USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Uxbridge > Address delivered at the Unitarian church, in Uxbridge, Mass., in 1864, with further statements, not made a part of the address, but included in the notes > Part 2
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year to year, in a manner that fills one with a feel- ing of deep respect for the care and fidelity with which the men of that day performed their muni- cipal duties, and with a feeling of wonder and astonishment at the cheapness and economy with which they carried them on. In 1728, they allowed Mr. Solomon Wood, for services as town treasurer one year, five shillings, and at the same time allowed Lieut. Joseph Taft seven shillings for a barrel of cider. Truly, apples must have been scarce in 1728 in the territory of Wacantug. In 1735, the town voted to raise twenty pounds to defray the town expenses this year. In 1734, Mr. Edmund Rawson was allowed twenty pounds for keeping school six months and boarding himself. In 1731, the town sold their stock of ammunition to help defray town expenses. In the same year it was voted, that " We will make choice of a man to go on ye town's behalf to see about letting ye fish come up ye great river in case other towns should send to Providence to joyn with them in agreeing to have ye fish let up ye great river at Jenckes falls."
From the year 1775, during the revolutionary war, we find that the fires of patriotism burned here brightly and steadily. Although they voted that inoculation for the small-pox should not be set up in Uxbridge, the people showed, not only
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that they were not afraid of Great Britain, but that they were willing to contribute their full share towards the prosecution of the war.
At the meeting in May, 1776, in the spring previous to the declaration of independence, an article of which the following is a copy was acted upon: "To see if the town will vote if the honora- ble Congress should, for the safety of the United States colonies, declare themselves independent of the kingdom of Great Britain, whether that they will solemnly engage with their lives and fortunes to support them in the measure." Have you any question how they voted ? Of course they voted in the affirmative. This is not all. In 1778, the town voted "to pay one quarter more than the County rate for 1777," and although an attempt was made at a subsequent meeting to defeat it, or rescind it, the attempt signally failed. In the same year the town voted to raise a committee to procure clothing for the soldiers, and a man to carry it to them. This, you will bear in mind, took place long before any public conveyance was established in this vicinity, and when a journey to and from different sections of the country, was a formidable undertaking in labor and endurance. Prices having been mach increased by reason of the war, the town also voted "to pay one-half of the minister's salary in products and labor at the same prices 4
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at which they were furnished at the time of his settlement." What a splendid arrangement it would be now for a minister, or any one else, who is dependent upon a salary, if a similar spirit of liberality could be exercised towards him, at a time when coal is fourteen dollars a ton, and all the other necessaries of life are proportionally as expensive. A word to the wise is of course sufficient.
In the early histories of the towns of New Eng- land, we are struck with the attention which was given to the matter of public worship. The people of this town were of the old puritan stock, and the puritans, whether sincere or not, were always marked by their care for the institutions of religion. One of the earliest votes of the new town in 1727, was that they would maintain public preaching by way of rate, and " would build a meeting house forty feet in length, thirty-five feet in breadth and nineteen feet between joynts." In 1752 it was voted to pay. £48 to Mr. Webb for his salary, and see whether he has been honorably maintained according to the agreement with him. In 1773 immediately after Northbridge was set off, the town voted to remove the old meeting-house, if it could be, and that the new one be set in the same place. If I am not mistaken, what is spoken of as the old meeting-house was the one which stood upon the
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common until after the year 1830, and was the one where all sorts of meetings from time to time were held. If any one here has any curiosity to know more of the common and the location of that meeting-house, which stood upon the hill near where Mr. Hayward's house is situated, he will find under vote of May 11th, 1797, a copy of an agree- ment signed by Bezalcel Taft, John Capron, Silas Rawson and Robert G. Tillinghast, selectmen of Uxbridge, and John Capron, Elihu Brown and Samuel Willard, parties adjoining the common, fixing the several lines and boundaries of the same .* He will also find annexed thereto a plan of the common, which is quite curious and interest- ing. The lines and their bearings are given, there is a drawing of the meeting-house, the house for- merly occupied by Dr. Samuel Willard with its gambrel roof, a building which I suppose to be the old hotel, the horse-sheds, the house formerly occu- pied by Elihu Brown, now Mr. Jepherson's, and the old school-house. In addition to these, is a draw- ing (not a photograph) of the surveyor with his instrument. I scarcely recognize the features, but my opinion is that the surveyor was Frederic Taft.
