USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > Brockton > History of Brockton, Plymouth County, Massachusetts, 1656-1894 > Part 6
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James Packard to do the Glazing of the House, and what it amounts to more than his Reats Come to, to take his pay at the forge, In Iron ore or Cole next fall Insewing. John Johnson and Kingman to do the masing work and nails, and to take his pay over and Abuv his Raits at the fornes or forge, In Labour, or Cole, or Iron ore the next fall Insewing. David Packard, Solomon Packard and Jacob Allen to find Lime.
Robert Haward, to find one thousand of pine Bords.
Zacheus Packard, to find one thousand of oak Bords.
Solomon Packard, to find one thousand of pine Bords.
Benjamin Edson, to find one thousand of pine Bords.
Abiel Packard, to find one thousand of pine Bords. Timothy Keith, to find one thousand of oak Bords.
Daniel Haward, to find one thousand of pine Bords.
Theofilus Curtis, to find five hundred of pine Bords.
Edward Curtis, to find five hundred of pine Bords, James Barret, to find one thousand of pine Bords.
Joshua Warren, to find Henges; Timothy Keith, David Packard, Solomon Packard, Jacob Allen, Benjamin Edson, Daniel Haward, to find all the sheet work.
The above offers were accepted, by vote of the meeting, in "lue of money so far as shall pay their Raits." October 8, 1739, "Voted to sell rooms for pews in the meeting-house." December 10, 1739, " Voted to sell room for pews in order to Raise money to buy a Cush- ing." 1 January 15, 1740, "Voted to chuse three men to set a prise upon the pews to be Gin to Bid at, so that no man should Beed below the prise they should set, maid choise of James Packard, Abiel Packard,
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1 Probably this was for the pulpit.
S
58
HISTORY OF BROCKTON.
and Isaac Kingman for the same." January 21, 1740, " Meeting was held to-day," and " voted to sell the pews to the highest bidder." "John Kingman, vendue-master, who seet up the first pew on the west side of the pulpit to be sold to the highest Beder, and so all the Rest Sucksesevely Round the meeting-house to the Number of 13 pews."
Voted, that John Kingman shuld have the first pew, It being five feet Two £ s. d. inches front and five feet Three inches deep, for (he being the highest Beder). 17 05 0 Voted, that Daniel Haward should have the Seekond pew, It being 5 ft. 2 in- ches front and 5 feet 2 inches deep, for 13 00 0 Voted, that Charles Snell should have the Thurd pew, It being 7 ft. 8 inches front and 4 ft. 6 inches deep, for. 14 10 0
Voted, that John Johnson should have the Forth pew, It being 6 ft. 10 inches 13 00 0 front and 4 ft. 6 inches deep, for.
Voted, that Jabez Field should have the Fifth pew, It being 7 ft. 9 inches front and 4 ft and 6 inches deep, for 12 10 0 Voted, that Walter Downe should have the sixth pew, It being 6 ft. and 10 inches front and 4 ft. 7 inches deep, for 5 00 0
Voted, that James Packard should have the Seventh pew, It being 7 ft. 3 inches front and 4 ft. 7 inches deep, for . 23 00 0 Voted, that Nathan Keith should have the Eighth pew, It being 7 ft. 3 inches front and 4 ft. 7 inches deep, for. 28 15 0 Voted, that Weddow Ledah Packard should have the ninth pew, It being 6 ft. 10 inches front and 4 ft. 7 inches deep, for (No amount given.) Voted, that Zachariah Snell should have the tenth pew, It being 7 ft. 9 inches front and 4 ft. 6 inches deep, for. 16 15 0
Voted, that Abiel Packard should have the Eleventh pew, It being 7 ft. 9 inches front and 4 ft. 6 inches deep, for 15 00 0
Voted, that David Packard should have the twelfth pew, It being 7 ft. 10
inches front and 4 ft. 6 inches deep, for . . 23 05 0 Voted, that Robert Haward should have the thirteenth pew, It being 6 ft. 9 inches front and 5 ft. 6 inches deep, for ... 27 00 0
Robert Haward was chosen "receiver of the Bonds," given for the pews.
LIST OF CHARGES GIVEN IN TO THE PRECINCT FOR BUILDING THE NEW MEETING-110USE.
£ s. d.
& s. d.
