History of Norfolk County, Massachusetts, with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 98

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 98

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After the close of the war the soldiers returned home to their families poor, with little or no money. The taxes were heavy and their burdens hard to bear. Many who were able sought relief in immigration, and no doubt they prospered in the change.

Store .- The first store was opened in Stoughton- ham about 1750 by Benjamin Hewins, Esq., near the residence of his great-grandson, Mr. Lyman Hewins. Many of his account-books are now in existence, and are remarkable for the clearness and beauty of the penmanship, as well as for the fact that there is no record of the sale of spirituous liquors upon its pages.

Negroes .- It is from these account-books and other sources that it is learned that the following negroes were held as servants : Rev. Philip Curtis had Scipio; Joseph Everett, Cato; Samuel Cumings, Cæsar ; Edmund Quincy, Jr., Cuffe ; Benjamin Randall, Boston, who is still remembered by the older members of the community, although he died more than fifty years ago .. He was very punctual in his attendance upon the meetings on the Sabbath, and outlived his master, who left a maintenance for Boston during his lifetime. Cato Johnson was probably a negro who served three years in the Continental army, and afterwards was cared for and supported by the town.

Civil History .- The enabling act, authorizing all districts in the province of Massachusetts Bay to be- come towns by a general law, was passed on the 23d of August, 1775. Stoughtonham became a town on that day, but it was nearly six months before the record of the clerk incidentally notices this fact. The question naturally arises, Why was this long circuit of measures required before the people could enjoy their rights and privileges ?

It will be seen, as a precinct they only had the privilege of meeting together on the Sabbath and sup- porting public worship; as a district, they were to be

Ebenezer Bullard, Jr. Samuel Capen. John Coney. Melzar Drake.

Benjamin Westley.

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HISTORY OF NORFOLK COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

vested " with all the powers, privileges, and immuni- ties which any town do have, or by law ought to enjoy." Still the fact is apparent that the English government prefered to have good dependents rather than good lawmakers. The laws passed by the prov- ince were to be revised in England, and approved, before they became the law of the land here.

Now the first thing, almost, to be done after the declaration of independence was to invest the districts with their natural rights by making them independent corporate bodies or towns.

After Stoughtonham became a town the people voted to have the General Court change its name to Washington, but there is no account of any further action on this subject.

On the 10th of June, 1778, the south part of the town of Stoughtonham was set off and incorporated as a town by the name of Foxboro'.

It will be seen by the following act that the name of Stoughtonham is changed to the beautiful scrip- tural name of Sharon :

" COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS.

" In the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and eighty-three.

" Ax Acr for discontinuing the name of a town in the County of Suffolk incorporated by the name of Stoughtonham, and calling the same SHARON.

" Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, That the said town of Stoughtonham shall no longer bear that name, but henceforth shall be called and known by the name of Sha- ron, the aforesaid incorporating act notwithstanding. And all officers in said town shall hold and exercise their respective offices in the same manner as they would have done had not the name of said town been altered.

" In the House of Representatives, Feb. 24, 1783.

" This bill having had three several readings, passed to be : enacted.

" TRISTRAM DALTON, Speaker.

" In Senate, Feb. 25, 1783.

"This bill having had three several readings, passed to be enacted.

"SAMUEL ADAMS, President.

" Approved. "JOHN HANCOCK."

The Rev. Philip Curtis was born in Roxbury, Oct. 4, 1717. He entered Harvard College in 1734, and took his degree in 1738. He was admitted to church- fellowship, and studied divinity with Rev. Dr. Bow- man, of Dorchester, where he taught school. He preached his first sermon in Sharon in May, 1741, and was ordained to the ministry Jan. 5, 1742. His salary was £60 13s. 6d. a year, with the use of the ministerial meadow and wood from the precinct wood- lot. He married, in 1744, Elizabeth Bass, of Dor- chester, by whom he had six children. His son Samuel taught school, and graduated at Harvard

College in 1766 ; studied medicine, and was a surgeon on board a privateer during the Revolution. His wife, Elizabeth, died May 24, 1752, aged thirty-two years. On Oct. 31, 1754, he married Elizabeth Randall, of Sharon, and by this marriage he had five sons.

It was now 1787, and the faithful pastor and the meeting-house had grown old together. Having seen more than a half-century's service, the people con- cluded to build a new meeting-house. The pastor gave them an acre more land and relinquished a portion of his salary to encourage them.

