USA > Massachusetts > Suffolk County > Dorchester > Memorials of the First Church in Dorchester : from its settlement in New England, to the end of the second century : in two discourses, delivered July 4, 1830 > Part 1
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Gc 974.402 D72ha 1822081
M. L
REYNOLDS HISTORICAL GENEALOGY COLLECTION
ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 01100 9245
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MEMORIALS
OF THE Ist.
FIRST CHURCH IN DORCHESTER,
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FROM
ITS SETTLEMENT IN NEW ENGLAND,
TO THE
END OF THE SECOND CENTURY.
In two Discourses,
DELIVERED JULY 4, 1830.
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By the Pastor, THADDEUS MASON HARRIS.
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" This is written for the generation to come; that the people which shall be created may praise the Lord."
THE NEWBERRY LIBRARY CHICAGO
BOSTON : FROM THE OFFICE OF THE DAILY ADVERTISER. W. L. Lewis, Printer. 1830.
Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2015
https://archive.org/details/memorialsoffirst00harr
1822081
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HARRIS, THADDEUS MASON, 1768-18-12.
.395
D 284424 Memorials of the First church in Dorchestor. from its settlement in New England, to the end of the second century. In two discourses. doliv .. ered July 4, 1830 ... Boston, Office of the Daily advertiser, 1830. 67p.
Bibliographical foot-notes.
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NL 39-2676
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DISCOURSE I.
PSALM Ixxvii. 5.
"I HAVE CONSIDERED THE DAYS OF OLD, THE YEARS OF ANCIENT TIMES."
'The Psalmist found much to encourage his trust in the care and protection of Jehovah, by pon- dering upon the divine favour towards the fore- fathers of his nation, and its continuance through successive generations.
A like review of ancient times will be pleasing and profitable to us :- pleasing, because it will grati- fy a laudable curiosity with regard to persons, trans- actions and events ; and profitable, because it will afford much useful information.
So short are our lives, and so limited our sphere of observation, that the knowledge obtained from our own experience, or that of our contemporaries, must be very small. If, therefore, we would en- large the stock with intelligence of what has hap- pened in distant places or remote times, we must repair to the records which have been made of them ; we must "inquire of the former age, and prepare ourselves to receive what has been trans- mitted down from their fathers;"-ascertain what were their sentiments and conduct, and collect those maxims of wisdom and goodness which have the sanction of the highest authority and the re- commendation of the best example and the hap- piest effects ; and thus be confirmed in our reliance, on divine providence, and encouraged in our obe- dience to the divine will.
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We have arrived at a period when such a retros- pect of the days of old and the years of ancient times seems peculiarly proper. The completion of the SECOND CENTURY since the arrival of our Forefathers, to begin a settlement here, has a claim upon our special notice and pious commem- oration. On this new era in history, "which is for us a memorial," we may consider ourselves as hav- ing reached an elevation, whence, like Moses upon Pisgah, we may take an admiring view of the pleasant places and goodly heritage of those whom the Lord has blessed. Ilere, then, "stand still that I may reason with you before the Lord, of all the righteous acts of the Lord which he did for your fathers and has done for you." With this purpose, after stating some of the principal reasons which induced our Forefathers to emigrate into this Country, I shall lay before you an account of the first settlement of this town, with a concise history of the succession of ministers in the Church from its foundation to the present time.
Our Fathers professed that the great and origi- nal cause of their emigration, was "the want of liberty of conscience in matters of religion."- Although the temporal and spritual power of the Pope had been disclaimed, and the established Church of England had become Protestant ; yet there were several among the clergy and the laity who thought that there was too much of the Popish corruption in many of the forms and ceremonies which were still retained, and too much assumption of power by the hierarchy. Offended at what they deemed inconsistent with the simplicity of the Christian institute, and shrinking from the requisi- tions of those who had become "lords over God's her- itage," and not having sufficient influence to bring about a more thorough reformation in religious opin- ion or clerical domination, some took at once a deci-
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ded step, refused all submission to the canons of the Episcopate, and became Separatists, under the de- nomination of " Brownists," from the name of their leader ; while others only sought a greater degree of purity in profession and practice, and hence passed under the name of " Puritans."* The former car- ried their dissatisfaction so far as to quit the realm, and seek an asylum from what they deemed civil oppression and ecclesiastical persecution, first in Holland, and afterwards in North America, where they commenced a settlement in the latter end of 1620, at a place, on the shore of the Massachusetts Bay, which they called Plymouth. These had, at first, to encounter the greatest hardships ; but in a few years became prosperous; and the brightening prospects which opened before them led others in Great Britain to form the determination to follow them to a region where they also might enjoy unin- terrupted their religious privileges. They promp- ted each other in these words-" The sun shines as pleasantly on America as on England, and the Sun of Righteousness much more clearly. We are treated here in a manner which forfeits all claim upon our affection. The Church of England has added to the ceremonies and habits of Popery, the only marks of antichrist which were lacking, corrup- tion of doctrine and a bloody persecution of the saints. Let us remove whither the providence of Gop calls us, and make that our country which will afford us what is dearer than property or life, the liberty of worshipping God in the way which appears to us most conducive to our eternal wel- fare.
