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 23
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45
A. Sears, S. Townsend, J. Waldo, Moses Pierce, J. Tilestone, Josiah Baker, from the. New North, together with Wm. Lee, Nath. Loring, Daniel Pecker, and Henry Wheeler and Wm. Waldron, were the original signers of the Covenant of the New Brick church.
Covenant of the New Brick Church.
We, whose names are hereunto sub. apprehending ourselves called of God into a chb. state of the gospel, do first of all confess ourselves to be unworthy to be so highly favoured of the Lord, and admire that free and rich grace of his, wh. triumphis in weakn. and unworthin. and then with an humble reliance upon the aids of grace, promised to them that are conscious of their own inability to do any good thing and humbly wait on the L. for the addition of this thing :- We now thankfully lay hold on his cov. and would choose the things that please him .- We declare our serious belief of the christian religion, as contained in the S. S. and heartily resolve to conform our lives to the rules of that holy r. as long as we live in this world .- We give up ourselves to the L. Jehovah, who is the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and avouch this day to be our G. our Leader, and recelve him us our portion .- We give up ourselves to the blessed Jesus, who is the L. Jehovah and adhere to him, as the L. of his peo- ple in the cov. of God, and rely on him as our prophet, priest, and king, to bring us to et. blessedness .- We ackn. ourselves under inevitable obligations to glorify G. in all the duties of a godly, sober life, and esp. in the duties of a chili. state in obedience to Christ, and the enjoym. of him in all the ord. of the gospel : and we therefore depend on his gracious assist- ance for the faithful discharge of the duties thus incumbent on us .- We desire and intend, and (depending upon promised grace) we engage to walk together as a chh. of the L. J. C. in the f. and order of the gospel, so far as we shall have the same revealed to us, conscien- tiously attending the worship of G. the sacraments of the N. T. the discipline of his kdm. and all his holy institutions, in communion with one another, lovingly watching over one an- other, and watchfully avoiding all sinful stumbling blocks and contentions, as becomes a p. professing godlin. called of the L. into such a holy cov. relation with G. and one another .- We do also at the same time present and offer our seed to the L. purposing with divine help to do our part in methods of a religious edu. training ym. up in the way of the L. that so they may be his .- We do all this, flying to the blood of the ev. cov. for the pdn. of our sins and past failings, praying that the glorious L. who is the sh. of his sheep, would prepare and strengthen us for every good work, working in us that which will be well pl. in his sight, to wliom be glory forever. Amen.
See Rev. Mr. Wure's Discourses.
28
218
HISTORY OF BOSTON.
CHAPTER XXXIX.
Of newspapers a constant feast, And something there to every taste.
Carrier's Address.
' THE second newspaper which made its appearance in British America was the Boston Gazette, which was first pub- lished for Wm. Brooker, who succeeded Campbell as post- master. No. 1 was issued from the press on Monday, Dec. 21, 1719, on a half sheet of printing foolscap, on a small-pica type, folio ; and it was continued on a half sheet of that size of paper for several years, excepting occasionally a whole sheet, and then one page was often left blank. It had a cut of a ship on the left, and one of a postman on the right of the title, and was "published by authority." Its imprint was, " Boston : printed by J. Franklin, and may be had at the Post Office, where advertisements are taken in." There were three Boston Gazettes in succession before the revo- lution. This was the first of them.'
The people of Boston had suffered severely at five differ- ent periods* from the small pox, prior to 1721. Nineteen years had intervened since its last appearance, when it was introduced a sixth time, by the Sal Tortugas fleet, in April of that year. More than half of the inhabitants were probably liable to it. It continued its ravages till the spring of 1722, when the following account was taken.
Number of inhabitants above the Mill-creek 6018
" " at North end
4549=10,567
Of these, had the small pox S. of Mill-creek
3217 " at North end
2596= 5,813
Died-S.
