USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > Plymouth > Plymouth church records, 1620-1859 > Part 30
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Members Admitted
Samuel Wood. William Shirtliffe & Susanna his wife. John Dunham senior, Reconciled to the church. Elizabeth, the wife of Thomas Clarke senior. Mary, the wife of John Carver; she was then Baptized. Sarah Cotton, the Pastors second Daughter.1 [23] 1691:
April, 26: at the conclusion of the morning worship, the Elders desired the church to repaire to the Pastors house; being there, Samuel Wood was called forth to make his relation in order to
. 1 Pasted to p. [22] is a small leaf written on both sides, headed "m" Robinsons discourse." It is not in Mr. Cotton's hand, apparently has no reason for being where it is, and appears to be a continuation of the sheet inserted between pp. [6-7] of Part iv: see p. 231 note 2, above.
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PLYMOUTH CHURCH RECORDS: VOLUME I, PART V
Admission into the church, he having much bodily infirmity, weak- nesse, & shaking of his head whence he was uncapable of speaking in the publick Assembly; After he had spoken, it appeared the church was satisfyed with him, & by vote publickly in the congregation he was that afternoone received into the church.
Then the Elders called out John Dunham, whose desires for Reconciliation with the church had 8 weekes before bin published to them, he did acknowledge his sin for which the church rejected him, & his sin in soe long 1 standing out, Justifyed God & the church in their proceedings against him etc: the church respited the con- clusion of the matter till the next Lords day: & then, May, 3: before the whole congregation upon further manifestation of his Repentance he was released of his censure & admitted into the church.
November, 8: after Evening-worship the Pastour propounded to the church the desires of his son Mr Rowland Cotton for letters of dismission to the church of Sandwich, which was accordingly granted & subscribed by the Elders.
Then the Pastor read letters from the church of Barnstable de- siring our church to send messengers to helpe them in way of councill, respecting Mr Hinckleys case, in answer whereunto the church chose the Pastour & Deacon Morton to attend that service.
Nov: 29: The Pastour propounded to the church to set apart a day for Fasting & prayer, espetially for our Elder in his languishing condition, & for mercy to the land under black clouds etc Left to consideration till next Sabbat[h].
Dec: 6: the Pastor renewed the motion, & added, as further mat- ter of Humiliation, the increase of sin among us, the day mentioned & concluded upon was, Dec: 16: The next Sabbath, Dec: 13: the Pastour propounded, that the Death of our [Elder did call aloud upon us for Humiliation & Prayer, & moved that on the Fast day there might be a contribution for the widow as a Testimony of their Respect, Love & Thankfullnesse to the deceased Elder [for] all the service & paines he taken for us while he lived [
Dec: 16: the Fast was attended, Mr Arnold & the Pastors tw[o sons] John & Rowland asisted in prayer & there was a cheerful] & liberall contribution. [24] 1691:
1 Here a word is crossed out.
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PRIVATE EXAMINATION FOR CHURCH FELLOWSHIP, 1691 273
December, 13: Sarah Howland, a child of the church, was called forth before the whole Congregation to answer for the sin of Forni- cation, she confessed her sin against God & his people, & desired forgiveness & prayers, by the vote of the church she was by the Pastour laid under the solemne ordinance of Admonition with severe rebukes; the Bretheren exprest that they would proceed thus farre at present, & not put hereby a finall issue to dealing with her in case afterward further guilt & aggravations of her sin should ap- peare, but then to act accordingly.
Dec: 27: the Pastour propounded to the church before the whole Assembly his desires of some Bretheren to be chosen by them, to be present with him in the private examination of persons in order to church-fellowship, whose relations were to be read before their Admission; & then put it to vote, that they chose the present Dea- cons, viz, Leift: Morton & Bro: Faunce, & any other Brother whom the Pastor might see reason to improove in this worke; to this the church consented by a silentiall-vote.
