USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Lancaster > History of the town of Lancaster, Massachusetts : from the first settlement to the present time, 1643-1879 > Part 49
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After an interval of about ten years, a "meeting of the friends of temperance was held in the Rev. Mr. Packard's church on the evening of October 7, 1851," when delegates were chosen to attend a temperance convention. The sec- retary was requested to " procure the Records of the old tem- perance society," and Dr. Charles Jewett was invited to give a lecture.
615
INDUSTRIAL SCHOOL.
Two weeks later the society was reorganized with the fol- lowing officers, Rev. Benjamin Whittemore, president ; Caleb T. Symmes, vice-president ; Francis Wilcox, secretary ; Charles Humphrey, Eber Goddard, Charles Wyman, Thomas B. Warren and John Bennett, committee. After a few meet- ings, the records close. Probably a new society, with a more stringent pledge, including all intoxicating drinks, in the list of forbidden beverages, was formed. This has been the course in other places. In recent times, the special work of temperance has been managed by secret societies, and by the Reynolds and Murphy movements, and the women's pray- ing bands. But the grand reliance for temperance and good morals is the influence of the church and ministry, which gen- erate the greater part of moral force in modern society, in all Christian lands.
THE STATE INDUSTRIAL SCHOOL FOR GIRLS.
This school does not come within the sphere of town history, but as its location is here, a brief notice of its origin, design and results, is in place.
It was established by the legislature in the year 1854, under the name of " Reform school," but for good reasons the word " industrial " has been substituted. The first superintendent was Rev. Bradford K. Pierce, D.D., now and for many years past, editor of Zion's Herald, one of the leading papers of the Methodist denomination. He continued in the position about seven years, and left the institution in a healthful and prosperous condition. He was held in high esteem in this community.
In 1862, Rev. Marcus Ames was appointed, and he held the office nearly thirteen years, when he resigned. Being specially adapted to the place, and aided by an excellent corps of lady teachers, matrons and housekeepers, Mr. Ames was able to accomplish great good. He has recently been chosen chaplain of the state institutions of Rhode Island, situated near Providence.
616
HISTORY OF LANCASTER.
His successor was Dea. Loring Lothrop, of Boston, who officiated as superintendent and chaplain over two years, when failing health forced him to resign. His decease soon followed. His previous experience in Boston, and his general character fitted him for the position, and his resignation was much re- gretted.
The school is now under the efficient supervision of Mr. N. Porter Brown, late superintendent of the boys' reform school of Lawrence. The number of girls has been reduced since the burning of one of the houses.
POPULATION.
The population of Lancaster seems to a stranger to have fluctuated, now increasing and then decreasing, in successive periods. But this has been owing to the formation of new towns rather than to the diminishing of the number of peo- ple within the present limits of the town. For example, in 1776 the population of Lancaster was 2,746, while in 1790 it was only 1,460. But in the meantime Sterling had taken about half the territory and half the people. Again, in 1840 there were 2,019 souls in the town, but in 1850 the number was reduced to 1,688. This reduction was caused by the for- mation of Clinton.
CENSUS .- Here follows the official report of the popula- tion, by national and state authority since 1776.
1790, .
1800,
1810,
1,694 1860, . 1,932
1820,
1,752 1830,
. 1,845 1840, .
1,862 1865, (state.) 2,014 1870, . . 2,019 1,460 | 1,584 1855, (state,)
. 1,728 · 1,957 1875. (state,) 1850, . 1,688
LONGEVITY. - Lancaster has always been a healthy town. In the reports respecting health and vital statistics it holds a high rank in comparison with the towns and cities of the state. There is a pleasant joke that seems destined to have a long life, to the effect that a former British consul, residing in Boston,
617
LONG-LIVED PEOPLE.
came up one summer to sojourn in a place where the peo- ple never die. He was moved thereto by the fact that he was the agent of his government to pay the pension of a loyalist who lived to the great age of ninety-six years. This pension- er was Samuel, the son of Col. Abijah Willard. He died in 1856. Towards the close of his life he sent to the consul for his annual stipend by one of the merchants of the town, to whom the consul exclaimed : "What ! is not that old tory dead yet ?"
