USA > Massachusetts > Hampshire County > Ware > History of Ware, Massachusetts > Part 6
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In the House of Representves Read & Concurred
Consented to W: Shirley
1 General Court Records, Vol. XVII (3), p. 529.
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THE PARISH
It would appear from these records that the people to the south made little objection to the dismemberment of the parish already in existence at the Elbows. That such was not the case may be seen from the following:
The Memorial1 of sundry of the Proprietors of the El- bow Tract in the County of Hampshire, Sheweth - That whereas we are informed that your Excellency and Honours appointed a committee to view a tract of land lying between Swift River and Brookfield, petitioned for by Thomas Marsh and others; and that sd committee have been upon the spott, to view the same: & understanding that part of sd Land is in our town bounds: and we having had no Notiss thereof only bi a few lines sent from sd committee to the Clerk of our town the day before sd committee viewed the same; and so having no opportunity to know how much of sd lands petitioned for belongs to our town; nor to offer our reasons and objections against said petition: We pray that yor Excelly & Hon's would not proceed to act anything on sd Committee's Report concerning the same, until we have had opportunity to offer our reasons to the contrary.
Wm Pynchon, David Shaw, Barnard McNitt,
John King, Samuel Shaw, James Brakenridge, John Thomson.
Elbows Tract, Oct. ye 30th, 1742.
The first warrant for a meeting of the freeholders is as follows:
Hampshire S. S. To Jacob Cummins, one of the free- holders, & Inhabitants Liveing on the land in said County, North ward of a line Run due East from the South East Corner of the land belonging to John Read Esq. to Western line, being the land Petitioned for by Thomas Marsh and others, and set of a Separate Precinct, by the General Court of this Province, at the last General Court.
Whereas you the said Jacob Cummings, Thomas Marsh, Jabes Omstead, Isaac Magoon, Joseph Simonds, Joseph Brooks, Wil'm Blackmore and Sam'l Davis, Some of the freeholders and Inhabitants Liveing In said Precinct, Have- ing made application to me, that I would grant a warrant for the Calling of a meeting of the freeholders and other
1 Mass. Archives.
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HISTORY OF WARE
Inhabitants of said Precinct to meet at the house of Jabes Omstead, In said Precinct on the third tusday of march next, at ten Clock, forenoon, then & there to transact and pase Proper votes on the following Parteculars: viz,
1: to choose a moderator.
2dly: to Choose a Clark.
3ly; to Choose a Committee to manage the Publick affairs of said Precinct, Assessors, Treasurer, Collector In s'd Pre- cinct, and all Neissary officers In said Precinct.
4thly; to grant such sum and sums of money, as are nesary for the defreying the Chargs of said Precinct, past, and what shall be thought Proper in order to maintain the Publick worshep of god among them and other publick charges in said place for the futuer.
5ly; to agree and appoint what day of the month the aunual meeting of the Inhabitants of s'd Precinct shall be: as in and by there application, under thare hand appear.
These are tharefore in his Majesties name to will and Re- quire you forthwith to Notifie the freeholders and other Inhabitants of s'd Precinct Qualified acording to Law to vote in Town affairs, That theay meet and assamble together at the time and place afore s'd, for the end and purpose afore s'd;
Given under myhand and seal at Springfield, this eight- eenth day of Febuary, in the sixteenth year of his Maiesties Raigne, A'dom: 1742.
Wm. Pynchon, Just's Pace.
the inhabitants of this Place have been nottifide of this meating, according as the law dos dirict, by me, Jacob Cummings March the 15 day, 1743.
Jacob Cummings chosen moderator of s'd meting: John Post, chosen Clark: Jacob Cummings, first commity man; Eadward Ayers chosen a commity man: Joseph Simons, chosen a Commity man:
John Post, Eadward Ayers, & Joseph Simons, chosen assesars: Jacob Cummings chosen trysher: Samuel Davis chosen colecter. Voted to Raise ten Pound & six shillings, to pay the charge of the committe, servairs, and chain-man, and for the warrant old tenour
Voted to Raise fourty Pound old tenour for to hire Preaching with. voted to have our aniual meating on the second tusday in march aniualy.
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THE PARISH
Samuel Hudgens and Isreal Omsted, chosen servairs of hiways.
Jacob Cummings, moderator.
Thus Ware is made a "Precinct " in technical language, though for many years deeds and other public documents refer to the place as "Ware River Parish," an equivalent term.