* The following vote, with date of March 5th, 1794, appears: " VOTED to choose a committee to see all the ineumbrances removed off the common, that lies about the town's meeting-house." Nicholas Baylies, Asa Thayer and Samuel Taft were chosen a committee for the purpose.
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Compare that sketch taken in 1797, with Uxbridge as it is in 1864, and you will be able to form a pretty clear idea of the growth of this village within the last seventy years.
As a fact tending to show the manners and customs of men with a puritan education, at the time of the raising of the first meeting-house in Uxbridge, in 1730, it became the duty of an appropriate committee to purchase fifteen gallons of rum. One can hardly help asking himself, what raisings wouldn't there be now, if there should be procured and distributed on such an occasion fifteen gallons of what we call rum at the present day. It is probably true, that if the quality of the liquors of that time had been as poor as it is now, and raisings had been characterized by the purchase and distribution of such material, there would at the present time have existed few descendants of the men of 1730 to listen to any speaker upon an occasion like this.
The first settled minister in Uxbridge was the Rev. Nathan Webb. He was settled February 3d, 1731. HIe died March 16th, 1772, after a- ministry of over forty years and in the same year in which Northbridge was set off as a separate town. All that can be learned about him tends to the conviction, that he was a faithful preacher, an earnest, true-hearted man, and that he exerted a
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beneficial influence upon the minds and hearts of the people. I have in my possession one of his written sermons which shows deep religious feeling, good sense, clearness of style, and tends to convince me that he was a sound thinker and good writer. Ile was a man of good temper and genial humor. IIc used to tell, with much merriment, the follow- ing anecdote. A couple came to him to be married. Having tied the knot, he was inquired of by the happy groom about his terms. Mr. Webb told him that he generally left the compensation to the parties. The bridegroom handed him four coppers, and with his bride left the house of the parson. Mr. Webb enjoyed it so much that he could not keep it to himself, and the story reached the ears of the generous party. Meeting Mr. Webb, he told him if he was not satisfied, he would make him satisfied, and handed him another copper. Mr. Webb always said he was satisfied.
The second settled minister was the Rev. Heze- kiah Chapman, who was settled January 27th, 1774, and was dismissed April 5th, 1781. In 1778, Mr. Chapman asked for a dismission, but the town voted to pay one-half of his salary in any of the produce of their farms at the price which was current for the same articles at the time of his settlement in the ministry of the town, or, in labor at the price which labor was worth at the same
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time. In April, 1781, we find the entries of which the following is a copy :-
" At a meeting of the church in Uxbridge, April 5th, 1781. Whereas, the Rev. Hezekiah Chapman, the pastor of this church, some time since signified to us his desire of a dis- mission from his pastoral relation to this church and congre- gation on account of the languishing state of his health. The church having maturely considered the reason he was pleased to assign for his dismission, and previously consulted with the congregation, voted unanimously, that a dismission be granted Mr. Chapman agreeable to his request."
Mr. Chapman's reply is as follows :-
" Mr. Chapman being dismissed from his ministerial rela- tion to the church in Uxbridge, feels himself in justice bound to declare, that they have treated him with tenderness and respect, and that it is with reluctance that he leaves them. The care of his health, which for years has been languishing, obliges him to leave such worthy and valuable friends. He wishes them prosperity, and shall never cease to rejoice in their welfare."
The real reason for Mr. Chapman's leaving does not appear in the foregoing copies. It is a sad fact, that the real cause of his leaving Uxbridge was intemperance. After his dismission, he left the town and his wife remained for some time alone. She was obliged to sell sundry articles of household furniture to procure the necessaries of life, and some of the furniture, after a lapse of seventy-five years, may be seen in this town in a good state of preservation.
