USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > Hanover > History of the town of Hanover, Massachusetts, with family genealogies > Part 7
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63
1
74
HISTORY OF HANOVER.
.
indigenous to this town, is shown by the act of incorporation, wherein the Legislature stipulated that "the inhabitants - do within - two years -erect and finish a suitable house for the public worship and - procure and settle a learned Orthodox minister." And this seems to have been inserted in the act in the form of a proviso or condition subsequent; perhaps with the idea that, unless this condition was complied with, the act might become inoperative.
What legal questions might have arisen, had this condition been broken, we can only guess; for, true to the spirit of the time, the new town, as a part of its very earliest municipal action, July 17, 1727, voted that Mr. David Dwight be chosen to dispense the word of God for three months. Mr. Barry, in a foot note, says. Mr. D. seems to have preached in town a few Sabbaths before its incorporation; but the source of this information is not given. Rev. C. W. Allen, a long time pastor of this church (see later), in an Historical Sermon preached Nov. 27th, 1873, Thanksgiving Day, upon the early history of this First Church, thinks (see ser- mon on file in Hanover Public Library) " Mr. David Dwight was. not an ordained minister ; for had he been, they would have spoken of him as the Rev. David Dwight and not as Mr. And it would seem also that he had preached to the people here before this vote ;. for they were to allow him pay as heretofore, as the record says." Mr. Allen continues, "It further appears that he did not come and supply them with preaching for three months, as the vote speaks of, even if he came at all; because, only about a month after this action of the town, voting to engage him for three- months, they had a meeting of the town (Aug. 29th, 1727), and. chose another committee, consisting of Isaac Buck, Elijah Cush- ing and Joseph House, to provide a minister to dispense the word of God amongst them."
In this surmise Mr. Allen is probably only partially correct; for the record shows a payment to Mr. Dwight, for preaching, of seven pounds nineteen shillings. Mr. Bass was settled later for one hundred and thirty pounds per annum. At this rate, Mr. . Dwight's three months would have entitled him to a little more- than thirty-two pounds. Unless the seven pounds were paid for services rendered by Mr. Dwight prior to the vote of July 17th,. it would seem that he must have preached a portion of the allotted three months. Mr. Allen further thinks that Mr. Dwight was a. young man and that he was from Boston. These are inferences. only. There is no known records from which to verify these- opinions.
75.
ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY.
Having thus provided for the first requirements of their act of incorporation relating to matters religious, the question of the- church " House," which was the second part of the condition. imposed by the Legislature, came up for decision.
The meetings at which Mr. Dwight preached were held of neces- sity in some dwelling-house. That of Mr. Samuel Stetson, still. standing at the centre and now the residence of Rev. William H. Dowden, opposite the parsonage, was frequently used. That others, also may have served the purpose of a meeting-house, is entirely possible; but that of Mr. Stetson was peculiarly convenient from its size and central location. For this use, Mr. Stetson was paid by the town ; and no record of similar payment to any citizen being- in existence, leads to the conclusion that until their church was completed, the worshipers used no other house than that of Mr. Stetson.
There were two questions to be determined by our town's pioneers, before the church edifice could become an architctual reality ; first, where; and second, how ? The need of a central location was universally recognized and this indicated the place now occupied. Then it was spoken of as being upon the Drink- water road and, accordingly, we find upon the records, under date of Nov. 13, 1727, that "the most convenient place by the road called the Drinkwater road " be selected. Pembroke men, Elijah Bisbee, Joshua Turner and Aaron Soule, perhaps as being disinterested men whose decision could not be questioned for partiality or favoritism, were selected by the town, to determine the exact site. No record of their action exists ; but it is presumed that they did act and selected the site where the present meeting house stands ; for it is here that the first house of this Society was located and, since 1728, the parish has here worshiped according to the orthodox calvinistic faith of the fathers.
The site being selected the land was next to be obtained. And, for many years, it has been a question involved in much doubt as to who was the original owner of the site. Barry's statement on page 57 that "the land on which the house was built is said to have been given by Thomas Buck," is scarcely consistent with his later statement (page 177) that, on June 15, 1730, "it was voted to pay Isaac Buck three pounds for one acre of land. We. incline to the opinion that Buck's acre was that on which the meet- ing-house was built."
