USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > Hanover > History and records of the First Congregational church, Hanover, Mass., 1727-1865, and inscriptions from the headstones and tombs in the cemetery at Centre Hanover, Mass., 1727-1894. Being volume I of the church and cemetery records of Hanover, Mass > Part 2
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After the withdrawal of Mr. Baldwin, several candidates pre- sented themselves, and were heard by the Society. REV. JOSEPH LITCHFIELD received a call, with a salary of £90 per annum, in silver money, at 6s per dollar, or gold equivalent, or in paper bills at the rate or value the General Court or Assem- bly shall settle the same, and 12 cords of firewood at his door, within a mile from the meeting-house. Dec. 27th, 1780, was fixed upon as the day of his ordination. Captain Joseph Soper was to provide entertainment for the council. The council met, and were in session two or three days; but he was not ordained, many of the Society being opposed to his settlement. . A second attempt was made, which resulted in his rejection and withdrawal.
Rev. Joseph Litchfield was born in Scituate, and graduated
İİ
REV. JOHN MELLEN.
from Brown University in 1773. He came to Hanover from York, Me. He descended from Lawrence Litchfield, who bore arms in Barnstable, Mass., in 1643. He died in Kittery, Me., Jan. 28th, 1828, aged 78 years.
After several other candidates were heard, to some of whom a call was extended, a more unanimous call was extended to REV. JOHN MELLEN, of Sterling. He was settled Feb. 11th, 1784, Capt. Joseph Soper making the entertainment for the council. Invitation was sent to six churches, but one of them, that of Cambridge, was not represented, owing to the death of the aged Rev. Dr. Appleton.
In 1785, a donation of $100 was given to the Society by Col. Joseph Josselynn, and it was agreed that a bell should be pur- chased with it, provided that enough could be raised by subscrip- tion to make up the difference between that and the cost of the bell. In Nov., 1785, a bell was purchased of Col. Aaron Hobart, of Abington, and a committee of twenty,
"with all the rest of the town that see cause to assist,"
was chosen to hang it. Not long after, this bell was broken, owing to the want of skill on the part of the person appointed to ring it. It was re-cast, and when it was hung, Dec. 18th, 1788, Dea. Bass and Dea. Robbins, with Benjamin Stetson were chosen to give the sexton directions in regard to ringing the bell.
In 1789, it was voted to paint the meeting-house. The walls were to be of a stone yellow, the roof of Spanish brown, and the corner-boards and window-frames and sashes were to be white. May 30th, 1791, it was voted to give Capt. Timothy Rose £3 to take care of, sweep and sand the meeting-house, and ring the bell for that year.
A committee was chosen Oct. 14th, 1793, to get the meeting- house underpinned, and to procure a stock-lock for the door. June 9th, 1797, there was a committee chosen to seat the singers, and alterations were made in the house to provide for their ac- commodation. The same year, $300 was voted as the salary of
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REV. CALVIN CHADDOCK
Mr. Mellen, and from that time, his salary was paid in Federal currency. In 1802, the bell was again re-hung. The year fol- lowing Capt. Albert Smith presented to the town a number of Lombardy poplar trees, which were set out near the meeting- house. Not one of these is now standing. The last one was cut down by Mr. Samuel Stetson.
In 1805, owing to the infirmities of age, Rev. Mr. Mellen termi- nated his ministry, and moved to Reading, where he closed his long and useful life July 4th, 1807, at the age of 85.
His life was an eventful one. He was born in Hopkinton, March 14th, 1722, and was graduated at Harvard College in 1741, teaching school the same year for £85, in Sudbury. He was ordained the first pastor of the church in Sterling, Dec. 19th, 1744, where he continued probably at the head of the clergy of Worcester County until Nov. 14th, 1774.
