USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Marlborough > Historical sketch of the First Congregational Church in Marlborough, Mass., with the exercises at the celebration of the fiftieth anniversary of Rev. Sylvester F. Bucklin's ordination, as Pastor of said church > Part 2
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).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6
Thoroughly versed in every department of theology, and truly orthodox in sentiment, he was a scribe in every respect, instructed unto the kingdom of heaven. The duties of the pastoral office in the church at Marlborough. over which the Holy Ghost had made him overseer, he discharged faithfully and assidu- ously, in peace and with great reputation, for twenty-seven years.
He was a skilful and able asserter of the doctrines of revelation, and of the worship and discipline of the New England Churches.
He was a counsellor in cases of difficulty,
23
both public and private, of distinguished up- rightness and consummate prudence.
He was a sincere lover of his friends, his country, and the whole church of Christ.
In a word, he was a model of piety, of eve- ry social virtue, and of moderation in regard to earthly things.
In the severe pains of his last sickness, his patience had its perfect work ; and his depar- ture, if not in triumph, was full of hope and peace.
Born Dec. 7th, 1682 .- Died Jan. 6th, 1731.
Even the prophets do not live forever.
Benjamin Kent, the successor of Robert Breck, was ordained Oct. 27, 1733. He was graduated at Harvard College in 1727. The Town Record has the following in regard to his settlement.
" The Town granted a salary of one hun- dred and eighty pounds per annum in passable bills of public credit, if he shall see cause to accept of the call given him by the Church and Town, and to continue so long as he shall be their minister, and to rise and fall according to Silver, which is now current at twenty shil- lings an ounce. " For settlement he was al- lowed four hundred pounds.
1
24
There seems to have been some marked de- fects in his ministerial qualities, which soon re- sulted in his dismission. Under the date of Oct. 1733, there is the following reference to him in the Records of the Marlborough Asso- ciation, which met that day at Framingham.
" The Rev. Mr. Smith had invited the South- ern Association. (which were to have met this day at his Son's-in-law, Mr. Stone of Holliston.) by which means we had the benefit of their advice and assistance in the difficulty before us, relating to Mr. Benjamin Kent, ordained at Marlborough ; - great complaint being made about the world. of his principles. Mr. Kent was present. and very freely submit- ted himself to our inquiries and examination. Mr. Loring interrogated upon the Articles drawn up in the New England Confession of Faith, chicfly relating to the controversy with the Remmonstrants ; and he gave such a dec- laration of his belief, and with such profes- sions of honesty and sincerity in all. that the Association manifested their satisfaction there- in, upon condition that they should find that both his preaching and conversation had been, and should for the future be, agreeable to such declaration ; in short, so long as they should
25
sec that what he had exhibited were his real sentiments."
The general impression made by this equiv- ocal statement, is confirmed by the following letter of Dr. Franklin. " You tell me that our poor friend Ben. Kent is gone ; I hope to the regions of the blessed ; or at least to some place where souls are prepared for those regions. I found my hope on this, that though not so orthodox as you and I, he was an honest man and had his virtues. If he had any hypocrisy, it was of that inverted kind, with which a man is not so bad as he seems to be."
The Church Records also show that there was great dissatisfaction with his course, among some of his church and congregation. Scarcely had he been settled, when Benjamin Wood, who seems to have been a prominent member of the Society, brings some grave char- ges against him. He calls him a " profest Ar- minian," and says that his want of orthodoxy has made a "great noise almost over all of the Province ;" that the " nearest neighboring ministers refused to assist in his ordination ;" and also charges him with contradictory state- ments. The opposition to him increased and kept the church in commotion during the
3
-
26
entire year 1734; and at length a Council was called, Feb. 4, 1735, to investigate the matter. and give their advice. The result of that council has fortunately just been recovered. and is full of important information. It ap- pears from this document, that, in the estima- tion of the council, the charges of being a " profest Arminian," of " profane and scanda- lous conversation, " were fully sustained. They find that he " held and vented unsound and dangerous opinions with respect to the great and important Scripture doctrine of the Trini. ty ;" "that Jesus Christ hath not made full satisfaction for all our sins : " " that there were several answers in the Assembly's Catechism which had not a word of Scripture to support them, particularly that respecting the Decrees:" " that he denied an absolute Election, and asserted a conditional one on the foresight of good works ;" " that he said in his preaching. that if God dealt with Adam as a moral agent he could not have hindered his fall or his sin- ning against him ;" "that infants came into the world free and clear of original guilt." It also appeared to them " that he had said in his preaching, that the fundamentals of religion were plain and easy ; were not, never were,
27
never could be disputed, because they were of a moral nature, which expressions we judge are false, and have a dangerous tendency to lessen our regard for revealed religion." Find- ing him guilty of holding and preaching such sentiments ; of using . profane and filthy ex- pressions ;" and also of " expressions relating to ye neighboring ministers which are indecent and injurious reflections upon them ;" the council judged, and advised that the Rev. Mr. Benj. Kent be suspended from preaching the word, or administering the holy Sacraments until the 27th of May next. And if as we earnestly wish, it shall in mean time please the God of all grace to give him that light and conviction which may dispose him publicly to retract his errors, and own the truth as it is in Jesus, it may give occasion to restore him in the spirit of meekness and with joy. To that time this council will be adjourned, and will then stand ready, (God willing.) to give this church our further advice."
