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 21
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meeting-house, and ordered that its members should keep this vote a secret, upon their honor, until a deed thereof is obtained.
1800. - The first meeting-house of the Baptist Society in the South Parish was erected this year. It stood upon the lot of land on Salem Street, on which the dwelling-house now occupied by Sylvanus Clark at present stands ; was 38 feet by 34, with a porch outside, and a gallery inside.
On the occasion of erecting the frame, the society appointed a com- mittee to provide for the workmen "good Beef, well baked, Potatoes, Bread and Cheese, Cider and Grog, and enough of each."
The house was dedicated October 22, and Thomas Baldwin, D. D., of Boston, preached on the occasion.
1801. - Rev. Ebenezer Nelson, of Middleborough, commenced preaching for said Baptist Society.
REV. CALEB PRENTISS.
1803. - Rev. Caleb Prentiss, seventh minister of the First Church and Parish, died February 7th, in the thirty-fourth year of his ministry, and fifty-seventh of his age. He was a native of Cambridge, son of Caleb and Lydia (Whittemore), grandson of Dea. Henry and Eliza- beth (Rand), great-grandson of Solomon and Hepzi. (Dunn or Dun- ton), and great-great-grandson of Henry and Joane, from England, all of Cambridge, the first Henry having settled there before 1640.
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Rev. Caleb graduated at Har. Coll. in 1765; ordained minister of the First Church and Parish in Reading in 1769; married January 1, 1771, to Pamela, dau. of Rev. John Mellen, of Sterling, by his wife Rebecca (Prentiss) Mellen. Children : -
Caleb, b. 1771 ; settled in Paris, Me .; trader and farmer ; deacon ; d. 1838, aged 67, leaving numerous descendants.
THOMAS MELLEN, b. 1773 ; resided in Livermore, Me., as a farmer ; re- moved to Portland, became a teacher and postmaster ; removed to Lexington, Ky., and there practised law, but died a teacher ; married there, had four or five children ; died in 1823.
CHARLES, b. 1774 ; grad. at Har. Coll. in 1795 with high honor ; settled in Leominster ; established a newspaper; wrote poetry ; mar- ried a dau. of Rev. Francis Gardner; failed in business ; removed to Washington ; was editor of the Washington " Federal- ist and Anti-Republican "; afterwards editor at Richmond, Va., and stenographer in Congress. He wrote the life of Gen. Eaton, the hero of Tripoli, and published a volume of his own Essays and Poems. He died at Brimfield, Mass., in 1820. He had three children, who are all deceased.
PAMELA, b. 1776 ; m. 1799, Capt. John Orne, of Lynnfield. She died of consumption in 1810. Of her six children, the oldest, Mrs. Starr, only is living.
HON. JOHN FRENTISS.
JOHN, b. 1778 ; settled in Keene, N. H., in 1799 ; m. a dau. of Gen. Geo. Aldrich, of Westmoreland; established the New Hamp- shire " Sentinel," now in its seventieth volume ; left business in 1848 ; visited Europe in 1850; has been Representative and Senator in the Legislature, and died at Keene, N. H., June 6,
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1873, aged 95 years 2 months 16 days. Had eight children of whom three are living.
HENRY, b. 1779 ; settled in Paris, Me., a farmer ; m. Mary, dau. of Dr. John Hart, of Reading ; had nine children ; died 1843, leaving numerous descendants.
SOPHIA, b. 1782 ; d. 1807, of consumption ; was a young lady of great intelligence, amiability, and worth. She was a writer of much promise. The following poem is from her pen :-
ADIEU TO READING.
" By the last beams of parting day, Let me this charming scene survey ; Trace every spot I love so well, The lofty tree, the lowly dell, Dear lovely landscape, now adieu, When distant, I will think on you.
The enraptur'd eye beholds around, Here verdant plains, there rising ground ; The flowery field, the fleecy fold, The mountain tipp'd with blue and gold ; Oft fancy shall these haunts pursue, And oft, though distant, dwell on you.
The village church first meets my eyes, And seems aspiring to the skies ; There the beloved Pastor taught Each truth sublime, each nobler thought ; Taught us a brighter world to view, When distant far I'll think on you.
The humble school-house next appears, Where sweetly pass'd my early years ; There knowledge first, with pleasing art, Convey'd her treasures to my heart ; Then, while that heart 's to virtue true, With pleasure, I will think on you.
