry S. A History of the Baptists in New
England. Philadelphia, 1894.
Particularly useful in tracing the progress of the denomination in
the different states, and in its contribution to the history of
religious liberty.
Cathcart, William (Editor). The Baptist Encyclopedia: A Dictionary of the Doctrines … of the Baptist Denomination in all Lands. Philadelphia, 1883. 2 vols.
Curtis, Thomas F. The Progress of Baptist Principles in the Last
Hundred Years. Boston, 1856.
Denison, Frederic. Notes of the Baptists and their Principles in
Norwich. Norwich, 1859.
This contains the famous Separatist Petition to the King in 1756.
Guild, Reuben A. History of Brown University, with Illustrated
Documents. Providence, 1867.
Hovey, Alvah. A Memoir of the Life and Times of the Reverend Isaac
Backus, A. M. Boston, 1858.
Newman, Albert H. A History of the Baptist Churches in the United
States. New York, 1894.
2. CONGREGATIONALIST
A Confession of Faith, Owned and Consented to by the Elders and
Messengers of the Churches in the Colony of Connecticut in New England
Assembled by Delegates at Saybrook, Sept. 9, 1708.
First Edition (first book printed in Connecticut), New London, 1710.
Second Edition, New London, 1760, with Heads of Agreement; Edition of Hartford, 1831. [a]
A Faithful Narrative of the Surprising Work of God in the Conversion of Many Hundred Souls in Northampton and the Neighboring Towns…. In a letter to the Rev'd. Doctor Benjamin Colman of Boston, written by the Rev'd. Mr. Edwards, Minister of Northampton, on Nov. 6, 1736. London, 1737.
Autobiography of Lyman Beecher, D. D. New York, 1864. 3vols.
Especially valuable for the attitude of the Congregational clergy
during the first constitutional reform movement in Connecticut.
Bacon, Leonard. The Genesis of the New England Churches. New York, 1874.
——Thirteen Historical Discourses, on completion of Two Hundred Years from the beginning of the First Church, New Haven. New Haven, 1839.
Baldwin, Simeon E. Ecclesiastical Constitution of Yale College. In New
Haven Historical Society's Papers, vol. iii.
Contributions to the Ecclesiastical History of Connecticut: prepared under the direction of the General Association, to commemorate the completion of one hundred and fifty years since its first annual Assembly. New Haven, 1861.
See under L. Bacon, the history of David Brainerd.
Barrowe, Henry. Answer to Mr. Gifford.
——A Briefe Discoverie of the False Church. Date, 1590. London ed. 1707.
——A True Description of the Word of God, of the Visible Church, 1589.
Briggs, Charles Augustus. American Presbyterianism: Its Origin and
Early History. New York, 1885.
Browne, Robert. An Answer to Master Cartwright His Letter for Joyning with the English Churches. London, 1585.
——A True and Short Declaration. Middelburg, 1584.
——A Treatise of Reformation without tarrying. Middelburg, 1582.
——The Book which Sheweth the life and manners of all true Christians, and how unlike they are unto Turkes and Papists and Heathen folk. Also the pointes and partes of all Divinitie that is of the revealed will and words of God, and declared by their severall Definitions and Divisions in order as followeth. Middelburg, 1582.
Browne, Robert. "A New Years Guift:" an hitherto lost treatise. (Letter of Dec. 31, 1588, to his uncle, M. Flower.) Edited by Champlin Burrage. London, 1904.
Clap, Thomas. Religious Constitution of Colleges, with Special
Reference to Yale. New London, 1754.
Cotton, John. Civil Magistrates Power in Matters of Religion. London, 1655.
——The Keyes of the Kingdom of Heaven and Powers thereof according to the Word of God. London, 1644.
——Questions and Answers upon Church Government. London, 1713.
——Way of the Churches of Christ in New England. London, 1645.
——Way of the Congregational Churches Cleared. London, 1648.
Cotton, John. In title, but a misprint for:—
Davenport, John. A Discourse about Civil Government in a New Plantation whose design is Religion, written many years since. Cambridge, 1643.
