USA > Massachusetts > Suffolk County > Chelsea > Documentary history of Chelsea : including the Boston precincts of Winnisimmet, Rumney Marsh, and Pullen Point, 1624-1824, vol 2 > Part 19
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3 Supra, vol. i. p. 204.
' 3 Coll. Mass. Hist, Soe., i, 257-264.
" Supra, vol. i. pp. 42-44.
" Supra. p. 179.
" Sec Corey, Malden, pp. 104 et seq .; 197 et seq. The road to the meet- ing-house from Washington Avenue in Chelsea was a firm, well-trod way in 1649.
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that some inhabitants of Rumney Marsh attended church there. John Doolittle of the Cogan farm left a legacy to its pastor.8 His successor John Floyd, who lived for a few years in Malden, was an attendant there, and John Floyd's son Hugh did not trans- fer his church membership from Malden to Rumney Marsh until 1724.º Henry Green, at one time tenant of the Newgate farm, Isaae Lewis, tenant of the little Keayne farm and in 1691 pur- chiaser of the Wceden farm, and John Chamberlain, tenant of the Dudley farm, lived in Malden before settling in Rumney Marsh. Nicholas Paige of the Keayne farm owned a pew in Malden church. Ensign John Center, whose mother was a member of the First Church in Boston, and whose wife was a member of the North Church, subscribed for the enlarging of Malden meeting-house in 1703, as did also Thomas Pratt of the Way-Ireland farm and Daniel Hutehens of the " Panhandle." John Brintnall and his family attended Malden church; his grandsons, John and Ben- jamin Brintnall, did not remove their church relations from Malden to Chelsea, until after Rev. William McClenachan was settled in 1748.10
In 1650 the North Church was built, and as it stood near the landing-place of Winnisimmet Ferry, it was the Boston church most frequented by the people of Rumney Marsh. When Increase Mather eseaped seeretly on his mission to England in 1688, he was carried " by eertain well-disposed Young Men of his Flock " from his brother-in-law's house in Charlestown to Aaron Way's, and thence by night to the ship in the harbor.11 Aaron Way joined Mather's church in 1661, and in 1698 his widow and children were dismissed by it to South Carolina.12 Of the tenants on the Bellingham farms Samuel and Elizabeth Townsend joined the North Church September 18, 1681. William Eustace, second of the name, owned the covenant there in 1713, and with his wife Sarah was admitted to membership January 15, 1720/1; and his brother Joseph was admitted March 24, 1689. Ruth, wife of the second John Center, joined this church February 7, 1691/2, and her chil- dren were baptized there. Thomas Townsend of the Parker, later the Cheever, farm joined the North Chureh October 30, 1681, and his children's baptisms were recorded there. The children of his father-in-law, Samuel Davis, his predecessor on the farm, were baptized by the pastor of the First Church. William Hasey,
8 Supra, vol. i. p. 175.
9 Supra, vol. i. p. 181.
10 Supra, vol. i. pp. 49, 50.
11 Mather, Parentator; Sewall, Diary, i. 209, 210.
12 Supra, vol. i. pp. 137, 138.
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second of the name, joined the North Church April 14, 1628. His children were baptized by its pastor. In 1715 William and Asa Ilasey were dismissed from the North Church to join in organ- izing the church at Rumey Marsh. The children of the first William Hasey were baptized by the pastor of the First Church in the right of his wife, as were also the children of his neighbors, Edward and Elizabeth Weeden. Apparently James Bill, Sr., of Pulling Point attended the North Church; he and his wife were buried on Copp's Hill.
