History of Plymouth county, Massachusetts, with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 203

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

USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > History of Plymouth county, Massachusetts, with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men > Part 203

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While Rev. John Shaw was pastor of this ehureh the following-named members were appointed dea- eons : Caleb Bassett and Benjamin Richmond in 1821, Ephraim Lcach and Zattu Piekens in 1828.

Rev. Homer Barrows, the fifth pastor, was ordained in 1836. He was a graduate of Amherst College in 1831. Ile remained here until June 1, 1842, or about six years, and during his pastorate thirty-seven

persons joined this church by profession and five by letter. He administered thirty-four baptisms and solemnized twenty-nine marriages. Andrew Haskins was appointed deaeon in 1838.

The sixth pastor was Rev. Jesse K. Bragg, a grad- uate of Amherst College in 1838. His pastorate over this church commenced Oct. 19, 1842, and ended June 30, 1851, continuing a little less than nine years. During that time the admissions to this ehureh were eighty-five persons, viz., sixty-nine by profession and sixteen by letter. The Rev. Mr. Bragg in the mean time administered sixty-seven bap- tisms, solemnized sixty-two marriages, and attended one hundred funerals. The church at the close of Mr. Bragg's labors numbered one hundred and fifty.

Rev. Calvin Chapman, the seventh pastor, com- menced his ministerial labors here in July, 1851, and was installed on the 22d of October in that year. He graduated at Bowdoin College in 1839. His minis- try here terminated Oet. 30, 1857. Admissions to the church five, viz., three by profession and two by letter.

Rev. Augustine Root was ordained and installed as eighth pastor May 20, 1858. His ministerial labors here elosed May 13, 1860. During the two years of his pastorate fifteen persons were added to the church, and all by profession. Frederick A. Paul and My- riek Haskins were appointed deaeons in 1858.

During the next year no minister was settled, but about four months of the time the pulpit was filled by Rev. George G. Perkins, and as stated supply he preached from May 4, 1861, to May 3, 1863. The admissions to the church were twelve by profession and two by letter.

Rev. James Ward preached to this church and society from June 7, 1863, until Dee. 6, 1868, and during that time two persons were admitted to ehureh membership by profession.

Rev. Homer Barrows, a former pastor, resumed ministerial labors here Oct. 31, 1869, and remained until April 21, 1872, having admitted to the ehureh eight persons by profession.

From April 20, 1873, to Sept. 30, 1877, Rev. Charles W. Wood labored as stated supply. The additions in four years and five months were eleven by profession and two by letter.

Rev. I. C. Thaeher preached here from Oet. 7, 1877, to January, 1880. He was installed as the nintlı pastor Jan. 15, 1879. Twenty-four persons were admitted into the church by profession and seven by letter. James W. Paul was appointed dea- eon in 1879.

This church, religious society, and preeinet has

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HISTORY OF MIDDLEBORO'.

been unusually fortunate in the liberality of two of its parishioners, viz., Mr. Nicholas Roche and Hugh Montgomery, Esq.

Mr. Roche, eighty years ago, made this precinct the present of a hearse or carriage for the dead. That gift, as nearly as can now be ascertained, was made by Mr. Roche about four years before his death, and in his last will and testament he bequcathed as a fund for the support of the preaching of the gospel in this precinct or parish the sum of four thousand dollars.

The remains of Mr. Roche were interred in an ancient cemetery then in Middleboro', now in Lake- ville, and his grave marked by a handsome slab of white marble, laid horizontally upon a substantial free- stone base. That tombstone bears the following in- scription :

"This Monnmental stone is erected

in Memory of Mr. NICHOLAS ROCHE Who died Oct. the 31st 1808 Aged $5 Years. He was born in the Kingdom of Ireland and came from thence to America in the days of his yonth where hy indefatigable industry he accumulated an handsome fortune

a valuable part of which he hequeathed for the support of the gospel Ministry in this and some of the adjacent Congregational societies He gave several large bequests to individuals and the remaining part of his estate be directed his executors to distribute according to their Judgment amongst the sober, honest, and industrious poor. The deceased sustained through life an irreproachable moral character. The virtues which he practiced and the judicious disposal

which he made of his valuable property more than any posthumous eulogium speak his praise."

