USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Newbury > Ould Newbury: historical and biographical sketches > Part 26
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The vote to take the seats and glass from the old meeting- house was doubtless intended to defeat the plan that had been matured by some twenty-five or thirty persons residing at the plains, and to render it impossible for them to carry out the agreement made July 12, 1710, which reads as follows : -
We whos names Are hearto Subscribed doo Agree And oblidge our- sealves to each other to mayntain the publick Ministry At the old meet- ing house in ye west precinct in Newbury, Although we are forsed to pay Elswhare what shall be levid upon us.
Without waiting for definite action on the part of the committee appointed April 19, 1711, a number of disorderly persons from the upper part of the parish came down in the night, demolished the old meeting-house, and carried away all the materials that were of value.
Thoroughly indignant and aroused by these unjustifiable
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proceedings, the minority determined to replace the building that had been destroyed. In spite of serious opposition they provided the necessary materials, and set about the work of reconstruction. But July 19, 1711, the General Court ad- vised and directed that the raising of the meeting-house be deferred until a hearing upon the subject could be had, and August 24 issued an order forbidding Samuel Bartlett, Joshua Brown, Joseph Annis, and their associates from proceeding with the work. Complaint having been made that these orders were disregarded and unheeded, the General Court, under date of Nov. 2, 1711, peremptorily ordered "that the building of the said house be not, on any pretence whatever, farther proceeded in."
In this emergency some of the persons named in this order, who were determined to provide in some way for the settlement of "a sound orthodox preacher " in their imme- diate neighborhood, applied to Mr. John Bridger, then resid- ing at Portsmouth, N. H., for his advice and assistance. To this request the following answer was returned : -
PORTSMOUTH IN NEW HAMPSHIRE IN NEW ENGLAND, Xber 4, 1711.
Gentlemen Unknown,- This with great satisfaction and joy that I am soe pleasingly surprized to hear of your good affection, zeal and resolution toward the established Church of Great Britain, which if it please God to continue and strengthen your minds and hearts in so holy and good a work I will by God's assistance soon see you and defend you from all damages you shall fall under or suffer by such a Church's being built, in any Court or Assembly in New England, they having no power over the Church ; and I dare engage to procure from the Bishop of London a good sober orthodox Preacher if agreeable to you ; otherwise if you have any good man amongst you that will go over & receive Orders, I will put you in a method, and how to get a Salary from home for the Minister from ye Society for Propagating the Gospel in Foreign Parts, or from ye Bp of London. I shall not be further troublesome at present, only wishing and praying to Almighty God to continue you in your good desires to the Church, promising you to stand by you against all opposers whatever, and am,
With faithfulness and sincerity,
Your affect. friend & Servant,
J. BRIDGER.
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From subsequent letters and reports sent to the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts, it is evi- dent that Mr. Bridger was a strong and zealous Churchman, and that he was able, in his official capacity as governor- general of her Majesty's woods and lands in America, to exert considerable influence in favor of the cause he had espoused. He came to Newbury ; and, after consultation with the men who had undertaken to build the new meeting- house, he offered to protect them in their efforts to establish a place of worship at the plains, provided they would accept and use the liturgy and order of service prescribed by the Church of England.
A few members of the parish who were familiar with the Book of Common Prayer, and willing to comply with this request, were invited to sign a petition which was drawn up and addressed to the Bishop of London. This petition was dated Newbury, Jan. 28, 1711-12, and reads as follows : -
May It Please Your Grace,
We your Grace's most humble Petitioners Pray leave in the behalf of ourselves & others to lay before your Grace in as few words as the matter will admit of in relation to building our Church with admission. In the first place our meeting house was pull'd down by rude hands which to our satisfaction we had enjoy'd many years past; since that & opposite parties had levied by Tax on our estates, to the building another meeting house so far distant from us & many others that we nor they were able to go so far, which renders it wholly unserviceable to all, notwithstanding we was the greatest part of the whole. These proceed- ings obliged us to build a Church & did & now do declare it to be the Queen's Chapel built on our own land, yet cannot proceed thereon by reason of a warrant from the general assembly, signed by the Govr & Secy, a Copy of which pray leave to enclose. This put an entire Stop to our proceedings, till John Bridger, Esq', Surveyor general of her Majesty's woods & Land, &c., heard of our troubles & sent us several letters & en- couraged us to proceed ; but he has now come to our relief, & has put us in this way of Petitioning your Grace from whom, wee by Mr. Bridger are fully persuaded, & pray a satisfactory & speedy ans", being without any Parson to preach to us. We have made Mr. Bridger our agent, & have given him the Land for the Church, & have enable him with workmen & materials to finish the Church, & is really a Patron to us, & has engaged himself to us & to go on in that work against all opposers whatever, & as he has, so he will stand in the Gap for us.
