USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Lowell > History of Pawtucket Church and Society : with reminiscences of pastors and founders, sketches of Congregational churches in Lowell, and a brief outline of Congregationalism > Part 8
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As early as the autumn of 1831 he suffered severely from an affection of the lungs, which caused him to suspend his labors until the next spring. Previously he stated to one of the people of his parish that his lungs were as strong as the oaks.
In 1832 he received a call from the First Congre- gational Church and Society in Methuen ; and feel- ing that duty called him to that field of labor, he was dismissed at Dracut and installed at Methuen, June 27, 1832. During his ministry there of seven years one hundred and fifty members were added to the church-one hundred and thirteen by profession.
He remained at Methuen until his death, which occurred May 8, 1839. His disease was consump- tion, and during the last year of his life he remarked in public, "My health has been much of the time
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feeble, so that many of my public services have been performed not without much pain and great prostration of strength. Still I have been able to preach much more, and perform far more labor of various kinds than I had reason to expect I should · do at the commencement of the year." He gradu- ally wasted away and died at the age of forty-two.
His funeral sermon was preached by Rev. Samuel C. Jackson, pastor of the West Church in Andover. The church at Methuen published it in 1839. After giving an account of his life and labors, Mr. Jackson says :
His character it is pleasant to delineate. As a man he was distinguished by traits of uncommon excellence. He had great energy and decision of character, together with active habits and a constitutional ardor and warmth of feeling; hence he was inclined, whatever he did, to do it promptly, with all his heart and to the best of his ability. His character as a pastor and preacher was distinctly marked. He was kind, sincere, conciliatory, ingenuous and honorable. He was above the low acts of proselytism, and his soul spurned all sectarian bigotry and cunning ; yet he was valiant for the truth and unflinching in its support. It is believed his preaching was followed by revivals in every place where he spent any considerable time.
We have frequently heard him described by those who knew him, in Dracut, as animated and eloquent in his sermons, attractive and impressive in his man- ner, and although not thoroughly logical and dis- criminating in his arguments, yet possessing an ability to command the most undivided attention, and to convince his hearers of the truth of what he was saying. In conversing with one of our citizens about him, a few days since, he made these remarks : " He was a noble man; I recollect him very well, although I was but twelve years of age when he preached here. He was a noble man." Another
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gentleman says : "I shall always remember Mr. Pierce. I was converted under his preaching. He was not only a good preacher but he was very social in his disposition. He was a wide-awake man in every respect. When he first came to Dracut he owned a fine large black horse, as good an animal as there was in town. Mr. Pierce loved his people here, and he also had a great affection for a good horse. All our people will long have occasion to recollect him for his rare qualities as a minister and as a man."
Mr. Pierce resided first in the house since owned by Isaac Holden, Esq., and subsequently the house afterwards owned by the late William P. Varnum, on the Mammoth Road. While in Dracut he was married to Miss Clarimond Wyman, daughter of Daniel Wyman, of Woburn, by Rev. Joseph L. Ben- nett, of Woburn, November 12, 1828. They had one child only, a son, born in Dracut, March 5, 1831. He was named for his father, Sylvester G. Pierce.
After the death of Mr. Pierce his widow returned to Woburn, where she passed the remainder of her life. The most of the time during the last of her life she was a helpless invalid. After the marriage of her son, she made it her home with him until her death, which occurred April 25, 1858. Sylvester G. Pierce (the son) is a resident of Winchester, Mass., and through him we obtained most of the facts in relation to the subject of this sketch. He married Miss Lynthia Young, of Boston, and they had, at the time of this writing, one daughter, about ten years old.
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REV. TOBIAS PINKHAM.
Rev. Tobias Pinkham, the third pastor, was born in Freeport, Me., in 1801. He was a member of the Theological Seminary at Andover, in the class of 1835. In 1835-'36 he was acting pastor at Parson- field, Me. In the month of April, 1836, he came to this church and was installed May 18th of that year. We find the following record in regard to the action of the church :
Wednesday, April 20, 1836. The Church and session met at the house of widow Hannah Coburn. After singing and prayer, Voted, unanimously, that the Church make choice of Mr. Tobias Pinkham, now preaching for them, to become their settled pastor, provided the Society concur, and he can be obtained. Elders present, Nathaniel B. Coburn, Jeremiah Varnum and John P. Brown.
