USA > Massachusetts > Suffolk County > Dorchester > History of the town of Dorchester, Massachusetts > Part 17
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HISTORY OF DORCHESTER.
Green would often say, 'should Iris die (the name Mr. Dunton gave his wife), which Heaven forbid, there is not fit to succeed her but Madam Brick.' "
1685. Selectmen-Samuel Clap, James Blake, Enoch Wiswell, Richard Hall and John Breck.
The 12th of March there was a contribution, and £1 13s 9d collected and put in the hands of the Deacons to be used at their discretion.
The 18th of March, Wednesday, the Church be- gan to have a monthly lecture.
" The 5th of April was a contribution for a boy that had the stone, at which time were contributed £1 7s 7d, and a piece of Spanish money 7 1-2d."
June 4th. "There was a contribution for George Bowen, of Roxbury, who is a captive with the Turks, at which time were collected £2 14s."
June 28th, there was a contribution for the poor, and but 14s 4d collected, because "notice of it was not given before."
Aug. 9th. " There was a contribution for one Tuck- er, of Boston, a captive, at which time were collected £3 1s 6d." This was delivered to Tucker's wife.
Nov. 8th. "There was a contribution for Peter Talbot, at which time were contributed 40s 10d."
Nov. 15th. " There was a contribution for Francis Ball, at which time were collected 33s 10d, and 2 half bushels of corn."
These frequent instances of taking up money from the congregation on the sabbath are named, to show what a constant call there was for charitable assis- tance in those days, besides the heavy taxes laid to pay for fighting the Indians, supporting the min- istry and the schools, &c.
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HISTORY OF DORCHESTER.
The Church appointed their Pastor (Mr. Dan- forth), Mr. Stoughton, and Deacons Capen and Blake, to go to Boston to attend the ordination of Rev. Cotton Mather, April 13th.
An order was issued this year from the Governor and Council, requiring the Ministers and Elders to look to their flocks ; "and the Elder proposed that two of the tything-men's squadrons at a time ap- pointed should come together to some place for that end, and that those from 8 to 16 years of age be Catechized, and from 16 to 24 of young persons should come together to be discoursed, with all the maids by themselves, and the men by themselves."
This year James II. was proclaimed King, which awakened the fears of all the lovers and friends of New England. They knew his character too well to expect any favors from him or any of his infamous advisers, especially after the appointment of the no- torious and cruel Percy Kirke as Governor. This occasioned much trouble to all the Colonists ; but their great shrewdness aud skill in diplomacy ena- bled them in a measure to steer clear of the evils which threatened them.
1686. Selectmen-Samuel Clap, Richard Hall, Wm. Sumner, John Withington and John Breck.
This year the town met with a serious loss in the death of Elder James Humfrey. The 14th of Feb- ruary, of this year, he " moved the Church that they would look out and provide themselves another Elder, because he had long been lame, and did look at himself near his departure out of this world." He also desired that he might be buried in the same
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HISTORY OF DORCHESTER.
tomb with Rev. Richard Mather, his early friend and Pastor ; but it being stoned up, and so small as to hold only one coffin, his request could not be complied with, and he was buried near him. The tomb stone to his memory is now in good order, having been repaired by his grandson, Mr. Jonas Humfrey. The inscription thereon is as follows :
Here lyes Interred ye Body of Mr. James Humfrey, one of y® Ruling Elders of Dorchester, who departed this life May 12th, 1686, in ye 78th year of his age.
I nclos'd within this shrine is precious Dust A nd only waits for th' rising of y Just. Most usefull while he liu'd, adorn'd his Station, E uen to old age he Seru'd his Generation, S ince his Decease tho't of with Veneration.
H ow great a Blessing this Ruling Elder he U nto this Church & Town; & Pastors Three. M ather he first did by him help Receive ; F lint did he next his burden much Relieue ; R enowned Danforth he did assist with skill. E steemed high by all : Bear fruit untill
Y ielding to Death his Glorious seat did fill.
