USA > Massachusetts > Suffolk County > Dorchester > History of the town of Dorchester, Massachusetts > Part 18
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Rev. Dr. Holmes remarked the great difference between these people and the natives of the place, and observed that they " differed as greatly from all surrounding inhabitants as did the Jews from the Canaanites." The late Rev. Dr. Codman, of Dor- chester, visited this place a short time previous to 1830, and was struck with the same peculiarity.
CHAPTER XIV.
Ecclesiastical Council at Medfield-Religious Association of Young Men-Land for Free Schools-Death of Governor Stoughton-Boundaries of the Town-Town Orders, &c.
1696. Selectmen-Samuel Capen, James Foster, James White, John Bird and Dea. Topliff.
Another aged and respectable citizen of the town died this year, viz., Thomas Trott, aged 82 years.
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Purchase Capen was accidentally killed by the firing of a gun, Sept. 9th.
This year the town chose a committee to seat peo- ple in the meeting-house.
The 22d of February, a letter was read from the Church in Medfield, desiring messengers to assist in a Council to be held there. The proceedings of said Council were subsequently reported to the Church in Dorchester, and are written out quite fully on the Records. It is presumed that these Records, which were formerly kept by Elder John Wiswell, and afterwards by Capt. John Capen, were at this time in the hands of Rev. Mr. Danforth, as the re- marks therein respecting this Council appear to have been written by him. It appears that out of 60 per- sons in the town of Medfield, who were voters, " 50 and odd " voted for Mr. Baxter, the minister, and 20 or 21 out of 25 of the members of the Church ; yet the opposition were active. Their reasons for oppos- ing the settlement of Mr. B., according to the report, were " some of them weak, silly and unreasonable, and some of them ungodly and pernicious." "One reason was that he was but a young man ; another that he had not so loud a voice as some others." The report contains certainly one democratic doctrine, viz., " The light of nature shows that the majority should sway."
The Church in Dorchester voted, this year, that the Elders should signify to the General Court, that they apprehended one tavern, besides Mr. Billings's and Mr. White's, to be enough for the town, and that none but persons of improved integrity be licensed.
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" Nov. 1st, 1696. Dea. Sumner's wife and family, and his brother Samuel Sumner with his wife and family, with Peter O'Kelly's wife and six children, dismissed to the Church of Christ near Newington, in South Carolina " (called Dorchester).
1697. Selectmen-Samuel Clap, Deacon Topliff, Hopestill Clap, James Foster and Samuel Capen.
The seating of people in the meeting-house was a difficult and serious affair. The committee chosen last year to perform this service, declined doing it again, unless the Selectmen would promise that they would accept of their seats appointed, "for order sake," and not put others out of their places. The town voted that the seats for boys should be removed, and seats made for them in the gallery ; also to make a pew for the Hon. Lieut. Governor and one for Rev. Mr. Danforth's family.
March 21st, 22d and 23d, a council set at Water- town. Rev. Mr. Danforth, Lt. Tileston and Dea. Hopestill Clap, were members from Dorchester.
In April the Church chose their Pastor, Ruling Elder, Capt. Clap and Deacon Topliff, to go to Med- field to assist at the ordination of Mr. Joseph Baxter, no public opposition being made, although the old quarrel was not entirely allayed.
1698. Selectmen-Capt. Clap, Dea. Clap, Dea. Topliff, Samuel Wales and Samuel Capen.
This year was finished the laying out of the 12th division of land, in the new grant.
The town voted that Rev. Mr. Danforth's salary should be paid by a free contribution. This plan was tried in 1697, and at the same time provision
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was made, that if the contribution did not amount to eighty-five pounds, it should be made up to that sum out of the town rate.
The winter of 1697-98 was " very long, sore and sharp."
The 25th of December of this year, several serious young men of the town joined themselves into an association for religious purposes, which was to con- tinue until they formed family connections, or until they left the town. This society continued until about 1848, or 150 years from its formation. Simi- lar associations were formed in the neighboring towns, but were generally short-lived. The meetings of the Dorchester society were held immediately after the public service on Sunday afternoons, and the exercises were principally prayer and reading. Rev. Dr. Harris preached a discourse, addressed to the members, one hundred years from its establishment,
which was printed. The society had a true friend in the late Dr. James Baker, who presented them many valuable religious books. The remains of the library, also the constitution and the signatures thereto, are now in the keeping of the Dorchester Antiquarian and Historical Society.
