History of Middlesex County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. I, Part 194

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 194

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join. With grateful hearts we como, And Bing of brave deeds done, By those who fell

Full twenty years ago,

In conflict with the fue,

They helped to deal the blow That saved our land.

732

HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

They heard the call to arms, Left home with all its charms- A noble band,- And marched to beat of drum With armor girded on To face, 'neath Southern sun, A martialed foe.

The camp, the march, the fray, The charge, the victory,

The comrades slain ! Aud scarce it seems a day, Time speeds so swift away , Since were the bine and gray In war engaged.

Their deeds of valor done, The victory fully won, The sword laid down. Yon marble statue shall To future ages tell Of those who nobly fell, - Our honored dead.

At the close of the exercises on the platform the assembly were invited to partake of a collation which had been prepared by a committee chosen for the purpose, and which, for variety of dishes and ele- gance of arrangements, is seldom excelled. Invited organizations and guests of the town were tendered the preference at the tables, after which the town's people were served. The committee, after paying the bills incident to the celebration, had left in the town treasury the sum of $4.07 unexpended, the entire cost to the town of dedicating the monument being $195.93.

MEETING-HOUSE .- The church and the town, in the early history of the country, were identical. Every town had a church, which it supported by a tax levied on the inhabitants in the same manner as for the support of schools, highways and other town charges.

In the case under consideration the church had ex- isted for nearly twenty years previous to the incor- poration of the district, in the year 1780.

As will be remembered, the old District of Carlisle ceased to exist after a short period because of the diffi- culty and final inability of the inhabitants to deter- mine upon or "prefix " a place for a meeting-house.

The same difficulty was obviated under the second act of incorporation, for, during the interval between the existence of the old and new District of Carlisle a certain piece of land, nearly square in shape and including an acre and a half, or the larger part of what is now known as the Common, was conveyed to a number of the inhabitants of the locality, "and to their heirs, executors, administrators and assigns for ever, for the conenancy of building a meeting-house for the public worship of God and other public uses." The above-named instrument was dated July 1, 1758. The gift was a worthy one, and should be the means of perpetuating the name of the donor to all future time.

About two years later, or in the year 1760, a meet- ing-house was built on the land given for the purpose, in order for the better accommodation, for the purpose

of religious worship, of those persons who lived on the outskirts of the several towns which found a cen- tre near said location, and who subsequently were in- cluded within the bounds of the District of Car- lisle.

It cannot be doubted that the above-named gift was the nucleus for the establishment of the first church building, the erection of which, it is more than prob- able, finally determined the location for the centre of the present town of Carlisle.

The first church, which was erected by volun- tary contributions, stood near the location of what is now known as the Unitarian Church, and was a rude wooden structure, without clapboards or paint, and having only benches for seats, in which condition it remained until the year 1780, when the district was incorporated, and at which time it virtually be- came the property of the district by the consent of a committee of the society, to which many of the first pe- titioners belonged, it being mutually understood and agreed that all persons who should be incorporated with them in the proposed district should share equal - ly all church privileges with those at whose expense the meeting-house had been erected, without being in any way liable for any expense incurred previous to date of Incorporation.

No pastor was settled during this interval of twenty years, neither was there any church organization, and yet the Gospel was preached from Sabbath to Sabbath and supported by the listeners, many of whom paid in addition their regular minister rates in the respec- tive towns to which they belonged.

During the year 1781 money was expended upon the meeting-house, giving it a more inviting appear- ance, and twenty-four pews were put in on the lower floor, which were disposed of by auction for the sum of $950.50. The highest price paid was $66.50 for pew No. 18, by Deacon Ephraim Robbins, and the lowest price was $15 for No. 11 pew, which was struck off to Mr. John Robbins. The amount received was used to pay the expense of the repairs.

