USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Essex > History of the town of Essex : from 1634 to 1868 > Part 8
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The people of this parish while they supported their own minister, continued to pay their accustomed rates for the support of the two ministers in Ipswich, till February, 1681. In October, 1680, they petitioned the Court to be set free from paying ministerial taxes in Ipswich. In an- swer to this the Court say :
" We judge it meet that all the people, inhabitants of Ipswich, shall con- tinue their several proportions to the maintenance of the ministry there, unless those of Chebacco be discharged from payment to the ministry of Ipswich, and left to maintain their own minister.
" A true copy,-Attest,
EDWARD RAWSON, Secretary."
At a town meeting held the 15th of the following Feb- ruary, the town accepted this latter part of the Court's order, and discharged Chebacco from any farther taxes to support their ministers.
BOUNDARY LINE OF CHEBACCO.
At this meeting they also defined the boundary line between Ipswich, and Chebacco, or between the first and
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HISTORY OF ESSEX.
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second parishes of Ipswich, viz : from the head of Choate's brook to run down to Castle Neck River, as the creek runs into the river and so to the sea; also from the head of said brook to Marbles', thence including Knight's farm, and to run on a straight line from the southerly corner of said Knight's farm, to the double U. tree on Wenham line, and so on the south-east upon the neighboring towns to the sea. This the Court afterwards so far altered, as to have Knight's farm belong to the Hamlet. The present bounds do not touch Wenham.
GRAVE-YARD.
At this same meeting, February 15, 1680, they granted one acre of ground to Chebacco for a grave-yard.
SETTLEMENT OF MR. WISE.
Mr. Wise continued to supply the pulpit statedly, for more than three years, before he was ordained their pas- tor. The reason for this delay is not stated. Probably the church in Ipswich was slow in being reconciled to the thought of parting with so many of its members. The members of that church residing here, sent in a request, dated September 6, 1681, to be dismissed, for the purpose of being organized into a church in this place. How soon this request was granted, does not appear ; but the church was not organized here till about two years after; and of course those making the request still remained members of Ipswich church during that time.
In February, 1682, the parish extended a formal call to Mr. Wise to settle with them as their pastor. Again in May following they chose a committee to treat with him about a settlement. They offer him for his support, ten acres of land, which they had bought for this purpose of Richard Lee, to be his own and his heirs and assigns for- ever. This was called his settlement. His annual salary was to be £60, or about $290,-one-third in money, and two-thirds in grain, at the current price,-forty cords of
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CHURCH ORGANIZED.
1634-1700.]
oak wood by the year yearly, and eight loads of salt hay. In addition to this they agree to build, and keep in repair, for his use, a parsonage-house and barn; the house to be equal in every respect to Samuel Giddings' house ; which seems to have been a model house in that day. He was also to have the use of the parsonage lands and the strangers' contributions. This was a generous sup- port. Comparing the value of money and grain, and the common style of living in that day, with the present, we may safely say that it would require at least $800 per annum to support a minister as well at this day .* The parsonage-house stood on the parsonage-land, now owned by Josiah Low, at the north end of that enclosure. The remains of the cellar are still to be seen. The ten acres given him for his settlement were in the rear of the house owned by the late John Mears, senior.
ORGANIZATION OF THE CHURCH AND ORDINA- TION OF MR. WISE.
Mr. Wise, the pastor elect, was born at Roxbury, and educated at Harvard College. He was twenty-one years old when he left college. As he did not commence preach- ing here till he was twenty-eight, he doubtless spent much, if not all, of the intervening time, in preparing for the min- istry, and in supplying vacant pulpits. On the day of his ordination, August 12, 1683, he was a little more than thirty-one years of age, having been born July, 1652. The church was organized on the day of his ordination, and by the same council which set him over it as pastor.
As William Cogswell had been a leading man in estab- lishing the parish and church, and in building the meet- ing-house on his own land, we may naturally suppose that the council met at his house, which was not far from the meeting-house, on the afternoon of August 11th.
The first church record kept by Mr. Wise, was lost. We have therefore no copy of the letter-missive sent to
* 1853.
