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 18
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From the Baptist Church in Grafton,
Rev. John Jennings. Perley Goddard. Samuel Prentice. Martin Jacobs.
From the Church in Worcester, .
Rev. Jonathan Aldrich. Luther Goddard. Nathaniel Stowell.
From Church in Westborough,
Rev. Otis Converse. Abner Warren.
Services of recognition were as follows :-
Reading of Scripture, by Rev. Miner G. Clark.
Introductory Prayer, by Rev. Jonathan Aldrich. Sermon, by Rev. John Jennings.
Prayer of Recognition, by Luther Goddard.
Hand of Fellowship, by Rev. Otis Converse.
The constituent members numbered forty-three; twenty- four from the church in Grafton, and nineteen from churches in Shrewsbury and Boylston :--
Alexander, James, Jr., Alexander, Mrs. Sally, Allen, Lucy S., Hapgood, Elijah,
Leland, Mrs. Molly, Leland, Hannah E., Miles, Anna,
Moore, Ezra,
- Newton, Isaac,
Hapgood, Mrs. Eunice, Harrington, Mary, -Newton, Nahum,
Leland, Ebenezer,
- Newton, John L.,
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HISTORY OF GRAFTON.
- Newton, Mary Ann,
Smith, Nancy,
- Newton, Patty,
Shepardson, Moses K.,
- Newton, Lucinda,
Shepardson, Mrs. Laura,
Shepardson, Amanda,
-- Newton, Adeline, Noyes, Daniel,
Tucker, Eddy,
Norcross, Josiah,
Tucker, Mrs. Betsey,
Nelson, Lonisa,
Tucker, Jedediah,
Putnam, Samuel W.,
Tucker, Mrs. Sally,
Putnam, Aurilla,
Tucker, Elmira,
Pickett, John,
Thayer, Patty,
Stearnes, Stephen,
Vickers, Dorothy,
Stearncs, Mrs. Patty,
Wesson, Charles,
Stearnes, Sophila,
Wesson, Mrs. Charles,
Stone, Hannah,
Wesson, Catharine.
Richardson, Abigail,
The first preaching services in the village of which there is any record, were held by Rev. Otis Converse, then pastor of the Baptist Church in Grafton, in the village school- house and private dwellings, as early as 1826, the year in which the "Upper Mill" and connected buildings were erected. These meetings were continued by him and minis- ters of other denominations, with frequent interruptions and cessations, for nearly nine years. In the year 1835 a Bap- tist Society was formed for the purpose of securing regular religions services ; the success of which enterprise led to the formation of the church the following year, as before stated. Until October, 1838, the church had no settled pastor, preachers being secured from Newton Theological Institu- tion and other sources. At that time Rev. Miner G. Clarke, a graduate of that institution, accepted an invitation to the pastorate. In November of the same year the church and society took measures for the erection of the house of worship now owned and occupied by the church, which was completed and dedicated in May, 1839, a building 42 by 60 feet, with a spire ; arranged to seat about 375 persons, ex- clusive of the gallery ; the land having been donated for that purpose by the Grafton Manufacturing Company.
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SECOND BAPTIST CHURCH.
The pastors of the church, from the date of its organiza- tion to the present time (1879), and their terms of service, are as follows :-
Rev. Miner G. Clarke, October, 1838, to April 1, 1840. Rev. William C. Richards, May 1, 1841, to July 7, 1844.
Rev. Alfred Pinney, October, 1844, to December 1, 1845. Rev. William C. Richards, April 1, 1846, to April 22, 1849. Rev. William Leverett, November 1, 1849, to January 1, 1855. Rev. Joseph M. Rockwood, October 1, 1857, to June 1, 1864. Rev. J. D. E. Jones, October 1, 1864, to May 9, 1875. Rev. L. M. Sargent, June 1, 1875.