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We most heartily pray his addresses may be acceptable to her Majesty & your Grace & that her Majesty would establish him nearer us, which would be of great service to the Church in these parts as well as strengthen him, in her Majesty's Service & interest. Humbly praying your Grace to lay before & intercede with her Majesty in these our humble Petitions & with humble submission pray leave to subscribe,
Your Grace's most Obd' Dutiful Servants,
JOHN BARTLETT, JOSH BROWNE, JOSEPH ANNIS, SAML BARTLETT.
Two or three weeks later the following petition was prepared and presented : -
To His Excellency Joseph Dudley, Esq', Captain General and Govern" in Chief in and over her Majesty's Province of the Massachusetts Bay in New England.
The humble Petition of several Freeholders and other Inhabitants of the Town of Newbury in behalf of themselves and others.
Whereas your Excellency's Petitioners have declared themselves Members of the Episcopal Church of England as by law established, and have raised a building of Almighty God according to ye manner of worship prescribed in the said Church, we humbly desire your Excel- lency's protection and encouragement in our just and laudable under- takings. We are convinced that the Church of England is a pure orthodox Church, and are resolved to continue no longer in that separa- tion which has so unhappily prevailed among the mistaken and prejudiced Inhabitants of this Country. This resolution has occasioned the ill-will of our Dissenting Brethren who lay upon us more than ordinary rates for the maintenance of their Minister and other purposes of that Nature, which act of theirs is very great hardship and grievance to us since we have addressed our right Reverend Diocesan, the Bishop of London, to send us a Minister whom we shall most gladly receive, but think our- selves under no obligation to any other, it being a thing unknown in her Majesty's dominions that the members of the Church of England should be forced to contribute to the support of the tolerated dissenting Teachers. We therefore pray your Excellency that we may not be molested for the future upon this acct, and beg leave to subscribe ourselves
Your Excellency's most obedient humble Servants,
JOHN EYRE, WILLM HUSE, JOSHUA BROWN, SEN'R.
JOHN BARTLET,
JOHN MERRILL, JOSIAH SAWYER,
SAML BARTLET, JOSEPH ANNIS, NATHI BARTLETT,
RICHD WILLIAMS,
THOS BARTLETT, JOSHUA SAWYER.
and ten others.
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To this petition Governor Dudley replied as follows :
BOSTON, 28 February, 1711-12.
I rec'd yesterday an address and Petition signed by twenty-two persons Freeholders and Inhabitants of the Town of Newbury setting forth that they are declared Members of the Episcopal Church of Eng- land as by law established, and that they have raised a building for ye service of God according to the manner of worship prescribed in the said Church, desiring protection and encouragement therein accordingly.
And that they have addressed the Right Revd the Bp of London to have a Minister sent to them, and that thereupon they may not be obliged to contribute to the subsistance of the other Ministers of any other profession as at large is set forth in ye said Petition.
I am also further informed by the Revd Mr. Harris, one of the Ministers of the Church of England in this place, that at their desire he has visited and preached to that new Congregation and had a very con- siderable Auditory, and that he will continue so to do until their said address to the Bp of London shall be considered and orders given therein. I am therefore of opinion that the said Petition's and others that join with them ought to be peaceably allowed in their lawful pro- ceedings therein for their good establishment and ought not to be taxed or imposed upon for the support and maintenance of any other public worship in the said Town, of wch I desire all persons concerned to take notice accordingly.
Given under my hand, J. DUDLEY.
To Her Majesty's Justices of Peace for the County of Essex, Massa- chusetts Bay.
In the Massachusetts Historical Society's Collections, sixth series, volume I, page 416, is a letter from Samuel Sewall to Colonel Thomas Noyes, of Newbury, commenting on the prayer of the petitioners. The letter reads as follows : -
MARCH 3, 1712
Honored Sir,- The 29th Febrry last I saw the certainty of what I could hardly believe before; namely, Deacon Merril, Deacon Brown, John Bartlett and others, 22 in all Presenting a Petition to the Gover- nour by Joseph Bayly, one of the 22 Subscribers, Praying his Excel- lency's Protection of them as being of the Episcopal Church of Engld ; That they might not be oppress'd with Rates, (wheras) they did not any longer continue in the Separation of their mistaken dissenting Brethren. This was done Febr. 27. But the Govern" shewed it to the Council the 29th.