The immediate task before the inhabitants was the pro- curing of a minister, and the providing of a meeting-house. In 1743 it was "voted to hire Mr. Dickson for to Preach among us, until ye fourty pound we granted is spent." In the fall of the same year the question of a meeting-house was brought before the inhabitants at a legal meeting, but it was voted not to build at present. There were many questions to be settled as to ways and means, and the great question of location. The latter was indeed a burning ques- tion for a long period of time.
As might be expected, the records of the first years of the parish are fragmentary. Whether Mr. Dickson preached out the forty pounds or not, Mr. Mills was hired in the spring of 1743, possibly for a single Sunday at that time, though evidently he was preaching again in the early summer of 1744, at which time we find that the Rev. Mr. Mills "Re- fuses to tarry any Lounger with us." In the same year it was voted to hire Mr. Roson, Mr. How, and in 1745 Mr. Henry Cary. From the frequent bills allowed for boarding ministers it would appear that while there was no settled pastor, there was a fairly regular "supply" provided. In 1745 a committee was appointed consisting of Capt. Jabez Omstead and Mr. William Blackmer "to discorse with Mr. Read Esq. to see what incoredgement he will givetowards the settlement of the gospel in this place, and give his advise whare the meeting house shall be."
Captain Omstead went to Boston at the expense of the Parish, and Mr. Read recommended a location. Nor was he backward in the matter of "incoredgement," for he deeds to Jabez Omstead, Gen., and Isaac Magoon, Yeoman, who lived near the Manour, and to William Blackmer, John Davis and Benjamin Lull who lived upon the Manour, as trustees,
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HISTORY OF WARE
the most eligible portion of the tract for church support, as follows:
The 6th lot from the North of the 4th Five of lots from the East .. extending South on a four rod Highway a hundred rod wide, & from thence west by south half a mile long, also part of the fifth lot near against the middle of that extending west & by south on the main road twenty rod wide, & from thence north twenty four rod long with the appurtenances; To have & to hold the sixth lot & part of the fifth lot aforesd with the appurtenances to them the sd Jabesh Omstead, Isaac Mcgoon William Blackmer John Davis & Benjamin Lull & their heirs forever in special trust & Confidince for the only uses, Intents & purposes hereafter expresst, viz for the use of the first minister of God's Holy word & sacraments, who shall be freely chosen by the In- habitants freeholders of the sd Manour & such others as the laws of the Government shall joyn in one parish with them, or by the major part of them, & thereupon be lawfully In- stituted & ordained to the holy office there & such his suc- cessors forever in pure & perpetual alms, & for these special purposes viz the three acres part of the fifth lot afore sd for the founding & continuance of a Parish Church & Christian Burying place forever, & the sixth lot for a Glebe thereunto annexed for the Improvement of such Minister & his suc- cessors at their Discretion toward their Maintenance & support forever. In witness &c.
19th of Sept. 1748
Jnº Read & seal.
It is probable that he also promised a "settlement " for the first regular minister, which promise was redeemed by his heirs after his death.
Difficulties beset the officers of the newly formed Pre- cinct when they endeavored to collect the rates voted for public use, and after some years of wrangling the whole matter was taken again before the General Court:
Timothy Brown of Ware River, for himself and as At- torney to several others of the Inhabitants of said Ware River so called in the County of Hampshire
Humbly Sheweth
-
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THE PARISH
That on the 4th of Dec." 1742 in answer to the petition of Thomas Marsh and about thirty others Petitioners with Him it was ordered by the Hon ble Court that the Petitioners in said Petition mentiond & all the Lands therein described that are northerly of the South East Corner of the Lands belonging to John Reed, Esq. then of Boston, now Decd should be erected into a Precinct & that the said Inhabitants should have the Power & Priviledges that other Precincts do or by Law ought to enjoy. That nevertheless many per- sons who since the Date of said order have settled upon the Ten Thousand acre Equivalent so called belonging to the Heirs of sd Mr. Read & as ye Petitioner supposes clearly included within the Limits of said Precinct have disputed their obligation to subject themselves to the votes or orders of said Precinct & pretend that they are not included therein, they construing the aforesaid order as not including any Part of said Farm of Mr. Read within the said Precinct from which great confusion has arisen among the said People & those Inhabitants at Ware River & such as on Mr. Read's Farm aforesaid are disposed to comply with the order of this Honble Court & to provide themselves with the advantages of the Gospel Ministry are greatly hindered and obstructed by those Persons above mentioned, by Means of which Difficulties and Disputes the said Precinct were necessitated to omit choosing any Parish Committee in March Last & have not had nor can have any Precinct Meetings in Con- sequence whereof they have been destitute of Preaching among them since Last March till the Last Sabbath, when some of the Inhabitants procurd a preacher by private subscription.