490
" N. 281= 771
It was at this time that the practice of inoculation was in- troduced. Dr. Zabdiel Boylston 'is known to be the first physician in the British dominions that dared to do it.' He commenced with his own family, inoculating his son 'Thomas and two of his servants on the 26th of June : and he met with success, which at that time seemed wonderful. The clergy of the town supported and encouraged him, but the physicians joined the populace and opposed the practice with
* In 1649, '66, '78 -- 79, '89 -- 90, 1702.
.
219
1
HISTORY OF BOSTON.
all possible vehemence. By Dr. Boylston's account it appears that of 5759, who had had the disease in the natural way, 844 died ; whereas of 247 cases attended by himself, and 39 by Drs. Roby of Cambridge and Thompson of Charlestown, only six terminated fatally.
A third newspaper appeared on Monday, August 17, 1721. It was the New England Courant, printed and published by James Franklin, on a half sheet of crown size printing paper, on a small-pica type. Imprint, ' Boston : Printed by James Franklin, in Queen-street, where advertisements are taken in.' We suppose it to have been at the Franklin Head, Court- street. The Courant contained very little news and very few advertisements. More than half the paper was, with few ex- ceptions, filled weekly with essays, in which men in office, the clergy, and the prevailing religious opinions of the day were attacked. A society of gentlemen furnished these es- says : by moderate people this society was called a set of Freethinkers ; by others it was denominated the Hell Fire Club. Their essays were at times opposed in the Gazette and News-Letter, and these papers were in turn warmly at- tacked in the Courant, but rather by satire than argument. 'The Courant soon had warm advocates and zealous opposers. It roused the attention of the government and of some of the clergy. Dr. I. Mather openly denounced the paper in an address to the publick, Jan. 29, 1722. James Franklin was shortly after imprisoned and forbidden to print, and the paper was for some time issued in the name of his brother Benjamin, who was an apprentice with him, and was the unknown au- thor of some interesting pieces, that were inserted in the Courant.
The Second Episcopal society is that which worships in Christ-Church, Salem-street. Its records begin thus : 'Laus Deo. Boston, N.E. the 2d September, 1722. At the request of several gentlemen, who had purchased a piece of ground at the north end of Boston. to build a church on, the Rev. Samuel Myles ordered his clerk to give notice to his congre- gation, that all those who were willing to contribute towards erecting another church, at the north end of Boston, were de- sired to meet at King's Chapel, the Wednesday following. Agrecably to which notification, several persons assembled and chose Mr. John Barnes, treasurer, Thomas Greaves, Esq. Messrs. Geo. Craddock, Anthony Blount, John Gibbins, Thos. Selby, and Geo. Monk, a committee to receive subscriptions and build a church on said ground at the north end of Bos- ton.' The preamble to their subscription ran thus : ` Where- as the Church of England, at the south part of Boston, is not large enough to contain all the people that would come to it ; and several well disposed persons having already bought a
220
HISTORY OF BOSTON.
piece of ground at the north part of said town to build a church on : We, the subscribers, being willing to forward so good a work, do accordingly atfix to our names what each of us will cheerfully contribute.'
The list of subscribers and benefactors contains the names of 214 persons, whose subscriptions amounted to £727. 18s st.
On the 15th day of April, 1723, the corner stone of Christ Church was laid by the Rev. Samuel Myles, minister of King's chapel, accompanied by the gentlemen of his congre- gation. The- ceremony was concluded with these words, " May the gates of hell never prevail against it." The build- ing was completed during the succeeding summer and autumn, and first opened for publick worship on the 29th day of Dec. in the same year, by the Rev. Timothy Cutler, D. D. the first rector of this church. The appropriate passage of scrip- ture from which the preacher addressed a numerous audi- ence on this interesting occasion was, " For mine house shall be called an house of prayer for all people." Isaiah Ivi. 7.
