USA > Massachusetts > Hampden County > Wilbraham > Historical address, delivered at the centennial celebration of the incorporation of the town of Wilbraham, June 15, 1863 > Part 6
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the great struggle of the town respecting the method of " Carrying on the Singing in the Public Worship of God." I have dwelt upon it at greater length than the subject itself deserved, because it is a good illustration of the attempts of our ancestors to regulate minute affairs by town action. Let us learn wisdom from their mistakes.
Another and much graver difficulty called for all the wisdom and patience of the town. The conditions of the " Worthy Mr. Mirick's " settlement were of such a kind as to render it more and more difficult to fulfil them. Every year a Committee conferred with him and agreed upon the price of commodities : and then there was the use of the "Ministry land" whose income he was to have, and whose leasing and renting and care were a great annoyance. More than all, I think Mr. Merrick was as good a farmer as preacher, and that his thrift on the "Overplus Land," given to him as a settle ment, was not a small occasion of delay and dislike in paying his salary. A good farm is a dangerous thing for a minister to own among farmers. His thrift is all open to view and begets envy. Mr. Merrick had a fam- ily of promising boys now entering upon manhood, some already arrived at it, and two negroes to aid in the field and one in the house, giving him an appear- ance of abundance and increasing riches. The town were not disposed to aid any more than they could help in " multiplying his prosperity."
As early as Jan. 7, 1771, a movement is made to give
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up the attempt to settle the salary on the prices of "Sundry Species of Commoditys," and the sum of " Fifty one Pounds Ten Shillings, lawfull Money of this Province " is voted by the town and accepted by Mr. Merrick instead, and papers were exchanged between the parties, January 6, 1772. It is also agreed that the " Ministry Land " shall be sold, on condition that £6 be added annually to Mr. Merrick's salary, and the sale is made and bonds are given amounting to £348, 13s. 5d. or $1162.20, the interest on which is to be paid annu- ally for the support of preaching.
Mr. Merrick's health failed in 1772, and difficulties, in addition to all the others, of a serious nature arose about supplying the pulpit and paying his salary while he was sick. Matters came to a crisis, July 14, 1775, and the town not only refused to raise Mr. Merrick's salary, but, after hearing read a very frank statement made by him of his sickness and offering to relinquish five Pounds out of his salary for the current year in case the town should " Employ Some Learned Licenced Preacher for three months next ensuing," and in the " same propor- tion " for " every three months thereafter in case" lie " should not be able to supply the pulpit before the Ex- piration of Said Term," and provided also that he "should be paid the remaining part" of his "salary according to" their "agreement," yet after a "Long Debate a motion was made and Seconded to Dismiss Mr. Mirick ; then voted to Dismiss Mr. Miriek from the Gospel Ministry upon his being willing; then voted to
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adjourn to the 4th day of September next. At that meeting "Mr. Mirick's answer was read " again "and not excepted by the town." The committee of confer- ance is enlarged and are directed to " Wait on Mr. Mir- ick again and see if their Grievance could not be re- moved." They "weighted on Mr. Merrick with two votes passed " and received the following answer : -
" To the Inhabitants of Wilbraham in Town Meeting assembled, Friends and Neighbours: Considering my bodily Infirmity and Difficulty of Supplying the Pulpit Steadily for the present, I hereby engage (provided you accept of it) to relinquish out of my annual salary Eight Shillings per Day for as many Sabbaths as you shall be obliged to hier a preacher on account of my failing through inability. Sª Engagement to continue one year from date hereof & no longer - if my Life should be continued so Long.
" Yours, N. MERRICK. " WILBRAHAM, September 4, 1775."
This answer was read in " a very full Town meeting & not Excepted." They vote "to chuse another com- mittee to draw up a List of Grievances and Lay them before Mr. Mirick & agree with him to Call in Sister Churches ; then after a Long Debate," says the town clerk, " there was no Committee chose." The old com- inittee was directed " to wait on the Revd Mr. Mirick to Know if he will ask for and Receive an Honorable Dis-
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mission from the work of the Ministry in this town and unite with the town in Calling a Council for that pur- pose - further voted as the opinion of this town that a Minister has no Right to any Salery or maintenance as a Minister any Longer than he performs the work of a Minister." The clerk adds, "N. B. the above votes past by a very grate majority then the meeting disolved."
