USA > Massachusetts > Bristol County > Norton > History of the town of Norton, Bristol County, Massachusetts, from 1669 to 1859 > Part 8
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
" Granted January the fifth, 1710, by the Committee for the sixty-four-acre division.
" Attest :
" THOMAS LEONARD, Clerk." 1
1 Proprietors' Records (Sixty-four-acre Division), p. 127.
1
James Walker, Senior
2
Thomas Lincoln, Grand Senior
Shadrack Wilbore
1
1
Jonathan Williams
1
60
SETTLEMENT OF A MINISTER,
This land included all the farm now owned by Alva- ris Caswell ; a portion of the Rev. Pitt Clarke estate ; also the lot back of Mrs. Harriet Barrow's new house ; the lot back and southerly of the Town House; and probably the lots occupied by the Mansion House and Mr. Rogerson's store, &c.
Judge Thomas Leonard, one of the proprietors of the iron-works, and the father of George, who took so con- spicuous a part in securing the grant of a precinct, in his will, dated Jan. 29, 1711-12, and probated Feb. 5, 1713-14, gave to the first minister that should be "orderly settled " in the western part of Taunton North Precinct, and continue there in the ministry seven years, twenty acres of land ; and, in case he con- tinued fourteen years in the ministry, twenty acres more : but if he did not remain fourteen years, then the second settled minister who should remain seven years was to have the last twenty acres. This land was situated northerly of the road between Schuyler Freeman's and the Holman Place. Possibly Mr. Free- man's house stands on a part of the lot.
The departure of Mr. Phillips compelled the precinct to look about for a new candidate. Mr. Danforth has a particular friend whom he wishes to have settle as his near neighbor, and strongly urges the people to hear him. He was at that time preaching at Freetown. But things did not look so promising to him there as at Taunton North Precinct; and hence he wished to preach here. This man was Joseph Avery. With the advice and at the urgent solicitations of their old pas- tor, Mr. Danforth, the North-Precinct people consent to have Mr. Avery preach to them a few times. On what all-important Sunday he appeared before the assembled wisdom and gravity of our Puritan Fathers, as a candidate for the holy office to which he wished to consecrate himself, we do not know ; but it was proba- bly in September or October, 1710, soon after Mr. Phil- lips left, - possibly the next Sunday. His services are acceptable to the people. Mr. Danforth urges them to give him a call. We are therefore prepared to find the following record : -
¥
.
61
AND ORGANIZATION OF THE CHURCH.
" December the 23rd, 1710. - At a meeting of the Inhabi- tants of Taunton North Purchase, [they,] 2ly, made choice of Mr Joseph Avery to settle with them in the work of the ministree, and to be their minister, if he see Cause to Exceept.
" 3ly, they made choice of George Leonard and Nicholas White to go and acquaint Mr. Avery that they have chose him for their minister, and also to treet with him about his settleing with them in the work of the ministree.
" 4, the meeting was adjourned to the third day of January next."
"Jan. 3rd, 1710-11, they voted to Give Mr. Avery 15s. a sabath, for the time that he shall trantiently Preach among them, before they have come to any certin Bargaine with him; and also 15s. for ye Last Sabath."
"feb. 2nd, 1710-11, ye comitee ware ordered to make their Proposals to Mr. Avery."
