USA > Massachusetts > Bristol County > Norton > History of the town of Norton, Bristol County, Massachusetts, from 1669 to 1859 > Part 16
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It was, no doubt, during this period of which we speak, that he addressed the following note "To the Honble. G. Leonard, Esqr." It shows the cheerful- ness, the Christian spirit, in which he endured all the privations growing out of the distracted state of public affairs. It reads thus : -
" Hon'd Sir, - Please to sell (without present Pay, for money I have not), or lend me, two Bushels of Rye. if either, that which bests suits you.
" Your Friend & Servant.
" JOS. PALMER."
Mr. Palmer had, however, trials of a different cha- racter from these just enumerated. In addition to the withdrawment of some of his parish, who became Bap- tists and Methodists (which the good pastor took very seriously to heart), Ann Lee and the Shakers gave him much trouble. It is believed that some of those who embraced the Shaker notions were members of Mr. Palmer's church; and it must have been painful to him to have witnessed their apostasy, as he thought, from the church and parish their fathers had esta- blished. Of these Shakers, I hope to give some farther account in another place.
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SETTLEMENT, MINISTRY, AND
With the exceptions mentioned, so far as we can learn, Mr. Palmer's ministry was, in the main, peaceful and happy.
I am told, that, in the pulpit, he usually wore a very grave and serious countenance ; but on one occasion, on rising up to offer a prayer, he was seen to smile. Some of his parishioners called him to an account for so heinous a sin, just as he was to address the throne of grace. The pastor declared it was from no feelings of. levity or irreverence that he was betrayed into such a scandalous act, but it proceeded from the impulse of the moment, under the following circumstance; and we presume few who witnessed the affair were able to suppress a smile, if they did not do more than smile. It was customary in those days to wear wigs; and some of these wigs had a long " cue," or sort of tail, attached to them. Two men were seated in a pew, their long cues hanging over into the pew back of them, in which sat a roguish boy. He managed by some means to tie their cues together; so that, when the men rose up at the prayer, not moving exactly to- gether, their wigs were pulled from their heads, and each one began to claw with all his might to save his wig. Mr. Palmer saw the predicament they were in, and was unable to repress the smile that immediately rushed across his face. This was the severest charge, so far as I can learn, that was ever brought against the second minister of Norton.
Mr. Palmer himself usually wore "a great white wig, [which,] on the head of a large, portly, and sober man, struck a dreadful awe on many, if not most, be- holders." Rev. Mr. Braman, to whom I am indebted for many facts relative to Mr. Palmer, describes him out of the pulpit as " a gentleman of very grave and dignified deportment."
The people, during Mr. Avery's ministry, were ac- customed to assemble themselves around the meeting- house door on Sunday, waiting to shake hands with their pastor as he passed into the house ; and he en- deavored to gratify them: hence, by some, he was. thought to be an undignified man.
1
159
DEATH OF REV. JOSEPH PALMER.
" When Mr. Palmer first preached at Norton, the people had not forgotten Mr. Avery, and collected around the door of the church, and opened to the right and left, - every one ready to take him by the hand as he passed through, as they were wont to do with their former minister. But, instead of gratifying them, he [Mr. P.] took off his hat, and walked, in a dignified manner, into the house. This taught them not to be too familiar; and they acted accordingly. It was formerly the custom, for those who wished to present notes requesting prayers, to give them to the minister before he entered the church ; and no one offered a note to Mr. Palmer without first doffing his hat, and holding it until he had said what he wished, and was ready to leave."
About a year after his settlement, or Jan. 8, 1754, Mr. Palmer bought of William Hodges seventy acres of land, bounded easterly by the North-Purchase line, south-easterly by Mr. Nathaniel Leonard's land and the river ; all other parts bounded by William Stone's land and the Town Common. This land was on both sides of the road leading from the burying-ground, southerly to the river. A house and barn on it were occupied by George Hodges.