12
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the churches for their attendance in council, and no means of knowing what churches were sent to, except in the case of the Wenham church; whose record notices the letter to that church from Chebacco, inviting them to be present by their pastor and delegates, to aid in organizing a church, and ordaining Mr. Wise as their pastor. This is the only record extant of the origin of this church, August 12, 1683. The Wenham record proceeds to say that the church voted to comply with the request, and chose Cap- tain Fiske, George Gott, Deacon Fiske, with their pastor, Rev. Joseph Gerrish, to attend in the proposed council.
William Cogswell married Martha, the daughter of Rev. John Emerson of Gloucester; so that he was doubtless present with his delegates. Rev. Messrs. Cobbet, and Hubbard, respectively the pastor, and teacher of those who were to be gathered into a church, could not of course be absent. Rev. Edward Payson of Rowley was also a na- tive of Roxbury, a graduate of the same college with Mr. Wise, and of nearly the same age, and was of course in- vited to be on the council, with his delegates. Rev. Jere- miah Shepard of Lynn, who had been with this people in their first separation from Ipswich church, and to whom they were ardently attached, as a minister of the gospel, would also receive an invitation to attend the council. The church in Manchester as a near neighbor, and whose good men had kindly helped our women in raising the meeting-house, would not of course be passed by. Their preacher, Rev. Mr. Winborn, was not settled over them as pastor, yet he was doubtless present with the delegates from that church. The church in Roxbury, in which Mr. Wise had been brought up under the ministry of the ven- erated Elliot,-styled the apostle to the Indians, from his benevolent labors among them,-we might suppose would be invited to be present with their pastor and delegates, were it not for the great age of Mr. Elliot, then in his eightieth year, and the difficulty of traveling so great a distance, in that day.
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CHURCHI ORGANIZED.
1634-1700.]
Aside from the Roxbury church, we have six others, which were doubtless here by their pastors and delegates, making a council of twenty or more. Their first business, after organizing at the house of Mr. Cogswell, was to ex- amine the documents respecting the proposed organization of the church; such as the request of church members here to be dismissed, for this purpose, from the church in Ipswich, and the vote of the Ipswich church to grant this request, with the accompanying letter of dismission and recommendation. These being found regular by the coun- cil, they proceed to examine, and pass judgment upon those relating to the ordination of Mr. Wise; the call of the parish extended to him, and his answer, his church standing, and letter of dismission and recommendation, that he may be a church member here; together with his licensure to preach, usually given in that day by some church that had examined the candidate. Being satisfied with these papers, the next business of the council is to examine Mr. Wise, as to his theological attainments and soundness in the faith, and religious experience. This examination takes up the rest of the day, and the council adjourn to an early hour in the morning. Assembled in the morning, they express by vote their satisfaction with the pastor elect, and proceed to designate the ministers who are to perform the several parts in his ordination, and also those who are to lead in the services at the organiza- tion of the church. They then proceed in procession from Mr. Cogswell's to the meeting-house. Great numbers are in attendance from this and the neighboring towns.
The day is warm and every door and window of the house is thrown open ; the bell from the turret sends forth its peals with more than usual animation; every eye sparkles, every countenance brightens ; the crowd at the door open to the right and left for the council to pass in ; then all enter that can; every seat is filled, every aisle crowded ; the many without are not far from the pulpit, and can readily hear through the open doors and windows.
