USA > Massachusetts > Franklin County > History of the churches and ministers, and of Franklin association, in Franklin County, Mass., and an appendix respecting the county > Part 25
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" When the church and society in Killingly, Ct., gave Mr. Foster a call, about one third part of the whole dissented. But afterwards, when they repeated the call with greater unanimity, Mr. Foster accepted." Mr. Foster, in his com- munications to the church, objected to the practice of having candidates for admission to the church relate their experi- ence, and objected to the rule of the church by which the pastor's vote be reckoned as only equal to the vote of any private member. The church then "voted to reconsider the vote that had passed respecting an equality in the votes of the pastor and a private brother; and further voted, that to prevent a difficulty in time to come, should it ever so happen that Mr. Foster should differ in judgment from the majority of the church, that then both parties oblige themselves to agree mutually in calling a council to hear, judge, and de- termine the matter ; and that this be our rule of conduct." The following is an extract from the result of the council that ordained Mr. Foster at Killingly, Ct., viz. :- " A remon- strance was then laid in before the council by Dea. Eben-
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ezer Learned and a number of others, members of this soci- ety, representing the indigent and divided circumstances of the society, and their dislike of Mr. Foster's sentiments and doctrines in some particulars. And a number of witnesses were brought in support of the facts set forth in said remon- strance. The council having heard and maturely considered the case, and carefully examined Mr. Foster, as is usual in such cases, and very particularly with regard to his senti- ments objected to in said remonstrance, are of opinion, all things considered, that it is our duty to proceed to the ordi- nation of Mr. Foster."
Prime's History of Long Island says: "The Rev. Emer- son Foster is recollected as the pastor of this church, (Ori- ent, L. I.,) at the commencement of this century, but when he was settled is not known. About the year 1804 or '5, his health failed, and he relinquished his charge." As the records of this church were burnt some thirty years since, it cannot be ascertained, whether Mr. Foster was settled as a pastor, or preached as a stated supply at Orient. It appears by the representations given by the aged people in Orient, who remember Mr. Foster, " that he was a learned man, of good morals, sedate and grave in appearance, wore a three- cornered hat, and could preach pretty good sermons-was, however, feeble in body and took opium continually for his stomach's sake and often infirmities-that he could not preach without the aid of opium-that once, when he was out of opium, he was expected to preach, but refused because of his inability to do so without some opium first-that En- sign Tuthill got on to his horse and rode over the village, till he found some and brought it to Mr. Foster ; after taking which he preached one of his smartest sermons-that his or- thodoxy was doubted by some-that he was thought to have preached from the head and not from the heart-that he was so feeble as to supply the pulpit but little during the latter part of his ministry, and as it cost the parish so much to supply him with opium, they were all glad to be released
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from him-that not long after his labors as preacher ceased, his wife died here and was buried in the new burying- ground ; and that shortly after her death, his daughter, living in Brooklyn, came down here and took him home with her, and that she broke him off from the habit of using opium- that two years after he went to Brooklyn he was converted, and was heard to say, that he knew not what grace was till then." Mr. Foster, at his death, was supposed to be about 67 years old.
Mr. Foster had three brothers who were ministers, viz., Revs. John Foster, settled at Taunton ; Dan Foster, settled at Charlestown, N. H .; and Isaac Foster, a graduate of Yale in 1776. He had three cousins who were ministers, viz., Rev. Dr. John Foster of Brighton, Rev. Joel Foster of New Sa- lem, and Rev. Daniel Foster of New Braintree, sons of Mr. Nathan Foster of Western, (now Warren.) Mr. Emerson Foster's sister married Rev. Joel Foster of New Salem. Mr. Foster was married, Nov. 11, 1778, to Miss Margaret Parsons Foote, a daughter of Esquire Foote of Colchester, Ct., by whom he had three sons and three daughters, only one of whom, Mrs. Margaret Moore of Brooklyn, N. Y., survives.
When the pastor next after Mr. Foster was settled over the church in Orange, in 1822, the church had become Unita- rian ; and the further notice of its pastors may be found in the account of the Unitarian pastors in Orange.
SECOND CHURCH. The second Congregational church or- ganized in Orange, was formed in that part of the town called Irvingsville, Oct. 13, 1837, with twenty-one members. Its first and only Meeting-house was built in 1836. Mission- ary aid has been bestowed upon the people in this place and in Erving for the support of the gospel, to the amount of $2,032; the principal portion of which, however, was granted to the people in Erving. For some years the two places were reckoned as one missionary field. This church has ever been small and feeble. This church has not been reported in the 'Minutes of the Massachusetts General Asso-
.