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In the beginning of the year 1630, some pious people, chiefly from the counties of Devon, Dorset and Somerset, having come to a determination to cmigrate to North America, held a meeting at
* Note A.
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Plymouth, and setting apart a day, for solemn fast- ing and prayer to seek divine approbation and as- sistance, convened in the New Hospital, and united in church fellowship. In the after part of the day they called and chose those godly ministers, the Rev. JOHN MAVERICK and the Rev. JOHN WARHAM, to be their spiritual guides ; who ex- pressed their acceptance, and were set apart to that special service .* The Rev. JOHN WHITE of Dorchester,t a very influential promoter of the projected emigration, being present, assisted and preached in the fore part of the day; and in the after part, the newly installed pastors performed the religious services of the solemn and interest- ing occasion.
Arrangements had been already made for their emigration ; a vessel chartered for their transporta- tion ; and such provisions and effects as they deem- ed necessary put on board.
Previously to their leaving their native country, the new adventurers agreed upon a respectful ad- dress to their brethern of the Church of England, the object of which was " to remove prejudices and misconstructions of their intentions, conciliate the minds of the disaffected, and recommend them- selves and their expedition to the favorable regards of serious christians of the Episcopal persuasion," whose prayers they earnestly requested, and for whose welfare they expressed, in energetic lan- guage, the most affectionate regard ; promising, on their own part, a most grateful remembrance, " when (say they) we shall be in our poor cottages in the wilderness, overshadowed with the spirit of supplication, through the manifold necessities and tribulations which may not altogether unexpected- ly, nor, we hope, unprofitably befal us."}
They sailed, on the 20th of March, in the ship
* Note B. i Note C. # Note D.
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Mary and John, of 400 tons, Captain Squeb. The parting with relatives and friends, was very affect- ing : but their purpose was fixed ; and they relin- quished those affinities and attachments which bind the affections to native home, resolved, with great magnanimity, to seek, across the wide ocean, though on a foreign shore and in a dreary wilder- ness, an asylum where they might be " beyond the interference and annoyance of those who would restrict that liberty wherewith Christ had made us free."
It is recorded by one, who was a fellow passen- ger, Capt. ROGER CLAP, that, as they brought with them their excellent ministers, " they came, by the good hand of the Lord, through the deeps comfortably, having preaching or expounding of the word of GOD every day for ten weeks together." They encountered, indeed, a violent storm on the passage ;* but reached at length the harbor in safety ; and they thronged the deck, to look out upon the pleasant shores and verdant islands of the Massachusetts Bay. It was the last day of the week ; the season delightful; the wind favorable ; and they fondly hoped to be landed at their place of destination, while yet the sun, which they saw de- clining in the west, spread over it its lingering rays. But the Captain, fearful that there might not be depth of water for his ship, and not knowing the channel, cast anchor for the night; and on the morrow, being LORD'S DAY, May 30th, in viola- tion of his own engagement to bring them into Charles' river, and in disregard of their conscien- tious veneration for the sanctified observance of the day, and heedless of all their remonstrances and en- treaties, put them and their goods ashore on Nantas- ket Point. Not only had they great reason for dissatisfaction with this treatment, as it respected
* Note E.
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their not reaching the port to which they were bound ; but also, as it disturbed the expected quiet and the due devotions of the sacred day.
