USA > Massachusetts > Suffolk County > Dorchester > History of the town of Dorchester, Massachusetts > Part 27
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HISTORY OF DORCHESTER.
CHAPTER XXI.
Brief Sketch of the Religious Societies of Dorchester, to 1857,
FIRST PARISH.
REV. John Maverick and Rev. John Warham were the first ministers of Dorchester. The Church was gathered at the new hospital in Plymouth, Eng- land, March 20th, 1630, as the emigrants were about to embark for this country. Johnson says that they .. would not have been allowed to form a Congrega- tional Church in England, were it not that they had previously engaged their passage to New England. He calls Mr. Maverick the " godly Mr. Maverick," and Mr. Warham he styles the " gracious servant of Christ." Mr. Warham had been a minister at Exeter, England, and Mr. Maverick resided about forty miles from there. According to Morton, Mr. Maverick died in Boston, February 3, 1636. He is supposed to have been buried in the first burying- ground in Dorchester, which was near the first meet- ing-house. He was father to the somewhat noted Samuel Maverick, of Noddle's Island. In the latter part of the year 1635, a large number of the Church removed to Windsor, Ct., and commenced the settle- ment of that place. It is supposed that they took with them the Church Records to that date, as they are not at present to be found. There is a tradition that both of the ministers were adverse to their re- moval. Mr. Maverick was the oldest, and was born about the year 1575. Mr. Warham died at Wind-
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sor, April 1, 1670, leaving a character long cher- ished for its christian attainments. Both had been ordained as ministers by Bishops of the Church of England.
In 1636, August 23d, Rev. Richard Mather was in- stalled teacher of the Dorchester Church, and a new covenant was formed. A sketch of the life of this distinguished man may be seen on page 212 of this work. In 1637, the Church invited Rev. Nathaniel Rogers to settle as colleague with Mr. Mather; but he declined, and was afterwards the minister of Ips- wich. In the month of February, 1640, Rev. Jonathan Burr was settled as colleague with Mr. Mather. The latter died April 22, 1669. Mr. Burr died August 9, 1641, aged 37 years. He had the smallpox soon after his arrival in this country, which left him in a state of debility, and probably shortened his life. He stood pre-eminent as a christian among his con- temporaries. Some further account of him may be found on page 108 of this volume.
Rev. John Wilson, Jr. (son of Rev. John, of Bos- ton) was ordained as colleague with Mr. Mather in 1649, and about two years after was settled in Med- field, Mass., where he preached about 40 years, and died August 23, 1691.
The next minister settled in Dorchester, was Rev. Josiah Flint, son of Rev. Henry Flint, of Braintree. He graduated at Harvard College in 1664, and was ordained in Dorchester December 27, 1671. He died September 16, 1680, in the 35th year of his age, leaving a widow and several children. See a further account on page 240.
44
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HISTORY OF DORCHESTER.
Rev. John Danforth succeeded Mr. Flint. He was ordained June 8, 1682. He was son of Rev. Sam- uel Danforth, of Roxbury, was born in 1652, and graduated at Harvard College in 1677. He died May 26, 1730, and is the last minister of the First Church who died while in that office. Shortly before his death, he having become aged, Rev. Jona- than Bowman was chosen his colleague, and was or- dained November 5, 1729. Mr. Bowman was son of Joseph Bowman, of Lexington, and was born Febru- ary 23, 1703-4. He graduated at Harvard College in .. 1724, and remained in the ministry in Dorchester until December 14, 1773, when an unpleasant con- troversy arose, and he was dismissed, both at his own request and by the desire of the Church. . An account of this controversy will be found at page 325.
Rev. Moses Everett succeeded Mr. Bowman, and was ordained September 28, 1774. He was son of Ebenezer Everett, of Dedham, Mass., where he was born July 15, 1750. He remained in the min- istry about 19 years, and resigned, in consequence of ill health, January 14, 1793. See further particulars on page 331.
