USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Cambridge > History of Cambridge, Massachusetts. 1630-1877. With a genealogical register > Part 26
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A renewed effort was made for a division of the town, while action on the petition for a City Charter was pending ; but now, as before, a large majority of the whole town opposed the division. At a town meeting, Feb. 18, 1846, by the votes of 246 in the affirmative against 50 in the negative, it was " Resolved, that, in the judgement of this meeting, the true interest and glory of the town of Cambridge require that it remain undivided. Re- solved, that we will oppose the division of the town, as prayed for, .... by all fair means. Resolved, that the Selectmen be requested to appear before the Committee of the Legislature to whom said petition has been committed, and to oppose the prayer of said petition, and to employ counsel, if they shall deem it ex- pedient." After a full hearing, the petitioners, as in the former case, had leave to withdraw their petition, and the town again escaped dismemberment.
Before narrating the result of the petition for a City Charter, one more effort for a division may be mentioned. In January, 1855, a petition was presented to the General Court, short, but expressive and very remarkable : " To the Honorable the Sen- ate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled : Your petitioners pray that a portion of the westerly part of the City of Cambridge comprising Ward One 1 be set off and incor- porated into a town by the name of Cambridge, and that the
1 Ward One then embraced all the territory lying westerly of the line of Dana Street.
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remaining portion of the territory of said City be called Cam- bridgeport, or such other name as may seem fit." This was fol- lowed by a petition from certain inhabitants of the Third Ward, asking to be incorporated as a distinct town, but more modestly requesting that the new town might be called East Cambridge. On the 21st of February, 1855, orders of notice on these petitions having been read, it was ordered, by concurrent vote of the City Council, " That the Mayor be authorized to adopt such measures in opposition to the prayer of said petitions as he shall judge ex- pedient ; and that he be also authorized to employ counsel, if he shall deem it expedient." It is proper to mention the fact, that when this vote to resist a division of the City was passed, the First and Third Wards, in which the petitions originated, had a clear majority of members both in the Board of Aldermen and in the Common Council. The petition from East Cambridge was not urgently pressed ; but upon that from Old Cambridge an earnest struggle ensued.1 The opposition was again successful, and Cambridge remained undivided. Whatever excitement at- tended this contest speedily abated, and those who were most prominently active on either side cherished a spirit of mutual friendship and respect as aforetime. And now, after an interval of more than twenty years, it is not known that a desire for divis- ion is entertained in any section of the city.
The petition for a City Charter was opposed by the citizens who desired a division of the town ; but its advocates presented such satisfactory arguments in its favor that it was granted, and " An Act to establish the City of Cambridge " was approved March 17, 1846, containing a provision that it " shall be void, unless the inhabitants of the town of Cambridge, at a legal town meeting, called for that purpose, shall, by a majority of the voters present and voting thereon by ballot, determine to adopt the same, within twenty days after its passage." Such a meet- ing was held March 30, 1846, when, according to the Record, " the polls having been opened at twenty minutes past ten o'clock, A. M., for the reception of ballots on the question whether the town will adopt the Act of the Legislature, passed on the 17th of March instant, entitled ' An Act to establish the City of
1 In his argument against division, the principal speaker made effective use of the extraordinary fact, that the petitioners, like their predecessors in 1844, did not ask to be set off from Cambridge, but to be incorporated as Cambridge, -an un-
precedented request; and that their sug- gestion was altogether gratuitous, that " the remaining portion of the territory of said eity be ealled Cambridgeport, or such other name as may seem fit."
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HISTORY OF CAMBRIDGE.
Cambridge,' and closed, agreeably to vote, at six o'clock, P. M., the result was ascertained to be as follows ; whole number of ballots, 869 ; in the affirmative, 645; in the negative, 224; the majority in favor of adopting said Act being 421. Whereupon said result was announced by the Moderator, and proclamation made, that the Town of Cambridge, having accepted its Charter by the requisite majority of votes, as therein prescribed, had be- come a City."
CHAPTER XV.
ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY.
