USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > History of Middlesex County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. II > Part 69
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" Voted, to build a meeting-house to be set on tho bigh land between Col. Varnum's house and the old meadow path, 44x36 ft. & 24 foot stud. Committee, Josiah Richardson, John Littlehale, John Varuum, Edward Coburn & Edward Wyman."
This vote was not carried out, however, and very little account appears to have been made of it, as it is not referred to in subsequent proceedings. No further effort seems to have been made until 1747, when the matter was again brought before the town, as appears by record:
"DRACUT, February 10, 1747.
"At a general town-meeting it was voted to build a meeting-house for the public worship of God, to he sett on the Southwest corner of John Bowers' homestead lot, the house to be 44 by 36-posts to be 22 feet long between joints. The committee chosen to build the house are, Joslah Richardson, Maj. Samuel Varnum, Timothy Coburn, John Bow- ers & Isaac Fox. Two hundred lbs. are raised, and shall be assessed and collected for to build ye house with, according to ye best judgment of ye Committee."
The spot selected for the meeting-house at this meeting was about a mile east of the one selected in May, 1745, and was so objectionable to many that a memorial was drawn up and signed by a number of men, and presented to Governor William Shirley and the General Court, setting forth all the circumstances, and rehearsing somewhat in detail the ecclesiastical affairs of the town from the time of its incorporation. The document is an able one and valuable, as it sheds some light upon past events, and will be read with pleasure by all who are interested in them. It reads as follows :
" To his Excellency William Shirley Esq Govr &c. The Hon his Majestys Councell & house of Representatives in Genl Court assem- bled at Boston April the 5th 1748
"The petition of the subscribers, Inhabitants of the Town of Dracut humbly showeth-
"That your Petrs ancestors, in the year 1701, were settled on a tract of Land the Northerly side of Merrimack River called Dracht, Long bo- fore granted in farms to sundry persons from whom they Purchased that the then Inhabitants & Proprs of part of the ad truct Petitioned this Hon. Court setting forth that the said tract of land which adjoins to Duustable ou the West & North West & runs seven miles Eastward upon the river from Dunstable line & six miles & six miles Northward from the River Commodious for a township and for reasons mentioned in thelr Petition Pray'd that the sd tract might become a town & privileged with the Powers thereof by this Court in answer to which was Resolved, That the Prayer thereof should be granted and that the sd Inhabts. should assist in the maintenance of the ministry of Chelmsford ns they had done until they wero provided with a minister as the law Directs. And that if any land should happen to fall within the afore described
DRACUT.
293
bonnds that had not been before granted it should be reserved to be dis- posed of by this Government.
"That in the year 1709 the further to enable the Inhats. to support the Gospel, The sd reserved land was inquired into and granted all that tract nndisposed of before Lying within the boundrys of the aforesaid Grant to settlers & likewise to strengthen the town against the enemy.
"That in the year 1715 the Ist sett ers together with the Inhabts. ad- mitted as aforesaid by reason of their Difficnities of attending meeting at Chelmsford agreed to build a meetinghouse in said Dracut-And to measure Eastward from Dunstable line upou the River three miles & a half and the nearest Convenient place thereto to raise the meeting-bonse thereon : And as the Settlements are Chiefly on and near the enterval being best situated for Defence as well as the most valuable land was then the most convenient place.
" That A.D. 1720 the Rev. MIr. Thomas Parker was called and ordained to the Gospel ministry amongst ns, Who together with the Assistance of the Town purchased a settlement near the said meetinghouse-the price much Inhanced by reason of the situation. That he hath carried on the work ever since among ns to general acceptance. That back from the river part of the Land in said town has since been Settled.
"That sd meetingbouse in the year 1745 was much Decayed and likely soon to be too small to hold the Inhabitants in sd town, it was moved to choose another place that might accommodate the whole of the settle- able Land in sd Dracut according to the Limits of their Incorporation for which porpose a meeting was called & the Inhabts. on ye 27 of May 1745 did vote and agree upon a place for Rebuilding the sd meeting- 'house Abt. a mile to the Northward from the 1st meetinghouse at the sameªmeeting choose Comtee. to manage the Building sd house & granted two hundred pounds of the last Emission to be Employed in Carrying on sd Work and part of the money accordingly assessed & bas been since collected in part.
