USA > Massachusetts > Suffolk County > Boston > History of the Old South church (Third church) Boston, 1669-1884, Vol. II > Part 6
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JOSEPH SEWALL.
Anthony Brackett, who joined the South Church January 21, 1727-8, and died in 1758, gave the church a chalice of which we show a cut. Mr. Brackett was the landlord of the Cromwell's Head, in School Street, a somewhat famous hostelry during the provincial period. Here George Washington lodged when, in 1756, he came for the first time to Boston, to confer with Gov- ernor Shirley upon business con- nected with the French war.
Jany. 1. 1759
The Brethren of the South Church and Congregation met (by adjournment) and after seeking to God by Prayer, for His Direction and Help under the great Breach He has made upon us in the death of our late Worthy Pastor, the Rev'd Mr. Thomas Prince ; by written votes chose the Revd Mr. Alexander Cumming, Mr. Joseph Jackson and Mr. Samuel Locke, to help our Pastor by preaching one part of the Lord's Day, each one for six weeks successively.
Voted, That there be allowed to said Persons, ten pounds O. T. pr. Sabbath, or I. 6. 8 L. M. for their Service. JOSEPH SEWALL.
Mr. Cumming was a native of Freehold, New Jersey: He received his academical training chiefly under the direction of his uncle, the Rev. Samuel Blair, of Fogg's Manor, Pennsylva- nia, a man greatly distinguished for his learning and piety, and he studied theology under the celebrated William Tennent. He had been colleague pastor of the First Presbyterian Church, New York,1 with the Rev. Mr. Pemberton, at this time pastor of departures from the authorized stand- ards of the church," but were acquitted by the Synod. They then resigned, and although urged to remain persisted in their resignation. Their pulpit was the only one in New York open to Mr. Whitefield on his first visit there.
1 This church consisted of Scotch Pres- byterians and Congregationalists from England and New England, and the two elements were more or less at variance with each other. Mr. Pemberton and Mr. Cumming sympathized rather with the latter than with the former. They were complained of by the stricter party in their congregation "for various minor
Before his settlement there, Mr. Cum- ming " labored much in Augusta County,
47
SUPPLIES FOR THE PULPIT.
the New Brick Church, Boston, at whose instance, no doubt, he was invited to come to the town. Mr. Jackson graduated at Harvard College in 1753. His family belonged to the South Church, and he became a member of it soon after leaving col- lege. Mr. Locke graduated at Harvard College in 1755, with John Wentworth, David Sewall, Tristram Dalton, and John Adams. He was settled at Sherburn, Massachusetts, November 7, 1759, and, soon after, married the daughter of his predeces- sor, the Rev. Samuel Porter. In December, 1769, he was called to the presidency of Harvard College as the successor of Mr. Holyoke. The Rev. Andrew Eliot, writing of him to Mr. Thomas Hollis, of Lincoln's Inn, said that he was a clergyman " of fine talents - a close thinker - having when at college the character of a first-rate scholar, - of an excellent spirit, and gen- erous, catholic sentiments - a friend to liberty - his greatest de- fect, a want of knowledge of the world, having lived in retire- ment, and perhaps not a general acquaintance with books." His administration at Cambridge was not a success, and at the end of four years he vacated the chair. President Quincy says : " His official relations are marked on the records of the semi- nary by no act indicating his influence or special agency, and for his resignation, which was sudden and voluntary, they assign no motive, and express no regret." 1
Jany. 7. 1759. The Brethren stayed and Voted, that the same Per- sons be the Church Committee for this Year whose names are men- tioned above. [See December 25, 1757.] JOSEPH SEWALL.
At a Meeting of the Brethren of the Church and Congregation, June 5, 1759.
Voted ; I. That there be a Committee to provide for further Help for one part of the day the three next Sabbaths.
2. That the Deacons of the Church, with Mr. David Jeffries, Mr. William Phillips and Mr. Thomas Cushing be of this Committee.
3. That there be allowed for the service ten Pounds O. T. or I. 6. 8. L. M.
Virginia, and in North Carolina, and was the first of our ministers who preached in Tennessee." - Webster's Hist. of the Presby. Ch. p. 243.
