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 5
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March 28th, the church met in conference and made choice of Brother Samuel S. Church and Brother Francis Chamberlain as deacons. They accepted the office and were consecrated by the laying on of hands. It was an interesting meeting, and the pastor expresses the wish that the "blessing of God may follow it." Deacon Francis Chamberlain was chosen superintendent of the Sabbath School. During his pastorate, Mr. Freeman faithfully records the deaths of the members as they occur, with some remarks concerning them. So we find the record of one who for many years was a great sufferer. "July 15th, Widow Elizabeth T. House died in peace, and entered the promised rest. She had been in failing health for several months. Rev. Mr. Southworth, of Hanson, officiated at her funeral during the absence of the pastor."
"January 2d, 1867, Mr. Samuel Barstow died. He was a social, cheerful and obliging man, and had many friends, who mourn his
47
RESIGNATION OF REV. MR. FREEMAN.
death. He was not a professor, but was an habitual attendant on public worship, an active member of the parish, and one of the most liberal supporters of the Gospel. He gave $200 to the Parish Fund for the support of public worship."
January 14th, we find the record of the death of a prominent member, Mr. Elisha Bass.
" He died an easy and peaceful death in the blessed hope of Heaven. He was a grandson of Rev. Benjamin Bass, the first set- tled pastor. He was a well-read, sound, faithful, influential Chris- tian. He was fluent, clear, logical and conclusive in thought, remarks and appeals. He was a pillar in Zion. He came to the grave in full age, like a shock of corn cometh in its season."
April 14th, after public service, Deacon Church was chosen delegate to the Pilgrim Conference. After the preparatory lec- ture, November Ist, ten persons being present, Deacon Church was again chosen to attend the conference, and it was voted to make contributions to the A. B. C. F. M. This church had not contributed to that Board for many years, but had sent to the A. M. Association instead. They also voted to accept the resignation of Deacon Chamberlain as superintendent of the Sabbath School. In the spring of 1868, Deacon Church and Brother E. Thayer were chosen delegates to the conference. But little is recorded during this year. In the year 1869, July 26th, we find a record of the death of Widow Lydia Stock- bridge. She was found dead in her bed, as she had fallen asleep. "She had been a member for nearly half a century. She was a good woman, and prepared for her change when it came.
'So He giveth His beloved sleep.'"
So we come to the end of the great many records recorded by this faithful pastor during the fourteen years and more of his ministry. Now the time has come when he feels it his duty to resign his pastoral charge. Accordingly, he tendered his resignation of the pastoral office July 11th, 1869, and called for
-
48
REV. CYRUS WILLIAM ALLEN.
a mutual council. This was granted him by the church and society, and a council was called July 26th, at 10.30 o'clock. July 18th, letters of dismission and recommendation were granted to Rev. Joseph Freeman, Sarah H. Freeman and Willis H. Freeman at their own request, to unite with the Congrega- tional Church, in York, Me., from which church he had received a call to become their pastor. The following churches were in- vited to be represented in council : North Scituate, South Marshfield, Kingston, Hanover, Second Church and Hanson. The council was convened at the time appointed, and Rev. Alexander J. Sessions, of Scituate, was chosen moderator, and Rev. E. Alden, of South Marshfield, scribe. The following persons constituting ecclesiastical council held this connection : First Church, Scituate, Rev. A. J. Sessions, Deacon Israel Cud- worth; Second Church, Hanover, Brother J. M. Wilder, dele- gate; Church in Hanson, Rev. B. Southworth, acting pastor; First Church, Marshfield, Rev. E. Alden, Jr., pastor. By this council, Rev. Mr. Freeman was regularly dismissed and well recommended to the churches. During his ministry 24 persons were received into the church, and 18 adults and children were baptized. The church lost by death 20, and a few were dis- missed to other churches. In the pulpit Mr. Freeman was dignified, commanding and solemn. He was a sound, doctrinal and practical preacher, not given to flowery flights in his style, nor to too large liberality in his sentiments. He was serious and earnest in his important professional work, and did much also for the improvement of the schools as a superintending committee. He was held in high estimation in the community generally, and among his ministerial brethren with whom he associated. After an interval of about two years, in which the pulpit was supplied for the Sabbath merely, or for a few con- secutive Sabbaths by the same minister, REV. CYRUS WIL- LIAM ALLEN was engaged as a permanent supply. We find this record of the event: April 9th, 1871. The commit- tee of the church and parish agreed with Rev. C. W. Allen to
PRESENT PARSONAGE, BUILT A. D. 1855. THE RESIDENCE OF REV. JOSEPH FREEMAN, REV. CYRUS W. ALLEN, REV. SAM'L E. EVANS AND REV. W. H. DOWDEN.