Dexter, Henry Martyn. The Congregationalism of the last Three Hundred
Years: as seen in its Literature with special reference to certain
Recondite, Neglected or Disputed Passages. New York, 1880.
Lectures, with Bibliography of over 7000 titles and Index. An historical review of Congregationalism from its earliest forms to the last half of the nineteenth century.
——History of Congregationalists. Hartford, 1894. Brief popular history.
——Story of the Pilgrims. Boston and Chicago, 1894. Dunning, Albert
E. Congregationalists in America. New York, 1894.
Dutton, S. M. S. History of the North Church, New Haven, from its Formation in May 1742, during the Great Awakening, to the Completion of the Century, in May 1842. New Haven, 1842.
Edwards, Jonathan. Works of, with Memoir by S. E. Dwight. New York, 1829. 10 vols.
Fisher, George P. Discourses … Church of Christ in Yale College,
November 22, 1857. New Haven, 1858.
Frequent citations from the diaries of the Cleveland brothers.
Fitch, Thomas. Explanation of the Saybrook Platform. The Principles of the Consociated Churches in Connecticut; Collected from the Plan of Union. By one that heartily desires the Order, Peace and Purity of these Churches. Hartford, 1765.
Hobart, Noah. An Attempt to illustrate and confirm the Ecclesiastical
Constitution of the Consociated Churches in the Colony of
Connecticut. New Haven, 1765.
Hooker, Richard. Of the Laws of Ecclesiastical Polity. London, 1648.
Hooker, Thomas. Survey of the Summe of Church Discipline. London, 1648.
Lechford, Thomas. Plaine Dealing. London, 1642.
Letter of Many Ministers in Old England requesting the Judgment of their Brethren in New England concerning Nine Positions … 1637…. Together with their Answer thereunto returned Anno 1639 (by J. Davenport). London, 1643.
Mather, Cotton. Magualia Christi Americana; or, The Ecclesiastical History of New England 1620-1698. London, 1702. Hartford, 1855. 2 vols.
——Ratio Discipline Fratrum Nov-Anglorum; A Faithful Account of the
Discipline Professed and Practised in the Churches of New
England. Boston, 1726. Mather, Richard. Church Government and Church
Covenant Discussed. London, 1643.
Prince, Thomas. The Christian History of the Revival and Propagation of Religion. Boston, 1743.
Purchard, George. History of Congregationalism from about 250 A. D. to 1616. New York and Boston, 1865-1888. 5 vols.
Walker, George Leon. History of the First Church of
Hartford. Hartford, 1884.
——Some Aspects of the Religious Life of New England with special reference to Congregationalists. New York, Boston and Chicago, 1897.
Walter, Williston. The Creeds and Platforms of Congregationalism. New
York, 1893.
——A History of the Congregational Churches in the United
States. (American Church History Series). New York, 1894.
White, Daniel Appleton. New England Congregationalism in its Origin and Purity: illustrated by the foundation and early records of First Church in Salem. Salem, 1861.
Wolcott, Roger. A Letter to Rev. Mr. Noah Hobart. [The New English
Congregational Churches…. Consociated Churches.] Boston, 1761.
3. EPISCOPALIAN
Beardsley, E. Edwards, D. D. History of the Episcopal Church in
Connecticut. New York, 1865-68. 2 vols.
An account of the church in Connecticut with strong church bias and
inclination to excuse the Tory sentiments of the early
rectors. Second volume gives the Episcopal side of the "Toleration"
conflict of 1817-18. Much interesting detail.
Church Review and Ecclesiastical Register. In American Quarterly
Church Review, vol. x, p. 116. New Haven and New York, 1848-91.
Collections of the Protestant Episcopal Historical Society, The. New
York, 1851-53. 2 vols.
These MSS. are found in Perry and Hawks's Documentary History, and
include a valuable article on the Episcopate before the Revolution,
by F. L. Hawks, also "Thoughts upon the present state of the Church
of England in the Colonies," [1764] by an unknown contemporary.
Cross, Arthur Lyon. The History of the Anglican Episcopate and the
American Colonies. New York and London, 1902.
