USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > Middleborough > History of the town of Middleboro, Massachusetts > Part 35
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
44I
ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY
I734]
the inhabitants of Middleboro as often as convenient, but that he should not move his family there, but wait to see what further encouragement might be given him for a permanent settlement. This service on the part of Mr. Fuller probably continued until the organization of the church. In 1680 he became a permanent resident of Middleboro, the town having provided a house-lot and twelve acres of land.
The first meeting-house stood on Plymouth Street, north of the Sturtevant house. It was probably built soon after the resettlement of the town, but its size and capacity are not known. It had no pews, and the congregation were seated on rude benches without backs. The records of the organiza- tion of the church were lost, but an authentic copy has come down to us : -
Middleborough, March 8, 1734. - A copy of the record of the First Church of Christ in Middleborough, which was written by Mr. Samuel Fuller, first pastor of that church.
THE COPY OF EBENEZER FULLER, IN 1734
I. Thou shalt remember all the way which the Lord thy God hath led thee these forty years. Deut. 8 : 2.
December 26, 1694 (O. S.). - A church of Christ was gathered at Middlebor- ough, formerly called by the heathen Namassacut, a fishing place, as some say.
The persons and their names that entered into church fellowship, some of them members of Plymouth church before, being dismissed from Plymouth for that intent ; some of them members of other churches dwelling here then, and some that were never in church fellowship before that time, whose names are as followeth : -
Samuel Fuller and his wife,
Jonathan Morse and his wife,
John Bennet and his wife, Abiel Wood and his wife,
Samuel Wood, Isaac Billington,
Samuel Eaton, Samuel Cutburt,
Jacob Tomson and his wife, John Cob, Jun.,
Hester Tinkham, The Widow Deborah Barden,
Weibrah Bumpas, Ebenezer Tinkham, - his wife,
Not being present by reason of sickness in their family, yet after owning the covenant of the rest, being in the esteem of the rest, it is as well as if she were present at that assembly.
Ebenezer Tinkham, Isaac Billington, Jacob Tomson; these then baptized.
Soon after were baptized the children of John Cob in their infancy : John, Martha, Patience. Also Lidia Bumpas, the daughter of Weibra Bumpas.
II. In order to the gathering to a church, it pleased God, who hath the hearts
442
HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF MIDDLEBORO
[1750
of all men in his hands, to move upon the hearts of sundry of those to desire a church may be gathered in this place, - to desire and seek it of God; and Divine Providence made way for it.
Letters were sent for ministers and brethren to assist in the work, namely : to Plymouth, Sandwich and Barnstable: and the Elders sent Mr. John Cotton, Mr. Rouland Cotton, Mr. Jonathan Russell, and brethren to assist them. Mr. Samuel Fuller, then ordained to be a Teacher to that church; who had lived there and preached the word amongst them, whose preaching God had made beneficial to divers of them, and made choice of by mutual consent. God can, and oft doth, out of the mouth of babes and sucklings ordain praise.
John Bennet, Sen., our brother, ordained Deacon, - Deacon in the church of Middleborough, March 10, being the second Sabbath in that month, and chosen by a full consent to that office some considerable time before; who formerly dwelt at Beverly ; whom God in the way of his providence sent to dwell in Middleborough to be serviceable there in church and town.
The articles of christian faith and covenant,1 similar to those of the church at Plymouth, were first printed in 1722, and reprinted in 1771, with some changes. They were in accord with the teachings of the venerable John Robinson, pastor of the Pilgrim Church in Leyden.
As this was for many years the only church in town, and was so prominent in the thought of the people, it may be of inter- est to cite some of the features of its polity. Any number of christian believers could organize themselves into a church for
1 These articles of faith and covenant are published in the History of the First Church of Christ, in Middleborough.
What is known as the "half-way covenant" was in force for more than fifty years after the organization of this church, and has made it difficult to deter- mine the question of full membership in most of the old churches of the Old Colony. It is very probable that the records of the church, coming to us in the way that has been noted, do not give the membership of all who, during the first thirteen years of its organization, were members. Ibid. p. 79.
There were later about one hundred admitted under this covenant.
Those who entered into the half-way covenant had the privilege of baptism for their children without being members of the church. The phraseology, although in different churches slightly changed, was in substance as follows : -
" I take God the Father to be my chiefest good and highest end. I take God the Son to be my only Lord and Savior. I take God the Holy Spirit to be my Sanctifier, Teacher, Guide and Lawgiver. I take the people of God to be my people in all conditions. I likewise devote and dedicate unto the Lord my whole self, all I am, all I have and all I can do. And in all this I do deliber- ately, promptly, successfully and forever."
