History of Essex County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. II, Part 269

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton) ed
Publication date: 1888
Publisher: Philadelphia, J. W. Lewis & Co.
Number of Pages: 1672

USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > History of Essex County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. II > Part 269

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When Mr. Balch was about seventy- five years old, ' in either place.

Ebenezer Dutch, of Ipswich, graduated at Dart- mouth in 1776, was ordained as his colleague in 1779. He was not a man of so much learning and culture as the earlier Bradford ministers, but he was ! very ready and taking of speech, and it has even been said of him that he had " impassioned elo- quence."

CHAPTER CLXVII. BRADFORD-(Continued). Continued Story of Brudford Church.

THE fourth pastor of the First Parish was Rev.

He had the valuable but dangerous gift of extem- 'Samuel Williams, born at Waltham in 1743, graduated

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at Harvard 1761, a distinguished mathematical scholar, and as such, sent with Professor Winthrop to Newfoundland to observe the transit of Venus. They sailed in the " Province Sloop," commanded by ('ap- tain Thomas Sanders. Samuel Williams was son of Wareham Williams, the minister of Waltham, who was carried off by the savages a captive, with his father, Rev. John Williams, of Deerfield, the little boy, Wareham, scrambling through three hundred miles of Indian trail. Young Williams was ordained at Bradford, November 20, 1765. He was, therefore. only twenty-two years of age, and, perhaps, was looked

Notwithstanding his youthfulness, Mr. Williams was, says Dr. Kingsbury, "eminently useful and acceptable as a minister." His reputation as a scholar brought him pupils who reflected credit upon him- among them, Dr. Barnard and Dr. Prince, the eminent minister of Salem. His most famous pupil, however, was Benjamin Thompson, better known by his title of Rumford, Count of the Holy Roman Empire, con- ferred on him by his patron, the King of Bavaria. Through him, his teacher, Mr. Williams, probably received German scientific honors.

The Revolutionary troubles were coming on and Mr. Williams, taking the popular side, was yet pru- dent and far-seeing. He appreciated the coming dangers. June 14, 1786, he was dismissed to become Professor of Mathematics and Natural Philosophy at Harvard. He received many literary and scien- tific honors, and, in his retirement, published a valu- able history of Vermont.

For about forty years in the middle of the eighteenth century there were negro slaves on the roll of the Bradford Church -Caesars, Sciscos, Pegs and Kates. One is " Argalus, servant of Joseph and Francis Parsons," the minister.

January 14, 1780, the church passed this vote to release Mr. Williams:

" Whereas the Pastor of this church, is invited and desired to accept of a Professorship in Harvard College which is of great importance to the public, therefore voted at his desire, to dismiss him from his Pastoral re- lation to this church. "

connecting link between the old regime and the new. Ile was fond of dress and was one of the last of the " cocked-hats," Parson Alden, of Yarmouth, at nine- ty-two, being the very last. Parson Allen was not so stern as he looked ; he was jocose and loved a frolic. Hle loved a glass of punch or toddy, too. Dr. Kings- bury tells an amusing story of his modified advocacy of temperance. But that movement, partial as it was and logically absurd, perhaps accomplished great good in New England. Men were not yet quite ready for the doctrine of total abstinence.

It is said that Parson Allen used to love to call his upon with scorn as a "boy " by some of the old min- i deacon and go to John Haseltine's dance hall (father isters, who had been ordained late in life. Mr. of Ann Haseltine Judson, the missionary), to see the Barnard, of Haverhill, who, though somewhat heter- odox, was a man of great dignity of bearing, at the ! close of his address in giving the right hand of fellow- ship, seriously charged the congregation not to en- courage tipsiness in the evening. "The wisest and best among us bitterly complain that our days of ordi- nation are seasons of growing licentiousness." young people dance and disport themselves. But, in 1806, there was a great revival, and from that time Parson Allen was a different man. The probability is, that he was always a conscientious man, with a high sense of clerical responsibilities, but with a great love of sociability and reasonable fun. Hle was evidently much liked and respected.

