USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Princeton > History of the town of Princeton in the county of Worcester and commonwealth of Massachusetts, 1759-1915, Volume I > Part 11
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" pew next to minister pew.
4
" middle pew on the East side of the great doors.
5 " second pew on the west side of the great doors.
6 " first pew on the west side of the great doors.
7
" first pew on the East side of the pulpit.
8
" second pew on the north side of the East door.
9 " second pew on the north side of the west door.
10
" first pew in the Seats on the East side.
II
" first pew in the Seats on the west side.
12
" first pew on the north side of the East door.
13
" pew between the East door and Stairs.
14
,, ' pew between the west door and Stairs.
15
" pew on the northwest corner.
16 17
" first pew on the north side of the west door.
" third pew in the Seats on the East side.
18 " third pew in the Seats on the west side.
19 " third pew on the west Side of the great doors.
20
" pew in the northeast corner.
21
" Second pew in the Seats on the East side.
22
" Second pew in the Seats on the west side.
23
" third pew on the East side of the great doors.
It will be noticed that Dr. Harvey, who had the first choice, selected that on the right of the main entrance - a spot affording the occupants an excellent opportunity to see all that was going on in the house and also giving the good physician the means of quietly slipping out to attend the calls of his patients if any such he had.
As might be expected, the result was not pleasing to all and a protest was quickly entered by the disaffected.
Protest. " The Descent hereafter mentioned was en- tered at the above said meeting on ye 28 of May, 1766. We enter our Decent against the proceeding of this meeting for these reasons viz. - Whare as Unequallity of sum mens places being sett all most as high again as sum others which the proffits are near double for which reason sum men Loose their right of Drawing a pew. 2dly for not having a Dist. Clark reagerly chosun & sworn in Form."
Joseph Eveleth Eliphalet How Tilly Little Johns
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As conditions changed new assignments were resorted to to meet the new requirements, and the house was " dignified " several times although not always on the same basis.
In 1768 it was voted to " seat the Meeting House by the Valuation taken in the year 1766 " and to have " Reference to Age as well as to pay." As late as 1780 a similar vote was passed to seat the house " upon the two last years pay having Reference to Age," a combination calculated to silence the disaffected.
For many years scarcely a town meeting was held without its discussion about alterations or improvements in the house, and the numerous votes indicate the exceed- ingly crude condition of the building and the caution with which any changes tending to completion were made.
Some abstracts from the town records are here of interest.
May 8, 1766 " Voted to Take away four of the hind seats two of aside & Build pews and the ground be Sett at nine pound six Shillings & Eight pence & the Committee that was Chosen to Estimate ye other pew ground to Estimate this with ye other." "Also voted to Build six pews in the Room of the Seats and not to raise them but half as high upon the floor as the other pews on the foreside & the Seats not to be taken away till the pews are ready to be put up." (The disposition of the space alloted for the seats appears to have been a perplexing question. These two votes were reconsidered just one year later and at frequent intervals the subject was before the people. From the many votes, reconsiderations and apparently counter action it is impossible to determine how much of the space was eventually covered with pews.)
June 19, 1766. " Voted to build the Stairs into the galleries."
June 4, 1767. " Voted to lay ye Gallery floores & build a brest work & set up ye Pillars in their proper places & also build ye fore seats Round ye Galleries."
Mch. 7, 1768. " Voted to give Mr. Moses Gill a spot for a pew next to ye Broad Alley."
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Ecclesiastical History
Dec. 22, 1768. " Voted to build the seats in the Gal- leries that are mortised & that the seats taken up on the lower floor be used for that purpose."
June 1, 1769. " Voted to let Mr. Robert Keyes have ye two half seats in the Body Seats on the Womans side for a Pew, upon his relinquishing his Right in his Pew & seats in the Meeting House & paying twenty pounds old tenor & giving the Bolt for the front Dore."
July 31, 1769. " Voted to cut up two hind Seats in the Body Seats on the mens side for two pews " - Joseph Sargent to " have Pew next ye middle alley."
Mch. 5, 1770. " Voted to paint the Meeting House provided Mr. Moses Gill finds the paint."
