USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Needham > History of Needham, Massachusetts, 1711-1911 : including West Needham, now the town of Wellesley, to its separation from Needham in 1881, with some reference to its affairs to 1911 > Part 16
USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Wellesley > History of Needham, Massachusetts, 1711-1911 : including West Needham, now the town of Wellesley, to its separation from Needham in 1881, with some reference to its affairs to 1911 > Part 16
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THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM
used a part of the material from the meeting-house in build- ing a barn and some shops.
In a list of the names of contributors to the Massachusetts Society for promoting Christian Knowledge, printed in the appendix to the Rev. Daniel Dana's sermon, May 28, 1817, are the following :- Dea. H. Fuller, Mrs. C. Fuller, Miss Coolidge, Mrs. R. Noyes, all of Needham, and the Cent Society of Sherburne and the Cent Society of Needham, both of the societies contributing through the Rev. Mr. Noyes. Mrs. C. Fuller was doubtless Charlotte, wife of Dea. Heze- kiah, and Mrs. R. Noyes was Rebecca, wife of the Rev. Thomas Noyes.
TYTHINGMEN
In Needham the original and usual number of tythingmen was two, but occasionally three or four. In 1815 the town increased the number of tythingmen from two to ten, which seemed quite unnecessary, as these officers had then been without duties for many years. At the annual meeting March 4, 1816, a committee, consisting of Azariah Walker, Benjamin Slack, Esq., and David Mills, reported that "it is necessary to have Six Tithingmen", and they were ac- cordingly chosen, but in 1817 the number was again two. The tythingmen were not abolished in Needham till 1867, and Everett Johnson Eaton, John Kingsbury, Freeman Phillips and Richard Boynton, chosen at the annual meeting in 1866, were the last ones.
DIVISION OF THE TOWN INTO TWO PARISHES
On May 28, 1764, the town heard the petition of Dr. William Deming and others "Relating to Removing ye meet- ing Houfe in Said Needham: To the Centre of the Town", but rejected the proposition then and again the following March. In May, 1765, and March, 1768, the town refused to have a plan made "to find where the Center of the Town
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is", and on the latter date declared against "Seting of MI Jonathan Deming; and Some others to Natick":
On November 4, 1773, the town was opposed to division, but heard the petition of Mr. Deming and others, who asked for a committee of five :- two chosen by each party, and a chairman acceptable to both.
The town would not have such a committee, or build at the geographical centre, and on February 7, 1774, chose Josiah Newell, Esq., Lieut. Jonathan Day, Nathaniel Fisher, Timothy Newell and Josiah Eaton to answer a petition requesting the General Court "To State a place to Set the Meeting Houfe Upon in Said Town". Twice in 1774 motions to reconsider the vote locating the meeting- house were defeated, and on June 17 the town declined to accept the judgment of the General Court, but directed the selectmen to answer Mr. Deming and the others. On July 4th and IIth the town refused to reopen the question of the location, each time by a tie vote, viz., 44 to 44 and 43 to 43.
On October 3 the petitioners were denied exemption either from their share of the cost of the new meeting-house or of Mr. West's salary, but the same day the vote for a "Diftinct Precinct" and another meeting-house was carried, and a proposition that the meeting-house, already raised, "be Removed to Baker's field (So Called)" was rejected. Reconsideration of these votes was defeated the next March, but "Cron"" Nathaniel Fisher, Col. McIntosh, Amos Fuller, Dea. John Fisher, Henry Dewing and Josiah Eaton were chosen a committee to make "Propofels of Reconciliation to the Wefterly part of Said Town; Relating to the Meeting Houfe Lately Erected in Needham".
On March 30 this committee reported unanimously in favor of freeing from payments toward the new meeting- house that portion of the town that "Lyeth at a Greater Diftance weftwardly from the Meeting Houfe" than "that part of the Town that Lyeth Eaftwardly of the Meeting Houfe, where the meeting Houfe Now Stands". The report
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was not accepted, and at the earlier March meeting the town had declined to appoint a committee to settle the boundary between the parishes.
