History of Plymouth county, Massachusetts, with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 224

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 224

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" In May, Mr. Enoch Lincoln was chosen to repre- sent the town in the General Court. He was in- structed to assist in forming a constitution, on the condition that it should be laid before the town 'for their approbation or disapprobation, before the establishment thereof.' In June following, the town reconsidered their previous vote instructing the repre- sentative, and voted ' that, upon mature deliberation, this town direct said representative on no terms to con- sent to it, but to use his influence and oppose it heartily, if such an attempt should be made : for, we apprehend, this matter, at a suitable time will come before the people at large, to delegate a select number for that purpose, and that only, and that he exert his influence that such body be formed as soon as may be.'

" The town, at this important period, was ever vigi- lant and watchful of its own interests and of those of the country. In June, 1777, Mr. Israel Beal was appointed ' to procure evidence against such persons as are suspected of being inimical to this and the United States of America in this town.'

" In 1778, the Committee of Correspondence, etc., were Thomas Burr, Jacob Leavitt, Abel Hersey, Enoch Whiton, and Peter Hobart. The representa- tives chosen in May were Enoch Lincoln and Joseph Thaxter.

" In June the town voted 'not to accept of the form of government proposed by the General Court

1 Col. Lincoln, Enoch Lincoln, Jotham Loring, Samuel Nor- ton, Jacob Leavitt, Samuel Thaxter, and Seth Stowers composed the committee.

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HISTORY OF PLYMOUTH COUNTY.

for the State of Massachusetts Bay. Fifty-six votes against the proposed form of government and not one in favor of it.' At the same time, instructions were given to the representative 'to use his influence that a constitution be formed, at some suitable time, by a body chosen by the people for that purpose and that only.'

" The Committee of Correspondence, etc., in 1779, were Samuel Norton, Dr. Thomas Thaxter, Capt. Theophilus Wilder, Capt. Charles Cushing, and Jo- seph Thaxter.

" In May, Mr. Joseph Thaxter, Jr., was chosen representative to the General Court. At the same time the views of the citizens were again expressed on the subject of a constitution. It was voted, 42 to 8, that 'it is not best at this time to have a new form of government.' In July, Rev. Daniel Shute and Mr. Joseph Thaxter were chosen delegates to the conven- tion for forming a constitution.

" In 1780 the Committee of Correspondence, etc., were Israel Beal, Capt. Charles Cushing, Ebenezer Cushing, Joshua Leavitt, and Isaac Wilder, Jr.

" In May a large committee was chosen ' to exam- ine the form of government proposed by the late con- vention,' to report at the next meeting.

" The committee reported as follows :

"The committee appointed to take into consideration the frame of a constitution for this state, presented to the town for their consideration aud revision, by the convention appointed for preparing the same, having carefully gone through and ma- turely considered the said frame of a constitution, humbly offer it as our opinion : that it is a system well calculated in general to promote the present and future happiness of this state; by securing to the individuals of which it is composed safety and property ; at once guarding the rights of conscience, and making provision for the promotion of virtue and morality, cach abso- lutely necessary to the support and good order of society; in fine, that while it gives energy and dignity to legal authority, it equally insures peace, liberty, and safety to the subject ; yet it is an human production, and, though good as a system, may possibly admit of amendment in some of its parts; we have therefore taken the liberty to hint the following, viz. : In the article of the first section, of the 2d chapter, it is proposed that the governour be empowered, with the advice of the council, in the reeess of the General Court, to march or transport the in- habitants of this state to the relief of a neighbouring stato in- vaded, or threatened with immediate invasion ; this we owe as men, besides we are taught it by a principle of policy. It is apparent that while time may be spent in collecting the General Court, destruction may be brought upon our neighbours, and war with all its consequences come even to our own doors, thou- sands of lives may be lost and millions of property expended, that by timely exertion might be saved ; add to this the articles of confederation bind us to grant which can only be but by vest- ing the governour with such power.

" In the fourth section of the same artiele, first, it is proposed that the time of service of the commissary general be limited to five years, except in time of war or rebellion, upon the same principle and for the same roasons that the time of service of the treasurer is limited to that time.

