USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > North Bridgewater > History of North Bridgewater, Plymouth County, Massachusetts, from its first settlement to the present time, with family registers > Part 12
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HISTORY OF NORTH BRIDGEWATER.
was assisted at different times by the following teachers : Mrs. Hunt, wife of the principal, Miss Mary H. Clough, Miss Clara Kingman, Miss Sarah B. Fiske, Miss E. Marion Hurlbut, Miss Helen Eveleth, Edwin Hunt, A. B., Miss Hattie F. Stacy, and Miss Julia M. Howard.
PRIVATE SCHOOLS.
Among the most prominent of these institutions in the town is Mrs. Nathan Jones's school. We take pleasure in recording the fact that for more than thirty years Mrs. Jones has kept a private boarding-school for children of both sexes at her residence ; and few there are to be found of the young persons, natives of the town, who have not attended " Mrs. Jones's School," at least for one term.
Deacon Heman Packard kept a select school at the north end of the town on Prospect Hill for several years, previous to his leaving town for New Orleans, which had a good rep- utation.
Rev. E. Porter Dyer kept a select school in the town in 1835 and 1836. How long he continued, we have no partic- lars from which to write.
CHAPTER VII.
BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.
List of Graduates of Colleges. - Students of Normal School. - Rev. John Porter. - Rev. Asa Meech. - Rev. Daniel Huntington. - Rev. James Thompson. - Rev. John Porter, Jr. - Rev. Huntington Porter. - Rev. Eliphalet Porter, D. D. - Rev. Thomas Crafts. - Rev. Asa Packard. - Rev. Hezekiah Packard. - Rev. Joshua Cushman. - Rev. Napthali Shaw. - Rev. Theophilus Packard. - Rev. Jonas Perkins. - Rev. Eliphalet P. Crafts. - Rev. Levi Packard. - Rev. Austin Cary. - Rev. Zechariah Howard.
LIST OF GRADUATES FROM DIFFERENT COLLEGES OF PERSONS FROM NORTHI BRIDGEWATER, SO FAR AS CAN BE ASCERTAINED.
Names.
Date. Institution.
Professional Calling
James Thompson,
1761, Princeton, N. J., Clergyman and preceptor.
John Porter, Jr.
1770, Harvard,
Clergyman.
Huntington Porter,
1777, Harvard,
Clergyman.
Jonathan Porter,
1777, Harvard,
Physician.
Eliphalet Porter,
1777, Harvard,
Clergyman.
Thomas Crafts,
1783, Harvard,
Clergyman.
Asa Packard,
1783, IIarvard,
Clergyman.
Zechariah Howard,
1784, Harvard,
Clergyman.
Hezekiah Packard,
1787, Ilarvard,
Clergyman.
Joshua Cushman,
1787, Harvard,
Clergyman and statesman.
Naphtali Shaw,
1790, Dartmouth,
Clergyman.
Theophilus Packard,
1796, Dartmouth,
Clergyman.
Daniel Howard,
1797, Harvard,
Attorney-at-Law.
Issachar Snell,
1797, Harvard,
Physician.
Lucius Cary,
1798, Brown University, Attorney-at-Law.
Daniel Noyes,
1813, Yale, Merchant.
Jonas Perkins,
1813, Brown University, Clergyman.
Frederick Crafts,
1816, Brown University, Preceptor.
Jonathan P. Crafts,
1817, Brown University,
Austin Packard,
1821, Brown University, Attorney-at-Law.
Levi Packard,
1821, Brown University, Clergyman.
Eliphalet P. Crafts,
1821, Brown University, Clergyman.
Thomas Jefferson Snow, 1823, Brown University, Preceptor.
Lucius Kingman,
1830, Brown University, Attorney-at-Law.
Abel W. Kingman,
1830, Amherst, Physician.
Austin Cary,
1837, Amherst, Clergyman.
Samuel Dike,
1838, Brown University, Clergyman.
