USA > Massachusetts > Plymouth County > Plymouth > Plymouth church records, 1620-1859 > Part 38
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
N B. See Page 71.4 y. Reason of this Erasement.5 -
1 Here seven lines are crossed out.
" P. [71] of the text, or p. 365 of this volume.
" This is written in the margin.
. P. [71] of the text, or p. 365 of this volume.
1
" Here twenty-two lines, containing a record of meetings on May 11 and 14, 1783, are crossed out.
-
363
REUNION OF FIRST AND THIRD CHURCHES, 1784
N. B. May 30th This day died, much lamented, that eminently godly Servant of the Lord, Deacon Joseph Bartlett, Aged 80 Years; & who has used the Office of a Deacon well in this Chh 38 Years & 1 Month. "Help Lord, for the godly man ceaseth, ye faithful fail from among y. Children of Men " !
Nov 2ª 1783. Stayd the Chh at Noon, & proposed to them, the keeping a Day of Fasting & Prayer, on account of y. mellencholly Decay of Religion, & to supplicate the Outpouring of y. Holy Spirit upon us, for ye Revival of it, agreable to the antient, laudable Prac- tice of this Chh, in times of Degeneracy, & of other Chhs & Con- gregations of late, especially in Connecticutt, where God has, in a remarkable manner, shown himself to be a hearer of Prayer, in pour- ing out his blessed Spirit on many Congregations there in which many hundreds of Souls have hopefully been brot into ye Kingdm of Christ at this Day. - Glory be to his Name! - The Chh, to- gether with yo Brethren of yo 3ª Chh,1 unanimously Voted to ob- Vote serve Thursday next for ye purposes beforementioned. And at ye Close of Worship at Night ye Congregation were informa of what ye Chh had agreed on, & requested to join wth us on sª Day - And they accordingly did, very generally, had a full meeting, & ye Day was kept wth Solemnity - 3 Neighbouring Ministers attended - 2 of which, preachd, viz Mess"" Niles & Barker May ye good Lord hear y. Prayers of his people & send an Answer of Peace! [70] 1784 Records of Chh Transactions continued
April 4th Lords Day Evening, Stayd ye Church after ye Bless- ing, & communicated to them a Request & Proposal, exhibited in Writing, from the Members of the 3d Church in this Town, to re- unite & incorporate with the first Chh & left the Matter for their serious Deliberation, till next Lords Day.
April 11th Lords Day P M. This Church having considerd of y Proposal of the 3ª Chh as aforsd, & no Objections being offerd against it, The Pastor, at the Close of public Worship, notifyd the Affair to the whole Congregation - as a very affecting & remark- able Dispensation of Divine Providence - observing to them, that after 40 Years Seperation, (ye 4th of next Month) there should be brot about a Reunion of the Chhs. The paper was then read, as follows.
1 Here the words "with us" are crossed out.
364
PLYMOUTH CHURCH RECORDS: VOLUME II
Wheras, in the Course 1 of divine Providence, is brought about a Re- union of the first & third Parishes in the Town of Plimouth, which Union has been ratifyd by the Act of the General Court of this Comon- wealth at the joint Request of both Parishes, - We therefore, Mem- bers of the third Church of Christ in Plimouth aforsd, wishing to culti- vate that harmony & brotherly Love which the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ inculcates, do propose an Incorporation of both the first & third Churches into One, hoping that ye Interest of the great Head of the Church may be promoted thereby. At the same time, praying " the God & Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, that the Union may be productive of ye happiest Consequences - that we may join our united Endeavors to promote the Interest & Kingdom of our divine Lord & Master in general, & among ourselves in particular - that we may all of us be Ornaments to the holy Religion which we profess, & after being faithful to the Death, may be admitted into the Church trium- phant in Heaven never to seperate any more.
Also -
We the subscribers members of other Churches, having usually comunicated with the 3ª Chh in Plimouth, desire to communicate with ye first Chh in sd town in all the ordinances of the Gospel.
