USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Newton > History of the early settlement of Newton, county of Middlesex, Massachusetts, from 1639-1800. With a genealogical register of its inhabitants, prior to 1800 > Part 11
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150
EARLY HISTORY OF NEWTON.
Moderator, and Thomas Hastings, (of Angier's Corner,) Clerk.
Voted, the following articles to be necessary to regulate our walk in Church state, agreeable to the word of God.
"1. We believe that the Church of Jesus Christ, under the Gospel, is to be made up only of persons who are true believers in Christ, and that the design of God, in having a Church in the world, is to show forth His declarative glory, in maintaining His doctrine of worship for the gathering in of His elect, and the mutual edification and comfort of His people.
"2. We believe the manner in which God's people ought to come together in Church state, is, by giving each other a verbal declaration of the work of God's grace upon their hearts, and the same to be required of all who may here- after join them.
"3. We believe that there are no officers to be ordained in the Church, but Bishops and Deacons; and their char- acters to be as expressed in Timothy, third chapter, from the first to the eighth verse.
" 4. We believe that the work of a Bishop is to attend to reading and studying the Scriptures, and to preach the Word, and to administer the ordinances of the Gospel, and to stand a leader and overseer in the Church.
"5. We believe that the work of a Deacon is to serve tables, in all things that are necessary in the Church.
"6. We believe that it is the Church's duty to support their Minister, so that he may devote himself to the work which he is called, and to submit to him as a leader.
"7. We believe that the manner we ought to support our Minister is, by a freewill offering, and in case of need, by an equality ; and in like manner to support all other necessary charges in the Church.
"8. We believe that there are gifts of exhortation to be
151
FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH.
improved in the Church, while by no means we would ex- clude the right of any brother's speaking, by way of spe- ciality.
"9. We believe that all the gifts of the Church ought to be in subjugation to each other.
"10. We believe that the Churches are independent of each other, as to the power of action, and therefore have power to elect and ordain their own officers.
"11. We believe that a woman hath no right to act, either in teaching or governing in the Church, while we would by no means exclude them the right of unbosoming themselves to the Church, either in case of grief or joy.
"12. We believe the Church has a right to call her own members to an account, for not attending public wor- ship, sacraments, and Church meetings.
" 13. We believe that in case of a brother or sister's absence from the public worship and sacraments, it is the Minister's duty to visit them, and inquire into the reason of it.
"14. We believe that a brother or sister hath no right to be absent from the sacraments, but only in case they themselves, or the Church, are transgressors of the Divine rules.
" 15. We believe that a private offence is to be brought into the Church, according to the rule in Matthew, eighteenth chapter, from the fifteenth to the seventeenth verses ; and a public offence to be taken hold of by the Church, as a body.
"16. We believe that no case of difficulty may be con- sidered as public, but only such as the major part of the Church have knowledge of, without tattling.
"17. We believe that the Church ought to keep all her meetings for settling difficulties as secret from the world as possible, consistent with evidence.
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EARLY HISTORY OF NEWTON.
"18. We believe that no brother or sister hath a right to go to law with each other, while they remain together in Church state.
"19 .. We believe that no brother or sister ought to make any matter of difficulty with each other, either to their practice or principles, except it be contrary to the word of God.
" 20. We believe the Church ought to support their own poor.
"21. We believe that any person holding, or not holding, the doctrine of laying on of hands upon private persons, ought not to be held as a bar of communion."
July 5th, 1780. A number of persons who have been baptised, on profession of faith, having requested several Churches to be present, met at the house of Noah Wiswall. Rev. Mr. Alden was chosen Moderator, and Rev. Mr. Gair Clerk.
Messrs. Alden, Gair and Blood, approved of the steps already taken, advised them to embody themselves into a Church, on this occasion.
Mr. Alden preached the sermon; Mr. Gair prayed, and read a summary Confession of Faith, used by Mr. Brown's Church, at Boston, to which the following thirty-nine per- sons assented, in the presence of a numerous congregation ; and the whole services were concluded by an exhortation from Mr. Blood. Thirty-four others were added during the year 1780.