Whether Mr. Palmer built a new house or not, we do not know. Doubtless he did. He occupied this place after his marriage, during his life. His house stood easterly of the common burying-ground, a short dis- tance southerly from Austin Messinger's house, just back of the two large elms. It was taken down some years ago; but the wall of the cellar is still in a tolerably good condition. The house-lot is now (1858) owned by the Braman heirs.
Rev. Joseph Palmer was descended from Stephen Palmer, who came from England to this country. It is, however, uncertain whether Stephen was the grand- father or great-grandfather of Rev. Joseph; nor are we informed at what time he came to America. Rev. Joseph Palmer was the sixth and youngest child of Stephen and Sarah (Grant) Palmer, of Cambridge. They lived in close proximity to the college buildings and grounds ; and there, on the second day of Sep- tember, 1729, was born Joseph, the second minister of
160
SETTLEMENT, MINISTRY, AND
Norton.1 He was educated in his native town, and graduated from Harvard College in 1747. He re- ceived the degree of A.M. from Harvard and Yale in 1753. March 10, 1757, he married Miss Sarah Eames, daughter of William Eames, of that part of Hopkinton which is now Holliston.
Their children were as follows: -
1. ANNA, born March 19, 1758. She married, June 22, 1784, Rev. George Morey, of Walpole, a native of Norton (see Collegiate History). Mrs. Mo- rey died Dec. 10, 1809.
2. WILLIAM, born Jan. 24, 1760; and died April 5, 1771.
3. JOSEPH, born Nov. 5, 1762. He was generally, in after-life, known as " Capt. Palmer." He married Miss Jerusha Johnson, of Holliston. They had four children. He died in Roxbury, Aug. 5, 1824.
4. SARAH, born Dec. 2, 1764. She married, April 19, 1787, Dr. Samuel Morey, of Norton, a graduate of Yale College (see Collegiate History). Mrs. Morey died (aged nearly eighty-nine) July 10, 1853, while on a visit at the house of Dr. Rounds, of Norton; whose second wife is her grand-daughter.
5. STEPHEN, born Oct. 8, 1766. He graduated at Harvard, and was settled in the ministry at Needham. (See Collegiate History.)
6. LUCY, born Feb. 8, 1769. She married, Oct. 2, 1793, Rev. Edward Richmond, D.D., of Stoughton, a native of Middleborough, and a graduate of Brown University in 1789; who was ordained at Stoughton, Dec. 5, 1792. He was afterwards settled in the third parish of Dorchester, now Rev. Mr. Pike's society. They had but two children. Mrs. Richmond died June 8, 1810.
7. GEORGE, born April 27, 1771. He married, Oct. 1, 1794, Miss Nancy Danforth, of Norton ; and
1 His sister Bethiah married Rev. John Ellis, for some time minister at Norwich, Conn., and afterwards at Rehoboth; who was the grandfather of James P. Ellis, Esq., now of Taunton.
161
DEATH OF REV. JOSEPH PALMER.
they had one child. He died at Sunkhays, Me., Dec. 26, 1809.
8. HANNAH, born June 12, 1773. She married, August, 1797, Rev. Isaac Braman, of New Rowley, now Georgetown. He was a native of Norton, and a graduate of Harvard (see Collegiate History). Mrs. Braman died Aug. 14, 1835.
Only three male descendants of the ancestor Stephen, bearing the name of Palmer, were living in 1834. Two of them were grandsons of Rev. Joseph Palmer, of Norton : the other was a grandson of Stephen, brother of Rev. Joseph. For these items of the descendants of Rev. Joseph Palmer, and for some account of the pos- terity of his brothers and sisters, I am indebted to Hon. George Morey, of Boston, son of Rev. Mr. Morey, of Walpole.
None of the writings of Rev. Joseph Palmer were ever published. Before his death, he ordered all his sermons to be destroyed ; and his request was so faith- fully executed, that not a single sermon of his is now known to be in existence. What should prompt such a request, it is difficult to determine.