At the opening of the church, the usual audience is stated to have been about 400 persons : the number of purchasers of pews was fifty-three .*
The great tide, (which we alluded to, p. 109,) occurred on the 24th of Feb. 1723, and is thus described by Cotton Mather : ' It rose two feet higher than ever had been known unto the country, and the city of Boston particularly suffered from it incredible mischiefs and losses. It rose two or three feet above the famous Long Wharf, and flowed over the other wharves and streets, to so surprising an height, that we could sail in boats from the Southern battery to the rise of ground in King-street, and from thence to the rise of ground ascend- ing toward the North meeting-house. It filled all the cellars, and filled the floors of the lower rooms in the houses and warehouses in town.'
The New-England Courant ceased to be published in the beginning of the year 1727, and on Monday, the 20th of March in that year, the fourth newspaper, being the New- England Weekly Journal, appeared. It was issued on a half
* See Rev. Mr. Eaton's Historical Discourse.
Purchasers of Pews in North or Christ Church, 1723. Wm. Abraham, Jos. Amy, Anthony Blount, - Bissell, - Ballard, - Bedgood, Thos. Bennet, Walter Brown, Geo. Barrow, - Boulderson, Dan'l Crackford, Wm. Clarke, Isaac Dickenson, Timo. Daniel, Dr. Thomas Graves, Mary Gibbs, Increase Gatchell, - Hooton, Jobn Iloward, Rob't Harris, Wm.Hislop, Rob't Harrison, - Hender, North Ingham, - Jenkins, Win. Jones, James King, - Lawlor, - Moall, Gillam Phillips, Wm. Patten, Wm. Priggs, John Petell, Wm. and Thos. Price, Geo. Pemberton, Henry Pigeon, Step. Perks, John Rachell, Nich. Roach, Wm. Ride- out, Geo. Skinner, Edw. Stanbridge, John Sowerby, Arthur Savage, Adam Tuck, Rob't Temple, Thos Tippen, Mary Tomlins, Henry Venner, Maj. Vassall, Rob't Ward, Abr. Winter.
1
221
HISTORY OF BOSTON.
sheet of foolscap size, folio. Imprint, 'Boston ; Printed by S. Knecland, at the printing-house in Queen-street, where ap- vertisements are taken in.' Several literary gentlemen furnish- ed this paper with short essays on miscellaneous subjects, more of a moral than of a political nature, and which, al- though well written did not occasion an excitement in the pub- lick mind like that produced by the writers for the Courant.
CHAPTER XL.
.. fair Religion's beauteous temples rise, The altars of the heart's best sacrifice ; Various their names, yet still alike their plan,
1
N. H. Wright.
THE Church in Federal-street (which was the thirteenth re- ligious society in Boston) was originally constituted by a num- ber of Presbyterian families from the North of Ireland, the descendants of emigrants from Scotland to Ireland in the reign of James I. They arrived in Boston in the year 1727, accompanied by the Rev. John Moorhead, by whose pious zeal and assiduity the society was established. They pur- chased a convenient lot at the corner of Bury-street and Long- lane (now called Berry and Federal-streets), and altered a barn, which stood on the ground, into a house of worship. This was in 1 729,and the congregation having increased, they af- terwards added two wings to the building. This rude and lowly edifice was their place of worship until 1744, when a new and convenient church was erected. At that time the society was in a flourishing condition. There were twelve elders, corres- pondent to the number of districts or sections, into which the congregation was divided. Mr. Moorhead (whose settlement took place March 30, 1730) was most cordially attached to his flock, and they cherished for him a reciprocal affection. With the zealous enforcement of doctrines which he sincerely espoused, he was unwearied in his endeavours to promote and maintain virtuous practice among his people. He was fa- voured with a strong constitution and his labours were unin- terrupted, until a few days before his decease, December 2, 1773, in the seventieth year of his age. We are not inform- ed particularly of the history of the church in the interval between the death of Mr. Moorhead and the instalment of the Rev. David Annan as their pastor in 1783. Mr. A. was dis- missed at his own request by the Presbytery in 1786 ; and
a
------
- ---
222
HISTORY OF BOSTON.
soon after that event, the society in Federal-street relinquish- ed the Presbyterian regimen and embraced the Congrega- tional order.
