History of Essex County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. I, Part 134

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton), ed. n 85042884-1
Publication date: 1888
Publisher: Philadelphia : J. W. Lewis & Co.
Number of Pages: 1538

USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > History of Essex County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. I > Part 134

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461

DANVERS.

that Mr. Green resigned, November 26, 1796. The next March it was voted "to procure sum person who possesseth a good Carrictor to preach for the So- ciety this year, and the committee is to promise the minister all the contribusian that arises by the So- ciety or otherwise all the money that the committee shall see proper." Nothing like having these little financial matters between pastor and people plainly understood. It is not shown in the society records who first succeeded Mr. Green. There was no set- tled minister for six years. Elder Joshua Young was supplying in the fall of 1800. In December. 1802, the standing committee made a report on Lord's Day evening, after the service that they have agreed with Mr. Jeremiah Chaplin " to preach to the Society one year Exclusive of Two Days the committee agreed to give him ; we are to pay 312 dollars, equal to 6 dollars pr. day, wich the Society appeared to be very well satisfied with, and also voted to pay the same."

A miuute has been preserved of certain donations to Mr. Chaplin for the society :

"The above money was given hy Rev. Samuel Stilmon's Church, Mr. Baldin's Church and the church at Charleston, that is to say,

From Doc. Stilmon's. $51.25

From Mr. Baldin's

61.8

From Charlston. .

20.10

$132.43

"By a box of Glass 100 f 8 by 10 Inches.

"Given by Deacon Waitt, of D. Stiloion's

"Church cost $13.75 cents.

"1804, Sept. 18, I Reed Eight Dollars of

" Deacoo wild, it being a Remnont Not

"paid to Collector wheo Mr. Chaplin recd

" The above money.'

$140.43

Dr. Stillman was the pastor of the First Baptist Church of Boston, with whom Benjamin Foster studied. The society sent grateful acknowledgment of the prompt and liberal assistance thus afforded in repairing the meeting-house.

In 1805 Mr. Chaplin's salary was raised to four hun- dred dollars, but the ordinary formula of the annual meetings was a vote for a subscription paper, "to see how much could be raised for the continuance of the gospel, as the Revd. Jeremiah Chaplin's time is near- ly expired." Contributions were taken, one year every Sabbath; again, by passing the box around twice in every three months to collect the money of the subscribers. To be impartial in this business, in 1816 Samuel Whipple, collector, was directed "to carry Round the Book in the gallery at the time they pass Round below to colect the Subscription."

On the 17th and 18th days of September, 1817, the Salem Baptist Association met with the New Mills people.

There were at this time fourteen churches within the association, namely, the First Haverhill, the pio- neer of Baptist Churches in this vicinity, founded in 1765; ; Chelmsford, 1771; Rowley, 1786; Danvers,

1793 ; Beverly, 1801; First Salem, 1804; South Read- ing, 1804; Nottingham West, 1805; Newbury, 1805; Gloucester, 1807 ; Marblehead, 1810; Methuen, 1815; Lynn, 1816 ; Reading, 1817.

That the meeting was quite an eveut may be judged from the preparations. A month before, there was a special meeting of church and society, at which there were appointed to act with the standing com- mittee, a special committee of ten,-Dea. Isaac Por- ter, Benjamin Kent, Captain Thomas Putnam, Wil- liam Trask, Captain Thomas Cheever, Captain Ed- ward Richardson, Major Joseph Stearns, James Carr, William Johnson, Israel Hutchinson. They met at Mr. Hutchinson's house, to perfect arrangements. Major Black was made chairman. Messrs. Kent, Porter and Hutchinson were detailed to see that pro- vision was made for the care of horses; Captain Put- nam, Major Black and D. Hardy-the latter not of the ten-were directed "to visit the Nabours to see what entertainments they will make both as to pro- visions and Lodging for the ministers and messengers who may attend the association ; " " to Seete the La- dies"-there the ten passed around sly jokes, of course, at the expense of each other, but they set- tled down with commendable fitness on the three men with handles to their names most suggestive of chiv- alry,-Captain Putnam, Captain Cheever, Captain Richardson; "to keep the Dores of the meeting- house," Dea. Porter, Messrs. Kent and Hutchinson ; "to attend in the galleries and place the people at the best advantage to prevent Disorder," Major Stearns, Mr. Allen Gould ; " to examine the meeting- house and report what it will be necessary to do," Captain Putnam, Messrs. Trask and Kent. The gen- eral committee met again and "maid a report what they had Dun for the association, as it Respects vit- ling & Lodging, & Likewise to the Keeping of horses. Rev. Mr. Chaplin, Messrs. Kent and Hutchinson, were appointed to make a division of the guests among the people; it was voted "that Mr. John Dock have the Sole Care of the Singing, & that he may invite what assistance he may think necessary, to assist him." One more meeting the committee had ; Wil- liam Trask and Major Black were appointed "to keep good order round the meetinghouse in Divine Sarvis." The only record which Mr. Hutchinson made of the occasion, which presumably was carried out with [pleasure and profit, was in regard to the singing ; he himself was called upon to manage this part of the service, owing to John Dock's previous engagement. He employed, he writes, Mr. Kinne, of Salem, Mr. Carey, of Salem, Mr. Timothy Berry, of Beverly and many others attended with them. " Kinne's bill, $14-Berry's bill, 4$50-Mr. Carey came with others gratis."

