USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > Abington > Historical sketch of Abington, Plymouth County, Massachusetts. With an appendix > Part 5
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* Mr. Dodge says, he there met ' Mr. Edwards, of Northampton, a gentle- man of excellent piety and learning,' and heard his speech before an Ecclesi- astical Council.
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He came to Abington to preach, 20th January, 1750. In a few weeks, he had a call to settle, which, after declining one at Upton, he accepted. As before stated, his ordination took place 23d of the next May.
Mr. Dodge was much beloved and respected by his people* ; and deservedly so, as he possessed in an em- inent degree, all those qualities of head and heart, which create confidence and esteem. He was mild, amiable and conciliatory in his temper and manners- prudent and circumspect in his conduct as a man, and especially so in discharging the various and often deli- cate and embarrassing duties of the ministerial office. If he had enemies, they were few, and tradition has not told us who they were.
As a divine, he was learned, pious, and exemplary. His religious tenets were the Calvinism of his day .- To these, he adhered with the zeal and firmness of a sincere believer in their truth. At the same time, he was tolerant of the opinions of others, who after dili- gent and honest inquiry for the truth, could not see as he saw, and believe as he believed. Knowing that mankind were to be judged by their works : that ' the sheep commends its pasture, not by showing the grass it has eaten, but the wool on its back ;' he was more disposed to regard and value the fruits of morality and piety, manifesting themselves in the lives and conversa-
* 1767, October 24. Mr. Dodge says, ' on Thursday last, the inhabitants of the upper part of the town, to the number of 26, come and cut and brought to my door, about 20 eords of wood. The Lord reward them.'
1770, 20th January. 'The people assembled to the number of 79, and got me about 25 cords of wood.' After his death, the town voted to pay the ex- penses of his funeral. The whole cost, including presents of gold rings to the widow and bearers, (according to the custom of the day,) was over $30.
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tion of his people, than their professions and declara- tions.
He was diligent in his calling. Beside performing with punctuality all the other duties of his office, in a large parish, he composed, in the course of twenty years, over one thousand sermons. Many of them are still extant, but owing to his peculiar manner of abbre- viation, and inattention to chirography, they are mostly illegible. He also kept an interesting journal, during the whole period of his ministry. Only a small part of it has been preserved.
Mr. Dodge died suddenly, of apoplexy, 5th June, 1770, in the 48th year of his age. His wife was Mary Goddard, of Sutton, by whom he had, beside several children who died young, Mary, born February 7, 1754, married Rev. Samuel Niles ; Mehitable, born February 13th, 1763, married Nathaniel Cushing ; Ezekiel God- dard, born April 18th, 1765; he settled at Thomaston, Maine, where he practised medicine. Before Massa- chusetts and Maine separated, he often represented that town in the Legislature.
MR. NILES.
Mr. Niles is descended in the third degree, from Capt. Nathaniel Niles, who died at Braintree, in 1727, aged 87. His grandfather, the Rev. Samuel Niles, was born at Block Island, R. I. 1st May, 1673-graduated at Cambridge, 1699, and was ordained at Braintree, 1711. His first wife was Elizabeth, the daughter of the Rev. Peter Thacher, of Milton, by whom he had, among others, Samuel, born May 14th, 1711. She
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died February 2d, 1716, and ' was the first person buried in the burying place in the south part of Brain- tree, over against the meeting house.' His second, was Ann, the daughter of the Hon. Nathaniel Codding- ton, of Newport, R. I. to whom he was married, as he says, by Gov. Cranston, November 22d, 1716. By her he had Elisha and Susanna, twins, born 1719. She died 1732, and in 1737, he married Elizabeth, the daughter of the Rev. William Adams, pastor of Christ Church, Dedham, and the widow of the Rev. Samuel Whiting, of Windham, Conn.
Although Mr. Niles entered the ministry late in life, the period of his continuance in it, over fifty years, was comparatively long. In the course of that time, he composed and published the following works :-
1745. 'Tristiæ Ecclesiarum. A brief and sorrow- ful account of the present state of the Churches in New England.' A learned divine, who had read this publication, spoke of it to the writer as a valuable work, deserving a republication.
1747. 'God's wonderworking Providence for New England, in the reduction of Louisburg.' (Poetry.)
1752. 'A vindication of divers gospel doctrines and of the teachers and professors of them, against the in- jurious reflections and misrepresentations, contained in a late printed discourse of the Rev. Lemuel Bryant, (of the North Precinct of Braintree, now Quincy,) entitled -The absurdity and blasphemy of depreciating moral virtue. Also, a few remarks on Mr. John Bass's late narrative.'*
* This work was a part of that religious controversy, which it is said ' broke out like the eruption of a volcano and blazed with portentous aspect for many
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1757. 'The true doctrine of original sin, stated and defended, in the way of remarks on a late piece enti- tled-The scripture doctrine of original sin, proposed to free and candid examination, by John Taylor,' (of Milton,) 320 pages 8vo.
