History of the Connecticut Valley in Massachusetts, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Vol. I, Part 62

Author: L.H. Everts & Co
Publication date: 1879
Publisher: Philadelphia : Louis H. Everts
Number of Pages: 700

USA > Massachusetts > History of the Connecticut Valley in Massachusetts, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Vol. I > Part 62

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As the town increased in population, and the outlying farm- lands were occupied, those persons living remote from the meeting-house found it necessary to shelter their horses during the long Sabbath services, and horse-sheds seem to have been erected wherever there was a vacant spot. Several votes are on record giving individuals permission to occupy portions of the highway near the meeting-house for this purpose. Horse- blocks were placed at each of the three entrances in 1773. Various alterations increasing the seating capacity of the house, and many suggestions for its enlargement, were made from time to time. In 1773 came the proposal for building a new meeting-house. A committee was appointed to consider the matter, but no evidence that any report was ever made can be found. The subject came up again in 1792, and was frequently before the town from that date till the final decision to build in 1811.

The thirty years following the building of the third meeting- house witnessed great changes in the town. Population had largely increased, one new town been established, and the nucleus for another gathered. In 1769 the "Inhabitants dwelling at Paskhomuck and the farms adjacent, and at Bart- lett's Mill and the farms adjacent," petition that " they may, by some means agreed to by the town, be brought under more convenient circumstances for attending the publie worship of God." A committee to which this subject was referred re- ported in favor of the appointment of a committee to inspeet the premises with a view to " pitch upon a spot for a meeting- house to accommodate such farmers and out-settlements, " and to see what number would consent to assemble there provided the town would " set up a meeting-house at said place" and defray the expense of winter preaching. The report was ac- cepted, and a committee appointed in accordance with its recommendations, but no further action seems to have been taken. This settlement, afterward embraced within the limits of Easthampton, was formed into a new district within a few years.

The bell purchased in 1682 did good service for many years,

but in 1760 it was deemed insufficient, and a new one ordered, the purchasing committee being instructed to sell the old one to Southampton, if possible. The new one was obtained at once, but was soon after broken, and the town was called together to deeide about replacing it, and " prosecuting those persons who were active or instrumental in breaking it." The bell was ordered to be sent to the founder at Fairfield, to be mended or recast, and it recast the committee were author- ized to receive subscriptions " toward the expense of it," and " to increase and enlarge it in weight as much as they may receive subscriptions for, not to exceed 1000 lbs." The old bell was not sold to Southampton, as there was further town action relative to its sale some two years afterward. It was finally disposed of to the Congregational Society in Northfield, and in use there in 1824. The new one proved unsatisfactory, and attempts were made in a few years to increase its capacity by enlarging the tongue, a vote to that effeet having been passed in 1768. The meeting-house bell was used not only for calling the people together on the Sabbath and for other re- ligious services, but for warning town and other meetings, and always for fire-alarms. In many places the bell was rung at noon (twelve o'clock) and at nine o'clock at night. This latter practice prevailed in this town till 1876, the hell of the First Parish being used for that purpose. It was discon- tinued when the meeting-house was burned, and has not been resumed.

There was a clock in the steeple of this meeting-house, but no record of its purchase or presentation can be found. In 1753, 3£ 12s. were voted to Saul Alvord for his care of the " meeting-house and clock" as sexton the current year. This is the first intimation that there was a clock in the building. This eloek was wound by drawing up the weights, hand over hand, the winder standing directly beneath the weights. The length of cord attached to the weights was not less than 40 feet. It is related that an apprentice of Mr. Nathan Storrs, in 1806, while winding this clock, was killed by the falling weight, the rope breaking when the weight was nearly at its proper height. In 1790 a committee reported in favor of pur- chasing a new clock, as being better policy than to repair the old one, stating that a new one would cost £30. No action was taken on this report, and the old clock remained in use while the meeting-house stood.