The Salem Association met with the New Mills Church again in 1836 and again in 1854; in the latter year it was comprised of twenty-four churches.

In April, 1818, Mr. Chaplin's salary was made five

462

HISTORY OF ESSEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

hundred dollars, to be raised by tax assessed on the polls and estates of those persons who are or who may be petitioners for an incorporation act, and as if to give comfort and encouragement to the minister, a copy of the record of this action was sent to him. But a month later he accepted a call to another posi- tion. For sixteen years he had lived and labored among this people, how devotedly and with what mu- tual affection can be judged from the extracts of letters which follow. The meagreness of his salary forced his domestic economy into narrow straits; it is said that he often was seen fishing from Spite Bridge, and whether or not he had a weakness for angling, doubt- les the catch was welcome to the frying-pan. It is a pleasant thing to record that his reputation for ster- ling manhood, conscientious work and scholarly at- tainments brought to him an invitation to accept the presidency of the institution since known as Bates' College.

May 18, 1818, his release was reluctantly granted, and the unfeigned thanks of the society were tendered him for his long and faithful services. Further, three persons were chosen "to form an address to be pre- sented to him." Their names appear below : .

" DANVERS, May 30, 1818.

" REV. JEREMIAH CHAPLIN :

" Rev. & Dear Sir,-We are authorized by the unanimous vote of the Baptist Society in Danvers, in behalf of the same, to present you our un- feigned thanks for your long and faithful labors with us as a minister of the Gospel and preacher of morality ; and to express our sincere wishes that wherever you may in providence be called the smiles of Heaven may accompany yon. Yon would deem it superfluous were we to enlarge upon the high estimation which we have ever placed ou your ministerial performances or the love which we have ever borne toward you as a citizen. The reluctance with which we have lately assented to your dis- mission sufficiently bespeaks these sentiments. Nothing but a sense of duty in consideration of your present feelings has drawn this assertion from ns. Although your removal is to us not joyous, but grievous, yet the occasion of this removal and the circumstances under which you leave us, afford us a very pleasing reflection. We have the satisfaction to believe that no want of attachment to us, love of honor, pecuniary views nor sinister motives, of whatsver nature, had any part iu inducing you to request a dismission. And much as we regret the loss which we inust sustain by this separation, we are not disposed to complain of any injustice on your part. No, Sir ! We are rather disposed to feel grateful for the privileges which we have already enjoyed, and to hope that the usefulness of your labours will be more extensive than it could be with 08. We should be criminally contracted and selfish in our views were we to wish the general good to be sacrificed to our particular interest. That your removal will be for the general good we have not undertaken to decide from our own knowledge, but have acted with defereuce to your superior judgment, and so far ag self denial would admit have acted with cheerfulness.

" We request and trust we shall ever have an interest in your suppli- cations at the throne of Him who guve and whotaketh away. Be assured dear sir, we possess the most affectionate feelings for yourself and family. Wishing you may receive a hundred-fold in this time, and in the world to come eternal life.

"FREDERICK EMERSON, " JOSEPH STEARNS, " THOMAS PUTNAM,

Addressing Committee.

" June I, 1818. Read in parish meeting and approved.

ISRAEL HUTCHINSON, Clerk.

Many years after Mr. Chaplin's departure, one of his successors wrote: "The parting scenes as they still linger in the memories of the aged, and as re- hearsed by them with tearful eye, show how deep a hold he had upon his people."

It was at the beginning of Mr. Chaplin's ministry that the Beverly people withdrew to form a church of their own, and by reason of their dismissal and from other canses, the parent church was left in a low con- dition, with but thirty-eight members. At the close of Mr. Chaplin's ministry the membership was seven- ty-four.

