The Episcopal churches of the Naugatuck Valley share a unique and historic clergyman. The Rev. Richard Mansfield served as minister to a circuit that extended from West Haven to Waterbury, nearly 60 miles.
Mansfield’s father, Jonathan, was a deacon in the New Haven Congregational Church. The son studied to become a Congregational clergyman. He finished all the required studies for admission to Yale College (now Yale University) at age 11. College rules required him to wait until he was 14 before admission. He graduated in 1841 with first honors of his class. This earned him a prize that led to his conversion to Episcopalian.
This is what I have in my biographical directory of the Church of England clergy in North America before 1785:
Mansfield, Richard, 1723 1748 1820 1820 CT bCT eYA mY cY
Born October 1, 1723, youngest child of Jonathan and Susannah (Sarah) Alling Mansfield, grandson of Major Moses and Mercy Glover Mansfield and the Hon. John Alling, 15 years Yale Treasurer. Father a deacon in Congregational church. Yale: M.A. 1741, D.D. 1792, first Episcopal clergyman so honored.
Postgraduate study at Yale 1741-42. Followed his brother Moses as Rector, Hopkins Grammar school, New Haven, Connecticut 1742-47. (Father a Trustee.) Studied under Samuel Johnson and conformed to the Church of England 1744.
Samuel Johnson wrote SPG October 1, 1746, asks permission for Mansfield to come for Orders. (SPG B.14.21-22)
Wardens and Vestry of Darby, CT, wrote SPG April 20, 1747 asking that Richard Mansfield may have leave to proceed to England for orders, enclosing copy of deed to a glebe and bond to pay him £20 a year. (SPG B.15.59-60)
SPG Secretary Bearcroft wrote Samuel Johnson of Stratford, CT, December 27, 1747, approves Mansfield for Derby, Waterbury, and Westbury. (SPG B.15.228) Bearcroft wrote Derby Vestry same date approving Mansfield (SPG B.15.231)
Wardens and vestry of Derby wrote SPG May 7, 1748 to ask appointment of Richard Mansfield, bond of 20 pounds a year. (B.16.13-14)
Deacon [ ], Priest in London August 7, 1748 by Archbishop Thomas Herring of Canterbury. License to New England August 11, Bounty for New England September 14, 1748.
SPG missionary at 20 pounds a year, then Rector, St. James Parish, Derby, Connecticut 1748 to death April 12, 1820, though his voice failed and he was unable to preach from 1800. Also served West Haven and Northfield for a time, Waterbury and Westbury 1748-80.
Rector of Derby for 72 years! (Is this a record?) “He was remarkable through his prolonged life for his benignity and courtesy, his cheerfulness and serenity under all adversities. No citizen of the town was ever more beloved or respected.†(Dexter)
Wrote SPG July, 1750 from Derby, dissenters troublesome, especially in Branford. He cares for Waterbury and visits Oxford. Westbury, and neighboring destitute townships. (SPG B.18.46)
SPG Secretary Bearcroft wrote Mansfield October 25, 1750, SPG determined to defend Church of England members in Connecticut from oppression. (SPG B.18.208)
Wrote SPG December 26, 1750, dissenters numerous and hostile, Derby parsonage recently repaired, cost shared between parish and himself, galleries being erected in church, asks folio Bible and Prayer Book, Notitia. (SPG B.18.47)
Wrote SPG December 26. 1751 from Derby [check as summary smudged] (SPG B.19.39)
SPG Secretary Bearcroft wrote May 1, 1752 to Mansfield in Derby, letter, Bible, and Prayer Book, by Fowle who is going the Norwalk. (SPG B.20.15A)
Mansfield wrote SPG from Derby June 27, 1760, continues his usual duties at Derby and Oxford, has lately visited Simsbury, where church of late much revived under care of Mr. Viets, ordinand, B.A. Yale, people are finishing church and glebe house. Notitia. (SPG B.23.260) Mansfield wrote SPG December 26, 1760, asks addition to his salary on account of the size of his family, etc. Notitia. (SPG B.23.261)
Thomas Davies recommended March 12, 1761 by Punderson, Beach, Winslow, and Mansfield, Yale graduate, invited by people of Litchfield County, will assist Solomon Palmer. (SPG B.23.77) Beach, Punderson, Lamson, Leaming, Mansfield, Newton, Scovil, Peters, Winslow and Dibblee recommended Samuel Andrews March 27, 1761 for ordination. (SPG B.23.3) Ebenezer Punderson wrote SPG from New Haven April 12, 1761, recommends bearer, John Beardsley, for Groton and Norwich, where he has been reading sermons and prayers recently. Lamson, Mansfield, Winslow, Newton, Palmer, Leaming, and Dibblee, concur in recommending Beardsley. (SPG B.23.292)
