USA > Massachusetts > Hampshire County > Pelham > History of Pelham, Mass. : from 1738 to 1898, including the early history of Prescott > Part 27
USA > Massachusetts > Hampshire County > Prescott > History of Pelham, Mass. : from 1738 to 1898, including the early history of Prescott > Part 27
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Then Meet on Said Day and then was chosen Thomas Dick, Moderator.
305
REV. ROBERT ABERCROMBIE.
First voted to Confirm & fulfill their agreement with Mr. Eber- crombie aCording to His Proposals upon which he Settled With them.
2ły Voted that Mr. Ebercrombie's Sallery be Continued as it Was last year.
3ły past Negitivly that there be no Committee Chosen to Prosecute John Stinson at ye Law."
"We ye Subscribers Enter our Protest against ye Vote of Mr. Eber- crombie's Proposals Being Confirmed & fulfilled.
James Conkey, Ephriam Cowan, George Cowan, John Blair, John Clark, James McConel, David Thomas, Alexander Turner, James McColloch, Robert Loutheridge, William Gray ye 3ª, John Johnson, James Johnson, James Gilmore, Jun."
The town record contains no"account of the council or Presbytery that suspended or dismissed Mr. Abercrombie, but certain records indicate that the pastoral relation had been severed and that the Presbytery had appointed certain preachers who were to act as sup- plies for the church at Pelham, and in this connection we copy the warrant for a town meeting, Nov. 29, 1754 and the action of the voters on the several articles.
WARRANT FOR MEETING, NOV. 29, 1754.
" 2ly To see if the town Will allowe the Selectmen to keep the Meeting- house for ye Supplies ordered by the Presbytrie or Chuse others in there Room.
3ly To see Who ye town will order to Entertain the Ministers that is ordered to supply untill ye Nixt Presbytrie."
" 2ly Voted that the Selectmen Keep the Meeting house for the Supplies that the Presbytrie ordered.
31y Voted that the Selectmen Provide for the Entertainment of the Ministers that is ordered By the Presbytrie to supply.
WILLIAM CROSETT, Moderator."
"We ye Subscribers Inhabitons of Pelham Protest Against the Second and third Vots Past in atown Meeting in Said Pelham ye twenty Ninth of Novb' one thousand Seven Hundred & fifty-four.
Thomas Dick, John Hamilton, William Petteson, Thomas McMullen, John Stinson, James Sloan, James Taylor, Joseph Rinken, Thomas Cochran."
Judging from the nature of the "Second and Third " votes passed at the meeting of Nov. 29, which is the basis of the protest, we come to the conclusion that the men who signed the document were feel-
306
HISTORY OF PELHAM, MASS.
ing very unpleasantly over the suspension of Rev. Mr. Abercrombie by the Presbytery and were not in a state of mind to accept of the ministers the Presbytery in their good judgment had selected to supply the Pelham pulpit. They probably cast their votes against allowing the meeting house to be opened for these ministers to preach in, and also against providing for their entertainment.
To aid in a better understanding of the articles in the foregoing warrant and the action thereon by the town, it can be said that the Rev. Mr. Abercrombie had been charged by the Presbytery with having acted contrary to Presbyterian principle and rules governing the church and Mr. Abercrombie had been suspended from the exer- cise of the duties of his pastorate, while under this order of suspen- sion. At the same meeting of the Presbytery "Supplies for the Pelham pulpit were appointed," and an order was directed to the selectmen to shut the doors of the meeting house against Mr. Aber- crombie, and only allow preaching by those the Presbytery should send.
The Selectmen recognizing the Presbytery as authority shut the doors of the meeting house against Mr. Abercrombie as directed. Then came the warrant for the town meeting, Nov. 29, 1754, and the action of the town was as above recorded.
The first " Supply " or minister that came was Rev. Mr. McDowel and the reception he met with we quote from Mr. Abercrombie's account of it. "Mr. McDowel called at my house; He introduced himself with large Protestations of his aversion to come; He asked if I would willingly resign the pulpit to him? I absolutely refused : and told him I should look upon it as an unwarrantable Intrusion if he took it. I invited him to lodge at my house, which he refused .- He went off and immediately concluded with the Selectmen not to take the meeting house upon the Sabbath but upon the Monday ; which he accordingly did : The Selectmen keeping the doors shut until he came : and they, with one or two of the elders hurrying him into the pulpit,-while the Selectmen forcibly kept me from entering the same : where in a most precipitant manner he began his service." Rev. Mr. Burns was the next supply, he was followed by Rev. Mr. McClintock. The troubles which led to the suspension of Mr. Abercrombie will be gone into more fully later on, but it may be well to say now that it was as early as 1753 that the controversy with the Presbytery began and after he had expressed a desire to be
3º7
REV. ROBERT ABERCROMBIE.
dismissed from the pastorate at Pelham, and the Presbytery had declined to comply with his request.
