USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Newton > History of Newton, Massachusetts : town and city, from its earliest settlement to the present time, 1630-1880 > Part 28
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1773
76
Wheat John,
1748
1751
Ward Samuel, son of Nathan and Tamasin,
1754
9 mo.
45
DEATHS IN THE WEST PARISH. FROM GRAVESTONES.
NAMES.
DATE OF DEATH.
AGE.
NAMES.
DATE OF DEATH.
AGE.
Adams Dea. Elijah,
1834
43
Jackson Sally,
1795
38
Adams Isaac, son of Jacob,
1834
30
Jackson Abigail,
& wives of Edward,
1808
49
Adams Lieut. Roger,
1811
58
Jackson Judith,
1814
48
Hephzibah, his wife,
1805
50
Jackson Leonard, son of Ephraim,
1789
7
Beals Thomas,
1818
58
Jackson Peter, son of Joshua, jr.,
1776
21
Durell Peter,
1810
91
Jenks Samuel,
1801
70
Ruth, his wife,
1798
69
Mary, his wife, Francis,
1812
42
Catharine, his widow,
1827
85
Miller Tabitha, wife of Thomas,
1787
53
Fuller Joanna, wife of Joseph,
1784
33
Pigeon Henry,
1799
40
Fuller Lieut. John,
1786
63
Pigeon Jane, wife of John,
1808
82
Fuller Capt. Joshua,
1777
75
Severns Elisha,
1831
86
Anna, his widow,
1778
61
Elizabeth, his wife,
1830
78
Fuller Ensign Josiah,
1793
83
Stoddard Capt. Astor,
1793
86
Abigail, his widow,
1796
84
Ruth, his widow,
1794
83
Fuller Ruth, wife of Capt. Edward,
1784
43
Stoddard Thomas,
1821
72
Greenough Rev. William,
1760
52
Sarah, his widow,
1812
38
Healey Susannah,
1802
61
Ward Dea. Enoch,
1789
38
Hoogs William, Elizabeth, his widow,
1819
73
Ward Dea. Joseph,
1784
79
Jackson, Dea. Joseph,
1803
74
Whitwell Dr. Samuel, of Boston,
1791
37
Abigail, his widow,
1815
84
Winch Ebenezer,
1831
78
Jackson Joseph, Esq.,
1826
68
Esther, his wife,
1830
75
HISTORY OF NEWTON.
286
1802
25
1831
75
Upham Thomas,
1782
44
Eustis Capt. Thomas,
1807
75
FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH, NEWTON CENTRE.
NAS NE.OF
.
SS.
---
CHAPTER XXIV.
THE FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH .- EARLY BAPTISTS IN NEWTON .- THE NEW LIGHTS .- CHURCH FORMED .- THE MEETING-HOUSE. REV. CALEB BLOOD, FIRST PASTOR .- REV. JOSEPH GRAFTON .- ENLARGEMENT OF THE MEETING-HOUSE .- PEW LOTS .- THE INTERIOR .- MINISTERIAL TAXES.
IT was a hundred and forty-one years after the first settlement in Newton, before an effective movement was made for the formation of a Baptist church ; and ninety years before we have any notice that any one in the town maintained the views of that denomina- tion. Notwithstanding, at an early period there were people in Newton of the Baptist persuasion. The first of whom any account remains, was Mr. Jonathan Willard, who was baptized December 7, 1729, and united with the First Baptist church in Boston. Two years later, May 7, 1732, Esther Willard, of Newton, was baptized, and admitted to the same church. Mr. Willard lived till the age of ninety-four years, and "was not a little wondered at on account of his religious sentiments." For several years this family seem to have been alone. Seventeen years later, July 21, 1749, Noah Parker, of Newton, was baptized, and admitted to the Second Baptist church in Boston.
The formal certificate which follows is a curious exhibition of the solemnity of the action taken on so grave an occasion.
Province of the Massachusetts Bay,
Conformable to a Law of said Province.
Suffolk, ss. Boston.
Certificate.
