USA > Massachusetts > Franklin County > Bernardston > History of the town of Bernardston, Franklin county, Massachusetts, 1736-1900, with genealogies > Part 18
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At the age of 23 he took a decided religious stand, and soon af- ter devoted himself to the ministry, receiving an exhorter's license signed by Ephraim Scott. For nine months he gave himself wholly to study, preaching as occasion presented. In 1833 he received his first appointment under the presiding elder, Orange Scott. His work was on the Gill and Colrain circuit, and included several towns, Bernardston being one of the number; this was a six weeks' circuit. In 1834 he joined the conference on trial, was sent to Lit- tle Compton, R. I., and the succeeding year, to the Barnstable cir- cuit. His success from the very beginning was most marked, everywhere winning the love and confidence of his people, and his power and influence for the Master's cause was most decided. Ac- cording to the custom of the times, during the first five years of his professional life he received his board and lodging largely from his parishioners, and in addition, from $66.00 to $80.00 yearly. In 1836-7 he married Harriet Newel Steele, daughter of Rev. Joel Steele. They had seven children, of whom three are living. He died at Ludlow, Mass., June 27. 1886. His family still reside there.
As reference to the list of pastors will show, there were a num- ber who ministered to this church during the next ten years, most of them remaining but a year or so.
Rev. Ichabod Marcy has twice been appointed to lead this soci- ety in worship; first in 1844-5 and again in 1876-9. He is descended from John Marcy, who came to this country April 13, 1686, from
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REV. ICHABOD MARCY.
England. He settled between 1686-9 in Woodstock, Ct. ; married Sarah Hadlock, who was born at Roxbury, Mass., December 16, 1670, had eleven children.
Mr. Marcy was born in Leyden, Mass., July 16, 1811. Until the age of 16, he attended district schools for about two months each year. For the next five years he served an apprenticeship to a hat-maker. He was converted in Colrain, and was one of the first in organizing a Methodist church in that town. His ministerial studies were begun at Shelburne Falls in the spring of 1833 ; there and a year spent at Wilbraham, prepared him for college, and his further education was obtained at the Wesleyan University at Mid- dletown, Ct., from which he graduated in 1839. In 1841 he began preaching, and in 1844-5 was located at Bernardston, Gill and Ley- den (which constituted a circuit), as he was also in 1876-9. He saw 46 years of active work, more than is allotted to most pastors. Mr. Marcy was the first preacher appointed to the charge in Ber- nardston ; the circuit then included Gill, Leyden and Northfield, at which places one-half the time was spent, the other half being devoted to the Bernardston parish. At this time there was neither church nor parsonage owned by the society, and services were held at the Universalist church.
Mr. Marcy has been long known in this community, and has en- deared himself to many outside of his denomination. He died March 20, 1899, in Dorchester, Mass. He married Sarah Haws, daughter of Elijah and Rebecca Gill of Chesterville, Me., June 23, 1841.
CHILDREN.
Charles De Witt, b. October 24, 1842.
Harriet Eliza, b. May 26, 1846; m. W. D. Murdock.
Rev. A. N. Field was here only a short time by reason of his tak- ing part in the great civil conflict then engaging the nation. His wife, Nellie, died August 9, 1862, at the age of 25 years.
Rev. F. M. Miller was here from 1884 to 1887.
Rev. Solomon Cushman was born in Southwick, July 28, 1804, and was the son of Capt. Simeon Merritt Cushman. His lineage is traceable to Rev. Robert Cushman, the Puritan ancestor, through
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METHODIST PASTORS.
Simeon M., Solomon,' Benjamin,4 Thomas,' Elder Thomas,2 Rev. Robert.1 He married November 1, 1824, Betsey Williams, daugh- ter of William Prentice. His was not a collegiate education, but rather such as a hard working student could obtain in the common schools. In 1838 he was ordained to the ministry, and preached in various places in New Hampshire and Massachusetts. He was in Bernardston two, and Gill one and one-half years. While sta- tioned at the latter place, he died suddenly October 8, 1853. He was an able, earnest preacher, winning for himself the respect and esteem of all.
