USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Billerica > History of Billerica, Massachusetts, with a Genealogical register > Part 19
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The old house was sold for £40, the town "reserving such seats as they had occasion for in finishing the new, and the glass of the pue in the south front galerie, provided by the proprietors of the said pue, and the window that Mr. Samuel Danforth provided." It would be interesting if we had a sight or intelligible description of this reserved glass and window. The cost of the house was provided for by one rate of £500, two of £250 each, and by the sale of the pews for £250, making a total of £1250. Whoever is curious to do so, can trace minute details of the expenditures as they are recorded. (Vol. III, pp. 101-2, 137-38). For "framing," Ens. Benjamin Shed, Sergt. Benjamin Frost, and John Dutton were paid "13 - 06 - 08," each, and a large proportion of the names of citizens appear. credited with labor, lumber, nails, or other items. This house served the town for sixty years, when the present First Church was built, in 1797. The old house was then sold to the contractor for building a town- and school-house and reconstructed. with reduced dimensions, on the east side of Main Street near. There it was so used for a generation, and many of the older people of to-day attended school in this venerable building. It then passed into private hands and was used as a hall and store until 1876, when it was burned with the adjoining hotel, which stood on the corner of Andover Street.
The early years of Mr. Ruggles' ministry were signalized by the appearance of a bell. At a meeting, 1710-11, March 9th, it was voted, "that the money that the land was sold for to Capt. Reed, on the west of Concord River, shall be laid out, to buy a bell for the meeting house." Captain Lane and Lieutenant John Stearns were appointed " a committy to provide a Bell for the Town, not exceeding sixty pounds prise." The land sold to Captain Reed was a tract remaining after the land divisions of 1708-10, and consisted of five hundred and sixty acres, bounded " southwest by Concord, one mile ; and on the Nor west by the Major's farme, upon a streight line about
178
HISTORY OF BILLERÍCA.
384 poles, and partly by Verginia meadows ; on the north east by the land of Kendal Patten about 323 poles ; and south east by the Bloods' land, in a crooked line, about 292 poles." Previous grants of meadow were excepted. The price is not stated, but was prob- ably £50, as more than that sum is said to be in bank, and the balance of the £60 was to be raised if necessary by a town rate. For the hanging of the bell, the town agreed, 1713-14, January 18, with James Hosley and Ben. Frost. They were to do all the wood work, make the stairs, platform, and door, and provide the "Irone work of good Irone," for which they were to have pay, and hang the bell "fit to ring"; for all which they were to receive £4 and aid in raising the bell.
This bell was used until 1753, January 23, when a committee was appointed "to take down the bell and convey it to Boston and dispose of it in the best way they can towards the procuring another ; and indent with some Gentleman for another, * and to Run the hassard of said Bell from Ingland to Boston ; the bell to be procured by said committee is not to exceed five hundred pounds in weight." At the same time the town voted to sell "so much of the hind seats on the lower floor on the south side of our meeting house, on each side the middle or broad alley, as will be convenient for six pues, three on a side, to be 'sold to the highest bidder, in order to purchase a meeting house bell."
This second bell, it appears, came from England, and was probably the same which was "cracked" by violent ringing on July 4th, 1842. The memory of our older citizens recalls the fact that it bore an inscription including the name " Billericay," a form of the word which English workmen would be very likely to use. But the facts disprove the pleasant tradition that the first bell in town was a gift, suitably inscribed, from the English Billericay. And it is hardly possible that such an incident could have occurred at any later date and left no trace in the Records of either town.
Of the congregation in Mr. Ruggles' day we have an interesting glimpse in a seating list, which has been fortunately preserved. It is without date, but must belong to the old meeting-house, and after 1733. If we assume its date as 1736, we can not be far from the fact. The occupants of the ten pews are, of course, not included, and, if two families occupied each pew, these would add twenty names to the one hundred and fifty of this list. But about thirty of the young men seated in the side gallery were not married, and
179
RELIGIOUS HISTORY.
the number of families in the congregation, judging from this record, must have been near one hundred and forty. The deacons were seated in front of the pulpit, and their wives with the widows, and two other ladies are specially provided for. In the two front seats we see the twenty men who are dignified with the title of "Mr." Of the first ten, Mr. Richardson, aged fifty-six, was the youngest.
