USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Dedham > History of Saint Paul's Episcopal Church in Dedham ; with addenda covering the last fifty years, 1758-1958 > Part 2
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"I have been in much fear from the outrages of the lawless, who have with a savage barbarity fell upon the persons and prop- erty of the King's loyal subjects, but as I have little converse or concern with the sons of perdition, I have been preserved. We are yet in a very melancholy state and apprehensive of all the
horrors of a civil war. May God open the eyes of an infatuated and deluded people before it is too late, that they may see how nearly their happiness is connected with a subjection to the King and Parliament of Great Britain." His diary mentions the tremen- dous excitement following the Lexington affray, such as "multi- tudes of people in arms - do nothing but walk about, and not very well, either." For several successive days he speaks of the con- tinual passage through Dedham of military bodies. April 28th, provincial cannon were removed to Dedham. Mr. Clark speaks of Dr. Warren's death at Bunker Hill; they were classmates at Har- vard. He informs us that General Washington lodged in Dedham, April 4, 1776 (18 days after the evacuation of Boston by the British).
By the spring of 1777 the value of "Brag" as an asset in the fight for independence was fast depreciating, and in those who de- pended upon it, bitterness and despondency were taking its place. Yet there remained "Holdfast," and fortunate indeed was it that this quality was a predominant characteristic of the great Virgin- ian who led and inspired the cause. In Dedham, as elsewhere, the earnest, though depressed patriots became embittered against all who still gave their allegiance to the King, and from what has been heretofore said about the Rev. William Clark, it was not strange that his attitude was exasperating, to them. On May 21st of that year he was surrounded as he was entering his home, but was released on his parole.
At a town meeting, held May 29, by a vote, William Ellis, Jr.,
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was chosen "to procure evidence that may be had of the inimical disposition of any persons to any of the United States." At the same meeting a list of such persons was presented, and included Rev. William Clark, Samuel White, Timothy Richards, Jr., and Daniel Webb, all churchmen. Samuel White was arrested even be- fore the town meeting mentioned above, for the original parole he gave bears an earlier date, and is still preserved among the church papers :
"Dedham, May 21, 1777.
Whereas I, the subscriber, Samuel White, have by my words and actions caused some of my Neighbors to suspect that I am Ini- mical to this and the Neighboring States, and being Desirous to leave this State: and for the safety of my Countrymen, I submit myself to the care of Mr. William Ellis, Jr., Promising that I will not exceed the Bounds of sd Ellis's House or Barn Yard un- der Penalty of my Life and further orders.
(Signed ) Samuel White. "
Rev. Dr. Babcock relates that Mr. Ellis having on one occa- sion essayed a task beyond his powers, in his extremity called Samuel White, known as "Tory Sam, " to assist him, but although it was only just outside the barn yard, he stuck to his parole, much to the disgust of Mr. Ellis. Mr. White was eventually permitted to leave the country.
Daniel Webb also was arrested, but shortly released. He re- mained in Dedham. Timothy Richards, Jr., the brother-in-law of Mr. Clark, somehow escaped imprisonment and was still living here when Rev. Dr. Babcock came to Dedham. He was still a churchman. The Rev. Edward Winslow of Braintree, who has been mentioned in these pages, went to New York City at this time, and became a chaplain in the American Corps in the British Army. He died in New York in 1780, and was buried under the altar of St. George's Church there.
