USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Quincy > Some account of the early history and present state of the town of Quincy, in the commonwealth of Massachusetts > Part 5
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¡The religious services at his ordination, were performed by the following clergy- nen : introductory Prayer, by the Rev. Prof. Ware, of Cambridge. then minister of Hingham ; Sermon by Rev. Mr. Whitney, of Northborough ; Ordaining Prayer by Rev. Dr. Fiske, of West Cambri lge ; Charge by Rev. Mr. Cummings, of Billerica ; Right Hand of Fellowship by Rev. Mr. MeKean, of Milton ; Concluding Prayer by Rev. Dr. Harris, of Dorchester.
§Mr. Stephen Kinsley, of Dorchester, now Milton, was ordained the first ruling elder in this Church, Oct. 12, 1653: Mr. Francis Eliot and Mr. William Alice were ordained Deacons the same day. The successive Deacons to this day are these, viz. Mr. Robert Parmenter, chosen in the room of Deacon Eliot, who deceased Oct. 23. 1677 ; and Mr. Samuel Thompson, son to the pastor, both ordained, Nov. 2, 1679, by the Rev. Mr. Fiske. Then succeeded Mr. Thomas Bass, Mr. Joseph Penniman, Mr. Nathaniel Wales ; afterwards ordained ruling elder, viz. Feb. 27, 1700, by Mr. Fiske. The Rev. Mr. Peter That her, of Milton, and elder John Rogers, of Weymouth, join- ing in the laying on of hands. Mr. Beniamin Sevil succeeded Mr. Wales in the De ...
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For the last thirty years, this society has been more united per- haps than any other in our country. No "root of bitterness" has in any measure sprung up to trouble them; none of that ill-will. which sectarianism so often produces, has been found among them; nor have any of those sources of division arisen, which, in so many of the towns of New England, have rent the happiest societies asun- der, divided parents and children, and mingled the spirit of unchar- itableness, bigotry, and any spirit but that of Christ, with that wor- ship of God, which should be "first pure then peaceable."
The church in which the congregational society at present assem- ble, (1827,) is the second house which has been erected for the pub- lic worship of God, by this society. It has usually been supposed that it was the third, because Mr. Hancock, in his sermon observes, " This is the third house, in which we are now worshipping, that we and our Fathers have built for the public worship of God." But by inquiry, I find that by this he was understood to mean that two were built by this society, and one by the Episcopalians.
In the records, is the following account of a vote, which was pass- ed in 1695. * "November, A. D. 1695-It being then proposed by the inhabitants, whether the present meeting-house in Braintrey should be repaired or another built, it was then voted that a new meeting house be erected or built; a second vote was that Mr. Ca- leb Hubbard, and Benjamin Savel, should be a committee to repaire and stoppe the leaks in the south side of the meeting-house for the present. Benj. Thompson, T. C."
Afterwards we find this record, " Nov. 25, 1706, The inhabitants of the town of Braintrey, being lawfully convened, it was then pro- posed by the moderator, that whereas there were two meeting-houses erected in this town, whether the south end shall be a congregation by themselves, for the worship and service of God. It was then voted, by the major part of said inhabitants, on the affirmative."
This then seems to be the meeting-house, built according to the vote passed in 1695; and, in fact, in 1708, what is now called the first parish in Braintree was made a distinct parish, as we have seen, and they probably worshipped in the house just referred to. More- over, the present meeting-house in Quincy was finished in 1732, and it would be altogether improbable to suppose that in so short a time another meeting-house should have been built, on the supposition that one was built also for this Parish in 1695.
The stone meeting-house was the only one, therefore, before the present house, (1827,) and was placed on the rising ground near the present market house, occupying the spot on which stands the shop of Mr. Benjamin Faxon. It continued standing for some time after
conship, then Mr. Moses Paine, then Mr. Gregory Belcher, who was killed by a plough, July 4, 1727 ; then Mr. Peter Adams, and Mr. Samuel Savil were chosen, Aug. 21, 1727. So that there have been 14 Deacons in this Church, and 2 ruling elders. Elder Wales died, March 23, 1717-18. See Hancock's Century Serm. p. 23, note.
Since that period, the following gentlemen have officiated as Deacons. Moses Belcher, Joseph Neal, Joseph Palmer, John Adams, Jonathan Webb, Benjamin Bass, Ebenezer Adams, Daniel Arnold, Jonathan Webb, Elijah Veazie, Jonathan Bass, Messrs. Josiah Adams, Daniel Spear, and Samuel Savil, are the present Deacons.