443
ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY
1694-1708]
worship and for discipline, although they held that no church ought to consist of more members than could conveniently meet together for worship. They had the power of self-govern- ment, independence, open communion, and free toleration ; the majority ruled in all matters. They had a right to choose their pastor and church officers, and to maintain discipline by vote of the church, but in all of these matters the advice of neighboring churches was asked in council. All of the officers and members were equal in respect to their rights and privi- leges ; no pastor or elder could control or embarrass the action of the church over which he ministered. They communed with churches of other denominations in good standing, and dis- missed their members to the other churches when desired. The doctrine and polity of this church was the same authoritatively embodied in what is called the Cambridge Platform, and in a later period in the Saybrook Platform.
MINISTRY OF REV. SAMUEL FULLER, 1694-95
Mr. Fuller was born in 1624, and died August 17, 1695 ; he was called to preach in 1678, and was ordained December, 26, 1694.1
MINISTRY OF REV. THOMAS PALMER, 1702-08
Upon the death of Rev. Samuel Fuller, after a ministry of a little more than seven months, Mr. Isaac Cushman 2 of Plymouth received a unanimous call to the pastorate, Thomas Salmon which was not ac- cepted, and he after- wards became the minister of the church at Plympton. Mr. Clapp and Mr. Cutting were invited to supply the pulpit, but for different reasons declined. In August, 1696, Mr. Thomas Palmer was engaged to preach one quarter of a year, for which he was paid a salary of thirteen pounds. This was the beginning of the most unfortunate ministry in the history of this church. In October the town voted him a yearly salary
1 For a sketch of the life of Mr. Fuller, see chapter on The Green.
2 See chapter on Early Purchases.
444
HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF MIDDLEBORO
[1705
of thirty-five pounds. He continued his services as minister of the church from that time until his dismissal. In November, 1698, the town voted "that his goods should be brought from Plymouth at the town's charge." There was much opposition by some of the neighboring clergymen and members of the church to his becoming a settled pastor. After his ordination, May 2, 1702, the opposition increased, and the unfitness of Mr. Palmer for his position became more and more evident.
Soon after his settlement, committees were chosen by the town and by the church to devise some means for the peace- ful adjustment of the difficulties which were increasing. In addition to these, Mr. Palmer was charged with misbehavior and with intemperance. A council was convened by the church ex parte, which condemned him and advised his removal. He and some of his friends felt aggrieved by the action of the council, and they, with the town and church, called a second council, "as the town earnestly desired both old and young to enjoy his ministry, and that he should continue his ministry until the council should meet more fully ; " finally, " twelve churches were convened, which were unanimous in sustaining the action of the former council." The church records under date of June 2, 1708, are as follows : -
" Voted, by the church of Middleborough, that, in pursuance of the advice of twelve churches, in council here convened, which have declared that Mr. Thomas Palmer, the former minister and pastor, ought to be removed from the work of the Gospel ministry, and suspended from communion at the Lord's table for his scandalous immoralities, - therefore, in conformity to said advice of said coun- cil, as also upon the advice of a convention of reverend ministers at Boston, the church doth now declare that they now look on Mr. Thomas Palmer as no longer their pastor, but as deposed from the work of the ministry, and also suspended from the table of the Lord; and we withdraw from the said Mr. Palmer, and unite in our endeavors to settle the ordinances of the Gospel among us."
In 1705 his salary had been voted at forty pounds, and the next year the town voted the same salary, " provided he con- tinued in the work of the ministry the whole year, and if removed, to pay him proportionately ;" in November, 1706, some time before the final action of the council, such was the opposition that they "voted to seek out a man for the supply
445
ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY
1701]
of the ministry." He did not preach through the whole of that year, but sued the parish for his salary, and recovered a judgment to the amount of fifty-two pounds up to the time when the council advised his dismissal. Upon final settlement this amount was somewhat reduced. After the action of the council, Mr. Palmer preached some time in his own house, where he had a few hearers, and then commenced the practice of medicine. He became sincerely repentant for his former course, and on November 13, 1737, the censure of the church was taken off and he was restored to his communion by unani- mous vote of the church, after full confession of his error.
During his pastorate fourteen members were added to the church.1
John Bennett, chosen deacon at the organization of the church, was ordained in 1695,
and died March 21, 1718.2 Ebenezer PorReom Ebenezer Tinkham was one
of the first deacons, but there is no record to show when he was chosen.
