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 13
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troubles of which the church committees of the present day know little.
"Princeton May 1778.
£ S. d.
to a Jorny Downe to Situate to engage M' Litchfield. 5 4 º to Boarding M' Litchfield one fortnight. 3 0 0 to keeping Mr. Litchfield horse 5 weeks. I 5 0
99 0
Paul Matthiez®
"The Town of Princeton to Ephr" Woolson D' to travil to Boston & Expenses to Procure a Preacher three Dayes Myself & Horse.
Expenses. . 18 0 0
three Dayes Service at 45 Dollers p Day 13 15 0 My Horse 50 miles 61 p Mile. 15 00 0
46 15 0
Ephr™ Woolson.1
In 1784 Joseph Eveleth charged the town for a journey to New Haven Six days " for self and horse in search of a preacher," £2, 17, and Joseph Sargent received six shillings for travel "to Westown to pay Mr. Kendall part of the money due to Mr. Haven for preaching." Apparently an expensive method of settling accounts.
"March 1785, Princeton.
Debt for my going to ingage Mr. Write to preach one day Six shillings. 0: 6:0:0 June, 1785 for going to Paxton two days to in- gage Mr. Willings to preach, twelve shil- lings. .. 0:12:0:0
August, 1785, for going to dunstabel two days to
ingage Mr. Willings to preach, twelve shil- lings. 0:12:0:0
Abijah Harrington."
Ineffectual Efforts. In January, 1778, the church in concurrence with the town extended a call to Rev. Daniel
1 This little trip doubtless afforded D' Woolson an opportunity to visit his relatives in Weston.
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Ecclesiastical History
Adams of Medway which was declined, and in October following a similar invitation was given Rev. Paul Litch- field of Scituate. The town offered him £600 as "a settlement " and a yearly salary of seventy pounds pay- able: - " twenty-three pounds, six shillings, eight pence at the Rate of Indian Corn at three shillings per bushel, £23, 6s, 8d, at the Rate of Beef at twenty shillings per hundred; and £23, 6s, 8d, in cash of the present currency." At this and other times during the Revolutionary war, it was somewhat difficult to keep pace with the fluctuations of the currency of the day and hence the necessity of making the terms of all contracts upon the basis of something substantial.
Mr. Litchfield declined this invitation and although it was renewed in May, 1779, with an increase of the proposed " settlement " to £1200, it was of no avail.
In January, 1781, Rev. Ebenezer Hubbard was invited to settle in the town. By this time the values had so changed that he was offered as a "settlement" £200 lawful money payable " at the rate of Indian Corn at 3s, Rye at four shillings a bushel, beef at 20 shillings per hundred, and pork at three and a half pence per pound." This with a salary of £73-6-8 payable at the same rates as above and thirty cords of wood annually. Notwithstand- ing the inducements offered Mr. Hubbard declined the call, but he often preached for the church.
The town files disclose the fact that the preachers did not always obtain the money due them as quickly as desired. One proof of this is an occasional note politely asking for payment of long standing bills and intimating that any further delay in settling would occasion expense to the town. This dilatoriness was not due to any neglect on the part of the efficient treasurer, Enoch Brooks, Esq., but simply to the difficulty this town in common with others had experienced in raising money during the trying period of the war. A letter of Mr. Hubbard's will serve as a sample.
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History of Princeton
" Marblehead, Oct. 13, 1783.
Sir:
The design of this Letter, is to Give you my account, against the town of Princeton, for preaching amongst them. I have received the money you sent, on the account I formerly exhibited, & it falls short by four pence.
The account I hereby exhibit, is for seven days preaching, which, at Thirty-three shillings a day (a sum much less than I have received in any other place since I left you) amounts to Eleven pounds & Eleven shillings; add to this sum the four pence above mentioned, the whole of what is due to me, is Eleven pounds, Eleven shillings & four pence Lawful money. I flatter myself you will quickly settle this account as it has been of long standing, & I am in great need of the money.
To say anything to urge you to this will be unnecessary. Wishing the peace and prosperity of the town to which you belong, I am, sir your
humb. servt,
Eben Hubbard."
(Addressed to the Treasurer.)
Stocks. About this time there were placed in the meeting-house, stocks, instruments of terror to unruly boys. Deacon Parker furnished them at a cost of ten shillings.
