History of Plymouth county, Massachusetts, with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 158

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton)
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: Philadelphia, J.W. Lewis & co.
Number of Pages: 1706

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REV. ASA PACKARD was the son of Jacob and Do- rothy (Perkins) Packard ; was born in North Bridge- water (now Brockton), May 3, 1758. His life was a very eventful one. At the age of sixteen he en- tered the Revolutionary service as a fifer. In an en- gagement near Harlem Heights, in 1776, a com- panion who had made great boasts of his bravery seized Mr. Packard's fife, and, handing him his mus- ket in return, fled to a place of safety, preferring, it would seem, the music he could make with a stolen fife to that made by the balls of the enemy. Mr. Packard, thus armed, engaged in the conflict, but soon received a wound which nearly proved fatal. The ball entered his back just above the hip, and though an attempt was made to extract it, yet so se- vere was the operation that the surgcon feared he would die in his hands, and so was induced to desist. A severe illness followed in consequence, and when sufficiently recovered he left the army and returned home, and commenced a course of studies preparatory to entering college. The ball he received was never extracted, but remained in his back during his life. Mr. Packard was a man of great facetiousness, and often alluded in pleasantry to the circumstance of his having fought and bled for his country. Once in a merry circle he said, "I bear about in my body a weighty testimonial of my bravery." To which a jovial companion replied, " I think from the position of the wound our hero must have been playing a retreat."

" Playing a retreat !" said Mr. Packard ; " I had a musket in my hand, and was found skillful as a gren- adier."

" I think," rejoined the other, "our friend must have been skilled in the motion 'to the right about face !' and must have performed it well when he re- ceived his wound."

The joke was appreciated by Mr. Packard and the rest of the company. Mr. Packard graduated at Har- vard University in 1783; received a call, and settled in Marlboro', March 23, 1785,-a day long to be re- membered, from the fact that the snow was so deep as to cover the tops of the fences, notwithstanding there had been a thaw which settled the snow, so that, in freezing, it became sufficiently solid to bcar up a team. The people went to the ordination in their sleighs upon the crust across lots, over the tops of fences and walls without difficulty. The depth of snow was so remarkable that it became and continued for a long time a standard of comparison. He was settled on a salary of one hundred pounds " and twenty cords of good marketable oak wood, cut and brought to the door annually, so long as he re-

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mains our minister." They also voted him a settle- ment of three hundred pounds,-one half to be paid in one year, the other half in two years from his or- dination. Mr. Packard was a man of sprightly talent, and was noted for his readiness rather than for his profundity. He had great conversational powers, and was remarkable for his eccentricity. His ser- mons were practical rather than doctrinal, and more distinguished for happy descriptions of life and man- ners than for connected views of gospel truths. He was liberal in his theological opinions, belonging to what is denominated the Arminian school. As Uni- tarianism developed itself in Massachusetts, he was considered as coinciding with that class of his breth- ren, though later in life his sentiments are supposed to have undergone some change. "Perhaps it will be more correct to say that he never formed for him- self any definite system of doctrinal belief; his mind was more distinguished for its readiness than for its method, and seemed to have held opinions in regard to different doctrines which were not consistent with each other, and which could not have been blended into a logical system. Different persons who knew him well have, for this reason, claimed him with dif- ferent denominations, since on some points his views secmed to coincide with Unitarians, and on others with the Orthodox standard of doetrine." These are the views entertained by one of the most distinguished preachers of New England on his theologieal opin- ions. Mr. Packard remained pastor of the first and the only parish in Marlboro' for about twenty years, and the people were happy under his ministry. In the year 1805 an unpleasant controversy arose in re- gard to the subject of locating a meeting-house, which ended in the erection of two houses, and ultimately in two parishes. During this controversy he remained neutral, both parties anxious to retain him ; but he continued to remain in the old church, and being un- willing to take part in the dedication of the new house, and realizing that a majority had a right to command his services while he remained their pastor, he wisely asked a dismission from the church and society as the best way of avoiding a public approval of the removal of the meeting-house, which was the sole cause of the unhappy feeling. On March 6, 1806, the matter was brought before the Marlboro' Association, and after due consideration it was decided by them that the town had a claim to Mr. Paekard in the new housc. " The association, while they lament the oc- casion for it, both on their own and the people's ac- count, cannot but acquiesce in his determination to be dismissed." After much opposition, the West Parish in Marlboro' received an act of incorporation, Feb.

