History of Middlesex County, Massachusetts, with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. III, Part 68

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton) ed
Publication date: 1890
Publisher: Philadelphia, J. W. Lewis & co
Number of Pages: 1278

USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > History of Middlesex County, Massachusetts, with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. III > Part 68

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" We (whose names are under written) sensibly acknowledging our unworthiness of such a favour & uofituess for such a Business, yet ap- prehending ourselves to be Called of God to put ourselves into a way of Chh Communion and seek the Settlement of all the Gospel Institutions amongst us; do therefore io order thereunto, & for the better promoting thereof, as much as iu us lies, kuowiog how prune we are to Backslide, sbjuriog all Confidence in ourselves, and relying on the Lord Jesus Christ, slove for help, so Covenant as follows-Imprimis. As to the Confession of faith put forth by the Last Syood of Churches, held io Boston, io New England, wee do heartily close with it, so far as we are or may be acquainted with it and find it agreable to the holy Scriptures, and promise to stand hy, maintain & if need be Couteod for the faith therein delivered to the people of God, and if any amoug ns go about to uudermine it, we will bear Due Testimony against them.

" Wee-Alao combine together to walk as a particular Cab of Christ according to all these holy rules of the Gospel, prescribed to euch a Society, 80 far as God has revealed, or shall reveal his miod to us, io that respect.

19-iii

" Wee-do accordingly recognize the Covenant of Grace, in which we professedly acknowledge ourselves devoted to the fear and service of the one true God, our Supreme Lord, and to the Lord Jesus Christ, the High Priest, prophet & King of his Cub unto whose Conduct we Submit ourselves, & upon wbom alone we wait & hope for Grace & Glory, to whom we bind ourselves iu an Everlasting Covent oever to be Broken.

" Wee-Likewise give up ourselves, ove unto another io the Lord, resolving by his Help to cleave Each to other, as fellow-members of one Body, in Brotherly love, and holy watchfulness over each other for mutual Edification & to subject ourselves to all the holy administrations appointed by him who is head of the Church, dispensed according to the rules of the Gospel, & to give our Constant attendance on all the publick ordinances of Christian Institutions, walking orderly as be- cometh Saiuts.

" Wee-do likewise acknowledge our posterity to be included with us in the Gospel Covenant, & Blessing God for ao rich & favour, do proorise to bring them up in the ourture and Admonition of the Lord, with gratest Care, and to acknowledge them in their Covenant relation ac- cording to the Gospel Rules.

"Furthermore. Wee-promise to be Careful to the utmost to provide the Settlement & Continuance among us, of the Offices and Officers ap- pointed by Christ, the chief Shepherd, for the Edification of the Church & accordingly to do our duty faithfully for their maintenance & eu- courageuient, & to Carry towards them as becomes us.

"Finally. Wee-do promise and acknowledge to preserve Commun- ioo with the faithful Churches of Christ, for the giving and receiving of mutual Counsel and assistance in all Cases wherein it shall be need- ful.

Now the Good Lord be mercifull to 118, and as he has put it into our hearts, thus to Devote ourselves to him, Let him pity and pardon our frailties and humble us for our Carnal Confidence and Keep it forever upon our hearts to be faithfull to himself & one to auother for hie praise & our eteraal Comfort, for Christ Jesus' Sake, to whom be glory for Ever. Ameo.

Daniel Kittridg

John Pattio

Nathan Shed

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Joseph | Kittrige mark

Thomas Clark hle

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Isaac + Kittrige

John Kittrige mark

James Kittredg his

Thomas V Marshal mark .