.
49
FOURTH MEETING HOUSE.
supply the pulpit of the First Congregational Church for one year for $550 and use of parsonage from May Ist, 1871, to May Ist, 1872. Samuel S. Church, committee of church, Lemuel Dwelley and Daniel Barstow, committee of parish.
Mr. Allen began to preach to this church March 26th, 1871, and became permanently engaged May Ist, and continued until July 12th, 1879, when he was released from further service at his own request. Mr. Allen was the ninth minister of this church and society. He was the son of Joseph and Betsy (Woodward ) Allen and was born in Taunton on the 28th day of October, 1806. He was graduated at Brown University, . (R. I. ) in 1826, and at Andover Theological Seminary in 1829. In the same year he was licensed to preach by the Andover As- sociation on the 22nd day of April. After leaving the seminary he spent the first five years of his ministerial life in Missouri and Illinois, as an agent of the American Tract Society, New York, as a missionary of American Home Missionary Society, and as a minister at different places, in which latter service he received $160 a year. He was ordained by the Missouri Pres- bytery in St. Louis, October 6th, 1833, St. Louis then being only a village. He was settled in Norton, Mass., July 8th, 1835, and dismissed by council March Ist, 1842. He was installed at Pelham, N. H., February Ist, 1843 ; at Coleraine, Mass., Febru- ary 28th, 1849; at Hubbardston, December 29th, 1852, and was settled without installation in East Jaffrey, N. H., April, 1863. When he began labor in Hanover he was nearly 65 years of age. In his historical record delivered to this church April 27th, 1879, he speaks of his pastoral relation to the church and society. He says that he sustains
"the relation of what is called a stated supply, or an acting pastor. It is a relation which implies and requires all the duties and all the privileges of the real pastor, excepting merely the formalities of an ecclesiastical council, called for the purposes of installation and dismission. Such a minister can come and become a minister of a particular church and society, and can leave the same without such a council."
50
REV. CYRUS WILLIAM ALLEN.
His wife, Mary (Folger) Allen of Nantucket, was a daughter of Gideon and Eunice (Macy) Folger, to whom he was married June 6, 1835. While at Norton he taught Latin for a while in the recently established Wheaton Female Seminary. His work brought on ill health, and after closing his pastorate at Norton he spent a year at Nantucket, regaining his health.
At Hanover was his last pastorate. When in 1879, increas- ing years and failing strength compelled him to relinquish his active connection with parish work, he retired to his son's house at West Roxbury, where he died from apoplexy, April 11th, 1875. He was a staunch defender of the faith of the fathers. His preaching was marked by little embellishment, but set forth his ideas always logically, always forcibly, yet simply and to the point. The best sermon he ever preached was his own everyday life. No one knew him but to love him. The Spirit of the Master spoke every day from the absolute self-forgetful- ness of Mr. Allen's life.
He was a member of the school committee in each of the towns of Coleraine, Pelham, Hubbardston and Hanover. His wife survived him after a long, helpful and happy married life. She bore him the following children :
Dr. George Otis Allen, born in Norton, October 25, 1838, now deceased.
Rev. Rowland Hussey Allen, born in Norton, August 13, 1840, now deceased.
Henry Folger Allen, born in Norton, September 2, 1841, now a successful merchant residing in Boston.
Rev. Laban Wheaton Allen, born at Pelham, December II, 1843, who died August 23, 1875.
Mary Abby, wife of George F. Sylvester of Hanover, born at Pelham, June 19, 1845.
Eliza Katherine Allen, born at Coleraine, 1850, and died at three years of age.
5I
REV. MR. ALLEN'S CHILDREN.
Williams Cyrus Allen, born in Gardner, Mass., who died at the age of 21 months.
Fanny Florence, wife of John F. Simmons of Boston, born at Hubbardston, April 25, 1855.
The foregoing is mainly in the words of the writer spoken of in the preface. Further than this I have not gone, because, at this point I approached Mr. John Tower, the editor of the North River Pioneer, and the faithful recorder of our local history, hop- ing he, as an authority on the history of the country around, would help me out on many perplexing details. He informed me that he was about publishing a History of Hanover, bring- ing Barry's History down to the present day and adding much new matter to the old, and correcting some of the latter. It was too late to stop my work; some of it was already in the press, so I present only what I had already secured, and leave the balance to be recorded by THE searcher among searchers of our local history, in his forthcoming valuable book, which every man, woman and child will anxiously wait for and cer- tainly secure.