23, 1808, by the name of the Second Parish in Marl- boro'; on the 23d of March, the same year, Rev. Asa Packard, who had labored with the society since his dismission from the town, was installed over the West Parish, and retained his pastoral relation until May 12, 1819, when he took a dismission and removed to Lancaster, where he resided till his death, which took place March 20, 1843, in the eighty-fifth year of his age. He was in his usual health in the morning, and on coming into the house, he sat down to listen to a letter from a distant brother ; while it was being read he sunk back, and immediately expired.

REV. HEZEKIAH PACKARD, D.D., was born in North Bridgewater (now Brockton), Mass., Dec. 6, 1761, son of Jacob and Dorothy (Perkins) Packard, and was the youngest of ten children ; and of his parents and their influence he used to speak with pleasure, affection, and respect. Being the youngest of the family, he, no doubt, experienced the indul- gence common to the youngest of a large family. The humble circumstances of his father's family ac- customed him to habits of active industry, rigid econ- omy, and self-reliance. Their narrow means, together with their discretion, restrained him from associating with other lads. One amusement his parents indulged him in had an influence they little thought of. He says, " At what precise period I procured a fife I do not distinctly remember; but the acquisition was to me very gratifying and delightful. Martial music was very animating to me, and I soon learned several martial airs. The tunes sung and played during the incipient state of the Revolution had a wonderful in- fluence. The exciting remarks made in favor of the Revolution had a thrilling effect upon my mind. I became anxious to attend musters and meetings for enlisting soldiers. The battle of Bunker Hill had an exciting influence. It seemed to electrify the whole community. On that memorable day I was in a neighbor's field, hoeing corn, and heard the roaring of the cannon. I was then in my fourteenth year. The captain of the militia lived near my father's, and as he knew the family were high Whigs, and that I had some skill with the fife, he appointed me a fifer in the company under his command. Soon after this he was drafted for five months, and solieited mne to go with him as fifer, promising to use me as a son, which promise he always kept. Although young and fond of home, I never had any scruples or hesitation about enlisting, nor do I recollect that my parents opened their lips in the way of discouragement.

" Distinctly do I remember when my mother took iny hand, and said, ' Hezekiah, remember, praying will make thee leave sinning, and sinning will make thee

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leave praying.' These words were to me full of mean- ing and of practical truth. Indeed, the devout desires and earnest prayers of my affectionate and pious parents were, as it appeared to me, preserved as memorials before God on my behalf ; for, though I neglected prayer when a soldier, my moral habits were in other respects correct. I was averse to vices in the army to which youth are exposed ; no profane word escaped my lips from the time I left my father's house till I returned to it again. I was more and more disgusted at the profaneness common among the soldiers, and even the officers, of the Revolution. My brother (the late Rev. Asa Packard, of Marlboro', Mass.) had al- ready become a soldier in the eight months' service, and was stationed at Roxbury. The regiment to which I belonged was ordered to Cambridge, and we dwelt in tents near Cambridgeport. Soon after we pitched our tents and drew our provisions from College Hall, where beef, pork, etc., were kept for our army, and other arrangements were made for a campaign, and I felt myself a soldier in camp, I had a furlough for a day or two to visit my brother at Roxbury. From the time we marched into Boston, late in autumn, until the following June, Col. Sargent's regiment, in which my name was enrolled, was destined to occupy several stations. After being in Boston a few weeks we were ordered to Bunker Hill. In the spring of 1776 we were stationed at Castle William (now Fort Inde- pendence). Here we remained till June, when orders were given for us to march to New York. We went to New London by land, and from thence by water to New York. The regiment was stationed near Hurl- cate.

" Six miles below the city, upon the banks of East River, opposite to our fort, on the other side of the river, the enemy built a fort to annoy us, the distance between the two forts being a little over a mile. A soldier, soon after the balls and bombs began to fly into our camp, walking proudly upon the parapet, boastfully exclaimed that the ball had not been made that was to kill him. Not many minutes after a ball came and almost cut him asunder, thus warning others not to expose themselves needlessly. This cannonad- ing and bombarding continued for several weeks, killing some and wounding some. I remember an old man belonging to our camp who, seeing a bomb fall and bury itself in the ground a few rods from him, started hastily toward the spot hoping to save the powder, for which he would get a dollar ; but just before he reached the place there was a tremendous explosion, and he was covered with dirt and nearly suffocated. He received, however, no serious injury, and was for a time the subject of facetious remark. 48

