USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Framingham > History of Framingham, Massachusetts, including the Plantation, from 1640 to the present time, with an appendix, containing a notice of Sudbury and its first proprietors > Part 12
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46
And in order to manifest their gratitude for the generosity, and their respect for the character, of Colonel Stone, the Selectmen are directed to cause the bell to be rung on his birth day, during his life, and to be tolled, for a suitable time, at his death ; and the Town Clerk is also directed to file and record his letter, and to furnish him with an attested copy of this vote.
The third meeting house was built in a style of elegance for its day, and for many years was the place of assemblage for almost
ton, and Mr. Warren of Charlestown. May 23, J808, the Town voted to build a Town House out of the old Meeting House, the expense not to exceed $500. In 1820 was passed a vote to paint the Meeting House ;
and an unsuccessful attempt was made to procure stoves for the same. In 1823, the sum of $150 was grant- ed to procure stoves for the Meeting House, and also a stove for the Town House.
105
THIRD MEETING HOUSE, ETC.
the entire community, who worshipped together within its walls. Notwithstanding its great dimensions, it was frequently crowded, and many recall with pleasure, mingled with regret, the recollec- tions of that golden age, when through this ample town there was but one fold and one shepherd. The unavoidable revolutions of opinion have since multiplied the churches of this, as of other towns ; a result not to be deplored, so long as a generous tolera- tion and Christian charity shall allay all party jealousy, and the only rivalry or contention shall be for noble and worthy ends .*
MINISTERS OF FRAMINGHAM.
The precise date of the first preaching in this town is unknown. The earliest notice on the Records, is given the 21st of Aug. 1700; when it was voted by the town, that if Mr. John Swift, of Milton, continues to live with us, to be a settled minister among us, that then he shall have, for his own proper use, 100 acres of land, and 10 acres of meadow .;
May 13,. 1701. Chose Peter Cloyes, Sen., Benj. Bridges, John How, John Haven, John Town, and Sam. Winch, to go to three ordained ministers for their opinion, whether Mr. John Swift be a person well qualified for the work of the ministry, ac- cording as the law directs .¿
* The house above referred to, was taken down in August, 1846; and a new and more elegant one in the Gothic style, is now being erected upon its site. The building Commit- tee are Messrs. Josiah Stedman, Mo- ses Edgell, William H. Knight, Ru- fus Brewer, Simon Whitney, In- crease S. Wheeler, and George Phipps.
t The town also voted, to give Mr. Swift £60 in money, yearly, and find him in his wood; to fence in 20 acres, and break up 10 acres of land, and also to give £100 towards the building of a house, one-fifth of the same in money. They also voted to raise the salary, by a rate ; " and it shall be paid by contribution, every man to paper his money ; and that which is not papered, to be accounted as strangers' money." David Rice
and John How were appointed to re- ceive the contribution money, and pay it to Mr. Swift every week, and keep an account of every man's mon- ey.
Mr. Swift appears to have received just before this period, an invitation from Marlborough. " July 12, (1700), voted, unanimously, by church and town, to invite Mr. Swift to help with our present pastor, (Rev. Wm. Brinsmead), if God shall raise him up." Marlb. Rec.
# The committee applied to Rev. James Sherman, of Sudbury, Rev. Grindal Rawson, of Mendon, and Rev. William Brattle, of Cambridge, who gave a full testimonial of Mr. Swift's qualifications, which is placed upon record. Mr. Swift appears to have continued his labors from Aug., 1700, to the time of his ordination,
106
ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY.
May 22. Legally voted, to give a call to Mr. John Swift, of Milton, to abide and settle with us as our legal minister. Chose Abiall Lamb, Dav. Rice, Benj. Bridges, John Haven, John Town, Peter Cloyes, Sen., Sam. Winch, and Tho. Drury, to give the call.
The only account existing of the ordination of Mr. Swift, and the institution of the church, is contained in the following memo- randum, by Mr. Bridge, in the Records of the Church; viz : -
FRAMINGHAM, OCT. 8, 1801.