On April 8, 1776, the town directed its selectmen and John Slack, Capt. Robert Smith and Ebenezer Newell to answer the petition of the West, then before the General Court, and in June chose another committee to attempt a reconciliation, offering the West equal privileges in the meeting-house "without any Coft of Building Said Houfe".
The foregoing abstract of the action taken by the town in reference to its division into two parishes is sufficiently complete to give an idea of the attitude of the citizens. The petition of 1774, with some particulars attending its con- sideration, follow in this narrative.
On February 3, 1774, the petition of Jonathan Deming and others, inhabitants of the Westerly part of Needham, was before the General Court. They asked for a committee to decide where the meeting-house should be erected, or that there should be two parishes. They were ordered to serve notice on the Town of Needham to show cause on the 17th why the prayer of the petitioners should not be granted. On that day the Council dismissed the petition, but the House appointed a committee on the 24th to consider the matter, and this committee reported on May 28 that the meeting-house ought to be at "the second centre, about three quarters of a mile Northwest of the place where the old House stood", but did not think it best for the General Court to interfere. The petition was dismissed. General Court Records, Archives, Vol. 30, pp. 139 and 177.
On June 10, 1774, the petition for the division of the town into two parishes was before the General Court, and a notice was ordered for the 21st if the Court was then sitting, otherwise for the third Wednesday of the next Session.
The original Petition for the Division of the Town
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into Two Parishes is in the State Archives and reads as follows:
To His Excellency Thomas Gage Esq: Capt General and Governor in Chief in and Over His Majestys Province of Mafsachufetts Bay, The Honorable Council and Houfe of Reprefentatives, in General Court Afsembled the 26th Day of May. A.D. 1774.
The Memorial of the Subscribers Inhabitants of the West- wardly Part of the Town of Needham, Humbly Sheweth.
That your Memorialits have for a Number of years Past Attended the Publick Worship of God in the Meeting Houfe in sª Town Lately Confumed by Fire, which stood more than a Mile from the Centre of the Town, and have thereby been put to Extraordinary Cost and Difficulty, which has been a very great hardship, Especially to thofe Living Remote. Some being more than Four Miles Distant therefrom and others within the Limits more than Six Miles.
And whereas a Vote hath been Pafsed (by a Trifling Majority) at a Town Meeting, for Erecting a New Meeting Meeting Houfe where the Former Houfe stood, and they Perfist therein. Notwithstanding Repeated Applications hath been made for Erecting it at, or near, the Centre of the Town, and the Opinion of a Committee from this Hon- orable Court for the Same; under which Cruel hardship and Opprefsion, Your Memorialists must Remain Remedilefs without the Interpofition of this Honorable Court. They therefore most humbly Pray that the said Town of Needham may be Divided into Two Seperate Parishes in Such Man- ner & Form as to Your Excellency and Honors, in your great Wisdom, shall be thought most Convenient; and your most Humble Suppliants (as in Duty bound) shall Ever Pray.
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Stephen Hunting Mofes Bullard Eliphalet Kingsbery Josiah Upham
Sam! Kilton David Trull John Edes
Jonathan Smith Jun"
Joseph Haws Samuel Danils
Ephraim Stevens Robert Cunningham
David Smith Samuel Brown Jonathan Smith John Nefs Aaron Smith
Thomas Lescombe W. Fuller Peter Jenison Jefse Kingsbery Jeremiah Haws Lemuel Pratt
Jonathan Deming Same! Daggett Jacob Parker
Same! Hunting
Joseph Mudg
Daniel Hunting John Fuller John Fuller Jun wodow Sarah Edes
Lemuel Brackett
Samuel Pratt
Samel Brackett
Jonas Mills
Daniel gould
Isaac Mills
Samuel Greenwood
Amos Mills
Wedow Hanah Mackintier
Nathaniel Dewing
Jofiah Ware
Eleazer Kingsbery
Caleb Kingsbery
Same1 Mackentier Wedow Martha Dewing Thomas Broad Thoder Broad Ephraim Bullard Mofes Feltt
Read in the House June 3, and committed to Capt. Brown of Abington, Col. Whetcomb and Mr. Freeman of Harwich. Read in the Council June 8, and George Leonard and Jedediah Preble, Esqs., were joined to the committee of
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the House. On the 9th the Council ordered the petitioners to notify the Town of Needham for the third Wednesday of the next Session of the Court; concurred in by the House the Ioth. Archives, Vol. 14, pp. 725, 726.