133
134
HISTORY OF NORTH BRIDGEWATER.
Names. Date. Institution.
Professional Calling.
Abel Kingman Packard,
1845, Amherst,
Clergyman.
David Temple Packard,
1850, Amherst,
Clergyman.
Lysander Diekerman,
1851, Brown University, Clergyman.
Augustus T. Jones, 1856, Yale,
Editor and Publisher.
Jobn P. Apthorp, 1861, Amherst.
IIcman Packard DeForest, 1862, Yale.
Ebenezer Couch, 1864, Harvard.
Miss Elizabeth A. Packard, M. D., graduated at N. E. F. Medical College. John Goddard entered at Amherst, 1858, but owing to ill-health did not graduate.
Henry T. Eddy is now in Yale College.
LIST OF PERSONS HAVING ATTENDED THE STATE NORMAL SCHOOL AT BRIDGE- WATER, WITH THE YEARS OF THEIR ATTENDANCE, MOST OF WHOM ARE GRADUATES.
Mr. Lucius Gurney, . 1841
Miss Almaria Kingman, 1858
Miss Melinda A. Carcy, 1841
Miss Arabella Ames, . 1859
Miss Vesta Holbrook, . 1841 Mr. Henry Manley, 1859
Mr. Chauncy Conant, . 1842 Miss Lizzie A. Kingman, . . 1860
Mr. Nathaniel Wales, 1842 Mr. Isaac Kingman Harris, . 1860
Mr. Elbridge G. Ames, 1843
Mr. Thomas S. Kingman, . 1861
Mr. Lysander Dickerman, . 1843
Miss Mary E. Hughes, 1863
Mr. Frederick Perkins, 1843 Miss Julia A. Packard, . 1863
Mr. Josiah V. Bisbee, 1853 Miss Mary A. Hollis, 1863
Mr. Augustus Remick, 1857
Miss Martha J. Packard, 1863
Miss Harriet N. Kingman, . . 1857 Miss Esther M. Simmons, 1863
Mr. Ellis V. Lyon, . 1858 Mr. Charles II. W. Wood, . . 1863
Mr. Jonas Reynolds, . . 1858
Miss Lucia A. Kingman, . 1864
REV. JOHN PORTER was the son of Samuel and Mary Porter, of Abington, Mass .; born in 1716; graduated at Harvard College in 1736; commenced preaching as a can- didate for the "Fourth Church in Bridgewater " (now the First Church of North Bridgewater") in December, 1739. Soon after the incorporation of the North Parish, he received a call to settle with them as pastor, August 25, 1740, which call he accepted, and was ordained October 15, 1740. Mr. Porter entered upon the duties of his office with all the advan- tages which a faithful church and affectionate society could afford. Their hearts wero deservedly united in him, and seldom has any minister of the gospel been enabled to exert
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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.
a more general and salutary influence over the people of his charge. His qualifications, both natural and acquired, were peculiarly respectable. He was taught, not only of men, but of God. Much of what was estimable in his Christian and ministerial character he gratefully ascribed to the labors of that justly celebrated and eminently useful servant of Christ, the Rev. Mr. Whitefield, under whose ministry of the word he received the most deep and salutary impressions a little be- fore his entrance upon the duties of the sacred office. With that. great and good man he formed an intimate acquaintance, invited him to his pulpit, and, with his beloved flock, enjoyed the benefit of his evangelical instructions. This circumstance undoubtedly contributed to increase that zealous spirit of reformation by which the Rev. Mr. Porter's long and faith- ful ministry was so happily characterized. He clearly ex- hibited, and ably defended the great doctrines of the gos- pel, and, though not fond of controversy, wielded the sword of the Spirit with uncommon skill, vigor, and success against all the assailants of evangelical truth. His labors among his people in the sanctuary and from house to house were greatly blessed. Mr. Porter continued to labor with this people un- til September 1, 1800, when, finding the infirmities of age creeping upon him, and a frame worn out in the service of his Master, he asked for assistance in his labors. His son- in-law, Rev. Thomas Crafts, and Rev. Asa Meech, then a can- didate for the ministry, from Connecticut, came to his help, and Mr. Meech received a call to become a colleague pastor with him, which call he accepted, and was ordained October 15, 1800. Rev. Mr. Porter continued to perform pastoral labor, preaching occasionally, till his decease. The last ser- mon he preached was from John ix. 4: "I must work the works of him that sent me while it is day : the night cometh when no man can work." This sermon is often spoken of as having been peculiarly and prophetically appropriate, and
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HISTORY OF NORTH BRIDGEWATER.
