Reminiscences of a nonagenarian, Part 25

Author: Emery, Sarah Smith, 1787-1879; Emery, Sarah Anna, 1821-1907
Publication date: 1879
Publisher: Newburyport [Mass.] : W. H. Huse, Printers
Number of Pages: 362


USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Newbury > Reminiscences of a nonagenarian > Part 25


Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).


Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43


In December, the town voted against this petition being granted, and chose a committee to present a counter peti- tion to the general court. In 1692 the west end people again made a petition and proposition about calling a minis- ter. Dec. 20, the town voted that they would call another minister at the west end. On the 27th, a committee was chosen " to enquire after a suitable person to preach at the west end and to keep schoole." In May, 1693, the town voted that Mr. John Clark be called to assist Mr. Richardson at the west end, and to keep a grammar school." This vote caused much dissension, as most of the west end people felt bound to adhere to Mr. Tomson. June 15, another petition was forwarded to the general court, in which they request the governor and council, " to pity and help them, to ease them of a heavy burden of travel on God's day." July 5th, "the town in their votes for the choice of a minister for the west end of the towne, in order


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to a full settlement in the work of the min- istry, and Mr. John Clark was then cho- sen and not one vote against him." Twen- ty-five persons of the west end entered their dissent against calling Mr. Clark, "for the reason that the new towne have a minister already." Mr. Clark declined the call, and Mr. Christopher Toppan was invited to preach at the "new towne." Mr. Toppan declined to settle, but expressing his willingness to help in the work of the ministry for a year, the town voted to give Mr. Toppan forty pounds in money, and four contributions a year.


Oct. 22d, 1694, " the towne brought in theyr votes by papers, for a minister for the west end of Newbury, and Mr. Christopher Toppan had sixty-five votes and Mr. Tomson seventeen. Jan. 1, 1695, the town met and voted "that Pipe- stave hill near Daniel Jaques' house shall be the place for the meeting-house, and those that live nearest to that place shall pay to the ministry there, and those that live nearest to. the old meeting-house shall pay there ; the in- habitants of the west end to choose a minister for themselves, only Mr. Tom- son excepted, and, the meeting-house to stand where it do, until the major part of them see cause to remove it."


Jan. 3d, Tristram Coffin, Henry Short and Abraham Merrill, divided the town into two parishes.


June 5th, "Town voted to give Mr. Christopher Toppan 20 pounds year- ly in money, and three hundred pounds in good country pay, so long as he car- ries on one half of the ministry among them, and thirty pounds a year so long as he shall keep a grammar and a writing school, the scholars to pay as they did to Mr. John Clark Mr. Top-


pan accepted these proposals July seventeenth.


Dec. 18th. The town. "on the re- quest of the inhabitants of the west end of the town of Newbury, granted them five acres of land on the east side of Artichoke river for a pasture for the ministry, and one acre of land near the west meeting house, and when the ma- jor part shall see cause to remove the said meeting house, the land shall be at the disposal of the town to procure land for the ministry, near the west meeting house when removed."


Feb. 28th, 1696. A rate was made for payment of building and furnishing the west end meeting-house and ministry house. The expense was twenty-two pounds and three shillings in money, and two hundred and eighteen pounds, eigh- teen shillings and two pence in pay. This was due from sixty-four persons. Of this number twenty-four objected to the continuance of the meeting-house on the plains, being desirous that it should be removed farther up to Pipe- stave hill. These were Benjamin and Joseph Morse, Thomas, Daniel and Moses Chase, John senior and John jr., and Abial Kelley, Mr. Abraham Annis, Isaac and Joseph Richardson, Abel Huse, Caleb Moody. Benjamin Low, Tristram Greenleaf, Daniel Mor- rison, Edward Woodman, John Hoag. Hanariah Ordway, Thomas Follansbee, Lieut. John Emerson, Thomas Wil- liams, Francis Willet and Samuel Sa- yer jr., This dissent continued for years, the subject of strife thereafter being the site of the west end meeting- house.


