USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > Carver > History of the town of Carver, Massachusetts : historical review, 1637-1910 > Part 7
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Those whose service was limited to Capt. Sam- son's three days expedition to Rhode Island in 1781 :
Levi Atwood
Joshua Palmer
William Cobb
Josiah Parrish
Edmund Cole, Jr.
Calvin Perkins
Benjamin Bosworth
Ebenezer Ransom, Jr.
Consider Briant Frances Ripley
Caleb Churchill
Asa Soule
Samuel Fuller
Zephaniah Soule
Ichabod Hatch
Caleb Sturtevant
William Harlow
Eliphalet Waterman
Those at Marshfield and other services in the militia :
Caleb Atwood
Samuel Cobb
Abner Barrows
John Chamberlain, Corp.
William Barrows
Daniel Churchill, Jr.
Abner Bisbee, Corp.
Ebenezer Churchill
George Bisbee, Corp.
Elias Churchill
Issacher Bisbee, Corp.
John Churchill
John Bisbee
Joshua Churchill
James Bishop
Joseph Crocker, Corp.
Samuel Bonney
Benjamin Cushman
Simeon Bonney
Jacob Cushman
Perez Bradford
Josiah Cushman
Gideon Bradford, Jr.
Zachariah Cushman
John Bridgham, Jr., Sergt. Benjamin Bryant, Corp. Levi Bryant, Fifer
Amaziah Doten John Dunham
Silas Dunham
Zenas Bryant, Drummer
Freeman Ellis, Sergt.
Benjamin Cobb, Corp.
Stephen Ellis
Jonathan Cobb
Nathaniel Fuller
Nathan Cobb
John Fuller
Noah Bisbee
William Churchill
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HISTORY OF CARVER
Barnabas Harlow, Corp.
Nathaniel Harlow
Zabdial Samson Ambrose Shaw Caesar Smith
Ebenezer Lobdell, Corp. Caleb Loring
Ebenezer Soule, Corp.
Zachariah Standish
Ignatius Loring, Jr., Fifer Ezekiel Loring, 2nd Lieut. Elijah Lucas
Lemuel Stevens William Stevens
Samuel Lucas
Cornelius Sturtevant, Ser.
John Muxam
Frances Sturtevant, Corp.
Joseph Perkins
Isaiah Thomas
Josiah Perkins
Ichabod Tillson, Drummer
Ebenezer Ransom
John Tillson
Elijah Ransom
Benj. Ward, 2nd Lieut.
Joseph Ransom
Jabez Weston
Isaac Rickard
Isaac Wright
Lemuel Rickard
Joseph Wright
Theodore Rickard
Joseph Wright
Isaiah Ripley
Levi Wright
Samuel Ripley, Corp.
Samuel Wright
Peleg Samson
Those who served at Marshfield and later in the Continental army :
William Cobb
Daniel Soule
Ebenezer Dunham
Silas Sturtevant
Simeon Dunham
William Sturtevant
Issacher Fuller
Peter Thayer
Lazarus Harlow
Benjamin Tubbs
Barnabas Lucas
John Washburn
Elijah McFarlin
Those who served at Marshfield and in Capt. Samson's secret expedition against Newport :
Josiah Chandler Edward Stevens
Ebenezer Cushman Jacob Wright
Gideon Samson
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HON. BENJAMIN ELLIS
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PLYMPTON IN THE REVOLUTION
Those who served at Marshfield and with Lieut. Joshua Perkins at Bristol :
Andrew Barrows
Abial Shurtleff
Peleg Barrows, Corp.
Joshua Totman
James Murdock, Lieut.
William Washburn, Sergt.
Jabez Muxam
Those who served at Marshfield and with Lieut. Frances Shurtleff at Bristol :
Hezekiah Cole
Thomas Savery
Isaac Shaw Lucas
Benjamin Shurtleff, Jr.
John Lucas
Daniel Vaughan
Eleazer Robbins
Samuel Vaughan, Sergt.
