USA > Massachusetts > Hampden County > Holland > History of the town of Holland, Massachusetts > Part 14
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Col. Alfred Lyon
Moses Lyon
Widow Judith Hind
192
THE HISTORY OF HOLLAND, MASS.
Capt. Nehemiah May Nehemiah May Jr.
Trenance Webber Dr. Thomas Wallis
Rufus May
John Wallis
James Marcy
Dea. David Wallis
Joseph Marsh
Alfred Wallis
Lt. Jasper Marsh
Rinelder Wallis
Ebenezer Morse
Alanson Wallis
Ebenezer Morris
Amasa Anderson
Asa Partridge
Joshua Barrett
Asa Partridge Jr.
John Williams
Malachi Partridge
Jonathan Upham
James Paddock
Nathan Badger
John Paddoek
Isaac Partridge
Oliver Paddock
John Polley
Hollowill Perrin
Asarael Perrin
Levy Pierce
Joel Pierce
Ephraim Pendleton
Gershom Rosebrooks
Benj. Reeve
John Smalledge
Dr. Seth Smith
James Fuller
Levi Smith
James Johnson
Daniel Thompson
Benj. Smith
Jonathan Munger
Asa Thompson
John Munger
Humphrey Needham Jr.
Simeon Tiffany
Edward Webber
Henry Webber
Samuel Webber
Andrew Webber
Cyprian Stevens
Samuel Webber Jr.
John Tarbel Jr.
Rinelder Webber
Bradley Webber
Reuben Webber
Wm. Janes Jr.
Suel Webber
Mark Stacy
Chandler Webber
Non-resident taxpayers for
year 1793
Aaron Allin
Simeon Allen
Timothy Anderson
Joseph Browning Esq.
Lt. Thomas Bond
Ezra May
Ezra Tiffany
Manasseh Perry
Josiah Perry
Nathaniel Rockwell
Abijah Shumway
20 names
90 resident taxpayers
193
THE CHURCHES OF HOLLAND
Soon after church was moved on to the plain a movement to have better music at church was inaugurated, for we find a vote that Joel Pierce and Asa Partridge, Jr., act as chor- isters and but little later it was voted to instruct the youth in psalmody. A Mr. White was engaged to "teatch" singing but violent opposition to the plan arising, after several special meetings it was abandoned. About the year 1800, Benjamin Reeve was engaged for instruction in singing psalms. As by the following vote: "Voted to raise seventeen dollars to pay Mr. Benjamin Reeve for teatching a singing 'schooll' this winter." Thereafter, money was now and then appropriated for this purpose and William A. Robbins is frequently men- tioned as engaged for this purpose, and is remembered by some of his pupils still living.
In 1804, an article was in the district warrant "To see if the district will vote to apply to the legislature of this common- wealth at its next session, for to raise by lottery a sum of money sufficient, the interest of which to be (used) to support a regular Presbyterian minister of the gospel, and choose a committee to petition for the same or do anything relative to said lottery they think proper when met." Suffice it to say that no lottery was formed for that purpose or any other so far as the records show.
The church grew in power and maintained its influence in the community and it is remarkable how firmly the pastor holds his church and the love and respect of the district. In 1811, we note recorded a request that a committee be chosen by the district to assist him in the examination of schoolmas- ters and mistresses and in visiting the schools. The district chose James A. Lynn, Ebenezer Pike and Freeland Wallis for that committee. Pastor Reeve at this time was about 77 years of age. He alone, so far as the records show, had carried this burden since 1783, or earlier.
(13)
194
THE HISTORY OF HOLLAND, MASS.
The next year Mr. Reeve had a serious illness that keeps him from his pupit. The church votes a committee of twelve men to hire a minister as supply. The following is a list of the committee :- Jacob Thompson, Dea. David Wallis, Lt. Ichabod Goodell, Lt. Wm. Putnam, Capt. Benjamin Church, Lt. Ezra Allen, Willard Pike, Edward Blodgett, Nehemiah May, Ebenezer Howard, John Polley, Dea. Samuel Webber.
