History of Essex County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. I, Part 194

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 194

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A volume of his sermons, edited with a memoir, by his son-in-law, Rev. Stevens Everett, was also published.

Dr. Abbott's excellent wife survived him only two years. Of his nine children there remain : Emily, widow of Rev. Stevens Everett, now resident at Cam- bridge, Anne Wales, a member of her sister's family and Rev. William Ebenezer Abbott, formerly pastor of the First Church in Billerica, now living in the Dorchester district of Boston."

Dr. Abbott was everywhere welcomed in the town, and his good offices as peacemaker were often sought. He had one parishioner who frequently quarreled with his wife, and who, disregarding the figurative meaning of his pastor's advice, to "throw water on the fire," obeyed it literally, drenching his wife with a full bucket, the next time she scolded.

When the good parson chided him, telling him the woman was the weaker vessel, and should be cherished, he retorted : "The weaker vessel, is she ; then, blast her, let her carry less sail !"

A gradual divergence from the tenets of the original church took place during Dr. Abbott's ministry, and his successor, the Rev. Christopher T. Thayer, was settled over the first parish as a Unitarian, by a vote of two to one, January 27, 1830. Mr. Thayer, though

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HISTORY OF ESSEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

coming to Beverly from Lancaster, was a descendant of Andrew Elliot, our first town clerk. He was a graduate of Harvard (1824), always interested in the welfare of the town during his pastorate, and the author of a valuable contribution to its history-a " Bi-Centennial Address," on the two hundredth an- niversary of the formation of the First Church. He retired in 1859, followed by the best wishes of all his townspeople, and passed his remaining days in Bos- ton, where he died June 23, 1880, at his residence on Beacon Street, and was buried in Mount Auburn Ceme- tery. Mr. Thayer served as chairman of the School Committee many years, and at his death left a legacy of five thousand dollars to the church.

He was succeeded by the Rev. John C. Kimball, a native of Ipswich, and graduate of Cambridge Theo- logical School, the period of whose pastorate was eleven years, and who has since preached in Oregon, Newport, R. I. and Hartford, Conn.

In 1872 (March 7), Rev. Ellery Channing Butler was settled over this church, the ninth in the line of dis- tinguished ministers, beginning with Rev. John Hale. Mr. Butler was born in Otego, N. Y., and is a grad- nate of Meadville College, Pa. Under him the parish continues in a prosperous condition, the present con- gregation numbering two hundred and eighty fami- lies.

THE FIRST MEETING-HOUSE .- The first house of worship was erected as early as 1656, a rude structure, which answered the needs of the people until 1682, when a new building was raised, fifty by forty feet, which stood on the site of the present church. It was used as a town-house also, and as no fires were allowed in the meeting-houses of those days, it was considered the safest depository for the town ammunition, a pow- der-room in it having been built in 1727.

In 1770 a third meeting-house was erected, on the site of the second, and is at present standing, having been enlarged in 1785, remodeled in 1835 and again some twenty years ago.

Its first bell was brought by Capt. Lothrop, from Port Royal, in 1656; this was replaced by auother in 1685, by yet a third in 1712, the gift of Robert Bris- coe, and, by the fourth one, which remains, in 1803, from the foundry of Paul Revere & Son.

The first town clock was obtained in 1796, and has done good service for ninety years. The first parish meeting-house, the "Old South," is one of the land- marks of the town, and around it cluster associations that should never be dispelled. From its bell-tower, these many years, have rung the noon-day hour and the vesper peals, proclaiming the hour of nine and warning the youth of generation after generation of the time for retiring.

The venerable sextons of the church have been, at times, reckoned as personages of almost as much importance as the ministers themselves. The first to be mentioned (1665), is Goodman Bailey, who received for his services a peck of corn annually from each

householder; and to the emoluments of this office, in 1680, succeeded Goodman Hoar, during whose term the nine o'clock bell was introduced. An important service of these early sextons was the turning of the hour-glass, as a gentle reminder to the minister that time was fleeting. In 1748 Josiah Woodbury held the office, remaining its incumbent for forty-one years, when he died. Wells Standley came next, in 1790, dying in office 1797, in which year Joshua Wallis fell dead while ringing the bell, and was suc- ceeded by Thomas Barrett. This faithful servitor held the position from June, 1797, to 1844, the year hedied. Ezra Woodbury was appointed his colleague, in 1842, and for over thirty years attended to the va- rious duties, dying in January, 1876.

