USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Spencer > History of Spencer, Massachusetts, from its earliest settlement to the year 1860: including a brief sketch of Leicester, to the year 1753 > Part 7
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subscribing, together with their ratable polls and estates of themselves and families, and such of their descendants as shall and may desire the same privileges, shall be freed and exempted from all rates, taxes and assessments, and charges for and towards the support of the said Mr. Parsons ; any law, usage or custom to the contrary notwithstanding. Pro- vided always, that nothing in this resolve or order shall be deemed, or construed, or taken in prejudice of the said Mr. Parsons' right in or unto that two hundred acres of land" which is, or hath been in his possession, as minister of said town, but that the same shall remain to him, his heirs or assigns, forever, anything in the resolve or order notwith- standing; Provided also, that none of the inhabitants, sub- scribing as aforesaid, shall receive benefit or exemptions, by virtue of this resolve or order, until he or they do respective- ly provide an able orthodox minister, generally to dispense the word of God among them, or otherwise diligently fre- quent the public worship in some one of the neighboring congregations, and submit their estates to be taxed a pro- portionable part with the inhabitants of such town or towns, respectively, where they so attend, for and towards the sup- port of the ministry there ; and do also pay and discharge their respective parts and proportions of Mr. Parsons' salary due or becoming due to him in the interim."
This order was some relief to the consciences of the peti- tioners, while it added to the burthens of those who remained, and did but little towards curing the difficulty ; Mr. Par- sons still occupied the pulpit to the exclusion of all others, and his salary must still be paid to that time. Many of the people, however, availed themselves of the privilege, and withdrew from his ministry and his support. This move- ment so much increased the burthens of those who remained,
" It was afterwards increased to 425 acres, and a plan and record of the same made on the Proprietors' book of records.
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that after the dismission of Mr. Parsons, and when about to settle a successor, the town, December 2, 1735, by their committee, Richard Southgate and John Lynde, presented petition to the General Court, "setting forth the great difficulties the said town is under as to the settlement and support of a minister, by reason of the great charges occasioned by the conduct of their late minister, and the great number of those that are exempt by law from being taxed towards those charges, and praying leave to tax all lands one penny per acre for the settlement, &c., of a minister."
The town was not yet satisfied, but determined if pos- sible to avoid the payment of his salary, and they presented another petition to the General Court, July 28, 1731, " set- ting forth their great grievances in being constrained to maintain Mr. David Parsons as their minister, after the town had voted his removal, and his conduct had become so ill in that office; therefore praying that this court would explain the act of the Province for the support of ministers, upon which they were cast at the court of general sessions of the peace for the county of Middlesex, that they may have liberty to appeal from the judgment of the court, or have a trial de novo, so that they may have the benefit of a jury ! and that execution be stayed in the meantime." But their petition was not granted, although execution was stayed until another hearing.
The General Court at length became worried into the measure, and passed a resolve releasing the town from any longer supporting Mr. Parsons, but then the Governor (Belcher) refused to sign it. This state of things continued until 1734, when " six Worcester gentlemen came as media- tors between Mr. Parsons and the town.". But the benevo- lent efforts of these gentlemen did not succeed. At last the town and church obtained an ecclesiastical council, and they dismissed him in March, 1735.
It is curious, in looking back to this period, to observe the
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difference which then prevailed in respect to the mode of set- tling and dismissing ministers, and that of the present day. It was then extremely difficult to effect the dismissal of a min- ister, unless there were gross blemishes in his moral character, or his doctrine and mode of discipline did not agree with the Cambridge Platform. They were taken for life, for better or worse, in sickness or health.
After his dismissal, he lived in Leicester until his death, which took place October 12, 1743, aged 63. His wife Sarah died June 17, 1759, aged 73. " He was, by his spe- cial direction, buried on his own land, apart from the graves of his people. He was unwilling that his ashes should re- pose by the side of those with whom he had worshipped in the sanctuary, and to whom he had broken the consecrated bread ; the grave is now (or was lately) visible in a mowing field, about thirty rods north of the meeting house - a mon- ument of human frailty." «
Their next minister was the Rev. David Goddard, from Framingham. The town gave him &300 settlement, and £100 salary so long as he remained their minister. He was ordained June 30, 1736. The connection proved a happy one for both parties, and although his salary was often in arrear, he did not like his predecessor sue the town, but meekly awaited their ability to pay. He died January 19, 1754, at Framingham, where he was seized with a fever when on a journey, aged 48.
