USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Braintree > Church manual : with brief historical notices of the First Congregational Church in Braintree and its pastors, from the date of its organization, till the close of 1859 > Part 1
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org.
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4
Gc 974.402 B732brf 1797906
M.
REYNOLDS HISTORICAL GENEALOGY COLLECTION
ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 01105 7608
A
CHURCH MANUAL;
WITH
BRIEF HISTORICAL NOTICES
OF THE
ist
FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH
IN BRAINTREE, Y _.
AND ITS PASTORS,
FROM THE DATE OF ITS ORGANIZATION, TILL THE CLOSE OF 1859.
PUBLISHED BY ORDER OF THE CHURCH.
BOSTON:
HAYDEN & RANDALL, 23 CORNHILL. 1860.
1
111
ESLITEL C.
1797906
BRIEF HISTORICAL NOTICES
OF THE
First Congregational Church in Braintree.
THE original " Church of Braintree," known as the "First Congregational Church of Quincy," was gathered September 17, 1639. Braintree then included the whole territory now divided between the present incorporated towns of Quincy, Braintree, and Randolph.
What is now known as the " First Congregational Church of Braintree," was organized September 10, 1707. Of the causes operating to its separation from the mother church, we have little or no information except what is derived from " two discourses" of Rev. Mr. Lunt, late pastor of the Quincy Church, delivered September 29, 1839, on the two hundredth anniversary of its gathering. From the " appen- dices " and notes illustrating these discourses, we learn that as early as January, 1704-5, " two church meetings were held that occasioned much debate, and some misapprehension about church discipline ; "- that " nine of the church with- drew from the Lord's table, and in many things acted disor- derly ; " and that difficulties and dissensions were so great, as to render necessary the calling of a council of Elders and Messengers. This council met, May 7, 1707.
Previous to this date however - as early as May 2, 1706, " a new house was raised in Braintree for a meeting-house ; " of course a secession from the "original " church had been determined on; this was more than two years before the seceders became recognized by civil authority, as forming a distinct precinct. The reasons assigned for this movement, were briefly -that the old meeting-house was not large enough to accommodate " above two-thirds of the inhabi- tants ; "- that "its position was near one end of the town,
1
4
CHURCHI MANUAL.
and of inconvenient access to half the population ; "- that " for near a dozen ycars, they had petitioned in vain for a larger and more central house; " and that in their judgment, no alternative remained but to establish separate worship, and maintain it as God should enable them to do. Whether for good or ill, it is clear that the mantle of the father's logic has not been cast away by the children.
The alienation between the mother and daughter churches, seems to have continued some two years ; when, agreeably to " the advice of ministers for reconciliation," "the acknowl- edgment of haste and irregularity " on the part of the daughter church, was made to the mother church, Feb. 19, 1709-10; a month later, Rev. Mr. Adams preached in the old meeting- house, in token of mutual forgiveness and forgetfulness of past offences.
Rev. Hugh Adams, who had graduated at Harvard Univer- sity in 1676. was ordained first pastor of the newly organized church, on the 10th of September, the same day on which the organization took place.º
The sermon, on occasion of the church's organization, was preached by Rev. Cotton Mather, of Boston, from Eph. 2: 22, " In whom ye also are builded together,"-from which the doctrine was deduced, that " Every particular church of the Lord Jesus Christ, is to be together built in the glorious Lord as a temple of God." In applying the subject to the members of the newly constituted church, he says :
" Brethren ! 'tis a very great glory which is this day put upon you by this Glorious One ! But as you must beware of being haughty, because you now stand in the Lord's holy mountain, so your standing there should make you very cau- tious, very watchful, that your whole behavior may adorn the doctrine of God your Savior. You have the eyes of the most Holy Lord upon you -eyes that strike and pierce like light- ning - pure eyes that cannot look upon iniquity ! The people of God, and all your neighbors have their eyes upon you !
0 From the Parish records of Braintree, it appears that Mr. A. failed to realize his wishes in the matter of pecuniary support from the people, and complained to the "General Court" of ill usage in that respect, withou; obtaining redress. While at Durham, he made similar complaint to the "Provincial Assembly " of N. H., of the delinquency and trespasses of his parishioners - praying not only for justice to himself, but that a neglect to pay a minister inight be made penal aud presentable by the "grand jury." These, and other facts not necessary to be repeated, led Dr. Belknap (Hist. Colls. II. 305) to pronounce him "one of the most eccentric clergymen ever settled in N. H."