SHIP "CRONSTADT" ASHORE ON FALSTERBO REEF .- See Hist. No. River.
CHAPTER II.
"OF THE GATHERING OF THE CHURCH, ORDINATION AND CHURCH MEETINGS."
FROM THE ORIGINAL BOOK OF RECORDS.
T HERE are several years of records missing which no one is responsible for excepting the different ministers whose duty it was to keep the records. I have endeavored to follow the original style of spelling, etc., changing only the arrange- ment.
The different methods of reckoning time, as is seen in some of the records which have two dates, is best explained in Don Gleason Hill's Book of Dedham Records, and which I give be- low :
The length of a year is the space of time required for the earth to revolve around the sun, namely : 365 days, 5 hours, 48 minutes, 49 seconds and seven-tenths of a second ; but for convenience it has been found necessary to lump the fractions together so as to make up a day therefrom. As early as 45 B. C., Julius Cæsar, by the help of an Alexandrian philosopher, introduced the present arrangement of making the year consist of 365 days, with the addition of one day every fourth year, to absorb the odd hours. At the time of the Council of Nice, A. D. 325, the Vernal Equinox ( the time when the days and nights are of equal length in all parts of the world ) fell correctly on the 21st of March. But the addition of a whole day every fourth year was found to be too much by 11 minutes, 102 sec- onds, so that the beginning of the year was constantly being moved ahead of the point at which it was in the days of Julius Cæsar. In 1582, Pope Gregory XIII undertook to reform the Calendar. He found that since the Council of Nice there had been an over-reckon- ing of ten days, so that the Vernal Equinox fell on the 11th of March. To correct the past error he decreed that the 5th day of October,
53
METHODS OF RECKONING TIME.
1582, should be reckoned as the 15th ; and to keep the year right in future, the overplus being 18 hours, 37 minutes, 10 seconds in a century, he ordered that every centurial year that could not be di- vided by 400 ( 1700, 1800, 1900, 2100, etc., ) should not be bissex- tile or leap year, as it otherwise would be; in other words, that the extra day should be dropped three times every four hundred years. The following rule has been made to determine in all cases the num- ber of days in each year under the Gregorian method.
Every year whose number is divisible by 4, except those divisible by 100, and not by 400, consists of 366 days, and all others of 365 days.
The Catholic nations in general adopted the Gregorian style, but the Protestants were too much inflamed against Catholicism to re- ceive from the Pope even a pure, scientific improvement. A bill to reform the Calendar was brought before the British Parliament in 1585, but was not passed, and for nearly 200 years the British peo- ple endured the inconvenience of the old style rather than adopt the Gregorian calendar. It was at length adopted in Great Britain and her colonies in 1752, when it became necessary to drop eleven days. But the Protestant populace of Great Britain were even then violently inflamed against the statesman who carried the bill through Parlia- ment. They believed they had been defrauded of eleven days of their destined lives. It is said that for some time afterwards a favor- ite opprobrious cry to unpopular statesmen in the streets was,' "Who stole the eleven days ?" "Give us back the eleven days !"
The act of Parliament provided that after the second of Septem- ber, 1752, the next ensuing day should be held as the fourteenth, and that three of the four centurial years should, as in Pope Gregory's ar- rangement, not be leap years. From 1582 both styles continued to overrun the true time in the same proportion until the year 1700, which was leap year under the Julian method, and gained an extra day, but under the Gregorian method came within the exception and dropped the extra day. In changing the dates in this volume, prior to September 2, 1752, so as to correspond with the new style, it will be necessary to add ten days to the date given in the record for all dates on or before February 29, 1700, and eleven days for all dates on and after March Ist of that year, where double dates are given.
Previous to the adoption of the Gregorian calendar, the year had different days of beginning at various periods in the same and differ- ent countries. In England, in the 7th and as late as the 13th century, the year began on Christmas day, but in the 12th century the Angli- can Church commenced the year on Annunciation or Lady Day, March 25th, as did also the Civilians in the 14th century, and this continued until the adoption of the new style ; but for a long period prior thereto, the historic year, so called, had commenced on the first day of January, so that at the time our records begin, and for a
54
DIFFICULTIES OF COMPILATION.
considerable period prior thereto, the two modes of reckoning the com- mencement of the year existed in Great Britain and her colonies - the civil, ecclesiastical or legal year with March 25th, and the histor- ical year with January Ist. Boston almanacs made the change from March to January, in 1687, and the Boston News Letter in 1717.