Rev. Thaddeus Mason Harris was the successor of Mr. Everett, and was ordained October 23, 1793. He was son of William Harris ; was born in Charles- town, Mass., July 7, 1768, and graduated at Harvard College in 1787. He resigned his office October 23, 1836, on the 43d anniversary of his settlement, and died in Boston April 3, 1842. He was buried from the Church where he so long and faithfully minis- tered, a great concourse of people being present, and
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a funeral address was delivered by his successor, Rev. Nathaniel Hall, which is in print.
Rev. Nathaniel Hall, Jr., son of Nathaniel Hall, of Medford, was ordained colleague with Rev. Dr. Harris, July 16, 1835, and since the resignation of the latter, has been the sole pastor of the Church.
SECOND PARISH.
Until 1806, there was but one Church in Dor- chester, including what is now called South Boston. At that time it had become impossible for as many as wished to attend public worship, to be accommo- dated with seats; and this led to the building of a sec- ond meeting-house, which was dedicated October 30, 1806. Rev. John Codman, of Boston, was ordained pastor of the new Church, December 7, 1808, and continued such to the close of his life, which was on the 23d of December, 1847. A sermon, descriptive of his character and virtues, was preached at his funeral, which was from the meeting-house where he so long and so successfully ministered, by Rev. Richard S. Storrs, D.D., of Braintree.
Rev. James H. Means was successor of Rev. Dr. Codman, and was ordained as pastor of the Church July 13, 1848, which office he still retains.
THIRD PARISH.
In consequence of the misunderstanding which occurred in the Second Church, an account of which has already been given, a portion of the members departed therefrom, and built another house in the south part of the town, which was dedicated October
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6, 1813. This building having become somewhat out of repair, and not of very comely appearance, the Parish, in 1839, considered it expedient to erect an- other edifice, which was built in 1840, on a new road laid out for the accommodation of the Society the year previous, and known by the name of Rich- mond Street. This house was dedicated October 28, 1840, and stands not many rods distant from the old one. It is a graceful and elegant structure. The Building Committee were Darius Brewer, E. H. R. Ruggles and George Haynes ; Asher Benjamin, Architect ; Joseph Sanger, Master Builder. After the Parish left its first house of worship, it was converted into a hall for literary and other purposes, under the name of Richmond Hall. It stands on Washington Street, about 40 or 50 rods N.N.W. of Milton Bridge.
The first minister of this Parish was Rev. Edward Richmond. He came to Dorchester from Stoughton, where he had preached nearly 25 years. He was in- stalled in Dorchester June 25, 1817. He resigned on account of paralysis May 13, 1833, and died April 10, 1842. He was born in Middleboro', Mass., June 29, 1767, and graduated at Providence in 1789. He was modest in his demeanor, but dignified ; though not a popular preacher, he wrote in a vigorous and beautiful style; he was a sympathizing friend to all who needed his services, and was held in very high es- teem by his parishioners and the neighboring clergy.
The successor of Dr. Richmond was Rev. Francis Cunningham. He graduated at Harvard College in 1825, was ordained over this Society May 21, 1834,
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HISTORY OF DORCHESTER.
and delivered his valedictory discourse September 4, 1842.
The present pastor of this Society is Rev. Richard Pike. He was ordained February 8, 1843.
FOURTH PARISH (METHODIST EPISCOPAL SOCIETY).
A Methodist Episcopal Church was gathered in Dorchester in the spring of 1817. The first church edifice occupied by the Society was dedicated May 6, 1818. The building, altered for that purpose, was originally a carpenter's shop. It was purchased of Adam Davenport, of Dorchester, by Mr. Anthony Otheman, who furnished it and presented it to the Society. Mr. Otheman was a Frenchman by birth, a man of decision and character, one of the last of the cocked-hat gentry, and was the principal if not the sole instrument in the formation of this Society. The building was provided with galleries, and would accommodate about 300 persons. It was situated on the east side of Washington Street, about one fourth of a mile north from Milton Bridge, and very near the spot now occupied by the Society for its place of worship. The first building has been removed to Adams Street, converted into a dwelling-house, and is now occupied by Mr. Daniel Pierce.
The second house of worship was consecrated September 24, 1829. It is a neat and appropriate building, and will accommodate about 600 persons.
