USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Newton > History of Newton, Massachusetts : town and city, from its earliest settlement to the present time, 1630-1880 > Part 39
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Sept. 10, 1788.
TH. JEFFERSON.
The appeals to the President yielded no relief. The General Court sent an address to the members of Congress, setting forth the grievances of the people ; but this produced no better result. The National Government was evidently animated by a spirit of chronic hostility to England. The embargo, instead of being
403
GEN. HULL AT DETROIT.
removed, was made more stringent. The affairs of the country grew more and more desperate. The numerous protests, sent up to Congress from every part of New England, were of no avail. The growing trade and manufactures of the country, which demanded a few years of peace and prosperity for their highest development, suffered a disastrous suspension. And all the inter- ests of the people drooped under the sad rebuff of these years of loss and peril.
We cannot tell how much influence the remonstrance of the peo- ple of Newton had with the federal government, or whether it had any. We know, however, that the embargo, so disastrous in its working on the foreign commerce of the United States, was repealed in 1809. The Americans were indignant at the depre- dations on their commerce perpetrated by France and England, and the claim, set up by the latter, of the right to search American vessels for the purpose of impressing British seamen. On account of these and other grievances, war was declared against Great Britain in June, 1812.
Several of the States, and Massachusetts especially, were averse to the war. The anti-war party of the Eastern States counted a minority, on the decisive vote for the declaration of war, of 49 to 79 ; and afterwards continued to protest against the measure. In Boston the flags of the shipping were displayed at half-mast, in token of mourning on account of the declaration of war. In the Southern States, however, the feeling was the oppo- site. The main theatres of the engagements of this war, though not the only ones, were the Canadian border, the northern lakes and the ocean. An army was gathered near the frontier, of which General Dearborn was made Commander-in-chief, and the list of commanding officers included the names of General Pinck- ney, Major-General Wilkinson, General Hampton, and General Hull, of Newton. The latter was then Governor of the territory of Michigan. About two or three weeks after the declaration of war, he collected an army of upwards of two thousand troops of the line and militia, and crossed the line between the two coun- tries, as if he intended to attack Montreal, at the same time pub- lishing a proclamation which excited the minds of the British offi- cers to a spirit of resistance. But on hearing that the Indians had attacked his territory on another point, and that the English General Brock, at the head of a respectable force, was near him,
404
HISTORY OF NEWTON.
he determined to retreat. He was pursued by Brock and besieged in Fort Detroit ; and when the British General was on the point of attempting an assault, General Hull, feeling that he was not supported by the War Department with an adequate supply of troops and ammunition to enable him to sustain such an attack, surrendered, with his fort and army.
The son of General Hull, Captain Abraham Fuller Hull, of the ninth United States regiment, was slain during this war in the battle of Bridgewater, Canada, July 25, 1813, aged twenty-eight.
On land, the advantages of the first campaign rested altogether with the British ; but not so on the sea. About the time that Gen- eral Hull surrendered at Detroit, Captain Hull, commanding the frigate Constitution, engaged the British frigate Guerrière, which was forced to surrender, and was burned by the captors. On the 17th of October, Captain Jones, of the sloop-of-war Wasp, cap- tured the British brig Frolic, after an engagement of forty-three minutes, on the high seas. On the 25th, eight days later, Com- modore Decatur, of the frigate United States, captured the Brit- ish frigate Macedonian, which was forced to surrender. On the 29th of December, the Constitution, under Commodore Bain- bridge, obtained a victory over the Java, a British frigate of thirty-eight guns, in a battle in which the captain of the latter was mortally wounded. This action was fought off St. Salvador. On the first of January, the commodore, finding his prize inca- pable of being brought in, burned her. During the winter, the Hornet, Captain James Lawrence, in an action of fifteen minutes, off South America, conquered the British sloop-of-war Peacock. The Americans, in the engagements of the war hitherto, were generally conquered on land, but victors on the wave. This was just the opposite of all their calculations. But from this circum- stance they were led to concentrate their efforts, as far as possi- ble, on the element where their arms had been victorious.
