USA > Massachusetts > Essex County > Haverhill > The history of Haverhill, Massachusetts, from its first settlement, in 1640, to the year 1860 > Part 58
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In 1755, these difficulties assumed alarming proportions. Mr. Bachellor was accused of heresy, in saying that the work of redemption was finished, when Christ uttered the words "It is finished." This, his enemies, (led on by Joseph Haynes, a shrewd and fearless man, of superior native talent, and quite extensive reading,) denounced as downright heresy, and made them the ground-work of a sharply contested controversy, which raged with violence for a number of years, and finally ended in the removal of Mr. Bachellor, 9th October, 1761, upon terms that day recommended by a Council. The subject was considered by the Haverhill Association, and two Councils called for that purpose, who upheld Mr. Bachellor, and published several pamphlets defending his conduct from the aspersions of his enemies. These drew from Mr. Haynes, a large pamphlet, called " A. Discourse in order to confute the Heresy, delivered, and much contended for, in the West-Parish, in Haverhill, and countenanced by many of the ministers of the neighboring parishes, viz: That the blood and water which came from Christ when the soldier pierced his side, his laying in his grave, and his resurrection, was no part of the work of redemption, and that his laying in the grave was no part of his humiliation." It was printed in 1757. This drew a pamphlet in the following year, from the Association and Councils, vindicating the measures they had taken, to which Mr. Haynes soon after replied. A Council of nine churches con- vened by adjournment on the 19th September, 1758, when twenty charges against Mr. Bachellor were laid before it, condemning his conduct and doctrines. The Council sat four days, and decided that they were not sufficiently supported. Col. John Choate of Ipswich, one of their members, differed from this decision and published his "reasons of dissent." The same Council again met in the following year, when Mr. Haynes gave
o The dissentients were Thomas Haynes, Joseph Haseltine, Thomas Page, Joseph Hutchens, Daniel Lad, Jr., Peter Carleton, Jonathan Emerson, Joseph Haynes, Timothy Emerson, and William Ayer.
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them some " friendly remarks," which were afterward published ; but this second examination of the charges only confirmed them in their former decision.
Rev. Samuel Bacheller was a graduate of Harvard College, of the class of 1731, and a man of superior talent and attainments. During his min- istry in the parish, he baptized about four hundred and fifty ; thirty-eight owned their baptismal covenant; and one hundred and eighteen were admitted to the church." After his dismission, Mr. Bachellor continued to reside in the parish until his death. In 1769, and again in 1770, he was chosen to represent the town in the General Court.
After the dismissal of Mr. Bachellor, the parish was without a settled pastor nine years.
In March, 1762, Rev. Nathaniel Noyes commenced preaching in the parish, shortly after which, the church and parish voted " to settle upon Congregational Principles," and to organize the church according to the platform of church discipline agreed upon by the Cambridge Synod in 1649, -" except the 11th section of the 10th chapter of that platform, which allows the elder a power to negative the Brotherhood." In the October following, the church and parish extended a unanimous invitation to Mr. Noyes to settle with them, but he declined. The next January the invitation was renewed, but without success. After Mr. Noyes left, a Mr. Wheeler occupied the pulpit for a short time, when he was succeeded by Rev. John Carnes.
In March, 1766, Mr. Carnes was invited to settle with the parish, but declined. The call was renewed April 14th, and accepted, but, for some reason not stated, he was not settled.
In June, 1767, a call was extended to Rev. Joseph Willard, (afterward president of Harvard College) who accepted, and the last Wednesday in October was assigned for his ordination; but, for reasons not given, the ordination never took place.
In March, 1769, Rev. Phineas Adams received a call by " a great ma- jority " of the parish, though several were so strongly opposed to his settlement that they petitioned to be released from paying toward his support. The following December the call was repeated, when it was accepted, and Mr. Adams was ordained January 9, 1771. He continued with the parish until his death, in 1801, during which time, for ought that appears upon the records, the society was prosperous and united.
" The church was organized October 22, 1735, with seventy-seven members, all of whom had been dis- missed from the First Parish Church for that purpose. Nathan Webster and Peter Ayer were chosen deacons, in November, 1735.
