USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Reading > Genealogical history of the town of Reading, Mass., including the present towns of Wakefield, Reading, and North Reading, with chronological and historical sketches, from 1639 to 1874 > Part 17
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Voted also "that the Common land in the Woodend, from the north side of the Burying place, from the road running East to John Boutwell's land (now Dana Par- ker's) and so running South to the corner where two roads meet, shall lie forever for the use of that part of the Town for a Burying place and other public uses as they shall have occasion."
1742. - Joseph Underwood acknowledged to the church that he had stolen corn from Noah Eaton.
1743. - Daniel Emerson, son of Peter Emerson, of this town, was ordained this year at Hollis, N. H. He graduated at Har. Coll. in 1739. (See Early Settlers.) He died in 1801, in the fifty-seventh year of his ministry and the eighty-fifth year of his age. Rev. Mr. Hobby, of Reading, preached his ordination sermon.
1745. - This year an expedition was sent to Nova Scotia, and war with the French and Indians was renewed. Massachusetts furnished most of the troops for the expedition, which was quite successful, and captured the city of Louisburg and the island of Cape Breton. Read-
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ing furnished its quota for this expedition, as well as for the war that followed and that continued for ten or twelve years. Several French captives from Cape Breton, who were residing in Reading, died this year. Also, John Batt, aged thirty-two, and John Jeffrey, aged nineteen, both died, having just returned from the taking of Louisburg.
For list of soldiers in the French and Indian wars of 1745 to 1757, see Appendix G.
North Precinct voted to build a school-house.
1746. - Joseph Swain, son of Capt. John, born 1723, graduated at Har. Coll. 1744, was schoolmaster this year.
1748. - Mr. Hobby's salary was raised to £300.
1749. - This year the throat distemper again prevailed, and many died ; among them Timothy Wiley, Jr., of whom Parson Hobby said : " He died in ye vigor and strength of life, in full career after the O." Age 24.
1750 .- Rev. Joseph Swain, the schoolmaster aforesaid, was .this year ordained at Wenham. Delegates to the ordination, Capt. John Swain (his father), Dea. Brown Emerson, John Walton, and Samuel Poole.
Nathaniel Eaton committed suicide by hanging.
A child of Wid. Bancroft, aged five years, who having eaten exces- sively of trash in a hot day, returned home, and finding some rum, drank about a gill, went into convulsions and in a few days died.
First Parish paid Mr. Hobby for his negro's sweeping the meeting- house and ringing the bell one year (1749), £3 IOS.
1751 .- Josiah Temple, while in a fit, fell into a well and was drowned.
Another of the French captives died.
This year the North Precinct voted to build a new meeting-house on the land given for that purpose, 48 feet in length, 36 feet wide, and 22 feet stud, within one year so far as to plank and shingle it. A committee was chosen to build it.
Said Precinct also voted to build a pound with stone.
1752. - The North Precinct Meeting-house was raised July 23, 1752, Old Style.
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This year New Style was introduced into this country Previous to this year two methods of reckoning time had been used. According to one of these methods the year began on the 25th of March, February being the 12th month ; according to the other method, the year began on the Ist January, December being the 12th month.
Ebenezer Nichols, son of Capt. Ebenezer, who had just removed to Souhegan (Amherst, N. H.), was drowned in passing the river.
1753. - This year Thomas Nichols, of Reading, sold to Phineas Sprague, of Malden, a negro woman, Peggy, and a negro boy, for the sum of £33 6s. 8d., lawful money of New England.
The only child of William Gould, aged three years, was drowned in a pit of water that with too much negligence had been left uncovered.
1754 .- John Kimball was convicted of stealing the velvet and leather of the pulpit cushion, and fined by the Court.
Died this year, Capt. Joseph Fitch, aged sixty, " an honor to ye hu- mane nature and to the Christian name, fully satisfied with ye present and ye hope of ye future life." (Hobby.)
1756. - Died this year William Hobby, Jr., " in his last year in Col- lege, and but a few months before he was to have taken his degree, - a son of great hopes, aged 18." (Hobby.)
1757. - North Precinct voted to procure a "Law-book."
1758. - Rev. Mr. Hobby writes, " My dear friend and our excellent neighbor, Edward Merrow, died of small-pox ; and that good man and my good friend, Dea. Raham Bancroft, died of fever, aged 72 (or 4), and his wife the same month."
1759. - Nathan Eaton, from Pepperell, was warned out of town.
