USA > Massachusetts > Hampshire County > Pelham > History of Pelham, Mass. : from 1738 to 1898, including the early history of Prescott > Part 23
USA > Massachusetts > Hampshire County > Prescott > History of Pelham, Mass. : from 1738 to 1898, including the early history of Prescott > Part 23
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Services were continued from that time until the Rev. Robert Abercrombie began to preach to the people of the town in 1742, who these " supplyers " were we find no record. Mr. Abercrombie was settled in 1744 and was the pastor for twelve years,-including the two years that he preached before his ordination. After his dismissal by the Presbytery there was no settled pastor for nine years, or until the settlement of Rev. Richard Crouch Graham in 1763. It was during this long interval that the town was without a settled orthodox minister, that the town was prosecuted or indicted by the grand jury of Hampshire county and ordered to appear in court to answer for the neglect; the record in detail being given elsewhere. During the years from 1754 to 1763 it is probable there was preaching most of the time, sometimes by preachers sent by the Presbytery and sometimes by the action of the people of the town in sending a man as a committee or agent to secure a minister for the town. In 1755, the year after Mr. Abercrombie was dismissed, there were three ministers that received pay for services supplying the pulpit. Rev. Mr. Dickinson was allowed £2-12s, Rev. Mr. Mc- Clintock, £4-8s, and Rev. Mr. John Houston £5-8s.
How many others supplied the pulpit that year is not known, but as £45 was voted for the support of the Gospel that year the services of Messrs. Dickinson, McClintock and Houston could not have cov- ered the entire year. About £40 was allowed for the support of the Gospel each year following 1755 up to the settlement of Mr. Graham
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HISTORY OF PELHAM, MASS.
but who the ministers were that preached for these Presbyterians all these years is not clear from the town records.
In October, 1760 John Crawford was chosen to go to New Jersey to " Gett a Minister to supply the Pulpit," and on another occasion a man was sent to Pennsylvania on the same errand. The long horse- back journeys involved in seeking a minister is evidence that no pains or expense were spared in searching for pulpit supply by the people of Pelham at that time.
At a meeting Jan. 24, 1763, it was "voted that Richard Crouch Graham is to be their Gospel Minister," and £60 a year fixed as the salary of Mr. Graham. He was ordained and began his labors as pastor and a new house was built for him. The only means of infor- mation as to the location of the house is the following vote concern- ing the location of a road : " That there is a two Rode Road estab- lished from ye two Rode Road south of Mr. Grahams New House by sd house to the County Road. Consented to by R Crouch Graham March 4, 1765."
Notwithstanding the protest of twenty-one men against the action of the majority in voting to settle Mr. Graham, (three of them being men who protested against the settlement of Mr. Abercrombie) he seems to have been successful in his work for the seven years he was spared to labor with them. Mr. Graham died on the 25th of Febru- ary, 1771 in the 32d year of his age, and the town was again left without a settled pastor.
In October, 1772, the Rev. Andrew Bay was invited to settle as . pastor, and £80 granted as a settlement; but Mr. Bay was not set- tled, and the church was without a settled pastor until 1775 when Rev. Nathaniel Merrill was installed, a call having been extended to him Nov. 23, 1774. At a meeting August 28, 1775, it was “Voted there is preperation to be made for the installment of Rev. Mr. Merrill, and that said preperation be for Ministers & other Gentle- men of Liberal Education." Thomas Cochran, Robert Hamilton and James Halbert were chosen committee to make the necessary arrangements for the entertainment of the dignitaries invited to take part in the installation.
From what part of the country Mr. Merrill came from is not indi- cated, but Jonathan Gray was allowed " £1, 14s expense Money for Bringing up Mr Merrill and family." £70 was voted as settlement and £80 yearly salary; and £60 was added to his salary in 1778.
