USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Westford > History of the town of Westford, in the county of Middlesex, Massachusetts, 1659-1883 > Part 22
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it is thought best that the Pastor continue and all submit themselves under his care, to prevent further difficulties it shall be determined what sum is adequate and sufficient for a· decent support agreeable to contract, and that shall be the fixed salary for time to come.
"(Signed.) MATTHEW SCRIBNER, Pastor, In behalf of the Church.
ZACHS. WRIGHT, In behalf of the Town.
" The churches agreed upon are the following, viz : Billerica, Concord, Littleton, Groton, Shirley, Lunenburg and Hampshire Dunstable."
The council was " desired to meet on the first Tuesday of December next."
The council met, but there is no record of their proceed- ings. It may be inferred from the following votes, however, that they advised the pastor to stay.
"January 12, 1879. Voted not to accept the Result of the late Council. Voted to raise two hundred and fifty pounds for the Rev. Mr. Scribner's back salary."
A few days after Mr. Scribner signed the following receipts : " Westford, January 30, 1789. Then recª of the town of Westford, Notes of hand signed by the Town's Committee for two hundred and fifty pounds as part of my salary dues from sd town."
"January 30, 1789. Then recd of the town of West- ford by the hand of sd Town's Committee agreeable to the Town's vote, fifteen pounds eight shillings in full with one other receipt of even date with this receipt for two hundred and fifty pounds, to be in full for salary dues, and for support and house rent and keeping of cows and horse and firewood, which was due to me from sd West- ford, agreeable to contract with sd town. I say in full up to the 5th of October, 1788."
The select men ordered these notes to be paid March 18, 1789, and it was done.
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The following extracts from the town records point out the conclusion of Mr. Scribner's ministry :
" October 12, 1789. Voted to choose a committee to converse with the Reverend Mr. Scribner respecting his receiving a Compensation for his asking a dismission from this town and church. Chose Lieut. Jonas Prescott, Col. Zaacheus Wright and Joshua Read for sd Committee."
After an adjournment for fifteen minutes, "the committee made report that the Rev. Mr. Scribner would not take any- thing short of two hundred pounds, and then voted to give the Rev. Mr. Scribner two hundred pounds as a compensa- tion for his being dismissed from his ministerial relation to this town and church, and also to dismiss the Rev. Mr. Scrib- ner as above mentioned; and then voted to give the Rev. Mr. Scribner one hundred and two pounds eighteen shillings and sixpence for his salary for the past year." Having chosen a committee of three men to give to Mr. Scribner security for the payment of his money, the town then voted that " all difficulties respecting Mr. Scribner as minister of this town shall subside. Voted that a council be called by the 10th of November next."
The council was probably called on the day specified, but the town records are silent about it. It is safe to assume that the dismission took place November 10, 1789. In a few months the pecuniary account was settled, and the town took measures to secure preaching. Several years after his dismission Mr. Scribner removed to Tyngsborough, where he took up a lot of wild land just over the line from Westford. This he began to clear up and cultivate, and there he tried an experiment in raising Merino sheep, having bought a few animals at almost fabulous prices. The experiment failed, but he continued to reside on the farm until his death. He and his family were always connected, socially and relig- iously, with the people of Westford. Here they came to attend public worship, and on one or two occasions Mr. Scribner was chosen moderator of the town meeting. One
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of the daughters married Leonard Kendall of Tyngs- borough, and another, Hannah, married William Usher, of Charlestown, in 1824.
Mr. Scribner died in Tyngsborough, 1813, at the age of sixty-seven years.
November 16, 1789, the town voted " to raise fifty pounds to hire preaching for this town for the present." Also, chose a committee to hire, and instructed the committee "not to engage a candidate for more than four Sabbaths at his first coming into town without knowing the minds of the town."
After this numerous candidates appeared before the people, and among them were Josiah Burge, son of Ephraim Burge, who went from this town and settled in Hollis. The son, Josiah, graduated at Harvard College in 1787. Read Page ; John Simpkins, H. C., 1786 ; Stephen Baxter, H. C., 1788; Jonathan Osgood, who was born in Westford, and graduated at Yale College, 1787; Thaddeus M. Harris, H. C., 1787; Thomas Worcester, afterwards settled in Salisbury, N. H. ; Benjamin Thurston, H. C., 1744 (called Parson Thurstin on the record) ; Royal Tyler, H. C., 1776; Thomas Moor, H. C., 1787; Hezekiah Packard, H. C., 1787, afterward settled in Chelmsford ; Jacob Coggin, after- ward pastor at Tewksbury ; William Emerson, H. C., 1789, afterward pastor at Harvard, Mass., and transferred to Boston - the father of Ralph Waldo Emerson; and Caleb Blake, H. C., 1784.
