USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Canton > History of the town of Canton, Norfolk County, Massachusetts > Part 43
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THE FOURTH MINISTER.
CHAPTER XXXV.
THE FOURTH MINISTER.
O N the 3d of November, 1806, Joseph Bemis, Elijah Dun- bar, and Abner Crane were appointed a committee to hire preaching. They procured the services of Rev. Messrs. Thacher, Morey, of Walpole, Reed, of Easton, Whitaker, of Sharon, and Bates, of Dedham. On Sunday, November 30, Mr. Ritchie preached in Canton for the first time as a candi- date. William, the son of James and Sarah Ritchie, was born in Peterborough, N. H., March 25, 1781 ; he married, June 25, 1811, Clarissa, daughter of Daniel Kimball, of Bradford, Mass. He was descended from what is commonly called Scotch-Irish stock, -those Lowland Scotch who went over to Ulster in 1611. His ancestors settled in Lunenburg, from which place William emigrated to Peterborough, and be- came one of the first settlers of that town. His son Wil- liam entered Dartmouth College at the age of nineteen, and graduated in the class of 1804. He studied theology with the Rev. Dr. Joseph Lathrop, of West Springfield, Mass. He preached for a short time at Antrim, N. H. In his early ministry he was inclined to a belief in the Trinity, but in a short time he became a convert to the faith now known as Unitarian.
On the 23d of December, 1806, the parish committee met at Carroll's tavern, still standing near Aunt Katy's Brook; a long consultation was held, Mr. Carroll, Mr. Ritchie, and Rev. Mr. Thacher taking part. Subsequently the commit- tee adjourned to the house of Deacon Dunbar, where it was decided to give Mr. Ritchie a call on certain conditions.
On Feb. 15, 1807, the church held a meeting; and on the 26th of March following, Mr. Ritchie was chosen pastor.
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HISTORY OF CANTON.
The moderator, Elijah Dunbar, was directed to present the vote of the church to the selectmen and request them to insert an article in the town-meeting warrant, to see what grants it would be reasonable to offer the pastor-elect for a decent and honorable support. The town, at this meeting, held April 6, voted unanimously to concur with the church in giving the Rev. Mr. Ritchie a call to the pastoral care of the church; and a committee of twenty-five were ap- pointed to attend to the necessary "grants." This com- mittee recommended that there be paid the pastor five hundred and seventy-five dollars annually, and that he be allowed three Sundays in every year to visit his friends, and allowed eight cords of wood. They also reported it expedient to grant one thousand dollars as a settlement, to be on interest from the day of the ordination until paid, provided that if Mr. Ritchie remove from town, or cease to carry on the work of the ministry within twenty years, he should refund to the town such a part of the one thou- sand dollars' settlement, to be computed according to the number of years wanting to complete the twenty years ; that is to say, that if he remove or cease to preach for ten years, he shall refund five hundred dollars.
The following letter was read in town meeting, June 2, 1807: -
To the Church and Congregation in Canton, Mass. :
BRETHREN, - I have considered the invitation you have given me to settle with you as your pastor with a religious attention, viewing your unanimity, the offers you have made for my support, which are very generally esteemed liberal, weighing all the circumstances which respect you and myself, and having sought for counsel and aid in the important affair, I conclude Providence has designed my future min- isterial labors for Canton. As it is, however, not only reasonable, but absolutely necessary that those who depend on salaries for support should receive them as soon as they become due, I expect interest will be allowed me, should there be a delinquency of payment. Per- suaded that you will consider this as reasonable, and cheerfully grant it, I declare my cordial acceptance of your invitation, and my deter- mination to spend and be spent for you. Convinced of the impor-
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THE FOURTH MINISTER.
tance of the gospel ministry as the means by which we become reconciled to God, and by which saints are edified and built up in their most holy faith ; persuaded that there are many difficulties attending the discharge of the ministerial duties, that much self- denial is necessary, and realizing my own insufficiency, - I am ready to adopt the words of an inspired preacher, " Who is sufficient for these things?" But although the work is arduous and important, as the happiness of immortal spirits is its great object, and though I am my- self inadequate, and must shrink from the undertaking, yet in the Lord Jehovah is everlasting strength, and on him I depend. Though encouraged by your candor and friendship, of which I have had proof, yet my greatest encouragement and support is the kind promise of the Saviour to his faithful ministers, "Lo ! I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world, and my grace is sufficient for you." Sen- sible of the imperfection of human nature, and of the need of heavenly influences to direct in the path of duty, I earnestly desire your prayers that I may be furnished with wisdom from on high, with. piety and all the gifts and graces which are necessary for the important employ- ment of a gospel minister, and that I may be a useful and successful laborer in this part of the vineyard of Christ. May we live in peace, that the God of peace may be with us; may we be mutual aids to each other's virtue and happiness in this world, and in the world to come receive crowns of immortal glory ! Now unto him who is able to keep us from falling, and to present us faultless before the presence of his glory with excessive joy, to the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen. WILLIAM RICHEY.