The following are the names of the different min- isters of this Society. In 1816, Rev. Daniel Filmore took charge of the Society, and was assisted by Rev. Elijah Hedding. In 1817, Rev. William Granville
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HISTORY OF DORCHESTER.
became minister of the Society. He was followed, in 1819, by Rev. Bartholomew Otheman; in 1820, by Rev. Benjamin Hazelton and Rev. Jotham Horton ; in 1821, by Rev. Isaac Jennison and Rev. Frederick Upham; in 1822, by Rev. Aaron D. Sargent; in 1823, by Rev. Stephen Puffer and Rev. Benjamin Jones ; in 1824, by Rev. John Adams and Rev. La Roy Sunderland; in 1825, by Rev. Samuel G. Atkins; in 1826, by Rev. Nathan W. Scott; in 1827, by Rev. Chauncy Richardson; in 1828, by Rev. Rufus Spauld- ing; in 1830, by Rev. Nathan B. Spaulding; in 1831, by Rev. John T. Burrill; in 1833, by Rev. Aaron D. Sargeant ; in 1835, by Rev. Phineas Cran- dall; in 1836, by Rev. Joel Knight; in 1837, by Rev. Newell S. Spaulding; in 1839, by Rev. Epa- phras Kibbee; in 1840, by Rev. Lyman Boyden ; in 1842, by Rev. Thomas C. Pierce; in 1843, by Rev. Mark Staples; in 1845, by Rev. J. S. Gridley ; in 1846, by Rev. Thomas Tucker ; in 1848, by Rev. J. W. Merrill; in 1850, by Rev. A. D. Sargent ; in 1852, by Rev. Jotham Horton ; in 1853, by Rev. Stephen Cushing ; in 1855, by Rev. Gershom F. Cox ; in 1856, by Rev. J. T. Pettee.
FIFTH PARISH, OR VILLAGE CHURCH.
The building first occupied by the Fifth Church, was called Village Chapel. It was, previously to the formation of this Society, the vestry-room of the Second Parish, and was presented by said Parish to the Village Church. It was removed from its origi- nal site to Neponset Street, was dedicated in 1828, and used as a place of worship till the building of
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HISTORY OF DORCHESTER.
the present edifice, when it was converted into a dwelling-house. The present Village Church was built in 1829, at a cost of $6,077, and was dedicated September 1st, of that year. It was enlarged in 1836, at a cost of $868. It is situated on River Street, in the south part of the town, about fifty rods from Washington Street. The Church which occupied these buildings was formed March 18, 1829; and consisted chiefly of members from the Second Church in Dorchester (Rev. Dr. Codman's), twenty-one of the twenty-seven being from that Church.
Rev. David Sanford, a graduate of Brown Univer- sity, was installed pastor of the Village Church July 14, 1830. He was dismissed, at his own request, on account of enfeebled health, and his dismission was ratified by an Ecclesiastical Council Sept. 17th, 1838. Since then he has preached at Medway, Mass. A minister of the same name was settled in Medway, from 1773 to 1807.
Rev. Daniel Butler succeeded Mr. Sanford in Dor- chester. He was ordained October 31, 1838, and continued pastor of the Church until January 31, 1845. Since then, he has been an agent of the Mas- sachusetts Bible Society.
Rev. Daniel Dyer succeeded, and was ordained April 9, 1845, and continued until June 1, 1852.
Rev. Daniel T. Noyes was his successor. He was ordained February 16, 1853, and continued to Feb. 14, 1855.
The present pastor is Rev. Theodore T. Munger, who was ordained February 6, 1856.
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HISTORY OF DORCHESTER.
SIXTH PARISH FIRST BAPTIST ).
The first Baptist Society in Dorchester was con- stituted at Neponset Hall (Neponset Village), June 7, 1837. Previous to 1835, there were only occa- sional religious meetings in Neponset Village. A large portion of those who formed the new Baptist Church formerly worshipped with the Second Parish, Rev. Dr. Codman's. Mr. Joshua Cushing, formerly of Scituate, and Deacon Jacob Flinn, who about this time removed to Neponset from South Boston, were .. the originators and upholders of the Church in its infancy.