' Dr. Douglass, in his Summary, speaking of Mr. Moor- head's congregation, has the following note. " They erected a Presbyterian meeting-house in Boston, Mr. John Morehead their presbyter, as appears by an inscription, in two col- umns, and not elegant.
THE FIRST COLUMN.
This chh. of presbyterian strangers was congregated an. dom. 1729. Anno. dom. 1744, by a small but generous Illa manebit. Labilis e contra si sit erana
Suprema. Desiderio J. M. hujus ecclesia.
THE SECOND COLUMN.
This building was begun anno. dom. 1742, and finished Number. Hujus fundamen saxum est. Domus Peribit. Gloria Christi lex nostra
Christique pastor, and first preached in May 6th.
Latin and English interlarded is new, excepting in bur- lesque ; likewise the disposition of these lines is singular, and to be rightly understood must be read by joining the several lines of each column."
' This inscription was probably in collateral columns. It is perplexing to read it in the form in which it is placed by Dr. Douglass, and it may be acceptable to have it presented in a more intelligible arrangement. In doing this we take the liberty to include the Latin portion in a parenthesis, and to correct a probable typographical error in the third line of the inscription, substituting the word arena for erana.
' This Church of Presbyterian strangers was congregated Anno Dom. 1729. This building was begun Anno Dom. 1742, and finished Anno Dom. 1744, by a small but generous num- ber. (Hujus fundamen saxum est. Domus illa manebit. Labilis è contra si sit arena peribit. Gloria Christi lex nos- tra suprema. Desiderio J. M. hujus ecclesia, Christique pastor) and first preached in May 6th.'*
* ' We should infer from Dr. D. i. 368, that this inscription was placed in the church. There was none such in the house within the recollection of any of the society.'-Sce Memoir appended to the Rev. Dr. Channing's sermon at ord. of Rev. Mr. Gannett.
The record of baptisms for the two first years of this church gives us the following family names : Campbell, Knox, Miller, Sloan, Little, McCurdy, Hogg, Moor, Watts, Crosier, Ruthi- erford, Morton, Smith, Tom, Kirkland, Wilson, Young, Hodge, Shirlow, Hutchinson, Patter- son, Patrick, Walker, Lee, Maxwell, Chesnut, MaClure, Harper, Tatt, MaQuistion, Speer, Whipple, MaClean, Stewart, Sinclair, Mitchell, Gwinn, Nicols, Dixon, MacDugall, Pbarr, Ross, Mickleravie, Awel, Black, Quigg, Bryant.
223
HISTORY OF BOSTON.
The Hollis-street Church claims the next rank in point of age. ' Upon a motion made by his Ex. Jonathan Belcher, Esq. unto William Pain, Esq. that if he with a convenient number would associate themselves together and build a house for the publick worship of God, on a piece of land belonging to His Excellency, in Hollis-street, at the south part of Bos- ton, that he, viz. Ilis Ex. would make them a present of said " land for that use ; upon which motion, divers persons met at the house of Mr. Hopestill Foster, on the 21st of January, 1730-1 [?] and after mature consideration and debate, the fol- lowing persons subscribed,' viz. Wm. Pain, Esq. Sam'l Wells, Esq. John Clough, Caleb Eddy, John Bennett, Silence Allen, Thos. Walker, John Walker, Israel How, John Blake, Hen- ry Gibbon. Jos. Payson, James Day, Hopestill Foster, Eben'r Clough, Thos. Trott, Thos. Milven, Thos. Clough, Sutton Byles, Alden Bass, Benja. Russell, Jos. Hambleton, Nath. Fairfield, John Goldsmith, Isaac Loring, Wm. Cunningham.
