USA > Massachusetts > Bristol County > History of Bristol County, Massachusetts, with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men > Part 105
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 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100 | Part 101 | Part 102 | Part 103 | Part 104 | Part 105 | Part 106 | Part 107 | Part 108 | Part 109 | Part 110 | Part 111 | Part 112 | Part 113 | Part 114 | Part 115 | Part 116 | Part 117 | Part 118 | Part 119 | Part 120 | Part 121 | Part 122 | Part 123 | Part 124 | Part 125 | Part 126 | Part 127 | Part 128 | Part 129 | Part 130 | Part 131 | Part 132 | Part 133 | Part 134 | Part 135 | Part 136 | Part 137 | Part 138 | Part 139 | Part 140 | Part 141 | Part 142 | Part 143 | Part 144 | Part 145 | Part 146 | Part 147 | Part 148 | Part 149 | Part 150 | Part 151 | Part 152 | Part 153 | Part 154 | Part 155 | Part 156 | Part 157 | Part 158 | Part 159 | Part 160 | Part 161 | Part 162 | Part 163 | Part 164 | Part 165 | Part 166 | Part 167 | Part 168 | Part 169 | Part 170 | Part 171 | Part 172 | Part 173 | Part 174 | Part 175 | Part 176 | Part 177 | Part 178 | Part 179 | Part 180 | Part 181 | Part 182 | Part 183 | Part 184 | Part 185 | Part 186 | Part 187 | Part 188 | Part 189 | Part 190 | Part 191 | Part 192 | Part 193 | Part 194 | Part 195 | Part 196 | Part 197 | Part 198 | Part 199 | Part 200 | Part 201 | Part 202 | Part 203 | Part 204 | Part 205 | Part 206 | Part 207 | Part 208 | Part 209 | Part 210 | Part 211 | Part 212 | Part 213 | Part 214 | Part 215 | Part 216 | Part 217 | Part 218 | Part 219 | Part 220 | Part 221
" To the Honorable Committee of Norton, North Precinct :
"SIRS,-Having taken into serious consideration your invitation to me in the name of your precinct to settle with you in the work of the min- istry, and your proposals in order . . . I have at lengthi come to con- clude in the affirmative, admiring the subsequent alteration of the follow- ing article : Whereas, you have voted one hundred pounds for my annual support, considering the different expenses you will be at on the account of finishing your meeting-house, ministers, settlement, &c., I accept it for the first and second years of my settlement with you, provided that the third year it be advanced to one hundred and ten, the fourth year to one hundred and twenty pounds, and that as supply I be annually pro- vided with a sufficient quantity of firewood; provided also that money be in equal valne, as it is in its present currency, and if it increases or diminishes in its value my salary increases or lessens accordingly.
"Your true friend and humble servant, " EBENEZER WHITE."
At an adjourned meeting it was voted to comply with Mr. White's request as to increase in salary, not, however, unanimously, for a protest to the same was entered by Josiah Pratt, Nathaniel Brinton, Samuel Skinner, and Benjamin Skinner.
At a meeting held Jan. 3, 1736, it was voted the sum of fifteen pounds to defray the expenses of Mr. White's ordination. This was to be expended for the entertainment of the ministers at said ordination.
Mr. White was ordained probably soon after; and the fifteen pounds were no doubt all spent. The names of his church members it is impossible to ascertain with any certainty, but the following-named persons withdrew from Mr. Avery's church, at Norton, and as everybody went to meeting in those days, it is fair to presume that they constituted the main member- ship of Mr. White's church : Nicholas White, John Hall, Thomas Skinner, Sr., John Skinner, Sr., Ephraim Grover, Sr., Benjamin Williams, Seth Dorman, Josiah Pratt, Thomas Tillebrown, Joshua Atherton, Stephen Blanshar, William Pain, Benja- min Lam, William Dean, Jonathan Pratt, Joshua Williams, Andrew Grover, Thomas Grover, Sr., Ezra Skinner. Nearly all these surnames are now familiar and borne by many in the town. They found no fault with their treatment in the Norton Church, and left with the benediction of the mother church upon them.
