USA > Massachusetts > Hampshire County > Pelham > History of Pelham, Mass. : from 1738 to 1898, including the early history of Prescott > Part 26
USA > Massachusetts > Hampshire County > Prescott > History of Pelham, Mass. : from 1738 to 1898, including the early history of Prescott > Part 26
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 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48
293
RELIGIOUS SOCIETIES.
The council deciding it desirable to install the Rev. Mr. Vaille, the exercises were held June 28, 1871, Prof. W. S. Tyler preaching the sermon. Rev. J. L. Jenkins being Moderator of the council and Rev. Payson W. Lyman Scribe. There was a debt upon the society for the church building and the churches represented by the council voted to assume it if the church at the center of the town would accept Mr. Vaille as their pastor also, he holding services Sunday morning at Packardville and at the center in the afternoon. The church at the center finally accepted the proposition and Rev. Mr. Vaille continued to be pastor of the Union Society, preaching in the two churches until 1887 when he resigned his charge but continued to reside on his farm in the south part of the town until his death in 1889. His death being caused by fatal burns received in trying to save his property when his house burned in May of that year.
Since the resignation of Mr. Vaille the society has had no settled pastor, the pulpit having been supplied almost entirely by students from Amherst College, and among them who have officiated accept- ably to the present time are Erving Burnap, Amherst College, class of '88, one year ; E. N. Billings, class of 92, one year ; Andrew H. Mulnix, class of '91, one year ; J. A. Goodrich, class of '93, one year ; Alfred Lockwood, class of '96, two years; J. Elmer Russell, class of '96, one year ; L. B. Chase, class of '97.
REV. ROBERT ABERCROMBIE
AND THE CHURCH AT PELHAM.
The settlement of Rev. Robert Abercrombie as the first minister of Pelham in 1744 has already been given from the records of the town; also some of the troubles and disagreements between pastor and people, beginning soon after his settlement and continuing for a good portion of the ten years of his pastorate, as we are led to believe, from the far from full and clear information obtainable from the town records.
That pastor and people, or a portion of the people of his charge were not in accord, is quite evident, but a careful reading of all the data on the town record books referring to the differences, fail to give us a clear and distinct idea of what it was all about.
That the people were not prompt in the payment of the meagre salary is made plain by the records, but anyone after learning all that the records afford upon the failure of the people to pay Mr. Abercrombie's salary when due, will be forced to the conclusion that there were other causes of disagreement and contention of which the records do not give intelligent information, only hints of what may have been.
The protest signed by a goodly number of the leading men among the proprietors or settlers, and probably members of the church, against the action which others, and probably the majority of the voters had taken, in extending a call to Mr. Abercrombie to settle in 1743, led to the formal or informal postponement of the business of set- tling the first minister for about a year. This gives reason for the belief that there was an anti-Abercrombie party before his settlement, but the basis of their objection and protest is not made plain. The protest was much feebler in 1744 than the year previous but it is possible that while those who protested over their names in 1743 were many of them holding the same opinions and beliefs as to the expediency of settling Mr. Abercrombie ;- they had cooled down perhaps, but had not changed their minds materially on the question of settlement.
295
REV. ROBERT ABERCROMBIE.
On the other hand we must believe that Mr. Abercrombie had a strong following of the church members and voters with him, who were equally persistent in pushing forward the important business of settling a pastor, and were for settling Mr. Abercrombie.
While we do not understand the reason or reasons why a portion. of the voters of the town were opposed to settling Mr. Abercrombie,. or on what grounds the majority urged and demanded that he should be settled ; it is quite easy to learn from these unfortunate condi -- tions that the town and church was divided from the beginning, and consequently in a state of mind not conducive to harmony and mutual helpfulness so desirable in any community between pastor and people, and especially unfortunate in this newly settled colony where prosperity and happiness depended upon unity of action in all matters pretaining to church and town.