Jacob - Corey mark Joseph + Frost

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Edmund Frost

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William Kittredg bis

Joseph | Kidder

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Jacob + Kittridge mark

Thomas + Kittridge mark

Joho + Shed mark

Ephraim Kidder Juner his

Joseph + Grimes

Zachariah z Hardy mark

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John Chapman hig

Abraham Stickne his

Aodrew | Richardson

Ephraim k Kidder

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Daniel Shed

Francis Kittrødg

Nathan Hall

Joseph Caily

Jobo Twise

Among the signers of this covenant were most of the fathers of the town. Mr. Spaulding then gives a record of his call and ordination. It is brief enough to copy entire : "Sampson Spaulding, of Chelmsford, was unanimously chosen by the people of Tewksbury the 17th day of January, anno: Dom : 1736-7, . . . and Ordained the 23 day of November, 1737,-the Revª Elders that assisted in his ordination were Mr. John Hancock, of Lexington, & his son, Ebenezer ; Mr. Sampson Stoddard, of Chelmsford; Mr. Samuel Ruggles, of Billerica; Mr. Thomas Parker, of Dra-

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Stephen Osgood bis

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HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

cut ; and Mr. Nicholas Bowes, of Bedford. Mr. Par- ker opened the solemnity by prayer. Mr. Ruggles preached the sermon from 2 Cor. xii. 14: For I seek not yours, but you. MIr. Hancock gave the charge, and Mr. Stoddard the hand of fellowship." Atter this record of hisordination follows this entry on the church book : " The Chh. met again the 29th Day of Jan'y, anno Dom. 1741-2, & made choice of Joseph Kittredge as a Deacon, to officiate in said Chh., and voted that one shilling should be added per member for a year, to what was first voted, viz: y& every member pay 3%. per year in order to provide for the L'd- Table, i.e., 18. 6d. at a Contribution every hall year, & y' each one write his name upon the money given."

Shortly after his establishment among them, Mr. Spaulding married Miss Mchitabel Hunt, of the fam- ily so well known in the northwest part of the town.

Thus was started on his long and successful career the first pastor in Tewksbury. For sixty years, in peace and war, in prosperity and adversity, he was with the town in all its varied fortunes, when there was one flock and one shepherd. The ancient church-book is the chief memorial preserved of him -an invaluably precious record of the doings of the church, the baptisms he administered, the marriages he performed and the funerals at which he officiated during those three-score years.

The baptisms during Mr. Spaulding's ministry were 700 ; admissions to the church, 248; deaths, 693-as recorded by himself from the time of his settlement till shortly before his death. The last record is, "Old madam Bordman Dyd Nov. 24, 1793, etat 80. Short sickness." It is interesting and pathetic to trace be- tween the lines his own life in the baptisms and deaths of his children-as, "Our child, Mehitabel, aged 24 years and 6 days ; " and " My daughter Me- hitabel's Benje, Dyed April 28, 1779. Mortification." And we follow his work in the long record from the time when, in the vigor of youth, the handwriting was somewhat stitl', till afterward, growing more due- tile with years, it becomes stiff' again and unsteady with age. At last, in the letters, the dim eye and trem- bling nerves become evident, and finally the pen drops from the hand of the aged servant of tod. Then, following his last record of a death, comes, in a ditfer- ent handwriting, most probably his widow's, this in- sertion : " The Rev. Sampson Spaulding Died Dec. ve 15th, 1796," just a month and two days short of sixty years from the time he was "the choice of the Town to be their minister."

"Tradition rays of Mr Spaulding that when in advanced years he was posessed of a venerable form and communding stature, wearing a white wig and currying a long staff, and that with a weak and trem- ulong voice he spoke nuto his people the words of eternal truth.' -Quoted from " Tewksbury," by Mr. 1 .. Huntress And Mr J. C. Kittredge in Drake's Middlesex County."

By 1792 Mr. Spaulding had evidently beceme so in- capacitated that the pulpit must be supplied, for in a town-meeting January of that year, it was voted to "hire preaching," a phrase often appearing on the records, and to raise £30 to pay for preaching that year. A committee of seven was chosen to treat with Mr. Spaulding, whose conference with him had a highly satisfactory result.