5
CHURCH MANUAL.
O how much ought this to be your prayer -' Teach me thy way, O Lord, and lead me in a plain path !' It is equally to be desired - greatly to be advised - that you endeavor great- ly to approve yourselves the children of God, without rebuke, in the midst of those who may be ready eno' to condemn you - that you may keep close to the faith and order of the gos- pel, and the right way of the Lord - that you may be much in supplications to the Lord, and often set apart whole days for extraordinary supplication, that the work of God may be happily carried on among you ; - in a word, that you may all be true citizens of Zion ! This is greatly to be desired !"
The discourse closes thus :
" May this church be such a temple; then, as there were cherubims on the walls of the temple, the very angels of God will take pleasure to behold you, to befriend you ; yea, then the Glorious Lord himself will afford a most gracious presence of His to you ! And, Lord ! if thou will be here, we shall not die, nor shall the souls of our children die ! The name of this church will be, Jehovah Shammah-the Lord is there !"
The covenant upon which the church was originally gath- ered, is found appended to Rev. Mr. Mather's sermon, preached at its organization - and is there noticed, "as a perpetual monitor of the flock, to be steadfast in the covenant, in per- petuam rei memoriam."
" We, whose names are hereunto subscribed, apprehending ourselves called of God, to join together in church commu- nion, (acknowledging our unworthiness of such a privilege, and our inability to keep covenant with God, or to perform any spiritual duty, unless Christ shall enable us thereto,) in humble dependence on free grace for divine assistance and acceptance ; we do, in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, fully covenant and bind ourselves, solemnly, in the presence of God himself - His holy angels, and all His servants here present, to serve the God whose name alone is Jehovah, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, the only true and living God, cleaving to Him as our chief good ; and unto our Lord Jesus Christ, as our only Savior, prophet, priest, and king of our souls, in a way of gospel obedience; avouching the Lord to be our God, and the God of our children, whom we give unto Him ; counting it as a high favor, that the Lord will accept
6
CHURCH MANUAL.
of us and our children with us, to be His people. We do also give ourselves one unto another in the Lord, covenanting to walk together as a church of Christ, in all the ways of his worship, according to the holy rules of his word, promising in brotherly love, faithfully to watch over one another's souls, and to submit ourselves to the discipline and power of Christ in his church ; and duly to attend the seals and censures, or whatever ordinances Christ has commanded to be observed by his people, so far as the Lord, by his word and Spirit, has or shall reveal unto us to be our duty ; besceching the Lord to own us for his people, and to delight to dwell in the midst of us.
" And, that we may keep our covenants with God, we desire to deny ourselves, and to depend wholly on the free mercy of God, and upon the merits of Jesus Christ ; and wherein we shall fail, to wait on him for pardon, thro' his name; beseech- ing the Lord to own us as a church of Christ, and to delight to abide in the midst of us."
The following " covenant " appears on the records, without date or name; whether adopted in the days of Mr. Niles, or Mr. Weld, we have not the means of ascertaining. Its greater particularity chiefly distinguishes it from the fore- going :
CHURCH COVENANT.
We do at this time, and in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, and in dependence on the influence of his Holy Spirit, enter into covenant with God and one another according to the following words :-
I. That having chosen the Lord Jehovah to be our God, we will fear and cleave unto him in love, and serve him in truth with all our hearts, giving up ourselves to him to be his people, to be at his direction and disposal in all things, that we may enjoy and hold communion with him, as members of Christ's mystical body, according to his revealed will, to the end of our lives.
II. We promise to keep close to the truth of Christ, endeavoring with lively affection toward it, to defend it against all opposers ; and that we may do this, we resolve to use the Holy Scriptures, as our rule and plat- form to walk by ; by which we may discern the mind of Christ, and not be led away and entangled with the unscriptural inventions of men.
III. We oblige ourselves to the faithful improvement of our abilities and opportunities, to worship God, according to all the institutions of Jesus Christ, taking the great Emmanuel to be our Savior, in all his offices ; endeavoring with the help of God to give reverend attention to the word of God, to pray to, and to praise him, to hold communion with each other, in the observation of all the holy institutions of Christ, which he hath established for his Church under the gospel, especially in both the seals of the covenant of grace, viz: Baptism, and the Lord's Supper.
7
CHURCH MANUAL.