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The services are all of an interesting character to puritan hearts, and are listened to with devout attention, espe- cially by those who are thus to receive a spiritual watch- man and guide. The council are seated in front of the pulpit, the persons to be organized into a church are on each side of them, the men on the right, the women on the left. Mr. Cobbett, the oldest minister on the council, and of course its moderator, commences the services by prayer; he then calls upon those who are to be formed into a church to rise, that they may in that public and solemn manner give their assent to the confession of faith, and covenant, previously prepared. The confession of faith is doubtless a brief summary of that which had just been adopted by all the puritan churches in a general Synod in Boston, and which contains the doctrine of the Triune God, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost; of the native and entire de- pravity of man; regeneration by the Holy Spirit; justifica- tion by faith in the atoning blood of Christ; the persever- ance of the saints; the everlasting happiness of the right- eous; the eternal misery of the wicked; with other kin- dred doctrines, involved in them, and growing out of them. The covenant administered to them, is in these words :
You do in the name and fear of God (as in the presence of God, men and angels,) take God, Jehovah, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, to be your only portion, and chiefest good ; giving up yourself and yours unto His use, and service, in the sincerity and uprightness of your hearts ; you do promise by the assistance of Divine Grace, to walk in His fear, according to the rule of worship and manners towards God and men, all your days, as He shall re- veal His mind to you out of His holy word and truth ; farther you do by your own choice and act, (highly esteeming the privileges of God's house- hold,) yield yourselves, as members of the Church of Christ, before which you now stand. Expecting its faithful watch over you ; and you promise subjection to the discipline of Christ in it, both corrective and directive, while God shall continue you members of it; also promising all love and watchful- ness over your fellow members, you do resolve to discharge all your duties both to God and men, Christ by His grace assisting you .*
* Mr. Piekering, successor to Mr. Wise, says in his Record, that Mr. Wise's son, Rev. Jeremiah Wise of Berwiek, Me., handed him this covenant, as the original covenant of this church.
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ORDINATION OF MR. WISE.
1634-1700.]
Having given their assent to this covenant, and con- fession of faith, Mr. Cobbet, in the name of the council, declares them to be a regular church of Christ, in fellow- ship with all sister churches.
The ordination services immediately follow. Judging from the usage, which has come down to us from our fathers, we may naturally suppose that these services were performed by the following persons. Introductory prayer, Mr. Winborn; prayer before the sermon, Mr. Shep- ard ; sermon, Mr. Hubbard ; ordaining prayer, Mr. Emer- son ; charge to the pastor, Mr. Cobbet; right hand of fellowship, Mr. Payson; concluding prayer, Mr. Gerrish ; benediction by the pastor. The services close sufficiently early to allow all to partake of the hospitalities of dinner, and to ride to their several homes before sunset. Thus was organized the first church and parish in this place, which took the name of "the second church and parish in Ipswich." Soon after its organization, the church chose John Burnham, and Thomas Low, deacons.
TRAINING-DAY.
The jealousy, and hostility of the Indians made it neces- sary for our ancestors to be in constant preparation to de- fend themselves. As early as 1634, it was ordered that every trained soldier, pikeman and others, be equipped for service. Training was to be eight times in the year. Lads from ten to sixteen formed platoons by themselves, armed with small guns, half pikes, or bows and arrows; and boys under ten, who on training days came to look on, were formed into a platoon and drilled by some officer appointed for the purpose by the captain. This gave to them a courage and hardihood which accounts for some remarkable feats performed by children. One in particu- lar has come down to us from olden time by tradition. The scene is in the edge of the woods where the late Asa Burnham resided. A lad by the name of Burnham, about ten years old, was walking in the woods, and came sud-
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denly upon two cubs. He amused himself with them for a few moments ; when to his terror he saw the old bear coming fiercely upon him with a wide yawning mouth. He instantly seized a pine knot, which lay near him, and as she came up, thrust it with all his might down her throat, and then ran for the house; but it was enough, she could not follow him. When his father came out with his gun, he found her in the struggles of death. The jagged edges of the knot caused it to stick fast, till she was completely choked.
But we will go upon the common, and see the soldiers upon parade. It is the first training day ever witnessed in Chebacco, (1683.) Previous to this all able to bear arms, were obliged to travel to the center of the toivn, with all their accoutrements, eight times in a year, for a military muster. But Chebaceo has now become the sec- ond parish in Ipswich, with a minister settled among them, and they must have a military company for their honor, and defence. Lieutenant John Andrews is commander of the company, William Goodhue, ensign, Samuel Ingalls, corporal, and Thomas Varney, sergeant. Early in the morning Sergeant Varney, with the drummer and fifer, are seen traversing the place, reminding all by beat of drum to assemble on the ground according to previous notice. "The spirit-stirring drum, and the ear-piercing fife," raise up the buoyant spirits of the young, who an- ticipate a large share of pleasure on this day of parade. But the older men, aware of the dangers of war, especially of the insidious, and bloody assaults of the Indian, cannot but look grave, though it be training day. The hour of muster is come. They are formed into a line sixty-four in number. At the end of the line on the left is the pla- toon of boys from ten to sixteen years, and still farther on, those under ten. The roll is called with loud and measured tones, and answered by the no less solemn and significant, " here."