Cotton Mather, pastor of the North Church, recorded in his diary 13 at the end of his thirty-first year, 1693: " Memorandum: (Tho' tis hardly worth Remembring) Many Families of iny Flock, residing on t'other side the water, putt themselves unto consider- able Trouble, every Lords-day, to attend upon my Ministry. Now, tho' it would be a considerable Diminution of my Auditory. yet J have often called upon them, to gather and settle a church, among themselves, and offered them all the Assistence that J could possibly give them, in their doing so. At Length, perceiving, that ye Thing which hindred them, was, That it would bee too great an Expence, for so small a Village, to maintain their Minister themselves J made them an offer, that if they would furnish them- selves with a worthy Minister, J would assist his maintenance as far as J could, and even abate my own poor Salary for it. They wondred at the generosity of these Tenders, and J glorifyed ye Lord Jesus Christ, & His Gospel, by making them. Nevertheless, they never Accepted y !! "
At the close of the diary for his thirty-ninth year (1701) he defended his opposition to the establishment of the Brattle Square church against the charge of self-interest, insisting that such a charge was manifestly unjust toward a minister who was " of such a Temper, that perceiving a considerable & valuable part of his Flock, to putt themselves unto a deal of Trouble, to attend upon his ministry (by passing a Large Ferry Every Lords-Day) he shall one year after another call upon these Beloved Christians, to leave his ministry, & sett up a New church by themselves, & sett up a worthy pastor over them, to support whom, he shall offer to Contribute not a Little, and part with some of his own Salary." 13 The two Boston churches invited to the council which ordained Rev. Thomas Cheever in 1715 were the North Church, and its daughter, the New North Church.
February 10, 1701/2, Cotton Mather recorded in his diary that he had established many "Religious private meetings, among the
13 MSS. Collections of Mass. Hist. Soc.
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Christians in my Neighbourhood," and that he had " at least Thir- teen or Fourteen of these (besides my vast Congregation) under iny charge. They unavoidably demand of me, a deal of Time, and Care, & expensive Jndustry; nor do J know any minister upon Earth at this day, that has ye like Number to look after." 14 Pre- sumably such neighborhood meetings were held by his parishioners at Rumney Marsh.
The petition from Rumney Marsh read in the Boston town meet- ing March 11, 1705/6, has not been found. The initiation of the movement at that preeise time was probably due to the course of events in Malden, and was also influenced by the contest over Governor Bellingham's will.15 Nine months before, on June 10, 1705, Rev. Michael Wigglesworth died, and a long strife ensued before David Parsons was settled in 1709. May 7, 1706, Cotton Mather recorded in his diary: " The church of Malden, has long been embroil'd with mueh contention and confusion." He hoped that his going thither to serve as moderator at their church meet- ing would " putte a just period unto their Differenees, and also diverte ye Trouble of an Ecclesiastical Couneil, which was prepar- ing to eomc unto them." 16 The petition which opposed the build- ing of a meeting-house at Rumney Marsh, was presented several months after the installation of Rev. David Parsons. Of the men who signed this petition Nicholas Paige owned a pew in Malden meeting-house, John Center and Thomas Pratt had contributed to its rebuilding in 1703/4, and John Brintnall is known to have been an attendant there. Elisha Bennett, Thomas Berry, William Bordman, John Lamson, Thomas Marble, John Wait, Samuel Breedeen, all lived in what was later known as " Chelsea Panhandle," a narrow strip of land between Malden and Lynn.
While this latter petition was circulating at Rumney Marsh, the following presentments were made. At the January term of the Court of General Sessions of the Peace, 1709/10, William Colmer of Rumney Marsh was presented " for absenting himself from the Publiek Worship of God: appeared, and not producing Evidenee to Evince the Contrary " was fined five shillings and costs. He was also "presented for Drunkeness, appeared and denyed the same, and being Conviet thereof by the Oaths of two Witnesses " was fined five shillings and costs. Jonathan Tuttle was presented for absence from public worship, "owned the