The church was organized Feb. 28, 1781, and then consisted of ten male and twenty-four female members. On the 17th of the following May the church voted unanimously to invite Rev. Paul Litchfield to become their first pastor, and at a meeting held May 25th, the inhabi- tants of the district, by a vote of 43 to 3, agreed to concur with the vote of the church, and also voted to give Mr. Litchfield the sum of one hundred and fifty pounds as a settlement, one-half of which sum it was voted to pay him within one year from the date of his acceptance of the call, and the balance in two years. It was also voted to give him as a salary the sum of eighty pounds yearly, to be paid in quarterly instalments, so long as he shall supply the pulpit in said Carlisle and remain their Gospel minister- both of said amounts to be paid in silver money. At a subsequent meeting it was voted to give Mr. Litch-

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field twenty cords of wood a year, and to keep two cows and a horse for him until such time as he shall call for the interest of his settlement.

The church decided upon the 7th day of Nov., 1781, as a date that would be agreeable to them to have the ordination of Mr. Litchfield take place upon. And at a meeting held Oct. 3d the inhabit- ants of the district voted to join with the church as to the date they had selected.

The first communion was held December 31, 1781, when it was voted to require a written or verbal re- lation by candidates, before the church and congre- gation, of the religious exercises of their minds, before admission into the church.

This embarrassing regulation was so modified, two years later, as to permit it to be made before a com- mittee of the church.

The doctrines contained in the confession of faith, and preached by Mr. Litchfield, were strictly Calvin- istic. He continued to hold the office of pastor of this church until his death, dying in the full belief of that Christian faith which he had inculcated, and trusting in the hope which the Christian religion in- spires.

The funeral took place November 7, 1827, and on the forty-sixth anniversary of his ordination. The funeral sermon was preached by the Rev. John H. Church, D.D., of Pelham, N. H. The interment was made near the centre of the Central Burying-Ground. A slate slab five feet tall by two and a half feet wide, with pillars carved on either side and a weeping willow tree shading an urn for top decoration, marks the spot. The following inscription appears on the stone :

" Erected to the memory of Rev. Paul Litchfield, Pastor of the church in Carlisle for the space of forty-six years, and deceased Nov. 5, 1827.

Æt. 75.

· With firm, discriminating mind, zealons for the distinguishing doctrines of revelation, he stood fast in one spirit, striving for the faith of the gospel."

A similar stone is erected to the memory of his first wife, " Mary," which stands close beside the former.

At the annual March meeting of the inhabitants of the district in the year 1789, the eighth article in the warrant read as follows :- " To See if the District will agree to provide any Seats in the Meeting-House for those who may be disposed to set together for the Singing." It was voted "that those who may be Disposed to Set together for the purpose of Singing Shall have the two hind seats below," which seats were probably used for the purpose until the year 1798, when they were otherwise appropriated, and in response to a similar article in the warrant for the an- nual April meeting, it was voted "that the Singers have the fore seat and the Second Seat in the front galery."

Considerable money liad been appropriated by the town at one time and another to repair the meeting- house up to the year 1810.

A gallery had been built which contained nine- teen pews, which were sold for the sum of $58.12; the building had been clap-boarded aud painted, stone underpinning had been provided, a pulpit erected, porches built, and the advisability of erecting a bel- fry and procuring and suspending a bell was a ques- tion which had for some time agitated the minds of the people.

It was on the 26th day of May in the year last mentioned that the church was struck by lightning and entirely consumed.

Nine days later, viz. : on the 4th of June, 1810, the inhabitants of the town qualified by law to vote in town affairs were warned to meet on the Comm I, near where the meeting-house formerly stood. At this meeting the town voted to build a new meeting- house about the size of the old one, and to build on the Common belonging to the town, near where the former meeting-house stood.

At a subsequent meeting a building committee of three were chosen by bailot, viz. : Asa Parlin, Esq., Nathan Green, Jr., and Thomas Heald. Said com- mittee contracted with Elijah Stearns to prepare and set the underpiuning and door-steps for the sum of $235, and with Messrs. Joseph Wyman and John Sawyer, Jr., for the sum of $4230, to erect the build- ing. When completed the total cost was $4866.81, which amount included various incidental charges, such as paint and painting, numbering the pews, and also a bill of $38.28 for liquor.

There were 44 pews on the lower floor, 43 of whichi were sold by auction for the sum of $2301.75. Also, 16 pews in the gallery were sold at the same time for $444.75, making a total of $2746.50, which, added to the sum of $2000, which was raised by taxation by the town, nearly paid the cost of the building. One pew, back of the door on the left-hand side of the gallery, was, by vote of the town, appropriated for the use of people of color.