During the ministry of Mr. Parsons, and seven or eight years of Mr. Goddard's, the people of the Westerly part of the town (Spencer) paid their proportion of all parish taxes, and a portion of them attended upon the preaching there, al- though previous to some of the above dates, some attempts were made to procure preaching among themselves. As ear- ly as April 2, 1739, Samuel Bemis and John Stebbings, in
" Governor Washburn's first History of Leicester, in the Worcester Maga- zine, Vol. 2, pages 82 - 84.
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behalf of the other settlers, met the proprietors at Boston, to " consider some way to have the Gospel preached among the settlers, and to be freed from paying towards the support of the minister of the easterly part of said town, and to come to some agreement about the building a meeting house for the accommodation of the settlers." At this meeting, a vote was unanimously passed, to tax the proprietors' lands, to assist the settlers in those proposed objects. Nothing, however, seemed to have been effectually done, until the next January, when the proprietors " voted unanimously, to lay a tax of three pence per acre on all their lands, for the year 1740, and a further tax of two pence per acre, annually, for the two next years, "for building a good, substantial meet- ing house, of forty-five foot long and thirty-five foot wide, on land of Mr. Nathaniel Cunningham, where he and the set- tlers shall agree, and towards a minister's support." Accord- ingly, Mr. Cunningham, a wealthy merchant of Cambridge, by deed dated February 26, 1740, gave the inhabitants two acres of land, " for the accommodation of the meeting-house, and for a training field, and for such other public uses as the town shall direct, forever." At a subsequent meeting, Oc- tober 29, Samuel Bemis, Jonathan Lamb, and Moses Smith, were chosen assessors, and Samuel Capen collector of the aforesaid taxes.
Nothing further is heard respecting the meeting house or minister for three years, when, November 2, 1743, ten of the inhabitants of the town met the proprietors again at Bos- ton, to see what the "proprietors will give towards the as- sistance of the inhabitants, for encouragement speedily to settle a learned and orthodox minister of the gospel among them."" At this meeting, the proprietors subjected their
" At a town meeting in Leicester, 1741, application was made by the in- habitants of the Westerly part, that the money drawn from them by taxa- tion, for parochial purposes, might be appropriated for the support of preach- ing in that part of the town, but the request was not granted.
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lands to a further tax of two pence, old tenor, per acre, an- nually, for five years, towards the support of a minister.º In the mean time, the meeting house was built, but at what time is not now known, but another meeting was had at Bos- ton the 30th of the same month, " to receive the report of the committee who contracted for the building the meeting house, and the accounts of the persons employed therein." The house, undoubtedly, was built in 1743.
This house, when said to be built, was but imperfectly so, for it never was finished. The outward walls were covered with unplaned boards, and without clapboards. The glazing was small diamond glass, with leaden sashes, according to the fashion of those times, but no inside finish- ing, with the exception of laying the lower floor. The next year, 1744, the pews next to the walls were built, being four- teen only in number, leaving a space at the southeast and southwest angles, for stairs to ascend into the galleries, there being no porches to the house for that purpose, and over each of these stairways were two pews. The interior, on the low- er floor, was filled with four seats on each side of the centre aisle, called " body seats." These seats were for the elderly men who were without pews, on the west side, and for the elder women on the east side. In the gallery, were seats for the younger people, the two sexes separated, east and west, similar to the lower floor. And as a small number on-
" The General Court, in 1749, passed an act abolishing old tenor, and sub- stituting what was called new tenor in its stead. This act, not without con- siderable opposition, was effected, chiefly, by the influence of the late Gov- ernor Hutchinson, who was then speaker of the House. The currency was greatly depreciated and irregular, and this act was a great relief to the com- munity. At the time this act was passed, twenty shillings old tenor was equal to two shillings and eight pence, lawful money, or about forty-four cents. Consequently, the salary of Mr. Eaton, for his first year, being 150 pounds, old tenor, was equal to $66.67, and a tax of two pence, old tenor, per acre, calculating 20,000 acres of land for the town, would be about $74.83.