14 MSS. Collections of Mass. Hist. Soc.
15 Supra, p. 182, note 13.
16 MSS. Diary of Cotton Mather, Amer. Antiquarian Society, Worcester. See also Corey, Malden, 293, 463-471.
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same," and was fined as above.17 This is the first instance on record of the presentment of an inhabitant of Rumney Marsh for non-attendance at church. Two years later, at the April term of Court, 1712, "John Trumbal of Ruinney Marsh being presented by the Grand Jury for absenting himself from the Publick Wor- ship, Appeared and pleaded Jllness and Jndisposition of Body, was admonished & upon promise of amendment was dismissed he paying Costs of Court." 18
At the August session of the same court in 1211, "Jonathan Bill and Joshua Bill Sons of Joshua Bill of Pulling point being presented for hunting and killing Foxes on the Sabbath Day in the latter End of April or the beginning of May last past, the aforenamed Jonathan Bill Appeared and being heard thereon Ordered That upon the said Bill's paying Costs the presentment be dismissed."] 19
17 MSS. Rec. of Court of General Sessions of the Peace, 1702-1712, p. 202.
18 Ibid., 247.
MSS. Rec. of the Court of General Sessions of the Peace, 1712-1719, p. 54.
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APPENDIX 2
Rev. Thomas Cheever
THOMAS CHEEVER,1 son of Ezekiel, the famous school-master, was born at Ipswich, Massachusetts, August 23, 1658, and gradu- ated at Harvard College in 1677. He was admitted to the First Church of Boston, July, 1680, and took the Freeman's oath the following October 13th. He began to preach in Malden February 14, 1679/80, at the age of twenty-one, and was there ordained as colleague of Michael Wigglesworth, author of " The Day of Doom," July 27, 1681. Like most of the clergy of that day, he was not without interest in political affairs. Edward Randolph, the " evil genius of New England," arrived in Boston October 26, 1683, with the writ of quo warranto against the Massachusetts Charter, and in the narrative of his proceedings read to the Privy Council March 11, 1683/4, he says: "About 7 or 8 dayes before the Generall Assembly broak vp, a libellous Paper was dispers'd in Boston highly reflecting vpon yor Mats Proceedings against that Colony, as directly contrary to yor. Mat's Gracious Letters formerly sent them, and further adding, That the late Declaration relating to the horrid Conspiracy was butt a sham plott &a. That the Govern". Magistrates and Ministers were grevious Backsliders and betrayers of their Libertyes and Country &ª. It was verily beleived that one Cheefers a young hott headed Minister was the Author of that Paper, not without the Privacy of some of the Deputyes, and there- fore great Endeavours were vsed to gett the matter Smothered." 2
Two years later he encountered far more serious charges. March 15, 1685/6, Sewall writes in his diary: " Mr. Wigglesworth here, speaks about a Council respecting Mr. Thomas Chiever." And again, March 28, " Letter read from Maldon directed to the three Churches in Boston, desiring Council respecting their Pastor Mr. Tho. Chiever, who is charg'd with scandalous immoralities, for
1 For much about Thomas Cheever and his descendants I am indebted to John T. Hassam's Ezekiel Cheever and Some of his Descendants, Boston, 1884.
2 [Edward Randolph ( Prince Society Publications), iii. 277]; Palfrey, New England, iii. 387 (note).
