USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Weston > Sermon, delivered at Weston, January 12, 1813, on the termination of a century since the incorporation of the town > Part 3
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Having accomplished this object they called Mr. William Welstead to be their minister, August 14, 1722. He returned a negative answer the 7th of the following September. Mr. Welstead was afterwards settled in Boston.
Dec. 18, 1722, in concurrence with the church 5
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the precinct called Mr. Warham Williams, one of the captive sons of the Rev. John Williams of Deerfield, to be their minister. He returned a conditional affirma- tive answer, April 17, 1723. The precinct complied with his proposals, April 30, 1723. His ordination was June 11, 1723.
Sept. 7, 1731, the church records, preserved by the Rev. Samuel Angier, were committed to the custody of Mr. Williams by the Rev. John Angier, minister at Bridgewater, and son of the former, as being the property of his church. Hence the inference, that, though Mr. Samuel Angier was minister of the town of Watertown, the majority of his church and congre- gation, upon the division, were included within the west precinct, and consisted of what afterwards be- came Waltham.
The east precinct, or rather the town of Watertown, took measures, at a much earlier period than the com- mittee of the General Court had ordered, to have a meeting house erected on school house hill. They attempted to purchase the west, or what was then call- ed the middle meeting house ; but did not succeed in their overtures. They therefore agreed, Jan. 14, 1723, to build a new meeting house on school house hill, pursuant to the order of the General Court, to the advice of a council of churches, and to a former vote of the town ; and to have it built in twelve months.
Oct. 21, 1723, Mr. Gibbs died, ætat : 56, and just entered upon the 27th year of his ministry. The Rev. Seth Storer succeeded Mr. Gibbs, and was or-
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dained, July 22, 1724. He died Nov. 27, 1774, ætat: 73, in the 51st year of his ministry. The Rev. Daniel Adams was his successor, ordained April 29, 1778, and died the 16th of the following September, ætat : 32. The Rev. Richard Roswell Eliot is the living successor of Mr. Adams. He was ordained June 21, 1780.
After the incorporation of Weston, which had - been called the westerly, more westerly, and most wes- terly precinct in Watertown, the middle part of the town acquired the name of the west precinct, or Wa- tertown west, and was incorporated as a town, by the name of Waltham, Jan. 4, 1737. Perhaps it should be, beginning the year with January, 1738.
The Rev. Warham Williams died, June 22, 1751,* ætat : 52, and 29th of his ministry. After the decease of Mr. Williams Mr. Eli Forbes had an invitation to settle in the ministry at Waltham ; but he did not ac- cept the call. He was afterwards settled in the north parish of Brookfield, and again at Cape-Ann, in the town of Gloucester.
The late venerable Dr. Jacob Cushing was the successor of Mr. Williams ; ordained Nov. 22, 1752, and died Wednesday, Jan. 18, 1809, in the 79th year of his age, and 57th of his ministry. He preached at Weston the sabbath preceding his death, and, as ma-
* In a note on a sermon preached by the Rev. Dr. Nathan Strong, at the funeral of Mrs. Sarah Williams, wife of the Rev. Dr. Eliphalet Williams of East Hartford, and daughter of Rev. Warham Williams, his death is placed in June 1752. This is a mistake. It happened the day, month, and year above related.
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ny observed, with the vigour of a young man. Mr. Woodward, minister of Weston, a classmate with Dr. Cushing, and a brother by marriage, preached his last sermon at Waltham. The Rev. Samuel Ripley suc- ceeded Dr. Cushing, and was ordained, Nov. 22, 1809.
During the ministry of Mr. Angier and Mr. Gibbs in Watertown, this westerly part was first made a pre- cinct, and afterwards a separate town by the name which it still retains. In speaking of the transactions of the people of this place I shall give the dates as they would stand if January had then been reckoned the first month in the year.
The inhabitants of this section of Watertown met, Jan. 9, 1695, and agreed to build a meeting house thirty feet square, and to place it on land of Nathaniel Cooledge senior, by the side of the road, at the head of Parkhurst's meadow. This spot was a little in front of the present house, the road then passing more south than at present. In 1696 agents were chosen to contract with workmen to build the house, which was called The Farmers' Meeting House, a very appropri- ate, significant, and honourable appellation.