About the same time two young men belonging to the same mess found a bomb, the fuse of which had been somehow extinguished, and thoughtlessly at- tempted to open the vent with a pickaxe. This rash and inconsiderate attempt was fatal to both. A spark from the axe reached the powder, and these young men were awfully mangled by the explosion. One expired immediately, the other survived a few days. Soon after this there was a general excitement. In- telligence reached us that troops were leaving Long Island, and that the British were pressing upon them, orders being given for retreat, and New York was evacuated. It was the Sabbath, in the last of Au- gust or the first of September. The heat was ex- treme, the roads were crowded with troops, with men, women, and children, together with cattle, goods, and chattels, overspread with thick clouds of dust. The night following was dark and rainy. I slept under a blanket with my captain, who had always treated me like a son, according to the promise he made when I enlisted.

"The next morning, while the cooks were preparing breakfast and the soldiers were adjusting their packs and cleaning their guns, etc., after the rain, alarm- guns were heard; our army was aroused; the enemy were at hand. A detachment of one hundred and thirty-six in number, among them iny brother, was sent out to check the enemy, and in a few hours he was on his way to the hospital at West Chester. On the same day was the battle of Harlaem Heights. Our regiment was near the centre of the line, extend- ing from Hudson to East River. The line of battle was not far from King's bridge. The number of killed and wounded I do not remember. The sick and wounded were taken to the hospital. I visited my brother several times. His wound became alarm- ing, and his surgcons gave no encouragement. We both nearly despaired of his restoration. At the second or third visit I took charge of a letter to our parents, in which he took leave of them and of the family, and we took leave of each other. I afterward went to the hospital, not knowing whether he was among the living, and found him somewhat relieved. His body was less swollen; his hopes of recovery revived. After this, as far as my memory serves, we did not see cach other till we met at home in our father's house. In the autumn of that year I was sick, and destined to breathe the polluting, infectious air of the hospital, and suffered much for want of things comfortable. Having the itch shockingly, without the means of getting rid of that loathsome disease, and being reduced by other complaints with. out the medical aid I required, I thought much of

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home and a mother's cares ; but I was a stranger in a strange land. The hospital was extremely filthy, its atmosphere pestilential. My case was so much ne- glected and my whole frame so diseased and shattered that I had serious apprehensions I should not long survive. My term of service expired at the end of the year; I was no longer a soldier.

" Finding myself somewhat better, although still feeble, I set my face and directed my tottering steps towards home. The first day I traveled about three or four miles towards the object of my affection. About the third day on my homeward march I reached the great road from White Plains to my native home, and was providentially overtaken by my captain's elder brother and his waiter. He had purchased a cheap horse before he left camp, and was homeward bound; but finding me feeble, unprotected, and solitary, he readily dismounted, and allowed me the privilege of riding. I rode nearly the whole distance of two hun- dred miles. I have no remembrance of my friend's riding five miles till we reached Easton, Mass., his native town, and where my oldest brother then lived. We often received many a good bit on our way, in consequence of the piteous and oft-repeated story my friend told of the poor, destitute, and suffering fifer upon the horse, so that people were kind to us, cheered, and comforted us on our way homeward. My parents had not heard a word from me after the battle at Har- laem Heights, except that I was there, but in doubt what to expect. My brother's letter not reaching home, the same doubt existed in regard to him. After my return from the army I was so reduced in strength, my whole frame so diseased and wrecked, that for a long time I was unfit for business. I was long exposed to suffering, and unable to labor. I was, however, afterwards induced to enlist for six months. That I should have again entered the army was a mystery. I was stationed at Providence, and after- wards at Newport. Gen. Sullivan, who had command, intended to gain possession of Newport, then in the hands of the British. After quitting the service I made up my mind to live at home and become a farmer. But changes and events occurred in our domestic circle which greatly affected my condition and prospects. (My father died Feb. 2, 1777, aged fifty-six.) My brother, as before mentioned, being wounded, was probably led by that circumstance to change his pur- pose of life. He accordingly fitted for college, and

entered Harvard in the summer of 1779. In the course of the revival of 1780 did I first receive my religious impressions. At a meeting called by my brother my mind was deeply and solemnly impressed. I did feel I had some encouraging evidence that God

in Christ did appcal for me in mercy. The burden of sin which had borne with oppressive weight upon my soul was removed, and I think I found peace in believing. Calmness, peace, and serenity prevailed in my own mind. Availing myself as I had opportunity of the advice and experience of neighbors, I had the reputation of taking good care of the farm and ren- dering it productive. I labored to the extent of my strength, and made some improvements by subduing rough parts of the land and building walls. Meeting the approbation of my neighbors and family, and see- ing the good effect of my labors, I acquired a fondness for husbandry, and readily devoted myself to it.

