USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Natick > History of the town of Natick, Mass., from the days of the apostolic Eliot, MDCL, to the present time, MDCCCXXX > Part 6
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Introductory Prayer, Rev. Mr Sanger, of Dover .--- Reading of the Scriptures, Rev. Mr Sibley Stow .- Sermon, Revd Mr Young, Boston-Ordaining Prayer, Rev. Dr Lowell, Boston-Charge, Revd. Mr Thomp- son, Barre-Right Hand, Revd. Mr Hamilton, Taun- ton-Address to the Society, Revd. Mr Briggs, Lex- ington. The exercises, excepting the prayers ; are published. Though the ministers and people of the two parishes differ in their religious opinions; it is ho- ped that there will be no other strife between them, than an emulation to excel in leading a sober, righteous and godly life, and no other provocation, than a provoking of one another to love and good works.
For a number of years past, there have been a few inhabitants of this town of the Methodist persuasion, of reputable characters, who usually attend public wor- ship in the north part of Needham. The Rev. Isaac Jennison is the travelling preacher of the Needham cir- cuit, and has his place of residence in Natick.
But little information can be collected, respecting the former churches in this town. How many members composed Eliot's at its organization is not known. In 1670 there were between 40 and 50 communicants. In the time of Takawombpait, A. D. 1698 the number was reduced to 7 males and 3 females, and at his death, A. D. 1716, was broken up. Another church was formed at the ordination of Mr. Peabody A. D. 1729. During his ministry 130 English and 35 Indians were admitted to full communion. At his death, A. D. 1752, this church was disembodied. A new one was formed at the time of Mr. Badger's ordination, A. D. 1753, and 69 were admitted to the Christian profession, dur- ing his ministry. This was dissolved, when Mr. Bad- ger retired from his pastoral labours. Another was em-
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bodied previous to the settlement of Mr. Sears, consist- ing of 23 members. . Mr. Sears received 14 into the church. At the time of Mr. Moore's ordination the church consisted of 26. Received since his ordination up to January 1830, 122. Dismissed to other churches 7. Excommunicated 4. Number, Jan. 1st. 1830, 117. A church was embodied in the south parish, March 11, 1830, consisting of 16 members. The Lord's supper was administered for the first time in the South meet- inghouse, on the 28th. of the same month, to 22 com- municants.
As to baptisms, marriages and deaths, it is impossible to procure any thing like an accurate list of either.
EXTRACTS
From a letter written by Rev Mr Badger to the Corresponding Secretary of the Massachusetts Histori- cal Society, dated February, 1797; and published in their fifth volume.
' The Indians have been urged to an almost total change of their customs and manners, to substitute others in their stead, some of which are directly oppo- site to their ancient usages ; to put a greater force upon nature, than they could easily and at once give into ; to oppose and give up what they had always before been habituated to, and had a veneration for; and even to set aside those superstitious rites, in the zealous perform- ance of which, what religion they had, exclusive of the religion or law of nature, very much consisted, and of which they were not a little fond and tenacious. These things, so far as they embraced and conformed to them, have had a corresponding tendency and effect, and have been not a little unfavorable to their health and consti- ution, and of course had a tendency to shorten their
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lives. Where the principles of the gospel, the habits of industry and a regular mode of life have had to counter- act and combat principles and habits of indolence and laziness, roughness and ferocity of manners, and an ir- regular and improvident disposition and practice, the struggle, which has been occasioned by them, must have been very great, and consequently not a little unfavora- ble, especially at first, to natural constitution, to health and long life.