" Sometime in August 1695" money was con- tributed by sundry persons for the purpose of prefer- ring a petition to the General Court, praying for leave, as it is expressed in the records, " to set up the pub- lick worship of God amongst the inhabitants of the west end of said town," meaning Watertown. It does not appear when the petition was preferred to the General Court ; but the prayer of it was granted at
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the May session, 1698. Some doubts arising about the eastern boundary of the precinct, the General Court, at their May session, 1699, passed an explana- tory order in these words, " The bounds of said pre- cinct shall extend from Charles river to Stony Brook Bridge, and from said bridge up the brook northerly to Robert Harrington's farm, the brook to be the boundary, including the said farm, and comprehend- ing all the farms, and farm lands to the line of Cam- bridge and Concord; and from thence all Watertown lands to their utmost southward and westward bounds." The same bounds, in the same words, are defined in the act of incorporation of the town.
Meetings of the precinct were holden, Nov. 8, and Nov. 15, 1698, officers chosen, and further provi- sion made to complete the meeting house. August 25, Sept. 15, and Nov. 16, 1699, measures were tak- en to finish the meeting house, and to procure a minis- ter. Feb. 14, 1700, the precinct voted to have a min- ister to preach in the meeting house, to begin the second sabbath of the ensuing March, and thence forward to continue to preach in said house. Thus it appears that the small house, begun in 1695, was not so far completed, as to be occupied till March 1700. It was begun by subscription, and afterwards carried on at the expense of the precinct.
March 5, 1700, money was granted to support preaching. Grants continued to be made, at succes- sive periods, for the same purpose. A committee was chosen, Sept. 13, 1700, to apply for advice, as to the choice of a minister, to the Rev. President Mather,
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Rev. Mr. Angier, Rev. Mr. Brattle, and Rev. Mr. Gibbs, and to make report. A meeting was held, Oct. 8, 1700, for the choice of a minister to preach in order for settlement. Mr. Thomas Symmes was chosen. We find nothing more about Mr. Symmes in the pre- cinct records. He was afterwards settled at Boxford, and from that place removed to Bradford, where his father had been minister .*
March 10, 1701, the committee of the precinct was directed to provide a man to preach with them. Sept. 12, 1701, a similar order passed. Dec. 19, 1701, voted that Mr. Mors should continue in order for a settlement. July 6, 1702, the precinct gave Mr. Joseph Mors a call to settle with them in the ministry, thirty for and twelve against him. August 28, 1702, agreed to keep a day of fasting and prayer. Sept. 28, 1702, they renewed the call of Mr. Mors, granted an annual salary, and engaged, as an encouragement to settle, to build him a house forty by twenty feet. * The acknowledgments of the writer are due to William Winthrop Esquire of Cambridge, a descendant from Gov. Win- throp, for information respecting Mr. Symmes, and most of the other ministers mentioned in this discourse, and for other aid in collecting facts. By laborious research Mr. Winthrop has added to the catalogue of Harvard College, in manuscript, a biographical or historical account of most of her sons ; the publication of which with the Catalogue would afford gratifi- cation to the curious, and aid the collection of a general his- tory of the university. He will be pleased to accept the thanks of the writer for his labours, and for the friendly com- munication of the result of his inquiries into subjects, which would soon have been carried beyond the knowledge of man by the ever-flowing current of time.
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Nov. 23, 1702, Mr. Mors gave an affirmative answer to the call, with some conditions annexed. Jan. 8, 1703, the precinct accepted his answer, and voted to begin the house they had promised to build for him. Sept. 22, 1703, voted to raise the house on the 4th of the following October. This house is now occupied by deacon Samuel Fiske. The next year after it was raised the house was put into Mr. Mors's possession, and a grant of money made to him to enable him to fin- ish it. But this year, 1704, difficulties arose respect- ing Mr. Mors's settlement in the ministry in this place. On what ground the uneasiness rested I have not been able to ascertain ; but it continued without any prospect of accommodation. In the two succeed- ing years advice was asked of what were then called the upper and lower associations of ministers, of indi- vidual clergymen, and of one or more councils of churches. After much delay, and not less perplexi- ty, it was determined that the precinct should purchase Mr. Mors's " housing and lands," and indemnify him against pecuniary loss, and that he should leave them in the spring of 1706. A committee was appointed to treat with him on the subject, and to purchase his house and land for the use of the ministry, or minister. An agreement was not soon effected. But the next year, Dec. 31, 1707, Mr. Mors conveyed the premis- es to the precinct's committee. Mr. Mors styles himself in the deed,* " Heretofore preacher of the gos-
* Entered at the registry of deeds, book 14, page 646, &c. The committee, to whom the conveyance was made, consisted of Mr. Thomas Willson, Capt. Josiah Jones, Capt. Francis
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pel in the west precinct of Watertown." He was af- terwards settled at Stoughton, now Canton.
