USA > Massachusetts > Middlesex County > Concord > The history of Concord, Massachusetts > Part 26
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His first pastorate was in his native town, where he suc- ceeded his father and where he preached about a score of years as a non-conformist minister.
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His career in this field was terminated by Archbishop Laud, who because of his nonconformity to the established church deposed him, which act led Dr. Bulkeley soon afterwards to embark for America.
In 1635, after his arrival in this country, he went to Cambridge and was made a freeman May 6, of the same year.
He was possessed of considerable property for colonial days, the amount being estimated at several thousand pounds, but his intense enthusiasm and broad liberality in the colonization of Concord, together with other outgoings of his noble nature greatly reduced his possessions, so that at his death, which occurred March 9, 1659, his estate, as mentioned, amounted to only 1302 pounds, of which 123 pounds was in books.
So benevolent was Mr. Bulkeley that his gifts extended not only to the public but to his servants, of whom it is said he had many, and to whom he gave farms.
The scholarly traits of Mr. Bulkeley have long been known both by tradition and by the traces of them in his published works, prominent among which was one entitled "The Gospel Covenant," which was issued in 1646.
He was considered a powerful preacher, and the repre- sentations of those living near to his time are that he was evangelical and that the chief aim of his ministery was to impress upon men their religious needs and to lead them to the Gospel as the only source of supply.
As a pastor, we conclude he was full of zeal for the spiritual well being of his flock, as it is said that seldom did a person leave his presence without having heard some word that impressed him with the importance of religion.
As a man he was large-hearted, public spirited, and attracted people through his personal affability. He was considered the father of his parish, explemplary in conduct, wise in counsel, tender and appreciative to the law-abiding and severe in his judgment of evildoers. His dress was plain and he wore his hair short. We infer that his consti-
HILLSIDE CHAPEL. (School of Philosophy. )
L.V.A. 1932 - 1995
M. V. N. 1540-1579
GRAVE OF LOUISA ALCOTT, SLEEPY HOLLOW.
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tution was robust since he endured much and lived to the age of seventy-seven.
The names of his children by his first marriage are as follows : Edward, Mary, Thomas, Nathaniel, John, Mary, George, Daniel, Jabez, Joseph, William and Richard.
The following are the names of children by his second marriage : Gershom, Eleazer, Dorothy and Peter.
Edward became a minister and succeeded his father in the pastorate at Concord.
Peter, born Aug. 12, 1643, went to Fairfield Conn. to which place his two brothers, Thomas who married a daughter of Elder John Jones, and Daniel went in 1644.
In a will of Gershom made May 12, 1712, is the following item; "To my brother's children, Gershom, Peter, Grace, Margaret and Dorothee, I give each of them ten shillings."
In a will of Peter Bulkeley of Fairfield Conn. dated March 25, 1691, the testator speaks of himself as being in the 49th year of his age; and mentions a son Peter and daughters Grace and Margaret.
The name Bulkeley has been variously spelled. The first Peter wrote it "Bulkeley ;" his son Edward wrote it "Bul- kely" or "Bulkeley ;" and the Hon. Peter son of Edward followed the form used by his grandfather. The common pronunciation of the name is as if spelled Buckley.
Rev. Peter Bulkeley in the second division of land received a tract of seven hundred and fifty acres in what is now Lincoln, a part of which is the present Codman place.
It is not known where the distinguished pioneer pastor of Concord was buried. The Rev. Dr. Ripley in his "Half Century" sermon says
"There is reason to believe that the three first ministers viz, Peter Bulkeley, Edward Bulkeley and Joseph Esta- brook were laid in the same tomb."
His will is among the Probate records of Middlesex County, and in this will are the following clauses, which serve to reveal much of his character
"In case any of my children before named in this, my
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will, to whom I have bequeathed the legacies named shall prove disobedient to their mother or otherwise vicious or wicked (which God in his mercy prevent) then, I will that the legacy shall be virtually in the power of my said widow, their mother, to deal with them therein as she herself in Christian wisdom shall think meet, either to give their leg- acy or to keep it herself."
He alludes to his "wasted estate," which he says "is now very little in comparison of what it was when I came first to these places, having made great sacrifices in the begin- ning of these plantations and having little to leave to the children God hath given me and to my precious wife, whose unfeigned piety and singular grace of God shining in her doth deserve more than I can do for her."
He gave a portion of his library to Harvard College.