These votes do not read well after a century. The spirit is harsh when we remember that Mr. Merrick was sick and has shared with them the days of small things. It is evident, however, that the mind of the town is not only made up, but also made up very unanimously and decidedly. The subject of Mr. Merrick's " sallary " came up again at the next town-meeting, November 6, 1775, and we read that "the Revd Noah Mirick's Salery was put up two or three times to be Granted from Jan. 1, 1775 to January 1, 1776, but no vote could be obtained," though he sent to the town-meeting a letter in which he proposes to relinquish out of his salary "four pounds," because the town " had hired some Sabbaths preaching in the preceding Summer by reason of" his "failing through bodily Infirmities " which is the "proportion agreed upon," if they would pay him the remainder of his "salary according to Engagement." The subject came up again, November 20th, but "no vote could be obtained to grant the Revd Noah Mirick's Salery." Op- portunity for consideration and consultation only fixes more deeply the purpose of refusal. At a meeting, held February 23, 1776, whose business was exclusively that
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of endeavoring to adjust this difficulty, a committee of seven, " Lieut. John Hitchcock, John Bliss, Esq., Moses Stebbins, Sert Daniel Cadwell, Capt James Warriner, Sert Philip Lyon & Capt Paul Langdon," was chosen "to wait on the Revª Noah Mirick to ask for and see if he wont be willing to relinquish his Clame or Challing to any Sallary from this people for the future." There is no record of any report from this committee at the next meeting, March 19, though there was an article in the warrant to receive their report. If any was made, it was unsatisfactory, for at the next meeting, March 28, they " Voted to make Mr. Mirick an offer of a sum of money yearly during life in Case he will ask for a Dismission & join with the town to call a Council for that purpose," and then chose a new committee of five persons to " wait on the Revd Mr. Mirick." The meeting "ad- journed for the space of one hour, then met and opened said meeting and Voted and Dismist the Revd Mr. Mirick from the work of the Ministry in this town." And they further chose a committee of three, Moses Stebbins, Lt Daniel Cadwell and Sert Noah Stebbins, "to apply to Sum orthodox Candidate to supply the pulpit in this town for one month." This is pressing the matter with earnestness, if not with either prudence or justice. Another committee is chosen in May to " hire preaching two months." Mr. Merrick grows feebler and the town grows bolder. In May, the parties show themselves more clearly than before. It is evident that there is some relenting on the part of a portion of the town,
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though it appears from the record that the church had also voted to call a council. Nothing is said of this, however, in the church records, nor of this trouble. When the subject comes before the meeting, May 20, 1776, they pass over the article " to see if the town will coincide and join with the church in calling a Council to settle the unhappy Diference betwixt the Rev. Noah Mirick and town and make provision for Sª Council and Support the Charge," and vote to reconsider the " former vote past, March 28, 1776, viz: Voted and Dismist the Rev. Mr. Mirick from the work of the ministry in this town, which vote is Reconsidered made nul and void." 1
The day dawns. There is yet hope of a safe and honorable deliverance. We wait, therefore, with worthy solicitude the action of the meeting, July 2d. A new committee of five persons is chosen to " wait on the Revd Mr. Merrick and ask what his demands are on the town;" and it appears that his reply was, " What the town owes me," for they put themselves right in the case by further voting all Mr. Merrick's "Sallary to the 28 Day of Last June that has not been granted heretofore." The wisdom of the fathers is returning. They choose a committee to hire preaching, for Mr. Merrick is too
1 A Conneil was held, however, June 25, for, December 9, the sum of £5, 5s. 4d. is " granted to the Church Comtee to pay Mr. Ellsworth for speaking at the Council," and to " Mr. Seth Adams for keeping the Council in June 25, 1776, .£3, 15s.," and to Capt. James Warriner for 5 jornies for himself and horse and expense of minis- ters, £1, 8s. 4d." "and Nov. 3, 1777, to Gideon Burt, 17s. 6d. for keeping Mr. Ellsworth and horses for the Council in June, 1776," and this Council recommended that a Council of both town and church be called to dismiss Mr. Merrick, for I find an article in the warrant for a town-meeting to be held on the 4th of November, 1776, to that effect.
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infirm to perform "the work of the ministry," and another committee "to wait on our Revd pasture to make a final settlement with him and report at this or some future meeting." They adjourned to September 2d; met and adjourned to October, "and but four per- sons met no meeting could be opened so the meeting Concequently Disolved of it self." Mr. Merrick's health was still declining and a committee was chosen to sup- ply the pulpit for six months, at a special meeting held in September. In November there is an article in the warrant to see if the " town will unite with the church and chuse a Council to Dismis our Revª pasture agree- able to the Late result of the Revd Council & Chuse a Comttee for that purpos." The meeting met and ad- journed to December 9, when no vote was passed re- specting calling a Council, but Capt. John Shaw, Mr. Moses Stebbins, & L' Noah Stebbins were chosen a " Comttee to wait on Mr. Mirick with a coppy of the Last Grant made him of his Sallary and see if he will accept and be content therewith and Give a Discharge from any further Clame on the Town by way of Sallary and make a Reporte at some futer meeting."
