USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Northborough > History of Northborough, Mass., in various publications and discourses > Part 10
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10
62
HISTORY OF NORTHBOROUGHI.
twenty seven years, and died, January 6, 1731, in the midst of his days and usefulness, at the age of forty nine years, universally la- mented.
A handsome monument was erected to his memory, near that of his predecessor, containing the following inscription in Latin, to which we subjoin, at the request of many, a translation into English.
INSCRIPTION.
Reliquia terrestres theologi vere veneraudi Roberti Breck sub hoc tumulo conferuntur. Pars colestis ad coelum myriadum ange- lorum et ad spiritus justorum qui perfecti sunt abiit.
Ingenii penetrantis, quoad vires naturales, vir fuit amplissima mentis et judicii solidi, una cum animi fortitudine singulari. Qu0- ad partes acquisitas spectat, in linguis quæ doctæ præsertim (audi- unt ?) admodum peritus ; literarum politarum mensura parum com- muni instructus ; et, quod aliis fuit difficile, ille, virtute ingenii pro- prii et studiis coarctis, feliciter subegit. In omnibus Theologia par- tibus versatissimus, et vere orthodoxus, Scriba ad regnum colo- rum usquequaque institutus. Officio pastorali in ecclesia Marlbur- iensi, ubi Spiritus Sanctus illum constituit episcopum, per XXVII annos, fideliter, sedulo, pacifice, multaque cum laude, functus est.
Doctrina Revelatæ, una cum cultu et regimine in Ecclesiis Nov- Anglicanis instituto, assertor habilis et strenuus. Ad consilia danda in rebus arduis, tum publicis tum privatis, integritate conspectus et prudentia instructissimus. Sincere dilexit amicos, patriam, et uni- versam Christi ecclesiam.
Denique pietatis, omnis virtutis socialis, et quoad res terrenas moderaminis, exemplar.
In doloribus asperis ægritudinis ultima patientia ejus opus per- fectum habuit ; et, si non ovans, expectans tamen et placide disces- sit.
Natus Decem.is 7 mo 1682. Denatus Januar. 6 to 1731.
Prophetæ ipsi non in seculum vivunt.
TRANSLATION OF THE ABOVE.
Beneath this stone are deposited the inortal remains of the tru- ly reverend Robert Breck. His immortal part hath ascended to heaven to join the innumerable company of angels and the spirits of the just made perfect.
He was by nature a man of acute intellect, capacious mind and solid judgment, together with singular mental resolution. As to his attainments, he was eminently skilled in the learned languages, fa- miliar beyond the common measure with polite literature ; and,
.
1
63
HISTORY OF NORTHBOROUGHI.
what to others was difficult, he by the powers of his mind, and close application to study, accomplished with ease.
Thoroughly versed in every department of theology, and truly orthodox in sentiment, he was a scribe in every respect instructed unto the kingdom of heaven.
The duties of the pastoral office in the church at Marlborough, over which the Holy Ghost had made him overseer, he discharged faithfully and assiduously, in peace and with great reputation, for twenty seven years.
Ile was a skilful and able asserter of the doctrines of revelation and of the worship and discipline of the New England Churches.
lle was a counsellor in cases of difficulty, both public and pri- vate, of distinguished uprightness and consummate prudence.
He was a sincere lover of his friends, his country, and the whole Church of Christ.
In a word, he was a model of piety, of every social virtue, and of moderation in regard to earthly things.
In the severe pains of his last sickness, his patience had its per- fect work ; and his departure, if not in triumph, was full of hope and peace. Born Dec. 7th, 1682-Died Jan. 6th, 1731.
" Even the prophets do not live forever."
Rev. Robert Breck was regarded as one of the eminent minis- ters of his day. He preached the Election Sermon in 1728, from Deut. v. 29, which was printed. Another of his printed sermons, which is still in existence, was preached in Shrewsbury, on the 15th of June, 1720, and was the first sermon preached in that town .* His only other publications, so far as they have come to our knowl- edge, were two excellent sermons, addressed particularly to young persons, and which were preached to his people in 1728, on occa- sion of a large accession to his church of about fifty persons. The former is on the danger of religious declension, from Luke Ix. 61, 62 : the latter was preparatory to the observance of the Lord's Supper, from Leviticus, x. 3.
Three funeral discourses preached at Marlborough, on occasion of his death, one by Rev. John Swift of Framingham, another by Rev. John Prentice, of Lancaster, and the third by Rev. Israel Lor- ing of Sudbury, were published, and are now extant.
It appears, from a note to Mr. Prentice's discourse, that during
* See the history of Shrewsbury, in the May Number of this Journal, p. 16, by Andrew II. Ward, Esq.
I am informed by Rev. Wm. B. Sprague, of West Springfield, that he has in his possession a copy of this discourse.
.
C4
HISTORY OF NORTHBOROUGHI.
the sickness of Mr. Breck, October 15, 1730, a day of fasting and prayer was kept in Marlborough for his recovery ; " several of the neighboring ministers being present and assisting on that sol- emn occasion."
A respectful and able notice of Rev. Robert Breck was given in the Weekly Journal, No. CC. for Jan. 13, 1731, which is sub- joined to the discourse of Mr. Prentice ; and another well written memoir was published in the Boston Weekly News Letter, No. 1408, for Jan. 21, 1731, which forms an appendix to Rev. Mr. Lor- ing's discourse.
" His temper was grave and thoughtful, and yet cheerful at times, especially with his friends and acquaintance ; and his conver- sation entertaining and agreeable.
" In his conduct, he was prudent and careful of his character, both as a minister and a christian ; rather sparing of speech, and more inclined to hear and learn from others.
" His house was oper. to strangers, and his heart to his friends ; and he took great delight in entertaining such, as he might any ways improve by, and treated them with good manners.