Mr. Palmer continued to preach, and to perform other pastoral duties, probably, till within about a year of his death.
May 5, 1790, the parish chose Deacon Daniel Dean, Lieut. S. Smith, and Deacon Benjamin Pearson, a com- mittee "to converse with the Rev. Mr. Palmer, and see if he is able to preach ; and, if he is not able, to hire some candidate to supply the pulpit in the illness of Mr. Palmer."
March 28, 1791, the parish chose Deacon Benjamin Pearson, Deacon Seth Smith, Deacon Daniel Dean, Capt. Ephraim Lane, and Mr. Eleazer Clap, a commit- tee to supply the pulpit in the time of the Rev. Mr. Palmer's sickness : and "voted, that the abovesaid com- mittee apply to Mr. Palmer, and consult him respect- ing a candidate to supply the pulpit; and take his advice, and have him nominate some person, if he please."
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SETTLEMENT, MINISTRY, AND
This committee's duties were of short duration ; for in just one week, or on the 4th of April, 1791, Mr. Palmer left the cares and duties of earth behind, and entered upon the brighter scenes and nobler duties ap- pertaining to the spirit-world.
The length of his ministry, from his ordination, was thirty-eight years, three months, and one day. His body was interred in the burying-ground on the Com- mon. On his tombstone, we are told that -
" His character was an assemblage of those eminent and endearing virtues which constitute the faithful pastor and ex- emplary Christian, the kind husband, the tender parent, the generous friend, and the good man."
" He taught us how to live; and, oh! too high A price for knowledge, taught us how to die."
Rev. Pitt Clarke says, " He was a pious and exem- plary Christian ; a sound divine ; a very prudent, faith- ful pastor."
Rev. Stephen Palmer, of Needham, in his autobio- graphy, speaks of his father thus: -
" His complaint was of the paralytic kind. He had before received repeated attacks from this disorder ; and his health had been, for some years, much impared. His constitution was always of a slender nature. He had to use much caution and prudence in regard to his health. A small degree of bodily exercise sensibly affected him. He was never able to labor ; but was, however, habitually studious : and divinity was his principal study. He was justly reputed for his pro- fessional knowledge; and, in every view, was a thorough divine. I do not remember of ever asking him for the expo- sition of any passage of Scripture, but what he was ready to give an answer. He was remarkable for the regularity of his deportment. In his diet, and all his conduct, the rules of method were observed. In his habits he was neat as well as exact. He was naturally a man of strong and warm passions, but had them all under perfect government. He was habi- tually a person of the most consummate prudence. What he promised, he always endeavored punctually to perform.
" Both my parents were very large; and their children are inclined to be gross."
:
163
DEATH OF REV. JOSEPH PALMER.
Rev. Ebenezer Burt, of Athol, a native of this town, now nearly ninety-three years old, a few months since wrote me as follows : -
" I will relate one anecdote concerning him, which I think ought to be recorded for the honor of Mr. Palmer, and for an example for others to ' go and do likewise.'
" He one year had two large, fat hogs; while his neighbor, Mr. James French, had but one (this Mr. French was a butcher). A mad dog passed by Mr. Palmer's, leaving his property unharmed; but stopped at the yard of Mr. French, and bit his hog, so that it died. Mr. Palmer called on Mr. French to butcher his hogs. He asked him to come in the evening, and cut them up and salt them. Mr. Palmer asked him which was the best. Mr. French replied, they were both very nice, though one was a little the best. Mr. Palmer said, ' God has spared mine, while you have lost yours : take the best for your family, and cut up the other for mine.'
" This shows that though he was 'not rich,' yet he was ' generous.'"
At a parish-meeting, Jan. 30, 1792, it was, -
" 2dly, Voted, that the standing committee of the parish go on, and settle with the heirs of the late Revd. Mr. Palmer respecting his salary.
