USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Worcester > Reminiscences of Worcester from the earliest period, historical and genealogical with notices of early settlers and prominent citizens, and descriptions of old landmarks and ancient dwellings, accompanied by a map and numerous illustrations > Part 11
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Esq., Register of Probate. The new pews were sold at a large- ly enchanced price ; those on the south side of the broad aisle to Daniel Waldo, Senior, who had then just come to town, and Isaiah Thomas ; and those on the north side to Dr. Elijah Dix, and Nathan Patch, an extensive landed proprietor and builder. Twenty-two years later, in 1805, eight more of the free slips were removed, and eight more new pews substituted in their places, leaving two free seats in front for aged people. Judge Benjamin Heywood, Col. Samuel Flagg and Dr. Oliver Fiske were the committee chosen to erect and make sale of these eight additional pews, the purchasers being Dr. John Green, Ephraim and John Mower, Daniel Denny, Samuel Harrington, Edward Knight, Dr. Oliver Fiske and Moses Perry.
A more radical change in the interior arrangements of the structure was made in 1827-8, after the settlement of Rev. Rod- ney A. Miller, when all the old-fashioned pews gave place to ninety-two modern slips on the floor, and forty-two in the gal- leries. The ancient high pulpit and sounding board, with the pendant dove bearing an olive branch over the minister's head, disappeared, the gallery on the east side was put in, and a pul- pit of more modern construction was placed at the north end of the audience room. The porch upon the west side of the house was at the same time removed, and the wings placed on each side of the bell tower. These changes gave the con- struction a well appearing northern, instead of the former west- ern front, the entrances thereafter being only at the northern and southern ends. The next alteration was made in 1835, when an addition of twenty-five feet was made to the south end of the house, to afford room for a vestry or chapel room put into the second story over the vestibule or entrance. This change, involving the destruction of the ancient porch at the south end, increased the length of the house to its present di- mensions, 95 by 55 feet. In 1846, an arrangement was made by which the lower floor of this addition, which had for eleven years been used as a vestibule, was fitted up for the vestry or chapel room, the organ loft being erected above, with a conven- ient committee room or study upon the east side of it.
The last change, more essentially modernizing the outside appearance of this venerable structure, was made in 1871, when
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the present twelve long tinted windows were substituted for the numerous ancient ones, which had so long admitted the light through their numberless diminutive panes.
The bell, now used, weighing 1975 pounds, was cast by Paul Revere & Sons in Boston in 1802, and our venerable fellow citizen, Rev. George Allen, assisted at the rope in hoisting it to its present position seventy-five years ago, when a lad of eleven. The present tower clock was made in 1800 by Abel Stowell, the noted clock-maker of the last century, whose residence and shop were on the corner of Park and Portland streets, just east of the parsonage of Rev. Thaddeus Maccarty.
The old South Church has had twelve settled pastors during the 160 years since its organization in 1716, as follows, averag- ing 13 1-2 years for each pastorate :
THE PASTORS.
1. Rev. Andrew Gardner, born in Brookline, graduated at Harvard in 1712, was settled at Worcester in the autumn of 1719, and dismissed Oct. 31, 1722, on account of differences with his congregation, growing out of his many eccentricities. He was afterwards settled for three years in Lunenburg, taught school there several years, and removed thence to Charlestown, N. H., where he preached a short time, before the installation of the first settled pastor there in 1754. Records are in ev- idence that he could fight with muskets as well as with spirit- ual weapons, as he and his son, Andrew Gardner, Jr., both did valiant service in the French and Indian war, the father serv- ing for some time as chaplain at Fort Dummer. He lived to a very advanced age.
Rev. Mr. Gardner married, while in Charlestown, N. H., the widow of Rev. Joseph Willard, the first minister of Rutland, the latter having been killed by the Indians just before the day fixed upon for his installation, Aug. 14, 1723, at the same time that two of the sons of Dea. Joseph Stevens were slain, and two others taken prisoners to Canada, from Rutland, where they were surprised by the savages while making hay in a meadow. Mr. Gardner received into his family the surviving children of Mr. Willard, William and Joseph, who then became
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his step-sons, and educated them with his own children. This second Joseph Willard, Mr. Gardner's step-son, was afterwards taken prisoner with his wife and children, June 7, 1760, by the Indians, and taken to Canada, but were soon returned after the surrender of Montreal by the French.
