USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > Plymouth > Plymouth church records, 1620-1859 > Part 28
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 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44
Part v is wholly (except as noted on pp. 249 note 2, 271 note 1, below) in the hand of the Rev. John Cotton, and evidently contains the notes (made no doubt at the times of entry) from which Mr. Cotton compiled the "further account" which forms Part ii. As Part v begins with 1682 and ends with 1693, and thus covers only twelve years of Mr. Cotton's pastorate, presumably there were once in existence other pages which have since disappeared.
" This title, written on a piece of paper (pasted to p. 1) measuring 8 inches in height by 676 inches in width, is in a much later hand. The verso is blank.
250
PLYMOUTH CHURCH RECORDS: VOLUME I, PART V
Deborah [ ] Isaac, son of Samuel [ ] James, son of John & Martha [Cobb] Isaac, Rebekah, Mary, the [children of Isaac Cushman] Eben- ezer, Jerimiah th[ ] Mercy, daughter of Jo[ ] Abigail, daughter of Abigail [Bryant] Hannah, Manasseh, Ephraim [Joanna, Ruth, George] Timothy, the seven children off George Morton] Joanna, the daughter of John [Morton] 1
April, 16 the Elders warned the chur[ ] after Lecture; Accordingly the [ ] The case propounded & agitated [ ] church of watertowne, now livi[ ] from that church to ours)
[ ] which were then read to [ ] William Paybody of th[ ]
agitation, the church [ ] comittingª the diffe[ Jrke
manifest he[ ] to heare the [ ] [2] [ Jdeavours
befor Reconciliation, they see not [ Jm to communion with
us at the Lords Table. [ ] church being in the Pastors house
was called [ Jir conclusion, & manifested his [ Jomote it
with W: Paybody, who [ ] Pastor his thankfull embracing
[ ]ming next weeke to [ Jrmed by the Pastour of
[ ] to attend the motion. [ ] 29 of those who [ 19:
to attend [ Jnifortably [ Jhurch was [ ] acquainted [ Jeing left under [
Jren concerned [ Jen voted,
that [ Jnion with us was [
] communion [ jrch of
watertowne [ Jdation, which were [ Je church [ ]
from the church of watertowne. [ ] was now Baptized. [ 1
Cushman. [ ] Tinkham. [ ]: Mercy Dunham [ Jme
together on wednesday next: [ Json & his wife were' called
forth, [ ]onciliation, the brethren [ ] for a full [ ]manifestation [8] 1683:
Lords supper: April, 1: May, 6: June, 3: July, 8: August, 5: Septem- ber, 2: october, 7: November, 4: December, 9:
. Members dyed .
Mary Bartlett, widow, March, 27: in her 73d yeare. Mris Margarett Winslow, the Relict of Mr. Josiah Winslow, Deacon of the church at Marshfeild, in her widow-hood removed hither, & having lived in com- munion with us about 7 yeares, she dyed, September, 28: being about 75 yeares of age, she was a very choice christian. Martha Nelson, widow, December, 20: in her 64th yeare.
1 Cf. Mayflower Descendant, i. 141, 144, 209, 210, v. 53.
" This word is uncertain.
251
ADMONITION FOR SCANDAL, 1683
January, 23: there was a church-meeting attended in the Pastors absence, after the conference, in which the Propositions made by the Pastour the meeting before were read, but the agitation & Issue of that meeting had best be buried in silence. see the end of page 5 1
April, 15: William Harlow & Lydia his wife were called before the church, & charged with uncleanesse etc their' child being borne within six weekes after marriage, & for disobedience to parents, engaging one to another without knowledge & against consent of parents, sinfully also hiding & denying their guilt, they manifested soe much Repentance for all charged, as that the church would not reiect them only voted Admonition, which was applyed by the Pastour
Children Baptized
Eliezer, son of Eliezer & Mary Churchel (borne Feb: 23: 1682:) baptized, April, 1: John, son of Samuel (Junior) & Sarah King: John, son of Mercy Holmes: Samuel, son of Hannah Harlow. Mercy, daugh- ter of Mary Rickard: Sarah, daughter of Sarah Lobdell. John, son of John Dunham Junior: Samuel son of Samuel Dunham Junior. Peter, son of Elizabeth Tinkham. Thomas, son of Hannah Bartlett. Sarah, daughter of Samuel Rider. Samuel, son of John & Lydia Nelson. Ben- jamin, Sarah, the two children of Deborah Burden of the church of Barnstable: Ephraim, son of Esther Tinkham. John, son of Judith Faunce:
February, 17: the Elders desired the church to meete Feb: 20: after Lecture, the ch: then met, after some discourse, a vote was of the major part of the ch: to put our differences to some ches for advice; after this the Elder moved that the magistrates being shortly to meet here, might be desired to heare & advise us, this seemed to be generally consented to though not put to vote.
