USA > Massachusetts > Norfolk County > Milton > The history of Milton, Mass., 1640 to 1877 > Part 28
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From the humble walks of life he has risen to the position of clergyman in his own native town, respected and beloved by his people and fellow-citizens, - a record of fidelity and earnest purpose in life worthy of recognition.
The place of worship at the present time, 1884, is Associates Hall, Milton Lower Mills.
Since the above date a handsome church edifice has been erected on the Dorchester side, where the shepherd gathers his Milton and Dorchester flock. May the prophetic words come to pass : " There shall they lie in a good fold, and in a fat past- ure shall they feed." - Ezekiel xxxiv. 14.
273
MINISTERS OF MILTON.
RETROSPECT.
Here closes the long record of two and a quarter centuries, covering the four extended pastorates of the town church, and the four pastorates of each of its branches.
Thus have we travelled down amid the denizens of the past, through all the changes of these centuries of time. It is well thus to do, to turn awhile and look upon the great past, to have our souls filled and thronged with its glorious solemn visions.
Pastors and people, shepherds and flocks, - all, all departed, all silent! The past holds them. Their bodies lie in our burial- grounds, and there will remain till the voice of the archangel and the trump of God. The venerable Thacher and many of his family and name; the gentle Taylor; Robbins, ardent and earnest in all his life; Gile, Cozzens, Angier, and Washburn, with their people around them, - a vast congregation of once sincere, earnest, high-minded actors in this place of our sojourn.
Venerable men and women of sturdy nature, of determined purpose, and unfaltering loyalty to the King of kings.
They helped to form and fashion the country, the common- wealth, the town now the heritage of their descendants.
They left the impress of their character on the institutions and men that followed them.
We are sometimes disposed to speak severely of the harsher traits of their characters ; but even their infirmities, their stern- ness of temper, their religious exaltation, their disregard of the graces of life, were important factors in the work to be wrought out.
" A thousand gay insects flutter in the summer sun, which the blasts of winter sweep from the face of the earth."
Could men of gentler stamp have breasted the obstacles, and performed the arduous labors, and laid broad and deep the earth-fast foundations of this Republic, now so strong and fair ?
" The diamond, rough, unfashioned, in the mine, Now cut, and polished, brilliantly doth shine."
274
HISTORY OF MILTON.
CHAPTER X.
ORGANIZATION OF CHURCH, MEETING-HOUSES, AND VARIOUS TOWN AFFAIRS.
THAT the early inhabitants of Milton were church-goers and church lovers is manifest from all their history. It was not then, as it is now, an occasional custom to attend public worship on the Sabbath, but a settled habit. The fathers, with the sons, and all the family, as often as the Sabbath returned, were prompt in attendance as earnest and devout worshippers through the long service. And when the fathers passed away, the sons, inspired by the same reverence for the sanctuary and its observances, took up their work. Indeed, such was the spirit of the times that they were constrained to this observance in order to hold rank as good citizens ; but, far more than this, they drew strength from the service for the robust Christian work then demanded. The spirit of genuine religion is a spirit of great power. It attracts the admiration, and conquers the affections of men not by effeminacy, but by strength. It held their minds and hearts in perfect sway.
In illustration of this I here present from the original manu- script the Sunday note of Deacon Ebenezer Wadsworth, who died in 1717. This was publicly read from the pulpit, according to the custom of the times, which custom has passed away within thirty years.
SUNDAY NOTE OF DEACON EBENEZER WADSWORTH.
The earnest prayers of the children of God in this place for Ebenezer Wadsworth are desired he being in a very Weak & low Condition that God would be pleased of his infinite Mercy to show forth his Power to the Glory of his Grace in Removing of his pain and Weakness and distress which he is exercised with, but if God had otherwise Determined that he would of his Sovereign free Mercy & grace fit and prepare him for his Holy Will and Pleasure, and that he would afford his gracious presence unto him, unto & through that important hour when he changes time for eternity, and that the Comforter that should receive him may never be far from him, but take up its abode with him and not at any time leave him Comfortless.
275
ORGANIZATION OF CHURCH.
Regular preaching services were held in Unquity and Milton at least twenty-two years before a church was organized.
The long delay in so important a matter as the formation of a church seems almost unaccountable. We can only explain it on the supposition that they were waiting for a settled pastor. Mr. Mighill's ministry was but from year to year ; at one time he removed from the place, and returned again at the solicitation of a part of the town. With the hope and reasonable expecta- tion of a permanent settlement, after his return, the majority determined upon the formation of a church. To accomplish this great and serious object they sought the aid of the mother church, and held the service in the old church home.
