USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > Duxbury > Historic Duxbury in Plymouth county, Massachusetts, 3rd ed. > Part 9
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Abel T. Lewis,
Gershom Winsor,
George H. Winsor.
"Nor wreck, nor change, nor winter's blight, Nor time's remorseless doom, Shall dim one ray of holy light, That gilds their glorious tomb."
1.45
THE FIRST CHURCH.
XVIII.
THE FIRST CHURCH.
"WE love the venerable house our fathers built to God."
"Here holy thoughts a light have shed on many a radiant face."
" And anxious hearts have pondered here the mystery of life."
T' "HIS organization is one of the oldest things associated with the town, to which reference has been made on page 51. The church was gathered, as near as can be stated, in 1632, five years before the incorporation of the town, and only twelve years after the landing at Plymouth. It thus became the second church of the Colony. The site of the first building, built soon after the church was gathered, has also been referred to on pages 51, 55 and 56, and can be nearly located close to the old burial ground on Chestnut Street. This building, with additions, lasted till 1706, when it was torn down and replaced by a new building. This second building can be exactly located and was, the records say, close by the first one, and with alterations was used till 1787, when the third building was erected at the site of the present structure. This building remained till 1842, when it was taken down to give place to the present one, although it was in good condition. The question of retaining it or building a new one caused the first serious dissension among the members of the church. The plans of ground floor and gallery are given here, where
" . . . the names we love to hear Have been carved for many a year On the tomb."
Floor Plan of the First
church.
EZ.Ra Weston
hathl
Thad . Chandler Peterson
Judah
Thom. Sampson
Pulhit
Judah Delaño nath'l Delaño
Elisha
John
Col. Partridge
Saml Chandler
andrew Sampson
Eden Wadsworth
o. Delano Henry Chandler
John Winsor
Saml
Samil Delano
Deacons
Freeman
amherst Bradford Giden
Joseph Brewster
Thomas Phillips
Ten Old Folks.
Luther Sampson
Leri
Loting
Gam'l
Samil Laring Bradford Richard Soule
EZRA Westar
Gisle
Col. Loring Joshua Winsen amos Brewer John Howland Pelig Frazer Pelig Thomas
Zaclock Bradford
ho Por
Judah alden
S Wadsworth
Reuben Peterson
Gisle
Gisle
Geo. Partridge
Seth spraque G B. weston
U. Wadsworth John alden
Wadsworth
Sampson
Briggs Giden
Priscilla Giden
T. Smith
Calvin Perkins
Henry Gooding Charles .Drew
Broad
Westen
Peliq Western
Sain'l G. Frazer Samil Winsor
Gisle
P. Churchill S.
Daniel Hall
hath'l Winsor Jr.
Gamil Bradford Benji Sinith
Charles Drew George Winslow
0 arnold
Samtson
Jacob Smith
Isaac Drew
Phin. Spraque
Studley Sampson
Thomas Weston
Dec . Geo. Loring
James Winsor
Martin Winsor
. homas Winsor
Thomas' Chandler
Wadsworth
Sam'l G. Frazer
1. Thomas J. Peterson
John
J. Winslow
Doc 1. Capit. Dingly Winslow
Edward Winslow
B. Sampson
Pelig Gardiner
n. soule
James Chandler Sam'l Hunt
Front
Porch
Side.
B. Delano Richards
South Porch a. Phillips. E
Southworth Joshua Cushman Eraa Cushing
Sam'l Delano
Periz Loring Reuben Drew Levi Loring
- Drew
Benj. Prior Winslow
PerIz Chandler Thomas Casa Delano
Capt. Hall Ich.
Samihsan
Zebadiah Weston andrew Stetson
Joshua
hat'h'l Winsor
E.
Waterman
John Sampson andrew! Sampson
Simeon Soule
Jacob Weston
Doc. Harlow E. Ford
ITa
Geop
Richardson
Gershom Bradford
Irene Brewster Thomas Sampson
Ezra Weston Jr
Daniel Bradford 1. P. Bosworth
Freeman
E. Dec. Freeman Southworth Bradford
Peter
Syl.