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This income was probably necessary owing to the depreciated currency. Further increase of his salary was found desirable, and in 1779 £420 was added to Mr. Merrill's salary, but this vote was recalled subsequently, as was the increase of £60 previously voted and the pastor was left with the original salary, and its value in cur- rency much depreciated.
Mr. Merrill made a strong appeal to the people of the town after the above reconsideration and the result of his appeal caused the people to do justice to their pastor; and at a meeting Dec. 10, 1779 the £420 was again voted and the vote stood firm. Mr. Merrill's plain statement of facts concerning himself was what the town meet- ing of Dec. 10, 1779 was called to consider. It was placed before the town in the form of a warrant for their consideration and is found on page 138.
March 23, 1780 it was "Voted that there is £2000 added to the. Rev Mr Merrills £500 for the Present year,"-amounting to £2500 in depreciated continental currency.
On the 18th of May, 1781 there was a town meeting at which the town " Voted Twenty three Hundred and twelve pound ten shillings, old Continental Money to be assessed to Enable the Treasurer to settle with Rev. Mr. Merrill."
July 30, 1781. Article in warrant for town meeting :
" To see if the town will reconsider a vote passed in April last to raise £2312-Ios continental money to redeem a note given to Mr. Merrill by the Treasurer."
There is no record of action on this article; but the vote to raise £30 in hard money for the supply of the pulpit at this meeting indi- cates that Rev. Mr. Merrill had been dismissed, although no record of dismissal appears upon the records,-the dismissal of ministers. being by action of the Presbytery or Council.
The Presbyterian church and town was without a pastor again for quite a number of years and dependent upon the "Supplyer." It. was during this long period in which there was no settled pastor that. the church and town had the experience with the unregenerate impostor, Stephen Burroughs, in 1784, and the year and more of turmoil and excitement of the Shays Rebellion in 1786-87. The second parish had been organized and consequently the first parish was obliged to do the same and the business of securing supplyers, devolved upon the parish instead of the town from 1786 to 1822.
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HISTORY OF PELHAM, MASS.
FIRST PARISH RECORDS, 1786 TO 1822.
The call for the first meeting of the first parish was issued by Ebenezer Mattoon, Jr., of Amherst, Justice of the Peace, and was directed to John Rinkin, Dec. 25, 1786. The parish was organized Jan. 4, 1787 with the following officers: Ebenezer Gray, moderator : Andrew Abercrombie, parish clerk; Lieut. Joseph Packard, Hugh Johnston, Capt. John Thompson, parish committee ; John Harkness, Joseph Hamilton, Lieut. Nathaniel Sampson, assessors ; John Peebles, parish treasurer.
Sept. 18, 1787, “ Voted to authorize Collector to take produce for parish Rates at following prices :
" Voted that the collector shall take flaxseed at 45 pr Bushel- Wheat at 45-6ª pr bushel-Rye at 35 pr bushel, Indian corn at 25- 4d pr bushel,-oats at 15-4d per bushel,-Peas at 45 per bushel,-Butter at 7ª pr pound. Voted that the above said stipulated articles shall be transported by each individual that has rates to Pay to the Parish treasurer, that each carry his produce to the Collector, and the latter not obliged to take flaxseed after Sept. next."
A committee was given full power to settle with the second parish concerning pews in dispute by allowing the owners one-third of the first cost if good security is given for the pews. "Voted that com- mittee allow half way between one half and one third of the first cost of pews in the first parish meeting house."
Meeting, Oct. 5, 1787 "Voted that Pews lately purchased of the second parish shall be disposed of by seating them to those that have no Pews and pay the highest taxes, shall have their choice of Pews by paying the sum which was offered for them when they were formerly seated."
Oct. 15, " Voted that there be made one tear of pews on the side Gallery and that they be offered to the highest in valuation that has no pews-so in the same proportion till the whole is compounded."
MEETING, FEB. 7, 1791.