Then a church was embodied in this place, consisting of 18 mem- bers, over which the Rev. Mr. John Swift was ordained, (the same day), a Pastor. The names of those who (laid the) foundation of said church, were these, viz :- Henry Rice, Dn. David Rice, Dn. Joshua Hem- mingway, Thomas Drury, Thomas Walker, John How, Simon Mellen, Peter Cloice, Benj. Bridges, Caleb Bridges, Thomas Mellen, Benj. Nurse, Sam'l Winch, Thomas Frost, John Haven, Isaac Bowen, Ste- phen Jennings, Nath. Haven.
The Covenant of said church was as follows :
We do, under a soul-humbling and abasing sense of our utter unworthi- ness of so great and high a privilege, as God is graciously putting into our hands, accept of God, the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, for our God, in covenant with us ; and do give up ourselves and our seed, ac- cording to the terms of the everlasting covenant, to be his, under most sacred and inviolable bonds ; promising, by the help of his grace and strength, (without which we can do nothing), that we will walk togeth- er in a church state, as becomes saints, according to the rules of his holy word; submitting ourselves and seed unto the government of the Lord Jesus Christ, as King of his church ; (afterwards it was add- ded), and to the watch and discipline of this church - managing our- selves towards God and man, all in civil and sacred authority, as those ought, who are under the teachings of God's Holy Word and Spirit ; alike declaring it to be our resolution, that we will, in all things, where- in we may fall short of duty, wait upon God, for pardoning mercy and grace, in and through our dear Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To whom be glory forever. Amen.
To persons, upon their admission into the church, it was said :-- And we, the church of Christ in this place, do promise to carry it to- wards you, as a church of Christ ought, to its particular members, ac- cording to the rule of God's Holy Word. This we also promise, in and through our dear Lord Jesus Christ. To whom be glory forever .*
* Mr. Bridge adds : " The above written was copied from a paper drawn by the Rev. Mr. Swift some- time before his death. Attest, Mat. Bridge. And it appears that for above forty years, the Rev. Mr. Swift dis- ciplined his church consistent with
the above mentioned covenant, as be- came a Wise, Faithful, Religious and Prudent Pastor, and Departed this Life, (much lamented), April ye 24, 1745."
The above Covenant has been pre- served in substance in the Ist church
107
FIRST MINISTER, MR. SWIFT.
May 18, 1702. The town quit-claimed to Mr. Swift the tract of land in his possession .*
The Records of the Church during the ministry of Mr. Swift being lost, the remaining sources of information illustrating its history, are scanty. A private journal, in the form of a Sabbath Diary, kept by Mr. Swift, and extending from Dec. 30, 1716, to July 14, 1728, is preserved to us ; in which allusions are made to passing events, and which supplies, to some extent, the lost records, (if such have existed) .;
The only event of particular interest recorded in this volume, was connected with one of the Deacons of the church ; about which, in 1719, the " advice of the Elders at Boston," was re- ceived and complied with ; though not to the peaceable adjust- ment of the difficulty. Feb. 12, 1722, a council convened at Framingham, whose result was read the following Sabbath. The 18th of Aug. following, full satisfaction was given by Deacon Hemenway, the individual referred to, and the peace of the church was restored.
About the year 1726, appeared the first known indications of a contentious spirit in the church, which was destined to disturb its harmony through a course of years ; and which resulted, at length, in a temporary division of the parish. The origin of the unhappy breach is clearly traced to an individual of conspicuous zeal, formerly of the old church in Boston, (Capt. Edward God- dard), who entertained high notions of the importance and au- thority of the office of Ruling Elder, in which he found little sympathy from the pastor of this church. Having succeeded in attaching a number of adherents to his particular views, (in 1732
to the present time. It was adopted by the churches of Hopkinton, Ox- ford, Acton, and perhaps others ; in the Records of some of which, it is found recorded in the hand writing of Mr. Swift. No doctrinal confes- sion appears upon the Records of this church, during the entire period of its existence.
