USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > Plymouth > Plymouth church records, 1620-1859 > Part 12
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1 Written above "they," crossed out.
" Here "deseaces" is crossed out.
66
PLYMOUTH CHURCH RECORDS: VOLUME I, PART I
RIGHT WORTHY SIR
It is a thinge Not vsuall that servants of one m": and the same hous- hold should be strangers And I assure you I desire it Not Nay to speak more plainly I cannot be soe to you; Gods people are all marked with one and the same marke and sealed with one and the same seale and haue for the maine one and the same hart Guided by one and the same speritt of truth; and where this is theire Can be Noe discord Nay heer must needs be sweet harmony and the Request with you I make vnto the Lord that wee may be as Christian Bretheren; vnited by a heavenly and vnfeyned loue bending all our harts and forces in furthering a worke beyond our strength with Reuerence and fear fastening our eyes alwayes on him that onely is able to direct and prosper all our waies I acknowl- idge my self much bound to you for youer kind loue and Care in send- ing mª ffuller amongst vs and Rejoyce much that I am by him satisfyed touching youer Judgments of the outward forme of Gods worshipp; It is as farr as I Can yett Gather; noe other then is warranted by the eui- dence of truth and the same which I haue professed and Maintained euer since the Lord in Mercye Reveiled himself to mee; being farr from the Comon Report that hath bin spread of you touching that p'ticular; But Gods Children must not looke for lesse heer below and it is a Great Mercye of God that hee strengthens them to Goe through with it; I shall not Need att this time to be tedious vnto you for God willing I purpose to see youer face shortly; In the mean time I humbly take my leaue of you Comitting you to the Lords blessing and Protection
And Rest youer Assured Loueing frind
Neamkeak May 11th Annº: 1629
JOHN ENDICOTT
This 2cond letter sheweth the proceedings in theire Church af- faires att Salem which was the second Church erected in these prtes and afterwards the Lord aded many more in sundry other places;
SIRE
I make bold to trouble you with a few lines for to Certify you how it pleased God to deal with vs since you heard from vs; how Notwithstand- ing all opposition that hath bin heer and elswhere It hath pleased God to lay a foundation the which I hope is agreeable to his word in euery thinge; the 20th of July It pleased the Lord to moue the hart of our Gou": to sett it apart for a sollemne day of humiliation; for the Choise of a Pastour and Teacher the former p'te of the day being spent in prayer and teaching the latter p'te About the election which was after this Manor; the p"sons thought on whoe had bin minnesters in England were
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i
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67
SKELTON AND HIGGINSON ORDAINED AT SALEM, 1629
demanded Concerning theire Callings; they acknowlidged theire was a two fould Calling; the one an Inward' Calling when the Lord moued the hart of a man to take that Calling vpon him and fitted him with Gifts for the same the second was an outward Calling which was from the people; when a Companie of beleiuers, are Joyned together in Cou- enant to walk together in all the wayes of God and euery member (being men) are to haue a free voyce in Choise of theire officers &c; Now wee being prswaded that these two men were soe quallifyed as the Apostle speakes to timothy when hee saith a bishop must be blamles sober apt to teach &c I think I may say as the Eunuch said vnto Phillip what should lett from being baptised seeing there was water and hee beleeued; for these two servants of God Clearing all thinges by theire answares and being thus fitted wee saw Noe Reason but wee might freely Giue our voyces for theire election after this tryall soe m' Skilton was Chosen Pastour and m" higgenson to be Teacher; and they accepting the Choise mª higgenson with three or four of the Grauest Members of the Church layed theire hands on m" Skilton vseing prayer therwith; this being done there was Imposition of hands on m" higgenson alsoe; and since that time, thursday being as I tak if the 5th of August is appointed for another day of humilliation for the Choise of Elders and deacons and ordaining them,
And Now Good Sir I hope that you and the Rest of Gods people whoe are acquainted with the wayes of God with you will say that heer was a Right foundation layed and that these two blessed servants of the Lord Came in att the dore and Not att the window; thus I haue made bould to trouble you with these few lines desiring you to Remember vs, and soe Rest
Att youer service in what I may
CHARLES GOTT
Salem July 30 1629
[35]
A few pticulars more Concerning the proceedings of our Reu- erend frinds In the bay of the Massachusetts, whoe were lately Come ouer I thought it not amise heer to Insert then soe farr as prtenent to the prsent purpose and may be vsefull for after times;
SIR
Being att Salem the 25th of July being the sabbath after the euening exercise m' Johnson Received a letter from the Gou" m" John Winthrop manyfestinging the hand of God to be vpon them and against them att