" 3dly, Voted, that in the settlement with sd. heirs, the salary be continued to the end of the time of the bearers of sd. deceased preaching to sd. parish."
In explanation of this last vote, it may be stated, that it was customary in those times for the neighbor- ing ministers to act as the pall-bearers of the deceased brother-clergyman ; and then, each in turn, to preach gratuitously one Sunday in the pulpit made vacant by his death. Hence it was perfectly proper that the salary should be continued till the bearers had all preached.
We have only to add, that Mrs. Palmer continued to reside at Norton till after the marriage of her young- est daughter ; when she bade adieu to this place as her home, and passed the remainder of her days among her children, - dividing her time in their respective fami- lies. " Her last illness was paralysis. She was taken
164
ADMISSIONS TO THE CHURCH.
very suddenly on the 24th of April, which was her birthday, being seventy-two years old. She rode that morning from her daughter Richmond's at Stoughton to her daughter Morey's at Walpole; but, in about thirty minutes after she went into the house, she became speechless and senseless, and remained so till she died, - May 20, 1806." Her body was brought to Norton, and buried beside that of her husband.
CHAPTER XII.
ADMISSIONS TO THE CHURCH FROM 1714 TO 1791.
" By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another." CHRIST.
IN this chapter we shall give the names of those " admitted to full communion " in the church during the ministry of Rev. Mr. Avery and of Rev. Mr. Pal- mer. When they were admitted by letter from other churches, the name of the town from which they came is given in parentheses. Mr. Avery, at first, kept his records on small sheets of paper; and a por- tion of these became mutilated before he copied them into a book. For some entire years the records are gone, and other years are only partially complete. In copying into a book, Mr. Avery recorded every letter or figure that was left on his original minutes. This will explain why, in some cases, the year is alone re- corded without any names; or the names, wholly or in part, without any dates. The names of the original members of the church will be found on page 69. We here give the subsequent admissions, so far as they can be ascertained from the mutilated records : -
1714.
Anna, wife of George Leonard; Susannah, wife of John Wetherell, sen .; Bethiah, wife of Joseph Dunham; Expe- rience, wife of Peter Aldrich; Widow Rebecca Briggs ;
165
ADMISSIONS TO THE CHURCH.
Mercy, wife of John Hodges ; Widow Sarah Lane; Hannah, wife of Eleazer Fisher; Mary, wife of Thomas Grover ; Mercy, wife of Richard Briggs (all by letter, from Taunton Church) ; Experience, wife of William Pratt (from Wey- mouth) ; Josiah White; and Susannah, wife of Israel Fisher (from Taunton).
1715.
Widow Esther Dunham; Mary, wife of Ephraim Grover; Andrew Grover, and Mary his wife; Widow Esther Gray ; Widow Esther Newland (from Taunton) ; John Austin, and Sarah his wife; Joseph Hodges, and Bethiah his wife ; Ephraim Lane; William Wetherell, sen.
1716.
Sarah, wife of Seth Dorman; Bethiah, wife of John Hall. 1717. Mary, wife of Benjamin Caswell; Deborah Cambell.
1718.
John Briggs, 2d, and Hannah his wife (from Taunton) ; Ruth, wife of Ephraim Lane; Sarah Lane; Mary, wife of Samuel Hodges ; Mary, wife of Ebenezer Eddy ; John Fin- ney, and wife Mary; Mary, wife of Samuel Converse, of At- tleborough ; Abiah Cambell. .
1719.
Damaris, wife of Matthew White; Widow Mary Cambell ; John Fisher; Elizabeth, wife of Samuel Clap; Daniel Bra- man.
1720.
Richard Stephens (from Taunton) ; and probably four or five others, whose names are lost.
1721, 1722, and 1723 (names lost).
1724.