The third settled minister was the Rev. Josiah Spaulding, who was settled September 11th, 1783,
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and was dismissed October 27th, 1787. It has been written and printed, that both Mr. Chapman and Mr. Spaulding were dismissed more on account of the peculiarity of their religious sentiments than from any other cause. In my opinion this state- ment is not a correct one, about one of them at least. Mr. Spaulding was unmarried. He was distinguished by a remarkable fondness for the Proverbs of Solomon. In the Bible which he was in the habit of reading, the Book of Proverbs became so soiled and worn, that one could readily discern the locality of his favorite reading by the appearance of the well thumbed pages, that were subjected to his frequent perusal. It appears that in 1787, a vote of the town was passed and sent to Mr. Spaulding, advising him to ask a dismission, and the action of the church and an ecclesiastical council is contained in a certain vote of which the following is a copy :-
" Uxbridge, Sept. 10th, 1787. At a Chh. meeting regu- larly warned at the Meetinghouse : After reading a vote sent to our Rev. Pastor from this Town, or Congregational Society, in which he was advised to ask a dismission from us : and after some conversation, the question being put to see if this Chh. will join with their Pastor in calling a mutual Council of Pastors and Churches to advise upon the expe- diency of his being dismissed or not-The Vote passed in the affirmative.
Voted, again, that nothing shall be laid before the Council except what is first laid before the Chh. and their voice had upon it, if they see fit, and that 14 days before the Council sit."
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(In Council.)
The Church gave the Rev. Mr. Spaulding the following recommendation :-
" Whereas, Rev. Mr. Josiah Spaulding is dismissed from us as to his pastoral relation, and as he has requested a dis- mission from his membership from this Chh. and a recom- mendation to the communition and fellowship of the Chh. of Christ wherever God in his providence shall call him : this is therefore a testimony that he is a brother in good and regular standing ; and in consequence of his request, we do dismiss him from particular membership in this Chh. and do recommend him to the Chh. of Christ, wherever God in his providence shall call him, as a brother in good and regular standing. This vote passed ye Presence of the Council and was signed by the Moderator at the request of the Chh.
AMARIAH FROST, Moderator."
(In the result.)
" The Council feel it incumbent on them to declare that they view Mr. Spaulding's christian character in a fair and amiable light, and cannot but hope Christ will still use him as an instrument of spreading his Gospel, and promoting his cause in the world. And accordingly we recommend him as a preacher of the Gospel."
Mr. Spaulding was afterwards settled in Worth- ington, Mass. It would be pleasant to know the reason why the town saw fit to pass the vote referred to, but I have not been able to ascertain any of the facts relating to the same .*
* After the dismissal of Mr. Spaulding, Mr. Samuel Mead preached for some time in Uxbridge, and in December 1791, the town voted "to conenr with the church in giving Mr. Mead a call to be settled over them in the ministry," also, " VOTED £100 as an encouragement to settle, and £90 per annum salary." No answer appears on the records to the foregoing votes.
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The fourth settled minister was the Rev. Samuel Judson, who was settled October 17th, 1792, and dismissed in 1832. In the language of the epitaph upon his tombstone, "He was for forty years the faithful and beloved pastor of the church of Christ in Uxbridge, where, after a life of purity and benevolence, he died in the faith and hope of the gospel, Nov. 11th, A. D. 1832, aged 65." I find that he was born in Woodbury, Conn., December 7th, 1767. He married Miss Sally Bartlett of Salem, May 28th, 1797. He was a man of remark- able conscientiousness, rare good nature, much native common sense, and during his long ministry he retained the love and confidence of the people of his charge .*
* The call given to Mr. Judson was unanimous, and was accompanied by the following votes : "VOTED, to give Mr. Samuel Judson £200, provided he shall accept the call and settle in said town; one-half to be paid in one year from the time he is ordained, the other half two years from said ordination, without interest." Also, "VOTED, To give Mr. Judson £75 as an annual salary, so long as he shall be our minister."
In relation to the incorporation of the First Congregational Society, the following appears on the record, April 3d, 1797. " Article 3d. VOTED, That the petitioners mentioned in said article (the names are not mentioned in the article as it stands on the record) have said town's consent for their being incorporated agreeable to the prayer of their petition, with an amendment (that is) that they have the right to improve the ministry money so long as they shall remain a society as petitioned for and support the Gospel therein."