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Now, though tis well enough known what was the spring of their motion, and notwithstanding their Aprons of Fig-Leaves, they walk naked, and their Neighbors see their shame, yet I apprehend it will be most advisable for those of the West Precinct Not to meddle with them, or forcibly take of them anything towards defraying any of the Charges of the Precinct. This seems to me best for the Precinct and best for Newbury, and for the Province. And most for the Interest of Religion ; And we shou'd stick at nothing for CHRIST. You will have oppor- tunity, I hope, to argue these Things in the Time of the Sitting of the General Court, which now approaches. I am, Sir,
Your friend and humble Servt
S. SEWALL.
On page 418 of the same book is another letter, from Judge Sewall to Mr. Nathaniel Coffin, who was at that time deacon of the First Church and clerk of the town of New- bury. The letter is interesting, and discloses, to some extent, the means employed to reclaim Deacon Joshua Brown, and turn him from the error of his way.
Under date of March 12, 1713, Sewall writes :-
Sir,- I have thought on your words relating to the West Precinct in Newbury, mentioned in your Letter of the 22th of January last. It came to my mind that my Landlord Webster was a near neighbour to Joshua Brown for many years. You are a Younger Man and a Deacon. I would have you goe to Mr. Webster, and accompany him to your brother Deacon Brown, and speak to him with that Seriousness and Solemnity as the case requires, and see if you can reclaim him and re- cover him. Be not discouraged with thinking that he will not hear you. Hereafter, possibly, he may complain that few, or none, dealt plainly and faithfully with him. However it be, if you in faithfullness and Meekness endeavor to restore your brother thus surpris'd, you will have peace & Comfort in it. Success belongs to GOD.
You had best quickly go to Mr. Webster, and make your Visit before your intentions be known. If it take Ær, you will be in danger of being prevented, or much hindered. Accept of Mr. Vincent's Explanation of the Assembly's Catechisme; And present the epistles to Mr. Ordway, the father, in my name with my service. I thank you for your Kind Affection to my dear Kinsman. He was carried to Rest in his Grave Febr. 27, the day your neighbour Bayley was presenting the Petition to the Gov'r, signed by himself and 21 more, of which Abraham Merril
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and Joshua Brown were two. We had need pray mutually one for another, that we may not be led into Temptation ! I am, Sir,
Your friend and Serv't
S. S.
Meanwhile Mr. Bridger had again visited Newbury, and assured the workmen engaged in building the proposed church or chapel that he would guarantee to protect them from prosecution if they would continue at work and com- plete the building. In order to avoid further trouble and litigation, and at the same time secure the property from possible injury, the following agreement was drawn up and signed : -
NEWBURY, 28th Jan., 1711.
We whose names are hereunto subscribed do by these presents promise and declare that we will provide and furnish Workmen and materials to finish and compleat the Church now standing on Mr Brown's land, called the Queen's Chappel, and we do hereby desire John Bridger, Esq", to take into his care and management the entire finishing and compleating the said Church fit for the preaching the Gospel therein, and do again declare that we will Supply ye said Bridger with all necessaries and materials that such a work may or do require ; and we do further declare that this writing shall be good and valid in ye law as if each of us had given our distinct and Separate Bonds for the performing of the work before mentioned. As Witness our hands and Seals this 28th day of January in the tenth year of her Majesty's Reign, Annoq. Domini, 1711.
JOSEPH ANNIS, JOSEPH BAILEY,
ABRAHAM MERRILL, JOSHUA BROWN,
JOHN BARTLET,
SAM'L BARTLETT,
JOSHUA BROWN, JUN'R,
RICHD WILLIAMS,
JOHN MERRILL, JUN'R, JOSIAH SAWYER,
SKIPPER LUNT,
THOMAS BROWN,
RICHD BARTLETT,
THOMAS BARTLET,
TRISTRAM BROWN,
ROBERT ROGERS,
JOHN EAYR,
DAN'L OSILAWAY,
JOHN BARTLET,
WILLIAM HUSE,
JOHN ROGERS,
EPHRAIM DAVIS,
JOHN SAWYER,
NATHL BARTLET,
JOHN HEWES,
NICHS DAVIS,
JOSHUA SAWYER, JOHN BARTLET,
SAML BARTLETT.