William Stone; Sarah, wife of Joseph Avery ; Widow Experience Rue ; John Andrews; Joshua Atherton ; Samuel Hodges (from Taunton) ; Benjamin Williams ; William Pratt, sen .; Benjamin Lane; Mary, wife of John Fisher (from Preston).
1725.
Joseph Gray, sen .; Rachel, wife of George Leonard ; Abigail Leonard; Joshua Shepherd; Elizabeth Shepherd ; Lazarus Grover; Richard Briggs; Widow Sarah King ; William Makepeace, and wife Experience.
166
ADMISSIONS TO THE CHURCH.
L
1726.
Susannah, wife of Joseph Godfrey; Patience, wife of William White; Benjamin Cobb.
1727.
Widow Mary Burt ; Elizabeth, wife of William Wether- ell, sen .; Joannah, wife of Ichabod Eddy ; Joshua Williams ; Samuel Dean.
1728.
William Prat, jun .; Elizabeth, wife of Samuel Holmes ; Ruth Allen; Tabatha, wife of Josiah Prat; Bethiah Dan- forth, of Taunton; Josiah Prat; Bethiah Adams.
1729.
John Lane, and wife Sarah ; John Harvey, of Taunton, and wife ; John Wales ; 1 Ezra Skinner.
1730.
Jonathan Prat, and wife Abigail; John Wild, and wife Abigail (from South Church in Braintree); Hannah, wife of Israel Woodward (from Dedham).
1731.
Hannah, wife of John Hodges, jun. (from Middleborough) ; William Dean ; Joan, wife of Joseph Gray, jun.
1732.
· Eleazar Fisher, 2d, and wife Elizabeth ; Nehemiah Fisher, and wife Sarah ; William Harridon (from Taunton) ; Obadiah Eddy, and wife Susannah; Joseph Gray, jun .; Jonathan Newcomb.
1733.
Samuel Clap, sen., and wife Bethiah ; Experience, wife of Nathan Hodges ; Mahitable, wife of William Stone.
1734.
Abigail, wife of William Harridon; Mary, wife of Samuel Clap, jun. (from Stoughton) ; Ephraim Dunham, and wife Elizabeth (from Plympton) ; William Ware (from Wren- tham); Elizabeth, wife of Andrew Grover; Hephzibah Lane (from Attleborough); Mildred Harridon (from Taunton) ; Anna, wife of Benjamin Fairbanks (from Sherborn) ; Debo- rah Newcomb (from Braintree) ; Elizabeth, wife of Nathaniel Dunham (from Taunton); Esther, wife of Ebenezer Hodges (from Boston).
1 He was subsequently the first minister of Raynham.
167
ADMISSIONS TO THE CHURCH.
1735.
George Hill, and wife Susannah (from Rehoboth) ; Debo- rah, wife of Samuel Vesey (from Braintree); Job Gilbert, and wife Mary (from Taunton); Thankful Briggs.
1736.
Joshua Pomeroy, and wife Mary (from Stoughton) ; Wil- liam Pain and wife (from Malden); Sarah, wife of Samuel Eddy (from Rehoboth); Thomas Fillebrown (from Cam- bridge); Mary, wife of Joseph Tiffany (from Attleborough).
1737.
Benjamin Newcomb; George Allen and wife, and their sister Gay (from Stoughton).
1738.
Mercy Newcomb (formerly Everet, from Dedham); Pa- tience Briggs (formerly Gay, from Stoughton).
1739.
Gershom Cambell; Widow Sarah Hill; Susannah, wife of George Hodges.
1740.
Widow Elizabeth Silley; Sarah, wife of Jonathan Law- rence ; Bartholomew Burt; Gideon Basset ; Benjamin Cope- land and wife (from Second Church in Braintree) ; Israel Newland ; Ephraim Andrews ; Elizabeth Panny ; Lydia, wife of William Cambell; Bethsheba, wife of Gideon Basset ; Thomas Skinner, jun., and wife Abigail; John Hodges, sen .; Phineas Briggs, and wife Esther.
