USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Lowell > History of Pawtucket Church and Society : with reminiscences of pastors and founders, sketches of Congregational churches in Lowell, and a brief outline of Congregationalism > Part 1
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Gc 974.402 L95va 1241161
M.L
GENEALOGY COLLECTION
ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 01102 5068
PAWTUCKET CHURCH .- ERECTED 1794.
HISTORY
OF
Pawtucket Church and ociety
WITH REMINISCENCES OF
Pastors and Founders, Sketches of Congre- gational Churches in Lowell,
AND A
BRIEF OUTLINE OF CONGREGATIONALISM.
BY A. C. VARNUM,
AUTHOR OF PAPERS ENTITLED
"SHAYS' REBELLION," "BURGOYNE'S SURRENDER," "THE OLD GARRISON HOUSE," "LIFE OF GENERAL JAMES M. VARNUM," "LIFE OF COLONEL LOUIS ANSART," "THE COBURN FAMILY," "YOUNG MEN'S LYCEUM," "TEMPERANCE IN MASSACHUSETTS," "ORDINATIONS, HUSKINGS AND RAISINGS," "OLD MIDDLESEX CANAL," " NAVIGATION ON THE MERRIMACK," ETC.
LOWELL, MASS. : MORNING MAIL PRINT, IS JACKSON STREET. 1888.
1241161
PRELIMINARIES.
LOWELL, June 4, 1887.
At a meeting of the Pawtucket Society, holden this day, the warrant having been read, Dr. John J. Colton was elected moderator.
The first article to be acted upon by the Society was as follows, viz :
2,50
ARTICLE I-To see if the Society will vote in favor of having a history of the Pawtucket Church and Society written, or act in any way relative thereto.
After remarks and inquiries made by several members of the Society, the following preamble and resolutions, presented by Dr. Colton, were unani- mously adopted.
PREAMBLE AND RESOLUTIONS.
WHEREAS, The Pawtucket Church and Society were organized many years ago-at a time to which the memory of man runneth not back- and tradition informs us that there are many interesting events in con- nection with its history, and many pleasant and valuable reminiscences which it would be well to preserve in some tangible form, therefore,
Resolved, That an invitation be extended to A. C. Varnum, Esq., to gather such historical facts as may be found, and write a history of this Church and Society for publication, at his earliest convenience.
Resolved, That a committee of six persons be appointed to confer with
BordosCanal
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PAWTUCKET CHURCH AND SOCIETY.
Mr. Varnum and extend to him the invitation embraced in these resolu - tions; and, if favorably received, to aid and co-operate with him in the publication of the work when it is satisfactorily completed ; and that full power and authority be conferred upon this committee to do and perform whatever may be necessary for the accomplishment of the purposes herein contained.
Resolved, That the Clerk of this Society be requested to record these resolutions in the records of this Society, for reference.
The Society then elected Dr. John J. Colton, Rev. Charles H. Willcox, Samuel B. Simonds, Thomas Varnum, Henry L. Newhall and Joseph M. Wilson a committee for the above-named purposes.
ORFORD R. BLOOD,
Clerk Pawtucket Society.
CORRESPONDENCE.
The following correspondence subsequently transpired.
To A. C. VARNUM, EsQ. :
Dear Sir - The undersigned were appointed a committee by the Paw- tucket Society, at a meeting regularly called and holden on June 4, 1887, and we herewith communicate to you the action of that meeting in regard to obtaining a written history of said Society. The enclosed resolutions, which were unanimously adopted, and which we were instructed to present for your consideration, are well calculated to express the sentiments of those who were present when they were adopted.
We take pleasure, therefore, in compliance with the duty entrusted to us, in extending to you an invitation to write a history of this Church and Society for publication. We also take this opportunity to express our personal interest and approval of the project contemplated, and hope it may be favorably received and entertained by you. The task to which you are invited will undoubtedly be a laborious one; but we trust that
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PAWTUCKET CHURCH AND SOCIETY.
your appreciation of its importance and the pleasure it may confer upon all who take an interest in the preservation of important historical events, will induce you to undertake it.
We have the honor of subscribing ourselves Your obedient servants, JOHN J. COLTON, CHARLES H. WILLCOX, SAMUEL B. SIMONDS, THOMAS VARNUM, HENRY L. NEWHALL, JOSEPH M. WILSON,
LOWELL, June 6, 1887.
Committee.