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which [he] hath not given satisfaction."3 Sewall gives an account+ of the proceedings of the Council at Malden April 7, 1686, which he attended. Increase Mather was moderator. Cheever met the witnesses face to face, and his venerable father, who desired to be present, " was admitted and bid wellcom, except when Council debated in private all alone." The Council found Thomas Cheever accused of " scandalons breaches " of the third and seventh " com- mandments, and that the evidence seemed to be satisfactory. The Church at Malden had declined all testimony of alleged transac- tions before his ordination, and some of a later date where the witnesses seemed prejudiced or incompetent; and the Council, on the same considerations, waived such testimony. Cheever denied many of the charges, and pretended not to remember as to others; but the Council found that he had been " too much accustomed to an evil course of Levity and Profaneness," and advised the church to suspend him "from the Exercise of his ministerial Function ; and also to debar him from partaking with them at the Lord's Table, for the space of Six Weeks, untill which time the Council will adjourn themselves, to meet at Boston. And that in case he shall in the mean while manifest that Repentance which the Rule requires, they should confirmn their Love to him, and (if possible) improve him again in the Lord's Work among them." "
At this adjournment the Council reported as follows, the original of which is in my possession : 7
" The Elders & Messengers of ye Churches assembled in Council April 7. 1686 at ye desire of the Church in Maldon, having upon adjournment mett at Boston May 20 & 27 & June 10, and there taken the state of that Church into further consideration, do declare & advise as followeth ;
I. Inasmuch as wee understand that Mr Thoms Cheever has now declared, that as to ye scandalous words which have been
Diary, i. 127, 130.
4 Ibid., ii. 21 *- 23 *.
" [These breaches were the use of "light and obscene expressions (not fit to be named) in an Ordinary at Salem," and " as he was travailing on the Rode." Ibid., 21", 22 *. ]
" [Rev. Michael Wigglesworth, in thanking the Council, said the church " had cause to condem themselves, as for other sins, so their sudden laying Hands on Mr. Chiever; and now God was whiping them with a Rod of their own making." ( Ibid., 23*). The elmreh was also rebuked by the Council, - " for not observing the Rules of Christ, in endeavouring to pro- vent Evils by giving seasonable notice to Mr. Chiever of their Dissatisfac- tions," and for " that want of Love, and for that bitterness of Spirit. which appears in sundry of them." See also Corey, Malden, chap. ix. Mr. Corey is a descendant of Rev. Thomas Cheever. ]
7 [ Chamberlain MSS., A. 45, Boston Publie Library.]
VOL. II. - 13
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Testified and proved against him, he doth know and with shame and sorrow confess that he has spoken words of ye' same nature more then is charged upon him, and doth not deny but he might use those very expressions which are by ye witnesses mentioned, and that he doth judge himself before God and man, as one that has exposed Religion and ye ministry to Reproach, opened ye mouthes of ye wicked, sadned ye hearts of ye Lords Servants, for which he beggs Pardon of God & his People. And considering that some of ye Bretheren testify, that they have observed his Late conversation to be humble & Penitent, Wee conceive that ye church in Maldon may without breach of ye Rule so far confirm their Love to him, as to Restore him to their comunion, & to grant him a Loving Dismission to some church according as himself shall desire. We therefore comend to their consideration these Scrip- tures following. 2 Cor. 2, 7, 8. 1 Cor. 13, 4, 7. Deut. 29, 29.
II. Since it is not Probable that Mr Cheever's continuance in Maldon, nor yet the Present exercise of his ministry there, will tend to ye Peace of that Place, or to ye Edification of ye church, nor to his own comfort: wee advise him, the said Mr Cheever to request his dismission, and we advise ye church to comply with his desires therein. This counsel we conceive to be grounded on such Seriptures as these, 2 Cor. [ .. . ] and 12, 19. 2. Thess. 3, 16. 1 Tim. 3, 7.
III. Wee advise the Church & Congregation of Maldon duely to incourage and to hold in Reputation their Reverd & faithful Teacher ME Wigglesworth, according as God in his word does require them to do. 1. Thess. 5, 12, 13. And that they Con- scientiously endeavour to live and Love as Bretheren, forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any, even as Christ forgave you, so also do you.
Thus do we comend you to ye grace of or Lord Jesus Christ Increase Mather Moderator In ye name & with ye unanimous Consent of ye Council." 8
8 [In his diary for the year 1686 Cotton Mather refers to " having seen a poor young Minister, terribly stigmatized for his Misdemeanours by a Council, whereof I was myself a Member "; and in moralizing thereon, he determines " to bee exceedingly tender, careful, just & kind about ye Reputation of all other persons; Never uttering any Reproacheful Thing of any one whatsoever unless it bee not only True in itself but also proper and useful to bee mentioned." MSS. Diary (p. 5), Mass. Hist. Soc.
