USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > Middleborough > First Church in Middleborough, Mass.: Mr. Putnam's century and half discourses; an historical account; and a catalogue of members > Part 6
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315 Alice Anthony d. De. 2. 1786, &. SO. 207 Mary Bennet, wid. d. Ap. 2, 1785, e. 79th. 265 Rebecca Darling d. Se. 16.1782,2.93. 289 Wid. - Dunham d. Mh. 27, 1801, x. 97th.
524 Elkanah Elmes d. Nov. 19, 1809,æ.82. 146 Wid. Silence Fuller d. Jy. 23,1786;c. 833. 521 Wid. - Maxfield d. Mh. 11, 1787, æ. 8Sth. 485 Francis Pomeroy d. Ja. 23, 1807, & .?
406 Samuel Pratt d. Ap. 20, 179 . 55- 371 Japhet Rickard d. Nov 21: 08. 206 Wid. - Sampson d De :, 1301 Seth. 333 David Sears d. Au. 20. 1:59. 0 79 216 Wid. of Jona. Snow d. Ap. 20. 1;67. a. 69th. 322 Wife of Jas. Willis d J. 3,1750 - 40 218 Susanna Thomas. m. A.r .: 12. 350. unm. d. Ma. 13, 1:55.2. 730 372 Wife of Dan'l Vaughan d. Fe 1 1:01. ¿c. 73.
ORDER DURING WORSHIP.
" THY WAY, O GOD! IS IN THE SANCTUARY ; WHO IS SO GREAT A GOD AS OUR GOD ?"-Psalm lxxvii 12
To show the views of the Rev. Peter Thacher-our much venemiel pastor, more than a century since-we give below his letter on this subject from the church records, under his hand, in accordance with another on page 23: -
LETTER.
"My letter to some who would run out from the public worship at the last singing, before the public blessing, Sept. 18, 1737.
To MR. AND HIS WIFE.
Dear Friends : - As long as [it was proper inl charity to suggest a cover for your abruptly breaking from the public worship, I was silent. But your manner of leaving it of late obliges me, as your friend and
122
watchman, to bear solemn testimony against such a practice, if not forced to it by bodily indisposition. I solemnly beseech, and in the name of God, charge you to consider what you do when you pour such contempt upon the institutions of the Lord Christ, whom you have taken for your King, and promised subjection to Him in all His institutions. God hath appointed His ministers to bless His worshiping assemblies in His name. What do you, if you needlessly turn your backs on this blessing, but say, "'tis comtemptible," and so are in danger to carry away a curse instead of a blessing? If all should do as you do, where would the order of God's house be? What a sad and sinful example do you set before vain persons, to whom you ought to be exemplary ? How do you grieve the hearts of them which you ought not to make sad? Every time you do so, you break the covenant of God with your brethren with whom you have promised to walk orderly. If you, with- out the pressing necessities of the body, do so for time to come-which I hope God will, in His mercy to your souls, keep you from-this will be a witness against you, and the guilt of so evil, so God-dishonoring a practice, must lie at your door and not mine, who am your grieved and affectionate friend and pastor,
" PETER THACHER."
As it is a material order of the house of God, that at the close of the service the minister should pronounce the benediction upon the congre- gation, it is obviously important that they should give a most reverential attention while the Divine blessing is thus implored.
The early seating also of the congregation before the service com- mences, adds much to the solemnity and good order of public worship.
These orderly attentions are well approved by the church and people in this place, and in general may be observed. Late arrivals at the meeting-house in the morning may cause some irregularity, but prompt- ness in joining the assembly in the afternoon is expected of all. Those also who have the care of children should instruct them in these things.
" THOSE THAT BE PLANTED IN THE HOUSE OF THE LORD,
" SHALL FLOURISH IN THE COURTS OF OUR GOD."
NOTES.
Page 3. Indian Churches. In 1698, Rev. Grindal Rawson, of Mendon, and Rev. Samuel Danforth, of Taunton, were commissioned by the Society for propagating the Gospel among the Indians, to visit, and did visit, the several plantations in the Old Colony, and made their report; 10 list. Col. 129-134. Extract : " There are at Assowampsit and Quittaub twenty houses and eighty persons. John Hiacoomes, preacher and constant schoolmaster. Mr. Jocelyn preached at Assowampsit. At Kehteliticut are forty adults, to whom Charles Aham preached." All these places are in Middleborough. Kelitehticut, Co- tuticut, and Tetiquid are different spellings of Titicut. Quittaub might be an- other name for Nemasket, or it might be " Betty's Neck."
