USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Groton > Groton historical series. A collection of papers relating to the history of the town of Groton, Massachusetts, Vol IV > Part 4
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1. The church voted to adopt the first & third of the foregoing propositions, & to pass over the second at present, for farther consideration.
2. Voted & chose Deacon Samuel Rockwood, & brothers Ben- jamin Morse & William Nutting a committee to confer with certain
33
EARLY CHURCH RECORDS.
delinquent members of the church, in their neglect of duty, & report at the adjournment of this meeting.
3. Voted yt this meeting be adjourned to the first Thursday in March next i o'clock P. M. at this place. The brethren requested yt the pastor would give public notice of the adjournment, the sabbath before the time of said meeting.
DAN': CHAPLIN. Pastor.
Jan. 29. 1803. The brethren of the church voted, that the dea- cons, with the pastor, make distribution of {2-19-7, in the hands of deacon Amos Farnsworth, interest of the legacy for the benefit of the poor of the church; as to them may seem most proper. Said distribution was afterwards made, as follows, viz.
To Hannah Lakin 10' To Wid" Mary Hodgman 9 7
5
Wid" Mary Kemp 9/ Wife of Nath' Gilson 61
Wid" Anna Nutting 0
Wife of W" Parker 6!
Wife of Aaron Bigelow
Wid' Mary Hartwell 7/
£1-11
1-8-7
1:11
1 : 8:7 2 19 :7 DAN - CHAPLIN Pastor
March 3. 1803. At a church meeting at the centre school house, by adjournment, the commitee appointed at the last meeting to confer with delinquent members of the church in their neglect of duty, reported that they had, in company with the pastor, conferred largely with brother Zachariah Fitch on his total neglect of the sacrament of the supper, & general neglect of public worship, for a long time past ; and had received no satisfaction. The church directed said committee to confer still farther with him on the sub- ject of his delinquency, should he desire it, & report hereafter.
Said committee also reported, that they had conferred with brother Peter Gilson, who has of late neglected the duty of attending on the communion of the supper, & in some other respects behaved in a manner unbecomming the christian character. The church added brother Oliver Prescott jun. & Jame's Brazer to said com- mittee, & directed the committee to confer again with said Gilson, & report hereafter.
The church appointed brother Benjamin Morse a committee to confer with brother Jonas Stone on his neglect of duty, & report to the church at a future meeting.
5
1 1
34
EARLY CHURCH RECORDS.
Voted that this meeting be adjourned to Tuesday following first Monday in April next, I o'clock P. M. in this place; & requested the pastor to give notice of the meeting the sabbath before.
DAN! CHAPLIN Pastor
April 5. 1803. At a church meeting in the centre school house, by adjournment, the committee to confer again with brother Peter Gilson, reported yt they had performed that service.
I. The church voted on the report of the committee, that if brother Peter Gilson will make the same explanation & concessions before the church at large, which said committee represent that he made to them, they shall be willing to restore him to their christian fellowship.
2. Voted to attend to the cases of delinquent members on the approaching Fast, either at noon or night, as the pastor may think most convenient.
3. Brother Morse having reported respecting the case of brother Jonas Stone, the church voted to postpone this case for the present. The report of brother Morse was to the following effect, viz. that brother Stone assigned as the ground of his withdrawing from the communion & public worship with us, the use of instrumental music in the public worship, which he thought to be contrary to scripture & of bad tendency -& The church is tolerating the young people in managing that part of divine service as they pleased. He dis- covered a disposition to attend on the public institutions of religion elsewhere, though he imagined he could not conscientiously attend with us.
4. The attention of the church was again called to the 3! article in the original request for this meeting, & their minds tried whether they would adopt it, when the question passed in the negative.
5. Voted to postpone the consideration of the case of brother Fitch until the public Fast 7th instant, & then attend to it. The committee had informed that brother Fitch had not discovered a desire of any further conversation with them on the subject of his neglect of duty.
6. Voted that this meeting be adjourned to 7th instant, in this house, either in the intermission, or after divine service P. M. as will be most convenient for the pastor.
DAN': CHAPLIN Past.
