USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Woburn > The history of Woburn, Middlesex County, Mass. from the grant of its territory to Charlestown, in 1640, to the year 1680 > Part 1
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Gc 974.402 W85s 1135619
M. L .!
GENEALOGY COLLECTION
un
ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 01102 7254
Samuel Sewall.
THE
HISTORY OF WOBURN,
MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASS.
FROM THE GRANT OF ITS TERRITORY TO CHARLESTOWN, IN 1640, TO THE YEAR 1860.
BY SAMUEL SEWALL, M.A. OF BURLINGTON, MASS., SOMETIME PASTOR OF THE CHURCH THERE.
WITH A MEMORIAL SKETCH OF THE AUTHOR BY REV. CHARLES C. SEWALL.
WOBURN.
CHARLES'
A.D.1640.
Gc 974.402 W85A
INCORPO
A.D.1642.
ORATED
Boston: WIGGIN AND LUNT, PUBLISHERS, 221 WASHINGTON STREET. 1868.
ALFRED MUDGE & SON, rinters, No. 34 School Street, Boston.
1135619
THE INHABITANTS OF WOBURN THIS HISTORY IS MOST RESPECTFULLY INSCRIBED, BY THEIR FRIEND AND HUMBLE SERVANT,
SAMUEL SEWALL.
mendoza - 4.00
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER I.
PAOK
Woburn, originally Charlestown Village. - Elevated to a Township. - Church gath- ered. - Pastorordained. - Town incorporated, 1642. - Town Officers first chosen, 1644. - Streets laid out. - Common Fields authorized. - Johnson's Account of Woburn, 1652. - Successive Division of Town Lands, 7-42
CHAPTER II.
Civil Customs and Institutions. - Moral and Religious Habits of the first Settlers. -Town Officers. - Town Meetings. - Measures of the Town to prevent Pauper- ism. - Taxes largely paid in Products of the Soil. - Zeal for the Institutions of Religion, and teaching the Catechism. - Death and brief Notices of the Seven Commissioners for building up Woburn,. 42-77
CHAPTER III.
Death of Capt. Edward Johnson. - Site of first Meeting-house. - Building of Sec- ond Meeting-house, 1672. - Description of it. - Settlement of Rev. Jabez Fox as Colleague with Rev. Thomas Carter, 1679. - A Sunday's Services as observed in 1680. - An Imaginary Sketch, . .77-108
CHAPTER IV.
King Philip's War. - Oppressive Taxes. - Patriotism of the Town. - The Fight at Narraganset. - Woburn Soldiers killed in the Battle. - Incursions of Indians into the Town. - Ravages of the Small-pox, 1678. - Death of Rev. Thomas Car- ter, 1684. - Biographieal Notice. - Arbitrary Proceedings of Sir Edward An- dros. - Contest over the "Mistick Bridge " Question. - Difficulties relating to Rev. Mr. Fox's Salary. - Death of Rev. Jabez Fox. - Memoir of his Life .. . . 109-145 vii
viii
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER V. .
Call and Settlement of Rev. John Fox, 1703. - Declaration of the Church con- cerning Religious Doctrine and Ordinances, 1703. -- Baptists in Woburn, 1671. -- Ecclesiastical Proceedings against them. - John Russell, Sen., sentenced to Prison by the Court of Quarter Sessions. -- Defence of the Persecutions of the Baptists. - Biographical Notices of the Subscribers to the Declaration of the Church, namely, William Jolinson, Deacon Samuel Walker, Joseph Wright, Sen., 146-183 William Locke, Sen., James Converse, Jr.
CHAPTER VI.
Re-seating of the Meeting-house, 1710 - Discontent arising therefrom. - Location of the Two Thousand Acres of Land granted by the General Court in 1664. - Scarcity of Money, 1721. - Province Loan of £50,000. - Woburn takes its Pro- portion. - A Second Loan, 1728. - Bad Investment of the Share allotted to Woburn. - Various Efforts to collect and reinvest. - Supposed Loss of most of the Fund. - Lovewell's Fight, 1725. - Interesting Account of the Woburn Men who took Part in it, 184-208
CHAPTER VII.