Rev. A. W. Baird was the son of a farmer, and born in Lysan- der, N. Y., January 13, 1846. His minority was passed in farm and shop work, acquiring such knowledge as was available in the dis- trict schools. At the age of eighteen he became possessed of a de- sire to acquire a better training preparatory to entering the minis- try, and accordingly entered the Falley Seminary, N. Y., through which he finally worked his way, and entered the theological de- partment of the Boston University, graduating after a four years' course in 1872, since which time he has had various appointments. Mr. Baird made it his home in Bernardston from April, 1887, until April, 1890.
Rev. N. F. Stevens resided in town until his death, June 8, 1879, ae. 48. He was in feeble health for a number of years.
Rev. Horace Smith was ordained as an evangelist at Hadley, February 27, 1822, and went to Trumbull County, Ohio, in the ser- vice of the Hampshire Missionary Society. Many of the latter years of his life were spent in town as a carpenter, his last home being in North Bernardston, and later, the site of the old Brick . Fort.
THE DORRELLITES.
In various parts of the country one frequently reads accounts of and wonders at the strange so-called religious zeal manifested. Fanaticism seems oftentimes a more appropriate term. While we see and wonder, how many of the younger generation, surely, realize that about the year 1794, there sprang up here in our midst, a sect, whose teachings were just as fanatical and just as foreign
·
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THE DORRELLITES.
to all civilized Christian practises as was possible for them to be. From the name of the founder of this order, William Dorrell, came the name of these strange believers, "The Dorrellites." In 1882 F. M. Thompson, Esq., read a most excellent paper upon this sub- ject before the P. V. M. A., and free reference has been made to his production for much of the following, supplemented by notes of the conversations held by Gov. Cushman with both Mr. Dorrell and some of his followers.
On Monday, January 27, 1834, in company with Geo. T. Davis, Esq., of Greenfield, Gov. Cushman writes that he visited "William Dor- rell-alias-the famous imposter, Dorrell." He was the son of an English farmer, born in Yorkshire, Eng., March 15, 1752. He be- came in early life a soldier, serving through three campaigns in Ireland ; after this he emigrated to America and served through two campaigns here, being under Burgoyne at his surrender in 1777.
Upon his resumption of civil life, he settled at Petersham, Mass. Here he married Polly Chase, a woman ten years his junior. At the expiration of two years he moved to Warwick ; his home for some succeeding years was in Northfield, in 1784 going thence to Leyden.
In appearance he was described as being large of stature, six feet or more in height, his forehead full and sloping, eyes quick, "and having the phrenological development of firmness very full indeed." He was in many respects a most remarkable man, al- though a most ignorant and intemperate one. Intoxicated to the worst degree, or perfectly sober, he was never known to make an engagement which he did not fulfill to the letter. Uneducated, not even able to read or write, he nevertheless possessed an unusu- ally retentive memory, being able to repeat a large portion of the Bible from hearing it read by his wife. He was possessed of a pleas- ing address, which, combined with good native talent, must have constituted an important factor of his power.
His home at the time of Gov. Cushman's visit, was in the north- west corner of Leyden, in a poor old smoky house, situated away from the traveled road and remote from any residence of human beings. The furniture consisted of a table, loom, bed, crockery
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THE DORRELLITES.
shelves and two or three chairs. There at the age of 82 or 83 he lived alone, possessed of remarkably good health. Although he then had no followers, he still clung to his belief, saying that the Bible was "all wrong, all wrong!" He thought that some of the old Dorrellites still clung to the religion, even though they might not publicly acknowledge it. Even at that age he took a pride in telling his callers that he would persist in getting drunk occa- sionally.
With his beliefs and the teachings he sought to instill into the minds of his followers, it seems unparalleled that so many promi- nent men of the time should class themselves as among his adher- ents. Asa rule the Dorrellites were respectable, churchgoing men, several of them town officials, and numbered some 20 or 30 families. Among them we find the names of Hezekiah Newcomb, Samuel and John Connable, Ezra Shattuck, Charles Packer, Messrs. Dewey and Eddy, Zenas, Reuben and Michael Frizzell, Capt. Parmenter, Joshua Wells, Abner Evans, Mr. Paige, Amos Burrows, Reuben Sheldon, James and Pitts Phillips, Charles Stearns, David Potter, Jedediah Fuller and John Dixon. Probably the greater part of these were residents of Leyden.