In connection with the foregoing account of the town's first minister it may be appropriate to publish copies of the following papers. The first of these Shattuck informs us is endorsed as the "Concord Church Covenant" and although without signature or date it has internal evi- dence of authenticity and of being the first covenant.
We present it as it is given by Shattuck, the orthography only being changed :
"Considering the instability and inconstancy of our hearts in cleaving to the Lord in that which is good, we do bind ourselves one with another this day before the Lord, that we will endeavour by the grace of God assisting us, hencefor- ward to walk as becometh the people of God, according to the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. And more particularly do we promise and covenant before the Lord, that, whereas he hath of his great goodness brought us from under the yoke and burdening of men's traditions to the precious liberty of his ordinances which we now do enjoy, we will, according to our places and callings, stand for the maintenance of this lib- erty to our utmost endeavour, and not return to any human ordinances from which we are escaped. And we further cove- nant to subject ourselves to every ordinance of Christ, which
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he shall please to make known to us to be his will. Also we do take him to be our only Priest to instruct us, our only High Priest to make peace with the Father for us : so we will set him up as our King and Sovereign to command us, to rule in us and reign over us by the help of his word and Spirit. And that we may the better be kept in an holy subjection to him and his will, we will both watch over each other in the Lord, admonishing one another, both to pre- vent the evils into which we might fall, and to recover our- selves out of those that we have been overtaken with, not suffering any raging pollution or spiritual uncleanness amongst us, but labor to cast it forth by the power which Christ hath given to his church. And further, considering that we are members one of another, and have civil respect and are liable to be oppressed and devoured one of another ; and considering also the increase of this evil, daily getting strength through the abounding of self-love so mightily prevailing in us ; we do therefore here solemnly promise before the Lord, that we will carefully avoid of oppression, griping, and hard dealing, and walk in peace, love, mercy, and equity towards each other, doing to others as we would they should do to us. And in testimony of our willing assent to this covenant we have hereunto subscribed our names."
The second paper is a letter written by the Rev. Peter Bulkeley to Mr. Cotton of Boston.
"To the Reverend his honored friend Mr. Cotton, Teacher of the Church at Boston, give these.
"REVEREND IN THE LORD,
"Some other things I am full of, but will not write with paper and ink ; only in a word I bless God for what I hear, how the Lord doth fill your ministry with abundance of grace, life, and power, to the exceeding joy of those that are true-hearted towards the Lord. But withall I stand amazed and wonder att God's forbearance, considering what I hear in another kind; which I doe also believe to be true in some parts ; true I mean, as done and spoken by some, though untrue, in respect of any cause given on your
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part. Truly, Sir, it is to me a wonder, that the earth swal- lows not up such wretches, or that fire comes not downe from heaven to consume them. The L. hath a number of holy and humble ones here amongst us (in the country generally), for whose sakes he doth spare, and will spare long ; but were it not for such a remnant, we should see the L. would make quick work amongst us. Shall I tell you what I think to be the ground of all this insolency which discovers itself in the speach of men? Truly I can- not ascribe it so much to any outward thing, as to the put- ting of too much liberty and power into the hands of the multitude, which they are too weak to manage, many grow- ing conceited, proud, arrogant, self-sufficient, as want- ing nothing. And I am persuaded, that except there be means used to change the course of things in this point, our churches will grow more and more corrupt day by day ; and tumult will arise hardly to be stilled. Remember the former days which you had in old Boston, where though (through the Lord's blessing upon your labours) there was an increase daily added to your church, yet the number of professors is far more here, than it was there. But answer me, which place was better governed ? Where matters were swayed there by your wisdom and counsel, matters went on with stength and power for good. But here, where the heady or headless multitude have gotten the power into their hands, there is insolency and confusion. And I know not how it can be avoided in this way, unless we should make the doors of the church narrower. This we have warrant for from the word; which course, if it should be taken, would bring its conveniency also in another kind. But of these things no more. Only I pray the L. to heal the evils of the places and times we live in, and remove that woful contempt of his gospel which doth abound. O what mis- chief doth one proud, lofty spirit that is in reputation for understanding, amongst a number of others that are weak ; and some of both such there are in every place. But our comfort is, God's end and work shall go forward. Some
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shall be converted, some hardened. The God of mercy carry on his work in our hearts and hands to the gloryfying of his rich grace in Christ Jesus. I pray remember my harty love to good Mrs. Cotton, thanking her for her kind remembrance of my little ones. I pray God give us both to see his grace increasing in those that he hath continued towards us. Farewell, dearly beloved and honoured in the Lord, comfort yourself in him, who is most ready to be found in time of need. In him I rest. Yours ever,
PET : BULKELEY.