Titicut is mentioned as a place of praying Indians. Rev. Mr. Backus says in his account of Middleboro', (1 Hist. Col. 150), " ABaptist church was formed among them [at Titicut ], and Nehemiah Abel, Thos. Sekins, Thos. Felix [see Des. Cat. 324], and John Symons are teachers among them. When I came here [1747] John Symons was the minister of that church, and continued so for near ten years, and then he removed to the southward. He assisted in ordain- ing Silas Paul on Martha's Vineyard in 1763. One Indian gave five acres, and two others fifteen acres of land for the ministry in Titicut.
Nehemiah Bennet, Esq., gr. fa. D. C. 179, wrote an account of Middleboro,' (1 Hist. Col. 3), and respecting the Indians in town, says, " There is a settle- ment of them descended from the ancients, on 'Betty's Neck,' [perhaps the same as Quittaub], eight houses and eight families; the general number is from 30 to 40."
This was in 1793. He says, " they raise good crops which they sell for rum, ar.d live afterwards by making baskets and brooms. They are subject to hec- tics, and half that are born are carried off by consumptions."
Page 34. Rev. Samuel Fuller had also a son Jabez, who died June, 1712, and whose widow, Mercy, married Joseph Vaughan, No. 38.
Page 3, at foot. The Indian name of the " Long Pond " is " Pontaquahot."
Page 4. It was not intended to give a list of the twenty-six purchasers, but such of them and their representatives as were in town in 1675, when the settlement was attacked by the Indians. The names of the purchasers were : " Francis Sprague, John Adams, George Partridge, Francis Cooke, Thomas Bordman, William Pontus, Samuel Fuller, Edward Bumpus, Francis Bil- lington, William Brewster, John Shaw, Edward Gray, (two shares.) Resolved White, William Hodskins, Andrew Ring, Moses Simmons, William Nelson, John Howland, George Soul, Phillip Delano, William Mullens, Peter Brown, Samuel Eddy, Matthew Fuller, William Twining." It should be mentioned that the Indian churches referred to on the third page, were gathered by the instrumentality of Rev. Mr. Bourne, of Sandwich, and Rev. Mr. Treat, of Eastham (son of Gov. Treat, of Connecticut) whose labors for the conversion of Indians were not surpassed by the apostle Elliot himself, there being at that time fifteen hundred of them formed into churches in the Old Colony.
Page 36. Rev. Mr. Thacher. Backus, in his Church History, says : " He was much engaged in and after the glorious revival of 1741, and his success was so great that there were above 340 communicants in the church when he died."
Page 38. Rev. S. Conant, No. 468, married, about a year after his ordina- tion, a lady of Boston whose name was called Bethan or Betell, (perhaps it was Bethune). She died in about a year after marriage. His second wife was - Williams of Roxbury, (perhaps daughter of Dr. Williams,) who lived a nun- ber of years and was the mother of a daughter named Haunali, who died in
122
watchman, to bear solemn testimony against which a practice. it un! forced to it by bodily indisposition. I solemnly beroweb. root att alie name of God, charge you to consider what you do when you pour surl. contempt upon the institutions of the Lord Christ, whoto you have taken for your King, and promised subjection to Him in all His amandare. God bath appointed His ministers to bless His wordhoping to opdage in His name. What do you. if you needlessly turn viaje laiky voy fox blessing, but say, " 'tis comtemptible," and so are in danger to gafr. away a curse instead of a blessing? If all should do as voir du, when would the order of God's house be? What a sad and similar to mp do you set before vain persons, to whom you ought to be exemplary . How do you grieve the hearts of them which you might not to millar sad ? Every time you do so, you break the covenant of Girl With your brethren with whom you have promised to walk orderly. It you, with .. out the pressing necessities of the body, do se for time to come- why I hope God will. in His mercy to your souis, keep you from the will be a witness against you, and the guilt of so evil, so Good-dissemotor practice, must lie at your door and not mine, who am your grivel and affectionate friend and pastor,
" PETER THACHLE."
As it is a material order of the house of God, that at the close of ilie service the minister should pronounce the benediction upon the congre- gation, it is obviously important that they should give a most reverentinl attention while the Divine blessing is thus implored.
The early seating also of the congregation before the service com- mences, adds much to the solemnity and good order of public wor p.
These orderly attentions are well approved by the church and people in this place, and in general may be observed. Late arrivals at the meeting-house in the morning may cause some irregularity, but promp :- ness in joining the assembly in the afternoon is expected of all. Time also who have the care of children should instruct them in these things.
" THOSE THAT DE PLANTED IN THE HOUSE OF THE LORD,
" SHALL FLOURISH IN THE COURTS OF OUR GOD."
NOTES.