"That notwithstanding sd votes and prosecuting tbem so far the In- habits. bave called another meeting & on the 10th of Feb. last did by a majority of votes present in the sd last meeting. grant that a meeting- house should be built at the S. W. corner of John Bowers Homestead at least a mile Eastward from ye place agreed npon ye 27th of May as afore- said. And further Granted two hundred pounds of the last Emission to be laid ont in building the same aud chose a Committee to manage tbe affairs. Which last mentioned place is upward of two miles Eastward from the Ist meetingbouse. That at Present your Petitrs. Concieve by the votes of the town there is two meetinghouses to be built at the town's charge withont separating the Inhabitants. That by the Incor- poration it was intended to take so much Laud as to commode the orig- inal settlers and no more and should the Lands Eastward of that Incor- poration viz to the Eastward of ye ad seven miles be annexed to Dracut it will extend Eastward of Dunstable Line upon the river not less than nine miles & a half & the North Easterly part of sd Land much further That the place last voted is abont five miles & a half east from Dunstable line at the River on a Straight Course as a Road Can be had By which vote the Town is Involved in Great Difficulty, & sbould the last place roted be the place of attendance it will be very nnequal and unjust to ye Inhabts. of sd town & render all that part of the 1st settlement & still the best improved nnder a great difficulty as if they had not been incor- porated & the distance at Each End of those lands that Methuen which part of the Inhabts. claims as this town be annexed to us too far to give a General attendance As well as the distance from our ministers house so great that it will be Impracticable for him to carry on the Work of the ministry there & no provisnre made for his Relief.
" Wherefore your petitioners humbly pray that Your Excellency & Four Hours. Would take the premises into consideration & grant that the rotes passed at the meeting DIay ye 27th 1745 may be further ratified & the votes of the meeting Feb ye 10tb 1757 made null or Otherwise Im- power a Committee to view and appoint the most reasonable place for a meetinghouse and State it, & in case the Inhabitants on tliose lands be- tween the aforementioned seven miles & JIethuen be annexed to us that we may be Divided into two towns or Parishes, the Circumstances to be viewed by a Comtee. and as this Honle. Court sball order And further pray that all matters Relating to the building either of the said Houses may be stayed by order of this court till there be a full determination thereon.
" And Ye petre. as in Dnty Bonnd shall Ever pray.
John Varnum,
John Littlehale, Abraham Varnum, Samnel Winn,
Caleb Parker,
Ephraim Colburn, Edward Coburn,
Josiah Coburn, Thomas Varnnm,
Edward Coburu, Jr.,
John Littlehale, Jr.,
Ezeekel Richardson, Jr.,
Robert Lindsey,
Aaron Coburn,
John Williams, Abraham Coburn,
Joseph Colburn,
James Richardson,
Ezra Littlehale,
Daniel Coburn,
" IN THE HOUSE OF REPRS Apr. 7 1748
" Read and ordered that Col Richards & Mr Brewer with such as shall be joined by the Hon. Board be a Committee to view the Situation & Circumstances of the Town of Dracut at the charge of the Petitioners & report what they judge proper for this Court to do on this Petition and all proceedings respecting building a meeting house in said town of Dra- cut are stayed in the meantime. Seut up for concurrence.
" T. HUTCHINSON, Spr.
"In Council Apr 9th 1748 James Minot is joined in the above. "Consented to WM. SHIRLEY." 1
In support of the last vote of the town to set the meeting-house on the "Southwest Corner of John Bowers his homestead Lott," the following petition was also presented to the Governor and Council :
"We the Subscribers, Inhabitants and freeliolders of Dracut are hum- bly of the opinion that the meeting house for the town of Dracut ought to stand at the Southwest Corner of John Bowers his homestead Lott in Dracutt, and we desire the same may be set up there as witness our hands the 15th day of April 1748
Jacob Coburn,
Josepb Chamberlain, Jr.,
Samuel Varnum,
Darius Harris,
Levi Hildreth, William Hill,
Simon Colburn, Stephin Russell,
Kendall Parker, Jonatlian Crosby,
David Parker,
Robert Wright, Edward Taylor,
James Emery,
Stephen Kimball,
Jonathan Emery.
Thomas Hildreth,
Jobn Crage, Stephen Russell,
Francis Nickles, Ephraim Curtis, Jr.,
John Varnum, Jr., Ephraim Richardson,
Stephen Farmer,
Stephen Wood,
Alexander Lindsey,
Josiah Richardson, Jr.,
Jacob Colburn, Jr.,
Daniel Fox."
Josepb Chamberlain,
REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE.
" The committee appointed to view the situation and circumstances of the town of Dracut, having attended to that service, and heard the pleas and allegations of the parties, are humbly of the opinion that the most just and proper place in said town for the building a meeting-house for the public worship of God is on the height of land in the highway be- tween the barn of Col. Varnum and the orchard of said Varnum, north- westerly of said barn. All of which is bumbly submitted.