In Dedham Mr. Clark had at least one influential friend out- side his church in Dr. Nathaniel Ames, the physician of the town, and one of the most interesting figures in local history. Mr. Clark had married Dr. Ames to Melitiah Shuttleworth, March 13, 1775. Dr. Ames was a salwart patriot, but stood by his friend, William Clark, in his hour of need. Mr. Clark's diary supplies the names omitted in the following account of his trials. The friend whose mediation secured his release on parole was Dr. Ames. The "public house" he mentions was Woodward's Tavern, on the site of the present Norfolk Registry. This tavern was kept by Richard Woodward, who was lieutenant in one of the Dedham companies at April 19, 1775. In his letter to S. P. G., dated from Dedham, Jan. 5, 1778, we have this vivid account of Mr. Clark's troubles :
"A member of my Church, a poor man and more than half blind, being suspected and purposely provoked, uttered some expressions signifying that the present war was a rebellion and his desire that the King's government might be restored, for which he was assaulted by mobs and riots from time to time, till at length they came near to kill him with poles and stones. They had forced from him his house and little place (upon which he had
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got a comfortable subsistence for his family). they had carried off and destroyed his farming utensils and robbed him of almost everything that he had, and finally ordered him to depart the town on pain of death in a fortnight's time. In these circum- stances he applied to me for a letter of recommendation to a gentleman of an amiable character in another county, to whom he had been advised as one compassionately inclined to help him in- to some way to support himself. After some reluctance I thought it my duty to assist him as far as I could with prudence. but five or six lines, as I thought in unexceptionable terms, without mentioning anything that might give offence. Upon an ill
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grounded suspicion of his going to the Royal Army with letters, he was waylaid and brought back, and though they were much disap- pointed in the letter they expected to find upon him, yet they endeavored to put a forced construction on what I wrote, a con- struction that I had never intended nor thought of. Whereupon the dissenting minister of the parish (who had received the most obliging and civil treatment from me) with some others, stirred up the violence of the mob so suddenly that the same night I was assaulted by a large number of them, my house ransacked and my- self used with indiginity and insult. Upon the mediation of a friend, I was released upon my parole to attend the committee of the town the next day. I went accordingly, was examined and dis- missed by them in about three or four hours time. They expressed themselves satisfied with what I said and disapproved of the be- havior of the mob, but influenced, I suppose, by some restless people, they soon after entered a prosecution against me, and sent a man and horse thirty or forty miles to stir up the mob against the innocent gentleman to whom my letter was directed, on which account he was barbarously abused.
"I was taken on a warrant on the fifth of June and denied bail, which the law expressly allows. I was carried first to the public house and shut up in a separate room three-quarters of an hour to view the picture of Oliver Cromwell. I was then hurried to Boston with three others of my church on a very hot day, and though I was much fatigued in walking several miles (my carriage having broke in the way), I was allowed by the justice but half an hour to get two bondsmen or go to jail. I obtained it, but the three others were committed, though several offered to be bound for them in the town where they belonged.
"My trial, seven days after this, was carried on in so near a semblance to the Romish Inquisition that I need not trouble you with an account of it. It is enough to say that I was denied counsel and not permitted to know what was alleged against me by the witnesses and attorney, (for by reason of a great deal of deafness I could not hear the ordinary way); and from thence it is almost needless to say that I was condemned to banishment and confiscation of estate, and sent on board a guard ship in the har- bor prepared for that purpose (with the person on whose behalf I wrote the letter before mentioned) in order to be transported to the West Indies or some part of Europe. T may add here that a gentleman of Boston, a friend of mine and by whom I had been much
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obliged, having with several other gentlemen been carted out of town with violence and ignominious usage by the mob, and contrary to the orders and promised protection of the present government, and forbidden returning to his family on penalty of worse usage, he having of his own accord took refuge at my house for a short time. This was made a principal matter of accusation against me. which, together with letter above mentioned, was all the charge they brought. Having been troubled with some degree of the asth- ma for about two years before, so cruel a confinement as I had through all the hot season for ten weeks together brought on that disorder to a great degree. This together with the friendly exer- tions of some gentlemen of the General Court, who thought my trial conducted in a mode extremely unjust, induced the powers in being to favor me so far as to grant me a return to my own house and re- main there as a prisoner (having one mile excursion under bonds of five hundred pounds penalty) which I was obliged to submit to or I might have never lived to see this day. I returned home the twentieth of August. Thus confined, I now remain laboring under a great degree of the disorder aforesaid, which it may be much doubted whether I shall ever outgrow. "
He resolved at last to leave this country. June 2, 1778, Mr. Clark applied for pass to the younger brother of Dr. Ames. This was none other than Fisher Ames, then a young man of twenty, although four years a graduate of Harvard College. Mr. Ames brought him a pass from the Court on June 4th. Mr. Clark sailed out of Boston, June 15, 1778, on H. M. S. Duke of Bedford, for Newport, Rhode Island, which port, owing to contrary weather, he did not make until eighteen days later. His wife accompanied him. November 21, 1778, taking leave of his wife, he sailed to New York, and from thence, December 24, 1778, on the ship Roe Hampton, left for Cork, Ireland; then on to London. His wife died in Ded- ham, soon after giving birth to a child, Dec. 3rd of the same year. The child survived only a few months. Mr. Clark lived on a pension in England. April 29, 1786, he sailed in the ship Prosper, which arrived in Halifax, N. S., June 21st. There he married Mrs. Allet- ta Dunbar. He lived in Nova Scotia for about five years, although he made a visit to Boston and Dedham in July, 1789. He finally returned to this country, coming to Danvers in 1791. He moved to Quincy in 1795, and there lived until his death in 1815. His in- firmities prevented him from following his calling, the Dedham and Stoughton missions being the only charge he ever held. By his second marriage he had two children. His epitaph at Quincy is interesting :
IN MEMORIAM Reverend Gulielmi Clark, cujus cineres sub hoc lapide sunt depositi olim quibusdan anis apud Dedham Ministri Episcopalis, at pro annis pluribus ab officio sacerdotali per corporis infirmitates exclusi. Molestias varias et dolores per vitam sustinuit, providentiae divinae submissus et in spe ad vitam eternam
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resurrectionis beatae obit, Nov. die iv A. D. MDCCCXV Aet. LXXV Abi Viator, Disce vivere, Disce pati, Disce mori! In Christo mea vita latet mea gloria Christus, et illius tandem polestate omnipotente resurgam.