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ciation' since 1852, at which time it was reported as consist- ing of thirteen members, five of whom were absent. Little or no Congregational preaching has been enjoyed in this place for some time past. Nearly all the members have be- come connected with the Congregational church in the south village of Orange. Their meeting-house is now used by other denominations. In the sixteen years since this church was formed, it has had a settled pastor only about two years, and has been destitute of a settled ministry about fourteen years.
PASTOR. REV. JOSIAH TUCKER was settled the first and only pastor of this church in connection with the church in Erving, Nov. 16, 1842, and the sermon was preached by Rev. Dr. Joseph S. Clark of Boston ; and after a ministry of about one year and nine months, was dismissed, Aug. 7, 1844. For a further account of Mr. Tucker, see the account of Erving church and its pastor.
This church has been supplied with preaching as follows, viz. : by Rev. Salmon Bennett, one year near the time of its organization ; by Rev. Dyer Ball, now a missionary in China, ยท a portion of 1838 and 1839; by Rev. Abel Patten, six months in 1839; by Rev. Warren Allen, six months in 1840-1; by Rev. Whitman Peck, six months in 1841 and 1842; and after Mr. Tucker's dismission in 1844, by Rev. Erastus Curtis, some part of the time in 1844, 1845, 1846, and 1847; by Rev. Hiram Chamberlain, six months in 1846-7; since which time no stated Congregational preach- ing has been enjoyed in Irvingsville. The ministers, who preached as stated supplies, frequently preached a part of the time at Erving.
THIRD CHURCH. The third Congregational church in Or- ange was organized at what was formerly considered the centre of the town, but which is now called North Orange, Aug. 16, 1843, consisting of eleven members. There being no evangelical preaching in this part of the town, in 1834 some of the neighboring ministers, by request, held third
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meetings on the Sabbath, in private houses, for several weeks, among whom were Rev. Mr. Beckwith of Athol, Rev. Mr. Tracy of Petersham, and Rev. Mr. Lincoln of Gardner. It was attempted to break up some of the meet- ings by riot and disorder. In one instance, Rev. Mr. Tracy was broken off in public prayer, by a man placing himself before him, and reading aloud from Abner Kneeland's infi- del paper. The friends of these meetings struggled along in great discouragement. Three peace officers were some- times present to preserve peace. Some time in 1834, indi- viduals had a small house of worship fitted up, which is the first and only house of worship which this church and people have ever had. This chapel stood unoccupied for several years. In 1843, Rev. Josiah Tucker of Erving preached some in the place, and the church was organized, as already mentioned. A few of the first meetings were held at the house of Widow Goddard, who was a hearer of Rev. Emer- son Foster and a member of his church, and is still living in Orange. The meetings were soon transferred to the chapel, where this church and people have since continued to meet. This church has been supplied with preaching by Rev. Charles Boyter, Rev. Samuel D. Darling, Rev. Willard Jones, and, for about two years past, by Rev. Benjamin F. Clarke. This church and people began to receive mission- ary aid to support the gospel in 1843, and have received $1,460. It is not known, that any evangelical ministerial association of the Congregational order ever met in this place, or in any part of this town, till the Franklin Associa- tion met at North Orange in August, 1852. The amount contributed by this church and people to benevolent objects, in 1853, was $42 17. The number in the Sabbath School, in 1852, was 30. The church, in 1853, numbered 28. This is the only Orthodox Congregational church now existing in Franklin County, which has not had a pastor settled over it.
FOURTH CHURCH. The fourth Congregational church in Orange was organized at the village in the south part of the
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town, Sept. 23, 1846, with fifteen members. In 1830, there was preaching for a few Sabbaths in this village by the Messrs. Packards of Shelburne, under the Massachusetts Mis- sionary Society. But few Congregational families at that time resided in the place. Missionary aid has been granted to this people for the support of the gospel since 1844 to the amount of $1,010. They do not now receive aid. The Congregational meetings were once held in school-rooms. A few years since, a Union Meeting-house was built in the vil- lage by several denominations, and was occupied a part of the time by the Congregational people. This people built their present house of worship in 1852. The amount given by this people to benevolent objects in 1851 was $8 25. The number in the Sabbath School in 1852 was 75. The church in 1853 numbered 50. A revival was enjoyed by this people in 1853. This church was supplied with preaching by Rev. Charles Boyter, from 1846 to 1848 ; by Rev. Marshal B. Angier, from 1848 to 1851: by Mr. Lucius M. Boltwood, a portion of the time from 1851 to 1852. In the seven years since the organization of this church, it has been destitute of a settled pastor till within a year past. Only one pastor has been settled over this church.
