USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Westford > History of the town of Westford, in the county of Middlesex, Massachusetts, 1659-1883 > Part 21
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While the pale carcass tho'tless lies Among the silent graves, Some hearty friend shall drop his tear On our dry bones and say, These once were strong as mine appear, And mine must be as they. Thus shall our mouldering members teach What now our senses learn; For dust and ashes loudest preach Man's infinite concern.
* According to Mr. Hall's own marginal note in the record of his ordination he was
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His widow died October 20, 1789, at the age of eighty- four years. His oldest son, Willard, married Ruth Fletcher, of Westford, and settled in Dunstable.
The second son, Stephen, graduated from Harvard College in 1765 and studied for the ministry, but was not ordained. He was a tutor in Harvard for 6 years, 1772 to 1778, and in the latter year he moved to Portland, Maine, where he married Mary (Cotton) Holt, daughter of Dea. William Cotton and widow of Moses Holt.
His residence at Cambridge shows him to have been a good scholar ; but he did not turn his scholarship to much account after settling in Portland. He was a warm politician and a strenuous advocate of the separa- tion of Maine from Massachusetts. He was for two years-1780-'81-a Representative to the General Court from Portland. He died in 1795, aged 51. His widow died in 1803. His son, John H., was the inventor of a valuable improvement in the rifle, and was for many years employed by the government in their armory at Harper's Ferry. His daughter, Martha C., who died unmarried in 1847, left all her property, amounting to $5,500 to the First Parish in her native place. (New England Geneal. Register, 1848, p. 148.)
The third son, Willis, married Mehetabel Poole, of Hollis, N. H., 1779, and lived in Westford on the farm of the late Asia Nutting, near the North ,Burying-Ground. He was a saddler by trade. His oldest son, Willard, became District Judge of the United States for the District of Delaware.
The fourth son, Isaiah, married Hannah Keep of West- ford and settled in Groton. The oldest daughter, Elizabeth, married first, Captain Caleb Symmes of Charlestown, in 1756, and afterward (1779) Captain Benjamin Fletcher, of Westford.
then " twenty-four years and upward from March 11 to this time." As the year began March 25th, perhaps the March 11th should be reckoned as March 11, 1726, and in that case his birth took place in 1702, and the headstone is correct in fixing his age at 77 years.
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Anne, the third daughter, married Captain Leonard Whiting, of Hollis, N. H., 1761. Mary married Jonas Minot, of Concord, in 1759. Abigail married Oliver Abbot, of Billerica, in 1769. Grace married Benjamin Whiting, Esq., of Hollis, in 1770, and Martha, the youngest child, married Richard Kneeland, about 1775, and lived and died in Westford.
The practice of "owning the covenant," as it was termed, prevailed in this church from the time of its organization to the close of Mr. Hall's ministry. This act entitled a person to certain church privileges, such as baptism for his children, but not to admission to the Lord's table. It will be seen that the number who owned the covenant under Mr. Hall was much larger than the number who were admitted to full communion. But many who took the first step became members in full. Soon after the death of Mr. Hall, the church, at a meeting held June 29, 1779, passed the following vote, apparently without opposition, namely : "that it is the mind of this church that all persons entering into covenant with God, are to be considered as members of the church, and are to be under the discipline of the church; and that the church look upon it that there is no 'half-way cov- enant.'" In this way the church voluntarily freed herself from the custom and ceased to observe it.
