USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > Mattapoisett > Mattapoisett and Old Rochester, Massachusetts : being a history of these towns and also in part of Marion and a portion of Wareham. > Part 16
USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > Rochester > Mattapoisett and Old Rochester, Massachusetts : being a history of these towns and also in part of Marion and a portion of Wareham. > Part 16
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rare. Dr. R. has also an extensive collection of coins, manuscripts, etc. The library is carefully arranged in neat and elegant bookcases." Dr. Robbins himself says that he had over 4000 volumes before he left Mattapoisett. May 31, 1839, he looked over his coins and found he had 596, including in the copper a Roman denarius found in England, presented him by Capt. Henry Huttleston of Fairhaven. In May, 1840, he made a "very important addition " to his library - "Walton's Polyglot Bible, purchased of Mrs. Holmes, relict of Dr. Abiel Holmes of Cambridge, eight massive folios in fine order, for $160.00." A little later his cousin, Joseph Battel,1 sent him from New York "Boyers' splendid edition of Hume's History as a present, - having procured it at my suggestion at auction for $100. Ten large folios, printing, paper, plates, and binding of the richest kind." No wonder when his new carpet came he had to have the help of Waterman and Prentice Crosby to assist him putting the carpet down and the books up.
It seems evident that Stoddard, who, when he was sparking Elizabeth Barstow, was referred to in local doggerel, then privately circulated, as
"A dude from York, with brains very small, Who attended a dance in Eaton Hall,"
even in his later years knew little of this " country minister" other than as was related to his books. Thomas Robbins was probably in ecclesiastical, historical, and educational circles the widest known of any man who ever went in and out before this people. He had already edited the
1 The merchant of New York and of Norfolk, Connecticut, and the giver of Battel Chapel to Yale University.
thomas Robbins .
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first and second editions of Mather's "Magnalia," and had published his "Historical View of the First Planters of New England." While at Mattapoisett he received a diploma and gifts from the Rhode Island Historical Society, before whom he had delivered his lecture on "The Middle Ages;" was elected a member of the Con- necticut Academy of Arts and Sciences, and of the Na- tional Institution of Science of Washington. He was in correspondence with the Royal Society of Northern An- tiquities of Copenhagen, and John Quincy Adams and President Josiah Quincy were appointed by the Massa- chusetts Historical Society to confer with him on a plan he had proposed for a comprehensive history of the United States.
He attended the meetings of the Antiquarian Society with much regularity. For that purpose, October 22, 1834, he took his first ride on a railroad. From Boston "took the railroad car at two o'clock and rode in seventy- five minutes to Framingham, twenty-one miles, - the whole scene is a wonder. Rode in the stage to Worces- ter." November 2, 1839, returning from Hartford, he took the cars from Providence for Taunton. "At Mans- field in changing cars, having lost the points of compass on a cloudy day, I took the wrong one and got ten miles, perhaps, toward Boston before I found my mis- take. Went on." Not very amiss after all, for "At Boston found most unexpectedly a box containing a fine copy of the Bishop's Bible, a present from the Duke of Sussex, England, with a good letter from his Royal High- ness. This was in answer to my application recom- mended through Mr. Buckingham last winter."
When the Massachusetts State Board of Education was
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formed in 1837, with Horace Mann as its chairman, Dr. Robbins was appointed by Governor Edward Everett a member of the board. In that capacity he appeared at examinations of Bridgewater Normal School, or of the "excellent female school" at Norton, or walked in pro- cession with the Legislature (and so with Capt. Zach. Barstow as representative) at the opening of the General Court for 1838. August 28 of the same year his diary reads: "At evening attended our weekly prayer meeting, after which set out on a journey and rode to Bedford. Slept at a tavern. 29th: - Was called early and took the stage at three o'clock and rode to Taunton, took cars and rode to Boston. Rode to Cambridge and went into the Commencement exercises after they had begun. The speaking was good and a very full house. A fine day. In the honorary degrees my name was read most unexpectedly for a D.D. I know not by whose recom- mendation. I bless God for the favor."
Dr. Robbins, as was his father, was for some years a trustee of Williams College. August, 1843, he was being "very kindly entertained at President Hopkins's. At- tended an interesting meeting of the Alumni. I am the senior present. Attended the public services. The presi- dent delivered a very good address respecting the college. I delivered mine. Too long - an hour and forty-five minutes, - but kindly heard." At Plymouth, Fore- father's Day, 1838, he had done better, - "Delivered my discourse, about sixty-five minutes," and afterwards "made a short extempore address to the Standish Guards to whom the ladies had presented an elegant standard."
