USA > Massachusetts > Suffolk County > Boston > History of the Old South church (Third church) Boston, 1669-1884, Vol. III > Part 44
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It was well done of him upon his safe Arrival here, to give God the glory of this Remarkable Salvation, and to do it in the hearing of a Multitudinous Auditory, many belonging to the Adjacent Towns being present at the Lecture when this Sermon was preached. . . . I cannot but rejoice to see that the Author Preacheth Christ. . . . Many late preachers have little or nothing of Christ in any of their Sermons (shall I call them) or Harangues. . . . The worthy Author of the Ex- cellent Sermon which is Emitted herewith, had his Birth and Educa- tion in New England. It is no dishonour to the Country that there have been such Natives in it.
386
HISTORY OF THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH.
Thomas Prince was born at Sandwich, Massachusetts, May 15, 1687, and was the son of Samuel Prince by his second wife, Mercy, daughter of Governor Samuel Hinckley. His father, the son of John Prince, of Watertown and Hingham, and grand- son of the Rev. John Prince, rector of East Shefford, Berkshire, England, had been a mariner and afterward a merchant, and already had a large family by his first marriage. "We can well imagine, however, that this first-born child of his young wife was a most welcome addition to his household circle, and as his property increased with the growing demands upon it, our future divine was well placed at his entrance into life. His father was, he tells us, religious from his youth, much esteemed for his abilities and gifts, and especially for his powers of argument ; while his zealous love for the principles and liberties of New England no doubt led him early to instill into the mind of his son those principles of piety and that respect for the freedom of conscience so conspicuous in his subsequent life."
He entered Harvard College in 1703, under the presidency of Mr. Willard, and, as his classmate, Sewall, afterward said, " he made a laudable Proficiency in the liberal Arts ; and that which set a crown upon all, was, that he feared God, from his Youth, and early appeared a Lover of pure Religion, as well as good Lit- erature. I apprehend, I may truly say, that from his Youth, and in riper Age, as an Overseer of the College, he was a Bless- ing and Ornament to that Seminary of Learning."
The two years after his graduation were probably devoted to theological study, but we have no record of them. On the 29th of March, 1709, he started on his foreign travels. He went as a passenger in the Thomas and Elizabeth, one of a fleet consist- ing of eight ships, two brigantines, and two sloops, all under convoy of the America, of twenty-four guns ; for this was dur- ing the ten years' war between England and France. The first destination of his vessel was Barbadoes, and here she remained nearly five months. Mr. Prince went ashore frequently, preached several times, and collected much and varied information, which he treasured up in his diary. On the 4th of September the Thomas and Elizabeth, in company with a fleet of about fifty vessels, sailed for London, at which port she arrived on the 17th of November. Mr. Prince spent two months visiting friends, seeing the sights of the metropolis, listening to the most famous preachers, and preaching occasionally himself ; and then he was attacked by small-pox, which confined him to his room for several
387
MR. PRINCE'S TRAVELS.
weeks. As soon as he had well recovered he rejoined his vessel, and on the 17th of March, 1710, sailed in her from Gravesend for Madeira. They anchored in the road of Funchal April 27, and six days later, having taken on board a cargo of wines, proceeded to Barbadoes, and arrived there May 27. The vessel exchanged her cargo of wines for another of sugar, and sailed again for London August 3, in company with a large number of ships as before, for mutual protection against privateers. She reached the Thames in October, and Mr. Prince, landing on the 17th of that month, took lodgings, and renewed his explorations of the great city. He attended lectures at Gresham College, on law, medicine, and theology. In January the good ship in which he had crossed the Atlantic three times was burnt at Deptford. "Thus ended," he wrote, " the Thomas and Eliza- beth, that began to vie for Fame and Renown, with all the ships built in New England, or that have traded to the West Indies." She probably belonged to some member of his family.