Those who served in the militia and later in the Continental army :
Asa Barrows
Eleazer Holmes
Barnabas Cobb
Jonathan Holmes
Roland Cobb
George Harlow
Ephraim Cole* John King
Joseph Chamberlain
Isaac Lucas
Joshua Churchill
Ezra Perry
Stephen Churchill
Ephraim Pratt
Thomas Doten
Ebenezer Standish, Corp.
Thomas Doty
Moses Standish
Noah Fuller
Asa Sturtevant
Benjamin Fuller
Isaac Tinkham
*Ephraim Cole, Joseph Chamberlain, Thomas Doty, John King, Barnabas Lucas, Benjamin Lucas, Elijah Rickard, William Sturte- vant and William Whiting are known to have been in camp at Valley Forge. Cole, and possibly others, died there.
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HISTORY OF CARVER
Those who served in the militia for varying periods; some probably served in detachments that reinforced the Continental army at critical times :
Ichabod Atwood
Asa Dunham
Stephen Atwood
Israel Dunham
Ephraim Barrows
Robert Harlow
Malachi Barrows
Ezekiel Johnson
Carver Barrows
Seth Johnson
Moses Barrows
Isaac Lobdel
John Bartlett
Simeon Loring
Jephtha Benson
Abijah Lucas
Calvin Bradford
Asahel Lyon
William Bradford
Joseph McFarlin
Daniel Bumpus
William Morrison
David Bumpus
Ephraim Morse
Seth Bump
Steven Raymond
Benjamin Briant, Corp.
Elijah Richards, Corp.
Joshua Briant
Abner Rickard
Nathan Briant
Eleazer Rickard
Samuel Bridgham
Eleazer Ripley
Gersham Cole
David Shurtleff
Zebedee Chandler
Gideon Shurtleff
David Churchill
Ephraim Soule
Ebenezer Churchill
James Soule
Elias Churchill
Sylvanus Stevens
Joseph Churchill
Nehemiah Sturtevant
John Churchill, Sergt.
Ephraim Tinkham
Timothy Churchill
Joseph Whitten
Benjamin Crocker
Joseph Wright
Isaiah Cushman
Joshua Wright
William Cushman
Zadok Wright
Seth Doten
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PLYMPTON IN THE REVOLUTION
Those who served at Marshfield, in the militia, and in the Continental army :
John Barnes
Abner Harlow
Benjamin Blossom
Asa Hooper
Jacob Bryant
Samuel Lucas, 3d
Caleb Cushman
Noah Pratt
Elijah Dunham
William Ripley
Those whose service was limited to the Con- tinental army who served for periods of various lengths :
John Appling
Noah Eaton
Benjamin Barrows
William Gardner
Malachi Barrows Ellis Griffith
John Bates
Ferdinand Hall, Drum
Elnathan Benson
Reuben Bisbee
major Elijah Harlow (died)
Isaac Bonney
James Harlow
James Bonney
William Harlow
Oliver Bradford
Eleazer Holmes
Sylvanus Brimhall
Jonathan Holmes, Corp.
Ford Bryant
Barnabas Jackson
Luther Bryant
Jacob Loring
Luther Bryant
Benjamin Lucas
Patrick Bryant, Sergt.
Consider Lucas
Samuel Bryant
Elisha Lucas
Joseph Chamberlain
Ephraim Lucas
Stephen Churchill
Zebedee Lyon
Andrew Cushman
David McFarlin (died)
Isaiah Cushman
Elijah McFarlin
Thomas Cushman, Jr., Corp.
John Morris (died)
Zebedee Cushman
Elisha Morton
James Dunham, Jr.
Pero Murder* (negro)
*Discharged by General Washington for meritorious service.
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HISTORY OF CARVER
Edward Murdock
Caleb Stetson
Jesse Murdock
David Sturtevant
Swanzey Murdock
Frances Sturtevant, Jr.