As before stated, the church and the town both extended a call to Mr. Joseph Thaxter to settle with them; the church by a vote passed April 7, 1775, and the town by a concurrent vote passed Nov. 30, 1775. The " settlement" offered him, was £133 6s. 8d. and the yearly salary was £75. Here the matter ended; for Mr. Thaxter evidently declined the call, although no statement to that effect is recorded on any of the books .*
* Joseph Thaxter, the eldest son of Deacon Joseph and Mary (Leavitt) Thaxter, was born in Hingham, April 23, 1742. He graduated at Harvard College in 1768 ; studied theology with Rev. Dr. Gay in his native place, and was licensed to preach in 1771. He was present at the fight at Concord Bridge and at the battle of Bunker Hill. On the 23rd of January, 1776, he was elected a chaplain in the army, and served in a regiment of
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After the dismission of Mr. Hall, various persons were employed to supply the pulpit. Mr. Wheaton of Framingham for one Sabbath ; Manasseh Smith of Hollis for 13 Sabbaths; Josiah Goodhue of Dunstable for 4 Sab- baths ; Samuel Whitman, afterward of Ashby, 8 Sabbaths ; and Mr. Jones 2 Sabbaths. About the middle of November, 1776, Mr. Jesse Read was engaged and served for one year, at the end of which time the church, November 21, 1777, gave him a call to settle by a vote of 21 to 5. The town undoubtedly concurred, for they had previously expressed a wish to have him settled. The acceptance was not received for some months, for the church voted, April 6, 1778, to return thanks to Mr. Read "for his acceptance of their call." The town agreed to the action of the church May 4, 1778, and the day of the assembling of the council was fixed for June 17, 1778. The churches in Abington, Braintree, Weymouth, Andover, Kingston, Dracut, Townsend, Groton, Concord, Acton, were first in- vited, but subsequently the church in Concord was dropped and the churches in Medway and Franklin were added, making in all eleven churches. A committee of five was appointed "to prepare matters for the ordination of Mr. Read ; and also to lay all votes of the church and town before the council, that shall be thought proper." The council assembled at the time specified. It was composed of able and discreet men, some of whom were aged fathers in the ministry. This large and honorable body of men
which John Robinson, of Westford, was colonel. He was in the ranks at Cambridge, in different parts of New Jersey and at the battle of White Plains, and, as is supposed, went to Lake George and Ticonderoga. He was ordained and settled over the church in Edgartown, Martha's Vineyard, in 1780, where he remained until his death. While he was in Westford, he addressed a detachment of Westford soldiers, twelve in number, as they were about to start for Ticonderoga, and the tradition is, that one of them, Thomas Rogers, refused to stand up when Mr. Thaxter spoke to them, and that of the twelve all returned but Rogers. (See p. 136.) On the 17th of June, 1825, he was called upon to officiate at the laying of the corner stone of the Bunker Hill Monument. This was the last time that he ever left the island. His prayer at Bunker Hill was written out, and may be seen in Sprague's Annals of the Unitarian pulpit. He died July 18, 1827, aged 83 years.
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-the "elders" of the churches, together with some of their choicest brethern-had come, some from their distant homes, to take part in the expected solemnities attending the ordination. But for some unexplained reason the anticipated services did not take place.
The council deliberated four days, at an expense to .the town of £IIO, but without accomplishing the work for which they were summoned. Apparently violent op- position was made by the small faction in the church who were still adherents of Mr. Hall. So far as the brief and scanty records show, the result of the council was to advise the calling of another council in the selection of which Mr. Hall and his friends might have a share. Accordingly arrangements were made for a mutual council which was to assemble September Ist. Meantime it was in- mated that Mr. Hall was desirous of settling the difficulty, and the church voted "to wait on him at a time he shall designate for the purpose." There is, however, nothing in the records to show that any such conference was held by the parties. The mutual council probably met on the day appointed (September 1, 1778) but for some reason voted to adjourn for one month. October Ist, the church voted to abide by the "advice of the council now sitting." What this advice was does not distinctly appear, but, October 12th, the church "voted unanimously to ac- cept the result of the late council."* They had, at least, brought about a truce in the contest, although Mr. Read was not ordained. He seems to have been sacrificed upon the altar of their mutual reconciliation.
Though Mr. Read was given up, the church determined to go on and " have the gospel preached in this town as soon as may be." The neighboring ministers were applied to for assistance ; efforts were made to heal internal dissen- sions, and November 20th, a vote was carried, unanimously, " to pass by all former difficulties and disputes, one amongst ١
* The council was in session five days, at an expense to the town of £170.
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another, and to be in full charity one with another, as Chris- tian brethren." These indications were certainly very hope- ful. They still prized the institutions of the gospel and deemed them an indispensable part of their social life .*
Mr. Jesse Read was paid, October 23, 1778, the sum of £252 for preaching twenty-eight Sabbaths. t
The Ministry of Rev. Matthew Scribner. December 14, 1778, the town voted " that the selectmen shall hire Mr. Matthew Scribner # two Sabbaths more than he was first agreed with, and then hire some other man to preach with us." This was probably to give opportunity for some other candidate to be presented. Mr. Scribner had commenced preaching about the First of November, 1778, and supplied the pulpit for ten Sabbaths, preaching also the Thanksgiving sermon and one preparatory lecture.
