History of Bristol County, Massachusetts, with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 170

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 170

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Capt. Washburn also purchased the grist-mill of James Presbo in 1784. He died in 1796, leaving the furnace and mill to his son, Dr. Seth Washburn, who continued the hollow-ware business with Mr. Presbo many years, the latter having charge of the furnace, in which Carmi Andrews and others were moulders. In 1810, Mr. Presbo sold his share of the furnace and privilege to Dr. Washburn and removed to Vermont, the latter continuing the business a few years. He died in 1837, leaving the furnace and mill to his son, Franklin Washburn, who sold the privilege and property a few years later to George W. King, who for many years manufactured shovels, forks, and nails.

Pending the noted Shay's rebellion in October, 1786, a demonstration was made in this county by about a hundred of the adherents of Shay, under one Col. Valentine, of Freetown, to frighten Gen. Cobb, then presiding as judge of the Court of Sessions in Taunton, to deliver the papers of the court and break up the session in Bristol County. The followers of Shay had succeeded in two counties. Orders had been previously issued by Gen. Cobb (then in com- mand as well as judge) for the militia to appear at the court-house to protect the court, but only two companies had responded that morning, both from Raynham, one commanded by Capt. Noah Hall, the other Capt. Israel Washburn's company, but being absent Lieut. Reuben Hall was in command. The companies performed their duty, and their prompt response has gone into history. Capt. Noah Hall had served in the war of the Revolution, closed but a few years before, and was the friend of Gen. Cobb, accompanying him to Goldsborough, Me., where he died May 6, 1835, in his ninety-fourth year. Capt. Israel Washburn was the grand-ancestor of the Con- gressmen Washburn brothers. He served as one, of the commissioners of the commonwealth for the dis- posal of " confiscated property" of the " Tories" after the war, residing in Bristol County. A number of farms were thus disposed of, as records show.

The Congregational Church.1-Anticipating the duty of supporting public worship, the people had erected and partially finished a meeting-house two years before the town was incorporated. The first town-meeting for choice of officers was held April 22, 1731. On the 10th of May following the town

1 Condensed from Rev. Mr. Sanford's " History of Raynham."

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voted to pay all the expenses which individuals had incurred in building the meeting-house, and a tax was levied for that purpose. At the same meeting Mr. John Wales, who had been preaching there one year and a half, was chosen minister.

His salary was fixed at one hundred pounds per annum in bills of credit, and two hundred pounds settlement. His income was subsequently increased to four hundred pounds, equal to £53 6s. 8d., lawful money, or about two hundred and sixty-six dollars. It was also voted to finish the church by plastering it, constructing pews and a gallery floor.

The records of the town show the following vote, Sept. 20, 1731: " Agreed to set apart the 20th of Oc- tober next for the ordination of Mr. John Wales, our present minister, as pastor and gospel minister of Christ over a Church of Christ in this town, the town having heretofore chosen and elected him thereto." Fifteen pounds were appropriated to pay Zephaniah Leonard for entertaining the council.

The church, which was organized the day before the ordination, consisted of fourteen men and seven- teen women, who were transferred from the First Church in Taunton.

The following record from the church books of the First Congregational Church in Taunton, by Rev. Thomas Clapp, pastor, shows the names of the per- sons constituting the new church :

" At a church meeting held at the publick Meeting- house in Taunton, October 7, 1731,

"The request of Abraham Jones, John Staples, John Leonard, Samuel Hacket, Senior, Joseph Jones, Samuel Leonard, Seth Leonard, Samuel White, Eben- ezer Campbell, John White, Gabriel Crossman, Jona- than Hall, Thomas Baker, and Samuel Hacket (2d), as also the request of Hannah White, Mary Hacket, Katherine Leonard, Hannah Campbell, Susannah White, Hannah Staples, Mehitable White, Ruth Crane, Elizabeth Shaw, Mary Jones, Joanna Leonard, Abigail Hall, Lydia Britton, Patience Hacket, Sarah Hall, Rebecca Leonard, and Abigail Baker, all breth- ren and sisters in full communion with this church, living in the town of Raynham, for a dismission, was read to the church, in order to their being incorporated into a church state by themselves, and have the ordi- nances of the gospel administered among them.