Hugh Montgomery, Esq., was a native of Middle- boro', that part now Lakeville, but spent the most of his life in the practice of the law at Boston. His remains rest near those of Mr. Roche. Mr. Mont- gomery left to this church and society, for the support of the gospel, the sum of three thousand dollars. That with the money given by Mr. Roche now constitutes a fund of seven thousand dollars. Mr. Montgomery also gave two hundred dollars for the improvement of the ancient cemetery where his remains are buried.

Middleboro' and Halifax Congregational Church .- The town of Halifax was incorporated July 4, 1734, from parts of Middleboro', Pembroke, and Plympton, soon after which the following-named

members of the First Church were dismissed to be- come members of the Halifax Church :

Ichabod Standish, Isaac Tinkham, Ebenezer Fuller, John Fuller, Timothy Wood, Thomas Thompson, Ebenezer Cobb, John Drew, Jr., Hannah Fuller, Phebe Standish, Abigail Tinkham, Elizabeth Fuller, Mary Wood, Elizabeth Thompson, Mary Thompson, Sr., Mary Thompson, Lidia Cobb. Sarah Drew, and Elizabeth Drew.

These were dismissed Oct. 13, 1734, and were among the original members of a Congregational Church there established, and which still exists.

Rev. John Cotton was settled as the first pastor of the Halifax Church, and he afterwards attained to considerable distinction in civil office, as also in the field of literature.

The successors of Mr. Cotton as pastors of this Middleboro' and Halifax Church and Society were as follows: Rev. William Patten, ordained in 1757; Rev. Ephraim Briggs, ordained in 1769, and who died in 1801, and was the same year succeeded by Rev. Abel Richmond, Rev. Elbridge G. Howe, and Rev. Freeman P. Howland. But a more extended account would more properly constitute a part of the history of Halifax instead of Middleboro'.

The Titicut Congregational Church and Parish. -Rev. S. Hopkins Emery, now of Taunton, Mass., in a religious discourse delivered before this church and society, June 6, 1875, when speaking of its original gathering and formation, said,-

"The controversy which at this time raged throughout New England, especially in Connecticut, hetween what were called the New Lights, or new measure revival men, and the old estab- lished churches, more stiff, staid, and formal in their ways, -. this controversy reached the Titicut plantation, and was quite heated in all this region.

" Those of you who have read the history of those exciting times, when Whitefield, Davenport, and the Tennents were in the midst of their evangelist movements, when President Ed- wards, Bellamy, and Hopkins were at the height of their power and commanding influence, need not that I should go into details.

"It was the period of the Great Awakening, as it has heen called, or rather I am coming to a period when there may be said to have occurred a reaction and a sad decline.

" The Great Awakening was in 1740.

"There were sad divisions, even among good inen, concerning methods and measures.

" It is most melancholy, the narrative of party feeling and party strife, crimination and recrimination in connection with the extraordinary efforts which were then put forth for the ex- tension of Christ's kingdom.

"The Prince of Peace could hardly have looked down upon all that transpired with His favor.

" Alas ! How many crimes have been committed against God and man at such times of wicked provocation, and what fearful hreaches of the good law of Christian fellowship and brotherly love !

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HISTORY OF PLYMOUTH COUNTY.

" The commotion was folt horo.

" All these years of which I have been speaking, from 1743, whon the precinct was set off, to 1747, no church organization had sprung up, for the reason, probably, that the churches in the vicinity, and those of this precinct who would be likely to constitute the church, wore not quite certain whether it would be an Old Light or a New Light Church."

Here was one of the numerous illustrations of the truth of the declaration, " The children of this world are wiser in their gencration than the children of light," for while the latter were unable practically to learn the great lesson,

" Fer modes of faith let graceless zealots fight,

His can't be wrong whose life is in the right,"

the former had been collecting the materials of which to build a meeting-house, and as early as Jan. 25, 1744, voted to raise fifteen pounds, old tenor, by way of tax for the support of a minister.

Again the outside wicked worldlings, upon the 4th of February, 1745, showed a still greater anxiety to promote the cause (it was so common for professed Christians to say these " had no part or lot in") "by voting thirty pounds, old tenor, for preaching, and, March 31st, to have preaching, and to have Mr. Tucker to preach, if he may be obtained, and that Abiezer Edson shall board him;" which last clause is of itself enough to show that the persons voting were practically- instead of spiritually-minded, for they had the worldliness to provide for Mr. Tucker in what he should eat and drink and wherewithal be clothed, thus so conclusively showing theirs was not faith but works, " for after all these things do the Gentiles seek," that for this or some other cause Mr. Tucker refused to be employed by them at all, and so was tediously prolonged the time that in Titicut Precinct or Parish the saints would not, and the sinners could not, establish a regular ministry and preaching of the gospel among them.