Drew
E. Sampson
D. Chandler Joseph Prior
a Wadsworth
D.
Samil Walker
hath'l Holmes Berg. E. Winslow Dan's
Sawyer
Prior
Oldham Leri
Sampson s. Smith
minister
Gaht hat. Soule
Seth
Bradford George Loring
Ten Old Folks.
Women Old Folks
Women Old Folks.
Broad
nathaniel Wins 070 Sylvan
Southworth
Loring Thom. Peterson
Church Gallery and Second Story
J. WinSOM
Pulpit.
J.
E Soule
Samt 7307
S Washburn
White
morton
Joseph PriOT
J. Burgess
Soule
Weston
W. Chandler
Sampson
Hurt
Simmons
Daniel
Judah alden
1.
Watson
Cushman
n.
Drew
Simmons
South
north
Porch
Porch
Isaac
Freeman
Delano
L. Price
Free
Joshua
Dr. R.
Cushing
Hathaway
Joshua
amasa
Winsor
Glass
Brewster
W.
Sam'l
n. clash.
Freeman
Harlow
L.
a. Sampsony
marton
Singing Seats.
B. Smith.
Then
women
David
J. -
Delano
Delaño
Colored Then
Sampson
E.
W.
arnold
Wm.
Simmons
wm.
weston
EZRA
Delano
asa
Freeman
Wm.
colored wonen
J. Delaño R Samlison
W. Wadsworth
-
a.
Math'l
J. Brewster
Weston
woods
- D. Gustiman
J. WITISOT G.
Seats
R. Delano
Free Seats
a.
Nath'l.
Thom.
Lewis
James
First
Chandler
148
HISTORIC DUXBURY.
This plan is from one of two copies compiled some time before the middle of the last century; one is preserved in the writer's family, and the other belonged to Mr. Ezra Weston, who died in 1852. This latter copy his nephew, Mr. William B. Weston, lately presented to the society, where it can be seen in the church
THE THIRD CHURCH BUILDING.
vestibule. Mr. Weston also presented at the same time a painting of this third building, framed with wood that came from the timbers of the second church building, and it hangs beside the plan of the pews.
Our ancestors never seemed to attach any special sanctity to the church building itself, as the practice had previously been by
149
THE FIRST CHURCH.
religious peoples, - Jew, Pagan or Christian, who severally paid their sacred temples a devout veneration. The building, even after the town had become prosperous, was used for all purposes, down to as late a date as 1840. They also took an original position over all the communities of which we have record, in closely con- necting their religious and civil life; and yet separating the one from the other by natural barriers, forming what the scientist would call a physical rather than a chemical mixture.
They considered the Hebrew Bible as the only written religious page that existed, and they must follow its maxims as they could interpret them, and they doubted not their own ability to do it correctly. Thus they endeavored to mold their lives and worship after the prophets and Christians of old, whose reign on earth would eventually come.
"For in the background figures vague and vast Of patriarch and prophet rose sublime, And all the great traditions of the past They saw reflected in the coming time."
And they worshiped devoutly within the plain, unembellished walls without imposing ceremonials, and thus without extraneous means; their thoughts were not taken from the holy and spiritual part, which, according to Saint Paul, is that which is unseen. The Holy Grail legend and symbolism would have had no interest for them. They were also consistent in not bringing their most sacred observances into their secular life, as in the marriages and burials, referred to on page 60, which were considered solemn occasions, but not enough to warrant the use of their most sacred rites, which were reserved for an ordination or a confirmation, where the personality and consent of the one receiving it gave the
150
HISTORIC DUXBURY.
ceremony the highest possible expression of a holy ordinance. In following in this way the lines of piety and business - together, yet apart -- they never lost their common sense, which has been much commented upon by great statesmen, both here and abroad.