To JOHN J. COLTON AND OTHERS, COMMITTEE OF THE PAWTUCKET SOCIETY :
Gentlemen - Your communication, with copy of resolutions adopted by the Pawtucket Society, is received. The interest which you express in the subject mentioned is reciprocated, and the confidence manifested in myself by the Society is appreciated. I am aware that the undertaking involves considerable research and labor, as it is understood that the records of this ancient organization are meager and incomplete. Trusting in your generous co-operation, however, I will undertake that part of the duty required of me, and hope by the exercise of much patience and proper diligence, we may succeed in meeting the just and reasonable expectations of all charitable friends.
Very respectfully your obedient servant,
A. C. VARNUM. LOWELL, June 10, 1887.
EARLIEST HISTORY.
A people which takes no pride in the noble achievements of remote ancestors, will never achieve anything worthy to be remembered with pride by remote descendants. -Macaulay.
History, to be instructive, must not only relate events, but state the causes which produced them. Our stock of wisdom is not materially increased by being told that an event transpired, but when we are made acquainted with the causes which brought it about, we have acquired valuable information; and from this knowledge of the past, we can reason with tolerable certainty to the future .- Charles Hudson.
As a separate, distinct and organized body, under an act of incorporation, the Pawtucket Church began a little less than a hundred years ago ; but its real history goes back to the early settlement of the town of Dracut, which is traced to about the year 1675. If we could write the history and experience of its projectors, it would take us across the sea, to the home of their infancy in Old England, and asso- ciate them with men " whose vision penetrated beyond the present moment, and whose forethought embraced the interests of their posterity as well as their own, and who anticipated to some extent our Commonwealth-founded by their arduous labors- purposed on these shores to realize their aspirations in erecting a colony where the doctrines they had espoused, and the principles they had cherished, might be practically applied to church and state."
In order, therefore, to relate the story of the foundation of this ancient ecclesiastical organization,
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PAWTUCKET CHURCH AND SOCIETY.
and give a true setting to the picture, it will be necessary to go back to the settlement of the town in which it originated.
History informs us that Samuel Varnum sailed from England to America in 1636, and settled in Ipswich, Massachusetts .* He afterwards removed to Chelmsford, which was incorporated as a township May 29, 1655, and finally bought land of the Indians on the north side of Merrimack River, where he settled, and named the place Dracut (as is supposed, from his native town or parish in England), about 1675-a hundred years before the Revolution. During King Philip's War, which began in 1675, all the towns in this vicinity suffered exceedingly from the depredations of the Indians, and Dracut with the others. Two sons of this early settler were killed while crossing the river in a boat from what is now Middlesex Village, in Lowell, in 1676. The territory was taken up early by " proprietors" or speculators, but slowly by actual settlers, and the town was not incorporated until 1701, when the following act was passed.
ACT OF INCORPORATION.
At a great & General Court or Assembly of the Province of the Mass. Bay, in New England, begun & held at Boston, upon Wednesday, the 28th of May, 1701, & continued by several prorogations and adjourn- ments unto Wednesday, the 18th day of February, and then met,
Thursday,
Feb. 26, 1701. A Petition of Samuel Sewall, Esq., Ephraim Hunt, Esq., Benjamin Walker, John Hunt and Jonathan Belcher, Proprietors
* See History of Ipswich, in Drake's History of Essex County.
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PAWTUCKET CHURCH AND SOCIETY.
of a part of the tract of land called Dracut, beyond Chelmsford, in the County of Middle'x, on the North side of Mk. River, and of Samuel Varnum & several others, inhabitants & Proprietors of the said Tract of Land, praying that the said tract of land which adjoins to Dunstable on the West & North West, & runs seven miles Eastward upon the river from Dunstable line, & six miles Northward from the river, may be made a Township, and that the Inhabitants which are or shall settle thereupon may have & enjoy all liberties, privileges & immunities as the Inhabitants of other towns within this Province have & do enjoy.
Was sent up from the House of Rep's with a Resolve passed by that House thereupon in the words following, viz :
Resolved, That the prayer of said petition be granted, and the tract of land therein described be made a township & be called by the name of Dracut.
Provided, That the bounds specified intrench not upon any former Grant or Grants of townships.
That the Inhabitants of said land assist in ye maintainance of the ministry at the Town of Chelmsford, as at present they do, until they are provided with a minister as ye law Directs.
That a General platt of said land (taken by a Sworn Surveyor) be laid before this Court at their Session beginning at May next, and
That if any land shall happen to fall within the bounds above mentioned that hath not been heretofore granted, it shall be reserved to be disposed of by this Government.
Which Resolve being read at the Board, was concurred with and signed by sixteen of the members of Council present at the Board.
A true copy.
Exam'd by ISAAC ADDINGTON, Sec'y.