Beside the above, Mr. Niles composed an History of Indian Wars. The elder President Adams, in a letter to the late Judge Tudor, September 28th, 1818, thus spoke of that work and its author. 'There is some- where in existence,' says he, 'as I hope and believe, a manuscript history of Indian wars, written by the Rev. Samuel Niles, of Braintree. Almost sixty years ago, I was an humble acquaintance of this venerable clergy- man, then, as I believe, more than fourscore years of age. He asked me many questions, and informed me in his own house, that he was endeavoring to recollect and commit to writing, an history of Indian wars, in his own time and before it, as far as he could collect in- formation. This history he completed and prepared for the press ; but no printer would undertake it, or venture to propose a subscription for its publication .- Since my return from Europe, I enquired of his eldest son, the Hon. Samuel Niles, on a visit he made me at my house, what was become of that manuscript. He laughed and said, it was still safe in the till of a certain trunk, but no encouragement had ever appeared for its publication. Ye liberal christians-laugh not at me- nor frown upon me for thus reviving the memory of your
years.' The Rev. Mr. Porter, of North Bridgewater, took part in it. In 1749, he published a sermon to show 'the absurdity and blasphemy of substituting the personal righteousness of man, in the room of the surety righteousness of Christ, in the article of justification before God ;' and a reply to Mr. Bryant's remarks on this sermon.
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once formidable enemy. I was then, no more of a dis- ciple of his theological science, than you are now .- But I then revered and still revere the honest, virtuous, and pious man. Fas est ab hoste doceri-and his me- morial of facts might be of great value to the country.'* Mr. Niles died 5th May, 1762, aged 89.
Samuel Niles, junior, graduated at Cambridge Col- lege, 1731, and at his death was perhaps the oldest surviving Alumnus of that institution. On leaving col- lege, he did not study a profession, but engaged for a time in agricultural pursuits. His talents, intelligence, good sense and integrity, soon brought him into public notice. For several years, he represented his native town in the General Court-was a Judge of the Court of Common Pleas for the county of Suffolk, then in- cluding Norfolk-and, after the province had thrown off the power of the mother country, was one of the twenty-eight counsellors, who, before the State Consti- tution was formed, exercised the executive powers of government. Towards the close of his life, he moved to Lebanon, Conn. into the family of his son Jeremiah, where he died 30th April, 1804, aged 92. In 1739, he married his cousin, Sarah Niles, of South Kingston, R. I. by whom he had Nathaniel,t Samuel, Jeremiah, Sands, and Elizabeth.
* This manuscript was lately found in a box of papers, bequeathed by the late Rev. Dr. Freeman, of Boston, to the Massachusetts Historical Society, and is published in the last volume of their collections.
t Nathaniel graduated at Princeton College, 1766. He was one of the first settlers of West Fairlee, Vermont, where he died, 1828, aged 88. He honora- bly sustained many publie offices-among them, that of Judge of the Supreme Court, and Lieutenant Governor of Vermont, and member of Congress. His second wife was Elizabeth, the daughter of the late Judge William Watson, of Plymouth.
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The Rev. Samuel Niles, of Abington, son of the preceding, was born at Braintree, 14th December, 1745. In his youth, he is said to have been uncommonly gay and thoughtless. This turn of mind, however, proceed- ed rather from the buoyancy of youthful spirits, and an immoderate love of excitement, often attendant on gen- ius, than any inherent perverseness of temper. Being designed for a public education, after the usual course of preparation under Mr. Dodge, he entered the college at Princeton, N. J. in the same class with the Rev. Dr. Samuel Stanhope Smith, afterwards the distinguished President of that institution, where he took his first degree in 1769. What his reputation for scholarship in college was, is not known. Having, while there, become more serious in his deportment, on leaving, he resolved to devote himself to the ministry, and accord- ingly studied divinity, first under Mr. Dodge, and after- wards under the Rev. Dr. Joseph Bellamy, of Bethlem, Conn. Not long after he was licensed to preach, he received and accepted a call to settle in Abington, where he was ordained 25th September, 1771. The duties of the pastoral office he ably and faithfully discharged, until prostrated by a severe paralytic affection, in No- vember, 1811. From this attack, he so far recovered, as to be able to walk a little with assistance, and ride out. Occasionally, he attended meeting, but there he was only a silent hearer in the midst of that very nu- merous assembly he had so often and with so great power and solemnity addressed, on the doctrines and duties of the christian religion. He knew and was glad to see his friends, and appeared to feel a deep in- terest in their conversation, but was himself unable to
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utter more than a few words. In allusion to his own situation, and by way of expressing the sense he felt of the divine justice in his afflictions, he used often to say-all is done-all done,-all is right-all right .- He continued in this wrecked state of body and mind until 16th January, 1814, when he died, in the 69th year of his age.