After this, Mr. Jeremiah Barnard preached for seven Sabbaths, receiving £90 for his services. At a meeting of the church, called April 19, 1779, " to see the church's mind, whether they were inclined to give a call to some candidate to settle with us as a minister," it was voted unanimously. that it was the mind of the church to settle a minister with them. It was then moved for the brethren of the church to bring in their votes, written for the gentleman they had a mind to have for their minister. There were twenty of the brethren then present who voted and chose Mr. Matthew Scribner for their minister ; and six voted not to settle him at present. They also chose a committee
* In mitigation, somewhat, of the asperities of this conflict, it should be remem- bered that those were the "times that tried men's souls," and beside these internal divisions, they were subjected to the harrassing anxieties of a protracted struggle for their civil rights. The Tory principles of their minister were specially obnoxious to them.
t "May 10, 1784. Voted to raise 290 pounds money to pay the Debt that the heirs of Mr. Hall have recovered against this town."
¿ February 15, 1780. "Pay to Lieut. Leonard Procter, for a journey to Norwalk and expenses to Imploy the Reverend Mr. Scribner to come and preach in this town, according to town vote, the sum of £60." Also, "pay to Lieut. Procter for a journey to Newburyport and expenses, after the Result of Council, the sum of £36."
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of five men, to wit : Dea. John Abbot, Maj. Jonathan Minot, Dea. Jonathan Fletcher, Simeon Wright and Ephraim Chamberlin, "to inform Mr. Scribner of the proceedings of the church, and also to inform the selectmen of the town, that the town may act thereon as they think proper. Also to discourse with Mr. Scribner about his principles ·of religion and church government, and a plan for a minister and people to settle together properly upon."
At a meeting of the town, May 21st, it was voted "that all the inhabitants of this town now present that are twenty-one years of age, shall have the liberty to vote and show their minds respecting the vote of the church in calling Mr. Matthew Scribner to the work of the gospel ministry in this town." It was then voted "to concur with the vote of the church respecting their calling Mr. Matthew Scribner. Also, voted to support Mr. Scribner decently as long as he shall carry on the work of a gospel minister for this town; to provide a suitable dwelling house, keeping for a horse and two cows, and twenty cords of wood yearly, and also to give him £90 for his support the first year, to be settled according to the neccessaries of life, and to be stated by the Regulating Act, so called, as it was settled in this town ; the year to begin on the day of his ordination."
A committee was appointed "to join with the church's committee, to wait on Mr. Scribner with the votes of the town and for further discourse with him." This " discourse" seems to have been satisfactory to all parties, for it procured a favorable response.
The church, at a meeting held July 15th, voted " to return Mr. Scribner thanks for his kindness to this church in his accepting our call to him to settle with us as our minister." They also voted " to send to eleven churches to assist in the ordination of Mr. Scribner, besides the two churches in the place from which Mr. Scribner came," that is, Norwalk, Conn. The churches invited were as follows, viz : Townsend, Rev. Samuel Dix, pastor; Groton, Rev.
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Daniel Chaplin, pastor; Dracut, Rev. Nathan Davis, pastor ; Acton, Rev. Moses Adams, pastor; Medway, Rev. David Sanford, pastor ; Franklin, Rev. Nathaniel Emmons, D. D., pastor ; Newbury, Rev. Samuel Spring, pastor ; Keene, N. H., Rev. - Hall, pastor ; Andover, Rev. Jonathan French, pastor; Ashby, Rev. Samuel Whit- man, pastor ; First Norwalk, Conn., Rev. - ; Second. Norwalk, Conn., Rev. - . Afterwards, August 2nd, they voted "to omit to send to the church in Norwalk that is destroyed by the enemy, and to send to the First Church in Kingston instead." Deacons John Abbot and Jonathan Fletcher, and Mr. Nathaniel Boynton were ap- pointed in behalf of the church to issue the letters missive ; and these brethern, together with Jonathan Minot and Thomas Kidder, were designated as a committee "to wait on the council for the ordination of Mr. Scribner, and for the defense of the church in all matters that may be laid before said committee." At the same time the town voted "to concur with the church in the appointment of October 5, 1779, for the ordination of Mr. Scribner," and chose a committee to provide for the council .*
There is no further record of the council, so that it is not known by whom the several parts in the ordination services were performed. The church at this time were deprived of their book of records. Mr. Hall had kept possession of it and refused to give it up, after his dismis- sion, although requested several times to give it or a copy of it for their use. After his death they sent once and again to Madam Hall to have it returned to them ; but she replied that she "was advised not to deliver up any papers or records till Mr. Hall's estate was settled and that she understood that the church was about to set up a new plan of government and those records would
* It cost the town £352, " continental money." The charge or cost at Mr. Hall's ordination was £14. 8s. 2d.
