History of Norfolk County, Massachusetts, with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 198

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton) ed
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: Philadelphia, J. W. Lewis & Co.
Number of Pages: 1534

USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > History of Norfolk County, Massachusetts, with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men > Part 198

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Samuel Dunbar, minister of this church and town, | well Sermon in the Old Meeting House, Hebrews x. 32. first accompanied them on their distant and perilous journey.

Mr. Dunbar returned to his parochial duties on the 6th of December, 1755. The general thanksgiving had been observed in his absence, Dec. 4, 1755, but whether there had been preaching or not is not re- corded. During that year a public fast was observed March 20th, July 3d, and August 28th, the latter, " A General Fast upon ye account of ye Defeat of | General Braddock's Army at ye Ohio. I preached from

Joshua vii. 1-7." In 1740, Mr. Dunbar thus chron- icles the gathering of a new church :

" May 1th. This evening the Chh. voted ye following Breth- eren and Sisters of ye Chh. a Dismission and Recommendation in order to be gathered into a Distinct & Particular Chh. in ye 2d Precinct of this Town : Viz Joseph Hewins, Benjamin Esti, Peletiah Whittemore, Eleazer Puffer, Jeremiah Fuller, Joseph Hewins, Junior, John Noyes, Ebenezer Hewins, John Smith, Eleazer Hawse, Benja. Savel, Daniel Richard's, Benj. Esti, Ju- nior, Ebenr. Esti, Samuel Cowmings, Clifford Belcher, Eliza- beth Whittemore, Mary Savel, Rebeckeh Esti, Elizabeth Puffer, Harriet Fuller, Hannah Hewins, Judith Hewins, Mary Hawse, Martha Esti."

There had been preaching for some time, doubtless, in the Second Precinct, now Sharon, before the founda- tion of the church. We find the following record, 1737-38:

" July 23. This Lord's Day about 30 Families drew off from the Public Worship in this place to ye New Meeting House on ye Plain at Masspoag. Young Mr. Burnal preached among ym Ye Lord give grace & Truth in this town & precinct."

In those days it was the practice to double date between January 1st and March 25th, thus 1737-38, until the introduction of New Style in 1752. Prior to 1752 the civil year began in March, which was called the first month. To render Old Style into New Style the first month must be reckoned as the third, and eleven days be added to all dates between 1700 and 1752.

In 1741-42. "Jan. 13, 1741-2, The Pastor & Deacons ye Delegates of ye Chh. assisted in ye Ordaining Council, & Or- dained ye Rev. Wm. Philip Curtis, Pastor of ye Chh. in ye 2d Precinct began with Prayer, Mr. Nath. Walter, of Roxbury, preached from Acts xx. 28. I gave ye charge, and Mr. Pay- son, of Walpole, gave ye Right hand of Fellowship."

Mr. Dunbar and his parish took a lively interest in this new church, as appears from various memoranda made by him. Vide the following, 1742 :

" June 4th Stayed ye Chh. Voted to give to our Younger Sister Chh. in order to furnish ye Table of ye Lord am ym One Flaggon, 2 Tankards 1 Large Cup and ye Little Cups."

In 1748, the twenty-second year of Mr. Dunbar's ministry, a new meeting-house was finished.

" Oct. 23, 1748. This Lords Day I preached the last Fare- clause, a large and crowded assembly.

"Oct. This day was ye Dedication of ye New Meeting House. I preached from Isai. 60 7. last clause.

" Oct. 30. This Lords Day and a Sacrament Day. We as- sembled in the New Meeting House. I preached from Psa. 26. 8."

Mr. Dunbar remained as pastor until his death, June 15, 1783.

The following is the inscription on the stone which points out the spot in the cemetery where Mr. Dun- bar was buried. It was written by his son, Elijah

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Dunbar, Esq., and the Latin is slightly altered from the inscription on the gravestone of President Chauncey, in the Cambridge graveyard :

" CONDITUM Hlie Corpus Est. REV'DI SAMUELIS DUNBARI, Ecclesia Stoughtoniensis primæ, Per LV. Annorum Spacium, Pastoris Vigilantissimi, Concionatoris Eximinii, Pietate. Paritus ac Liberali Eruditione, Ornatissimi. Qui Obiit in Domino June XV. MDCCLXXXIII. Et Atatis Sue LXXIX."'