The Ministry of Rev. Caleb Blake. Mr. Blake came here, apparently, in the summer of 1791, for he received, August 19th of that year, the sum of £3 5s. for preaching. In September following he received £4 16s. for preaching four days.
The Call. " December 26, 1791. Voted to concur with the church in giving Mr. Caleb Blake a call to settle in
* An effort was made to restore Mr. Scribner to the position of minister of the town for, April 4, 1791, the town voted "that it tis not agreebale to this town for Mr. Mathew Scribner to Return Back agin to be a minister of this town."
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this town in the gospel ministry by the No. 106 for and 12 against. Voted to Mr. Blake £200 as a settlement : that one hundred pounds be paid in six months after his ordination, and the other hundred pounds in one year ; to give £80 a year as salary, to be paid quarterly," &c. The selectmen were appointed a committee " to join with the church's com- mittee to inform Mr. Caleb Blake of the proceedings," and a few weeks later, January 30, 1792, the town voted to " con- cur with the church in their proceedings for the Council."
The Ordination. Rev. Caleb Blake, the third pastor, was ordained, February 29, 1792. No information can be had respecting the composition of the ordaining council or the names of the ministers who sustained the several parts of the service, for the simple reason that the town records are silent and the church records are missing.
" March 2, 1792. Pay Col. Abel Boynton the sum of £4 20s. for 123 meals of victuals for the Council." * " March 9, 1792. Pay to John Abbot the sum of 18 shillings for poot- ing up 32 horses for the Council."
Mr. Blake was born in Wrentham, Massachusetts, May I, 1762, and graduated at Harvard College in 1784. He married, October 13, 1791, Martha Moseley, of Hampton, Connecticut, who was born in 1775, and who was a sister of Hon. Ebenezer Moseley, lately of Newburyport. They had five children, who lived to adult age, two sons and three daughters. One son died in infancy.
I. Martha, or Patty, born April 6, 1793.
2. Caleb Moseley, born April 7, 1795.
3. Sophia Strong, born April 20, 1801.
4. William Herbert, born February 23, 1806.
5. Mary Ann, born December 5, 1809.
Mr. Blake continued in office thirty-four years. His relations to his people were harmonious for about twenty-five years, or until the coming on of that conflict of theological
* This is conclusive evidence that the work was done and the dinner was eaten by somebody; but who did the one and ate the other, the muse of history declines to say.
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opinions which marked the early part of the present century. He belonged, it is said, to that class of theologians called Hopkinsians, and when the controversy waxed warm he took a decided stand in defence of his own views. But being ill- fitted and less disposed to engage in disputations, he resigned after a few years and betook himself to a farm. He lived first in the old house (now removed) which stood on the cor- ner of Main and Heywood Streets, and which was succes- sively occupied by Dr. Asaph Fletcher, Jonathan Keep and John Abbot. There all his children were born. He was dismissed, February 28, 1826. In 1817 he bought the Amos Heywood farm, and having repaired the buildings, occupied them until he removed to Bedford, Massachusetts, in 1828. He was in Bedford five years, and returned in 1833. He then purchased what was formerly known as the Bixby farm, now occupied by John Warren Day. After his return he was chosen to represent the town one term in the Legisla- ture. He was not a close student, a fluent speaker, or an easy writer. He published only one sermon, delivered before the Ladies' Charitable Association in 1812 or 1813. He was fond of farming, and attributed his good health in a great measure to that occupation ; but his chief pleasure was in reading. He died, May 11, 1847, aged 85 years.
The incidents in his period of service are not very numerous. He seems to have led the quiet life of a country parson, at least until the time of divergence in theological opinions. Soon after his ordination, April, 1793, the church voted " that candidates for admission shall be examined be- fore the church." Also, " that a Chapter or Clause be read in the Bible in the forenoon and afternoon on the Lord's day, as a part of public worship. Col. Wright, at the same time, generously presented the church with a Bible for this pur- pose."
" March 10, 1794, the church debated on the kind of vessels they would procure for sacramental use, the others having been destroyed when the meeting-house was burnt, and voted to procure ten tankards and three platters."
