History of Essex County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. I, Part 164

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 164

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2. Second Pastorate .-- REV. JOSEPH DANA, D.D .- He was born in Pomfret, Conn., November 2, 1742, to Joseph and Mary Dana. His father was an inn- keeper. His hoyhood eyes really looked upon Gen. Putnam's historical wolf.

He graduated at Yale College in 1760, studied di- vinity with Rev. Dr. Hart, of Preston, Conn., and was licensed to preach before he was twenty-one years old. He preached here several months as candidate, and was ordained November 7, 1765, at a salary of £100 lawful money, and a settlement of £160. "No man entered upon a duty with a more devoted inter- est." During his pastorate was the struggle for In- dependence, and in word and deed he displayed a Christian patriotism. Many were added to his church. His sixtieth anniversary sermon reads that all who were heads of families when he was settled, were dead except five; that he had followed about nine hundred of his parishioners to the grave. He was then eighty-three years old.

He was eminently worthy of the doctorate, which, in 1801, Harvard College conferred upon him. Mr. Felt says: In person, he was about the common height and size, quick and active in his movement. In his manner he was kind, accessible and gentle- manly. In morals he was exact, being diligent in business, punctnal in his engagements, refined and improving in his conversation and upright in his ac- tions. His intellectual endowments were of a high order, and richly improved with attainments in litera- ture and theology. His style of writing was strong, lucid and sententious. His piety was the same

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everywhere, and at all times, bearing the impress of the Holy Spirit and appearing as a sacrifice, accep- table in the sight of Deity. He published twenty or more sermons. He died of lung fever, after an ill- ness of four days, November 16, 1827. His funeral sermon was preached by Rev. Robert Crowell, of Es- sex.

His first wife was Mary Staniford, daughter of Dan- iel and Mary-Burnham Staniford, and daughter-in- law of Rev. Nathaniel Rogers, who died May 14, 1772, in her twenty-eighth year. His second wife was Mary Turner, daughter of Samuel, of Boston, and died April 13, 1803, in her fifty-third year. His third wife was Mrs. Elizabeth-Green Bradford, daugh- ter of Rev. Jacob Green, of Hanover, N. J., and wid- ow of Rev. Ebenezer Bradford, of Rowley, who was married December, 1803, and who died 1824, aged about seventy-five years. His children were Mary, who married Major Thomas Burnham ; Joseph and Daniel by first wife; Elizabeth, Samuel, Sarah, Abi- gail and Anna, by the second. See "Noted Na- tives."

3. Third Pastorate .- REV. DANIEL FITZ, D.D .- He was boru in Sandown, N. H., May 28, 1795. He studied in the Derry and Atkinson Academies in New Hampshire, and August 11, 1818, graduated at Dartmouth College. He assisted in the Derry Acad- emy one quarter, was principal of the Salisbury Academy two years and being called to the Academy at Marblehead, Mass., taught there one and a half years. He became converted during a revival in 1819, while principal of the Salisbury Academy, and united with the church in that place in 1820. He then resolved upon a theological course, and gradu- ated at the Andover Theological Seminary in 1825. He was approbated to preach by the "Hopkinton (N. H.) Association," June 15th, the same year, and the next year, June 28th, was ordained colleague pas- tor with Dr. Dana, of this church, of which he be- came the sole pastor upon the death of the doctor, November 16, 1827.

He published the following sermons : Memorials of Mrs. Hannah C. Crowell, wife of Rev. Dr. Robert Crowell, of Essex, in 1837 ; of Dr. Crowell in 1855, of Rev. David T. Kimball in 1860, and the thirtieth anniversary of his settlement. The doctorate was conferred on him by Dartmouth College in 1862. His pastorate closed in 1866 ; he died September 2, 1869.

Dr. Fitz had a mild, gentle, sympathetic nature, was socially agreeable and public-spirited,-an exem- plary man, He was a man of prayer and piety, and delighted in the service of the Master. He had a long, peaceful and useful pastorate.

4. Fourth Pastorate .- REV. WILLIAM H. PIERSON. -Mr. Pierson succeeded to the pastorate January 1, 1868. He was born in Newburyport, June 12, 1839 ; he graduated at Bowdoin College, Me., in 1864, and at the Princeton Theological Seminary, N. J., in April, 1867. This was his first pastoral charge, and

he held it four and a half years. A parsonage was purchased during his service. At the beginning of his ministry a marked revival occurred, which re- sulted in some fifty accessions to the church. His pastorate was dissolved July 15, 1872, and in the August following he began to serve the church in Somerville, where he remained nearly nine years. During the latter pastorate he saw cause to change his religious views and to become a Unitarian. He accepted the charge of the First Parish, Fitchburg, Mass., and was installed June 7, 1881, and is now serving as pastor.