But he is in no hurry to return an answer to the " call " he had received. While he is debating in his own mind whether he shall accept or not accept the invitation thus proffered, and asking the guidance of Heaven in the matter, we will take occasion to look somewhat into his private history. Rev. Joseph Avery, the fourth and youngest child of William and Elizabeth (White) Avery, was born in Dedham, April 9, 1687. His mother was his father's second wife. By his first wife, William Avery had four children ; so that Joseph was the eighth child on the father's side. Joseph's father (probably born in England), who came over, when quite young, with his father William, was a man of some consequence, being deacon of the church, and holding at different times the offices of town-clerk and selectman of Dedham. Of Joseph's boyhood and early life we can gather nothing. His father holding, however, an important office in the church, and the fact that the son selected the holy work of the mini- stry as his profession, furnishes some evidence that he was " brought up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord." Mr. Avery graduated at Harvard College in 1706, at the early age of nineteen. His brother John, two years older, graduated at the same time, and was subsequently settled in the ministry at Truro. The
6
62
SETTLEMENT OF A MINISTER,
same year that Joseph left college, he was employed at Rehoboth "to keep school within the Ring of the Green, for a quarter of a year, for seven pounds ten shillings, silver money." 1
Previous to Oct. 30, 1710, he had preached at Freetown ; for, on that day, John Hathaway and twenty-three others, of Freetown, petition the General Court2 to grant aid to Mr. Avery for his encourage- ment to preach still among them. They ask the court to give as much "as they were pleased to give last year." March 17, 1710-11, the court passed the fol- lowing resolution : -
" Resolved, that there be allowed and paid out of the Pub- lic Treasury to Mr. Joseph Avery, after the Rate of Twenty Pounds per annum, for each Sabbath he hath or shall preach at Freetown, from the time he was last paid to the session of the Court in May next.
" Consented to :
" J. DUDLEY." 8
We presume this movement at Freetown was made because Mr. Avery had left them to preach as a candi- date here, and they were anxious to retain his services. It is supposed, however, that he did not return to Free- town to preach for any length of time, but continued to minister to the people here ; for " at a meeting of the town of Norton, Sept. 19th, 1711, voted to Mr. Avery his salary, £40. 0s. 0d." This was for his first year's service. A year went by after he was called to settle, and no response is received from Mr. Avery ; yet the general understanding in the town is, that he will finally accept the call, if sufficient encouragement is given. At any rate, his hearers mean, if it is in their power, to win him from any other love he may have. Accordingly, the project of building him a house was started. "Yes," says one (and we have no doubt who he was), " let us build a parsonage. Let us give him a place to live in, and he will be the more likely to remain." That man was George Leonard. "I second
1
1 Bliss's History of Rehoboth, p. 133.
2 State Papers, vol. xi. p. 369.
8 General-Court Records, vol. ix. p. 100.
63
AND ORGANIZATION OF THE CHURCH.
the motion," says another. "It is a capital idea : for, as things now are, the foxes have holes, and the birds have nests ; but our minister has not where to lay his head." That man was Nicholas White. And, when George Leonard and Nicholas White combine to do any thing, it must be done. Certainly, as we shall see, they were more successful than the parish have been in later times about building a parsonage.
A tax was levied upon the town to assist the mini- ster in providing a habitation. We here present the tax-list to our readers : -
RATE-BILL FOR MR. AVERY'S HOUSE.
NAMES.
Heads.
Real Estate.
Personal Estate.
George Leonard
13 04
00 15 06
00 14 01
Lt. Samuel Brintnell
20 00
00 04 04
00 05 05
Samuel Hodges
13 04
00 02 09
00 05 02
John Cob.
06 08
00 00 03
00 01 09
Selvanis Cambell
06 08
00 01 08
00 01 10
Nathaniel fisher
06 08
00 00 03
00 02 09
Andrew Grovier
06 08
00 01 04
00 02 01
Ephreim Grovier
06 08
00 01 04
00 04 00
Thomas Grovier
06 08
00 01 07
00 03 10
John Hodges
06 08
00 03 03
00 06 00
Nathaniell hodges
06 08
00 02 01
00 03 10
Thomas Stevens
06 08
00 03 03
00 04 00
Eliezer Edye
06 08
00 02 02
00 03 03
Benjamin Newland
06 08
00 01 04
00 00 09
Robert Tucker
06 08
00 01 05
00 01 10
Nicolas White
06 08
00 02 05
00 06 05
John Skiner .
06 08
00 02 07
00 03 10
John hall .
06 08
00 01 04
00 04 07
Petter Aldrich
06 08
00 00 09
00 03 04
Joseph Briggs
06 08
00 01 04
00 00 07
Richard Briggs .