$Cce Braintree Rec. Vol. I. p. 12.
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the present one was built; but was not used, as some have supposed, for a school-house. When it was first erected, it served a double purpose; a garrison* to defend the inhabitants against the Indians, and a place for public worship.
The churches in the early days of our country had little indeed of comfort or accommodation about them. There were no pews, ex- cept such as each individual chose to build at his own expense. In the first vol. of Braintree Records, are found many curious votes passed in relation to this subject. One in particular may be men- tioned. " Whereby permission is granted to a certain gentleman to build him a pew over the pulpit provided he so builds it as not to darken the pulpit." t
The present house was dedicated in 1732, Oct. 8. "It was rais- ed" says Mr. Hancock, "July 27, 28, 29, 1731, in peaceable times. The text preached upon at the dedication was Isaiah lx. 13. The sacrament of the Lord's supper was then administered; at the same time also we began to read the Holy Scriptures in course. The portion then read was 1 Kings, 8th chap. The Sabbath following we began the book of Job and the Gospel of Matthew. Deo optimo maximo Laus et gloria."Į
The first tower of this house was struck by lightning about the year 1755, and shattered to pieces. It was placed on the top of the roof, on the north-west end. The present tower was built just be- fore the revolutionary war, but the inhabitants were prevented from completing the cupola till after the war.
This church has undergone several repairs at different periods. By the increase of the population, it was found to be too small for the accommodation of the people, and in 1806, it was rendered more commodious by opening it through the whole length, and increasing Its size by a great number of pews. The whole appearance of the church was improved by this act, and thus it has continued to the present time. The engraving at the beginning of this pamphlet shows its appearance in 1827.6
*The other public garrison was near the house of Mr. Joseph Bass. Indeed, the cellar to his house is the same one which was dug for the garrison. His garden was, in former times, fenced in, and used as a place of safety for the cattle, against the at- tacks of the Indians. Between his house and the hill, on which stood the other gar- rison, the stone meeting-house, was an immense swamp. This swamp was altogether impenetrable, except by one or two paths, known only to the inhabitants. And, ec- cordingly, when the Indians were hereabouts, the people from the two garrisons could pass from one to the other, through the swamp, without the least danger of annoyance. The place has little the appearance of an impassable swamp now.
tThe vane of this first Church has been preserved to the present time. Towards the close of the life of President Adams, senior, he had it placed before his house, on a pole, where it still remains.
+"Praise and glory to God all great and good."
Mr. Hancock records, that Madam Norton presented a very handsome velvet cushion for the pulpit of this Church.
§The dimensions of this house, since the last alteration, are as follows : Width 56 feet, length 61 feet, height of tower to bell-deck 50 feet, height of cupola from bell-deck 25 feet, height of ball, above the vane, from the ground, 75 feet. The appearance of the Church, inside, as well as out, is still very respectable. There are 87 pews on the lower floor, and all painted throughout. The galleries, as well as the roof, are support- ed by four large pillars, which give the house rather a solemn and imposing appearance. The pulpit is in the ancient style of building, handsomely carved, with one flight of
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The inhabitants are now engaged in erecting a new church of stone for their better accommodation, in consequence of a very lih- eral grant of the Hon. John Adams, of several quarries of stone for that purpose. Another generation has risen up to worship with their fathers, for whose convenience a larger church seems to be required. The utmost harmony has prevailed in regard to the subject, and it is expected that a new Church will be prepared for the worship of God in the course of another year, equally creditable to the public spirit of the inhabitants and the memory of the honorable donor.
EPISCOPAL CHURCH.
The Episcopal Church* in this place, was built sometime between the years 1725 and 1728. There is in existence, a bond of Samuel Pain, dated August 13, 1725, to pay 5l. to Peter Marquand and oth- ers, a committee " for building a Church of England in Braintree." And a record is made in the hand-writing of Dr. Miller, that the first meeting within the walls of the Church, was held on Easter Monday, 1728.
It appears also, from another bond, that an agreement was made between Ebenezer Miller, on the one hand, and Heury Turner, Pc- ter Marquand, John Vesey, George Cheesman, Benjamin Vesey and Samuel Pain, on the other hand, and by this agreement Mr. Miller received 100l., which suin was to be returned to Turner and others, with interest, in one year, if before that time he should not be " ap- pointed to preach as minister of the Episcopal Church in Braintrec, by the honorable society, for propagating the Gospel in forcigu parts." This sum was intended to defray the expense of Mr. Miller's voyage to England.