In the controversy between the precinct and Mr. Mors, whatever might be the grounds of it, there was, no doubt, considerable irritation. He and his oppos- ers were thought by council to be in fault. This sel- dom fails to be the case among contending parties. Mr. Mors had stedfast friends, who were zealous for his settlement ; but they agreed to relinquish this ob- ject, and unite in the choice of another man, if the pre- cinct would join in calling in mediators to attempt a reconciliation between Mr. Mors and his opponents. This was done without effect.
In 1706 the precinct was presented at the court of sessions on account of their not having a settled minis- ter. A committee was appointed to answer to the presentment, at Charlestown, Sept. 25, 1706.
Feb. 11, 1707, the precinct chose Mr. Nathaniel Gookin to be their minister. He negatived their call, and was afterwards settled at Hampton, New Hamp- shire.
The presentment still lay before the court of ses- sions. A committee was again chosen to make re- turn to the court at Charlestown, to be holden, April 23, 1707. May 9, 1707, the precinct met to hear the order of the court ; and again, June 9, 1707, to agree upon a return to the court at Concord. A petition was prepared, to be presented to the court, assigning Fullam, and Lieut. John Brewer. The premises were assign- ed to the Rev. William Williams, April 28, 1714, recorded in book 22, page 211.
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reasons for not having a minister settled. The petition- ers say, " Once more we humbly pray, that the Hon- ourable Court would not put Mr. Joseph Mors into the work of the ministry in our precinct," &c. From this it appears, that the people in this place were ap- prehensive that Mr. Mors might be fixed here by or- der of court, and not by their own election.
July 16, 1707, they chose Mr. Thomas Tufts to be their minister. He negatived the call, Sep. 4, 1707, and, falling into an ill state of health, was never settled in the ministry.
As late as Sep. 1707, the difficulty with Mr. Mors, in respect to his interest in the parish, was not adjusted. If we might be allowed to draw an infer- ence, it would be, that he was not very ready to ac- commodate himself to the views either of this people, or of their advisers. Faults there were, undoubtedly, on both sides ; but as much condescension appears on the part of the precinct, as is to be found in almost any similar case. I cannot but venerate the fathers of this town when I trace the records of their proceed- ings.
Jan. 14, 1708, they agreed to keep a day of fasting and prayer, and choose a committee to state the rea- sons and grounds for the observance of a day for this purpose to those ministers who should be invited to assist in the solemnity.
Feb. 4, 1708, the people gave Mr. William Wil- liams* a call to settle in the ministry in this place.
* Mr. Williams was son of the Rev. William Williams of Hatfield, grand son of Mr. Isaac Williams of Roxbury, and 6
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Some time being taken for consideration, and to adjust certain preliminaries, Mr. Williams manifested his acceptance of the call, August 23, 1709. A church was gathered in this place, and Mr. Williams ordain- ed, Nov. 2, 1709, about eleven years and an half after the Farms had become a distinct precinct. The church consisted, at first, of eighteen male members, nine from other churches, and nine who had not been communicants .* Jan. 4, 1710, two deacons were chosen, who accepted the trust.
March 30, 1710, money was granted to finish the meeting house. By this we learn that the small meet- ing house, only 30 feet square, begun in 1695, was not finished in fifteen years. This was truly a day of small things.
March 1718, a motion was brought forward in town meeting to build a new meeting house. The subject was deferred. Oct. 23, 1721, the town voted to build a new meeting house, and to appropriate their proportion of the bills of credit issued by the General Court to this object. Thus it appears that the build-
great grand son of Mr. Robert Williams, who came to this country from Norwich, in England. Mr. Williams of Hat- field aud Mr. Williams of Deerfield were cousins, classmates, and neighbouring ministers in the frontier settlements.
* Nathaniel Cooledge and Thomas Flegg from Mr. Gibbs's church; Joseph Lovell and John Parkhurst from Mr. An- gier's ; John Livermore, Francis Fullam, Abel Allen, Ebene- zer Allen, and Francis Pierce, from the church in Sudbury. The other nine were Josiah Jones, Thomas Weight, Joseph Allen, Josiah Jones jun. Joseph Livermore, Joseph Allen jun. Samuel Seaverns, Joseph Woolson, and George Robinson.
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ing of three meeting houses, within the limits of the original town of Watertown, was aided by the pub- lick bills of credit, issued, I suppose, on the principles of what was called the land bank.
Weston progressed in the work, and in the sum- mer of 1722 raised the house in which we are now as- sembled, making it ninety years old the last season. It underwent thorough repairs in 1800, when the stee- ple and two porches were erected, and the bell pro- cured.