Dea. Elhanan Winchester, John Dana,
father of the Preacher,
Aaron Winchester, son of the Deacon, Daniel Winchester, ditto,
Thomas Hastings, son of Samuel, Sen.,
John Shepard, William Cheney, Jr.,
153
FIRST BAPTIST MINISTER, CALEB BLOOD.
Henry Winchester, son of Gulliver,
Edward Hall, Jr.,
Aaron Hall,
Nathan Dana,
Aaron Dana,
Sarah Bartlett, Hannah Fuller,
Elizabeth Hastings, wife of Thomas,
Mercy Barton, Lydia Cheney,
Olive Beal,
Silence Davenport,
Anna Blincowe,
Lucy Shepard, Elizabeth Cheney,
Beulah Winchester,
Elizabeth M. Winchester,
Lucy Richardson,
daughter of Dea. Elhanan, Elizabeth Pond,
Sarah Winchester, ditto,
Abigail Wilson,
Benjamin Park,
Esther Richardson,
Mary Hall,
Susanna Parker,
Margaret Griggs,
Lucy Seager,
Lydia Winchester, daughter of Deacon Elhanan,
Abigail Dana,
Lois Winchester, ditto, Dorcas Richardson,
Hepsibah Jefferd,
Thomas Parker,
Hannah Morse,
Thomas Tollman,
Dorothy Richards,
Eunice Parks,
Deliverance Wiswall,
Elener Dana,
Polly Cheney,
Lydia Cheney,
Abigail Prout, Sarah Goodspeed,
Joseph Hyde,
Gersham Hyde,
Anna Ward,
Elizabeth Whitney,
Rebecca Hammond, Anna Kenrick, Mehitable Wilson, Elizabeth Beal, Esther Fuller,
Samuel Sampson,
Anna Pond,
Hannah Hall,
Thomas Griggs,
Esther Hall,
Noah Wiswall, William Cheney, David Bartlett, Edward Hall, Abigail Meriam,
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EARLY HISTORY OF NEWTON.
Elizabeth Richards, Margaret Hyde, Sarah Jackson.
Hannah Gosson,
Seventy-three, in 1780.
July 15, 1780. "Voted, to give Elder Blood a call, to take charge of this Church for one year."
" Voted, to join the Warren Association, and send dele- gates." Elhanan Winchester and John Shepard were chosen.
September 21. " Voted, that Elhanan Winchester be a leader in this meeting, and John Dana be a leader in the Church, until Christ shall raise up one to take his place,- to have a collection weekly, and John Shepard and Thomas Hastings take charge of the same,- to give Noah Wiswall forty pounds, quarterly, for the use of his house,- that Abigail Prout be provided for, at the expense of the Church."
Elhanan Winchester, David Bartlett, and John Shep- ard were appointed delegates to meet the Warren Associa- tion at Athol, August, 1780. " They stated to the Associa- tion that the number of their Church members was seventy, that they were destitute of a Pastor, and requested to have a supply of preaching the ensuing year."
December. Samuel Sampson chosen Clerk, in lieu of Thomas Hastings. John Shepard chosen Deacon.
January, 1781. " Voted, to request the brethren at Weston to consent that Elder Blood preach with us a part of the time next Spring."
March. "Voted, that the Church assemble themselves in Communion of the Lord's Supper, once in every six weeks."
April 20. " Voted, that Elder Blood be Moderator of this, and all other meetings that may be held, while he remains a Teacher among us." John Shepard chosen Treasurer, and David Bartlett, Assistant Treasurer.
155
FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH.
1783. Elder Blood and Edward Hall, Jr., were chosen to represent this Church, at the Warren Association.
January, 1788. Elder Blood was dismissed at his own request, after having performed the duties of Pastor from January, 1781, to January, 1788. During his ministry, nineteen members were voted in, and fifteen were voted out of the Church; many of the latter were among the first, most respectable, and zealous founders of the Church.
This severe shock to the infant Church, in the early part of Mr. Blood's ministry, was not owing to any unfaithful- ness on his part, but from the fact of the conversion of the Rev. Elhanan Winchester, the celebrated preacher, from the doctrines held by the Baptists, to that of universal res- toration. It was mainly by Winchester's zealous and cap- tivating preaching, that this first Baptist Church was formed, and, by his hands, nearly all its first members had received the ordinance of baptism, and he was called the father of this Church.
