USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Marlborough > History of the town of Marlborough, Middlesex county, Massachusetts, from its first settlement in 1657 to 1861; with a brief sketch of the town of Northborough, a genealogy of the families in Marlborough to 1800 > Part 19
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Rev. Mr. Field, in his Historical Sketch of the First Church in Marlborough, says, respecting his theological opinions :- " Perhaps it would be more correct to say, that he never formed for himself any definite system of doctrinal belief. His mind was more distinguished for its readiness than for its method ; and he seems to have held opinions in regard to different doc- trines, which were not consistent with each other, and which could not have been blended into a logical system. Different persons, who knew him well, have for this reason classed him with different denominations ; since, on some points, his views seemed to coincide with Unitarians, and on others with the Orthodox standard of doctrine. This was the view entertained of his theological opinions by one of the most distinguished preachers of New England."
* See the Genealogy of the family.
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Mr. Packard remained pastor of the first, and in fact the only parish in Marlborough, about twenty years, and the people were happy under his ministry. At length, in 1805, an unpleasant controversy arose on the subject of the site of their meeting- house, which ended in the erection of two houses, and ulti- mately in two parishes. During this controversy, Mr. Packard maintained a neutrality ; though residing within the limits of the west parish, his sympathies were naturally with that por- tion of the town. It seems that both parties were desirous of retaining him, and he continued preaching at the old house until the new ones were ready for use. He was then requested to take a leading part in the dedication of the house at Spring Hill-that being the house built by the town. But Mr. Packard, being unwilling to countenance the removal of the house from the old common, said, in a letter to the society, in November, 1805, " In the house where, at the time of my ordination, I expected to spend my strength, I shall continue my best services, God willing, till my afflicted people have time to change their situation."
Being called upon to dedicate the house, he said, in a letter dated February 7, 1806, to Deacon Abner Goodale, Chairman of the Committee of Dedication, " While the society remains in this tempestuous state, it appears to me, a compliance with your request would naturally be followed with consequences seriously injurious to both parties, in a social, temporal, and spiritual view. I never covenanted with my people to assist them in injuring themselves."
The delicacy of Mr. Packard's situation will be appreciated, when we consider that he was at that time the minister of the whole town ; and nearly one half of his parish and church were so dissatisfied with the erection of the house at Spring Hill, that they had organized and erected a house at the west part of the town. He chose to stand aloof, as far as his public acts were concerned ; but realizing that the majority had a right to command his services, while he remained their pastor, he wisely asked a dismission from the church and society, as the best way of avoiding a public approval of the removal of the meeting-house, which was the sole cause of the unhappy state of feeling.
This matter was brought, March 6, 1806, before the Marl-
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borough Association, consisting of Rev. Messrs. Peter Whitney, Joseph Willard, Jonathan Newell, Moses Adams, Joel Foster, Daniel Kellogg, Ezra Ripley, Jeroboam Parker, and Isaac Allen, who, after due consideration of the whole subject matter, decided unanimously, that the town have a reasonable and legal claim to the services of Mr. Packard in the new house,-but they add : "As there exists a respectable minority, amounting to nearly one-half of the church and town, who appear deter- mined not to assemble at Spring Hill, and have taken decided steps to become a corporate society-these circumstances have suggested conscientious scruples to Mr. Packard's mind, of the propriety of taking the lead in the dedication of said meeting- house, and of attending his services there in future, and have induced him to ask a dissolution of his further pastoral relation to the church and people of Marlborough. The Association, while they sincerely lament the occasion of it, both on their own and the people's account, cannot but acquiesce in his deter- mination.
" The Association are of the opinion that their Rev. brother Packard has uniformly manifested a deep and tender concern for the peace and best interests of the church and people of the town, and are fully convinced, that in all his conduct respect- ing the parties in town, and all his representations to the Asso- ciation, he has acted in sincerity and with honest intentions, and has conscientiously endeavored to be impartial in his state- ments and behavior towards the parties, notwithstanding any suggestion to the contrary."