It illustrates one phase of his character, that when, at the first exhibition of Atkinson Academy, 1788-89, the pupils gave something of a dramatic exhibition, he criticised it as "profane and obscene." Ile had aspirations which he did not carry out. February 17, 1790, he dined with Parson Peabody, of Atkinson, whose first wife was a sister of Deacon John Hasel- tine, of Bradford. Parson Peabody wrote in his diary : "1 sang with Brother Allen. Ile borrowed my Edwards upon ye hill, and I believe thinks of writing against Spring."

In the early days of Mr. Allen's pastorate the min- isters were generally convivial and had a pretty good time. September 23, 1789, there was a "General Training at Bradford. I went into ye field where they were trooping and training. They made a very pretty appearance, but exercised but very little. There was a vast number of people and among them a number of ministers."

Parson Allen had been a theological pupil of Rev. Mr. Judson, of Taunton, uncle of Rev. Adoniram Judson, the missionary to India, who married Mr. Allen's formerly gay young parishioner, Nancy Hasel- tine. When, in 1819, the movement began in Brad- ford Church, at the General Association of Massachu- setts, which led to the formation of the American Board, and the marriage of Nancy Haseltine and Harriet Atwood, of Haverhill, to Judson and Samuel Newell, Parson Allen was doubtless deeply interested. February 5, 1812, he preached a sermon at Haverhill on the occasion of the embarkation of these two young women as missionaries. The great congregation sang his hymn beginning, " Go, ye Heralds of Salvation.' Parson Allen's finest hymn was composed, Dr. Kings- bury says, in the revival of 1806.

June 5, 1781, Rev. Jonathan Allen was ordained his successor. He was of the class of 17744, at Ilar- vard, and was thirty-two years old when ordained- thus redressing the balance which had been disturbed by his predecessor's youthfulness. He was a man of great personal dignity, with high ideas of the impor- "Sinners, will yon seorn the message, Sent in mercy from alove" tance of the sacred office. He died in Bradford in 1827. Mr. Allen was known as the "parson," and was the | sung for the first time in Bradford Church, one of the

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most pathetic and winning of all the hymns. Dr. Kings- bury alludes to the tradition that Whitefield could make his hearers weep by pronouncing the word, " Mesopotamia." It would be worth something at the end of one of the great revivalist's meetings to hear recited in that matchless voiee .-

" Every sentence -oh, how tender ' Every line is full of love,"

After Mr. Allen came Rev. Ira Ingraham, a man of boldness and clear convictions, who retired speedily from the pastorate because of the opposition to his strong advocacy of total abstinence.

Rev. Nathan Munroe is well remembered as a man of grave appearance yet genial address, of large in- formation, much respected by his people and the com- munity at large.

The Bradford Church is still a Puritan Church, holding fast the old doctrines, if it adopts the modern ways. It embalms many of the precious historical memories of the town.

Mention has been made of the first meeting-house, built in the year 1671. The second was built about 1706. Both of these stood in the old burying-ground, the first on the west side, the other east of it. Dr. Spof- ford, of Groveland, who lived to be past ninety-two, remembered the foundation of the second.

The third meeting-house, built about 1750 or 1751, stood on the common facing the south in front of the present edifice.

The fourth was dedicated October 8, 1834, on the site of the present. The fifth, now occupied, was built in 1848, and dedicated January 10, 1849. There have been two chapels, the first built about 1838, located nearly on a line with the front of the present church and about twenty-five feet west. The second and present chapel was dedicated November 23, 1879.

The Bradford Church records contain much that is interesting, and some things that are quaint. Here are two examples from the time of the first Mr. Symmes. The first is of the date of 1699.

