USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Dover > Narrative history : a history of Dover, Massachusetts, as a precinct, parish, district, and town > Part 10
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Daniel Mann, lieutenant, First Regiment, Second Brigade, First Division, May 6, 1806; discharged March 1, 1810.
Lorenzo Mann, ensign, First Regiment, Second Brigade, First Division, September 5, 1831 ; promoted captain, First Regiment, Second Brigade, First Division, April 15, 1833 ; discharged April 12, 1836.
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MILITARY SERVICES
Willard Mann, ensign, First Regiment, Second Brigade, First Division, May 15, 1826; promoted lieu- tenant, First Regiment, Second Brigade, First Division, August 20, 1827 ; promoted captain, First Regiment, Second Brigade, First Division, September 5, 1831 ; discharged December 15, 1832.
Daniel Morse, ensign, First Regiment, Second Bri- gade, First Division, June 25, 1807 ; promoted.
Joseph Mudy, cornet, Regiment of Horse, First Division, August 24, 1788.
Ebenezer Newell, first lieutenant, Eighth Cavalry, First Regiment, July 1, 1781.
Josiah Newell, Jr., cornet, cavalry Second Brigade, First Division ; ensign, First Regiment, Second Brigade, First Division, May 4, 1824 ; promoted lieutenant, First Regiment, Second Brigade, First Division, May 15, 1826; promoted captain, First Regiment, Second Brigade, First Division, August 20, 1827 ; discharged May 30, 1831.
Reuben Newell, captain, Second Regiment, First Division, March 16, 1789; promoted major, Second Brigade, First Division, March 22, 1796.
Lowell Perry, ensign, First Regiment, Second Bri- gade, First Division, July 31, 1815 ; promoted captain, First Regiment, Second Brigade, First Division, June 8, 1818 ; discharged November 8, 1820.
Asa Richards, second lieutenant, Eighth Cavalry, First Regiment, July 1, 1781.
Calvin Richards, cornet, cavalry Second Brigade, First Division, May 26, 1810; promoted lieutenant, cavalry Second Brigade, First Division, April 13, 1812 ; discharged April 12, 1815.
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HISTORY OF DOVER
Calvin Richards, Jr., ensign, First Regiment, Second Brigade, First Division, August 20, 1827 ; promoted lieutenant, First Regiment, Second Brigade, First Division, September 5, 1831 ; discharged December 15, 1832.
Luther Richards, cornet, cavalry Second Brigade, First Division, May 2, 1815 ; promoted lieutenant, cav- alry Second Brigade, First Division, May 7, 1816; promoted captain, cavalry Second Brigade, First Division, October 2, 1820 ; discharged June 27, 1821.
Solomon Richards, second lieutenant, cavalry Second Brigade, First Division, September 24, 1793.
William Richards, second lieutenant, Second Cav- alry, First Regiment, July 1, 1781 ; promoted cornet, First Regiment, Second Brigade, June 25, 1822 ; promoted lieutenant, First Regiment, Second Brigade, April 15, 1824 ; discharged June 23, 1826.
Ralph Sanger, chaplain, First Regiment, Second Brigade, First Division, April 1, 1818, field and staff ; discharged May 30, 1833.
Alexander Soule, ensign, First Regiment, Second Brigade, First Division, March 24, 1823 ; promoted lieu- tenant, First Regiment, Second Brigade, First Division, May 4, 1824; promoted captain, First Regiment, Second Brigade, First Division, May 15, 1826; dis- charged July 2, 1827.
John Shumway, cornet, cavalry Second Brigade, First Division, June 15, 1818 ; promoted lieutenant, cavalry Second Brigade, First Division, October 2, 1820 ; promoted captain, cavalry Second Brigade, First Division, June 25, 1822 ; discharged March 3, 1824.
Lewis Smith, ensign, First Regiment, Second Bri-
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MILITARY SERVICES
gade, First Division, September 26, 1803 ; promoted lieutenant, First Regiment, Second Brigade, First Division, June 25, 1804 ; promoted captain, First Regi- ment, Second Brigade, First Division, May 6, 1806; discharged February 10, 1810.
Walter Stowe, ensign, First Regiment, Second Brigade, First Division, May 5, 1812 ; promoted lieuten- ant, First Regiment, Second Brigade, First Division, May 18, 1813; promoted captain, First Regiment, Second Brigade, First Division, July 31, 1815 ; dis- charged December 22, 1819.
Ebenezer Sumner, first lieutenant, Seventh Cavalry, First Regiment, July 1, 1781.