The Indians are generally considered by white people and placed, as if by common consent, in an inferior and degraded situation and treated accordingly. This sinks and cramps their spirits, and prevents those manly exer- tions, which an equal rank with others has a tendency to call forth. If they have landed property, and are in- termixed with white people ; or if these last settle near their borders, they incourage their Indian neighbours in idleness, intemperance and needless expenses, to involve them in debt, and prepare the way for the sale and pur- chase of their lands, at a very low rate, by which they have been impoverished and disheartened. Near a hundred years ago they were the exclusive proprietors of this plantation, which I suppose contained eight or nine thousand acres; but at this time the remnant of them are not owners of so many hundreds. At the be- ginning of the present century they were embodied into a military corps, were invested with military titles, made choice of town officers, and had the countenance and support of the chief magistrate and other persons of dis- tinction. They then held up their heads, considered themselves of some importance and were stimulated to continue in the profession of the Christian religion, and to conform to the manners of their English neighbours ; but their examples of irregularities and excess (it is to
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be apprehended) had too great and predominant effect upon them. This, with that strange propensity in their constitutions to excess, brought them into disrepute ; their military parades were followed by drinking frolicks and at length discontinued ; the English were gaining settlements among them, joined with them in the administration of their prudential affairs; and at one of their meetings made choice of one of their num- ber, in conjunction with one of the English settlers to read the psalm in public. Some English from neigh- bouring towns, who through indolence and excess had neglected the cultivation of their own farms, were ne- cessitated to sell, purchased small tracts of the Indians, became settlers and by degrees obtained possession of more. The Indians were dispirited, adopted vicious manners, of which they had too many examples ; be- came more indolent and remiss in improving their lands ; lost their credit ; their civil and military privileges were gradually lessened, and finally transferred exclusively to the English, who were become more numerous, and some of whom took every advantage to dishearten and depress them. Under these circumstances, those habits which have a direct tendency to beget and promote bad morals, to injure health and shorten life, were fully in- dulged and answerable effects followed.
Indians are strangely addicted to wander from place to place, sometimes for a long time and to a great dis- tance from their place of abode, without any thing on hand for support, and depending on the charity and com- passion of others for sustenance ; and this sometimes in the most unfavorable seasons of the year. These jour- nies they perform leizurely, sometimes with infant and other children, taking shelter in barns, or other uncom- fortable buildings, or sleeping on the ground, in the open
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air, without sufficient covering. In this vagrant state, they seldom have regular meals, and less frequently any that have been recently prepared for the families, into whose houses they seem to think they have a right to enter, as their forefathers were the original proprietors of the soil. Their clothing is generally poor, such as they beg by the way ; a cup of cider, or something worse is frequently handed to them to get rid of them more easily, than to give them a meal of victuals ; and this is done so often, as they pass from house to house, that they frequently become over-charged, which I have scarce ever known to be the case, when they have been at home. This practice, especially as it respects the fe- males, exposes their virtue and their health, and that of their children, and lays a foundation for consumption, which has generally been the means of their death. To these causes may be added, their males engaging in military service, to which they have been very easily enticed.
During several of the first years of my ministry, I joined in marriage and baptized more Indians than En- glish ; but in the wars, that took place between 1754. and 1760, many engaged in the service; not a small number died in it ; others brought home with them a con- tagious sickness, which spread very fast, and carried off some whole families. This was in 1759. In about three months, more than twenty of them died of this disorder, a putrid fever, which carried them off in a few days. But two who had the disorder recovered, and they were young women. Though their English neigh- bors were not backward in assisting them, but one re- ceived the infection, and to him it proved mortal. There was a time of great sickness and mortality, in this and several neighbouring towns, a few years before, when
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but one Indian inhabitant sickened and died. These facts seem to prove that there is a dissimilarity between the natural constitutions of the English and Indians. In what that difference consists it may be difficult to de- cide.
The general disposition and manners of Indians are so distinguishingly characteristic, that a very worthy In- dian, of good understanding, who was a deacon of the church in this place (deacon Ephraim) and an ornament to the Christian society for many years ; and who, from the first of his making a Christian profession to the end of his life, was an example of seriousness and temper- ance, of a regular conversation, and a constant, grave and devout attendant on the public institutions of reli- gion ; upon being asked how it was to be accounted for, that those Indians, when youths, who were put into English families, chiefly in other towns, for education ; who had free access to such liquors as are the produce of the country, and intoxicating when taken to excess ; but who refrained therefrom, and were regular and steady in their attention to business; yet soon after they had the command of themselves and of their time, and had associated with those who were of the same com- plexion, become Indians in the reproachful sense of the word ; were idle, indolent and intemperate, and became habituated to all the excesses of those, who had not been favoured with such advantages ; made this laconic reply; Ducks will be ducks notwithstanding they are hatched by the hen-in his own broken English, " Tucks will be tucks for all ole hen he hatchum." And I have thought that by the peculiarity of their natural constitution, they are addicted to and actually contract such habits of in- dolence and excess, as they cannot without the greatest efforts, which they seem not much disposed to make, 11
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give up, if they ever entirely get rid of them. They seem to be like some plants that thrive best in the shade ; if the overgrowth is cut off, they wither and de- cay, and by degrees are finally rooted out.