This is the last recorded action in this protracted and painful transaction.1 The " Worthy " Mr. Merrick was rapidly sinking to his grave; going to his reward. He died, December 22, 1776, aged sixty-six years, after a
1 The final settlement with the heirs of Mr. Merrick was not made till 1784, eight years after his death. The town then " Granted to the heirs of the Revd Noah Mirick what was Due to him for his Salary & what was Due by the sale of the ministry land included the sum [of ] £48, 15s. 1d. 2f."
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ministry of thirty-five years and six months. He was son of James, the son of Thomas Merrick who came from Wales and settled in Springfield, 1636. He was born, August 6, 1711, and graduated at Yale College, 1731. He was a good scholar and preacher for his time. " He had a well-balanced mind, trained to close application and study. The doctrines inculcated by the text were logically treated. His style is plain rather than orna- mental." " I infer," writes his grandson, " that his reading was not extensive and systematic. His Scripture quo- tations were appropriate, and show a thorough knowl- edge of the Bible, which was his best library. He did not always write out his sermons, but made sketches like lawyers' briefs, from which he preached. He was very methodical in his habits, exact in all his ways and punctual in the performance of every duty. Saturday was his preparation day for the solemn duties of the Sabbath. At an early hour he retired to his study, and no one was permitted to interrupt him. His meals were carried to his room, and he did not appear in his family till Sunday morning." He was an Arminian in his opinions, if universal tradition can be relied upon, and it is not improbable that this may have had some influence in breeding disaffection at last in the town and church. The church-book shows the usual amount of success in the ministry. One hundred and seventy-two joined the church, one hundred and three owned the covenant, and six hundred and four were baptized, and thirteen were dismissed to other churches. Cases of
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discipline were very few, and never resulted in expul- sion, or if so, no record is made of the fact.
Mr. Merrick's labors were not disturbed by the con- troversies of intrusive sectaries till near their close, when the Baptists appeared in the northeast part of the town, organized a society in 1768, and Rev. Seth Clark was settled, 1770. No serious collision appears to have arisen between the churches, however, and the harmony of the town seems. not to have been disturbed. One lesson, at least, we may learn from this long struggle : there was trouble among the fathers not less than among us in their ecclesiastical affairs, and no one who reads their records attentively can sigh for the old ways and the times of the fathers.1
From the death of Mr. Merrick, 1776, there was no settled minister in the north part of the town till 1787, a period of eleven years. But the people in the south part of the town had so rapidly increased that, as early as 1765, they made application to the town for money to support preaching among them in the winter, which was promptly refused. At the December meeting, 1767, the town refused the "Southpart" the privilege of having "Two Months Preaching in the Winter Sea- son upon there own cost." Such a vote would not con- ciliate the Stebbinses and Langdons and Morrises and Chaffees. They rally in 1772, and ask to be set off as a town, but are voted down summarily. In 1778, after a struggle at several adjourned meetings, and the
1 Appendix M.
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report of a committee, they vote to divide the town into " two parishes ; " but it was afterwards reconsidered. In 1780, they again urge their claim to be a parish upon both town and General Court, and press it with vigor till at last they gain their object, and are set off as a Parish, June 11, 1782. The line between the parishes from Springfield to Monson was on the south side of David Bliss's farm, those adjoining the line being permitted to choose whichever parish they pleased.1
Near the close of this period, January 10, 1780, Deacon Nathaniel Warriner, one of the first four settlers of the town died, in the seventy-seventh year of his age. He was called to the most important offices of trust in both precinct and town. Besides the important office which he held in the church from the very be- ginning, and to which he gave a " full sacramental furni- ture," he was moderator of many of the precinct meet- ings, sharing the honor with Thomas Merrick, and al- most exclusively moderator of town meetings for seven years to 1770, when John Bliss of the south part ap- pears on the stage, and succeeds for many years to the deacon's honors. Having no children, on whose shoul- ders the mantle of his virtues and the results of his industry and economy could descend, he gave at his decease £400 " Lawfull money " or about $1300 to the town, " to be the one-half given to the support of a Gospel Ministry, the other half to be to the use and Sup- port of Schools in this town, Provided that all other
