USA > Massachusetts > Bristol County > Norton > History of the town of Norton, Bristol County, Massachusetts, from 1669 to 1859 > Part 21
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Deacon Smith and Deacon Hunt are now (1858) the officiating deacons of the church.
CHAPTER XVII.
MEETING-HOUSES OF THE CONGREGATIONAL PARISH.
" The groves were God's first temples." - BRYANT.
WE have already seen, on page 33, that the site for a meeting-house was designated by a committee of the General Court, during the precinct controversy. It was to be located on the northward side of the road leading to Crossman's Way, where that road was in- tersected by the one leading from John Hodges' to Beech Island. This would bring the location at the lower part of the Common between the Mansion House and the house occupied by George W. Wilde, a few feet southerly from the Hayscales. As soon as the precinct-bill had passed the General Court, and re- ceived the signature of the governor, the inhabitants made active preparations for the speedy erection of a house of public worship, where they and their children could enjoy " the meens of Grace." They had strug- gled too long and earnestly in this matter to be easily turned aside from their purpose. They knew what they wanted, and what they could do. Hence they
221
CONGREGATIONAL PARISH.
went to work with the zeal almost of the prophets of old ; and in three months and two days after the court established the precinct, or Jan. 18, 1709-10, a tax-bill of £42 was made for the erection of a meeting- house, and placed in the hands of Constable Samuel Hodges for collection.
We here give it to our readers : -
RATE-BILL FOR THE FIRST MEETING-HOUSE.
NAMES.
Heads.
Real Estate.
Personal Estate.
George Leonard
01 00
01 07 03
01 02 08
Samuell Hodges
00 10
00 02 06
00 07 02
John Cob
01 00
00 00 00
00 03 06
John Smith .
00 10
00 01 00
00 06 07
Selvanis Cambell
00 10
00 01 08
00 05 04
Nathaniell Fisher
00 10
00 00 08
00 02 04
Andrew Grovier
00 10
00 00 09
00 03 11
Ephreim Grovier .
00 10
00 00 09
00 04 06
Thomas Grovier
00 10
00 00 09
00 07 06
Nathaniell Hodges
00 10
00 01 09
00 06 03
John Hodges
00 10
00 09 07
00 09 06
Thomas Stevens
00 10
00 09 07
00 06 09
Eliezer Edy
00 10
00 00 07
00 05 00
Ebenezer Edy
00 10
00 00 08
00 05 10
Benjamin Newland
00 10
00 00 09
00 01 06
Robert Tucker .
00 10
00 00 09
00 02 04
Nicholas White
00 10
00 03 01
00 10 04
John Andrews
00 00
00 00. 09
00 00 00
John Skiner
00 10
00 01 08
00 03 07
John Hall
00 10,
00 00 09
00 06 02
Joseph Brigs
00 10
00 00: 10
00 03 03
Richard Brigs
00 10
00 01 03
00 01 00
Eliezer Fisher .
00 10
00 01 05
00 03 06
Israell Fisher
00 10
00 00 00
00 01 06
Benjamin Williams
00 10
00 01 07
00 05 06
John Wetharell
00 10
00 08 00
00 09 10
William Wetharell
00 10
00 02 02
00 07 00
John Austin
00 10
00 02. 03.
00 07 03
Nicolas Smith
00 10
00: 08 10
00 05 02
£ s.
£ s. d.
£ s. d.
Samuell Brintnell .
01 00
00 05 09
00 15 04
19*
222
MEETING-HOUSES OF THE
Rate-Bill, continued.
NAMES.
IIeads.
Real Estate.
Personal Estate.
John Brigs, Jun.
00 10
00 01 00
00 03 09
John Caswell .
01 00
00 01 01
00 08 08
Benjamin Caswell .
00 10
00 04 03
00 04 07
John Newland .
00 10
00 05 10
00 08 10
Seth Dorman
00 10
00 00 00
00 01 06
Jeremiah Wetherell
00 10
00 00 00
00 01 06
Joseph Eliot
00 10
00 00 00
00 01 06
William Hodges
00 10
00 02 08
00 01 06
Mathew White
00 10
00 00 09
00 05 04
Ephreim Sheldon
00 10
00 01 05
00 05 00
Isaac Shapard .