Mr. Prince was at Yarmouth in February, 171I, at Norwich in July, and in London again in September. Early in the year he had suffered from an attack of measles. During the year 1712, and until August, 1713, he was at Coombs, in Suffolk, and remained there until June, 1714. He then went to Rotter- dam and spent a month, after which he returned to Coombs and lived for two years, but declined to be settled over the church there. "The Flock to whom he ministered, manifested their earnest Desire of his Continuance and Settlement with them ; but no Importunity could overcome his longing Desire after his native Country, and Father's House." He was providentially prevented by sickness and other circumstances from taking passage for New England in the Amity in the autumn of 1716, and spent another winter in and about London ; he embarked for home in May, and after a passage of between nine and ten weeks landed, as we have seen, upon his native shores.1
Towards the end of this summer Mr. Sewall's parishioners showed their appreciation of his faithful service as their minis- ter by a subscription among themselves of nearly three hundred pounds, for the purchase of " an annuity towards the better sup- port of his wife and family." His salary at this time was sixty shillings a week.
1 We have condensed the above ac- possession of the Mass. Hist. Society, in count of Mr. Prince from an article, based upon a volume of his diary in the
the North American Review for October, 1860, vol. xci. pp. 354-363-
388
HISTORY OF THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH.
BOSTON IN NEW ENGLAND 23d August 1717
Wee whose names are Underwritten Having had large Experience of the Learned and Painfull Labours of the Revd Mr. Joseph Sewall Our Honoured Pastor in the work of the Ministry, Are desirous to Shew our Thankfullness for so great a Benefit ; And do therefore prom- ise to give the Severall summs written after our Names, in order to the Procuring an Annuity towards the better Support of his Wife and Family. And Edward Bromfield Col. Saml Checkley, Danl Oli- ver, Capt Habijah Savage Esqrs and Mr. Ezekiel Lewis and Mr. Wm Clarke are requested to Collect the money for the Ends aforesaid.1
Sept. I. Went to the Solemn Assembly p. m. the rather that I might hear Mr. Josiah Oakes, who preach'd very well, from Psal. 73. 25.
Sept. 15. Went to the solemn Assembly p. m. A Fast was agreed on to humble ourselves for the breach made in the South church by the death of Mr. Pemberton ; and to Seek unto God by prayer for a Sutable and seasonable Supply.
Sept 22. Went to the Lord's Supper : heard Mr. Prince in the Afternoon from the same Text he preach'd on this day four weeks.
Sept 25. Fast at the South Church : Mr. Webb begun with Prayer, Mr. Sewall preach'd from Jer. 3. 15. Give you pastors. Mr. Cooper pray'd and gave the Blessing. P. m. Mr. Colman prayed, Dr. Cotton Mather preach'd from John 6. 11. And Jesus took the Loaves and distributed to the Disciples, and the Disciples to them that were set down. Mr. Wadsworth pray'd. 23d Psalm sung, D. Mr. Sewall Blessed. Twas a good day.
Sept. 29. The church is staid, the calling a Church Meeting is pro- pounded to Confer about getting supply in the work of the Ministry. Majr Genl and Mr. Williams oppose it! 'Tis voted. Then the Time was debated ; Monday morning and Friday were proposed; which was oppos'd ; Both were voted [on] but neither Carried it. At last Tuesday come Sennight at 3 p. m. is voted. Voted twice before could tell whether 'twas a vote or no. (Sewall.)
1 [There were three subscription pa- John Nicholls, I. Seth Smith, I. Nath. pers, only one of which has come down to us, and this bears the following names and amounts : -
Andrew Belcher, £15. Anthony Stod- dard, 5. Saml. Phillips, 8. John Camp- bell, 4. John Alford, 4. John Walley, 4. W. Foye, 4. Thos. Savage, 4. Edward Winslow, 2.10/. Daniel Henchman, I.5/. Saml. Gerrish, 2. Jonathan Simpson, I.IO/. Samuel Bass, I.IO/. Thomas Debuke, 1.10/. Gillam Phillips, I.IO/. John Gerrish, 2.10/. Joseph Maylom, I. Thos. Marshall, 1.10/. Elisha Story, I.
