USA > Massachusetts > Suffolk County > Boston > History of the Old South church (Third church) Boston, 1669-1884, Vol. III > Part 25
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John Cunnabell, who joined the church in 1689, was a mem- ber of Captain William Turner's company. He assisted in the defence of Northampton, March 14, and he was at the fight near Hatfield a few weeks later, when Captain Turner fell.
While so many of the able-bodied men of the church were exposed to peril in the field, we have reason to believe that the older men and the women were doing their part at home. The Narrative of Mrs. Rowlandson, of Lancaster, who was taken prisoner when that village was sacked by Philip, February 10, 1676 (her husband, the minister of the town, being absent at the time), and ransomed after nearly three months of frightful suf- fering, on the 2d of May, tells us of their Christian sympathy and liberality : -
The twenty pounds, the price of my redemption, was raised by some Boston gentlewomen and Mr. Usher, whose bounty and charity I would not forget to make mention of.
1 We read of Mr. Andrew Belcher, an enterprising merchant, and a promi- nent member of the Third Church a few years later, going with a sloop to the Narragansett country in the winter of 1675-76, laden with supplies, "without
which there must have been great suffer- ing."
2 See an interesting and valuable series of papers on Soldiers in King Philip's War, by the Rev. George M. Bodge, in the N. Eng. Hist. and Gen. Register.
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HISTORY OF THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH.
Our family being now gathered together, the South Church in Bos- ton hired a house for us. Then we removed from Mr. Shepard's, (those cordial friends,) and went to Boston where we continued about three-quarters of a year. Still the Lord went along with us, and pro- vided graciously for us.
" There is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.". Truly have we found him to be such a friend to us in whose house we lived, viz. Mr. James Whitcomb, a friend near hand and far off.1
After the death of Philip, hostilities broke out in another quarter. A letter from Mr. Thacher to his son Peter, afterward minister of Milton, who had gone to England on a visit, throws some light on these troublous times : 2 ___
BOSTON. 16. 8. 76.
MY DEAR SONNE PETER,
I have received foure letters from you, whereby I have joyfully and I hope thankfully taken notice of the kindnesse of God in your com- . fortable voyage to and kind reception in England by our freinds ; which hath enlarged my desires to hear farther from you. I hope also that you have long ere this received mine to you. At present you may understand that God hath utterly scattered, delivered up and subdued the heathen that first rose up against us, delivered up Philip to death, cleared the Costs of Plimmouth, Narranganset, Connecticut, Quabaag &c. from those bloody and blasphemous heathen ; But behold a new Enemy is broken out to the East and Northward who have layd wast the Country &c. Slaine my good freind Captain Lake and many others : and this very day past wofull Tidings is come of the taking in by surrender Mr. Scotto's garrison at Stony-point, he being but the last week come from the Same to Boston and leaving Squire Joslin, as they call him, cheif commander ; what the particular circumstances ar is not yet certeine amongst us ; but this is certeine the place is taken, The garison strong, two great peices there and many Small armes and good store of provisions. Such a spirit of fear and cowardice is poured out on the inhabitants of those parts that it is exceeding om- inous. the Indians carry all before them by sea and land, on the maine and on the Islands in Casco. have taken severall vessells, one with two great guns in it &c. This part of the warre is like to be the more
1 [See A True History of the Captivity and Restoration of Mrs. Mary Rowland- son. Her daughter, six years old, was struck by a bullet, in her mother's arms, and died after nine days of suffering from exposure and want of food on the march. Mr. Rowlandson was a member of the Second Council in 1669, and one of the signers of the judgment of May,
1674. In the Third Church Narrative his name is spelled Rawlinson and Row- leyson. See ante, pp. 62, 67.]
2 We are indebted to the Hon. Peter Thacher for a copy of this letter. It was superscribed : " These, For his Sonne, Mr. Peter Thacher, At Mr. Matthew Bar- ker's, at Turners-hall, Cor. Philpot Lane, London."
