USA > Massachusetts > Suffolk County > Charlestown > Records of the First church in Charlestown, Massachusetts, 1632-1789 > Part 17
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Record-Book of the First Church in Charlestown.
1670. March. 20. The church consented to the deferring the passing the sentence of excommunication upon Sarai Crouch. till the time of her Delivery | were past. & that she might come againe to the pluee of worship, [ she being now very neer her travell &c:
( Nov. 6, 1670. Anne Mirick, manifesting repentance for 7 her sin of forni- | -cation was Absolved.
1670. Nov: il:
at a ch meeting it was voted that John Barrage shall | have the sentence of Ercommunication pass upon him for | his scandalous relapsing into the sin of shamefull drunknesse. | past in the affirmative nemine contradicente.
1670 Nov: 20: G: John Burrage was (wth the unanimous consent of | the brethren) Excommunicated for his sin aforesd.
1670
January: 15: m" Joanna Durison was censured wth publick Admonition | for her scandalous Drunkennesse.
1670. Febr: 12.
- Page 11 (370) - G. Robert Chalkley had the censure of publick Ad- | -monition pas't upon him for his reviling Authority. { Febr: 25.
1671. July. 16.
G. John Burrage, was (upon the manifestation of his | repent- ance for his sin of Drunkness aforesd) absolred, { & restored to his former state of communion wth this | Church.
1672. Sept : 1.
( Febr: 25. 1671. bro: John Cutler : & bro : Aaron | Ludkin were ordained Deacons in this church. G. Rob Challley (upon his repentance signifyed to | the church) was absolved.
1672. Octob.' 6.
G: Martha Smith was censured wth publick Admonition | for her sin of Lying.
1673
August: 10. m's Joanna Darison was excommunicated for her [ incorrigible- ness in her sin of Drunknesse again | committed, since her for- mer Admonition. | .
1673. Sept : 28.
Deborah Hill (who had been admonished Febr: 7. | 1663 for her sin of Fornication) was, upon her | manifestation of re- pentance for that sin of hers, | absolved, & forgiven this day.
1674. June. 21.
G: William Crouch was excommunicated for | his persisting in- corrigibly in his sin of Drunknesse. [ .
1674 July. 26.
- Page 12 (369.) - G. John Louden was publickly admonished for his | very scan- dalous sin of Drunknesse.
1674. Dec: 20.
Voted by ye Brethren that m" Johanna Davison (who in | writing, & by word of mouth declared her repentance for | her sin of Drunkness, for her incorrigible psisting wrin | she had been formerly excommunicated) should be restored | to that communion in ye ordinances of x' wth this church | weh she had formerly enjoyed :.
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Record-Book of the First Church in Charlestown.
1674. -- Page 12 (369) concluded. -
Dec: 27. murs "Joanna Darison was, wth ye consent of ye Brethren, for- given, Absolved ; | & restored to communion :.
the same day also it was voted that Inº Louden for his in- | -corrigiblenesse in his sin of Drunknesse, since his being | pub- liekly admonished, shall be censured wth excommunication | car- ried in ye affirmative nemine contradicente, & wth ye lifting | up of hands as ye signe of the bretherens consent :.
1674:
January. 10. John Lowden was ercommunicated, with ye consent of the | brethren, for his incorrigibleness in his sin of drunknesse :. [About } of p. 12, blank at end. ]
1680. Sept. 12.
- Page 13 (368.) -
G. Jnº Swett a memb" of ye ch of Newbury, wo form'ly had com- munion with this ch, & for ye sin of drunkenness had lately been - deuied it, to make way for his communion with us, & made his confessio- | ou of his sin publickly, & had 'thereupon satis- faction as to yt offence testified | to him by this church, so far as we were offended with him.
1683 Mareh. S.
[About & of p. 13 is blank, the above record being at the top, and that following at the foot.]
Voted & concurred in by ye ch yt mens relations (their own pro- | nouncing their having been constantly found ineonven- ient) | be for ye fut'e read : nemine contradicente. T. S.
[Page 13 is in small sized, cramped writing, by T[homas] Shepard], Jr. [?]
