USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Sutton > History of the town of Sutton, Massachusetts, from 1704 to 1876, including Grafton until 1735, Millbury until 1813 and parts of Northbridge, Upton and Auburn > Part 35
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the remainder of Rev. Mr. Maltby's ministry. Mr. Maltby closed his short but successful ministry with the church in June 1834, for the purpose of taking the oversight of the Hammond street church in Bangor, Maine, where he was permitted to reap the fruits of his labor. His dismission was caused by no dissatisfaction on the part of the people, or their pastor ; but by the prospect of greater usefulness in the field to which he was invited. Mr. Maltby continued in the ministry in Sutton eight years.
The next pastor was Mr. Hiram A. Tracy, a native of Lisbon, Connecticut, who obtained his classical education at Plainfield academy. while engaged as a teacher in the same. His theological education was obtained at Andover. He was invited to supply the pulpit while yet a student at Andover, and came directly from the seminary to Sutton, preaching here for the first time on the second sabbath in September 1834. In October following he received a call to become the pastor of the church. Having accepted this invitation, he was ordained pastor January 1st, 1835, a little more than five months from the dismission of his predecessor. At his ordination Rev. Dr. Woods of the theological seminary at Andover preached the sermon; Rev. Benjamin Wood of Upton gave the charge; and Rev. John Wilde of Grafton gave the right hand of fellowship. The number of members in the church at Mr. Tracy's settlement was two hundred and twenty-two.
During the first five years of Mr. Tracy's ministry only eighteen persons united with the church on profession of faith. In the autumn of 1839 this church, in view of the low state of piety in the community, was impressed with the importance of earnestly seeking the Lord by repentance and prayer.
For this purpose they united with the three Congrega- tional churches in Millbury, and assembled weekly, alter- nately in the different houses of worship, for prayer and mutual exhortation. Soon there was a manifest increase of interest among christians.
In the latter part of February 1840, sinners began to inquire the way to Zion, and not long after many were solic-
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TOWN OF SUTTON.
itous to know what they should do to be saved. The work increased in power and extent through the months of March and April. After this there was a gradual abatement in the number of those who were specially interested. Most of the subjects of the revival were youth, and nearly all mem- bers of the sabbath-school. As fruits of this revival forty- eight individuals were added to the church, increasing its membership to two hundred sixty-one, the largest number that has been connected with it at any one time.
The church continued to enjoy prosperity and peace dur- ing the remaining ten years of Mr. Tracy's ministry. There were occasional additions to the church during this period, but no seasons of general interest like that in 1840.
In August 1842 the church, upon the recommendation of a committee, voted unanimously to dispense with the use of alcoholic wine in the administration of the ordinance of the Lord's Supper. This vote has been adhered to from that time to this.
November 24th, 1850, Mr. Tracy resigned the pastoral office to accept the appointment of district secretary of the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions in the district of Cincinnati, which embraced southern Ohio, Indiana and southern and central Illinois. A council con- vened December 11th, 1850, dissolved the relation which had continued with great harmony for sixteen years. The number of members in the church at the close of his minis- try was two hundred and five.
After several attempts to unite in calling a pastor, the church and society agreed upon Mr. George Lyman of East- hampton, and to him an invitation was extended to become their pastor and teacher. This invitation was given to Mr. Lyman September 26th, 1851, and accepted October 18th, 1851. He was ordained November 12th following, Rev. R. S. Stone of Easthampton preaching the sermon ; Rev. J. H. Bisbee of Worthington giving the charge, and Rev. L. F. Clark of Whitinsville the right-hand of fellowship. The number of members in the church at the ordination of Mr. Lyman was one hundred ninety-three.
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There does not appear from the records of the church to have been any season of special religious interest for several years after Mr. Lyman's settlement. There were occasional conversions and additions to the church. In October 1858 nine persons were admitted to membership, indicating a pre- vious state of revived religious feeling in the church and congregation. Again in 1863 the church was enlarged by the addition in May of nineteen on profession of faith, and in November following thirteen were added. From this time to the close of Mr. Lyman's ministry there was no season of special religious interest. Mr. Lyman resigned the pastor- ate June 30th, 1867, to take effect the twelfth of November following, the anniversary of his ordination and settlement as pastor of the church.