1 Written above "outward," crossed out.
68
PLYMOUTH CHURCH RECORDS: VOLUME I, PART I
Charlstowne in visiting them with sicknes and takeing diuers from amongst them; Not sparing the Righteouse but p"takeing with the wicked in these bodily Judgments It was therfore by his desires taken into the Godly Consideration of the best heer what was to be don to passify the Lords wrath &c: wher it was Concluded that the lord was to be sought in Righteousness and to that end the sixt day being fryday of this prsent weeke is sett apart that they may humble themselues before God and seek him in his ordinances; and that then alsoe such Godly přsons that are amongst them and knowne each to other may publickly att the end of theire exercise make knowne theire desires and and practice the same viz: Sollomlly to enter into Couenant with the lord to walk in his wayes; and since they are soe disposed of in theire outward estates as to liue in three distinct places each haueing men of Abilities1 amongst them there to obserue the day; and become three distinct bodies not then Intending Rashley to proceed to the Choice of officers or the ad- mitting of any other to theire societie then a few viz. such as are well knowne vnto them promising after to Receive such by Confession of faith as shall appeer to be fitly qvallifyed for that estate; they doe earnestly Intreat that the Church of Plymouth would sett apart the same day for the same ends beseeching the Lord as to with draw his hand of Correction from them soe alsoe to establish and direct them in his wayes and tho the time be short wee pray you be prouoaked to this Godly worke seeing the causes are soe vrgent wherin God wilbe honored and they and wee vndoubtedly haue sweet Comfort be you all kindly salluted &c:
Youer bretheren in Christ, &c:'
Salem July 26 1630
SIR
the sad newes heer is that many are sicke and Many are dead the lord in Mercye look vpon them some are heer entered into Church Couenant the first were four Namely the Gou": m" John Winthrop m' Johnson m" Dudley and m' Wilson; since that fiue more are Joyned to them and others it is lik will adde them selues to them dayly the lord Increase them both in Number and in holines for his Mercyes sake; heer is a Gentle- man one m" Cottington a boston Man whoe told mee that m" Cottons Charge att hamton was; that they should take advise of them att Plym- outh; and should doe Nothing to offend them; heer are diuers honest
! Here a word is crossed out.
" "Signed by Samuel Fuller and Edward Winslow, but evidently written by Winslow" (W. C. Ford, Bradford's History, ii. 114 note 4).
69
CHURCH ORGANIZED AT DUXBURY
Christians that are desirous too see vs; some out of loue which they beare to vs and the Good p'swasion they haue of vs; others to see whether wee be soe ill as they haue heard of vs; wee haue a Name of holines and loue to God and his saints the lord Make vs more and more Answarable and that it may be More then a Name or else it will doe vs Noe Good be you loueingly salluted and all the Rest of our frinds; The Lord Jesus blesse vs and the whole Israell of God Amen
Youer loueing Brother &c1
Charlstowne Augst the second 1630
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[86]
This yeer the people of the Plantation of Plymouth began to 1632 Grow in theire outward estates by Reason of the flowing of Many people into the Country especially into the Bay of yo Massachusetts by which meanes Corne and Cattle Rose to a Great prise by which many were Inriched and Comodities Grew plentifull; and yett in other Regards theire benifitt turned to theire hurt and this acces- sion of strength to theire weaknes for Now as theire stockes Increased and the Increase vendable; and the feare of the Indians taken away there was Noe longer any holding of them together, But now they must of Nessesitie Goe to theire Great lotts; they Could Not other wise keep theire Cattle; and haueing oxen Growne they must haue Land for plowing and tillage and Noe man now thought hee could liue except hee had Cattle and a Great deale of Ground to keep them, all striueing to Increase theire stockes, by which meanes they were scattered all ouer the bay quickly and the towne in which they liued Compactly vntil Now was left very thine and in a short time almost desolate; and if this had bin all it had bin lesse tho to much But the Church must alsoe be deuided; and those that had liued soe longe together in Christian and Comfortable ffellowshipp must Now p'te and suffer Many deuissions; first those that liued on theire lotts on the other syde of the bay (Called duxburrow) they could not long bring theire wiues and Children to the publick worshipp and Church meetings heer but with such burthen, as Growing to some Competent Number they sued to be dismised and become a body of themselues; and soe they were dismised about this time though very vnwill- ingly, and somtime after being vnited into one Intire body they
1 "Signed 'your loving brother in law, Samuel Fuller'" (W. C. Ford, Brad- ford's History, ii. 117 note 2).
