USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > History of Norfolk County, Massachusetts, with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men > Part 197
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" May 15, 1719. A Church Meeting-then voted-
" That the Church set apart a day solemnly to seek God by fasting and prayer and to invite the congregation to join with us in this great work that the Lord's face and favour may be sought after by us for the pardon of our sins and the sanctifying mercies and afflictions, and for the obtaining all needful bless- ings.
" That the Church having considered of the Ordination of the persons chosen into the office of Deacons, voted, that they pro- ceed regularly and in convenient time, to the peaceable and full consummation thereof, as God shall enable and direct them."
Dec. 17, 1719. " A Church Meeting," after the consideration of two articles, voted :
" It was proposed to consideration, whether it was necessary for this Church to chuse, in convenient season, an Elder or El- ders and another Deacon or Deacons, to assist and strengthen | the Church in maintaining the Kingdom and encouraging the Interest of Christ among this people.
" Voted to take the aboresaid proposal into our most serious consideration."
Feb. 26, 1720. A church meeting voted :
" Thought advisable to choose more subordinate officers in the church.
" Whether or no the church will proceed to choose an Elder or Elders, and it was voted that they would choose one.
"The church proceeded to vote for an Elder, and the vote fell on Deacon JOSEPH HEWINS-a very clear vote.
" Voted to choose one Deacon.
" The church proceeded to vote for a Deacon, and the vote fell on Brother ISAAC STEARNS. All this was done at a consid- erable full meeting."
" March 18, 1720. A Church Fast of Male and Female in a
933
CANTON.
private House. A collection for a Church Stock for the use and benefit of the church. This was the first collection in the church for the purpose aforesaid, and there was contributed and prom- ised £1, 6d. 0s .- That day Alexander Gordon and his wife, (strangers from Ireland,) were received to communion with us during their abode in this place, and they promised to remain under the Watch and Discipline of the church accordingly.
" March 21, 1720. That day the Deacons paid to Mrs. Amity Morse 15s. in full, for taking care of the Vessels of the Lord's Table till that time from the first improvement of them."
The office of deacon was not lightly esteemed in those days. Those selected by their brethren gener- ally took the matter into serious deliberation before accepting. Thus we find that Deacon Joseph Hew- ins considered the matter for a full month, and that he hesitated a long time before he accepted the office of elder. The singing was, as we judge, in the con- gregational style.
June 16, 1721, a church meeting voted,-
"That Peter Lyon proceed in setting the Psalmn in the con- gregation on Sabbath Days, when present."
"That Deacon Stearns be ordained or confirmed in the office of a Deacon, with our Brothers Blackman and Hewins when they are ordained."
Jan. 10, 1723, a church meeting voted,-
"That the church make a fresh application of their request to Joseph Hewins to accept the Office of a Ruling Elder in the church, accordingly such request was directed to him by the Pastor."
"That the Deacons discourse with all communicants in this place to seek after and obtain Letters of Recommendation from the churches they belong unto, to bring to our church in this place."
Of course, it will be understood that we are not giving the church records in full. We make such selections as will show the gradual growth of the | church, the officers chosen, and other important events - as they transpired. We shall also give the names of all those who were members of the church during the ministry of Mr. Morse.
-
We again refer to the Precinct Records, page 6 :
" At a meeting of ye Freeholders and other Inhabitants qual- ified to Law legally warned and assembled on November ye 15," (1717?) "Joseph Hewins Moderator. The same day it was Voted on ye affirmative that ye precinct (-) Ten Pounds for to be raysed by a reat for to pay (-) precinct is now indebted and to defray ye charge (-) nesaseryly arise in ye precinct this presant year to be layed (-) upon ye meeting house."
" The same day it was voted in ye affirmative that they would chuse a Comitee for to gather in ye Reverend Mr. Morse's old arears, and ye Comittee chosen was Henry Crane, Thomas Spur, Benjamin Esti, John Puffer and John Wentworth."
Legally warned and a sembled August ye 18th, 1708. Joseph Hewins Moderator."
"The same day it was voted in ye affirmative that ye precinct congregation would give to the Reverend Mr. Morse 35 Pound more than his former salary, for this present year."
" At a meeting of ye Freeholders and other Inhabitants qual- ified acording to law Legally warned and asembled in this pre- cinct on November ye 26, 1718. Mr. Nathanael Hubard Mod- erator."
" The same day it was voted in ye afermative that ye first Monday and ye last Monday in February annually should be ye set days for ye Inhabitants for to make up their accoumpts with Mr. Morse of the Ministerall Rate.