Those desiring a new parish sought the attention of the General Court during the War of the Revolution, but were informed that the Court had other business, and their re- quest was not granted till April 28, 1778.
THE FIRST PARISH ORGANIZED
The First Parish in Needham was organized on November 9, 1778, with Colonel McIntosh as moderator. The officers corresponded to those of the Town, which the Parish super- seded in ecclesiastical matters. The Parish was assumed to be identical with East Needham. From 1778 to 1892 the parish committee consisted of three persons, with the ex- ception of 1831-5 (five years), when the number was five.1
Until 1834 all the real estate within the limits of a parish, wherever the owners lived, was taxable for Church purposes, subject to the laws of 1811 and 1823. These laws permitted persons to file with the town clerk certificates of connection with another religious body, and by this means have their ministerial tax paid to the minister of their choice. These certificates were duly recorded by the town clerk. After the division into two parishes the assessors of each had the same powers as to "Minister's Rates" that the town asses- sors had previously possessed, and a considerable number of the First Parish rate books and valuation lists are pre- served. In 1874 the time of the annual parish meeting was
1 Mr. Augustus Eaton was a member of the committee of the First Parish for 1857-74, 1880-9, inclusive (twenty-eight years), a length of service unequalled in its annals. Until 1892 Mrs. Diana Persis Washburn was the only woman ever elected on the parish committee. She was a member from December, 1875 to December, 1879. Dea. Otis Morton, Jr., was one of the parish committee for 1858-64, 1866-83 (twenty-five years), Dea. Isaac Shepard for 1783, 1788-90, 1794-1802, 1806, 1811-19 (twenty-three years), and Maj. Ebenezer McIntosh for 1 805, 1807, 1812-15, 1817-19, 1821-6, 1830-2 (eighteen years).
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changed from March to December, but is now in January. The First Church in Needham still (1911) has the dual organization of Church and Parish.
The Dedham Historical Register for 1891 contains an account of the Clerks and of the Treasurers of the First Parish, and this periodical for 1892 and 1893 has a summary of the Parish records to 1842. In the volume for 1892 there is also a list of the Deacons of the First Church, with brief biographical notices. All of these articles were con- tributed to the Register by George Kuhn Clarke.
The following are samples of some of the early votes passed by the First Parish :-
December 15, 1778. "The Hinds Seats in the body Voted by the Parish for the Negors to Set in"; 18th. "It was Voted by the Parish that no Hats Shall be hanged on the Gallery Pillows, The Gallery Seats from the East Alle to the front Voted by the Parish to the Singers".
The First Parish had to assume the debts incurred by the town in building the meeting-house. Adam Blackman, the builder, sued the parish, with the result that it was some years before his claims were settled, and that the parish was long in debt.
Neglect to swear the parish officers led to an Act of the General Court, January 20, 1790, legalizing the doings of the First Parish for a series of years.
Within a few years of the division it is probable that the people of both parishes realized that the support of two Churches was a burden, and the efforts for reunion, as revealed in the State Archives, indicate that such a plan was not unpopular.
On March 12, 1792, the town voted "to petition the general Court to Send a Committee to join Needham and Natick into two Towns more Convenient then they now are, So that two meeting housen may accomodate both towns", and on May 7 chose Aaron Smith, Jr., Capt.
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Josiah Newell and William Farris a committee to act with a committee appointed by Natick. The latter town selected Hezekiah Broad, Thomas Broad and Joshua Fisk, and the two committees petitioned under date of June 5.