MEETING, JAN. 14, 1756.
The warrant for this meeting had but two articles or " Particulars."
" First To see if the town Will Chuse a Committee to Defend the Com- plant That Mr. Abercrombie His Laid In Against the town for His Sallery. 2ły to See What Method the town Will take to Get the Minits of the Pres- bytrie that Will be Needed.
Acting on the first article the town "Voted that there be a Com- mittee Chosen in Behalf of the town to Attend the Court at North- ampton. Said Committee is John Savige & Allexander Turner.
2ly Voted that John Blair is to Get the Minits of the Presbytrie.
3ly Voted that William Gray is to assist the Present Clerk to Put the Minits on the town Book that William Gray Minited.
WILLIAM GRAY, Moderator.
From the court records at Northampton :
" Robert Abercrombie Complaint against the town of Pelham in ye County of Hampshire for not paying him his salary as per Complaint on file. The parties appeared and ye Courts having considered the Complaints and ye parties pleas. It's considered that ye Complaints be dismissed and ye said Town Recover against ye said Abercrombie 12-3 lawful money allowed them for Costs.
Court set the second Tuesday of February 1756."
Rev. Mr. Abercrombie, having lost one suit against the town in February, 1756 for overdue salary very soon brought another, and in March of the same year Alexander Turner was chosen to answer the complaint in behalf of the town. The case dragged along year after year and Turner and others, including John Savige, were chosen to represent the town until it finally came to trial at Northampton in 1759, and the court records that follow are interesting :
" ROBERT ABERCROMBIE VS. THE TOWN OF PELHAM.
Robert Abercrombie of Pelham in the County of Hampshire, Clerk Plaintiff or the Inhabitants of the town of Pelham in said County Defend- ants in a Plea of Trespass on the Case wherein said Abercrombie demands against the said Inhabitants of Said Town the sum of One Hundred & Seventy seven Pounds Sixteen shillings lawful Money being ye arreas of the salery due him from sd town as their Minister &c as is at large set forth in the writ on file .- The Parties in this Case appear Viz: the said Robert personally and the said Town by Alexander Turner their Agent and attorney, and enter into a Rule of Court to refer this Case and also to submit all Con- tracts Actions disputes controversies and Demands respecting any per-
308
HISTORY OF PELHAM, MASS.
.
sonal Matters now subsisting between them. The Plaintiff chose Oliver Partridge of Hatfield Esq. The Defendants chose Thomas- - of Deerfield Esq, and the Court appointed Timothy Woodbridge Esq of Stockbridge who are to hear the Parties, consider the Case and all personal matters submitted to them, and make report to the next Court whose Determination or any two of them is to be final, and the Action is Continued in the Meantime.
February 13, 1759."
" 1759 ABERCROMBIE VS. THE INHABITANTS OF PELHAM.
Robert Abercrombie of Pelham in the County of Hampshire Clerk Pltf or The Inhabitants of the Town of Pelham aforesaid Defendants in a Plea of Trespass on the Case for that the Inhabitants of said Pelham having invited and Called the Plaintiff to be their Settled and ordained Minister he on the 5th of March 1743 at Pelham afore said by his Answer in Writing to the said Inhabitants qualified by Law to vote in the choice of a Minister these legally met in Town Meeting accepted their Invitation & Call afore- said and the said Inhabitants of said Pelham promised and obligated them- selves and successors Inhabitants of said Pelham that in Case he the said Abercrombie would settle and be ordained their Minister to pay him the annual salery of fifty Pounds to be fixed at the then Value of Bills of the New Tenor in Case of Depreciation for every year after his settling so long as he should continue their Minister and further comply with and per- form all the other Terms and Conditions by him required in his Answer aforesaid and that in pursuance of the Call & Choice made of him said Robert by and with the advice of three Neighboring Ministers he on the 29th day of August 1744 at Said Pelham was duly ordained Minister and Pastor of the same Town & the Church to be gathered therein, and that he is and then was a person qualified as the Law requires for the Ministerial office and has ever since continued their settled Minister and Pastor and during the whole time performed and discharged the proper functions of his office and Trust aforesaid and on the 9th of September last four of said annual Sums or yearly Salery at the rate aforesaid for years then Compleat being of the value of Forty four Pounds nine shillings lawful money for each year became due and arrear being in the Whole one hundred & Seventy seven Pounds Sixteen shillings, yet the Defendants tho often requested have not paid the same nor any part thereof but neglect and refuse to pay it to the Damage of the Plaintiff two hundred Pounds all which is more largely set forth in the Plaintiffs writ on File. This Case was originally commenced at the Inferior Court of Common Pleas held at Northampton on the 2ª Tuesday of February last when and where the Parties entered into a rule of Court to refer to the Case with all Contracts Actions Disputes Controversaies and Demands respecting any personal Matters subsisting between them as per Records of sª Court appears. And now the Referees to whom the Case &c was referred Report that they met at Pelham where the Pltfs & ye Dfts by their Agent were present who agreed to refer to their Consideration the Matters Contained in the Writ only and that after a full
309
REV. ROBERT ABERCROMBIE.
