History of Essex County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. I, Part 135

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 135

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But times were hard for the church and society during Mr. Eaton's pastorate. Among the founders of the church, it will be remembered, none were more prominent than Gideon Foster and certain other South Parish men, and for a number of years the New Mills Church was supported by all people of that denomi- nation, far and wide in this vicinity. But we have seen how, in 1801, the Beverly people withdrew to form a church of their own; then, in 1804, the First Baptist Church of Salem was established, and, doubt- less, a number of South Parish people who found themselves more conveniently situated to Salem than to New Mills, at once associated themselves with the Salem Church. But in the meantime there had been a growing desire among those parishioners of the New Mills Church who lived in the southern part of the town to have a church of their own. . They began to hold meetings in Armory Hall in 1843, settled a min- ister and built a chapel that same year. This was about the beginning of Mr. Eaton's pastorate at New Mills, during which thirteen of his church-members were dismissed to join the new church. These dis- missals, though not great in number, came at a time when the parent church could ill afford any loss of strength. But a much more serious element of dis- turbance was the storm of the anti-slavery movement which centered on the old church and struck hard. An account of the "Come-outers" appears elsewhere. About the only mention of anti-slavery which appears on the society's records are these votes :

April 4, 1839. "Voted that the Lectors on Pees, Temperance and antislavery be free of expense, after having the Concent of the Standing Committee.

April 21, 1810. "Voted it be left with the Standing Committee whether there shall be lectures in the meeting-house on the subject of slavery the ensuing year."

It was well understood that Mr. Eaton was to have 30

six hundred dollars after the first year, but it was not easy to raise the money. They asked him to take five hundred dollars. "On listening," he replied, " to the description you gave me of the financial concerns of the society, I stated that I was at a loss to know ex- actly what my circumstances were, but promised that if I could do anything to help to extricate the society from its embarrassments, I would cheerfully do it. On looking over my accounts, however, I find myself much more largely indebted to others than I supposed my- self to be, and that my salary has been barely suffi- cient to enable me to meet my expenses. I do not see how they can be reduced. The idea of being in debt without having the means to pay it, is to me distress- ing, both from the sinfulness of the thing and from its influence on the cause of religion. I have nothing to depend upon for a support hut the compensation I receive for my services, and must look therefore to the people whom I serve for the means of a comfortable maintenance. Still, I cannot endure the thought of being a burden to the society ; hence, hoping we may have health and strength, considering the dull state of business, and desirous of affording the society what. relief I can, I will try, though I know not how I shall succeed, to do this year with five hundred and fifty dollars."

To add to the difficulty of the situation, on the morning of September 6, 1847, the church and vestry were destroyed by fire, and there was no insurance. An adjoining dwelling, owned by Aaron Eveleth, was burned at the same time.

The standing committee pluckily issued a warrant before the close of the day, calling upon the society to take action as to building a new house. In one week from the date of the warrant, the shortest time allowable, the society met and voted "that we feel it our duty to make an effort to erect a new house in place of the one destroyed by fire," and appointed twelve men to circulate a subscription paper for the purpose,-Daniel Goodhue, Jr., Tristram Woodbury, Hiram Preston, David H. Caldwell, William Putnam, Henry Johnson, Benj. Porter, Moses Black, Rev. J. W. Eaton, Abijah Porter, Peter Waitt and Jacob F. Perry. Both the Universalist Society and the new society at the Plains promptly tendered the use of their churches to the Baptists. Arrangements were made with the former.

On the 20th of September, Benjamin Porter, Moses Black and David H. Caldwell were instructed " to se- lect such a model of a house as they think will best suit the society."

On the 18th of October a building committee were chosen to carry out the vote of its society to rebuild, -Benjamin Porter, David H. Caldwell, Moses Black, Henry Johnson and Josiah Ross. The third meeting- house of the society was erected within the next year and is the one now in use. The present church bell was then purchased by certain "proprietors," and was hung in the tower on the following conditions :

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HISTORY OF ESSEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

" That the bell be rung by the soxton of the Baptist Society on Sun- days, the Universaliat Society paying one-half the expense ; that the bell be rung at any other time by either Society, not interfering with our re- ligions services, by each puying their own sexton ; the door to be locked -one Key to be kept by the sexton, one to the care of the Fire Depart- ment. The remains of the bell, if ever burned, to ge to the proprietors of the bell. The bell to be hung on a good substantial bell frame secured to the deck."

The following clipping from an old newspaper is interesting in this connection :

NOTICE.