April 7. 1803. The church met in the school house, according to adjournment, in the time of intermission.
35
EARLY CHURCH RECORDS.
1. Voted to restore, to our christian fellowship, Lydia Relict of Jeremiah Chaplin deceased, who came forward with an acknowl- edgment, having had a child within 7 months after marriage, being then a member in full communion ; & having absented herself, for some years, from the sacrament of the supper. Brother Peter Gil- son appeared before the church, & on his repeating such conces- sions & explanations as he had made to the committee.
2. The church voted to receive him again to their charity. The case of said Gilson was, He had been charged with having com- mitted certain criminal indecencies towards the wife of Eber Woods his neighbour, & had neglected to attend on the communion of the Lord's supper, for a year or more. The most criminal part of the charge he denied, & the church did not think it proved.
3. Voted that the case of brother Z. Fitch be put off to a future day ; still expecting the committee appointed to deal with him, to hold themselves ready to converse with him on his neglect of duty, in case he should manifest any desire for it.
4. Voted that this meeting be dissolved.
After divine service P. M. the same day, the brethren tarried in the meeting house by the desire of the pastor, who requested them to signify their minds, whether the late votes of the church respect- ing public acknowledgments should be communicated to the con- gregation. This question passed in the affirmative. Said votes were afterwards communicated accordingly. At the proposal of the pastor, the chh appointed a committee of five, viz. brother O. Pres- cott sen. Deacons Isaac Farnworth & S. Rockwood, & brothers W" Nutting & O. Prescott jun. to join with the pastor in consider- ing whether some plan may not be adopted to promote discipline in the chh, & increase religion in this place ; & report hereafter.
1923312 DAN' CHAPLIN Past.
Lord's day March 11. 1804. After divine service the brethren voted, that the Deacons, with the Pastor, make distribution of $5: 39, in the hands of Deacon Amos Farnsworth, interest of the legacy for the benefit of the poor of the church, as to them may appear most proper. Said distribution was afterwards made, as follows, viz.
To the Wid" Mary Hodgman $2: 00
Wido Mary Hartwell 1: 39
Wide Mary Kemp 2:00
5:39
DAN' CHAPLIN L'astor.
36
EARLY CHURCH RECORDS.
Lord's day June 24. 1801. After divine service the brethren voted, to select some proper persons to read a sermon or more, or some other religious treatise in the meeting house in the intermis- sion on the sabbath, to those who do not go home & are disposed to hear. They also voted, that it was their desire the Deacons, with the Pastor, would make out a list of those persons whom they judged to be suitable, for the purpose, & report the sabbath after next.
DAN! CHAPLIN Pastor
Lord's day July 8. 1804. After divine service the Deacons, thro' the Pastor, reported the following list of those they judged suitable persons to be appointed to read in the meeting house, in the time of intermission on the sabbath, Which report without alteration the brethren accepted.
Doctor B. Morse
John Farnsworth
Messrs T. Bigelow
Sam. Hartwell
S. Dana
Noah Shattuck
C. Butler
Joseph Stone
L. Lawrence Abel Tarbell
Jonas Farnsworth John Rockwood
Sol. Tarbell
W" Nutting jun.
DAN': CHAPLIN Past.
Lord's day Feb. 24. 1805. The brethren of chh being requested by the pastor, tarried after the close of divine service P. M. & being informed that there was some interest money of the legacies given by Capt. Ephraim Sawtell & M' Samuel Barron for the benefit of the poor of the chh, now in the hands of the deacons & ready for distribution,
Voted that the deacons, with the pastor, make distribution of it according to their discretion.
DAN! CHAPLIN Past.
1805 March The distribution was made in the following man- ner, viz,
To Mary the wife of Nath' Gilson Si in money, & Dod-
dridge's Rise & Progress price one dollar $2:00
To Dolly the wife of Oliver Wright St in money & said Rise & Progress
2:00
And to Wid" Mary Kemp $1. 14
1:44
The whole sum 5:44
37
EARLY CHURCH RECORDS.