From the petition mentioned in the foregoing vote, originated the act of incorporation of the " First Congregational Society in Uxbridge," which passed at the next session of the General Court. From this time all connection between the "Congregational Society " and the town ceased. The town occupied the meeting-house for town-meetings and business purposes, until it was taken down for the purpose of building a new church in 1834.
The new church of the First Congregational Society was dedicated in Janu- ary 1835, the pastor, Rev. Mr. Clarke, preaching the sermon. This building
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At the dismissal of Mr. Judson, the elements of religious opinion came to an open rupture, and those who had united under his ministrations, formed themselves into separate societies, according to mixed motives of personal feelings, or religious principles, and the two houses for religious wor- ship, which now stand upon opposite sides of the common were erected, and the members of the two societies, who unitedly paid Mr. Judson a salary of $400 a year, settled the Rev. David A. Grosvenor, at a salary of $600, and the Rev. Samuel Clarke, at a salary of $600; and from that time to the present both societies have been reasonably prosperous: and after the first few years following the separa- tion, with few exceptions, the most kindly feeling has prevailed between the members of the different societies. I do not propose to follow the histories of these two religious societies since the time of their separation, but knowing as I did both Mr. Grosvenor and Mr. Clarke, under circumstances which furnished good opportunities for forming an impartial judgment, I am free to say, they were both true and earnest exponents of their different views of theology; both were men of more than ordinary talent, good citizens, good friends, and, as
was thoroughly repaired in 1864, at a cost of about $4,500; and again in 1878, at a cost of some $4,000.
The house of the Evangelical Congregational Society was built the same year, 1833, and dedicated in the autumn. It was repaired some seventeen years ago and much improved.
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it appeared to me, sincere Christians and honest men.
Rev. Samuel Clarke, the son of Ninian Clarke of Scotch ancestry, "an extraordinary man, of large sympathies, a noble spirit and trusted by every one," was born in New Boston, N. H., April 21st, 1791. He fitted for college with the Rev. Mr. Beede of Wilton, and was graduated at Dartmouth Col- lege in the class of 1812. He studied theology with Dr. Channing, and was ordained at Princeton in Worcester County, June 18th, 1817. He married Miss Sarah Wigglesworth, of Newburyport, Sep- tember, 1819. On January 9th, 1833, he was installed over the First Congregational Society in Uxbridge, and his connection was not severed during his life. He died in Worcester, Saturday morning, November 19th, 1859, and was buried at Uxbridge on Tuesday, November 22d. The ser- vices at the meeting-house of the First Congrega- tional Society were as follows: reading of the Scriptures by Rev. Mr. Ferry; remarks by Rev. Messrs. Hill of Worcester, Boyden of Woonsocket and Ball of Upton; and a prayer by Rev. Mr. Shippen of Worcester. The services were appro- priate and impressive. The funeral was attended by a large concourse of people of the various religious societies. The business of the village was sus- pended, the stores were closed; and, although the
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day was stormy, the whole community seemed to wish to pay their last tribute of respect to the memory of a good man and truly Christian minister. It was well remarked by one of the company at the grave, "There lies a man who was more beloved than any other man in the town of Uxbridge."
When a good man passes away, it is well to review his life, and learn the true qualities of his character. The ministry of Mr. Clarke extended over a period of forty-two years; fifteen of which were passed in Princeton, and twenty-seven in Uxbridge. It having been the privilege of the writer, during a portion of the time, to listen to the religious exercises of Mr. Clarke from week to weck, to meet him almost daily in the intercourse of life, to confer with him in scenes of joy and sorrow, to witness his spirit under circumstances of peculiar trial and anxiety, he feels at liberty to offer his grateful tribute to his memory. There existed in him a beauty and consistency of character rarely witnessed. He was a true friend. To all who knew him his presence seemed a benediction. But, in the familiar intercourse of life, we were often surprised by the gushing out of emotions and sympathies, which a stranger, who had only witnessed the calm dignity of his deportment, would scarcely have expected. A man of rare modesty, great self- denial, imperturbable good nature, excellent gifts,
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large culture and unflinching fidelity to duty, he went in and out before us during twenty-seven years; and, eloquent and appropriate as were his religious exercises, his life was one of the richest legacies which he bequeathed to win us to a higher life, by the living power of a pure Christian exam- ple. Blest during the greater portion of his minis- terial life with the companionship of a wife of rare accomplishments, combined with large common sense and devoted Christian principles, he always found his home a happy one, where he ever met ready sympathy, kind words, and hearty co-operation. No man in the community fulfilled his duty more faith- fully. The poor, the sick and the unfortunate always found in him a friend; and his labors in the cause of education and good order are held in grateful remembrance. Although he was far from robust, and exhibited for a number of years symptoms of declining health, his religious exercises seemed to increase in excellence from year to year, and the genuine beauty of his character became more and more apparent. He labored faithfully until a Sunday in the July preceding his death, when, in the performance of his usual duties, exhausted nature gave way, and he fell to the floor of his pulpit in a fainting condition. Feeling that his work was done, he sent in a letter resigning his office, and requesting the Society to accept his resignation,-a request
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which, to their honor, they promptly declined; not only voting to supply the pulpit, but to continue the salary of Mr. Clarke. From that time, although the seal of coming death was on his brow, it brought no terrors and the kindly voice and beaming smile seemed to speak of a heaven within.