John Packard 55 19 0
Solomon Packard. 12 00 0
Abiel Packard 24 15 0
Benjamin Edson. . 04 11 0
Weddow Ledah Packard. 15 09 6
Timothy Keith 07 00 0
Zacheus Packard. 11 09 0
David Packard. 53 12 0 Jacob Allen . 10 01 0
John Kingman 05 06 5
Joshua Warren 07 16 0
James Barret
08 02 6
John Johnson. 39 15 9
Daniel Howard
11 00 6
Robert Howard
8 00 0
Elezer Washburn 74 17 0
Theofilus Curtis . 05 13 8
Josiah Snell. 16 00 0
Mr. Barnabas Pratt 08 02 0
Zachariah Snell. 00 15 0
John Colly 06 06 0
Total. 386 11 4
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THE FIRST MEETING HOUSE.
January 12, 1741. "Voted that John Colly should have thirty-five shillings for sweeping the meeting-house the year Insuing." March 23, 1742, Abiel Packard to sweep the meeting-house the present year for 35 shillings.
March 28, 1743. John Coly to have 40 shillings for sweeping the meeting-honse this year coming.
June 6, 1743. A meeting was held " to see whether the precinct would vote to Buld Seats In the Galiryes, and it was voted in the negative." It was then put to vote to see whether the precinct would "sell Roome over the stairs and behind the front Galiry next to the wall for pews and it was voted in the Affirmative."
From the above it appears that the house had galleries put up, but not finished. The usual practice in building churches in early times was to finish the inside and sell "pew-room " or sections, which each purchaser would finish to suit himself. Hence we frequently find votes in the records as follows :
June 20, 1743. It was put to vote by the moderator of the meeting to see whether the precinet would vote to sell the fore pews Behind the front Galary, and over the Stayers at a public vandue to the highest Beder. The Demensions of sa Pews are as followeth : "over the women's Stairs 6 feet front and five feet and half deep. Behind women's front Galary, 8 feet front and five feet deep. Behind men's front Galary six feet and a half front, and five feet deep, over the men's stairs six feet front, and five and a half deep, alowing Convenant Roome to pase up and down the stairs." Voted in the affirmative.
The pew over the men's stairs was seet up by the moderator to sail and Timothy Keith Beding two pounds and ten shillings upon se pew, It was struck of to him, he being the highest Beder.
The pew over the women's stairs was bid off by Daniel Howard, he Beding two pounds and ten shillings on sd pew.
The pew Behind the men's front galary was seet up, and Simeon Brett Beding twenty-seven pounds upou sd pew, It was struck off to him.
The pew behind the women's front galary was set up by the moderator to sail, and Constant Southworth Beding twenty pounds and five shillings upon sd pew, It was struck off' to him, he being the highest Beder.
Abiel Packard, Robert Haward, and Zachariah Snell were a com- mittee to give confirmation to the above "sail of pews."
September 3, 1744. Voted to build two seats in each side Gallery.
The first thing to be done after building a church in early times was to " seet the peopel " and provide a pew for the minister.
Sept. 3, 1744. We find "Jabez Field & charge voted for Building Mr. Porter's pew, £3 10 shillings."
June 28, 1746. It was put to vote "to see If the Precinct would vote to finish the meeting-house this year, and it was voted in the affirmative."
60
HISTORY OF BROCKTON.
Voted, that James Packard, Henry Kingman, and Jabez Field be a committee to see the meeting-house be finished.
What the effect of the above vote was we find no record, and are left to judge that it was never carricd into effect, as appears by the follow- ing record, aiming at the same thing, namely,-to have the " meeting- Housc " completed.
August 15, 1748. Voted that Abiel Packard, Constant Southworth, and Samuel Brett be a committee to finish he meeting-house the present year.
The following persons were supposed to have worked upon the house in the completion of the same, as it appears March 27, 1749. The fol lowing sums were voted to be paid : To Samuel Brett, for work " Don In the meeting- House," £6 7s. To Luke Perkins, £1 Ios. March 29, 1750, " money voted to Simeon Cary for Labor Don abought the Meeting-House, to be Drawed out of the Treasury, £8 1 4." "Voted to Archabiel Robson for Bannisters for the Meeting. House £4 10 shil- lings Lawfull Money."