Mr. Williams continued in the ministry until Oct. 24, 1750, being forty one years wanting nine days, and was then dismissed by a mutual council. He was esteemed a scholar, and good preacher. After his dismission, contrary to the too frequent practice of clergymen that are removed from office, he was a peaceable parishioner, and treated his successor with kindness and respect.
The Rev. Samuel Woodward succeeded Mr. Wil- liams in the ministry, and was ordained, Sept. 25, 1751, eleven months and one day after the dismission of his predecessor. Mr. Woodward died, Oct. 5, 1782. ætat: 56. Allowing eleven days for the altera- tion of the style between his ordination and death, one day was wanting to complete the thirty first year of his ministry. He died greatly beloved and lament- ed by the people of his charge, by his brethren in office, and by an extensive circle of acquaintance. His memory is yet dear to many of this society. He was a serious, sensible, practical preacher, rarely entering upon controversial points, but always striving to mend
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the heart and life. Extremes he carefully avoided, while he preached Christ, and him crucified, and adopt- ed the evangelical style in his discourses. He was cheerful and facctious without lessening his dignity as a minister, or christian. He had uncommon social talents. No man could more happily blend the cheer- ful with the grave in conversation, and yet preserve their exact bounds. His company was sought and ad- mired by all classes, old and young, the serious and gay ; and he discovered a disposition to please and improve all ; and with a peculiar air of pleasantry, he could give perfect ease and satisfaction to the most mixed circles ; while at the same time, with a no less singular air of gravity he could set bounds to any pro- pensity to overleap the rules of decorum, or of chris- tian sobriety. He delighted to see all happy, and, so far as it depended on him, to make them so : but, in his most pleasant and free intercourse with his people and friends, he took care not to lose sight of the great object of his ministry, the moral improvement of men, their ultimate happiness, and the glory of his and their God. Mr. Woodward was a descendant of an ancient and respectable family in Newton .*
The speaker was the immediate successor of Mr. Woodward, and was ordained, Nov. 5, 1783, just thirteen months after the decease of his predecessor.t
* He was son of Mr. Ebenezer Woodward, and grandson of Mr. John Woodward, an early settler in Newton. The in- heritance is in possession of Mr. Elijah Woodward, one of the fifth generation inclusive.
+ The author of the discourse takes the liberty to add a
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Having obtained help of God, he yet continues. Though he has experienced some indisposition, he has not been kept from the house of worship but one sab- bath, either by sickness or inclemency of weather, for thirty years : Nor has he left the pulpit without a sup- ply, on his own private business, but two sabbaths within the term.
On comparing dates it will be perceived, that this town has been without a settled minister only two years and one day for one hundred and three years the thir-
short account of his own ancestors. Mr. Francis Kendal, who settled in Woburn, was the first in this country, and, so far as he has been able to ascertain, the ancestor of all that bear the name of Kendal in New England. The time of his arrival in this country is not known. He married in Woburn in 1644. His grandson Thomas, whose father's name was Thomas, mar- ried Sarah, the eldest daughter of the Rev. Thomas Checver, of Chelsea, and grand daughter of Mr. Ezekiel Cheever, who kept a grammar school more than 70 years, by whom he had fourteen children. The writer, born at Sherburne July 11, 1753, is son of Elisha, their twelfth ehild, now living, Feb. 24, 1813, in the 89th of his age.
Dr. Eliot, in his Biog. Die. 137, 138, has noticed the lon- gevity of Mr. Ezekiel Cheever, and of some of his descendants. The venerable school-master died ætat: 94, his son Samuel, minister at Marblehead, 85, his son Thomas, minister at Chel- sea, 93, his daughter, who married Mr. Benjamin Burt, 88. 'To this account we add, his daughter, who married Mr. Thom- as Kendal, died ætat: 78. Her husband lived to 94}. Their daughter Sarah to 93, their son Benjamin to 96 wanting four days. Their son Elisha, as above stated, is in the 89th year of his age.
The inheritance of Francis Kendal is yet, in part at least. possessed by his descendants that hear the name.
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teenth of last November. The three ministers ordain. ed in this place have filled the office more than a cen- tury.
Including the first eighteen, 694 have been admit- ted to church fellowship ; 425 under Mr. Williams's ministry ; 163 under Mr. Woodward's; 106 under mine.
There have been 2569 baptisms; 1082 in Mr. Williams's ministry, 18 between his dismission and Mr. Woodward's ordination, 922 in Mr. Woodward's ministry, 15 between his decease and my induction to office, and 532 since.
