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 9
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the nation." A mission was soon established. Mr. Kingsbury was followed by Messrs. Hall and Williams with their wives, and soon by others.
The enterprise was "a compound of mission, boarding-school and agricultural college." After the mission was well under way, Mr. Kingsbury desired to return to Massachusetts to be married ; but it was not deemed expedient for him to leave the school, and so arrangements were made whereby his affianced courageously accomplished the then long and tedious voyage by sea to New Orleans, unaccompanied by friends. Here she was met by Mr. Kingsbury, where they were married, December 24, 1818. They travelled on horseback to their station, a distance of some two hundred miles, camp- ing out at night, and boiling their kettle and cooking their food after the manner of pioneer travellers. Their safe arrival was in due time accomplished, and the presence of Mrs. Kingsbury proved to be of great importance to the success of the mission. By her kindly, gentle acts and her faithful, patient man- ner and teachings, she soon became very much beloved by her Indian pupils and their friends.
Their first station received the name of Brainerd, in honor of David Brainerd, an early missionary among the Indians. President Monroe visited this station in company with General Gaines, in 1819. He expressed himself much pleased with the success that had attended the efforts of the missionaries and ordered a better building for the school for girls to be erected at the public expense.
In eighteen months after the work was begun, the treasurer of the American Board visited the
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mission, and was very much gratified with what had been accomplished. He found the Indian boys will- ing to work, docile, quick to learn, and orderly in their behavior.
The committee on missions then determined to push on the work among the Chickasaws and Choc- taws. Accordingly Mr. Kingsbury selected å site among the Choctaws on the Yazoo River, four hundred miles southwest of Brainerd, and called the place Eliot, probably in honor of Rev. John Eliot, who began his labors among the Indians of Massachusetts in 1646. This mission was also a success. So much interested was the Cherokee nation in the work that it devoted generous sums from the annuities received from the government in aid of schools. One of their official letters, after the mission was well under way, relating to these grants, expressed an earnest hope of their " taking an early place among the enlightened nations of the land."
The Choctaws, at the time when Mr. Kingsbury established his mission among them, were inhabi- tants of the state of Mississippi, on both sides of the Yazoo River, but as the states of Georgia, Alabama and Mississippi increased in population and power, they became more and more impatient to be rid of these independent, self-governing tribes within their boundaries. There is a long story in connection with the means resorted to for their expulsion, too shameful to be read or related with composure; but the Choctaws, like the Cherokees, were removed to the Indian Territory and were located on the south side of the Arkansas River. When they were re- moved Mr. Kingsbury went with them, where he
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passed the remainder of his days. He died in April, 1864, after forty-five years of missionary labor. Mrs. Kingsbury was not permitted to continue long in the service. She died suddenly, after an illness of only five days, September 15, 1822, and was buried in a place called Mayhew, in Mississippi. Mr. Kingsbury subsequently married a second wife, who became a co-laborer with him in the missionary work, and on one occasion came to Lowell to visit friends.
Mrs. Kingsbury left two sons-Cyrus and John P. They were sent from the Indian Territory, when they were of suitable age, to a college in Ohio to be educated, their grandfather Varnum, who died in 1824, having left money for that purpose. Cyrus, the older son, studied medicine. John P. became a merchant in the Indian Territory, and also edited a newspaper there, one side of which was in English the other in Choctaw. He married the daughter of a missionary, but died several years ago, leaving one child.
Mrs. Kingsbury was one of a family of fifteen children, among whom were John Varnum, born in Dracut, June 25, 1778. He was a graduate of Harvard College in 1798, subsequently studied law and was admitted to the bar in Essex County, resid- ing in Haverhill, where he opened an office. He was a member of the State Senate from Essex County in 1812, and a member of the House of Represent- atives in Congress for six successive years, beginning with the nineteenth congress, in the year 1825. He removed to Lowell sometime after his term of public service expired, and died in 1836.
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Dorcas, a sister of Mrs. Kingsbury, married Oliver Stearns, a practicing lawyer in Amesbury. They left children, one of whom married Mr. William H. Hull, of Lowell.
Phebe married William F. Brazer, a merchant of Groton in 1807. William P. Brazer and Mrs. Sarah B. Eaton were their children; Mrs. Eaton is the mother of Lieut. Joseph G. Eaton of the United States Navy.