Behold the venerable roof, Where I have felt each tender proof Of love paternal and sincere, Its pleasing smile or anxious tear ; - Ah ! happy days! how fast ye flew, Yet will I often think on you.
The ancient Elm, that arches o'er The cherries shading it before ; The garden, with its vine-wrought bower, Where pass'd the gay or serious hour, When little of the world I knew,- I'll quit that world to think on you.
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The fields of cultivated land,
The orchard planted by that hand Which, in the dust, is mould'ring laid, Now yields its blossoms, fruit and shade ; 'T was from his fostering care ye grew, And I shall love to think on you.
Fair Lake ! how oft I've wandered o'er Thy grassy banks and pebbled shore, While on thy surface sunbeams played, And distant trees, in lengthen'd shade, Met the mild sky's ethereal blue,
When can I cease to think on you !
See the calm mansions of the dead, Where some lov'd friends are peaceful laid ; Long may'st thou be with rev'rence view'd, And thy green turf with tears bedew'd, Till I shall sleep in silence, too, And can no longer think of you."
CLARISSA, b. 1784 ; m. 1805, Benjamin Johnson, of Boston ; had three children (one of whom, Benjamin, is now living), and d. 1813. WILLIAM, b. 1786 ; died of consumption 1806.
GEORGE, b. 1787, and d. 1789.
LYDIA, b. 1790 ; m. 1821, Rev. Wm. Frothingham, of Belfast, Me. ; had four children (of whom two daughters are still living), and d. 1855.
GEORGE WASHINGTON, b. 1792 ; settled in Wiscasset, Me. ; afterwards in New York, editor (with Prof. Carter) of the " New York States- man." Died at Keene, N. H., 1830.
REBECCA, b. 1794; resided in Belfast, Me., and was unmarried. In the destruction of a hotel in Belfast, by fire, in 1873, Miss Pren- tiss was burned to death.
The character of Rev. Mr. Prentiss is thus delineated by one who knew him well, the Rev. Mr. Stone, of North Reading : -
" Meekness of wisdom, humbleness of mind, stability in friendship, calmness in conduct, candor in judging of others, sincerity in his professions, fidelity in discharg- ing the various duties of life, and hospitality to his numerous acquaintances, were prominent features in his character. His sermons were rational, evangelical and practical. He addressed his Maker in prayer with great reverence, solemnity and devotion. On particular occasions, his thoughts and expressions were peculiarly appropriate and engaging. In discharging the duties of the pastoral office, he was diligent and faithful. To preserve and promote peace and harmony in his society, and to build it up in the most holy faith, were constantly objects of his endeavors. And he enforced the christian duties, which he inculcated upon others, by living himself
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soberly, righteously, and piously. He was a kind husband, an affectionate parent, a steady friend, an agreeable companion, a good man, and a faithful minister of Christ."
As a divine, Mr. Prentiss was of the school called in his day " Ar- minian." Several of his sermons, on different occasions, were printed, and have come down to us. Some extracts therefrom will show, to some extent, his talent as a composer, his sentiments as a divine, and his style as a writer.
The following extract is from a sermon delivered in his own desk in 1790, in opposition to the doctrine of " Election and Reprobation " :-
" We may certainly infer from the truth and faithfulness of God that, when sinners are called of God unto the fellowship of his son Jesus Christ, and have offers made to them of pardon and salvation, and promises of life and favor, if they comply with the requisitions of the gospel, and are threatened with enhanced punishment if they do not comply ; I say, we may infer that there is a sufficiency of grace and help pro- vided for, and given to them, to enable them to conform to and obey the Gospel ; and therefore, if sinners perish, under the light of the Gospel, it is not because it is the sovereign will and fatal decree of God that they should perish ; but it's wholly their own fault, because they neglect to improve their faculties, talents and privileges, and abuse the grace and mercy of the Lord, their God. The infinitely wise and holy, just and good God does not require impossibilities of his creatures, nor command them to do what they are not capable of doing, with the help which he offers and gives. We cannot suppose that the God of truth and sincerity would call upon, invite and com- mand sinners to repent, and offer them mercy, and threaten their disobedience with punishment, if, at the same time, they were under an absolute, fatal necessity of per- ishing by his own eternal, unchangeable decree, or if they could not repent without the help of his special grace, which he eternally determined never to give them. Such offers would be false and deceitful, and only an insult to the wretched. I therefore think it is certain, from the truth and other perfections of God, and from his holy word, that the future, everlasting state of men was not eternally and immutably fixed and determined by God, by an absolute, unconditional, efficient decree of necessity and fatality ; and that the secret will of God is not contrary to his revealed word and will, and that those who perish under the grace and calls of the Gospel are the blame- able cause of their own destruction, there being a sufficiency of grace provided in Christ for their salvation."