Also -
ELIZABETH WATSON SARAH MORTON MEHITABLE PAYN MARY WARREN
MARY THOMAS LYDIA HOLMES SARAH SMITH MARTHA LEBARON SARAH TILSON BETHIAH DYER MARY DOTEN
Signed
JONATHAN DIMAN WILLIAM WATSON JOSIAH MORTON JOHN NELSON EPHRAIM SPOONER MELATIAH MORTON (wife of JOSIAH) ELIZABETH SPOONER ELIZABETH NELSON HANNAH WHITE ye 2ª MARY COBB SARAH COBB ELIZABETH DREW ELIZABETH HOWLAND PATIENCE COBB LYDIA MASON
- Males
Females
On Lords Day April, 11th 1784, the above being presented, (as aforsd) to ye first Church in Plymo in public, was accepted, & the
1 This word is obscure.
" Here "that" is crossed out.
-
JONATHAN DIMAN AND EPHRAIM SPOONER, DEACONS, 1784 365
Union of the two Churches solemnly ratifyd by a formal Vote of yo Church.
Attest. CH: ROBBINS.
May God smile upon, & bless this Transaction for yo Glory of his Name & y. Edification of this Church! - The Texts preachd from, this Day, on the Occasion, were, In y Forenoon Psal.133:1. " Be- hold how good & how pleasant for Brethren to dwell &c." In ye Afternoon Gal.3.28. - "For ye are all One in Christ Jesus " [71] 1784 & 1785 Chh Records continued
May 23ª Lords Day, At the Close of divine Worship Notifyd the Brethren of the Church to meet in the Meeting house next Tues- day, the 25th instant at 2 Clock P M, for the purpose of choosing one or more Deacons.
May 25th Tuesday. The Church met very generally, & after Prayer for Direction in the Affair before us, the Church unanimously voted to proceed to choose two Persons to the Office of Deacons. 2 Desons And upon bringing in the Votes, it appeared that Brother Jonathan ohose Diman, & Bro Ephraim Spooner were chosen to that Office, by a very great Majority. Upon which, on a Motion made, the Church unanimously voted their Concurrence in the Choice - Both of whom, after some Conversation on the Subject, agreed to take the Matter under Serious Consideration, & to give an Answer in due Time.
At the same Meeting, Brother Benj. Rider, moved to the Church, whither those Passages in these Records, which relate to a Charge B. Rider's formerly bro't against him, might not be wholly erased, as he appre- Caso. hends they tend to give an unfavorable Idea of him, & ye Charge being unsupported - Whereupon the Church voted to have those Passages which relate to their Transactions on this head, be erased & made illegible. The Passages are recorded in Page 49, 50, & 68, 69.1 On which said Brother Ryder declares himself satisfyd & will attend his Duty as before.
The Meeting was conducted with ye greatest Love & Harmony, & concluded with Prayer & the Blessing.
1785. March 20th Lords day P M - Stayd the Chh & read & Complaint of our Brother Jesse Churchill against Brother Sam"
1 Pp. [49, 50, 68, 69] of the text, or pp. 340, 340, 362, 362, of this volume.
1
-
366
PLYMOUTH CHURCH RECORDS: VOLUME II
Battles for breach of Promise in a Matter wherein they had Dispute. - After conferring a while upon it, the Church thot proper there shd be a Meet" of y. Church to consider upon proper Steps for a Reconcilation of ye parties - Whereupon a Church Meeting was notifyd to be at the Pastors house tomorrow Evening the 21st instant.