In these days, when the ministerial relation is so often severed, it is difficult to conceive of the state of the parish which had been blessed with the same faithful pastor for fifty-five years. It will be remem- bered that there was no other religious society in all the First Parish of Stoughton, being that territory now included in and forming the town of Canton. Blessed days ! when the whole people of the precinct worshiped together around one common consecrated altar !

They took immediate steps to obtain a preacher, as appears by the following vote (p. 103, Precinct Rec- ords 1783, July 14th) :

" At a Prec't meeting legally assembled and held on Monday the fourteenth day of July A. D. 1783, in the first Prec't in Stoughton.

" Col. Benjamin Gill, Moderator. After consideration and debate.

" 1st. Voted that the Parish will meet together every Lord's day at the meeting house for public social worship, and in order to raise a fund for supplying the precinct Treasury for that purpose.

" 2d. Voted that there be a free contribution every Sabbath after service, and that every one that contributes shall have an order upon the Treasurer for the money he has so contributed, and marked once every two months, if he desires it, and the Parish Committee and Parish Treasurer are hereby directed to grant orders accordingly, and ye s'd orders and allow them.

"3d. Voted that the Parish Committee be a Committee to re- ceive the 2d contributions, make a particular account of it and deliver the money thus obtained to ye precinct Treasurer, taking receipts for the same.

Adam Blackman, be a Committee, who are hereby authorized and empowered, (provided there shall be a fund sufficient) to supply the Pulpit, for the term of three months, beginning ye 17th August next, and ending ye 9th of November following, unless ye Parish otherwise order.

" 5th. Voted that ye Precinct Treasurer pay weekly for preaching, agreeable to ye contract made with ye preacher, by the above Committee.

" And as it may happen through various causes that regular preaching cannot be obtained, therefore in that case.

John Kinney, and Benjamin Gill, be desired to lead and con- duct ye public social worship in the following manner, viz :- Ist. To read a portion of ye Holy Scriptures. 2d. To read a psalm to be sung. 3d. To read some pious practical discourse. 4th. Then to read a psalm to be sung, and 5th. To dismiss the assembly by reading an Apostolical Benediction."

1786. " At a meeting of ye Frecholders and other Inhabit- ants of ye first Precinct in ye Town of Stoughton, qualified to vote as ye Law directs, legally assembled and held at ye Meet- ing House in ye s'd first Precinct this twenty-ninth day of May An. Dom : 1786 .-

" Chose Col. Benjamin Gill Moderator.

" Voted to concur with ye Vote of the Church in giving Mr. Zechariah Howard a call to take ye Pastoral care of ye Church in this Place. Nem. Con.

" Voted and granted to Mr. Zechariah Howard ye Sum of . Ninety Pounds lawful money as a Salary to be paid him annu- ; ally while he continues in ye Pastoral Relation to this Church and Congregation.

"Voted and granted Mr. Zechariah Howard a Settlement or gratuity of two hundred pounds lawful money in order to lay a foundation for his comfortable and honorable support, one hun- dred pounds to be paid him ye first year after settlement and ye other hundred pounds ye second year after his settlement.

" Voted and granted Mr. Zechariah Howard ten cords of good merchantable Firewood to be delivered annually at ye Place of his abode in s'd Precinct, during ye Time he shall continue without a family, or keeping House by himself; and upon having a family or keeping House by himself, voted him twenty Cords of good Merchantable Firewood to be delivered annually at ye Place of his abode in s'd Precinct during his Pastoral Relation to this Church and Congregation.

"Voted that James Endicott, Esq., George Crossman, Esq., and Messrs. Samuel Tucker, Henry Bailey, James H. Lewis and Adam Blackman be a Committee to present Mr. Zechariah Howard with copies of ye Votes of this Precinct Relative to his call and Settlement.

