USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Newbury > History of Newbury, Mass., 1635-1902 > Part 28
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t Newbury (First Parish Church) Records.
344
HISTORY OF NEWBURY
Rev. John Tucker died March 22, 1792, in the seventy- third year of his age. For several years after that date the church remained without a pastor, although an effort was made to secure the services of Rev. Samuel Mead in 1793 and of Rev. Phineas Randall in 1795 ; but both gentlemen declined the call extended to them. On the twenty-eighth day of January, 1796, Rev. Abraham Moor was invited to take charge of the parish. He accepted the invitation, and was ordained on the twenty-third day of March following .* Theological differences had not then separated churches that were strictly orthodox from those holding a more liberal faith ; and Rev. Thomas Cary and Rev. John Andrews, pastor and assistant pastor of the First Religious society of Newbury- port, although not believers in the Calvinistic creed, were among the clergymen invited to attend and participate in the ordination exercises. -
Rev. Mr. Moor was not at that time strong and vigorous, and soon after was taken seriously ill. He died of pulmonary consumption June 24, 1801. Rev. Nathaniel Noyes supplied the pulpit until the spring of 1804; and Rev. John Snelling Popkin, of Boston, was installed pastor of the church on the nineteenth day of September following .; In the exercises on that occasion, Rev. John Andrews, of Newburyport, gave the right hand of fellowship.
November 9, 1805, the parish voted to build a new meeting- house; and May 4, 1806, Rev. Mr. Popkin preached for the last time in the old one before it was taken down.# The frame of the new building was raised June 17, 1806. It was sixty-one feet long and fifty-one feet wide. It was completed and dedicated with appropriate exercises September 17, 1806.
During the pastorate of Rev. Mr. Popkin the church was united and prosperous. On the twenty-seventh day of Sep- tember, 1815, having been invited to accept a professorship in Harvard College, he asked to be released from his pastoral
* Rev. Abraham Moor, the son of Deacon John and Mary (Cochrane) Moor, was born in Londonderry (in that part of the town now Derry), N.H., September 8, 1768.
t Rev. Mr. Popkin was ordained in Boston in 1799. Previous to his settlement in New- bury, he officiated for several years ar Wenham, Mass., and at Londonderry, N.H.
# From the sermons preached May fourth and September seventeenth, 1806, by Rev. Mr. Popkin, many facts incorporated in this sketch have been taken.
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duties. On the fifth day of October following, a council was called, at which the First Religious society of Newburyport was represented by Rev. John Andrews.
After long deliberation the council, with great unanimity, voted to advise Rev. Mr. Popkin to accept the professorship and take up the important work to which he had been called, but at the same time earnestly exhorted him to retain his office as pastor of the church at Newbury. Yielding to the advice of the council and the solicitation of friends, he re- mained in charge of the parish until September 3, 1816, when he tendered his resignation, which was duly accepted .*
Meanwhile the parish and church united in extending an invitation to Rev. Leonard Withington to become their pastor. He was unwilling to accept the position unless some changes were made in the church covenant and in the ordi- nances relating to the baptism of children whose parents were not in full communion with the church .* These changes were agreed to; and October 16, 1816, at the suggestion of Rev. Mr. Withington, a committee was appointed to confer with the members of the First Presbyterian church in New- buryport in regard to the animosities and misunderstandings that had resulted from the organization of that church in 1745. A reconciliation was effected, past differences "were buried in oblivion," and October 31, 1816, Rev. Leonard Withington was ordained pastor of the First church in New- bury. Rev. Daniel Dana, pastor of the First Presbyterian church, and Rev. John Andrews, pastor of the First Relig- ious society of Newburyport, were among the ministers in- vited to assist in the ordination exercises .*
For more than forty years Rev. Mr. Withington served the parish as preacher and pastor with great acceptance and ability. He resigned the active duties of that office October 31, 1859, but remained senior pastor of the church until his death, April 26, 1885.
January 20, 1859, Rev. John R. Thurston was ordained assistant pastor. January 26, 1868, the meeting-house, built in 1806, was destroyed by fire. A new house of wor-
* Newbury (First Parish Church) Records.
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HISTORY OF NEWBURY
ship was erected on the opposite side of the street, and dedi- cated on the fourth day of March, 1869. The land upon which the old house stood now forms a part of the burying- ground near "the trayneing green."
Rev. Mr. Thurston resigned his office as assistant pastor, and was dismissed March 28, 1870, at his own request.