Strife continued in Malden; and, December 14, 1686, six days before the arrival of Sir Edmund Andros, a committee appointed by the Council December 8, repaired to Malden to settle " the maintainance of the Ministry there." The committee's report was signed by William Stoughton and
195
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For nearly thirty years following his dismissal he was in com- parative retirement at Rumney Marsh, until his settlement there October 19, 1715, as pastor of the Church then formed. He taught school at Rumney Marsh 1709-1719. During these years his pupils in "reading, writing and cyphering," averaged twenty- two." Ile was the author of " The Church's Dnty and Safety. Boston. 1715," and "Two Sermons Preached at Maklon. The First, August 26, 1722. On the Sabbath. The Second on a Par- ticular Fast, June 4th 1725. Printed for, and Sold by Nicholas Boone, at his Shop in Cornhill, 1726."
" He lived," says Sibley, " to be the oldest surviving graduate " of Harvard College. He died December 27, 1719, at the age of ninety-one. His early ministerial life was clouded by grave charges ; but whatever his fanlts may have been, he nobly redeemed them by a long life of useful and honorable service, and died greatly respected and beloved. In 1722 and again in 125, he preached two sermons to his old people in Malden and these were printed in 1726. He was thrice married : to Sarah, daughter of James Bill, Sr., of Pulling Point; second, February 11, 1702, to Mary Bordman of Boston, who did not live long; 10 and third, July 20, 1707, to Elizabeth Warren.
The following account of Rev. Thomas Cheever is from a Ser- mon by Rev. Joseph Tuckerman, D.D., preached at the twenty- fifth anniversary of his settlement at Chelsea.11
Richard Wharton only, though Captain Winthrop, Increase Mather, and Mr. Willard had also been appointed by the Council for this service. They found that Mr. Wigglesworth was the duly ordained Teacher of the church and was so far recovered from his illness that " for many months last past he hath constantly attended the service of the Ministry "; they ordered the town to pay him a salary. They also reported " that tho' there hath been for some years past an other person (vizt Mr. Cheevers) ordained to the Service of the Ministry there, yet the said Cheevers haveing been con- vieted of severall grevious faults and debaucheries very Seandelous to his Ministry, whereby he is made uneapiable of his Office there." they ordered " that no further disturbance or offer be made by any of the Inhabitants againe to restore the said Cheevers to the service of the Ministry in that place which will so apparently attend to the disturbance of the peace, and dishonour of God." Corey, Malden, 279, 280; Chamberlain MISS., Bos- ton Public Library, A. 49.1 See Dudley Ree., December 16. 1686, for the order of the Council. 2 Proe. Mass. Hist. Soe., xiii. 281, 285. [Sce also supra, p. 7, for the only other order passed by the Council on that day. ]
" For a fac-simile list of pupils, sce Mem. Hist. Boston. ii. 380; Boston Rec. Com. Rep., x. 158; also infra, the chapter on education.
10 [ It was his son Thomas who married Mary Boardman. For a list of his wives and children, see supra, vol. i. pp. 154, 155.]
11 Page 5. Library of Mass. Hist, Soc.
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" Mr. Cheever had been minister of the church in Malden; but his records contain no reference to this fact; and whatever were the circumstances which occasioned his separation from that church, they do not appear to have come before the council which ordained him here. But one only remains among us who distinctly remembers him; although two others who sat under his ministry are still living with us. I am told that he was much respected at home; and his records bear ample testimony to the regard that was felt for him by neighbouring churches. There was at that time more of ostensible discipline in the church, than there is at this day; and the minute detail which he has left of complaints and investigations, of publick censures, acknowledgments and par- dons, at once indicate the strong feeling which the church then had of its power and its duty, and shew that he was not behind those of his cotemporarics, who were most zealous for ministerial fidel- ity, in this department of the sacred office. But I know not that we have any reason to think, that this mode of exercising power contributed to the advancement of the truc interest of the church. That it gave occasion for the indulgence of bad passions, is as certain, as that it availed in any instance to the correction of evil. It grew, however, out of the spirit of the time, and is now almost unknown in this section of our country.