Mr. Miller was then Master of Arts at Cambridge, New-England He went to Europe and was ordained Deacon by Edmund, Lord Bishop of London, June 99, 1726, and Priest, July, 1727, was ere- ated Master of Arts at Oxford, July 16, 1797, was licensed to preach the Gospel in Massachusetts, 24th July, 1727, was appointed mis- sionary to Braintree, New-England, Aug. 26, 1727, and Domestic Chaplain to the Duke of Bolton, Sept. 28, 1727. He then returned to Braintree, where he officiated till his death, Feb. 11, 1763. His remains are entombed under the Church, over which he presided for 36 years. f
During this period he was once again in England, and was creat- ed Doctor in Divinity at Oxford, Dec. 8, 1747. From February 11.
-tairs. Below is the Commun'or Table, forming the front part of a large pew ; accord- ing to ancient custom, made for the accommodation of the Devrons, or perhaps for the Ruling Ellers. In front of. the gallery, for the choir of singers, is a handsome clock presented to the Society by two ladies, Madam Abigail Manas. wife of President Ad- ains. senior, and Madam Esther Black, widow of the late Moses Black, Esq.
"This account of the Episcopal Church is taken from a Report of a Committee on pews ; of which L. M. Saugert Esq. was chairman
+Dr. Miller lived in a house which stood till it was taken down, a short time since. where now stands the house of Edward Miller, Esq. a lineal descendant of the worth divine. The house, which was taken down, was very ofl, and an elegant house for it: day. it was. for many years. the residence of Major Ebenezer Milles any of the Dortor.
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1263, to the Christmas following, the Church was destitute of a man- ister. From Dec. 1763, to March 30, 1777, being Easter Sunday, the Rev. Edward Winslow was its pastor. From March 30, 1777, to the ordination of its present minister, there has been no settled clergyman over the church.
The land on which this church is erected and its surrounding yard. were granted as a free gift by William and Benjamin Vesey, August 26, 1725, in these words: "For building a Church of England upon, and for no other purpose." On the settlement of Mr. Winslow, the congregation agreed with the society abroad, by whom be was ap- pointed, to provide a decent house and glebe for his accommodation.
Accordingly, Feb. 25, 1764, a subscription commenced with that intent, the head of which closes in these words: "for the use and benefit of an Episcopal minister forever, performing divine service according to the liturgy of the Church of England, at said Brain- tree."
The deed is from Thomas Alleyne and wife, dated April 2, 1765, to the wardens of this church and their successors, "to and for the sole use and benefit of said Episcopal Church," and for the consid- eration of 306l. 13s. 4d. lawful money. To this purchase 204. were contributed by John Borland, and 421. by Jolm Apthorp, of London.
On Easter Sunday, 1777, Mr. Winslow gave notice that he should no longer officiate in this church, and on the 2d of August, 1777, he sailed with his son from Boston to Rhode Island, to be exchanged for two prisoners. Death prevented the execution of this design.
On Easter Sunday, 1760, a collection was made for the sufferers by a fire in Boston, and the society felt themselves able to bestow on this object 11l. 0 11. lawful money.
In 1773, it was found necessary to enlarge the church at the cast end 13 feet. The pulpit was then removed to the corner of the north range of pews from the centre of the opposite side.
On the records of the church up to this period, may be found near- ly 800 baptisms. In 1764, sixty-four heads of families are named by Mr. Winslow, as belonging to this church, and sixty communicants knelt round the altar.
In 1777, without any symptoms of decline, it may be said to have fallen in the midst of its strength. In that year Mr. Winslow ad- hering to the principles of monarchy, abandoned the church and the colonies. The fall of the church since that period has perhaps justly been ascribed to the necessary connexion between it and the Gov- ernment of England, during the revolutionary struggle.
Mr. Miller and Mr. Winslow, received from the society for propa- gating the gospel, 60l. sterling, or $266; the residue of their sala- ries being paid by their parishioners. But after the revolution, when we could no longer pray for the King as our ruler, this support was withdrawn.
