USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > Duxbury > History of the town of Duxbury, Massachusetts, with genealogical registers > Part 18
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In conclusion Mr. Mather presents a striking illustration of the character of Mr. Partridge, truly expressive of his lowli- ness and humility of spirit.
"There was one singular instance of a weaned Spirit, whereby he signalized himself unto the Churches of God. That was this: there was a time when most of the ministers in the Colony of Plymouth, left the Colony, upon the Dis- couragement which the want of a competent maintenance among the needy and froward inhabitants gave unto them. Nevertheless Mr. Partridge was, notwithstanding the Paucity and Poverty of his Congregation, so affraid of being any thing that look'd like a Bird wandering from his Nest, that he remained with his poor People, till he took wing to become a Bird of Paradise, along with the winged Seraphim of Heaven. EPITAPHIUM. AVOLAVIT!"
Mr. Partridge was probably interred in the first burial place of the town, which was a knoll in the south eastern part at Harden Hill, as it is called. If any stones were ever placed here they have since been destroyed by the ravages of time or otherwise, as none at the present day exist. Probably, how- ever, none were erected, in hopes of concealing from the Indians their loss by death, and consequent weakness; or in the earliest periods the difficulty of procuring stones from
177
REV. RALPH PARTRIDGE.
1658.]
England was so great, that few, if any, could have been placed here.
This was probably used as a place of sepulture for about sixty years, and here were, doubtless, buried most of the founders of the town and church. Here, probably, rest the remains of Standish, Alden, Collier, Partridge and others, whose memory we delight to cherish, but whose graves must forever remain unknown.
We have the most positive evidence that there was a bury- ing ground here. Some years ago, while a sloop was building in this vicinity, there were found by the workmen, the bones of a female and an infant buried together. About the close of the last century a small sloop grounded on the marsh near by in a severe gale, and a party of workmen proceeded to get her off. While here, they discovered in the bank lately washed by the sea, the appearance of a coffin, and on closer examination they perceived the nails, though all were in a very decayed state. On the shore beneath there were found three skulls and several bones, apparently of the thigh. The teeth in one were perfect, and in one there were two. On one there was some light sandy hair. The bank here has washed away some twenty feet within fifty years. Some, however, incline to the belief that this was an Indian yard, but the fact that it was near the first church, and other considerations influence me to believe that it was an English burial place. There were fifty or seventy years ago, traditional reports, that there was a burying ground a short distance to the West of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and Esq. Sprague, when plowing, used always on that account to leave undisturbed this portion. Maj. Alden was accustomed to observe that he believed John Alden, the Pilgrim, was buried here, and that this was the first burying ground, and the one at Harden Hill cliff was an Indian one. However, there is no positive evidence on this point either way.
Mr. Partridge preached in a very small building in the south eastern part of the town, near the water, and tradition now marks its site. This building probably stood for about 70 years, and in it preached the first three pastors of the church. It is a matter of much regret, that we have not the records of the early state of the church, which would no doubt throw much light on the subject, and be of peculiar interest. Of the first one hundred years of the existence of the church, we have no authentic records; and all the infor- mation respecting the progress and history of it during this period is derived from other and various sources.
Mr. Partridge's will bears date Sept. 20th, 1655; and was proved May 4th, 1658. His wife was Patience -, who survived him. He mentions in the will his daughter Eliz- 23
178
REV. JOHN HOLMES.
[1661.
· abeth, who married Thomas Thacher,* May 11th, 1643, and died June 2d, 1664. To this daughter he gave all his landed property, both in Old and New England, and after her decease to her second son Ralph Thacher, who was living on the estate in Duxbury as late as 1681; but afterwards was settled over the church at Martha's Vineyard, in 1697. His daughter Mary married John Marshallt in England. His will also names his sister Elizabeth Tidge, and his man servant Joseph Prior, and maid servant Anna Rainer.