[4] 1683 Members admitted
Mary, wife of John Rickard Junior. Sarah, wife of Isaac Lobdell. Samuel Dunham, Junior. Mary, wife of Nathaniel Wood. Priscilla Cooper, widow, dismissed to us from the church of Barnstable. Esther, wife of Ephraim Tinkham Junior.
1 The reference is to p. [5] of the text, or p. 253 of this volume.
" Altered from ".the."'
252
PLYMOUTH CHURCH RECORDS: VOLUME I, PART V
June, 17: Samuel Dunham senior was called forth to manifest his Repentance publickly in order to his Reconciliation with the church, his speech was pænitentiall & well tending to satisfaction, but one Brother alleadged some matter of scruple upon his spirit as to the sincerity of his Repentance, intimating he had both spoken & done something inconsistent therewith, upon which it was concluded to respite the issue of the matter a fortnight longer.
June, 27: at the conference-meeting, it was propounded to the church concerning Sam: Dunham; sundry of the Bretheren spake charitably concerning him that Brother who before had spoken in publick, said he should rest in the act of the church:
At this time, it was propounded by the Pastour to the church, whether they tooke themselves bound to looke after church-children that lived else where, the bretheren roundly exprest themselves in the Affirmative; the case of Bithiah Sandy of Bristoll was mentioned who was guilty of fornication with him, whom afterward she married; the church concluded it necessary she should 1 be Admonished by the Elders in their name for her sinne.
July, 1: Samuel Dunham senior was Reconciled to the church.
July 8: after the publick worship was ended, the Elders desired the church to stay; the Pastour read letters of Admonition for Bithiah Sandy, the church then voted, those letters should be sent by the Elders in their name to her, as their rebuke of her for her sinne. [5]
July, 15: the Elders propounded to the church toset [apart] a day for fasting & prayer, partly with reference to th[e] great drought on the southerne townes,2 & our owne danger of a thin harvest if God should much longer withheld raine from us; partly for persecutions of saints abroad: it was left to consideration till the next Lords day.
It pleased God to send such plentifull raine, that on July, 22: the church agreed to set apart, the Thursday following as a day of Thanksgiving for soe seasonable a mercy, which, July, 26: was accordingly attended.
September, 2: Letters from the church of Barnstable were read, signifying their desires for messengers from our church to be present etc at the ordination of their Pastour, M= Jonathan Russell, on Sep: 19: the church chose the Pastour & Elder, & one of the Bretheren,
1 Here a word, perhaps "she," is crossed out.
" Here a word is crossed out.
-
253
COUNCIL CALLED TO CONSIDER DIFFERENCES, 1684
either secretary Morton, or Deacon Finney or Deacon Morton to goe along with the Elders as their Messenger also.
September, 16: it was signifyed to the church, that neither the Elder nor any of the bretheren above nominated could goe to Barnstable, & therefore other Bretheren were propounded, namely, William Harlow, Andrew Ring, Joseph Howland, any one of these, the church by their silence consented to be their messenger.
The Pastour & Leift: Joseph Howland only attended this service, & Sep. 23: the Pastour gave an account to the church in publick of the comfortable carrying on & issue of the worke in the day of or- dination with great peace & unanimity.