According to the order of the Honorable Gen. Court the last year there is laid out to the inhabitants and proprietors of Dracutt a tract of land for a Township on the North side of Mk. River. It begins at the Island lying in Mk. River, called Wekasook,* & takes about half of it, and is bounded by Captaine Scarlet & Dunstable line on the North West, as
* This name was spelled in more than one way by our ancestors and it is not the purpose of this writer to change their spelling for the sake of uniformity. The histor- ical facts concerning the spot, briefly told, are as follows : Soon after the close of King Philip's War, in 1676, a party of Indians at Wamesit (about sixty in number) were removed by order of the General Court of Massachusetts to Wicasuck Island and vicinity, and placed under the care of Jonathan Tyng. Here they remained for a number of years, but on their departure to St. Francis, in Canada, to join a tribe of Indians there of that name, the island was granted to Mr. Tyng in compensation for his services, as shown by the following record in the Massachusetts archives : Dec. 5, 1683. The Court granted to Mr. Jonathan Tyng the "island in the Merrimack River called Weikeset" (commonly spelled Wicasuck.) At that time it assumed the name of Tyng's Island.
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PAWTUCKET CHURCH AND SOCIETY.
farre as Kimballs farme at Jerime Hill, which is about six miles in a croked line. Then it is bounded by Dunstable line on the West about four miles. It is bounded Southerly by Merimack River about seven miles by a straight line from Wekesook, where we began. The South East corner is a white oake marked with D a little from the river and from thence it runs due North six miles which line is paralell with Dunstable line on that side then by a North West line it again closeth to Dunstable line; this North West line is four miles long; then on the West is bounded by Dunstable line four miles.
laid out and bounded by Jonathan Danforth, Survey'r, May 26, 1702.
Dracut Township contains twenty-two thousand three hundred thirty and four acres as attests Jo. Danforth, Survey'r, June 3d, 1702.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
June 6, 1702. Ordered, That the town of Dracut be rated with the town of Chelmsford, as formerly in the Tax to be Raised this Session. They having the liberty to chuse and join an assessor with the assessors of s'd Town. Sent up for concurrence.
JAMS CONVERSE, Speaker.
The constitution of Massachusetts before the year 1833 required the several towns to make suitable provision for public worship, and it was done by direct tax upon the inhabitants, both for the construction of meeting-houses and the support of public teachers. When a town was incorporated if there was no church in the settlement, they were required to contribute to the support of religious worship in some adjacent town until they were enabled to support a church of their own. The constitution also invested the legislature with the power and authority " To enjoin upon all the people an attendance upon the instructions of the public teachers at stated times and seasons." The eleventh article of amendment of the constitution respecting
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PAWTUCKET CHURCH AND SOCIETY.
religious societies changed these requirements. The amendment was adopted by the legislatures of the political years 1832-'33 (in place of the third article of the "bill of rights ") and was ratified by the people November 11, 1833. When the town of Dracut was incorporated one of the provisions of the act was, as we have seen, " That the inhabitants of said land assist in the maintenance of the minis- try at the town of Chelmsford, as at present they do, until they are provided with a minister as the law directs." This they probably did, but it is not known for how long a time. There are no records of the doings of the town for a few of the first years. Either they were not considered of sufficient impor- tance to record or they were written upon loose sheets of paper and not preserved. This last reason, we presume, may account for their absence ; for among the first records in the first town book, we find that the inhabitants were making efforts to build a house of worship, and to secure the perma- nent services of a clergyman by settlement.
As early as March 6, 1711, at a general town meeting, a vote was unanimously passed to build a meeting-house, to be set on the west end of "Flag Meadow Hill" (which locality will be hereafter described), and it is presumed that religious services were held in private residences long before that time.
A few of the earliest votes on the subject-so quaintly recorded-we here insert verbatim,although somewhat mixed with other town affairs.
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PAWTUCKET CHURCH AND SOCIETY.
TOWN MEETINGS.
