History of Middlesex County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. I, Part 134

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton), ed
Publication date: 1890
Publisher: Philadelphia, J. W. Lewis & co
Number of Pages: 1034

USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > History of Middlesex County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. I > Part 134

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After several disappointments, a unanimous invi- tation was given to Rev. Phinehas Whitney, of Wes- ton, February 25, 1762, and accepted. It was "voted to give Mr. Whitney £133 6s. 8d. as a settlement, and that one-half be paid in three months, and the resi- due within the year. And voted to give £53 138. 4d. as a salary, to be raised to £60 when the district shall have seventy-five families, and to £66 13s. 4d. when there shall be eighty-five families, with the addition of twenty cords of wood annually to be carried to his door." Land owned by the district was deeded to Mr. Whitney in part payment of the sum voted to him as a settlement, and on this he built his home. His letter of acceptance bears date April, 1762, and his ordina- tion took place in June. The church was organized by the council previous to the ordination, and a cov-

enant adopted and subscribed by the pastor-elect and twelve brethren. No names of women appear.

The covenant reads as follows :

"We whose names are herennto subscribed, being inhabitants of the District of Shirley, New England, knowing that we are very prone to of- fend and provoke the Most High God, both in heart and life, through the prevalence of ein that dwelleth within ns, and manifold temptations from without us, for which we have great reason to he unfeigeed'y humble before him from day to day ;- do in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, with dependence upon the gracious assistance of His Holy Spirit, sol- emily enter into covenant with God and with one another according to God, as follows :

" Imprimis. That, having chosen and taken the Lord Jehovah to be our God, we will fear him, cleave to him in love, and serve him in truth, with all our hearts, giving up ourselves to him to be bis people ; in all things to be at hie direction and sovereign disposal ; that we may have and hold communion with him as members of Christ's mystical body, ac- cording to his revealed will, unto our lives' ends.

"2. We also bind ourselves to bring up our children and servants in the knowledge and fear of God, hy holy instructions, according to our best abilities ; and in special by the use of Orthodox catechism, that the true religion may be maintained in our families while we live ; yea, and among such as shall live when we are dead and gone.

"3. And we further promise to keep close to the truth of Christ, and drawing with lively affection toward it in our hearts, to defend it against all opposers thereof, as God shall call us at any time thereunto ; which that we may do we resolve to use the holy scriptures as our platform, whereby we may discern the mind of Christ, and not the new found io- veotions of men.

"4. We also engage ourselves to have a careful inspection over our own hearts, viz., so as to endeavor, hy the virtue of the death of Christ, the mortification of all our sinful passions, worldly frames and disor- derly affections, whereby we may be withdrawn from the living God.

"5. We moreover oblige ourselves (in the faithful improvement of our ability and opportunity) to worship God according to all the partic- ular institutions of Christ for his church, under Gospel administrations, as to give reverent attention unto the word of God, to pray unto him, to sing his praises, and to hold communion each with others, in the nBe of both of the seals of the covenant, namely Baptism and the Lord's Supper.

" G. We likewise promlse that we will peaceably submit to the holy dis- cipline appointed by Christ in his church, for offendere; obeying (accord- ing to the will of God) those that have the rule over us in the Lord.

"7. We also bind ourselves to walk in love, one towards another, en- deavoring our mutual edification, visiting, exhorting, comforting, as occasion serveth, and warning any brother or Bister which offendeth, not divulging private offenses, irregularly, but heedfully following the sev- eral precepts for church dealing (Matthew xviii. 16 and 17), willingly forgiving all that do manifest, unto the judgment of charity, that they truly repent of their miscarriages.

"8. Moreover we further agree and covenant that we will have ruling elders and deacons, and when any differences may arise between any members of the church, then they shall be tried and admonished hy the pastor, ruling elders and deacons; if either party be dissatisfied with their determination, then there may he an appeal to the church at large ; and if either party be dissatisfied with the determination of the church, then there may be an appeal to an ecclesiastical conacil. ac cording to the custom of Congregation aliem.

" Now the God of peace that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus Christ, that Great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, make us perfect in every good work to do his will, working in us that which was well pleasing in his sight, through Jesue Christ, to whom he glory forever and ever. Amen.