(Mr. Gill doubtless sent up from Boston the necessary materials and the house was painted.)
Oct. 22, 1770. " Voted to Plaister ye Meeting House."
Jan. 21, 1771. " Voted ye Plaistering under ye Gal- leries be made Crowning & ye Plaistering white wash'd & ye Seats in ye Side Galleries be Finished."
Mch. 4, 1771. A proposition " to build a pew over ye Woman Stairs in ye Corner of ye Meeting House " and a similar one over " ye Mens Stairs " did not meet with favor, but it was voted to sell the room named, the pews to be built before the Meeting House was plastered. David Everett was the purchaser at the price of £4-7-II.
Mch. 8, 1772. Dr. Ephraim Woolson bought “ pew ground," showing that ten years after the house was raised, the desirable spaces for location of pews had not all been distributed.
Mch. 1772. The house appears not to have been as yet shingled upon the north side and the people were not quite ready to appropriate money for that purpose. They were, however, willing to pay Caleb Mirick the magnificent sum of eight shillings for taking care of the house for one year. As the modern luxuries of carpets, cushions and stoves had not then been introduced, the duties of the sexton may not have been laborious.
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History of Princeton
By this time the house appears to have been considered practically completed if we may judge from the absence of any action of the town in respect to changes for some eleven years. During this period, however, they were passing through the trying scenes of the Revolutionary War, when money was scarce and every dollar was needed to meet the pressing obligations of those days. It is noticeable that just two months after the treaty of peace was signed, in 1783, the town had the courage to build additional seats in the front gallery of the meeting house, no doubt looking forward to days of prosperity. It is difficult for many of us today to comprehend how the churchgoers of earlier times could be in any degree comfort- able during the winter season in houses without fires of any kind. And it is probably true that there was but little real comfort even when provided with the foot stoves which were considered necessary. The hour of inter- mission at noon was doubtless gladly welcomed when the hearth stones of Caleb Mirick and other neighboring fami- lies could be reached, and the needed comfort secured.
First Stove. The first and only mention of a stove in this meeting house is in August, 1786, when the town voted " that Mr. Gill have the preveledge to put up the stove mentioned in the 3d article, in the most Convenient place in the meeting house, and to Stand during his pleasure."
Choir. What portion of the house, if any, was assigned for the use of the choir we do not know - in fact the only hint that there were those who led the Congregation in their songs of praise, is found in the record of May 28, 1787 when it was " voted that the Division in the front gallery be moved three feet toward the Eastward, and that the ground be improved by the singers During the pleasure of the Town." To the singers in the second meeting house reference will be made hereafter.
Town Meetings. All the town meetings were held in the meeting house after 1764, although sometimes the bitter cold led to an adjournment to the tavern near by. It is a matter of record that some of these meetings were
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" adjourned for half an hour to Caleb Mirick's tavern " a proceeding that gives suggestions of the mug of flip and the toddy which were so generally used in the "good old days."
Horse Sheds. Whether there were erected near the meeting house previous to 1770 any horse sheds, does not appear, but in that year it was " voted to give liberty to Ebenezer Jones, Joseph Sergeant, Sam11 Hastings & Abner How to Build a Stable 28 feet long & 10 Feet wide North East of the great Rock, North west of the Meeting House " and also to Tilly Littlejohns, Paul Mathews, Elisha Hobbs, Sam11 Moseman & Abijah Harrington to Build a Stable 30 Feet Long & 10 Feet wide, North East of the aforesaid Spot." This vote was followed by others giving similar liberty for stables southwest of the meeting house, and on the north side of the common, and elsewhere, while the Hon. Moses Gill had the compliment of the gift of "a convenient Spot of Ground to build a Stable." In 1796 in considering some changes in the wall of the burying ground, a committee proposed the erection of a row of stables on the easterly end of the burying ground wall " which would rather ornament than injure or disfigure the street " and they were willing the town should direct " how they shall be covered and what color they shall be painted." These buildings differed from the later and commodious meeting house sheds adorning the grounds of country churches. They were divided into stalls for one horse only. The vehicle, if any, was left without cover, and the horse put into the stall and the door closed if desired. During the early years of the settlement the number of vehicles in town was small and such of the people as rode to church did so upon horseback - often two together.