Mr. Packard's request for a dismission from the town was granted. As the cause of his taking this step grew out of a controversy concerning the location of a new meeting-house, which resulted in a division of the church and town into two distinct societies, it cannot be out of place, in this connection, to give a brief sketch of that unpleasant affair, which excited much ill-feeling, engendered lasting animosities, and proved a severe drain upon the purses of the inhabitants. In fact, the seeds of this controversy were sown seventy or eighty years before this division. The inhabitants residing upon the Indian plantation, and those in the easterly part of the town, from the first, did not harmonize cordially with the people in the central and westerly part of the town. This showed itself in petitions
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for dividing the town, or in having two meeting-houses, as we have already seen. But the repairing and improving of the old house, kept things comparatively quiet, till about the com- mencement of the nineteenth century, when a new house seemed to be demanded.
As early as 1796, the subject of erecting a new meeting- house was agitated. In 1801, the town voted, ninety-three to forty, to build a new house ; but the question of location was one of more difficult solution. It was voted that it be located on the old spot, and the next day that vote was reconsidered ; and a committee of twenty-two was chosen "to look out a place to set the new meeting-house." But as nothing definite was attained, other committees were appointed, the territory surveyed, several spots were designated, and all rejected by the town. Finally, on the 4th of June, 1804, after discarding all locations proposed, and after many had left the meeting, a vote was passed to locate the proposed house at Spring Hill, and a committee was chosen to see on what terms a spot could be obtained. After some negotiation and delay, on the 7th January, 1805, a vote was passed to build a meeting-house at Spring Hill, ou a site specially designated, on condition that certain individuals would prepare the ground for its recep- tion ; and a committee, consisting of Urialı Eager, Dea. Abner Goodale, Joseph Brigham, Esq., Micah Sherman, John Loring, Enoch Corey, Capt. Jonathan Weeks, Lovell Brigham, Capt. Daniel Brigham, Capt. Lovell Barnes, and Capt. William Wesson, was chosen with full power, acting by a majority, to purchase materials, erect and complete the house, and sell the pews at public auction. The committee entered at once upon the discharge of their duties, contracted for materials, and early in February made a contract with Mr. C. Kendall to erect and complete the house at Spring Hill.
Immediately on the passage of the vote to locate the meeting- house at Spring Hill, the inhabitants of the westerly part of the town, to the number of about eighty, convened at the house of Capt. George Williams, and resolved that it would be for their interest and happiness to separate from the inhabitants in the easterly part of the town, and form a distinct religious society, precinct or town. They at the same time chose a committee of their leading citizens, to take the whole subject into considera-
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tion, including a spot on which to locate a meeting-house. Subsequently, they presented a petition to the town to allow them to be set off, " with all those privileges and immunities which appertain to towns within the Commonwealth." On the refusal of the town to grant their prayer, they petitioned the Legislature to be set off as a town, where they met with a refusal.
Meantime they were taking active measures to build a meeting-house at the West End, as it was generally denom- inated ; and more than five thousand dollars were readily sub- scribed for that purpose. Before proceeding thus far, however, they caused a meeting of the inhabitants of the town to be called, to see if they would reconsider their vote locating their house at Spring Hill. On coming together, the building com- mittee informed the meeting that it was too late to reconsider the vote, as they had already bound the town by a solemn con- traet with Mr. Kendall, to erect the house on that site. The petitioners for a division of the town then informed the Select- men and the building committee of their resolution to build a meeting-house in the westerly part of the township, and re- quested the committee to adopt a smaller plan, as they should not worship in that house, if it were erected.
But the committee, which had proceeded in hot haste thus far, were not to be deterred from the erection of a house large enough to accommodate the whole town. And thus the work went on. The committee, clothed with full authority, pro- ceeded as rapidly as possible to erect their house at Spring Hill, and the committee of the inhabitants of the West End, to erect their house on the site selected for that purpose. The house at Spring Hill was raised in the week commencing Mon- day, June 24, 1805, and the raising of the house at the West End occupied nearly a week, commencing Wednesday, August 14, 1805.