The people composing these two factions, who disagreed about settling the first minister, were much alike in the possession of strong wills, each party doubtless believed that it was working for the best. interests of the little settlement, and at the same time may have been at a loss to understand how the opposite faction could take the stand they did.
Each individual Scotchman in the opposing factions had all the characteristic persistence of purpose common to that nationality, and consequently not much inclined to make concessions for the sake of harmony and unity; and might have been much more inclined to argue with strength and vehemence in sustaining his own indi- vidual position, and that of the faction to which he was joined.
Rev. Robert Abercrombie, from all that can be learned of him, was a man in whom the Scotch characteristics of resolute persistence and determination were very marked. He was a descendent in an unbroken line of Abercrombies dating back to the twelfth century in Fifeshire, Scotland ;- was educated at the Edinburg university, where he had the reputation of being a profound scholar, familiar with Latin, Greek, Hebrew and Syriac; and brought testimonials from the Presbytery of Edinburg and Kirkaleby, also recommendations from distinguished Scotch divines. A man of sound sense and ability, well equipped for his chosen profession ; a strict disciplina- rian, and possessed of a resolute purpose to demand rigid adherence to the doctrines and requirements of the Presbyterian church of Scotland .. After landing at Boston in the autumn of 1740, as a licensed.
296
HISTORY OF PELHAM, MASS.
preacher, he preached among Presbyterians at Boston, Worcester and other places, going about on horseback and in this work became acquainted with Scotch-Irish Presbyterians who went from Worces- ter to Pelham, before they had become fully established in their new settlement.
The foregoing outline of the differences and disagreements between Mr. Abercrombie and the people of Pelham, and a proper considera- tion of the tenacious and unyielding character of pastor and people when they honestly believed themselves in the right, should help to a better and more charitable understanding of the facts as they appear on the records, as we review and study them more carefully.
It was on May 11, 1742, that the people of Pelham "Voted to intercede with Mr. Robert Abercrombie to be our Supplayer as far as he can for this summer."
In 1743, May 26, Ephriam Cowan, Samuel Gray and Robert Piebles were chosen a committee "to invite three neighboring ordained ministers to keep a day of fasting and prayer with us and to consult with the same whome we shall call to be our minister." Although the time for holding this day of fasting and prayer was postponed from time to time, they being directed first " to desire the Ministers to attend on the last Thursday in June ;" and at a meeting June 2 1 the committee was directed to " call it when they can have it with the best convenecy." We will assume that it was held though the date does not appear. Subsequent to this day of fasting and prayer a formal call was extended to Mr. Abercrombie to become their minister, but the date thereof does not seem to have been entered on the book. The next thing that attracts attention on the records is the protest already referred to. There are twenty-two names signed to the document, but as the name of James Gilmore appears twice there were only twenty-one protesting voters,-though it was possible one of the Gilmores was James, Jun., as there was such a man.
THE PROTEST.
" Pelham, August 31, 1743.
We ye Subscribers Being Freeholders & Inhabitants of said town Do protest against ye Proceedings of Part of ye inhabitants of ye sª town in their calling of ye Rev. Robert Abercrombie to be their minister in sª town. Test ye Subscribers,
James Gilmore, William Fergerson,
297
REV. ROBERT ABERCROMBIE.
Samuel Fergerson, Adam Petterson, John Gilmore, Thomas Dick, James Thornton, James McCulloch, Alexander McCulloch, Hugh Gray, Robert King, William Thornton, John Stairling, James Gilmore, Robert Fergerson, John Fergerson, Robert McCulloch, James Fergerson, James Dunlap, Thomas Petterson, George Petterson, John Dick."
No reasons were given for this protest,-and it is impossible to determine by the document itself whether they disliked the idea of settling Mr. Abercrombie, or whether they were opposed to settling any minister at that time ; but the effect of the protest was the same as a formal order to halt, and all further action was abandoned until the next spring.