You are particularly struck with the appearance of the
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FIRST TRAINING-DAY.
1634-1700.]
officers, as they stand out in front of the line. Lieutenant Andrews, in the military style of the day, is dressed in red small-clothes, and red stockings, with a profusion of gold lace upon his three-cornered hat.
You look upon the long line of men, and see counte- nances of steady courage, and manly sense, with bodies of great muscular strength : their dress is not perfectly uni- form, yet they have all deerskin small-clothes, and blue stockings, with coats of good homespun cloth, spun and woven by their wives, and daughters. The platoon of boys, with wigs encircling their rosy cheeks, and small-clothes buckled at their knees, with long stockings, and broad buckles upon their shoes, appear like men in miniature.
As fire-arms are scarce, only about two-thirds of the com- pany have muskets ; the rest have pikes, and the pikemen are by law dressed with head-pieces and corselets. Bul- lets too are scarce, and smooth stones fitted to the bore of the gun, are substituted for them. On the left, beyond the ' boys, is a group of Indians with their squaws and pappooses, looking on with much curiosity and earnestness. They eye the scene with a keen and jealous look ; often curling the lip with contempt at seeing the English boy handling the cross-bow ; which, however, is suddenly changed to fear when the white men's guns all speak together.
It was, with the blessing of God, the Englishman's gun of which the Indians had not learned the use, nor obtained possession, which saved him from the deadly massacre of the tomahawk. But, see, while we are moralizing, the whole company is in motion; they are marching and coun- termarching, with a quick step in accordance with the music. All the spectators are in motion following them round, back and forth, with exhilarated feelings, inspired by martial sounds. Even the half-naked Indian children feel the inspiration, and set their little feet in motion to keep time with the drum. Presently the soldiery are on their way to the North End, closely followed by all the lookers on ; they halt in front of the meeting-house, and
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perform various evolutions ; they proceed to the house of the pastor and offer the customary tokens of military re- spect. By the time they reach the common again, it is high noon. They ground their arms, and have a recess for two hours, to visit their homes for dinner. In the afternoon all are together again, each in his place, ready to take arms at the word of command. Most of the aged men, and nearly all the women, old and young, have come out to witness the first training.
Mr. Wise is present, full of patriotic emotions, and ap- preciating fully the importance of the day, as one of prep- aration to defend their country, and their firesides from the deadly foe. Wars, and rumors of wars, are all around. This saddens the hearts of fathers and mothers, as they look upon their sons, and think of their liability to be called to the battle-ground. But the regimentals and the music, and the waving banner, and the variety of involu- tions and evolutions banish all sadness from the hearts of the young, and they think of nothing but the holiday scene before them, and associate with training day only bright ideas and joyous emotions. The afternoon is dili- gently spent by the trainers in their various military ex- ercises, and laboriously enjoyed by all the spectators. Be- fore night they are dismissed and retire.
The constable with his long black staff tipped with brass, is on the alert in accordance with his oath of office, to see that none loiter behind for any evil practice, but that all may find an early home, and an early bed.
FRENCH AND INDIAN HOSTILITIES.
The latter part of this century, the inhabitants of New England generally experienced much alarm, and suffering, from the bloody assaults of the Indians, who were insti- gated to these murderous attacks by the Canadian French. It was therefore deemed desirable to carry the war into the French dominions ; and an expedition was fitted out for that purpose under the command of Sir William Phips.
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RESISTANCE TO TYRANNY.
1634-1700.]
He sailed in August, 1690, with a fleet of thirty-two sail, and arrived before Quebec in the following October. But owing to several unpropitious circumstances, the expedi- tion failed, and in November, the troops arrived in Boston. " The expedition involved the government in a heavy debt; a thousand men perished, and a general gloom spread through the country."