The following taken from the Lancaster Gazette, March 25, 1829, indicates the longevity of one family which has had rep- resentatives in the town from very early times to the present. " Died in this town on the sixteenth inst., Daniel Rugg, the tenth and youngest child of James Rugg, who was the eleventh and youngest child of Daniel and Elizabeth Rugg, of this town, who have lived together sixty-two years, the former aged 85, and the latter 82 years. They,-that is Daniel and Elizabeth-attended the funeral in company with twenty-five of their own natural descendants, fifty-four being absent."
The Osgood family were long-lived. For example, Joseph Osgood, at his decease was 77; his wife, 92; his daughter Jerusha, 96 ; Martha, 92 ; Joel, 75. Total, 432, or an average of 86 years.
The following record of Dea. Josiah White is very remark- able in this respect. Josiah White, 90; his wife, 84. Chil- dren : Mary, 86; Martha, 94; Jonathan, 80; Hannah, 77; Abigail, 86 ; Josiah, 94 ; Ruth, 40; Joseph, 60; Joanna, 75 ; Jotham, 87 ; Silence, 75 ; John, 91 ; Elisha, 90. The average age was over eighty years.
The deaths in Dr. Thayer's society between 1793 and 1826, were 656. Of these, 66 were the deaths of persons over 80 years of age. Below is a list of those who lived to the age of eighty years and more. The names are given in the order of time, beginning with the year 1769. All preceding 1826 are taken from Willard. Those since that date have been gathered from the Register of deaths.
618
HISTORY OF LANCASTER.
1769, Ephraim Wilder, .
94
1808, Alice Houghton, 83
1784, Joshua Phelps,
84
1811, Martha Wilder, 94
.. Edward Phelps.
90 Priscilla Thurston, 83
1797, John White,
83
1812, Asahel Phelps,
86
John Priest,
88
1813, Mary Fletcher, 86
Manasseh Divol,
82
Elizabeth Divoll, 93
1798, Ephraim Divol, Elizabeth Priest,
Joseph Priest,
83 1815, Keziah Baldwin,
91
1799, John Rugg,
85 1816, Isaac Stone, .
93
1800, Elizabeth Houghton,
1801, Josiah Sawyer,
82
1818, Mary Leach,
86
1802, Edward Fuller,
85
1820, Rebecca Fletcher, .
92
66 Sarah Adams,
81
1822, Israel Atherton,
82
'Rebecca Tenny,
81 1823, Rebecca Atherton, . 94 1824, Samuel Wilder,
81
1805, Jane Rugg,
93
1825, Simon Willard,
97
Mary Jones,
85
Mary Joslyn,
88
Bathsheba Robbins,
85
1826, Samuel Joslyn,
· 88
1807, Zeruiah Rugg,
86
Joseph Nichols,
82
Lydia Rugg,
91
The above period of fifty-seven years gives a list of forty- one persons whose age was eighty years or more. The aver- age is less than one each year. But taking the period between 1797 and 1826, which was twenty-nine years, we find that thirty-eight persons, or one and a trifle over one-third per an- num, lived to be eighty. If we consult the list which follows, we find that there has been an increase in longevity, though this is contrary to a very general impression. Between 1826 and 1878, were fifty-two years, in which one hundred and seventy-five aged people deceased, whose age equalled or ex- ceeded eighty years. This gives an average of over three and a half a year. With this remark, the following table is appended.
1826, Samuel Ward, 86 1829, Anna Clarke, ·
93
1827, Samuel Wilder, 81 1830, Daniel Rugg, 87
1828, Ephraim Robbins, . 80 1831, Dorothy Thurston, 92
1829, Elizabeth Willard, 89 Jonas Fuller, 81
Sarah Todd, .