2. Rev. Isaac Burr, born in Fairfield, Conn., in 1798, grad- uated at Yale in 1717, settled here, Oct. 30, 1725, dismissed in March, 1745, after a successful ministry of twenty years, and removed to Windsor, Vt. His dismissal arose from differences growing out of his not fellowshiping with sufficient zeal the labors of the distinguished and eloquent revivalist preacher, Whitefield, who went through Worcester on his New England tour in the fall of 1740, preaching in the open air to such num- crous congregations that no house could contain them. Hc was in Worcester, Oct. 15, where he exhorted to an immense congregation on the common, arriving here, the night before, from Marlboro', in company with Gov. Belcher, and stopping at Judge Chandler's. Gov. Belcher, who was much affected with his preaching, advised Whitefield to "go on stirring up the ministers." Mr. Burr was brother of Rev. Aaron Burr, pre- sident of Princeton College, New Jersey, and son of Hon. Peter Burr, Judge of Probate and of the Superior Court of Fairfield County, Connecticut, from 1711 to 1724. Aaron Burr, Vice- President of the United States from 1801 to 1805, was son of Rev. Aaron Burr, and consequently nephew of the minister in Worcester. Rev. Isaac Burr's residence, while he preached here, was in the ancient house, then located on the south cor- ner of Main and Pleasant streets, afterwards occupied by John Nazro, John Foxcroft and others, and still standing on Black- stone street, to which place it was removed some thirty-five years ago.
3. Rev. Thaddeus Maccarty, son of Capt. Thaddeus Mac- carty, was born in Boston in 1721, graduated at Harvard in 1739, settled three years at Kingston, installed in Worcester, June 10, 1747, and died here after a ministry of thirty-seven years, July 20, 1784. It is a singular circumstance that Mr. Maccarty's dismission from the church in Kingston, before he came here, arose from differences with his congregation there,
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growing out of his sympathy with Whitefield, just then in Ply- mouth, they having about the same feeling regarding the great revivalist that Mr. Burr had in Worcester. Of the fifteen chil- dren of Rev. Thaddeus and Mary (Gatcomb) Maccarty, only the following seven lived to mature age : Dr. Thaddeus, born in 1747, graduated at Yale in 1766, practised in Worcester and in Keene, N. H., married, in 1775, Experience, daughter of Capt. Thomas Cowdin of Fitchburg, and died in Keene, Nov. 21, 1802, where their only daughter, who married John W. Stiles, was born, the latter being parents of Mrs. Alfred D. Foster and Mrs. Henry K. Newcomb ; Mary, born in 1750, married, in 1781, Hon. Benjamin West of Charlestown, N. H., previously a school-teacher in Worcester, and died in 1803; Elizabeth, born Jan. 7, 1753, died in 1823; Wm. Greenough Maccarty, born Dec. 20, 1753, quartermaster in Col. Timothy Bigelow's (15th Mass. ) Regiment, and died at Billerica in 1791 ; Nathaniel, born in 1758, learned the trade of a printer in the Spy office of Isaiah Thomas, afterwards merchant in Worcester and in Petersham, and died at Worcester, Oct. 14, 1831 ; Lucy, born in 1760, died in 1813; Lucretia, born in 1762, died in 1810. The mother died here, Dec. 28, 1783, the year before her husband. Rev. Thaddeus Maccarty's residence was on what is now Park street, just cast of Portland street.
4. Rev. Samuel Austin, D. D., born in New Haven, Conn., Nov. 7, 1760, graduated at Yale in 1784, installed in Worces- ter, Sept. 30, 1790, left in 1815, when he was elested President of the University of Vermont at Burlington, where he remain- ed seven years, and died in Glastonbury, Conn., Dec. 4, 1830. His parsonage here was the old mansion on the north corner of Main and Austin streets, afterwards occupied by the late S. H. Colton, and now standing on Grand street.