The records of that church, describing the organizations, are literally copied.
CHURCH ORGANIZATION.
The 24. 2. 78 ther was a Church gathered by some of or breatheren yt livd at Milton it was done in or meeting hous at Dorchester becaus of some opposission yt did appeare ; ye Persons weh they sent unto weer the Elders & messengers of ye three Churches in Boston & waymoth Brantree & Dead- ham ye Majestrats weer accquainted with it but only ye govenor was heer by reason of ye wett and Snow season. Mr Allen did first pray and then Mr Flint did preach from ye - & then prayed, afterward the breatheren weer Called on one after another to declare ye work of grace yt god had wrought on them to ye number of Seaven, but before they began, it was put to ye whole assembly both messengers and others whether any had any Just reason against their proceeding, but all weer silent, after they had made their relations, a confession of faith was read by o" Elder unto weh they all Consented by lifting up of hands, then thos Seaven breatheren weer Called downe into ye body of ye assembly and a Covenant was read unto then unto which they all Consented by lifting up of hands, ye breatheren y+ entered into this Covenant & made publique relation weer thes :
Rob Tucker member of waymoth Anthony Newton William Blake Thomas Swift Georg Sumner Edward Blake member of yº 2 Church of Boston Ebenezer Clap
members of Dorchester Church
After this was done ther weer more of o' Breatheren yt did at ye same time enter into ye same Covenant with the former namly
Thomas Holman Georg Lyon Ephram Manasses & Tucker
James
And then M' Tory was appointed to give ye right hand of Fellowship & Mr Mather prayed & a psalme sung & ye assembly dismissed.
276
HISTORY OF MILTON.
COVENANT.
The following is the Covenant to which they assented: -
We whose names are subscribed being called of God to join ourselves together in Chh. communion from our hearts acknowledging our owne unworthynesse of such a priviledge, or of ye Least of gods mercys, & like- wise acknowledging our owne disability to keep Covenant, with God, or to perform any spirituall duty, we hee calleth us unto, unlesse, ye Lord Jesus doe inable, thereunto, by his spirit dwelling in us. Doe In ye name of Christ Jesus our Lord, & in trust & confidence of his free grace assisting us : Freely Covenant & bind ourselues, solemnly in ye presence of God hims., his holy Angells & all his servants here present, y& wee will by his Grace, assisting Indeavour constantly to walk together as a right ordered Congre- gation of Christ, according to all ye holy rules of a Church body : rightly Established so farre as wee doe already know it to be our duty : Or shall further understand it out of gods holy word: Promising first & above all to give up ourselues & our ofspring unto ye Lord God, father Son & Holy- Ghost, ye only true and liueving God & to cleave unto him as our cheafe & only Good, and unto our Lord Jesus Christ as our only Saviour our Prophit Preist & King our spirituall head & Husband ; & for ye furthering of us to Keep ye blessed Communion with God & his son Jesus Christ & to grow up more fully herein, wee doe likewise promise, by his Grace Assisting us to Endeavour y" Establishing amongst ourselves of all his holy Ordinances, wº hee hath appointed for his Chh here on Earth & to Observe all & every of y™, in such sort, as shall bee most agreeable unto his will : Opposeing unto ye utmost of our chh power ye Contrary. And, lastly wee doe hereby Cove- nant & promise, to further unto ye utmost of our power ye best spirituall good, of such other, & of all & Every One, yt may become members of ye Congregation by mutual Instruction, reprehension, Exhortation, Consolation, & spirituall watchfullnesse over one another for good; & to be subject in & for ye Lord to all ye Administrations & Censures, of ye Chh. soe far as ye same shall be guides according to ye Rules of Gods most holy word in a way of order peace & vnion; with all promising to walk orderly in a way of fellowshipe & Communion with all ye Chhs of Christ among us according to Rule. y ye Lord may be one & his name be one in all ye Chhs :
This Covenant wee doe by solemne act of Chh Confederation Enter unto with full purpose of heart [as ye Lord shall help us] to keep it forever, & where wee shall faile, yer to waite upon our Lord Jesus, for healing & par- don for his Names sake.
The names to this Covenant are :
ANTHONY NEWTON [Member of Dorchester Church] ROBERT TUCKER [Member of Weymouth Church] WILLIAM BLACKE [Member of Dorchester Church] THOMAS SWIFT
[Member of Dorchester Church] GEORGE SUMNER [Member of Dorchester Church] THOMAS HOLMAN [Admitted by Covenant]
EBENEZER CLAP [Member of Dorchester Church] EDWARD BLACKE [Member of 2ª Church, Boston] GEORGE LION [Admitted by Covenant] JAMES TUCKER [Admitted by Covenant] EPHRAIM TUCKER
[Admitted by Covenant] MANASSEH TUCKER [Admitted by Covenant]
277
MEETING-HOUSES.
