USA > Massachusetts > Suffolk County > Charlestown > Records of the First church in Charlestown, Massachusetts, 1632-1789 > Part 16
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DAY BOOKS, 1693 AND 1767.
There is another Account Book, a thin folio (12×8 inches), marked " In Charls Town The Churches Day Book The 28 of Juen 1693 Begin the 24 of July." It contains lists of the contributions on Sundays, of wood received, and of small payments to Sep. 1714. On the last leaf are memoranda of contribu- tions: 1693, Dec. [24?] for [?]-15, 11. 8. Dec. 31. " for the redemfhon of captives," 03,00,04. 169;, Feb. 19, " on the acount of a bref from the leften- ant govenor & counfel for the promotin of the gospell ther was contrebuted by this congragation six pound & feven pene & paid in to mr Edward bromfeld." 1698, June 17, on a simelar " bref," cont. by this cong. " for the redemfhon of Samuell [duefton ?] from flavery in [?] 20, 17. 0." 1699, Jan. 28, " for Wid- ow Cuttler by ye inhabetene of Charlstown, 23,07,05." 4 [feb. ? ] " for John asberry " by the same, 15,03,10 .*
Another folio AccousT Book was begun May 1767, continued to April 17. 1775, resumed Jan. 1. 1788, and continued to 1829. It contains a Statement of the Church property Jan. 1, 1788, a notice of Rev. Joshua Paine, Jr., and votes at the settlement of Dr. Morse.
* There is a receipt, Boston, June 1, 1691, by John Hathorne for £11,17, "contributed towards ye Redemption of Rob: Carter accorde to a breife &c."
THE TWO FAC-SIMILES IN HELIOTYPE
opposite to this page show page 143 the beginning of the continuation of the Church Record by Rev. Jedidiah Morse in 1789, the " chasm " that he then found in it, and what is extant between 1768 and 1789; and, page 299, the list of members that existed April 30, 1789.
The book, numbered 3. from which these Heliotypes are taken. was kept by Drs. Morse, Fay, Budington and Miles, and contain a large amount of personal matter. During a considerable period it was the only Church Record of the town. Its contents, the writer thinks. have never been printed. The entries and sta- tisties by Dr. Morse-one of the most distinguished historical authorities ever resident in the town-are of great interest in its affairs, especially as (the writer is informed) parts of the Town Records for a long time after 1775 are imperfect, or a mere compilation, apparently with some remarkable errors. The author of a reeent work on Charlestown Genealogies does not appear to have seen or used this Church Record. although for years accessible to him, but to have relied upon the latter.
.
Insert
Foldout / Map
Here
299
List of the Members. with the Church in Cha 189 -the day of ballo
trales
* Fish morses. Pastor * Johan Larkin RDesini *Thomas Miller) + James Rufederal Maly
* David Wood
* John Mistin & Richard Cary * Sam Austin
Ima Thompson.
Fatal Mali 413
Females X Elisabethf. Morse & Mary The Ruth Larkin Ruth Mood Dorcas Austin.W.
* Rich Dever's James Brasil x Rich Miller
* Joseph Phipps
*Grace Hard * John Jimbule Stylet Devens Rich? Boylstone Witchribal Rand * Sam: Conant *Dames Brazier * Nicolas Hopping * Di abet Miller. Diabeth Phipps Katharine Henley Hebuna Concent + James Proting have Many doconselho xWon Leathers +Benj Goodwin Thomas Frothing hora y repribeh goodwin * Henry Plureposer * ELens Larkin" A U .
Elisabell
Abigail Brazier WyElisabeth Abrsail Frothingham Hannah Follary a
*Rebecca Frothingham
Females *Surah Towar * Mary ball * Mapy water *Kalmak Car * Mary Shophit James Gardner David Edomand,
*chary De.
* Sarah Bright * Belemboo Jingle.
KAhlail Lar * Sarah Jou Sarah Hoy hary Ran
143
Baptisms.