As the character of this distinguished man has been drawn by his intelligent and intimate friends and co- temporaries, it will be more acceptable for the writer to present their sketches, than to attempt one of his own.
The following is an extract from an obituary notice of him, published in the Panoplist, April, 1814. It was written by the late Rev. Dr. Jonathan Strong, of Randolph, who preached the sermon at his funeral.
' As a man, Mr. Niles was peculiarly interesting and agreeable. In conversation, he was pleasant without levity-facetious without malignity, and serious without austerity. He was thoroughly acquainted with the principles of human nature, and quick to discern the motives by which different characters in society are governed. As a friend, he was distinguished for confi- dence and fidelity. His heart was a cabinet, in which the secrets of others might be locked as safely as in their own. Though not affluent, his house was a man- sion of hospitality. No man ever better enjoyed his friends, nor more sincerely sought to make them com- fortable and happy. Although, owing to particular cir- cumstances, he was not a man of the most extensive reading, yet he possessed very superior powers of mind. Very few better understood the art of thinking, or profited more by it. His ideas were clear in his own
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mind, and were generally expressed with uncommon perspicuity. A fair specimen of his talents may be seen in a work, which he had nearly completed for the press, when arrested with the paralytic shock before mentioned. This work has since been published .* It is entitled, ' Remarks on a sermon, preached before the association of ministers, in the 3d Congregational So- ciety in Middleborough, September 26th, 1810, by John Reed, D. D., pastor of the 1st Church and congrega- tion in Bridgewater.' In these remarks, the talents of the author for metaphysical discussion, are strikingly displayed. It is believed, that no candid reader, after examining them, will hesitate to acknowledge, that he was thoroughly conversant with the abstruser parts of theology.
' Mr. Niles's manner of preaching was peculiarly plain, luminous, solemn and impressive. By the friends of truth, he was loved and admired, and no person could hear him with indifference. His object was to search the consciences and hearts of his hearers, and to make them feel, in some measure, as they will when standing before the tribunal of the final Judge. Nor did he al- ways fail of success. The profound silence and deep solemnity, frequently discovered by his audience, evinc- ed, that impressions were made that could not easily be effaced.
* Beside the above, there were published by Mr. Niles-A sermon, delivered at Abington, February 22d, 1800, commemorating the death of George Wash- ington, late President of the United States.
A sermon, before the Massachusetts Missionary Society, at their annual meeting, in Boston, May 26th, 1801.
A charge, at the ordination of the Rev. Seth Stetson, over the 2d Congrega- tional Society, in Plymouth, 18th July, 1804.
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' With respect to his prayers, it may, with strict pro- priety be said, they were uncommonly full of thought, pertinent, comprehensive, fervent, solemn and impres- sive ; and often produced a powerful effect on those who had opportunity to unite with him before the throne of mercy. At such seasons, he sometimes appeared to be raised above all earthly scenes, and permitted to look within the vail.'
The Rev. and very aged Dr. Nathaniel Emmons, of Franklin, in a letter to the writer, 11th September, 1832, says-' The father of Spirits endowed Mr. Niles with superior intellectual and reasoning powers. I rarely was acquainted with a man, who in my opinion possessed a stronger and clearer mind ; and who could penetrate deeper into the most abstruse subjects of mental philosophy, as well as natural and revealed re- ligion. He had a clear and profound knowledge of the truth, connection, harmony and consistency of the first principles and essential doctrines of christianity ; which qualified him to become one of the most instructive and powerful preachers I ever heard. His sermons were not superficial, but full of great and weighty truths, which not only commanded the serious and eager atten- tion of his hearers, but deeply impressed their hearts and consciences. No man, whether learned or unlearn- ed, whether a lover or hater of the truth, could sit un- der his preaching with levity or indifference. His grave and dignified appearance in the pulpit, in connection with his truly genuine eloquence, could hardly fail to strike the largest audience with awe and reverence, and to render him one of the most popular preachers of his day. He was intimately acquainted with human na-
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ture, and could render himself agreeable in his common intercourse, with all classes of people ; but he was more especially entertaining in private circles, by the flashes of his wit, and his curious and amusing and striking and pertinent anecdotes. He could, however, turn with peculiar ease and propriety from social to the most seri- ous subjects, and converse very seriously and instruc- tively, upon doctrinal and experimental religion. On all proper occasions, his speech was seasoned with the salt of divine grace, and suited to strengthen the weak, console the disconsolate, and animate the most growing christian. I will only add one more rare and shining trait in his character. He was one of the most undis- guised, frank, and faithful friends, I ever knew. He was an Israelite indeed.'