Jan: 31: The Pastour propounded to the church before the whole Assembly to set apart a day of Thanksgiving. 1: For the contin- uance of our sanctuary-mercies. 2: For our peace while trouble & war is in the remote parts of the country, 3: For Gods blessings on our Labours, seasonable showers & a comfortable Harvest. 4: For restoring health after sicknesse. 5: For protecting us1 in that the Enemy by sea did not annoy us though in sight of us, & preserving all our sea-faring men: 6: For good successe of the Kings forces in subduing Ireland. 7: For good tidings from old England, giving hopes of the Establishing charter Goverment, & thereby blasting the designes & expectations of those who sought our hurt: The conclusion of the thing & time was reserved till the next Sabbath.
Feb. 7: the Pastor renewed the motion, to observe the day wednesday following, Feb. 10: by a silentiall vote it was consented to; the Pastour then moved & exhorted to a liberall contribution on that day for the [ life & Redemption of the captives lately taken at Yorke, & other [ ] Easterne parts in distresse: The day was comfortably attended, [and the cong]regation made a very liberall contribution for the ends above [ ]
1 Here a word or two are crossed out.
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PLYMOUTH CHURCH RECORDS: VOLUME I, PART V
[25] Church Records, 1692:
Lords supper, March, 6: April; 3: May, 1: June, 5: July, 3: August, 7: September, 11: October, 16: November, 13: January, 8: February, 12:1
Children Baptized.
Phoebe, daughter of Mary Ring, borne January, 26: baptized, March, 6: Eben-ezer, son of Samuel Dunham Junior, borne? February, 24: baptized, March, 27: Joseph, son of Sarah Churchel, borne January, 20: baptized, March, 27: Hilkiah, Mary, John, Jacob, the 4 children of Hilkiah & Ruth Tinkham. Nathanael, son of Samuel & Sarah King: Nathaniel, Bathshua, Israel, the children of Eleazar & Bathshua Dun- ham; their son Eleazar was baptized at Scittuate by Mr. Witherell, Pastour there. Stephen, Thomas, William the sons of Mehetable Bryant. John, son of Susanna Cole. Ephraim, son of Rebekah Cole. Sarah, daughter of James Warren. Benajah, son of John Prat. James, son of Susanna Cole. Elizabeth, daughter of Thomas & Elizabeth Clarke. William, son of Hannah Harlow: Elisha, son of Eleazer & Bathshua Dunham. Shubael, son of Elizabeth Tinkham: John, son of Mary Carver. Hannah, Gershom, children of Hannah Bradford. Rebekah, daughter of Rebekah Rickard. Mercy, daughter of Isaac & Rebekah Cushman. Thankfull, daughter of Lydia Barrow. Mary, Anne, the two children of Joanna Grey:
March, 6: the Pastour propounded to the church to meet to- gether at his house the wednesday following.
March, 9: the church met, after the Pastor had prayed, he earnestly moved to the church, that they would in this day of Gods anger endeavour to finde out what is evill & provoking to God amongst us & be vigorous in promoting a worke of Reformation; God was gratiously present in the meeting, all the Bretheren who spake approoved of the motion as very seasonable & necessary to be at- tended; The Pastor propounded that all in full communion should search & try & reforme their wayes, & in particular, that some effectuall course might be taken to reforme the children of the church, who were much given to sensuality, intemperance, long tarrying, drinking & gaming at ordinaries: Yea & prophaning the Sabbath in needlesse drinking etc It was mentioned & concluded by an uni-
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RENEWAL OF CHURCH COVENANT PROPOSED, 1692
versall vote of the church by lifting up of hands, that the Pastor should in some convenient time, call all the Adult children of the covenant in the Name of the church to appeare before the church, & it should be demanded of them [26'] whether they did owne their covenant-relation to the church, & accordingly to proceed in present counsells & Admonitions etc as might be Judged necessary; with a solemne declaration of the firme purpose & resolution of the church hereafter faithfully to watch over them for their soules good in preventing & endeavouring to heale sin & encourage holinesse: the Pastour then ended with Prayer.
