History of Plymouth county, Massachusetts, with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 45

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 45

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tion arose among his parishioners, which grew to a dissolution of the connection between him and the parish, and he was dismissed in 1828 by the advice and with the consent of a council.

Feb. 27, 1828, the parish organized themselves in a body separate, under the name of the First Parish in the town of Warcham, elected their officers, and commenced a record of their meetings, which had hitherto been done upon the town's book by the town officers.

Rev. Samuel Nott, Jr., was installed Aug. 5, 1829, and dismissed Aug. 29, 1849.

For several years after Mr. Nott's dismissal the pulpit was principally occupied by Rev. J. A. Roberts as stated supply.

Rev. Homer Barrows was installed Oct. 27, 1852, and dismissed July 19, 1859, at his own request.

Rev. Timothy F. Clary was installed April 18, 1860, and dismissed July 16, 1867, at his own re- quest.

Rev. Horace Dutton supplied the pulpit as acting pastor for the year 1868.

Sept. 3, 1869, Rev. E. S. Huntress was ordained, and served the church about one year.

Oct. 27, 1870, Rev. Isaiah C. Thatcher was in- stalled, and dismissed Sept. 13, 1877, at his own re- quest.

Nov. 11, 1877, Rev. C. C. Watson commenced his labors with this church as acting pastor, and still holds that relation.

Ministry Property .- At an early day there were certain lands and meadows assigned to the use of the ministry. When Wareham was incorporated, the town of Rochester overlooked her interest in the min- istry property which lay within the incorporate limits of the town of Wareham. It is uncertain whether this oversight was from accident or design; however, the First Parish in Rochester soon raised the question, and after several years' controversy the right was con- tested in law, from which, in the year 1770, an appeal was made to the General Court, on a petition of the First Parish in Rochester, to sell this property and convert the proceeds to the uses formerly designed. Wareham, on being notified of this petition, sent Ebenezer Briggs as their agent to remonstrate against such sale, which he did so successfully that he de- feated their object, took possession of the property, and held it for the benefit of Wareham, and in de- fiance of Rochester. In 1826 the town obtained leave of the Legislature to sell their ministerial lands and meadow, and it was accordingly sold for $3487.52, which has been managed by a board of trustees, first elected by the town, afterwards by the First Parish.

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HISTORY OF PLYMOUTH COUNTY.

The ineome of this fund has been appropriated semi- annually towards the support of the minister of the First Parish.

Methodist Episcopal Church .- It is not known that there was any Methodist preaching in Wareham previous to 1812, at which time Heman Perry and Covell Burgess, two young men from Sandwich, being employed herc, were invited to hold meetings, which they did in the house of William S. Fearing, Esq. Soon after the Rev. Benjamin R. Hoyt, preacher-in- charge on Sandwich Circuit, visited this place, and preached to the people with great acceptance. Fol- lowing Mr. Hoyt, the Rev. Frederick Upham, who was stationed at Monument, occasionally visited Ware- ham, and preached in different parts of the town, but mainly at the Narrows school-house. Mr. Upham's labors were highly appreciated, and a favorable im- pression was made on the minds of the people in re- gard to Methodism. In the year 1823 some Method- ist brethren came from Easton, Mass., to this place, and found employment in the nail-works. Their names were Charles Wilbur, Lewis Waters, and Royal J. Barlow. By invitation of these brethren Method- ist preachers frequently visited Wareham and preached here. In the year 1827 they induced the Rev. John Newland Maffit to come to this place, and he preached onee in the Congregational Church and many times in private houses. The preaching of this wonderful man made a profound sensation. There was some opposition, but it is thought the seed then sown sub- sequently produced abundant fruit. In the year 1830, Ebenezer Sloeum, a Methodist elass-leader from the South, and a watchmaker by trade, came and settled in Wareham. He soon began to hold meetings in his shop. They were interesting, and resulted in the conversion of several. In January, 1831, a class was formed, consisting of the following persons : Ebenezer Sloeum, leader, Eliza Slocum, Mary Ann Briggs, Royal J. Barlow and wife, and Relief Willis. The revival continucd, and was the most extensive ever known in the town up to that date. It is usually referred to as the "Slocum Re- vival." Revs. David Culver, William Livesey, and James Porter, from adjoining towns, were of great assistance in this revival. During the year 1831 a Methodist society or parish was formed in accordance with the statutes of the commonwealth, and the fol- lowing offieers were elected : Ebenczer Slocum, clerk ; Jedediah Briggs, Royal J. Barlow, and Robert Hinck- ley, prudential committee. This year (1831) Rev. Amos Binney and Rev. Lemucl Harlow were the preachers on Rochester Circuit, which circuit em- braced Rochester, Middleboro', and Wareham. In