" Ist, Whether any church member that hath or shall be censured by this church and absolved on confession, yet shall through Satan's energy refuse to own their confession, ought not, ipso facto, be suspended by ye oficer from ye Lord's table, and continuing absent after due means patiently used for their conviction and recovery, to be layed under the highest censure."

The thought of the unhappy professor, who, having made confession and been absolved, is then obliged to deny his confession of sin, "through Satan's energy," is worthy of analysis by the gloomy intellect of Hawthorne. The following is almost too simple for a smile :

Following are the names of the eleven pastors, and the two " ruling elders " of Thomas Symmes :

Pastors.

Rev Zechariah Symmes, ordained December, 1682 ; died March 22, 1707.

Rev. Thomas Symmes, installed December, 1708 ; died October 6, 1725. Rev. Joseph Parsons, ordained June 8, 1726 ; died May 4, 1765.

Rev. Samuel Williams, ordained November 20, 1765 ; dismissed June 14, 1780.

Rev. Jonathan Allen, ordained June 5, 1781 ; died March 6 1827.

Rev. Ira Ingraham, installed December 1, 1824; dismissed April 5. 1830.

Niev. Loammi Ives Hoadly, installed October 13, 1830; dismissed Jan - mary 30, 1833.

Rev. Moses C. Searle, installed January 30, 1833; dismissed March, 1834 Rev. Nathan Munroe, ordained February 10, 1836; dismissed January 25, 1854

Rev. James T McCollom, installed January, 1854. dismissed September 20, 1865.

Rev John D. Kingsbury, installed January 11, 1866.

Elders.

Sergeant John Boynton and Deacon Samuel Tenny, chosen March 28, 1718.

Deacons.

David Hasseltine and Richard Hall, not properly chosen deacons, buf nominated to provide elements for the Lord's Supper, November 2, 1862.

John Tenny, Joseph Bailey and Richard Hall, probably the first dea cons, and chosen December 13, 1702.

Lieutenant Samuel Tepny and Sergeant Richard Bailey, probably a committee only, but possibly deacons, February 2, 1713.

Stephen Woodman and Moses Day, chosen Jannary 24, 1728,

Joseph Hall, chosen May 30, 1730

Thomas Carleton, chosen October 31, 1742.

David Walker, chosen November 28, 1745.

Moses Day, chosen May 1, 1751.

Stephen Kimball, chosen Jannary 18, 1754

Obadialı Kimball, chosen March 16, 1762.

Thomas Kimball, chosen April 21, 1767.

Thomas Webster, chosen - , 1782.

Richard Walker, chosen April -, 1797.

John Griffin, chosen February -, 1804.

John llasseltine, chosen Joue 18, 1907.

Jesse Kimball, chosen April 8, 1826.

William Day, Jr., chosen April 25, 1824.

David C. Kimball, chosen July 2, 1x4P.

Nathaniel Hatch and S. L. B. Spear, chosen Angust 31, Isfu.

William K. Farrar, S. W. Carleton and A 1 .. Kutshall, chosen October 26, 1869.

The first Sunday-school in Bradford was organized on the second Sabbath in May, 1814, at the "Old Red School-House," then the only school-house in the central part of Bradford. About thirty children were gathered at this first Sunday-school at the elo-e of the afternoon service. The person foremost in the organization was Miss Mary Haseltine, eldest sister of Miss Abigail C. Haseltine, afterwards principal of Bradford Academy. Among her assistants were Miss Charlotte Gage and Miss Lydia Kunball.

Rev. Ira Ingraham, installed in 1824, took a great interest in the Sunday-school. After April, 1830, Deacon William Day, Mr. Isaac Morse and Mr. Ben- jamin Greenleaf (probably) were superintendents. The number of scholars was then probably something more than one hundred.

The first Sunday-school concert recollected by Mr. Ilarrison E. Chadwick, was in the old meeting-house i on the common. f.om 1825 to 1829, Bradford was

" I gave notice that every one of ye communicants should come pre- pared with their money to contribute for ye elements ye next sacrament day, viz., 11 of 12, 1700.