5. Rev. Charles A. Goodrich, born in Ridgefield, Conn., Aug. 19, 1790, graduated at Yale in 1815, installed here, July 15, 1816, dismissed at his own request, Nov. 14, 1820, after- wards engaged in literary labors, and author of numerous works, and died at Hartford, Conn., June 4, 1862, aged 72.
6. Rev. Arætius B. Hull, born in Woodbridge, Conn., Oct. 12, 1783, graduated at Yale in 1807, tutor there six years, set-
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tled in Worcester, May 22, 1721, and died here, May 17, 1826, after a year's illness from consumption.
At his installation here, the introductory prayer was by Rev. Dr. Reuben Puffer of Berlin, sermon by Rev. Nathaniel W. Taylor of New Haven, consecrating prayer by Rev. Daniel Tomlinson of Oakham, charge to the pastor by Rev. Joseph Avery of Holden, right hand of fellowship by Rev. Dr. John Nelson of Leicester, address to the church by Rev. Dr. Thomas Snell of North Brookfield, the concluding prayer by Rev. Micah Stone of Brookfield ; and Rev. Dr. Joseph Summer of Shrews- bury presided in the council. Mr. Hull's two sons, Rev. Joseph D. Hull of Hartford, Conn., and Auretius B. Hull of Brooklyn, New York, were present at the centennial of the old meeting- house, Sept. 22, 1863, and improved the occasion to visit the grave of their father in the Rural Cemetery.
7. Rev. Rodney A. Miller, born in Troy, N. Y., graduated at Union College in 1821, and at Princeton Theological Sem- inary, New Jersey, ordained at Worcester, June 7, 1827, and after a pastorate of seventeen years, was dismissed April 12, 1844, on account of differences with his congregation, arising chiefly out of antagonistic political views, as parties were then divided, he being a Van Buren Democrat, and the great major- ity of his hearers, Whigs. After the Free Soil movement of 1848, however, he continued a firm and decided republican in his politics. In 1830, the members of his church organized the first temperance society formed in Worcester, of which Mr. Miller was president. After leaving his pastorate, he resided alternately in Worcester and his native city of Troy, N. Y.,
[Note referring to Nor. 4 & 5 on opposite page.]
At the installation of Rev. Dr. Austin, Sept. 30, 1790, the sermon was deliver ed by his father-in-law, Rev. Dr. Samuel Hopkins, ordaining prayer by Rev Ebenezer Chaplin of Sutton, charge by Rev. Dr. Joseph Sumner of Shrewsbury, right hand of fellowship by Rev. Nehemiah Williams of Brimfield, and conclud- ing prayer by Rev. Dr. Nathaniel Emmons of Franklin. At the ordination and installation of Rev. Charles A. Goodrich, Oct. 9, 1816. the introductory prayer was by Rev. Benjamin Wood of Upton, sermon by Rev. Samuel Goodrich of Berlin, Conn., father of the pastor-elect, consecrating prayer by Rev. Edmund Mills of Sutton, address by Rev. Joseph Goffe of Millbury, right hand of fellow- ship by Rev. Dr. John Nelson of Leicester. Besides a volume of doctrinal dis- courses, Dr. Austin published thirty-three sermons and addresses on various occasions. He collected and published the only complete edition of the works of President Edwards.
16
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where he owned considerable landed property, and died there, Sept. 29, 1876, aged 79. He was nine years a member of the Board of Overseers of Harvard College, from 1843 to 1852.
At the time of Mr. Miller's settlement, nearly fifty years ago, the old house presented almost exactly the same appearance as at its original construction, sixty-four years previous, with the old pulpit on the east side, and the ancient porch and main en- trance fronting on Main street. The ordination and installa tion sermon on that occasion was preached by Rev. Warren Fay of Charlestown, the ordaining prayer was offered by Rev. Micah Stone of Brookfield, the address to the people was given by Rev. Dr. John Fiske of New Braintree, the charge to the pastor was given by Rev. Dr. Thomas Snell of North Brookfield, and the right hand of fellowship was presented by our venerated fellow citizen, Rev. George Allen, then of Shrewsbury, now the solitary survivor of those who took part in those exercises of half a century ago, with the exception of the Rev. Dr. Edward Becener, now of New York, who invoked the divine blessing on those proceedings.
