USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Braintree > Gathered in 1707 : a history of the First Congregational Church, Braintree, Massachusetts, 1707-1957 > Part 12
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As time went on, more space in the burying ground was needed and "a committee was appointed in 1824 to attend the vendue respect- ing land near the burying ground and to raise a sum of money by sub- scription to pay for said land" but the money was not needed as it was later voted "to purchase land to enlarge the burying ground provided it be at no expense to the Parish," and then followed a very complicated deed. The wall on the north side of the cemetery had fallen into dis- repair and the following agreement was duly entered: "Dr. Stephen Thayer be and hereby is authorized and empowered to remove the old board fence now standing on the north side of the burial ground and erect a good stone wall where said fence now stands. Also to place two stone posts suitable for a gate and to erect a suitable gate for the same and also to make such further repairs in and about the burial ground as he may think proper. Provided all the above shall be done without any expense to the Parish and as a compensation for the same, said Thayer shall have the benefit of the pasturage of said burial ground during the time said wall is kept in repair provided the same shall be fed with calves and sheep only." Later, Dr. Thayer was granted "the privilege of a tomb if he should build in our burying yard by paying $3 for the same" with the added privilege as a holder of tomb rights "as much land as those tombs cover and a passage way on the west and south of nine feet in width to be forever for that purpose, with John Hobart to set up stone bounds to the passageway and Jonathan Wild, Jr. to give deeds to those persons who have built tombs or should wish to build."
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At various times, it was necessary to add more horse sheds to the back and side of the Meeting-House to accommodate all who needed them. Usually these sheds were built by individuals as in 1824 when "liberty for a number of horse sheds to be built by certain persons on the Parish common be given to inhabitants of Braintree" and about 12 were built at this time. The hearse shed was moved in 1824 to the northeast corner of the burying ground where it presumably stayed until in 1831, after the new Meeting-House was built, it was voted "to remove the hearse house to some more convenient place" and at the same meeting it was voted to build a new hearse. The matter of landscaping was taken care of to everyone's satisfaction in 1835 when "any person or persons may plant trees or shrubbery on the Parish grounds under the direction of the superintendent of the burying grounds provided the same is done without any expense to the Parish." At the same time, it was decided that "it is highly improper and indecorous to remain in and about the entrance of the Meeting-House after the commencement of the service."
Will R. Minchin, in a letter to the Church in 1947, gave the following brief history of the First Parish Cemetery Association:
'When our church was first established in 1707, it con- sisted of parish and church members and this arrangement continued until the early 1900's when the parish was dis- solved.
"Early in 1716, a lot of land was set aside opposite the First Church to be used for burial purposes and has been known as the First Parish Cemetery. ... The old part of the cemetery contains approximately 266 graves, 135 of which have burial dates through the 1700's, others up through the years to 1881. The care of this cemetery over all these years had been in the hands of members of our Church and parish.
"Early in 1892, the First Parish Cemetery Association was incorporated, with the idea to establish a fund to take care of the upkeep of the cemetery. Money was raised by the ladies of our Church through solicitation, church suppers, fairs, etc.
"When I became treasurer of the organization in 1927, we had a total fund of approximately $6,000.00. Because of the high interest rates in those days, plus the low cost of maintenance, we built our fund up to around $8,000.00. However, 10 years ago conditions changed. Interest on our
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invested funds dropped drastically and the cost of mainte- nance tripled, so now we find ourselves in an embarrassing position of not having enough income to keep up the mainte- nance of the cemetery in its entirety.
"We have 8 perpetual care funds which interest will be applied to take care of these lots but the rest of the ceme- tery will have to be neglected unless public spirited citizens are willing to contribute to the fund. We do believe that the organization for many years has accepted a responsibility which should have been shared by the church, inasmuch as four of our former ministers are buried in the old part of the cemetery together with members of the family. Therefore, any donation you feel that your society can make will cer- tainly be appreciated not only by us but by those who pass the cemetery daily."
For a number of years, the First Congregational Church has contributed $100 yearly to the First Parish Cemetery Association towards the expenses of the upkeep and in recent years, largely through the tireless efforts of Mrs. Sophie Blunt, an amount towards its support has been voted, yearly, by Town Meeting members, on the premise that this is an historical spot and because so many townspeople are buried there it is not entirely the responsibility of the First Church.