The trial of Dominie Daly and James Halligan for the murder of Marcus Lyon, at Wilbraham, was held in North- ampton, before the Supreme Judicial Court, in April, 1806. This trial eaused much excitement throughout all this region, and was attended by great crowds of people. The court-house was found insufficient to hold all the speetators, and the trial was adjourned to the meeting-house. It was filled to over- flowing. The crowd was so dense in the galleries that it was feared they would fall. The cry was raised that they were falling ; a panic ensued, and some persons attempted to escape from the upper windows. No damage resulted, however. Quiet was soon restored, and the trial proceeded.

The third meeting-house was used for publie worship about seventy-five years, having been torn down in 1813. Its pulpit was occupied by three settled ministers,-Rev. Jonathan Ed- wards, Rev. John Hooker, and Rev. Solomon Williams.

In 1813, after the completion of the fourth meeting-house, the previous one was sold to Josiah Dwight, who proposed to remove and fit it up for stores or tenements. It was first necessary to take down the steeple. This was built with an open space about the " bell-deck," resting at that point upon eight columns. These supports were partially sawn asunder and ropes attached to the spire, by which it was pulled over. It is said that the schools were allowed a holiday when this occurred. A gray-haired citizen of the town well remembered helping, with other boys, in the work of bringing it to the ground. Mr. Dwight then began to move the building. His intention was to place it at the corner of Main and South

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Streets, on the site of Hillyer's Block. When he had moved it about half the distance, the popular feeling against its pro- posed location became so great that a subscription was raised sufficient to indemnify Mr. Dwight in part, and the old meet- ing-house was taken down and the material disposed of in various ways.

First Precinct .- While but one religious society existed in town there was no occasion for the establishment of a parish. All the inhabitants attended the same ministrations on the Lord's day, and all business was transacted in town-meeting. As the limits of the town expanded year by year, the need of more convenient places of worship became apparent, and wherever settlers gathered sufficient in number to bear the expense a new church was formed. Allusion has already been made to the " new settlement over Munhan River." It was first named on the town records as the " Second Precinct," in 1739, but was not regularly incorporated till two years after- ward. When this occurred the remainder of the township became the First Precinct. The earliest record of a meeting of the First Precinct is dated Feb. 10, 1741-2. Col. John Stod- dard was chosen moderator ; the selectmen and assessors of the town were made assessors for the preeinet, and empowered to call preeinet-meetings. Samuel Mather was chosen clerk, and Ebenezer Pomroy treasurer. Parish business was trans- acted in the name of the First Precinct till September, 1753. Southampton being incorporated as a separate district in that year, the precinct organization disappeared, the town again became the parish, and so continued till the establishment of the Second Congregational (Unitarian) Society, in 1826.

When the Second Precinct was set off, Rev. Jonathan Ed- wards was pastor of the First Congregational Church. The principal parochial business then, as well as at the present time, was to vote and raise supplies for the ministry and care of the meeting-house. The bitter controversy with the pastor that soon after occurred, however, brought in a new element, and its frequent meetings were enlivened with earnest and animated discussions. It appears that at this time no perma- nent salary for the minister had been decided upon; the amount was subject to the yearly vote of the parish. For many years £350 (old tenor), the improvement of one-half the sequestered land, and firewood was regularly voted. The price of wood per load was fixed upon by the meeting, and a committee appointed to see that the wood was furnished, and to "estimate the loads in proportion to the price fixed upon for an ordinary load." The price of wood varied from year to year, increasing from 12s. in 1743 to 25s. in 1748. During this period Mr. Edwards endeavored to obtain from the parish a fixed and permanent salary, presenting his petition each year, but without effect. There was difficulty nearly every year relative to firewood, the price per load in many instances having been increased before the required amount was fur- nished. In 1746 a vote was passed to give him eighty loads, at 18s. per load. The fluctuating and uncertain value of the bills of credit in which the salary was paid, the constantly increasing price of all necessaries of life, rendered impera- tive an augmentation of salary, and in 1746 an addition of £150 was granted. The next year the precinct voted to estab- lish a permanent salary, appointed a committee to confer with Mr. Edwards, and gave him £600, the use of parish-land, and firewood for that year. The salary mutually agreed upon and adopted in 1748 included the improvement of the sequestered land, £150 for firewood when the price per load should be 25s., and more or less in proportion as the price varied from year to year, and £700 in bills of public eredit (old tenor). The value of the bills of credit was based on the price of wheat, rye, Indian corn, pork, and beef. Wheat was rated at 30s. per bushel, rye at 20s., corn at 12s., pork at 2s. per pound, and " beaf" at 12d. per pound. In case of change of price in these articles, it was provided that there should be a proportionate increase or diminution of salary. "For in-