Captain Lawrence, on his return to Boston, was promoted to the command of the frigate Chesapeake, which soon afterwards had an engagement off the Boston Lighthouse with the British frigate Shannon, in which the latter was victorious after fifteen minutes' firing. In this engagement Captain Lawrence was mor- tally wounded, and died while issuing the heroic order, "Don't give up the ship." The uncle of Mrs. Hon. David H. Mason, of Newton, William Augustus White, sailing-master of the Chesa- peake, lost his life in this engagement. His age was twenty-six.
405
PEACE DECLARED.
We have not the means to follow minutely the events of the war, which distracted the country, filled the citizens with apprehen- sions, involved heavy expense and important losses, and created ill feeling among a people one in their interests, but divided in their opinions. The expeditions on the northern borders and on the lakes, the victories and defeats, the dishonorable annoyances and needless destructions incident to such a period of disaster, though the war was comparatively short, made a sad impression on the country, never to be forgotten, and inflicted wounds and losses not easy to be healed. The destruction of the capitol at Washington and other public buildings, including the Congressional Library and all its treasures, the attacks on Baltimore, Alexandria and Plattsburg, and the operations of the invading army along the coast of Maine, belong to a history such as, we trust, will never be repeated. Happily, at the darkest hour, when a serious schism seemed to menace the union of the States, the distresses were arrested by the tidings that a treaty of peace had been signed at Ghent in December, 1814. The tidings, however, did not arrive till after the battle of New Orleans, January 8, 1815, in which the British army, victorious at Washington, suffered a severe check, and the American army felt that their honor on the land had been redeemed. On the 17th of February, 1815, the President and Senate ratified the treaty of Ghent, and North America, with Europe, breathed free again from the horrors of war.
Very little mention is made, beyond the few items above recorded, of the events of the war of 1812, or of Newton men active in it, or of the circumstances leading to it, in the Records of the town. It is probable that the inhabitants patiently and patriotically en- dured the inconveniences, the self-denials, and the enormous expense of living incident to that period, and the apprehensions of being called upon to take an efficient and bloody part in the scenes of another encounter with Great Britain. If any of the citizens of the town entered into the conflict, they must have embarked in it as individual volunteers ; and their absence from the accustomed haunts of their peaceful usefulness created not a ripple in the tide of life among their fellow-citizens. To this period, however, belongs the statement that the name of General William Hull has found a place in this connection. He was not a native of Newton, but married a daughter of Judge Fuller in 1781, and owned and resided in the brick or western portion of the Nonantum House,
406
HISTORY OF NEWTON.
Newton Corner, and afterwards on the premises occupied, at a later period, by Ex-Governor Claflin at Newtonville. His services during the whole Revolutionary war are said to have been constant and valuable. At the commencement of the war of 1812, he was appointed commander of the northwestern army for the conquest of Canada, as related elsewhere. The same year, having in an evil hour surrendered his army to the British, he was tried by court- martial for this act, and sentenced to be shot ; but recommended to the mercy of the President, on account of his age and revolution- ary services. He published afterwards a defence of his conduct, which produced a favorable impression on the minds of many impartial men. His life was spared, but the stain was indelible.
To this period belongs an interesting incident in the life of the Rev. Joseph Grafton, the pastor for nearly half a century of the First Baptist church in Newton,- who was distinguished for his wonderful gift in prayer. In those days it was customary, on the occasion of a military review, to draw up the soldiers into a hollow square, and to have prayers offered by the chaplain of the regiment. The troubles now threatening between America and Great Britain gave an air of unwonted solemnity to the military pomp and pageantry of the day. Mr. Grafton, as chaplain, was called upon to perform the usual service. Calm and self-possessed, he mounted a gun-carriage which stood near him, and, placing one foot on the cannon, poured forth such a strain of devout supplica- tion as to astonish and delight every hearer. His apt allusions to the existing state of the country and the perils into which her soldiers might soon be called, affected many to tears. A very profligate and hardened man who was present, and who was deeply tinctured with infidel notions, was afterwards heard to remark, that "Mr. Grafton was the first man who ever drew tears from his eyes."