PASTOR. REV. DAVID PECK was ordained the first and only pastor of this church, Oct. 13, 1852, and Rev. E. W. Bullard of Royalston preached on the occasion. Mr. Peck was born in Greenwich, Ct., Feb. 16, 1825; graduated at Yale in 1849; studied theology at New Haven from 1849 to 1852; was licensed to preach in July, 1851; preached at Mount Carmel, in Hamden, Ct., from September, 1851, till May, 1852. Ill health has obliged him to suspend his pastoral labors for several months past, but he is still the pastor of the church. During his illness the church has been supplied chiefly by Mr. Charles E. Bruce.
AS TO CONGREGATIONAL PREACHERS ORIGINATING FROM ORANGE, it is not known that a single minister of this de- nomination was born in the town, or spent his early years
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here. Leyden, Munroe, Erving, and Orange, are the only towns in Franklin County from which Congregational min- isters have not originated.
OTHER DENOMINATIONS.
BAPTISTS. A Baptist church was organized in Orange in 1834, with 29 members. The number of members reported for 1851 was 15. The following preachers have supplied this church and people, viz., Rev. Lysander Fay, several years between 1834 and 1841 ; Rev. B. F. Remington, from 1842 to 1843; Rev. David Goddard, from 1843 to 1844; Rev. Lysander Fay, from 1846 to 1848; and since 1848 they have had no stated preaching. The Baptists own no meeting-house in Orange ; but have occupied the Congre- gational house at Irvingsville more or less.
METHODISTS. The first Methodist church in Orange was organized about 1794, in connection with the labors of Rev. Benjamin P. Hill. It now consists of eight or nine members. The second one was formed in Irvingsville, West Orange, July 30, 1853; and Rev. J. Goodwin has supplied it and is still preaching there. The following preachers have sup- plied the first church, viz., Revs. Benjamin P. Hill in 1791; Thomas Coope in 1795; Philip Wager and Lorenzo Dow in 1796; Smith Wicks in 1797 ; Elijah Bachelor in 1798 ; John Nickols in 1799 ; Joshua Crowell in 1800 ; Abner Wood and Martin Butler in 1801; Luther Bishop in 1803; Phineas Cook in 1804; Thomas Ravlin and Hezekiah Field in 1805 ; William Stevens and John Tinkham in 1806 ; Benjamin P. Hill in 1807 ; Greenleaf R. Norris, Abner Clark, and Eben- ezer Washburn in 1808 ; Greenleaf R. Norris, Edward Hyde and Amasa Taylor in 1809; David Carr, and Robert Arnold in 1810 ; Philip Munger and Stephen Wingate in 1811 ; Joel Steele, probably in 1812; Joel Steele and Thomas W. Tucker in 1813; Elisha Streeter and Van Rensselaer Os- borne in 1814; Artemas Stebbins and Benjamin Shaw in 1815 ; Benjamin Sabin and S. Winchester in 1816; Leonard
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Bennett, Eleazer Steele and Edward Hyde in 1817 ; William Wright in 1818; Elisha Streeter, Thomas Tucker and Van Rensselaer Osborne in 1819; Amasa Taylor and Phineas Crandall in 1820 ; Ella Dunham and Mr. Thacher in 1821 : Mr. Thacher in 1822 ; Barzilla Pierce, William Barstow and Benjamin Paine in 1823; Aaron Lummus and Erastus Otis in 1824; Mr. Harrington in 1825 ; John E. Risley and Hiram Waldron in 1826 ; William Nelson in 1827; Mr. Stevens in 1828 ; Humphrey Harris in 1829 ; Salmon Hull and Jonathan D. Bridge in 1830 ; Henry J. Woolley and Humphrey Harris in 1831; Elias P. Stevens in 1832; Mr. Bradley and Otis Wilder in 1833; Otis Wilder in 1834; George Green and Zadoc King in 1835; Zadoc King in 1836 ; Messrs. Alder- man and Keath in 1837; Erastus Otis in 1838; Leonard Frost in 1840 and 1841; Amasa Taylor and Leonard Frost in 1842, 1843, and 1844; George Rickett in 1845; Thomas W. Gile in 1846 ; and since 1846 they have had no preacher. The following Methodist Preachers originated from Orange, viz., Revs. John Brooks, Martin Butler, John W. Wheeler, and Ira Whitney.