A council was called which met October 15th and sanc- tioned the action of pastor and church, and Mr. Lyman retired from his labors here November 12th, 1867.
After considerable delay and several attempts to unite upon a pastor, the church and society gave a call to the Rev. F. E. Fellows, who had been previously pastor of the Con- gregational church in Bridgton, Maine. This invitation was accepted July 4th, 1869, and Mr. Fellows was installed by council October 26th following. Mr. Fellows' ministry was a short but successful one. He labored among this people a little more than eighteen months, but during this period there was a season of great religious interest, bringing into the church upon profession of their faith forty-three persons.
In December 1870 Mr. Fellows resigned, and closed his labors as pastor of the church on the second sabbath of January 1871. The following sabbath the pulpit was sup- plied by Rev. Mr. Tracy, who had returned from Ohio on account of the health of his family.
On Monday, at the annual meeting of the society, he was invited to be the acting pastor for one year, which invitation he accepted, thus renewing his labors in the field of his first settlement after a lapse of twenty years. From this time on during a period of four years and nine months, the church, under the labors of Mr. Tracy, performed for the greater part of the time through severe infirmities, enjoyed an
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unusual degree of prosperity. Thirty-three persons were added to the church on profession of faith, the congregation was increased, and great harmony and peace abounded. The articles of faith, covenant and by-laws of the church were revised and largely changed in phraseology, but not in sub- stance, and published in a manual containing a brief history of the church, together with the names of the officers and members of the church from the first.
Early in September 1875, Mr. Tracy gave notice that he must close his labors after the second sabbath in October. In the meantime, upon his recommendation, Rev. William A. Benedict of Plainfield, Connecticut, was engaged to sup- ply the pulpit for six months, and commenced his labors on Sabbath, October 16th, following Mr. Tracy's retirement. There was almost immediately a revived state of religious feeling, and during the winter many souls were converted. In January Mr. Benedict received an invitation from the church and society to become their pastor, which invitation he accepted, and was installed by council Feb. 16th, 1876.
Rev. J. Taylor, D. D., of Providence, R. I., preached the sermon, Rev. T. E. Babb of Oxford gave the charge, and Rev. J. R. Thurston of Whitinsville the right hand of fellowship.
There was a renewal of religious interest the following winter, and as the result the church has been largely increased in membership.' In less than two years there has been an addition of forty-nine persons on profession of faith. At this time both church and congregation are larger than they have been at any time during the last fifteen years, and both are now enjoying great prosperity.
The following are the names of those who have served the church in the office of deacon :
The year named is the year of their election.
Timothy Manning, .
1720.
Percival Hall,
.
1721.
Elisha Putnam, .
.
1731.
Samuel Sibley, . . ·
1737.
Cornelius Putnam,
.
.
1744.
.
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Benjamin Woodbury, ·
1744.
Dr. Benjamin Morse,
1761.
John Fry,
.
1762.
Tarrant Putnam,
1765.
Willis Hall, .
.
1775.
John Haven, .
1775.
Nathan Putnam,
1791.
Daniel Torrey,
1794.
Reuben Putnam,
1794.
Benjamin Hicks,
1800.
Jonathan Leland,
1800.
William Bond,
1811.
Sylvester Morse,
1819.
Dr. David March,
1819.
John Morse, .
1825.
Palmer Marble,
1826.
Alvan Leland,
1830.
Luther Hall, .
1833.
Sumner B. King,
1845.
Dr. William Terrey, .
1854.
Edwin H. Hutchinson,
·
1860.
John W. Marble,
1864.
·
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HISTORY OF THE SECOND CHURCH IN SUTTON,
FROM 1747 TO 1813.
The inhabitants of the north part of Sutton were incor- porated a parish, called the North Parish, by the General Court, October 28, 1743. The first meeting was warned and held at the dwelling-house of Mr. Richard Singletary, by virtue of a warrant from Richard Moore, Esq., of Oxford, to organize said parish, on the twenty-sixth of December, 1743. At this meeting it was voted to choose a committee to find the centre of the parish, striking off one mile from the east end of the parish, and to prepare the materials for the build- ing of a meeting-house.