The unhappy disagreement and contention between the English inhabitants about the placing of the meet- ing house, which began in the latter part of my prede- cessor's time, has at times been renewed ever since, and now rages with violence among them, has had a tendency to impede the success of the Gospel among the Indians in this place. The disaffected to its present situation have endeavoured to warp their mind, not only respecting the meeting house, but to alienate it from those, who have been employed as missionaries, and to discourage their attendance on public worship, which was supported on their account, by some charita- ble funds in England before, and part of the time since the revolution ; remittances from which have ceased for several years. Out of these there were yearly dona- tions of blankets and books, which had a tendency to keep them together ; but by the circumstances of the times in which we live, but few of the remnant of them attend public worship, and none are remarkable for the genuine influence of the principles and prospects of that religion, which is from above, any more than their English neighbours. The number of church members is now reduced to two or three. I suppose that there are now about twenty clear blooded that belong here ; but they are frequently shifting their place of residence.
Immediately previous to my settling in this place a church was gathered, which consisted partly of English and partly of Indians; and though some additions were soon after made of Indian professors, yet from the cau- ses already mentionsd, a decrease gradually took place
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and has continued to the present time. Their case, with the circumstances attending their situation, is tru- ly deplorable, and, contrasted with our own, is adapted in a high degree, to excite gratitude to heaven for the unaccountable and unmerited distinction.
REMINISCENCES.
Fifty years ago there were about thirty Indians, who resided constantly, or most of the time, in Natick. John Ephraim was the grandson of the Deacon of that name, and inherited the farm of his grandfather ; but very few, if any, of his virtues. He had a wife, who sustained a good character, and five children ; but they suffered severely by his misconduct. His farm was neglected, and he sold it a few years be- fore his death. His wife died before him; and it was believed that his ill treatment hastened her decease. His eldest son, Benjamin, was respectable in regard both to morals and religion. He was a servant in the family of the late Colonel Humphreys, when he resided in Boston, and a member of Dr Stillman's church. He died at the age of about 30 years. His eldest daugh- ter, who died at Medfield, bore a good reputation and was a member of the Baptist church in that town. His other three children died in childhood.
Sarah and Deborah Comecho were widows, at the . time above mentioned, were daughters of Deacon Ephraim, and owned each a small house and a few acres of land. One of them was a member of Mr Badger's Church, and the habits and manners of both were cor- · rect. Hannah Thomas was also a widow of good char- acter, and owned a house, barn, and about thirty acres of excellent land. Hannah Dexter was known to many now living, as 'a doctress, well skilled in administering medinical roots and herbs.' She came to a tragical end,
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a few years since, while endeavouring to quell a riot in her house, which was raised by a set of unwelcome vis- itants, chiefly of a mixed breed of English, Indian and African blood. Her grandson, Solomon Dexter, is now the only full blooded survivor of the tribe, unless we reckon a small number, who reside in or near Mendon, in the County of Worcester, who occasionally visit this place, as the land of their ancestors. With the excep- tion of the few individuals above mentioned, those, whom the writer remembers, generally united in their characters many of the vices both of the savage and civilized state.
Such has been the fate of the tribe of Aborigines, which was first civilized and Christianized in North America, by protestant missionaries ; and similar the fate of most, if not all the tribes in New England. Whether a better destiny awaits the Red Men of the south and west, is known only to Him, who created them. The prayer of every Christian of every philan- thropist must be, Lord, have mercy on them, and pro- tect them from their adversaries-Lord, have mercy on their persecutors, and touch their hearts with feelings of humanity, of pity and of justice.
ANECDOTES.
The following anecdotes are published on the author- ity of tradition.
While Eliot was engaged in translating the Bible into the Indian language, he came to the following passage in Judges V. 28. " The mother of Sisera looked out at the window and cried through the lattice," &c. Not knowing an Indian word to signify lattice, he applied to several of the natives, and endeavored to describe to them what a lattice resembled. He described it as 1
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frame work, netting, wicker, or whatever occurred to him, as illustrative ; when they gave him a long, barba- rous and unpronounceable word, as are most of the words in their language. Some years after, when he had learned their dialect more correctly, he is said to have laughed outright, upon finding that the Indians had given him the true term for eelpot. "The mother of Sisera looked out at the window and cried through the eelpot."