As the number of vehicles increased, the necessity for the larger sheds appeared.
Church Organization. The approaching completion of the meeting-house in the Summer of 1764 naturally led to the consideration of the organization of a church. A
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History of Princeton
concise account of the preliminary proceedings and some of the subsequent transactions with the Covenant, Articles of Faith, etc., has been preserved in the handwriting of Rev. Joseph Davis of Holden, to whose suggestions and assistance the Princeton Church was greatly indebted.
This record indicates the methods adopted and some of the difficulties encountered in this first gathering of the church and is of sufficient interest to be given in its entirety.
" Some Minutes of the Proceedings of the Covenanting Brethren in Princetown in order to their being incorpor- ated into a Chh State; & some Account of their after Proceedings -
" Sometime in the Month of July Anno Domini 1764, A number of Persons, Members in full Communion with other Chhs, met together and came to an Agreement to be embodied into a Chh: Their Proposals were published in the Meeting House Lords Day evening & others were invited to joyn with them; They proposed a Fast to be on Aug. 30. Agreed to meet again Aug. II, & invited me to come among them; I did so; offered to them the follow- ing Covenant & 16 Persons Males & Females, met (that were then Non-Communicants, tho 9 of them had owned the Covenant) & desired to be of their Number, were the next Sabbath publickly propounded therefor; - Accord- ingly the following Covenant was signed on Aug. 12 by all the Persons whose Names are now annexed to it (except the Two last), they being all Present, & all declaring their Approbation of it, & their Christian Charity towards each other; & Then agreed to Send to a Council of 3 Chhs. viz. That in Rutland, in Holden, & the 2ª in Lancaster, to meet at Princetown on the 30 of Aug. to incorporate them into a particular Visible Ch. & publick Notice was given hereof.
The Sª Chhs. accordingly met, & the Persons that Signed the Covenant, who have Figures against their Names were incorporated & owned as a particular Visible Chh of Christ
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Ecclesiastical History
& the Right Hand of Fellowship was held forth to them by Sª Council.
Attest Jos. Davis Scribe to Sª Council.
The Covenant entered into August 12, 1764. We whose Names are hereunto Subscribed (Inhabitants of Prince- town) apprehending our Selves called of God into the Church State of the Gospel :
Do first of all confess ourselves unworthy to be so highly favoured of the Lord, and admire his free & rich Grace which calls us hereunto:
And then, with humble relyance, and entire dependance on the Assistance of his Grace & holy Spirit therein promised for them, that in a sense of their Inability to do any good thing, do humbly wait upon him for all, we do thankfully lay hold on His Covenant, & Solemnly enter into Covenant with God, & with one another according to God.
We declare our Serious belief of the Christian Religion as contained in the Sacred Scriptures (acknowledging them to contain the whole revealed Will of God concerning our Faith & Practice) heartily resolving to conform our Lives unto the Rules of that Religion as long as we live.
We give up our Selves unto the Lord Jehovah, the Father, the Son, & the holy Ghost, the only true and living God, and avouch him this Day to be our God & our Por- tion forever.
We give up ourselves to the blessed Jesus, who is the Lord Jehovah, and adhere to Him as the Head of his people in the Covenant of Grace, and rely upon Him as our Prophet, Priest, & King, to bring us to eternal Blessedness.
We acknowledge our everlasting & indispensible Obliga- tions to glorify God in all the Duties of a Godly, Sober, & Righteous Life; & particularly in the Duties of a Chh State and a Body of People associated for an Obedience to Him, in all the Ordinances of the Gospel: And we there- upon depend on his gracious Assistance for our faithful Discharge of the Duties thus Incumbent upon us.