Members admitted
Bathshua, wife of Eleazar Dunham. Lydia (second) wife of Samuel Rider. Hilkiah Tinkham & Ruth his wife; he was then Baptized. Su- sanna, wife of John Cole: Rebekah, wife of Ephraim Cole. Eleazar Dun- ham. Mehetabel, wife'of Stephen Bryant Junior, she was then Baptized. Hannah, wife of Samuel Bradford. Rebekah, wife of Samuel Rickard: Mercy, wife of Samuel Sturtevant, she was then Baptized. Joanna, wife of John Grey: Mehetabel Nelson, since the wife of John Dotey Junior.
April, 3: the Pastour gave publick notice in the Congregation of what was concluded by the church at the meeting, March, 9: that soe all concerned might be prepared to attend the motion.
Members dyed
John Dunham, April, 6: in his 77th yeare. Elizabeth, wife of John Dotey, November, 21: her 44th yeare almost finished. Her little daughter Martha was Baptized the Sabbath after. Andrew Ring dyed, February, 22: in his seventy fifth yeare.
February, 26: John Rider, a child of the church, was publickly called before the church, & laid under Admonition, for the sin of Fornication committed with Hannah Barnes, who was afterwards his wife.
May, 1: the Pastour read letters from the church of Barnstable renewing their desires that wee would attend in councill with other churches there on May, 18: about Mr Hinckley. The church had in Nov: last desired Deacon Morton to attend that service with the
1 At the top of the page is written "1692."
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PLYMOUTH CHURCH RECORDS: VOLUME I, PART V
Pastor, & did soe still, & now voted that if he failed Deacon Faunce should goe, The Pastor & Deacon Faunce went at the time appointed. [27] 1692:
April, 24: the Pastor desired the church betweene the meetings to repaire to his house, they came, He propounded to them, that wee should renew our Covenant upon the approaching day of Fasting & Prayer, & read to them the Record of what the church had done in that kinde in the yeare 1676: as also two other papers, one from the Elders of this Colony, another from many Elders of Boston-Colony, in which were solemne calls, counsells, exhortations & encourage- ments to endeavour thorough Examination of hearts & wayes, & Reformation of heart & life in turning from all provoking evills etc.1 The church readily accepted the motion & resolved to attend the worke on the day mentioned; & agreed, that the male children of the covenant should by the Pastour be invited to come to his house on the morrow then & there to heare what was expected from them, viz, from about twenty yeares old & upwards, & the female children of the church of such age to come on that account to the Pastors house on the Fast-day betweene the meetings; accordingly the Pastor gave them all publick notice:
April, 25: there was a very great & Generall appearance of all the male children of the church & those very few absent being out of towne or necessarily hindered, not one refusing to owne his cov- enant relation to the church) the Pastour spent neere 2 houres with them in prayers & solemne Exhortations, counsells & Admoni- tions to all sorts of them particularly, & then read to them what they had done, Anno 1676: & asked them, if they were willing to ac- knowledge the Lord God of their fathers, & in like manner on the day of prayer at hand renew the conenant for Reformation etc which they universally consented to; it was observed many were much affected at what was spoken, & they did not spend that evening as many had used to doe.
April, 27: on the Fast day betweene the meetings came the Female church-children to the Pastors house a great Assembly,? the Pastor prayed & exhorted etc about an houre, & did all as he had done with the young men at the meeting above mentioned, & had the like issue.