Lord's day May 12. 1805. The members of the church were requested by the pastor to tarry after the close of divine service. When the congregation had retired, Betsey Green a member of the church made a confession of the breach of the 7"! commandment, with which the brethren voted themselves satisfied, & also voted that she might then offer her child in baptism. The child was accordingly baptized.
DAN': CHAPLIN Pastor
June 16. 1805. Lord's day. The brethren of the church, at the request of the Pastor, tarried after the close of divine service P. M. & then
Voted unanimously, that it was their desire the same Gentlemen who read in the meeting house in the time of intermission, the last season, would again be kind enough to read, the ensuing season, in the order they did at that time. N. B. Their names & order may be seen page 13.
DANH CHAPLIN Past.
Lord's day Mar. 30. 1806. The brethren of the church, at the request of the Pastor, tarried after divine service P. M. & being informed, that there was interest money of the legacies, given by Capt. Ephraim Sawtell & M: Samuel Barron, for the benefit of the poor of the church, now in the hands of the deacons, ready for dis. tribution ; voted,
That the deacons, with the Pastor, should make distribution of it according to their discretion.
Also voted that it was their desire the same Gentlemen who have read in the meeting house in the time of intermission the two last seasons, would be kind enough again to perform that service, the following season, in the former order, beginning the first sabbath of May next. Their names & order may [ be] seen page 13.
DAN' CHAPLIN Past.
May 2. 1806. The Pastor & Deacons, according to vote of the church, distributed ten copies of Bishop Wilson's sacra privata, or private meditations & prayers, to those members of the church whose names follow.
Wid" Mary Hartwell I book
Mary Kemp i Ditto
Mary Eaton I Ditto
---------
-
38
EARLY CHURCHI RECORDS.
Sybil Stone 1 Ditto
Lydia Chaplin I Ditto
Wife of Aaron Bigelow I Ditto
of Benj' Tarbell I Ditto
of Nath' Gilson I Ditto
of Win Parker I Ditto
of David Prescott I Ditto
These books were very acceptable to them as they gratefully acknowledged, at the time of receiving them.
The cost of the ten was $5-62
The interest of the funds was 5-44
The 18 cents deficiency was paid & given
by Deacon Amos Farnsworth. 18
DAN !. CHAPLIN Pastor
Lords day June 14. 1807. The brethren voted that the Gentle- men who have read in the meeting house in the intermission on the sabbath, be requested to read thro' the following season. Chose brother Amos Farnsworth a committee to notify the readers of their respective turns to read. also voted that it was agreable to their minds to have singing after the reading in the intermission.
Chose 1)" Samuel Lawrence & brother Jacob Patch a committee, with the Pastor to make distribution of the interest in the hands of brother Amos Farnsworth, among the poor of the church, accord- ing to their discretion.
DAN! CHAPLIN, Past.
The interest of the legacies of Capt. Ephraim Sawtell & M' Samuel Barron was afterwards given by the committee & Pastor, according to the preceding vote of the church,
To the Widow Mary Kemp $1.44
Mary Gilson .1
5.44
Which was the whole sum for distribution.
DAN! CHAPLIN Past.
N. B. The following votes should have been recorded before the foregoing record of Lord's day June 14. 1807.
Lord's day Sep. 7. 1806. The members of the church being
39
EARLY CHURCH RECORDS.
requested by the Pastor, tarried [Four pages of the record-book here are gone]
confer with brother Z. Fitch on the subject of his delinquency reported, that he had conversed largely with him, & on the whole perceived no prospect of his returning to his duty. On this report, voted to send him a written admonition, & requested the Pastor to prepare one, & communicate it to the church for their concurrence, as soon as may be convenient. Then
Voted to dissolve the meeting.
DAN! CHAPLIN Pastor
A draught of an admonition for brethren [sic] Fitch was prepared by the Pastor, & read to the brethren soon after, when on motion of brother Win Nutting a vote passed to postpone sending the admonition for the present.
D CHAPLIN Past.
Lord's day March 27. 1808. The brethren chose D" S. Lawrence & brother Joseph Sawtell, a committee with the Pastor, to distribute the interest of the legacies of Capt. Eph. Sawtell & M' Sam. Barron, to the needy in the church, as they may judge proper.