Mansfield people. His health gave out, and he was frequently prevented from attending to his parochial duties by reason of ill health, and it has been in- ferred that fault was found with the interpretation of the Word by him, but no foundation for such an opinion is apparent from the records. That the people were very uneasy and dissatisfied is shown by the numerous town-meetings held, at which the ques- tion of his dismission was discussed. His opponents were unable to have passed a vote dismissing him until prejudice was awakened against him, upon the ground that he had not ruled and governed the church "according to the platform of church disci- pline which said church has voted to be their rule of discipline." In September, 1760, Mr. White wrote to his parish that he would be no hindrance in the settling of a "learned and orthodox minister." The town and church voted the same year his dismission, he receiving pay only as he preached, and the parish gave themselves up to hearing candidates.
On Jan. 12, 1761, the parish and church concurred in extending a call to Rev. Mr. Roland Green, and while the people were waiting the candidate's reply to the call, Jan. 18, 1761, Rev. Mr. White died, in his forty-eighth year, and in the twenty-fourth year of his ministry. His death may well have stirred up their consciences to an acknowledgment that their judgment may have been too hasty and far from just.
Mr. White married Lydia Gennison, of Malden; she died March 28, 1749, aged thirty-six years. His second wife was Hannah Richards, of Milton. She survived him nearly forty years, and died in widow- hood, Dec. 1, 1800, aged eighty-three years. His body and those of his two wives are buried in the old yard, near the site of the old church. Around his grave has sprung up a thriving, busy village, and hundreds pass and repass his burying-place without a thought of him or of his work, but the seed he sowed has perhaps brought forth abundant fruit.
The residence of Mr. White was where the family of the late Capt. Ira Richardson now live; it is one of the oldest houses in town, "gambrel roof," built close up to the line of the road, about one and one- half miles from the site of the old meeting-house, and one-fourth of a mile from "Cobbler's Corner." It passed into the possession of Capt. Ira Richardson, who was at one time captain of the Norton Artillery, a military company of good local repute. At the time of Lafayette's second visit to America, and as he was passing through Pawtucket, then a portion of Massachusetts, this company was ordered to report there and do salute duty. The captain, in consequence of some not very complimentary remarks which had before been made about their field-pieces, ordered them loaded to the muzzles, and upon the first dis- charge of the pieces the buildings in the neighbor- hood shook and the glass rattled from the windows. The captain was waited upon by the authorities and
Rev. Mr. White stayed but a few years with the ! asked to desist, but his reply was that the colonel
438
HISTORY OF BRISTOL COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
ordered him to fire, and he should do so, at the same time ordering his men to fire away. During the Gar- field campaign the captain, although very aged, ap- peared at his door and reviewed the Garfield and Arthur torch-light procession. He was for many years sexton of the town. He was shingling his house one day as the writer passed, and upon inquir- ing of him how long it would probably take him to finish it he replied that he couldn't tell, as so soon as he got to work somebody died, and he had to leave his work and take care of them. Capt. Richardson died in 1882.
Rev. Roland Green, the second settled minister of Mansfield, was born in Malden, April 10, 1737. There was a little difference of opinion about "calling" Mr. Green, as he did not quite indorse the full platform, but after correspondence he declared his intentions to follow the platform, "so far as it is agreeable to the Word of God." None could object to this, and his ordination was fixed for Aug. 26, 1761, and £13 6s. 8d. was voted to defray the expenses of the ordination. Twelve churches were invited, viz., two in Malden, two in Attleborongh, two in Stoughton, twoin Dedham, one each in Taunton, Walpole, Norton, and Wren- tham. The council met at Col. Ephraim Leonard's. The ordination exercises were performed under the wide-spreading limbs of the venerable elm-trees which stood west of the meeting-house. No record of the interesting exercises is now to be found. Mr. Green died July 4, 1808, in the seventy-first year of his age, and in the forty-seventh year of his min- istry. He was a faithful, God-fearing man, beloved by his whole congregation ; fearless and outspoken, plain and emphatie in his teachings, he was kind, cheerful, and sympathetic. He was buried on the 6th of July, and a large concourse attended the services, and moved to the grove in the following order : Band, playing a funeral dirge, male members of the church, bearers, corpse, pall supported by Rev. Messrs. Thatcher, Mowry, Reed, Palmer, Richmond, Clark, Fiske, and Whittaker, mourners, partienlar friends of the deceased, female members of the church, sing- ing society, members of the congregation, strangers, and he was buried in the burying-ground near the church, by the side of his predecessor, where also his wife is buried.