The Society voted to concur with the vote of the Church ; and at another meeting of the Church, holden May 11, 1836, the following business was transacted :
Voted, That the ordination of Mr. Pinkham take place on Wednesday, May 18th ; that the moderator of the Presbytery be notified and the follow- ing Congregational churches be written to and invited to assist in the ordi- nation services, viz: The Congregational churches in Dracut, Pelham and Methuen, the three Congregational churches in Lowell, the church in Tewks- bury, the three Congregational churches in Andover, the two Congregational churches in Bradford, and the Congregational church in Stoneham.
The committee of arrangements on the part of the church consisted of Elders John P. Brown, Jeremiah Varnum and Nathaniel B. Coburn, in whose names letters missive were written to the several churches invited.
At a meeting of the Church April 8, 1839, at which Rev. Amos Blanchard, of Lowell, was mod-
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erator, Mr. Pinkham presented his resignation, as follows :
To theWest Church in. Dracut :
Dear Brethren - The indications of Divine Providence seeming to show that the period of my usefulness among you as your pastor has arrived, and that it is my duty to withdraw from this station, I respectfully request you to unite with me in calling a mutual ecclesiastical council to dissolve the existing relations between us, according to Congregational usage. The circumstances of the case will suggest to you the desirableness of calling the council at the earliest practical date.
Yours, affectionately,
TOBIAS PINKHAM.
The council was called and Mr. Pinkham was dismissed on the 16th day of April, 1839. Rev. J. A. Bates, subsequently acting pastor of this church, says of Mr. Pinkham : " All I can learn of him after his dismission from this church, in 1839, is that he was ordained as a Baptist minister, September 24, 1840, and died at Tioga, Pa., August 17, 1843, aged 42 years.
When Mr. Pinkham was ordained here the order of exercises were as follows :
Introductory Prayer, by Rev. Jonas Colburn, of Stoneham.
Sermon, by Rev. Ralph Emerson, D. D., Professor at Andover Theolog- ical Seminary.
Reading the Covenant, by Rev. Daniel Dana, D. D., moderator of Presbytery.
Ordaining Prayer, by Rev. Jacob Coggin, of Tewksbury.
Charge to the Pastor, by Rev. Daniel Dana, D. D., of Newburyport. Right Hand of Fellowship, by Rev. Jesse Page, of North Andover. Address to the People, by Rev. Sylvester G. Pierce, of Methuen. Concluding Prayer, by Rev. Asa Rand,* of Lowell.
Benediction, by the Pastor.
* Rev. Asa Rand was ordained at Gorham, Me., January 18, 1809; sermon by Rev. Jesse Appleton, D. D., President Bowdoin College, but at this time he was not preaching.
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REV. JOSEPH MERRILL.
The subject of this sketch was born at Warren, N. H., October 19, 1788, and died at Lowell, Mass., November 21, 1856. He was a son of Joseph and Sarah (Copp) Merrill. In early life he had the advantage of the common schools (secured to all the towns of New Hampshire by a law passed in 1693, after that state became an independent province) and graduated at Dartmouth College in 1814. He taught at Haverhill, N. H., eighteen months after finishing his college course, at the same time read- ing law, in anticipation of entering upon that pro- fession at some future time. Closing his engage- ment at Haverhill, he went to Marblehead, Mass., where he again engaged in teaching, as preceptor of an academy. While there he changed his purpose in regard to his future calling, and began the study of divinity with Rev. Samuel Dana of that town.