On the 21st of June, 1818, the next Sabbath after Mr. Chaplin left, Rev. James A. Boswell preached. Three or four weeks later a meeting was held to see if the society were so "satisfied with the gifts and tallants" of this preacher as to wish to have him supply longer. The meeting left it to the committee and the committee engaged him for three-quarters of a year. A well-known lady who was then a young Miss attending Miss Martin's " Dame's School" at New Mills, remembers being present at his installa- tion, and that the new minister looked very young and small when the old divines were talking to him. Very likely any man would have felt somewhat dim - inutive on such an occasion.

On the 12th of February, 1819, the act was passed which has been hinted at, incorporating the First Baptist Society in Danvers. The original incorpora- tors were, Andrew Batchelder, Martin Bates, Michael Barry, Moses Black, James Carr, Benjamin Chaplin, Thomas Cheever, Caleb Clarke, Parker Cross, John Doak, George Ellis, Solomon Emerson, Israel Endicot, George Ervin, Levi Fish, Benjamin Foster, William Francis, Elijah Fuller, Timothy Fuller, Daniel Good- hue, Allen Gould, Andrew Gould, Daniel Hardy, Stephen Haynes, Israel Hutchinson, Aaron Jacobs, Ebenezer Jacobs, Henry Johnson, Wm. Johnson, Her- cules H. Josselyn, John Kenny, Benj. Kent, Benj. Kent, Jr., Jos. Kent, John Kent, Robert Lefavor, Nathaniel Mayhew, Samuel McIntire, Jonathan McIntire, John Mitchell, William Morris, Amos Osborn, Jeremiah Page, John Page, Benjamin Perry, Allen Peabody, Samuel Pinder, John Porter, Jonathan Proctor, Amos Putnam, Allen Putnam, Andrew Putnam, Jeremiah Putnam, John Putnam, Thomas Putnam, Parker Richardson, Briggs D. Reed, William Shillaber, Sam- uel Slater, Ephraim Smith, Joseph Stearns, Seth Stetson, Timothy Stevens, Asa Stickney, Thomas Sy- monds, William Trask, Daniel Upham, Benjamin Webb, Nathaniel Webb, Nathaniel Webb, Jr., Sam- uel Whipple, Stephen Whipple, Amaziah Whitney, Noah Whittier and Moses W. Wilson.

The first meeting under the new act was held at School-house, No. 2, on Monday, March 29, 1819, at six o'clock, P.M., to choose officers and levy a tax for support of the Gospel and other expenses for the en- suing year. Sixteen votes were cast for moderator, all for Thomas Putnam; twenty for clerk, all for Israel Hutchinson. Thomas Putnam, Moses Black and Benjamin Kent were elected assessors; Joseph Stearns, treasurer ; Hercules H. Joslyn, collector. The first votes of money under the new order were in this wise: "Voted to Raise $400 for the Benefit of

463

DANVERS.

the Gospel ; Voted to Reconsider the Vote for $400 . Voted to raise $350 Dollars for the Benefit of the Gospel; Voted to Reconsider the Vote for $350; Voted unanimously to Raise $300 for the support of the gospil in Said Society the present year." Evi- dently a case of a strong working minority. The sum finally voted was not, however, let it be hoped, the limit of the minister's salary. The old subscription was not abandoned, but the committee were directed to present it to those persons who did not " come under the incorporation act," or any others disposed to help.

In April it was voted without, dissent - his " gifts and tallants " had stood the test-to give Mr. Boswell a call to settle. On his acceptance, it was voted unanimously to give him an ordination on the second Wednesday of June, and that the Rev. Benjamin Wadsworth and the Rev. Samnel Walker be invited to attend. Ten dollars was subsequently voted to Benjamin Chaplin to defray expenses of singing on the occasion.

At the beginning of the next church year, March, 1820, there was not a unanimity in the invitation to Mr. Boswell to continue, and after careful considera- tion he asked to be dismissed. Dismission was granted, but the fact that both a letter of recommen- dation and-what was of much greater import, judg- ing from the monetary votes of the society-a present of one hundred dollars, were given him, goes far to remove the idea that any ill-feeling existed between pastor and people.

Rev. Arthur Drinkwater preached more or less dur- ing the following spring and summer, and in August the society met to consider his gifts and talents, and requested him " to make them a visit and supply the pulpit for a certain term of time as the Society may think proper." In September advice was received from Dr. Chaplin, their old pastor, "respecting Mr. Drinkwater's character as being a good gospel minis- ter," and he was invited to settle over the church. December 7, 1821, was appointed for installation.

In November, 1822, there were certain votes passed which must have had a meaning to somebody,- " Voted that there be a committee chosen to wait on the man who stole the wood from the Society. Voted that the man that stole the wood be allowed 24 hours to produce the man he bought the wood of, and if he does not he must take the course of the law."