Hawkins, E. Historical Notices of the Missions of the Church of
England in the North American Colonies. London, 1845.
Chiefly drawn from MS. documents of the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel.
Hawks (Frances Lister) and Perry (William Stevens). Documentary
History of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United
States. Containing … documents concerning the Church in
Connecticut. New York, 1863-34. 2vols.
See Perry, William Stevens.
McConnell, Samuel Davis. History of the American Episcopal Church. New
York, 1890.
A brief general history with a number of pages devoted to the
attempts to establish the Episcopate in America and to the political
hostility that it roused.
Perry, William Stevens (Bishop of Iowa). [See F. L. Hawks.] Documentary History of the Protestant Episcopal Church. New York, 1863-64. 2 vols.
Unbiased; arranged under topical heads; has illustrated monographs by different authors; illustrations, including facsimiles; and also critical notes, frequently referring to original sources. It contains many letters from the missions established by the London Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts.
Shaw, W. A. A History of the Church of England. 2 vols.
4. METHODIST
Asbury's (Francis) Journal. New York, 1821. 3 vols. A brief diary of all Bishop Asbury's American journeys: Vols. ii and iii concern New England, with comments on his surroundings, his preaching and the people.
Bangs, Nathan. History of the Methodist Episcopal Church. New York, 1841-45. 4 vols.
Clark, Edgar F. The Methodist Episcopal Churches of Norwich. Norwich, 1867.
Convenient secondary authority gives, pp. 6-21, a connected account
of the early days of Connecticut Methodism.
Scudder, Moses Lewis. American Methodism. Hartford, 1870.
General attitude of New England towards the introduction of
Methodism.
Stevens, Abel. Memorials of the Introduction of Methodism into the
Eastern States. Boston, 1848.
Biographical notices of the early preachers, sketches of the earlier societies, and reminiscences of struggles and successes. "Some account of every Methodist preacher who was regularly appointed to New England during the first five years" of New England Methodism, derived from original sources, letters, and from books now out of print. The fullest account of Connecticut Methodists. It contains frequent citations from Jesse Lee's diary.
Appendix A contains valuable statistics; appendix B has a scurrilous pamphlet, "A Key to unlock Methodism, or Academical Hubbub," etc., published in Norwich, 1800.
——The Centenary of American Methodism: a Sketch of its History,
Theology, Practical System, and Success. New York, 1866.
——The History of the Religious Movement of the Eighteenth Century, called Methodism. New York, 1858-61. 3 vols.
5. QUAKERS, OR THE SOCIETY OF FRIENDS
Besse, Joseph. A Collection of the Sufferings of the People called Quakers, for the Testimony of a Good Conscience, etc., to the year 1689. London, 1753. 2 vols.
Vol. ii contains a full account of their persecutions, together with copies of the proceedings against them and letters from the sufferers.
Bowden, James. History of the Society of Friends in America. New York and London, 1845. 2 vols.
A history of the sect throughout New England, containing many short biographies. It is fair and frank in its record of New England persecutions. The author adopts the unique plea that the excesses of the converts were inspired by the Holy Spirit as a reproof to their persecutors for the kind of persecution and punishment that was meted out to innocent persons.
Evans, Charles. Friends in the Seventeenth Century. Philadelphia, 1876.
Gough, John. History of the People called Quakers. Dublin, 1789-90. 4 vols.
Hallowell, Richard Price. The Pioneer Quakers. Boston and New York, 1887.
Manuscript Records of Early Newport Yearly (Friends') Meetings—at
Friends' School, Providence, R. I.
Minutes of meetings, reports of cases of oppression, of converts, etc.
Sewel, William. The History of the Rise, Increase and Progress of the
Christian People called Quakers, Intermixed with Several Remarkable
Occurrences. Written originally in Low Dutch by W. S. and by himself
translated into English.
1st ed., Amsterdam, 1717; 2d ed., London, 1722; 3d ed., 1725, 2
vols. Philadelphia, 1728, etc. New York, 1844. [a]
Wagstaff, William R. History of the Friends (compiled from standard records and authentic sources). New York and London, 1845.