Whoever gave or sold the site, the parish acquired it and took: means to cause the erection of the edifice. It was to be, as voted
76
HISTORY OF HANOVER.
Dec. 13, 1727, forty-eight feet long, thirty-eight feet wide, and nineteen feet high "between joints." It was to be completed by Oct. 1, 1728, and Elijah Cushing, Joseph House, and Abner Dwelley were chosen a building committee. The house was to be built "in a workmanlike manner but as cheap as possible," a mingling of religious duty with Yankee shrewdness and thrift.
Although just set off from the old town of Scituate, the new town did not hesitate to ask help from the mother municipality. Jan. 22, 1728, Isaac Buck was chosen agent to ask aid from Scituate as well as from the inhabitants of Hanover. In Scituate, by a subscription paper, he obtained promises of ninety pounds, found on collection to be good for sixty-six pounds.
The town also voted (March 3, 1728) to take its part of the government loan of sixty thousand pounds, " now in the treasury :at Boston " and apply it toward paying the carpenters. Gifts of land were also given, both in Scituate and Hanover, as land was a valuable commodity and much more abundant than money in the colony at that time. John Cushing, James Cushing, Job Otis, Nicholas Litchfield, Stephen Clapp, all gave land. Those are old Scituate names. Among other givers of land were Rev. Thos. Clapp of Taunton, and Joseph and Samuel Barstow of Hanover. Gifts of lumber were also made and that remaining after the edifice was completed was sold for the use of the ministry.
The completed structure cost, as Mr. Barry estimates, about three hundred pounds.
This building was used by the Society until, in 1765, it was demolished, to be succeeded by another structure. It was used also by the town for its town meetings. The only records concern- ing its appearance are two. On page 89 of the town records for 1757, it appears that the gallery stairs were on the west end and, on page 97, we learn that the exterior was covered with clap- boards. It faced the south, as does the present structure. It had no steeple or chimney, a double row of windows admitting the light through diamond shaped panes, probably set in lead. It had in its interior a gallery but neither plaster nor paint lent their charm to the barrenness of the walls. The pulpit was high perched and probably surmounted by the customary sounding- board.
The house contained thirty-one pews, which were given a value of ten pounds each. The influence which prevailed then and which still survives in spirit, although perhaps bearing another name, made it "usual and commendable (so runs the old record),
ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY.
that there should be dignities * Therefore we vote, that the highest pew in dignity should be valued at 15£ and the; next 14£ 10s and so on proportionally lower, until we come down. to those pews which are of no difference in dignity ; and then pro- portionable to each man's rates, either by a general vote or lots,, to take in the more people into each pew so valued or prized, as- shall amount to the money."
A committee, consisting of Joseph Stockbridge, John Hatch, and William Witherell (the town clerk), was appointed to appor- tion the pews according to the foregoing vote. It was ever a. delicate task to apportion " dignities " and it is not to be wondered. at that the report of the committee was not satisfactory.
In June, 1730, a new committee was created to do this work over again, "to make all persons easy and to take in those that were left out." Seven were on the committee and, as its work. was approved on the 31st of the following August, it is safe to assume that in this, as in other things, "in numbers there is; strength."
Having a church edifice completed inside and out, the next, necessary step was a communion service. No silver ware could be thought of in those days; but the very common alloy, pewter,. now out of use, was selected.
On the tenth of January, 1728-9, it was voted, at a meeting of the Church, to raise money by contribution to "provide utensils- for the Lord's table." Quickly was this duty attended to and this vote carried out; for, by the thirtieth of the month, the " utensils " were bought and brought to town. Their first use occurred on the second of the following March. These utensils were "three Pewter Tankards, marked C. T. of 10s price, each; five Pewter Beakers, costing 30s each, and marked C. B .; two Pewter Platters, marked C. P .; a Pewter Basin for baptism ; and , a cloth for the Communion Table." This entry in the old records is interesting for its use of capitals, as well as for the letters marking the various dishes. Whatever the C. may have meant (perhaps " church "), the T. was evidently for Tankard, as was the B. for Beaker and P. for Platter.
In October, 1768, after 39 years of Pewter, Deacon Joseph Stockbridge presented the Church with four silver cups for the Communion table at an expense of 25£ (old tenor) or $11.11 for each cup. An inscription appeared upon each cup, giving the name of the giver and recveiver and the date. For this gift the Deacon was formally thanked by the Church.