His father, Deacon Elhanan Winchester, a pillar of this Church, from the first, with his wife, two sons, and four daughters, embraced the new doctrine of Elhanan, the Preacher ; so, also, did Thomas Hastings and Samuel Sampson, the two first Clerks of the Church, and others, for which they were denied the Communion, and cast out ; some in 1782-3-4 and 1785. The following edict of the Church, to Aaron Winchester, son of the Deacon, and half-brother to Elhanan, the Preacher, will show the manner in which the Church proceeded.
" July 3, 1785.
"The Church of Christ, in Newton, to Aaron Winchester :
" Dear Brother,- Whereas, you have embraced the doc- trine of the eternal salvation of all men, and also, forsaken the worship and communion of the Church, contrary to
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EARLY HISTORY OF NEWTON.
your covenant obligations, and the Church having had labor with you on the subject, and found you to appear in the character of a heretic, and a covenant breaker, and accord- ingly administered an admonition to you, according to Titus, third, tenth, and having waited from September 12, 1784, to this date, and seeing no fruits of repentance in you, we view ourselves bound by the Gospel rules, to administer a second admonition to you, which we think is done in this second letter.
" We entreat you to consider of the error of your ways, that you may bring forth fruits of repentance, before God and man. That God would bless this admonition for that purpose, is the earnest prayer of your brethren in grief.
In behalf of the Church,
CALEB BLOOD, Clerk."
May 6, 1788. The Church and Society both joined unanimously, to give Joseph Grafton a call.
Chose Elder Grafton, Robert Prentice, Abijah Stone and Nathan Dana, delegates to the Association to be held at Sturbridge, and the following letter was sent to the Association :
" The Baptist Church of Christ, in Newton, holding the doctrines of grace in general, and the following in particu- lar : - Divine sovereignty, particular election, total deprav- ity, efficacious grace in regeneration, justification by the righteousness of Christ, saints' final perseverance, and the eternity of punishment in hell.
" To the Warren Association, to be held at Sturbridge, in September, 1788 :
Sendeth Christian Salutation, &c.
157
SECOND BAPTIST MINISTER, JOSEPH GRAFTON.
"Joseph Grafton, a member of our sister Church, at Providence, preached seventeen Lord's days, to the satis- faction of the Church, was, on the 18th June, 1788, or- dained without the noise of axe or hammer." Elders and delegates from the Churches of Middleborough, Boston, Providence, Cambridge, and Medfield. Elder Bachus, Mod- erator ; Samuel Stillman, Clerk. John Stanford, of Provi- dence, preached the sermon ; Elder Bachus gave the charge, and made the ordaining prayer; Dr. Stillman gave the right hand of fellowship ; Mr. Gair, of Medfield, introduced the solemnity, and Mr. Greene made the concluding prayer.
The society passed a vote to build a Meeting-house, in January, 1781, on land given to the society by Noah Wis- wall, adjoining the pond, which bears the name of his great grandfather, Elder Wiswall. The house (thirty-two feet by forty) was a long time in building, and was not fully completed until April, 1795. It was enlarged in 1802, by adding seventeen feet to the west side.
The second Meeting-house was erected at the training field, about sixty rods from the pond ; finished in 1836, and had seventy-six pews on the lower floor. The society was incorporated by an Act of the General Court, February 12th, 1821.
January, 1835. At the request of the brethren and sisters, at and near the Upper Falls, fifty-five members of the Church (seventeen males and thirty-eight females) were dismissed, with christian affection, to form a new Church at the Upper Falls.
December 16, 1836. Mr. Grafton died, aged seventy- nine, having been Pastor of the first Baptist Church, in Newton, forty-eight and a half years. The whole number of members admitted to the Church, during his ministry, was about five hundred.
Frederic A. Willard was installed as Colleague of Mr.
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158
EARLY HISTORY OF NEWTON.
Grafton, November 25th, 1835. He resigned his place, July 10th, 1838. The number of members admitted to the Church, during his ministry, was thirteen.