" At a meeting of ye Inhabitants of this precinct Legally warned and assembled February ye 16th, 1718-19, Joseph Hewins Moderator,-Joseph Hewins was chosen Precinct Clerk and first assessor and John Puffer ye second assessor and Joseph Tucker ye third assessor."
" The same day it was voted in ye affirmative that ye precinct would give to the Reverend Mr. Morse Fifteen Pounds more to be aded to his former salary for this present yeare."
" The same day it was voted in ye afermative that they would grant a rate to be made of Twentie Pounds and collected of and from ye Inhabitants and estates of said Precinct ( -- ) Be lay'd out upon ye Meeting House and to defray any necessary charges that may arise in ye precinct this year."
"The same day it was voted in ye afirmative that the a(sses- sors) should reserve ye saide Twentie Pounds of ye Constables hire workmen and pay them, and pay any other charges."
It appears from the records that the officers chosen in March this year did not accept, and a meeting was held in September following (day torn off the record), and Peter Lyon was chosen precinct clerk. Mr. Lyon was again chosen clerk " on ye 21st day of March, 1719-20."
" The same day it was voted in ye afermative that the pre- cinct inhabitants would give ye Reverend Mr. Morse Sixtie Pounds for his labor in ye work of ye ministry for this presant yeare."
"The same day ye assessors was chosen a Comitee to call and apoint precinct meetings. The same day it was voted in ye afermative that their should be six shillings Levied upon ye poule for this preasant yeare to ye Ministeriall rate."
" At a precinct meeting legally warned and assembled ye 29 of June 1720. The same day John Fenno, Joseph Tucker and Peter Lyon gave an account how they had layd out ye Ten Pound and ye Twentie Pound Rate which were comitted to Con- stable Haws and Constable Liscom to colect. The same day it was voted on ye afermative that they would choose a Commit- tee of three men for to save ye Meeting house and ye Comittee then chosen was John Fenno, Benjamin Blackman, and Joseph Hewins."
" The same day there was Ten Pound granted to be raysed by way of Rate upon ye pouls and estates in s'd Precinct for to repair the Roof of the Meeting house and to Bank the outside of ye sill of s'd house and to Repaire Mr. Morse's Pew Desently
" The same day it was voted in ye affirmative, that they would choose a Committee of five men for to seate ye meeting house, and ye Committee chosen were Henry Crane, Samuel Bullard, | and to defray other nessessary charges arising in s'd precinct." John Fisher, Joseph Hewins and John Puffer."
"The same day the assessors were chosen a Commitie to Re- ceive ye s'd Ten Pounde Rate of ye Constable and hire work- men and pay them for said work and pay other charges arising acording to ye vote."
"Then John Fenno, Joseph Tucker, and Peter Lyon Receved of Constable Liscom 20 Pound which was in full of a Rate which
1718. " At a meeting of the Freeholders and other Inhab- itants qualified according to Law in Dorchester South Precinct ' was comitted to him to collect in ye yeare 1719.
934
HISTORY OF NORFOLK COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
" The same day Paide to Left. John Vose for work don in ye Meeting house Seventeen Pounde and nineteen shillings."
The record for 1720-21 is much defaced and de- stroyed. Sixty pounds were voted to Mr. Morse for his labor, etc., that year.
" The same day it was voted that ye assessors should be a Comittee for to inquier into ye precincts title to ye Land whare ye Meeting house stands and to get a stronger confermation of the same if nede be."
March 5, 1721-2, the precinct inhabitants voted that they " would give ye Reverend Mr. Morse Sixty Pounds for his labor in the work of the ministry for this present yeare."
"The same day there was chosen a Comittee for to open the Boun" (dary of the meeting) " House Land and the Neighbors Lands adjoyning and to mesuer how" (far it was from) "the rhode and likewise each way and for the Committee" (to report the) " same to the clark of this precinct; that he may inter" (the same.) " The Committee then chosen was John Fenno and."
The other names are torn off ; the above in paren- thesis we have ventured to supply. The committee thus chosen reported March 15, 1722; but their record is so mutilated as to be entirely unintelligible.
The following are the names of the persons who owned the covenant, who were baptized and joined to the church in the time of Mr. Morse's ministry, and of such as were before his ordination :
Owned the Covenant before Mr. Morse's Ordination :
October 20, 1713. By Rev. Mr. Danford : Oliver Jordan, Jane Pitcher.