"I was well satisfied with my condition and sphere of life, and had no idea of relinquishing the pursuits of agriculture until the spring of 1782. At that time I was afflicted and discouraged by an injury done my arm in making wall. Being young and ambitious, 1 strained my arm at the elbow. The injury was such that it disqualified me from pursuing my favorite occupation. I showed my arm to several physicians, but received no encouragement. I then made arrange- ments for acquiring an education, and soon left home and placed myself under the instruction of Rev. Dr. John Reed, minister of the West Parish. I pursued my studies with great diligence, deducting the time I was obliged to suspend my studies on account of weak eyes. I was not more than a year fitting for college. When fitting I often visited the home of my childhood and early youth, and reluctantly denied myself its endearments. The distance not being more than five or six miles, I could easily walk home Saturday night and return on Monday morning. In July, 1783, that being Cambridge commencement, I entered college with rather gloomy prospects,-my small patrimony, in consequence of bad debts and fraudulent men, was reduced from five or six hundred dollars to a mere trifle; I had no patron to whom I could go for advice, encouragement, and help; I had no place I could properly call home; I had no place to call my home through my college studies; I had to make my way through many difficulties. I spent most of my vacations at college, where I had good opportunity for study, and I defrayed the expenses of board by keeping a morning school for misses, by the care of college buildings, etc. I kept school nine or ten weeks winters. I waited in Common Hall more than three years during college life. In justice to myself, and for the benefit of others, I can state with all the confidence of truth that I passed through col- lege without fine or censure, and with a respectable literary character. The first year after leaving col- lege I kept a grammar school in Cambridge. The

the

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year passed pleasantly, and I found myself in the way of improvement. The next year I took charge of the library as assistant ; was one of the three who in the course of the year prepared the first printed catalogue of the college library. The other two were Rev.

Isaac Smith, the librarian, and Professor Sewall. At the commencement of 1789 I entered the tutorship in the Mathematical Department as successor of Mr. (afterwards Professor and subsequently President) Webber. I continued as tutor four years, enjoying enlightened society in college and in the town and vicinity of Cambridge."

In October, 1793, Mr. Paekard was ordained over the church in Chelmsford, with the prospect of a comfortable and useful ministry, where he labored with conscientious diligence in the work of the min- istry eight years, when, receiving an invitation to settle at Wiscasset. Me., he asked his dismission, and it was granted by a mutual council called July 29, 1802. He was installed at Wiscasset, Me., Sept. 8, 1802, Professor Toppan, of Cambridge College, preaching the sermon. He entered upon his new field of labor with a fair prospect of comfort and usefulness. When he had been in Wiscasset three or four years he was invited to take charge of a private school. The school was full, and succeeded so well that in the course of the year a plan for an academy was in train. A brick building was erected, costing four thousand dollars. He kept this academy several years, and his labors in it, and his pastoral and ministerial duties, were too much for his constitution, and brought on infirmities which have been at times troublesome companions. His labors at this place were terminated by a mutual council in the spring of 1830. Again Providence opened for him a smaller field of labor and usefulness at Middlesex village, a remote part of his former parish in Chelmsford, where were living many of those who, as parents or children, had been under his preaching thirty years before. It was while residing at this place his son, William, then a student of Bow- doin College, died, January, 1834. He exercised his ministry at Middlesex six years, and in the fall of 1836 dissolved his connection with that church. He moved to Saco, Me., Nov. 11, 1836. During the re- maining years of Mr. Packard's life he resided at Saco, Me., Salem, Mass., and Brunswick, Me., mak- ing occasional visits to each and all of his children. He took a lively interest in passing events and social life, and to the last had a cheerful temperament and strong social affections. He never secluded himself, nor seemed to feel too old to meet and fulfill the claims of society upon him. In his cighty-fifth year he took the principal charge of a garden, and in winter he

used the axe and saw. He participated in all schemes for good, mourned with those that mourned, rejoiced with those that rejoieed. The passer-by ever met him with a kind word or bow. He possessed great dignity of bearing and character, combined with ease and elegance of manners which adorn the most culti- vated society, and an ever-playful, genial humor. For nearly fifty years he was connected with various literary institutions, much of the time being engaged in training the youth. For seventeen years he was a trustee of Bowdoin College, and ten years vice-presi- dent of the same, and from the day of his admission to the university he was a college man to the close of his days, always glowing in college scenes, reminis- cenees, and attachments. He was the originator of the Bible Society in Lincoln County, Me. He died April 25, 1849. Agreeable to his own request, his remains were conveyed to Wiscasset for interment, the place where he had labored twenty years before. The funeral took the place of the afternoon service, Rev. Dr. Adams, of Brunswiek, preaching the sermon.