80
James Goodwin, 90
Jonas Fairbank,
86 | 1832, Daniel Butler, . 95
85
·
84
1814, Joshua Fletcher, 90
84
John Pollard,
82 1817, Micah Simmons, 83
86
Martha Wheelock, . .
.
AGED PERSONS.
1832, Jacob Zwiers,
93 | 1844, Betsey Sawyer, .
94
1833, Sarah Manly,
Tabitha Allen,
87 1845, Annis Andrews, 81
1834, Elizabeth Rugg,
88
66 Sally Carter, . ·
86
" Relief Divoll,
William Gould,
.
80
Lois Bartlett, .
84
1835, Rebecca Fletcher, .
83 .
1846, Gardner Phelps, 88
99 Lucretia Osgood. 91
Rachel Fales,
85
1847, Lucy Eaton, . 97
88
Beulah Goodrich, .
.
81
1848, Lucy Allen,
80
1836, Jonathan Wilder, . 81
1849, Jonas Lane, .
87
66 Josiah Bowers,
84
Elizabeth Thurston,
86
Rebecca Bowers,
84
Seth Larkin,
81
1837, Titus Wilder,
87
Polly Washburn,
84
60 Susanna Carter,
82
1850, Samuel Wilder,
80
Martha Wyman,
81
Elizabeth Sawyer, .
84
Jemima Whitman, .
87
Nancy Newell,
80
Lucy Laughton,
81
66 Joseph Bennett, Amy Thurston,
88
66 Martha Carter,
83
Samuel Rugg,
83
Ruth Sawyer,
93 .
60 Jacob Lincoln,
88
66 Jeremiah Ballard, .
86
Lucy Rugg, .
83
Daniel Harris,
80
1851, Peter T. Vose, Mrs. Gardner Phelps, 86
87
Prudence Dinsmoor,
87
1853, Lucy Goddard,
81
Phebe Atherton, .
82
Betsey Rice, .
84
Beulah Phelps,
86
Mary W. Goss,
87
1840, Abigail Fairbank, .
88
Joseph Rice,
83
66 Mary Conquerette, . .
81
John Wilder,
87
Mrs. Silas Thurston,
81
Polly Willard,
83
66 Thomas Davis,
87
1854, Aaron Pollard,
80
1842, Oliver Carter,
84
66 Ruth Wilder,
93
1843, Relief Phelps,
83
Mrs. Osgood,
91
Sarah Wilder,
86
1855, Thomas Miles,
81
Hannah Upton,
80
1856, Anna Barnard,
83
Abel Rugg, .
92
Stephen Sargent
80
Elisha Sanderson, .
81
66 Samuel Willard, 96
82
Mary Wilder,
95
1857, Nath'l Whittemore, Abigail Blood,
84
Amos Sawyer,
85
Betsey Newman, .
83
Katharine Rugg
84
1858, Polly Houghton, 89
1844, Elizabeth Tidd, .
88
Sophronia Howard, .
83
.
86 Prudence Robbins, .
.
90
Hannah Beaman, *.
.
66 Susanna Arnold,
81
Rachel G. Wilder, .
94
1838, Margaret Sweetser, .
85
1839, Elizabeth Gould, .
84
Rufus Fletcher,
81
John Thurston,
84
* Mrs. Beaman was 99 years, 8 months, and her death was caused by a fall.
619
84
Davis Whitman, 82
66 Relief Houghton, 81
620
HISTORY OF LANCASTER.
1858, Sarah Thayer,
1869, Polly Warren, 83
85
Esther Phelps,
84
Martha Bragg, 81
Lucy Wilder,
84 1870, Elias Barrett,
90
Ann Goodhue,
94 Mary Phelps,
86
Sally Fuller, .
