History of Worcester County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. I, Part 186

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton)
Publication date: 1889
Publisher: Philadelphia : J.W. Lewis & Co.
Number of Pages: 1576

USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > History of Worcester County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. I > Part 186

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its views on the subject in instructions to its Repre- sentative, Mr. Thomas Denny: "And as we have the highest regard for (so as even to revere the name of) liberty, we cannot behold but with the greatest abhorrence any of our fellow-creatures in a state of slavery."

An interesting episode in the history of the town was the settlement here, in 1777, of a colony of Jews. Mr. Aaron Lopez, who was carrying on an extensive business in Newport, R. I., that year removed to Lei- cester, Newport being then in the possession of British troops; with him came several other Jewish families. There were about seventy persons in all, twelve of them being slaves. He built, on the part of the present Common now owned by the Academy, a house in the central room of which he "kept store," in which, in the words of H. G. Henshaw, Esq., he "carried on a successful trafic in Bohea and Gun- powder teas, serges, calamancos,," and doubtless a variety of other articles. Mr. Rivera had a store on the site of the hotel. "They were too patriotic to refuse in payment for their commodities Conti- nental bills, the currency of the times ; but felt rather scrupolous about holding such treacherous paper over the Sabbath, and were careful to pass it off to the farmers in exchange for neat stock or grain." They were strict in the observance of Jewish law. They carefully observed the seventh day, and also refrained from business on Sunday. A child having incau- tiously tasted of pork, at a neighbor's house, was treated with an emetic, by way of purification.

Mr. Lopez was a man of high character and stand- ing, courteous and affable in manner, of extensive com- mercial knowledge and strict integrity in business, hospitable and benevolent. His style of living was for those days elegant. His stock in trade at the time of his death was valued at $12,000, and his estate at $100,000. Abraham Mendez and Jacob Reed Rivera were other prominent members of the colony, and carried on business, though on a smaller scale. On the 20th of May, 1782, Mr. Lopez, while on his way, in a sulky, to Providence, accompanied by his family in a carriage, was drowned before their eyes at Smithfield, R. I., in Smith Pond, into which he had driven to water his horse. At the close of the war the company returned to Newport, followed by the re- spect and regard of the people, with whom they had found a hospitable and congenial home. After their departure a friendly correspondence was main- tained and probably an interchange of visits. One of the letters remains. It was written by Mr. Rivera to Col. Henshaw, in a clear and beautiful hand, and the whole style and spirit of the letter are indicative of the intelligence and high character of the writer, and of his appreciation of the friendship of the people of Leicester, and of the value of our national institu- tions. "I am happy," he writes, " to find my country- men (the Spanish nation) begin to divest themselves from bigotry, ignorance and indolence, and adopt in

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their room learning, liberty and liberality of senti- ments in religious matters. That system, with prop- per encouragements to arts and sciences, make no doubt, will, in time, enable them to arrive to that state of perfection that will class them with all other civilized and enlightened nations, and enrich that impoverished nation, and I am confident to say. great advantages will derive to that nation in par- ticular, and the whole world in general, from the American Revolution."

CHAPTER XC.

LEICESTER-(Continued).

ECCLESIASTICAL.

The First Church . First Meeting-House, Rev. David Parsons, Controversy wtih the Town, Rer. David Goddard, Whitefield and Edwards, Rev. Joseph Roberts, Rer. Benjamin Conklin, Dr. Moore, Dr. Nelson, Later Pastors, Second Meeting-House, Present Meeting-House, Church Music, Bible Reading, Sunday-School Parish. Friends' Meeting: Origin, Meeting Honse, Second House, Avis Swift, Intelligence, Anti-Slavery, Mulberry Grove School. Greenville Baptist Church : Church in Sutton, Pastors, Dr. Thomas Green, Other Pastors, Sunday-School, One Hundred and Fiftieth Anniversary. Second Congregational Church : Organization. Pastors, Christ Church, Rochdule, Methodist Episcopal Church, Cherry Valley, Centre, Wesleyan Methodist Church, Roman Catholic Church, St. Thomas' Church, Cherry Valley.

FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH .- The records of the First Congregational Church previous to the settlement of the Rev. Zephaniah Swift Moore, in 1798, are lost, with the exception of a few detached pages. The exact date of organization is unknown. The town was incorporated in 1714, and the farms purchased by the settlers began to be occupied soon afterward. It is not probable that church privileges in some form, and church organization were long neglected. A meeting-house had been built in 1719. It stood on the Common, nearly in front of the present church. It was a small and very plain, rude structure. It had a door in front and one on each end. It was clap-boarded, but not painted. It was without a porch, belfry, gallery or pews. The windows were small and lighted with diamond-shaped glass. It was sealed to "the great girt," but prob- ably not overhead. Like all the churches of the time, it was without heating apparatus of any kind. Later, individuals built in it their own pews on the "pew ground" or "pew spots." There were comfortless " body " seats, the women sitting on the west side and the men on the east. Galleries were added about 1728. Repairs and modifications were made from time to time, by the addition of pews, placing seats in the galleries, adding in 1743 twelve feet on the back side, putting on a new "ruff," moving the pulpit to the back side, re-covering the house with "the old clap-hoards taken off the back side," putting up steps, and iu 1754 a sounding-board. In this house the peo-

ple from all parts of the town came together to wor- ship God. In it they held their town-meetings and all other public gatherings, and it was here that they earnestly, courageously, eloquently and with states- man-like ability and forethought enunciated the prin- ciples of liberty on which our republic was founded.

The first town action with reference to the settle- ment of a pastor appears to have been taken Novem- ber 28, 1720, when it was voted that Mr. David Par- sons be our Gospel minister. Two days later a call was sent him by a committee. In this letter they write, "Rev'd Sir, we with one heart and consent Do call and Invite you to be our Minister in the Work of the Gospel amongst us, if you see Cause to accept and see your way clear to remove; but alas if we reflect back upon ourselves, we can't but see we are utterly unworthy of so great a Blessing; but if you have such a Blessing to bestow on us, as we hope you will be, we desire forever to praise his name for his Goodness to us ward." He was to "have the forty- acre lot next the Meeting House," and "rights," "as other forty-acre lots," and a salary of sixty pounds, and sixty pounds settlement. As he hesitated to ac- cept on these terms, thirty individuals agreed to add to the amount, so that the salary should be seventy- five pounds, and the settlement one hundred pounds.

Rev. David Parsons was born in Northampton in 1680, graduated from Harvard College in 1705, pastor of the church in Malden twelve years, where he had a church quarrel and lawsuit with the town; installed at Leicester in 1721, dismissed March 6, 1735, and died in Leicester, where he was buried October 12, 1743. Whitney, in his "History of Worcester County," gives the date of his installation as, "by the best ac- counts now to be had, September 15, 1721," but the town records indicate that he was already pastor early in the year. The town, "redneed to low circumstances by reason of the Indian War," soon found it difficult to comply with the conditions of settlement, and pe- titioned the Legislature for aid, which was granted to the amount of ten pounds. But the salary continued to be in arrears and Mr. Parsons appealed to the Leg- islature, and the town was notified to show cause. This was the beginning of a quarrel which lasted for sixteen years. Within six years the town, which had regarded itself "unworthy of so great a blessing," voted "that the town be willing that Mr. Parsons should remove, and remain ont of this town." The town strennously endeavored for years "to be relieved from Mr. Parsons' bondage," but in those days such an endeavor was attended with insurmountable difli- culties. Memorials were made by the parties.to the Legislature, complaints to the Quarter Sessions and appeals to the General Court. Those who were con- scientionsly opposed to Mr. Parsons were released by act of the Legislature from his support upon six months' notice, on condition of providing "an able orthodox minister, generally to dispense the Word of God among them," or attendance and taxation in

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some neighboring congregation. The General Court passed an act releasing the town from Mr. Parsons' support, but the act was vetoed by Governor Belcher. "Six Worcester gentlemen came as mediators," but were unsuccessful. There were differences among the people and changes of town action in relation to the subject. Successive councils were called, one of which sat four days in Watertown, and adjourned to Boston, where it was continued four days longer. The result of this council reproves Mr. Parsons for "any rashness in his words, and hastiness in his actions," and shows that he had heen arbitrary, had called the meetings of his opposers a " Mob," had assumed power not belonging to "a pastor according to the constitu- tion of these churches;" that he, with "rash and inju- rious " expressions, had ordered the deacon "out of his seat," and had recognized the minority, composed of his friends, as the church, and received members into the church without due authority. But they judged, "as a former council did," that he had been "shame- fully treated with respect to his support," and de- prived of his "just and full title to lands in Leicester." The communion service had been withheld from his use and that of the church. "They had opposed his going into the pulpit on the Lord's Day," and "set up another in opposition to him," and had withdrawn from public worship to "private assembling." "The like was never done in this land before." He was at length dismissed by a mutual council. This contro- versy with the town, however, continued and be pro- vided that his grave should not be with that of his people, but in his own grounds. The stone stood for many years near the Paxton Road; it for a time was lost, but at length was found in the house upon the place, used as the floor of the oven. It has now found a resting-place in the church building, together with that of Mrs. Parsons.