Milton Churches
MEETING-HOUSES.
As has been set forth in the chapter on " Highways and By- ways," the first meeting-house in use, before the establishment of the town, seems to have stood on or near the " Country Heigh- way," at the head of Churchill's lane.
In 1664 Robert Vose conveyed to the inhabitants of the town of Milton a tract of land of eight acres, situated on Vose's lane and Centre street, for a meeting-house, and other ministerial purposes.
We here introduce the deed of conveyance : -
This Indenture made this thirteenth day of January, in ye year of or Lord, one thousand six hundred sixty and two betwixt Robert Vose of Milton in ye County of Suffolk, in New England yeoman, of ye one party, and ye in- habitants of ye aforesaid Milton of ye other party witnesseth y' ye sª Robert Vose for good and valuable consideracons in hand payd, hath given, grant, sold, enfeoffed & confirmed, and by these presents doe give grant Bargain sell enfeoffe & confirm to ye inhabitants of ye town of Milton, their heyrs and successors for present eight acres of land more or less, as it lyeth in ye field of ye said Robert Vose in Milton aforesaid : bounded with ye land of ye said Robert Vose on ye westward of ye same, & on ye north west by a swamp belonging to sª Robert Vose, and on ye north side ye land of Robert Redman, and on ye east part ye land of Robert Redman and ye land of John ffenno. To have & to hold ye sª eight acres of land with ye appurtenances y'unto belonging unto ye inhabitants of Milton as aforesaid their heyrs and
278
HISTORY OF MILTON.
successors forever, to be and continue to be ye proper right and inheritance of ye inhabitants of Milton their heyrs and successors forever without any let trouble molestation or expulsion of him ye sª Robert Vose his executors administrators or assigns, or any claiming title claime or interest to ye same or any part, parcell yrof from or under him or them or any of them, and also without the lawful let, trouble or expulsion of any other person or per- sons whatsoever, will warrant and acquit and defend ye sª eight acres of land more or less with ye appurtenances thereof to ye inhabitants aforesaid heyrs & successors forever by these presents.
And also shall and will doe any other act or thing as shall be necessary for the further and more perfecting and compleating or assuring of the premises according to ye laws of this federacon, and lastly Jane y wife of sª Robert Vose doth hereby freely and fully give and yeild up unto ye in- habitants of Milton aforesaid their heyrs & successors all her right, title, dowry & interest in ye land aforesaid, either yt she now hath or hereafter in any wise may or ought to have, in witness whereof yt sª Robert Vose & Jane his wife have hereunto set our hands & seals this 18 day of May One- thousand six hundred & sixty & fower.
Signed Sealed & Delivered
in presence of JOHN BALL -
ROBERT VOSE & a seal JANE VOSE & a seal
Robert Vose & his wife Jane Vose acknowledged this instrument to be their free act & deed this. 18 day of May 1664 - Boston -Thomas Dan- fortlı. Entered & Recorded July 1664
Per EDW RAWSON Recorder.
This indenture, though drawn Jan. 30, 1662, three months before the town was incorporated, was not executed until May 18, 1664. In the interim there had been erected on the land thus donated a parsonage or ministerial house. From the paper following, the house seems to have been built by the eighteen individuals whose signatures appear on the document, in their private capacity. The two documents can be made to harmon- ize only on the hypothesis that those eighteen men comprised the entire number of "freeholders " then constituting the town of Milton, making their action the action of the town.
MINISTER'S HOUSE.
Know All Men By These Presents yt we ye inhabitants & freeholders of ye town or Milton in ye County of Suffolk in New England, finding of it necessary in order unto ye Comfortable & Suitable carrying on of ye pub- lique worship of God yt we should make provision for ye settlement of ye pub- lique ministry amongst us. And having to y end already purchased of or friend and neighbor Robert Vose a convenient parcel of land [yt is to say] eight acres or thereabouts as by a legall conveyance from him ye sª Rob- ert Vose doth appear and having also thereon erected [at o' own cost] a house for ye entertainment of a minister, Therefore know yee yt wee ye in- habitants & freeholders of ye town of Milton aforesaid doe by these presents
279
MEETING-HOUSES.