In this document they refer to the irregular shape and the poverty of the two towns, the fact that people had a right to sign over to the First Parish, although living six or seven miles from its meeting-house. Moreover they said that Natick could not decide where to locate its meeting- house, and that the people of the West Precinct in Needham were unable to finish theirs. They express the hope of "restoring & establishing peace & enabling us to support the public worship of God in a decent manner", and allege that Needham was too poor ever to have had two parishes, and that Natick was involved in endless controversies about the meeting-house.
On June II, a committee was appointed by the General Court in answer to this application, but its signers were to bear the expense of viewing the territory they described. Even free entertainments at Bullard's tavern failed to secure a favorable report, and the petitioners had leave to with- draw. While this matter was pending the First Parish chose Colonel McIntosh and eight other leading members "to wait on the Committee Chosen by the General Court for the purpose of joining the Two Towns of Needham and Natick so as Two meeting houses would Accomodate both Towns".
At the same parish meeting, which was on August 23, 1792, a conciliatory vote was passed, looking to a reunion with the West Precinct, but under date of March 7, 1793, forty-five men and women of that precinct sent to the Gen- eral Court a bitter protest against the schemes to wipe out the "Second Parish". So far from exciting the sympathy of the Legislators, the petitioners were answered by a report that the West Parish "should be dissolved", and a change was proposed in the boundaries of the towns involved,
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similar to that actually effected in 1797. In this report the familiar bounds were referred to, viz., Damon's Brook, Sta- tion Tree, etc. According to the report, the ownership of the West Meeting-house was to be divided between the Town of Needham, and the individuals who were to be joined to Natick. The rest of the inhabitants of the West Precinct were to have equal rights in the East Meeting- house with those people of the East heretofore attending there.
Liberty was given to bring in a bill, which the Senate amended on March 12, dealing with the disposition of the unfinished meeting-house. Later the measure was killed, doubtless to the relief of the people opposed to the union, although in 1799 a petition was received at the State House from residents of the West Precinct desiring changes such as they had resisted in 1792 and 1793.
Senate files 1537, 1-3, 2523, and House files 3623, 3808, 3900.
At the April meeting in 1820, acting under article seven, the town chose by ballot Jonathan Ellis, Col. Chester Adams, Capt. Gay, Leonard Kingsbury, Capt. Lyon, Enoch Fisk, Esq., and George Fisher to report to the town in May as to a plan for uniting the town in one Society for public worship.
THE WEST PRECINCT
In 1774 money was subscribed by many persons to build a meeting-house in what is now Wellesley, and a Precinct was organized January 19, 1775, with Capt. Lemuel Pratt as moderator. It was legally organized July 6, 1778, with Capt. Eleazer Kingsbery presiding, and dissolved April 4, 1870, when Augustus Fuller was the moderator.
Its records are in fine condition, and there is much infor- mation as to the West Precinct in the excellent "History of the Wellesley Congregational Church", by Rev. Edward Herrick Chandler, 1898.
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Ministers and Church Matters
In the spring of 1709 the town of Dedham, in answer to a petition, had granted £8 to pay for preaching north of the river, and during the winter ending in 1711 Mr. Hale is said to have preached there, at the expense of the inhabitants. During the first eight years of the town of Needham the meetings in reference to building a house for worship and securing a minister were numerous, occupying more space in the records than other affairs. It is a considerable task to condense the facts, and yet include details that may be of interest. At the first meeting of the new town a subscrip- tion was taken to secure preaching for four months, and at the next, December 11, 17II, Sergeant John Fisher, John Smith, Sr., Jonathan Gay and Joseph Daniell were chosen to engage a minister, the Rev. Josiah Oaks, A.M. (Harvard 1708), then acting as their pastor, to be their first choice. On March 10, 1711/12, the selectmen were to agree with him to remain with them "if we can atain the Houfe of Robert Fuler to meete in upon ye Lords Dayes for a year". This house is one of the oldest in town, and is now owned by Charles H. Snow, having been for many years the summer home of Miss Annie M. Clarke, the well-known leading lady at the Boston Museum.