In August, 1701, the first meeting-house in which the church worshipped was sold at auction for five pounds and two shil- lings, the town having the year before built a new house of worship on the Lower Green. It was thirty-six feet long and thirty feet wide, with the walls sixteen feet high, and had two ridgepoles and four gable-ends. This edifice, like all other meet- ing-houses of that time, had at first no pews. The congrega- tion were seated upon benches, without any support for the back. Rev. Mr. Thacher, after much opposition, obtained con- sent to erect a square pew with seats on three sides, for the use of his family and his distinguished father-in-law, Samuel Prince. Afterwards, this privilege was granted to nineteen others. But slight description of the second meeting-house has come down to us. In 1745 the old roof was taken off and a " pitched roof "
1 See Appendix.
2 In the History of the First Church we find the statement that "these first deacons and their wives died in March, 1738, and were buried in one grave." There seems to be a misprint, as they died in 1718.
446
HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF MIDDLEBORO
[1740
put in its place. This building was occupied as a place of wor- ship for more than fifty years. In the town records for 1723, we read that the " hind seat in the meeting-house and the hind seat in each of the men's galleries shall be for the boys."
MINISTRY OF REV. PETER THACHER, 1709-44
Rev. Peter Thacher began his ministry over this church some few months before the action of the council in suspend- ing Mr. Palmer. He commenced preaching before the church in September, 1707, but was not chosen pastor until the next June, and was ordained on the 2d of November, 1709. This was his first pastorate, and was begun when he was a little over twenty-one years of age. He commenced his services under very adverse circumstances, as the prejudice in favor of and against Mr. Palmer was still strong. In the course of a few months Mr. Thacher's ability was such, and his manner and bearing were so conciliatory, that he won the hearts and affec- tion of the entire church and congregation. At one time in his long pastorate, it is said that he seriously thought of preaching his farewell sermon and leaving the church, and he declared to his biographer that he would have done so, had he not been " embarrassed in finding a suitable text."
In 1740 there was a revival, called the " Great Awakening," which lasted two years. During this time about one hundred and twenty-five persons were admitted to the church, and during his entire ministry four hundred and thirty, among them Samuel Prince, Nathan Prince, Madam Morton, Mercy Bennett, Dr. Isaac Fuller, Luke Short, John Alden, and Bar- zillai Thomas, a sketch of whose lives has been given else- where in this volume.
During his ministry Samuel Barrows and Ephraim Wood were ordained deacons, July 25, 1725. Samuel Wood and Ebenezer Finney were chosen deacons January 30, 1735, and ordained March 5, 1737.
Various members of the church were dismissed to form other societies. For about fifty years the whole town by law was constituted one parish, with this church as the place of
447
ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY
1745]
worship. July 16, 1719, the West Precinct was incorporated as a parish, and a church was organized October 12, 1725, by a number of the members who went from this church. In 1734 the town of Halifax was incorporated, which included a part of Middleboro, and nineteen members were dismissed to join the newly organized church and parish. February 4, 1743, a parish was incorporated in Titicut, where preaching service had been held regularly since 1741. At South Middleboro a church was afterwards organized. These various removals to form other churches materially diminished the attendance for a while, but the numerous accessions under Mr. Thacher more than made up for this decrease.
MINISTRY OF REV. SYLVANUS CONANT, 1745-77
After the death of the Rev. Mr. Thacher, serious troubles sprang up within the church, a reaction after the religious re- vival called the Great Awakening. Some of its resident mem- bers desired to settle a man who was in full sympathy with the former pastor, while others, with Deacon Barrows and a small number of the members of the church, desired a man of different religious teachings. This division gave rise to much feeling and discussion. The church extended a call to their former pastor's son, but probably as this was not acceptable to the parish, the call was withdrawn, and the Rev. Sylvanus Conant was asked, in September, 1744, to become their pastor. Notwithstanding conciliatory actions of the church, the parish invited the Rev. Thomas Weld to preach for them as a candi- date, the one preaching in the forenoon and the other in the afternoon ; but the feeling so increased that the parish refused to permit Mr. Conant to preach in the meeting-house, and he held his service in the "mansion house," then occupied by Madam Thacher. He continued preaching for several months. A council was called to consider the difficulties then existing, and as a result he was ordained in March, 1745, in front of Madam Thacher's house. Immediately after this, his friends commenced a new meeting-house on the Upper Green, which represented about three quarters of the members of the
448
HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF MIDDLEBORO
[1745
church and one quarter of the members of the parish. Dur- ing this time about three quarters of the parish with its stand- ing committee and sixteen of the members of the church, with Deacon Barrows as their leader, called Rev. Mr. Weld to be their minister. He was a resident of Boston, and a graduate of Harvard College in the class of 1723.