June 26, 1717. By Rev. Mr. Thatcher : John Wentworth, Shubal Wentworth, Edward Baily, Edward Wentworth, Eliza- beth Jordan, Abigail Wentworth.
After the Ordination :
January 26, 1717. Abigail Jordan.
February 2. Obadiah Hawes, Jr., Rebecca and Sarah Hawes. March 2, 1718. Joseph Smith.
March 9. Thomas and Joseph Jordan.
March 16. Margaret Hixon, John Walter, Hannah, Rebecca, Margaret, and Elizabeth Hixon.
March 30. Richard Hixon.
May 11. Sarah Morey.
June 22, 1791. Jane Jordan, Bethia Wentworth, Rebecca Fenno.
September 27, 1720. Samuel Waters.
November 27, 1721. Edward Esti.
April 16. Mary Meclellan.
July 6. Samuel Billings.
November 5. Isaac Comings.
December 17, 1722. Thankful and Prudence Redman.
January 10. William Weeks, Charles Wentworth, Zecharia Lyon, Joseph Fenno, Isaac Fenno, John Fenno, Ruth Fenno, Elizabeth Fenno.
October 21. Freelove Monk.
December 2, 1723. Benjamin Smith.
March 31. Beriah Billings, Elizabeth Stowbridge.
September 22, 1724. Increase Hawes.
April 12. John Hawes.
November 1. Elhanan Billing.
December 6. Robert Redman and his wife Mary, Jonathan Kenney, John Kenney.
January 17, 1724-25. Sarah White.
March 15. Jerusha Collick.
Communicants.
February 9, 1717. Sarah Stone.
February 23. Rebecca Hawse.
April 20, 1718. Hannah Hartwell.
June 22. Eleazor Billing, John Dickerman, Amity Morse, Jane Pitcher.
June 29. Joseph Tucker and Judith his wife, Margaret Hixon.
December 17. Elizabeth Speer.
December 28. Jerusha Billing.
March 15, 1719. Mary Tolman.
May 24, 1720. Mary Jordan, Elizabeth Ames.
April 24. Nathaniel Etheridge.
February 11, 1721-22. Thankful Smith.
February 25. William Crane and his wife.
March 25. Elhanan Lyon and Meredith his wife, David Eames.
April 8. Hannah Baily.
July 1. Nathaniel
August 3. Thomas Tolman.
August 12. Mary Baley.
September 9. Jane Jordan.
March 10, 1723. Abigail Jordan.
August 2, 1724. Susannah Blackman.
June 27, 1725. Abigail Kingsbury.
July 4, 1725, Margaret Hawse.
Baptisms.
Before the Ordination :
October 20, 1713. By Mr. Danford: Sion, of Mr. Joseph Morse; Thomas, Oliver, Ester, of Thomas Jordan; Sarah, of Benjamin Esti; Samuel, of Joseph Topliff; Christian, of Robert Pelton ; Eliakin, Abijah, Jane, of Edward Pitcher; Mary Stone.
June 26, 1717. By Mr. Thatcher : Martha, of John Went- worth ; Abijail, of Thomas Speer ; Zeriah, of Joseph Tucker ; William, of Thomas Jordan; William, John, of John Went- worth ; Amariah, of Joseph Topliff; Edward, of Edward Pit- cher ; Matthias, of Eleazer Puffer; Thankful, of Daniel Stone. After the Ordination :
June 19, 1717. David, of Shubal Wentworth.
June 26. Abijail, of Samuel Hartwell ; Abiel, of Essh. Allen. February 2. Obidah Hawse, Jr .; Rebecca and Sarah Hawse. February 16. Joseph, of Joseph Jordan.
March 2, 1718. Eleazer, of Obediah Hawse, Mercy, of Joseph Smith.
March 9. Thomas and Joseph Jordan, Robert, of Elea. Speer.
March 16. Margaret Hixon and her children, John, Walter, Hannah ; Oliver, Margaret, and Elizabeth, Abigail, of Philiss Goodwin.
April 20. Zebadiah, of Edward Wentworth.
April 27. Sarah, of David Stone; Samuel, of Samuel Bil- lings.
May 16. Sarah Morey.
June 1. Benjamin, of Benjamin Jordan.
June 8. Thomas, of John Dickerman.
June 22. Jonathan, John, Jane, of James Jordan; Bethia Wentworth, Rebecca Fenno.
July 20. Elizabeth, of William Wheeler.
February 15, 1718-19. Joannah, of Daniel Stone.
April 12. Mary, of Edward Baily.