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History of Princeton
We engage (with dependance on his promised Grace & Spirit) to walk together as a Church of the Lord Jesus Christ, in the Faith & Order of the Gospel, so far as we shall have the same revealed unto us: conscientiously attending the publick Worship of God in his House (in praying to him, Singing his praises, & giving reverent attention to his Word Read & Preached according to his Institution) the Sacrament of the New-Testament, the Discipline of his Kingdom, & all his holy Institutions, in Communion one with another, and watchfully avoiding all Sinful Stumbling-Blocks & Contentions, as becomes the Lords People in Covenant with him.
At the same Time, we do present our Offspring with our Selves unto the Lord: purposing with his Help to do our Part in the Methods of a Religious Education, that they may be the Lords.
And all this we do, fleeing to the Blood of the Ever- lasting Covenant, for the pardon of our many Errors, and praying that the glorious Lord Jesus, who is the Shepherd, would prepare & strengthen us for every good work, to do his will: working in us that which shall be well pleasing in his Sight: To whom be Glory forever & ever, Amen.
Tilly Littlejohns 6 Joseph Rugg1
Elisha Wilder
7
I Joseph Norcross
Ebenezer Jones 8
2 Timothy Mosman
Abel Ray 9
3 Peter Goodenow Robert Keyes
Samuel Hastings IO
Samu11 Bixby II
17 Joseph Gibbs
Abner How 12
4 Abijah Moore
Samuel Mosman 13
Joseph Haynes 14
5 Caleb Mirick James Mirick
Timothy Keyes 18 Noah Norcross 15 Stephen Brigham 16
Note. The above are autographs, - those on following page are not.
1 The name of Joseph Rugg is erased in the original (see subsequent action of Church. - F. E. B.).
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Ecclesiastical History
1765 19 Joseph Seargeant 20 Adonijah How
Females
I Sarah Norcross
2 Ruth Norcross
3 Eunice Moore
4 Eunice Myrick
5 Hannah Littlejohns
6 Mehetabel Wilder
7 Elizabeth Gleason
8 Anne Hastings
9 Betty Brigham
IO Dorothy Myrick
II Mary Bartlett
12 Hannah Gibbs
13 Hannah Bixby
14 Anne Goodeno
15 Sarah How
1765 16 Elizabeth Sargeant
17 Patience Keys
18 Lucy Matthews 19 Lucy How
Joseph Rugg Desired his Name might be struck out.
Robert Keys Brought no Letter of Dismission.
James Myrick also, & so they were not Numbered with the Brethren.
Joseph Gibbs and
Timothy Keys, were objected against by D' Harvey.
" Because they signed & delivered a Petition to Great & general Court containing sundry reflections upon himself."
With respect to which, the Council agreed, " For as much as the Council have no Time to hear & consider of sd charge we think it best that these Brethren be desired to withdraw their Names for the Present, & that their Names be omitted when the Covenant is Read.
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History of Princeton
" It was so done accordingly, & this Reason was pub- lickly given in the Meetinghouse; Because that there was not Time to hear & consider of sd charge;
N. B. The Revª Mr. Mellen Preached A. M. from Hebrews 8, 6 The Revª Mr. Buckminster in P. M. from 2 Corinth. 16, 19
I Joseph Norcross belonged to the church in Weston.
2 Timothy Mosman
3 Peter Goodenow
4 Abijah Moore
5 Caleb Myrick
6 Tilly Littlejohns
7 Elisha Wilder
" 2d Chh in Lancaster.
8 Noah Norcross
" in Weston.
These were dismissed & Recommended by these Several Churches.
9 Ebenezer Jones, He had owned the Covenant at Concord.
10 Abel Ray,
", =
Marlbro'.
II Samuel Hastings, " "
" Shrembury.1
12 Samuel Bixby
13 Abner How,
" Marlboro'.
14 Samuel Mosman
15 Joseph Haynes ,,
" Sudbury.
16 Stephen Brigham.
1 Probably Shrewsbury.
These were all Publickly Propounded several Weeks before & no objections offered against them. Except Sam' Bixby which was considered and Removed.
It was proposed to the Chh by the Moderator of the Council, Whether they would choose a Neighbouring Pastor for their Moderator.
Voted Unanimously.
Whether they would choose the Revd Mr. Davis of Holden.
Voted Unanimously.