CANTON, May 23, 1807.
Matters to all appearance having been satisfactorily ar- ranged, it was decided that letters-missive to assist at the ordination be sent to the First Church in West Springfield, New Salem, Peterborough, N. H., and to the churches in the neighboring towns of Dorchester, Milton, Dedham, Sharon, Stoughton, and Randolph. On the morning of July 1, 1807, the members of the church to the number of twenty assem- bled at the tavern of Capt. Amos Upham; three only were absent. A letter of dismissal from the church in New Salem was read, and Mr. Ritchie was admitted a member of the Canton Church. From the house of Mr. Upham the coun- cil adjourned to the meeting-house. Conspicuous in the
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HISTORY OF CANTON.
procession was Capt. Consider Atherton, the oldest mem- ber of the church; although in the ninety-fifth year of his age, he had walked from his dwelling-house, a distance of about four miles, and after the exercises he was to walk back. He had listened to the ministrations of Morse, Dun- bar, and Howard, and was proud of being present at the ordination of their successor. The services at the ordina- tion consisted of an introductory prayer by Rev. Jonathan Strong, of Randolph, after which the sermon was preached .. by Rev. Elijah Dunbar from the text in Luke ix. 60, “Go thou and preach the kingdom of God; " this sermon was afterward printed by order of the church. It contains an appendix, which gives a historical sketch of the church and parish, from the pen of Rev. Elijah Dunbar. After the ser- mon followed the ordaining prayer, by Rev. Thomas Thacher, of Dedham, and the charge, by Rev. Jabez Chickering, of the same town. The Rev. Edward Richmond, of Stoughton, gave the hand of fellowship, and the concluding prayer was offered by Thaddeus M. Harris, D. D., of Dorchester.
The town voted that the salary to be paid Mr. Ritchie should be adjusted yearly, according to the value of the staple articles of life, on the first week in May. This curious arrangement worked to the benefit sometimes of the pastor, sometimes of the town.
From Jan. 19, 1799, to July 20, 1806, the records of the church, if any were kept, were mislaid or lost. The last entry made by Mr. Howard was under date of July 27, 1806, at a time when, in the words of a contemporary, " he struggled for several months with a complication of painful disorders."
In the interim between the death of Mr. Howard and the ordination of Mr. Ritchie, the records of the church were kept by Deacon Elijah Dunbar, and he was very anxious to recover as far as possible the records of the pastorate preced- ing. It was voted Nov. 2, 1806, that Mr. Dunbar apply to Mrs. Howard for the records kept by Mr. Howard; but search for any regular record seems to have been fruitless, and the clerk was obliged to content himself with the information that during the first decade of Mr. Howard's ministry two hundred
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THE FOURTH MINISTER.
and ninety-eight children were baptized; seventy-one couples were married; one hundred and twenty-five funerals were attended; and sixteen individuals joined the church. The earlier record of Morse consisted of sheets of paper sewn together, much worn with handling, the ink faded, and the handwriting in many cases cramped and illegible. The rec- ord of Mr. Dunbar was a small book capable of being carried in a coat-pocket, written in a stenography devised by himself, and entirely unintelligible to any one except himself and members of his family. It was therefore voted in 1807 that the Rev. Elijah Dunbar, who was acquainted with the written characters of his grandfather, be employed to translate and transcribe the ancient records of the church from its founda- tion ; this office Mr. Dunbar performed, and received from the funds of the church one hundred dollars for his services.
Deacon Dunbar died on the 25th of October. In Novem- ber, the church funds, consisting of nearly thirteen hundred dollars, were transferred to the care of Deacon Tucker. Thomas Dunbar, the son of the deceased deacon, received almost a unanimous vote to fill his father's place, but declined the proffered honor; and Ebenezer Gay was chosen to the office on Jan. 20, 1818.