Total } Minifan
1766
M. 25 7 36
61
11.18 + 35
1. . -
124
1768
Ir 28
52
M23
1769
$ 25 48
M.40
1770
7 28
68
1.13
1771
7 23
36
M 27
1772
# 22
49
u 23
Sr 20
43
1774
9 8 home this time there fore no reports lite typy. Here is a bhasom of fl years 48 months & from april 1914 to Jany. 4187. 16
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Ower bursting The Brits brooks Atto
hofle were dispersed and to the
17.76
Colisstry= at this time upwards of 380
dwelling houses tother balitrei, value At 1156,900, 18.8, were consumed 2000 personare.
" The heat al minishationofthe fonds of The Reci der thomas prentice Die at Cambridge
778
a way lavie in Charleston
palacios numbers gewesencuiation.
Porsantoine sure Thatthe, in Chanelition J. 15 jan . 15.the this year ...
23
kevor to aften Sundayher Death, till May
53
-
June ty. " they mean, Charles town
CHURCH VOTES.
[The old or long "s" is used, except for terminations, in these records.]
The Record of these Votes begins and continues as follows :
--- Page 380 (reversed and numbered 1). - Church-censures, & votes past in weighty cases, by this church of christ at Charlestown.
1658
-
4
6. Upon the 6th of 4th 1658
Brother Thomas Gold, according to the agreement | of the Churche the Lords day before: was called | forth. to giue an accounte, of his longe withdrawinge | from the publick ordi- nances amongst us, on the | Lords day. It was asked Brother Gold, whither he | had any rule from Gods worde so to doe? or whither | it were not a manifest breach of rule and order | of the Gospell?
His answer seuerall times was to this effecte. that | he had not turned from any ordinance of god, but | did attend the worde in [blotted] other places.
It was then asked him, whither he did not owne | Churche- Couenant, as an Ordinance of God, and him- | selte in cove- nant with this Church ?
IIe answered he did. but we had entt him of. [ or putt him away, by denying him the Lords supper, [ when onely he had been admonished, and so now | had no more priviledg then an Indian. and ther- | fore he looked not now at him- self, as a Member of | our Churche, but was free to goe any whither. | He was likewise blamed, that hauing so often | pfessed his desire to attend any light that might | help him in his judgment and practise, about childrens | Baptisme ; that yet he should forbeare, and stay | away, when he could not but knowe. that his Pastor | was speaking largely to that subject. He confest his | wife told him of it: and being asked how he could in | faith partake of the Lords supper, whilst he judged his | own baptisme roide and null ? he owned that it was | so. as administred to him as a childe : but since God had | giuen him grace, he now came to make use of it, and gett good | by it. It being replyed, that a person owned by all, as gracious. | and fitt for supper, is not yet to be ad- mitted to it. till baptised: | he said litle or nothing to it. but spake diuers things. generally otten- | sive to ye Brethren. and would owne no fayling. [Last three words indistinct] Hence after | much time spent, the Brethren consenting, he was admonished for his breaking away from the Churche in - way of schisme. neuer hauing used any means to conuince the Churche, of | any irregular proceeding, but continuing peremptorily and | contumaciously to justifie his schisme : |
This transaction was speedily after the acting therot truly recorded | by the then onely Elder of this churche: Zech : Symmes | Mr Green the Ruling Elder dying a little before.
ii
Record-Book of the First Church in Charlestown.
[Mr. Joli Green came to America in 1632, and was admitted to this church March 29, 1633. He was its only rulingelder, and died April 22, 1658. Notice of him may be found in Budington's History First Church, p. 19. Zechariah Seunmes was teacher from Dec. 22, 1631, until his death. Feb. 4, 1671. This record is probably the only document by him now existing. Thomas Gould and Hauma Gould were admitted to the church, Ist mo. 21 day, 1652. The name is spelled in these Records, Gould, Gookl. Gool, Goldt. An illns- tration of this different spelling appears in the careful writing of ebler Green, page 210, viz. : " 12th mo. day 26, 1641. Abigail Gould the daughter of John Gold and of Mary his wife was Baptized."]