1 Mr. Locke returned to Sherburn, and died there in 1778, at the age of forty-seven. The Hon. John Welles, who had been his pupil, said of him that he was the most learned man in America ;
and President John Adams told the Rev. John Pierce, of Brookline, that he considered him the best scholar in his class, with the exception of Moses Hem- menway, and that he excelled in prayer all with whom he had been acquainted. See Genealogy of the Locke Family. Mr. Locke received the degree of S. T. D. from Harvard College in 1773.
48
HISTORY OF THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH.
4. That one be chosen to collect the sums assign'd to the Pews of such as have been deficient in their Contributions : And that five pr. ct. be allow'd him for his labour: To stand till further Order.
Upon counting the Votes it appear'd that Mr. Josiah Torrey was unanimously chosen to this service.
5. That the Committee appointed to Audit the Deacons Accounts May 18. 1756, be desir'd to attend that service till June current, and make their Report as soon as may be. J. SEWALL.
At a Meeting of the Brethren of the Church and Congregation June 26 1759, by adjournment.
Voted, That the Rev'd Mr. Nathaniel Potter, who, we understand is dismiss'd from his Pastoral Relation to the Church of Christ in Brook- line, be desired to help our Pastor six Lords Days after the two next Sabbaths : And that there be allow'd him for his service ten pounds o. Tenour, each sabbath.
2. That the Committee appointed June 5. be continued, and that they be desir'd to acquaint Mr. Potter with the above Vote ; and also to provide help for the public Fast this Week, and for the two next Sabbaths: And that the reward above mentioned, be given to the Ministers who shall help us.
3. That with God's leave we purpose to observe this Day fortnight which will be July 10. next as a Day of Prayer with fasting, to hum- ble ourselves under the afflictive Hand of God, in removing from us by death our late worthy Pastor the Revd Mr. Prince; and to ask God's gracious Presence and Direction under our present bereaved Circumstances.
JOSEPH SEWALL.
N. B. The Day of Prayer was accordingly observ'd July 10. 1759.
Mr. Potter had been settled at Brookline less than four years. From the records of that town it would seem that there was a serious misunderstanding between him and his parishioners upon money matters ; 1 and probably there were other causes of trouble. In the spring of 1758 he wished to join the expedition against Canada, but the town voted against his doing so. He was a very young man ; and having been born and educated beyond the limits of New England, he may have been unable to adapt himself to the circumstances in which he found him-
1 When Mr. Potter was installed he received £133. 6. 8 as settlement money, and his annual stipend was to be £80. with sixteen cords of wood. At a town meeting in 1759, he asked for an addition of £26. 13. 4. and six cords of wood. The town refused to grant the money, but proposed to make the annual supply
of wood twenty cords, and to give him four contributions in the year. This proposition Mr. Potter promptly de- clined, and sent in his resignation, which was accepted by the town June 13, and by the church on the following Lord's Day evening, June 17. He was suc- ceeded by the Rev. Joseph Jackson.
49
PULPIT SUPPLIES.
self. That there was nothing radically wrong about him is evi- dent from his being invited by those who must have known all the facts in the case to supply their pulpit for a series of Sun- days, which, of course, involved the possibility at least of a per- manent settlement.1
At a Meeting of the Brethren Aug't. 19. 1759.
Voted, That Mr. William Adams be desir'd to help our Pastor by Preaching six next Sabbaths, and the Allowance above mention'd be continued.
J. SEWALL.
If we are right in our identification of the gentleman here referred to, he was a descendant of the Rev. William Adams, of Dedham, and a son of the Rev. Eliphalet Adams (Harvard College, 1694), for forty-three years minister of New London, Connecticut. He graduated at Yale College in 1730; he sup- plied various pulpits in Connecticut from time to time, but was never settled or ordained.2
At a Meeting of the Brethren of the Church and Congregation Octr. 22. 1759.
Voted that one be first chosen to preach as an assistant to our Pastor for four months. Upon counting the votes it appear'd that Mr. Joseph Jackson was chosen.
Then the Rev'd Mr. Alexander Cumming was also chosen by writ- ten votes to preach four months more as an Assistant to our Pastor.