On Fast Day, 1812, Dr. Richmond, of Stoughton, preached for Mr. Ritchie. In his sermon he said that "it was absurd for a small people like ourselves, with ten ships, to contend with a powerful nation like England, with more than a thou- sand." Four persons immediately got up and walked out of church; their names have been preserved in the doggerel of the time. They were, -
" General Crane (Nathan), Joses Hill, Hatter John (Wentworth), Ben Gill."
The sentiments expressed in the sermon were distasteful to the worshippers in the old church, and they decided to make their opinion a matter of record; and in the warrant for the next town meeting appeared the following article: -
" Art. 13th, To see if the town will pass a vote expressive of their disapprobation that the Rev. Edward Richmond should hereafter be
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HISTORY OF CANTON.
introduced into the desk of the Canton Meeting House on Lord's days, Fast days, Thanksgiving days, and Lecture days, as a teacher of religious morality."
A committee of fifteen were appointed to take the matter into consideration, and in April, 1813, reported -
"that the town pass a vote expressive of their disapprobation that the Rev. Edward Richmond should hereafter be introduced into the desk of the Canton Meeting House on Lord's days, Fast days, Thanks- giving days, and Lecture days, as a teacher of religious morality, and that the Town Clerk be directed to serve the Rev. William Ritchie with a copy without delay."
During the ministry of Mr. Ritchie the separation of the parish from the town took place. Until this time, the set- tling and paying of a minister was managed in town meet- ing. Every citizen was a member of the First Parish. Each head of a family was taxed in the First Parish, and his minis- terial rate was as much a part of his tax-bill as his school or highway rate, all being assessed according to property. In 1752 this tax had been resisted with success by the churchmen, and their rates remitted them. In 1769 the Anabaptists brought suit against the town for their rates. In 1812 it was voted that the ministerial tax be made sep- arate and distinct. Two years after, an attempt was made to have the people who attended Mr. Ritchie's church as- semble by themselves, attend to keeping their meeting-house in repair, and pay Mr. Ritchie. In other words, there was a growing desire to be freed from supporting preaching which might not be agreeable or profitable to the listeners. When this feeling became general, laws were not wanting to express it ; in fact, the First Parish of Canton, appreciating the justice of the matter of non-taxation, appointed a committee in May, 1814, "to relieve those persons who have deserted from Ritchie's preaching " from taxation; and in 1815 the town voted "not to tax dissenters." In 1819 the dissolution be- tween town and parish became complete, the town voting December 6, "not to raise any money for ministerial pur- poses." In course of time laws were passed so that later
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THE FOURTH MINISTER.
no one was obliged by law to pay a tax to the First Parish ; but non-payers were obliged to file a certificate with the town clerk that they were members of some other religious soci- ety. This expedient was taken advantage of by many, and numbers suddenly became "Universalists" and "Baptists." Those that remained members of the First Parish presented in 1820 a petition to the General Court, setting forth that the town of Canton was originally the First Parish of Stoughton, and that up to that time all the business of the parish had been transacted in town meeting, but a number of those who had been accustomed to support preaching at the First Par- ish having recently seceded, they, the petitioners, desired that the General Court authorize the Hon. Joseph Bemis, Esq., to grant a warrant directed to some principal inhabitant of said parish, requiring him to notify and warn the freeholders qualified to vote in the parish affairs to meet and choose such officers as are required by law to be chosen in the months of March or April annually, and who had heretofore been chosen in town meeting. On the 26th of January the peti- tion was committed to the Committee on the Incorporation of Parishes,1 and on the 29th was passed in the Senate, con- curred in by the House, and approved by the Governor. By virtue of the authority thus granted, Bemis issued his warrant directed to Thomas Tolman, Esq .. Henceforth the old parish was to be legally known as The First Congrega- tional Parish in Canton, and since 1820 all matters of a reli- gious nature have been transacted, not in town, but in parish meetings.
Thomas Tolman, mentioned above, the son of Samuel, was born in Stoughton, Feb. 20, 1791, and died in Boston, June 20, 1869; he was descended from Thomas, born in England in 1608, who settled in Dorchester. He graduated from Brown University in 1811 ; studied law, and opened an office in Canton in 1815 at what is now the corner of Washing- ton and Church streets, where he continued in practice until 1837, when he removed to Boston. He received the honor- ary degree of A. M. from Harvard in 1822. He was for ten years a member of the Legislature, and a member of Gov-
1 See Appendix XXX.
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HISTORY OF CANTON.
ernor Briggs's council in 1849 and 1850. He was much in- terested in the history of this town, and delivered several lectures on the subject to his townspeople. His notes and memoranda, if he left any, have been mislaid or destroyed.