The committee afterwards distributed the money which was $5.44. To Wid. M. Kemp $1.44
M. Hartwell I
M. Gilson I L. Chaplin 2
5.44
D. CHAPLIN Past.
Lord's day June 26. 1808. The brethren voted to continue the practice of reading in the meeting house in the time of intermission, through the following season, according to custom three seasons past.
Requested that the same Gentlemen would read, who have per- formed this service heretofore, and are still living among us. And also
Voted that the Pastor & Deacons fill up the list of readers, or appoint as many new ones as to supply the deficiency occasioned by removal & death ; & give notice that the reading will commence the next sabbath.
D. CHAPLIN Pastor
40
EARLY CHURCH RECORDS.
Lord's day July 3. 1868. Notice was given after divine service A M That D' Benjamin Morse Messrs Jacob Patch Wm Nutting Sam1 Dana
Caleb Butler Luther Lawrence
Solomon Tarbell
Sam' Hartwell
Noah Shattuck
Joseph Stone
Abel Tarbell John Rockwood
were requested by the church to read in the intermission in the meeting house on the sabbath, the following season.
D). CHAPLIN Past.
Lord's day June 4, 1809. The church voted to request the same Gentlemen who have read in the time of intermission heretofore, to perform that service again this season.
Chose brother William Nutting to notify them of their turn to read.
Voted to dismiss & recommend Susanna, Wife of Rev. Stephen Bemis, to the congregational church in Harvard where she now lives. Also voted y' the Pastor, Deacon S. Lawrence & Brother A. Farnsworth make distribution of the interest of the legacy of Capt. Sawtell, &c to the poor of the church, according to their discretion.
D. CHAPLIN Pastor.
The sum was $5.45. which was all laid out for books & distributed as follows
To Lucy wife of A. Bigelow
i copy Henry on Meckness
Wid" Sibil Stone Do Do
Dolly wife of O. Wright Do Do
Wid" Mary Eaton
Jer. Hobart & wife Do
Do
Azubah wife of B. Tarbell Do
Do
Eliazer Parker & wife Do Do
Wid" 1. Hubbard Do
41
EARLY CHURCH RECORDS.
Wid" Anna Nutting Do Do
Deacon T. Farnsworth & wife
Do Do
Wid" Sarah Williams
Do Do
Phillis Sartell 1 Do Do
To John Simonds I copy Doddridge on Edu. children
Wife of W" Parker
Do Do
Wido Mary Gilson
Do
Do
Hannah wife of Joseph
Sawtell 3ª
Do
Do
O. Shed & wife
Do
Do
J. Fisk & wife
Do
Do
Wid" Dorcas Hopkins
Do
Do
April 5. 1810. After divine service on the public Fast, the church voted to request the continuance of reading in the intermis- sion on the sabbath, by the same Gentlemen who read last season, & chose brother W" Nutting to notify them of their turn, &c.
Also chose Deacon S. Lawrence & brother A. Farnsworth as a committee with the Pastor, to make distribution of the interest of the donation given by Capt. Sawtell, &c. to the poor of the church, according to their discretion.
DAN !: CHAPLIN Past.
The sum to be distributed was 5 dolls & 44 cts. The distribu- tion was afterwards made in books & money in the following manner.
To D' B. Morse I copy [Thomas] Scott's Essays Widow Hopkins I do Aaron Bigelow's wife I do Phillis Sartell I do Widow Hartwell i doll. in money.
D. CHAPLIN P.
Apr. 28. 1811. Lord's day, after divine service the brethren of the chh voted that Deacon S. Lawrence & brother A. Farnsworth be a committee, with the Pastor, to make distribution of the annual interest of the Sawtell & Barron legacies, in books or otherwise, according to their discretion. The sum was 5 dolls & quots, & was afterwards distributed as follows.
1 The following entry is found in the town-records : - " Phillis Walby, ser- vant to Josiah Sawtell, Jun., deceased, died at Groton, aged 70, February , that." She was the last survivor of negro slavery within the limits of the lowi
-------
42
EARLY CHURCH RECORDS.
