USA > Massachusetts > Suffolk County > Boston > History of Boston, the metropolis of Massachusetts, from its origin to the present period; with some account of the environs > Part 22
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HISTORY OF BOSTON.
respectable citizens, including the selectmen, were chosen, seventeen of whom were to be a quorum.
March 14th, 1709, the committee presented a draught to the town, which was read in the audience of the meeting. On the question whether the town will refer the consideration of the said scheme to some publick meeting to be warned for the same purpose ?- voted in the negative. On the question -whether the town do accept of the scheme or charter now read, yea or nay ?- voted in the negative.
Hutchinson tells us, that most of the principal inhabitants were in favour of the measure. But the people entertained the opinion of a champion, who, when the subject was dis- eussed in town-meeting, concluded his speech with the pro- phetick warning, " It is a whelp now, IT WILL BE A LION BY AND BY : knock it in the head : Mr. Moderator, put the ques- tion." His hearers were ready, and the plan was rejected by a great majority, with a vote of thanks to the gentlemen, on whom they had imposed the labour of preparing it.
CHAPTER XXXVII.
" higher still
The blazing tide rose awfully."
MR. HENRY DEERING had proposed to the town 'to build a house to contain several offices, and a wharf below the Townhouse-street,' in December, 1707, but it does not appear that he met with any encouragement. The subject was re- newed in 1709, by Dr. Oliver Noyes and others, and the town referred the consideration of it to the selectmen, who made the following report on the 10th of March, 1710.
' Whereas the selectmen for the year past were by a vote of the inhabitants of this town, at their publick meeting on the 19th day of Dec. last past, appointed a committee to consider the proposals of Capt. Oliver Noyes and some other gentle- men, about their building out a wharf from the lower end of King-street down to low-water mark, and to make report to the next town-meeting of what they shall think proper for the town to do concerning the same, the said committee have now presented their report thereof, and is as followeth, viz.
' We are of opinion that the proposal made by Dr. Oliver Noyes and other gentlemen, now signed by them and given in to the town at this meeting, will be a means to have the out-wharves brought into good repair, the doing of which,
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HISTORY OF BOSTON.
with the planting of guns as proposed, may be a great safety to this town, in case of the attack of an enemy, and will be of publick and general good to the town, Provided the underta- kers be under penalty to perform what they have there pro- posed and what is intended, viz. that the street shall forever be open, its full breadth, from the end of King-street to the Circular line, and be no ways incumbered by them.
' The aforementioned proposals made by Dr. Oliver Noyes and other gentlemen, signed by them and given in to the town at this meeting, and being read are as followeth, viz.
' We the subscribers, some of the inhabitants of the town of Boston, do hereby promise and engage, that we and our associates will at our own cost and charge erect and build a wharf with a sufficient common sewer, at the approbation of the selectmen, at the end of King-street to the Circular Line, as delineated by the plan, and that from thence we will erect, build, and maintain a wharf, the width of King-street, between Mr. [East] Apthorp's and Mr. [Andrew] Faneuil's, and con- tinue the same in a direct line to the [out] wharves, common- ly called the new wharves, and unto low-water mark, leaving always a way of 30 feet wide, on one of the sides thereof, as a highway for the use of the inhabitants of the said town and others, and to extend from one end of the same unto the other, forever ; and leaving a gap of 16 ft. wide, covered over, for lighters and boats to pass and repass, about the mid- dle of said wharf, or where the selectmen shall direct, as also a passage way on the new wharves, on each side, for carts,etc. leaving the end of said wharf free for the town, when they shall see reason to plant guns for the defence of said town.
' In consideration whereof, the freeh. and other inhabitants of the town of B. shall, do, give, grant, bargain, enfeoffee, and confirm unto us, the said subscribers, our heirs, assignees, and associates forever, the said wharf or flats, to be maintained as aforesaid, unto low-water mark, with all the liberties, priv- ileges, commodities, and appurtenances whatsoever, thereunto belonging, to our only, proper, and absolute use and behoof forever : and that the town of B. shall always defend us in the possession and peaceable improvement of the granted premises from any claim of the town, etc. And that no wharf beyond the said Circular Line be permitted to join or come nearer to us than sixty ft. forever ; and we do engage and promise to finish said wharf within the space of four years next after the date of the grant, if the right of the outwharves for 120 ft. where this line will fall can be procured by us. In witness whereof, we have hereunto set our hands, the 20th day of Feb. anno regina viii. A. D. 1709-10.