He presided often at ecclesiastical councils, laid the corner-stone of Mr. Holmes's new "stone church " in New
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Bedford, presided at the ordination of Rev. Homer Bar- rows at West Middleborough, assisted to dedicate the Naskatucket meeting-house, and the like. Visiting New York in 1844, he found "Wall Street" a "great curi- osity." Preached in the Old Tabernacle in Brooklyn, and came home with a special commission to secure a piece of Forefathers' Rock for the projected Church of the Pilgrims. He was very constant in his attendance at the General Ministerial Convention, and regular in his services to the Pastoral Association.
He seldom came back from these journeys abroad with- out either primers for the Sabbath School, or copies of the "Mountain Miller," the "Dairyman's Daughter," or the "Young Cottager;" and with these tracts he walked to Tripps Mills and made calls (not omitting the aged Mrs. Hovey, the minister's daughter-in-law), or rode to Aucoot or New Boston, or perhaps walked to the Necks for two days of calls, sleeping at Captain Southworth's. When the "fine new ship Joseph Meigs" sailed, he fitted them out with books and tracts, and did the same when Mr. Crosby, with more than fifty other men, sailed for Louisiana to get live oak. Another time he went on a whale brig and supplied the men fully with Bibles. He drove sometimes with "Dr. Southard" in his chaise, and often he ministered to the sick, as when "called in the morning to visit my good neighbor (at William L. R. Gifford's present summer home), Mr. Jonathan Dexter, in a state of great pain and apparently insensible. Hurt by a great blow on the back of his head in the woods." Or again, the mercury standing at 90°, he "walked in the heat up to Solomons and saw sick Mary." Not of strong physique, the heat often made him "languid."
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At such times he "slept on a mattress and wore summer dress." August 1, 1837, the thermometer stood at 90° and he felt quite feeble, so he read Sampson Agonistes without leaving his chair, worked at his books and wrote the inscription for his Uncle LeBaron's gravestone.
Other days he read Hudibras, Prescott's Ferdinand and Isabella, Colden's Five Nations, D'Aubigne's Reformation, Lawrence's Natural History of Man, Mrs. Jameson's Female Sovereigns, and once it was a novel, “Miriam Coffin." One very stormy day he "read the Bible and Bony's Court," the scriptures being an antidote for the Harper's Family Library story of "that seat of corrup- tion." Another time it was an account of Philip's War, and of that chief he added: "I think he was not in- ferior to the early Grecian Heroes." At some periods he had "a scholar;"- as his young cousin Francis LeB. Mayhew. He usually spent considerable time writing and transcribing his sermons, unless, as he put it, he was "hindered by company." Of an evening he "attended the Lyceum," or went to Mr. Sanborn's lecture on Egypt and Babylon. Occasionally he had "polite company," or went over to Bedford, and "called on Mr. James Arnold and had particular conversation with him in his grotto." New Year's Day, '39, he had "many calls from children and others. Dined and took tea at Mr. W. Barstow's. At evening attended a spelling school. Was up late."
There was some slackness in the observance of Fast Day, even as early as 1833, for Dr. Robbins records, "Meetings well attended. A part of the people were off playing ball according to their usual practice here."
Independence day was his especial celebration of the year.
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In 1834, he says: "We had a handsome celebration. There has not been one here for many years. The chil- dren were all out with their teachers and several soldiers of the Revolution. I delivered my address. A Baptist made the last prayer and a Universalist from Sippican read the Declaration. He did not sit down in the pulpit. Dined out. All appeared to be much pleased." Next year Mr. Bigelow came down from the Center to give the address, and to the six ministers present, Mr. Leonard Hammond (at his tavern, the Plymouth County House) gave a very hospitable dinner. "There was a very hand- some procession, military, Sabbath school, - Revolu- tionary soldiers, etc." With these latter, however, Cap- tain Wallis did not march, for Dr. Robbins had been to New Boston, the day before, to attend his funeral, and his body lay newly buried in the Hammond cemetery.
In 1839, Mr. Bryant (teacher and Baptist preacher) read the Declaration. Mr. Taylor (Universalist) de- livered the address. Dr. Robbins prayed and addressed the children, all was concluded by a tea party in a grove; and the " shrubbery" was left in the meeting-house over Sunday. Next year, "the Sabbath schools were out
with escort. Mr. Corydon from Bedford delivered a fine address, and we had with our new organ excellent music." Of this instrument, his diary remarks on the previous Sabbath, "Our new organ performed and well. It is certainly a very fine one, made by one of our mechanics, David Cannon," - the doctor's next-door neighbor.