84
Joseph Maynard,
90
1859, Annis Pollard,
81
Austin Davis,
81
Nancy Hosmer,
80
1871, Jesse Hosmer,
87
Nancy Colburn,
82
Elizabeth Carter,
91
1860, Salmon Willard,
90
Josiah Fay,
83
Mary Lawrence,
90
1872, Cyrus Merrick,
89
1861, Sarah Savage,
95
66 Tarbell Bancroft,
80
Benjamin Holt,
87
1873, Sarah Farwell,
88
Martha Lincoln,
85
Mary Crouch,
86
1862, Abigail Damon,
81
Ebenezer Bragg,
88
" Lydia Lane, .
85
.6 Sarah Barrett,
82
66 Dorcas Farnsworth,
80
1874, James Mattoon,
. 80
1863, John Wilson,
82
Phinehas Houghton,
80
Hannah Pierce,
95
Rebecca Houghton,
85
Elizabeth Fletcher,
84
Judith Goss, .
90
1864, Susan W. Prescott,
81
Lucinda Bancroft, . Elizabeth S. Stone,
87
William Damon,
84
1875, Elmer Burbank,
81
1865, Mary Whitney,
88
Dolly B. Laughton,
80
Benj. S. Rice.
86
1876, Rosalinda P. Townsend,
82
1866, John Ollis, .
85
William Bell,
84
Deborah Johnson,
89
66 William Townsend,
89
1867, Nathaniel Warner,
82
Catharine Sweetser,
85
" Sally Jones, .
92
Francis B. Fay,
83
1868, Lucretia Wyman, .
83
Martha D. Bancroft,
80
66 Lewis Priest, .
81
1877, Candace Alley, 84
Elias Danforth,
80
Sally Mallard,
91
1869, Edward Powers,
92
Polly Childs,
82
Dolly Chandler,
85
Jacob Fisher, ·
. 82
Mary Davis, .
81
Brahney,
82
Oliver Baldwin,
93
Calvin Johnson,
85
James Dickinson, .
86
. 81
Charles E. Knight,
89
PHYSICIANS.
The first person who bore the title of doctor in this town, according to Willard, was " Doctress Whitcomb." It is sup- posed that she was here as early as 1700. Her knowledge in the healing art was derived from the Indians, with whom
621
PHYSICIANS.
she lived as a captive in one period of her life. Previous to her time the people could find no doctor this side of Concord. The names in the following list to the year 1826 are taken from Willard's History.
Daniel Greenleaf died in Bolton.
John Dunsmoor, probably son of " old father Dunsmoor," from Ireland, died in 1747.
Staunton Prentice, son of Rev. John Prentice, died in 1769.
Phinehas Phelps died in 1770.
William Dunsmoor, son of Dr. John, died in 1784.
Israel Atherton, a descendant of the first of the name who came to Lancaster in 1653, was a graduate of Harvard in 1772. He lived to the age of 82, and died in 1822.
Josiah Wilder, son of Col. James, was a graduate of Yale College. He died in 1788, aged 45. He was a prominent man in town affairs, and an ardent patriot.
James Carter, son of Capt. James Carter ; he died in 1817. Many anecdotes are told of him and his son Calvin, both of whom were able in their profession, and independent in thought and speech.
Samuel Manning graduated at Harvard college in 1797. He was here previous to 1820, when his house and practice were taken by Dr. Peabody. Dr. Manning removed to Cam- bridge in 1821, and died the next year. He is said by some to have been a " quack," but ancient residents speak of him as a regular physician.
Nathaniel Peabody, graduate of Dartmouth medical school, was here in 1821 and 1822, with his family, in which were three daughters who have since come to distinction.
Calvin Carter, son of Dr. James, was in his day the most celebrated physician in the neighborhood, and his practice extended into other towns and counties.
George Baker, of Harvard, class of 1816.
Right or Wright Cummings has been a resident physician more than fifty years. He is still living, though past the age of active practice.
622
HISTORY OF LANCASTER.
Henry Lincoln was born in Leominster; he came to Lan- caster in 1836, and continued in active practice till his decease in 1860.
Henry H. Fuller settled here in 1860; in 1862 he went into the army, and in 1863 began practice in Charlestown, where he now resides.