The following record of him is found, made by a committee of the Bristol Association : " In the appro- priate duties of his profession he was punctual, ener- getic, and faithful; he possessed the gift of prayer in a happy degree, and on special occasions his thoughts were ready, pertinent, and impressive. In the public services of the sanctuary he used plainness of speech, and his general strain of instruction was evangelical and practical. He professed One only to be his mas- ter, even Christ, and disdained to teach for doctrines the commandments of men. He went not to human creeds, but to the Word of God for doctrine, reproof, and instruction."
Rev. Roland Green built and lived in the house now occupied by Mr. De Wolf, on the north side of West Street. What he believed to be Scripture he boldly inculcated and enforced. Founding his opinions on what he believed to be the true sense of the gospel, he was strong in the faith and valiant in the truth ; he never disguised his sentiments through fear or favor of men, but what he believed he openly avowed. The voice of hypocrisy was a stranger to his heart, and we have reason to hope that his en- deavors to promote the cause of his Redeemer con- stitute a bright gem in the crowu of his present rejoicing.
The pulpit was without a settled minister until April 13, 1809, when a call was forwarded from church and society to Rev. Richard Biggs. Mr. Biggs' reply in the affirmative quickly followed, and he was ordained May 24, 1809. The introductory prayer was by Rev. Mr. Morey, of Walpole; sermon by Rev. M. Richmond, of Stoughton ; ordaining prayer by Rev. Dr. Reed, of Bridgewater; charge by Rev. D. Sanger, of Bridgewater; right hand of fel- lowship, Rev. Pitt Clark, of Norton; coneluding prayer, Rev. Mr. Briggs, of Boxford.
Rev. Mr. Briggs was born in Halifax, March 2, 1782; graduated at Brown University in 1804; studied theology with Rev. Dr. Richmond, of Stoughton ; arrived in Mansfield Dec. 31, 1808 ; preached the fol- lowing Sunday. He continued in the active and ac- ceptable discharge of his duties until 1833, when he was disabled by sickness. He preached for the last time Jan. 20, 1833, twenty-five years after his first sermon. He was dismissed Dec. 8, 1834, and died after four years of fecbleness and disease July 5, 1837. No printed sermon of Mr. Briggs exists. The follow- ing sketch, written by one who heard him during his eutire ministry, is evidence of the esteem his people had for him : "Mr. Briggs' character as a man was irreproachable. He was kind, sympathetic, and gen- erous. He was emphatically a philanthropist, and seemed to feel for all the woes of mankind. He was peculiarly fond of children, always addressing them with tenderness, and often bestowing upon them some small token of approbation. Perhaps the most promi- nent trait in his character was benevolence,-an un- tiring assiduity in administering to the wants of all with whom he had intercourse in the world. He was accustomed to speak of the 'luxury of doing good,' as if it was the very height of earthly enjoyment, and this was probably the sincere expression of his per- soual feelings. It is believed that all who were ac- quainted with Mr. Briggs will agree in saying that he had not, at least while residing in this place, one personal enemy."
Mr. Briggs married Miss Fanny D. Billings, daugh- ter of Dr. Benjamin Billings, of this town. His widow survived him many years. She was a woman of generous impulses, a great lover of society, and of large hospitality. She occupied the house built by
439
MANSFIELD.
her father, at the corner of South Main and West Streets. On Sunday the worshipers at the old church where her husband preached would repair to her house to eat their lunch. After the death of her father and husband, Dr. Horace Palmer occupied the premises with her. He removed to the West, and Dr. William G. Allen had his office for several years there.