IV. We engage, with the Lord's help, to have a careful inspection over our hearts, so as to endeavor, by the virtue of the death of Christ, the mortification of all our sinful passions, worldly frames, and irregular affections ; to abstain from all open and scandalous sins, by which the enemies of our holy religion may be encouraged to blaspheme the blessed Jesus, and from all secret and private sins, by which we shall depart from the living God.
V. We promise, with the help of God, to maintain the worship of God in our families, evening and morning ; to read the scriptures to them, and to pray with them ; to bring up our children in the nurture and admoni- tion of the Lord ; to instruct them, and all under our care, in the knowl- edge and fear of God, according to our best abilities, particularly by the use of the Orthodox Catechism of the Assembly of Divines, the truths of which we profess ; that so, true religion may be maintained and known by our families, while we live ; and that our posterity may know and fear the Lord and obey the living and true God aright, and adhere to his truths when we are dead.
VI. We promise that we will peaceably submit to the holy discipline, appointed by Christ in his Church for offenders, obeying them who have the rule over as in the Lord ; and will endeavor to maintain a holy ortho- dox ministry among us in this place.
VII. We bind ourselves to walk in love, one toward another, endeavor- ing our mutual edification ; visiting, exhorting, and comforting, as occa- sion may be, our brother or sister that offendeth ; not divulging private offences irregularly, but carefully following the several precepts laid down by Christ in the gospel for church discipline, willingly forgiving all who manifest to a judgment of charity that they truly repent.
VIII. We will endeavor with the help of God, to govern and regulate ourselves, in the management of church discipline, according to the advice and direction given us in the word of God, and we trust according to the method of the Congregational Churches in this land, of which particular denomination we publicly profess ourselves, standing in a near and sisterly relation to all such Churches of Christ, and desirous to maintain all special acts of communion with them, which the communion of saints allows and requires, according to the Platform of Church Discipline agreed upon by the elders and messengers of the Churches in the year 1648, at Cambridge, in New England.
IX. And now we beseech God, who is witness to this our covenant transaction between him and us, and one another, to enable us to keep this covenant inviolably to his glory and to our own edification and sal- vation. And that wherein we shall fail of obedience, he may give us repentance, pardon and healing, for the sake of our Lord Jesus Christ. AMEN.
Through disagreement with his people on the subject of salary, Mr. Adams relinquished his charge, August 22, 1710, having held it less than three years. He was next settled at Chatham, but took his dismission April 25, 1716 ; afterwards he was installed in Durham, N. H., March, 1718, and there labored in the ministry till January, 1739, when he was dis- missed, though he lived till 1750, and died at the age of 74.
8
CHURCH MANUAL.
After the dismission of Mr. Adams, several candidates were employed on probation, through nine succeeding months ; from among these, Mr. Samuel Niles was chosen to the vacant office, by a vote of great, though not entire, unanimity. His ordination occurred May 23, 1711, when the sermon on the occasion was delivered by the pastor elect, agreeably to the usage of those days, from Romans 15:30-" Strive together with me in your prayers to God for me." In behalf of the Council he was introduced to the communion of the church by Rev. Joseph Belcher, of Dedham ; the charge was given by Rev. Peter Thatcher, of Milton ; the right hand of fellowship, by Rev. John Danforth, of Dorchester ; and the imposition of hands in the consecration service, by Rev. Messrs. Thatcher, of Milton, Danforth, Belcher, and Thatcher, of Weymouth. The council, though small compared with similar bodies in later times, was sufficiently " venerable," as viewed from the stand-point of 1860, and probably embraced all the then existing " neighbor churches " and pastors of unquestioned orthodoxy.
In this connection it is pertinent to say - that Rev. Mr. Niles was born at Block-Island, May 1, 1674, and graduated at Harvard University, in 1699. After leaving college, and preparing himself for the sacred vocation he had chosen, he commenced preaching in a district of Rhode Island, then called " ministerial lands,"-now known as South Kingston ; it does not appear that he had there a pastoral charge, but labored as a missionary, or " stated supply," for several years. His life and labors closed in Braintree, May 1, 1762, being then eighty-eight years of age, to a day, and having continued his public services down to the last sabbath preceding his death.º
" It may not be out of place to record here a few additional facts concerning this able and devoted serv int of God for which we are chiefly indebted to the kindness of Rev. J. B. Felt. He himself records the place of his nativity. as above, in his "Manuscript History of the Indian and French Wars; " " he was a descendant, most probably a grandson of John Niles, who was of Braintree from 1639 to his decease in February, 1696, aged 94, and had sons. John, Joseph, Nathaniel, Samuel, Increase, Benjamin and Isaac." From which of these sons he descended is not clear. His first wife was daughter of Rev. Peter Thatcher. of Milton, and died in 1716. His second wife was Aun Coddington. who died 1732. Rev. Mr. Niles pub- lished "Trista Ecclesiarum." or, " A sorrowful account, of the churches in New England, 1743; " " Vindication of divers Important Doctrines," 1752; "The True Scripture Doctrine of Original Sin, in answer to Dr. John Taylor, 1757." He was grandfather of Rev. Samuel Niles, of Abington, who died Jan. 16. 1814, aged 70, and of Judge Nathaniel Niles of Fairlee, Vt., who died Oct. 31, 1828, aged 88. The first President Adams, who personally knew him, observed of him, " I then revered and still revere the honest, virtuous and pious man." Rev, John Barnard, of Mar-
9
CHURCH MANUAL.