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Mr. Adams, who graduated at Cambridge in 1762, was a man of mild and conciliatory manners, amiable disposition, sound sense, excellent understanding, and extensive reading. He was not bigoted, and seemed well calculated to quiet a turbulent society. After his death, the parish met, and voted to pay all the expenses of his funeral.
During his ministry, Mr. Adams baptized three hundred and thirty-one (adults and infants); sixty-nine "owned their baptismal covenant ; " and sixty-two were admitted to the church.
At the first church meeting after the settlement of Mr. Adams, John Smith and Thomas Webster were chosen deacons. In 1782, Moses Web- ster, and in 1785, Joseph Eaton, were chosen to the same office.
The first mention we find in the parish records of a school in the par- ish, is in November, 1751, when it was voted to build a school-house eighteen feet square, at "ye Clay pitts near ye end of the Road that lead- eth to ye house of Mr Jonathan Webster." At the next meeting, an effort was made to have the school-house placed in the centre of the par- ish, but without sucess. For some reasons, the building of the school- house proceeded very slowly, as we find that as late as February, 1754, it was only partly finished, and was ordered to be removed to the cast end of the meeting-house. The next month, a proposition was made to move the meeting-house and the school-house to " Lad's plain," in the " center of the Parish," but the proposition failed. The December following (1754) the school-house was yet unfinished. At this time, the parish voted that a school should be kept one-third part of the time at or near Peter Carleton's ; one-third at Stephen Webster's ; and one-third at Sam- uel Whitker's. It continued to be so kept until, at least, 1772. In 1774, it was kept at or near Jeremiah Hutchin's; Timothy Eatton's; and Peter Emerson's ; at which time, there was as yet no school-house in the parish. In the spring of 1791, the parish appropriated £82 for the building of three school-houses. One was set " westward from Thomas West's, on Enoch Bradley's land ; and one " near James Chase's." The location of the third one does not appear. They were all built in 1791.
In 1792, the inhabitants of the "Eastern, on Jew street," petitioned for a school in their vicinity a part of the time, but the request was not granted.
In 1770, the parish voted " to continue to sing Dr Watts' Psalms & Hymns in the congregation." This is the first allusion to singing we find in the parish records. One of the articles in the warrant for the annual meeting in 1771, was " To see if the Parish will vote a part of the Frunt Galary for those to sit in who Have Larnt or are Larning to Sing by Rule. 72
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Either to Build a Pew or other wise as Shall be thot most proper." As the parish at the time voted to make extensive repairs in the meeting- house, no recorded action was taken about the singing; but a pew was doubtess built at the time, as we find that "the Singers Pew " was en- larged in 1788, and again in 1794. In 1810, the parish appropriated thirteen dollars toward the support of a "singing school." This, we be- lieve, is the earliest distinct allusion we have found, in any of the records or papers we have examined, of a singing-school in the town, though it is by no means improbable that such schools were kept years before. Indeed the fact that some were "Larning to sing by Rule " as early as 1771, would seem to imply that something of the kind was then in operation.º
In 1786, a proposition was made to purchase grounds for one or two new " burying-places." The matter was referred to a committee, who re- ported it inexpedient for the parish to purchase. A private subscription was then started, and ground for a second burying-place was purchased the same fall. It was located on the northerly side of the Salem, (N. H.) road, and near Creek Brook .;
After the death of Mr. Adams, the parish was without a settled minis- ter for twenty-five years, during which period its religious affairs were in a very unsatisfactory state.
In 1803, a Mr. Mead occupied the pulpit for some months, and the pro- position was made for the parish to join with the North Parish, and hire him, to preach one-half the time in each parish, - but it was not agreed to.
At the annual parish meeting, March 17, 1806, it was
" Voted. that the Baptists, Methodists, or Universalists, who belong to the West Parish, should have a right and privilege to draw out of the parish treasurer's hands, as much money as they pay in by taxes, - after allowing or deducting for levying and collecting the same, - for to hire such minister or ministers as they choose, provided they are of good stand- ing or character, when there is not a minister employed by the parish committee as has been usual in times past."
The above continued to be the practice until 1809, when a committee consisting of one from each denomination was chosen to divide the money raised for preaching, among the several denominations .; If any person
o The earliest mention of a singing.school in the village, which we have found, is an advertisement of Samuel W. Ayer, in December, 1812, of his intention to commence a " Singing School, at the First Parish School House."
t The cemetery opposite the briek meeting-honse has been laid ont but a few years, and is the third in the parish.