" April 4, 1650.
To close this brief sketch without the expression of a thought concerning so conspicious a character, or without a personal tribute, might be to pass it unworthily. We would say, therefore, that perhaps, all in all, no life has been more consequential in the history of any colonial town. It is a tradition that Concord was saved in the war with King Philip by his exemplary conduct and benign influence over the Indians, in that when they were assem- bled on a neighboring hilltop on April, 1675-6, and undecided whether to attack Sudbury or Concord, they con- cluded to avoid the latter for "Big Pray" had lived there.
Upon the altar of the muncipality he placed his prayers, his personality and his property. Going to it rich, he passed from it comparatively poor, and if through the dark and discouraging places in the early annals of this ancient township there has never ceased to be seen a bright spot, we may account for its presence by his influence, who while living always blest and when dead lived in the lives of others.
CHAPTER XXXIV.
Settlement of Rev. Edward Bulkeley - Rev. Joseph Estabrook called as Colleague Pastor - Measures taken for their Maintenance- Biograph ical Sketches of Rev. Edward Bulkeley -Peter Bul- keley Esquire- Acquisition of New Territory- Stow, Littleton, Carlisle and Acton-Iron Industry.
A FTER the death of Rev. Peter Bulkeley the church extended a call to his son Edward at a salary of eighty pounds a year.
In 1667, the Rev. Joseph Estabrook was employed as his colleague at the same salary. It thus occurred that the town within the space of a score and a half of years after its settlement was the second time called upon to support two religious teachers at the same time. But the people did not flinch from fulfilling their obligation to their ministers.
Feb. 3, 1680 it was voted "that every house holder that hath a teame greate or lesser shall accordingly carry yearly one loade of wood to the ministe and every other house holder or rateable person to cut wood one day and for the ministers : and that the wood is to be equaly devided to too ministers as the selectmen for the time being shall appoynt." Even in old age when his usefulness as a pastor had for the most part ceased the Rev. Edward Bulkeley was pro- vided for by his people as indicated by the following vote passed March 5, 1694, "Whereas their Reverª Pastor Mr. Edward Bulkeley is under such Infermatyes of Body by Reason of great age that he is not capeable of Attending the worke of the ministry as in times past, being Also sen- sible of the obligation that they are under to Afford to
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THE ORCHARD HOUSE, HOME OF THE ALCOTT FAMILY.
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him a comfortable maintenance dureing the Terme of his natural life, that thereby they may Testefy their Gratitude for his former service in the Gospell that they the sayd People of sayd Concord do hereby oblige ye sayd Towne to pay to ye s'd Mr. Bulkeley or to his certain order yearly each year dureing his natural life the sum of thirty pounds of mony the one halfe at or before the first of May sixteen hundred ninety five, which sum as above shall bee yearly and each year upon the sayd Termes, and which sum of Thirty pounds truly payd as above, shall be in lieu of the former sallary of eighty pounds which the sayd people were obliged to have payd yearly to him the sayd Mr. Bulkeley for his ministerial service."
The Rev. Edward Bulkeley was born at Odell, England June 17, 1614. He was admitted as a member of the First Church in Boston in 1634. He acquired his professional education under the direction of his father; and was ordained at Marshfield in 1642 or 3. He died at Chelms- ford Jan. 2, 1696, and was buried at Concord. It is stated by William Prescott Greenlaw, Librarian of the New England Historic Genealogical Society, that the name of Rev. Edward Bulkeley's wife was Lucyan; that she was living in 1668, and that her name is repeated in the Emerson branch of her descendants. They had four children : Peter, Elizabeth, John, Jane and Mary.
Peter was born Jan. 3, 1641, at Concord. He gradu- ated at Harvard College in 1660, and died in 1688.
Elizabeth married for her first husband, Rev. Joseph Emerson Dec. 7, 1665 ; her second husband was John Moody of Reading. John, the third child died young at Marshfield and was buried Feb. 26, 1658. Jane married Ephraim Flint. Mary was born about 1655, and married about the year 1678 Rev. Thomas Clark of Chelmsford. Peter became the Hon. Peter Bulkeley who early began a political career in which he became quite distinguished. He was admitted as a freeman May 1I, 1760, and on May 7, 1673 he was elected deputy to the Colonial Court
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where he served three succeeding terms, and the last year he was chosen Speaker.