Nothing is recorded of the man who supplied.
Their pastor recovered so as to resume his work but with dimished vitality. He toils on till 1817, when he is ill again, when the following men are appointed "to arrange for supply and to lay out with Mr. Reeve such a part of his salary as he shall relinquish.". He was soon to relinquish the whole. Dea. David Wallis, Dea. Samuel Webber, Capt. Ezra Allen, Capt. Hollowell Perrin, Lt. John Weaver, Capt. Benjamin Church, Capt. Ezra Webber. It is doubtful if all served.
It is manifest that this aged and faithful pastor's work and life are drawing to a close. Just what was done, if any- thing we have no record to tell us.
A movement to form a Baptist society soon takes form and request that the use of the church building be divided between the "Presbyterians" and the Baptists. It was voted down in publie meeting, for a time, but the question was so persistently before the public that it was finally voted to proportion the use of the church building till March 1, 1819, the "Presbyter- ians" to have it three sabbaths and then the Baptists three sabbaths alternately. But as the articles of organization for the Baptist church were drawn in April, 1817, it is manifest this was an expedient to accommodate the Baptists pending the ereetion of their church building, which was erected in 1818 and dedicated, 1819.
Rev. Ezra Reeve died April 28, 1818, in the 85th year of his life. Perhaps if he had relinquished his pastorate at the time of his first illness, 1812, it would have been better for the
195
THE CHURCHES OF HOLLAND
church ; but many could not think of pushing him aside in his old age who had served them so long. He had toiled hard and long and had not the means to live in idleness. He had mort- gaged his home to the district to pay expenses, which must have been a trial to him, and after his death at the settlement of his estate, Messrs. Walker and Horton of Union, presented a claim for $125 loaned, all which the district, much to its credit, assumed. His pastorate of nearly fifty-three years was remarkable for duration, for tactful administration, for work accomplished. In a sparsely settled community he, out of dis- sension had formed a united church; had kept the flock to- gether against divisions; had received one hundred fifty-eight members, had baptized children; had married many couples and performed all the duties pertaining to his sacred office. His church had steadily received members by the slow process of natural development. Whether he had experienced power- ful revivals in his church or not we do not know. There is nothing to indicate it. There is nothing to prove that it had.
The church meeting held March 2, 1819, must have been a sad one. Several of the members had become Baptists and others that had supported the church now allied themselves with that organization as is evinced by the list of names on that church roll. How a town that had with difficulty sup- ported one church was going to support two now was the problem. At the meeting it was decided to invite a council of neghboring ministers to advise with the church respecting what was best to do. It was voted to invite three for said council. Mr. Porter of Belchertown, Mr. Ely of Monson, and Mr. Snell of North Brookfield. It was voted to have Thurs- day, March 25, set apart as a day of humiliation, fasting and prayer, and the council was to meet on that day. There being some doubt as to Mr. Porter's attending, Rev. James Vail of Brimfield was added to the list. Something prevented the meeting called for March 25, for we find under date of March
196
THE HISTORY OF HOLLAND, MASS.
30, 1819, a vote to call on the same ministers as before and the council was called for May 6, and a committee consisting of David Wallis, Ezra Webber, Jas. Lynn and Ezra Allen were to be committee of arrangements.
At a church meeting held March 27, 1820, it was resolved that David Wallis, Esq., Deacon James A. Lynn and Col. Ezra Allen be and they are hereby appointed the prudential com- mittee of this society, whose duty shall be to use means for the purpose of raising a fund from abroad, the income of which shall be appropriated to the support of a Congregational ministry in this place; and for pledging this society to the faithful appropriation of the same; also to conduct the pru- dentials of this society.
Also it was voted to raise two hundred dollars for the support of Rev. Enoch Burt the ensuing year, provided he may be obtained.