This was embodied April 2, 1792, in the following vote: " to give the Revd. Sampson Spaulding during his natural life yearly as shall be in proportion to thirty pouuds in case he will resign up so much of his charge as will not be a hindranee to the town set- tling another gentleman in the ministry if the town shall think proper." A committee was chosen to wait upon Mr. Spaulding and reported " that the Rev. Mr. Spaulding acknowledged himself fully satisfied and contented with the vote of the town."

. A month or so, later the church appointed a fast to look to God for direction in choosing his colleague, and at the March meeting the town voted to concur with the church. More formal action was taken the May following in the decision to have a day of fasting and prayer in concurrence with the vote of the church and also in respect to the reverend gentlemen to be sent for to attend the fast. It was also voted that the day be the 17th of this instant and that "the select- men should see that there be entertainment for the Reverend gentlemen that shall come to attend the fast."

A committee was also appointed to estimate what the minister's settlement and salary should be that shall be settled in this town. June 5th the town eon- curred with the church in giving Mr. Titus Theodore Barton a call for their minister, and offered him £150 for his settlement, to he paid one-half nine months after his ordination, the remainder in fifteen months, and a salary of £90 and twenty cords of wood at his door, yearly " so long as he shall be our minister."

Mr. Barton having accepted the call, preparations extensive and imposing compared with these days were made to ordain him. Large committees were appointed to provide " place and entertainment for the council that shall come," " to prop up the galleries in the meeting-house and make it secure against the day of ordination," and "find materials and make a 'scarfill' out before the meeting-house for the min- isters to be on to ordain Mr. Barton, if it should be done out of doors" " to provide for the Council and see that there he good order kept on the Day of ordi- nation or appoint some persons to see it Done," and also " to provide for other ministers, candidates and scollars that shall come to the ordination."

Less than a year later Mr. Barton received the thanks of the town for giving up £10 yearly of his salary and ten cords of wood. Probably in voting £90 instead of €80, as first granted, there was a little strain upon the town's ability.

The next matter on the records which pertains to

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the church is in 1798, when at the May meeting the town decided "to introduce the Bass Viol into the meeting-house on the Sabbath Day and other days of Publie Worship." The same year witnessed the build- ing and sale by auction of four new pews. These were sold to David Rogers, William Brown, Jr., Na- thaniel Hardy and Johu Spaulding, for $81, $79.50, $59 and $52 75, respectively.

Mr. Barton ended his labors with the church May 19, 1803, and on the 30th instant the town voted again to hire preaching. September 5, 1804, they are found voting "to appoint a day of fasting and prayer to look up to God for his direction in the choice of a minister to settle with them." They had a " Town's Commit- tee " and a church's committee to make the necessary arrangements. It was not, however, till 1806 that their choice was directed, when, in the March meeting, it fell upon Mr. Jacob Coggin, a name made honora- ble in the town by himself and son. At that meeting it was voted to hear Mr. Coggin longer in order to give him a call. A month later the town confirmed this vote in a full meeting, and in three weeks after concurred with the church in giving him a call to settle with them in the work of the Gospel ministry. The town " more fully coneurred" with this call July 10, 1806. Mr. Coggin was granted $600 for his settle- ment and for years received a salary of $520 and six- teen cords of wood. The story of the preparations for the solemnity of his ordination is almost a verbal repetition of what took place when Mr. Barton was ordained.

Previous to the calling of the next pastor the church revised its Confession. The following is an account of this interesting action :

At a meeting of the church September 25, 1804, which is recorded by Lt. William Simonds: "The Covenant entered into when they were first form'd into a Church state, and the heads of the confession of faith agreed upon by the Sinod of Boston, May 12, 1680, and solemnly adopt'd by this church when it was first gathered, as far as they were or might be acquainted with it, and should find it agreeable to the holy scriptures, were distinctly read : the Cove- nant and confession of Faith lately us'd were also distinctly read. After considerable conversation upon this business this question was put : Will the church ahide by that Covenant on which this Church was first gather'd ? It passed in the affirmative."