" The Same Day ye Precinct voted to board and shingle one side of ye Roof of ye Meeting House and ye other side of ye Roof together with ye sides and ends of ye Meeting House to be repaired.

" Attest, WILLIAM WHEELER, " Prec't Clerk."

" At a Meeting held 'at ye Meeting House in s'd first Pre- cinct this twenty-fifth Day of September. 1786,

" Chose Col. Benj'n Gill Moderator.

" Mr. Zechariah Howard gave an answer to ye Call given him by ye Ch'h and Congregation in this Place who ordered ye same to be recorded-which is as follows, viz.

"' To the Church and Congregation in ye North Parish in Stoughton. "' Brethren and Friends,

"' Having taken under mature and serious consideration ye

"4th. Voted Messrs. Elijah Dunbar, Benjamin Gill, and , call which you have given me to settle with you in ye Work of ye Gospel Ministry, thinking it my Duty, I heartily accept thereof tho' it is not without Fear and Trembling that I think of taking upon me ye Weighty, ye Solemn and Important Charge. If ye greatest of ye Apostles, while he thought of ye Momentous undertaking was obliged to cry out who is equal 1 to these things, you must be sensible that an unexperienced youth will not only stand in Need of ye greatest Candor and Friendship from ye People of his Charge but more especially of an Interest in their Prayers at ye Throne of Grace for Di- vine aid and assistance let me therefore intreat of you to make "6th. Voted that Messrs. Joseph Billings, Elijah Dunbar, it your Prayer to Almighty God with whom is ye Residue of

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ye Spirit of all Grace that I may in every Respect fulfil ye of- fice of a faithful Minister of ye New Testament, that during my Labors among you I might approve myself unto God and ye Conscience of Men to be in Reality a Servant of Jesus Christ and that I might at all times take such heed to my Life and Doctrines as to save myself and them that hear me. The per- fect union and happy agreement that has been and still sub- sists among you has been a great inducement to my accepting of your Invitation. The kindness and repeated marks of Friendship that I have already received from Individuals and ye Society at large flatter me that you will cheerfully con- tribute every thing necessary on your part to my comfortable and honorable support among you. You must not, indeed you cannot rationally expect to find in me, at present if ever a full and complete Reparation of ye great Loss which you sustained in ye Death of your late worthy Pastor. As successor to such a Man I am fully sensible that I must appear to disadvantage, his illustrious example will be a stimulus to Duty and I hope, in many respects Beneficial, but had Nature been impartial in ye Distribution of her Favors it would require time and much experience to equal his attainments. But as ye great Shep- herd of Israel ye kind Parent of ye Universe requires of each and all his servants in exact proportion to what he hath given unto them, I trust that having an Interest in your Prayers, I shall not neglect ye Gift that is in me but be enabled to im- prove it to ye Honor of God and Benefit of ye Church, finally Brethren pray for me, pray for yourselves ; let it not only be ye Study of your lives but your daily prayers that we may each and all of us know what is ye good and acceptable and perfect Will of our God, but ever have an heart and Disposi- tion to perform it. That this Sacred and Solemn connection which we are about to form may be a mutual Blessing, that we might not only live comfortably together here in this world but have a joyful meeting at ye Bar of Almighty God, where I must shortly appear to give an account of my ministry and you of ye improvement you make of it.

"' Wishing you Grace, Mercy and Peace in our Lord Jesus Christ I subscribe myself your devoted

"' Friend and humble Servant in ye Lord. " ' ZACHARIAH HOWARD. "' Given at Stoughton, Sept. 17th, 1786.'

" The Same Day ye Precinct Voted that ye twenty-fifth Day of Oct'r next should be ye Day for ye Ordination of Mr. Howard."

Mr. Howard was duly ordained, and remained ' solved it at last, and reported the result, and also until his death, Sept. 15, 1806.

Mr. Howard was succeeded by Rev. William Richey, | in 1805. The following votes concerning the settle- ' ment of Mr. Richey will serve to give " an idea," says Hon. Charles Endicott in his historical address, "of the way and manner in which they made a con- tract for a parish minister seventy years ago.

