Belden, William (1),
a Congregational minister, was born at Wilton, Conn., July 16, 1781. He first studied law, and was for a short time engaged in practice in Norwalk. He soon left this, and prepared himself for the ministry of the Gospel. In October, 1812, he was settled as pastor of the Congregational Church in Greenfield, where he remained until 1821, being at the same time engaged in teaching in the academy of that place. He went to Fairfield, and was there occupied a few years in teaching. In 1824 he went to New York city and opened a classical school, which he taught for several years. He was principal of one of the public schools, and subsequently an instructor in the Normal School in that city. These offices he continued to hold until 1853, when he resigned on account of advancing age. After 1858 he resided in Brooklyn. He died March 20, 1861. See Obituary Record of Yale College, 1861,