1741.
George Briggs ; Margaret, wife of John King; Widow Jerusha King ; John Briggs, 3d, and wife Lydia; Josiah Newland, and wife Abigail; Samuel Hodges; William Cam- bell ; Naomi, wife of Ebenezer Burt ; Mary Pollard ; Hannah Silley ; Damaris White.
1742.
Nathaniel Dunham, and wife Mercy ; Sylvanus Braman ; James Hill, of Attleborough ; Jacob Newland ; Thomas Shep- herd; Jonathan Clap, and wife Sarah; Judith Newcomb ; William Codington; Josiah White, jun., and wife Elizabeth ; Anna, wife of Dr. William Ware; Phillip Cooye, and wife Abigail; Abigail Leonard ; Solomon Finney ; Mary Finney ; John Finney ; Anna, wife of William Cobb; Abigail Cobb ;
€
168
ADMISSIONS TO THE CHURCH.
Ruth, wife of Benjamin Willis; Seth Smith ; Pricilla Briggs; Rachel Braman ; Abiah Braman ; Widow Mahitabel Tucker; Mary, wife of Nathaniel Wetherell, sen .; Francis Richard- son, and wife Sarah; Mary Dunham ; Ebenezer Eddy, sen. ; Widow Mary Cobb; Bethiah, wife of William Codington (from Bridgewater) ; Ephraim Lane, jun .; Abigail, wife of William Leonard; Ichabod Eddy ; Joshua Cambell, and wife Abigail (from Raynham).
1743.
Elizabeth, wife of Eliphalet Hodges; Mehitabel Briggs (from Dedham) ; Ephraim Wetherell, and wife Bathsheba ; Widow Mary Leonard ; John Hector (a negro).
1744.
Lydia, wife of Thomas Winchel.
1745.
Israel Fisher, jun .; Hannah, wife of Jonathan Lincoln, sen .; Jonathan Hodges (from Berkley).
1746.
Ithamar, wife of Israel Fisher, jun. (from Mansfield 1) ; Mary, wife of Benjamin Newcomb (from Dedham).
1747.
Jonathan Knap; Benjamin Hews (from Second Church, Norton) ; Samuel Dean, and wife Rachel (from Dedham).
1748.
Pero (a negro, from Rehoboth) ; John Gilbert, jun .; Nao- mi, wife of Joseph Hodges.
During Mr. Avery's ministry, there were one hun- dred and fifty-one who "owned " or "renewed the covenant," very few of whom were admitted to "full communion." Between the dismission of Mr. Avery and the settlement of Mr. Palmer, there were probably some admissions to the church ; but no records are to be found. There were also, so far as can be ascer- tained from the records, three hundred and seventy- five baptisms of children during the pastorate of Mr. Avery.
1 This was doubtless Mansfield, Conn.
ADMISSIONS TO THE CHURCH. 169
Admissions during Mr. Palmer's ministry : -
1753.
Ichabod Washburn, and Bethiah his wife (from Kingston) ; David Braman; Rebecca, wife of Joseph Lincoln, jun .; Seth Gilbert.
1754.
Margaret, wife of Benjamin Trow (from Windham) ; Mi- riam, wife of Joseph Hodges (from Weymouth).
1755.
Joseph Lincoln (from Taunton) ; John Fisher, and wife Mary (from Attleborough) ; Theodora Leonard ; Mary, wife of James Godfrey ; Mary, wife of Samuel Tucker; Martha, wife of Ebenezer Eddy.
1756.
Nathan Babbit; Abigail, wife of Nathan Babbit, jun. ; Mary Woodward; William Cobb; Anna Woodward; David Williams.
1757.
Ruth Hunt; Jonathan Lincoln; Mehitable, wife of Jona- than Knapp; Phebe Clap; Noah Wiswall; Sarah Dean ; John Braman; Lydia, wife of Elkanah Lincoln (from Taun- ton).
1758.