On June 12, 1712, as Mr. Oaks declined to stay, the town voted a rate of £25 to pay for preaching, including what was due Ensign Robert Cook, Benjamin Mills, Jr., and Thomas Metcalf for entertaining Mr. Oaks, and also voted to engage Mr. Deming for three months. The latter's Christian name does not appear in our records, but he was
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THE HISTORY OF NEEDHAM
presumably identical with David Deming, A.M. (Harvard 1700), later the minister in Medfield.
On August 12 the town offered Mr. Deming £50 and his wood to preach for a year with a view to settlement, and Lieut. Fisher, Benjamin Mills, Sr., John Smith, Sr., Robert Cook and Richard Moore were to negotiate with him. On October 29 the town voted to pay Robert Fuller twelve pence per week for the use by Mr. Deming of a portion of his house and barn, with the condition that in case Mr. Fuller wanted his little room in the spring he should pro- vide Mr. Deming with another study.
In March Mr. Deming with his horse and cow, which had been kept at the town's expense, left Mr. Fuller's, and on March 16, 1712/3, the town by forty votes formally gave him a call. This action was perhaps the result of the appoint- ment at the annual town meeting, on March 2, of a committee of four to advise with the Reverend Elders with regard. to Mr. Deming. A salary of £60 and wood was offered him, together with a settlement of £60, which was to be paid before December 1, 1713. On May II Lieut. Fisher, Ensign Cook and Eleazer Kingsbery were chosen collectors of Mr. Deming's salary, and by direction of the selectmen, December 29, Fisher was to pay £9, 6s. direct to Mr. Deming, Cook was to pay £8, 13s., 3d., and Kingsbery £6, 5s., 3d. to the selectmen, but Constable Mills com- pleted the collection. Mr. Deming declined after long negotiation.
Of the numerous committees chosen from 1713 to 1720 to supply the pulpit and to seek advice of the "Reverend Elders", only a few will be mentioned. There were no less than twenty-one other committees, usually consisting of three men, but occasionally of more, and Ensign Cook, later a captain, served on nine of these committees, Benjamin Mills, Sr., on eight, Lieut. John Fisher, later a captain, and Timothy Kingsbery on seven each, Sergeant Joseph Daniell, Jeremiah Woodcock, John Smith, Sr., and Ebenezer Ware
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on six each. Some of these committees were important, even when their efforts were fruitless, and the men serving on them were leaders in the community.
A minority was opposed to Mr. Deming, and a Council of Elders met in Needham the second Wednesday of Septem- ber, 1714, to adjust the difficulties. Messrs. Robert Breck, A.M., of Marlborough, Joseph Belcher, A.M., of Dedham, Peter Thacher, A.M., of Milton, and John Swift, A.M., of Framingham were invited by the town, and Mr. Deming was to select others, but perhaps did not, as he left town soon after, and on April 20, 1717, receipted in full for services in Needham. The people seem to have been discouraged as to obtaining a minister, and on November 16, 1714, they appointed a committee to consult the noted Doctors of Divinity Increase and Cotton Mather, the Rev. Ebenezer Pemberton, A.M., of the Old South Church in Boston, and Messrs. Belcher, Thacher and John Danforth, A.M., the latter of Dorchester. With the three last named they con- ferred at other times. In December £30 were voted to pay for preaching, and at the annual meeting, March, 1714/15, after listening to the written advice of the three ministers last mentioned, the town voted to hear three candidates sug- gested by them. Lieutenant Cook, Sergeant Daniell, Joseph Boyden, Samuel Parker, George Robinson, Joseph Mills and James Kingsbery were at this time the committee to find a minister. April 13, 1715, was appointed a day for fasting and prayer, and Benjamin Mills and John Smith were to secure the assistance of the "Elders". The selection of a day to especially invoke the Divine help in securing a minister was customary in later times in Needham.