1
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70
PLYMOUTH CHURCH RECORDS: VOLUME I, PART I
this was the first Church that sprange out of the bowells of the Church of Plymouth
procured Reuerend m' Ralph Partrich to be theire Pastour; and m" William Leuerich alsoe was with them att the same time and. preached the word of God amongst them but hee stayed Not longe amongst them ere hee Remoued to Sandwich and was teacher of the Church there a Considerable time; and after the death of holy m' Partrich; It pleased God to send a preciouse Gospell preacher amongst them Namely m' John holmes; whoe liued and died alsoe with them and since his death the lord Raised vp another precious man: viz: m' Ichabod Wiswell of whom 1 there is Great hopes for a Continuewed succession of 2 healp in the minnestry to that poor fflock of Christ whom God soe Greatly honored as they were Neuer long without a Minnister of Christ to preach the Gospell vnto them;
But to touch this sad matter of the Churches prteing as hath bin said and to handle thinges together that fell out afterward; To prevent any further scattering from this place of the Towne of Plymouth; and weakening of the same; It was thought best to Giue out some Good ffarmes to speciall p'sons that would promise to liue att Plym- outh; and likely to be healpfull to the Church or Comon wealth; and soe to tye the lands to Plymouth as farmes for the same; and there they might keep theire Cattle and tillage by some servants and Retaine theire dewllings heer; and soe some speciall Lands were Graunted; att a place vsually Called Greensharbour where noe allotments had bin in the former diuision a place very well Meddowed and ffitt to keep and Rear Cattle Good store; But alsoe this Remedey proued worse then the desease for within few yeers those that had Gott footing there; Rent themselues away p'tely by fforce and prtely by wearing the Rest with Importunitie and please of Nesses- itie; soe as they must either suffer them to Goe or liue in Con- tinuall opposition and Contension; and others still as they Con- ceiued them selues straightened or to want accommodation broak away vnder one pretence or other thinkeing theire * owne Conceived Nessesitie and the example of others a warrant sufficient for them; and this I feare wilbe the Ruine of New England att least of the Churches of God there ' and prouoke the Lords displeasure against them;
1 Here the words "of whom" are crossed out.
" Here "the" is crossed out.
' Here "one" is crossed out.
" Here the letters "wh" are crossed out.
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71
CHURCHES ORGANIZED AT MARSHFIELD AND SCITUATE
of the Church
This Church of Marshfeild (aboue Called Greensharbour) was the begining began and afterwards Carryed on by the healp and Assistance (vnder God) of m' Edward Winslow; whoe att the first procured which was the second Church of God that Issued out from the 1 Church of Plymouth seuerall Welsh Gentlemen of Good note thither with m' Blinman a Godly able Minnester 2 whoe vnanimously Joyned together in holy ffellowshipp or att least were in a likely way thervnto; but some desentions fell amongst them which Caused a prteing; Not longe after and soe the hopes of a Godly societie, as to them was; frus- terated; Not long after those that went from, Plymouth (with that Godly Gentleman m' Willam Thomas) keeping vp a Comunion; It pleased the lord to send vnto them a faithfull and able preacher of the Gospell Named M' Edward Buckley whoe was Chosen theire Pastour and; officiated in that place very profittably diuers yeers; but & att last hee left them and went to a place Called Concord in the ' Gou ment of the Massachusetts; and a Considera[ble] time after the lord Raised vp and sent another faithfull servant of his whoe proued able and well fitted for the worke of the Minnestry mª Samuell Arnold by Name who Remaines amongst them for theire speciall Comfort in the worke of the minnestry [37]
About that " time or a little before that the Church of duxburrow became a distinct body from the Church & of Plymouth; the Towne of Scittuate began and seuerall of the Church of Plymouth Repaired thither, and seated them selues there; 7 att which time M= Timothy hatherly Came out of England with his family; and 8 seated him I Can not self there alsoe; and seuerall others Godly ones of other places es- maine pite of say that the pecially diuers out " of Kent Repaired thither; these all Joyned this Church Came out of the Church of Plym: tho & Considera- ble pite of them did; together and became a Comfortable and exemplary Church of God; and the Lord sent vnto them that preciouse servant of his, MY John Laythorp whoe Came to them out of Great prsecution 10 and hee became theire Pastour; to which office hee was Indowed with a
1 Something in here crossed out.
" Here "wee" or "woe" is crossed out.
' Hero "the" is crossed out.
" Here the words "Bay of" are crossed out.
" Apparently altered from "the."
. Here " at" is interlined and crossed out.
7 Here "and" is crossed out.
. Here "diuers" is crossed out.
. The words "diuers out" are written over another word crossed out.