As stated more at large in chapter ii., Cambridge was originally designed to be a fortified town, the seat of government, and the residence of the rulers. It was agreed, Dec. 28, 1630, that all the Assistants, except two, should build there " the next spring, and to winter there the next year." Dudley and his son-in-law, Bradstreet, were the only Assistants who fully performed what was promised. Apparently there were very few inhabitants in the town for a year and a half, until Aug. 14, 1632, when " the Braintree Company," otherwise called "Mr. Hooker's Com- pany," were directed by the Court to remove thither. Under such circumstances, it is not surprising, that, contrary to the usual custom, a church was not immediately organized, and a house erected and dedicated to the service of God. There is no evidence within my knowledge that meetings were held in Cam- bridge for religious worship, before the arrival of " Mr. Hook- er's company ; " and for a whole year afterwards, until Mr. Hooker himself arrived, this flock probably had no pastor nor stated teacher. Meantime, Prince says,1 on authority of a man- uscript letter, that in " this year (1632) is built the first house for public worship at Newtown (after called Cambridge) with a bell upon it." No notice of the erection of such a house is found on the records of the town; yet the fact that it had been erected seems to be recognized in an agreement made Dec. 24, 1632, " that every person undersubscribed shall meet every first Mon- day in every monthı, within the meeting-house 2 in the afternoon, within half an hour after the ringing of the bell." The connec- tion between Mr. Hooker and the " Braintree Company " is re- lated by Mather, and more concisely by Dr. Holmes : "The recent settlers of Newtown had, while in England, attended the ministry of the Reverend Thomas Hooker, who, to escape fines
.
1 Annals, ji. 75. worship, was on the southwesterly corner
2 The house first ereeted for public of Dunster and Mount Auburn streets.
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HISTORY OF CAMBRIDGE.
and imprisonment, for his nonconformity, had now fled into Hol- land. To enjoy the privilege of such a pastor, they were willing to migrate to any part of the world. No sooner, therefore, was he driven from them, than they turned their eyes towards New England. They hoped that, if comfortable settlements could be made in this part of America, they might obtain him for their pas- tor. Immediately after their settlement at Newtown, they ex- pressed their earnest desires to Mr. Hooker, that he would come over into New England, and take the pastoral charge of them. At their desire, he left Holland; and, having obtained Mr. Samuel Stone, a lecturer at Torcester, in Northamptonshire, for an assistant in the ministry, took his passage for America, and arrived at Boston September 4, 1633. . .. . Mr. Hooker, on his arrival at Boston, proceeded to Newtown, where he was received with open arms by an affectionate and pious people. He was now chosen pastor, and Mr. Stone teacher, of the people at New- town ; and on the 11th of October, 1633, after solemn fasting and prayer, they were ordained to their respective offices." 1 Under this date, Winthrop says, -" A fast at Newtown, where Mr. Hooker was chosen pastor, and Mr. Stone teacher, in such man- ner as before at Boston." 2 As he says nothing concerning the organization of the Church at that time, it would seem probable that it had been constituted previously, but at what precise date does not appear. From the same authority we learn the name of the Ruling Elder of this church, in September, 1634: " At this court, Mr. Goodwin, a very reverend and godly man, being the elder of the congregation of Newtown, having in heat of argument, used some unreverend speech to one of the assistants, and being reproved for the same in the open court, did gravely and humbly acknowledge his fault, &c." 3 In 1636, the Church with its officers removed to Hartford, Connecticut, as related in chapter iv., and thenceforth ccased all visible connection with Cambridge.4
Meantime a new company arrived from England, under the leadership of Rev. Thomas Shepard, who purchased the houses and lands of their predecessors, and organized a new church even
1 Coll. Mass. Hist. Soc., vii. 12.
2 Savage's Winthrop, i. 115.
3 Ibid., i. 142. Elder William Good- win, eminent in the State as well as in the Church, died at Farmington, Conn., March 11, 1672-3.
4 Mr. Hooker, that " bright and shin- ing light," died July 7, 1647. Though renowned "in both Englands " for his
gifts and graces, his Christian humility was conspicuous at the hour of death. As related by Mather, "when one that stood weeping by the bed side said unto lim, 'Sir, you are going to receive the reward of all your labors,' he replied, ' Brother, I am going to receive mercy.'" The pious, learned, and witty Mr. Stone died July 20, 1663.
