History of Bristol County, Massachusetts, with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 128

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton) ed
Publication date: 1883
Publisher: Philadelphia, J. W. Lewis & Co.
Number of Pages: 1818

USA > Massachusetts > Bristol County > History of Bristol County, Massachusetts, with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men > Part 128

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534

HISTORY OF BRISTOL COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

Mr. Holman died Oct. 28, 1844, leaving two sons and one daughter. He was the respceted, faithful, and successful pastor here about twenty-one years.

Several of his sermons and addresses were pub- lished,-a sermon preached on the one hundredth anniversary of the birth of "John Shepard the An- cient" ; an oration on American independence, July 4, 1802; a sermon delivered at Attleborough, East Precinct, Thanksgiving-day, Nov. 21, 1811.

Rev. John Ferguson, formerly of Providence, R. I., was the next minister, and was ordained Feb. 27, 1822.

A parsonage-house was built by the parish in 1822.

The second meeting-house in the East Precinct was built in 1825. It was begun in the spring of that year, and dedicated in December following. It cost about six thousand dollars. It has since been en- larged.

REV. JOHN FERGUSON, who succeeded Rev. Na- than Holman as pastor at East Attleborough, was born in Berwickshire, Scotland, Dec. 9, 1788. His father came to this country while a young man, and settled in Newport, R. I. His mother was Ann Briggs, of Little Compton. His father and mother died in Newport, each at the age of eighty-five years.

While residing in Providence, R. I., at the age of twenty years, he began preparation for the ministry under the direction of Rev. Calvin Park, D.D., Pro- fessor of Ancient Languages, and afterwards of Moral Philosophy, in Brown University. He was not edu- cated at any college, but was honored with the degree of A.M. from Amherst in 1837.

He was ordained over the church and society in this place Feb. 27, 1822. He was dismissed March 25, 1835. Says a writer well acquainted with him, " His ministry was of great value in the administra- tion of wise and judicious measures, and marked the commencement of the system of support to the vari- ous benevolent enterprises of the day, and of aid to the labors of parents and pastors by a judicious and careful education of children in Sabbath-schools and maternal associations."

He was installed at Whately, March 16, 1836, and dismissed June 17, 1840. He removed to Lanesbor- ough, where he preached about two years. Since that time he was employed by the American Tract Society as general agent for New Hampshire and Vermont. He married, first, Mary V., daughter of Benjamin Hammett, of Newport, R. I .; second, Mar- garet S. Eddy, daughter of William Eddy, of Provi- dence, R. I.

He died at Whately, Nov. 11, 1858. He had a family of eleven children.

He published a sermon on the death of Ebenezer Daggett, Jr., delivered Dec. 16, 1831, and several other discourses. He also published a memoir of Dr. Samuel Hopkins, the celebrated theologian, for the use of Sabbath-schools.

REV. JONATHAN CRANE .-- He was born in Sche-

nectady, N. Y., in 1814. At the age of fifteen he entered Union College, and graduated in 1832, at the age of eighteen. At the age of twenty-two he was ordained over the Congregational Church at East At- tleborough, Oct. 30, 1836. He was dismissed June 12, 1854, after a pastorate of cighteen years, and re- moved to New York, where he was settled over the Congregational Church at Twentieth Street. Here he remained three years. He was invited to return to Attleborough, and while here the church was re- paired and enlarged. In 1860 he received a call from the Congregational Church at Middletown, N. Y. When he went there his congregation consisted of only forty families, but when he left, in 1868, it had increased to one hundred and twenty.

He then went West, and made his home in Kala- mazoo, Mich., and preached in various places in that vicinity. He labored for some time at St. Joseph, Mo., and aided the people there in building a new church. In 1875, Mr. Crane returned, by invitation, to Middletown, and remained with his people there till his death, Dec. 25, 1877, at the age of sixty-three years. In 1837, Mr. Crane married Miss Anna H., daughter of the late N. W. Sanford, of New York. She still survives him. He leaves four children. His ministry here was very successful, and the church prosperous, with large additions to its members.

The next settled minister was Rev. Charles D. Lothrop, born at Easton, Mass., 1828, and a graduate of Amherst College in 1849, and also in Andover Theological Seminary. He was ordained here Dec. 14, 1854, and dismissed April 29, 1857, after a pastor- ate of two and one-half years.

To him succeeded Rev. Francis N. Peloubet, who was born in the city of New York, a graduate of Wil- liams College 1853, and Bangor Theological Semi- nary 1857, and was installed here June 26, 1836. He was dismissed Oct. 19, 1871, and is now pastor of the church in Natick.