Mr. Kent's ministry probably closed with the decision of this council. No record now remains that he ever retracted his errors, or was ever again restored to his regular standing as a minister of the gospel. He probably
-
28
withdrew at once, leaving the church as we know in a divided state. An action was brought against the town, to recover the sum of £400, which was voted to him as a " settle- ment," and the case, after a prolonged litiga- tion, was finally decided in his favor. afterwards removed to Boston where he com- menced the practice of law, and became cole- brated for his " eccentricity and wit." He fled from that place, as a refugee, to Halifax, where he died in 1788 at an advanced age.
The following Covenant seems to have been formed and entered into by an Association of Young Men in this place, who met together for religious objects. It was formed Sept. 9, 1736, and twenty-nine names were appended to it. How far it was successful, or how long it existed, we have no means of knowing ; but from the fact that the Covenant was copied out in 1740, and that new names were subse- quently added, it may be inferred that it con- tinued in existence for several years. It is the first record that I have found of any Association of Young Men.
"We the subscribers,-Being Sensible that it is our greit Duty, and Interest to serve Gol in the Days of our youth, and to Seck him Early, and Having his Promise that
2.9
when two or three are met together in h's name, that he will be in the midst of them,-Have thought it mi he bo for the glory of Gol and oir spiritual good, to meet together for Religious Exercises at certain times : Do in the Presence of God, and whom we fear, and to whose Service Hercin we Devote our Selves. Covenant and agree together as follows.
(1) That we will with God's Leave meet tog ther Every Lord's Day in the Evening, an I on yoevening of Thanks. giving and Fasts, to Carry on among our Selves Religions Worship, to Pray to God, to Sing His Praises, to Real his word or Some Practical Discourse, and to conclude with Prayer, and while we Continue together our Conver- sation shall be Savory and Suitable to the End Proposed by us in our meeting together.
(2) That we will Conceal aal not expose any weakness or Infirmity that may Proveed from any of us, either while we are together or elsewhere, and that we will watch over one another for good.
(3) That we will Each of us in our turns, according as shall be appointed by ye Society, Carry on part of Re- ligious Exercise from time to time as God shall Enable us.
(4) That when we Break up our Religious Exercise, we will Directly return to o ir Several Homes, and nic's- ing But what is Extraordinary Shall Divert is ther fum. (5) That We will admonish one another in love it there be occasion ; and if any among us, (which God forind) shall fall into any Scandalous Siu, or Breik through any of ye Articles of this agreement, or without any jist Cause, be absent from our meeting and Rehuseth tur give Christian Satisfaction to us. He shall cease to be a mem- ber of the Society.
3*
-
30
(6) That we will not only whilst together, But at all times. in all Company, Endeavor by y" grace and IL Ip of God to regulate our Conversation with that Christian P'ru- dence and Sobriety as Shall give no occasion to others to Speak ill of us. nor of the Religious Design that we have now Engaged in.
Finally for the Performance hereof we will rely upon the Divine Grace and Seek for God's Blessing upon and with us.
Sept. 9, 1736. Copied out August 16th 1710.