Of the church pastors, Ralph Partridge was the first, he being settled in 1637, although undoubtedly Elder Brewster officiated often in that capacity during the five previous years, as he was known to be living at that time in the town. The several pastors, with the dates of their settlement, are as follows:
Rev. Ralph Partridge 1637 to 1658
Rev. John Holmes 1658 to 1675
Rev. Ichabod Wisewall 1676 to 1700
Rev. John Robinson 1702 to 1737
Rev. Samuel Veaszie
1739 to 1750
Rev. Charles Turner
1755 to 1775
Rev. Zedekiah Sanger 1776 to 1786
Rev. John Allyn 1788 to 1833
Rev. Benjamin Kent 1826 to 1833
Rev. Josiah Moore .
1834 to 1881
Rev. F. N. Knapp .
1881 to 1882
Rev. Rushton D. Burr 1882 to 1885
Rev. W. H. Branigan
1887 to 1893
Rev. Walter R. Hunt 1894 to 1896
Rev. Watson Weed 1897 to 1900
Rev. Fred. W. Smith
1900 to 1904
Rev. Andrew Hahn
1905 to
These notes should be added here, -- Mr. Kent was colleague to Dr. Allyn, but was to all intents pastor from 1826 to 1833, the former being the greater part of this time incapacitated. Mr. Knapp fully supplied the pulpit a number of years before Mr. Moore's death, coming over from Plymouth, where he had a private school, as Mr. Moore became too enfeebled to officiate. After the latter's death, Mr. Knapp continued to fill it, until the
15I
THE FIRST CHURCH.
society could decide upon a resident minister. This was done in 1882 by the settlement of Mr. Burr. It is a curious fact that in this long list of ministers only three are buried in the town, to any one's knowledge, these being Mr. Wisewall, Dr. Allyn and Mr. Moore. To the first there is a stone in the old burial ground, the second in age within the enclosure, bearing the date of 1700. It is of some significance to the religious inquirer to learn that all the colonial churches of the Old Colony but one turned Uni- tarian when that movement began early in the last century, namely: Plymouth, Duxbury, Scituate, Cohasset and Hingham, the exception being Marshfield.
We have but few material mementos of our old church, its organization or buildings, as our fathers were not given to symbols. Of the second building only the frame of a picture, before alluded to, and a few pieces of the communion set; also the " Big ha'- Bible, once our fathers' pride," twenty by thirteen inches in size, with the English arms - the Lion and the Unicorn - and the date 1762 engraved upon its title page. The communion service has twelve pieces, some of them dating before the middle of the eighteenth century. That person has little imagination in his nature, or piety in his soul, who can look unmoved upon these ancient pieces of silver. However we may consider the practice of the communion rite today, who can regard without a feeling akin to veneration its use by our forebears, and the devout memo- ries that cluster about its former observance? We know how piously and unselfishly these articles were procured by those who lived in less prosperous times than ours, and cannot regard them other than as symbols of that church not made with hands which is eternal in the heavens.
.
152
HISTORIC DUXBURY.
INTERESTING CHARACTERS.
"THAT memory may their deeds redeem, When, like our sires, our sons are gone."
CAPT. AMASA DELANO.
IN the year 1817 Capt. Amasa Delano, who had been brought up in the town, the little time that he had passed at home, published a very interesting book descriptive of his various voyages and the people whom he met in the different parts of the earth. He sailed around the world three times, and visited countries and peoples then or now not generally known. His description of the lower Pacific coast and the Oriental islands is particularly fine. He tells of the settlement and inhabitants of Pitcairns Island better than most writers, getting his information from original sources; though it is a subject that has had the attention of noted authors, including no less a one than Lord Byron. His remarks on the sailing, navigating and repair of vessels are instructive, not only to those who are familiar with sea life, but for the in- genuity often shown they are of profit to all.
Captain Delano apologizes for his language as indicating his lack of an academic education; but he need not have done so, for one would seek long before finding an academician who could express himself in so graphic a manner, and in a way to so fascinate his reader. The book is a quarto of nearly six hundred pages, and is now, of course, out of print and rarely seen.
I53
INTERESTING CHARACTERS.
MISS HANNAH J. PACKARD.
