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Title History of Torrington, Connecticut, from its first settlement in 1737, with biographies and genealogies Creator Orcutt, Samuel, 1824-1893 Publisher Albany, J. Munsell, printer Date 1878
The Rev. Lemuel Haynes was the next minister, commencing his labors early in the summer of 1785. He was a talented, devoted man, well and favorably received by his ministerial brethern ; but African blood flowed in his veins, and there were prejudices existing in those days sufficient to make trouble as to this matter, if in all other respects there had been peace in the community. After Mr. Haynes had preached here a few months there was such rising of courage and union of disposition as to secure a combination to support the gospel. Forty-six persons covenanted together, not as a society nor as a church, but as individuals, that "we will join together in our en- deavor to procure steady preaching, and to keep up and maintain the public worship of God among ourselves, with a view to the calling and settling a gospel minister as soon as God, in his providence shall open a door therefor." They agreed to pay according to their list, or by subscription, as should be deemed best. From this last item it may be seen that a part of the trouble arose from the system of taxing every tax-payer for the support of the preaching. The subscribers to this agreement dated October 3, 1785, were Increase Grant/ William Wilson, Epaphras Loomis, Nathaniel Barber, Joseph Blake, Samuel Beach, Elihu Cook, Elijah Barber, Hannah Loomis, Noah Fowler, Urijah Cook, Joshua Leach, Richard Leach, Richard Leach, Jr. Caleb Leach, George Baldwin, Jonathan Coe, Ebenezer Coe, Amos Wilsoa, Abijah Wilson, Joseph Taylor, Lemuel Loomis, Asahel Wilcox, Noah Wilson, Jr., Eli Barber, Guy Wolcott, Noah Wilson, Roger Wilson, Oliver Filley, Nathaniel Leach, Caleb Lyman, John Whiting, Bushniel Benedict, Benoni Hills, Wait Beach, Elisha Smith, Abner Loomis, Richard Loomis, Moses Loomis, Moses Loomis, Jr., Adna Beach, Isaac Filley, Timothy Barber, Caleb Munson, John Beach, Margaret Thrall.
(the two grps of folks eventually came together as one grp again)
Members of the Church. Organized Oct. 21, 1 741.