" It was moved that every Br. that fetcht wine, should fetch ye huttle where it was deposifed, and return it to ye same place, i. e., seasonably. Br. Abraham said the best way to sweeten ye bottle was to fill it with salt water an hour or two, then empty it, and put up the wine."

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the only place in all New England reporting a Sun- day-school, except some of the colleges. These re- ports were made to the American Sunday-School Union at Philadelphia. From 1833 to 1846 reports were made to the Massachusetts Sabbath-School Society ; since 1850, to the General Conference.

In 1887 the Sabbath-school connected with Brad- ford Church contained about three hundred and fifty members. The amount of money contributed yearly for its own and benevolent purposes, was about $300.

The Ward Hill school, in the west end of the town, was regularly organized in September, 1861. At present, it numbers about one hundred members, and contributes yearly about $75 for its own expenses and benevolent objects. The original, with the IIaseltine library, numbers about five hundred volumes.

The new parsonage of the Bradford Church was built in the summer of 1886, at a total cost, including the land, of $6547.58.

The total membership of the church, January 1, 1887, was four hundred and seventeen. In 1886 it contributed for missionary objects, $267.93.

The following societies were connected with the church for benevolent work: Woman's Auxiliary of Foreign Missions, of the American Home Missionary Society, and Home Missionary Society; Parish Circle for local work; Young Ladies' Relief Society ; Bee Hive (children's) Society.

The total value given by the above societies in 1886, in money, clothing and supplies, was $824,65.

CHAPTER CLXVIII.

BRADFORD-(Continued).

Indians and the Indian Deed-Roads and Schools.

BESIDES the killing of Thomas Kimball, in 1676, very little injury was ever done by Indians in the town of Bradford. When the Indian and French at- tack was made on Haverhill, in 1708, Nehemiah Carleton was shot from across the river. There was also a tradition that a workman employed in felling timber on the Haverhill side for the house then build- ing, and owned in 1820 by Reuben Carlton, was also shot. But Bradford was protected from Indian at- tacks by Haverhill on the north and by the river. Still, there was always alarm and anxiety during the time of the Indian attacks, and Bradford soldiers had to march elsewhere. "Centinels" were stationed in the town itself.

There were three garrison-houses built at an early period, one of brick at the west end of the town, near the place where Rev. John Day's house stood in 1820. There was one where the parsonage was afterwards

built, opposite the burial-ground. The third garrison was where Widow Rebecca Foster's house was in 1820, and this was palisaded, when they apprehended dan- ger. The inhabitants often passed the night in these houses. There was also a block-house on the neck, near the falls, where the inhabitants watched by turns, when there were alarms. The Indians some- times crossed the river near that point, when on their forays.

"Once," said Dr. Perry, " there must have been a considerable settlement of Indians in this town, as is evident from the number of bones found in and about the hill near Paul Parker's. The last of those who resided here was Papahana, who lived to a great age, in a hut near the mouth of Johnson's Creek; the people of the last generation knew him well. The name of the tribe to whom this settlement belonged is supposed to be the Pawtucket." It is supposed that in 1638, Masconomet or Masconomo, was fully satisfied for quit-claiming all his interest in Ipswich and Rowley. But at the beginning of the eighteenth century, Samuel English and Joseph English, his grandchildren, and John Umpee, his nephew, claiming to be his heirs, made a fresh demand, and an elaborate deed of release to the lands of Bradford was executed by them in 1701 to John Tenny, Philip Atwood and John Bointon, for themselves and the other freeholders and proprietors of Bradford. The consideration was £6 128. The deed was attested by Nathaniel Salton- stall and Dudley Bradstreet, the magistrates of Haverhill and Andover, respectively, and was duly recorded.