Clarissa married Caleb Butler, of Groton, author of Butler's History of Groton, and formerly chair- man of the Board of County Commissioners of Mid- dlesex County.
Pleasant memories of this family, many of whom have passed away, are cherished by those who sur- vive them.
REV. WILLIAM ALLEN.
Rev. William Allen was acting pastor of the Pawtucket Church for a number of years, closing his services here in March, 1868. Both Mr. Allen and his wife were very much beloved during their residence in the parish. He owned and resided in the brick house built by Joseph Gould, opposite Pawtucket Falls, on Riverside Street, now belonging to the heirs of John P. White.
Mr. Allen died in 1885, at the house of Dr. Nathan Allen, his brother, with whom he resided a few of the last years of his life. At his funeral, which occurred January 8, 1885, Rev. John M. Greene, D. D., pastor of the Eliot Church, gave an
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account of this much respected clergyman, which was published, and from which we make brief ex- tracts, as follows :
Rev. William Allen was born in the beautiful town of Princeton, Mass., May 1, 1808. There were towering hills and picturesque vales, sunsets almost celestial, and trees and clouds and landscapes of the rarest kind, all fitted to be educators of that youthful mind. It is no small privilege to be born amid such helps to high and noble culture. Nature is a school-house to them who can read her lessons.
But Mr. Allen had another advantage in his birth. He belonged to good Puritan stock. His mother was a true representative of that remarkable class of women who both adorned the Christian profession and gave such sterling character to the generation who peopled New England during the first years of this century. His father was as truly noted for integrity of character and all those high moral and religious virtues which are not only the substratum of all that is elevated and good in the citizen, but as well the ornament and glory of humanity. Mr. Allen was fortunate also in that he had brothers and sisters. He was the sixth of eleven children - nine sons and two daughters. The oldest and the youngest were daughters. Four of the sons were graduated at college. Two became ministers of the gospel - William, whose remains lie before us, and Rev. David O. Allen, D. D., who was for more than twenty-five years a missionary under the A. B. C. F. M. in India. Two of the graduate sons became physicians-Dr. Nathan Allen, of Lowell, and Dr. J. M. Allen, who was a Professor of Anatomy in Penn- sylvania Medical College, Philadelphia.
All the sons and one of the daughters were teachers in public schools and academies. They taught in nearly a hundred separate districts or schools, and had under their instruction more than five thousand different pupils. It would be difficult to find the parallel of this in the history of any New England family.
Of the eleven children only three now survive-Jonas Allen, of Brook- field, Mass., Dr. Nathan Allen, of Lowell, and H. W. Allen, of Framing- ham. [H. W. Allen has since deceased.]
Rev. William Allen fitted for college at Phillips Academy, Andover. He was graduated at Amherst College, in the class of 1832. He maintained a high rank as a scholar in college. In his class were several prominent men : Rev. Dr. John C. F. Hoes, Rev. Dr. Samuel M. Hopkins, Rev. Samuel Hunt; Judge Otis P. Lord, Judge Henry Morris, and Judge Jonathan C. Perkins, of Massachusetts; Judge James Bell, of Maine; Judge F. N. Watkins, of Virginia, and Judge Lyman Gibbons, of Alabama. It is an honor to be a classmate with such men; a double honor to be in scholar- ship pari passu with them.
After his graduation at College Mr. Allen taught school for two years in the state of Georgia, where he gained much experience which helped him in his subsequent professional life.
After his graduation at the Theological Seminary Mr. Allen taught school
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in Kentucky two years. Then he returned to his native state, and in Janu- ary, 1841, was ordained as a gospel minister in the old and important town of Quincy. He remained there as a faithful and able minister of the gospel nine years. His ministry was a fruitful one. But after nine years of unin- terrupted labor there he sought rest in a change of field. For two years he now preached in West Woodstock, Conn., as a stated supply. After he had become rested and his energies were renewed, he came to Dracut, where he preached as a supply at the Hillside Church nine years and the Pawtucket- ville Church three years. His ministry here as in Quincy was eminently for the edification of the church and good of society.
Mr. Allen was married June 18, 1844, to Miss Rebecca Armstrong, a niece of Samuel T. Armstrong, formerly Lieutenant-Governor of Massachusetts.
When he closed his services at this place the author received the following characteristic letter from him, in answer to one written (in the capacity of a committee of the Society) thanking him for his faithful and acceptable services.
LOWELL, MARCII 2Ist, 1868.