Next Day I went to D' Harvey signified to him, That I expected he would exhibit his Charge against Joseph Gibbs & Timothy Keys, to me in writing. If he expected to have It taken Notice of by the Chh: But first proposed, to him a Conference with those Brethren to see if they could not
" Westminster.
" Sudbury, west.
" Holden
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Ecclesiastical History
make up the matter. To which I thought he very readily consented.
Princetown, October 7. Lords Day. The following Persons were admitted into the Chh, I being there & Preaching A. M. from John 18, 36; P. M. from Jeremi 50, 4, 5.
I Sarah The Wife of Joseph Norcross.
2 Ruth The Wife of Noah Norcross. They belonged to the Chh in Weston.
3 Eunice Wife of Capt. Moore. She to Sudbury West.
4 Eunice Wife of Caleb Myrick. Holden.
5 Hannah Wife of Tilly Littlejohns. { They to 2d in
6 Mehetabel Wife of Elisha Wilder $ Lancaster
These were all dismissed & recommended, by these several Chhs as Persons in Regular Standing & were all admitted into the Chh.
7 Elizabeth Gleason. Widow.
8 Anne Wife of Samuel Hastings.
9 Bettee Wife of Stephen Brigham.
10 Dorothy Wife of James Myrick.
II Mary Wife of John Bartlit.
Were all admitted also; They were propounded diverse Weeks before.
John Bartlit. Paul Matthews with
Lucy his wife owned the Covenant; They were Pro- pounded some Time before.
The following Children were Baptized the same Day.
I Lucretia Daughter of Robert Keys.
2 (John
3 (Bettee
4 (Stephen and [ children of Stephen & Bette Brigham.
5 (Abner,
6 Samuel Son of John & Mary Bartlett.
7 Jonas Son of Timothy Keys.
8 (Paul &)
9 (Joel ) sons of Paul & Lucy Matthews.
10 William Son of William & Joanna Gibbs.
George Bernard &
Sarah his Wife were propounded to own the Covenant.
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History of Princeton
Princetown, October 8.
Went with Joseph Gibbs & Timothy Keys, & desired Cap. Moore & Mr. Goodeno to go with us, to D' Harveys, & had a long Conference with him, but to no purpose, only the D' said, he would send his Reasons in writing to me shortly which (tho' not within the Time prefixed) he did, signed by him, and bearing Date Octob. 17, 1764, & there were objections also against Caleb Myrick & Peter Goodeno.
I thereupon appointed a meeting of the Church to be on Octob. 24, 1764, & notified Dr. Harvey of it.
The Chh accordingly met, & the Rev'd. Mr. Buckminster was desired to moderate in sª meeting, & did so.
D' Harvey did not appear, tho' sent to and desired by the Chh. But proposed a Mutual Council, & offered nothing to support his objections;
The Church Unanimously agreed not then to joyn in a Mutual Council, & looked upon the objections as of no importance. But that the Mens characters were clear & good & accordingly admitted.
Joseph Gibbs and
Timothy Keys into their Communion, & proposed to take no further Notice of the Objections against Caleb Myrick & Peter Goodeno, & so the meeting was dissolved, after that the Chh had agreed to have the Sacrament administered to them.
Princetown, Nov. 11, 1764.
Hannah Wife of Joseph Gibbs.
Anne Wife of Peter Goodeno'.
Sarah Wife of Abner How.
Were all admitted into the Church. They were pro- pounded many Weeks before - I administered the Sacrament of the Lords Supper the same Day to 27 Communicants.
George Bernard &
Sarah his Wife owned the Covenant.
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Ecclesiastical History
Baptized.
Anne Daughter of Peter & Anne Goodeno'.
Ephraim Son of James & Dorothy Myrick.
Attest J. Davis Mod of sª Chh.
May 5, 1765.
Hannah Wife of Sam1 Bixby admitted into the Church. The following Children were baptized by me.
I Levi Son of Charles & Hannah Parmeter.