The Pastor wrote to Them and, signified that the Reward above mention'd was Voted.
JOSEPH SEWALL.
From this record it would seem that Mr. Jackson stood first in the preferences of the church; but he accepted a call from Brookline, as successor to Mr. Potter, and he was installed there April 9, 1760.3 The choice of the South Church, as we shall see, finally fell upon Mr. Cumming.
1 From a newspaper correspondence to which we shall shortly refer more par- ticularly, we judge that when the Fast was held in July, 1759, the church had serious thoughts of calling Mr. Potter. An anonymous writer in the Boston Ga- zette, in March, 1761, speaking of this fast, said : "It was, I am told, near two years ago. when that church were on the point of choosing the famous, and very orthodox Mr. Potter for their pastor, and preparatory to that."
Mr. Potter died in 1768, aged about thirty-five.
2 President Stiles described him as leading " a retired philosophic life." His name appears among the subscribers to Prince's Chronological History.
3 At the ordination, Mr. Cooper preached the sermon; Mr. Pemberton prayed ; Mr. Appleton gave the charge, and Mr. Checkley the right hand of fel- lowship. Mr. Checkley died soon after this occasion. His son, of the same name, minister of the Old North Church, died in 1768. Mr. Jackson was to receive the same salary as Mr. Potter, {So. per annum, with twenty cords of wood, and
50
HISTORY OF THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH.
Thursday, the 25th of October, was observed as a day of general thanksgiving for the reduction of Quebec. The news had been received in Boston with great enthusiasm, and the public manifestations of joy included the burning of much gun- powder, and bonfires on Copps and Fort Hills.
On the 14th of November "a fire occurred at Oliver's Dock, by which about fifteen families were rendered houseless. It be- gan a little to the southward of Oliver's Bridge, and extended to the lower end of Water and Milk Streets, to Hallowell's ship- yard. It continued to rage about two hours. Governor Pownall was present during the whole time, encouraging the people in their exertions against the flames, at the same time exhibiting much sympathy for the distressed." 1
Sunday, Nov. 18. Dr. Sewall preached an excellent Sermon on the uncertainty of Riches it being the Sabbath after a most terrible fire at the bottom of Milk Street, in which about twelve houses were con- sumed. (Fleet.)
Novr 18. 1759. Lord's Day, A. M. a Letter was read to the Con- gregation from the Select men of Boston, Proposing that there might be a Collection in the several Congregations through this Town for the Relief of the Sufferers in the late Fire, who need our charitable Help. Consented to - Collected P. M. £742. 8. 7 O. T.
The Brethren of the Church and Congregation were stayed, and Voted, That there be a collection for charitable and pious uses, on the Anniversary Thanksgiving Novr. 29. Instant; And that the Rest of the Congregation be notified the next Lords Day, and desir'd to as- sist in said Collection.
JOSEPH SEWALL.
Thanksgiving Novr. 29. 1759. Collected
For the Charitable Fund
£15. o. o
For Rev'd Mr. Campbel .
18.
0. 0
Mr. Brett
19. O. o
Mr. Crocker 4. IO.
W[idow] Bodman
I. 2. 6
For the Minister
18. 0. 0
75. 12. 6
At Large
209. 10. 0
Totall
four " contributions," guaranteed to be equal to £13. 6. 8. He died in 1796, and was succeeded by the Rev. John
285. 2. 6
Pierce, whose benignant face is remem- bered by many now living.
1 Drake's Hist. and Antiq., p. 648.
5I
THE FIRE OF 1760.
Dec. 9. 1759 Brethren met, and Voted ;
That the unappropriated part of the last Collection be dispos'd of to charitable and pious uses by the Pastor and Deacons of this Church, according to their best Discretion.
JOSEPH SEWALL.
At a Meeting of the Brethren of the Church and Congregation Decr. 23. 1759.
Voted, That an Answer be given to the Revd. Mr. Cumming's Letter, and that He be desired to make us the Visit propos'd in our Letter of 22 October last, as early as the season of the year will allow ; And that he be desir'd to send an answer as soon as may be.