* The above is described as begin- ning at the W. end of the Bridge over Sudbury River ; thence to the N. end of Duck Pond at the E. end of Mr. S.'s house ; thence N.W. to John Town's land ; thence S. to Sudbury River; thence E. and N.E. to the
afore said Bridge. Also a piece of meadow on the N. side of the (then) Meeting House. Also a piece of do. N. of Bare Hill. Sept. 16, 1702, a Rate of £10 was ordered " for break- ing up our Rev. Pastor's land." Oct. 3, 1705, the Town voted £20 to cross-plow the same, and break up, the next June, as much as will make 15 acres, and cross-plow it in the full of the leaf next after."
t The Journal alluded to, contains the entries of baptisms, admissions to the church, &c., during the period named, and is of much value even in its incidental notices.
108
ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY.
about 16 persons), he with others sought admission into the church of Hopkinton .* Mr. Swift asked advice of the Boston Associa- tion, the nature of which, (if given), is unknown. The with- drawal of a considerable number of the members of his church, under such circumstances, must have contributed, in its results to the peace of the town and the church in succeeding years, in hastening the declining health of Mr. Swift, already worn by domestic affliction.
June 29, 1741. The town dismissed the matter in the warrant, relative to the settlement of another minister, while Mr. Swift is living.
March 7, 1742-3. Voted by the town, that there be a monthly lecture set up, according to Mr. Swift's writing, sent into the town meeting.
Aug. 13, 1743. At a meeting, " to see if the town will come into some method to provide help for Mr. Swift, he being unable to preach," Deac. Adams and Mr. Caleb Bridges were chosen to wait on the Rev. Mr. Swift, to advise with him; and Deac. Adams and Deac. Pike to supply the pulpit for the present.
March 5, 1743-4. Voted, to proceed to proper methods in order to settle a minister with the Rev. Mr. Swift at this time ; and Ens. Stone, Deac. Balch, and Mr. Joseph Haven, were chosen, " to provide suitable gentlemen to supply the pulpit in order for settlement."
Feb. 6, 1744-5. At a meeting " to see if the town would con- cur with the church's vote in choosing Mr. John Newman to be their minister, it passed in the Negative."
April 24, 1745. The Rev. Mr. Swift departed this life.
The Rev. John Swift was born in Milton, March 14, 1678- 9. and was son of Thomas and Elizabeth Swift. He was grandson of
* From the Ch. Rec. of Hopkinton, it appears that Edw. Goddard, Tho. Mellen, Benj. Whitney, Simon Mel- len, Richard Haven, and Simon God- dard were received from Framingham, Jan. 10, 1732-3. Others applied after- wards, which led to the convention of a council in that town, in 1735, upon the result of which, Dea. Josh. Hem- enway, Wm. Ballord, Elk. and Mo- ses Haven, Moses Haven, Jr., and Joshua Hemenway, Jr., were received Sept. 19, 1735. May 26, 1737, Su-
sannah Goddard, Esther and Abigail Mellen, Susannah Drury, Abigail Hemenway, aad Susannah Goddard, Jr., were, in like manner, received from this church. Sept. 20th, Nero, Mr. Swift's servant, also applied for admission.
The action of the church at Hop- kinton, in receiving the members of Framingham, appears to have pro- duced great disaffection and division for several years, in that church. Vide the Hop. Ch. Rec.
109
FIRST MINISTER. - MR. SWIFT.