Oliver Noyes, James Barnes, John Gerrish,
Daniel Oliver, John George, Anthony Stoddard.'
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P
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HISTORY OF BOSTON,
Whereupon the town voted 'a grant to Capt. O. N. and company, according to their said proposals and the commit- tee's report, so as not to prejudice former grants.' The se- lectmen were empowered to execute proper instruments in writing for confirming the grant, which they did on the 13th of May. The work was accomplished within the time limited.
In the same year, 1710, it was voted, that a line of defence be forthwith made across the neck between Boston and Rox- bury. This constituted the Fortifications, which were con- structed of stone and brick work for a foundation, with a parapet of sod work. A convenient number of great guns were ordered to be placed there, and a gate extended across the road.
Something like the rudiments of a Post-Office is discovera- ble in the colony records, May, 1677, when upon petition of several merchants of Boston, the court appointed Mr. John Hayward, scrivener, ' to take in and convey letters according to their direction.' And the office of post-master appears to have been regulated by the colonial government until 1710, when an act of parliament established the office of P. M. gen- eral, who had liberty to keep one chief letter office in New York, and others at other convenient places in America. Campbell, the publisher of the News-Letter, who had been in the office for several years, was appointed at Boston. In 1711, a southern and eastern mail, to Plymouth and Maine, ran once a week, and a western mail to Conn. and N. Y. once a fortnight.
The prosperity of Boston, which seemed now to be grow- ing rapidly, received a check this year by a fire, that broke out on the evening of Tuesday, October 2d, about 7 o'clock. It originated in a building belonging to Capt. Ephraim Sav- age, in Williams's Court, from the carelessness of a poor woman, one Mary Morse, who suffered the fire ' to catch the oakum, which she was employed in picking of.' All the houses on both sides of Cornhill, from School-street to the Dock-square, were laid in ruins. The wind being southerly, the meeting-house of the First Church was early found to be in danger, and some sailors went up into the steeple or cupola to save the bell. Whilst they were engaged in this service, the house was on fire below, and the stairs were consumed. They were seen at work just before the roof fell in, and all perished in the flames. All the upper part of King, or what is now called State-street, together with the Town-house, was lost, and some desolation made in Pudding-lane (Devonshire- street), and between Water-street and Spring-lane, before the violence of the flames could be conquered. There were then but two engines in the town, and the method taken to stop the
ยท
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HISTORY OF BOSTON.
progress of the fire, by blowing up the houses, had a contrary effect, and served to scatter it. The number of houses des- troyed was computed near a hundred, and, by the best ac- count, about a hundred and ten families were turned out of doors. It being also a place of much trade, and filled with well-furnished shops of goods, not a little of the wealth of the town was now consumed. The rubbish from the ruins was used to fill up the Long-wharf.
The houses which were built after this fire ' were of brick, three stories high, with a garret, a flat roof, and balustrade.' Some of them remain on each side of Cornhill ; one, now numbered 38 Washington-street, bears the date of 1712 on the front, with a coat of arms and the letters S. L.
The First Church commenced building on the same spot where their old house had stood, on the 14th of April, 1712. They erected a large brick edifice of three stories in height, which was ready for use, and the first service performed in it May 3, 1713 .*
The general court at their next session after the fire, pass- ed a law creating the Board of Firewards, whose number was originally ten. We recognize their symbol of authority in the badge of ' a staff of five feet in length, coloured red, and headed with a bright brass spire of six inches long.' 'The same court also proposed a plan for rebuilding the Town- house, which was concurred in by the town, Nov. 16, 1711. The Province was to bear one half of the expense, the county of Suffolk and town of Boston each one quarter. The house was so far finished, that a town-meeting was held in it, March 8. 1714.
CHAPTER XXXVIII.
To know, and knowing worship God aright, Is yet more kingly : this attracts the soul, Governs the inner man, the nobler part.
Paradise Regained.
IN the winter of 1712, seventeen substantial mechanicks as- sociated for the purpose of establishing another church at the north part of the town, which, when formed, they named the New North Church. Their first meeting was at the house of
This being the first Congregational meeting-house built of bricks, obtained in time the name of the Old Brick. It stood till the year 1808; the last service being performed in it on the 17th, and the first in the house in Chauncy-place on the 21st, of July, in that year.
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HISTORY OF BOSTON.