These are to certifie the Assessors and Town Clerk of Newton, and all others whom it may concern, that the bearer hereof, Noah Parker, of New- ton, aforesaid, is in full communion with the Baptist church in Boston, under the pastoral care of Mr. Ephraim Bounds, ordained Elder of said church,*
* Now the Warren Avenue Baptist church.
287
288
HISTORY OF NEWTON.
and that the said Noah Parker usually and frequently attends the worship of God with the brethren of the said church on the Lord's day .- Dated in Boston the 21st of August, Anno Domini, 1749, annoque regni regis Georgii Secundi Magnæ Britannia, &c., vicessimo tertio.
THOMAS BOUCHER, Committee appointed JOHN PROCTOR, by the said Church.
To the Assessors and Town Clerk of Newton.
BOSTON, November, 1751.
This may certify whom it may concern, that Mr. Jonathan Willard, of Newton, is a member of the Baptist church in Boston. Attest, Jeremiah Condy, pastor of said church.
September 1, 1749, Esther Parker was baptized and admitted to the same church ; and July 1, 1753, Mrs. Sarah Parker, wife of Mr. Noah Parker, having been previously baptized by Dr. Thomas Green, of Leicester, was also admitted. David Richard- son, having been propounded to the same church, was baptized and received a member July 2, 1758. Shortly afterwards other Baptists were residing in the town, although the circumstances of their baptism and place of membership do not appear. The town Records contain an attested certificate, signed by Rev. Mr. Green of Leicester, and dated September 9, 1754, affirming that he had baptized Messrs. John Hammond, Noah Wiswall, and Thomas Parker. The certificate reads thus :
NEWTON, Sept. 9, 1754 .- This may certify whom it may concern that I, Thomas Green, baptized John Hammond, Noah Wiswall, Thomas Parker, all of said town. I say, baptized by me,
THOMAS GREEN, Pastor of the Baptist Church of Christ at Leicester.
The year before this, May 14, 1753, Mr. Wiswall and others addressed a memorial to the town meeting, praying that they might be exempted from paying a ministerial tax for the support of the clergyman of the town, because they were conscientious Baptists, and paid a tax elsewhere. The town voted that their petition be not granted. Three years later, March 15, 1756, some of the Baptists, it would seem, had fallen into arrears in respect to the payment of their ministerial rates to the town, hoping that the citizens would abate the demand. But the matter, being brought up in the town meeting, was summarily disposed of. The Records state the action of the freemen thus :
289
CERTIFICATES.
After some debate on the request of John Hammond and others, that they might not be rated for the support of the ministry, the question was put, whether they should be excused for the time past; and it passed in the negative. And then the question was put, whether they should be excused for the future; and it passed in the negative.
These measures, however, did not check the extension of Bap- tist opinions. Candor and charity, exercised towards those who had made up their minds from conviction and who were conscien- tious in their action, would have been far wiser. But the policy of exclusiveness prevailed.
Seven years after this, a certificate given by his pastor to Mr. Joseph Bartlett, of Newtown, defining the position of the latter, proves that the Baptists were still under oppression. The certi- ficate is as follows :
LEICESTER, June 20, 1763 .- This may certify all people whom it may con- cern, that Joseph Bartlett, of Newtown, doth belong to the Anabaptist church of Elder Thomas Green, of Leicester, and is under his pastoral care; and doth desire the privilege the law gives, in being cleared from paying of rates to those of other ways of thinking. 'Tis we who are chosen by the church to give certificate to those.
ELDER THOMAS GREEN, THOMAS HOLMAN, SAMUEL GREEN.