Twelve deacons have been chosen, and have offi- ciated in this church ; of whom the four last chosen still live and sustain the office .*
There is no correct source from which I can ascer- tain the number of births and deaths within the past century. The population of the town has varied but little since my acquaintance with it. According to the census, taken at three different periods, it stands at a little more than a thousand.
* Capt. Josiah Jones and John Parkhurst, chosen Jan. 4, 1710. Benjamin Brown, April 20, 1715. Ensign John War- ren in 1733. Of the choice of the next two, viz. Nathaniel Allen and. Abijah Upham, I can find no record ; but they both officiated withiu the memory of a number of the present inhabitants. Sept. 14, 1767, Thomas Upham and Thomas Russell were chosen. Dec. 18, 1780, Samuel Fiske and Isaac Hobbs were elected. Jan. 7, 1808, Nathan Warren and Thom- as Biglow were appointed.
Since my ordination we have buried but one deacon, viz. deacon Thomas Russell, who sustained the office almost twen- ty five years.
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Since my ordination I have solemnized 214 mar- riages, besides a few in neighbouring towns which have been destitute of a minister.
The bill of mortality I shall exhibit is for thirty years, beginning Jan. 1, 1783, and ending Jan. 1, 1813. I have no document to enable me to extend it farther back. There stand on my records 416 deaths; from which number deduct 20 that do not properly come into the account, being only visitors, or such as had come into the town in the last stages of disease, hop- ing to find relief from the salubrity of the air. After this deduction the number is 396, making the annual average number thirteen and one fifth, or sixty six in five years. Of the 396, ninety arrived at the 70th year of their age, and upwards, making more than one in four and an half that arrived to what is called the com- Inon age of man. Out of the ninety, who lived to this age, fifty two attained to their eightieth year, and upwards, giving more than one in eight that arrived to four score years. Of the fifty two that arrived to this age, twenty seven lived to eighty five, and upwards, giving one in fourteen and two thirds that attained to these advanced years. Twelve lived to ninety, and up- wards, making one in thirty three of this very great age. Three lived to ninety five and upwards, giving one in one hundred and thirty two that continued to this advanced period ; and one lived to be one hundred and two years old, wanting about six weeks .*
* This was Mrs. Mercy Hastings, relict of Mr. John Has- tings, who died at the age of 88. She was a native of New- ton. Her maiden name was Mercy Ward. She retained her
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The bill of mortality now given, which includes a period of thirty years, shews Weston to be as healthy a spot, as almost any in the known world. A greater proportion have attained to 70 years, than we meet with in other accounts. Perhaps no place in New En- gland could present fairer proof of the salubrity of its air and situation.
But the fathers, where are they ? and the prophets, do they live forever ? The hand of time has removed all who were on the stage at the commencement of the century, whose close we this day witness ; and it is not probable that any now born will see the end of the one on which we are entering.
According to the ratio for the last thirty years, al- lowing the number of inhabitants to have been the same, which, however, is not the fact, the number of deaths would amount to 1320, nearly a third more than the whole population. With but very few exceptions, a century of years carries with it all the inhabitants it found on the earth at its commencement, thus evincing the mortality of man ! But, as one generation passeth away another cometh; and, in rapid succession, the sons take the place of their fathers.
The period we have been reviewing, and of which we have given only a few historical sketches, has been
faculties till she was about one hundred years old. A little before she was 99 years old the writer met her from home, at the wedding of a grand daughter, where she spent the evening and gratified, at least a part of the company, by correct an- swers to inquiries relating to the days of old. She was a plea- sant guest ; not loquacious, but intelligent.
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fruitful in great events, and brought upon the stage many illustrious characters. Distressing calamities, and mighty revolutions have fallen within its compass. America has risen to the rank of an independent na- tion, and at a former period enjoyed unexampled pros- perity. But we have not time to trace events, in which our own country has had a deep interest, or borne a conspicuous part. In a retrospect we see that the Lord has done great things for us, whereof we have reason to be glad. He has protected our fathers, and blessed their offspring.
Since our ancestors landed on these shores, the wil- derness has blossomed as the rose, and the desert be- come a fruitful field. The haunts of wild beasts, or of savage tribes, have become populous cities, villages, or towns. Where nothing met the eye but nature in her rudest dress, where nothing saluted the ear but the yell of savages, and the howlings of beasts of prey ; there spacious temples are erected to the living God, united vows offered to him, and the blessings of civiliz- ed life enjoyed.
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