Professor Ripley, of Newton Theological Institution, was requested to act as Pastor temporarily, and accepted.
January, 1842. Rev. S. F. Smith commenced his labors with the Church. He has published the life of Rev. Mr. Grafton, with historical facts relating to the Church and society.
RECAPITULATION.
1. Caleb Blood, April, 1781 to January 24, 1788, 6 years and 9 months.
2. Joseph Grafton, June 18, 1788 to December 16, 1836, 48 years, 5 months, 28 days.
3. F. Augustus Willard, November 25, 1835 to July 29, 1838, 2 years, 8 months, 4 days.
4. S. F. Smith, January 1, 1842, to the present time.
WEST PARISH SOCIETY.
Previous to 1764, the inhabitants of the westerly part of the town began to take measures to obtain occasional preaching in their neighborhood, and more especially in the Winter season. To that end meetings were held, and a committee was chosen, called "the building committee," consisting of Thomas Miller, innholder, Jonathan Williams, yeoman, and Samuel Hastings, tanner, who were instructed to solicit contributions, and commence the erection of a Meeting-house, as soon as sufficient encouragement was given.
July, 1764. "Phineas Bond, of Newton, innholder, in consideration of £2, 8s., conveyed to the building com-
159
WEST PARISH SOCIETY.
mittee, their heirs and assigns, forever, about eight rods of land, upon which to erect a Meeting-house or houses ; bounding upon the County road, and land of Isaac Wil- liams, and his own land." This Deed was not acknowledged until March, 1780.
The erection of a Meeting-house was commenced in 1764.
1767. Jonathan Williams and others, in the westerly part of the town, requested of the Town that a reasonable sum of money should be granted for the support of preach- ing in their new Meeting-house. Their request was refused by the Town. They petitioned the Town again, in 1770, '72, '73 and '74. In 1773 they petitioned the General Court for a grant of money from the Town treasury, for four months' preaching. In 1778 they petitioned the Gen- eral Court to be set off as an independent Parish, which was granted ; and their Act of Incorporation was passed in October, 1778 ; their dividing line being described in the Act, with liberty to the inhabitants on either side of the line, to belong to whichever parish . they chose, provided they made their election within six months after the passing of the Act.
November, 1778. The first meeting was held to organize under the Act. Jonathan Brown, Esq., was chosen Moder- ator, and Alexander Shepard, Jr., Clerk ; Joseph Jackson, Treasurer ; Alexander Shepard, Jr., Samuel Woodward, and Nathan Park, Assessors; Phineas Bond, Jonathan Williams, Dr. Benjamin Parker, Nathaniel Greenough, and Alexander Shepard, Jr., Standing Committee ; Colonel Nathan Fuller, Collector, and Joshua Jackson, Jr., Sexton.
1779. The proprietors of the Meeting-house chose Alexander Shepard, Jr., Joseph Hyde, and Phineas Bond, to give a title to the pews of the Meeting-house.
160
EARLY HISTORY OF NEWTON.
The first book, wherein to record the doings of the Parish, was the gift of William Hoogs.
The Church was organized in 1781. The following per- sons were dismissed from the first Church, in Newton, and became the first members of the West Parish Church :
Joseph Ward,
Josiah Fuller,
Joseph Jackson,
Jonathan Fuller,
Samuel Jackson,
Jonathan Williams,
Joshua Jackson,
Samuel Woodward,
Alexander Shepard,
Abigail Fuller, Mary Fuller,
Josiah Fuller, Jr.,
Joseph Adams, Jr.,
Elizabeth Fuller,
Jos. Adams, Sen., was received from Brookline Church,
Deborah Woodward, Experience Ward, Lydia Knapp,
Lydia Upham,
Lois Jackson,
Mercy Adams,
Ruth Durell,
Elizabeth Shepard,
Abigail Jackson,
Tabitha Miller.
Samuel Craft,
These twenty-six were the first members of the West Church, which was formed by the Rev. Joseph Jackson, of Brookline, October 21, 1781, who preached a sermon on the occasion. The Covenant was read, the members declared their assent, and voted themselves a Congrega- tional Church, according to the Cambridge platform, and declared their assent to the great or leading doctrines of the general assembly's shorter Catechism.