Rev. Thomas Crafts. In January, 1786, Rev. Thomas Crafts (after preaching 21 Sabbaths as candidate) was in- vited to the pastorate with an annual salary of £80 and twenty cords of wood with £200 as a " settlement " and the use of the " ministerial pew." Mr. Crafts accepted the call and was ordained on the 28th of June following.
The churches represented in the ordaining council were eight in number, from Sterling, Holden, Rutland, Shrews- bury, Brookline, Roxbury, Boston and Bridgewater.
In accordance with custom great preparations were made for the entertainment of the council and the many visiting friends. The arrangement of the order of services was but little in comparison with the burden resting upon
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Ecclesiastical History
the committee who were appointed to provide for the wants of the inner man and arrange for the comfort of those remaining in town over night. An intimation of the duties of this committee and the expense attending their work may be gained from the papers on file by the town. The items also afford a strong hint as to what was considered necessary for such occasions.
Mr. Craft's ministry was acceptable and successful but owing to ill health he was obliged to relinquish his work, and seeing no prospect of early recovery felt compelled to ask a dismission which was granted in March, 1791. Mr. Crafts was long and pleasantly remembered by his parishioners, and the regret of the town at his departure and appreciation of his fidelity is expressed in fitting terms upon the town record.
For several months after Mr. Crafts' dismissal the pulpit was supplied by Rev. Hezekiah Goodrich whose preaching was according to the record "acceptable to the town." He received no call from the church to settle in the town but he probably became firmly convinced about that time that a certain young lady in the town would be " accept- able " to him as a helpmeet - and upon his settlement, in Rutland in 1793, he married Miss Mary Richards, of Princeton.
Rev. Joseph Russell. What difficulties stood in the way of securing a pastor for Princeton church do not appear, but the unsatisfactory plan of depending upon transient or other " supplies " was pursued until late in the year 1795 when a call was extended to Rev. Joseph Russell. The town on the 7th of December unanimously concurred with the church and voted " that the usual mode of giving a settlement be dispensed with," and that in place thereof a salary of $433.33 be paid him annually. It was also voted on the 8th of February, 1796, to " furnish Mr. Russell with twenty-five cords of good merchantable wood annually, delivered to him at his dwelling-house, so long as he shall continue our minister, and the price of staple com- modities remain as they now are; but when the capital
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History of Princeton
articles of consumption shall revert back to their former standard, that is to say, when the price of Beef shall be reduced from thirty-six to twenty-four shillings per hun- dred; Pork from six to four pence per pound; Rye from six to four shillings per bushel; Indian Corn from four and six pence to three shillings per bushel; then the whole expense of the wood, be it more or less, shall be deducted from the hundred and thirty pounds already voted by the town, and so in a less proportion as the price of those com- odities shall gradually decrease."
Mr. Russell accepted the invitation and was ordained March 16, 1796. A sermon preached upon the occasion by Rev. Mr. Backus of Somers, Conn., with some of the other addresses has been preserved in print.
The following year Dr. Watts' Psalms and Hymns were introduced as an aid to worship in place of the Psalms previously in use. Mr. Robert B. Thomas agreed to furnish six dozen copies of the book at two shillings six pence each.
Mr. Russell's ministrations continued for over five years, when being convinced that application to study was injurious to him and that on account of his health he ought not to continue in his present relations, he requested a dismission. After some hesitation on the part of the town, owing to questioning of Mr. Russell's motives in leaving, which were carefully explained by him in two letters now on file, the request was granted September 21, 1801. During his pastorate peace and harmony prevailed.
New Meeting-House. Previous to Mr. Russell's settle- ment the necessity for better accommodations for public worship became evident and the question of erecting a new meeting-house was discussed.1 Upon petition of Capt. Samuel Hastings, Amos Meriam, Adonijah How, Stephen Mirick, Ephraim Wilson, Solomon Davis and Uriah Moore, the town voted March 9, 1795 to build. A committee
1 The church records show the report of a Committee in regard to the old building Dec. 31, 1836 to the effect that it was "not only unfit but unsafe for the purposes of public worship."