David Darby (from Weymouth) ; Ichabod Franklin, and wife Hannah; Joseph Newcomb, and wife Judah; the wife of Elkanah Willis.
1759.
Abigail Haradon ; Sarah, wife of Benjamin Pearson.
1760.
Mary, wife of Eliphalet Briggs; Elizabeth, wife of Dr. Wheaton ; Rev. Nathaniel Leonard (from Plymouth).
1761.
John Newland; Widow Mary Briggs; Abigail, wife of Capt. Jonathan Hodges.
1762.
Hannah, wife of Philip Hoar; Peter Makepeace, and wife Abigail; Abigail, wife of John Patten; Phebe, wife of El- kanah Crossman; Elizabeth, wife of Samuel Lane; Eliza- beth, wife of John Hall.
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170
ADMISSIONS TO THE CHURCH.
1763. Charity, wife of John Haradon. 1764. Widow Hannah Andrews; Josiah Vining. 1765. Abigail, wife of David Smith. 1766.
David Smith ; Elizabeth Woodward ; Ruth Cheney ; Sarah, wife of Nathaniel Dunham; Mary, wife of Samuel Newcomb ; Elijah Danforth, and wife Susannah ; Noah Woodward, and wife Mary; Simeon Williams.
1767.
Mary, wife of Samuel Morey. 1768.
. Benjamin Pearson.
1769.
Sarah, wife of Solomon Dunham.
1770.
John Hall; Samuel Clap, jun .; Mary, wife of Israel Trow.
1771.
Samuel Hunt, and Abigail his wife.
1772.
Susannah, wife of Jeremiah Newland (from Attleborough) ; Job Garey ; Lydia Burt; Bethiah Braman ; Abner Tucker.
1773.
Abigail Verry; Martha, wife of Nathaniel Briggs; Na- thaniel Briggs; Eunice, wife of Joseph Hunt.
1774.
William Homes (from Boston) ; Experience, wife of Icha- bod Perry ; Lois, wife of Isaac Fisher; Simeon Wetherell.
1775.
Phebe, wife of Nathan Perry ; Daniel Dean; David Clapp.
1776.
James Briggs, jun .; Sarah, wife of Benjamin Wild.
1778.
Widow Barney.
171
ADMISSIONS TO THE CHURCH.
1779.
Stephen Jennings ; Widow Mary Makepeace.
1780.
Israel Woodward; Seth Smith; Ruth, wife of William Makepeace; Wealthy, wife of Josiah Hodges; John Crane, jun .; Seth Smith, jun., and wife Rachel; Widow Lydia Bas- set; Samuel Lincoln, jun.
1781.
Jacob Shaw; Sarah Dunham; Asa Copeland; Esther, wife of Capt. Seth Smith; Rachel, wife of John King; Nao- mi, wife of Tisdale Hodges.
1782.
Rachel Burt. 1
1783.
Anna Palmer.
1784.
Isaac Basset.
1785.
Joseph Phillips.
1786.
Calvin Crane.
1787.
Rachel, wife of Asa Copeland; Elizabeth, wife of Jona than Briggs (from Sharon).
1790. Stephen Palmer ; Sarah, wife of Dr. Samuel Morey.
There were ninety-four persons who "owned " or "renewed the covenant" during Mr. Palmer's mini- stry, and six hundred and twenty-six baptisms of chil- dren.
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SETTLEMENT, MINISTRY, AND DEATH
CHAPTER XIII.
THE SETTLEMENT, MINISTRY, AND DEATH OF REV. PITT CLARKE.
"Think what the Christian minister should be; You've then his character : for such was he."
UNKNOWN.
FOR the third time, the duty of selecting a minister devolves upon the church and society. One entire generation had passed away since Mr. Palmer was settled. The duty falls into new hands, some of whom were not born when the late pastor was or- dained; but, by their pious parents, they had been brought up "in the nurture and admonition of the Lord."
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