The same act of Parliament which struck off the eleven days in September, 1752, enacted that the year should thereafter begin with January Ist. The two lines of introduction to the first book indicate that here "the year is accounted to begin the first day of the first Mo. called March." At first the months were more commonly called by their numbers than by their names. I Mo. for March, 2 Mo. for April, 3 Mo. for May, and so on; the months named from the Latin numerals, September, October, November and December, are fre- quently written 7 ber, 8ber, gber aud rober. To prevent confusion, the same practice was very early adopted here as elsewhere in the colony of double dating, i. e., giving both years to all dates between January Ist and March 25th ; as, for instance, February 10, 1721-2, meaning February 10th of the year 1722. which began January Ist, and of 1721, which began in the preceding March, and this practice of double dating continued until the adoption of the new style by Parliament, September, 1752.
In the pages which follow there is a great field for study and research, and while I have found material that could be made much of in writings, I have not found the time in which to write it up, but shall leave each student of genealogy and history to pick out the choice bits here and there. To give the reader some idea of the difficulties under which I have labored while compiling this book, I give below some of the offices I have held during the year 1894, each of which claimed good portions of my time :
President of the Bath Electric Light & Illuminating Co., of New York.
Vice President and Honorary Counsel of the Associated Charities, Ward XVI, Boston.
Member of the Exchange Club, Boston.
Senior Warden of Phoenix Masonic Lodge, Hanover.
Member of the Sons of the American Revolution.
Treasurer of the Live Oak Phosphate Co., of Elmwood, Fla.
55
ORIGINAL RECORDS.
Director in the New England Hospital for Women and Chil- dren, Boston.
Member of Tufts College Medical School, Boston.
Director in Dr. Bowditch's Sanitarium, Sharon, Mass. Fine Member First Corps Cadets, M. V. M., Boston. Bank Notary.
Member Massachusetts Consistory 32°.
Treasurer Georgia Pyrites Company, of Temple, Ga.
Commissioner of North Carolina, by appointment received from the Governor of North Carolina.
Member Bostonian Society.
Member of the Hawaiian Club.
Member New England Historical and Genealogical Society.
There are other positions or duties which I have been des- tined to fill for times varying from a few days to a few months, which have taken much time that I would otherwise have been able to devote to this work. The records are, however, as com- plete as the originals from which they are taken, I having left out only a few words or dates where I have thought it wisest and best so to do. If any mistakes are discovered I hope they will be immediately reported.
December 5, 1728 was observed as a day of Fasting and Prayer, to implore the Divine presence and blessing to attend the ministry of the Pastor-elect vizt., BENJ. BASS, M. A., who had before this accepted the Town's call to the Pas- toral office amongst them: On the said day the Church was gathered, consisting of ten besides the Pastor-elect, who then subscribed the Chh. Covenant vizt :
Joseph Stockbridge, Elijah Cushing, James Hatch, John Tailor, Samuel Staples,
Isaac Buck, Joseph Stockbridge, Jr. Thomas Josselyn,
Amasa Turner
Samuel Skiff.
56
THE COVENANT.
THE COVENANT THEY SIGNED RUNS IN THESE WORDS :
We do give up ourselves and our offspring to that God whose name alone is Jehovah, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, as the one only true and living God, and unto our blessed Lord, Jesus Christ, as our only Saviour, Prophet, Priest and King over our Souls and only mediator of the Covenant of Grace promising (by the help and assistance of His spirit and grace ) to cleave unto God and our Lord Jesus Christ by faith in a way of Gospel obedience as becometh the Covenant People forever, and we do also give up ourselves one unto another in the Lord, according to the will of God, freely covenanting and promising (the Lord helping of us) to walk together in holy union and communion as members of the same mystical body and as an instituted church of Christ rightly constituted and established in the true faith and order of the Gospel; and further we do oblige our- selves (by the help of Christ ) in brotherly love to watch over one another and over all the children of the covenant growing up with us, and faithfully, according to our ability, to transmit the holy word and worship of God to our posterity ; to cleave unto and uphold the true Gospel ministry as it is established by Christ in his Church, to have it in due honor and esteem, to subject ourselves fully and sincerely unto the government of Christ in his church, and duly to attend to the seals, censures and whatsoever ordinances Christ hath commanded to be ob- served by his People according to the order of the Gospel and withal we do further engage ourselves to walk orderly in a way of fellowship and communion with all our neighbor Churches according to the rules of the Gospel, that the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be one throughout all the Churches to the glory of God the Father. AMEN.
