Historical collections, Vol. II, Part 15

Author: Ammidown, Holmes, 1801-1883
Publication date: 1874
Publisher: New York, Pub. by the author
Number of Pages: 636


USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Historical collections, Vol. II > Part 15


Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).


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" Fifteenth. We believe that Baptism and the Lord's Supper are ordinances of Christ, to be continued until his second coming; and that the former is requisite to the latter: that is to say, those are to be ad- mitted into the communion of the church, and participate in all ordi- nances of it, who, upon profession of their faith, have been baptized by immersion, in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.


" Sixteenth : We believe that the sole government and lordly authority over the church is in Jesus Christ, and that it is he, and he only, that can qualify and send the laborers into his vineyard; and that he doth call his church out of the world into the kingdom of grace, and by his spirit and grace doth gather them into particular churches, and doth give them power and authority under him, to govern their own mem- bers."


This church, for the first five years after it was organized, adopted the ceremony of laying on of hands after baptism, as a requisite for uniting in communion, but dropped that per- formance, February 26, 1767. The following twelve members were admitted, besides the five before named, under the form of laying on of hands :


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CHARLTON.


Sept. 13, 1762, William Drury, Mary Converse, and Phebe Garfield. Sept. 24, 1762, Mary Hill.


Nov. 7, " Asa Jones, from Kil- lingly church, Connecticut.


Dec. 17, 1763, Mehitable Dix.


June 13, 1763, Benjamin Dix.


June 25, 1763, Daniel Streeter, from Sturbridge. April 26.1764, Samuel Call. .July 1, Joseph Shaw. Aug. 30, 6. Eunice Dix.


Sept. 2,


66


Mary Streeter.


The laying on of hands was now omitted.


Feb. 26, 1767, Daniel Bacon and Mary his wife, and Amplias Jones, were the first baptized under the new form.


June 25, " Ebenezer Davis and Deborah his wife, both baptized and joined with the church.


July 3, " Ebenezer Lamson and Ruth his wife; he became a minis- ter, and settled at Ashford, Connecticut, in 1778.


Sept. 13, 1767, Dolly Bemiss.


July 30, 1768, Enos Jones.


Apr. 30, 1769, Daniel Philips.


May 28, 46 Judith Green.


66 Lucy Green.


Abigail Stoddard.


July 24, Phineas Green.


Ang. 27, Abigail Hartwell.


Oct. 29, Sarah Ilill.


Elizabeth Parsons.


July 22, 1770, Ebenezer White.


Aug. 26, Jacob Hill.


Dec. 30, Jacob Warren.


Feb. 20, 1771, Elizabeth Warren.


Mar. 31, " James Smith.


July 20, Olive Wheelock.


Aug. 13, 66 Samuel Robertson.


66 Stephen Fay.


Abigail Lamb.


Feb. 28, " Comfort Streeter.


٠٠


Job Pettes.


July 25, " Mary Smith.


66 Catherine Marcy.


Ang. 26, ". Amos Putnam.


Sarah Marble.


Mar. 4, 1774, Sarah Barrit.


Nov. 25, Anna Sprague.


66


66 Isaac Harwood.


..


66 Bezaliel Right.


Eli Wheelock.


.. Elizabeth Hutson.


.


.. Mary Lamb.


Obed Warren,


Sept. 17,


Peter Wheelock.


13A


Dec. 27, 1774, Louis Willard.


Apr. 30, 1775, Lydia Green. Oct. 10, Leah Harwood.


66 Ziba Wheeler. 66 Damarage Wheeler. Nov. 2, 1776, Ebenezer Lamb. Sept. 21, 1777, Susannah Thurston.


John Smith.


Esther Eddy. June 28, 1778, Lydia Haven. Dec. 12, " Jacob Shaw.


66 Mary Green. June 28, 1780, Isaac Very. 66 Mary Lamb.


May 26, " Benjamin Green. Oet. 25, 1772, James Dodge. Feb. 25, 1773, Tabitha Green.


..


Aug. 21, 66 Jonathan Courtis.


Dec. 18, Daniel Richardson.


Betsey Hill.


Dec. 27, 6. Ephraim Eddy. 66 Caleb Blood.


178


CHARLTON,


Sept. 17,1780, Seth Jones.


Rachael Jones.


Oct. 8, Eunice Blood.


Oct. 15, Erastus MeIntire.


Abigail McIntire.