REV. JOHN HOLMES succeeded in the ministry. He had a peaceful and happy settlement, and was, it would appear, respected by his people. As a preacher he was sincere, but mild and gentle, and though, says tradition, he caused not deep impressions, yet he is said to have been endeared to his flock by the meekness and lowliness of his soul.
1661. Zoeth Howland fined 10 shillings for breaking the Sabbath.
1664. There is a deed, bearing date, Sept. 9th, 1643, con- veying to Thomas Bird of Scituate, one half of a fifty acre
* He was son of Rev. Peter of Old Sarum, England, and was born May 1st, 1620, arrived at Boston, June 4th, 1635, ordained at Weymouth, Jan. 2d, 1645, and at Boston was installed first pastor of the Old South Church, Feb. 16th, 1670, and died Oct. 16th, 1678, æt. 58. His children were Thomas, died at Boston, April 2d, 1686 : Ralph, mentioned in the text ; and Peter, who was born July 18th, 1651, H. C. 1671, ordained at Milton, June 1st, 1681, was married thrice, had nine children, and died 27th Dec., 1727, æt. 77 years. Farmer. He had also a daughter Patience, who married William Kemp of Duxbury. Of the mother of these, Cotton Mather says -" She was a person of the most amiable temper, one Pious and Prudent, and every way worthy of the man to whom she became a Glory."
t Concerning this marriage in the Suffolk deeds, we find the following, (an abstract.) "Sybil Marshall of Lenham, county of Kent, widow, and John Marshall of Lenham, Grocer, sonne and heir apparent of the said Sybil Marshall, to Ralph Partrich of Sutton near Dover, county of Kent, Clark, & Gervase Partrich, cittizen and cordwainer of London. In consid- eration of a marriage between the said John Marshall and Mary Partrich, one of the daughters of the said Ralph Partrich. Several parcels of Land and Buildings in Rinnarton alias Renardington in the county of Kent, England, as a jointure for the said Mary in case she shall survive the said John Marshall. Nov. 29th, 1631. Recorded Jan. 4th, 1660." Then follows, bearing the same dates, " John Marshall to Ralph Partrich, £200 Bond, respecting the marriage described in the above writing." In Mr. R. P.'s will he mentions Mary's two sons, John and Robert. The latter married Mary Barnes in 1660, and had John and Robert (born 15th Aug., 1663).
179
REV. JOHN HOLMES.
1675.]
lot at " Mattacheessita," which was given by Daniel Hicks. This. afterwards became the property of the church, as appears from the following record, and was afterwards deliv- ered to Mr. Holmes, as is recorded, July 10th, 1666: "On the fourth day of October, 1664, Anthony Dodson, & Ann, the wife of Thomas Bird of Scituate, late deceased, appeared in Court and certified that this deed and ye land therein expressed was freely given by the said Thomas Bird unto the church of Duxburrow : Pr. me Nathaniel Morton, Clarke of the Court for ye Jurisdiction of New Plymouth."
1666. Edward Land, John Cooper & John Simmons were fined 10 shillings each, " for prophane and abusive carriages each towards other on Lord's day at the meeting house."
1666. Mr. Samuel Seabury was summoned before the Court to answer to the charge, that "hee hath busied him- selfe to scandalise and defame the minnestry of Duxbury." He gave the Court no satisfaction, and was exhorted and reproved, and admonished to desist from such action in future, and was then released with the assurance, however, that on its repetition, he must expect to be again questioned.
1667. Nathaniel Soule was brought before the Court for abusing Mr. Holmes, " by many false scandulous and appro- buouse speeches," and was sentenced to make a public acknowledgment, to pay a fine of £20 and to sit in the stocks at the pleasure of the Court, which last was revoked at the urgent request of Mr. Holmes. He confessed that he was guilty of " wickedly speaking and with a high hand contume- liously villifying and scandulizing Mr. John Holmes, and," said he, "that this my wickedness in soe speaking of soe godly a man is greatly agravated in that it hath a tendency to, the hinderence of the efficacye of that great and honorable worke of the preaching of the Gospell, unto which he is called."