" Chose Lt John Rinken, Lt Nath" Sampson, Mr Hugh Johnson, M' Jonathan Leach, Lt Benoni Shurtlieff a committee to fix on a sum or sums for the Settlement and Sallery of M' Jabez Pond Fisher.
Voted to give Mr. Fisher £145 Settlement, ¿ of it in one year from the time of Settlement and the other { in two years from said time. Voted to give Mr. Fisher £65 a year for two years then add £2-105
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RELIGIOUS SOCIETIES.
yearly till it amounts to £80." But Jabez Pond Fisher was not settled in Pelham.
Mr. Merrill was dismissed in 1780 and until August 27, 1793 they were without a settled pastor. Patrick Peebles and Robert McCulloch had gone to bring Rev. William Oliver's family (probably from Londonderry, N. H.) to Pelham, Mr. Oliver having accepted their call. At this distance from the period of which we are writing it is impossible to state what obstacles may have been in the way of having settled ministers instead of supplyers, but the fault must have rested largely with the people themselves. Just how many ministers. they had called to settle cannot be determined accurately but it was a fact that in the early part of 1791 they had given calls to Rev .. Jabez Pond Fisher and Rev. Solomon Spalding, but for some reason that does not appear upon the record the call was not accepted in either case. Mr. Freeman and a Mr. Stone and probably others had preached as supplyers.
Mr. Oliver accepted their call in 1792, but one condition of his acceptance was, the paying one-half of the £160 settlement within two months after his ordination and the other half within one year, instead of one year to pay the first half, and two years to pay the second, as first voted. Possibly the knowledge had become general that the people of Pelham did not have the united and harmonious relations with their ministers to be desired, or if such relations existed at the settlement of a minister they did not continue long, and under the circumstances it would be a good move to have a good part of the settlement paid early. The ordination had taken place and there was now a settled minister in the first church and parish as we learn by the record of the meeting, Oct. 28, 1793.
MEETING, JUNE 10, 1794.
" Article 3 To see if it is the minds of the Parish to Direct the Parish Committee to proceed in Colouring the backside of the Meetinghouse according to a former vote of the Parish.
Article 4 To see if it is the minds of the Parish to Grant Dr Southworth and others the Privilege of Putting in a window for the use of the Pulpit in the first Parish Meetinghouse."
On article 3, it was " Voted to Direct the Parish Committee to postpone Cullering the backside of the Meetinghouse for the Present." No action on the proposition of Dr. Southworth to place
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HISTORY OF PELHAM, MASS.
a window in the meeting house to allow the light to shine into the pulpit.
The assessors were directed "to asses the salery of Rev. Mr. Oliver and the remainder part of his Settlement as soon as May be." This indicates that his settlement was not paid according to the vote when he was settled.
MEETING, MAY 14, 1799.
"Voted to seat the singers in the gallerys. Voted to give the Singers all the front seats and all seats in the East gallery, and one half of the seats in the West gallery."
Both Parishes had begun to realize that it was not easy to run two parishes in the town, and in a call for a meeting of the first parish, May 29, 1805, appears this article :
" To see if it is the Minds of the Parish to Chose a committee to consult with the Committee from the East Parish on the Expediency of the Parishes Joining in the Support of the Gospel and Pass any vote on the subject that shall be thought Necessary on the Subject."
Acting on the above article it was " Voted to chose a Committee of five-Lt Rinken, Dea Gray, Landlord Hach, Major Conkey and Esquire Abercrombie-said Committee to treat with the Second Parish on the Expediency of the Parishes Joining in the Support of the Gospel."
The labors of Rev. Andrew Oliver had ended in the first parish, for, at a meeting Oct. 7, 1805, the warrant calls for action on the following business :
" To see what sum the Parish will Grant for the yearly support of the Revd Mr. Brainard in Case he takes the Pastoral Charge of this Church and Congregation and Pass any vote the Parish shall think Necessary on the Subject."