most tenderly affecting to those who were listening to the last message of truth and love from the lips of one whom very many regarded as a spiritual father, and all, as an affectionate and faithful friend. He departed this life March 12, 1802, in the eighty-seventh year of his age, and in the sixty-second year of his ministry. His sickness was of three weeks' dura- tion, which commenced about one week after the delivery of the above-named discourse. His wife, with whom he had so long and so happily lived for more than one half a century, died about four months previous to his death. This circum- stance seemed to render his death more welcome to him than otherwise. She was a woman of very exemplary habits, and a devoted mother in Israel. His funeral was attended by Rev. Zedekiah Sanger, D. D., of Bridgewater, Mass. IIis re- mains lie buried in the graveyard near the residence of the late William Tribou, at Campello. On the gravestone may be found the following inscription : "They that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness, as the stars forever and ever." To the virtues of Rev. Mr. Porter's private life, and the useful- ness of his ministerial qualifications and labors, the affection and respect with which he was viewed by his family and acquaintances, the love and veneration of the large and re- spectable religious society with which he so long lived in harmony, and labored with success, the manner in which liis services were accepted in other societies where he occa- sionally preached, and the lasting reputation he maintained in the church, are the most unequivocal and honorable tes- timonies. To the influence of this good man, more than any other thing, is the community indebted for the love of order, industry, economy, enterprise, and religious character of many of the descendants of that society. His influence had very much to do with formation of the character of the early inhabitants of the town of North Bridgewater.
1 Huntington
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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.
REV. ASA MEECH. (See page 27.)
REV. DANIEL HUNTINGTON was the son of Gen. Jedediah, and grandson of Gen. Jabez Huntington, of Norwich, Conn., both of whom were generals in the army of the Revolution, 1775, also brother of the late Rev. Joshua Huntington, of the Old South Church, Boston. He was born at Norwich, Conn., October 17, 1788; graduated at Yale College, New Haven, Conn., in 1807; studied theology; and was first ordained at North Bridgewater, October 28, 1812, where he remained as pastor of the First Congregational Church until prostrating disease compelled him to retire from that field of labor, greatly to his own grief and that of a devoted church and society, in March, 1833, being dis- missed by council March 27, 1833. In May following, he removed his family to New London. After a brief respite from pastoral labors, he gained sufficient strength to gratify his fine literary taste in the instruction of successive classes of young ladies in the higher branches of an educational course while a resident of New London, the city of his birth and death. In this employment, combined with occasional preaching as returning health permitted, seven years passed away usefully and pleasantly. At the end of this period his heart yearned for a return to the labors of his love; and re- ceiving an earnest call from a portion of his original church * and congregation to take charge of them in the Lord, lie cheerfully consented to the arrangement, and was received not only by them, but by the original church and all the churches and pastors who had known his going out and com- ing in, in former years, with open arms. His installation took place January 1, 1840, where he continued to labor for thir- teen years as a gospel preacher, winning souls to Christ, and making glad the hearts of all by his tender love and faithful-
* South Congregational Church at Campello.