It was then voted to request " Mr. French, of An- dover, Dr. Cummings, of Billerica, and Mr. Stearns, of Bedford," to " form a more concise Confession of Faith and covenant and lay them before the Church for their acceptance or rejection."

After several meetings, which were adjourned be- cause the committee was not ready to report, we find that " Oct. 15, 1804, The Church again met agreeable to notification at 2 0'e P.M.," at which the Confession of Faith and Covenant recommended by the commit- tee were adopted. The following is the Confession :

"You (aud each of you) professedly believe there is one God, the Fa- ther, Son and Holy Ghost -- that the scriptures of the Old and New Tes- tamente are the word of God, written by the Prophets and Apostles by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. You believe in the fall of mao, and the depravity of human nature ; the necessity uf being born again in order to be fitted for the kingdom of heaven ; aud that this change is ordinarily affect'd by the Spirit of God through the instrumentality of the word and means of grace. You believe in the remission of Rin through the sacrifice and atonement of Christ, and that he hath ap- pointed two special ordinances to be observed by every true believer, viz., baptism and the supper of the Lords and that the qualifications for these ordinances are repentauce toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ. You also believe the future existence of the soul, the resurrection of the body and a day of future Judgment, in which every one will receive a reward according to his works, do you (and each of you) profess to believe this?"

About 1814 the tithingmen seem to have become lax, for the town declared it to be its desire that they do their duty and appointed a committee of ten to aid them.

It was finally voted, April 16, 1818, to build a new meeting-house. A committee of seven was chosen, Que from each school district, to view a spot for the meeting-house and report. A year later a new com- mittee was chosen for the same purpose, and in Sep- tember, 1821, another "to get the town measured for the purpose of fixing ou a spot to sett a meeting-house ou." Various committees for similar purposes ap- pear. In the meeting May 16th it was voted " to sett the meeting-house to the south end of the old one, provided the town can purchase the land. This ap- pears to have been done, the land being purchased of Deacon John Spaulding for $175. September 16th the plans, with some exceptions, were accepted and a vote passed to build the meeting-house in one year. A committee of five were chosen, consisting of Josiah Brown, Joseph Brown, Jr., Jesse Trull, Wm. Rogers, Capt. Dudley Marsten, to do the work, which, after the usual delays and experiences, was successfully completed, and the building was dedicated at two P.M. July 6, 1824, almost ninety years after the dedication of the first one. It was a red-letter day. A committee of fifteen, made up from the men most prominent in town, was appointed on arrangements. Samuel Worcester, Esq., was " Martial of said day."

The pews were auctioned off July 7th, except one on each side, and one to be selected by the selling committee and Mr. Coggin " for the minister's pew," and it was voted to sell in the same order as in the former house, if they will pay, and also with pews to give rights to build horse-sheds." It was a very suc- cessful sale, realizing $5399 deducting from which the cost of the new church, $4590.31, the handsome balance of $808.69 was left. This was devoted to the purchase of a new bell, which, not proving satisfac- tory, was exchanged for the one now in use, which weighs 1850 pounds.

The town passed at the March meeting, 1825, a unani- mous vote of thanks to their committee and another to Mr. Jesse Trull for the present of a clock. The report of the committee-a model in its way-was accepted and ordered to be recorded with the vote of thanks.

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HISTORY OF MIDDLESEX COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

Little relating to the church appears after this upon the records, except the annual vote of the min- ister's salary. Even this disappears after April, 1834, for the town accepted, November 11, 1833, the amendment to the Bill of Rights, which severed the tie hitherto existing between the church and the town. Tithingmen, however, continued to be elect- ed annually till it was voted to dispense with choos- ing them.

This account may fittingly close with a few notes on matters connected with the church.

It was not till 1737 that liberty was granted "for individuals to warm the mecting-house." It appears to have been an appreciated effort, for next year pay was voted for pews to make room for stoves for that purpose. We can hardly conceive of any use for the pews without the stoves.