But before we further go in stating what was at- tempted, and, from one cause or another, failed to be accomplished, let us adopt and proceed to be governed by a chronological system, mentioning occurrences and facts in the order that these severally and successively transpired, thus showing more regard for the what and the when than to who were the actors in the relative order of our successive notices, and to do which will commence with the petition of the people of this lo- cality, asking to be set off, and by law established, as a precinct or parish. Here is a copy of that petition :

" PROVINCE OF THE MASSACHUSETTS BAY.

" To His Excellency the Governour, the Honourable Council, and House of Representatives, in General Court assembled, May 25th, 1743.

" The Memerial of us, the subscribers, inhabitants part of Bridgewater and part of Middleborough, humbly sheweth, That

we being voted off from said towns, in order for a distinct Town- ship, did, at your session in May last past, petition for the es- tablishment thorcoff, our petition being lodged in Council as we are informed, And not acted upon, We do therefore pray that our said petition may be revived, and that if your Excellency and IIenours do not sce incet to set us off a Township, that you would establish us a distinct Precinct, according to the bounds of the votes of the towns herewith exhibited, that being our present request unto you. That so we may enjoy the Gospel privileges among ourselves. That so we may worship God, so as to bring a Blessing on ourselves and children. And that your Excellency and honours would remember and act for us, we, your humble petitioners, as in duty bound, shall ever pray."

The names of the petitioners were as follows : Ben- jamin Shaw, Joseph Leach, Henry Richmond, Fran- cis Eaton, William Hooper, Nathaniel Hooper, Amos Keith, Joseph Crossman, David Shaw, Ezra Wash- burn, Daniel Casewall, Nehemiah Washburn, Joshua Fobes, Benjamin Washburn, William Bryant, Ben- jamin Leach, Jr., Ebenezer Shaw, Joseph Harvey, Samuel Keith, Jr., Jabez Cowins, William Aldrich, Israel Washburn, Timothy Leach, David Casewall, Abiezer Edson, Joshua Fobes, Jr., Solomon Perkins, Henry Washburn, John Keith, Jr., Simeon Leonard, Timothy Bryant, Nehemiah Bryant, James Keith, Samuel Thurston, Lemuel Bryant.

This petition received a favorable notice from the General Court that by an act passed Feb. 25, 1744, set off the territory desired, and by law constituting it a new, distinct, and separate precinct, thenceforth known as the Titicut Parish. This date of incorpo- ration is that given by Rev. S. Hopkins Emery, in his history of the church of North Middleboro', but Hon. Nahum Mitchell, in his history of Bridgewater, fixes that date upon the 4th of February, instead of the 25th of that month. The first parish meeting was warned to be held at the dwelling-house of Ne- hemiah Washburn, in Bridgewater, at ten o'clock on the morning of Wednesday, March 21, 1744.

Of that meeting Nehemiah Washburn was chosen moderator, and Amos Keith clerk, and Mr. Wash- burn was subsequently made the precinct or parish treasurer. From the date at which the Titicut Parish was incorporated three years was suffered to pass be- fore a parish vote could be obtained to build a church edifice. Doubtless some portions of the timber for such a structure had been procurcd, and possibly fitted into a proper frame that may have been raised, as a the parish meeting held March 29, 1747, at the hous of James Keith, it was voted " to provide material to enclose and cover the mceting-house ;" also " to se if an answer has been made to a Petition presente to the General Court for the confirmation of a gran of land given to the precinct by the Indians." Con cerning the frame for a meeting-house, it appears tha

973

HISTORY OF MIDDLEBORO'.

certain persons had obtained such, and that it was lying or standing near the house of Mr. Abraham Barden, which frame the proprietors thereof, for a named consideration, quit-claimed to Benjamin White, of Middleboro', and Benjamin Washburn, of Bridge- water, a committee chosen to act in behalf of the precinct. and this, said Rev. Mr. Emery, probably was the frame removed to about the present site of the church edifice in 1747 it was voted to inclose and cover.

Of the first or earliest meeting-house in Titicut Parish the description given by Rev. Mr. Emery was as follows :

" When enclosed and covered, it still remained unpainted.

