May 22 '84

"My son Harry began boarding at Mrs. Welles at Stanford at 4 sh per week."

Jul 17 '85

"Gave Maj. John Davenport 10 dollars to pay to Mrs. Welles in full for boarding Harry-- I gave him 6 dollars for Mr. Davenport to pay out in necessarys for Caty."

Jan '87

"Mrs. Abigail Wells x to cash L2.9.0

Feb 6 '87

"Settled with Mrs Welles & took my son home. Her amount for boarding Harry 1 year & 7 weeks was L17"14 & schooling Harry & Caty 47 weeks at 9x per week was L1x in all L19 9 I paid her 14.3.8 Due this day 5.5.4"
Henry Livingston Day Book

A discourse delivered at Fairfield, at the funeral of the Rev. Noah Hobart M.A. late Pastor of the First Church of Christ there; who departed this life December 6th, 1773. In the 68th year of his age and 41st of his ministry.

Patriotism described and recommended, in a sermon preached before the General Assembly of the colony of Connecticut, at Hartford, on the day of the anniversary election, May 10th, 1764.

Animadversions, critical and candid, on some parts of Mr. Beach's late "Friendly expostulation," in a letter, from a gentleman in New-England, to his friend in Pennsylvania.

The Divine right of Presbyterian ordination asserted, and the ministerial authority, claimed and exercised in the established churches of New-England, vindicated and proved: in a discourse delivered at Stanford [i.e., Stamford], Lord's-Day, April 10, 1763.

The real advantages which ministers and people may enjoy especially in the colonies, by conforming to the Church of England; faithfully considered, and impartially represented, in a letter to a young gentleman.

A vindication of the validity and divine right of Presbyterian ordination, as set forth in Dr. Chauncy's sermon at the Dudleian lecture, and Mr. Welle's [sic] discourse upon the same subject, in answer to the exceptions of Mr. Jeremiah Leaming, contained in his late Defence of the Episcopal government of the church.

He remained at College for a year after graduation, as Dean's Scholar, and then took charge of the Hopkins Grammar School in Hartford, in the meantime studying theology. So rapid was his progress that in October, 1742, the Hartford North Association of Ministers recommended him, among other candidates, to the church in East Hartford seeking a colleague-pastor. In the early part of 1745 he was preaching in New Milford, Connecticut, and a majority of the society desired to settle him, but the movement was not sufficiently unanimous. For a year from September, 1745, he held a tutorship in the College. On the 18th of June, 1746, he was recommended by the Fairfield West Association to the Church in Stamford, Connecticut, as a suitable candidate for their vacant pulpit. He was at once employed, and in September received a call from the society. He accepted and was ordained on the last day of the year, the sermon the occasion by the Rev. Noah Hobart *Harv. 1724) being published. He died in office, after just thirty years of faithful ministry, December 31, 1776, at the age of 58, from jail-fever, contracted while serving as chaplain to British prisoners in the American Army.

Outside of the discharge of his parochial duties, he first became generally known by his appearances in print in the controversy with the Episcopalians, in which his early friend and classmate, William Livingston, was so conspicuous. On the resignation of President Clap in 1766, Mr. Welles was a prominent candidate for the succession. In the Stamp-Act troubles, and again on the outbreak of the Revolution, he advocated from his pulpit with no uncertain voice the duty of resistance to oppression. He was chosen a Fellow of the College in September, 1774, and in the same year received the deegree of Doctor of Divinity from the College of New Jersey.

President Dwight, his nephew by marriage, pays him this tribute:

Dr. Welles was early distinguished for his talents. His imagination was vivid and poetical; his intellect vigorous, and his learning extensive. His manners, at the same time, were an unusual happy compound of politeness and dignity. ... He was an excellent minister of the Gospel, exemplary in all the virtues of the Christian life, an able preacher, a wise ruler of the church, and an eminently discreet manager of its important concerns.

He married September 17, 1751, Abigail, daughter of the Rev. Benjamin Woolsey (Y.C. 1709), of Oyster Bay, Long Island. She died October 28, 1812, at the age of 81. Their children were six daughters and seven sons; the eldest son was agraduate of this College in 1775, and the second daughter married the Hon. John Davenport (Y.C. 1770).

He published:-

1. The Real Advantages which Ministers and People may enjoy especially in the Colonies, by Conforming to the Church of England. [Boston,] 1762. 8 x, pp.47. [A.A.S. A.C.A. B.Ath. Harv. M.H.S. U.T.S. Y.C.]

This clever anonymous attack on the Episcopal party produced a great commotion. It has also been attributed to the Rev. Noah Hobart (Harv. 1724), of Fairfield.

2. The Divine Right of Prebyterian Ordination asserted, and The Ministerial Authority, claimed and exercised in the established Churches of New-England, vindicated and proved: in a Discourse [from 2 Cor. x, 8] delivered at Stanford, April 10, 1763. N.Y., 1763. *x, pp.78 [C.H.S. U.T.S. Y.C.]

