USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Grafton > History of Grafton, Worcester county, Massachusetts, from its early settlement by the Indians in 1647 to the present time, 1879. Including the genealogies of seventy-nine of the older families > Part 14
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 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54
ORDINATION.
At the ordination of Mr. Searle, Rev. Elisha Rockwood, of Westborough, offered the introductory prayer ; Rev. Samuel Green, of the Union Church, Boston, preached the sermon ; text, 1 Cor. 1 : 23, 24. Rev. Samuel Judson, of Uxbridge, offered the ordaining prayer ; charge by Rev. John Crane, of Northbridge ; right hand of fellowship by Rev. Joseph Searle, of Lynnfield ; charge to the people by Rev. Joseph Goffe, of Millbury ; concluding prayer by Rev. Benjamin Wood, of Upton. There were 162 additions to the church during his pastorate. The members of the church, who of conrse could have been only such as embraced the same opinions that their pastor held, since such only were allowed in the creed, soon seceded, and with others organized a new society with which they voted as a church to connect them- selves. They took the name of the " Evangelical Congre- gational Church and Society." All the members of the church having left the Society, there was now on obstacle to the re-formation of a church within the bosom of the Society.
The covenant which was adopted is as follows :-
" Being desirous of obeying the precepts and enjoying the privileges of the Christian Religion, and aiding each other in the discharge of its duties, we do, by this covenant, unite in a Christian church, to walk
192
HISTORY OF GRAFTON.
together in the faith and order of the Gospel, giving the following expressions of our individual belief and desire :-
I believe in the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments as the word of God and receive them as the proper and only rule of faith and duty. I believe in Jesus Christ as the son of God, 'exalted to be a Prince and Saviour,' the ' Mediator between God and man,' 'the way, the truth and the life.' On his religion I rest my hopes of salvation. His precepts I wish to obey. And I now unite myself to His church, to commemorate His love in the ordinance which He instituted and gave to His disciples.
I do this as an expression of my firm belief in the divinity of His religion, and my earnest desire and solemn purpose to live as His disciple, humbly hoping through the grace of God to become an heir of salvation."
The division of the old Congregational Society, in con- sequence of the dismission of their pastor, Rev. Mr. Searle, took place, Dec. 3, 1831. The church in a body, with a large minority of the parish, withdrew, thereby relinquish- ing their right as members of the First Congregational Society, forming a new parish, and erecting for their use a new and handsome edifice on the west side of the Common. Another report says :* " Withdrew and made provision for the preaching of the gospel in its purity, finding that there was no probability of their continuing to enjoy the labors of an Evangelical Pastor while connected with the parish." In consequence of this withdrawal of all the members of the church, a new church, consisting at first of nineteen mem- bers, was organized Aug. 5, 1832, in connection with the old society, under the auspices of REV. E. B. HALL, who, after leaving Northampton, supplied the pulpit of the First Parish for several months, prior to his settlement in Provi- dence.
The Evangelical Congregational Society.
After the dismissal of Rev. Mr. Searle, the next pastor of the church was REV. JOHN WILDE, who was born in Dorches- ter in 1803, and was graduated at Middlebury College, Ver-
* Church records.
193
EVANGELICAL CONGREGATIONAL SOCIETY.
mont, in 1827. He tanght school for a few months in the Shenandoah Valley, where he contracted a fever, from the effects of which he never fully recovered during the re- mainder of his life. He entered the Andover Theological Seminary, from which institution he was graduated in 1831. He was installed pastor of the Evangelical Congregational Church here, June 20, 1832. Shortly afterwards he was married to Miss Julia M. Forbes, daughter of Dea. Jona- than Forbes, of Westborough. In 1839 he resigned his pastorate, and removed to Conway, N. H., on account of the health of his wife. In 1849 he removed to West Fal- month, Me., where he preached for eight years. In 1853 he went to Topsham, Me., where he remained for two years in charge of a parish there. Here, on account of his own ill-health, he was compelled to give up the settled pastorate. After a brief visit to California to regain his health, on his return he resided for several years in Brunswick, Me. While at Falmouth he was elected on the board of over- seers of Bowdoin College. From 1859 to 1861 he had charge of Laurel Bank Seminary, in Deposit, N. Y. Sub- sequently he opened a school in Stamford, but in 1866, his health being so enfeebled, he sold his interest in the school, and removed with his wife and only daughter to Alexandria, Va., the residence of his son-in-law. Here, after a painful illness, he died, February 10, 1868.