1669. "It is enacted that any person or persons that shall be found smoking of tobacco on the Lord's day, going to or coming from the meetings, within two miles of the meeting house, shall pay 12 pence for every such default for the Colony's use."
1675. This year died Mr. Holmes,* on the 24th of Decem- ber. His ministry though not remarkably long was produc- tive of much good. He was buried in the old burying ground. He married 11th Dec., 1661, Mary, da. of John Wood,t
* It is said that he came from England. I have not ascertained that he belonged to any of the families of Holmes in the Geneal. Registers.
t " John Wood, sen., m. Sarah, and his ch'd were John, Mar. 4th, 1650; Nathaniel, Isaac, 27th Feb., 1653, Mary m. Rev. Mr. H., Sarah m. Fallo- well, Abigail m. Leonard, Mercy, Elizabeth, and Hannah."
John Atwood, perhaps father of the preceding, was of Plymouth early,
1
180
REV. ICHABOD WISWALL.
[1676.
alias Atwood of Plymouth. She survived him and became the third wife of Major William Bradford.
1
REV. ICHABOD WISWALL was next settled the pastor of the church in 1676. He was born about 1638, and, it has been said. came from England while a youth. Some have made him the son of one of the three of this name, who early settled in Dorchester : John, Thomas, and Enoch. But I think it more probable that he was not. There was an Ichabod Wis- wall, who was in the colony in 1667, when his name and that of Remember Wiswall (perhaps his wife), are attached to an instrument on record in the colony books. Mr. Ichabod Wisewall, of Mass. took the oath of fidelity, 1674. He m. Priscilla Pabodie Sept. 2d, 167-, and had ch'd - Mary (or Mercy,) Oct. 4th, 1680, m. John Wadsworth Jan. 25, 1704; Hannah, Feb. 22d, 1681, m. Rev. John Robinson, Mr. W.'s successor ; Peleg, Feb. 5th, 1683, grad. H. C. 1702, head mas- ter of the North free grammar-school of Boston from 1719 to his death, Sept. 2d, 1767, æt. 84; Perez, Nov. 22d, 1686 ; Deborah, m. Samuel Seabury, Oct. 21st, 1717 ; Priscilla, m. Gershom Bradford, 1716. His will bears date May 25th, 1700, and makes his wife his chief heir. The witnesses were Alexander Standish, John and Samuel Sprague, and John Wadsworth. Inventory of his estate, taken August 9, 1700 : whole amount was £351 15s. including money and clothing, £170, books £60, plate £15; horse, cattle, sheep, swine, &c., £21 10s., and six bee-hives.
His oldest son Peleg, of Boston, named above, m. Elizabeth , and had Elizabeth, 4th Nov. 1720; Daniel, 13th Feb. 1722 ; Priscilla, 17th Dec. 1725; John, 15th April, 1731.
Mr. Wiswall had been at Harvard College three years, but did not graduate. He was a man of energy and piety ; and under his ministry the prospects of the church were bright, and the highest prosperity was secured to his people. He was assisted in the affairs of the church by Dea. John Wadsworth, an humble and pious man, whose highest aim was for the wel-
owned a house in town valued at £150, and the Plain Dealing Estate (£162,) and other property amounting to £125. His wife Ann, died June 1st, 1654. He died late in 1643. His will names " his little kins- man Wm. Crowe," and his brother Lee and his wife, and their ch'd Ann and Mary. Stephen, (perhaps his son,) Plymouth, had Hannah Oct. 14, 1649. Henry, Plymouth, had Jonathan, Jan. 1, 1650, and Sarah, who m. John Nelson, 28 Nov., 1667. A Mary Wood b. at Sandwich, Mar. 29, 1649. Abigail m. Jonathan Pratt, 2 Nov, 1664.
181
REV. ICHABOD WISWALL.