The church chose a committee, consisting of Edward Clapp, Edmund Weston, and Samuel Eddy, to attend the council and protest against any action which looked to his ordination. This, however, was without avail; he was ordained in the old meeting-house October 3 of the same year, and commenced his pastorate, which continued for about four years, the church peremptorily refusing to concur in his call or in his ordination. This resulted in a more bitter feeling than had ever been witnessed, the different parties taking the name of the Old Lights and the New Lights, and sometimes that of the Church and the Standing Party. The old church edifice was much out of repair, a new meeting-house had been built, and there were two ministers and two churches to be supported. Those who had united in the call of the Rev. Thomas Weld held the old meeting-house, the ministerial land and parsonage, and were the legal representatives of the parish, while the church members who worshipped at the "mansion house," under the law as it then existed, were taxed to support Rev. Mr. Weld, and the parish were also obliged to pay the expenses of their own church services. Litigation had been commenced in re- gard to the custody of the records and other parish mat- ters. These difficulties were finally adjusted, and April 22, 1746, the church chose a committee, consisting of Ebenezer Clapp, Seth Tinkham, and Samuel Eddy, to present a petition to the legislature for relief. A law was passed by the General Court, by which every member of the society should have lib- erty to choose the Old Lights or the New Lights by filing his name with the society of which he desired to become a mem- ber. It is stated that more than two hundred members of the old parish were recorded in the year 1748. Religion was at a very low ebb in both churches. In a short time the church
1745]
ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY
449
and society representing the New Lights became dissatisfied with the Rev. Mr. Weld, and after some dissension among themselves, he was obliged to leave. He afterwards com- menced suit for his salary, which he failed to recover. Under the winning spirit of the Rev. Mr. Conant, the pastor of the old church, the societies were united; this action was after- wards confirmed by the legislature, and no further dissension prevailed in this old church and society. It is said that Mr. Conant, before the enactment of this statute, had petitioned that "no presentment might be made against this society for being destitute of a minister until the precinct is in a better condition to settle one.""
He continued as minister until his death 1 in 1777. Seventy- six joined the church during his ministry.
In November, 1745, Benjamin Tucker and Gershom Cobb were chosen deacons. Benjamin Tucker joined the church March 24, 1729, and died July 9, 1781, in his seventy-sixth year. He had held the office of selectman of Middleboro for the years 1748, 1749, 1750, 1751, and 1752. He was town treasurer in 1744, and representative to the General Court in 1746. He was a coroner for the county in 1754, 1755, and 1762.
Gershom Cobb was born in 1714, and was admitted to the church July 1, 1739.
Benjamin Thomas was chosen deacon May 23, 1776.2
Before the final action of the council dismissing Mr. Weld, Elijah Packard was called as his successor in the old church.
After the settlement of this difficulty, the old meeting-house, which had been sadly neglected, was sold to David Simmons for the sum of thirteen pounds, six shillings, and eight pence, exclusive of the pews and the pulpit, and the materials were used for building a dwelling-house where the present parson- age now stands. It had not been considered large enough to accommodate the church and parish, and in the early part of 1744, at the close of Dr. Thacher's ministry, measures had
1 For a further sketch of his life, see chapter on The Green.
2 For a further sketch of his life, see chapter on Thomastown.
450
HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF MIDDLEBORO
[1745
been taken for building a larger place of worship.1 Up to the year 1745, four hundred and eighty were enrolled as members.
This, the third meeting-house, was by far the largest and most imposing structure at the time in town, and was situ- ated a little to the east of the present building.2 It was built in
1 We the Subscribers Inhabitants of the Easterly Precinct within The Town- ship of Middleborough under Consideration of the Decay of our Old meeting house which we apprehend is not worth Repairing. Not Only By Reason of its Being old and much Decayed But also its Being So Small that there is not Suf- ficient Roome therein to accommodate Said Precinct wherefore we do Now by mutual Agreement Bind and Oblidge Our Selves to Buld a new meeting house (at or near the Same place where Our Old meeting house now Stands) of the following Demention (viz) 55 feet Long 45 feet wide & 25 feet in the walls and to proceed to Cut Timber There for and Provid Sutable matterials as Soon as may be (viz) now while the Season will permit Dated middleborough East pre- cinct February The 14th 1744 -
Nathan Thomas
Jonathan Smith
Thomas Darling
James Smith
Benjamin Thomas
Ebenezer Finney
John Soul
Seth Tinkham
Samuel Smith
John Cox
John Tomson
William Cushman
Edmand Wood
John Cobb
John Canedy
Gershom Cobb
Joseph Thomas
Samuel Wood Jun"
Joseph Bates Jn™
Daniel Vaughan
John Smith
Mary Thacher
Edmand Weston
William Thomas
Jonathan Smith Jn.