ORDINATION.
At Mr. Wilde's ordination, Rev. Mr. Fletcher, of North- bridge, offered the introductory prayer; sermon by Rev. John Codman, D. D., of Dorchester; ordaining prayer by Rev. Elisha Rockwood, of Westborough ; charge by Rev. Benjamin Wood, of Upton; right hand of fellowship by Rev. Osgood Herrick, of Millbury ; charge to the people by Rev. George Allen, of Shrewsbury ; concluding prayer by Rev. John Maltby, of Sutton. There were eighty additions to the church during Mr. Wilde's ministry.
25
194
HISTORY OF GRAFTON.
REV. THOMAS CURTIS BISCOE, the next pastor, was born in Cambridge, Mass., July 18, 1810. He was the son of Thomas and Bathsheba (How) Biscoe, and a direct descend- ant of Nathaniel Biscoe, " the rich tanner," of Watertown. He graduated at Amherst College in 1831, and tanght the Academy at Brattleboro, Vt., for a year after his gradna- tion. Having devoted three years to theological studies, he was licensed to preach in the Fall of 1835. He received a call from the Congregational Society in South Weymouth, but declined it, yet he supplied the pulpit there nearly two years. From that place he came to Grafton ; received a unanimons call to become pastor of the Evangelical Congre- gational Church, which he accepted, and was ordained pastor July 18, 1838, and was dismissed July 26, 1868, after a longer pastorate than any of his predecessors, that of Rev. Mr. Miles being nearly as long.
The following churches were invited to assist in his ordi- nation : The Evangelical Congregational Church in Cam- bridge, Calvanist Church in Worcester, churches in West- borough, Upton, Shrewsbury, Marlborongh, Northbridge, Sutton, Epsom, N. H., and the Second Congregational Church in Millbury. The order of exercises on the occasion was as follows: Introductory prayer by Rev. Mr. Kitt- redge, of Westborough ; sermon by Rev. Mr. Stearns, of Cambridge, from 2d John, 9 ; consecrating prayer by Rev. Mr. Forbush, of Northbridge ; charge to the pastor by Rev. Mr. Wood, of Upton ; right hand of fellowship by Rev. Mr. Peabody, of Worcester ; address to the people by Rev. Mr. Allen, of Shrewsbury ; concluding prayer by Rev. Mr. Tracy, of Sutton.
On his first entering upon the work of the ministry here, tokens of God's special presence were graciously vouchsafed. For the first seven years not a communion season passed in which the church did not receive one or more additions. On one occasion the number reached forty-seven. During his ministry the church was blessed with five extensive and
195
EVANGELICAL CONGREGATIONAL SOCIETY.
precious revivals of religion. And in the thirty years of his service four hundred and forty were added to the church.
REV. JOHN H. WINDSOR, the present incumbent, was born in England, and removed to America with his parents in 1844. He was graduated at Iowa College, July 12, 1854, and subsequently, August 6, 1857, at the Andover Theologi- cal Seminary. He was in the service of the American Home Missionary Society in Iowa, from 1858 to 1864, located at St. Charles and Marion. He was installed pastor of the First Parish Church at Saco, Me., September 29, 1864, and over this church September 29, 1868.
INSTALLATION.
The exercises at the installation of Rev. John H. Windsor were the following : Reading of the Scriptures, Rev. Wil- liam T. Briggs, of East Douglas; introductory prayer by Rev. William A. Houghton, of Berlin ; sermon by Prof. Egbert C. Smyth, of Andover Theological Seminary-text, 1 Cor. 15: 47 ; installing prayer by Rev. L. F. Clark, of Whitinsville; charge by Rev. Seth Sweetser, D. D., of Worcester; right hand of fellowship by Rev. Stacy Fowler, of Millbury ; charge to the people by Rev. Royal B. Strat- ton, of Worcester; concluding prayer by Rev. A. O. Bates, of Saundersville. During Mr. Windsor's pastorate seventy have been added to the church.