Barry says: "His connection with this society, which had con- tinued for thirty years, was dissolved in consequence of disputes, occasioned by his endeavors to maintain what he considered the true discipline of the churches, and by his adoption of doctrinal sentiments, not wholly in accordance with those generally pre- vailing at the time. 'He, with others, as tradition says, had sensibly departed from the standard of faith that had been gen- erally received in the New England Churches, and had extended his speculations in such a manner as to give great offence to some who had not pursued the same course of reasoning. In 1756, he delivered an eloquent series of discourses addressed to parents, children and youth, which contained sentiments highly obnoxious to many of his brethren in the ministry. These were published, and were extremely well received by his people. In the unguard- ed hours of social conversation, too, he, as was well understood, rejected many of the articles of the popular faith. Nor were his people dissatisfied with him on this account, but rather for pub- licly co-operating in the censure of those doctrines which it was supposed he embraced in the truth of the gospel. It was now understood, by some of the most intelligent of the parish, that their minister was verging towards doctrines that he had publicly disclaimed. In 1765, he published a volume of sermons on the
.
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REV. CALVIN CHADDOCK.
doctrines of Christianity. These contained a learned system of scholastic theology, maintaining a middle course between the two extremes of Calvinism and Arminianism. Upon some of the controverted points it is not easy to understand which side his speculations favor most. The volume is highly creditable to his memory as a scholar and a theologian, and when published was considered an acquisition to the literature of the country. When his people produced their allegations against him, in 1773, they urged but few instances of false doctrines, and of these he fully exculpated himself before a council. The principal charge of this character was, that he had said that God was the author of sin. The sermon was produced where it was said to be contained. He stated that he had never held this doctrine in its gross sense, but only that sin was by permission, &c. The council cleared him as his church had previously.' He is described, in the work from which we have just quoted, as a man 'liberally endowed by nature with a strong and energetic mind, which was highly im- proved by diligent and successful cultivation, and he obtained a high rank as a preacher and scholar.'
" Besides the volume of doctrinal sermons, to which we have referred, and his sermon to parents, &c., his other published works were a Sermon at the Ordination of Rev. J. Palmer, 1753; -a Discourse at a General Muster, 1756 ;- on the Mortal Sick- ness among his People, 1756 ;- on the Conquest of Canada, 1760; -on the Death of Sebastian Smith, 1763 ;- Religion productive of Music, at Marlboro', 1773 ;- a Sermon at the Ordination of Rev. Levi Whitman, 1785 ;- a Discourse before a Lodge of Free- masons, 1793 ;- and a Thanksgiving Sermon, 1796.
"A few of these, as will be seen by the dates, were delivered after his settlement in Hanover. He is spoken of here with much affection by his old parishioners; and was a man of socia- ble habits, lively in conversation, fond of a jest, and of ardent feelings. Many anecdotes are related of his ministry."
He died at Reading, Mass., July 4th, 1807, aged 85 years, leav- ing three sons, all of whom became prominent.
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REV. SETH CHAPIN.
July 23, 1806, REV. CALVIN CHADDOCK, of Rochester, was installed pastor of the society; the entertainment being pro- vided by Lemuel Dwelley, at an expense of $125. Seven churches were invited; but five only responded.
During the ministry of Mr. Chaddock the academy at the Cor- ners was built, and Mr. Chaddock had the charge of it until his removal from the place, in 1818, after a settlement of 12 years.
He was the son of Capt. Joseph Chaddock, who died in Han- over, in June, 1812, aged 88, and Barry says, "was, perhaps, a descendant of the Chaddocks of Watertown. He graduated from Dartmouth, in 1786, married Melatiah Nye, of Oakham, and settled first in Rochester. He was Representative from the town of Hanover in 1811. As the result of his marriage there were twelve children."
He is described as a ready preacher, a man of great natural eloquence, fluent in speech, and one whose discourses were gen- erally popular.