1663
- Page 2 (379). -
February 4th. The decision of the late Synod' abont feminisme ? was read, by the eklers. at a church meeting (except the preface of the book | containing that decisive act, which had been read before at a | church-meeting January 7th, 1663 & generally well approved) | & liberty given to the brethren to express their objections (if they | had any) against any part yrof: &, after some discourse, the | brethren did generally express yselues (at least three 4ths of them | by word of mouth) that they did consent to the whole book | for the substance y'of, & desired that the will of God yria might | be attended ; &, upon a rote silentiary propounded, it was so | carried, nemine contradicente, in the affirmative.
1663.
November. 18. Bro: Thomas Osburn2 being leavened with principles of Ana Baptisme | was (the brethren consenting) admonished for frequent irregular | withdrawing himself from the publick worship of God, holding | it to be no sin to neglect the pub- lick ordinances of God upon | the Lords day, even when they might conveniently be en- | -joyed ; & for continuinge impenitent in his sin.
On the same day also, it was consented to by the brethren, that | his wife, leavened wth principles of Anabaptisme. & Quaker- ! - isme, should receive an admonition, for her notori- ous neg- | -lect of the publiq worship of God. denying our churches | to be true churches, & denying her membership with us, & also | the churches power over her, & continuing impenitent | in her sin. She went home from the Assembly when the Admo- | nition should have been declared to her, but however it was | declared that she was under the publiq offence of ye church. |
And at the same time
Bro: Thomas Gool also persisting in his schismaticall with- drawing | from the church, notwithstanding his former admo- nition & now | for denying his Relation to this church as a .
1 This Synod assembled at Boston in September, 1662. It consisted of all the ministers in Massachusetts and Elders and Messengers from the elmurches, and returned answers to two questions propounded to it by the General Court :- 1. Who are the subjects of Baptism ? 2. Whether according to the Word of God there ought to be a Consociation of Churches, and what should be the manner of it? The Synod decided in favor of consociation, and, substantially, to the first question: "That church members, who were admitted in minor- ity, understanding the doctrine of faith, and publicly professing their assent thereunto, not scandalous in life, and solemnly owning the covenant before the church, wherein they give up themselves and children to the Lord, and subject themselves to the government of Christ in his church, their children are to be baptised." Mather, Magnalia v. 64-84, ed. London, 1702. Holnies, An. 1, 382, etc.
2 Thos. Osburn and his wife were admitted to the church (by letter from Malden), 12, 23, 16GI.
1
iii
Record-Book of the First Church in Charlestown.
brother of it. & also | for denyinge the churches power over him, was againe | (with the consent of the brethren) declared to be under the [ great offence of the church, & rebuked for his impeniteney | in that sin of his.
166号
- Page 3 (378). -
Febr: 21. Bro: Thomas Osburn received a 2ª Admonition (with the consent | of the brethren) for his obstinacy in his former sin for which | he had been (nov : 18.) admonished, & aggravated by another | degree of schi-me, refusing (as he expressly, & vehemently | affirmed) to hold commmion with the church any longer| as formerly he had done ; bec : we held Baptisme of children to be an ordinance of God, &c:
1603 Febr: 28.
The acknowledgment & confession of Stephen Fosdick,1 (who | had been formerly ercomommicated) (anno 1643. May ye 7th) | in order to his acceptance into our Communion, by Absolution. | was as followeth. vizt :
" The Covenant of the church being (for the " summe of it) a solemne promise or engagemt " to walk with God, & with his people according " to the word of God, I do now heartily ap- " -prove of it. & close with it, & am sorry that
"I have at any time spoken against it :
" Having neglected likewise to hear the church
" in their dealings with me for my offense, I
" doe unfainedly repent thereof, & desire God " & his people to forgive me.