" The church taking the matter into consideration, and approving their desires to be regular, voted that they be dismissed accordingly, commending them to God and the word of His grace, which is able to build them up, and to give them an inheritance among all those who are sanctified.

" At the same time the request of several persons who had only renewed their baptismal covenant for a dismission was read, upon which the church voted, That, if any of them did desire to embody in a church state with the aforesaid brothers and sisters, they might do it without any offence to this church."

Mr. Wales' ministry continued thirty-four years.

He died Feb. 23, 1765, in his sixty-sixth year. His son Samuel, baptized March 6, 1747, graduated at Yale College, received the degree of D.D., and be- came Professor of Divinity in that institution. His son John was a member of the United States Senate from Delaware. Catherine, who was baptized Nov. 25, 1750, married Samuel Montgomery, a graduate of Yale, a surgeon in the Revolutionary ariny. Her daughter Catherine married Job Godfrey, Esq., of Taunton. Mr. Wales' daughter Prudence became the wife of Rev. Dr. Fobes, her father's successor.

Like many in New England, this church early adopted what was called the half-way covenant.

This town was organized in the belief and practice of evangelical doctrines. The people were true sons of the Puritans, respecting whom Hume, though not their friend, declared that they were the first people in England who possessed the true principles of lib- erty.

July 29, 1776, about two years after the death of Mr. Wales, Perez Fobes, of Bridgewater, was chosen pastor. The town concurred in the choice, and voted him a salary of seventy-eight pounds per annum, equal to about three hundred and ninety dollars.

Mr. Fobes graduated at Cambridge in 1762. Dur- ing the Revolution, notwithstanding his frail health, he served as a chaplain in the army. In 1786 he acted as president of Brown University while Presi- dent Manning was absent, and was subsequently chosen Professor of Experimental Philosophy in the college. In the deficiency of adequate illustrative apparatus, he constructed an orrery designed to ex- hibit the mechanism of the solar system, and by his energy and application rendered important service upon the faculty of the institution. In 1787 he was chosen a fellow of the college, and in 1792 received the degree of Doctor of Laws.

The advancement of education occupied much of his time. It has been said " that the schools of Rayn- ham, under his patronage and inspection, were for many years an example for the country, and bore an honorable testimony to the public of the importance of a learned clergy to the country." But Dr. Fobes excelled as a preacher. By his own bearing he illus- trated the assertion of Euripides, that the dignity of a speaker adds force to his words. He had a marked talent for extemporaneous speaking, and could thrill an audience with spontaneous eloquence.

During Dr. Fobes' ministry of forty-five years one hundred and thirty-six persons were admitted to the church, three hundred and four infants and adults baptized, and about two hundred and twenty marri- ages solemnized. His house stood one-fourth of a mile east of the church, on the road to Tearall. His farm was of considerable extent, and was acquired through his wife, the daughter of Mr. Wales. The house was two stories in front and one in the rear, after the mode of that day. He accumulated property and often lent money, to the convenience of the public, in

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the absence of banks. He never owned a riding car- riage, but made all his journeys on horseback, in ac- cordance with the custom of the times.

After the death of Dr. Fobes the church was with- out a pastor seven months. Rev. Stephen Hull was installed Sept. 2, 1812. Mr. Hull was a fluent speaker, and peculiarly attractive in conversation. In May, 1823, he was dismissed at his own request. He died at sixty, and was buried beside his first wife in the Central Cemetery of this town.

The first meeting-house stood a fourth of a mile east of the forge, on the north side of the road lead- ing to Squawbetty. It was a very plain structure, without blinds, steeple, bell, or stoves. It cost four- teen hundred dollars, and was conveniently placed for the early inhabitants. Mr. 'Wales preached in it thirty-four years, and Dr. Fobes eight years.

The second house was built in 1773, by Mr. Israel Washburn, by whom the pews were sold to purchasers. It stood at the centre of the town, and as originally constructed had no steeple. The land upon which it was erected belonged to Mr. Amariah Hall, from whom it was purchased. It continues in the posses- sion of the parish, and upon it the present church stands.

The pews were square and high, the railing around them of turned balusters. The galleries extended on three sides ; there were no blinds ; the pulpit with its sounding-board stood on the east side. The front door opened into the broad aisle, but there were end doors with entries. A steeple and bell were added to the house some years after its erection. It had no apparatus for warming until 1830, when Gen. Shepard Leach, of Easton, gave a box-stove, which was placed near the deacons' seat before the pulpit. A very correct picture of this house is in the possession of the writer. It is the only one in existence, and time increases its value.