78
HISTORY OF HANOVER.
Eighteen years later, a legacy of Deacon Thomas Josselyn pro- vided two more silver cups. The use of the building as a house of worship and as a town hall as well, continued until a new struc- ture was erected in 1765, during the ministry of Mr. Baldwin.
By reason of the great success which Mr. Baldwin attained and by virtue of the steady growth of the town in population, the «church in 1764 was found to be too small. The plan was first conceived of putting in a piece in the middle of the building. This was deemed more economical than to build anew, and, on the 25th of June of that year, a vote to do this was actually passed. Better councils prevailed, however, and, in the following October, this vote was reconsidered and a new house was decided upon, which should be 62 feet long, 43 feet wide, and 23 feet between joints.
In the following spring, a steeple seemed advisable and, when Mr. Joseph Tolman, the contractor of this new church, had com- pleted his work, the church bore this New England distinctive mark of a house of worship.
About 1784, a bell was presented to the Society by Mr. Josselyn and, so far as the records show, this was the first church bell to awaken the echoes, within the limits of the town of Hanover. It was recast in 1788 and rang out its call to worship and tolled its requiem for the dead, until, in its second place in the third church of this society, it melted in the conflagration which de- stroyed the latter structure, in 1862.
Beside the bell, this church for the first time boasted a plas- tered auditorium. It had galleries and square pews.
This church was painted in 1789, the walls a stone yellow, the roof, Spanish brown, the corner boards and window frames, white. It was an index of the increasing property and growing importance "of the town. It outlived its usefulness, however, and, to meet the demand for better things, it was demolished to make room for its successor.
During the ministry of Mr. Smith or just prior thereto, the third church building of this Society was built. Unlike its predecessors on this spot, it faced the east. The exact date of its erection is not now known. It was between 1824 and 1829. The picture given in Barry's History is an excellent reproduction. It was a good sample of Colonial architecture, not unpleasing to the eye. But three pastors were settled over this Society, while this edifice was the church home, Rev. Mr. Smith, Rev. Mr. Duncan, and Rev. Mr. Freeman. The church was completely destroyed by
79
ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY.
fire in 1862. The contractor for its erection was Mr. Samuel Stetson.
Unlike its predecessors, this church was not used for town meetings. The year of its erection, a town hall was built in its rear and only about 6 ft. from its wall. The town hall faced south. When the church burned, the town hall went with it.
In 1863 the present structure was erected, immediately after the destruction of the old church. It was, like its earlier fore- runners, made to face south. It has a vestry and other rooms on the ground floor, the auditorium being reached by stairs on each side. The pulpit is at the north end and a low, modern gal- lery and organ accommodate the choir at the south end.
When we turn to recall the men who ministered to the people of this, the first church in town, we find a class of men who were all liberally educated, all devoting themselves to the work of promoting the spiritual good of their people; and, during the entire period which has elapsed since 1727, they held the position of pastor, if not for life, at least for a long term of years.
The first to be honored by a call from the town to preach the gospel, was Mr. Daniel Dwight. He seems not to have been en- titled to have Reverend affixed to his name; but it is stated that he had preached to this people prior to 1727. He was therefore known to them and, as the act of incorporation required that "as soon as may be" the inhabitants should "procure and settle a learned Orthodox minister" and should thus escape taxation for the support of the ministry in Abington and Scituate, the early fathers proceeded with all due despatch to call upon one whose standing and ability they knew.
Whether or not Mr. Dwight ever accepted the offer made to him to come and preach for three months, the record does not show. That he did not complete the full term of service seems to be indicated by the fact that he was renumerated for such service as he did render by a payment of L.7 s.19, which the town voted, which is too small a renumeration for the length of time men- tioned, even according to the rate of compensation considered adequate in those times.
Mr. Dwight was a Harvard graduate of the class of 1726. So he was just out of college when called here. He was born in Dedham, October 28, 1707. That he was graduated at 19 indi- cates that he was no dullard. He died July 4, 1747, unmarried, having spent his short life in business pursuits, preaching only occasionally.
80
HISTORY OF HANOVER.