Again he met his church at the communion table, distributed to them the symbols, and, in language which those who heard him can never forget, he commended them to God, committed all to His hands, and bade them farewell with the hope, that, if it was God's will, they might meet again this side of the grave, but be fully prepared for whatever in God's providence was in store for him. Another meeting in life was not vouchsafed to them. While the tones of his parting farewell seemed yet to linger in our ears, we were startled by the an- nouncement that the beloved and faithful pastor had quietly dropped to sleep "like one who wraps the drapery of his couch about him, and lies down to pleasant dreams."*
There has long been a society of Friends, or Quakers, in this town; but their faith has been so internal and undemonstrative, that there is but little on an occasion like this to say of them. We all know that this denomination of Christians early
* See Appendix I. for an account of the successors to Rev. Mr. Clarke and Rev. Mr. Grosvenor.
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adopted firm and decided views upon the great questions of slavery, intemperance and the prevail- ing evils of society; but their style of enforcing their views has been so quiet and unobtrusive, that we hardly realize that many of these questions, which seem to some of us so new, are, to the mem- bers of this denomination, as old as the plain bonnet and the straight collared coat: and these questions have been so well considered by them, that their opinions about them seem to them as natural and as much a thing of course as the air they breathe.
There is a Baptist society in the north part of the town, but its history is so modern that I leave it with the statement of the fact of its existence, although it would be pleasant to refer to some of its preachers and to its more prominent and influential members, among whom was the late Dea. David D. Payne .*
Within a few years past you have found estab- lished here a Roman Catholic Church; but of this you must know so much more than I, that I content myself with the mere recognition of a circumstance which would have seemed so strange; twenty years ago. With these remarks I leave the ecclesiastical history of the town, t and refer to some other events in its history.
* See Appendix II., Baptist Church. + See Appendix III., Roman Catholic Church. # See Appendix IV., Methodist Episcopal Church.
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In the month of November, 1789, Gen. George Washington, then President of the United States, passed a night in Uxbridge, at a tavern, kept, in his language, by " one Taft." I need not tell you where what was then the tavern, is now situated,* nor who occupies it. I need not express the hope that the building may long be spared as an object of patriot- ism in trust. From Hartford, General Washington wrote on the eighth of November, 1789, on his way home, the following letter to "Mr. Taft, near Uxbridge, Massachusetts " :-
" Sir :- Being informed that you have given my name to one of your sons, and called another after Mrs. Washington's family, and being moreover much pleased with the modest and innocent looks of your two daughters, Patty and Polly, I do, for these reasons, send each of these girls a piece of chintz ; and to Patty, who bears the name of Mrs. Washing- ton, and who waited upon us more than Polly did, I send five guineas with which she may buy herself any little orna- ments she may want, or she may dispose of them in any other manner more agreeable to herself. As I do not give these things with a view to have it talked of, or even to its being known, the less there is said about the matter, the better you will please me ; but that I may be sure the chintz and money have got safe to hand, let Patty, who, I dare say, is equal to it, write me a line informing me thereof, directed to ' The President of the United States, New York.' I wish you and your family well, and am your humble servant."
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