To Phillis Sartell i doll. & 50 cts in money.
Aaron Bigelow's wife i book the cost a doll.
The Widow Hopkins 2 dolls in money.
D' B. Morse & the wife of Joseph Sawtell 34 equally in books, amounting to the remainder of the 5 dolls & 44 cts.
D. CHAPLIN Past.
At a church meeting May 10. 1811. public notice being given of it the sabbath before, after the throne of grace was addressed by the Pastor ;
I. The brethren voted & chose brother Joseph Sawtell jun. a deacon of this chh.
2. Voted to wave the choice of another deacon for the present.
3. Chose brother W. Nutting & brother S. Hartwell, with the Pastor & deacons, to be a standing committee of the chh.
D. CHAPLIN Past.
Aug. 25. 1811. The church voted to dismiss & recommend brother Timothy Bigelow & Lucy his wife to the chh in Medford. D. CHAPLIN Pastor. [D. C. in the form of a monogram.]
May 7th 1812. The chh voted that the Deacons S. Lawrence & J. Sawtell, with the Pastor, distribute the interest of the legacies to the poor of the chh, according to their discretion.
D. CHAPLIN Pastor.
[D. C. again in the form of a monogram.]
July 20. 1812. The interest of the legacies which was $5.44 the committee received from brother A. Farnsworth who has the imme- diate care of said legacies, & made distribution of it in the manner following,
To the widow Abigail Parker $2 widow Dorcas Hopkins 2
widow Mary Hartwell 1.44
$5-44
D. C'HAPLIN Past.
July 23. 1812. The church voted & sent an admonition to brother Zechariah Fitch, having taken the previous steps with him, for his delinquency in neglecting the ordinance of the supper, & other offences.
D. CHAPLIN Past.
43
EARLY CHURCH RECORDS.
June 13. 1813. The chh voted that the Pastor the D" Lawrence & Sawtell with brother Amos Farnsworth make distribution of the annual interest of the E. Sawtell & S. Barron legacies, among the poor of the church, according to the donors intention, expressed in their respective wills.
The above named as committee of the church the same evening made the following distribution.
To the Wid" Hopkins $2-00 the wife of A. Bigelow 2 Phillis Sartell 1-44
the whole sum
5-44
D. CHAPLIN Past
June 13. 1813. The church also voted that whereas it happens to be the desire of some of the brethren of the church that the time of intermission on the sabbath, or such part of it as may be most convenient, should be improved in the meeting house, by reading books of religious instruction & piety, for their own advantage, the advantage of their families, & others who may be diposed to attend ; the church approve the proposition of these brethren, & hope that those who pass the time of intermission without going home to the families to which they respectively belong, will steadily attend ; & also that others living near the meeting house, will come into the house of God, & attend decently to what may be read. The church feel it a great duty to encourage & promote religion, believing it to be the one thing needful to every person living.
D. CHAPLIN Past.
Mar. 6. 1814. The brethren of the church directed that the Deacons S. Lawrence & J. Sawtell, with the Pastor, make distribu- tion of the annual interest of E. Sawtell & S. Barron legacies to the poor of the chh, according to the intention of the Donors, as ex- pressed in their respective wills.
Mar. 13. 1814. The Pastor & Deacons made distribution of the money in the following manner. viz.
To the Wido. Hopkins $2.00
Wido. Bigelow 2.00
Phillis Satell 1.44
Sum total 5.44
D. CHAPLIN Pastor.
-
44
EARLY CHURCH RECORDS.
June 12. 1814. The church unanimously voted to discontinue the admission of persons to the privilege of baptism for themselves or children, on the half-way covenant, (so called ) because this prac- tice does not appear to be well supported either by reason or scrip- ture ; so that henceforwards, a full profession of religion or coming into full communion be considered indispensable to intitle to the ordinance of baptism either for themselves or children ; but that such persons as have already owned the covenant may continue to offer their children in baptism on the profession which they have · made. Yet the church desire such as have owned the covenant most seriously to consider whether they are not violating their sol- emn covenant obligation so long as they ought to come forward to the Lord's table.