1 See pp. 148-152, 167-169, above.
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RENEWAL OF CHURCH COVENANT, 1692
Then after sermon in the publick congregation in the Afternoone, the Pastor stood up [and after] some [281] Preface grounded on Josh: 24: 15: etc he read a solemne Letter which the Generality of the ministers in this Colony had perused & approoved of as meet to be commended to all the churches & people to quicken them to Reformation; & for further Encouragement in the worke he read the conclusion of nine ministers in one of their Association-meet- ing[s] at Cambridge, March, 6: foregoing, & then proceeded first with the members of the Church in full Communion & desired them all both bretheren & sisters to manifest their consent in Renewall of Covenant by standing up all the time the Paper was read which contained confessions of our particular sins & ingagements of Refor- mation, the Paper was the same that 'on the like occasion had bin improoved in the yeare, 1676:2 only some further addition in the matter of confession our present circumstances called for; the whole church did accordingly; then the Pastour proceeded with the ª the children of the covenant & called on them soe to stand up while a Paper sutable for them was read, the same (only with some Addi- tion as in the other) which they had consented to Anno 1676: on a like occasion, there was universall concurrence in this manner by them also, & the whole solemnity concluded with prayer; It was observed that many of all sorts were much affected with this solemne Transaction, the Lord accept us in Christ & enable us all to per- forme our vowes & covenant-ingagements to him
June, 19: After the Evening worship, the Pastour stayed the church, & propounded, 1: That a sister; susanna Ransom, having falling into scandall by excessive drinking, & not appearing this day before the church " to answer for it, that therefore the church would by Bro: Shaw in their name require her to attend the next Sabbath, to which the church consented by a silentiall vote. 2: That seeing many of the Psalmes in Mr Ainsworths Translation which wee now sung had such difficult tunes as none in the church could sett [. ] the church would consider of some way of Ac- comod[ation tha]t wee might sing all the Psalmes; This motion
[ ] the consideration of the church for a time. [29] 1692:
1 At the top of the page is written "1692."
: See pp. 149-152, above.
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PLYMOUTH CHURCH RECORDS: VOLUME I, PART V
. Susanna Ransom (who formerly was Gardner) was called before the church, July, 10: to answer for her sin of Drunkenesse, she partly by word, & more by writing did manifest some Repentance for her sin; the Pastor called upon every Brother of the church by Name to declare their Judgment; every one did speake, the Generall conclusion was, she should be laid under the censure of Admonition, & the church would in that way waite upon God for1 discovery of the truth of her Repentance; This Proposition being made to the church by the Pastor, was by a silentiall vote universally consented to, & that ordinance solemnly applyed to her, with prayer for a blessing; then was the whole congregation dismissed with the Blessing.
August, 7: at the conclusion of the sacrament, the Pastor called upon the church to expresse their Judgments as to the Proposall made about the Psalmes ' June, 19: & put to vote, whether they did consent, that when the Tunes were difficult in our Translation, wee should sing the Psalmest now in use in the neighbour-churches in the Bay; two bretheren vocally exprest their approbation, & by a silentiall vote the whole church consented it should be soe, not one opposing: The Sabbath following, Aug, 14: wee began to sing the Psalmes in course, according to the vote of the church.
August, 21: the Pastor desired the church to be together on the Lecture day.
Aug: 24: After Lecture the Pastor stayed the church, & pro- pounded to their consideration, that some of our church & church- children had last spring desired William Hoskins to come & live with them at Lakingham for carrying on the Sabbath in teaching them, which they desired & he accepted without asking any consent or counsell of the Elder or church therein, &. thereby they generally in that village neglected coming to the publick worship, & in espetiall on a Fast-day, wherein the church agreed to a solemne renewall of their covenant, " they stayed there & came not to attend that solemne worke; After discourse of divers bretheren declaring their dissatis- faction at their practice, & some speaking more favourably to it, it
1 Here something is crossed out.
" Here some words, apparently "July 19," are crossed out.
" Here "Bay" is crossed out.
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ADMONITIONS FOR INTEMPERANCE, 1692
was unanimously voted by the church, that the Pastor should warne the Bretheren concerned in the matter of offence, in some convenient time to attend the church & give an account of their actings & the grounds thereoff.