In consideration of the great loss sustained by the town, the State tax, amounting to $154.66, for the year 1810, was, by an act of the General Court, re- mitted.

At an adjourned town-meeting, held on the Com- mon, Nov. 18, 1811, about the time of the completion of the new building, it was voted " that the Meeting- house be dedicated to Almighty God on the second Sabbath of December following," and also, "that the town give those persons who may go and work at the meeting-house, to clear away the chips and trash around the same, what drink they may need."

The religious services at tho dedication were con- ducted by the pastor, Rev. Paul Litchfield.

The aunual town-meeting called for Monday, March 2, 1812, was the first one held in the new building, and on the following month the town raised the sun of $350 to procure a bell for the meeting-house.

After the death of Rev. Mr. Litchfield a spirit of discontent appears to have sprung up, and a number

734

HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

of those who worshiped in the town under the pas- torate of the late pastor had withdrawn their names from the parish, or, as it was usually called, " signed off," and joined some out-of-town society.

Those who "signed off" were, by their own request, considered as disconnected from the church, as well as released from all pecuniary obligation to support religious worship in the town.

The spirit of discord continued to increase until the former relations between town and church ceased to exist, and each was conducted as a separate insti- tution.

The last money raised by the town in its corporate capacity, for the purpose of supporting the Gospel, was on Nov. 14, 1831, being $300 in amount, which was appropriated for the purpose of paying Rev. Stephen Hull his salary and other parochial charges.

We have already referred to the immediate succes- sor of the first minister of the town, who was also the last to receive support from the town. His successor was the Rev. George W. Stacy, who was settled over the society May 4, 1836. Subsequent to his pastor- ate other clergymen have been hired to fill the pul- pit from time to time, among whom are the Rev. James T. Powers, who has been engaged at two dif- ferent times ; Rev. Mr. Hervey, Rev. J. S. Smith, Rev. Alexander Dight, Rev. James J. Twiss and Rev. George F. Piper, all of whom, since the first pastor, with the exception of Mr. Dight, have enter- tained the Unitarian belief.

During the year 1852 the church was remodeled within and thoroughly repaired without, at an ex- pense of $1200. A floor was laid across the audi- torium at the height of the galleries, thus making two rooms of what formerly constituted but one. Pews, pulpit, etc., were placed in the upper division, which has since been used for church purposes, the lower part serving for a hall.

The old spire, which had stood for fifty-seven years, was substituted, in the year 1868, by the present one. · The Unitarian Society have a fund of $2000, the income of which is used to support public worship, and was given in about equal proportions by the fol- lowing-named persons, viz .: Simon Blood, Jr., Mr. Thomas Green, Mr. William Farrar and Mrs. Mary G. Scott.

NOON HOUSE .- A building the location of which was a little northwest of the Unitarian Church, came into existence soon after the incorporation of the dis- trict in the following manner. An article appeared in the warrant for the annual district meeting held March 3, 1788, which read as follows :

" To See if the District will give liberty to Capt. Issachar Andrews and Lt. Zebulun Spaulding to build a House on the meeting House Lott for their Conven- ience on Sabbath Days."

The request was granted and a small building was erected, the owners of which, it is said, provided a lib-

eral supply of wood, cider and apples, causing it to be heated on Sabbath days in cold weather, whither they, with such of their friends as they chose to invite, would repair and spend the noon hour, chatting and eating a luncheon which it was customary to carry. This was previous to the introduction of the modern custom of heating churches. This building was an adjunct of the church for perhaps forty years, and stood for upward of fifty years, when, having outlived the purpose for which it was erected, all of a sudden at midday it was razed to the ground by human strength. In the year 1837, at a town-meeting held November 13th, it was voted "that the selectmen be a committee to attend to the removal from the common of the ruins of the old Noon House, so called."

Thus ended the existence of an institution peculiar to those days and perhaps to this town.

UNION CALVINISTIC CHURCH .- The first regular church meeting after the death of Rev. Mr. Litch- field appears to have been called for November 26, 1827, at the house of Deacon John Jacobs. At this meeting it was voted that Deacon Jacobs take charge of the church records and the donation of books be- queathed to the church by their late pastor.