On April 19, 1715, the town considered the names of four possible candidates, and the choice was between the Rev. Samuel Terry, A.M. (Harvard 1710), and the Rev. Mr. Crag- head. Mr. Terry won both on a ballot and by a hand vote, but declined the call, although there was a liberal
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subscription 1 toward his settlement, which was to be £80. Capt. Fisher, Lieut. Cook, Benjamin Mills, Jr., and Joseph Boyden were chosen to negotiate with the "worthy mr Terry". On August 23 the town called Mr. Craghead, but without result. On June 6, 1716, the town considered the names of Messrs. Perkins, Allen, Clark and Crocker, but did nothing further than to appoint a committee to consult with the Rev. Mr. Belcher of Dedham, the Rev. Mr. Baxter of Medfield and the Rev. John Cotton, A.M., of Newton.
In November, 1716, £50 were voted to "Soport & uphould the worshipt of god", and Benjamin Mills, Jr., and Ebenezer Ware were to ask the Fellows of Harvard College to furnish them with a minister for four months. In December an attempt was made to obtain the services of Mr. Walter, but with what success does not appear.
In January, 1718, a rate of £25 was voted to pay ministers and for their entertainment, but probably there were many Sundays at this period when no one officiated. On April 15 the town met to hear the negative answer of Mr. Spear, and appropriated £60 for preaching. In November the select- men, who acted as a committee to supply the pulpit when there was no special committee, agreed to go to the college for a minister.
Early in 1718/19 Josiah Kingsbery and John Fisher, Jr., were paid for keeping ministers over Sunday, which indi- cates that they had as good houses and lived as comfortably as any. On July 22, 1718, the town called Mr. Elmer, probably Daniel Elmer, A.M. (Yale 1713), and sent a committee to consult Messrs. Belcher, Tweft, Breck and Lovering. The call to Mr. Elmer was repeated August 13, a salary of £70 with the use of the Ministerial land and his firewood was offered him, together with a settlement of £100, but in vain, although a committee was named to get
1 This subscription list is at the end of the first volume of town records, and was chiefly of money, but Thomas Fuller, Sr., Benjamin Mills, Jr., and Israel Mills gave "in Sawing," Zachariah Mills "in Smith work," Hezekiah Broad "in board," Robert Fuller "in Labor or timber" and Josiah Newell in work.
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the Rev. Dr. Mather and Mr. Wallsworth to hear their differences. On May 13, 1719, £54 were voted for preaching, and Wednesday, June IO, was set apart for fasting and prayer. Messrs. Belcher, Baxter and Cotton were requested to assist on the fast day, and three of the first citizens were a committee for "setin these elders".
On July I the town voted to meet on the 29th, and to have present as advisers Messrs. Belcher, Baxter, William Williams, A.M., the latter of Weston, and Cotton, and to call a minister, which they did in the person of Nathaniel Prentice, A.M. (Harvard 1715). Mr. Prentice gave a nega- tive answer to the committee, which consisted of Captain Fisher, Lieutenant Cook and Timothy Kingsbery.
On March II, 1719/20 (which date, like many others, is written new style, although the books appear to be ancient), the town treasurer had made payments to the following ministers, viz., Prentice, Messenger, Wigglesworth, Thomas Robe, Townsend, Foxcroft, Baass, Cook, Sparrowhawk, Seaver and Pierepont, and to Lieut. Cook, Nathaniel Harris, John Fisher, Jr., Thomas Metcalf and Josiah Kingsbery for "Keping" them. On December 4, 1719, the town asked the help of Messrs. Belcher, Baxter, Cotton and Allen, and appointed Captain Fisher, "Sargeant" Thomas Fuller and Josiah Newell to secure the attendance of these Elders at IO o'clock on the morning of Tuesday, December 29, at which time the town unanimously called the Rev. Jonathan Townsend, A.M., offering him £80 per year for his salary and a settlement of fioo. Capt. Fisher, Lieut. Cook and Jeremiah Woodcock were to arrange with Mr. Townsend, who accepted January 25, 1719/20.
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