The Ladies of the First Baptist Society in Danvers will give a Tea Party on Wednesday, Oct. 4th, in Citizens' Hall, New Mills, to aid in furnishing the new house of worship, now erected on the site of the one destroyed by fire last year. Good music will be secured for the occasion, etc., etc.

On the 23d of April, 1849, Mr. Eaton addressed to the society a letter of resignation. Like his other communications it is full of Christian manliness and forbearance; and it gives an insight into the state of things which, by reason of circumstances beyond his control, made his pastorate not a bed of roses. "Just before your former meeting-house burnt, I was led to canvass the question whether I ought not to resign my office, but after the occurrence of that event I con- cluded it was my duty at any rate to remain with you and aid you in every way in my power until another edifice should be erected." It was after the comple- tion of the new church that he resigned. In explana- tion he wrote: "I do this not because as great an amount of success has not been realized as could have heen anticipated, considering the distracted state of things when I came among you, the adverse influences with which I have had to contend, the disaster you experienced in the burning of your meeting-house, the many removals of whole families from town, the deaths that have occurred among you, some of whom have been your prominent men, the formation of two new societies at the Plains, the excitements of differ- ent kinds that have existed in the place, and the low state of religion. If I mistake not, this society is in a far better condition than any one, acquainted with the facts in the case, could reasonably expect it to be in. I take this step not because, could a change be effected which might easily be done, I could not labor on with zeal and hope; but because of the want of that spirit, energy and co-operation, which character- izes new enterprises ; which allows nothing to be un- done which should be done, and which is essential to success."

In March, 1850, a call was extended to Rev. Aaron W. Chaffin. This was his first pastorate, and he re- mained here fifteen years, an average preacher and an excellent pastor, greatly beloved not only by his own people but by his fellow-citizens generally, for he took great interest in all that pertained to the good of the town, and especially in the schools. Genial, kind, witty, " everybody liked him." He accepted a call to Manchester, N. H., died at Lynn in 1874, and was buried here in Walnut Grove Cemetery.

Rev. Foster Henry succeeded Mr. Chaffin, and oc-

cupied the pulpit from December 5, 1862, to May 1, 1865. Then followed Rev. Charles H. Holbrook, from November 14, 1865, to September 2, 1870; Rev. J. A. Goodhue, from November 22, 1870, to May 1, 1872; Rev. G. W. Mccullough, from June 20, 1873, to April 1, 1876; Rev. Lucien Drury, from August 3, 1877, to April 29, 1883; Rev. Gideon Cole, from July 1, 1884, to the present time.

These notes have treated chiefly of the Society. The Baptist Church was organized July, 1793, with thirty-six members. The first deacons were Eleazer Wallis and Israel Porter. Benjamin Kent was ap- pointed 1823; Hercules Joselyn, 1832; John Hood, 1835; Parker Brown, 1838; Ichabod Sawyer, 1839; Abijah Porter, 1845; Henry Johnson, 1855; James Felton, 1855; Charles H. Whipple, 1855 ; Monroe B. Brigham, 1859; Francis Bowen, 1874; Wm. A. Jacobs, 1880. Deacons Whipple and Jacobs are the present incumbents.

The committees appointed "to supply preaching" in the earlier years of the society have already been given. They were the precursors of the regular standing committees. A complete list of the latter cannot be given for lack of space, but the names which appear at the beginning of each decade of this century will give some idea of the prominent sup- porters of the society from time to time :

1800. Deacon I. Porter. Nathaniel Prince. Nicholas Dodge.

1840. Daniel Hardy. Hiram Preston.

1850, Benj. Porter. James Holt.

Wm. Trask.

Amos Sawyer.

Henry Johnson.

1810. Benj. Porter, Jr.

1860. John Burns

Benj. Kent.

Richard Elliot.

L. Leonard.

1870. Wm. Putnam. M. B. Brigham.

1820. Benj. Kent.

Wm. A. Jacobs.

Win. Trask. Stephen Whipple.

1880. C. H. Whipple. W. A. Jacobs.

1830. Daniel Hardy. Geo. H. Perkins.

Jacob F. Perry.

John Porter.

1840. Benj. Porter.

1887. C. H. Whipple. W. A. Jacoba. Solomon Fuller.

The first clerk of the society, chosen November 26, 1781, was Dr. Nathaniel Gott, but he did not serve through the successive adjournments of the first meeting, and Jonathan Sawyer, chosen in his place, held the office about five years, until 1786, when Na- thaniel Fowler's name appears. Ebenezer Dale was clerk in 1789, Israel Porter in 1790. On April 5, 1792, Israel Hutchinson, Jr., was chosen, and after thirty years of continuous service, his neatly kept records end with the oath administered by him to his successor, Stephen Whipple, April 17, 1821.

