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 37
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It is satisfactory to know that since 1735 the town of Sutton has had a Baptist church, the oldest, and for two years the only one in all this part of the state.
Its members reach over six generations, which in rapid succession have followed each other, as wave of the ocean succeeds wave. The majority of the prophets who have here taught, and the people who have here worshipped, have long since gone to their reward. Their voices are now silent. The church no longer echoes with their prayers and praise. Their bodies, like the old temples in which they served God, have crumbled into dust. It seems befitting that we should rescue from oblivion what we can with regard to the people who worshipped and the teachers who taught in this place. Many important things are doubtless lost for want of record, and what we have recorded but imperfectly epitomizes the doings of this ancient church. Pious, devoted and faithful servants of God have preached the gospel to this church. The members of it to-day are the descendants of a pious ancestry. The homes they occupy have long been places of prayer.
Our ancestors have bequeathed to us a rich and noble legacy of pious example and influence.
God has copiously poured out his spirit during all these years upon this church.
Some still living, as well as many long since dead, have here witnessed precious seasons of refreshing from the presence of the Lord.
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TOWN OF SUTTON.
REV. SAMUEL WATERS .*
Rev. Samuel Waters, who was for twenty-five years pastor of the first Bap- tist church, lived in the house on the north side of "Sutton street," just oppo- site the road leading to the residence of his brother, Ebenezer Waters, Esq., subsequently known as the " Bullard place." In the rear of his house were his shops for the manufacture of hoes and scythes, also his distillery, near the site now occupied by the mills of Mr. H. H. Phelps. He became interested in connection with his son-in-law, Amos, and others in a company manufactur- ing cotton fabrics at "Village Factory," now Webster, in which enterprise all the Sutton stockholders and endorsers lost heavily.
Being unable to meet his obligations, he was, in accordance with a law then in force, arrested for debt, and incarcerated in the Worcester jail.
While there imprisoned he delivered six sermons to his fellow prisoners, some, or all, of which were published. His granddaughters, Elizabeth and Olivia Waters, have in their possession only two of his published sermons, one of which was written by "Samuel Waters Mechanick" and published by Isaiah Thomas in 1791 -the other is one of the series "delivered in jail by Samuel Waters, Pastor of the 1st Baptist Church in Sutton, Mass., July 1817."
The preface to this sermon reads thus:
"The following is one of six sermons preached within the walls of Worces- ter Jail, at the request of those, who, by confinement, were deprived of the privilege of attending public worship, joined by others within the limits.
"The doors were benevolently thrown open for the accommodation of the persons confined in the several apartments."
From this it is not unreasonable to infer that, at that time, the inmates of that institution did not enjoy regular preaching, and it is not impossible that the preaching of these sermons was the inauguration of what subsequently developed into the regular "chapel service." The text of this sermon was from Matt. v : 2, "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God." The sermon concludes as follows :
"My dear Fellow Prisoners and Companions in Tribulation: The respect you have shown me excites in me sentiments of esteem and regard for you. Permit me to address a few words to you by way of advice. Jesus has been wont to visit prisons. Paul and Silas were in the inner prison. We ought not, however, to rank ourselves with these ancient saints. They suffered for well doing; but we, generally, for our imprudent conduct. Men ought never to extend their business beyond the resources of their capital. If they do, they expose their families and friends to difficulty and distress. These evils may have happened in consequence of the imprudent conduct of some of us; while pure misfortune has borne down others, and some, perhaps, may suffer under the hand of oppression.
Under any of these circumstances, let us look to Jesus whose official work is to forgive sins, and cleanse the heart ; to cancel our debts by becoming trust for us ; to proclaim liberty to the captives and the opening of the prison to them that are bound.
May God forbid that we should utter a murmuring word against our credi- tors or against the laws of our country. But may we pray heartily to God that in the course of his providence he may furnish us with means for the payment of our debts; and that in the future we may owe no more.
* By Mr. Jason Waters.
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CHURCHES OF THE
For my own part the loss of my property is merely nothing in comparison with the keen remorse I feel from the reflection that my creditors will suffer loss in consequence of my inconsiderate conduct.