JOSEPH SEWALL.
Lord's Day Jany 27. 1760
The Brethren of the Church stay'd, and Voted, That the Hon Thomas Hubbard Esq., Major Joseph Jackson, Mr. John Scollay, Mr. William Phillips and Mr. Samuel Kneeland be the Church-Committee for this year. JOSEPH SEWALL.
During the night of the 19th and 20th of March, the most ter- rible fire broke out that the town had ever known. Until then, the fire of October 2, 1711, had been called "the great fire," but this was a much greater calamity. William Cooper, the famous town clerk says, in a newspaper article written at the time : "It began about Two o'clock in the Morning in the Dwelling-House of Mrs. Mary Jackson and Son, at the Brazen-Head in Cornhill, but the Accident which occasioned it is yet uncertain. . . . From Pudding Lane [Devonshire Street] to the Water's Edge, there is not a Building to be seen, excepting those on the side of King Street, and those mention'd above, all being in Ashes. .. We have thus mark'd the Course of those Flames which in their Progress consumed near four hundred Dwelling Houses, Stores, Shops Shipping &c. together with Goods and mer- chandizes of almost every kind to an incredible Value ; - but it is not easy to describe the terrors of that fatal Morning, in which the Imaginations of the most calm and steady, received Impressions that will not easily be effaced." This calamity pressed heavily on the town, "exhausted " as it had been, says Mr. Cooper, "by the great Proportion this Town has borne of the extraordinary Expences of the War, and by a demand upon our Charity, to relieve a Number of Sufferers by a Fire not many Months past." The loss was estimated at from one to three hundred thousand pounds sterling. Two hundred families were burnt out, "three-quarters of whom," wrote Mr. Secretary
52
HISTORY OF THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH.
Oliver, " are by this misfortune rendered incapable of subsisting themselves, and a great number of them are reduced to extreme poverty, and require immediate relief." 1
We notice the names of the following members of the Old South congregation among the sufferers : Jonathan Mason, John Osborne, Daniel Henchman, Benjamin Salisbury, Andrew Oliver, Jr.,2 William Studley, Benjamin Hallowell, and Oliver Wiswall. All these lost buildings ; many more, of course, suffered from the destruction of property in other forms, but we have no rec- ord of their names. The congregation was ready to do its part, however, in response to the appeal of the governor, accompany- ing his proclamation for a General Fast.
At a Meeting of the Brethren of the Church and Congregation March 30. 1760. A. M.
Upon reading the Brief emitted by his Excellency, our Governour, earnestly recommending to our Christian compassion the distressed State of the Sufferers by the great Fire in Boston, 20. Instant,
Voted, that there be a Collection on the General Fast, next Thurs- day P. M. for the relief of such Sufferers as need our Charitable Help: said collection to be remitted to the Select Men and Overseers of the Poor of the Town of Boston, as the Brief directs ; And that the rest of the congregation be notified P. M. and desir'd to assist in said collection.
JOSEPH SEWALL.
Sunday March 20 [? 30.] Rev. Mr. Walley of Ipswich preached in the afternoon, he was a sufferer by the late fire, losing a dwelling house that was left him by his Father. (Fleet.)
General Fast [April] 3. 1760
Collected
1862. 9: 4
At a Meeting of the Brethren of the Church and Congregation, May 12. 1760.
Voted, That it is the Desire of this Society that a Colleague-Pastor may be settled among us. Then adjourned to next Wednesday, 10 aclock A. M. JOSEPH SEWALL.
At a Meeting of the Brethren of the Church May 12 1760
Whereas the Revd. Mr. A. Cumming has been Preaching with us eleven Sabbaths as an Assistant to our Rev'd Pastor, at the desire of
1 See N. E. Hist. and Gen. Register, age of goods; he accounted his loss vol. xxxiv. pp. 288-293.
2 " March 19th. A great fire at Boston consumed near 200 houses, and. damage computed [at] {100.000 sterling. My son Oliver lost his house and with dam-
£10,000. but thro' God's goodness no lives lost. For this, contributions in this and neighbouring Governments, and in England." (Lynde.) Andrew Oliver, Jr., married Mary Lynde May 28, 1752.