The following is a list of members in full communion with the Church at the time of Mr. Niles' settlement :
MALES.
Caleb Hubbard, Dea.,
Samuel Paine,
Thomas Wales,
Joseph Allen, Dea.,
Theophilus Curtis,
John Thayer,
Samuel Bass,
Josiah Faxon,
Ebenezer Spear,
Nehemiah Hayden,
William Thayer,
John Niles,
Edmund Littlefield,
John Niles, 2d.,
Benjamin Niles,
Francis Nash,
William Nightingale,
John Hollis,
Samuel Nash,
John Hayden,
Thomas White,
Samuel French,
Ebenezer Thayer.
FEMALES.
Mrs. - Hubbard,
Hannah Hayden,
Mrs. - Wales,
Lydia Allen,
Hannah Curtis,
Sarah Towers,
Bethiah Bass,
Mehitable Faxon,
Elizabeth Littlefield,
Rebecca Nightingale,
Mary Niles,
Mary Bagley,
Mrs. - Spear,
Mary Jones, Mary Nash,
Susannah Nash,
Widow Durin,
Mrs - Vining,
Sarah Wild,
Mrs. Hollis, Widow - Thayer,
Mrs. - White,
Abigail Allen, Abigail Bass.
At what period the half-way covenant was adopted by the Church, does not appear from the records. It was in use, however, during the whole of Mr. Niles' ministry, and was not given up till several years after his death. It seems not to have been in a high degree popular, since the average number of admissions was but about six a year.
The following is the record, made by Mr. Niles, of ad- missions to full communion during his ministry :
1712.
1714.
1715.
Hannah Spear.
Jonathan Hayward,
Elkanah Wales,
1713.
Richard Thayer, Hannah Faxon, Thomas Vinton.
Mrs. Sarah Ludden,
John Holbrook,
John Wild. Jr.,
Wid. Margaret Thayer, Mary Thayer. Mary Wales, Lydia Paine,
1715.
Mrs. Sarah Hunt, 1716.
Mehitable Paine,
Benjamin Allen, Mrs. Jemima Clark,
Rebecca Thayer,
Samuel Wild, George Chessman.
Hannah Thayer,
Mrs. Jemima Clark, 2d.,
Samuel White, Dea.
blehead, places him among the excellent ministers of New England; of whom he says, " these were all men of learning; pious, humble, prudent, faithful and useful men in their day." It may be added, that tradition reports him to have looked. with distrust, on the " new measures" adopted by not a few men of eminent piety and zeal, during the period of " the great awakening," in the former part of the last century, and to have declined the opening of his pulpit to Whitefield and other shining lights of that day, lest the progress of truth and godliness among his people should be rather hindered than promoted. Probably this is true, as it well com- ports with the conservative character of a thoroughly read theologian and an acute metaphysician, who had already passed the grand climateric of life. It should not be forgotten, however, that his error in judgment was followed by a fearful suspen- sion of the special influences of the Holy Spirit as they appear in the glory of " the revival," for some sixty years,
William Hunt,
Elizabeth Wales,
Thomas Nash, Samuel Allen, Ephraim Thayer, Peter Hubbard, Samuel Niles,
Samuel Thompson.
Rachel Spear,
Elizabeth French,
Sarah Thayer,
10
CHURCH MANUAL.
1717.