On the 2d of March, the governour conveyed the land, and they proceeded to erect a house 40 feet by 30, with a steeple. It was finished and dedicated June 18, 1732. On the 14th of November, ' the church was gathered, with fasting and pray- er, assisted by the ministers of the town. The person who more immediately formed them was the Rev. Dr. Joseph Sewall,' of the Old South, who drew the church covenant .*
* The Hollis-street Church Covenant.
We, whose names are hereunto subscribed, apprehending ourselves called in the provi- dence of God, though unworthy, to unite in chli. fellowship, and seek the settlement of all the gospel institutions among us, do now enter into covenant with G. and one another, as follows : 1. We declare our belief of the S. S. as the word of G. and perfect rule of faith and obedience, resolving, by his grace, to conform to themn ; and we adhere to the faith and order of the gospel as exhib. by these chhs. in their conf. of faith and platform of chh. dis- cipline, for the substance of them. 2. We give up ourselves in an everlasting covenant to the L. Jehovah, who is the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, as to our creator, redeemer, and sanctifier, to love, obey, and serve him forever. 3. We own and submit to the L. J. C. as the head of his body the chih. receiving and relying upon him as the great high priest, prophet, and king of our salvation. 4. We give ourselves each to other by the will of G. engaging by his help to carry it towards one another as fellow members in chh. society, to watch over one another in brotherly I. and to walk together in a due subjection to, and at- tendance upon the orders and ordinances appointed by C. and enjoined his chhs. in the gos- pel. 5. We thankfully acknowledge, that our posterity are included in the gospel cove- nant, and accordingly promise to bring them up in the nurture and adm. of the L. and to own them in their covenant relation, according to the rule of God's word. 6. We promise to do our endeavour to procure the settlement and continuance of all the offices and officers appointed by C. the great shepherd for the edification of his chh. and to do our duty faith-' fully for their maintenance and encouragement, and to carry it towards them as the gospel requires. 7. We promise to preserve communion with the chibs. of C. walking together in the faith and order of the gospel, by giving and rec. mut. counsel and assistance in all cases wherein it shall be needful. And now we repar to the blood of the great sacrifice for the
- -- -
£
224
HISTORY OF BOSTON.
The names of the first members were John Clough, Jos. Pay- son, Henry Gibbon, Jas. Day, Jona. Neal, Hopestill Foster, Eben'r Clough, Nath. Fairfield, John Cravath, Alden Bass, John Blake, Thomas Trott, Isaac Loring. November 20th, they ' voted to call the Rev. Mr. Mather Byles to take the pas- toral care and charge of them,' and ' after this the congrega- tion were also called together and allowed the privilege of a written vote.' They unanimously concurred, and Mr. Byles, having ' advised with the united ministers of the city,' accep- ted the call, and was ordained on Wednesday, the 20th of December, preaching his own ordination sermon, from 2 Tim. ii. 17.
' By reason that the Chapel was full, and no pews to be bought by new comers,' the first step towards the formation of Trinity Church appears to have been taken on the 25th of April, 1728, when the piece of land on which the building stands, at the corner of Summer-street and Bishop-alley (now Hawley-street) was conveyed by Wm. Speakman to Leonard Vassall, John Barnes, John Gibbens, apothecary, on condition that they shall and will with all convenient speed immedi- ately after the said conveyance endeavour to procure a building to be erected on the said land, for the worship of God :- which building or church they, any or either of them, shall take care to be contrived and disposed, both within and without, as they or any or either of them, in the absence of the other, shall find and judge mnost conducing to the decent and regular performance of divine service, according to the rubrick of the common prayer book, used by the church of England, as by law established.' A subscription was com- menced April 6, 1730, and continued Oct. 17, 1733, and the subscribers were to be ' repaid, in proportion as money arises from the sale of the pews, or any benefactors.' The corner- stone was laid, April 15, 1734, and bears the following inscrip- tion : Trinity Church. This corner stone wus laid by the Rev. Mr. Commissary Price, the 15th April, 1734.'