The next pastor was Rev. Samuel Bell, who was in- stalled July, 1872, and dismissed Oct. 12, 1878.

The present pastor is the Rev. William A. Spaul- ding, of Lynn, formerly missionary in Turkey ; was installed Sept. 11, 1879.

North Baptist Church .- This church was consti- tuted in 1769. Its existence, however, may be traced back as early as 1747. It was at first and for many years afterwards of the Congregational order, though differing from that denomination in some respects. "There being," say the church records, " a consider- able number of Christians in this place that are dis- satisfied with the constitution of the standing order of churches in the land, they, with some others, formed themselves into a society to worship God ac- cording to His word and spirit." Jan. 20, 1747, the church proceeded "to set apart their esteemed Brother Nathaniel Shepard, by solemn ordination, as their pastor," who was removed by death April 14, 1752.

It was from the commencement a small and feeble

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church, and continued "through many trials and dis- conragements" till the year 1769, when by vote the church changed their constitution "from a Congrega- tional to a Baptist Church, in what is called open communion." At this time there were six male and four female members who agreed in doctrine, and formed fellowship with Bellingham Church. Two years previous, in 1767, the church moved Mr. Abra- ham Bloss from Sturbridge to Attleborough, who preached here two years till his death, Sept. 16, 1769.

To him succeeded Elder Job Seamans, of Sack- ville, Cumberland County, and province of Nova Scotia, now in the province of New Brunswick. Mr. Seamans was born in Swansea, Mass., in 1748. He removed to Sackville,1 New Brunswick, with Elder Mason's company, who emigrated to that place from Swansea, Mass., in 1763. He there became a preacher. He was invited to become the pastor of the church in this town, accepted the invitation, and removed here. In 1779 he, in conjunction with Elder Biel Ledoyt, of Woodstock, Conn., was appointed by the Warren As- sociation a missionary to visit various parts of New Hampshire. In the course of the same year he re- turned to Attleborough, where he remained till 1788. In 1787, May 10th, he requested a dismission from the church in this place, which was reluctantly granted in June, 1788, when he removed to New London, N. H., where he had preached during his mission, and was settled over the new Baptist Church in that place, which he established at the same time. Here he con- tinned till his death in 1830, at the advanced age of eighty-two.

Mr. Seamans married Sarah Easterbrooks, by whom he had, while here, eight children,-four sons and four daughters.

Rev. William Williams,2 who was a member of this church and a respected pastor of the Baptist Society in Wrentham, occasionally supplied the pulpit during the vacancies which occurred after the removal of Mr. Seamans.

November, 1789, Elder Abner Lewis came from New Bedford to Attleborough, and continued the pastor of the church until September, 1795, when he returned to New Bedford. After this Mr. Laben Thurber preached here till April, 1797, when he relinquished

the office of a religious teacher and removed to the east part of the town.

Elder James Read, who was then resident in Asso- net village, Freetown, commenced preaching here in April, 1800, and was so well approved that in Decem- ber of the same year the church gave him an invitation to settle, which was accepted. In February following he removed to Attleborough, and was installed Aug. 18, 1801. Sermon by Rev. Dr. Gano, Providence ; charge by Elder Pitman, of Rehoboth ; right hand of fellowship by Elder Baker. At the same time Edward Clark was ordained as an evangelist. Mr. Clark died April 22, 1811, in the seventy-second year of his age.

Elder Read continued in the ministry here till his death. He died Oct. 21, 1814, in the forty-sixth year of his age. He was a worthy and useful minister, and universally respected as a man. The records of the church bear ample testimony of the estimation in which he was held by his people. "In the prime of his life and in the midst of his usefulness, the Lord, who doeth all things according to his good pleasure, hath seen fit to remove him from the church militant to the church triumphant. Leaving the wife of his youth to mourn the loss of a kind husband, and three children to mourn the loss of a kind parent, and this church and society to mourn the loss of a faithful minister of the gospel, and one whose faithful warn- ings will long be had in remembrance by many of them." His funeral sermon was preached by Dr. Gano, of Providence.

It is said of him: "He found much pleasure in preaching the gospel in the destitute places of Southeastern Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and even Connecticut. It is believed that he thus laid the foundation of several churches. An absence of whole weeks on these missionary tours was always at his own expense. He returned home from them burning with a desire to be able to preach in other villages beyond. His salary was not ample enough to allow him to give his whole time to the church. There be- ing no parsonage he rented a house and piece of land near the church, and by the produce of five days' labor of the week supported his family."