The time between the services was so brief that the people had no opportunity of going home. Groups would elub together and build and warm small houses called Sabba-day houses. There a pleasant season was spent in eating lunch, exchanging the news, and also discussing the sermon. A descendant of one of the oldest families in Tewksbury, Miss Elizabeth Rogers, writing to a friend, thus speaks of them from memory: " In those times there was no fire in the church and intermission was short, not sufficient time to go home so far, as the old house was opposite that of Mr. Davil Rogers, Therefore his great-grand- father built him what was called a Sabba-day house on his own land, where they could go and warm by a fire, and in the oven was their dinner. Others were often invited with the family. Some think lightly of those houses, but I have a great reverence and respect for them. The cellar-hole is on my land in Tewks- bury, although fires have several times burnt around and in it. There has an oak-tree come up years ago, and lives through it all. Probably there the sermon and services were discussed, and I have no doubt that good arose from that place."

The first deacons were Lieutenant Daniel Kittredge and Mr. Nathan Shed, chosen January 10, 1737-men prominent in town affairs during their entire lives. Mr. Kittredge was the first moderator and the first selectman of the town, and served the community in these and other positions till incapacitated by ill health and age. Interesting in this connection is one briefentry on the town records, March 9, 1739: " Dea- com Kittredge, not being able to attend the meeting to act as moderator, the town then proceeded to choose a new moderator, namely, Captain Peter Hunt." Af- freting is this brief entry in the record of deaths by the pastor, too soon for town and church: " No. 37, 1 Deran Daniel Kittredge Died Mar. 8, 1742," less than eight years from the incorporation of the town. A worthy colleague in the deaconship and other trusts, although less prominent, was Nathan Shed, the town treasurer for the first six years of the town's existence. te ched December 31 1773.

Their resting-places are in the cemetery at the Centre.

The following is a list of the pastors of the Congre- gational Church of Tewksbury :

PASTORS.

Rev. Sampson Spaulding, a native of Chelmsford, and a graduate of Harvard College, 1732, was ordained November 23, 1737, and died Ile- cember 15, 1796.

Rev. Titus Theodore Barton, a graduate of Dartmouth College, 1790, was ordained as colleague with Rev. Mr. Spaulding, October 11, 1792. Dismissed May 19, 1803.

Rev. Jacob Coggiu, a native of Woburn, and a graduate of Harvard College, 1803, was ordained October 22, 18 6, and died December 12, 1854.

Rev. Samnel Lamson's ministry began 1844, and continued during two periods of nearly two years each, his ministry ending in 1851.

Rev. Moses Kimball, a native of Hopkinton, N. H., and a graduate of Dartmouth College, 1826, was installed colleague pastor !with Rev. Mr. Coggin, February 24, 1847. Dismissed May 15, 1843.

Rev. Richard Tolman, a native of Dorchester, and graduate of Am- herst College, 1839, Was installed colleague with Rev. Mr. Coggin, Aug. 25, 1852. Dismissed July 11, 1870.

Rev. Samuel F. French. Ministry began November I, 1871. Dismissed October 25, 1882.

Rev. Frank If. Kasson. Ministry began September 2, 1883. Dismiss- ed June 23, 1886.

Rev. James Alexander. Ministry hegan December 12, 1887.

DEACONS.

Daniel Kittredge, chosen Jan. 10, 1738; Nathan Shed, chosen Jan. 10, 1738; Joseph Kittredge, chosen Jan. 29, 1742; Abraham Stickney, chosen Oct. 11, 1759 ; Isaac Kittredge, choseu Oct. 11, 1759; Jacob Sbed, chosen May 31, 1774; Eldad Worcester, chosen March 19, 1776; Ezra Kendal, chosen April 7, 1779; Thomas Clark, chosen April 31, 1807 ; John Spaulding, chosen June 27, 1811 ; Joseph Brown, chosen July 10, 1821 ; Oliver Clark, chosen Aug., 1826 ; John Jacques, chosen May 4, 1832; Job Kittredge, chosen May 4, 1832; James Bailey, chosen May +, 1832; Abel Marshall, chosen Oct. 28, 1853 ; Zephauiah P. Foster, chosen Dec. 23, 1866 ; John F. Spaulding, chosen Dec. 23, 1866 ; George Pills- bury, chosen Sept. 22, 1867; Enoch Foster, chosen Jau. 11, 1885.