D. CHAPLIN, Past.
Apr. 16. 1815. The church voted that the Deacons, with the Pastor & Brother Amos Farnsworth, make distribution of the an- nual interest of the Barron & Sawtell legacies among the poor of the church, according to their discretion, from this time until the further order of the church.
D. CHAPLIN, Past.
April 30. 1815. The interest money was distributed to
Widow Bigelow $1-64
Widow Hopkins 2-00
Phillis Sartell 2-00
D. C. Past.
1816. Feb. 25. Committee of the church, viz. the Pastor, the Deacons & Brother Amos Farnsworth made distribution of the interest of the Barron & Sawtell legacies, among the poor of the chh, according to their discretion, authorized by vote of the chh. They distributed it
To the Wid" Bigelow $1,50
Wido Hopkins
1,50
Wido Hartwell 1,14
Phillis Sartell 1,50
D. C. Past.
June 22. 1817. The Committee of the chh, viz. the Pastor & Deacon S. Lawrence, Deacon J. Sawtell & Brother A. Farnsworth,
-
45
EARLY CHURCH RECORDS.
made distribution of the interest of the Barron & Sawtell legacies, among the poor of the chh, according to their discretion, authorized by vote of the chh. They distributed in the following manner.
To the wife of Benjamin Tarbell $2-00
Wido. Hopkins
1-50
Wido. Bigelow 1-00
Phillis Sartell 1-14
5-64
DANE CHAPLIN Past.
1818 Apr.2. The church voted their thanks to Mrs Brazer the wife of James Brazer Esq' for the present of a new cloth for the communion table, & appointed Deacon S. Lawrence to present their thanks to Mrs Brazer.
Also directed the Deacons to give old cloth to some one or more of the poor of the church ; & sell some old pewter cups of the com- munion service & return the proceeds to the church.
'The committee of the church, viz. the Pastor, the Dns S. Law- rence, J. Sawtell, & bro. Amos Farnsworth made distribution of the interest of the Barron & Sawtell legacies to the poor of the church in the following manner.
To the widow Hobart $1,64
the wife of B. Tarbell
1,00
widow Hartwell
100
widow Bigelow
100
Phillis Sartell
100
5 64
D. CHAPLIN Past.
Mem : A few days after the date foregoing 64 cents were taken from the sum assigned to the widow Hobart, & given to the wife of John Fisk.
Oct. 1. 1818. Lecture day. The brethren & sisters of the church were desired to tarry after the blessing was given, when James Brazer Esq' a member of the chh presented as a gratuity two handsome flagons, the lids solid silver & the rest double plaited, to the chh for the use of the communion table -- cost $50.
1. The brethren voted the thanks of the chh to the donor of the generous present.
46
EARLY CHURCH RECORDS.
2. Voted that Deacon Lawrence, the Pastor & brother Caleb Butler be a committee to cause a suitable engraving to be put on these vessels.
3. Voted that the Pastor & Deacons give the old flagons belong- ing to the chh, to some sister chh who need them.
D. CHAPLIN Past.
March 21. 1819. The Pastor & Deacons distributed the interest of Barron & Sawtell legacies in the manner following. Viz.
To the widow Jane Farnsworth & daughter Catharine $1,64
Widow Hartwell 1
Wº Bigelow Phillis Sartell I
1
the wife of Jno Fisk I
5-64
D. CHAPLIN Past.
1820. March 5. The Pastor & Deacons distributed the interest of the Barron & Sawtell legacies as follows.
To the Widow Jane Farnsworth & her daughter Catherine $1,64 1
Wo Bigelow Wº Hopkins Phillis Sartell I Wife of John Fisk I
5,64
Lord's day Oct. 8. 1820. The church voted to dismiss & recom- mend Unice Hall, before marriage Dustin, to the congregational chh in Derby Vt.
D. CHAPLIN, Pastor.
Feb. 11. 1821. Distribution of the interest of the Barron & Saw- tell legacies by the Pastor, Deacons & brother Amos Farnsworth, To the Widow Bigelow $1,64 2
Wife of Benjamin Tarbell John Fisk & wife 2
5-64
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