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ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY.
before the actual removal of the former, embracing probably a very few of its members who remained here. Winthrop, who undoubtedly was present, describes with much particularity the organization of this Church, under date of Feb. 1, 1635-6: -
" Mr. Shepherd, a godly minister, came lately out of England, and divers other good Christians, intending to raise a church body, came and acquainted the magistrates therewith, who gave their approbation. They also sent to all the neighboring churches, for their elders to give their assistance, at a certain day, at New- town, when they should constitute their body. Accordingly, at this day, there met a great assembly, where the proceeding was as followeth: - Mr. Shepherd and two others (who were after to be chosen to office) sate together in the elder's seat. Then the elder of them began with prayer. After. this, Mr. Shepherd prayed with deep confession of sin, etc., and exercised out of Eph. v. - that he might make it to himself a holy, etc. ; and also opened the cause of their meeting, etc. Then the elder de- sired to know of the churches assembled, what number were needful to make a church, and how they ought to proceed in this action. Whereupon some of the ancient ministers, conferring shortly together, gave answer, that the Scripture did not set down any certain rule for the number. Three (they thought) were too few, because by Matt. xviii., an appeal was allowed from three ; but that seven might be a fit number. And, for their pro- ceeding, they advised, that such as were to join should make con- fession of their faith, and declare what work of grace the Lord had wrought in them ; which accordingly they did, Mr. Shepherd first, then four others, then the elder, and one who was to be deacon, (who had also prayed,) and another member. Then the covenant was read, and they all gave a solemn assent to it. Then the elder desired of the churches, that, if they did approve them to be a church, they would give them the right hand of fellowship. Whereupon Mr. Cotton, (upon short speech with some others near him,) in the name of their churches, gave his hand to the elder, with a short speech of their assent, and desired the peace of the Lord Jesus to be with them. Then Mr. Shepherd made an exhortation to the rest of his body, about the nature of their covenant, and to stand firmn to it, and commended them to the Lord in a most heavenly prayer. Then the elder told the assem- bly, that they were intended to choose Mr. Shepherd for their pastor, (by the name of the brother who had exercised, ) and de- sired the churches, that, if they had any thing to except against
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HISTORY OF CAMBRIDGE.
him, they would impart it to them before the day of ordination. Then he gave the churches thanks for their assistance, and so left them to the Lord." 1
The relations previously existing between Mr. Shepard and many of the early members of this Church are mentioned by him- self in his autobiography. Born Nov. 5, 1605, at Towcester, Northamptonshire, and educated at Emanuel College in Cam- bridge, A. B. 1623, A. M. 1627, he took orders in the English Church ; but as he could not conscientiously conform to all its ceremonies, he was constantly harassed by its rulers, and pre- vented from the exercise of his ministry in peace. After preach- ing at Earles Colne somewhat more than three years (where he secured the lasting friendship of Roger Harlakenden), and about a year at Buttercrambe, Yorkshire (where he married his first wife), and another year in sundry places in Northumberland, he sought refuge from constant persecution, by a removal to New England. He failed in his first attempt, however, being driven back by stress of weather ; but his second attempt was success- ful, and he arrived at Boston Oct. 3, 1635, with his " wife, child, brother Samuel, Mr. Harlakenden, Mr. Cooke, &c." 2 Two days afterwards, he came to Cambridge and took lodgings at the house of Mr. Stone. " The reasons," says he in his Autobiography, " which swayed me to come to New England, were many. 1. I saw no call to any other place in Old England nor way of sub- sistence in peace and comfort to me and my family. 2. Diverse people in Old England of my dear friends desired me to go to New England, there to live together, and some went before and
1 Savage's Winthrop, i. 180. The or- ganization of this Church is comniemo- ratcd in A Discourse on the Cambridge Church Gathering in 1636, delivered in the First Church on Sunday, February 22, 1846, by William Newell, Pastor of the First Church in Cambridge. See also Lectures on the History of the First Church in Cambridge, by Alexander Mc- Kenzie, Pastor of the First Church in Cambridge and Shepard Congregational Society, in which not only is the gath- cring of the church described, but its subsequent history traced to 1872. The Discourse relates the facts, embellished with the charnis of a highly poetic im- agination; the Lectures exhibit the fruits of careful and patient investigation, and a loyal adherence to the truth of history ;
together, they may supply what this pres- ent work lacks in the graces of descrip- tion and fullness of detail. A general reference is now made, once for all, to those Lectures for a particular account of the doctrines taught and the books writ- ten by Mr. Shepard and by his succes- sors in the ministry.