In 1694, at Braintree, Mass, was born to Joseph and Mary Bass, a son who was named Benjamin. He grew to man's estate and entering Harvard College graduated there in 1715, with the degree of A. B. which he afterward augmented to the master's degree of A. M. When he was thirty-four years of age, on the 11th day of December 1728, he was ordained minister of the First Church in Hanover at a salary of L.130 per annum. He lived and preached as minister of this church until May 23rd, 1756. The graves of Mr. Bass and his wife lie on the southerly portion
of the cemetery at Centre Hanover. The stones first erected to their memory have been replaced by new ones. The date of Mr. Bass's death, which by the church records occurred May 23, 1756, has been erroneously made to read, on the new stone, May 24, 1756. This fact is noted in Rev. Mr. Allen's Historical Sermon now in the Hanover Public Library. The house he occupied has long since gone. It came into the possession of William Church pre- vious to 1850 and was for a time occupied by him and his family. Its decay caused its demolition and there is now nothing to mark the spot where it stood.
His characteristics were strong common sense rather than bril- liancy, steadfastness in the faith, hospitality, simplicity in his way of life, and love of children. His whole heart was in his work and his parish. The good man always loves and is loved by children ; and that, in those hard old times, the children all loved Benjamin Bass is a sufficient testimonial to the goodness of his heart and soundness of his character.
At the beginning of Mr. Bass' ministry, the formation of the church as distinguished from the parish, occurred, on December 11th, 1728. Besides the pastor, the original membership consisted of ten, all being men. They were Joseph Stockbridge, Elijah Cushing, James Hatch, John Tailor (or Taylor), Samuel Staples, Isaac Buck, Joseph Stockbridge Jr., Thomas Josselyn, Amasa Turner, and Samuel Skiff. Of these Joseph Stockbridge and Elijah Cush- ing have the honor of being the First Deacons of the First Church in Hanover.
The first communion was celebrated March 2, 1729. The origi- nal Church covenant is interesting. All the members signed it. It ran as follows: "We do give up ourselves and our offspring to that God whose name alone is Jehovah, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, as the one only true and living God, and unto our blessed Lord, Jesus Christ, as our only Saviour, Prophet, Priest, and King over our souls and only mediator of the Convenant of Grace;
81
ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY.
promising (by the help and assistance of His spirit and grace) to cleave unto God and our Lord Jesus Christ by faith in a way of Gospel obediance, as becometh the Convenant People forever, and we do also give up ourselves one unto another in the Lord, according to the will of God, freely convenanting and promising (the Lord helping us) to walk together in holy union and com- munion as members of the same mystical body and as an insti- tuted church of Christ rightly constituted and established in the true faith and order of the Gospel ; and further we do oblige our- selves (by the help of Christ) in brotherly love to watch over one another and over all the children of the convenant growing up with us, and faithfully, according to our ability, to transmit the holy word and worship of God to our posterity; to cleave unto and uphold the true Gospel ministry as it is established by Christ in his Church, to have it in due honor and esteem, to subject our- selves fully and sincerely unto the government of Christ in his Church, and duly to attend to the seals, cencures, and whatsoever ordinances Christ hath commanded to be observed by his People, according to the order of the Gospel; and, withal, we do further engage ourselves to walk orderly in a way of fellowship and com- munion with all our neighboring Churches, according to the rules of the Gospel, that the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be one throughout all the Churches to the glory of God, the father. Amen."
It was during Mr. Bass' ministry, March 7, 1742, that the "New Way" of singing was introduced and Ezekiel Turner was chosen first Tuner. Before this time, the Deacon had read off the lines and usually pitched the tune and the congregation then sang. The introduction of Tate and Brady's version of the Psalms was thus introduced. Under Mr. Bass, the membership of the Church steadily increased. During his ministry, the original ten was increased by eighty-three new members and he baptized five hundred and eighty-eight persons.
The first attempt at a Public Library began, too, dierctly under his supervision. This was, it is true, to be confined to his Society. But it was a collection of books for public use, though that public was limited. April 8, 1748, 14£ 15s was collected to buy good books to lend to the Society. The borrower had the privilege of keeping each book two months and the view taken of the enterprise as a piece of charity is shown by the initials marked by Mr. Bass in each book "C. B. C. S. H." Charity Book of the Congregational Society in Hanover.
1
82
HISTORY OF HANOVER.
The successor of Mr. Bass was Rev. Samuel Baldwin.
Mr. Baldwin was a graduate of Harvard college in the class of 1752. He married Hannah, the daughter of Judge John Cush- ing, January 4th, 1759.