September, 4: the Pastor read a letter from the Governour to the ministers etc to set apart days of Fasting & Prayer for the Army gone Eastward etc: Sep: 11: the church agreed to set apart, Sep: 15: for that service, & on that day it was attended. [80] 1692:
September, 11: after the Sacrament the Pastor propounded to the church to consider of some meet bretheren that might read the Psalmes in the absence of Deacon Faunce (who was then sick) & left it to consideration.
October, 2: The Pastor desired the church to come together the next day:
Oct: 3: The church met, after prayer the Pastor propounded to the church, concerning John Grey & Joseph Warren, two church children, who had sinned both by Excesse in drinking, & the former by evill speaking etc inasmuch as these evills were committed before renewall of covenant (see church Records Apr: 24: & 27: 1692: pag: 3: 4:1) they would deale with them in private, the church consenting thereunto, Joseph Warren was then called before the church, & manifested Repentance for his sin & desired them to for- give him, the church voted he should have an Admonition, which was solemnly applyed to him by the Pastor.
In answer to the motion above, Sep: 11: divers Bretheren were nominated as sutable to read the Psalmes, viz, Jonathan Shaw, Thomas Cushman, Isaac Cushman, Elkanan Cushman, John Morton, Ephraim Morton Junior, Eliezer Churchel, william Shirtliffe, John Bradford, & ' Baruch Jordan, & it was concluded, that any of these might be called forth by the Pastor to this service, & any other of . the Bretheren that might hereafter be found meet for it.
The Pastor then propounded, that the church would unite in some way for his setled yearly salary, most of them that spake, were to doe it by Rate; the meeting was then dissolved.
November, 13: the Pastor desired the church to meet on the Lecture day
1 The reference is to pp. [27-28] of the text, or pp. 276-277 of this volume.
· Something is here crossed out.
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PLYMOUTH CHURCH RECORDS: VOLUME I, PART V
Nov. 16: the church met at the Pastors house before Lecture; after Prayer, John Grey was called before the church, & charged with excessive drinking & evill speaking, matter of fact was evident, he showed but an ill frame of spirit, after some solemne speeches to him, by vote of the church, the Pastor laid him under awfull Ad- monition for his sinnes & impenitency therein.
After the Lecture, the Pastor stayed the church, & called the bretheren mentioned of lakingham, who had called Will: Hoskins etc & declared the offences as in pag: 5:1 W: Hoskins & the other said they were sorry for their giving any offence to the church: The Issue was, the church did declare that their meeting in short days & unseasonable weather, they [fa]ulted not, but their constant meeting there in comfortable seasons for travell they disapprooved as irregular. [81] 1693:
Lords supper: March, 26: May, 7: June, 18: July, 23: August,2 27: September, 24: October, 22: November, 19: December, 17: Feb- ruary, 4:
May, 14: Mris Elizabeth Allyn (the Pastors daughter) dismissed to the church at Salisbury
Children Baptized
Henry, son of Susanna Morton (borne January, 7:) baptized March, 5: John, son of Samuel & Mercy Sturtevant (borne, February, 10:) bap- tized, March, 12: Robert, Susanna, the two children of Elizabeth Cooke. Jane, daughter of Deacon Thomas Faunce & Jane his wife, (borne November, 18:) baptized, April, 16: Joseph, son of Judith Faunce. John, Mercy, Anne, Jane, Elizabeth, the five children of Caleb & Jane Cooke: Benjamin, son of Samuel & Lydia Rider: John, son of Susanna Ransom. Lydia, daughter of Lydia Harlow. Nathaniel, son of Eliezer & Mary Churchel. John, son of Baruch Jordan. Samuel, son of John Prat. Nathanael, son of Nathanael & Mary Wood. Isaac, son of Lydia Churchel. Hannah, daughter of Rebekah Rickard. Caleb, son of Hilkiah & Ruth Tinkham. Nathanael, Samuel, Seth, the 3 sons of Sam- uel Fuller Junior. Mehetabel daughter of Elkanan Cushman. Desire, daughter of Joanna Grey. Sarah, daughter of Elizabeth Kenedy. Eleazer, son of Rebekah Morton, a member of the third church in Boston. Lydia, daughter of John & Patience Nelson.