April 19. Thomas, of Thomas Tolman.
May 24. Francis, of Joseph Esti, Jr.
May 31. Jeremiah, of Thomas Jordan.
July 26. D --- , of Samuel Bird.
August 23. Uriah, of Joseph Tucker.
935
CANTON.
September 27. Samuel Waters.
November 8. Hannah, of Shubal Wentworth.
November 22. Ebenezer, of John Dickerman. December 6. Sarah, of Benjamin Gill. December 20. Hannah, of Samuel Heartwell. April 3, 1720. Edward, of Edward Pitcher. April 10. Moses, Aaron, of John Wentworth, twins. April 24. Peltiah, of Samuel Esti.
May 1. Jedediah, of Jonathan Jordan.
May 29. Joseph, of Joseph Smith.
June 5. Abigail, of Thomas Speer.
June 12. Manning, of Joseph Sawin.
September 25. Samuel, of Joseph Jordan.
October 2. Mary, of David Eames.
October 23. Abigail, of William Wheeler.
October 23. Paul, of Edward Wentworth.
October 23. Elizabeth, of John Jamisson. November 6. Benjamin, of Philip Liscom. November 27. Isaac, of Edward Esti.
February 19, 1720-21. Henry, of Daniel Stone.
March 12. John, of John Hixon.
April 9. Nathaniel, of David Stone.
April 16. Mercy, Mecletton.
May 24. Amity, of Mr. Joseph Morse.
July 16. Elijah, of Samuel Billing ; Lydia, of Jabez Frost.
July 30. Abigail, Miriam, of Elea. Puffer, twins.
August 13. Isiach, of Thomas Jordan.
November 5. Hannah, of Isac Comings.
December 10. Mary, of Joseph Holland.
December 17. Thankful and Prudence Redman.
February 11, 1721-22. Samuel, of John Dickerman.
May 6. -, of Benjamin Gill ; James, of James Smith ; Jonah, of Samuel Heartwell.
June 3. Ruth, of Joseph Esti, Jr .; William Weeks, Charles Wentworth, Zacharih Lyon, Joseph Fenno, Isaac Fenno, John Fenno, Ruth Fenno, Elizabeth Fenno.
July 1. Nathaniel Otis.
July 8. Abijah, of Timothy Jones ; Hannah, of Samuel Bird. July 22. Abigail, of Eben. Clap.
September 30. Abigail, of Edw. Wentworth. November 21. Freelove Monk.
November 28. John William Wheeler.
December 4. John, of William Crane; Ephram, of Benjamin Smith.
December 9. Elizabeth, of Edw. Esti.
March 3, 1723. James, of Elias Puffer. March 31. Mary, of Bettiah Billing. April 21. Michael, of - Speer.
June, 1723. Ezekiel, of Shub. Wentworth.
June 29. Amity, of Daniel Stone; Experience, of John Phil- ips, of North Purchas, Taunton. June 16. Samuel, of John Throbridge.
June 30. Ephram, of David Eames. July 7. Abigaiel, of David Stone. July 21. Elizabeth, of William Sherman.
September 1. Keziah, Mary, of Ezra Morse, of Dedham, twins.
September 22. Jesse, of Desire Hawse. December 8. Ebenezer, of George Talbot. February 2, 1723-24. Mercy, of John Dickerman.
February 23. Isaac, of Isaac Comins.
March 22. Mary, of Thomas Tolman, Jr.
April 5, 1724. At Dedham, New Congregation at Guilds; Rachel, of Samuel Thorp; Sarah, of Ebenezer Dean; Sarah, of Nathaniel Guile; Hannah, of William Bullard, Jr. ; Martha, of - White, of Dorchester, South Precinct.
1
April 12. John Hawse, Mary, of Ebenezer Clap; Benjamin, of Benjamin Smith.
May 17. Sarah, of Mary Mecllen ; Mary Redman.
May 31. Nathan, of Samuel Heartwell.
July 19. Sarah, of Samuel Esti.
1
July 26. - -- , of William Weeks. September 13. Joseph, of Joseph Esti, Jr.
October 25. Benjamin, of Benjamin Gill.
November 1. Ebenezer, of Elkanah Billing; Ananiah, Wil- : liam, Rachel, Bethiah, of Charles Wentworth.
December 6. Robert Redman, and his wife Mary, Jonathan Kenny, John Kenney, Sarah, of Robert Redman.
January 10, 1724-25. Sarah, of Cornelius Thing.
January 17. Sarah White.