Rev. Mr. Windsor preached a sermon in 1878, commem- orative of the tenth year of his pastorate over the Evangeli- cal Congregational Church, from Den. 9 : 1st and 3d verses. Among the facts of interest connected with the historical sketch were the following: "Of the nine ministers present at his installation, five have died. The moderator of the council was the late Dr. Sweetser, of Worcester. But one minister in the conference with which this church is con- nected is settled over the church of which he was pastor ten
196
HISTORY OF GRAFTON.
years ago. During this time seventy have been added to the church, of whom thirty were from the Sunday school. Thirty-two members of the church have died, whose aggre- gate ages were 2,127 years, or an average of 66₺ years. Fourteen died from the congregation. Contributions for different Christian benevolencies, $6,777.45; of this the Ladies' Sewing Circle gave, in barrels of clothing to the missionary canse, $2,273.47, or an annual average of more than $200. The parish have sustained the gospel at home at a gross outlay of $23,000. Besides this regular provision improvements have been made upon the house of worship to the amount of $400 ; a floating debt also of about $2,000 has been cancelled. The Sunday school has contributed in penny offerings $788. The grand total gives an average contribution for all purposes from each member of the church and congregation of about $11 annually. The weekly offering system has been adopted with gratifying success, for the past three years. Those who were members of the choir September 29, 1868, are still there, the leader, Hon. W. R. Hill, having conducted that part of divine ser- vice for forty years. The church and society, notwithstand- ing the depletion by deathis and removals, in spite of the long business depression, are out of debt. Among the facts of general interest in the town, during this period, was the lighting of the streets, the chartering and successful work- ing of the Grafton Centre Railroad, the organization of a Reform Club, that has done good work for the cause of temperance, the revival and very efficient working of the Farmers' Club. Two clergymen have died during these years ; the respected pastor of the Unitarian Church, Rev. Mr. Scandlin, and the esteemed pastor of the church at Saundersville, Rev. Mr. Bates. Judge White, who for many years had been the efficient clerk of the town, died suddenly in September, 1875. Two physicians have also deceased ; Dr. Pierce, who had been in practice for fifty years, and Dr. Whittemore, of Farnumsville. During the
197
EVANGELICAL CONGREGATIONAL SOCIETY.
Centennial year a Fourth of July celebration was held, at which an historical oration was delivered by Rev. E. F. Howe, a native of the town, and now of Newtonville. A large number of former residents were also present on that occasion, and gave brief reminiscences of their Grafton life. The vital statistics of the town for this period give 937 births, 616 deaths, and 407 marriages. The present popu- lation is upwards of 4,000."
DEACONS, FIRST PARISH.
Elected.
James Whipple, . Jan. 21, 1732.
Samuel Cooper, .
Joseph Merriam, 1st, . Nov. 25, 1742.
Abner Stow,
. Sept. 27, 1750.
Joseph Batchelder, Apr. 4, 1765.
Joseph Merriam, Jr., 2nd, Apr. 14, 1790.
Jonathan Stow, .
Timothy Merriam, Oct. 29, 1810.
Nathaniel Adams,
Dec. 26, “
Albert Stone, .
. June 8, 1820.
Joseph Merriam, Jr., 3rd,
. June 10, 1824.
EVANGELICAL CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH.
Elected.
Holland Greenwood, Dec. 15, 1831.
Otis Prince,
. Jan. 4, 1832.
Otis Adams, .
. Sept. 14, 1838. Leander S. Pratt,
Sept. 3, 1852.
Francis Winn,
Nov.
5, “
Leander Stockwell, July 3, 1862.
Lewis Holbrook,
William R. Hill, July 3, 1874.
George K. Nichols,
Edward F. Chamberlin,
Mar. 1, 1878.
198
HISTORY OF GRAFTON.