Growth and Condition of the Schools from 1690 to 1775. - Wages. - Teachers. - Master Fowle. - School-houses. - Moving System. - Schools of Inferior Grade to Grammar Schools. - Grading System introduced. - Contention about School- masters, 1725,. .209-240
CHAPTER VIII.
Valuation of Woburn, 1708. - Petition of Goshen and Shawshin to be made sep- arate Precinets or Towns. - Petitions evaded or denied. - Separation of Goshen (Wilmington) from Woburn, 1730. - Erection of Shawshin into an Independent Precinct, 1730. - Ordination of Rev. Edward Jackson as Colleague with Rev. John Fox, 1729. - Dinner provided on that Occasion,.
.241-264
CHAPTER IX.
Dissensions between Rev. Messrs. Fox and Jackson. - Divisions among the People. - Snit of Rev. Mr. Fox against the Parish for Salary. - Success of the Suit. - Complaint by Rev. Mr. Jackson to the Court of Sessions respecting the Non- payment of his Salary. - Compromise effected and Harmony restored, 1740. - Vote to sell the Two Thousand Acres of Town Land located in Lunenburg, 1733. - Sale effected, 1734. - Details of the Management of the Trust Fund arising from the Sale, 1734 to 1772, .263-302
ix
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER X.
Proceedings for the Establishment of a Third Parish. - Third Society organized.
1746. - Installation of Rev. Josiah Cotton, 1747. - Vote of First Parish to build a new Meeting-house, 1745. - Vote renewed, 1747. - Discussion as to its Site. - Question settled, and House built, 1748-51. - Choice of Pews. - Description of the House. - Transfer of Second Meeting-house to the Town, 1754. - Taken down and Town House built of the Materials. - Scandalous Charges against Rev. Mr. JJackson. - Rev. Josiah Cotton the Libeller. - Suit at Law by Rev. Mr. Jackson against Rev. Mr. Cotton for Slander. - Mr. Cotton sustained. - Review of the Case. - Rev. Mr. Jackson vindicated. - IIis Death, 1754. - Mc-
.303-327 moir of his Life,
CHAPTER XI.
Efforts to find a Successor to Rev. Edward Jackson. - Call of Mr. Josiah Sherman. - Ilis Ordination, 1756. - Reunion of the Third Parish with the First, 1759. - Rev. Josiah Cotton dismissed and Third Parish dissolved. - Memoir of Col. Roland Cotton. - Mrs. Elizabeth Cotton. - Attempts to enlarge the First Parish Meeting-house, 1769. - Vote of Parish to enlarge, 1772. - Beginning of " Old French War." 1755. - Record of Woburn in the War. - Incidents of the Con- test as narrated by Samuel Thompson and Capt. John Wood. - Financial Troubles of Rev. Mr. Sherman. - Efforts of the Parish to relieve them. - His .
Dismissal from the Pastorship. - Sketch of his Life,
323-357
CHAPTER XII.
Events leading to the Revolutionary War. -- Raising of Minute-men. - Battle of Lexington. - Incidents of the Fight. - Services and Sacrifices of Woburn dur- ing the War. - Excessive Taxation. - Depreciation of Currency. - Great Increase of Prices. - Convention at Concord to remedy the Evil. - Bill of Rights and New State Constitution. - Federal Constitution. - Biographical Notice of Col. Loammi Baldwin. - Historical Sketch of Benjamin Thompson (Count Rumford),
.358-402
CHAPTER XIII.
Peace of 1783. - Feeling towards the Tories or Refugees. - Instructions of the Town to its Representative in the General Court on the Subject. - Financial Troubles of the Town. - Shay's Rebellion. - Proceedings of the Town in rela- tion thereto. - Construction of Middlesex Canal. - Schools from 1775 to 1866. - New Departure in 1792. - A Committee examines the School System. - Its Report. - Division of the Town into Districts. - New School-houses built,
X
CONTENTS.
1794-5. - Warren Academy founded 1827. - Academy Building burned and rebuilt, 1838. - Memorial of Isaac Warren, Esq. - Petition of Second Parish to be set off as a separate Town, 1797. - Opposition to the Measure. - Incorpora- tion of Burlington, 1799. - Public Services in Commemoration of the Death of Washington,
403-413
CHAPTER XIV.