These houses were both opened for public worship on the same day, viz., April 27, 1806. For years there was not merely a rivalry, but a somewhat bitter animosity existing between the two parishes, which unhappily disturbed religious association, and even social intercourse. The pecuniary burden imposed upon the people was severe. The preparation of the site for Spring Hill meeting-house cost nearly four thousand dollars, all
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of which, with the exception of about six hundred dollars, was borne by individuals. The cost of Spring Hill meeting-house, exclusive of the cost of preparing the site, was not far from twenty thousand dollars, and entailed a heavy pecuniary burden upon the building committee, who, in some of their transac- tions, had incurred personal liabilities. And while the people in the west part of the town were called upon to pay their share of the expense of this large and costly house, they erected one for themselves, at an expense of some eight thousand dollars.
After much opposition, the west part of the town succeeded in obtaining an act of incorporation, on the 23d of February, 1808, by the name of the Second Parish in Marlborough. The division of the town into two societies, involved the division of the church, which, to the honor of its members be it said, was conducted on fair and equitable grounds. After the dismission of Mr. Packard, the church made choice of Rev. Mr. Puffer, of Berlin, as their moderator. Some question arising, the mod- erator convened the church, which agreed to call a Council. The church at that time consisted of forty-seven male mem- bers, twenty-four of whom belonged to the West branch of the church, and twenty-three, including all the deacons, to the East branch.
The Council, after hearing the parties, and considering the subject, came to this result :
" That each branch of the church of Christ in Marlborough, have full liberty, without any offense to the other branch, to attend upon and enjoy all the special ordinances of the gospel, and to exercise all the powers and privileges of a regular Christian church, in separate and distinct bodies, at such times and in such places, as each branch may choose for itself, until a reunion of the church may be effected; or some legal decision be-had on the state of the town."
They also provided that in case the west part of the town be legally incorporated, any member shall be at liberty to attach himself to either church ; and that the church property shall be equally divided. And until such division shall take place, all the vessels of the sanctuary may be freely used by either branch, on different days. Both branches of the church accept- ed this recommendation, " without a dissenting voice."
The West Parish being incorporated, on the 23d of March
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Rev. Asa Packard, who had labored with the society since his dismission from the town, was installed over the West Parish, and retained his pastoral relation until May 12, 1819, when he took a dismission, and removed to Lancaster, where he resided till his death, which occurred March 20, 1843, in the eighty- fifth year of his age.
After the dismission of Mr. Packard, Rev. Seth Alden was settled over the West Parish, November 3, 1819, and dismissed, April 8, 1834. Rev. William Morse was installed, June 25, 1834, and dismissed, July 14, 1844. Rev. Horatio Alger was installed, January 22, 1845, and dismissed, July 18, 1859.
The First, or East church, after the dismission of Mr. Packard, settled, November 2, 1808, Mr. Sylvester F. Bucklin, who was dismissed June 20, 1832. Mr. Bucklin continued his residence in Marlborough, where he was highly respected as a citizen, and died in June, 1860. He was a useful and valued member of the church and society of which he was formerly pastor ; thus refuting, in his case, the oft-repeated declaration, " that a dis- missed minister makes a troublesome parishioner." After the dismission of Mr. Bueklin, Mr. Charles Forbush was ordained pastor, August 21, 1833, and dismissed, March 26, 1834. After the society had undergone some transition of name and senti- ment, Rev. John N. Goodhne was ordained their pastor, May 4, 1836, and died September 13, 1839, aged twenty-nine years and eight months. Mr. George E. Day was ordained, December 2, 1840, and dismissed, December 23, 1847. Rev. Daniel L. Ogden was installed, April 26, 1848, and dismissed, July 23, 1850. During the summer of 1852, their meeting-house was thoroughly repaired, at an expense of about one thousand dol- lars, and furnished with a new organ. It was opened for public worship in September, and on the evening of November 10th, it took fire and was entirely destroyed. It is supposed to have been the work of an incendiary. A new house was erected, at a cost of about ten thousand dollars, and opened for public worship, August 31, 1853, when Rev. Levi A. Field was ordained .*
* This part of the history of the town might be extended much further ; but the published ' Historical Sketch ' of Rev. Levi A. Field, and the contemplated publication of Historical Discourses by Rev. Horatio Alger, are so full on the subject of the Ecclesiastical History of the two Parishes, as to supersede the necessity of enlarging upon it here.