Actions on above article :- " Voted to raise the Rev Mr. Elijah Brainard $350 for his yearly support so long as he Performs the Ministerial Duties in this Church and Congregation.
Choose Dea. Ebenezer Gray, Dea. Nathaniel Sampson and Mr. John Rinken Committee to Make arrangements for the Installation of Rev. Mr. Elijah Brainard."
March 23, 1806 " Voted to Choose two men to go to Randolph to Sarch out Mr. Brainard's Carictor :- Said men is Dea. Thompson and Dea. Gray."
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RELIGIOUS SOCIETIES.
Unquestionably the Committee went to Randolph to " Search the Character." of Mr. Brainard as at a Meeting in May following, Dea. Gray was allowed $15.29 for a journey to Randolph and Dea. Thompson $17.00 for a journey to Randolph :- the latter was also allowed $4 for the use of a horse on the same journey and Dea. Gray was allowed $5 for his time.
The murmurings of the anti-Brainard party seemed to come up con- tinually as shown by an article in the warrant for a Parish Meeting, November 25,1806, based on a petition sent in by anti-Brainard men. What they petitioned for is herewith set forth :-
" To see if the Parish will Remit the Parish taxes of all those who do not attend the Administration of the Rev. Elijah Brainard nor wish to support him as their Minister."
" Voted not to Remit taxes of those who do not attend the Admin- istration of the Rev. Mr. Brainard."
Meeting May 3, 1809. The commendable freedom from trouble in the church and parish for two years past could not be continued, and the old opposition to Rev. Mr. Brainard crops out again, as per warrant :-
" Article 2. To see if the parish will Choose a Committee to converse with Mr. Brainard at this session and state to him the situation of support- ing him as their Minister and Make and Receive propositions for his removal from the Charge of this Church and Congregation, and make report of it at sd Meeting and poll all votes relative to the above subject."
Action on above article. " Voted to choose a committee to treat with Mr. Brainard Respecting taking a Dismission,-James Abercrombie, Wm. Dunlap, Lt. Taylor, Lt. Rankin and Samuel Clark, committee."
A special Meeting of the Parish was called Oct. 17, 1811, with an article in the warrant, of which the following is a true copy.
" Article 2. To see if the inhabitants of the first Parish of Pelham will vote to Dismiss the Rev. Elijah Brainard from his Pastoral care and Charge of this Church and Congregation of said Parish."
Action on warrant :- " Doct. Abiah Southworth chosen Modera- tor :- Voted to Dismiss Rev. Mr. Brainard in a legal Mode.
Voted to choose a agent to Attend Presbytery Respecting the Dismission of Mr. Brainard, said Agent is James Abercrombie.
Voted to send Ensign John Rinken to Presbytery with Mr. Brainard."
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HISTORY OF PELHAM, MASS.
The Presbytery made the Pelham people two propositions for them to select from in dismissing Mr. Brainard, and at a Meeting, Nov. 18, 1811, they "Voted to Except the first proposal of the Presbytery, that is, to pay Mr. Elijah Brainard $160 according to the Proposal of the Presbytery.
Voted to raise $ 160 to meet the above vote."
The dismissal of Mr. Brainard was accomplished at last after a rather stormy pastorate of about five years. He was settled by installation near the last of the year 1805 or early in 1806. Early in the spring following the mutterings of dissatisfaction began and a committee of two Deacons were sent to Randolph "To Sarch out Mr. Brainard's Carictor," and from that time on there was a Brain- ard and an Anti-Brainard party until he was dismissed.
It is probable that Mr. Brainard still remained a resident of the town after his dismissal from the pastorate, as in a copy of the tax bills of the first parish for the year 1813 the name of Elijah Brainard appears as a tax payer.
In 1812 Andrew Hyde, David Harkness, George Macomber, Isaac Otis, Jun., John Harkness, Jr. and David Hannum petitioned the General Court to be set off to Amherst for parochial purposes, and an order of notice was served on the parish by Ebenezer Mattoon sheriff. The parish voted promptly not to set off the petitioners and choose a committee to oppose the petition in the General Court .- They were not set off.