A glance at the names appended to the protest shows conclusively that there was earnest opposition to the action of the town. Among the names are such prominent men as James Thornton, one of the two men who led off in purchasing the tract and organizing the settlement. John Fergerson, at whose house the first meeting of the proprietors in Pelham was held ; Thomas Dick and his brother John Dick were the men who built the meeting house, and both were important personages in the history of the settlement. Later on John Dick was town clerk thirty-five years in succession ; and there must have been others among the protesting faction whose influence in church and town affairs was an important factor. Taking the protest with names appended as a whole, it was of sufficient import -- ance to cause delay and hesitation on the part of those most zealous for settling Mr. Abercrombie as pastor of the church at Pelham.
THE MINISTERS' LETTER OF ENDORSEMENT.
" Whereas we ye Subscribers have had some considerable acquaintance with Rev. Mr. Abercrombie, Preacher of ye Gospel, and what we know of his qualification by Information and personal · acquaintance, we advise ye people of God in Pelham to Invite ye sª Mr. Robert Abercrombie to settle in ye Work of ye Ministrie among them as their Pastor-as Witness our hands this 30th of August 1743.
JONATHAN EDWARDS, DAVID WHITE, DAVID MCGREGORIE, DAVID PARSONS, JUN."
The above recommendation by the ministers which is dated, Aug. 30th, the day before the call was probably extended, -tends to sus- tain the belief that the formal call was made Aug. 31, and that the protest followed quickly, and was given the same date.
.. 298
HISTORY OF PELHAM, MASS.
WARRANT FOR TOWN MEETING, MARCH 5, 1743-4.
The first article in the warrant for the town meeting, March 5, I743-4 was :
"To see if the town will order their vote of August ye 31 1743 con- · cerning Mr. Robert Abercrombie's Call to Stand thus there being read in the meeting a Call from ye Inhabitants of Pelham unto Mr. Robert Aber- crombie to be Minister in Said Place."
The record of action on the above article is as follows :- " Ye meeting did Unanimously concur therewith and Voted upon his being Approved, Accepting of Said Call and Settling With them he shall be Minister in said Town."
(The date of the meeting, March 5, 1743-4 is really March 5. 1744, because of the practice of beginning the business of the new year March 25 rather than on January first. All dates up to March 25 were given as belonging to the year that ended with the previous December.)
Article 2. " To see if they will appoint a Committee to represent their Call unto & acquaint said Mr. Robert Abercrombie with their proposals and Receive His Answer."
Article 3. " To act upon Every Perticular that may be found Necesery in · Consequence of His Answer to Compleat his settlement.
Pelham, March ye 5th 1843-4.
ROBERT PEIBOLS, ALEXANDER CONKEY, JOHN ALEXANDER, JOHN GRAY Selectmen of Pelham.".
John Stinson was chosen moderator. "It is Voted & Concorded with according as it is Mentioned in the Warrant.
Voted that Alexander Conkey, Ephriam Cowan, Matthew Gray & Robert Peibols be a Committe to Present a Call to Mr. Robert Aber- crombie & Receive His answer & also this Meeting is adjourned for one Houre & a half to ye Meeting House to Receive ye Report of sª Committee.
Then Meet and also voted yt ye Proposals of Mr. Robert Aber- crombie is Concord With By a Great Majority,-and also Voted that there be a Committee chosen to Complete ye Work from time to time from this time to ordination .- Said Committee is George Cowan, John Stinson & Robert Peibols,-this meeting is adjourned to ye first tusday of April Nixt at ten of ye Clock in ye forenoon at ye Meeting House of said Pelham.
JOHN STINSON, Moderator."
299
REV. ROBERT ABERCROMBIE.
" March ye 5th 1743-4.
These May Certifie yt James Thornton his entered His Protest against ye above Meeting."
Of the twenty-two men who the year previous recorded a formid- able protest against the action of "Part of ye inhabitants of the town," only James Thornton comes to the front in opposition to similar action at this time.
REV. ROBERT ABERCROMBIE'S ACCEPTANCE OF THE CALL.