18
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HISTORY OF NORTH BRIDGEWATER.
ness. At the end of that period he tendered his resignation, May 2, 1853, which was accepted, and he was permitted to retire to the home of his youth, and pass the evening of his days amid the scenes of his earliest aspirations. From that day, for about six years, till near the time of his departure, he continued to preach the gospel " in season and out of sea- son " as "the open door was set before him," all the while setting his house in order. At the moment when his Master called him, he was diligent in business, fervent in spirit, serv- ing the Lord, preaching his last sermon to the mission church at Mohegan just four weeks before the messenger of Death met him .* The physical sufferings of his last days were very great, owing to the complicated diseases which, with fierce strength, assailed his delicate frame ; but his pa- tience and faith failed not; no complaining or murmuring word fell from his lips; his mind was clear and unclouded to the last. To the affectionate daughter, who was trying to arrange the pillows for his aching head, he said, " Let me go, for the day breaketh," and to another who asked if he would not lie down, he answered, " Lay me down in Jesus' arms ; " " Other refuge have I none." To a brother according to the flesh, who said to him, "I hope you can say with the apostle, ' I know in whom I have believed,' " he replied, after a mo- ment's pause, " I am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed to him against that day." Thus closed a life eminently devoted in its progress to the happi- ness of his family and friends, to the honor of his Redeemer, and the salvation of men, in peace, and the joyful hope of a glorious immortality. Mr. Huntington was a man of refined sensibilities, generous sympathies, unfeigned humility, and ex- treme modesty, that imposed a restraint on the putting forth of his native genius : of pleasant aspect, voice, and manner, of genial humor, and gifted with good judgment. He sought
* His death took place May 21, 1858, at New London, Conn.
139
BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.
to make home agreeable to children and guests; as a man and companion, affable, courteous, and true ; a zealous defender of the faith, a clear, logical, earnest minister of the New Tes- tament. As a pastor, he had few equals, being eminently kind, sympathizing, prudent, and studious. As a husband, father, brother, son, he was affectionate and faithful, and greatly beloved in his domestic and social relations; distin- guished above most others in consolation to the afflicted and bereaved. His preaching was such as might convince any one of his sincerity and belief in those truths which he professed to believe. He sought not for abstruse matters, hard to be understood, neither did he aim at beauty of style, or pomp of display, either in language or person, but was simple, earnest, scriptural, practical. Many must have felt upon learning of his death that they had lost a friend. All who knew him will acknowledge that a good man has gone. Thus has ended the life of one who, when he first entered the ministry, declared his intention to continue in that pro- fession, God permitting, to his death.
" Rest here, blest saint, till from his throne The morning break and pierce the shade."
REV. JAMES THOMPSON was son of Archibald Thompson, who came from Ireland to America in 1724; graduated at the New Jersey College, Princeton, N. J., in 1761; became a cler- gyman ; preached only a short time ; was a preceptor of an academy at Charleston, S. C.
REV. JOHN PORTER, JR., was son of Rev. John and Mary (Huntington) Porter ; was born in North Bridgewater, Febru- ary 27, 1752 ; graduated at Yale College, New Haven, Conn., in 1770 ; studied divinity, and became a minister. Soon after the war broke out between England and America in 1775, he re- ceived a captain's commission, and went into the army, where he is said to have been a superior officer. From cap-
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HISTORY OF NORTH BRIDGEWATER.
tain he was promoted to major ; left the army but a short time before peace was declared. He afterward went to the West Indies, and there died.
REV. HUNTINGTON PORTER was son of Rev. John and Mary (Huntington) Porter; was born March 27, 1755; graduated at Harvard College, Cambridge, Mass., in 1777; married Susan- nah Sargent, of Haverhill, Mass .; commenced preaching at Rye, N. H., in August, 1784, supplying the pulpit till, Decem- ber 29, 1784, he was ordained as colleague pastor with Rev. Samuel Parsons. He continued to preach in that place for upwards of fifty years. The people of his society were for a long series of years remarkable for their unanimity in their religious as well as civil concerns, and for more than thirty years there was no division. All attended his church ; union and peace was the prevailing sentiment among the people. After that time other denominations sprung up; still he con- tinued to labor until 1828, when the civil contract between him and his society was dissolved. He continued to preach occasionally for several years after that time, till near the close of his life.