06 08
00 01 05
00 01 04
Eliezer fisher
06 08
00 01 04
00 02 08
Israell fisher
06 08
00 00 00
00 01 04
Benjamin Williams
06 08
00 01 05
00 04 08
John Wetherell, Sen.
13 04
00 03 04
00 07 02
William Wetharell, Sen.
13 04
00 01 09
00 05 00
s. d.
£ s. d.
s. d.
64
SETTLEMENT OF A MINISTER,
Rate-Bill, continued.
NAMES.
Heads.
Real Estate.
Personal Estate.
John Austin .
06 08
00 01 07
00 02 04
Nicolas Smith .
06 08
00 03 04
00 06 08
John Brigs, Jun. .
06 08
00 01 09
00 02 08
John Caswell, Sen.
06 08
00 01 04
00 07 10
Benjamin Caswell .
06 08
00 01 04
00 02 05
John Newland .
06 08
00 03 04
00 05 00
Seth Dorman
06 08
00 00 03
00 00 00
Joseph Eliot
06 08
00 00 00
00 01 04
William Hodges
06 08
00 01 05
00 03 06
Mathew White .
06 08
00 01 04
00 02 11
Isaac Sheapard.
06 08
00 00 00
00 01
4
Samuell fisher
06 08
00 00 00
00 03
4
John Smith .
06 08
00 02 05
00 03 10
John Lane
13 04
00 00 00
00 00
0
Ebenezr Edye
06 08
00 01 04
00 01 10
Daniell Braman
06 08
00 02 09
00 02 05
William Wetharell, Jun.
06 08
00 00 00
00 01 06
William Cobb
06 08
00 00 00
00 00 00
Nathaniell Hervey
06 08
00 00 00
00 01 10
John Wetharell, Jun.
06 08
00 00 00
00 01
4
Samuell Brintnell, Jun. .
6 08
00 00 00
00 00 9
Samuell Bayley
06 08
00 00 06
00 01
4
John Brigs, Sen.
06 08
00 01 10
00 02 05
James Caswell .
06 08
00 00 00
00 00
9
Edward White .
06 08
00 00 00
00 00 0
Samuell Blake, Sen. .
00 00
00 02 06
00 00 0
Widow Smith
00 00
00 00 00
00 02
1
Benjamin Willis
00 00
00 01 00
00 00
0
Samuell Alline .
00 00
00 01 00
00 00 00
Robert Woodward
00 00
00 01 08
00 00
0
Thomas Hervey, Sen.
00 00
00 00 10
00 00 0
William Hervey, Jun.
00 00
00 00 10 00 00 0
Morgan Cobb
00 00
00 00 08
00 00
0
Jonathan Lincoln .
00 00
00 00 10
00 00
0
Jeremiah Newland
00 00
00 00
10
00 00
0
Hanah Deen
00 00
00 00 10
00 00
0
William pratt
06 08
00 00 00
00 00 0
Jonathan Williams
00 00
00 01 01
00 00 0
James Leonard, Jun. .
00 00
00 02 03
00 00 0
George Hodges
00 00
00 00 09
00 00 0
s. d.
£
s. d.
£ s. d.
65
AND ORGANIZATION OF THE CHURCH.
"This rate, being to pay Mr. Avery 32 pounds towards building his house, was made by us, the subscribers, this first day of January, 1711-12. it contains 32. 8. 0., Besides 0. 16. 6. put in for the constable. the eight shillings is for makein the rate.
" GEORGE LEONARD, JOHN WETHEREL, Assesors."
THOMAS STEPHENS,
Those whose heads are not rated were, no doubt, non- residents. The house was, we presume, erected soon after the rate was made, though not entirely finished for some years. This house, thus early built for Mr. Avery, stood on the land already given to and laid out for the first minister ; and a portion of it is still (1858) standing. It is owned by Mr. Caswell, and occupied by the present pastor of the Congregational parish. We here give a picture of it as it now appears.
77 TAYLOR & ADAMS
Mr. Avery's House, built in 1711-12.