First Unitarian Church.
The first meeting .- The church building -The first members .-- Sketches of Revs. Edward B. Hall, Rufus A. Johnson, Cazncau Palfrey, D. D., Edmund B. Willson, A. M., Farrington McIntire, A. M., Wil- liam G. Scandlin, his funeral and General Devens' remarks, Gilbert Cummings, Charles A. Tindall, William S. Burton .- The corres- pondence relative to the church records .- The deacons.
At a legal meeting of the society, held on Monday, April 2, 1832, Pardon Aldrich was chosen moderator ; Harry Wood, clerk ; Isaac W. Wood, Charles M. Pratt and Charles Brigham, Jr., were chosen assessors ; Isaac W. Wood, treas- urer ; Noah Kimball, collector ; Samnel Wood, Charles Brig- ham, Joseph Bruce, Harry Wood, Henry Parker, Austin Holbrook and Liberty Wood, were chosen a committee to supply a pastor ; Harry Wood, Joseph Bruce, Royal Keith, Charles Brigham, Henry Parker, Samuel Wood and Leonard Wheelock, were chosen a committee to report what disposi- tion should be made of the old meeting-house. At a subse- quent meeting it was voted to pay Rev. Moses C. Searle's order of $100. The meeting-house committee reported as follows : " That it is expedient for the society to dispose of the old meeting-house, and cause the same to be removed from off the Common, and for the purpose, to choose a com- mittee to canse the old pews in said old meeting-house to be appraised by three disinterested and discreet men and free. holders, within the County of Worcester, afterwards to sell the same at public auction, giving suitable notice of the in- tended sale, to the highest bidder, on condition that the pur- chaser cause the said old meeting-house to be removed from the Common within such reasonable time as said committee shall direct. And to apportion the proceeds of the sale among the owners of the pews in said house, according to the appraisement." The committee of three to make the ap- praisal were Harry Wood, Charles Brigham and Jonathan Warren.
199
FIRST UNITARIAN CHURCH.
The following is a copy of the agreement for building the First Congregational (Unitarian) Church :-
" It is hereby agreed by, and between Daniel Harrington, of Shrews- bury, Martin Harrington, of Grafton, and Jonas M. Miles, of Shrews- bury, on the one part, and Albert Stone, Pardon Aldrich, Isaac W. Wood, Thaddeus Read and Phillip Wing, of Grafton, as building com- mittee, all of the County of Worcester, on the other part, as fol- lows :-
We, Daniel and Martin Harrington, and Jonas M. Miles, do by this obligation agree to build a meeting-house for the use of the Con- gregational Society, in Grafton, of the following size and dimensions : To be seventy feet long and forty-nine feet wide, with an open projec- tion in front of six feet in width, to be supported with four columns finted in the modern doric style, without moulded bases-posts twenty- seven feet high-belfry tower to be fourteen feet square-bell deck to be seven feet high above the ridge of the house, exclusive of the cornice, and said deck is to be covered with zinc. A steeple is to be built according to the plan exhibited by said contractors, the stock and workmanship to be equal to the new Baptist meeting-house in said Grafton, with some variations in the following particulars : There are to be pilasters on all corners of the house, the raking cornice on the extreme end to project out full-frieze to return round over the pilas- ters on said end; there are to be six windows in a tier on each side of the house, three windows in front, four windows in the other end, and one in the gable end; said windows to be like those in said Baptist house, in all respects, except the glass is to be English crown, and the blinds are to be of good workmanship and stock, free from sap. There are to be three doors in front, with ornamental lights over each, window frames and doors to be capped with lead, and all the other places neces- sary about said house for the better preservation of the same. Said steeple to be ornamented with balustrades, and not less than one bun- dred and twenty feet to the points in height. There are to he twelve windows in the basement story, to contain sixteen panes of glass ten by twelve inches each, to be covered with board shutters outside, and hung with wrought hinges; two doors are to be made for said story, and the supports for the flooring are to be eight-sided white oak posts, furnished and well put up, and no other work is to be done in said basement story. An elliptical blind is to be put on the pannel in the pediment, instead of a glass window. The size of the timber to be generally equal to that in the Baptist house. The roof to be framed in a similar manner, and covered with first quality shaved northern shingles, in a thorough, durable manner. Said house to be externally finished with eastern stock. A window over the ridge of twelve lights, with a blind on the same, is to be made in the belfry. The inside of
200
HISTORY OF GRAFTON.