One year after this, the male members of the church in Sutton, residing within the bounds of the north parish, sent a petition to said church desiring to be " dismissed and com- . mended to the work of embodying together in a church- state, and asking assistance therein." Upon this petition . and request, the church took the following action at a meet- ing held December 13, 1744 :
1. Voted, that our brethren living in the north parish, or precinct, as many of them as are disposed to embody among themselves into a church-state, and as shall subscribe to a church covenant, agreeable to the church covenant which the church of Christ in Sutton are under, be dismissed and recom- mended thereto.
2. That such as shall thus form and embody, be by us acknowledged a church of our Lord Jesus Christ.
3. That we will send our elder and messengers to assist them in embodying and procuring some officers, and to give them the right hand of fellowship when so embodied.
57
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CHURCHES OF THE
The brethren of the north parish did not at once avail themselves of the above action, but, some months later, renewed their request, and were answered that their petition had already been granted upon condition that they subscribed to a church covenant agreeable to what we are now under. It is added on the records of the church in relation to this matter, " but their conduct of late had given us some rea- son to suspect their wavering respecting principles, and therefore desired this first, that they would be joining, in the renewal of the covenant with us, removing the matter of our jealousy, so then we should be ready to prosecute our former votes in answer to their former petition."
These brethren in the meantime had taken some measures to procure some meet person to preach the gospel in the parish. This was done, and a call was given to two persons to become their pastor, but the invitation in each case was declined. In March 1747 they gave Mr. James Wellman a call to settle with them in the ministry. This invitation Mr. Wellman accepted. All this transpired before the church was organized or embodied. This was effected Sep- tember 10, 1747, three years after the petition and request to the first church in Sutton.
The record respecting this transaction, in the hand-writing of Rev. Mr. Wellman, the first pastor, is as follows :
" Sutton, Sept. 10, 1747. The second Church of Christ in Sutton, was embodied in the presence, and with the assistance of Rev. Messrs. John Campbell of Oxford, and Nathan Webb of Uxbridge."
They then adopted and signed a covenant similar in all respects to that of the first church from which the members were dismissed. The covenant was signed by forty brethren, whose names are as follows :
Thomas Lovell, jr.
*Samuel Buck, jr.
Joshua Carter, William Waite,
*Nathaniel Waite,
* Amos Singletary,
*William Fiske, Daniel Gale,
*Thomas Gould, jr.
*Daniel Buckman,
*Elisha Goddard,
*Daniel Kenney,
Elisha Barton,
*Charles Roberts,
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TOWN OF SUTTON.
John Holland,
*Thomas Gould,
Charles Richardson,
James Wellman,
* Abel Chase, Francis Kidder,
*Jonathan Fuller,
*Jonathan Dwinnel,
*Daniel Greenwood,
*Samuel Buck,
*Richard Singletary,
*John Waite,
*Edmund Barton,
Joseph Singletary,
*Thomas Holman,
*Gershom Waite,
*Solomon Holman,
*John Grove,
*Isaac Barnard,
*Ebenezer Stearns.
The names above marked with a * were dismissed from the first Congregational church. The others may have united upon profession of faith, or been admitted upon letters of dismission from other churches. . All are represented as having signed the covenant at the embodiment of the church.
"Oct. 7, 1747, James Wellman was separated to the work of the ministry and ordained pastor of the second church of Christ in Sutton. The Council was composed of the Elders and delegates from the following churches. The first church in Sutton, the church in Oxford, the church in Uxbridge, the church in Worcester, the second church in Lynn, the church in Wilmington, the first in Westboro, and the church in Southboro." The council met upon the occa- sion, "and after having consulted upon the affair of ordina- tion, and taken the previous necessary steps, the Council as well as Church, and said Wellman repaired to the meeting- house, and the Rev. Mr. Hall of Sutton began with prayer, the Rev. Mr. Chase of Lynn preached a sermon suitable to the occasion from Rev. 1, 20. The Rev. Mr. Campbell of Oxford gave the charge, and the Rev. Mr. Parkman of Westboro gave the Right Hand; the whole was carried on with decency and good order."
In respect to receiving members to the church the follow- ing rule was adopted on the twenty-ninth of October fol- lowing the ordination :
*John Singletary, Timothy Carter,
*Isaac Gale,
*Robert Goddard, Jonathan Park,
*Josiah Bond,
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" With regard to admitting persons to our fellowship, Voted that the Pastors relating to the church something agreeable to the conversation he hath with those that desire to join in full communion with us should serve instead of a relation."