Thomas Swift, who came over with the first settlers in Dorchester in 1630; and when the greater part of them removed to Connec- ticut, in 1635, he remained behind. Mr. John Swift was educat- ed at Harvard College, where he graduated in 1697, and was ordained at Framingham, Oct. 8, 1701. He soon after was mar- ried to Sarah, daughter of Timothy and Sarah Tileston, of Dor- chester ; by whom he had six children. His only son, John, a graduate of Harvard College, was ordained over the church at Acton. His ministry in this town, as far as is known to us, was conducted with faithfulness and prudence ; and not a notice occurs, in all the transactions of the town and church, in any degree qualifying the respect and estimation in which he was held. He was, on many occasions, called to act in council with other ministers," where his judgment and discretion were highly approved. The advice of his church, in some instances, was sought from abroad ; and he frequently preached at fasts, insti- tuted on particular occasions, in other churches. He notices his preaching the Thursday lecture, in the place of Mr. Checkly, April 20, 1727 ; and on the 31 May, 1732, he preached the annual election sermon, which was printed. Of his ability as a preacher, we have no means of judging. His printed sermons are marked with a pure and classical taste. He was free from all affectation of style as well as extravagance of zeal, or rashness of opinion. The subjects of his ordinary pulpit discourse, (as one may infer from his own Diary), were often suggested by passing events. Some of these discourses bear marks of extemporaneous composition. Thus he notes on one occasion, his preaching from the words, " The voice of the Lord is upon the waters ; the God of glory thundereth ; " adding, " it being a day of thunder." On another, " Behold ! this day I am going the way of all the earth ;" with an allusion to a neighbor, who was then dying. A day of extreme severity suggested the text, " Who can stand before his cold ; " and a few weeks later, doubtless while the snow drifted through the crevices of the ancient and dilapidated meeting
* Nineteen instances are noticed in his journal, in the space of about eight years. Besides Councils of Ordination, he attended a Council at Woodstock 1719, at Worcester and Westboro' 1720, at Watertown and
Norton in 1722, at Sandwich and Yarmouth in May, at Leicester in June, and again at Sandwich in July 1728. The advice of his church was sought from Gloucester, March 19, 1723.
10
110
ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY.
house, the motto of his sermon was, a " covert from the storm." The halt of a detachment of soldiers in the village, proceeding to the eastward, induced him to discourse from the words, " a devout soldier." And again, "it being a very rainy day," with rare felicity, he adopted for his text the appropriate verse, "For the earth which drinketh in the rain that cometh oft upon it, and bringeth forth herbs meet for them by whom it is dressed, receiv- eth blessing from God; but that which beareth thorns and briars is rejected, whose end is to be burned."
During the contentions, which must have been sorely harassing to the church and himself, in the latter part of his ministry, he (if we may judge from a letter to the Rev. Dr. Colman, of Boston, in our possession, and his own memoranda), bore himself with sin- gular candor, calmness, and discretion. It was a time marked by not a little pretension in individuals ambitious of notoriety, and arrogating superior light and grace. The following extract from a funeral discourse on the excellent Mr. Breck of Marlboro', in 1731, will exhibit his style as a writer, and the light in which he regarded his own profession.
" You have lost a learned Teacher or Instructer. It hath been ob- served that religion and learning revived in the world together ; that the light that Erasmus brought into the schools, helped Luther's labors in the church. "T is the sophistry of the Devil to decry humane learn- ing in the ministry. There is a generation who call themselves the children of light ; who cry down a learned ministry as needless ; and pretend that their own knowledge of the word of God, (such as it is), like Jacob's vision, is by the Lord brought to their hands. But you find that when Christ sent forth his apostles, rather than they should want learning, he miraculously gave them the gift of Tongues, and doubtless all the humane learning therewith that they needed. Moses was skilled in all the learning of the Egyptians. St. Paul was brought up at the feet of Gamaliel, and was able out of Aratus, Anacreon, Me- nander, and Epimenides, to confute the Heathen Poets. Heaven gave to this, his servant that you have lost, such powers, on which he made such improvements in learning, as that he was a grace to that Academy where he had his education."
Mr. Swift was a member of the ministerial association of this vicinity, (afterwards called the Marlborough Association), whose first meeting for organization was held at his house, June 5, 1725 .*
* This association was formed " with (the) design and aim herein
to advance the interest of Christ, the service of their respective charges,
111
FIRST MINISTER. - MR. SWIFT.