Upon the failure of Mr. Briggs' ability to preach, the pulpit was supplied for a while by Rev. Nathan Holman, of Attleborough, until June 16, 1833, alter- nating with Rev. D. Saunders, of Medfield. This divis- ion of labor was caused by a difference in the minds of the worshipers upon some theological matters. On the 30th of January, 1835, Mr. James H. Sayward arrived, and preached on the following Sunday very accept- ably to his hearers, and on the 27th April, same year, a call was extended to him to become their spiritual adviser, at a salary of five hundred dollars per year for three years. His affirmative answer was received upon the same day. He was ordained upon the 17th of June, but remained only two years with the society, asking his dismission, which was granted, and he was dismissed June 17, 1837. He married May B. Pratt, daughter of Hon. Solomon Pratt. He died at the age of thirty-six in Fitzwilliam, N. H., and is buried in the same yard with his predecessors. He was an active. earnest. worker in all reforms, was anxious to secure unanimity among his people, visited much, held weekly meetings for prayer at private houses, quite sensitive, and resigned because of the growing dissension among his people, arising from a desire upon the part of some to liberalize the creed.
As in all other towns, so here a portion of the church withdrew and formed an orthodox Congregational Society. This was on May 9, 1838, and on October 6th of the same year the society was duly organized.
The " original compact" is dated May 9, 1838, and is as follows : " We, the undersigned, do hereby agree to form ourselves into a society or association for the purpose of procuring and supporting orthodox preach- ing in this place," and is signed by Isaac Skinner, Daniel Williams, Jr., Julius Skinner, Daniel Wil- liams, John Rogers, Elijah Copeland, Jr., Benjamin Williams, David Williams, Harvey Corey, Amasa Copeland, Apollos Skinner, Apollos Skinner, Jr., Elkanalı Bates, Isaac Paine, Isaac White, Hermon Hall, Erastus Givins, James E. Paine, Elijah Cope- land, James L. Corey, James H. Reilly, Leonard Corey, Loring C. Shaw, Avery O. Dunham, Mahlon Williams, Homer Skinner, John E. Corey, William A. Paine, Avery D. Allen, Joseph S. Corey, Elisha Hodges, Alvin Robinson, Adoniram Skinner, Hosea Grover, William White, Ruel Mills, Nelson Paine, Willard Billings, Levi Skinner, Jacob Bailey, Charles B. Corey, Joseph Skinner, Isaac Skinner, Jr., Elias Skinner, Jacob A. Blake, William B. Baker, Amasa Pratt, Amasa Grover, Almond Copeland, Otis Allen, Charles Turner, Jesse Hodges, Luther E. Skinner, George E. Bailey.
The new society at once commenced worship in a school-house near the old church, and the first min- ister was Rev. N. Holman, of Attleborough; they afterwards hired a hall in the Mulberry Tavern, which stood where the Methodist Church now stands.
Rev. Mr. Hunt, who afterwards became private secretary of the Hon. Henry Wilson, and died a few years since in Attleborough, supplied the pulpit for a short time, when the church and society extended a call to Rev. Mortimer Blake, of Franklin, who graduated at Amherst in 1835; he accepted, and was ordained Dec. 4, 1839. The society built a new meeting-house in 1839, which has since been thor- oughly remodeled and enlarged. Rev. Mr. Blake re- mained with the society until 1855, when he became pastor of the Winslow Church in Taunton, where he has ever since been. The society, under Mr. Blake's administration, grew rapidly, and pastor and people were strongly united, and it was with sad hearts the sacred ties were severed. After Mr. Blake's removal the Rev. Jacob Ide, Jr., of Medway, son of Rev. Dr. Ide, and grandson of Rev. Dr. Emmons, accepted the call extended to him, and was ordained in 1856, and has remained with the society ever since ; and won- derful unanimity has all the time existed in the church and society, and there has never been the slightest rupture between pastor and people. After the death of Rev. Mr. Briggs, Rev. James L. Stone, of Brown University, accepted a call to become pastor of the old society, and was ordained in 1840, October 28th. He was dismissed in 1844, subsequently taught school in Foxborough, then became agent for a life insurance company, and died a few years since at Taunton.