REV. ELIPHALET PORTER, D. D., was born in North Bridge- water June 11, 1758 ; was son of Rev. John and Mary (Hunt- ington) Porter; graduated at Harvard College 1777; was settled as pastor of the " First Church " in Roxbury, Mass., October 2, 1782. He was called to supply a vacancy caused by the death of Rev. Amos Adams, who died in 1775. Of his pastoral labors, we may say they were well suited to the times in which he lived. Frequent visits for social intercourse were not expected, and for these he had neither taste nor fitness ; his manners were grave, and did not encourage familiarity, nor had he that easy flow of language so essential to sustain a conversation on the familiar topics of the day. But in the chamber of the sick, or wherever there was affliction which the sympathies of a pastor could alleviate, he was a
Eliphalet Porter
141
BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.
constant and welcome visitor. Says one who knew him well, " Few men ever spoke with more meaning, or to so good a purpose. He did not dazzle, but he enlightened ; and the weight of his influence and character and the remarkable purity and uprightness of his life gave an influence and in- terest to whatever he said, and impressed his sententious re- marks deeply on the mind." As a citizen, his influence was widely and beneficially felt ; he had frequent calls for assist- ance and counsel in the secular affairs of the town. In the various offices of trust to which he was often called, whether for objects of charity, or for the promotion of edu- cation or religion, they were fulfilled with a characteristic caution, prudence, and fidelity, which obtained and justified unlimited confidence. In 1818 he was elected fellow of Har- vard College. The period of his connection with this institu- tion was one of great difficulty ; yet he took his full share of the labors and responsibilities incident to his official posi- tion. He was a warm, constant friend of the college, and the notices of his death on the records of the corporation mani- fest the strong sense of "the great loss our literary and religious community have sustained by the death of this learned divine and exemplary Christian, whose intelligence, fidelity, and zeal in support of the interests of literature, and especially of those connected with the prosperity of Harvard University, they have had uniform occasion to witness during the many years he has been one of the members of this board." As a preacher, Dr. Porter exhibited few, if any, of the characteristics of a popular preacher of the present day, although few modern preachers of to-day are listened to more attentively, or regarded with more reverence than he was. He was not excitable ; therefore he was not likely to pro- duce excitement in others. There was a calmness and so- lemnity in his manner which gave to his discourses a peculiar impressiveness. He never was dogmatical or bigoted; he
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HISTORY OF NORTH BRIDGEWATER.
.
had clear and settled opinions on the controverted points of theology, and was always ready to sustain them; but he had no taste for controversy, and therefore rarely preached on subjects which occasioned it. He regarded the religious opinions of others without prejudice, and never allowed a difference of opinion to interrupt Christian fellowship. Dr. Porter died at Roxbury, December 7, 1833, aged seventy-six years. The funeral was held in his church December 11, 1833, Rev. Dr. Lowell offering the funeral prayer. Rev. George Putnam, D. D., * preached the funeral sermon from Genesis xxv. 8 : " He died in a good old age, an old man, and full of years, and was gathered to his people." Rev. John Pierce, D. D., of Brookline, made the concluding prayer. +
REV. THOMAS CRAFTS was son of Dr. Thomas Staples Crafts (from Newton) ; was born in North Bridgewater; graduated at Harvard College 1783; married Polly, daughter of Rev. John Porter, December 28, 1786 ; settled at Princeton, Mass., 1786, and dismissed in 1791 and settled at Middleboro'. After re- maining at Princeton several years, his physicians decided that his life depended on his leaving the ministry, and en- gaging in more active or some out-of-door pursuit. He con- sequently removed to Weymouth, Mass., where he entered into commercial business, and was quite successful. After his health had become somewhat improved, he received a call to preach from the " Middleboro' and Taunton Precinct," and was installed in 1802, where he enjoyed a happy ministry for many years, and there died, February 27, 1819, aged sixty years. His family then removed to Nortlı Bridgewater.