Another meeting of the church was held at the house of Deacon John Green, June 9, 1828, at which it was unanimously voted to give the Rev. Joseph W. Clary, who sympathized with the late Mr. Litchfield in his theological views, a call to settle with them in the Gospel ministry. At a town-meeting held the 19th inst. the town by vote non-concurred with the church, because of a prevailing sentiment in favor of Unitar- ianism, which at that time was attaining favor in the minds of the people.

Finally a committee was chosen by the town to supply the pulpit with preaching. Orthodox preachers were employed for a few weeks, after which those usually employed were of Unitarian sentiment. Various move-, ments took place between the town and church, until at length the Rev. Ephraim Randall, something of a popular preacher, but Unitarian in belief, was em- ployed, and a paper was put in circulation to obtain subscribers to give him a call to settle over the church and town. Those of the inhabitants who were ortho- dos in belief, finding the majority of the town were determined to settle a Unitarian minister, and would not hear to the proposals made to them by the church, took advantage of the then recent law, and twenty in number "signed off" to the Trinitarian society in Concord, under the care of the Rev. D. L. Southmayd, in order not to be holden to pay any part of the ex- pense of settling or supporting a minister who enter- tained religious views not consistent with their own.

The church continued to hold religious meetings at private houses on Sabbath days, and always held their communion seasons in the town.

Efforts were put forth and proposals were made by the church to bring about some amicable arrange- ment with the town, in order that a union of feeling

735

CARLISLE.

between church and town, similar to what had ex- isted in years past, might exist again ; but all to no effect, and to crown the whole, the town, at their an- nual meeting, in March, 1830, chose a committee to take all the property belonging to the church into their possession, which was afterwards reluctantly handed over. Finding there was not the least pros- pect of effecting a union with the Unitarian element in the town, a sufficient number (twelve in all) of those who had previously formed themselves into a religious society known as the Union Calvinistic So- ciety, and who were also legal voters in the town, applied to Jonathan Prescott, Esq., of Westford, to grant a warrant in due form of law to Deacon Jacobs, to notify all the male members of said society to meet at the house of Capt. Aaron Fletcher, on Saturday, November 20, 1830, at one o'clock P.M., for the pur- pose of organizing according to law, and choosing all necessary officers to manage the business of said society.

The meeting was called at the time and place above-mentioned, and was called to order by the jus- tice of the peace who issued the warrant.

Mr. Samuel Boynton was chosen moderator, when the following officers, who were also the first officers of the society, were chosen : Clerk, John Jacobs; Treasurer and Collector, John Jacobs; Prudential Committee, Harris Bingham, John Jacobs and Ren- ben Foster. Twenty male members then signed the constitution of the society, and the above date, viz., November 20, 1830, will be remembered as the date when the Union Calvinistic Society was organized.

Money was raised by subscription for the purpose of building a church; and it was voted by the society, February 28, 1831, to build a house of worship thirty feet long, twenty-eight feet wide and fifteen feet high, which was completed early in the fall of 1832, at an expense of nearly $800.

Arrangements were made and the house was dedi- cated to God and the purposes of religious worship October 4, 1832. Rev. Mr. Blanchard, of Lowell, preached the dedicatory sermon, and meetings con- tinned to be held for a space of three days afterwards, with favorable results to the church and society.

The building was located on the south side of the Common, in the centre of the town, the same location as that occupied by the Orthodox church at the pres- sent date. The land surrounding it, and on which the church stands, in area a quarter of an acre, more or less, was leased by said society for a term of 999 years, of Mr. Isaac Duren, with the express under- standing that said society would, within the space of two years, erect a building on said premises to be consecrated to the solemn worship of Almighty God, and that the doctrines supported shall be the same as were embodied and maintained by the first settlers of this country, and which are now called Orthodox, or

Evangelical, being the same as said society did at that time openly profess.

Said lease is dated April 6, 1831, the terms of which were that the sum of $20 rent should be paid upon the delivery of the lease, and afterward the sum of one cent for each and every year during the existence of said lease.