Prince Newport (negro)
John Taylor (died)
Ebenezer Perkins
Isaac Thayer
John Perkins
Joseph Tinkham
Josiah Perkins
Robert Waterman
Consider Pratt
Samuel West
Benjamin Pratt
William Whiting
Nathaniel Pratt
Isaac Whitten
Elijah Rickard
William Whitten
Frances Ripley
Ebenezer Wright
Jacob Loring Ruggles
Edmund Wright
William Sampson
Joseph Wright
Ichabod Shurtleff
Joseph Wright
Peleg Standish
Nathan Wright
HUIT MCFARLIN
THE CONGREGATIONALIST CHURCH
The history of this society to the close of the ministry of Rev. John Howland, is identical with the history of the Precinct. The last years of the Howland ministry marked the beginning of the dissolution of the Precinct and from that period societies and sects began to multiply.
After the death of that remarkable man who had watched over the society from 1744 to 1805, the church faced the problem of choosing his suc- cessor and that at a time when it was weakened by dissensions. After trying in vain to reach a settlement with Lothrop Thompson and Gaines Conant, John Shaw was ordained October 7, 1807, and became the third ordained minister of the church. The new pastor was destined to pass through a trying ordeal which should tax his re- sources, involve him in debt, and at the same time bring out the tact and compromising spirit that mark him as a worthy successor to John Howland. Financial troubles at length compelled him to re- sign and at a Council in 1815, he was formally dis- missed. There was still a tender feeling between pastor and people and he left the charge with a hearty recommendation from the church.
Doctrinal disputes had appeared with the incep- tion of baptism in the Precinct a quarter century previous to the ministry of Shaw. For a time
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HISTORY OF CARVER
the dominating spirits of the church kept a ruling hand on the situation, but as the devotees of the new faith increased in numbers, the cleavage be- came more marked, and only the diplomatic powers of Howland kept up the semblance of union. And these disputes came as a legacy to Howland's successor, and to break out anew and to ultimately divide the Precinct after Shaw left the ministry.
There was a desire on the part of the majority to see the union continued, and this desire was shared by the Baptists. But there were doctrinal reasons which stood in the way of a lasting union. An early attempt was made to avert disintegration by the abrogation of the 12th article of faith* whenever a Baptist was admitted to the church membership. An amendment reserving the right to convince the new member of the error of his ways by argument pacified the radicals, and prob- ably a more effective way of keeping alive the embers of discord could not have been devised. This article was the rock on which the societies split. Benjamin Shurtleff, a leading member of the old society, petitioned his church to expunge the article from its creed, but after a long hearing the petition was turned down and Shurtleff had no alternative but to withdraw and join the Baptist society.
For twelve years after Shaw left the ministry of the old society, and Cummings the ministry of the new society, there was no ordained pastor over
*The 12th Article of faith related to infant baptism.
HENRY SHERMAN
·
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CONGREGATIONALIST CHURCH
either. Church meetings were regularly held and each society manœuvred for itself, but the meet- ings were so lightly attended that the leaders be- came alarmed and their united efforts fanned the memorable revival of 1823. Rev. Luther Wright was stationed over the societies and September 14th was set apart as a day when all of the com- municants should go forward and acknowledge their sins. Accordingly at the appointed time, the church was filled and when the invitation was given all left their seats and standing in the aisles, assented to a long confession read by the minister.
This signal for an awakening was followed through the following winter by protracted meet- ings, at which numerous ministers lent their as- sistance and many conversions were made. At least two days of fasting, humiliation and prayer were observed, Christmas, 1823, and February 5th, 1824. A committee was appointed to look after delinquents, with special instructions to learn why the residents of the South had habitually absented themselves from the house of worship. As a re- sult of this revival twenty-eight joined the church. And now arose the subject of apportioning the time of services between the two societies. At a meeting in the North school house, Deacon Thomas Hammond, whose residence was near the Central Temple and who was a Proprietor of that building, argued for services in both buildings, but no vote was taken.