Continuation of Ecclesiastical History (Chapter XI.) from 1775. - Parish without a Pastor. - Several Candidates heard. - Rev. Samuol Sargent called and or- dained, 1785. - Divisions and Enmities in the Parish. - Mutual Council called, 1798. - Address of Joint Committee of Church and Parish to the Council. - Advice of Council. - Dismission of Rev. Mr. Sargent recommended. - Advico disregarded. - Mr. Sargent resigns, 1799. - Call to Candidates, 1801-1802. - Mr. Joseph Chickering chosen Pastor, 1803. - Ordained, 1804. - Third Meet- ing-house burned, 1808. - New House built and dedicated, 1809. - Sale of Pews. - Rev. Mr. Chickering asks a Dismission. - Call of Council, 1821. - Dismission advised. - Rev. Mr. Chickering leaves. - Biographical Notice. - Call to Rev. Joseph Bennett. - His Ordination, 1822. - Success of his Ministry. - Organization of a Church in South Woburn. - Erection and Dedication of a House of Worship, 1840. - Fifth Meeting-house of First Parish; Dedication,
.432-468 1840. - Death of Rev. Joseph Bennett, 1847,.
CHAPTER XV.
First Parish. - Call of Mr. Jonathan Edwards. - Ordained, 1848. - Dismissed, 1856. - Rev. Daniel March installed, 1856. - Resigns, March, 1862. - Installa- tion of Rev. J. C. Bodwell, 1862. - Resigns, 1865. - Sketch of his Life. - Con- gregational Parish, North Woburn. - Society formed, 1849. - Successive Pastors. - Baptist Church and Society. - Independent Baptists. - Universalist Society. - Unitarian Society. - Methodist Episcopal Society. - Roman Catho-
469-505 lies. - Protestant Episcopal Church,
CHAPTER XVI.
Progress of the Town since 1800. - Population. - Business. - Wealth. - Poor- Farm. - Cemetery. - Schools. - Town Library. - Other Libraries. - Sabbath Schools. - Banks. - Gas-Light Company. - Masonic Institutions. - Fire De- partment. - Charitable Reading Society. - Conclusion, .505-525
4
INDEX.
BY GEO. M. CHAMPNEY.
A.
PAGE
ABERJONA RIVER. First bridge over, 14 First settlement near, . 15-27
ABSENTEES AND CONSPIRATORS. (See Refugees. )
ANDROS, SIR EDMUND. His tyran- ny and oppression. . 128
Massachusetts charter vacated. - Land titles declared void. - Town meetings suppressed, .
129
187
ARISTOCRACY among the Puritans, . ARMY CLOTHING. (See Revolution- ary war.) ASSOCIATIONS.
Agricultural and Mechanic Asso- ciation, . 517
Irish Literary association, 517
Natural History,
517
Young Men's Literary,
517
B.
BALDWIN LOAMMI, COL. Biograph- ical notice,
385-89
BALDWIN APPLE,
388-89
BAPTISM, its proper subjects, .
150, 151
BAPTIST SOCIETY.
(See Religious
Societies.)
BANKS. First National,
519
Five Cents Saving.
519
Agricultural and Mechanic,
517
BELL, first, hung on the hill near
the meeting-house, .
79
.
Placed in the turret of the sec- ond meeting-house, 82
Old one sold and new one bought, 1773, 343
BENNETT, REV. JOSEPH. Call to First Parish, 462 Ordination, 462-3 Death and biographical notice, . 467-8 (See First Parish).
BIBLE. Not used in the meeting- house, 85-107
BILL OF RIGHTS of Massachusetts.
Approved by Woburn, .
384
BIOGRAPHICAL NOTICES :
Baldwin Loamıni, . 385-9
Bennett, Rev. Joseph, . 467-8 Bodwell, Rev. J. C., . 476-7 Carter, Rev. Thomas, 124-7
Chickering, Rev. Joseph, 461
Converse, Edward, 72
Converse, James, . 175-6
Converse, James, Jr .. 178-83
Cotton, Josiah, . 337-8
Cotton, Roland, 3'8-40
Edwards, Rev. Jonathan, ·
471
Fox, Rev. Jabez, . 140-5
Fox, Rev. John, . 331-2
Graves. Thomas,
68-9
Jackson, Rev. Edward. 325-7
Johnson, Edward, 73-6
Johnson, Edward, Jr .. . 204-5
Johnson, Noah, .