Note :
There were some Episcopalians who espoused the cause of the American patriots. Perhaps it might be well to name a few of those better known :- Patrick Henry, the Randolphs; Mason, the Lees of Virginia, Pendleton and James Madison; Thomas Jefferson was brought up in the church; George Washington was "a regular attendant and communicant of the Episcopal Church."
ST. PAUL'S CHURCH FROM 1783 to 1856
Before considering the reopening of the church after the Revolution, it may be well to briefly treat of the vicissitudes of the three Boston churches. King's Chapel was closed at the time of the evacuation of Boston, at which time the rector, Rev. Dr. Caner, and many of his congregation sailed with the British troops to Halifax, N. S. In the autumn of 1777 it was reopened for the use of the congregation of the South Meeting House, pend- ing repairs on their church, and was so occupied until February, 1783. In April, 1783, Mr. James Freeman was chosen by the rem- nant of the proprietors of King's Chapel to renew services. He wished important changes in the liturgy, but the proprietors con- sented only to such as had been made by Rev. Samuel Parker, of Trinity Church. In 1785 a large number of pews were sold at auc- tion on account of the continued absence of their owners. They were bought by people who were not Episcopalians, and, with the help of these new-comers, Mr. Freeman extensively changed the Prayer Book ritual. For about two years he then sought ordina- tion as an Episcopal minister without success. November 18, 1787, he was instituted priest by the hand of his senior warden, by virtue of an "ordaining vote," signed by the wardens. In Dec- ember following, four Episcopal ministers issued an address which Mr. Freeman called an "excommunication," and the oldest Episcopal church in Boston went out as an independent organization.
Christ Church closed in April, 1775, owing to the resigna- tion of Rev. Mather Byles, Jr., who became chaplain in the Royal
army. He was the son of that other Rev. Mather Byles, who was pastor of the Hollis Street Church, and one of the most picturesque Tories of Boston. The younger Byles left with his regiment in March, 1776, and later settled in St. John, N. B. Christ Church reopened in August, 1778, when Rev. Stephen C. Lewis, a chaplain of a regiment of light dragoons in Burgoyne's army, came and took charge until 1784. In 1787, Rev. William Montague, afterwards of
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of Dedham, became rector. Christ Church is famous in history be- cause of the signal displayed there for Paul Revere. From there, also, Gen.Gage watched Gen. Howe's attack on the American redoubt, June 17, 1775.
Trinity Church stood on the corner of Summer Street and Bishop's Lane (afterwards Hawley Street). Rev. Samuel Parker was its minister. He, with Rev. Edward Bass of Newburyport, were the only Massachusetts Episcopalians who did not close their churches during the Revolution, but, in deference to the wishes of their congregations, continued services, omitting the forbidden prayers. Later Mr. Bass became the first Bishop of the Eastern Diocese, and his successor was Mr. Parker.
Of the latter we read "that he assiduously devoted all the time he could spare from his family and church to the restoration of the scattered churches and societies which had been dispersed by the civil contentions and belligerent operations of that memo- rable period, " ( the Revolution). And we find that he came to Dedham even before the close of hostilities, and urged the scat- tered church people to put the damaged little building in order, and here he preached occasionally up to 1792.