The town Records, eleven years later, contain a certificate addressed to the town, affirming that certain persons therein named, ten in number, were " Anti-Pedobaptists," symbolizing in belief with persons of that persuasion, and ordinarily worshipping with them. The certificate is as follows :
We the subscribers being chosen a committee by the Society of the people called " Anti-Pedobaptists," who meet together for religious worship on the Lord's day in Newton, to exhibit a list or lists of the names of such persons as belong to said Society or congregation, do certify that John Dana, John Ken- rick, Caleb Whitney, Thomas Parker, Ebenezer Bartlett, Joseph Hyde, Nathaniel Parker, Thomas Tolman, Widow Abigail Richardson and Elisha Bartlett, do belong to said Society or congregation, and that they do fre- quently and usually, when able, attend with us in our meetings for religious worship on the Lord's day; and we do verily believe are, with respect to the ordinance of baptism, of the same religious sentiments with us.
Signed,
Aug. 12, A. D., 1774.
JOHN DANA, - THOMAS PARKER, & Committee. JOSEPH HYDE.
19
290
HISTORY OF NEWTON.
The strictness of the townsmen began at last to relent. In June, 1776, the year of national freedom, James Richards and Edward Hall were excused from paying ministerial taxes for the support of the minister of the town of the " standing order ; " and four years afterwards, July 5, 1780, the First Baptist church was formed.
In the autumn of 1740, Rev. George Whitefield made his first visit to New England, and his preaching awakened general inter- est ; as a fruit of which, great attention to religion prevailed for several years. The people were aroused from a dead formalism. The more spiritual and the newly converted, dissatisfied that per- sons showing little or no evidence of personal piety were admitted to the Lord's table, desired a purification of the churches, so that. none should be members but persons making a credible profession of personal faith in Christ. The result of this movement was the formation, in several towns, of what were called Separate, or New Light churches. This name was given them as a term of reproach, as if they pretended to have received "new light " from heaven. A church of this character was formed in Newton, meeting at the house of one of their members, Mr. Nathan Ward, who became their pastor.
Mr. Ward was one of Whitefield's converts in Newton, and the grandson of John Ward, senior. Like Jonathan Hyde,* of Brook- line, also a convert of Whitefield, he was ordained to the work of the ministry in this new connection. But Mr. Ward's authority as a minister of the gospel was not conceded by "the standing order." Notwithstanding his position as the pastor of an inde- pendent church, his fellow-citizens accorded to him no privileges
* Jonathan Hyde, great grandson of Dea. Samuel Hyde, was born in Canterbury, Conn., whither his father had immigrated. At the age of forty or forty-two, in 1751, Jonathan settled in Brookline, near the boundary line of Newton. He became a Baptist, was called a New Light, and was ordained in his own dwelling-house in Brookline, in 1751. It was in that year, that, under the influence of a spirit of intol- erance, he was warned out of Brookline. The celebrated preacher, Elhanan Win- chester, received baptism at his hands. Though without a college education, Mr. Hyde is said to have been " an honest, earnest, loud-spoken preacher, and an early friend of the First Baptist church in Newton." He was a preacher about thirty years, and died June 4, 1787, aged 78. He had three sons born in Canterbury, and one in Brookline.
When it became inconvenient for the New Lights to hold their meetings from house to house, Mr. Winchester (the father), who had been made deacon, was assisted by his brethren to build a large house, which should contain a hall convenient for their use. This house was long known as the " Richards' Hotel." Subsequently it became the Sheafe place, and latterly was let to Irish tenants. It is situated near the Denny estate, east of Chestnut Hill. (See p. 124.)
291
MR. WARD'S MINISTRY.