" Phineas Whitney, his John x Patterson,

John'Longley, Charles Richards, mark,

Richard Harrington,

Jonathan Moors, Jonas Stearns,

Jonas Longley, Stephen Holden,

Francis Harris,

Samnel Walker, his Daniel x Page,

Hezekiah Sawtell."

mark.

Children whose parents were not church members

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were permitted to receive the seal of baptism by the parents owning the following

" Covenant.

"You do now, in the presence of God and his people, own the cove- naut into which you were entered and given up to God io baptism, and take upon yourself the obligation your baptism laid you under. You do now humbly beg of God remission of all your sins, both actual and original, and with all your heart you desire to accept of Jesus Christ as your only Savior, as he is offered to poor sioders in the Gospel ; and you do now soleninly premise, to the best of your power and as God shall enable yon, that you will forsake the vanities of the world, aod in all respects live as those with the great God and his people ; and you do now particularly promise, as God shall enable you, to make it your prayer and endeavor that you may be prepared aright to attend to the ordinances and institutions of Christ, and meet him where his death is showed forth ; and you likewise promise to submit yourself to the watch and discipline of the Church of Christ, and strive that your behavior be approved by God and man."

The Confession of Faith adopted was the following:

"1. You believe in one God, in three persons (or characters), Father, Son and Holy Ghost.

"2. You believe the sacred Scriptures are the word of God and a perfect rule of faith and practice.

"3. You believe that man is a fallen creature, and cannot be justified by the deeds of the law.

"4. You believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and Savior of men and that God will bestow salvation on all those who will repent and be- lieve in his name, and live according to the precepts of his Gospel.

"5. You believe in a resurrection of the body and a future state of rewards and punishments.

"6. You believe that baptism is an institution of Christ's, and the Lord's supper is a Sacrament by which bis church should commemorate his dying love ; to which church you believe it your duty to join yourself."

In the same year with the settlement of Mr. Whit- ney and the organization of the church, repairs were made on the meeting-house. At a meeting of the district a committee was chosen, and it was “ voted to leave it to the committee to repair the meeting-house as they shall think proper ; that they shall put a new window in the ministerial pew, and that as much light be given to the pulpit as possible." On Oct. 24, 1763, it was "Voted that each seat in the meeting-house shall go out on the Sabbath days according to their dignity." As was the common practice of the time, the meeting-house was used for town and military meetings, as well as public worship.

With the increase of population this house became in a few years too small for their accommodation. A new house was accordingly determined upon, and to encourage the work the pastor gave "£10 lawful money for the carrying on of the meeting-house." Land adjoining the four acres given by the proprietors of Groton for a burying-place and training-field was bought for the purpose. At a district meeting, May 21, 1771, "Voted that the new meeting-house be fifty feet in length, and forty feet in breadth, and that it be raised as soon as June of next year." The house was completed in the autumn of 1773 and was opened for use for the first time on the annual Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 25th. The shingles on the north roof of this house were in service eighty-three years, and when removed showed but little decay. The house was enlarged by adding three porches and a tower in 1804, and a bell was given the town by

Wallis Little, Esq., to be hung iu the tower. The. same custom was observed in seating the people as in the former house. While the house was building, a gift of an elegant folio Bible (London edition) for the use of the pulpit was made by Madam Hancock, the wife of the first Governor under the State Constitu- tion, John Hancock. This Bible is still in use in the pulpit of the First Parish. A letter of acknowledg- ment was sent the donor by order of the district. It reads as follows :

" MADAM :- The inhabitants of Shirley, being this day assembled at the public meeting house, take this first opportunity to returu their sin- cere thanks to you for your late generosity in giving them a very band- some folio Bible, to be read in public every Lord's day. They are sen- sible that the reading of the Scriptures in public is very commendable, and hope it will be really serviceable to them; and at the same time assure you that they have a grateful seose of your generosity and piety in promoting such a laudable practice. They sincerely wish yon (may) live and continue to diffuse your kindness to the needy-that you may enjoy happiness here, and in the future world be received to reap the reward of your extensive charity, in the kingdom of heaven.