1688. 10m. 9th
- Page 14 (367.) - Charles Morton pastor
-ye Church stopt, & the following Declaraon was | Read by ye pastor upon Desire of m' Solomon phips.
Whereas there hath been a sinfull contention between | m" John fowle & me Solomon phips Unto which ! I my self gave occasion, And which Did on the 4th | of August last past (being the Day before the | Sacrament) break out Into an open Scan- dalous | Quarrel in the High way where in my behaviour | was very unchristian & sinfull both in Words | & Deeds to the Just offense of Sober & Godly | persons ; And I have Aggravated my fault | by Endeavouring to Excuse & Justify my self, | And by unsutable carriage of my sef towards | som of my Christian friends, That have Laboured | with me to Convinse me of my fault. for all which | I doe now See Just caus to Condemn my self.
I doe Heartily acknowledg my folly & sin | In my words & Aetions ; And I doe Humbly | begg of my Christian Brethren to forgive me ; | And that they will pray to God that of his Infi- | nite merey, he will, for the Sake of Jesus Christ | pardon myne Iniquity & purge away my Sinn: | And Give me grace for the future Soe to watch over | my Spirit, my Tongue & Ac-
! These words are interlined.
NOTE .- Pages 14, 15, and nearly all of page 16 are written by " Charles Morton, pastor " (1686-98), with pale ink, in running hand not remarkable for its elegance. The ink ou por- tions of 15 and 16 is becoming very faint in color.
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Record-Book of the First Church in Charlestown.
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tions, That I may | Adorn that Holy Gosple which I feare may have | suffered By my former foolish and sinfull | Demeanour of my self.
m' phips owned this to be His. And therewth | The Church was Satisfyed.
- Page 15 (366.) - Ch: Morton pastor
Whereas a Letter bearing Date 1689. 1. 30. was | Directed 111 D
from the Ch : of Christ in Dorchester, to | the Ch : of Christ in Charles Town concerning Two | children of ye sd ch: in Dor- chester, & now having | Removed their Habitations to Charles- town, namely | James Copen, & Experience Holiar. In which Letter | concerning the sayd Experience Holiar are these words | '[And wheras Experience Holiar hath Lapsed by the | sin of ' fornication with her Husband in Your Town | before their ' marriage ; She by her Letters having | signifyed to us. her 'sens of & sorrow for the Same: | we (Judging it Expedient ' she should show her Repen- | tance eminently there, where 'she scandalously com- | mitted her sin) doe therefor Appoynt ' her by these | presents to offer her penitent Confession to be | ' publiquely Read (if you soe please) And by her to | be per- ' sonally owned among Your Selves; which, If | it be to your ' satisfaction we Entreat You publiquely | to manifest the same ' unto her ; And that therin | we alsoe Shall Rest Satisfyed. ]' Accordingly | she gave in her Confession, which was Read in ] the Church the 21st Day of this Month, And being | then ap- proved, none excepting agaynst it, eyther | then or since; It was This 28th Day publiquely | Read before the Whole Congre- gation; Owned by [ her, And the Churches acceptance thereof signifyed | by ye lifting up of hands. The Confession follow- | eth In These Words.
Whereas it hath pleased God as a punishment of | my former life To Leave me to fall into that great | & scandalous sin for- bidden expressly in his holy word
- Page 16 (365.) -
word. (1 Cor: 6. 18. flee fornication : Every sin | that man doth comit, is without the body ; But he | that comitteth fornication Sinneth against his | own body) And this; to the Great Dis- honour of | God & to the wounding of my precious Soule | of which I hope The Lord hath given me a True | sense in som measure, so as to Abhorr the | filthynes thereof: As alsoe to know the more | of my own Inability to stand in a Day of Temp- | tation without the Help of Gods Grace. And | Ther- for taking shame unto myself for the Same | I Doe Humbly begg of my offended God the | pardon of my sin for the Sake of my saviour | Jesus Christ ; As alsoe the pardon of all Gods | people for the great offense I have Justly given | them; And lykewise Desire their prayers. | not only that the Example of my fall may | be a protitable warning to all other vaine | & In- considerate persons, But for me, that | I may have grace to walk
1689. m D 5. 28.