The following extract is taken from his address before the " Mount Moriah Lodge," on St. John's day, June 24, 1799, at Reading : -
" May the members of Mount Moriah Lodge, in imitation of Solomon, who, on this mount, built a temple for God, prove themselves to be good workmen in the service of God, who need not to be ashamed. May your works be planned with wisdom and skill, and in due proportions. May your foundations be laid firm and strong, on the basis of truth and righteousness. May your buildings display wisdom, strength and beauty, and be cemented with love. May they be ornamental, useful and durable. May you ever act upon the square of equity ; keep within the compass of reason ; plumb your actions with the weight of conscience ; walk perpendicularly upright in the line of
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duty, and level your passions and affections to the rules of sobriety and virtue. May your social interviews be attended with harmony and improvement. May your social joys be temperate, pure and refined. May your charities make you rich towards God, and secure your treasures in heaven. May you be built up holy temples to the living God, and show forth his praise. May you finally be introduced to the temple of God above, and be members of that holy society of brethren and friends, where light, love, peace and joy shall reign in perfection ; where your labors shall be your pleasures, and your existence one eternal festival of joy and praise. And to the audience at large let me say, that if we cannot all be Masons, yet we may all be Christians. This society (the Christian) embraces all ranks and degrees, and does not exclude either sex. We are all invited by God to become members of it. It is both ancient and honorable. The son of God is its head and Grand Master ; its duties are pleasant ; its privileges are great ; its festivals are joyous ; and its rewards will be eternal bliss."
The following extracts from letters received from Hon. John Pren- tiss, son of Rev. Caleb, furnish a very pleasant view of the domestic character and home life of their former pastor ; with other interesting reminiscences : -
" It is natural and so pardonable that I should first speak of my father, my beloved parent, who was for nearly thirty years the sole minister of the First Parish (now Wakefield), the Rev. Caleb Prentiss, who died in February, 1803. To my fond recol- lection, but few have approached nearer to the perfect Christian. I need but look upon his portrait (with that of my mother, the eldest daughter of Rev. John Mellen, of Lancaster, honored in her memory), ever before me in my sitting-room, to recall to mind his Christian and parental instruction, and to endorse in full the character given him by his ever devoted friend and senior, the Rev. Eliab Stone, in his funeral dis- course, from the text, 'An Israelite indeed'; (see extracts from said discourse already given). My father's disposition was eminently social ; he was the friend of all innocent enjoyments ; he delighted in an occasional fishing excursion ; and I once skated with him nearly the whole length of the Pond, as he wished to land at a Swamp estate on the northwest coast. Many a game of draughts (checkers) did he enjoy with his friend and family physician, Dr. Hay.
" The annual gathering of a few more intimate families is well remembered, as well as the Thanksgiving, made more happy by the bounties, which never failed; I never knew him to show anger ; though on one or two occasions he was sadly tried by an inimical person, clothed with the power of a Hog-reeve, who seemed to take delight in impounding his cows, when lingering a few moments outside the gate.
" He was a revolutionary whig and patriot, as were most of the clergy in that day. He showed his faith by his works. On the memorable 19th of April, 1775, the train- band of the First Parish were, by express, ordered to Lexington, and they departed very early. About eight o'clock, A. M., alarm guns were fired, and the 'alarm list' as- sembled. These my father accompanied to the scene of action with his musket, and proceeded until they met the enemy returning from Concord. Here he became the soldier, and, as opportunity offered, for many miles, assisted in harassing the retreat- ing enemy. I find, also, the following memorandum, under date of February 27th, of the same year : 'At about three o'clock A. M. an alarm was made, the drums beat to arms, the bell was rung, and alarm guns were fired in the Parish. The report was that a regiment of the king's troops had landed at Marblehead, and marched to Sa- lem to take some cannon there, and that the people were defending the cannon, and
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wanted assistance. The people were mustered, and before daylight were upon the march toward Salem. Having marched about five miles, we were informed by the Lynn End company, who were returning, that the Regulars were retreated without the cannon, embarked and set sail. Upon which we returned. On our return we met the West Parish Company and the Stoneham Company, all which, joining to- gether, returned in order to this parish, and went through the military exercise. The whole were more than two hundred.'