faithfully promise unto and covenant with one another for ourselves and in our own names and also for and in ye behalf of our heyrs and successors yt all y' housing y' hereto is or hereafter shall be erected by us upon yt land, & all that land aforesaid and all ye privileges & appurtenances thereunto belonging shall be & remain to be to ye publique use of ye inhabitants & freeholders of ye town of Milton aforesaid in order to ye prosecution of the premises. And y fore wee doe by these presents freely own, covenant and agree yt ye sª house and land shall be and remain to be to ye use and be- hoof of such Minister as God shall successively from time to time send amongst us. And yt there shall be no alienation or appropriation of yt house or land unto any particular person any longer than he shall re- main in ye constant exercise of ye publique ministry amongst us. And further wee doe hereby covenant and agree yt it shall not be in ye power of a majority of ourselves at any time to make any such alienation and ap- propriation without the consent of all & every of ym yt are purchasers, or their heirs or successors. And wee doc further covenant & agree that this our covenant & agreement shall be recorded by the Clerk of the writts in y® Town Books & also yt it shall be recorded in ye County Books yt so it may remain as a firm obligacon upon ourselves our heyrs & successors unto the performance of the premises.
In witness where of we have hereunto set our hands.
ROBERT VOSE JNO GILL
RICHARD COLLICOTT
ANTHONY GOULIVER
WM DANIELL
ROBERT REDMAN
ANTHONY NEWTON
WM SALSBURY
STEVAN KINSLEY
SAMUEL WADSWORTH
JAMES HOFTEN
JOHN FFENNO
HENRY CRANE
ROBERT BADCOCK
DAVID HIMES
THOMAS VOSE
ROBERT TUCKER
THOMAS SWIFT
Entered and Recorded at request of Robert Vose, in behalf of the sub- scribers 17 July 1664 Pr EDW RAWSON Recorder.
[Suffolk Registry, Lib. 4, Fol. 208.]
This house is often referred to in the Town Records.
Feb. 16, 1669, a committee was sent to Sandwich to invite the Rev. Mr. Wiswall to Milton, offering him £60 per year and the use of house and lands, with liberty to cut wood for his own use. Mr. Mighill while in Milton occupied the minis- terial house; the rent of this, with wood from the lot, formed a part of his salary. Rev. Samuel Man was its occupant 1678- 80. Rev. Mr. Thacher took possession of the ministerial house when he came to Milton, Sept. 10, 1681, and occupied it until a house built by himself, was completed, Nov. 11, 1689. In 1690 "the ministerial house and land lying to it," having seem- ingly completed its special mission, was, by vote of the town, sold to Edward Vose for £60. It is highly probable that the house on the corner of Centre street and Vose's lane, now owned by Mrs. Blanchard, stands on the site of the old " min- ister's house," and may be part of the same. It passed into the Vose family in 1690, and afterwards became the property of Vose Crane. After the decease of Polly Crane, Jan., 1860,
280
HISTORY OF MILTON.
Charles Breck purchased the estate for his brother, and thor- oughly repaired the house, putting in new sills and making the old structure over anew, at the cost of nearly $500.
If this is true, a part of this house, originally built in 1663, is now two hundred and twenty-four years old.
SECOND MEETING-HOUSE.
On the land donated by Robert Vose a new meeting-house was erected in 1671. At a town-meeting held Sept., 1670, it was decided to locate the house "neare Goodman Vose, his loked barre." At a subsequent meeting of the town the loca- tion was changed.
Jan. 12 1671. It was legally voted that forasmuch as the former vote by the Locke Bars cannot in respect of place be improved for the Settinge of the Meeting House, that it should stand upon the Est sid of Goodman Voses Lande at the corner of his son Thomas Voses stone wall next to Henry Glover his house by the town way sid, and Robert Vose did agree thereunto.
This second meeting-house was built, according to the above vote, near the site now occupied by the house of Mrs. Blanchard. Two years later Vose's lane was opened along the west side of the meeting-house, and the town-way (now Centre street) passed it on the south. The building of the meeting- house was a great undertaking for the times, when, doubtless, one dollar held the value of a hundred dollars in our day. The town levied a rate of £50 for the erection of the building, and made provisions for securing the amount as follows : -
Upon a training day the 22 of Oct. 1670 it was agreed by a vote of the Train Band and several others that were present that 6 acres of the Town land should be cleared of the Tim' and wood to By nails and glass for the new meeting house.
Each citizen could meet lis portion of the rate, by cutting wood from the lot and hauling the same to the Town Landing, where he was allowed one shilling and three pence per cord. "Jan 10, 1670-1 It was voted that if 6 acres do not suffice to pay for the meeting house, enough more be taken as will pay all the Rats for that building."
