First pastor of the Congregational Church of New Canaan, 1733-1741.
son: Jeremiah Beard Eells (1732 - 1815)
John Eells, son of Samuel Eells, Jr., a prominent citizen of Milford, Connecticut, and a member of the Governor's Council, was baptized there, April 11, 1703.
He studied theology at Yale University, and in May, 1732, began to preach in the parish which had been constituted a year before, by the name of Canaan, which is now the town of New Canaan. On March 7, 1733, he was unanimously called as the church's first pastor, and on the 20th of the following June a church was gathered and he was ordained.
Difficulties arose between him and Deacon John Bouton as early as 1736. In December, 1740, the society by a vote declared their "uneasiness" with Mr. Eells with respect to his doctrine and authority. Several attempts were made by the Fairfield West Consociation to heal the difficulty, and he finally tendered a voluntary resignation, during the session of a council held to deliberate on the matter, June 4, 1741. The Records of the Fairfield East Association show that for two or three years to come, he was considered as a candidate for another congregation, but he chose to remain in New Canaan, and spent the rest of his life in cultivating his large farm. He died in New Canaan, October 15, 1785, in his 83d year.
He married, January 11, 1727-8, Anna, daughter of Jeremiah and Mercy (Pettit) Beard, of Milford, Connecticut, who died May 8, 1736, in her 35th year, leaving one son and two daughters. He married, in 1737, Abigail, daughter of Moses and Abigail (Brinsmade) Comstock, of Norwalk, who died in January, 1785.
son: Jeremiah Beard Eells (1732 - 1815)
John Eells, son of Samuel Eells, Jr., a prominent citizen of Milford, Connecticut, and a member of the Governor's Council, was baptized there, April 11, 1703.
He studied theology at Yale University, and in May, 1732, began to preach in the parish which had been constituted a year before, by the name of Canaan, which is now the town of New Canaan. On March 7, 1733, he was unanimously called as the church's first pastor, and on the 20th of the following June a church was gathered and he was ordained.
Difficulties arose between him and Deacon John Bouton as early as 1736. In December, 1740, the society by a vote declared their "uneasiness" with Mr. Eells with respect to his doctrine and authority. Several attempts were made by the Fairfield West Consociation to heal the difficulty, and he finally tendered a voluntary resignation, during the session of a council held to deliberate on the matter, June 4, 1741. The Records of the Fairfield East Association show that for two or three years to come, he was considered as a candidate for another congregation, but he chose to remain in New Canaan, and spent the rest of his life in cultivating his large farm. He died in New Canaan, October 15, 1785, in his 83d year.
He married, January 11, 1727-8, Anna, daughter of Jeremiah and Mercy (Pettit) Beard, of Milford, Connecticut, who died May 8, 1736, in her 35th year, leaving one son and two daughters. He married, in 1737, Abigail, daughter of Moses and Abigail (Brinsmade) Comstock, of Norwalk, who died in January, 1785.
First pastor of the Congregational Church of New Canaan, 1733-1741.
son: Jeremiah Beard Eells (1732 - 1815)
John Eells, son of Samuel Eells, Jr., a prominent citizen of Milford, Connecticut, and a member of the Governor's Council, was baptized there, April 11, 1703.
He studied theology at Yale University, and in May, 1732, began to preach in the parish which had been constituted a year before, by the name of Canaan, which is now the town of New Canaan. On March 7, 1733, he was unanimously called as the church's first pastor, and on the 20th of the following June a church was gathered and he was ordained.
Difficulties arose between him and Deacon John Bouton as early as 1736. In December, 1740, the society by a vote declared their "uneasiness" with Mr. Eells with respect to his doctrine and authority. Several attempts were made by the Fairfield West Consociation to heal the difficulty, and he finally tendered a voluntary resignation, during the session of a council held to deliberate on the matter, June 4, 1741. The Records of the Fairfield East Association show that for two or three years to come, he was considered as a candidate for another congregation, but he chose to remain in New Canaan, and spent the rest of his life in cultivating his large farm. He died in New Canaan, October 15, 1785, in his 83d year.
He married, January 11, 1727-8, Anna, daughter of Jeremiah and Mercy (Pettit) Beard, of Milford, Connecticut, who died May 8, 1736, in her 35th year, leaving one son and two daughters. He married, in 1737, Abigail, daughter of Moses and Abigail (Brinsmade) Comstock, of Norwalk, who died in January, 1785.
son: Jeremiah Beard Eells (1732 - 1815)
John Eells, son of Samuel Eells, Jr., a prominent citizen of Milford, Connecticut, and a member of the Governor's Council, was baptized there, April 11, 1703.
He studied theology at Yale University, and in May, 1732, began to preach in the parish which had been constituted a year before, by the name of Canaan, which is now the town of New Canaan. On March 7, 1733, he was unanimously called as the church's first pastor, and on the 20th of the following June a church was gathered and he was ordained.
Difficulties arose between him and Deacon John Bouton as early as 1736. In December, 1740, the society by a vote declared their "uneasiness" with Mr. Eells with respect to his doctrine and authority. Several attempts were made by the Fairfield West Consociation to heal the difficulty, and he finally tendered a voluntary resignation, during the session of a council held to deliberate on the matter, June 4, 1741. The Records of the Fairfield East Association show that for two or three years to come, he was considered as a candidate for another congregation, but he chose to remain in New Canaan, and spent the rest of his life in cultivating his large farm. He died in New Canaan, October 15, 1785, in his 83d year.
He married, January 11, 1727-8, Anna, daughter of Jeremiah and Mercy (Pettit) Beard, of Milford, Connecticut, who died May 8, 1736, in her 35th year, leaving one son and two daughters. He married, in 1737, Abigail, daughter of Moses and Abigail (Brinsmade) Comstock, of Norwalk, who died in January, 1785.
Gravesite Details
originally buried in God's Acre (Congregational) cemetery which was later moved to Parade Hill
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