USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Cambridge > Records of the First Church at Dorchester, in New England, 1636-1734 > Part 13
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by a storm on y™ by sea, & by o' surpizing y" by Land into o' hands, y' a good harvest has been graunted notwithstand- ing ye Drouth, with Health & y" priviledges of o' holy Relig- ion - Then was Collected for ye poor - 3 - -
M"- 10. 10". 1704. The Decease of ye Rev" m' Clark of Chelmsford was publickly Lamented in a Sermon on Acts 20. 25, 37, 38.
Item the Revd m' Williams of Dearfield is still in Cap- tivity, & Dunstable not yet supplyed with a Pastor. Thus in y frontier Towns are tokens of the Anger of y" Lord, from Deerfield to Dunstable.
March. 1. 170; A Publick Fast by Proclamation.
March. 11. 170 ;. Upon ye Request of 46 men of Woburn (10) of w" were in full Comunion the Church Chose Their 3 Elders & Deacon Clap to Assist at a Council there to be Held, Volente Deo, on April 24" next.
April 12 1705 A publick Thanksgiving for the Queens Victory with ye Confederates & y" Governo's Deliverances, & o' Late Exemption from molestations by o' Enemys.
April. 24. 1705. The Elders of Billerica, Concord Dor- chester, Cambridge Farms, & Andover met (& m' Pierpoint of Reading & m' Woodbridge of Medford but Left us again) & y' were oth' messeng's from Billerica Dorchester & Concord who Advised y" to forbear undue Reflections at Woburn & Directed y"" to Restore m' Wyman if He owned His Rashnesse, after y' having an Opportunity, He did not make out His Charge against Maj'. Converse.
May. 10. 1705. The Messeng's of o' Chh went to ye Ordination of the Reverend m' T. Bridge a Pastor or Teacher to ye first Chh in Boston.
May. 22. 1705 The messeng's of o' Chh went to a Coun- cil at Sudbury who advized ye Silencing of m' Sherman upon Probation of His Good behaviour for a Time a few weeks only.
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June 1, 1705. The Elders & Deacons were Chosen by the Church to attend & conjoyn ye messengers of 5 oth" Churches as a Counci! at Meadford on july y" 10".
June 5, 1705. The Sudbury-council met again (not at Sudbury but Boston) & voted to advise the Chh at Sudbury to depose y' Pastor, & forbid Him ye Sacrament.
June 8th, 1705. Ruth Kenny laid hold on the Covenant.
July 10 & 11 The Council at Meadford upon hearing of both partys Detected faults in both, Advised Confession, A Trial for Reconciliation in y first place, & it it proved vain, then that m' Woodbridge & They doe lovingly Part.
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DORCHESTER CHURCH RECORDS
M' Woodbridge (since y',) has made Confession, & ye Trial Goes on.
(Sept. 11. 1705. A meeting of ye Delegates of ye Asso- ciations at Boston.)
Sept. 13. The Sudbury-Council met in Boston at m' Wadsworths & voted to withdraw ye right hand of fellow- ship from m' Sherman, & not to acknowledge Him any longer as a Minister of ye Gospel & y' m' Angier publish it at Sudbury on some Sabbath day.
The Same Day, The Delegates or Representatives of the ministers of y" Associations in ye Province - y' came to Boston, agreed Sundry Things about Stated Councills, to be Comunicated to ye Churches (& Pastors.)
Sept. 23. 1705. Mary Daughter of Richard Butt & wife of Eben' : Lawrance made a Penitent Confession of ye sin of Fornication with said Lawrance before marriage. & it was accepted by ye Church.
Sept. 30. 1705. Then was Read a Proclamation for a Thanksgiving for y" Queens life & victorys, Restraint of enemys from y' Injurys & outrages upon us, for Fruits of Harvest & Health & all Publick Interests & Enjoyments to be Observed on y" 18th of October next, volente Deo.
Oct. 21. 1705. The Widow Chaplain upon Her penitent Confession was released from the Censure of Admonition.
Nov. 11. 1705. Ebenezer Lawrance made a l'enitent Con- fession of His Sin of Fornication with Mary Butt (before marriage) Committed, weh was to Acceptation.
Jan'y 13. 1705-6. Then was Read a Proclamation from y" Governo' & Council & a Command of ye Queen for a Thanksgiving throw ye Provinces of Massachusets Bay & New Hampshire for Her Majesty's Victorys over y French : J"" Duke of Marlborough vid my Lord Chhhill being General of y" forces in ye Netherlands. y" Day appointed is Jan" y" 25".