J. L. S. Thompson, a graduate of the Williams college medical school, came from Bolton in 1846, and has continued in practice till the present time.
Joseph C. Stevens, of Bangor, Me., son of Gen. Joseph C. Stevens, practised here several years before the rebellion. Was in the Union service as surgeon. Removed to Pennsyl- vania, where he died in 1872. His remains were laid in the North Village cemetery.
Frederick H. Thompson, a graduate of the Harvard med- ical school, was here from 1870 to 1874. His present resi- dence is Fitchburg, where he has an extensive practice.
A. D. Edgecomb came from Auburn, Me., in 1874, and took the place made vacant by the removal of Dr. F. H. Thompson.
LAWYERS.
Abel Willard, admitted to the bar in 1755.
John Sprague, 1770; died in 1800; judge.
Levi Willard, about 1786. Died early.
William Stedman, 1787 ; member of congress.
Merrick Rice, 1789 ; here to 1815.
Moses Smith,
1802 ; relinquished practice in the year 1825.
Samuel John Sprague, admitted 1803 ; died in 1805.
John Stuart ; here in 1821-2; removed to Boston.
John Davis, jr., from 1811 to 1821 ; removed to Charles- town.
Joseph Willard, admitted in 1819. Resided here several years. Wrote much on the history of the town. Removed to Boston, and became clerk of the Supreme court.
1
623
GRADUATES OF COLLEGE.
Solon Whiting, admitted in 1824. He was a son of Gen. John Whiting, and lived in the town, till 1877, when he removed to Andover. For a long series of years he was generally moderator of town meetings, and held different local offices.
G. R. M. Withington. He became cashier of the Lancas- ter bank, after several years' practice at the bar.
COLLEGE GRADUATES.
Mr. Willard inserted in his History a list of the " gradu- ates at different colleges," belonging to this town, preceding the year 1826. Mr. Henry S. Nourse has kindly prepared a "Supplementary List of College Graduates, natives of or residents in Lancaster." Both of these lists are given below. Unless specified otherwise, they were graduates of Harvard University. The year of graduation and decease are stated when known. The first date is at the left of the page ; the second at the right side.
1733, Josiah Swan. minister of Dunstable.
1752, Abel Willard, 1781.
1755, Samuel Locke, S. T. D., son of Samuel Locke of this town, pre- sident of Harvard University from 1770 to 1773. John Adams was his classmate, and held him in high esteem.
1766, Peter Green, born in 1745, a son of Peter Green of this town.
1770, John Mellen, Tutor, son of Rev. Mr. Mellen, of the second pre- cinct, now Sterling.
1775, Levi Willard, born in 1756.
1776, Timothy Harrington, son of the minister, a physician in Chelms- ford.
1777, Joseph Kilburn. Probably of Sterling.
1781, Isaac Bailey, of Sterling.
1798, Artemas Sawyer, of Sterling.
1799, Samuel John Sprague, son of Judge Sprague, killed by a fall from a horse just as he was commencing business.
1817, Sewell Carter, son of Dr. James, a merchant in Lancaster.
1817, Moses K. Emerson, a physician in Virginia, where he died in 1825.
1817, Paul Willard; counsellor at law, Charlestown.
1821, Henry Lanc, M. D., a physician in Boston.
1822, Samuel Manning. He studied law. At one time he resided in Mexico.
ed
S.
624
HISTORY OF LANCASTER.
1822, Ebenezer Torrey, a lawyer in Fitchburg, and for a long term of years, president of the Fitchburg bank.
1823, Levi Fletcher, at one time chaplain in the navy.
1824, Christopher T. Thayer, son of Dr. Thayer, formerly pastor of a church in Beverly.
1825, Frederick Wilder, son of Jonathan, and brother of the late Henry Wilder. He died at Northampton in 1826. He was a young man of great promise, and his decease was much lamented. " Multis ille bonis flebilis occidit."
1826, Stephen M. Weld.