Mansfield wrote SPG June 29, 1761, renews application for addition for salary, if no increase possible, asks transfer. (SPG B.23.262) Wrote same date to SPCK Secretary Broughton asking him to second his request to SPG, has been nearly 13 years in present mission. (SPG B.23.263) Both letters endorsed on back, “Plymouth, 19 December, 1761, taken out of the Amiable Gabrielle Privateer by . . . George Winne.†Mansfield wrote SPG December 26, 1761 and July 1, 1762, with similar request. (SPG B.23.264, 265) Mansfield wrote SPG December 9, 1762, thanks for gratuity of 10 pounds, received only about £20 from parishioners, and 4 pounds 10 shllings profit from glebe, asks again for “rise†or transfer. (SPG B.23.266) Mansfield wrote SPG September 10, 1763, declines offer to be New Hampshire itinerant missioner, people of Derby and Oxford might contribute 10 pounds more a year; he still hopes for increase of salary from SPG, recently visited Great Barrington, 80 miles from Derby, and Spencer Town. (SPG B.23.267) Mansfield wrote SPG December 26, 1763, Talbot has given Derby church £100 for purchase of a glebe, to be in trust until his death and death of housekeeper Mrs. Gould, interest to be paid in the meantime. Notitia. (SPG B.23.268) Mansfield wrote SPG September 15, 1764, thanks for addition of 10 pounds to his salary, asks Bibles, Prayer Books, tracts, has been to Milford, promising congregation, Richard Clarke, layreader, Notitia. (SPG B.23.269) Mansfield reported to SPG July 2, 1765, Notitia. (23.270) Mansfield wrote SPG October 20, 1766, thanks for books, would be glad of more, new church built at Oxford needs Bible and Prayer Book, has visited Milford and New Concord, New York, missionary needed for Great Barrington area, much sickness in family, owes 80 pounds to physicians, asks relief, Notitia. (SPG B.23.271)
Testimonial to Richard Clarke November 17, 1766 by Samuel Johnson, John Beach, J. Lamson, J. Leaming, E. Dibblee, and Richard Mansfield, as a Committee appointed by Connecticut clergy, Clarke has B.A. and M.A from both Yale and King’s College, New York. (SPG B.23.70)
Mansfield wrote SPG August 26, 1767, thankful for gratuity of 20 pounds and promise of books for Oxford. (SPG B.23.272) Mansfield wrote SPG September 21, 1768, has visited Williamstown (Massachusetts?), and Pownall, Arlington, and Manchester, (now Vermont). At Arlington, Captain Hawley, a Principal Planter, has read services, etc. at his own house. Great need of missionaries. Visited New Concord, New York, on return. Has now been in SPG service 20 years, would be very glad of increase in salary from 40 to 50 pounds. (SPG B.23.273)
Connecticut clergy – Jarvis, Kneeland, Tyler, Mansfield, Newton, Scovil, Andrews, Peters, and Hubbard – wrote SPG September 14, 1769, recommending Luke Babcock. (SPG B.23.423)
Mansfield wrote SPG December 26, 1769, needs increase as parishioners poor, glebe not very profitable, and family large, until he realizes “some patrimony†he is entitled to, needs SPG help, health fourtunately proves equal to his duties. (SPG B.23.274) Mansfield wrote SPG December 26, 1770, thanks for gratuity of 10 pounds, congregation increases. (SPG B.23.275) Mansfield wrote SPG December 26, 1770, “an hopeful Prospect of Religion amongst us.†(SPG B.23.276) Mansfield reported to SPG December 27, 1773. Mansfield wrote SPG December 29, 1775, from Queens County, Long Island, New York, forced to flee to Hampstead, 110 of 130 families in his parish remained loyal, but letter to General Tryon offering recruits for King’s forces in return for protection for women and children made known, and he was advised to flee. Reports conflict at Newtown, pillaging by American forces. (SPG B.23.278)
He left in December 1775 for New York after a letter to Governor Tryon with names of loyalists in his congregation was intercepted. Ed. and William Laight, New York, wrote SPG March [check] 15, 1785 about their transactions with him. (SPG B.C/AM.2.89)
Received August 16, 1748 £10 from SPG Treasurer Slingsby Bethell, drew on SPG from Derby April 8, 1749 £10 to Messers Darling and Whiting in Company, December 26, 1749 £10 to Thomas Darling, December 26, 1750 £10 to William Beach, merchant at Stratford, September 25, 1783 £10 to Isaac Beers of New Haven, December 26, 1783, March 25, and June 26, 1784 £10 each time to John Goodrich, Apothecary of New Haven, September 25, 1784 £10 to Richard Mansfield, Jr., of Derby.
Married October 10, 1751 by Samuel Johnson to Anna Hull, daughter of Joseph Hull of Derby, aunt of General William Hull. She was born 1736, died August 20, 1776 aged 40. Nine of their 13 children lived to maturity. Son [Richard, Jr. ?] Yale 1784.
Brother Moses (May 5, 1709 – October, 1754) teacher, Rector of Hopkins Grammar School, New Haven 1740 – 41.
Lots of cool history in the colonies. One of my friends has a farm in Oxford, CT–a very lovely area.
The 1841 when 1741 was meant threw me off at first. My great-great-great-great-great-grandfather, also the son of a Congregationalist minister, but a deist and a patriotic officer of Massachusetts government, dealt with a similar clergyman in Maine by attending his services and reading from the New England Primer instead of the Prayer Book and leaving playing cards in the collection plate.
That earnest and faithful but misguided presbyter died an exile in Canada. The Rev. Mr. Mansfield narrowly escaped that fate by skill as well as faith.