5. Fifth Pastor .- REV. MARSHALL BALLARD ANGIER was born in Southborough, Mass., March 22, 1819. His father was Calvin Angier, a farmer, and his mother, Anna-Parker Angier.

Mr. Angier fitted for college at Leicester Academy,

and graduated at Yale College in 1844. He gradu- ated at the Union Theological Seminary, New York City, in 1847. He was resident licentiate at the Theo- logical Seminary, Princeton, N. J., 1847-48. He was acting pastor at Worcester and Orange, Mass., 1848-52, at Hopkinton, N. H., 1852-53, where he was ordained and installed June 8, 1853. During the following twenty years, till 1873,-in addition to his eight years' ministry in Hopkinton-he filled pastorates in Dorchester, Sturbridge and Haydensville, Mass. He preached the first time in this church in March, 1873, and filling the pulpit from time to time during the year, he was installed pastor of the church Febru- ary 4, 1874. His pastorate continued till August 1, 1878-four and a half years. During the early part of his ministry he enjoyed a refreshing from the presence of the Lord, resulting in accessions to the church, at one Communion, of fifty-three persons, varying in their ages from thirteen to seventy-nine years. The whole number uniting with the church during his ministry was about sixty.

During the time, the sum of $1500 was raised and expended for repairs on the church and parsonage. A debt of $3500 upon the property of the society was lifted, being raised by voluntary subscription. These make a grand total for repairs and debt of more than $5000. He is now preaching at New York, with resi- dence at No. 839 E. 168th Street.

He married, September 29, 1864, in Newburyport, Miss Emma S. Brewster, daughter of Wm. H. Brew- ster, of Newburyport. They have a daughter, born in Plymouth, Mass., June 23, 1868. Mrs. Angier be- longs to the tenth generation, in lineal descent, from Elder Brewster, of the May Flower.

6. Sirth Pastorate. - REV. THOMAS FRANKLIN WATERS is the present pastor. He was born in Salem, to Thomas S. and Mary A. Waters, April 12, 1851. He graduated at Harvard College in 1872, at Andover Theological Seminary in 1875, and the Aug- ust following entered the pulpit service at Edgar- town, Martha's Vineyard, where he was ordained Oc- tober 23, 1876. He was installed here January 1,

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1879. In 1885 the house of worship was entirely re- modeled; the galleries, pulpit and pews were re- moved, and a portion of the auditorium was cut off by a partition, erected some fifteen feet in front of its posterior walls. The smaller room thus made was finished with a small vestry and a ladies' parlor on the first floor, and a large vestry and a kitchen on the second floor. The former rooms are both connected with the main audience-room, by sliding sashes, by which the three rooms may be converted into one. In the main audience-room, by a new arrangement of pews, thus economizing the space, there are about four hundred sittings, an alcove for an organ on the left of the pulpit platform and a platform for the choir. The windows were furnished with inside blinds, the walls and ceiling were frescoed, gas was fully supplied and the audience-room newly furnished with pulpit-set, carpet and cushions. They have now a very pretty, convenient and commodious house, and a very pleasant and prosperous pastorate.

LINEBROOK PARISH AND CHURCH.

1. Incorporation .- This parish is centrally located with reference to Topsfield, Boxford, Georgetown, Rowley and Ipswich, and is distant from them re- spectively, from church to church, from three to four miles. It was originally constituted of the last two towns.

Much inconvenience was felt as early as 1738-39 in attending church service at the above places, and thirteen of the freeholders of Ipswich, December 20, 1739, o.s., petitioned the First Church to be set off to Topsfield. The petitioners, March 18th of the same year, were denied the set-off, but were "discharged from all parish rates for the future." Soon after they began to employ a religious teacher. They again pe- titioned the First Church, and were answered Decem- ber 2, 1742, that "the West End do not become a parish, but keep up preaching among them."

In 1743 they and freeholders of Rowley erected a meeting-honse; April 12, 1744, they all voted to be set off as a distinct parish, and accordingly petitioned the Great and General Court for incorporation. Fif- teen Rowley men remonstrated. The committee of court, to whom the matter was intrusted, reported favoring the petition, March 21, 1745 o.s. The act of incorporation is dated June 4, 1746. The first meeting of the parish was held July 7, the same year. The precinct was bounded on the south by Howlett's Brook and Ipswich River, on the east by Gravelly, Bull and Batchelder's Brooks, and on the west by Strait Brook and was therefore by vote January 27, 1746-47. called Linebrook Parish.