1699. Selectmen-Dea. Topliff, Dea. Clap, Sam- uel Wales, James Foster and Daniel Preston.
This year the town lost two of its aged citizens by death : viz., Sept. 11th, Wm. Trescott, aged 84 years and 8 months; and, Nov. 8th, widow Elizabeth George, who so long kept the ordinary, aged 98 years.
The town chose a committee to lay out the 1000
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acres of land for the maintenance of a free school. " Some of our friends of Milton " requested the town to grant them 200 acres for the same purpose. "The town did seem to favour the matter, yet notwith- standing did defer the affirmative grant thereof, until our own school land above mentioned be first laid out, and until the town of Milton have a school ap- pearing to need the same."
Rev. Mr. Danforth was sick and unable to preach for several weeks this year.
1700. Selectmen-Capt. Clap, Daniel Preston, Charles Davenport, Samuel Wales and James Blake.
Having given a list of the Selectmen of the town, as they were annually chosen, up to this date, they will hereafter be omitted, as the space which their names would occupy may perhaps be better used for other purposes. The early settlers of this town, it not the first, were among the first to organize a town government by choosing townsmen or select- men. Their idea of christian civilization was, that it seeks " to control and yet not to enslave,-to leave free and yet not to abandon."
Elder James Blake died June 28th, aged 77 years. He was a Deacon of the Church about 11 years, and Ruling Elder about 14 years.
The committee chosen to lay out the school farm last year, were John Bird, Daniel Preston, Jr., and Charles Davenport. They reported, this year, that they had laid it out. It was near Plymouth Colony line, by the Bridgewater road, half way between Boston and Taunton, and bounded by Half-way brook, near Woodcock's well, the Rehoboth road,
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&c. It was composed of several different lots, which did not appear to join, but were in the same neigh- borhood.
1701. Dec. 22d, of this year, Richard Withing- ton, senior, died, aged about 84 years.
The year was also an eventful one, in the death of Lieut. Gov. William Stoughton, Commander in Chief of the Province.
No history appears to have been written of this remarkable man ; for remarkable he was, and would have been in any age. It is lamentable that it has been left to this late day to furnish even a brief me- morial of so eminent a scholar, civilian and divine. He was distinguished as a preacher, and was six times invited to settle over the church in this town, but for " reasons within himself" as often declined. His election sermon in 1668 was said to have been one of the most powerful and impressive that had been delivered before the General Court.
In that discourse he highly eulogises the early settlers of the colony; and no one knew them better, he being one of the oldest of the first generation from that stock. He says, "They were worthies, men of singular accomplishments, and of long and great experience. Yet did they walk with fear and trem- bling before the Lord, in the sense of their own nothingness and insufficiency for the work here to be done. O what were the open professions of the Lord's people, that first entered this wilderness ! How did our fathers entertain the Gospel, and all the pure institutions thereof, and those liberties which they brought over! What was their com-
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munion and fellowship in the administrations of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ! What was the pitch of their brotherly love, of their zeal for God and his ways, and against ways destructive of truth and holi- ness ! " * " God sifted a whole nation, that he might send choice grain over into this wilderness." He further says,-" Consider and remember always, that the books that shall be opened at the last day will contain genealogies in them. There shall then be brought forth a register of the genealogies of New England's sons and daughters. How shall we, many of us, hold up our faces then, when there shall be a solemn rehearsal of our descent, as well as of our degeneracies ! To have it published, whose child thou art, will be cutting to thy soul, as well as to have the crimes reckoned up that thou art guilty of."
Governor Stoughton was a man of much wealth for those days, and was a large landholder. His residence was at the northeast corner of the streets now known as Pleasant Street and Savin Hill Ave- nue. Two large elms which still remain, one at the corner of those streets and one in the avenue, and the oldest of the elm trees on Pleasant Street in a southerly direction, are supposed to have been trans- planted by him, and consequently must be 160 years old or upwards. Probably no man who ever lived in the town was possessed of more influence than Governor Stoughton. He was a great friend to edu- cation. He has been considered, by some of this generation, as intolerant and bigoted, on account of the part he took, in those unfortunate times, during
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the trial and condemnation of the witches. But he acted in conformity with the prevailing ideas of his age, was undoubtedly conscientious in his opinions and acts, and was one of the most tolerant men of his day. When his colleague, Judge Sewall, made a public recantation in the Old South Church for the part he took in the trials referred to, Gov. Stoughton declined to do the same, saying that he had no con- fessions to make, for at the time the trials took place he thought that he was right, and acted his part with all sincerity, although he was now convinced that he was wrong.