In April the Rev. Mr. Richardson died, and in September Mr. Christo- pher Toppan was ordained his succes- sor. That same year the Rev. Samuel


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Belcher with his family came to the west precinct. In October, 1698, a church was gathered and the Rev. Mr. Belcher was ordained on November 10th. In January, 1706, the precinct voted "that they either would remove the meeting-house and build an addi- tion to it, or else build a new meeting- house." February 28th, it was voted " that ye inhabitants of ye west end of the town of Newbury will build a new meeting-house upon Pipestave hill, fifty-four feet long, and thirty-four feet broad, within ye space of five years at ye furthest, and to meet in the old meet- ing-house five years, and not to force any person to pay any money or pay till three years be expired, and then to pay one-quarter part yearly until ye whole be paid." From this vote twen- ty persons dissented. Captain Hugh March, Caleb Moody, and sergeant John Ordway were chosen a committee to build the new meeting-house, and the foundation was laid in 1709. In February the opposition at the plains petitioned the general court for relief, showing that only twelve years before they had built a meeting-house, and those now calling themselves the major- ity had been since planted in the upper part of the precinct, yet the majority had proceeded to levy a tax, and to employ a collector to take away their goods for the furtherance of their de- sign to erect the more remote house ; that the expense of another building would be a heavy burthen, necessitat- ing them to lose the charge to which they had been put, besides frustrating the enjoyment of the means of grace for themselves and their children. If no other relief offered, they prayed to be set off, to maintain a minister and a ministry amongst themselves. This


document was signed by fifty-five per- sons,-eleven Bartlets, six Sawyers, three Merrills, four Browns, three Bai- leys, Charles and Joseph Annis, two Thurstons, two named Rogers, three Littles, and nineteen others. In the March town meeting of the next year, the inhabitants of the precinct voted "that they accepted of what was al- ready done, and authorized the major part of the committee (who were cho- sen in 1706, February twenty-eighth) to proceed and finish the meeting-house according to the time mentioned in said vote."


On June 2d. a notification from the general court was served on the town of Newbury, by some of the west end petitioners. June 7th, the town chose Col. Thomas Noyes to act in their be- half. This gentleman decided that the major part could not be aggrieved by putting down the old, or putting up the new mecting-house ; he concluded by saying, "the whole of the western precinct, assemble in a house not above thirty feet square, and yet rather than not have their wills they would have two churches."


This produced a reply from the mi- nority, in which they state that they " have one hundred and thirty families, seventy of which do not live two miles from the old meeting-house." They confess to a desire to have their wills, in so far as they are not sparing of their purses for the propagation of the gospel for themselves, and partic- ularly for their children, and if it is more convenient to obtain this good end, they had rather have two church- es and two meeting-houses, and they. petitioned the court to this end. This petition was not granted, and it was resolved in council, that Pipestave hill


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was the most convenient place, and a committee was appointed to wait upon the Rev. Mr. Belcher and acquaint him with the desire of the court, that when a meeting-house should be erected there, and convenient dwelling house, with suitable accommodation of land, he be content to remove thither.


Determined not to worship in the meeting-house on Pipestave hill, twen- ty-seven of the petitioners signed the following :


" July ye 12th, 1710.


We whose names Are hereto Sub- scribed doo Agree And oblidge our- sealves to each other to mayntain the publick ministry At the old meeting- house in ye west precinct in Newbury, Although we are forsed to pay Else- where what shall be lavid upon us."


On the next day the inhabitants of the west end held a meeting, and voted to " observe the direction and resolve of the general court." On July 17th they held another meeting, in which they voted to " levy a tax of four hun- dred pounds to defray part of the charg- es of building a meeting-house, minis- try house, and so forth, to pay back all they had taken by distraint, and to con- firm all that the building committee chosen in 1706 had done, and gave them full power to finish."


On the 19th of April, 1711, the pre- cinct had another meeting, and, as the time of five years during which they had determined to meet in the old meet- ing-house had expired, the majority pro- ceeded to carry the remainder of the vote into execution. A committee of three was chosen, to dispose of the min- istry house and land near the old meet- ing-house, and obtain a house and land near the new meeting-house at Pipe- stave hill. It was also voted " to take the seates and boards and glass out of


ye old meeting-house to be improved in the new meeting-house, and also to re- move the old meeting-house and sett it up att Pipestave hill to be improved as a barn for the ministry in convenient time."