Rev. MINER G. CLARKE, first pastor of the church, was born December 7, 1809, in Woodstock, Ct., and graduated in August, 1837, from Newton Theological Institution, after a five years' course. During the last year of this course he supplied the pulpit at New England Village. His gradua- tion was immediately followed by a unanimous call from the church he had supplied to become its pastor. This, how- ever, was declined on account of financial difficulties, which so disturbed the business of the country, and manufacturing interests especially, that there seemed little to base hope upon, and it was thought necessary to abandon the enter- prise for a time at least. Accordingly Mr. C. accepted a call from the Second Baptist Church in Suffield, Ct., and was ordained there November, 1837. Success attended his labors, quite a number were added to the church, and pre- liminary steps taken for the erection of a new church editice. At this point, however, Mr. Clarke was obliged to resign his charge and go to his old farm-home in Woodstock, Ct., to recuperate. After a few months he so far rallied as to be able to preach, and business having revived he was recalled to take up the work in New England Village. A house of worship was soon after erected, which continues to this day. It was built by hard, earnest labor, and much self-sacrifice. The means of the church were so limited, that in addition to his other labors Mr. C. taught school part of the time to
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HISTORY OF GRAFTON.
eke out his salary. The scattered forces were gathered up, and many were converted and added to the church. After about a year and a half of successful ministerial work, Mr. C. was prostrated with Inng fever, and attempting to preach too soon brought on hemorrhage of the lungs, which so re- duced him that he was again obliged to resign and return to his father's home. After several months of rest he was so far recovered as to settle in Norwich, Ct. Through his labors the Central Baptist Church was soon organized, and their house of worship erected. During his six years' pas- torate several hundred were added to the church by bap- tism. In the spring of 1846 he was called to the pastorate of the First Baptist Church of Springfield, Mass. Here again he broke down under his arduous labors, and in March, 1850, resigned and left the field. In the following autumn he had so far recovered as to be able to assume a secretary- ship of the American and Foreign Bible Society in New York. In April, 1851, he accepted the pastorate of the Tabernacle Baptist Church, Philadelphia, where he labored until the autumnn of 1856. During this time their substan- tial and tasteful house of worship was erected and filled with hearers, and large additions made to their membership. A partial sunstroke produced congestion of the brain, and again he must say farewell to a beloved people. After a time he removed to Indianapolis and commenced on his own financial responsibility the publication of The Witness, which, with the help.of an office editor, he continued six years. Traveling much through the malarial districts of that new state, he contracted ague, which, combining with his former bronchial irritation, necessitated his fleeing again for his life. Selling ont his interest in the paper (which lias since been consolidated with The Standard, of Chicago), lie removed to Chicago for its higher climate and more invigor- ating air. Here he acted as financial secretary for the Chicago University three years. In 1869 he accepted the pastorate of the Evanston Baptist Church, where for two
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SECOND BAPTIST CHURCH.
years he did a successful work. He left Evanston to accept a secretaryship of the American Baptist Home Mission Society, having the state of New York as his particular field. After nearly four years he resigned the position, having become entirely disabled for publie labor. His pres- ent residence is Sandwich, DeKalb County, Illinois.
The second pastor of this church, Rev. W. C. RICHARDS, was born in Newton, June 20, 1809. He graduated from Brown University in 1837, read theology under the diree- tion of President Wayland, was chosen Principal of the Bennington Union Academy, Vt., in 1837. In 1839 he was elected Principal and also Professor of Ancient Lan- gnages in the Hancock Literary and Scientifie Institution, N. H. June 16, 1841, he was ordained to the-work of the Gospel ministry over the Second Baptist Church in Grafton, Rev. J. Jennings, of Grafton, preaching the sermon, Rev. L. Tracy, of West Boylston, Rev. H. Fitts, of Millbury, Rev. S. B. Swaim, of Worcester, Rev. A. Harvey, of Westborough, and Rev. A. S. Lyon, of Oxford, perform- ing the other services on the occasion. He was joined in marriage with Miss Eliza G. Willard, of Keene, N. H., July 6, 1841. He entered at once upon his ministerial work, was abundant and suecessful in his pastoral labors, specially in connection with the great revival which, in March, 1842, broke out in this church, and the village where it was located, and spread thence throughout the town and com- munity, receiving to the membership of this body 146 by baptism and 20 by letter. He resigned the charge October, 1844. March, 1846, the church recalled him to the office of pastor, which he filled with acceptance and ability, baptizing during his second term of labor 42 more persons. In 1849, he was called to the pastoral charge of the First Baptist Church in Lynn, where he remained in continued and active ministerial labors for fifteen years. In 1865, he accepted a call to the Second Baptist Church in Newton,
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HISTORY OF GRAFTON.