October, 14: the Elders propounded to the church to set apart, the Thursday following, viz, oct: 18: as a day of fasting & prayer, on the account of the troubles of Gods people in England etc as also to humble our selves under Gods Judgments on this land in blastings, meldews & in sundry places great drought, & floods that destroyed much of the fruits of the earth; the church did unanimously consent to the motion & publickly attend the duty at the time exprest
January, 6: the Elder intimated desires from the Pastors motion, that the church would come generally together to the conference; Accordingly, Jan: 9: the church met & after the conference the Pastor propounded some greivances which he desired redresse of or release from office-worke, the Elder shewed discontent, & 1 or 2 more of the Bretheren, & there was noe vote or issue put to anything propounded: Looke back to page 31 [6] 1684:
[T]he church met, March, 7: & after hearing some counsell from our magistrates in the meeting house, the church went to the Pastors house, & agreed & voted to send to the churches of Barnstable, Taunton, Bridgwater, Duxburrough, Marshfeild to send their messengers in way of a councill to consider & helpe us with reference to our present differences, the meeting to be March, 19: & the church to provide for their Entertainement & to defray the charge thereoff; the Pastors wife was then publickly desired to see to their Enter- tainement, & they would satisfy for all disbursments thereabouts.
March, 9: (which was the first day of our meeting in the new Meeting-house) the Pastour preached upon John, 17: 21: 22: 23: & in the afternoone sermon, he moved the church to set apart a day
1 The reference is to p. [3] of the text, or p. 251 of this volume.
254
PLYMOUTH CHURCH RECORDS: VOLUME I, PART V
for fasting & prayer, to seeke mercy from 1 God, & a gratious issue of our present trouble; after which the Elder manifested his scruple thereabouts, soe did some of the Bretheren; Leift: Morton shewed great discontent at the Pastors preaching that day, intimating as if they had not the food of their soules, because he heard [s]oe much in publick of differences, & that things were blowne up more then he heard all the weeke besides, with sundry expressions deeply reflecting upon the Pastours preaching that day; Will. Harlow did in such a manner expresse himselfe murmuring at the soe preaching: In Con- clusion, the. Pastour said (After the Elder had said it should not offend him if any did attend such service) that Thursday next, March, 13: he had dedicated to that solemne service in his owne house & all that pleased should be welcome thereunto. The day was through grace comfortably kept by many of the bretheren & sisters. .
Children Baptized
William, son of Samuel Dunham Junior: Joseph, son of John & Mary Rickard Junior: Benajah, son of Joseph Dunham. Bartholomew, son of Thomas Cushman Junior & Abigail his wife. John, son of " Nathaniel & Mary Wood. William, son of Samuel Rider: Rebekah, daughter of Joanna Morton: Patience, daughter of Patience Holmes: Mariah, daughter of Jonathan & Abigail Prat: Martha, John, 2 children of Esther Tinkham: Priscilla, daughter of Thomas & Jane Faunce: Mercy, daughter of Sarah Dotey: Nicholas, son of Hannah Drue: Margarett, daughter of Sarah Churchel: Joh[n], son of Hannah Harlow: [7] 1684:
March, 18: the councill met, & the next day Entrance was made upon the worke, the councill then gave the church some advice, to endeavour to issue our differences by friendly debate amongst our selves, attempts that way prooved not successfull; the day following was a publick agitation of the church before the councill, after which, March, 21: the councill gave their conclusion subscribed with their hands, which was gratefully accepted by the church: the Lords day, March, 23: the Pastour read the sentence of the councill to the whole congregation; the Elder then moved to set apart a day of Humiliation, & left it with the church to consider of till the next Sabbath:
1 Written above a word, perhaps "for," crossed out.
" Here a name is crossed out.
" Here a word, perhaps "our," is crossed out.
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THOSE WHOSE SIN IS PUBLIC TO BE PUBLICLY DEALT WITH 255
March, 30: by reason of a Fast appointed by the court, the church- fast was deferred till afterward.
