USA > Massachusetts > Suffolk County > Dorchester > History of the town of Dorchester, Massachusetts > Part 21
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dow. English Hay was then sold for £3 & £3 10 old tenor per Hundred. Barley & Oats were so Pinched that many had not much more than their seed again, & many cut down their Sd Grain before it was ripe for Fodder. Flax almost wholly failed, as also Herbs of all sorts ; and Indian Corn Rolled up & wilted ; and there was a melancholly prospect of the greatest Dearth that ever was known in this Land. In the time of our fears & Distress, the Government ordered a Day of Public Fasting & Prayer; and God was graciously pleased to hear & Answer our Prayers, even in a very remarkable manner: for about ye 6th of July the course of ye weather altered ; and there came such plentiful & seasonable Rains, as quite altered ye face of ye Earth ; and that Grass which we generally concluded was wholly dead, and could not come again under several Years, was revived, and there was a good second Crop of Mowing ; it looking more like ye Spring than that season of ye Year : and ye Indian Corn recovered, & there was a very good Harvest. And whereas it was thought in ye fall of the Year that a multi- tude of Cattle must Die for want of Meat, insomuch as they sent and fetched Hay from England ; yet God in his Providence Ordered us a moderate Winter, and we were carried comforta- bly through it ; and I did not hear of many, if any, Cattle that died. But by reason of so many Cattle being killed off last fall, Beef, Mutton & Butter are now in May, 1750, very dear : Butter is 7s. 6d. old tenor per Pound. Upon ye coming of ye Rains & Renewing of ye Earth last fall, the Government appointed a Day of Publick Thanksgiving."
1750. On the 4th of December, of this year, died James Blake, author of the " Annals of Dorchester." He was son of Deacon James Blake, who died Oct. 22, 1732 ; grandson of Elder James, who died June 28, 1700; and great-grandson of William Blake, the first settler of that name in this town, and the ancestor of most of the name in the country. It is
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truly wonderful, in looking over the old documents in the Town Clerk's office, as well as many private papers found in old garrets, and Probate, Church and State records, to see how much writing and work this man accomplished. He was very correct in all his plans and in all his statements, and at his death his loss was severely felt. He was also greatly esteemed by his contemporaries for his learning and piety. He had the principal charge of the affairs of the Proprietors of the Undivided Lands for many years, and drafted with great ingenuity the tables for collecting the Province and Town taxes, many of which are now in existence.
1751. This year Parliament passed the act by which the old style of computing time was altered to the new. Eleven days were by this act to be ta- ken from September, 1752. It also provided that the first day of January should be the first day of the year, instead of March 25th, as formerly. This last change accounts for the double dates so often found between these two periods.
June 17th .- A hail storm, with " hail as large as swan's eggs."
1752. It was very sickly in town this year and the latter part of 1751, the sickness being caused principally by pleurisy and nervous fever. Jan. 23d was kept as a day of fasting and prayer by the Church, on that account. "There died 15 persons (of the above pleurisy and fever) in less than two months, besides what died of other distempers, ye most of them well hearty persons, and many of them of middle age." The mortality in Boston was also
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very great, being 624 deaths in a population of 15,734.
There was an attempt made this year, by petitions to the General Court from the people of Attlebo- rough, Norton and Easton, to get the boundary line of the town altered. This town opposed it by a Committee, in connection with Committees from Stoughton and Wrentham, and the petition was dis- missed. Had it been granted, several thousand acres would have been taken from Stoughton and Wrentham.
June 18th, of this year, the new bell was hung in the meeting-house. It was the gift of the Proprie- tors of the Undivided Lands, formerly in the town of Dorchester but then in the town of Stoughton. It was imported from Bristol, England, weighed 785 pounds, and cost the proprietors fifty pounds sterling. It is the same bell which now hangs in the meeting- house of the First Parish.
The small pox was in Boston this year, and caused the death of 561 persons ; 31 of them having the disease by inoculation, and 530 the common way. Of those who were inoculated, there died about one in 85 ; and of those who took it the natural way, about one in 10. Seven persons had it in Dorches- ter, one of whom died, viz., Mr. Robert Searl, aged about 80 years. .
Oct. 7th, Ebenezer Cox was drowned in our har- bor by the upsetting of a boat.