Josiah Wilder, M. D., graduated at Yale college, some ten years before the revolution.
Israel Houghton graduated at Yale about the same time.
1826, Jacob Willard graduated at Brown University. He studied theo- logy at Cambridge.
1826, William White took the same collegiate and theological course.
Abel Willard, son of Joshua W., entered Harvard in 1772, but left in 1775, and went to England. He died in Canada.
Nathan Osgood entered the University at Cambridge in 1782, and left before graduation.
Samuel Ward entered in 1784, and left.
Jeffrey Amherst Atherton entered in 1791 and left in 1793.
Abel Willard Atherton entered in 1795, and left.
The following list by Mr. Nourse gives the date of entrance, graduation and decease, with titles in some cases.
Entered.
1811, Hasket Derby Pickman, . He came from Salem in 1814.
Graduated. Died · 1815
1815
1822, Richard Jeffrey Cleveland, 1827
1823, Henry Russell Cleveland, Mr. 1827 +
1843
1823, Nathaniel Burger Shaler, M. D., 1829, 1827
1829, James Carter, .
1835, Richard C. Shaler Stillwell, M. D., 1843, 1839 .
1840, Benjamin Apthorp Gould, 1844 ·
1841, Frederick Warren Harris, 1845 .
t
1846, James Cooledge Carter, LL. B., 1850 .
1849, Jolın Davis Washburn, LL. B., .
1853
1849, Henry Stedman Nourse, Mr., .
1853 ·
1854, Sylvanus Chickering Priest, (Amherst) Joseph Robie Putnam,
1858
0
1861, Enos Wilder, .
· 1865
1866, Stephen Van Rensselaer Thayer, . 1870 1870
m
625
AUTHORS AND BOOKS.
1867, Albert Mallard Barnes, . 1871 .
1867, Francis Newhall Lincoln,
. 1872
1871
1867, Nathaniel Thayer, .
1871, Harold Parker,
1874, Herbert Parker,
AUTHORS AND BOOKS.
In making out a list of Lancaster authors and their publi- cations, only those writers are included who were born here, or became residents long enough to gain a settlement, or who wrote one or more works while residing here. Several were educated here in part, or lived here a year or more as teach- ers, who have become distinguished in the world of letters, politics, science and art. Some of these are Gen. Joseph Warren, William Ellery Channing, Jared Sparks, John G. Palfrey, George B. Emerson, Elizabeth P. Peabody, Mrs. Horace Mann, Mrs. Hawthorne, Thomas W. Higginson and others. These cannot properly be placed in the roll of the literati of Lancaster.
The following list has been prepared with care, chiefly by Henry S. Nourse, for which he will be gratefully remembered by many who are now, or may hereafter be interested in the matter. The published writings of several have already been referred to, but they will be inserted here for the sake of easy reference. Pardon is craved, in advance, of any whose names have been inadvertently omitted.
1. Joseph Rowlandson, the first minister of the church and town. " Fast Sermon," November 21, 1678, printed in 1780. Also author of what Cotton Mather calls " lesser composures."
2. Mary (White) Rowlandson, wife of the minister. "Narrative of the Captivity and Restoration of Mrs. Mary Rowlandson," printed by Samuel Green, at Cambridge, Mass., 1682, 12mo.
London, 4to, 1682.
A second edition " carefully corrected," Boston, 1720, 16mo.
A new edition, (called 2d,) 4to, pp. 40, printed at John Boyle's printing office, next door to the Three Doves, in Marlborough street, Boston, 1773.
A "3d edition." " A Narrative of the Captivity, Sufferings and Re- moves of Mrs. Mary Rowlandson, who was taken prisoner by the Indians,
40
626
HISTORY OF LANCASTER.
with several others, and treated in the most barbarous and cruel manner, by those vile savages; with many other remarkable events during her trav- els. Written by her own hand, for her private use, and now made public at the earnest desire of some friends, and for the benefit of the afflicted. Reprinted and sold by Thomas and John Fleet, at the Bible and Heart, Cornhill, Boston, 1791."