Rev. Daniel Putnam, pastor of the second church (North Precinct), died, having served in the ministry thirty-nine years (less nine days), and in the sixty-third year of his age. During his ministry 194 persons were added to his church ; he baptized 491 persons, and married III couples.
August 9th was observed by the North Precinct as a day of Fasting and Prayer in order for another pastor.
Elias Smith was ordained at Middleton this year. He was son of Benjamin and Elizabeth (Burnap) Smith, of Reading; born 1731;
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graduated at Har. Coll. in 1753; m. Catharine -, and had chil. Catharine, b. 1760, and m. 1791, Jos. Peabody ; Rebecca, b. 1762, and d. 1790 ; Elias, b. 1765 ; Elizabeth, b. 1767, and became the second wife of Joseph Peabody aforesaid ; Sarah, b. 1769, and d. 1775 ; Jo- seph Blanchard, b. 1771; Hannah, b. 1773, and d. 1775 ; Fanny, b. and d. 1775 ; Benjamin, b. 1777.
Joseph Peabody, above named, was a native of Middleton, removed to Salem, became a successful and wealthy merchant, and was father, by his second wife Elizabeth, of Messrs. George Peabody, Esq., and Francis Peabody, Esq., of Salem.
Rev. Mr. Smith continued to be the minister at Middleton until his death, which took place Oct. 17, 1791. The historian of Middleton (David Stiles, Esq.) says of him, that "he was qualified to fill almost any station in life, and was a faithful and successful minister. Soon after his settlement he was chosen one of the trustees of Phillips Acad- emy, and so remained until his death. He was once strongly solicited to settle in Marblehead, with the promise of a much larger salary than he was receiving in Middleton. His reply was "that he would not leave Middleton for all Marblehead."
1760. - Seven " French Neutrals " were quartered upon the town of Reading this year by order of the Courts Committee.
First Parish voted to build a " Pound " with wood.
North Precinct this year invited Rev. Eliab Stone to be their pastor ; to give him £160 as a settlement, and £73 6s. 8d. for his annual support.
Mr. Stone accepted the invitation.
1761. - First Parish voted to build a Pound with stone, and appro- priated £10 135. 4d. for that purpose.
N. B. - This pound was located on Main Street, about where Eben- ezer Wiley's brick house now stands.
Rev. Eliab Stone was ordained May 20th as pastor of the second church. Delegates from the first church to the ordination were Dea- cons Benj. Brown and Brown Emerson, Col. Nichols, Capt. Gardner, and Jona. Eaton.
This year the town was relieved from further tax for support of Mystic Bridge, by payment of a sum of money agreed upon, as appears by the following instrument : -
Know all Men by these presents, that we, Samuel Brooks, Esq, Stephen Hall, Esq., Zechariah Poole, Simon Tufts, Seth Blodgett and Benj. Parker, Jr., Gentlemen,
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all of Medford, in the County of Middlesex and Province of Massachusetts Bay, in New England, a Committee chosen by the town of Medford to agree with Woburn, Reading and Malden, concerning the building, repairing and supporting of "Med- ford Great Bridge," for and in consideration of the sum of fourteen pounds, lawful money, the receipt whereof we do hereby acknowledge, and therefore hereby have, and by these presents forever do acquit and discharge Ebenezer Nichols, Esq., John Temple and Samuel Bancroft, Gentlemen, in behalf of the town of Reading, in the County of Middlesex, aforesaid, they being chosen a Committee to agree with the town of Medford as aforesaid, and do therefore for and in consideration of the sum aforesaid, acquit and discharge the said town of Reading forever from all charges that ever have or ever shall arise on account of building and maintaining the said town of Reading's part of "Medford Great Bridge"; and in our said capacity do take upon the town of Medford the care of supporting and building the aforesaid Reading's part of said bridge.
In witness whereof, the Committee for Medford aforesaid have hereunto set our hands and seals the twenty-first day of August, A. D. 1761, and in the first year of the Reign of His Majesty King George the Third.
Witness : ROGER BILLINGS. AARON HALL.
STEPHEN HALL.
Z. POOLE.
SIMON TUFTS.
SETH BLODGETT.
BENJ. PARKER.
Acknowledged before Wm. Reed, Just. of the Peace.
N. B. -- At this date, the travel from Reading, Woburn, and Malden passed over this bridge to Boston. Z. Poole aforesaid was of Reading descent.
1764. -- Rev. Mr. Hobby, of the first church, having been long feeble, seldom able to preach, and altogether insufficient, on account of disease, to discharge the duties of the pastoral office, a large committee was chosen by the First Parish to treat with him in relation to his discharge from the office of pastor, and receiving an annuity during life.