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ly of the inhabitants were accommodated with pews, many attempts were made for leave to build pews on part of the ground occupied by the body seats, without success until 1767, when it became necessary to repair the house ; the priv- ilege of building four pews was sold, and the avails appro- priated for new covering and clapboarding the house, and some finishing inside.
This was indeed a day of small things with our fathers, this house being their only place of worship until 1772, when a new, substantial, and even elegant house for those days, was built, being 56 feet long by 47 feet wide. In 1802, a tower and cupola with a bell was added, and 1838, the same house was enlarged, and entirely new finished and new modeled, within and without, in handsome modern style.
It has already been mentioned, that the act, whereby this part of the town became a Parish, was passed June 18, 1744. The first and only candidate for the ministry was the Rev. Joshua Eaton. He commenced preaching here, probably, in September, 1743. A church was formed May 17, 1744. The same day a covenant was subscribed by the following persons :
Joshua Eaton, Pastor, Josiah Robinson,
James Wilson, Deacon, James McClure,
Joshua Barton, John Lawdon,
Archibald Thomas, Deacon, Oliver Watson.
Jonathan Ormes,
It will be seen that at that time, though only a candidate for the ministry, Mr. Eaton subscribed himself "Pastor." May 28, 1744, the church and society gave an invitation to Mr. Eaton to be their minister, offering him all the land tax, lately assessed, besides an additional sum by subscrip- tion, as a settlement, and one hundred and fifty pounds, old tenor, for salary. He gave his answer in the affirmative, September 24, of the same year. The town also voted to add five pounds, annually, to the salary, until it should
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amount to 200 pounds, old tenor, and the sum was to be made equal to silver at twenty-six shillings and eight pence per ounce. In 1748, the currency became so depreciated, that 100 pounds was added to his salary, and 1766, it was . made equal to about $244, and so remained until his death.
Mr. Eaton was ordained November 7, 1744. Mr. Pren- tice of Grafton, made the introductory prayer. Mr. Hall of Sutton, preached the sermon, from 1 Timothy, 6: 20. " O Timothy, keep that which is committed to thy trust, avoid- ing profane and vain babblings and oppositions of science falsely so called." Mr. Cheney of Brookfield, made the prayer previous to the charge; Mr. Hall gave the charge; Mr. Goddard of Leicester, made the prayer after the charge ; Mr. Webb of Uxbridge, gave the right hand of fellowship, and Mr. White of Hardwick, "joined in laying on the hands."
The Rev. Joshua Eaton was the only son of Mr. Joshua Eaton, and was born at Waltham, then a part of Watertown, December 15, 1714, old style. He was graduated at Har- vard University in 1735. His parents" had designed him for the ministry, but contrary to their wishes, and to their great disappointment, he turned his attention to the law, and stud- ied that profession with Judge Trowbridge of Cambridge, then an eminent attorney at law. In 1737, he commenced the practice of law at Worcester, being six years after the incorporation of the county, and was the first lawyer who es- tablished himself in that town. He continued in the prac- tice only about five years. His talents were reputable, and he soon acquired an extensive business in his profession. He early shone with a promising lustre in the knowledge and
* His parents, says his biographer, were " honest and respectable." They removed to Worcester, where his father carried on the business of a tanner, and was one of the selectmen of that town in 1742. They afterwards re- moved and lived with their son in Spencer, where his mother died June 5, 1760, aged 73. His father died February 26, 1767, aged 84.
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practice of the law, and had the fairest prospect of acquiring to himself a good and great name in that profession, and acquiring an ample fortune to his family.º
About the year 1740, he received a powerful impression in favor of the subject of religion, which induced him, in ac- cordance with the desires of his parents, to turn his views to the ministry ; and for that porpose, he commenced the study of theology. He is supposed to have received his first relig- ious impressions from the celebrated George Whitefield, who, in one of his itinerations through the country, visited Wor- cester and preached there in 1740. The glowing eloquence, the ardent and impetuous zeal of Mr. Whitefield, created great agitation, distraction and division among the New England churches. True, he was opposed by a large major- ity of the clergy, but a few joined with him and encouraged his preaching.t
" Funeral sermon by the Rev. Eli Forbes of North Brookfield.