1676.]
fare of the church. His equal in age, he joined his exertions with those of the pastor, and continually strove in the per- formance of the duties allotted. His death occurred a few months previous to Mr. Wiswall's; and it appears by the re- cords, he "deceased May ye 15th, Anno Dom. 1700, very early in ye morning before ye dawning of ye day, being about sixty-two yeares of age." It is worthy of remark, that the descendants of this gentleman for four generations have held the same office in the church -all worthy men. In these times of our fathers, it would not seem, it appears, inconsistent with the dignity of the deacon's office, to be engaged some- times in more servile occupations ; for we frequently find Dea. Wadsworth mentioned as receiving pay for sweeping the meeting-house. In the public business of the town, as well as in the civil government of the colony, Dea. Wadsworth was employed, and for several years represented his town in the General Court.
The salary of the minister at this date was small, (about £50,) and he was chiefly dependent on the liberality of a few for his support ; for there were some who refused to pay their just share of the contribution necessary for his maintenance. And it was with a sensibility peculiar to himself, that soon after he had recovered from a severe attack of sickness at this time, that he addressed a letter * to Gov. Hinckley, contain- ing serious considerations in regard to the sufficiency of the support of ministers and their families. It was, said he, a mournful reflection, when I thought what would be the condi- tion of my family after my death. "It was no small exercise in my sickness," he continues, "to think yt when my eyes were closed by death, their eyes would be forcibly kept open by ,streames of teares, in part because they must be turned out of dores, and could chalenge no habitation."
" Therefore, Sr. for as much as you are in utrumque paratus, viz., have conversed with both law and gospell, which direct professors, but especialy preachers of divine truth, howe they should walke with God and man, especialy with their owne flesh and bone, I humbly crave your serious consideration and resolution of a few queries."
He then proceeds to institute a set of inquiries ; in the first place suggesting for reflection the meaning of the text, to be found in the first epistle of Timothy, v. S. Secondly, he asks, whether God has not provided for the support of the ministry ; and, thirdly, whether He has delegated power to any people to call a pastor to their service without providing a suitable maintenance for him. Fourthly, he inquires, whether the civil authorities should not be "a nurseling father," according
* Hinckley MSS. II. 12 -a fragment.
182
REV. ICHABOD WISWALL. [1676.
to Isaiah xlix. 23; and lastly, he asks, " whether my case, all circumstances considered, can be paraleled in the coloney."
And, in continuance, he proceeds :
" Sr, probably you may looke on it as ominous, if not pro- digious, that I salute you with a script of this nature; and therefore, that you may not wander in uncertaine conjectures concerning ye nature of ye present phenomenon, be pleased to consider that ye mature and grey-headed observation of ye Ro- man orator (non nobis solum nati sumus) hath a weighty and abiding impresse on my spirit." I plead for all (he continues in substance), not for myself alone, but for all the ministers of the colony. Like the man of ages, who planted a young tree by the roadside, and inscribed it with the motto, POSTERITATI, I keep the emblem of futurity before me, and strive to acquire that competence, that shall provide for my widow and orphans for a time, that security and prosperity which I may know in my dying moments will preserve them from trouble and dan- ger. Having thus proceeded with language of emotion, he concludes with the divine benediction ;-
" The Father of Lightes cloathe you with a spirit of wise- dom and resolution to understand, project and effect wt may be acceptable to Him through Christ Jesus, that in this Col- oney there may be no extinguishing, but a lasting progressive continuance of the brightness of that Lamp ordained for the Anointed. So prayes he, who is,
Sr, your humble servant,
ICHABOD WISEWALLE.
Duxbury : 6 : : 9 :: 85."
The town, however, at a meeting, Sept. 10th, 1687, voted to raise his salary, provided he does not charge " those debtor that pay their proportions, for the neglect of those that refuse or neglect to pay their dews, p'vided that the town doe adres themselves to authority for the obtaining of the whole."* This was not passed, however, without some opposition, and at the same meeting several townsmen remonstrated against it. They were John Soule, Isaac Barker, Robert Barker, Joseph Howland, James Bishop, Abraham Sampson, Jr., and Josiah Holmes. In the following year Mr. Wiswall received a grant of Bump's meadow. Grants of land were commonly made to the ministry, or to the individual holding at the time the office of pastor, either to be left to his disposal with a right to sell, or only to enjoy the improvement thereof.