Billings Tisdale, lieutenant, Eighth Cavalry, First Regiment, February 4, 1787.
Henry Tisdale, captain, Second Cavalry, First Regi- ment, September 18, 1788; captain, Regiment of Horse, Second Brigade, First Division, September 24, I793.
James Tisdale, lieutenant, cavalry Second Brigade, First Division, May 26, 1810; promoted captain, cav- alry Second Brigade, First Division, April 13, 1812 ; discharged April 12, 1815.
Jonathan Upham, lieutenant, First Regiment, Second Brigade, First Division, May 26, 1810; discharged March 6, 1813.
John Williams, adjutant, First Regiment, Second Brigade, First Division, field and staff, August 22, 1804; discharged March 18, 1817.
Amos W. Shumway, private in Putnam Grays of Medfield in 1839; third lieutenant, 1845 ; first lieuten- ant, 1846; captain, 1847.
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HISTORY OF DOVER
John Battelle,' private, Putnam Grays, 1839; second lieutenant, 1845 ; captain, 1846.
On the occasion of the first observance of Memorial Day, May 30, 1868, public exercises were held in the cemetery, consisting of a prayer by the Rev. George Proctor, the singing of patriotic songs, and the decora- tion of soldiers' graves. After this time the custom lapsed until May, 1876, when the Sunday-schools of the town united in a union service at the First Parish church, and then marched to the cemetery, where the soldiers' graves were decorated. The following year public exercises were held on Memorial Day at the Unitarian church, with addresses by citizens and the decoration of graves. The town did not make an ap- propriation for the observance of Memorial Day until 1888, when fifty dollars was appropriated.
Since that time yearly appropriations have been made, and an elaborate programme presented, with pub- lic exercises in the town hall. Appropriate markers have been placed on the graves of all Union soldiers and to some extent on the graves of soldiers of the Revolution.
In recent years a part of the town appropriation has been expended in the purchase of markers ; and it is to be hoped that the work will be continued until every soldier's grave shall be suitably marked, including the soldiers of the War of 1812.
I Name changed from Battle to Battelle by act of legislature in 1821.
CHAPTER XI.
THE SECOND MEETING-HOUSE.
COMMITTEE ON NEW MEETING-HOUSE - MEETING-HOUSE BURNED - SELECTION OF GROUNDS - EXCHANGE OF LAND -MEETING-HOUSE PATTERNED AFTER CHURCH IN ROXBURY - DEDICATION -METHOD OF ASSESSING PEWS - RULES FOR SEATING THE MEETING-HOUSE.
" We love the venerable house Our fathers built to God : In heaven are kept their grateful vows, Their dust endears the sod.
" From humble tenements around Came up the pensive train, And in the church a blessing found Which filled their homes again."
The thought of building a new meeting-house took shape in 1809, when the following committee was chosen by the district to ascertain the probable cost of building a new meeting-house : Capt. Samuel Fisher, Aaron Whiting, Henry Tisdale, Josiah Newell, John Brown, Josiah Battle, and Simeon Cheney. This proj- ect was precipitated, however, by the burning of the old meeting-house early in February of the next year. There had been a divided sentiment in the parish on the subject. As the minister of the society was in feeble health, the district still sparsely populated, and the people greatly scattered, the friends of the society in neighboring towns looked on the ruins of the old meeting-house with great anxiety, and feared the future
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HISTORY OF DOVER
of the church. But the people were undaunted, and en- tered upon the building of a larger and better meeting- house with enthusiasm. A more desirable spot was wanted for the building, as a meeting-house facing the north was not favorable to the universal custom of the times in which the men congregated before the service in front of the church for a weekly interchange of news and a discussion of crops and the weather. It was not until the end of the first prayer that the men ceased their intercourse outside and filed into their pews. This practice was not for want of reverence, but met the peculiar conditions of their social life.
A committee consisting of Capt. Samuel Fisher, David Cleveland, James Mann, Jesse Draper, Capt. Josiah Newell, Hezekiah Allen, and Ralph Day were authorized to select a site for the new meeting-house.
The committee chose the present grounds of the First Parish, which contain one and a half acres. The report of the committee was accepted March 13, 1810 ; and the selectmen were empowered by the district to receive the deed from Jonathan Upham, from whom the land was purchased.