1 The reference is to p. [29] of the text, or p. 278 of this volume.
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MAY A CHILD OF MEMBER UNDER CENSURE BE BAPTIZED? 281
March, 19. The Pastor propounded to the whole Assembly to set apart a day of Thanksgiving for preservation of King & Qu: etc for our Gospel-merc[ies,] Health, Harvest, destroying caterpillars last summer, saving ours in storme etc checks to the Enemy at wells, saving all townes last yeare, preserving ours that went forth return- ing Agents, yet ruling us by saints; Mar: 26: at Lds Table church consented.
April: 1:1 appointed for the service: & it was then attended.
Members Admitted
Elizabeth, wife of Francis Cooke: Caleb Cooke & Jane his wife: Jacob Cooke: Samuel Fuller Junior: Patience, the (third) wife of John Nelson: Benjamin Eaton senior.
November, 5: Mr John Cotton (the Pastors son) was dismissed to the church at Yarmouth.
May, 7: the Pastor propounded to set apart a day of Fasting & prayer, wherein to humble our selves for sin, seeke mercy for the Army, restoring peace, blessings of the yeare, Mercy to O: E: successe to the King etc: May, 14: the church by a sile[ntiall] vote agreed to set apart May, 24: for that service; & accordingly it was [then attend]ed universally [82] 1693:
[Ju]ne, 11: the Pastor called the church at the End of the morning [w]orship to come to his house, which they did, & then heard & accepted Caleb Cookes Relation, in order to his Admission to church- fellowshi[p.] The Pastor then propounded & left to the considera- tion of the church that Question, viz, whether the child of a church member under the censure of Admonition may be regularly Bap- tized.
July, 23: immediately before the Administration of the Lords supper Susanna Ransom's confession & Repentance of her owne writing .was read to the church alone, & accepted, & she released of the censure of Admonition, & soe the Pastor had noe need to desire an answer to the Question above propounded:
Members dyed
Leiftenant Ephraim Morton, a Deacon, october, 7: in his 70th yeare or 71st: Elizabeth, wife of Hugh Cole (formerly of Jacob Cooke) at Swanzey in her 57th yeare dyed october, 31:
1 Perhaps "5."
' Altered from "they."
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PLYMOUTH CHURCH RECORDS: VOLUME I, PART V
John Waterman & Anna his wife1 dismist to us from Marshfeild church againe received Jany.'
November, 19: Letters were read from the church at Yarmouth to desire the Pastor & some of the Bretheren to come to them to the ordination of Mr John Cotton Junior to be their Pastor on Nov: 22: the church chose' two bretheren to accompany their Pastor, viz, Samuel Sturtevant & Thomas Clarke, who did attend that service, the Pastor Nov: 26: gave an account to the church publickly, how the whole work was managed at Yarmouth.
December, 31: the Pastor publickly propounded to the church to prepare for the choice of two Deacons.
February, 4: the Pastor called a church meeting to be on Febr: 7:
The church then met, after prayer, the Pastor propounded, 1, The singing of spirituall songs, to this the church consented by a silentiall vote. He then told them he would renew catechizing of children, & desired the church to warne their families, children & servants not to goe out of the Assembly till the Blessing was given, in these things was exprest much unanimity: Nextly whether parents might without offence hold up their children to Baptisme, not being in full communion? some said for it, some said it was indifferent, but it appeared that generally the bretheren were not free to admit of it. After some discourse of setling the Pastors salary, the matter of Nomination of Deacons was deferred till that day moneth.
February, 25 [Jedu]thun Robins & Hannah his wife (who was Prat) children of the church [were ca]lled forth publickly, & by the Pastor in the Name of Christ by th[ church, laid under Ad- monition for fornication before marriage.
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