Aaron Smith. the fourth minister of the town was ordained June 11, 1740. This was abont the time of the "Great Awakening." but there is no record of any deep or general interest in this place. Whitefield preached here on the afternoon of Tuesday, the 14th of Oct. 1740, and tradition says on the common in front of the old Meeting House, because the use of the House was denied him. Appointments were often made in advance, without consulting the wishes or convenience of the Ministers, and this in many cases awakened strong opposition to his course. It is supposed to have had some influence in this case. We find the following reference to this day in his letters. " His heart was dead at first, and he had but little free- dom ; but before he finished, the word came with such demonstration of the spirit, that
31
great numbers were melted down. Here he found Gov. Belcher, who went with him through the rain, that night to Worcester." In the private Journal of Rey. Ebenezer Park- man of Westborough, mention is made of special meetings in this place, but nothing that indicates any general interest. From the fact that the Marlborough AAssociation drew up and generally signed a Testimony against Mr. Whitefield and his conduct, it may perhaps not unjustly be inferred, that Mr. Smith had little sympathy with the Great Awakening.
The 15th of June 1749, was observed as a day of "public Fasting on Occasion of the extreme Drought," prevailing at that time. Mr. Smith preached two sermons from Lev. 26 : 3, 4, on " Some Temporal Advantages in Keep- ing Covenant with God." The sermons were printed, " At the carnest Request of His Heur- ers," and a copy is preserved with the Church Records. The following extract is taken from the Appendix.
" The Heat and Drought daily increased until not only the Ground was chapt. but the Corn which chetheil the Valleys was fainting, and on the point of sinking into the Earth. The Trees languished an I died ; The Brooks dried up ; the small Fish so perished that the Rivers Stank :
-
32
yea the Air by a long stagnation become so putrid and unfit for Respiration, that Mankind were in Danger of be- ing suffocated. In this last Extremity, When every Com- tenance gathered Paleness, for all Things appeared word and dismal, and in Consternation. Men stood gazing one on another, wisely inquiring, Wherefore God's Anger burned towards them in such a tremendous Manner ! I say in this very critical Juncture, the Lord wrungh: gra- ciously for his People on the 6th of July ; that mamorale Day Almighty God compassionated ofir desperate Case. and called us to behold his great Power in relieving us, when reduced to the lowest Ebb New England ever saw. "Twas in the very Instant when all Hope was really to fail ; that the Father of Rain seat plentiful showers, ani so refreshed the parched Earth, and recovered the perishing Fruits, and destroyed the Insects ; And the Earth yilldet more than a competent supply for the Necessities anl Comforts of Life."
In the year 1775, the dysentery prevailed in this town and was signally fatal, as in three instances, four persons were buried in one day, and nineteen in one week.
A singular event in Mr. Smith's history oc- curred in the year 1777. Tradition says, that three men went to his house at night, and fired a gun into the window of his study. And in the Records of the Marlboro' Association. Aug. 19th of this year, it is recorded, that certain topics were the subject of conversation, to-
33
gether with what Mr. Smith had lately met with at Marlboro'; several guns having been shot into his study at midnight, as if aimed to take away his life, but he survived unhurt."
It is probably a mistake to suppose that the design was to take his life; in faet all the circumstances indicate that there was no such intention. But Mr. Smith had now become unpopular as a minister, on account of his age and infirmities, and also, tradition says, because he was regarded as a Tory ; and the design evidently was to alarm him, and induce him to leave the place. *
On the 13th of Feb. 1777, the church voted to choose a colleague with Mr. Smith, on account of his feeble health, but the town refused to concur with the action of the church. In Jan. 1778 he asked a dismission, and was accordingly dismissed by a Council called for the purpose April 29, 1778; on account of his " infirmity and weakness which greatly affected his lungs, and voice in particular." As a brother in the church, he was recommended by
* The house where Mr. Smith resided, is the one now occupied by Mr. William Gibbon. The bullet fired through his window and lodged in a beam, was a few years since extracted by Mr. Gib- bon, and is still preserved.
--
-
34
letter to the church in East Sudbury, to which place he removed, and where he died in 1781. in the 67th year of his age. His daughter was married to Rev. Mr. Bridge of that place.
In 1767 this church numbered 164 members ; 79 males and 85 females.
The following warrant for a Town Meeting was issued 1758, and is interesting as a part of the history of that period.
" Middlesex ss. To Mr John Barns Constable for the Town of Marlborough in said County, Greeting.
In His Majesty's name you are Hereby r quinel forth- with to warn all the Freeholders, and other Inhabitants in your Part of this Town, Qualified as the Law Direers to Vote in town affairs, to meet att the Meeting Hous, in said Town, on Monday the Third Day of April Nest, att one of the Clock after non, to act on the following Anti- cles.