An article in Putnam's Magazine, of September, 1853, says that "Chief Justice Stoughton, after the delusion was over, sent a note to the pulpit on Sun- day desiring prayers for his pardon, if in any way he had sinned by his course in the trials ; and as it was read he stood up in his pew, showing by his quiver- ing lip the strong feeling within." Whether this account is correct, we know not. The whole affair is a strange compound of facts, fancies and inconsis- tencies, woven into public accusations and judicial decisions. One of the most eminent of the English judges condemned many individuals to death for this supposed crime. In this neighborhood, after twenty persons were publicly executed, when eight more were under sentence of death, and a hundred and fifty were in jail for trial, about fifty of whom had confessed, and two hundred or more at large were charged with the crime, many of whom were among the best citizens, the public became alarmed. The sternness of the Courts, the fanaticism of the Clergy
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and the fury of the people began to abate, the trials were stopped, and the delusion vanished. May its history be a lesson and a solemn warning in all com- ing time.
Gov. Stoughton and Mr. Peter Bulkley were the deputed agents of the colony to answer to the com- plaint of Mason and Gorges, that the colony had taken land granted to them. The agents went to England in 1676, and returned in 1679.
Gov. Stoughton's funeral sermon was preached at the lecture in Boston, July 17, 1701, by Rev. Samuel Willard, of the Old South Church. He was one of the last of the original Puritans-that slandered, but inestimable race of men. Their work is done ; their mission is ended. The world was galvanized by their heroism, stability and magnanimous achieve- ments. They opened an eventful future; their names are connected with the most momentous questions which have since agitated the civilized world.
Much has been written and reported concerning Gov. Stoughton's will. The following extracts from it contain the portions which more particularly re- late to his public bequests :-
To the Church at Dorchester, two pieces of plate for the Communion of six pounds value each ; also the sum of £50, to be left under improvement by the care and diligence of the Deacons for the time being, under the oversight of the Teach- ing and Ruling officers of that Church.
Towards the relief of the poor of Dorchester I give the like sum of £50, to be improved by the care of the Selectmen, and the income to be distributed to the most needy inhabitants.
Unto the schools of Dorchester I give the sum of one hun- dred and fifty pounds, to be secured and settled under im-
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provement, for a yearly income towards the advancement of the salary of the schoolmaster-wherein my will is, that if within the space of ten years next following the date of this my last will, the town of Dorchester shall not have provided and settled such a salary of their own proper gift as shall make up the present salary already settled to be and contin- ued to the full value of £40 a year ; in that case I say my will is that, until they shall have provided and settled a sala- ry of that value of £40 a year, the whole income and improve- ment of this my gift shall yearly be paid to the Steward of Harvard College in Cambridge, and at the discretion of the President and Fellows thereof, be given toward the encourage- ment of some well-deserving student there, coming from or belonging to the town of Milton, if any such there be, other- wise to some other that may deserve it.
Unto the Church of Milton I give one piece of plate for the Communion, of six pounds value.
To the town of Milton I give out of my great wood-lot there, forty acres, to be conveniently and equitably laid out to them. The whole improvement thereof to be for the bene- fit of the poor of that town as the Selectmen thereof shall judge best.
And whereas through the great goodness of God, for which I mostsolemnly bless him, as a testimony of my unfeigned respect for Harvard College at Cambridge, the place of my first public education (which nursery of good learning hath been of ines- timable blessing to the Church and people of God in this wil- derness, and may ever continue to be so, if this people con- tinue in the favor of God), I have lately erected and finished an additional building to that College, with the previous grant and consent of the President and Fellows that it shall be in my liberty to make and establish an appropriation of some part of the income of that building to be for the benefit of some students in particular as I shall appoint. It is there- fore my desire and will accordingly. (He here directs that £20 per year, for five years, of the income of the building, shall be appropriated for the support and education of Elijah Danforth, at the College, son of Rev. John Danforth. ) Af-
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ter the expiration of five years, there shall be reserved out of the revenue and income of said building the sum of £10 annu- ally forever, to be exhibited at the discretion of the President and Fellows of said College for the time being, towards the support and education of some poor scholar at the College as they shall judge most indigent and deserving-a minister's son to have the preference of others. Provided, nevertheless, when any of my own kindred, descended either from my father or my Uncle Thomas Stoughton, late of Windsor, in the Colony of Connecticut, deceased, shall happen to be a student at the College and stand in need of support, such shall be preferred in the first place to the said exhibition, and next to them any poor scholar that shall come from the town of Dor- chester within this Province, and that none receive the benefit of this exhibition that shall not actually reside at the College, nor for any longer than that he shall receive the degree of A. M.