stance, if each of those five articles should rise in their price one-eighth, that then an eighth be added to the £700; and if two of them should rise one-quarter and one rise one-eighth, and the other two remain at the same price, that then there should be an addition of one-eighth to the £700; and so if the price of those necessaries should be lowered in like manner, that the sum be lowered in like proportion." This amount was to be paid to Mr. Edwards annually, so long as he con- tinued " in the ministry amongst them."

For some years the influence of Mr. Edwards had been sen- sibly declining, and the causes which eventually led to his dis- missal were already at work when the above liberal salary was granted. An unfortunate attempt on the part of the pastor to correct certain alleged immoralities among the youth of the congregation, in which he was not seconded by the church, eventually estranged him from his people. Emboldened by the lukewarmness of their parents, the young, losing all rever- enee for sacred things, behaved so " irreverently and disor- derly" on the Sabbath that in 1748 it became necessary to appoint a special committee to "inspect the behavior of the "young people and children in the time of public worship," with instructions to prosecute those who were above sixteen years of age before a justice of the peace, and all under that age who did not behave were to be set before the deacon's seat as a publie example. About this time Mr. Edwards an- nounced his views on the qualifications for church member- ship, and, soon after, his book on that subject appeared. These sentiments were contrary to the practice of this church, and not in accordance with the usage of the churches in this re- gion. Consequently, there was great excitement throughout the town. Many demanded the immediate dissolution of the pastoral relation, and little inclination was manifested to aseer- tain or thoroughly understand his principles. From March, 1748, to May, 1750, twenty-two precinet-meetings are recorded in which the questions in agitation between pastor and people were under discussion. Finally both parties agreed to call a mutual council, and at the May meeting it was voted to pay the expense of the ecclesiastical council and authorize the church committee to procure at the charge of the precinct a minister or layman to assist them " in the managing the cause on the part of the Brethren of the church before said Council." In November following it was voted " That Dan Shelden be allowed thirty pounds, old Tent, and as much more as he de- serves, for his extraordinary service by ringing ye Bell for church-meetings and extraordinary Parish meetings, and any extraordinary sweeping occasioned by such extraordinary meetings."

Three years elapsed after Mr. Edwards was dismissed before another minister was settled. The disagreement was too great to be readily adjusted, and members of both church and parish speedily showed their dissatisfaction with the result of the council. It became so marked that the precinct finally voted not to procure a candidate till measures had been taken by the church to settle the difficulties " with those who call themselves the aggrieved brethren." A vote was also passed desiring the church to appoint a committee to receive "the papers called the church's remonstrance" and give the dissat- isfied persons a hearing. A settlement was early agreed upon, for within two months both church and precinet united in an invitation to the Rev. Daniel Farrand, of Canaan, Conn. Mr. Farrand had already preached for some time, and seems to have given good satisfaction. He declined, however, and the next year Rev. Judah Champion received a call to the pastor- ate, but did not accept. As has already been stated, precinet and town were again merged when Southampton was incorpo- rated. The last precinet-meeting was held Jan. 18, 1753, and the final record of business was an invitation to Mr. Cham- pion.

The meeting-house was struck by lightning in 1751, and the belfry, steeple, and weathercock injured. The damage was re-

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paired at a cost of about £10, and a new weathercoek pro- cured.