Page 3. Indian Churches. In 1698, Rev. Grindal Rasorun. ot Martin, an! Rev. Samuel Danforth, of Lanation, were commondone by the Daily for propagating the Gospel among the Indians, to visit ant und veut, IN several plantations in the On! Coop .. and made their regist. To Hit Cd. 120-124 Extract : " There are at Assosampat and Quitand twenty bother . lol persons. . John Hincoomes. preacher and constant a humanter. Az ionthey preached at Assowampsit. At Kehitchticut are forty allaily, to whom Card Aham preached." All these places are in Middleborogeh Idaglett, Co tutient, and Teliquid are different spellings of Titedy Concertotale bel other name for Nemarket, or it might be " Betty' Noch."
Titieut is mentioned as a fare of praying Inthians. Rev. Mr. Barbers sato in his account of Mid Rebpro". ( 1 Hist. Col. 150), " ABijaot cfojich was DoneL among them [at Titient I. d Nehemiah Abel, Thes. Sekis. 15000: 1 6006 Ho 1ks Cat. 321], and John Stations are teachers among them. When Leute Ser [1747] John Symons was the minister of that church, wnik contini 1 vo- der near ten years, and then he removed to the southward. He wanted in andom. ing Silas Paul on Martha's Vineyard in 1968. One Irillin gaver five afree, and two others fifteen acres of land for the ministry in Intent.
Nehemiah Bennet. Han. Fr. i. D. C. 179, wrote a account & Mobil Com' (1 Hist. Col. 3), and respecting the Indians in town, sus. " Ile de gea web ment of them descended from the ancients, on . Betty's Noch Ancolies in same as Quittaub], eight houses and eight fannlies ; the general aulaber ii hvor 30 to 40."
This was in 1793. He says, " they raise good crops which they sell for time, and live afterwards by making baskets and brooms. They are subject to Live. tics, and half that are born are carried off by consump tions."
Page 34. Rev. Samuel Fuller had also a son Jules, who die l Jene, 1712. and whose widow, Mercy, married Joseph Vaughan, No. 35.
Page 3, at foot. The Indian name of the " Long Pond " is . Pomagathe:"
Page 4. It was not intended to give a list of the twenty -mix purthemer. 000 such of them and their representatives as were in town in 1975, platon settlement was attacked by the Indians. The names of the purchasers were " Francis Sprague, John Adams, George Partridge. Francis Cooke. Trong Bordman, Wilham Pontus, Samuel Fuller, MAwar ! Bugue Fans De- lington, William Brewster, John Shaw, Edward Giras. complace) Bank White, William Holskins. Andrew Ring, Moses Samens, Withan Setter John Howland, George Soul. Phillip Delano, William Molton, Peter Prowad Samuel Eddy, Matthew Fuller, William Twinp:" It should be mentionml that the Indian churches referred to on the third fare, were ethers! by the instrumentality of Rev. Mr. Bourne, of Sandwich, and Rer. Ma Break of Eastham (son of Gov. Treat, of Connecticut) wile labors for the conver of Indians were not surpassed by the apostle Kalhot himself, there lash; at last time fifteen hundred of them formed into churches in the Old! Ciemny.
Page 36. Rev. Mr. Thatcher. Backus, in his Church History. wer " Ile was much engaged in and after the glorious revival of 1TH, and Me was so great that there were above 310 communicants in the chairch when Le died."
Page 38. Rev. S. Conant, No. 468, married, about a year after his ondina- tion, a lady of Boston whose name was called Bethan or Butell. Urerbapwi: mas Bethune). She died in about a year after marriage. Ilis secote ! wib wad
Williams of Roxbury, (perhaps daughter of Dr. Williaun., who mivel a num ber of years and was the mother of a daughter namel Hasnab, who dell in
124
infancy. Ilis third wife was admmitted to this church in 1758 by a letter from the church in " Norwich."and - as appears by a letter written by Mr. Conant. expressive of his deep arifiction, to her father, and which was printed at New London by her friends in the same year of her death, 1759,-was the daughter of' Col Hezekiah Huntington. A son, Hezekiah, was born Nov. 7, 1758. lap .. tized Nov. 12th, and died in infancy, leaving Mr. C. childless. A friend, Miss Scollay, (adl. 12), became a permanent resident in his family at or soon after his third marriage, and conductel his household affairs until his death in 1777; in which period she acted as guardian of two young orphan neices. One of them became the wife of the late Dr. Joseph Clarke, and the other, succes- sively, the second wife of Daniel Thomas, and Capt. David Thomas. (Nos. 5.4.4 and 546). After Mr. Conant's decease, Miss Scollay tenanted the Dr. Peter Oliver house. (now Capt. Earl Sprout's) and Rev. Abraham Camp (p. 11) boarded with her. She was esteemed a person of much excellence of charac- ter. The inscription on her grave-stone in " the Green " Cemetery is as follows :
"Great peace have they who love God." In memory of Miss Rebecca Seollay. Who died Nov. 15th, 1801 in her fifth year. " The ways of God were her delight ; Her faith was strong, her hope was bright."