After his dismission the pulpit was occupied by supplies up to 1850, when Rev. Daniel W. Stevens, of Marlborough, graduate of Harvard University, was ordained as pastor, which position he occupied with great acceptance up to 1857, when he ceased preach- ing ; for a time opened a select school in the basement of the old church, which he continued for several years as a teacher. He ranked high, as friends and scholars were fully satisfied with his success. He at the close of the school here removed to Fall River, where he was superintendent of schools two years, then removed to Vineyard Haven, where he has ever since resided, engaged in preaching and caring for a library used by the many seamen who visit that har- bor.
Since Mr. Stevens vacated the pulpit in the old church different ministers have occupied it, and it is now filled by Rev. Donald Frazer, who has also under his charge the Universalist Society of Foxborough.
In 1837 the Calvin Baptists organized a society and built a church in the centre of the town ; had no set- tled minister until about 1853, when Rev. Mr. Wel- come Lewis was settled. He remained with the so- ciety a few years, then moved to the State of New York, and the society engaged Rev. Mr. Gardner ; and since
440
HISTORY OF BRISTOL COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
the close of Mr. Gardner's services, which lasted but a short time, the society have employed Rev. Mr. Blain, Rev. Mr. Lewis again, Rev. Mr. Pope, Rev. Mr. Russell, and others. At the present time Rev. Dr. John Duncan is preaching to the society. Rev. Mr. Lewis married Hannah, daughter of Marshal Shaw, an old resident of this place. His wife died several years since. Mr. Lewis was compelled by ill health to resign his ministerial duties, and is now dwelling in New York with friends. The society is now under the charge of Rev. Dr. John Duncan.
Emanuel Methodist Episcopal Church was organ- ized in 1860 with sixteen members; the first meeting was held in the hall over Rayerson's store April 8, 1860, Rev. E. F. Hicks supplying the pulpit. Wor- ship was continued there until January, 1861, from which time to April, 1864, there were no public ser- vices lield. At that time the old meeting-house was hired, and services held therein for two years under charge of Rev. Mr. Alderman. After an interval of five years meetings were again commenced, this time in Lovell's Hall, in 1871, under the charge of Rev. Mr. W. J. Smith, who remained with the society one year. Services have been continned ever since, and the ministers have been F. C. Newall, J. H. Hum- phrey, W. H. Turkinton, J. Oldham, Thomas J. Ev- erett, E. W. Goodier, and the present pastor is Rev. Mr. Jorden. In 1876 the society built an attractive place of worship on the corner of North Main and West Streets, on a lot donated to them by Charles T. Borden, Esq., a prominent member of the church.
A society of Friends was organized at West Mans- field in 1809. They built a meeting-house which now stands a model of neatness, and regular meetings are now held there upon each " First Day," and occasion- ally other meetings are held. Rev. Brother Thomas. Grover is the preacher.
In 1830 a Christian Baptist Society was organized, and a small church built at West Mansfield. A new church has since been built near the depot at West Mansfield, and the society is now prospering under the faithful ministrations of Rev. Gustin, of Attle- borough.
The " Mansfield and Foxborough Society of the New Jerusalem" was organized in 1838. They had no regular place of worship, but met at the houses of the members, of which the more prominent are David Fisher, Sr. (now deceased), Capt. Ira Richardson, Frederick A. Mason, Peyton Hodges, George L. Stearns, and others. In 1871 they built a neat and convenient church on a lot given to them by Dr. Wil- liam F. Perry, located on the south side of West Street, and have since then held regular Sabbath ser- vices therein. They have had no regularly settled minister.
vendue, and that if they did not bring the average price the bids to be void, and Cobb White was chosen vendue-master. At the adjournment it was voted that all votes and bids made at meeting be declared void. At another meeting, same year, voted to raise thirty pounds to paint and repair meeting-house. At a meeting held a month after this vote was reconsid- ered, and it was voted to sell the ground for four pews, and Cobb White was chosen vendue-master, and that the purchasers could give their notes payable 15th of October, and to have the privilege of buying the joint stock and putting it on the notes. The pews were then sold as follows: Isaac White bid off the first pew on the men's side at nine pounds one shil- ling; Jesse Hodges bid off second pew men's side at six pounds four shillings; Lieut. Joseph Leonard bid off the first pew on the women's side at ten pounds two shillings ; Jonathan Newland, Jr., bid off second pew women's side at nine pounds. At the meeting in 1789, voted twenty pounds to build steps for meeting-house.