More than a year intervened before the settlement of the next pastor. In December a fast was ap- pointed "in order to make choice of a minister." The Rev. David Goddard was the choice of the peo- ple. He was born in Framingham, September 26, 1706 ; graduated at Harvard in 1731; ordained June 30, 1736; and died January 19, 1754, at Framing- ham of " the great sickness," in that region, of which in the town of Holliston, fifty-four out of a population of four hundred died in six weeks. He was a man of devoted piety, morbidly conscientious, sympa- thized with the people in their financial straits, and was in full sympathy with the great religious move- ments of his time. In the afternoon of October 15, 1740, Rev. George Whitefield preached in Leicester, and in January, 1742, Rev. Jonathan Edwards, of Northampton, spent several weeks here in evangelis- tic labor. In connection with this work there were evidently some extravagances. Dr. Hall, of Sutton, while preaching here, was disturbed by "a woman somewhat troublesome," "frequent in fainting fits." Mr. Parsons, however, like Mr. Edwards, was judi-

cious and cautious, and discountenanced all excesses ; and his ministry was fruitful in spiritual results.

The Rev. Joseph Roberts, the third pastor, was born in Boston in 1720, and graduated from Harvard College in 1741. He was ordained October 23, 1754. His avaricious disposition soon occasioned dissatis- faction, and he was dismissed by council, December 14, 1762. He removed to Weston, where he was an active patriot, aud was a member of the State Consti- tutional Convention in 1779. Engaging in business, he lost, and refusing to pay the debts of the company, was in prison, as a debtor, three years. He became a misanthrope and a miser, aud lived like a beggar. He died April 30, 1811, at the age of ninety-one. After his death bags of money were found in his house, the bags so rotten as to burst when lifted.

His successor was Rev. Benjamin Conklin, who was born in Southold, L. I .; graduated from Prince- ton in 1755 and installed November 23, 1763. He was dismissed, ou account of failing health, June 30, 1794, and died in Leicester, January 30, 1798. Dr. Moore, in the church records, gives his age as sixty- six years and six weeks. The inscription on his grave-stone is, "aged 65 years." He was a promi- nent adviser and actor in the Revolutionary struggle, a member of the Committee of Correspondence, and supposed to have been at one time a chaplain in the army. He was respected and beloved by his people, and the record of his patriotism, in the struggle with England and in the Shays' insurrection, adds lustre to the annals of the town. It is related of him that when asked if he would preach in the pulpit of a distinguished Unitarian minister, his answer was, "Yes, I would preach on Mars Hill if I could get a chance."

Rev. Zephaniah Swift Moore, D.D., was ordained January 10, 1798. He was born in Palmer, Novem- ber 20, 1770; graduated from Dartmouth College in 1793; and was dismissed October 8, 1811; made prefessor of languages in Dartmouth College in 1811; president of Williams College in 1815; and of Am- herst in 1821. He left a permanent influence upon the church and the town. He was a man of marked intellectual power and literary culture. His style was clear, simple and persuasive. When he was called to Dartmouth College, his people regarded his appointment as little less than robbery. When he left town they accompanied him in carriages, and the children stood, with uncovered heads, in long lines on each side of the way while he passed.

Professor William Tyler, D.D., of Amherst Col- lege, describes him as "a man of medium size, but commanding presence, weighing some two hundred and forty pounds, yet without any appearance of obesity, neat in his dress, retaining the use of short breeches and long hose, which were particularly be- coming to his person. In his manners there was a union of suavity with dignity, rare anywhere, espe- Icially in persons bred in the country, which marked

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m as a gentleman of the old school, one of nature's oblemen, and which, while it attracted the love of s pupils, invariably commanded also their respect." ev. Dr. Thomas Snell, of North Brookfield, in his neral sermon characterizes him as "by nature a 'eat man, by grace a good man, and by the provi- ence of God a useful man, a correct thinker and a cid writer, a sound theologian, instructive preacher id greatly beloved pastor, a wise counselor and mpathizing friend, and a friend and father espe- ally to all the young men of the infant college in hich he was at the same time a winning teacher and firm presiding officer."