THE LAWRENCE MEETING-HOUSE, At Feltonville, ERECTED 1861.
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There is also a Methodist society in town. Mr. Phinehas Sawyer, from Harvard, came to Marlborough, with his family, about 1800. They were of the Methodist persuasion, and had meetings at their house for a number of years. Their numbers increased, and in 1827, they erected a brick meeting-house in the north-easterly part of the town. They worshiped at that house till 1852, when it was burned down. The main part of the society built a house at Rock Bottom, Stow, and the residue of the society built a house in the centre of Marlborough, which was opened for divine worship in October, 1853. The present number of communicants is one hundred and five. The disci- pline of the Methodists being Episcopal, and their Conference assigning the preachers to their circuits for a limited time, the number who have labored with the society has been great. Their present preacher is Rev. Augustus D. Bailey.
The Universalists formed a society in Marlborough, about 1818. In 1829, they erected a meeting-house in the East village. They have had a number of preachers, among whom were Rev. Messrs. Kilham, Greenwood, and Davis. They are low without a pastor.
The Baptists have a small society at Feltonville, formed about 1844. They have a neat and comfortable house, erected in 1851. Rev. Mr. Wakefield has labored with them for several years.
There is also a Roman Catholic society in town. Their church, erected a few years since, is situated on elevated ground, and commands an extensive and delightful prospect.
'T'he citizens of l'eltonville are now erecting another meet- ing-house in their village, designed for a Union society.
CHAPTER X.
EDUCATION.
Our Fathers' Views of Education - Law requiring Schools - School in Marl- borough established - Loss of Records - School Houses built - Brigham School Fund - Plan of supporting and distributing the Schools in 1790 - Schools remodeled in 1803 - New District created in 1812 - Appropria- tions from 1834 to 1860 - The Academy - High School - Improved Con- dition of the Schools.
NOTHING, save the great cause of religion, engaged the early attention of our Puritan Fathers more than the education of the young. With them, piety and sound learning were the foundation on which they hoped to rear our free institutions. They were fully aware that religion, without knowledge, would lead to fanaticism; and that knowledge, without relig- ion, would end in licentiousness. Their great and grand idea was to combine the two, and to develop the intellectual and moral nature of man at the same time. They had no sym- pathy with that system which would do things " to the halves." They were sensible that education, in the intellectual sense of the term, simply furnished facilities to action ; but whether this action were right or wrong, would depend upon the restraining, guiding principles of our holy religion. They wisely foresaw that, as the universe was preserved, and the heavenly bodies were kept in their spheres by the well-balanced action of the centrifugal and centripetal forces, so man, the noblest work of God, to answer the great end of his being, must be moved for- ward by intellectual power, and kept within his sphere by the gravitating power of the Sun of Righteousness.
With these views, they early adopted measures for the gen- eral diffusion of knowledge. In 1647, an Act was passed for the support of schools, the preamble of which is so expressive of their views, that it deserves a place here.
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" It being one of the chief projects of Satan, to keep men from the knowl- edge of the Scriptures; as in former times keeping them in unknown tongues, so in these latter times by persuading from the use of tongues, that so at least the true sense and meaning of the original might be clouded and corrupted by false glosses of deceivers ; to the end that learning may not be buried in the graves of our forefathers, in church and commonwealth, the Lord assisting our endeavors :
" It is therefore ordered by this Court and authority thereof, that every township within this jurisdiction, after the Lord hath increased them to the number of fifty householders, shall forthwith appoint one within their towns to teach all such children as shall resort to him, to write and read, whose wages shall be paid either by the parents or masters of such children, or by the inhabitants in general, by way of supply, as the major part of those that order the prudentials of the town shall appoint; provided that those who send their children be not oppressed by paying much more than they can have them taught for in other towns."
This was the origin of the comnion school system which has contributed so much to the prosperity and glory of New Eng- land, by rearing up a class of men fitted for all the active duties of life, not only within her own jurisdiction, but throughout the country.