LIST OF SITTINGS IN THE MEETING-HOUSE, ABOUT 1736.
"Fore seat below :
Front fore seat :
6th seat below :
Mr. Enoch Kider.
Dan1. Stickney.
James Crosbey.
Mr. Sam1. Danforth.
Jacob French.
James Frost.
Mr. Isaac Stearns.
John Baldwin.
Wm. Tarbell.
Mr. Tho : Pattin.
Sam1. Brown.
Nicolas Danforth.
Mr. Nathan Crosbey. Mr. Thomas Baldwin. Mr. John Needham.
Jacob Danforth.
Isaac Marshall.
Stephen Richardson.
Joseph Hill, JunT.
Thomas Croshey.
Hezekiah Duntley.
Mr. Jonathan Hill.
Thom. Ross.
Joseph Kemp.
Sam1. Danforth, JunT.
Natt1. Pattin.
Mr. Wm. Manning. Mr. Natt1. Richardson.
Benj. Frost.
Richard Farmer.
2d seat below :
4th seat below :
7th seat below :
Mr. Hugh Ditson.
Timothy Farley.
Sam1. Hall.
Mr. Sam1. Hill, Junr.
Robert Blare.
John Frost.
Wm. Needham.
Eleazer Whiting.
Jacob Willson. Jeremiah Abbott.
Jonathan Kemp, Junr.
James Sanders.
Mr. John Walker.
John Brown.
Peter Hill.
Mr. Oliver Whiting.
Thom. Horsley.
John Blanchard, Junr.
3d seat below :
5th seat below :
Sth seat below :
Josiah Crosbey.
Eben Dowse.
Benj. Manning.
John Sanders.
Wm. Shed.
James Ditson.
Ralph Hill. Edward Farmer. Benj. Walker.
Sam1. Danforth. Ters.
Jeremiah Baldwin.
Joseph Walker. Richard Snow. John Horsley. Natt1. Pollard.
Jonan. Danforth. Josiah Brown. Seth Ross. Enoch Kidder, Junr. John Pollard.
Joseph MunRoe. Abraham Durrant. Saml. Richarson. James Farley. Wm. Manning, Junr. John Pattin. Clement Chamberlin.
Eben Hill.
Tho. Leavenston.
Nicolas French.
Mr. John Wilson. Dr. R. Toothacar. Mr. John Leavenston. Mr. Oliver Farmer. Mr. Benoney Spaldwin. Mr. John Durrant.
Jonathan Kemp. Nicolas Sprake.
John Blanchrd. Seth Putnam.
Benjm. Hopkins. Edward Pollard.
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HISTORY OF BILLERICA.
LIST OF SITTINGS IN THE MEETING-HOUSE. - Continued.
Fore seat, side Gallerie : Arthur Mullin.
Obediah Sanders.
Wm. Kidder.
John Willoughbey.
David Sanders.
David Baldwin.
Dan1. Shed.
Joseph Walker, Junt.
Wm. Baldwin.
Jonª. Hill, JunT.
Ezekiel Walker.
Ralph Hill, Junr.
Josiah Kemp.
Uriah Leanord.
Eben French.
Roger Toothaker, Junr. Benj. Walker, Jun".
Samuel Whiting.
Natt1. Brown.
Nicolas Sprake. Junr.
2d scat, side Gallerie : John Dows.
Nathan Crosbey. Jun".
Sam1. Hill. Ters.
Oliver Crosbey.
Thomas Ditson.
Tim Farley, Junr.
Jonª. Crosbey.
Jonathan Richardson.
Joseph Farley, Junr.
Benjn. Dowse.