REV. JONATHAN EDWARDS was born at East Windsor, Conn., Oct. 5, 1703. His father, Rev. Timothy Edwards, was for sixty-four years pastor of the Congregational Church at that place. His mother, Esther Stoddard, was a daughter of Rev. Solomon Stoddard. The families of Edwards and Stoddard were both of English descent, and both " distinguished for several generations for piety, intellectual vigor, and com- manding influence in their respective spheres of duty." Rev. Timothy Edwards was noted for eminent piety, commanding talent, and as a finished scholar. The historian gives Esther Stoddard a character above that of ordinary women of her time. She was noted for her piety, distinguished for her strength of mind, of superior education, and fond of reading. Jonathan Edwards was the fifth of eleven children, and an only son. Each of his sisters, it is said, was six feet in stature ; hence the statement of a distinguished divine, who married one of them, that he was allied to a family in which there were " sixty feet of daughters." Under the direction of his father, young Edwards commenced the study of Latin at the age of six years. Ile was early habituated to the use of the pen, tanght to study with it in his hand, and continued the prac- tice throughout life. At the age of thirteen he entered Yale College, graduating at seventeen, when he received not only the first, but almost the sole and accumulated, honors awarded to the class. His first religious impressions occurred about the eighth year of his age. In the latter part of his collegiate course these impressions were strengthened, and from that time he dated the commencement of his religious life.

After graduation he spent two years diligently prosecuting his theological studies. In 1722, a few months before the com- pletion of his nineteenth year, he was licensed to preach, and for a few months presided over a small Presbyterian Church in New York City. About this time he formed a number of resolutions for the government of his own heart and life. They were seventy in number, and were all committed to paper before he was twenty years of age. Ever afterward he made it a point to read them over once each day. In 1723 he obtained the degree of master of arts, and was at the same time elected tutor in Yale College. About this time he re- ceived several invitations to settle as pastor, but declined them all. In June, 1724, Mr. Edwards commenced his tutorship. Having discharged the duties of this office about two years, he received, in 1726, a pressing invitation to become colleague pastor with his grandfather Stoddard in this town. On the 15th of February, 1727, in the 24th year of his age, he was ordained to the work of the gospel ministry, and installed as co-pastor of the church here. He applied himself to the duties of his charge with seriousness and diligence, and won the esteem and regard of all. At this time his habit was, when in ordinary health, to spend thirteen hours every day in his study. His favorite exercise was horseback-riding, always carrying pen and paper, and often dismounting to write down thoughts that suggested themselves.

When Mr. Edwards was settled the town voted to give him ten acres of land for a pasture and forty acres in Munhan meadow ; also £300 to buy a homestead, and, if that was not enough, to increase the amount. A salary of £100 a year was voted, with a promise of more if needed. Afterward, when Mr. Edwards purchased a house and lot, £80 more were added. The ten acres of pasture-land were set off on Slow (Slough) Ilill. llis salary was increased from time to time until it reached £350, remaining at that figure for some years, and was permanently fixed by vote of the First Precinct, as already narrated.

On the 28th of July, 1727, Mr. Edwards married Miss Sarah Pierrepont, daughter of Rev. James Pierrepont, pastor of a church in New Haven. MIrs. Edwards was a most remarka- ble woman. With an intellect of more than common bril-

liancy, cultivated and enlightened hy an education the best the country afforded, fervent in piety, and possessing an un- common share of prudence, dignity, and polish, she adorned and honored the position in which her union with Mr. Edwards placed her. She was a woman of more than ordinary beauty, and of great firmness and energy of character. Soon after her marriage she took upon herself the whole management of the farin, as well as the more domestic duties of the family.

In February, 1729, his venerable colleague, Mr. Stoddard, died, and the whole care of the large congregation devolved upon the youthful pastor. Such was his fidelity and success that in 1733, '34, and '35 the town was favored with a revival of religion so extensive and powerful as to constitute a mem- orable era in the history of the church. At the request of eminent English divines, Mr. Edwards prepared an account of the work of grace here, which was published in England, and in 1738 re-issued in Boston, in connection with five of his dis- courses preached during the revival.

The history of the ministry of Mr. Edwards in this place abounds in instances of the outpouring of the grace of God, which, abundantly interesting though they are, cannot be con- densed within the limits assigned to this sketch. He co-oper- ated with Whitefield, inviting him to preach in Northampton, and contracted a friendship with this celebrated man that con- tinued through life. During this time he became acquainted with David Brainerd, the missionary, assisted him with counsel, ministered to his necessities, and finally closed his eyes in death under his own roof. He afterward published an extended memoir of that devoted man.

