USA > Massachusetts > Suffolk County > Boston > Memorial history of Bradford, Mass. > Part 3
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15
.
24
MEMORIAL HISTORY OF BRADFORD.
do our own work, and find our own pleasure, and speak our own words on that day which he has called his own. It is that spirit of disobedience to law which begets misrule, encourages violence, ends in the dethronement of justice and virtuc. Then comes anarchy, in which statesmanship and patriotism and every noble impulse are subordinated to the dominion of selfish desire; and the passions of men mingling with distorted religious sentiments, and prejudices and superstitions, plunge into the chaotic vortex of rebellion.
When the English monarchy trifled with the Puritan instincts, and changed the sabbath into a political pas- time, it was a suicidal policy, which destroyed the in- tegrity of the kingdom, and drove into exile the heart of the nation, those colonists who found the shores of the wild untrodden wilderness more attractive and con- genial, because there they found freedom to worship God.
It is a serious question whether those civil revolutions, which have overturned monarchies and filled nations with bloodshed, have not some deeper root than tem- poral policy, and the ambitious use of power by tyrannical kings. Revolutions are something more than the natural recoil of human nature in resentment of injury. They are the bursting of ulcerous flesh in the body politic. It is the poison begotten in the nature which has cast off the divine law, and finds its own way and pleasure, and words on that day when it is meet to lift the heart and bend the knee to heaven's high king. The school- ing of the people on sabbath days in religion and de- votion and loyalty to God and the truth would render powerless the schemes of narrow policy and bigoted self-will, and save history the ungrateful task of record- ing those pitable sufferings of innocence in the hands of insatiate cruelty ; and of handing down to posterity such names as Laud and Jeffreys, for the execration of man- kind.
.
25
MEMORIAL HISTORY OF BRADFORD.
When Charles I. failed to take advantage of the strong Puritan sentiment and opposed it, he was cultivating the ulcer and destroying the sound flesh. When he de- spised the fear of God in christian congregations, com- pelled godly men to announce in pulpits sports which followed the worship, and trampled the conscience of his subjects, and made them listen to the morris-drum and the street fiddler on the sabbath day, he was sow- ing to the wind, and he reaped the whirlwind in that day when he lost his kingdom and his life; and his kingdom, trembling in mortal agony, only recovered its vigor, in its new birth, in the free commonwealth which restored the sabbath and inculcated reverence for God.
The Puritans on these shores set up the kingdom of God. The state was evolved slowly from the church. The General Court was a religious body. The test of citizenship was godliness. Membership in a church was a prerequisite to citizenship. The state was the servant of the church. It was not strange then that the enact- ments of the General Court concerning crime were or- dained to be read from the pulpit. Sabbath laws were not peculiar to New England. They had been enacted in England. " It was so in Virginia before New Eng- land had an English inhabitant."
"In 1610, every colonist in Virginia must attend church twice on the sabbath on pain, 1st, of losing their provision for a week; 2d, of losing provision and be whipped ; 3d, to suffer death."* It is well to remem- ber that while it is usually admitted that intelligence is a necessity to the safety of the state, there is a truth more fundamental, and that was what lay at the foun- dation of the sabbath laws, viz .: - The perpetuity of all civil institutions rests on the integrity of the people.
* Force, His. Tr. III, (ii), 11.
26
MEMORIAL HISTORY OF BRADFORD.
ORGANIZATION OF THE CHURCH.
We have reached another starting point in the life of the growing settlement. The question of having a church for themselves was discussed in the town. It came up in town meeting more than once. Committees were chosen to consider the matter and make report. But there were difficulties in the way which for a long time delayed further action. At a meeting of the town held Jan. ve 11, 1681, a committee was chosen "for to advise and consult and act what in their best judgment they shall think mete for ye good of ye town as to ye set- tling ye Rev. Mr. Zecheriah Symmes in office. Mr. Symmes, John Tenny, Richard Hall, John Simmonds, Joseph Baile, David Haseltine, Benjamin Kimball, Sam- uel Stickne, Samuel Haseltine, John Griffing, William Huchins, Shubal Walker." It was "voted, ye day above mentioned that ye committee, above named, or the major part of them, shall have full power in all things above mentioned or whatever els they may judge to conduce to ye settling Reverent Mr. Zech. Symmes in office ; for ye farther and better settling of the town and what they do is owned by ye town as if done by themselves."