Sept. 23d .- Began to read the Scriptures in Dor- chester meeting-house, as a part of public worship.
1753. From this time, Dorchester was compara- 33
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tively quiet for many years. The successive wars, and the emigration from the town to other parts, allowed it to increase but very slowly in population,* and few of its inhabitants could obtain more than a comfortable livelihood. It was, as it were, the close of the Puritanic age. The first settlers and their children slept with their fathers, and the leaven of other people was slowly but surely amalgamating with their posterity. A more unrestrained indul- gence of the imagination and the affections began to be shown, instead of that rigid strictness of feeling and manners peculiar to the Puritans. In matters of religion there was not that exact conformity to the recognized standard which had been considered indispensable, and, under a feeling of new inspira- tion, men looked forward from the dim present to new developments, more expansive views, and a brighter day. It is well known that there was a difference in religious views between the people of Plymouth Colony and the settlers of the Bay; the former being of the party called Separatists, and the latter Non-conformists. The Separatists had, after much persecution, left the Church of England for good. They had the fire of determination, minds obstinate to defend the truth, and anathemas for their opponents. Therefore they said, when they left England, " Farewell, Babylon ! Farewell Rome !" But the Puritans, in the words used by that man of God, Rev. Francis Higginson, of Salem, as he em- barked on board the vessel and took a parting look
* The number of Whites in the Colonies in 1753 was about 1,000,000.
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at his native hills and his dear friends, said, " Fare- well, England ! Farewell the Church of God in England and all the Christian friends there !"
In 1755, there was a great earthquake, which oc- casioned much fright all over the vicinity. Many buildings in Boston were thrown down, and 1,500 chimneys shattered or overturned. Mather Byles says, "it was a terrible night; the most so, perhaps, that ever New England saw."*
Gen. Estes Hatch died Feb. 6th, 1759. He was a prominent man in town, had held the principal military offices, and at the time of his death was Brigadier General of Horse. His wife was Mary, daughter of Rev. Benjamin Rolfe. She died Oct. 21st, 1763. Her father and mother were both killed by the Indians, at their house in Haverhill, Aug. 29th, 1708; also their youngest child. Mary and her sister were saved by the courage and sagacity of Hagar, a negro slave. Upon the first alarm she leaped from her bed, carried them to the cellar, covered each of them with a tub, and then secreted herself. The Indians ransacked the cellar, took every thing of value to them, repeatedly passed the tubs, and even trod on the foot of one of the chil- dren, without discovering them. They drank milk from the pans, then broke them in pieces ; and took meat from the barrel behind which Hagar was con- cealed. Anna Whittaker, an inmate of the family, concealed herself in an apple chest under the stairs, and escaped unharmed. Mary was born March 9th,
* Drake's History of Boston.
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1695; Elizabeth, her sister, Sept. 1st, 1699. The latter married Rev. Samuel Checkley, the first minis- ter of Church Green, Boston. Miss Sarah Hatch, the only daughter of the above, died Sept. 25th, 1779, aged 56 years. They are all deposited in Gen. Hatch's tomb, in the old burying-ground in Dor- chester, which tomb is entirely under ground, with the grass now growing fresh above it .*
CHAPTER XVI.
Colonial Events preceding the Revolution-Great Celebration in Dor- chester-Patriotic Resolutions by the Town-Rev. Jonathan Bowman -Rev. Moses Everett-Drafting of Soldiers for the War-Fortifying of Dorchester Heights-Small-pox Hospitals.
IN 1761, the great cause in the matter of Writs of Assistance was argued before the Court in Boston. It might be called the opening act of the Revolu- tion. James Otis made the great argument against it. It was " performed with such profusion of learning, such convincing argument, and such a torrent of sublime and pathetic eloquence, that a great crowd of spectators and auditors went away absolutely elec- trified."t He was truly a remarkable man, the idol of the people throughout the colony, and astonished the whole country by his wonderful genius, united with great prudence and sagacity.
May 19th, 1766, was a day of general rejoicing throughout the colony, on account of the repeal of
* See History of Haverhill, p. 121.
+ Drake's History of Boston.