1833 the circuit preachers were Rev. Thomas G. Brown and Rev. Thomas Ely. In 1835 the pulpit was supplied by Rev. Josiah Litch and Rev. Joseph Marsh. In the year 1836 Wareham was separated from Rochester Circuit and constituted a separate station and a separate church. The first official board was composed of the following persons : Francis Carr, Asa N. Bodfish, class-leaders ; Francis Carr, Asa N. Bodfish, Robert Hinckley, Tilson Morse, Jedediah Briggs, and Lewis Waters, stewards. The following is the list of pastors who have served this church from 1836 to 1884, viz .: 1836-37, Samuel Phillips ; 1838, Henry H. Smith ; 1839, Chester W. Turner ; 1840, Charles A. Carter ; 1841-42, James D. Butler ; 1843-44, Elisha B. Bradford; 1845, John W. Case ; 1846, Samuel W. Coggeshall ; 1847-48, Nelson Good- rich ; 1849-50, Horatio W. Houghton ; 1851, Edward H. Hatfield; 1852-53, Nathaniel Bemis; 1854, George W. Stearns; 1855, Philip Crandon ; 1856, Horace C. Atwater ; 1857-58, Lawton Cady ; 1859- 60, John W. Willett ; 1861, Moses Chase ; 1862-63, Charles Stokes ; 1864, George H. Winchester ; 1865, George S. Alexander; 1866, Abel Allton; 1867, Daniel J. Griffin ; 1868, Charles A. Carter ; 1869-70, Daniel J. Griffin ; 1871-72, Daniel M. Rogers ; 1873 -74, William Livesey ; 1875-76, Edward J. Ayres ; 1877-78, John G. Gammons; 1879-80, John S. Bell; 1881, Melville B. Cummings; 1882, George Hudson ; 1883-84, William F. Davis.

Baptists .- In 1830 a number of individuals united in a religious society under the name of the First Christian Society in the town of Wareham ; but they were generally called the Baptist Society. In 1831, Rev. John Taylor was settled as their pastor, and continued to preach to them until 1837, when he removed to the State of Rhode Island. For several years after Mr. Taylor's removal they had occasional preaching, but no settled pastor.

Reformed Methodists .- In 1831 there was a society of Reformed Methodists organized in the west part of the town, but for want of numbers they sup- ported preaching but a short time.

In 1878 a union chapel was built at Tremont vil- lage. They have preaching regularly and a flourish- ing Sunday-school. The pulpit is supplied by preach- ers from different denominations.

Second Adventists .- This sect hold annual camp- meetings in a beautiful grove near Tremont village, coming from all parts of the country. The resort has become quite famous.

Roman Catholics .- In 1865 the Roman Catholics, who for many years had worshiped in halls in dif- ferent parts of the town, purehased the church edifice

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HISTORY OF WAREHAM.

on High Street, in the Narrows village, formerly owned and occupied by the Baptists. It has been greatly enlarged and improved, and is thronged by devout worshipers. From 1865 to the close of 1880 their pastors were as follows : Rev. Peter Bar- toldi. Rev. H. F. Kinnerney, Rev. Matthias McCabe, and Rev. A. J. Brady. Mr. Brady was succeeded by the present pastor. Rev. Thomas F. Clinton, who is greatly beloved by his people. In December, 1871, the diocese of Providence was created, which in- cludes Bristol, Barnstable, Nantucket and Dukes Counties, and the towns of Carver, Marion, Matta- poisett, and Wareham.

Episcopal .- The Church of the Good Shepherd was organized in 1883. This society is young and flourishing. During the past year, 1883, they have erected a church edifice on High Street, not far from the Roman Catholic, that is " a thing of beauty," and will doubtless prove " a joy forever" to many who worship there.

They have a thriving Sunday-school, and maintain regular services, but as vet have no settled pastor.

Onset Bay Grove Association .- " This association had its origin in the successful scarch of a few gentle- men who were interested in finding a suitable place upon the sea-shore where camp-meetings, under the general auspices of Spiritualism, could be annually held, and which might also be made a permanent summer re- sort for any who desired to build cottages or to tent beside the sea during the warm season.