hearing of the Parties thereon they adjudge and determine that the said Robert shall recover of the said Inhabitants of said Pelham thirty Pounds, one shilling and Eight Pence & Cost of Court together with the Cost of this Reference and the Cost of the Referees.
It is therefore Considered by the Court that the Pltf shall recover against the Defts the sum of thirty Pounds one shilling and Eight pence lawful Money Damages and Cost of Court with the Cost of the Referees as per Bill allowed at Nine Pounds Eleven Shillings and Eight Pence. Execution issued 6 July 1759."
The receipts or discharges which Mr. Abercrombie gave when money was paid him on his salary has his peculiar autograph and hand writing. Space is allowed for one of them.
Now that the long drawn out lawsuit against the town which Mr. Abercrombie had been pushing since his dismission had been settled it would seem but a natural result of such long continued litigation that the people of the town would feel incensed, and perhaps a revenge- ful spirit developed which would seek an opportunity to get even with their former pastor should a favorable opportunity present itself. But the people did not seem to be affected that way, or to lose respect for him in the least, so far as we may judge by recorded action. An opportunity to display revengeful feeling toward Mr. Abercrombie, if any such feeling existed, came very soon.
In the warrant for a town meeting Oct. 2d. 1760, was the follow- ing article.
" To see if the town Will agree to Petition the General Court to Have all the un Improven Land taxed for two years at one penny per acer to finish the Meetinghouse and Charges arising on the town except what Land Mr. Abercrombie owns."
Recorded action upon the above article :
"Voted that they Prefer a Pettion to the General Court to Have all the un Improven Land taxed for two year at one Penny pr acer Except what Land Mr. Abercrombie owns.
THOMAS DICK, Moderator."
At this distance we cannot understand why Mr. Abercrombie should be exempt from taxation on such lands as he owned that it was proposed to tax, and can conceive of no reason for making an exception in his favor unless it was because of the great esteem in which he was held by the people of the town, who, remembering his services as their minister for ten years were still desirous of showing their great regard for him when a fitting opportunity presented itself. Whether the recorded vote was unanimous does not appear, but
310
HISTORY OF PELHAM, MASS.
there is no recorded protest against the action taken, and yet the people were not halting or backward in recording a protest against anything that it was possible to protest against. They seemed at times to be watching for an opportunity to record a protest.
In a warrant for a town meeting Dec. 2, 1763, article 4 reads as follows :
"Fourthly To see if the town will agree to free Mr. Abercrombie's Party from paying their respective Proportion of Mr. Graham's Settlement & yearly Sallery and Consent that they and all such as Joyn with them in this requist may be allowed to Pay there several Proportions of Yearly Sallery to Mr. Abercrombie."
On this article the recorded action was,-"Voted that there is nothing acted on the Fourth article of this warrant."
This action of the town was the cause of the Abercrombie party taking their case to the General Court, and the town was obliged to take notice of a citation which had been served upon the town of the petition which had been filed at Boston, giving the town oppor- tunity to oppose its being granted.
The persistence of Mr. Abercrombie's friends in clinging to him is shown by their action in petitioning the General Court, and by an article in a warrant for town meeting, Jan. 16, 1764, ten years after he had been dismissed and denied the right or privilege of preaching at Pelham.
"Article 8. Whereas there has been a petition lodged in the General Court of this Province by a Number of Petitioners Belonging to this town to Wite :-
Some adherents to Mr. Abercrombie and others to the Intent that they may be freed from Paying any Settlement or Sallery to Mr. Graham.