The first meeting-house of the Second Parish was erected 1713, with a turret, but no steeple or bell. The Rev. Mr. Chipman was ordained 1715, and Janu- ary 11, 1716, the church held its first meeting. As a special mark of honor, in 1759, Lieut. Henry Herrick was invited, when he attended worship there, to "take the second seat on the floor before the pulpit." In 1771 Mr. Enos Hitchcock was settled to succeed Mr. Chipman, who died in 1775, and was buried in the old cemetery of the parish.

In 1787 Mr. Daniel Oliver accepted a settlement here, but resigned in 1797, dying in Roxbury in 1840, at the age of eighty-nine. Mr. Moses Dow, of At- kinson, N. H., was the next minister, called here in October, 1800, ordained March, 1801, resigned 1818.

The Rev. Humphrey C. Perley was settled here in 1818, leaving in June, 1821, and iu 1823 Mr. Ebenezer Poor, who retired in March, 1827.

The Rev. Ebenezer Robinson succeeded Mr. Poor, in October, 1830, but was dismissed in January, 1833. Rev. Edwin M. Stone was pastor for thirteen years succeeding. Rev. Mr. Stone is the author of the ex- cellent "History of Beverly," published in 1842, a book of reference to which all writers on the subject must turn for exact information. Mr. Stone's pastor- ate began March 21, 1834, and ended in 1847. For a period of nearly twenty years, there was no settled minister here, and the church dwindled to less than a score of members. At the end of this time its history was joined to that of the Fourth Congregational, in a curious manner. This latter was organized 1834, and the Rev. Johu Foote installed as first minister, 1836; who was succeeded by Rev. Allen Gannet, installed December 15, 1847, and dismissed April 26, 1853.

He was succeeded by J. W. Lounsbury, and he by Eli W. Harrington, in 1860. Rev. Mr. Harrington continued pastor until 1866, when the Fourth Con- gregational was merged in the Second, taking the name of the "Second Congregational Church." Rev. Mr. Harrington continued to reside here till 1884, though with no pastoral charge, active in educational work, when he removed to another town. In 1865 the church celebrated its one hundred and fiftieth anni- versary by a re-dedication, and began its worship in -

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May, 1866, with Rev. Chas. S. Porter officiating. This, the Second Congregational, continues to occupy its original church, though the building has several times been altered and improved.

Rev. Robert Southgate succeeded Mr. Porter, and he was followed by Rev. Wm. Pbipps in 1869, Rev. T. D. P. Stone in 1870, the Rev. Alexander J. Ses- sions, installed as acting pastor, in 1872, and, since 1876, varions preachers have occupied the pulpit, it being filled, at present, by Rev. William Merrill. The church now numbers thirty-five persous, the parish twenty, with one hundred in the Sunday- school. The locality of the Second Parish (or North Beverly) is a historic one, with its old house, the par- sonage of John Chipman (the first minister) erected 1715, still standing in good preservation, and the old cemetery with its ancient head-stones.

1801 .- March 25th, the First Baptist Church of Beverly was organized, and a meeting-house erected the same year, on Cabot Street, nearly opposite Elliot, with the Rev. Joshua Young as pastor. He departed in 1802, and in 1803, in June, he was suc- ceeded by Rev. Elisha S. Williams, a graduate of Yale College, who ministered until 1812, when he re- signed. In early life, Mr. Williams had served under Washington, on Long Island; in his later years he returned to Beverly, and died here in 1845, at the home of Mrs. Samuel S. Ober, his daughter, at the age of eighty-seven years, four months.

In 1814, the Rev. Harvey Jenks, of Hudson, N. Y., was called to the society, but died before settlement; and the next pastor ordained was Rev. Nathaniel W. Williams, of Salem, whose ministry extended from 1816-24, when he resigned ; in 1836 he accepted an- other call to the church and continued till 1840. His successor, in 1825, was Rev. Francis G. Macomber, a graduate of Waterville College, who suddenly ex- pired July 1, 1827, and there was again no settled pastor until 1830. Then the Rev. Jonathan Aldrich was ordained and served till 1833, during which time twenty-six members of the church were dismissed, to form a new society at Wenham. 1834, September 10th, the Rev. John Jennings was ordained and continued two years, followed by Rev. Nathaniel W. Williams a second time, from 1836-40. On November 11th, this year, Rev. Charles W. Flanders, a graduate of Brown University, was ordained. He remained ten years, but in 1850 resigned his pastor- ate here and afterwards occupied pulpits at Con- cord, N. H., Westhoro', Mass., and Kennebunk- port, Me. Finally returning to Beverly, he built here a home, doing occasional ministerial work, especially at the Farms, in the Second Baptist, and expired here August 2, 1875, at the age of sixty-eight.