Cunningham, I.10/. Jabez Salter, I. Thos. Hitchborn, -. Wm. Young, I. Thos. Kimball, 10/. Francis Archball, I.IO/. Abiel Walley, 3. William Allin, 2. Geo. Bethune, 3. Nichs. Davis, 2. John Leech, 10/. Saml. Checkley, 3. Habijah Savage, 5. Total £91.15.0.
The totals from the other lists are brought forward on the paper before us, £80 and £115.5.0, making the total of the subscription, so far as we know, £287.0.0. There was a similar subscrip- tion for Mr. Willard in 1693.]
389
DEATH OF MRS. SEWALL.
Of the meeting held on the 8th of October we have no rec- ord, but Mr. Prince was engaged for two months to supply the pulpit with Mr. Sewall.
Judge Sewall's wife, Hannah, and the mother of his fourteen children, died on Saturday, October 19, at the age of sixty. She was a modest, patient, and unobtrusive woman ; self-dis- trustful, perhaps, for although she owned the covenant with many of her young friends in 1680, two years after her marriage, she did not come into full membership until 1688. Her family cares and the state of her health kept her in retirement ; that she was exemplary in her sphere, we have not only the testi- mony of her husband, but the witness of her children's character. Their training must have depended largely upon her, for their father had many public duties and was much from home.1 On the day after her death, this father attended divine service as usual, morning and afternoon, and recorded pathetically, "My Son has much adoe to read the Note I put up, being over- whelm'd with tears."
Nine days later, Judge Sewall was bereft of his son-in-law, Mr. Grove Hirst, a merchant of high standing, and a faithful member of Brattle Street Church.2 His daughter, Mrs. Eliza- beth Hirst, had died the year before, and a young family of orphan children was now left to his care. Three of them, Han- nah, Elizabeth, and Jane,3 became members of the Old South in 1726.
Mrs. Sewall was buried on Wednesday, October 23; Mr. Hirst, on Wednesday, October 30. On Wednesday, November 6, Andrew Belcher was buried. He was the most opulent mer- chant in the town, a member of the council and commissary of the forces. He had been an active member of the South Church for twenty years. On the same day, another leading member, also a councillor, died, - Wait Still Winthrop, chief justice and major - general, "for parentage, piety, prudence, philosophy, love to New England ways and people, very emi- nent." 4 Both Mr. Winthrop and Mr. Belcher were bearers at
1 Mr. Joseph Sewall says in his diary that "under all infirmities of body and spirit [she] was a diligent reader."
2 See Mr. Colman's Funeral Sermon. William Hirst, father of Grove Hirst, died four days after his son.
3 Hannah married Nathaniel Balston, Elizabeth the Rev. Charles Chauncy,
and Jane the Rev. Addington Davenport. An older sister, Mary, married William Pepperrell in 1722.
4 The editors of Sewall's Diary say truly that no finer tribute than this could be paid. Mr. Winthrop, although chief justice, was more frequently called the major-general. A military title was evi-
390
HISTORY OF THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH.
Mrs. Sewall's funeral.1 Judge Sewall heard, November 21, of the death of William Tilly, "a great loss to the South Church and to the town," and, November 30, of that of Samuel Bridge, whom also we suppose to have been a member of the church or congregation, as he left a small sum of money to the poor of the church. "The good Lord stay his hand !" says Sewall in his diary.
Mr. Thomas Foxcroft 2 was ordained as colleague at the Old, or First Church, on Wednesday, November 20. Mr. Joseph Sewall joined in laying on hands. Dr. Increase Mather gave the right hand of fellowship, and said that he had per- formed this service three times at the South Church, and this was the third time it had fallen to him at the First Church.
Lord's Day Dec 8. Mr. Secretary [Josiah Willard] puts up a Note for Thanksgiving for his safe Arrival [from England]. Madam Win- throp for the Recovery of her only Son.