Deacon James Blake was chosen Ruling Elder in place of Elder Humfrey. He excused himself on account of his "thickness of hearing," but was finally prevailed upon to accept. Daniel Preston, senior, was chosen to fill the place of Deacon, vacated by Mr. Blake ; he had 41 votes to 11 for others.
The people of Boston and some other places suf- fered from the small pox this year. The Church of Dorchester held a fast on the 30th of June, on that account, and " in regard of the great want of rain."
On the 11th of October " Mr. Nathaniel Glover did voluntarily acknowledge his sin in being at
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HISTORY OF DORCHESTER.
Brainard's and overtaken in drink." It is supposed that Mr. Glover was a man of good reputation, and a misdemeanor of this kind, when acknowledged before the proper authority, was not of course consi- dered so grievous a sin as if concealed or denied.
1687. Selectmen-Samuel Clap, Timothy Tiles- tone, Richard Hall, Wm. Sumner and Henry Lead- better.
November 23d, of this year, Mr. John Douse, of Charlestown, was drowned at Neponset River, and his body was found the 19th of the following March on Thompson's Island shore.
Sir Edmond Andros being in power this year, the town chose no Representative to the General Court.
Major Thomas Clark, in his will, having left a legacy of £20 for the poor of Dorchester, "Serg't Timothy Tilestone was ordered to enquire into the condition of several poor, and to let them have some relief." Major Clark, it will be remembered, died in Boston, but had previously lived in this town.
1688. Selectmen-John Breck, Samuel Clap, Timothy Tilestone, Henry Leadbetter, Samuel Robin- son and John Withington.
There is no doubt that the people were discontent- ed under the new government of Sir Edmond An- dros, and did not engage with their usual alacrity in the orders of the Governor and his Council. This is made manifest by the following notice, which appears on the Church Records. "The 3d of May there was a Fast in our town, it is said a public Fast, but few towns had notice of it-nor had we, but by Mr. Stoughton's informing that the Council 25
.
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HISTORY OF DORCHESTER.
had determined. There was none at Roxbury, nor Cambridge, nor Watertown, nor at Boston but in the First Church. The Sabbath before, they say, was appointed Thanksgiving for the Queen's being with child ; our Sabbath was kept as at other times, being sacrament day."
The Church had a great deal of trouble with Consider Atherton, this year, and finally pronounced him an incorrigible drunkard and admonished him.
1689. Selectmen-Samuel Clap, Timothy Tiles- tone, John Withington, Henry Leadbetter and Richard Hall.
The 21st of July there was a fast kept "in regard" of the Indians plotting mischief," &c.
The 16th of November there was a contribution for Goodman Hinsdale, of Medfield; and on Dec. 8th there was one for the poor of the town.
From the " History of Boston " we learn that in the latter part of this year a company of pirates who had robbed a Salem vessel were captured, and brought to trial at Boston, making another exciting subject for the time. On the Grand Jury are found the Dorchester names-Bernard Trott, foreman, and John Capen ; and on the trial jury, James Bird and Joseph Weeks. One Thomas Hawkins, of Boston, was the leader of the piratical crew, and he and nine others were brought in guilty, and sentenced to be hung on the 27th of January following.
1690. Selectmen-Sam'l Clap, Timothy Tilestone, Hopestill Clap, Henry Leadbetter and James Foster.
The compensation paid to the Representatives to the General Court would be considered very low at
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HISTORY OF DORCHESTER.
this time. March 11th, "it was proposed to the town what they would allow their representatives or deputies, Timothy Tilestone and Samuel Clap, for their attendance at the General Court this year; and it was voted that they would allow them six shil- lings a week."
The same day the town chose Elder James Blake, John Breck and Samuel Clap, to seat the people in the meeting-house.
Feb. 12th. There was a contribution "for the widow Pease, whose husband was slain in taking the pirates who did do mischief to the vessels on the coast."