the house to be finished as follows : There is to be partitioned off at the front end of the house an entry twelve feet wide, including the par- titions, with stairs partitioned off at each end to ascend the galleries, with a flight at one end to go into the basement. There are to be seventy pews in the lower part of the house, and thirty-two in the gal- leries, to be made in the same manner as those in said Baptist house. Said galleries are to be like those in the Presbyterian meeting-house in Millbury. Three tiers of seats for singers are to be made in the gallery over the entry. A corner over the gallery stairs is to be partitioned off for stairs to ascend the belfry, and at the other corner a similar space is to be partitioned to correspond in appearance with the other. In all other respects the inside to be like the Baptist house, as respects the style, workmanship and stock for the same, except the pew doors are to be closed with brass buttons. At the opposite end of the entry from the basement stairs is a space for wood under the gallery stairs, with a door for the same. The stairs are to be closed with doors at the hot- tom, made like those in said Baptist house. The basement doors, with one of the front doors and one of the inner doors, with the door into the belfry, are to be furnished with suitable locks. There are to be two aisles, lengthwise of the body of the house, four feet in width. There are to be seats in the back corners in the galleries, like those in said Baptist house, and all other particulars respecting the building of said house, not named, to correspond with said Baptist house. In short, said house is to be built, in all its particulars, in a thorough workman- like manner, respecting both the external and internal parts of the house; plastering on the walls to be hard finish. The house and all the materials are to be furnished by said contractors, above the underpin- ning, and the painting of all the blinds included, except the rest of the painting of every part of the house, all the gilding, varnishing, priming sashes, setting glass, &c., which is to be done by the committee .*
And on the part of the committee it is agreed to prepare the founda- tion and underpinning of said house by the 20th of June next, so that the said contractors shall not be delayed in the prosecution of their work. And they further agree to do all the painting and gilding, &c., as excepted on the part of the condition of the contractors. It is understood that the contractors furnish the ornamental windows at their own expense. The committee further agree that they will pay said contractors, for the fulfillment of this contract, the sum of one thousand dollars when the outside shall be completed in an acceptable manner, and the further sum of three thousand five hundred and twenty-five dollars when the house shall be completed in a like accept- able manner, according to this contract, which said contractors agree to finish by the first day of December next, and the committee agree to
* This description answers very nearly for the Baptist and Orthodox meeting-houses.
201
FIRST UNITARIAN CHURCH.
furnish help necessary for erecting the frame of said house; and they agree to provide for said help while raising said frame. The contrac- tors furnish the lightning rod and put up the same.
In testimony whereof, we have hereto interchangeably set our hands and seals this fourteenth day of April, A. D., 1831.
DANIEL HARRINGTON. MARTIN HARRINGTON. JONAS M. MILES. ALBERT STONE. PARDON ALDRICH.
ISAAC W. WOOD. PHILIP WING. THADDEUS READ.
Attest,
H. WOOD.
March 27th, 1832, this day reckoned with Martin Harrington and ful- filled our part of the above contract, and made void the same.
Witness our hands,
ISAAC W. WOOD. PHILIP WING. MARTIN HARRINGTON."
The first members were as follows :-
Joseph C. Luther.
Catherine L. Heywood.
Isaac W. Wood.
Betsey Jackson.
Joseph Bruce.
Rufus P. Chase.
Harriot Bruce.
Deborah Keith.
Charles Brigham, Jun.
Tabatha Prentice.
Hannah P. Batcheller.
Sarah Lesure.
Charles L. Heywood.
Martha G. Holbrook.
Asahel Fairbanks.
James Shepard.
Susannah Wood.
Elizabeth Shepard.
Azubah S. Heywood.
Elizabeth Adams.