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I venture to give my advice to those who believe that by the hand of oppres- sion they have been dragged from the bosom of their families and the comforts of home, and shut up in prison. Admit that oppressors have extorted money from you to make themselves rich. Why should you indulge a spirit of revenge or wish for an opportunity to retaliate? If they possess the charac- ters you suppose, and, if they live and die oppressors, according to the word of God, they must be locked up in a prison from which there is no release. They must sink to remain eternally under the weight of the hand of Justice. And you and I, if we live and die with the spirit of revenge, must sink and remain with them; for no extortioner, or revengeful man cau inhabit heaven. So my advice is, that we pray for them, that God would give them a holy temper. of heart; and that He would dispose us to render good for evil, that they, seeing our good works, may be stimulated to glorify our Father who is in heaven.
May God grant that we may return to our families in peace; and that these light afflictions may work for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory. Amen.
Reverend Ebenezer Lamson was the son of one of two brothers who emi- grated to this country from Ireland early in the last century. He was born in Concord, Massachusetts, April 13th, 1741. He ministered to the Baptist church in Sutton for a period of twenty-two years. He also lived and preached for a time in Ashford, Connecticut. The cause of his separation from his charge in Sutton was a change in his religious views. Having become impressed with the belief that he had been in error in preaching the evangeli- cal doctrine of the endless damnation of mankind by an angry God; and hav- ing proclaimed its opposite, the ultimate restoration of all to endless bliss by a God of love, his people could not sustain him with such views.
This change in his religious belief was brought about through the instru- mentality of the Rev. Elhanan Winchester, who also had been a Baptist preacher in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and was the author of Winchester's dialogues.
Elder Lamson was married to Ruth Phillips, daughter of Joseph Phillips of Oxford, April 28th, 1763. They raised a family of eight children, five sons and three daughters. Elder Lamson spent his declining years with his several children. For the most part with his eldest son, Isaac, at Mount Washington, Massachusetts, where he died, and was buried July 4th, 1832, aged 91 years .*
* Prepared from a sketch by the Rev. D. R. Lamson.
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TOWN OF SUTTON.
HISTORY OF THE SECOND BAPTIST CHURCH, SOUTH SUTTON.
Compiled from the Records by Miss EMMA E. BATCHELLER.
The second Baptist church was organized Oct. 9th, 1792. Thirty-six persons subscribed the confession of faith, entered into covenant one with another, and were incorporated into a visible church.
The meetings were held at the house of Elder William Batcheller before the church was built, and often of a Sun- day afternoon as many as fifteen or twenty people would remain to partake of the temporal things, after hearing and receiving the spiritual.
(There are no means whereby we can know which most benefitted them.)
It may not be out of place to here state that land was given for a building spot, by Elder Batcheller, to the society for the purpose of erecting a church, and he with his sons were foremost in the work.
In the year 1804 the church and society agreed to build a meeting-house, which was raised May 24th, 1804, and dedi- cated July 2d, 1805.
Dr. Stephen Gano preached the dedication sermon from Prov. xxiv : 3: " Through wisdom is an house builded, and by understanding it is established."
In the year 1809, brother Nathan Leonard, 2d, was called to preach, and ordained (preached his own sermon) and set- tled November 15, 1809, as their pastor ; remained one year.
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CHURCHES OF THE
From that time forward Elder William Batcheller contin- ued the pastor of the church until November 1816, when he wished to be released from the whole watch-care of the church, on account of old age, though he often supplied.
Rev. William Batcheller died October 29, 1821, in the seventy-ninth year of his age.
BAPTIST CHURCH, SOUTH SUTTON.
Brother Job B. Boomer was ordained June 9, 1819, and became the settled pastor. He remained until April 1841.
The church was repaired and re-dedicated Oct. 9, 1845. Sermon preached by Rev. Nelson Jones.
The second Baptist church of Sutton joined the Worces- ter association in 1818.
The number of church members in 1875 was sixty-three.
Samuel Prentice and wife (both members) have since died.
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TOWN OF SUTTON.
The Pastors of the church have been as follows :
Elder William Batcheller, 1792.
Brother Nathan Leonard, 1809. Ordained.
Elder William Batcheller, 1810.
Brother Job B. Boomer, 1819.
Ordained.
Austin Robbins, 1841.
Elder U. Underwood,
1842.
Nelson B. Jones,
1845.
Brother Joseph Thayer,
Oct. 1847.
Ordained.
J. B. Boomer,
1849.
R. G. Lamb, 1852.
66 Charles A. Snow, 1853.
Rev. Abial Fisher, D. D.
1855.
Brother Justus Aldrich, 1858.