Feb. 25. 1705-6. Elder Topliff Paid to Deacon Clap of y" Churches mony that was in His hands Seven pounds Seventeen shillings & Nine Pence.
March y" 1". 170,. Elder Topliff Paid to Deacon Preston twenty Seven sh : & 11ª in Mony & p Discount for monys laid out for ye Church 14h & 10"- In full of all Church accounts. Item The same day Was paid to ye Said Deacon m' Preston with m' Sam' Capen In Mony 45 & 1ª: & p Discount for w' He laid out for ye Poor of ye Town 19ª .- p Elder Topliff.
April. 7. 1706. Edw. Foster laid hold on ye Coven' & Then was Read a Proclamation for a fast on ye 18th.
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April. 14. 1706. Margaret Cocks made a Publick Confes- sion of Her Shamefull Sin of Fornication which was Ac- cepted.
Aprill. 18. 1706. In ye Evening of ye Publick fast a Con. tribution for Joseph Hewens Jun' of abt 5" wanting Ich. At noon Old Goodwife Plum was buried.
M" This week a man in Tanton dropt down dead in ye street - & a Child there was drowned.
Samson Walters, a strong young man in Boston was found dead in y" morning Leaning ov' His bed
The Deacons Aged Brother in Watertown on a Lords day bowed to ye Minister coming into ye Meeting-house & sunk down - & so died - & of Late Time we have been alarumed from Heaven with divers suddain Deaths - one was drowned at Sudbury & not 2 foot of Water - At Braintry one Everet a young man was well & fell ill of a fev' & died in about 2 or 3 days.
April. 28. 1706. A brief declaring ye Sacking of S' Christophers by ye french & y' miserable Condition Call- ing for ye Charity of Good People
May 5. 1706. Collected for St. Christophers - 10" : 3&h : 104.
May. 10. old mother Pelton buryed -Sundry Slain & taken by y" Enemy at ye Eastward.
News is come y' Nevis is taken by y French & set at (an High Ransom of [. ... ].
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October 13. 1706. Ebenezer Billinge junior laid hold on ye Coven'.
October 17. 1706. A Publick Thanksgiving thro'out this & Pascataway Provinces, for General, Health, Safety, Lib- erty, Harvest, & other Blessings, At home, for Return of Many Captives, & for Signal Victorys Given to o' Sover- aign &c.
October. 29. 1706. The Aged & Pious widow Woods, Father Maudsly, & Father Pearse deceased lately.
November. 24. 1706 2 Letters one from ye Chh, ye other from ye Dissenting Bretheren in woburn Requesting elders & messengers to be sent to hold a Counsel there on ye 4th of December were Read & our Church Voted that ye Elders & Deacons & m' Samuel Wiswell should Accompany y" Pastor.
Nov. 28. 1706. m'- Enoch Wiswal An Aged Pious & use- full Person Deceased.
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Dec. 8. 1706. An Account of ye Result of ye late Coun- cil at Woburn was Given to ye Chh & of y" Effect of it, viz ye Restoration of Jacob Wyman again unto Full Comunion upon His Confession of Some Fault : & It was Declared by y" Council of 8 Churches that none ought to be excomuni- cated except in very weighty & very Clear Cases, & y' upon y' private Dissatisfactions, Brethren ought not to withdraw from y" Comunion of ye Church. we left y" in Peace by the mercy of the Lord.
Memorandum the Reverend m' John Williams Pastor of Deerfield & many Captives with Him returned from y' french & indian Captivity very lately in Answer to Publ. Pray's on that behalf : Gloria Deo in Xto.
January 12. 1706-7. A Letter from some Brethren in Meadford or Mistick was Read Requesting Council : The Chh Chose y' Elders & Deacons to attend ye Service.
Feb. 2. 1706-7. An Account was Given to ye Chh yt the Council of 4 Churches at Medford advised M' W. (wood- bridge) to make a partic : Confession of His offences & His Opposers to Confesse y' offences, & Each Party in ye Town to Confesse y' heats & faults to ye oth' Party Or otherwise that m' W: & y" Town part Lovingly according to ye advice of ye former Council. &c.
Feb. 23. 1706-7. Voted y' March ye 4th be kept (at Dor- chester) in fasting & Prayer to humble o'selves for o' sins & to beg for Grace & all Blessings for o'selves & oth's.