00 10
00 00 00
00 02 06
William Wetharell, Jun.
00 10
00 00 00
00 01 06
John Brigs, Sen.
00 10
00 00 08
00 01 06
Daniel Braman
00 10
00 01 05
00 03 06
John Lane .
00 10
00 00 06
00 01 06
Peter Aldrich
00 10
00 00 09
00 06 11
Nathaniell Hervey
00 10
00 00 00
00 01 06
s.
£ s. d.
£ s. d.
"This Rate, being for the building a meeting-house in Taun- ton north precinct, was made by us, the subscribers, this 18 day of Jen., 1709-10, being 42 pounds and 21 shillings put in for the constable.
" GEORGE LEONARD, JOHN SKINNER, Assesors."
Without a doubt, the house was erected early in the spring of 1710, on the site designated by the court's committee. Rev. Pitt Clarke says it stood " about ten feet" to the east of the second meeting-house. The site of the second house is marked on the map, in the introductory chapter ; and it will be seen at a glance, that there was good ground for the complaints we have recorded in the third chapter (pp. 30 and 31), on account of the first meeting-house not being located near the centre of the precinct.
Of the dimensions of this house we can learn nothing. It, no doubt, fronted directly to the south ; and was a respectable house for those times. Yet, we
223
CONGREGATIONAL PARISH.
presume, it was not much better than many of the barns at the present day. When built, it had a gallery on three sides. The house was not completely finished for some years after its erection. In 1714, - the year that Mr. Avery was ordained, - a rate of twenty pounds was made towards finishing the meeting- house. There were probably no pews, or at least but one or two, for several years after its occupancy for public worship. In the early history of New England, as soon as convenient after the erection of a house of worship, a pew was made for the minister. Some of the richest and most aristocratic citizens of the town sometimes also indulged in such a luxury ; but, if they did so, it was at their own expense. The people generally, in their poverty, were obliged to put up with such accommodations as could be procured without much trouble or expense. Rude boards, or plank seats without any backs, - perhaps laid upon blocks or stones, thus giving them a proper elevation above the floor in front and at the sides of the pulpit, - were, in those times, considered amply sufficient for the physical comfort of those who went to the house of God for the sole purpose of worship. Yet, even on these poor apologies for seats, the people were not al- lowed to arrange themselves promiscuously at pleasure or convenience. The men were usually seated on one side of the broad aisle or the passage leading from the front-door to the pulpit, and the women on the other. The wealth and rank or the standing of the individual in society also determined whether he should have a front or a back seat.
At a meeting held May 23, 1715, the matter of seating the meeting-house was considered, and acted upon. The record says, -
" Whereas they Voted at a Town-meeting, may the 2 day, 1715, to have the Inhabitants of the Town seeted in the meeting-House according to order, they now Voted to choose a Committee to Seet the people as abovesaid: and yt the said Committee Shall have power to Seet the people in all the Seets in the meeting-House, Except the pews and the pew
224
MEETING-HOUSES OF THE
Round the Table ; which place the Town Reserves to them- selves to Seet, When they Se cause, or to take down. and the Rules they Gave to the Committee To act by ware as followeth : -
" That they have Respect, in the first place, to What Every one hath payd to the building of the meeting-House; Secondly, to what Every one doth now pay to the mantaining of the minister, and other Town-Charges; thirdly, that they have Respect to Age; and that There famalyes are Seeted ac- ·cordingly.
" They made Choice of George Leonard, Samuel Brint- nall, Nicholas White, Thomas Stevens, and John Brigs, to be a committee to Seet the meeting-house as abovesaid."
" October the 24th, 1715, the committee that ware Ap- pointed to Seet the meeting-house made their Report to the Town, by a writeing under their hands, how they had Seeted the Inhabitants of the Town in the meeting-house; Which writing was then Read to the Town by George Leonard, Town Clerk."
As soon as the people are seated " according to order " in the meeting-house, the town undertake to regulate other matters, as the vote we here give shows : -
"Nov. 29th, 1715, It was put to vote, Wether the pew Round the Table where the Deacon Sets shoold be Taken down, or whether it shoold stand and not be Took down; and the Vote past that it shoold stand, and not be Took down, - it being a very clear vote.