At a meeting held September 27, 1756, it was " voted that the Petition between the men and women's frount Gallery Shuld be bult up a gain where it first stood. Also voted that the Rume on the women's side of the Petition should be for the women."
By the above votes we see the custom prevailed of keeping the men and women in separate pews, and have no doubt the work was com- pleted, and that they were kept in their proper places, for we find Barnabas Pratt was allowed £3 8s. for putting up a "petition " between the " Gallereyes and the Hind Seets."
At a meeting of the precinct held December 4, 1758, " voted that the committee provide an Iron Latch and Bolt for the South Dore of the meeting-house."
SECOND MEETING-HOUSE .- The subject of building a new church, or of enlarging the old one, was talked of in 1760, and a meeting called to see what the precinct would do, which was held December 1, 1760:
To see if the Precinct will vote to enlarge the Meeting-House by splitting of It In tow, or making an addition to it, or both, and also to See if any person or persons will under-take the Doing of it for the Rume In the addition that shall be maid to the meeting-house, and in ease the Precinct should not vote to Inlarge the meeting-house, then to see if the Precinct will vote to Buld a new Meeting-House, and when and where it shall be set, and of what Bigness it shall be bult. The vote was first put " to
.
61
THE SECOND MEETING HOUSE.
sec if the Precinct would build a new House, which was voted in the negative." Then "to sce if the Precinct would vote to Inlarge the Meeting-House by splitting of it. Voted in the negative."
Thus things remained for over a year, when the subject was again brought up at a meeting held December 29, 1761, at ten o'clock A. M., "To see what sum of money can be raised towards the Bulding a new Meeting-House. In the North Precinct of Bridgewater, by selling the pew Rome to the Highest Beders. In a Meeting-House of the same Demenshons of the South Meeting- House, in Bridgewater, the number of them and the Setuation and Begness may be seen by a plan that will be Provided in said meeting on said day." "Voted that Capt. Simeon Cary should be marster of the vandue to sell the pews to the Hiest Beders ; " and also "voted that the pew on the Right Hand of the pulpet-stairs shuld be for the use of the menestry In said Precinct ; " and it was further " voted that Every person that had a pew struck of to him by the vandue-master shuld pay Down a Dolor, as Enerst for his pew."
"The master of the vandue chose by the precinct then proseded to the sail of the Pews to the Number of 47, on the flore of the Meeting- house." The number, names, and price of each being as follows :
£ s. d.
£ s. d.
Pow No. 1. Ebenezer Snell .. . .. 18 16 0
2. Ebenezer Packard .. 16 18 8
19. Abia Keith 22 5 4
3. Nehemiah Lincoln .. 15 9 4 66 20. Daniel Ames 16 16 0
4. Zachariah Gurney, jr. 10 10 8
21. William Packard. 14 13 4
5. Issachar Snell. 14 2 8 22. Abia Packard 14 = 2 8
6. Daniel Manley and Ephraim Cole .. .. 17 17 4
23. Simeon Cary 15 9 4
24. Jonathan Cary 15 1 4
25. Thomas Packard 14 18 8
8. Josiah Packard. 18 0 0 26. John Howard 14 16 0
9. Matthew Kingman. . 18 10 8
27. Jacob Packard. no account
10. Simeon Brett 13 12 0
28. Barnabas Pratt 13
68
11. Abiezer Packard . 17 68
12. Thomas Thompson . 16 00
13. Isaac Packard. 21 12 0
:
31. Thomas Reynolds 20 13 4
14. Barnabas Howard .. 18 13 4 15. Alexander Kingman. 17 6 8
16. Adam Howard and Zebedee Snell. .... 22 0 0
17. Nathan'l Southworth 14 8 0
", 29. Robert Howard. 18 16 0
30. Charles Snell 18 16 0
32. Zachariah Cary 16 0 0
33. Samuel Brett. . 14 16 0
34. Benjamin Ames and Nathaniel Linfield. 14 18 8
35. Reuben Packard .. .. 14 13 4
7. Elisha Gurney . 17 12 0
Pew No.18. Josiah Hayden. 18 13 4
62
HISTORY OF BROCKTON.
& s. d.
& s. d.