Rev. J. B. Boomer, 1859.
Joseph P. Burbank, 1862.
" N. J. Pinkham, 1869.
J. P. Burbank, 1870.
" Philip Berry, 1873.
J. P. Burbank, 1875.
THE THIRD BAPTIST CHURCH.
This church seems to have had its origin in an association of a few persons who had been connected with the Baptist church in Thompson, Connecticut. Difficulties arose in this church, which led in 1797 to a separation, the one. part adhering to the elder John Martin, and the other to deacon Parsons Crosby, who was ordained their elder.
Elder John Martin died November 14, 1800, and Solomon Wakefield -a member of the church-was ordained by a council May 27, 1801, as an evangelist, and became pastor of the church.
60
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CHURCHES OF THE
Mr. Wakefield did not have the confidence of all compris- ing his church, which gradually scattered, and we find no record of meetings in Thompson after September 18, 1809, only as held occasionally at private houses.
February 10, 1810, a church meeting, " legally notified," was held at the house of Amos Fuller in Sutton; at which several persons, who had been " previously baptized," were received into fellowship.
March 3, 1810, a meeting was held at the house of Dea. Stephen Waters in Sutton, and six were received by bap- tism, and one who had been " baptized before."
March 27, 1810, another meeting was held at the same place, in the record of which it is said " all things appeared in love and harmony."
Turner Fuller was licensed by this church to exercise his gifts as a preacher of the gospel.
August 17, 1814. A council was called to meet at the house of Dea. Stephen Waters in Sutton, for the purpose of ordaining Mr. Turner Fuller as pastor of the church.
In consequence of the failure of several of the brethren, who had been invited to attend, the ordination services were postponed, but the council organized, and the proceedings of the same and the church are thus recorded on the church records.
" Proceeded to the reading of the church articles, and their proceedings to this date.
" The council considered and received us to be the church of Christ in Thompson and Killingly, formerly under the care of Elder John Martin, and to have an undoubted right to bear the title of the "Third Close Communion Baptist Church in Sutton."
" After the giving of this opinion, Put it to vote to know the mind of the Church, and it was a clear vote of the Church to be re-established the Third Close Communion Baptist Church in Sutton.
" The Council proceeded according to the request of the Church, and voted the Church to be the Third Close Com- m union Baptist Church in Sutton."
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TOWN OF SUTTON.
April 10, 1819. At a meeting held at the house of Mr. John Waters "the Brethren agreed to renew their covenant and Church travail."
There were twenty-two signatures to the renewal.
At this meeting "the brethren also agreed to keep up Covenant Meetings, and to meet once a month at the house of Bro. John Waters in Sutton."
A committee, consisting of Deacon Elijah Rich, and brethren Wm. Hewett and Abraham Briggs, was appointed "to visit all the absent Brethren of this Church, and to make their return at our next Covenant meeting."
About this time the church seems to have dropped the name "The Third Close Communion Baptist Church," and assumed that of "The Free Communion Church.".
June 2, 1819. Under this title they give a letter of dis- missal and recommendation to one of their members.
Under date August 11, 1819, a letter, addressed to Mr. John Waters, signed by Moses Putnam, church clerk, is recorded, giving permission to occupy Elder Samuel Waters' meeting-house for the ordination of Mr. Turner Fuller.
October 13th, 1819. A council called by the church, "for the purpose of ordaining Mr. Turner Fuller to the office of an evangelist," met at the house of Mr. John Waters; and after an examination of the candidate, it was voted to assist in his ordination, and the services were appointed for the next day at the meeting-house ; Elder C. Stone to preach the sermon, Elder J. Knight to make the consecrating prayer, Elder Rufus Tift to give the charge, and Elder J. Knight the right hand of. fellowship-all of which parts were performed as proposed.
October 13, 1821. The church voted " to meet at Elder Waters' meeting-house-the second Sunday in every month excepted-for social and divine worship with his people as long as the Church shall see fit."
April 6, 1823. The church vote that "Elder Turner Fuller's improvements and gifts, and his preaching is satis- fying to the Brethering."
It was also " Voted that our Sunday Meetings be removed to Bro. John Warterses."
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CHURCHES OF THE
April 26, 1823. A letter of admonition to one of the members, in behalf of "The Independent Baptist Church in Sutton," is recorded, which shows that the church was one of many names.