" Pelham March ye 5th 1744.
MESSERS :- You may Signifie to your Constituents yt Having Considered ye Call from ye Congregation Concured in by them togither With the Cir- cumstances of ye place I am at last Willing to Submit myself to be tried as to my fitness for such a Charge & Being found Qualified shall Consent to be Ordained & Indever in ye Strength of Divine Grace to Exercise ye Minis- terial office among them as God shall enable me Provided yt in Place of what Proposals they have made for my Incouragement & Support they secure to me ye land sett apart for ye first Settled Minister of this town wth a yearly Sallery of 50 pounds Lawful Money to be paid at ye present value of ye Bills of New tenor in case they should Depreciate upon ye Expiration of eight years if God pleases to continue us so long togither Consider of their ability & my Needsesity Require anything to be added thereto and act as they find cause or if they can propose anything Better for us both I should willingly Consent.
I am &c. R. ABERCROMBIE."
THE ORDINATION OF THE FIRST MINISTER.
The ordination of Robert Abercrombie took place on the 30th of August, 1744 and was a notable occasion for the newly incorporated town.
" At a meeting adjourned from ye first Tuesday of July to the 30th day of July 1744 Then Meet on said Day and was nominated Mr. Jonathan Edwards, Mr. John Moorehead, Mr. David McGregorie, Mr. David Parsons, Mr. David White, Mr. Billings, Mr. John Graham to be invited to our Ordination ye time agreed upon is ye 30th Day of August Nixt."
WARRANT FOR TOWN MEETING, AUGUST 28, 1744.
"at 2 of ye Clock in ye afternoon then and there to hear What their .Committee appointed to see Mr. Abercrombie's Settlement Finished may have to Say before them & Act upon Whatsoever Particulars may be found Necery to Compleat ye same & Make Everything Relative thereto Effectual
300
HISTORY OF PELHAM, MASS.
and firm. Hereof fail Not & Make return of your Doings Sometime before said Meeting to one of us Subscribers as Witness our Hands & Seal this 9th Day of August 1744 and in ye 18th year of His Majesties Reights.
MATTHEW GRAY, EPHRIAM COWAN, GEORGE & JOHN STINSON." There is no record of action under the above warrant.
The Ordaining Council was composed of the following ministers and laymen : Rev. Jonathan Edwards, of Northampton ; Rev. John Moorhead, of Boston ; Rev. David McGregorie, of Londonderry, N. H .; Rev. David Parsons, Jun., of Amherst ; David White, Mr. Billings and John Graham. No residence of the last named members of council is given, but they probably did not live far from Pelham.
Rev. Jonathan Edwards preached the sermon on this important occasion, and the great business of settling the first minister was accomplished.
Homelot No. I was turned over to Mr. Abercrombie, together with the second and third divisions of land that went with lot No. I.
On Lot No. I, on the north side of the middle range road, the ministers' house was erected, and it was there that Mr. Abercrombie lived during his ten years pastorate, and there is no record to show that he did not continue to reside there until his death March 7, 1786.
In a warrant for a town meeting to be held on the 15th of April, 1746, appears the following article :-
"6Wy to See What Method ye town will take in Paying ye Rev. Mr. Robert Abercrombie his Sallery this Present year."
Recorded action on this article follow : "Voted that ye Rev. Mr. Robert Abercrombie be paid this Present year's Sallery by Pole & Improvement."
There is nothing upon the records to indicate that there was any trouble between pastor and people for the first two years of Mr. Abercrombie's pastorate but the following copy of an order of the Court of Sessions shows that trouble had begun and the Court was appealed to by the pastor to settle some difficulty between them or compel payment of overdue salary. Just what the trouble was the brief court order does not inform us.
" Robert Abercrombie of Pelham, Clerk, Complaint against the Town of Pelham, for &c .-- Ordered that the Selectmen of sª Town be notified to appear at the next Court and make answer thereto to which for further con- sideration thereof is referred.