In 1694, we find the first mention of a parsonage, when a committee was appointed to give Mr. W. a deed of "the
* About this time a petition was addressed to his excellency, " in order to get in Mr. Wiswall's erariges for the work of the ministry among us."
183
REV. ICHABOD WISWALL.
1676.1
towne house," and " the land he now lives on." At this time the town granted him "halfe ye meadow called Rouse's meadow, yt belonged to ye ministry, to him and his heirs forever, and ye use of yt whole his lifetime." The house above named was built by the Rev. John Holmes, on land which he purchased of John Sprague, and was situated West of the road, " leading from the meeting house into the Noock, or Capt. Standish's point," containing about five or eight acres. The house was afterwards sold by Major William Bradford, who married the widow of Mr. Holmes, to the
town. At the same time they gave him one half of Bump's meadow, and the old pasture, bounded N. E. by the before mentioned house lot; N. W. by Mr. Ralph Thacher's home- stead ; S. W. by Morton's hole marsh ; and S. E. by Thomas Boney's. The town also appointed Mr. John Wadsworth, and Capt. Jonathan Alden to give him a deed; but they dying without doing it, the town, May 7th, 1700, chose Samuel Seabury and John Sprague, then agents to do it. Mr. Wiswall at this time acquitted the town of all arrears from 1678 to the end of 1694, and also quitclaimed all former grants. The original deed, bearing date May 20th, 1700, is now before me, signed by the agents, and witnessed by Alex- ander Standish and John Wadsworth ; and acknowledged be- fore Major William Bradford.
Mr. Wiswall died in Duxbury, July 23d, 1700, aged 62 years, much lamented by his people, among whom he had been as a friend, an adviser, and instructor. He was a gen- tleman of piety and learning, and was of much use in the Colony, sometimes serving in civil capacities, and for many years was an instructor of youth.
He was buried in Duxbury, in the second burying yard, and his monument bears this inscription. - " HERE LYETH BURIED YE BODY OF YE REVEREND MR. ICHABOD WISWALL, DECD JULY YE 23, ANNO 1700, IN THE 63D YEAR OF HIS AGE." This stone, the oldest in the yard, is still perfectly legible; and free from moss- emblematic of the good man's purity, whose remains lie buried beneath. How long before 1700, this yard was first used is not known. Its original bounds were some- what smaller than the present; for in 1734, the town (April 8th,) voted to exchange a small lot of land with Benjamin Prior, for a lot of his, "which lyeth joining the burying ground for the enlargement of said burying ground." The second church stood at the easterly end of this yard, where its site is now identified, and was probably erected in the latter part of Mr. W.'s ministry, though from the following record it would seem not until somewhat later. "Reckoned with ye town agents Feb'y ye 25th, anno 1707. Then rec'd of said agents the sum of one hundred and eighty pounds in
184
REV. JOHN ROBINSON. [1702.
full for building ye meeting house in Duxbury. I say rec'd by me Samuel Sprague." This building was not torn down until June 7th, 1785.
It is related of him, that while in England with Mr. Math- er, in 1691, endeavoring to obtain a distinct charter for the Colony, and strenuously striving to prevent the union with New York or Massachusetts; but being as strongly opposed and baffled by the endeavors of Mr. Mather, that some feelings of animosity arose between them, and a paper war- fare ensued. Plymouth was, however, joined to Massachu- setts, and Mr. Mather, after their return home used to taunt him with his defeat, familiarly calling him the little weazel. Mather writing home from England, after Wiswall had lost his cherished project, says, he hopes the "old weazel will be content in his den." He was, as one who observed in after years the influences of his ministry has said, nearly a fault- less man, very high in the estimation of the whole Plymouth Colony for his talents, piety and incorruptible integrity. A sound preacher, though not remarkable for popular eloquence .* He wrote much, and some of his compositions are highly creditable to him. His style was plain, though forcible and effective. A poem of his, written on the Comet of 1680, and published in London, is preserved among the papers of the Historical Society.