The Petition" therefore begs ye Honle Consideration of the great Difficulties they are under respecting their Spiritual Priviledges & that if yr Hon's see Fit that yr Hon's would make a more Express & indisputable Determination of the Extent & Limits of the said Precinct & that the said Farm of Mr. Read may be all included in said Precinct & that they may be inabled speedily to call a Meeting of said Inhabitants in order for the Raising of Money to build a Meeting House & to support the public worship among them for the future or otherwise to grant them Relief under their Difficulties as to yr Hon's in your great wisdom shall seem meet & yr petrs as in duty bound shall ever pray.
In the House of Reps June 19, 1750. Timothy Brown.
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HISTORY OF WARE
Read and ordered that the Bounds be established as follows. Beginning at the South East Corner of Mr. Read's 10,000 Acres of Equivalent Lands so-called, from thence to run due East to Western Line, then Easterly to Brookfield line, thence on Brookfield line to Ware River, from thence on Ware River to Hardwick line, from thence on Hardwick line to the said Equivalent Land to the first mentioned Boundary including the whole of the said ten thousand Acres.
And whereas the said Parish have failed of choosing their Officers for the present year, Ordered that the Committee for the last year be & they hereby are impowered to Issue their Warrant to convene the Inhabitants of said Parish qualified by Law to vote &c. to choose Officers for the pres- ent year & to raise Sum or Sums of Money as shall be thought necessary to defray the Charges of said Parish.
In Council: Read & Concur'd - Consented to by the Lieut Govern".
It was not until 1750 that the site for the meeting-house was finally determined upon. Meeting after meeting was held, several in each year, and each meeting rescinded the vote of the previous one. Nathaniel Dwight, the surveyor, was employed to find the centre of the town. Committees were appointed to settle the vexed question. On August 9, 1750, four men were chosen, one from each of the four corners of the town; Daniel Allin from the north-west corner, Jeremiah Anderson from the north-east, Jacob Cum- mings from the south-east, and Joseph Scott from the south- west. It was specified that the agreement of three of these men should stand. Should there be no such agreement the committee should choose a "judisius " man in any of the neighboring towns to "decide the difference." This Com- mittee reported that they had called in Mr. Jonathan Warner of Hardwick to decide the case, and expressed the opinion that the house should stand on the east side of Flat Brook, on a small knoll. This was promptly negatived at the ad- journed meeting August 23, while a vote was passed "to set it on the County Road in the Center East and West." "That it shall stand on the most convenient place be- tween Mr. Lulls' and Joseph Ayerses, Nere half way from each."
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THE PARISH
This raised a storm, and two days later a demand for a warrant was signed by ten influential citizens, the object being to reconsider the vote just passed. The warrant was issued and the meeting called at once. The vote of August 23 was reconsidered, and a new site chosen "on the west- wardly side of Flat Brook ... between Edward Ayer's and Samuel Smith's." And there it was built, thirty feet long and twenty-five wide, with fifteen-foot posts, to cost the sum of £30,, 13,, 4, all but £4 to be paid in labor, the latter sum being appropriated for nails. This for founda- tions and framing. In three months £35 additional was voted "to cover and finish the meeting house at the discre- tion of the com'ttee."
Meanwhile, although the burning question was the loca- tion of the meeting-house, there was the secondary one of the choice of a minister to occupy the pulpit. A Mr. Morton was hired for the winter of 1748, and by 1749 or 50 the Rev. Grindall Rawson was on the ground, for at least oc- casional services. At the meeting on November 26 it was "voted universaley to give a minister a call to settle," and on December 17 the Precinct or Parish chose Mr. Rawson at a salary of £45 lawful money in case he would accept the call. In addition to the annual salary there was "granted the sum of one hundred pounds lawful money for settlement, in case he shall settle with us, to be paid in materials for building, and in labor at money price." This was to provide him a house, for the location of which the Read heirs provided as follows: 1
To all People to whom these Presents shall come Greet- ing, Know ye that we John Read & Ruth Hunn of the Town & County of Fairfield & Collony of Connecticutt, William Read of Boston in the Province of the Massachusetts Gent: Joseph Miller of Milton in sd Province Gent. and Abigail his wife, Charles Morris of Hopkinton in sd Province Esqr and Mary his wife, & Henry Paget of Providence in the Collony of Rhoad Island Gent. and Deborah his wife (which John William Ruth Abigail Mary & Deborah are Children & co-heirs of John Read late of Boston aforesd Esq' Decd,) For and in consideration of the Revd Mr.