" JAMES MINOT, per order.
" IN COUNCIL, June 3, 1748. "Read and accepted and voted that it be recommended to the inliabi- tants to set their meeting-house accordingly. Sent down for concurrence. " J. WILLARD, Secretary.
" Read and non-concurred and ordered that the petition be dismissed. Sent up for concurrence. T. HUTCHINSON, Speaker.
"IN COUNCIL, June 4, 1748. "Read and non-concurred and the Board adhere to their own vote with this amendment, viz. And the charge of tho committee be borue by the petitioners. Sent up for concurrence. J. WILLARD, Secretary.
" IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, June 7, 1748.
" Read and non-concurred, and the bouse insist on their own vote. Sent up for concurrence. T. HUTCHINSON, Speaker."
And thus the matter ended in the General Court.
A New Church .- The house was built, however, during that year (1748), and it is supposed to have been set upon the lot originally selected by the town
1 See Ancient Plans and Grants, volume i, office of Secretary of Mas- sacbusetts.
David Fox,
294
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
in May, 1745, as before described, near the Merrimack Woolen. Mills.
This church contained the square or box pews, arranged around the walls, for " dignitaries " who were willing to pay for the honor of owning and occupying them. In the middle of the house were arranged benches for those who were unable to own pews. There were eight seats of "dignitie," es- tablished by vote of the town, viz : "The fore seat be- low-second seat below-fore seat iu the front gallery-fore seat in the side gallery-third seat be- low-second in the front gallery-fourth seat below- second in side gallery." These are mentioned in the order of their rank.
The Second Pastor Settled .- Soon after the decease of their pastor, Rev. Thomas Parker, a call was ex- tended to Rev. Nathan Davis. The call was ac- cepted, and Mr. Davis remained until January 2, 1781, when he resigned his charge.
In January, 1785, a call was extended to Rev. Timothy Langdon to become the pastor at one hun- dred pounds salary, and one hundred and fifty pounds as settlement ; but all things not being satisfactory it was declined. It was customary in those days to give a minister a certain sum for "settlement," that is, to meet the expenses incidental to changing and starting life anew.
Another Call .- In 1787, on the 27th day of Septem- ber, the church passed the following vote :
"Voted to choose Mr. Solomon Aiken as a meet person to preach the Word of God and administer the ordinances of his House to us. And we are desirous that the town shall concur with the church in giving the said Mr. Solomon Aiken a call to settle in the Gospel ministry in said town."
On the same day the town passed a vote as follows:
" Voted, to choose Mr. Solomou Aiken to be a pastor & teacher in the work of the Gospel ministry to preach the word of God and to administer the ordinances of the gospel to his church and congregation."
An appropriation of "one hundred and fifty pounds, lawful money," was made for his settlement. His salary was to be ninety-four pounds in money and twenty cords of wood, "the wood to be cut and corded at his door in said town."
This call was accepted, and Mr. Aiken remained over this church for twenty-five years, proving him- sclf to be an efficient and faithful pastor.
1793. Another New Church Wanted .- It was during Mr. Aiken's time that another epoch in the history of the church and the town occurred. It became necessary at this time to repair the old meeting-house, which had now stood more than forty years, or to build a new one; and both projects had their earnest advocates.
A great many town-meetings were called upon the subject of location, but there was never any unanim- ity of feeling. At last the town was surveyed and the exact geographical centre obtained, as we have understood ; but even that location was not satisfac- tory to all, as the easterly part of the town was thinly
settled. But the town at length voted to build the house on the "central line," so called, and erected the frame and boarded it. About thic same time some of the people bought a lot of land of Jonathan Taylor, about a mile westerly of the "central line," and put up the frame of 2 meeting house upon it and boarded it; and there being two parties about evenly divided, sometimes the town would vote to finish one house and sometimes the other, and of course no progress was made.
In March, 1794, it was voted by the town to take down the old meeting-house, where the inhabitants had formerly worshiped, and to use such parts of it as was thought best in building the new one, and to sell the remainder ; and it was determined to com- mence the work that month (March), and to build the house on the " central line."