A communication from Rev. Mr. Ritchie was read to the members of the parish, on March 27, 1820, in which he says that owing to the fact that a number of those who originally contracted to pay his salary have availed themselves of a law which exempts them from a fulfilment of their contract, he is willing to make some deduction from his stipulated salary, and agrees to receive five hundred dollars for his salary the present year, provided it be paid on or before July I. “I have made," he says, "these propositions with a sincere desire to promote the peace and harmony of this society, and to alleviate your burdens." A committee was appointed, who had an interview with Mr. Ritchie ; and in their report it appears that in addition to the financial troubles there were persons in the parish who were dissatisfied with Mr. Ritchie as their teacher. Mr. Ritchie at once desired the parish to ascertain who were dissatisfied ; when the vote was taken, thirty-seven voted that they were dissatisfied, and twenty-five that they were not.
At a subsequent meeting the parish voted "that the parish have nothing to object to as to the morals or moral charac- ter of the Rev. Mr. Ritchie, and that they esteem him as a gentleman who is aiming at the general good of society, as it respects their present and future happiness."
On May 22, the parish received the following letter : -
To the Congregational Parish in Canton :
GENTLEMEN, - All my exertions to conciliate your affections and promote peace proving ineffectual, I have relinquished all hope of usefulness ; I do not therefore object to the dissolution of the pastoral relation on equitable terms. I would however inform you that I shall consider myself under no obligation to abide by any communications I have made respecting my salary which have not already been accepted by the parish ; and should I continue among you after the present year expires, my demand will be for the original sum.
Yours, etc.,
WILLIAM RITCHIE.
ROGER SHERMAN.
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THE FOURTH MINISTER.
Upon receipt of this letter the parish at once sought legal advice, but the matter was arranged by stipulating for the payment to Mr. Ritchie of $575 in cash, and sixteen cords of wood, worth sixty-four dollars. It is doubtful whether the entire sum was raised. It is asserted that it was repre- sented to Mr. Ritchie that all the money that could be raised would come out of the pockets of his friends, and it is pre- sumed that he accepted a nominal sum. The church voted, April 2, 1821, to give the parish fifty dollars to settle with Mr. Ritchie. At a meeting of the church, held on the 18th of June, 1820, by mutual consent, the Rev. Thomas Rich pre- sided, and the following letter from the pastor was read : -
To the Church of Christ in Canton :
BRETHREN, - Having acceded to the proposition of the parish relative to the dissolution of my pastoral relation, I do therefore request you to unite with me in the choice of an ecclesiastical coun- cil, that my connection with you as a pastor may be dissolved.
WILLIAM RITCHIE.
Deacon Elijah Gill and Nathan Crane were appointed to send letters-missive to the churches at Stoughton, Milton, and the three churches at Dedham.
The spirit of forbearance and accommodation appears to have been mutual. Mr. Ritchie was invited to take part in the ordination services of his successor, who writes that " one of the most pleasing circumstances which marked the ordi- nation of your present pastor was the solemn and interesting part so affectionately and ably performed by his predecessor. The church inviting him to be a member of the council, and his consenting to take the part assigned him, present a gratifying specimen of Christian candor and moderation rarely to be met with on occasions of a similar nature."
Mr. Ritchie was chosen by the united and almost unani- mous suffrage of the society. For a number of years his performances were very acceptable and satisfactory. The perfect harmony that prevailed afforded an encouraging presage of future usefulness and prosperity. The high es- teem with which he was regarded on account of his learning,
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HISTORY OF CANTON.
piety, and talents promised to secure to him a lasting and permanent attachment. But after thirteen years of service, composing sermons which were prepared with careful exact- ness, and many of which were declared by his contemporaries to have been eloquent and much admired, he asked and re- ceived liis dismissal. " Little did I dream," said he, in his farewell discourse, "when thirteen years ago I settled among you, but that our connection would last during my life; but now, alas! I shall to-day descend these pulpit stairs for the last time. Some years ago you would, had it been possible, have pulled out your eyes, and given them to me. How great the contrast! I appeal to the Supreme Judge of the earth for the rectitude of my intentions, before whom we must all appear, - I, to give an account of my faithfulness as a steward in the Lord's vineyard, and you, with what ad- vantage you have heard the gospel of salvation."