1 Hamp. Co. Rec., Vol. 2, p. 107.
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HISTORY OF WARE
Grindall Rawsons Settling in the work of the Gospel Min- istry on the Manour of Peace in the County of Hampshire in the Province aforesd: & toward his Settlement there, Do Give Grant Convey & Confirm unto him the sd Grindall Rawson of sd Manour Clerk and to his Heirs and assigns forever, fifty acres of Land lying & being in sd Manour and is one half of the fourth lot of land from the South of the Second Teer of lots from the East, said lot being bounded Easterly by a four rod Highway one hundred rods in Weadth, and from sd Highway Extending west & by South half a Mile long the said fifty acres being the Southermost half of sd Hundred acres fifty rods wide & half a mile long. To Have & To Hold the above Given & Granted premisses with all the priviledges & appurtenances thereof to him the sd Grindall Rawson and to his Heirs & assigns forever, to his & their own proper use & Behoof: In Witness whereof we have hereunto set our hands & Seals this 16th Day of Septem' A. D. 1751.
Signed by the heirs as above.
At an adjourned meeting held on Dec. 24 the annual salary was raised to the odd sum of £53,,6,,8, and fire- wood; to be again reconsidered within a month and fixed at £45 for the first two years, with a small annual addition until the salary should reach £60. The meeting adjourned to Feb. 11, 1751, when Mr. Rawson's answer in the affirma- tive was communicated to the parish as follows:
My Brethren:
Since you were so unanimous in your invitation of me to Settle with you in the work of the Gospel Ministry (there being not so much as one negative vote), upon Seriously addressing myself to the Throne of Grace, as I trust, for Direction in the great affair, after proper reflection, upon the difficulties you would like to be thrown into upon my leaving you; notwithstanding the great discouragement in regard to my outward subsistence at present, and the many Satis- factions of Life, of which I foresee I must deny myself, more I believe than you are sensible of, or in any ways nec- essary for me to recite, which have set very heavy upon my Mind, and have for a long time prey'd upon my Spirits, and had I have hearkened to the Struggles of Animal nature,
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THE PARISH
would Soon have determined me to have me to have left you, tho' in the greatest Confusion; yet, a Sense of Duty, and a desire of promoting your everlasting Peace and wel- fare, have counterpoised all other difficulties; so that I have concluded to comply with your request, and accept of your invitation; hoping that God in his Providence will so order it, that we shall be mutual Blessings to one another. And as it is not yours, but you that I shall seek, I hope you will be ready to contribute to me, at all times of your Temporals, as I shall be ready to do to you in Spirituals, to the utmost of my power, and have no greater Joy, I hope, than in pro- moting your good, and seeing you walk in the truth, and that I shall so walk before you in a Sober and Godly Life, that you may have me for an example, and, that, both in my Living and Preaching, I may set forward the Religion of Jesus.
Brethren pray for me, that I may be made a precious Gift of our ascended Saviour to you. I hope you will never do anything to weaken my hands or discourage my heart, (which I will assure you is almost dismayed already under the gloomy prospect,) nor expect perfection from me, for I am a man of like Passions, and subject to humane infirm- ities, which I hope you will ever be ready to cover, with a mantle of love,
And that you may behave yourselves, as becomes knowing, wise, and Discreet Christians, nothing wavering nor un- steady, shall ever be my prayer for you.
Peace. Feb. 11, 1750.
Grindall Rawson.
The ordination of Mr. Rawson was fixed for the following May, and the following invitation was sent to the neighbor- ing churches:
The Brethren in Ware River to the Church in Hadlyme, Greeting: 1
Whereas God of his great goodness has enclined our hearts to have the Gospel and the Ordinances of it Settled amongst us, (who have lived for some years, many of us, without the Stated Ministrations of them) and we have at length by the
1 Oddly enough another Grindall Rawson was pastor of the Hadlyme Church from 1745 to 1777. He was probably an uncle of the Ware pastor.
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HISTORY OF WARE
advice of the neighboring Ministers, (as the law directs) proceeded with a great deal of unanimity to give Mr. Grindall Rawson, a call to settle with us in the work of the Gospel Ministry, and he having accepting our invitation, we have appointed Wednesday, the eighth Day of May, for his Ordination, and therefore desire the assistance of your Rev'd Pastor, with your Deligate to Set in Council, to- gether with Other Ch'hs to Separate him to the work to which we have called him. Wishing peace to you, we ask your Prayers for us, your Brethren in the faith and Fellow- ship of the Gospel.