March. 4. 1706-7. the Revd m' Fisk & m' Williams (lately returned from Captivity) preached, & m' Walter as- sisted in Prayer.
April ye 16. 1707. wednesday : Our forces being de- signed for Portroyal ag" ye Enemy A fast in this & ye Next Province was kept by Publ. Proclamation & order (to im- plore y" mercy of the LORD.)
April ye 21. The Revd- m' Torrey of Weymouth De- ceased who had been 50 years in ye ministry an able painfull faithfull minister of Christ Aetatis Anno 76, or 77. He was born some weeks before His Time & was kept in warm Lamb skins till y" full prop' time Came.
May 5. 1707. The Aged Widow m" Mary Maxfield was buried. Aetatis Anno 86 or 87.
May. 4. 1707. A Letter from ye Chh of Braintrey was read requesting Elders & messengers to Come to Counsel y"; & with ye Elders, y" Chh Sent ye Deacons.
May 7th. The Counsil injoyned a Confession on ye South End Brethren & advized ye Town to raise maintenance for a
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DORCHESTER CHURCH RECORDS
2ª minister, & adjourned ; Item they advized that when the Second Salary was settled they should be dismissed & allowed to Gather into a Church.
May 16. 1707. m' Nathanael Clap senior a Choice Man rested in y" Lord : & was Interred, may, 17.
June 2. 1707. The Braintry Council sate again & the South-End Brethren made a Confession.
June. 5. 1707. The Medford Counsil sate again at Bos- ton A formulary of Confession was prescribed for m' B. W.
June 8. 1707. Broth' John Capen died. Interred June 10th
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15. 4. 1704 Patience Lawrence acknowledged Her sin of fornication : Twas Accepted, as a Token of Repentance.
22. 4. 1704 Richard & Sarah Withington acknowledged their sin of fornication before marriage: Twas Accepted as a token & sign of Repentance.
Aug. 3. 1707. The widow of Henry Mayr was Dismissed to ye North Church in Boston.
Aug. 31. Sundry Negros, Young Persons, voted to be Baptized, & one of them viz George Bush laid hold on y Covenant afterwards.
October 21. 1707 Aged Fath' Wales was buryed.
Nov. 12. 1707 Deacon Preston Senior of like Age viz 86 (or as some aver) 88 years was buryed.
Dec. 11. 1707. A Publick Thanksgiving & a Collection or Contribution for ye Poor of this Place.
Nov. 9. 1707. Abigail Appleby formerly Swift Her Pub- lick manifestation of Repentance of Her Sin of Fornication by a Confession was accepted by the Church.
Nov. 16. 1707. the Church Chose y' Officers with m' wiswal & Brother White to Assist at y" Ordination of m' Peter Thache Junior to be Pastor of the Church at waymouth Performed Nov. 26. His Rev' Uncle m' Peter Thacher of Milton giving ye Charge, & y" Rev' m' Fisk giving Him ye Right hand of Fellowship. R' m' Hubbard of New Town
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DORCHESTER CHURCH RECORDS
being ye moderator of ye Church & of ye Council, their Ruling Elder Consenting to it.
October. 16. 1708. m' Samuel Clap Ruling Elder Rested in y" Lord, 74 years old Compleat, & some few Aug 13
Aged met days over, & near 7 years a Ruling Elder, a very Cheever+ holy, wise, able, upright, faithfull, humble usefull Schoolması! servant of y Lord all his Days, & one who lived in Boston
deceased. desired & now dies Lamented.
Eight days before Oct : 8, 1708. Died His vertuous wife m'. Clap with w" He lived in holy wedlock 49 years wanting about 3 mo : He sickned & went not to Her fun™!
Oct. 20. 1708. Our Brother m' Preserved Capen (a pious Oct. 14 M^ Trot of Boston died in Dorchester
Person,) deceased
Nov. 5. 170S Aged mother Swift Buried.
Oct. 31. 1708. Humfry Atherton made Confession to
Anno 1721 J'" Chh of His Evil in being overtaken wth Drink He made Con- at Elder Claps funeral. It was accepted. Lesson avain Dec : 9. 1708 The R' m' J. Hig- liem ye wpf : mr Brown a little before ginson decy:
January 5" 170" Elder Bridgham of Boston deceased :
Dec. 3. 1708 Aged Moth' Ball buryed : Aged 65.