2II
LETTER FROM MR. THACHER.
difficult, because So far off from us : because so neer the French, who are reported to be amongst the Indians. This day it was said that there were twenty in the Exploit above signifyed ; But we have no certeinty of it, and foolish Jealosies may feigne that fear makes Scare- crows to affreight the fearfull. and the sluggard says a lyon is in the way. So may those fearfull persons think to hide their shame, by such suggestions. As for myself, I at present injoy a comfortable measure of health and strength : tho' laboring under some weaknes Gotten in my sickenesse. If you have not more than ordinary En- couragement and a most Evident call to stay in England I hope I shall see you here if the Lord lengthens our lives to the next Summer. The Lord guide your whole way and blesse you with all the blessings of his everlasting Covenant : and make you a blessing wherever you come that he may be your Portion. I had almost forgot to tell you that I received a letter from my brother Paul Thacher that lives in Salisbury certifying that my brother John dyd three yeer agoe very Poor. That my mother law's [sic] Sister one Mrs. Elizabeth Coombs widdow to Mr. Coombs, the great Anabaptist, is alive. She was a lively hearty Christian when I lived at Salisbury and I am confident would rejoice greatly to See you ; being an old freind of my father's. If you go thither I presume that you will find many old freinds that will rejoice much to see you. But I fear such [ruine ?] coming on England that I wish you here. To the g[racious father of our] Dear Jesus I [commend] you resting your and loving father,
THOMAS THACHER.
Your sister Betty is newly recovered blessed be God from a sore dysentery flux, which is malignant and hath taken away many. To B. D. your salutations were very acceptable. Your brother Thomas is not yet returned from New York, but is expected dayly. The Lord bring him in safety. Your brother Ralph and his family as also your brother Thomas's for ought I understand are all in health.
If you can, get Ames Medulla and cases in English for your brother Ralph, do it and forget it not. [Here follows a sentence in short- hand.1]
Once again I commend you to the grace and Benediction of God according to his everlasting covenant.
18. 8. 76.
This day came news to hand, that Mr. Joslin was deserted by those in the garrison whilst he was treating with the Indians. So that he and foure more men with three women were faine to flee in the night ;
1 [Mr. William P. Upham, who is very skilful in such matters, renders the sentence in short-hand as follows : " Also, in all your letters, to present your duty
to your [step]mother, and if there be anything you would not have her read, write it in Greek, and forget not your brothers."]
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HISTORY OF THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH.
one of the women dyd by the way ; they fled in old canoos to a place not far from Piscataqua ; so that Mr. Joslin was innocent in that mat- ter.1 Present my service to my brother and sister Barker and love to my Sonne and Daughter Sheaf.2 Her mother received great comfort in the letter she sent and doth vehemently long for their returne.
Mr. Hull mentions in his diary, in the spring of 1676, the death of several prominent men, among them two of the founders of the Third Church : April 5, Simon Willard, one of the first set- tlers of Concord, and father of the Rev. Samuel Willard, "a pious, orthodox man ; " he died at Charlestown, during a session of the court of assistants ; April 24, " our good friend and partner," Peter Lidget ; May 14, Hezekiah Usher, " a pious and useful mer- chant ; " 3 May 15, Richard Russell, magis- trate and county treasurer ; May 16, Joshua Atwater, whose granddaughter, Mary Clark, married the Rev. Ebenezer Pemberton; May 24, William Davis.
Samuel Sewall records a fast at the house of Mr. Benjamin Gibbs, "for Mr. Thacher," who was ill, May 23, 1676; he was better on the 24th, and on that day, Wednesday, the Rev. Sam- uel Willard preached the lecture for him, which we suppose to
1 [" Sabbath day, Aug. 20, [1676] we heard the amazing newes of sixty persons killed at Quinebeck, by barbarous In- dians, of which were Captain Lake, Mr. Collicot, Mr. Padashell. Dilati sunt in futurum."
"October 15. This day we have in -. telligence that the Garrison at Black- point is surrendered to the Indians. Note, Captain Scottow at home, here at Boston."
" March 13 [1676-7]. Captain Lake, the Remainder of his Corps, was hon- ourably buried."
" Captain Thomas Lake was, with sev- eral others, surprised and killed by the Indians on August 14, near a fort on Arow- sick Island, Maine, during the continu- ance of the war at the eastward. He had escaped to another island, and his fate was not known, nor his mangled body recovered, till many months after-
wards. His monument may be seen on Copp's Hill, where he was interred, though it is not decorated with the coat of arms shown in Bridgman's Inscrip- tions." See Sewall's Diary.]
2 [Perhaps Sampson Sheaffe and his wife Mehitable, daughter of Jacob Sheaffe and his wife Margaret, after- ward Mrs. Thacher.]
3 The Old South Church has a chalice which we suppose to have been the gift of Mr. Usher. It is eight inches in height, and has four marks: I, lion pas- sant ; 2, leopard's head, crowned; 3, date-letter, indistinct ; 4, maker's mark, M, mullet below, heart-shaped shield. It bears the inscription, The Gift of H. V. Senior. (See the above cut.)