2 Besides these, he mentions among the brethren who shared his unsuccessful attempt to cross the ocean, and who af- terwards became members of lis church, " brothers Champney, Frost," subse- quently Ruling Elders, " Goffe, and di- verse others, most dear saints." He also acknowledges special acts of kindness rendered to him in England by Mr. Rus- sell, Mr. Collins, and Mrs. Sherborne,- names afterwards familiar in Cambridge.
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ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY.
writ to me of providing a place for a company of us, one of which was John Bridge,1 and I saw diverse families of my Christian friends, who were resolved thither to go with me. 3. I saw the Lord departed from England when Mr. Hooker and Mr. Cotton were gone, and I saw the hearts of most of the godly set and bent that way, and I did think I should feel many miseries if I stayed behind. 4. My judgment was then convinced not only of the evil of ceremonies, but of mixed communion, and joining with such in sacraments, though I ever judged it lawful to join with them in preaching. 5. I saw it my duty to desire the frui- tion of all God's ordinances, which I could not enjoy in Old Eng- land. 6. My dear wife did much long to see me settled there in peace, and so put me on to it.2 7. Although it was true I should stay and suffer for Christ, yet I saw no rule for it now the Lord had opened a door for escape ; otherwise I did incline much to stay and suffer, especially after our sea storms. 8. Though my ends were mixed, and I looked much to my own quiet, yet the Lord let me see the glory of those liberties in New England, and made me purpose, if ever I come over, to live among God's peo- ple as one come out from the dead, to his praise."
Actuated by such motives, Mr. Shepard entered upon the work of the ministry here. His ordination doubtless soon followed the organization of the church, but the precise date is not re-
1 John Bridge became a deacon of the ber, she being unable to come unto us. church here.
Mrs. Shepard lived only a fortnight after this " settlement in peace " seemed to be secured by the organization of the church. She was doubtless the first fe- male admitted as a member of the newly constituted body. Her husband left on record an affecting account of her admis- sion and her "unspeakable joy," which was quoted and preserved by Rev. Cotton Mather, in a Sermon entitled The Tem- ple Opening (1709), pp. 30, 31 : “An- other passage must be from our cele- brated Shepard, who in a mannscript which I have in my hands relates the gathering of the church at Cambridge quickly after his coming into New Eng- land, and the condition of his own virtu- ous consort, at that time very near her death of consumption. The relation has these words in it : 'It pleased the Lord to join us into church-fellowship. After the day was ended, we came to her cham-
And because we feared her end was not far off we did solemnly ask her if she was desirous to be a member with us; which she expressing, and so entering into covenant with us, wc thereupon all took her by the hand and received her as become one with us, having had full trial and experience of her faith and life before. At this time and by this means the Lord did not only show us the worth of this ordinance, but gave us a scal of his ac- cepting of us and of his presence with us that day ; for the Lord hereby filled her heart with such unspeakable joy and as- surance of God's love, that she said to us she had now enough ; and we were afraid her feeble body would have at that time fallen under the weight of her joy. . ... And thus, a fortnight almost before her death unto her departure, in the midst of most bitter afflictions and anguishes, her peace continued.' "
.
1
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HISTORY OF CAMBRIDGE.
corded. From the concurrent testimony of his contemporaries, during his short ministry his praise was in all the churches. No record of admissions to the church is known to have been made by Mr. Shepard, except a small manuscript volume in the library of the New England Historic Genealogical Society, entitled, " The Confessions of Diverse propounded to be received and were entertained as Members."1 It contains fifty confessions, all in the handwriting of Mr. Shepard, varying in length from a quarter of one page,2 to eight pages.3 Only two bear any date, namely, the forty-first,4 Jan. 8, 1640, and the forty-seventh,5 Jan. 7, 1644. The first in the series, though one of the shortest, may serve as a specimen of their character : -
" Edward Hall's Confession. The first means of his good was Mr. Glover's ministry, whereby he saw his misery from Jer. 7, the temple of the Lord, and that he was without Christ. But he went from thence to another place, under the sense of an undone condition ; but in that place he was deprived of the or- dinances of God, and hence the Scripture came oft to mind, what if a man win the world, and lose his soul ? Hence he de- sired to come to that place again ; but the minister was gone. Bnt Mr. Jenner came, and by him he saw more evil in himself ; but Mr. S.6 came, and then the Lord did more clearly manifest himself to him from John 3, concerning the new birth. And here he saw more of his misery, and that he had followed examples and duties, and made them his Christ, and lived without Christ. Hereby the Lord let him see he was Christless, and built upon false foundations, and by this text he saw himself no new crea- ture, but only a mended man. Now when the Lord did humble him under this, he saw the want of Christ, and that without him he must perish. And afterwards John 5. 40 was opened, you will not come to me to have life ; and here he saw how freely Christ was offered, and hereby the Lord did stay and comfort his spirit, and so was stirred up with more vehemency to seek Christ. And then that promise was opened, the Son of man came to seek that which was lost; and he did not know but the Lord might seek him. And out of that text, 1 Pet. 2. 8, that unto you that believe he is precious ; and here he saw his unbe- lief in cleaving to Christ by fits and starts. And since the Lord