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be of no use to them."* What the "new plan of gov- ernment" was to which she referred, there seems to be no way of knowing with certainty. Perhaps the reference is to the "half-way covenant" practice which had been set aside by the church.
November 1, 1779, " the church came together to con- sult upon matters respecting the state and condition of the church. It was thought proper and necessary, not only for the satisfaction and benefit of each other, but also that a door might be open to receive members, if any should see fit to offer themselves, to have a confession of faith and a cov- enant. As the church could not come at their book of records, and consequently were deprived of all papers of this kind," it was deemed needful to prepare a new one. Accordingly a committee of five, consisting of the pastor; Rev. Matthew Scribner, Dea. John Abbot, Nathaniel Boynton, Jonathan Minot, and Thomas Kidder, was ap- pointed " to draw up a confession of faith and a covenant, and. lay them before the church for their approbation." This was done, and during Mr. Scribner's ministry, which lasted about ten years, and during Mr. Blake's, also, the following manual was used :
The Confession of Faith. (I.) We believe there is one God, the Lord Jehovah, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, who are the same in essence, equal in power and glory : and that God is an eternal, unchangeable Being, possessed of a possible perfection, both natural and moral, to an unlimited degree.
*The book of records was afterward recovered and is still in existence. It is to be regretted that the volume contains no record of the church during Mr. Scribner's ministry. In the American Quarterly Register, Vol. XI. pp. 385, seq., is an account of the First Church in Westford, in which it is said that the records were kept by Mr. Scribner in a distinct volume, designated volume second. Diligent search and inquiry have been made for this book, but it has not been found. Between the ministry of Mr. Hall and Mr. Blake, who was the third pastor, there is an uncom- fortable gap.
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(2.) That God is the creator of all worlds and things ; and that his providence is over all and extends to all.
(3.) That God has a fixed, eternal, and infinitely wise plan of goverment, which is never frustrated, or in the least degree counteracted by any thing that ever did, or ever will, take place in the system ; but all things take place agreeably to the "counsel of his own will, " he having foreordained whatsoever comes to pass; yet so as neither violence is offered to the will of the creature, nor can it be said God is the author of sin.
(4.) That the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments are of divine authority, being written by men inspired by the Holy Ghost; and that they contain all the truths necessary to be known in order to salvation.
(5.) That God created the first man Adam perfectly holy and upright, without the least inclination to transgress the will of his Maker, yet not immutable, but free to stand or fall; and set him as a public head or repre- sentative of his posterity ; so that in case of his persevering in holiness and obedience, he and all his posterity were to have been forever happy; but by his fall and apostasy from God, they now come into this world in a state of total depravity, condemnation and wrath.
(6.) That the Lord Jesus Christ, who is God and man in one person, as a mediator between God and man, has perfectly obeyed the precepts of the divine law and suffered the penalties of it; whereby he has answered all the ends of the law, has magnified it and made it honorable; and wrought out a perfect and complete rigtheousness, and made an atonement for sin, sufficient for the salvation of the whole world; yet that God hath from eternity determined to apply the redemption of Christ, but to a certain number of mankind, who are in Scripture called the " elect."
(7.) That the whole ground and foundation of our acceptance into the favor of God, is the righteousness and atonement of Christ, in which we become interested by faith alone.
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(8.) That in order to faith, or any other gracious exercise, every son and daughter of Adam must be renewed in the temper of their minds, by the immediate power and influence of the Holy Ghost.
(9.) That God hath absolutely promised, and therefore will keep all true saints from total and final apostasy ; and cause them by his Spirit to persevere in faith and holiness, till they are made perfect in glory.
(IO.) That none but the cordial friends of Christ have a right to partake of the Lord's Supper; and that a confession of faith in Christ and cordial submission to him, is what the church ought to require of those whom they receive to communion.