The same maker's mark is found on London-made plate, 1659-1672. See Old Plate, Ecclesiastical, etc., by J. H. Buck, p. 174.
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213
SAMUEL SEWALL.
have been a lecture preparatory to the communion.1 Sewall says : "Being distressed with melancholy, and troubled con- cerning my state, I was relieved by Mr. Willard's sermon, espe- cially at two places quoted," namely, "I will show thee the path of life," and " Now unto him that is able to keep you from fall- ing," etc. Until now Mr. Thacher had had no assistance for any length of time in the duties of the pastorate, and no col- league had been settled because the church had been unable to obtain the right man for the position. The destruction of Gro- ton by the Indians and the dispersion of the church there sent an excellent minister, Mr. Willard, to Boston, and two years later, having preached more or less for the South Church, he was installed as its colleague pastor.
On the 28th of February, in the same year, Samuel Sewall married Hannah, only child of John Hull, and became a mem- ber of the South congregation. He speaks in his diary, to which we shall so often recur in this history, of the benefit he derived from Mr. Thacher's preaching, and, at length, of his desire to become a member of his church.
Jan. 22 1676-7. Went to Mr. Thachers, found him at home, mentioned my desire of communion with his Church, rehearsed to him some of my discouragements, as, continuance in Sin, wandering in prayer. He said 'twas thought that was the Sin Paul speaks of, Rom. vii. At my coming away said he thought I ought to be encour- aged.
March 19. Went to Mr. Thachers. He not within, so walkt with Capt. Scottow on the Change till about 5, then went again, yet he not come.2 At last came Elder Rainsford, after, Mr. Thacher, who took us up into his Chamber ; went to prayer, then told me I had liberty to tell what God had done for my soul. After I had spoken,
1 See Sewall's Diary, vol. i. p. 52.
2 [Evidently, Mr. Thacher lived near the Town House, the first floor of which was open and was used as an exchange. Sewall says in his Diary, October 12, 1691, - " training-day," - that he dined in the late Mr. Thacher's study, with Major Richards, Major-General Winthrop, Mr. Willard, Captain Scottow, and others, and that Major Richards had served his time in the house to Major Gibbons. We suppose, therefore, that this dinner took place in the house which had be- longed to Edward Gibbons, who died in 1652; it stood on the east side of what
is now Washington Street, on the corner opposite the foot of Cornhill and near Dock Square.
See Mass. Archives, vol. B xv. p. 163, for petition of Margaret Sheaffe to the General Court, in 1662, for a title to the house and land of Martha, widow of John Coggan (we suppose the Albion lot, on the corner of Tremont and Bea- con streets), for which Mrs. Sheaffe had paid the purchase-money to Mrs. Cog- gan before the latter, having been left by the Lord "to Sathan's temptations, which was too strong for her, made away with herself."]
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HISTORY OF THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH.
prayed again. Before I came away told him my Temptations to him alone, and bad him acquaint me if he knew anything by me that might hinder justly my coming into Church. He said he thought I ought to be encouraged, and that my stirring up to it was of God.
Friday, March 30. I, together with Gilbert Cole, was admitted into Mr. Thacher's Church, making a solemn covenant to take the Lord Jehovah for our God, and to walk in Brotherly Love and watch- fulness to Edification. Goodman Cole first spake, then I, then the Relations of the Women [Anne Gannet, Rebecca Hackett] were read : as we spake so were we admitted ; then alltogether covenanted. Prayed before, and after.1
In anticipation of the settlement of an associate minister with Mr. Thacher, the members of the Third Church, by the desire of Mrs. Norton, had enlarged her dwelling-house to make it available for the purposes of a parsonage, and it is possible that Dr. Hoar lived here for a time on his arrival from England. Mrs. Norton now executed a deed of the land upon which the addition to her house had been built, and this was her second deed to the Third Church.