Pew No.36. Issachar Snell . 32 2 8
37. Joseph Richards . 18 13 4
66 38. Daniel Richards. . , 24 16 0
66 45. Jabez Field 13 68 יו 39. Robert Thompon. . . 15 14 8
16 40. Barnabas Packard .. 16 2 8
41. Abel Packard. 23 12 0
66
42. David Packard. . 18 16 0
After the sale of the above pews "the Precinct aGorned the meeting to Monday the forth Day of Jenuary, at twelve o'ck, M." "Agreeably to agornment the precinct gathered together, and the vandue-master, chosen by the precinct for the sail of the pews, proseded and made sail of sixteen pews In the front Gallery," the number, names, and prices of which were as follows, namely:
£ s. d.
&, s. d.
Pew No. 1. Isaac Fuller 20 13 4
Pew No. 11. Nathan Packard and
2. Issachar Snell 20 8 0 Simeon Packard .. 10 0 0
3. Luke Perkins 26 13 4
12. William Shaw. . . 10 16 0
4. Issachar Snell 21 2 6
60 13. Josiah Perkins. 9 4
5. Issachar Snell. 24 5 4
6. Jonathan Hayden .. 14 8 (
= 7. William Edson. . .
14 5 4 Curtis, Jr .. 12 13 4
15. Levi French and
Isaac Brett ....
12 8 0
9. Joshua Packard. . .. 13 17 4
66
10. Jacob Packard ... . 29 17 4
14. Dependence French and Theophilus
8. Barnabas Howard and Jabez Field .. 18 8 0
16. Dr.Phillip Bryant and Seth Bryant ... .. 12 2 8
DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW HOUSE .- January 5, 1762. " Voted to Buld a meeting-house of the same demenshons of the South meeting- house In Bridgewater, excepting two side Gallary to be bult in seets ;" also "voted to Buld the meeting- House the next summer, within twelve month from the aforsaid Date hereof;" and "voted that all the posts of the Body of the meeting- House shuld be sawed and the house faced South." Robert Haward, Capt. Simeon Cary, and Mr. Abia Keith were chosen a committee for "prosicuting the Bulding the meeting- House in the North Precinct." "" Voted that the house shuld be Shil- ingled with sedar shingles."
Monday, November 8, 1762, " A meeting was called to see if the precinct will vote to Buld a Belfree to the meeting-house," and it was voted to " Build one over the East Dore," also " voted to Buld a porch over the west Dore, and to sell the stairways for pews to the highest
46. Seth Harris ... 14 16 0
47. Eliphalet Phillips. .. 16 0 0
Pew No.43. Ensign Henry King- man 14 18 8
44. Capt. Lemmel Dunbar 14 16 0
63
THE SECOND MEETING HOUSE.
Beder." It seems nothing had been done towards forwarding the build- ing of the " Belfree " in January, as another meeting was called to meet January 17, " to see if the precinct will vote to buld the Belfree, and spire, already voted to be built, provided it can be don by subscription, and without taxing the precinct," which was voted in the affirmative ; also " voted that the Belfry should be twelve fect square, and eighty- five feet high from the grown." Capt. Simeon Cary, Isaac Packard, and Barnabas Howard were chosen a committee to " Buld " the same. In the spring of 1762 the building was commenced. The frame was raised in June, 1763, and in December of the same year the house was completed and dedicated to the worship of God the last week of that month. Rev. Mr. Dunbar preached the sermon in the forenoon of the day of dedication, from the text, Isaiah lx. 7 : " I will glorify the house of my glory." Rev. John Angier, of the East Parish, preached a sermon in the afternoon from the text, Psalms cxxii. I: "I was glad when they said unto me, let us go into the house of the Lord." The first sermon preached in the new meeting-house by Rev. Mr. Porter was from text, Haggai ii. 9: "The glory of this latter house shall be greater than the former." The carpenters that performed the carpenter-work upon this house were Deacon Jonathan Cary, Benjamin Packard, Micah Packard, Seth Packard, Barnabas Pratt, Thomas Pratt, Job Bryant, Gamaliel Bryant, Samuel Hayden, Phinehas Paine, Jeremiah Beals. Col. Josiah Hayden was the master-workman of the inside of the house. Col. Simeon Cary, who was one of the building committee, was master of the outside of the house. Colonel Hayden also built the pulpit and sounding-board. All of the above mechanics belonged in the town.