Rev. John Nelson, D.D., was the sixth pastor of he church. He was born in Hopkinton, Mass., [ay 9, 1786. He was graduated from Williams Col- ge in 1807, and studied theology with Rev. Samuel ustin, D.D., of Worcester. He remained pastor of e church till his death, December 6, 1871, a period f fifty-nine years, nine months and two days.

It is said that there were twelve hundred sleighs on ad around the Common on the day of ordination, nd that there were three thousand people assembled, aly a portion of whom could, of course, enter the hurch. It was during the ministry of Dr. Nelson at the church had its principal growth, there being t the time of his settlement only sixty-five mem- ers. He was an interesting and animated preacher, favorite in the surrounding churches, and honored und beloved by his own people. He received the egree of D.D. from Williams College, in 1843, was trustee of that college from 1826 to 1833, and of mherst College from 1839 to 1848. He was a trus- e of Leicester Academy from 1812 to his death, in 871, and president fom 1834. He was for many ears a corporate member of the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions. He was chap- ain of the local regiment of militia sixteen years om 1812. He was often appointed to preach on ublic occasions, and was personally identified with le great moral and religions movements of his time. Dr. Nelson descended from a strong, intelligent ud pious ancestry. He early became a Christian, nd united with the church. He was profoundly everential and consecrated in spirit. He was pre- minently judicious and considerate in action, and ingularly broad and catholic in his moral and reli- ious judgments. Forgetful of self, he was always houghtful of the happiness of others. Nurtured in genial and happy home, inured to labor and hard- hip in his struggles for an education, brought while o college into the atmosphere of a great religious wakening and intense missionary zeal, and actively ssociated with the great moral and religious move- ents of his time, he was trained and fitted for the ministry which he accomplished. His qualities rere of the enduring kind. He loved his people ad he loved his work. He was pastor of the church or nearly sixty years, and his loving, pure and gen-

tle spirit won for him the lasting respect and affec- tion of his people, and of all who knew him."1

The fiftieth anniversary of his settlement and marriage was celebrated May 6, 1862. His sermon was from Job 32 : 7: " I said days should speak ; and multitude of years should teach wisdom." Governor Washburn presided at the after-dinner exercises, and addresses were made by several clergymen. Rev. George Blagden, D.D., presided at the golden wed- ding. The occasion was as interesting as it was rare.

In consequence of failing health it became neces- sary for Dr. Nelson to have assistance in the pastoral office, and on the 4th of March, 1851, the Rev. An- drew C. Dennison was ordained as his assistant. He was born in Hampton, Conn., June 27, 1822; was graduated from Yale College in 1847, and from Union Theological Seminary in 1850. He was dismissed in March, 1856, and afterward settled at West Chester and Portland, Conn. He is now pastor of the Con- gregational Church in Middlefield, Conn.

Rev. Amos H. Coolidge, the present pastor of the church, was born in Sherborn, Mass., August 17, 1827, graduated from Amherst College in 1853 and from Andover Theological Seminary in 1856. He was ordained April 21, 1857. The day was made memor- able by one of the most remarkable snow-storms of modern times. Eighteen inches of snow fell, and the furious winds blew it into drifts which made the roads impassable. Only abont one hundred persons attended the services, and but a small fraction of the council was present. The sermon was by Rev. Prof. Austin Phelps, D.D., of Andover Theological Semi- nary.

The second meeting-house was built in 1784, a little in the rear of the old site. The pulpit was in front oc- tagonal. It had over it a sounding-board, and just below, the "deacons' seat." There were galleries on three sides of the house, which, with the pulpit and dea- cons' seat, were painted to resemble shaded marble. The pews were square, and each seat was hung upon hinges. In prayer-time they were turned up and their united fall as the congregation resumed their seats justified the fears of the Philadelphian, unused to such an amen, in his movement to escape from the house. A belfry and steeple were added afterward, and in 1826 the building was moved back to the location of the present church building. In 1829 the interior was entirely renovated. A bell and a clock, made by George Holbrook, of Brookfield, were placed on it January 13, 1803. The bell was re-cast in 1810 and again in 1834, and about the year 1834 Joshua Clapp, Esq., presented the town with a clock. The first organ was purchased in 1827, the second in 1844 and the third in 1867. The house was first warmed by fires about the year 1821.