At a subsequent meeting, it was decided to hold one-third of the services in the Central building, but the ultras rallied, reconsidered, and voted to
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HISTORY OF CARVER
join with the Precinct and engage a minister to preach all of the time in the Temple near the Green and to petition the Domestic Missionary Society for assistance. But so weak was the old society financially, and so alarmingly were the signs of incohesiveness, that the conservatives appealed to outside ministers for advice. In response to this appeal a committee of ministers investigated the conditions and advised committees from the differ- ent sections of the town to get together, select a Board of Reconciliation, and pledge each other to stand by the decision. The old society, acting upon this advice, named a committee to confer with a like committee of the Baptist society. Un- der the proposed terms of reconciliation, the Coun- cil was to revise the articles of faith and establish plans and places of holding public services. The
two committees went about their duties with en- thusiasm, but the Baptists were unyielding on one point, and that point happened to be the one obstacle in the way of union. They were willing to commit the matter of time and place for hold- ing public services, but on the question of infant baptism they had nothing to arbitrate. It is ap- parent that both societies were suspicious, for when the orthodox committee reported to its sponsors, naming the Council, its report was re- jected and a new committee appointed to name the personnel of the proposed Council.
The arbitration board as finally agreed upon, was composed of Rev. Abel Richmond of Halifax, Rev. Oliver Cobb of Rochester, Rev. Richard S. Storrs of Braintree, Rev. Sylvester Holmes of
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CONGREGATIONALIST CHURCH
New Bedford and Rev. Frederick Freeman of Ply- mouth. The Council convened and gave the town its best efforts, but the cleavage over the 12th article could not be bridged and the dream of one church in town did not come true. Thus, while the societies could not formally unite, they travelled peacefully together for a while listening to the same discourse, worshipping in the same meeting house, while each proceeded to build stronger its sectarian walls.
The Baptists were not the only heretics the old society was called upon to combat. Methodism appeared about 1830 and two years later, Phebe Shurtleff asked for her dismissal in order to join the Reformed Methodist Society. A committee was chosen to convince her of the error of her ways, but the committee proved powerless, Miss Shurtleff was immovable, and there was no alter- native but to vote her dismissal.
Still another and more alarming epidemic broke out in 1835, when Louisa L. T. Chase was con- verted to the views of Emanuel Swedenborg. This was regarded as a serious matter, and Deacon Nathan Cobb, Ebenezer Cobb and Levi Vaughan were delegated to handle the case with power to call on ministers of other towns for ad- vice and assistance. After laboring in vain to convince Mrs. Chase of her mistake, the committee called Rev. Elijah Dexter of Plympton and Rev. Emerson Paine of Middleboro in consultation. A special church meeting was called and after con- sidering the case, the heretic was excommunicated.
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HISTORY OF CARVER
In 1841, several members of the church entered the ranks of the Millerites and in consequence were excommunicated. Again in 1853, Thomas Cushman filed accusations against Mary Fuller, charging her with false and erroneous doctrines. After a hearing, at which it was shown that she had rejected one of the articles of faith and been converted to the doctrine of Universalism, she was expelled. .
It will be noted, that the period extending from 1830 to 1850 was prolific with heresy and the re- sult was the final separation of the church in Carver. Methodism had gained a foothold in the South; Baptism held the Centre; Advents and Universalists had laid the foundation for a follow- ing and even Spiritualism had claimed its own. And worn out by seventy-five years of incessant fighting for unity, the old society relinquished its claims contemporaneously with the agitation for a new church building at the North end of the parish and under the ministry of Rev. Stillman Pratt, the First Church of Carver entered upon its modern career.
Following the custom of churches in the earlier days, this society kept a watchful eye over the moral welfare of its members. At times the com- mittee on discipline had a crowded docket and fre- quent meetings were necessary to relieve the docket. In most cases the defendant confessed and was immediately restored to good standing. Many were the chastisements for unchristian con- duct, but little of a serious nature appears to have been charged against the communicants. Petty
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CONGREGATIONALIST CHURCH
cases which another generation would appeal to the courts were taken up by the church, and again and again small disputes were adjusted to the satisfaction of all parties without recourse to the civil tribunal.
John Maxim, Jr., proved a most stubborn de- fendant on doctrinal grounds. Complaint having been filed against him "for disorderly walk inas- much as he had, as it appeared, rejected the lead- ing articles of faith to which he had assented when he became a member of the church, and had not attended public worship in the church, or com- muned with them for a number of years." Though a messenger was despatched to notify Maxim of the indictment, he refused to appear for trial and regarding the case as hopeless he was excom- municated.