# The only denominations represented by a "committee man," were the Congregationalists, (ox "Standing Order " ) the Methodists, and the Universalists.
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refused to say to which one he desired his money to be paid, it was to be divided equally among all of them.
From 1809, to 1818, the above plan continued in operation. Each de- nomination had preaching of their own, as many Sabbaths in the year as the money thus divided would furnish.
In 1818, ten members of the parish petitioned for a parish meeting " To instruct the Committee of the Congregational order how much preaching to engage ; " and also " To see if Preachers of the Universal order shall be admitted to preach in said Meeting House in the West Parish the present year." At the same time, fourteen others petitioned for a meeting, to see if the parish would vote that the money paid into the treasury for the sup- port of preaching, might not be drawn out " to hire the Congregational, Methodist, and Universal Preachers, as usual."
This was an attempt, on the part of the Congregationalists, to regain entire control of the parish, but it was unsuccessful. The parish refused to act upon the propositions in the first petition, and agreed to those of the other.
In May, 1821, the parish voted to extend a call to Rev. Mr. Pomeroy, but no action appears to have been taken by the church, and he was not invited. One year later, a proposition was made to invite Rev. Mr. Lam- bard but it was not agreed to. Two years still later, an attempt was made to unite on Rev. Stephen Morse, but this also proved unsuccessful.
Finally, in September, 1826, the church unanimously invited Rev. Moses G. Grosvenor to become their pastor. In this call, the parish joined, and Mr. Grosvenor accepted the invitation. He was ordained December 27, 1826.
Soon after the settlement of Mr. Grosvenor, David Webster, by his last will and testament, bequeathed to the parish two pieces of land, contain- ing about twenty acres ; two thousand dollars in money ; and all the resi- due of his personal estate, after paying his debts, &c. The conditions of the bequest were, in substance, as follows : - The income and interest of the property bequeathed was to be " applied exclusively for the support and maintainance of an ordained Gospel minister of the congregational or presbyterian denomination, who is orthodox or Calvinistic in his senti- ments, in the west or second parish in said Haverhill." Whenever any minister of that description should be "regularly ordained and settled " in the parish, "according to the custom of congregational or presbyterian churches," the trustces" were to pay over to the proper parish officers the
" John Marsh, Esq., and Mr. Brickett Bradley, of Haverhill; and Rev. Gardner B. Perry, Rev. Ira Ingraham, and Mr. David C. Kimball, of Bradford, " their successors," &c., were designated as trustees of the property bequeathed.
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income of the bequest. If there should not be any such minister so set- tled, the bequest was to be an accumulating fund in the hands of the trustees for the term of ten years, (unless such a minister should be set- tled before that period) when the income was to be paid over "to the. domestic missionary society 0
¢ @ to be applied specially for the support of preachers of the Gospel, of the denomination aforesaid, in such vacant and destitute parishes as are unable to supply themselves." The income was to revert to the parish whenever they settled a minister as specified ; and at the expiration of ten years after such a minister had been settled by the parish, and had "remained as such during that. period," the trustees might, by consent of the judge of probate, transfer the capital sum of the bequest to such trustees of the funds of the parish as should be duly authorized to receive the same. The will is dated July 12th, 1827. Mr. Webster died October 18th, 1828, aged 79 years.
Mr. Grosvenor was a Congregationalist, and was settled as such. By the terms of his settlement, the connection between the pastor and the parish could at any time be dissolved by a three months' notice from either party.
It could hardly be expected that such a settlement would be satisfactory to the other denominations in the parish, and we accordingly find, under date of January 10, 1828, a petition from thirty-nine members of the parish, requesting a parish meeting, "To see if the Parish will vote to appropriate any money, and if any, how much, to hire ministers to preach in said Parish, in addition to the Revd Mr. Grosvenor." The meeting was held, and it was voted (yeas fifty, nays fifty-three) not to hire any ·other minister, as petitioned for.