In the exchange of land Mr. Upham received one hundred dollars in addition to the land on which the first meeting-house stood. He also agreed to furnish the district with a plan for a new meeting-house. Having settled without difficulty upon the site, the people were ready to consider plans and appropriations for the new edifice. A great increase in population and wealth had been the dream of the people for many years, and an effort was made to build a meeting-house that would seat a large congregation. The plans pre-
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THE SECOND MEETING-HOUSE
sented by Mr. Upham and accepted by the district seem to have been a modification of the plans of the meeting-house of the First Religious Society of Rox- bury, which was built in 1804, and is still standing in the middle of Eliot Square, Roxbury. The district did well in building a meeting-house after the plan of the edifice at Roxbury, as it is one of the most commodi- ous and beautiful of all the old meeting-houses in Mas- sachusetts. It is a tradition that Bulfinch, the archi- tect of the State House, had something to do with the plans. To-day it is perhaps the best specimen of a Puritan meeting-house remaining in New England.
For the Dover meeting-house, built like it, the dis- trict voted to employ Capt. Elias Dunbar, of Roxbury, a man of large experience in building, to draw up the specifications ; and the selectmen were instructed to ad- vertise for bids. Six proposals were received from con- tractors, ranging from five thousand four hundred and fifty dollars to seven thousand two hundred and fifty dollars. None of the proposals were accepted, and Captain Dunbar became the builder of the meeting- house. Josiah Newell, Jesse Draper, and Daniel Mann had a general supervision of the work. An appropria- tion of fifty-five hundred dollars was at first made, which was increased by a grant of fifteen hundred dol- lars the next year.
Like all public enterprises, the work at first went on but slowly. In July they were ready to begin the structure. Public exercises were held, probably con- ducted by the Rev. Mr. Palmer, of Needham, consist- ing of a prayer and the singing of an appropriate psalm. After the building was raised, the displacement of a
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timber caused the whole frame to fall to the ground. This mishap was not only a cause of anxiety and trouble, but the district suffered a pecuniary loss. Captain Burridge, who was working on the building at the time, received injuries from which he suffered the remainder of his life. This accident, however, did not long delay the work, which went on rapidly ; and in eleven months the building was ready to dedicate.
The new meeting-house had a large seating capacity. There were galleries on both sides, also in front, the latter being used by the singers. It was furnished with the conventional high pulpit of the period, of which Daniel Webster said, " One of the strongest arguments for the truth of Christianity was that it had survived the box pulpit." The underpinning was a fine piece of masonry, and was built of Quincy granite, which was transported across the county by residents of the par- ish. The spire was furnished with a bell, which was purchased at an expense of four hundred dollars. The new meeting-house was a stately and beautiful building. Its fine proportions were thus referred to by the Rev. Mr. Noyes, of West Needham,- now Wellesley,- in his introductory remarks at its dedication : " It is with peculiar emotions of joy and satisfaction we hail this day, which presents to our view this stately edifice, which, like the ancient phoenix, has arisen from her ashes into beauty, order, and elegance."
The imperfectness of church architecture in the last century is seen in the fact that this new and beautiful building, erected as late as 1811, for the purpose of public worship, had no means of heating, and the con- gregation in the inclemency of a New England winter
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THE SECOND MEETING-HOUSE
was obliged to sit for hours on Sunday, and at all public meetings, in an unwarmed building.
Of course, the woman's foot-stove came into use ; but at best it was of little service. So tenacious is custom that years afterwards, when stoves were first put into the meeting-house, the enterprise met with such strong opposition that they were removed, and did not have a permanent place until 1824, when the district chose a committee "to set up the stoves again." The new meeting-house was completed and ready for dedication in the early summer, but the thrifty farmers voted in district-meeting to put off the dedication "until after hay-time."
This delay, however, did not meet the approval of the best citizens ; and another district-meeting was called by petition for June 6, 1811, when it was voted " to dedi- cate the meeting-house five days later." A committee of five, in addition to the selectmen, were chosen to make arrangements for the dedication. As this was a district affair, it was an occasion of great importance, and was attended by a large number of people.
The public exercises were arranged in accordance with the wishes of Mr. Caryl, the venerable minister of the society, who continued in such feeble health that he was never able to visit the new meeting-house.