January 24. Guild, of Jonathan Kenney.
February 7. Samuel, of Samuel Bird.
February 28. Stephen, of Stephen Billing.
March 4. Hannah, of William Wheeler.
March 28. Cornelius, of Cornelius Collick.
April 4. Sion Wentworth, Mary, of Joseph Smith.
August 1. Sarah, of Benjamin Savel.
September 5. Mehitable, of Jobn Hixon.
March 13, 1726. Nathaniel, of William Sherman ; Jonathan,
of Jonathan Kenny.
March 20. Eliphalet, of Elias Monk.
. March 27. Mulford, of Corne's Thompson ; Sarah, of Samuel Heartwell.
July 10. Silas, of Joseph Sarvin.
August 7. Jonathan, of Beriah Billing.
1726-27. Ann, of Daniel Stone, by Rev. Mr. Dexter.
March 5. By Rev. Mr. Thatcher : David, of Thomas Jordan ; Zebulon, of William Crane; Experience, of George Talbot ; Silas, of Edward Wentworth; Benjamin, of Benjamin Gill; Stephen, of David Tilden; Manapah, of John Dickerman; William Witherbee.
May 24. James, of Shubael Wentworth; William, of Joseph Smith.
During his ministry of ten years thirty-one per- sons were added to the church, and one hundred and sixty-seven were baptized. He had preached the Word of God ten years and nine months before his ordination. In 1726-27 his connection with the parish was dissolved by mutual consent. He con- I tinued to reside in the parish until his death. He was buried in the old Canton Cemetery. The in- scription on the gravestone is as follows :
" Here lyes buried the. Body of the Revd. Mr. JOSEPH MORS, decd Nov. 29, 1732. in ye 61st year of his age.
Within this silent grave here now doth ly Him that is gone unto Eternity. Who, when he lived was by good men respected,
Although by others was perhaps rejected,
Yet that don't hinder his Triumphant Joy With Saints above where nought can him annoy."
He was a man of considerable property, as appears by the following, which is copied from the Registry of Probate for the county of Suffolk, vol. 31, pp. 184, and which may be interesting as showing what com- posed the property of that day :
936
HISTORY OF NORFOLK COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.
" An Inventory of Mr. Joseph Morse his estate who departed this life November 29th, 1732.
Books one Bible Pools Annotations £35. To wearing apparel 2 Rings & Cane. 16. 16
To housing Land with orchard & meadow. 1450. To oxen & steers 27.
5
To cows Heifers Bulls, Horse Hiered & Sheep ... 67. 15
To Five Beds Bed .Cloaths & Bed-Steads 50.
To Silver Tankard one cup & seven spoons .. 37. 10 To Pewter Platters, Plates, Basins, Tankard. Flaggon spoons & Earth" Ware .. 8. 3
To three Brass Kettles warming pan & skillet ... 10.
To chest of Draws and two Tables 8.
To 2 Weavers Looms & their tackling 7.
9.
6
To 2 Saddles Mail Pillion & Portmanteau 6.
To Iron Potts Potthooks & Kettle .. 2.
To Iron Tramells Cart Hoops Streaks & Nails ... 7.
To 16 chairs 3 Trunks 2 chests & 2 Boxes.
4
15
To axes fetters old iron chain Plow & horse tackling
2.
16
To five swine, Barrells Tubbs Trays old stilliards A Gun
9.
To Lanthorn, Candlesticks, Candlebox fire Irons Leather for Shoes one Hlive of Bees Look'g Glass Small Chest Box & Lumber
11. 2
£1763: 5: 6
" The above Inventory was Taken & the Goods apprised ac- cording to the best of our understanding of what was brought to our View by us at Stoughton.
" JOHN WENTWORTH.
" THOMAS SPUR.
" SAMUEL HARTWELL.
" BOSTON, April 24, 1733."
We have thus gathered from various sources such things pertaining to Mr. Morse and his ministry as seem to be of interest. Mr. Noyes has his auto- graph in his possession, and an account kept between himself and his mother, Priscilla, dated 1693. The gold-headed cane mentioned in his inventory is now in the possession of one of his descendants at Man- chester, N. H. His father died Feb. 3, 1731. His paternal grandfather was John Morse, who was the oldest son of Samuel Morse, of Dedham, who was born in England, 1585 ; emigrated to New England, 1635 ; settled at Dedham, 1637; and died at Med- field, April 5, 1654.