which he served with fidelity till April, 1875, and then retired to more private life at Newton Upper Falls.
Rev. WILLIAM LEVERETT was pastor of the church from November 1, 1849, to January 1, 1855, abont six years.
Mr. Leverett was born in Brookline, Mass., in the first year of the century, and united with Charles-street Church, Boston (of which Rev. Daniel Sharp, D. D., was then minister), at the age of fifteen years. He graduated at Brown University in the class of 1824, and was elected pastor of the First or " Dudley-street " Baptist Church in Roxbury, Mass. (now Boston Highlands), where he con- tinued fifteen years. The church there was weak when he assumed the pastorship, but during his ministry hecame strong in numbers, character, and influence. After resign- ing the church in Roxbury, he served the Second Baptist Church in Cambridge, as pastor, ten years. From there he removed to New England Village, from here to Newport, R. I., where he has lived in retirement to the date of this publication.
Rev. JOSEPH M. ROCKWOOD was born in Bellingham, Mass. His youth was spent mostly with studies at the Academy, College and Theological Seminary-some two years at Milford, three at Waterville, Me., one at Hanover, N. H., and three at Newton, Mass. In early manhood he was pastor eight years at Rutland, Vt., for six years at Belcher- town, Mass., and seven years at New England Village, Mass., and for the last fourteen years has been pastor in Middlefield, Mass.
Rev. JOHN DAVIS EDMANDS JONES, of Worcester, took pastoral charge of the Baptist Church, New England Village, in October, 1864, and continued in that relation till May, 1875, ten years and seven months. He was born November 11th, 1819, in Charles River Village, Needliam, Mass. He was the third child and the second son of John and Sylvia Dudley Jones. He was graduated at Brown Univer- sity in 1845, and was a student in the Newton Theological
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SECOND BAPTIST CHURCH.
Institution in 1846 and 1847, was then principal of the Troy, N. Y., Academy for two years, and was ordained pastor of the Baptist Church, North Bennington, Vt., November 8, 1849.
After a service of nearly six years in the Northi Benning- ton Church, he resigned and accepted the pastorate of the First Baptist Church in Worcester, Mass. After a pastorate in Worcester of four years, he resigned and accepted the office of Superintendent of Public Schools in that city. This latter office he resigned in January, 1866, and accepted an official position in the State Mutual Life Assur- ance Company of that city, which position he still holds.
During the period he held the above secular offices, he supplied the pulpits of several clmrches, the longest. term of continued service being in the New England Village Church,
He was married March 26, 1846, to Clarissa Ann, eldest daughter of Preston Day, Esq., of North Wrentham (now Norfolk), Mass. In all his work as pastor and preacher he always gratefully acknowledged the efficient aid he received from the active and self-denying labors of his earnest and pions wife.
The present pastor, Rev. L. M. SARGENT, son of Rev. J. W. and Mrs. C. F. Sargent, was born in Billerica, Septem- ber 12, 1836. Came to New England Village in 1840, and moved to Worcester in 1861.
September 30, 1871, the Main-street Baptist Church in Worcester, of which he was a member, constituted him a licentiate. Up to 1872, he pursued the occupation of a mechanic. In May, 1872, he accepted a call to supply the pulpit of what was then known as the Dewey-street Chapel, and on the 5th of the September following was ordained as pastor of the newly organized Dewey-street Church, with this church he labored one year, and resigned on account of failing health. His labors with the church in New England Village commenced June 1, 1875.