In 1824 Abednego Rust and Nathaniel Tuttle were chosen "thything men to keep the boys still ;" about the time of Mr. Drinkwater's installation William Johnson had been empowered to present to the grand jury any persons making any disturbance in or about the meeting-house on the Sabbath; in 1825 Daniel Hardy was deputed to take care of the boys in the galleries, and the tything men chosen by the town were requested "to take cognizance of the boys that throng the porch before divine Service, to the inconvenience of the females that are going into the

meeting-house." Does any grandfather wink slyly to himself?

In January, 1826, Gideon Foster, Benjamin Kent and Briggs R. Read were commissioned to draft a bill and secure its passage by the Legislature, authorizing the taxation of pews; such a bill became a law in the following March. By its provisions a person must own, in order to vote thenceforth in the society meet- ings, at least one-half a floor pew or the whole of a gallery pew.

The year 1828 is conspicuous in the annals of the Baptist Society as the year of a new house of wor- ship. Though the first house was but forty-five years old, suspicions were entertained as to its strength. An association of subscribers, afterwards proprietors, was formed to build a new house.

The proprietors of the new meeting-house, though composed, of course, of the leading Baptists, were separate and distinct from the society. They held their own meetings and kept their own records, Samuel P. Fowler acting as clerk. At their first meeting, in March, 1828, it was voted, "That if the proprietors of the old meeting-house are willing to dispose of their house and the land on which it stands, for a reasonable consideration we purchase it for the purpose of removing the house and erecting a new one in its place, to be governed by the present incorporation. The property in the house to belong to the subscribers to the new meeting-house. It is understood, in case we purchase the old meeting- house, a new one will be erected on its site within eighteen months." Eben Hunt, Arthur Drinkwater and Moses W. Wilson were appointed to see if the proprietors of the old meeting-house were willing to dispose of their house under such conditions.

The society held a series of meetings about the same time, at which the standing committee were empowered to sell the building " for four hundred dollars and nothing less, and more if they can get it," the purchasers to remove the same before the follow- ing June; and the " subscribers " were permitted to erect a new meeting-house on the old lot for the use of the church and society, to be governed by the act of incorporation already in force.

That old church is still in existence. It was bought by John A. Learoyd and removed to the Plains, not far from Lindall Hill, where its timbers grew, and has ever since been used as a currier-shop. It was thought, as has been said, old and unsafe when sold. but as Mr. Rice, with characteristic humor, remarks, "it has upon it at the present time a certain air of breadth and settlement in configuration of such a sort that the eye of the beholder may not readily dis- cern to what end it should ever fall down."

The new building committee were Samuel Fowler, Arthur Drinkwater, Daniel Hardy, Briggs R. Reed, and Ebenezer Hunt. The chairman was directed, among other things, to ascertain whether any compen- sation could be obtained for the land belonging to

464

FHISTORY OF ESSEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

the meeting-house lot, but used as a highway since the widening of the road in 1802, and he found that the society had slept too long on their rights. The proprietors held meetings through the summer and fall, and from time to time instalments of subscriptions were paid in. In December, 1828, they wished to know whether their subscription paper was an instru- ment sufficiently binding to sue upon for non-pay- ment, and Messrs. Fowler, Hunt and Reed were sent to obtain advice from Rufus Choate, then at South Parish, and 'Squire Benj. Merrill. The advice was that the paper would hold.

. On the 17th of March, 1829, the house was finished, and the committee were directed to "inform the Baptist Society at their annual meeting (when it is understood that the house will have been accepted) that the house is ready for their use, and that they be desired to make arrangements for the opening of the house with appropriate religious services."

May 1st, John Porter, Benj. Kent and Benj. Porter were chosen to arrange for dedication. May 25th Mr. Kent and Daniel Hardy were authorized to sell the pews in the new church at public auction by bid- ding for choice over and above the appraisal, the ap- praisal to cover the cost of the house ; and they were also directed "to obtain a legal title to the land un- der a part and adjoining said meeting-house of the family of the late Captain Thomas Putnam, de- ceased." A summary statement of the cost of the church is this :

E. Felt,

$135.00

Nathaniel Galucia,

110.80

E. Perry,

20.63

Jona. Perry, 20.00

Israel Endicott, 58.24

Ebenezer Hunt, 2.00

Edmund Needhanı, 18.90

M. Pulsifer, 100.00

Sam'l Fowler, 41.27

S. P. Fowler,

3.00

Henry L. Gould, . 21 70

M. Wilson,

W. Francis,

Carpentere,. $4290.60

J. Ross,

Total,

$4825.14

At this time when the people moved out of the old house into the new, the relations of pastor and peo- ple and of the people to one another should have been particularly harmonious. Mr. Drinkwater closed his pastorate June 26, 1829. During the last year of his service some very unpleasant differences of opinion arose in the society which resulted in the organization of the Universalist Society, weakening not inconsiderably the society in which the division occurred. Universalism had its beginnings in Dan- vers much earlier than this, as will hereafter appear. A hint at the feeling which existed in 1829 may be found in a vote that the committee be instructed "to inquire into the story that has gone abroad that the Unitarians want to get the new meeting-house."