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Ecclesiastical History
appointed to prepare a plan and estimate the expense reported at a subsequent meeting the cost at £1799. and the income from sale of pews and of the old house was adjudged to be £1875. A building committee consisting of Hon. Moses Gill, Capt. Samuel Hastings, Lieut. Amos Meriam, David Brooks and William Whitaker were instructed to build " on the ground where the old meeting- house stands, or as nigh it as shall in the judgement of the committee be most eligible."
Col. John Watson was chosen in Wm. Whittaker's place. Dea. Adonijah How was chosen in David Brooks place.
Contracts for building the house, for which Mr. David Brooks appears to have made the plans, were at once made and the work entered upon, but it was more than a year before the frame was so far completed as to necessitate the removal of the old house1 which was done May 9, 1796. The town appointed a committee to attend to this " free of cost to the town," public notice to be given of the event and the house was moved, but certainly not without consider- able expense for labor as well as for the usual supplies of rum, cider, cheese, etc.2
This old building was subsequently sold to Jonas Beaman for $80. Captain John Watson appears to have had charge of the erection of the new house, and he kept the accounts of expenditures and receipts. The first estimate was far below the actual cost, which is recorded as being £2273:3:5. The purchase of a bell of "proper Bigness " was delayed until 1815 when one was procured at an expense of $470.
The receipts from sale of pews, etc., were £1721-3-1, leaving a deficit of £545 to be provided for by a general tax.3 The frame of the house was raised with the usual solemnities in June 1796, and the spire at a subsequent date.
1 This old house was subsequently used for a town house.
2 "May 4, 1796. For } Days work with four oxen to Draw Shews for the old meeting house s5-6.
3 May 9. For } Barrel Sider When moveing the old meeting House 4-6.
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History of Princeton
The Raising. If the raising of the first meeting-house frame was a notable event in the town, this far excelled that in the amount of the work to be done, the number engaged in it, and the eatables consumed. An examination of a portion of the accounts of expenditures for this occasion reveals the fact that 560 pounds of meat with six " piggs " were provided for the company, which ought apparently to have satisfied a goodly number of individuals. But the quantity consumed of " articles of the West India kind," as they were called, must have been enormous, - bills amounting to over $200 appearing on record, and this too, when the town was so short of ready cash that the payment of these bills was so long delayed that interest on the account was demanded and paid. On the 12th of March, 1797, the house was completed and occupied for the first time. Its dimensions were 70 feet by 55 feet, and it contained 75 pews on the main floor, 26 in the gallery, besides 6 in the porches, which subsequently became dignified by the irreverent boys as " nigger pews." If tradition is correct, some of the well-known residents of the town were, when boys, made to sit in these nigger pews for misbehavior. Soon after the plans were made, the pews were sold at auction, William Richardson acting as " Vendue Master."
Decoration. The house was well finished and painted both inside and out. As usual, a sounding board hung over the pulpit, and it is said that back of the pulpit there were some paintings " supposed to represent angel faces," and over the window caps on each side, was a figure, of a cherub perhaps. All these figures were obliterated during a subsequent repainting of the interior. From the facts upon record and the assistance of some of the older people whose boyhood days were made familiar with both exterior and interior of the building, a plan of the main floor has been prepared. This plan shows the location of the pews, and the owners or occupants of each in 1796 and later -it is impossible to designate the successive occupants of all the pews. The memories of the old boys and girls recall the form of this one and that one, occupying the accustomed
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seat Sunday after Sunday - and visions of various fam- ilies, of their peculiarities and their graces too, come up to many a one as he looks over the seats in the old meeting house.
Stove. Whether the exposed location of the building led to early decay or not, within twenty years the town was loath to expend much money in repairs and in paint- ing, and got along with as little expenditure as possible. In 1819 Ward N. Boylston, Esq., donated a stove which was placed in the house and proved so conducive to comfort, that in 1823 authority was given to make some changes in the pews for the purpose of erecting additional stoves.
In 1830 the house had become so dilapidated that the town voted to make no repairs upon it, excepting windows, and that not to exceed three dollars. The building, how- ever, was used until the erection of the new one in 1838 on the spot formerly occupied by Rev. Mr. Clarke's garden. The new house cost about $7200. The bell1 was removed from the old to the new, and the parish relin- quished all right in the old building, the town assuming all liabilities of the pew holders.