Nov. 5, " Elizabeth Williams.


66 Eunice Harwood.


Thankful McIntirc.


66 Lydia Converse.


Nov. 26, 1780, Lydia Adams.


Dec. 3, " David Wheelock.


Robert Call.


Lucy Lamb.


Bersheba Lamb.


Dec. 7, Sarah Palmer.


Dec. 31, " Robert McIntire.


Thomas Wiseman.


Jan. 7, 1781, Joseph Jameson. 60 Jacob Ames.


Jan. 28, Elijah Blood.


Feb. 25, 66 Sarah Drury.


Rebekah Curtis.


Mar. 9, 44 Elizabeth Lamb.


66 Abigail Thompson. Azuba Dagget.


Mar. 20, 66 David Wheelock.


William Sleeman.


July 8,


Thomas Hall.


Anna Hall.


Sept. 2, Isaac Harwood.


Mary Hopkins.


Mar. 28, " Lemuel Green.


Abraham Lackey.


Oct. 28, " Benjamin Edwards.


Eli Jones.


66


Mary Jones.


66


Sarah Thompson.


Nov. 4, Richard Dresser.


Sarah Lamb.


Dec. 2, 66 Keziah Eddy.


Jan. 1, 1782, Susannah Gleason.


March 31, " Elisha Harrington.


April 1, Sylvester Bemis.


Rufus Green.


April 22, 66 Rufus Bacon.


Daniel Bacon, Jr.


66 Asa Green.


April 22,1781, Adams Wheelock.


Sarah Green.


66 Hannah Hillyard.


66 Eunice McIntire.


66 Abigail Wheelock.


April 29, " David Brown.


David Lamb.


66


66 William Lamb.


66 Sarah Brown.


Rebekah McIntire.


66 Sarah Marble.


66 Gardner McIntire.


May 6, Aaron Wheelock.


..


David Fay.


6. John Bacon.


Lucy Lamb.


May 21, 66 Rebekah Lamb.


66 Elizabeth Lamb.


66 66 Martha Lamb.


June 17, 66 Edward Wheelock.


66 Martha Wheelock.


July 1, 66 Reuben Lamb.


John Green.


66 66 Kesialı Robins.


Oct. 14, 1781, Meht'ble Alexander. 66 Experience Gleason.


Patty Bigelow.


April 1, 66 Benjamin Wheelock.


Patience Lamb.


Hannah Jones.


Anna Fay.


Eleanor Jones.


66 66 Rachael Wheelock.


Anna Hamilton.


April 14, " David McIntire.


May 12, Jonathan Lamb.


Mary Robertson.


66 Joanna Lazure.


Hannah Streeter.


Mary Lackey.


66


Elizabeth Wheelock.


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CHARLTON.


Aug. 23, 1782, Hephzibah Haven.


66 Sarah Pratt.


Nov. 3, Jacob Bachelder.


Lois Bachelder.


Feb. 28, 1783, Henry Richardson. March 2, " John Lyscomb.


Mary Lyscomb.


Oct. 22, " Ebenezer Lamson. June 20, 1784, Anna Hammond.


July 4, Sarah Hill.


Sarah Harwood.


Oct. 31, 1788, Asa Corbin. Sept. 22, 1793, Nancy Rathburn.


Elizabeth Wheelock.


Nov. 6. 1794, Phineas Leonard.


Feb. 26, 1797, Hannah Burnap. David Dunbar.


Mar. 11, 1797, Hannah Dunbar. Sept. 17, 1799, John Warren. .. Lydia Warren.


Lydia Wheelock.


Nov. 18, " Joanna Vinton.


May 25, 1800, Job Bank.


May 10, 1801, Betsey Hill.


Jan. 7, 1802, Mr. Gorton.


April 17, 1803, Elder C. Thompson.


Dec. 9, 1804, Rhoda Coburn.


Oct. 13, 1805, Rebekah Coburn.


Betsey Goodall.


Ang. 10, " Elder James Boomer, by letter from Freetown.


June 10, 1809, Susan Boomer, wife of James Boomer.


June 10, 1809, Dilla Bacon. Sept. 24, " Lydia Warren. May 12, 1810, Wife of Eli Jones. 66 Wife of Uriah Con- verse. May 12, 1810, Lydia Morey.


June 15, “ Rebekah McColly. 66 Lucy Wheelock.


Aug. 12, " Hannah Allen.