April, 20: the Elders stayed the church, & propounded to set apart the friday sevennight following, viz. May, 2: for 1 Fasting & prayer with reference to what had past in the late day of temptation, in order to our more comfortable attendance to & communion at the Lords supper, which the Pastour propounded to be the Sabbath immediately succeeding the Fast day mentioned; the church readily & universally consented then to attend the Fast: the Pastour de- sired the Elder to conclude with prayer, & he did soe:
May, 2: the day of Fasting & Prayer was solemnly attended by the whole church in the Pastours house. The Pastour first prayed & preached, then M- Fuller prayed: Afternoone the Elder prayed, Secretary Morton, Deacon Finney & Thomas Faunce; then Letters were read from Bithiah Sandy to the church, manifesting her" Re- pentance for the sin which the church sent her Admonition for the last yeare: the church well accepted her letters:
Deacon Morton spake to the church about Intemperance, & long sitting at ordinaryes etc the Elders & Bretheren that spake to it all agreed in their Testimony against those evills & their desires that God would helpe all to more care & watch fullnesse in all respects: the 122 Psalme was sung, & the Pastour.minding of the Lords supper to be the next Sabbath, he then ended with prayer; Blessed be God for this comfortable day of peace etc [8] 1684:
Lords supper administred: May, 4: June, 15: August, 24: October, 5: November, 16: February, 1:
June, 22: the Elder desired the church to give meeting at the conference the next wednesday; Accordingly they did, June 25: After conference the Elder .propounded to know the minde of the church, viz, whether they were willing to deale with offending church-seed in private before the church only? the Answer of the bretheren generally was, that ' they Judged, those whose sin was publick should be publickly dealt with for it, & they were willing to continue their antient practise in that respect: the Elder then propounded to them, whether they were willing the Blessing should
1 Here a word, perhaps "the," is crossed out ..
* This word has been altered.
" Altered from "they."
.
F
256
PLYMOUTH CHURCH RECORDS: VOLUME I, PART V
be pronounced on sacrament-morning[s] because some without were offended that it was not done; ther[e] appeared noe forwardnesse in any to promote that practic[e] in some there was scruple about it, soe it ended at present.
July, 13: William Shirtliffe was called forth before the church in the open Assembly, to answer for his sin in carnall fellowship with her whom afterwards he married, his child being borne 26 weekes after marriage; William shewed little sense of sin, the church voted, & the Elder laid him under Admonition, for his sin, & for the pride & hardnesse of his heart, & soe it was left for the present.
July, 27: the church was desired to stay after the publick worship, that if any had any Just exception against admission of old Goodm[an] Bryant into the church, they might then expresse it; the Issue of the Agitation was, that nothing appeared to hinder his calling forth to declare himselfe the next Lords day.
October, 5: Letters were publickly read from the church upon the North River in Scittuate, desiring our church to send their Pastour & messengers to be present at the ordination of Mr Thomas Migh- ell for their Pastour, the church sent Elder Cushman & M. Joseph Bradford, who attended that service with their Pastour, on october, 15:
The Pastour in January began to catechise the children of the church & towne, in Mr Perkins's catechisme:
Members dyed
Abigail, the wife of Jonathan Prat, August, 17: being newly entered into1 her 40th yeare: Giles Rickard senior, February 12: at 87 yeares of age:
Members admitted
Stephen Bryant senior: M' John Cotton the Pastors son.
[9] Church-Records, Anno 1685
Lords Supper administred: March, 1: April, 5: May, 3: June, 7: July, 5: August, 2: September, 6: october, 25: November, 22: Feb- ruary, 28:
Children Baptised
Stephen, son of Eliezer & Mary Churchel, borne February, 16: 1684: baptized, March, 15: John, son of Mary Rickard Junior, borne Feb: 3:
" The words "being newly entered into" are written above "in," crossed out.
.
:
1
DEATH OF SECRETARY NATHANIEL MORTON, JUNE, 1685 257
baptized, March, 15: following: Martha, daughter of Sarah Lobdel, borne, Feb: 24: baptized, March, 29: Sarah, daughter of Isaac Cushman: Nathaniel, son of Desire Southworth Eliezer, son of Samuel & Sarah King Junior. Phebe, daughter of John & Phebe Morton: William, son of Deborah Burden of Barnstable church, she lives at Midlebury. Isaac, son of Esther Tinkham: Eben-ezer, son of Deborah Barrow. Benjamin, son of Joseph & Elizabeth Howland: Joanna, daughter of John & Lydia Nelson. Joanna, daughter of Elizabeth Tinkham.