He preached a sermon on the one hundredth anni- versary of the birth of John Shepard, " the ancient," at Roxborough, which was made an occasion of great attraction. He served about five years longer.

April 28, 1815. Rev. Stephen S. Nelson, who was then preaching in Bellingham, was invited " to take the pastoral care of this church." He was dismissed in May, 1820.

Rev. Silas Hall, of Raynham, came here in 1823, and remained four years. He was subsequently pas- tor of the Baptist Church in Taunton.

Rev. William Phillips was ordained over this church February, 1827, and continued its pastor two years, when he was invited to Providence, R. I., and was settled over the Second Baptist Church in that place.

1 The place was then called Tantarramar by the French, and was in the province of Nova Scotia .- See Benedict's History.

2 Ile was a celebrated instructor of youth. He commenced a school for fitting young men for college, near his meeting-house in Wrentham, which he continued for many years with distinguished success. He edu- cated upwards of one hundred students,* the most of whom graduated at Brown University. Many of them became distinguished men. In the number of his pupils were Dr. Maxcy, Hon. David R. Williams, formerly Governor of South Carolina, Hon. Tristam Burges, the former eloquent member of Congress from Rhode Island, etc.

Mr. Williams himself was educated at Eaton's Academy, New Jersey, and graduated al Brown University in 1769, which was the first class in that institution. He married for his second wife Miss Titus, the daugh- ter of Deacon J. Titus, of Attleborongh.

* Benedict's Hist. Bap.

536

HISTORY OF BRISTOL COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

Rev. Jonathan E. Forbush was received into the church and chosen pastor April 1, 1832.

Rev. Silas Hall officiated a second term as pastor, commencing January, 1837, and remaining two years.

Rev. Reuben Mosey was the next pastor ; came here June, 1839, and continued a successful ministry here for eight years till May, 1847, when he requested a dismission to accept a pastorate in Homer, N. Y.

Rev. William H. Alden, now of Portsmouth, was ordained over this church Sept. 1, 1852. He con- tinucd pastor till April 26, 1856, when he requested a dismission to accept the call of the First Church of Lowell.

Rev. G. F. Warren was next called. He accepted the invitation, and commenced his ministry Oet. 1, 1857, when he was installed. He was dismissed in October, 1860.

Rev. J. F. Ashley, of Templeton, supplied the pul- pit for three months. His ministry continued one year.

Rev. Abijah Hall accepted a call Oet. 19, 1862. In December, 1865, his repeated resignation was ac- cepted.

Rev. Mr. Lovell and Rev. Mr. Cooper were acting pastors for several years.

The first meeting-house was not finished till 1784, though it was erected many years previous. The present meeting-house was built in the spring of 1817.

South Baptist Church .- This church, which is now extinct, was established as early as 1760. Its records cannot be found. April 20, 1789, the First and Second Baptist Churches in Attleborough met and agreed upon fellowship as sister churches. Elder Elihu Daggett1 was the first preacher. It is believed that he was never regularly settled here. He occa- sionally preached at the North Baptist Church.

The next preacher was Elder Elisha Carpenter. He was settled as early as 1780, if not before, and re- mained pastor of the church till about 1798, when he removed to Providence, N. Y., where he died. He was a native of this town, a son of Elisha Carpenter, and was born Aug. 17, 1745. His wife was Anna Freeman, of Attleborough.

Soon after Elder Carpenter's removal the church was dissolved, and the members connected themselves with other churches in the vicinity. The meeting- house was taken down about 1810. It stood on the south side of the road leading from the late Thomas Cooper's to Capt. Joseph Tiffany's.

First Universalist Society .- The first meeting was held Aug. 17, 1816, when the society was organized.

It was incorporated Feb. 20, 1818, by the name of the "First Universalist Society in Attleborough."

The first minister was the Rev. Richard Carrique. He commenced preaching here in 1816, and was or- dained Dec. 29, 1818. A meeting-house was built in the summer of 1818, and dedicated December 29th of the same year. The church has since been removed to North Attleborough. It stood on the old post road, a few rods south of the First Congregational meeting. house. Mr. Carrique was dismissed in March, 1822.

The next minister was the Rev. Robert Kilham, who commenced preaching March 18, 1822, and was soon after installed. He was dismissed in April, 1828.

To him succeeded the Rev. Nathaniel Wright, who was installed in 1828.