Thus "left to shift for themselves," they suc- cecded in procuring a boat from an old planter ; probably JOHN OLDHAM, who had left the Plymouth people, and resided some time at Nantasket, and appears afterwards to have attached himself to these new comers; and, on Monday forenoon commis- sioned Capt. SOUTHCOAT, "a brave Low Country soldier," ROGER CLAP, and eight able men, to go to Mishawaum, at the mouth of Charles' River, and ascertain whether they could be accommodated there. On the next day others made exploratory visits to the neighboring region ; on the third they made choice of Mattapan as the place for settle- ment ; and during the remainder of the week were busily employed in removing from Nantasket thith- er. They then rested from their labours, that they might hallow the Sabbath, and unite in praising GOD, who had brought them safely over the ocean, and found a place for them to dwell in, and fur- nished "a table in the wilderness." They sung a portion of the 90th Psalm, in the words to which our lips have just given utterance. It was "the Lord's song in a strange land ;" and the air was freedom, and the symphony joyous. Devoutly, too, did they implore the divine blessing on the settlement which they were forming ;- that it might prove a safe and quiet habitation, and that the work of their hands might be prospered, and the gracious desires of their hearts accomplished.
This first Sabbath which they spent here was the sixth of June, answering to the sixteenth, as the style is now reckoned ; and this is marked in our calendar as the birth-day of our town.
The following week was devoted to the "setting up of cottages, booths, and tents," for the shelter of
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their families. A sad contrast these to the ceiled houses and commodious habitations in which they had heretofore resided !
Early on the morning of the following Saturday, the report of ordnance announced the arrival of the Arbella, Admiral-ship of the New England fleet, bringing Governour WINTHROP, Deputy Governour DUDLEY, and many others, who came to lay the foundation of the Massachusetts Colony, of which they brought the Royal Charter ; so that the suc- ceeding day of rest returned to them with new and increased themes of gratitude and joy, and inspired a more gladdened song "in the house of their pil- grimage ;" and, as our people came over a regu- larly organized Church, the sacrament of the Lord's Supper was this day administered.
This, it is believed, is the only instance, in the first planting of North America, of the emigration thither of an embodied Church, with its pastors and officers.
The new comers, after a visit to Governour EN- DICOT, and those who had made a settlement at Salem, located themselves at the place which they afterwards called Charlestown; and soon the whole fleet was in port, having brought fifteen hundred passengers ; on account of whose safe arrival, the 8th of July was observed as a Public Thanksgiving in all the Plantations.
At the Court of Assistants, held at Charlestown, September 7th, following, this town was incor- porated, and received the name of DORCHESTER, because several of the settlers came from a town of that name in England, and also in honour of Mr. WHITE, their former Minister, who bore the title of "the Patriarch of Dorchester," and was so active an instrument in promoting the settlement of New England, and in procuring the Charter, that
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he was called " the Father of the Massachusetts Colony."
Although the Indians appeared to be friendly, it was deemed expedient to be armed in the defen- sive. Our forefathers kept a nightly watch near their dwellings, and built a fort upon Rock Hill, wherein were several pieces of ordnance. Even in erecting an edifice in which to assemble for public worship, "the builders every one had his sword by his side, and so builded." It was also deemed necessary to surround the place by a pali- sade; and, when they went up to worship, they were so equipped with martial weapons, that in a literal, as well as metaphorical sense, they exhibited them- selves as " the Church Militant."* This building was, also, for a munition, to which the women and children might repair in case of alarm; each one saying,-" In the time of trouble God shall shelter me in his pavilion, in the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me." It was the depository for the safe keeping of some of their more valuable articles, and was their arsenal.t Though the largest and best that they were able to erect, it was but a mean structure, with a lowly thatched roof; and, there- fore, far different from the magnificent Cathedrals, or even the venerable Churches, with massy walls, lofty arches, beautiful ceilings of carved . work, painted windows, vaulted domes, and cloud-piercing spires, in which they had been accustomed to wor- ship. But GOD, who regardeth more the worship- pers than the place of their assembling, attended to their homage, and blessed them with his pres- ence.
The straits and difficulties to which the people became subjected, through the winter, from cold and wet, and the almost famishing want of bread,
* Note F. t Note G.