Benj. Durrant.
James Freeland.
John Durrant, Ters.
Joseph Osgood.
In ye fore seat below :
Joseph Patten.
Sam1. Hill. quarts.,
Deacn. Davis' wife.
John Parker.
Henry Jeffts, Junr.
Deaen. Hill's wife.
Andrew Farmer.
Natt1. Ranger.
Deaer. Abbott's wife.
John Trull.
Seth Willson.
Natt1. Richardson's and
Wm. French, Ters.
Sam1. Blanchard.
Wm Mañing's wives in
ye 2d seat below.
2d seat, Front Gallerie : Jona. Danforth, Junr.
Wm. Medoel [McDowell].
Thomas Davis.
Widow Rogers, 3d seat below; Widow Whit-
Josiah Crosbey, Junr. James Laws.
Josiah Dutten.
John Hagott.
ing, 3ª seat below.
Jacob Manning.
Dan1. Leavenston.
The question of a colleague for the pastor came before the town, 1746-7, March 3, and a committee, Benjamin Tompson, Esq., Capt. Thomas Kidder, and Dea. Joshua Abbott, was appointed. to confer with Mr. Ruggles. They reported that he was "very free," and "desired that the town would proceed in that affaire." Another committee, of seven, was then directed to "desire Mr. Ruggles to assis with them in calling in some of the neighboring ministers to keep a Day of prayer, to seek divine direction in that affaire." On the report of this committee, April 6, the question arose, whether " the Town would proceed to hear any Gen" to preach upon proba- tion," and "it passed in the negative by a great majority." Plainly the mind of the town was made up as to the call to be given, and a young Harvard graduate, who taught the school in 1746, had won their hearts. It is not in evidence that the proposed "Day of prayer" was held. The church waived its legal right to the first vote in the choice of a pastor, and, "at a General Town Meeting," April 28: "The church and town unanimously voted and made
Wm. Bowrs.
Robert Walker.
Sam1. Crosbey.
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RELIGIOUS HISTORY.
choyce of Mr. John Chandler, of Andover, to settle in the work of the ministry amongst us, with the Revd. Mr. Samuel Ruggles, our aged Pastor." They promise him, "in a Reasonable time," £600, old tenor, as a settlement, and a salary of £200 while Mr. Ruggles was able to carry on a part of the work, and to add £100 more after Mr. Ruggles' death. The answer of Mr. Chandler was delayed for farther negotiations. He asked that the settlement be paid in two years, and, if he outlived Mr. Ruggles, that the ministry land, which was west of Concord River, might be sold, and "laid out either for mowing or pasturing within half a mile of the meeting house," he to have the improvement of it, during his ministry, in either location. The town consented. But the uncertain value of the currency still embarrassed them. To meet the difficulty the town voted that the salary should be at a standard of twelve shillings a bushel for Indian corn and sixteen shillings for rye. Mr. Chandler proposed instead, that the standard be between ten and twelve shillings for corn and thirteen and fifteen for rye, and to this the town assented. They also offered him £20 a year for "fewel for his fire," but, "it appearing that it was more accommodating to Mr. Chandler to have wood in the stead of it," they promised him twenty cords of wood annually. The salary was payable semi-annually.
When these engagements were embodied in a formal covenant, the way was prepared for Mr. Chandler's ordination, which occurred, 1747, October 21. "Eight churches came together to carry on the solemnity. The Revd. Mr. Rogers, of Littleton, began with prayer ; the Revª Mr James Chandler, of Rowley, [brother of the candidate,] preached, from John, iii: 11; the Revd .Mr. Phillips, of Andover, gave the charge and also added an exhortation to the people, wherein he pressed upon 'em the particular duties of a people towards their minister ; and the Revd. Mr. Bowes, of Bedford, gave the Right hand of fellowship. No objections were laid in against their pro- ceeding in the ordination by any person whatsoever."