The first revelation which led to the founding of the faith came to Dorrell while he was "chopping." He did not seem to be able to recall it exactly, but in his conversation gave it as "Render your- self an agreeable sacrifice," or something similar. There were many subsequent ones pertaining, no doubt, to the practises to be put in execution. "His first success as a preacher was about 1794, and gaining a few followers the strange doctrines soon spread from neighborhood to neighborhood and quite a number of respectable people were attracted by them and cast in their lot with their hu- manitarian leader, for the doctrine as first declared was founded upon the principle that man should not eat of flesh, and should not cause the death of any living creature. The doctrine was carried to that extent that no member might wear shoes or use harnesses made of leather, or use the skins of animals for any domestic pur- pose." The majority of his followers wore wooden shoes made by one of their number, Ezra Shattuck. To this rule Mr. Amos Bur- rows was an exception, and from the fact that his blacksmith bel-
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THE DORRELLITES.
lows were first covered in the usual manner with leather, and a covering of painted cloth put on outside so that he nominally con- formed to the custom merely, we may conclude that he was not as enthusiastic a member of the fold as some. The harnesses were made of rope, and much of the cloth used for domestic purposes was a coarse tow cloth.
"With his success in obtaining followers, his inspiration increased and he was led to preach that every generation of men had its Mes- siah : that He was the Messiah of his generation ; that no arm of flesh could hurt him; that there was no resurrection from the dead; that when 'resurrection' was spoken of in the Bible its meaning was a resurrection from a state of sin to spiritual life; that Jesus Christ was a spirit; that he took a body ; that he died, but that he never was raised from the dead; that all who are raised from a state of sin to this spiritual life become perfect ; that they can then do no sin, and are no more responsible to the civil law, and are be- yond all 'principalities and powers.' There was no future judg- ment, no knowledge after death of what passed in this world ; that God had no power over man to control his actions, therefore there was no need of prayer. He had no hope for the future, but he had an abundance of assurance that all was well. He was perfect, his body being in perfect obedience to the spirit, and his followers were comparatively perfect, as the members of the body are per- fect when compared with the head; that all covenants made by God with men were ended, and he was the head of a new cove- nant ; that neither Moses nor Christ wrought miracles, and that he stood precisely the same as Jesus Christ, and that while no person might worship his human body yet he might be worshiped as Christ was worshipped, as God united to human flesh."
This is the substance of a "confession of faith," if it might be so called, obtained from the lips of Dorrell by the Rev. John Taylor of Deerfield in 1798, the interview being had for that purpose. As the freedom of sin arrived at by the followers of this new seer led them into the commission of acts condemned by the majority of people as grossly immoral, Dorrell was very cautious, the Rev. Mr. Taylor says, about committing. himself on those subjects, but upon the subject of marriage he declared that when a husband or
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THE DORRELLITES.
wife became perfect, by being raised to the spiritual life, the other party was not holden by the old covenant or the civil law ; and if both were raised, still the parties were not holden to each other and had perfect right to promiscuous intercourse.
The sect had no meetings for worship, as they considered all days alike, one day as holy as another, and according to report their later meetings were scenes of most outrageous and beastly conduct, interspersed with the singing of "bacchanalian songs and lascivious addresses." At one time seven Dorrellites were complained of for raising a building on Sunday. Securing Richard F. Newcomb of Greenfield as their attorney, all were cleared but one.
The sect had a common treasury, and the office was filled by a shrewd business man, and it is a common report that the Dorrellite treasury was the foundation of the fortune of one of the wealthiest and most influential families in this portion of the county, but whether there is more truth in the story than the fact that the founder of one of our most highly respected families was the treas- urer of the sect, I know not.
The sect was at the height of its prosperity about 1798, but Dor- rell having become addicted to habits of intemperance, his influ- ence with the more respectable portion of his followers began to wane, while he more vigorously proclaimed his possession of supe- rior powers and his immunity from all bodily weaknesses and harm, to the disgust of the better portion of the community, who believed that he was the representative of the evil spirit rather than the good.
The final meeting of the sect is described by Thompson, in his gazetteer of Vermont, in the following language : "At length, at one of their meetings, a goodly number having assembled, Dorrell opened with music, and began to deliver a discourse. Among the spectators was one, Capt. Ezekiel Foster, a man of good sense, of a giant frame, having a countenance which bespoke authority. When Dorrell, in the course of his remarks, uttered the words ' No arm of flesh can harm me,' Foster arose, indignant at the blasphemy and boasting of Dorrell, and stretching forth his brawny arm, knocked him down with his fist. Affrighted and almost senseless, Dorrell attempted to rise, when he received a second blow, at which
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THE DORRELLITES.
he cried for mercy. Foster promised to forebear on condition that he would renounce his doctrine, yet continued to beat him. A short parley ensued, when Dorrell yielded and renounced his doc- trines in the hearing of all his astonished followers." They, ashamed of having been the victims of such duplicity, quickly departed, and it is a remarkable fact that none of them were afterwards known to form any connection with any religious society. Dorrell himself was made to promise that his own life should pay the penalty of any future impositions.