In June, 1840, what was left of the building was taken down and nothing is to be seen of it now but some of the foundation stones from which the site of the house can be readily determined.
New Meeting-house Committee's Report
Your Committee chosen at the last March meeting for the purpose of estimating the cost of repairs and other expenditures necessary to be made upon the meeting-house,
1 Aug. 24, 1815 in accordance with a vote of the town, a bell was purchased of Paul Revere and Sons of Boston. It weighed 874 lbs. and cost $393.30 and the expense of purchasing and hanging was $77.18 making the whole cost $470.48. Upon the building of the new meeting-house the town released its claim upon the bell and it became the property of the church, and was removed to the belfry of the new building, where it still hangs. It has thus given continuous service for one hundred years.
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History of Princeton
also the cost of a new house and the value of the old one for the purpose of building into a new one; have taken the subject under consideration, and beg leave to report that . on examination they found the steple so much de- cayed that, in their opinion it is unsafe and dangerous for it to remain in its present situation any longer; and your committee have accordingly come to the conclusion that it ought to be removed as soon as possible. . . .
To accomplish the removal of the steple, two modes of proceedure were suggested to your committee, one was by attaching a rope near its top, sawing off the posts on which it stands and then by a sudden strong pull haul it off; but on reflection your committee are of the opinion that placing the rope and sawing off the posts will be dangerous under- takings, and as they are none of them willing themselves to do this service, they are equally unwilling to recommend it to be undertaken by any one else; they therefore come to the conclusion that this mode of removal will be in- judicious. ... The other mode of removal suggested to your committee was by building a stage around it, and taking it down by pieces. This mode is thought by your committee to be as safe and cheap a method as the nature of the business will admit of - and they have estimated the cost of removing the steple in this manner including the repairs necessary to be made on the bell deck (also all repairs of damage by accident or any unforseen occurrence) that may be sustained by the other part of the house to be $69.00. your committee are of the opinion that it will be unnecessary to build any dome or cupola over the bell deck after the removal of the steple, for in their opinion, by leaving the ballustrade as it now stands, it will look nearly or quite as well and be equally as good as it would be if the town should be at the expense of erecting a cupola. . . On examining the main body of the house, your committee found it in much better repair than they expected, and they are of the opinion that it will last five years by expend- ing upon it the following sums viz. -
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For boarding up the porches. $ 7.50 Stoping leak between main roof and bell deck ... 2.50
Probable expense of mending glass for five years. . 16.65 To prevent the ratling of the windows and support-
ing the sashes by placing bars across the win- dows. . 4.00
making the whole sum necessary to be expended
for five years including the removal of the steple. . $30.65 At the expiration of five years the committee are of the opinion that extensive repairs will be necessary.
Your committee have estimated the cost of building a new house and are of the opinion that a house 68 feet long and 50 feet wide with 18 feet posts may be built (including cost of land) for 2800 dollars: Such a house will contain 60 pews ten feet long 104 free seats and a galery for singers . . . and will contain in all about 640 persons. . .
Your committee are of the opinion that the old house, taking it as it now stands, is worth for the purpose of build- ing into a new one 584 dollars.
JACOB W. WATSON, Per order
The Rev. James Murdock was the next pastor. He was invited by a unanimous vote of the church, March 18, 1802, and by concurrent vote of the town. The salary offered him was $366.2 3, the use of the parsonage and farm con- nected with it, with the usual supply of wood. His careful stipulations about the salary, the adjustment of any controversy that might possibly arise, and the purchase of the parsonage by himself, if desired, denote a clear head and commendable prudence. The town had purchased of Bartholomew Cheever, Esq., for a parsonage, the house formerly occupied by Rev. Mr. Russell and Capt. Henry Prentice. This was the building, in later days, owned by Mr. Pynson Blake and now owned and occupied by the
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History of Princeton
David H. Gregory Co., Inc. In 1802 Mr. Murdock pur- chased it of the town.