It now fronts to the east. The end we see in the picture is to the south, and was originally a portion of the front-side of the house. A large room, nearly twenty feet square, was, some years since, taken off from the west end ; and an addition from what is now
6*
66
SETTLEMENT OF A MINISTER,
the front-door, towards the north, was put on, many years ago, as an L. The roof was originally four- sided, the south and north sides being longer than the east and west; the house being about forty-six feet long and twenty wide. There were two large rooms on the ground-floor, and two large chambers above. The space between the two rooms - about twelve feet wide - was occupied by a huge stone chimney, topped out with brick, which was taken down some twenty years ago, when a portion of the house was torn down, and the rest repaired, and the roof put on, as it now appears, by Capt. D. King.
While preparations for building him a house are going on, no response to the call came from the minister, who is still preaching to the people. The town, "Sept. 17th, 1712, voted to Mr. Avery, for his salary, 45-0-0." This was five pounds more than the year previous; a further evidence that the town are anxious to hear a favorable answer to their invita- tion. Another year passes away, and still Mr. Avery gives no answer. He certainly was a very deliberate man. The town, however, " let patience have its per- fect work ; " and, " Oct. 6th, 1713, voted to Mr. Avery, for his salary for this year, 45-0-0."
Almost another entire year passed away before we find the following record : -
"On the 13th of September, 1714, Mr. Avery Gave his answer, which was Excepted by ye town; and, on that day, thay voted to Mr. Joseph Avery his salary, 50-0-0." 1
Whether Mr. Avery's "answer" was written or verbal, we are not informed ; nor are we told whether it was an acceptance or declination of the call extended to him " to settle with them in the work of the mini- stree," nearly four years before. Yet we have abun-
1 From his settlement to 1720, his salary was £50; from 1721 to 1734, it was £60; in 1735 and 1736, it was £80; in 1737, £100; in 1738, £160. From 1739 to 1742, he had £120; then, for three years, he had £130. From 1746 to his dismission, his salary was £140.
67
AND ORGANIZATION OF THE CHURCH.
dant evidence that it was favorable to the wishes of the people.
And now, again, the town is all life and animation. A great and all-important event is soon to take place ; or rather, we may say, two events, - the gathering of a church, and the ordination of the candidate who has consented to become their teacher and spiritual adviser. The laying of the foundation of a new church of Christ in the wilderness was attended with many difficulties and inconveniences. Yet the men who peopled the wilderness, and were making it blossom like the rose, were not discouraged at trifles. The hand of God was leading them ; and hence they were sure to come out right in the end. The day of ordination is fixed upon. The pastor and messengers of some of the neighboring churches are invited to form a council, and assist in the work of consecration. In the mean time, measures were in progress for the gathering of a church ; a sort of nucleus, around which, it was hoped, a whole galaxy of saints would soon cluster. A covenant - which, in those days, was never very strictly construed, but was considered more as a bond of union among the members than as a creed - was prepared.
It is brought forward for the acceptance of those who had signified to the pastor elect their desire to become members of the proposed church.