On Fourth of July, 1841, Dr. Robbins, with many, sailed around to Sippican where was a procession and a dinner in a grove. In 1842, he "rode to Bedford and dined with the Washingtonians and Guards of Matta-
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poisett and Bedford." The next year he spent at home, and "the children called for salutations of Independence, 104 in number." In '44, some youths and older persons came also, so there were about 160, but each one had their cake and fig. Washington's Birthday, 1842, he states: "The new military company formed here, the 'Mattapoisett Guards' called for me and we marched to the meeting house and I delivered my address to a full house. Dined at Esq. Meigs's."
Another company with which Dr. Robbins had rela- tions was the "Cold Water Army," which he organized in 1841, of children between eight and fifteen who had taken a solemn pledge. Two hundred and seventy were mustered in, and when the badges arrived from Boston, he says his army almost overran him. The last mention of this band is August 19, 1842, when "We had our temperance celebration. I received a number of ad- ditions to our Cold Water Army. We had a procession with the Military Guards and music, and Mr. Hathaway, of Assonet, a reformed inebriate, gave a good lecture. We went to a grove and had a good collation. At evening we had a lecture from Mr. Colburn, of Salem, late a drunken sailor; pretty ordinary."
At another time he rode to meet with the school com- mittee at Rochester and "attended a Temperance lecture from Mr. Taylor, seamans' preacher at Boston. A sample of eccentricity." Although he stood firm for temperance, his conscience did not forbid him from giv- ing the feeble Mrs. Mayhew a bottle of the best port wine. Apparently he did not object to the circus, - especially if he had a free ticket. "July 14, 1843, there was a famous exhibition here of a caravan of wild beasts.
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I attended by invitation. About six hundred persons present." The good doctor could tell a fish story if the occasion required: Diary, April 14, 1843, "This has been a great herring day. The herrings have come suddenly, of good quality and an immense number. A very great blessing to the town. It is said they have taken to-day 70,000."
He did not forget to note other events of general interest in his record. September 21, 1834, "Attended the funeral of Mr. Cannon's child. The first buried in the new bury- ing ground. Endeavored to consecrate the ground in the public service." December 11, same year, "The Univer- salist meetinghouse has got a clock." March 21, 1838, "Last night our lighthouse was lighted for the first time." He rarely attended town meeting unless "by the particu- lar desire of the people," or some school matter required his presence. He was a hard-working member of the Rochester school committee. Riding or walking he often visited schools in "Orcoot," the Necks, in Sippican, or the Church neighborhood; and sometimes in the village, if it appeared that the teacher there was a "flagellant and whipped rashly." Much of his time was taken in draft- ing a scheme for a grammar school, in meetings to examine teachers, or in tabulating returns required by the State.
Despite the fact that so much of his effort was expended in public concerns, and in the building up of his library, Dr. Robbins was ever the faithful pastor of his church. He not only ministered to his parish, supplied his pulpit, attended the monthly concert, and worked, as he said, " laboriously" for the Sabbath school (which in 1834 had 154 pupils and in 1840 over 200), but he also held meet- ings on the Necks, at Cannonville, Pine Islands or Tripps
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Mills, and sometimes he preached on a Sunday evening at Isaac Bowles's or at Deacon Amittai Hammond's. Sometimes at the wharf he held service on board a whale- ship about to set sail.
Revival seasons occurred in 1834, when simultaneous meetings were held evenings at the Neck and in the vestry (in the east end of the Mattapoisett house), as well as sunrise meetings at Cannonville; in 1840, when extra meetings were held every morning at nine, in which Rev. Mr. Gould, of Fairhaven, and Rev. Leander Cobb, of Sippican assisted, and again in 1842. On Fast Day, 1842, he says: "After meeting I baptized Isaiah Sears by immersion in the harbor. The first time in my life, and I never saw it done but once, in Ohio. It was less unpleasant than I expected. Felt no particular incon-
venience." The following Sabbath seventeen persons joined the church, and others in June. In all, during Dr. Robbins's pastorate, seventy-six were added to the church. There was no change of deacons and only one instance of church discipline.
Dr. Robbins was instrumental in procuring the pres- ent communion service to replace the one of pewter which had been acquired when Minister LeBaron began his service in 1772, the tankards of which had been pre- sented by Mary Hammond and Dr. Lazarus LeBaron. October 1, 1835, the pastor "suggested to the church the expediency of improving our communion furniture, particularly the cups," and the church appointed Capt. Seth Freeman, Dea. Nathaniel A. Crosby, and Capt. Allen Dexter as committee. The church record states: "The cups were procured Mar. 16, 1836. They were made at New Bedford, nine, the cost $10.35 each. The
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charge for making was $4 each. Two were paid for from the church treasury, seven were given by in- dividuals."