Of course this vote but added fuel to the flame. The minority firmly resist- ed every attempt at removal of .. the Plains " meeting-house. One night in the first of the summer, a party came down from the upper part of the parish, and in a disorderly and riotous manner tore down the old meeting-house and carried it off. The minority, being as . determined not to submit as the major- ity were to govern, immediately began the erection of another house of wor- ship. To frustrate this undertaking, in July a committee of six persons petitioned the general court to stay the proceedings. The court directed that the "raysing of the meeting-house be delayed until there be a hearing of the matter before the court."


No attention was paid, by the mi- nority, to this order. This caused another petition against them, in which it was stated that the minority had " raised and part covered a meeting- house, and set it near the dividing line, notwithstanding the advice and direc- tion of the court."


The court immediately ordered "that Samuel Bartlet, John Ordway, Deacon Joshua Brown, Joshua Bailey, Skipper Lunt and Penuel Titcomb, be anew served by the sheriff with a process and order of this court, strictly forbid- ding them and their associates proceed- ing in the work of their intended meet- ing-house, and that said persons be summoned to attend the fall session of the court."


On the 23d of October, 1711, the


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minority again petitioned the court for leave to go on with their meeting- house. "That the farthermost of forty families, and about thirty more of our neighbors are not above one and a half miles from the meeting-house we are about to erect, and that we deem it a duty to maintain the Rev. Mr. Belcher, (for whom we have a peculiar respect) , until he may be orderly dismist." They also requested the court "to set them off as a precinct, making Arti- choke river the dividing line, as there are now ninety-six families above Arti- choke river." The court considered that there was no present necessity for this new precinct and church, and or- dered that the building of the house be no further proceeded with. No regard being paid to this order, the court sent an express to forbid the work. Several gentlemen went to Boston to show their grievances, but obtained no relief ; there they met a Mr. John Bridger of Portsmouth. This gentleman was "sur- veyor of the king's woods," and a churchman. He informed the New- bury party that the Church of England would protect them if they would put themselves under its control. He vis- ited Newbury, and told the "plains" people that if they would convert their intended meeting-house into a church, he would ensure them the protection of the governor.


Some were somewhat acquainted with the church ; after the perusal of several Episcopal books, a consent was given, and the Rev. Henry Harris, who had been sent from England to minister at King's Chapel, Boston, came and preached to them. This gentlemen was the father of Mr. Benjamin Harris for whom Harris street is named. At the time of his coming, when a ship ar-


rived from England it was customary for persons expecting friends to go to the wharf to meet them on their landing. Amongst the throng assembled on this occasion was a young lady, whose glance riveted that of the handsome missionary ere the ship reached the landing. This "love at first sight" was soon followed by the marriage of ' the youthful pair.


Mr. Harris sent a Mr. Lampton, the chaplain of a station ship, to preach at the Plains. Some went to the meeting at Pipestave hill, but the majority em- braced the doctrines of the Church of England. Thus the Episcopal society was formed, and the church completed, under the designation of Queen Ann's Chapel. In May, 1715, the Rev. Hen- ry Lucas, of London, was appointed their rector. The bishop of London presented a bell to the society. This bell afterwards became memorable as an object of contention between the so- ciety at Belleville and that of St. Paul's. A large silver christening basin was presented by Capt. Richard Brown, a native of England, who came to New- buryport from the West Indies. He married a Miss Hudson. Capt. Daniel Marquand married his widow, from whom are the descendants of that name and one family of Jenkins. He was interred in the cemetery on the Plains. The communion service con- sisted of a flagon, inscribed : "The gift of K. William and Q. Mary to the Rev. Samuel Myles, for the use of their Majesties' Chappell in New England, 1694," and a chalice with the inscrip- tion : " Ex dono Johannis Mills 1693." This plate, in good preservation, is now in use at St. Paul's church. In 1720 Mr. Lucas died, and the Rev. Matthias Plant, a graduate of Jesus College,


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1


Cambridge, England, succeeded in the rectorship.


As early as 1725, the church people dwelling at the water side formed the idea of building a new church, but the " Plains " people being unwilling to join them, nothing was done until 1738. Then, the Rev. Mr. Plant and Joseph Atkins, esq., each having offered to present fifty pounds towards building a new church at the " Port," the founda- tion of one was laid at the head of Queen, now Market street. The church was not completed until 1740. It was arranged that Mr. Plant should officiate at both churches. This caused some difficulty, which was happily settled. In 1751 Mr. Edward Bass was chosen to assist Mr. Plant, who died in 1753. For a while a monthly service was held in Queen Ann's Chapel, but, as time passed, this gradually became discon- tinued, and the building fell into decay.