207
Johnson, William,
165-9
177-8
Locke, William, .
March, Rev. Daniel, 474 Mousall, John, 71-2
Rumford, Count,
390-402
Russell, John,
157-9
Russell, John, Jr ..
159-61
Richardson, Ezekiel, 71
Richardson, Samuel, .
Richardson, Thomas, .
71
Sargent, Rev. Samuel,
447
Sherman, Rev. Josiah,
355-7
Walker, Samuel,
169-74
Wright, Joseph, .
. 174-5
Wyman, Seth,
.
207-8
BIRTHS, DEATHS, MARRIAGES, &c., Woburn, 1640-1690, preserved and first recorded by Major Converse, 183
BODWELL, REV. JOSEPII
Call
and installation.
(See First
Parislı), .
474
BOUNDARY LINES of the town estab-
lished.
. 27-29
Report of the committee defining
them,
28-30
659 .
PAGK
71
660
INDEX.
PAGE
BOUNTIES TO SOLDIERS in Revolu- tionary war, . 369-75 Debts incurred for, 406
BOUNTIES for killing birds. Appen- dix No. 11, .
563-5
Bors to take back seats and be "rapped with a stick" for un- seemly behavior in meeting, . 64-65
BUILDINGS IN WODURN in 1800 and 1866, 509-10
BURLINGTON,
172, 173, 176, 235, 339,
348, 385, 390, 432
Incorporated into a town, 1779, .
422
Previous attempts at separation, 1734, 1774, 1782, 422
(See Shawshin.)
BUSINESS AND OCCUPATIONS of the people of Woburn. . 506-8
BUTTON END,
232
C.
CARTER, REV. THOMAS.
Call to
First Parish,
18
Ordained (see First Parish), 20-22
Charges for his funeral, 126 Biographical notice, 124-27
CATECHISM. to be taught once a week, 67
Selectmen personally visit the families to see that the law is observed, 68 Ceremonies at the consecration, 512
CEMETERY. Committee to lay it out, 511
CHARITABLE READING SOCIETY. Its origin and purpose, .
521
Presidents of the society for past fifty years, 523
CHARLESTOWN VILLAGE,
7-11, 27
Grant of land,
8
Called Woburn,
23
Lots, .
30
CHARTER OF MASSACHUSETTS COL- ONY. Abrogated, 1684, . 127
CHICKERING, REV. JOSEPH.
Call
to First Parish, Acceptance,
and Ordination, 1804,
.
448-9
Biographical notice. (See First
Parish), . 461 CHURCH (First) GATHERED, . 20-21 Covenant, . 21
Covenant and confession of faith adopted, 1756, 534
Confession of faith renewed,
148-51
Declaration of, respecting bap-
tismı,
. 148-9
Members cited before the court
for admonition and punishment, 154-5
PAGE
CHURCH gathered in Third Parish, 308
Number of members First Church, 1866, 479
357 Admissions to, during the minis- try of Rev. Mr. Sherman, . Statistics of, during the pastorship of Rev. Mr. Sargent, 447
of Rev. Mr. Chickering, 461
Mr. Bennett, ·
464
478
Mr. Bodwell, · Mr. Edwards, . Mr. March, . .
471
474 43
COMMISSIONERS to end small causes, COMMITTEES. To set the bounds between Charlestown and the village, . 11 .
To form a town and church upon the grant, 11 To settle the bounds between Charlestown and Woburn, 28-30 To decide who were entitled to lands, and how they should be 37 divided,
To oversee the boys in the meet- ing-house, 65
To build the Second Meeting- house, 79 · To seat the people in the meet- ing-house, 1672, 84-5
To petition the court to be eased of the burden of Mystic bridge, To seat the people in the meet- ing-house, 1709, .