P. m. Mr. Jonathan Belcher comes to the Assembly and very pa- thetically acknowledges [we suppose, in a note] God's distinguishing Mercy towards him.3 At night the Church is stayed, and Mr. Thomas Prince's two Moneths being compleat ; Friday the 20th current is dently thought more of than a judicial Mr. Belcher, then governor of New one. Judge Sewall was known to his Jersey, thus wrote to Mr. Prince, of his father's deathbed : - townsmen as Captain Sewall, and Mr. Walley, who was also on the bench, was usually called Major Walley. The mili- tary title took precedence even of the favorite prefix, deacon ; for example : Captain Frary, Captain Williams, Colo- nel Checkley.
1 Another bearer, Col. Elisha Hutch- inson, a councillor, was buried Decem- ber 16. "Now," says Sewall, " I have been a Bearer to three of my Wive's Bearers in less than two Moneths time."
2 Thomas Foxcroft was a son of Fran- cis Foxcroft, a prominent man in King's Chapel, who designed his son for the ministry of the Church of England. After his graduation in 1714, Thomas taught school in Roxbury, where, becom- ing intimate with the Rev. Nehemiah Walter, he was convinced by him " of the truth and excellence of the Puritan faith, which he adopted," and gave his life to the Congregational ministry. He married Anna, daughter of John Coney, the goldsmith.
3 [More than thirty years afterward,
"My Father was as great a Genius as his Country could boast of, but wanted an Education to Improve and polish it. Governor Dudley (who was a good Judge) used to say that Mr. Commissary Belcher would make a good Minister of State to any Prince in Europe, Especially in the Article of Finance. His late Fare- well and Blessing of me show'd his strong thoughts and great modesty. Its fresh in my memory and will be till the Frost of Age seals up that Faculty; he called me to his Bed-side, took me by the hand and said - Son you may expect me to bless you in a better manner and style than I am able to do, for God did not put it into your grandfather's power to give me the Education he Inabled me to give you, but remember my Last Words to you are - May the Blessing of the God of Abraham and the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob rest upon you and your seed for Ever. Amen. Farewell. Neither the Patriarchs nor Apostles could have done it better."]
Thomas Princes
391
MR. PRINCE CALLED.
appointed for the Church to Meet to Consider what further Steps are to be taken.
Dec. 20. Church Meeting. After debate voted by Papers, whether would now proceed to the Choice of a Pastor ; 40. Yeas, 27 Nôs. Then voted for a Pastor, and Mr. Thomas Prince had 48. Mr. Saml. Fiske, 12. Appointed a Committee to wait on Mr. Prince and acquaint him with the Churches Call, and their Desire of his Acceptance ; Dea- cons, Gentlemen of the Fore-Seat, Justices, Mr. Nathanl Williams [Committee].
Lord's Day, Dec. 22. The Congregation is Acquainted herewith and the Committee told them, and mention is made of some Nomi- nated for the Congregation, if they aprov'd of them.
Dec. 23. Committee met at Mr. Sewall's. From thence went to Mr. Prince about 6. p. m. There were of the Congregation, Mr. David Jeffries, Col. Thomas Savage, Capt. Gerrish, Mr. Wm Foy, that I remember. We Thank'd him for his Labours with us in the Ministry these Two Moneths. The Church had sent us to acquaint him of their Choice of him last Friday to the Pastoral Charge, and to desire his Acceptance. Disabled himself, twould require Time, would not be hurried. Told him his Answer was not expected presently, would not precipitat him. He desired our Prayers were his. At parting said, that as his preaching with us had been Acceptable, Edifying, we desired the Continuance of it, and so might have the best opportunity to pray mutually for the Direction of God. (Sewall.)