" Nicholas Smith Entered his protest against it."
Sept. 18, 1716, the town voted " To Samuel Hodges, for Timber about the meeating-Hous, 01-01-06.""
In a short time, the pew near the deacon's seat be- came again a source of trouble. We here present the reader with the proof : -
" At a Town-meeting in July 24th, 1717, The town did voat that ye act that ye town passed the 29th day of novem- ber, 1715, that the pew agining to the Decon's seat shuld stand, - the town do at this time Repeall said act, and make it null, void, and of no Effect, as tho' it had never been; and the said pew be taken down and Removed; and that thar be
225
CONGREGATIONAL PARISH.
a Raill Sett up before the decon's seatt, and faced with bords, as it was bult at first, and a Communion-table bult on the toape thereof; and the Raills, befor the fore seats that was Cutt, to be bult out to their former Lingth again.
" It being a very clear voat, & not one negative to the Contrary .. Emediatley Leftenant Brintinal, George Leonard, Thomas Stephens, Joseph Briggs, Beniamin newland, Eliazer fisher, Se., Thomas Grover, Se., John Hall, Thomas Skiner, Se., Ephraem Grover, Enteread thare protest against it.
" Jeremiah basit Entred his protest in the Evning of sd. day."
" Norton, July ye 27, 1717, & beniamin williams protests against the town Repeling aney former act made by the towne of norton, that the pue or Seat Round the tabl before ye pulpit in the meeting-hous, in sd. norton, should stand, & be Seated; allso against town's, or ane Comity chosen the last town-meeating, taking down or altring said pew or seat, or the too fore seats belo, in sd. meeting-hous."
How the matter was settled the record saith not : probably the pew was "took down."
Nov. 2, 1719, there was voted by the town "To John Briggs, grand Se., for Sweeping the meating-house, 01-00-00; To Richard Briggs, for Locking and unlocking the meeating-hous, 01-02-09." For some years subsequent, similar votes were passed, - John Briggs receiving, for sweeping, one pound ; and Richard Briggs, for unlocking the house, thirteen shillings and sixpence.
In 1738, there was " voted to the Rev. Mr. Joseph Avery, for his negro's sweeping the meeting-House, and Locking and unlocking the same, £2-0-0."
In later years, after his dismission, Mr. Avery was paid for "sweeping and Looking after the meating- house."
Oct. 16, 1721, " voted to pay Ebenezer Burt, for mend- ing the ketch of ye meeting-house dore, 0-1-0."
Dec. 31, 1722, it was "voted yt ye interest of ye towne of norton's Part of ye Last fifty thousand Pounds Bank Shall Go towards ye finishing of Norton meeting-house."
226
MEETING-HOUSES OF THE
June 20, 1723, it was "voted that the Selectmen that are now shall Lay out our town's Part of the Interest money that was Granted towards ye finishing ye meeting-house ; that they shall Lay it out towards ye Lathing and Plastering ye sd. meeting-house, and in mending ye Glass, some time this fall coming; and Give a acount of theyr doings tharein to ye towne."
Sept. 14, 1724; voted " to Elezer fisher, for worke about ye meeting-house, 0-18-1."
Sept. 26, 1732, " Voted to John Wetherel, Sen., for ye comunion-table, & nails and bords & work dun apon that akounte, the sum of 01-0-0."
At a precinct1-meeting held Nov. 24, 1737, they " Voted for Reparing the meeting-house, and for makeing the Precint-Rate, and to Git a Lock for sd. meeting-House, the sum of £10-00-00."
" Sept. 25th, 1739, the Precint Voted for to Raise another Gallery above the other Gallery ; that ye meeting-house be Borded below, and claborded above, where it is wanting; that John Andrews, Benjamin Hodges, and Ephraim Lane, shall be a Comitee to Buld a Galery [and] too [make] Seets all over the other Galerys, and Bord and Clabord the meet- ing-house, whare it is wanting Round the outside, at the charge of the sd. Precent. [They also] voted the sum of 30-00-00 for the Raising the Galery, and Bording and Clabording the same."