Dracutt March the 6th 171I
At a general town meeting unanimously agreed by a generall vote for building of a meetinghouse Also by a general town meeting voted and made choice of the West end of Flag meadow hill to be the yard to set the meeting-house on and likewise voted that Daniel Coburn, Ezra Coburn jr, Joseph Coburn, Joseph Varnum, Ephraim Hildreth, Joseph Crosby, & Jonathan Robins are chosen for the Committee to lay out all country roads and all convenient ways which said town want & stand in need of
Dracutt June the 11, 171I
At a general town meeting voted & made choice of Mr Amos Cheever to be our minister and also at present voted to give him fifty pounds a year yearly & as the town grows abler add to his salery & voted to give him eighty pounds for the building of his house, and we are to have three years time for the payment of the money at twenty six pounds thirteen shillings & four pence a year, if he be pleased to settle with us & be our minister & also voted that Thomas Varnum Daniell Coburn Joseph Coburn should go & discourse with Mr Cheever to acquaint him with what the town hath proffered him & to receive his answer
Dracutt Sept. 10 17II
The inhabitants of the town met & voted to give a minister fifty pounds a year also voted that Thomas Coburn Thomas Varnum are chosen to take the care & provide a minister for the town & voted to give them five shillings a day. Mr Hail came to Dracut on the 5th day of Oct. 1711 to preach the gospel whereof hath received 43 shillings 4
Dracut March 5th 1712.
At a general town meeting made choice of Town officers and chose John Varnum Selectman and Town Clark Joseph Coburn select man Ebenezer Goodhue Selectman Abraham Coburn Connstable Robbard Coburn Daniell Coburn Joseph Coburn field drivers & also voted that John Varnum's forte shall be pound for this year & he to be poundkeeper & also voted . to choose two ministers along with Mr Hail in way of settlement & also voted for Mr Amos Cheever & Mr Wigglesworth in way of settlement.
Dracut, April the 4th in the year 1712.
At a general town meeting voted Mr. Cheevers for to come to be our gospel minister if he will come on the terms we have formerly offered to him; also it is voted that Thomas Colburn & Joseph Colburn be the com- mittee to treat with him in a way for a settlement. Also it is voted that Mr. Wigglesworth should come to preach for a time, in a way to making a set- tlement after Mr. Chevers has been treated with, and don't come to preach, & in a way to making a settlement.
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PAWTUCKET CHURCH AND SOCIETY.
Dracut, June the 20th day, in the year 1712.
At a general town meeting, voted that Mr. Wiggleworth should be our gospel minister, to preach the gospel of Christ with us, and if he will spend his days with us, then we have granted to him fifty pounds in current money of New England & as the town grows abler then to add to his salary. Also granted eighty pounds in current moneys of N. England for his set- tlement, and we have three years time to paye this money in, which is twen- ty six pounds thirteen shillings, & four pence a year-Also voted that Jo- seph Varnum, John Varnum, & Sargent Hildreth should be the committee to treat with Mr. Wiggleworth concerning his settling with us, & to re- ceive his answer and bring it to the town this day month, which our town meeting is adjourned.
Mr. Amos Chever, who was a graduate of Har- vard University, in 1707, declined the call extended to him, as did also Mr. Wigglesworth. Inadequacy of the salary was the probable cause, and the church had to wait and be content with a stated supply until their little colony should be increased in numbers. In the latter part of the year of 1714, the subject of building a church was again started, and a town meeting called to see what could be done. The following is the official record :
Dracut December ye 8th day in the year 1714
At general Town meeting of the Inhabitants that was warned by the selectmen of the town for to meet & to see in what manner to build a meetinghouse for our town & to begene it this year; And it was granted by the aforesaid town meeting that the meeting house should be 30 feet longe and 25 feet wide Also it wase granted six pounds of money to be paid towards the building said house. 30 pounds in the next year in July in- sueing 30 pounds in the month of July in the year 1716. Also tis granted for four cattle and a man a day five shillings & so according, and two shillines one man a day for getting timber, also tis granted Thomas Coburn Ezra Colburn Joseph Colburn Thomas Varnum John Varnum should be trustees for the above said town to hire agree with men for to build said meetinghouse above named & give a true account to the town of their expenses to get the work done as cheap as they can
This is a true account done at a general town meeting
JOSEPH COLBURN, SAMUEL COLBURN, Selectmen.
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PAWTUCKET CHURCH AND SOCIETY.
This last meeting having been holden in Decem- ber, there was not much accomplished during the year 1714, and it was not until the following April that the selection was made upon which to locate the house, as appears by a vote of the town.
THE FIRST MEETING-HOUSE.
Dracut, April the 11th 1715.
At a general town meeting it was granted to set our meetinghouse for the town of Dracut on a piece of land near the South side of a hill called by the name of Flag meadow hill on Thomas Varnum's land, bounded as followeth ;- West by Joseph Varnum's land ; North by a highway- East- ward by a stake and stones; and on the South by stake and stones. Also it is granted one barrel of cider and such a quantity of rum as the trustees shall think needful for the raising said meetinghouse.
THOMAS VARNUM,
Town Clerk.