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CHAPTER 9 GIFTS AND WILLS
"For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also." -Matthew 6:21
Through the years, the Church has been greatly enriched by the generosity of friends and organizations with the gift of many beautiful things. Stripped of these accessories, the Church would seem bare even with the warmth of the carved woodwork in the sanctuary. Yet, accepted as these things are by the majority of Church attendants, as just part of the structure, there are many fascinating tales connected with these gifts.
The oldest treasure in the possession of the Church is a silver chalice bearing the inscription: "A gift of Deacon Jonathan Hayward to the Second Church of Christ in Braintree, May ye 20th, 1756." This chalice and a silver tankard were "unearthed" in 1949 when members of the Church were sorting and cleaning the contents of the Church vault. For years, these pieces had been stored in an old brown box beneath the years' accumulation and were all but forgotten. The true value of the two pieces was not determined until the spring of 1954 when a representative of a Boston firm recognized them as valuable pieces. In the process of having them appraised for insurance, it was revealed that the tankard which is described as "A Colonial tankard of silver with a domed cover, scroll thumb-piece, oval lappet, inscribed "The gift of Mrs. Susanna Dobel to the Second Church of Christ in Braintree 1773,' bearing the mark of Benjamin Burt of Boston, 1773," was valued at $1,500 which is explained by the fact that Samuel Burt (1729-1805) who designed other silver, made only a few tankards and only five or six remain in good condition today.
The silver chalice was appraised for $500 and is described as "A James I silver goblet with a balluster stem," and bears the hallmark of London, 1617, maker F. G. The two pieces of silver are on loan to the Museum of Fine Arts for safe keeping and they will be brought to the Church during this 250th year for display.
Other pieces of silver which were found in the wooden box, and are displayed at the Church on Communion Sundays include six silver chalices inscribed: "Presented by Louisa H. Bliss to the First Parish in Braintree 1857" (at the time the fourth Church building was dedi- cated); and two ewers with the same inscription; two chalices inscribed
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"Presented by a friend to the First Church in Braintree, December 1830" (at the time the third building was erected); four old silver communion plates, edged with the quotation "Thy prayers and thine alms are come up as a memorial before God" and inscribed "In loving memory of Mary Sugden and Elizabeth Sugden from Arthur W. Sugden and Frank W. Sugden." The collection plates were in frequent use in years gone by, and until the practice of a communal cup was discon- tinued, the two silver chalices of 1830 and the six of 1857 were used at every Communion service, according to records. The following is re- corded under date of September 6, 1857: "The communion vessels hitherto in use in this church being no longer needful here, since the generous donation of a complete set by Mrs. L. Bliss, of Boston, formerly a member of this church, were donated to the use of a feeble church in Ohio, at the suggestion of Rev. Henry M. Storrs, Cincinnati; the few articles presented as special memorials by honored individuals being retained for continued use."
A child's silver cup, inscribed "Eunice Ann Storrs Arnold from Ann Storrs, 1853" and "Given by Eunice Ann Storrs Arnold May in memory of Ann Storrs, 1926" is another prized possession in the silver collection. In her letter asking the Church if they would accept this cup, Florence J. May of Saint Johnsbury, Vermont, wrote: "My mother was named for Mrs. Ann Storrs and Miss Eunice Storrs, Dr. Storrs' sister. The cup is too small to be of any special use to the Church but there are no grandchildren in our family and my mother dislikes to have the cup pass into the hands of people to whom the name Storrs has no meaning." Mrs. Ann Storrs was the third wife of Dr. Storrs and died in 1874 just a year after his death. One final item in the silver collecion is a baptismal bowl with a gadroon border, given to the Church in the early 1900's which is not engraved and about which nothing is known.
There are a number of other prized possessions that antedate 1912 when the Church burned, with the subsequent loss of many, many things. For a number of years, an old brass warming pan has graced the living room of the Parsonage. This belonged to Dr. Storrs as did the mahogany butterfly dropleaf "pulpit" table which now stands in the vestibule of the Church. The warming pan was discov- ered among items contributed by Mrs. Dana French to a rummage sale at the Church, in 1924, and the Ladies' Aid decided to restore it and give it to the Parsonage because of its antiquity and association. Also at the Parsonage is a "signature" piece-work quilt which was assembled
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many years ago for a Church fair and has been passed from one minister's wife to another. As the name implies, this bears the personal embroidered signatures of many of the women of the Church who were the workers of that period of our history. Also stored at the Parsonage are all that remains of the few cane-seated chairs that were rescued from the choir loft during the fire.