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and of nutritive food, are pathetically described by Captain CLAP, in his Memoirs, which are familiar to you all. They had arrived too late for planting even common legumes. The houses which they erected afforded but a miserable shelter ; and, as they were "persons of good rank and circumstances in their native country, and had been brought up in a delicate manner," the rigours of the season proved very distressing. "Of those that were compelled to live in tents, and lie upon or too near the cold and moist earth, before they could be pro- vided with more convenient dwellings, several were seized with the scurvy, of which they died."*
In the beginning of 1631, bread failed in every house, except that of the Governour; and, even in that, the family was reduced to the last loaves. Such were the necessities of the people that they fed on clams, muscles, ground-nuts, and acorns. Indeed; in the winter season, it was with great difficulty that they procured these poor articles of subsistence. But, though minished and brought low, they murmured not ; and, though subjected to great privations and hardships, their courage did not fail ; though cast down, they were not forsaken. One of their chief men, describing their state, says, " Yet many of us laboured to bear it as comfortably as we could, remembering the end of our coming hither, and knowing the power of God, who can support and raise us again, and useth to bring his servants low, that the meek may be made glorious by judgment." In their extremest need, unex- pected supplies arrived ; and a kind providence sustained and comforted them.
The Governour, foreseeing in the fall that they should want provisions, despatched a ship to Ireland
* HUBBARD. History of New England, p. 189.
t Gov. DUDLEY's Letter to the COUNTESS OF LINCOLN, dated March 12th, 1631; in Hist. Coll. VIII. 41.
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to procure a supply. Her happy return on the fifth of February, prevented their perishing by fa- mine .* The restoration of health in the Spring, the arrival of other vessels with provisions after- wards, and a plenteous harvest at the close of the scason, gave the affairs of the Colony a more pros- perous appearance.t The people, too, became more provident ; while, to use their own words, "they were taught by their many trials and suffer- ings to stoop to a wilderness condition, which they had freely chosen to themselves for the quiet of their own minds and the good of posterity."
" On the 24th of July, 1633, a ship arrived from Weymouth in England, with about eighty passen- gers, and twelve kine, who set down at Dorches- ter."# This incorporation with our people was the more readily accomplished, without undue crowd- ing or encroachment, because some of the first planters had selected more favourable situations for themselves than those which they had taken on their arrival, and had erected more convenient dwellings, "thereby making room for others to suc- ceed them in their old."|| However, such numbers were constantly emigrating to this country, in con- sequence of the persecution of the Puritans, that the people of this and some neighboring towns (to use the words of their oldest Historian) " were overprest with multitudes of new families that re- sorted hither, so as, like a hive of bees overstock- ed, there was a necessity that some should swarm out."I From exploring parties, intelligence had been received of the excellent meadows near the Connecticut river ; and as the planters of Dorches- ter had many cattle, and were fond of agriculture,
* Note H. + TRUMBULL. Hist. Con. I. 10.
Į WINTHROP. Journal, Vol. I. p. 105.
| HUBBARD. General History of New England, Vol. I. p. 155.
T HUBBARD. 305.
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they determined to remove thither. 'They accord- ingly united with some of Newton and Watertown in a petition to the Council and Court for their consent ; but, as there was a division in the judg- ment of the Deputies when the vote was first taken, the Court agreed to set apart a day of prayer for divine direction ; which was accordingly kept in all the congregations. By the Dorchester people the day was observed with great solemnity ; and with earnest supplications they united " to seek of the Lord a right way for themselves and for their little ones, and for all their substance."
On a renewed application to the Court in May 1635, leave to remove was granted ; and in the summer about sixty men, together with women and children, commenced an expedition to the place selected for their settlement, upon the borders of the Connecticut, by the Indians called Mattaneug, and afterwards by the settlers named WINDSOR .*
While roaming thither through the trackless desert, they endeavoured to dispel the sense of weariness by singing psalms and hymns as they travelled along ; " the Indians following looked on them with silent admiration :" and the sojourners praised GoD that "he had made a covenant of peace with them, that the wild beasts of the forest should not annoy them, but they could dwell safely in the wilderness and sleep in. the woods."t
After a tedious and difficult journey of fourteen days, through deep forests, over swamps and rivers, mountains and rough places, they arrived safely at the place of their destination.