53
THE REV. ALEXANDER CUMMING.
the Brethren of the Church and Congregation, and said Brethren have desired that a Colleague Pastor may be settled among us : Voted Unanimously,
That said Mr. Cumming be desir'd further to Preach with us for one month with a view to his settlement.
Then Voted, That the Hon John Osborne, Samuel Welles, Andrew Oliver Esqrs. Messrs. Benjamin Pemberton, Isaac Walker, David Jeffries, John Scollay and William Phillips, be a Committee to deliver this message to Mr. Cumming.
Return - That his affairs will not suffer him to tarry.
Adjourned to next Wednesday 8 aclock A. M.
At a Meeting of the Brethren of the South Church in Boston, May 14 1760.
After Prayer to God, (as usual)
Voted, that it is the mind of the church to proceed to the choice of a Colleague-Pastor at this time.
Voted, (by written votes) That the Rev. Mr. Alexander Cumming be chosen Colleague-Pastor with the Rev. Dr. Sewall. There was a great majority.
Then Voted that this choice which the Church have made, be laid before the Brethren of the Congregation for their concurrence :
The Congregation met (i. e. the Brethren of the Church and Con- gregation united) and by a very general Vote of hand concurr'd with the Choice which the Church had made of the Rev'd Mr. Cumming.
The Committee appointed by the Church to deliver these votes to the Rev'd Mr. Cumming were, the Pastor of the Church, the Hon. Samuel Welles, Deacon Simpson, Messrs. Benjamin Pemberton,1 Samuel Bass and Thomas Cushing.
The Committee of the Congregation, the Hon. Joseph Pynchon,2
1 [Benjamin Pemberton was appointed naval officer in 1734. His first wife was a daughter of Adam Winthrop. His sec- ond wife, Susanna, was a sister of George Bethune. The Rev. Dr. Gray said : "The third or Jamaica Plain Parish in Roxbury had its origin in the piety of an amiable female. I refer to Mrs. Su- sanna, wife of Benjamin Pemberton."]
2 [Mary, "the virtuous and amiable consort of the Hon. Joseph Pynchon," died June 26, 1765, aged forty-eight. Mr. Pynchon died October 27, in the same year, aged sixty-one. Their daughter, Mary, married, July, 1774, the Rev. An- drew Eliot, of Fairfield, Conn., a son of the Rev. Andrew Eliot, of Boston.
Benjamin Dolbeare owned the cov-
enant February 21, 1741-2. A month later, March 21, his son Benjamin was baptized. This son graduated at Cam- bridge in 1763, and went to England in 1766. The Rev. Andrew Eliot sent a letter by him to Thomas Hollis, in which he was described as "a modest young gentleman, educated at Harvard College, but who chose to enter into business, rather than to follow his studies." On the return voyage from London to Bos- ton, in the spring of 1767, in the packet ship Pratt, Capt. Jonathan Freeman, he was lost overboard. A stone has re- cently been uncovered on the building 16 and 17 Dock Square, with the inscrip- tion " Rebuilt 1746 by B. Dolbeare."
Mr. Dolbeare's first wife, Hannah,
54
HISTORY OF THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH.
Francis Borland, Joshua Winslow Esqrs Messrs. Benjamin Dolbeare, Nathaniel Greenwood, Stephen Boutineau, and James Otis Esq.
The Committees waited on Mr. Cumming. The Pastor was desir'd to supply the Pulpit, and the reward before given was allowed for further Help ; viz £10. O. T. pr. Sabbath. JOSEPH SEWALL.
The church had made no great haste in fixing its choice upon Mr. Cumming, and he was equally deliberate in sending his reply, which was not given to the congregation until the follow- ing December. The state of his health may have had some- thing to do with this delay. He was not installed until Feb- ruary 25 ; but he seems to have supplied the pulpit after the 14th of November, from which date his salary began.
Novr. 16 1760. The Brethren of the Church and Congregation stayed, and
Voted there be a collection for Charitable and pious uses on the Anniversary Thanksgiving Novr. 27. Instant : And that the Rest of the Congregation be notified the next Lords Day, and desir'd to assist in said Collection. JOSEPH SEWALL.