Rev. Bradley Miner was its first minister, and preached from June 7, 1837, to the Spring of 1846, when he left, much to the regret of the Parish. He went to Pittsfield from Dorchester, and from thence to Providence, where he died in the fall of 1854. He was among the most earnest and zealous preach- ers in the denomination.
Rev. Humphrey Richards succeeded Mr. Miner, and was installed in July, 1846. He preached up- wards of eight years, and died September 4, 1854. He bore the character of an humble and devoted Christian.
Rev. B. W. Barrows was ordained pastor of this Society May 30, 1855, and is the present minister.
The first meeting-house of this Society was built in 1838, and dedicated August 15th, of that year. Since then, it has been enlarged. It is situated on Chickatabot Street, Neponset Village.
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HISTORY OF DORCHESTER.
SEVENTH PARISH (NORTH BAPTIST SOCIETY ).
Several years previous to the organization of this Society, a number of persons in the north part of the town commenced a weekly meeting for prayer and religious exhortation. The meetings were held at different places for some time, but usually at the house of Mr. Caleb Coburn, until they were estab- lished in an unfinished building called Union Hall, near the Burying Ground.
Mr. Coburn was the most prominent in sustaining the meetings, but Mr. Theophilus C. Clapp and oth- ers took an active part with him.
About the year 1843, preaching on the Sabbath was usually obtained, and a Sabbath School was established. The next year, Rev. Davis T. Shailer was requested to supply preaching permanently, and continued to do so till the Church was formed, when he was chosen pastor. The Church was constituted September 15, 1845, and publicly recognized in Union Hall, September 28th, by public services. The So- ciety was formed September 21, 1846.
The Meeting-house was commenced in 1845, Mr. Earle E. Rider, contractor ; but being much delayed, it was only partially raised before Thanksgiving day, when a very heavy storm of wind and rain prostrated it, very much damaging the timber and foundation. Mr. Rider then being unwilling to fulfil his contract, the Society employed other persons, who went on with the work and finished the vestry in the spring, and the first meeting was held in it May 31, 1846; the house was soon finished, and dedicated March 31, 45
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HISTORY OF DORCHESTER.
1847. Rev. Davis T. Shailer preached the sermon. Mr. Shailer resigned the pastoral office January 1, 1847, and from that time different persons were ob- tained to supply the pulpit till February 23, 1848, when a call was extended to Rev. Freeman G. Brown to become the pastor ; and although he did not for- mally accept the call, he continued to act as pastor till April 1, 1850. From that time, to January 29, 1851, the Society depended on transient supplies, when Rev. James W. Lathrop was ordained, and continued to fill the pastoral office till April 1, 1856. ..
The Church was again without a pastor till July 8, 1857, when Rev. Henry F. Lane was installed, , and is the present pastor.
In August, of this year, 1857, Mr. David Parker presented the Society with an excellent bell, weigh- ing over 1000 lbs.
The Society is still small, but gradually increas- ing, and appears to be in a better condition than at any other time during its history.
EIGHTH PARISH (SAINT MARY'S CHURCH).
By invitation of several earnest and active Epis- copalians, the Rev. John P. Robinson, then Rector of Christ Church, in Quincy, appointed a public service at the Town Hall in Dorchester, according to the Liturgy of the Protestant Episcopal Church. Evening Prayer was conducted by him on Sunday, July 16, 1843, and followed by an impressive sermon upon St. John's Gospel iii. 16. The congregation numbered about 50 persons ; and such was the inter- est manifested in the introduction of these services,
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HISTORY OF DORCHESTER.
that the reverend presbyter immediately made a gen- eral appointment for Evening Prayer at the same place, to be held once in two weeks. It may be mentioned, in passing, that the above was the first occasion on which the Book of Common Prayer had been publicly used in Dorchester.