MEETING, DEC. 4, 1812.
Warrant, Article 2. "To see if the Parish will Chose a Committee to Converse with the Committee of the Second Parish of Pelham respecting forming a union of the two Parishes so far as relates to Ministerial affairs."
COMMITTEE'S REPORT.
" To the Inhabitants of the first Parish in Pelham, in this Meeting, Assembled. Gentlemen :- We your Committee appointed to Consult with a Committee from the Second Parish of Pelham, have meet According to Appointment and have agreed to propose to the several Parishes as follows : (Viz.) That the first Parish should raise one hundred Dollars and the Second Parish one Hundred Dollars and that the aforesaid sums be laid out for the support of a publick teacher of religion and Morality, the publick meetings to be held three fifths of the time in the first Parish Meet- ing house and two fifths in the Second. The time proposed for said Agree- ment to Commence is the first of April next.
EBENEZER GRAY, JOHN RANKIN, JAMES ABERCROMBIE, Committee. Pelham, Dec. 31, 1812."
RELIGIOUS SOCIETIES. 269
Committees of both parishes agreed upon a basis of union in Dec. 1812 to take effect April, 1813, but no union was effected.
As there was no settled pastor now the sum of $200 was thought sufficient for the support of the Gospel for the year 1814.
Meeting, Jan. 2, 1815. "Voted to give Rev. Winthrop Bailey a call for Settlement .- Voted to give him $400 per year providing he will settle with us as long as he remains our Minister. "
March 24, 1817. About this time there began to be some dis- satisfaction with the Old Meeting house. Some seemed to be in favor of general repairs on the old building and others were anxious for a new one. This difference of opinion was the cause of dis- agreement and contention. The parish would vote to build a new house, and order plans :- then reconsider, and vote to repair the old one by subscription. Adjournment would be carried at this stage of the proceedings and on assembling a vote to build a new Meeting house would be carried. This change of sentiment and reconsider- ation of votes continued through many meetings for a year or more and then settled down to making an agreement with the proprietors of the old Meeting house, July 4, 1818, as follows : " Voted to give and relinquish to the proprietors of the pews in the Meeting house the pew ground and seats in the front of the body pews on the lower floor in lieu of the $200 voted on the 27th of May last to assist said proprietors in repairing the Meeting house."
April 10, 1820. It is possible that the vote of the previous year to allow Doct. Abiah Southworth $5 for sweeping the Meeting house, " Extra and Common," had caused a belief that the Doctor was getting too much of the parish money into his hands, and the care of the Meeting house was struck off to the lowest bidder. Eliot Gray got the plum for $2.17 for the ensuing year. The meeting was adjourned several times and the last to July 4th.
A large measure of. harmony and contentment seemed to prevail under the ministration of the Rev. Winthrop Bailey and the people were not called together in parish meeting during the time from July 4, 1820, to April 3, 1821-which was a long time for them. Rev. Mr. Bailey was a man greatly respected by the people of Pelham and had much more pleasant relations with them than some of the pastors that preceded him. He was on the school committee for several years, and was chosen as delegate from the town to the
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HISTORY OF PELHAM, MASS.
Constitutional Convention held at Boston on the 3d of Nov. 1820, for the revision of the Constitution. He owned a farm in the town and probably devoted a portion of his time to tilling it. Mr. Bailey was dismissed in September 1825 and was the last Presby- terian pastor settled in Pelham. Some years elapsed before another pastor was called and during this interval there was a change to Congregationalism. Mr. Bailey moved to Deerfield in 1825,-taught in the Deerfield Academy : and preached at the Unitarian Church at Greenfield, now known as All Souls Church, from 1825 to 1830. Descendants of Mr. Bailey lived in Pelham for many years and there are some in Northampton at the present time.