The Rev. Dr. Prentiss, of Medfield, made the prayer of dedication ; while the Rev. Stephen Palmer, of Need- ham, preached an eloquent sermon on the subject, "The glory of the second temple greater than that of the first." The thought was taken from Haggai ii. 9. It is to be regretted that Mr. Palmer did not give an historical sermon, as the records of the church (long
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HISTORY OF DOVER
since destroyed) and those of the parish were put into his hands. The exceeding shortness of time probably prevented the preparation of such a discourse. Refer- ring to the noble work of the society in erecting the meeting-house, Mr. Palmer said : "A people who are wise for themselves, who regard their temporal as well as spiritual interests, will feel the importance of having public worship among them ; and, in making provisions for it, they will exercise a liberal mind, which deviseth liberal things. They will be ready to say with David, when making preparations for the temple, ' All things come of thee, and of thine own have we given thee.' It was under the serious influence of this sentiment, we trust, that members of this society acted when they began to erect this house." The exercises of dedication closed with a prayer by the Rev. Mr. Thacher, of West Dedham. On its completion the ever-vexed question of seating the meeting-house came up again, and it was voted to seat the congregation by the tax each individ- ual paid ; that is, after a pew had been selected for the minister by vote of the district, the person who paid the highest tax had the first choice. The first pew in front of the pulpit, as one of dignity, was given to the minis- ter for his family.
Ninety-six pews were assigned in the new meeting- house. Amid these square box pews were two in the upper gallery set apart for the colored folks of the parish. The sides of these two pews were built higher than the others, and served to screen the occupants.
The Dover society early adopted the present and popular system of renting pews. A strong feeling man- ifested itself in 1823 in favor of raising the money
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THE SECOND MEETING-HOUSE
necessary for the support of public religious instruction either by assessing in just proportion annual taxes on the pews in the meeting-house or by the sale of the pews, in order to raise a permanent fund.
Aaron Whiting and forty-six others petitioned the General Court for " the power of assessing the pews, or leasing the same from time to time, or making absolute sale thereof," as the inhabitants " may deem most con- ducive to the permanent enjoyment of public religious instruction and the general interests of the district."
This request was granted by the General Court, February 10, 1823 ; and at the annual April meeting the district chose Capt. Josiah Newell, Simeon Cheney, Hezekiah Allen, Esq., Dea. Ephraim Wilson, and Jona- than Battle a committee to appraise the pews, which were divided into five classes in the body of the church, and a tax assessed upon the same.
The amount of the pew-tax was deducted from the annual salary tax of the individuals and paid into the treasury for the use of the ministry. The inhabitants were instructed to select their pews within ten days after the Ist of April, and were required to give a note for the amount of their pew-tax, which was deposited with the treasurer and payable on the first day of March, with interest after that date.
CHAPTER XII.
THE SECOND MINISTER.
CALL EXTENDED TO MR. RALPH SANGER - LETTER OF 1 ACCEPTANCE - ORDINATION - EFFORTS TO LIBERALIZE THE CHURCH - WORK IN BEHALF OF EDUCATION, AGRICULTURE, TEMPERANCE, RAILROAD - DEGREE OF DOCTOR OF DIVINITY - RESIGNATION - DEATH IN CAMBRIDGE.
A theologian from the school Of Cambridge on the Charles, . . . Skilful alike with tongue and pen, He preached to all men everywhere The gospel of the Golden Rule, The new commandment given to men, Thinking the deed, and not the creed, Would help us in our utmost need. - LONGFELLOW.
After the death of Mr. Caryl no active efforts were made to settle a minister until the following March, when the district chose Dea. Jonathan Battle, Joseph Richards, and Josiah Draper a committee to procure preaching. In the engagement of candidates the parish instructed the committee not to employ a preacher for more than four Sundays in succession. Mr. Luther Bailey, who was afterwards settled in East Medway, now Millis, was a candidate, and at one time was favorably considered. But the church in May, 1812, voted to extend a call to Mr. Ralph Sanger, a tutor in Harvard University. The district voted June 2, 1812, to concur with the church in its choice of Mr. Sanger as "their pastor and gospel minister." The
RAILROAD CROSSING
FIRST PARISH - UNITARIAN -CHURCH.
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THE SECOND MINISTER
district decided to offer Mr. Sanger a salary of five hundred and fifty dollars a year, also the use and improvement of the church wood-lot. The need of a vacation was early recognized, and it was voted "that Mr. Sanger have liberty to be absent two Sabbaths in the year if it be his desire."
He was descended from a ministerial family, being a son of the Rev. Dr. Zedekiah Sanger, a distinguished minister of the Second Church, Bridgewater, Mass., and also from the first Puritan emigrant of the name, Richard Sanger, who settled in Hingham in 1636.