One of his pupils at his school says of him, that "with a mind richly gifted by the Father of Spirits, he possessed a native, sim- ple, and truly genuine eloquence. His bosom, a fountain of the tenderest sympathies, spontaneously gushing forth, moved him often and copiously to weep with them that weep. To the afflict- ed, to the mourner in Zion, his words of consolation were the breathings of angelic sweetness, while the truth of God, heard from his lips, in tones of deepest solemnity, thrilled the hearts of assembled multitudes. Of like passions with others-by no means faultless-yea, even specially composed with infirmity- yet in conflict with his spiritual foes, he was more than con- queror."
It was voted June 4th, 1807, that any person might write out his experience upon being admitted to the church. It was also voted that the pastor notify Mr. Church of his appointment to the Deaconship.
An adjournment was then voted until Aug. Ist. At that time the church met and voted to excuse Mr. Church from serving as a deacon at his request. Then they voted to postpone the choice of a deacon until another year.
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RESIDENCE OF REV. JOHN MELLEN, 1784-1805; REV. CALVIN CHADDOCK, 1806-1818; REV. SETH CHAPIN, 1819-1824; REV. ETHAN SMITH, 1827-1832; REV. ABEL G. DUNCAN, 1833-18 -.
(NOW THE RESIDENCE OF ANDREW T. DAMON. )
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REV. SETH CHAPIN.
During Rev. Calvin Chaddock's pastorate 19 were baptized, according to the record, and 26 were admitted to the church. The peaceful close of his useful life was passed on the sunny plains of western Virginia.
The Church met on Thursday, Feb. 4th, 1819, at the school- house near the meeting-house, and voted unanimously to invite REV. SETH CHAPIN to take pastoral charge of the church.
Rev. Mr. Chapin, having accepted the call, and having given his answer, the church met at the house of Deacon Benjamin Bass, on Monday, 22nd of March, and the pastor elect by partic- ular request acted as Moderator. Dea. Barstow and William Torrey were chosen a committee, with the pastor elect, to revise the old covenant, which was first formed at the gathering of the church in 1728, and lay it with amendments, and also some arti- cles of faith prefixed to it, before the church for their approba- tion. It was then voted, that in case Rev. Mr. Chapin was installed, he should be considered as belonging to the church in Hanover, ex officio, and that the ceremony of removing his rela- tion from the church in Barrington should be dispensed with. Letters missive for a council were sent to the following churches : 3rd Plymouth, Halifax; 2nd Abington; 2nd Medway; Ist Wren- tham, Rehoboth, and Barrington. The council met April 21, 1819, all the churches invited being represented.
"Rev. Seth Chapin was the son of Seth and Eunice Chapin, of Mendon, Mass .; and was born June 25, 1783. His father was an officer in the Revolutionary Army, and was stationed, a portion of the time, in Rhode Island, being engaged in Sulli- van's celebrated expedition. The son pursued his studies, pre- paratory for college, under the Rev. Dr. Crane, of Uxbridge, entered Brown University in 1804, graduated in 1808, studied theology at Andover, which place he left in 1811 ; and in Nov- ember of that year was installed as pastor of the church in Hills- boro', N. H. Here he remained until 1816; and the following three years were spent in Rowley, Mass., Mansfield, Conn., and elsewhere. In 1819, he was settled in Hanover, and remained until 1824, after which he preached in East Haddam, Conn., Hunter, N. Y., Attleboro', Mass., and Granville, Mass. In
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REV. SETH CHAPIN.
1845, he relinquished the duties of his profession, and engaged · in agricultural pursuits, with such ardor and success, in the lan- guage of his son, as to 'have the pleasure of matching the won- derful Georgic transformation, and saw
" Ingens Exiit ad coelum ramis felicibus arbos Miraturque novas fondes et non sua poma."