And as a further testimony of my desire to promote the good literature and education of such therein as may be ser- viceable to God and the Church, I do further give and be- queath unto the President and Fellows of Harvard College and their successors forever, all that my pasture in Dor- chester, which is now in the occupation of John Robinson- and all that my parcel of salt meadow, which is in the occu- pation of John Trescott, willing and appointing the clear profits and income of both to be exhibited in the first place to a scholar of the town of Dorchester, and if there be none such, then to a scholar of the town of Milton, and in want of such, to any Indian student, and in want of such, to any other well - deserving scholar that may be most needy.
The epitaph on his tomb is one of the most com- prehensive and elegant ever written. It is almost the same as the one inscribed on the tomb of Blaise Pascal, the famous French Philosopher, who died in 1662, and which was written by Aimonius Proust de Chambourg, Professor of Law in the University of Orleans. Gov. Stoughton's friend Cotton Mather
HISTORY OF DORCHESTER. 277
is supposed to have arranged and altered it to suit the case.
GULIELMUS STOUGHTONUS, ARMIGER,
Provincia Massachusettensis In Nova Anglia Legatus, deinde Gubernator ; Nec-non Curiæ in eadem Provincia Superioris Justiciarius Capitalis, Hic Jacet.
Vir Conjugij nescius,
Religione Sanctus,
Virtute Clarus,
Doctrina Celebris,
Ingenio Acutus, Sanguine et Animo pariter Illustris,
. Æquitatis Amator, Legum Propugnator,
Collegij Stoughtoniani Fundator,
Literarum et Literatorum Fautor Celeberrimus, Impietatis et Vitij Hostis Acerrimus.
Hunc Rhetores amant Facundum,
Hunc Scriptores norunt Elegantem,
Hunc Philosophi quærunt Sapientem,
Hunc Doctores Laudant Theologum,
Hunc Pij Venerantur Austerum,
Hunc Omnes Mirantur ; Omnibus Ignotum, Omnibus Licet Notúm.
Quid Plura Viator ! Quem perdidimus- STOUGHTONUM ! Heu ! Satis dixi, urgent Lachrymæ, Sileo.
Vixit Annos Septuaginta ; Septimo Die Julij, Anno Salutis 1701, Cecidit. Heu ! Heu ! Qualis Luctus ! 28
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HISTORY OF DORCHESTER.
The following is nearly a literal translation of this celebrated epitaph :
Here lies WILLIAM STOUGHTON, ESQUIRE, Lieutenant, afterwards Governor, Of the Province of Massachusetts in New England. Also Chief Judge of the Superior Court In the same Province. A man to wedlock unknown,
Devout in Religion,
Renowned for Virtue,
Famous for Erudition, Acute in Judgment, Equally Illustrious by Kindred and Spirit,
A Lover of Equity, A Defender of the Laws, Founder of Stoughton Hall,
A most Distinguished Patron of Letters and Literary Men,
A most strenuous Opponent of Impiety and Vice.
Rhetoricians delight in him as Eloquent,
Writers are acquainted with Him as Elegant,
Philosophers seek Him as Wise,
Doctors honor Him as a Theologian,
The Devout revere Him as Grave,
All admire Him ; unknown by All, Yet known to `All. What need of more, Traveller ? Whom have we lost-
STOUGHTON ! Alas ! I have said sufficient, Tears press, I keep silence. He lived Seventy years ; On the Seventh of July, in the Year of Safety 1701, He Died. - Alas ! Alas ! What Grief !
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HISTORY OF DORCHESTER.
1702. This year the town voted to shut up the middle aisle of the meeting-house.
Oct. 22d, was a general fast on account of the war, and on account of the sickness.in New York and here.
The 18th of November Mr. John Robinson, of this town, was settled over the Church at Duxbury. Elder Topliff was chosen to attend, with the Pastor, at the ordination.
1703. Aug. 16th, Mr. Robert Spurr died, aged 93 years. He had been a very prominent man in the town, and more liberal in his religious belief than most of his contemporaries.