A character somewhat opposite to that of Captain Delano's, equally high perhaps upon the heavenly list, is that of Miss Hannah J. Packard, who was born and lived on what is called the Dr. John Porter place at the corner of St. George and Alden Streets, living a short life of sixteen years, from 1815 to 1831. The young girl early displayed a talent for composition, making verses before she could use a pen to write them down. A small book of writings printed after her death was composed between her twelfth and fifteenth years, showing a maturity of judgment in expression that would be associated with a woman of thirty years. Her father, a sea captain by profession, gave her the few advantages for education which the town afforded, but it was her own inherent talent that developed her gift in language. She was spiritually minded to an extent that permeated her whole life; warm hearted, amiable, unassuming, her associates testified; and all loved and admired, while none envied her rightful superiority. Canonization would eventually have been her lot had she been born in the Roman Catholic communion. Expecting death she met it calmly, and appeared to receive it joyfully, thinking that she saw attending spirits beckoning her to the land beyond. Her grave is in the old part of Evergreen Cemetery within a small iron paling. I cannot end this brief account better than with her own verse addressed to another :
"Earth, take the tribute thou may'st not keep! Fold in thy bosom that faded flower; It will bloom again in a fairer bower, Where mourner may come not its blight to weep."
154
HISTORIC DUXBURY.
MR. LEWIS M. BAILEY.
A character almost totally unlike the preceding, but which may be thought scarcely less interesting, is that of the subject of this sketch. Mr. Bailey began his life, not as the others in the Old Colony, but among the vine-clad hills of France, and in the French colonies, where he lived until after the Battle of Waterloo, in which he participated as one of Napoleon's officers. Later he came here and settled at the cross-roads, where Tremont, Chest- nut, Evergreen and Tobey Garden Streets meet; and this place has since been called Bailey's Corner. He lived in the house now owned by Mr. James H. Peterson, where he brought up a large family of attractive daughters, and a son who now lives in an adjoining house. The latter preserves the sword that was on the world's eventful battlefield of Waterloo, where his father received a saber cut on his head, necessitating the trepanning of his skull and the insertion of a piece of silver, a surgical operation that could not, at that time, have been long practiced. Mr. Bailey's life in Duxbury was as quiet as it had formerly been eventful. He was a cigar-maker by occupation, and carrying his wares to Boston by vehicle must have been his most exciting diversion. He died at his home in 1864.
HON. GEORGE PARTRIDGE .*
This is the town's most eminent citizen during its long life. He was born here in 1740; graduated from college in 1762; after-
* The information for this account was taken from the funeral address of Rev. Benjamin Kent, published in pamphlet form.
155
INTERESTING CHARACTERS.
wards prepared for the ministry, which he was obliged to give up because of an affliction that prevented him from speaking easily in public; then a teacher, and afterwards a merchant. During this time he held various public offices, from member of Congress to surveyor of highways in his native town, thus exemplifying the Old Colony and ancient Roman idea, -that a citizen must accept any place to which he is called by his fellow countrymen, without considering its desirability, emoluments, or otherwise. He figured prominently in the preliminary steps that brought on the Revolution, first as the author of an address* to the Boston Committee of Correspondence, which was decided on at a town meeting held in March, 1773, to protest against "the violation of our chartered rights and privileges." He served as captain of a company of minutemen raised by the town in 1774, a muster-roll of which is given on pages 129, 130; and later was a member of the famous General Court that met in Boston, and was by the King's command adjourned to Salem, and while there in secret caucus at night determined upon calling a Provincial Congress. Mr. Part- ridge was a member of this Congress, which met in October, 1774.
He was chosen by the General Court on a committee to meet General Washington on his arrival in Cambridge to take command of the army.
He was delegate to Congress under the old Confederation, and at his death was its last surviving member, with the exception of Charles Carroll of Maryland, -the Charles Carroll of Carrollton of the Declaration of Independence.
He was present and a member of the Congress in Annapolis, to
* This is found in Winsor's history, page 121.
156
HISTORIC DUXBURY.
which General Washington gave back that commission that had been given him eight years before, and which was so graphically pictured in our early school books.
He was elected later a representative to Congress under our present Constitution, and died in town in 1828, full of years and honors.