"He married Mary Bicknell, second daughter of the Hon. Joshua Bicknell, of Barrington, May 28, 1810-her father having been 'for more than fifty years prominent in the councils of the State; and a man of such unflinching political integrity as to have received the title of 'old Aristides.' By this marriage he had two sons, the elder of whom, Henry, graduated at Brown University in 1835, received the degree of L. L. B., at Harvard College, in 1838, and settled as a physician in Providence, R. I. The younger son read law with the Hon. A. C. Greene, of Rhode Island, and settled in Alabama, where he died Septem- ber II, 1836, at the early age of 21. Mr. Chapin, the father, died in Providence, R. I., April 19, 1850, æ 67. His widow sur- vived and resided with her son in Providence. As a preach- er, Mr. Chapin was earnest and faithful; his discourses being instructive and copiously illustrated. As a scholar, he was dili- gent and studious ; and several of his occasional productions were published. He was successful in his calling ; a man of use- fulness, and indomitable perseverance; and he left behind him a good name as an inheritance for his surviving son."
At the beginning of Mr. Chapin's ministry the church num- bered 75 members, 20 of whom were males. After the prepar- atory lecture, June 4th, the church adopted the articles of faith which were presented by the committee chosen for this purpose, and the adoption of the covenant, presented by the same com- mittee was postponed until the next preparatory lecture. The next preparatory lecture was on Aug. 13th, at which the cov- enant was, after much deliberation, adopted almost unanimously. At that time the church voted to set apart a day of fasting and prayer, and for renewing the, covenant. The day was to be
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REV. SETH CHAPIN.
designated by the pastor, and the parish were to be invited to unite with the church in observing the day. The church also passed four important resolutions, covering requirements of ad- missions.
Oct. Ist was set apart as a day of fasting and prayer, and the church solemnly renewed their covenant vows and received two new members according to their rules. At a church meeting, held in the meeting-house April 19, 1820, the importance of attending to church discipline was considered, and a committee of three was chosen to converse with those members who had for a long time neglected the communion and public worship, or who had otherwise publicly offended. The same committee of examinations was continued for another year.
Oct. 21st, Deacon Joseph Brooks was chosen a delegate, with the pastor, in compliance with a letter missive from the Pruden- tial Committee of the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions, to attend an ecclesiastical council in North Bridgewater, the 31st of the same month, for the purpose of set- ting apart Mr. Daniel Temple and Mr. Isaac Bird as ministers of the Gospel and missionaries, and on the 2nd of January, 1822, the church was represented by the pastor and Dea. Bars- tow in an ecclesiastical council in Abington, for the purpose of ordaining Mr. Samuel Spring as pastor over the Congregational Church in that place.
About this time the church experienced a great loss in the death of Dea. Joseph Brooks, who had, for a great many years, served the church faithfully, and had been appointed on a great many committees, chosen at different times for different pur- poses. So we find, that after meeting on the Sabbath, Jan. 6th, 1822, the members voted that it was proper to
"hold a day of fasting and prayer on account of the many deaths in the church during the preceding year, and especially that of the la- mented Dea. Jos. Brooks ; also to seek direction in the choice of a brother to fill his place, and to humble themselves before God, on account of the low state of religion, and the unfavorable aspect of surrounding circumstances."
.
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REV. SETH CHAPIN.
Accordingly, the 15th day of Feb. was observed as a day of fasting and prayer, and religious services were held in the house of worship. Although the members made choice of a deacon, he absolutely declined to serve, so that they postponed any fur- ther action. In the following year, the church accepted an invi- tation to send the pastor and a delegate to attend an ecclesiasti- cal council in Barrington, R. I., Feb. 25th, for the purpose of ordaining Mr. Francis Wood as pastor of the church in that place.