This was read to the church. accepted of by all as satis- -factory, He was (the brethren consenting) received to that state of Communio which he had before his excommunica- -tion, & by the sentence of the Eldership declared to be soe restored :.
1663 Fcbr : 28.
bro : Tho: Gool was again admonished (with the consent of ye brethren) | for his impenitency in his former sin of schism- inge for which he | had been admonished, & with all now refus- ing to give an account to | the church who did enquire con- cerning a private meeting kept |
·
- Page 4 (377). -
(* Novemb' 8, at his house on the Lords day* wth bro: Osburn & other 1663.) Anabaptists, wn | he should and might conveniently have been present wth the church | in the publiq worship of God ; he said it was not the season for him | to Answer, & y'fore would not give an account of it: for which | the above sd he was accordingly censured.
1664
November 27. There having been many thoughts of heart touching the Doctrine | of the late Synod about the children of the church
I "Stecven Fosdick " was admitted to the church 2d. mo. 6th day, 1638.
11
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iv
Record- Book of the First Church in Charlestown.
in order to the | effectuall practice of the same ; It was pro- pounded to vote whether | the brethren were satisfyed soe far forth as that there might be a | proceeding to the practice thereof, & it passed in the affirmative | by their silence (the testimony of their consent) after liberty was | granted once & again to any of them. that would. to object if they | had any thing from ye word of God to alledge against it; but there | was not one Contradicent.
1665 July 9th
The Church. hearing that bro : Gool, & bro : Osburn had | together with other Anabaptists, embodyed themselves in | a pretended-church way ; sent Deacon Lynd & Deacon | Stitt- son to them with this message ; vizt: That they should | be present with this church the next Lord's Day in ye | publiq worship of God, & at the evening y'of to stay, & | give an account to the church of that report which | we heard con- eeruing them. as also concerning their | foriner offences: & the church did then desire our | Deacons to acquaint our sister Osbarn (that hath | been for some time under the pub- lick offence of [ the church) with that meeting, & that she should be | present likewise with her husband.
1665. July, 16.
Our Deacous having carried the message of the church to bro : Gool. bro : Osburn, & o' sister Osburn, to come & hear the church ; the Answer returned back to the church | was negative. bro: Gool said he should not come, & if | our church had any thing to say against him, they should | acquaint the society with it to which he was then | joyned: saying also that he was no member of |
- Page 5 (376). --
Jour church. & said. your church hath nothing to do with | me. (.bro : osburn said that he had given his reasons to | the church formerly why he could not hold communion wtt | it, vizt : because of Infant Baptisme. 2. our allowing none | but such as had humane learning to be in the ministry. 3. our | severe dealing with those of a contrary judgment from us. [ & store said he should not come to the church. (. our sister | Osburn's Answer was that she desired not to continue with | the church. but would be dismissed which way they would, | & that she could not come to the church, she should | sin against her conscience it she did.
These members thus refusing to appear, the church | judged it mect to wayt with some farther patience upon or | brethren above sd, & sister: & did therefore desire our Deacons again, with our brother ensigne Tidd, to carry this mes3- -sage following to them, vizt: to tell them that they are under the further offence of the church for their | separatio from our Communion, & refusing to hear ye | church : & that the church doth desire, & require them in | the name of Christ that they return to us, & come & | hear the church. & Igive an account the next Lord's | day of their withdrawing.
Record-Book of the First Church in Charlestown.
[Church Votes, Page 5 (376) concluded.]