There was opposition to the proposals of Mr. Wash- burn for the erection of this house. Thirty-four voted to adopt the plan and twenty-seven opposed it. The objectors lived in the southerly part of the town, and undertook to repair the old house and continue worship there. A council ensued to heal the seces- sion. This, the first church built in Raynham, stand- ing on the Squawbetty road, was taken down about 1780.

ever, in the glow of sound doctrines, and suffered no declension in the occupancy of Dr. Hopkins.

The record is prefaced as follows, in Dr. Hopkins' hand :

"In August, 1782, this church received a decent pulpit, sent as a present from the church in Rayn- ham, which came to us by water, without any charge, accompanied by the following letter, viz. :

" RAYNHAM, July 28, 1782.

" The Church of Christ in Raynham to the First Congregational Church in Newport sendeth greeting :----

" Whereas our beloved brother, Mr. Samuel Vinson, having informed us of your afflicted state, and of the many losses you have in the time past sustained by the reason of the British troops among you, and, in particular, the destruction of the pulpit belonging to your house of worship:

" Holy and Beloved :- We lament your calamity, and desire as your brothers and companions in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, cordially to sympathize with you in your affliction. In testimony of this, we present you with another pulpit, only desiring that you would accept it as a little token of affection and communion with you. It was, we would inform you, the joint property of Col. Shaw, Mr. Josiah Dean, and Capt. John King, and his brother, Capt. Philip King, all of this town, of whom The two first are brethren in the church. Upon a representation of your circumstances, they all fully relinquished their rights and left it in the hands and at the disposal of the church. We most gladly received it for your sakes, and to cast it into your treasury as two mites of a poor woman, most ardently wishing that it may be always filled with a pious and successful minister of the gospel, and tbat the word of life may, through the blessing of heaven, prove what the blood of ancient martyrs did, the seed of the church from genera- tion to generation. Asking your prayers to God for us, we conclude, praying that blessings of every needed kind may descend from the great head of the church upon you and your children, and your respected pastor and all of the dear people of his most important charge. We subscribe ourselves, the brethren, in the faith and fellowship of God.

"PEREZ FOBES, Pustor."

After the present house was erected in 1832, there was doubt as to the best disposition to be made of the old church.

This house stood near the angle of the common, leaving an abundance of room and a better site for the new church near the centre of the lot. When completed the old bell was transferred to the belfry of the new house, and the parish voted to disestab- lish the old church by pulling it down, when some legal impediments were urged on behalf of the town, which in former years had acquired a right to hold its meetings there, in consideration of having once appropriated money for repairs made upon the house. Up to that time town-meetings had been holden in the church, and doubtless many remember the litter of ballots sometimes seen in the aisles and before the pulpit, remaining unremoved over Sunday. The town had no other place to assemble. It was not probable the parish would consent to have the new house used for municipal purposes, and the continu- ance of the old edifice upon the common would be inconvenient and unsightly. Some of the conserva- tives were fearful of consequences, and threats of a suit for damages for removal of the bell had already been made.

The disposition made of its venerable pulpit will be seen from the following interesting letter by Dr. Fobes, written in choice ecclesiastical English, re- cently discovered by Mr. Eliot Sandford, of New York, among the forgotten records of Dr. Hopkins' church at Newport, R. I. The gift of a pulpit from Raynham to Newport is unique. It can scarcely have been very elaborate in structure. The entire cost of the church from which it was taken reached but fourteen hundred dollars, and a pulpit built upon the same scale of expenditure probably was not of The tower stood at the west end, fronting upon one rosewood or mahogany. It had been seasoned, how. | of the streets that bounded the common, and was

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HISTORY OF BRISTOL COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

attached to the church by one of its sides only. Its dimensions on the ground were probably about twenty feet square, and tall enough to overtop the apex of the main building in a very commanding manner. One night this tower was severed from the church and overturned. By a summary process some of the young men took it upon themselves to cut the knot which their elders thought it difficult to untie. In the morning the tower lay upon the ground, ex- tending across the street, interrupting travel, the spire projecting into the orchard of Mr. Amos Hall, complete with vane and lightning-rod. What the contiguous dwellers thought of the crash in the night it is impossible to say, but daylight revealed the dis- membered church and the prostrate tower, to the no small surprise of many lookers-on. Subsequently no serious objection was made to the removal of the building. Its relics were distributed about, and some of them could have been seen until recently.