Numerous attestations exist to the estimation in which he was held by his professional brethren, which led to the remark by the late Rev. Dr. Harris, to the writer of this sketch, that he was " a wise counsellor and a good man, of a well cultivated mind, and held in great esteem in the churches." He appears to have experienced severe domestic affliction ; his wife having, for several years, been subject to mental alienation ; at which period, he received sub- stantial evidence of the sympathy and consideration of his people .* During the last four years of his life, the failure of his health dis- abled him, a large part of the time, from professional service ; and after a protracted illness, he expired the 24th April, 1745 ; hav- ing ministered to this people for the space of near 45 years, and in the 44th year from his ordination. As a mark of respect for his long and faithful services, the town voted, Sept. 2, 1746, a grant of " £125, old tenor, to defray the funeral charges of their late Reverend Pastor, and to purchase a decent Tomb-stone."} An appropriate monument was accordingly erected, and the in- scription, in Latin, upon the following page, was placed upon the slab.
and their own mutual edification in their great work." They agreed to meet four times in a year, choose a moderator and clerk from time to time, &c. The articles were then signed by
John Swift, Pastor in Framingham. Robert Breck, 66 Marlborough. John Prentice, 66 Lancaster.
Israel Loring, W. Sudbury. Job Cushing, 66 Shrewsbury. John Gardner, Stow.
Eben'r Parkman, “ Westborough.
In process of time, the association became so numerous, and the mem- bers at so great a distance, that it spontaneously divided, Aug. 10, 1762. See 1 M. Hist. Coll. x. 89.
* The sickness of Mr. Swift's fam- ily obliged him to erect a building for a study, remote from his house, which was built near the present house of Col. Hastings. It was the building occupied by the French family, before spoken of ; and was sub- sequently removed near the bridge,
and was occupied by Mr. Gregory as a store. March 12, 1712-3, the town voted to add £10 to his salary, " his family being visited by sick- ness." Mr. Swift's salary, during the principal part of his ministry, was £70. Various grants were made to him, by reason of the depreciation of the currency ; and in one instance " in consideration of provisions being dear." Historical truth obliges us to add, that in 1733, such was the amount of his arrearages, (arising probably from the great number of seceding members), that the case was carried to the Court of Sessions.
t It is to be regretted, that for some years, this monument has been in a dilapidated state, by reason of which the slab has been broken, and muti- lated. The thoughtful liberality of an individual has partially restored the structure, which, it is hoped, may yet be preserved, with a due respect for the honored dead.
112
ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY.
Hic Jacet, Qui obiit, A. D. 1745, Aprilis 24to, Ætatisque anno 67mo, Vir ille Reverendus D. JOHANNES SWIFT, Dotibus et nativis et acquisitis ornatus ; Docendi Artifex, Exemplar vivendi, Felix, dum vixit, Mores exhibens secundum Divinas Regulas Episcopo necessarios ; Commiscens Prudentiam Serpentis, Columbæque Innocentiam ; Commercium cum eo habentibus In vita percharus, Atque gratam sui, etsi mæstam, Memoriam Post mortem, Iis relinquens : Qui per varios casus, variaque Rerum Discrimina atque usque ad mortem, Raram discretionem, Modestiam, Patientiam, Voluntatique Supremi Numinis, Submissionem Spectandam præbens: Jam tandem in Domino requievit, Adoptionem, Scilicet, Corporis obruti Redemptionem, Expectabundus.
In the Boston Evening Post of May 13th, 1745, we find the following notice of his death :
Framingham, May 8. On the 24th of the last month, died here, after a long and tedious indisposition, the Rev. Mr. John Swift, the first Pastor of the church in this place, in the 67th year of his age, and the 45th of his ministry. As he was a gentleman of considerable natural powers, so he acquired a considerable degree of human knowledge and useful learning. He particularly excelled in Rhetoric and Oratory, and as a critic in the Greek language. His piety was sincere and em- inent. His preaching was sound and evangelical. As a Pastor, he was diligent, faithful and prudent ; and in his conversation, he was sober, grave, and profitable, yet affable, courteons, and pleasant. He was a lover of hospitality ; and kept his heart and his house open to all good people. When he received injuries at any time, he bore them with singular discretion and meekness; and the various trials and sorrows with which he was exercised, especially in the latter part of his life, gave occasion for showing forth his wisdom, humility, patience and re- signation to the divine will. He was had in high esteem by the As- sociation to which he belonged, and respected by all who had any ac- quaintance with his real character and merits.