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the Stamp Act, news of which arrived May 16th. The demonstrations in Boston were strangely enthu- siastic. Gov. Bernard, supposed to be the only co- lonial Governor opposed to that infamous act, parti- cipated in the general rejoicings so far as to walk about the streets and on the Common to see the pro- ceedings. From this time to the breaking out of the Revolution, the people of the colony were in a high state of excitement. In 1767 the town of Dorchester voted to encourage the produce and manufactures of the country, and lessen the use of foreign superfluities.
Sept. 30th, 1768, the vessels of war with the long- expected British troops sailed into Boston harbor, making, with one or two already there, twelve in number. They anchored off the North End, and made a formidable display. This was another of the impolitic movements of the British ministry, and helped to keep alive the spirit of irritation. It was difficult to find places to quarter so many soldiers ; and from this time to the evacuation of the town, there were continued outbreaks and tumults between the troops and citizens, also between the town au- thorities and the officers. Joshua Henshaw, one of the Selectmen of Boston, a descendant of one of the early citizens of Dorchester, was an able man, a firm " Son of Liberty," and left nothing undone which would make the condition of the soldiers uncom- fortable.
Nov. 3d, 1768, John Hancock, another great fa- vorite of the people, was arrested to answer to the charge of smuggling wine from his sloop Liberty, by
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a party of the citizens of Boston, some time in June previous. It is not presumed that the government thought Mr. Hancock committed the fraud, but be- ing owner of the vessel, he was compelled to answer for it. The popularity of the man made it expedi- ent to postpone the arrest until the arrival of the troops. The individual who made the arrest was Arodi Thayer, who then held the office of Marshal of the Court of Admiralty. Although Mr. Thayer was then on the unpopular side of the great ques- tion of the day, he bore the character of a sincere Christian and downright honest man. All of the latter part of his life he was a resident of Dorches- ter, and is well remembered by many of its citizens, on account of his quaint language, his cocked hat, long stockings, and knee and shoe buckles, which created great astonishment among the young people of that day. He died May 7th, 1831, aged 88 yrs. and 2 months. His commission and badge of office (a silver oar) are deposited with the Dorchester An- tiquarian and Historical Society.
Aug. 14th, 1769, " the Union and Association of the Sons of Liberty in this Province " was celebrat- ed with great applause. The "Sons" met at Li- berty Tree in Boston, "where they drank fourteen toasts," and then adjourned to Liberty Tree Tavern, known as Robinson's Tavern, in Dorchester, where they dined at 2 o'clock. From 300 to 350 sat down to tables spread in the field under a tent. There were " three large pigs barbacued," and other pro- vision in abundance. Forty-five toasts were given on the occasion, the last of which was-" Strong
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halters, firm blocks and sharp axes to all such as de- serve either." All " gentlemen of distinction from other colonies, known to be in Town, had cards of invitation sent them." "Mr. Balch's mimicry," the Liberty Song, and a song by Dr. Church, greatly pleased the company. At 5 o'clock, P. M., the Bos- ton people started for home, led off by Mr. Hancock in his chariot. John Adams (from whose diary most of this is collected) was present, and says, "To the honor of the Sons, I did not see one person intoxi- cated, or near it."
In 1770, the town complimented the merchants of Boston, who had agreed not to import certain ar- ticles while the duty remained on them-such as glass, paper, &c .- and voted not to purchase goods of those importers who would not come into such arrangements ; also not to drink tea, except in case of sickness, until the duty was removed.
This year (1770), Col. Eben'r Clapp presented the town with a very showy and valuable clock. It was put up in the meeting-house, and remained there until 1817. The meeting-house being taken down that year, it was placed in the Town House, where it remains to this day.
In 1771, the inhabitants of that portion of the town known as "The Farms," petitioned to be set off to Braintree, but Dorchester would not agree to it. The land was finally annexed to Quincy.