Some of the people thinking that a proposed plan of dividing the parish was, after all, the best and only one that could possibly accommodate the inhabitants of a town situated as they were, geographically, with- drew from the contest, and the building committee appointed for the purpose proceeded according to instructions and completed the meeting-house ; and on the 31st day of December, 1794, submitted to the town their report. The town voted to accept it, and also to raise eighty-five pounds, four shillings and eight pence to reimburse the committee for money they had expended more than had been appropriated. In due time the pews were sold at " public vendue," the price ranging from six pounds nine shillings to seventeen pounds eight shillings. Capt. Daniel Var- num paid the latter price and took his choice. Fifty pews were sold on the lower floor and twenty-one in the gallery ; the proceeds amounted to six hundred and thirty-four pounds, six shillings and six pence. This was the meeting house now known as the "Central Church," in Dracut.
Those who had opposed building at this locality, upon the town assuming the work, sent in their pro- test as follows :
PROTEST.
" To the Clerk of the town of Dracut :- We the subscribers inhabitants of said town hereby enter our protest against the proceedings of said town in voting to build a meeting house on this 31st day of December 1793 near the house of Kendall Parker jr, as a centre of said town and in choosing a committee therefor & granting money fr building said house.
"Ist. Because we denie that being the proper centre of said town.
" 2d. Because the situation and the land is by no means suitable and does not accommodate the people so well as where the meeting-house now stands.
"3d. Because it is making a needless and unreasonable cost to the town, when the present house with but little expense might be made to accommodate the people and save the widows and orphans from a hard- ensome tax when they cannot have a voice in the business. For these and many other reasons we solemly & firmly enter our protest against all the votes that any way relate towards the building a meeting lionse at the above described place, & hereby show that we do not consider our- selves held to pay any cost that may arise therchy.
" Lewis Ansart, Thomas Varmm, Jonathan Varnum, Nathaniel Coburn,
Jacob Coburn,
Israel Hildreth,
Josiah Fox,
Daniel Blood,
295
DRACUT.
Moses B. Coburn,
Joseph Webster, Thadeus Coburn,
Samuel Coburn,
Parker Varnum,
Saul Coburn,
James Varnum,
Peter Coburn Jr,
Ephraim Coburn,
Samuel Cummings, Peter Cohurn,
Joseph Dean,
Abraham Blood,
Simeon Williams,
Coburn Blood, .
Solomon Abbott Jr,
Timothy Coburn,
Ezra Cohurn,
Willard Coburn,
Jabesh Coburn,
Solm Osgood Jr, Jonatban Varnum Jr., Moses Clement,
Willard Coburn Jr,
John Hamblet,
Jonatban Coburn Jr,
Jeptha Coburn,
Hezekiah Coburn,
Jonas Varnum,
Zacherah Goodhue,
Life Wilson,
Solomon Osgood,
Jonathan Morgan, Aaron Coburn."
A Revolution-Pawtucket Church Erected at Paw- tucket Falls .- The history of the church thus far may properly be said to belong as much to one side as the other, especially as the inhabitants of the town were about evenly divided by this division of the parish. If there is any difference it may be in favor of those who at this time proposed to act by themselves by the re-establishment of their religious privileges in the vicinity of their old church home-the original local- ity of 1715-established by their ancestors.
After expressing their most unqualified disap- proval of the action taken by the town, by a protest in writing, the protestants and other inhabitants that were discommoded, took early and effective measures for their better accommodation.
The building that had been erected on the Jona - than Taylor lot by the parties opposed to the location on the Central line (and which was subsequently ac- cepted by the town and again rejected) was taken down and erected at Pawtucket Falls, in Dracut, in 1794, as is supposed, and it is the same now called the Pawtucket Church, in Lowell. It stands now ex- actly where it was placed at the time of its removal. Gen. Wm. Hildreth afterwards built his house on the Taylor lot, as we are informed-a large square man- sion, still standing, in excellent condition, and owned and occupied by Joseph L. Sargent, Esq.
The location of the new church at Pawtucket Falls was a wise and fortunate selection. The Middlesex Merrimack River Bridge had been incorporated, and was opened for travel on the 5th day of November, 1792. The great Mammoth Road surveyed from Bos- ton to Concord, New Hampshire, which crossed the Merrimack 'River at this point, was also laid out through Dracut in March, 1792, and the prospect was that this point for a church would be central and ac- cessible. It was convenient for all the westerly por- tion of the town of Dracut and the easterly part of Chelmsford, where Lowell is now situated. Besides these practical and positive conveniences, there might have been a bit of romance considered, for this was the " Ancient and Capitol Seat" of the Pawtucket tribe of Indians, and the spot where John Eliot first preached the gospel to them in 1647 and for many years afterwards, as they gathered to obtain their supply of fish at the falls.