March 21" The Chh .met at the Pastors house this Evening, agreable to Notification; & after Prayer, enterd into Consultation with y. Parties, heard what Brother Battles had to say to the Com- plaint against him by Brother Jesse Churchill, he urged that he had not exhibited before the Referees (chosen to settle ye Matter) all y· Evidence he could produce, in his Justificat", therefore wishd for an- other hearing before them, & he doubted not their Award wd be different from wt they gave before. The Chh advised Br° Churchill to consent to another hearing before ye same Referees, he consented - & y Affair finally was settled between y" by sd Reference. [72] 1786 Records &c
As the Use of Tate & Brady's Version of the Psalms, with some Hymns annexd, has obtaind, in our publick Worship, for some time past, viz since January 8th 1771. at which time it was voted by the Church, to be used instead of the Old N England Version It may not be thot improper, on a Subject of this kind, to record in this place, that by the Desire of numbers, in Church & Congregation, Doct" Watts's Version of the Psalms, with his Book of Hymns, was proposed to be sung in public for a Season on Tryal, & then, that the Minds of the Congregation should be expressed, whither they would, in future, sing Tate & Brady's as before, or Doct" Watts's. - After a Tryal of each, for several Months, it was agreed that the matter be determined at a public Meeting of the Inhabitants of this first Precinct, in their annual Precinct Meeting, & In consequence of proper Notice previously given, on
D' Wattss Psalms & Hymns voted.
On March 21 1786 At a very full meeting of sd Precinct,1 the Vote was called, which of the two versions they will use, & Voted, that Doct" Watts's Version of the Psalms, & Hymns united, be sung in future, in our public Worship, viz, 17 Votes for Tate & Brady, & 38 for Doct" Watts's, to which the rest amicably agreed. May God bless the Use of said Evangelical Psalms & Hymns, for the spiritual
1 Here a word is crossed out.
i
- - - ----
i
A
--
1
i
367
CASE OF WILLIAM CURTIS OF PEMBROKE, 1786
Edification of his people, that we may be prepared to join the Song of Moses & the Lamb, in the heavenly World!
1787. Oct" 18th At a Sacramental Lecture, the Chh were desired to tarry after the Blessing, & the Pastor communicated to them the Request of our Brother William Curtiss, (now living in Pembroke) viz, "That since, by the providence of God, he is removed from us, & not being satisfyd with the Preaching of' the Minister of that Place, & becoming acquainted with a Baptist Society, among whom he thinks the Gospel is preached in Purity, & as he has no prospect of returning to this Place to live again, he requests a Dismission from this Chh, & to be recomended to the Baptist Chh, of which M" Robinson is the minister." - The Chh took the matter into Con- sideration & were, finally, of Opinion, that our Brother Curtiss has been too hasty in this Affair, not having consulted either the Pastor or his Brethren on the Subject, before he had come to a fixd conclu- sion, that our Chhs were wrong as to the Mode & Subjects of Bap- tism - & had determind to join them before he made Application to have any Objections answd, or Difficulties [732] Difficulties solved, which he laboured under. The Chh therefore Voted
Voted, That the Pastor be desired to write to our Brother Curtiss, & inform him of the Sentiments of his Brethren respecting this Matter, & his Conduct aforesd - & also voted to choose a Com- mittee of five, beside the Pastor, to discourse with Him, & endeavor yet to answer the Objections he has against our Practice in Regard to Baptism, & to convince him of his Error, in that he would by his Conduct, in joining them & being rebaptizd, virtually declare this Chh, (with 3 whom he declares ' himself to be in the fullest Charity) to be no Church - & in fact, would implicitly unchurch all the Chhs in the Land, that are not Baptists.
The Brethren chosen, to be of this Comittee, in conjunction with the Pastor, were, John Cotton, Deacons Diman, Crombie & Spooner, & William Watson.
1790. Dec" 26th Lords Day. Stayd the Brethren of the Chh, after the Blessing at Night, & proposed to them the Case & Request
1 Written over another word, perhaps "in."
" At the top of p. [73] is written "1790 Records."
' Written above a word crossed out.
" Written above a word crossed out.
1
·
368
PLYMOUTH CHURCH RECORDS: VOLUME II
of Clark, wife of Benjamin Clark, as follows. She is sick & supposd far gone in a Consumption - has lately recieved great Peace & Satisfaction of Mind, respecting an Interest in the favor of God thro Christ, thô before, has been in great distress on account of her Soul, & tho'tless life she lived, The Pastor informd the Chh, he had conversed with her, & was much satisfyd & tho't there was sufficient reason to hope she had met with a real Change of Heart. Several of y. Brethren had done ye same. She is earnestly desirous to give herself up to God, & his Chh, & if consistent, to join the Lord's Visible people, & our Christ before ye World, & that her Children might be baptizd.