8. Rer. George P. Smith, born at Salem in 1814, graduated at Amherst and Andover, ordained at South Woburn in 1841, installed at Worcester, March 19, 1845 ; death terminating his connection here, Sept. 3, 1852, while on a vacation for his health, at Salem, at the early age of 38. At his installation here, thirty-two years ago, the introductory prayer was by Rev. Mr. Bennett of Woburn, sermon by Rev. Dr. Thomas Snell of North Brookfield, consecrating prayer by Rev. Dr. Horatio Bardwell of Oxford, charge to the pastor by Rev. Dr. John Nelson of Leicester, right hand of fellowship by Rev. Dr. Elam Smalley of the Union Church, Worcester, and concluding prayer by Rev. Asa Bullard of Fitchburg.
9. Rev. Horace James, born in Medford, May 6, 1818, grad- uated at Yale in 1840, and at Andover, was settled a few years at Wrentham, and installed at Worcester, Feb. 3, 1853. He was chaplain of the 25th Regiment M. V. during the war of the rebellion, and dismissed from the church here, Jan. 8, 1863. . After the war, he was settled a few years at Lowell, at the same time acting as assistant editor of the Congregationalist. He
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next officiated for several years as Secretary of the Bible Socie- ty at New York City, after which he made an extended jour- ncy through the eastern countries, while in Palestine contract- ing a severe cold which resulted in consumption, and finally in his decease, at Boylston, June 9, 1875, aged 59. While pastor he was an active and energetic worker in behalf of temperance and other moral causes. At his settlement here, twenty-four years ago, the installing prayer was by Rev. Rod- ney A. Miller ; sermon by Rev. Dr. Edwards A. Park of An- dover ; charge to the pastor by Rev. D. R. Cady of Westboro'; right hand of fellowship by Rev. George Bushnell, then of Salem Street Church, Worcester ; address to the people by Rev. Dr. Elam Smalley, then of the Union Church, Worcester ; and concluding prayer by Rev. Dr. Horatio Bardwell of Ox- ford. But two of the above now survive.
10. Rev. Edward Ashley Walker, born in New Haven, Conn., Nov. 24, 1834, graduated at Yale in 1856, studied theol- ogy at New Haven, Heidelberg and Berlin, and was ordained at New Haven, June 5, 1861 ; chaplain of the First Connecticut Vol. Heavy Artillery, but resigned on account of ill health af- ter fifteen months' service. He was installed at Worcester, Ju- ly 2, 1863. During his pastorate the interesting exercises in celebration of the one hundredth anniversary of the building of the present church edifice, took place, Sept. 22, 1863, on which occasion Hon. Ira M. Barton presided, and a historical dis- course was preached by Rev. Leonard Bacon, D. D., of New Haven, Conn. Mr. Walker was an able and eloquent preacher, but ill health compelled his resignation after a pastorate of two years, and he was dismissed Sept. 20, 1865. He was never af- terwards settled. He died at Marquette, Michigan, April 10, 1866, at the early age of 31. His wife was Katharine K , daughter of Rev. Dr. Willard Child, who preached the sermon at the installation here of his son-in-law, on which occasion the installing prayer was offered by Rev. Dr. Seth Sweetser of the Central Church, the charge to the pastor was given by Rev. Dr. Noah Porter of New Haven,. the right hand of fellowship was extended by Rev. George B. Bacon, and the address to the people given by Rev. Dr. Leonard Bacon of New Haven.
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Reminiscences of Worcester.