"I have a sermon, preached by my father, on the occasion of several recruits being about to depart for the army, full of excellent advice and encouragement, and imbib- ing the most patriotic sentiments.
" From the date of his settlement in 1769 he kept almost a daily memorandum of public events, as well as occurrences in his parish, and in his own family. I have most of these in my possession, in his family almanac for more than thirty years, the calendar pages being interleaved for the purpose. I find much to amuse that is per- sonal, occasionally something illustrative of the age, though but little deserving a place in history. Some of the memoranda are serious reflections, - as gratitude at the birth of a child, and many, like some of the records of the Old Testament, true to the letter, but not exactly conformable to the taste of the present day. His reflections at my own birth and baptism, on stumbling upon them many years after his death, made an impression on my own mind which was never effaced ; it proved, I verily believe, to be that 'word in season,' so often efficacious in leading the thoughts, too much en- grossed by the world, to the 'one thing needful.'
"There is an amusing memorandum in his almanac of 1771 of the parade of his parishioners, on the occasion of his marriage; they met him at Lexington, twenty- four of the parish, and were joined by many more at Woburn, 'five chaises and thirty- two horses'; an elegant entertainment was provided ; neighboring ministers were present ; a merry evening, etc.
" The habit of keeping a strict account of receipts and expenditures was absolutely necessary with the £80 salary. Hence the daily memoranda, with the advantage of dates in recalling events. I find a portion, for instance, of his entries of 'Presents received since my ordination,' up to 1787, filling thirty or forty pages of close manu- script ; from Capt. Walton's, a ' fine shirt for wedding '; and in the next month no less than eleven entries of a 'leg of pork,' and 'a live Pig by the Parish, 75 lbs.' The value of the presents in £ s. d. was annexed.
In 1780 and '81, during the depreciation of the currency, Dea. Smith was credited a bushel of Indian meal, £15; and Capt. Walton, a leg of veal, £13 IOS,
" In 1775, the parish voted to sing ' Watts' Psalms and Hymns for the future.' I shall never forget hearing, when a child, the solemn tone of the Rev. (then a deacon of my father's church) Jacob Emerson, with his large white wig, who read the hymn, line by line ; for, although the parish voted to use Watts' psalms and hymns, it would appear that the singers, with Mr. Jeremiah Brown, who officiated as chorister some forty years, I believe, had no copies. Most of the clergy, at the close of the Revolu- tion, wore wigs (some of enormous size) and cocked hats, on all special occasions, mingling in the youthful mind awe with respect.
" Aug. 13, 1775, the congregation voted to have the scriptures read publicly for the future on the Sabbath ; and August 20th, I 'began to read the scriptures in public.'
" About this period, Capt. Tho. Green (who was the only miller in the parish, and where by law we were permitted to catch alewives every other day), was not so well satisfied as the parish generally with the doctrines preached ; he particularly objected
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o preaching from a black pasteboard case .; said a minister should preach from the bible, and he accordingly made a present of a handsome 12mo. bible, with notes, bound in black. This bible was ever after taken to church, the sermon confined in the centre.
"It was expected that the minister's family should set a good example of going to church. And so, in good weather, the family were rigged in their best. I well remember the formidable array of the Parson's family : The vicar on the right, then the mother and children, often half a dozen and more, according to their ages, - a single platoon, receding, in size and height, from right to left.
'1778, April 15. - This evening I agreed with ' Betty' (the 'help') to tarry with us another year. I am to give her £13 6s. 8d. and the small-pox.
" 1778, June 15. - Went a fishing on the Pond with Rev. Mr. Haven."
" 1782, May 7. - I prayed with my friend, Rev. Mr. Haven (of the West Parish), this morning, and was with him when he died, at 10 A. M., of consumption. He died in peace ; may I be prepared to follow," etc.
"A very particular account was kept of everything received and everything ex- pended, so as to Įkeep within his scanty income; yet 'he was passing rich, with eighty pounds a year' It would be deemed a mystery in our day how he could get through life, bringing up twelve of thirteen children, eight boys and five girls, with an ever hospitable mansion, on a salary of £80 a year, lawful money, and sometimes in a depreciated currency. But, with strict economy, and the untiring managing and plan- ning of my excellent and devoted mother, minister farming, and taking young men to prepare for college, he left an estate which, twenty years after, netted some $8,000 or $9,000. But much must be attributed to the rise of real estate. Though I left the. parish in 1792 (visiting it almost every year since), my recollections go back to 1783, when the train-band met, and called at our house to congratulate the minister on the news of Peace. The house was full of soldiers and guns, for my father was a most decided whig, having taken part with the Alarm List, in pursuing the Regulars, after the scenes at Lexington and Concord, to Charlestown ; and as also appears by one of his manuscript sermons preached to the new recruits, who were to march the next day to join the army.