135
To locate the two thousand acres granted by the General Court to the town, 188
To manage the town's share of the province loan, 1721, . · To manage the town's share of the province loan, 1728, . . To collect the loan from the pre- vious committee, . 191-2
190
To hire school-teachers, 1699,
.
. .
214
212
1704, .
To determine where the grani- mar school shall be kept, 1742, 230 To survey the town with refer- ence to its division, 1727, 248
To appear before the General Court and oppose the division, To answer the petitions of Shaw- shin and Goshen to be set off, 1729, 256
248
To inform Mr. Edward Jackson of his call as colleague pastor of Mr. Fox, 261
To call upon Rev. Mr. Fox in regard to Mr. Jackson's settle- inent, . 261-2
184-6
189
-
661
INDEX.
Committees, Continued. PAGE
To defend the town against the suit of the Rev. Mr. Fox for salary 1737, 271 · To appear in behalf of the pre- cinct before the General Court, 274 To examine the contract with Rev. Mr. Jackson at his settle- ment, . 279-80 To sell the town lands in Lunen- burg, 1733, 283 To inquire into the security of the funds for which the land was sold, · 286
To reinvest the funds, and sup- plant the first trustees, · . To displace the last-named com-
287 mittee, . 287-8 To prepare a paper regulating the trust fund, 289
To prepare a resolution exelud- ing hirers of town money from voting on questions respecting it, 290 To andit the account of land fund trustees, · 293
To settle all accounts with trus- tees, 1764, 297 To assist the treasurer in collect- ing the land fund, 1764, . 298 To adjust the pay of the trustees, 298
To petition the General Court for a third parish, . 305-6 To answer the petition, 307
To build the new (third) meeting- house, 1747, 309
To make a list of the persons to be assessed for the building, . 313 To convert the old meeting-house into a town house, 318
To settle with the contractor who did the work, . 319
To provide for council at the or- dination of the Rev. Mr. Sher- man, 330 334
To agree upon terms of union be- tween First and Third Parish, To superintend the enlargement of Third Meeting-house, 342
To arrange with Rev. Mr. Sher- man for an increase of Salary, 1766, . To consider the state of public affairs at the " Alarming Cri- sis," 1773, · To correspond with Boston and other town committees. . · To see that the town resolves in relation to the prices of mer- chandise and labor were ad- hered to, 1729, ·
382
PAGE
To draft instructions to the rep- resentative to General Court respecting "refugees," 1783, 403
To examine the school system, and report on a uniform meth- od of instruction. 1792, . 411-13 To view the school-houses with regard to needed repairs, 415 To attempt a separation of Second Parish from the town, 1797, 423 To oppose the division of the town, 424 To inquire into the reasons of the Second Parish for seeking a division, . 425
To meet a committee of the General Court on the question of separation, . 427
A subsequent committee for the same purpose, 428 To arrange for a memorial ser- vice in honor of General Wash- ington, · 430-31 To restore peace and harinony in the First Parish, 1790, 435 . To agree with Rev. Mr. Sargent about his resignation, 1792, .
438 To consult about a mutual coun- cil, . 439
To consult about the uneasiness in First Parish, 1798, 440 To appear before council in Rev. Mr. Sargent's case, 442 To make a final settlement with 446 Rev. Mr. Sargent, . · To superintend building of the Fourth Meeting-house, . 451
To consider the matter of the withdrawal of the Rev. Mr. Chickering, 457
To express the affection of the church for Rev. Mr. Chicker- ing, 460
To lay out the town cemetery, . 511 To organize public library, 515
COMMON LANDS, 31
CONFESSION OF FAITH of First
Church, 21, 148-51 Appendix No. 4, 534-38
352
359
360
CONVERSE, MAJOR JAMES. Letters to Gov. Dudley reporting his expedition to the garrisons at Groton, Lancaster, &c., 1704. Appendix No. 7, . 543-5 His defence of the garrison at Wells. Me., 1690, . 178-82 His preservation of records of births, deaths, &c., 183
662
INDEX.
PAGE
CONSTITUTION. New Federal.
Adopted by Massachusetts in State Convention, 1788. .