(II.) That the infant seed of professing believers are proper subjects of Baptism.
(12.) That "God hath appointed a day in which he will judge the world in righteousness by Jesus Christ"; when he will confer on the goodly eternal happiness, but doom the wicked to pains everlasting.
The Covenant. You do now, in the presence of the heart-searching God, and before angels and men, choose the Lord Jehovah, Father, Son and Holy Ghost, for your God and portion ; and heartily accept of the Lord Jesus Christ for your Redeemer and only Saviour, as he is offered to sinners in the gospel; solemnly prom- ising, by the grace of God, that you will yield a cordial and universal obedience to his commands; renouncing the vanities of the world and the service of sin and Satan ; and approve yourself a disciple of Jesus Christ in all good carriage toward God and man.
You do also submit yourself to the government of Christ in his church, and to the regular administration of it in this church in particular; and promise to walk in communion with it, attending the worship of God and all the ordinances of the gospel in this place, so long as God in his providence shall continue you here.
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Rev. Matthew Scribner was the second son of Matthew and Martha (Smith) Scribner, and was born in Norwalk, Conn., February 7, 1746. He graduated at Yale College in 1775, and received the degree of Master of Arts in 1783. He was married in Topsfield, Mass., December 16, 1779, to Sarah Porter, who was born in Topsfield, March 21, 1742. Their children were ten in number - six sons and four daughters :
I. Sarah, born September 15, 1781; died October 4, 178I.
2. Elijah Porter, born October II, 1782.
3. Nathaniel, born June 30, 1784.
4. Hannah, born February 12, 1786.
5. Sarah, born September 25, 1787.
6. William, born July 27, 1789 ; died December 11, 1790.
7. Samuel, born December 9, 1790.
8. William, born June 22, 1792.
9. Abigail, born February 16, 1794.
IO. Rufus, born August 20, 1795.
In the matter of Mr. Scribner's pecuniary support there would seem to be some deviation from the usual method.
" In consideration of certain Subscription Papers given into my hands for the payment of my salary for the current year, that is to say, from October 5th 1785 to October 5th 1786, I do relinquish all Demands upon the town of West- ford for said year.
MATTHEW SCRIBNER.
" Westford, March 27, 1786."
Perhaps these subscription papers were only private pledges in assurance that the salary should be paid. Mr. Scribner was often in trouble about his salary, and these papers were intended to relieve all anxiety. The real intent of them can only be surmised. It is said that Mr. Scribner was never very popular in his parish ; that his pastorate was tumultuous and stormy ; and that for these reasons it was brief, lasting only ten years, while that of his predecessor continued forty-eight years.
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October 6, 1788, the town voted "to choose a com- mittee to try to settle the difficulties respecting some of the .inhabitants of this town and the Rev. Mr. Scribner. Chose ten men for said committee, viz : Zaccheus Wright, Jonas Prescott, Timothy Prescott, Francis Leighton, Joshua Read, John Abbot, Jonathan Keep, Isaac Comings, Issachar Keyes and Jonathan Carver." Also, "Voted not to raise any money for Rev. Mr. Scribner's salary, and then the com- mittee of ten made report, and voted to have a council agreeable to sd committee's report." "November 10, 1788, voted to have a mutual council as soon as may be, and to choose a committee to confer with the church's com- mittee respecting the method of calling sd council. Voted that the report of sd committee [of ten] be recorded on the town book."
" Proposals for a Mutual Council: Ist. The council is to consist of seven churches ; the odd chh to be first agreed upon, and then each party to choose three which shall be mutually consented to.
" 2nd. All articles of complaint are to be submitted to the council and left with them to take up or pass by any of sd articles they shall think proper ; and having considered and weighed all matters, it is expected that they give their advice whether on the whole it is most expedient for the pastor of this church to ask a dismission and so his pastoral relations to this People be dissolved, or he continue with this people and all contention be laid aside : and as the council shall determine so it shall be : that is, if the council on the whole advise to a dismission, all parties shall acquiesce, and if the council on the whole shall advise all parties to unite and keep their present minister, all parties shall acquiesce, and all contention shall cease.
" 3rd. It is further agreed upon that if the pastor is advised to ask a dismission, it shall be submitted to the council what consideration shall be given in addition to the salary already due, or whether any ; and if on the other hand
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