There were quite a number of fasts kept this year, on account of " our agents that are gone to England," the troubles with the French and Indians, the sick- ness of fever and small-pox, " in regard to the fleet that has gone against the French at Canada," &c.
This year a large company of soldiers was raised in this town, to embark in the expedition to Canada. Forty-six of the company never returned, most of them supposed to have been lost at sea. It has been doubted whether so great a number could have been raised in so small a town; but the company roll is satisfactory evidence of the fact. It furnishes another instance of the great hardship endured by the colo- ny in supplying soldiers, and paying the enormous tax thereby incurred. Like most of the armies which preceded or have followed it, the fate of this one was disastrous ; death by sickness and accidents sweeping away most of those who had escaped the sword. The following is the list of the company.
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HISTORY OF DORCHESTER.
" CANADY SOLDIERS.
" A list of the names of the soldiers under the command of Capt. John Withington, Oct. 3, 1690.
Capt. Joh. Withington Sargt. Ammiel Weeks Corp. John Poope
Left. George Minott Sargt. Richard Butt Corp. Joseph Curtis Insine Samuel Sumner Sargt. Samuel Sumner Corp. George Holmes Sargt. Increase Modsley
Joseph Weeks, Clarke. Joseph Trescott, Drummer.
Ebenezer Sumner Adam Barr
These on bord Capt. B-y
Henry Lyon
James Robinson
Corp. Daniell Hensha
Eliab Lyon Cornelius Tilestone William Blake
Unight Modsley
Richard Euins
John Gulliver
William Cheney
Samuel Hicks
William George
Peter Calley
John Tolman
Joseph Atherton
Ebenezer Poope
John Jones
Samuel Triscott
William Sumner
Ebenezer Crane
Thomas Kelton
Eleazer Walles
Samuel Chandler
John Morrill
William Cooke
William Fowst
James Morey
Joseph Long
William Belshar
Edward Clap .
Thomas Weeks Thomas Andrews
Henry Jackson
John Briant
William Sumner
Thomas Bird
Robart Husay
Samuel Sandras
Augusten Clements Charles Readman
Edward Wiatte
William Swift
William Baker
Benieman Hewens James Swift
Moses Chaplin
Mathew Mapley
Hopstill Sandras
Joshua Shoot John Anderson
Elias Moonke
Solomon Clarke
John Leeds
John Lord
Isaac Caps
Consider Atherton
John Crowhore
Jezeniah Sumner
David Stevenson
Jehosephat Crabtree
John Jones
This list was found among the papers left by Ebenezer Clap, son of Nathaniel, who was one of the active citizens of the town about the time the company was raised. It is presumed that the fate of many of those who never returned was for a long
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HISTORY OF DORCHESTER.
time doubtful ; as, twenty years after the expedition left Dorchester, Ezra Clap, of Milton, made provision in his will for his son Edward if he ever returned. June 19th, 1735, the General Court of Massachu- setts granted to the survivors of that expedition, and to the heirs of those who were lost, a township of land in the northern part of Worcester County, which was called Dorchester Canada. This was incorporated into a town in the year 1765, and called Ashburnham. The rights to these lands were sold from time to time. Hezekiah Barbour, of Dorches- ter, purchased a number of them ; also Thomas Tilestone.
On the 2d of February, this year, died in Boston, whither he removed from Dorchester in 1686, Capt. Roger Clap, in his 82d year-for more than twenty years con mander of the Castle, which was "the prin- cipal fortress in the province." As already men- tioned, Roger Clap was one of the party which arrived at Dorchester in the "Mary and John," in 1630; and from that time till he resigned his post at the Castle in 1686, he was almost constantly engaged in the civil, military and ecclesiastical affairs of the town and colony. Blake says, " He was buried in the old Burying Place in Boston ; the Military Officers going before the Corps ; and next to the Relations, the Governour and the whole General Court following after ; and the Guns firing at the Castle at the same time." .