The services thus begun were continued, with little interruption from inclement weather, until January 28th, and thenceforward, at longer intervals, until Easter Sunday, April 7, 1844. On one occasion, the place of the Rev. Mr. Robinson was supplied by the Rev. D. Richmond Brewer, Rector of St. Peter's, Cambridgeport. Although the desire was often ex- pressed by residents of Dorchester, that a Parish might be organized, it was, during this period, deemed in- expedient to adopt any decisive measures to that end. From the first service, gentlemen of property residing in Dorchester expressed their interest in the estab- lishment of worship here, according to the Liturgy of the Episcopal Church, by the proposal of donations of eligible lots of land as sites for the anticipated Church edifice ; yet prudence seemed to dictate a delay in the erection of the Church.
Nothing important was done in the way of organ- izing a Parish until July 29, 1847, when a public meeting was held to consider the subject of organiza- tion. This meeting was continued by adjournment to August 11th, when a petition for a warrant, calling a legal meeting for organization, was drawn up, signed by the Rev. William Withington, and Messrs. Joseph Hooper, Robert Richardson, Thomas Hill, Edward Holden and Aaron U. Hayter. The petition
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HISTORY OF DORCHESTER.
was addressed to the Hon. S. P. Loud, who immedi- ately issued a warrant directing a meeting to be no- tified at Lyceum Hall, August 23, 1847, when the Parish was organized by the election of Edward Holden, Clerk ; Joseph Hooper, Wm. Withington, Wardens ; Charles Stimpson, F. A. Fuller, Thomas Hill, Henry U. Peters, Robert Richardson, Vestry- men ; Edward Holden, Treasurer. The Rev. Geo. W. Porter, then residing in Roxbury, was chosen Rector of the Parish.
Morning Prayer was held for the first time, at .. Lyceum Hall, on Sunday, September 26, 1847, the Rector officiating. He appeared in full canonicals, and this was, without doubt, the first public use of the surplice in the town of Dorchester. The first bap- tism in this parish was that of an infant, October 10, 1847. The Sunday School was organized November 22d. The first Communion was celebrated on the first Sunday in December, 1847. The Parish was admitted into union with the Diocesan Convention of Massachusetts, June 14, 1848.
Mrs. Catherine Dodge, with christian liberality and zeal, gave to the Parish half an acre of land as a site for a Church, which was accepted with feelings of profound gratitude, November 2, 1848. Imme- diately thereupon, subscription books were opened, and soon the amount of estimated cost was obtained ; a building committee was appointed ; a plan, drawn by Arthur Gilman, Esq., of Boston, was adopted, and the contract given to Mr. John Parker, as Mas- ter Builder. The corner stone was laid by the Rt. Rev. Manton Eastburn, D.D., Bishop of the Diocese,
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HISTORY OF DORCHESTER.
April 5, 1849. The edifice was completed at a cost
of $4,932 67. It was consecrated September 20, 1849, the Bishop consecrating, attended by 21 cler- gymen. Rev. G. W. Porter was instituted Rector, April 7, 1850. He resigned the charge of the Parish November 1, and preached his last sermon as Rector November 7, 1852. The Rev. Edward Livingston Drown, of the Diocese of Rhode Island, was called to the Rectorship May 25th, and preached his first sermon on June 26, 1853, from Job xxxvi. 2, 3.
On June 16, 1856, the Vestry, in view of the pressing want of room in the Church edifice, recom- mended an enlargement. The recommendation was adopted by the Parish, and the enlargement was ef- fected in a manner highly creditable to the judgment of the Architect and the Committee of the Parish, and reflecting much credit upon the skill of the contractor. The cost of this improvement was $2,876 65.
It is pertinent to mention, in connection with this history, that Dorchester gave to Massachusetts her first Bishop, and has also given to the Protestant Episcopal Church three Presbyters : viz., The Rt. Rev. Edward Bass, S.T.D., consecrated May 7, 1797 ; and the Rev. James Blake Howe, the Rev. William Withington, and the Rev. Darius Richmond Brewer, Presbyters ordained at more recent dates, who are entitled to honorable positions on the roll of the worthy sons of Dorchester.
NINTH PARISH (THIRD UNITARIAN ).
The meeting-house now belonging to this Parish was erected through the instrumentality of Rev.
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HISTORY OF DORCHESTER.