The Church Records thus allude to public affairs : " April 8th, 1703. A public general thanksgiving for her Majesty's successes by sea and land against the French and Spaniards in Europe and America- many ships, much treasure, and many towns being taken. John, Earl of Marlborough, is Captain Gen- eral of the land forces ; James, Duke of Ormand, is General of the fleet forces ; and Sir George Rook is Admiral of the fleet, under our sovereign Queen Anne, who came to the throne March 8, 1702. But before the late King William III., of glorious memo- ry, died, there were sundry societies set up for re- formation of manners, and behold the smiles of Hea- ven upon the same ! our nation on a sudden being filled with plenty of grain, and plenty of silver (the late fleet being taken), and plenty of honour and victory, so that the Queen has invited her subjects in the plantations of America to rejoice with her, and return thanks to God."
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There were three fasts and two thanksgivings this year. There was great commiseration felt in the town for Rev. John Williams and his fellow-cap- tives from Deerfield, and a suitable notice of this affair appears upon the Church Records. Mr. Wil- liams was well acquainted in this town, being born in Roxbury, near by; he also kept the school in Dorchester, in 1684.
1704. The practice of a free contribution to pay the salary of the minister, Rev. Mr. Danforth, which had been followed for several years, appears to have failed of answering that end, and this year it was voted to have a tax for the purpose, but at the same time to have the contribution continued, and every man to put his money in a paper with his name thereon. This plan was afterwards changed, accord- ing to circumstances.
March 13th, it was voted, on petition from the gunners of the town, " that the wild fowl from the south-east of Neck unto Thompson's Island (the northeasterly part thereof), should not be disturbed in their feed, from half ebb, unto half flood, by trim- ming or sailing upon them, under penalty of twenty shillings, one half thereof unto the informer, and the other half unto the poor of the town."
"July 18th, 1704. Our lecture was turned into a day of humiliation and prayer, to ask converting grace, and ask rain in time of drought, and other mercies. The Pastor being sick, Mr. Thacher and Mr. Walter preached and prayed, and Mr. Cotton Mather helped in prayer. Merciful showers followed, and in divers Churches hereabouts, and in Connecti-
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HISTORY OF DORCHESTER.
cut, the wheel of prayer has been, and now is going. Audiat Dominus."
Oct. 25th. Mr. Robert Breck, a native of Dorches- ter, was ordained at Marlborough. Mr. Danforth, Elder Clap and Deacon Preston were sent from the Church here to assist.
The Church records mention several matters of note which transpired in the vicinity ; one, that Mr. Gardner, minister of Lancaster, was killed Oct. 25th, one of the watch shooting him by mistake.
" 10 (10) 1704. The decease of Rev. Mr. Clark, of Chelmsford, was publicly lamented in a sermon on Acts xx. 25, 37, 38. Item, the Rev. Mr. Williams, of Deerfield, is still in captivity ; and Dunstable not yet supplied with a Pastor. Thus in the frontier towns are tokens of the anger of the Lord, from Deerfield to Dunstable."
1705, Feb. 6th. Old widow Wiat died, having arrived at the great age of 94 years. She had assist- ed, as midwife, at the birth of upwards of one thou- sand and one hundred children.
This year, March 12th, the town voted that there should be a wharf made at Wales's creek, at the town's charge, and for the public benefit. Col. Tay- lor, Capt. Foster and Dea. Preston were chosen a committee to see the work done, but the wharf was not built for several years.
This year there was trouble with Rev. Messrs. Wyman of Woburn, Sherman of Sudbury, and Wood- bridge of Medford, and their respective Churches. In each case the Church of Dorchester was called upon to assist by its delegates.
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HISTORY OF DORCHESTER.
1706. This year St. Christopher's was sacked by the French, its inhabitants being left in a sad state, and an appeal was made for relief to the congrega- tions in this vicinity. May 5th there was a collec- tion in Dorchester for them, and £10 6s 10d raised.
" Old mother Pelton, the aged and pious widow Woods, Father Maudsly, and Father Pierce, deceased lately."
"December. The Rev. Mr. John Williams, Pastor of Deerfield, and many captives with him, returned from their French and Indian captivity very lately, in answer to public prayers on that behalf. Gloria Deo in Xto." Mr. Williams preached here the March following.
The proprietors of the undivided lands seem to have been actuated by a liberal spirit, and were gen- erous in their gifts when they supposed the interest of the town would be promoted. This year they voted to admit Rev. John Danforth, and Rev. Mr. Thacher of Milton, as proprietors, and granted the former 200 and the latter 100 acres of land ; also 75 acres to the ministry for those " beyond the blue hills ;" and 150 acres to Milton, provided a grammar school was kept there for fifteen years.
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