TOWN OF PRATTSBUEGH. 



361 



heads of families being members of the Congregational 

 Church, drawn thither by the expectation of a good re- 

 ligious and civil society, and forming a homogeneous popu- 

 lation. I have but to mention a few of them that you may 

 see that they gave shape and tone to the future of the church 

 and town : Robert Porter, Abiel Linsley, Jesse Waldo, Sam- 

 uel Hayes, Elias Hopkins, John Hopkins, Gamaliel Loomis, 

 Elam Bridges, Aaron Cook, James F. Judson, Ebenezer 

 Rice. The names of Burton, Hubbard, Prentiss, Johnson, 

 and others also now appear in the roll of the church. The 

 first of these, Robert Porter, probably did more for the 

 church and town than any other man, excepting Capt. 

 Pratt. He was a graduate of Yale College in 1795, and 

 studied for the ministry, and from 1803 to 1806 was prin- 

 cipal of Hamilton Academy (afterwards Hamilton College), 

 Clinton, N. Y. His brother was the celebrated Dr. Noah 

 Porter, of Farmington, Conn. 



The others were originally from Connecticut, of the best 

 Puritan stock. '• There were giants in those days." 



" As might have been expected from such people as the 

 pioneers of Prattsburgh, they early set about erecting a 

 house for their public worship. So they resolved in 1806. 



" The site selected, and afterwards built upon, was upon 

 the public square, and near the southeast corner of it. At 

 first they determined that this house should be constructed 

 of hewn logs, a plan particularly displeasing to Capt. Pratt. 

 At his suggestion the constituents of what was afterwards 

 the Prattsburgh Religious Society met to review their pre- 

 vious decision, but. after interchanging their own views, they 

 came to the same conclusion. Mr. Pratt retorted upon this 

 embryo society the anathema pronounced against those who 

 dwelt in ceiled houses, while the temple of the Lord laid 

 waste. Then this people met for a third time, and for the 

 third time agreed to build a log church. Capt. Pratt cut 

 short the proceedings of this meeting by seating himself at a 

 table and drafting a paper, in form as follows : 



^'^Bath, Feb. 23, 1807. 

 " ' We, the subscribers, being desirous of erecting a house for the 

 purpose of accommodating the society for public worship, do promise 

 to pay unto Capt. Joel Pratt the sura opposite to our names ,• to be 

 paid on the completion of said house, in case there can be a sufficient 

 sum subscribed. Said house to be 32 by 22 feet. 



" To this he added his name, and the sum of $20, and 

 before twenty-four hours had run round, he presented the 

 paper, and had actually obtained a subscription in a greater 

 or less sum from the head of every family within the town- 

 ship, when the aggregate sum of $220 was found to have 

 been subscribed, which was considered adequate, and which 

 built the first Congregational church of Prattsburgh. Two 

 years later this house was found too small to accommodate 

 the congregation assembled each Sabbath; then it was 

 lengthened by adding 18 feet to its east end, making its 

 proportions 22 feet by 50 feet, with upright timbers possibly 

 9 feet in height. 



'' This church was never, either in its exterior or interior 

 appointments, much of a feast to the lover of fair architec- 

 tural proportions. Painting never adorned it. It had an 

 entrance at each end, by what was at first centre doors, 

 but afterwards they were pushed to one side ; entering from 

 the west end, one passed about one-third the length of that 

 46 



50 feet aisle, when he would reach the space occupied by 

 the pulpit, which was then stuck to the northern wall like 

 a bird's nest ; nor was this church ever in one stead for a 

 great length of time. In 1820 it was sawn asunder from 

 the ridge of the roof, and the one half of the building was 

 moved 11 feet north, and the intervening space built up 

 anew ; so it remained till 1828, when it was superseded by 

 the completion of the present church edifice." 



The religious society was not organized properly till 

 Nov. 16, 1807. 



The following is the article of incorporation : 



" To all to whom it may concern, be it known that after legal noti- 

 fication had been given for the purpose of forming a religious society 

 in the sixth township, third range, in Steuben County and State of 

 New York, the inhabitants of said township met at their place of 

 public worship on Monday, the 16th day of November, 1807. 



^' By the unanimous voice of the meeting, Deacon Enoch Niles and 

 Deacon Abiel Linsley were chosen Inspectors. 



" Voted, secondly, that the society be called Prattsburgh, and that 

 six trustees be chosen, who are ever after to be known by the name 

 of the Trustees of the Prattsburgh Religious Society. And, fourthly, 

 that Enoch Niles, Wm. P. Curtiss, John Hopkins, Jesse Waldo, Josiah 

 Allis, and Joel Pratt, Jr., be the trustees of said society. 



^' Be it known that wo, the inspectors of the election above recited, 

 do certify that the above is a true statement of the proceedings of the 

 meeting. In testimony whereof we have hereunto set our hands and 

 seals. 



^'Abikl Linsley, 

 "Enoch Niles.'' 



Then follows the permission of Judge James Faulkner 

 for the recording of the above articles, dated April 18, 

 1808, and the certificate of the county clerk. 



The record continues : '' The trustees of Prattsburgh 

 Religious Society met the 18th day of May, 1808, at Ira 

 Pratt's house, and considering it necessary for the welfare 

 of the society that a regular system of proceedings be ob- 

 served in all afi'airs relative to the society, have instituted 

 the following articles as their guide : Article 1. Whenever 

 any person shall make application for uniting with the 

 society, he shall be accepted by paying into the society's 

 fund a sum that the trustees shall consider proportionate 

 to his property and privileges. Articles 2, 3, and 4 refer 

 to the fund notes. Article 5 reads, ' The money arising 

 from the use of the fund shall be appropriated only for the 

 support of the gospel ministry of the Presbyterian or Con- 

 gregational order.' " 



It will be seen from this that either of the above forms 

 of church government were included in the original plan of 

 the founders of the church, the Presbyterian being named 

 first. 



The following resolution brings to light the fact that the 

 fathers kept Saturday night : 



" Voted, Oct. 11, 1808, that the members of the church 

 will not attend raisings, or other similar associations, on 

 Saturday in the afternoon." 



Deacon Loomis was diligent in prosecuting all who 

 traveled on Sunday in the township. For many years the 

 religious aspect of the town formed its most distinguishing 

 feature. 



" Previous to the organization of the church, Mr. Niles led 

 in the public worship. After its organization he was elected 

 its standing moderator, and more frequently preached. His 