In his death he did not forget us, for out of a property that was not large, he bequeathed a fund to the first church, and founded the academy that bears his name. His grave is in Evergreen Cemetery, about midway on Oak Avenue.
"So when a good man dies, For years beyond our ken The light he leaves behind him lies Upon the paths of men."
I57
OLD BURIAL PLACES.
OLD BURIAL PLACES (continued).
"THIS is God's acre, and the place Where human harvests grow.
Then shall the good stand in immortal bloom In the fair gardens of that second birth, And each bright blossom mingle its perfume With that of flowers which never bloomed on earth."
T THIS subject is continued from page 65, giving a list of stones in the Duxbury Cemetery that date previous to 1811, with an exception that those of Revolutionary veterans are added, though of a later date; and with a similar account of the Dingley burial ground in the vicinity.
LIST OF STONES IN DUXBURY CEMETERY, WITH DATES OF DEATH, AND AGES.
Date. Age.
Date. Age.
Alden, Amherst 1804 47
Bradford, John 1793 15
Mrs. Abagail 1806 60 Mrs. Lucy 1792 30
Bezaliel
1799 77
Mrs. Lydia 1802 63
Col. Briggs
1790 74
Miss Mary 1803 86
Debora . 1804 2
Perez
1802 44
Maj. Judah, Rev. Vet., 1845
94
Mrs. Sarah 1788
56
Judah
1804
7
Judah
I792 2
95
Samuel . 1793 64
Mrs. Lydia
ISIO
86
Bosworth, Sally . ISoo 3
Samuel .
1799 62
Another daughter Benj. and Mercy 1794 I
Arnold, Mrs. Rebecca 1805 94
Bradford, Eliphalet . 1795
72
Brewster, Arauneh I792
20
Mrs. Grace
1793 64
Asa .
1792 5
Mrs. Hannah
Eunice 1805 I
1804 7I
Col. Gamaliel, Rev.
Vet. 1807 76
Mrs. Hannah 1804
158
HISTORIC DUXBURY.
Date. Age.
Date. Age.
Brewster, Joseph
1791 74
Freeman, Edward, Jr. . 1798 26
Mrs. Judith
1791 73
Glass, Mrs. Thankful . I798 83
Joseph .
1807 60
Melzah .
1800 I
Mrs. Ruth
1806 40
Hall, Capt. David Capt. Joshua
1809
32
Miss Wealthea .
1802
27
Burgess, Nathaniel
1798 1800 I
Hanks, John .
1804
64
Chandler, Joseph
1795
25
John
1802 18 Mrs. Debora 1807
26
Mrs. Edith
1796
37
Howland, Percy ISOI
71
Nathan
1795
69 Mrs. Debora
1790
57
Phillip
ISO1
3
Hunt, Capt. Asa
1806 28
Percy
1800
70
Mrs. Abagail 1804
23
Pelig ISIO
12
Asa . 1808
I
Mrs. Rhoda
1793
57
Miss Rhoda
1791
20
Samuel .
1806
2
Mrs. Sylvia
1795
65
Capt. Zibe .