It is somewhat doubtful whether these votes were ever carried into effect. If so, it is evident that the house was graced or disgraced with the two galleries, one above the other. If the second gallery was added, it must have been done - we judge from the record - by raising the roof up, so as to give more height to the house. We think the upper gallery would have
1 We will here state that the town managed all the pecuniary affairs re- lating to the minister and meeting-house till 1731, when the North-Precinct religious society was established. From that time till the North Precinct ceased to be a part of Norton, in 1770, the ministerial affairs were managed by the parish or South Precinct. From 1770 to 1783, when the parish was incorporated, the town again assumed the control of the ministerial matters. Since the parish was incorporated, the town has had no voice in parochial affairs.
1
227
CONGREGATIONAL PARISH.
been rather an awkward place to be seated in. Per- haps it was designed more especially for the negroes.
The project of building a new meeting-house was mooted in 1740, but not much progress made in that direction : for at a precinct-meeting on the 5th of January, 1740-41, " Thare was a vote Caled for, to Know whether they would Buld a new meeting-house where the old meeting-house Stands, or near thare- abouts ; and it passed in the negative." Immediately after the dismission of Mr. Avery, the question rela- tive to a new meeting-house was revived ; but at the annual meeting of the precinct, March 1, 1748-9, they " voted that they would do nothing about Bulding of a meeting-house at Presant."
Nearly two years go by before the project is again seriously revived. Two or three ministers had been invited to settle in the precinct, but had declined. Perhaps it was thought, if a new house of worship was built, a minister would be more likely to accept a call. No doubt, there were a variety of considerations that induced some individuals to present the following petition to their Prudential Committee : -
"NORTON, January ye 15th, 1750-51.
"To the Honble Comittee of the south Precint in Norton.
" This is to desire you to warne a south-Precint meeting to be at the meeting-House in sd. Precint, on the 21st day of this Instant January, or as soone as may be by Law, to see what the Inhabitants of sd. Precint will do in Repayering the old meeting-house, or Bulding a new House in ye same Place, or as near to the old House as may be Convenant ; and to do what sd. Precint shall think Propper to be done, in order to Carey on sd. Busines.
" Benj. Cobb, Seth Smith, Timothy Briggs, John King, William Basset, Samuel Mory, Ebenezer Burt, William Cobb, Nathan Babbit, James Boldery, Juner, Seth Gilbert, Ephraim Lane, 2nd, Samuell Dean, Thomas Shepard."
At the meeting held, agreeably to the wishes of the above petitioners, on the twenty-first day of January, " they voted that they would Buld a sutabell meeting- house on the town's Land, whare the old meeting-house
228
MEETING-HOUSES OF THE
stands now." Then adjourned for one week, no doubt in order to consult together about the details. On the 28th of January, at the adjournment, -
" Voted to Buld the sd. meeting-house forty feett wide and fifty feett Long, and to be twenty feet hey Between Joynts.
" Voted to Raise one hundred and sixty Pounds, Lawfull money, to buld the abovesd. meeting-house.
" Made choice of George Leonard, Sen., Capt. Simeon Wetherell, and William Codington, to be a Committee to agree with Persons for the timber, Plank, and Bords, and other things necesary for the Bulding sd. meeting-house ; and for sd. meteriels to be Ready on sd. town's Land, by ye old meeting-hous, by the first day of March, 1751-2."
Nearly a year passed away without much progress being made. On the 27th of November, 1751, the parish voted that the meeting-house should be "twen- ty-five [feet] stud," "sixty feet in length," and " planked and shingled on ye sides."
At an adjourned meeting, Dec. 16, the vote " re- specting the Planking and shingling " the house was reconsidered ; and it was decided " to stud and Board sd. Meeting-house," and that it should " be but fifty- five feet in Length."
At another adjourned meeting, Dec. 30, the decision was to have the house " sixty feet in Length."
March 17, 1752, the parish -
" Made choice of William Coddington to be Carpenter to fraime sd. meeting-house.
" Voted, that George Leonard, Esqr., Capt. William Stone, & Capt. Simeon Witherell, Thomas Morey, and William Coddington, be a Committee to take the Care and oversight of fraiming the sd. New Meeting-house, and to appoint who shall work about it, and to notify them of the times or days they shall work ; and to sett the Price of Each Man's work in ye same Proportion, as near as they can, to ye Prices of the timber & stuff there is already Gott and Getting for sd. house ; and also to Provide stones, and Git it under-Pind before it is Raised ; and also to Provide for the Raising thereof as soon as may be, & to Git it Raised as soon as Ready.