Northampton, May 19, 1746, Court of Sessions."
The following document copied the exact size of the original was addressed to the selectmen by the town treasurer, Jan. 13, 1746-7.
301
REV. ROBERT ABERCROMBIE.
" TO THE SELECT MEN OF PELHAM "
Pelham Jun the 13th 1746/4 Lent mon pleas to Insert I'm your warrant as an artecale to see whether & Shall pay the Read more frombe Last years Julenzy without a Discharge for the forman year feeling it is payed for he Refuses to give it to see if the Town is willen to give him ten on twolu pounds for the fall of money which the Demands of me thearter I Bessier that you would do me Justes to take the Aleame of me Bant Conky ¥
The Warrant of March II for a town meeting, March 19, 1746-7 contained the following articles :-
" 2ly To see if ye town Will Impower the Committee that was chosen at ye Febr Meeting Meet ye 9th of Said Month 1746-7-and Impower them With all Necery Power to Wite to Imploy a Councler & a Retorney if in. Case the Rev. Mr. Ebercrombie Suess ye town-
2I
302
HISTORY OF PELHAM, MASS.
3ly to See if ye town Will Except of the report that the Committee his to Lay Before ye town Concerning the Pepers that William Gray Hath and to see what ye town Will Do Concerning Said Peper-
gly To see what the town Will Do with ye Money that Lays in the treasur- er's Hands for Mr. Ebercrombie Hath Refused to take itt."
Recorded action of the town under the warrant for meeting, March 19, 1746-7 :
" Voted that ye Committee that was chosen att ye Feb' Meeting ye Ninth One Thousand Seven Hundred & Fourty Six-Seven is Impowered to Imploy a Councler & Retorney if in Case ye Rev. Mr. Ebercrombie Sue the Town.
Voted that ye Old Committee that was chosen to Look over ye Pepers is Impowered to go and Receive ye said Pepers and Deliver them to ye Present Clerk.
18ly Voted that James Conkey, treasurer, is to keep ye Money that is in his Hands till ye first of May unless ye Rev. Mr. Ebercrombie Demand it from ye aforesaid treasurer."
Immediately following the record of action at the meeting, March 19, 1746-7 there is a protest, and an agreement spread upon the records which are copied in full.
THE PROTEST.
"We ye Subscribers Enter our Protest against ye Proceedings of Chusing a Committee to go to Law with ye Rev. Mr. Ebercrombie Relating to his Sallery as Witness our Hands this 19th Day of March 1747.
William Gray, Thomas Hamilton, John Stinson, John Savige, Matthew Gray, Thomas Lowden, John Gray, Robert Pebles, Thomas Cochran, John Hunter, Patrick Pebels, James Johnson."
REV. MR. ABERBROMBIE'S AGREEMENT.
" That for five years from my Settlement be payed fifty pounds in Bills of the New Tenor as ye same is Collicted that upon no part of it being Kept back Longer than demanded and the last of it Payed Yearly I promise to a Cept of it as My Sallery for these years and discharge aCordingly. Pelham August.Ist 1747.
R. ABERCROMBIE."
MEETING, FEBRUARY 17, 1748-9.
Two articles in the warrant :-
" First to see if ye town Will Chuse a Committee To Send to ye Rev. Mr. Ebercrombie to See What Vote ye town Hath voted against Mr. Eber- crombie that is Contrary to ye Law.
Liberiboy.
I Handing anoy
Nousons How
him his your ly dalo vy
The sick Bothamban Jaury 24 seine greef
boha finion 110 Jour foramthen Say
GRAVE OF ADAM JOHNSON.
FACSIMILE OF PROTEST, PAGE 302.
303
REV. ROBERT ABERCROMBIE.
2ły to see What the Town Will be willing to add to ye Rev. Mr. Robert Ebercrombies Sallery for this Present year."
" Voted that there be Nothing acted on ye first article of ye Warrant.