To all Christian People to whome these presents shall come Mary Norton Relict Widdow and Executrix of the Last Will and testament of the late Reverend and her deare Husband Mr. John Norton Teacher of the ffirst Church of Christ in Boston in the County of Suffolke in the Collony of the Massathewets in New England send- eth greeting Know Ye that I the said Mary Norton for divers good causes and considerations me moveing thereunto Especially for and in Consideration of that Endeared affection that my Late Deare hus- band did beare unto his and my assured friends Capt. Thomas Sav- age Mr. Edward Rawson Mr. John Hull Mr. William Davis Mr. Hez- ekiah Usher Mr. Peter Oliver Mr. Joshua Scottow Mr. Edward Rayns- ford Mr. Richard Truesdaile and Mr. Jacob Elliott all of the said Boston in confidence of their faithfullness did on the first day of April 1669 give and grant unto the persons abovementioned a certain peece and parcell of my Orchard and Land to build them a meeting house upon and for the building of an house for the Ministry as in that Deed Refference thereunto being had : amply doth and may ap- peare : And in remembrance of their faithfull love to me since my said late deare husbands death and their Erecting a meeting house on the place and becoming a Church of Christ with whome I have held
1 See Sewall's Diary, vol. i. pp. 46, 47, for a statement of the doubts with which he was troubled in joining the church and in coming for the first time to the Lord's
table. " I have been exceedingly tor- mented in my mind, sometimes lest the Third church should not be in God's way in breaking off from the old," etc.
215
MRS. NORTON'S SECOND DEED.
communion ever since : And the Deacons of the said Church Looke- ing to and after the repaireing of my dwelling house wherein I live : Upon their invitation and comeing of the late Reverend Doctor Leonard Hoare, and for an habitation for a Minister on my desire and encouragement they have beene at the sole charge of that now ad- ditionall end or building of a Cellar and house over it Kitchen Hall Cambers [sic] and Garratts : having promised them to give them the Land on which they built with some priviledges thereunto In per- formance of which my faithfull promise Know all men that I the said Mary Norton Have absolutely clearely and fully given granted bar- gained sold aliened enfeoffed and confirmed, and by these presents Doe absolutely give grant bargain sell aliene enfeoffe and confirme unto them the said Thomas Savage Edward Rawson John Hull Joshua Scottow Edward Raynsford and Jacob Elliott yet alive and to such as they have associated unto them in Church ffellowship or shall be asso- ciated to them and to their heires and successors for ever for the Ends and purposes in the first abovementioned Deed of Aprill the first 1669 is fully and amply declaired Reference thereto being had may appeare all that peece of Land on which they built the said Addi- tionall Cellar Kitchen Hall Chambers garratts as it is adjoyned to the Easterly part of my now dwelling house being in breadth twenty two foot and in Length from my said house to the Gateway that goes into my Orchard with full and free liberty to them the said Thomas Sav- age Edward Rawson John Hull Joshua Scottow Edward Raynsford and Jacob Elliott their heires and associates as above said of ffree Egress and Regress up and down the stares on all their occasions into their Cellar and Chambers and Garratts : with free use of the Kitchen Cellar and Chimney for their washing and brewing from time to time : So as they Interfere not with the Brewing and washing dayes of such minister or ministers as shall inhabitt and dwell in that part of the dwelling house I now live in : With Liberty in and priviledge of the yard to Lay twenty Chords of wood in : And also to pass through both the yards at one End and at the other : and the orchard to the meeting house from time to time and at all times as they and their heires or successors shall or may have occasion To have and to hold the granted peece or parcell of Land with the house thereon Erected with the libertyes priviledges and appurtenances thereunto bounded and belonging as above Expressed for the Ends and uses of the min- istry that now is or from time to time shall be called by them the said Thomas Savage Edward Rawson John Hull Joshua Scottow Edward Raynsford and Jacob Elliott and such as now are associated to them : or shall be associated to that Church Society forever their heires and assignes for their publick worshiping of God : for the use of their min- isters or ministry orderly chosen by the said Society being the third Church of Christ in Boston from time to time and at all times for ever
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HISTORY OF THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH.