Thanksgiving, Novr. 27. 1760.
Collected, o. Tenour 280. 8. 6
At large
Appropriated .
15. I. 6
295. IO. 0
Novr. 30. The Brethren of the Church and Congregation stayed, and Voted, that the unappropriated Part of the last Collection be dis- pos'd of to charitable and pious uses by the Pastors and Deacons of this Church, according to their best Discretion. JOSEPH SEWALL.
The Rev. Mr. Cumming's Answer, accepting the Call of this Church, was read before the Congregation, Decr. 7. 1760.
At a church Meeting Febry 3. 1761.
After Prayer to God, The Rev. Mr. Cumming's Dismission, and Testimonials were read. He was sent for, and exhibited the Con- fession of Faith consented to by the Elders and Messengers of the Churches conven'd May 12 1680, as a summary of Christian Doctrine which he apprehended was agreeable to the Holy Scriptures; and that would make no Alteration in our Church Discipline.
died in 1771 ; his second wife and widow, Elizabeth, in 1789.
Stephen Boutineau was a merchant, and a prominent member of the Hugue- not community in Boston. He had been elder in the French Church in School
Street, which was dissolved about the year 1748. The News-Letter records his death on the 16th of May, 1761, in the eighty-fifth year of his age. For an ac- count of the French Protestants in Bos- ton, see Mem. Hist., vol. ii. pp. 249-268.]
55
CHURCH AND SOCIETY ARRANGEMENTS.
Voted, That the Day for his Instalment be God willing on the 25th of this Instant, February.
Voted, That these Churches be sent to ; viz : the old Church, the North Church, the Church in Brattle Street, the new North, the new South, the Rev. Mr. Pemberton's, Mr. Mather's Mr. Byles's Churches in this town ; And the first Church in Cambridge : And that these Churches be desir'd to Assist by their Elders and Messengers, at the Instalment.
Voted, That our Pastor be desir'd to give the Charge.
And that the Elders and Messengers be desir'd to meet at the Pastor's House by half after nine, A. M.
Voted, That the Brethren of the Church sit together in the Front Gallerys ; And that such of our Brethren as constantly sit down with us at the Lords-Table be desir'd to sit with them.
At a Meeting of the Brethren of the Church and Congregation, Feby. 9. 1761.
After Prayer as usual,
Voted, That there be an Entertainment, provided for the Rev'd Elders and Messengers that shall convene on the Day of the Instal- ment ; and that other Ministers who shall attend that Solemnity be also invited.
Voted, That the expence of said Entertainment be taken out of the Society's monies which are in the Hands of the Deacons.
Voted, That the Deacons, with the Hon John Osborne, Mr. Isaac Walker, Mr. Ezekiel Lewis, Major Symmes, Mr. Henderson Inches, Mr. Benjamin Dolbear, Mr. John Hunt, Joshua Winslow Esq. and Mr. Thomas Fairweather, be a committee to make Provision for said Entertainment.
Voted, That Mr. Cumming's salary be made equal to our Present Pastor's, viz : £2. 13. 4 L. M. pr week, from his return to us on 14. Novr. last ; to be continued till further order.
Voted, That there be an allowance of six pounds L. M. to Mr. Cumming, for expence in wood hitherto; and that for the future, his wood be provided for him by the Deacons.
Voted, That there be a Committee to Audit the Deacons accounts : And that the Hon Andrew Oliver, Mr. Isaac Walker,1 and Joshua Winslow Esq. be of this Committee.
Pending the preparations for the installation of Mr. Cum- ming, two attendants upon Dr. Sewall's ministry were called by
1 [" Thursday Evening last [8th] de- parted this Life of a Parylitic Disorder, after Two Days Illness, Mr. Isaac Walker of this Town Merchant, in the 58th Year of his Age, who for several Years past has gone thro' the Office of an Overseer
of the Poor of this Town to the universal Approbation of its Inhabitants." - News Letter, April 15, 1762. Mr. William Whitwell of the South Church was cho- sen Overseer of the Poor in Mr. Walker's place.]
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