Mr. Wiswall is said to have been famous as an astrologer, and to have predicted the death of one of his children, which happened while he was in England.
REV. JOHN ROBINSON + was next settled as pastor in 1702. He graduated at H. C. in 1695, and for a few years, possibly, preached at Newcastle, Pennsylvania. At a meeting of the town, Sept. 2d, 1700, it was " voted to call Mr. John Robin- son to ye work of ye ministry here; they also voted to give
* Rev. Benjamin Kent's notes.
t He was born at Dorchester, April 17th, 1675, and was son of James Robinson, who m. Mary Alcock, July 27th, 1664, and died 1694, and whose other children were Thomas, April 15th, 1668, Samuel, Sept. 14th, 1670, James, 1665, Mary, Mar. 17th, 1673, and Ebenezer, July 5th, 1682. Mr. R. m. Hannah, dau. of his predecessor, Mr. Wiswall. Their children were Mary, Feb. 23d, 1706 ; Hannah, Nov. 2d, 1708, m. Nathaniel Thomas, Esq., Sept. Ist, 1729, (he was the father of Hannah, who m. Col. John Thomas, and their children were Col. John Thomas, and the wife of Rev. Z. Willis of Kingston ;) Alethea, May 26th, 1710, m. Mr. Ripley of Abington ; Elizabeth, Sept. 28th, 1712, m. Rev. Jacob Eliot of Lebanon, Ct., May 4th, 1732; John, April 16th, 1715, removed to Wilkes-
185
REV. JOHN ROBINSON.
171.4.]
£60 a year annually towards his maintainance in ye afore- saide worke, one halfe silver money, and ye other halfe, corn or provisions at ye common price; they allso made choice of Mr. Seth Arnold, Mr. Edward Southworth, Mr. Samuel Sea- bury, and Mr. William Brewster as their agents to acquaint Mr. Robinson with their proceedings herein, and allso to discourse with him concerning his acceptance thereof in order to his settlement amongst us in ye aforesaid worke of ye min- istry." He accepted and was settled Nov. 13th, 1702.
The ministry of Mr. Robinson was long, and in the begin- ning comparatively quiet, yet there were some in the town who continually opposed him, and delighted in thwarting his plans, especially in the latter part of his ministry, when troubles of a pecuniary nature disturbed the quiet of the church.
1714. The town gave leave to John Chandler, Ichabod Bartlett, Philip Delano, Nathaniel Brewster, Pelatiah West, Constant Southworth, Jonathan Alden, John Simmons, Jr., and Benony Delano, "to build a seat in sd town's meeting house adjoining ye front gallerie." At the same meeting (Feb. 24th,) " Ye said town also gave to their agents formerly chosen by sd town to pew sd meeting house round, &c., Lt. Saml. Bradford, Mr. Thomas Loring, Mr. Saml. Seabury, Mr. John Partridge, and Capt. John Alden ye front or free seat in ye uppermost or second gallerie in ye north west end of ye sd meeting house, whereupon ye sd agents gave to ye sd towne their right to ye two hindermost seats in sd galle- rie."
1722. Mr. Robinson was called to mourn the death of his wife, and his oldest child, Mary ; and her sad end was no less an affliction to her bereaved husband, than a great loss to an affectionate circle of friends and relations. Having deter- mined on a visit to Boston, she had taken passage on board of a coaster, together with her daughter, and Mr. Fish, a young gentleman of Duxbury, and were all drowned by the upsetting of the vessel in a sudden tempest off Nantasket beach, Sept. 22. She was in her 42d year, and the daughter in her 17th, and Mr. Fish was a member of Harvard College. The remains
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