The little band met ; not in an "upper room," for the houses in those days were principally of one story. Perhaps it was in the house of God, already erected, and so far completed as to be occupied. The pastor elect, in solemn tones and measured voice, read it over, sentence by sentence, for their acceptance. With a few additions and expurgations, it is made satisfactory to all. The vote of acceptance being taken, the pastor elect affixes his signature ; and, after him, walk up to the table, one by one, and pen their rude autograph or make their still ruder " mark," those whose names the reader will find attached to the document which we now present to the reader : -
68
SETTLEMENT OF A MINISTER,
COVENANT.1
"We, who are, by the holy and Gracious Providance of our most Gracious and mercifull God, Brought unto this Blessed oppertunetey, unto this Extreordinary duty, of Joyning ourselves together according to the Instituted Church visi- ble, Being deeply sencible of our own utter Insufficiancy (of ourselves) unto so high and holy a worke, as also a Privi- lidge; and having desired and Laboured solemnly and sinsarely to sarch our own hearts and ways, and to humble our souls deeply and Thoroughly before God, and to obtaine Pardon from Ilim, and Peace with him, through the Blood of Jesus Christ; and being also awfully apprehensive of the dreadfull Presance of God, - before whome we stand, - and of the appearance of our Lord Jesus Christ in the Exercise of [his] Kingly and Prophetical office in his church, - we do (in dependance upon his Grace, and the Conduct and assist- ance of his holy sperit, and in hope of his Gracious accept- ance), in his holy Presance, name, and fear, Solamnly, sincearly, visibly, and Profesedly, by our owne free act, Joyntly Give up ourselves and our seed to almighty God, as our only God, acording to the termes of his own everlasting Covenant; and unto our Lord Jesus Christ, as our only and absolute Saviour; engaging ourselves with all our Hearts and with all our soules unto him, in a way of obedience unto his Great Gospell ordinance of Church fellowship, to Live and walk together in a way of free and full subjection unto the only Power and authorety of him, our dear and Blesed Lord Jesus, the Great and only Shepard and Bishop of our souls, as his Power is visably and ministerially Exercised in the Reguler and orderly administration of all Gospel ordi- nances, Both of doctrine, discipline, and worship, in his Church, by such officers whome he has Gifted and Given unto his Church unto that end; and also as his Power is exer- cised in and over our souls by his holy Sperit, unto whome also we Give up ourselves to be an holy tempel in the Lord. And we do further Covenant with our Lord Jesus Christ,
1 The original draught of the covenant, with the autographs of the first members, is not to be found. It was undoubtedly the composition of Mr. Avery. The oldest copy we have found, the one before the reader, is mostly in the handwriting of Col. George Leonard; a few blank spaces being filled in the handwriting of Mr. Avery. The reader will perceive that there is very little theological doctrine in it. It was probably intended to be truly a covenant, and not a creed; for Mr. Avery was not a man who wished to en- slave the human mind.
69
AND ORGANIZATION OF THE CHURCH.
through the Graces of his holy Sperit, to Keep ourselves clear and free from all Profaine Communion with the Profaine world, and from all prophane communion with aney societies of men not walking acording to the Rules and command of Jesus Christ; and to Keep unto him, according to this our Holy covenant, with this Perticuler Instituted Church visbell. and further, we do, in the presence of God, and in his holy name and fear, Give up ourselves, one unto another, by the will of God, Covenanting to walk & Live together as mem- bers of a Church of Christ, Profesing and Practising that one only true Religion which is Revealed to us in the word of God, by the doctrine both of faith and obedience, according to that Knowledge which God has Given us of it; and also in the exercise of Brotherly Love and Christian Charety, in the Constant Performance of all duties of Church Commu- nion, under the Regular administration of word, prayers, seals, and censures, even all Church administration, and that as God shall help us, inoffensively and unblamebly, in order unto our mutuall edefycation and consolation. Finally, we do Covenant (by God's Grace) to Keep our Communion Pure and Intire within ourselves, and to maintaine orderly Com- munion with all other orthodox1 and Rightly Constituted Churches of Christ; endevering to Presarve the unity of the sperit in the Bond of Peace.
" This Holy Covenant we Humbly undertake in the name and fear of God, with Humble Confidence in and dependance upon him for the assistance of his Grace unto the faithfull Performance of all these our holy Covenant duties unto him- selfe, and one unto another, with Patience and Perseverance to the end with all; Humbelly and most hartely Praying that God would Pardon all our sins, both Past and Present, & accept of us as his Covenant People, and become our God. to him be Glory in the Church by Jesus Christ throughout all ages, world with [out] end. Amen.
" Dated ye 4th Oct., 1714.
" George Leonard, John Briggs, John Wetherell, Thomas Skinner, Peter Aldrich, Ephraim Grover, Joseph Donham, John Skinner, Israel Fisher, Thomas Grover, Nicholas White, Seth Dorman, John Hall."