" In consequence of his age and infirmities, it was determined that the 7th of October, 1747, should be observed as a day of fast- ing and prayer, for the purpose of imploring the direction of Al- mighty God in the choice of a minister, as colleague with the Rev. Mr. Cheever. Some of the neighbouring ehurehes were in- vited to join in the solemnity."
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197
FORMATION OF A CHURCH
CHAP. XXVII]
CHAPTER XXVII
FORMATION OF A CHURCH, AS GIVEN BY REV. THOMAS CHEEVER
THE records of the church during the pastorate of Rev. Thomas Cheever are still extant and are of more than usual interest in that class of literature. Cheever was often a member of ecclesiastical councils, and he has entered the letters-missive, the proceedings, and the results in this volume.
Rumny-Marish Church-Book 1
1715.
[OCTOB. 19, 1715.
This day the Church was gathered at Rumny-marish, and Mr. Thomas Cheever was ordained their Pastor : ]
The Churches sent unto for their Countenance & Assistance by their Delegates, Elders & Messengers, were the Old North-Church at Boston,2 the Church of Lynn ; " the Church of Redding ; 1 & ye New-north Church at Boston.5
The sermon was preached by Mr Thomas Cheever.
After the Sermon, they proceeded to Gather the Church: the Rev! Doctour Cotton Mather, who was chosen to manage & Mod- erate the whole affair; having briefly declared to je whole Assem-
1 Some years ago deeming these records of great vale, and observing the risks to which they were exposed in going about the country among antiquaries and others, often careless about their return, I copied the whole of the volume, and now propose to print such portions of it as are of historical or genealogical interest. Admissions to the church and bap- tisms are removed to the appendix. [With this exception, all omissions are indicated.] Words in brackets, worn away in the original. are from an early copy in the possession of David Floyd, Jr. [The original records have been deposited by the church in the Revere Public Library. }
2 This was the second church in Boston and was located in North Square. It was " the church of the Mathers," and Cotton Mather was at that time its pastor.
8 Rev. Jeremiah Shepard, pastor [1680-1720, son of Rev. Thomas Shep- ard of Cambridge l.
4 Rev. Richard Brown, pastor, 1712-1732.
" Rev. John Webb, pastor. This church was on Hanover Street at the corner of Clarke Street, and as St. Stephen's Church is now owned by the Catholics. [The present building dates from 1802.]
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[CHAP. XXVII
bly the Occasion of the present Solemnity, did publickly read the Covenant, by which the persons more immediatly Concerned, did Coalesce into a Church-State, for the enjoyment of all Special Ordinances, & for the performance of all tlic Duties, which the Lord Christ hath prescribed unto his Diseiples, in such Churches &c, desiring the Brethren to stand up & manifest their Consent thereunto openly, which they did accordingly.
Herc follows an exact copy of the Covenant, with the Brethrens namcs.
We, whose names are hereunto Subscribed, apprehending our selves called of God to Combine together, in order to the forming of a Church-state among us for the observation & enjoyment of all the especiall Ordinances; which we are per[suaded to] be a Singular Service for our generation; Under a decp sence of our Unw[orthincss ] to be so highly favoured of the Lord, to transact personally with so Glorious a [Majesty] and acknowledging our utter inability to keep Covenant with God, unless the Lord [ Jesus] by his Spirit '& Grace inable us thereunto; admiring that free & rich grace which Triumpheth over so great Unworthines, with humble dependance upon him for his grace & assistance, do make & renew our Covenant with God, & one with another, as follows,
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