First Parish voted that the contribution-box should be held every Sabbath.
1765. - This year Rev. Mr. Hobby, pastor of the first church, died. June 18th, aged 58 years, after a ministry of thirty-two years.
Rev. Mr. Hobby was the son of John and Ann, of Boston, born Aug. 17, 1707, and grandson of William Hobby, a merchant of Boston, by wife Ann. Rev. William graduated at Har. Coll. in 1725, and settled as the sixth pastor of the First Parish in 1733. His wife was Lucy.
Tradition says of him that he was a man of extensive learning and much piety ; that he was an able writer and an imposing public speaker. It is also said of him that he had a high opinion of the dig-
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nity belonging to the ministerial office ; that in his manners he was somewhat pompous, wore a big wig, large knee-buckles, and other showy sacerdotal vestments, especially on the Sabbath, when he entered the temple of the Lord, and ascended to the pulpit with dignity and majesty. A doggerel verse made by one of his parishioners, contain- ing, perhaps, more truth than poetry, has come down to us, giving the vulgar sentiment in relation to several cotemporary divines of that day :
" Good Mr. Emerson (of Malden), Proud Mr. Hobby (of Reading), Silly old Carnes (of Stoneham), And Coxcomb Roby " (of Saugus)."
First Parish raised £26 13s. 4d. to defray the expenses of Mr. Hobby's funeral, - one half to be paid to Mrs. Lucy Hobby for mourn- ing, etc.
Mr. Hobby had several children, some of whom died in infancy, and one while in College, as has been already mentioned. Two others, Lucy and William, were unmarried, lived to be aged, were poor, and returned to South Reading, and were assisted by the town.
The passage of the Stamp Act by the British Parliament appears to have sent a thrill of indignation throughout the country. At a town-meeting, held at Reading October 22d, voted to give the follow- ing instructions to the Representative of Reading : --
"To Ebenezer Nichols, who represents the town of Reading at the General As- sembly : We, the freeholders and inhabitants of the town of Reading, in town meet- ing assembled, professing the greatest loyalty to our Gracious Sovereign, and our sincere regard and reverence for the British Parliament, as the most respectable body of men upon earth, yet at the same time are not insensible of the great distress which a late exertion of their power, in the Stamp Act, must necessarily expose us to, we think it proper with regard thereto, to give you, Sir, the following instructions, viz : -
" That you cheerfully join in every proper measure that may have a tendency to a Repeal of the Stamp Act, which imposeth such a grievous burden upon the American Provinces and Colonies, and that you endeavor, by all possible means, consistent with our allegiance to the King, and relation to Great Britain, to oppose the execution of it, until the remonstrances, petitions and cries of these distressed Colonies shall reach the ears of our Sovereign. And, Sir, we cannot think it advisable to agree to any step for the protection of stamped papers or stamp offices ; we have already good and wholesome laws for the preservation of peace and good order among his Majesty's subjects, and are not apprehensive of any further tumults and disorder, to which we have a steady aversion.
" Moreover, we must enjoin it upon you, that you use the strictest care to prevent all unconstitutional Drafts upon the Public Treasury, at this time of uncommon difficulty and distress ; but in all actings to maintain our Rights as free-born Englishmen."
Joseph Frye was authorized by the North Precinct to survey and
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make a plan of said Precinct. Such a plan was made, but we have not been able to find it.
Mr. Frye died in 1766, soon after completing the survey and plan aforesaid. He was a native of Andover; bought the farm formerly owned by Aaron Upton. He was a large man, weighing 365 pounds. His wife was killed by lightning, and he then married wid. Mary Fos- ter. He was seventy-seven years old at his death.
1766. - This year the First Parish concurred with the church in in- viting Rev. John Lathrop to settle with them. Jeremiah Swain and thirty-nine others (chiefly residents of Woodend) entered their written dissent. He came not.
Jeremiah Swain and others, of Woodend, this year petitioned the First Parish to be set off as a distinct parish. The petition was re- jected.
Said parish voted " that the new meeting-house, when built, shall be located 8 or 10 pole something easterly and southerly from where the M. house now stands."
To meet and allay the growing uneasiness of the northwest part of the First Parish, it was voted this year, "that all those persons that live more than four miles from Reading First Parish meeting-house, shall have liberty to draw so much money out of said parish treasury as one half of their minister's yearly rate shall amount to, yearly and every year, for ten years next ensuing, provided they live that distance from said meeting-house that term, in said parish."