" Many places on the coast-line of Massachusetts were visited, particularly the sheltered coves and breezy headlands of Cape Cod, along both shores from Sandwich to the ocean. But although especial attractions were found for summer visitors all along this diversified and picturesque coast, no place seemed to combine all the advantages sought for until the present location was found.

" Here, upon the shores of Onset Bay, a portion of the head-waters of Buzzard's Bay, and within the town of Wareham, a thickly-wooded grove of oaks, cover- ing about one hundred and fifty acres, was found growing to the very edge of high bluffs overlooking the sea, and surrounded on three sides by water. It is in that portion of the town known as Agawam, a name given to it by its original Indian owners, relics of whom are found here in abundance, and who, un- der their great sachem, Massasoit, the humane and friendly king of the Wampanoags, made the first treaty of peace and amity with the Pilgrims from the ' Mayflower.' This town is in Plymouth County, and belonged to the old historical Plymouth Colony, of which President Dwight says, 'It is the oldest

of the New England colonies, and to its carly success may be traced the origin of all the others. It has been the scene of many a trial and of the fulfillment of many a high resolve.'

" It was here that government, based on the will of the governed, was first established on the Amer- ican continent, and the great principle that all should obey such laws as a majority of the people should make, distinctly acknowledged. No people had so fully appreciated the rights of each member of the State; none had felt so deeply the great cause of humanity or entertained such cheering hopes of human improvement. In their intercourse with the Indians the people of the colony set a bright example of humanity, and the same sense of justice is here witnessed that pervaded all their public and private acts. Not a foot of soil was taken from them with- out their consent. Their treaty with Massasoit was most scrupulously observed.

"The two rivers that form the eastern and western boundaries of the grove, and the smaller bays and inlets of this vicinity, are occupied as oyster grants, and- from which thousands of bushels of the best oysters, commanding the highest prices in the mar- kets of Boston, New York, and Providence, are annu- ally taken. Clams of both kinds are found here in abundance, the indispensable requisites for the famous 'clam bakes' and 'chowders,' which, not only in Rhode Island, but all along shore, are justly consid- ered among the luxuries of life at the sea-side. The facilities for safe and pleasant bathing are excellent, as the bottom is hard and clear, gradually descending from the shore, and the water many degrees warmer than upon the direct ocean beach.

" The soil is a sandy loam, so heavy that in the driest season the roads are comparatively free from dust. The spring water, for drinking and culinary purposes, is of excellent quality. The temperature of the grove is gratefully modified by the prevailing southwest winds that blow from off the water.

" At all times the view from the bluff is picturesque and beautiful, and when the yacht-races take place in the bay, and the white wings of the trim little vessels are seen flashing about among the islands and darting along the sinuous channels, the scene is full of life and animation.

" Fishing-parties are seen running out into the bay to try their luck with 'drail' or 'troll' among the blue-fish, which here abound, weighing usually from three to twelve pounds, passing the more modest skiffs anchored along the coves and inlets, fishing for tautog, sea-bass, and scup. No better fishing need be looked for than in these waters. An excur-

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HISTORY OF PLYMOUTH COUNTY.

sion in a well-appointed yacht, in charge of a compe- tent skipper, of whom there are plenty hereabouts, from Onset to New Bedford, on the western eoast, or along the eastern to Wood's Holl, and then aeross to Oak Bluffs and the famous Vineyard camp-ground, brings to view a variety of the most charming seenery. On the right passing Tempest Knob, a high bluff at the mouth of the Wankineo River, and Great Hill, with the Marion House, on a point at its foot, we come to Bird Island Light, the guardian of the upper bay ; Mattapoisett light-house, with the town ; the low shore ; sterile West Island, with its long reef, around which the larger craft must sail; passing dingy Black Rock, and so into the harbor of the rich old whaling city of New Bedford.

" On the eastern coast from Cohassett Narrows, the western terminus of the projected Cape Cod Ship- Canal, where the tide runs like a mill-race to and from . Buttermilk Bay, and where, from the railroad bridge, striped bass are caught in large numbers, we may trace the windings of a score of inlets along the low-lying sandy cape, each with its little clump of masts, indicating a village, and pass club-houses or private cottages perched on rocky knolls, and summer hamlets built up along the line of railroad that borders the coast, which look out upon distant headlands, from which at night light-houses flash out their guidance to the travelers by sea.