None. 1718. John Wild, Sen., Mary French. 1719. Mrs. Mary Thayer, Dependance French, Mrs. Mary Thayer, 2d, Mrs. Deborah Faxon, Thomas Hunt, Susannah Thayer, Jonathan Bass,
Susannah Bass. 1720. Thomas Wales, Mrs. Mary Wales,
Mrs. Bethiah Wild,
Mrs. Jane Chessman,
Mrs. Sarah Newcomb, Mrs. Abigail Penniman, Phillip Thayer, Mrs. Ruth Wild. 1721. Mrs. Anna French, Thomas Holbrook,
Mrs. Rachel Thayer, Jonathan Wild,
Mrs. Sara Wild. Mrs. Lydia Thayer, Mrs. Sarah Hayden. 1722. Josiah Hobart, Sen. 1723. Elizabeth Linsfield. 1724. Joseph White, John Webb, Mary Webb, Joshua Hayward, Mrs. Elizabeth Hayward, Jonathan Clark, Nathaniel Blanchard, Jr ..
Walter Mortamore.
Samuel Bass, David Stone, Mary Hayward, Mrs. Mary Bowditch, Mrs. Sarah Paine, Shadrach Thayer, Mrs. Rachel Thayer,
Lydia Thayer, Richard Faxon. 1726. Christo; her Thayer, Benjamin Hunt, Mrs. Sarah Hunt. 1727. Mary Powel, Mrs. : arah Arnold, Mrs. Zipj orah Curtis, William Copeland, Esther Thayer,
1728.
Hannah Houghton. Mrs. Elizabeth Faxon,
Samuel Thayer. 1729.
Abigail Doggett, Mrs. Elizabeth Thayer,
Benjamin Clark,
Mrs. Mary Clark,
Joseph Thayer,
John Trask, Mrs. Penelope Trask,
Rebecca Spear. 1730. Mrs. Mary French, Atherton Wales,
John Hunt, Mrs Rebecca Hunt,
Joseph White, Jr.,
Mrs. Ilannah Bass,
Mary Thayer. 1731.
Mrs. Ruth Hunt, John Thayer, Jr., Anna French,
Mrs, Rebecca French,
Mrs. kuth Peuniman,
Mrs. Elizabeth Hobart. 1732. John Ludden, Nathaniel Wales,
Samuel Wales.
Mrs. - Wales,
Ebenezer Thayer,
James Bagley,
Mrs, Rach. l Thayer, Mary Jones,
Mrs. Sarah Hayden,
Mrs. Mary Jones, Abigail White,
Mrs. Mary Hunt, Peter Thayer, Eunice Ludden. 1733. Mrs. Anna Thayer, Mrs. Priscilla Hayden,
Micah Allen, Bathsheba Kilhee,
Mrs. Sarah Ludden, Abigail Thayer, Mrs. Ann Nash, Seth Copeland. Benjamin Copeland, Benjamin Nash,
Ebenezer Hayden, Mrs. Mary Hayden, Elizabeth Green.
1734. Ephraim Jones, Isaiah Thayer, James Thayer, Abigail Clark, James Penniman, Thomas Allen, Mrs. Hepzibah French, Samuel White, Jr.
1735.
Widow Sarah Allen, Samuel Curtis,
Mrs. Grace Curtis,
Mrs Mary Thayer, Mrs. Mary Allen.
1736.
William Allen, John White,
Hannah Blanchard,
Mary Blanchard, Judith Dorman,
John Holbrook, Jr. 1737.
Joseph Hayward, Samuel Hayden, Jr., Mrs. Mary Bowditch, Ruth Whitmarsh. 1738.
James Thayer,
Moses Fr nch,
Edward Fax In,
Eliashib F .xon, .
Mrs. Abigad Thayer,
Mis. Elizabeth Niles,
Nathan Whiting,
Mrs. Mary French,
John Blanchard, Mary Blanchard,
Mrs. Susannah Copeland; Nathaniel Thayer, Mrs. Mary Thayer,
Mrs Sarah Copeland,
Mrs. Hannah Thayer, Mrs. Sarah Hayward.
1739.
William Noyes, William Bowditch,
Mary Dorman,
Mehitabel Vinton,
Jonathan Allen. 1740. Penelope (colored woman) . John Capen, Mrs. Ruth Capen. 1741.
Samuel Arnold, Sarah Thayer,
Mrs. Bethiah Arnold,
Mrs. Christiana Thayer,
Ruth Capen,
Sarah Holbrook. 1742.