FIRST PARISH MEETING-HOUSE.
BUILT IN 1806. DESTROYED BY FIRE IN 1868.
Since that date the pastors of the church have been : Rev. Omar W. Folsom, settled October 31, 1872, resigned June 5, 1884; Rev. Francis W. Sanborn, settled November 20, 1884, resigned October 20, 1896; Rev. Charles S. Holton, settled May 11, 1897.
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CHURCHES AND PASTORS
SECOND CHURCH IN NEWBURY.
In 1685, fifty years after the first settlers landed on the banks of the Quascacunquen river, and one year before the common land in the "upper woods " beyond the Artichoke river was divided, a petition was presented to the inhabitants of Newbury for the employment of a suitable person to attend to the work of the ministry at the west end of the town. Al- though the petitioners lived at some distance from the meet- ing-house, and could not " with any comfort or convenience come to the public worship of God," their request was not complied with ; and four years later a few individuals built, at their own expense, a building thirty feet square, at or near the place now known as the burying-ground at Sawyer's hill, for the accommodation of those who desired to attend public worship in that neighborhood .*
At a town meeting held February 25, 1689-90, a com- mittee was appointed to confer with Rev. John Richardson, pastor of the First church in Newbury, in regard to the pro- posed settlement of a minister at the west end. This com- mittee reported that Rev. Mr. Richardson declined to give any advice ; and, considering the difficulties and disadvantages that would be likely to result from the organization of a new religious society in the town, the committee recommended that the privilege asked for should not be granted at that time.
On the eleventh day of March following,
John Emery Abraham Merrill Joseph Bayley
John Emery Jun. Samuel Bartlet Richd Bartlet
Benj Lowle Jno Bartlet Joseph Richardson
. Jno Ordway
Stephen Emery Jnº Merrick
Jnº Chace
Joshua Browne
Stephen Sawyer
in behalf of the inhabitants of the west end of the town, sub- mitted two proposals.
I. That the Towne would agree to make a rate for the maintenance of two ministers so that we at the new Towne might have the word of God preached among us at the West meeting house and that by a Lov-
" "Ould Newbury," pp. 363-366.
V
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HISTORY OF NEWBURY
ing agreement of the towne together, which wee your friends & broathers have long wished for, and now would hope that we may Lovingly agree in. But now if the Towne will not grant us that proposition, our second is,
2. That the Towne would grant us their free consent [to establish] the ministry among us upon our own charg & that the Towne would Lovingly agree to a Dividing line between us so we may know what families may now belong to the West meeting house &c .*
These proposals were not favorably received, and after some delay the inhabitants of the west end extended a call to Mr. Edward Tompson to be their minister. The town objected to this unauthorized display of authority ; and on the fourteenth day of July, 1691, " did by vote manifest their dislike against it, or against any other minister whom they should call, until ye church and towne are agreed upon it, looking upon such a thing to be an intrusion upon ye church and towne." *
From this decision a few individuals residing in the vicinity of the newly erected meeting-house appealed to the General Court ; and the town, at a meeting held December 2, 1691, passed the following resolve : -
Whereas divers of the inhabitants of our Towne-presented to the Honoured Genll Court a petition dated Octo. I 1691 to be established a people by themselves for the maintainance of the ministry amongst them & whereas the Honoured Genrll Court at a session of yrs in Boston 14th of October 1691 ordered yt a copy of sd petition be sent to the Towne of Newbury and that oportunity be given them at the next sitting of the Court to present what they have to offer why the petioners should not be granted what they move for, if they have anything against it.
The inhabitants of the Towne did then by vote manifest ymselves against the new Townes men having yr petition granted & did then desire ye worshippful Jno Woodbridg Esq. Capt Peirce, Capt Noyes, Deacon Noyes and ye selectmen to draw up a petition to ye next ses- sions of ye Gen!] Court in the behalf of the Towne in way of answer to ye new Towne mens petition & that Capt Noyes should manage ye sd afare in the behalfe of ye Towne at ye next session of ye Genll Cuart .*
In December, 1692, the town voted to call another minister to preach at the west end, and keep school there.
May 10, 1693 It was voted yt Mr John Clarke be chosen to Asist Mr John Richardson in the worke of the ministry & to help at the west
*Town of Newbury Records.