Stephen Whipple served but one year.

Hercules H. Josselyn was chosen at the annual meeting of 1822, and he served till April, 1841, nine- teen years, when it was voted " that the Thanks ot this Society be presented to Hercules Josselyn for his long and faithful services as Clerk of the Society."

Parker B. Francis held the office to April 1843:

M. B. Brigham. Eloathan Dodge.

Wm. Trask.

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DANVERS.

Hiram Preston, 1843-45 ; Charles E. Smith, 1845- 53; Maurice C. Oby, 1853-58 ; Isaac N. Roberts, 1858-62; M. H. Dorman, 1862-64; Josiah Ross, 1864-75 ; William H. Stetson, 1875-80; Charles A. Gentlee, 1880, to the present, 1887.

Last April, 1887, the Sunday-school observed its sixty-ninth anniversary. The original records, if there were any, are not to be found. John Hood, Peter Waitt and Captain Benjamin Porter were sup- erintendents before 1854, since which time, thirty- three years, Deacon Charles H. Whipple, has been in continuous service. There are now one hundred and sixty connected with the school.

January 26, 1879, the standing committee were in- structed " to inquire into the cost of buying the land adjoining that of the society on High Street, and of building thereon such a building as the Society needs." This vote was the beginning of the new chapel which was dedicated this spring, 1887.

" Among the favorable causes under the blessing of God," these were Mr. Chaffin's words thirty years ago, "which have conspired to keep this somewhat ancient church in existence, we should not fail to notice the general unanimity of its members and their steadfastness in sound doctrine and wholesome discipline. Besides, there never has been a time when there have not been some noble, self-denying brethren and sisters whose faith in the darkest hour faltered not. In the early, as well as the later history of this church, especially will the names of Porter, Kent, Richardson, Whitney and Hardy, with others of kin- dred spirit, now at rest in Heaven, be held in long and sacred remembrance. While living they were known in the churches, and, though dead, their deeds live."

UNIVERSALIST .- The pioneer of Universalism in Danvers was Edmund Putnam. He was born here in 1724, moved to Topsfield in early life, returned when about thirty-five, and occupied the well-preserved old house off Locust Street, afterwards the home of his distinguished grandson, Elias Putnam, and at present owned by Augustus Fowler. Edmund Put- nam was for twenty-three years, from 1762, a deacon of the old Church. Probably his changed views of theology led to his resignation in 1785. Dr. Nichols' centennial poem contains this :

" Still people would think, read their Bihles, Embrace Other doctrines than those we have named ; Deacon Edmund, with uew-fangled views of God's grace, Universal salvation proclaimed."

An item in the records of the old church is signifi- cant in this connection,-" In 1788 rates were abated of Samuel Cheever, Jer. Hutchinson, James Smith, John Swinerton, Henry Putnam, Nath'l Webb, Wm. Gifford, and Mrs. Eunice Hutchinson, because they entertained religious sentiments differing from those

professed by the church." Though, as has been seen, this was about the time the Baptists organized their church, some who were thus "differing" are known to have been early Universalists.

It was in the little community at Putnamville --- Deacon Putnam's neighborhood-that the new ideas were most thought about and talked about, and where they first assumed organic form.

Rev. Henry P. Forbes delivered a historical ad- dress of the society on the occasion of its fiftieth an- niversary, October 19, 1879, which is here liberally used in connection with the series of historical letters written by Rev. Dr. Alfred P. Putnam, a great- grandson of Deacon Edmund. Mr. Forbes has thus well and concisely spoken of those families in Put- namville in which Universalism was especially fos- tered :

" Iu true Danvers fashion, they were nearly all re- lated to each other. Israel Putnam, 2d (Dea. Ed- mund's son), married Anna, sister of Elias Endicott, Jr. Zorobbabel Porter married Mary, another sis- ter. Elias himself, when a young man, worked at the currier's trade in Gloucester, where John Murray was settled over the First Universalist Society organ- ized in America. He returned to Dauvers, and, hav- ing married, came to live in the house where dwelt his sister Anna. This family of families-Endicotts, Porters, Putnams-seems to have been of one mind in religious matters. They were all persons of character and influence, and chiefly from them came the impetus toward the formation of an Universalist Society. But they were not alone. The Browns, the Richardsons, the Bakers, and Woodburys of Wenham, with various others, had come to be more or less earnest believers. In the year 1815 the fluid senti- ment began to crystalize into an organization. On the 22d of April a company of them assembled, or- ganized themselves into a society, and drew up a Declaration of Principles."