General Sylvanus Thayer, many years ago, gave the Church a wide-leafed mahogany dining table and two end tables with turned legs. The end tables are part of the furnishings of the Reception Room and the dining table stands in the sanctuary and is placed on the pulpit to display the communion silver on occasional Sundays. Also in the reception room is a gateleg mahogany table which came from Gen. Thayer. The Sodalitas Club, Ladies' Aid, Co-Workers, and Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence W. Guild, the Young Women's Club, Mr. and Mrs. John R. Ray, Mr. and Mrs. George Schwab and many others contributed the furniture, mirror, picture, lamps, rug and curtains which make the reception room so attractive a setting for these old pieces. On the walls of the room hang three paintings: one of Rev. Joseph Lyle McCorison, painted by Miss Jean Day in 1940; the other pictures are of Rev. Ezra Weld and one of his wives. These latter paintings were given by a grand- daughter, Miss Elizabeth Miller in 1914, and had been retouched and renovated at that time but neither the name of the artist nor the date of the paintings is known. At the time of Braintree's Tercentennial Cele- bration in 1940, the Congregational Church, Braintree, England, through its minister, Rev. Anthony Lewis, presented our Church with a picture of the Old Market Place, Braintree, England, and this picture has hung in the reception room ever since.
On June 2nd, 1913, when the present Church structure was dedicated, the following gifts were acknowledged:
Thayer Memorial organ, erected from funds given by Sarah and Susannah Thayer.
About 14,000 ft. of land completing the corner lot at Elm Street and Stedman Avenue, from a Friend who purchased it of the New York, New Haven & Hartford Railroad.
The pulpit and chancel furniture, presented by Mr. and Mrs. Walter Oliver Hastings.
Three Tiffany windows: Christ Blessing Little Children, Deacon David Hollis, 1782-1858 and Mary Denton Hollis, 1785-1847, presented by Mr. N. E. Hollis.
Justice-Mercy, in memory of John Barbour, April 24, 1845-March 5, 1910, presented by Mrs. John Barbour.
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To the Glory of God and in Loving Memory of Will Watson Mayhew, January 15, 1857-January 12, 1912, presented by Mrs. Will W. Mayhew.
The Bulletin Board which lists the number of the Hymns for Sunday Services, presented by the "Sewers," a Sunday School class of young ladies.
The silver collection plates, given in memory of the Misses Sugden, pre- sented by their nephews, Arthur and Frank W. Sugden.
From the Church records, we find information concerning many Other gifts:
November, 1919 - Bulletin Board for front lawn from organizations and individuals.
1921 - Extra tray for the Communion set, from Co-Workers.
1925 - A set of ten Meneely chimes given by Mr. and Mrs. Paul W. Jackson, in loving memory of their daughter, Edith Jackson Holbrook, born February 1882, died October 1923, "To live in hearts we leave behind is not to die."
1926- Oriphone hearing device for sanctuary - Mrs. Robert Beck in charge of committee.
1926-New silk Church robe - Ladies' Aid.
1927 - Baptismal font, given by Mrs. William C. Harding in memory of her husband, William Harding, June 24, 1854-July 2, 1926. First children christened, her infant twin grandsons, William C. and John W. Harding.
1927 -Silk State flag given by George T. Burnham in memory of Mrs. Irene Estelle Burnham. Also glass top for communion table, in 1928.
1932 - Bronze plaque listing the names of first ten ministers paid for by popular subscription.
1939 -Chancel cross, electrically lighted, presented by Mrs. Abie M. Our to the Glory of God and in loving memory of her husband, Lester P. Our, and their daughter, Blanche I. Our.
6 doorlights given by Mrs. E. Stanwood Hollis-3 leaded glass from the studio of Charles Connick and three slabs of antique English glass. Oak lectern used in the Parish House, given by former members of XBK Club of Boys.
1940 -Connick stained glass window - "Mary - Martha, 1812 - given by the Ladies' Aid Society - 1940."
Sept. 15, 1940 - Dr. McCorison's painting by Miss Jean Day.
1940-Print of old Market Place in Braintree, England, presented by Rev. Anthony Lewis and hung in Reception room.
1941-Card holders for the pews given by Miss Marcia Keith. New hearing aids for sanctuary, given by Pilgrim Fellowship and others.
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1942 - Red velvet stage curtain, given by Ladies' Aid. Christian flag for sanctuary, given by several organizations.