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Record-Book of the First Church in Charlestown.
to Gods Glory & my | owu Soules good, more than I have Hitherto dou. |
And farther my Humble Desire is to Enter | into Covenant with God And this his people. Experience Holiar.
1694
November 9 a Church meeting at wh (ye church being void of Deacons There were nominated in' Joseph Kettle, in' John Call, & m" Samuel Kettl, And this nomination was by giving in their votes | in writing ----- Then Alsoe voted by the church, that they | thought it needfull to call one to be Assistant in the work
- Page 17 (364.) -
of the ministry in order to otlice in this church, And for | that end appoyuted a church mecting ye 234 day of the month| at 9 of ye clock in the morning
november 23. A church meeting wherein it was Voted, That the way | of nomination of the person to be called as aforesaid. be | by papers - upon which the Church proceeded, and | nominated & chose m' Ebenezer pemberton.
1695.
April 28. Three Deacons (the church being then wholly Destitute ) hav- ing been | formerly & Regularly nominated, & Declared in the whole congregation. | namely m' William ffoster, m" John Call, & m' Joseph Kettle [ m' foster Excused himself because of ye Infirmity of his age-and | therfore the other Two only, were this day ordayned.
30. A meeting of ye Church having been appoynted to be This day (Tuesday) | at 9 in ye morning, to consider of Levt John Cutlers case, He appeared | And gave in a paper Intituled [An account of m' Mortons pecedings] | After much altercation & August. 17.counsels private and publique hic at last | gave in a pap wth w-ch m' Russell (who had been Reproached | by him) & ye church were satisfyed.
1696
may 10 Sarah Cole widow was admonished for intempate drinking.
memorandu'-That since my Last great sicknes (for about a yeare) | The Deacons provided Transient help to preach one part of | the Day .- My weaknes being more than ordinary manifest | This Last winter (1696)-somtyme in January-Divers both | of the Church & Town came together unto me. And Asked If | I were willing to have a setled helper ?- I Answered in the Affirmative-Then they Asked me-what method, in order therunto, I would Advise them, in which they should proceed ? I Answered-first Ask Counsell of God-And then of wise men.
feb: 11. 1696-7-Accordingly on this day we had a publique ffast, | m" willard, & my self preaching-And other ministers-
- Page 18 (363.) -
Assisting in prayer-After this a Committee constituted | both of the Church & Inhabitants were chosen to Act | herein-who made this Return to the whole Congregation. |
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Record-Book of the First Church in Charlestown.
Charles Town feb : 18. 96-7
The Committee appoynted to wait upon the Ehlers at Boston | for their Advise. Respecting a Suitable person for the | work of the Ministry in CharlesTown in Order to a | setlement-have Rc- ceived the Advise' | of the Major part of them, at their Meet- ing at Boston | feb. 18. 1696-7-weh is as followeth
That m' Ebenezer pemberton is a suitable person | for the work of the Ministry in Charles Town, in order | to a settle- ment there --
I D [?]-The Comittee doe conclude & agree That the | In- habitants doe Convene in this place on the next | fryday com fortnight at nine of the Clock in the forenoon | being the 12th day of March next In order to a free | choyce in that affayre- (a True Coppy Test : C Morton. ffeb : 22ª. 1696-7-At a meeting of the Church of Christ | in Charles Town orderly warned thereunto, at the hous of | m' Charles Morton-feb: 224 1696-7
Then agreed by the Brethren there present, That | whereas They did formerly in the Yeare 1694 Novem" 23 | vote & Nom- inated In' Ebenezer pemberton to be an | Assistant to M' Charles Morton as a settled help in the | work of the Ministry -And wee? are soe wel satisfyed in? what
-Page 19 (362.) -- -
They have Don herein as to [an erasure] com to a free and | Jeneral vote with the Inhabitants at the Time appoynted | by the Comittee In order to a setled help to the Rev-rand mª Charles Morton in the Work of the Ministry among us. This above sayd paper was read to the Inhabitants on March 12. 1696-7
A true coppie Test : Ch : Morton. may. 9. 1697. xe Church stopd, they voted, y' ye Comitte should I bring in their Answer to ye 3 churches Letters on the | next Lords day- And at the same tyme | (may 9) voted & Declared that they as a Church of | Christ had voted [altered thus from " did vote "] m' Simnon Broadstreet to be a | constant helper to me (their aged pastour) in the | work of ye ministry. [The lower half of this page 19 is blank.]