Delegates to the convention from Woburn,
New state constitution framed by the legislature. 1777, 383
Disapproved by Woburn, 1778, . 383 A State Convention frames a new one, 1779. 383
Accepted by Woburn, 1780, 384
CORN. Very searce in the colony, 219-20 COTTON, ELIZABETHI. " A virgin."
(See Epitaph. ), 339-40
COTTON, REV. JOSIAH. Slander
suit brought against him by
Rev. E. Jackson. (See E. Jackson.) 320-25
Dismissed as pastor of Third Par- islı, 337
COTTON. ROLAND, COL. Notice of
338-9 his life, .
CURRENCY.
Its value regulated
monthly,
372
Its depreciation at various peri-
ods,
.
193, 269, 278, 295, 300-2,
372, 408, 410
D.
DEACONS of First Church. Appen- dix 13, 589
DEACONS' SEATS, .
84,85
DEPUTIES TO GENERAL COURT, first
chosen,
44, 45
Compensation for services,
44
See for whole number, Appen- dix No. 13, 584
DIVISION of land to the inhabitants, 30, 31
of common lands,
. 39, 40
DRINKING at funerals,
61,126
at meeting-house raising,
312
at ordinations,
263
DWELLING-HOUSE. First one built, 14
E.
EDWARDS, REV. JONATHAN. Call to First Parish. - Acceptance, 468-9 Ordination, 1848. - (See Bio- graphical Notice), 471
ELM TREE. The famous one near
177 Converse Mill, .
ENLISTMENTS. Number of men who
served in the revolutionary war, 367. (See Appendix 12.) 565-78
F.
FINES for absence from public wor- ship, . 153 FIRE DEPARTMENT. Established and organized, 520
16 FIRST PARISHI. Anxiety for a pastor, 16 Call to Rev. Jonathan Burr, . Call declined, 17
Call to Mr. Thomas Carter, 18
First sermon preached in town by Rev. Mr. Symmes, 19 Church gathered, and Rev. Mr. Carter ordained, 20-22
Ordination by "imposition of hands " by laymen, 22
Vote to procure a colleague to help Mr. Carter, 1678, 87
Call to Mr. Jabez Fox as assistant minister, 88
Parsonage built for him, 1679, . Ordained as pastor, 1679, 88-141
89
Death of Rev. Thomas Carter, . 124
Death of Rev. Jabez Fox. 1702, 140 Call to Mr. John Fox, 1703, 146
Ordained, 1703, . 147
Assistant preachers hired on ac- count of Mr. Fox's illness, 260 Persecutions of the Baptists, 152-157 Call of Mr. Edward Jackson as
colleague of Mr. Fox, 1728, . 260-1 Ordination of Mr. Jackson. 1729, 262-3 Account of the ordination dinner. 263
Dissensions between Rev. Messrs. Fox and Jackson, . 267-8 The parish straitened to maintain their ministers, 269
Rev. Mr. Fox sues the town for his salary, 1732, 271
Decision of the court in his favor. and the basis of it. . .
272-3
Appeal to Superior Court, .
274
.
Decision confirmed, . 274
Renewal of suits by Rev. Mr. Fox. und another decision in his favor, 275 Letter of Mr. Fox proposing a full settlement of the salary question, 276-7 Its final adjustment. . 277
Difficulties respecting salary of Rev. Mr. Jackson, . 278-79 Report of committee on the sub- jeet. 280
Proposal of committee declined by Mr. Jackson, 281
He brings a suit against the parish, 281 Suit withdrawn, salary paid, and harmony restored, 1740, 982
Secession of a portion of First Parish, 1746, . 303
PAGE
384
384
663
INDEX.
First Parish. Continued, PAGE
Third Parish formed, 303-8
Vote to build a new meeting- house, 1745, 309
Conflict of opinion as to loca- tion, 310
The training-fiel I decided upon, 1748, 311 Action of the parish relating to pews, 313 Delay in building pews till 1752. 314
Description of Third meeting- house. 314-16 Old meeting-house given to the town, 1757, 318-19 Serious charge against Rev. Mr. Jackson, 1747. 320 Report of committee. No rec- onciliation, .