3. Patriotism Described and recommended, in a Sermon [from Luke vii, 5] Preached before the General Assembly of the Colony of Connecticut, on the Day of the Anniversary Election, May 10, 1764. New-London, 1764. 8x, pp.30. [A.A.S. B.Ath. C.H.S. M.H.S. Y.C.]

An earnest plea for liberty and love of country.

4. A Vindication of the validity and divine right of Presbyterian Ordination, as set forth in Dr. Chauncy's Sermon, and Mr. Welles Discourse, in Answer to the Exceptions of Mr. Jeremiah Leaming. ... New-Haven, 1767. 8x, pp.159. [A.C.A. B.Ath. C.H.S. Harv. M.H.S. U.T.S. Y.C.]

This was soon after reprinted in Litchfield.

5. A Discourse [from Hebr. xiii, 7] Delivered at Fairfield, at the Funeral of the Rev. Noah Hobart. N.-Y., 1774. 8x, pp.27. [B.Publ. C.H.S. M.H.S.]

Noah Welles (1718-1776). Yale 1741, tutor 1745-46, died thirty years to the day after beginning his ministry at Stamford. Welles was also known for his association with William Livingston in the defense of Presbyterianism against Anglican attacks.

Rev. Timothy Dwight, Travels through New York and New England, 1821

JOHN DAVENPORT, of Stamford, Conn., son of Abraham Davenport, of that place, and grandson of Jabez Huntington, of Windham, Conn., was married to Mary Sylvester Welles, daughter of the Rev. Noah Welles, Pastor of the Church in Stamford, May 7, 1780, by Abraham Davenport, Esq., assistant.(*) Hon. John Davenport died November 28, 1830, in the 79th year of his age. He sustained many civil offices, was member of Congress, &c. His widow, Mrs. Mary Sylvester Davenport, died June 25, 1847, in the 94th year of her age. They had seven children.

John Davenport, the first child of Hon. Abraham and Elizabeth (Huntington) Davenport, was born in Stamford, Jan. 16, 1752. He graduated at Yale in 1770. His scholarship is indicated in his appointment to a tutorship in 1773. Entering on the legal profession, he was soon called to take an important place among the revolutionary patriots of that day. With a major's commission he was employed in commisary department, and his duties here were often onerous and difficult. When the patriot cause was suffering for the want of a suitable public interest in the welfare of the new nation just ordained by the declaration of independence, he was appointed by the Assembly of the state as one of a commission to visit the principal towns and arouse the people to a just sense of their dangers and move them to corresponding exertions.

During the session of the legislature of 1822-23, he made an effort to abolish all fictions in the action of ejectment, but could not overcome the attachment of the attorneys to useless forms and antiquated usages. This was one of the first steps, however, toward simplifying legal proceedings and preparing the way for our present practice. It illustrates the character of his mind, and its preference for clear simple statement and sound reality.

Among the important matters, with which he was called upon to deal, was the claim of the older states of the Union to public lands for school purposes. This claim, set forth in various reports submitted by the legislatures of Maryland, New Hampshire and Vermont, was referred to a committee of which Mr. Kelley was chairman. On Dec. 26, 1819, he submitted a committee report, of which he was the author, dealing with the pretensions of the older states in an elaborate and convincing argument. The report and resolutions accompanying the same were adopted by both branches of the legislature. After that time, this claim does not appear to have been urged. He continued at intervals a member of the legislature, first as representative and then as senator, from Cuyahoga and adjoining counties, until 1823, when he was appointed, with others, State Canal Commissioner.

August 25, 1817, he had married Mary Seymour Welles, oldest daughter of Major Melancthon Woolsey Welles(*) and Abigail (Buel) Welles,(+) of Lowville, New York. In a letter from (*)MAJOR MELANCTHON W. WELLES was the son of Rev. Noah Welles of Stamford, Conn., who was born Jan. 25, 1718 and was graduated from Yale College 1741. Noah Welles was a theologian of great distinction.
Kelley Family History

-In the name of God, Amen. I, MELANCTHON TAYLOR WOOLSEY, of Dosoris, in the town of Oyster Bay, in Queens County, taking into consideration the uncertainty of life and being in health. I leave all my lands in Dosoris and the house wherein I dwell, with all buildings and all movables and personal estate, to my wife, Rebecca Woolsey, and my brother, Benjamin Woolsey, and my brothers in law, John Lloyd, of Stamford, Connecticutt, and Joseph Lloyd, of Queens village, in Queens County, To them and their successors, In Trust as follows: They are to sell all the real estate, houses, and lands, and buildings, for the most they can; and the money and all my movables are to be divided among my wife and my two daughters, Theodosia and Rebecca, But if my wife shall have a son, it is to have one half. I appoint the said Trustees my executors.