An ordination was a great event in those days. In preparation for this the town appointed a committee to "make suitable and descent provition, at the Town's cost, for Mr. Chandler's ordination, at one or two places, for all the ministers and messengers, and Mr. Chandler's Relations, and for steudants of harvard Colledg, according to their best prudance." They also reserved the front seats for members of the council, and the front seats in the gallery for the church members.
182
HISTORY OF BILLERICA.
Mr. Ruggles' work was nearly done, and his colleague and successor was installed none too soon. He died, 1749, March 21; and the town voted £150, old tenor, for the expenses of his funeral.
; A formal and solemn renewal of covenant was made soon after Mr. Chandler was ordained. The articles of faith then used and recorded have been given above. Whether this was the first form of confession, or an earlier confession was then repeated, and, if so, whether with or without change, we are not told.
The pastorate of Mr. Chandler began under bright auspices, and for eleven years was prosperous. He was a man of good ability, and the church was united and happy in his ministry. But a cloud arose, and the end came soon and in trouble. It is due to the truth of history that the facts, condensed from many pages of the church record, be stated. Mr. Chandler's wife died, 1757, June 28. It is charitable to suppose that grief for her loss and the absence of her good influence may have prepared the way for a measure of indulgence in "spiritual" consolations which were not from above. That he kept, the means for such indulgence the contents of his cellar, as shown by his inventory, reveal, though it is doubtful if he had more than the best of his neighbors. He was married, 1759, January 18, to Elizabeth White, of Haverhill, a cousin of his first wife. Soon after the church record tells us : "Feb. 18. The Sact. omitted, by reason of some being dissatisfied at ye chearful behavior of ye pastor at ye bringing of a second Wife into his house, when a large concourse of people assembled. The Pastor stayed the church after services and gave leave for the congregation to stop also ; and represented his case to 'em in what he then apprehended its just light, upon which they voted to pass over the offense, sit down satisfied, and that the Sacrt should be administered to 'em by the Pastor the next Lords Day." This. record, like the long account of following troubles, stands in the very neat handwriting of Mr. Chandler himself, who shows throughout a frankness and apparent honesty which wins respect and sympathy for his weakness.
The trouble, however, continued, and was too deep to be so easily disposed of ; and, in August, articles of complaint were laid before a Council, with specifications of four cases in which the pastor's weakness had been manifested. The Council met, September 18, consisting of the First and Second Churches in Cambridge and that in Chelmsford. They found three of the charges sustained; but, in view of a confession, to be read to the church and congregation,
1
183
RELIGIOUS HISTORY.
they recommended its acceptance, and that "whatever hath been grievous and offensive in ye Pastor" be overlooked. They proceed to a frank and faithful statement to Mr. Chandler, and appeal to him tenderly to free himself from reproach by a sober and godly life, and remind the church of the good character he has maintained among them "till of late," and that "the sin which he has fallen into is what you have not * so much as suspected him of till ye last winter"; for which reason they urge the members of the church to pray and strive together for the recovery and usefulness among them of one who might be so good a pastor. But the evil could not be exorcised, and, 1760, June 5th, another Council convened and the church with them, when a show of hands so "discouraged the pastor as to tarrying," that by advice of the Council he tendered his resignation and it was accepted. Two years later Mr. Chandler died here, at the early age of thirty-eight.
This sad story does not stand alone. Concord had a similar experience. Nor need the occasional lapse in this way of a minister surprise us. When every cellar was stored with cider, and good Deacon Abbott would be as sure as any other to invite the minister to drink whenever he called, the wonder would be if here and there one did not stumble. But, while we give sympathy to the unfortu- nate young pastor, the bright morning of whose ministry was so soon and sadly overcast, we may also with joy set up a waymark of progress, and deny that "the former days were better than these." .
CHAPTER X.
GLEANINGS FROM THE RECORDS.