2. Meeting-House .- The church was finished in the following manner, as the parish voted June 27, 1746-47: First, the pulpit and deacon's seat ; second, the body- seats below; third, three fore-seats in each gallery ; fourth, the gallery stairs, and plaster under the gal- lery ; fifth, a pew for the parish. It was voted May

18, 1747, that the meeting-house be finished by the last of October. It was a two-story, square house, was finished with box-pews, and was entered by a front door and a door on each side. It stood in Row- ley-Linebrook, perhaps an eighth of a mile across the Ipswich-Rowley town-line, on the road leading from the Ipswich-Linebrook school-house, a spot now called " up in the woods." The house was removed to the location of the present church, and rebuilt in 1828 by Daniel Searl and Mark K. Jewett, contrac- tors, of Rowley, for six hundred dollars. Rev. David Tullar was present at the raising, and offered prayer. The rebuilding followed the old model. The site was purchased of Miss Mehitable Foster, about a third of an acre, for twenty dollars, May 24, 1828. The house was dedicated January 1, 1829.

The present church edifice was built in 1848. In 1847 the First and South Parishes gave this parish a bell, which was accepted June 23, 1847, when it be- came a question whether the old house should receive needed repairs and be remodeled to accommodate the bell, or whether a new house should be built. The parish determined, December 22, 1847, to build a new house, and to set it on the site of the old one. The necessary funds were raised by subscription at twenty- five dollars per share. Eighty shares were sold, amounting to two thousand dollars. Charles E. Brackett, who died at Quincy on the night of Easter, 1885, was the contractor, at nineteen hundred and five dollars and the old house, which did not include pay for painting and pews. The whole cost, $2197.55, for structure, painting, graining slips and hanging the bell. The house was furnished by the Ladies' Sewing Circle. A stockholders' or proprietors' meeting was held December 2, 1848, when they voted not to relin- quish any of their rights to the parish; they voted also to adopt the action taken by the parish in rela- tion to the house, and to proceed in the sale of the pews. Forty slips were sold for twenty-four hundred and eleven dollars, one hundred and sixty more than the appraisal. The seating capacity of the house is about two hundred and fifty. It was dedicated No- vember 22, 1848.

3. Parish Lands .- The parish leased for nine hun- dred and ninety-nine years from July 5, 1753, a par- cel of land for a cemetery. The land is a few rods north of the site of the old meeting-house in Rowley- Linebrook, and has long been abandoned. The town granted ten acres in Bull-brook pasture to this pastor- ate November 15, 1790, which subsequently were ex- changed for ten acres in Long-hill pasture, which the parish now owns. The site of the old meeting-house was sold to Mr. Joseph B. Perley for twenty dollars.

4. The Church .- The church was embodied with twelve or thirteen male members November 15, 1749. They then adopted the belief and polity of the Cam- bridge platform made the year before. The following is a list of the deacons :

John Abbott, chosen December 13, 1749 ; died December 18, 1759.

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Jona. Burpee, chosen December 13, 1749 ; transferred to N. B. May 6, 1 764.

Mark Howe, chosen May 22, 1760 ; died February 17, 1770.

Moses Chaplin, chosen October 13, 1765 ; died October 18, 1811. Anthony Potter, chosen January 3, 1771 ; died June 21, 1791. Abraham Howe, Sen., chosen March 12, 1792 ; died November 5, 1797. Isaac Potter, chosen -; transferred to Rowley, October 1, 1800. Joseph Chaplin, Sen., chosen October 1, 1809; transferred to Byfield October 4, 1812.

Philemon Foster, Sen., chosen October 4, 1812; died May 10, 1818. William Dickinson, chosen September 30, 1831; resigned November 2, 1844.

William Foster Conaot, chosen September 30, 1831 ; died May 7, 1886, Jacob Symonds Potter, chosen November 2, 1844 ; transferred to George-' town November 4, 1876.

John Harrison Tenney, chosen June 9, 1884.

James Davis and George Hibbert were elected Elders December 19, 1749; the former died March 11, 1752; the latter April 29, 1750. Deacon John Abbott was chosen January 7, 1752, and subsequently David Perley. Both declined to serve February 1, 1757. Amos Jewett and Jeremiah Burpee were elected February 15, 1757, and were ordained April 19th. Elder Burpee was transferred to St. John, N. B., May 6. 1764, and Elder Jewett to Hamilton August 30, 1789. Abraham Howe was chosen June 11, 1787.

In 1773 "the tuners " of the hymns were Nathaniel Howe and Joseph and Jonathan Chapman. In April, 1791, the singing-school was invited to assist Messrs. Howe and Joseph Chapman in psalmody.