1. To chuse a molerator for sel meeting.
2. To See if the Town will give order by a Vute, that the Persons that now own the Present Pews shall take up the Seats in the body of the meeting hous and the tvar. and Lay another floar upon the Sells with new sleeppers. and with using the old boards for the under floor, and new boards for the upper floar, and to Put the Seats up again upon the said Persons Cust.
3. To see if the Town will take down the Preszat Pul- pit in the meeting hosis, and take away the table, and build a new Pulpit and a Deacon's seat before the Pulpit, and cut the minister's Pew and the women's Pew, to make
1847482
35
Room to build two Seats more, one on the mens side, and another on the women's side, Lefore the Present fore seats.
4. To see if the Town will grant Liberty to any Person or Persons that may appear to Do the work. he or they having the Women's Pew, and the ground thet may be spared where the Pulpit stairs now are, to build a Pew on.
Hereof fail not and make Return of this Warrant with your doings thereon to the Select men on or before the time of sd meeting.
Datel at Marlborough the twenty fourth Day of March in the thirty first year of his Majesty's Reign, A. D. 1768 by order of ye Select men.
J. Warren Town Clerk.
After the dismission of Mr. Smith. the church was destitute of a pastor about seven years. At last, after hearing a number of candidates. Mr. Asa Packard of Bridgewater was chosen. and was ordained March 23d, 1785. This day has always been remembered from this fact : that the snow was then lying so deep as to cover the tops of the fences, and sleighs could pass over the fields in any direction without difficul- ty. The town " Voted to give Mr. Packard for a settlement £300, to be paid, one half in one year from the day of his ordination, the other half in two years from said day ; and for a Salary £100, and 20 cords of good marketa-
----
36
ble oak wood, cut and brought to his door, at his dwelling house in said Marlborough, annu- ally, so long as he remains our Minister." In the course of time, owing to the depreciation in the currency, his salary had become less val- uable than at first ; and in a communication made to the church, Nov. Sth. 1804. complain- ing of the inadequacy of his Salary, he makes the following proposition. " To prevent any dispute on the subject, on the town's part or on mine, I will silently and quietly abide the de- cision of the select men who shall be chosen in March 1805, together with the Deacons then in office, and will receipt the Treasurer for one year's salary on receiving what they shall judge equivalent to $333,33, in March 1785." He also pledged himself to make no demand of the town, for compensation or de- preciation, previous to March 1804.
In December, a committee was chosen by the town consisting of seven, to consider and report on this matter, " all of them opposed to the separation of the town then contemplated by the westerly part, whose petition was pending in the General Court."
This committee, after conferring with the pastor, reported unanimously in favor of his
37
. proposition ; but the town would not adopt the report. Mr. Packard then asked a dismission from the church, and requested them to unite with him in calling a council for that purpose ; but the request was denied. This action of the church and town, was doubtless in a great measure the result of the serious difficulties in which the town was now so deeply involved.
The great event of Mr. Packard's ministry, was the division of the town into the East and West Parishes, and a corresponding division in the church. As this is so closely connected with the history of the church, it will be nec- essary to give a brief sketch of the circum- stances which led to it. The old Meeting House had now been standing more than an hundred years, and was no longer a suitable place for public worship. The question which for several years agitated the town, and which finally resulted in its division, related to the location of the new House. The West part of the town claimed that there was only one suitable spot, and that was the old common, where every Meeting House had stood since the town was incorporated. The East part of the town maintained, that the old location was not central, and justice required them to select
4
38
a spot which would best accommodate the greatest number ; which spot was nearly half a mile east from the common.
In June 1804, a Committee was appointed to form a plan of the town, and take the length of the roads leading to every house, so as to find the most central spot. At length. Jan 1. 1805, after several other locations had been proposed and rejected ; it was - voted, 81 for, and 10 against the motion. to build a Meeting House at Spring Hill, so called. on the place or spot of ground which was lately surveyed by Silas Felton, by direction of a Committee of the town chosen on the 4th of June 1504. On condition that a certain bond executed by Dea. Josiah How, Dea. Abner Goodale and others, to the inhabitants of the town of Mail- borough, bearing date Jan. 1. 1805. the penal som of three thousand dollars, conditioned, among other things, to put said place or spot of ground in suitable, proper and fit condition to ervet said building upon, in consideration of and exchange for the old Meeting House comunion. or the value thereof in money, be lodged in the hands of the town Treasurer of the town of Marlborough, there to remain and be made use of for the benefit of the town, according
39
to the true intent, tenor and express condition of the same."