This was the only church in town till 1843. In that year the First Baptist Church was formed. In the late winter and early spring of the previous year, 1842, Lowell enjoyed a large revival of religion under the celebrated evangelist, Elder Jacob Knapp. Many came into the city from the neighboring towns. Among these were a large number from Tewksbury. Of this number Mr. Jesse Trull, the father of five sons and two daughters, was converted, with his en- tire family, including two of his sons' wives. Most of these converts became adherents of the Baptist de- nomination. They joined the First Baptist Church in Lowell. Soon it was deemed best to form a Baptist Society in Tewksbury. This society was legally formed March 18, 1843, in the Town Hall, where the congregation worshipped, and after a very brief ex- istence at the d'entre -- where there was no room for another-this church was judiciously removed to North Tewksbury, where it now stands on a com- manding eminence in the most beautiful part of the town. Soon after the organization of the society, means were taken to ereet a meeting-house. This was accomplished after much effort and self-sacrifice, and dedicated in August, 1843.

Since about the year 1830 there had lived in North Tewksbury three families-Mr. Jefferson Farmer's, Mr. Stephen Puffer's and Mr. Ebenezer Wood's-that

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attended the First Baptist Church, Lowell. For years their prayers had been that a church of their order might stand upon the spot where, in the Providence of God, the First Baptist Church of Tewksbury now stands. They saw the answer to their petitions when, on September 6, 1843, this church was organized by sixty-eight constituent members, sixty of whom came from the First Baptist Church, Lowell.

In 1846 a lot was purchased and a parsonage erected, which in 1886 was enlarged by an additional story, and put in handsome order.

In 1887 extensive repairs were made upon the meeting-house. Assisted by the gift of $1500 from Miss Sarah C. Wood, of Philadelphia, a former par- ishioner, the building was entirely remodeled at an expense of about $4000, and now is not often sur- passed as a country church in beauty and conven- ience.

The present membership is 123. The congregation includes a number of families from West Andover.

PASTORS.

Rev. Joseph M. Graves, 1843-45 ; Rev. David Burroughs, 1845-49 ; Rev. Lorenzo Tandy, 1850-51; Rev. Jobin E. Wood, 1853-55 ; Rev. Clif- tou Fletcher,,1856-69 ; Rev. Albert de F. Palmer, 1869-72; Rev. Eugene E. Thomas, 1873-76 ; Rev. George F. Raymond, 1876-78 ; Rev. Edward W. Pride, 1879 -.

DEACONS.

Nathaniel Trull, 1843-84; Abijah Upham, 1843-57; Lewis Fiske, 1844-78 ; Thomas Bridge, 1875-82; Peter C. Shedd, 1884-86; Jesse N. Trull, 1884 -; A. Monroe Kendall, 1886 -.

CHAPTER XXVI.

TEWKSBURY-(Continued).

THIE FRENCH AND INDIAN WAR-THE REVOLU- TION.

THE town certainly shows, for a small community, an extremely good record during those struggles for the supremacy of race on this continent. This can be gathered from the meagre records of an official character. The following extract from the papers preserved in the State-House, Boston, gives the men who took part in several of the expeditions against the French in Canada. Probably other items would reward the search of the more leisurely historian :

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History of Middlesex County, Massachusetts, with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. III, Part 68

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton) ed Publication date: 1890 Publisher: Philadelphia, J. W. Lewis & co Number of Pages: 1278

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton) ed
Publication date: 1890
Publisher: Philadelphia, J. W. Lewis & co
Number of Pages: 1278