Mr. Symmes was already doing the full work of a pastor. At the same meeting he asks for co-operation in his pastoral work as the following vote shows :
" Voted the same day, that Rev. Mr. Symmes have liberty, at his discretion, to call out any two men of the inhabitants of ye town to be with him in catechis- ing ye youth, and to go with him to see who of ye heads of families or others will join to ye church." At a private 'fast held at the house of Brother John Tenny, Oct. 12, 1682, an "instrument of pacification and mu- tual obligation to church union and order" was drawn
27
MEMORIAL HISTORY OF BRADFORD.
up and signed by the professing christians present. They call it a " preparatory help toward the gathering of a church in Bradford." The instrument was as fol- lows :
" We whose names are subscribed, being awfully sensible that we live in an age wherein God hath, in part, executed that dreadful threatening to take peace from the earth, and wherein Satan, that great makebate and author of confusion doth, by God's permission, exceedingly rage, even in the visible church of God, and wherein that wicked one is sowing the tares of discord, almost in every christian society, (the sad effects of which, we that are the inhabitants of the town of Bradford have for some years past experimentally felt and have yet the bitter remembrance of ) we being now (through the rich and undeserved mercy of God in Christ Jesus) under hopeful probability of settling a Church of Christ in Brad- ford, do take this occasion, as to express our hearty and unfeigned sorrow and humiliation for what unchristian differences have broken out among us to the dishonor of God's name, the grief of his Spirit, and to the obstruct- ing of the work and kingdom of Jesus Christ, and to the hindering of our peace and edification ; so also in the name of God, and by his gracious help, seriously and solemnly to engage and promise, for the future, to forgive and forget, to the utmost of our endeavors, all former unchristian animosities, distances, alienations, differences and contests, private or more public, per- sonal or social, that have arisen ever among us, or between us and others ; to pass a general act of amnesty and oblivion on them all, and not to speak of them to the defamation of each other, at home in Bradford town, much less abroad in any other place ; nor to repeat or revive them, unless called by scripture rule, or lawful authority, to mention them for the conviction or spiritual advantage of each other. Besides, we promise through the grace of God, that, in case God, in his wise and holy providence, should permit any offences, for the future, to break forth among us (which we desire God of his infinite mercy would prevent as far as may be for his own glory and our own good) that we will then conscienciously endeavor to at- tend to scripture rules for the healing and removing of them, and those rules in particular, Lev. xix. 17, Matt. xviii. 15 ; and to bring no matter of greivances against each other to our minister or to the Church, but in a scriptural and orderly way and manner. That we may be helped inviola- bly to observe this our agreement, we desire the assistance of cach other's mutual both christian and church watch, that we may be monitors or re- membrancers to each other of this branch of our covenant ; as also the in- stant and constant prayers of each other, that God would enable us care- fully to observe this instrument of our pacification and our conditional obligation to church union and order, that God's name may be honored hy us and we may experience God's commanding his blessing upon us, even life forever more."
It is impossible to know what the differences were
28
MEMORIAL HISTORY OF BRADFORD.
which are so freely confessed in this "instrument of pacification." But the general desire is now evident to forgive and forget the past occasions of division and go forward to organize a church.
This instrument was not signed by the women. They did not count women in organizations. When, in later years, the "Second Parish church" was formed, in what is now Groveland, they did not count the women, but received them into the church afterwards. Gov. Endi- cott insisted that women should be veiled in the house of God. But the ruddy cheeked Puritan girl would not be veiled. It was no time to revive old oriental super- stitions.
I have no doubt they had the sacrament before the organization of the church, in their own meeting-house. There stands on the record a vote instructing certain per- sons " to provide the elements" previous to Dec. 27, 1682. They held communion, on the 21st Nov. preceding, and made record of it. This note is made in the records by pastor Symmes : " The text that sabbath handled was Jer. 50: 4, 5. Vide ground thereon. Guest-house page 83, 84." The text has this clause: " Come let us join ourselves to the Lord in a perpetual covenant that shall not be forgotten. The subject was doubtless the confes- sion of Christ in his church, by covenant and in the ordinances of the church, according to his gospel. What the guest-house may be, I am unable to learn.