The alacrity with which the above committee took up their duty is shown by the following document, a copy of which is here presented :-
"To the christian and benevolent public-Greeting :
We, the Congregational Society and Church of Christ in Holland, County of Hampden, Mass., though originally few in number and weak did by united exertion support the ordinances of the gospel among us for many years. Our worthy pastor at length oppressed with years sunk under infirmities of age and thus became unable to discharge his pastorial duties for a con- siderable time except occasionally, when it pleased the head of the church to remove him by death. During his infirmities God in his holy providence permitted the seeds of discord to be sown among us, which shortly after his death, (which event happened about two years since) sprang up and produced a formal separa- tion of part, say one-half of the society, who organized them- selves under the name of a Baptist Society. Thus weakened, we have since been unable with our utmost exertions to establish gospel ordinances among us enjoying only occasional preaching and under this unhappy state of things we are compelled to an-
197
THE CHURCHES OF HOLLAND
ticipate a total loss of our Christian privileges unless God is pleased graciously to interfere in our behalf. We feel and deep- ly deplore the loss of our former gospel advantages both in our- selves and in our children, and under an overwhelming sense thereof are constrained to make one more vigorous effort to regain our privileges. We may be able to raise among our- selves the sum of two hundred dollars, consenting to a min- isterial tax two-fold greater than usual, which we are pre- pared to do, but this of itself will not put us in possession of a minister.
Remembering that the Christian public sympathizes with its suffering members, and confiding in the God of Providence and Grace, who infuseth his own divine benevolence and charity into the hearts of his people and then crowneth the liberal soul with fatness, we are constrained and encouraged to address the lovers of benevolence and charity in our behalf. We feel that if we could, by the help of its interest on which we could ever cal- culate with certainty, be able with our utmost exertions to settle at this time a gospel minister whom God might bless to our increase and establishment as well as to our spiritual and im- mortal interests, all would be well. Such a prospect now brightens before us, but whether we shall ever realize it or a sad reverse seems to depend on the result of this appeal to the benev- olent public. As a perfect security to those hearts the Lord may open to our necessities, that their charity shall reach the ob- ject, we sacredly pledge ourselves that every dollar contributed shall be vested in stock most productive with permanent security and its interest exclusively applied toward the support of a Con- gregational minister in Holland under the penalty of refunding the sums to the donors, their heirs, administrators, or assigns, if otherwise applied, with interest from the time of such misap- plication and to put the means of covering this penalty into the hands of the donors (if incurred) we direct our agent to give a certified copy of this address and of the subscriptions accom- panying it to the subscribers or whomsoever they may appoint and that another copy attest shall be entered on the parish clerk's book.
DAVID WALLIS, JAMES A. LYNN, EZRA ALLEN, Parish Committee.
198
THE HISTORY OF HOLLAND, MASS.
Copy.
Attest-John Wallis, Parish elerk. Dated Holland March 29, 1820.
This petition to the public was evidently eireulated for we find the following record :-
The following is a list of subscriptions received by the Con- gregational society in the district of Holland, on a solicitation circulated by them in the neighboring towns which subscrip- tions are to be laid out for the purposes and under the penalty in case of misapplication therein speeified.
From individuals in the town of Monson.
Joel Norcross
$30.
Alfred Ely
25.
Rufus Flynt
30.
Timothy Packard
20.
Amos Noreross
10.
George Bliss Jr.
5.
Abraham Haseal (Haskell)
5.
Royal Merrick 8.
7.
Augustus Merrick
6 ...
Sarah Hyde
1.
Total
$147.
From Palmer
Calvin Ward
2.
Benjamin Converse
5.
William Mason
1.
William Jr. and T. Mason
2.
Mary Keep 3.
Total
$13.
From Western (now Warren)
Levi Brown
3.
John Patrick
2.
Samuel Blain
2.
Gideon Merrick
199
THE CHURCHES OF HOLLAND
Danforth Keyes
3.
Munson C. Gailord
2.
Isaac Bliss
1.
Samuel Tidd
1.50
Jonathan Bush
.50
William Patrick
5.00
Total
$20.00
From Brookfield
Eliakim Phelps
10.
Lucy Upham
3.
Total
$13.
From Sturbridge
Alvan Bond
4.
Abishai Howard
5.
Eli Wheelock
5.