SAM'L SAWYER,
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When the above agreement had been duly signed and delivered to Mr. Bridger, he executed in due form an obliga- tion to hold them harmless in any action that might be brought against them, and bound himself to complete the building previous to July, 1712, provided men and materials were furnished him in accordance with the terms of the contract. Mr. Bridger's obligation was as follows : -
NEWBURY, February 20th, 174}
Whereas Abraham Merrill and Joshua Brown of the West Precinct of Newbury, Gentlemen, and others have obliged themselves to me the subscriber by a writing under their hands and seals bearing date the 28th of January last past to furnish, provide, & find me with men and materials to finish & compleat the Church now standing on the Sub- scriber John Bridger's land fit for the performance and worship of Almighty God according to the established Church of Great Britain, now Know Ye, That by these presents I do oblige myself to finish & compleat the said Church when the said Abraham Merrill, Joshua Brown, &c. shall furnish, provide, and find me with men and materials, and that I in their stead or behalf will bear them harmless and answer for them for their so building the Church in any action or cause of actions that shall arise therefrom, & appear & defend them in any of their Courts in this Province, The Church to be finished in or before July next ensuing this date, provided they furnish me with men and ma- terials as aforesaid to compleat the Church as aforesaid. In Witness whereof 1 have hereunto set my hand and seal the day and year above written.
J. BRIDGER (SEAL)
In addition to the facts recited in the above contract and obligation, Mr. Bridger, in a letter to the secretary of the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts, wrote as follows : -
Sir,- Before I gave this obligation I bought ye land that the Church stands on to prevent their alienation of said land and Church, and I have bound myself to them never to alienate neither Church nor land to any other use whatever. I have not as yet made over the land, but design to do it very soon.
I also intend to settle on that Church 200 acres of good land that lyes upon the same River of Merrimack by which River the Church now stands, so soon as the land is divided amongst the proprietors, which I hope to do this Summer, being one of them.
As witness my hand this 19 April, 1714.
J. BRIDGER.
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In March, 1711-12, Mr. Bridger invited Rev. Mr. Harris, one of the ministers of King's Chapel, Boston, to preach at Newbury. This invitation was accepted, and a congrega- tion of two or three hundred gathered to listen to the new preacher.
During the next twelve months he came many times to Newbury, bringing with him prayer books and other publica- tions relating to the Church of England.
From the records of the Second Parish in Newbury, now the First in West Newbury, it appears that at a meeting held Jan. 28, 1712-13,
Sergt John Ordway and John Emery were chosen and desired to give notis to several persons that had absented themselves from ye Com- munion at ye Lord's Table, viz : - Deacon Abraham Merril, Deacon Joshua Brown, Joseph Bailey, Lieut. Samel Sawyer, Abiel Long, Joshua Brown, Jun., and John Baily and Anne Huce to give in their reasons for withdrawing from ye comunion.
At a church meeting held Feb. 3, 1712-13, all the persons named above, with the exception of Anne Huse, made answer as follows : -
I. We doe count that you acted illegally and not like christians in disposing of an house that you never built.
2. For violently pulling down our meeting house and carrying it away contrary to our minds and consent.
3. And also taking away from our Brethren & neighbors part of their estates by distress, which we doe Count Contrary to law & illegal. And we Count very unchristian like.
An attempt was evidently made to recover damages for the destruction of the meeting-house, but a compromise was made before the case was brought to trial. Judge Sewall, in his diary, under date of May 19, 1713, makes the following statement with reference to the court at Ipswich : -
Mr. Rogers prays at opening of the Court. Din'd at Smith's. At noon Brother and I persuaded them of Artichoke precinct to agree. I gave L' Moodey Five pounds, and Jnº Emery gave five pounds, and Moodey and others let fall their Review; went into Court and said,
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They are Agreed. The Agreem't was made in Smith's Garret. Ad- journed sine die.