After some six years of experience in teaching and preparation for the ministry, he received and accepted a call from the Central Congregational Church in Dracut, Mass., over which he was ordained pastor November 15, 1820, to succeed Rev. William Gould, who was settled there in 1815 and remained two years. Mr. Merrill continued his labors with this church in Dracut over thirteen years, being dis- missed April 8, 1833. October 16, 1833, he was installed over the Congregational Church at Acworth, N. H. This town, it will be remembered, though small is celebrated on account of the large crystals of beryl which have been found within its limits, specimens of which are to be found in almost every
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mineral-cabinet throughout the world. Dr. Jackson informs us that one of these beryls, eight inches in diameter, was shown him in the imperial cabinet of Vienna, which was highly valued. A Congrega- tional church was established there in 1773. Mr. Merrill remained there nearly five years, being dis- missed July 11, 1838. The record says : "Next to this, and without relaxation, he preached in Well- fleet, Mass., from June 10, 1838, to 1839, and was then agent for Bradford Academy, Bradford, Mass., for some time."
Mr. Merrill was installed over the Pawtucket Church, then called the Congregational Church of West Dracut, April 20, 1842. The sermon was preached by Rev. Amos Blanchard, pastor of the First Congregational Church in Lowell, and the fol- lowing-named clergymen participated in the installa- tion exercises :
Installing Prayer, by Rev. Jacob Coggin, of Tewksbury. Sermon, by Rev. Amos Blanchard, of Lowell. Charge, by Rev. U. C. Burnap, Appleton Street Church, of Lowell. Address to the People, by Rev. Calvin Cutler, of Windham, N. H. Concluding Prayer, by Rev. B. F. Clark, of North Chelmsford.
During the summer of 1842 a revival began, and twenty-two persons joined the church on profession. It was during his pastorate (1844) that the meeting- house was remodeled inside; the old-fashioned, square pews giving place to those now in use, and the old pulpit, so lofty, which at that time stood on the north side of the house, was removed, and one more in keeping with the times erected. Mr. Mer- rill was much interested in the improvements, lend- ing his influence to encourage the enterprise. He
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remained over this church until April 19, 1848, when he resigned and was dismissed at his own request.
In 1849 he was elected to the legislature of Massachusetts from Dracut and was re-elected in 1850. During the year 1850 he removed his resi- dence to Lowell, where he passed the remainder of his days, supplying in Dracut and other churches as suited his convenience.
Mr. Merrill married Eleanor, daughter of Rev. Cotton Haines, of Greenland, N. H., and had eight children. One son, George Anson Merrill, gradu- ated at Dartmouth College in 1832.
In giving a description of Mr. Merrill, one of his friends in this place says : "He was a man of most strict and decided theological opinions of the Con- gregational type, and a sincere, earnest and faithful preacher. He believed sincerely in the great truths of the Gospel, and expounded them with great power and effect." In Merrill's "History of Acworth," he is referred to as follows :
During a pastorate in Acworth of nearly five years he was favored with the confidence of the people. Mr. Merrill was erect and dignified in person, genial and affable in manners, and sound and interesting as a preacher. He was blessed with an interesting work of grace in this parish. This work began with a church visitation, such as has often been made in this church. The plan has been for the brethren to go two by two into every family repre- sented in the church, for the purpose of religious conversation. Good results have usually followed. At this time also a four-days' meeting was held, at which neighboring ministers were invited to preach. On the closing day of the meeting, forty or fifty persons assembled in the town-house at an inquiry meeting. . . January 11, 1835, ninety-three were received into the church.
At the time when Mr. Merrill was ordained at the Central Church in Dracut (in 1820), a great account was made of such occasions. People from far and near generally attended, and all were entertained in
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a most cordial, hospitable and even sumptuous man- ner. We are informed by persons in attendance that there were present from this Society Jeremiah Varnum, who played the bass-viol in the choir ; Zadoc Lew, who played the bassoon ; Atis and Abel Ansart, Daniel Varnum, Asa Clement and his wife (parents of Asa Clement now living), Mehitable Ford (afterwards Mrs. Jeremiah Varnum), and doubtless others. The only persons now living of the above-named are Abel Ansart and Mrs. Varnum.