or immunities above those of his unclerical neighbors. The new sect met with much opposition. Mr. Hyde was warned to leave the town of Brookline, and Mr. Ward was taxed by the authorities of Newton, though the law exempted from taxation all ordained clergymen. Mr. Ward remonstrated against this treatment as un- lawful, and sent the following memorial to the citizens assembled in town meeting March 3, 1755 :
·
Gentlemen :- It hath pleased a sovereign and all wise God, who is wont to choose the weak things of the world to confound the wise, as I humbly trust and believe, to call me, who am less than the least of all saints, to preach his gospel, and also to take the pastoral care of a church in this town, who, some few years past embodied into a church for the carrying on the worship of God agreeable to his word and their own consciences ; and I have been, as some of you are eye witnesses, ordained, solemnly set apart to the work of the gospel ministry, by prayer and the laying on of hands. And now, gentle- men, you well know that it ever hath been the case that those that have been ordained to the work of the gospel ministry ever have been freed from all taxes or rates, and indeed they are so both by the Divine and civil law. But yet, notwithstanding my calling as a minister of God's word and ordinances, the assessors of this town have been pleased, since the time of my ordination, both to rate my person and assess my estate, which, I apprehend, is not their duty to do, nor indeed mine to pay. And now, gentlemen, as it is in your power to grant me freedom in this matter, my humble petition and re- quest unto you at this time is, that you would free me, together with my estate under my particular improvement, from being rated or assessed so long as I shall act in this public character, that I may enjoy the like privi- leges of this nature as do other ordained ministers. And so doing, you will oblige Your most humble servant,
NATHAN WARD.
Mr. Ward never enjoyed the benefit of a collegiate education. But under the impression produced upon his mind by the preach- ing of Whitefield, he conceived it to be his duty to devote himself to the ministry, and he was ordained at Newburyport, July 11, 1765, with reference to a pastoral charge at Plymouth, N. H. In the winter of 1763-4, he removed with his family from Newton, where he felt that he had been persecuted, to the place where he had been designated to labor. The settlement consisted, at that time, of only eight families. A church was organized April 16, 1764. Mr. Ward was twice married, and had thirteen children. Five of them died within the space of thirty-six days, four of the number being of adult age. He died at Plymouth, N. H., June 15, 1804, aged eighty-three.
292
HISTORY OF NEWTON.
Soon after the settlement of Mr. Ward as their pastor in New- ton, some of the members became interested to search the Scrip- tures in regard to the ordinance of baptism, and many of them were baptized on profession of their faith. But they still retained their connection with the church, and Mr. Ward retained his Pedo- baptist views. After a time, the majority of the church having become Baptists, Mr. Ward, not sharing their belief, retired, hav- ing been their pastor about seven years.
The Baptists continued to assemble on the Lord's day, at first in dwelling-houses, afterwards in a school-house. Their worship was conducted by Deacon Jonathan Richardson and Mr. John Dana, the father of Nathan Dana, who was afterwards licensed by the church, and ordained at Newton, November 20, 1793. Whenever they could obtain the service of ministers, it gave them great joy ; and several ministers, in the true apostolic spirit, vis- ited them. They continued in this manner to maintain worship for nearly twenty years.
The beginning of the year 1780 was marked by special religious interest in Newton. In the spring of that year, Mr. Elhanan Win- chester, who at a later period preached the doctrine of Universal Res- toration, visited the town. His labors were attended with a blessing, and several persons, having become hopefully pious, received the ordinance of baptism from his hands. Ministers who heard of the excitement came and aided in the work. The number of converts increased, and they were advised to form themselves into a church. Preliminary meetings were held June 6, 10, 15 and 22, in which a statement of their views as to the duties of a church and the rela- tions of its individual members was discussed, and drawn up in twenty-one articles. It is interesting to note how these intelligent men and women, taking nothing upon trust, accepting nothing on the strength of education or tradition, sifted every point in their church polity, and, in the busiest season of the summer, took time to weigh their faith in the balances of the sanctuary, and to bring every point to the test of the Divine word.
On the 6th of June a meeting of the brethren was held at the house of Elisha Fuller, "to know each other's minds relative to forming a new Baptist church." Rev. Caleb Blood, of Weston, was chosen moderator, and Thomas Hastings (of Angier's Cor- ner), clerk. At this and subsequent meetings held by adjourn- ment, the following articles were thoroughly debated, and finally agreed upon :
293
VIEWS OF CHURCH POLITY.
VOTED, The following articles to be necessary to regulate our walk in church-state, agreeable to the Word of God :
"1. We believe that the church of Jesus Christ, under the gospel, is to be made up only of persons who are true believers in Christ; and that the design of God, in having a church in the world, is to show forth his declara- tive glory, in maintaining his doctrine and worship, for the gathering in of his elect, and the mutual edification and comfort of his people.