1951 - Stained glass window given by Co-Workers, "And He Saith Unto Her Mary, and She Saith Unto Him, Master." 1920-1951.
New Church carpet given by four women's organizations.
Antependia and Bible markers given by Mrs. George Anderson.
1952 -Hammond Electric Organ, given by Perley Barbour. Candle lighter and snuffer, given by Mr. and Mrs. F. Howard Hallett. Grand piano for Parish House, given by Co-Workers.
Stained glass window, "Let Them Praise His Name in Choir," the St. Cecilia window, given by the Dearing Family.
1953 -Men's Club War Memorial Window, "Beat Their Swords into Plowshares and Their Spears into Pruning Hooks. In memory of those who served and sacrificed. Greater Love Hath No Man."
1953 - Portable metal coat and hat rack - Co-Workers.
1954 - Pilgrim Hymnals - Co-Workers and individuals.
1956 - Grandfather's clock and foyer furniture - given by Perley Barbour.
Since 1766, the treasurer or deacons of our Church have been charged with the responsibility of accounting for one or more trust funds left to the Church by former members. The following extracts are from these wills:
Will of Samuel White (husband of Susannah White), proved April 4, 1766: ". .. The other two-thirds of my estate, after my dear wife's decease, I give to the use and in the manner following - viz. - Twenty pounds to the use of the Ministry, the disenting or Congrega- tional, as we now profess and practice - the interest thereof annually to be paid in to Minister, and the sum to lay in bank - the care of it I betrust with the Second Church of Christ in Braintree, to which I belong and design the income of it to the minister of said Church."
In 1776, the will of Susannah Doble (formerly Susannah White, wife of Samuel White, and the donor of the antique silver tankard which is described elsewhere in this book) stated ". .. after my debts are paid, funeral charges, etc. also what my late or first husband, Samuel White, did in his last will give for the ministry and schooling, are paid, I give etc." This White fund is invested in Massachusetts Congrega- tional Fund Shares, and the fund is $100.
The Elizabeth French Fund was established in 1825 as follows: "I give and devise to the First Church in Braintree, in which I am a
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member, Fifty Dollars - the same to be kept as a fund forever. It is my wish that the income of the same may be given to the poor of this Church under the care of the Minister and Deacons of said Church, the same to be paid by my brother, Samuel Hayden, in one year after my decease." This Fund is also invested in Massachusetts Congrega- tional Fund Shares and is still $50.
The will of Caleb French, proved in 1837, stated: "I also direct my executor hereinafter named within one year after my decease to sell forty acres of the northerly part of my home place, one-half of the proceeds of the interest to the use of my said wife and her sister, Mary Faxon, and the other half to be vested in the ministers and deacons of the Church in Braintree, of which the Rev. R. S. Storrs is now pastor, or whoever the same may be when that event shall happen, and in the successors of said pastor and pastors and deacons in trust - however, that the use, income and improvement of said estate shall be faithfully applied towards the support of a Congregational ministry in the First, or oldest Parish in Braintree forever, and, should there not be a settled minister over said Church, the deacon or deacons, and, if none, the assessors of said Parish shall take said estate in trust and for the use aforesaid, and said Trustees so taking and their successors in the office shall have, hold, use, exercise, and enjoy said estate on the trust and for the use of aforesaid forever." This trust was established at $1,200 and was later invested in a note, dated May 15, 1869 for five years with interest at 7% payable semi-annually and was given by Asa French, Ebenezer Thayer, William Locke, F. E. Holbrook, com- mittee. This was made payable to R. S. Storrs, Nathaniel Hayward and Elias Hayward, trustees. They paid $84.00 interest annually up to and including March 15, 1881. At the time the Church was built in 1857, this money was given to the Parish by the Deacons for the Parish to buy back old pews in the old Church. In 1928, the Church voted to reestablish the fund and authorized the treasurer to pay $50.00 into the fund for that purpose. It now amounts to $1,200.00 and is invested in Massachusetts Congregational Fund Shares.
On March 1st, 1870, the will of Oliver Hayden directed: "The remaining fourth part to be equally divided between the Congregational Sabbath School and Publishing Society in Boston and the First Parish in Braintree, the former to be paid to the Treasurer of the said Society, to be expended as mentioned in section first of this will, the latter to be vested in the minister and deacons of the First Parish in Braintree, of which Rev. R. S. Storrs, D.D., is now the pastor, and in the successor
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of said pastor and pastors and deacons in trust that the income be faith- fully applied towards the support of an Orthodox Congregational minister forever, and should there be no settled minister over said Society or Parish, deacon or deacons, the Assessors of said Parish shall take the said estate in trust and for the use aforesaid." This fund is deposited in the Weymouth Savings Bank and amounts to $950.