The ordination of Mr. Murdock occurred June 23, 1802, in preparation for which the town chose a committee " to secure the body of the house by proping & chaining the same in such a manner as will prevent any injury being done thereto, & eight persons appª to prevent confusion & to preserve order in and about the meeting house on the day of the ordination & to keep the doors of the meeting house shut against all persons until the Council shall arive excepting the singers who are to be admitted to their seats when they see fit." Lieut. Adonijah How was " requested to prepare such anthems and Tunes as will be suitable to the solemnization of the day " and the sum of $100 was voted to defray expenses of the ordaining Council at Doctor Wilson's whose house was that now lately occupied by Edwin Grimes, Esq.
During Mr. Murdock's settlement there were many accessions to the church and uninterrupted harmony pre- vailed. He established a weekly prayer meeting, which was something entirely new for the town. In 1810 a religious revival of great power, such as the town had never experienced, resulted in the addition of over thirty persons to the church. Conference meetings were held for many weeks; two in the center and two in other parts of the town, and often as many as 200 persons were present.
In October, 1815, Mr. Murdock having received an appointment as Professor in the University of Vermont, a position for which he was eminently qualified, requested and received a dismission and thus closed a pastorate of twelve years' duration, full of good works, of wise and thoughtful guidance and of lasting good. Expressions of affection for the man, approval of his faithful and loving services, and sincere regret at his departure were placed upon the records of the town.
Difficulties. After the dismission of Dr. Murdock dif- ferences of opinion in respect to religious matters arose, which, for many years, caused unhappy divisions among
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the people. It is needless to relate these matters in detail, but an attempt will be made to state them briefly.1
Rev. Samuel Clarke. The town at a meeting held June 25, 1816, invited Rev. Samuel Clarke (who had preached as a candidate) to become the pastor.
The church refused to concur with the town in this action, asserting the right of the church to chose their pastor, and also declaring their dissatisfaction with the doctrine preached by Mr. Clarke.
Mr. Clarke, therefore, declined the call. It was re- newed however at a later period and again declined. A third call being given without the concurrence of the church, an ecclesiastical council was called by the town, who advised the church to concur, and adopt a slight change in the wording of the covenant. The church refused to do this, and the town proceeded to ordain Mr. Clarke, June 18, 1817.
Presbyterian Church. Many disaffected members with- drew and formed a Presbyterian Church connected with the Newburyport Presbytery, and Rev. Alonzo Phillips was settled as pastor Jan. 7, 1820.
A small house of worship was erected not far from the Congregational Church. In 1830 this church voted, on account of expense in attending meetings of the Presby- tery, to withdraw from the Presbytery and adopt the Congregational form of government. They now styled themselves the Evangelical Congregational Church.
Rev. Mr. Clarke closed his pastorate June 18, 1832, and soon after became pastor of the Uxbridge Congregational Church. He seems to have been a man of ability, and of excellent spirit in the trying position in which he was placed.2
1 For particulars see Russell's ard Hanaford's Histories of the town.
2 Within the preceding ten months thirty-three persons have been added to our Church. Since my Ordination, eighty-eight have been added to the Church, by a public profession of religion, and three by letter; making in all, ninety-one. Number of Baptisms, one hundred and twenty-three. The hope is fondly cherished, that pure religion will continue to flourish among us, and additions be daily made to the Church, of such as shall be saved. From a printed address by Rev. Samuel Clarke in 1828.
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After his departure the church made overtures to the Evangelical Church for a union, but without success.
Rev. John P. Cowles became the next pastor and remained from July 13, 1833 to Oct. 5, 1834. After his dismissal repeated efforts were made to effect a union of the two churches, but they were unsuccessful.
Mr. Phillips finished his pastorate of the Evangelical Church Jan. 13, 1836. A council previously called by the other church voted to dismiss Mr. Phillips from the pas- torate, though he declared he had never been pastor of that church, but only, upon invitation, supplied their pulpit for several Sundays. Mr. Phillips took up his residence in Newburyport where he died April 26, 1838.
Union Congregational Church. The two churches, after much disagreement as to methods and rights, became united although no definite statement of the fact appears in the church records, but the church from that time was frequently called the Union Congregational Church.
First Parish. Previous to this, namely Dec. 23, 1833, the Congregational Society was organized as the First Parish in Princeton. From that time it became legally distinct from the municipal corporation, and the support of worship was no longer provided by the town.1
Rev. Elijah Demond became pastor of the united church Oct. 26, 1836, and so continued till 1839.
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