REV. ASA PACKARD was son of Jacob and Dorothy (Per- kins) Packard ; was born in North Bridgewater May 3, 1758. His life was a very eventful one. At the age of sixteen, he
* Dr. Putnam was settled with Dr. Porter July 7, 1830, after he had preached for fifty-one years.
t For an account of his publications that have been published, see list.
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BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY.
entered the Revolutionary service as a fifer. In an engage- ment near Harlaem Heights, in 1776, a companion who had made great boasts of his bravery seized Mr. Packard's fife, and, handing him his musket in return, fled to a place of safe- ty, preferring, it would seem, the music he could make with a stolen fife to that made by the balls of the enemy. Mr. Packard, thus armed, engaged in the conflict, but soon re- ceived a wound which nearly proved fatal. The ball entered his back just above the hip, and though an attempt was made to extract it, yet so severe was the operation that the sur- geon feared he would die in his hands, and so was induced to desist. A severe illness followed in consequence, and when sufficiently recovered, he left the army and returned home, and commenced a course of studies preparatory to entering college. The ball he received was never extracted; but re- mained in his back during his life. Mr. Packard was a man of great facetiousness, and often alluded in pleasantry to the circumstance of his having fought and bled for his country. Once in a merry circle he said, -
" I bear about in my body a weighty testimonial of my bravery ; "* to which a jovial companion replied, -
" I think from the position of the wound our hero must have been playing a retreat."
" Playing a retreat !" said Mr. Packard; " I had a musket in my hand, and was found skilful as a grenadier."
" I think," rejoined the other, " our friend must have been skilled in the motion 'to the right about face !' and must have performed it well when he received his wound."
The joke was appreciated by Mr. Packard and the rest of the company. Mr. Packard graduated at Harvard University in 1783; received a call, and settled in Marlboro', March 23, 1785, - a day long to be remembered from the fact that the
* The ball he received was never extracted, but remained in his back during his life. Rev. George Trask, of Fitchburg, has the ball now in his possession.
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HISTORY OF NORTH BRIDGEWATER.
snow was so deep as to cover the tops of the fences, notwith- standing there had been a thaw which settled the snow, so that, in freezing, it became sufficiently solid to bear up a team. The people went to the ordination in their sleighs upon the crust across lots, over the tops of fences and walls without difficulty. The depth of snow was so remarkable that it became and continued for a long time a standard of comparison. He was settled on a salary of £100, " and twenty cords of good marketable oak wood, cut and brought to the door annually, so long as he remains our minister." They also voted him a settlement of £300, - onc half to be paid in one year, the other half in two years from his ordi- nation. Mr. Packard was a man of sprightly talent, and was noted for his readiness rather than for his profundity. He had great conversational powers, and was remarkable for his eccentricity. His sermons were practical rather than doc- trinal, and more distinguished for happy descriptions of life and manners than for connected views of gospel truths. He was liberal in his theological opinions, belonging to what is denominated the Arminian School. As Unitarianism devel- oped itself in Massachusetts, he was considered as coincid- ing with that class of his brethren, though later in life his sentiments are supposed to have undergone some change. " Perhaps it will be more correct to say that he never formed for himself any definite system of doctrinal belief; his mind was more distinguished for its readiness than for its method, and seemed to have held opinions in regard to dif- ferent doctrines which were not consistent with each other, and which could not have been blended into a logical sys- tem. Different persons who know him well have, for this reason, claimed him with different denominations, since on some points his views seemed to coincide with Unitarians, and on others, with the Orthodox standard of doctrine." These are the views entertained by one of the most distin-
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