Matthew Butler, who seems to have been the father of the association, and whose descendants have formed a part of the society to the present time. The projectors were joined by others, and obtained liberty of the proper authority to erect a wooden building .* They procured a lot of land of Col. Thomas Hutchinson, at the corner of Hanover and Clark- streets, set up a house of small dimensions, and finished it, " as is observed in an ancient manuscript, without the assist- ance of the more wealthy part of the community, excepting what they derived from their prayers and good wishes."
The house was dedicated on the 5th of May, 1714. The two Dr. Mathers officiated in the ceremonies of giving the right hand of fellowship to the new church, and the prayers were as usual on such occasions. On the evening of the same day, the church met at the house of Mr. Butler and sign- ed their covenant. On the 2d of August they came to the choice of a pastor. At the first trial, the suffrages were divi- ded between Mr. John Barnard and Mr. John Webb. The majority was for Mr. Webb : on a second trial. he had a unanimous vote. The election was immediately communica- ted to the congregation, who were convened in another place, and they " universally" concurred in the choice. An invita- tion was presented on the 4th and accepted on the 27th of the same month, and the ordination of Mr. Webb took place on the 20th of October following. Dr. I. Mather acted as mod- erator, Dr. C. M. made the first prayer, and the pastor elect preached. The covenant was read and acknowledged : the church confirmed their choice, and Mr. Webb his accept- ance ; the moderator then gave the charge, and his son the right hand of fellowship, and the exercises were closed with singing and a blessing.
'The seventeen first associates were, Solomon and Elias Townsend, Erasmus Stevens, Moses Pierce, Caleb Lyman, Alex'r. Sears, Eben. Clough, John Goldthwait, Sam. Gard- ner, Wm. Parkman, John Bassett, Joshua Cheever, Matthew Butler,-John Pecker, Isaac Pierce, John Goff, and James Barnard. The first thirteen, together with Mr. Webb, Benja. Gerrish, Nath. Kenney and Lately Gee, were the original signers of the church covenant.1
At the session of the general court, July, 1715, a law was passed ' that there be a Light-house erected at the charge of the province on the southernmost part of the Great Brewster, called Beacon Island, to be kept lighted from sunset to sun- rising.'
* The governour might grant a licence on certificate of approbation from the justices of peace and selectmen of Boston, by the law of 1699.
t See Appendix, No. IV .- Historical Notices of the New North.
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HISTORY OF BOSTON.
The formation of the New South Church and Society was the next event of moment. The first meeting on the subject was 'at the Bull [tavern, in Summer-street] in Boston, on Thursday, the 14th of July, 1715,' when it was voted, 'that the money received of Mr. Nath. Glover, except the charges arising thereon, viz. the balance, be given towards the erect- ing a meeting-house at the south-end of Boston, where the major part of the proprietors [in Mr. G.'s donation ?] shall be concerned.' Forty-four subscribers were soon found to en- gage in 'so good a work,' and ' a petition was drawn and presented to the town, on Tuesday, the 20th of Sept. 1715, and was as follows :
' To the inhabitants of the town of Boston, the petition of sundry inhabitants at the southerly end of Boston, showeth, That whereas we the subscribers have entered into a design, if we obtain leave, to erect a meeting-house for the publick worship of God at the south end of Boston, therefore desire a grant from this town of that piece or parcel of land, called Church Green, in Summer-street, for the erecting a meet- ing-house of 65 ft. long and 45 ft. broad, it being a suitable place for that service, and by the situation and name thereof intended, no doubt, by our forefathers for that purpose, and pray that the present selectmen of the town may be empow- ered to make a conveyance to the undertakers underwritten. Subscribed by Thomas Peck, Nicholas Boon, Samuel Adams, Eneas Salter, jun. Sam'l Greenleaf, Henry Hill, Jona. Simp- son, Eleaz. Dorby, David Craige, Wm. Engs, Eneas Salter, Thomas Salter, John Barton, Daniel Legre.'
The town granted the petition, ' Provided the said meeting- house be erected and improved to that use within the space of three years next ensuing.' This was done, and the dedi- cation took place on the 8th of Jan. 1717. Rev. Benj. Wads- worth of the Old South and Cotton Mather both preached. Copies of their sermons were desired and published. Jan. 11, a committee was appointed to supply the pulpit, with au- thority to allow 20s. for each sermon. Sept. 24, 1718, Mr. Samuel Checkley, of Boston, was unanimously chosen out of several candidates, and invited to become pastor of this church. He accepted, and was ordained, April 15, 1719. The covenant was signed on the same day, by H. Hill, T. Peck, John Clough, T. Salter, S. Adams, Sam'l. Bridgham, Benja. White, and Thos. Downe .*
* Covenant of the New South Church.