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Beginning of Sabbath School Library. "July 26, 1827. I gave notice that the church voted - it may be a year since or upward - that what money they could spare from sacramental uses should be applied in the purchase of Books for a Sabbath School Library in this place."
During the ministry of Mr. Blake, 124 persons were received into the church, and 17 were dismissed to other churches. He baptized 378 children and officiated at 307 marriages.
December 13, 1827, the church chose Amos Heywood clerk, and adjourned for one week.
December 20th, they chose a committee consisting of Mr. Blake, Dea. John Cutter and Dea. Reuben Leighton to make some alterations in the confession of faith.
" February 28, 1828, the church voted to choose a com- mittee to request Mr. Eber Carpenter to come in and answer questions before the church." Afterward, "Voted that the church are satisfied with the answers made by Mr. Carpenter. Voted to give Mr. Eber Carpenter a call to become the pastor of this church, and to choose a committee to request the selectmen to call a town meeting to see if the town will concur in the call of Mr. Eber Carpenter to the gospel minis- try."
The town voted not to concur, and this proved to be the last effort to settle a pastor over the church and town to- gether. For one hundred years this had been the order of things, but a change was effected, and the practice was abandoned. It was not, however, until a few years later that the privilege of belonging to any religious society, or the liberty to refuse to be connected with any, was granted by the Legislature without restriction or impeachment. The change in this case was the effect of causes that had long been operating, and the disintegration and separation, though at first unwelcome and disastrous to some cherished customs and familiar associations, came in due time to be acquiesced in as needful and salutary. For many years before the form- tion of any new society in this town, persons had connected
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themselves with Baptist churches in Chelmsford and Little- ton, and by furnishing certificates of membership in these, they were released from the obligation to pay a minister tax here. The Baptist Church in South Chelmsford was formed in 1771, and since that time many families in the south and east parts of the town have been connected with it. The fol- lowing list is without date, but it was probably made out in 1826: " Names of persons that have joined other societies : John Woods, Homer Sawtelle, Peter C. Edwards, Sampson Stevens, Josiah Boynton, Levi Wright, Luther Wright, James Kidder, Gilbert Parker, James Gardner, Dea. Eliakim Hutchins, Thomas Hutchins, John Hutchins, Thomas Hutch- ins, 3d, Elias Sweetser, Nathaniel Sweetser, Thomas Rich- ardson, Jr., Matthew Griffin, William Cook, Benjamin Hay- wood, John Osgood, Isaac Patch, Jr., Avery Prescott, Ezra Fletcher, Wid. Anna Pierce, Benjamin Parker, Polly Abbot, Ephraim Chamberlin, Elizabeth Parker, Rufus Flint, Jotham Fletcher, Silas Chandler, Jenner Bird, William Moulton, George Kidder, George S. Messenger, Augustus H. Searles, Thomas Hutchins, 2d, and Salmon Snow."
The following persons are described as " belonging to the first Universalist Society in Westford : Asia Hamlin, Theodore Woodard, William Whiting, William Chandler, Seth Fletcher, Thomas R. Wright, Thomas Spalding, Jr., John Wilson, Luther Trowbridge, Asa Prescott, Jr., Eli Spalding, George Frederick, Thaddeus Blodgett, Parker Woodard, Peter Parker, Jacob Blodgett, Thomas Richard- son, Jr., Joseph Fletcher, Solomon Taylor, Cyprian Banis- ter, Timothy Smith, Joel Wright, Oliver Woodard, George W. Spalding, John Wright. April 14, 1826. Recorded the names according to the certificates produced."
About this time a second Congregational Society was formed.
The following belonged to the Baptist Society in Chelms- ford : Joshua Hunt, William Laws, Stephen N. Nichols, Samuel H. Nichols, Elisha Bunce, Josiah Webber, Salathiel Adams, Phinehas Chamberlin, Luther Hunt, Erastus Brown,
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Isaac Corey, John Fletcher, Edward L. Taylor, Joseph Shed, William Mears, Jr.
The following to the Baptist Society of Littleton : Cyrus Brooks, Eliakim Hutchins, Samuel Farwell, Eliakim Hutch- ins, Jr.
And these, in addition to the names before given, be- longed to the first Universalist Society here : William B. Daniels, Samuel Frederick, Charles Nutting, Samuel Stone, Calvin Green, Jr., John B. Fletcher, Othiel Fletcher, Parker Wright, Nathan Robbins, Eli Green ; Avery Prescott, clerk.
Also George Harlow, member of the second Congrega- tional Society in Chelmsford.