The Rev. Edward Bass, though ad- vanced to the bishopric of Massachu- setts, still continued to officiate at St. Paul's church. He died the 10th of September, 1803, and the Rev. James Morse was settled the November fol- lowing.


In 1800 the present church was built. I have a recollection of the old build- ing, which was small and painted light yellow. This church had been fur- nished with an organ, the first in the town. This organ is a noted instru- ment, being the oldest in America. It was built by J. Preston, in York, Eng- land. Having been detained in his workshop, it escaped destruction at the time of the pious raid upon organs in the churches by Cromwell's soldiers. At the commencement of the last cen- tury it was brought to Boston by Thomas Brattle, and presented to


King's Chapel in that city, but so strong was the feeling in New England against anything savoring of popery that it re- mained a long time in the packing case in the porch. At length, in 1714, it was set up, and used for forty years. when it was bought by the society of St. Paul's. In that church it sent forth its melody for more than two genera- tions. Some years since, a larger or- gan having been procured, the venera- ble relic was purchased by the society of St. John's church, in Portsmouth. N. H. When a girl, my mother at- tended St. Paul's to hear the novel in- strument. She was highly delighted with the music and much impressed by the service, and the grandeur of the Daltons, Atkins, Cutlers, Hoopers, Jacksons, John Tracy's, and other fam- ilies of ton who worshipped there.


The corner-stone of the present church was laid with masonic ceremo- nies. The altar, aisles and gallery are as when built, but the first pews were roomy compartments, with high, pan- eled sides. The pulpit was peculiarly graceful, rising from a pillar and spread- ing like a wineglass. Above it hung a sounding-board. equally elegant in de- sign. Before the reading desk was a lower one for the clerk. Either side of the entrance to the broad aisle were two small pews, with high, ornamental partitions ; from the front corners of each to the right and left, uprose'two tall, brightly-painted poles, terminating at the top by gilded balls. These pews were the seats for the church wardens, and the rods were the warden's poles, which in those days played no unim- portant part in the ceremonies of the service, being borne in state by the wardens, as, with majestic step, they preceded the bishop up the broad


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aisle upon his entrance into the church. They also did good service in the discipline of the more youth- ful worshippers - the fear of a rap on the pate from these emblazoned poles being inculcated with becoming seriousness by the matrons of the so- ciety, as they marshalled their bright, frolicsome troops of boys and girls across the portals of the sacred edifice.


CHAPTER XXXVIII.


The Rev. Samuel Belcher having be- come aged and infirm, returned to Ips- wich, his native place, where he died March 12tl1, 1715, universally mourned and esteemed.


The Rev. John Tufts was ordained over the society at Pipestave hill in 1714. Mr. Tufts possessed a fine taste, and, for those days, superior skill in music. To improve the singing in his choir and those of other churches, the year after his settlement he published a small work on music, which was sold for sixpence a copy or five shillings per dozen. Few tunes were then used - York, Hackney, St. Mary's, Windsor, and Martyrs, were the principal. In most congregations the singing was en- tirely by rote, which was considered papistical by the more rigid ; and Mr. Tuft's attempt to improve sacred music was a daring innovation that for a time met much opposition.


In January, 1716, the church in the west precinct kept a day of humiliation and prayer, to petition that God would "prevent the spread of errors in the place, especially the error of quakers." The causes that had driven some into


episcopacy had led others to join the " Friends." The sons of Mr. John Hoag having embraced the doctrines of that sect, others became interested and meetings were held at private houses. The first of these gatherings was at the dwelling of Mr. Samuel Sayer. A society was formed, which, in the summer of 1744, erected a meet- ing-house on a site nearly opposite the present Belleville church.


On Feb. 26th, 1738, a council was called, in the west parish, to consider " the distressed state and condition of ye second church of Christ in Newbury, by reason of the reverend pastor, Mr. John Tufts, being charged by a woman, or women, of his indecent carriage, also of his abusive and unchristian be- havior towards them at several times, and so forth."


This council consisted of ten clergy- men and twenty delegates. Mr. Tufts refused to unite with the council and opposed the swearing of witnesses, and immediately asked his dismission, which was granted, the church refusing to give him a recommendation elsewhere. He was succeeded by Thomas Barnard, who was dismissed in 1751. The Rev. Moses Hale was ordained the same year. He married Mehitable Dummer, and was the only pastor, amongst the long list of those that have been or- dained over this society, who spent his life among his people. He died in 1779.