" JOHN LONGLEY, Dist. Clerk.

"Shirley, December 28, 1772."

An interesting episode in the ministry of Mr. Whit- ney occurred during the Revolutionary War. The people found great difficulty in paying his salary when due. Mr. Whitney found it equally difficult to provide the necessaries of life with the greatly dimin- ished purchasing power of his salary. This obliged him to ask for a measure of relief, or dismission. Uawilling to grant him a dismission, they decided to raise a special appropriation of £133 6s. 4d. But such was the depreciation of paper money that the purchasing power of this was only £86 12s. 4d., an amount entirely inadequate, of which he informed them. A committee was then appointed to consider and adjust the matter. This committee reported June 21, 1779, "That we find Mr. Whitney is desirous of doing no business for his support that in any measure interferes with his ministerial work. This committee are of opinion that his present salary is entirely in- sufficient for his support; they are therefore of opin- ion that the district from the 23d day of this instant June, during the present war with Great Britain, pay his salary of £66 13s. 4d. aunually, according to the price of Indian corn and Rie, reckoning Indian corn at £0 2s. 8d. per bushel, and Rie £0 48. per bushel, said salary to rise and fall as the price of said grain rises and falls; also that the price of said grain be estimated by the assessors annually, when the assess- ment is made for the payment of salary ; the salary being paid in the foregoing manner, upon the follow- ing conditions, to which Mr. Whitney freely consents, viz : that there be a deduction made by the assessors, during the war, from his salary thus paid, of his full proportion of taxes assessed upon the district accord- ing to his estate, real and personal."

This report was unanimously accepted and the thanks of the district voted "to the Rev. Mr. Whit- ney for his generous and truly patriotic spirit and disposition in being willing to bear his equal propor-

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HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

tion of the very extraordinary heavy taxes his people are laboring under at this distressing time."

The singing in public worship was congregational, the senior deacon reading the psalm or hymn a line at a time, and the congregation following. In 1786 it was decided to give this part of the service to the charge of a select choir, and the back seats in the front gallery were appropriated to their use. This caused trouble and it was brought before the town at a regular meeting by an article in the warrant, "To see if the town will vote the two hind seats in the front gallery, to be fitted for the use of the singers, instead of the two hind seats on the lower floor." A committee was chosen to confer with the singers and arrange the matter. They reported " April ye 13, 1786," " that having held a conference with them, we have agreed that the two hind seats in the front gallery be made into a proper pew, with a table suit- able for them, or convenient for books, and that they take the said pew for their seats so long as they serve in singing."

A committee was appointed April 24, 1787, to pur- chase a bass-viol, " for the use of the meeting-honse," and " a chest was made-at the expense of the pas- tor-for the safe-keeping of the viol when not in use." This instrument was in use till 1842, and forty years of this time was played by the same person-David Livermore.

Mr. Whitney continued in active service for some- what more than forty years, when he was stricken with paralysis. Incapacitated for the performance of his public duties, he generously offered to relinquish one- half of his salary to aid toward the settlement of a colleague. In a letter to the town dated Nov. 12, 1812, he says : " Considering my age and infirmities, I sincerely wish to have you settle another minister in this town as soon as you can. And I now renew the offer that I made by your committee last year, that if the town will settle another minister with me that is not yet fifty years old, and one whom the neighboring churches shall approve, I will from the day of his ordi- nation, relinquish one-half of my salary forever there- after. I would further observe, snch is my solicitude for the welfare and order of the town, that I should willingly relinquish the whole salary if they would .settle an- other regular minister,-if I could do it and do jus- tice to myself, my family and my creditors. Wishing you divine direction, I subscribe myself your affec- tionate pastor, PHINEHAS WHITNEY."

By the terms of his settlement he could claim his full salary during his life.

The settlement of a colleague was not effected till the autumn of 1815, when Mr. Samnel H. Tolman, of Winchendon, accepted the invitation of the town and of the church, and was ordained to the office Oct. 25th. He discharged its duties till Feb. 17, 1819, when at his request, on account of growing dissensions, a council was called and he was dismissed. The death of Mr. Whitney occurred Dec. 17th, of the same year.