In 1852 the Rev. Edwin B. Eddy was ordained, re- signing three years later, and in the year following, August 7, 1856, Rev. Joseph C. Foster was settled over the church.

During Mr. Foster's pastorate of sixteen years,

which was a highly successful and memorable one, the beautiful church was erected, now occupied by the society, at the corner of Abbot and Cabot Streets.

Iu 1837 the original church building had been takeu down and a new one erected in a more eligible locality on the same street. This was several times enlarged and improved, and a chapel built, but the needs of the society demanded better accommodations, hence the spacious structure now in use. It is the finest house of worship in the town, cost forty-five thousand dollars, and its handsome spire is one hun- dred and sixty-two feet in height.

It was built by a member of the society, master- builder John Meacom, who also rebuilt the older structure in 1854, and who has followed his honorable calling here for nearly sixty years.

Mr. Foster resigned in 1872, and was succeeded, for one year, by Rev. E. B. Andrews, late president of Denison University, Ohio, and now professor in Brown University, Providence, R. I. The present pastor, Rev. D. P. Morgan, gallantly served (as did Mr. Andrews) in the Union army in the War of the Rebellion.

1802 .- The most important offshoot of the First Church was the Third Congregational, subsequently called and now known as the Dane Street Society. The church was organized November 9, 1802, incor- porated March 7, 1803, present name adopted in 1837. Their first meeting-house was raised in 1802, finished in December, 1803, and dedicated by the Rev. Samuel Worcester, of Salem. This building was altered and improved in 1831, but destroyed by fire in December, 1832. In 1833 the present commodious building was erected, since, from time to time, enlarged and beau- tified in accordance with the demands of the times.

The first minister was Rev. Joseph Emerson, born in Hollis, N. H., October 13, 1777, a graduate of Har- vard, a teacher and preacher in several places prior to his ordination here, September 21, 1803. After thirteen successful years he resigned, his health de- manding a cessation of labor for awhile, and for some time was engaged in educational work, occasionally preaching in various places. He established a liter- ary seminary in Byfield, removing thence to Saugus, and later to Weathersfield, Conn., where he died May 13, 1833. To Beverly, where he was highly honored and esteemed, he frequently returned, delivering here several courses of historical lectures, and writing a memoir of Miss Fanny Woodbury, a missionary from this town.

His successor was the Rev. David Oliphant, in- stalled February 18, 1818, and dismissed, by mutual council, 1833, after a long period of profitable la- bor. He died in St. Louis, Mo., in 1871. October 13, 1834, the Rev. Joseph Abbot was ordained, an occasion which witnessed also the dedication of the present house of worship. After a pastorate of thirty years, during which his serene and beautiful life was ever a beneficent presence to his people and the com-

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munity, this beloved minister was dismissed in De- cember, 1865. He was removed by death April 10, 1867, at the age of fifty-eight years, eight months. Mr. Abbot was born in Philadelphia August 16, 1808, and graduated from Union College, N. Y. In early life he studied medicine with Dr. Mcclellan, father of Gen. George B. McClellan, but became con- vinced that the ministry should be his calling, and pursued his theological studies at Andover. He early became aware that he was subject to disease of the heart, and considered himself in the light of a "min- ute man," liable to call at any moment. This con- sciousness served to restrict his labors somewhat, and gave to his aspect that repose and serenity which were his characteristics.

Of marked piety (says an obituary), of ripe and rare scholarship and culture, of a peculiarly social, amia- ble and genial nature, his companionship was a bene- diction at all times, and our community have been favored indeed in enjoying so much of the blessing of his well-spent life and labors. Able as a writer, and instructive and discriminating as a preacher, yet he published but little, although there were but few if any of his finished productions that would not have well stood the test of severe criticism. Feeling a deep interest in the cause of education, he aided many in travelling those cherished walks of literature in which he was so much at home, doing public serv- ice also as chairman, and for about a quarter of a cen- tury as member, of our school committee. He was, said his friend, Rev. J. C. Foster, a true man. "To this, his whole life was a beautiful testimony. He was genuine and sincere, and his artlessness and truthfulness were uncommonly prominent. He was as unselfish as unpretentious, and he shrank instinct- ively from publicity. He did not appreciate his own claims to be ranked high among the strong men in the ministry, and his remarkably unobtrusive spirit would not allow him to gain the reputation abroad which he could have easily sustained with his supe- rior abilities."