After this the church became little more than a church in name. Without a minister and without revennes, it was supplied by readers, and at times by some gentlemen in orders. The lay reader who first followed Mr. Winslow, was Mr. Joseph Cleverly. At a meeting on Easter Sunday, 1784, the thanks of the church were voted to Mr. Cleverly for his past services, and at the same meeting it was voted 'o confer with the Rev. Mr. Parker, on the subject of applying to
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Mr. Taylor to officiate in this church. Whence it is inferred that Mr. Cleverly's first term of service was from 1777 to '84, about seven years.
At an adjourned meeting of the church, May 17, 1784, James Ap- thorp, Esq. was requested to solicit the society for propagating the Gospel, once more to lend their aid here.
At another adjournment, May 31, 1784, it was voted to engage Mr. Wheeler to officiate one Sabbath in each month.
At a meeting Oct. 3, 1784, some attempt was made to settle Mr. Graves, of Providence, but after a conference with that gentleman it failed.
March 28, 1785, the church renewed its contract with Mr. Wheel- er, to preach once a month till Jan. 1, 1786, and afterwards on Easter Monday, till 1787. The contract was annually renewed, and Mr. Wheeler supplied the church thus till April, 1790; Mr. Cleverly reading service when he was absent. April 26, 1790, it was voted that Mr. Wheeler be employed only once in two months.
May 16, 1791, James Apthorp and others were appointed to pro- cure a minister for the summer, and the Rev. Joseph Warren, was applied to and occasionally preached, as did also the Rev. William Montague.
April 8, 1793, the contract to preach monthly was renewed with Mr. Montague, and continued till 1799. It was then thought proper to employ his services through the summer, and upon occasional Sabbaths.
After the year 1801, to which period Mr. Montague continued to supply, different clergymen and readers have been employed, who have officiated for single Sabbaths or longer stated periods; of this number were Mr. John L. Blackburn, once rector of St. John's Church, Providence; William Clark, James B. Howe, Calvin Woll- cutt, &c.
The church continued to have preaching, without a settled minis- ter till 1822. " Oct. 8, 1822, it was voted that this society accept the consent of the present incumbent, the Rev. B. C. Cutler, to of- ficiate permanently in this church, as their pastor, and they hereby agree to pay over to him annually, the whole future income of the church, together with the rent of the glebe, after deducting the ne- cessary current expenses; and they sincerely pray that their society may be increased under his care, so as to render the salary more worthy of his acceptance in succeeding years."
Rev. Benjamin Clark Cutler, was ordained* deacon of the church 19th September, 1812. He commenced preaching here in July of the same year. He has since been admitted to the order of priests.
Since that period the church has been enlarged by two wings run- ning the whole length of the house; and now many more assemble within its walls for the public worship of God, than have assembled there at any period since the foundation of the Church.
EDUCATION.
From the first settlement of the town great attention has been paid to the education of the young. The Puritans in their poverty never
* At his ordination the Rev. Dr. Gardner, of Trinity Church, Boston, read prayers. and the Rev. Bishop Griswold, of Bristol, preached.
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lost sight of learning, and that spirit of theirs which led them to look more mildly on death than on ignorance, passed down from 'sire to son,' and was not suffered to perish here.
Alnost among the very earliest records of the town, are those which relate to the establishment and maintenance of schools. Neal says, in early days " Roxbury and Braintree are distinguished for their free schools."
The first school-house in this town stood near the spot on which the first meeting-house was placed, and occupied the land on which now stands the house of Mr. John Green. The next stood on Pen's* hill, near Mr. Henry Hardwick's house, and was kept many years by a Mrs. Belcher. President Adams, sen. was one of her scholars. The vote for the erection of this school-house, is still on record. " Oct. 2, 1697-Voted that a new school-houset should be built in the road between Clement Cox his house, and Gregory Belcher's, hard by the white-oakt tree. The dimensions of the house to be twenty feet long, the width sixteen feet long, and seven foot between joynts."
The next school-houses stood on the land where now stands the house of Mr. George Newcomb, nearly opposite the Hancock lot. The school-house which stood till it was burnt down in 1815, on the edge of the green opposite the meeting-house, was the next in order. The one now standing was raised shortly after that was burnt, and finished in 1817. The whole cost of this building was $2127 19: over the school-rooms is a large and convenient Hall, used by the town for the transaction of all public business.
Besides the schools kept in the houses above mentioned, others were added to the several districts as the town increased. From the situation of the town, it is hardly capable of the same accommoda- tions in regard to schools it might otherwise possess.