The fourth pastor of this church was Rev. Enoch Sanford, of Berkley, who graduated at Brown Uni- versity in the class of 1820, and was subsequently tutor in that institution two years. He studied the- ology with Calvin Park, D.D., Professor of Moral Philosophy in the college, and was admitted to orders in the ministry, by the Old Colony Association at Berkley, in 1822. He had preached a year in See- konk, while an officer in the college, was evangelical, but not high Calvinistic, and conservative in his sen- timents. As there were in Raynham a number verg- ing towards Unitarianism, it was thought he would not be unacceptable to the different parties, and after preaching here four months was ordained Oct. 2, 1823. The vote calling him was unanimous, and the salary five hundred dollars, with the use of the par- sonage and glebe. At his ordination a great assembly collected, filling the house below and above.

After a service of nearly twenty-five years, Mr. Sanford resigned in 1847. Notwithstanding the Uni- tarian withdrawal during that period the church in- creased and prospered, receiving during his ministry one hundred and twenty-five new members, augment- ing its numbers from eighty to one hundred and forty-nine. Largely through 'his influence the so- ciety received several thousand dollars in donations and legacies. The Sabbath-school was instituted in 1723, and Deacon E. B. Deane became the first super- intendent. Amicable relations were maintained with the venerable pastor of the new society, and no dis- sonance ever arose. In the superintendence of the public schools where Mr. Sanford was active for thirty years, and in sustaining the various public in- terests of the community, the two pastors acted cor- dially together.

In 1824, Mr. Sanford was married to Miss Caroline White, of Weymouth. They lived for more than twenty years in the parsonage house, and there five children were born.

The church now standing was commenced in 1832.

The corner-stone was laid in May, with religious ser- vices, and the house soon completed. The church contains sixty-eight pews, and cost about five thou- sand dollars. It was dedicated in March, 1834, in the presence of a large audience, and the pews were sub- sequently sold for a thousand dollars more than the cost of the house.

In the vestibule of the house where the stove once stood, before a furnace for warming was introduced, there formerly hung a glass case, interesting to the connubially inclined, in which the publication of the banns of intended marriages was made in accord- ance with the ancient law. For many years the in- strumental accompaniment of the choir consisted of Deacon Elijah Gushee's viol and the double-bass viol played by Mr. C. Sumner Knapp. When an organ was introduced, in subsequent years, Mr. Ruel Hall and (after his decease) Mr. Edward King played the instrument.

The disposition of the old house, which was per- mitted to stand until the completion of the new one, has been related on a previous page. After its destruction the town had no place to assemble until the present hall was built. One town-meeting was warned upon the site of the demolished church, and convened there on a cold day in November. After the meeting was organized in the open air, Major E. B. Deane invited the assembly to adjourn to a com- fortably warmed building in the vicinity. The suit which the town brought against the parish for dam- ages in taking down the church, in which it was al- leged the town had acquired an interest, was decided adversely to the plaintiffs. It appeared that the par- ish had acted legally in appraising the pews and ten- dering payment to each owner.

Rev. Robert Carver, a graduate of Andover Theo- logical Seminary, was settled in 1847.

In 1853 he was elected representative to the Legis- lature, and soon after resigned his pastoral charge to remove to Norton. Subsequently he preached in South Franklin. At the commencement of the Re- bellion he became chaplain of the Seventh Massa- chusetts Regiment, and was present at the Seven Days' battle before Richmond, under Gen. McClel- lan, from the suffering and exposure of which his health became impaired beyond permanent recov- ery. Rev. Mr. Maltby, of Taunton, preached his funeral sermon, and he lies in the North Cemetery at Taunton.

The next clergyman, Rev. John Haskell, devoted his abilities assiduously to the ministerial work. In- stalled Jan. 15, 1859, he remained about five years.

The Rev. W. J. Breed, who succeeded Mr. Haskell, was a native of Taunton and a graduate of Yale Col- lege in the class of 1831. He died April, 1869, aged fifty-nine years.