" I well remember the state of theological opinions in the vicinity in 1790 to 1795, and so on. The 'Association of Ministers' were called 'moderate Calvinists,' but inclining strongly to the views of Arminius, and consisted, with perhaps others, of Rev. Messrs. Smith, of Middleton (a native of Reading) ; Wadsworth, of Danvers ; Roby, of Lynn ; Stone, of the North Parish ; French, of Andover ; Morrill, of Wil- mington ; Marrett, of Burlington ; Symms, of North Andover ; Stearns, of Bedford ; and Cummings, of Billerica.
" About the year 1790 or '91, then twelve years of age, I posted on foot to the ordi- nation, at the West Parish, of Rev. Mr. Sanborn. Mr. S. was fresh from the late Dr. Emmons' school, and entertained views materially differing from those of most of the members of the 'Association.' The Council were in debate until very late in the afternoon ; and then most, or all, of the public services were performed by the gentle- men especially invited by the Pastor. We may well conclude that Arminius and Whitby were arrayed against Calvin, Hopkins, and Emmons. Many theological con- tests were had ; and yet the Westminster Catechism was used by all, -the only one in existence. That generation of excellent men has passed away, with the formidable wigs and cocked hats, and other controversies have arisen.
" Every pond, rock, hill, valley and stream is still familiar to my recollection. But the great pond -' the remarkable Lake, as it was described in a very 'antient history,
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and shown on one of the rudest maps imaginable - was the glory of the parish, for bathing, fishing, boating and skating, as it must be at this day.
" Then the one old church, with the Stocks behind it (and I remember, perhaps, the last victim), the old red school-house (that stood just north of the ancient parsonage), with Master Downs, my first teacher, succeeded by Masters Walton, Swain, and others ; the blacksmith's shop on the Common, Ken's Pond in the centre, and the venerable oaks and elms."
This year, the town directed the Selectmen to oppose all turnpike roads going through the town.
1804. - The Baptist Church, of the South Parish, was constituted, and Rev. Ebenezer Nelson accepted an invitation to become its pastor.
The dwelling-house of Samuel Wiley, that stood at the corner of Main and Albion Streets, was burned.
, 1805. - This year, the town chose a committee, who were directed to use their influence that the Turnpike Road shall be made from Essex Turnpike to Malden Bridge.
1807. - This year, an action at law, which had been brought by the Baptist Society of the South Parish against the town of Lynnfield, for the recovery of certain ministerial taxes which had been collected by Lynnfield of people living in Lynnfield, but who had joined said Baptist Society, was decided against Lynnfield.
July 4. - Rev. John Mellen died in this town. Mr. Mellen was born 1722, graduated at Har. Coll. in 1741, ordained at Sterling, Ms., 1744, and after a long service in the ministry he retired, in his old age, to spend the evening of his life with his daughter, who was the wife and widow of Rev. Caleb Prentiss, of this town.
Three sons of Mr. Mellen graduated at Har. Coll. : John, who became minister of Barnstable ; Henry, a lawyer, at Dover, N. H. ; and Prex- tiss, who was Senator in Congress, and Chief-Justice of the Supreme Court of Maine.
This year, the town confirmed to each parish the common land lying within the limits of each, as was given them in the division made in 1771.
1808. - Adam Flint and Nehemiah Hart were drowned in Martin's Pond.
1809. - A hearse-house was built, and a hearse purchased for the First Parish.
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1810. - This year, January 19th, the liberty pole on the Common was blown down. The day was long after remembered as the "Cold Friday."
March 5. - Dr. John Hart, Jr., son of the Hon. John Hart, who had recently settled in the West Parish, with favorable prospects, died of consumption, aged 25.
18II .- The people of the South Parish, this year, agitated in earnest the subject of being incorporated as a distinct town.
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CHAPTER IV.
ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY.
THE Town of Reading, as has been said, was incorporated in 1644, and a church was organized in the same or next succeeding year. It is probable, also, that their first meeting-house was built at about the same time ; but no record of its erection has been found. The town records for the first two or three years after the incorporation, and which probably contained an account of its building, are missing.
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