In 1791 Dwight Dean was chosen collector, and Ames White engaged verbally in said meeting as bondsman for said Dean's faithful performance of his duties. In 1804 it was voted to put window-springs in all the windows of the meeting-house. At meet- ing, in 1808, to see about ministerial affairs, it was voted that means be used to continue the preaching of the gospel in said parish, and there was chosen at that meeting to see that the pulpit was supplied, Deacon Abijah Leonard, Deacon Daniel Williams, and Dr. Rolland Green. Voted that Mr. Simeon Dag- gett should have an invitation to preach one Sabbath. Instructed committee not to pay over eight dollars per week to any minister. Instructed committee to see those persons who belong to the town and have separated themselves from the parish if they will come in again and help support a minister. Voted that said committee be requested to relate what they had heard relative to a man in the country, which was understood to be Mr. Chandler, of Shelburn. After hearing what was related by them respecting him the question was put to see if the parish would have him, and it was voted to hear him if he could be obtained without any cost to the parish in sending him or in fetching him down.
I conclude Mr. Chandler would not come down upon these terms, as at an adjourned meeting it was voted to hire Rev. Mr. Briggs to supply the pulpit.
At the meeting in 1809 it was voted to call Rev. Mr. Briggs to settle, provided he "would come on reasonable terms," and they appointed a committee of fifteen to decide what sum to offer Rev. Mr. Briggs. That committee consisted of Benjamin Bates, Esq., and Moses Copeland. Both of these gentlemen de- clined serving ; then chose John Williams, Nathaniel Brintnell, Capt. John Hodge, Lemuel White, William Copeland, Solomon Pratt, James Andros, Seth Shep-
Parish Votes .- At parish meeting in 1788 it was voted to build and sell four pews in meeting-house, and with the proceeds to paint the house. At subse- quent meeting, same year, voted to sell the pews at | ard, Jr., Jacob Dean, Isaac Skinner, Elkanah Bates,
441
MANSFIELD.
Ephraim Pond, Capt. Joseph Lane, Ebenezer Ware, and Dr. Roland Green. The meeting took a recess of one hour, at the end of which they reported that four hundred and fifty dollars was the proper sum to pay Rev. Mr. Briggs per annum. The report was ac- cepted, and signed Solomon Pratt, chairman ; R. Green, scribe.
Benjamin White was treasurer of parish in 1770, also in 1771; Lient. Isaac Dean was treasurer in 1772-77; in 1778, Maj. Isaac Dean, treasurer; and in 1779 and in 1780, Col. Isaac Dean was chosen; in 1783 it was Isaac Dean, Esq .; in 1785, Thomas Shaw ; in 1786, Lieut. Elijah Hodges; 1787, Isaac Lowell, Jr .; 1792, Isaac Dean ; 1793, Jonathan Newcomb.
In 1792 it was voted that all the meeting-house doors have decent steps, and a committee of seven was chosen to conduct the business of getting up said door-steps ; John Knapp, Jesse Hodges, Thomas Skinner, William Copeland, John Cobb, Jacob Skin- ner, and Col. Isaac White for said committee. Voted that said steps be "dun" in three months. At a meeting in 1798 it was voted that the parish com- mittee lease the land in the burying-ground at their discretion. In 1789 voted to repair meeting-house, and at meeting in 1801 eighty dollars was appro- priated to shingle north side of meeting-house roof, as well as the south side, and that William Copeland procure shingles at the eastward, as he has fairly bar- gained for them. This rule was favorably reconsid- ered at a subsequent meeting, and it was voted to set up the shingles at vendue ; and it was moved that he who doeth said shingling shall have the old shingles and the nails. Michael Allen bid off the shingling at ninety dollars. He was the only bidder.
The parish officers for 1809 were Isaac Skinner, clerk; David Gilbert, Esq., treasurer; Lemuel White, Isaac Stearns, and William Copeland, committee ; John Williams, Isaac Skinner, and Asahel Williams, assessors.
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.