" The last long journey of his life now o'er ; His gentle voice and cheerful smile no more Shall tell the tale of life's uncertain dream ; For he is now in heaven,-a higher theme."

REV. JOSHUA CUSHMAN was born 1758 or 1759, and resided in North Bridgewater (now Brockton), Mass .; graduated at Harvard College in 1787. In the early part of the Revolutionary war, at the age of seventeen or eighteen, he entered the military ser- vice of the United States. A' paper found among his papers and books contains the following account of his services in that war in his own handwriting:

" I enlisted on the 1st day of April, 1777, under Caleb King, then in Bridgewater, Mass., and served in the Ninth Regiment of the Massachusetts line. The field-officers were Col. Wesson, Lieut .- Col. Mel- len, and Maj. Badlam. I was in Capt. Bartlett's company. My first rendezvous was at Cambridge, near Boston ; then proceeded to Alhany ; thence up the Mohawk to the German Flats ; joined Arnold's attachment from Gates's army for the relief of Fort Stanvix. After the dispersion of the encmy we joined the Northern army, near Stillwater, on the Hudson ; thence took ground and encamped on Bemis Heights ; was in the decisive battle which led to the capture of the British forces in that quarter. After the surrender of Burgoyne we moved down the Hudson to Albany, and thence across the country to White Marsh, in Pennsylvania. After facing the enemy for a day or two, we went into winter quarters at Valley Forge. After the enemy evacuated Phila- delphia we moved with the main army under Gates,

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first to Danbury, then to Hartford, Conn., thence to Fishkill. There, and in the vicinity of West Point, N. Y., I was stationed with the regiment during the rest of my term of service. I was discharged the latter part of March, 1780, having completed the term of my engagement laeking a few days, an indul- gence obtained through the courtesy of the colonel."

After leaving the military service, he fitted for col- lege, graduated in the same elass with Hon. John Quincy Adams, studied theology with Rev. Ephraim Briggs, and was ordained as pastor of the Congre- gational Church in Winslow, Me., on June 10, 1795, at the age of thirty-six, where he remained nearly twenty years. At a little later period after his settle- ment, he adopted the views of that branch of Con- gregationalists ealled Unitarians. His ordination ser- mon was preached by Rev. Mr. Whitman, of Pem- broke, and the other services of the occasion were performed by Rev. Mr. Porter, of Roxbury, Rev. Mr. Porter, of Rye, N. H., Rev. Mr. Winthrop, of Woolwich, Me., Rev. Mr. Ellis, of Topsham, Me., and Rev. Mr. Calef, of Canaan, Me. The church where his ordination took place not being large enough to contain the audience, a bower was made, covered with green bonghs and supported by twenty pillars, interwoven at the sides, and, when filled with people, presented quite a unique and picturesque appearanee. After his dismissal from the ministry, which was not from any disagreement between him and the parish, but from inability to support a minister, he continued to preach in that vicinity for a while, but never was installed over any society. He soon became an emi- nent politieal man, commencing by representing the county of Kennebec in the Senate of Massachusetts (of which Maine was then a part) in the political year 1810; represented the town of Winslow in the House of Representatives in 1811 and 1812; was eleeted on the Executive Council of Massachusetts, but deelined the office ; in 1819 was elected as rep- resentative to Congress from the Kennebec Distriet, and after Maine was separated from Massachusetts, in 1820, he continued in Congress for six consecutive years. In 1828 he was again elected from his dis- triet to the Senate, and in 1834 again represented his adopted town of Winslow in the House, and this was the last of his publie services. " His eourse was run, his days were numbered." Being the senior member at the opening of the Legislature in January, 1834, it became his duty to eall the House to order at its organization ; but his health being feeble, he never took his seat again in that body. He died at his boarding-house Monday morning, Jan. 27, 1834, aged seventy-five years. Immediately upon the opening

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History of Plymouth county, Massachusetts, with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 158

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton) Publication date: 1884 Publisher: Philadelphia, J.W. Lewis & co. Number of Pages: 1706

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton)
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: Philadelphia, J.W. Lewis & co.
Number of Pages: 1706