E. S. Griswold
1.
Zenas Dunton
2.
Ephraim M. Lyon
3.
Elias Holbrook
.50
Thomas P. Wallis (formerly of Holland)
2.
Zephaniah Gibbs
1.
Daniel Plimpton
2.
Perez Walker
3.
David Wight
1.50
Total
$30.00
From Cambridge
Thomas B. Gannett
3.
James R. Chaplin
3.
Winthrop Ward
3.
N. Livermore
3.
Luther Gay
3.
Samuel Cutler
2.
A. Holmes
4.
200
THE HISTORY OF HOLLAND, MASS.
A well wisher 1.50
A well wisher
3.
A well wisher Katherine Kendell
1.
3.
James D. Farnsworth
2.
Total
$31.50
From Brimfield
I. E. Trask
100.
Marquis Converse
10.
Joseph Vail
10.
Lewis Williams
10.
Simeon Hubbard
10.00
Aaron Bliss
5.
I. D. Browning
5.
Jacob Bishop
2.
Samuel Brown
3.
Jesse Hitcheoek
5.
Widow Perse Williams
1.
Orsamus Janes
5.
Levi Bliss
3.
Daniel Burt
5.
Lyman Bruee
1.
Lemuel Lumbard
3.
Elijah Tarbell
1.
Joseph Griggs
5.
Ebenezer Williams
2.
Johu W'yles
10.
Elias Tarbell
1.
Julius Burt
2.
Elijah Tarbell Jr.
2.
Walter Goodell
.50
Samuel Tarbell
1.
Samuel Patriek
1.
Zenas Holbrook
2.
Leonard Upham
2.
Brimfield Total
$207.50
201
THE CHURCHES OF HOLLAND
Other Towns 254.50
Total collected
$462.00
This money obtained by subscription from other towns was used to buy the ground and erect a parsonage thereby fulfilling the pledge given as to its usc. The ground and parsonage has manifestly enabled the church to have a minis- ter when otherwise none would be available.
After the death of Mr. Reeve the church had occasional service only for two years, for at a meeting held Sept. 4, 1820, we find articles of association between Holland church and the South Brimfield society for the purpose of enjoying gospel ordinances under the same pastor in the manner and on the following terms :-
Resolved :- That the associated churches of Holland and South Brimfield commune together six times each year, four times in Holland and twice at So. Brimfield.
Resolved :- That stated preaching on the sabbath be in each town in proportion to what each town shall obligate and become responsible for, and all donations received from charit- able societies be divided in the above ratio and the preaching be apportioned accordingly ; also any expense incurred in obtain- ing aid in support of the ministry from charitable societies be apportioned on each society according to the proportion of preaching on the sabbath in each society.
Each society was to have its own confession of faith and the pastor was to preside at church meetings and the associa- tion was to last only as long as they mutually agreed upon a pastor. Both societies extended a call to Rev. Enoch Burt to become their pastor, Sept. 7, 1820, and the salary offered was five hundred dollars. Mr. Burt was installed over the associated churches, May 9, 1821. Members of the council were as follows :-
202
THE HISTORY OF HOLLAND, MASS.
Rev. Moses Warren, pastor. Dea. Daniel Isham, delegate.
Rev. William Storrs, pastor. Dea. William Walker, delegate. Rev. Alfred Ely, Pastor.
Dea. Absalom Shaw, delegate.
Rev. Cyrus W. Gray, pastor. Dea. Alden Blodgett, delegate
Rev. Joseph Vail, pastor.
Dea. Samuel Tarbell, delegate.
Rev. Alvan Bond, pastor. Rev. Otis Lane, delegate.
So. Wilbraham
Westford, Conn.
Monson
W. Stafford, Conn.
Brimfield
Sturbridge
Holland church had a pastor now, but there was no par- sonage. Unless they could provide one, there was small chance of his remaining long. That his pastorate was no longer was probably due to failure in securing a water supply, which, until recent years, has been a persistent handicap to the pas- tors.