Until the year 1744, Mr. Edwards seems to have retained a firm hold upon the confidence and affections of his people. During that year were sown the seeds that ripened into the open hostility that finally led to his dismissal. He learned that a number of the younger members of his church had in their possession licentious books, which they were using for immoral purposes. Satisfied of the fact, he prepared and de- livered a sermon against the sin. After service he laid the matter before the church, which voted to investigate the sub- ject, and appointed a committee to co-operate with the pastor in making the inquiry. Mr. Edwards then read to the church a list of the names of such as he desired should meet the com- mittee, and when it was found that the youth of many of the most respectable families in the place were implicated, the cur- rent of public opinion changed, and the matter was suffered to drop. Many of the young people were thus disaffected toward the pastor ; the parents sympathized ; church disci- pline was openly set at defiance ; and the after-ministry of Mr. Edwards was attended with but little success. This unhappy difference was soon followed by another. It had become cus- tomary for all persons not scandalous in life to join the church ; not to be a communicant was a public stigma, and church membership came to be considered an indispensable qualification for civil office. Mr. Stoddard taught that the Lord's Supper was designed to be a converting ordinance, and that genuine piety was not necessary in order to approach it. Mr. Edwards acquiesced in this doctrine because he found it adopted and in practice, not from belief in its truth. He always doubted it, and in 1749 published a work setting forth his views in opposition to it. This was made the ground of a most bitter and unrelenting controversy. Great efforts were made to prevent the circulation of the book. The precinct voted to apply to several clergymen to answer it, but without success. Mr Edwards proposed to speak upon the subject from his own pulpit, but his people would not allow it. Afterward, when he decided to discuss the question at issue in a series of weekly lectures, his society sent a committee, asking him to relinquish the project. He persisted, however, but the lectures were very thinly attended by his own people. Then followed the attempt on both sides to gather a council. Differences in regard to its composition prevented unity of action for some

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months, and it was not till the 22d of June, 1750, that the council met. This body decided by a majority of one that the pastoral relation ought to be dissevered, and accordingly it was dissolved.

He remained in town for some time after this action, and was occasionally invited to preach. The biographers of Presi- dent Edwards, however, state that the committee for supplying the pulpit, in consequence of the dissatisfaction manifested, called the town together for instructions, and a vote was passed that " it was not agreeable to their minds that he should preach among them !" The position of Mr. Edwards elicited great sympathy from churches and pastors on both sides of the At- lantic, and he received an invitation from Dr. Erskine to take charge of a church in Scotland, but declined. In May, 1751, a council was called to take into consideration the formation of a new church. This was done at the earnest solicitation of his friends, but in opposition to his own better judgment. The council decided against the formation of another church, in accordance with the views of Mr. Edwards, and advised him to leave Northampton. For the support of his large family of eight children Mr. Edwards was entirely dependent on his salary, which was the largest then paid by any congregation in New England, and his friends, both in this country and in Scotland, contributed toward his expenses.

In December, 1750, be received proposals from the church in Stockbridge, and about the same time the " commissioners at Boston," acting in the name of the London Missionary Society, offered to employ him as missionary among the llou- satonic Indians at the same place. Ile accepted both proposi- tions, and removed to Stockbridge in the spring of 1751. His labors here were arduous in the extreme. In June, 1754, he was seized with a severe fever which greatly enfeebled his constitution. Twice a week he preached to the white inhabit- ants of the town, once by an interpreter to the Indians, and acted also as instructor to the children. While residing in Stockbridge he published his most important works. In 1754 appeared his far-famed treatise "On the Freedom of the Will," and in 1758 that on " Original Sin."

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History of the Connecticut Valley in Massachusetts, with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers, Vol. I, Part 62

Author: L.H. Everts & Co Publication date: 1879 Publisher: Philadelphia : Louis H. Everts Number of Pages: 700

Author: L.H. Everts & Co
Publication date: 1879
Publisher: Philadelphia : Louis H. Everts
Number of Pages: 700