There was another administration of the supper in December of the same year, when the pastor preached from Acts 2: 40; " Save yourselves from this untoward generation." From which it appears to me that the little body of believers who had worshipped together for four- teen years had grown to be a church without knowing it. They had the organization but lacked the recog- nition.
Possibly the elder Symmes ventured to administer by authority of the church. The church in Salem organ
29
MEMORIAL HISTORY OF BRADFORD.
ized itself, ordained its own ministers. Gov. Bradford came afterwards with some others, from Plymouth by sea, hindered by cross winds, and gave the right hand of fellowship .* It is possible that the first ordinances were in the same way in Bradford. It is more probable to me, however, that the friend and pastor from over the river, the venerable John Ward, the long-time friend of the little colony, now nearly 80 years old, came over and ministered to them in loving and orderly fellowship.
The relation of Bradford and Haverhill was from the first, as always, very intimate. The first years of the life of this little colony the only privilege of the sacra- ment was found over the river. The ferry was made free to Mr. Symmes, to go over to visit the people as he chose. It was made free to the people on the sab- bath if they should come over to worship. It was a pleasant picture on sacramental sabbaths, down under the willows, by the old ferry-way. The pastor (not yet ordained) came with his flock. They gathered rever- ently in the early morning. The ferry boats go and re- turn several times. They are going to the little church which stood on the lower side of Pentucket Cemetery, that they may keep holy day with the people of God.
It is a fancy of the philosophers that sounds never cease. The vibrations of the air grow less and less, but never stop. I have thought if our ears were sufficiently acute we might catch, from the breezes on the river, the faint echo of the Psalms they sung as they returned with devout and grateful hearts from the table of the Lord.
The council, called to advise whether they form a church, met Oct. 31, 1682. It was a council of rare men. Their names were as follows :
John Higginson, of Salem, pupil of Thomas Hooker, " whose very presence puts vice out of countenance, whose conversation is a glimpse of heaven,"t a man of
* New England Memorial, p. 96.
t Higginson was son of Francis H , first teacher of Salem, born Aug. 5, 1616. He wrote the " Attestation " to Mather's Magnalia.
30
MEMORIAL HISTORY OF BRADFORD.
eloquence and venerable character, now in his 67th year.
John Richardson, of Newbury, (then 36 years of age,) preached the Artillery Election sermon seven years be- fore, fellows of Harvard College.
William Hubbard, of Ipswich, preached election ser- mon 1676. " For many years the most eminent minister of Essex County, equal to any in the province for learning and candor and superior to all his cotempora- ries as a writer." *
John Hale, of Beverly. His amaible wife was a few years after accused of witchcraft, and that accusation against so fair a character broke the delusion. Preached election sermon 1684. He was possessed of a kind of " singular prudence and sagacity in searching into the marrows of things."+
John Brock, of Reading, brother-in-law of Zechariah Symmes. "A man who dwelt as near heaven as any man on earth." ¿
Edward Payson, of Rowley. A poet, and a man of refined culture. His labors abundantly blessed in the inother church of Rowley.
Samuel Phillips, senior pastor of Rowley. A man eminent for his wisdom in council, whose posterity have filled the highest civil positions and have given munifi- cent endowments to institutions of learning and benevo- lence.
The absence of Mr. Ward of Haverhill may possibly be the key to the understanding of the reason why there was so much question about the propriety of forming the church. A large majority of these Brad- ford people are members of his church. It is pos- sible that he wished to have nothing to say about the matter.
The result of the council which met to consider the propriety of forming a church is this:
. Dr. Eliot.
t Higginson.
Į Mitchell.
31
MEMORIAL HISTORY OF BRADFORD.
"The question being proposed to us whose names are underwritten, whether minister and people should promote without delay a coalition of themselves into a church society. We answer in the affirmative, provided that the people do their uttermost in taking effectual eare that he, that preaches the gospel, according to 1 Cor. 9, 14 ; that so he may provide for his own household, as 1 Tim. 5, 8 ; provided also their present teacher ac- cept of office work among them, so long as he finds he ean confortably dis- charge his duty, in all the relations he stands to you his people, and in his family, and that when he finds he cannot discharge his said duties respec- tively, the people shall freely release him of his engagement to them after due council taken in the ease, for hereby is a door opened for the teacher to work the whole work of God, as an officer of Christ in that place, as others in office do in their places, according to 1 Cor. 16: 10; 'for he worketh the work of God as I also do'; hereby also is a better opportun- ity both for the teacher, and those that are taught, to walk in all the commandments and ordinanees of God blameless, Luke 1: 6; that they may be found walking in the truth as we have received commandment from the father, 2 John, 4."