In the convention held in Trinity Church, Boston, Sept. 7 and 8, 1785, Mr. Joshua Kingsbury was lay delegate from Dedham. On this occasion the revisionof the Book of Common Prayer was begun.
The official records of this parish, after an interval of four- teen years, were begun again December 23, 1791, when the proprietors of the church met and chose Joshua Kingsbury and Jesse Richards, wardens; Noah Kingsbury, Joshua Kingsbury, Jr., Ezekiel Kingsbury ( who was son to the executor of the Colburn will ) and Timothy Richards vestrymen. Other proprietors present were William Brown and Samuel Richards.
William Montague of Boston was elected rector at a salary of one hundred pounds sterling. He was to preach acceptably every Sunday provided the above sum could be secured; if not, he was to preach in proportion to what he received.
William Montague was the son of Joseph and Sarah ( Henry ) Montague, and was born at South Hadley, Mass., Sept. 23, 1757. He was graduated from Dartmouth College in 1784. He was admitted to orders as deacon and priest by Bishop Seabury of Connecticut, June 24, 1787. He at once became rector of Christ Church, Boston, where he remained until May, 1792.
In 1792 Mrs. Colburn died at the age of 93 years, and the church came into possession of the estate, in accordance with the terms of Samuel Colburn's will.
April 16, 1792, Mr. Montague was again elected rector, and was given full power to act forthe church in the settlement of the Colburn estate by a very remarkable document.
"Agreement with Mr. Montague
"Voted that the Rev. William Montague shall be paid by this church fifty pounds sterling per year for preaching himself or hir- ing some other person to preach in his room every other Sunday throughout the year, and that he be invested for the term of fif-
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teen years from the first of May, 1792, with all the estate of the church, including all the rents for lands leased (that the said rents shall be paid to him), to use and enjoy in any manner he thinks fit without impeachment of waste; and that he, the Rev. William Montague, shall have full liberty each year of the fifteen years to cut off of said estate twenty cords of wood on condition that the Rev. William Montague allows the said church forty pounds lawful money annually, the said forty pounds be discounted yearly from the fifty pounds sterling, and at the end of fifteen years the said estate shall be appraised by parties equally chosen, viz. : by the Rev. William Montague and the church, and he, the Rev. William Montague, shall allow for the said estate whatever the said arbitrators shall judge the income and improvement shall be judged to be worth more than one hundred pounds sterling the surplus be for the church, and the Rev. William Montague's salary for preach- ing himself or hiring preaching every Sunday in the year shall be one hundred pounds sterling only; and provided also that said in- come and improvements shall be appraised less than one hundred pounds sterling per year, the Rev. William Montague shall not be obliged to preach or hire preaching only in proportion as the ap- praisement is short of one hundred pounds sterling."
ST. PAUL'S CHURCH IN FRANKLIN SQUARE.
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(The pound, lawful money, in New England at this time was equivalent to $3.33 1-3; the pound sterling was worth #4.80. ) The proprietors had the power to determine whether or not they wished more preaching than the estate would support, but they should, through the wardens, notify the rector of any vote in the matter. In one of Mr. Montague's letters he says: "In the spring of 1792 I collected in the neighboring towns those who called them- selves churchmen, who, with five or six in Dedham, made about twelve, of whom we chose wardens and vestry, and offered to lease the estate once for all for one hundred dollars annually, but could not, and had no offers, higher than seventy dollars, which the church people wished and were even violent to accept, but I strenuously opposed it, which made some difficulty between us."
Mr. Montague, to strengthen his legal status, was instru- mental in having the Legislature pass an act, Feb. 27, 1794, which incorporated the church under the name of the "Episcopal Church in Dedham," and gave the rector, wardens and vestry power to act as a corporate body.
An organ was built in the church in 1795, and Fisher Ames has given us some idea of the event in one of his letters, dated Aug- ust 24 of that year:
"Yesterday Frances (his wife) went with me to hear the organ in Mr. Montague's church. A Mr. Berkenhead played upon it to the satisfaction of a tolerably smart collection of people. who filled the contribution box with coppers and small change for the per- former. Mr. Montague preached an excellent sermon."
May 24, 1796, Rev. Edward Bass was elected Bishop, the first of the Eastern Diocese. Dedham was represented at this convention by the two wardens, Oliver Mills and George Clarke, who served as delegates.