We, whose names are hereunto subscribed, apprehending ourselves called of God to joyne together in church communion, and acknowledging our unworthiness of such a priviledge, and our inability to keep covenant with God, or to perform any spiritual duty, unless Christ shall enable us thereunto ; doe (humbly depending on free grace for assistance and accep-
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HISTORY OF BOSTON.
The Sixth Congregational church originated in a difficulty respecting the settlement of a colleague with the Rev. Mr. Webb, of the New North. Preparatory to that step, the church had adopted the following regulations, on the 13th of May, 1719. " First, the church shall go before and lead in the choice, according to the professed principles and practice of the churches in N. E .- 2d. Since the edification of the brethren of the congregation is to be considered on such an occasion, we are willing they should join with us in the call of a minister : that is to say, after the church have expressed their satisfaction with any particular person, we are willing that a major vote of the church and congregation, assembled together, as is usual in country towns, shall determine wheth- er the person, first chosen as aforesaid by the church, be finally settled in the pastoral office over us. And we all of us promise to make ourselves easy, and sit down contented by such determination, and purpose by the grace of God to do so, unless some weighty and conscientious reason oblige us to the contrary : but upon this condition, that our brethren of the congregation are willing to act upon the same princi- ples and to submit to the same rules." And those persons were to be allowed the privilege of voting, who had been con- stant hearers and contributors towards the support of publick worship, and should sign a declaration of their assent to the above rule.
The 9th of September following was set apart as a day of prayer, and as soon as the exercises of the day were ended, the members of the church proceeded to cast their votes ; but lest there should be a breach upon the solemnities of the day, they were sealed up, without examination. On the morn-
tance) in the name of Christ Jesus our Lord, and in the presence of God himself, the blessed angels, and all his servants here present, freely covenant, and solemnly bind ourselves, to serve the God, whose name alone is Jehovah, Father, Son, and holy Ghost, the only living and true God ; cleaving to him, as our chief good, and to our Lord Jesus Christ, as our only Saviour, Prophet, Priest, and King of our souls, in a way of Gospel obedience ; avouch- ing the Lord to be our God, and the God of our children, whom we give unto him, counting it, as a high favour, that the Lord will accept of us, and our children with us, to be his people. We do also give ourselves, one unto another, in the Lord ; covenanting to walk together, as a Church of Christ, in all the ways of his worship-according to the rules given us in his holy word ; promising, in brotherly love, faithfully to watch over one another's souls, and to submit ourselves to the discipline and power of Christ, in his Church, and duly to attend the Seals and Censures, or whatever ordinances, Christ has commanded to be ob- served by his people, so far, as the Lord, by his word, and Spirit, has or shall reveal unto us, to be our duty ; beseeching the Lord, to own us for his people, and to delight to dwell in the midst of us ; and that we may keep our Covenant with God, we desire to deny our- selves, and to depend entirely on the free mercy of God, and the merits of Jesus Christ, and wherein we shall fail, to wait on him for pardon, through his name ; beseeching the Lord, to own us as a Church of Christ, and to delight to abide in the midst of us.
-
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HISTORY OF BOSTON.
ing of the 10th, the church met, when the votes were count- ed, and the Rev. Peter Thacher had 34 out of 44. On the 16th day of the same month, the congregation met, by desire, to express their concurrence, if it might be, with the vote of the church. When the question was proposed to the conven- tion, a protest against the proceedings was produced, signed by 6 members of the church and 39 of the congregation, in which they charged the church ' with the base design of en- snaring them,' by the vote passed professedly in favour of the congregation. They refused to leave this memorial of their grievances, and probably retired, as the records state that the other brethren brought in their votes, which were 46, and all for Mr. Thacher.
The 27th of Jan. 1720 was appointed for the installation. The five Congregational churches in Boston, the first in Sa- lem, and those at Cambridge, Dorchester, Romney-Marsh, and Milton, were invited to attend. A few days before the time appointed for the installation, ' the aggrieved brethren,' by the advice of Boston ministers, proposed that their differ- ences should be referred to a council. The church declined acceding to the proposal, on account of the time and manner in which it was brought forward.