¡ Mr. Whitefield was a man of extraordinary powers of elocution, and he won multitudes, but his language was coarse and disrespectful to his oppo- nents, of revolutionary tendency, and sometimes bordering on impiety, and his measures disorganizing. President Clapp, of Yale College, testifies, that he heard Mr. Whitefield make use of the following language : "I in- tend to turn the generality of the ministers of this country out of their pulpits (who are half beasts and half devils), and bring over ministers from England." His preaching produced great divisions and great acrimony of feeling between those of the clergy who adhered to him, and those who op- posed him. The former asserted that he ought to be supported " because the doctrines which he preaches are agreeable to the standard of truth, and also because of his remarkable success." In reply it was asked if it was true " that God loved sinners as sinners ?" which was quoted as one of Mr. Whitefield's assertions, and in answer to the second they reply, " It is to be observed with lamentation, that the success of his ministry (if it may be called success) hath been to raise in the minds of many, a spirit of censori- ousness, and uncharitableness, of bitterness, anger, wrath, malice, envy, revenge, in many, as is evident to every observing eye, by the carriage of his admirers toward many of the brethren, with whom, before he came amongst us, they lived in peace and good agreement. Such success he hath had, to the grief of many godly persons." Deane's History of Scituate, pages 225, 402, 413.
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The enthusiasm of Mr. Eaton so far carried him beyond the bounds of propriety, that he incurred the censure of the church in Worcester, and he was suspended from their com- munion. By his own request, an ecclesiastical council was convened to advise in the matter between himself and the church. Upon this he remarks in his diary : November 25, 1743. " The church was pleased to restore me to christian privileges without any acknowledgement, and gave as a rea- son for what they had done, in censuring me, that they look- ed upon me as being actuated by an overheated brain." About this time, he had commenced preaching as a candidate in Spencer.
Mr. Eaton lived with his people in great harmony, during his ministry, and though often called from his labors by se- vere indisposition, they did not complain, but cheerfully paid him the small pittance of a salary, and their affection con- tinued unabated to his death, which took place April 2, 1772, aged 57, and in the 28th of his ministry.
Mr. Eaton in his person was tall and slim, lacking some- what of that rotundity of figure which implies a healthy and sound constitution. In fact he was, during the greater part of his ministry, predisposed to consumption, and of which disease he died. Although his religious zeal had con- siderably abated, yet his piety continued ardent, and his con- duct and deportment throughout his life was consistent with his profession as a christian. Possessing a kind and affec- tionate disposition, of tender sensibility, and overpowered by emotion, he sometimes addressed his people from the desk, in tears. He never regretted the exchange from a lucrative profession to one that gave him but a meagre support. Be- ing, on some occasion, called to attend court at Worcester, he exclaims, "O, the tumult and dissipation and snares that attend courts. I think I would not return to the practice of the law on any consideration." His preaching was plain and practical, and he seldom or never delivered doctrinal dis-
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courses. After his death, a volume of his sermons was printed, which were characteristic of his general preaching. To this volume was added a memoir of his life, together with the sermon delivered at his funeral, by the Rev. Eli Forbes of Brookfield. He was married to Sarah Elliot, " of an an- cient and honorable family," December 26, 1739. She was sister to John Elliot, Esq., of whom some account is given, in another place in this work. She died October 28, 1770.
REV. JOSEPH POPE.
After the death of Mr. Eaton, Daniel Grosvenor supplied the pulpit two sabbaths,* and a Mr. Z. Butler, four Sabbaths. Next, Rev. Joseph Pope preached as a candidate, and con- tinued to supply the pulpit until he was ordained. Mr. Pope was born in Pomfret, afterwards a part of Brooklyn, Conn., September 28, 1746, and was a neighbor of General Israel Putnam, of revolutionary memory, with whom he ex- changed social visits until the death of the General, which took place 1790. Mr. Pope was graduated at Harvard University in 1770. After leaving college, he was employed one year teaching a Latin School in Worcester, where he fitted several young gentlemen for college. He commenced the study of theology with the Rev. Mr. Searl of Stoneham, Mass., and completed his course under the Rev. Mr. Putnam of Pomfret, the minister of his native town. After preach-
ing about three months at Uxbridge, Mass., he came by invitation to this town, and giving satisfaction to the people of this place, they with great unanimity gave him a call, February 15, 1773, to settle with them as their min- ister. He was offered the sum of £133 6s. 8d. ($444,45) as settlement, and $244, as salary, " during the time he shall
* Rev. Daniel Grosvenor, also a native of Pomfret, Conn. He was or- dained at Grafton, October 19, 1774, and dismissed January 1, 1788, after- wards installed at Paxton, November 5, 1793, and dismissed November 17, 1802. He died at Petersham at an advanced age.