.
This council met Oct. 31, 1682. It was undoubtedly the same council which met on the 27th of the next December, to complete the organization and ordain the pastor.
The action of the town is very significant. This is the vote : -
" We, the inhabitants of Bradford, met together at a legal town meet- ing, 13th March, 1682-3, in thankfulness to God for his great mercy in setting up his sanctuary among us, do hereby engage ourselves jointly and singly, and do engage our children after us, as far as we may, by our pa- rental authority, to endeavor by our and their utmost power to uphold the faithful ministry of the gospel of Jesus Christ, in this town of Bradford, so long as we and they shall live ; and for the encouragement of the same, to contribute a liberal and honorable maintainance towards it, as the rule of the gospel doth require to the utmost of our and their ability, which God shall be pleased to bless us and them with from time to time. And for the encouragement of our present minister, we do covenant and prom- ise to give and allow him, so long as he shall continue with us, as our minister, the full sum of sixty pounds per annum, if God be pleased to preserve us in our present capacity, and for to be paid in our present state annually, as follows : the first half in wheat and pork, butter and cheese, allowing to this half, one pound of butter for every milch cow, and one cheese for a family ; the other half to be in malt, indian or rye, except what he willingly accepts in other pay ; the first payment to be made the second Thursday of October, the other payment to be made the third Thursday in March ; and if any unforeseen providence shall hinder, then to take the next convenient day the week following."
32
MEMORIAL HISTORY OF BRADFORD.
" We further grant liberty for him to improve for his best advantage, what land we shall accomplish or obtain for our ministry. We grant him also, liberty to feed his herd of cattle on our lands during his abode with us, which shall have the same liberty as our own cattle have. . We engage to procure for him, at our own charge, besides the annual stipend, suffi- cient firewood every year in good cord wood, he allowing six pence per cord, to bring it seasonably and cord it up in his yard. We engage also to furnish him yearly with ten sufficient loads of good hay, if he need them, at price current among us, and to bring it in the summer time, and also to supply him with sufficient fencing, and good stuff which he may hereafter necd, at a reasonable lay. We engage, that there be convenient highways provided and legally stated to the several parcels of land which we have given him, as the five acres of meadow, and the forty acres of up- land, we bought of Benjamin Kimball. We do also engage that two men shall be chosen from year to year for the comfortable carrying on of his affairs, and that these two men shall have power to require any man at two days' warning, according to his proportion, to carry on his necessary husbandry work. We also engage that these agreements, together with any legal town act, confirming the annual stipend, and other concerns of our present minister, be only and truly, in manner and kind, as above specified without trouble to himself."
Year after year the town appointed the two men to "look after Mr. Symmes's affairs." They voted that no oil-wood or poplar or bass-wood be brought to Mr. Symmes. The gifts of land to the minister included personal donations, as appears from the following vote which refers to what had been given six years before the formation of the church. It was " voted and granted by the town in 1676 that John Simmonds and Shubal Walker have full power to make and give a deed, or deeds, of conveyance to Mr. Zechariah Symmes our minister of forty acres of land the town bought of Ben- jamin Kimball, and one acre of meadow Mr. Samuel Worster gave to the town, and one acre Benjamin Kim- ball gave to the town, and two acres Thomas Hardy senior, and his two sons Thomas and John Hardy gave, and one acre that Nicolaus Wallingford gave to the town, and that in behalf of the town, as if they did actually do it themselves." The care which the town had for its Pastor was constant, and every meeting showed that they were intent on doing every duty to
33
MEMORIAL HISTORY OF BRADFORD.
him. Voted the same day of the meeting just quoted, " That those persons that was behind in making their share or proportion of fence that the town was en- gaged to make for Mr. Symmes, shall forthwith do it ; and if not done by the 15th of April next, then to be assessed 5 shillings for every pole, to be taken by dis- tress."
ARTICLES OF FAITH.
The first creed of the church was included in the cov- enant. It was written by Zechariah Symmes, and en- tered on record on the 20th of April, 1683, though it had been subscribed previously at the private fast, Oct. 12, 1682.
COVENANT.