The pulpit was supplied for a time by various clergymen who were hired, and it was on the 22d day of April, 1833, at a regular meeting of the church and society, that a unanimous vote was passed to call the Rev. Abel Patten to settle with them in the Gospel ministry, and the call concludes with the following terms and conditions, viz. : " And, that you may be in a good measure free from worldly cares aud avoca- tions, we, as a church and society, do hereby promise and oblige ourselves to furnish you with board, a room, fuel, lights, etc., the use of horse and chaise, when necessary, and to pay you annually, in addition to $100 from the Domestic Missionary Society, the sum of $200 in regnlar quarterly payments, during a period of two years."

The foregoing invitation was accepted, and an ec- clesiastical council was convened just one montli later, or on the 22d of the following May, and the Rev. Abel Patten was installed the first pastor of the new society.

The following is a list of those who have subse- quently served the church and society as pastor, with the date of their engagement :

Rev. Preserved Smith . . installed August 31, 1836

Rev. George W. Thompson . installed July 16, 1845

Rev. Sethi W. Banister installed April 27, 1848

Rev. Jolin Lawrence installed May 5, 1853

Rev. Josiah Ballard .. nstalled September 15, 1859

Rev. William H. Dowden installed February 13, 1866

Rev. Moses Patten installed October 27, 1870

Rev. Asa Mann . . hired 1876

Rev. F. M. Spragne hired 1877-79

Rev. James Walker . hired 1879-88

Rev. Joseph Hammond . hired 1889

A parsonage was built by the society in the year 1848, at an expense of $1700. Three bells have been owned by the society, the first of which was bought in the year 1851. The first two. became cracked ; the one in use at the present time was purchased in the year 1867. Repairs were made on the meeting-house in the year 1866 to the amount of $907.08, and in 1882 extensive repairs were made, costing $1700, after which the building was rededicated August 20, 1882; the dedicatory sermon was preached by Rev. Russell H. Conwell before a crowded house.

A fund of $7000 was left the society by the will of the late Abel Taylor, the income of which is to be used for the support of preaching.

January 1, 1890, the church numbered fifty-seven members in good and regular standing-twelve males and forty-five females-eleveu of whom were nou- residents.

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HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

CHAPTER LV.

DUNSTABLE.

BY REV. HENRY M. PERKINS.

Present condition of the Town-Topography-Business Interests.

NOT many towns in our Commonwealth of the size of Dunstable can present a history richer in varied material.

Descendants of the early settlers have an interest in the remote history of the town. The general reader, however, shares with them in a desire to know its present condition.

Dunstable is located in the northerly part of Mid- dlesex County, and is one of the border 1owns of the State. Nashua, N. H., joins it on the north ; Tyngs- borough on the east and southeast; Groton on the south, and Pepperell on the west.

The town is naturally healthful, and the climate promotive of vigor and hardihcod, as a few examples will show.

Among recent deaths was that of Mr. Benajah Parkhurst, a much respected citizen. He died at the age of ninety-four. For several winters previous he was accustomed to saw most of the wood used in his family. He was a skillful carpenter, and in his prime was noted for coolness and self-possession when walking on lofty beams. Mr. James Woodward, another valued citizen, died at the age of eighty- eight. He was able to perform much of the work at his grist-mill till within a year of his death. Among other feats of his youthful days was a walk to Boston, the distance of thirty-three miles. After having attended to his business he returned to Dun- stable the same day. He reached home after dark, but not too late for a good night's rest. Among liv- ing representatives is Mr. Jonas Kendall, the skillful and well-known civil engineer. Though now a resi- dent of Framingham, he has evidently carried with him the vigor of his native air. At the age of eighty- five his services were iu demand for the inspection of reservoirs and the supervision of new and important works in different parts of the State. Mr. Andrew Spaulding, about seventy years of age, is an active man in religious and business circles in Groton, Mass.

As a summer resort Dunstable possesses some rare attractions. From several localities of the town wide views are obtained. Though not a hilly town, as compared with some places in New Hampshire or Vermont, the surface is undulating, with now and then a hill of considerable height. From such points charming views open before the eye. In the distance is Mt. Wachusett, round and wooded. The interven- ing landscape presents many beautiful hills and dales, dotted with peaceful farms, pleasant home- steads and an occasional spire pointing heavenward, Many of the New Hampshire hills can be clearly scen.

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History of Middlesex County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. I, Part 194

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