Mr. Baldwin was not lacking in worldly business ability. He refused the first offer made him to come to Hanover, which was at a salary of £73 6s 8d per annum. The offer was raised to £80 per annum and, as a settlement gift, a house to be built within eighteen months. Full specifications as to size and finish of the house were made and the house was accepted by the new pastor, March 5, 1759. It is still standing on Hanover street, Centre Hanover, nearly opposite Spring street. (1905). It has now lost its glory as a pastoral abode and should be preserved and renewed as a relic of the past.
Under Mr. Baldwin, the Society increased and the church proved too small. It was replaced by the second edifice already described. The strain and stress of the Revolution made it im- possible to keep up the prompt payment of the clergyman's salary and he was forced by this circumstance to resign. March 8, 1779, he asked his dismissal and obtained it, after a pastorate of twenty- three years, three months, three days, during which time he had baptized six hundred and thirty-two persons and one hundred and seven new members had joined his church.
"Mr. Baldwin early espoused the cause of America in the struggle with Great Britain, and, throughout the continuance of the war of the Revolution, took a deep and anxious interest in his country's success. He officiated as a Chaplain in the Army, and gave elo- quent exhortations to his own flocks at home and to the minute men of the town; and so completely was he absorbed in this work that the intensity of his devotion, joined with other causes, affected his mind; and for a period of four years, previous to his decease, he was partially deranged and under the faithful care of his devoted wife. His death took place December 1st, 1784, about one year after peace was declared; and his remains, with those of his wife, lie in the old burial-ground, grave stones hav- ing been erected to their memory, by vote of the town, March 9, 1796." (Barry, Page 66).
As usual, the Society listened to candidates for their ministry, after Mr. Baldwin's dismissal. Rev. Joseph Litchfield of Scituate proved the successful candidate and received a call; but, owing to the strong opposition of some of the Society, he withdrew without ordination and, on the eleventh day of February, 1784,
UNIVERSALIST CHURCH, BURNED 1893
UNIVERSALIST CHURCH (1908)
FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH, BURNED 1862
1
FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH (1908) (SOLDIERS' MONUMENT)
83
ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY.
Rev. John Mellen was settled, coming to Hanover from Sterling, Massachusetts. He remained with them until 1805. He died at Reading, July 4, 1807, aged eighty-five. He came to Hanover, aged sixty-two years, and was eighty-three, when he retired. He was a graduate of Harvard College in the class of 1741, when he was nineteen years of age.
Mr. Mellen seems to have been in advance of his time. He left a former pastorate, because his ideas were not as strictly Calvinistic as the clergy of his neighborhood approved, although he always had his people behind him. The tendency toward Arminianism was not curbed at Hanover but no fault was found with him here. He published a volume of sermons, in 1765, which, as a piece of scholastic theology, attracted wide attention.
It is interesting now, but only as a matter of history, to know that one of the objections made to him was that, in a sermon he preached, he had declared that God was the author of sin.
He was a very human man, sociable, fond of jest, lively in conversation, and of strong feeling.
Rev. Calvin Chaddock, of Rochester, came to Hanover and, July 23, 1806, became pastor of this Society, living in the house Mr. Mellen had occupied, the present residence of Andrew T. Damon, at Centre Hanover. He remained twelve years.
He was a graduate of Dartmouth in 1786. He represented Hanover in the legislature in 1811. He wa sthe first teacher of Hanover Academy, practically its founder. A ready preacher, an excellent elocutionist, and a good business man, as well as preacher. He died in western Virginia. Mr Chaddock was in- stalled as pastor, July 23, 1806; Rev. Mr. Niles of Abington preached the sermon, taking as his text First Timothy, 4th Chap., 16th verse.
He was succeeded by Rev. Seth Chapin, who came here in March or April, 1819. He was a graduate of Brown University in 1808. His pastorate terminated in 1824 and he died in Providence, R. I., April 19, 1850, aged sixty-seven. He had relinquished preaching, in 1845, to become a farmer. At the beginning of Mr. Chapin's ministry, the Church membership was twenty men and fifty-five women and, during his ministry, twelve new members were ad- mitted, an average of one per year. These figures indicate the decline in religious interest which had already set in. Mr. Chapin's departure from Hanover arose from lack of financial support. The parish was poor and the Church more so.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.