We have already seen that the preeinct voted to have a steeple built by subscription, but for some reason which does not appear on record it was not all paid in. For this purpose the pew back of the " Deckon seet " was put up for " sail " to help pay the committee that built it what expense had been incurred. May 17, 1764, "Voted to sell the old meeting-house for the use of the precinct in jenerail."
Alas! there came a luckless day, Our meeting-house grew old,- The paint was worn, the shingles loose ; In winter it was too cold. They called it an old-fashioned thing, And said it must be sold.
61
HISTORY OF BROCKTON.
FIRST BELL .- Also voted the same day to " Geet a Bell for the New Meeting-House, not exceeding six hundred Wate." Daniel Howard, esq., Capt. Abiel Packard, and Lieut. Henry Kingman were chosen a committee to purchase the same. October 24, 1765, " Voted to Build stairs to the Belfrec." It seems the bell of the new meeting-house became broken from some cause, and at a meeting held October 10, 1768, to see if the precinct would vote to mend the bell, voted in the affirmative, also, "voted that Lieut. Henry Kingman should geet it mended." We presume that the bell was past mending, as we after- terwards find, December 11, 1769, a vote "to geet a new Bell of Seven hundred wate. Lieut. Henry Kingman, Col. Simeon Cary, and Capt. Isaac Packard were appointed a committee to go and agree with Mr. Hubbard, for the making and taking down of the old Bell and hanging the new one." January II, 1770, "Voted to Imploy Mr. Aaron Huburd and Mr. Gellomer to new Run the Bell, and that it shall be of Seven hundred wate." In the early part of 1772, a number of persons became "larned " in the rules of "musick" under Mr. Billings, and asked that seats might be assigned to them in the south part of the women's gallery. This request was complied with as follows : Novem- ber 30 1772, " Voted to the singers the South part of the women's Gallery During pleasure." We find this produced some dissatisfaction, and efforts were made to restore the seats back to the women. Various meetings were called until, April 8, 1773, a special meeting being called, the question was put by the moderator " to see if the precinct will vote to restore the Southerly part of the women's gallery to the womens use again." It was "voted in the negative." April 3, 1775, the above vote was reconsidered, and a vote passed "allowing the north part of the womens seets During the pleasure of the Parish," also " voted to build a pair of stairs in the Belfree." December II, 1788, " Voted to sell the Deef Seet." . Also "voted to sell the two hind seets each side of the Broad alley." Now the parish begin to think that some repairs are needed, and a committee of three were chosen to report what repairs were necessary. Job Bryant, Moses Cary, and Jeremiah Beals were that committee, who reported the following to be done: " new sett the Glass in putty, paint the Door, windows, and walls, and the platform of the Belfree be covered with Led." Voted " that the window frames and sashes be painted white."
65
THE SECOND MEETING HOUSE.
SEATS FOR COLORED PEOPLE .- March 19, 1789. " Voted to build a porch provided it can be Don without expense to the parish, and also to put seats in the porch and Belfree for the negroes, and sell the room where the stairs and negro pew now are." Thus we see that in this year the negroes were to sit in the loft provided on purpose, which created no little feeling on the part of the colored population.
March 4, 1795. "Voted to shingel the Meeting-House the front side, to be completed by the 15 of September."
In the year 1800 we again find a disagreement between the colored people attending worship and sitting in the same seat with the white people, which very much annoyed some of them, and to remedy this trouble a meeting was held August 4th, "To see what measures the Parish will take to prevent the blacks from occupying the seats appro- priated to the use of the white people, so as to prevent any disturb- ance in time of Public worshipe," at which time it was " Voted that the side galleries and the seats in the Body of the meeting-house be appropriated to the use of the white people, and the seats in the porch above to the use of the blacks."