The Rev. Mr. Eels of Scituate and the Rev. Mr. Lewis of Pembrook, came at the desire of the Christian Inhabitants in Hanover and assisted in the work of ye said day of Fasting and Prayer.
57
ORIGINAL RECORDS.
December 11, 1728 Benj. Bass, A. M. was by prayer & fasting with imposition of the hands of the Presby- tery ordained a Pastor of the Church. The Rev. Mr. Eels of Scituate, Mr. Lewis of Pembrook, Mr. Hobart and Gay of Hing- ham and Mr. Checkley of Boston laid on hands. Mr. Gay began with prayer, Mr. Checkley preached, Mr. Eels gave the charge & Mr. Lewis the right hand of fellowship.
January 10, 1728-9 there was a Church meeting at which Dea- con Joseph Stockbridge & Mr. Elijah Cushing were chosen Deacons and 'twas agreed to raise money by contribution to provide utensils for the Lord's Table &c.
The contribution was made on January 19th being ye Lord's Day and between that time and January 30th. were bought ( with the money that was contributed ) and brought to town three Pewter Tankards marked "C. T." of ten shillings price each; Six Pewter Bakers costing three shillings & six pence each; marked "C. B. ; " Two Pewter Platters marked "C. P. ; "'a pew- ter Bason for baptisms, marked *** , price **. Price of each A cloth for the Communion Table marked "C. H. " and this Book of Records.
July 31, 1733. The Brethren of the Church met and chose Mr. James Hatch and Mr. Isaac Buck, Dea- cons, who manifested their acceptance of the office.
April 1, 1739. The church voted a dismission of Joseph Stock- bridge, Jr., to the Church of Christ in Pembroke.
November 25. The church brou't in their votes for a Deacon and Mr. Thomas Josselyn was chosen. The voters were 16 & given for him.
January 6, 1739-40. A letter was read from the First Chh. in Hingham ; in it they upon his desire, dismissed Thomas Wilks from his particular relation, to ye Chh. in Hanover, and it being put to vote, this Chh. of Hanover voted his reception to full and stated communion with them.
November 29, 1741. Thomas Toby was by a vote of the Chh. dismissed and recommended, according
58
ORIGINAL RECORDS.
to his request, to the Chh. in Sandwich under the pastoral care of the Revd Mr. Fessenden.
March 7, 1742. The vote was called if the Society would sing what is commonly call'd the new way, and it pass'd in the affirmative nemine contradicente; then being desired to bring in their votes for a Tuner, Ezekiel Turner was chosen by a considerable majority.
November 4, 1744. Susannah Rose, an Indian, being recom- mended by the Indian Chh. at Mashpy in Sandwich to ye holy care & communion of ye chh. in Han- over ye sd. chh. of Hanover upon hearing ye Letter, voted to receive her to full & stated communion with them.
April 18, 1745. Mr. Thomas Rose was chosen by the Chh.
into the office of a Deacon and in voting for another Deacon, the votes were so scattered that after several tryals without any ones having a majority of ye votes the affair was adjourned to Thursday ye 25th of April, 1745.
April 25. The Church met by adjournment to bring in their votes for a Deacon, and having brought them in, upon sorting them Samuel Barstow was found to be chosen by a majority of the votes that were brought in.
May 14. The Chh. chose the following brethren to inspect the manners of the children of the Chh. as well as such as are in full communion and endeavor when they walk disorder- ly to bring them to repentance & reformation : Joseph Stock- bridge, Elijah Cushing, Benjamin Mann, Thomas Rose, Samuel Barstow, Joseph Ramsdale & James Torrey, Junior.
July 7. The Chh. at the desire of Jemima Bates, wife of Amos Bates, voted her a dismission and recommendation unto the Chh. in Rochester, under the pastoral care of the Revd Mr. Timothy Ruggles.
December 7, 1746. The Chh. voted to receive as a member in full communion, Mary Torrey, the wife of James Torrey, Junior, she having at her desire been dis- missed and recommended to them by the Second Chh. in Scituate.
59
ORIGINAL RECORDS.
January 18. 1746 (2) The Chh. voted a dismission and recommendation of their brother, Elisha Tobey to the Chh. of Christ in Falmouth, of which the Revd Mr. Palmer is Pastor.
November 22, 1747. The Chh. voted a dismission of their brother, James Torrey, Junior, and his wife, with a recommendation to the Chh. of Christ in Tolland, under the pastoral care of the Revd Mr. Steel.
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