1665. July. 23.
Our messengers having delivered the message above said | to bro: Gool, bro: Osburn, & sister osburn. the Answer | returned by them was the same (in a mamer) they gave | the Week before. bro: Gool denying his relation to ye | church in charlestown, & that they had nothing to doe | with him, & also said that they were to have the Lord's | supper administered in their Church the next Lords day | & yff: he should not come: bro: osburn said he should | not come to the church, & that the church might | proceed as they pleased with him. o' sister osburn's | answer was as formerly, refusing to come : Where-
- Page 6 (375.) -
whereupon it was propounded to vote (after a proposal of it had | been made by some of the brethren) That if there did come in | nothing of repentance manifested by these persous to ye church | betw : this & the nest Lord's day, whither then the church should | proceed (seeing these matters had formerly been so fully & | often debated) without further debating the matter the next | Lord's day. & (if nothing of more then ordinary weight to [ hinder did fall out in ye juterim) that then these our brethren | & she o' sister should have the censure of e.rcommu- nica- | tion past against them? It was unanimously carried by a | silentiary vote in the Affirmative, not one of the bre- | -thren present expressing a word against it.
1665. July. 30.
- nothing of Repentance interveening -
bro: Thomas Gool, bro: Thomas Osburn, & his wife of sister os- | -burn, were (with the consent of the brethren) excommu- - -nicated, for their impenitency in their schismatical with- -drawing from the church, neglecting to hear the church. |
1666. April. 22.
A Church-act for the provision for the Lord's Table ; vizt : That at the beginning of every & yeer. cach Communicant shall bring in 12d to the Deacons box for the & yeer that is | to ensue respectively: & the veer to begin (in order to this) the | next Sacrament day, which is May. 6th. 1666. voted in the af- -firmative by ye silence of ye whole eh.
1667. April. 28.
The acknowledgment & (Confessio of bro: John Gool (who | had been formerly admonished Anno : . . ) in | order to his acceptance to Communion again was vizt :
" God hath helped me to se many things wrin J have
" formerly given offence to his people both of this
" church & of the church of Redding, for which
" J have been admonished, & J do not nor would
" Justify my self therein, but rather J doe
- Page 7 (374.) - [at
" Justify the Church in their proceeding with me; looking
" it to have been the duty of the Church to deal with
" me for what was offensive : God hath done me much good
" thereby. & J desire that the church would forgive me,
" & accept of me to their Communion, which formerly,
" before my admonition J did enjoy. | .
-
B
.
vi
Record-Book of the First Church in Charlestown.
This was read to the Brethren ; liberty given to any of them | that had any thing of weight to object ; but none did object aget [ it but it was accepted of as satisfactory : He was (the brethren [ consenting) received to that state of Communion which he | had before his Admonition ; & by the sentence of the eld' ship [ declared to be so restored.'
Sept: 1. 1667. our pastor acquainted the church with the complaint weh had been | made to us concerning the seandal of In" Lourden (o' bro: sejant Lowden's | eldest sou) & that we had examined it (referring to his striking the | constable, & watchman late in the night, w^ as he was inflamed wth drink) | & that, we intended accordinge to rule to Deal with him in a ch way; | & that if any of the brethren had any thing to object against it | they had their liberty ; but none replyinge, their silence was taken | for a testimony of their consent yt he shd so be preceded with.
Sept. 1667. The Assembly. before the pronouncing of the blessing | in the afternoon, was acquainted with the publiq offence of the aforesaid bro: Lowden junio' he was called forth. & made confes- | -sion of his sin : Lib- erty was given by the ell'ship to the brethren | to object. if any of y" had any thing materiall to say. why what | had been exprest in the case might not be satisfactory for the | removing of the offence weh the ch had taken : And after a little | further inquiry by some made; at length it was again proposed to | the brethren. that if they did apprehend that of repentance to be held | forth by the offender as were satisfactory for the removing the offence | that had been given to the church so that they wh forgive him, & |
- Page 8 (373.) - & still confirm their love towards him, their silence should be a testimony of their consent : it past in the affirmative nemine contradicente : . & so it was declared by the Ell'ship yt he was restored.
166g Febr: 7.