" Your committee recommend that the town instruet their delegates to use their endeavours that the foregoing amend- ments be made ; but if that cannot be obtained, that they then accept the constitution as it now stands; convineed of the zeal, integrity and abilities of our delegates, the committee recom- mend that it be referred to them in conjunction with the united wisdom of the convention to fix upon a time when the eonsti- tution shall take place. Signed by order and in behalf of the eommittec. THOMAS LORING, Chairman.

" Votes were passed by the town in accordance with the report of the committee.

"The representative chosen in May, 1780, was Capt. Charles Cushing. At the same meeting Rev. Daniel Shute was elected delegate to the convention for establishing a new form of government. The town eventually voted for the adoption of the constitution, and on the 4th of September, 1780, the election of State officers took place. The votes for Governor in Hingham were 56; of which Hancock had 44, and Bowdoin 12.

"On the 9th of October, Capt. Charles Cushing was chosen representative, the first under the consti- tution.

" The town records at this time are full of evidence of the active, persevering, and liberal efforts of the citizens to carry on to a successful termination the war in which the colonies were engaged with Great Britain. Town-meetings were frequently held, large sums of money raiscd to be expended in military stores, bounties to soldiers, provisions for their fami- lies, and generally for all necessaries to carry on the war.

" Committees were appointed to inspect the militia, to procure soldiers, and to keep a vigilant care of the best interests of the people.

" The Committee of Correspondence in 1781 were Samuel Norton, Capt. Charles Cushing, Heman Lin- coln, Capt. Peter Cushing, and Elisha Cushing, Jr.

" The requisitions of the State were generally com- plied with promptly and cheerfully. In one instance, however, when the General Court 'required a quan- tity of beef or money to be sent in a very short time, and if not complied with, to pay a fine of twenty per cent.,' the town voted 'to comply therewith, pro- vided it be not brought as a precedent in future time.'

" The Committee of Correspondence, &c., elected in 1782, were Israel Beal, John Fearing, and Theoph- ilus Cushing. The same gentlemen were re-elected in 1783.

" It was not by resolutions alone that the people of Hingham aided the cause of freedom, nor did their meritorious acts consist only in appropriating liberal supplics of money to sustain the libertics of their

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HISTORY OF HINGHAM.

country ; many of them hesitated not to take up arms and to give their lives to a cause to which they were so strongly attached. In a large number of the hard- fought battles of the Revolution, from the time of the noble display of American valor on Breed's Hill until that of the brilliant achievements at Yorktown, many of the citizens of Hingham were present sharing the dangers and participating in the honors of the day.1 ' In looking back,' says Mr. Lincoln, ' upon the his- tory of this interesting period, I am aware that some may be found who hesitate to rally around the ban- ners of their country ; some, whose apprehensions of tbe result of the tremendous conflict, induced them to give but feeble aid to her cause, and perhaps a few wbo disapproved of the principles and disregarded the motives which actuated the patriots of those times. But it must be recorded to their credit, that even the few made no resistance to the payment of heavy taxes ; none, openly, to the power of public opinion after the declaration of our independence. Royalists as well as republicans, Tories as well as Whigs, gave of their substance to establish the liber- ties of their country. The substantial yeomanry of tbe town were zealous, determined, and persevering, and the success of their efforts is alike honorable to them and to their posterity."

CHAPTER IV.

ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY.

The First Parish-South Hingham Church-The Third Parish -Evangelical Congregational Church-Church of St. John the Evangelist-Universalist Church-Methodist Episcopal Church-First Baptist Church-Church of Zion-Roman Catholic Church-The Third Congregational Church-South Hingham Church.

The First Parish.2-The first church in Hingham was formed in 1635, with the Rev. Peter Hobart as its minister. The first house for public worship was erected by the first settlers of the town about 1635. Its situation was on a slight eminence in front of the present site of Derby Academy. This was the only place for public worship in the town for forty-five years.

The Rev. Peter Hobart died Jan. 20, 1678/9, and the Rev. John Norton was ordained as his suc- cessor Nov. 27, 1678.

Jan. 19, 1679/80, the town " agreed to build a new meeting-house with all convenient speed," and ap- pointed a committee to make such investigation of the probable size and cost as was deemed necessary.

After a controversy lasting more than a year as to tbe proper site for the new meeting-honse, the loca- tion was finally settled and immediate measures were taken to build.

On the 8th day of July, 1681, Capt. Joshua Ho- bart conveyed to the town by deed of gift the site for the meeting-bouse. It is the same on which the meeting-house now stands.