229
CONGREGATIONAL PARISH.
" Voted, that notwithstanding what they have before voted Respecting the Length of sd. meeting-house, that sd. meeting- house be but fifty-five feett in Length ; and that sd. Commitee to order the fraiming thereof but fifty-five feet in Length."
We presume the prospect of having a minister settled did much to stimulate them to push forward with vigor the building of the house. In building this house, the members of the parish agreed in writ- ing, under their respective signatures, to give a certain amount of lumber and other materials needed. The value of the lumber, &c., thus contributed, was to be taken from the tax assessed upon each individual for building the house.
I have found a large number of these "Recepts Given to Gitt Timber," a few of which we transcribe for the benefit of the curious. The first one is given entire. We omit from the others the date, and what relates to the delivering of the articles to the Building Committee.
" I, the subscriber, Promise to Gitt 4 lock-tenant Posts, 26 feet Long, Eleven inches square, and Good white-oak timber well Hewed, and deliver them to George Leonard, Simeon Wetherell, & William Codington, Committee of ye south pre- cint at ye old meeting-house, by ye first of March next, at Eleven Pound, old tenner Price, out of my Rates and my Mother's. dated Dec. 5th, 1751.
"JONATHAN HODGES."
"I promise to gitt 60 Jice, 14 feet Long, 4 and 22 inches square, at 18 shillings a hundred feet in length ; and 25 Jice, 15 feet long, 53 and 4 inches square, at 30 shillings, old ten- ner, for a hundred feet in Length; to be paid out of my and son John's Rates.
" BENJA. COBB."
"I Promise to Gitt five thousand of Good seeder Laths, full four feet and a halfe Long all of them, and to be full half Inch thick, and to be clear stuff, and no Knots nor hart Lathes, and to be Got out of Good stuff, noways twisting ; at the Price of three Pound, old tenner, a thousand.
" JOHN KING."
20
230
MEETING-HOUSES OF THE
"I promise to gitt 211b., old tenner, worth of Good Large tugh shingell nails, at twenty-five shillings, old tenner, a thou- sand ; to be allowed out of my Rates, my father's, and Timo- thy Smith's Precent Rates.
" DAVID SMITH."
"I promise to Gitt 2 sills, forty feet long, 9 and 8 Inches square, to be good white oak and well Hewed; to be at 41b., old tenner, each.
" SAMLL. MOREY."
"I Promise to Git 5,000 of good shingell nails, at twenty- eight shillings, old tenner, a thousand.
"" WILLIAM COBB."
"I Promise to Git 1,250 Good Ceder shingells, 14 Inches Long, well shaved, and sawed square at ye But End, and no- ways winding, at ye Rate of 41b. 10s., old tenner, a thousand, & be alowed out of my Precent Rate.
"JOSEPH ANDREWS."
"I promise to Git one thousand of Good seeder shingels, 18 Inches long, at 5£, old tenner ; to be paid out of mine and my mother's Rates.
" ELIZABETH GILBERT."
" Wee Promise to geet eleven, good planck, 17 feet long and 14 inches wide, all square-edged, two inches and one- quarter of an inch thick, att the price of five pound, old tenner.
" BENJAMIN COBB, Jr. NATHAN BABBIT, Jr."
" I Promise to get 13 good Raills for the seets for the new meeting-house, 17 feet long, three inches and half thick, and five inches deep; and five sills, 16 feet long; & inches deep, 5} ; all to be att the same price yt the planck are goot for the seets.
"JONATHAN EDDY."
"I promise to Gitt 2 Beems, forty-two feet Long, twelve and teen Inches square; and four lock-tenant's Posts, to be 26 feet Long, 10 inches square; to be Good white-oake tim- ber, well Hewed; at 191b. 10s., old tenner, to be Paid out of my Rates, John Hodges' and Timothy Hodges' Rates.
" JOSEPH HODGES."
231
CONGREGATIONAL PARISH.
" I promise to Gitt 900 hundred feet of Good Oak Boards, Inch thick, Square-edged, 14} feet long, at ye Rate 101b., old tenner, a thousand.