Voted that there be one Hundred Pound aCording to ye old tenor added to ye Rev. Mr. Ebercrombies Sallery for this Present year.
WILLIAM GRAY ye 2ª Moderator."
MEETING, APRIL 4, 1749.
In the warrant for the meeting there were articles concerning the town debt and credit,-about the roads,-the schools .-- and about building a bridge on the West Branch of Swift River and then, --
" 51y to See if ye town Will Consider those votes that Injours Mr. Eber- crombie in his Character as he says-
6ly to see if ye town Will Reconsider ye votes that is Contrary to ye town agreement With Mr. Ebercrombie as He says-
zly to See if ye town Will Chuse a Man or Men to Represent ye town at ye Presbytrie if ye town and Mr. Ebercrombie Don't agree."
" Voted there be nothing acted on ye fifth and sixth articles of ye Warrant.
Voted that Robert Maklem is to Represent the the town at the Presbytrie-
GEORGE COWAN, Moderator."
" We ye Subscribers Enter our Protest against ye vote of Not acting upon those votes Mentioned that is Grivioroos to Mr. Ebercrombie :-
William Gray, Patrick Pebels, John Gray, John Edeger, Matthew Gray, John Stinson, Thos Hamilton, Thomas Cochran, John Hamilton, James Taylor, John Lucore, Thomas Lowden."
The 5th and 6th articles which were not acted upon and thereby caused the above protest, were called up again in another warrant for a meeting Sept. 9, 1752 and the injurious votes were recalled.
It is evident that the Presbytery had taken a hand in the trouble between Mr. Abercrombie and the people and were expected to make charges against the town at a session soon to be held at Pelham. In view of serious charges that might be made a town meeting was called on the 31st of May, 1749, to deliberate, and take such action as might be thought proper. There was but one article in the warrant.
MEETING, MAY 31, 1749.
Warrant .- " To see if the town Will think it Proper to Chuse a Man or Men to answer the Presbytrie in behalf of the town.
304
HISTORY OF PELHAM, MASS.
Voted that John Savige, Ephriam Cowan, Thomas Dick, James McConel, Robert Maklem, John Clark & John Johnson be a com- mittee for to answer at ye Presbytrie in Behalf of said town.
THOMAS DICK, Moderator."
WARRANT FOR MEETING, APRIL 30, 1751.
In the warrant for a town meeting on the above date this article is found :
6ly to see if the town Will be Willing to send a man to the Presbytrie with a pition to Have them Meet here in Respect to our Deficualty Espacly Baptism to Chirdling."
Infant Baptisim was a subject over which there was radical disa- greement between pastor and people and the article in the warrant indicates that the question of submitting the matter to the Presbytery had been considered and the town was called upon to decide whether they would send a man to ask the Presbytery to hold a session with them in regard to the existing troubles and especially the important question of Infant Baptism. What action was taken by the town when assembled cannot be learned from the record as no mention of action on the 6th article appears.
MEETING, JANUARY 8, 1750-51.
The warrant for this meeting contained five articles or "particu- lars " as follows :-
" First to see if town Will Continue Mr. Ebercrombie's Sallery as it Was last year.
2ly to see if ye town Will Chuse a Committee to Prosecute John Stinson at ye Law for afals Record that he Give to ye Clerk .- Att ye request of ye Revd Mr. Robert Ebercrombie ye following articles is Inserted.
3ly to see if ye town will Confirm and fulfill their agreement With Mr. Ebercrombie.
4ly to see if ye town will Confirm Mr. Ebercrombie's Proposals upon which he Settled with them, or oppose Him in ye Law Provided he apply to ye Civil Authority to Settle this matter and fix his Sallery.
sły to see if ye town will chuse a Committee to Withstand Mr. Eber- crombie in ye Law Provided he apply to the same."
Action of the meeting on the above warrant follows : "Att a Meeting of ye freeholders & other Inhabitants of ye town of Pelham Legally Assembled on tuesday, the Eighth Day of January, 1750-51.
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.