Marlborough, as we have already seen, as early as 1696, employed a school-master to teach the youth "to read English once a day at least, also to write and cast accounts." Subse- quently, in 1698, the town voted to build a school-house, and Mr. Jonathan Johnson was employed as a teacher for several years. In 1700, a contract was made for building another school-house. "There appears about this. time to have been some neglect on the part of the town, and in 1701 they were fined for not keeping a school-master. This fine had its desired effect ; for in December of that year, it was voted, " That Thomas Rice and Isaac Amsden doo go forth with all speed convenient, in the town's name and behalf, to doo what they can to provide a school-master, qualified according to law, and to treat him with terms for the half year or a twelvemonth, as they shall think fit." It seems that they met with some success ; for in 1702, £7 were paid to John Holman, of Milton, " for teaching our children and youth in reading, writing, and casting accounts; and also in Latin, as occasion is, and in doing the duty of school-master, four months."
In 1715, it was voted to build a new school-house, 24 feet by 18, and 7 feet between joints. In 1718, £47 were appropriated
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for the schools. At that day, and for years after, the schools were kept in different parts of the township, and frequently in private houses.
Unfortunately, the loss of the Marlborough records deprive us of any consecutive account of the schools for nearly half a century ; though the records of the proprietors frequently allude to the school-houses, and the school is referred to, as one of the fixed institutions of the town.
In 1745, at a meeting of the inhabitants of Marlborough, reg- ularly held, "Voted, That the school shall be kept at the several parts of the town, as heretofore." And Samuel Witt, Colonel Williams, Thomas Hapgood, Thomas Brigham, and Jotham Brigham, were chosen a committee "to order the schools as above."
This vote recognizes a usage well understood by the people at the time-" be kept at the several parts of the town, as heretofore." The custom which prevailed at that day in Marl- borough, and in the country towns generally, was to employ a male teacher, who would keep a certain number of weeks in one part of the town, and then move to another. These " moving schools," as they were frequently denominated, fur- nished an opportunity for the children in every part of the township to enjoy the benefits of the school system. And the fact that some of their most prominent men, as seen above, were chosen to " order the schools," shows that the people regarded them with interest.
At a meeting held September, 1745, it was " Voted, That all those families that live more than a mile and a half from either of the two school-honses, where the school has been kept the past year, shall draw their proportion of money out of the school rate."
This vote recognizes the fact that there were two school- houses in town at that time, and that the people were disposed to make some consideration to those who resided at a distance from the school-houses. What wages were given at that day, to teachers, appears by the receipt of Samuel Brigham, who acknowledges the payment of £57 10s. old tenor, in full for keeping school two quarters in 1747.
March 13, 1748, " On the petition of Samuel Jones and others, at the north-westerly part of the town, it was put to
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vote, agreeably to said petition, whether the petitioners should have their proportional part of the school according to their pay, and it passed in the affirmative."
At a meeting of the town, held May 15, 1749, the subject of the schools was fully considered ; and as the action then taken casts considerable light upon the subject, we will give the record entire.
" Voted and chose a committee of seven men, to apportion the school in six societies or squadrons, and the scholars to meet at the same school- houses, where the school has been lately kept, and to be settled according . to the pay of each squadron, taking the north-westerly corner for one squadron.
" Agreeably to the vote of the town, the committee, namely, Dea. Andrew Rice, Major John Bruce, John Warren, Daniel Harrington, John Banister, John Weeks, and Abraham Howe, have made the following division ; that is, the squadron west of the meeting-house, the scholars are to meet at the school-house near Noah Church's, or the old tavern place, thirteen weeks, four days, and three-fourths of a day, yearly. And the scholars are to meet in the squadron, at the west end of the town, at the school-house near Moses Howe's, six weeks, three days, and two-thirds of one day, yearly. And the north-west squadron, the scholars are to meet at such a place as the squadron shall think proper, two weeks and four days, yearly ; and the squadron east- erly of the meeting-house, the scholars are to come to the school-house near Joseph Johnson's, sixteen weeks, one day, and one-third of a day, yearly ; and the squadron northerly of the meeting-house, at the school-house near John Hapgood's, seven weeks and two-thirds of a day, yearly; and the squadron at the east end of the town, at the school-house near Joseph Baker's, five weeks, four days, and two-thirds of a day, yearly.
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