" Death did not take him by surprise ; but he had been looking for the event which at length came un- noticed by him in its actual coming, permitted as he was ' to wake up in glory' from the peaceful slumber of the midnight hour."

It was with difficulty-so attached to their life-long teacher had become his parishioners-that an accept- able successor was found.

In 1866 (February 15th) Rev. Eugene H. Titus was ordained, but dismissed, after an active pastorate, June 16, 1867. He died in Georgetown, Mass., July, 1876.

He was succeeded by Rev. Orpheus T. Lanphear, who was installed October 23, 1867. Dr. Lanphear was dismissed June 3, 1880, but fixed his residence in Beverly, in whose prosperity he has always taken a lively interest. In 1881 (July 7th) Rev. Samuel W. Eddy, a graduate of Union College, N. Y., was or-

dained, but dismissed April 8, 1887, on accourt of ill health, to the great regret not only of his own par- ishioners, but the entire community as well.

The Dane Street Society now numbers about nine hundred and fifty, with three hundred and forty-one in the church, and has a large and constantly in- creasing membership in its Sunday school. Its oldest living member is Mrs. Adeline, the widow of Rev. Francis Norwood, who united with the church in 1826.

CIVIL HISTORY CONTINUED.

1802 .- Having thus outlined the history of the four oldest churches in Beverly, and prepared the way for mention of the others in sequence, attention will now be given again to civil affairs. The Beverly Bank, one of the most important of the town, was incorporated 1802, with capital at $160,000, reduced in 1815 to $100,000, but increased in 1836 to $125,000. Under successive charters it has continued in corpor- ate capacity to the present time, becoming the Bev- erly National Bank in 1865, with a charter for twenty years, renewed for twenty more in 1885, with a capi- tal of $200,000. Its first president was Israel Thorn- dike, succeeded by Moses Brown, Joshua Fisher, William Leach, Pyam Lovett, Albert Thorndike, Samuel Endicott and John Picket, names, all of them, synonyms for integrity, and identified with the town's highest interests.

In the course of its long existence, eighty-five years, it has had but three cashiers : Josiah Gould, Albert Thorndike and Robert G. Bennett. Mr. Ben- nett succeeded Mr. Thorndike, when the latter was elected president, in 1844, and held this position of trust during forty-one years, when he was chosen treasurer of the Savings' Bank. The present cashier, Mr. Augustus Stevens, was connected with the bank thirty-one years, as teller, when he succeeded Mr. Bennett as cashier.

The bank, for a long time, occupied a portion of the brick building at the corner of Cabot and Central Streets, built by John Cabot in the latter year of the last century, and now owned and occupied by Ed- ward Burley. It was, for a period, located in the Masonic building, but in 1885 entered into the bean- tiful edifice, corner of Cabot and Thorndike Streets, which it now occupies conjointly with the Beverly Savings' Bank, which built it. This latter institution was chartered in 1867, and has deposits to the amount of about a million dollars. Its president is William Endicott, who has held this position since 1867, as also has its treasurer, R. G. Bennett. The bank building, erected in 1885, at a cost of twenty-five thousand dollars, is in the Queen Anne and Colonial style of architecture, of brick, with trimmings of freestone and is considered one of the finest and most complete of its kind in the country. It occu- pies the site of the former residence of Albert Thorn- dike (long time cashier and president of the old bank), a house built above one hundred years ago,

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and once the home of Joshua Fisher, the third presi- dent.

1802 .- January 20, a Social Library was started, by subscription, with thirty-two shares at five dollars each, the money raised being invested in valuable books. These were selected by Joshua Fisher, Na- than Dane, Thomas Davis and Rev. Mr. Mckean, and the collection steadily augmented by purchase and donation, amounted in 1842 to one thousand vol- umes. Other libraries, later established, were those of the Mechanics' Association and the "School Dis- trict." In 1851 the Legislature authorized towus to establish public libraries, and that year John I. Baker introduced a petition for an appropriation in the town-meeting, by which one hundred dollars was voted. It was also voted that the library be located in the Social Library room of the town hall. The first library was in the Briscoe Hall.

Each succeeding year the town appropriated one hundred dollars more towards the library, until 1860, when the amount was increased to five hundred dol- lars, and since 1870 to one thousand dollars, at which figure it now stands. When the question was first discussed, some of our best citizens raised two thou- sand five hundred dollars by subscription ; donations were later made, and the interest in the subject has increased to the present day.