From a report made by Rev. John Lambton, Feb. 12, 1713-14, to the secretary of the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in Foreign Parts, it appears that Mr. Lambton took charge of the church at Newbury Nov. 14, 1713, having been appointed to that place by Hon. Francis Nicholson, Esq. In that report Mr. Lambton says : --
Upon my arrival at Newbury I found a handsome building raised & finished at the sole cost and expence of the Inhabitants in that place for the service of Almighty God according to ye way of worship pre- scribed in our excellent church. There is a considerable auditory every Sabbath Day to the number of 200 & upwards, and would dayly in- crease, only they are imposed upon by ye neighborhood to pay to the Independent Ministers by us. . Our adversaries here insinuate that they are a frivolous and inconsiderate ill people, wch is quite otherwise, as Revd Mr. Harris who has lived among them and myself now present wth them can testifie. They are a sober, good people, & were settled in their principles by reading Dr King's books & others weh have been dispers'd among them by ye Ministers of ye Church of England here.
The question of taxation still continued to disturb the members of the parish ; and Rev. Mr. Lambton wrote, under date of Jan. 27, 1713-14, to General Francis Nicholson, as follows : ---
May It Please Your Excellency,-
The neighbors who have long threatened to trouble the Church of England here have now put them in execution, and summoned John Merril to appear before Justice Juet (the others not caring to meddle) to pay a rate which was made after they had publickly declared them- selves of the Church of England, and it is the same rate for which Thomas Brown was carried to Prison last May and badly used there, but on complaint to the Governour was set at liberty by the Justice that committed him, being ordered to release him himself and pay the charges. They intend to trouble several more of our neighbours for the same, and how they will be relieved they know not, unless your Excellency be pleased to interfere, having it in your power to decide all such matters.
They have come upon them in a very bad time, just when we were
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about to receive the ever blessed Sacrament, having deferred it till a fitter opportunity and troubles ended, for wch they wholly depend upon your Excellency's goodness.
Pray pardon the boldness of
May it please your Excellency, &c.
JNO. LAMBTON.
The trouble some people speak so much ill language, nay, treason against her Majesty and rail so against your Excellency that I am ashamed to mention it.
A week later he writes again to General Nicholson on the same subject, as follows : -
May It Please Your Excellency NEWBURY, Feb. 3ª, 1713.
The bearer hereof comes to inform you of the imprisonment of John Merril for a rate made half a year after the erection of the Queen's Chapel here, which our adversaries takes no notice of, they being now resolved to persecute the Churchmen and make them pay to the support of their Ministers, saying that nobody has anything to do to defend us ; and, if they are permitted to go thus resolutely on, I am afraid the church will suffer abundantly by it. But the hopes we have of your Excel- lency's favor and protection (who has always been a true and zealous Member of the Church) mightily inspirits and enlivens us, that, though now trodden under foot, we shall rise again more glorious when the truth and justice of our cause comes to be Known. Herewith comes the copy of his commitment, that your Excellency may fullier see how unjustly they proceed against us, which is all at present from
Your Excellency's most obedient Humble Servant,
JOHN LAMBTON.
Concerning the Rev. Mr. Lambton very little is known. When he came to Newbury, he was chaplain to her Majesty's ship " Phenix." His ministerial career was evidently inter- rupted for a time, and the date of his resignation is uncer- tain. A letter from General Nicholson to the church wardens and vestrymen of Newbury in New England, dated Piscata- qua, July 31, 1714, says :-
Gent :- The great fatigue of my business together with a long indis- position is the reason I have not visited you. Mr. Lampton is come once more among you, and as I have hitherto used my interest, so you
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may depend upon the continuance of everything in my Power for your Services both here and in England.
I am, gent., your affectionate Friend and faithful humble Servant
FF. NICHOLSON.
Gentle pray give my love to all our friends of the Church.
The records of the parish previous to the settlement of Rev. Mr. Lambton are very meagre and defective. The first meeting recorded is March 30, 1714. Abraham Merrill and Joshua Brown were chosen church wardens, and Samuel Sawyer, Samuel Bartlett, Abiel Long, John Bartlett, Richard Bartlett, Thomas Brown, and Joseph Bayley vestrymen.
The first baptism recorded is that of Henry Lunt, son of Skipper and Elizabeth Lunt, April 11, 1714; and the first marriage is Isaac Rogers to Rebecca Rawlins, March 25, 1714.
Rev. Mr. Lambton probably remained at Newbury until the autumn of 1714. The wardens and vestrymen then applied to Mr. John Bridger, who was in London, requesting him to send them another minister. In answer to this re- quest Rev. Henry Lucas, after a long passage, arrived in New England Sept. 12, 1715 ; and about twelve o'clock, September 17, he was at Newbury.
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