That the town chuse a Man or Men to represent their case and make answer to the General Court in their Nixt Sessions, to said Petition accord- ing to the Citation we have Received from said Court."
Hugh Johnston. Isaac Gray, George Cowan, John Savige and William Crosett were chosen a committee to answer the said petition. The General Court could not grant such an unreasonable request and they failed in their purpose to pay their assessments for the support of the Gospel to Mr. Abercrombie rather than to Mr. Graham.
After Mr. Abercrombie's dismissal from the church at Pelham there is little of record on the town books to show that he took a very active part in town affairs or that he preached any more to his
f
3II
REV. ROBERT ABERCROMBIE.
former people. He lived on his farm in a quiet manner, preaching occasionally in other towns, there is a record of his preaching on one occasion at Amherst, and he probably preached in other places near by and may have supplied more distant churches.
AT A TOWN MEETING, JUNE 21, 1774,
The following vote was passed : "Voted that the Rev. Mr. Aber- crombie is cleared from all his Rats that is already assessed on him, -also voted that Mr. Abercrombie is cleared from Paying any Rats for the future. THOMAS COCHRAN, Moderator."
The above vote covers all the record of action at the meeting, and exhibits the kindly and generous feeling of the town toward their former pastor.
AT A TOWN MEETING, APRIL 16, 1779,
" Rev. Robert Abercrombie was chosen a committee to meet other committees at Northampton at a County Convention to Consider the question of a Constitution for the state." And at a meeting, March 23, 1780 it was " Voted that Mr. Abercrombie is allowed nine pounds for time and expenses for going to Northampton in behalf of the town."
This is believed to be the first and only occasion that Mr. Aber- crombie was called to serve the people of Pelham in any Public capacity after being released from his pastorate.
At a meeting of the town Jan. 9, 1782, near the close of the Revo- lutionary war and eight years after the action of the town in June, 1774 clearing Mr. Abercrombie from taxes already assessed, and also relieving him from paying any in future, there was an article in the warrant to see if the town would reconsider the vote of June 21, 1774 and it was voted to reconsider it. Whatever the reasons were that led the people to exempt Mr. Abercrombie from taxation during all the years of the war we may not be able to determine, but it indi- cates that the people over whom he had been settled thirty years before the vote of June 21, 1774 was passed, and who had been dis- missed twenty years when the exemption was extended, still retained so kindly an interest in his welfare as to be willing to exempt him from taxation when all the people had been so sorely pressed to meet the expenses of the struggle for liberty.
1
.312
HISTORY OF PELHAM, MASS.
After Mr. Abercrombie retired from active labor in the ministry he seems to have spent his life in tilling his lands and in the care of his family of eight sons and three daughters.
REV. ROBERT ABERCROMBIE AND THE PRESBYTERY.
In the year 1755, in letters to a friend, Rev. Robert Abercrombie gave an account of the proceedings of the Presbytery against him. In the same letters he criticizes their action and questions their authority to act as they did in the premises. The action of the Presbytery caused Mr. Abercrombie's suspension from the exercise of his functions as a minister, and later his dismission from the pastorate at Pelham.
Mr. Abercrombie claimed that the first springs of differences between him and the Presbytery arose from the fact that he could not comply with all the measures of the Presbytery ;- that he could not in faithfulness to his own convictions do so, and consequently desired the Presbytery to dismiss him from the pastorate of the church in Pelham on the 15th of June, 1748, but his request was declined at that time and his differences with the Presbytery increased.
We gather from the printed letters to a friend, that certain mem- bers of the church at Pelham were not such as should be admitted to the sealing ordinances of the church, as in the judgment of Mr. Abercrombie, it would be contrary to scripture and to Presbyterian principles. There seems to have been an inclination on the part of some to be more liberal in belief than a strict disciplinarian could allow, and until such members had purged themselves from such sins Mr. Abercrombie felt it his duty to withhold the ordinance of baptism from the children of such members. With this condition of affairs and while his application for dismissal was pending, the " Presbytery proceeded to ordain Rev. Mr. Moorehead. Either now or on his return from Colrain to use the assistance of the Session of Pelham (in case Mr. Abercrombie declines it) in inquiring into the Christian conversation of those in Pelham who have children to baptize ; and to baptize them whom he finds upon enquiring to have the Right to that privilige."
Mr. Abercrombie having been suspended from his duties this action on the part of the Presbytery and of Mr. Moorhead in allow- ing the children of unfit parents to have the benefit of the ordinance of baptism, and without giving him (Mr. Abercrombie) sufficient time
1
S
.