The case of the eccentric but brilliant James Savery* was the most noted of the church trials of this society. Charged with "unchristian walk and conversation, particularly in absenting him- self from the house of worship, traveling here and there on the Lord's Day, unchristian feeling and conversation towards those of his brethren who had labored to redeem him," he became the topic for discussion throughout the Precinct.
Previous steps had been taken to redeem him, both on the part of the brethren and the church, when it was decided to take the third gospel step
*While a man of sterling character, James Savery was so eccentric as to antagonize the conventionality of common folks. With Albert Shurtleff he shocked the thoughtless people of the town, by voting for abolition long before the rank and file could see anything objectional in chattel slavery.
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HISTORY OF CARVER
and he was suspended until such time as he should make Christian satisfaction. After five years of rebellion he went forward, confessed his mis- demeanors and was restored to fellowship. Again he came before the disciplinarians when, in 1823, a committee was named to labor with him in re- gard to making a disturbance in the choir, and failing to come to an agreement, Nathan Cobb was detailed to call on him and respectfully request him not to sing in such a manner as to interrupt the singers. The following year he faced trial on an indictment of four counts as follows filed by Bennett Cobb:
Cutting wood on the Lord's Day.
Disturbing the choir by irregular manners.
Casting reflections upon the singers.
Disturbing the religious services of the young.
After a patient hearing during which the de- fendant was unyielding, Savery the eccentric, was excommunicated. Still belligerent he continued the contest, until his case went up on appeal to a Council of Ministers. In this Council he was over- ruled, the church proceedings covering the trial were adjudged regular, and in 1831 he made a full confession and was restored to fellowship in the church.
Rev. Stillman Pratt was the first installed min- ister over the society after Rev. Plummer Chase, and he was destined to make the most lasting im- pression of the pastors who followed Rev. John Shaw. During the larger part of the intervening time, ministers had been supplied by the com- mittees with no settled pastor much of the time.
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CONGREGATIONALIST CHURCH
Chase seems to have been a strong character, whose influence was exerted on both the religious and civil affairs of the community. He was in- stalled in 1828 and remained with the society seven years. Reverends Luther Wright, Paul Jewett and Jonathan King held brief sway.
Rev. Stillman Pratt was ordained August 2d, 1851, by the largest Council that met in the parish, presided over by the veteran, Israel W. Putnam of Middleboro. This ministry may be considered the dividing line between the two societies, al- though the friendly feeling continued, resulting in occasional joint services in the Central Temple. Pratt was engaged with the understanding that he should reside at the North end of the parish and devote all of his time to the society at the Green. Thus this ministry may be called the beginning of the local history of the Congregationalist Church Society.
The first year of the new ministry was eminently successful, although at the cost of the health of the pastor. One-third of his time was devoted to a Boston periodical, from which source he derived one-third of his income. But the in- convenience of getting to and from the city, com- pelled him to give up that part of his labor and his second year was devoted solely to the society. Mr. Pratt resigned in 1854.
His successor, Rev. Nathaniel Coggswell, re- mained over the society until 1857. The main fea- ture of this ministry, was the preliminary steps towards the erection of a new church edifice which, however, was not realized until two years later.
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HISTORY OF CARVER
MINISTERS
Rev. Othniel Campbell (ord.)
1732-1744
Rev. John Howland (ord.)
1746-1805
Rev. John Shaw (ord.)
1806-1815
Rev. Luther Wright
1823-1824
Rev. Nathaniel Barker
1825-1826
Rev. Seth Chapin
1827
Rev. Plummer Chase (ord.)
1828-1835
Rev. Paul Jewett
1836-1838
Rev. Jonathan King
1839-1841
Rev. E. W. Robinson
1846
Rev. E. Gay
1847
Rev. Stillman Pratt (ord.)
1851-1854
Rev. Nathaniel Coggswell
1855-1857
Rev. W. C. Whitcomb
1858
Rev. Greenwood
1859
Rev. John Moore
1860
Rev. Henry L. Chase (ord.)
1864-1867
Rev. H. P. Leonard
1868
Rev. W. W. Livingston (ord.)