The new meeting-house was erected in 1787. Jo- seph Hewins, Esq., procured a bell in London, which was placed in the tower in 1790, at a cost of sixty- two pounds. This bell became broken, and a new bell was cast at Canton, which replaced the old bell in 1809.

Mr. Curtis' sight was remarkably clear, as he never used glasses, and he preached until within a few months of his death.

His last affectionate tribute of respect for his peo- ple was in the following impressive words :

" SHARON, 2d October, 1797. " FRIENDS AND BRETHREN :

" I hereby signify that I release you from all lawful claims upon me, after the completion of last year's salary, relying on your charity and generosity should I hereafter stand in need. " I remain your Aged Pastor and Friend in Christ,

" PHILIP CURTIS."

His death occurred Nov. 22, 1797, in his eighty- first year. During the fifty-five years of his ministry Mr. Curtis baptized nine hundred and twenty-six persons, and married three hundred and fifteen couples. There were four hundred and three deaths in his parish, and two hundred and sixty-four were added to the church.

Mrs. Elizabeth Curtis, his last wife, died March 11, 1823, at the advanced age of ninety-one years.

At a meeting held Dec. 17, 1798, it was

" Voted, to concur with the church in giving Mr. Jonathan Whitaker a call to the pastoral care of this church and congre- gation.

" Voted, that a committee of nineteen be chosen to take into consideration what sum will be proper to propose to him for his settlement and annual salary."

The committee reported as follows, which was voted by the town: "To give seven hundred and fifty dollars as a settlement to Mr. Jonathan Whitaker, provided he takes upon him the charge of the church and congregation in Sharon, as a gospel minister ; which sum, in case he should leave the peo- ple in said capacity without their consent, to be re- funded to the town without interest.

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SHARON.

" Voted to pay him semi-annually one hundred and sixty-six dollars and sixty-six and a half cents, as a salary, as long as he remains their minister."

Mr. Whitaker in open town-meeting accepted the invitation, and was ordained Feb. 27, 1799.

Never had there been a more auspicious settlement in Sharon. The church was crowded with hearers, and new pews were added in that already capacious meeting-house.

Mr. Whitaker secured the house and estate of his predecessor in the ministry. He also taught school, and entered into plans for the general interest of the town. He was highly appreciated by his people, and it was not until political and sectarian questions came up in after-years that there began to be differences of opinion in regard to his usefulness as a public minis- ter. Mr. Whitaker held to the old Puritan way of his predecessor of baptizing children, and when in after-years they desired to live in a closer com- munion with God, they were confirmed upon assent- ing to the covenant, and became members of the church.

Mr. Whitaker had now been the only preacher in town for many years when the first Baptist meetings began to be held in this town, and he was no Laban, to say to the itinerant, " Abide in my house- hold," or to take the innovator into his field of labor. It is not necessary to discuss those questions of a past age ; the actors have long since closed up their record and gone to their reward. Suffice it to say, that things continued to grow more unpleasant between pastor and people, until finally a council was held, and such grievances as the people labored under were submitted to and decided by the council, which ad- vised, on account of the bad feeling existing between the pastor and his people, that the connection be dis- solved. This result was secured by the society paying Mr. Whitaker five hundred dollars, April, 1816. This religious and political controversy in the town did not cease with the withdrawal of Mr. Whitaker, but con- tinued to be exceedingly bitter and relentless for several years.

The third minister of the First Congregational Church and society was the Rev. Thomas Rich, set- tled in 1817. He could not have continued many years, as the Rev. Samuel Brimblecom succeeded to the pastorate of the society Dec. 3, 1821, and con- tinued in office until March 13, 1826.

After this time the pulpit was supplied by different ministers until the Rev. Jacob Norton was settled, in 1829. He preached about two years, when the pul- pit was supplied for short intervals by different preachers until 1842, when the old church built in

the year 1787 was taken down and the present church erected.

The following are two stanzas from a poem written at that time and occasion by Jeremiah Gould, Esq. :

" That old familiar desk, Whose glory and renown

Is spread from east to west, And wouldst thou take it down ?

Workman, forbear thy blows, Rend not its oaken ties,

Oh ! spare that ancient house, Now towering to the skies.

" When but a little boy I trod its sacred shade,

In thankfulness and joy There I oft have played.

My mother led me there, My father pressed my hand,

Forgive this foolish tear, But let that old house stand."

The Rev. Samuel Pettes, Jr., became pastor Oct. 16, 1843, and continued to officiate in that capacity until March 18, 1847.

The Rev. James L. Stone succeeded the former pastor on Jan. 1, 1848, and continued in office until May 5, 1852.