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HISTORY OF GRAFTON.
DEACONS.
The deacons of the church and the dates of their election are as follows :-
Stephen Stearns . Dec. 1, 1836
Moses K. Shepardson
Dec. 1,1836
Eddy Tucker .
Oct. 31, 1839
Asa F. Smith .
. Nov. 5, 1844
N. G. Whitney .
. Feb. 10,1859
J. H. Smith .
March 26, 1859
George W. Hastings
. Oct. 31, 1868
Freewill Baptist Church.
Primary meetings .- The church and covenant .- Original members. - Sketches of the pastors, Revs. B. D. Peck, D. D., George T. Day, A. M., Joseph Whittemore, B. F. Pritchard, M. W. Burlingame, G. W. Wallace, Daniel C. Wheeler, A. M. Freeman, Francis Read, Andrew J. Eastman .- Deacons.
Late in the year 1838, meetings were established in Saundersville and held in the school-house, through the instrumentality of Benjamin Saunders, who had recently removed here from Rhode Island. Revs. Martin Cheney, M. W. Burlingame, David Morey, M. J. Steere, of Smith- field, R. I., and other clergymen of this denomination preached here from time to time until the church was organized, December 29, 1839. The council for the organ- ization included Rev. Martin Cheney, of Olneyville, R. I .; Rev. M. W. Burlingame, of Mendon, Mass .; and Rev. David Morey, of Scituate, R. I. The church records are here deficient. The last name is given from memory by one of the original members.
The following is the covenant :-
"We receive the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments as a revelation from God, unfolding our duty, and opening the way to eternal life. We accept Baptism and the Lord's Supper, as ordinances designed by Christ to be observed by all his disciples.
We will constantly endeavor to maintain and promote the spirit of piety and faithfulness in ourselves by a diligent use of the various
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FREEWILL BAPTIST CHURCH.
means of grace ; so that we may have constant communion with God, and commend religion to others by means of a holy example.
We will watch over each other in the spirit of trne charity,-seeking to assist the needy, strengthen the weak, encourage the despondent, sympathize with the sorrowful, instruct the erring, reprove offenders in meekness, win back the straying to duty, receive Christiau admonition and reproof in kindness, and aid in the maintenance of good and wholesome discipline. We will severally bear our part in the labors, responsibilities and trials which are necessary to sustain the exercises and carry forward the objects of the church; and will endeavor to acquiesce cheerfully in the measures approved by a majority of the members, for the promotion of the welfare of the whole body.
We will everywhere hold Christian principle sacred, and Christian objects supreme; counting it our chief business in life to spread Christian knowledge and diffuse the Christian spirit in every circle of society, and among all the nations of the earth, -ever looking, praying, and toiling, that the Kingdom of God may come, and His will be done on earth as it is done in Heaven.
May He who has promised His help, strengthen us to keep this covenant, bless us with true prosperity, till he shall gather us to Him- self. AMEN."
The following persons were the original members of the church :-
Benjamin Saunders.
Thomas Putnam.
Betsey Saunders.
Caroline R. Gilman.
Ira Cook.
Abigail Williams.
Rachel Cook.
Achsa Williams.
Amos D. Johnson.
Abigail Williams, 2nd.
Theodocia Johuson.
Orlando Russell.
Elizabeth Goodale.
Rev. BENJAMIN D. PECK, D. D., the first pastor, was installed June 4, 1840, and dismissed in September, 1846, being in charge about seven years. During this time he administered the rite of baptism to between seventy and seventy-five persons, and received into the church nearly 100. He was ordained in the Episcopal Church at Wilkin- sonville. Dr. Peek was born in Bristol, R. I., April 11, 1813 ; he was in school in Providence much of the time during his boyhood days, and after he was sixteen he spent some three years at a Friends' school in Bolton, Mass., kept by Mr. Thomas Fry. Was converted in 1838, and united
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HISTORY OF GRAFTON.
with the Free Baptist Church in the village of Georgiaville, R. I. Pursued his Theological studies with such aid and instruction as he could obtain from the ministers in the Rhode Island Association that were near the residence of his parents. Preached in Georgiaville about a year, when he removed to Saundersville. He now resides at Carolina Mills, R. I.