Jan. 4, 1773, the town unanimously passed nine resolutions, taking a very decided and patriotic stand in relation to colonial affairs. They represented that the attempts by the British Parliament to im-
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pose upon the inhabitants of the colonies laws with- out their consent, was a lawless usurpation ; that the wresting from the control of the Province its principal fortress (the Castle) was a great grievance ; that a late act of Parliament to hurry persons from their country for trial, " appears to come little short of any court of inquisition ;" and other resolves of a similar character. They also gave their sincere and hearty thanks to the people of Boston for their con- stant watch of the enemies of the country. These resolves are drawn up with great ability, and the patriotic sentiments therein contained might well put to blush many of their descendants. The Castle was a fortress in which this town had always felt especial interest. It was nearer to its borders than to any other place; the town had assisted largely in its erection, and in a great measure nursed and provided for it in its infancy, and it was long under the command of one of its favorite sons. The town at this same meeting chose a Committee of Corres- pondence-viz., Capt. Lemuel Robinson, Capt. John Homans and Samuel How. This and similar com- mittees of other towns performed a very important part in the movements of the times.
A number of carpenters from Dorchester having gone to Boston to assist in building barracks for the British soldiers, in 1774, the town, by a vote, desired them to desist, or incur its displeasure. At this time there was a public opinion in regard to the disputes between Great Britain and the colonies that swept all before it, and a gentle hint only, in many cases, was necessary to insure exact compliance.
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After a ministry of about 44 years, a disaffection with the Rev. Mr. Bowman, the minister of the town, which had been slowly growing, broke out into an open warfare. It is difficult at this time to say how far each of the parties was to blame. A large ma- jority of the members of the Church appear to have been opposed to Mr. Bowman, or at least had made up their minds that they could no longer be peace- fully connected with him. In laying this matter before the public, we shall consult all the evidence at hand, and endeavor to be as just and impartial as possible.
From the Church Records, it appears that Mr. Bowman had become very stubborn in maintaining his own opinions and rights, without regarding those of his people. Clergymen in those days, we know, were men of authority ; but he had been connected with the people of Dorchester so long, and knew them so well, it is strange that such a misunder- standing should have occurred. The first instance of blame openly laid to his charge, that we have any account of, was his refusal to baptize a child of Mr. Paul Hall, in March, 1773. There had previously been some gossip about his preaching too short ser- mons (a complaint not common in these days), fre- quently not exceeding, it was said, from fifteen to eighteen minutes ; also that he too frequently preach- ed old sermons, and did not insist enough on the doctrines of original sin, regeneration and self- denial. It appears that Mr. Paul Hall improved some land adjoining Mr. Bowman's yard and barn, and shot his fowls-certainly a provoking act, and
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one which has been the cause of much trouble both before and since that time. When Mr. Hall brought his child for baptism, Mr. Bowman refused to per- form the ceremony; whereupon Mr. H., probably under a state of excitement, exclaimed openly, “ I demand baptism for the child." This, as may be sup- posed, caused great disturbance and clamor in the congregation.
Another of the complaints was, that at church- meetings, when motions were made and seconded, he would refuse to put the same to vote, unless they coincided with his opinion ; also that he claimed the right, and actually did exercise it, to adjourn and dissolve meetings at his own pleasure, once even when he was not present. He was also found fault with for not baptizing a child of Mr. John Goff, and a child (living in 1856) of Mr. Samuel Payson.
On the part of Mr. Bowman, it was urged that he looked upon the act of Mr. Hall in shooting his fowls as unneighborly and injurious, and had sent to him, desiring that he would refrain from doing him mischief, and that he would pay Mr. H. for all the damage done by his fowls ; likewise, that when the latter came on Sunday morning to apprise him that he should carry his child for baptism in the afternoon, Mr. Bowman told him that he had " grounds of uneasiness," and requested him to postpone the ceremony one week, which Mr. H. re- fused to do, and declared that he would carry it that afternoon ; also that Mr. B. requested one of his brethren to go to Mr. Hall between the morning and afternoon service, but he still persisted. It was
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likewise said, on the part of Mr. Bowman, that there were misstatements in relation to his proceedings at the meetings of the Church; that at some of the meetings he was unwell, and not able to attend, and at another was absent at a funeral. His health was also said to be feeble, and he was not able to preach long sermons ; besides, he was cautioned by his pre- decessor, Mr. Danforth, at his ordination, not to be too long and tedious in his sermons ; likewise, that he spoke fast, and would deliver as much in fifteen minutes as some would in half an hour.