66 Job Boomer.


Mar. 31, 1811, Rufus Fitts. May 23, Lucretia Nichols.


Sept. 6,


66


Martin Boomer.


Oct. 13,


..


Mrs. Parker.


Oct. 18, Salome Saunders.


Oct. 8, 1812, Lydia Burnap. Aug. 25, 1813, Enoch Gale. Susan Gale, his wife.


Nov. 26,1813, Nancy Borden. Ruhamah Boomer.


April 10, 1814, Eliza Warren. Oct. 12, 1817, Sarah Holman.


Oct. 26, " Franklin Gale.


May 9, 1819, Otis Peck. Nov. 13, 1821, Paulina B. Marsh.


May 11, 1822, Lucy Boomer. Aug. 10, " Clarissa Sprague, April 13, 1823, Cynthia Bennet. Oct. 21, 1827, Rufus Twiss.


April 29,1832, Mrs. Wm. Boomer.


May 13, . Mrs. Gorton.


Aug. 15, 1833, Abba Millinda.


The whole number of persons admitted to membership in this church, from 1762 to 1833, as the records show, is 217; of these, thirty-two were admitted in 1780, and sixty-five in 1781 ; which years, particularly the year 1781, were seasons of great prosperity ; while it appears that, from the first organization of the church in 1762, to the time of the death of their first pastor in 1791, it was an active and growing body.


180


CHARLTON.


But during the pastorate of the succeeding ministers the church and society continued to decline, and finally ceased to exist as a regular organized body about the time of the death of their last pastor, Rev. James Boomer.


The greatest number of members at any one time, so far as has been reported, was 112 in 1791, at the death of their first pastor. In 1808 there were reported ninety-three members.


Ebenezer Lamson, who was baptized and united with this church, July 3, 1767, and Caleb Blood, baptized, December 27, 1774, became ministers of the Gospel of this denomination, of considerable note. Mr. Lamson was first ordained over the Baptist church in Ashford, Connecticut, in 1778 ; Caleb Blood, after preaching in the vicinity of Charlton, and particularly in the north part of Dudley, settled at Marlow, New Hampshire, and received ordination there in 1777 ; he then, after about two years, supplied the Baptist church one year at Weston, Massachusetts, and then organized a church at Newton, be- came its pastor in 1781, and labored there seven years. Sub- sequently, he settled at Shaftesbury, Vermont. This church had 125 members at this time, but was increased to 350 dur- ing his labors. He was appointed one of the trustees of the university of Vermont, that was established in 1791. After laboring in Vermont about twenty years, he accepted a call from the third Baptist society in Boston, and labored with them from 1807 to 1810. He then accepted a call from the first church and society in Portland, Maine, and continued his labors there until his decease, March 6, 1814, at the age of sixty, having been born at Charlton, 18th of August, 1754.


lle, by his settlement over the Charles Street church in Boston, in 1807, became its first pastor.


" As a pastor, he was both affectionate and faithful, and was revered and loved by all who consorted with him. In doctrine he was decidedly and strongly Calvinistic."*


* See Sprague's Pulpit of the Baptist Denomination.


181


CHARLTON.


The following is a copy of the letters of recommendation given by the church of Charlton to both Mr. Lamson and Mr. Blood ; to the first, dated " February 28, 1775;" to the latter, " December 15, 1775 :"


" The Church of Christ in Charlton, in the Baptist Constitution, to our Sister Churches in the Same Order :


" Wishing you much grace, mercy, and peace, through the knowledge of God and of Jesus Christ our Lord: these are to signify to you that our brother, Caleb Blood, is in good standing with us, and is a regular walker, both in the world and in the church of God; and he has mani- fested to us that he has a call to preach the Gospel, upon which we have taken opportunity to examine him and improve him in that work of preaching, and it does appear to us that he has a gift for the labor; and we recommend him unto you as such, desiring that you will improve him among you in preaching and then give the same if you are satisfied with him in the work. So we subscribe ourselves your brethren in the Lord.


" NATHANIEL GREEN, Pastor."


The same letter in form was given to Ebenezer Lamson.


PASTORS.


At a meeting of the church, December 18, 1762, Elder Alden, being present, was chosen moderator, when, after con- versation together upon the subject of calling a minister, they were unanimous in inviting Brother Nathaniel Green, and, as the records read, "for he had preached to them from the first of their meeting together."