A defense of the excesses in Quaker eccentricities as religious enthusiasm in persons who were driven by persecution to the verge of madness. A similar view is expressed by R. P. Hallowell and by Brooks Adams in his "Emancipation of Massachusetts."
F. TRACTS (RELIGIOUS, POLITICAL OR BOTH)
Of these, several titles that are found at full length either in the text or footnotes are omitted here. Many more might have been added, but it is thought best to omit them because of their cumbrous titles, their scant interest to the average reader, and their inaccessibility, being found only in the largest libraries or among rare Americana. For similar reasons, works strictly theological in character are also not listed. Any sizable library possesses a copy of H. M. Dexter's "Congregationalism as seen in the Literature of the last Three Hundred Years." Its bibliography of over 7000 titles gives all the religious, ecclesiastical or politico-ecclesiastical tracts, and theological works touching upon Congregationalism. Yale University library has a large amount of the Americana collected by Mr. Dexter.
Trumbull's list of books published in Connecticut before 1800 gives the titles of books and pamphlets of strictly local import
The Baptist Confession of Faith; first put forth in 1648; afterwards enlarged, corrected and published by an Assembly of Delegates (from the churches in Great Britain) met in London, July 3, 1689; adopted by the Association at Philadelphia, September 22, 1742, and now received by churches of the same denomination in most of the American States, to which is added a System of Church Discipline. Portland, 1794.
Bartlett, Moses. False and Seducing Teachers. New London, 1757.
Beecher, Lyman. Sermon. A Reformation of Morals practicable and indispensible. … New Haven, 1813. Andover, 1814.
Bishop, Abraham. Connecticut Republicanism. An Oration on the extent and power of Political Delusion. Delivered in New Haven, September, 1800.
——Proofs of a Conspiracy against Christianity and the Government of the United States; exhibited in several views of the Church and State in New England. Hartford, 1802.
——The Oration in honor of the election of President Jefferson and the peaceful acquisition of Louisiana, 1801.
Bishop, George. New England Judged, Not by Man's, but the Spirit of the Lord: And the Summe sealed up of New England's Persecutions. Being a Brief Relation of the Sufferings of the People called Quakers in these Parts. London, 1661.
Bolles, John. Concerning the Christian Sabbath. 1757.
——To Worship God in Spirit and in Truth is True Liberty of
Conscience. 1756.
——A Relation of the Opposition which some Baptist People met at
Norwich. 1761.
Booth, Abraham. Essay on Kingdom of Christ. London, 1788. New London, 1801. [a]
American edition edited by John Sterry of the Norwich "True
Republican," together with notes containing his strictures on the
Connecticut and English Established Church.
Bragge, Robert. Church Discipline. London, 1739. Republished, New
London, 1768. [a]
"A Defence of simple Congregationalism and disestablishment."
Browne, Joseph. Principles of Baptism. A Letter to Infant Baptisers in the North Parish of New London. New London, 1767.
Quoted by Rev. E. H. Gillett, Hist. Mag. 2d series, vol. iv, p. 28.
Browne, Robert. A Treatise of reformation without tarrying for Magistrates and of the wickednesse of those Preachers which will not reforme till the Magistrates commande or compell them. Middelburg, 1582. Only three copies known. Reprint at Boston and London.
Chauncy, Charles, Rev. Seasonable Thoughts. Boston, 1743.
Treats of the Great Awakening, of which the author was a determined opponent.
Clap, Thomas. Brief History and Vindication of the Doctrines received and established in the Churches of New England. New Haven, 1755.
Daggett, David. Argument, before the General Assembly of Connecticut, Oct. 1804, in the case of Certain Justices of the Peace…. New Haven, 1804.
——Count the Cost. An Address to the People of Connecticut…. By
Jonathan Steadfast. Hartford, 1804.
——Facts are Stubborn Things, or Nine Plain Questions to the People of
Connecticut. By Simon Holdfast. Hartford, 1803.
——Steady Habits Vindicated. Hartford, 1805.
——Sun-Beams may be extracted from Cucumbers, but the process is tedious. An Oration, pronounced 4 July, 1799…. New Haven, 1799.