" It had no Spire, no Tower. no Bell, no place for a hell.

" It was simply a harn-like building, a mere frame, covered and enclosed.

" It had three doors of entrance, on three sides, called the east, west, and sonth doors.

"Its windows were small, with diamond shaped glass.

" It had no means of warming in the coldest winter's day.

" An occasional foot-stove gave out the smell and warmth of fire.

" Bnt this was a Inxnry all were not supposed to be able to possess.

" This spot in that early, ancient time was more beautiful and attractive than now.

" I describe it as some of the older people remember it.

" It was a pine-forest. Beantifully shaded in the heat of summer was the house of God.

"The whisperings of the pines mingled with the praises of God's people as they met here from week to week to worship God. Verily, the trees of the field did clap their hands. The little hills rejoiced on every side. How still and quiet were those sweet days of sacred rest ! How strong was the attraction of the simple, nnpretending plain place of worship which stood here to the few families on either side of the river which were wont together within its consecrated walls to meet God, and here Him speak to them through His written Word or the mouth of His ministering servants !"

But how came those early European settlers to be thus fortunately provided with a place so attractive and beautiful in which to locate their unpretending little house of public worship ? Was it purchased at a high price, or was it a gift from the most pious among their number ? No, neither, but as when the Apostle Paul was shipwrecked, his experiences at the hands of the heathen among whom he fell were now re- peated ; for as then, even now the barbarous people showed no little kindness, and immediately following the vote passed to build this church edifice was another to see if an answer has been made to a petition pre- sented to the great and General Court for the confirm- ation of a grant of lands given to the precinct by the Indians.

These Indians were Job Ahanton, Stephen David, and James Thomas.

The Indian Job Ahanton donated fifteen acres of land, declaring it to be " for the use of such a gospel ministry as is established by the laws of this province, minding to encourage the settlement of a gospel min- istry."

Stephen David donated eighteen acres and three- quarters, that he expressly declared to be " for the encouragement of settling and maintaining the gospel ministry in said precinct agreeable to the good laws of this province ;" and thus nearly thirty-four acres of these two Indian men's land were given towards the support of a preached gospel.

But of the meeting-house lot, that spot of scarcely equal beauty and loveliness in the whole town, this was the free and generous gift of that other Indian, James Thomas, the deed conveying which we at the risk of wearying our readers here present entire, ver- batim et literatim :

" Know all men hy these Presents, that I, James Thomas of Titicut in the Township of Middleborough in the County of Plymouth in the Province of Massachusetts Bay in New Eng- land, Indian man yeoman, minding to encourage the interest and prosperity of Titicut Precinct, (so called), which consists partly of said Middlehorough and partly of Bridgewater in said County, by giving a certain piece of land to said Precinct for a Meeting House to stand on, for a Burying Place and for a Train- ing Field, and having obtained liberty and power of the great and General Court of said Province therefor, have therefore, by virtue of said power and by the consent and advice of my Guardians hereto testified, given and granted, and by these presents do fully freely clearly and absolutely give and grant unto the inhabitants of said Precinct, forever, Five acres of land in said Titicut whercon the Meeting House now stands bounded as followeth : ' Beginning at a stake and stones, about eight or nine rods from the northwest corner of said mecting house, from thence running south seventeen degrees east forty five rods to a stake and stones near a white oak tree, marked; from thence cast seventeen degrees north eighteen rods to a stake and stones, and from thence north seventeen degrees west forty - five rods to a stake and stones; from thence west seventeen de- grees south to the bounds first mentioned together with all the privileges and appurtenances thereof. To have and to hold unto the said inhabitants in fee simple for the uses aforesaid forever free and clear from me my heirs executors and administrators.

"In witness whereof, I, the said James Thomas have herc- unto set my hand and seal, this fifteenth day of August Anno Domini one thousand seven hundred and fifty, and in the twenty- fourth year of His Majesty's Reign.

" JAMES THOMAS [SEAL.] " Signed sealed and delivered in the presence of

" EDWARD RICHMOND. " JAMES KEITH.

"The Guardians aforcesaid, in testimony of their advice and consent to the above granted premises by the said James Thomas to said Precinct, have hereunto subscribed their names. "JOHN CUSHING " JOSIAH EDSON JR

"PLYMOUTH, 88 .- June 27th, 1754.