In 1855 Rev. Richard Salter Storrs, D.D. included the following in his will which was proved September 3rd, 1873: "I give and be- queath two hundred dollars to the deacons of the Church under my present charge and their successors in office as a permanent fund, the income of which shall be appropriated to the benefit of the poor of the Church at their discretion." The Richard Storrs Fund was thus estab- lished and is in the Waymouth Savings Bank and still amounts to $200 although the bank in which it was originally deposited was liquidated necessitating that the balance be contributed out of the Church treasury to restore the Fund to its original amount.
As in many other instances, the will of Elizabeth J. Thorndike, dated November 5, 1902, and probated January 15, 1906, directed that the income be used for the support of the ministry of the Church as the following notation in the records reads: "Received of Alden A. Thorndike, executor of the will of Elizabeth J. Thorndike, late of Braintree, deceased, One Thousand dollars in full payment and satis- faction of the legacy bequeathed to the First Congregational Church of Braintree in article second of said will. The above to be known as the "Elizabeth J. Thorndike Fund" and the income of said fund to be given toward the salary of the minister of The First Congregational Church, Braintree, Mass." and is signed by Will W. Mayhew, a trustee of the Church at that time. For many years this money was invested in New York Central and Hudson River Railroad 4% debentures, but is now in Massachusetts Congregational Fund shares (911/2) with a small balance in a Savings Bank.
On August 4th, 1909, Mrs. Mary F. White directed in her will that $3,000.00 be left to her daughter, Miss Margery White in trust to pay income to her for life, and at her death to pay the principal to the First Parish in Braintree (Congregational) to be used for any of the following purposes: "To keep the clock on the Church Tower in repair; the grounds well kept, and such minor repairs on the exterior of the Church building as may be needed." Mrs. White also directed that $1,000 be left directly to the Church, the income only to be used toward defraying the general expenses. This was established as the
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Mary F. White Fund and is invested in the Quincy Savings Bank where in some years it has yielded $25. in interest. On December 27, 1955, following the death of Miss Margery White, the Church received 18 shares of capital stock of the American Telephone & Telegraph Com- pany from the estate of Mary F. White (as first mentioned in this paragraph) plus accumulated dividends and profits from the sale of rights and investments totaling $653.55. At the time of their receipt, the shares had a market value of $3,247.00 and the shares are still held as investment by the Church.
An extract from the will of Levi Wild, who joined the Church before 1811 and died in 1848, states: "Tenthly, after my decease, and after all my debts, legacies and charges are paid out of my personal estate herein mentioned, I give and bequeath one-half of my personal estate, and after my wife's decease, I give and bequeath the afore- mentioned one thousand dollars, which my wife received the interest annually during her life, to the following named Trustees: Nathaniel E. Thayer, David Hollis, Jonathan Wild, Jonathan Wild, Jr., and Elisha Hobart, son of Deacon Adam Hobart, all of said Braintree, and the sur- vivor of them and their successors to be by the successor of them ap- pointed in case either of the said Trustees above named should die or be desirous to be discharged from or neglect or refuse to act in the trust hereby created at any time or times before the same trusts shall be finally performed or otherwise determined, to have and to hold the same to the uses hereafter named, and that the above-named personal estate and the above-named one thousand dollars which I have given to my above- named Trustee and the survivor of them and their successors is upon the following trusts - that my above-named trustees and the survivors of them and their successors retain and keep and invest in bank or any other stock and put out at interest on good security the above-named personal estate and the above-named one thousand dollars, and the interest and income thereof annually accruing to be paid to the support of preaching Calvinistic principles in the First Parish in the said town of Braintree, of which Rev. Richard S. Storrs is pastor; and in case it is not determined to be Calvinistic principles preached in said parish by a majority of the above-named Trustees or their successors, the same shall be paid for the support of common schools in said town of Brain- tree; and in case of the death of either of my above-named Trustees or anyone neglecting the trusts imposed upon them by me in any way or manner, then it is my will that the survivor or suvivors of them immediately appoint by any writing under his or their hands and seals
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