11. Rev. Royal B. Stratton, born in Pottsdam, New York, was a self-educated man, his first eleven years' experience as a preacher, beginning at 21 years of age, being as a Methodist, four years in New York City and seven years as a home mis- sionary on the Pacific Coast, with headquarters at Sacramento. He was then settled for four years over a Congregational Church in Great Barrington, after which he was settled in Worcester, Jan. 2, 1867, where he remained five years, resign- ing in 1872, (dismissed April 25,) on account of ill health, manifesting itself in a tendency toward insanity, which ter- minated in his decease Jan. 24, 1875, at Worcester. He was an enthusiastic Christian worker and somewhat radical in his views on reform atory questions, resulting perhaps from a lack of evenness of temperament, but he was universally esteemed for the sincerity of his convictions. The exercises at his installation here were as follows :- Reading of Scriptures and prayer by Rev. Wm. Phipps of Paxton ; sermon by Rev. Ray Palmer of New York, from Matt. 22 : 42; installing pray- er by Rev. Dr. Wm. P. Paine of Holden ; charge to the pastor by Rev. Dr. Seth Sweetser of Worcester ; right hand of fellow- ship by Rev. Merrill Richardson of Salem Street Church ; ad- dress to the people by Rev. Dr. Ebenezer Cutler of the Union Church ; concluding prayer by Rev. A. H. Coolidge of Leices- ter.
From July, 1872, to January, 1874, the pulpit was supplied by Rev. Wm. M. Parry, from Nottingham, England, afterwards of the Tabernacle Church, Worcester.
12. Rev. Nathaniel Mighill, the present pastor, graduated at Amherst and Andover in 1864, was settled two years at Cambridge and eight years at Brattleboro, Vermont, and installed at Worcester, Sept. 15, 1875, with the following ex- ercises : Introductory prayer by Rev. C. M. Lamson of Salem Street Church ; sermon by Rev. George L. Walker, D. D., of New Haven, Conn., from John 8 : 12; charge to the pastor by Rev. A. H. Plumb of Boston ; right hand of fellowship by Rev. George W. Phillips of Plymouth Church ; charge to the people by Rev. George H. Gould, D. D., of Piedmont Church ; closing prayer by Rev. Henry E. Barnes of the Central (Calvinistic) Church, Worcester.
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During Mr. Mighill's vacation since Nov. 1, 1876, on account of ill health, the pulpit has been supplied by Rev. L. B. Voor- hees, late of North Weymouth.
THE DEACONS.
The deacons of the Old Church, from its first organization, and their respective terms of service, have been : Daniel Hey- wood, 57 years, from 1716 to 1773 ; Nathaniel Moore, 45 years, from 1716 to 1761 ; Jonas Rice, 5 years, from 1748 to 1753 ; Thomas Wheeler, 21 years, from 1748 to 1769; Jacob Cham berlain, 39 years, from 1751 to 1790 ; Samuel Miller, 8 years, from 1751 to 1759; Nathan Perry, 23 years, from 1783 to 1806 ; Thomas Wheeler, 12 years, from 1783 to 1795 : John Chamberlain, 22 years, from 1791 to 1813 ; Leonard Worces- ter, 4 years, from 1797 to 1801; David Richards, 28 years, from 1801 to 1829 ; Moses Perry, 30 years, from 1807 to 1836 ; John Nelson, 22 years, from 1812 to 1834; Lewis Chapin, 10 years, from 1833 to 1843 ; Moses Brigham, 4 years, from 1833 to 1837 ; Nathaniel Brooks and Nahum Nixon, each 14 years, from 1836 to 1850; John Bixby, 17 years, from 1836 to 1853 ; Richard Ball, 22 years, from 1845 to 1867 ; Allen Harris, 19 years, from 1845 to 1864 ; Jonas M. Miles, 14 years, from 1845 to 1859; Caleb Dana, 18 years, from 1851 to 1869; Samuel W. Kent and Charles A. Lincoln, cach 9 years, from 1861 to 1870 ; L. B. Witherby, 8 years, from 1869 to 1877; the pres- ent deacons being Alfred Holden, H. H. Merriam, Wm. Finlay and Geo. M. Pierce.
The two first deacons served the longest, and Jacob Cham- berlain comes next, himself and son John, occupying the posi- tion sixty-one years, and Nathan and Moses Perry, fifty-seven. Deacon Miles had previously officiated in the same capacity over the old church in Shrewsbury some twenty years. Thom- as Wheeler was deacon for thirty-three years.