Darling, Thomas. Some Remarks on President Clap's "History and
Vindication." New Haven, 1757.
Foster, Isaac. Defence of Religious Liberty. Worcester, 1779.
Frothingham, Ebenezer. A Key to unlock the Door, That leads in, to take a Fair View of the Religious Constitution, Established by Law, in the Colony of Connecticut … with a short Observation upon the Explanation of Saybrook Plan, etc. and Mr. Hobart's attempt etc. Reviewing R. Ross, Plain Address. Boston, 1767.
Hobart, Noah. An Attempt to Illustrate and Confirm the Ecclesiastical
Covenant of the Connecticut Churches,—occasioned by a late
Explanation of the Saybrook Platform. New Haven, 1765.
Holly, Israel. A Plea in Zion's Behalf: The Censured Memorial made
Public … to which is added a few Brief Remarks upon … an Act for
Exempting … Separatists from Taxes, etc. 1765.
Quoted by Rev. E. H. Glllett, Hist. Mag., 2d series, vol. iv.
Huntington, R. (Editor). Review of the Ecclesiastical Establishments of Europe (by William Graham). 1808.
Special reference to the bearing of the book on the Connecticut
Establishment, and particularly upon its Parish System.
Judd, William. Address to the People of the State of Connecticut, on the removal of himself and four other Justices from Office…. New Haven, 1804.
Leland, John. A Blow at the Root. Being a fashionable Fast-Day
Sermon. New London, 1801.
——The Connecticut Dissenters' Strong Box: No. I. Containing, The
High-flying Churchman stript of his legal Robe appears a Yaho. New
London, 1802.
——Van Tromp lowering his Peak with a Broadside: Containing a plea for the Baptists of Connecticut. Danbury, 1803.
——The Rights of Conscience inalienable; … Or, The high-flying
Churchman, stript of his legal Robe, appears a Yaho.
See The Connecticut Dissenters' Strong Box.
Martin-Mar-Prelate Tracts. See H. M. Dexter's Congregationalism as seen in Literature, Lecture iii, pp. 131-205.
Norton, John. The Heart of New England rent at the Blasphemies of the
Present Generation. Or a brief Tractate concerning the Doctrine of the
Quakers etc. Cambridge, New England, 1659.
Paine, Solomon. A Short View of the Difference between the Church of Christ, and the established Churches in the Colony of Connecticut in their Foundation and Practice with their Ends: being a Word of Warning to several Ranks of Profession; and likewise Comfort to the Ministers and Members of the Church of Christ. 1752.
Richards, George H. The Politics of Connecticut; by a Federal
Republican. New London, 1817.
Rogers, John. A Midnight Cry from the Temple of God to the Ten
Virgins. See F. M. Caulkins' History of New London, pp. 202-221.
——John Rogers, A Servant of Jesus Christ … giving a Description of
True Shepherds of Christ's Flocks and also of the Anti-Christian
Ministry. 4th ed. Norwich, 1776.
——New London Prison.
See F. H. Gillett, Hist. Mag., 2d series, vol. iv.
Ross, Robert. Plain Address to the Quakers, Moravians, Separatists,
Separate Baptists, Rogerines, and other Enthusiasts on Immediate
Impulses and Revelations, etc. New Haven, 1752.
Stiles, Ezra. A Discourse on Christian Union. (Appendix containing a list of New England Churches. A. D. 1760.) Boston, 1761.
Stoddard, Solomon. The Doctrine of Instituted Churches Explained and
Proved from the Word of God. 1700. Webster, Noah. A Rod for the
Fool's Back. New Haven, 1800.
Being a reply to Abraham Bishop.
Williams, Nathan. An Inquiry Concerning the Design and Importance of
Christian Baptism and Discipline. Hartford, 1792.
Wolcott, Roger. The New-English Congregational Churches are and always have been Consociated Churches, and their Liberties greater and better founded, in their Platform of Church Discipline agreed to at Cambridge, 1648, than what is contained at Saybrook, 1705, etc. Boston, 1761.
FOOTNOTES:
[a] This is the edition referred to in text.