For eight years he was Assistant; and Scpt. 6, 1676, he with William Stoughton was sent to England to negotiate with the King relative to certain matters of dispute in the Bay Colony. In military and also in judicial affairs he held high positions, being made a Major and by the appoint- ment of Governor Andros an Associate Justice with Chief Justice Dudley. He married Rebecca, daughter of Lieut. Joseph and Sarah Wheeler on April 16, 1667. Their children were Edward, Joseph, John and Rebecca. The
latter married Jonathan Prescott Jr.
Peter Bulkeley died May 24, 1688, at Concord after a long illness at less than fifty years of age.
His life had been full of activity but was somewhat unfortunate towards its close. Before his death his estate was in an insolvent condition. His honors had faded; he was separated from his early associates in public life, and he repaired to his native town worn and broken in health. At the time of his decease he lived "next ye Millpond," Walcott states, perhaps where Dr. Barrett now lives.
Elizabeth the third child who married for her first hus- band Rev. Joseph Emerson in 1680, and for her second, John Moody of Reading, had children as follows : Peter, Edward and Joseph.
Peter married a Miss Brown, Edward married Mary Moody and Joseph married Rebecca Waldo.
A descendant of Joseph and Rebecca was Ralph Waldo Emerson.
The following is the lineal order of successors to the great essayist.
4 Rev. Joseph Emerson - Eliz. Bulkeley.
12 Edward Emerson-Rebecca Waldo.
28 Joseph Emerson - Mary Moody.
123 William Emerson - Phebe Bliss.
307 Rev. William Emerson Ruth Haskins.
601. Ralph Waldo Emerson
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A portrait of Peter Bulkeley Esq. supposed to have been painted by Sir Godfrey Kneller at the time when Mr. Bul- keley was in England as agent for the Massachusetts Col- ony in 1676-79 is now, or was in the possession of Mrs. George D. Sargent of Boston. This picture has been reproduced and furnished by William Prescott Greenlaw a descendant of Hon. Peter Bulkeley for the Genealogical Advertiser Vol. 1 1898.
In the early part of the third decade of the town's his- tory it again petitioned for more land and a tract was granted which afterwards became the town of Acton and a part of Littleton and Carlisle.
A movement was also made by several citizens of Con- cord in conjunction with some others to colonize a tract to the west and southwest a result of which was the granting of territory which became the town of Stow.
As a concise and consecutive account of these transac- tions has been given by Shattuck in his time honored his- tory we quote it as perhaps the most suitable description that can be given by us.
"On the 23d, May 1655 "Five thousand acres of Land were granted to the Inhabitants of Concord for feeding, according to their petition, provided it hinder not any for- mer grants." This was all the tract of land described in the above return, excepting the farms belonging to Major Wil- lard. When his farms were granted I have not been able to find out. One of them lay in the southeast part of the tract, and the other at the northeast. This distinguished individual had several subsequent grants. On the 6th of May, 1657, he had "for services to the colony, 500 acres of land in any place where he could find it according to law; " and 21st of May, 1658, he had 500 acres more "on the south side of a river that runneth from Nashua to Merimack, between Lancaster and Groton, and is in satis- faction of a debt of {44" due from John, sagamore of Patucket. His execution was to be given up. This farm was laid out in May, 1659, by Thomas Noyes.
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The Praying Indians claimed some right to the land granted to Concord "for an enlargement to the towne ; " in consideration of which, "the town of Concord doth give to them the planters of Nashoba, fifteen pounds at six a penny, which giveth them full satisfaction. In witness whereof they doe set to their hands this 20 of the 10 mo. 1660." This agreement was signed by "Nassquaw, marchant Thomas (Thomas Waban), Wabatut, great James Natoto- tos-a blind man, Ponpant, and Gomgos," by their marks ; and John Thomas and John Tahattawan, by their names; and witnessed by Joseph Wheeler, John Shepard, and John Jones.
