Noyes, Matthew, 1764-1839

Matthew Noyes: studied theology with Reverend Josiah Whitney; licensed to preach in 1788; pastor of North Branford Northford Society.

Matthew Noyes (1765-1839) was born in Lyme, Conn. He was a graduate of Yale and became pastor in Northford, Conn., where he served from 1790 to 1833.

Congregational clergyman, of Northford (Town of North Branford), Conn.; pastor of First Church of Christ.

Matthew Noyes: studied theology with Reverend Josiah Whitney; licensed to preach in 1788; pastor of North Branford Northford Society.

Matthew Noyes, a son of Judge William Noyes, of Lyme, Connecticut, was born in that town about 1764. Two brothers were graduated here, in 1775 and 1781 respectively.

After graduation he studied theology with the Rev. Dr. Josiah Whitney (Yale 1752), of Brooklyn, Connecticut, and was licensed to preach by the Middlesex Association of Ministers on September 3, 1788.

In March, 1790, he began preaching in Northford Society in North Branford, Connecticut, and in May he was called to the pastorate, on a salary of 90 pounds. He accepted, and on August 18 he was ordained Pastor. The sermon on the occasion, by the Rev. Dr. Elizur Goodrich (Yale 1752), was afterwards published.

His labors as pastor were suspended in 1833, though his formal dismission was delayed until the installation of his successor on December 1, 1835. In this period of over forty-five years, there were two hundred and one additions to the members of the church.

He died in Northford on September 23, 1839, in his 76th year.

He was chosen a Fellow at Yale College in May, 1823, and continued in office until his death.

He was reputed to be among the richest ministers in Connecticut in his generation.

He married, on November 7, 1790, Mary, youngest daughter of the Rev. Stephen Johnson (Yale 1743), of Lyme, Connecticut, who died in Northford on September 1, 1851, aged 83 years. Their only child, a daughter, died in early womanhood.

(Taken from Yale Biographies and Annals, 1778-1792, Class of 1785, 433-34).