July 13, 1763, at a meeting of the church, Mr. Green was desired to give his answer to the call, when he asked them whether they meant to take his family and outward circum- stances, and they answered in the affirmative, according to his necessities and their ability. He then accepted their call.


Whereupon, the church appointed the 12th day of October, 1763, for the service of ordination, at which time the churches of Stafford, Killingly, South Hadley, and Sturbridge were represented.


182


CHARLTON.


Again, Elder Noah Alden, of Stafford, was appointed moder- ator, when the church and their intended pastor were examined and satisfaction given ; then followed the sermon by Elder Alden, from Isaiah, 62d chapter and 6th verse, which, being conchided, he gave the charge. The right hand of fellowship was given by Elder Whitman Jacobs.


Elder Green, when ordained, resided in Leicester; also many members of this church were inhabitants of that town, and of Spencer; but he removed himself and family to Charlton, in the year 1773.


There is a vote of the church recorded, August 28, 1773 :


" The church agreed for the future to style themselves the 'Church at Charlton,' because their elder has removed here."


Elder Nathaniel Green was born in Stoneham, in 1721; his father was Captain Nathaniel Green, who moved from Stone- ham to Leicester in 1723. He was among the early settlers of Leicester. Captain Green was born in Malden, in 1689. His children were : Elizabeth, born 1714, married Benjamin Sanderson, of Leicester, 1737; Winifred, born 1716, married Benjamin Baldwin, of Leicester, 1747; Nathaniel, the elder, and the subject of this work, born 1721, married Tabitha Prentice ; Mehitable, born 1724, married Samnel Call, of Leicester, 1746 ; Phineas, born 1728, and Benjamin, born 1731. This Captain Green was captain of the first infantry company in Leicester, in 1743. He was marshal in the forces preparatory for meeting the French invasion expected at Boston, caused by the attack and capture of the fortress of Louisburg in 1745, principally by Massachusetts troops.


The children of Elder Nathaniel Green were : Lemuel, born 1749, lived in Spencer ; Susannah, born 1751; Tabitha, born 1753; Nathaniel, born 1755 ; Lydia, born 1758; John, born 1760, was a minister in Coleraine, and died in 1800. Rufus, born 1762, went to Calais, Vermont, died 1844; Mary, born


183


CHARLTON.


1764; Chloe, born 1766, married Adams Wheelock ; Ebenezer, born 1769, removed to Belchertown, and died in 1848.


Elder Green died at Charlton, March 20, 1791; his wife, Tabitha, died there, June 22, 1804.


The successor in the pastorate of this church was David Rathburn, dismissed from the church of Ashford to this church, August 11, 1792. He was dismissed, March 3, 1795. The church and society now had preaching by supply for several years.


The successor of Elder Rathburn was Elder Charles Thomp- son, of Swansea, who was dismissed from the church there to the Charlton church, December 2, 1802.


Elder Thompson was highly esteemed as a pastor; but his services were of short duration here : he died in Charlton, May 1, 1803.


The next and last pastor of this church was Elder James Boomer, of Fall River ; his father was Martin Boomer, born in 1735, and died, June 15, 1804.


Elder James Boomer was born in Freetown, now Fall River, May 26, 1759 ; converted in March, 1780; baptized in April following, by Elder Abner Lewis, and soon after joined the second Baptist church at Tiverton. In 1792 he married Susannah Borden, of Freetown. She died at Charlton, January 28, 1857.


He was ordained with his brother-in-law, Job Borden, May 21, 1795, in the second Baptist church in Tiverton (now Fall River Baptist church), in compliance with their request; he labored here several years as pastor. In the autumn of 1803 he received an invitation to take the pastoral care of the church in Charlton, which he accepted, and removed to that place in the spring of 1804. His education was such as he obtained from the town schools of that period; the Baptists at this time did not regard it as important that their ministers should receive collegiate education, nor deliver written ser-


184


CHARLTON.


mons, but to speak as the spirit moved them. He was a good citizen, but for his pastoral services received but little com- pensation, and was necessarily obliged to support his family by his labors on his farm. This, no doubt, was a serious drawback upon the prosperity of the church over which he ministered, and, no doubt, was one of the principal causes of its decline and ultimate withdrawal from Charlton.


He was instrumental in forming the Baptist church at Ward, now Auburn. Many members of this last-named church, with other remaining members of the Charlton Bap- tist church, joined in organizing a Baptist church at North Oxford, in March, 1837, referred to in the historical sketch of that town.