UNITARIANS. The first Orthodox Congregational church in Orange was formed in the fall of 1782, and became Uni- tarian within the last half century. Rev. Joshua Chandler was settled as the first Unitarian pastor of this church, Nov. 27, 1822; and was dismissed, Oct. 31, 1827. This church and society had but little preaching between the pastorates of Messrs. Foster and Chandler, a period of 32 years. Since Mr. Chandler's dismission, Rev. Seth Winslow supplied several years; and Rev. C. W. Mellen, a Universalist preacher, supplied a part of the time in 1841; and Rev. J. A. Coolidge, a Universalist preacher, supplied half a year in 1842 ; since 1842 Rev. Levi Ballou, a Universalist preacher, has preached for them and for the Universalist society ; the two societies having united in 1844, and having worshiped together since that time.
UNIVERSALISTS. A Universalist society was formed in the
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north part of Orange in 1844, and have worshiped with the Unitarians in their meeting-house, and have been supplied by Rev. Levi Ballou since that time.
A Universalist society was organized in the south village of Orange, Nov. 8, 1851. Before the organization, Univer- salists preached in this village; Rev. Otis W. Bacon for a year or two ; Rev. C. W. Mellen for two or three years ; and Rev. Lemuel Willis from 1850 to 1852, and Rev. J. Hemp- hill since that time. Three Universalist preachers have originated from Orange, viz., Rev. Sumner Ellis, Rev. Jona- than Forrister, and Mr. Goodale.
SUMMARY of Preachers originating from Orange : Method- ists, 4. Universalists, 3. Total, 7.
ROWE.
" This town was incorporated, Feb. 9, 1785. It has an elevated situation, and was originally purchased by a Mr. Jones. In 1838 the Legislature annexed a part of an unin- corporated tract, called Zoar, to this town. This tract com- prised 1,875 acres of land, adjoining the south part of the town, on which were six families. One of the cordon of forts erected about 1744 for a defence against the French and Indians was situated in this town. The ruins of this fortification, called Fort Pelham, are situated southeast of the Congregational church in the centre of the town on Pel- ham brook, a small stream, being the only one passing through the town." The population of Rowe in 1850 was 659. Four churches have been formed in Rowe ; two Con- gregational, one Baptist, and one Methodist.
ORTHODOX CONGREGATIONALISTS.
FIRST CHURCH. The early records of the first Congre- gational church in Rowe, having been consumed in the fire that consumed the house of the first pastor, the precise date of the organization of the church cannot with certainty be
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determined. It is supposed, however, to have been formed as early as 1774, with nine members. It was originally Orthodox ; but became Unitarian within a half a century past. "The first Meeting-house was built about the year 1770. It was a small house built on the crown of the hill in the centre of the town, inclosed with rough boards, the in- side being never finished. It was taken down, when the old meeting-house now standing upon the same spot was erected. This house was built in the year 1793, by a tax upon the town, and was used ten years before the inside was finished. A difficulty arose among the inhabitants about the spot upon which it should be built, which was amicably settled by re- ferring the matter to three disinterested persons, non-residents of the town. This house was used fifty-two years as a place of public worship, when it was abandoned by the church and society, who, in 1845, built a new house not far from the old one. The old house is now used for a town house.
" The Rev. Cornelius Jones, the first minister who preached in town, was a Congregationalist. He was settled in Sandis- field, Berkshire County. Leaving his charge there he pur- chased a tract of wild land, four miles square, which in- cluded most of what is now Rowe and a part of Monroe. It is thought that he made his purchase about the year 1760, which he named Myrifield. It retained this name till 1785, when the town was incorporated by the name of Rowe. Mr. Jones erected a small house (probably of logs) not far from the centre of his purchase, and moved his large family into it. He invited settlers to his plantation in the wilderness ; and when a sufficient number had taken up their residence near him, he invited them to his house and preached to them the word of life on the Sabbath. This he continued to do until his congregation became too numerous to be accommo- dated in his humble dwelling. He then selected a site for a meeting-house, and gave a small tract of land about it, for a " meeting-house lot ;" and the inhabitants erected the first meeting-house about 1770, which has been described above.
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Rev. Mr. Jones continued to preach to the people in this house as long as he remained in town; and with the assist- ance of the neighboring ministers had organized a church, which was called the Church of Christ in Myrifield. This was previous to the year 1774. When the Revolu- tionary war broke out, Mr. Jones' society was greatly dimin- ished, and at the approach of the British army under Gen. Burgoyne, Mr. Jones and his oldest son marched for the field of battle. His son never returned. At the close of the war, Mr. Jones sold his possessions in Rowe, invested his property in Continental money, and removed to Skeensboro', (now White Hall) N.Y. ; and after a number of ineffectual trials at Congress to regain his property, he died at that place." The foregoing quoted account is furnished by Rev. Stilman Barber, a former pastor of the Unitarian church in Rowe.