A few weeks later, (March 13, 1828) a meeting was called to see if the parish would give Mr. Grosvenor a " three months' notice to withdraw his pastoral connection " with the parish. The proposition was carried, and Mr. Grosvenor was accordingly dismissed.º
" During Mr. Grosvenor's ministry, thirty-one were admitted to the church ; twenty-three were baptized ; and ten renewed their baptismal covenant. From the death of Rev. Mr. Adams, in 1801, to May, 1824, there were thirty admissions to the church. From the same date, to August, 1824, thirty-three persons were baptized. In August, 1820, Deaeon Aaron Clarke, (who removed to this town from Wells, Me., in 1807,) was chosen deacon (associate) with Deacon Moses Webster. Deacon Clarke died March 3, 1828, aged 90; and Deacon Webster died January 27, 1827, aged 90. The latter was a member of the church fifty-one years, and for forty-four years one of its deacons. In May, 1824, the church adopted & new form of " Articles of Faith and Covenant." September 6th, of the same year, nineteen persons were admitted to the church. In the records of 182], and subsequently, we notice that persons admitted to the church were frequently "baptized the same day." Several are recorded as having been "rebaptized " on their admission. In February, 1827, Joseph and Moses Webster were chosen deaeons.
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The Congregationalists, finding themselves in the minority în the parish, soon after decided to withdraw, and organize a new society. They erected a neat and substantial brick meeting-house," one mile west of the old parish meeting-house, and, August 3d, 1829, petitioned for a parish meet- ing to see if the parish would " vote to give the Rev. Abijah Cross a call to settle with them in the gospel ministry to preach in the brick meeting house," on condition that his salary should not commence until the next annual parish meeting, in March, 1830 ; that the parish treasurer should "pay over annually to that part of the parish that do not wish to pay Mr. Cross, all their taxes, and so much of the annual income of the parsonage property as shall bear an equal proportion to their parish taxes or rateable estates ; " that the latter should have " a right to spend the money thus paid over, in the old meeting house, for such preaching as they shall choose ; " and that a three months' notice shall be sufficient to dissolve the connection between Mr. Cross and the parish.
The next day, (August 4, 1829) the Universalists petitioned for a parish meeting, "to see if the parish will vote to give a call to Rev. Daniel D. Smith to settle with us as our minister," &c. A parish meeting was there- upon warned for the 26th of the same month, to act upon the several propositions of the two petitions. In the meantime, (August 20) the church extended a unanimous call to Mr. Cross, to settle with them, as their minister. ¡
On the 26th, the parish met, and voted to give Rev. Mr. Smith a call to settle with them for two years ; and not to give a call to Rev. Mr. Cross. Mr. Smith accepted the same day.
October 20th, a meeting of the church was held at Dea. Moses Web- ster's, and a committee was chosen to remonstrate against the settlement of Mr. Smith. But the remonstrance did not prevent the settlement of Mr. Smith over the parish society.
At the next annual parish meeting an effort was made to revive the old plan of dividing the receipts from parish taxes " among the different denominations," but was unsuccessful, - as was also one to sell wood from the parsonage land for the same purpose.
" It was dedicated May 7, 1829. The first meeting was held in it in the February preceding.
t The church had from the first been a Congregational Church, and when the Congregationalists seee- ded from the parish, the church went with them, as a body. The Universalists had no church organiza- tion in the parish, until after the final separation, in 1829. They were among the members of the old parish, but not of the old parish church.
The Methodists never had a regular church organization in the parish. In 1818, they held one commu- nion, for which time they requested the use of the communion vessels belonging to the parish church, but were refused. In lieu of them, they used deeanters and common tumblers. Even their use of the "Sac- rament Table," was thought to have been " an unchristian encroachment on the ecclesiastical rights of the church " in the parish, " & highly reprehensible."
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May 4th, 1831, the church renewed their call to the Rev. Mr. Cross, which was accepted; and he was installed on the 18th of the same month. He continued a faithful pastor of the church and society until January 26th, 1853, when he was dismissed by a mutual council, at his own request.º
Rev. Abijah Cross was born in Methuen, Mass., October 25, 1793, graduated at Dartmouth College in 1821, and entered the Andover Theo- logical Seminary the year following. Shortly after this, he left the Semi- nary, and pursued his theological studies chiefly with Rev. Dr. Dana, of Newburyport. He was licensed to preach in 1823 ; and in March, 1824, was ordained at Salisbury, N. H. He was dismissed from that church in April 1829, and immediately after, commenced preaching in the West Parish. After his dismissal, in 1853, he continued to reside in the town, most of the time in the village, until his death, April 14, 1856.