" 2. We believe the manner in which God's people ought to come to- gether in church-state is by giving each other a verbal declaration of the work of God's grace upon their hearts, and the same to be required of all who may hereafter join them.
"3. We believe that there are no officers to be ordained in the church but bishops and deacons; and their character to be as expressed in Timothy, third chapter, from the first to the eighth verse.
" 4. We believe that the work of a bishop is to attend to reading and studying the Scriptures, and to preach the Word, and to administer the ordi- nances of the gospel, and to stand a leader and overseer in the church.
"5. We believe that the work of a deacon is to serve tables, in all things that are necessary in the church.
"6. We believe that it is the church's duty to support their minister, so that he may devote himself to the work to which he is called, and to submit to him as a leader.
" 7. We believe that the manner we ought to support our minister is by a freewill offering, and in case of need, by an equality; and in like manner to support all other necessary charges in the church.
" 8. We believe that there are gifts of exhortation to be improved in the church, while by no means we would exclude the right of any brother's speaking by way of specialty.
"9. We believe that all the gifts of the church ought to be in subjugation to each other.
" 10. We believe that the churches are independent of each other as to the power of action, and therefore have power to elect and ordain their own officers.
" 11. We believe that a woman hath no right to act, either in teaching or governing the church, while we would by no means exclude them the right of unbosoming themselves to the church, either in case of grief or joy.
" 12. We believe that the church has a right to call her own members to an account, for not attending public worship, sacraments and church meet- ings.
"13. We believe that in case of a brother's or sister's absence from the public worship and sacraments, it is the minister's duty to visit them and inquire into the reason of it.
" 14. We believe that a brother or sister hath no right to be absent from the sacraments, but only in case they themselves, or the church, are trans- gresscrs of the Divine rules.
" 15. We believe that a private offence is to be brought into the church, according to the rule in Matthew, eighteenth chapter, from the fifteenth to
294
HISTORY OF NEWTON.
the seventeenth verse; and a public offence to be taken hold of by the church as a body.
" 16. We believe that no case of difficulty may be considered as public, but only such as the major part of the church have knowledge of without tattling.
"17. We believe that the church ought to keep all her meetings for set- tling difficulties as secret from the world as possible, consistent with evidence.
" 18. We believe that no brother or sister hath a right to go to law with each other, while they remain together in church-state.
" 19. We believe no brother or sister ought to make any matter of diffi- culty with each other, either [as relates to] their practice or principles, ex- cept it be contrary to the Word of God.
" 20. We believe the church ought to support their own poor.
"21. We believe that any person holding, or not holding, the doctrine of laying on of hands upon private persons, ought not to be held as a bar of communion."
The above articles, it will be perceived, make no mention of theological tenets ; but relate only to what was anciently and quaintly called " church-building."
Thirty-nine names, signed to this paper, formed the nucleus of the new church. They are as follows :
Dea. Elhanan Winchester, ¿ father of the preacher.
Abigail Wilson,
Esther Richardson,
Aaron Winchester,
Elhanan Win-
Danicl Winchester,
chester. -
John Dana,
Thomas Hastings, son of Samuel, sen.
John Shepard,
William Cheney, jr.,
Henry Winchester, son of Gulliver,
Edward Hall, Aaron Hall,
Deliverance Wiswall,
Nathan Dana,
Aaron Dana,
Esther Hall,
Elizabeth Hastings, wife of Thomas,
Olive Beal,
Sarah Goodspeed, Joseph Hyde, Gershom Hyde,
Anna Blincowe,
Elizabeth M. Winchester,
Sarah Winchester,
daughters of Dea. Elhanan Winchester.
Elizabeth Whitney, Noah Wiswall, William Cheney.
Beulah Winchester,
Lucy Seager, Anna Pond, Abigail Dana,
Hannah Hall,
Hepsibah Jefferd,
Hannah Morse,
Dorothy Richards,
Polly Cheney, Lydia Cheney,
Abigail Prout, eight years old,
Thirty-four names were added to the catalogue in the course of five or six weeks, which deserve a place here because they belong to the old families of the town, and some of them were prominent in the early administration of the church.
sons of Dea.