"At a generall court held at Boston the 11th of October, 1665. In answer to the peticion of Concord for an enlarge- ment of their bounds, this court doe grant them a tract of land conteyned in a plott returned to this court under the hand of Ensign Noyes, by estimation the whole being about five thousand acres, whereof the town reserveth two thousand acres to be layd out to either Indians or English, as this court shall see meete hereafter to dispose and grant, and the remaynder, being about three thousand acres, this court grant to Concord so as the same doe not abridge any former grant made by this court; and doe order Leift. Beers and Leift. Thomas Noyes to lay out the same and to make returne thereof to the next Court of Election. A true copie. Attest, Edw. Rawson. Secr."
The following is a copy of the return made 25 May, 1667, and approved by the proper authorities. "We, Rich- ard Beers of Watertown and Thomas Noyes of Sudbury, being appointed to lay out and measure to the inhabitants of Concord a tract or tracts of land next adjoining to their first grant ; in order to which, we the above said, did lay out and measure unto the inhabitants of Concord their second grant, being five thousand acres of land granted in the year 1655, as also their grant of three thousand acres granted in the year 1665, next adjoining to their first grant, beginning at the southwest angle of their old bounds (near
.
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Maj. Hayward's), extending their said southerly line upon a norwest point, four degrees northerly (according to the Meridian compas) two miles and 280 rods : there making a right angle on a bare hill, and from thence a line upon a northeast point 4 degrees easterly two miles one half and fifty rods, there meeting Nashoba plantation line, running the line of the said plantation to their angle one mile one quarter and 60 rods, nearest hand upon an easterly point, there making a right angle, running a line, being the line of the Indian plantation, two miles one quarter and 60 rods, there being bounded by Chelmsford line and Bilrica line as is more plainly described by a plott; in which plott is contained nine thousand and eight hundred acres of land, one thousand eight hundred acres being formerly granted to Major Willard, the other eight thousand being granted to the inhabitants of Concord, and laid out the 5th May, 1666. Given under our hands.
RICHARD BEERS, THOMAS NOYES, Surveyors.'
"The town agreed 20th Jan. 1668, that these additional grants of land 'shall lay for a free comon to the present householders of Concord, and such as shall hereafter be approved and allowed to be inhabitants; except such parts of it as shall be thought mete to make farms for the use and benefit of the towne.' A full title was then acquired from the Indians, though it was thought proper in 1684, for reasons already mentioned, to obtain the following con- firmatory deeds.
"""To all people to whom these presents may come, greet- ing; Know ye that we, Mary Neepanaum, John Speen and Sarah Speen, Dorothy Winnetow, Peter Muckquamuck, of Natick, and James Speen, and Elizabeth Speen, his wife of Waymeset, Indians, for and in consideration of a valu- able sum of money payd to us in hand by Capt. Timothy Wheeler, Henry Woodis, James Blood, and John Flint, the receipt whereof we do by these presents acknowledge, and therewith to be fully satisfied and contented, have sold
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and by these presents do sell, alien, enfeofe, and confirm unto the said Capt. Timothy Wheeler, &c. of Concord in the county of Middlesex in ye Massachusetts Colony, in New England, for the use and behoof of themselves and the rest of the proprietors of the s'd town of Concord a cer- tain tract or parcell of land conteyning by estimation a thousand acres, be the same more or less, and is situate, lying, and being within the last grant of land by the Gen- erall Court to ye s'd town of Concord, and is bounded south-east by Sudbury and the land of Stow alias Pompa- sititcutt, and norwest by the s'd Stow, running by them upon that line about a mile and a quarter, near to the hill called by the Indians Naauuhpavil; and from thence by a streight line to the North River at the old bounds of ye s'd town of Concord, unto them the said Timothy Wheeler, &c. &c. to them their heirs and successors for ever. And we the said Mary Neepanaum, &c. do hereby covenant and promise to and with the foresaid Timothy Wheeler, &c. &c. that we are the true proprietors of, and have good right and full power to grant, bargain, and sell, the above granted and bargained premises unto the said Timothy, &c. &c. and and that the said Timothy, &c. &c. shall and may at all times and from time to time for ever hereafter have, hold, occupy, possess, and enjoy the above granted premises in full, be the same more or less, without any let, denial, or contradiction of us the said Mary Neepanaum, &c. or any of us or any of our heirs, or any other person or persons whatever, lawfully claiming or having any right, title or interest therein, or to or in any parcel thereof. In ack- nowledgement of this our act and deed, we hereto put our hands and seals this fifth day of May in the year of our Lord one thouand six hundred eighty and four.'
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