Rev. GEORGE T. DAY, A. M., the second pastor, was installed in December 1846, and remained until he re- moved to Ohio in 1850. He was born in Concord (now Day), Saratoga County, N. Y., December 8, 1822. When he was three years and a half old his parents removed to Scituate, R. I., and from there to Hebronville, Mass. His early educational advantages were quite limited. His parents were Congregationalists and were strict and careful in the religious training of their children. His mother died when he was twelve years of age, and from that time the family was scattered. In 1845 he entered the Freewill Baptist Theological Seminary at Whitestone, N. Y., and left in 1846, to become the pastor of this church. His stipulated salary was $350 per annum. At the beginning of the second year, fearing this amount was too great for the ability of the parish, he requested that it might be reduced to $300 .* His ordination occurred in connection with a session of the Rhode Island Quarterly Meeting, held at Olneyville, May 20, 1847; Martin Cheney preaching the sermon, and M. W. Burlingame offering the prayer of con- secration.
* Memoir by W. H. Boweu, D. D., p. 35. "During the four years in this pastorate, his life was almost wholly free from cares beyond the limits of his parish. His pastorate elosed October 29, 1850. His fare- well sermon, proclaiming ' The Duties and Rights of Ministers,' was no attempt at self-defenee or ineulpation of the people, but a robust, manly presentation of the mutual relations between pulpit and pew. He supplied the pulpit until the following December. In December, 1866, he began editing the Morning Star and continued until his death, which occurred May 21, 1875, in Providence, R. I."
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FREEWILL BAPTIST CHURCH.
Rev. JOSEPH WHITTEMORE, the third pastor, was installed April 1, 1851, and dismissed April 5, 1852. He was born in Salisbury, N. H., September 10, 1813. His parents were poor and he lived at home but little after he was seven years old. He attended Franklin Academy for a term and then engaged some time in teaching school. In September, 1838, he began preaching to the Freewill Baptist Church in Nashua, where he remained during the winter. He was subsequently pastor of the church at Tiverton, R. I., and at Pawtucket. During his pastorate in Saundersville the church removed its place of worship from this place to Farnumsville, and some thirty were added to its numbers. But in the beginning of winter his health failed, and he was obliged to desist from preaching. Partially recovering his health, he supplied the Olneyville pulpit for a while, in the former part of the summer of 1852. He was subsequently appointed a Home Missionary.
Rev. JOSEPH THAYER, the next pastor, was installed April 5, 1852. He was pastor one year and a half. After Mr. Thayer's pastorate ended the church lost its visibility. Preaching was had a portion of the time between this and 1862, by men representing different denominations and supported by a society ; there being no church at this time.
The church was reorganized however, November 1, 1862, by Rev. B. F. PRITCHARD, who began preaching May 5, 1862. He was dismissed October 11, 1864.
He was born in Blackstone, Mass., in 1833, the son of Benjamin and Lilles Pritehard, was converted in September, 1857, and baptized in May, 1858, and united with the Freewill Baptist Church in Georgiaville, R. I., taught school in Greenwich for three years, until 1861, when he came to Grafton. He was ordained at the Roger Williams church in Providence, R. I., in June of the same year. He re- mained here two years and a half, and in 1867, he went to Cape Elizabeth, Maine, where he has been pastor for nearly
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HISTORY OF GRAFTON.
twelve years, and is now located. He was married March, 1858, in Killingly, Conn., to Caroline L. Hurehell.