The frame of the meeting-house was raised on the 26th, 27th, and 28th days of July, 1681, and the house was finished and opened for public worship Jan. 8, 1681/2. The cost was four hundred and thirty pounds and the sum received from the sale of the old meeting-house. The appearance of the meet- ing-house was much the same as it now is.

Inside there were galleries on one side and at both ends, and the pulpit was on the northeast side of the house.

The whole interior was open, showing the old oaken rafters and braces which supported the roof. The walls outside and inside were clapboarded.

Up to 1717 the town constituted but one parish ; but Nov. 21, 1717, the inhabitants of Cohasset suc- ceeded, after some opposition, in having themselves set apart, and Cohasset became known as the Second Precinct or Parish of Hingham. The remaining in- habitants of Hingham not included within the limits of Cohasset composed the First Parish or Precinct, and organized as such the 6th of March, 1720/1.

There have been many changes in the meeting- house since it was first built.

In 1729 the parish voted " that there be an addi- tion made to the back part of the Meeting-house, and that the same do not exceed fourteen feet wide or back."

In 1731 the house was sealed overhead, and in 1734 a committee was impowered to clapboard the outside of the same where they thought necessary, and also to plaster with lime as much of the inside as they thought proper.

In 1755 further changes were made, and at that time the central space or body of the house was filled with long oaken seats, for the men on one side of the broad aisle and for the women on the other. A new pulpit was built in the same year, and these additions established the dimensions of the meeting-house as they now are,-i.e., seventy-three feet by fifty-five feet.

Many other minor changes were made, most of them looking to a larger seating capacity, between

1 Lieut. Joseph Andrews, a brave and promising officer, was mortally wounded at the battle of Brandywine. His valor on that occasion attracted mnuch attention. Dulee et decorumn est pro patria mori.

2 Contributed by Rev. H. Price Collier.

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HISTORY OF PLYMOUTH COUNTY.

the years 1755 and 1869. At the parish-meeting held March 10, 1869, it was voted " that a committee be chosen to consider the matter of reseating the lower floor of the church," and aseertain the probable expense of a new floor and new pews, and report to the parish at their next meeting.

The committee was appointed by the moderator, Gen. Luther Stephenson, Jr., and consisted of Warren A. Hersey, Ebed. L. Ripley, William Fearing (2d), E. Waters Burr, and Henry C. Harding. The ment- bers of the parish committee, consisting of John K. Corthell, Israch Whiteomb, and Quiney Bicknell, were added to the above-named eommittce.

Quite extensive changes were now made, leaving the present condition and aspeet of the meeting-house something as follows : " A eellar has been exeavated under the house of sufficient depth, in which are placed two briek furnaces for heating purposes. The new sills and large floor timbers, and the columns supporting the same are of the best Southern pine. The pews are made of chestnut, with black walnut ends and mouldings, furnished with cushions and carpeted uniformly with the aisles.

"The pulpit is the one built in 1755, with some alterations. It is of pine, and painted.

" An organ was placed in the gallery about 1870, and this has been removed to a platform on the left of the pulpit."

On Wednesday, Sept. 8, 1869, the meeting-house was rededieated with appropriate ceremonies.

In 1881 the parish celebrated the two hundredth anniversary of the building of its meeting-house ; on Monday the 8th of August, Mr. Charles Eliot Nor- ton, a descendant of the Rev. John Norton, second minister of the parish, delivered the address. This parish has had during its existence but seven pastors, not including the associate pastorship of the Rev. E. A. Horton.

The first minister was the Rev. Peter Hobart, who was born in Hingham, England, in 1641; he was minister from 1635 to 1679. The Rev. John Nor- ton, the second minister, was born in Ipswich. He was ordained as colleague of Rev. Peter Hobart in 1678, about two months before the death of Mr. Ho- bart. The Rev. Mr. Norton's pastorate was from 1678 to 1716.

The Rev. Ebenezer Gay, D.D., was ordained as the third minister of the parish in 1718, and his pastorate was of unusual length, from 1718 to 1787.

The Rev. Henry Ware, D.D., born in Sherborn, was the fourth minister, and he was pastor from 1787 to 1805, when he became Hollis Professor of Divinity in Harvard College.

Tho Rev. Joseph Richardson, born in Billeriea, was minister of the parish from 1806 to 1871.