Voted, also, " that all those persons that live between 32 and 4 miles from the meeting-house in Reading First Parish, shall have liberty to draw so much money, yearly and every year, for the space or term of ten years next ensuing, as one quarter of their minister's yearly rate will amount to, provided they forbear petitioning for a parish during said term, and live 32 miles from said Meeting-house, and live in said parish during said term."
Voted, also, " that all those persons in the First Parish, in Reading, that live more than four miles from Reading First Parish Meeting-house, and do not accept of drawing so much money out of the parish treasury as one half of their minister's yearly rate amounts to, shall have liberty to go off, they and their estates, to Reading North Parish or to Wil- mington, which they shall choose, if they desire it."
1767. - About this time a "Young Men's Christian Association " was formed, probably the first in the town. As such societies are pop-
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ular at the present time, perhaps it would be interesting to see the con- stitution of one formed a century ago : -
" We, whose names are hereunto subscribed, being as we hope in some measure sensible of the many obligations we are under unto God, and of the great care and concern we owe our own souls and the souls of each other, would therefore enter into those measures, whereby we may promote the honor of God and our own mutual edi- fication, and since in the duties of prayer, reading the Word of God, meditation and holy conversation, we are most likely to promote the glory of God, our own spiritual knowledge, faith and comfort, and put ourselves in the way of the divine blessing, we would set apart some time for the regular discharge of these duties, hoping in that gracious promise of our Lord Jesus Christ, ' where two or three are met together in his name, he will be with them and bless them'; and now giving ourselves unto God in an everlasting covenant in dependance on the influences of his holy Spirit, without which we can do nothing worthy of divine acceptance, we do, with all holy fear, re- solve on the following things : In the first place we will meet together once a week on Sabbath evening in some convenient place, where we will spend an hour and a half or two hours in the following duties, in a regular manner : -
" Ist. We will begin with prayer, in which we will take our turns in order from time to time.
"2d. We will sing a psalm or hymn or some part of one.
"3d. We will read a sermon or some other discourse of divine things.
"4th. We will then one another of us take our turns in prayer, and then speedily conclude with singing.
"5th. Having discharged our duties, we will all of us return to our several places of abode, endeavoring that the good that we may have obtained be in no danger of being lost by vain company or bad discourse.
"6th. If any one of the Society at any time be absent, he shall, at the next time of his appearance, if desired, offer the reasons of his absence, and if his reasons shall ap- pear too weak to justify his absenting himself, we will with a spirit of meekness rebuke him, and admonish him of his duty.
"7th. If any one, at any time, shall refuse to meet with us any more, without suffi- cient or justifiable reasons therefor, we will endeavor to convince him of his fault, admonish him of his danger, and entreat his return.
" 8th. If any one be overtaken with any scandalous fault, we will deal with him in such a manner as to us appears most likely to reclaim him. If he shall hereupon manifest his repentance, we will forgive him. If he refuse to hear and repent, we will blot out his name and banish him from the Society.
"9th. We resolve to look out for sober-minded persons and invite them to our Society.
" Ioth. Any person admitted to our Society shall be admitted by the consent of the whole or major part of it, and any one desiring a dismission with proper reasons, shall withdraw with the same consent.
" IIth. Considering how apt we are to forget this obligation, we resolve to read over this covenant with God and one another once a month.
"This is the covenant, which in the name and fear of God, we would make with God and one another, humbly entreating for the blood of our great High Priest, even Jesus, who has shed his blood for the remission of sins, to wash away all our pollu- tions and defilements, and the aids and assistances of the spirit of truth to guide us
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into all necessary and saving truths, and the grace of Christ to assist us in and per- fect all our duties. Now unto him, who is able to build us up in holiness and com- fort, and to do for us far above what we can ask or think, be glory forever, Amen.
Daniel Emerson.
Thomas Damon.
Joseph Parker. John Joy.
. Ebenezer Stimpson. Joseph Emerson.
Chester Joy.
Robert Williams.
Bacchus.
Samuel Sweetser.
John Walton, 3d.
Ebenezer Nichols .*
Timo. Emerson.
David Smith.
Jotham Walton.
Thomas Parker.
Samuel Goodwin.
Ezra Mudge. '
William Nichols.
John Swain. Thomas Brown.
James Bryant. Amos Walton.
Brown Emerson.
Josiah Bryant.
Nathaniel Pratt.
Benjamin Williams.
James Hartshorn.
Samuel Felch.
James Bennett.
Cornelius Sweetser. Abijah Smith. John Burnam. Aaron Emerson.
Isaac Smith.
Benjamin Walton.
Daniel Smith.
Benjamin Brown.