The Rev. Thomas H. Pons was settled July 3, 1852, and continued until Oct. 1, 1853.

In June, 1854, Rev. Norwood Damon occupied the pastoral office, continuing until July 9, 1856.

From Jan. 1, 1857, to Jan. 1, 1862, the Rev. Charles C. Sewall, of Medfield, supplied the preach- ing. From this time there was no regular preaching until Jan. 4, 1868, when the Rev. George W. Stacy, of Milford, supplied the pulpit. . Mr. Stacy's labors ceased on May 2, 1870. The Rev. Mr. Tyndall sup- plied the pulpit until September, 1870. After 1870 the church was supplied by candidates.

In April, 1873, the Rev. John Wills preached for several Sabbaths, and for several months in the summer the Rev. William HI. Savary, of Canton, preached.

In 1878, Rev. W. G. Todd preached through the summer months. From this time there was no regu- lar preaching until the Rev. William O. White, of Brookline, officiated as pastor from September, 1881, until September, 1883.

The Rev. C. C. Carpenter supplied the pulpit until January, 1884.

The Baptist Society .- The first meetings were held at the houses of Mr. Leavitt Hewins and Mr. Joshua Whittemore by the Rev. Mr. Gammell, of Medfield. Soon an interest was created, and many flocked to hear him preach. The first baptism took

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HISTORY OF NORFOLK COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

place at Billings' Pond in 1812, when Joshua Whit- temore and Leavitt Hewins were baptized.

The Baptist society was formed in 1813, when Jeremiah Richards was chosen treasurer. On Oct. 26, 1814, the church was organized, and numbered twenty-six members. The first deacons were Joshua Whittemore and Leavitt Hewins. Barnabas D. Capen was elected in 1845, and Charles D. Hixon in 1877.

In the early days of its existence the society held its meetings in the hall of the parsonage.

The Rev. Mr. Gammell was succeeded by the Rev. Henry Kendall, from Maine. In the year 1818, Samuel Wait was ordained as pastor, and he contin- ued in office four years, when he was succeeded by Rev. Thomas Barrett, who preached about two years. Then, in 1823, Rev. Thomas Le Favour preached one year.

In August, 1831, the Rev. Caleb Green was settled. As the numbers had increased it was thought advisa- ' 'Christian Society in Sharon.' That in addition to the officers ble to erect a church, which was built in 1833. The . of the church, there shall annually be chosen by the church a next pastor was the Rev. Thomas Driver. In April, clerk and treasurer, and also a committee of three persons to procure preaching and give certificates of membership to all who may wish to unite with this church for the support of public worship, agreeably to a law of this commonwealth, passed June 18, 1811, and generally to manage the prudential concerns of this society." 1835, the Rev. Silas Hall filled the pastorate. He was succeeded by Rev. George N. Wait. In the year 1841, Edward G. Sears was elected pastor and contin- ued in office until 1843, when he was succeeded by Rev. George W. Patch. He in turn resigned, and the Rev. Alfred Colburn took his place.

The Rev. Mylon Merriam became pastor in 1853, , pastor of this church and society, which invitation he and closed his labors in 1858.

Rev. Freeman B. Ashley succeeded Mr. Merriam in 1859. This pastor was popular, and the congre- gation increased in numbers, and it was thought best to enlarge the meeting-house by giving room for six- teen additional pews.

In 1864, Mr. Ashley resigned his office as pastor, and the pulpit was occupied by Mr. Tozier, who preached one year.

The Rev. Benjamin A. Edwards was settled in 1865, and continued as pastor until 1872, when the Rev. Lyman Partridge acepted the pastorate and con- tinued to preach until 1882. " During all these years," says Mr. Partridge in a printed discourse from which these statistics are mainly taken, " we have labored to- gether in harmony, while my relations to the people of the town have each year become pleasanter and more intimate. I count it a privilege and blessing to be able to make this last statement so near the close of a pastorate of almost ten years."

Mr. Partridge is now settled at Westminster, Mass. He was succeeded in 1883 by the Rev. Irving B. pastorates enjoyed by the society, and was terminated Mower, the present pastor.