MY DEAR SIR :
Your letter of the 16th inst., expressive of your own kind feelings and those of many other Dracut friends, I found in the postoffice last evening.
I have not forgotten nor shall I ever forget your sincere, as I believe, manifestations to me, in years past, of personal regard and esteem. It is very pleasant also to be assured that many others in Dracut possess, in common with you, similar feelings, and also to know that no one has any- thing personally against me. This will ever be a source of grateful recollec- tion to me, if I should never address them again as a minister. It is as it ever should be. I have always felt that it has been a great reproach to the ministry and to churches that there should frequently be such alienation of feeling and so many unhappy utterances connected with the separation of a minister and people. It is all wrong. Sufficient causes for a change may be found generally without resorting, either by ministers or churches, to such as inflict a deep wound on the cause of our blessed Redeemer.
My connection and intercourse, as also that of Mrs. Allen, with the people in West Dracut have been very pleasant indeed. We can bear testimony that we have ever been treated personally with all that courtesy, respect and kindness we could wish. And for this we would return to you, and through you to all, our sincere thanks, praying that God may ever grant you all, individually and as a church and people, peace and prosperity in this life and everlasting blessedness in the life which is to come.
With kindest regards, I remain, yours sincerely,
WILLIAM ALLEN.
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REV. ELIAS NASON.
Rev. Elias Nason, acting pastor of Pawtucket Church for nearly eight years-from May, 1876, to April, 1884 - was born at Wrentham, Mass., April 21, 1811, and graduated at Brown University, in Providence, R. I., in 1835. He gave special atten- tion to the languages, music and botany. In 1837 he published the Georgia Courier, in Augusta, Ga., and was for a time teacher of an academy at Waynes- borough in that state. From 1840 to 1849 he was a teacher in Newburyport, Mass. He was licensed to preach in 1849, and was ordained at Natick, Mass., May 5, 1852. He was afterwards settled as pastor of the Congregational Church at Medford and the First Congregational Church at Exeter, N. H.
Mr. Nason devoted much time to literature and published many valuable books. He was the author of the lives of Sir C. H. Frankland, 1868; Susanna Rawson, 1870; Nathaniel Howe, 1851; Charles Sumner, Henry Wilson, and a Gazetteer of Massa- chusetts, 1874, and other works.
During his pastorate at Pawtucket Church he resided at his beautiful residence, "Brightside," in North Billerica. He will long be remembered by this people for his able and faithful services.
Mr. Nason died June 17, 1887, aged seventy-six years. An obituary notice appeared in the Lowell Daily Courier substantially as follows :
Another of our literary lights has gone out with the death of the Rev. Elias Nason, who died at his home, " Brightside," Friday afternoon at two o'clock, after a very long and painful illness, which he has borne with won- derful fortitude. He was born in Wrentham, Mass., April 21, 1811. His early youth was spent in Hopkinton. He was, from the first, a lover of nature, and early showed a taste for literature. At the age of fifteen he was apprenticed to David Bigelow & Co., of Framingham, paper manufacturers,
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and it was here, from torn sheets of music which he found in the paper-rags, that he acquired the art of music, in which he was very proficient. Subse- quently, under the tutelage of Rev. Mr. Colton, of Amherst, he was pre- pared to enter Brown University. Early in the year 1836, in the company of the distinguished naturalist, Dr. John E. Holbrook, he visited the southern states for the purpose of studying the flora there and gave many lectures on that subject. During his stay in the south he became editor and manager of a southern daily paper, the Georgia Courier, published in Augusta, Ga. Ile also became principal of a high school in Waynesborough. His stay in the south lasted until 1840, when he returned north and became a teacher in several high schools. He also became editor of a magazine, The Watch Tower. During this time he had made himself master of several different languages, among them Spanish, Syriac and German. Ile was licensed as a preacher in 1849. In 1850 he became principal of the high school in Milford, and in 1852 received his first pastorate in Natick, where he remained until 1858, when he had a call from the Mystic Church in Medford. In 1861 he became pastor of the First Congregational Church in Exeter, N. H.
He was the author of many interesting works. Among them were several musical publications, a Eulogy on Edward Everett, Life of Henry Wilson, Life of Charles Sumner, Lives of Moody and Sankey, Gazetteer of Massa- chusetts, and History of Dunstable. Ile had also been a noted lecturer, and had travelled all over the country under the Redpath Lecture Bureau. Among the most noted of his lectures are The Human IIand, The Model Town, Originality, Waterloo, Wonderland, and many others. In 1875 he crossed the ocean and visited Paris, Rome and Naples. Among other accomplishments he was a fine stenographer.