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CHURCHES AND PASTORS
end of the Towne of Newbury to preach to them for one yeare in order to further settlement as the Church & Towne shall agree & also to keepe a Gramer Schoole for wch the sd Towne engages to allow sd Mr Clarke Rationall satisfaction if he except of the worke .*
In a petition presented to the General Court May 31, 1693, William Moody, Henry Somerby, Joseph Kittel, and Joseph Pike, selectmen of Newbury, state that Mr. Clarke had ac- cepted the call; but several inhabitants of the west end of the town refused to receive him, claiming that they were bound by their agreement to aid and support Mr. Edward Tompson, who was then engaged in the work of the ministry among them, and the petitioners humbly requested the honored court to take such action as might be necessary to restore order and reconcile conflicting interests in the church.t
To this petition John Emery, John Emery, jr., Abraham Morrill, and John Ordway, in behalf of the west end people, replied that they had been endeavoring for more than five years to have the public worship of God established among them ; 'that many of them lived four, and some of them six or seven, miles from the old meeting-house; and that the old and infirm, especially in the winter time, were unable to travel that distance. They therefore asked the General Court for liberty to maintain a minister of their own choice, at their own cost, and also asked to be released from the payment of taxes for the support of public worship elsewhere. In order that they might live in peace and harmony with their neighbors, they desired to be set off into a separate precinct, and a rational dividing line established between them. #
No definite action was taken by the General Court; and at a meeting of the inhabitants of Newbury held July 5, 1693, the subject was again considered, and after a long discussion "The Towne gave in theyr votes for the choyce of a minister for the west end of the Towne in order to a full settlement in the work of the ministry there, the inhabitants then brought in theyr votes by papers & M' John Clarke was then chosen & not one vote against him." §
* Massachusetts Archives, vol. xi., p. 75.
t Massachusetts Archives, vol. xi., p. 73 ; also, Coffin's History of Newbury, p. 153.
# Massachusetts Archives, vol. xi., p. 74 ; also, Coffin's History of Newbury, p. 159. § Town of Newbury Records.
350
HISTORY OF NEWBURY
The west end men evidently refrained from voting, for the same day twenty-five persons protested against the settlement of Mr. Clarke "because the new towne people have a minister already." Subsequently, Mr. Christopher Toppan was invited to preach at the west end, Mr. Clarke having declined to carry on the work of the ministry there; and September 5, 1694, Joshua Brown, John Ordway, and Samuel Bartlett petitioned the General Court " in behalf of the Company that had erected a meeting house and supplied themselves with a minister," and yet were subjected to many annoyances and indignities be- cause they desired to attend public worship in their own neighborhood, some of their number having been imprisoned and others fined for not delivering up the key to the meeting- house. In conclusion, they humbly requested the General Court " to take some Effectual Order, for the Relief of your Petitioners and for the Quiet of the whole Towne, the Peace whereof is now so dangerously interrupted." *
At a meeting of the inhabitants of Newbury held on the twenty-second day of October following, the election of a minister for the west end of the town was again considered ; and Mr. Christopher Toppan received sixty-five votes and Mr. Tompson seventeen.
December 21, 1694 Col. Daniel Pierce Esqr. Capt Thomas Noyes, Cornt George March & Abraham Merril & Ensigne Joseph Little were by vote chosen to be a committee to draw up such articles and pro- posals as they may think most convenient in order to seting off part of the West end of the Town for ye maintaining of ye ministry among them & to present what they shall do therein to ye Town at their next meeting.t
January 1, 1694-5 voted that Pipe stave hill near Daniel Jaques house shall be the place for the meeting house, and those that live nearest to that place shall pay to the ministry there and those that live nearest to the old meeting house shall pay there, the inhabitants at the West end to choose a minister for themselves, only Mr. Tompson excepted.# The meeting house to stand where it do until the major part of them see cause to remove it." §
* Massachusetts Archives, vol. xi., p. 81 ; also, Coffin's History of Newbury, p. 160.
t Massachusetts Archives, vol. xi., p. 307.
# Mr. Edward Tompson probably left Newbury early in the year 1695. He was ordained minister at Marshfield, Mass., October 14, 1696. (See New England Historical and Genealogical Register for April, 1861, p. 113.)
§ Town of Newbury Records.