The Indians continued their depredations, and butch- eries for several years, exhausting the resources of the Colonists, and depressing their spirits. The inhabitants of this town were often called on to defend their neigh- bors at the eastward, and nearer home, during this de- structive Indian war. It is pleasing to reflect that our forefathers made no aggressive wars. They treated the Indians kindly, buying their lands of them at a reasona- ble, and fair price, and using every effort to civilize and christianize them. It was not till, without provocation, the savages sought to destroy them with their wives and little ones, that they took arms in their own defence, and were compelled to use them, till their foes were nearly all destroyed, or driven back into the interior of the country.
INDEPENDENCE DECLARED, 1687.
On the death of Charles II., James II. ascended the throne. Under his reign, Sir Edmund Andros was ap- pointed Governor of all the New England Colonies. In 1687, he caused a tax to be levied upon the people of this colony of 1d. on £1, which was a violation of their charter rights, and their rights as Englishmen, not to be taxed with- out their consent in a Legislative Assembly.
The minister of this place, feeling that the liberties of the country were in danger, went with two of his parish- ioners, John Andrews, Sen., and William Goodhue, to the centre of the town, to confer with friends there on the subject. A meeting for consultation was held at the house of John Appleton, who lived, it is said, not far from where the Railroad Depot now is. At that meeting, after much
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patriotic discourse flowing from hearts glowing with the flame of liberty, it was determined that it was not the duty of the town to aid in assessing, and collecting this illegal and unconstitutional tax.
In a general town meeting the next day, August 23, which had been called for this purpose, remarks were freely made to this effect by several ; and Mr. Wise, in particular, made a bold and impressive speech, in which he urged his townsmen to stand to their privileges, for they had a good God and a good King to protect them. We have no rec- ord of this speech ; but with his sentiments and language before us in his printed work on the liberty of the churches, we may well suppose that he spoke in substance as follows:
Mr. Moderator :- The question before us is one of the deepest concern to us all, involving our dearest rights and privileges ; it is not a mere question of prop- erty, whether we will pay the amount of tax levied upon us by his Majesty's servant, the Governor of this Province, but whether we will surrender the right so dear to every Englishman's heart, and so essential to his civil freedom, that of levying our own taxes, and controlling our own means of subsistence. This right is inherent in the British Constitution, and is guaranteed to us by our Provincial Charter. It is essential to our civil and religious freedom, to our personal safety and welfare, and to the security, and tranquillity of our firesides.
For it is plain that if any portion of our property, however small, may be taken from us without our consent, then by the same principle, the whole of it may be taken, and our persons and families be rendered penniless, and houseless, and subjected to the most abject and cruel servitude. Thus re- duced to a state of vassalage, we subsist wholly by the clemency of the des- pot, and may be destroyed at any moment of arbitrary caprice or displeasure. Need I say, Sir, that such an assumption of power would not be tolerated for a day, no, not for a moment, in our father-land ? Is not the principle that taxation and representation go together, as familiar there as household words ? Has it not been argued. and demonstrated in letters of blood, that not the house of Lords, nor the Monarch upon the throne, but the Commoners only, the real agents of the people, can impose taxes ? Have we lost this inesti- mable privilege by being at a greater distance from Parliament than some of our brethren ? Are we not Englishmen still, living under the royal govern- ment, and entitled to all the privileges and immunities of British subjects ? And can we then tamely surrender these rights, by the payment of this ille- gal and unconstitutional tax, thus admitting a precedent and a principle so destructive of all our liberties ?
We go sir, for law, and order, and authority ; but we insist that by the
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MR. WISE'S SPEECH.
1634-1700.]
law of nature, which is the law of God, and of right reason, all power and all authority in civil matters, have their origin wholly with the people. In their natural state every man is his own master, and protector ; and if he could secure his own welfare, and safety with equal efficiency single-handed, it would be folly for him to sacrifice any portion of his natural liberty, in which he is his own king and councilor. But this not being possible, he enters a civil community, the chief end of which is that those thus associated, may be se- cured against the injuries, to which they are liable from their fellow men. This end is best answered by a government substantially democratic ; in which the people have a voice in all that concerns their safety, liberty, and property.
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