Mr. Montague was desirous in 1797 to remove the church build- ing to another part of the church land. Repairs had been necessary frequently, and in December, 1796, a severe storm had badly strained the structure.
Recently we have been fortunate in having a very good idea of the appearance of the building at this time from a picture publish- ed in the Dedham Historical Register of April, 1903. This repre- sents a view of Dedham, painted in 1795.
After considerable opposition, Mr. Montague finally carried his point, and in July the removal began. The church was taken to a lot in the rear. and after nearly coming to grief in a deep depression in Church Street, it was finally placed on the lot now known as Franklin Square. The building was elevated on posts to the desired height, pending the completion of an understructure. August 7th the supports collapsed and the building fell in utter ruin. Seth Sumner narrowly escaped being crushed by the tower in its descent. It is said that a certain bystander remarked : "That
is the last kick of the beast." (It is also stated that the neigh- borhood suffered a visitation of bats which had been comfortably quartered in the church tower. )
This accident filled the friends of the church with dismay. and it might be said here that the effects of it were seriously
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felt for a period of over twenty-five years. Steps to rebuild the church were at once taken, however, and Mr. Montague inter- ested Fisher Ames, at that time the most influential citizen of the town. Mr. Ames responded with a petition in his own hand, which is still preserved among the church papers. It reads as follows :
"It is a fact that the Episcopal Church in Dedham has been for many years in a state of scandalous disrepair, unbecoming a Christian society and bringing scoffs and contempt upon the cele- bration of public worship there. For when persons of little re- flection, especially children and youth, were made to despise the place, they would scarcely be restrained from laughing undistin- guishingly at the divine service performed in it. Thus the very solemnities of religion, so admirably well adapted to impress a salutary reverence upon youth, had some tendency to being shown, as it were, in derision and by way of farce, to mislead and cor- rupt that part of our society. The repeated wanton injuries to
the windows confirm this opinion. The situation is one of the most public in the State, and thousands of travellers must have been led to think the state of religion in this town as shabby and the spirit of the people as mean as the condition of the church. This is a gross mistake, yet it is very mortifying that many have fallen into it. It is believed the inhabitants have generally borne and still deserved a more respectable character. There is no room, however, to doubt that an unfavorable opinion of the town was produced by the ruinous and tattered appearance of this public building.
"Every one, therefore, who felt either respect for religion or any concern for the reputation or appearance of the town must have wished success to the Reverend Mr. Montague in his persever- ing endeavors to remove, enlarge, and adorn the church. His cares, sacrifices and labors have been great, and these are known to ev- ery one, and the liberal and serious part of the society must have been heretofore disposed to encourage and promote the undertaking. No call, however, was made upon them, and it was hoped the success was almost, if not quite secured without any. But, unfortunately, the fall of the church has baffled these hopes, and the sight of the ruins is enough to rouse the sympathy and the generosity of the inhabitants of Dedham.
"There has been a hatred, so often a reproach to religion. between the two societies, and the occasion calls for some proof of the happily subsisting brotherly love which it is so much the interest, as well as the duty, of both to maintain. It would be a shame, and indeed a folly, to say in excuse for giving nothing toward a new church, that Episcopalians only should contribute. The ornament of the town, as well as its reputation for a catholic and liberal temper, and a just concern for the decency of public worship, so important to the good order and morals of families, are considerations equally interesting to both dissenters and Episcopalians, and these combine to claim from us some contribu- tion for this purpose, if it be only a mite, as token of kindness. "We, therefore, lamenting to see the Episcopal Church in
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ruins, and considering the Episcopalians as our Christian brethren, entitled on this occasion to some assistance towards rebuilding the church, do agree to contribute respectively, when requested, in money, materials or labor, as set to our several names."
Work on raising the church began Sept. 29, 1797. In rebuild- ing the church the timbers and other available parts of the old structure, together with portions of the abandoned Trinity Church in Stoughton, were used as far as possible. We are told the pul - pit stood on a condemned axletree, and for a time the cellar served as a horse shed and store room. This new church was improved from year to year until 1804. The cost of this building was thirty-five hundred dollars. It was estimated by a committee chosen for that purpose that if the church had been repaired without an attempt at removal the cost would have but little exceeded six hundred dol - lars .
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