The Rev. Calvin Lincoln was settled as associate pastor in 1855.

In 1875 the Rev. Mr. Lincoln sent in his resigna- tion, but it was not accepted by the parish, and the Rev. E. A. Horton was indueted into the office of associate pastor with the Rev. Mr. Lineoln in 1877.

The Rev. Mr. Lincoln was pastor from 1855 to 1881.

The Rev. Mr. Horton, now pastor of the Second Unitarian Church, of Boston, was associate pastor from 1877 to 1880.

Thus there were but six ministers over this parish from 1635 to 1881, a period of nearly two centuries and a half.

The present pastor is the Rev. H. Price Collier, who was ordained the 29th of September, 1882. From all that ean be learned, after diligent and aeeu- rate research, it is safe to say that the old meeting- house of the First Parish of Hingham is the oldest house for publie worship which exists within the original limits of the United States. Though there have been many changes, still it remains in its es- sential particulars the same house that was built in 1681.

It would be affectation on the part of any one at- tempting to recall the historieal antiquities of the town of Hingham not to mention the name of the Hon. Solomon Lincoln. Even for this fragmentary sketeh, all of the material used is culled from the stores of aeeurate historieal research left by that gen- tleman.

South Hingham Church.1-The South Hingham Church was ereeted in 1742, and is well situated on the rock in the middle of the " Glad Tidings Plain," in the township of Hingham. No better nor more convenient site eould have been selected, being just about the centre of the old territorial limits assigned to the parish on its formation, in 1745. The lands and estates set off by new boundaries to form the parish attached to the church were originally part of the First Parish in Hingham, and the new arrange- ments were made final by a committee from the Gen- cral Court who visited the town for the purpose. This new parish thus formed with the title of the " Third Congregational Society in Hingham," or the Third Parish, was set off on the petition of a Mr. Theophi- lus Cushing, " in behalf of himself and others, inhab- itants of the southerly part of the First Parish in Hingham." This gentleman-being one of the

1 By Rev. A. Cross.

HISTORY OF HINGHAM.

1073

principal inhabitants-is worthy of notice in this matter. He was the main proprietor of the church before the formation of the parish, and the House of Representatives-J. Quincy being Speaker-granted to him the power to call the first meeting to choose precinct officers, and transact all other affairs accord- ing to law. The meeting was called on May 19, 1746, and the First Parish officers were elected to serve one year, himself being chosen treasurer.

Mr. Cushing's descendants in direct line are now living, and are active members of the parish, and he was the fourth in lineal descent from Mr. Matthew Cushing, who came from England, and commenced the settlement of Hingham in 1638. In the year 1749 an agreement was made between the proprietors of the church and parish, whereby the church be- came the property of the parish on the payment of a large sum of money, and this same Mr. Theophilus Cushing then gave to the parish a quarter of an acre of land surrounding the building. Alterations on the exterior of the church have been made at various times, and the arrangement of the interior has been entirely changed since its first days. Originally the front faced the south, had a porch at the entrance, while there was also a door at the west side for ad- mittance to tlie galleries. The pulpit stood on the north side with a large sounding-board overhead, and was approached from the main entrance through a broad aisle ; old fashioned square pews covered most of the ground floor, and bare long seats were placed in the galleries.

The first work on the exterior could not have been substantial, for in fourteen years afterwards the meet- ing-house needed to be remodeled all round, which was done ; with this exception the structure remained unchanged until the close of the last century, when some alterations and additions took place. A porch was built at the west door; the tower was built up (1792) from the ground floor at the east end where it now stands ; more pews and seats were put in, also larger and additional windows. A bell was hung (1793) in the tower, purchased from a firm in Hart- ford, Conn. The church then remained with but few repairs until the years 1829-30, when great changes took place. The south and west doors, with their porches, were removed, and the east end made the front, this was done by widening the tower on its north and south sides, when two doors were placed to form the entrance. This widening of the tower was carried up to the roof; and the old bell was taken down to make place for a larger, weighing eight hundredweight.