Rev. Joseph D. Peirce became the pastor of the church of the First Universalist Society at North Attleborough in 1844. He was born in Scituate, Mass., Nov. 15, 1815, and died Nov. 16, 1880. He was for thirty-six years the faithful and devoted min- ister of that society, and was always ready for cvery good work which he found to do, and interested him- self in whatever concerned the general interests and welfare of the town. He was particularly earnest in promoting the cause of common-school education, and was for many years an active member of the school committee.

By his wise and judicious conduct and exemplary character he won and justly deserved the respect and confidence of all denominations throughout the town, and his death was regarded as a great public loss.

The Rev. John S. Cantwell, D.D., the present pas- tor, was installed May 27, 1881. A new and beautiful church has been just completed, at a cost of thirty- three thousand dollars.

Hebronville Church .- This church was gathered by Rev. Thomas Williams immediately after his dis- mission from the West Parish, in December, 1827. A small but neat meeting-house was built at the same time on the line between Attleborough and See- konk,-half in one town and half in the other,-to which (and the neighborhood) the name of Hebron- ville was given by the founder. Rev. Mr. Williams became its first pastor. His connection with this society was dissolved in April, 1832.

The Davis Centenary Methodist Church at East Attleborough was established Nov. 26, 1865. They have a neat and convenient house of worship. The present pastor is Rev. J. A. L. Rich.

Grace Church (Episcopalian) was formed in 1871. A tasteful little church, together with a parsonage, was built in 1872, and consecrated June 18, 1874. Rev. George E. Osgood, rector.

The Free Evangelical Church at Nortlı Attle- borough was organized April 30, 1858. A suitable church was built by the society, and dedicated Feb. 24, 1874. The present pastor is Rev. J. A. Wood.

1 He was the son of Deacon Mayhew Daggett; his wife was Rebeccah Stanley, daughter of Jacob Stanley, one of the first of that name who came here from Topsfield. He was interred in the new burying-ground. On his grave-stone is the following inscription: "Sacred to the memory of Elder Elihu Daggett, who died Ang. 29th, 1769, in the 60th year of his age." " Sacred to the memory of Mrs. Rebeccah Daggett (his widow), who died Sept. 20th, 1799, in the 85th year of her age.

What we left behind, others possess;

What we gave to the poor, we carried with us."

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ATTLEBOROUGH.

In 1850 a Catholic Church was formed at Attle- borough Falls under the name of St. Mary's Church, and has since been removed to the village of North Attleborough, where it is intended to ereet a more extensive house of worship than the present. Revs. Edward Mongan and James Clarke are the present pastors. They have religious services at East Attle- borough, and have purchased a lot of land in the village for the purpose of erecting a house of wor- ship. There is also a Catholic Chapel at Dodgeville.

There is the Hebronville Church, called by the name of the Hebronville Union Church, -same which was founded by Rev. Thomas Williams. It has undergone some changes since its organization. The present pastor is Rev. Mr. A. F. Remington.

The Methodist Episcopal Church at Hebronville was organized in It is in a flourishing condi- tion, having just dedicated a new church built by them, at a cost of ten thousand dollars.

There is the Central Congregational Church at Attleborough Falls, having a handsomely-finished and commodious house of worship. The present pastor is Rev. George O. Jenness.

Murray Union Society was originally organized June 14, 1875; recognized April 7, 1878 ; reorganized May 11, 1881. Pastors : first, Rev. F. C. Flint, from Jan. 1, 1876, to March 22, 1876, when he died; sec- ond, Rev. A. E. White, ordained and installed Oct. 31, 1877, remained here as pastor till July 8, 1878, when he asked a dismission ; third, Rev. T. W. Ill- man, installed Oct. 1, 1878, and is the present pastor.

CHAPTER XLIII.

ATTLEBOROUGH .- (Continued.)

Revolutionary War-Proceedings of the Town.

The Revolutionary War .- It appears from our records that the citizens of the town took an early and active part in those proceedings which finally led to independence. The spirit of the Revolution began to move the people as early as 1773. They began to discuss the origin and foundation of their rights, and to proclaim in bold language their determination to maintain them. They strenuously denied the claims of the mother-country. This prepared the way for that great contest which was approaching, and which soon after commenced.

Pages might be filled with the spirited addresses and resolutions adopted in town-meeting, but the limits of the work will permit only a brief outline of the transactions of that day.

At a town-meeting, Jan. 18, 1773, a resolute and patriotic address was adopted and sent to the com- mittee in Boston. It is too long to quote entire. A few extracts will afford a specimen.

" We His Majesty's dutiful and loyal subjects and

freeholders of the town of Attleborough, to the Com- mittee of Correspondence in Boston."