All necessary preliminaries having been agreed upon and completed, a petition was presented to the Legislature for an act of incorporation, which was granted and reads as follows:
ACT OF INCORPORATION.
" An act to incorporate certain Parsons by the Name of the West Con- gregational Society in Dracut.
"Section 1. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa- tives in General Court assembled and by the authority of the same, That Parker Varnum, John Varuum, Peter Coburn, Jr., James Var- num, James Abbott, Coburn Blood, Moses Clement, Jabez Coburn, Jon- athan Morgan, Hezekiah Coburn, Thomas Varnum. Joseph Dane, Wil- liam Fife, Lemuel Coburn, Solomon Osgood, jun., John Dutton, Aaron Coburn, Setb Dedson, Solomon Osgood, Samuel Coburn, Ephriam Co- burn, Peletiab Coburn, Timothy Coburn, Lewis Ansart, Willard Cohurn, Jesse Williams, Ezekial Richardson, Joseph Richardson, David Blood, Andrew Barker, Moses B. Cohurn, Abraham Blood, Solomon Abbott, jun., Peter Coburn, Josiah Fox, Samuel Cummings, Jouas Varnum, Jobn Hamblet, Thadeus Hamblet, Jonathan Hamblet, Josiah W. Co- burn, Ezra Coburn, Thadeus Wilson, Joshua Marshall, William Wehster, Samuel Cohurn, Bradley Varnum, Johu Taylor, Stephen Kemp, Isaac Taylor, Timothy Brown, Simeon Williams, Joshua Hunt, Joseph Wilson, Jonathan Coburn, jun., James Haseltine and Leonard Thompson, with all those who shall join said society and hccome members thereof, and unite with them in the same place of worship within the said town of Dracut, with their several polls and estates, be, and they are hereby incorporated, by the name of The West Congregational Society in Dra- cut, with all the privileges, powers, and immunities which similar Soci- eties are entitled to by the laws of this Commonwealth.
"Sec. 2. Be it further enacted, That the said West Congregational Society. be, and they are hereby holden to pay into the Treasury of said town of Dracut, all taxes legally assessed upon the inhabitants thereof before the fourth day of June, instant, for the support of the minister, and shall be intitled to receive their ratahle proportion, according to their polls and estates, of all the monies due, and belonging to said town, or that may have been in the treasury thereofon the said fourth day of June, instant, which bas heretofore been appropriated to the sup- port of the minister ; and they shall specially appropriate their propor- tion of such money when received, to the support of a gospel minister within the said parish.
"Sec. 3. Be it further enacted, That the clerk of said society shall keep a fair record of the names of all persons who are members thereof, and when auy member of said society shall request a dismission there- from, and shall signify the same in writing to said Clerk, such Clerk shall make a record thereof, and such person shall thereupon he dismissed ac- cordingly, but shall be held to pay his proportion of such money as shall have been previously granted, by said Society, and shall be subject to taxation in the first parish or precinct in said town.
" Sec. 4. Be it further enacted, That all those who shall be hereafter desirous of becoming members of said Society being inhabitants of said town of Dracut and sball signify the same in writing to the clerk of the first parish or precinct in said town, thirty days at least previous to the annual meeting of the inhabitants of said first parish or precinct in said town in the montb of April, shall be considered in law as members of said Society ; And any person or persons who shall leave any other re- ligious Society in said town of Dracut and join the Society incorporated by this act, shall be holden to pay his proportion of such money as shall have been previously granted hy tbe Society which they shall leave as aforesaid.
"Sect. 5. Be it further enacted, That Ebenezer Bridge, Esq., be and be hereby is empowered and directed to issue his warrant to some princi- pal member of said Society, requiring and empowering bim to warn & meeting thereof at such time and place, as shall tberein be set forth, for the choice of said officers as may be chosen by parishes in the month of March or April annually and for the transacting of such otber husi- ness as may be legally transacted in such meetings.
"This act passed June 22d, 1797.
" Approved by the Governor.
" INCREASE SUMNER."
Central Church .- After the separation, and the es- tablishment of another society (at Pawtucket Falls), the Central Church as it was called-(that name hav- ing been applied on account of its locality at the sup-
296
HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
posed centre of the town, or on the "central line") was properly sustained for a number of years; but about the year 1830 it lost its name, its house of wor- ship, its church property and came ncar losing its identity.
From the best information we have been able to ob- tain, the story is briefly as follows :
In 1812 the Unitarian Controversy, as it was called, broke out among the Congregational Churches and continued for many years. It did not extend beyond New England, and was almost entirely confined to Massachusetts.
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