Febr. 3. 170g. m' Stevens of Roxb: Capt : & Deacon buryed
Febr. 6. 170 ;. n' James Blake & m' Hopestill Humfrys Chosen Deacons, Deacon Clap having accepted of y Ruling Eldership yr Sabbath before, whereto He was Chosen Jan- uary 23".
Febr. 20. 170; m' Blake accepted but m' Humfry - did not accept of y" Deaconship.
It Josh : Levars laid hold on ye Coven'.
March. 6. 170" A contribution for Joseph Angier of Framingham.
March. 24. 170 ;. A Fuuuc Fast. Then were ordeined, m' Hopestill Clap Ruling Elder & m' James Blake, Deacon.
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April. 6. 1709. At a meeting of the Elders & Deacons. Elder Clap lately Deacon gave up an Account of His Dis- tributions of y Chh' mony to the Poor & for the Sacraments, Since His Last Account. & He delivered fourteen Pounds thirteen shillings & 34 into yª hands of Deacon James Blake (being mony of the Chh that He had not Distributed) One and twenty shillings & 2ª of which was particularly Con- tributed for the Poor.
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DORCHESTER CHURCH RECORDS
Also Deacon Preston Exhibited His Account & Besides what He hath Distributed to the Poor & for y" Sacrament & Chh, He hath in His hands of Mony properly for y" poor, the Sume of four Pounds & 2' & of oth' Church Monys Rents of Land & Interest Sixteen pounds & nine shillings & a Penny. Some men also are behind in y' Interest mony. & the Principal Summe y' ye Deacon Letts out to Interest is ye Fifty Pound y' was given y Chh by the Honbk M' Stoughton Yett of Chh mony is Due to D" Preston 29th 1 [d
The Church hath Nine Pieces of Plate for y" Sacrament (2 Given by s" m' Stoughton 2 by m' Thomas Lake, one by m' Thacher one by m' Isaac Jones one by m' Patten one by in' John Gingen one by Anoth' hand all of silver. In pewter the Chh hath 4 flaggons 4 pewt' Dishes one Bason & Tank- ard & I pewter Cup -
Agreed that a Strong Chest be bought to Lock up ye Churches Plate in
A Church meeting is appointed to be on May 11th 1709 to Impower a Comittee to Run the bounds of the Chh Lands, & to Call Trespassers on said Lands to a Legal Account for y' Trespasses. &c.
May. I. 1709. Lett's from North-Braintry Chh being Read the Hon' officers of the Chh were voted to attend ye ordination at Braintrey On May 18th & Assist y""" as Re- quested.
Dorch : in NE. May. 11. 1709. At a meeting of the Elders & Brethren of yt Church in Dorch. (A church meet- ing having been Lawfully warned to be held in ye publick meeting house on ye said Day.) Report being made to ye Church y' some Lotts had been given to ye Chh of Dorch : in N.E, the lines whereof have need to be Run & Settled, & If any persons have mistaken y" into y' own Lotts or any part of' em : or if any persons have bought & Sold any part of any of' em, or if any person has Cutt any Trees to y" same belonging, That it were Reasonable to have all mistakes Rectifyed, the bounds settled, & the Rights of the Church Asserted, auditted, recovered & Legally Secured, and all Damages - satisfyd y' have been done: On Consideration thereof, the Church then Nominated & Chose, Appointed and Impowered Hond Deacon Preston, Deacon Blake & L' Samuel Paul of Dorchester, All & Every of them or Jointly & Severally. as their Attorneys. Agents & Trus-
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tees, to Run said Lines that need to be Run, to settle y" bounds, of all & Every of ye Lotts & Parcels of Land, both upland & meadow, to y' said Church belonging, to Secure y' Rights, To demand sue for, & Recover Damages, or satisfaction for wood, cutt off of said Lands, also to pro- cure writt of Ejection where there shall be need, & to prosecute whosoev' (against y" Law) Shall be found Usurp- ing on or deteining of Any of y Lands or Rights of y" said Church, And all in ye Name of the said Chh : And also to Authorize Any Attorny or
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Attorneys under Them to prosecute Implead & Carry on, in y" Law & by all Lawfull Ways & means, unto full effect, all actions & things whereby the Lands of the Church & y' Rights may come to be asserted Judged Recovered & secured : & the Church Engage to Warrant & Defend Them in all they shall Lawfully Doe or Cause to be Done in the Premises.