The case of Deborah Hill2 having been both privately. & pub- lickly | heard. & examined, referring to her sin of fornication with | Zethariah Hill : & it being put to ye vote upon January, 2.4th. whether she should receive a publick Admonition. given her for | this sin. of hers, & not having sufficiently manifested Repentance | for it; it was then carried in the atfirmative. ne- mine contradicen- | -te: where upo the pastor of this church did on this 7th of Febr: | administer ye same Admonition to her wth ye continued consent | of the brethren. | . N.B. she was a child of ye corenant, and not in full comunion :
1669. March 21.
The case of Sarai Crouch having been privately & publickly heard | & examined. referring to her sin of fornication (with out | Christopher Grant, as she saith) she was this day censured with the censure of Admonition for that sin of hier's & her not manifesting repentance for it; ye Brethren of this church consenting y'unto, nemine contradicente. | .
N. B. ut supra yt she also was of this ch yet not in full Comnunio:
1669. May. 23. bro: William Crouch had the censure of Admonition past | up-
1 A full account of these cases. and of Gould and Osburn, can be found in Frothingham's History of Charlestown, p. 163-72. See also Budington's Hist. First Ch. pp. 200-7, and 56-9. 2 Hill, interlined over Norton, erased.
vii
' Record-Book of the First Church in Charlestown.
Jon him, with the unanimous consent of the brethren, [ for his scandalous sin of Drunkness, & his not manitesting | repentance for it.
-
1669 Octob : 8. The Church met at ab' 10 of ye clock this forenoon. & this | proposition following was put to ye vote vizt : [ It is ye desire | of this Church that m' Grenbridge receive the Thanks of | this Church for his labouring in the Ministry of ye word | among us hitherunto : & that he be invited to continne | therein
- Page ? (372.) -
therein a while longer among us every sabath day. yt | so the mind of God may be further discovered with [ reference to our intention (God willing: as the Lord | shall make way in his, & our hearts) in convenient | time (being mutually satisfyed in each other) to call | him to office-work in this church : ] & it was carried | in the Affirmative nemine contradicente.
It was also at the same time voted in ye affirmative | [that of honored magistrate m' Russell, Capt: Allen. & | or Deacons. with the Ell's, would pesently acquaint ye | Reverend in' Ox- enbridge with the aforesaid | Invitation]. Which was then im- mediately put | in execution : & his Answer to the motion, read then | to him. was, that he would take it into his most | serious consideration ; wch Answer of his also was ret'ned | to the church ye next Lords day by those aforesd.
1669 Octob. 24
m' Orenbridge gave in his Answer in the negative to ye | afore- said invitation of this Church ; which is hereunto | affixed. this church also at the same time moved that | m" Oxenbridge might be further treated with | ab' this matter, that if it were the will of God | he might be persuaded yet to stay with us acord- | -ing to our Desire left with him. o' mch honoured | Magistrates, and our Deacons, with the Eld's were | nominated. & it was the do- sire of ye church that | they would see what might be further done in | this affair to take off' m' Oxenbridge's reasons agst | abiding with us, & to gain liis granting o' request.
1669.
- Page 10 (371.) -
October. 25. Going this day to speak with m' Oxenbr : according to the desire of ye | church yesterday ; we found he had yesterday left his Answer with | the Elders of ye 1st church in Boston in the Affir- matice to their Invitatio | of him to y's. & that he was Resolv- ed to goe over to ym. | .D. R!
1693: The case of Anne Mirick having been both privately & publiq- March. 13. ly | heard, referring to her sin of fornication (with Thomas Mercer | ) (as she saith) she was this day censured with the censure of Ad- | -monition for that sin of hers, not manifesting repentance for | it: ye brethren of this church consenting y'to, nemine contradicente.
166-%:
March. 13. This church, having heard the case of Sarai Crouch. referring to her | sin of fornication With Thomas Jones, voted that she should | be excomunicated for psisting so impenitently, incor- rigibly in | yt sin, while und' censure for that committed march. 21. 60) (It | was carried in the Affirmative nemine contradicente.
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