His first wife, to whom he was married April 28, 1762, -- the month in which he accepted the invitation of the town to become its minister,-was Miss Miriam Willard, of Harvard, who, when a young girl, was taken from her home by the Indians. "She lived with a married sister, Mrs. James Johnson, at Charlestown, No. 4, when the Indians made a raid upon that town and carried her, with the Johnson family, Mr. and Mrs. Johnson and three children, the eldest of whom was but six years old, with two of their neighbors, to Canada. Forced to journey through a pathless wil- derness, she was required to lie upon the ground at night, with an Indian upon either side of her, with cords passed over her body and under theirs so that the least stir on her part would aronse them. They were sold by the Indians to the French at Montreal. Miss Willard was soon redeemed, but remained two years in the family of the Lient .- Governor, where she was treated with uniform kindness, and supported herself with her needle till the release of her sister and children, when they sailed for England and from thence to New York, and then returned to her former home. She died in 1769 at the age of twenty-nine years. With the death of Mr. Whitney the adminis- tration of ecclesiastical affairs by the town ceased, and their conduct passed into the hands of religious soci- eties, entirely separate from civil anthority and main- tained by voluntary individual support, in accordance with what is now the universal practice thronghont the country.

The Shaker Community or Society of United Breth- ren .- The ecclesiastical unity of the town was first broken in 1781, when a community of Shakers was started. This community began with two families, Elijah and Ivory Wild, who were brothers and farın- ers, living in the southern part of the town. They were joined by two other families in the immediate neighborhood, but within the town of Lancaster. Mother Ann Lee, the founder and spiritual head of this religious order in this country, was at that time temporarily residing and holding meetings in the ad- joining town of Harvard, where a society of Shakers had been formed. She visited and conducted the Sha- ker worship in the homes of the Wilds. Meetings for worship were held frequently, and were an object of great interest to all the country round. Mr. Chand- ler, in his "History of Shirley," to which we are largely indebted, tells us that "on one occasion two women walked from Mason-twenty miles-on a rainy Sunday, and were even obliged to stop and wring the water from their stockings while on the road ; then proceeded forward unharmed by the ele- ments, being protected by their faith." The move- ments and exercises of their worship were so strange and accompanied by so much that was exciting as well as novel, that public attention was soon called to the matter.

At a town-meeting held September 12, 1782, it was "Voted, that the town disapprove of the conduct of

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SHIRLEY.

that people called Shaking Quakers, and of their meeting in this town. Then, voted to choose a com- mittee of five to wait on and consult said people at Elijah Wild's, and discourse with them respecting their conduct. Then voted to leave the matter dis- cretionary with the committee, and that they make a report to the town at the next town-meeting in said town." No record of any report from this committee appears, and it is probable that none was made. At the present time the "labor," as it is termed in the Shaker worship, which consists of marches and dances, is attended by much less of the violent and nervous agitation and excitement than formerly, and is, therefore, more graceful and pleasant to witness, as well as to those engaged in it. The society received many additions and became in time quite large and prosperous, numbering at one time about one hun- dred. It was divided into three families, the North, the Sonth and Church family, the South family being located just over the Shirley line, and within the town of Lancaster. Its real estate embraces about twenty- five hundred acres, much of which is valuable wood- land. It has a large amount under cultivation and devoted to various crops. The raising of garden seeds for the general market has, in past years, been a large and valuable industry, but is at present continued only to the extent of what is needed for home use. A large orchard, well cared for and in fine condition, yields a good variety of fruit, sometimes amounting to a thousand barrels for the season. In recent years the society has declined in membership, having at the present time only one-third as many as when in its most prosperous condition. Its buildings are plain, substantial structures, some of them of brick, commo- dious and well arranged for their several uses, and for health, convenience and economy in management. Although the attempt to bring its first members under the censure of the town failed, that did not entirely end the hostility that existed towards them. On Sunday evening, June 1, 1783, Ann Lee had come over from Harvard with her elders, James Whittaker and William Lee, to hold a religious meeting at the house of Elijah Wild. Enemies from Harvard fol- lowed them, and a mob supposed to number nearly a hundred men gathered and surrounded the house. Wild says, in his narrative of the affair: "The malicious crew came to my house on Sabbath evening, about eight o'clock, and surrounded the house. Some of the leaders of the mob were, or had been, captains in the militia, and still bore that title. They were fol- lowed by a large number of men, for the evident purpose of abusing Mother and the elders." Fearing violence, and knowing that the object of the assault was Mother Ann, and that she would suffer at their hands if they should gain an entrance, she was concealed in a small dark closet and the door hidden from view, by "placing before it a high chest of drawers." All means of communicating their perilous position and seeking help was cut off, as no one was permitted to