1 See N. E. Hist. Gen. Register, xxiii. 369.
2 " Mrs. Greene."
8 " Mr. Dunster."
4 " Goodman ffessington."
6 " Goodman With."
6 Rev. Thomas Shepard, probably.
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ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY.
brought him to this place, he found his worldliness ; and this bred many fears whether ever any work of Christ in him was in truth, and that he was one that might fall short of Christ, and that he was humbled ; but his heart was not deep enough, and hence he was put to more search whether ever he was humbled. Yet the Lord made it more clear from Ephraim's condition, Jer. 31. 18, that the Lord had made him loathe himself, and this made him loathe him [self] ; and here he hath found more en- mity of his heart against the Lord than ever before. But hear- ing the Lord was willing to take away his enmity, he, by Rev. 22. 14, was brought nearer to the Lord."
Besides these fifty persons, the names of others may be gath- ered from the lists of Freemen in the Colony, during that period ; for as none were then admitted to political freedom except mem- bers of churches, it may safely be supposed that all the Cam- bridge men thus made free were members of the Church. More- over, Mr. Shepard's successor, the " matchless Mitchell," pre- pared in 1658 a manuscript account of " The Church of Christ at Cambridge in N. E., or, the names of all the members thereof that are in full communion," etc., which, after having long been lost, was discovered in 1815, by Rev. Dr. Holmes, among the Prince manuscripts, and was published by Rev. Dr. Newell, in the Appendix to his " Discourse on the Cambridge Church-gath- ering." It must be remembered, however, that this list contains the names of those who were admitted to membership between 1649, when Mr. Shepard died, and 1658, when the record was made, as well as of those who were previously members ; also, that the names of some deceased members may have been omitted.
There are still preserved two folio volumes, which may be styled Church Books, chiefly devoted to financial affairs, con- taining a particular account of receipts and disbursements by the Deacons, together with some historical notices. From these books something may be gleaned concerning the condition and work of the Church.
On the inside of the cover of one volume is the following mem- orandum : -
" Goodman Hayes departinge this natural life 1639 hee dis- posed of his children as followeth commending them to the Lord and the care of these friends following : unto Mr. Goodyn of Harford his daughter Anna; unto Goodman Lewis his sonn
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Jeames ; unto Goodman Taylcoat his daughter Elizabeth ; nnto Goodman Clark his daughter Sarah ; his eldest son to Mr. Hook- ers and Mr. Goodyns dispose; and the youngest child he com- mitted to the mother. The congregation of Harford did give toward satisfying of some here that he did owe money unto 251. which hath been thus paid out to that end.
l. s. d.
" Imprimis pd to Mr. Hill for Goodman Stanley 303. 1. 10.0 Item alsoe pd to Mr. Cullott in full of his det 174. I say 17. 00.0
per me John Cullock.
Item alsoe pd Mr. Robert Payne of Ipswich for Good- man [ ] 3. 10.0 Item more a month's diet of the 4 children is owing me for " -
On a fly-leaf of the same volume, we find the disposition of a benefaction : -
" Item, Mr. Harlakingdon gave the Church a legacye of 202.1, wch wee receved a young cow for it of Mr. Pellam 2 in the be- ginning of the year 1640. Wee gave the summers milk of the cow to brother Towne and brother John French ; the first calfe dyed. The winteringe cost to John Stone 258. wch some the second calfe was sold for. The second summers milke wee gave to sister Manninge and brother John French. The 3d summers milke was yelded Elder Frost and alsoe all the winteringe of it. The beginning of the year 1643 wee yeelded it Elder Frost for his owne ; at that time it was worth but 54." 3
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