1 Appendix N.
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Churches which are or may be in this town of a Differ- ent Constitution from the Standing order of Churches in this Land Shall Forever be Excluded from Receiving any Benefit from the same." He is the first, and, I am sorry to say, the last benefactor of the town, who has given a sum for public purposes equalling this donation. The children in our town are to-day reminded of the worthy deacon who first and last remembered gener- ously our public schools, by additional advantages which his testamentary act gives. Thus closes this period of the Ecclesiastical History of the town. There are now two Parishes, the North and the South, and the Baptist Society, which had erected a meeting-house in 1779. Hereafter the municipal affairs of the town will be separated from the ecclesiastical, and the course of our history will be more easily traced.
The epic of this period yet remains to be recited, - the words and deeds of our fathers during the Revolu- tionary War. Having so long detained you, I hardly know whether I should beg your pardon for the present challenge of your endurance in this crowded hall, and close here and now my story, or whether I should be encouraged, by patience so long-suffering, and attention so steadfast, to take my manuscript in my hand and read in your ears the heroic deeds and acts of your fathers. [The President loudly said, " Go on, Sir, go on ;" and his words were caught up with great earnest- ness all over the platform and through the hall.] I ac- cept your challenge of strength and endurance thank-
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fully, and girding myself anew for the task, will, in words as worthy as I may, all unworthy, at the best, of the theme, rehearse the doings of the town during the war of Independence. The subject is as rich in inspiration as in instruction for us, -the children and grandchildren of these men, - in this hour of our country's trial and peril, when the continent trembles under the tread of contending armies, and the air is torn with the thunder of cannon, and the war-shout. The records are full of the proceedings of the town, - passing resolutions of sympathy with the suffering city of Boston ; sending aid to the families whose members were killed or wounded at the Lexington fight; sending men into the field by the payment of large bounties ; furnishing their share of beef to the commissary ; giving clothing to the half- naked soldiers ; choosing committees to "take care of per- sons " inimical to the State ; struggling with a depreciated currency ; voting one silver dollar in paying taxes to be equivalent, first to seventy-five, then to eighty, then to two hundred and fifty dollars of paper money ; filling a draft of every seventh man; and leaving the crops in the field to be harvested, as well as planted, by the old men, the children, and the women. Such is a glance at the deeds I am to rehearse, and to whose recital I sum- mon your renewed attention, and challenge your iron patience.1
The great cause of the Revolutionary War-taxation without representation-had stirred up a deep feeling of
1 Appendix O.
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hostility to the mother country, and the indirect man- ner in which the tax was levied -by a tariff on import- ed goods from Great Britain and the British possessions -only added fuel to the flame. They could not escape the tax, unless they ceased using the goods imported. If they made no purchases, they would pay no taxes. Accordingly an association was formed in 1769, by the merchants in Boston, whose members pledged them- selves to import no more of the taxed articles, and the citizens were petitioned to cease trading with all mer- chants who would not pledge themselves to import no more of them from England or her dependencies. This pledge of the citizens was not only circulated in the town of Boston, but was also sent to all the towns in the colony. The appeal from the merchants reached the citizens of this town in the spring of 1770, and at a town-meeting held May 1, of which Lieut. Thomas Merrick was moderator, it was "Voted that the Mar- chants not only of our Metropolis but thro' the con- tinent have acted Generous and as becoming Gentlem [en] of a Free Constitution and as well wishers of their Fellow Men in that they have Nobly Preferred the Public good to their own private Interest, and with a view to obtain a Redress of those Grievances so Justly complained of have by a Certain agreement engaged to Suspend their Importations from Great Britain, a Meas- ure which cannot but be approved by every wise and Generous Man, and which we hope will prove Instrumen- tal to Effect the Salutary Design in View." "Voted that
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the above vote be recorded in the Town Book and a Copy thereof to be transmitted to the committee of In- spection in the Town of Boston in order to be Pub- lished."
This is the £rst voice from Wilbraham, five years before the battle of Lexington, and it is every way worthy of the men and the crisis. Our hearts swell with gratitude as we repeat the words. We feel taller and stronger as we remember they were the words of our ancestors.
The town clerk, the renowned Master Barker, adds to his record of the above vote, " N. B. It was moved in the Meeting to pass some Votes relating to not pur- chasing goods of those, who, contrary to the merchant's agreement, continue to Import, and also relating to the Horrid Murther lately committed in Boston by the Soldiers: but a rumour that the Duty acts were repealed, and being an Infant town [mark the modesty as well as the manliness of the fathers, for the town was not yet seven years old] in the Province, the Meeting thought Prudent not to Show themselves too forward in passing many votes in the affair." Their patriotism is sur- passed by nothing but their modesty. They desired no quarrel with the mother country, and hoping the " ru- mour of repeal " was true, they passed over without action the article "to see if this town will take care Speedily to Procure and Provide a Stock of Powder and Ammunition."