Mr. Ritchie built, in 1809, a house now standing on Pleas- ant Street. Rev. Benjamin Huntoon purchased it from him on the 22d of June, 1822, and during his first ministry in Canton it was occupied by him; it was one of the houses lived in by Rev. Mr. Knapp. It passed in 1831 into the possession of Elijah Crane, Jr., who sold it on Feb. 20, 1843. From 1846 to 1854 it was owned by Benjamin R. Nichols; from him it passed to Mr. Thomas W. Ward, who was for many years the American agent for the English banking- house of Baring Brothers. Mr. Ward expended over forty thousand dollars in beautifying and adorning his home. He erected a large greenhouse and grapery, planted a great num- ber of forest and fruit trees, laid out walks, and made the place a garden. The beautiful shade-trees which line Ragged Row were nearly all planted by him.
After leaving Canton, Mr. Ritchie accepted a call from the First Parish in Needham, where he was installed Dec. 12, 1821, succeeding the Rev. Stephen Palmer, D. D., whose dying request to his people was that Mr. Ritchie should suc- ceed him. Here he ministered for twenty years with great acceptance to his people. It is believed, writes one who knew him, "that he kept back nothing that was profitable to
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THE FOURTH MINISTER.
his hearers, and taught them publicly, and from house to house, testifying repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ. In his pulpit services he was remark- ably solemn and truly evangelical. He feelingly sympathized with his people in their joys and sorrows, and took a particu- lar interest in the instruction of the rising generation."
His last sermon was preached Oct. 24, 1841 ; and on the 22d of February, 1842, he died.
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HISTORY OF CANTON.
CHAPTER XXXVI.
THE NEW TOWN. - WAR OF 1812.
S CARCELY had the new town begun its career when the inhabitants were astonished by a series of depre- dations on property. The meeting-house was broken open and damaged; one hundred and fifty trees of an orchard belonging to Gen. Nathan Crane were girdled and killed. On the 16th of March, 1797, a new barn full of hay was con- sumed by fire; the ox of John Morse, Jr., was poisoned. In April the barn of Jabin Fisher was burned, and in October a pair of oxen belonging to Fisher were poisoned; horses' tails and ears were cut off ; and so great was the excitement that the town was obliged to call a town meeting to take action upon these atrocities. In the words of another, " The town of Canton unjustly stands stigmatized by her neighbor- ing towns, by reason of certain characters having committed the most abominable excesses of wickedness." On Monday, Oct. 16, 1797, the town appointed a committee with full pow- ers to detect and bring to justice the perpetrators of the daring villanies. This committee offered the sum of three hundred dollars to any person who should furnish evidence sufficient to convict the person setting fire to and burning the barn of Jabin Fisher; one hundred for the conviction of the person who destroyed cattle belonging to the late Nathaniel Fisher; eighty dollars for the conviction of the person who injured and rendered useless the "Great Mill and Forge" of said Fisher ; and forty to sixty dollars was offered for the conviction of the persons who had pulled up fences, broken windows, injured chaises, and disfigured animals. We believe the malefactors were never punished, although suspicion pointed to parties well known in town.
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THE NEW TOWN.
The matter of providing a hearse for the use of the town was discussed in 1801 ; the following year a hearse was pro- cured, and a house ordered to be built adjoining the sheds at the meeting-house. This building was raised June II, 1804. Previous to this time bodies were carried on a bier to the burying-ground ; if the distance was long the bearers were frequently changed during the progress of the proces- sion. The first hearse was very primitive ; the wood-work was done by Nathan Crane, Jr., and the iron-work by Enoch Leonard ; it consisted only of a platform on wheels, with four posts turned to represent urns at the top. The coffin was lashed to the platform and was visible to the passer-by, nor was it until 1827 that this hearse gave place to a new one draped with black curtains, caught up at the sides with cord and tassels. This hearse was in use for thirty years.
On the 16th of June, 1806, an eclipse of the sun took place. Many persons came out from Boston, and ascended Blue Hill for the purpose of obtaining a better view ; among others was General Henry Knox, the friend and successor of Gridley, and Secretary of War under Washington.
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