THE TOWN OF LEWISBORO. 419 



The old Brown homestead and adjoining property, after remaining in 

 the family over one hundred years, passed by purchase to Aaron Hull 

 who soon after sold to the present proprietor Wakeman Wood the son 

 of Samuel Wood of Weston, Connecticut. 



Prior to the Revolutionary war Lewisboro' formed a precinct of the 

 old parish of Salem and at a very early period the parishoners were 

 united with their brethren of the Church at Ridgefield* and Ridgebury 

 in the support of religion, enjoying the occasional services of such distin- 

 guished men as Samuel Johnson, D.D., of Stratford, Connecticut, in 1 7 25 ; 

 Henry Caner, of Fairfield, in 1727; John Beach, of Newton, in 1735; 

 James Wetmore, of Rye, in 1744; Richard Caner, of Norwalk,in 1744; 

 Joseph Lampson; of Fairfield, in 1745 ; and Jeremiah Learning, of Nor- 

 walk, in 1760. At one time Ridgefield, Ridgebury and the Oblong were 

 considered to be, in a certain sense, within the bounds of the parish or 

 mission of Fairfield. The Rev. Ebenezer Dibblee, of Stamford, also con- 

 sidered Salem to be within the bounds of his missionary jurisdiction. 

 " As a missionary of the society of the gospel in foreign parts he entered 

 upon the duties of his sacred office Oct. 26th, 1748," and the first 

 record of his services in the Oblong occurs on the nth of November, 

 1749, on which occasion he baptized Steven Slauson, son of James and 

 Elizabeth Slauson. 6 



The following extract is taken from his report to the Secretary of the 

 Venerable Propagation Society for 1759 : 



MR. DIBBLEE TO THE SECRETARY. 



[extract.] 



"Stamford, Conn., New England, Sept. 29, 1759. 

 Rev. Sir: 



June 24th, second Sunday after Trinity last, I preached in the lower district 

 of Salem, to a very considerable auditory — judging between three and four hun- 

 dred people old and young, who behaved very decently and attentively, and I 

 gave the communion to thirty-nine communicants. There is a hopeful prospect 

 of the increase and flourishing state of religion among that scattered poor people, 

 and no endeavours of mine are wanting to serve them in their best interest. I 

 preached to them about two weeks before upon a special fast, appointed in that 

 Province, to implore the smiles and blessing of Divine Providence to attend his 

 Majesty's arms the ensuing campaign ; upon which occasion, also, that people 

 gave a religious and decent attendance. 



I am, Rev. Sir, your most obedient, most humble servant and brother in Christ, 

 i Ebenezer Dibblee. "^ 



a The following inscription occurs on the corner stone of St. Stephen's church, Ridgefield 

 " The Church was founded in Ridgefield A,D. 1740. The first church edifice erected 1741. 

 the second 1785, the third 1841. The church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the 

 truth." (Tim. ill : 15.) ^ 



b St. John's parochial Eec. Stamford, Connecticut. 



c Conn. MSS. from archives at Fulham, 392. (Hawks). 