May, 17: the Elders stayed the church & propounded to them, a motion to sing Psalme, 130: in another Translation, because in M' Ainsworths which wee sang, the Tune was soe defficult as few could follow it; the church consented thereunto, & on May, 24: sang, Ps: 130: in the Translation used by the churches in the Bay:
Member dyed
Mª Nathaniel Morton, Secretary, June &#: in his 73d ye[are]
Joseph Bartlet having wickedly scand[a]lized the Pastour, the church met August, 20: to heare & consider of the [m]atter, the Elder & church greatly condemned his wickednesse & solemnly vindicated their Pastour, & ordered the slanderer to appeare pub- lickly before the congregation to give satisfaction, which he did, Aug: 30: & a large confession of his sin was presented & read by the Elder, which he owned, as also his humble letter to the Pastor, the church then laid him under solemne Admonition.
November, 1: the Elders propounded to set apart Nov: 11: for Thanksgiving [for] continuance of spirituall & civill liberties, a good harvest notwithstanding a th]reatning drought, & for health; which was consented to & attended. [10] 1686:
[L]ords supper administred. April, 4: May, 30: July, 4: August, 8: September, 19: October, 17: November, 28: January, 23:
Members admitted.
Margarett, the wife of Abraham Jackson Junior, dismissed, from the church at Eastham. Elkanan Cushman. Susanna, wife of Samuel Gardner. Isaac Lobdell. Mris Joane Hart, recommended & dismissed to us from the church at Taunton. James Warren, then baptized also: Lydia (second) wife of Robert Barrow. Giles Rickard Junior & Hannah his wife: Elizabeth, the wife of John Dotey: Benjamin Bantam. Eph- raim Morton Junior & Hannah his wife. Lydia, wife of Jacob Cooke.
258
PLYMOUTH CHURCH RECORDS: VOLUME I, PART V
Children Baptised.
Eliezer, son of John & Mary, Rickard senior; it dyed the same weeke: Elkanah, James, Allerton, Elizabeth, the 4 children of Elkanan Cush- man. Samuel, Nathaniel, the two sons of Susanna Gardner. Elizabeth, daughter of Mercy Holmes: Barnabas, son of Sarah Churchel. Mercy, daughter of Judith Rickard: Elisha, son of Lydia Barrow. Mary, daughter of Samuel Dunham Junior. Lydia, daughter of Samuel Rider: Priscilla, daughter of Hannah Harlow. Elizabeth, daughter of Joanna Morton: Ichabod, son of Isaac Cushman. John, Edward, Jacob, Eliza- beth, Isaac, Samuel, Elisha, the seven children of Elizabeth Dotey. Abra- ham, son of Margarett Jackson.
Member dyed
Phoebe, the wife of John Morton, June 14 being 28 years of age & four moneth[s]
On Nov: 28: Deacon Morton propounded to the church, the need of another Deacon; Deacon Finney being dise[n]abled, the Elders accepted the motion, the church was desired to ripen their thoughts thereabouts for the next Sabbath: on Dec: 5: the church was stayed, after the Pastor had prayed, each Elder & Brother generally nomi- nated for choice, the major part of the then Voters chose [T]homas Faunce, divers of the bretheren being absent, the compleating of [t]he Election was deferred till their mindes also should be knowne.
See the latter end of the next Page:1 [11] 1686:
July, 25: the Elders propounded the desires of John Dunham, that the church would grant him letters of dismission to the church at Barnstable, where his Residence now was; the church granted his desires & the Elders sent his Dismission to that church.
The same day, inasmuch as there had bin a great fame, as if Mris Dorothy Clarke, (formerly Grey) a sister of the church, had bin guilty of some breach of Rule in the management of the dif- ferences, betwixt her & her now Husband, Nathaniel Clarke, the Elders having before spoken with her & found her willing to attend the Rule, she then presenting us with a confession of her failing in words & then in writing, the Elders [t]hen brought the matter pub- lickly before the Church, & read her confession, which she publickly owned to be hers, with which the church declared themselves to be
1 The reference is to p. [11] of the text, or p. 259 of this volume.
259
THOMAS FAUNCE CHOSEN AND ORDAINED DEACON, 1686
well satisfyed: The Elder then speaking a few serious words to Nath: Clarke as a child of the church, he brake forth into a wicked passion & spake vile words, intimating, as if the church would cleare the guilty & condemne the innocent, abusing also Pauls words to the mariners, as if it were better & nearer to salvation to be out of such a church then in it etc which1 carriage & words of his were highly offensive, & soe declared by the Pastour to be, but at the present it was thought meete not further to proceed thereupon.