After due professions of "honor and praise to George the 3d, King of Great Britain," ete., and praying that the "golden chance of succession by which the Protestant kings are held on the throne of Great Britain may never be broken," etc., the ad- dress proceeds to say : "Our present trials are very great. A wise king once said that oppression maketh a wise man mad. We hope not to turn maniacs, but to keep the advantage of our spirits. We will pray that all they that are Gods on earth will remember that they must die like men, and the lofty, towering heads of Kings and Princes must be brought as low as the meanest subject. And here we will make a pause and inquire what we have done, what disloy- alty there hath been in us that hath incurred the displeasures of our Gracious Majesty, that could be the cause of threatening the ruining of us his Ameri- can subjects. And to set things in a clearer light we may be justly entitled to a few notes of exultation. In the year 1745, when the British trumpet sounded war from beyond the seas to the Americans, no sooner did our American Parliament understand the certain sound of the martial trumpet but instantane- ously a political convention is called, faithfulness and loyalty in every countenance. Like Babylon of old, one messenger runs to meet another, and one post to meet another, to tell the whole Province that the Kingdom was invaded at one end. Forthwith orders are issued out to the Colonels, and from the Colonels to the Captains, and at the beat of the Drum volun- teers paraded the ground like well-harnessed soldiers with courage bold, and like the war-horse mocking at fear, marched with their commanders to the high places of Louisbourg,-stormed their intrenchments ; made a discovery of their subterraneous mines and galleries ; beat down the strongholds ; brake the jaws of the Gallic Lion, and made a conquest of the city to the crown of Great Britain. And in the last war that hath been upon us, we haved joined our British brethren, warring and fighting through seas of blood until we subdued the Canadian Province to the crown of our Sovereign Lord George the 3d. And after all this, shall we be conjugated, enslaved, and ruined ? Fathers, provoke not your children to wrath, lest they be discouraged on the one hand and encouraged on the other. We esteem our privileges tantamount to our lives, and the loss of them death in consequence ; and since there is no new discovered America for us to flee to, we are almost ready to think that we will let go our ploughshares and pruning-hooks to be malleated on the anvil, and not give up our dear- bought privileges to any power on earth.

" And now in a few words to say what our privileges are and wherein they are violated: We think that our privileges take their rise merely from nature. As we emigrated from our mother-country at our own expense and without any charge to the Crown of

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HISTORY OF BRISTOL COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

Great Britain, our subjection to the Crown of Great | representative to the General Court at Salem, and Deacon Eben Lane as a " committee man" to join the Provincial Congress to be holden at Concord on the second Tuesday of October next. Britain must be considered as an act of our own election. How far that subjection was made, and in what manner the British government can possibly reach over the Atlantic to have any influence at all December 6th. The town established a "Superior and an Inferior Court, to hear and determine contro- versies that have arisen or may arise in this town." Five men were chosen to serve as superior judges, viz., Dea. Eben. Larce, first justice, Col. John Dag- gett, second, Capt. John Stearns, third, Capt. Moses Wilmarth, fourth, and Dr. Bezeliel Mann, fifth. Seven were appointed inferior judges, viz., Mr. Ed- ward Richards, Lient. Elkonah Wilmarth, Capt. Jacob Ide, Capt. Stephen Richardson, Mr. Elisha May, Capt. John Tyler, Mr. William Stanley. At upon us, is known only by the stipulation between us and the king of Great Britain expressed in our Char- ter. Although it be allowed that any Plantation settled by the order and expense of any State remains naturally subjected to that State, yet that not having been the case in our departure from Great Britain, we utterly disallow any right of government over us but what is expressed in the Charter. We have no natural and necessary connection with the Crown in point of government but what springs from our own choice, and that choice can be known but by the | the same time it was voted "that we will comply stipulation aforesaid, which both expresseth and with, stand to, and abide by the resolves, instruc- tions, and directions of the Continental and Provin- cial Congresses," and that "all persons who refuse to comply with them shall be treated as Infamous Per- sons." limiteth the subjection which was our choice. This, we apprehend, is the true and just state of our privi- leges, as they are interested in the present contro- versy. So that whatever act of government is ex- ercised contrary to or not expressly provided for in the charter is an open infringement of our privileges.

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History of Bristol County, Massachusetts, with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 128

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton) ed Publication date: 1883 Publisher: Philadelphia, J. W. Lewis & Co. Number of Pages: 1818

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton) ed
Publication date: 1883
Publisher: Philadelphia, J. W. Lewis & Co.
Number of Pages: 1818