One or two references to this house found in the Town Records lead us to conclude that it was a small building nearly square, with gallery on one side, pulpit on the other, and entrance on the town-way, now Centre street.
This house sufficed for the needs of the town for fifty-eight years, through the whole ministry of Parson Thacher.
281
MEETING-HOUSES.
THIRD MEETING-HOUSE.
As early as May 9, 1715, it was decided in town-meeting to build a new meeting-house, and " that the meeting-house stand where it now is."
Here commenced a grievous controversy respecting the loca- tion of the proposed meeting-house, which extended through a period of twelve years. The matter came up at every town- meeting, and was the subject of votes, reconsiderations, and protests, almost without number.
Aug. 24, 1721. Voted that the meeting-house shall be built on Milton ministerial land with submiscion to our Great & General Court. Lieut. Henry Vose and others were chosen a committee to petition our Great & General Court, praying them to concur with this town in building the said Meeting-House.
The General Court gave leave so to do, but by their com- mittee recommended a lot on the land of Andrew Pitcher. The vote was protested by twenty-seven men and women, and the enterprise was defeated. March 27, 1727, twelve years after the movement was started, a compromise was effected.
Voted, to build the meeting-house on land of John Trott. Deacon John Wadsworth, Ensign Samuel Swift, Mr. John Daniel were appointed a committee to treat with John Trott about said land, voted to adjourn till Monday next.
April 3, 1727. The committee made their report, and their report was as follows, that the land may be had for thirty pounds.
Voted to concur with the committee's report concerning a tract of land whereon to build a meeting-house. Voted that there shall be a committee chosen to address the Great & General Court for their concurrence with the vote of the town. Deacon John Wadsworth, Manassch Tucker, John Daniel were chosen the committee.
The following is the petition to the General Court: -
A petition of Manasseh Tucker and others, a committee of the town of Milton showing that for divers years past they have been under great diffi- culties with respect to the erecting and placing of a new meeting-house partly through disagreement among themselves and partly through the impractibility of purchasing the land assigned by the General Court. That the inhabitants of the Town legally warned have agreed upon the southi west corner of John Trotts land adjacent to the road, joining to the land of Andrew Pitcher which the first committee of the General Court judged the most convenient place for building their meeting-house. Therefore pray- ing the allowance of this court that they may build their meeting-liouse on the said John Trott's land agreeable to the vote passed by the town afore- said.
In the House of Representatives - Read & Ordered that the prayer of the petitioners be granted, the former order of the Court notwithstanding.
In Council Read & Concurred
July 1727, Consented to.
W. DUMMER
[State Archives.]
282
HISTORY OF MILTON.
At an adjourned town-meeting, held July 31, 1727, the concurrence of the General Court was read. The following committee was appointed to attend to the building: Samuel Wadsworth, Ensign Samuel Swift, Benjamin Fenno, Preserved Lion, John Daniel. Thus harmony was restored, and work on the new house was commenced. In the midst of this work Mr. Thacher died, Dec. 17, 1727.
At a meeting of the town, May 27 1728, Nathaniel Vose, Nehemiah Clap, Samuel Tucker, and John Trott were chosen a committee to provide for the raising of the meeting-hous.
Voted that the provision that shall be made for the raising of our meet- ing-house shall be bread and ches, and bear, sider and rum.
This third meeting-house, after so long and sore strife, was built near Canton avenue, in front of the present Unitarian church. Its size was fifty feet by forty, and twenty-eight feet. high, with a belfry.
At a meeting of the town, April 3, 1729, voted to place a bel in the belfry to weigh 3 1-2 cwt. grose. Voted to pay for the bel by subscription.
Rev. John Taylor commenced his ministry in this house near the time of its completion. He was allowed the first choice of a place for the minister's pew in the new house, which pew was to be built by the town. The house stood near the street, with southerly doors opening towards Canton avenue. In the centre of the northerly side was the high pulpit, over which hung the sounding-board, with three pews ranged on each side of it. Four square pews occupied the easterly end, leaving room for gallery stairs. In the westerly end was the steeple, westerly door, and women's stairs. Mr. Taylor's pew was the first on the easterly end on entering the southerly doors. In 1739 it was exchanged for the "Gover- nor Belcher pew, being the tenth, or the third, on the westerly side of the pulpit."
The pews were designed for the occupancy of families, and were built by the leading and wealthy families of the town. The rest of the floor and the galleries, which occupied three sides of the house, were arranged for citizens generally, the women and men being seated in separate sections.
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