This was the attitude of ecclesiastical matters in the winter of 1827-'28. The large number who joined the second Congregational Society indicates some disturbance in the First Parish, the nature of which the records do not reveal. It is evident the elements were in motion, but an effort was soon made to fuse them and secure harmony.
At the annual town meeting, March 5, 1828, a propo- sition was made to unite all the societies for the purpose of supporting public worship, and the town appointed Jonathan Prescott, Andrew Fletcher and Jesse Minot, Jr., " a commit- tee to confer with the second society committee."
The following paper, apparently embodying the result of a conference of these committees, is on record : (Town Rec- ·ords, vol. vi., p. 19.)
." For the purpose of uniting in supporting preaching for the present, and in the hope that the town may unite in the settlement of a minister, the persons who have subscribed this paper have agreed to recommend to the different Relig- ious Societies in Westford for their adoption the following propositions :
" Ist. All the societies shall unite in raising money to support preaching and be assessed together for the same.
" 2nd. The manner of raising money shall be such as may be considered legal.
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" 3rd. The money which shall be voted to be raised thus shall be laid out as follows : A committee of five indi- viduals shall be chosen to procure preaching, two of said committee to be taken from the first Society, two from those who constitute the second, and one from those who constitute the Universalist.
" 4th. The two members of the committee taken from those who were the first Society, shall first hire such candi- dates as they may choose for four Sabbaths; the two mem- bers of the committee taken from those who were the second Society shall then hire such candidates as they may choose for four Sabbaths, and the member taken from those who were the Universalist Society shall then hire such candidate as he may choose for two Sabbaths ; and so on, till the town shall obtain such candidate as they may agree to settle, it being understood that each denomination in the said commit- tee shall at least have right to hire one candidate before any person shall be settled.
" 5th. It is agreed that all money to be raised shall be so raised as to be legally binding on every member of each society that will agree to the union ; and that the acceptance of this report is not to bind any society unless accepted by all the societies."
(Signed.) "Jonathan Prescott, Andrew Fletcher, Jesse Minot, Jr., John Abbot, Abram Prescott, Nahum H. Groce, Thomas Richardson, Avery Prescott."
This document is without date, but was evidently pre- pared after the annual meeting in March, 1828. The town, at a meeting held April 7, 1828, voted " to raise four hundred dollars to support preaching the year ensuing," and chose a committee, consisting of Imla Goodhue, Jacob Osgood, John Abbot, Nahum H. Groce and William B. Daniels, to hire preaching. This seems to indicate a purpose to carry out the recommendation of the joint committee.
January 26, 1829, the church voted to give Mr. Ephraim Randall a call to become their pastor, and on the same day
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the inhabitants of the First Congregational Society * in West- ford voted that the society are satisfied with Rev. Ephraim Randall, and that the parish do concur with the church in giving him a call to settle. Voted that the church and society give the Rev. Mr. Randall five hundred dollars as a salary yearly. Voted that the church and society may dis- miss Mr. Randall on the vote of two-thirds of the members by giving him six months' notice; and he shall have the same privilege of leaving by giving the church and society the same notice in writing."
Mr. Randall accepted the invitation and was installed, April 30, 1829.
The following churches were represented in the council : Dorchester, Rev. Edward Richmond, D. D., pastor.
Chelmsford, Rev. Wilkes Allen, pastor ; John C. Dal- ton, M. D., delegate.
Groton, Rev. Charles Robinson, pastor ; Joseph Hall, delegate.
Littleton, Rev. William H. White, pastor ; Dea. Martin Wood, delegate.
Ashby, Rev. Ezekiel L. Bascom, pastor ; Cushing Burr, delegate.
At the services of installation Rev. C. Robinson read the Scriptures and offered the introductory prayer ; Rev. Dr. Richmond preached the sermon ; Rev. E. L. Bascom offered the installing prayer and gave the right-hand of fellowship; Rev. W. Allen gave the charge, and Rev. W. H. White offered the concluding prayer.
Rev. Ephraim Randall, the fourth pastor, was the son of Hopestill and Submit (Bruce) Randall, and was born in Easton, Massachusetts, November 29, 1785. He graduated at Harvard College in 1812, and was ordained in New Bed- ford, Massachusetts, August 26, 1814. He was afterward installed at Saugus, Massachusetts, October 3, 1826, and dis- missed, August 7, 1827. His connection with the first church of Westford ceased May 1, 1831, by his voluntary resignation
* It is "the town " no longer, but the Society. This is the first time the title appears.