- Page 20 (361.) -
Complaint being made, that ye Widow Mary Eades | (a Com- unieant of this chh) had comitted ye sin of | fornication.
1698. I (with some of ye Bretheren) went to her onee & | again, but could not prevail with her to confess her | Sin ; though there was sufficient proof of it she did | persist in ye Denyal of it. Whereupon, I did on | Jan 8 inferm ye ehh what methods I had taken, & | how obstinate & impenitent ye offender was, & asked | whether they would consent, & said Eades should be pub- | lickly admonished of Her sin, which was readily grant- | ed.
1 " wch is as followeth," after " Advise," is erased by inked lines in the original writing.
" The words " we " and " in " are interlined in the original writing.
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Record-Book of the First Church in Charlestown.
Accordingly I did ye next Lords day call her forth | & Solemn-
7 ly' admonish her in ye | Name of christ. Jan. 15. 1698 [The lower half of this page 20 is blauk.]
- Page 21 (360.) -
1704. July
The widow Sarah Cole, who by a church | censure was ex- eluded from ye Lords Supper | because of her scandalous In- temperance | was (having given satisfaction for her | offenee) restored to the comunion from | which she had been excluded. [About three quarters of the page, 21, blank.]
[Page 22 (359) entirely blank.] -- Page 23 (358.) -
1710
At a Meeting of the Church of Christ in Charlestown May. 34. | (being Wednesday) m' Jonathan Cary was chosen to serve in the [ otlice of a Deacon, who (modestly) aeeepted thereof.
1723. At a Meeting of the church of Christ in charlstown June 5th (being į Wednesday) Capt Samuel Frothingham & M' Jonathan Kettel | were chosen to serve in the office of a Deacon : who (modestly) | accepted of the Churches call thereunto.
1734. ) Nov. 4. At a Meeting of the Ch of Christ in Charlestown, It was | (Voted. That a Pall should be bought out of the ch stock | Monday. ) amounting to the Value of £60 more or less: and that | It should be let out in our own Town. & in the Towns | around us, requiring 10$ for Each Time : That It should | be kept by the Deacons : and that They should recieve | 18 Each Time for their Trouble in Letting of It. &c. |
1739.
Mess". Jenner & Lemon tegether with the Deaeons | were chosen a Comitte to Purchase the Aforesaid | Funeral-Pall. It was Voted also at the same | meeting that £10 should be dis- tributed to the poor | of the ch; as, & to whom, Their Revd Pastor. with : the Deacons should think fit, to be the Objeets of It. The Reyd M' Thomas prentice was Install'd into the pastoral Office in This eh on Wednesday 3 Octº 1739. The Cha that were present & assisting in the Saered Transaction, by their Elders | & Delegates, were (in Boston) There under the pas- toral Care of the | Revd. D' Colman &e D' Sewal &c & m'. wel- fled [{] &e : and the ehs of | Christ in Cambridge & in Medford
1752. At a Meeting of the Ch of Christ in Charlestown 5 Feb : being | wednesday : m" michael Brigden, & m". Thomas Symes | were chosen to serve in the Office of a Deacon : & when it | was of- fer'd to Them, They (Modestly) aeeepted of the Ch& Call | There unto
1763 At a Meeting of the Ch of Christ in Charlestown 21. Jan", being į Fryday, M' William Kettell &. M' John Frothingham were | chosen to serve in the office of a Deaeon; & when it was propos'd | to Them They (modestly) accepted of the ch3 Call Thereunto. NB | The Ch voted to choose Three & They ac- cordingly chose m' David | Cheever also to the same office, but He desir'd to be excus'd | & did not accept of it :
" The words " ca" Ler forth, & " here follow erased by pen marks, at entry apparently.
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Record-Book of the First Church in Charlestown.
[Page 21 (357) contains a record of Baptisms, 1730-1.]