1 809 29
Cushing, Leonice 1793
8
Loring, Mrs. Sarah 1806
75
Miss Mary . 1808 16
Sarah
1805
2
Cushman, Sarah, daugh-
Barak
I792
26
ter of David
1804
2
Mrs. Johanna
1805
24
J. B., son of Ezra . 1804
Darling, Joseph
. 1793 36
Percy 1794
22
Content
1792
I
Delano, Asa C. 1792
I
Cornelius
ISOI
60
Chandler
1792
2
Isaac 1794
88
Chandler
1790
1
E Isaac 1792
I
Ebenezar 1800
85
Ruth 1790
I
Miss Hannah 1795
20
Pearce, Joseph 1796 22
Johanna
I792
2
Peterson, Ephrath 1798
18
Ichabod 1805
24
Sally
1804
5
1805 I
Thomas
1792
3
Phillips, Chandler 1801
16
Drew, Joshua
1790
Prior, Melzar 9
1805
2 7
Joseph
1808
76 Ephrath 1806
73
Mrs. Sarah
1797 27 Abagail 1799
72
Sarah Brooks
1806
:3
Rogers, Mrs. Lavina. 1804
Frazer, Thomas 1809
16
Sampson, Mrs. Abagail . 1799 77
Rebecca Alden
1809
1
Mrs. Debora 1799
24
Freeman, Joseph
. 1794 92
Elijah 1805 72
Mrs. Tabitha
I796 96
Johanna 1798
2
1797
58
69 Henry .
1804
6
Alden
Holmes, Mrs. Anna 1810 40
Hannah 1804
I
Mrs. Nancy 1797
21
Oldham, Mrs. Rebecca . 1808 20) Partridge, Col. Calvin, Rev. Vet. 1815 76
Mrs. Lydia
I794 28
Hannah
159
OLD BURIAL PLACES.
Date. Age.
Date. Age.
Sampson, Capt. Nathan, 1806 62 Wadsworth, Capt. John. 1799
92
Daughter of
I794
I
Wait, Rev. Vet. 1799
84
Studley, Rev. Vet. . 1835 75
Deacon Pelig
1799
84
Studley
1809 .
25
Gamaliel
1795 2
Sally
1809 4
Mrs. Eunice
1795
49
Thomas
1810
I3 Mrs. Mary .
1789
79
Southworth, George Mrs. Hannah .
1790
82
Weston, James,
Rev.
Sprague, Mrs. Sarah
1804
78
Vet.
1857
94
Soule, Joseph
1800
78
Zabdiel
1805
65
Joshua .
1803
25
Mrs. Martha
1804
79
Twins, sons of
1803
0
Sally
1795
IO
Mrs. Henry
1808
86
Winslow, George 1798
29
Mrs. Jane
1800
43
Winsor, Capt. Samuel 1805
26
Miss Mary
1800
25
Mrs. Olive
1791 39
Miss Sarah
1800
22
Mrs. Ruth .
I793
38
Jane
1796
2
Miss Charlotte
I80I 22
Mary W.
1809
I
Woodard, Mrs. Polly . 1807
23
THE DINGLEY BURIAL GROUND.
This is by West Street, about midway between Lincoln and Franklin, on the summit of the highest ground in the vicinity, among the pine trees, and just above the large cranberry meadows that have been lately started in this part of the town, its oldest stone dating back to 1766. The town neatly fenced it a few years ago. A list of the stones that date before 1811 is added, one of a later date being included to name a Revolutionary veteran, there being two buried in the yard.
Date. Age.
Date. Age.
Ames, son of Isaac and
Dingley, Mrs. Mary . 1797 97
Bertha 1798 1y 4m
Mrs. Susanna . 1789 50
Baker, Jabez . 1810 25
Dingley, Abner 1807 76
Jacob
.
I772 70
Lieut. Ebinezar, Rev.
Jacobs .
1766 6w
Vet. . 1793 89
1802
16
Simmons, Mrs. Sally. . 1806
23 Mrs. Susanna
1788 68
1808 28 Walker, Sam'l, Jr.
Fish, Capt. Adam, Rev. Vet. . 1815 7I
160
HISTORIC DUXBURY.
Date. Age.
Date. Age.
68
Fish, Thomas
1798 57
Miss Mary
I 804 49
Mrs. Lydia
1806
80
Mrs. Mary
1809 52
Mrs. Achsah
1796 19
Harlow, Mrs. Elizabeth, 1807
95
Miss Bertha
1796 II
Holmes, Consider 1770 7
1792
56
Lydia
1769 1y 2m
Peterson, Reuben
I795 36
Lucia . 1802 5
Randdall, Washburn . 1799
IO
Whitemore, Miss Lydia . 1802 51
Simmons, Aaron
1790
68
Simmons, Isaac 1767
1810
Levi
Daughter of Levi and
Hunt, Mrs. Elizabeth
Mrs. Elizabeth
1806 83
cof 0 1810
One copy del. to Cat. Div.
LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 0 014 069 610 9
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