1691. Selectmen-Samuel Clap, Henry Lead- better, Timothy Tilestone, Hopestill Clap and Sam- uel Topliff.
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HISTORY OF DORCHESTER.
The number of deaths in town this year was very large, probably larger in proportion to the number of inhabitants than in any previous year since its settlement. James Blake, who kept a memorandum of these matters, says "that from ye 1st of April, 1690, unto ye last of July, 1691, that is one year and four months, there died in Dorchester 57 persons, 33 of them of ye small pox, the Rest of a Feaver; the most of them of middle age. About ye same time (that is 1690) lost at sea 46 soldiers that went to Canada ; in all 103."
This year the General Court ordered the sum of twenty-four thousand pounds to be levied on the inhabitants, and the proportion for this town was £701 11s 2d.
The Church held a fast on the 1st of May, on account of the more than ordinary sickness of small pox. The language of the appointment of this fast represents that God was provoked with his people, and that his hand had gone out against them.
The 22d of April Rev. Mr. Danforth, the two Deacons, and Capt. Clap, went to Weymouth, being called by the Church there to assist in settling some difficulty between the Church and one of its mem- bers. After much discussion the man was convinced of his sin, made confession, and all were satisfied at the happy termination.
1692. Until this year, the Selectmen had been chosen annually in December; but those chosen in December, 1691, served until March, 1693.
This year the town lost one of its most valuable citizens, both in regard to his character and useful- ness, by the death of Capt. John Capen.
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HISTORY OF DORCHESTER.
The town voted " that all such soldiers of Dor- chester as served at the Castle after the Revolution, April 1689, till the garrison was settled in June following, should all of them that are not already paid, be paid out of the next town rate."
The old Latin Dictionary, which is still in exist- ence, and which contains the names of so many of the teachers who have kept the school on the Meet- ing-House Hill, is thus noticed :
" The 3d of May, '92, Samuel Clap, Samuel Top- liff and Hopestill Clap, Selectmen, received of Mr. Joseph Capen, a latin book (a dictionary) which doth belong to the town, and delivered said book to Mr. Joseph Lord, schoolmaster, to be improved for the benefit of the school ; and sª Lord is to deliver it to some of the Selectmen when he leaves the school in Dorchester."
Feb. 14th, there was a contribution for the cap- tives taken by the Indians, from York, and £18 18s 7d was obtained.
The community were much distressed on account of the earthquake at Jamaica, news of which was brought to Boston by some who narrowly escaped. One of our Dorchester people, Ralph Houghton, Jr., was buried in the ruins, as we learn by the following memoranda found pinned to the cover of an old manuscript ; viz., "In 1692 Mrs Mary Horton, widow to Mr. Ralph Horton, huo was sunke in ye earthquake at Jemeco the seventh day of June be- twen a Eleven & twelve a clock at nune in 1692. Ye above named person was then 28 years of age from March ye last past."
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HISTORY OF DORCHESTER.
1693. Selectmen-Enoch Wiswell, Samuel Robin- son, John Tolman, James Bird and Increase Sumner.
This year the town voted that the burying place should be fenced with stone wall.
July 20th, of this year, was kept as a public day of humiliation on account of " the abominable sins that did break out among us, and for the preventing of great sickness "-" by reason of the West India fleet that was now come hither, which brought the sickness with them "-" and to put a stop to our Enemy's rage."
The Church chose the Pastor and four delegates to go to Dedham, on the 29th of November, to assist at the ordination of Mr. Joseph Belcher. "Mr. Belcher did begin by prayer, and preaching, and did make a very excellent sermon. His text was in the 4 of Exodus, 11, 12." "Mr. Torrey, Mr. Hubbard and Mr. Danforth laid their hands upon his head, and Mr. Fiske gave him the right hand of fellow- ship."