the pulpit was at that time removed to the west end. We now come down to the year 1869 before any further and marked changes occur, but then the or- gan was placed in a gallery built for it at the west end, the pew doors were taken off, and the church cleaned and carpeted. Twelve years subsequent to that date the present clocks were placed in the tower and church. Turning from these changes in the building we find the parish took its present title of the Second Parish in Hingham in the year 1771, when Cohasset was incorporated and no longer a dis- tinct part of Hingham. From the old records of parish meetings, made by the successive clerks from the earliest date, we gather a few ecclesiastical usages ; the business was always transacted at a meeting made legal by a due notice to the inhabitants, published at least more than two Sundays previous ; the ministers were settled for life, and their salary and the money for the other expenses of the parish raised by taxation. This was uniformly the case at least up to the early decades of the present century, and the officers of the parish had power to issue a warrant against "de- linquents." Parishioners would sometimes pay their taxes by work done for the minister. The management of the schools of the parish was directed at the annual meeting of the society, their portion of money being drawn from the town treasury to defray the expenses thus incurred. In the earliest time the meeting would decide the precise regulating of the schools, but later on, towards the years 1780 and upwards, it was the custom to appoint a committee. The parish officers, viz., assessors, treasurer, and clerk, were annually sworn before a justice of the peace. It was the cus- tom to ring the bell at nine o'clock in the evening; a sexton was appointed for the purpose, who had also to ring at funerals, and at one particular time to an- nounce by the bell the day of the month. The first pews placed in the church were sold by auction, and became the property of purchasers and their heirs by a legal deed, and as new pews were put in, they were sold annually to the highest bidders, who might use them for one year. These are a few of the precise customs which have gradually passed away.

It now remains to notice the ministers who have had the charge of the society. The parish has been singularly fortunate at times in settling notable and talented men, but never more so than in the case of their first minister, the Rev. D. Shute, D.D., who was born at Malden in 1722. He was a student at Har- vard, and graduated in 1743, then settled with this parish at its formation, and passed the whole of his subsequent long life in South Hingham as the minis-

At this period also the old pews were all removed, and new ones differing in shape were substituted, and | ter of the society. The extant records and local tra-

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IHISTORY OF PLYMOUTH COUNTY.

ditions declare him to have been a man of strong intellect and fine moral character, with broad and lib- eral religious ideas, while he had a disposition and parts to please and profit his people to no common degree, both in his ministrations and ordinary inter- course with them. He was thoroughly public-spir- ited, and twice became the public servant, rendering good service to the commonwealth, being appointed by the citizens a member of the convention which formed the Constitution of Massachusetts, and also a member of that which adopted the Constitution of the United States. Mr. Shute also preached the ar- tillery election sermon in 1767, and the election ser- mon before the Legislature in 1768, which were duly published. His funeral sermon ou Dr. Gay, the min- ister of the First Parish, was a notable one, and is now in a priuted form. He passed a busy life as a minister, as a teacher preparing young men for Har- vard, and as a public man, and built a house which is to this day one of the best in the whole town. With wisdom and heart to serve his people and country, he lived to a good old age, and died Aug. 30, 1802, in the fifty-sixth year of his ministry, when he was eighty years old.

The Rev. Nicholas Bowes Whitney was the col- league of Dr. Shute for two years. This gentleman continued to be the clergyman of the parish until 1833, and died in 1835. He was the last minister settled for life. Mr. Whitney was succeeded by the Rev. Warren Burton, who remained two years, and subsequently became the author of " Helps to Edu- cation," published by a Boston firm.

The years 1836 and 1837 the parish was served by Rev. T. Lewis Russell, and again by the same gentle- man in 1842 to 1849, and also 1853 and 1854. Mr. Russell was an eminent scientist, and was especially distinguished by his knowledge of natural history. During the interval of Mr. Russell's first and second ministry Rev. Lyman Maynard was the minister.

The next minister for any length of time was Rev. W. Travis Clarke, who was at South Hingham from 1855 to 1859. The Rev. J. L. Hatch became the minister in 1862, and stayed two years. A Rev. Mr. Sawyer and a Rev. J. Savary were then the ministers in succession for short periods, and in 1870 the Rev. A. G. Jennings settled with the parish, who stayed eleven years,-a public-spirited gentleman who did much to bring about an improvement in the system of education of the town. He was appointed the school superintendent by the citizens of Hingharu, and held that office for nine years. Mr. Jennings was succceded by Rev. W. I. Nichols in 1881, who was an ardent advocate in all social reform movements, but who re-

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History of Plymouth county, Massachusetts, with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 224

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