The first committee upon roads in Bradford were Sergeant John Gage, Joseph Pike and John Griffin ; but no labor was expended or money raised for roads till long after this date. Although the Brad- ford people had so many ties connecting them with the mother town, the road from Haverhill to Rowley was not laid out till 1686. It was eight rods wide. But before there had been paths. At that carly day every man wanted his own road, " to mill, to market and to meeting. "

Every town had its mark assigned to it in the early day when cattle roamed at will, in the woods and over the commons. That of Bradford was a bow and arrow, the arrow penetrating the heart.

The first vote of the town upon sehools, that is re- corded was in 1701, when the selectmen were ordered to provide a school, according to their discretion, and to assess the town for the expense of the same. The next year it was voted that those who sent children to school should pay two pence a week for those who learned to read, and four pence for those who learned to write, the additional expense to be paid by the town. The person's name who then kept was Ichabod. Did Washington Irving borrow his Ichabod Crane from the Bradford town records ? The next school-master was Master White, who began in 1723, and received £24 10s. per year. His successor

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was one Hobey, who was followed by a Mr. Merrel. All these persons kept through the year, most of them for several years each. Dr. Perry thinks they were well qualified for school-keeping. But the master, without doubt, passed from one neighborhood to another.

The following is a copy of one of the town votes on the subject of education : " March 24, 1710. The town ded then Impoure the Selectmeu to imply wemen to teach letel children to read."

The first school-house was built on the meeting- house lot, twenty-two feet long, eighteen feet wide, seven feet posts, to cost twenty-five pounds. The building committee were Jonathan Woodman, Ser- geant Robert Haseltine and Nathaniel Walker. All sorts of structures were put up on the meeting-house lot. There was at least one " nooning-house" built, where the people could warm themselves in the noon intermission and eat the food they had brought with them.

In 1820 there were seven school-houses in six districts, in which were kept twenty-four months of school annually by men ; in summer, good provision was made for the instruction of small children. May 20, 1754, the town voted "to ye school-master, for four months sarvice, £8 178. 9d." "To Samuel Webster, for boarding said school-master one-third part of year, £4 108. 8d." That was probably the allowance of men's instrnetion for one portion of the town.

September 19, 1754, " voted to pay Master Eames for keeping school one-third part of last year, £8178.8d."

" Voted that forty pounds be raised for the school- master and his board."

" March 15, 1757, voted that the East Parish have five months' schooling in twelve for ye time being."

" March 16, 1761, voted to erect a school-house in ye centre of the town, as shall be found in ye follow- ing manner, viz .; from Newbury line to Andover line, and from Abraham Gage's to Samnel Hale's, and for money as shall be cast on the last town rate, and the vote passed in the affirmative."

" Voted that £13 68. 8d. be raised to defray the charge of said building, £13 68. 8d." " Voted that Lieutenant Thomas Kimball, Lieutenant Nathaniel Parker and William Easman be a committee to find and prefix a centre according to the manner above prescribed."

The committee were afterwards voted "three shillings a peic for that sarvice."

The cost of erection was more than was expected, for the committee were voted £17 18s. 32d.

The above are examples of the ancient votes about schools, and are all that the record contains for the period covered by them.

June 7, 1805, the town accepted a report made by Moses Parker and others, a committee appointed for that purpose, for the better regulation of the town schools.

Dr. Perry's practical mind led him to suggest what, after long delay, was adopted everywhere : first, that school committees should be empowered to pre- scribe in all cases the books which should be used ; secondly, that towns should furnish the necessary sta- tionery to be used in schools.

At the beginning of the present century, when academies were springing up over New England, intelligent people began to be very uneasy in towns not so favored.