The Pastor informa the Brethren, that there was one Precedent, or Instance of a similar Case, before this Chh in March, 1764, of Lydia Cornish After conversing a while on the Case, it appearing that there was no Opposition to the following Vote, (similar to that in Page 401) it was put, &
Voted That the Chh are so far satisfied with the Account given of
Clark, wife of Benj. Clark, & of her Profession & Desire, that they are willing to recieve her to their " Fellowship & Commun- ion, provided her health should be so far restored, as to enable her to come to the House of God, & renew her Covenant in the usual way - & also willing, in Consequence of her present Profession & Desire, that (considering her peculiar Circumstances) his Children may, on her Right, be baptizd. (She is a baptizd Person.)
1791. Lords day, Jan" 2ª. Stayd y. Chh at Noon, & mentionª to them, a proposal which hath been made by some of the Chh, that Benj. Clarks Wife, (the person mentiond in the foregoing Article) be recieved into our Communion in her own house, in Consequence of her being apprehended near her End first as it was thot this wod not be inconsistent with ye former Vote, but agreable to the Spirit of it. Also, because it seemeth more agreable to Propriety that the [743] that before she partakes of the special Priviledges of the Chh, & the Seal of the Covenant, viz Baptism for her Children on her Right,
1 P. [40] of the text, or p. 328 of this volume.
" The words "recieve her to their" are somewhat obscure, being written over some words erased.
' Altered from "72." The words "1791 Church Records continued" are written at the top of p. [74].
-
Benja Clark's Wife's Case
.
.
PHEBE CLARK ADMITTED TO FELLOWSHIP AND COMMUNION, 1791 369
that she should first acknowledge & own that Covenant, by her own Act & Deed.
And thirdly, because it would take away any Occasion of Stum- bling to others without, who, tis said have objected the Impropriety & Inconsistency of the Church's Conduct - in this Instance to bap- tize Children, without ye Parents assenting to any Covenant at all - when, in other Cases a solemn Covenant must be owned, & the per- son recieved into y. Fellowship of the Church, by a public Trans- action, before the Benefit of Baptism for their Children can be enjoyd - &
Lastly, Because we find, by credible Information, that it has been the Practice of other Churches, on such special Occasions, to admit Persons into Chh fellowship at a private House, the Church being notifyª to be present for that purpose.
After free consultation, the Brethren were satisfyd with the proposal & accordingly were notifyd to appear at the house of Benje Clark this Evening at Six o Clock, for the purpose above mentiond.
. Lords day Evening, Jan" 2ª 1791. The Church met according to Notification & a Number of the Congregation also, at the house of M. Benjamin Clark, & after some discourse with Phebe Clark his Wife, in which she manifested much of the Spirit of a Christian, & also renewed her Request to be admitted into the Fellowship & Com- munion of this Chh - The Pastor proceeded to tender the Covenant to her, to which she openly signifyª her Consent, & so was solemnly recieved & declared a Member in full Communion with this Church. and her two young Children were then baptized. Concluded the whole with Prayer - & the Chh were dismissd
The Grounds & reasons of this Procedure, (being out of the usual Mode in this Church) are given in the preceeding Articles of Record - in this & ye foregoing Page.
Oct 23ª Lords day Evening, read a Letter Missive from the Pastor, the Church and a number of aggrieved of the Chh in ye first Parish in Rochester, desireing the presence & assistance of this Chh, by their pastor & Delegates, to hear & advise (in concurrence with 4 other Chhs) on some uncomfortable Differences that subsist among them especially between y" Pastor, y Revd M' Moore & Maj" Earl ' Clap, &c the council were to meet Nov" 1"t ensuing, i e, yo Evening
370
PLYMOUTH CHURCH RECORDS: VOLUME II
before. The Chh complyd & chose Deacons Crombie & Spooner for Delegates. [75] 1791 1792 Records continued
Oct 31st Accordingly the pastor with the deacons aforsd, at- tended this Evening at ye house of M" Lot Haskell in Rochester - the other Churches sent to also came - & the Council formed this Evening - chose y Pastor of this Chh Moderator, & Revd Mr Sanger Scribe - The Council consisted of Revd Mess"" Turner, of Middleb° - Niles of Abbington - Sanger of South Bridgwater - Barker of Middlebo & the pastor of this Chh, with their Delegates. - 13 in all.