" April 6. ' Voted unanimously, that the town con- cur with the church in giving Mr. William Richey a call to the pastoral charge of said Church and Society of this town.' Thereupon a committee of twenty-five persons was chosen to confer with Mr. Richey, as to salary, etc., and report at an adjourned meeting.

seems to have met the ordeal bravely, for on the 15th the committee reported that the town should grant Mr. Richey one thousand dollars as a settlement, upon certain stated conditions as to length of service, etc., and pay him a salary of five hundred and seventy-five dollars per annum, ' to be computed upon the follow- ing staple articles of life, on the 1st week of May, an- nually, by such committee as the town shall appoint, joined with Mr. Richey, by the Boston prices, viz. : corn, rye, flour, salt-beef and salt-pork, butter, cheese, wool, flax, sole leather, and coffee,' and then they pro- vided that if the salary was not paid in three months after it became due, ' then Mr. Richey to have interest after it becomes due till paid.' 'Also, that the town grant him eight cords of good, merchantable fire-wood annually, during the time he shall remain without a family, and sixteen cords annually, when he shall have a family.'

" It. is clear that an impression soon got abroad that the parson had been too sharp for the committee of twenty-five ; that question of interest to be computed on overdue salary was uncomfortable. So, at the next meeting, so much of the foregoing vote as related to interest was erased or expunged. But Mr. Richey, on being informed of the repeal, quietly said, in a note to the committee, that he thought he ought to receive his salary when due, and that he should expect inter- est to be allowed, should there be a delinquency of payment. And the town, on hearing the letter read, again voted the interest clause, in a somewhat modi- fied form.

" Another difficulty ! How much should be paid in cash under the contract based upon the market price of corn, salt-pork, and the other articles named in the contract ? Messrs. Dunbar, Tucker, and Bemis labored with this problem for I know not how long, but they

the process by which they arrived at the result, as they said it might be useful thereafter as a precedent. The result was that the cash pay for the salary of the minister for the second year of his service was re- duced from five hundred and seventy-five dollars to four hundred and eighty dollars and forty-nine cents. The minister appended a certificate to the report, slightly suggestive of a sort of quiet humor, that he had reviewed the calculations made by the committee and found the result of them to correspond with the letter of the contract. This contract, however, did not always operate to the minister's disadvantage, for in one year, during the war of 1812, his salary amounted to nearly nine hundred dollars."

" One might suppose that poor Mr. Richey would have stood no chance whatever with a committee of ! Mr. Richey was 'succeeded in the pastorate by Rev. twenty-five full-grown, sharp, sagacious men. But he . Benjamin Huntoon, who was born in Salisbury, N. H.,

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HISTORY OF NORFOLK COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

Nov. 28, 1792. His early life was passed on his father's farm. He commenced his academical studies, preparatory to entering college, at the academy in Salisbury, and was graduated at Dartmouth College in 1817. During all this time he supported himself by teaching school. He had the ninth appointment in the graduating exercises, which was a dialogue with Mr. Benjamin Woodbury, who was his college chum, on the question, " Which of the learned professions is more favorable to literary eminence, Divinity or Law ?" Mr. Huntoon taking the side of divinity.

After leaving college he taught the academy at his native town until 1819, when he entered upon the study of divinity at Andover Theological Seminary. In the spring of 1820, his health failing, he came to Boston, and took charge of an academy in Salem Street. While carrying on this school he was invited to the ministry of the First Congregational Church in Canton, and was ordained Jan. 30, 1822. Rev. John Pierce, of Brookline, preaching the sermon, Rev. Henry Ware giving the right hand of fellowship. He soon became widely and favorably known as a most earnest worker and eloquent preacher, and probably delivered more occasional discourses than almost any other minister in the neighborhood. In the latter part of the year 1829 he was invited to preach the sermon at the dedication of a new Unitarian Church in Bangor, Me., and the society there prevailed on him to resign his pastorate here, and he was installed at Bangor in June, 1830. In the fall of 1833, his health failing under his numerous and onerous labors, he asked and received a dismission from that church, and spent the winter at Savannah, Ga., preaching to the Unitarian Society there. In 1834 he returned to the North with re-invigorated health, and was in- stalled over the First Congregational Church in Milton (Rev. Dr. Morison's), Oct. 15, 1834.