THE limits of this volume permit but meagre use of the early Records ; and beyond the selections on special topics, in other chapters, we can only glean items here and there. The following explains the origin of our first and admirable "Book of Grants" : "12, 10, 1665. The Town did agree with Jonathan Danforth, to collect and transcribe all former grants and records of lands, granted to perticular persons by the Towne of Billerica, into another booke, so farre as perticular persons interested therein shall desire it; and they agree that the said Jonathan shall for his laboure have fourpence for every perticular grant or record that shall be thus transcribed by him." In making this transcript he was authorized, conferring with the selectmen and proprietors concerned, to " put an eshew to all difficult things," or adjust questions and conflicts of lines and bounds. When the work was done, "27, 9m, 1666, The Townsmen, with much pains and care having examined the same, comparing them with the originall copies. The Towne, by this deliberate act of theirs, allow, approue, owne, confirme, & establish ye same, to stand and remaine as legall and ethentic. And, by this act of theirs, do disallow, disowne, and make a nullity of whatever record or grant has been recorded in ye old towne booke, or in any other scroule or paper, so farre (and no farther) as they are in any wise repugnant and contrary to what is recorded in ye new towne booke."
The Restoration of Charles II, in 1660, in England, displacing the Commonwealth, gave much anxiety to the Puritan Commonwealth here, and its enemies used the opportunity, striving to produce embarrassment and trouble. It was represented that the people were dissatisfied; and, to repel this charge, many of the towns presented addresses to the General Court. The following is that of Billerica : -
185
GLEANINGS FROM THE RECORDS.
"To the Honara Generall Court, held at Boston, October 19, 1664 :1
"The Humble Representation of the Inhabitants, both ffreemen and others, of the Town of Billerica, Humbly Sheweth: That whereas we have understood that there have bin complaints made vnto our Soveraigne Lord the king concerning our dissatisfaction in this collony with the present Government, we whose Names are subscribed, the Inhabitants of the Towne above mentioned, being not a little Sensible what occation of Discouragement would be laid upon you, and what reproach and blame would Justly fall vpon vs, if such complaints should be true, have thought it our duty (both for the vindicating of our owne Innocency and for the promoting of anything, in an orderly way, which may tend to the incouraging of your hearts and strengthening of your hands, in the discharge of your great trust) to testify vnanimously that we doe Rest Satisfied in the present Government, and that we have cause to bless God for our past and present pretious and peaceable enjoyments, desireing that God would make you farther Instrumental for the continuing of our merejes and priveleges, both civil and ecelisiasticall. to his honour and the good of vs and our posterity. And we doe reingage ourselves and promise (by the help of God) to be faithful, obedient, and servicable (to our vtmost power) to the present Authority (so long and orderly established by patent amongst vs) in all things, according to God, as by duty, equity, or oath wee are bound therevnto; thus hoping that this our Aplycation vnto your selves shall be accepted as a testimony of our vnfeigned fidelity and sincere Affection to yr selves and to the good of this comon wealth, wee comit you to him who is Able to direct you in all the weighty matters you have in hand and remaine y's in all humble observance.
"John Parker. Wllm Chamberlain. Nathanell Hill.
William Tay. Ralph Hill. Wille Haille.
George ffarley.
Simon Crosbee. . James Patterson.
Thomas ffoster.
John Durant.
Benjamin Parker.
James Kider. John Marshall.
John Rogers, junr.
Jonath : Danforth. . Joseph Thompson.
Roger Toothackar.
John Sheldon. Samuell Chamynes. Samuell Kemp.
William Hamlet. Thomas Willis. John Trull.
John Rogers. Thomas Paton. John Poulter.
iohn brackie. Joseph ffrench. Jonathan Hill.
Henery Jeiff's. Steven Willis. Samuell Trull."
Peter Bracket. Simon Bird.
If these signatures were autographs this paper would have added interest, but nearly all are in the handwriting of Parker or Danforth. Those of Ralph Hill and the Brackets are probably exceptions, and possibly one or two others.