The central school which is kept through the year, is so far re- moved from some of the districts, as to make it inconvenient for all who might wish to attend; and although two schools placed in favora-
*For this information I am indebted to Mr. Joseph Bass, who is of the very best authority in matters of tradition ; and to him also for an anecdote relating to this same Mrs. Belcher. It was a custom with her to carry her corn to mill herself, except when some one of her scholars lent her a helping hand. John Adams, afterwards President of the United States, was a favorite among the rest, and when he carried the corn, she gave him as a reward three coppers, and charged him at the same time to keep his money to buy land with. It is unnecessary to add how well he profited by early instruction.
+This school-house was a very fine one for those days. It had a bell attached to it for the use of the scholars. But a bell was so novel a thing that, when the master was not in the school, it was kept incessantly ringing. This was not found so agree- able to those who lived near, and who would oftentimes have preferred to have been spared what the scholars considered so delightful a treat. One morning the scholars came to their bell rope with their accustomed earnestness, but most unfortunately for them the bell had been taken in the night and was never afterwards heard of.
¿This white-oak tree seems to have been one of note, for it is often referred to, and made of as much importance, as if it had been a mountain never to be moved.
§This school-house stood partly in the road. It was kept by a Mr. Fisher, who made it a custom, as it was then a custom in all the schools, to hear his scholars re- cite on Saturday morning in the Assembly's Catechism. Mr. Joseph Bass was then a boy, and one morning among the rest was questioned to recite. But he refused, saying, that his father wished him not to recite in the Catechism. He was excused by the master, but the matter was the cause of some excitement. Afterwards Mr. Wisher was invited to dine with the father. and the affair was settled.
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ble situations to be kept through the year anght seem to remedy the evil, it has not as yet been thought expedient to make such an ar- rangement. According to the present system, two of the larger and most distant districts are furnished with a school-master during four months in the year, while in the sununer season all the districts are provided with a school-mistress.
A private school is also kept by Mr. William Seaver, for scholars attending to the English studies, which from the experience of the gentleman in school-keeping, will, without doubt, be found of great value to the place, as an accommodation for those who may choose to have the benefit of private instruction.
'The following are the sums which the town have seen fit to raise for the several years mentioned. The sums have been increased from year to year according to the demand for larger appropriations, and their means of conveniently satisfying that demand.
In 1792, voted to raise 75/. for the support of schools.
1802, 1810,
$430
799 1826,
1360
Between the years 1740 and '60, a Latin school was kept in this town by Mr. Joseph Marsh, son of the former minister, which was one of the most respectable schools in the country. He kept his school in the house now owned by Mr. Frederick Hardwick, sen. He prepared young men for college, and fitted others for honorable stations in life. John Adams, Zabdiel Adams, and Josiah Quincy, jr. went through the course of studies preparatory to entering the Uni- versity, under his care and direction.
By the liberal *donation of the late President Adams, a founda- tion has been laid for an Academy here, which at some future time will place the means of obtaining a classical education within the reach of all in the town who may desire to avail themselves of them.
Libraries. The Adams Library, so called from its donor, is one of the most valuable in the State for its size. It was presented to the inhabitants of Quincy by the Hon. John Adams, a short time be- fore his death. It consists of about 3000 volumes, and contains some of' the very choicest works, some of which are not to be found in any public library in the country. It is designed to be placed in a room of the Academy for the benefit of the school. At present, the inhabitants derive little or no benefit from it. But if the design of the " beneficent benefactor" shall hereafter be answered, as with- out doubt, some time or other, it will, their children and their chil- dren's children, to the latest time, may successfully derive from it those advantages, which the aged patriot had in view in present- ing it.
The Quincy Social Library, is owned by a number of proprietors, and is intended for a circulating library. It consists of two or three hundred volumes, and has been the means of exciting a love of read- ing and of useful knowledge, which have amply compensated for all the expense attending it. It might be still more enlarged and made of incalculable advantage to the town.
"In addition to the land containing the quarries of stone, the Hon. John Adam :. presented to the town, a very valuable lot of land, called the ' Hancock lot,'-and on this, recording to the conditions of the grant. the Academy is to be placed
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Beside these, are many private libraries belonging to diferent to- dividuals, which, with the attention paid to learning, bear strong tes- rimony to the intelligence, good sense, and public spirit of the peo- ple.
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