To the above, it may be added, that he was not an inattentive observer of the political events of his time. During the revolutionary war, like most of the clergy, he embraced the cause of his country, and defended her rights with the zeal and firmness belonging to his char- acter.
After the adoption of the Federal Constitution, the country became divided into two great political parties, differing upon questions regarding the powers of the general government and the best modes of administra- tion. Believing that the principles and measures of the Republican party, as developed in the administrations of Mr. Jefferson and Mr. Madison, were best adapted to promote the true interests and solid prosperity of the country, he uniformly gave them his support. At the same time, he respected the right of private judgment ; and although properly tenacious of his own political opin-
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ions, he never permitted differences in regard to them, even in times of the greatest political excitement, to alienate him from his friends, or interrupt a cordial so- cial intercourse with them.
Mr. Niles married Mary Dodge, the daughter of his immediate predecessor. She is now living, in the 85th year of her age. Their children are, Mary, Sally, Clarissa, Betsey, Mehitable, Samuel, and Laura, born between 1775 and 1794.
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EDUCATION.
The first notice of a school, is in August, 1724. The selectmen were then directed to ' agree with a man to keep school ;' and they appear to have employed Mr. Samuel Porter, senior-as in March, 1727, the select- men were directed ' to draw six pounds out of the trea- sury, and pay Mr. Samuel Porter, deceased, (he died 31st August, 1725,) his keeping school.'
The first school house was built in 1732. It stood near the first meeting house, and was the only one in town before 1755. As the border inhabitants were subjected to much inconvenience in sending their chil- dren so far to school, it was occasionally the practice, in order to equalize the travel, to keep the school alter- nately in different parts of the town, in private houses.
In 1755, the town was divided into five school dis- tricts, and school houses built in each. These were altered in 1794, and increased to eight ; since, three more have been formed, making the present number, eleven.
The following sums were raised for schooling, in the years mentioned, viz :
£ 26
19
4
s. d. 1805
$ 833
cts.
1755
33
1765
40
00
0 1815
850
00
1775
40
00
0 1825
1200
00
1785
86
00
0 1835
1600
00
1795
140
00
0
84
Different rules have been adopted in different years, for dividing this money. Sometimes each district has drawn an equal share. At others, the division has been, either according to the number of polls, or the taxes paid in each. The present mode is to divide one half equally among the districts, and apportion the other among them, according to the number of children be- tween the ages of 4 and 16. There were 810 of such, in 1837.
The following is a list of such natives of the town, as have received a collegiate education, with the time and place of their graduation. H. U. is for Harvard and B. U. for Brown University. Ministers are in italics.
John Porter,
1736
H. U.
Edward Bates,
1738
H. U.
Solomon Reed,
1739
H. U.
Josiah Brown,
1761
H. U.
Adam Porter,
1761
H. U.
Elias Jones,
1767
Princeton Col.
Jesse Reed,
1769
do.
Samuel Nash,
1770
B. U.
William Reed,
1782
H. U.
Nathaniel Hobart,
1784
H. U.
Jesse Remington,
1784
H. U.
Jacob Norton,
1786
H. U.
Jarius Remington,
1794
B. U.
James Gurney,
1795
B. U.
Abel Richmond,
1797
B. U.
Enoch Brown,
1801
B. U.
Moses Noyes,
1801
B. U.
William Norton,
1802
B. U.
85
John King,
1802
H. U.
Jacob Porter,
1803
Yale Col.
Benjamin Hobart,
1804
B. U.
John Shaw,
1805
B. U.
Jared Whitman,
1805
B. U.
Aaron Hobart,
1805
B. U.
James Richards,
1809
Williams Col.
Ezekiel Thaxter,
1812
H. U.
Daniel Noyes,
1812
Yale Col.
Asahel Cobb,
Ham. Col. N. Y.
Ebenezer P. Dyer,
1833
B. U.
Thomas H. Perry,
1835
Waterville Col.
POPULATION-EPIDEMICS-LONGEVITY.
