Grave Marking Ceremony Saturday—

Historic Reverend Called Colonists To Fight

By Kendra Bobowick

Revolutionary War-era Reverend Ebenezer Baldwin ended 1775 with a heavy warning to early New England inhabitants: their freedom and their lives were in jeopardy.

“The calamity of war affects our whole land,” he said. “The colonies are engaged in a most unhappy war with the parent state.” The unhappy war was the increasing struggle for freedom and independence from mother England. That November he further warned colonists that their former homeland and its imposing military force was fast becoming the adversary. “It is a great, rich, and powerful nation we have to contend with … the terror of whose arms made … Europe tremble … With such a nation, with such troops, we have to carry on this dangerous war.”

Problems were closer than England, however. “We have not only enemies from the other side of the Atlantic, but enemies from among ourselves to combat with,” he said.

On November 16, 232 years ago, Danbury’s First Church of Christ Pastor Reverend Ebenezer Baldwin spoke these words during a sermon that is directly linked to the region’s history, and has become entwined with the historic timeline of events preceding the Revolutionary War. In the months during and after his sermon colonists divided on either side of a bloody line — those battling to establish their freedom from England and those fighting to retain their homeland loyalty.

The war-era reverend took a clear side with the colonists seeking separation from England, and from his growing sentiments came a sermon that is still repeated today, and is preserved in the New-York Historical Society archives. Locally, historians recognize the swell of urgency with which he had spoken, and the beginnings of a fight for freedom that his words had reflected.

Newtown resident and Sons of the American Revolution (SAR) Rev Ebenezer Baldwin Chapter member Richard Hubert considered the sermon that he will be reenacting during an upcoming ceremony. A grave marker will be placed at the reverend’s headstone on Saturday, September 15, at his burial site at the Wooster Cemetery in Danbury.

“[The sermon] inspired a lot of colonists to oppose the British,” Mr Hubert said. “In those days, politics was from the pulpits.”

He describes Rev Baldwin as a man who generated momentum. “He was a firebrand preacher and included religion and politics in his sermons.” Mr Hubert’s wife, Patricia Hubert, a Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) Mary Wooster Chapter of Danbury member, agreed that his sermon had much to do with rallying soldiers in Connecticut. “The sermon inspired this portion of the state to get behind the freedom movement.” She described a time period when a reverend’s words carried public force.

“The interesting thing about that period — the clergy had an important role in how the congregation viewed the relationship with England,” she explained. The reverend noted England’s looming shadow over their fledgling colonies. Mrs Hubert said: “He made clear to residents here that for their freedom from England they needed to take an active role in their freedom.” 

The ceremony on Saturday will recognize Rev Baldwin’s contributions toward inspiring residents to fight for their liberty, she said.

“He was not only a minister, but an orator,” she said. “He inspired a lot of young men to action. He believed in our liberties and freedom from slavery.”

Mrs Hubert continued, “He felt that England’s role at that time was to enslave the colonies.” With a studied eye for the past, Mrs Hubert also notes that the sermon warns: “If you don’t stand up for yourselves and take action in pursuit of freedom and liberty the alternative is to become enslaved to the king. He got people out of their houses to realize this was an extremely important movement.” The reverend delivered a literal wake-up call in what Ms Hubert recognizes as “the tipping point of whether the colonies have control of their own destinies or become subservient.”

 

What Is So Appealing About The Past?

The Huberts are both looking forward to the weekend’s brief, but precise look at a moment of Rev Baldwin’s life.

Along with the reverend’s history, Mr Hubert will dress in his colonial attire and read excerpts from the noted sermon.

“I’ll step into his shoes as best I can Saturday,” he said. Of the long sermon, pieces have been selected for the upcoming afternoon. SAR chapter president David Perkins sent invitations asking “compatriots to attend.” He asked that they dress in colonial attire or in a jacket and tie for the event.

Saturday’s events offer lessons and a glimpse into the past. “People today can receive a better understanding of roots and how they developed into the communities and people of today,” Ms Hubert said. “I like to understand history and I like to delve into personalities in communities.”

Organized by the local Mary Wooster Chapter of the DAR to honor the SAR chapter’s namesake, the grave marking ceremony on Saturday afternoon is open to fellow compatriots and the public alike. The event is scheduled to run from 2:15 to 3 pm. Wooster Cemetery is at 20 Ellsworth Avenue in Danbury, off Hospital Avenue.

Visit ConnecticutSAR.org/ branches/baldwin.htm for more details.