Jona. Gardner.
1767. - In March of this year the First Parish voted "to make a thorough repair of the old Meeting-house, as soon as may be, and to make pews and sell them, and raise £200 (by tax) to pay the balance."
In June, reconsidered the above vote about repairing the old meeting- house, and voted "to build a new Meeting-house in the First Parish, about 8 or 10 poles southeasterly from the place where the old Meeting- house now stands ; the new house to be 70 feet long and 50 feet wide and 26 feet posts (afterward changed to 28 feet posts), with a Steeple and Porch, and chose Ebenezer Nichols, Esq., Capt. John Goodwin, Samuel Bancroft, Esq., Jona. Eaton, John Batchelder, Timothy Pratt, and Nathaniel Wiley a Building Committee."
An effort was made by Dea. Jonathan Temple, Dea. Samuel Ban- croft, Mr. John Temple, Nathan Parker, and other Woodend people to change the location of the new meeting-house to a site about half a mile to the westward, which effort was unsuccessful.
In October, the Woodend people renewed their efforts for a separa- tion, not wishing to be taxed for the new meeting-house ; and Jeremiah Swain, Joseph Damon, and others petitioned the First Parish : Ist, to
* NOTE. - In 1770 Ebenezer Nichols, a member as aforesaid, was banished from the society for breaking the seventh commandment.
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set off all the second Constables' District ; or, 2d, to set off all such district as should in writing consent thereto.
This petition was not granted ; but the parish thereupon voted "to give to those persons that live in 'Baremeadow Row,' so called, that live more than 3 miles from the Meeting-house, including, with them, Jonathan and John Nichols', James Eaton's, and Thomas Eaton's houses, five pounds a year and yearly, for the space of ten years next to come, and the money to be laid out in schooling as they shall agree, upon condition they will cheerfully go on to build the Meeting-house and settle a gospel minister among us."
Voted, also, "to give to the westerly and northwesterly part of the parish (that is to say), those persons there, that live more than 3 miles from the Meeting-house, and the money to be laid in preaching or schooling, as they shall agree, so much money per year, yearly and every year, for the space of ten years next to come, as is the same pro- portion, according to the number of houses, as we gave 'Bare-meadow Row,' upon condition they will cheerfully go on to build the Meeting- house and settle a gospel minister among us."
1768. - The First Parish meeting-house, as voted for in 1767, was this year erected. It was the third place of worship erected by said parish.
The parish voted to raise £600 to defray the expense of the new church, and that the timber therefor may be cut from the parish min- isterial lot.
Messrs. John Walton, Jr., and Andrew Beard, carpenters, were added to the building committee already chosen.
The contractors were Messrs. David Nelson and Asa Todd.
The frame was of oak, massive and heavy ; at one end was a tower with a handsome steeple or spire, shooting high up into the blue ether, and at the other end a two-storied porch. Upon the apex of the spire was a gilded weather-cock. At the time the house was built it was voted " not to paint the clapboards, or do the roof with rosin, tar, and sand," consequently the outside remained unpainted for many years.
The foundation of the building was a wall about three feet high, com- posed of rough and mostly unhammered granite blocks, selected at great pains from the surrounding forests, and was a curiosity on account of its rare beauty and regularity, considering that its component stones were mostly in their natural state. A tradition connected with this foundation is thus related : -
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" One of the largest of these granite blocks, weighing several hundred pounds, was lifted to its bed on the wall by old 'Doss,' a negro of Sampsonian strength, was then or had been a slave, was afterwards a soldier of the Revolution, and used to live in a hut near Bare Hill brook. Old 'Doss' performed this exploit by 'main strength, unaided, and without lever or bar'; and so notable was this feat considered at the time, that the letter 'D,' the initial of the hero's name, was chiselled upon the face of the stone by the artisans, to commemorate the achievement. Afterwards, some person, either from envy of the hero's glory, or, more probably, from prejudice against his color, hammered out and thus erased the honorable letter; thus showing how vain and transitory are all earthly marks of distinction, even when engraved in granite."
The pews were originally disposed of in the following manner : -
After selecting one for the minister, to be numbered one, then the highest tax-payer had the first choice ; the second highest the second choice, and so on.
The pews were numbered in the order of choice, no matter in what part of the house they might be situated.
The first pew was sold for one hundred pounds, old tenor ; and then dropped twenty shillings, old tenor, on every pew through the whole.
One hundred pounds, old tenor, was £13 6s. 8d. New England cur- rency ; and twenty shillings, old tenor, was 2s. 8d. New England currency.
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