Action for slander brought by Mr. Jackson against Rev. J. Cotton, Bitter controversy on the subject, Council of churches convened. Its decision, .
320
321
321 323 Unexpected disclosures,
Rev. Mr. Jackson petitions the court for a review of the slan- der case, 1754, 323
Review ordered, and Mr. Jack- son vindicated, .
324 Rev. Edward Jackson's death, 1754, 324 . Call to Mr. Nath'l Potter, who declines. 1755, 329
Rev. Josiah Sherman receives and accepts a call, 330
His ordination, Jan. 7, 1756, 331 331
Death of Rev. John Fox, 1756, Negotiations for union of First and Third parishes, 1755, 333
Joint petition to General Court for union, 335 Ordained, March, 1804, 449
Legislative action ; terms of union prescribed, . 335-6 Union consummated, 1760, 336
Number of members added by dissolution of Third parish, . Enlargement of meeting-house proposed, 1769, 336
340
Votes authorizing it, 1772, 340-41
House completed and pews built, Oct. 27, 1742. 343
Troubles arising out of the " sal- ary question " with Rev. Mr. Sherman, 1761-5, . 350-53
Mutual agreementarranged, 1766, 351 Renewal of the difficulty, . 352 Open opposition to Mr. Sherman's ministry, . 352-3 He requests a release from the pastorship, . 353
Vote of church and parish to dis-
miss and recommend, 1775, . 354-5 Withdrawal of Rev. Mr. Sher- man, and notice of his life, 355-57 Parish without a settled minister abont ten years, 432 Call and ordination of Rev. Sam- nel Sargent, 1784-5, . 433-4
. Number of persons on the parish tax-list, 1785, . · 434
Dissensions following the settle- ment of Rev. Mr. Sargent, 434 Withdrawal of members of the parish, 435
Meeting to heal divisions, 1790, 435
. 436-7 Rev. Mr. Sargent sues the parish for his salary, .
437 Parish sued by West Cambridge Baptists, and suit gained, 437
Continued dissatisfaction with Mr. Sargent, . 438 Negotiations for an adjustment, 439-40 Mutual council called, 441 Address of church and parish to council, . . 443-4
Report of council advising a sep- aration of pastor and people, . 444-5 Vote of parish not to comply with advice of council, . 446
Difficulties harmonized, and Rev. Mr. Sargent dismissed, . 446-7 Call to Mr. Joshua Lane, 1799, and Mr. Humphrey Moore, 1802, 448 Both declinc, 448
Call to Mr. Joseph Chickering. 1803, 448
Dedication of Fourth meeting- house, 1804, 451
Pews sold by public auction, 452
Surplus fund invested for the support of a Congregational minister, 452
Trustees of the fund, 453
Fund diverted to payment of par- ish debt, 1861, 453
Feud between Rev. Mr. Chick- ering and a prominent member of the parish, 1811. 454
The breach widens and disturbs the parish for many years, 454
Mr. Chickering asks a dismis- sion, 1821. . 455-6 Council convened, April, 1821, . 458
Dismissal recommended, and the pastoral relation with the First Parish severed, 459
PAGE
664
INDEX.
First Parish, Continued. PAGE
Call to Mr. Joseph Bennett, 1821, Call accepted and council called.
Ordination of Mr. Bennett, 1822, Success of his ministry,
Church gathered in South Wo- burn, 1840, 465
Friendly withdrawal of many members of First Parish to join it,
466
Death of Rev. Joshua Bennett, 1847, 467
Call to Mr. Jonathan Edwards; his acceptance and ordination, 1848, 469-70
470
Harmony during his pastorate, . Dismission asked for and granted, 1856, 470
Call to Rev. Daniel March, and installation, 1856, 472
Resigns, 1862. A council advises its acceptance, 472-3 Results of his ministry, 474
Rev. Joseph Bodwell invited to the pastorate, 1862, 474
Installation services, .
475
Dismission requested and granted by council, 1866, . 475 Proceedings of that body, . . 470-7
FRENCH NEUTRALS. Their origin
and distribution among the towns of Massachusetts prov- ince. Appendix 10, 558-63
FRENCH WAR. 1755-62. Causes which led to the war, 344-5
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