The town guarded carefully the disposition of "rights," held by individuals, in the common land. Its consent was necessary, by
1 MSS. in possession of G. M. Elliott, of Lowell.
186
HISTORY OF BILLERICA.
agreement December, 1666, to any sale or gift to a person not an inhabitant, or even to a resident, except that a person holding more than a ten-acre right might so transfer a five-acre right or less. And parents could give rights to their children if the town on request declined to do so. Timber cut on the "commons" was after a short time to be free to any person, "in case such timber be not hewen, or riven, or fier wood cut fit for carting"; and, in 1666, all were forbidden "to cut any green trees upon ye comans for fier wood for the space of two years," upon penalty of two shillings per tree, large or small.
"24, 4m, 67. The selectmen, meeting at shawshin house, did there receive of the towne stock which was in sarght Parker's hand" : 68 lbs. of powder, at £6, 16s., bullets and lead, 58 lbs., and match, 50 lbs. This was ten days after Mr. Parker's death, and the place was of course at his residence, and this record proves, in comparison with early usage (see ante p. 7), that more than one place was known as Shawshin House.
"26, 61, 69. The town did order & impower the selectmen in being to procure a fat beast (with some of the townes land) and send it to Mr. Davie as from the towne, by way of thankfulness for his good service for the towne." The gentleman thus rewarded was Mr. Humphrey Davy, of Boston, who had represented the town in the General Court, 1666-69. Two months later : "By vertue of ye former order, The selectmen bought a fatt beast of John Dunkin & agreed with him to give him land for it." He was to drive the animal to Boston and present it to Mr. Davy, and was to receive twenty acres, if he had choice of location, or twenty-five acres, if the selectmen laid it, "as they Judge may be most advantage for ye town." The result is given in the grant to Dunkin elsewhere.
The following gives an idea of the early life here : "11, 9, 70. Thomas Richardson, being convicted of taking two loads of cedar from our swamps and transporting ye same out of town contrary to our towne orders," is fined thirty shillings, which Thomas Foster paid for him, he agreeing to build twenty-two poles of "four-raile fence" for Foster. Benjamin Parker and Samuel Manning incurred similar fines, as did John Tidd and Robert Eames, of Woburn. The latter promised to pay his fine "in shoes at James foules at Woburn," and the former in "cooper's ware." Plainly currency was scarce in those days, and barter in some form the condition of most payments. March 27, 1671, "Mr. Whiting is granted liberty
187
GLEANINGS FROM THE RECORDS.
to take in a peece of comon land by Thomas Dutton's fence, by ye swamp side, to make a garden of for several yeers, but not for propriety." In 1670 one share of the minister's rate of John Stearns, who had died, was laid upon Thomas Dutton, and we may infer that Mr. Dutton had purchased Mr. Stearns' land.
The question of the basis of rates was now seriously agitating the town. The early method (see p. 55) was to lay assessments upon the "rights" or fractional parts thereof. But progress and changes, as some prospered and others did not, would make this basis very unequal. The subject was debated in 1668, but a change required substantial unanimity, to which some were not ready to consent. In 1671 the town voted, that all public charges for the future should be borne by persons and estates, and divisions of land be made, one-half in the same way, the other half by "rights," as formerly. But the agitation was not ended, and, "4, 10, 72. It was agreed to desire the help of Lieut. Hinchman, Sargent James Parker, & Mr. Jnº. Smedley, to give us their advice in these our difficulties." This committee came as requested December 19, and the next day the town was called together, and every person present, thirty-five in all, signed an "order" for the future.2 They recite the agitation and great difficulty which lay "in either peaceably maintaining our way of raising our publick charges, agreed upon in our first foundation order ; or getting in to another way with such a vnanimous consent as might tend to righteousness and peace"; and refer to meetings held, and propositions of a " major part" to which some would not assent. The "order" proceeds : "That whereas, acording to our first agreement in giving out our accommodations, all publick charges was laid vpon euery alotment acording to the proportion of their grants, whither a ten, eight, six, five, or three acre lots, and that whither persons were resident in the town or not.
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