The next pastor was Rev. M. W. BURLINGAME, who was installed March 21, 1865, and dismissed October 7, 1866. He was born in the town of Gloucester, R. I., in May, 1805. He was early susceptible of religions impressions, and his mind reecived its bent. He applied himself to study, and obtained an education in the schools at Killingly, Conn., and Wilbraham, Mass., more than ordinary for the young men of that day. He devoted himself to the Christian ministry and received license to preach in May, 1828, so that at the time of his death, 1879, he had completed more than fifty years of ministerial service. He began his life- work in his native town and the towns in close proximity to it, and in connection with teaching in the public schools. Here he has spent its closing years, and indeed the far larger portion of all its years. After a year of useful service in Pennsylvania, whither his parents had removed, he returned and renewed his labors in these towns. Che- pachet was blessed by the ardor and devotion of his young manhood. This church was among the fruits of his early efforts. Eventually he confined his labors to Blackstone, where he worked, though only a portion of the time at first, for sixteen years, closing his pastorate in 1846. This seems to have been the golden period of his life. The church grew. The influence of the pastor in the community was immense, and the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified. It has been estimated that the number whom he baptized during this period must have reached five hundred. During the three years subsequent to his resignation of the pastorate at Blackstone, he was pastor of the church in Greenville, and for a second time of the ehureh at Chepachet. During the next twenty years he had pastorates in all the New England States except Vermont. Notable among them were those at New Market and Danville, N. H., and Tops- ham, Me. In other fields he labored with varying success,
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FREEWILL BAPTIST CHURCH.
but always with fidelity. Some nine years since, he returned to Georgiaville, R. I., which proved to be his last earthly abiding place.
Rev. G. W. WALLACE was installed over this church and society April 1, 1867, and dismissed April 17, 1870.
He was born February 19, 1814, in Berkley, Mass. At the age of sixteen lie united with the Freewill Baptist Church in Pawtucket, R. I. At the age of twenty he went to study and labor as a colleague with the Rev. Junia S. Mowrey, who at that time had the pastoral care of two churches. This relation continned for some time, until his health began to give way. He also attended school for a season at the academy at Taunton. In the winter of 1840, he studied elocution under Prof. C. P. Bronson, at Boston, In May, 1842, he was married to Miss Carrie Luther, and was ordained at Rehoboth, Mass., August 23rd, 1848.
Rev. DANIEL C. WHEELER, the next pastor, was installed April 17, 1870, and dismissed April 1, 1871. He was born in Wells, December 3, 1827, the son of Job and Lucinda Wheeler. He was baptized by the Rev. Mr. Holman of Boston, in Biddeford, Mc., at the age of nineteen, and soon after joined the Biddeford Freewill Baptist Church, T. H. Witham, pastor. In 1867, he married Miss H. A. Morrow, of Boston, where he resided ; here he joined the Bennett-street Freewill Baptist Church, and in 1868, he received a license. During this year he entered the New Hampton Theological Seminary. At his ordination here Revs. J. Rand, M. W. Burlingame, A. R. Bradbury, C. P. Walden, participated. He is now pastor of the First Free- will Baptist Church, Wolfborough, N. H. During his pas- torate a number of persons were baptized.
Rev. A. M. FREEMAN, Mr. Wheeler's suecessor, was in- stalled April 1, 1871, and dismissed April 1, 1876.
He was born in Cumberland, R. I., the son of Willard and Aline Freeman. His mother was an Episcopalian and was strict and careful in the religious training of her son.
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HISTORY OF GRAFTON.
At the age of twenty-four, he was baptized and became connected with the Baptist Church in his native town. Besides the amount of intellectual cultivation ordinarily secured by those in his circumstances, he attended a grammar school for some time in the town of Smithfield, and subsequently the Academy in Woonsocket. He pursued his theological studies under Rev. James Wiley in lis native town ; studied church history under Rev. Jolin Warner, of Smithfield, and received his license September, 1866. In July, 1869, he was ordained and installed pastor of the church in Standish, Me., where he remained two years. He received a nnanimons call from the church in Farnumns- ville, where he remained five years. He was subsequently installed over the church in Waterbury, Vt., and is now pastor of the Baptist Church in North Tunbridge, Vt.
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