An edition printed at Leominster, 1794.
Another by Merriam & Co., Brookfield, 1811.
"Narrative of the Captivity and Removes of Mrs. Mary Rowlandson, who was taken by the Indians at the Destruction of Lancaster, 1676," edited by Joseph Willard, and published by Carter, Andrews & Co., at Lancaster, Mass, 1828. The editor calls this the " 2d Lancaster " and "6th edition." 16mo. Copy in Lancaster Library.
Reprinted by Ballard & Bynner. 16mo. Clinton, Mass., 1853.
Another edition was published by the Congregational Publication Socie- ty more than twenty years since.
Of this book, Edward Everett (see Orations and Speeches, Vol. 2, p. 665) says : " It is almost enough to make one faint to read the simple nar- rative of Mrs. Rowlandson."
3. Rev. John Prentice, 4th minister of Lancaster.
A Funeral Discourse at Marlborough, on occasion of the death of Rev. Robert Breck, January, 1731.
A Sermon at the opening of the first court in the county of Worcester, August 10, 1731.
An Election Sermon, before the general court, May 28, 1735, Boston.
A Sermon at the ordination of Rev. Ebenezer Parkman, Oct. 24, 1724.
4. Rev. John Mellen, (1722-1807,) a,native of Hopkinton, a graduate of Harvard, 1741, minister in the "2d precinct" or Chocksett, now Ster- ling, published eight occasional Sermons, (1753 to 1795,) and " fifteen Discourses on Doctrinal Subjects," 1765, 8vo.
5. Rev. Timothy Harrington, 5th minister of Lancaster, graduated at Harvard, 1737.
A Century Sermon, preached in Lancaster, May 28, 1753, in the meet- ing-house. Several editions. Contains much condensed history.
" Prevailing Wickedness and Distressing Judgments, ill-boding Symp- toms on a stupid people ;" a Sermon.
A Sermon at Princeton, Dec. 23, 1759.
6. Samuel Locke, D. D., president of Harvard college 1770-74, " a sta- tion for which no man was better qualified," said John Adams, who knew him well. President Stiles of Yale College considered him the most learn- ed man in America. He came to Lancaster with his father, at the age of welve, and fitted for college under Mr. Harrington, and after graduation, studied divinity with him. This was his homc, (where William A. Kilbourn now lives,) till settled in the ministry at Sherborn in 1759.
2,
6
627
LIST OF SERMONS.
Sermon before the Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company, in 1672. Annual Sermon before the Massachusetts Convention of Ministers, in 1772. Both printed, and the last reprinted.
7. John Mellen, supposed to be a son of Rev. John Mellen of Chock- sett, born, July 8, 1752, a graduate of Harvard, 1770. Tutor. A. A., S. H. S. Minister at Barnstable, died 1828.
Eight Sermons and Two Dudleian Lectures.
8. Henry Mellen, (1757-1809) born in Chocksett, graduated in 1784. Son of Rev. John Mellen. Poems.
9. Prentiss or Prentice Mellen, son of Rev. John and his wife, Rebecca Prentice, the daughter of the minister of Lancaster, (1759-1840.) U. S. senator from Mass. 1817-20. Chief justice of Maine.
Judicial Decisions in the first eleven volumes of Maine Reports.
10. Nathaniel Thayer, D. D., forty-seven years pastor of the First church.
Twenty-three Occasional Sermons between 1793 and 1840. The fol- lowing is a full list, as far as known.
A Sermon delivered on the day of Fasting, Humiliation and Prayer, April 2, 1795, 8vo. Apollo Press, Boston.
A Sermon delivered August 20, 1812, on the day of " Publick Humilia- tion and Prayer, appointed by the National Government who had declared War against Great Britain." Worcester, 8vo.
Sermon at the Funeral of Rev. Timothy Harrington, December 23, 1795. Masonic Discourse, June 20, 1797.
Artillery Election Sermon, June 4, 1798.
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