When the church was moved on to the plain (1793). Mr. Reeve's labor was greatly increased by the distance of the church from his home, the parsonage. His home had been given him as a settlement together with sixty pounds as an- nual salary. No word of expostulation from him is on record as against the moving the church notwithstanding the greater inconvenience it would be to him of which he must have been fully cognizant. Yet he was then in his sixtieth year, and had nearly twenty-three years of service yet to render.
At Mr. Reeve's death April 28, 1818, the need of a home for future pastors must have been forced upon the attention of the church. The need of a parsonage was urgent. At a meeting held April 3, 1821, it was voted "that the prudential committee use the fund raised in 1820, or any part thereof, to purchase land and build a parsonage thereon" and Isaac Partridge was keeper of this fund. The parsonage land was purchased of Col. Ezra Allen, and the main part of what is
203
THE CHURCHES OF HOLLAND
now the parsonage was built, the ell forming the kitchen was a later acquisition.
Its general plan was according to the wishes of Rev. Enoch Burt, the pastor. We presume the lumber was contributed by members of his parish. It must have been a great trial to get the water necessary for household use. There was no well, and water from the well, where now Mrs. Henry Brown lives, had to be brought both for cooking and drinking, while water for all other purposes had to be hauled from Stevens Brook except such rain water as could be caught. It is no wonder that we find earnest and repeated efforts made to secure a well for the parsonage. Mr. Dwight E. Webber declares that they dug down about one hundred feet, but were obliged to encase it as they dug. At last they came to quicksand saturated with water, but when they tried to stone it up, the stone work kept sinking into the quicksand, while the quicksand kept working upward from the pressure of the surrounding mass. The difficulties and dangers of the work compelled them to desist and then the plan of having a cistern was formed, and a part of the excavation made for the well was used for the purpose. This probably accounts for the attempt made in 1834 to pipe water down from a hill. It failed, but it was an augury of the present public water supply. A part of the hole dug for a well was reserved for a cistern, or at any rate a cistern was built where they had dug for the well asserts Mr. Dwight Webber. We find a vote of the church, Sept. 30, 1839, to take the avails of the sale of the old meeting house materials to build a cistern to accommodate the parsonage. Chose Ezra Allen, Adolphus Webber, John Wallis, Harris Cutler and Grosvenor May, committee to put in the cistern. The cistern was built and used for some time, but proved unsatisfactory and unreliable in supply, for it frequently leaked and allowed the water to run away to say nothing of failure due to dry
204
THE HISTORY OF HOLLAND, MASS.
weather. It is no wonder that it was a vexing problem to the pastors as they came, and to the people realizing the diffi- culty the pastor had in obtaining adequate water supply.
But in 1834, previous to the finishing of the cistern, an article had been in the town warrant to see if the town would vote to pipe water on to the plain from a hill west, but no action was taken. Later a proposition was considered to drive a well on the common but that was abandoned also.
When the parsonage was built the main part was built with a small ell on the north side. It was the plan to have the well just outside near door of the ell. The well failed as already stated and a cistern was built. When Rev. Alden Southworth came (1864) the ell was enlarged forming the ex- tension as it now is and bringing the kitchen over the cistern. The water being brought by pipe as it now is, has led to the cistern being discarded (1911), a great improvement both as regards health and convenience.
Under date of March 5, 1823, Rev. Enoch Burt was dis- missed from the pastoral care of the associated churches by most of the members of the council called for the purpose, and most of them were the gentlemen that installed him. This terminated also the association of the two churches. J. G. Holland says the church was closed, 1823-1832.
It is apparent that there was a period now when the church had no settled pastor. April 4, 1825, we find record of a vote to have Rev. Otis Lane move into the parsonage for one year if an agreement can be made with him for that time. Mr. Lane was delegate from Sturbridge when Mr. Burt was installed. We have discovered no record to show whether Mr. Lane actually moved into the parsonage or not, but we find note of two church admissions where the covenant was read, by Rev. Mr. Lane. One, Nov. 21, 1824, the other, Jan. 16, 1825. In 1827, April 30, Ezra Allen, Leonard M. Morris, and
205
THE CHURCHES OF HOLLAND
John Wallis, were chosen a committee to confer with the Bap- tist society to see whether a union could be effected. We find nothing to show that anything came of it, but with the history of the two societies before us, we cannot but feel a deep re- gret that union was not possible then as being better for both.