Less than six months had passed since Mr. Prince landed quietly at Long Wharf and worshipped unrecognized at the South Church, and now he had received an invitation, which in due time he would accept, to settle there as one of the pastors. In the mean time he had preached in several pulpits, and more than one church was ready to receive him as its minister. He was called, almost immediately after his arrival, by the Hing- ham church, whose venerable meeting-house, "the Old Ship," still remains ; 1 the church at Bristol also gave him an unani- mous call. We can see many reasons why the South Church should have the preference with him over any other, and it is not unlikely that he returned to New England just when he did at the instance of Mr. Joseph Sewall, and with some view to
1 In the Introduction to his ordina- tion sermon, addressed to the people of the Old South, he said : -
" The sudden Invitation of so desirable and considerable a Church and Town as Hingham, within Eight and Forty Hours of my landing and their Call in a little Time after, together with Yours at the
same Conjunction - must needs aston- ish my mind. . . . I had denyed the So- licitations of Two in England before, of Battesford and Coombs in Suffolk, and afterwards of a larger Society, that alter- nately mects at Winden and Clavering on the Borders of Cambridgeshire and Essex."
392
HISTORY OF THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH.
what afterward took place. He manifested no haste, however, in giving his decision. Perhaps the circumstance that one fifth of the votes thrown at the meeting convened to act upon the calling of a colleague pastor were for some else, and that sev- eral who were present did not vote at all, led him to hesitate a little.
Lord's Day Febr. 9. 1718. As my Son went out at Noon after the Lord's Supper, he invited me to Dine with him, which I did ; He told me Mr. Prince resolv'd to give his Answer that day ; Mr. Prince de- sired me to read it over, which I did ; but alter'd very little, though I had Commission. Twas read after Sermon before Singing. Mr. Sewall said, he hop'd God had in Mercy inclin'd his Servant to give this An- swer, that it would be in way of a Blessing ; we must earnestly pray, and do our Duty that it might be so.
Lord's Day, Feb. 23. Mr. Foxcroft preaches. I set York Tune, and the Congregation went out of it into St David's in the very second going over. They did the same three weeks before. This is the sec- ond Sign. I think they began in the last Line of the first going over. This seems to me an intimation and call for me to resign the Præcentor's Place to a better Voice. I have through the divine Long-suffering and Favour done it for twenty-four years, and now God by his Provi- dence seems to call me off ; my voice being enfeebled. I spake to Mr. White earnestly to set it in the Afternoon ; but he declin'd it. After the Exercises, I went to Mr. Sewall's, Thank'd Mr. Prince for his very good Discourse : and laid this matter before them, told them how long I had set the Tune ; Mr. Prince said, Do it six years longer. I persisted and said that Mr. White or Franklin might do it very well. The Return of the Gallery where Mr. Franklin sat was a place very convenient for it.
Feb. 27. I told Mr. White Next Sabbath was in a Spring Moneth, he must then set the Tune. I set now Litchfield Tune to a good Key. [This must have been at the Thursday Lecture.]
Feb. 28. I told Mr. Nathanl Williams My voice was much Enfee- bled ; He said twas apparently so. I bid him tell Mr. White of it.
March 2. I told Mr. White the elders desired him, he must Set the Tune, he disabled himself, as if he had a Cold. But when the Psalm was appointed, I forbore to do it, and rose up and turn'd to him, and he set York Tune to a very good Key. I thank'd him for restoring York Tune to its Station with so much Authority and Honor. I was glad ; I saw twas Convenient that I had resign'd, being for the bene- fit of the Congregation. (Sewall.)
Mr. John White, who led the singing as the successor of Judge Sewall in the precentorship, "and did it very sweetly," is one of those whose names it disappoints us not to find in the
393
A NEW PRECENTOR.