Rev. Mr. Smith continued with the parish (Universalist) society, until 1831, from which time, until 1834, that society was without a regular minister. In March, of the last named year, a call was extended to Rev. Thomas G. Farnsworth, previously pastor of the First Universalist society in this town, to settle with them for ten years, at a salary of $400 per annum, with the use of the parsonage. The invitation was accepted. Mr. Farnsworth remained with the society until April 1837, when he was dismissed, at his request.
In 1832, a proposition was made to remove the old meeting-house, to some point nearer the centre of the parish. A committee was chosen to estimate the cost, &c .; and in 1834, the house was taken down, moved one mile and a quarter west, re-framed, and re-erected.
After the dismissal of Rev. Mr. Farnsworth, in 1837, the parish society were destitute of a regular minister, until June, 1840, at which time Rev. Henry M. Nichols was ordained and settled, at a salary of $500 a year. Mr. Nichols continued with the society until his death, in 1842.
About this time, the bequest of Mr. Webster began to attract special attention by the two societies in the parish. The income of the fund had accumulated until it alone amounted to several thousand dollars, but not a dollar of it had as yet been applied to its intended purpose, and, as then organized, neither of the two societies could lay claim to it. The parish (Universalist) society were without the specified kind of a minister to entitle them to the bequest ; and the church (Orthodox) society no longer
During the whole ministry of Mr. Cross in the west parish, (nearly twenty-four years) one hundred and forty-one were admitted to the church, and one hundred and one baptized.
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had a minister who was settled by the parish. Neither society could claim the benefit of the fund, but each could prevent the other from enjoying it.
From March, 1844, - when a committee was first chosen by the parish society, " to act in reference to the Fund of the late David Webster," - down to 1852, - when the matter was finally adjusted, -the disposition of this fund was a prolific theme for society discussions and negotiations. Various offers were made by each society, from time to time, until March 29, 1851, when the Congregational society offered the parish (or Univer- salist) society $2,400, for the privilege of becoming themselves the Parish, - which was accepted. The Universalists, or parish society, were to retain possession of all the parish property they were then in possession of, and were to relinquish to the Congregationalists, or church society, all right and claim to the Parish, and the latter were to have the Webster fund.
April 27, 1852, an act was obtained granting leave to the parish society to make the transfer, which was accepted June 17th, and in the October following, (October 6, 1852) forty-five members of the Congregational society were admitted members of the parish. On the 16th of the same month, thirty members of the parish withdrew from it, and it was thus left in the hands of the Congregationalists, where it yet remains.
Soon after the transfer of the parish was perfected, in 1852, the then parish (now Congregationalists) took measures to settle a minister agree- ably to the conditions of the will of Mr. Webster, and, December 14th, extended a call to Rev. S. E. Kendall, - which was declined.º January 26th, 1853, Rev. Mr. Cross was dismissed from the Congregational church and society, at his own request, and, in March, Rev. Asa Farwell was invited to settle as their pastor. Mr. Farwell accepted, and was ordained April 21st, of the same year.
Rev. Asa Farwell was born in Dorset, Vt., March 8th, 1812; fitted for college at the Burr Seminary, Manchester, Vt. ; graduated at Middlebury College, in 1838, and at Andover Theological Seminary, in 1842. From 1842 to 1852, he was principal of the Abbott Female Academy, at Ando- ver. He commenced preaching in the West Parish, in February, 1853, where he yet remains.
From the settlement of Rev. Mr. Farwell, in 1853, to the present time, (December, 1860) there have been fifty-five admissions to the church, and thirty baptisms.
In December, 1844, Ezra B. Welch and John Mitchell were chosen deacons ; in December, 1836, Daniel Webster was chosen in place of the
· Mr. Kendall was invited to settle as a colleague of Mr. Cross,
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latter, who had removed from the parish ; in December, 1860, Isaac Peta tingill was chosen in place of Deacon Welch, removed from town. It is an interesting fact that of the fifteen deacons of the church, from 1735 to 1860, seven were of the name of Webster, viz. : Nathan, Stephen, Thomas, Moses, Joseph, Moses, and Daniel Webster.
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