1 The term "orthodox," as used among the early Puritans, we think, meant simply what we mean by the word " congregational" at the present time. It was used to designate those who held to a particular form of church government and ordinances from those who differed from them in
70
SETTLEMENT OF A MINISTER,
The signing of the document is to be regarded only as a preliminary step to the full and complete organi- zation of the church about three weeks later. The day of ordination, and of regularly constituting the church, at length arrived. On the morning of a day late in autumn were seen emerging from the woods, and coming through the by-paths, in every direction, men, women, and children, all seemingly centring to one point. Some, the more wealthy and aristocratic of the town, are on horseback, with their wives, and perhaps one or two children, on the pillion behind them. Others are on foot, carrying in one arm an infant, and leading with the other hand its older bro- ther or sister. The whole town is astir, and strangers from the neighboring settlements are also moving towards the same central point. That point is the new meeting-house, not yet completely finished. The occa- sion of this unusually large gathering, and the precise date of it, we find by turning to the church-records. The first entry made therein, in the handwriting of the first minister, explains the whole matter. It is in these words, viz. : ".A church was gathered in Nor- ton on the 28th of October, in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and fourteen."1 The names of "those who covenanted as members" are there given. They are the same as those who signed the covenant, Oct. 4; "and," says the record, "on the same day, Oct. 28, 1714, was ordained Mr. Joseph Avery as pastor of the church of Christ in Norton. He was the first minister in Norton. At his ordination, Rev. Samuel Danforth, of Taunton, gave the charge ; and the Rev. Thomas Greenward, of Rehoboth, gave the
this respect. It was used by the Puritans to distinguish themselves from the Baptist, Presbyterian, and Quaker sects, &c. There certainly, in times past, was as much difference of theological opinion between those styling themselves " Orthodox," as we now find among those denominated " Con- gregationalists." In the former term were included Calvinists and Ar- minians; as, in the latter, are included Trinitarians and Unitarians. If the word " orthodox " was used in its legitimate sense, -meaning " sound in doctrine,"- one sect had as much right to claim it as another; for all sects honestly believe that their doctrines are sound.
1 This was in Old Style. In New Style, the date would be Nov. 8, 1714.
71
AND ORGANIZATION OF THE CHURCH.
right hand of fellowship." No mention is made of any other ministers; yet probably some others were present.
The above is every scrap of authentic history that has come down to us of the proceedings relative to the organization of the church and the settlement of a mini- ster. Other persons, several of them the wives of the original members of the church, soon united with it; a deacon was chosen, &c .; of which we shall say more hereafter.
At quite an early period of our colonial existence, at the gathering of a church, those who proposed to join in covenant were required to make a declaration of their Christian experience. So also, for many years, for admission to a church already organized, a similar prerequisite was expected of candidates. The subse- quent as well as the original members were required to express their assent to the covenant, and to give satis- faction concerning their faith. We give below one of these confessions, or " experiences " as they were some- times called. The date of it is probably about 1743.
"I desire to bless God for that he hath cast my lot in a Gospel Land, whare I have the Glad tidings of a Saviour proclaimed in mine ears ; and for that I haue the holy Scrip- tures to Read, & to direct me in the ways of God's comands. And I allso desiar to bless God for his Goodness to me, that I desended of such parents, who taught and instructed me, and gaue me up to God in mine infency in baptisem; which is an ordinance apinted by Christ to beleiuers and their infant seed. &, notwithstanding God's goodness to me, I haue sined against him. I therefore acknowledge, I deserues no- thing from the hand of God but his wrath and indgnattion to be poured out upon me. But I would bless his most holy name that he hath put it into my heart to be making my peace with him. I have had a desire for som time to come to the Lord's table ; but, being in som measure sensable of my own unworthness, I daust not, least, by coming unworthily, I eat and drink judgment to myself. But I have taken incourige- ment from the word of God to come up to this holy ordi- nance; as in marthew xi. 28, 'Come unto me, all ye that Labour and are heavy-Laden, & I will giue you rest ;' John vi.
72
SETTLEMENT OF A MINISTER,
37, ' And he that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.' I desire to come hungering and thirsting after Christ, & to be putting my trust in him. I allso desire to forsake all sin, as it is a braaking of God's holy & ius law. I also desire the prayers of this Church to God for me, that so I may become a worthy communicant at the Lord's table."
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.