January 19, 1801, " Voted to erect seats in the front gallery for the singers, in front of the front pews," and " voted that they be erected in a surkerler forme." April 30, 1801, " Voted to paint the inside work that has heretofore been painted, to be under the direction of the Parish Committee." Early in the year 1805, the people of the parish, wishing to improve the looks of their house of worship, called a meet- ing, which was held March 11, 1805, "To see if the Parish will repair the meeting Hous, and what repairs they will make the year insuing." At this meeting a committee of nine was chosen to view the house and report at the adjournment of the meeting. This committee consisted of the following persons : Capt. Abel Kingman, Capt. Howard Cary, Maj. Caleb Howard, Jeremiah Beal, Jesse Perkins, Gideon Howard, esq., Perez Seuthworth, Silas Packard, Daniel Packard. This commit- tee report "that it was necessary to make new the wast bords and water table from the north east corner of the meeting hous, and on the South side, to the South side of the Porch door, that as many of the sashes as are defective should be made new, and such repairs on the doors as shall be found necessary ; that the bell fraim, banisters, &c., be made
9
66
HISTORY OF BROCKTON.
new, and all the trimmings together with the spire be painted, that the body of the house together with the rouff be painted." A commit- tee of five was appointed to select a color for painting, who reported " white, one shade on the yallow." Moses Cary, Jonathan Beals and John Wales were chosen a committee to carry the above repairs into execution. August 30, 1805, " Voted to Polish the Vain."
December 5, 1816. We again find a vote respecting the seating of the colored people, as follows: Voted "that the People of color may occupy the two Back seats in the west gallery of our meeting-house & no other seats, or that they may have ground for one pew in the north- west corner of the Gallery, and ground for another pew in the North East corner of the Gallery as they Choose, and that the Parish clerk serve the people of color with a copy of this vote."
In 1818 the subject of warming the meeting-house came up in the following manner: Some of the churches in the neighboring towns having found it a luxury to have the house of God warmed and made comfortable, thought it would not be too much of a sin to enjoy the same comfort. The idea at first met with serious opposition ; for the first article in a warrant concerning the purchasing of a cast-iron stove was negatived, which move was made December 10, 1818, as follows : " Voted to have the article of getting a stove inserted in a warrant for the next spring meeting," and in the following spring, March 25, 1819, " voted the stove or stoves to a committee of five," consisting of Col. Caleb Howard, Daniel Howard, esq., Abel Kingman, esq., Capt. Zachariah Gurney, Eliphalet Kingman. December 13, 1819. This committee reported it "inexpedient to get a Stove." March 7, 1822. "Voted the South part of the East Gallery for the use of the young women." Previous to February, 1823, this Parish had been known by the name of the "North Parish in Bridgewater." December 22, 1822, the parish "voted to take measures to alter the name of the North Parish of Bridgewater, and that it be called the 'First Parish in North Bridgewater ;' also voted that the Parish take measures to petition the Legislature to carry the above into effect." Caleb Howard, esq., Perez Crocker, and Perez Southworth were appointed to petition the Legislature in behalf of said parish ; so that from that time forward it was known as the " First Parish in North Bridgewater." In the early
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Bela With
67
THE THIRD MEETING HOUSE.
part of 1824 the bell of this parish was found broken, and Abel King- man, esq., Caleb Howard, esq., and Rev. Daniel Huntington were chosen a committee to purchase a new one, March 2, 1824, with dis- cretionary power to " gitt a Bell of the wate of from 10 to 12 cwt." A bell was purchased of George H. Holbrook, of West Medway, Mass., April 17, 1824, which was warranted for one year with fair common usage, and weighing twelve hundred and forty-two pounds, at an expense of $465.75. An article was inserted in a warrant for parish meeting, March 2, 1824, "To see if the Parish will agree to make any alteration in the form or shape of the Meeting House, either inside or out, or to make any repairs to either." This was the first movement toward rebuilding or repairing the old house. At this meeting it was voted to make some alteration, providing that they can agree with the pew- holders on reasonable terms. For this purpose a committee was chosen to see upon what terms the pew-holders would consent to "give up thare pews." This committee consisted of Howard Cary, Silas Packard, Capt David Ames, Nathaniel Littlefield, Bela Keith, Eliphalet Kingman, Capt. John Packard, Capt. Asa Jones, Col. E. Southworth, Israel Packard, Capt. Jeremiah Beals, who were to report at the next meeting, which report was as follows: "25 were willing to have their pews appraised, 24 willing to sell sell, 13 will- ing to exchange their old for new ones," "Voted not to accept of the committee's report," and also " Voted they wouldn't make any alteration in the Meeting-House." February 25, 1825. "Voted to dismiss the article concerning alteration of the Meeting House." September 4, 1826, the subject was agian brought before the parish, " To see if the Parish will agree to alter, repair, or rebuild their Meeting- House."
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