Rev. F. A. Fisk succeeded, and was inducted to the settlement by public services, at which Rev. Dr. Blake, of Taunton, preached. After officiating one

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year, Mr. Fisk resigned in order to join the Episcopal Church.

The deacons have been : 1731, John Staples and Samuel Leonard; 1741, Jonathan Shaw ; 1750, Jona- than Hall and Edmund Williams; 1761, Elijah Leonard and Israel Washburn; 1780, Jonathan Shaw ; 1797, Abiel Williams and Oliver Washburn ; 1819, Lloyd Shaw; 1824, Horatio Leonard; 1828, Eliab B. Deane and Elijah Gushee; 1850, Samuel Jones.1

The Baptist Church .- Dr. Fobes stated, in 1793, that there were one thousand inhabitants in Rayn- ham, one-sixth of whom were Baptists. When there was no distinction between town and parish all the inhabitants were required by law to pay the assess- ments laid for ministerial support. In 1783 the town voted not to compel those who professed to be Baptists to pay the clerical tax for the support of a minister whose preaching they could not conscientiously at- tend, alleging that " to compel them to pay it would endanger that peace and harmony which should sub- sist in a town society."

The Baptist Church was organized in 1839, and a house of worship built a few years after. Rev. Eb- enezer Briggs became the first pastor, and under his ministrations the church largely increased. He for- merly lived on the shores of Long Pond, in Middle- borough, where, upon his own farm, he maintained a generous hospitality. His preaching was earnest, faithful, and effective, and his correct life reflected the sincerity of his heart.

Rev. Ephraim Ward, of Middleborough, a gradu- ate of Brown University, succeeded Mr. Briggs, and preached acceptably three years, when he resigned and removed to Illinois. In 1846, Rev. Silas Hall became minister, and has since been followed by a number of preachers, who remained but a short term each.

The deacons of this church are Godfrey Robinson, Esq., and Capt. William King. The chief benefactor and patron of the society was Mr. Asa King, whose life is included in the published "Genealogy of the King Family."

Unitarian Church.2-For several years Mr. San- ford maintained pulpit exchanges with the neighbor- ing clergy indiscriminately, but when the distinction between orthodoxy and Unitarianism became more accurately defined, he deemed it inconsistent with his duty to continue exchanges with ministers of the latter denomination. This refusal raised opposition from a portion of the church and society, which presently took a definite form and expression. While Mr. Sau- ford was absent at the anniversaries in Boston, the dissatisfied members prepared a remonstrance re- questing him not to discontinue such exchanges, stating therein that his settlement was on the expec-

tation that ministerial intercourse should be main- tained alike with liberal and orthodox clergymen irrespectively.

On his return another memorial was presented, de- siring him to regulate the matter of exchanges accord- ing to his own judgment and discretion, declaring that his settlement was not on the expectation that he should exchange with Unitarians. This paper was signed by about two-thirds of the voting members of the church and society. Prior to this time the line of separation had never been so clearly drawn. There were articles of faith adopted and formerly used by the church in admitting members. This creed and covenant was similar to that of other evangelical churches, but had been lost or suppressed during Mr. Hull's ministry.

These discords resulted in the formation of a Uni- tarian Society in 1828, comprising twenty-five of the church and a portion of the society. The new organ- ization, styled the Second Congregational Society, included some of the most respected and influential families in the town. They first worshiped in Capt. Reuben Hall's public hall, and at length built a church a little north of the first church, on land presented by Ellis Hall, Esq., and engaged Rev. Simeon Doggett, of Mendon, for their minister, who continued to preach while the organization was main- tained.

The new society received few accessions, and at the end of a dozen years services were discontinued, and a portion of the congregation and their pastor attended public worship at the old church.

Before the separation was accomplished various circumstances occurred tending to a division. Some wished to introduce the Unitarian hymn-book. The leader of the choir, Mr. Otis Washburn, conferred with Mr. Sanford upon the expediency of the change, who advised to leave the decision to the church. New books were, however, distributed among the choir without further consultation. On the following Sun- day, when the hymn was announced from Watts as usual, the choir remained silent. In the afternoon Mr. Wheeler Wilbur volunteered to lead the tune, and the choir followed in the accustomed hymn. Soon after, at a meeting of the church and society, a ma- jority determined to make no change in the hymn- book.

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History of Bristol County, Massachusetts, with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 170

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