" There are several fresh-water ponds in the neigh- borhood of Onset, where black bass and piekerel are said to abound, and from whence the purest ice will be supplied.

"The grove is located about three-fourths of a mile, by the present road, from the new Onset depot, built for the use of the association by the Old Colony Railroad, which is fifty miles from Boston, and by the regular trains ; thenee may be reached in two hours. It is directly upon the great popular route to Oak Bluffs, Martha's Vineyard, Yarmouth eamp-ground, Fahnouth Heights, Nantucket, ete., and during the summer season five or six trains per day pass over the route each way. As the require- ments of travel may demand, parties can be brought by steamboat or sailing-vessels, by tho Vineyard Sound and Buzzard's Bay, and landed directly at the new and permanent wharf of the association.

" The first meeting preliminary to the formation of this association was held in Boston Nov. 9, 1876, at which time a working constitution was adopted, and a temporary board of directors elected, with instruc- tions to purchase the land. It having been found desirable to sceure a legal organization, a special charter was applied for to the Massachusetts Legisla-

ture, which was granted March 31, 1877. The pres- ent association was organized under this charter April 11, 1877, at which time a code of by-laws was adopted and officers elected. The capital stock was fixed at twenty-five hundred dollars, all of which was taken and immediately paid in. The grounds were surveyed, building-lots, reserve-groves, streets, and avenues laid out, and heliotype maps of the same distributed.

"The grove was formally dedicated to the princi- ples of Spiritualism and the interests of human prog- ress on Thursday, June 14, 1877, about one thousand persons being present. The addresses were by the president, H. S. Williams, Esq., Mrs. Emma Hard- inge Britten, and Mr. Cephas B. Lynn, interspersed with music by the South Easton Band.

" The first camp-meeting was held by the associa- tion commencing July 8th, and closing July 24th of the same year."

The original capital stoek has been largely in- creased, and the interest in this charming resort is greater than ever. There is already thirty thousand dollars of taxable property on this ground, and it is destined to be one of the most famous camp-grounds, if not so already, on the New England sea-coast. More than fifty cottages were built there last year (1883), and more than one hundred have been erected in 1884.

The officers of this association at the present time (1884) are as follows : Dr. H. B. Storer, president, Boston; Hon. George Robbins, vice-president, Fiteh - burg, Mass. ; William F. Nye, clerk, New Bedford, Mass. ; Capt. B. F. Gibbs, treasurer, East Wareham, Mass. Directors, A. W. Wilcox, Worcester, Mass. ; Charles F. Howard, Foxborough, Mass .; Heurietta R. J. Bullock, Onset Bay, East Wareham, Mass .; Miss S. R. Niekles, Manchester, N. H .; W. C. Carter, Fitchburg, Mass.

Church Edifices .- The size, form, and architee- ture of the first meeting-house erected in Wareham, previous to the incorporation of the town, cannot be aseertained. It was first built, and afterwards owned by proprietors, until Sept. 10, 1739, when the towu voted " to have the meeting-house they then met iu for their meeting-house." We have nothing but this vote to determine the nature of the contract between the proprietors and the town, but in those days the usnal practice in country towns was for the town to take peaceable possession of the oldest or first meet- ing-house (thero being but one generally, and this near the centre of the population), keep it in repair, and use it for a town-house. There is an allusion to this practice in MeFingal,-

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HISTORY OF WAREHAM.

" That house which, loath a rule to break, Served Hearen but one day in the week ; Open the rest for all supplies Of news and politics and lies."

In 1742 the town purchased of Isaac Bump the land on which the meeting-house stood, and took a deed of the same. and in 1757 voted "to clear the alleys of the meeting-house of chairs and all other incumbrances, and keep them clean." This vote indi- cates that many went to meeting who had no seats, and accommodated themselves in the public alleys and by-places with chairs, stools. blocks, etc, and when the town voted to clear them, no doubt they made provision for the poor. and let the penurious provide for themselves. In 1770 the town voted to give certain subscribers the old meeting-house to build a new one with. and voted to receive the new one on condition that the town keep it in repair and use it for a town house. The new meeting-house had forty-one square pews on the floor, twelve slip-seats in the centre, appropriated for the use of the aged, whose hearing had become obtuse, strangers, and the respectable poor, and a broad gallery on three sides, · with a row of pews in front, and slip-seats back, to accommodate servants, boys, and the common poor. There was much taste displayed in the architecture of the inside of the building, particularly about the pulpit and sounding-board. The exterior of the building resembled most other country meeting- houses of that day, had its round-top porch in front, with three doors, and two flights of stairs leading into the gallery. The body of the house was nearly square. and much too high for its size. This error, no doubt, was committed by taking pattern from some other meeting-house. Wherever one of these old- fashioned churches are seen of the first magnitude, the height well accords with the size, but the smaller ones by preserving the same height, present the ap- pearance of one cube set upon the ground, and a half- cube cut diagonally, whose hypothenuse is about two feet greater than the side of the first cube laid thereon to form the roof. These houses had three times as many windows as was necessary to light the building, set in double rows for the sake of symmetry.