In October, of the same year, a very singular meeting was held. A certain person had presented himself for admission into the church, by virtue of a letter of dismission and recom- mendation from a neighboring church, and had stood propounded longer than the usual time. No objections were made to him, and the pastor made some remarks, expressing his satisfaction with the views and religious experience of the person presented. When a vote was called there was entire silence, and accordingly the pastor, who was moderator, declared there was no vote, and the subject of receiving the member was postponed until the brethren should have an opportunity to converse with the person. At this meeting, the pastor voted a new measure, which was objected to on the part of the members of the church. He wished them to nominate a neighboring minister to preside as moderator at a future church meeting, before which he wished to present some business. Though he repeatedly urged the im- portance of making such a nomination, the members refused to do so, and the meeting was postponed until the members had time to consider and to inform themselves relative to the prac- tice of other churches in such cases.
In the following November, the subject of church discipline was again considered, and at two meetings, after a long discus- sion, in which it was contended by some members, that a public acknowledgment of their faults before the congregation, on the part of members who had publicly offended was inexpedient and unprofitable, and by some contrary to Scripture. It was finally unanimously voted that members of the church should be re-
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REV. SETH CHAPIN.
quired to make acknowledgment and manifest their penitence only before the church. Nevertheless, if they chose, they could do so before the congregation.
Again the pastor and church felt a need for a day of fasting and prayer, and the Ist of January, 1824, was set apart, and the several neighboring churches, having agreed to set apart the same day, this church met in the house of the pastor to pray for its own pastor and church, and also for the pastor and churches also assembled for the same purpose in other places.
It seems that after a year and a quarter, the members had had time to converse with the person, in regard to whom they were so silent, for we find that they were ready to vote, and did vote to receive him, Jan. 27th, of this year. Feb. 19th the pastor resigned his office, and asked for an ecclesiastical council to meet on the 21st day of April, for the purpose of dissolving the pastoral relation. The church granted his request, and in their records expressed their "deep contrition and humiliation before Almighty God under his providential frown upon them," feeling it to be their "painful duty, all existing circumstances consid- ered, to concur with their beloved pastor." Accordingly, in union with the parish, committees were chosen and a council was summoned by letters missive. The council met, and after examining into the case, regularly dismissed him, expressing the deep interest they felt in the "afflictive circumstances in which it has pleased a sovereign God to place this church and people by this decision." His dismissal was caused by a want of pecuni- ary support. The salary agreed upon, when he was settled, was $ 500, which seems to have been collected and paid without much difficulty, for the first three years of his ministry. Soon after the beginning of the fourth year, a committee was sent to him, to see if he would accept a less sum, which had been subscribed. To their communication he returned a respectful answer July 6th, 1822, stating, that with the prospects before him, he was not prepared to say that he dared venture to hope that anything less would defray his necessary expenses. During the fourth year his salary was raised by taxation, but the fifth year the
20
REV. ETHAN SMITH.
parish returned to the subscription plan, and at the close make the following minutes :-
"Considering the diminished and impoverished state of this parish, they do not think it expedient to raise money to defray the Rev. Mr. Chapin's salary for the ensuing year."
Those were critical times, especially for the feeble Congrega- tional Churches in Massachusetts. By a recent decision of Chief Justice Parsons, of the Supreme Court of this State, the autonomy of the churches had been destroyed. By this decis- ion, in the Dedham case, no church could hold property, or in fact could have a legal existence aside from the parish or society with which it was connected. It took from the churches all their possessions, and put all their funds, and even their com- munion ware, at the entire control of the society, the majority of whom, in many cases, might be made to vote to employ min- isters who would preach against the doctrines of the Congrega- tional churches. Had it not been that this parish was a close corporation, the church might, in its feebleness, like many oth- ers, have passed over into another denomination.
In view of the straitened circumstances and embarrassments of Rev. Mr. Chapin, they affectionately recommended him to the sympathy of the people among whom he labored, in the hope that they would make such exertions for his relief as the case would require. The council, in their result, expressed their con- tinued and undiminished confidence in him, in his Christian integrity, and their respect for his ministerial talents and attain- ments, and they commended him to others with whom his lot may be cast, and they commended this church to the unfailing protection of the great Head of the Church.