It is generally supposed that after a period of war, the morals of a people show marks of decline. The necessities of such a season of disorder and confusion often demand, or are supposed to demand, labors on the Sabbath which are inconsistent with the sacredness of the day in the time of peace. Promises are care- lessly made and lightly broken. The loose living of men in camp, away from the restraints and amenities of social and virtuous life, lead to rudeness of manners and the easy violation of Christian obligation. The whole community is, to a certain degree, demor-
407
TOWN ACTION.
alized, and it is sometimes long before a healthy public sentiment is re-instated. Under such circumstances, it is refreshing to find the citizens of Newton, immediately after the war of 1812, passing resolutions in town meeting, looking in the direction of political justice and Christian principle.
Under date of May 9, 1814, we find this action of the town :
VOTED, that our Representatives are hereby requested to use their in- fluence to oppose the passing of any insolvent law, or the incorporation of any more banks within this Commonwealth.
March 13, 1815 .- VOTED, that the inhabitants of this town do approve the efforts made by the inhabitants of several parts of this Commonwealth to carry into effect, as lately recommended by the Legislature thereof, the laws which have been enacted for the due observance of the Christian Sabbath, and that we will do all in our power to aid in so wise a measure.
CHAPTER XXXIII.
THE FIRST PARISH .- REV. JONATHAN HOMER .- MEETING-HOUSE OF 1805 .- BIOGRAPHY OF DR. HOMER .- CHURCH BELL .- LETTERS OF DR. AND MRS. HOMER .- REV. MR. BATES. - MR. BUSHNELL .- REV. D. L. FURBER .- TWENTY-FIFTH ANNIVERSARY .- THIR- TIETH ANNIVERSARY .- SABBATH SCHOOL .- STATISTICS.
THE First Parish church and congregation having become, by general consent, distinct from the town, it is proper that the resi- due of its history should form a separate chapter (see p. 234).
The congregation of the First Parish having tested so many and various gifts, during the illness of Mr. Meriam and after his decease, it was felt that the time had come to elect a pastor. December 18, 1780, the church voted "that the seventh day of February next be observed as a day of fasting and prayer, to seek direction with regard to the resettling of the gospel among us ; the deacons to invite such of the neighboring ministers as they think proper to assist in the services, and provide for them enter- tainment." But so great was their deliberation, that it was not till October 8th,-eight months afterwards,-that the church held a meeting to choose a pastor. At that meeting, Jonathan Homer received sixty-eight votes ; eight persons signified that they were not ready for a choice. Two hundred pounds were voted, to encourage Mr. Homer to settle in the ministry, one-half in one year, and one-half in two years.
Appointed Deacon Jonas Stone, John Woodward, Benjamin Hammond and Joshua Hammond to inform Mr. Homer of the votes of the church, and to confer with him about salary.
VOTED, one hundred pounds for his yearly salary, payable quarterly, and to procure for him convenient house-room for a family for one year at the cost of the parish, and sixteen cords of wood to be brought to his door annually.
408
409
MR. HOMER'S LETTER.
To the call of the church Mr. Homer returned the following reply :
Newton, January 4, 1782.
To the church of Christ and Society of the East Parish in Newton :
Brethren beloved,-We all stand related to an unalterable eternity, and the grand end of our existence on earth is to prepare for it.
We who enjoy the light of revelation are favored with distinguishing means for the advancement of our immortal welfare. The Great Head of the church has not only given us the written word, but has provided ministers to explain and enforce it; to proclaim the terrors of the law against the ungodly, and the grace, the surprising grace of his gospel to the chief of sinners.