In 1802, the population of the town having in- creased, six of the body scats in the mecting-house were taken up, and four square pows built in their stead. and in 1824 the other six seats were taken up and the room converted into four slip-pews ; such was the opposition of some of the aged and respectable citizens who had occupied these seats, that the pur- chaser of the front pew permitted three of these pa- triarchs to sit there until the meeting-house was

pulled down. The gale of 1804 blew in one of the gable-ends, but found its huge timbers, double rafters, and solid king-posts not easily overturned. The breach was soon repaired. In 1821 extensive repairs were made upon the house, and in 1828, when it was pulled down, many contended that it would stand for fifty years ; however, the town got so vexed by trying the question whether they should have a new meeting- house or not, that many absented themselves from such meetings, or if they attended would not vote, and when the final vote was taken there were four for it and threc against it, and before the next morn- ing the house came down, hastened, no doubt, for fear a reconsideration might take placc. There was much excitement, but it soon subsided, and the present beau- tiful cdifice was erected on its site, with a spacious town house underneath. The cost of the whole was ten thousand dollars. The pews sold for six hundred dollars more than the cost of the house, and this over- plus was divided among the pew-owners of the old meeting-house. The present meeting-house is forty- five feet by sixty-four fect body, ten feet portico, twenty-six feet posts, and rests upon Quincy granite twenty-four inches wide; has eight large windows, cach containing nincty-six panes of teu by fourteen glass ; four columns in front of the Doric order, the entablature of which extends around the whole build- ing ; a belfry of suitable size and height, a handsome steeple, and a bell weighing thirteen hundred pounds. The whole building makes a bold appearance, and has but one defect, and this would not be seen by any other than an architect. The draught was procured froin Boston for a building of larger dimensions, and when it was concluded to build smaller, the carpenter shortened the posts without reducing the capital, ar- chitraves, frieze, triglyphs, and cornice; this left the ornaments a little too heavy for the building.

The Congregational Church above described was the only church edificc in Warcham in 1829. Hither- to the Congregationalists had been the only organized religious society. In 1830 the Baptist society was formed, and they crected a church the same year on High Street.

In 1831-32 the Methodist Episcopal society erected a church. It was located near the cemetery, at Warc- ham Centre, in the fork of the two roads, one lead- ing to Carver the other to Tihonet. The house was an humble building, twenty-eight feet square, and cost about one thousand dollars. At this time the preju- dice against the Methodists was so inveterate that it would sometimes manifest itself in open acts of violence. The brethren, who were few in number, after working hard all day in the nail-factory, were

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compelled to spend the night in their little church to save it from destruction. One night a ladder was driven through the pulpit window, the latches of the doors pried off, windows broken, and the building very much damaged. In 1835 it was removed to Wareham Centre and enlarged. The present church edifice was dedicated Sept. 8, 1842. The dedicatory sermon was preached by Rev. John Lovejoy, of New Bedford. This enterprise was started and carried for- ward to completion during the pastorate of Rev. James D. Butler. The house is substantial and com- modious, and has a large vestry that is used for social meetings.

The church edifice ereeted by the Episcopal society on High Street (and to which allusion has already been made) is much admired for its architectural beauty, and is justly considered an ornament to the Narrows village.

The Congregationalists built a ehapel on High Street in the year 1859, and it has sinee been en- larged. It is here that the social meetings of the church are held.

In 1872 the Episcopal Methodists built a ehapel at Agawam village. Regular Sabbath serviees are held there, and they have a flourishing Sunday-school.

This chapel was built during the pastorate of the late Rev. Daniel M. Rogers, and he and his devoted wife were largely instrumental in its ereetion. The lot on which it is located was given for the purpose by the late Samuel T. T. Sherman.

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History of Plymouth county, Massachusetts, with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Part 45

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