Ruth Wild, Anna Wild,
John Noyes, Elisha Niles,
Benjamin Thayer, Sarah Capen, Esther Capen, Anna Thayer, Ruth Thayer, Elizabeth Bowditch, Elizabeta Ludden, Anna Ludden, Mary Bowditch, Abigail Owen,
Mrs. Sarah White,
Thomas French, Mrs. Mary French. 1725.
11
CHURCH MANUAL.
1745. Ruth Thayer, Samuel Niles, Jr. 1743. Hannah Thayer, Mary Robinson, Dr. Benjamin Ludden, Ebenezer Whitmarsh, Mrs. Hannah Niles, John Hollis,
John Newcomb, Mrs. Mary Newcomb, Mary Whitmarsk, Mrs. Ruth Clark. 1744 Mrs. Sarah Hunt, Priscilla Faxon, Ebenezer Newcomb, Benjamin Clark, Jr., Mrs. Bethiah Clark. 1745 Samuel Wild, Jr., Mrs. Susanna Wild, Deborah Lulden, Mrs. Mary Holbrook. 1746. Abigail Arnold, Widow Ab gail Thayer, Mrs Rach .1 Thayer, Widow Sarah Trask, Mrs, Rachel Hayden, Ebenezer Thayer and his wife.
1717 .- None.
1748.
William White, Mrs. Sarah White, Thomas Thayer, Mrs. Lyd a Thayer, Richard Faxon, Jr., Joanna Thaver, Elizabeth Thayer, Hannah Blanchard, Abigail Blanchard, Benj. Hayden and wife, John Field and his wife.
1749.
Micah Thayer.
Mrs. Deboralı Thayer, Ephraim Hunt. Mrs. Miriam Hunt, Micah French. 1750.
Mrs. Rachel Sawin. 1751. John Hayward,
Mrs. Elizabeth Thayer,
Mrs. Mary Allen,
Mrs Susannalı White. 1752
Mrs. Mary Spear,
Widow Hannah Hollis. 1753. Nathaniel Wales,
1758.
Silas Wild,
Mrs. Ruth Wild,
Mrs. Dorcas Thayer,
Mrs. Dehorah Wild,
Mrs. Lydia Pratt.
Ichabod HIolbrook,
Mrs. Hannah Holbrook,
Mrs. Rachel Hollis,
Randal Wild.
1759,
Ephraim Blanchard.
1760.
Anna French.
1761.
Hobart Clark,
Richard Faxon, Jr.,
Jesse Wild,
Mrs. Judith Wild,
Wid. Margaret Thompson,
Nathaniel Capen, Mrs. Deborah Capez,
Sarah Thayer.
1762. Mrs. Esther Thayer, Mrs. Sarah Penniman.
OFFICERS OF THE CHURCH DURING REV. MA .. NILES' MINISTRY.
Peter Hobart and Samuel White were chosen deacons April 28, 1719.
William Hunt and John Holbrook were chosen deacons October 13, 1742.
James Penniman and Jonathan Allen were chosen dea- cons July 14, 1757 ; and on the 16th of the same month Thomas Allen was chosen to the same office, in conjunction with them.
Widow Hannah Stevens. 1754 .- None.
1755.
Micah Wild, Mrs. Rachel Wild,
Mrs. Joanna Ludden,
Mrs. Sarah Thayer. 1756 Hannah Hayward,
Rebecca Hunt, Samuel Hunt,
Mrs. Hannah Hunt, Benjamin Allen,
Mrs. Deborah Allen, Benjamin Ludden, Mrs. Deborah Wild, Mrs Zilpah Thayer, Ann Capen, Thomas Vinton, Jr., Johnathan Thayer, Enoch Hayden.
Mrs Amey Ilayden. 1757. David Holbrook, Jr., Widow Jane Noyes, Sarah Thayer, Richard Thayer, Jr., Mrs. Esther Thayer,
1757.
Samuel Hunt, Caleb Thayer,
Mrs. Abigail Thayer, George Hunt, Elisha French, Mrs. Mary French, Mrs. Elizabeth Hollis Mrs. Mary Denton, Joseph Ludden, Jr., Atherton Thayer, Mrs. Ruth Thayer, Moses French, Jr.,
Mrs. Elizabeth French,
Mrs. Sarah Thayer,
Anna Wales.
12
CHURCH MANUAL.
John Holbrook, Jr., was chosen to the same office February 8, 1761.
Beside these officers, whose time of election is recorded, there were others who held the same office-how many, and what were their names, cannot now be ascertained. Inci- dental notices only, apprise us of the fact that the records are defective in this point.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.