Felham
March 24th
1748
accounted with James Bonky Gfreafurer for my gallery the year from 17- forly four to algull the 30 1748 suis and recieved Sounds in Bulls of the new Gjentar which of Concharges tum Haupt of as my Gallery for save your and here and the Man From all further Demands of the same
FACSIMILE OF A RECEIPT GIVEN BY REV. ROBERT ABERCROMBIE.
313.
REV. ROBERT ABERCROMBIE.
for consideration before Mr. Moorhead acted in the matter, was dis- pleasing to Mr. Abercrombie and he gave in a paper to the Presby- tery in which he made a representation or criticism of the conduct of that body. The document is long and able. The Presbytery met at Palmer, Mass., Nov. 14, 1753, and the document was received by that body there. The opening paragraph was as follows:
" That whereas, next to the purity of Doctrine, which belongs to the Principles, a Dicipline agreeable to the word of God, which may regulate the Practice of the Members, is necessary to the Well-being of every Christian Society ; the first of these the Presbytery seem to have taken some care of, by requiring every Probationer, under their care, to subscribe to the Westminster Confession of Faith and Catechisms: But I apprehend, we are still defective in the last : and therefore I would now represent some things to the Presbytery concerning our past Conduct and what I apprehend to be our present Duty."
The representation embraced four points or heads, and under the first head he claimed that the Presbytery should bring all under such regulations that discipline might be exercised upon offenders, and such kept back from sealing ordinances until proper satisfaction be given, and ordinances only administered to such as are found worthy. Mr. Abercrombie claimed that the admission of unfit per- sons to sealing ordinances had, he feared, already been productive of many scandals and offences ; and had "given to just ground of com- plaint, to those who complain of our being too inclinable to favour a lax admission to sealing ordinances etc."
Under the second head he argued that it was necessary for the Presbytery to reconsider their sentence in the affair of P -- and again take it into consideration ; in other words, to review their find- ings in the case, at the same time declaring that the sentence (of suspension) did not stand upon sufficient grounds.
Part third of the paper is an argument for reconsideration of their determination in the affairs of Pelham, on the ground that the Pres- bytery " had no right at that time to meddle in the affair of baptizing the children of that congregation .- No reference was made to them, -- no complaint entered, and no time nor indeed opportunity was given to answer upon that head." Mr. Abercrombie also claimed that his being excluded from the deliberations of the Presbytery was what they had no right to do. " That they had no right to appoint one to moderate in the session, and baptize the children in case he
314
HISTORY OF PELHAM, MASS.
declined; and that their conduct in that point was both irregular and without precedent." Again we quote :
" What ignorant, what profane, what scandalous people will pay the least regard to their own Ministers, who know their conduct and would bring them to censure, when they can find those who will readily administer ordi- nances to them upon easier terms ?"
Further : " It is well known to any who are in the least acquainted with the Presbyterian Constitution that where the Case of a Minister is to be tried, there are at least to be three Ministers present: Whereas, in the present case there were only two.".
In the fourth and last division of the paper, Mr. Abercrombie calls attention to the rules and principles of the Reformed Church of Scot- land in relation to procedure : "which declare that the Constitu- tions, so far as agreeable to the Word of God, is the rule of proceed- ure in our judicatories."
He then calls attention to the danger to the church that might be expected from the endless disputes and protestations, "to the dis- honor of religion, and hurt, if not the utter ruin, of this society at the last," and closes with the following appeal :
" I hope therefore, the Reverend Presbytery will take these things into serious Consideration, and do what may be for the Glory of God and the edification of those under our care. Which is the earnest desire of your Brother in the Work of the Gospel. R. ABERCROMBIE. Palmer, Nov. 14, 1753."
At the next meeting of the Presbytery the " Representation " sub- mitted by Mr. Abercrombie was considered and the following minute concerning it recorded.
" The Presbytery finding among their papers a long Representation put in by the Rev. Mr. Abercrombie at their last session and left by the said Session to the Consideration of this, in which are several things which at present appear Matters of high Charge Against the Presbytery. Voted unanimously, that as the author of said paper is absent, in order that no advantage may be taken of his Absense, the Consideration of said paper shall be left till next session, when the Author is expected to be present, and to make good those things that are Matters of Charge, either against the Presbytery, or any particular Member of it; and he is seasonably to be served with a copy of this Minute. SAMUEL MCCLINTOCK, Scribe. A true copy attest."
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