Impressed, I trust, with the sense of the importance of the means of grace, you have seen fit, in God's holy providence, to choose me as your pastor, to watch over your souls, to feed, as far and as long as Heaven may enable me, the sheep and the lambs pertaining to this flock of the Divine Shepherd. .
I have long and deeply weighed in my own breast the invitation you have given me. I have repeatedly laid my case and that of this people at the throne of grace for direction. I have attentively considered the apparent language of Providence, and have felt a constant desire to act as this should finally dictate. I have asked the advice of the reverend fathers and brethren in the ministry, and appealed to the judgment of the serious and judicious among the private Christians of my acquaintance. At length I feel myself bound to accept of the invitation of taking the pastoral charge of this church.
Your peculiar unanimity in electing me, the great cordiality of sentiment in doctrine and discipline between us, the diligent and solemn attention of this people to the public services of religion, especially of the youth, in which I have seldom, if ever, found them equalled elsewhere, and who, on account of the temptations to reject seriousness of thought and conduct, peculiarly incident to their age of life, might not so naturally be expected to. manifest a regard for eternity, are circumstances of my call which I cannot resist, and would prefer to every other possible consideration. I only wish an increase of ministerial qualifications, that may render me a blessing to this people, and capacitate me to discharge the important duties of my office to the honor of religion.
I accept your offer for my temporal support, as voluntarily made by the worthy freeholders and other inhabitants of the first precinct in Newton, and hope that Heaven will excite and enable you and me uniformly and faithfully to fulfil our various mutual duties.
I desire the prayers of God's people, that I may have grace given me to prove a burning and shining light in this branch of the golden candlestick, and that I may have many as the seals of my ministry and crown of rejoic- ing in the day of my Lord and Master's appearance. To his benediction I commend this church and people, resting assured that if we are interested in him, as our almighty friend, you will be happy and I shall be successful in my ministry. May the great Head of the church keep us humbly dependent
410
HISTORY OF NEWTON.
on himself for a blessing, consequent upon the solemn relation of a pastor and his flock ; and may death only perfect and consummate our union to the Lamb and each other, in the city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God. Commending you and myself to the favor of our Divine and holy sovereign, through the all sufficient merits of Jesus, his Son,
I remain, dear brethren, your obliged pastor-elect and well wisher of your souls, JONATHAN HOMER.
The ministry of Dr. Homer covered a period of sixty-one years. He was sole pastor forty-five years, till November, 1827, and then had as colleague Rev. James Bates,- whose ministry covered about eleven years and a half. The pastoral relation of Dr. Homer and Mr. Bates was dissolved the same day, April 17, 1839. A revival of religion occurred during the united ministry of Dr. Homer and Mr. Bates, in 1827, and in the course of that year seventy-two were admitted to the church, many of them heads of families. A second season of special religious interest occurred in 1831-2. In the year 1832, sixty-five were added to the church by profession and eleven by letter,- total, seventy-six.
From the ordination of Dr. Homer in February, 1782, to the ordination of his colleague, Rev. James Bates, in November, 1827,- a period of forty- five years, about three hundred and twenty members were admitted to the church. The number of children baptized by Dr. Homer from his ordina- tion in February, 1782, to and including the year 1800,-a period of nine- teen years,- was about one hundred and sixty-seven, and two adults.
Dr. Homer had a spiritual field of less magnitude to cultivate than his predecessors. The First Baptist church was organized in 1780, and the West Parish Congregational church in 1781. By the second of these events, the territory representing the parish of Dr. Homer was seriously diminished in extent. By the first, a new element, full of the vigor of its young spiritual life, was planted in the midst of the people who were properly his exclu- sive parochial care. But new members were added to the church nearly every year, from the beginning to the close of his incum- bency. The most numerous additions, during the period of his sole pastorship, were in 1782, 1783, 1803 and 1811.
