Nathaniel Bartlett

Nathaniel Bartlett (April 22, 1727 – January 11, 1810), pastor of the Congregational Church of Redding, Connecticut, during the period 1753–1810, was one of the numerous Colonial American clergymen who played an active role during the American Revolution. He was among many such American patriots living in British Colonial America on the eve of the Revolutionary War, who found themselves in circumstances which compelled them to make a personal contribution to the unfolding drama of one of history's most momentous events. Early life, education, and career path Bartlett was born in North Guilford, New Haven County, Connecticut, the son of Daniel Jr. (1688–1769) and Ann (Collins) (1692–1745) Bartlett. He attended Yale and studied theology, graduating with an M.A. Degree in the Class of 1749. He became a Congregational minister, and soon after he was licensed to preach, the Hartford South Association recommended him to the Kensington Society – the Congregational Church in Farmington, Connecticut – as a pastoral candidate. The church at Farmington declined to offer him the pastorate, but from January to April of 1753, he preached on a trial basis at the Congregational Church of Redding, Fairfield County, Connecticut, to allow the congregation to evaluate his suitability for a position there. Between 1750 and 1753, the Redding church had taken four preachers under consideration as pastoral candidates. The first three were rejected, and they finally settled on Bartlett, being favorably disposed to his installation as their minister. In April of 1753, the Redding church called him to fill the opening for the full time pastoral position they had available. He was subsequently ordained by the Fairfield East Consociation on May 23, 1753. Per the Redding Church Records of that date, the pastors who assisted in his ordination were as follows: "The Rev. Mr. (Eben) White of Danbury gave the opening prayer – the Rev. Mr. (Jonathan) Todd of East Guilford preached the sermon – the Rev. Mr. (Elisha) Kent (unchurched at that time) gave the ordaining prayer – the Rev. Mr. (Jedediah) Mills of Ripston gave the charge – the Rev. Mr. (David) Judson of Newtown gave the right hand of fellowship – the Rev. Mr. (Jonathan) Ingersoll of Ridgefield gave the closing prayer". Bartlett served at Redding for the next 57 years – i.e. until near his death in 1810 – thought to be the longest continuous pastorate in the history of the early New England churches up to that time.