And I the said Mary Norton sole Executrix of my late Reverend Deare husband John Nortons Last will and Testament for me my heires Ex- ecutors and Administrators doe Covenant promise and grant to and with the said Thomas Savage Edward Rawson John Hull Joshua Scot- tow Edward Raynsford and Jacob Elliott their and every of their heires and successors members of the said Society : by these presents that I the said Mary Norton now am and at the Ensealing hereof stand and be the true and proper owner of the above granted premisses and that I have good Right full power and Lawfull authority to give grant bar- gaine and confirme the same unto the said Thomas Savage Edward Rawson John Hull Joshua Scottow Edward Raynsford and Jacob Elliott and Company which they shall associate to them selves and their successors and heires forever And that the said Thomas Sav- age Edward Rawson John Hull Joshua Scottow Edward Raynsford and Jacob Elliott and their Company which now are or they shall associate to them selves shall and may at all times for ever hereafter have hold possess and enjoy all the above given and granted premisses to the use and uses intents and purposes as above is Expressed without the Least Lett denyall or contradiction of me the said Mary Norton my heires Executors administrators or assignes or by any other person or persons whatsoever having claimeing or pretending to have or claime any title Right or interest therein or by from or under my late Reverend and Deare Husband Mr. John Norton deceased or either of our heires Executors administrators or assignes In Witness whereof I the said Mary Norton have hereunto set my hand and seale the thirtieth day of June in the yeare of our Lord one thousand six hundred seventy and seven and in the twenty ninth year of his Majesties Reigne
MARY NORTON [Seal]
Signed Sealed and delivered in the presence of us the grantees being al- ready in possession of the above granted premisses
JNO HUBBARD JOHN HAYWARD Scr
This Instrument was acknowledged by Mrs. Mary Norton to be her act and deed this 30th of June 1677 before mee SIMON BRADSTREET Assist BOSTON Jany 13th 1804 Received and Entered with Suffolk Deeds Lib 207 folº 241
per WM ALLINE Regr.
In the summer of 1677, the good people of Massachusetts suffered from one of those incursions which it was more diffi-
217
THE QUAKERS.
cult to know how to deal with and successfully to resist than any Indian raids against which they had to defend themselves. The savages who came stealthily upon peaceful villages and helpless women and children, with torch and tomahawk, could be met only in one way. There must be war. There was no question that force must be used, until the leaders in the cruel assaults were vanquished and slain, and their followers intimi- dated if not pacified. But the come-outers, the Quakers, who now again invaded the colony, disturbed the public peace, and testified, not in season, but out of season, against the established institutions both of government and religion, against both magis- trates and ministers, railing at them in the streets and denoun- cing them in the meeting-houses, - how could they be silenced and suppressed ? They prophesied in the name of the Lord ; they claimed to be the followers of Jesus Christ ; many of them were women. They would not listen to reason ; they would not yield to entreaty. There could be no rest for the colonists, as it seemed, while they remained among them ; there was nothing to be done, therefore, but to expel them. When they came back, as they did again and again, it is not strange that they were treated as brawlers, enemies to the peace of the people, and outlaws, and that they received in their persons the penal- ties inflicted at the time upon both sides of the ocean on such offenders.1
Dr. Ellis, in the Puritan Age, has brought to light a petition to the General Court in the autumn of 1658, signed by twenty- five of the leading men of Boston, against the Quakers as " pro-
1 It is very difficult for us to recognize in the amiable and peace-loving Friends of the present century the historical de- scendants of these troublesome people. Whatever they may themselves say, in their steadfast loyalty to their fathers, they certainly are not of the same spirit. How different the methods of the Gur- neys, Frys, Sturges, and Whittiers, in pro- testing against and denouncing the enor- mities of negro slavery, from those of the men and women who, in the seven- teenth century, set themselves against law and order, and defied the authorities in both church and state ; and how dif- ferent, also, the results ! We think there is an unconscious recognition of this difference on the part of Whittier, in these lines from The King's Missive;
" With its gentler mission of peace and good-will, The thought of the Quaker is living still."
In a Boston pamphlet in the Prince Library, " Printed for the Public Good, 1741," in defence of the " Manufactory Undertaking," and of the paper money which the chartered company was author- ized to issue, it is said (p. 28) : “ Num- bers of the People called Quakers or Friends, noted for their Honesty, In- dustry and good Order, are Partners in this Scheme, and many others (not Part- ners) in Heart and Practice favour it."
This is testimony not only to the "good order" which characterized the Friends in Boston in the eighteenth cen- tury, but also to the appreciation of their valuable qualities by the community in the midst of which they lived.
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HISTORY OF THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH.
fessed enemies of the Christian Magistrate and seducers of the people." Among the propositions offered for serious consider- ation is the following : "Whether the increase and strengthen- ing of their obduracy, perversity, malignity does not give reason for apprehending a renewal of the spirit of Muncer, or John of Leyden, and justify, as in other commonwealths, a rule for self- defence against the incorrigible, and require that the penalty of death be inflicted upon those returning from banishment, as well our own people as strangers?"1 The enactment of the death penalty, by a bare majority of the court, immediately followed the presentation of this petition, and four persons suf- fered the consequences of their persistent defiance of the law, in returning again to the jurisdiction from which they had been banished.
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