One of the most important movements of the Society, during the ministry of Dr. Homer, was the erection of the meeting-house of 1805, concerning which the following votes appear in the Records.
1
PURCHASERS OF PEWS.
411
June 6, 1803 .- VOTED, to erect a new meeting-house in this place, and appointed William Hammond, Ebenezer Cheney, James Stone, Samuel Clark, John Rogers, jr., Ebenezer Woodward, Jeremiah Wiswall, jr., John Thwing, jr., and Jonathan Parker, a committee to prepare estimates.
1804 .- Chose the same committee, adding Ebenezer White and Silas Fuller thereto, and authorized the committee to borrow money for the pur- pose.
October 28, 1805 .- Meeting at the temporary building near the meeting- house.
VOTED, that when the new meeting-house is completed, the Building Com- mittee proportion the cost of the house on the pews, at their discretion, and bid for choice at auction; and if there be any overplus, to purchase a bell.
The old church clock, formerly given by John Rogers, senior, not being suitable to hang in the new house, it was given back to its original donor, with the thanks of the Society for its many years' use.
November 21, 1805 .- The new meeting-house (being the fourth) was dedicated.
November 19 .- The right of choice among the pews was set up at auction, the highest having the right to select, paying therefor the amount of appraisement and the amount bid for choice.
The number sold, the names of purchasers and the amount of appraise- ments were as follows :
No. 2
Joseph White,
$125.
No. 39
Bela French,
$ 88. -
3
Ebenezer Cheney,
130. -
40
Joshua Park,
4
John Rogers,
132. 50
41 Joseph White,
5 Dea. Samuel Murdock,
132. 50
43 John Stone,
6 Jonathan Hammond,
130. 50
45 Nicholas Thwing,
7
Elisha Thwing,
122. 50
46
Ebenezer Wiswall,
8
Simon Elliot,
117. 50
47
Simon Elliot,
9
Widow Mary Hastings,
112. -
48 Timothy Jackson,
11
Use of the Ministry,
130. -
50 Samuel Clark,
13
Benjamin Hammond,
132. 50
51 Charles Coolidge,
15
Samuel Parker,
132. 50
52 Joshua Hammond,
16
Matthias Collins,
130. -
53 Aaron Luce,
17
Jonathan Hunnewell,
122. 50
54
John Thwing, jr.,
18
Nathan Hastings, George W. Coffin,
100. -
56
Aaron Cheney,
22
Moses Stone,
100. -
57 Jonathan Parker,
23
Samuel Trowbridge,
58 Ebenezer Woodward,
24 Jonathan Cook,
85. -
59 Jonathan Homer,
25
Samuel Ward,
100. -
60
John Thwing,
26
Elisha Murdock,
97.50
61 Samuel Hyde,
27
Joseph Craft,
95. -
62 Dea. Jeremiah Wiswall,
28
Thaddeus Whitney,
65. -
63 Robert Murdock,
29
Caleb Kenrick,
85. -
64
John Ward,
30
Ebenezer Withington,
80.
65
Solomon Child,
31
Obadiah Thayer,
103.
78
Jeduthan Sanger,
32
William Hammond,
103.
81
Joshua Hammond,
33
Edmund Trowbridge, Elijah Thwing,
103.
82 Jonathan Parker,
34
88.
88 Charles Coolidge,
35
Thaddeus Hyde,
103.
90 James Stone,
36
Ebenezer White,
100.
91 Ebenezer White,
37
Nathan Goodale,
98.
94
Jonathan Hammond,
38
John Dowing,
68. -
96
Jeremiah Wiswall.
117. 50
55
James Stone,
21
100. -
49 Obadiah Curtis,
14 John Rogers, jr.,
412
HISTORY OF NEWTON.
Thirty pews were unsold. The choice-money amounted to $459.63. The prime cost of the house was a little more than $8,100. The sixty-five pews sold, together with the choice-money, amounted to nearly the cost of the house.