Stephen Bailey, being designed by him as a place of worship for a Trinitarian Congregational Society. The land for its erection was purchased in the autumn of 1845, and the building completed at an expense of $7,366 37. It was dedicated in the summer of 1846, and used for orthodox preaching about two years. In October, 1848, it was purchased by a number of gentlemen for a Unitarian Church, for $5,500-being a loss to Rev. Mr. Bailey of $680 76, besides his services for the two years. At a meeting of the stockholders on the 28th of the same month, it was voted to raise a committee to wait on Rev. Messrs. Hall and Pike, pastors of the first and second Uni- tarian Societies in the town, " and state to them that it is from no unfriendly feeling to them or their So- cieties that we organize this new religious society ; but for our mutual advantage and greater convenience to a place of worship."
The Church was first opened for Unitarian worship in November, 1848, Rev. Charles Brooks officiating. Rev. Francis C. Williams preached about one year- viz., from January, 1849, to January, 1850. Rev. Samuel Johnson succeeded Mr. Williams, and preach- ed until the spring of 1851. Rev. Stephen G. Bul- finch has been the pastor since August 1, 1852. The Society was incorporated by the Legislature, May 13, 1852, under the name of the "Third Uni- tarian Society in Dorchester."
TENTH PARISH (SECOND METHODIST).
The Second Methodist Episcopal Church in Dor- chester was organized in the village of Neponset in
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HISTORY OF DORCHESTER.
the year 1850, by Rev. T. W. Tucker. Previous to the organization of the Church, Mr. Tucker preached first in his own house, and subsequently in Union Hall. The meeting-house was built in 1851, at a cost-including organ, clock and bell-of nearly $7,000, all of which was promptly paid, so that not one dollar's debt was left upon the Society when the Church was dedicated. It is but just to the commu- nity of the place generally, to say that they co-ope- rated nobly in the enterprise. Rev. Mr. Raymond, of Wilbraham, preached the dedication sermon on Christmas day, 1851. The Society have also pur- chased a commodious Parsonage, for $2,800.
The following clergymen have been pastors of the Church :- Rev. T. W. Tucker, Rev. B. K. Peirce, Rev. Willard Smith, Rev. E. A. Manning, Rev. J. L. Hanaford, and the present pastor Rev. Pliny Wood.
CHAPTER XXII.
The Public Schools of the Town.
ONE of the most interesting and important chap- ters in the history of Dorchester, is that which relates to the free school of the town, some details of which will now be given.
On the 4th of March, 1634-5,* the General Court granted Thompson's Island to the inhabitants of the town of Dorchester, " to enjoy, to them, their heires
* Incorrectly printed 1637, on pages 160, 163.
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HISTORY OF DORCHESTER.
& successors wch shall inhabite there foreuer," on the simple condition, that they pay 12ยช yearly, as rent, "to the Tresurer for the time being." Four years after this, namely, on the 30th of May, 1639, the town voted to lay a tax on the proprietors* of said island, for " the maintenance of a school in Dorchester."
So far as the writer is informed, it was the first public provision made for a free school, in the world, by a direct tax or assessment on the inhabitants of a town.
An exact copy of the order, relating to it, from the Town Records, page 83, is subjoined.
" It is ordered the 20th of May 1639, that there shall be a rent of 201b a year for euer imposed vpon Tomsons Iland to bee payd pr eury prson that hath proprietie in the sayd Iland according to the p"portion that any such prson shall from tyme to tyme injoy and possesse there, and this towards the mayntenance of a schoole in Dorchester. This rent of 201b yearely to bee payd to such a schoole- master as shall vndertake to teach english, latine, and other tongues, and also writing. The said schoole-master . to bee Chosen from tyme to tyme pr the freemen, and yt is left to ye discretion of the Iders & the 7 men for the tyme beeing whether maydes shalbe taught wth the boyes or not. For the levying this 201b yearely from the prticu- lar prsons that ought to pay it according to this order, It is farther ordered that somme man shalbe appoynted pr the 7 men for the tyme beeing to Receive ys. and on refusall to levye yt pr distresse, and not fynding distresse, such prson as so refuseth payment shall forfeit the land he hath in proprietie in the sayd Iland."
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