Two discourses by Mr. Swift were printed, and are preserved in the library of the Mass. Historical Society.
113
SECOND MINISTER. - MR. BRIDGE.
I. A funeral discourse, delivered at Marlborough, on occasion of the death of the Reverend and learned Mr. Robert Breck, late Pastor of the church there ; who died Jan. 6, 1730-31, in the 49th year of his age. By John Swift, A. M., Pastor of the church in Framingham. Boston, N. E. : Printed by J. Kneeland and T. Green, 1731.
II. A sermon preached at Boston, before the Great and General As- sembly of the Prov. of the Mass. Bay, in N. E., May 31, 1732 ; being the Anniversary for the election of his Majesty's Council for the Pro- vince, by John Swift, M. A., and Pastor of the church in Framingham. Printed at Boston, in N. E., by B. Green, 1732.
After the decease of Mr. Swift, a call was given to Mr. William Vinal, by the church; in which the town voted to concur, June 25, 1745 ; but the following day, they voted, " that they will not make any grant for the settlement, or the salary of the said Mr. Vinal;" and the 15th July following, the selectmen were ap- pointed to inform Mr. Vinal of the votes passed at their last meeting.
,
THE SETTLEMENT OF REV. MATTHEW BRIDGE.
Dec. 2, 1745. The town voted to " concur with the church, in their choice of Mr. Matthew Bridge to be their minister ; " at the same time voting to grant, as his yearly salary, £260, old tenor bills of public credit, or that which shall be equivalent, to the acceptance of Mr. Bridge ; also, a settlement of £600, old tenor .*
Jan. 20, 1745-6. The town voted that Wednesday, come four weeks, be the day appointed for the ordination ; and that provision be made at the house of Mr. Jos. Stone, for the ministers, mes- sengers, &c.f
The ordination of Mr. Bridge took place on the 19th Feb. 1745-6; the council having been invited to assemble at 12
* Mr. Bridge's salary was, in gen- eral, £80 lawful money. In 1748, £140, old tenor, was granted to him, in addition to his salary, " in consid- eration of the great rise in the neces- saries of life."
t Messrs. Amos Gates, Hezekiah Rice, Henry Emms, Eben. Winches- ter, Abraham Rice, Francis Moquet, and Stephen Jennings, were chosen by the town, to provide for the ordi- 10*
nation ; Messrs. Caleb Bridges, Jr., and John Jones, Jr., to " strengthen the meeting house ;" and Messrs. Ezek. Rice, James Clayes, Jr., Gide- on Bridges, John Bent, Jr., Phinehas Rice and 'l'imo. Stearns, " to take care of the meeting upon the ordination day." March 3, the sum of £109.8.2 was granted to pay the charges of the ordination.
114
ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY.
o'clock, on the day preceding .* At a meeting of the church on the 18th, Col. Buckminster, Ens. Stone, Deacons Adams and Pike, and Mr. Bridges, were chosen "to be the mouth of the church to the Council." The day following, at an adjournment of the church, (the Rev. Oliver Peabody presiding), Mr. Bridge was formally voted and admitted a member of the church in Framing- ham. The only questions submitted to Mr. Bridge, which appear on record, regarded : 1. His intention to conduct himself accord- ing to " the congregational principles of church discipline and the platform of the same, and the general practice of these churches ;" 2nd. His willingness, " in any matter of importance, to take the vote (of the church) by uplifted hands ;" both of which having been answered in the affirmative, the church, by a " great ma- jority," expressed their satisfaction.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.