The wood on the ministerial lot was sold for about one hundred dollars, to pay, in part, for the new meeting-house.
The above notes, from the manuscripts of the Hon. William Jackson, present the name of the pewholders of the church edifice built in 1805, and which has long since passed away. Still they have an interest in many ways. They show who were some of the prominent men of Newton at that date, and indicate the interest felt by them in the religious institutions of the town. They are an intimation,- uncertain, indeed, and partial, but, in the main, true,- of the abilty and the liberality of the men whose memorial has come down to us in such a connection. They tell us who cul- tivated these broad acres three-quarters of a century ago, and on the Sabbath of rest went up from these farms and dwellings to the house of God in company. Other honored names, which are not included here, we are sure must belong to the catalogue, though they are not recorded. The old families in remote neighbor- hoods, always full of public spirit, and foremost in the work of worship, were not without their places in the house of God. And a complete programme of the church edifice of 1805 would un- doubtedly place them among the most prominent and zealous of the worshippers in the house of God, as they were in every good word and work.
The meeting-house of 1805 resembled very closely the ancient meeting-house of the First Parish in Dorchester. The entrance was on Centre Street, by three doors. The pulpit, on the west end, was overhung by a sounding-board. The entrance to the pulpit was on the left, a closet on the right. There were three aisles, with a cross aisle in front of the pulpit ; six wall pews on the west end on each side of the pulpit, six each against the north and south walls of the house,- these being square pews,- and two ranges numbering twelve each, or forty-eight in all, on each side of the middle aisle, filling the body of the house. The wall pews on the west end, south of the pulpit and beginning at the pulpit, were owned or occupied in order by Noah Worcester, Jonas and Jonathan Stone, Asa Williams, Ephraim Jackson, Deacon E. F. Woodward, Dr. Homer's family ; on the west end, north of the
413
ORDER OF THE CONGREGATION.
pulpit,- beginning at the second pew,- Ira Wales, John Kings- bury, Colonel Brackett, John Cabot, Misses Lovell. The six wall pews on the north side were occupied by Josiah Stedman, Deacon William Jackson, William Brackett, Charles Brackett, John B. H. Fuller and Joseph Goddard; on the south side, E. Davis White, William Hall, William Wiswall, Captain Samuel Hyde, Deacon Asa Cook and William Wiswall, 2d. The south range in the body of the house, beginning as before, at the pulpit end of the aisle, Mr. Thayer, afterwards, M. S. Rice, Esq., William and John Kenrick, Nathaniel Trowbridge, Elijah Thwing, Thaddeus Hyde, Deacon Ebenezer White, Bethuel Allen, Moses Craft, Nathan Trowbridge, Joseph Crackbone, Edward Brooks, one vacancy. The south side of the middle aisle showed Dr. Homer, afterwards Joshua Loring, - Loring, Deacon Fuller, Elisha Wiswall, one vacant, Matthias Collins, Artemas Ward, Deacon Luther Paul, Henry Jepson, Edmund Trowbridge, Ralph Bacon, the STOVE; on the north side of the middle aisle, one vacant, John Pierce, General Ebenezer Cheney, one vacant, Thomas Smallwood, William Ladd, John Ward, Joseph Bacon, Deacon William Jack- son, one vacant, Benjamin Kingsbury. In the parallel range to the north, in the third pew, Samuel Trowbridge, in the fifth, Esquire Goodhue, in the seventh, Samuel Ward, in the eighth, Ephraim Ward; the other pews vacant. On the north gallery, which con- tained twelve pews, the front range was appropriated to the young ladies of the Newton Female Academy ; the back range, to the pupils of Master Rice's school. Of the south gallery, having also twelve pews, divided by an aisle, we find no report. The two seats for the singers were semi-circular, reaching from side to side. A case for the viol, and a " negro pew," perched high up in the southeastern corner, completed the interior of the house.
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