A long period of fragmentary pastoral work followed. On April 7, 1831, we find a vote to raise money by subscription and that the money be for Rev. Mr. Hall. The church book has notice of Eurilla May, wife of Grosvenor May, admitted Jan. 17, 1830, and the covenant was read by Rev. Mr. Hall, Rev. James Sanford is the next mentioned and a vote was passed, Feb. 20, 1832,* offering him a salary and use of parsonage. The offer was by the year. Mr. Sandford came and his pas- torate was one in which the church was greatly strengthened. Under his ministry many were admitted. Jan. 22, 1832, we find the following admissions :-
John Wallis Lucy Wallis Horace Wallis Calista Wallis
Admitted Jan. 22, 1832.
Mary Howlett Esther Louisa Lynn
Mary Allen Webber
Lorinda Adalaide Webber
Covenant read by
Elvina Caroline Webber
Rev. James Sandford.
Chloe Fidelia Webber
Deboralı D. Pease Eliza Clark Sarah Underwood by letter
Eleazer Webber
Admitted .
Mar 25, 1832.
Erastus Webber Nancy Webber
*It was the same year that Rev. Washington Munger was installed over the Baptist Church.
206
THE HISTORY OF HOLLAND, MASS.
Roxana Allen William Ainsworth Webber Joseph Trenance Webber Jonathan Parker Webber
Covenant read by
Rev. Mr. Sandford
The last entry by Rev. James Sandford was made Dec. 12, 1843, in the church book.
In 1834, the old church which stood in what is now the grove was so much out of repair that at a meeting held Dec. 29, a committee consisting of Adolphus Webber, John Wallis, Levans McFarlin, Isaac Partridge and Ezra Allen were chosen to examine and report a spot to build a meeting house for the Orthodox Congregatioal Church and Society in said Holland. Said committee agreed upon and reported a spot west of the parsonage house on the line between the parsonage land and Ezra Allen's land, to stand twelve feet on said parsonage land and the remainder on said Allen's land at a suitable distance from the turnpike.
In 1835 a new church building was erected. The descrip- tion of site given above indicates that it stood about thirty feet nearer the parsonage than the present building. Wm. Orcutt was the builder, and the building in size, plan and general appearance was very much like the present building. The building was erected during the pastorate of Rev. James Sandford, whose work for the church was very helpful. He strengthened and encouraged the membership and drew others into the fold, making possible the new church edifice. He evidently was a man with evangelistic power for the number of additions to the church is noteworthy. He was just the man for the time. We give a list from a sale of pews in the new church building. The sale occurred Jan. 7, 1835.
Sale of pews in church erected 1835.
Slip No. 1 to Ezra Allen for $45.
3
47.
John Wallis for 46.
66
66
4 5 "
Ezra Allen for 50.
207
THE CHURCHES OF HOLLAND
Slip
No.
6
to
Harrison Allen for
43.
7
Adolphus Webber
46.
8 Abner Webber for 45.
9 Horaee Wallis for
46.50
Grosvenor May for
42.
10 11
Baxter Wood for
40.
12
James Sandford for
40.
60 13
Paseal M. Lynn for
36.50
45
Horaee Wallis for
31.75
46
Abijah Pieree for
32.
43
Isaae Patridge for
26.50
47 21
Wm. A. Robbins for
25.
Adolphus Webber for
25.
22 Abner Webber for 25.25
66 Adolphus Webber and I.
27.
Jan. 13, 1835, the following slips were sold :-
Slip
to Lurvey Clark for
25.
66 Sumner Janes for
27.
Widow R. Blodgett and eh. for 21.
44 Wm. Moore for
26.
20 יו
John Wallis for
25.
35
Asaph Webber for
18.
John Dixon for 25.
Levans MeFarlin
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