The principal persons in the Church who were engaged in this controversy, were Deacons Abijah White, Richard Hall and Samuel Topliff; Noah Clap, William Holden, Esq., Capt. Lemuel Robin- son, Abraham Wheeler, Samuel How, Ezekiel Tol- man, Roger Clap, Bernard Capen, Edward Preston, John Humphrey, Timothy Wales, Jonathan Leeds, John Pierce, Jr., Abraham Howe and others. Mr. Noah Clap was chosen to sign the documents in be- half of the Church ; an office which he would gladly have declined, but they refused to excuse him. His character for mildness, discretion, and undeviating justice, perhaps led him to believe that the pastor was too severely dealt with. Mr. Bowman was a friend of his ; he often preached in Mr. B.'s pulpit, and desired to live with him in the bonds of Christ- ian fellowship. The Church, on the other hand, knowing Mr. Clap's acquaintance with all the peo- ple concerned, his knowledge of their whole history, his accuracy in keeping records, his standing among the neighboring clergy, a number of whom were his
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classmates in college, persisted in his holding that position, for which they remunerated him by paying him four pounds and one guinea.
There were other matters brought into this con- troversy, such as the representative of the town get- ting the worse for drink ; Paul Hall's marketing a hog that had been bitten by a mad dog, and other stories and side issues, denied as strongly as affirmed, which it is not expedient again to bring before the public.
The sermon preached by Mr. Bowman in March, 1772, from the words, " He that despiseth you, des- piseth me," was a cause of offence, and certainly was very plain, and not liable to be misunderstood. The following notice of it, from the Church Re- cords, was laid before the Council :- " Those that despise the faithful ministers of Christ, despise Christ himself. Great part of the time was spent well im- proving that those that despise the ministers of Christ, despise Christ. Then the Rev. Mr. Bowman goes on and says, that this town has been remarka- ble for a ministerial people ; the memory of many who are dead and gone is precious with me; from many of you I used to receive annual favors, of which I still retain a grateful resentment; though some seem to have lost their first love, for what reason I cannot tell. I have seen more of an anti-ministerial spirit prevailing this last seven years, than in all the five times seven years of my ministry before, and if such a spirit should prevail, no Gospel minister could have much peace or comfort in the town. I think I have been shorter than usual, though I believe too
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long for some of my hearers. No doubt by this time many will be inquisitive who this discourse is pointed at. I tell in few words ; those that despise this sermon, or disparage the author on account of it, I will say to them, as Nathan to David, 'Thou art the man.' "
All these matters combined, made great excitement in the town, and led to the calling of a large and influential Council, at the mutual desire of the Pas- tor and Church. It convened at Dorchester, No- vember 16th, 1773, and continued, by several ad- journments, to the following December 14th. The Church, and the Parish (then including the whole town), were in session many days on the same busi- ness. After a patient hearing of the case, the Coun- cil came to an agreement, which was published at length, the concluding part and substance of which was as follows :
Upon the whole it appears to this Council, after having fully heard the above articles, and the evidence adduced in support of them, and having well weighed the same, that however blame-worthy the Rev. Mr. Bowman may have been, still he hath not forfeited his Ministerial character. Not- withstanding which, considering the state of things in this Church and town, the Council do, from a sincere regard to Pastor, Church and People, the peace and prosperity of this place, and the advancement of the kingdom of Christ, advise the Rev. Mr. Bowman to ask an immediate dismission from his pastoral relation, and the Church to grant it. But inas- much as the Council have given it as their opinions, that from what appears to them, Mr. Bowman hath not forfeited his ministerial character, they further give it as their judgment, that there is no objection to his public preaching in any other Church.
In fine the Council lament the unhappy differences that have lately subsisted in this place, and at the same time can- not but express their satisfaction, that both parties have con- sented to ask for the Council and advice of sister Churches
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in their difficult and perplexed circumstances : A method as they apprehend perfectly consonant to the gospel, and con- sidered by their venerable fathers, in the platform, as an or- dinance of Christ, for healing the divisions of his Church. They hope both the Pastor and the People, will candidly receive the advice they now offer, as the result of their best judgment, and christian tenderness for both,-that all ani- mosities between them may be allayed, all past offences mu- tually forgiven and forgotten; and that brotherly love, so particularly recommended by our common Lord to his Disci- ples, and so ornamental to the christian profession, and neces- sary to the success of the gospel, may be revived and most carefully cultivated.
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