This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1896 edition. Excerpt: ... CHAPTER XXXIV. ECCLESIASTICAL HI8T0RY--FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHUBCH. In 1696, the year of the formation of this church, Danbury had been organized as a town but three years, although its first settlement was in 1684. Among the records of a General Court held at Hartford, May 14th, 1696, we find the following: "Upon the petition of the towne of Danbury this court granted them liberty to embody themselves into church estate in an orderly way with the consent of neighbor churches." Previous to this a meeting-house had been built on "the Town Street" (now Main Street), a little north of the present Court House. The court grant above quoted is the only record in existence respecting the origin of the church, not even the names or number of the original members being known. It is supposed that Mr. Seth Shove was ordained pastor at the time the church was organized in 1696. Seth Shove was the son of Rev. George Shove and Hopestill [Newman] Shove; was born at Taunton, Mass., December 10th, 1667; graduated from Harvard College in 1687, and was in Simsbury, Conn., from 1691 until he settled in Danbury.* The pastorate of Mr. Shove was terminated by his death, October 3d, 1735. His tombstone bears the following inscription: "Here lyes buried ye body of Rev. Mr. Seth Shove, ye pious and faithful pastor of ye church in Danbury 39 years, who died October 3d, Anno Domini 1735. Mtatis sum, 68." On January 5th, 1735-36, Mr. Ebenezer White was unanimously called by a town meeting to become the minister of the Danbury Church, on a salary of 200 (of the then tenor) and the use of the parsonage " while he continues to be their minister and holds to and abides in the Presbyterian or Congregational order." He was ordained pastor on March 10th of the *...