" Voted, in order to entitle any person to either of the ordinances of the Christian Scriptures, namely : Baptism, and the Lord's Supper, he shall make a public confession of religion, and dedication of himself to God; and that every person so doing, shall be entitled to both ordinances,
161
SECOND MINISTER, LYMAN GILBERT.
and may come to them without making any other profession of his faith and belief."
" Voted, that all Church members be admitted by the major part of the votes. Before any person is admitted, his designs shall be made known in public, by the Pastor, two weeks before admission."
November 8, 1781. William Greenough, having been chosen by a unanimous vote, was ordained Pastor of the first Church in the West Parish of Newton. John Lathrop, of the second Church in Boston, preached the sermon ; Mr. Cushing, of Waltham, gave the charge, and Mr. Jackson, of Brookline, the right hand of fellowship.
" Voted, that a portion of the Scriptures be read in public, on each Lord's day."
" Voted, that brothers Ward, Shepard, and the Pastor, be a committee to form a covenant."
The second Church in Boston gave a Bible to the West Church in Newton. Thomas Greenough, of Boston, (father of the Pastor elect,) presented a Christening Bason, two flagons, and two dishes for the communion service.
December. Joseph Ward and Joseph Jackson chosen Deacons. The first Church gave four pewter tankards, and one pewter dish.
Petitioned the first Church for a portion of the ministe- rial wood lot, in the West Parish.
1809. Jane Pigeon, by Will, made a bequest to the Church, of thirty dollars.
1793. " Voted, that every person who shall stand. pro- pounded the usual time, shall be considered a member of the Church, by assenting to the covenant, if there be no objection. If there be objection, a vote must be taken.""
1827. Asahel Bigelow was chosen Colleague Pastor, with Mr. Greenough, but declined the call.
1828. Lyman Gilbert, from Middlebury, Vermont, was 14*
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EARLY HISTORY OF NEWTON.
chosen Colleague Pastor, with Mr. Greenough, and ac- cepted.
November 10, 1831. Rev. Mr. Greenough died, aged seventy-five, having been Pastor of the first Church in the West Parish fifty years. During his ministry, one hundred and two members were admitted to the Church.
DEACONS OF THE WEST PARISH CHURCH.
Names.
When Chosen.
Died.
Age.
Joseph Ward,
1781
1784
79
Joseph Jackson,
1781
1803
74
Enoch Ward,
1789
1789
38
Joseph Fuller,
1793
1813
62
Thomas Eustis,
1800
1807
75
Joseph Adams,
1806
1813
62
Benjamin Fuller,
1818
Joel Fuller,
1818
1848
62
O. F. Woodford,
1853
J. W. Stone,
1853
ST. MARY'S CHURCH.
PROTESTANT EPISCOPAL, LOWER FALLS.
April 7, 1812. A meeting of the inhabitants of Newton and adjacent towns, desirous of forming themselves into a society of Protestant Episcopalians, was held in the School House at the Lower Falls, and organized themselves into a Parish.
Solomon Curtis and Thomas Durant were chosen Ward- ens, with such other officers as were usual in Episcopalian Churches. A commodious Hall was secured in the building at the west corner of Maine and Church streets, at the
163
EPISCOPAL CHURCH, LOWER FALLS.
Lower Falls, where sermons were read, by several candi- dates for Holy orders; and the sacraments were successively administered by the Rev. Asa Eaton and J. S. J. Gardner, of Boston, and Bishop Griswold. In April, 1813, Rev. Asa Eaton, of Boston, was called to the Rectorship of this Church, and the General Court granted them an Act of Incorporation, June, 1813.
Samuel Brown, Esq., merchant, of Boston, presented to the society two acres of land, for a Church and Cemetery ; and Solomon Curtis, Thomas Durant, Isaac Hager and Nathaniel Wales, were appointed a building committee. September 29, 1813, the corner stone of the Temple was laid.
April 29, 1814. The Temple being completed, was con- secrated by the Right Rev. Alexander V. Griswold, D. D., who preached a sermon on the occasion ; and two adults, eight children, and ten persons, received the Apostolic rite of confirmation.