Also we doe Authorize & Impow' our said Attorneys to make Sale of all or any of Said Lotts, (that is) the Small ones that Exceed not the number of three acres in a Lott & to graunt Deeds of the Same, In the Churche's Name & Stead ; & to purchase for the Use of the Said Church some other Lands, of value Equivalent, & that may be more usefull to y" Chh, with the mony that said small Lotts may be sold for.
Also we the said Church doe Authorize & Impower our said Attorneys, to demand, sue for, & Recover & Recieve to the use of us the said Church & o' Successo's in Said Church, a Certain Legacy of Three Pounds bequeathed by m" Burgesse alias Gurnet to be laid out in a Piece of Plate for the said Church.
Voted & Consented to & Done by the said Church of Dorchester this 11th of May 1709.
As attest J. Danforth. Pastor : Samuel Topliff, & Hopestil Clap R : Elders.
Signed by Us, In the Name of the Chh, At their Request.
Mem'un The Aged & Honble James Russel of Charlstown Esqr lately deceased
Item Major Brown of Sudbury Died May 6th or 7th 1709 & was buryed May 9th.
Item News is Come of Her Majestys Intentions to make an Attack upon Canada which ye Lord Succeed to His Glory
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& N.E.' Safety & Peace for Christs Sake if it be His blessed will. Amen.
May 22. 1721. At a Meeting of y" Eld's. & Deacons. Elder Preston Delivered to Deacon Blake, 3 bonds from Eb. Maudsley for 291b 5>h principal mony & from Richard Hall & Henry white & His Heirs for Eleven pound principal Each - Mony Given to y" Church by the Honorable m' Stoughton -to be Improved for the Church
He gave a Large & particular & Exact Account of Ilis Expenses for ye Chh Amounting to -- 2711. 11+h. 2ª & He delivered into Deacon Jonathan Claps hand = 301 & 10-1 = & He Gave Account of Church Rents of Land & Interest of Mony Lett out on Bonds wch He had received Amounting to 571b. 13"". & 10". with oth" monys formerly in His hand of ye Chh = 16. 09. & 1ª So y' He has of ye Churches mony Still in His hand - 16. 01. 09
He Exhibited an account of Contributions & monys for ye poor, & of particular Disbursements upon y" & there remains in His hand of mony for the poor the summe of 2 1. 19. I.
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He gave account also of a New Piece of plate given to y" Church for the Lords Supper by m' Eben : Withington & of 2 little Lotts Sold of ye Churches, & that the mony thereof is in Capt. Sam' Pauls hands.
Revd m' Hobert of Newtown died. 25. 6" 1712 Aged 64 = gely beloved & Lamented. He had an Honble funeral. Preached there about 40 years. Ordained 38 years. Vir Doctus Prudens Pacificus.
Deacon Blake at the same time shewd & gave an Account how the mony was disposed of & passed from Him which .He had Received of Elder Clap in April the 6th 1709, & of other monys since Recieved but brought not in a full Ac- count, not having Some of His papers about Hini, but Sup- poses He may have 3 or 4 pounds Contribution-Mony & Church mony in His hands still.
Dec. 19. 1722. Elder Preston delivered to Deacon Clap at the Pastors house, the Summe of Sixteen Pounds in Province Bills & an account of or" 11" Expense in Journey- ing to and Returning from the Council at Abington, & allowed Him for His Expenses on the Poor (formerly) in
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DORCHESTER CHURCHI RECORDS
His Present Account, the Sume of two pounds & Nineteen Shillings.
Item He delivered to Deacon Clap eight & twenty shil- lings rent from Samuel Trescot of Mony belonging to the Church of Dorchester.
The Council for Norton. 29. 8. 1722 putt off unto Nov. 13. 1722. & Then Sat at Norton. And declared
1. That they took it as a good Sign that the LORD de- signed to Restore to y" the blessing of Peace that both Partys had engaged to be determined by the Judgment & advice of the Council.
2. That madam Leonard & Her Son were not guilty of Lying, in Saying to the Court at Bristol that ye Assessors had refused them an abatem' tho they conditionally said they would make an abatement of their rates putting it off from time to time & not doing it. & that Brother John Skinner was in the wrong in Charging Scandalous Lying upon them, & in renouncing & abstaining from ye Comunion of the Chh at Norton about 2 years, & making trouble among them on that account.