The town chose as their building committee, " Mr. Uriah Fager, Dea. Abner Goodale. Jo- seph Brigham, jr. Esq. Mr. Micah Sherman, Mr. John Loring, Mr. Enoch Corey, Capt. Jon- athan Weeks, Mr. Lovell Brigham, Capt. David Brigham, Capt. Lovell Barnes, and Capt. William Wesson."
The ground was prepared by the individuals giving the bond, and was accepted by the town Nov. 1805. The old common at this time con- sisted of " two acres, one half. and seventren rods," and was appraised at one dollar and fifty cents a square rod. As the common itsvif could not be legally given, the value of the common was given as a compensation for pre- paring the ground, amounting according to the appraisal to six hundred and twenty-five dollars and fifty cents.
On petition of Jonah Rice and eight others, an article was introduced into the warrant for town meeting on the 16th of July 1504, as fol- lows : " To see whether they will give their consent, that those inhabitants residing in the westerly part of Marlborough be incorporated and a separate town made of the territory." Passed in the negative, 75 to 110.
----
40
In the warrant calling a town meeting, May 26, 1806, appears the following article: " To see whether the town will consent that Messrs. George Williams, William Boyd, Stephen Fel- ton, Phineas How, Solomon Barnes, Jonah Rice, Samuel Gibbon, Benjamin Rice, jr., Moses Ames, William Arnold, &c., with such others as may join with them, shall be incorporated into a religious society, by such a name as the Legislature of the Common- wealth may direct." It was voted, 125 to 76. that this request should not be granted for the following reasons :
" 1st. The town has been at great expense to obtain a measurement of the town, and find the center East and West is near where their new Meeting House now stands according to Gen. Holman's Report.
" 2d. The north part of the town had a just claim to have the ho ise carrie l nearly a half a mile farther north, as appears by said Report, but gave up that right for the sake of keeping the Town together, and being united in one Society.
" 3d. This central spot on which the Town have crec- ted their Meeting House, does accommodate a majority of 64 families, better than the old common would have done.
" 4th. This spot has been fitted by individuals at an expense of nearly $1000. for the sole purpose of keeping the town together in one so icty.
" 5th. The Town has not injured thuse Petitioners in the
-
£
41
location of their new Meeting House, but have given them more than their right, as will be seen by the Plan of the Town.
" 6th. The House built by the Town is sufficiently large for the reception of the whole Town.
" 7th. Should they be set of, the Town would be I fe in a very bad situation ; the inhabitants being obliged to travel to the edge of the Parish, and at the same time, obliged to maintain the Minister."
During this time, the inhabitants in the west part of the town had taken steps for formning a new Parish, and for building a new Meeting House. This division, and the simultaneous erection of two houses of worship by his own people, placed the Pastor in a trying position. The matter was finally brought to a crisis, by a request of the Committee of the town that Mr. Packard should assist in dedicating the new Meeting House at Spring Hill. The Pas. tor declined complying with this request ; and a meeting of the Marlborough Association was called by him and the Committee to give their advice in the matter. The Association met March 4th, 1876, at Mr. Packard's house, and after hearing a full statement from the Com- mittees of both Parishes, and from the Pastor himself, gave the result of their deliberations as follows :
4*
£
42
"Ist. From the representations made by the Committee on the part of the town, and the documents by them ex- hibited ; it is the opinion of the Association that the Meeting house at Spring Hill so called, has been built by the town of Marlborough, pursuant to legal meetings and votes of the said town.
2d. It is the sense of this Association, that the said town who have thus built the Meeting house and mean to congregate there, have a reasonable and legal daim to the Ministerial services of Rev. Mr. Packard in said house. But as there exists a respectable minority amounting to nearly one half of the church and town, who appear de- termined not to assemble at Spring Hill,-and have taken decided steps to become a sopa are Society-these circum- stances have suggested conscientious scruples to Mr. Pack- ard's mind of the propriety of taking the lead in dodici- ting said Meeting house and rendering his services there in future, and induce him to ask a dissolution of his Pas- toral relation to the Church and people in Marlborough ; and the Association, while they sincerely lament the ocea- sion of it. both on their own and the people's account, cannot but acquiesce in his determination."
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.