Blake's History of Mendon Association says of Mr. Jones that he " is recorded as a native of Bellingham. He grad- uated at Harvard University in 1752, and received A. M. He was ordained as first pastor of the church in Sandisfield in 1756, on the same day in which the church was organ- ized. President Edwards, then' in Stockbridge, preached the ordination sermon, which, through lack of a meeting- house, was delivered in a barn. Mr. Jones was dismissed in 1761. Rev. D. D. Field says, 'He never resettled, but preached occasionally. He resided for a number of years in Rowe; then removed to Skeenesborough, now White Hall, N. Y., where he died at an advanced age.' The Harvard College Catalogue says he died in 1783. The name of his wife was Sarah, and he was married while at Sandisfield. Nothing more is known of him. And even at White Hall the oldest citizen can give no information whatever in rela- tion to him." Mr. Jones was licensed by the Mendon Asso- ciation, May 9, 1753.
After the Rev. Mr. Jones left Rowe, the Rev. Amasa Cook, who was afterwards settled at Bernardston, preached as a candidate ; also the Rev. John Foster, previous to the settle-
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ment of the Rev. Preserved Smith. After Mr. Smith's first dismission from Rowe, Rev. Freeman Sears, who was after- wards settled and died at Natick, preached and was invited to settle as pastor, but declined. Afterwards, Rev. Josiah W. Canning, now of Gill, preached, and then a Rev. Mr. Phelps, and then a Rev. Mr. Holman. In January, 1807, the Rev. Jonathan Gilmore was invited to settle as pastor, and he accepted the invitation, and a council was called to settle him, but did not see fit to do it. This church had two pastors while it remained an Orthodox church ; and one of them was resettled over the same church.
PASTORS. 1 .* REV. PRESERVED SMITH was ordained as the first pastor of this church, Nov. 21, 1787, and Rev. Robert Hubbard of Shelburne preached the sermon ; and, after a ministry of about sixteen years and a half, he was dismissed, May 30, 1804; and was resettled as pastor of this church, Dec. 2, 1812, and Rev. Jonathan Grout of Hawley preached the sermon, which was published ; and after an additional ministry of about twenty years requested a release from pastoral service, March 10, 1832, but was never regu- larly dismissed by a council. Both periods of his ministry in Rowe amounted to about thirty-six years. After leaving Rowe the first time, Mr. Smith was settled as pastor of two churches in Mendon, Oct. 2, 1805, and was dismissed from there, Oct. 20, 1812.
The following extracts are from a biographical sketch of Mr. Smith, by his son, Rev. Preserved Smith, now of Deer- field, published in 1852 : " He was born in Ashfield, Mass., June 25, 1759. He was the sixth in descent from Rev. Henry Smith, who came from England and was settled in Wethersfield, Ct., in 1641. There is a tradition, on which much reliance can be placed, that Rev. H. Smith had a son born while on the passage to this country, and from that cir- cumstance he called his name PRESERVED, a name that has been retained in the line of his descendants. His father was Elder Ebenezer Smith, who was many years a pastor of the
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Baptist church in Ashfield, Mass. He lived to the advanced age of 90, and was a preacher in the Baptist denomination 72 years. He was married to Miss Remember Ellis, who is said to have been a person of uncommon worth. When the nuptial day arrived, he took his bride behind him on horse- back, and went from Ashfield (then Huntstown) to Deer- field to have the ceremony performed, there being no minister or magistrate nearer. His father rode another horse before them with his gun to guard them from the Indians. This was in 1756, six years after the settlement of the town. * *
" His early education was much neglected. The schools at that period were imperfectly taught, and only a few weeks during the year. Dilworth's spelling book, and the Psalter, being the principal books used in the primary stages of edu- cation. He early discovered a thirst for knowledge ; read the books that came in his way, and, when in the field at work, he would seize every leisure moment in exercising himself in arithmetic by the use of a piece of chalk on a log, or a piece of bark. It was at that early period that he met with a Latin grammar. It greatly excited his curiosity, and he resolved from that hour, that, if his life were spared him, he would acquire the knowledge of the language, of which
* * When the that little elementary work was the key. *
revolutionary war commenced, he was sixteen years of age. He immediately entered the army and served five campaigns a soldier in the militia department. He was not called into any actual engagement, but once participated in a skirmish when the army of General Gates and that of General Bur- goyne lay side by side on the banks of the Hudson. In 1825, when in company with a friend, he reviewed the grounds which were the scenes of the most interesting events during the Revolution, and saw the identical pine tree which sheltered him from the balls of the enemy, which lay con- cealed behind a fortification. The recognition of this old friend, after a lapse of forty-eight years, to which he had
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