The meeting-house on Pipestave hill had become somewhat dilapidated ; by the setting off of the fourth parish, it was no longer in a central locality ; then, many objected to climbing the long hill. As expensive repairs were necessary, it was proposed to move the building a quarter of a mile below on


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the main road, at the corner of the one leading to the river. This raised a storm of objections, but finally, in 1758, the seventh year of Mr. Hale's pas- torate, the plan was effected. The house, which was a good-sized struc- ture, without a tower, was repaired and remodeled. The parsonage, which lay below on Pipestave hill, was retained by the parish for some years. It is still standing in good preservation.


The Rev. True Kimball was settled in 1782, and dismissed in 1797. His successor, the Rev. Samuel Tomb, was ordained the next year. He was dismissed in 1808, the same year that Dr. Woods left the fourth parish for the seminary at Andover. Great scan- dal had been raised in the parish re- specting Parson Tomb's ill treatment of a little girl, bound as a servant in his family. It was alleged that, being unmercifully whipped for every slight offence. to screen herself, the child be- came an adept at deceit. To punish her for lying, the minister, it was said. tied her tongue to her great toe. Such discontent was aroused that the rever- end gentleman asked a dismission, which was granted, though many of the society discredited the stories about him. My father would not accept Dr. Woods' ministry : after the Slade meet- ing-house at Byfield was closed he at- tended service at the lower parish.


After Mr. Tomb's departure the pulpit was for a time supplied by a Mr. Hull. A part of the society, in which my father was included, were much pleased with Parson Hull's preaching, declaring it to be good Arminian doc- trine, but the more Calvinistic portion, who were a majority, pronounced it tame and unsound. Old Mr. Ben. Poore (father of Dr. Poore) in his most


emphatic manner, declared, " His name is Hull and he was hull indeed." In consequence Mr. Hull did not receive a a call. and the Rev. Ebenezer Hubbard was ordained in May, 1809. Persons at that time were assessed for the sup- port of the gospel according to their property. My father had paid the year's tax at the lower parish. To- wards spring, to his surprise, the col- lector of the upper parish also present- ed a bill. Father produced the one he had paid, but the collector, Mr. Bailey, said : " The law required every one to pay in his own parish unless they at- tended on the worship of a different sect. As the lower parish was Congre- gationalist, as well as the upper, he must pay a tax to the society in the parish where he resided." Father re- fused to comply with the demand. and Mr. Bailey took two of our best cows from the barnyard and drove them down the lane. Mother cried, but father laughed and sat down to dinner. When the meal was over we saw the cows standing by the cowyard bars, and nothing more was done about the tax bill. Uncle Enoch Little invited father to take a seat in his pew at the Baptist meeting-house in New Rowley, which he did. As, after Parson Woods left, the services in our parish were ir- regular, mother or some of the family generally accompanied him. After a while it became the settled place of worship, and, in later years, my mother united with that church.


As the service in Queen Ann's Chap- el became gradually discontinued, a new Congregationalist society was formed in that quarter. For a time, with the permission of the Episcopal society, they occupied the old chapel, but after a while a small, plain build


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ing was put up, a little above Queen Ann's, and on Sept. 1, 1762, the Rev. Oliver Noble was ordained. Father Noble, as he was commonly styled, was a somewhat eccentric character. With a quick eye and ready wit at barter and sale, he could turn an honest penny with any one ; and, as his congregation was small, and it was not easy to raise even the limited stipend to which he was entitled, it was convenient to eke out a living by his own exertions. Some few years after his settlement his wife died, and the bereaved husband preached her funeral sermon, which he had printed. Stuffing his saddle bags, he mounted his old horse, known as " Noble's frame," and proceeded to peddle his sermon over the country. My father, then a lad, in after years used to give a laughable description of his visit at Crane-neck. He rode rode up one warm afternoon, hab- ited in a long, flowing, black flannel gown, and, with tears and piteous sighs, told his grief, ending by the presenta- tion of the sermon, which was pur- chased, with sympathetic condolence, while, at the same time, warning glanc- es were threateningly cast to Jim and the other boys and girls who were snickering in the background.




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