" The languishment and pains he went through before his death were very great; but God enabled him to bear the affliction with patience and submission.
" He was interred on the 12th with great respect and lamenta- tion, and his affectionate people were at the charge of his funeral ; and it is hoped they will continue their kindness to the sorrowful widow and orphans."*
Rev. Robert Breck had a son of the same name, who was grad- uated at Harvard University, in 1730, was ordained as minister of Springfield, Jan. 26, 1736, and died April 23, 1784, in the 71st year of his age.t
The father was married in Sept. 1707, to Miss Elizabeth Wair- wright, of Haverhill, who died, June 8, 1736. They had six chil- dren, two of whom died before their father. Of those that surviv- ed him, Robert was minister of Springfield; Sarah was married to Dr. Benjamin Gott, of Marlborough ; Hannah was married to Rev. Ebenezer Parkman, of Westborough ; Elizabeth, the eldest daugh- ter, was married to Col. Abraham Williams, of Marlborough, and
* Rev. Mr. Breck lived on or near the same spot on which Rev. Mr. Pack- ard's dwelling house was afterwards erected.
t See Rev. Wm. B. Sprague's Historical Discourse, delivered at West Springfield, Dec. 2, 1824, p. 78, 80.
.
!
:
1
65
HISTORY OF NORTHIBOROUGHI.
died two years before her father, Jan. 1729. The name of the oth- er child that survived the father was Samuel, who was a surgeon in the army during the French war. He married at Springfield, and died, 1764.
The following account of the successors of Rev. Mr. Breck, was fur- nished principally by Rev. Seth Alden, of Marlborough.
After an interval of nearly three years from the death of Mr. Breck, viz. Oct. 1733, Rev. Benjamin Kent was ordained as the minister of Marlborough, and on Feb. 4, 1735, was dismissed by mutual consent. After his dismission, Mr. Kent brought an action against the town for the recovery of his settlement, which the court allowed him. The town appears to have suffered much about this time from intestine divisions, which prevented the set- tlement of a minister for the five years succeeding the dismission of Mr. Kent.
At length, June 11, 1740, Rev. Aaron Smith received ordina- tion, and was dismissed by reason of ill heath, April 29, 1778. Af- ter his dismission, Mr. Smith went to reside with Rev. Mr. Bridge of East Sudbury, who married his daughter, and died there.
Rev. Asa Packard, from Bridgewater, succeeded him, and was ordained, March 23, 1785, and April 10, 1806, was dismissed, in consequence of an unhappy division in the town relating to the lo- cation of a new church. This division led to an Ecclesiastical Council called by the Church, which resulted, Oct. 24, 1806, that in case the minority should obtain an act of incorporation as a dis- tinct society, then, without breach of covenant, those members of the church who should unite themselves with such Incorpora- tion, might become a regular and distinct church, by the name of the West Church in Marlborough.
After much opposition, such inhabitants did obtain an act of in- corporation on the 23d of Feb. 1808, by the name of the second parish in Marlborough ; and on the 5th of the following month, a church was duly ordained. Over this church and society, Rev. Asa Packard was installed, March, 23, 1808, and remained their Pastor till May 12, 1819, when, by mutual consent, he was regu- larly dismissed. Mr. Packard now resides with his family in Lan- caster.
Rev. Seth Alden, from Bridgewater, a graduate of Brown Uni- versity, 1814, was ordained as the successor of Mr. Packard, Nov. 3, 1819, and still remains their Pastor.
Over the East Church and first parish, Rev. Sylvester F. Buck-
1.
TH
66
JUSTORY OF NORTHDORCUGII.
Jin, from Rehoboth, now Seekonk, a graduate of Brown University, 1805, their present Pastor, was ordained, Nov. 2, 1808.
Besides the two Congregational Societies above mentioned, there is a society of Universalists in the town, without a stated Pastor, and a small society of Methodists. The person at present preaching with the former is Massena B. Ballou ; with the latter, Jared Haskins.
-
A The preceding sketches have been made up from materials col- Jected from various sources. The aged fathers of this and some of the neighboring towns have been consulted as opportunity offer- ed ; and several of the descendants of the early settlers of Marl- borough, have kindly furnished many valuable papers relating to the events of former days, and which have been handed down from father to son, for three or four successive generations. The writ- er would particularly acknowledge his obligations to Rev. Messrs. Bucklin and Alden, for the aid they have rendered him ; as also to Mr. Silas Gates for the use of the copious and very valuable records in his possession, inherited through his wife (daughter of the late George Williams) from her grandfather Col. Abraham Williams, who, for many years, was the clerk of the proprietors of the En- glish Plantation of Marlborough.
The writer has also had opportunity to consult the books of records of the proprietors of the Indian Plantation, now in the pos- session of Mr. John Weeks.
He has aimed at accuracy ; but fears, where so much rests on mere tradition, or memory not less treacherous, that many errors besides those of the press, have become incorporated in the his- tory. For these he craves the indulgence of his readers.
ERRATA.
Page 11, end of first paragraph-The new meeting house was erected in 1805, the old one taken down in 1809 ; page 15, 22d line from top, for Doches- ter read Dorchester ; page 25, 20th line from top, for Asa Goodenow read Thomas Goodenow ; page 26, 9th line, for Pond read Road ; page 27, 1st line, for Marlborough read Northborough ; ou the same page, the Ed para- graph of the note should be in the place of the first, and for Simon read Sime- on ; page 28, Ist line of the note, for persons read garrison ; page 39, in 4th line of 2d note, for Simeon read Simon ; page 43, in 3d note, read, James and John Eager were sous, and Cutler and Martyn sons-in-law of Johm Eager, Jr. and grandsons of Capt. John Eager.
F 24462,05
6145 1
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.