The present meeting-house was dedicated Novem-

1 Proceedings of the Worcester Society of Antiquity, 1887.

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HISTORY OF WORCESTER COUNTY, MASSACHUSETTS.

ber 13, 1867. In 1888 the interior was changed by the removal of the organ-loft and galleries for the choir to the rear of the pulpit.

For more than sixty years the singing was purely congregational. The hymns were read by the deacon, and then sung line by line by the congregation. In 1780 a choir, by permission, occupied the front seat in the gallery. There was a short trial of sound be- tween the deacon and the choir, in which the choir gained the permanent advantage, not, however, with- out greatly scandalizing some of the members, and causing them to leave the house.

Bible-reading formed no part of the service here in the last century. The first Bible thus used was published by Isaiah Thomas, and was presented to the society by Col. William Henshaw. It was read for the first time by Dr. Moore, May 4, 1800. The first action with reference to "a plan of Sunday-school" was taken May 3, 1819, and at first the schools were held in school-houses in different parts of the town. It is believed that before the year )887 there had been but three regularly elected superintendents. The first was Deacon Joshua Murdock. Deacon Christopher C. Denny was elected in 1848, and Hon. Charles A. Denny April 6, 1862. He resigned after twenty-five · years' service.

The parish was at first identified with the town, and its business transacted in the regular town-meeting till 1794. After this time those voters who had not withdrawn to other societies met after the regular town-meeting, on the same day, until February 9, 1833, when "The First Parish of Leicester" was or- ganized.

FRIENDS' MEETING.1-Until about eighteen years after the incorporation of Leicester the people of the entire original township worshipped together on Straw- berry Hill. A Society of Friends was then organized. 1t belonged to the " Yearly Meeting of Friends for New England," a body composed of several "Quarterly Meetings," each made up of minor " Monthly Meet- ings," which, in turn, embraced subordinate "Pre- parative Meetings," containing one or more " Meetings for Worship." The Meeting here was not only a Meeting for Worship, but a Preparative Meeting. "The Leicester Preparative Meeting" was at first a sub- ordinate of the Smithfield, R. I., Monthly Meeting, but after the division of that Meeting in 1783, it be- came subordinate to the Uxbridge Monthly Meeting.

In 1732 Ralph Earle, his three sons-William, Rob- ert and Benjamin-Thomas Smith, Daniel Hill, Na- thaniel Potter and Joseph Potter declared themselves to the clerk of the town to be Friends and asked, on account of conscientious scruples, to be released from

paying "any part of the tax for the Seport of the min- ister or ministers established by the Laws of the prov- ince." At the Smithfield Monthly Meeting, held Jan- nary 29, 1739, according to the records, "Friends at Leicester make report to this meeting that they have agreed upon a Place for Building a Meeting-House at the Burying Place between Ralph Earle's and Na- thaniel Potter's; and this meeting doth appoint Ben- jamin Earle, Nathaniel Potter, Thomas Smith and John Wells, all of said Leicester, to take Deed of the same; and Benjamin Earle, Thomas Smith and Na- thaniel Potter are appointed to undertake for Build- ing said House." The same meeting afterward con- tributed "four Pounds" toward its construction. The lot on which the house was built was a part of the farm which Robert Earle received from Ralph Earle, his father, with a small tract from the farm of Na- thaniel Potter, located by the brook, and added in order that the horses of the worshippers, let loose to feed during the service, might have water. The land was conveyed to Samuel Thayer, of Mendon, Mass., on the 13th of August, 1739, and by him to the per- sons appointed by the Monthly Meeting on the 27th of December of the same year. It was " to go entire and without any division unto ye survivor and sur- vivors of them, and to the heirs and assigns of ye sur- vivors or survivor of them forever." The Uxbridge Monthly Meetings were held here three times in the year, and for a time the Smithfield November Quar- terly Meeting. Washburn describes the house built at this time as "a low, one-story building, twenty by twenty-two feet." It was sold, removed and converted into a dwelling-house in 1791, and has since been destroyed.

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History of Worcester County, Massachusetts : with biographical sketches of many of its pioneers and prominent men, Vol. I, Part 186

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton) Publication date: 1889 Publisher: Philadelphia : J.W. Lewis & Co. Number of Pages: 1576

Author: Hurd, D. Hamilton (Duane Hamilton)
Publication date: 1889
Publisher: Philadelphia : J.W. Lewis & Co.
Number of Pages: 1576