Thomas Gould and Abel Chase were chosen first deacons of the church. It will be noticed that the church was organized solely with male members. It was not till Nov. 12th following that any females were received. Under this date it is recorded :
" The following females were admitted to full communion with this church, viz. :
Eunice Lovell,
Anna Allen,
Sarah Chase,
Hannah Hiscock,
Hannah Holman,
Mary Waters,
Sarah Fisk,
Dorothy Genison,
Elizabeth Kenney,
Susanna Fuller,
Mehitabel Dwinnel,
Abigail Park,
Elizabeth Bond, jr.
Joanna Waite,
Martha Gould,
Sarah Barnard,
Phebe Buckman,
Hannah Gould,
Mary Singletary,
Judith Gaile,
Mary Stockwell,
Rachel Bigelow,
Jane Stearns,
Elizabeth Bond,
Thankful Singletary,
Elizabeth Pratt,
Mary Singletary,
Anna Barton,
Martha Singletary,
Sarah Wait.
" These all being dismissed and recommended to our sacred Fellowship from the First Church in Sutton."
Including the above named females, the second church in Sutton began its history with a membership of seventy.
The materials for a history of the church during Mr. Wellman's ministry are quite meager. It was not, for a part of the time, either a successful or happy one. During the thirteen years of its existence, there was no special religious interest in the congregation. Forty persons, thirty- one by profession and nine by letter, were received to fellow- ship in the church, and according to the records no two were
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TOWN OF SUTTON.
received on the same day. The latter part of Mr. Well- man's ministry was prosecuted under great difficulties, by reason of differences that had arisen between him and his people. According to memoranda found in the handwriting of Rev. Joseph Goffe, the third pastor, these differences commenced in 1755. There are no means of knowing the ground of them ; but, as these troubles were so prominent, and continued so long, no history of the church could be a faithful one which did not notice them.
In March 1758 matters had reached such a crisis that a council was proposed by the church to settle the difficulties. The record of this transaction, as kept by Mr. Wellman, is as follows :
" Tuesday March 28, 1758. The church met, and, after prayer, the standing part of the church voted :
" 1st. To call in the advice of a Council before we pro- ceed to act anything further. It was then put to the with- drawing members whether they would join the standing part of the church in calling in advice and they refused.
" 2nd. To invite the following churches, viz. : The first in Mendon, First in Shrewsbury, First in Westboro, the church in Sturbridge, and the church in Dudley.
"3d. That they be invited to sit on the affair on Tuesday the 13th day of June next."
Subsequently the second church in Shrewsbury was added. The council met on the day appointed.
.
June 13, 1758. The churches that were sent for agreeable to the fore- going votes all came by their Pastor and delegates, except the Pastor of the church in Dudley, and formed into an Ecclesiastical Council. A paper hav- ing been sent to them signed Robert Goddard and others intimating that the churches convened were imposed upon by the Pastor and Church in their letter missive, the Council passed the following vote, viz .: Voted by the Council here sitting that a paper signed per Robert Goddard and others, inti- mating that the churches here convened have been imposed upon, and that when the vote was passed to call this Council there were but nine that voted when at the same time, there were twelve in the negative the remaining part of the church sitting neutral - and respecting what was said, designed in confirma- tion of said paper - [it was voted] - that said paper contains a great mistake, and that this Council was fairly voted for by the church, and chosen by a considerable majority of the members, in regular standing present. Where- fore upon the whole, it most clearly appears to the Council that there was no imposition upon the churches contained in the letter missive, but the churches were regularly convened upon the call of the second church in Sutton.
JOSEPH DORR, Moderator.