Taxing the property of the whole town for the support of the minister began to be a source of irritation, and considerable opposi- tion arose, not only in Pelham but all over the state from those of different religious sects that had began to appear in the towns. In Pelham when the Scotch Presbyterians were in the ascendency, the few Quakers, Baptists, Universalists and Unitarians that had come in objected to having their property taxed to support the Presby- terian Church. The feeling became so strong in the state that in 1833 the Eleventh Amendment to the Constitution was adopted which put an end to the taxation of any mans property for the sup- port of the Gospel without the consent of the owner, and the result of this change tended to lessen the amount raised for the support of the Presbyterian Church and to cause a neglect of the ordinances of the gospel on the part of some of the people of Pelham.
In the foregoing records of the first parish the frequent applica- tions for abatement of a parish tax because parties taxed claimed to belong to the Baptist persuasion, or of some other belief than the "standing order " or that they were Quakers, gave the Scotch Presbyterians not a little vexation, and it will be remembered that they required those who desired to be relieved from taxation for the support of the Gospel, to prove they were of another faith before the tax was levied upon them. While no such documentary proofs appear on the parish record book they are found on the town records, copies of a few follow :
" Belchertown, July 14 day A. D. 1806.
This may Serve to Sertify the Town of Pelham the first Parish in Parti- cular that Mr. Oliver Smith of Pelham is Member of the Baptist Society in Belchertown and Pays towards the support of the Gospel thair.
JEREMIAH HASKEL, Teacher."
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RELIGIOUS SOCIETIES.
" We certify that Lewis Draper, William Gaskin, Levi Newell, Solomon Braley, Collins Braley, Jesse Allen, Esick Baker, Joseph Howard, Silas Bayington, Laben Alby, Ezra Brown, Jesse F. Peck, Isaac Otis Jun., Oliver Curtice, Nathan Jilson, Sen., Reuben Waiscoat, John Taylor, Aaron Dwelley attend the Baptist Meeting in Shutesbury and when held elsewhere, and pay to us the Baptist order in Shutesbury there fore, these are to Desire that they may be Exempted from Taxes as the Law Directs." JOSEPH SMALAGE, LISCOMB BRIGHAM, LUTHER SPEAR, Committee. Shutesbury, Nov. 11th, 1811."
"We certify that Joseph Whipple of Pelham Belongs to the Religious Society in the town of Dana, Called Universalists.
Dated this first Day of April 1812.
STEPHEN JOHNSTON, AARON JOHNSON, Committee."
Pelham, Third Mo. the 28th, 1820.
"We the Subscribers, Overseers of the Meeting or Society of Friends Called Quakers in the Town of Pelham in the County of Hampshire do hereby certify that Samuel Willard Usually attends with us in our Stated Meetings for Worship.
ASAHEL ALDRICH, CLERK."
FROM THE RECORDS OF THE SECOND PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH AND PARISH OF PELHAM, FROM 1786 TO 1822.
After a long contest on the part of the people living East of the West Branch of Swift River they succeeded in securing the passage of an act of incorporation through the legislature for a Second parish, to include all that part of Pelham East of the River, and also included some people living in New Salem.
The act passed both houses of the General Court and was signed by Gov. James Bowdoin, Jan. 28, 1786.
The first parish meeting was held Aug. 24, 1786 .- Moderator, Dr. N. Hinds ; Clerk, Lamond Gray ; Treasurer, James C. McMillin ; Parish Committee, Dr. N. Hinds, Alexander Berry, John Linsey ; Assessors, Wm. Conkey, Jun., Lt. John Hamilton, William Berry ; Collector, Eliot Gray ; Daniel Grey, Surety for the Collector.
With the above officers chosen the Second Parish of Pelham was organized.
fro was voted for the support of the Gospel and f10 for defray- ing parish expenses for the year, ending in April, 1787, when a new set of officers was chosen and f10 voted for the support of the Gospel.
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