April 28, 1825. Mr. John Waters "requested to be dismissed to seek him a home manifesting to the Church that he was dissatisfied because two or three brethren prayed at once in the meeting, and for going into the grove to pray." Aaron Darling and his wife and Matilda Waters also ask for letters of dismissal, " manifesting the same trials as Br. John Waters."
All these requests were granted.
May 10, 1828. A committee was appointed to visit the " negligent Brethering."
October 25, 1828. It was "Voted that Elder Turner Fuller should be discharged from the care and oversight of the Church, but that he should remain an Elder, and a Brother in the Church." Also "Voted that Br. Reuben Fuller be appointed to take the lead in Meeting."
Of the proceedings of this church no further record is found. Their action in dismissing certain members in 1834, is referred to upon the records of the Free-will Baptist church, as will appear in the history of the same.
It is presumed that about this time it ceased to exist.
477
TOWN OF SUTTON.
ST. JOHN'S CHURCH, WILKINSONVILLE.
This society was incorporated March 10, 1827, under the name and title of St. John's Protestant Episcopal Church. The present house was built in the year 1828. The corner stone was laid June 24, 1828.
The first rector was the Rev. Daniel Le Baron Goodwin, who commenced his services July 17, 1825, and closed in April 1854; length of service nearly twenty-nine years. A tablet bearing the following inscription has been erected to his memory in the church :
"To the memory of the Rev. Daniel Le Baron Goodwin the first, and for 29 years Rector of this Church.
" His memory is affectionately cherished by his former parishioners and Friends, by whom as a Testimony of his long and faithful service this Tablet is erected.
"He was born in Easton, Mass., July 28, A. D. 1800, closed his service in this Parish April 9, A. D. 1854, and died at Providence, R. I., Dec. 25, A. D. 1867.
" He rests from his labors."
His successor was Rev. Benjamin H. Chase, whose service commenced in April 1854, and closed in April 1858. He was succeeded by the Rev. A. Decatur Spalter, whose term of service commenced in June 1858, and closed in December 1859. He was succeeded by the Rev. William George Hawkins, who commenced his services in April 1860, and closed in April 1862. He was succeeded by Rev. George Sturges Paine, whose term of service commenced in Sept.
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CHURCHES OF THE
1862, and closed in Sept. 1863; who was succeeded by the Rev. Samuel S. Spear, whose term of service commenced in January 1864, and closed in January 1867; who was suc- ceeded by the Rev. Thomas L. Randolph, whose term of service commenced in January 1867, and closed in Dec. 1870. He was succeeded by the Rev. Henry A. Metcalf, who commenced his services in June 1871, and closed in
ST. JOHN'S CHURCH, WILKINSONVILLE.
June 1874. He was succeeded by the present rector, Rev. James S. Ellis, who commenced his services July 5, 1874.
Number of baptisms, 380; confirmed, 191; marriages, 127 ; burials, 318.
Two young men, viz. : Daniel Goodwin and Daniel G. Anderson, from this parish have been fitted for the ministry, and are now laboring in other parishes .*
* Prepared by Joel Houghton and R. R. Dodge, Esqrs.
479
TOWN OF SUTTON.
Rev. Daniel Le Baron Goodwin, B. U., class of 1822, died in Providence, December 25, 1867, aged sixty-seven years four months and twenty-seven days. He was a son of Daniel and Polly (Briggs) Goodwin, and was born in Easton, Massachusetts, July 20, 1800. He was one of twelve children, of whom two died in infancy and five became ministers : four Episcopalians and one Congregationalist. Mr. Goodwin was fitted for college at Phillips' academy, Andover. In college he sustained high rank as a scholar, and grad- uated with distinguished honor. He spent one year as a private tutor on a plantation at Chantilly, near the battle field of Bull Run, where Mrs. Gen. Lee and other relatives of General Washington were among his pupils. His theological education was obtained at the Andover theological seminary. He was ordained a deacon of the Episcopal church, by Bishop Griswold, May 3, 1825. After preaching at different places, he was invited to East Sutton, now Wilkinsonville, where he gathered a society; a church was built and he was established as rector. He received priest's orders July 26, 1829.