There are no means of ascertaining exactly the num- ber of the inhabitants, at any early period. From a remonstrance in 1726, against setting off a part of the town to form Hanover, it appears, the whole number of families then, including the part set off, was 53. Sup- posing each to have numbered, on an average, 7 persons, the population at that time would be 371.
The number of inhabitants, according to the U. S.
census, was, in
1790
1453
1800
1623
1810
1704
1820
1920
1830
2423
By State Census in 1837 3057*
The local situation of the town may, on the whole, be considered favorable to health and longevity. Epi- demical diseases have occasionally made their appear- ance, and, in some instances, been attended with great mortality. In 1751-2, a disease, commonly called the throat-distemper, prevailed, and carried off many of the inhabitants, particularly children. More than 60 per- sons died of it.t
* In 1754-5, a census of the slaves in the Province, 16 years old and up- wards, was taken. There were 7 in Abington. In Scituate, 43.
+ Mr. Dodge, in his journal, 22d October, 1752, says, ' from August 1st, 1751, to August, 1752, there died, belonging to this town and congregation, with the throat distemper, 41-in the whole, 50.' 24th February, 1753, he says-' at- tended two funerals of children, who died of the throat distemper. N. B .-- We have lost 60 in town and congregation, since August, '51.'
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In the fall of 1805, a malignant typhus fever (which in a large, crowded city might have been yellow fever,) broke out, and soon spread through the town. There were numerous cases, in some instances, affecting whole families, and many deaths. What its remote or predis- posing causes were, like the causes of most epidemics, was a mystery, which baffled investigation. At the time, it was thought by some to have had its origin in the exhalations of a pond, in the south part of the town, near which the fever began. This pond had been kept up, the previous summer, for the first time, and as its waters did not pass off freely, had become stagnant .- This conjecture was, however, probably without any just foundation, because the pond has been kept up, in the same way, for many years past, without producing any similar effect.
In early times, it was not the practice to record the ages of persons deceased-and for many years imme- diately preceding 1792, there are no records of deaths to be found. From the subsequent records, and other sources of information, the following instances of lon- gevity have been collected. None have been taken un- der 85 years of age.
1761. Mary, widow of Mathew Pratt, 96
1772. Priscilla, widow of John Pettingell, 87
1774. Hannah, widow of George Vining, 100
1792. Sarah, widow of Capt. Daniel Reed, 89
1796.
William Sprague, 86
1797. Mary, widow of Thomas Mansfield, 88
Elizabeth, widow of Thomas Wilkes, 91
1798. Joseph Shaw, 87
Widow Vinson, 87
88
1
1799. Elisha Vining, 85
1801. Anthony Dwight, (colored,)* 100
1802. Deborah House, 88
1805. Mrs. Morse, 88
1806. Peleg Stetson,
93
1807. Joseph Damon,
86
Stephen Dunbar,
90
Eleazer Whitman,
91
1808.
Abigail, widow of James Reed,
91
Ruth, widow of Nicholas Shaw, 91
93
1809. Benjamin Farrow,
1810. Joanna Pettingell, 87
Mary, widow of Samuel Reed, 86
1811. Widow Lydia Cheesman, 88
Silence, widow of Edm. Jackson, 3d. 92
1812. Bilhah Cobus, (colored,) 90
Lydia, widow of Joseph Richards, 89
1814. Jacob Noyes, 85
Samuel Nash, 93
Jane, widow of Abner Porter, 93
Abigail, widow of Eleazer Whitman, 91
1816. Daniel Lane, 92
1817. John Fullerton, 87
* Anthony Dwight, commonly called Tony, was a slave, or servant, (as slaves here were usually called,) of Mr. Brown, the first minister. His age is not exactly known, but supposed to be at least 100. In 1742, Mr. Brown re- cords the admission of ' his negro man Tony, and his negro woman Flora,' as members of his church. Many anecdotes are related of Tony's strength and agility. At the raising of a 40 feet barn, belonging to Samuel Norton, Esq. he is said to have jumped from beam to beam, the whole length of the build- ing. The beams were 10 feet apart.
When young, Mr. Brown, to prevent his wearing out his shoes too fast, had a pair made and shod with iron. The night after Tony put them on, he danced them out on a rock.
89
1818. Lucy, widow of John Reed, 91
Kate, (colored,) 90
1820. Caleb Chard, 90
1821. Benjamin Gardner, 92
Noah Gurney, 86
1822. Leah Farrow, 101
Joshua Pool, 86
Ruth, widow of Adams Bailey, 86
Elizabeth, widow of Nath'l Bicknell, 94
1824.
Mary, widow of Benjamin Farrow, 86
Jane, widow of Joseph Bicknell, 89
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