The Christian Society (Trinitarian) .- Ata meet-

ing held at the house of Mr. Philip Curtis, it was voted that a committee be chosen to take measures for forming a new society. Deacon Joel Hewins, Deacon Benjamin Fairbanks, and Lemuel D. Hewins were chosen, and at a subsequent meeting made the following report :

"The practice of the primitive Christians, introduced into this country by our pious ancestors, for churches to take the lead in the settlement of their pastors, is, we believe, scriptural, rational, and salutary ; and a departure from this practice so long preserved in this country, has doubtless been the principal cause of the unhappy difficulties now existing between this church and the Congregationalist society in this place ; and this church having borne, as long as forbearance is conceived to be a duty, and seeing no prospect of a restoration of harmony be- tween them and the society, deem it necessary and expedient to withdraw from said society, that they may independently of any body of men whatever enjoy the ordinances of religion agreeably to the practice of the primitive churches, and the sentiment of this church.

" Wherefore this church do hereby constitute themselves into a religious society, to be called and known by the name of the

It was voted to accept the report June 16, 1821. The Rev. Joseph B. Felt was invited to become accepted, and he continued in office until 1825.

In 1822 the society built their meeting-house. The next minister was the Rev. Jonathan Curtis, who was installed in October, 1825, and continued in office until the year 1834, when he requested to be released from the pastoral office, which was granted by the society.

The Rev. Jacob Cummings was settled as pastor, and continued in office until 1837. In the year 1835 this church received the legacy, bequeathed by Mrs. Nancy Gould, of the parsonage of the former ministers of Sharon.

Rev. Lucius R. Eastman was the next pastor in 1838, and on November 28th of that year the church took fire from the stove on Sunday morning, and was totally destroyed.

In the summer of 1839 the present house was erected, and Mr. Eastman closed his labors with this church and society in 1840.

In 1841 the Rev. Lebbeus R. Phillips was settled as pastor. This was one of the most successful

by the request of Mr. Phillips in 1860. The Rev. Perley B. Davis succeeded Mr. Phillips, Jan. 29,

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1862, and continued in office until April 8, 1867, when he was dismissed at his own request. He after- wards settled in Hyde Park, where he still preaches.

Rev. S. Ingersol Briant was settled April 22, 1868, and continued in office until April, 1874, when he resigned. He was succeeded by the Rev. Henry C. Weston, who was born in Charlestown, Mass., May 9, 1844. After leaving the high school he entered Amherst College, where he graduated in the year 1866. He entered Andover in the class of the same year, and afterwards preached at North Bennington, Vt. While here he married Clara A. Loring, of Chelsea, Aug. 18, 1870. He was settled at Sharon, Sept. 2, 1874. An excellent preacher, eminently social in his character and his relations with his peo- ple, a world of usefulness seemed to open before him. He early became interested in the schools as a com- mittee, and he also served the town as superintendent of schools. But this continued but a short time. His health soon became impaired and he was obliged to abandon his labors, not only as superintendent but also as pastor of his church and society. His interest in the labors he had chosen never ceased, although it became evident that there was little hope of his re- covery. He died Feb. 24, 1883, rejoicing in the hope of a glorious immortality, and leaving many sorrowing friends to lament his early departure. Mrs. Weston and three children remain in Sharon.

The Rev. Edward G. Smith, who supplied the pulpit for some time before the death of Mr. Weston, is now pastor of the Christian society.

The Catholic Chapel on Pond Street has a mission service, and is connected with the church at Stoughton of the same denomination.

The Bay Street Chapel (Evangelical) is located in the southeast part of Sharon, on the Bay road, near Easton.

The Methodist Church was organized in 1876, but has no regular preaching.

Physicians .- How great is the influence of the med- ical profession over the individuals in the community. The patient who recovers from a serious malady is ever likely to retain lively emotions of gratitude to- wards the man who has rescued him from a bed of sickness, pain, or death.

Dr. Samuel Hewins was born in this town, Aug. 31, 1734. He married, in 1760, Sarah, the daughter of Dr. Nathaniel White, of Weymouth, his instruc- tor. He settled in Sharon near the trowel-works. He was an active and useful man, brought up a family, and died in 1827.

Dr. Elijah Hewins, born May 23, 1747, studied medicine with Dr. Young, of Boston. He was sur- i

geon in Col. Jacob Gill's regiment in the Revolution. He bought the place now occupied by Mr. Increase Hewins, where, after his marriage with Lois Whiting, of Wrentham, his children were born. His wife died in 1795, and afterwards he married Irene Balch, of Dedham. After the marriage of his son, Elijah Hewins, Esq., scribe and surveyor, the doctor sold his place and resided with his son much of the time until his death, which occurred May 21, 1827.

Dr. Samuel Capen, born in this town May 20, 1757, studied medicine with Dr. Samuel Hewins, and finished his course of study at Randolph. He mar- ried, Nov. 18, 1792, Sarah Savels, of this town, and resided east of Massapoag, where his children were born. After his daughter Sarah married he left Sharon, and resided in Brockton, where he died Dec. 13, 1843, aged eighty-seven years.