At this first meeting, Israel Putnam, 2d, was cho- sen moderator and treasurer ; Colonel Warren Porter, clerk; John Baker, Joseph and Zorobbabel Porter, committee. The committe were instructed "to in- quire after a minister as soon as funds can be ob- tained to pay him, and invite any suitable person that may be willing to preach." The committee found a very suitable person in Rev. Hosea Ballou, who came up to preach occasionally in the little school-house and gave the new movement the im- petus of his powerful help. For a number of years there was slow and quiet progress, the number of members recorded in 1823 heing thirty-six; in 1825, forty-four. Besides Mr. Ballon many other ministers came to preach in the school-house, among others Rev. Charles Hudson, who, at the semi-centennial was living, in his eighty-fourth year, at Lexington, Mass.

The last recorded meeting of the society at Put- namville was May 28, 1827. "With this, the ecclesi-

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HISTORY OF ESSEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

astical stream sinks from the ledges of Blind-hole in- to the sands of the Plain, and working its way sonth- ward bubbles up at the New Mills." This latter place, the thriving commercial centre of quite an ex- tensive territory, by all odds the liveliest portion of the town, having but one church, and that of rigid tenets, seems to have been good ground for the larger growth of Universalism. It has been shown from the records of the Baptist Society how about this time defections were occurring, and how in 1829 a consid- erable number of Baptists formally withdrew. This withdrawal marked the occasion of the formation of the Danvers Universal Society, which was brought about by a simple agreement of association in the, handwriting of Dr. Ebenezer Hunt, dated October 15, 1829, and signed by William Francis, Hathorne Porter, Josiah Gray, John Ross, Moses W. Wilson, Nathaniel Boardman, Joshua Silvester, B. C. Brick- ett, William E. Kimball, Daniel Woodman, Ebenezer Hunt, Benjamin Potter, Isaac Caldwell, William Rogers. A petition was immediately issued to Dr. George Osgood, justice of the peace, and by him a warrant was issued for a first meeting for the legal establishment of a new religious society. Upon this petition are the additional names of John Hines, Joseph Porter, Sylvanus Dodge and Simeon Pendar. These eighteen men are regarded as the charter mem- bers of the present society; five were living at the semi-centennial, 1879, and four were present, but to- day but one of all the number is surviving, Joshua Silvester. (Since writing, he, too, has passed away).

For some months efforts were made to form a union with certain early Unitarians at New Mills, of whom Capt. Jeremiah Page, Jonas Warren and Maj. Moses Black were leaders. A coalition committee were ap- pointed to agree on a name, but no report was ever made, and March 8, 1830, these efforts seem to have been acknowledged fruitless, and it was voted "that this society be called the First Universalist Society of Danvers."

The first standing committee, William Francis, Elisha Pratt and Joseph Porter, were at once in- structed to consider the expediency of hiring the old Baptist meeting-house, which had been removed in 1828, as has been noticed in the sketch of the Baptist Society, to make room for a new house on the origi- nal site. The committee hired the old house at forty-five dollars for a year. No clergyman was yet settled, and preaching was irregular; but the society grew, there being one hundred and seventeen males at the beginning of the next year. Though a vote was in the meantime taken "that the contemplated meeting-house be located at or near the Plains so called," the old house was hired again, but the contract was made not without bitterness. Major Black and John Page now owned 11-16ths of the building, and were willing enough to let their part at forty-five dollars, but Deacons Kent and Har- dy, of the Baptist Church, owners of the other

5-16ths, charged one hundred dollars for their share. Evidently the latter did not wish the building used by the society at all, and one of them made some re- mark about wishing to feed pigs in his part, with, it is alleged, a tinge of comparison not altogether con- plimentary to the Universalists. The society simply took the 11-16this, and fenced off the remainder. It is not difficult to imagine the feeling of which this little episode is but a hint. It could not be otherwise. Not even Baptist human nature could look with equa- nimity on what, from their standpoint, was an upstart and heretical body, which, having sapped the strength of the old church by withdrawing a considerable number of its members, had the audacity to set up in their old building and, within ear-shot of their sterner doctrine, to utter the alluring promise of uni- versal salvation.

The first regular pastor of the new society was Rev. F. Hodson, who remained from the spring of 1831 to June of the following year. During this time the old school-house in Putnamville was occasionally used for services, as were also the school-houses at the Centre and at the toll-gate.