1694. Selectmen - John Tolman, John Bird, James Foster, James White and Samuel Capen.
Mr. Thomas Tilestone died this year, June 24th, at the age of 83 years. He was one of the leading men of the town, and is supposed to have been the ancestor of all of his name in the country.
This year the town built another school-house on the meeting-house hill, at the cost of £22; John Trescott was the carpenter.
January 28th, there was a contribution for Perez Savage and Thomas Thacher, who were in captivity in Turkey. £6 10s 10d was collected.
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HISTORY OF DORCHESTER.
June 17th, there was a contribution for Robert Carew, who was in slavery, and £4 19s collected.
October 7th, the Church appointed the Church officers, with Nathaniel Clap and James White, to go to Woodstock to attend the ordination of Mr. Josiah Dwight. The ordination was on Oct. 31st.
1695. Selectmen-John Tolman, James Foster, John Bird, James White and Samuel Capen.
The oldest person, probably, that ever lived in town, died this year-Mrs. Ann Pierce, widow of Mr. Robert Pierce-being about 104 years of age.
The town chose a committee to procure an en- largement of the burying ground.
" Aug. 11, '95, was a great contribution in many churches for some persons that were in slavery among the Turks ; and in our congregation were given £9 6s 9d."
CHAPTER XIII.
Settlement of Dorchester, in South Carolina, and of Midway, in Georgia.
OCTOBER 22, 1695, was the usual lecture day in this town, but was set apart for the purpose of ordaining Rev. Joseph Lord in the ministry, to go to South Carolina. There were messengers from the Churches in Roxbury, Nonantum, Boston, Milton and Charles- town. Mr. Lord first prayed, then preached a sermon from 5th of Matthew 13th verse. Mr. Morton, of Charlestown, gave the charge, and Mr. Hobart the right hand of fellowship. Those who entered into
26
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HISTORY OF DORCHESTER.
church covenant with Mr. Lord, were Joshua Brooks and Nathaniel Billings, of Concord; William Norman, of Carolina ; William Adams, of Sudbury ; Increase Sumner and William Pratt, of Dorchester ; George Fox, of Reading ; and Simon Dakin, of Concord. It is probable that Nathaniel Billings was a relative of the individuals of that name in this town, and it is not unlikely that Mr. Norman came on from Caro- lina for the purpose of encouraging this early mis- sionary enterprise. Rev. John Danforth preached to this company upon parting, and their friends accompanied them to the place of embarkation, where they took leave of each other, " after kneeling down and mingling their supplications " to God, " with every expression of christian tenderness."
Their journey and settlement were beautifully described by Professor John B. Mallard, in a Cen- tennial Address delivered before the people of Mid- way, Georgia, on December 6, 1852, but not pub- lished. He says, " The Macedonian cry of the pious in Carolina was heard in New England, and the religious sentiment of the Dorchester settlers was awakened. They had planted the first Church in Connecticut, and now they were ready to gather another to send to the far distant borders of the south." "On the 5th of December the first mission- aries that ever left the shores of New England, were offering up their evening prayers from the decks of two small vessels on the bosom of the Atlantic. What an interesting company did those two frail barks contain ! Infancy, not knowing whither it went ; youth, with all its joyousness ; middle age,
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with its conscious weight of responsibility ; the old and the young ; the strong and the weak ; the pro- tector and the protected !"
" Landing on the shores of Carolina they threaded their way to the Ashley river; and twenty miles from the abode of civilized man-in the midst of an unbroken forest-where wild beasts prowled, they fixed their habitation ; and February 2, 1696, under the boughs of a weather-beaten oak (still standing and stretching its branches over the resting-places of the dead), they took the sacrament of the Lord's supper, renewed their vows and gave public thanks to that Being who had led them on in safety." This was the first sacrament ever celebrated in Carolina.