pass out. But finally a woman who lived in the neighborhood, and had left, a nursing infant at home, was given the privilege of going to her home. She immediately took measures to get information to the authorities of the town. Meanwhile the mob con- tinued noisy and threatening through the night, cry- ing out, " That woman or your house shall come to the ground." Late in the morning the dilatory police came and ordered them to disperse. L.berty was given them to enter the house, and at the request of Mother Ann and the elders food was put upon the table and the leaders sat down and ate. Food was passed also to those in the door-yard. They promised the elders if they would return with them to Harvard no injury should be done to them. The elders con- sented, though with little confidence in their promises. Nor hardly had they arrived in Harvard when they violated their word. They dragged them aside to a convenient place and then proceeded with their as- sault upon them. They first took James Whittaker and tied him to the limb of a tree, and then " scourged him with a whip till the skin was almost flayed from his back." Next they took Lee and were about to proceed in the same manner with him, but refusing to be tied, " he knelt down and told them to lay on their stripes, which he would receive as a good soldier of the Cross." At that moment a sister, breaking in among them, threw herself between the uplifted lash and the elder, that she might receive the blow, rather than it should fall upon him. Striking her on the temple, it opened a serious wound, from which the blood flowed freely. Alarmed, they released the el- ders, and hastened from the scene of their desperate work. Elder Whittaker's back was found to be " beaten black and blue from his shoulders to his waistbands, and in many places bruised to a jelly, as though he had been beaten with a club. 'I have been abused,' he said, 'but not for any wrong I have done them; it is for your sakes. I feel nothing against them for what they have done to me, for they were ignorant and knew not what they did, nor what manner of spirit they were of.' Mother and the elders, with all the brethren and sisters, kneeled down and prayed to God to forgive their blood-thirsty persecn- tors. Elder James cried heartily and said, 'Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.'" The house in which Ann Lee and her elders were holding their meeting, and which the mob surrounded and at- tacked, is still standing and in good condition, and is an object of interest to visitors. Persons have some- times become members of the society and donned the garb and habit of the Shaker, who after a time, from one cause or another, have found the mode of life un- congenial to them, and left the community. Children who have been taken and brought up in the familics, have often, on reaching the age in which they could choose for themselves, declined to remain, preferring the broader life of the world. Clandestine and run- away matches have sometimes occurred. Sometimes

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HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

the seceders have become enemies. An instance of this kind occurred in which the enmity turned into an of- fensive attack upon thecommunity and destruction of its property. This was on the night of March 3, 1802. A number of those who had been of the Shaker faith and contributed to the building of the meeting-house, but had withdrawn from the community, laid claim to the house on this ground, and sought to enforce their claim by taking possession. Supplying them- selves with a quantity of liquor, in which they freely indulged, and provisions, they entered the building on the night mentioned and held possession four days, barring the doors and shutting out entrance from others. The rooms and furniture were much muti- lated and damaged. On the fifth day the officers suc- ceeded in forcing an entrance through a window in the upper or attic part and arresting the parties. They were taken before the justice and bound over for trial to the Criminal Court at Concord. But through some failure of duty on the part of the county attorney, as was generally supposed, or other mismanagement of the case, the grand jury did not find a bill against them and they were acquitted.

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History of Middlesex County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. I, Part 134

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton), ed Publication date: 1890 Publisher: Philadelphia, J. W. Lewis & co Number of Pages: 1034

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton), ed
Publication date: 1890
Publisher: Philadelphia, J. W. Lewis & co
Number of Pages: 1034