On December, 19: after the publick worship was ended, the church was stayed; & after the Elder had prayed, the rest of the Bretheren who were before absent or had not voted for a Deacon, were called upon to nominate their choice, which accordingly they did, & the Major part of the then voters were for Brother Thomas Faunce, soe that it being declared, that if any Brother had ought to obiect why said Bro: Faunce should not be established in the office of Deacon, they had their liberty to speake & not one obiecting, it appeared that the [c]hurch was very unanimous in this motion, the Pastour then said, [t]hey would then proceed to his ordination the next comfortable Sabbath:
On December, 26: Thomas Faunce was ordained Deacon of this church, the Pastor prayed, & then gave the charge, & then the Elder prayed, & all [t]his was done, whilst the hands of the Eldership were upon him: this Deacon was in the 40th yeare of his age when he was called to this office. [12] Anno 1687:
Lords supper administred: March, 6: April, 17: June, 19: July, 24: September, 4: October, 2: November, 6: December, 4: January, 29:
Children Baptized
William, Lydia, the 2 children of Lydia Cooke. Hannah, Ephraim, John, Joseph, Eben-ezer, the five children of Ephraim Morton Junior & of Hannah his wife. Samuel, son of Isaac & Sarah Lobdell (borne February, 17: 1684:) was baptized, March, 27: 1687: Susanna, Thomas, the 2 children of Thomas Clarke. Elizabeth, Thomas, the 2 children of Lydia Harlow. Elizabeth, daughter of Nathaniel & Mary Wood. Mercy, daughter of John & Mary Rickard senior. Thomas, son of Deacon Thomas Faunce & of Jane his wife. Jedidah, daughter of Eliezer & Mary Churchel. Daniel, son of Joseph Dunham. Samuel, son of Thomas Cushman Junior & of Abigail his wife. Lemuel, son of Hannah
1 Here something is crossed out.
260
PLYMOUTH CHURCH RECORDS: VOLUME I, PART V
Drue: Mehetabel, daughter of Patience Holmes. Elizabeth, daughter of Desire Southworth: Susanna, daughter of Susanna Gardner. John, son of John Morton.
March,1 20: the Elders made a motion publickly to the church to set apart a day for Fasting & Prayer, wherein to humble our soules before God under his frownes last yeare in drought, & in the long, cold uncomfortable winter, & in Epidemicall Coughs & colds now upon us & the small pox in some places: & to beg of God to blesse 2 us with a comfortable, spring, seed time & harvest, & blesse our occasions by sea & land, & continue our spirituall priveledges, that the word of the Kingdome may not be taken away from us, & that God would in mercy remember his persecuted saints & deliver them: The time for this service was left to consideration till the next Sabbath. Then on March, 27: the motion was by the Elders renewed, & the Wednesday following, viz. March, 30: was agreed upon to be kept as a day of Fasting & Prayer, & was accordingly then attended:
Mary Carpenter, (sister of Mris Alice Bradford, the wife of Gov- ernour Bradford) a member of the church at Duxbury dyed in Plimouth, March ${: being newly entered into [th]e 91st& yeare of her age, she was a godly old maide, never married [18] 1687:
Members admitted
Lydia, wife of William Harlow Junior. Thomas Clarke senior, son of James & Abigail Clarke Rebekah, wife of Isaac Cushman: John Bennett. George Morton.
February, 26: the Elders propounded to the church & congregation to set apart, the 7th of March following, wherein to humble our soules by fasting & prayer, for the awfull hand of God in the measles this winter, that God would in mercy recover us blesse our labours by sea & land, our seed time & harvest & continue the meanes of grace & give us the grace of the meanes; the motion was by silence consented unto.
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