The locality was on what is now called Varnum Avenue, about half a mile above Pawtucket Bridge, on the southerly side of the street, on land owned by Dea. Abel Coburn, and just east of his present residence. Marks and relics of the old structure have appeared from time to time until within a few years. The spot still retains the name of "the Meeting-House Lot." We are informed by Mr. Coburn that there appears also to have been a " Noon-house," in which the people assembled between services to warm themselves and partake of a lunch.
As there were no fires in churches in those days, a " Noon-house, " or " Sabba'-Day House," as they were sometimes called, was almost indispensable in winter. Edward Abbott, in his " Revolutionary
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PAWTUCKET CHURCH AND SOCIETY.
Times," gives the following description of these houses : " An important and interesting adjunct of the meeting-house, in some parts of the country, was the 'Sabba'-Day House.' Comfort being care- fully shut out of the meeting-house itself was only thus rudely provided for in such subordinate structures. The Sabba'-Day House was a family affair, generally comprising but a single apart- ment, perhaps fifteen feet square, with windows and a fireplace. It was very plainly and sparsely furnished. Chairs for the old people and benches for the children stood round the walls, and a table in the centre might hold the Bible and a few relig- ious books and pamphlets ; while at one side shelves contained dishes for cooking and eating. Sometimes the Sabba'-Day House was mounted above a shed within which the horse could be sheltered. A group of such cabins standing about the meeting-house added not a little to the pictur- esqueness of the spot, and their use conduced greatly to the convenience and comfort of Sabbath worship, especially in winter. The family able to keep a Sabba'-Day House drove directly thither on Sabbath mornings, warmed themselves up from a hot fire without, and quite likely by a hot drink within, and here spent the intermission, with further wholesome regards for the wants of the inner man. The better class of these Sabba'-Day Houses were whitewashed ; some of them were double, and to the truth of history it must be said that between Sabbaths they occasionally furnished the wild young men of the parish with secure haunts for unseemly carousals."
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PAWTUCKET CHURCH AND SOCIETY.
The building of this church-25 by 30 feet-was then a great undertaking, both for want of money and building materials ; and it was not until Sep- tember 29, 1716, that it was publicly dedicated for worship, and two years after this (1718) that it was fully completed.
PASTOR SETTLED.
In 1720 the church was fortunate in securing the services of a settled pastor. The town records furnish an account of the call and acceptance, as follows :
DRACUT, Dec. 28, 1719.
At a general town meeting, made choice of Rev. Thomas Parker as their minister, and voted to give him a call to settle, at eighty pounds yearly for salary. Voted, that Captain Varnum, Quartermaster Coburn and Ephraim Hildreth carry the vote of the town to Mr. Parker, and that Quartermaster Coburn be paid six pounds to provide for ye ordination.
Mr. Parker responded in writing, in the following words :
CHELMSFORD, Jan. 30th, 1720.
To the Inhabitants of the Town of Dracut : I received your vote the 3rd of this instant, January, by the hands of Captain Varnum and Lieutenant Hildreth, wherein I understand you have unanimously made choice of me to be your settled minister. I have perused and considered your offer, also understanding your earnest desire that I should settle amongst you. I can find no fault with what you have been pleased to offer, and I do therefore accept of the same, provided you do pay me quarterly.
As you have been unanimous in your choice, so I hope you will always endeavor to live in peace and unanimity; that there be formed a spirit of peace in each of you. I also would beg your prayers to Almighty God for me, that I may prove a faithful minister of Christ, and instrumental in sav- ing many souls, that so you may live and sit quietly and contentedly under my ministry, that I may have a comfortable prospect of your being benefited thereby ; and that you and I may so believe and manage ourselves that we may meet with comfort in this life and with peace at death; and that we may lift up our heads with joy at the last day shall be the continual, fervent prayers of me, one of the unworthiest of God's ministers.
THOMAS PARKER.
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PAWTUCKET CHURCH AND SOCIETY.
March 6, 1720, the town, at a meeting holden for the purpose of providing for the ordination, voted, "To give Quartermaster Coburn six pounds to provide for ye ordination, and he did accept of the same."
Mr. Parker was a son of Josiah Parker, who came from England to America sometime prior to the year 1700, and settled in Cambridge or Dorchester. Thomas was born December 7, 1700, and graduated at Harvard College in 1718. At the time he was called to settle he was only nineteen years of age ; but he seems to have been mature in mind, discreet in judgment and wonderfully adapted to the situa- tion to which he was called. He remained with his people to the time of his death, which occurred March 18, 1765-a period of forty-four years-and we have been unable to find an account of trouble or dissatisfaction either on the part of people or pastor.
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