[This being the occasion on which Mrs. Varnum was introduced to her future husband, of course the writer cannot and does not speak from personal recollection regarding the old-time ordination !]
At the time of the decease of Mr. Merrill, the event was noticed by the local papers, specimens of which we here insert, although the facts as stated are probably not all correct.
From the Lowell Daily Courier of November 22, 1856 :
A GOOD MAN GONE .- We regret to announce the death of our much- esteemed fellow·citizen, Rev. Joseph Merrill. He died at his residence on Myrtle Street, Centralville, Lowell, yesterday. Mr. Merrill has preached in Dracut thirty-six years, and by his kind and faithful labors has won the con- fidence and sympathies of all his people. Arrangements had been made for a donation visit the day preceding Thanksgiving, but his good work is ended and his spirit has departed to our Father's House of many mansions. We trust, however, that the anticipated visit may not be forgotten. Let us go silently to the house of mourning and manifest our respect for the dead by pouring our contributions into the lap of the afflicted family.
From the Lowell Daily Citizen of the same date :
The late Rev. Joseph Merrill, whose death we noticed yesterday,* was sixty-eight years of age. He has been pastor of the church over which he
* Simply the fact of his death.
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presided in Dracut for thirty-six years. In early life he practiced law, and at one time taught school in Marblehead. His disease was bilious colic, followed by lung fever. The funeral services will take place on Tuesday afternoon, from the John Street Congregational Church.
Mr. Merrill, as already stated, was ordained in 1820 and died in 1856, after a ministry of thirty-six years, but not all in Dracut; and we are not aware that he ever entered upon the practice of law. It was our good fortune to enjoy for many years an acquaintance with Mr. Merrill, and to be present at his funeral, but we are indebted to Mr. William H. Cobb, librarian of the Congregational Library, Bos- ton, for many of the preceding facts.
REV. BROWN EMERSON.
Rev. Brown Emerson was born at Harvard, Mass., August 1, 1805, and graduated at Yale College in 1833. He studied theology at the Divinity School of Yale two years and at Andover one year; was ordained pastor of the Congregational Church in West Boylston, Mass., in 1837, but resigned in 1839; was installed at Torringford, Conn., in 1841, where he remained until 1844; was pastor of this church from June 5, 1850, to May 9, 1854. He married Catherine B., daughter of Rev. Brown Emerson, D. D., of Salem, Mass. . They had three children one of whom died in childhood. In 1873 Mr. Emerson removed to Wyoming, N. J., where, after a long and useful life, he died June 16, 1887.
When Mr. Emerson was installed here the public services were performed by the following-named persons :
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Sermon, by Rev. Brown Emerson, D. D., of Salem.
Installing Prayer, by Rev. Joseph H. Towne, of Lowell. Charge to Pastor, by Rev. U. C. Burnap, of Lowell. Right Hand of Fellowship, by Rev. Amos Blanchard, of Lowell. Address to the People, by Rev. Stedman W. Hanks, of Lowell. Concluding Prayer, by Rev. B. F. Clark, of North Chelmsford. Reading Hymn and Benediction, by the Pastor.
Mrs. Emerson, with one son and one daughter, is still living (1887) in Wyoming. After the decease of Mr. Emerson the following obituary notice appeared in the Congregationalist :
Rev. Brown Emerson, who died in Wyoming, N. J., June 16, at the age of nearly eighty, was born in Harvard, August 1, 1807 [the date of his birth should be 1805], graduated from Yale College in 1833, and filled pastorates at West Boylston, Torringford, Conn., Dracut, Montague, and Westminster. He served as agent for the American Education Society, also for the Amer- ican and Foreign Christian Union, and the last few years of his life he was without pastoral charge.
REV. PERRIN B. FISKE.
Mr. Perrin B. Fiske, the sixth pastor, came here soon after concluding his studies at the Bangor Theological Seminary and remained about two years. The ordination transpired October 1, 1863, with the following order of services :
Invocation and Reading Scriptures, by Rev. George H. Morse, of Dracut. Introductory Prayer, by Rev. Edward W. Clark, chaplain Fourth Regi- ment Massachusetts Volunteers.