Nov 1st The Council met, by Desire, in ye Meetinghouse, & proceeded to a public hearing of ye Charges, Complaints &c ex- hibited by y. Parties - their Witnesses, Depositions &c &c which lasted by adjournments, from Day to day (in public) till Tuesday Nov 8º Then the Council adjourn'd to the house of Entertainment, M. Lot Haskells, where they sat till Fryday P M - then, went to y. Meeting house, (& after a pertinent & excellent sermon preached by y. Revd M" Niles,) the Mod" read y. Result of ye Council, to a very numerous & anxiously expecting Assembly-which Result was left, with 1 them, & a copy of it read to this Chh, in presence of ye Congregation, as is customary. May that God in whose hands? are the hearts of all, by this Result, promote his own Glory, the Cause of Truth & Righteousness, & the best Good of that poor, divided Chh & people, & their pastor!
1792 Lords Day Jany 22d 1792. Notifyd the Brethren of ye Chh to meet at the Pastor's house on Tuesday P M. next - to consider several Matters then to be laid before them, at the request of several of y. Church.
Tuesday Jan" 24th The Chh met agreable to Notification - when, after Prayer, the Pastor mentioned the Subject for Consideration - which had also been discoursed upon about 2 Months before, by the greater part of the Chh, at a private Conference at Deacon Crombie's - 1ª* Whither the Chh will now agree to meet statedly twice in a year for the express purpose of attending more specially to the Matter of Discipline - & to examine into the conduct of its Members - & take suitable measures for reclaim" those who walk disorderly
1 The first letter in this word is written over "C."
" Written over another word, perhaps "hearts."
!
!
1.
1
SEMI-ANNUAL MEETINGS AND FUND FOR POOR VOTED, 1792 371
& thereby bring a Scandal on Religion. 2 Whither the Chh will take some proper Steps to raise a Fund for the purpose of relieving the poor, distressd members of it, as often suitable objects shall ap- pear - & 3dly (Turn over [76 1] & 3dl> To know the minds of " the brethren, respecting the insisting on written Relations, being read in public,8 as a necessary term of admission into this Chh, as has been practised in ' time past. - The Brethren conversed some time on the foregoing Subjects, particularly, the last mentiond And finally, without coming to any Vote on this Article, it appeared to be the minds of the Chh, not to recede from, but continue the former prac- tice, with respect to Relations.
With regard to the other two Articles - The Church Voted unan- imously - 1st That they will meet in Chh Conference twice a year, viz, some time in the Month of April & in ye month of October annually, for the purpose mentioned in the first article on the other Side - viz Chh Discipline &c. Also Voted unanimously that this Chh will comply with the proposal mentioned in the 2ª Article - relating to a Fund for the relief of poor Members - & that the Chh shall, accordingly, be notifyd to come prepared to contribute for this purpose, on the Sabbath next following the Chh's Conference in April & October, annually. The meet" concluded with Prayer.
1792. April 15th Lords day Evening, Notified the Members of y. Chh, that, agreably to the late Vote, next Sabbath the Collection for the poor of the Chh would take place - & previously to it, the Brethren 5 were desired to meet on Wednesday next, at the Pastors house, at 3 Clock P M- it being the semiannual Meeting on the Subjt of Discipline - & to enquire into the Conduct of yo Members of the Chh, who walk disorderly.
Wednesday. April 18. The Chh met according to notification, After Prayer, entered into a free Conversation on y Subject pro- posed - & came to ye following Votes -
Voted That the three Deacons, Diman, Crombie & Spooner, be a Comittee to go & discourse with ye Members of ye Chh who are
1 At the top of p. [76] is written "Records & Transactions continued."
" Here the words "the minds of" are crossed out.
' Here "being" is crossed out.
' Written over another word.