Voted the Rev'd Mr, John Chamble, pastor of the Church in Oxford.
the Rev'd Mr. Grindal Rawson, paster of ye Church in had-Lyme.
the Rev'd Mr. Robert Brick, paster of the 1st Church in Springfield, the Rev'd Mr. Chaleb Rice, paster [of the Church in Sher-Bridge.
the Rev'd Mr. David White, paster of the Church in Hardwick.
the Rev'd Mr. Noah Mirick, paster of the 4th Church in Springfield.
the Rev'd Mr. Thomas Scinner, paster of the Church in Westchester, in Colchester,
the Rev'd Mr, Benjamin Bowrs, paster of the Church in Middle Haddam,
the Rev'd Mr, Isack Jones, paster of the Church in Westurn,
the Rev'd Mr. Palatiah Webster, paster of the Church in Quabbin.
Each with his delligate to be the ordination Council.
Jacob Cummings, Moderator.
The expenses of the Council, amounting to nearly £7, were borne by the parish. The sermon preached on the occasion was an able one:
The faithful Minister's Trials, Qualifications, Work, and Reward described: Or, A distinguishing Reward in Heaven, One Grand Motive Christ propounds to his Ministers, to animate them to constant Fidelity in their Work, amidst all Trials and Difficulties.
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THE PARISH
A SERMON Preach'd at the Ma'nor of Peace, in the County of Hampshire, On May the 9th, 1751. At the ORDINATION Of the Reverend Mr. GRINDALL RAWSON. By Thomas Skinner, A.M.
Pastor of the Second Church in Colchester. Published at the Desire, and Expence of the Heirs of the late Honourable John Read Esq; and Others.
N.B. That several Passages Omitted in the Delivery, are now Inserted. [12 lines from the Scriptures.] N. London, Printed and Sold by T. GREEN, MDCCLI.
The preacher introduces himself thus:
'Tis not any Fondness for appearing on this Solemn and Publick Occasion that has now brought me into the Sacred Desk; but the repeated Requests and Importunity of the Pastor Elect, who will therefore (I presume) suffer me (who have had some Experience of the Trials Ministers are Incident unto) to mind Him of some of the Difficulties, He must Expect to meet with in the Work, which (God willing) He is now Solemnly to be introduced into, and from what Quarters these will arise.
He then speaks of the difficulties in the field of ministe- rial work, and admonishes the people in the plainest terms. He pays a tribute to the Read family.
Had you been their natural Parents, and they the Chil- dren of your own Bowels, Methinks, you could not have Contributed much more Bountifully to their Assistance; in the great Work before them, of Settling a Minister, and Erecting an House for the Worship of God; which must have been very heavy in their low and infant State, on them, If not Insupportable, without your Help - And we hope you will still shew Kindness to this People, and to him who is now to be Introduced into the Pastoral Office among them.
It is safe to say that no more interesting and original character than Grindall Rawson was ever associated with Ware. He was a man of strange eccentricities and contra-
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HISTORY OF WARE
dictions; one who under favorable circumstances might have been a genius, but whose temperament foredoomed him to failure in the ministry.
The Rev. Augustus B. Reed, in his historical sermon preached on Thanksgiving Day, 1830, in the parish church, characterizes Mr. Rawson and his work as follows:
Rev. Mr. Rawson, the first pastor of this church, it is supposed, was a native of Hadlyme, Conn.1 But little is known of him in this place. Traditional accounts represent him as a man of little seriousness, comeliness or refinement. The only relic of his labors I have seen is his answer to the call of the precinct. This, on the whole, manifests a very undue concern about worldly things, and yet some expres- sions in it seem to intimate that his sentiments were evan- gelical.
An impartial study of the man perhaps will not lead us to materially modify Mr. Reed's estimate, though it should enable us to recognize in Mr. Rawson a sincerity, a ready wit, and an inexorable will which in a more tactful per- son would have contributed to success. Grindall Rawson's letter of acceptance does indeed manifest some concern for worldly things, but hardly an undue concern, parti- cularly in the light of after events. But in construing this letter, one must consider the times and the customs. The letter of acceptance of the Rev. Reuben Moss in 1792, urging that his salary be paid punctually, calls for no criti- cism, though expressed in terms no less explicit than those used by Mr. Rawson. The letter accepting the call to Ware is that of a man who shrinks from the hardships of isolation and poverty toward which his conscience is compelling him, - a poverty of home, surroundings, and society to which he was wholly unaccustomed. He was a man of gentle birth, a descendant of the noted Colonial Secretary, Edward Raw- son. His education at Harvard, from which college he grad- uated in 1741, and later his marriage to Desire, daughter of Col. Joseph Thatcher, by which he became allied to one of the most aristocratic families of the time, sufficiently vouch for his refinement and culture. In person he was awkward
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