Henery Thomas
Samuel Thomas Jn.
Joseph Tinkham
Benjamin Tucker
Nathaniel Bumpas
Memorandon That on the 16th & 17th Days of July A. D. 1745 we begun and finished Raising our meeting house and on the next Day which was the 18th of July we met in the meeting house Frame Both fore and after noon : it Being the Day of General Thanks Giving Through out this Province on account of the Success of the English Armes against Cape Breton
2 The meeting-house was paid for by cash and materials furnished by mem- bers of the congregation, and afterwards the pews were assigned at the following prices : -
£ s. d.
Pew No. 49 to Ebenezer Cox
for 17 6.8
48 to Jabez Cushman
"
22. 13. 4
66 35 to Ichabod Morton .
66
22. 16. 0
¥
66 32 to Simeon Dogget
14. 10. 8
2 to Peter Oliver, Jr.
26. 13. 8
8 to Charles Ellis
17. 9. 4
1745]
1745,1 and remained until 1829. It had upon its sides two rows of windows, in which were small panes of glass. It faced toward the east, where there was a large porch extending across the end, the main entrance of the church ; upon this was a steeple,
£. s. d.
Pew No. 46 to John Alden
for 8. 13. 4
40 to Jacob Soul
66 20. 0. 0
66
66 4I to Ephraim Tinkham
66 23. 12. 0
22. 16. 0
27. I. 4
66
52 to Elias Miller
66
5. 6. 8
66 66 - was taken by Elias Millin in "Roome of His 66 2. 2. 8
old one."
66 66 22 to Isaac Cushman
66
22. 5. 4
66 36 to John Bennet
45 to Ichabod Wood
66 26. 80. 0
6 66 13 to Andrew Oliver
25. 12. 0 " ' 54 to Francis Tomson
" The Ground where the Woming Slaves were Taken up was Sold to Jeremiah Thomas'
Gallery Pew No 25 to Silas Wood .
26 to Amos Tinkham
27 to Nathaniel Bumpas
66
I2. 5. 4
66 66 28 to Shubael Tinkham
29 to Elkanah Elmes
66
8. 2. 8
66
34 to Isaac Soul
66
13. 9. 4
66
33 to Thomas Ellis
66
II. 6. 8
32 to Zechariah Weston
66 II. 6. 8
31 to Benjamin Thomas
66 IO. 2. 8
30 to Isaac Tomson 66
9. 9. 4
Pew next forward and gives the precinct, taken by Capt. Prat . . .
I. 17. 4
Pew next forward taken by Ichabod Cushman and gives the Precinct
66 I. 17. 4
Gallery Pew No. - to John Smith ¥ - to Archipas Cole .
66
14. 18. 8
Little Pew between Madam Thacher's and Lut. Smith to Shubael Tinkham .
13. 9. 4
Little Pew No. 35 to Noah Cushman
66
5. 14. 8
The Hon. Peter Oliver Esq. To have for the Addition to His Pew
66 2. O. O
·
·
Soon after completion, the remaining pews in the body of the house and galleries were sold to various persons who had been admitted by vote to be proprietors of the meeting-house.
At a meeting of the proprietors held on the 7th of April, 1760, Peter Oliver, Esq., was admitted "to be a proprietor of said meeting house and to be entitled to all of the privileges thereto belonging and also that he have liberty to take up the two fore seats on the woman's side in said meeting house and in their place build two pews of his own cost and charge and to have one of the pews for his own and to give 13£ 6s. 8d. to the proprietors for the privilege."
1 For deed of land, see chapter on The Green.
66
13. 12. O
13. 6.8
9. 6. 8
66 39 to Hushai Thomas
66 23. 9. 4
22. 13. 4
13. 17. 4
14. 5. 4
34 to William Harlow .
43 to John Miller
ECCLESIASTICAL HISTORY
45I
5. 12. 0
452
HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF MIDDLEBORO
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.