1873-1878
Rev. H. P. Leonard
1880-1881
Rev. Charles F. Goldsmith
1883-1884
Rev. Nehemiah Lincoln
1888-1891
Rev. Oscar F. Stetson (ord.)
1902-1909
Rev. James J. G. Tarr
1911-
قياد البيرة ور
--- -
لسبب ايمى
ـب سيم
----
TOWN HALL, TOWN OFFICES AND LIBRARY Built 1886
THE SOUTH MEETING HOUSE
The South Precinct of Plympton covered a much larger area than that embraced by the old society, with the principal settlements in the extreme North, and the new society was not destined long to travel without dissensions. As the farmers spread out over the Southlands, the cast-iron cus- tom of going to church soon led to discontent on the part of those who resided at a distance from the house of worship, and in less than forty years from the raising of the church building at Laken- ham, appeared an agitation for still another tem- ple in the Southern section of the Precinct.
A subscription paper was in circulation in 1772, and at a meeting of the subscribers that year Joshua Benson, John Shaw, Bartlett Murdock, Benjamin Ward, and Joseph Barrows were named as a building committee. The hill north of the residence of Peleg Barrows was selected as the site, and to guard against extortion the following prices for labor and materials were established by vote of the subscribers: Carpenters 3s, 3f per day; narrow axe men 2s, 4d, 3f; teaming 6s, 8d; oak timber 4s, 4d, per ton; merchantable boards 1L, 17s, 4d; one and one-fourth inch boards 21L, 6s, 8d, per ton. The size of the building was to be
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HISTORY OF CARVER
42 by 37 and Benjamin Ward* was authorized to raise it and finish the outside.
The following year, the subscribers assumed the style of Proprietors, and voted to build the build- ing by pews, the amount subscribed to be adjusted with the amount bid for the pew. Fifty men were appointed to raise the structure and by way of a guarantee, the Proprietors voted to purchase two barrels of rum and to furnish it in sufficient quantities to both workmen and spectators. By October, 1774, the building was so far completed that the first legal meeting was held within its walls, at which John Shaw was chosen moderator and Joseph Bridgham vendue-master. Nearly all of the subscribers became Proprietors by virtue of bidding in a pew and they, with their successors, were the owners of the meeting house.
A two-story building of massive oak frame formed the material body of the Temple. The pulpit was on the east side with the main entrance from the west. The pews were of the style of the times, painted white with mahogany trimmings, while a huge sounding board assisted the minister in reaching the ears of the auditors.
As soon as the building was fitted for public meetings, began a half century struggle between the South Meadow folks and the rulers of the Precinct. In July, 1775, a special meeting was called to see if the Precinct would vote to instruct
*At this celebrated "raising" Benjamin Ward performed a feat that has been handed down in folklore. After the frame was raised, he startled the spectators by shouldering his broad axe and ascending the ladder he walked the plate from corner to corner.
THE NORTH CARVER SCHOOL HOUSE
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SOUTH MEETING HOUSE
Rev. John Howland to hold a part of the weekly services in the South meeting house. The proposition was defeated by a vote of 26 to 20, whereupon another meeting was called to act upon reconsideration and this also was defeated by the narrow margin of 21 to 20. So persistent were the agitators, that in October the minister was in- structed to preach one-fourth of the time in the new meeting house. This was only a temporary move and at the next March meeting, the Precinct voted to raise ten pounds by taxation "to help the sufferers at the South end to preaching." A similar grant was made the following three years, then came the Revolutionary period with sixty-two pounds in 1779 and two hundred sixty-two pounds in 1780.
About this time the war against the rates de- veloped and further appropriations may be re- garded in the nature of compromises, but as in numerous historic parallels they served only to fan the embers of discontent.
In 1785 no appropriation for preaching was granted, but in lieu of it ten pounds was raised for the purpose of abating the taxes of those who resided most remote from the regular meeting house, while it was further voted to indemnify the Collector should he be put to unnecessary expense in collecting the taxes south of the river. The year following, Barzilla Besse, Peter Shurtleff and Jabez Muxom, who resided towards Tihonet were exempted provided they paid taxes in Wareham, and the Precinct voted to support preaching in the new meeting house in proportion to taxes paid
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