Mr. Sanger was reared in an atmosphere calculated to fit him especially to be the pastor of a country church with all its varied duties. His father was " highly esteemed for his ability and learning, was revered as a minister and sought for as a counsellor." He was a noted mathematician and an excellent classical scholar. He established a private classical school in Bridgewater, where many lads who in after life became distinguished men were fitted for college. His mother " was a woman of rare personal and social qualities, of great intelligence, wisdom, and refinement, and of sin- cere and pervading but unostentatious piety."
Amid these environments Mr. Sanger passed his early years, and was fitted for college under the instruc- tion of his father and two older brothers who had already graduated from Harvard. He entered Harvard University 1 in 1804, and was graduated in 1808 with the highest honors in his class. He was a tutor in Harvard in mathematics when called to the Dover church. He
I It is of interest to note that the designation "Harvard University" instead of " Harvard College" properly began about 1780.
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had had experience in common-school teaching, having taught for a year in Concord, Mass. Mr. Sanger utilized this knowledge to the great advantage of the children of the town, during the many years of his ministry here, in directing the course of public-school education. While in Cambridge he studied divinity under the guidance of his father.
Dover was at this time a town of about five hundred population. Agriculture was the chief industry of the people, and the farmers were intelligent and well-to-do. How eminent were Mr. Sanger's qualifications for the office of a country pastor, where he was to be " a minis- ter, teacher, counsellor, companion, and friend of the whole people" ! The life of Mr. Sanger is given some- what fully, because he was in a peculiar and distinctive sense the minister of the town while Church and State were one.
Mr. Sanger accepted the call of the Dover Parish in the following letter : -
TO THE CHURCH AND SOCIETY IN DOVER :
My Christian Friends :- Since I received an expression of your wishes as contained in the votes of the church and society, it has been my earnest endeavor as well as humble prayer to take the important subject into serious consideration. I have consid- ered the warm affection and kind attention which were exercised and displayed toward him whose labor in the Lord was long and precious among you, and whose memory, while he now sleepeth with the fathers, you cherish with truly filial affection. I have consulted my friends, and have not the happiness to say that their opinions were unanimous. I have consulted others, also, whose opinion I value, and found them far from being united.
While my mind was undergoing a conflict from these varying opinions, it recurred to a consideration of your condition,-to a
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THE SECOND MINISTER
consideration of what might be the situation of your affairs in case I should feel myself bound to non-concur with your wishes. The thought was painful. It has not, I trust, been without its weight in my mind. I have considered also your proposals. The form of a part of them now meets my most cordial approba- tion ; and, should it so happen that no explicit alterations in other parts should take place, permit me to understand and expect that I may not materially suffer from the changes which await all human affairs,-changes which no prudence can foresee nor care avoid. I have considered also your tolerant and catholic spirit ; your charity and affection for the pious and good of all denomina- tions ; your sacred regard for the Holy Scriptures in their nature, simplicity, and purity, without human addition or diminution. In these points permit me to say that your sentiments perfectly accord with my own; and it is my earnest wish, as well as devout prayer, that, while I shun not to declare the whole counsel of God, " I may never teach for doctrines the commandments of men."
From these considerations and under these expectations I am induced to say, "I accept your invitation." And in connection with this acceptance I tender you, for all your past attention, my most hearty thanks, confidently trusting that, while nothing may in future be wanting on my part, so there will be no less dis- position on yours to continue them. And, although our situation, my friends, may not be the most conspicuous, although we may not enjoy the stare and glare of the world, still let us do all in our power to enjoy what is infinitely superior,-the cordial love and mutual kind attention of each other. Still may we enjoy the delightful satisfaction of promoting each other's happiness. And, above all, may we enjoy the approbation of our own minds and the serenity of a pious hope, a hope of obtaining His favor " whose favor is life, and whose loving-kindness is better than life."
Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of his might, praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and for me that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel for which I am an ambassador.
And thus by our mutual prayers, our kind affections, and our good offices to each other, by our uninterrupted and increasing
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friendship here, may we be prepared for the enjoyment of that friendship which death cannot destroy, which eternity cannot impair.
Thus prays your sincere and humble servant,
Ralfale Sarpor
CAMBRIDGE, July 3, 1812.
Early in the following month the district voted to ordain Mr. Sanger on Wednesday, September 16. An ordination in those days was of no common occurrence ; and a committee, consisting of James Mann, David Cleveland, Joseph Richards, Caleb Wight, and Silas Bacon, were chosen to make arrangements for enter- taining the council, which was to include no less a personage than the president of Harvard University. Other distinguished clergymen were also expected. An elaborate collation was provided at the Williams Tavern.
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