" THOMAS SHEPARD."
" I promise to Gitt two thousand and a quarter of good ceder shingells, at 51b., old tenner, a 1,000, towards my Pre- cint Rates ; and one thousand and a quarter more for Joseph Coles ; all to be 18 Inches long.
"JAMES GODFREE."
"I promise to Gitt seven Hundred of Good Pitch-Pine Boards, at ye Rate of fifteen Pound a thousand; to be to- wards mine and my father's Rates.
" EPHRAIM WETHERELL."
Sept. 27, 1752, it was voted -
"That the Committee that were appointed for building the New Meeting-house Get the Glass, Build the Pulpit, the front of ye Galarys, and Get the stuff for ye seets, and Get the Lower flooer Laid, and the Galery flooers Laid, and the flooer Laid suitable for ye pews to be Bult on, and window- shetters for the Lower windows on ye outside."
The approaching ordination of Mr. Palmer served to stimulate all parties in the work of erecting the house, as they were anxious to have the ordination take place in the new building. As the year 1752 drew towards a close, the meeting-house approached towards com- pletion. Accordingly, Dec. 8, the parish -
" Voted to sell ye old meeting-house in sd. precinct, pro- vided any person will appear to Give any thing for it that ye sd. precinct, or a Committee of sd. precinct Chosen for that purpose, shall think proper to sell it for ; or to sell it at a van- due, as they shall think proper, either ye whole at once, or any part thereof a time, as shall be Best; and that whoever shall purchase ye sd. Meeting-house shall move it from ye place where it now stands, in three months next after he shall purchase the same."
Capt. Simeon Wetherell, Deacon Benjamin Hodges, and Lieut. Thomas Morey, were appointed a committee to sell the house.
232
MEETING-HOUSES OF THE
At an adjourned meeting, Dec. 11, it was -
" Voted, that the pew on the East side of the Pulpit, and next to the Pulpit, be a pew for ye use and Improvement of the ministry in ye sd. Precinct; and that the Minister of sd. Precinct shall have ye use and Improvement of ye same, so Long as he shall be their Minister, and no Longer.
" Voted, that ye pews in ye new meeting-house be sold, at a publick vandue, to ye highest Bidder.
" Voted, that a pew be Left, and not Sold, which Mr. Avery & his wife shall have ye use and Improvement of dureing the Pleasure of the Precinct, and no Longer; and that, when ye sd. Precinct shall see cause, may dispose of ye same.
"Then voted, that ye pew Left for ye use and Improve- ment of Mr. Avery and his wife, as aforesd., be ye third pew from ye East end of the pulpit.
" That the money that shall be Raised by the Sale of the sd. meeting-house shall be disposed of towards ye Building ye New Meeting-house.
" Voted, that three Seats be made in each Galery by ye Committee before appointed for ye Building sd. meeting- house ; and that the seets Below, in ye old meeting-house, be Removed to ye New meeting-house by ye sd. committee, and pews made all around ye Inside of ye meeting-house, and Six Pews Behind ye Body-seets Below, and no more.
" Voted, that notwithstanding what was before voted Re- specting a pew being Left for Mr. Avery and his wife, that the said pew shall be sold also to ye highest Bider with ye Rest; but that the purchaser shall not have ye Use and Im- provement of ye same, so long as the sd. Precinct shall see cause to Let Mr. Avery and his wife have it as aforesd., but shall have the same when ye sd. precinct shall see cause to take ye use and Improvement thereof from the sd. Mr. Avery and wife.
" Voted, that no person that shall By a pew shall sell ye same again, without a vote of sd. Precinct for it, unless he sell his farm, & Remove out of sd. precinct."
" DEC. 28th, 1752.
" Voted Not to have any Pews Built on ye west End of the men's seets Below, and on the East End of the woman's seets Below, in ye New meeting-house.
" Voted Not to have pews in the Galery of the new Meeting-house.
233
CONGREGATIONAL PARISH.
" Voted, that the Honor. George Leonard, Esqr., shall have the Pew Joyning to the Pulpit-stairs, in ye new meet- ing-house, he allowing Eighty pounds, old tener (which is equall to ten pounds, thirteen shillings, and fourpence), for it, out of what he has don towards Building sd. meeting-house, more than his rates."
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