-- Page 25 (356.) -
The Rev'd M' Joseph Stevens was Ordained A Minister of Christ & a | Pastour of the church in Charlstown, October 13, 1713 (being Tuesday ) By the Rev'd | D' Increase Mather, who gave the sacred charge. & by the Rev'd D' Cotton | Mather ( who gave the Right Hand of Fellowship) with the Revd M' Tho. Į Barnard, the Rev'd M' William Brattle, & My Self, who Assisted in the | Laying on of Hands. |
The Rev'd M. Ilull Abbot was Ordain'd to the Work of the Ministry & a | Pastor of this church on wednesday February 5th 1723-1, by the | Rev'd D'. Cotton Mather & the Revd, Mir Benj. Wadsworth (who | gave the right hand of Fellowship (& the Revd. Mr Peter Thacher. & the | Revd Mr. Joseph Sewall, who Assisted in the Laying on of Hands.
[The remainder of this page is filled with record of Baptisms, 1729-30, entered reversely.]
Records of church censures, votes, &c., in this book end here.
APPENDIX,
XIII
AN AMERICAN SHRINE.
THE history of civilized life in America extends through so few genera- tions, and began in such a manner, that not many places or objects in the country have become invested with long existing associations like those often adding peenliar attractiveness to old-world sites, and truly rendering them shrines-repositories, in some form. of precious memorials. When we find new-workl spots thus consecrated, they are accordingly not only unusually interesting, but. also. especially worthy of our attention and esteem. And a part of the story of such a spot is the proposed subject of this article- composed from materials intended for notes or illustrations of the topography of the First Church, Charlestown. and of the older portion of its existing re- cords now in course of publication in the REGISTER; materials, perhaps, more properly arranged as they here are. for they show. both that events early in the history of that church and town have no inconspicuous position in the general history of the country. and, that the site on which the church has been established. during nearly two and a half centuries, is, indeed, worthy to be called An American Shrine.
Evidence of the worthiness of this designation, and of the estimation it deserves. may, perhaps, appear sufficient in the following brief sketch of the settlement of the town in 1628-30. and of the re-building of it in 1776, with some description of the site occupied by the church. and more particular account of an event in religious history that occurred in July, 1630. and of the condition of the church from that date to November, 1632.
An understanding of these particulars may be assisted by consideration, though short, of the natural features of Charlestown. Its present territory, that part of it first settled by Europeans, is mostly a peninsula, shaped nearly like the section of a long pear, and connected with the main land by a narrow neck. Its area was perhaps six hundred acres, composed of drift. Through its length, about a mile. extends a range of three almost detached hills with rather modern names-Bunker's. Breed's aud Moulton's-little of the last of which, at the eastern point, remains. Near the south-western point is another hill. smaller than those already named, and called the Town Hill. Between it and the neck is a fifth hill. smallest of all. that, since about 1640, has been made and called the old Burial Ground. Much of this area was covered with a forest of oak trees when it became known to civilized people.
In 1628 (as many persons will remember). three brothers Sprague-Ralph, William and Richard (the first and last named of whom were signers to the Church Covenant, Nov. 2d. 1632)-came from Dorsetshire to Salem " at their own cost," and thence. " with three or four more," came to, and settled on, this peninsula, on or near the Town Ilill. They found there, Thomas Walford, a smith-the first white inhabitant-dwelling in a " pallisadoed and thatched house," and besides him many Indians called " Aberginians, with good John Sagamore their chief." During the next summer, that of 1629, Thomas Graves (of Gravesend. Kent). Rev. Francis Bright, and per- haps a hundred other emigrants began to lay out and to build the town. Work was slowly done. A severe winter with much hardship ensued. Meanwhile most of the settlers lived in huts or tents about the Town IIill, and
D
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Illustrations of History of the First Church.
a large and strong building called the " Great House" was erected. at its south-eastern base, for the use of the Governor, John Winthrop, expected next year. 1630, in the summer of which he arrived with a large number of settlers.
The first place of religious worship was beneath an oak tree (called the Charlestown Oak) that grew upon a slope of the Town Ilill. upon which, also, according to the Town Records, the many first settlers who died were buried. Quite possibly the Covenant of 1630 (mentioned hereafter), was signed beneath this tree. The second place of worship was the - Great House "-one of the most prominent carly edifices in the town. It stood (according to Mr. Frothingham) within the present area of the " Square" (and a little eastward of the entrance to the Waverley House). It was the residence of the Governor while he was in town-a period while religious worship was beneath the " Charlestown Oak."