Again, on account of failing health, he was obliged to resign his charge, and passed the winter in the then far West, preaching at Peoria, Ill., and at Chicago. In the spring of 1837 he was invited to settle at Cincinnati, Ohio, where he remained one year. In June, 1838, he went to Peoria, where he remained preaching to the First Unitarian Church there until August, 1840, when he was invited by the church in Canton, where he had been first ordained, to return, and he was accordingly reinstalled at Canton, March 13, 1841. In 1849 he resigned the pastorate and went to Marblehead, and became the pastor of the Second Congregational society at that place. In 1855, his health failing, he left that place, and in May, 1856, took charge of the parish at Winchendon, | public good. where he remained until Nov. 8, 1857. In April,

1859, he was installed over the society at West- borough, but his health continuing to fail, he was forced to relinquish his charge in February, 1860.

In the fall of that year, having a desire to return to the place where he had been first ordained to the ministry, and where he had passed so many happy years, he returned to Canton, and refitted and repaired his old house. Here he spent the declining years of his life, blessed with the love and fellowship of those who had known and revered him in his earlier days, a constant worshiper, and an occasional preacher, in the church which was erected through his exertions in the first years of his ministry. His presence and his daily walk were a benediction and a psalm. His name was a household word in every family. The traditions of his early labors were familiar to all. . They whom he met at the sacrament of the Lord's Supper,-they whom he had blessed at the marriage altar,-they whom he baptized in infancy, and whom he had watched over in the schools, and counseled in their riper years,-alike revered and loved him, and came to his funeral weeping mourners. They who had been his early parishioners (Deacon Dunbar, Deacon Thomas French, George Downes, Deacon Leonard Everett, Silas Kinsley, Elijah Tucker, James Bent, and others) had long been gathered to their final rest, and he seemed almost alone of the men of that day to remain. And when he died,

" He fell like autumn fruit that mellowed long, Or, like a clock worn out by eating time, The wheels of weary life at last stood still."

It does not become us to attempt an analysis of his character. Such a task belongs more properly to those who have known him longer, and who are better qualified otherwise to speak of him. Rev. Dr. Thomp- son, of Jamacia Plain, at the funeral, spoke of him as having been one peculiarly fitted to be a pioneer in the advance of liberal Christianity. His services were sought for by the infant churches in every part of the country. There was an earnestness of personal vital piety, an animated hopefulness, and an enthu- siasm of manner which gave great power and effect to all his pulpit labors.

He was an active and zealous laborer in the cause of human brotherhood, and recognized and steadfastly maintained the rights of all men of whatever color, or creed, or condition. He was the uncompromising opponent of every form of oppression. He took a manly stand on all the live questions of the hour. His voice, his pen, his purse, his house, were always at the service of those who strove to promote the

In the performance of his daily pastoral duties he

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was pre-eminently happy. Wherever he went he meeting-house was taken down, and it is now a barn, I believe, in the Sixteenth Ward of Boston, late Dor- was welcome. How kind he was! What a large heart he had ! How he overflowed with affectionate | chester. The church built in 1745-47 stood until tenderness towards all whom he met ! How his noble | 1824, the First Parish " in Stoughton" having, on the 16th day of January, 1797, became the town of Canton. nature manifested itself in his obliging deeds ! How well he taught how neighbors, husbands, friends, should live! How successfully he personified the Christian graces ! What perfect faith he had in the promises of the gospel ! And he died in the hope of a glorious resurrection. He died April 19, 1864.

The following is a list of the pastors from Mr. | Huntoon's first ministry to the present time :

Rev. Henry F. Edes, of Providence, R. I., was ordained Oct. 26, 1831.

Rev. Orestes A. Brownson, of Walpole, was in- stalled May 14, 1834.

Between 1836 and 1841 there was no settled pastor.

Rev. Benjamin Huntoon began his second minis- try March 1, 1841.

First Wednesday of January, 1850, ordination of Rev. Robert P. Rogers, of Cambridge.