Susanna Parker,
295
THE FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH.
David Bartlett, Edward Hall, Abigail Merriam, Sarah Bartlett, Hannah Fuller, Mercy Barton, Lydia Cheney, Mary Hall, Margaret Griggs,
Lydia Winchester, Lois Winchester,
daughters of Dea. Ellanan Winches- ter.
Dorcas Richardson,
Thomas Parker, Thomas Tollman, Eunice Parks, Eleanor Dana,
Rebecca Hammond,
Silence Davenport, Lucy Shepard, Elizabeth Cheney, Lucy Richardson, Elizabeth Pond, Thomas Griggs, Benjamin Park, Anna Kenrick, Mehitable Wilson,
Elizabeth Beal, Esther Fuller, Anna Ward, Samuel Sampson, Elizabeth Richards, Hannah Gosson, Margaret Hyde, Sarah Jackson.
On Wednesday, July 5, 1780, the members met in the house on the east side of the road, opposite Wiswall's Pond, now belonging to heirs of Deacon Luther Paul, for the purpose of being publicly recognized as a church of Jesus Christ, and the First Baptist church in Newton. Four ministers were present,- Rev. Noah Alden, of Bellingham, Rev. Thomas Gair, of Medfield, Rev. Caleb Blood, late of Marlow, N. H., and Rev. Ephraim Bownd, of Boston. After having examined and approved the steps taken by the members, Mr. Alden preached from Acts II : 47, "Praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved." " After which, Mr. Gair made a prayer, and read over a summary confession of faith, - to which thirty-nine persons assented, in the presence of a nu- merous congregation. The whole was concluded by an exhorta- tion from Mr. Blood."
The summary declaration of faith, read by Mr. Gair at the public exercise, was the same which had been adopted by the Sec- ond Baptist church in Boston. The same year in which the church was organized, it was admitted, on application, into the Warren Association, which held its annual meeting at Athol.
September 21st, it was "voted that Elhanan Winchester be a leader in this meeting, and John Dana be a leader in the church, until Christ shall raise up one to take his place ;- to have a col- lection weekly, and John Shepard and Thomas Hastings take charge of the same ;- to give Noah Wiswall forty pounds, quar- terly, for the use of his house ;- that Abigail Prout be provided for, at the expense of the church."
296
HISTORY OF NEWTON.
The first delegates, appointed to the Warren Association, in August, 1780, were Elhanan Winchester, David Bartlett and John Shepard. "They stated to the Association that the number of their church members was seventy, that they were destitute of a Pastor, and requested to have a supply of preaching the ensuing year." This request must have been presented before Mr. Blood had expressed his acceptance of the call made to him on the 15th of July.
In December, 1781, Samuel Sampson was chosen clerk, in place of Thomas Hastings, and John Shepard was elected deacon.
The following March, the church voted to " assemble themselves in communion of the Lord's Supper, once in every six weeks."
Thus was the infant barque launched upon the current of the world's religions, and a new light kindled amid the darkness. After years of waiting, the principle of freedom in matters of con- science was at last so far conceded that the members found them- selves recognized by their fellow-townsmen as having the right to be. Departing, in some respects, from the faith in which they had been educated, they held the same cardinal truths, and were ready to endure inconveniences and trials for the sake of the views they had espoused. Their study of the Scriptures made them in- telligent Christians. 'In that stern period which had " tried men's souls," and in that furnace of political strife from which the nation was just emerging, they had learned to think and act for themselves in the spirit of independence ; and in their new church relations, they felt that they had attained a blessing which rightfully belonged to them as freemen of the new republic. Moreover, as the roots of a thrifty tree reach out far and wide in search of the elements of fertility, so the early members were drawn from a wide range of territory, and some even from the adjacent towns. It would have been natural to predict for the vigorous body, after so auspi- cious beginnings, a prosperous career.
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