No further action was taken by the town for the
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next three years. The controversy was carried on mainly between the colonial Governor and the citizens of Boston, though active correspondence was kept up with other towns in the State. At at own-meeting, held April 6, 1773, Ezra Barker, Isaac Brewer, Eleazer Bliss, John Bliss, and Nath'l Warriner were chosen a commit- tee " to take into Consideration Corresponding with the town of Boston relative to the Crown fixing Sala- ries upon our officers without our Consent." At an adjourned meeting, held April 20th, " at 3 o'clock, P.M.," this committee make their report in reply to the appeal of the Boston Committee, drawn up in part by Samuel Adams and Joseph Warren, and presented to the town- meeting of Boston, November 20, 1772, by James Otis, that flaming torch of the Revolutionary struggle. In what words could these simple citizens of young Wil- braham respond to the sentences of fire which came blazing from the pen of Adams, and thundering from the lips of Otis ? Listen to them, - modest, manly, heroic : "We, the Inhabitants of the town of Wilbra- ham this 20th day of April A. D. 1773 in town-meeting Lawfully assembled by adjournment Take this oppor- tunity to acknowledge the favour of a Pamphlet printed by order of the town of Boston at their meeting Nov. 20th, 1772, wherein the rights of the Colonists are Stated together with a List of publick Grievances or Infringements of those rights, &e., we freely acknowl- edge that we are a few Days later than might justly be Expected, & perhaps some will say that we are fore-
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closed on account that the Honorable House of Repre- sentatives have taken the matter in hand, others may venture to Say that Seeing Wilbraham is but an Infant town, the Inhabitants thereof are bold and Imprudent in meddling with the affair : Since the most anticent towns in the Same Country [Mr. President, Springfield must look to her laurels ] have lain still and done nothing ; we answer that we have a call to be VERY BOLD to stand for and MAINTAIN OUR JUST RIGHTS AND PRIVILEGES, especially at this so CRITICAL TIME. And if we may be allowed to use Scripture Language we would have recourse to the words of Elihu and say, I am young and ye are very old, wherefore I was afraid and Dust not Show you mine opinion. I Said Days should Speak, and multitude of years should teach wis- dom. But there is a Spirit in man, de.,- Therefore I Said Hearken to me I also will Show mine opinion. - Behold, I waited for words, &c. Thus far the Introduction, and after taking thankful notice of the late conduct of the honorable house of representatives we will proceed to a few resolves." In these resolves the committee say it is (1) " the Opinion of this town that the rights of the Colonists as stated in the Boston Pamphlet in general are well and Justly Stated and we have too much reason to believe that there is an attempt made to abridge us of those rights, which is Cruel and unreasona- ble; (2) that in faithfulness to ourselves to our pos- terity and as friends to the English constitution and nation as well as faithful and Loyal Subjects to our Sovereign Lord the King, we may not DARE SIT STILL as
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Idle Spectators and DO NOTHING, Wherefore Considering ourselves a part of the whole, and members of the same Body and that our Interests are Joint Interests (3) we are willing & will unite and Join with our Brethren in pursuing all Proper & Lawful methods whereby we may gain redress of those Grievances So Justly Com- plained of and which are like to prove So hurtful to the good Subjects of the King as well as Dishonorable to his Crown. (4). Resolved as the opinion of this town that we are not Sensible that we or our Brethren of this Pro- vince have Done anything thus to forfeit our Just rights or to merrit the Displeasure of our Sovereign, but on the other hand we verily Believe that the People of this Province and throughout the whole British america are as true and as Loyal Subjects as any in the King's Dominions, at the Same time we Cannot omitt Saying that it is with Pleasure we observe Stiddiness and firmness of the people in their resolutions as well as good temper in standing for and maintaining their Just rights and Priviledges and that all mobs, routs and riots are laid aside - and Further- more we are of opinion that if petitions for redress in a proper Channel were repeatedly and humbly presented to our King & our earnest prayers Continually put up to the King of kings the Same accompanied with a universal reforma- tion this would give us reason to hope that our Priviled- ges wold be restored & Continued to us and that we might yet remain a happy People." Resolves every way worthy the age of heroes and sages.
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