Joseph Morse was born in Medfield about 1671, and was graduated at Harvard College in 1695. After leaving college he sometime resided in Providence, R. I., where he married Amity Harris. He then re- sided and preached at Watertown until he came to the place of his ordination, at about the age of forty- seven.
Rev. Joseph Morse's children were Joseph, born at Watertown, 1706, who married Bethia Waters for his first wife; John, born at Watertown, 1708; Amity, born at Watertown, 1710; Sion, born 1713, at Stoughton (now Canton); Henry and Mary. Many of their descendants now reside in Canton.
Rev. Samuel Dunbar succeeded Mr. Morse, and was ordained in 1727.
The following extracts from the records in relation to singing are of interest :
" April 6. There being like to be a difference ab't Singing, some of ye Brethren proposed New Tunes to be added to the old ones and some against. I proposed to ye Chh. May 18, that we would settle ye matter by yer vote & to ye end bring in yer votes | in meeting next Lds Day evening and further vote who should set ye tune."
" May 25. Put off ye voting till next Lord's Day Evening at ye desire of several."
"June 1. Voted that SOME NEW TUNES be added to ye Old ones yt are ordinarily sung in ye Congregation and ye MR. DUNBAR set ym."
The Mr. Dunbar above mentioned must have been the Rev. Pastor himself. There was no other man of his name in the church or parish. He was a famous singer, and his only son, Elijah, who was born this year, and baptized Aug. 24, 1740, was afterwards renowned in the churches for his singing.
The subject of church music caused no little agita- tion in those days. What was called " regular sing- ing" had been introduced, and, as we are told by Mr. Drake in his " History of Boston," " the practice was opposed by the churches generally."
The Puritans were averse to regular singing. They say, in "The Confession," 1571, "We allow the people to join in one voice in a psalm-tune, but not in tossing the psalm from one side to the other, with intermingling of organs."
The excitement began somewhere about the year 1720, and raged over all the New England colonies. But it purified and brightened the churches. "In some," says Hood, "it was the glorious harbinger of a great and powerful outpouring of the Holy Spirit." Mr. Dunbar's church was at this time (1739-40) in a very flourishing state. Eleven were added to the church during the year, and we do not find any further reference made to the matter of singing.
Mr. Dunbar probably " set" the tunes, as " old Mr. Peter Lyon" had done in Mr. Morse's time, and they sang as they were moved by the Spirit, making melody in their hearts. We fancy we hear them now, standing around that sacred table, lifting up their voices in Barnard's version of Psalm cxxxiv. :
" Lo: all ye Servants of the Lord Who nightly stand and wait, Attending in his sacred House, Jehovah celebrate.
" Bless ye the Lord, lift up your Hands Within his Holy Place The Lord, who Heaven and Earth hath made Thee out of Sion bless."
Mr. Dunbar preached many sermons, which were printed. The following is a reproduction of the title- page of one :
- -
29
4
To chest wth one Draw Cupboard Joynt chest & Table
1
937
CANTON.
MAN, like Grass, weak and withering.
A SERMON
Preach'd in the first PARISH of Stoughton
UPON The Melancholy Occasion
OF THE
Premature Deaths of several Young PERSONS there ; FEBRUARY 5th, 1748-9.
By Samuel Dunbar, M. A.
Pastor of the CHURCH there.
JAMES, iv. 13, 14. Go to now, ye that say to-Day, or To-mor- row, we will go into such a City and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get Gain. Whereas ye know not what shall be on the Morrow : For what is your Life ? It is even a Vapour, that appeareth for a little Time, and then vanish- eth away.
BOSTON:
Printed by J. GREEN for D. COOKIN, in Marl- borough Street. 1749.
This discourse was suggested, as he says in a note, by the deaths, which followed each other in rapid suc- cession, of a child of Mr. James Andros and a child of Mr. Samuel May: of Elisha Tailor, Abigail Lis- cum, Mary Houghton, Mary Clap, young persons, and " The Aged Widows, Mrs. Morse and Mrs. Stearns, good old Deacon Blackman, Mr. Moses Gill, and Mr. Benjamin Gill ; Mr. Humphrey Atherton, Mrs. Mary Fisher, Mrs. Paul, Ann Shadd."
Paul Revere, at the age of twenty-one, accompanied Col. Richard Gridley to Crown Point in 1755-56, and assisted in the struggle then going forward be- tween France and England for the possession of this continent. And, remarkably illustrating the intimate association between the New England clergy and the laity in their work of reclaiming the land to civiliza- tion both by the arts of peace and war, the Rev.
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