register, for he was undoubtedly a member of the South Church. He graduated at Harvard College in 1685, at the age of six- teen. He was chaplain to Sir William Phips, when he was gov- ernor of the province, " to whom and all persons of figure in the town, he then endear'd himself, by a shining Ingenuity, Wisdom, Humility and Piety, the crown of all." After Sir William's death, Mr. White was for three years a representative for the town of Boston, and then for twenty years he was annually chosen clerk of the House of Representatives. Upon the death of Mr. . Thomas Brattle in 1714 he was made treasurer of Harvard College, and so continued through life. He was also one of the corporation, and was " a father to that society, not only in a faith- ful care of 's estate, but also in a wise and prudent government of it." 1
March 23. Next Friday is agreed on for a Church Meeting to ad- just matters relating to the Ordination. Wednesday was mention'd ; but Mr. Bromfield said he supposed Mr. Denison's Funeral would be on that day.2
March 28 Church Meeting at the South to set a time for the Ordination of Mr. Prince. But Mr. [Edward] Winslow, Emory 3- oppos'd it as too soon ; so many did not Vote for having it in the Spring, that nothing was done. Voted Madam Pemberton 40.£ and she has had near 10.6 in wood. Propounded the chusing two Dea- cons the next Church meeting.
March 30. Dr. Increase Mather preaches excellently at the South p. m. Mr. Sewall preach'd for him a. m.
April 6. Dr. Cotton Mather preaches for Mr. Prince a. m. very well, and Communicats.
April 9. Son holds the Catechizing.
April 13. Great Lightening with Thunder, Forenoon and After- noon ; But through the goodness of God, the Claps were not very sharp. Mr. Prince p. m. order'd part of the 29th Psalm to be sung. [" The God of glory thundereth."]
July 6. Cous. [the Rev. Joshua] Moodey preaches at the South a. m. Mr. Sol. Stoddard p. m. Both Excellently.
August 26. Church Meeting South. Agree to have Mr. Prince ordain'd the first of October next. (Sewall.)
The church records give us an amplification of the last para-
1 Mr. White died December 11, 1721, in the fifty-third year of his age. For an estimate of his character, see Boston News-Letter, quoted by the editors of the Sewall Papers, vol. iii. pp. 296, 297.
2 [William Denison, of Roxbury, a son of Major-General Denison, Harv. Coll. 1681, died March 22, 1717-18.]
3 [The name of Emory does not ap- pear on the list of members.]
394
HISTORY OF THE OLD SOUTH CHURCH.
graph, and the vote, a few months before, in favor of Mrs. Pem- berton.
At a church meeting March 28, 1718.
Voted - That an Allowance of fourty Pounds be made to Mrs. Mary Pemberton out of the church stock, in consideration of her being the Relict of the Rev. Mr. Ebenezer Pemberton, our late worthy pastor.
JOSEPH SEWALL.
At a chh. meeting Augt 26. 1718.
Voted - That Wednesday, the first of next October be the Day for the Ordination of Mr. Thomas Prince.
Voted - That these Churches be sent to ; viz : The Old Church, The North Church, The Church in Brattle Street, and, The New-north Church of this Town ; The Church in Charlestown, the Church in Cambridge, The first Church in Roxbury ; and that these churches be desir'd to Assist at the Ordination by their Elders and Messengers.
Voted - That the Revd. Dr. Increase Mather be desired to Give the Charge.
Voted - That the Revd. Dr. C. Mather Mr. Wadsworth, and Mr. Coleman be joyn'd with Dr. I. Mather and our Pastor in Laying on of Hands.
JOSEPH SEWALL.
It is evident that in making arrangements for the ordination services, the church determined everything except as to who should give the right hand of fellowship. This being the act of the churches which should accept the invitation, it was proper, of course, that their elders and messengers should select the person to represent them in it. The terms of the last vote indicate that the church chose Dr. Increase Mather to preside or to officiate as moderator. The pastor-elect preached the ser- mon, as a matter of course.
Mr. Prince was received into the church on Sunday, Septem- ber 28.
Mr. Prince's Letter of Dismission was read from the church of Cambridge where he was admitted January 1705. Mr. Sewall said : " Brethren your choice of Mr. Prince to the pastoral office among you, prevents my asking your consent to his Admission," and then gave him the Covenant.1 (Joseph Sewall.)
Oct. I. Ordination of Mr. Thomas Prince. Mr. Wadsworth began with Prayer, very well, about } past ten. Mr. Prince preached from Hebr. 13 .- 17. ["Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves : for they watch for your souls, as they that must give
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