2 Louisa Da'fter of Elisha & Mehetabel Wilder.
3 Marah Da'fter of Tilly & Hannah Littlejohns.
4 Hannah Da'fter of Saml. & Hannah Bixby.
5 Anne Dau'fter of Abner & Sarah How.
6 Luther Son of Elisha & Sarah Gale.
7 Moses
8 Aaron Twin sons of Oliver & Olive Dresser.
9 Sarah Daughter of George & Sarah Bernard.
Sep. 30, 1765.
Administered the Sacrament: & it was administered some Months before by Revª Mr. Mellen.
Joseph Seargent &
Elizabeth his Wife admitted into the Church, they be- longed to the Chh in Bolton. Their Letter of Dismission Read & Accepted.
Baptized
William Son of William & Anne Thomson.
Prudence Wife of Timothy Keys propounded to joyn to the Chh.
Nov. 24, 1765.
Patience Wife of Timothy Keys admitted into the Chh. I Baptized,
I Mary Daughter of Ensign Davis & Mary his Wife.
2 Joseph Sone of Benjamin Fainter.
3 Sybil Daughter of Samuel & Hannah Bixby.
4 Elizabeth Daughter of Samuel & Elizabeth Biglo.
Lucy the Wife of Paul Matthews Propounded to Joyn in Church Fellowship.
Stop'd the Brethren of the Church, & after much Debate, unanimously agreed to have a Meeting. To see whether
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History of Princeton
it was Expedient & the Desire of the Chh. immediately to make choice of one of the Gent. that had Preached with them, to settle among them in the Work of the Gospel Ministry; & if so To agree upon the Person; The Day to be Monday, December the 2d Day.
Princetown, Decemb. 2, 1765.
The Church met according to Appointment, 16 Brethren present. After much debate, upon the First Article, & finding that the Congregation tho't the Church were to hasty, & that it was suitable there should be a Town Meeting first, to see whether they would agree to have constant Preaching, & that a Minister be settled as soon as may be, the Chh, without passing any other Vote, agreed to adjourn for six Weeks, Then to meet, at the Meeting-House, Viz on Monday, the 13th of January next, at one 'Clock P. M. and to act on the foregoing Articls.
Jan. 13, 1766. Chh met & adjourned to Monday June 23; then met again & Adjourned to August 4th I-Clock P. M. at the Meeting House.
Aug. 4, 1766. Church met according to Adjournment; Publick Notice being given of it. Revd Mr. Davis desired to Moderate in sd Meeting: Meeting opened with Prayer: Then the following Votes were passed, Viz.
I. That we will now proceed to choose one of the Three Gent. that have lately Preached in this Place to settle in the Work of the Gospel Ministry.
2. The Brethren were desired to bring in their Votes for a Pastor in writing. Upon counting & sorting the Votes it appears that Mr. Sewall Goodridge had II Votes & Mr. James Baker 4, Mr. Goodridge was accordly de- clared to be chosen.
3. Messieur Peter Goodeno, Ebenezer Jones & Joseph Gibbs be a Committee to wait upon Mr. Goodridge & carry him a Copy of these Votes.
4. That the above named Committee wait upon the
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Ecclesiastical History
Select Men & desire them to call a Town meeting as soon as may be to see whether they will concur with the Chh Choice.
Test J. Davis, Mod.
Lucy Matthews Wife of Paul Matthews admitted into the Chh.
Adonijah How &
Lucy his Wife also,
Lucy Da'fter of Adonijah How & Lucy his Wife.
Baptized Nov. 19, 1766.
Candidates for Preaching. From the above record it appears that preaching services were held with some regularity and several candidates for the ministry were before the people, but no definite action could well be taken by the church until the district showed a willingness to make the necessary appropriation for the support of a minister. An article in the warrant for a district meeting December 31, 1765, indicates the desire of some of the people for decisive action.
" To see if the District will vote how soon they will settle a minister, and also whether they will hear any one or more of the Candidates for the ministry which they have alreddy heard in order for settling, or any other or others which they have not heard, or act anything Relating to that affair." Upon this article it was voted " to hear Mr. Baker, M' Fuller & M' Moore each of them six Sabbaths on probation in order for settleing & said preaching is to begin on the first Sabbath in April next & M' Robertt Cowden was chosen to procure said preachers."
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