" By the power of his Holy Spirit in the ministry of his word, whereby we have been brought to see our misery by nature, our inability to help ourselves, and our need of a Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ, to whom we desire now solemnly to give up ourselves as to the only Redeemer, to keep us by his power unto salvation, and for the furtherance of that blessed work, we are now ready to enter into a solemn covenant with God and one with another ; that is to say, We do give up ourselves unto that God, whose name alone is Jehovah, as the only true and living God ; and unto the Lord Jesus Christ, his only Son, who is the Saviour, Prophet, Priest and King of his Church, and mediator of the covenant of his grace ; and to his Holy Spirit, to lead us into all truth, and to bring us unto salvation at the last. We do also give up our offspring unto God, in Christ Jesus ; avouching him to be our God and the God of our children ; humbly desiring him to bestow upon us that grace whereby both we and they may walk be- fore him as becomes his covenant people forever. We do also give up our- selves, one unto another, in the Lord, according to the will of God ; en- gaging ourselves to walk together as a right ordered Church of Christ in all the rules of his most holy words; promising, in brotherly covenant, faithfully to watch over one another's souls, and to submit ourselves to the government of Christ in his Church ; attending upon all his holy adminis- trations, according to the order of the gospel, so far as God hath, or may, reveal to us by his word and spirit."
This covenant and creed include the fundamental doc- trines of the revelation of God :
34
MEMORIAL HISTORY OF BRADFORD.
1. The being and sovereignty of God.
2. The Divine authority of the scriptures.
3. The Holy Trinity.
4. The misery of the fallen nature in sin.
5. The free gift of redemption by the Lord Jesus Christ.
6. The present acceptance of Christ the only hope of salvation.
7. The fellowship of the saints and the holy administrations or sacra- nients.
The persons who signed this covenant include some of the original settlers. The names of many of the children of the Puritans are found with them. Thirty- three years have passed since the herdsmen came into the wilderness. A new generation has appeared.
One item is very touching in the record of names on that first roll of members in the church. Ann Hasel- tine stands alone ; Robert died this very year. The hardy herdsman has finished his course. He saw the church well started. He saw the spiritual flock gathered under another shepherd, and the faithful herdsman went home.
The record of names is very instructive. It is very important history which is suggested by the member- ship of the Puritan church. The list of church mem- bers in the early years of the colony is identical with the roll of freemen. The entire roll of membership of the church is as follows :
MEMBERSHIP.
Many of the residents of the town who had been mem- bers of the church at Rowley united with the church in Haverhill. Others joined that church from time to time during the fourteen years of Mr. Symmes's ministry which preceded his ordination. It happened, therefore, that a large majority of the people who united with the church at its organization had been members of the Haverhill church. It was only for the sake of the sa- crament ; they had all the other ordinances at home.
35
MEMORIAL HISTORY OF BRADFORD.
Why the delay occurred we cannot learn. The entire roll of members is as follows :
Zechariah Symmes, The mark
Samuel S Stickney, of
John Tennie,
John Simmons,
Robert Haseltine,
William Huchence,
Joseph Bailey,
Joseph Palmer,
Abraham Haseltine,
The mark
B. Kimbal,
Thomas West,
Robert Savory,
of
John Hardy,
David Haseltine,
John Boynton.
The above are the names of the original members of the church. The roll continues as follows :
1682.
Patience, wife of Mr. Shubal Walker.
Dis. from Haverhill
Mary,
Thomas West.
Hannah,
John Boynton,
Mercie.
Benjamin Kimball,
Haverhill
Hannah,
Richard Barker,
Mary,
Elisabeth,
Robert Haseltine,
Elizabeth,
Abraham Haseltine,
Mary,
David Haseltine,
Martha,
Richard Hall,
Deborah,
Samuel Haseltine,
Mary, widow of
Thomas Kemball,
Mary, wife of
Prudence,
John Hardie, Samuel Stickney,
Sarah,
Joseph Palmer,
Sarah,
William Hutchence,
Abigail,
Annah, widow
Joseph Bailey, to Robert Haseltine, Sen.“ Rowley
Annah
to Thomas Hodgden, Haverhill 1682-3. Richard Barker, sonne-in-law to Bro. Benjamin Kim. bal, Husband to grand-daughter Hannah. Mathew Ford, a Frenchman that served his apprenticeship to Mr.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.