"The above named James Thomas personally appeared and

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HISTORY OF PLYMOUTH COUNTY.

acknowledged the foregoing instrument to be his act and deed.

" Before me, JOSIAH EDSON JR " Just. Pacis.

" Received May 17th, 1757 and recorded

"per JOHN COTTON " Register."

This record may be found in the office of the registry of deeds at Plymouth, book No. 44, pages 98 and 99.

And thus is shown the truth of the statement of Rev. S. Hopkins Emery, that the Indians at and near Titieut " were not indifferent to the interests of the whites, and bore no mean part in the early history of this ehureh and parish ;" but how were these kind sentiments and friendly aets met, reciprocated, and returned to the savage barbarian by his eivilized Christian neighbor ? Let the Rev. Mr. Emery, who has eritically examined into that matter, answer. Hear him: "I am sorry to be obliged to record it concerning these early settlers that they had a distinet pew, one side out of the way, high up over the stairs, for the colored people, both Indian and negro." And we will here add, if heaven is up above, as we have been so often told that it is, then were those Indians nearer heaven than the whites in more respeets than one, for their eonduet was as much more eominend- able than that of the white people, as much higher toned as was their location in church more clevated. With what superlative contempt must those colored people have listened to hypocritical pratings from the pulpit upon the text, " God hath made of one blood all the nations of the earth !" and how must they improved under that gospel teaching that forbids greater respeet paid, or more honorable seats as- signed, to those arrayed in costly raiment ! thus giving evidence of their wealth by the richness of their apparel.

Four years intervened between the date at which the Titieut precinct or parish was incorporated and the formation therein of a Congregational Church, and during that period Rev. Joseph Snow, pastor of a New Light Church in Providence, R. I., and Rev. Isaae Backus, then a young minister from Norwich, Conn., visited Titicut and preached to the people here.

Both Snow and Backus were revivalists. They preceded and accompanied their preaching with much visiting and free intercourse among the people of this parish, and were in turn kindly entertained. It is told of these two young men that they were so well provided with the words of their testimony that while on a visit to this place they preached twenty-

four sermons in ten days, and the Rev. Mr. Emery truly remarked, " If there had been a dearth of preaching during the year 1747, there was not likely to be during 1748." So pleased and profited were the people by the preaching of Mr. Baekus as to request him to remain with them, and during the month of January, 1748, he preached thirty sermons, and the time appeared to have fully come for a church to be organized in this parish without longer waiting for the full consent of all the neighboring churches.

" Accordingly," says the Rev. Mr. Emery, " Arti- eles of Faith and Covenant were drawn up, and on the 16th of February, 1748, sixteen persons signed them solemnly, as in the presence of God, after having met together several times for prayer and declaring what God had done for their souls one to another."

Here are the names of those persons who then embodied as a church : Jonathan Woods, Joseph Harvey, William Hooper, Ephraim Leaeh, Onesimus Campbell, Samuel Alden, Joseph Phinney, Israel Washburn, James Hooper, Joseph Harvey, Jr., Leah Washburn, Ruth Leach, Sarah Leach, Esther Fobes, Abigail Fobes, and Abigail Fobes, Jr., being ten men and six women.

There were received into this church in 1748, eighteen men and twenty-six women ; in 1749, one woman; in 1750, two women; in 1752, one woman ; but some of these soon after seem to have fallen away or withdrawn from the church, or to have been so exercised on the subjeet of baptism-its modes and subjeets-as to have lost their evidence as God's children, and failed in the sympathy and communion of saints. Then followed councils-five in all-and renewals of covenant and attempts at discipline, until it is said that this church really died out and became extinct; but this the Rev. Mr. Emery denies, and says the church " was so weakened and reduecd by the constant agitation of the question of baptism that many left and lost their interest ; but at length a Baptist Church of six members was formed." And this it seems this church was divested of that warring element and its agitators, one of whom was its pastor, the Rev. Isaac Backus.

Rev. Isaac Backus had been chosen pastor of this church March 31, 1748, at which time Jonathan Woods and Israel Washburn were elected deacons, and Mr. Baekus was ordained and installed April 13, 1748, the ordination sermon being preaehed by the Rev. Mr. Snow, of Providence. Some time in 174S the frame for a meeting-house was so inclosed and covered that it could be used for public worship. The Rev. Isaae Backus acted as pastor of this church until the 16th of January, 1756, when he, with

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History of Plymouth county, Massachusetts, with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 203

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