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and dismission by act of an ecclesiastical council consisting of Rev. H. Packard, Rev. William Barry, Jr., Rev. Wilkes Allen and Rev. Stephen Hull. He died, December 16, 1871, at Easton.
June 1, 1830, the church by unanimous vote adopted a new profession and covenant, to wit :
" In the presence of Almighty God, the searcher of hearts, and before this assembly, you profess, in the lan- guage of the first disciples, to 'believe Jesus Christ is the son of God,' (Acts viii: 37) and do believe the record, ' that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his son,' (I John v: II). You receive the 'Scripture given by inspiration of God,' as alone the sufficient and only infallible rule of faith and practice; and do reject all human authority in religion, whether assumed by one man or a body of fallible men, as submission to such authority implies that the Holy Scriptures are not a sufficient rule, and that private Christians are not competent to think and believe for themselves, and is contrary to the declaration of our Lord -'one is your master, even Christ, and all ye are brethren,' (Matthew xxiii : 8). 'But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the command- ments of men,' (Matthew xv : 9). You do now acknowl- edge the Lord Jehovah, the one living and true God, to be your God, and, relying upon divine assistance, do promise that you will endeavor 'to walk humbly with God,' (Micah vi : 8).
"Professing repentance towards God, you do sincerely receive the Lord Jesus Christ as he is offered in the gospel, as 'the Teacher come from God,' the High Priest of our profession and ' the King and head over all things to the church,' believing that 'there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby you must be saved," (Acts iv : 12).
"Depending upon the Holy Spirit for strength and con- solation, you will endeavor ' to put off concerning the former
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conversation, the old man which is corrupt, to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness,' (Eph. iv : 22-14).
"In your relation to this church, you will submit to their brotherly care, and to the government and laws of Christ in this church, uniting with them ' with all lowliness and meek- ness, with long suffering forbearing one another in love, endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace,' (Eph. iv : 2,3). You do now solemnly give up your- self and all that you have unto God, promising that you will herein exercise yourself to have always ' a conscience void of offence toward God and toward man,' (Acts xxiv : 16).
" On the Part of the Church : I do now declare you to be a member of this church of Christ, who are under solemn obligations to unite with you in seeking the things of peace and love and of a sound mind, and to care for your state, with meekness, fidelity and brotherly kindness."
After, Mr. Randall's dismission, Rev. Ephraim Abbot was acting pastor, and continued to act as such until April 3, I834. " There was preaching but part of the time from Oc- tober, 1834, to April, 1835. In the summer of 1835, Rev. Jonathan Farr * preached, and after him Rev. Ephraim Abbot supplied the desk until April, 1836."
"Rev. Luther Wilson then preached till April, 1839, assisted the latter part of the time several months, on account of Mr. Wilson's ill health, by Rev. Ephraim Abbot. Rev. Claudius Bradford preached till April, 1840, and then Rev. Ephraim Abbot till April, 1841. Mr. Thurston, Mr. Coolidge and Mr. Buckingham preached as candidates till October, 1841. The Universalists having a right in the meeting-house have had preachers of their denomination a few Sabbaths every year for thirteen years past. Rev. Ephraim Abbot preached from October, 1841, to April, 1845."
* Harvard College, 1818. Died in 1845.
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"From April to July, 1845, there was preaching in the society only part of the time. Mr. Edward Capen preached from July 20, 1845, to July 7, 1846, and having been invited to settle, declined the invitation. After which, on account of altering and repairing the meeting-house, there was no pub- lic worship in the society before the house was dedicated on 7th January, 1847; on which occasion Rev. William H. White, of Littleton, preached the sermon, and Rev. Mr. Thayer, of Chelmsford, made the dedicating prayer. After this, Mr. Putnam preached three Sabbaths, and Mr. Newell one. Rev. Herman Snow began to preach February 7, 1847, and continued for one year." (Church Records.)
June 6, 1847. Rev. E. Abbot and the pastor were ap- pointed a committee to prepare a new covenant for the church.
The Covenant. "In the presence of God and before these witnesses you offer yourself for admission to this Christian church.
" You regard this transaction as a profession of your belief in the one living and true God; a testimony of your faith in Jesus Christ as the son of God and the Savior of the world; and an acknowledgment of the sacred scriptures of the Old and New Testament as containing a revelation from God to man, and a perfect rule of faith and duty.
" And you promise that you will strive to walk with this church in the spirit of charity and brotherly love, and in all things to live as becometh a true disciple of Jesus Christ.
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