Annah E. Brigham.
Polly Knowlton.
Leonard Wheelock.
Augustus S. Heywood.
Persis Wheelock.
Hepsebah Clisbee.
REV. EDWARD BROOKS HALL, who formed this society, was born in Medford, September 2, 1800, and was named from his maternal grandfather, Rev. Edward Brooks, of North Yarmouth. He was a lineal descendant of the Rev. John Cotton, who was the second minister of the First Church in Boston. Although his father's honse stood in the square, 26
202
HISTORY OF GRAFTON.
where the voices of his companions conld assail him with frequent temptations, he shut himself up with a determina- tion to fit himself for Harvard in nine months. His teacher, Mr. Converse Francis, told him it was almost impossible ; but he accomplished it, and entered college honorably in the following August. Reserved in his habits, because com- pelled to study closely for all that he gained, he formed few intimacies ; but the Rev. Dr. Furness, Rev. Dr. Gannett, and Rev. Calvin Lincoln were classmates for whom his attachment only increased with years. While in college he found his affections strongly drawn towards the study of divinity ; but he was induced to become a teacher for a year at a place called Garrison Forest, about ten miles from Baltimore-" a happy year " he always called it. Aug. 16, 1826, he was ordained over the new Unitarian Society in Northampton ; here he remained three years. He resigned on account of ill health and went to Onba. On his return he took charge of the Unitarian Society in Cincinnati, for nearly a year. He subsequently came to this town and formed the Unitarian Society ; here he remained a short time, when he received a call from Providence to the First Con- gregational Society. He was installed Nov. 14, 1832, and here he remained until his death in 1866. He was greatly beloved and highly respected by his parishoners and ac- quaintances.
October 16, 1833, Rev. RUFUS A. JOHNSON, a graduate of the Cambridge Divinity School, was installed as minister over this society, where he continued to labor till his dismission, March 12, 1838, five years and five months. During most of this period-viz. : from April, 1834, till his dismission- he was an active and efficient member of the Worcester Ministerial Association. He married Anna Hill in 1834, and she died in four months after marriage. The sudden death gave him a shock from which he never fully recovered, and which caused a temporary insanity. He died in Upton, in 1860.
203
FIRST UNITARIAN CHURCH.
He was succeeded by Rev. Cazneau Palfrey, who con- tinued in the same office till the spring of 1843.
CAZNEAU PALFREY, D. D., son of William Palfrey, for many years an officer in the Boston Custom-house, was born in Boston, August 11, 1805. His mother's name was Lydia Cazneau. His parents were parishioners of Rev. Dr. John Elliot, by whom he was baptized in infancy ; and, afterwards, of Rev. Francis Parkman, D. D., his successor, under whose ministry Mr. Palfrey was brought up. He received liis early education, and was prepared for college, in the public schools of Boston, and entered Harvard College at the age of seventeen, graduating in 1826. During his course of study in the Theological School, he was for one year a tutor in the Latin Department in the University. On the 5th of October, 1830, lie was ordained pastor of the Unitarian Church in Washington, D. C. His ministry in that city terminated in January, 1836. On the 25th of April, 1838, he was installed over this society, where he continued until April 25, 1843,-five years. He was editor while here of the Monthly Miscellany of Religion and Letters, now the Monthly Religious Magazine. His son Hersey Goodwin was born here October 9, 1839, and graduated at Harvard College 1860. Dr. Palfrey now (1879) resides in Cambridge, Mass. His installation services were as follows :- Sermon, Rev. Edward B. Hall, of Provi- denee, R. I. ; installing prayer, Rev. Jaazaniah Crosby, of Charlestown, N. H. ; charge, Rev. Aaron Bancroft, D.D., of Worcester ; right hand of fellowship, Rev. George Putnam, of Roxbury ; address to the people, Rev. Joseph Allen, of Northborough. " Besides these, Rev. Washington Gilbert of Harvard, was present and took a part; but whether the reading of the Scriptures, or the introductory, or concluding prayer, I have been unable to ascertain. I think, though I am not sure,* that Rev. Samuel May of
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.