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CHURCHES AND PASTORS
Tristram Coffin, Henry Short, and Abraham Merrill were authorized and instructed to divide the town into two parishes ; and on the eighteenth day of December, 1695, the following grants of land were recorded : --
... upon the request of the inhabitants of the West end of the town of Newbury for the settlement of the ministry then amongst them the town granted them five acres of land on the East side of Artichoke River to be Layed out so as may be most convenient for a pasture for the ministry And an acre of land near the West Meeting house for the building of a ministry house. Both which parcles of land to be layed out by a Comte chosen by the town for that end, provided always that this our grant shall not prejudice the vote of the town of Jan. I, 1694-5 where in liberty for the removal of the west meeting house is granted And when a Major part of the inhabitants according to sd vote shall see cause to remove the sd meeting house that then the sd five acres of land here in allotted for a pasture for ye ministry for the West end of the town shall be at the disposition of the town to procure Land for ye ministry near the West Meeting house when removed, and also yt It shall be in the power of the Major part of ye inhabitants of ye West end of the town to dispose of the acre of land and housing yt may be built there upon for the procuring of a ministry house near the sd meeting house when removed or another one built. The town also at this meeting gives the West end power to choose a man amongst them to make assessment for the ministry and for building and repairing of the West Meeting house and for ye building and repairing a house for the ministry .*
At the first meeting of the inhabitants of the Second parish, December 24, 1695, a committee was appointed "to build and Repair ye West meeting house and to build and repair ye ministry house." t In the month of February following, twenty-four persons objected to the repairing or rebuilding the meeting-house on the plains, and earnestly advocated its removal to Pipe Stave hill. July 24, 1696, the parish " voted to confirm Rev. Samuel Belcher in the work of the ministry among us." At that date the church had not been organized ; but religious services had been held in the parish, and Rev. Mr. Belcher had officiated there for several months.
November ye 18th 1696 It was agreed upon that Mr Belcher with his family shall forthwith be removed from Abraham Merrils house unto
* Massachusetts Archives, vol. xi., p. 305. t Newbury (Second Parish) Records.
352
HISTORY OF NEWBURY
Sam1 Sayers Littell Roome and the Reverend Mr Belcher is to have the liberty of the parlor chamber when he hath ocation for it .*
December 24, 1696, Joshua Brown, John Ordway, Samuel Bartlett, and John Emery were chosen " A committee for this year ensuing, for to finish the meeting house and the ministry house according to the instructions they had last year." *
Twelve months later, the parish voted "that Stephen. Emery shall have twenty pounds in grain as money for building and finishing ye gallaryes," and Abraham Merrill, John Ordway, and Richard Bartlett were chosen "to seat ye meeting house."
October 26, 1698, a church was organized; and on the tenth day of November Rev. Samuel Belcher was ordained pastor,ț the ministers and messengers of the churches at Ipswich, Rowley, Bradford, and the First church in New- bury participating in the exercises of that occasion.
December 15, 1699 voted; that there should be two men chosen to agree with Moses Chase or any other person to dig and finish a suffi- tiant well within eight rods of the ministry house now att the west end of the towne of Newbury not exceeding in price eight pounds money.#
Five or six years later a determined effort was made to secure a suitable lot of land and build a new meeting-house at Pipe Stave hill. This movement, however, was stoutly op- posed by the inhabitants of the parish living at or near "the plains," and the work was consequently delayed for more than three years. The foundation of the new edifice was not laid until May 10, 1709.§
March 21, 1709-10 voted; that Whereas there was a committee chosen of three men to agree with a man or men to build & finish a meeting house upon Pipe Stave hill, att a meeting of ye inhabitants of ye west end of ye town of Newbury on february ye 28th, 1705-6. The inhabitants do now except & consent to what is already done by two of sd comittee on yt account And do by their vote give full power to ye major part of ye comitte yt were then chosen to proceed & finish said. work according to ye time mentioned in sd vote. ||
* Newbury (Second Parish) Records, p. 3.
+ Diary of Samuel Sewall, vol. i., p. 486. # Newbury (Second Parish) Records, p. 14.
5 " Ould Newbury," pp. 368, 369. Il Newbury (Second Parish) Records, p. 26.