Mr. Goodwin remained with this church twenty-nine years, laboring with singular devotion and faithfulness, and there "his memory is affectionately cherished." In 1854 he removed to Providence and took charge of a mission at the Woonasquatucket print works, out of which mission grew the present church of the Messiah at Olneyville. In 1855 he was appointed city mission- ary of the Church Missionary Union, and labored in that capacity for six years ; when, on account of the war, its operations were discontinued. He still, however, continued his missionary labors among the poor, and in 1864 was again employed for two years as city missionary, by the convocation of the diocese. He frequently assisted the pastors of the Episcopal churches of Providence in their Sunday ministrations, and was the regular assistant at St. John's at the communion services. Mr. Goodwin married December 12, 1825, Rebecca, daughter of William Wilkinson (B. U. 1783). They had ten children, five of whom with their mother survive." *
* By Miss Sarah L. B. Good win.
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CHURCHES OF THE
THE FREE-WILL BAPTIST CHURCH.
This church was organized November 1, 1834, under the labors of Rev. Willard Fuller, with a membership of eleven-five brethren and six sisters.
The record is as follows :
" The five brethren and six sisters came together, having letters of dismission and commendation from the third Bap- tist church in Sutton, then visible.
" The following is a true copy :
" Agreed to a request of brother Simeon Fuller for a dismission from the third Baptist church of Sutton to join with some other church. We do hereby dismiss you, and recommend you to any other church of Christ where you may find a home, and when received by them, we shall con- sider you dismissed from us."
Having presented these letters, they " Agreed to unite and embody themselves together, and form a church of Christ, and to take the Holy Scriptures for their only rule of faith and practice; and then all kneeled down before God, and in the most solemn manner gave themselves to God and one another, while the consecrating prayer was offered 'by the elder present. The scene was very solemn and heart-melting.
" After prayer the elder gave them the Right Hand of Fellowship, and commended them to God and his holy Word."
The creed of the church and the covenant are as follows :
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TOWN OF SUTTON.
THE CREED.
We are agreed in repairing to the Scriptures of truth as our only and all sufficient rule of faith and practice. We will give, in short, a few reasons.
1st. We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ has given us a perfect law of liberty, and we are not willing to exchange a perfect law for an imperfect one.
2nd. We therefore consider that the Scriptures are sufficient for the Church to make their appeal to on any and every occasion, for, saith Paul to Timothy, all Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.
3d. If, therefore, we are thoroughly furnished, we need nothing more than to consider the Scriptures of truth as our only and all sufficient rule of faith and practice, hoping and praying that we shall be led by the same spirit by which they were written.
THE CHURCH COVENANT.
We, having given ourselves to God, to serve him during life, give ourselves to each other in love and fellowship, taking the Old and New Testaments as our only rule of faith and practice in all our duties, both to God and man, and, as a Church of Christ, receive them for our instruction and only book of discipline, especially the New Testament, agreeing that we understand the faith of Christ and the practice of his church, to be as explained in the treatise on the faith of the Freewill Baptists. Having given ourselves to each other by the will of God, we agree to watch over each other for good, and build each other up in the most holy faith, and bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. And now as brothers and sisters in Christ, as children of one family, and heirs of the grace of God, we covenant, unite, and agree to stand by each other, and do all we can to strengthen and encourage each other on our heavenly journey, and also to preserve the union and harmony in the church, by attending to the worship of God on the Lord's day, and the monthly conference, and all the ordinances of the house of God, together with all such other meetings of the church as shall not interfere with family duties, if God will.
Understanding this to be a brief outline of our covenant with God and the church as given in the Bible, we will endeavor to practise it, by the grace of God assisting us.
Meetings were held at the house of Elder Willard Fuller until 1838, when a meeting-house was built on his land, about a mile west of Manchaug. The cost of this house was borne for the most part by himself, though some contributions of money and material were made by members of, the church, and others, and it remained in his possession after the church became extinct.
The church was received into the " Western Rhode Island Quarterly Meeting" June 2, 1841.
September 15, 1844, Elder W. Fuller makes this entry upon the record book of the church :
61 L
.
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CHURCHES OF THE
"The Pastor of this Church covenanted with his God to pray to him seven times a day, and when he left off, to set it down in this book if he was alive."
In 1853 he records "The Pastor has failed in the above numbers, but not in daily praying."
Under date March 19, 1842, we find this record :
THE FREEWILL BAPTIST TEMPERANCE PLEDGE.
We the undersigners pledge ourselves not to use any intoxicating liquors, or to encourage their use except as a medicine in sickness, when it is evident that they are useful to restore health and save life.
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