Dr. Daniel Stone was born in Framingham, and graduated from Harvard University in the class of 1797. He then studied medicine with Dr. Willard, of Uxbridge, and practiced some time, when he after- wards came to Sharon. He boarded for a time with the Rev. Mr. Whitaker, who was his classmate in col- lege. Afterwards he built the house now occupied by the Rev. A. P. Chute. Here he resided during his life. He was town clerk in 1819, and filled many offices in the town ; was a respected member of the Massachusetts Medical Society. He died in August, 1842. There are but two of his children living,- Albert Stone, Esq., of Elgin, Ill., and Dr. Charles Stone, of Marysville, Cal.

Dr. Norton Quincy Tirrell succeeded Dr. Stone in Sharon. Dr. Tirrell was born in Weymouth in 1817. At an early age he was by the death of his father thrown upon his own resources. By his industry he man- aged to acquire the means to attend the academy at Willbraham, Woburn, and Gilmanton, N. H., where he finished his early school days. He then went to New York, and from there to Norfolk, Va. Here he taught school and studied medicine ; afterwards he attended lectures at Washington, D. C., where he graduated. He was married in 1842, and the same year located in Sharon. Here he was highly esteemed as a physician and townsman, and an active member of the Christian Church and society. In 1852 he left Sharon for his native town, where he enjoyed a highly successful and lucrative practice. He died on Oct. 19, 1882.

Dr. Amasa D. Bacon was a physician of experience when he came to this town and succeeded to the es- tate and practice of Dr. Tirrell. Naturally a man of more than ordinary force of character, he was tender and assiduous in the care of his patients, kind and

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HISTORY OF NORFOLK COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

obliging as a neighbor, an active citizen of the town and the Christian society. He represented the town in the Legislature and on the board of school com- mittee. Well posted in the advancement of medical science, he was an honored member of the Massachu- setts Medical Society. He rode more to see patients during the last winter of his life than any winter be- fore. His sickness, caused by exposure and other causes, terminated fatally on March 28, 1881, in the seventy-sixth year of his age. He had by his first wife, Clara Choate Bacon, two sons ; by his last wife, Nellie Choate Bacon, one daughter.

Dr. John Smithwick, of Williams College and Pittsfield Medical Institution, is the present resident physician.

Soldiers in the War of 1812 .- Although the people of New England were not generally in sym- pathy with the war of 1812, yet Sharon contributed her share of the State's quota, as the following names will show :

Amos Barden.

Ziba Plympton.

Ebenezer Capen.

Aaron Platt.

Theodore Drake.

James Packard.

Ellis Drake.

Ebenezer Packard.

John Delano. Jedediah Packard.

Samuel Gilbert. James Packard, Jr.

Charles Gay.

Linus Rogers.

Ebenezer Henshaw.

Jedediah Snow.

Joel Harlow.

Enoch Talbot.

Ellis Johnson.

Shepard Wood.

Matthew Johnson.

Zephaniah Washburn.

Samuel Mann

A part of these soldiers went to the lakes, near Canada, and others were stationed at Boston Harbor.

Schools .- Coeval with the religious and secular polity of the town was the appropriation of lands for the support of public schools and for the instruction of youth. These privileges were so highly prized and enjoyed by the youth of the early days, that in after-years, when they became the actors upon the stage of life, they resolved these benefits should not only be continued, but they should be increased be- yond what they had enjoyed.

The following letter gives the origin of the Sharon Friends' school fund :

" To the Inhabitants of the Town of Sharon :

"GENTLEMEN,-The undersigned being a committee from the subscribers to the Sharon Friends' School Fund, have the pleas- ure to present to you a subscription paper for the purpose of beginning a fund for the education of the youth of your Town. . . . It is with pleasure we look back and remember the Land of our Fathers,-the place of Our Birth.

" Believing as we do, that to give the present and future gen- erations a good, sound, practical education is the surest means of preserving our most valuable privileges, both civil and reli- gious, which we consider to be far greater than any other

nation enjoys. If this be the fact, how can money be better appropriated ? . . .

"This fund is now begun with a hope and expectation that it will be increased, so that every child in your town will have an opportunity to acquire a good practical education, and that it may be the means of increasing Education, Peace, Harmony, and the good feelings of every inhabitant of your place. . . .

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History of Norfolk County, Massachusetts, with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 98

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