" The words "the Brethren" are written over some other words, perhaps "the Congregation."
372
PLYMOUTH CHURCH RECORDS: VOLUME II
reported to have walkd in a disorderly manner, particularly in ab- senting themselves from Ordinances. Voted [771] Voted, also, That the Pastor be desired, & ? is chosen to recieve, the Collections that may be made at the half yearly Contributions for the poor of y" Chh, & to distribute them to those whom he shall find to be proper Objects of this Charity. The Meeting was concluded with Prayer, as usual.
Lord's day, April 22ª The collection was made accordingly, after the Evening Service was ended - in which some of the Con- gregation also joined. The public discourses of ye Day were from Math. 25. 40.
Sept" 23ª Lord's Day Ev". Stayd the Chh, in order to a more easy & free Conversation with them, on the Subject of a Letter missive, recd from a Number of dissatisfied Brethren of the Chh at Wrentham under y. Care of ye Revd M' Avery requesting the Assist- ance of this Chh, at a Council of 9 Chhs - to meet the 2ª of October. Being at a Loss about going myself, from Indisposition partly - & also from its being an Exparte Council, I wanted a more free Com- munication on the Subject, with y Chh than I could have, (for want of bodily strength) before the whole Congregation - it being other- wise always customary to read such Letters missive, before the Con- gregation. - After discoursing a while, however, such Reasons were suggested, as that the Chh, on ye whole, - voted to comply with the Request - & chose Deacons Crombie, Spooner, & Bro Daniel Diman, (in case either of ye others shod fail) as Delegates.
Votes.
Memº We did not go to sª Council, by reason of a violent Storm of Rain.
Lord's day Oct' 14th, Notifyd the Semiannual Contribution for the Poor of the Chh, to be next Lords day, at the Close of Worship in the Afternoon, - Also the Chh Conference, to be next Thursday 2 Cl. P M, at y. Pastor's house, both, in conformity to the Vote of this Chh passed in January last.
Thursday, Oct" 18th The Chh met according to appointment, but it being very rainy, & but few attended, it was thought best to ad- journ, & accordingly the meeting was adjourned to Nov" 1", on Thursday, i e a fortnight from this time. The Deacons, (a Comittee)
1 At the top of p. [77] is written "1792 Records &c continued."
' Written over "to."
1
373
BENJAMIN CHURCHILL ADMONISHED, 1792
to notify & warn our Brother Benj" Churchill, to appear at sd meeting, & give his Reasons for absenting himself so long, from all Ordinances.
Lords day Oct 28th Notifyd ye Chh to meet this week, on Fryday at 2 Clock P M, instead of Thursday, (to which ye Meeting was ad- journed) by reason the Pastor would probably be necessarily absent on Thursday at an Association of Ministers this week.
Fryday. Nov 2ª 1792. The Chh met accordingly at the Pastor's house - & after Prayer, conversed on Several Subjects proper to ye Occasion, with respect to Discipline - Particularly ye Case of Bro Benjamin Churchill, [781] whom the Comittee before mentioned had notified to attend this Meeting, but he refuses, not giving any Nov 20 sufficient reason. Whereupon the Chh came to the following Vote - That " Whereas our Brother Benjamin Churchill has for a long time absented himself from all Ordinances of Gods house, & thô much pains has been taken by ye Chh to convince & reclaim him, by private conversation, & by Comittees of y. Chh, he still refuses to reform, & has also refused to attend the Meeting of yo Chh, when warned to attend & give his reasons.
Voted - That the Pastor, in the Name of the Chh, send him a written Admonition - & at ye same time let him know that if he doth not make his Peace with the Chh. by a suitable Confession before y. Church of his Sin & unchristian behavior before the & Ex- piration of two Months, viz before ye first Thursday in January next, the Church will then proceed according to the Rule in such cases, to suspend, & (unless he repent) to excommunicate him from this Church.
Voted. Also, that the Pastor be desired to furnish our Sister Patience Burgiss, out of the Chh's Contribution, with such articles of Clothing as she may stand in need of to enable her to attend, with Decency, the publick Worship & Ordinances - She being very poor.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.