Meanwhile the prudential affairs of the parish pro- ceeded with much regularity. In 1832 the precinct voted that " we use our influence and exertions to raise by subscription $450 to be paid to Rev. Mr. Robbins for his labors with us the ensuing year and that the new sub- scription paper which shall be drawn shall be deposited in the store of Capt. Joshua Cushing," who had then retired from the sea to his home on the east side of Cannon Street; and whose sword, which he captured in an exciting struggle from the pirates of the Mediterranean, is now to be seen in Pilgrim Hall at Plymouth. In a later year the paper was placed at Harlow & LeBaron's store. Mr. Robbins's salary continued at the figure named, with the addition of three or six cords of wood "as it lays on the Neck," throughout his pastorate.
In 1836, Abner Harlow was chosen to see if the bell could not be rung for less than $16; and in 1837 it was decided to have an agent to find seats for strangers, and James Barstow was appointed. At the same meet- ing it was voted "not expedient to build new or en- large the meeting house but to repair the steps, doors, and windows, and paint the top of the steeple and round where it was leaded, and move the chimney to the north end and lead the pipe into the same." But in this then rapidly growing community this building at "the Green " was becoming much too small. February 2, 1839, Benjamin Barstow, as moderator, appointed Andrew Southworth, John A. LeBaron, Seth Freeman, Wilson Barstow, and Joshua Cushing a committee on location;
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and a month later they reported "a new meeting house cannot go below the hill by the residence of the late Deacon Tobey if there is to be a vestry under it." They advised, however, no action that year, and in 1841 the same committee reported in favor of "a Site or Lot on Universalist Street in back of Capt. Samuel Sturtevant's," and therefore about where the Doctor Sparrow house now stands. In this matter, however, the precinct was not required further to act.
It was decided to build the new house by taking shares and a proprietors' organization was formed. Oc- tober 9, 1841, Gideon Barstow deeded the present meeting-house lot, for $400, to Ebenezer Cannon, Caleb L. Cannon, Isaac N. Barrows, Benjamin Bacon, Na- than Crosby, Rowland Howland, Edward Buell, Wil- son Barstow, Seth Freeman, Leonard Hammond, Arvin Cannon, Samuel Sturtevant, Jr., John A. LeBaron, Jesse Hammond, Jr., Lemuel LeBaron, Solomon K. Eaton, Gideon Barstow, William Merithew, Nathaniel A. Crosby, Henry Barstow, Benjamin Barstow, 2d, Levi Snow, Charles C. Beals, Nathan Cannon, Newton Southworth, Peleg Pierce, Martin Hall, Henry P. Young, James Barstow, Ezra E. Washburn, Nathaniel Clark, Peleg Gifford, James Allen, Thomas C. Hammond, Gideon Hammond, William B. Rogers, Andrew Southworth, Hallet M. Cannon, Mary Leach, Abner Hall, Zaccheus M. Barstow, Matthew Mayhew, Reuben Dexter, Allen Dexter, John Dexter, Rogers L. Barstow, Prentis Crosby, Elnathan H. Cushing, Abner Harlow, Weston Howland, David H. Cannon, Edward H. Willkey, Waterman Crosby, Wyatt Snow, Stephen Snow, Lot. N. Jones, Seth P. Ames, Noah C. Sturtevant, James Coleman, James Cannon,
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CONGREGATIONAL MEETING-HOUSE, MATTAPOISETT The Fourth Meeting-house of the Second Precinet. Erected 1842
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Nathan H. Barstow, Richard Mitchell, Amittai B. Ham- mond, Thomas Nelson, L. N. Jones.