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CHURCHES OF THE
The above seems to be but a part of what the council did, though they came to no result upon the merit of the case, according to the following record :
The Council was then dissolved without coming to any result upon the merits of the case by reason of divers proposals made on one side and the other in order for an accommodation by another church meeting, and, if that did not succeed, by a mutual Council, all of which proved abortive. But after a long controversy, various Councils, and many Church meetings, an exact jour- nal of which has been kept - but which was not thought expedient to insert in this book especially, it being so lengthy -the Pastor and church, the with - drawing brethren and others, in the Parish, agreeable to the advice and a letter missive prepared by Mr. Trowbridge of Cambridge, consented to call a mutual Council to end the matter, whose result is as follows :
A council of four churches - the first church in Cambridge, the church in Charlestown, the second church in Cambridge, and the new north church in Boston -convened by their elders and delegates in the Second Parish in Sut- ton, July 1, 1760, at the request of the pastor and church, there to answer two questions which the said pastor and church have submitted to them for their consideration and determination. After repeated supplications to the Father of Light, and a full hearing of the matter in controversy between the parties, so far as adjudged necessary to the forming a right judgment, came unani- mously to the following result:
The first question was whether Mr. James Wellman is, or is not, minister of the second church and parish in Sutton. Previous to the resolution of this question, the council thought proper to take into their consideration the valid- ity of the suspension of the thirteen brethren by vote of the church at their meeting the eighteenth of October last, and considering the dubious circum- stances attending that affair and exceptions to which the proceedings then had were justly liable, the council apprehend that such censure ought not to be accounted valid to the abridging those brethren of the right of voting with other brethren of the church, or of the exercise or enjoyment of other church privileges. This, notwithstanding upon duly weighing the proceeding after- wards had in the supposed dismission of the Rev. Mr. James Wellman from his pastoral office, it was resolved by the council in answer to the first ques- tion proposed and submitted, that Mr. James Wellman is the pastor of the second church and parish in Sutton.
The second question was whether Mr. James Wellman shall continue as pastor of the second church and parish in Sutton, or his pastoral relation to them, or any of them, shall be dissolved. In relation to this question the council, considering the very perplexed and unhappy situation of affairs in this place, are of opinion, and do accordingly advise that if the second parish in Sutton shall, within fourteen days from the date of these presents, pay or give security to their present pastor, Mr. James Wellman, or of Mr. Edmund Trowbridge of Cambridge, to pay or cause to be paid to him, the said James, his executor or administrators, on or before the third day of July next, the sum of sixty pounds, lawful money of this province -exclusive of what will become due to him for his salary from the day when such payment shall be made, or security given -that in such case the Rev. James Wellman, within one week next after such payment or security given, do ask a dismission from his pastoral relation to said church and parish, and we advise them to grant it
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TOWN OF SUTTON.
accordingly. And in case of his failing to ask a dismission, agreeable to the preceding advice, then, upon application made to him to call a church meet- ing by any five of the brethren of said church, if he shall not appoint one to be held within three days next after such application for the purpose before men- tioned, in which case it is advised by this council that the same five brethren, or the major part of them, signifying their desire in writing under their hands to the brethren that the church may meet in such time and place as in such writing they shall appoint, and causing due notice or warning to be given thereof to all the brethren dwelling within the limits of said parish ; that at that meeting so obtained, the church proceed to his dismission, as they might have done in case such church meeting had been appointed by their pastor.
And now to the Rev. pastor and beloved brethren of the church we would say, that we heartily lament the sad contentions and intemperate heat toward each other which have for so many years subsisted among you, whereby God has been dishonored, the progress of religion in the place greatly obstructed, your characters greatly disparaged, and which have led you into many unbe- coming and unjustifiable actions toward each other. And we hope you will all humble yourselves before God for whatever you are sensible has been amiss in you, and although we don't expect there should be any particular and explicit confession of your fault one to another; yet we hope you will forgive one another as you trust God, for Christ's sake will forgive you.
Particularly we exhort the pastor of this flock seriously to consider how far any conduct of his has been the cause of those unchristian heats and animosi- ties that must arise in a separation between you and the church and people of this place. Yet we are glad to find they have not charged you with the least unsoundness of doctrine; and that amidst the trials no imputation has been fixed on your moral character. Upon which accounts we may and do recom- mend you to the gospel ministry whenever God shall open a door of service for you. And with respect to you, the beloved flock and congregation of the Lord in this place, we hope, under the present grievous division, there are great searchings of heart; and may every one of you consider how far you, by any way, have been the means of begetting, increasing, and continuing these divisions among you. We hope that when you and your pastor shall part it will be with mutual love and charity, and that although his pastoral relations to'you will cease, yet his relation to you as a brother will continue while he remains with you, and we pray God you may love and live together as breth- ren. May you the brethren of this flock so conduct toward one another, especially in all your measures for settling another pastor among you, and, may your treatment of him be such as to gain the character of a loving, quiet and peaceable people. And may the God of love and peace be with you.
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