The appointed day arrived, and not one of the Boston min- isters appeared to sit in the council : of those invited from the neighbouring towns, only Mr. Cheever from Romney Marsh, and Mr. Peter Thacher of Milton came ; one with the con- sent of his church, accompanied by delegates, the other, alone, in opposition to the vote of his church. They met at the house of Mr. Webb, which was at the corner of North Bennet and Salem-streets. The aggrieved brethren were as- sembled at the house of Thomas Lee, Esq. which is the house in N. Bennet-street, next to the Universal meeting. house, and was to be passed, if the council should use the common streets to get to the New North. A deputation from the aggrieved brethren waited upon the council, with a remonstrance against their proceeding to business, which they wished to prevent, peaceably, if they could : if that could not be done, they had resolved to prevent the council from going to the meeting- house, by force.
After some consideration and debate, the council resolved, that there was nothing offered or objected, which was of suf- ficient weight to prevent their proceeding to business. As going through the publick streets was likely to produce con- fusion and uproar, Mr. Webb, after notifying the church that the council were ready, led them out of a back gate into Love-lane (now Tileston-street), and through an alley (Rob- inson) which opens immediately opposite to the meeting-house, and thus got quiet possession of the pulpit. The house was
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HISTORY OF BOSTON.
nearly filled with a promiscuous multitude, among whom were some of the aggrieved. These began to raise a clamour, and sent for their friends at Mr. Lee's, who ran to the house in a tumultuous manner, forced their way into the galleries, and in a menacing style forbade the proceedings. Some were very unruly and indecent, almost beyond credibility. Si- lence was repeatedly ordered without effect.
The council at length determined to go on, in the best manner they could. Mr. Cheever put the question to such members of the church as were present, who were about 40, ' Whether they confirmed their call of the Rev. Mr. Thach- er ?' which being passed in the affirmative, Mr. 'T. then pub- lickly declared his acceptance of the invitation. Mr. C. thereupon proclaimed ' the Rev. Peter Thacher to be the pastor of the New North church, regularly introduced to the charge.'
The disturbance being still continued, the disaffected party were called upon to say what they wished for. One of them answered, ' that the matters in dispute might be heard and considered by a council.' The Rev. Messrs. W. and T. with the members of the church, severally assented to the proposal. Mr. Thacher, of Milton, then made a prayer ; the newly inducted pastor preached a sermon, prayed afterwards, and the assembly was dismissed with a blessing.
On the next day, Mr. Webb sent to every one of the disaf- fected brethren of the church, in number nine or ten, to meet at his house, in order to adjust the business of convening a council. Four only appeared, and they refused to have any thing to do about it. The plan of forming another church began to be contemplated.
The discontented members had made preparations for the erection of a new meeting-house, as appears from the follow- ing record :- ' Sundry of the north end of the town, being moved by the Providence of God for to build a house for the publick worship of God, met sundry times for the promoting of said work, and (Nov. 14, 1719) at a meeting of Alex'r Scars, Solo. Townsend, John Waldo, Owen Harris, James Tileston. Nath. Jarvis, Thomas Lec, Jona. Mountfort, Wm. Arnold, Thaddeus Macarty, James Pecker, Eben'r Bridge, Benj. Edwards, Peter Papillon, Thos. Dogget, Daniel Ballard, Rob't Oring, Edw. Pell, Sam'l Burnell, Fras. Parnell, Jas. Barnes, Jas. Halsy, Ephr'm Moore, they voted that some of them should treat with Mr. Thomas Roby, of Cambridge, for a certain tract or piece of land, it being the land that the meeting-house now standeth on.' December 20th, a building committee was appointed, and the number of proprietors in- creased to forty before the work was completed. Mr. Ed-
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HISTORY OF BOSTON.
ward Pell drew the plan of the house,* which was dedicated on the 10th of May, 1721. A churcht was gathered among the worshippers, on Wednesday, the 23d of May, 1722; and on the same day Mr. William Waldron was ordained the first pastor.
* The same house is now occupied by the Second and Sixth, united as the Second Con- gregational Church. It was proposed by some to denominate it the Revenge Church, but instead thereof it obtained the name of North Brick, and afterwards of New Brick. The figure of a cock was, however, placed as a vane upon the steeple, in derision of Mr.Thacher whose christian name was Peter.
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