Sept. 18, 1854, installation of Rev. Seth Salt- marsh.

April 19, 1857, ordination of Rev. Nathan H. Chamberlain.

Guild, of Brookline.

April 2, 1867, Rev. George F. Piper was engaged to preach with view to settlement, March 15, 1868.

Young People's Union formed. Mr. Piper closed his ministry, October, 1872. Parsonage built and occupied.

May 4, 1873, Rev. William H. Savary, of Ells- worth, Me., began to preach, and was installed pastor June 8, 1873, and is the present pastor.

The present church was dedicated Jan. 26, 1825, when the Rev. Dr. Harris, of Dorchester, Rev. John White, of West Dedham, Rev. Ralph Sanger, of Dover, and others, assisted the pastor, Rev. Benja- min Huntoon, in the services.

It is interesting to look over the records and to note who were the active men at the time of Mr. Huntoon's first ordination in 1822, not one of whom is alive to-day. Gen. Elijah Crane, Thomas French, Leonard Everett, Simeon Tucker, Thomas Tolman, William Tucker, Laban Lewis, Thomas Crane, Frederick W. Lincoln, were committee of ar- rangements. The meeting-house then stood farther east towards Ponkapoag. Mr. Huntoon soon began to agitate the building of a new meeting-house, and on Nov. 10, 1823, a committee, composed of Gen. Elijah Crane, Deacon Gill, Thomas French, Thomas Kollock, Thomas Dunbar, Thomas Billings, Thomas Tolman, Thomas Crane, Simeon Tucker, Leonard Everett, Isaac Fenno, Samuel Hawes, Amasa Jordan,

Sept. 11, 1861, installation of Rev. Edward C. | Jerathmael Crane, Laban Lewis, Ezra Dickerman, Frederick Lincoln, Capt. Charles Tucker, Maj. Tucker, Samuel Capen, Israel Bailey, Jesse Fenno, Elijah Endicott, Isaac Copeland, George Downes, was ap- pointed to take the matter into consideration, and on Dec. 3, 1823, Thomas French, Thomas Tolman, George Downes, William Tucker, and Frederick W. Lincoln were appointed a committee to select a suit- able place for the building. Jan. 5, 1824, Thomas Crane, Leonard Everett, Capt. Charles Tucker, were chosen a committee to prepare a draft of a meeting- feet, and to be a house wholly in the Gothic order. ! The money was raised by subscriptions, by proceeds of the Wheeler donation, and otherwise, and by sale of the old meeting-house, as appears from the follow- ing report of the building committee :

The present meeting-house stands on a fine eleva- tion of land in the territorial centre of the town, | house, which was to be forty-six feet by fifty-four and is the second built by the parish, since its or- ganization as the First Parish in Stoughton, on the 5th day of April, 1736. Then there was a small building in which the church of Dorchester, South Precinct, had been gathered, Oct. 30, 1717. When the precinct became the First Precinct in the town of ". We, the subscribers, having been directed by the building committee to report to the parish the expense of building the new meeting-house, submit the following statement : Stoughton it was organized anew. In 1745, October 14th, at a legal meeting of the parish, "it was put to vote whether the precinct would build a new meet- "First. They have examined accounts which they have been able to obtain from persons who have furnished material or have performed labor in erecting the new meeting-house in Canton, and find that their several bills amount to the sum of $4927.96. ing-house, and it passed in the affirmative, and "the same day ye Precinct choose Preserved Lyon, James Indecut and Silas Crane, a committee to provide ma- terials to build the meeting-house." In it there were "Second. They also state that Gen. Elijah Crane has a de- mand against the parish for timber, joist, etc., the amount of which your committee have not been able to ascertain; that there are others also in the same situation, viz., Mr. Shaller's " convenient seats for the Indian Inhabitants of Stoughton to sit in on ye Sabbath days." The first |

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History of Norfolk County, Massachusetts, with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 198

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton) ed Publication date: 1884 Publisher: Philadelphia, J. W. Lewis & Co. Number of Pages: 1534

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton) ed
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: Philadelphia, J. W. Lewis & Co.
Number of Pages: 1534