Sermon, by Rev. J. E. Rankin, of Lowell.
Ordaining Prayer, by Rev. B. F. Clark, of North Chelmsford.
Charge to the Pastor, by Rev. Owen Street, of Lowell. Right Hand of Fellowship, by Rev. J. W. Backus, of Lowell. Address to the People, by Rev. R. Tolman, of Tewksbury. Concluding Prayer, by Rev. Amos Blanchard, D. D., of Lowell. Benediction, by the Pastor.
Mr. Fiske was dismissed November 7, 1865, and was afterwards settled in Peacham, Vt.
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REV. JOSEPH BOARDMAN.
Rev. Joseph Boardman was born at Amesbury, Mass., June 18, 1833, graduated at Amherst College in 1855 and at the Andover Theological Seminary in 1860. He was ordained at Pownal, Me., March 20, 1861, and was acting pastor there from October, 1860, to October, 1865. After leaving Pownal, Mr. Boardman was installed pastor of the Congregational Church at Hopkinton, Mass., November 2, 1865, at which place he remained three years, being dis- missed November 1, 1868. He was acting pastor at Plymouth, Mass., in 1869, and was installed at Paw- tucket Church September 1, 1870.
Mr. Boardman was married to Mima A. Patten, of Amesbury, May 20, 1862. She died September 17, 1867, leaving two children, Mary R. and Anna. Soon after his settlement here Mr. Boardman was married (November 1, 1870) to Mary N., youngest daughter of Rev. Leonard Withington, D. D., of New- bury, Mass. Mrs. Boardman was specially adapted to the position she occupied, and soon won the love and respect of the people throughout the parish.
After his resignation and dismissal from this church, November 1, 1874, Mr. Boardman was called to North Craftsbury, Vt., where he now resides. He was an earnest, patient, faithful minister, and in going from here both Mr. and Mrs. Boardman left many warm friends and no enemies.
At the installation of Mr. Boardman over this church the following order of exercises was adopted :
Introductory Prayer, by Rev. C. S. Brooks, of Tyngsborough.
Sermon, by Rev. John M. Greene, D. D., of Lowell.
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Installing Prayer, by Rev. Eden B. Foster, D. D., of Lowell. Charge to the Pastor, by Rev. Owen Street, D. D., of Lowell. Right Hand of Fellowship, by Rev. Daniel Phillips, of North Chelmsford. Address to the People, by Rev. Moses Patten, of Carlisle. Concluding Prayer, by Rev. G. H. Ide, of Hopkinton, Mass. Benediction, by the Pastor.
REV. CHARLES H. WILLCOX.
Rev. Charles H. Willcox was ordained pastor of the Pawtucket Church, November 6, 1884. The following sketch of the pastor's life and report of the ordination exercises was made by the Lowell Morning Times of November 7th :
Rev. Charles II. Willcox, late of New Haven, was ordained pastor over the Pawtucket Congregational Church yesterday. In the afternoon an ecclesiastical council met and examined the candidate, and the ordination services were held in the evening. Both services were attended by large audiences, composed of people belonging not only to the Pawtucket Church but to other churches in the city, and were of unusual interest. The new pastor is a young man, a graduate of Yale in 1876, and of the seminary con- nected with the university. He will be recognized by many people in this vicinity when it is stated that he is the son of Prof. G. B. Willcox, now of Chicago, formerly of the Lawrence Street Church in Lawrence, and nephew of Rev. W. H. Willcox of Malden. The subject of present consideration was licensed to preach by the New Haven Eastern Association in May, 1880. During the last two years he has been studying in Germany. He came to the Pawtucket Church last September, but preferred not to be ordained until now. Mr. Willcox enters probably the oldest church in this vicinity, whose pulpit has been filled by a long line of notable men, and which now has a congregation that, although not large, is one of the finest in Lowell. The pulpit has for several years been supplied by Rev. Elias Nason.