In the practices of his religion he claimed the assistance of his black fiddler, Jack, who was, he said, possessed of plenty of both ignorance and cunning. When asked why he had set up a religion of his own, his reply was "To see what fools I can make of people." He admitted himself to be an ignorant old countryman, and that he had led the people a wild goose chase long enough.
Dorrell spent the remainder of his life in Leyden, nearly 50 years, but for many years prior to his death he was maintained as a town charge. He died Aug. 28, 1846, aged 94 years, 5 months, 13 days. He had literally starved himself to death by refusing any food, saying that he had lived long enough, and that. if he con- tinued to eat he never should die. He has descendants living in and near the territory which witnessed the scenes brought about by Dorrellism, who are numbered as being among our intelligent, respected citizens.
CHAPTER IX.
BERNARDSTON'S CENTENNIAL, AUG. 20, 1862.
The history of no nation or race would be complete without an account of its festive days. They are to be found in some form in every known country, the manner of their celebration differing, not only on account of the kind of an event to be commemorated, but also in direct proportion to the character, intelligence and civ- ilization of the participants. A little thoughtful retrospect will in- controvertibly establish this truism. In the aboriginal tribes of a country, the highest motives ascribed for any celebration are usually found either in the rites attendant upon the offerings to their heathen deities, the intensity of their observance being proportion- ate to the imaginary blessings conferred, or which they wish to receive; or perhaps in feasting because of a victory recently ac- quired over some neighboring tribes. Usually a superstitious relig- ious tendency pervades it all, and the observance is typical of a people whom scientists would place upon almost the lowest plane of civilization. Through all the so-called heathen races this man- ner of celebration, modified in one way or another, is apparent. As we advance in the civilized scale, notice the pace assumed and main- tained by the mind, until in the intelligent civilized races of to-day, the character of the celebrations is such that it is as well the in- tellect to which food is administered. And in the progress which present generations are making in this direction may be found striking illustrations of the increasing power constantly being ac- quired by mind over matter.
In the lives of individuals, the rapidly passing years bring to each many days, the observance of which are attended with feel- ings pleasurable; and then again, with emotions too sacred to be shown even to the most intimate and sympathizing. And to many, days come and their celebrations in which these conflicting emotions are each striving for the supremacy, for it often happens that in the keenest pleasure there is a trace of pain impossible to be eliminated.
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CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION.
So it is in a town's and a nation's history. They each have their days of mourning and of gladness; but in such cases these ele- ments are kept more distinct. As our country grows older, how many places do we know and read of which are celebrating their festive days, days which are peculiarly their own, in that they are anniversaries of their natal days, and by their records such towns show that they have reason to take a pride-and a just pride-in what they have accomplished, and with the prospect of doing still more in future years.
With such feelings do we imagine the inhabitants of our town to have been stirred as they realized that very soon would be here the one hundredth anniversary of her incorporation. And when we recall that at this time the whole nation was in the midst of a fiercely contested civil war, that her existence was seriously threat- ened, and that in spite of all these things which the feeble spirited might have termed discouragements at the beginning, these towns- men following in the late Gov. Cushman's lead, got up such a mag- nificent one hundredth birthday gathering, and one which in its results has exerted such lasting beneficial influences, is it any won- der that we experience such feelings of pride and exultation at the remembrance ?
As early as 1861, the matter was agitated and it was voted that "this town will, in its municipal capacity, at such time during the next year as shall hereafter be determined upon, in a suitable and proper manner, celebrate the one hundredth anniversary of its in- corporation as a town."
The town of Leyden entered enthusiastically into the matter, and appointed a committee to confer with the committee chosen by the parent town. On the 11th of January, 1862, these committees met in the town hall at Bernardston, chose Hon. Henry W. Cushman as chairman, and voted to have the celebration on Wednesday, the 20th day of August, 1862. Sub committees were appointed and the committee separated, agreeing that this celebration should be one " worthy the descendants of the old ' Falls Fight Township' and which will be creditable to those towns a hundred years hence," and how nobly this committee fulfilled their mission, the event proved. The following invitation was issued :
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INVITATION.
"CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION OF THE INCORPORATION OF BERNARDSTON, MASS.
To all the people of Bernardston and Leyden, -to all who have resided in, or are natives of either of those towns, and to all who are connected with them by ties of consanguinity or marriage :-
Brethren and Friends:
At a legal meeting of the Town of Bernardston, held on the 5th day of November, 1861, the following Preamble and Votes were unanimously adopted :---
WHEREAS, the territory now contained in the TOWNS OF BER- NARDSTON, LEYDEN, and a part of COLERAINE, was granted by the Legislature of the Province of Massachusetts in 1734, to those and the descendants of those who were in the battle fought on the 18th of May, 1676, at Turners Falls on the Connecticut River, -between the Indians and the English settlers, -which grant for about 25 years, was called "The Falls Fight Township," or "Fall Town."
AND WHEREAS, said territory was incorporated as a Town by the name of Bernardston, in 1762, and therefore, the first Centennial Anniver- sary of said town occurs during the next year:
AND WHEREAS, the remembrance of the important eras in the life of individuals and of communities furnishes a good opportunity, in accord- ance with the higher principles of our nature and of an enlightened and Christian civilization, to review their past history and experience, and form resolutions for the future;
THEREFORE VOTED, That this Town will, in its municipal charac- ter, at such time during the next year as shall hereafter be determined on, in a suitable and proper manner, celebrate the One Hundredth Anniver- sary of its Incorporation as a town :
VOTED, That a Committee of Twelve, consisting of the present select- men, Town Clerk, School committee and Constable of the town, and five others at large be appointed to make all the arrangements and take such measures as may be necessary to carry out the object contemplated in this celebration :
VOTED, That the district and other schools be invited to attend the Celebration in a body, with their teachers and friends.
AND WHEREAS, The Town of Leyden was for many years a part of Bernardston
THEREFORE VOTED, That the inhabitants of Leyden be invited to join with us in this celebration.
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PREPARATIONS FOR CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION.
The following committee was appointed agreeable to the foregoing vote, viz .- S. N. Brooks, Town Clerk; S. J. Lyons, I. K. Brown, P. L. Cushman, Selectmen; Rev. H. B. Butler, B. S. Burrows, School committee; E. C. Hale, Constable; Hon. H. W. Cushman, Prof. L. F. Ward, Hon. John Sander- son, R. F. Newcomb, Dea. David Streeter, at large.
At a legal meeting of the town of Leyden held the same day, the follow- . ing vote was passed :-
VOTED, To unite with the town of Bernardston in celebrating the one hundredth anniversary of the incorporation of that town, and to choose a committee of five to confer with a like committee from said town, in fur- therance of that object; and that DAVID MOWRY, HORACE POTTER, F. W. CARLTON, CHESTER SEVERANCE, and OLIVER CHAPIN, · constitute said committee.
And at a meeting of the aforesaid committees of Bernardston and Ley- · den held in the town hall in Bernardston on Saturday, the 11th day of Jan- ary, 1862, Hon. HENRY W. CUSHMAN having been chosen Chairman, and Silas N. Brooks Esq. Secretary, it was
VOTED, That whereas the 6th. day of March, on which the Act In- corporating the town of Bernardston was passed, and the 11th. day of May, on which said Act was accepted by the town, are inconvenient days for a general meeting of the people, the Celebration of the Centennial 'Anniver- sary of the Incorporation of Bernardston be appointed on
WEDNESDAY, THE 20th DAY OF AUGUST, 1862.
And on that day all the descendants of "Fall Town" and all who are in any way connected with them, be invited to assemble at the town hall in Bernardston, at 10 o'clock A. M. and join in such Public Exercises as may be appropriate to such an occasion.
Come, then, Kinsmen and Friends :- Come one and all, to this gathering of the lineage of a common ancestry-this meeting of an historic era-this . One Hundredth Jubilee of our natal or adopted town. Come once more to the home of your Fathers; to the hearth stone where you first saw the blessed light of Heaven. Quench your thirst again from 'the old oaken bucket,' which hangs in the well. Stand once more, if never again, at the graves of your ancestors and the monuments which commemorate their memory.
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