Public worship was conducted in the new Church, by candidates for Holy orders, who were principally graduates at the Cambridge University.
1817 to 1820, inclusive, Rev. Addison Searle and Cheever Felch, Chaplains in United States Navy, and Rev. George S. White, Missionary, mainly supplied the pulpit.
In the Spring of 1821, the Rev. Samuel B. Shaw, of St. Luke's Church, Lanesboro', officiated several months.
During the first ten years of the Parish, there were one hundred and twenty-nine baptisms; twenty-three per- sons confirmed ; six marriages, and twelve funerals.
1822. Alfred L. Baury officiated for several successive weeks, and William Hurd and Amos Lyon, Jr., Wardens, with Allen C. Curtis, John Nichols and Benjamin Neale, were chosen a committee to confer with Mr. Baury, on the subject of assuming the Rectorship.
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EARLY HISTORY OF NEWTON.
July 8, 1822. Mr. Baury was elected to the Rectorship, and November 28, Bishop Griswold admitted Mr. Baury to the Holy Order of the Priesthood, and preached a sermon on the occasion. The Rev. Dr. Jarvis, of Boston, presented the candidate. The Rev. Mr. Boyle, of Dedham, and Rev. Mr. Otis, of Cambridge, united with the Bishop, in the imposition of hands.
October 8, 1823. The office of induction was performed. The Rev. Dr. Jarvis, by appointment of the Bishop, acted as Institutor, and Dr. Gardiner preached a sermon on the occasion. The Rev. Mr. Boyle, of Dedham, and the Rev .. Mr. Cutler, of Quincy, were present, and assisted.
1838. The Temple was enlarged, by adding sixteen feet to its length, making it seventy feet long by forty-five wide, (exclusive of the tower,) and the basement story was con- verted into a lecture room.
1847. Since the commencement of Mr. Baury's services, in 1822, baptism has been administered to three hundred and sixty-two persons ; one hundred and eighty-eight have been confirmed ; two hundred and thirty-three have been admitted to the communion; eighty-two couples have been married, and two hundred and fifty persons buried. The number of families under his pastoral charge, exceeds one hundred.
The foregoing statements, relative to St. Mary's Church, were extracted from Mr. Baury's sermon, preached in 1847, and printed by J. B. Dow. Rev. Mr. Baury has since been dismissed, and Rev. Andrew Croswell has been settled in his stead.
165
UNITARIAN AND METHODIST SOCIETIES.
UNITARIAN SOCIETY, UPPER FALLS.
"Their Meeting-house was commenced in the Fall of 1827, finished and dedicated February 27, 1828; sermon preached by the Rev. William Ritchie, of Needham.
"The land upon which the Meeting-house stands, was given by the Elliot Manufacturing Company. The house contains forty-eight pews, and cost about three thousand three hundred dollars; of this amount the Elliot Manufac- turing Company paid three fifths, and Rufus Ellis, Esq. paid two fifths.
"The society was incorporated by the Legislature, by the name of the "Upper Falls Religious Society," on the petition of Newell Ellis, Otis Pettee, M. P. Sturtevant, David Bushee, J. Sherman, Moses Craft, Elisha Wiswall, Matthias Collins, Joseph Barney, Walter McFarland, Caleb Haskell, Whipple Freeman, Elijah Story, Joseph Daven- port, Benjamin Davenport, Jr., Orrin Calbin, Frederick Cabot, Rufus Ellis, and others.
" The pulpit was supplied about five years, mainly by preachers of the Unitarian persuasion,- by the Rev. Daniel Kimball, of Needham, Rev. Mr. Walcott, of Nantucket, Rev. George Whitney, of Quincy, and Rev. Andrew Bigelow." *
1832. The Meeting-house was sold to Marshall S. Rice, Esq., of the Methodist denomination, and has since been owned and occupied by the
FIRST METHODIST SOCIETY IN NEWTON.
" The first class of Methodists was formed in 1826, but in consequence of removals, was dissolved. In April, 1828,
* Rufus Ellis, Esq.
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EARLY HISTORY OF NEWTON.
another class was formed, at the Upper Falls, consisting of seventeen members, namely :
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