Mr. WARHAM, their beloved Pastor, followed them in September, but did not judge it expedient to remove his family until better accommodations
* In Mr. BLAKE's Manuscript Annals it is stated, that " about half the Church removed."
t Ezekiel, xxxiv. 25.
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could be made for them; but Mr. MAVERICK, on account of his age and state of health, was obliged to remain behind, and deceased on the third of February following. Governour WINTHROP, who knew him well, says, " He was a man of very humble spirit, and faithful in furthering the work of the Lord here, both in the Churches and civil state."*
Some of the first comers still remained here, having been at very considerable expense in build- ing, fencing in fields and gardens, and setting out orchards ; or having engaged in the fishery, which they found a source of profit. Fearing, however, that as sheep without a shepherd, they should become more scattered, and feeling the need of a spiritual guide, they seasonably sought to have officers as at the first, and ordinances as at the beginning. As
a number of Church members remained, and the place of those that had left had been in a good degree supplied by new emigrants, they agreed to call an Ecclesiastical Council to assist in consti- tuting them in Church order, with proper officers. It convened on the first of April, 1636; but, " the Messengers of the Churches not being satisfied concerning the qualifications of some that were proposed as members, the work was deferred." On the 23d of August following, a Church was reorganized, "with the approbation of the Elders and Magistrates ;" and the Reverend RICHARD MATHER, who had been in the country just a. year, was installed Pastor. This eminent divine had been settled in the Ministry at Toxteth in England ; but, on being suspended from office and greatly persecuted, came hither, " that he might enjoy in peace the rights of conscience, and the purity of christian ordinances." A Covenant was
* Journal, I. 181.
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drawn up, and signed by the Pastor and Members ; and is the same, with a few verbal alterations, that has ever since been used at admissions into the fellowship of the Church. Among the subscribers are the names of three who were Ministers ; Rev. WILLIAM TOMSON, who was afterwards settled at Braintree ; Rev. GEORGE MOXON, who became the first Minister at Springfield ; and Rev. SAMUEL NEWMAN, at Rehoboth.
On the 30th of August, 1637, a Synod was con- vened at Newtown,* on occasion of the antinomian controversy, or spread of " familistical opinions," as they were called. In that large assembly, at which " all the teaching Elders through the coun- try," and Messengers of the Churches, were pre- sent, Mr. MATHER gave such evidence of his profound theological knowledge, sound judgment, prudence, and moderation, that his counsel had great influence in allaying the party zeal, and in producing a result favourable to the union of the brethren and the peace of the Churches.
As it was usual in those days to have two Minis- ters settled in a Church, who were distinguished as Pastor and Teacher, an invitation to take part in the ministry with Mr. MATHER was given to the Rev. NATHANIEL ROGERS, in 1637, as he was attending the Synod at Cambridge : but, " for the sake of those who came from England with him, who could be better accommodated at Ipswich, he preferred that place."
On the arrival of the Rev. JONATHAN BURR, in 1639, the Church gave a call to him, which he accepted. A misunderstanding arose, however, which made it necessary to ask the advice of the neighbouring Churches. A Council was called, which convened on the second of the eleventh
* Afterwards called Cambridge.
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month [January], 1640, consisting of Governour WINTHROP and another magistrate, and ten Minis- ters. Four days were spent in examining and discussing the affair. It appeared that Mr. BURR had expressed himself in a manner which was supposed to favour the opinions of the Familists. 'There was no reason, however, to tax him with pro- fessing such opinions; but Mr. MATHER having so in- terpreted some of the effusions of his zeal, had made a representation to the Church, which Mr. BURR and his most ardent friends considered as doing him injustice. The Council, in their result, de- clared that both these good men had cause to be humbled for their failings, and advised them to set apart a day for reconciliation. The spirit of pla- cability and christian charity triumphed; Mr. BURR was inducted into office, and the peace of the Church was happily established, and its edification greatly promoted.
As a Minister, Mr. BURR was remarkable for humility and meekness, and for solemn and pathetic eloquence ; and such was his exalted piety, that, in the opinion of the most experienced christians, his ministry and his whole deportment breathed much of the spirit of a better world. The eminent Mr. HOOKER, once hearing him in the pulpit, remark- ed, " Surely this man will not be long out of heaven, for he preaches as if he were there already." This prediction was soon verified; for, after a short sickness, he died on the ninth of August, 1641, aged thirty-seven years .*
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