On the 15th of August, 1735, ' the Rev. Mr. Thomas Har- ward read prayers according to the rubrick of the church of England, and the Rev. Roger Price, his lordship's [the Bishop of London's] commissary preached the first sermon in Trinity church, from Heb. x. 23-which sermon was preach- ed before a large number of people, His Excellency Jonathan Belcher, Esq. being present.' Services were somewhat sta-
pardon of all our sins, depending entirely upon our L. J. C. for acceptance with G. and for his good spirit to enable us to keep his holy covenant. And we humbly ask the pray- ers of God's people, that we and our offspring may obtain all the blessings of this covenant, for the sake of Jesus Christ, to whom with God the Father, and God the Holy Ghost, be glory in the churches forever. Amen.
225
HISTORY OF BOSTON.
tedly performed in this church, by the [episcopal] ministers of the town, until Mr. Addington Davenport, who was assis- tant to Mr. Price at the chapel, (and a very popular man among the dissenters,) was invited to become their minister. The first overtures were made to him, Dec. 5, 1737, and he expressed his assent on condition 'the Bishop of London should grant him leave.' A correspondence was instituted to effect this object, which was accomplished ; and on ' May 8, 1740, Mr. Davenport came into the church, with the commit- tee, and accepted the invitation : thereupon by the proprie- tors was presented and inducted into the church, invested in all the benefits and perquisites of the same, and accordingly put into possession in the manner of a donative church.'*
There had been several ineffectual efforts towards the es- tablishment of a regular market in Boston, previous to the period to which our history has advanced. At length a vote was obtained March 11, 1734, ' to choose a committee to think of and assign three suitable places for erecting markets, and the cost and charge thereof :' 517 being the number in favour of the proposal, and 399 against it. April 24th, in town-meeting, ' It is voted and ordered, that Three places be, and hereby are at present assigned for the aforesaid Market. And that they may be made fit and commodious for the re- ception of such as from time to time may bring their Com- modities there for Sale, that the Sum of seven hundred pounds be allowed and paid out of the Town-Treasury, to Thomas Fitch, Edward Hutchinson, Thomas Palmer, Jacob Wendell, Esqrs. Messieurs Nathanael Cunningham, James Watson, Francis Willoughby, and John Steel, to enable them to Effect the Buildings, and other necessarys at the Three several pla- ces assigned for that use. And that a piece of Land,-front- ing on the main street leading to Roxbury, known by the Name of Orange-Street, over against the House and Land of Thomas Downe, there measuring seventy feet, is pitch'd upon for one of the Places. That the Town's Ground, or open space on the Town Dock or Wharf commonly call'd Dock- Square, be another Place. And that the Open Space before and about the Old North Meeting-house, is fixed upon and de- termined for the third Place, where the Market is to be kept and carried on.'
* The first officers of Trinity church were, Win. Speakman, Joseph Dowse, Wardens,- Lawrence Lutwich, Charles Apthorp, Wm. Coffin, James Griffin, John Marrett, Heury Laughton, Peter Kenwood, John Arbuthnot, Benjamin Faneuil, Rufus Green, Philip Duma- resq, Thomas Aston, John Hamack, Vestry-men,-John Crosby, clerk,-John Hooker, sexton, chosen April 24, 1739. ' The holy sacrament of the Lord's supper was first administered June 17th, 1739, by Mr. Davenport ; the Rev. Samuel Seabury, of New-London, assisted.'
29
226
HISTORY OF BOSTON.
Clerks of the market were appointed to attend at each of those places, and with other rules for regulating the markets, it was
' Ordered, that every Day in the Week, except the Lord's Day, or other Days set apart by this Government for Relig- ious Service, be a Market Day, and that a Bell be daily rung at the Opening of the Market, which shall be at the Rising of the Sun, through the whole Year, from which Hour till the Hour of One, Post Meridiem, shall forever hereafter be deem- ed and held Market Hours.'
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.