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CHURCHES AND PASTORS
The committee appointed February 28, 1705-6, to build the meeting-house consisted of Capt. Hugh March, Sergt. John Ordway, and Lieut. Caleb Moody ; but, after long delay and repeated efforts to reconcile conflicting views and opin- ions, Sergt. Ordway declined to co-operate with the other members of the committee .*
February 4, 1709-10, Abraham Merrill, Samuel Sawyer, Joshua Brown, Edward Sargent, Richard Bartlett, and others, numbering fifty-five in all, presented a petition to the General Court stating that the parish had voted to build a meeting- house at Pipe Stave hill, had levied taxes to defray the cost of the same, and seized the property of some who refused to pay the amount assessed. In conclusion, the petitioners humbly pray "yt if no beter method may be found out for our relief yt we may be Set of so far as may agree wth righteous- ness & Religion to maintain our minister & ministry amongst our Selves the charge whereof we chuse abundantly rather to undergo then to haue our good ends, designs and Endeuaers above sd frustrated and mad voide." }
June 2, 1710, the General Court ordered " That the Select- men of the Town of Newbury be Served by the Petitioners with a Copy of this Petition, And That the matter be heard before this Court on ffriday the 9th Currt." ¡
On the twenty-second day of June, the councillors and representatives concurred in the adoption of a resolution declaring "That Pipe Staffe hill in the West Precinct of Newbury is the most convenient place for the Establishing of a meeting House for the whole Precinct," that Rev. Mr. Belcher should be requested to remove there when a suitable dwelling-house has been erected for his accommodation, and that a general meeting of the inhabitants of the precinct should be called to choose assessors to levy a tax, according to law, and apply the same when collected to the purchase of labor and materials for the construction of a meeting-house and parsonage. It was also resolved
That the Tax lately Levied in the sd Precinct for the building of a
. Massachusetts Archives, vol. xi., p. 309; also, Coffin's History of Newbury, p. 177.
t Massachusetts Archives, vol. xi., p. 306; Coffin's History of Newbury, pp. 176, 177.
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HISTORY OF NEWBURY
meeting House and Ministry House and all proceedings had there upon Be and hereby is Declared to be Illegal null and void : -
And that all persons who have been Destrained for the sum or sums Set upon them to the said Tax, have the same restored to them again wth ye necessary cost and charge they have sustained thereby .*
At a meeting of the inhabitants of Newbury held April 4, 1710, it was voted " yt ye five acres of land allotted for a pasture towards ye support of ye ministry at ye west end of ye Town shall speedily be disposed of at ye discretion of a Committee as shall be chosen for sd service towards ye pur- chase of a parsonage near or upon pipe stave hill, provided yt M' Belcher be not disposest there of till such time as sd parsonage be procured & prepared suteably & conveniently for his reception and comfort." ¡
July 15, 1710, Col. Thomas Noyes, Major Henry Somerby, and Capt. Thomas Hale, for and in consideration of eight acres of land owned by Capt. Hugh March and Lieut. Caleb Moody, sold and conveyed to the said March and Moody " the aforesaid five acres of land, bounded northerly by ye road leading to Bradford, westerly by Harty Choak river, southerly & easterly by common land, which five acres of land was granted & given by ye freeholders and Inhabitants of Newbury aforesd at a legall meeting held December 18 Anno Dom : 1695, for a pasture for a ministry and upon removal of ye meeting House at ye West end of ye said Towne this pasture to be disposed of to procure an other convenient pasture for ye ministry as by ye said vote may appear." }
At a legal meeting of the inhabitants of the Second parish held two days later, Corp. Abel Huse, Hananiah Ordway, John Emery, Ensign Stephen Emery, and Tristram Greenleaf were chosen a committee "to agree with a man to build & finish a ministry house att pipe stave hill forth-with upon the eighth free hold lot."
* Massachusetts Archives, vol. xi., p. 306. t Town of Newbury Records.
# Essex Deeds, book xxiv., folio 256. The land granted December 18, 1695, " for a pasture for the ministry," was on the easterly side of Artichoke river, nearly opposite the entrance to Hoyt's lane from Storey avenue, Newburyport. The house in which Mr. Belcher lived until his removal to Pipe Stave hill was probably located at or near the Sawyer hill burying-ground, on the road or way now known as Hoyt's laue.
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April 19, 1711 voted, to choose a committee of three men to sell & dispose of ye ministry house that Mr Belcher now dwells in. ... And allso to take the seates and boards & Glass out of ye old Meeting house to be improved in the New meeting house. And allso to remove the old meeting house & sett it up att Pipe Stave hill to be improved for a Barn for the ministry in convenient time .*
This vote was undoubtedly intended to defeat the plan that had been matured by some twenty-five or thirty persons to maintain, at their own expense, the public worship of God in the old meeting-house. Without waiting for definite action on the part of the committee, however, a small company of men and boys came down in the night from the upper part of the parish, tore down the old meeting-house, and carried away all the materials that were of value.
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