yours affectionately
South Pop
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linger for more than seven years, when death, who must have been a welcome messenger, put a period to his almost worn out existence, March 8, 1826, in the eightieth year of his age, and fifty third of his ministry. After he was unable to officiate at the sacred desk, a junior pastor was settled, and again dismissed before the decease of the venerable senior.
Mr. Pope's literary acquirements were superior to the gen- erality of his ministerial brethren. He was a good classical scholar, and during his ministry, prepared several young gen- tlemen from Worcester and other towns for college, and among others, the Hon. Timothy Bigelow, who always re- membered him with gratitude, and frequently with some- thing more valuable than compliments, as the writer of this work can attest. In his religious sentiments, like his prede- cessor, he was Calvinistic, and like him too, his sermons were plain, practical discourses. He seldom preached upon controversial subjects, except occasionally, when he regaled his hearers with a discourse upon the doctrine of predesti- nation, which always gave offence to some of his most seri- ous people."
Mrs. Anna Pope, widow of the Rev. Joseph Pope, survived him more than thirty-three years, and died July 14, 1859, at the great age of one hundred and four years, six months and twenty-eight days, having been born at Newton, De- cember 16, 1754. The anniversary of her one hundreth year was celebrated December 16, 1854, when a pleasant gathering was had at her habitation, formerly the residence of the Rev. Mr. Eaton. This ancient house was built by him in 1745, being now 115 years old, and still in good repair, and now owned by William Pope, Esq., the only sur- viving child of his parents. The following is an account of the anniversary, taken from a newspaper printed at the time, written by the Rev. S. G. Dodd.
" The only printed discourse of Mr. Pope's, is a sermon delivered at the funeral of the Rev. Mr. Williams of Brimfield.
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Honored and beloved by all, she affords in the serenity and cheerfulness of old age, a beautiful illustration of that " perfect peace," vouchsafed to those whose souls are " stayed on God."
The following appropriate lines, written by one of her grand-children, were read at the festival.
Beneath the venerable roof, So long thine happy home, With loving hearts and clasping hands, Thy children's children come.
Those stalwart elms, whose branching arms Spread forth in welcome wide, When here thou cam'st in all thy charms, The Pastor's cherished bride,-
One is not here-the axe of time Has laid its greeness low ; One still remains-its aged head Clad in the winter's snow.
And where is he, thine early choice, Who led thee here a bride ; Who prayed so oft with earnest voice, That God would here abide ?
Who led the people of his flock, Childhood, and age, and youth, And gathered honey from the rock Of God's most holy truth ?
And she who claimed a daughter's place, In childhood on his knee, Who lit this home with maiden grace, The daughter, where is she ?
The reverend head has long laid low, And they whose christian love Was seen so brightly here to glow, Now sing with those above.
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A FAMILY CENTENNIAL.
On the 16th instant, Mrs. Anna Pope, widow of the Rev. Joseph Pope of Spencer, completed her one hundredth year. This interesting event, drew together her descendants, in- cluding several of the third generation, with a number of others, relatives and friends.
A generous entertainment was provided for the guests, at the residence of her son, William Pope, Esq. The divine blessing was invoked by the Rev. Dr. Vaill of Palmer. The 100th Psalm, old version, beginning, " All people that on earth do dwell," was sung, after which the company united in Thanksgiving with the Rev. Mr. Park of West Boxford. The occasion was one of deep and touching interest.
Mrs. Pope, though feeling the infirmities of age, still en- joys a good degree of health and strength. With the aid of magnifying glasses, she can read the large print of the Bible Society's edition of the Gospels and Psalms, and readily hears conversation, raised but a little above the ordinary tone. On the sabbath following, she- was able to attend church, and worship once more with her descendants and kindred. Her memory of the scenes and events of her early life, is yet fresh and accurate, and she delights to indulge in reminiscences of the revolution.
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