Dea. John Chamberlain, who married Mary, daughter of Capt. Jolin Curtis, (see page 36,) was father of Hon. John Curtis Chamberlain, a distinguished lawyer of Charlestown, N. H., and member of Congress from that State ; and grand- father of Gen. Robert H. Chamberlain of Worcester. Dea. John
-
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Nelson was father of Rev Dr. Nelson, pastor of the old Con- gregational Church in Leicester for over fifty years.
THE CLERKS.
The Clerks of the First Church during the last three quar- ters of a century have been : Dea. John Bixby to 1819 ; Hen- Wheeler thirteen years to 1832; George M. Rice six years to 1838 ; Wm. Greenleaf eight years to 1846 ; Dea. Caleb Dana twenty-two years to 1868 ; Dea. L. B. Witherby six years to 1874 ; C. B. R. Hazletine three years to 1877; the present clerk being A. R. Marshall, chosen Jan. 17.
THE MUSIC.
The music in this church for many years has been an inter- esting feature of the services, being exempt from the frequent changes so common in many churches. The conductors. at different times within the last 50 years, have been the late Em- orv Perry and Edward Hamilton ; and for fourteen years sub- sequently, Mr. Edward S. Nason, the present teacher of music in the public schools of this city, who officiated both as organist and conductor of a large chorus choir, Mrs. Nason being lead- ing soprano, and her sister, Miss H. A. Taft, the alto. One of the first organists of this church was Mr. B. D. Allen. For the last 12 years, a quartette choir has led the service of song, under the direction of Mr. A. C. Munrce, with Mrs. Munroe as leading soprano. During most of the time, the organists have been Messrs. A. V. Hill of Lowell, Howard E. Parkhurst and C. C. Stearns.
The Organ, one of the largest church organs in this city, and the only one having three manuals, was built by Appleton in 1846, costing $3000. In 1867 and '68 large improvements were made, of additional stops and new pedals of thirty notes, at an expense of more than $600.
THE SCOTCH PRESBYTERIAN EMIGRANTS OF 1718.
Among the earliest settlers in Worcester was a company of Scotch Presbyterians from Londonderry, in the north part of
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Ireland. Of the one hundred families that came over in 1718 to escape persecution, then rampant, which pursued them from their original home in Argyleshire, Scotland, across the chan- nel, to the "Emerald Isle," where they remained as long as they could, large numbers of them settled in Worcester, where similar illiberal hostility was manifested toward them by our Puritanic ancestors, who, although reverent worshippers of God themselves, could tolerate no form of manifesting that rever- ence except such as was ordained by the State. Having form- ed a religious society here, these Presbyterians met first in the old garrison house at the north end of the town, where, and in "God's first temple," the open air, they enjoyed for a time the ministrations of Rev. Edward Fitzgerald and Rev. Wm. Johnston. On their attempting to build a meeting house, which they did on the west side of Lincoln street, just north of "The Oaks," they had hardly completed the frame work of it before the prejudices of the other settlers obliged them to de- sist, a mob by night demolishing what had been put up during the day, so those who came here to enjoy the freedom of "wor- shipping God in their own way," were obliged to forego that in- estimable privilege, and accommodate themselves to the mode adopted by the majority around them. Some of the persecuted emigrants left and joined their friends in Pelham, Mass., and Londonderry, N. H., but a large party of them remained here, and became contributors to the support of the regularly established church, whose edifice was on the Common. Among those who thus remained after their brethren had left, were the following ancestors of numerous families of their respective names throughout the country :
James McClellan, great-great-great-grandfather of Gen. Geo. B. McClellan ; Wm. Caldwell, grandfather of' Wm. Caldwell, sheriff of the county from 1793 to 1805 ; Andrew McFarland, who located about two miles out on the road to Tatnuck, his estate being still owned and occupied by his descendants of the sixth generation, the families of E. F. Chamberlain and Willard Richmond, who married daughters of the late Ira McFarland, great-great-grandson of the original Andrew McFarland whose descendants are numerons among us ; Robert Blair, who lo-
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