Thus in Bradford the following record explains itself : " At a meeting of a number of the inhabitants of the First Parish in Bradford, March 7, 1803, it was mutually agreed upon that a building should be erected for an academy, and the following persons became subscribers to defray the charges of building said house." The signers were a large majority of the heads of families in the parish. In three months the building was completed and the school was open- ed. The first principal was Samnel Walker, a native of Haverhill, and a graduate of Dartmouth College in 1802. Miss Hannah E. Swan was preceptress. The school was incorporated in 1804, with a charter conferring ample powers. After Mr. Wal- ker, the preceptors were as follows : Samuel Greeley, 1803-4; Rev. Dr. James Flint, 1805 ; Rev. Dr. Abraham Burnham, who was much engaged in the great revival of 1806; Isaac Morrill, 1807 ; Sam- nel Peabody, 1808; Rev. Daniel Hardy, 1808-10; Rev. Luther Bailey, 1811; Hon. Samuel Adams, 1811; Richard Kimball, 1811-12 ; Rev. E. P. Sperry, 1812; Rev. Nathaniel Dike, 1812-14; Daniel Noyes, 1814; Benjamin Greenleaf, 1814-36, who was the last preceptor. After that time the school was estab- lished for the education of young ladies only, having previously heen a mixed school.

There were thus, before Mr. Greenleaf gave the school some appearance of permanency, fourteen preceptors in a dozen years. No one of them, save Mr. Greenleaf, expected to make school-keeping a profession. There was therefore a lack of system and continuity in the service. Benjamin Greenleaf, a native of Haverhill, had graduated at Dartmouth College in 1813, and was engaged the same year in keeping school in his native town. He was cer- tainly a very remarkable man, and made a deep im- pression upon all with whom he came in contact. Dr. Kingsbury says of him, justly and comprehen- sively : " A man of versatile talent, an enthusiast in teaching, a mathematician and author of world-wide fame, a Christian of simple and unquestioning faith and rigid virtue, a man of kindly susceptibilities, generons, unsuspecting, unalterable in friendship, a citizen pure, unselfish, npright, and a teacher devot- ed, upright and unwearied in labor." After retiring from the academy, Mr. Greenleaf was principal of the Bradford Teachers' Seminary till 1848.

Mr. Greenleaf was born September 25, 1786, and was descended from the Newbury family of that name.

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His early opportunities for study were very meagre, and he once said : " If I ever offered up an earnest prayer, it was for rainy days that I might betake myself to books."

Chief Justice Perley, of New Hampshire, said of his old teacher : " lle was an uncommon genius, in the sense of having peculiarities entirely his own, | from 1850. Then, when the aims of the school were in the structure of his mind, the contour of his head and face, the expression of his countenance, his utter- ance, his manners, his motions, all his ways."

Mr. Greenleaf represented the town of Bradford in the Legislature in 1837, 1838 and 1839, where he earnestly supported all measures for the advancement of education, introducing orders for a geological sur- vey and a natural history survey of the State. He was the author of many and valuable text-books.

Doulftless Bradford Academy was much indebted to him for the repu- tation it acquired during his term of service. Mr. Green- leaf died October 29, 1864, aged seventy- eight years.

When Mr. Green- leaf retired, Miss Abigail C. Hasel- tine, who had been preceptress since 1815, carried on the school for ladies only. She substan- tially continued prin- cipal till her death, only being relieved in her later years of its more active du- ties. She had great executive ability, self-possession and dignity of manner. When Miss Hasel- tine at last retired, her loss was severely felt.

Miss Anuie E. Johnson is the present principal.

This institution has been very fortunate in its trustees. Rev. Jonathan Allen was president of the board, 1803-27; Rev. Isaac Braman, 1827-43 ; Hon. Jesse Kimball, 1844; Hon. Samuel H. Walley, 1845-49; Benjamin Greenleaf, for several years

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History of Essex County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. II, Part 269

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton) ed Publication date: 1888 Publisher: Philadelphia, J. W. Lewis & Co. Number of Pages: 1672

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton) ed
Publication date: 1888
Publisher: Philadelphia, J. W. Lewis & Co.
Number of Pages: 1672