5. First Pastorate .- REV. GEORGE LESSLIE was born in Scotland in 1728, and came to this country when about two years old. His father was Rev. James Lesslie. I spell the name as Rev. George spelled it in legal documents. Our subject graduated at Harvard College in 1748, at the age of twenty years. He joined the Topsfield Church March 5, 1749, presumably upon profession of faith. He studied for the ministry with his own pastor, Rev. John Emerson. He began to preach for this parish, in August, 1748, shortly after his graduation, and re- ceived six pounds a Sabbath for his services. He began to preach as candidate March 19, 1749, four- teen days after joining the Topsfield Church. His transfer from that church was October 6, 1749. He was ordained and installed here November 15, 1749, the day of the organization of the church. His set- tlement was £700 old tenor, or $311.08, and his salary was £100 lawful money and twelve cords of wood. The depreciation of paper money and the failure of the parish to supply the deficiency, and an urgent call to the new society of Washington, N. H., deter- mined him to ask a dismission October 22, 1779. A council convened November 4, 1779, and advised that the pastorate be dissolved November 30th, the date that had been mutually agreed upon by the church and the pastor. His transfer by letter was December 10th. Mrs. Ruth Conant, daughter of Deacon Foster, wife of Esquire William Conant, and mother of Dea- con Conant, wrote: "The Church was embodied with thirteen male members. In that year twenty-two members were added. From 1749 to 1770 forty-six

members were added. There is no account of other additions during Mr. Lesslie's pastorate."

Mr. Lesslie, one of the organizers of the Essex North Association of Ministers, at New Rowley (now Georgetown), September 8, 1761, signed the rules of government. The fifth meeting of the association was with him November 30, 1770. He was a learned and serviceable member. About the time of his removal from this place, he was invited to a profes- sorship in Dartmouth College, which he declined, probably because of his promising field at Washing- ton. He preached the ordination sermon of his divinity student, Mr. Samuel Perley, at North Hamp- ton, N. H., January 13, 1765. The sermon was printed. He has also left two sermons written in stenography, preached in 1760. In July 2, 1778, he attended Ezra Ross, at the gallows, in Worcester, and his church kept the day with fasting and prayer. Young Ross was a member of his society, and Ross' parents were members of his church.

He early adopted the following covenant:

" I take God, the Father, to be my chief good and highest end ; I take God, the Son, to be my only Lord and Savior; I take God, the Holy Spirit, to be my Sanctifier, Teacher, Guide and Comforter ; I take the truth of God to be my rnle in all my actione; I take the people of God to be my people in all conditione. I do likewise devote and dedicate unto the Lord my whole self, all that I am, all that I have, aod all that I can do. This I do deliberately, sincerely, freely and forever."

He was not only a fine scholar, but, we may judge, an apt teacher. Many students resorted to him for instructions ; in modern phrase, his house was a boarding-school. He had students learning the use- ful sciences, fitting for college, and preparing for the ministry. A few names of them between 1752 and 1759 are preserved : Symonds, son of Capt. Baker, and Asa, son of Samuel Bradstreet; Timothy Andrews and Daniel Fuller; Thomas Stickney, Samuel Per- ley, Thomas Gowing, Moses Nichols and Samuel Porter. In September, 1757, he went to Cambridge with Asa Bradstreet. Mark Howe of his own parish studied with him six months in 1757, and gave six pounds in payment.

Mr. Lesslie was accustomed to write deeds, wills and other legal documents. He had a wide range of knowledge, and was practically useful to such of his people as sought his service or advice.

In July, 1753, he exchanged land with his parish for "land to set a house on." He built on it a few rods west of his meeting-honse a two-story house and a barn. He sold his interest in the property Septem- ber 13, 1780. The house was hurned some dozen years ago ; the barn is still standing.

He was a man of mental strength, of studious habits, of correct sentiments, of strict integrity, of conscientious action, was a fine scholar and enjoyed the confidence of the people. He had decided ortho- dox views, and was a pious and learned minister.

He married, October 26, 1756, Hephzibah Burpee, youngest daughter of his junior deacon. She joined the church June 25, 1756. Their children were

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George, David, James, Jonathan, William, Hephzi- bah, Joseph and Mehitable. This family left Line- brook March 6, 1780, and was nine days making the journey of eighty miles, there being at that time no roads worthy the name. Their privations the first year were great, provisions were obtainable only at a distance of thirty or forty miles. Their first winter was unusually long, a burden of snow lasting from October till late the next spring. Of the people's cattle twenty-seven died of starvation. They lost their only cow, and were the while without salt, a bushel of which in the spring cost five dollars. The society observed a day of fastiug and prayer in view of the dismal prospect.