In July, 1630. this settlement became evidently permanent. and important and interesting to an unusual degree, as seems reasonably credible from its comparative relations to other settlements by Europeans then existing within the present limits of the United States. On the eighth day of that month we may find that it presented evidence of this condition. perhaps conclusive.
July 8th, 1630, is a day particularly mentioned and distinguished by promi- nent early historians of New-England, and their statements, quoted in chro- nologieal order, show. not only the fact, but also that this day was a conspic- uous one in the founding of a great nation. John Winthrop, governor of Massachusetts colony, already mentioned in his journal entitled " The His- tory of New England from 1630 to 1649," edited by Hon. James Savage [2 vols. Svo. Boston, 1853], records under date Thursday, July 8. 1630 [page 35 edition named], " We kept a day of thanksgiving in all the plan- tations."
Rev. William Hubbard in his " General History of New England from the Discovery to 1680," written previous to 1682 and approved by the Gen- eral Court, Oct. 11. of that year. and first published, from the original man- useript, in Collections of the Muss. Hist. Society, Ser. II. Vol. v., records. in the xxiv. chapter of his work [p. 132 of vol. named] under date of 1630 :-- "So as now, all the whole fleet being safely come to their port, they kept a publiek day of thanksgiving, July the 8th, through all the plantations, to give thanks to Almighty God. for all his goodness, and wonderful works, which they had seen in their voyage."
Rev. Thomas Prinee. acknowledged one of the most careful of N. E. historians, in his " New England Chronology " [ Boston, N. E. 1736. p. 211], records (referring to Hubbard's History), " So now the WHOLE Fleet being safely come to Port ; they on July 8, 1630 [ Thursday], keep a PUBLICK DAY OF THANKSGIVING thro' all their Plantations, to Praise Almighty GOD for all his Goodness and wonderful Works towards them."
Dr. Abiel Holmes, in his " American Annals " [vol. i. p. 255, edition 2 vols., Svo. Cambridge. 1805, vol. i. p. 203, ed. 1829] records the same faet, with reference to the three authors already quoted.
This Thanksgiving, July 8. 1630. was thus, apparently, a general aeknowl- edgmient of divine favor in the safe arrival at Salem. and in "the Bay of Massachusetts," of a great company, numbering more than one thousand persons, many of whom were of eminent position and character, a company that, attended by chief magistrates, within a few days of this date, first landed in New-England, and first began really to colonize with strong and enduring civilized institutions a great extent of country previously uninhab- ited, or but scantily used, by Europeans.
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Illustrations of History of the First Church.
This day appears not only to have been a day in which these settlers ex- pressed due thanks for their safe arrival, but also to have been the first truly New-England Thanksgiving. the chief observance of which, evidence indi- cates, was around the Town Hill in Charlestown.
The authorities already quoted show that this day had the peculiar char- acteristics of the New-England Thanksgiving-its observance was appointed, general, public and religions. Previous to it, Thanksgiving -- and devout Thanksgivings-had nidoubtedly occurred on the territory of New-England. even from the moment when pions men from the " Mayflower " (if from no earlier-arrived vessel). stepped upon her shores. A first celebration of this festival, onee local. now become national, is said to have occurred at Plymonth, sometime late in 1621. An account of it is in " Mourt's Relation " [p. 61, or p. 133 of fto. ed. Boston, 1865.] " our harvest being gotten in," says that authority, " our Governonr sent fonre men on fowling. that so we might after a more speciall manner reiovre together, after we had gathered the fruit of our labours [their first harvest]; they foure in one day killed as much fowle, as with a little helpe beside. served the Company almost a weeke, at which time amongst other Recreations, we exercised our Armes, many of the Indians coming amongst vs, and amongst the rest their greatest King Massasoyt, with some ninetie men, whom for three dayes we enter- tained and feasted, and they went ont and killed fine Deere, which they brought to the Plantation and bestowed on our Govenour, and vpon the Captaine, and others."
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