These people called their new home Dorchester, and soon erected a meeting-house, and established the Congregational order of church government, under which they flourished. Rev. Hugh Fisher succeeded Mr. Lord in the ministry there. The latter returned to Massachusetts, and was settled at Chatham. Rev. John Osgood followed Mr. Fisher, and was ordained in 1735. The increase of inhabitants made it ne- cessary to occupy more land than could be found in their neighborhood to answer their wants. The unhealthiness of the place also tended to make them dissatisfied with their abode; and on May 11th, 1752, three persons from this settlement set off upon an exploring expedition, having heard of more favor- able locations in the adjoining colony of Georgia. They returned and made a favorable report of the land they had found, and proposed a removal. The proposition was favorably received by a majority
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HISTORY OF DORCHESTER.
of their number ; but some were reluctant to part from the homes which had cost them so much toil, and had become endeared to them through the hard- ships invariably connected with new settlements.
On the 6th of December, 1752, Mr. Benjamin Baker and Mr. Samuel Bacon, with their families, arrived at Midway, in Liberty County, Georgia. This place was called Midway, because it stood about half way between the rivers Altamaha and Ogechee. Mrs. Baker died the day after their arrival. Their minister, Rev. Mr. Osgood, finding a general desire among those who remained in Carolina to remove, accompanied them to Georgia, where the whole Church and society eventually settled. "The Secre- tary of the Colony of Georgia, in a letter to Benjamin Martyn, in England, dated August 7th, 1755, sets down the number of those who removed from Caro- lina to Georgia (in 1752), as 816 men, women and children." He also wrote in the highest terms of the character of these settlers, whose reputation had preceded them and had grown as they became better acquainted. He says, "I really look upon these people moving here, to be one of the most favorable circumstances that could befall the Colony." More than one hundred years have elapsed since their removal to Midway, and their descendants still re- tain those traits of character which in their ancestors called forth the praise of the Secretary of the colony. They still adhere to the Congregational system of church government, and " the village church and the village school " have been and still are the glory of the place.
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This settlement has furnished Georgia with two governors ; two of its most distinguished judges ; the Theological Seminary of South Carolina and Georgia with an able professor ; the Methodist Epis- copal Church with an influential and pious bishop ; the Presbyterian and Baptist Churches of that State with many of their ablest and most useful ministers ; and six of her sons have been called to professorial chairs in collegiate institutions.
Their minister, Mr. Osgood, died in August, 1773, and different persons officiated for them until 1777, when Mr. Moses Allen, of Northampton, Mass., was settled. He was taken prisoner by the British in 1778, and confined several months in their prison ships. Being a true patriot, and wearied with con- finement, he attempted to regain his liberty by throw- ing himself into the river in order to swim to an adjacent point, but was drowned in the attempt. The enemy, under General Provost, burned the meeting-house and many of the buildings of the place. In 1785, Rev. Abiel Holmes (a well known antiqua- rian, who died a few years since in Cambridge, Mass.), was settled with them in the ministry. Ill health made it necessary for him to relinquish his office in 1791. Rev. C. Gildersleeve, of New Jersey, succeeded him. Rev. Murdock Murphy, a native of North Carolina, followed. Rev. Robert Quarterman came next, and Rev. I. S. K. Axson was settled as his col- league in 1836; but now, 1856, is President of Greensboro' Female College. Their present pastors (1856) are Rev. D. L. Buttolph, of New York, and Rev. John F. Baker, of Pennsylvania.
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HISTORY OF DORCHESTER.
The patriotism of the people of Liberty County, during and previous to the Revolutionary war, was known throughout the country. They chose to take part with their brethren in the contest which they supposed would ensue, and not being able at first to bring the people of Georgia up to their standard, they joined the Continental Congress on their own account, and chose Dr. Lyman Hall to attend the same at Philadelphia, where he signed the Declaration of Independence. Soon after, four more delegates were sent from Georgia. Dr. Hall was a native of Con- necticut, a graduate of Yale College, and in 1783 was elected Governor of Georgia.
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