During his ministry 12 persons were admitted into the church and 27 were baptized. After the dismissal of Mr. Chapin, the church did not despair, but began to look around for a new pas- tor, for one who might make it more easy, or at least more prac- ticable to sustain the ordinances of the gospel in this first church of the town. They were, however, without a settled pastor until 1827, when they gave to REV. ETHAN SMITH a call. Dur-
21
THIRD MEETING HOUSE.
ing this time they were not without the ministrations of the gospel. In the same year after the departure of Mr. Chapin they were much cheered by the ladies. The parish received- from certain ladies living in this and adjoining towns, not sub- ject to taxation (as they say), who had formed themselves into a society which they termed "The Female Helping Society,"- a communication to be laid before the parish. In this communi- cation these ladies said: That, in view of the reduced numbers and resources of the society, they have obtained one hundred and thirty or forty dollars, which they would like to give the parish to aid in securing another minister, and they very respect- fully added, that, if it met the concurrence of the parish, they would be particularly gratified if the parish would engage Mr. Noah Emerson. The parish, anxious to meet such generosity in a suitable manner, made an offer to Mr. Emerson to become their pastor, which, for some reason, was not accepted.
While the church was without a pastor, the members of the church held their meetings, and attended to church discipline, and the reception of members. Eighteen persons were by them received into the church, and the pulpit was more or less sup- plied by different preachers. The parish also became interested and engaged in building a NEW MEETING HOUSE-the THIRD ONE. Those were spirited times, on account of the different views entertained, and the earnest discussions resulting therefrom.
According to the records this meeting-house was built before the call of Rev. Mr. Smith to be the pastor ; for March 19th, 1827, the church held a meeting in the new meeting house, and voted to extend a call to REV. ETHAN SMITH to become their settled pastor. The parish concurred with the church, and the following churches were invited: The 2d and 3d churches in Abington; 2d in Weymouth; church in Brain- tree; Union Church in Braintree and Weymouth; church in Hanson; Ist church in Scituate, and 2d in Cohasset.
Barry says: "That the Rev. Ethan Smith, the 7th pastor, was born in Belchertown, Mass., Dec. 17, 1762. He married in 1791, Bathsheba Sandford, second daughter of Rev. David Sand-
22
REV. ETHAN SMITH.
ford, of Medway, Mass. He was in Haverhill, N. H., nine years, and was dismissed for want of support. He was installed in the ministry at Hopkinton, N. H., March 12, 1800, and continued there about 18 years, during 16 of which he was Secretary of the New Hampshire Missionary Society. He was afterwards settled at Hebron, N. Y., about 4 years ; at Poultney, Vt., about 5 years ; at Hanover, Mass., 5 years; and then spent a season as a city missionary in Boston. His publications were, I. A Dissertation on the Prophecies, two editions; 2. A View of the Trinity, two editions ; 3. A View of the Hebrews, two editions ; 4. Lectures on the Subjects and Mode of Baptism, two editions; 5. A Key to the Figurative Language of the Bible; 6. Memoirs of Mrs. Abigail Bailey; 7. A Key to the Revelation, two editions; 8. Prophetic Catechism; 9. Two Sermons on Episcopacy; 10. Farewell Sermon at Haverhill, N. H .; II. First Sermon after Installation at Hopkinton; 12. Two Sermons on the Vain Ex- cuses of Sinners, preached at Washington, N. H .; 13. Sermon on the Moral Perfection of God, preached at Newburyport, Mass .; 14. Sermon on the Daughters of Zion Excelling, preached before a Female Cent Society; 15. Sermon on the Happy Transition of Saints, preached at the Funeral of Mrs. Jemima, consort of Rev. Dr. Harris, of Dunbarton; 16. Sermon at the Ordination of Rev. Stephen Martindale, at Tinmouth, Vt .; and 17. Sermon at the Ordination of Rev. Harvey Smith, at Weybridge, Vt.
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