10 Here "hee" is crossed out.
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72
PLYMOUTH CHURCH RECORDS: VOLUME I, PART I
mª Walley was theire Pastour and and serued Christ in that office amongst them to the end of his life
Competent measure of Gifts and eminently Indowed with a Great Measure of brokenes of hart and humillitie of sperritt hee was much honored of the most as hee well deserved; 1 after some time a Con- siderable p'te of the Church went from Scittuate to Barnstable and theire pastour fornamed with them, where they liued diuers yeers in Gospell order and were very exemplary for the life of Grace and power of Godlynes; But which is sad to Relate soone after the death of theire Godly Pastour fore Named; a sad desention fell amongst the Members of that Church soe as it Caused a Scisme and deuison amongst them, which Notwithstanding the Great Indeauors of diuers Churches both in ? the Bay and att home, in our owne Col- lonie; by sending theire Elders and Messengers whoe took great paines in the Controuersye to settle it, yett it Could not; for a longe time be healed and settled; vntill the lord Raised vp that worthy servant of his M' Thomas Walley whom the lord sperited for that work and [blessed his Indeauors soe therin as that soone after his Coming amonst them the Controuersyes were settled; and theire Comunion Revnited, to theire Generuall and Mutuall satisfaction and the Rejoyceing of the harts of the saints Round about them; and soe Remained vnto the death of the said m' Walley whoe 3 not longe after ended his life ' amongst them; and still they Re- maine a Church of God in peace and loue vnto this day
But to Returne with a word or two Concerning those of the Church that were left att Scittuate whoe became a distinct body from the Rest viz: those that went to Bastable as afor said; and they had the healp of seuerall preachers to teach them as M' Charlse Chauncye whoe was theire Pastour a Considerable time; and seuerall others 5 taught the word of God vnto them in the vacansye of Minnestry; and the last in office ouer them; " before the writing heerof was Mª Nicholas Baker whoe was a faithfull able dispencer of the word, and Pastour of theire 7 soules, whoe after much dollorus paine, ended his life amongst them, and is Reaping the fruites of his labours and att
1 Here "he" is crossed out.
' Here "sending" is crossed out.
" Here "so" is crossed out.
" Here "haue" is crossed out.
" Here "But" is crossed out.
. Here "att" is crossed out.
" Here "sole" is crossed out.
73
RALPH SMITH, JOHN REYNER, MR. GLOVER, JOHN NORTON
the writing heerof, there is another preacher Come vnto them one m' Lawson that exercyseth amongst them;
But to Returne againe vnto p'ticulars more Imediately Concern- ing the Church of Christ att Plymouth
This yeer M' Ralph Smith layed downe his place of Minnestry 1634 prtely by his owne willingnes as thinking it to heauy a burden and prtely att the desire and by the p'swasion of others; and the Church sought out for some other haueing bine often disappointed in theire hopes and desires heertofore; and it pleased the Lord to send them an able and a Godly man; and of a Meek and humble sperite sound m" John in the truth and euery way vnreprouable in his life and Conversa- Reyner tion whoe after some time of tryall they Chose for theire Teacher, the fruites of whose labours they Injoyed many yeers with much Comfort in peace and agreement; m' John done m" Willam Paddy John Cooke deacons Afterwards John donham added
In the time when m" Smith aboue named was Pastour the Church was disirous to procure another to be healpfull vnto him in the Minnestry, and for that end sent by Mr Edward Winslow, bound then for England to procure them an able man for that purpose, and was prouided of one (as hee hoped) to Come ouer with him 1 viz: one m' Glouer a very able dispencer of the word; but hee ended his life in London before hee Came on board; and afterwards by prouidence m' Winslow 2 mett with M' John Norton & whoe (it seemes) was then Intended to Come for New England and soe did in the same shipp m' Winslow Came ouer in with whom hee ' had treaty Concerning our Case; hee Came into the harbour of Plymouth and there Ariued; " it being the setting in towards winter; hee stayed vntill the March follow[ing] and " then went into the Bay and Re- turned noe more but entertained an Invitation to Ipswich and " after the death of M' Cotton hee Came to Boston and was teacher of the old Church vntill his death thus this poor Church was put by
1 Here "but" is crossed out.
" The words "m" Winslow" are written above "hee," crossed out.
' Here "a" is crossed out.
' Here "somway" is crossed out.
" Here "and" is crossed out.
. Here "he" is crossed out.
" Here "afterwards" is crossed out.