One of these sons of the forest is said to have discov- ered a more appropriate emblem of the Trinity, than even the triangle itself. The missionary had been lec- turing on this sublime and incomprehensible mystery ; when one of his red auditors, after a long and thought- ful pause, thus addressed him. " I believe, Mr minis- ter, I understand you. The Trinity is just like water and ice and snow. The water is one, the ice is anoth- er and the snow is another, and yet they are all three water."
The following'is handed down as a true copy ofa war- rant, issued by an Indian magistrate .- " You, you big constable, quick you catchum Jeremiah Offscow, strong you holdum, safe you bringum afore me.
Thomas Waban, Justice peace.
When Waban became superannuated, a younger magistrate was appointed to succeed him. Cherishing that respect for age and long experience, for which the Indians are remarkable, the new officer waited on the old one for advice. Having stated a variety of cases and received satisfactory answers, he at length proposed the following :- " when Indians get drunk and quarrel and fight and act like Divvil, what you do dan ?"- " Hah! tie um all up, and whip um plaintiff, whip um fendant and whip um witness."-Quere. Can a more
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equitable rule be adopted, on a like occasion, by any nation ?
In the course of Mr Peabody's ministry, there was a long and severe drought, which induced him to offer public prayers for rain. Among others, he used the following petition. " May the bottles of heaven be un- stopped and a plentiful supply of rain be poured down on the thirsty earth." It very soon began to rain, and so continued for many days in succession. Before it ceas- ed, an Indian met Mr P. and observed, " I believe them are bottles, you talk about, be unstopped, and the stop- ples be lost .??
Another Indian, or the same, went to Boston in the Fall of the year, with a back load of brooms and bas- kets ; and, as his custom was, called into a store, pur- chased a dram of the ardent, paid the price of it and departed. The next spring he made a similar journey, and called at the same store for the same purpose ; but the store keeper charged double price for the same quantity of liquor. This led the Indian to inquire the reason. The dealer in poison answered, that he had kept the cask over winter, and it was as expensive as to keep a horse .- " Hah," says Tawny, " he no eat so much hay ; but I believe he drink as much water."
Wit and humour have not been confined to the red natives of this place ; but some of the whites come in for a share. One being warned to do military duty, requested the captain to excuse him. This officer told him, that he might state his case to the company, and if they would vote in the affirmative, he should be ex- cused. He accordingly made the following address. " Fellow soldiers-I am rather hard of hearing, and don't always understand the word of command. Be-
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sides, at the age of sixteen, I was drafted to go into the army ; but my father went in my room and was killed and never got home. Now if I had gone myself and got killed, I should have got clear of military duty to all etarnity." He was excused by acclamation.
Kev Mr Badger was fond of wit and humour. He could relish a goodnatured joke, even " at his own ex- pense." He had a trial of this in the following manner. One Daniel Bacon, a horse doctor and dealer in besoms and beanpoles, was invited by Mr B. to visit his horse, which appeared to be somewhat unwell. Bacon exam- ined the beast, with close attention ; and then gave it as his opinion, that the horse and the town of Natick were in a similar situation-both needed a better pas- ture [pronounced] pastor.
Another facetious clergyman, knowing Bacon's char- acter, had a mind to enter into conversation with him, and commenced by asking him " of what profession are you ?"-" A farmer," says Bacon, " and what are you ?" " A canon of the gospel," was the reply .- " A cannon ! If you had not told me, I should have thought you a blunderbuss," was the rejoinder.
Bacon took a journey to one of the towns in the vi- cinity of Boston, with a load of bean poles for sale. Seeing a lawyer's office hard by, he stepped in, preten- ding to want advice, in a difficult case. The 'Squire telling him he could have it for a dollar, Bacon observed, "I wish very much to know where I can get five dol- lars for my bean poles ; and if you will tell me, I will give you two of them."
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ERRATA .- The following are believed to be the most important typographical errors in this work. Page 12, line 3, for 17 read 7 .- Page 58, line 19, for need read needs.
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