He was married to Miss Mira A. Bigelow in 1836, and had resided in his home, " Brightside," since 1865. It was here, the 29th of November last, that he and his wife celebrated their golden wedding. He leaves a widow, two daughters and three sons, Capt. Paul F. Nason, Rev. C. P. II. Nason, pastor of a church in Germantown, Penn., and Rev. W. W. Nason, of Lowell.
The funeral took place from his home at " Brightside," at two o'clock Monday afternoon. There were many friends and relatives in attendance upon the services, and the house was too small to afford admittance to all who wished to be present. Rev. Mr. Wilson, pastor of the Congregational Church in North Billerica, conducted the services. The music for the occasion was by the brothers and sisters of the deceased-Prof. E. S. Nason and wife of Worcester, Messrs. W. W. and Charles Nason of Great Falls, and Mrs. Wiley of Utica. Miss Gertrude Gerrish also assisted. The bearers were all sons of the deceased- Capt. P. F. Nason of Billerica, Rev. C. P. H. Nason of Germantown, Penn., Rev. W. W. Nason of Lowell, and Dr. C. H. Gerrish of Exeter. The floral tributes were simple and beautiful, including a cross of English ivy with the words "Our Pastor," in white flowers. This was contributed by the Centre Church of Dracut. A star of English ivy from Chelsea friends and a sheaf of wheat were also placed on the casket. Rev. Henry N. Kinney, nephew of the deceased, read the clos- ing hymn, which was written by Mr. Nason himself while he was pastor in Natick. The hymn follows.
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Jesus only, when the morning Beams upon the path I tread ; Jesus only, when the darkness Gathers 'round my weary head.
Jesus only, when the billows Bold and sullen o'er me roll ;
Jesus only, when the trumpet Rends the tomb and wakes the soul.
Jesus only, when in judgment Boding fears my heart appal ; Jesus only, when the wretched O'er the rocks and mountains call.
Jesus only, when, adoring, Saints their crowns before him bring ;
Jesus only, I will, joyous, Through eternal ages sing.
The remains were interred in the Billerica Cemetery.
The following tribute to his memory appeared in the Newburyport Herald :
Elias Nason will be kindly remembered by many of our citizens and especially by those who received his instructions and won his affections, in our high school, of which he was principal many years. He was a good teacher, a man of mental activity, and interested in church and public affairs. For some time he was editor of The Watch Tower, a newspaper which passed away forty years ago; as previously he had done the same elsewhere ; and though later he was ordained as a Congregational minister, he never lost his love for the newspaper and was in constant correspondence with the press.
Also an extract from an obituary notice in the Congregationalist :
Mr. Nason was widely known as a writer and lecturer, and in both these fields of effort he betrayed great thoroughness and excellence. Besides several sermons, historical sketches and collections of music, he published, in 1857, the Congregational Hymn Book. He was fond of historical studies, and was connected editorially with the Register of the New England Historic and Genealogical Society, before which he read several valuable papers. Last November he celebrated his golden wedding. He married Mira Ann Bigelow, of Framingham, who, with several children, is left to mourn the loss of one who was universally esteemed and beloved.
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REV. THOMAS PARKER.
Rev. Thomas Parker, the first minister of Dra- cut, was a son of Josiah Parker, who came from England to America sometime prior to 1700, and settled in Cambridge or Dorchester. Thomas, the subject of this sketch, was born December 7, 1700, graduated at Harvard College in 1718, and, in 1719, received a call to settle in Dracut. The town records furnish an account of the call as follows :
DRACUT, December 28, 1719.
At a general town meeting, the town made choice of Rev. Thomas Parker as their minister, and voted to give him a call to settle at eighty pounds yearly salary. Voted, that Captain Varnum, Quartermaster Coburn and Ephraim Hildreth, carry the vote of the town to Mr. Parker, and that Quartermaster Coburn be paid six pounds to pay for ye ordination.