In 1834 Elder Boomer became unable to preach, and his ministerial labors were closed. In January, 1837, he ceased to go from home, and suffered considerably from disease. He died, February 24, 1837. Among his last words were, "I have been reviewing my past life; find much in it for penitenee and humility ; but I believe I have been born of the Holy Spirit, and shall go to Heaven when I die."


Names and date of birth of James and Susanna Boomer's children :


Job B. Boomer, born, September 8, 1793; died, August 16, 1864. James Boomer, .. July 30, 1795.


Ruhamah Boomer, November 23, 1797.


William B. Boomer, “


December 11, 1799.


Martin Boomer, 66 April 10, 1802.


Charles T. Boomer, November 15, 1804; died, April 1, 1811.


Susannah Boomer, September 16, 1806.


Rev. Job B. Boomer, the above, was a successful minister. He was baptized at the age of sixteen, and soon after devoted himself to the ministry. In 1816 he began preaching with the Baptist church at South Sutton, and was ordained in 1819. Here he spent the next twenty-four years of his life. After this he preached in several places, the last at the North


185


CHARLTON.


Spencer church. Most of the foregoing has been derived from papers furnished by the daughter of James Boomer, now Mrs. Ruhamah Hammond, of this town.


The following action of the brethren relating to the rights of women in a church, which took place in this Baptist church at Charlton, seems to be worthy of preserving in these days of woman's rights associations, as showing the views of these early fathers of Charlton in such matters :


" CHARLTON, December ye 22d, 1769.


"The church met according to appointment, and, in the first place, did conclude, from what we have in the First of Corinthians, the 14th chapter, 34th and 35th verses, and the First of Timothy, ye 2d chapter, 11th verse to the end; it does appear to them that, though a woman be a member of the church, and has a right to all the privileges of the same, yet she has no right to vote nor to act in anything of such a nature; yet she may bring her difficulties in to the church, and the church is bound to hear them, and yet she is as good an evidence as any, but no right of judging in the church."


ACT OF INCORPORATION.


This society was incorporated by the name of The "First Baptist Society in Charlton," March 9, 1804.


The names in the act of incorporation were the following :


" Benjamin Rich, Robert Fitts, Roger Bartlett, Asa Bacon, John Warren, Uriah Converse, Eli Jones, Lemuel Green, Daniel E."Adams, Ebenezer White, Jacob Manning, Abijah Lamb, Benjamin Wheelock, Philip Clemence, Aaron Hammond, Daniel Streeter, Daniel Bacon, Samuel Robinson, Luke Converse, Adams Wheelock, Dr. Job Brackee, John Gro- ton, Amos Wheelock, James Melende, David Bates, Daniel Bacon, Junior, Amos Putnam, Robert McIntire, Robert McIntire, Junior, Sarah MeIntire, and Asa Clemence, with their families and estates, together with such others as may hereafter associate with them and their successors, with all the powers and privileges, rights and immunities, to which other parishes are entitled by the constitution and laws of this commonwealth; and that the Hon. Salem Town, Esq., be and is hereby authorized to call the first meeting of said society."


186


CHARLTON.


UNIVERSALISTS AND UNITARIANS.


There have been, from an early period, some persons, in- habitants of Charlton, who embraced the faith of this re- ligions denomination. Also, those who held to the faith of restoration.


It is difficult at this time to fix upon any precise date when the people of these particular denominations first held relig- ions meetings in this town in support of their doctrine. But it is believed that several parties holding to this faith had oc- casional meetings here about the year 1780.


The records of the Baptist church of this town show that Ebenezer Davis and his wife, Deborah, were baptized and united with that church, June 25, 1767 ; and that afterwards, in the year 1779, at a church meeting, held on October 28, it is recorded that,


" Whereus, Ebenezer Davis (in our opinion) holds to the doctrine of universal salvation, we withdraw the hand of fellowship from him."


Also, at a church meeting held by this church, the 4th of March, 1796, it was voted that,


" Whereas, Our sister Anna Hall, and brother David Brown and wife, having refused to walk with this church, and joined the Universalists, this church, coneluding they had labored with them according to Divine rule, voted to withdraw the hand of fellowship from them."


The hand of fellowship was also withdrawn for the same reason from Gardiner MeIntire, at a meeting of this church, May 2, 1783.