Mr. Lesslie was installed at Washington, July 12, 1780, in a barn belonging to John Safford, his house of worship not being completed till 1789. His salary was fifty-five pouuds. payable in eatables and wear- ing apparel, and his settlement was two hundred acres of land "to him and his heirs forever." He died September 11, 1800, at the age of seventy-two years.

6. Inter pastorate .- During this period of nine years the records are very unsatisfactory. In 1780 Rev. Joseph Motley supplied ; in 1783 Rev. Joshua Spauld- ing who, by vote, March 31st, was requested to " draft rules for the government of the church on the basis of the Cambridge platform ; in 1785, Mr. Eben- ezer Cleaves supplied. Each one was called to settle.

7. Second Pastorate .- REV. GILBERT TENNENT WILLIAMS was invited, December 23, 1788, to preach here six months, and February 18, 1789, the church called him to the pastorate. He was ordained and installed, August 5, 1789, when the membership was nine males and fifteen females. His salary was one hundred pounds lawful money. He lived in the house formerly owned and occupied by Mr. Lesslie. Eight members were added during his pastorate. The society was small and unable to give him adequate support, and April 19, 1813, according to advice of council, dismissed him from pastorate and member- ship. His farewell discourse, which was printed, was preached May 2, 1813.

He was well armed with "the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God;" was a plain and easy writer ; was a man of sound orthodoxy, of pure mo- tives, of lovely temper, of sterling integrity, of deep piety, and an earnest laborer for the common good.

He was son of Rev. Simon Williams, of Windham, N. H., born at Fagg's Manor, Pa., October 8, 1761. He graduated at Dartmouth College, 1784, and studied for the ministry with Rev. John Murray, of Newburyport.

He was installed at West Newbury First Church, June 1, 1814, and labored till a paralytic shock un- fitted him for parochial duties. He was dismissed September 26, 1821, and died at Farmington, Septem- ber 24, 1824.

His wife was Martha Morrison, of Windham, N. H. She left this church, May 25, 1814, and in 1834 re- sided in Boston. Their children's names and births iu Linebrook were: Simon Tennent, 1790; Martha, 1792; Samuel Morrison, 1794; John Adams, 1799; Constant Floyd, 1802.

8. Inter-pastorate .- From this time to 1860 this church was without a pastor. It was a period of de- cay, darkness and trial resulting in a new lease of life. From 1829 the society had pecuniary aid from the Domestic Missionary Society. In 1814, when the membership was only one male and three females, an effort was made to establish a Baptist church. The faction called a quasi parish meeting and voted to re- linquish the church to the new society every alternate Sabbath. The Congregational Society held to their purpose, REV. JOSEPH EMERSON, of the Byfield Fe- male Seminary, supplied, and the effort was baffled. In 1819 the parish voted to occupy the church to the exclusion of the Baptist brothers. This action aug- mented the strife, deepened the bitterness, and bandied threats ; but legal advice showed that " pos- session was nine points of the law," and wisdom brought in peace. Rev. Joseph Emerson, in the kindness of his heart, was very serviceable to this so- ciety during his four years at Byfield, from 1818.

During these years was the dark period. The so- ciety had preaching but part of the time, till 1824, when REV. DAVID TULLAR became the stated sup- ply. In 1818 Deacon Foster died, at the age of eighty-two years; September 3, 1819, Mrs. Martha Perley died, aged eighty years and ten months, and October 8 (6), 1831, Mrs. Mehitable Chapman died, aged eighty-five years. Mrs. Chapman was lame and unable to get about, so Mrs. Ruth Conant was prac- tically alone in the church from 1819 to 1826, when three males and two females joined. Between 1826 and 1831, when, by reason of age and infirmity, Mr. Tullar retired, eight males and nine females became members. The membership, January 1, 1829, was four males and five females. A particular notice of this truly good man belongs to Rowley history, and we will only remark that he was a judicious and faithful undershepherd. He purchased half of the Joseph Holt farm of William P. Kimball, December 14,1825, and sold it to Jeremiah® Ellsworth, Decem- ber 31, 1835.

REV. MOSES WELCH took charge of this church January 1, 1831, and labored with success. Four males and five females were added in that year, two males and four females the next year, and three fe- males in 1833 and 1834. The membership in 1833 was thirty-four.

Mr. Welch was born in Plaistow, N. H., in 1784, and was son of Colonel Joseph Welch, a Revolution- ary patriot. He was a member of the first class of the Bangor Theological Seminary. While there he was licensed a missionary in that State, where he lab- ored several years. He thence came to Amesbury,

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History of Essex County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. I, Part 164

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