Mr. Drinkwater is remembered by certain old peo-

ple as one of the sort of men that Caesar liked to have about him, not a bit " lean and hungry." He was of a light, florid complexion, of talents not rising high above the average; he made many friends outside of his own church.

In the spring of 1830 the Rev. James Barnabee was by unanimous vote invited to fill the vacant pulpit. He is remembered by old people as a man with a very loud voice. Mr. Barnabee's year commenced on the first of May, and six hundred dollars was voted for his support and incidental charges. His pastorate was short, ending in May, 1832, but very eventful ; soon after he came the great revival all through the churches was felt here with so great effect that the membership was increased from ninety-three to one hundred and thirty-nine. At the old church, Dr. Braman's, there were added in the same period one hundred and twelve members, increasing the member- ship from about one hundred, in 1828, to one hundred and ninety-five in 1833.

July 23, 1832, the society united with the church in giving a call to the Rev. John Holroyd, at a salary of five hundred dollars for the first year. Five years later, November 8, 1837, Mr. Holroyd died while at Providence, R. I.,-the only instance of a vacancy in the pastorate caused by death. During his lahors the membership of the church reached its highest limit- one hundred and fifty-five. He was about sixty years old at his death ; a quiet, venerable appearing man, greatly beloved and lamented by all who knew him. He left a widow, but no children ; she was the daughter of Dr. Benedict, of Providence, a somewhat noted Baptist preacher and writer.

May 26, 1838, Rev. E. W. Dickinson accepted a call of the church and society, at a salary of six hun- dred dollars. His stay was short. He resigned in October of the next year; in his letter of resignation he wrote: "The causes which lead to this step, it is presumed are already known, and their capitulation at this time is not needed. The subject has long been before our minds, and although the separation, to me at least, is painful, still the feelings natural to such an event are less poignant than if it had been sudden."

For more than a year after Mr. Dickinson's resig- nation there was no settled pastor.

Rev. J. Humphrey Avery supplied the pulpit some of the time, and in January, 1841, he was invited to hecome settled. In response he wrote that he would come on the following conditions :

"That I receive the ninety dollars now due for supplying your pulpit, before the close of the present week ; that my salary commence the first day of February ; that I have seven hundred dollars per annum, to he paid quarterly ; that I have two Sabbaths during the year to dispose of as 1 may think fit ; that the church and society have the right to dis- miss me at any time by giving me three months notice ; that duplicates of this contract he signed by the committee of the church and society and myself, in presence of competent witnesses; that one of the dupli- cales be left with the clerk nf tho church or the clerk of the society and the other with me. Should any apology be deemed proper, brethren, for the formality of this statement, I have only to say that in mere hue- Inese transactione I have but one method "

465

DANVERS.

The business men at New Mills were evidently not displeased with a business-like pastor ; the conditions were accepted. After seven or eight months he ad- dressed another letter to the committee in equally plain terms, giving them the choice of accepting his resignation February 1, 1842, or of making his salary six hundred dollars after that date and, in addition, furnishing him " with a good room near the meeting- house, to which he might remove his library," and of giving him a regular installation as soon as might be convenient. And the terms of the latter alternative were promptly accepted. Mr. Avery had been a Con- gregationalist.

On the 5th of July, 1843, the society voted unani- mously to concur with the church in giving the Rev. Joseph W. Eaton a call, at a salary of five hundred dollars for the first year. His letter of acceptance is dated July 17, 1843. The next spring he wrote :

"The satisfaction, which you have been pleased to express with my poor services for the past year has been particularly grateful to my feel- ings. . . . The union which I am informed pervades your body gives me reason to hope that my labors among you may yet be useful, and so long as this state of things continues I shall be encouraged to exert myself for your spiritual benefit."

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History of Essex County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. I, Part 134

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton), ed. n 85042884-1 Publication date: 1888 Publisher: Philadelphia : J. W. Lewis & Co. Number of Pages: 1538

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton), ed. n 85042884-1
Publication date: 1888
Publisher: Philadelphia : J. W. Lewis & Co.
Number of Pages: 1538