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74
PLYMOUTH CHURCH RECORDS: VOLUME I, PART I
theire hopes, and expectations Concerning these men and 1 theire healps [38]
1638
After m' Reyner had bin in place a Considerable time It was de- sired ? that m' Charles Chauncey a Reuerend man should be In- vited whoe being a very Godly and learned man they Intended vpon tryall to Choose him Pastour of the Church heer for the more Comfortable peformance of the minnestry with m' John Reiner the Teacher of the same; But there fell out some difference about bap- tising hee holding it ought onely to be by diping and puting the whole body vnder water and that sprinkleing was vnlawfull the Church yeilded that Imercion or diping was lawfull but in this Could Country not soe Convenient; But they Could not Nor durst not yeild to him in this that sprinkleing which all the Churches of Christ doe for the most p'te att this day practice was vnlawfull and an humaine Invension as the same was prest; But they were willing to yield to him as farr as they Could and to the vtmost and were Contented to suffer him to practice as hee was prswaded; and when hee came to Minnester that ordinance hee might doe it to Any that did desire it in that way prouided hee Could peacably suffer m' Reyner and such as desired it to haue theires otherwise baptised by him by sprinkleing or powering on of water vpon them; soe as there might be Noe disturbance in the Church therabouts; But hee said hee could not yeild thervnto upon which the Church procured some other minnesters to dispute the point with him publickly as m" Ralph , Partrich of duxburrow whoe did it sundry times; ably and suffi- ciently; as alsoe some other minnesters within this Gou ment But hee was Not satisfyed; soe the Church sent to many other Churches to Craue theire healp and advice in this matter; and with his will and Consent sent them his Arguments written vnder his owne hand; they sent them to the Church of Boston in the bay of Massachusetts to be Comunicated with other Churches there alsoe they sent the same to the Churches of Conecticott and New hauen with sundry others; and Received very able and sufficient Answares as they Con- ceiued from them and theire Learned Minnesters; who all Con- cluded against him; But himselfe was not satisfyed therwith; theire Answars are to large heer to Relate; They Conceiued the Church
1 This word is uncertain.
" Here the words "by the Chu" are crossed out.
75
DEATH OF ELDER WILLIAM BREWSTER, 1643
had don what was meet in the thinge; soe m' Chauncye haueing bin att Plym: the Most. p'te of three yeers; hee Remoued himself to Scittuate where hee for sometime Remained a Minnester to the Church there; alsoe about these times Now the Cattle and other thinges began Greatly to fall from theire former Rates and p'sons began to fall into more straights and Many being alreddy Gon from vs as is Noted before both to duxburrow Marslifeild, and other places and those of the Cheife sort as m' Winslow Capt: Standish and M. Alden and Many other[s] and still some droping away dayly and some att this time, and many more vnsettled It did Greatly weaken the place and by Reason of the straightnes and barrenes of the place it sett the thoughts of Many vpon Remouall; &c .:
Now followeth that which was matter of Great sadness and mourn- ing vnto this Church about the sixteenth of 1 Aprill in this yeer died 1644 theire Reuerend Elder & our dear and loueing friend m' Willam Brewster 4 A man that had don and suffered much for the Lord Jesus and the Gospells sake, and had borne his p'te in weale and woe with this poor prsecuted Church aboue thirty six yeers in Eng- land holland and in this wildernes and don the Lord and them faith- full service in his place and Calling; and Notwithstanding the many troubles and sorrowes hee pased throw the lord vpheld him to a Great age hee was neare fourscore yeers of age (if not all out) when hee died hee had this blessing aded by the lord to all the Rest to die in his bed in peace amongst the middest of his frinds whoe mourned and wept ouer him; and minnestered what healp and Comfort they Could vnto him and hee againe Recomforted 5 them " whiles hee Could; his sicknes was not longe, vntill the last day therof; hee did not wholly keep his bed; his speech Continued vntill som what more then half a day and then fayled him; and about 9 or 10: of the Clock that euening hee died without any pange; att all a few houres
1 Here a word, apparently "Aprill," is crossed out.
' Altered from "1643," or perhaps "1643" altered from "1644." In his New England's Memorial (ed. 1669, pp. 116-117), Morton gives "about" April 18, 1643, as the date of Brewster's death, following Bradford's History (ii. 342). In the so-called " Brewster Book" is the entry: "William Brewster dyed at Plym- outh in New England the 10th of Aprill 1744" (Mayflower Descendant, i. 7).
" A word is here crossed out. " Here a word or letter is crossed out.
" Here the letters "hi" are crossed out.
. Here a word is crossed out.
Aprill 16
76
PLYMOUTH CHURCH RECORDS: VOLUME I, PART I
before; hee drew his breath short; and some few minutes before his last hee drew his breath long as a man fallen into a sound sleep with- out any panges or Gaspings, and soe sweetly departed this life vnto a better,
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