3. That Our Churches being in Peace do usually before they Censure offenders Cite y" to appear before the Chh to show Cause (if they can) why they should not be Censured, which practice is according to rule, & ye Contrary is irreg- ular. & That the Church at Norton passed ye vote of suspen- sion on Brother Skinn' that Absented from them & declared His Resolution not to return to ye Comunion except they would Censure madam Leonard for Lying, which the Church could not se light for: & that this vote was passed without an immediately previous Citation, lest He Appearing with a party to agitate ye matt' in a time of Contention it might have Broken the Chh all to pieces.
However if Such a Case Should happen again so Danger- ous to set a Church on fire, The Council declared that there advice would be that the Church should not proceed to a Censure without the Presence & Advice of a Council of Churches.
4 The Counsel Comended the Pastor m' Avery for Asking Advice of the Aged Pastor of Taunton & other ministers of the Association.
5. And declared Him innocent
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DORCHESTER CHURCH RECORDS
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of the Partiality & oth' faults Charged upon Him. And that He had been unreasonably and most unworthily re- proached & grieved.
6. The Council advized to a Conformity unto ye Rules laid down from Gods holy word in y" Synod that met at Boston Anno Domini 1662, in the Case of Thomas Skinner.
7. The Council Declared against ye prosecuting in ye Law of any Single Evidences y' were called to Testify before y" Council - It tending to revive y" flames of Strife among y": and alledged strong Arguments in y' matter.
8 The Concil declared that the taking of Examinations of Persons desirous to Come to y" Lords Table or to lay hold on ye Coven' belonged to y" Elders.
9 That Complaint brought to y" Elders twas most Eligible they should be Exhibited in writing : And that if the Pastor thought fit, they might be brought to y" Church, to be there sifted by proper Interrogatorys.
10 They declared in these words viz We think the Pastor & other Elders, or in want of Elders, the Deacons, or other principal members, may have the first Cognizance of Cases :
and that they should Issue such as they find issuable by them, according to Scripture rule : and that they are not bound to give the Church the first hearing of every Case, or of any Case ; yea of many Cases not to give them the - hearing at all.
II The Council Judged that Bro': John Skinn' should humble Himself & repent, & Confesse &c and promise Reformation, & then they advized the Chh to take off ye Censure : And Charged all to live in Love & Peace & to Love, Hono', Pray for, Subsist & labo' to Edify by the Preachings of y' pastor
Item The Council declared in these words und' the 3" Article - As for the Silential vote without Lifting up of hands -"In Sundry Cases we Judge it the best way " of voting, Conducing most to the Glory of God, & the "peace & Good of the Church.
and The Result of the Council was signed by m' Peter Thacher Pastor of Milton - moderator & m' John Danforth Pastor of Dorchester - & m' Joseph Baxter Pastor of Mead- field -& m' John Swift Pastor of Framingham - & m' Richard Billings Pastor of Little Compton & m' Daniel Preston, a Ruling Elder in Dorchester, & m' Manasseh Tucker a Deacon in Milton, & m' John Wadsworth a Deacon in Milton, & m' Jonathan Gulliver Captain in Milton & m'
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DORCHESTER CHURCH RECORDS
.
Elcazar Wheelock Captain of Medfield & M' Jonathan Clap a Deacon in Dorchester - & M' William Pebody Deacon of Compton & M' Samuel How L'- of Framingham & M' Isaac Clark L'- - of Framingham & M' George Barber Deacon of Meadfield.
M"" m' Skinn' made His Confession & the Chh made Peace together by the blessing of God.
Dec. 11. 1722.
A Council of three Churches at Abington, viz of Milton, Dorchester, & the North part of Braintrey met & after Publick Hearing of the Case, vindicated the Pastor & Church at Abington & Judged W" Hersey jun' & his wife to have been guilty of fornication before marriage, & if they should manifest Repentance, advized y" Pastor viz the Revª m' Brown & the Church to allow 'em to lay hold on the Cove- nant & the said W" Hersey jun' said that He never would deny that He had the Carnal Knowledge of Her body before that day that they were married together : & by Sundry sworn evidences it was proved that their first Child had a full grown body Ripe for the birth & long hair & hard nails, & Cryd & fed well when it was first born, tho" born but five months & nine days from its parents marriage, & the women made oath before Justice Edson & the Council before we went to the Mecting House, that they believed no Child ever attained to such ripenesse & perfections at 5 months & nine days from ye Conception.
Jan'y. 30. 1722-23. At South Brantrey A Council of five Churches Justify'd Regular Singing : whereof were ye Elders & messengers of the Church at Dorchester
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