The doctrine of universal salvation was embraced by many in the adjoining towns about this time, particularly at Oxford, in 1777; and finally, in 1785, an organized body of that denom- ination was there established. The historical sketch of that church is referred to in support of these statements.


The establishing a society and church of this religious faith


187


CHARLTON.


at Oxford served to draw together those of this denomina- tion from the adjoining towns, and their numbers not being equal to the support of churches in separate parishes, there were but occasional meetings held in the other towns, but all gave their support to the society at Oxford.


The following are some of the names of the ministers of this faith who preached occasionally to the friends of this de- nomination at Charlton, in the fore part of this century, and at an earlier period : Rev. Caleb Rich, of Warwick ; Rev. Adam Streeter, of Douglas ; Rev. Elhanan Winchester, of Philadelphia ; Rev. Elkany Ingals, of Grafton ; Rev. Thomas Barnes; Rev. Michael Coffin, of New York; and Rev. John Murray. The foregoing were the preachers who supplied before the year 1800.


More recently, the Rev. Richard Carrique, Rev. Jacob Wood, and Rev. Edward Turner. Rev. Hosea Ballou, and Hosea Ballou 2d, both appeared in this vicinity early in this century. Rev. Hosea Ballou was first settled as a preacher at Dana, in this county, about 1796, and was there in 1800, and itinerated among the towns of Warren, formerly Western, Brookfield, Charlton, and Oxford; and possessing the spirit of proselytism, he produced much effect in confirming the people of this vicinity in the doctrine and faith he preached.


In 1818, a young man, the Rev. John Bisbe, preached his first sermon at Dana, and soon became generally known among people of this faith in this region. He was a preacher of rare ability ; after supplying at Western and South Brookfield, where in each of these places meeting-houses were erected for him, he was ordained at the parish of Podunk, in Brookfield, November 14, 1821 ; the house being dedicated to the wor- ship of God at the same time.


The public solemnities commenced at ten o'clock, A. M., by the reading of appropriate selections of Scripture, by the Rev. Edward Turner, then residing in Charlton. Introductory


188


CHARLTON.


prayer by Rev. Charles Hudson, then of Westminster, in this county ; and the dedicatory prayer by Rev. Hosea Ballon, of Boston. The sermon was preached by Rev. Edward Turner, and the concluding prayer by Rev. J. Frieze.


The Rev. John Bisbe, was ordained, in the afternoon, to the pastoral care of the Universalist societies of Brookfield and Western. The introductory prayer by Rev. Hosea Bal- lou, 2d, of Roxbury ; the sermon by Rev. Hosea Ballon, of Boston ; ordination prayer and reading of Scripture by Edward Turner, the right hand of fellowship by the Rev. Hosea Bal- lou, and also the concluding prayer.


Although the weather was unfavorable, there were collected from the adjoining towns a large assembly to witness the very interesting services.


Here again the people of Charlton gave their attendance in considerable numbers.


The precise time when a Universalist pastor was first settled in Charlton has not been ascertained, as there are no records that can be found at this time of their early proceedings in this respect.


It is, however, known from letters from Rev. Massena B. Ballou, that he became pastor of the Universalist society in Charlton, April 1, 1827, and remained there until the spring of 1831. This society then held their worship at the north part of the town, then known as the north side. Mr. Ballou remarks :


" My engagement with the society was rather unusual, for I consented to become its pastor for one year without any knowledge of the town or people, having never seen either. I did not preach as candidate, as I had already engaged to preach to them for the year."


He further says:


"I never passed four years of my ministerial life more pleasantly than with the good people of Charlton ; and when I thought it my duty to leave the society to remove, where I have been for forty years next


189


CHARLTON.


spring, I am sure I never experienced a more trying separation from any people."


This communication from Mr. Ballou is dated, "Stoughton, September 3, 1870."


Mr. Ballon, while preaching for the Universalist society in Charlton, during the four years till 1831, also supplied preach- ing part of the time for the parish at Podunk, in Brook- field.


. Rev. Gilman Noyes was his successor, the length of time not known ; the Rev. John Boyden and Rev. Ansin Bugbec also supplied for a time, continning this service up to the year 1838, when a new and permanent organization of the society was established by the adoption of a constitution, February 29, of said year, when the following names were subscribed to the same :


William T. Rider,


Alpheus Davis,


Ansin Bugbee,


Dan. Lamb,


Aaron Lamb,


Alvin N. Lamb,




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