Rev. Theophilus Hall

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Theophilus Hall graduated at Yale, 1727; he was the first minister of Meriden, Connecticut, ordained 29 Oct. 1729; he was a man of quite small stature, but possessed much dignity of manners united with the greatest affability, persuaded of the truth of Christianity, and deeply sensible of its importance, he was well able to defend it; his sermons were ably written and delivered with great fervor; his pastoral visits were frequent and conducted judiciously; he was humble, self denying, full of the love of souls, prayerful and zealous for the cause of Christ; during his ministry, of 37 years in Meriden, 250 were added to the church; he possessed great firmness of character, and was zealous advocate of civil and religious liberty; he published two sermons on the death of Rev. Isaac Stiles; two on faith; and one on the ordination of Rev. Matthew Morrison, of Berwick, Me. Ancestors and Descendants of Andrew Lee and Clarinda Knapp Allen. Compiled by Gerald R. Fuller (Second Greatgrandson). p. 20 & 21 Book in my possession, Tamara Allen Wells 6/13/98

Elijah Allen Family chronicles by Michael Craig Allen. Volumes 1 & 2. 921.73 Al53am. Photocopy in my possession, Tamara Allen Wells 12/13/98. Ancestors and Descendants of Andrew Lee and Clarinda Knapp Allen. Compiled by Gerald R. Fuller (Second Greatgrandson). p. 20 & 21 Book in my possession, Tamara Allen Wells 6/13/98

from A Century of Meriden "The Silver City" page 124. . . He was of distinguished stock and many of his relatives became very prominent. His uncle, Hon. John Hall, was for eight years one of the governor's assistants and ancestor of Hon. Lyman Hall, governor of Georgia and a signer of the Declaration of Independence, he was a cousin to Rev. Samuel Hall, pastor of the church in Cheshire.

Rev. Theophilus graduated at Yale in the class of 1727, and after a course in theology he came to preach in Meriden in 1728 and was ordained pastor on the 29th of October, 1729. The Rev. Dr. James Dana, of the church in Wallingford, who was a comtenporary of the Rev. Theophilus for eight or nine years, in his Century Discours, 1770 says: "Mr. Hall was a gentleman of strong intellectual powers, much esteemed as a preacher, of great firmness and stability, and a zealous advocate for civil and Religious Liberty." Rev. Edward Hungerford, in his Centennial Sermon, delivered in the Center Congregations church October 1, 1876, says: "Theophilus Hall was a man of powerful intellect, and of large heart. As I have searched among old papers, it has been an inspiration to come into contact with the earnestness and vigor of this man who began to preach a hundred and fifty years ago." "This man's words flashed; his short, quick, clear cut sentences went to the mark. His familiar style with its 'don't' and 'won't' makes it easy to listen, while his sentiments belong more to a future age than to the one in which he speaks." "I do not hesitate to say that if he stood in one of our pulpits to-day, he would stand there as a thoroughly popular preacher whom men would love to hear."

Matthew Merriam was the son of Captain Nathaniel and Mr. Hall fitted the young man for college and then made a journey of over 200 miles to the province of Maine to preach at his ordination.

Mr. Hall married May 21, 1734 Hannah Avery and he died of pleurisy in Meriden on March 25, 1767, at the age of sixty, survived by his widow and seven children and universally lamented.

It is a pity that there is-no portrait of Mr. Hall in existence, and that there are so few facts in his life have come down to us. He left to his beloved church a sum of money with which to buy a "fashionable" communion cup, which the writer is under the impression is still in existence. His body lies in the cemetery on Meeting House Hill and the slab that covers the grave is in better condition than almost any other stone in the yard.

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Pastor of ye church who having for 37 years discharged the duties of his function with distinguished fidelity and accomplished Christian life, the uniform disciple of Jesus Christ deceased Mar 23 1767 In the 60th year of his age.

They that be wise shall shine as ye brightness of ye firmament. From "A Century of Meriden", 1906. Son of Samuel and Love Hall, married Hannah Avery, May 21, 1734, graduated at Yale in 1727, was ordained Oct. 29, 1729.

From "History of Wallingford" by Charles H.S. Davis, 1870.

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@R-1794034849@ Family Data Collection - Births Edmund West, comp. Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2001. 1,5769::0

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1,5769::1929677

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@R-1794034849@ Family Data Collection - Births Edmund West, comp. Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2001. 1,5769::0

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1,5769::1929677

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