The settled intent of the Universalists to have a church of their own came to a head in September, 1832. Forty-eight shares at fifty dollars were taken in a new house " to be erected between Berry's tavern and the Baptist meeting-house," and the shareholders became and remained a separate, corporate body until 1847, when they merged by mutual vote with the society. A building committee, Nath'l Boardman, J. Silvester, Hathorne Porter and Joseph Porter, " fixed on the piece owned by Mr. Israel Endicott as the most eligible," and this lot was purchased. Moses W. Wilson contracted October 29, 1832, to build a house fifty-six by forty-two, twenty-two feet posts, for twenty-five hundred dollars. With alterations and additions the total cost reached thirty-one hundred dollars. The building was dedicated Friday, June 28, 1833. Rev. Hosea Ballou, of Boston, made the dedicatory prayer; Rev. Hosea Ballou, 2d, of Rox- bury, delivered the sermon ; Revs. L. Willis, of Salem, and S. Streeter, of Boston, also old helpers in the society's infancy, took other parts. An original hymn by Dr. Hunt was sung, beginning

" Eternal Source of Light and Love, Of all we are or hope to he, Dwelling in majesty above We dedicate this house to Thee."

Rev. D. D. Smith was at this time settled over the society, though living in Boston. There were one hundred and thirty-one male members, a number which has since remained as high-water mark. Soon after the dedication of the church, Dr. Braman, from the citadel of his pulpit, preached a strong sermon against Universalism and the danger of its incursions, out of which grew the memorable debate between Dr. Braman and Dr. Whittemore, November 6, 1833, mentioned elsewhere, in which, of course, Danvers

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DANVERS.

Universalists lent their champion decided aid and comfort.

Rev. H. Knapp was installed as pastor of the so- ciety, December 20, 1833, and remained until August 16, 1836 ; he died in Cambridge in 1878, aged sixty- seven. Rev. S. Brimblecom, of Westbrook, Me., suc- ceeded him here and remained until 1840; he was an earnest anti-slavery man, was orator of the day, July 4, 1837, at a meeting of the Danvers Anti-slavery Society, and president of the Young Men's Anti- slavery Society. He died in Haverhill, 1879, in his eighty-first year. Soon after his resignation, on mo- tion of Dr. Hunt, it was resolved that the committee procure, if practicable, the services of laymen in con- ducting Sabbath worship; accordingly Moses Black, Jr., Joseph Merrill, John Hines, Dr. Hunt, and per- haps others officiated as occasion required. In July, 1840, Rev. A. A. Davis, then recently from Ohio, ac- cepted a call and was settled at a salary of six hundred dollars. He gave an impetus to all departments of the society's work, and in his pastorate the church was organized. The church was first publicly recognized October 21, 1840; it numbered abont sixty mem- bers. John Hines was chosen clerk ; M. Bodge and Eben Putnam, deacons. Mr. Davis' pastorate was brief, closing in October, 1841, when he went to Ja- maica for his health, but it was especially important, happening in the height of the anti-slavery storm which burst upon the community and the churches at this period. Something is said of anti-slavery troubles elsewhere. Rev. D. P. Livermore supplied during the following winter; and in the spring of 1843, Rev. S. Bulkley, of New Market, N. H., was chosen pastor. Rev. J. W. Hanson succeeded him in 1846. Mr. Hanson was a young man of active mind, a ready debater, inquiring and critical. Though here bnt two years, he has left a memorial behind him in Hanson's " History of Danvers," a book ac- customed to be spoken of as containing many inaccu- racies, but as the work of a stranger, on short prepar- ation and with scarcely any previously printed material to rely on, it is remarkable that the book is as valua- ble as it is. Mr. Hanson resigned in 1848, went to Norridgewock, then to Gardiner, Me., was editor of Augusta Gospel Banner six years, then settled at Haverhill, and was chaplain of the Sixth Massachu- setts Regiment ; removed to Dubuque, Iowa, and in 1870 to Chicago, where, in 1879, he was living, and had then been D.D. for three years, editor of the New Covenant for nine years, and author or editor of some thirteen volumes.

The next pastor here was Rev. J. W. Putnam, who came in 1849, a pupil of Rev. Dr. Sawyer, at Clinton, N. Y., and remained in this his only pastorate till his lamented death, November 4, 1864. He left a widow and two children, a daughter and a son, all living. Throughout his pastorate " he grew in mental stature and in favor among the people" to the end. His townsmen honored him, his people loved him. He | Dillingham, his successor, was installed in the spring

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History of Essex County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. I, Part 135

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