The committee attended to their duty and " car- ried " the vote of the town, as we find by the fol- lowing reply from Mr. Parker :
CHELMSFORD, January 30, 1720
To the inhabitants of the town of Dracut : I received your vote the 3rd of this instant, January, by the hands of Capt. Varnum and Lieut. Hildreth, wherein, I understand, you have unanimously made choice of me to be your settled minister. I have perused and considered your offer, also understand- ing your earnest desire that I should settle amongst you. I can find no fault with what you have been pleased to offer, and I do therefore accept the same, provided you do pay me quarterly.
As you have been unanimous in your choice, so I hope you will always endeavor to live in peace and unanimity, that there be found a spirit of peace in each of you. I also would beg your prayers to Almighty God for me, that I may prove a faithful minister of Christ and instrumental in saving many souls, that you may sit quietly and contentedly under my ministry, that I may have a comfortable prospect of your being benefitted thereby, and that you and I may so believe and manage ourselves that we may meet with comfort in this life and with peace at death; and that we may lift up our heads with joy at the last day, shall be the continual, fervent prayer of me, one of the unworthiest of God's ministers.
THOMAS PARKER.
.
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Thus Mr. Parker was only nineteen when settled. The town then purchased a "ministree," on the Dracut side of the river, opposite what is now called Middlesex Village. The house was afterwards owned by Col. Louis Ansart, an officer in the Revolution, who came from France in 1776, was employed by our government to cast cannon, and was appointed Colonel of Artillery and Inspector-General of the foundries. After the death of Col. Ansart, the prop- erty came into the possession of Daniel Varnum, by whom it was owned for many years. Mr. Var- num died May 4, 1881. Since that time the property has been owned by Thomas Varnum, his nephew.
In a memorial presented to the Legislature in 1748, in regard to locating the second meeting- house built by the town of Dracut, which caused some disturbance by being placed so far from the parsonage, Mr. Parker is referred to as follows :
In 1720, the Rev. Thomas Parker was called and ordained to the gos- pel ministry amongst us, who, together with the assistance of the town, pur- chased a settlement near the meeting-house, the price being much enhanced by the situation. He has carried on the work ever since to general accep- tance.
Mr. Parker remained over this church until his death, March 18, 1765, a period of forty-four years. The day after his decease, a town-meeting was called to grant money to defray the expenses of the funeral, and the following business was transacted :
Ist, made choice of John Varnum, moderator. 2d, voted, to buy Madam Parker a mourning suit. Also voted, to buy six rings for ye bearers of ye deceased. Voted, to appropriate twenty pounds for ye mourning suit and ye rings included. Voted, to raise four pounds more so that ye whole sum shall be twenty-four pounds.
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Mr. Parker had been in failing health for some time before his death, and the town, in 1764, held a meeting, to see about hiring some one to preach for him.
An old-fashioned slab, said to have been import- ed from England, marks the spot where this worthy man was laid. The following inscription, although cut in old-style letters, may yet be easily read on the headstone :
Memento mori.
Under this stone is Interred ye Remains of ye REV'D THOMAS PARKER.
A gentleman of shining mental Powers, Adorned with Prudence, Benevolence, & Curtesie of maners,
A warm & Pathetic Preacher of ye Gospel, A Most watchful and tender Pastor of ye Church In Dracut for ye space of 44 years. Accomplished with learning, Humane & Divine, & endowed & adorned with ye social virtues & affections, who departed this life March 18th, 1765, in the 65th year of his age.
After his death, Mrs. Parker and her family re- moved to Litchfield, N. H. [Litchfield was formerly considered a part of Massachusetts, but the boundary line between Massachusetts and New Hampshire, as established in 1737, gave it to New Hampshire.] There she resided until her death, 1787. She was buried in Litchfield, and the following inscription may be found upon her gravestone :
In memory of MADAM LYDIA PARKER, Consort of the Rev. Thomas Parker of Dracut, who departed this life suddenly Sept. 25th, Anno Dom. 1787, aged 85 years, 2 months and 12 days. " Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord."
Mr. and Mrs. Parker had nine children, five boys
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and four girls, viz : Thomas, John, William, Matthew, Jonathan, Lydia, Elizabeth, Lucy and Sarah.
Thomas, the oldest, became a celebrated physi- cian and settled in Litchfield. One of his sons, Rev. Edward L. Parker, settled in Derry, N. H., and preached there until his death. He was author of the history of Derry. John settled in Goffstown, N. H. William, the third son, was killed in a mill- yard in Dracut ; he had children, and Polly, one of his daughters, married Jonas Varnum of Dracut. Matthew and Jonathan were both farmers and set- tled in Litchfield.
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