In 1760 Mr. Conant adopted Deborah Conant then five years of age and the daughter of his brother. Deborah married the late Nathan Lazell of Bridge- water. The above in part has been furnished us by descendents. There is no record or monument in town of the first and second wives of Mr. Conant.
Rev. Isaac Backus says: " Mr. Conant ministered to good purpose until his decease."
Page 39. In respect to Mr. Weld he says, when a law was passed, " giving liberty to the people to attend which meeting they pleased, the friends of Mr. Weld grew sick of him, and used violence against him, until they got him away, and obtained a dissolution of their Society."
P. P. 52, 54. Deacons .- Lost Records. The table of deacons on p. 117 corrects some errors on these pages. The following extracts from the church records indicate two deacons at least, acting in 1721 and 1722, while this table shows but one from 1718 to 1724.
" Feb. 16. 1720-21. The deacons together with brother Isaac Fuller, [Desc. Cat. 91] were desired to take the most proper aud speedy methods for recover- ing the ancient and original records of the affairs of this church to the time of their present settlement." [i. c. to 1708].
" Dec. 19, 1721. Brother Isaac Fuller brought a remnant of the ancient rec- ords and delivered to P. Thacher."
This " remnant" we know nothing farther of ; but the copy, p. 13, by Eben- ezer Fuller, the nephew of Isaac, may have been made from it.
" May 13. 1722. Voted that the two deacons br. King and Sam'l Wood do meet," &c.
P. 55. Three of our people became ministers of the Gospel, and joined other churches : - Daniel Thomas, minister in South Abington, Alvan Cobb in West Taunton, and Stetson Raymond in Assonet and Scotland [Bridge- water ]. Of the members, eleven were ministers of the Gospel, and about the same number phyicians, or counsellors-at law.
P. 63. - The west precinct was incorporated as a town in the year 1853, by the nanie of Lakeville.
Parish Records. The book of records commencing with the separation and ordination of Rev. S. Conant has not been in possession of the parish Clerk for some years ; and the committee have thus been deprived of access to it. The course pursued by Mr. Bosworth, p. 13, is commended to all who possess docu- ments of historic value to this church and parish.
.
12
infancy. Ils third wifey the church in .. Norwich."20 -3.0 expre - ig ci lio deep London ly hor trion ! innen
tized Nows. 12 haut de 15 1
.
1 Scollav. in !. 12), boom.e .) third wanting and don ios in which 1. 1. 01
sively, the second wife de Dimol Tomy
and 514. Atter Mr. County. dormire. Shes Oliver house. (now Cors. Hel Soccer's and I v. Vlo toooooo boarded with her. She was formed no room
ter. 'The inscription on her gravestone in " the Green" Creo
In 1:00 Mr. Conant adore l Deborah Conant then leor vous el daughter of His brother. D borst married se Lo Sa de La10 water. Tive above in part Is born : no ked u by ib ama record or monument in town of the first and sword vivent .. .
Rev. Isare Backus says: " Mr. Conant ministered to gol jorge unal I decease."
Page 80. In respect to Mr. Wold he says, when a low was liberty to the people to attend which meeting de y good. the Weld grew sick of him, and used vielene
away, and obtained a dissolution of their Seciers."
P. P. 32. 54. Deacons .- Lust Recours. The table of descons of THE corrects some errors on these pages. The following extracts From pod . records indicate two deacons at least, acting in 1221 and 1722, while Do Lbc shows but one from 1718 to 1721.
Cat. 91] were desired to take the plot proper and poly no one ing the ancient and original reports of the affairs of this eimreh to the troco of their present settlement." [i. c. to 1705].
" Dec. 19, 1721. Brother Isaac Fuller brought a rentrant of the ancient red. ords and delivered to P. Thacker."
This " remnant" we know nothing farther of ; but the gapy. p. I by Den- ezer Fuller, the nephew of Isine, may have been inder in it
"May 13. 1722. Voted that the two dercons Ur. King and Sanft Wool do meet," &c.
P. 55. Three of our people became ministers of the Gospel. Fr! meine! other churches : - Daniel Thomas, minister in South Abnetw. Aban Cobo in West Taunton, and Simeon Raymond in Assonet and Soufan! THEus- water]. Of the members. Haven were ministers of the George, and steel same number phyicians, or counsellors-at law.
P. 63. - The west precin : was incorporate ! aa a town in the yra: 1452, by the name of Lakeville.
Parish Records. The book of records commencing with the waration and ordination of Rev. S. Conant has not been in possession of the pagele Click for some years ; and the committee have this been doprited of course pursued by Mr. Bosworth. p. 13, is contended to all who pormer dory. ments of bistoric value to this church and parish.
MAY 75
N. MANCHESTER, INDIANA
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