The first trustees, who were also active in securing the subscriptions (aided by several ladies), were : Dr. Chas. Haddock, Wm. Endicott, Jr., Chas. W. Galloupe, Benj. O. Peirce, Richard P. Waters. The preseut trustees are: Wm. C. Boyden, president; Franklin Leach, secretary ; Joseph D. Tuck, treasurer ; Edward Giddings and Wm. R. Driver. A new trustee is elected each year ; Mr. Tuck has been re-elected for nearly thirty years, and Mr. Leach twenty-five. Un- der the intelligent supervision of its trustees the li- brary has prospered exceedingly, containing to-day over ten thousand volumes and proving itself a ne- cessity to all, only limited in its beneficent work by the scantiness of the appropriations. It is open to the public every week day afternoon, and Saturday evenings.

1806 .- Miss Elizabeth Champney, daughter of the third pastor of the First Church, and for many years a successful teacher, died, April 23d, aged sixty-six.

1807 .- The Beverly Charitable Society (already mentioned), was incorporated. The town was called to lament the death of Dr. Elisha Whitney. The sons of Dr. Whitney became world-famous as mer- chants and ship owners, and his descendants to-day maintain in Beverly the honorable name of their dis- tinguished ancestor.

An old soldier, in the person of Capt. George Ray- mond, died this year, aged ninety-nine years, having been born December 21, 1707. He was in the expe- dition to Cape Breton, and in 1770, as appears by the records, was moderator of a town-meeting assembled for the purpose of condemning the use of tea by patriots.

1808 .- Joseph Wood, who died this year, at the age of sixty eight, was a survivor of the Committee of Correspondence during the Revolution, in 1778 a member of the convention for ratifying the United States Constitution and from 1771 to the day of his death held the office of town clerk, discharging every public duty with conspicuous fidelity.

1809 .- The Beverly Marine Insurance Company was chartered, with a capital of one hundred thou- sand dollars. Its rooms were in the building then occupied by the bank.

1809 .- December 10, Josiah Batchelder, jr., expired, aged seventy-three. From his tombstone standing in the Second Cemetery, we learn that, "The whole assemblage of associate virtues, which so superlatively exalt the Christian and endear him to society, his friends and his God, conspired to portray in the liveli- est colors the character to whose memory this.stone is sacred."

A curious official paper is preserved by one of our citizens, as follows :

"To Josiah Batchelder jr., Esqr. one of the Justices assigned to keep the Peace in and for the County of Essex .- Ebenezer Woodbury, of Beverly, gentleman, in the county aforesaid, on oath informs the said Justice, that on the first day of February, instant, and on divers other days, in the night time, the following Goods, viz : five pecks of Indian Coru. & one canvas bag, two bushele & one half Bushel of meal, and two Bags (one of said bags being of plain coarse Cloth and marked J. R.) all which were stolen and carried away from the Grist Mill then in the care & occupation of the said Ebenezer Woodbury-the first mentioned coro and bag the property of Benjn Butman ; 5 pecks of the meal & the bag, marked E W., is the property of Elizabeth Woodbury, widow; & 5 pecks of the meal and the bag mark'd J. R. was the property of Joseph Rea of s'd Beverly, Gentleman, -of the value of twenty-four shillings & nine pence, the property of the said Benja Butman Eliza Woodbury & J. Ray-were feloniously stolen, taken and carried away from the Grist Mill of the said Ebenezer, & others, now in the occupation of a'd Eben'r at Beverly, as aforesaid, and that they, and he, hath probable cause to suspect, and doth suspect, that one JUPITER BUNN, of Beverly, in the county of Essex, labourer, did eteal, take, and carry away, the same goods, as aforesaid, and prays that he, the said Jupiter Buno, may he apprehended, and held to answer to this complaint, and further dealt with, relative to the same, according to law ; and the said Eben'r saith that he hath cause to suspect, and doth suspect, that the aforesaid coro, meal, etc., are secreted in the dwelling-house of one Anthoney, and prays for a Warrant to search there for the same."

" Received and sworn to on the seventeenth day of February, A.n. 1794, before me,

JOSI. BATCHELDER, JR., Justice of the Peace."

And the sheriff of said County of Essex is instructed, forthwith to apprehend said Jupiter Buun, and bring him before said Josi Batchelder ; from which it is in- ferred that said Bunn was apprehended, and had good cause to repent his misdeed.

There are some grounds for believing that Jupiter Bunn was not the guilty party, since he was at one time a trusted servant in one of the first families of · Beverly. In the possession of Miss Hannah Rantoul is an antique chair, which once belonged to the fami- ly referred to, and which was always called " Jupi- ter's chair," because this individual always insisted upon occupying it, refusing to sit in any other.

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History of Essex County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. I, Part 194

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