The council which met in the afternoon, chose Rev. Smith Baker moder- ator, Rev. C. A. Dickinson scribe, and was composed of the following : Rev. Smith Baker, pastor, and E. B. Welch, delegate, First Congregational Church, Lowell; Rev. C. A. Dickinson and Dea. S. G. Mack, Kirk Street Church; Rev. II. T. Rose and Dea. B. C. Benner, John Street Church ; Rev. Owen Street, D.D., and W. H. White, High Street Church ; Rev. S. W. Adriance and Dea. C. B. Emerson, Highland Church; Rev. Calvin Amaron and W. C. Greenier, French Protestant Church; Thomas Boynton, River- side Church, Dracut; A. T. Richardson, Central Church, Dracut ; Dea. J. P. Coburn, Congregational Church, Tyngsborough; Rev. C. H. Oliphant
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and James S. Dodge, Congregational Church, Methuen; Rev. Wolcott Calkins, and Henry E. Cobb, Eliot Church, Newton.
The proceedings of the Church and society being read were found to be regular, and showing that a call had been extended to Mr. Willcox at a salary of one thousand dollars per year and parsonage. The customary statement of belief was made by the candidate, which was found to be satis- factory, and the council voted to proceed with the ordination at seven o'clock in the evening. A bountiful supper was then served in the vestry to all who desired to remain and be present until the conclusion of the ceremonies.
The following was the order of exercises at the ordination :
Organ Voluntary, by Nellie V. Colton. Report of the Doings of the Council, by Rev. C. A. Dickinson, Scribe. Reading of the Scriptures and Prayer.
Sermon, by Rev. Wolcott Calkins, D. D., of Newton. Text-Romans I : 14.
Ordaining Prayer, by Rev. Martin Dudley, of Easton, Conn.
Charge to Pastor, by Rev. Owen Street, D. D., of Lowell. Right Hand of Fellowship, Rev. C. A. Dickinson, of Lowell. Address to the People, by Rev. Smith Baker, of Lowell. Concluding Prayer, by Rev. Calvin Amaron, of Lowell.
Benediction, by the Pastor.
SARAH B. VARNUM, MISSIONARY TO THE INDIANS.
The subject of this sketch, Miss Sarah B. Var- num, daughter of Parker and Dorcas (Brown) Var- num, was born in Dracut, January 16, 1784. She was one of the early members of this church, of which her father was one of the elders (elected April 19, 1819) and one of its principal supporters in its early history, after its establishment at Paw- tucket Falls (Pawtucketville) in Dracut. In 1818 she married Rev. Cyrus Kingsbury, a graduate of Andover Theological Seminary, and became a mis- sionary among the Indians at Chickamauga and Missionary Ridge in Tennessee, ten miles from the
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place which during the rebellion (September 19, 1863) was made famous by the repulse of the Union army under command of Gen. W. S. Rosecrans, on the banks of Chickamauga Creek, and seven miles from the brow of Lookout Mountain, where in "the battle among the clouds" the Confederacy received a severe blow.
It will be remembered that in 1815 explorations for suitable fields for Indian missions were made by the American Board at St. Louis and other places, and in 1816-'17 the mission to the Cherokees was begun at Georgia and Tennessee. Mr. Kingsbury, fresh from Andover Seminary, was the first Indian missionary of the American Board, and he entered upon his work with great courage and faith in the enterprise. He passed through Washington on the way to his field of labor, where he met a Cherokee chief who expressed his great interest in the effort to be made. He said that his nation had long wished for schools and had even thought of devoting a part of their annuity from the government to the object. President Madison authorized the Secretary of War to say that the agent of Indian affairs would erect a house for a school and one for a teacher, to be fol- lowed by others, as occasion might require and as success might justify. The agent would also be in- structed to furnish two plows, six hoes and as many axes, for the purpose of introducing the art of cul- tivation among the pupils, and when female pupils should be received and a female teacher engaged, " a loom, half a dozen spinning-wheels and as many pairs of cards," all these, however, "to remain public property, to be employed for the benefit of
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