October 28, 1841, the diary states: "Our people have broken ground for a new meeting house." May 10, 1842: "Yesterday the people commenced laying the wall for the new meeting house." May 21: "Afternoon I laid the cornerstone of the fourth meeting house for this people, 1736, 1772, 1816, 1842. Delivered my address. We had a procession, etc. Mr. Cobb (Sippican) was present and assisted." October 31: "Had a meeting in the vestry and in a manner took our leave of that room." Novem- ber 4: "Observed this as a Humiliation Day in reference to the removal of our place of worship. We had a prayer meeting at sunrise, one at ten o'clock. In the afternoon Mr. Cobb preached very well. We had an evening meet- ing all in our new lecture room. The first service in the house was prayer -'Our Father' - etc." Sunday, Nov. 6: "We took our leave of the house of worship where this people have assembled for 26 years." No- vember 9, 1842: "Dedication of our new meeting house to God and his rich grace. Mr. Maltby 1 preached well. I made the dedicatory prayer. Dr. Cobb, Mr. Bige- low, and Mr. Briggs (the ministers of Rochester town) performed parts. The house was very full. Afternoon the pews were sold. The cost of the house and lot ($450) is about $6200, carpetings and lamps included. The lecture room, with the raising the earth, etc, gratuitous about $620. Pews 74, six free, 56 sold including choice money will nearly pay the bills, 12 remain, all wanted.2
1 Rev. Erastus Maltby, a native of Northfield, Conn., a graduate of Yale, 1821, Pastor at Taunton from 1836 until his death in 1883.
2 A curious deed for one of these pews is dated March 22, 1849, and
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The house was much admired. The most of our Asso- ciation were present. At evening Mr. Barrows preached very well," and on the Saturday following the church bell was removed to the new house.
Dr. Robbins set out many trees in the streets of Matta- poisett. Ash trees seemed to be his favorites. December 16, 1842, he records: "Rode early to the Neck and had two very fine ash trees taken up and brought here and set in front of the meeting house. They are much alike, forty-two feet high and eight inches in diameter. Had good help." For these trees he paid Mr. Gideon Ham- mond seven dollars. The following summer was exceed- ingly hot and the good man was worried as to his trees. July 22, he watered them laboriously. Next day, Sunday, " at half past five we had a special season of prayer on account of the drought. Mr. Sullings and the Baptists and the Universalists with us. It was a solemn session." Next day "in the afternoon it pleased God to send us a most greatful shower. It was pretty violent and not long but a great blessing. Our village seems to have been the center of it. I took stage and rode to Wareham. But little rain here."
The doctor's errand at Wareham was to meet with the Association, and on the following day they examined
is that of "John T. Atsatt of Rochester, President of the Mattapoisett and California Mechanical and Mining Company, in consideration of $40 paid by Josiah D. & Noah C. Sturtevant, - a certain pew in the new Cong'l Meeting House with all and singular the furniture of said pew, No. 46, together with a proportionate share of the lot of land on which said house stands; and also one twenty-second of the Riderian School-room under said house, and other privileges in the vestry of said house, with all the privileges and appurtenances thereunto belonging to said pew." - Plymouth Deeds, Book 290, page 25.
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and licensed Mr. Thacher, of Dartmouth, who, although they then little thought it, would within less than eighteen months sit as a member of that Association, as pastor of the Mattapoisett church, in place of Dr. Robbins.
The bustling village was then growing fast, and was ambitious to be up with the times. It had become less the fashion for a minister to locate with a people for life, and here was settled a little old man who refused to conform his dress to the modern notion, and who when he mounted into the new broad pulpit seemed, in the minds of some of the congregation, to be curiously out of place in the brand new modern meeting-house. His figure was more in keeping with sounding boards, and the square high-backed pews. His thoughts inclined to the past. He was of reputation as an antiquarian. Would not some new licensee better serve this growing maritime parish ?
It needed some excuse for a change; but a very little tidbit well twisted on the tongue would perhaps suffice; and being thus minded various of the matrons whose zeal was great in public concerns, and in their neighbors' af- fairs, proceeded to watch out, and to hold their ears to the ground. Pretty soon they thought they detected a slight concussion, with the center of the disturbance near the Neck. March 25, 1843, Dr. Robbins writes, "Had a piece of unpleasant intelligence." And on the 30th, "My brethren called on me. At evening attended an in- formal meeting of most of the church, and they voted unanimously on the late slander with which I have been abused, that they received my statement as correct and that they were fully satisfied. They were faithful breth- ren." He said nothing, however, about the sisters.
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December 13, he writes, "My people are in an un- pleasant state;" and later in the month, "Several of my people called on me and presented a petition relative to my removal. - I fear there may be a division among my people." In February, 1844, a meeting was warned "to see if the precinct will continue the Rev. Thomas Robbins their Pastor." The meeting adjourned for four weeks and then without action adjourned sine die. But the pastor knew his parish was divided. His intent had been to spend his life with this people in like manner as had his predecessor. He thought on it; he prayed over it, and when his brother Francis, who was over a church in Connecticut, visited in New Bedford, he talked it with him, and his brother thought it best that he leave.
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